BACKGROUND
Access to primary healthcare among people with physical disabilities has been a neglected research area in Canada. The authors sought to examine the extent of access to and satisfaction with primary healthcare services for people with physical disabilities living in Canada's largest metropolitan area -- the Toronto region.

METHODS
An anonymous self-report questionnaire regarding access to and perceived quality of primary healthcare was mailed to a convenience sample of 1026 members of several disability organizations as well as persons discharged from a rehabilitation hospital within the past 2 years. For the 201 returned surveys (response rate = 20%), the authors evaluated the perceived extent of access to primary healthcare services as well as the level of satisfaction with the quality of these services.

RESULTS
Among the respondents to the questionnaire, 17.4% reported having difficulty obtaining a family doctor's services and 8.0% reported having been refused medical treatment by a family doctor because of their disability. Respondents also reported difficulty in physically accessing their family doctor's office (32.3%), equipment (38.3%), and washroom (22.9%). Although 82.1% of respondents claimed they were very or somewhat satisfied with their family doctor's services, 19.4% felt they were receiving inadequate primary healthcare and 21.9% felt that their disability prevented them from receiving appropriate primary healthcare.

DISCUSSION
Although people who experienced more difficulties may have been more likely to respond to this survey, a significant proportion of people with physical disabilities feel they are experiencing difficulty accessing adequate and appropriate primary healthcare services. Possible solutions to some of the identified access barriers and areas where further research may be required are described.


The rare pion decays ${\pi}^+{\rightarrow}{\mu}^+{\nu}_{\mu}{\nu}\bar{\nu}$ and ${\pi}^+{\rightarrow}e^+{\nu}_{e}{\nu}\bar{\nu}$ are allowed in the Standard Model but highly suppressed. These decays were searched for using data from the PIENU experiment. A first result for ${\Gamma}({\pi}^+{\rightarrow}{\mu}^+{\nu}_{\mu}{\nu}\bar{\nu})/{\Gamma}({\pi}^+{\rightarrow}{\mu}^+{\nu}_{\mu})<8.6{\times}10^{-6}$, and an improved measurement ${\Gamma}({\pi}^+{\rightarrow}{e}^+{\nu}_{e}{\nu}\bar{\nu})/{\Gamma}({\pi}^+{\rightarrow}{\mu}^+{\nu}_{\mu})<1.6{\times}10^{-7}$ were obtained.


This report presents the results of investigations of active power variation influences on such parameter values of transients as voltage frequency at power supply networks and voltage phase at the same network. It was analyzed the main types of theoretical transfer functions and experimental ones for equivalent power system with thermoelectric power stations. Analyzed transfer functions correspond to mane types of regulators which are used for frequency regulation at power systems. Active power variations are represented as random processes with known parameters. The results of calculations have revealed that on the condition that peak-to-peak value of active power fluctuations in power networks no more than 0.1% of active power of equivalent power system generator, it is possible to neglect the influence of frequency fluctuations on voltage phase variations.


We investigated magneto-optical Kerr effect in transparent region of implanted ferrite-garnet films for the (YBiCa)3(FeGe)5O12. The implantation process was carried out at room temperature by Ne+ ions with energy of 100 KeV and with various doses (0.5-2.5) 1014 ion/cm2. We discovered that slight deviation of the plane of external alternating magnetic field from plane of sample leads to appearance intensive magneto-optical maximum in transparent region of garnet films ħω=0.5-2.0 eV. In the proceeding, we have also found that the deviation of polarization plane from Pcomponent of incident light leads to the appearance of the similar magneto-optical effects in this region. The research of magnetization processes in transparent region of garnet films showed that the formation of magneto-optical effects in region ħω=0.5-2.3 eV has a rather complex character. Keywords—Ferrite-garnet films, ion implantation, magnetooptical, thin films.


According to work presented at a recent meeting, human teeth, jaws, and mouths are not adapted in a healthy way to the diet of modern industrial society. We evolved to thrive on coarse seeds, nuts, tubers, fruit, and meat. The mismatch between our adaptations and our environment causes the dental cavities, overcrowding of teeth, overbite, and gum disease that run rampant today. A study of two Maya villages presented at the meeting offers before-and-after images of a population undergoing the so-called nutrition transition in which people switch from a traditional subsistence diet to an Industrial Age diet of refined sugars and processed foods. At the meeting, an unusual mix of paleoanthropologists, archaeologists, dental researchers, and food scientists explored what is known about the diets and dental health of ancient humans, and how that information might be useful to dentists today.


Leptin and insulin act as adiposity signals signalling in the brain to regulate energy homeostasis. However, in contrast to leptin, the precise details of the cell types and signalling pathways involved in the actions of insulin have not been well defined. The dominant view in the field at the commencement of this work was largely extrapolated from studies on leptin action. It was therefore suggested that insulin exerted its effects on energy balance by inhibiting orexigenic NPY/AgRP and activating anorexigenic POMC/CART neurons of the arcuate nucleus region of the hypothalamus, thereby co-ordinately regulating energy homeostasis. Mouse genetic studies have demonstrated that insulin receptor substrate (IRS) 2, a major downstream effector of insulin signalling, plays a key role in the regulation of glucose and energy homeostasis. Mice lacking Irs2 in all tissues exhibit insulin resistance, hyperglycaemia and (3-cell failure. In addition, Irs2 null female mice are hyperphagjc, obese and infertile. However, the precise contribution of CNS IRS2 signalling in the actions of insulin and leptin, and the identity of the neuronal circuits in which IRS2 acts to regulate energy homeostasis, are unclear. The PI3K signalling pathway has been implicated in mediating the effects of insulin and leptin, in part acting downstream of IRS signalling. However, the precise hypothalamic cell types in which PI3K signalling acts also remain to be defined. To address these issues, mice with deletion of Irs2 in all neurons (NesCreIrs2KO POMC neurons (POMCCreIrs2KO) and AgRP neurons (AgRPCreIrs2KO) were generated. Animals lacking the PI3K pi 10(3 catalytic subunit in POMC (POMCCrepllOfiKO) and AgRP neurons (AgRPCrepllOfiKO) were also generated. NesCreIrs2KO animals were obese, hyperphagic and long, suggesting altered melanocortin function. Despite hyperleptinaemia, NesCreIrs2KO animals were leptin sensitive suggesting that IRS2 pathways are not required for leptin action. Reproductive function in NesCreIrs2KO females was normal. In addition, NesCreIrs2KO mice displayed hyperglycaemia, mild glucose intolerance and hyperinsulinaemia. In contrast, POMCCreIrs2KO and AgRPCreIrs2KO mice exhibited normal hypothalamic function and glucose homeostasis. AgRPCrepl 10/3KO mice were lean and hypophagic. Conversely, POMCCrepllOfiKO animals demonstrated increased adiposity and are hyperphagia. Taken together, these studies highlight a key role for CNS IRS2 pathways in the regulation of energy homeostasis but demonstrate that CNS IRS2 pathways act in neuronal populations distinct from POMC and AgRP/NPY neurons to regulate energy homeostasis. In contrast, pllOp-mediated signals in POMC and AgRP neurons play a key role in the regulation of energy homeostasis. Overall, these studies have provided new insights into the role insulin receptor substrate signalling mechanisms in the hypothalamic regulation of energy homeostasis.


Radio-frequency identification (RFID) has been applied widely in applications such as supply chain visibility, pharmaceutical track and trace, etc. The standards body EPCglobal defines various interfaces in the electronic product code (EPC) network architecture to facilitate the interoperability of different applications. Logical reader is a concept defined in the application level events (ALE) specification to shield applications from knowing the physical device infrastructure. This paper proposes a new approach to the logical reader abstraction, which is defined using spatial zones and implemented by combining mobile, passive RFID with positioning technologies, such as active RFID. This hybrid approach exploits the best benefits of passive and active RFID, while maintaining compatibility with EPC standards for accessing logical readers via ALE. An evaluation of competing approaches is presented. The study shows that this spatial-zone-based design enables fine grain tracking of assets at lower infrastructure cost as compared to existing techniques (e.g., using active RFID only). The study also analyzes the accuracy of the proposed approach using numerical simulation. The results show that it outperforms a widely used chokepoint-based solution under realistic operating conditions.


Instructional leadership is a primary task of school leaders, but this work may be complicated when leaders and teachers do not share content area or grade level expertise. Work around leadership content knowledge (LCK) acknowledges that school leaders cannot know everything about teaching in the content areas, but suggests leaders can work to bridge this divide. Still, little is known about how leaders' LCK intersects with their efforts to support improvements in teaching and learning. The purpose of this study was to explore ways in which LCK facilitates or, in its absence, hinders instructional leadership efforts. Thirty-one teachers and school leaders were interviewed about experiences receiving or providing instructional feedback. Analyses revealed factors that teachers perceived as foundational to instructional leadership efforts. Further, depending on their LCK, school leaders enacted a range of roles and provided different types of feedback.


