We present an approach to robotic deep learning from demonstration in virtual reality, which combines a deep 3D convolutional neural network, for grasp detection from 3D point clouds, with domain randomization to generate a large training data set. The use of virtual reality (VR) enables robot learning from demonstration in a virtual environment. In this environment, a human user can easily and intuitively demonstrate examples of how to grasp an object, such as a fish. From a few dozen of these demonstrations, we use domain randomization to generate a large synthetic training data set consisting of 76 000 example grasps of fish. After training the network using this data set, the network is able to guide a gripper to grasp virtual fish with good success rates. Our domain randomization approach is a step towards an efficient way to perform robotic deep learning from demonstration in virtual reality.


Analysis of physiological partners of protein kinase CK2 in Drosophila melanogaster. Umesh C. Karandikar CK2 is a highly conserved Ser/Thr protein kinase composed of catalytic (α) and regulatory (β) subunits. The enzyme targets proteins that are involved in a variety of cellular processes such as DNA replication, transcription, translation, cell cycle progression, and development. However, very little information is available on either the regulation of this enzyme or its role during development. These two aspects of CK2 have been addressed using the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, as a model organism. The first study (chapter 2) addresses the isolation and characterization of SSL, an ortholog of CK2β. Using combinatorial approaches, we find that SSL associates with CK2α via a domain that is indistinguishable from that in CK2β. In addition, we find that SSL functionally mimics the biological properties of CK2β, but exhibits an expression pattern that is non-overlapping, raising the possibility that SSL might alter the specificity of this enzyme. The second study (chapters 3 and 4) addresses the developmental role of CK2 with respect to the phosphorylation of the neural repressor E(spl)M8. We find that phosphorylation of M8 (by CK2) is essential for its ability to mediate transcriptional repression during eye development. This repression is essential for the precise positioning of neurons in the developing Drosophila retina. Using a combination of transgenics, cell-fate mapping, and mutant analysis, we implicate a role for this enzyme and identify a critical molecular target (Atonal) of phosphorylated M8. The mechanism we describe is now also implicated in the mammalian retina, where CK2 mediates the phosphorylation of Hes6, the M8 homolog. We have extended our understanding of the roles of this enzyme during neurogenesis by biochemically characterizing a novel target, Deadpan (chapter 5). Taken together, these studies have uncovered a novel evolutionarily conserved developmental role for CK2 as a regulator of neurogenesis.


to tell his patients, quite frankly, to smoke less, to drink less, to stop eating too much rubbish, to exercise more, and to behave generally on less pathogenic lines. He could then, perhaps, spare a little time to do battle against what may be called the social or corporate factors of a kind inimical to health. I read Professor Miles's lecture' with much more interest and respect than I did that of Sir Henry Dale; but it is not correct to say that " he neatly turned the tables on the critics of animal experiments." It is obvious that many species have organs and functions related to those in man ; but there are wide differences, and one can rarely argue with any confidence from one species to another, or even in some cases from one member of a species to another of the same kind. The kinship is based, not on a'similarity of organ or function, but on the two facts that all have conscious life and all can suffer. The more religious would say that all come from God, and that therefore an offence against one of them, whether human or other, is a sin.-I am, etc., WILFRID TYLDESLEY, Secretary. London, S.W. 1. British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection.


Excretion of nitrite during nitrate assimilation by phytoplankton is examined in relation to estimates of new production. Evidence from the literature indicates that nitrite excretion is exhibited by a wide variety of phytoplankton species in cultures and can represent up to 25, 45 and 50"0 of nitrate uptake in Thalassiosira pseudonana, Prorocentrum minimum and Skeletonema costa turn respectively, at irradiance levels which are typical of the primary nitrite maximum in oligotrophic oceans. In natural populations, nitrite excretion can represent up to 60% of nitrate uptake in surface waters of upwelling areas. Conversely, nitrite uptake can equal or exceed nitrate uptake in several species of marine phytoplankton in cullures as well as in natural populations. The first phenomenon can lead to large. \ driations of the net/gross new production estimates, as well as widely biased estimates of the f ratio. For example, a nitrite excretion of 40% of nitrate uptake will lead to a 33";, underestimate of the f ratio in a range of values typical of oligotrophic oceans. The effects of nitrite uptake taking place concurrently with nitrate uptake are more difficult to assess, but the overall result is that f ratios in stratified oceanic areas are probably underestimated by the ''N tracer technique.


Aim: To represent a case report of extensive left atrial myxoma removal with permanent pacemaker implantation. Methods: A 56-year old female patient admitted to the Bakulev Center of Cardiovascular Surgery with cardiac evaluation. She noted progressive chest pain associated with dyspnea and fatigue. After physical examination, transthoracic echocardiography and other methods of evolution confirmed the diagnosis: Tumor of the left atrium. Left atrial dilatation. Left ventricle hypertrophy. Arterial hypertension 2 stage of high risk. Circulatory failure 2 stage (by Strazhesko-Vasilenko), functional class II by NYHA. The huge tumor was successfully excised with closure of atrial septal defect by patch. Results: Transthoracic echocardiography in postoperative period showed a normal left and right ventricular function and no residual shunts. The presence of conduction abnormalities in early postoperative period predicted the need for permanent pacemaker implantation. Conclusions: It must be noted rare occurrence of a huge tumor (myxoma) filling left atrium. Large left atrial tumor is approached by biatrial incision with further excision. It is believed that the case can be beneficial in huge cardiac tumors management. Early detection and surgical treatment of heart tumors can reduce the risk of heart failure, systemic embolization, syncope and sudden cardiac death.


Although considerable research has been devoted to English speech recognition, rather less attention has been paid to Arabic speech recognition. The Arabic language is one of the most commonly used languages worldwide that is in need for accurate audio to text converters. In this paper, we evaluate the recognition performance of the Arabic continuous speech using Soundflower Mac utility. That is, Soundflower was employed as a speaker-independent continuous speech recognition system to evaluate the word error rate (WER) and the accuracy of the Arabic speech. The study also contains a comparative study of the speech recognition performance for male and female native speakers. The experiments conducted using a broadcast news modern standard Arabic (MSA) speech corpus of 2.63 hours (10 male and 10 female speakers). The experimental results show that the accuracy is 54.02 %, and the accuracy of the male and female speakers is almost same. Keywords—Arabic, Speech, Recognition, Corpus, Soundflower.


This study focuses on the representation of male protagonists in several selected films of Ronald Allan Poe Kelly, or more famously known as Fernando Poe Jr. (FPJ). New categories of the representation of male protagonists in action films were arrived at after a thorough reading of the main heroes. The infantilized, trigger-happy, and sadist protagonists that FPJ's films created were identified. This research, which uses dialogue exchanges and movie scenes to create a representation of masculinity, can be regarded as part of cultural studies. In order to give meaning to the categories created by this study, these need to be projected onto a wider context of social issues that take the form of visual culture. The produced categories became the basis with which to analyze the Metro Guwapo project of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) during the term of Bayani Fernando. In addition, these categories were also used to analyze the matrimony of the state and the military during the tenure of former President Gloria Macapagal-Aarroyo as a political and cultural text. Lastly, the created representation of masculinity was used as the basis with which to analyze a photo of former U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Kristie Kenny as she was delivering the guest of honor's speech urging Mindanaoans to take care of Lake Lanao.


This paper introduces Java applet programs for a WWW (world wide web)-HTML (hypertext markup language)-based multimedia course in Power Electronics. The applet programs were developed with the purpose of providing an interactive visual simulation and analysis of idealized uncontrolled and controlled single-phase, and three-phase rectifiers. In addition, this paper discusses the development and utilization of Java applet programs to solve some design-oriented equations for rectifier applications. The major goal of these proposed Java applets was to provide more facilities for the students increase their pace in Power Electronics course, emphasizing waveforms analysis, and providing conditions for an on-line comparative analysis among different hands-on laboratory experiences, via a normal Internet TCP/IP connection. Therefore, using the proposed Java applets, which were embedded in a WWW-HTML-based course in Power Electronics, was observed an important improvement of the apprenticeship for the content of this course. Therefore, the course structure becomes fluid, allowing a true on-line course over the WWW, motivating students to learn its content, and apply it in some applications-oriented projects, and their home-works.


Maximum Likelihood (ML) estimation based Expectation Maximization (EM) reconstruction algorithm has shown to provide good quality reconstruction for PET. Our previous work introduced the multigrid EM (MGEM) and multiresolution (MREM) and Wavelet based Multiresolution EM (WMREM) algorithm for PET image reconstruction. This paper investigates the use of various wavelets in the new Wavelet based Multiresolution EM (WMREM) algorithm. The wavelets are used to construct a multiresolution data space, which is then used in the estimation process. The beauty of the wavelet transform to provide localized frequency-space representation of the data allows us to perform the estimation using these decomposed components. The advantage of this method lies with the fact that the noise in the acquired data becomes localized in the high-high or diagonal frequency bands and not using these bands for estimation at coarser resolution helps speed up the recovery of various frequency components with reduced noise estimation. Different wavelet bases result in different reconstructions. Custom wavelets are designed for the reconstruction process and these wavelets provide better results than the commonly known wavelets. The WMREM reconstruction algorithm is implemented to reconstruct simulated phantom data and real data.


