Context French Guiana is a South American French territory, where HIV prevalence consistently exceeds 1% in the adult population. In the only correctional facility, HIV prevalence fluctuates at around 4%. Aims After describing the population of HIV-positive inmates, we aimed to evaluate mortality after release from the correctional facility, and to identify its predictive factors. Rationale Outside North American settings, data on treatment outcome and vital status of HIV-positive former inmates are scarce. There were no data in French Guiana. Filling this gap represents a basis for potential improvements. Methods All HIV-infected adults released from an incarceration of 30 days or more, between 2007 and 2013, were enrolled in a retrospective cohort study. Mortality was described over time, one to seven years following release, using Kaplan-Meier estimates. Factors associated with mortality were identified through a non-parametric survival regression model. Results 147 former inmates were included. The male to female ratio was 4.4. The median age was 37.3 years. The majority were migrants, 25.8% were homeless, 70.1% suffered from substance abuse, with 34.0% of crack-cocaine users. On admission, 78.1% had an early HIV-stage infection (CDC-stage A), with a median CD4 count of 397.5/mm3, 34.0% had one comorbidity, mainly hypertension. Upon release, 50.3% were on ART. Reasons for not being treated were not fulfilling the criteria for 74.6%, and refusing for 15.1%. Before release, 84.5% of the patients on ART had a viral load≤200cp/ml. After release, 8.2% of the cohort had died, with a crude incidence of 33.8/1000 person-years. All recorded deaths were males, with an incidence of 42.2/1000 person-years. Comparing with the age-specific mortality rates for males in French Guiana, the standardized mortality ratio was 14.8. In multivariate analysis, factors associated with death were age and CD4 count before release. Conclusion Despite access to ART while incarcerated, with good virological outcome, the post-release mortality was very high for males, almost 15 times what is observed in the general male population living in French Guiana, after age standardization. Access to ART in correctional facilities may be a necessary, but not sufficient condition to protect male inmates from death after release.


This paper surveys trends in private vehicle use in Latin American cities and related government policies. It discusses the Colombian government's initiatives to adopt congestion charging in major cities, highlights the political constraints encountered, and discusses policy changes adopted in response. The paper presents modelling results for the impact of different congestion charging proposals and identifies the principal challenges for adopting them.


Background: Logistics is vital for the trades of countries. The inputs such as raw materials and energy that is needed for production and also the outputs of these processes are transported and distributed effectively as a result of an efficient logistics process. In order to measure the logistics performance of countries, The World Bank (WB) is publishing an index entitled Logistics Performance for every two years. Methods: The main value of this study is to provide logistics performance scores of the selected countries for a selected time period. Thus, periodic evaluations can be done for a selected time period. The grey numbers are used for determining a new dataset for a time period and implement to Complex Proportional Assessment of Alternatives (COPRAS) method. 28 European Union (EU) member states plus 5 EU Candidate Countries are ranked by using the COPRAS-Grey (COPRAS-G) method according to their logistics performance scores. In order to see if the ranking calculated by COPRAS-G is representing the past index data, the bilateral comparisons of the rankings are investigated by using the Spearman Rank and Kendall's Tau Correlation methods. Results: The results showed that the dataset obtained by using grey numbers represent the LPI scores of the countries for the selected time period. Although there are slight differences between the Spearman and Kendall correlation coefficients, the ultimate result is the same. The ranking calculated by COPRAS-G has the strongest relationship with all rankings published by WB. Conclusions: By using the grey numbers combined with the COPRAS-G method, the LPI of Countries can be evaluated for a time period.


Chitinozoans are organic-walled microfossils widely recorded in Ordovician to Devonian (ca 485–359 Mya) marine sediments and extensively used in high-resolution biostratigraphy. Their biological affinity remains unknown, but most commonly, they are interpreted as eggs of marine metazoans. Here, we provide new insights into their palaeobiology from three lines of inquiry. We examine morphological variation of a new, well-preserved Late Ordovician species, Hercochitina violana; analyse a compiled dataset of measurements on 378 species representing all known chitinozoan genera; and compare these data with the size variation of eggs of both extinct and extant aquatic invertebrates. The results indicate that the magnitude of size variation within chitinozoan species is larger than observed in fossil and modern eggs. Additionally, delicate morphological structures of chitinozoans, such as prosome and complex ornamentation, are inconsistent with the egg hypothesis. Distinct and continuous morphological variation in H. violana is more plausibly interpreted as an ontogenetic series of individual microorganisms, rather than as eggs.


Background: Family Businesses represent the highest proportion of businesses in the world (Lin, 2012). Globalisation offers new business opportunities for growth and international diversification. Generally the internationalisation of family businesses is a well-studied field in family business research (Kontinen & Ojala, 2009). Still, there are certain shortcomings when it comes to the specific area of corporate governance adaptation in family firms that open subsidiaries (Calabro & Mussolino, 2011). Hence, this paper analyses the proceedings of family firms that internationalise through a subsidiary. From a methodological standpoint, existing studies concerned with family business internationalisation focus on quantitative research approaches. The results of these include some limitations, since they cannot account for questions such as how and why family firms proceed during diversification (Kontinen & Ojala, 2009). Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate the rationale behind corporate governance structures in family businesses, focusing on the special case of internationalisation through a subsidiary. Frame of Reference: A summary of recent research regarding the three main issues family businesses, internationalisation, and corporate governance will be given in the frame of reference. This theoretical background will serve as the basis for a solid analysis of our empirical data. Method: A qualitative approach with an extensive literature review and a case study based on in-depth interviews with employees of the company Vaderstad-Verken AB was chosen in order to fulfil the purpose. Conclusion: The rationale behind corporate governance structures when setting up a subsidiary abroad is driven by the ambition to preserve a family firms' stewardship oriented culture and its informal structures. The result of this is better collaboration, which serves the mission of the business.


Fifty years ago, Ernst Mayr published a hugely influential paper on the nature of causation in biology, in which he distinguished between proximate and ultimate causes. Mayr equated proximate causation with immediate factors (for example, physiology) and ultimate causation with evolutionary explanations (for example, natural selection). He argued that proximate and ultimate causes addressed different questions and were not alternatives. Mayr's account of causation remains widely accepted today, with both positive and negative ramifications. Several current debates in biology (for example, over evolution and development, niche construction, cooperation, and the evolution of language) are linked by a common axis of acceptance/rejection of Mayr's model of causation. We argue that Mayr's formulation has acted to stabilize the dominant evolutionary paradigm against change but may now hamper progress in the biological sciences.


ABSTRACT Higher education institutions (HEIs) are increasingly being measured using key performance indicators (KPIs) such as student retention, success, achievement and attendance. There is a dearth of research focusing on group dynamics within classroom settings, with very little focusing on cohesion. There is, however, evidence, in organisational and sports settings, that cohesion can have a positive impact upon performance and adherence to group activities. More cohesive classes may therefore result in improved performance in higher education (HE) . This study aimed to examine whether group cohesion was related to markers of student success in higher education (HE) classes in three English colleges. Participants were 107 first-year sports students who completed the Perceived Cohesion Scale for Small Groups (PCS) at the end of semesters one and two. Responses were correlated with student attendance, success, achievement and retention. Results indicated that attendance was positively correlated with cohesion (r = 0.4, p = 0.01), but no other relationships emerged. The effect sizes were higher in semester two than in semester one, which suggests that cohesion may develop over time in student groups. The findings indicate that cohesion may be important to enhance attendance at colleges and that building cohesion should be a priority for classroom managers.


The first college mathematics course a student enrolls in is often affected by performance on a college mathematics placement test. Yet validity evidence of mathematics placement tests remains limited, even for nationally standardized placement tests, and when it is available usually consists of examining a student's subsequent performance in mathematics courses. This study expands on existing literature by considering whether a nationally standardized college mathematics placement test (ACCUPLACER) contributes to the prediction of enrollment and success in developmental and nondevelopmental mathematics courses above and beyond prediction associated with the ACT mathematics test. Results for a sample of more than 1,300 students from 20 postsecondary institutions suggest that ACCUPLACER does not contribute to either the prediction of enrollment or subsequent success in such courses, and that comparable information is provided by using the ACT mathematics score alone. Implications of these findings are discussed.


The extant literature has demonstrated that there is a need for more empirical research on the subject of policing cybercrime. This article makes a contribution and offers a qualitative exploration of the problem of policing cybercrime from an international perspective. It structures the analysis around three main challenges: the knowledge, forensic, and legal challenges. A literature review supports the evidence that these issues are core challenges when policing cybercrime. Through 13 semi-structured interviews with cybercrime specialists from 8 countries, these three challenges are further investigated. A thematic analysis of the interviews, whilst confirming some of the previous literature findings, also outlines novel findings. Interview analysis shows that in some areas little recent progress has been made, in particular the recording of cybercrime. However, in other areas new creative solutions have been implemented, including filling the policing skills gap with civilian specialists. The article concludes by offering recommendations for addressing some of the challenges for policing cybercrime.


Chemical speciation determines Se solubility and therefore its bioavailability and potential for transport in the environment. In this study we investigated the speciation of Se in soil developed on reclaimed mine sites in the U.S. Western Phosphate Resource Area (WPRA) using micro-X-ray absorption near-edge structure (micro-XANES) spectroscopy and micro-X-ray fluorescence (micro-XRF) mapping. Selenium was nonuniformly distributed in the soils and positively correlated with Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, and Ni. Sixteen points of interest (POI) from three soil samples were analyzed with micro-XANES spectroscopy. The XANES data indicated that Se is present in the soils in at least three oxidation states, Se(-II, 0), Se(IV), and Se(VI). Selenides or elemental Se dominated 7 of the 16 POI. Selenate was the dominant species at only one of the POI. The remaining eight POI were composed of both Se(IV) and Se(VI), with minor Se(-II, 0) contributions. The results of this research suggest that the reduced Se species in the soil parent material are oxidizing to Se(VI), one of the more mobile species of Se in the environment. This information can be used to better predict and manage Se availability in soils.