The purpose of the experiment was threefold: (a) To find evidence that grasping is body-scaled and thus remains invariant during development; (b) to seek evidence that the body-scaled ratio of cube and hand size serves as a control parameter for the phase transition from one-handed to two-handed grasping by identifying the presence of sudden jump, enhanced variance, multistability, and hysteresis; and (c) to examine whether the stability properties of the observed grasping patterns increase with age. Thirty-three children aged 5, 7, and 9 years old were required to grasp and lift 14 cardboard cubes of different sizes (2.2, 3.2, 4.2, etc. to 16.2 cm diameter). Three conditions were used: (a) an increasing condition with sizes ordered from the smallest size to the largest; (b) a decreasing condition, with the sizes ordered from the largest to the smallest; and (c) twice in a different random order. Video recordings were analyzed and scored for the percentage of one-handed grasps. The results showed that the shift from one-handed to two-handed grasping occurred at the same body-scale ratio between cube size and finger span for all three age groups. Evidence was found for the presence of a sudden jump, enhanced variance, multistability, and hysteresis, indicating that the body-scaled ratio of cube and hand size serves as a control parameter. No change with age for the stability properties of the grasping patterns were observed. q 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Dev Psychobiol 33: 351–361, 1998


A new dual catalytic system for cross-electrophile coupling reactions between aryl and alkyl
halides that features a Ni catalyst, a Co co-catalyst, and a mild homogeneous reductant, is
described. This is a unique combination of reagents for cross-electrophile coupling reactions,
which results in one of the most versatile systems reported to date. For example, the coupling of
aryl bromides and aryl iodides with alkyl bromides, alkyl iodides, alkyl mesylates, and benzyl
chlorides is demonstrated under similar reaction conditions. The system is tolerant of numerous
functional groups and is capable of coupling heteroaryl halides, di-ortho-substituted aryl halides,
pharmaceutically relevant drug-like aryl halides, and a diverse range of alkyl halides. Additionally,
the dual catalytic platform facilitates a series of novel one-pot three-component cross-electrophile
coupling reactions of bromo(iodo)arenes with two distinct alkyl halides. Mechanistic studies
indicate that the Ni catalyst activates the aryl halide electrophile, while the Co catalyst activates
the alkyl electrophile.


The paper investigates for some basic contextual factors (such us the problem complexity, the users' creativity and the problem space complexity) the cognitive complexity associated with modelling the group decision processes (GDP) in e-meetings. The analysis is done by conducting a socio-simulation experiment for an envisioned collaborative software tool that acts as a stigmergic environment for modelling the GDP. The simulation results revels some interesting design guidelines for engineering some contextual functionalities that minimize the cognitive complexity associated with modelling the GDP.


PURPOSE
Phorbol esters have been shown to have a profound influence on cellular activity in many cell types. The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of phorbol esters on the function and structure of corneal endothelial cells.

METHODS
Corneas were placed under a specular microscope, and the endothelium was superfused with glutathione bicarbonate Ringer's solution (GBR); with GBR and 10 nM, 100 nM, or 1 microM 4 beta-phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA); or with 100 nM 4-alpha-PMA. Corneal swelling curves were generated, and endothelial permeability was determined. Corneal endothelial structure was examined with a scanning electron microscope.

RESULTS
Significant increases in swelling and endothelial permeability were found in corneas perfused with 100 nM PMA versus that observed in controls (swelling rate = 26 microns/hr versus 6.9 microns/hr; permeability = 6 x 10(-4) cm/min versus 3.4 x 10(-4) cm/min) and in corneas receiving 1 microM PMA versus that in controls (swelling rate = 26.3 microns/hr versus 0.12 micron/hr; permeability = 6.9 x 10(-4) cm/min versus 4.9 x 10(-4) cm/min). Application of 10 nM PMA did not significantly alter either parameter. Study with transmission electron microscope demonstrated significant morphologic changes in cells perfused with all concentrations of PMA. Corneas perfused with 100 nM 4-alpha-PMA versus 100 nM PMA had significantly lower slope and permeability values (swelling rate = 5.9 microns/hr versus 25.1 microns/hr; permeability = 3 x 10(-4) cm/min versus 6.7 x 10(-4) cm/min).

CONCLUSIONS
Phorbol esters are detrimental for corneal endothelial function, creating significant corneal swelling, increases in endothelial permeability, and changes in endothelial cell structure. This effect appears to be mediated through a protein kinase C pathway.


Some 4-benzylidene-1-{4-[3-(substituted phenyl)prop-2-enoyl]phenyl}-2-phenyl-imidazol-5-one were synthesized by the condensation of 1-(4-acetylphenyl)-4-benzylidene-2- phenyl- imidazol-5- one with various aldehydes. The intermediate 1-(4-acetylphenyl)-4-benzylidene-2- phenyl- imidazol- 5-one was synthesized by the condensation of 4-benzylidene-2- phenyl -1,3-oxazol-5-one with 1-(4- aminophenyl) ethanone in presence of pyridine. The products were characterized by spectral and analytical data. Most of the tested compounds showed promising antibacterial and antifungal activity.


The debates surrounding the effectiveness of teaching social work online highlight the challenges of adequately preparing students for face-to-face practice by way of web-based technologies. The purpose of this paper is twofold. Firstly, to briefly describe how a particular School of Social Work when designing its part-time undergraduate degree program (BSW), arrived at a fork in the road and instead of choosing between the paths of in-class or online course delivery, the School decided to offer the entire degree using a blended learning platform. Secondly, to compare the development and implementation of three specific practice courses within the part-time degree program (interviewing and assessment, social work theory, and a practicum integration seminar) each of which was offered using blended learning. This paper contributes to the debate about the value of using web-based components when teaching social work practice and will be helpful to educators from within many disciplines, who are wishing to critique their own development processes when designing and teaching practice courses using blended learning.


The new-generation hormonal agent enzalutamide has been approved for the treatment of metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), in both post- and predocetaxel setting, due to the significant improvement in overall survival. More recently, enzalutamide also showed impressive results in the treatment of men with nonmetastatic CRPC. Unfortunately, not all patients with CRPC are responsive to enzalutamide, and even in responders, benefits are limited by the development of drug resistance. Adaptive resistance of metastatic prostate cancer to enzalutamide treatment can be due to the activation of both androgen receptor (AR)-dependent pathways (expression of constitutively active AR splice variants, AR point mutations, gene amplification and overexpression) and mechanisms independent of AR signaling pathway (altered steroidogenesis, upregulation of the glucocorticoid receptor, epithelial–mesenchymal transition, neuroendocrine transformation, autophagy and activation of the immune system). In this review, we focus on resistance mechanisms to enzalutamide, exploring how we could overcome them through novel therapeutic options.


Patients with immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) rarely suffer life-threatening haemorrhages despite significant thrombocytopenia, probably because large numbers of hyperfunctioning platelets are present. Thrombospondin is a platelet α-granule protein and its plasma level may reflect platelet activation. We assessed circulating thrombospondin levels in 12 newly diagnosed ITP patients (one man; 11 women, aged 36 ± 16 years) before they were treated for ITP. Twelve healthy people (four men; eight women, aged 31 ± 11 years) acted as controls. Plasma thrombospondin concentrations were measured using enzyme-linked immunoassays. Thrombospondin concentrations tended to be higher, despite thrombocytopenia, in ITP patients (158.8 ± 28.2 ng/ml) compared with controls (120.7 ± 18.2 ng/ml). The difference was not statistically significant, but the relatively high circulating thrombospondin concentrations we observed suggest that residual platelets could be activated in ITP, thus indicating a more benign clinical course compared with aplastic thrombocytopenia.


Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) are generally agreed to arise from thermonuclear explosions of carbon–oxygen white dwarfs. The actual path to explosion, however, remains elusive, with numerous plausible parent systems and explosion mechanisms suggested. Observationally, SNe Ia have multiple subclasses, distinguished by their light curves and spectra. This raises the question of whether these indicate that multiple mechanisms occur in nature or that explosions have a large but continuous range of physical properties. We revisit the idea that normal and 91bg-like SNe can be understood as part of a spectral sequence in which changes in temperature dominate. Specifically, we find that a single ejecta structure is sufficient to provide reasonable fits of both the normal SN Ia SN 2011fe and the 91bg-like SN 2005bl, provided that the luminosity and thus temperature of the ejecta are adjusted appropriately. This suggests that the outer layers of the ejecta are similar, thus providing some support for a common explosion mechanism. Our spectral sequence also helps to shed light on the conditions under which carbon can be detected in premaximum SN Ia spectra—we find that emission from iron can "fill in" the carbon trough in cool SNe Ia. This may indicate that the outer layers of the ejecta of events in which carbon is detected are relatively metal-poor compared to events in which carbon is not detected.


The exploration of orbital space served as a prerequisite for the creation of a new direction of medical science in relation to the very extreme conditions of life of spacecraft crews. Space medicine, relying on the most modern research methods and approaches, thanks to the development of new medical devices and the use of unique data analysis algorithms, has made a significant contribution to the development of telemedicine, medical cybernetics, and prenosological principles for assessing the state of human health. The review reflects the main stages in the development of medical cybernetics and prenosological diagnostics based on the assessment of the regulatory components of the cardiovascular system. Discussed the aspects of the application of the method of mathematical analysis of the heart rhythm in relation to the assessment and forecast of the working capacity of cosmonauts, at the simulating model of microgravity and confinement. Shown the useful methodically apply for the healthcare of manufacture teams at the plants, passenger bus driver's employments. As the part of appliance of the new advance tools of children and adolescents public health during the educating process at schools. The created system for analyzing the current functional state of human health and mathematical models that make it possible to predict its negative changes make it possible to predetermine the vector of development of medicine in the future. The foundations of knowledge gained over the period of more than 70 years of scientific activity of Professor R.M. Bavsky are reflected in promising areas of cardiology research using computer technologies - such as Cardiometry technologies.


Hymenolepis nana is a ubiquitous parasite, found throughout many developing and developed countries. Globally, the prevalence of H. nana is alarmingly high, with estimates of up to 75 million people infected. In Australia, the rates of infection have increased substantially in the last decade, from less than 20% in the early 1990's to 55 - 60% in these same communities today. Our knowledge of the epidemiology of infection of H. nana is hampered by the confusion surrounding the host specificity and taxonomy of this parasite. The suggestion of the existence of two separate species, Hymenolepis nana von Siebold 1852 and Hymenolepis fraterna Stiles 1906, was first proposed at the beginning of the 20th century. Despite ongoing discussions in the subsequent years it remained unclear, some 90 years later, whether there were two distinct species, that are highly host specific, or whether they were simply the same species present in both rodent and human hosts. The ongoing controversy surrounding the taxonomy of H. nana has not yet been resolved and remains a point of difference between the taxonomic and medical literature.