Background: The functional results after complete rectal excision can be improved by a neorectal reservoir. We recently developed a new technique for the formation of a small colon pouch, which we named the transverse coloplasty pouch. The technique demonstrated favorable functional results in an animal model. We report the first description of the human 'transverse coloplasty pouch' according to our early clinical experience. Methods: The technical steps in the formation of the transverse coloplasty pouch are described in detail, illustrated and discussed. After completion of the total mesorectal excision, a purse-string suture is fitted to the distal opening of the mobilized colon. The anvil of a circular stapler is secured by tying the purse-string suture. The colon is opened longitudinally, starting 2 cm proximal to the rim of the anvil. Depending upon the size of the colon, the incision measures 7–9 cm. In analogy to a pyloroplasty, the transverse coloplasty pouch is formed by lateral traction and the transverse opening is closed by running sutures. The continence-preserving neorectal reconstruction is completed by either a stapled anastomosis or a handsewn end-to-end pouch-anal anastomosis. Conclusion: The advantages of the transverse coloplasty pouch are the simplicity of the technique and the facilitated tension-free anastomosis of the neorectum to the dentate line. This is a particular advantage in obese patients with a thick mesocolon and in individuals with a narrow muscular pelvis and/or a short mesocolon.


Drying characteristics of bananas were experimentally determined. The drying experiments were carried out in a hot air dryer at four inlet temperatures of 50, 60, 70 and 80°C, at a constant air velocity of 2.4 m/s and relative humidity of 4–25%. The experimental results were fitted to five thin-layer drying models and it was found that the Page and Logarithmic models gave better fit that the other models. Values of the effective diffusivity ranged from 7.374 × 10−11 to 2.148 × 10−10 m2/s. Activation energy for moisture diffusion of the banana slices was found to be 32.65 kJ/mol.


This paper presents a blended learning approach and a study evaluating instruction in a software engineering-related course unit as part of an undergraduate engineering degree program in computing. In the past, the course unit had a lecture-based format. In view of student underachievement and the high course unit dropout rate, a distance-learning system was deployed, where students were allowed to choose between a distance-learning approach driven by a moderate constructivist instructional model or a blended-learning approach. The results of this experience are presented, with the aim of showing the effectiveness of the teaching/learning system deployed compared to the lecture-based system previously in place. The grades earned by students under the new system, following the distance-learning and blended-learning courses, are compared statistically to the grades attained in earlier years in the traditional face-to-face classroom (lecture-based) learning.


A process independent model for calculating the electromagnetic coupling between inductors and interconnects in CMOS technology is presented. This model is simple since it only requires three parameters, which can be readily extracted from a small number of simulations or measurements. Once these parameters are obtained, the model predicts the coupling between any given inductor and trace (for any length of the trace and distance of separation). This scalability with respect to size of the coil & trace and distance of separation provides insight into coupling effects before/during the layout phase. The model is validated for two separate CMOS processes.


Summary This article presents a review of recent developments in the empirical literature on corruption which uses subjective indices and survey data. The results are presented on two broad themes: contributions to understanding the causes of corruption and theories on the consequences of corruption. Though this type of research is still in its infancy, it has already provided the field of corruption with some of the empirical discipline needed to turn its fertile theorizing into policy recommendations.


OBJECTIVE
Neutrophil lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has emerged as a valuable and reliable method for follow-up of systemic inflammatory disease. We herein aimed to evaluate the role of NLR in the clinical follow-up of inflammation and also to compare its relationship with other measures, such as erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), and Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI).

MATERIAL AND METHODS
A total of 35 active ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and 38 healthy volunteers were included in the study. The patient group was enrolled for treatment with one anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) drug. Total blood count, ESR, CRP, and BASDAI score were obtained before and 3 months following the treatment. NLR was found with a mathematical calculation of the ratio of neutrophils with lymphocytes.

RESULTS
The mean NLR value of the control group and patients was 1.90±0.89 and 2.67±1.17, respectively (p<0.05). After a 3-month course of treatment, the patient group had a mean NLR value of 1.8±0.7, which was significantly lower than pretreatment values (p<0.001). The post-treatment mean ESR, CRP, and BASDAI scores were significantly lower than mean baseline scores (p<0.001, p=0.007, p<0.001, respectively). Also, NLR was found to be correlated with BASDAI, ESR, and CRP (r=0.388, p<0.001; r=0.455, p<0.0001; and r=0.3389, p<0.005, respectively).

CONCLUSION
Neutrophil lymphocyte ratio could be a reliable and easily accessible method for follow-up of patients with AS.


The biggest story of 2018 was a series of summit meetings between US President Donald Trump, South Korean President Moon Jae-in, and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to discuss the denuclearization of North Korea. The income-led growth policies of the Moon Jae-in administration have not stimulated the economy.


This study discussed the effects of age and genotype of birds and location of farm on eggshell thickness. The ultimate objective of the study is to determine the correlates of eggshell thickness which may be relevant to improve eggshell thickness. Secondary data on eggshell thickness collected from the Agricultural Development Programme(ADP), Umuahia were analyzed using the three-factor(fixed effect) analysis of variance. The results of the analysis showed that effects of location and genotype appeared not to be statistically significant. Age of birds was statistically significant. The two factor interactions: L X G and A X G also appeared to have significant effects on eggshell thickness. This may be attributable to the violation of the assumptions of the analysis of variance. A preliminary evaluation of the data showed that although the sample size is large, the data do not seem to have come from a normal population. The variance does not appear to be constant. Also, the data do not appear to be completely random. Therefore, a more appropriate data which meet the assumptions of the analysis of variance model should be collected in order to arrive at a more reliable conclusion. KEY WORDS : factor, fixed effect, analysis of variance, significant, sample, population, model and random.


The purpose of this research is to highlight some characteristic examples of the golden works depicting the gorgoneio and Gorgon. These works are part of the wider chronological and geographical context of the ancient Greek world. Twenty six artifacts in total, mainly jewelry, as well as plates, discs, golden bust, coins, pendant and a vial are being examined. Their age dates back to the 6th century. B.C. until the 3rd century A.D. The discussion is about making a symbol of the deceased persist for long in the antiquity and showing the evolution of this form. The earliest forms of the Gorgo of the Archaic period depict a monster demon-like bellows, with feathers, snakes in the head, tongue protruding from the mouth and tusks. Then, in classical times, the gorgonian form appears with human characteristics, while the protruded tusks and the tongue remain. Towards Hellenistic times and until late antiquity, the gorgoneion has characteristics of a beautiful woman. Snakes are the predominant element of this gorgon, which either composes the gargoyle's hairstyle or is plundered like a jewel under its chin. This female figure with the snakes is interwoven with GorgoMedusa and the Perseus myth that had a wide reflection throughout the ancient times.


Biosurfactants or surface active agents are produced by microorganisms. These molecules reduce surface tension both aqueous solutions and hydrocarbon mixtures. Although a large number of biosurfactant producers have been reported in the literature, biosurfactant research, particularly related to production enhancement and economics, has been confined mostly to a few genera of microorganisms such as Bacillus, Pseudomonas and Candida. Biosurfactants are not only useful as antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral agents but also have the potential for use as major immunomodulatory molecules, adhesive agents and even in vaccines and gene therapy. In the present study we have examined the effect of biosurfactant in vitro. For this purpose we have choosen frog as an experimental animal and the tissue was frog isolated heart. Biosurfactant elicited dose-dependent cardiac depressant activity. Atropine (ATP), a muscarinic blocker could not antagonize the effects of biosurfactant which indicate that the activities are not mediated through muscarinic receptors.


This guide provides you with resources, tools, and tips for writing an effective literature review, your final project for this class.


Abstract The rapid spread of avian influenza (H5N1) and its transmission to humans has raised the possibility of an imminent pandemic and concerns over the ability of standard influenza vaccine production methods to supply sufficient amounts of an effective vaccine. We report here on a robust and flexible strategy which uses wild-type virus grown in a continuous cell culture (Vero) system to produce an inactivated whole virus vaccine. Candidate vaccines based on clade 1 and clade 2 influenza H5N1 strains, produced at a variety of manufacturing scales, were demonstrated to be highly immunogenic in animal models without the need for adjuvant. The vaccines induce cross-neutralising antibodies and are protective in a mouse challenge model not only against the homologous virus but against other H5N1 strains, including those from other clades. These data indicate that cell culture-grown, whole virus vaccines, based on the wild-type virus, allow the rapid high-yield production of a candidate pandemic vaccine.


In Gonzales v. Carhart the Supreme Court invoked post-abortion regret to justify a ban on a particular abortion procedure. The Court was proudly folk-psychological, representing its observations about women's emotional experiences as "self-evident." That such observations could drive critical legal determinations was, apparently, even more self-evident, as it received no mention at all. Far from being sui generis, Carhart reflects a previously unidentified norm permeating constitutional jurisprudence: reliance on what this Article coins "emotional common sense." Emotional common sense is what one unreflectively thinks she knows about the emotions. A species of common sense, it seems obvious and universal to its holder - but this appearance is misleading. This Article articulates and evaluates the Court's reliance on emotional common sense in constitutional law. It demonstrates that emotional common sense sometimes imports into law inaccurate accounts of the world. Justices of every ideological orientation invoke it in a manner that comports with their desired ends. Emotional common sense colors interpretation of evidence, manifests in selective perspective-taking, and shapes jurisprudential choices. Common-sense evaluation of the emotions also necessarily embodies underlying beliefs and values; enforcing them on others under the guise of simple truth silently forces a false consensus. Emotional common sense has a limited place in constitutional law. It may be cautiously embraced where an emotional phenomenon is relatively basic and universal. In all other cases the embrace should be withheld. Evaluating isolated instances in which the Court has looked beyond emotional common sense, the Article shows that a superior path exists.


