OBJECTIVES
We aimed to identify predictors of postoperative permanent neurological deficits (PNDs) and evaluate the early management of cerebral perfusion in patients undergoing surgical repair of acute type A aortic dissection with cerebral malperfusion.

METHODS
Between October 2009 and September 2018, a total of 197 patients with acute type A aortic dissection underwent aortic replacement. Of these, 42 (21.3%) patients had an imaging cerebral malperfusion (ICM). ICM was assessed preoperatively, which also revealed whether dissected supra-aortic branch vessels were occluded or narrowed by a thrombosed false lumen. After September 2017, early reperfusion and extra-anatomic revascularization were performed in cases with ICM.

RESULTS
Hospital mortality rates for cases with ICM were 4.8% (2/42). Before September 2017, PND were observed in 6 patients (54.5%) with preoperative neurological symptoms (n = 11), and 7 patients (33.3%) without neurological symptoms (n = 21) in patients with ICM. Occlusion or severe stenosis of supra-aortic branch vessels (odds ratio, 7.66; P < 0.001), regardless of preoperative clinical neurological symptoms, was a risk factor for PND. After September 2017, 7 of 10 patients with ICM underwent early reperfusion and extra-anatomic revascularization. PND did not occur in any of these 7 patients.

CONCLUSIONS
Occlusion or severe stenosis of supra-aortic branch vessels is a predictor of PND risk in patients undergoing surgery for acute type A aortic dissection. Early reperfusion and extra-anatomic revascularization may reduce the risk of neurological complications in patients with ICM, with or without neurological symptoms.


There is currently much interest in the two-axis countertwisting spin squeezing Hamiltonian suggested originally by Kitagawa and Ueda, since it is useful for interferometry and metrology. No analytical solution valid for arbitrary spin values seems to be available. In this article we systematically consider the issue of the analytical solvability of this Hamiltonian for various specific spin values. We show that the spin squeezing dynamics can be considered to be analytically solved for angular momentum values upto $21/2$, i.e. for $21$ spin half particles. We also identify the properties of the system responsible for yielding analytic solutions for much higher spin values than based on naive expectations. Our work is relevant for analytic characterization of squeezing experiments with low spin values, and semi-analytic modeling of higher values of spins.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of the present study was to examine the prevalence of Enterococcus faecalis and Candida albicans in endodontic infections.

METHODS
Samples for microbiological examination were collected from 32 patients with deep dental caries, infected dental root canal, or periapical infection.

RESULTS
Cultivation of the dental samples yielded four strains of Enterococcus faecalis (12.5 %), and three strains of Candida albicans (9.4 %). All Enterococcus faecalis isolates were susceptible to ampicillin, one isolate was resistant to tetracycline, two to erythromycin and azithromycin (additional 2 had intermediate susceptibility), and one strain had intermediate susceptibility to ciprofloxacin and moxifloxacin.

CONCLUSION
We conclude that Enterococcus faecalis and Candida albicans can participate in the dental root canal and periapical infections, and the use of effective irrigant solutions and intracanal medicaments active against these microbes is important in order to prevent endodontic therapy failures. Unexpected was the isolation of C. albicans from a nine-year-old child with periodontitis apicalis. This finding must draw attention to the possibility that even at such a young age, this microorganism could be a potential etiological agent in endodontic infections (Tab. 2, Ref. 34). Text in PDF www.elis.sk.


Previously, Mojalal et al. (2019) gave an expression for the waiting time distribution of low priority customers in the Delayed Accumulating Priority Queue, but with no quantification of the effect on others in system. We provide an analytical expression for the expected waiting time of both high and low priority customers by exploiting a conservation law for work conserving queues. Our expression can be efficiently implemented numerically, requiring only the truncation of sums which converge exponentially quickly. This enables us to use common key performance indicators to demonstrate how the accumulation rate and delay level should be chosen by health care practitioners.


Abstract Aims Nurses are at the forefront of public health emergencies facing psychological pressures ensuing from the loss of patients and potential risk of infection while treating the infected. This study examines whether inclusive leadership has a causal relationship with psychological distress and to assess the mediation effect of psychological safety on this relationship in the long run. The hypotheses are developed and interpreted with the help of theoretical underpinnings from job demands resources theory and the theory of shattered assumptions. Design Three‐wave longitudinal study. Methods Questionnaire was used to carry out three waves of data collection from 405 nurses employed at five hospitals in Wuhan during the COVID‐19 outbreak between the months of January–April 2020. Partial least square structural equation modelling (PLS‐SEM) was used to analyze data while controlling for age, gender, education, experience, and working hours. Results Results supported the hypothesized relationships where inclusive leadership indicated significant inverse causal relationship with psychological distress and a positive causal relationship with psychological safety. Mediation effect of psychological safety was found significant, while the model explained 73.9% variance in psychological distress. Conclusion Inclusive leadership, through its positive and supportive characteristics, can pave way for such mechanisms that improve the psychological safety of employees in the long run and curbs psychological distress. Impact This is the first longitudinal study to examine the relationship between inclusive leadership and psychological distress in health care and also examines the mediating mechanism of psychology safety. There is scarcity of empirical research on factors that determine and affect behavioural mechanism of healthcare workers during traumatic events and crisis. Clinical leaders and healthcare policy makers must invest in and promote inclusive and supportive environment characterized with open and accessible leaders at workplace to improve psychological safety; it helps reduce levels of psychological distress.


Leaves, bark and woody part of Ficus carica L. cultivar Dottato collected in different months were examined to assess their chemical composition, antioxidant activity and phototoxicity on C32 human melanoma cells after UVA irradiation. The phytochemical investigation revealed different composition in the coumarin, fatty acid, polyphenol and flavonoid content. The second harvest of leaves and the first harvest of the bark possessed the highest antiradical activity with IC50 values of 64.00 ± 0.59 and 67.00 ± 1.09 μg/mL, respectively. Harvest III of leaves showed the best inhibition of lipid peroxidation (IC50 = 1.48 ± 0.04 μg/mL). Leaf samples of F. carica showed also the best antiproliferative activity in comparison with bark and woody part of F. carica.


The purpose of this study is to find out the Architectural meanning in the wood column Detail in 17th,AD. The problem which this paper treat is as follow. The 1st one is materal Survey investigation. The 2nd one is to find out the meaning of relationship between column and roof. The 3rd one is it sure that tradtional column are over designed? On the above three questions this paper adapted expermental reserch.


Vehicular ad hoc networks (VANETs) will have noteworthy breakthroughs with the upcoming 5G and 6G technologies. In VANETs, the performance changes with traffic, contention window (CW) size, and vehicle velocity. Since the velocity and number of vehicles are not controllable, CW size will be optimized to maximize performance. In this paper, performance is optimized for highly important safety messages (sm) in VANETs by optimizing CW size with respect to number of vehicles and vehicle velocity. If any of these parameters (velocity and/or number of vehicles) changes, CW size will be dynamically adjusted to keep performance at optimum level. The comparison between IEEE 802.11 and IEEE 802.11p for sm in VANETs is presented where performance is maximized for both IEEE 802.11 and IEEE 802.11p. Markov chain based analytical model is developed and optimum expressions are derived. SUMO is used to build the microscopic mobility model. Monte Carlo simulation results are provided which verify analytical study and demonstrate that the performance is maximized regardless of parameters variation.


Background: Small-bus operators (SBOs) in South Africa operate on the periphery of the economic mainstream of scheduled subsidised commuter transport, and little progress has been made in getting these operators into the more formal subsidised industry. There is also a lack of information about the challenges these operators face in participating in the public transport industry. Objectives of the research: The main objective of the research was to conduct a survey among SBOs to obtain a better understanding of the challenges that they face in participating in the public transport industry. Method: A telephone survey of operators was undertaken to ensure an adequate response to a structured questionnaire. In analysing the data, we made use of Factor Analysis and the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) to undertake general statistical analysis. Results: The main results of the survey indicate that SBOs face significant financial and operational challenges. There is also a perceived lack of government support for SBOs. Major conclusions are that the Department of Transport (DoT) ought to address issues related to the complex governmental reporting and legal requirements for small business. In addition, government ought to be creating 'space' for SBOs in the design of contracts and actively encouraging the formation of consortia's or partnerships, among the SBOs and/or between SBOs and established bus companies. Government, and especially the DoT, ought to more actively market the governments' small-business support systems and procedures together with financial aid schemes to assist SBOs in acquiring or replacing buses.


Determination of thermal performance or efficiency of steam generators by traditional ASME procedures is a complex and difficult undertaking. When the fuel is municipal solid waste, additional variables are introduced to confound the procedures further. A new approach is proposed as a basis for discussion. The intent of the new approach is to reduce the time and effort required to achieve agreement that a municipal-solid-waste-fired steam generator has performed as specified and/or guaranteed. 5 references.


Australian laws concerning religious vilification and the prohibition of discrimination on the basis of religious belief pose a danger to the future of multiculturalism. They have a chilling effect on legitimate expressions of religious freedom because of the impact that 'folklaw' and risk-averse management have on people's behaviour. They may also create conflict by establishing a new forum for disputes that courts can never resolve. Communities who share values based on faith need the freedom to argue their understanding of truth and to discriminate between right and wrong as they see it. A new approach to multiculturalism is proposed that balances the different interests involved and which may benefit other minorities as well.


Ayurveda has recognized the importance of Vyayama (physical activity) at least two thousand years ago. Ayurveda mentions the effect of physical activity in maintenance of health while also recognizing its ill-effects when performed inadequately and also excessively. Ayurveda has advised that a moderate level of physical activity be incorporated in daily routine to maintain health. Ayurveda considers multiple factors while prescribing the physical activity such as Prakriti (psychosomatic constitution), age, sex, diet of a person , Ritu (season), type and stage of disease, and other concurrent therapeutic procedures. It is point of interest to note that the recent scientific evidences based on physical activity research, too are consistent with the classical descriptions regarding the effects of Vyayama on body and mind. Studies have reported that contracting skeletal muscles act as "endocrine organs" and release myokines and Irisin which perform multiple anti-inflammatory functions, which in turn, reduce the risk of developing various inflammatory and metabolic diseases. Vyayama helps in maintaining the balance between three Dosha (i.e., Vata, Pitta and Kapha ), stimulates Agni (~ digestive and metabolic strength), enhances Oja (~ mental and physical capacity to resist diseases) and helps in maintenance of homeostasis in general. The genetic variations with respect to individual responses to exercise have also been reported which may be relevant in the context of Prakriti . The present paper is aimed at discussing and exploring the complex mechanisms of various aspects of Vyayama as conceived in Ayurveda in view of reported scientific evidences.