The epidemiology of infection with H. nana in Australian communities is not well understood as the species present in these communities has never been identified with certainty. It is not clear which form of transmission commonly occurs in Australia, whether the H. nana 'strain/species' present in the north-west of Western Australia is present in human and rodent hosts, or whether humans harbour their own 'strain/sub-species' of Hymenolepis. Furthermore, it is not known whether mice are a potential zoonotic source for transmission of Hymenolepis to human hosts. In this study, 51 human isolates of H. nana were inoculated into highly susceptible laboratory rodent species. However, these failed to develop into adult worms in all instances, including when rodent species were chemically and genetically immunosuppressed. In addition, 24 of these human isolates were also cross-tested in the flour beetle intermediate host, Tribolium confusum. Of these, only one isolate developed to the cysticercoid stage in beetles, yet when inoculated into laboratory rodents, the cysticercoids also failed to develop into adult stage.

Since isolates of H. nana infecting humans and rodents are morphologically indistinguishable, the only way they can be reliably identified is by comparing the parasite in each host using molecular criteria. In the current study, three regions of ribosomal DNA, the small subunit (18S), the first internal transcribed spacer (ITS1) and the intergenic spacer (IGS) were chosen for genetic characterisation of Hymenolepis spp. from rodent and human hosts from a broad geographic range. In addition, a mitochondrial gene, the cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (C01) gene and a non-ribosomal nuclear gene, paramyosin, were characterised in a number of Hymenolepis isolates from different hosts.

A small PCR fragment of 369 bp, plus a larger fragment of 1223 bp, were sequenced from the 18S gene of reference isolates of H. nana and the rat tapeworm H. diminuta. Minimal sequence variation was found in the two regions of the 18S between these two morphologically distinct, phylogenetically recognised species, H. nana and H. diminuta, and this indicated that the 18S gene was too conserved for further genetic characterisation of isolates of H. nana from different hosts.

A large number of human isolates of H. nana (104) were characterised at the ITS1 using PCRrestriction length fragment polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). The profiles obtained were highly variable and often exceeded the original size of the uncut fragment. This was highly suggestive of the existence of ribosomal spacers that, whilst identical in length, were highly variable in sequence. To overcome the problems of the variable PCR-RFLP profiles, further characterisation of the ITS1, by cloning and sequencing 23 isolates of H. nana, was conducted and this confirmed the existence of spacers which, although similar in length (approximately 646 bp), differed in their primary sequences. The sequence differences led to the separation of the isolates into two clusters when analysed phylogenetically. This sequence variation was not, however, related to the host of origin of the isolate, thus was not a marker of genetic distinction between H. nana from rodents and humans. Indeed, the levels of variability were often higher within an individual isolate than between isolates, regardless of whether they were collected from human or mice hosts, which was problematic for phylogenetic analysis. In addition, mixed parasite infections of H. nana and the rodent tapeworm H. microstoma were identified in four humans in this study, which was unexpected and surprising, as there have been no previous reports in the literature documenting humans as definitive hosts for this parasite. Further studies are required, however, to determine if the detection of H. microstoma in humans reflects a genuine, patent infection or an atypical, accidental occurrence.

Sequencing of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase 1 gene (C01) in a number of isolates of Hymenolepis nana from rodents and humans identified a phylogenetically supported genetic divergence of approximately 5% between some mouse isolates compared to isolates of H. nana from humans. This provided evidence that the mitochondrial C01 gene was useful for identifying genetic divergences in H. nana that were not resolvable using nuclear loci. Despite a morphological identity between isolates of H. nana from rodent and human hosts, the genetic divergence observed between isolates at the mitochondrial locus was highly suggestive that H. nana is a species complex, or 'cryptic' species (= morphologically identical yet genetically distinct). In addition, whilst not supported by high bootstrap values, a clustering of the Australian human isolates into one uniform genetic group that was phylogenetically separated from all the mouse isolates was well supported by biological data obtained in this study. To confirm the phylogeny of the C01 tree a small segment of the nuclear gene, paramyosin, was sequenced in a number of isolates from humans and rodents. However, this gene did not provide the level of heterogeneity required to distinguish between isolates from rodent and human hosts. The high sequence conservation of the paramyosin gene characterised in this study did not refute the finding that H. nana may be a cryptic species that is becoming host adapted. It simply did not provide additional data to that already obtained.

A DNA fingerprinting tool, PCR-RFLP, of the ribosomal intergenic spacer (IGS), was developed in this study in order to evaluate its usefulness in tracing particular genotypes within a community, thus determining transmission patterns of H. nana between rodent and human hosts. Analysis of the IGS of numerous H. nana isolates by PCR-RFLP identified the presence of copies of the IGS that, whilst similar in length, differed in their sequence. Similar to that observed in the ITS1, the existence of different IGS copies was found in both rodent and human isolates of H. nana, thus the variability was not evidence of the existence of a rodent- or humanspecific genotype. Evaluation of the intergenic spacer (IGS) as a fingerprinting tool suggests that this region of DNA is too variable within individuals and thus, cannot be effectively used for the study of transmission patterns of the tapeworm H. nana between different hosts.

In summary, it appears that the life cycle of H. nana that exists in remote communities in the north-west of Western Australia is likely to involve mainly 'human to human' transmission. This is supported by both the biological and genetic data obtained for the mitochondrial locus in this study. The role of the intermediate hosts, such as Tribolium spp., in the Hymenolepis life cycle is still unclear, however it would appear that it may be greatly reduced in the transmission of this parasite in remote Australian communities. In the future, it is recommended that further genetic characterisation of faster evolving mitochondrial genes, and/or suitable nuclear genes be characterised in a larger number of isolates of H. nana. The use of techniques which can combine the characterisation of genotype and phenotype, such as proteomics, may also be highly valuable for studies on H. nana from different hosts.


This study describes aspects of infections caused by the myxosporidian Kudoa orbicularis in filter-feeding cichlids, Chaetobranchopsis orbicularis, caught in the Arari River in the municipality of Cachoeira do Arari, on Marajó Island, Pará, Brazil. The parasite forms pseudocysts scattered throughout the striated epaxial and hypaxial muscles. Samples embedded in paraffin were analyzed histologically using hematoxylin-eosin, Gömöri, Ziehl-Neelsen, and Giemsa staining. Necropsy of the C. orbicularis specimens revealed that 100% (50/50) were infected with K. orbicularis. The specimens presented grossly abnormal muscle texture, resulting in extensive inconsistencies and weakness. Progressive softening of the muscles was observed during necropsy, indicating the rapid enzymatic autolysis of the tissue. The parasite found in the muscle tissue of C. orbicularis was identified as K. orbicularis, with clinical signs of disease being observed in the fish. The necropsy revealed extensive damage to the host organism, with well-established fibrocystic infections in the muscle fibers, associated with post mortem myoliquefaction.


The article considers the changes that have affected European border regimes of migration control as a testcase for discussing arbitrariness. The argument highlights the limited capacity of notions of arbitrariness defined as a departure from the rule of law to capture the ongoing conflict at the borders of Europe and brings, instead,  to the foreground the ambivalent meaning of arbitrariness.
By comparing Santi Romano's classical theory of legal pluralism with recent analyses of legal globalization processes,  arbitrariness emerges either as an authoritative attempt to impose a different order on society or as a means to contrast acts of resistance to border regimes. In both cases, arbitrariness forcefully blurs the limits between the ordered and unordered, indicating the paradoxical impossibility of excluding the law's outside from the legal order.
On these premises, the article advocates the importance of reframing the demand for open borders as a call for freedom of those who challenge the pragmatic order of migration regimes. Indeed, arbitrariness is necessarily limited when the legal order recognizes, to an extent, the agency and the claims of subjectivities that resist the dichotomy between inclusion and exclusion.
Keywords: migration, arbitrariness, borders, legal order


When a Mode I crack in soft steel body grows and reaches near the perpendicular interface of ultra strong steel body, its cohesive zone penetrates into the interface body which influences the crack tip parameter. The paper presents finite element analysis of the cohesive zone across the interface of such elastically matched but strength mismatched bodies in linear elastic regime. Parent alloy steel (ASTM 4340) body and interface maraging steel (MDN 250) body are considered for analysis. The cohesive zone is modeled in accordance with the Dugdale criterion. J integral is evaluated over the path around the interface to examine the effect of cohesive stresses on the crack tip. The results are compared vis-à-vis those obtained from the theoretical model. The two are in very good agreement with each other.


The effects of the acute sublingual administration of Isosorbide dinitrate upon heart rate, blood pressure and intraocular pressure have been studied in 20 patients affected by open-angle glaucoma and in 20 normal subjects.
The heart rate changed slightly only in the noimal subjects, while the blood pressure diminished promptly in both groups. The intraocular pressure raised briefiy in the normal subjects, while it did not show any change in the glaucomatous ones.
These data suggest that, otherwise it was beiieved in the past, the Isosorbide dinitrate does not cause any harmful effect in patients with open-angle glaucoma.


We extend and apply the nonlinear Langevin equation theory of activated barrier hopping dynamics in glassy fluids and colloidal suspensions to study broad families of one-, two-, and three-dimensional hard nonspherical particles. Beyond the ideal kinetic arrest volume fraction, entropic barriers emerge with heights (alpha relaxation times, inverse diffusion constants) that increase nonlinearly (nonexponentially) with volume fraction and in a manner that becomes stronger with particle dimensionality. Partial collapse of the volume fraction dependence of barrier heights and reduced relaxation times of different particle shapes within a fixed dimensionality class are achieved based on a difference volume fraction variable that quantifies the distance from the ideal mode coupling theory dynamic crossover. However, the barrier, alpha relaxation time, and self-diffusion constant results of all shapes are remarkably well collapsed onto a single universal master curve based on a theoretically motivated coupling constant which quantifies the renormalized mean square force on a tagged particle. The latter is determined mainly by the square of the intermolecular site-site contact value of the pair correlation function, thereby providing an explicit microscopic connection between local packing, binary collisions, and slow dynamics. A large variation of the dynamic fragility with particle shape is found with compact cluster particles being the most fragile. A kinetic glass transition map is constructed that is relevant to vitrification of laboratory colloidal suspensions. The possible relevance of the hard particle results for understanding the dynamic fragility of thermal van der Waals liquids is discussed.