Introduction: As a chronic disease, allergic rhinitis (AR) requires regular use of allergy medications for the effective management of symptoms. It is therefore imperative that AR treatments not only provide adequate symptom control but are also well tolerated. Areas covered: MP29-02 (Dymista, Meda, Solna, Sweden) is the first new class of AR medication (WHO ATC R01AD58) since the introduction of intranasal corticosteroids (INS) almost 50 years ago. It is a novel intranasal formulation of azelastine hydrochloride and fluticasone propionate delivered in a single spray. Here we review all the safety information relevant to MP29-02, from the initial phase I bioavailability and disposition data, to the phase III 14-day and 52-week data and finally to phase IV safety data collected during MP29-02 use in routine clinical practice. Expert opinion: MP29-02 is the first real therapeutic advance in AR since the introduction of INS and has the potential to change the way this disease is managed, simplifying AR treatment regimens to a single puff in each nostril twice a day. Patients will benefit from superior symptom relief MP29-02 compared to INS with the added assurance that the safety of MP29-02 has been confirmed in the short term and long term as well as in real life.


With the rapid development of wireless mobile communicational technology and the growing demand for lifelong education, mobile education has become a convenient and effective way of education and received considerable attention and research. To further meet the needs of study at "any time, anywhere, any style" for teachers and solve the problem that the difficulty of continuing education and training of in-service teachers, this paper uses the wireless communicational technology of 3G to create the platform for teachers' training by the main mobile terminals of mobile phone. It will promote the better service under the concept of mobile learning and it has great significance for solving the problems in the traditional training and supporting teachers to enhance the professional development.


Lifestyle monitoring as a subset of telecare sets out to use information derived from a range of sensors to put in place a profile of individual behaviour against which changes in behaviour can be compared and referenced to detect variations indicative of a change in health status and need. Based on their research, the authors suggest that in order for lifestyle monitoring to develop, there is a need to more fully understand the way in which such systems operate and how the various aspects such as data collection through to analysis and interpretation come together. The paper therefore presents elements of a system structure for lifestyle monitoring and shows how this structure can incorporate a range of approaches to interpretation and analysis, illustrating this with reference to practical trials involving numeric, analytic and statistical methods as well as a machine learning based approach.


In order to make full use of old newspapers and preserve precious plant resource, old newspapers were reclaimed and refined into fiber, then phthalic anhydride (PA) was utilized to modify the reclaimed-fiber on the condition of ultrasonic radiation. Subsequently, reclaimed-fiber was mixed with polylactic acids (PLA) to obtain composites by means of extrusion molding. At last, mechanical performances of the composite were tested. Results reveal that: composite made form PLA and the PA treated reclaimed-fiber from old newspapers has good mechanical performances, and its tensile strength is higher than 41.5MPa while impact strength is no less than 7.3KJ/m2. Moreover, the optimum processing conditions for modifying reclaimed-fiber with PA are: mass fraction of phthalic anhydride to old newspaper reclaimed fiber 5%, ultrasonic radiation time 15min, and modification temperature 90°C.


Qualitative assessment (the developmental quality of the movement), of the one leg
balance is not as commonly used as quantitative assessment (the measurable time in
seconds), possibly prohibiting the accurate identifying of balance problems. The
purpose of this study was to determine the current status of the quantitative and
qualitative balancing ability in a selected group of South African children, and to
examine the interrelationships between the quantitative and qualitative results of 3-6
year old children as to propose a more accurate assessment of the one leg balance.
The subjects (N=514), aged 3-6 years, were quantitatively and qualitatively assessed
using valid norms and criteria found in the literature. The effect sizes measuring the
relationship between the quantitative and qualitative assessments as determined by
the Phi-score, showed a large effect for the 4 year olds (ES>0.8), and small effects
for the 5 and 6 year olds (ES>0.2). A relatively large percentage (44.10%) of 3 year
olds scored well above the average level for their age in both the quantitative and
qualitative assessment, indicating that the norms and criteria used might not be
appropriate for 3 year olds. Relatively large percentages (25.27%-27.47%) of the 6
year olds scored below the average level for 5 year olds in the qualitative assessment,
suggesting developmental balance delays or disorders that might not have been
identified by means of only a quantitative assessment. These findings indicate that,
when evaluating the one leg balance in children aged 3-6 years, a quantitative and
qualitative assessment should be used in combination together to assure a more
accurate assessment.


Since World War II, the biological and technological have been fusing and merging in new ways, resulting in the loss of a clear distinction between the two. This entanglement of biology with techno ...


The resources in this guide will help you to learn about the book and author, find book reviews, listen to speeches and interviews or lead a book discussion.


The current research investigates the proposal that cross-cultural differences in conflict resolution choices are driven by culturally conferred cognitive scripts-expectancies about appropriate actions in a setting and outcomes they will evoke. Cognitive styles such as Need for Cognitive Closure affect the extent to which individuals rely on their own cultural scripts and hence display culturally typical conflict resolution behaviors. We tested this prediction in two conflict resolution domains where robust differences between American and Chinese had been identified. Study 1 found that differences in conflict management styles emerge primarily in hihg NFC individuals. Study 2 found that differences in preference of types of the third party mediator are qualified by the same interaction with individual differences in NFC. Further evidence was provided by the statistical mediation of expectancies of harmony maintenance or restoration on the moderated cultural difference in choosing the third party. We discuss in light of how cognitive scripts compare with other proposed individual-level mechanisms underlying cultural differences.


SANDRA ALTARAWNEH: Characterization of Salivary, Mucosal, and Denture Surfaces Role in Denture Stomatitis: an Exploratory Study (Under the direction of Sompop Bencharit D. Objectives: To explore associations between clinical signs of stomatitis and tissue/denture infection, as well as salivary and serum biomarkers. Methods: An IRB approved, case-control study enrolled 32 edentate subjects, 17 with healthy palatal mucosa as controls and 15 with denture stomatitis (DS) (Newton " s classification type II and III). Rate of salivary flow, exfoliative cytology, culture, salivary cytokines levels, serum C-reactive protein levels, and DNA-DNA checkerboard analyses were performed. Results: denture levels of yeast were higher and more strongly predictive of clinical DS than salivary or mucosal levels. Certain pro-inflammatory cytokines levels were increased in DS and associated with counts of C. albicans in saliva. Conclusions: the denture, rather than the inflamed palatal mucosa, is the primary C. albicans habitat. At this point, data suggest no evidence that DS can induce systemic inflammation.


Abstract The potential of using laser-assisted cleaning for the removal of burial encrustation and corrosion products on Egyptian glass fragments (from between 332 BCE and 395 CE) excavated from Sinai (Egypt) using a 10 nanosecond Q-switched Nd:YAG laser operating at 1064 nm has been assessed. A series of complementary analytical techniques including microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, static secondary ion mass spectrometry with a focused ion beam and scanning electron microscopy coupled with an energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometer were employed to characterize the glass deterioration phenomena. Following the optimization of laser cleaning parameters, results suggest that laser cleaning successfully removes both the burial encrustation and degradation products, without damage to the underlying glass substrate.


In this paper we present a novel combined tracking algorithm based on moving object detection technology. Particle filtering can work well when the object gets an occlusion, it has difficulty in satisfying the requirement of real-time computing. Meanshift can solve this problem easily, it has poor rubustness during mutual occlusion. In the meantime, because backgrounds of many scenes include complex moving objects, many tracking methods only using the color, texture and shape feature of the object often have a poor rubustness. Aiming at all above problems, we detect the moving object using codebook based background model and incorporate the robustess of particle filter with the efficiency of the meanshift algorithm. The experimental results show that our method can handle scenes containing moving backgrounds or illumination variations, and it improves the robustness when the target is occluded.


This investigation explores DNA-binding interactions of various forms of an alkyl-substituted cationic porphyrin, H2TC3 (5,10,15,20-tetra[3-(3'-methylimidazolium-1'-yl)]porphyrin). The motivating idea is that incorporating alkyl rather than aryl substituents in the meso positions will enhance the prospects for intercalative as well as external binding to DNA hosts. The ligands may also be applicable for photodynamic and/or anticancer therapy. Methods employed include absorbance, circular dichroism, and emission spectroscopies, as well as viscometry and X-ray crystallography. By comparison with the classical H2T4 system, H2TC3 exhibits a higher molar extinction coefficient but is more prone to self-association. Findings of note include that the copper(II)-containing form Cu(TC3) is adept at internalizing into single-stranded as well as B-form DNA, regardless of the base composition. Surprisingly, however, external binding of H2TC3 occurs within domains that are rich in adenine-thymine base pairs. The difference in the deformability of H2TC3 versus Cu(TC3) probably accounts for the reactivity difference. Finally, Zn(TC3) binds externally, as the metal center remains five-coordinate.


Abstract.
 Forests provide critical habitat for tropical butterflies world-wide. However, habitat variation and disturbance within forests can affect butterfly communities and diversity in complex ways. Building on previous research and a known land-use history, we studied butterfly diversity in the mountains of Tam Dao, Vinh Phuc Province, northern Vietnam monthly from 2005 to 2008 and 2012 to examine how habitat variation affects the butterfly communities. We sampled butterflies in three different types of forest habitat: an open road in a disturbed forest (which was formerly a path in a closed-canopy forest), bamboo-dominated forest, and secondary forest. A total of 147 species and 4,685 individual butterflies were recorded. The species composition and richness of the open road within forest and the secondary forest were similar to one another but more forest-associated species were found in the secondary forest. The bamboo forest had the fewest species and had a clearly distinct butterfly community consisting largely of satyrine species. This research suggests that road construction within the forests of Tam Dao likely affected the butterfly community such that road-impacted areas now have communities that resemble communities found in secondary forest. Also, the unique but species-poor bamboo forest butterfly community highlights the need for distinction between forest habitat types when studying the ecological and conservation requirements for butterflies and other tropical insects.


