BACKGROUND
Suicide is a major public health issue that increases the risk of suicide for those bereaved by suicide themselves. There is a lack of evaluation of the effectiveness and acceptability of suicide postvention services supporting those bereaved by suicide.

AIMS
This review aimed to assess evaluations of postvention services supporting those bereaved by suicide and the acceptability of methods of postvention.

METHODS
Searches of peer-reviewed literature identified 36 studies for inclusion. 22 studies evaluated specific postvention services, 14 evaluated models of postvention.

RESULTS
Using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool, mixed-methods and qualitative postvention evaluation and acceptability research produce high-quality studies. Studies rated as low quality reflect poor reporting, rather than ineffective services.

CONCLUSION
Further evaluation of community-based postvention services within the UK is needed. This would evidence that services in the UK are effective in supporting those bereaved by suicide. Evaluation would benefit services in accessing funding, improve service development and provide holistic support.


Dockside container cranes are well-known for their complex structure and thus many factors to be considered in their development. A Browser/server (B/S) and Client/Server(C/S) based CAD/CAE design system is proposed in this study. Customers provide specifications of the cranes to designer through a Browser/Server (B/S) interface. Designers parametrically model the cranes through 3D CAD platform. CAE analysts conduct explicit dynamic FEA (Finite Element Analysis) on the designed crane structure. CAD and CAE functions are accomplished through Client/Server architecture. An XML and Web Service based DAC (Design-Analysis-Connection) is developed to maintain a consistence between CAD model and FEA model. The design is then displayed to the customers through B/S mechanism, which provides a convenient method for the customers to participate the design process. Since all the operations are conducted through internet/intranet, customers, designers and analysts are able to participate the design process at different geographical locations.


This study examines the consequent impact which Cheonggyechoen restoration project of Seoul makes on pedestrian network structure around the inner city, especially in terms of sustainable developments and the city's balanced development. It identifies variation of Global Integration and Local Integration of the pedestrian networks which is compared by before and after conditions with east-west and south-north walking axis by using Space Syntax. The results show respectively different set of Global and Local Integration. First, Global Integration shows high performance along the east-west axis, while pedestrian spatial networking is balancing through Donhwamunno and Samillo. Second, Local Integration illustrates both performance along both the east-west axis and the south-north axis after restoration of network. It is primarily concentrated in Taepyeongno~Samillo section(business and commercial-centered) before the restoration. In addition, total integration is holistically improved while the networking in Samillo~Baeogaegil section(the instrument shopping streets) if almost same as one another Moreover, in Baeogaegil~Dongdaemun Stadium section(market-centered), the connectivity of Cheonggyechoenro is improved after the restoration. All in all, Cheonggyechoen restoration project of Seoul allows traffics to be equally accessible from the east-west axis and the south-north axis and contributes to the connectivity improvement of the east-west axis as well as the south-north axis.


Patient-centered care is widely advocated in rheumatology. This involves collaboration among patients, caregivers, and health professionals and is particularly important in chronic rheumatic conditions because the disease and treatment can impair patients' health and well-being. Qualitative research can systematically generate insights about people's experiences, beliefs, and attitudes, which patients may not always express in clinical settings. These insights can address complex and challenging areas in rheumatology, such as treatment adherence and transition to adult healthcare services. Despite this, qualitative research comprises 1% of studies published in top-tier rheumatology journals. A better understanding about the effect and role, methods, and rigor of qualitative research is needed. This overview highlights the recent contributions of qualitative research in rheumatology, summarizes the common approaches and methods used, and outlines the key principles to guide appraisal of qualitative studies.


Stair ascent is a demanding activity which requires around 85° of knee flexion. Analysing this task may give an indication of Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA) joint function. This study looked at short-term outcomes to give information regarding initial recovery after TKA surgery. Three-dimensional motion analysis was carried out on five healthy control participants and five TKA patients (Columbus®, B. Braun Aesculap, Tuttlingen) performing five stair ascents at their own self-selected pace, choosing whether or not to use handrails. Control data were recorded at one assessment and patient data both pre-operatively and at mean follow up of 10 weeks (8 to 12) post-operatively. The maximum knee flexion achieved during stair ascent was calculated. Four patients walked with a step over step strategy enabling comparison with the control group. There was no change in mean flexion angle from pre-operative to post-operation for either the operated side [mean pre-operatively=84° (76°-94°) vs. 82° (79°-86°) post-operatively , paired t-test p=0.67] or the non-operated side [mean pre-operatively=81° (61°-87°) vs. 81° (70°-95°) postoperatively, paired t-test p=0.56]. This was lower than mean for the control group, 97° (90°-106°) t-test p<0.001. The pre- and post-operative flexion angles of the patient who walked with a step by step strategy was 55° and 56° on the operated side and 43° and 52° on the non-operated side. Knee flexion during stair ascent was similar both pre- and at 10 weeks post operation. Post-operative function did not reach control group values. The large variation between individuals for flexion of the non-operated side may represent different strategies for stair ascent: higher angles to achieve a greater ground clearance for safety, or lower angles to allow the patient to ascend faster so the operated support leg spends less time under load. Further work on a larger number of patients is required to understand this finding.