The fundamental properties of various automotive suspension systems are theoretically investigated on the basis of simple vehicle models subjected to realistic inputs chosen to represent road surfaces of different qualities. The vehicle response is evaluated through a performance index representing ride comfort, dynamic tyre load and suspension working space parameters, and interpreted in the light of these individual parameters together with the implications of the suspension design for attitude control and steering behaviour.
Linear analysis procedures are followed in studying the passive, active and slow-active suspension systems while suitable simulations are used for the non-linear semi-active suspension systems. Linear optimal control theory is used to determine the optimal parameters of the active and slow-active suspension systems. Semi-active suspension behaviours are evaluated on the basis of applying the optimal active parameters to each system, but the semi-active damper can only dissipate energy and switches off when external power would be needed for the system to follow the optimal active control law.
Results are generated and discussed for each of these types of system and their performance capabilities are compared with each other. Conclusions concerning the practical viability of each of the systems are drawn.


The author, diabetic for 33 yr, has used a novel technique for maintaining blood glucose (BG) in the 60–120 mg/dl range and HbA1c in the 3.95–6.4& range, thereby lowering serum triglycerides from 200+ to 29 mg/dl, cholestrol from 250+ to 130 mg/dl, and insulin dosage from 80 to 25 U/day. BG is patient-monitored six times a day with Dextrostix and Ames Eyetone reflectance colorimeter, modified for battery operation. BG levels over 115 mg/dl are corrected with Regular insulin, 0.5 U for every 15 mg/dl elevation above 100 mg/dl. BG levels below 85 are treated with one glucose tablet (Dextrosol) for every 15 mg/dl below 100 mg/dl. Usual preprandial split insulin doses are: 5 U Regular (R) + 5 U Ultralente (UL) about 50 min prebreakfast, 5R about 50 min prelunch, and 5R + 5UL about 50 min presupper. High protein diet limits carbohydrate to one bread exchange per meal, no simple sugars, no fruits. Caloric distribution is approximately 15& CHO, ≥ 45& PRO, ≤ 40& fat. This diet eliminates postprandial BG elevation without the large doses of R that might cause severe hypoglycemia when meals are slightly delayed. Snacks are contraindicated unless covered by additional R. Meals may be skipped or taken at any time provided R is withheld or times as appropriate. Psychological and physiologic improvements experienced by the author and other patients are described. The method is recommended to investigators as a means for testing long-term effects of euglycemia on sequellae of insulin-dependent DM in humans.


Recent years have seen many changes affecting the market for professional indemnity insurance. The law is changing, widening the scope of liability. The insurance market is changing, with more mutuals and captives being formed. The price and availability of insurance are changing, too. The internationalization of professional firms has introduced new problems, with claims being brought in the jurisdiction perceived as most favourable to the claimant. The broadening range of services offered by individual firms, and the consequent growth of truly multidisciplinary firms, can only make the situation more complex. Like many other insurance markets, the market for professional indemnity insurance is cyclical. In the two or three years following 1984 most premiums more than doubled in real terms, and deductibles rose significantly. At the same time capacity fell. The result of all this change is that professionals are considering their indemnity insurance needs in a new light. The main reason for buying insurance is to provide a smooth cash flow. This need has not been met in the recent past. We therefore believe that now is an appropriate time for the attention of actuaries to be drawn to professional indemnity insurance.


The effects of discretion on national implementation of European (EU) directives are a recurrent issue in implementation studies but opinions on discretion's impact differ. Discretion is found to delay but also to contribute to successful implementation; it is found to play an important but then also a less important role in affecting Member State compliance. Remarkably, given the EU's purported democratic deficit, discretion effects have hardly ever been linked to the legitimacy of EU directives. This paper intends to address this gap by choosing an approach across disciplines. Its main argument is that discretion provided by EU directives, referred to as legislative discretion, can be conducive to lawmaking and implementation and be beneficial for the legitimacy of these directives within Member States. First, the paper discusses the discourses on discretion in legal and political theory. Both disciplines approach discretion differently and provide relevant insights for the study of discretion and legitimacy in the context of EU lawmaking and national implementation. In a second step, these insights are linked up with the line of reasoning regarding the relationship between discretion and legitimacy. By using the concept of input and output legitimacy it is argued that discretion can, as it facilitates lawmaking and implementation, contribute to producing legitimacy within the EU's multi-level legal system. As directives, and especially those with higher margins of discretion, represent the starting point for analysis, suggestions on how to detect and assess instances of discretion are made in the final part.


Astrophysical black holes should be simple objects with only two parameters: mass and spin. As material accretes onto the black hole this adds two further parameters: accretion rate and, since accretion generally occurs through a preferential plane, the inclination at which we view the system. Inclination becomes particularly important when a fraction of the inflowing material is not accreted but is instead ejected from the system in powerful, highly collimated and sometimes highly relativistic jets. It is these luminous accretion flows and jets that allow accreting black holes to be detected across the entire range of the electromagnetic spectrum from radio up to gamma-ray energies. The emission from the accretion flow and jet should be completely determined by the four fundamental parameters of mass, spin, accretion rate and inclination. Variations in these four parameters should be all that is required to explain the enormous variety of spectra from accreting black holes. In this thesis I present five papers studying emission from black holes of all size-scales and in all accretion regimes, including inclination effects and investigating the possible effect of the most difficult parameter to measure --- black hole spin. Black holes do not exist in isolation. Stellar mass black holes are fed by their companion stars and supermassive black holes by gas from their host galaxies. Not only does the galaxy fuel the growth of the supermassive black hole but equally the outflows that result from black hole accretion affect the growth of the galaxy, heating gas and suppressing star formation. This adds extra importance to understanding black hole accretion and the interplay between accretion and ejection. I find a scenario where low spin black holes are limited to feeding back via winds and moderately relativistic jets, while only the highest spin black holes are capable of producing the most powerful, highly relativistic jets, may be consistent with current observations.


Rotavirus gastroenteritis should soon be a vaccine-preventable disease. In a 10-year survey of rotavirus gastroenteritis conducted at the Prince of Wales Hospital (PWH), 2281 cases were detected of which 2213 (97%) occurred in children <5 years old. A consistent epidemic occurred each winter during the months of December and January. Of all laboratory-confirmed cases, 78% were community-acquired with a mean hospital stay of 4·7 days. The estimated incidence of rotavirus-attributed hospitalization was 2/1000 children <5 years old. Over the 10 years, rotavirus was responsible for one death, and contributory to three other deaths. On average each year, 195 children <5 years old were hospitalized for a total of 917 days in PWH, accounting for an estimated expenditure of HK$2·8 (∼US$0·4) million on hospitalization costs. The annual financial burden for rotavirus gastroenteritis for the whole of Hong Kong could be in excess of HK$9·6 (∼US$1·2) million.


: The efficacy and tolerability of diclofenac was studied in an initial two-week assessment study in 24 patients with rheumatic disease. During the first week patients received 1 x 25 mg diclofenac t.d.s., with subsequent dosage adjustments according to response. Most completers showed improvement in joint pain and functional grade, and patients' rating of their condition indicated a significant improvement. Nine patients were withdrawn because of poor symptom control or side-effects, and there were a number of other minor side-effects not necessitating withdrawal. However, there were no persistent or lasting side-effects, and laboratory tests revealed no significant abnormalities. In a two-week double-blind study, diclofenac was compared with indomethacin in 43 outpatients with osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis. Dosage in the first week was 1 x 25 mg tablet of either diclofenac or indomethacin (random allocation) t.d.s., with further adjustments as necessary. There were no significant differences in the effectiveness of the two drugs, and no differences in dosage requirements. Three patients were withdrawn from each treatment group. Gastrointestinal side-effects predominated in the diclofenac-treated group, with central nervous system unwanted effects more frequent in the indomethacin group.


For broadband services delivery, specially for interactive services that are expected in the near future, high QoS at low cost could be the goal of dynamic routing deployment. The quality of service (QoS) performances of the network, from the user point of view, can be described by throughput (rate of information transfer), average delay, maximum delay, delay jitter, probability of losing information (unacceptable bit error rate, packet loss probability, etc.) and various other characteristics. In this paper the problem of route choice between source and target node is solved using two different time and state dependent dynamic routing methods. Their comparison is done regarding the total delay between two network nodes for chosen routes.


A new semi-active MR-TMD control device, which is consisted of TMD which take the gasifier as the damper mass and a magneto-rheological damper, was proposed to solve the problem of factory building vibration when the gasifier is working in it. The feasibility and effectiveness of semi-active MR-TMD control system for structural vibration control under rectangular periodic excitations were simulated and analyzed by adopting one semi-active control algorithm proposed by the author. The control effect of semi-active MR-TMD, passive TMD and active AMD were compared by adopting the same model structure. Numerical simulations show that the damping performance of using semi-active MR-TMD control is better than that of using passive TMD control and active AMD control; the displacement and acceleration of the structure's each floor have decreased significantly. It also indicates that the semi-active controlling method is available.


We develop multispectral random field image models for use in image processing applications. The simultaneous autoregressive and Markov random field (MRF) models have been widely used in modeling intensity images. In this work we extend these models to include the more general multispectral case where images are represented by multiple intensity planes. In particular, we focus on the obvious application to color texture modeling using the RGB color model. For each model type we present the model equations, develop methods for synthesizing images based on these models and procedures for estimating the model parameters. In addition, the conditions necessary to ensure model validity are identified. We also provide experimental results which, substantiate the validity of these results. Color images synthesized from these models are shown to have the statistical characteristics implied by the model equations and parameters estimated from these images are very close to the known values from which the images were generated. In further experiments color random field models were fitted to natural texture samples. Images synthesized from these models are observed to be visually similar to the original images.