The activity of any bacterial promoter is generally supposed to be set by its base sequence and the different transcription factors that bind in the local vicinity. Here, we review recent data indicating that the activity of the Escherichia coli lac operon promoter also depends upon its chromosomal location. Factors that affect promoter activity include the binding of nucleoid-associated proteins to neighbouring sequences, supercoiling and the activity of neighbouring promoters. We suggest that many bacterial promoters might be susceptible to similar position-dependent effects and we review recent data showing that the expression of mobile genes encoding antibiotic-resistance determinants is also location-dependent, both when carried on a bacterial chromosome or a conjugative plasmid.


Interest in the relevance of religion and spirituality to medicine is growing and concerns the possible association between religiousness, spirituality and well-being. In the rehabilitation field these factors may affect outcome. We translated the "Royal Free Interview for Religious and Spiritual Beliefs" into Italian and validated the Italian language version. The translation the Royal Free Interview was accomplished in several steps. Certain adaptations were necessary in order to take into account certain peculiarities of the Italian language and of the Italian-speaking world. The Italian translation presented in this study shows internal consistency: Cronbach's alpha coefficient 0.82 (spiritual scale) and 0.80 (philosophical scale) in the 53 healthy volunteers; alpha coefficient 0.79 (spiritual scale) and 0.64 (philosophical scale) in the stroke patients. Test-retest reliability, evaluated by means of the intraclass correlation coefficient, was 0.83 (spiritual scale) and 0.99 (philosophical scale). There are two main reasons why an Italian translation of a religious coping scale was deemed necessary: i) there is a growing awareness of the possible impact of faith on stress and on the outcome of many disabling diseases; ii) Italy has a large and aging population and thus a high prevalence of disabled patients.


Unsteady free-wake solutions of wind turbine flow fields involve computationally intensive interaction calculations, which generally limit the total amount of simulation time or the number of turbines that can be simulated by the method. This problem, however, can be addressed easily using high-level of parallelization. Especially when exploited with a GPU, a Graphics Processing Unit, this property can provide a significant computational speed-up, rendering the most intensive engineering problems realizable in hours of computation time. This paper presents the results of the simulation of the flow field for the NREL Phase VI turbine using a GPU-based in-house free-wake panel method code. Computational parallelism involved in the free-wake methodology is exploited using a GPU, allowing thousands of similar operations to be performed simultaneously. The results are compared to experimental data as well as to those obtained by running a corresponding CPU-based code. Results show that the GPU based code is capable of producing wake and load predictions similar to the CPU- based code and in a substantially reduced amount of time. This capability could allow free- wake based analysis to be used in the possible design and optimization studies of wind farms as well as prediction of multiple turbine flow fields and the investigation of the effects of using different vortex core models, core expansion and stretching models on the turbine rotor interaction problems in multiple turbine wake flow fields.


"ABC": your blueprint for success. "Cokins' ability illustrate the effectiveness of ABC to those unfamiliar with financial applications and terminology is a major strength of his book. It should be required reading for companies that need to strengthen their commitment to ABC/ABM." - Dan E. Cowan, Manager, Finance Training and Education, Chrysler Corporation. Activity-based costing is today's superior method for both identifying improvement opportunities and measuring benefits of performance initiatives. Read Gary Cokins' book "Activity-Based Cost Management: Making It Work" for every answer you need on executing and sustaining an effective ABC management system, explanations on why you should use ABC and explicit, and clear-cut descriptions of steps you must take to implement ABC into your company.


The article analyses and discusses the development of Leipzig and especially its inner east as an 'urban space of arrival' since 1990. It represents a study about arrival in the post-socialist context that is fairly rare in the international debate so far, since most of the arrival debate builds on western European evidence. Leipzig's inner east was characterised by shrinkage until the end of the 1990s and by new growth, especially after 2010, as the whole city grew. Since the second half of the 1990s the inner east has developed into a migrant area, referred to here as an 'arrival space.' Today, in 2020, it represents the most heterogeneous part of the city in terms of population structure and is one of the most dynamic areas in terms of in- and out-migration. At the same time, it represents an area where large amounts of the population face different types of disadvantage. Set against this context, the article embeds the story of Leipzig's inner east into the arrival debate and investigates the area's development according to the characteristics discussed by the debate. Our results reveal that Leipzig's inner east represents a meaningful example of an arrival space in a specific (post-socialist, shrinkage followed by regrowth) context and that arrival and its spatial allocation strongly depend on factors like population, housing, and real estate market development, as well as policymaking and, significantly, recognition.


Author(s): Woodside, Dedee P.; Vasseleu, Jenny; Pyke, Terry W.; Wilson-Holt, Olivia; Roe, Dilys | Abstract: Positive ranger–community relationships are vitally important to effective conservation in and around protected areas. In this paper we take a practical approach to identifying and examining the key issues and practices that affect the relationship, both where it is strained and where it is working well, and provide recommendations for action. The issues and the solutions are multi-layered, with embedded complexity based on history, cultural identity, and rights to access natural resources. Solutions require a deep understanding of and respect for the needs and aspirations of the community and its capacity to partner in conservation efforts. Similarly, rangers require effective support and training that enables alternative interactions with communities and greater professionalism. In general, the improvements will require building trustworthy relationships grounded in understanding and supported by strong collaborative management systems and governance. Essentially this means strengthening the social capital of conservation. Our problem analysis revealed that the internal and external factors affecting relationships can usefully be divided into six themes: law, policy, and safeguarding human rights; organizational systems and strategies; options for ranger–community interactions on-site; model systems and the role of communities in conservation and stewardship; and the role of both external supporters and disruptors. Our recommendations for action target conservation bodies at four levels—international, regional, national, and local. They are further clustered around four types of action grouped into: critical responses and crisis planning; establishing general guiding principles, systems, and management and governance; promoting the best models and practices; and strengthening of professional knowledge networks and support.


For seven decades the General Electric Company maintained its manufacturing and administrative headquarters in Schenectady, New York. Electric City: General Electric in Schenectady explores the history of General Electric in Schenectady from the company's creation in 1892 to the present. As one of America's largest and most successful corporations, GE built a culture centered around the social good of technology and the virtues of the people who produced it. At its core, GE culture posited that engineers, scientists, and craftsmen engaged in a team effort to produce technologically advanced material goods that served society and led to corporate profits. Scientists were discoverers, engineers were designers and problem solvers, and craftsmen were artists. Historian Julia Kirk Blackwelder has drawn on company records as well as other archival and secondary sources and personal interviews to produce an engaging and multi-layered history of General Electric's workplace culture and its planned (and actual) effects on community life. Her research demonstrates how business and community histories intersect, and this nuanced look at race, gender, and class sets a standard for corporate history.


The results of treatment in 67 patients with associated injuries of the face and other regions of the body are analysed. Sixteen of them died. Their poor state was conditioned not by facial injuries but by traumas of other organs and system of the organism. It is concluded that such patients should be treated not in stomatological but in special traumatological departments for polytraumas. Surgery is first to be performed in the region where the damage is most hazardous. But the first step is to prevent aspiration of blood from the oral cavity into the respiratory tract followed by the fixation of jaw fragments.


This study first identifies the teaching and learning practices that have shown to be effective in producing achievement gains with K-12 Native American students. In order to identify effective practices, policy guidelines and research studies focusing on achievement gains among Native American students were reviewed. This information was then mapped to the National Science Education Standards and aligned with a widely used mathematics and science observation instrument. The instrument was used by the author to gather data from 13 teachers by observing 68 lessons in 11 middle schools on the Crow and Northern Cheyenne Reservations in Southeast Montana. Interviewing and surveying the observed teachers generated further data. To complete the study, administrators and community members, including tribal elders, were interviewed. The literature reveals that Native American students achieve more when student centered teaching methods are used. These methods include the use of visual teaching aids, cooperative learning, and practical applications all interwoven in culturally relevant lessons. The literature supports building community support, including involvement from tribal elders. Data gathered by the researcher revealed that the teachers on and near the two reservations have more teaching experience, more science credits, and attain higher ratings for observed lessons than a national sample of teachers. A factor analysis indicated that Crow and Northern Cheyenne region teachers scored especially high in student / teacher relationships, classroom management, and content knowledge. Even though 43 percent of class time was spent in hands-on paired activities, teachers scored lower on indicators pertaining to creating classroom environments that engaged students in rigorous, meaningful learning experiences. Teachers reported on not feeling prepared to include cultural applications and meanings during instruction. Teachers attaining lower scores during classroom observations tended to cite low student motivation as their major barrier, while teachers receiving higher ratings cited external factors like the size of their classroom. The teachers described colleagues and professional development opportunities as particularly beneficial. Recommendations for further studies include additional research on effective classroom practices that produce achievement gains with Native American students, and stronger professional development focused on specific advanced teaching skills, including methods of embedding culture and community in the science curriculum.


To the Editor. — After reading the articles by Tomlinson, Hackler, and associates,1,2my response is a resounding "It's about time." I recently completed a 3-year fellowship in resuscitation research during which I attended more than 400 cardiac arrests. In most cases, the family acted in the reasonable best interest of the patient. However, there were more than a few cases in which the policies relating to DNR orders resulted in the infliction of unnecessary pain and bizarre allocation of limited resources. In most cases, the surrogate is not a single individual, but a family, each member of which may believe he or she has sole veto power over the decision not to resuscitate. The dynamic of these situations is that family members who believe that termination of aggressive therapy is in the best interest of the patient, even if in the majority, will accede to the request of


A landing gear is a good example of a highly nonlinear multidisciplinary system. Using hybrid modelling, nonlinear behaviour can be abstracted to discontinuous behaviour. Bond graphs are an established and intuitive method for constructing mathematical models of multiphysics dynamic systems. The Hybrid Bond Graph is therefore used here to demonstrate the modelling of a landing gear drop test. A distinction is drawn between structural and parametric discontinuities, represented using controlled junctions and elements. Causally static and dynamic bond graphs are compared. A mixed Boolean mathematical model is obtained from the causally dynamic graph.