There is no doubt that Professor Brij Gopal is a leading authority on the waterplants and wetland vegetation of the Indian Sub-continent. Therefore, I received 'Ecology and management of aquatic vegetation in the Indian Sub-continent' with high expectation. I was not disappointed. Kluwer Academic Publications in their Geobotany Series have aimed for quality productions with instructive figures, tables and photographs interposing the text. They have achieved it in this case. The book is well presented, the figures easy to see, and some (but not all) of the photographs are excellent. However, botanical books of this nature really need colour plates to bring everything to life. The text is divided into four main sections: (i) Diversity of aquatic habitats and their vegetation, (ii) Ecology of aquatic vegetation, (iii) Role of aquatic vegetation in ecosystem functioning, and (iv) Management of aquatic vegetation. Altogether, there are eleven authors making a contribution to the twelve chapters. Gopal has a hand in many of the chapters which lends a high degree of continuity. In other words, this really is a carefully thought-out book with inputs from experts: it is not a series of papers cobbled together


OBJECTIVE
The purpose of our study was to compare aortic CT angiography performed at a low tube voltage and reduced dose of contrast material with standard-voltage, standard-contrast-dose CT angiography.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS
We evaluated 74 patients for aortic disease on MDCT angiography (collimation, 16 x 1.5 mm; beam pitch, 0.9). In 36 patients, we used the standard tube voltage (120 kVp) and a contrast dose of 100 mL (300 mg I/mL) (protocol 1), and in the remaining 38 patients we applied a reduced tube voltage (90 kVp) and a contrast dose of 40 mL (300 mg I/mL) (protocol 2). The patients' weights, CT attenuation of the aorta, visualization of the celiac axis and renal artery, and graininess and streak artifacts on transverse CT scans were evaluated and recorded for each data set. The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) were also measured. For statistical analysis, we used the two-tailed Student's t test and logistic regression; agreement between measurements recorded independently by two blinded reviewers was assessed using Cohen kappa statistics.

RESULTS
In both protocols a negative correlation was seen between patient weight and CT attenuation. In three protocol 1 patients weighing more than 70 kg, CT attenuation was less than 200 H. No difference was seen between the two protocols with respect to mean attenuation of the aorta (p = 0.13) or visualization of the celiac axis and renal artery (p = 0.35 and 0.60, respectively). Although the SNR and CNR were significantly higher in protocol 1 than in protocol 2, qualitative evaluation of graininess and streak artifacts showed no statistically significant difference (p = 0.15 and 0.48, respectively). Interobserver agreement for quality assessments was within an acceptable range (kappa = 0.42-0.80).

CONCLUSION
Low-contrast and low-voltage scans are appropriate for lighter patients (< 70 kg in body weight) with aortic disease. Moreover, this method is particularly valuable for follow-up studies of heavier patients (> 70 kg) with renal dysfunction.


The principles and use of ultrasonic scanning are explained. Doppler systems and combined techniques (duplex scanning) are also described, as are three-dimensional techniques that are as yet in the research stage. The applications discussed include obstetrics; tumor detection; blood-flow imaging; ultrasonic imaging as a surgical aid; tissue characterization; and physical therapy.


A questionnaire study investigated the intimate relationships of 128 gay men. Most men said their current relationship was extremely close and personally satisfying. An analysis of their values concerning these relationships identified two distinct dimensions: dyadic attachment and personal autonomy. Relationship values appeared to be part of more general patterns of conservatism versus liberalness in men's attitudes. The importance men gave to attachment values was consistently related to features of their relationships, including love and intimacy, future expectations, sexual behavior and exclusivity, and reactions to breakups. In contrast, autonomy values appeared to have little impact on intimate relationships. Results are discussed in terms of men's sex-role socialization.


Three series of polycrystalline ceramics with a compositional formula of Ba6-3xLn8+2xTi18O54 with Ln (lanthanide) = Sm, Gd and Nd and x = 0.0 – 0.7 were synthesized by the standard double sintering ceramic technique. The changes of sintering time ranging from 2 h to 6 h in steps of 1h were taken into consideration showing its effect on the behavior of the ceramics. X-Ray Diffraction analysis confirmed that the crystal symmetry was same i.e., orthorhombic with a possible space group of Pbam, for all the ceramics of the three series. The lattice parameters increased with increased sintering time. Grain morphology was investigated with the help of Scanning Electron microscopy. Fired densities have been observed to be greatly improved with the raised sintering time. There was a considerable and similar effect on dielectric and conductivity properties, for all the ceramics series, carried out at a frequency of 3.0 GHz at room temperature. Dielectric constants were increased up to the sintering time of 4 h and then tended to saturate for raised sintering time in all series. Moreover, the loss tangent was seen to be decreased remarkably with increased sintering time in all the series. Relationship between density, crystallites size and dielectric properties has been presented.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate non-invasive continuous hemodynamic (IQ System) monitoring in the differential diagnosis of dyspnea.

METHODS
According to the diagnosis on discharge, 48 patients diagnosed as pulmonary dyspnea were enrolled in control group and 38 patients with cardiac dyspnea were in heart failure group. Each patient underwent IQ monitoring on admission and after recovery. The difference in the diagnosis on admission and on discharge, and the difference in IQ index were analyzed.

RESULTS
(1) Clinical diagnosis: 7 patients in heart failure group were missed on admission as 5 were diagnosed as pneumonia and 2 were diagnosed as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). One patient with pneumothorax in control group was misdiagnosed as heart failure. (2) Indexes of cardiac function: base impedance (Zo), maximum value of dz/dt (dz/dt max) and Heather index (HI) of heart failure group were markedly lower than those of control group (all P<0.001). The respective values were (19.0+/-3.5) Omega vs. (28.8+/-5.5) Omega, (0.76+/-0.42) Omega/s vs. (1.40+/-0.72) Omega/s, and (7.04+/-4.25) Omega/s2 vs. (13.60+/-6.36) Omega/s2. If Zo value of patients with dyspnea was 22 omicron or less, the sensitivity in diagnosing heart failure was 79 percent, and its specificity was 94 percent. If Zo value was 18.0 omicron or less, the sensitivity in diagnosing heart failure was 47 percent, and its specificity was 100 percent. (3) Comparison within groups: Indexes of cardiac function of control group did not change obviously and Zo, dz/dt max, HI, stroke volume (SV) and acceleration contraction index (ACI) values of heart failure group rose significantly after recovery. (4) Pre-ejection period (PEP) and left ventricular ejection time (VET) in both groups had no statistical significance in differences.

CONCLUSION
IQ System was valuable in differential diagnosis to judge if dyspnea is caused by heart failure. Zo, dz/dt max and HI, especially Zo, are reliable.


Six new macrocyclic complexes were synthesized by template reaction of urea or thiourea with malonic acid and metal (II) chloride. The metal to ligand ratio of the complexes was found to be (1:1). The Co(II) and the Ni(II) complexes are proposed to be square planar and Cu(II) complexes are proposed to be octahedral geometry. Macrocyclic complexes are (1:2) electrolytes for Cu(II) and Ni(II) complexes while Co(II) complexes are non-electrolytic nature as shown by their molar conductivities (ΛM) in DMSO (Dimethyl sulphoxide) of 10 -3 M solution. The structure of metal complexes from FTIR, UV-Vis., magnetic susceptibility measurements, molar conductivity measurements, atomic absorption and melting points. A theoretical treatment of the formation of complexes in the gas phase was studied, this was done using the HYPERCHEM-6 program for the Molecular mechanics and Semiempirical calculations. The complexes have been tested for their antibacterial activities against Two type of human pathogenic bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli). The first are Gram positive while the second are Gram negative (by using agar well diffusion method). Finally, it was found that compounds show different activity of inhibition on growth of the bacteria.


Thirty-nine black Members serve in the 107th Congress, all in the House of Representatives. In 210 years of congressional history, there have been 107 black Members of Congress: 103 elected to the House and four to the Senate. This report includes alphabetical listing of black members, selected biographical information, and committee assignments during their tenure in office.


Pyroglutamic acid is one of the privileged asymmetric precursors for the synthesis of a variety
of molecules such as Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor
subtypes (AT-1 receptor antagonists), as well as bioactive natural products. Starting with primary reports
in 1980's, last almost four decades has witnessed a rapid overgrowth of publications using pyroglutamic
acid as a preferred asymmetric precursor and these have been well documented. Pyroglutamic
acid has two differential carbonyl groups a lactam carbonyl and a carboxylic functionality
along with an NH group, and all of these functionalities can be further derivatized/ transformed and
in turn opened avenues for the synthesis of variety of molecules. Derived easily from glutamic acid
by internal cyclization, pyroglutamic acid offers a cheap and very good source of chirality and has
provided an important tool for the synthesis of natural products/intermediates to natural products.
Herein, we wish to describe the exploitation of the chemistry of pyroglutamic acid and its derivatives
in the asymmetric synthesis of natural products establishing its versatility as a privileged asymmetric
precursor.


AIM
To compare the outcomes achieved with external dacryocystorhinostomy (EX-DCR) and transcanalicular dacryocystorhinostomy (TC-DCR) using a multidiode laser in patients with bilateral nasolacrimal duct obstruction (NLDO).

METHODS
This prospective study was conducted on 38 eyes of 19 patients with bilateral NLDO. Simultaneous bilateral surgery was performed on all patients. TC-DCR (Group 1) with a diode laser was used in the right eye, and EX-DCR (Group 2) was used in the left eye. All patients were placed under general anesthesia. Routine follow-ups were scheduled at 1wk; 1, 3, 6 and 12mo postoperative intervals. Objective (lacrimal system irrigation) and subjective [tearing, irritation, pain, discharge and visual analogue scale (VAS) score] outcomes were evaluated.