: Bone disease is one of the major long-term complications of end stage renal disease (ESRD). Loss of renal function upsets normal homeostasis of the two minerals stored in the bones, calcium, and phosphate. It affects the two hormones, vitamin D and parathyroid hormone (PTH) that help maintain healthy bones, and may result in excess aluminum being deposited in bones. Treatments of these imbalances in the past had an adverse effect on bones; present-day treatments are not without complications. New understanding of the pathogenesis of the two classifications of osteodystrophy, high turnover versus low turnover, have important implications for prevention and treatment of the disease.


If the quality of healthcare in every US state in 2005 was the same as that in the best performing state, 75 000 deaths would have been averted, a new report from the Institute of Medicine says.

The report, published on 6 September, says that although the system has seen an explosion in knowledge and technology and now expertly manages once deadly conditions, it is also beset by poor quality care, uneven outcomes, an unhealthy population, and runaway spending.1 The institute, an independent adviser to the government, is part of the National Academy of Sciences.

Its report, drawn up by a group of 18 clinicians, policy experts, economists, and business leaders, also puts a figure on the money wasted in the United States each year through unnecessary services, lost opportunities to prevent illnesses, inefficiencies, and administrative waste: $765bn (£470bn; €580bn), or 30 cents in …


Being inherently safe and chemically compatible with the electrolyte, lithium titanate is considered alternatives to carbonaceous anodes in Li-ion batteries. Given the commercial success of the spinel lithium titanate, carbon coated lithium titanate, particularly in nano structured forms, have been fabricated and investigated for the applications. Nano structuring leads to increased reaction areas, shortened Li+ diffusion and potentially enhanced solubility/capacity. This paper reviews structural characteristics and electrochemical reactivity, along with synthetic approaches of carbon coated nanostructures and nano-composites based on lithium titanate, recently.


Visitors to museums are usually not allowed to touch works of art, which means significant restrictions in the experience of art for visually impaired people. A European research project (PURE- FORM), coordinated by PERCRO in Pisa, Italy, indicates a new option. It aims to make possible manual exploration of virtual 3D copies of works of art via a haptic display developed within the project. A selection of statues has been digitized, and virtual 3D copies of them made available for touching. The final goal is that a virtual library of statues will be created that is accessible at all museums having the nec- essary equipment.


Introduction: Rapid canine retraction through distraction of the periodontal ligament is a tooth movement technique that allows space closure of first premolar extraction space within a period of two to three weeks while providing significant reduction in orthodontic treatment time. Objective: To propose changes in the original surgical technique and in the placement of distractors. Conclusions: Rapid canine retraction is a technique that provides significant reduction in orthodontic treatment time. Changes in the surgical technique provided greater speed and safety in surgery. As a minimum benefit, when positioned palatally, distractors helped to preserve the buccal bone plate and prevented canine proclination. Abstract


In vitro embryo production (IVEP) has become an accessible option for meat and milk producers, and Brazil is now the leader of IVEP worldwide. Recipient females represent one of the most significant costs in embryo transfer (ET) programs. Thus, hormonal protocols may increase the proportion of suitable recipients to receive embryos and improve the efficiency of IVEP programs. Besides improving the amount of available recipients, it is important to select high quality animals. Due to the great demand, the type of females that were considered ideal for ET has become scarce, especially for large-scale programs. Therefore, new approaches have successfully emerged, as the use of Nelore cows recently calved as embryo recipients. For being the most numerous category in Brazil, these animals can be acquired for fair prices. Embryo production from slaughterhouse ovaries also represents an innovative strategy for large-scale IVEP. With the use of sorted sperm and large amount of pregnancies, is has become an interesting alternative compared to AI. In this article, recent advances in embryo IVP are discussed, as well as some of the most used hormonal protocols for estrus synchronization of recipients in large-scale IVEP programs.


Laboratory tests were carried out on a neat asphalt binder and a styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS) asphalt binder containing Sasobit and Aspha-min as warm mix asphalt (WMA) additives to quantitatively evaluate the effects of the additives on the continuous grading temperatures and grades of asphalt binders in the framework of the performance grading system. Test results and data analyses indicate that the significances of the effects of WMA additives depend on the asphalt binder type, additive type, additive content, and rolling thin film oven (RTFO) aging temperature. The wax-type additive Sasobit has a stiffening effect on the grading temperatures. At typical 3 % content, the upper temperatures can be increased by up to 13.5 °C, the lower temperatures can be increased by up to 6.9 °C, and the intermediate temperatures can be increased by up to 5.0 °C. In the commonly used content range, the zeolite-type additive Aspha-min has little effects on the upper, lower, and intermediate grading temperatures. Although there is a special case, in which the upper grading temperature increase is canceled out by 3.8 °C, the reduction in RTFO aging temperature from 163 °C to 133 °C does not generally result in notable changes in the grading temperatures.


Maintaining and nurturing an ensemble theatre have been Anne Bogart's foremost concerns in these past near-thirty years since she and Tadashi Suzuki founded the Saratoga International Theatre Institute (SITI) in 1992. Suzuki had established the Suzuki Company of Toga (SCOT) in 1976, making a secluded mountainous landscape of Japan its home to this day. Bogart's venture in the United States, although inspired by Suzuki's model of a production-based troupe of high artistic standards that, at the same time, developed its unique training methods, by no means merely duplicates its predecessor. In this Covid Conversation, Bogart briefly maps a segment of SITI's history, reflecting on the company's inter-arts endeavours with differing dance idioms and its engagement with Greek tragedy. She discusses the effects of the Covid pandemic on her troupe, also interrupting its performances of The Bacchae at the Guthrie Theatre in Minneapolis. Her most recent opera production, Tristan and Isolde, was closed for the same reason at the Croatian National Theatre – a key work in her portfolio of nineteenth-century grand opera as well as contemporary avant-garde opera. An acclaimed theatre director, Anne Bogart runs and teaches the Graduate Directing Programme at Columbia University in New York. At the SITI summer school in Saratoga, she and the company have workshopped the Viewpoints method that she has elaborated from Mary Overlie's six principles for theatre and dance training. Bogart's international workshops have further developed her method. She is the author of A Director Prepares (Routledge, 2001) and of many influential books that include (with Tina Landau) The Viewpoints Book (Theatre Communications Group, 2004). The Art of Resonance is forthcoming (2021, Bloomsbury). Maria Shevtsova is the Editor of New Theatre Quarterly whose most recent book is Rediscovering Stanislavsky (Cambridge University Press, 2020). The following conversation took place on 27 August 2020, was transcribed by Kunsang Kelden, and was edited by Maria Shevtsova. It is followed by a short coda announcing the transition of SITI into a resource centre.


In [4] and [5], the author studied strong maximum principles for nonlinear parabolic problems with initial and nonlocal inequalities, respectively. Our purpose here is to extend results in [4] and [5] to strong maximum principles for nonlinear parabolic problems with nonlocal inequalities together with integrals. The results obtained in this paper can be applied in the theories of diffusion and heat conduction, since considered here integrals in nonlocal inequalities can be interpreted as mean amounts of the diffused substance or mean temperatures of the investigated medium.


The scope of responsibilities for the FDA is vast, complex, and growing, and the agency is hampered by insufficient resources, inconsistent leadership, unclear mandates, and ambiguous and overly ambitious priorities. In his Policy Forum, Friedman presents four pragmatic steps for change. By rationalizing the budget appropriation and authorization process, simplifying the selection process for the commissioner, formally reviewing its priorities, and obtaining a larger budget (one suited to its mission), the American public will be better served.


In large scale data centers, network infrastructure is becoming a major cost component; as a result, operators are trying to reduce expenses, and in particular lower the amount of hardware needed to achieve their performance goals (or to improve the performance achieved for a given amount of hardware). In this thesis, we explore the use of locality in the data center to meet these demands. In particular, we leverage locality in two different projects: (1) VNTOR, which moves network virtualization from the server to the top-of-rack (ToR) switch, thereby reducing the server hardware needed to achieve a certain performance, and (2) CRISS-CROSS, which makes the network topology reconfigurable, thereby reducing the network hardware needed to switch typical data center workloads with a given level of performance. VNTOR exploits the locality of traffic flows as well as their power-law distribution in the design of a virtual flow table, which extends the hardware flow table of off-the-shelf top-ofrack switches. VNTOR uses this virtual flow table in a hybrid data plane which merges both hardware as well software components. This way it can (1) store tens or even hundreds of thousands of flows, (2) adapt to traffic-pattern changes, typically in less than one millisecond, and (3) uses only commodity switching hardware with a minimal amount of data path memory (4) without compromising latency or throughput. CRISS-CROSS is a hierarchical, reconfigurable topology for large-scale data centers. The locality in rack-level flows allows CRISS-CROSS to adjust its topology to the current traffic patterns. We show that CRISS-CROSS preserves many of the advantages of Clos topologies: (1) it maintains their hierarchy, (2) the simple routing algorithms, (3) their regular layout of connections for simple physical deployability, and (4) the compatibility to existing management approaches. We demonstrate that for a group-based communication pattern, CRISS-CROSS improves the average flow completion time by 5.5× and the 99th percentile by 6.3×. For a purely random point-to-point traffic pattern, it improves the flow completion time by 2.2× on average and 3× at the 99th percentile.