The first replicated productivity trials of the C4 perennial grass Miscanthus × giganteus in the United States showed this emerging ligno‐cellulosic bioenergy feedstock to provide remarkably high annual yields. This covered the 5 years after planting, leaving it uncertain if this high productivity could be maintained in the absence of N fertilization. An expected, but until now unsubstantiated, benefit of both species was investment in roots and perennating rhizomes. This study examines for years 5–7 yields, biomass, C and N in shoots, roots, and rhizomes. The mean peak shoot biomass for M. × giganteus in years 5–7 was 46.5 t ha−1 in October, declining to 38.1 t ha−1 on completion of senescence and at harvest in December, and 20.7 t ha−1 declining to 11.3 t ha−1 for Panicum virgatum. There was no evidence of decline in annual yield with age. Mean rhizome biomass was significantly higher in M. × giganteus at 21.5 t ha−1 compared to 7.2 t ha−1 for P. virgatum, whereas root biomass was similar at 5.6–5.9 t ha−1. M. × giganteus shoots contained 339 kg ha−1 N in August, declining to 193 kg ha−1 in December, compared to 168 and 58 kg ha−1 for P. virgatum. The results suggest substantial remobilization of N to roots and rhizomes, yet still a substantial loss with December harvests. The shoot and rhizome biomass increase of 33.6 t ha−1 during the 2‐month period between June and August for M. × giganteus corresponds to a solar energy conversion of 4.4% of solar energy into biomass, one of the highest recorded and confirming the remarkable productivity potential of this plant.


Let G be a countably infinite group, and let μ be a generating probability measure on G. We study the space of μ-stationary Borel probability measures on a topological G space, and in particular on Z^G, where Z is any perfect Polish space. We also study the space of μ-stationary, measurable G-actions on a standard, nonatomic probability space.
Equip the space of stationary measures with the weak* topology. When μ has finite entropy, we show that a generic measure is an essentially free extension of the Poisson boundary of (G, μ). When Z is compact, this implies that the simplex of μ-stationary
measures on Z^G is a Poulsen simplex. We show that this is also the case for the simplex of stationary measures on {0, 1}^G.
We furthermore show that if the action of G on its Poisson boundary is essentially free then a generic measure is isomorphic to the Poisson boundary.
Next, we consider the space of stationary actions, equipped with a standard topology known as the weak topology. Here we show that when G has property (T), the
ergodic actions are meager. We also construct a group G without property (T) such that the ergodic actions are not dense, for some μ.
Finally, for a weaker topology on the set of actions, which we call the very weak topology, we show that a dynamical property (e.g., ergodicity) is topologically generic if and only if it is generic in the space of measures. There we also show a Glasner-King type 0-1 law stating that every dynamical property is either meager or residual.


BACKGROUND
Screening for alcohol consumption in adolescents is widely justified in the health care field because of the particular vulnerability of this population, which starts drinking alcohol at a very early age and frequently consumes high levels of the same. Hospital emergency departments (ED) could be a good venue to manage early detection and carry out brief intervention (BI) programmes.

OBJECTIVES
The aim of this study was to identify perceived barriers for medical staff of three hospitals in Spain to successfully implement a protocol for alcohol detection and BI for minors in the ED.

METHODS
Exploratory qualitative analysis using focus groups with semi-structured, flexible and open-ended questions to explore beliefs, attitudes, and barriers perceived by professionals to screening alcohol consumption and implementing BI in adolescents attended at the ED.

RESULTS
The main perceived barriers by health professionals were lack of time, work overload, mistrust, lack of validated and simple screening tools, lack of training/awareness and legal concerns about informed consent and confidentiality.

CONCLUSIONS
Barriers to screening and intervention in ED are similar to those described previously. It is necessary to improve organization of time allocated for medical consultations, avoid limiting ED resources, motivate staff and provide appropriate training.


Abstract The Movable Scaffolding System (MSS) is a heavy construction equipment used for casting situ of concrete bridge decks. In the past decades, MSSs have become increasingly complex and industrialized, enlarging its span ranges, incorporating auxiliary elevation machinery and increasing productivity. The tendency nowadays is for strong reutilization and the notion of MSS as a disposable or temporary structure is somehow reductive. The main structure of MSSs may be potentially exposed to fatigue, usually characterized by low number of cycles with significant stress amplitude. Fatigue may be prevented through adequate design; judicious selection of materials; demanding quality control and implementation of robust inspection and maintenance plans.


Translucent concrete is a new energy-saving building material that permits transmission of light into indoor environment because of the embedded optical fibers with application as architectural wall and structural façade of buildings. In this experimental study, the light transmittance performance of plastic optical fiber (POF) based translucent concrete was evaluated using an electrical circuit test setup with light dependent resistor (LDR). A total of 18 specimens containing 2 mm and 3 mm fiber diameters and POF volume ratio of 2%, 4% and 6% were produced. The experimental results showed that the light transmission increased with the increases of POF volume ratio. On the other hand, the amount of light transmitted gradually decreased with the increase in distance between the specimen and light source. Moreover, the intensity of light transmitted through translucent concrete gradually decreases with respect to increases in distance between LDR and specimen. The spacing, diameter and number of optical fibers have a considerable effects on the overall ratio of light transmitted. Empirical curves are developed based on correlation between light transmittance and other various factors that affect the efficiency of light transmission through translucent concrete. The translucent concrete prepared in this study performs up to 22% of light transmittance, which is sufficient illuminance for residential and office buildings. The results evidently show that translucent concrete can be successfully used as energy efficient construction material for sustainable construction and green building development.


We have operated an interferometer with independent local oscillators and without any communication link of wide bandwidth between the elements of the interferometer. This makes operation possible at very long base lines because, heretofore, construction of the communications link has been the factor limiting the separation of the elements. In our system, coherence at the two elements is maintained through the use of two highly stable, atomic oscillators. The intermediate-frequency output signals are recorded at each element on a high-speed digital tape recorder. Interference fringes are produced later by cross-correlating the two tape records in a digital computer.


Background: Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is the most common cause of dialysis induction in the United States. Tcf21 is a basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor that is essential for the development of the lungs, heart, and kidneys. Previously, we reported that Tcf21 regulates podocyte development. However, the precise role of Tcf21 in mature individuals and DKD remains unclear.
 Method: We generated mice that lacked Tcf21 only in podocytes after birth (iKO) using a doxycycline induction system. We also constructed a diabetes mouse model using streptozotocin injections. In addition, we used cultured human podocytes to investigate the effects of Tcf21 overexpression and the factors that regulate Tcf21 expression.
 Results: When the Tcf21 gene was deleted specifically in podocytes in 3-week-old mice, urinary protein was not observed. In contrast, when diabetes was induced in these mice, massive urinary protein and strong glomerulosclerosis was present in 60% of iKO mice. Ultrastructural analysis revealed glomerular basement membrane thickening and podocyte foot process effacement, suggesting that iKO mice are susceptible to DKD. In addition, RNA-seq analysis of Tcf21-overexpressing podocytes showed accumulation of genes involved in the interferon pathway, extracellular matrix production, senescence, and autophagy in gene ontology analysis. Analysis of individual genes showed upregulation of interferon-related genes such as IFI6 and IFI27, increased expression of PAI-1, which is one of the senescence-associated secreted phenotypes, and decreased expression of HMGA2, whose SNIP is known to correlate with susceptibility to DKD. In addition, Tcf21 expression was suppressed by 58% and 27% after TGF-β and high glucose plus insulin stimulation, respectively.
 Conclusion: Our results suggest that Tcf21 protects against DKD in mature individuals. Elucidation of the mechanism by which Tcf21 prevents DKD may lead to the identification of novel therapeutic targets.

 N.Teramoto: None. Y.Maezawa: None. T.Minamizuka: None. M.Koshizaka: None. K.Yokote: None.


Pregnancy is not known to increase the susceptibility to contract the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) infection, but the visits for prenatal care, labor and postpartum care for women with testing positive for COVID 19 should be separated from other non-infected personal. Parturient should wear surgical masks. Mothers could transmit the virus to their newborns through airborne droplets when in close contact particularly during breastfeeding. Symptomatic mothers should keep at least six feet apart from the newborn to reduce the risk of virus transmission. Breastfeeding should only be allowed following mother recovery with special attention to frequent hands washing and breast hygiene-Team approach for the healthcare workers involved in labor wards should be planned in advance to minimize cross infection with COVID 19. Early epidural analgesia can reduce the need for general anesthesia if cesarean section is to be indicated, but recent coagulation studies are needed in particular platelets count. The timing of donning of the PEE used during labor can contradict with the need to urgently manage neonatal distress, this need to be staff wise organized.


In this paper we first present a novel operator extrapolation (OE) method for solving deterministic variational inequality (VI) problems. Similar to the gradient (operator) projection method, OE updates one single search sequence by solving a single projection subproblem in each iteration. We show that OE can achieve the optimal rate of convergence for solving a variety of VI problems in a much simpler way than existing approaches. We then introduce the stochastic operator extrapolation (SOE) method and establish its optimal convergence behavior for solving different stochastic VI problems. In particular, SOE achieves the optimal complexity for solving a fundamental problem, i.e., stochastic smooth and strongly monotone VI, for the first time in the literature. We also present a stochastic block operator extrapolations (SBOE) method to further reduce the iteration cost for the OE method applied to large-scale deterministic VIs with a certain block structure. Numerical experiments have been conducted to demonstrate the potential advantages of the proposed algorithms. In fact, all these algorithms are applied to solve generalized monotone variational inequality (GMVI) problems whose operator is not necessarily monotone. We will also discuss optimal OE-based policy evaluation methods for reinforcement learning in a companion paper.