RESULTS
The overall objective success rate at 12mo was 73.7% (14/19) in Group 1 and 89.5 % (17/19) in Group 2. This difference was statistically significant. There were no significant between-group differences in the subjective results, such as tearing, pain and irritation. Only the discharge scores were found to be significantly higher in Group 1 compared to Group 2 at the 1y follow-up. The average VAS score was 6.8 in Group 1 and 8.7 in Group 2, with no statistically significant differences.

CONCLUSION
Although TC-DCR allows surgeons to perform a minimally invasive and safe procedure, EX-DCR offers better objective and subjective outcomes than TC-DCR.


This paper addresses the statistical behavior of spatial smoothing subspace DoA estimation schemes using a sensor array in the case where the number of observations N is significantly smaller than the number of sensors M, and that the smoothing parameter L is such that M and NL are of the same order of magnitude. This context is modeled by an asymptotic regime in which NL and M both tend to ∞ at the same rate. As in recent works devoted to the study of (unsmoothed) subspace methods in the case where M and N are of the same order of magnitude, it is shown that it is still possible to derive improved DoA estimators termed as Generalized-MUSIC with spatial smoothing (G-MUSIC SS). The key ingredient of this work is a technical result showing that the largest singular values and corresponding singular vectors of low rank deterministic perturbation of certain Gaussian block-Hankel large random matrices behave as if the entries of the latter random matrices were independent identically distributed. This allows to conclude that when the number of sources and their DoA do not scale with M,N,L, a situation modeling widely spaced DoA scenarios, then both traditional and Generalized spatial smoothing subspace methods provide consistent DoA estimators whose convergence speed is faster than 1/M. The case of DoA that are spaced of the order of a beamwidth, which models closely spaced sources, is also considered. It is shown that the convergence speed of G-MUSIC SS estimates is unchanged, but that it is no longer the case for MUSIC SS ones.


Potential factors underlying the tumorigenic activity of ethylbenzene (EB) were examined in F344 rats and B6C3F1 mice inhaling 750 ppm EB vapor 6 h/day, 5 days/week, for one or four weeks. Target tissues (kidneys of rats and livers and lungs of mice) were evaluated for changes in organ weights, mixed function oxygenases (MFO), glucuronosyl transferase activities, S-phase DNA synthesis, apoptosis, alpha2u-globulin deposition, and histopathology. In male rats, kidney weight increases were accompanied by focal increases in hyaline droplets, alpha2u-globulin, degeneration, and S-phase synthesis in proximal tubules. In female rats, only decreased S-phase synthesis and MFO activities occurred. In mice, increased liver weights were accompanied by hepatocellular hypertrophy, mitotic figures, S-phase synthesis, and enzyme activities. S-phase synthesis rates in terminal bronchiolar epithelium were elevated and accompanied by loss of MFO activity. Exposure to a nontumorigenic level of 75 ppm for one week caused few changes. These data, considered with the general lack of EB genotoxicity, suggest a mode of tumorigenesis dependent upon increased cell proliferation and altered population dynamics in male rat kidney and mouse liver and lungs. A similar response in the kidneys of female rats appears to require a longer exposure period than was employed.


A new technique using particle image velocimetry (PIV) has been developed to evaluate the detailed velocity profiles of red cells flowing in microvessels. The microcirculation in rat mesentery was directly observed using high-speed videomicroscopy, and the images of red cells flowing in the mesenteric arterioles were recorded simultaneously with the arterial blood pressure. Based on the high-speed videomicroscopic images obtained, velocity vectors in single or branched arterioles were evaluated to obtain velocity profiles across the cross-section of arterioles. It was shown that in single and straight arterioles the velocity profile was blunt with a pit at the central region, and its pit was marked in bifurcation. The present technique enables us to analyze red cell velocity profiles up to 0.8 microm in the spatial resolution and 1 msec in the time interval.


Hotelling's Rule of non-renewable resource extraction was first proposed in 1931, but strong empirical evidence supporting Hotelling's predictions has been elusive. Recognizing the complications in natural resource markets, we test Hotelling's Rule using bitcoin rents. Bitcoin is similar to natural resources in that new coins enter the market solely through the efforts of individual agents expending computer resources to attain bitcoins, which can then be sold on exchanges for profit. Bitcoin has a fixed and known resource stock, can be accessed by anyone with a computer, exhibits a fairly homogeneous and easily modeled "mining'' technology, and extraction rates follow restricted and pre-determined patterns. Aspects of capital investment and mining returns are observable and can be tracked over time, making bitcoin an ideal test bed for Hotelling's Rule. We calculate the growth rate of the net asset price of Bitcoin, and compare it to the growth rate of several market indicies (GSPC, HYG) over the same time period. We test for and find evidence of a co-integrating relationship, providing support for Hotelling's rule in that any deviations from the theoretical price path bring economic forces to bear that restore the proper pricing relationship.


Context. The isotopic ratio of nitrogen presents a wide range of values in the Solar System: from ~140 in meteorites and comets to 441 in the solar wind. In star-forming systems, we observe even a higher spread of ~150–1000. The origin of these differences is still unclear.
Aims. Chemical reactions in the gas phase are one of the possible processes that could modify the 14N/15N ratio. We aim to investigate if and how the passage of a shock wave in the interstellar medium, which activates a rich chemistry, can affect the relative fraction of nitrogen isotopes. The ideal place for such a study is the chemically rich outflow powered by the L1157-mm protostar, where several shocked clumps are present.
Methods. We present the first measurement of the 14N/15N ratio in the two shocked clumps, B1 and B0, of the protostellar outflow L1157. The measurement is derived from the interferometeric maps of the H13CN (1–0) and the HC15N (1–0) lines obtained with the NOrthern Extended Millimeter Array (NOEMA) interferometer as part of the Seeds of Life in Space (SOLIS) programme.
Results. In B1, we find that the H13CN (1–0) and HC15N (1–0) emission traces the front of the clump, that is the apex of the shocked region, where the fast jet impacts the lower velocity medium with an averaged column density of N(H13CN) ~ 7 × 1012 cm−2 and N(HC15N) ~ 2 × 1012 cm−2. In this region, the ratio H13CN (1–0)/HC15N (1–0) is almost uniform with an average value of ~5 ± 1. The same average value is also measured in the smaller clump B0e. Assuming the standard 12C/13C = 68, we obtain 14N/15N = 340 ± 70. This ratio is similar to those usually found with the same species in prestellar cores and protostars. We analysed the prediction of a chemical shock model for several shock conditions and we found that the nitrogen and carbon fractionations do not vary much for the first period after the shock. The observed H13CN/HC15N can be reproduced by a non-dissociative, C-type shock with pre-shock density n(H) = 105 cm−3, shock velocity Vs between 20 and 40 km s−1, and cosmic-ray ionization rate of 3 × 10−16 s−1; this agrees with previous modelling of other chemical species in L1157-B1.
Conclusions. Both observations and chemical models indicate that the rich chemistry activated by the shock propagation does not affect the nitrogen isotopic ratio, which remains similar to that measured in lower temperature gas in prestellar cores and protostellar envelopes.


Navigation is an essential skill for autonomous robots and it becomes a cumbersome task in human populated environments. Robots need to perform the tasks without disturbing the humans around them and ensure comfort and safety of humans as well. It is further influenced by various factors like social norms, geometry of environment and surrounding people. It is essential to comprehend three components i.e. Social Conventions (SC), Human Motion (HM) and Context Aware Mapping (CAM) for establishing effective socially aware robot navigation (SARN). This article discusses these different aspects of these components which should be taken into consideration while designing an efficient and optimal SARN. Further, it reports recent experiments conducted by different institutes pertaining to these components.


Objective: Non-pharmacological intervention to manage the health by healthy balanced diet and life style modifications. Study Design: Randomized Cross sectional Study. Place & Duration: Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR) laboratory Karachi from March 2012 to June 2013. Material & Methods: In this study, 210 volunteers were included (137 male and 73 female) aged between 25-60 years. The study was conducted with the questionnaire being filled at PCSIR labs, Karachi. The study period included from March to May 2012. One year later the same group of volunteers were re-examined from March to June 2013, who managed to alter the diet and life style for one year. The questionnaire was filled by an expert well versed in collecting the data from the patients who attended the OPD at PCSIR labs. Results: The results indicate that a lot of people in our population lead a sedentary life style and do not take part in physical activity which leads to health problems due to comparatively less energy / calories expenditure. Conclusion: Efforts should be made globally to create a public awareness and provide healthy environment to the people about pursuing healthy lifestyles. Several life style behaviors may influence to maintain energy balance over long term. The primary approach for achieving weight loss is lifestyle changes which includes reduced intake of calories and increase in physical activity. Regular, moderate intensity physical activity enhances long term weight maintenance and balance between energy input and output.


The IP multimedia subsystem has provided major advances for IP-based telecom infrastructures and services. The IMS core network enables a variety of IMS-compliant communications services to interoperate while being accessed through different kinds of access networks, preferably broadband. As both consumer and corporate users are by now used to access services, even communications services through the Web and Web-based communities and social networks, it is key for success of IMS-based services to be provided with efficient Web access, so users can benefit from those new services by using Web-based applications and user interfaces, not only IMS user equipments and SIP protocol. HP CMS has developed the mobile personal community broadcasting (MPCB) service, an IMS / Web 2.0 Live Group Video Share application that is an example of IMS video solution with strong Web 2.0 integration. The efficient integration of IMS and SOA architectures will be essential to achieve the desired goals. Both parlay-X standard WSDL should be supported as well as innovative Web 2.0 web services SDK. One of the key network elements in integrated IMS-SOA environments is the telecom Web services gateway (TWSG), exposing the rich IMS services to the SOA world in an efficient, secured and manageable manner.