Abbreviations. Introduction. Graphical Abstracts of Reaction Numbers (RXN). Reactions Catalyzed by Palladium Complexes: Cross-Coupling of Organometallics with RX Derivatives. Cross-Coupling of Organometallicswith RCOX Derivatives. Cross-Coupling of Siloxycyclopropanes with RX and RCOX Derivatives. Cross-Coupling of Terminal Alkynes with RX Derivatives. Intermolecular HECK Reaction. Intramolecular HECK Reaction. Intramolecular Coupling of Di(Vinyl Halides). Tandem HECK-Anion Capture Process of Alkenes, Alkyenes, Alkynes, Allenes and Dienes. Tandem HECK-Anion Capture Process of Norbonene and Related Compounds. Tandem Arylsulfonation-Cyclization Process. Tandem Cyclization-Anion Capture (-Carbonylation) Processof Alkenes and Alkynes. Tandem Cyclization-Anion Capture (-Carbonylation) Process of Ene-Vinyl, Ene-Aryl, and Ene-Alkyl Halides. Tandem Cyclization-Anion Capture Process of Yne-Vinyl and Yne-Aryl Halides. Hydroarylation and Hydrovinylation of Alkenes andAlkynes. Reduction of Alkenes. Semihydrogenation of Alkynes and 1,3-Dienes. Hydroboration, Hydrogennyladon, Hydrosilylation and Hydrostannation of Alkynes, Allenes, Dienes, and Enynes. Hydroselenation of Alkynes. 1,4-Disilyation of Conjugated Enones. Hydrocarboxylation, Hydrocarboalkoxylation and Hydrocarboamination of Alkenes and Alkynes. Tandem Carbonylation-Arylation with Alkynes. 1,2-Dimetallation of Alkynes and Alkenes and Related Reactions. 1,2-Dimetallation of Isonitriles. 1,2-Dimetallation of Allenes. Coupling of Aryl Derivatives with Alkenes Involving a Pd(II) Catalyst. Homocoupling of Aryl and Vinyl Derivatives. Codimerization of Alkynes. Codimerization of Terminal Alkynes with Allenes. Codimerization of Alkynes and Allyl Halides. Cyclopropanation of Alkenes and 1,3-Dienes by Diazomethane. Rearrangement of (-Hydroxy Diazo Compounds. Substitution, Addition, and Elimination on Pro-(-Allyl Substrates. [3,3]-Sigmatropic Rearrangement and [1,3]-Shift on Allylic Derivatives. 1,3-Diene Monoepoxide Rearrangement. Ring Extension of Cyclobutane Derivatives. [3+2], [3+4], [3+6], [1+2] Cycloadditions. Intramolecular Ene-Like Reactions. Cyclization of Hexatrienolate Derivatives. Amination or Amidation of Alkenes. Alkoxylation of Alkenes and Alkynes. Acetalization of Alkenes. Allylic Acyloxylation of Cycloalkenes. Tandem Acyloxylation-Cyclization of 1,5-Dienes. Tandem Acycloxychlorination-Cyclization of 1,6-Dienes. 1,4-Acycloxychlorination of 1,3-Dienes. 1,4-Diacyloxylation of 1,3-Dienes and Related Reactions. Intramolecular Amination, Alkoxylation of Acyloxylation of Alkynes. Tandem Intramolecular Amination, Alkoxylation, or Acyloxylation-Allylation of Alkynes and Allenes. Tandem Intramolecular Amination, Alkoxylation, or Acyloxylation-Carbonylation of Alkynes. Intramolecular Amination or Alkoxylation of Alkenes. Tandem Intramolecular Amination or Alkoxylation-Carbonylation of Alkenes and Allenes. Reductive Cyclization with Diynes and Enynes. Cycloisomerization of Diynes and Enynes. Cycloaddition of Aziridines with Carbodiimides. Telomerization of 1,3-Dienes with Nucleophiles. WACKER Process. Preparation of Ketones from Alcohols or Derivatives via a (-Hydride Elimination. Preparation of ((-Unsaturated Carbonyl Derivatives via a (-Hydride Elimination. Preparation of (-Diketones Derivatives via an Oxidative Rearrangement of a Propargyl Acetate. Carbonylation. Isomerization of Alkynes. Addition of Thiols to Alkynes. Preparation of Allylic Acetates from Alkynes by Tandem Redox-Addition. Tandem Cyclization-Capture Process of Enynes. Aldol-Like Condensation of Enol Esters with Aldehydes. Addition of Fluoroalkyl Iodides to Alkenes or Alkynes via a Pd(I) Species. Intermolecular Tandem Carbonylation-Coupling-Cyclization Process of Aryl Halides with Terminal Alkynes.Intramolecular Coupling of Aryl Halides with Arenes. Tandem Intramolecular Alkoxylation-Vinylation of Alkenes. Carbonylative [2+2] Cycloaddition. Dicarboalkoxylation of Alkenes. Addition of Pronucleophiles on 1,3-Dienes or Allenes. Tandem Cycloisomerization-Cycloaddition of Dienynes with 1,3-Dienes via Metallodienes. Acylcyanation of Terminal Alkynes. 1,4-Carbochlorination of 1,3-Dienes. Tandem Chlorination-Cyclization and Tandem Chlorination-Carbonylation-Cyclization of 1,6-Enynes. Intramolecular Cyclocarbonylation of Alkenes. Abbreviations and Symbols. Notes. Subject Index.


This paper addresses the problem of recognizing human actions from RGB-D videos. A discriminative relational feature learning method is proposed for fusing heterogeneous RGB and depth modalities, and classifying the actions in RGB-D sequences. Our method factorizes the feature matrix of each modality, and enforces the same semantics for them in order to learn shared features from multimodal data. This allows us to capture the complex correlations between the two modalities. To improve the discriminative power of the relational features, we introduce a hinge loss to measure the classification accuracy when the features are employed for classification. This essentially performs supervised factorization, and learns discriminative features that are optimized for classification. We formulate the recognition task within a maximum margin framework, and solve the formulation using a coordinate descent algorithm. The proposed method is extensively evaluated on two public RGB-D action data sets. We demonstrate that the proposed method can learn extremely low-dimensional features with superior discriminative power, and outperforms the state-of-the-art methods. It also achieves high performance when one modality is missing in testing or training.


Abstract The Shanderman Metamorphic Complex, exposed along the Caspian foothills of the Talesh Mountain, western Alborz, Iran, has always been interpreted as an ophiolitic fragment of the Palaeotethys Ocean. According to our new data, this unit consists of metamorphic rocks mainly represented by garnet–staurolite micaschists with large bodies of metabasites containing well-preserved eclogitic-phase assemblages. The Shanderman Complex (SC) was later intruded at middle crustal levels by intermediate–basic intrusive bodies. New Ar/Ar ages of paragonitic white micas in equilibrium with the high-pressure assemblages have given a Late Carboniferous age (315±9 Ma). Our new data suggest that the SC was equilibrated in high-pressure conditions during an orogenic event that predates the Eo-Cimmerian orogeny by more than 100 Ma and that may be tentatively ascribed to the Variscan orogeny sensu latu. We suggest that the Shanderman Complex represents a fragment of the Upper Palaeozoic European continental crust. The occurrence of eclogites in these regions can be explained by two different hypotheses: (1) the SC high-pressure rocks can be related to the accretion of Gondwana-related Transcauscasian–Moesian microplate to the southern margin of Eurasia; or (2) the SC eclogites can represent a fragment of the Late Palaeozoic 'Variscan belt' sensu latu of central Europe, which has been translated eastwards during Permian along a dextral megashear zone taking from a Pangea-B to a Pangea-A plate configuration. This metamorphic unit was stacked southwards on the northern edge of the Iran Plate during the Eo-Cimmerian events occurring at the end of the Triassic. The eclogite-bearing basement of the SC was finally exhumed at the end of the Eo-Cimmerian orogeny, as suggested by the composition of the basal layers of the Shemshak Group dated here Middle Jurassic, that cover the crystalline rocks of the SC along a regional non-conformity. The SC was probably displaced further southwards during the Mesozoic opening of the South Caspian Basin and the Tertiary thrust stacking and dextral shearing accompanying the formation of the Alborz intracontinental belt.


Algorithms which minimize the averaged loss have been widely designed for dealing with noisy labels. Intuitively, when there is a finite training sample, penalizing the variance of losses will improve the stability and generalization of the algorithms. Interestingly, we found that the variance should be increased for the problem of learning with noisy labels. Specifically, increasing the variance will boost the memorization effects and reduce the harmfulness of incorrect labels. By exploiting the label noise transition matrix, regularizers can be easily designed to reduce the variance of losses and be plugged in many existing algorithms. Empirically, the proposed method by increasing the variance of losses significantly improves the generalization ability of baselines on both synthetic and real-world datasets.


The fact that sport makes character has been admitted for a long time, considering it a generator of moral values and socially desirable qualities. However, it has been proven that sport practice, by itself, does not educate, but should be practised in a specific way so that it provides all the moral values proclaimed by the classics. In addition, physical education has been considered an appropriate context in order to point pupils towards the interpretation of sport practice in a positive way. According to researchers, social and personal values in physical education and sports can be developed by applying the techniques of social learning (reinforcement and modelling) and structural development (resolution of moral dilemmas). That is why, in this article, we are presenting the implementation process and the results of an intervention program applied to the context of school physical education for the development of moral reasoning in students. Although the duration of the program has not allowed for the observation of big changes, the orientation of a significant number of pupils towards higher levels of moral reasoning has been proven, so this system can be relied on as an alternative support to traditional physical education. KEY WORDS: Moral development, adolescents, moral dilemmas, secondary education.