Solid tumors often display chemotherapy resistance. Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is the archetype of resistant tumors as current chemotherapies are inefficient. The tumor stroma and extracellular matrix (ECM) are key contributors to PDAC aggressiveness and to limiting the efficacy of chemotherapy. Lysyl oxidase (LOX) family members mediate collagen cross-linking and thus promote ECM stiffening. Our data demonstrate increased LOX, LOXL1, and LOXL2 expression in PDAC, and that the level of fibrillar collagen, which is directly dependent of LOX family activity, is an independent predictive biomarker of adjuvant "Gemcitabine-based chemotherapy" benefit. Experimentally in mice, increased LOX family activity through LOXL2 promotes chemoresistance. This effect of LOX family activity seems to be due to decreased gemcitabine intra-tumoral diffusion. This observation might be explained by increased fibrillar collagen and decreased vessel size observed in tumors with increased LOX family activity. In conclusion, our data support that LOX family activity is both a novel target to improve chemotherapy as well as a novel biomarker to predict gemcitabine benefit in PDAC. Beyond the PDAC, it is possible that targeting LOX family activity might improve efficacy of chemotherapies against different kinds of solid tumors.


OBJECTIVE: To determine the effective dosage of tilmicosin phosphate when fed to pigs for the control of pneumonia attributable to Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae. DESIGN: Randomized complete block design, with initial weight as the blocking factor. ANIMALS: Seeder pigs were used to infect clinically normal male and female pigs weighing between 13.6 and 36.3 kg at each of 4 trials. PROCEDURE: Five doses of tilmicosin phosphate (0, 100, 200, 300, and 400 micrograms/g) were fed to pigs for 21 days. Pigs received experimental feeds 7 days before the seeder pigs were placed into pens. Feeding continued for an additional 14 days, with seeder pigs removed 3 to 8 days after placement. All pigs were euthanatized and necropsied, with lung bacterial flora and percentages of pneumonic involvement determined. RESULTS: Improvement in clinical impression score, daily rectal temperature, and weight gain were seen for all doses of tilmicosin, compared with controls. For the same variables, tilmicosin administered at 200 to 400 micrograms/g resulted in improvements over the 100 micrograms/g dose. CONCLUSIONS: Data indicate that tilmicosin phosphate fed to pigs at 200 to 400 micrograms/g is effective in controlling and preventing A pleuropneumoniae-induced pneumonia, when administered in feed for 21 days.


Our objective is to evaluate if there is an association between liver fat accumulation after islet transplantation (ITx) and graft survival. A cohort study was conducted in 34 subjects with type 1 diabetes postallogeneic ITx. Liver fat content was evaluated by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (change in liver signal intensity on in-phase and opposed-phase images). Kaplan–Meier curves and Cox regression analysis were performed with islet dysfunction duration as the dependent variable and fat liver content as an independent one. Values of p < 0.05 were significant (SSPS®18.0 and MedCalc®12.5). Patients' mean age was 40 ± 8 years (diabetes duration: 31 ± 12 years; male: 41%). Islet survival did not differ in patients without (51 months, 95% CI 40–62 months) or with steatosis (48 months, 95% CI 38–58 months; p = 0.55) during islet dysfunction period. Nevertheless, survival curves appear to separate late in the follow-up, and after 40 months steatosis was associated with shorter graft survival (p log rank = 0.049). This association remained (RR 23.5, 95% CI 1.1–516.0; p = 0.045) after adjustments for possible confounding factors. In this sample of subjects with type 1 diabetes submitted to ITx, steatosis was not associated with islet failure in the whole cohort. However, in subjects with functional islets after 40 months, a shorter graft survival was observed in those with steatosis during the islet dysfunction period, even after adjustments to variables known to be associated with islet failure.


Due to its ability to bond with living tissues upon dissolution, 45S5 bioglass and related compositions are promising materials for the replacement, regeneration, and repair of hard tissues in the human body. However, the details of their atomic structure remain unclear. This is partially due to the non-equilibrium nature of glasses, as their non-crystalline structure is highly dependent on their thermal history, namely, the cooling rate used during quenching. Herein, using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (MAS-NMR) spectroscopy experiments, we investigate the structure of the nominal 45S5 bioglass composition prepared using cooling rates ranging over several orders of magnitude. We show that the simulations results are in very good agreement with experimental data, provided that they are extrapolated toward lower cooling rates achieved in experiments. These results highlight that previously reported inconsistencies between simulations and experiments stem from the difference in cooling rate, thereby addressing one of the longstanding questions on the structure of bioglass. Based on these results, we demonstrate the existence of a Si--P avoidance behavior, which may be key in controlling the bioactivity of 45S5 bioglass.


The young people who populate our classrooms live in a changed and rapidly changing society: a society where information is the most valued commodity and where traditional 'truth's such as nation and family are increasingly destabilized and fragmented. Educators at primary, secondary and tertiary level must, with some urgency, address issues relating the emergence of new citizenships and identities, the impact of new technologies and new economies. Our pedagogy and curriculums must be relevant to the need of students now and in the future. The School of Education, The University of Queensland is addressing issues of change, new technologies, new work places, critical citizenry and the need for pedagogical and curriculum innovation through the development of a new Middle Years of Schooling Dual Degree program. This program is designed to equip pre-service teachers to approach pedagogy and curriculum in innovative ways and to challenge them to embrace diversity and change. This paper outlines the key features of the Middle Years of Schooling Dual Degree, identifying a number of innovative approaches to pre-service teacher education.


The Energy Invitational is an annual competition hosted by the University of California, Irvine, in southern California in order to bring together high-school, college-, and OEM-level cars to compete in a one-hour endurance race on a limited allotment of fuel. Gamma is UC Irvine's all-electric entry car into the 2012 race. A number of BEV-specific concerns are addressed in order to make the vehicle competitive, the main focus of which is a torque bias system to allow for improved handling and cornering behavior. The current status of Gamma is as a testbed prototype used to assess the drivetrain and torque bias systems performance.


The Medical Annual once again rnaintains the high standard of its Predecessors ; the Editors are to be congratulated on gathering the large number of excellent contributions and the Publishers on producing such a well-printed volume. . The four Special Articles particularly iJlustrate the carefully chosen balance between the clinical and academic aspects of medicine and surgery. Dr. Gultmann's article on 'fhe Management of Paraplegia is to be found next to Dr. Court Brown's article on Human Chromosome Abnormalities. As the Editors point out, the ernphasis in the Medical Contributions is on the th era peu tic aspects of medicine, and particular notice should be taken of the last sentence of the penultimate paragraph on Page 2. In the surgical articles, Plastic Surgery has now been given its own section. Articles range from regional Chemotherapy in the treatment of cancer to the oft-repeated warning :bo~t the risks of infection fol0Wmg catheterization in women. 'fhe related branches, such as Veterinary medicine, vital statistics, *


Traumatic brain injury (TBI) induces secondary biochemical changes that contribute to delayed neuroinflammation, neuronal cell death, and neurological dysfunction. Attenuating such secondary injury has provided the conceptual basis for neuroprotective treatments. Despite strong experimental data, more than 30 clinical trials of neuroprotection in TBI patients have failed. In part, these failures likely reflect methodological differences between the clinical and animal studies, as well as inadequate pre-clinical evaluation and/or trial design problems. However, recent changes in experimental approach and advances in clinical trial methodology have raised the potential for successful clinical translation. Here we critically analyze the current limitations and translational opportunities for developing successful neuroprotective therapies for TBI.


The study of the relation between the exchange rates regime and international trade is done using an inter-disciplinary vision that contains knowledge from four different disciplines: economics, history, mathematics and computer sciences. In the case of pure theory of international trade, there is made an abstraction of the fact that international trade is done using money. The theoretical analysis of international trade including the monetary factor deals with static equilibrium and linear models. We conceived a macroeconomic model of the world economy and used this model to make three simulation experiments. The conclusion of these experiments is that a broader exchange rate band has a negative impact over the volume of world trade. This conclusion is confirmed by the historical analysis.


In recent years urban agriculture has gained the attention of policy-makers, social organizers, and academics alike. This new wave of work and attention focuses on projects that ameliorate issues ranging from food insecurity to urban blight, and environmental degradation to the subversion of industrial food production. These projects consist of a variation of community gardens, educational programs, demonstration farms, and entrepreneurial production farms (I will identify all of these under the umbrella of urban agriculture (UA)). However, by simply studying the social impact of UA, researchers fail to consider who the active agent is in social change; this results in little acknowledgement of a movement that is predominately white, hegemonic, and exclusive. As a movement, UA is largely championed by a middle-class white populace as part of the alternative food movement, rather than being understood as having historical roots in predominately black and/or Latino neighborhoods. As a result, urban agriculture generally creates white spaces in otherwise black or Latino places. In this paper I will argue for a new research direction that considers UA from a critical race theory framework and that will allow researchers to examine how urban agriculture might create white "spaces" and white "ethics" in predominately black and Latino neighborhoods. Understanding UA from a critical race theory framework will be useful in helping the UA movement talk about food sovereignty rather than food insecurity in urban communities.


Annona muricata L. (A. muricata L.) or traditionally known as soursop is well known for its deliciously sweet sour taste of its fruits. The other parts of the tree also have been used in remedies in traditional medicinal history including the bark, leaves, and root, fruit, and fruit seeds. Previous research on A. muricata L. has focused on the bark of the tree and root for pharmaceutical purposes by testing it on laboratory animals. Little attention has been paid to the research on the leaves which actually possessed
valuable phytochemical constituents that have the potential as antimicrobial properties in treating diseases that caused by some bacterial strains. The main objective of this
study is to do phytochemical and antimicrobial activity screenings of the A. muricata L. leaves extract. The analysis result obtained had been compared to previous study done in other countries. The leaves of A. muricata L. collected randomly from rural area in Jerantut, Pahang. The process of extraction, screenings and analysis were done in
Laboratory of Sekolah Pertanian Lestari, UMS Kampus Sandakan. The solvents used for
the extraction of plants are aqueous, chloroform and ethanol. The in vitro antibacterial activity was performed by disc diffusion method and tested on bacteria strains which were three Gram negative; Escherichia coli, Salmonella enteritidis, Citrobader freundii along with one Gram positive bacteria which is Staphylococcus aureus. In this study, it was found that aqueous leaves extract gave the highest percentage of yield extraction. In phytochemical screening, the leaves extract showed the presence of glycoside, tannin, saponin and flavonoid. For antimicrobial activity screening, aqueous leaves extract showed the highest zone of inhibition on tested bacterial strains .The phytochemical and antimicrobial activity screenings suggest that A. muricata has antimicrobial properties.