Advancements in computer networks and communication technologies like software defined networks (SDN), Internet of things (IoT), microservices architecture, cloud computing and network function virtualization (NFV) have opened new fronts and challenges for security experts to combat against modern cyberattacks. Relying on perimeter defense and signature-based network security solutions like Intrusion Detection and Prevention Systems (IDS/IPS) have failed to deliver adequate level of security against new attack vectors such as advance persistent threats, zero days, ransomware, botnets and other forms of targeted attacks. Recent developments in machine learning and cognitive computing have shown great potential to detect unknown and new intrusion events where legacy misuse and anomaly based intrusion detection systems usually fail. In this research study we applied state of the art machine learning algorithms on UNSW-NB15 dataset for potential applicability to detect new attacks. We also proposed a novel wrapper based feature selection technique TS-RF using metaheuristic Tabu Search (TS) algorithm and Random Forest (RF) ensemble classifier. Results obtained by applying proposed feature selection technique i.e. TS-RF on UNSW-NB15 dataset show improvement in overall intrusion detection accuracy while it reduces computation complexity as it removes more than 60% features.


Abstract. In providing vaccination services can be done by health workers to give medical consent (informed consent). Informed consent is a term often used for the translation of the approval of medical action. Informed Consent in the medical world we are actually still relatively new. The use of informed consent to health care is still so low, and 30% had experienced midwives maternal perinatal audit due to the demands of patients who do not agree on its medical action and the absence of proof of informed consent in medical record. Purpose : To describe Compliance Midwives in Informed Consent Law Enforcement Against Vaccination Services Based Permenkes 1464 / Menkes / Per / X / 2010 on the Permissions and Implementation of Self-proclaimed Midwives in Semarang. Methods: Descriptive study the necessary data in the form of primary data and secondary data. The sample in this study is Self-proclaimed Midwife in Semarang 30 midwives. Sampling was done by way of non probality sampling technique is purposive sampling. Results: BPM obedient to fill informed consent as much as 40% and BPM are not obedient to fill informed consent as much as 60%. BPM which have informed consent vaccination by 33% and BPM do not have informed consent vaccination as much as 67%. The application of informed consent when the initial vaccination visit as much as 70% and the application of informed consent every time vaccination visit as much as 30%. Conclusion: Most BPM disobedient to fill informed consent, most BPM does not have the informed consent of vaccination and the majority of the application of informed consent at the time of initial BPM vaccination visit.


We report the first detection of a hot molecular core outside our Galaxy based on radio observations with ALMA toward a high-mass young stellar object (YSO) in a nearby low metallicity galaxy, the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC). Molecular emission lines of CO, C17O, HCO+, H13CO+, H2CO, NO, SiO, H2CS, 33SO, 32SO2, 34SO2, and 33SO2 are detected from a compact region (∼0.1 pc) associated with a high-mass YSO, ST11. The temperature of molecular gas is estimated to be higher than 100 K based on rotation diagram analysis of SO2 and 34SO2 lines. The compact source size, warm gas temperature, high density, and rich molecular lines around a high-mass protostar suggest that ST11 is associated with a hot molecular core. We find that the molecular abundances of the LMC hot core are significantly different from those of Galactic hot cores. The abundances of CH3OH, H2CO, and HNCO are remarkably lower compared to Galactic hot cores by at least 1–3 orders of magnitude. We suggest that these abundances are characterized by the deficiency of molecules whose formation requires the hydrogenation of CO on grain surfaces. In contrast, NO shows a high abundance in ST11 despite the notably low abundance of nitrogen in the LMC. A multitude of SO2 and its isotopologue line detections in ST11 imply that SO2 can be a key molecular tracer of hot core chemistry in metal-poor environments. Furthermore, we find molecular outflows around the hot core, which is the second detection of an extragalactic protostellar outflow. In this paper, we discuss the physical and chemical characteristics of a hot molecular core in the low metallicity environment.


The United States Department of Energy (DOE) has identified switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) as a viable perennial herbaceous feedstock for cellulosic ethanol production. Although switchgrass bioenergy research was initiated by USDA‐ARS, Lincoln, NE, USA in 1990, switchgrass research has been conducted at this location since the 1930s. Consequently, a significant amount of genetic and agronomic research on switchgrass has been conducted for the Corn Belt and Central Great Plains of the USA that is directly applicable to its use as a biomass energy crop. Similar research must be conducted in other major agroecoregions to verify or modify switchgrass management practices (agronomics) for bioenergy production. The technology to utilize switchgrass for producing ethanol using a cellulosic platform or by pyrolysis to generate syngas is advancing rapidly. Regardless of platform, using switchgrass for ethanol production will require the development of improved bioenergy cultivars or hybrids and improved agronomics to optimize production and will introduce competing uses for the land base. Published in 2008 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd


Based on the latest study of phosphate detergent ban and restrict, the phosphorus discharge from detergent in Beijing has been investigated. According to the status of wastewater treatment plants and its practical function, phosphate-based detergent's contribution to the municipal sewage is calculated to be 8. 41%, which is less than the average (20% ) in most other cities of China.


Objective To compare the functional status of diabetic patients with and without nephropathy and identify the items that diabetic patients with nephropathy are more likely to develop dysfunction than diabetic patients without nephropathy based on the international classification of functioning,disability and health rehabilitation set(ICF-RS).Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted.A total of 320 diabetic patients hospitalized in Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine from August 2021 to February 2022 were selected and assigned into a group with nephropathy and a group without nephropathy.The general characteristics,clinical examination,and laboratory findings were compared by the t test,rank sum test,and Chi-squared test.The functional status of the patients was compared between the two groups by the t test based on the ICF-RS.Logistic regression was employed to control interferential factors between the two groups and identify the association between nephropathy and ICF-RS problematic items among diabetic patients.Results The diabetic patients with nephropathy had more problematic items in ICF-RS(P<0.001),the body function dimension(P=0.003),the activity dimension(P<0.001),and the participation dimension(P<0.001)than those without nephropathy.Moreover,the diabetic patients with nephropathy experienced severer problems in 5 body function items(energy and drive functions,sleep functions,sexual functions,exercise tolerance functions,and muscle power functions),10 activity items(transferring oneself,walking,moving around using equipment,moving around,washing oneself,caring for body parts,toileting,dressing,doing housework,and looking after one's health),and 4 participation items(using transportation,assisting others,basic interpersonal interactions,and recreation and leisure)(all P<0.05).The Logistic regression results showed that compared with the diabetic patients without nephropathy,the diabetic patients with nephropathy were more likely to develop problems in energy and drive functions(aOR=4.35,95%CI=1.28-14.79,P=0.019),emotional functions(aOR=1.88,95%CI=1.06-3.34,P=0.031),sexual functions(aOR=3.39,95%CI=1.82-6.34,P<0.001),moving around(aOR=3.11,95%CI=1.76-5.52,P<0.001),doing housework(aOR=17.48,95%CI=3.57-85.60,P<0.001),looking after one's health(aOR=1.97,95%CI=1.13-3.43,P=0.017),using transportation(aOR=2.59,95%CI=1.38-4.88,P=0.003),and recreation and leisure(aOR=2.52,95%CI=1.46-4.35,P<0.001).Conclusion Compared with the diabetic patients without nephropathy,the patients with nephropathy suffer more ICF-RS problematic items and are more likely to develop dysfunction in certain items in all the three dimensions.


Chemical instigators and modulators of tumourigenesis influence cell signal transduction pathways. Cyclic nucleotides and steroid hormones may contribute to the process of carcinogenesis or provide protection via apoptotic mechanisms. Although several pharmacologic classes of compounds influence cyclic nucleotide levels markedly, less is known about the class effects of promoters and blockers of tumourigenesis and apoptosis. This molecular modeling study uses cyclic nucleotide templates to investigate relative molecular similarity within compounds modulating tumourigenesis and apoptosis. Findings, in respect of superimposition and molecular fit of the investigated compounds, are related to their individual effects on cyclic nucleotide pharmacology. Modulators of tumourigenesis and estrogen receptor sub-type ligands relate to cyclic nucleotide structure. Estradiol and GPER ligands provide a similar pattern of fit to adenine nucleotide. Chemically diverse modulators of apoptosis, including K+ channel ligands, fit to different components of cyclic nucleotide structure. Compounds modulating Ca2+ entry and IP3 receptors relate structurally to the nucleotide dioxaphosphinin moiety. Relative molecular similarity within the structures of apoptosis and tumourigenesis modulators identifies a unifying property within chemically disparate compounds. The ubiquitous generation of oxidative stress and ROS in cells by apoptosis modulating compounds may relate to the disruption of cyclic nucleotide regulated homeostasis mechanisms.


The toxicity and antitumor activity of the novel organotin compound triethyltin(IV)lupinylsulfide hydrochloride (IST-FS 29), administered by the oral route, have been evaluated against three transplantable murine tumor models: P388 lymphocytic leukemia, B16F10 melanoma and 3LL Lewis lung carcinoma. Mild and reversible signs of acute toxicity such as behavioral symptoms, weight loss and histological alterations were mainly reported at the highest single dose of 28 mg/kg. Conversely, lower concentrations of compound ranging from 7 to 21 mg/kg did not result in major toxic effects, even after repeated dosing. The antitumor activity studies showed that fractionation dosing, rather than single bolus administration, over 1 week, might prove more active and better tolerated by allowing the achievement of the highest therapeutic total dose of IST-FS 29 (42 mg/kg). Indeed, repeated administrations of IST-FS 29 resulted in marked significant improvement of antitumor activity against B16F10 (50% of tumor volume inhibition, p  = 0.0003) and, to a greater extent, 3LL (90% of tumor volume inhibition, p  = 0.0001) tumors. These results indicate that IST-FS 29 might be a suitable candidate as an orally administrable anticancer drug and support its further development in human tumor xenografts.


Digital learning management systems (LMS) are revolutionizing learning in many areas, including computer science education (CSE). They are capable of tracking learners' characteristics, such as prior knowledge, and other learning habits, and may offer more personalized learning or guidance on useful learning practices. LMSs collect large amounts of data. Proper processing of such collected data can offer valuable insights about the learning process, support for higher quality education, insights on why some students drop out of courses, and so on. In this paper, we briefly review and discuss the global trends in digital learning and learning lnalytics (LA), specifically from the viewpoint of two LMS systems and related LA research, one in Finland and one in Sweden. In this paper, we address the context-, and course-specific nature of LA by developing the idea of cross-country and cross-systems learning analytics. Second, we consider our research especially from an educational perspective to identify the most beneficial practices for teachers and students. Third, we discuss, based on findings from our projects, future avenues for research.