The federal—state employer-funded unemployment insurance system of the United States is about 75 years old. It worked fairly well in the 20th century, with occasional help from Washington during spells of high unemployment. The current recession that began in 2008 is testing the system severely. From an employment perspective, it is the worse economic contraction since the Great Depression of the 1930s. In addition to the permanent Extended Benefit program enacted in 1970, which may be triggered on a state-by-state basis, there have been several other extensions of fully federally funded benefits. The Emergency Unemployment Compensation program of 2008 now contains four tiers and has been extended several times. It is possible that some unemployment compensation recipients may now be entitled to 99 weeks of benefits, all but the first 26 paid for by the federal general fund. This article examines the various elements of unemployment insurance with particular attention to the benefit extensions and related matters associated with the current recession. It then analyses the longer run implications of this development.


This paper addresses the practice and experience of Universitas Terbuka (UT) in the provision of learning support services for students in a large-scale distance education system. The UT, which has a network of 37 regional offices and participating institutions, has challenges to provide and manage effective learning support system for more than 340,000 students, residing in various locations of Indonesia, a country with diverse level of the quality in terms of transportation, communication and technological infrastructure and facilities. UT has developed a systematic learning support system for distance students on the considerations that students' independent and autonomous learning effort have to be enhanced with institutional support, which is managed centrally from the Headquarters as well as regionally by each of the Regional Offices throughout the country. UT student learning support system includes services such as tutorial, academic advising and counselling, study group activity, academic administration services for students, and organisation of student activities. Regional Offices has central roles in managing, implementing and networking with local partners to ensure the effectiveness of learning support at frontline level, even though policies are set at the Head Office. The aim of systematic learning support in distance education is to facilitate quality student learning process suited to students' learning needs and flexibility, and ensure that students proceed their learning activities through access to various means of learning support.


Process modelling is a design approach where a system or procedure is decomposed in a number of abstract, independent, but connected processes, and then recomposed into a well-defined workflow specification. Research in formal verification, for its part, and theorem proving in particular, is focused on the rigorous verification of system properties using logical proof. This thesis introduces a systematic methodology for process modelling and composition based on formal verification. Our aim is to augment the numerous benefits of a workflow based specification, such as modularity, separation of concerns, interoperability between heterogeneous (including human-based) components, and optimisation, with the high level of trust provided by formally verified properties, such as type correctness, systematic resource accounting (including exception handling), and deadlock-freedom. More specifically, we focus on bridging the gap between the deeply theoretical proofsas-processes paradigm and the highly pragmatic tasks of process specification and composition. To accomplish this, we embed the proofs-as-processes paradigm within the modern proof assistant HOL Light. This allows the formal, mechanical translation of Classical Linear Logic (CLL) proofs to π-calculus processes. Our methodology then relies on the specification of abstract processes in CLL terms and their composition using CLL inference. A fully diagrammatic interface is used to guide our developed set of high level, semi-automated reasoning tools, and to perform intuitive composition actions including sequential, parallel, and conditional composition. The end result is a π-calculus specification of the constructed workflow, with guarantees of correctness for the aforementioned properties. We can then apply a visual, step-by-step simulation of this workflow or perform an automated workflow deployment as executable code in the programming language Scala. We apply our methodology to a use-case of a holiday booking web agent and to the modelling of real-world collaboration patterns in healthcare, thus demonstrating the capabilities of our framework and its potential use in a variety of scenarios.


Background & Aim: Social support is a complex and ambiguous concept and also a critical element for new nursing graduates in the work environment. In this study, due to many uncertainties about this concept, the researchers decided to analyze the concept of social support of new nursing graduates in workplace to clarify its meaning using hybrid model. Material & Methods: This study was done in three phases (theoretical, field work, and final analysis). In theoretical phase, the related articles in valid scientific databases such as PROQUEST, MEDLINE, CINAHL, SIENCEDIRECT, BLACKWELL were assessed from 1990 to 2012. In field work phase, nine nurses were interviewed. Then the interviews were transcribed and thematic analysis was done. Total analysis and comparison was done in the final stage. Results: Based on the theoretical phase, the best definition and characteristics of social support was selected. Considering doing interviews with Iranian nurses, in addition to attributes and characteristics found in the theoretical phase, four major themes were immerged in the field work phase including: " facilitator of adaptation with working life", "social support as a basic need", "the factor of stress reduction", and "a developing process". In final stage with the integration of the first two stages, more attributes of social support were manifested and the nature of this complex concept was discovered. Conclusion: This study showed that social support have been a multi-dimensional, complex, interactive, and reciprocal process between the new nursing graduates and their colleagues in the clinical work environment and have led to growth, skills enhancement, increasing confidence and flourishing new graduates and also feeling of satisfaction in supportive nurse. The findings of this study can be used to develop a tool to assess the amount of social support in nursing work environment and would be a basis for further research in this area and to expand nursing knowledge .


Background: Quality of life is an important factor for patients with cancer in the head and neck region. This factor has not often been investigated in such patients. Methods: A series of 201 patients with head and neck cancer answered a questionnaire concerning quality of life in general. In addition various parameters of quality of life were rated by an observer such as the Karnofsky scale, the WHO-status and the Spitzer quality of life index. Results: The patients were subdivided into 3 groups, 101 patients with laryngeal cancer, 70 with pharyngeal cancer and 30 others ENT-cancer patients. Patients with cancer of the pharynx had more physical problems. In addition the patients were in different stages of their tumor disease. The patients with cancer in UICC I/II had a better health and quality of life than UICC III/IV. 75% of the whole population spoke about their quality of life as good and better. A similar tendency of quality of life was found in the groups of laryngeal cancer. The indices for health and quality of life in the patients were strongly correlated to the Karnofsky scale, the WHO-status and the Spitzer quality of life index. Conclusions: The study suggests that it is necessary to measure quality of life variables in head and neck cancer patients. All of the different methods are important for the measurement of quality of life.


A dopant-segregated Schottky barrier MOSFET is simulated by Monte Carlo method in this paper. The feature that dopant-segregated structure can improve ON-current is revealed. The influence of dopant-segregated structure parameters on device performance is investigated, and the guideline for device design optimization is that the dopant-segregated region should overlay the whole Schottky barrier region. Some carrier transport details are also demonstrated here. The maximal velocities at source and drain sides all decrease with the increase of dopant-segregated re- gion length. The maximal velocity at source side shows saturation with the existence of dopant-segregated structure when drain volt- age increases while the maximal velocity at drain side shows no saturation.


German statice (Goniolimon tataricum) is a protected, herbaceous, perennial plant species that occurs sporadically throughout Bulgaria. Some varieties, however, are cultivated outdoors because of their dry flowers, which are widely utilized by florists. For the past 3 years, a severe leaf disease has been observed on the lower and middle leaves of German statice plants growing in fields in the region of Plovdiv, Bulgaria. Symptoms consisted of brown, round to elliptical leaf spots (as much as 15 mm in diameter) that led to leaf yellowing and death. Similar sunken lesions were also observed on leaf petioles and flower bases. A cercosporoid fungus was consistently associated with disease symptoms. Conidiophores were fasciculate, unbranched, brown, and smooth. Conidiogenous cells were predominantly terminal, but also lateral, and had darkened, thickened, refractive scars. Conidia were solitary, hyaline, smooth, acicular, slightly curved, multiseptate, with subtruncate bases and acutely rounded apices, 30 to 105 × 2.5 to 4 (average 64.5 × 3.5) μm, in vivo (n = 30), with thickened, darkened, refractive hila. Colonies derived from single conidial isolates were established on potato dextrose agar (PDA). To confirm Koch's postulates, colonized mycelial plugs (5 mm in diameter) from 10-day-old PDA cultures were used to inoculate 3-month-old German statice pot plants (three replicates per treatment, three leaves per plant). Control plants were inoculated with uncolonized agar plugs. Healthy leaves were surface disinfested with 70% ethanol, wounded with a sterile needle, and covered with an agar plug. Inoculated plants were incubated at 20°C in a humidified chamber with a 12-h day/night light cycle. Eight to ten days after inoculation, small necrotic lesions developed around the points of inoculation, leading to necrosis and lesions (8 to 10 mm in diameter). The pathogen was successfully reisolated from all inoculated leaves, while control plants remained healthy. Five isolates (CPC 14616-14620) were subjected to multilocus sequence typing as described by Groenewald et al. (1) and the ITS, translation elongation factor 1-alpha, actin, calmodulin, and histone H3 gene sequences (GenBank Accession Nos. FJ473422-FJ473446) were found to be identical to that of the ex-type strain of Cercospora beticola Sacc. (GenBank Accession Nos. AY840527, AY840494, AY840458, AY840425 and AY840392, respectively). Two strains from Goniolimon were deposited in the CBS Fungal Biodiversity Centre in the Netherlands (CBS 123907 and 123908). To our knowledge, this is the first report of C. beticola occurring on and being destructive to Goniolimon tataricum under field conditions. Reference: (1) M. Groenewald et al. Phytopathology 95:951, 2005.


Abstract The present work is an observational analysis of the small-scale variations induced by Chesapeake Bay outflow on coastal surface circulation off Virginia. The variation in freshwater discharge into Chesapeake Bay is investigated as a triggering mechanism for local coastal jets. While it is known that an extra amount of freshwater received from the tributaries will lead to an increased total outflow, the effect on the outflow surface signature (the upper meter) has not been extensively explored. Our analysis is based on surface currents, wind data, and freshwater discharge records. The surface currents were derived from two high-frequency Doppler radars deployed on the Virginia coast during September and October 1996 and 1997. The wind data were obtained from a nearby weather Coastal-Marine Automated Network station, and the freshwater discharge data were from the U.S. Geological Survey stations located at the mouth of each tributary. The freshwater discharge into the bay observed during 1996 decreased from 4200 to 1000 m3/s in 10 days, while for the 1997 period it varied between 500 and 5500 m3/s in 1 week. The present analysis shows that sudden variations of freshwater flux will drive the plume further offshore before its normal southward turning, in the same way upwelling-favorable winds do as reported in all the available literature of the area. Strong freshwater variations on weekly scales are then shown to be an important factor in determining the extent of the surface plume displacement and the fate of the shelf currents or jets.