Sustainable water management in irrigation‐dominated river basins attempts to ensure a long‐term, stable, and flexible water supply to meet crop water demands, as well as growing municipal and industrial water demands, while mitigating negative environmental consequences. To achieve this delicate balance, new models are needed which can use indicators of sustainability to guide the decision‐making process. This paper presents a new long‐term modeling framework which uses quantified sustainability criteria in a long‐term optimization model of a basin, ensuring risk minimization in water supply, environmental conservation, equity in water allocation, and economic efficiency in water infrastructure development. "Current" and "future" water supply and demand are combined into a coherent system which takes account of the cumulative effects of short‐term water use decisions and deals with the tradeoffs between the benefits of current and future generations. The modeling framework is demonstrated with an application to the Syr Darya River Basin of central Asia. Model results show the effectiveness of this tool for policy analysis in the context of the river basin.


Abstract The Middle Tithonian Los Catutos Member (Vaca Muerta Formation, Neuquén Basin), is lithologically and geochemically similar to limestone-marl alternations from the Late Jurassic of the northern hemisphere. Both marls and limestones are pelbiomicrites and biopelmicrites principally composed of pellets, radiolaria, forams, ostracods, equinoids, spicules of sponges and gastropods, cemented by several generations of calcite cement. Smectite and interlayers are the major epiclastic components of the fraction below 2 μm, reflecting pedogenic processes developed on volcanogenic source rocks. More abundant kaolinite in some marls reflects stronger humid conditions in the source area and enhanced terrigenous supply. Al2O3 content is demonstrated to be a reliable indicator of clastic input. The same is not true for silica, often related to high biogenic productivity of siliceous organisms. Rocks show total organic carbon (TOC) contents up to 1.95% and constitute regular to good sources for hydrocarbons, although thermally immature. Rhythmites formed gently sloping mounds accumulated in a distal submarine ramp under low-energy and poorly oxygenated open-sea conditions. Sedimentation rates were high due to high productivity on the sea surface, and supply of terrigenous and carbonate sediments transported by suspension plumes originated in shallow, photic areas. δ13C values correspond well with the published curves for the Tithonian sea water and with other records from Tethyan limestones. A preliminary analysis of negative excursions of δ13C point to a productivity crisis or a mixture of water layers in a stratified sea with a periodicity of 400 ka, which could be a result of changes in the orbital eccentricity of the Earth. Light isotopic composition of O in bulk rocks is the result of diagenetic neomorphism and cement precipitation. Calculated palaeotemperatures from δ18C are consistent with those derived from measured vitrinite reflectance (Ro%) and burial history reconstruction. Data indicate initial burial during the Tithonian extending up to the Lower Cretaceous, a short period of uplift (Intravalaginian tectonic phase), and renewed uplift during the Cenomanian followed by significant Late Cretaceous sedimentation and Pliocene thrusting.


Sudden death following coelenterate envenomation is not uncommon in Australia where the Pacific box jellyfish is indigenous. However, few cases of sudden fatal reactions have been reported in the Northern Hemisphere, and those that have occurred have all been attributed to the Portuguese man-of-war,Physalia physalis. We report the case of a child who died within 40 minutes of accidental envenomation with tentacles of a jellyfish,Chiropsalmus quadrumanus, and describe the findings at autopsy. This coelenterate may be of special danger to small children. (JAMA. 1991;266:1404-1406)


The benefits of Business Intelligence (BI) activities are widely recognized and arouse more and more interest nowadays. In particular, self-service analytics is getting more and more popular. Enabling end users to process their data by themselves allow them to be more reactive to business changes by making better decisions faster. One of the challenges in this area is to provide tools easy to use with a high computational performance to enable end users who often aren't developers to process their data by themselves in a simple and fast manner. The BI application that we will call BITX belongs to that category.This thesis presents the integration of an in-memory columnoriented database engine that we will call DBEX as backend for this application. The purpose of this experiment is to optimize BITX's performance by providing it with a lightweight back-end well adapted to BI analysis. The architecture and implementation of the driver developed for DBEX are detailed. The query execution mechanism and SQL functions representation in the engine are studied and performance optimizations for SQL functions implementation are proposed. The system performance is then analyzed following two axis: DBEX's memory consumption and the respone time of the subsystem {DBEX+driver}.Improvements made further to the performance evaluationand speeding up some of the driver's operations are presented.


Polymer swelling by scCO2 was mainly studied to understand many industrial processes, especially in the field of pharmacy for drug delivery (impregnation) and also polymer processing by CO2-assisted extrusion. We have studied here another application of polymer swelling by scCO2 for the synthesis of nanocomposites. The selected model system was the direct synthesis of copper nanoparticles in a poly(ethylene glycol) matrix (PEG). The study of the formation of nanostructures in polymer matrix is constituted of three main steps: i) thermodynamical behaviour of the polymer/CO2 system, ii) viscosity of the polymer/CO2 system and iii) nucleation and growth of copper nanoparticles. First, the thermodynamical behaviour of the PEG/CO2 system was studied by in situ IR spectroscopy. This method gives accurate values of the polymer swelling by scCO2 but also of the CO2 sorption in the polymer. For example, at 40°C-15MPa, the swelling of PEG is equal to 35% for a CO2 solubility of 23 wt%. Secondly, we have developed an original falling ball viscometer for the determination of PEG viscosity as a function of CO2 density. A good knowledge of the polymer/CO2 system is finally used for the control of formation of copper nanoparticles. This formation was followed by in situ UV - visible spectroscopy and characterized by transmission electron microscopy.


Introduction: Physical symptoms and frailty are common in older adults. A previous study has reported that multiple somatic symptoms are associated with frailty. In this study, we aimed to describe the picture of physical symptoms in older adults in western China and examine the relationship of multiple physical symptoms and frailty, as well as the sex difference of this relationship. Methods: Cross-sectional analyses were based on the West China Health and Aging Trend (WCHAT) study comprising 4,106 community-dwelling older adults (60–95 years). Frailty was assessed using the physical frailty phenotype (PFP). Participants' experience of 28 different physical symptoms in the past 4 weeks was assessed. Physical symptoms were divided into several categories according to organ systems. Multinomial logistic regression analyses were performed to examine the association between frailty and multiple physical symptoms. Results: Nearly half of the subjects reported experiencing at least 1 physical symptom during the past 4 weeks. Musculoskeletal symptoms were the most prevalent symptoms. More than 5 physical symptoms were more likely to be frailty, even when all covariates were controlled. A significant association between multiple musculoskeletal symptoms and frailty also was found after adjusted for all covariates and multiple symptoms of other organ systems. Similar results were obtained for multiple cardiopulmonary symptoms. Furthermore, there were sex differences in these relationships. Conclusion: Multiple physical symptoms appear to have a detrimental impact on frailty in older adults. Compared with counting total symptoms, multiple symptoms of the same organ system may have a greater impact on frailty. Effective interventions and management of multiple physical symptoms are warranted to prevent frailty.