Hamstring tendons are widely used in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Improvements in fixation materials have increased the success of the reconstruction procedures using this type of graft. The main advantage of the hamstring tendon autograft is the lower donor site morbidity associated with its harvesting. On the other hand, tunnel widening is reported more frequently with the use of hamstring tendon autograft compared to patellar or quadriceps tendons. The objective of the present study was to evaluate three different fixation techniques at a minimum of 2 years after Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) reconstruction using gracilis and semitendinosus autograft.

 Between February 2012 and March 2016, 112 ACL reconstructions using double looped semitendinosus and gracilis graft were performed. Patients were divided into 3 groups in a randomized fashion. 98 patients were followed up for 2 years. In the first group (43 patients), suspensory fixation using Retrobutton (Arthrex, Inc, Naples, Florida) was used. In the second group (30 patients), transcondylar graft fixation Bio-Transfix (Arthrex, Naples, Florida) was performed, and in the third group (25 patients), aperture fixation using AperFix (Cayenne Medical, Scottdale, Arizona, Biomet) was performed. Clinical evaluation was performed using the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) form, Lysholm knee and Tegner activity level scores, as well as arthometer measurements. Tunnel enlargement and graft integrity were evaluated using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) at 6, 12 and 24 months.

 Ten patients were completely lost to follow up, and four had undergone a revision ACL reconstruction before the two-year follow up period, leaving 98 patients for analysis. No statistically significant differences between the three groups were noted other than that the first group tended to have more tunnel enlargement than the other two groups, especially at the femoral tunnel (p=.026), but not at the tibial tunnel (p>0.408). Our results showed that almost 90% of the patients in the three groups had functionally normal or near normal IKDC, Lysholm and Tegner scores.

 The three different techniques yielded equal results as regards improved patient performance. The functional results as well as knee stability tests were not related with tunnel enlargement, at least in the short term.


In a second-best optimal growth setup with only factor taxes, it is in general optimal to fully replace capital by labor income taxation in the long run. We revisit this important issue by developing a human capital-based endogenous growth model with frictional labor search, allowing each firm to create multiple vacancies and each worker to determine market participation. We find that the conventional efficient bargaining condition is necessary but not sufficient for achieving constrained social optimality. We then conduct tax incidence exercises in balanced growth by calibrating to the U.S. economy with a pre-existing 20% flat tax on capital and labor income. Our quantitative results suggest that, due to a dominant channel via the interactions between vacancy creation and market participation, it is optimal to switch only partially from capital to labor taxation in a benchmark economy where human capital formation depends on both physical and human capital stocks. This main finding is robust even along the transition with time-varying factor tax rates. Moreover, our quantitative analysis under alternative setups suggest that while endogenous human capital and labor market frictions are essential for obtaining a positive optimal capital tax, endogenous leisure, nonlinear human capital accumulation and endogenous growth are not crucial.


With a sample of nearly 18,611 utility patents, this paper studies the technology mix of 90 of the world's leading food and beverage multinationals (FBMs) over 1969-1994. It explores the statistical association between patenting in food technology and in non-food technological fields. Food patenting is always associated with patenting in Biotech, Chemistry, Machinery and Other patenting, whatever the home country of the company. The strength of the association, however, could vary. Herfindahl indices show that capabilities in core technology and in Machinery and Other fields are spread among many FBMs. Though to a lesser extent, technical capabilities in Biotechnology, Packaging and Refrigeration are also dispersed. By contrast, patenting in Tobacco, Chemistry and Drugs is concentrated.


A patient with recurrent squamous carcinoma of the neck showed hypercalcemia with the immunoreactive parathyroid hormone (PTH) level within the upper limits of normal range, this being inappropriate for the degree of hypercalcemia. An immunoreactive peak of PTH was found in the tumor tissue extract, which appeared on column chromatography to be in the region of elution of pure bovine PTH. The tumor tissue showed positive immunoperoxidase reaction for PTH compared with negative reaction when the patient had normocalcemia. These findings are strong evidence that the tumor produced a PTHlike substance.


This paper reports on a study that investigated the relationship between social capital and public library use in small towns in Ontario, Canada. Comparisons were also made with the findings of a similar study that was conducted in a medium-sized urban centre. Data for this study were collected through questionnaires administered to both library users and non-users and interviews with library staff and frequent library users. Both Robert Putnam's and Nan Lin's conceptualizations of social capital informed the design of this study. The study found that participants from small towns had higher levels of social capital than the urban participants. However, in contrast with urban participants, library use had no significant association with levels of social capital for small town participants. The findings suggest that small town libraries cater mainly to middle-class residents who maintain their high level of social capital through participation in a variety of community activities and organizations.


Reoperations were performed on 71 patients for tuberculosis of the lungs and pleura at the Phthisiosurgical Department of the Kostroma Regional Antituberculotic Clinic from 1971 to 1990. A total of 159 operative interventions were carried out. Among the indications for repeated operations were complications in the early postoperative period, recurrence, reactivation, and progress of the tuberculous process in the lung which had been operated on, tuberculous empyema of the pleura with a bronchopleural fistula, empyema of the residual pleural cavity and a bronchial fistula forming in the late-term periods after the first operation. Operative interventions were undertaken for the second time for tuberculosis of the lung on which the first operation was conducted in chronic abscess. Finally, operations were repeated for other reasons (excision of a ligature fistula, resection of the ribs for osteomyelitis, etc.). Reoperations on 23 patients who had undergone surgery for recurrence or exacerbation of a tuberculous process in the lung consisted in removal of areas of pulmonary tissue remaining after the first operation, they were of the type of pulmonectomy. This is a technically difficult intervention due to the presence of marked cicatricial adhesions in the pleural cavity and changed topography of the thoracic organs and tissues of the thoracic wall. The results of the reoperations were good.


The term "failed back surgery syndrome" includes a variety of clinical-neurological symptoms following disc surgery. In a prospective study 18 patients suffering from monoradicular symptoms after disc surgery were examined by MRI and CT (both prior to and following intravenous application of contrast material). Findings were then compared to microsurgery. MRI produced correct diagnoses in 17 cases, CT in 13 cases. Recurrent disc herniation caused symptoms four times, and epidural scar formation twice. In twelve cases there was herniated disc material as well as an epidural scar present; disc material preponderated nine times, scar formation in three instances.


Macronyssid mites (Radfordiella) have been found in the oral mucosa of the long-nosed bat (Leptonycteris nivalis), which occurs from Texas southward throughout much of Mexico. This is the first report of mites of the suborder Mesostigmata attached in the oral cavity of a mammal. Osteolysis of hard palate and odontolysis of teeth result from infestations of mites adjacent to the upper premolars and molars; destruction of bone, teeth, and Connective tissue often leads to exfoliation of teeth in life. Oral mites have not been found in Leptonycteris sanborni, a species in part sympatric with Leptonycteris nivalis.


AIM
The relationship between psychosocial characteristics and smoking cessation behavior was examined among Japanese male eversmokers with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

METHODS
The psychosocial characteristics and smoking cessation behavior of 441 male ever-smokers with type 2 diabetes mellitus were investigated. Personality was assessed using an egogram (five ego states: the Critical Parent, Nurturing Parent, Adult, Free Child, and Adapted Child) and each patient was classified into a high score or low score group based on the median. The current smokers were divided into 2 categories according to their readiness to quit smoking.

RESULTS
In multivariate analyses, the ever-smokers with a high Adult score had a lower risk of current smoking (OR=0.67, 95%CI=0.41-0.93), the ever-smokers with a high Free Child score were over 3 times more likely to currently smoke (OR=3.12, 95%CI=1.97-4.97), and the ever-smokers who had a low educational background had a higher risk of current smoking (OR=3.02, 95% CI=1.73-5.28). In addition, the current smokers with a high Adult score had a lower risk of being in the immotive and precontemplation stage (OR=0.55, 95%CI=0.24-0.96). The current smokers who had a low educational background had a higher risk of being in the immotive and precontemplation stage (OR=2.13, 95%CI=1.08-5.42).

CONCLUSION
There is a need to develop a smoking cessation program for patients with high "Free Child" scores and a "low education level".


Objective: The personality characteristics and symptoms observed in schizophrenia are postulated to lie on a continuum, with non-clinical manifestations referred to as schizotypy. High schizotypy behaviours are argued to correspond with the three main clusters of symptoms in schizophrenia: positive, negative and cognitive/disorganised symptoms, yet there is limited empirical evidence to support this. This study aimed to investigate whether schizotypy dimensions significantly correlate with their respective schizophrenia symptomatology in the largest sample to date. Methods: A total of 361 adults (103 patients with schizophrenia/schizoaffective disorder and 258 healthy controls) were assessed for schizotypy using the Oxford-Liverpool Inventory of Feelings and Experiences. The MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery supplemented by the Stroop task and Wisconsin Card Sorting Test was administered to all participants to obtain objective measurements of cognition. Schizophrenia symptomatology was assessed using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale in patients only. Results: The results demonstrated significant correlations between the Oxford-Liverpool Inventory of Feelings and Experiences positive and negative subscales and their respective Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale subscales only, indicating that positive and negative schizotypy dimensions across patients and controls accurately reflect the respective schizophrenia symptomatology observed in patients. Cognitive performance did not correlate with cognitive/disorganised symptom dimensions of the Oxford-Liverpool Inventory of Feelings and Experiences or the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale, indicating that cognitive impairment is an independent symptom dimension that requires objective cognitive testing. Conclusion: Collectively, the findings provide empirical evidence for the continuum theory and support the use of schizotypy as a model for investigating schizophrenia.