An analog line driver for video applications is presented. Utilizing a class-AB error amplifier structure, the design achieved 1.2-V peak-to-peak output swing with better than 42-dB linearity for frequencies up to 5 MHz. An adaptive tuning scheme for output impedance matching using peak detection is used to provide uniform performance across line impedance variations. The circuit is designed in AMI 0.5-/spl mu/m CMOS technology and has a tuning range of 70-180 /spl Omega/ with a power consumption of about 26.4 mW at 75-/spl Omega/ load.


Organic functional crystals with novel π-electronic states such as (super)conductivity, (anti-/ferro)magnetism, etc. have been vigorously developed. On the other hand, researches of hydrogen-related functionalities such as (anti-/ferro) electrics, proton (super)conductivity, etc. have been also extensively performed. In this article, the novel π-electronhydrogen concerted organic materials and their functionalities are introduced. This phenomenon with dynamically coupled π electron-hydrogen might be related to biochemical cascade reactions and applicable to novel organic surface and devices.


Determining the role that predation plays in population and community dynamics is vital for understanding complex ecosystems, such as coral reefs. The presence of predatory species often varies greatly with both space and time, and as such, prey species need to be able to rapidly learn and adapt to a variety of constantly changing threats. Using chemical and visual stimuli, individuals can not only identify relevant predators, but also react to them in a graded manner, depending on the level of risk they represent. Considerable research has focused on predator prey relationships and how they influence population dynamics on coral reefs. Yet, to date, no one has studied the role parental effects or the olfactory capabilities of embryonic reef fishes play in the identification of predators by prey. Therefore, this study examines the impact of predator presence and perceived risk, by both parents and developing embryos, on offspring in coral reef damselfishes.

Parental effects involve non-genetic (i.e., phenotypic) inheritance of traits, which can affect offspring development and behaviour. Previous research has shown that parental exposure to predation risk can both benefit offspring (e.g., increasing antipredator behaviours), or have maladaptive consequences (e.g., metabolic and functional disorders), effects which appear to be context and species dependent. However, none of this research has shown the transferral of specific predator information, nor identified the existence of transgenerational predator recognition. Hence, Chapter 2 investigated whether a common coral reef damselfish, Acanthochromis polyacanthus, was able to transfer their learned recognition of a predatory threat in their environment to their offspring via parental effects. Breeding pairs of A. polyacanthus were exposed to one of three visual and olfactory treatments: predator, herbivore and saltwater control. Increases in heart rate induced by the introduction of test odours demonstrated that the resultant embryonic offspring from the predator-treated parents reacted significantly more (almost twofold) to the parental predator than offspring from the other two treatments. Results also showed that the embryos were able to differentiate between the five test cues, showing innate recognition of threat odours, rather than a neophobic response. This chapter provides the first example of the transfer of specific predator information via parental effects in any species.

Embryos of amphibian species have been shown to not only detect olfactory stimuli, but also use such cues to learn predatory threats before hatching. Thus, the next step in the study was to determine whether damselfish embryos could learn novel predator cues using associative learning (Chapter 3). Using the clownfish, Amphiprion melanopus, I conditioned embryos with a combination of a novel predator odour and a conspecific alarm cue. By quantifying reactions as changes in heart rates, I showed that individuals that were conditioned learned to identify the predator odour as a threat; the cue elicited an increase in heart rate that was almost double that of the preconditioning response. Additionally, I showed that the closer to the expected time of hatching, the larger the increase in heart rate induced by conspecific alarm cues. These findings suggest threat cues also play a vital role in early life stage anemonefish, which are already known to imprint on odours in their natal habitat.

Predator-induced mortality rates are highest in early life stages; therefore, early recognition of threats can greatly increase survival chances. Some species of coral reef fishes have been frequently found to recruit back to their natal reefs. In this instance, there is a high chance of juveniles encountering their siblings, amongst other kin, after hatching. Kin recognition plays an important ecological role in that it allows individuals to protect their relatives and gene pool, and hence increase their inclusive fitness. Additionally, research has shown that affiliating with kin can enhance predator avoidance. Consequently, Chapter 4 investigated whether two species of damselfish, with differing life histories, recognised kin through their damage-released alarm cues. Results showed that both A. polyacanthus and A. melanopus can distinguish between their kin and other conspecifics, reacting more to alarm cues produced from the former. They also reacted more to cues from conspecifics than more phylogenetically distant heterospecifics. Early recognition of kin and cues from phylogenetically similar heterospecifics could decrease predator-induced mortality through cooperation with kin and/or avoiding predation through informed habitat selection.

Predatory threats can vary markedly with changes in habitat and ontogeny, and individuals will continually experience new cues throughout their lives, especially in biodiverse habitats like coral reefs. The threat sensitive hypothesis states that individuals should show a stronger response to cues that represent greater risk. As such, Chapter 5 aimed to establish whether A. polyacanthus reacted in a threat sensitive manner to cues derived from conspecific donors from different life stages. This hypothesis was based on the premise that embryos and adults would be preyed upon by different species, due to predator gape limitations, rendering adult alarm cues less relevant than those from closer ontogenetic stages. Experiments found that A. polyacanthus embryos reacted in a graded manner, with embryo alarm cues eliciting a greater increase in the heart rate of embryos than damage-cues from juveniles or adults. Responding to damage-released cues based on the level of threat they represent can enable prey to prevent unnecessary energy expenditure avoiding predatory species that pose little or no threat. Conversely, if individuals deem a cue indicative of a threat that is not relevant to their particular life stage, this would incur energetic costs.

This research demonstrates that embryonic damselfishes have very well-developed olfactory capabilities that they can use to recognise predators and/or chemical alarm cues of both conspecifics and heterospecifics before hatching. Furthermore, this recognition can be augmented with parental information and/or individual experience and learning. The existence of such refined mechanisms for identification of threats in the earliest life stages of the study organisms suggests that they serve a vital role in the chemosensory recognition of predatory threats.


SUMMARY

In electrolyte-saturated sands, the reversible storage of electrical charges is responsible for a phase lag between the current (injected and retrieved by two current electrodes) and the electrical field recorded by two voltage electrodes. This phenomenon is called 'spectral induced polarization' in geophysics and can potentially be used to monitor salt tracer tests in shallow aquifers to infer their permeability and dispersivity tensors. We demonstrate analytically that the polarization of the inner part of the electrical triple layer coating the surface of the grains (named the Stern layer in electrochemistry) is consistent with available data. We also perform new experiments using silica sands saturated by NaCl and CaCl2 pore water solutions. The salinity dependence of quadrature conductivity can be modelled using an analytical solution of the triple layer model, which offers a simple way to interpret laboratory and field data. This analytical solution depends on the total site density of the mineral surface, the pH value and the sorption coefficient of the cation in the Stern layer. This model shows that both the specific surface conductivity of the Stern layer and the quadrature conductivity of the porous material depend on the conductivity of the pore water. The quadrature conductivity is becoming independent of the salinity above 1 S m−1. The parameters entering the analytical model are consistent with independent estimates from titration data and zeta potential measurements, which are two classical methods to characterize the electrical triple layer at the pore water mineral interface.


Obesity advances worldwide in an uncontrolled way, being considered a predisposing factor also to neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's Disease (AD). Not only the senescence is involved in the pathogenesis of AD, but also the inflammatory process characteristic of the obesogenesis, which can anticipate its onset and even be an initial trigger. Hippocampal neuroinflammation can precipitate neurodegeneration leading to irreversible damage to memory. Diets rich in saturated fats can disrupts hippocampal homeostatic neural circuits, formed by complex circuitry among glial cells, neurons, oligodendrocytes and astrocytes. In this neuronal group, Toll-type receptors (TLR) mediate the inflammatory effects of fats, and, cytokine receptors, intensify inflammation. Consequently, inflammasomal activation, dysregulation of the endoplasmic reticulum, and autophagy failure induce apoptosis. Side-by-side inflammation, hippocampal insulin resistance can reduce the local clearance of beta-amyloid protein ( β A), inducing protein tangles harmful to synapses, and hyperphosphorylates the TAU protein, which disrupts the neuronal cytoskeleton and intensifies the signs of death. Together, these phenomena imply the advancement of AD, followed by serious clinical outcomes, such as memory loss and dementia. On the other hand, omega-3 ( ω 3) unsaturated fatty acids are known to be potent anti-inflammatory agents, and their consumption correlates with benefits for AD patients. However, this proposal does not yet find robust mechanistic support. The ω 3 is GPR120 receptor agonist, which seems to disrupt the intracellular signaling controlled by the TLR4, TNF α and IL1 β receptors and by the inflammasome. However, its presence and function has not been demonstrated in the hippocampus. Synthetic GPR120 agonists have been developed due to wide therapeutic possibilities, already under investigation on clinical trials. If plausible, this mechanism opens a new pharmacological possibilities for postponement of AD, however, the ω 3 is found in food and it would also become feasible and, mainly, of access to the entire population.


Deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK) is preferred over conventional penetrating keratoplasty (PKP) for the treatment of anterior corneal opacities or ectasias due to decreased risk of endothelial rejection. However, DALK remains surgically challenging, largely due to challenges associated with achieving consistent pneumo-dissection of posterior stroma from the underlying pre-Descemet's or Descemet's membrane (DM). Air must be injected at sufficient depth in the corneal stroma in order to achieve successful pneumo-dissection, but advancing a needle too deep into the cornea can lead to perforation of DM. We describe here a novel technique using a handheld slit lamp (Eidolon model 510L, Eidolon Optical LLC, Natick, MA, USA) to assist in creation of the big-bubble in DALK surgery. Use of a handheld slit beam intraoperatively is a safe, relatively inexpensive, and effective technique for increasing the success of big-bubble formation in DALK procedures.