Alveolar bone grafting Is an adjunctive procedure that has become increasingly popular in the rehabilitation of patients with cleft lip and palate. A histologic basis of the performance of bone grafts is required to evaluate properly different grafting materials. This, however, cannot be provided by clinical studies on humans. Therefore, an animal model with a simulated alveolar cleft is needed. A number of animal models has been previously proposed by other investigators. The problems associated with each model are presented and a surgical technique for the creation of permanent alveolar clefts in rabbits Is described. Clinical and histologic findings 6 weeks postoperatively confirm the establishment of a 1-cm wide defect with oronasal communication and healthy epithelial lining. This animal model can be efficiently used for the testing of various bone grafting materials.


The paper outlines an exchangeable non-Bayesian model of preference generalizing the Savage/de Finetti classic model of subjective expected utility preference with an exchangeable prior. The treatment is informal, and the emphasis is on motivation and potential applications rather than on axiomatic foundations and technical details. The objective is to provide a widely accessible introduction to research that is reported in detail elsewhere.


Negative direct current (-DC 300 microA) stimulation was applied to the round window of the guinea pig cochlea to exhaust the pre-synaptic intracellular reserves of the transmitter in hair cells, and then the scala tympani was perfused respectively with L-glutamine, glutamine synthetase and glutaminase. Experimental results showed that the negative DC electrical stimulation applied to the round window elevated the CAP threshold of the cochlear nerve in the basal turn of the cochlea, which recovered over a period of approximately 17-39 min. The perfusion of L-glutamine apparently elevated the CAP threshold. The recovery of the CAP threshold following electrical stimulation, however, was accelerated by the perfusion of 10 mmol/L L-glutamine. The time for recovery only took about 5-6 min. The perfusion of enzyme glutamine synthetase elevated the CAP threshold by 50 dB, while glutaminase had little effect. These results suggest that the effect of L-glutamine on the CAP threshold in the cochlea of the guinea pig appears to be that of a potent depolarizing agent which accelerates the recovery of the CAP threshold during the depletion of the transmitter, and L-glutamine may be the candidate for the afferent excitatory transmitter.


The aim of this paper is to study the relevance of simplicity and its formal representation as Kolmogorov or algorithmic complexity in the cognitive sciences. The discussion is based on two premises: 1) all human experience is generated in the brain, 2) the brain has only access to information. Taken together, these two premises lead us to conclude that all the elements of what we call 'reality' are derived mental constructs based on information and compression, i.e., algorithmic models derived from the search for simplicity in data. Naturally, these premises apply to humans in real or virtual environments as well as robots or other cognitive systems. Based on this, it is further hypothesized that there is a hierarchy of processing levels where simplicity and compression play a major role. As applications, I illustrate rst the relevance of compression and simplicity in fundamental neuroscience with an analysis of the Mismatch Negativity paradigm. Then I discuss the applicability to Presence research, which studies how to produce real-feeling experiences in mediated interaction, and use Bayesian modeling to dene in a formal way dierent aspects of the illusion of Presence. The idea is put forth that given alternative models (interpretations) for a given mediated interaction, a brain will select the simplest one it can construct weighted by prior models. In the nal section the universality of these ideas and applications in robotics, machine learning, biology and education is discussed. I emphasize that there is a common conceptual thread based on the idea of simplicity, which suggests a common study approach.


In this study, the possibility of using used frying oil as a fuel oil alternative has been investigated. The fuel oil analysis tests applied to the reference fuel oil, used frying oil and its blends with fuel oil, were done according to standard test methods. The experimental results indicated that used frying oil and its blends with fuel oil can be proposed as a possible substitute for fuel oil.


The focus of this review is the research and clinical work in early psychosis and early intervention which over the past 10–15 years has had a tremendous impact on the field of schizophrenia. Unparalleled progress has been made in programme and service development with a wide range of reported research results, outcome studies, treatment approaches and new initiatives. Traditional areas are being explored in the first episode that can add to our knowledge of schizophrenia. New areas that have a specific relevance for early intervention such as the duration of untreated psychosis and pathways to care are being widely studied. Despite the criticism of the lack of randomized controlled trials, there is a wealth of positive outcome from both effectiveness studies and limited controlled trials. However, there are still many unanswered issues which are in developing stages or which require further investigation.


Infrared (IR) absorption spectroscopy detects state and chemical composition of biomolecules solely by their inherent vibrational fingerprints. Major disadvantages like the lack of spatial resolution and sensitivity were compensated lately by the use of pointed probes as local sensors enabling the detection of quantities as few as hundreds of proteins with nanometer precision. This makes infrared scattering-type scanning near-field optical microscopy a very powerful tool in life science. The strong absorption of infrared radiation of liquid water, however, still prevents to simply access the measured quantity – light scattered at the probing atomic force microscope tip. Here we report on the local IR response of biological membranes immersed in aqueous bulk solution. We make use of a silicon solid immersion lens as substrate and focusing optics to achieve detection efficiencies sufficient to yield IR near-field maps of purple membranes. We scrutinized our experimental findings by applying theoretical models. Finally, we suggest a means to improve the imaging quality by laser scanning assisted scattering-type scanning near-field optical microscopy. We believe that IR scattering-type scanning near-field optical microscopy will resolve biological structures in their native environments at nm resolution without the need for labeling.


Abstract Background Electrical injury can result in a variety of cardiac abnormalities. We evaluate the cardiac effects in patients injured by electric shock and treated in our medical centre. Methods We reviewed retrospectively the findings in 52 children, aged from 7 months to 17 years, with a mean age of 10.1 ± 5.1 years, all evaluated and treated for accidental electric shock from January, 1992, through July, 2004. Relevant data regarding clinical presentation, electrocardiogram recording and cardiac enzymes was compiled. We also evaluated the echocardiographic findings, clinical course, treatment, and outcome. Results Syncope had been the presenting symptom in 17 children (33%), asystole in 1 patient, and ventricular fibrillation or tachycardia in 2 patients. Characteristic changes of acute ischaemia of the anterior wall on the basis of changes in the ST segments were noted in 2 patients. Total creatine phosphokinase was measured in 33 children (63%), and was elevated in 20. Creatine phosphokinase-MB was measured in 11 patients, and was abnormal in six (54%). Troponin was measured in three children, and was significantly high in one (33%). Cardiopulmonary resuscitation and mechanical ventilation for a significant period was necessary in 5 patients, of whom 4 (80%) survived. None of the survivors was left with any cardiac disability following the acute event. Conclusions Significant cardiac damage and complications are rare in children and young adults who survive incidental electrocution. Most of the cardiac events are observed during the acute phase and immediately subsequent to electrocution. No delayed complications are anticipated.