Exposure to prenatal stress may result in childhood behavioral problems, due to in utero programming of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA). A stress, prenatal cocaine exposure, may alter the fetal HPA development, which may play a role in the abnormal behavior in children of cocaine-abusing mothers. Objective We determined the effects of prenatal cocaine exposure on the responsiveness of the HPA axis to stress. We hypothesized that prenatal cocaine exposure will alter the HPA response to stress. Material and Methods Pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were given cocaine (2 mg/kg/d, 1 ml/kg) or normal saline (NS) (1 mL/kg) IV from gestational day (GD) 8 to GD 22. Mixed gender litters were culled to 11 and weaned at postnatal day (PD) 28. At PD 45, ovine CRF was injected IV to male and female rats exposed to either prenatal cocaine (n = 22) or NS (n = 20). Blood samples were drawn before and at 15, 30, 60 minutes post injection. To control for stress from handling and blood sampling, NS was administered and blood samples were obtained in additional rats exposed to either cocaine (n = 22) or NS (n = 20). Corticosterone levels were determined by RIA. The longitudinal data were analyzed with a linear mixed model. Results Weights (birth through adulthood) were not different between cocaine- and NS-exposed rats. Cocaine-exposed and NS-exposed rats both responded to either CRH or NS injection but CRH injection caused a greater increase in plasma corticosterone than NS (p < .0001). At baseline, cocaine-exposed females had higher corticosterone levels than NS-exposed rats (p = .016); these were observed in male rats, but not significantly different (p = .4278). In female rats, cocaine effect diminished (in the CRH-injected rats) or reversed (in the NS-injected rats) between 30 and 60 minutes (p = .049) while corticosterone levels in cocaine-exposed males stayed higher than NS-exposed rats. Female rats had higher corticosterone levels than males, regardless of prenatal exposure or injection of CRH or NS (p < .0001). Conclusion Corticosterone reactivity to stress is not abolished by prenatal cocaine exposure. However, in female rats, cocaine exposure resulted in altered pattern of corticosterone response to stress. The mechanisms for these findings and their significance remain to be determined.


There is some apprehension about the possible effect of the introduced American mink Mustela vison upon the indigenous British fauna, either as a predator exerting new and excessive pressure upon native prey species, or as a carnivore competing for prey resources against native carnivores. Concern is also felt by preservers of game, and by keepers of small domestic animals (poultry and rabbits) about the mink's potential as a pest. To investigate the food habits of the mink in England and Wales the alimentary canals of 1165 trapped animals were examined, yielding 204 samples for analysis. The resulting information provides a general picture of the mink's diet, including seasonal variations. Comparisons were possible with similar work carried out in other countries, and with the diets of other British carnivores. Tentative conclusions were reached regarding the broad pattern of food relationships between the mink and other British animals, wild and domestic.


Proceedings: AACR Annual Meeting 2014; April 5-9, 2014; San Diego, CA

The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα) is a nuclear receptor, which belongs to the super-family of steroid hormone receptor. To date, the biologic function of PPARα in human cancers is still controversial and needs further investigation. In our study, we explored the clinical feature, biological function and potential mechanism of PPARα in glioma. PPARα expression was significant lower in high grade tissues than low grade tissues in whole genome gene profiling of 158 glioma tissues. PPARα activation using fenofibrate inhibited glioma cells proliferation, invasion and aerobic glycolysis. Further, PPARα was a direct target of miR-19a and miR-19a was modulated by E2F1 at transcriptional level. Moreover, PPARα activation repressed E2F1 activation by modulating transcriptional complexes formed with E2F1 and pRB proteins. Finally, we confirmed PPARα/E2F1/ miR-19a feedback loop in vivo using nude mouse glioma xenograft and human glioma tissues. To our knowledge, it is first time to demonstrate that PPARα regulates glioma development by E2F1-induced miR-19a in a feedback loop and provide important clues for understanding the key roles of PPARα functional network in glioma.

Note: This abstract was not presented at the meeting.

Citation Format: Junxia Zhang, Yan Shi, Yingyi Wang, Wenkang Luan, Yongping You. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α is regulated by E2F1-induced miR-19a in a feedback loop in glioma progression. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 4195. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-4195


Viewers of public displays perceive the content of a display at different walking speeds. While responsive design (RD) adapts web content to different viewing contexts, so far only the characteristics of the device and recently the proximity of the viewers are taken into account. Yet, little attention has been paid to speed-based adaption of content and its potential in case of public displays. We therefore decided to develop a framework that would support speed-based adaptation of public display applications. In this paper, we present a framework called RDSpeed that allows developers and designers alike to easily utilize our speed-based adaptation technique and integrate them into their own applications. RDSpeed extends the standard RD definition by adding new media queries for each adaptation technique. Media queries have long been established as the go-to technique for developing responsive web applications when dealing with a variety of different devices. A user study was conducted to investigate the potential of our content adaptation technique, and possible use and extensions in the future. We show several example adaptive applications of RDSpeed, as well as discussing advantages and limitations of our framework as revealed by our user study.


Aim: to present a patient's clinical case; to demonstrate how important is to suspect rertrobulbar pseudotumor timely, why it is necessary to remove even the smallest metal foreign bodies from the jaw area; to show the importance of an integrated simultaneous clinical delivery on the spot during the investigation of a complex illness. Case report: presenting the clinical case – patient MA (66 years of age) right eye vision started to deteriorate 6 years ago, a small defect of a pupil (abnormal pupil shape) was found; after the remove a cataract operation, the vision improved (during the week after the operation the patient has not used prescribed corticosteroid drops in the eye, this incompliance with prescription caused the uveitis anterior, which went away in 2 months after relevant treatment started). One year after surgery a pain appeared in the area of the right cheek, teeth and beneath the right eye, manifested hearing weakness dextra side. Several dentists treated this patient. Also rhinologist, mouth, face, jaw surgeons and oncologists were involved. Diagnosis: alveolitis, sinusitis, osteomielitis sinus maxilaris dextra, a foreign body in a right maxillary sinus projection. Patient was examined for TBC, sarcoidosis, fungal illness, syphilis, all with negate results. Gradually right eye became blind. After the vision of the left eye began to deteriorate, further cataract surgery was undertaken. The further sudden deterioration in the general condition of the patient was treated in the neurological and supportive therapy departments for several months. Diagnosis: cerebellar degeneration and chronic polyneuropathy ataxia, unspecified dementia, extraocular palsies, metabolic hepatitis, chronic pancreatitis, bladder disturbance. During that time a protrusion of the right eye gradually enlarged and became more exposed. The left eye became blind several months later. KT and MRT: right eye's retrobulbar tumor spread through eyehole slots intracranial and to left orbit; a small metal foreign body was found subcutaneously in the right cheek. A biopsy was taken from the para- and retrobulbar tissues: fibromatosis was diagnosed. Half a year later a sphenoorbital meningioma was suspected and the surgery aimed to partially remove a tumor from the right orbit was performed. During this stay under the neurosurgeons care it becomes clear that episodes of psychomotor agitation were also present. The eyelids of the right eye were sutured to protect the cornea against perforation. Histologic diagnosis: retrobulbar pseudotumor of both eyes. Metal foreign body remained untouched. The ophthalmologist removed the foreign metal body, which was situated in the cheek subcutaneously, close to N. infraorbitalis with capsule in a local polyclinic soon afterwards. The composition of the foreign metal object was investigated: it was found that 95% of it was iron with small amounts of rare metals usually found in steel alloy, calcium. Histology detected hemosiderosis in connective tissue of capsule. Patient was examined by a rheumatologist on the basis of the suspicion of Wegener granuliomatosis. Data to confirm Wegener's granulomatosis was not enough; internal organs without lesions, it was diagnosed cholelithiasis and fibrotic lesions in the lungs. It was confirmed systemic transgression of connective tissue with retrobulbar pseudotumor diagnosis. Corticosteroid treatment was given for 1 month. Patient was examined 8, 15 and 27 month after foreign body removal later: the skin of the face was free of scars, eyelids of the right eye has been sutured; the left eye had no inflammation, refracto- and keratometry findings were the same, like 4 years before; levels of immunoglobulins G and E in blood decreased - normal; the systemic transgression of connective tissue remained. Patient walks with a wide-based gait, he becames totally dependent on care (he is blind and desorientated at place and time, his personality has changed; Mini Mental State Examination 13/30). This story showed, how it is important to have a complete understanding of the patients health from various medical specialists at the same physical place and at the same time. The case shows surprising differences of results of radiologic examination of the same case. Article in Lithuanian


Herein, we report a series of selective sub-nanomolar inhibitors against butyrylcholinesterase (BChE). These compounds, bearing a novel N-benzyl benzamide scaffold, inhibited BChE with IC50 from picomolar to nanomolar. The inhibitory activity was confirmed by the surface plasmon resonance assay, showing a sub-nanomolar KD value, which revealed that the compounds exert the inhibitory effect through directly binding to BChE. Several compounds showed neuroprotective effects verified by the oxidative damage model. Furthermore, the safety of S11-1014 and S11-1033 was demonstrated by the in vivo acute toxicity test. In the behavior study, 0.5 mg/kg S11-1014 or S11-1033 exhibited a marked therapeutic effect, which was almost equal to the treatment with 1 mg/kg rivastigmine, against the cognitive impairment induced by Aβ1-42. The pharmacokinetics studies characterized the metabolic stability of S11-1014. Thus, N-benzyl benzamide inhibitors are promising compounds with drug-like properties for improving cognitive dysfunction, providing a potential strategy for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.