Electrostatics interactions play a major role in the stabilization of biomolecules : as such, they remain a major focus of theoretical and computational studies in biophysics. Electrostatics in solution is strongly dependent on the nature of the solvent and on the ions it contains. While methods that treat the solvent and ions explicitly provide an accurate estimate of these interactions, they are usually computationally too demanding to study large macromolecular systems. Implicit solvent methods provide a viable alternative, especially those based on Poisson theory. The PoissonBoltzmann equation (PBE) treats the system in a mean field approximation, providing reasonable estimates of electrostatics interactions in a solvent treated as continuum. In the first part of this paper, we review the theory behind the PBE, including recent improvement in which ions size and dipolar features of solvent molecules are taken into account explicitly. The PBE is a non linear second order differential equation with discontinuous coefficients, for which no analytical solution is available for large molecular systems. Many numerical solvers have been developed that solve a discretized version of the PBE on a mesh, either using finite difference, finite element, or boundary element methods. The accuracy of the solutions provided by these solvers highly depend on the geometry of their underlying meshes, as well as on the method used to embed the physical system on the mesh. In the second part of the paper, we describe a new geometric approach for generating unstructured tetrahedral meshes as well as simplifications of these meshes that are well fitted for solving the PBE equation using multigrid approaches.


This study investigates the temporal behaviour of major earthquakes in the Vrancea Seismic Zone (VSZ)in Romania. I used the Romplus catalogue, which is a compilation of several sources and spans the time from 984 AD to the year 2005 and in which the data are of different quality. This catalogue contains only Vrancean earthquakes and consists of more than 8000 events. Qualities 'A', 'B' and 'C' were used to model the data. 'D' and '=' were found as too unreliable for modeling. Using the b-value, I concluded that 3.5 is the correct cut-off magnitude for earthquakes after 1980 and at depths of 60 km and greater. Thereby I detected an increase in the b-value after 1986 of about 0.2 units. The reason for this increase could not be found. Plotting the Gutenberg-Richter relation for several time and depth intervals, it was found that at larger depths than 60 km, there are too many M7 earthquakes as compared to small shocks. The shape of the Gutenberg-Richter relation is similar as to the one expected by the characteristic earthquake model (Schwarz and Coppersmith, 1984; Wesnousky, 1994). A strike of 53 degree was found and the earthquake coordinates were rotated correspondingly. The resulting view on the slab showed the confined volume in which the earthquakes happen and well as the 'aseismic part' of the slab between 40 km and 60 km of depth. The seismicity seems to reach a depth of 180 km. Only the earthquakes in the slab, below a depth of 60 km, show clustering behaviour. Furthermore, the M7 earthquakes all happened in the slab. Thus, a depth limit of 60 km was introduced for modeling. In order to find aftershocks in the catalogue, the temporal behaviour of the Vrancea earthquakes was examined. The mean magnitude increases after each major earthquake, indicating an aftershock process. This was confirmed by the rate of occurrence, which showed an increase in rate after the 1990 earthquakes. The rate of occurrence is too low for the first 580 days after 1980, possibly due to insufficient earthquake detection in this period of time. All the damaging M7 earthquakes all happened in the slab. Thus, shallow earthquakes had to be considered separately. A depth limit of 60 km was introduced and earthquake in shallower and deeper depths were considered separately. For the shallow earthquakes there was a sharp increase in the apparent b-value below the cut-off magnitude of 3.5. After reaching a value of 2.4, the b-value starts to fall steeply. This was attributed to biases in the magnitude calculation. I used the rounded value of 3.5 as a cut-off magnitude for the shallow earthquakes. Having found the magnitude cut-off, depth and time limit, modeling could be started. The model gives two important parameters: the proportion of aftershock and the time to the next earthquake. Using the Maximum Likelihood Method, a best fit was found for a data set starting at 1980 and consisting of earthquakes with a cut-off magnitude of 3.5 and a depth equal and greater than 60 km. According to the model, this data set consists of 13 plus or minus 5% aftershocks and has an inter-event time for new earthquakes of 13 plus or minus 1 days. Using several cut-off magnitudes, it was found that the calculated inter-event time for these earthquakes is consistent with the Gutenberg-Richter law. In contrast, the predicted value for the interevent time of M7 earthquakes does not match the one found in the catalogue. While the Maximum Likelihood Method leads to 814 years as recurrence time, the data shows a recurrence time of only 23 years. The model fits the data set of the 1990 aftershocks very well, too, leading to a aftershock proportion of 58 plus or minus 15%. The data set for the 1986 did not lead to good results, probably due to missing aftershocks shortly after the main shock. Comparing model and data with a pure Poisson model I could see that earthquakes tend to cluster in the first days after the major event. Several days later, their behaviour changes and then is similar to the one proposed by the seismic gap model. Looking at the ratio between the probabilities of the model of Smith and Christophersen and of the Poisson model, a clustering behaviour in the first 24 hours after the main shock was found, followed by a decreased seismicity, which reverts to be Poissonian after 100 days. Thus, I concluded that aftershock behaviour is only relevant after the first 24 hours following a major earthquake. After 24 hours, seismic hazard decreases to be less than as expected by the Poisson model in the following 100 days, until seismicity returns to be Poissonian again. Additionally, I suggest that the 1990 earthquake and its aftershocks should be considered as a 'model earthquake' for future earthquakes as it seems to be representative for earthquake behaviour in the VSZ.


We aim for this to be an interactive, thought-provoking session whereby participants are encouraged to reflect on their own experiences in outdoor spaces and to engage in the wider debate of how to support others to develop an awareness and appreciation of the world around them. We include presentations from across the disciplines, including geography, sociology, outdoor learning, higher education (pedagogy and research) and other related disciplines. This includes practitioners' perspectives on how to maintain a playful attitude with older children, young people and adults. We argue for the re-conceptualisation of "playtime" and the development of playfulness as a useful approach to cultivate creativity (Leather, 2014), that goes well beyond childhood, through adolescence and into adulthood. What is playfulness? It is a mood state that facilitates and accompanies 'playful play'. It may not be observable in behaviour – playful individuals are not necessarily playing, even though they are in a playful mood. We can think playfully as well as act playfully (Hayes, 2015). It is a way of generating new thought patterns in a protected context (Bateson and Martin, 2013). Playful play facilitates creativity – sometimes immediately and sometimes after a considerable delay. It is acknowledged that there is a complex relationship between engendering creativity and the outcomes for learners. We suggest that there are two arguments for adopting a playful approach: firstly, the neo-liberalist discourse about higher education is concerned with career employment. In this sense, creativity is seen as a graduate employability skill by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI, 2012) who consider the skill of creative thinking as a prime outcome of higher education. This CBI report found that a fifth of employers were not satisfied with graduates' use of creative thinking. Secondly, there are theoretical and empirical accounts about adult playfulness that describe its relation to positive outcomes including: creativity and spontaneity but also quality of life, virtuousness, stress coping and academic achievement. Playfulness has the potential in serving as a lubricant in social situations and for teamwork in work-related settings. There is a clear relationship between exhibiting playfulness and experiencing positive emotions. In our work we actively encourage outdoor educators to engage in "playtime" and have proposed a pedagogy of play to do this (Leather, 2014). However, we need to overcome the Victorian values of our educational heritage and its cultural association of playtime as frivolous so that playfulness can be seen as an intellectual act, opposing the view of playfulness in adults as being childish and without any great sense. 'The world looks, smells, feels, sounds and tastes different when using this approach' (Hayes, 2013). We invite delegates to join us in this exploration.


Abstract. Non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOC) are important ozone and secondary organic aerosol precursors and play important roles in tropospheric chemistry. In this work, we estimated the total and speciated NMVOC emissions from China's anthropogenic sources during 1990–2017 by using a bottom-up emission inventory framework, and investigated the main drivers behind the trends. We found that, anthropogenic NMVOC emissions in China have been increased continuously since 1990 due to the dramatic growth in activity rates and absence of effective control measures. We estimated that, anthropogenic NMVOC emissions in China increased from 9.76 Tg in 1990 to 28.5 Tg in 2017, mainly driven by persistent growth from the industry sector and solvent use. In the meanwhile, emissions from the residential and transportation sectors declined after 2005, partly offset the total emission increase. During 1990–2017, mass-based emissions of alkanes, alkenes, alkynes, aromatics, oxygenated VOCs (OVOC) and other species increased by 274 %, 88 %, 4 %, 387 %, 91 %, and 231 % respectively. Following the growth in total NMVOC emissions, the corresponding ozone formation potential (OFP) increased form 38.2 Tg-O3 in 1990 to 99.7 Tg-O3 in 2017. We estimated that aromatics accounted for the largest share (43 %) of total OFP, followed by alkenes (37 %) and OVOC (10 %). Growth in China's NMVOC emissions were mainly driven by the transportation sector before 2000, while industrial sector and solvent use dominated the emission growth during 2000–2010. After 2010, although emissions from the industry sector and solvent use kept growing, strict control measures on transportation and fuel transition in residential stoves have successfully slowed down the increase trend, especially after the implementation of China's clean air action since 2013. However, compared to large emission decreases of other criteria air pollutants in China (e.g., SO2, NOx, and primary PM) during 2013–2017, the relatively flat trend in NMVOC emissions and OFP revealed the absence of effective control measures, which might have contributed to the increase of ozone during the same period. Given their high contributions to emissions and OFP, tailored control measures for solvent use and industrial sources should be developed, and collaborative control strategies should be designed to mitigate both PM2.5 and ozone pollution simultaneously.