Many ginsenosides have shown positive effects, including anti-cancer potential and anti-inflammatory effects. Of note, protopanaxadiol (PPD) and protopanaxatriol (PPT) are not easily absorbed by the body through the digestive tract due to their hydrophilicity. From this point of view, the cytotoxic potencies of the hydrolysates of PPD and PPT on CRC are much stronger than their source compounds. Moreover, several minor ginsenosides that are absent naturally but have high disease ameliorative efficacy can be obtained from major ginsenoside by enzymatic hydrolysis. Therefore, the first aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of the biotransformation of ginsenosides via enzymatic hydrolysis to improve their bioactivity. Second, the anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer effects of the raw and bio-transformed ginseng metabolites were determined in vitro. The results suggest that enzymes can effectively biotransform major ginsenosides (i.e., PPD and PPT) into minor ginsenosides (i.e., compound K) by hydrolyzing the β-glucosidic linkage. Moreover, the bio-transformed ginsenosides were effective in inhibiting the proliferation of HCT-116 cells and suppressing lipopolysaccharide-induced nitric oxide production in RAW 264.7 murine macrophages. Therefore, the enzymatic hydrolysis of ginsenosides can be employed to functionally produce hydrolysates with increased bioactivity.


In order to survive at high temperatures, thermophilic prokaryotes (Archaea and Eubacteria) adopt different strategies. Among several important contributing factors for stability of proteins are CG-rich codons, the ratio of charged amino acids compared to uncharged amino acids, ionic interactions, amino acid preferences and their distribution, post-translational modifications, and solute accumulation. However, these factors may differ from taxon to taxon, both within and between species depending upon the composition of proteins found in these organisms. This is exemplified in the case of differences in strategies adopted by soluble proteins and membrane proteins. Therefore, it appears that no single factor or combination of factors together can be universally attributed to the provision of thermal stability in proteins.


To evaluate the evidence for the resuscitation of patients with hip fracture in the preoperative or perioperative phase of their treatment and its impact on mortality. Design We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, CENTRAL and PROSPERO databases using a systematic search strategy for randomised trials and observational studies investigating the fluid resuscitation of any patient with hip fracture. No language limits were applied to the search, which was complemented by manually screening the reference lists of appropriate studies. Outcome measures Mortality at 1 week, 30 days and 1 year following surgery. Results Two hundred and ninety-eight citations were identified, and 12 full manuscripts were reviewed; no studies satisfied the inclusion criteria. The background literature showed that the mortality for these patients at 30 days is approximately 8.5% and that bone cement implantation syndrome is insufficient to explain this. The literature was explored to define the need for an interventional investigation into the preoperative resuscitation of patients with hip fracture. Conclusions Patients with hip fracture show similar physiological disturbance to major trauma patients. Nineteen per cent of patients presenting with hip fracture are hypoperfused and 50% show preoperative anaemia suggesting that under resuscitation is a common problem that has not been investigated. A properly conducted interventional trial could improve the outcome of these vulnerable patients.


In field operations, during rapid deceleration of pipe (simulated by drop-catch process) or slack-off stop process, significant dynamic effects can occur. The dynamic event can amplify the load on the pipe string, and the amplified load can break a weak thread. It is necessary to understand the mechanics of this dynamic event, and thus, provide guidelines or directions for safe design and operation of the pipe string. An analysis procedure using FEA, which involves fluid-pipe interaction, has been established for this study. It shows that fluid viscosity is a very important parameter in determining whether a given pipe string with a weak thread will be safe or not under a given operating procedure.


Over the past few years, we have seen the proliferation of Internet-based services ranging from search engines and map services to video-on-demand servers. All of these kinds of services need to be able to provide guarantees of availability and scalability to their users. With millions of users on the Internet today, these services must have the capacity to handle a large number of clients and remain available even in the face of extremely high load.

In this paper, we present a generic architecture for supporting such Internet applications. We provide a substrate for Scalable Network Services (SNS), on top of which application developers can design their services without worrying about the details of service management. We back our design with three real-world services: a web distillation proxy, a proxy-based web-browser for PDAs, and an MBone archive server.


The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of high temperature on the viability of probiotic organisms (Bacillus subtilis, Lactobacillus plantarum, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae) mixed with animal feed under controlled conditions by simulating a farm feed bin in the summer. Following inoculation of probiotics into the feed, the pH and probiotic viability were monitored during an 8-day incubation at room temperature. Sterile and non-sterile feeds displayed different patterns of pH changes, with increased pH in non-sterile feed at 2 days, but a pattern of decreasing pH at 4 days. The viabilities of S. cerevisiae and B. subtilis after mono/co-inoculation were maintained without substantial changes during the incubation, whereas L. plantarum viability tended to decline. In both non-sterile and sterile feeds, the probiotics were maintained or grew without any antagonistic effects. Probiotic viability was also tested upon a shift to high temperature (60℃). There was no distinct change in pH between sterile and non-sterile feeds after the temperature shift. L. plantarum and S. cerevisiae could not survive at the high temperature, whereas B. subtilis displayed normal growth, and it inhibited the growth of contaminant microbes. Fungal growth was not observed in non-sterile feed 2 days after supplementation with B. subtilis. Therefore, heat resistant B. subtilis could be safely used in feed bins to inhibit microbial contamination, even at high temperatures. The prevention of elevated temperature in feed bins is necessary for the utilization of L. plantarum and S. cerevisiae during the summer season.


BACKGROUND/AIMS
The aim of this study was to determine the sensibility and specificity of a new assay in the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer and predictability of resection rates. In addition, the serum CA19-9 levels was utilised as a prognostic indicator.

METHODOLOGY
Serum expression of the tumor marker CA 19-9 was studied in 2119 patients.

RESULTS
The discriminating capacity of CA 19-9 between benign and malignant disease was high, especially in patients with pancreatic cancer (n = 347). The sensitivity of CA 19-9 was 85%. In patients who were Lewis blood type positive, the sensitivity increased to 92%. The CA 19-9 levels were significantly lower in patients with resectable tumors (n = 126) than in those with unresectable tumors (n = 221, p < 0.0001) (sensitivity 74% versus 90%). The CA 19-9 levels dropped sharply after resection but normalized only in 29%, 13%, and 10% of patients with stage I, II, and III, respectively. In unresectable tumors, no significant decrease in CA 19-9 levels after laparotomy or bypass was found. Among patients with the same tumor stage, the median survival time of those whose CA 19-9 levels returned to normal after resection was significantly longer than those with postoperative CA 19-9 levels that decreased but did not return to normal (stage I: 33 versus 11.3 months; stage II: 41 versus 8.6 months; stage III: 28 versus 10.8 months). In patients with recurrent disease, 88% had an obvious rise in CA 19-9 levels.

CONCLUSION
CA 19-9 measurement is a simple test which can be used for diagnostic purposes, as well as the prediction of resectability, survival rate after surgery, and the potential for recurrence.


In this paper we define semidefinite packing programs and describe an algorithm to approximately solve these problems. Semidefinite packing programs arise in many applications such as semidefinite programming relaxations for combinatorial optimization problems, sparse principal component analysis, and sparse variance unfolding techniques for dimension reduction. Our algorithm exploits the structural similarity between semidefinite packing programs and linear packing programs.