Mutants of Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viciae unable to respire via the cytochrome aa3 pathway were identified by the inability to oxidize N,N'-dimethyl-p-phenylenediamine. Two mutants which were complemented by cosmid pIJ1942 from an R. leguminosarum clone bank were identified. Although pea nodules induced by these mutants contained many bacteroids, no symbiotic nitrogen fixation was detected. Heme staining of cellular proteins revealed that all cytochrome c-type heme proteins were absent. These mutants lacked spectroscopically detectable cytochrome c, but cytochromes aa3 and d were present, the latter at a higher-than-normal level. DNA sequence analysis of complementing plasmids revealed four apparently cotranscribed open reading frames (cycH, cycJ, cycK, and cycL). CycH, CycJ, CycK, and CycL are homologous to Bradyrhizobium japonicum and Rhizobium meliloti proteins thought to be involved in the attachment of heme to cytochrome c apoproteins; CycK and CycL are also homologous to the Rhodobacter capsulatus ccl1 and ccl2 gene products and the Escherichia coli nrfE and nrfF gene products involved in the assembly of c-type cytochromes. The absence of cytochrome c heme proteins in these R. leguminosarum mutants is consistent with the view that the cycHJKL operon could be involved in the attachment of heme to apocytochrome c.


Although recently developed drugs have brought significant improvement, the treatment of psychotic disorders still presents serious drawbacks. Since inherent complexity and lack of satisfactory understanding of the underlying pathophysiology impose limits for rational drug design, resourceful approaches in the search for antipsychotics are pertinent. This paper reports pharmacological properties of alstonine, a heteroyohimbine type alkaloid, which exhibited an antipsychotic-like profile, inhibiting amphetamine-induced lethality, apomorphine-induced stereotypy and potentiating barbiturate-induced sleeping time. Atypical features of alstonine were the prevention of haloperidol-induced catalepsy and lack of direct interaction with D1, D2 and 5-HT2A receptors, classically linked to antipsychotic mechanism of action.


During this work, the study of electrical properties of (As0.5Se0.5 doped with 1%Te) thin films which prepared by thermal vacuum evaporation on glass substrate bases at room temperature with (100±20)nm thickness, deposition rate (1.6nm/s) and study effect of annealing at temperatures (Ta) (348,398 and448)K for (30min) on these properties. The X-ray diffraction pattern showed that all prepared films have amorphous structure. The electrical measurements explain that D.C. conductivity increases as annealing temperature (Ta) increases and all films have two values of activation energy (Ea1) and (Ea2) and found that it decrease when (Ta) increases. From study Hall effect, all samples showed (p-type) and carrier's concentration (p) increase while it's mobility decreases with increasing of (Ta). From measurements of thermoelectric power showed that the thermal activation energy (Es) smaller than the D.C. conductivity (Ea2) and (Es) decrease as (Ta) increase.


The paper gives an overview of performance-based design in New Zealand with particular reference to fire, seismic, and durability design of timber structures. The performance-based code came into force 15 years ago when it superseded the previous prescriptive codes. Major changes were introduced, particularly in fire engineering, where every specific limitation, such as that on the maximum number of storeys for timber buildings, was removed. The compliance of each design with the performance requirements may be demonstrated using either of an approved verification method (specified calculations), an acceptable solution (prescriptive requirements), or an alternative solution (special oneoff design). This new regime allowed more freedom in design and the use of new construction systems, but with the simultaneous deregulation of the building industry, a reduction in quality followed, with poor details and sloppy construction leading to a number of problems such as "leaky buildings". For this reason, more stringent regulations were recently introduced, with a much more rigorous system of quality control.


The mechanism by which hyperthermia sensitizes mammalian cells to ionizing radiation remains to be elucidated, but an overwhelming amount of circumstantial evidence suggests that heat radiosensitization might be mediated by inhibition of double-strand break repair, particularly after exposure of irradiated cells to heat treatments in excess of about 43°C. In mammalian cells, double-strand break repair usually occurs via two pathways, non-homologous end-joining and homologous recombination. Several reports suggest a role for non-homologous end-joining in heat radiosensitization, while others implicate homologous recombination as a target. However, cell lines that are compromised in either the non-homologous end-joining or homologous recombination pathway are still capable of being radiosensitized, suggesting that heat affects both pathways. Indeed, several of the proteins involved in one or both of these pathways have been observed to undergo alterations or translocation after unirradiated or irradiated cells are exposed to heat shock. The work summarized in this review implicates proteins of the Mre11/Rad50/Nbs1 complex as targets for heat radiosensitization.


To be the 95th president of the Western Surgical Association is a great honor of which I and my family are tremendously appreciative. To be your first president who is a foreign medical graduate is a unique distinction that reflects the warm and tolerant spirit of this membership. To be the chairman of a major university department toward the end of a 22-year tenure with an opportunity to muse publicly on the changing contours of the chairmanship is a rare chance. Believing that too few surgeons, both in and out of academic life, have more than a vague knowledge of today's surgical chairmanship, my purpose is to reflect on a few selected facets of this often coveted but seldom comfortable position. I propose, like a cartographer, to delineate the changing boundaries and the rugged terrain of the chairman's territory. While there is some variation in climate over the land, the


: In this study, we tested the stability of the xenograft SURGIBONE and of human iliac crest graft depending on the donor's bone density. The mean load bearing capacity of SURGIBONE was 4816 N, the compressive strength 32.8 N/mm2. This even exceeds the values given by the producer. Yet in clinical use the material caused problems by collapses or lysis of the graft. According to our results, those failures can not be explained by missing primary stability. Perhaps there is a immunogenic reaction of the host against the remaining protein as it once was proved for the "kielspan"-graft. The iliac crest grafts of donors with normal bone density had a load bearing capacity of 3397 N. Grafts of donors with reduced bone density of less than 60 mg/ml Ca-Equivalent showed reduced load bearing capacities of 2265 N. DEXA (Dual-Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry) seems to be suitable to scan preoperatively the iliac crest graft stability in order to recognize the danger of reduced stability by osteoporosis.


In this work we report the optical characteristics of carbon nitride films produced by a KrF excimer laser ablation technique. The ablated materials were collected on different wafers, glass and porous silicon for different N2 pressures (0.1-0.5mbar). The thin films were synthesized at room temperature. The deposited thin films were characterized by spectrophotometry, ellipsometry, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). The results show that the optical band gap deduced from optical transmission spectra in the ultraviolet- visible – near infrared range increases with deposition time and with nitrogen pressures increasing. SEM observation indicates that the CNx film is granular. Finally, FTIR spectra reveal carbon nitride absorption bands which do not seem change considerably with N2 pressures.


The high incidence of patent foramen ovale (PFO) in migraine with aura (MWA) is well known. In this study we evaluated the relationship between PFO and aura features, and the relative impact of this association on stroke risk. We recruited patients with a diagnosis of MWA. PFO was assessed by contrast transcranial Doppler and confirmed by transoesophageal echocardiography. The 65 patients enrolled were divided into two groups on the basis of the clinical features of their aura: typical in 63.1% (Group 1) and atypical in 36.9% (Group 2). A statistically significant difference was found in PFO prevalence between the two groups (46.3% in Group 1 and 79.2% in Group 2; p=0.009). We did not observe any statistical difference between the two groups in the prevalence of classic stroke risk factors or in the profile of the thrombophilic markers. Our results underline the need to look for PFO particularly in subjects with atypical features of aura, but the underlying pathophysiology of the association is not clear.


This paper introduces the modeling and control of split-shaft drivetrains where the system's inertia is adjusted to store the energy. Accordingly, a flywheel is mechanically coupled with the rotor of a doubly fed induction generator. The generator is driven by a split-shaft drivetrain that decouples the turbine's shaft from the shaft of the generator to provide independent control of their angular velocities. Hence, the turbine controller can track the point of maximum power while the generator controller can adjust the generator speed. Accordingly, the flywheel, which is directly connected to the shaft of the generator, is charged and discharged by controlling the generator speed. In this process, the flywheel can modify the electric power generation of the generator on-demand. Since the drivetrain is a split-shaft, the turbine speed is not affected by this energy storing process. This improves the quality of injected power to the grid. The structure of the flywheel energy storage can be simplified by removing its dedicated motor/generator and the power electronics driver. This significant modification can only occur in the split-shaft drivetrain. Two separate supervisory controllers are developed in the form of fuzzy logic regulators to generate a real-time output power reference. Furthermore, small-signal models are developed to analyze and improve the maximum power point tracking controller. Extensive simulation results demonstrate the feasibility of such a system and its improved quality of power generation.


Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of external financing needs on both firm value and corporate governance mechanisms within the UK SME context. This framework is of importance because of the limited external financial resources SMEs might face.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors consider the endogeneity problem between corporate governance mechanisms and firm value, and hence, the three stages least squares and the instrumental variables based on two stages least squares estimation methods are employed.

Findings

The authors find a positive relationship between external financing needs and firm value. In addition, the authors detect that size and profitability are positively associated with firm value in the sample. Concerning the corporate governance index (CGI), the authors detect that big SMEs and those with low-debt levels have better corporate governance structures.

Originality/value

The authors employ a CGI for the sample which is constructed using ten corporate governance variables. The authors also examine different factors that affect SMEs 2019 governance by applying different models including logistic analysis.


This paper examines several aspects of the social situation of the older immigrant population in Switzerland. It reviews their demographic history and characteristics and provides profiles of their health and well being, their material standard of life and access to social security and related benefits. It reports selected findings from an original survey of older Italian and Spanish citizens who are resident in the country, which show relatively high rates of disadvantage and poverty. The determination of a large proportion of the immigrant population to remain in Switzerland after they have ceased work demonstrates that the minorities who entered the country as labour migrants will become a permanent element of the Swiss population and its society. Neither the politicians nor the general public in Switzerland have yet accepted the reality of this new diversity. Given the continuation and indeed growth of international labour migration, the paper concludes by discussing the social policy and attitudinal options that face the governments and the population of Switzerland and many other European countries.