Physiological and chemical responses of 17 birch (Betula pendula Roth) clones to 1.5–1.7 � ambient ozone were studied in an open-field experiment over two growing seasons. The saplings were studied for growth, foliar visible injuries, net photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, and chlorophyll, carotenoid, Rubisco, total soluble protein, macronutrient and phenolic concentrations in leaves. Elevated ozone resulted in growth enhancement, changes in shoot-to-root (s/r) ratio, visible foliar injuries, reduced stomatal conductance, lower late-season net photosynthesis, foliar nutrient imbalance, changes in phenolic composition, and reductions in pigment, Rubisco and soluble protein contents indicating accelerated leaf senescence. Majority of clones responded to ozone by changing C allocation towards roots, by stomatal closure (reduced ozone uptake), and by investment in low-cost foliar antioxidants to avoid and tolerate ozone stress. A third of clones, showing increased s/r ratio, relied on inducible efficient high-cost antioxidants, and enhanced leaf production to compensate ozone-caused decline in leaf-level net photosynthesis. However, the best ozone tolerance was found in two s/r ratio-unaffected clones showing a high constitutive amount of total phenolics, investment in low-cost antioxidants and N distribution to leaves, and lower stomatal conductance under ozone stress. The results highlight the importance of phenolic compounds in ozone defence mechanisms in the birch population. Depending on the genotype, ozone detoxification was improved by an increase in either efficient high-cost or less efficient low-cost antioxidative phenolics, with close connections to whole-plant physiology.


Integrins have been shown to be involved in the process of fertilization and many integrin–ligand interactions are mediated through the recognition of an arginine‐glycine‐aspartic acid (RGD) sequence. Despite the fact the RGD domain is a principal player in determining the functional characteristics of an adhesive protein, increasing evidence has accumulated implicating the amino acids flanking the RGD sequence in determining the functional properties of the RGD‐containing protein. A set of linear peptides in which the amino acid sequence in and around the RGD tri‐peptide was modified was synthesized to better understand the specificity of the RGD–receptor interaction. Mature oocytes were fertilized in vitro in the presence of RGD‐containing and RGD‐modified peptides. Both the RGD‐containing and RGD‐modified peptides impaired the ability of sperm to fertilize bovine oocytes, illustrated by a reduction in cleavage. The linear modified RGD containing peptides were also examined for their ability to induce parthenogenetic development with the objective of providing a linear RGD peptide with greater biological activity than the one (GRGDSPK) used previously (Campbell et al., 2000 ). The data demonstrate the specificity of the receptor for the RGD sequence, further implicate the involvement of integrins in the process of bovine fertilization, and illustrate the importance of the amino acids surrounding the RGD sequence in determining the binding and functional properties of RGD‐containing peptides. The data support the findings that a linear RGD peptide can block fertilization and that amino acids around the RGD sequence have an impact on the biological activity of the receptor. Mol. Reprod. Dev. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.


There is an ongoing debate in the field of social mobility research about whether intergenerational social mobility can be increased by way of education policy. However, evidence on the effects of specific education policies on social mobility continues to be scarce. This article analyses the effect of one specific policy reform, the extension of compulsory schooling in Germany, which has been argued to have led to a decrease in educational inequality and an increase in social mobility. Using a difference-in-difference design, the article exploits the variation in the timing of the reform across German states to estimate the reform effect on the educational attainment and labour market chances of individuals from different social class backgrounds. We find that the reform resulted in a substantial narrowing of the gap in educational attainment between different social origin groups. This decline in educational inequality further translated into a reduction in the inequality in labour market chances between people from different social class backgrounds, thus increasing intergenerational social mobility. Our findings suggest that educational policy can lead to substantial increases in intergenerational social mobility, which may have been overlooked in past research on societal-level, long-run trends in social mobility.


As a part of the USLHC program, Fermilab is building half of the inner triplet quadrupole magnets for the LHC. Two identical quadrupoles (MQXB) with a dipole corrector between them in a single cryogenic unit (LQXB) comprise the Q2 optical element of the final focus triplets in the interaction regions. The 5.5 m long MQXB have a 70 mm aperture and operate in superfluid helium at 1.9 K with a peak field gradient of 215 T/m. Manufacturing of the 18 magnets is in an advanced stage. A program of magnetic field quality measurements of the magnets is performed at room temperature during magnet fabrication as well as at superfluid helium temperature during the cold qualification of each magnet. Results of the measurements are summarized in this paper.


This article analyzes how cost-benefit calculation influences compliance with pesticide regulation by Chinese farmers. Building on a study including 150 farmers and experts, it studies how operational costs and benefits and deterrence affect compliance. Moreover, it studies what variation in cost-benefit perceptions there are with different types of rules, farms, and villages. It finds that, in this context, cost-benefit calculation matters for compliance; with operational costs and benefits being more clearly related to compliant behavior than deterrence. It highlights that perceptions about costs and benefits are situational and vary along the type of legal rule and the type of regulated actor. It also shows that such perceptions are individually subjective, as even with similar rules and similar types of actors, perceptions vary. The paper concludes by stating expectations on how the situational and subjective nature of cost-benefit calculation can inform regulators seeking to enhance compliance.


Intravenous injection of growth hormone to the intact rat (0.2 mg./100 gm.) causes significant reduction in the blood sugar within twenty minutes of injection. To determine the influence of CH upon insulin destruction, BGH was injected into intact animals and the animals were sacrificed ten minutes later with removal and incubation of kidney and liver slices in I-131-insulin. There resulted a marked reduction in the rate of insulin degradation. In addition, kidney slices and hemidiaphragms obtained from animals injected with BGH ten minutes previously demonstrated enhanced sensitivity to the in vitro effect of insulin upon glucose uptake and glycogen content. These observations allow the suggestion that the early hypoglycemic activity of growth hormone may be mediated by a transitory impairment of insulin degradation with consequent metabolic effects upon specific tissues.


ABSTRACT This paper describes the development of a monitoring and management system for designated sea defences in Northern Ireland, which are managed by the Rivers Agency of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. The system developed was termed a "Management Response System" and includes a comprehensive monitoring regime combined with proposals for assessing the condition and performance of the sea defences. The designated sea defences are at various locations in Lough Foyle, Belfast Lough, Strangford Lough, and at Killough, on the Irish Sea coastline. These defences protect extensive areas of low lying agricultural land, residential properties, and other various assets such as airports, the Belfast to Londonderry railway line and an army base. The study indicated that a breach of these sea defences would cause extensive flooding. The long-term objective of Rivers Agency is to monitor, maintain, upgrade, and strengthen their sea defences. The development of this monitoring and management system aims to adopt "Best Practice" in terms of sea defence asset management. Monitoring is often seen as an activity that is supplementary to managing sea defences. In fact, monitoring is a primary means of managing flood risk. In undertaking this study the aim was to ensure that the need for monitoring was based on an appreciation of flood risk. Moreover, monitored information should not just be collected but should be used to inform management decisions regarding flood risk. It is often this feedback loop that is missing when monitoring is considered in isolation to the overall management of sea defences. The study assessed the flood risk associated with the sea defences and also defined how this risk is managed, the 'Management Response'. This information was then used to define a comprehensive monitoring regime including visual inspections, structural surveys, site surveys, and environmental monitoring. The system recommends that an annual review report should be completed to summarise the results obtained and recommend further monitoring and remedial works for the following year's monitoring programme. This annual review will also inform management decisions on the need to upgrade the sea defences. During the short period for which the system has been implemented to date, the conclusions drawn indicate that the management response system does provide an effective means of managing the designated sea defences within Northern Ireland. The monitoring has been targeted based on flood risk, and the monitoring results are used to assess the need for capital and maintenance works. Comparison of the system with published monitoring recommendations from agencies in the UK, Europe and the USA indicate that the system represents "Best Practice".


This article theorizes the colonial problem of peoplehood that Indian anticolonial thinkers grappled with in their attempts to conceptualize self-rule, or swaraj. British colonial rule drew its legitimacy from a developmentalist conception of the colonized people as backward and disunited. The discourse of "underdeveloped" colonial peoplehood rendered the Indian people "unfit" for self-government, suspending their sovereignty to an indefinite future. The concept of swaraj would be born with the rejection of deferred colonial self-government. Yet the persistence of the developmentalist figuration of the people generated a crisis of sovereign authorization. The pre-Gandhian swaraj theorists would be faced with the not-yet claimable figure of the people at the very moment of disavowing the British claim to rule. Recovering this underappreciated pre-Gandhian history of the concept of swaraj and reinterpreting its Gandhian moment, this article offers a new reading of Gandhi's theory of moral self-rule. In so doing, it demonstrates how the history of swaraj helps trace the colonial career of popular sovereignty.


Twenty isolates of fungi of the genus Fusarium collected in the period 1980-1982 from various organs of diseased soybean plants were investigated. Eight of them proved pathogenic to soybean seedlings. The species F. culmorum was most numerously represented among the isolated (4 of 8) pathogens. Isolates of F. sambucinum were also pathogenic (2 of 4) and those of F. soloni (1 of 3), too. The only isolate of F. avenaceum also caused seedling blight. Two isolates of F. oxysporum and two of F. arthrosporioides were not pathogenic. Numerous isolates affected seed gernination and one greatly inhibited growth of the infected seedlings. Pathogenicity was tested in the laboratory in Petri plates on isolate cultures and on filter paper imbibed with fungal inoculum and, in the greenhouse on a peat and perlite substrate. The degree of infection and the character of the disease symptoms depended on the experimental conditions. The results of experiments in plates and in the greenhouse supplemented one another.