Canada is one of the top energy users and CO2 emitters among the OECD countries. However, energy intensity has been declining, on average, by about 1.4 percent since 1980. In this paper, we use the Fisher Ideal Index to determine the contribution of changes in the composition of economic activities and efficiency to a decline in energy intensity in Canada at national, provincial, and industry levels. We also apply panel data estimation methods to further investigate the factors driving energy intensity, efficiency and activity indexes for the period 1981-2008. We test for endogeneity as well as cross-section dependency in the provincial data and control for factors such as climate, policy, and energy endowment. The national and provincial decomposition results suggest that most of the reduction in energy intensity has occurred mainly due to improvements in energy efficiency rather than shifts in economic activities. Within the industry, while energy intensity has declined significantly in manufacturing, it has remained stable in transportation, utilities, and construction, and increased significantly in oil extraction and mining industries. The provincial panel regression results indicate that energy intensity is higher in provinces with higher average incomes, faster population growth, colder climate, and a higher capital-labour ratio, and lower in provinces with higher energy prices and higher investment. The industry panel regression results show that investment has contributed to energy efficiency in utilities and mining and to a shift away from energy-intensive activities in manufacturing and transportation industries. Technological advances have been most effective in increasing energy efficiency in construction and utilities and in decreasing energy-intensive activities in manufacturing industries. The results indicate that although efficiency contributes to a reduction in energy intensity in Canada, increasing activity in energy-intensive industries, such as oil and mining, partially offsets the efficiency gains in other industries.


OBJECT
Precise delineation of individualized risks of morbidity and mortality is crucial in decision making in cerebrovascular neurosurgery. The authors attempted to create a predictive model of complications in patients undergoing cerebral aneurysm clipping (CAC).

METHODS
The authors performed a retrospective cohort study of patients who had undergone CAC in the period from 2005 to 2009 and were registered in the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) database. A model for outcome prediction based on preoperative individual patient characteristics was developed.

RESULTS
Of the 7651 patients in the NIS who underwent CAC, 3682 (48.1%) had presented with unruptured aneurysms and 3969 (51.9%) with subarachnoid hemorrhage. The respective inpatient postoperative risks for death, unfavorable discharge, stroke, treated hydrocephalus, cardiac complications, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, and acute renal failure were 0.7%, 15.3%, 5.3%, 1.5%, 1.3%, 0.6%, 2.0%, and 0.1% for those with unruptured aneurysms and 11.5%, 52.8%, 5.5%, 39.2%, 1.7%, 2.8%, 2.7%, and 0.8% for those with ruptured aneurysms. Multivariate analysis identified risk factors independently associated with the above outcomes. A validated model for outcome prediction based on individual patient characteristics was developed. The accuracy of the model was estimated using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, and it was found to have good discrimination.

CONCLUSIONS
The featured model can provide individualized estimates of the risks of postoperative complications based on preoperative conditions and can potentially be used as an adjunct in decision making in cerebrovascular neurosurgery.


Typical layout-to-image synthesis (LIS) models generate images for a closed set of semantic classes, e.g., 182 common objects in COCO-Stuff. In this work, we explore the freestyle capability of the model, i.e., how far can it generate unseen semantics (e.g., classes, attributes, and styles) onto a given layout, and call the task Freestyle LIS (FLIS). Thanks to the development of large-scale pre-trained language-image models, a number of discriminative models (e.g., image classification and object detection) trained on limited base classes are empowered with the ability of unseen class prediction. Inspired by this, we opt to leverage large-scale pre-trained text-to-image diffusion models to achieve the generation of unseen semantics. The key challenge of FLIS is how to enable the diffusion model to synthesize images from a specific layout which very likely violates its pre-learned knowledge, e.g., the model never sees "a unicorn sitting on a bench" during its pre-training. To this end, we introduce a new module called Rectified Cross-Attention (RCA) that can be conveniently plugged in the diffusion model to integrate semantic masks. This "plug-in" is applied in each cross-attention layer of the model to rectify the attention maps between image and text tokens. The key idea of RCA is to enforce each text token to act on the pixels in a specified region, allowing us to freely put a wide variety of semantics from pre-trained knowledge (which is general) onto the given layout (which is specific). Extensive experiments show that the proposed diffusion network produces realistic and freestyle layout-to-image generation results with diverse text inputs, which has a high potential to spawn a bunch of interesting applications. Code is available at https://github.com/essunny310/FreestyleNet.


In the present study the effect of pressure overload on the expression of protooncogene c-fos in the left ventricle was investigated in rats with abdominal aorta constriction. It was found that a remarkable expression of c-fos was induced by pressure overload and the expression was greatly attenuated by angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor captopril. In the pressure overload group the angiotensinogen mRNA level was found increased. The above results suggest that angiotensin II is involved in the expression of c-fos due to pressure overload.


When the term 'dinosaur' was coined in 1842, it referred to fragmentary British fossils. In subsequent decades, American discoveries—including Brontosaurus and Triceratops—proved that these so-called 'terrible lizards' were in fact hardly lizards at all. By the 1910s 'dinosaur' was a household word. Reimagining Dinosaurs in Late Victorian and Edwardian Literature approaches the hitherto unexplored fiction and popular journalism that made this scientific term a meaningful one to huge transatlantic readerships. Unlike previous scholars, who have focused on displays in American museums, Richard Fallon argues that literature was critical in turning these extinct creatures into cultural icons. Popular authors skilfully related dinosaurs to wider concerns about empire, progress, and faith; some of the most prominent, like Arthur Conan Doyle and Henry Neville Hutchinson, also disparaged elite scientists, undermining distinctions between scientific and imaginative writing. The rise of the dinosaurs thus accompanied fascinating transatlantic controversies about scientific authority.


This paper investigates the maximum and the minimum gain of the proportional resonant based grid current controller for a grid-tied inverter with a passive damped high-order power filter. It is found that the choice of the controller gain is limited to the local maximum amplitude determined by Q-factor around the characteristic frequency of the filter and grid impedance. To obtain the Q-factor of a high-order system, an equivalent circuit analysis method is proposed and illustrated through several classical passive damped LCL- and LLCL-filters. It is shown that both the RC parallel damper that is in parallel with the capacitor of the LCL-filter or with the Lf-Cf resonant circuit of the LLCL-filter, and the RL series damper in series with the grid-side inductor have their own application limits. Thus, a composite passive damped LLCL-filter for the grid-tied inverter is proposed, which can effectively suppress the possible resonance in case that the grid impedance varies in a wide range. Simulation results are good agreement with the theoretical analysis.


Abstract:The widening reach of neoliberal reforms, global production chains, and market relations has been displacing the means of livelihood for many social groups around the world. In contrast to what the proponents of globalization contend, such displacements have jeopardized the livelihood of social groups that were sidelined by market-friendly reforms. A large body of scholarship suggests that such conditions are likely to generate popular protest against the spread of market relations. In this article, we examine the conditions under which the social groups that have been unmade by the spread of the market economy mobilize against the market. Drawing on the literature of the moral economy and the study of contentious politics, we emphasize that the connective structures social relations provide are crucial in turning economic and moral grievances against the market into collective mobilization. We argue that the social relations embodied in the communities that are threatened by the spread of capitalism and market relations form strong bases of collective action. We illustrate this argument with instances of contentious politics in India and Turkey.