While the protective nature of parity with respect to ovarian cancer has been well documented, whether a history of incomplete pregnancy affects ovarian cancer risk is uncertain. Data collected from 739 epithelial ovarian cancer cases and 1,313 community controls in the Delaware Valley from 1994 to 1998 were used to evaluate the relation between gestational length and timing of first induced or spontaneous abortion and ovarian cancer risk. Incomplete pregnancy was not associated with ovarian cancer among nulliparous women or among ever-pregnant women either before or after adjustment for relevant confounders (for nulliparous women, odds ratio (OR) = 1.12, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.66, 1.89; for ever-pregnant women, OR = 0.95, 95% CI: 0.76, 1.18). Among unigravid women, one full-term pregnancy was more protective than an incomplete pregnancy (adjusted OR = 0.29, 95% CI: 0.15, 0.57). These results were independent of the type of pregnancy loss. Among ever-pregnant women, a spontaneous abortion before a first birth provided significant protection (adjusted OR = 0.47, 95% CI: 0.30, 0.75), while no significant effect was found for an induced abortion prior to a first birth (adjusted OR = 0.80, 95% CI: 0.44, 1.47). These data do not support an independent association between incomplete pregnancies, either spontaneous or induced, and ovarian cancer risk.


Protein loading on apatite hydrogel cake and its solubility was studied. A mixture of di-sodium hydrogen phosphate dodeca-hydrate and calcium chloride di-hydrate was dissolved in water, and kept at room temperature for 2 weeks in air or N2 atmosphere to make apatite hydrogel. The obtained apatite hydrogel contains carbonate ions, and its carbonate content strongly affect the aggregation of particles. With maturation period, the particle size of apatite hydrogel decreased in air, but increased in N2 atmosphere. The quantity of loaded Cytochrome C in apatite hydrogel formed in air was 0.490 wt%, while that in apatite hydrogel formed under N2 atmosphere was 0.305 wt%. But the quantity of loaded albumin in apatite hydrogel formed in air was less than that in apatite hydrogel formed under N2 atmosphere. The difference may be due to the relationship between isoelectric point of protein and apatite hydrogel. The apatite hydrogel containing protein was dried for 4 days in air at 40 % of relative humidity to make cakes, and the cakes were immersed in pure water or PBS solution. The dried specimen slowly dissolves in aqueous solution, and the decrease in weight of apatite cake prepared from hydrogel formed in air was larger than that from hydrogel formed under N2 atmosphere compared to the dissolved apatite, the released protein was less, which may be associated with recrystallization of the apatite hydrogel.


A common phenotype observed in most cancers is chromosomal instability. This includes both structural and numerical chromosomal aberrations, which can promote carcinogenesis. The fusion gene CBFB/MYH11 is created by the structural chromosomal inversion(16)(p13.1q22), resulting in the fusion protein CBFβ-SMMHC, which blocks differentiation in hematopoietic progenitor cells. This mutation alone, however, is not sufficient for transformation, and at least one additional cooperating mutation is necessary. The role of wildtype Cbfb in modulating the oncogenic function of the fusion protein Cbfβ-SMMHC in mice was examined. Transgenic mice expressing the fusion protein, but lacking a wild-type copy of Cbfb , were created to model the effects of these combined mutations. It was found that wild-type Cbfb is necessary for maintaining normal hematopoietic differentiation. Consequently, complete loss of wild-type Cbfb accelerates leukemogenesis in Cbfb/MYH11 mice compared to mice expressing both the fusion and wild-type proteins. While there is no evidence in human patient samples that loss of wild-type Cbfb expression cooperates with the fusion protein to cause transformation, it is apparent from these experiments that wild-type Cbfβ does play a role in maintaining genomic integrity in the presence of Cbfβ-SMMHC. Experiments have also shown that loss of Cbfb leads to accumulation of hematopoietic progenitor cells, which may acquire additional cooperating mutations. Not unlike CBFB/MYH11 , the human papillomavirus (HPV) E6 and E7 proteins are not sufficient for cellular transformation. Instead, high risk HPV E7 causes numerical chromosomal aberrations, which can lead to accumulation of additional cooperating mutations. Expression of HPV-16 E7 and subsequent downregulation of the retinoblastoma protein (Rb) has been shown to induce polyploidy in human keratinocytes. Polyploidy predisposes cells to aneuploidy and can eventually lead to transformation in HPV positive cells. There are several possible mechanisms through which E7 may lead to polyploidization, including abrogation of the spindle assembly checkpoint, cleavage failure, abrogation of the postmitotic checkpoint, and re-replication. Rb-defective mouse and human cells were found to undergo normal mitosis and complete cytokinesis. Furthermore, DNA re-replication was not found to be a major mechanism to polyploidization in HPV-E7 cells upon microtubule disruption. Interestingly, upon prolonged mitotic arrest, cells were found to adapt to the spindle assembly checkpoint and halt in a G1-like state with 4C DNA content. This post-mitotic checkpoint is abrogated by E7-induced Rb-downregulation leading to S-phase induction and polyploidy. This dissertation explores two examples of the multi-step pathway in human cancers. While certain genes or genetic mutations are often characteristic of specific cancers, those mutations are often not sufficient for transformation. The…


ABSTRACT Formato derived a useful formula in which the amount of periodic payment was equal in a skip payment loan with arbitrary skips. Formato's model was improved by Moon in a geometric-gradient series. Eroglu and Karaoz rederived Formato's result to the case where periodic payments occur in a linear-gradient series. In this study, general formulas are derived for payment loan models in which a certain number of periodic payment amounts are determined by the customer at the beginning of the loan term and the other payments are rhythmic skips with split constant instead of random skips.


In order to determine the capacity of the cold neutron source refrigerator of HANARO, the nuclear heating rate at CN vertical hole is measured by using the heat-flow calorimetric method and confirmed by the calculation. The heating rate measurement device of HANARO was composed of a calorimeter sensor, an air containing aluminum sleeve for fitting the sensor to the CN hole, aluminum weight and a lead wire assembly. The calorimeter sensor consists of a cylindrical Al sample and container, two thermocouples and the electric heater for the calibration of the calorimeter. The sample is separated by an air gap from the Al container surrounded by an air containing Al sleeve. After installation of the calorimeter at a measurement position of HANARO, the heat transfer inside the calorimeter was simulated by the electric heating for the sample. The nuclear heating rates at the CN hole were determined at three reactor powers of 1, 4 and 8 MW by using the calibration curve and the temperature measurements at each reactor power. The measured nuclear heating rate per unit mass of Al sample at 8 MW reactor power is 0.143 W/g and it is equivalent to the 0.494 W/g at 30 MW. The nuclear heating rate was calculated by using the MCNP code. The calculation model for the whole facility including the reactor core and the reflector tank were established. In the calculation procedure, the heat generations by various radiations were evaluated with considering the prompt, delayed and activation effects. The measured heating rate was reasonably well supported by the calculation using the cold neutron facility design code. It will be very useful for the moderator cell of cold neutron source of HANARO.


Hard, soft, or medium? The issue involved here is not, as you might have hoped, "How do you like your eggs?" but it has to do with the equipment, content, and form of education technology. Hardware is the name in the trade for the mechanical or electronic tools and equipment; software is the material or the programs that are fed into, or beamed out of, the machines; medium is the agency or form by which images, sounds and other components of communication are transmitted. Thus, a TV set is the hardware where "Sesame Street" is the software and television is the medium.
 Now that the title is explained so simply, is that the end of the issue? Hardly. The whole question of educational technology is full of controversy and fed by extremists, with the proponents of humanism on one side and the technocrats on the other. Both groups have their zealots and their radicals, their accepters and their questioners, their good guys and their bad. Within the two camps there are gradations of opinion but, between them, there is a real issue to quarrel about. The humanists accuse the technocrats of breeding mechanical monsters, of leading mankind into a computerized society devoid of human spirit and will, of engineering life into a frankenstein nightmare. The technocrats accuse the humanists of suffering from limited vision, of clinging fearfully to the past, of being irrational in their objection to progress, of adhering to programs and values that are irrelevant to the present and hopelessly inadequate for the future.


This paper reviews the development of in-orbit radiometric calibration methods in the past 40 years. It summarizes the development of in-orbit radiometric calibration technology of typical satellite sensors in the visible/near-infrared bands and the thermal infrared band. Focuses on the visible/near-infrared bands radiometric calibration method including: Lamp calibration and solar radiationbased calibration. Summarizes the calibration technology of Landsat series satellite sensors including MSS, TM, ETM+, OLI, TIRS; SPOT series satellite sensors including HRV, HRS. In addition to the above sensors, there are also summarizing ALI which was equipped on EO-1, IRMSS which was equipped on CBERS series satellite. Comparing the in-orbit radiometric calibration technology of different periods but the same type satellite sensors analyzes the similarities and differences of calibration technology. Meanwhile summarizes the in-orbit radiometric calibration technology in the same periods but different country satellite sensors advantages and disadvantages of calibration technology.


In the debate between the compatibilist and the incompatibilist, there has been significant dispute about who has the burden of proof. While both sides often agree that the burden lies on those who argue against commonsense belief, they disagree on what those beliefs actually are. Kadri Vihvelin takes the rare position that there is actually no commonsense belief about the compatibility question. This is derived from the claim that there is no commonsense belief about whether or not determinism is true. And from this, Vihvelin concludes that both sides have an argumentative burden. She then applies a burden according to the modal claims made by each side of the debate, issuing the verdict that the higher burden is on the incompatibilist because they make an impossibility claim. Though Vihvelin clearly makes empirical claims about commonsense beliefs related to free will and determinism, she also presents a critique of philosophical intuitions that suggests scepticism with regard to empirical results bearing on such beliefs. She suggests that the materials may produce intuitions that do not reflect beliefs held prior to the experiment. But this betrays a dilemma: either we can use experiments to answer these empirical questions, in which case we should look at the best available evidence, or we can't use experiments to answer such questions, in which case we should remain silent on them. Ultimately, the current state of research does provide answers, albeit incomplete. There is still room for improved materials and wider studies, but there is nonetheless strong evidence against Vihvelin's empirical claims. This has implications not only for Vihvelin's arguments, but for burden of proof claims regarding the compatibilism/incompatibilism debate more generally and emphasises the need for philosophers of free will to take the empirical results more seriously.