The first step in quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) is to determine distribution of pathogen contamination among servings of the food at some point in the farm-to-table chain. In the present study, distribution of Salmonella contamination among servings of chicken liver for use in QMRA was determined at meal preparation. A combination of five methods: 1) whole sample enrichment; 2) quantitative polymerase chain reaction; 3) cultural isolation; 4) serotyping; and 5) Monte Carlo simulation were used to determine Salmonella prevalence (P), number (N), and serotype for different serving sizes. In addition, epidemiological data were used to convert serotype data to virulence (V) values for use in QMRA. A Monte Carlo simulation model based in Excel and simulated with @Risk predicted Salmonella P, N, serotype, and V as a function of serving size from one (58 g) to eight (464 g) chicken livers. Salmonella P of chicken livers was 72.5% (58/80) per 58 g. Four serotypes were isolated from chicken livers: 1) Infantis (P = 28%, V = 4.5); 2) Enteritidis (P = 15%, V = 5); 3) Typhimirium (P = 15%, V = 4.8); and 4) Kentucky (P = 15%, V = 0.8). Median Salmonella N was 1.76 log per 58 g (range: 0 to 4.67 log/58 g) and was not affected ( P > 0.05) by serotype. The model predicted a non-linear increase ( P ≤ 0.05) of Salmonella P from 72.5% per 58 g to 100% per 464 g, minimum N from 0 log per 58 g to 1.28 log per 464 g, and median N from 1.76 log per 58 g to 3.22 log per 464 g. Regardless of serving size, predicted maximum N was 4.74 log, mean V was 3.9, and total N was 6.65 log per lot (10,000 chicken livers). The data acquired and model developed in this study fill an important data and modeling gap in QMRA for Salmonella and chicken liver.


Abstract Extra-pair paternity occurs frequently in socially monogamous birds, but there is substantial variation in extra-pair siring success among males. Several studies have shown that siring success relates to the timing of morning activity, with the earliest active males being more successful, suggesting that early activity is important for acquiring extra-pair copulations. However, these studies are correlational, and it, therefore, remains unclear whether the relationship between timing and extra-pair siring success is causal. An alternative explanation is that successful extra-pair sires tend to be active earlier (e.g., because they are of high quality or in good condition), but that early activity in itself does not increase siring success. We experimentally advanced the emergence time of male blue tits by exposing them to light about half an hour before their natural emergence time. Although males that were exposed to the light treatment emerged from their roost substantially earlier than males that were exposed to a control treatment, light-treated males were not more likely to sire extra-pair offspring. Furthermore, whereas control males showed the expected relation between emergence time and siring success (although not statistically significant), there was no relation between emergence time and extra-pair siring success among light-treated males. Our results suggest that the timing of emergence from the roost is not an important factor underlying extra-pair siring success.


Female power, female aspirations and female charisma are the hallmarks of women who have broken with traditional values as wives and companions of political and business leaders, or as confidantes and lovers of media celebrities, to form a new elite. From Westminster to Wall street, the Capitol Hill to Hollywood and the Elysee Palace to Middle Eastern kingdoms, vital roles are now being played by women. Through interviews the authors of this book examine female achievements in politics, business, science, fashion, literature, and the arts and entertainment, as well as revealing the strategies that have won independence for women in predominantly patriarchal societies. With quotes and contributions from such luminaries as Cherie Booth, Hillary Clinton, Ivana Trump, Joan Collins, Benazir Bhutto and Liz Hurley, this book celebrates the rise and rise of influential women. Set against the historical background of female emancipation over the past 100 years, it offers inspiration to women still trapped in the time warp of male sexual supremacy.


Aesthetics is a science of human existence which addresses the perception of issues related to beauty and is realized through art education. Due to the theoretical importance of aesthetics and the dearth of research in education and given that art can face the most basic stages and profound aspects of life and audience characters with significant change and evolution, the current study which is a qualitative research aimed to introduce and analyze the theory of aesthetics of Dewey and identify the role of this type of experience in education using descriptive-analytical and library method. Finally, after the data were qualitatively analyzed and the philosophical foundations of education and pragmatism were provided, as well as art and beauty were addressed from the perspective of John Dewey, it was concluded that art can be considered as one of the most efficient tool sand methods of human education in today's world who results and effects are visible in different areas, especially in the field of creativity and mental health. In this regard, awareness and education at all levels of education and promotion of public culture is very important , so from the perspective of John Dewey, class and school environment should be conducive to fostering artistic talent and encourage students and their success in various fields of art and provoke either sense of appreciation for the artistic heritage of the community.


Summary: The morphological development of two seed-raised individuals of Pereskia quisqueyana Alain (Cactaceae-Pereskioideae), a Critically Endangered species, was studied in cultivation in Singapore over a period of five years and compared with other taxa from P. subgenus Leuenbergera G. Rowley. An augmented description of this imperfectly known yet evidently rather variable taxon from the Dominican Republic is provided. The genetic diversity of the species manifests itself in the presence or absence of brachyblast leaves, number and length of spines and in wide variations in the phenology of individuals grown under uniform conditions. Growth behavioural and architectural differences between P. subg. Leuenbergera (or genus Leuenbergeria) and P. subg. Pereskia are discussed and it is concluded that the former is largely acrotonic in its branching pattern, the latter mesotonic. Further notes on the morphology (including seedlings), polyembryony, geographic range, biogeography, ecology, flower insect visitors, seed dispersal, uses, specific differences and conservation status of P. aureiflora Ritter, P. bleo (Kunth) DC., P. guamacho Weber, P. lychnidiflora DC. and P. portulacifolia (L.) DC. and its Greater Antillean allies are presented, together with some observations on leaf-bearing cacti in cultivation in the humid tropics.


This report presents data obtained from field studies carried out by mott hay and anderson on behalf of the Department of Transport in 1986 and 1987 to measure the vehicle pollutant levels in the dartford, rotherhithe and tyne tunnels. These results are compared with estimated levels, determined using the method developed by the permanent international association of roads (PIARC) congress in 1979 (see IRRD no 258056), and the later revised method developed in 1983, (see IRRD no 278403). The field studies were carried out to determine the applicability of the revised method to the United Kingdom, as much of the data for the PIARC revised method was obtained from observations in road tunnels in Switzerland and Austria. Following initial tests in the dartford tunnel, the rotherhithe tunnel was chosen for the first series of experiments. Preliminary tests were commenced in August 1986 and the main definitive tests took place in December 1986. These tests were limited to carbon monoxide emission only. A second series on experiments was carried out in the tyne tunnel in October 1987, which included both carbon monoxide and smoke emission measurements. On the basis of the results obtained from these tests, the conclusion drawn was that the PIARC '79 method should continue to be utilized for predicting the vehicle emission rate.


Section 23 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa confers on every worker the right to strike. It further provides that every trade union, employers\' organization and employer has the right to engage in collective bargaining, and goes on to provide that national legislation may be enacted to regulate the process. The Labour Relations Act of 1995, enacted specifically to give effect to these constitutional rights, gives effect to the right to strike by providing procedures for the exercise of the right, and protections for strikes in the collective bargaining context. Interestingly, the Act does not provide for the duty to bargain. With the current wave of industrial action sweeping across the South African labour industry, the issue of the interplay between the workersâ?? right to strike and to bargain collectively with the employer remains one of the topical issues in the South African labour law discourse. The critical question that this paper seeks to address is whether the right to collective bargaining extends to an entitlement for workers to exercise collective power by striking, in the event that the bargaining process reaches impasse. This paper thus seeks to explore these concepts in an attempt to see what is at stake in deriving an entitlement to strike from what looks like a very abstract entitlement to bargain. The results of this exploration will then be brought to bear on some particular problems to do with the scope of the right to strike in South Africa. The paper argues that the current constitutional and statutory framework on collective labour dispute resolution in South Africa is flawed, and calls for urgent attention.


Abstract Introduction Prior Park is an important and early example of a surviving, small-scale, eighteenth-century landscape, the seat at Bath of Ralph Allen (1693-1764), owner of the stone quarries from which Bath was built. It reflects the hand of Alexander Pope (1688-1744), and later Sanderson Miller (1716-1780) and Lancelot 'Capability' Brown (1716-1783). This paper exarnines Alexander Pope's involvement at Prior Park, and in doing so reassesses the garden as of national importance. Completed around 1742, approximately one year before Pope's death, it was the last garden that he was involved with, and it is here that he put into practice his theories on gardening from 1713, the summation of his experience. The thesis is that Prior Park, whilst containing emblematic and iconographic meaning, expresses at the same time a Romantic character that was not fulfJled to such an extent elsewhere by this date and as a consequence it is also argued that Pope's theories, as expressed at his own garden at Twickenham (with Sherborne Castle landscape as the catalyst), were inmlensely influential on the work of William Kent and that Kent developed no theories of his own — that is to say, the influence is from Pope to Kent and not vice versa as convention maintains.


Fibro adipogenic progenitors (FAPs) promote satellite cell differentiation in adult skeletal muscle regeneration. However, in pathological conditions, FAPs are responsible for fibrosis and fat infiltrations. Here we show that the NOTCH pathway negatively modulates FAP differentiation both in vitro and in vivo. However, FAPs isolated from young dystrophin-deficient mdx mice are insensitive to this control mechanism. Nonetheless, factors released by hematopoietic cells restore the sensitivity to NOTCH adipogenic inhibition. An unbiased mass spectrometry-based proteomic analysis of FAPs from muscles of wild type and mdx mice, revealed that the synergistic cooperation between NOTCH and inflammatory signals controls FAP differentiation. These results offer a basis for rationalizing the pathological outcomes of fat infiltrations in skeletal muscle and may suggest new therapeutic strategies to mitigate the detrimental effects of fatty depositions in muscles of dystrophic patients. Highlights Single-cell mass cytometry reveals that wt and mdx FAPs are in different cell states. Activation of the NOTCH signaling pathway negatively regulates adipogenesis of wt but not mdx FAPs. Deep proteomics suggests a mechanism explaining the different sensitivity of mdx- FAPs to NOTCH. TNF-a stimulation restores the anti-adipogenic effect of NOTCH in mdx FAPs.