Structure and properties of low-alloyed copper-based alloys with Cr, Zr and Hf after severe plastic deformation (SPD) using techniques of high pressure torsion (HPT) and equal channel angular pressing (ECAP) have been studied. SPD significantly increases strength of the alloys by formation of ultrafine-grained structure. Cu5Zr and Cu5Hf particles suppress the grain growth in ultrafine-grained (UFG) structure more effectively than the Cr particles and provide additional hardening during aging. Moreover, it was found that the application of additional aging after SPD significantly improves service properties of the alloys (fatigue limit, wear resistance and electrical conductivity). This combination of properties results in a high durability of electrodes for resistance spot welding produced from UFG Cubased alloys.


Abstract The dominant process in the evolution of spiral galaxies like our own is clearly the formation of new stars, and the leading optical indicator of this is Hα emission. Considering the tremendous importance of star formation and its variation within and between galaxies, it is surprising just how little survey work has been carried out at Hα. After the successful development of Tech Pan films for deep photographic imaging with the UKST, and given the particular sensitivity of Tech Pan at wavelengths near Hα, it was natural to consider the possibilities for a narrowband Hα imaging survey of large angular extent. This idea quickly developed into a full-blown survey of the whole of the Southern Milky Way, of the Magellanic Clouds, and of selected extragalactic regions of interest such as that around the Virgo Cluster. This special issue is devoted to the discussion of the details of making and using this survey.


An experiment was carried out to test the Categorical Perception as well as possible Perceptual Magnet Effects in the two boundary tone categories L% and H% in German, corresponding to statement vs. question interpretation, respectively. Additionally, reaction times (RT) were logged during all subtests to see if they support the results. Analyses revealed that RTs always increased with rising difficulty of the perceptual task, and decreased when the decision process was easy. Task-specific results showed that RT also correlated with the number of possible answers during a perceptual decision, i.e. more answer alternatives resulted in longer RT. Furthermore, female subjects generally reacted faster during all perceptual tasks, although this did not necessarily correlate with the accuracy of the results. Nevertheless, the results confirmed the usefulness of RT to support the analyses and the interpretation of perceptual data. Index Terms: prosody perception, intonation, categorical perception, perceptual magnet effect, reaction time


To investigate the effect of high thoracic epidural analgesia combined with general anesthesia on pain management and postoperative outcomes in patients undergoing off-pump Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG).

 Patients were divided into two groups; Group 1 received general anesthesia and high thoracic epidural anesthesia whereas Group 2 received general anesthesia alone during off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting. Epidural catheters were placed at least 6 hours before transfer to the operating room. An epidural analgesic solution of 0.25% bupivacaine and 10 µg/ml fentanyl was started as continuous infusion at 5 ml/hour and maintained for at least 12 hours after completion of surgery. A 10-cm visual analog scale was used to measure pain at 4th, 6th, 9th and 12th postoperative hours.

 Mean time to extubation was similar between two groups (2.45±0.88 vs. 2.59±1.31 for Groups 1 and 2, respectively, p=0.90). In all measurements, mean Visual Analogue Scale VAS scores were significantly lower in Group 1 compared to Group 2 (6.50±1.53 vs. 4.09±1.83 at 4th hour, 6.62±1.55 vs. 3.71±1.85 at 6th hour, 5.83±1.40 vs. 2.93±1.54 at 9th hour and 4.41±1.97 vs. 2.50±1.19 at 12th hour, p<0.001 in each comparison).

 Continuous high thoracic epidural analgesia seems to be a good adjunct to general anesthesia, as its pain relief effect becomes obvious at 4th postoperative hour and lasts at least 12th postoperative hour.


The NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) Program nurtures visionary ideas that could transform future NASA missions with the creation of breakthroughs — radically better or entirely new aerospace concepts — while engaging America's innovators and entrepreneurs as partners in the journey. NIAC projects study innovative, technically credible, advanced concepts that could one day "Change the Possible" in aerospace. NIAC supports innovative research through two phases of study, both competitively awarded. The Phase I studies are for nine-month efforts to explore the overall viability of visionary concepts. Phase II studies further develop the most promising Phase I concepts for up to two years, and explore potential infusion options within NASA and beyond. Since 2011, NIAC has funded 70 studies (60 Phase I and 10 Phase II). It is anticipated that five to seven new Phase II studies will be selected in August. This paper discusses NIAC's history and current role, and provides summary statistics about the recent selections.


Objective: Methotrexate (MTX) isawidely used chemotherapeutic agent showing side effects such as hepatotoxicity and also testicular damage due to an increase in the production of reactiveoxygen species. Proanthocyanidins (PACs) are known as natural antioxidants that have protective effects against oxidative stress. This study investigates the protective effect of PAC against the MTX-induced testicular damage. Methods: Twenty-six male Wistar albinorats were divided into fourgroups. Saline (2 cc/kg) was administered to the control group, and PAC (200 mg/kg) was administered to the PACgroup for 7 days. The MTX group received a single dose of MTX (20 mg/kg) on Day 3. A total of 200 mg/kg of PACfor 6 days was administered to the PAC+MTX group, and the group also received a single dose of 20 mg/kg of MTX on Day 3. The animals were sacrificed on Day 8. Analyses were performed, in addition tolight and electron microscopic examinations on the testicular samples. Results: Histopathological findings such as thinning of the seminiferous tubule epithelium and decrease in spermatogonial cells were detected in the MTX group. Electron microscopic findings indicated similar damage. The MDA levels increased in testicular tissues, while the SOD and GPX levels decreased significantly. The tissue damage and deterioration in biochemical parameters were decreased in the PAC+MTXgroup. Conclusion: The results show that PAC does not completely prevent damage to the testicles caused by MTX but that it has an important protective effect.


The Mediterranean mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis is the most widespread marine alien species along the South African coast. Long-term monitoring of the mid-to-low intertidal zone in the Groen-Spoeg area on the west coast between 1988 and 1993 tracked the establishment and expansion of this aggressive invader along a gradient of wave action. Additionally, the effects of M. galloprovincialis on other dominant species were quantified. The rate of increase and abundance of M. galloprovincialis was promoted by exposure to strong wave action. The tube-building poly- chaete Gunnarea capensis remained the dominant space occupier on sheltered shores but its density was negatively correlated with the M. galloprovincialis expansion on semi-exposed and exposed shores. In contrast, the indigenous mussel Aulacomya ater demonstrated no significant changes in density over time as it simply became incorporated into the spreading M. galloprovincialis beds. Overall abundance of the grazing limpet Scutellastra granularis was positively affected by the M. galloprovincialis invasion, although adults and recruits occupying primary space showed a nega- tive correlation with M. galloprovincialis abundance, the strength of which increased with wave exposure. Conversely, adults and recruits occurring on secondary space were positively affected by M. galloprovincialis beds, which enhanced settlement. Again the strength of the interaction increased with wave action. Patterns observed in the field therefore indicated that abundance of M. galloprovincialis and its effects on other elements of the fauna were linked with the intensity of wave action.


Dislocation of extensor tendons is the most frequently seen complaint for suffers of rheumatoid arthritis. Here, we present a rare clinical case of multiple finger extensor tendon dislocations in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Upon physical examination, active extension of middle, ring and little fingers were impossible at the MP joint. A trigger phenomenon was generated when these extensors were reduced in passive extension. The procedure was performed under local anesthesia. A satisfactory clinical outcome was achieved with sagittal band reconstruction and reinforcement for the site using juncturae tendinum. Surgical intervention under the local anesthesia allowed for extensive gathering of information about repair site strength and dynamic stability.