I. Betrayal Aversion Explained 527A. The Basics of Betrayal Aversion 527B. Betrayal Risk Aversion vs. Betrayal Aversion 528C. Do Objects Betray? 530D. Why Are People Averse to Betrayal? 531II. Betrayal Aversion and Jury Damage Awards 534A. Punitive Damage Awards 534?. Compensatory Damage A wards 538III. Should Juries Award Higher Damages for Betrayal? 543A. Punitive Damages 543B. Compensatory Damages 549IV. Prescription: Name the Harm 550V. Conclusion 552"Every patient you are seeing you have in the back of your mind whether the device is causing them harm."1 The "device" is an implanted heart defibrillator.2 A physician who was researching problems caused by the device's wires protruding through their protective coating made the statement in the spring of 2012. These wires connect the defibrillator to the heart, and the maker of the device had received reports about the problem since 2010.4 Even with this knowledge, however, the manufacturer only last November alerted doctors to the problem.5 Unfortunately, the faulty wiring may have contributed to the death of twenty patients. One reads the above narrative and thinks, how would this look in front of a jury? 6Imagine that you are a patient with the defibrillator. Imagine that you hope to get another decade or two out of life, to see your children get established, maybe even see your grandkids come along. You have seen the best doctors. You have traveled to a medical center of excellence. Everyone recommends the surgery, and you get the device installed. You trust the doctors and the defibrillator. What if the device did not just fail to save you, but killed you?This Note addresses how plaintiffs and juries deal with situations that include betrayal. Betrayal, it will be shown, is an especially salient aspect of harm: when someone has placed his or her trust in a person or product and is subsequently harmed, the emotional impact of the injury is particularly strong. Research into how people react to betrayal strongly suggests that jurors in negligence cases award higher damages for acts of betrayal than for acts that do not involve betrayal. If this is true, is it appropriate? Do damages for betrayal have a place in the civil justice system? If so, is there a better way to address them than the current ad hoc approach?Part I of this Note describes the psychological research into the phenomenon known as betrayal aversion. Betrayal aversion is the strong emotional reaction people have to broken trust and broken promises. Betrayals by non-human objects-for example, safety products like our implanted defibrillator-can make people angry, just as betrayal by humans can. Part I will conclude by considering some possible causes of betrayal aversion.Part II looks more closely at research that shows mock jurors give increased damage awards in hypothetical betrayal scenarios, and establishes the likelihood that actual juries award higher damages in response to betrayals. Part III considers whether awarding higher damages is an appropriate response to acts of betrayal. Both punitive and compensatory damages are analyzed as possible approaches, and both are found to be acceptable. However, it may be preferable from a law and economics perspective to include betrayal aversion damages only in the compensatory award. In Part IV a more rational approach called "name the harm" is considered.I. Betrayal Aversion ExplainedA. The Basics of Betrayal AversionBefore there can be a betrayal, there must first be a relationship that involves trust. Betrayal aversion researchers identify three components of trust: (1) a dependency among the parties in a relationship, (2) the vulnerability of at least one of the parties involved, and (3) the confident expectation that the trusted party will act as believed.7 A betrayal is the violation of that confident expectation. …


Nanostructured lanthanum-strontium manganites have been synthesized using two different co-precipitation approaches, one in bulk solution, and the other in reverse micelles of CTAB/1-hexanol/1-butanol/water microemulsion. In both cases, precursor cations were precipitated by alkali precipitating agents. The properties of the material synthesized by using these two methods were compared in order to reveal potential advantages of microemulsion-assisted approach. The influence of the annealing conditions on the properties of synthesized manganites was investigated by using X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, differential thermal analysis, thermogravimetric analysis and magnetic measurements.


The ACL is a complex structure, and its replacement involves precise surgical technique, which relates directly to its function in constraining anterior tibial translation. Many techniques have been developed for reconstruction of the ACL. Here we have described our method of choice for arthroscopically assisted graft placement, which uses the middle-third patellar tendon autograft placed using a press-fit fixation technique. This technique was developed to avoid drawbacks encountered with fixation using an interference screw. Biomechanical testing has shown this technique to be similar in pull-out strength to fixation obtained with an interference screw, but without the associated technical difficulties. One other benefit of this technique, which is not readily apparent, and not one that we, as surgeons, would ever hope to take advantage of, is that should a revision ACL reconstruction be necessary in the future, there is no interference screw in the femur to remove.


Enterovirus type 70 (EV 70) is the causative agent of a highly infectious haemorrhagic conjunctivitis that can rarely be complicated by a polio-like flaccid paralysis, and is one of only two enteroviruses (out of over 90) that infect the eye. EV70 has previously been reported to bind to sialic acid and decay accelerating factor (DAF), however the mechanism by which EV70 enters the cell is unknown. Using a minimally passaged isolate of the J670/71 type strain of EV70 the receptor interactions and cell entry processes of this virus have been investigated. As part of this study, an infectious cDNA and a subgenomic replicon of EV70 were generated. In the work presented here multiple different experimental approaches demonstrated that sialic acid is the primary determinant of EV70 binding and infection and that DAF does not play a significant role. Sialic acid is also responsible for EV70- mediated haemagglutination and binding to a range of non-primate mammalian cells as diverse as Xenopus in origin. On erythrocytes further characterisation showed the receptor to be an alpha2-3 linked sialated GPI-anchored glycoprotein; although binding of EV70 to MRC5 cells was unaffected by the removal of alpha2-3 linked sialic acid from the cell surface, suggesting potential variation in receptor usage. Further studies have demonstrated that EV70 uses clathrin-mediated endocytosis as its initial route of entry to MRC5 cells, and that tyrosine kinases and the actin cytoskeleton are important. The evidence is also suggestive of a role for low pH in exit of the viral genome from late endosomes. The availability of infectious cDNAs for enteroviruses has allowed reverse genetic approaches to be used during analysis of virus structure and function. Prior to this study such reagents did not exist for EV70. Long range PCR was used during the generation of an infectious cDNA for EV70 that, in turn, was used to derive a subgenomic replicon encoding a luciferase reporter gene. The specific infectivity of in vitro generated RNA, and growth characteristics of recovered virus, indicated that the cDNA was truly representative of the EV70 J670/71 stock. These reagents represent invaluable tools for further research into all aspects of the EV70 life cycle.


Proc Amer Assoc Cancer Res, Volume 47, 2006

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Introduction: Topotecan (TPT) has excellent CNS penetration, suggesting its promising role in treating CNS malignancies. To understand the potential mechanism of high TPT CNS penetration, we studied the TPT distribution into either brain extracellular fluid (ECF) or ventricular CSF (vCSF) in a mouse model. Since TPT is a substrate for many ABC transporters (e.g., ABCG2, ABCC1) expressed at the blood-brain barrier (BBB) as well as the blood-CSF barrier (BCB), the role of active transporters in TPT CNS penetration was explored alone and in combination with a putative ABC transport modulator gefitinib. Methods: TPT distribution into brain ECF and vCSF was studied in FVB mice using microdialysis coupled with an on-line microbore HPLC system after 4 and 8 mg/kg i.v. injection. In vivo recovery was estimated for each individual mouse. A limited sampling model for unbound TPT lactone plasma pharmacokinetics (PK) was developed based on unbound TPT lactone population PK after 4 and 8 mg/kg i.v. injection. Unbound TPT lactone in plasma was obtained after correcting for protein binding. To study the effect of gefitinib on brain ECF and vCSF penetration of TPT lactone, 200mg/kg gefitinib was given orally one hour before 4mg/kg TPT i.v. injection as suggested by the gefitinib PK profile. The area under the curve (AUC) for TPT lactone in brain was estimated by the linear trapezoidal rule and addition of a residual area. Unbound TPT AUC in plasma was estimated using PK parameters obtained using a MAP-Bayesian approach. The vCSF: plasma and brain ECF: plasma AUC ratios were calculated and used as a measurement of TPT CNS penetration. Abcg2 expression at the BCB was studied by immunohistochemistry using the monoclonal antibody BXP-53. Results: After 4 and 8 mg/kg TPT i.v. injection, the unbound TPT lactone brain ECF: plasma AUC ratio was 20.8±3.7% and 61.1±16.2%, respectively; the vCSF: plasma AUC ratio was 118.0±10.0% and 130.4±12.6%, respectively. After 200 mg/kg gefitinib oral administration followed by 4 mg/kg TPT i.v. injection, the unbound TPT lactone brain ECF: plasma AUC ratio increased to 35.2±3.5%, which is significantly different from that without gefitinib (P<0.05). The vCSF: plasma AUC ratio significantly decreased to 97.9±5.2 (P<0.05). Abcg2 was detected at the apical side of the choroid plexus. Conclusions: TPT brain ECF penetration was much lower compared to vCSF penetration. Gefitinib increased TPT brain ECF penetration but decreased the vCSF penetration. These results are consistent with the possibility that expression of Abcg2 at the apical side of the choroid plexus facilitates an influx transport mechanism across the BCB resulting in high TPT CSF penetration, which could be inhibited by ABC transport modulators such as gefitinib. (Supported by NIH Grant CA23099 & GM071321)


Halogenated 1'-methyl-1,2'-bipyrroles (MBPs) are putative marine natural products that accumulate in marine mammal blubber in similar concentrations and patterns to biomagnifying organic pollutants. Here we measure concentrations of MBPs and 2,2',4,4',5,5'-hexachlorobiphenyl (CB-153) in 40 samples composed of eight fish species, two squid species, and six species of marine mammals. To determine their trophic positions and to further investigate influence of prey preference, we also measured the stable carbon and nitrogen isotopic compositions of all samples. Our results show that lipid-normalized MBP concentrations increase with increasing trophic level; therefore, MBPs qualify as another class of biomagnifying marine natural products. The presence of MBPs in pinniped prey and absence in pinniped blubber suggests that these mammals share dietary exposure to MBPs with odontocetes but have an enhanced ability to metabolize these natural products.