We propose a new 6-DoF grasp pose synthesis approach from 2D/2.5D input based on keypoints. Keypoint-based grasp detector from image input has demonstrated promising results in the previous study, where the additional visual information provided by color images compensates for the noisy depth perception. However, it relies heavily on accurately predicting the location of keypoints in the image space. In this paper, we devise a new grasp generation network that reduces the dependency on precise keypoint estimation. Given an RGB-D input, our network estimates both the grasp pose from keypoint detection as well as scale towards the camera. We further re-design the keypoint output space in order to mitigate the negative impact of keypoint prediction noise to Perspective-n-Point (PnP) algorithm. Experiments show that the proposed method outperforms the baseline by a large margin, validating the efficacy of our approach. Finally, despite trained on simple synthetic objects, our method demonstrate sim-to-real capacity by showing competitive results in real-world robot experiments.


Changes in terrestrial water content cause elastic deformation of the Earth's crust. This deformation is thought to play a role in modulating crustal stress and seismicity in regions where large water storage fluctuations occur. Groundwater is an important component of total water storage change in California, helping to drive annual water storage fluctuations and loss during periods of drought. Here we use direct estimates of groundwater volume loss during the 2007–2010 drought in California's Central Valley obtained from high resolution Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar‐based vertical land motion data to investigate the effect of groundwater volume change on the evolution of the stress field. We show that GPS‐derived elastic load models may not capture the contribution of groundwater to terrestrial water loading, resulting in an underestimation of nontectonic crustal stress change. We find that groundwater unloading during the drought causes Coulomb stress change of up to 5.5 kPa and seasonal fluctuations of up to 2.6 kPa at seismogenic depth. We find that faults near the Valley show the largest stress change and the San Andreas fault experiences only ~40 Pa of Coulomb stress change over the course of a year from groundwater storage change. Annual Coulomb stress change peaks dominantly in the fall, when the groundwater level is low; however, some faults experience peak stress in the spring when groundwater levels are higher. Additionally, we find that periods of increased stress correlate with higher than average seismic moment release but are not correlated with an increase in the number of earthquakes. This indicates groundwater loading likely contributes to nontectonic loading of faults, especially near the Valley edge, but is not a dominant factor in modulation of seismicity in California because the amplitude of stress change declines rapidly with distance from the Valley. By carefully quantifying and spatially locating groundwater fluctuations, we will improve our understanding of what drives nontectonic stress and forces that modulate seismicity in California.


The Mouse Models of Human Cancers Consortium (MMHCC) is a collaborative program designed to derive and characterize mouse models of human malignancies. To enhance information and resource exchange among the MMHCC investigators and other cancer research scientists, the NCI Center for Bioinformatics (NCICB, http://ncicb.nci.nih.gov/) has developed web-based resources that are freely available to the cancer research community. These resources include a website (http://emice.nci.nih.gov) and databases for cancer models (http://cancermodels.nci.nih.gov) and cancer images (http://cancerimages.nci.nih.gov).


We have studied the interactions of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), Giant Cell Tumor (GCT) cell‐conditioned medium (GCT CM), and highly purified granulocyte‐macrophage colony‐stimulating factors (GM‐CSF) on the growth and maturation of a highly passaged population of HL‐60 cells. DMSO produced dose‐dependent inhibition of HL‐60 growth in liquid and semisolid media. Growth was partially to completely restored by the addition of GCT CM to cultures. Experiments in which cell volume, cell cycle kinetics, tritiated thymidine (3HTdr) incorporation, cell number, and nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) reduction were compared during culture indicated that DMSO inhibited the spontaneous increase in cell volume and flow of cells through the cell cycle which occurred in the first day of culture, the increase in 3HTdr incorporation which was detectable by day 2; and the increment in cell counts which occurred by day 3. These effects were opposed by GCT CM. In contrast, the DMSO‐induced increase in NBT reduction which occurred by day 6 was not influenced by GCT CM. The major principle opposing DMSO was GM‐CSF, since (1) highly purified GM‐CSF from GCT cells and recombinant GM‐CSF from COS cells transfected with the Mo cell GM‐CSF gene overcame greater than 50% of DMSO inhibition; and (2) conditioned media from cells not producing CSF, G‐CSF from GCT cells, and recombinant G‐CSF from Escherichia coli transfected with the G‐CSF gene from 5,637 cells were inactive. DMSO had little or no effect on the elaboration of autostimulatory activity by HL‐60 cells. DMSO is a useful agent for inhibiting the spontaneous growth of HL‐60 cells and restoring their dependence on GM‐CSF, a property which may be mediated through the effects of DMSO on cell cycle kinetics and/or maturation.


This paper presents the probabilistic collocation method as a computationally efficient method for performing uncertainty analysis on large complex models such as those used in global climate change research. The collocation method is explained, and then the results of its application to a box model of ocean thermohaline circulation are presented. A comparison of the results of the collocation method with a traditional Monte Carlo simulation show that the collocation method gives a better approximation for the probability density function of the model's response with less than 20 model runs as compared with a Monte Carlo simulation of 5000 model runs.


Ultraluminous X-ray sources (ULXs) are interesting systems as they can host intermediate-mass black holes. Alternatively, ULXs can represent stellar mass black holes accreting at super-Eddington rates. Recently, spectral curvature or breaks at energies above a few keV have been detected in high-quality ULX spectra. These spectral features have been taken as evidence against the intermediate-mass black hole case. In this paper, we report on a new XMM–Newton observation of the ULX Holmberg II X-1 that also shows a clear spectral break at approximately 4 keV. This observation was performed during a low-luminosity state of the system and by comparing these new data to a high-luminosity state XMM–Newton observation, we can conclude that the spectral break energy increases with luminosity. This behaviour is different from a ULX in the Holmberg IX galaxy, where an opposite trend between the luminosity and the spectral break energy has been claimed. We discuss mechanisms that could explain this complex behaviour.


Clinical Presentation: A 16 year old female presented to the Department of Dentistry and Faciomaxillary Surgery complaining of discomfort in the region between labial surface of lower anterior teeth and inner mucosal layer of lower lip in relation to third quadrant. General health examination revealed that the patient was conscious, oriented, afebrile and vitals were stable. On intraoral clinical examination, a pedunculated mass was observed labially in relation to left lower canine tooth. Patient stated that the swelling has started as a pinpoint lesion before 1 year and progressed to the size of 1 cm × 5 cm × 1 cm as seen during clinical examination. The colour of the mass was of coral pink, smooth and symptomatic during contact between lower left canine and inner mucosal layer of lower lip (Figure A). Biolase EPIC diode laser 10 watts was used for excision (Figures B-D) followed by histopathological examination (Figure E) presenting features such as stratified squamous epithelium, acanthosis, focal ulceration, lobular proliferation of capillary sized vasculature, fibrotic stroma, necrotic debris, lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate and focal myxoid degeneration characteristic of lobular capillary haemangioma. Postoperative review was after 1 month with good prognosis thereby facilitating successful outcome.


The scientific conference Methodology and Archaeometry is being organised by the Department of Archaeology, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences since 2013. The goal of the conference is to entice interdisciplinarity, critical thinking, new insights and approaches as well as new theoretical frameworks in contemporary archaeological science. Coverage of a wide spectrum of themes and scientific disciplines has resulted in papers and discussions that promote scientific issues in the fields of methodology, documentation and interpretation of archaeological data. The interdisciplinary character of the conference brings together archaeologists and researchers from other scientific disciplines with whom archaeologists collaborate closely ; and who – through their work, projects and ideas – promote new insights about Interpretation of the human life in the past.


Antibacterial photodynamic treatment (APDT) might prove valuable as an alternative to the application of chemoantibiotics for the treatment of staphylococcal infections. The rapid uptake of the photosensitizing agent into bacteria allows for selective killing of microorganisms whilst sparing the eukaryotic host tissue, but also requires removal of excessive dye after the incubation period. We tested water-soluble formulations of hypericin (PVP-hypericin) and m -tetrahydroxyphenylchlorin (Fospeg®), which could be applied as aqueous sprays and removed easily by flushing with buffers, for their efficiency in killing Staphylococcus aureus . For both sensitizers, 100 nM of the photoactive substance incubated for 5 min and illuminated for 30 min at 75 mW cm^−2 lead to a 4–5 log unit reduction in bacterial count. At a concentration of 300 nM (incubation time 5 min), 30 min illumination at 25 mWcm^−2 is more effective than 10 min illumination at 75 mW cm^−2 (both resulting in the same fluence). We suggest both substances as promising candidates for treatment of staphylococcal infections in wounds with APDT.


The second larger Estonian R&D and Innovation Strategy 'Knowledge-based Estonia 2007-2013' is aimed at continuing the advancement of research and development efforts towards an innovative knowledge-based society and economic system in Estonia. Fostering of knowledge-based high-tech industries is seen as paramount for retaining country's competitive advantage. However, the mid-term evaluations indicate that several goals of the strategy might not be achievable by 2013. In fact, the policy measures have been much more successful in developing scientific research, as indicated by increased international publication, number of patents, and number of researchers and engineers. The advances in development of high-tech products and services through innovations are noticeable but less prominent. The purpose of this study is to suggest the role for demand-side innovation policies in helping to advance commercial development and innovation.


Scaling of conductivity with the support volume of experiments has been the subject of many recent experimental and theoretical studies. However, to date there have been few attempts to relate such scaling, or the lack thereof, to microscopic properties of porous media through theory. We demonstrate that when a pore network can be represented as a collection of hierarchical trees, scalability of the pore geometry leads to scalability of conductivity. We also derive geometrical and topological conditions under which the scaling exponent takes on specific values 1/2 and 3/4. The former is consistent with universal scaling observed by Neuman [1994], while the latter agrees with the allometric scaling laws derived by West et al. [1997].