How do we mean 'democratic' and 'dialogic' when referring to something supposedly universal such as science? This chapter will look at nanotechnology in an Irish context drawing from current thinking in science communication and science studies, particularly ideas concerning public engagement and public participation in science governance. The specific approach used here extends the concept of engagement to include how publics might interact and potentially shape the discourses, and indeed even the 'products', of emerging science. I will address two key areas: first, a separation between a strategic science and a constructed 'public' where public participation might happen, on the one hand operating as a one-way communication process but now increasingly dialogic, yet on the other hand also increasingly the context for strategic vision for Ireland in a global economy. We are in the era of technoscience, application-driven science with extraordinary epistemological position of legitimacy and public resonance (Nowotny et al, 2001). 'The public' here is often constructed as 'disadvantaged' in the sense of having a knowledge deficit, requiring education and more scientific literacy. Second, I ask why and where public participation should occur for something as abstract and technical as the nanosciences among communities that are truly disadvantaged in a social and economical sense, removed as they are from hi-tech policy discourses. However, there has, in recent decades, been greater emphasises in science communication theory and practice on public engagement (Wynne, 2005; Dalgado, 2010). I will focus on the citizen jury as one potentially strong, public -oriented model, drawing from an Environmental Protection Agency project on which I worked (Murphy, 2010). The chapter concludes with a description of how a sub-political dialogue, contributing to social action beneath mainstream politics, can best be achieved in an Irish context and how policy could realistically change in response to public response to nanotechnology.


Background and Aim: Learning disability is a term referes to a group of disorders manifesting listening, reading, writing, or mathematical problems. These children mostly have attention difficulties in classroom that leads to many learning problems. In this study we aimed to compare the auditory attention of 7 to 9 year old children with learning disability to non- learning disability age matched normal group. Methods: Twenty seven male 7 to 9 year old students with learning disability and 27 age and sex matched normal conrols were selected with unprobable simple sampling. 27 In order to evaluate auditory selective and divided attention, Farsi versions of speech in noise and dichotic digit test were used respectively. Results: Comparison of mean scores of Farsi versions of speech in noise in both ears of 7 and 8 yearold students in two groups indicated no significant difference (p>0.05) Mean scores of 9 year old controls was significant more than those of the cases only in the right ear (p=0.033). However, no significant difference was observed between mean scores of dichotic digit test assessing the right ear of 9 year-old learning disability and non learning disability students (p>0.05). Moreover, mean scores of 7 and 8 year- old students with learning disability was less than those of their normal peers in the left ear (p>0.05). Conclusion: Selective auditory attention is not affected in the optimal signal to noise ratio, while divided attention seems to be affected by maturity delay of auditory system or central auditory system disorders.


Investors are keenly interested in financial reports of earnings because earnings provide important information for investment decisions. Thus, executives who are monitored by investors and directors face strong incentives to manage earnings. We introduce consideration of behavioural/institutional thresholds for earnings in this mix of incentives and governance. A model illustrates how thresholds induce specific types of earnings management. Empirical explorations find clear support for earnings management to exceed each of the three thresholds that we consider: positive profits, sustain-recent-performance, and meet-market-expectations. The thresholds are hierarchically ranked. The future performance of firms that possibly boost earnings to just cross a threshold appears to be poorer than that of less suspect control groups.


mental work of others points to the cause of heemoglobinremia in drowning being intravascular hremolysis produced by the absorption of hypotonic fluid (that is, water) into the circulation. The sequel to this interesting case history is satisfactory, for the patient was followed up by the author, and remained well after periods of two weeks, one year, two years and, finally, four years from his admission to hospital. In conclusion, it may be mentioned that other recent investigators have compared the findings in animals drowned in fresh and in salt water. Electrolytic changes have been found in the blood in the left side of the heart, and it is suggested that this is due to failure of the heart to move pulmonary blood into the left auricle. Here, too, there seems good evidence of the passage of the drowning medium through the pulmonary .alveolar walls. It is perhaps not out of place to emphasize the literally fatal ease with which young children may succumb to immersion, a hazard which is often preventible.


Honing is an abrasive machining process that produces a precision surface on a workpiece and widely used in manufacturing engine cylinder walls, compressor bodies, valve bodies, bearings, hydraulic cylinders and so on. Investigation and acquisition of the honing force could be used to investigate the honing mechanism and optimize the processing parameter. But it is difficult to measure the force during the honing process because of the limited honing structure. This paper presents a measuring system for honing force. It introduces the measure theory and the measure system. The whole measuring system is validated by experiment.


We study an induction hardening model described by Maxwell's equations coupled with a heat equation. The magnetic induction field is assumed a nonlinear constitutional relation and the electric conductivity is temperature‐dependent. The T‐ψ method is to transform Maxwell's equations to the vector–scalar potential formulations and to solve the potentials by means of the finite element method. In this article, we present a fully discrete T‐ψ finite element scheme for this nonlinear coupled problem and discuss its solvability. We prove that the discrete solution converges to a weak solution of the continuous problem. Finally, we conclude with two numerical experiments for the coupled system.


The construction, operation and maintenance of transportation infrastructure require energy and materials which impact the environment. Large infrastructure projects thus use resources intensively and leave a significant environmental footprint. To demonstrate and support the sustainability of such large-scale projects, life cycle assessment (LCA) has become a common tool to evaluate environmental impacts in all stages of infrastructure life cycle, from raw material production through end-of-life management. However, the various phases of the assessment are all associated with uncertainties. If decisions are made without consideration of these uncertainties, they might be misleading and suboptimal. In this paper, results are presented where variations associated with different parameters and tools for life cycle assessment have been considered using probabilistic methods. A categorization of common uncertainties in LCA is also included. The most influential parameters can be identified with sensitivity analysis methods, since for LCA with a large number of parameters it may be unreasonable to incorporate all in a probabilistic simulation. For a limited amount of influential variables, Monte Carlo simulation has been used to assess the effects of uncertainties on the results. A bridge has been used as a case study to find important aspects in infrastructure LCA. The results indicate that if the most influential parameters are considered as random variables, it is possible to estimate the uncertainty and increase the validity of the life cycle assessment. (Less)


The cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) channel is an ion channel responsible for chloride transport in epithelia and it belongs to the class of ABC transporters. The deletion of phenylalanine 508 (F508del) in CFTR is the most common mutation responsible for cystic fibrosis. Little is known about the effect of the mutation in the isolated nucleotide binding domains (NBDs), on dimer dynamics, ATP hydrolysis and even on nucleotide binding. Using molecular dynamics simulations of the human CFTR NBD dimer, we showed that F508del increases, in the prehydrolysis state, the inter‐motif distance in both ATP binding sites (ABP) when ATP is bound. Additionally, a decrease in the number of catalytically competent conformations was observed in the presence of F508del. We used the subtraction technique to study the first 300 ps after ATP hydrolysis in the catalytic competent site and found that the F508del dimer evidences lower conformational changes than the wild type. Using longer simulation times, the magnitude of the conformational changes in both forms increases. Nonetheless, the F508del dimer shows lower C‐α RMS values in comparison to the wild‐type, on the F508del loop, on the residues surrounding the catalytic site and the portion of NBD2 adjacent to ABP1. These results provide evidence that F508del interferes with the NBD dynamics before and after ATP hydrolysis. These findings shed a new light on the effect of F508del on NBD dynamics and reveal a novel mechanism for the influence of F508del on CFTR.


BACKGROUND
Our aim was to study the impact of lifelong human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease history on the current immune and virological status of perinatally infected patients reaching adulthood. We evaluated blood cell-associated HIV DNA load as an indicator of cell-associated HIV reservoirs and an independent predictor of disease progression.

METHODS
The ANRS-EP38-IMMIP Study included 93 patients aged 15-24 years who were infected with HIV during the perinatal period. HIV DNA load was quantified by real-time polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTS
Eighty-five percent of patients were receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), and HIV RNA was undetectable in the plasma of 75% of these patients. The median HIV DNA load was 2.84 (interquartile range, 2.51-3.16) log(10) copies per 10(6) peripheral blood mononuclear cells. In patients with viral suppression, HIV DNA load was independently associated with cumulative HIV RNA viremia over the last 5 years. HIV DNA load was negatively correlated with CD4 cell count in patients with active replication but not in those with undetectable HIV RNA.

CONCLUSIONS
In perinatally infected youths who are successfully treated, sustained viral suppression is associated with a low HIV DNA load. The absence of association between current HIV DNA load and CD4 cell counts suggests that the unique physiological characteristics of pediatric infection persist after adolescence.

CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION
NCT01055873.


: The anatomy of the epithelial surface of the uterine cervix was investigated in 31 mice with scanning electron microscope (SEM). The cervox of 20 mice was painted twice a week during five months with 3,4-benzpyrene (BP) in acetone and in 11 mice with acetone alone. Only two of the 15 acetone or BP treated animals with histologic normal epithelium showed similar structures as those described earlier for the normal cervical epithelium of untreated mice. The remaining 13 animals had regular mosaics, intermediate or cobblestone structures covered with irregular microvilli with or without long, finger-like protrusions. Irregular mosaics, intermediate or cobblestone structures were seen in atypical epithelium. In atypias Grade III and in invasive carcinoma irregular cobblestone structures with cellular overlapping were present. Atypical and invasive carcinoma were usually furnished with irregular microvilli, irregular fragmented microrugae and finger-like protrusions. The proportion of mice having anisovillosis with finger-like protrusions increased with increasing degree of epithelial severity. Since pathologic SEM changes were observed in some treated mice having normal histology the possibility was entertained that alterations at the cellular membrane level may preceed the nucleocytoplasmic changes required for the recognition of atypical epithelium in conventional histologic preparations.