Lignin is the principal natural source of phenolics but its structural complexity and variability make it difficult to valorize through chemical depolymerization approaches. White rots are one of the rare groups of organisms that are able to degrade lignin in ecosystems. This biodegradation starts through extracellular enzymes producing oxidizing agents to depolymerize lignin and continue with the uptake of the generated oligomers by fungal cells for further degradation. Phanerochaete chrysosporium is one of the most studied species for the elucidation of these biodegradation mechanisms. Although the extracellular depolymerization step appears interesting for phenolics production from lignin, the uptake and intracellular degradation of oligomers occurring in the course of the depolymerization limits its potential. In this study, we aimed at inhibiting the phenolics uptake mechanism through metabolic inhibitors to favor extracellular oligomers accumulation without preventing the ligninases production that is necessary for extracellular depolymerization. The use of sodium azide confirmed that an active transportation phenomenon is involved in the phenolics uptake in P. chrysosporium. A protocol based on carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenyl hydrazone enabled reaching 85% inhibition for vanillin uptake. This protocol was shown not to inhibit, but on the contrary, to stimulate the depolymerization of both dehydrogenation polymers (DHPs) and industrial purified lignins.


We prepared the Ag:BaTiO3 composite films by pulsed-laser deposition technique. The films were grown on MgO (100) substrates under a nitrogen pressure of 10.0 Pa at 600°C, and a parallel electric field was applied on the substrate during growth. The chemical natures of Ag in the films were measured by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The linear optical properties of the films were studied in the wavelength range of 330 to 700 nm. The third-order nonlinear optical susceptibilities of the films were determined by z-scan method at the wavelength of 532 nm with a laser duration of 10 ns. The figure of merit (FOM) was ∼1 order of magnitude larger than that of the films that were grown without an electric field and reached 1.62×10^−10 esu cm. Our experimental results have demonstrated that an external electrical field can induce the metal-particle orientation in order and therefore enhances the FOM of the metal-dielectric composite films.


Plants have evolved outstanding capacities to adapt their development and physiology to changes in the environment. The availability, distribution, and activity of endogenous signals, plant hormones, underlie and coordinate these responses (Santner and Estelle, 2009). Auxin, one such signaling molecule, affects a multitude of developmental processes (Woodward and Bartel, 2005; Leyser, 2006; Vanneste and Friml, 2009). The differential distribution of auxin within tissues is essential for many adaptive responses, including embryo and leaf patterning, root and stem elongation, lateral root initiation, leaf expansion, tropisms, regenerative growth, and vascular tissue formation (Vanneste and Friml, 2009). The best characterized auxin signaling pathway operates in the nucleus (Mockaitis and Estelle, 2008). In this pathway, auxin is perceived by and promotes the interaction of TIR1/AFB and Aux/IAA coreceptor proteins (Dharmasiri et al., 2005; Kepinski and Leyser, 2005; Tan et al., 2007), and downstream signaling is mediated by ubiquitination and proteosome-mediated degradation of Aux/IAA transcriptional repressors (Gray et al., 2001; dos Santos Maraschin et al., 2009), which themselves regulate the activity of ARF transcription factors (Tiwari et al., 2004; Guilfoyle and Hagen, 2007). Ultimately, this mechanism leads to complex transcriptional reprogramming in response to auxin. The large number of different Aux/IAA and ARF proteins means that different combinations can be expressed in different cell types, allowing the pathway to produce a multitude of different developmental and physiological responses to auxin (Mockaitis and Estelle, 2008; Vanneste and Friml, 2009). In addition to this nuclear signaling pathway, the observation of rapid cellular responses to auxin suggests the existence of another, presumably nontranscriptional, signaling pathway that might be related to the action of auxin-binding protein1 (ABP1). ABP1 was identified on the basis of its ability to bind to natural and synthetic auxins with high affinity, and has been found in various monocot and dicot species (Napier et al., 2002). However, despite decades of studies, its mode of action remains unclear (Badescu and Napier, 2006; Schenck et al., 2010). The majority of ABP1 is detected in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), but its physiological effects, mainly relating to cell expansion and division, have been attributed to the smaller apoplastic pool of the protein (Napier et al., 2002; Perrot-Rechenmann, 2010). In theory, auxin could be perceived at several different subcellular destinations, including the nucleus, ER, and extracellular compartment. The final output of auxin signaling is therefore likely to be influenced not only by the overall cellular auxin content, but also by the relative distribution of auxin among different subcellular compartments. Thus subcellular auxin distribution may represent an important regulatory level in the complex action of auxin.


This article focuses on the qualifying characteristics of a common law marriage, as an informal community of a man and a woman, which has to fulfill certain prescribed conditions in order to produce certain legal actions. Therefore, we start from the hypothesis that the qualifying characteristics of common law marriage can be determined on the basis of the legal definition of common law marriage, which is conditioned by social, historical and legal perceptions of common law marriage. The aim of this article is to determine the qualifying characteristics of common law marriage in a comparative legal context, their critical analysis and determination of qualifying characteristics and definition of common law marriage in positive law and the future Family Law in Republika Srpska. This gives importance and relevance to this paper. The comparative legal context includes both the countries of the former SFRY and some European countries.


Abstract The aim of this study was to determine the predictive value of 4 clinical signs (periorbital ecchymosis, periorbital emphysema, diplopia, and inferior orbital nerve hypoesthesia) for the diagnosis of orbital fractures (OFs) and the need for surgical treatment in patients with orbital trauma. The investigators designed and implemented a retrospective cohort study composed of patients with orbital trauma. The primary and secondary outcomes were respectively the diagnosis of OFs and the need for surgical treatment. Multivariable logistic regressions including the clinical signs, age, and causes of injury were used to determine the independent contribution of each clinical sign to the prediction of the outcomes and to obtain weights to compute OF and surgery scores. The outcomes were assessed by receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curves, sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values. A total of 912 patients were included. All clinical signs except periorbital ecchymosis were significantly associated with OFs and the need for surgical treatment (P < 0.001). The predictive power of each clinical sign taken separately was moderate for the 2 outcomes (area under ROC curve [AUC] <0.7). A better predictive value was found when all clinical signs were used together (AUC >0.7). Patients with an OF score >3 were likely to have an OF and patients with a surgery score ⩽2 were unlikely to have surgery. The present study demonstrated that our OF and surgery scores resulted in an effective model that allowed the stratification of patients with orbital trauma based on their risk of having OFs and risk of needing a surgical treatment.


We prove a necessary condition for a four-manifold $Y$ to be homeomorphic to a $p$-fold irregular dihedral branched cover of a given four-manifold $X$, with a fixed branching set $B$. The branching sets considered are closed oriented surfaces embedded locally flatly in $X$ except at one point with a specified cone singularity. The necessary condition obtained is on the rank and signature of the intersection form of $Y$ and is given in terms of the rank and signature of the intersection form of $X$, the self-intersection number of $B$ in $X$ and classical-type invariants of the singularity. Secondly, we show that, for an infinite class of singularities, the necessary condition is sharp. That is, if the singularity is a two-bridge slice knot, every pair of values of the rank and signature of the intersection form which the necessary condition allows is in fact realized by a manifold dihedral cover. In a slightly more general take on this problem, for an infinite class of simply-connected four-manifolds $X$ and any odd square-free integer $p>1$, we give two constructions of infinite families of $p$-fold irregular branched covers of $X$. The first construction produces simply-connected manifolds as the covering spaces, while the second produces simply-connected stratified spaces with one singular stratum. The branching sets in the first of these constructions have two singularities of the same type. In the second construction, there is one singularity, whose type is the connected sum of a knot with itself. Degree Type Dissertation Degree Name Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Graduate Group Mathematics First Advisor Julius Shaneson


Kidney stones have been associated with an increased risk of chronic kidney diseases, end-stage renal failure. This study is devoted to isolate nanobacteria from patients with active urolithiasis and investigate the in vitro and in vivo antinanobacterial activity of some antibiotics alone or in combination with extracts of irradiated herbs from certain medicinal plants. Nanobacteria were detected using scanning (SEM) and transmission (TEM) electron microscopy, protein electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and DNA profile. The antimicrobial susceptibility of some biofilm-producing nanobacterial isolates was evaluated. The effect of medicinal plant extracts on growth was tested. A combination treatment between the most potent extracts and antibiotics was tested on biofilm production, protein profile, release of 260 nm absorbing material, protein content, and ultrastructure of the strongest biofilm producers. In vivo study of nanobacteria and its treatment by the most potent agents was evaluated on male rats. Renal function was measured in serum; histological examination and oxidative stress parameters were determined in kidney tissues. Results showed that streptomycin, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, doxycycline, and water extracts of irradiated khella at 6 kGy had antinanobacterial activity. Meanwhile, the synergistic effect of the aqueous extract of irradiated Khella and doxycycline showed higher inhibition activity on microbial growth and biofilm production. They affected dramatically the strength of its cell membrane and subsequently its ultrastructure. Moreover, these results are confirmed by ameliorations in renal function and histological alterations. It could be concluded that the combination of DO and an aqueous extract of irradiated khella has an antinephrotoxic effect against nanobacteria-induced renal toxicity.