This PhD thesis deals with the petrogenesis of the Katerina Ring Complex. It is part of the northernmost sector of the Arabian-Nubian Shield (ANS) that consists of Neoproterozoic juvenile crust formed by protracted accretion of island-arc terrains, although inherited pre-Neoproterozoic zircons have been reported. The post-collisional magmatism from the ANS comprises two suites with an important time overlap: a calc-alkaline suite formed at 635-590 Ma followed by a second one with A-type affinity at 608-580 Ma. The Katerina Ring Complex consists of a large diversity of roughly coeval felsic igneous rocks with A-type affinity that crop out over an area of about 400 Km2. Country rocks to the Katerina Ring Complex comprise the El-Sheikh granodioritic pluton (610 ± 5 Ma), the Moneiga quartz diorites (844 ± 4 Ma), which are the oldest rocks in the area, and volcano-sedimentary material from the Rutig Formation. This latter consists of volcanic rocks (622 ± 3 Ma) and conglomerates containing granite boulders with ages of 623 ± 3 Ma, 735 ± 6 Ma and 748 ± 11 Ma. The complex consists of two ring dikes composed of quartz syenites locally crosscut by dikes of microsyenites. The ring dikes are intruded by: 1) a quartz monzonitic pluton in the eastern zone of the complex (Wadi Isbaiya); 2) a pluton of fluorite-bearing aluminous syenogranites and alkali feldspar granites with aplite apophyses (Katerina pluton); 3) a small pluton of peralkaline granites at the top of Gebel Musa (Mount Sinai). SHRIMP dating reveals that most rocks in the Katerina Ring Complex were formed in a narrow time slot of ~9 Ma, from 602 Ma to 593 Ma, called the Katerina magmatic cycle that began with the intrusion of quartz syenites and microsyenites from the ring dikes at ca. 602 Ma, being closely followed by intrusions of the Isbaiya quartz monzonites at 599 ± 3 Ma and the main Katerina pluton at 596 ± 3 Ma, and ended with the intrusion of the Gebel Musa peralkaline granite pluton at 593 ± 2 Ma. Aluminous alkali feldspar granites from the Katerina pluton contain inherited Archean zircons (~3.2 Ga), which may suggest mantle recycling of Archean materials. Quartz syenites are weakly metaluminous; whereas microsyenites are metaluminous, but tending to peralkaline. Peralkaline granites are also marginally peralkaline, in spite of the presence of arfvedsonite, with atomic Al/(Na+K) ratios close to one (range: 0.95-1.01). Both quartz monzonites and aluminous granites vary from metaluminous to peraluminous. All rock types show a ferroan character, excepting quartz monzonites that are weakly magnesian. Quartz syenites and microsyenites show alkalic compositions; whereas quartz monzonites, aluminous granites and peralkaline granites are alkali-calcic. Chondrite-normalized REE patterns have, in general, a marked enrichment in LREE compared to HREE in all rock types. Aluminous granites and peralkaline granites show a strong negative Eu anomaly (Eu/Eu* range: 0.30-0.38 in syenogranites; 0.03-0.26 in alkali feldspar granites; 0.01-0.18 in aplites; and 0.02-0.08 in peralkaline granites). In microsyenites and quartz monzonites, negative Eu anomalies are less pronounced with Eu/Eu* values ranging 0.26-0.83 in microsyenites and 0.73-0.85 in quartz monzonites; whereas in quartz syenites, Eu anomalies can be positive (Eu/Eu* = 1.22-1.52) or weak negative (Eu/Eu* = 0.73-0.96). Silicate Earth-normalized trace element patterns are enriched in incompatible elements with a negative Nb-Ta anomaly in all rock types, but in aluminous granites. Peralkaline granites and quartz syenites present mantle-like Nb/Ta ratios; whereas in quartz monzonites and aluminous granites, they are more moderate with continental-crust like values. Slight negative to weak positive or flat to weak positive Pb anomalies are present in quartz syenites, microsyenites and peralkaline granites; whereas in aluminous granites and quartz monzonites, there are positive Pb anomalies that are more marked in aluminous granites that experienced substantial LREE accessory fractionation. The aluminous magmas experienced a complex internal evolution involving fractionation of feldspar, mafic minerals, zircon, and LREE accessories allanite and monazite from a heterogeneous (or from more than one) magma batch with high-Fe syenogranitic composition to produce low-Fe alkali feldspar granites. In peralkaline granites, liquids experienced important compositional variations caused by uncoupled (1) feldspar fractionation, which caused depletion in Ba and Sr and decreasing in Eu/Eu* ratio, and (2) HFSE and ferromagmensian component enrichment, most probably related to a fluorine-rich mobile phase. All rock types from the Katerina Ring Complex show positive !Ndi values (range: 3.1 to 6.4) and relatively young Nd model ages (621-855 Ma, except one sample of aluminous granite that yields 985 Ma) that are in accordance with the juvenile character of the ANS. As a consequence of this latter, there is not enough isotopic contrast for discriminating between mantle-derived and continental crust-derived magmas. Therefore, the nature of magma sources for the A-type magmatism has not been firmly established. Trace-element relationships such as Y/Nb versus Th/Nb and Th/Ta provide new constraints for unraveling the origin of A-type granitoids, as roughly conserved during internal fractionation of aluminous and peralkaline magmas. By contrast, Ce/Pb may experience significant variation in aluminous granites due to fractionation of allanite and monazite; however, less evolved high-Fe syenogranites as well as quartz monzonites, which did not experience significant LREE accessory phase fractionation, have a continental crust- like Ce/Pb ratio, which may be signature for an important continental crust component. Alkalic metaluminous quartz syenites and alkali-calcic peralkaline granites were generated by high-pressure fractionation and low-pressure fractionation, respectively, of magmas derived from mantle sources with minor, if any, involvement of the continental crust. By contrast, alkali-calcic, metaluminous to peraluminous quartz monzonites and alkali-calcic, essentially peraluminous, syenogranites were formed from a source with an important continental crustal component.


This study aimed to find out how secondary school teachers perceived successful science instruction and learning. A descriptive survey design was therefore employed in the study. The sample size for the study included 14 secondary-level science teachers who worked in five public schools in the districts of Kathmandu, Lalitpur, and Bhaktapur. A structured questionnaire of the 5-point Likert type designed by the researcher was the tool used to collect data. After the instrument was validated, the reliability coefficient, which was calculated using Cronbach alpha, was found to be 0.84. The questionnaires were distributed by the researcher using Google Forms, and to ensure 100% return, they were then collected. The frequency distribution analysis and the percentage of responses provided by the teachers to each item were used to analyze the data. The results were also tallied up and collected in order to provide answers to the research question.


Recovery of green turtles (Chelonia mydas), mega‐herbivores that consume seagrasses, is resulting in dramatic ecosystem‐wide changes as meadows are returned to a natural grazed state. The green turtle grazing strategy, with long‐term cultivation of meadows and high foraging site fidelity, is distinct from other terrestrial and aquatic mega‐herbivores and may affect seagrass compensatory growth responses. Identifying the mechanisms of compensatory growth responses to grazing is essential to understand the functioning of plant systems under natural grazing regimes. In a naturally grazed Caribbean seagrass ecosystem, we identify a mechanism for compensatory growth responses to grazing by evaluating relationships between Thalassia testudinum morphology and growth, grazing intensity, and canopy light dynamics in grazed and ungrazed areas. The morphological characteristics that explain variability in T. testudinum growth differed between grazed and ungrazed areas. In grazed areas, T. testudinum leaf linear growth, leaf area growth, and productivity:biomass (P:B) significantly increased as above‐ground biomass decreased; P:B also increased with shoot density. Mass growth in grazed areas exhibited an increasing trend with shoot density and was maintained above a threshold of 2.5 g dry mass m−2 above‐ground biomass. In ungrazed areas, trends for mass growth and P:B with above‐ground biomass and shoot density were opposite to those in grazed areas. In grazed areas, shoot density significantly increased with grazing intensity while above‐ground biomass decreased and leaf area index (LAI) was not affected. Light availability at canopy height was greater in grazed areas than in ungrazed areas, and canopy light attenuation increased with shoot density in grazed areas. Synthesis. Grazing removes above‐ground biomass, which increases light availability and stimulates leaf growth and turnover (i.e. compensatory growth). Shoot density increases with grazing intensity, maintaining LAI and canopy light harvesting potential. This maximizes the potential for leaf photosynthetic activity and provides the plant with the capacity to sustain mass growth and support a compensatory growth response to grazing. This study presents novel insight for assessing the underlying mechanisms of plant compensatory growth responses to cultivation grazing and proposes potential thresholds that may be used to evaluate the sustainability of in situ grazing pressure by a recovering mega‐herbivore.


Summary: Kinematic characteristics of the knee joint after total knee arthroplasty produce adverse wear conditions at the articular bearing surface. Some implant materials and designs that are currently in use have addressed these issues, but a few problems remain. Polyethylene quality and particulate debris are major concerns that have yet to be resolved, but implant design characteristics can minimize the impact of wear on the clinical course.


a windmill could impact his village. Zunon's compositions seamlessly combine oil paintings with touches of cut-paper collage work, and rich, unexpected colors and textures bring warmth and intensity to the scenes. Kamkwamba's tale will appeal to a wide cross-section of kids, from those drawn to human-interest stories to those who like to construct and deconstruct things; supplementary details are provided in the extensive author's note, which includes a photograph of William atop his actual windmill. HM


The objectives of this experimental research were threefold: first, to develop a web-based instruction in English paragraph writing for undergraduate university students, second, to compare learning achievements on paragraph writing of students who received tutoring via web-based instruction with the achievements of students who received tutoring via conventional face-to-face instruction, and third to evaluate students' attitudes towards learning English paragraph writing via web-based instruction. The population consisted of 324 first-year students who enrolled in General English II in the second semester of the academic year 2012 at Thaksin University, Thailand. A sample group of 100 students was drawn from this population by the use of simple random sampling, and then divided into a control group and experimental group, each consisting of 50 students. The experimental group received the web-based instruction, while the control group received the conventional face-to-face instruction. The results revealed that 1) the efficiency value of the web-based instruction lessons was 80.03/80.38. 2) The learning achievement on paragraph writing among students using the web-based instruction was higher than those taught through the conventional face-to-face instruction at a significance level of 0.05. 3) Students had very good attitudes towards learning English paragraph writing via web-based instruction with an average score of 3.72.