Abstract Universal human rights and particular cultural identities, which are relativistic by nature, seem to stand in conflict with each other. It is commonly suggested that the relativistic natures of cultural identities undermine universal human rights and that human rights might compromise particular cultural identities in a globalised world. This article examines this supposed clash and suggests that it is possible to frame a human rights approach in such a way that it becomes the starting point and constraining framework for all non-deficient cultural identities. In other words, it is possible to depict human rights in a culturally sensitive way so that universal human rights can meet the demands of a moderate version of meta-ethical relativism which acknowledges a small universal core of objectively true or false moral statements and avers that, beyond that small core, all other moral statements are neither objectively true nor false.


Object: To determine if a 6-month regimen of prophylactic ursodeoxycholic acid is effective in the prevention of gallstones. Summary Background Data: Rapid weight loss after surgery for the treatment of morbid obesity is associated with a high incidence of gallstone formation. Methods: Patients with vertical banded gastroplasty (VBG) and adjustable gastric banding (AGB) were enrolled in this study. A single-center, randomized, double-blind, prospective trial evaluated 500 mg of ursodeoxycholic acid versus placebo, beginning within 3 days after surgery and continuing for 6 months or until gallstone development, for patients with morbid obesity. Transabdominal sonography or abdominal CT scan was obtained preoperatively at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months after surgery or until gallstone formation. Results: From March 1997 to April 2000, 262 patients were submitted to surgery. Seventy-seven patients refused to participate in the study; 43 patients with previous gallstone operation or verified gallstones preoperatively were excluded. Of 152 patients, 76 were randomized to placebo and 76 to 500 mg of ursodeoxycholic acid daily. Preoperative age, sex, weight, BMI, and postoperative weight loss were not significantly different between groups. Gallstone formation was significantly less (P = 0.0018, Fisher exact test) frequent with ursodeoxycholic acid than with placebo at 12 months, 3% versus 22%, and 8% versus 30% (P = 0.0022) at 24 months, cholecystectomy in 4.7% versus 12%, respectively (P < 0,02, Fisher exact test). Conclusion: A daily dose of 500 mg of ursodeoxycholic acid for 6 months is effective prophylaxis for gallstone formation following gastric restrictive procedures.


Background: Conventional upper blepharoplasty relies on skin, muscle, and fat excision to restore ideal pretarsal space–to–upper lid fold ratios. The purpose of this study was to identify presenting topographic features of upper blepharoplasty patients and their effect on cosmetic outcomes. Methods: This is a retrospective review of patients who underwent upper blepharoplasty at the authors' institution from 1997 to 2017. Preoperative and postoperative photographs were standardized using Adobe Illustrator to an iris diameter of 11.5 mm. Pretarsal and upper lid fold heights were measured at five locations. Patients were classified into three groups based on preoperative pretarsal show: none, partial, or complete. Photographs were randomized in PowerPoint and given a cosmetic score of 0 to 5 by four independent reviewers. Results: Three hundred sixteen patients were included, 42 men (13 percent) and 274 women (87 percent). Group 1 included 101 eyes (16 percent), group 2 had 159 eyes (25 percent), and group 3 had 372 eyes (59 percent). Mean cosmetic score increased from 1.75 to 2.38 postoperatively (p < 0.001), with a significantly lower improvement in scores in group 3 compared to groups 2 and 1 for both sexes (p < 0.01). For group 3, those with midpupil pretarsal heights greater than 4 mm had a significantly lower postoperative aesthetic score (1.95) compared with those less than or equal to 4 mm (2.50) (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Many patients presenting for upper blepharoplasty have complete pretarsal show and are at risk for worse cosmetic outcomes using conventional skin excision techniques. Adjunctive procedures such as fat grafting and ptosis repair should be considered in this group. Clinical Question/Level of Evidence: Risk, II.


Among different metal chalcogenides, copper sulfides have been extensively studied in the past few years due to their semiconducting and non-toxic nature, making them useful in a wide range of applications from the energy to the biomedical fields. A series of stoichiometric compositions of copper sulfides from Cu-rich, Cu2S to Cu-deficient, CuS2 exist with different crystal structures as well as phases, resulting in different unique properties. The suitable band gap values in the range of 1.2–1.5 eV and unique optoelectronic properties indicate that the material is photocatalytically active and exhibits excellent plasmonic behavior. The material is also known for promising thermoelectric properties, converting waste heat into electricity through the Seebeck effect. The nanodimensional form of copper sulfides promotes their use to a more advanced level, tuning their properties with the size of the materials. In view of this, the present review article is focused on the compositions, phases and crystal structures, and different synthetic methodologies involved in the fabrication of 0D, 1D and 2D nanostructured copper sulfides. Moreover, recent advancements on their use in various applications will also be briefly discussed.


The nucleotide sequence of the structural gene (nifH) of nitrogenase reductase (Fe protein) from R.meliloti 41 with its flanking ends is reported. The amino acid sequence of nitrogenase reductase was deduced from the DNA sequence. The predicted R.meliloti nitrogenase reductase protein consists of 297 amino acid residues, has a molecular weight of 32,740 daltons and contains 5 cysteine residues. The codon usage in the nifH gene is presented. In the 5' flanking region, sequences resembling to consensus sequences of bacterial control regions were found. Comparison of the R.meliloti nifH nucleotide and amino acid sequences with those from different nitrogen-fixing organisms showed that the amino acid sequences are more conserved than the nucleotide sequences. This structural conservation of nitrogenase reductase may be related to its function and may explain the conservation of the nifH gene during evolution.


Following allogenic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) may develop which may affect several organs. Although the presence of nephrotic syndrome after HSCT is rare, sometimes it occurs in the setting of GVHD. The most common histological finding on kidney biopsy of patients with proteinuria owing to GVHD is membranous glomerulonephritis (MGN). However, reports of immune complex deposition in the tubular basement membrane (TBM) and glomerular basement membrane (GBM) are extremely rare. Herein we present a 65-year-old female with a history of HSCT at six years ago who was referred to Dr.Shariati Hospital in Tehran with nephrotic syndrome. Secondary serologic laboratory tests were all normal. The histopathologic study indicated diffuse GBM and TBM thickening, spike formation, infiltration of inflammatory mononuclear cells in tubulointerstitial area and acute tubular injury in light microscopy. Immunofluorescence staining showed immune complex deposits in GBM, mesangial cells, and TBM.  DOI: 10.52547/ijkd.7550.


Summary The purpose of the current study was to examine the moderating role of social support in the association between self-efficacy and psychological distress among social workers. The data were collected through a structured questionnaire administered to a sample of 726 social workers in Israel. Selected variables, found in previous studies to correlate with psychological distress, served in the current study as covariates: gender, years of professional experience, self-rated health, self-defined burnout, and self-reported loneliness. Findings The hierarchical multiple regression revealed that social workers who had more years of professional experience, better self-rated health, lower levels of burnout and of self-reported loneliness, reported lower levels of psychological distress. Higher levels of self-efficacy were found to be associated with lower levels of psychological distress only among social workers with lower levels of perceived social support. Application In the absence of adequate social support, self-efficacy can be an important resource for social workers, since it is related to lower levels of psychological distress. Hence, it is recommended that action be taken to promote awareness and enhance social workers' self-efficacy at the academic level, from the initial stages of their socialization into the profession and at their work places. Also, action should be taken on the policy level to provide assistance with developing and maintaining social workers' support mechanisms.


Abstract Mullite (Mul) formation after high-T muscovite (Ms) breakdown has been studied in phyllosilicaterich bricks. At T ≥ 900 °C Ms dehydroxylation is followed by partial melting that triggers the nucleation and growth of Mul acicular crystals. An analytical electron microscopy study reveals that the Mul is a 3:2-type with a [6](Al1.686Ti0.031Fe0.159Mg0.134)[4](Al2.360Si1.649)O9.82 formula and an O atom vacancy of x = 0.18. This is consistent with X-ray diffraction results [i.e., unit-cell parameters: a = 7.553(7), b = 7.694(7), and c = 2.881(1) Å, V = 167.45 Å3]. The initial stage of the process resulting in Mul growth followed the balanced reaction Ms → 0.275Mul + 0.667Melt + 0.244K2O + 0.01Na2O + 0.125H2O, yielding an alkali-poor peraluminous melt. H2O with K (and Na), which are lost along the (001) planes of dehydroxylated Ms, play a significant role as melting agents. The c-axes of the Mul crystals are oriented parallel to [010]ms or to the symmetrically equivalent <310>ms zone axis, while the (120)mul or (210)mul planes are subparallel to (001)ms (TEM results). These systematic orientations point to epitaxial Mul nucleation and growth on the remaining Ms substrate, which acts as a template for Mul heterogeneous nucleation. Randomly oriented Mul growth is also observed during the late stages of the process (i.e., melt cooling). The epitaxial nature of Mul growth after dehydroxylated Ms melting minimizes the energy requirement for nucleation. In addition, the water released after Ms breakdown and the multicomponent nature of the melt enable this high-T aluminum silicate to grow at T ~ 900 °C, almost 100 °C below the SiO2-Al2O3-K2O ternary system eutectic (after a melt with an end-member Ms composition).


Dunnill's Pathological Basis of Renal Disease is more limited in scope than the title might suggest. Rather than a comprehensive inquiry into mechanisms of renal disease, it is a practical and cogent initiation into the complex realm of the modern clinical renal diagnostic unit. The author, a pathologist, coordinates clinical and morphological information with the experimental and empirical literature that forms the foundation of the modern approach to interpretation of renal biopsies. The reader is given more than just the requisite facts and figures. Dunnill also offers a cautiously reasoned and meticulously documented perspective. The text gives clear answers for clear-cut cases, and also gives the basis for making a rational judgment about cases that are less straightforward. The reader guided by this text will not find himself committed to a dogma of restricted vogue, but will find himself flexible, openminded, but critical in outlook, and prepared to assimilate new