This article analyses the complex narrative of Harriet Cole, a 36-year-old African-American woman whose body was delivered to the anatomy department of Hahnemann Medical School in 1888. The anatomist Rufus B Weaver used her preserved remains to create a singular anatomical specimen, an intact extraction of the 'cerebro-spinal nervous system'. Initially anonymised, deracialised and unsexed, the central nervous system specimen endured for decades before her identity as a working-class woman of colour was reunited with her remains. In the 1930s, media accounts began to circulate that Harriet Cole had bequeathed her remains to the anatomist, a claim that continues to circulate uncritically in the biomedical literature today. Although we conclude that this is likely a confabulation that erased the history of violence to her autonomy and her dead body, the rhetorical possibility that Harriet Cole might have chosen to donate her body to the medical school reflects the racial, political and legal dimensions that influenced how and why the story of Harriet Cole's 'gift' served multiple purposes in the century and a half since her death.


Background: Giant dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) of the scalp is a rare case, which is an intermediate grade soft tissue neoplasm originating from the dermal layer of the skin, which usually occurs in adults. Case Description: We describe such a case in a 26-year-old male. A wide local excision of the tumor with a generous tissue margin was performed; microscopic and immunohistochemical findings established the diagnosis of recurrent DFSP. Conclusion: Our case is unique in that it is presented as a dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans of the scalp, which is an extremely rare clinical entity, and the patient remains well after 14 months with no further treatment, without any tumor recurrence.


We investigate the global stability character of the equilibrium points and the period-two solutions of , with positive parameters and nonnegative initial conditions. We show that every solution of the equation in the title converges to either the zero equilibrium, the positive equilibrium, or the period-two solution, for all values of parameters outside of a specific set defined in the paper. In the case when the equilibrium points and period-two solution coexist, we give a precise description of the basins of attraction of all points. Our results give an affirmative answer to Conjecture 9.5.6 and the complete answer to Open Problem 9.5.7 of Kulenović and Ladas, 2002.


The 'voice' or perspective of the athlete is commonly unheard in research and practice relating to athlete development. This is seemingly ironic, given that 'the athlete' is purportedly the central focus and they have lived the experience, making them a truly qualified 'knowledge expert'.

Gary Hall Jr, a five-time Olympic gold medallist and advocate, started proceedings at the recent IOC Consensus meeting on youth athlete development in sport by reflecting on his experiences as an athlete. What he shared was insightful and compelling. As the meeting progressed, invited experts voiced their shared concern regarding issues relating to athletes' welfare, well-being and development, including depressive illness, burnout, role strain, eating disorders, injury, bullying and harassment. It was recognised that a concerted research and coordinated support effort must be taken to further understand and address these issues. Central to achieving this, effective engagement of the perspective of the athlete is critical.

It is well accepted within the contemporary literature that an athlete's performance, at each stage of …


Background:
 Solitary plasmacytoma (SPC) is a rare plasma cells disorder, which may present as a single bone lesion or an extramedullary plasmacytoma. High dose radiotherapy may be curative, yet most patients eventually develop Multiple Myeloma (MM). Due to rarity of the disease, there is uncertainty regarding the optimal treatment strategy, especially in patients that present with known risk factors. The role of adjuvant anti-myeloma therapy is still under debate, whereas few studies have reported efficacy of novel agents.
 We aimed to explore clinical characteristics and treatment patterns and to identify predictors for relapse and progression to myeloma in a real world setting.
 Methods:
 Consecutive patients, diagnosed and treated for solitary plasmacytoma in 13 centers, between 2008 and 2019 (defined by the IMWG criteria) were identified, based on medical centers patient registries and pathological reports. Patient's medical charts were reviewed, and data regarding patient and disease characteristics, treatment regimen, and clinical endpoints, focusing on response to treatment and time to disease progression were documented. The treatment response categories were defined according to the IMWG criteria.
 Results:
 62 patients (pts) were identified. Baseline characteristics and workup are detailed in the table. Median follow-up was 39 months (mo) (IQR: 13.5, 63.3). Fifty nine pts (95.2%) were treated with radiotherapy, with a median dose of 45.0 Gy (range: 30-54 Gy); radiotherapy dose was 45-54 in 31 pts, < 45Gy in 11 pts. Twenty pts (33.9%) underwent surgery in addition to radiotherapy, 3 more pts underwent a surgery alone. The median time to radiotherapy since diagnosis was 2.7 months (range: 1day-18.2 months), 8 pts received any anti-myeloma therapy for treatment of plasmacytoma including Melphalan/dexamethasone (n=1), bortezomib based induction followed by ASCT (n=2), VD/VTD (n=2) and KRD (n=1).
 Among 25 patients with evaluable post-therapy PET-CT response (performed 12 months post radiotherapy), 26% had no remaining FDG uptake, 20% had a 50% or greater decrease in FDG uptake. Among 40 patients with CT or MRI post therapy assessment, 20% had disappearance of SPC, 27% had ≥50% reduction, 7% had <50% reduction and 25% remained without change. Non-bone SPC were more likely to achieve CR than bone SPCs, 86% vs 29%, respectively, p=0.021.
 During the follow-up period, 16 pts (25.8%) experienced evolution to MM (15 pts had bony and 1 soft tissue plasmacytoma in diagnosis). Among patients with bone SPC (n=49), 30.5% evolved to MM. A total of 6 pts had a recurrence of SPC (5 pts had a bony and 1 patient upper aerodigestive plasmacytoma in diagnosis). 5 pts died (3 without recurrence or evolution to MM). Median time to plasmacytoma recurrence in pts that achieved CR was 36.7 mo (range: 3 -67.9 mo); Median time of evolution to MM was 37.5 mo (range: 6.7-87.2 mo). Progression free survival (PFS) was 67.7 mo for all pts (Fig1A), 48 mo for bone SPC and was not reached for non-bone SPC (p=0.11) (Fig1B). Median overall survival was not reached. Overall survival at median follow-up was 93.6%.
 Notably, all 8 pts who were treated with anti-myeloma therapy had a bony plasmacytoma and received radiotherapy in addition. None of these pts had recurrence of plasmacytoma or evolution to MM. Of the 11 pts that had SPC in an upper aerodigestive tract site, none evolved to MM; 10 of these pts were treated with only radiotherapy, one had a plasmacytoma recurrence in the same site.
 Conclusions:
 We present real world data of a multicenter patient cohort with SPC. As previously suggested, prognosis is more favorable for none bone SPCs. Though numbers are modest, our analysis suggests a benefit of the early addition of systemic therapy to standard radiotherapy for patients with solitary bone plasmacytoma.

 Yael: Janssen: Consultancy; Amgen: Consultancy, Research Funding; Neopharm: Consultancy; Takeda: Consultancy; Madison: Consultancy; VBL Therapeutics: Employment.


Insects are declining in abundance and diversity, but their population trends remain uncertain as insects are difficult to monitor. Manual methods require substantial time investment in trapping and subsequent species identification. Camera trapping can alleviate some of the manual fieldwork, but the large quantities of image data are challenging to analyse. By embedding the image analyses into the recording process using computer vision techniques, it is possible to focus efforts on the most ecologically relevant image data. Here, we present an intelligent camera system, capable of detecting, tracking, and identifying individual insects in situ. We constructed the system from commercial off‐the‐shelf components and used deep learning open source software to perform species detection and classification. We present the Insect Classification and Tracking algorithm (ICT) that performs real‐time classification and tracking at 0.33 frames per second. The system can upload summary data on the identity and movement track of insects to a server via the internet on a daily basis. We tested our system during the summer 2020 and detected 2994 insect tracks across 98 days. We achieved an average precision of 89% for correctly classified insect tracks of eight different species. This result was based on 504 manually verified tracks observed in videos during 10 days with varying insect activities. Using the track data, we could estimate the mean residence time for individual flower visiting insects within the field of view of the camera, and we were able to show a substantial variation in residence time among insect taxa. For honeybees, which were most abundant, residence time also varied through the season in relation to the plant species in bloom. Our proposed automated system showed promising results in non‐destructive and real‐time monitoring of insects and provides novel information about phenology, abundance, foraging behaviour, and movement ecology of flower visiting insects.


Women especially from the small and marginal farming families perform over 60% of on-farm activities and almost all off-farm activities. Tribal women play an important and significant role in watershed development activities. The present study was carried out in Kundam block of Jabalpur district in Madhya Pradesh to know the level of participation of tribal women in watershed development practices. The study revealed that tribal women had medium/average participation in watershed practices.


Microorganisms can be used to remove toxic heavy metals from liquid industrial wastes. In addition to the chemical toxicity of many of the latter, the production of long-lived nuclides from nuclear power programmes has introduced additional radiotoxicological hazards. Associated problems of the presence of contaminating, non-metal co-pollutants and the presentation of dilute, high-volume wastes have received little attention. Traditional biotechnological waste treatments have relied either on the use of non-living biomass ('biosorption') or on the accumulation of metals by living cells with the associated problems of metal toxicity effects and the requirements for cell viability or growth. Identification of an enzymically-mediated metal accumulation step can permit decoupling of cell growth from metal accumulation. Using pre-grown biomass immobilized in a flow-through filter ('bioreactor') the metal-accumulative bioprocess can be described accurately applying traditional Michaelis-Menten kinetics. The effect of co-pollutants can be then quantified in order to run the bioreactor in the most efficient way.


This paper presents a novel architecture that brings together Information Extraction (IE) with Event Processing (EP)research areas to globally monitor human activities and biodiversity dynamics and measure their impact on ecosystems. The two areas (IE and EP) are rich on their own and we believe their integration will achieve a much more comprehensive solution to ecosystems monitoring. The integration is based on a closed loop mechanism that guarantees the communication and the evolution of the overall architecture. While we use Microblogging communities (e.g., Twitter) as a news producing tool, we keep track of the vulnerable ecosystems using a GIS tracking database. We also make use of Google Map/Earth API capabilities to dynamically update the GIS database. After a complete cycle, the architecture produces a list of vulnerable ecosystems. This architecture leverages the rich research in Scientific Workflows to achieve the integration and communication of the various components. We are in the process of developing a system that can be used by conservationists and decision makers to efficiently allocate their time and limited resources in response to ecosystems perturbation.