Urea Transporter B (UT‐B) is a membrane channel protein that mediates the rapid transmembrane transport of urea and participates in urine concentration. Urea Transporter B is expressed in skin, but we found that there is little expression in human melanoma tissue. In this study, we examined the effects of UT‐B overexpression in melanoma. The results indicated that there is no UT‐B mRNA expression in B16 cells, and UT‐B overexpression repressed B16 cell proliferation and induced apoptosis in vitro. We show that UT‐B overexpression causes increased reactive oxygen species production, which may be caused by mitochondria dysfunction. The mitochondrial membrane potential (ΨΔm) was lower in UT‐B‐overexpressing B16 cells. The proteins involved in complexes I, III, IV and V of the respiratory chain were clearly downregulated in UT‐B‐overexpressing B16 cells, which would strongly reduce the activity of the electron transport chain. We found that mitochondrial release of cytochrome C into the cytoplasm also increased, indicating that apoptosis had been activated. In addition, UT‐B overexpression reduced AKT phosphorylation and MDM2 expression and increased p53 expression; p53 activation may be involved in the anticancer effects of UT‐B overexpression. Urea Transporter B overexpression also inhibited tumor growth in vivo. In conclusion, we demonstrated that UT‐B may be related to the occurrence of melanoma and play a role in tumor development.


Background: Systems of floating drug delivery have a bulk density less than gastric fluids and thus it remains buoyant in the stomach without having any effect on gastric emptying rate for prolonged period of time. Rilpivirine is an antiviral drug is used to treat human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), to combat the spread of (HIV), delivery of long acting; antiretroviral (ARV) drugs would be very beneficial for prevention and treatment. However the poor bioavailability of the drug requires attention in improving it and the technique of floating microspheres was investigated for the same objective. Methods: Floating microspheres of Rilpivirine are formulated by Emulsion – solvent diffusion technique using Ethyl cellulose and carbopol as polymers. The floating microspheres were subjected to evaluation for micrometric properties, percentage yield, particle size, drug polymer compatibility, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and in vitro drug release studies and kinetics of drug release. Results: The results show that as the polymer concentration increases, the particle size, percentage yield, in vitro drug release was affected of floating microspheres. The micromeritic test was performed to confirm the particle size, and SEM results confirmed their hollow structure with smooth surface. Optimized formulation has shown good percentage yield, encapsulation efficiency, drug release was 98.25% at the end of 12 hrs, the release was found to follow fickian diffusion with excellent drug release for long period of time. Conclusion: The results conclude that floating microspheres formulation of rilpivirine HCl could be effective tool in improving the bioavailability of drug for improved absorption.


The Spring Point barren alteration system and the Maurice Bay subeconomic uranium deposit, situated on the northwest rim of the Athabasca Basin, northern Saskatchewan, are hosted by the sandstones and conglomerates of the Fair Point Formation of the Athabasca Group. Macroscopic observations indicate two different styles of alteration for the two systems: chlorite-dominated, partly reduced alteration at Spring Point, and illite-dominated, strongly oxidized alteration at Maurice Bay. The paragenetic sequences developed for each area are similar, but the crystal chemistry of the alteration minerals differs markedly, indicating that the alteration fluids at Spring Point were richer in Mg and Ca than at Maurice Bay; this is consistent with a predominantly basement origin for the former. Stable isotope analyses of clay alteration minerals indicate that, in particular, the chlorite-related fluids from Spring Point have a basement signature (δ 18 O = 3.5‰ and δD = −13‰), whereas chlorite from Maurice Bay is more consistent with a mixture of basement and basinal fluids (δ 18 O = 5.2‰ and δD = −28‰). The absence of uranium-transporting basinal fluids at the critical time when reducing basement fluids were producing chlorite alteration is likely the single most important cause for the lack of uranium mineralization at Spring Point.


: To evaluate the influence of losartan on alpha-adrenoceptor-mediated vasoconstrictor response, we examined dorsal hand vein constrictor response to phenylephrine (16-8,192 ng/min) and fingertip vasoconstrictor response to cold stimulation with and without pretreatment with losartan (50 mg/day) for 3 days in nine healthy men. The effect of coadministration of angiotensin II (Ang II) (0.3 ng/min) on the venoconstrictor response also was evaluated. Oral pretreatment with losartan alone influenced neither of the responses. The log of the infusion rate of phenylephrine producing half-maximal venoconstriction [log(ED50)] was 2.69 +/- 0.10 (mean +/- SEM) for control and 2.68 +/- 0.09 for losartan, and the reduction ratio of fingertip blood flow was 68.1 +/- 4.0% for control and 66.7 +/- 4.3% for losartan. Coadministration of Ang II, however, significantly enhanced the venoconstrictor response to phenylephrine [log(ED50): 2.43 +/- 0.09, p < 0.05 vs. control], and the pretreatment with losartan attenuated this effect [log(ED50): 2.60 +/- 0.11]. These findings indicate that the alpha-adrenoceptor-mediated vasoconstrictor response is not influenced by losartan; however, it is enhanced by exogenous Ang II, and losartan attenuates the enhanced response, in healthy human subjects.


This paper presents an extended overview of the first edition of HIPE (Identifying Historical People, Places and other Entities), a pioneering shared task dedicated to the evaluation of named entity processing on historical newspapers in French, German and English. Since its introduction some twenty years ago, named entity (NE) processing has become an essential component of virtually any text mining application and has undergone major changes. Recently, two main trends characterise its developments: the adoption of deep learning architectures and the consideration of textual material originating from historical and cultural heritage collections. While the former opens up new opportunities, the latter introduces new challenges with heterogeneous, historical and noisy inputs. In this context, the objective of HIPE, run as part of the CLEF 2020 conference, is threefold: strengthening the robustness of existing approaches on non-standard inputs, enabling performance comparison of NE processing on historical texts, and, in the long run, fostering efficient semantic indexing of historical documents. Tasks, corpora, and results of 13 participating teams are presented. Compared to the condensed overview [31], this paper includes further details about data generation and statistics, additional information on participating systems, and the presentation of complementary results.


After the experience of the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis, the Malaysian government initiated the consolidation of the commercial banking sector with the aim of creating a core group of strong and well capitalized banking institutions. The first phase of the consolidation was completed by the end of 2001. As a result, the number of domestic banks in the commercial banking sector was reduced from a total of twenty to ten anchor banks which were in compliance with minimum capitalization, asset size, and other prudential requirements. More than a decade since the domestic banking sector has been further reduced to merely eight domestically owned conventional commercial banks and these banks have initiated discussions and negotiations to kick start the second wave of consolidation in the commercial banking sector. However, as a result of market sentiments and failure to arrive at a mutual agreement on pricing and other relevant issues, the second wave of the consolidation of Malaysian commercial banks has been postponed to the future. Regardless of when the consolidation of the banking sector occurs, a key success factor for such M and A exercises would be an optimal selection of merger partners. However, selecting bank merger partners is indeed a highly complex and difficult task with numerous quantitative and qualitative issues to be considered. Given these circumstances, the aim of this paper is to develop a quantitative method using Operations Research (OR) techniques to identify potential merger partners that would optimize the key performance parameters in the EAGLES framework. To this extent, the transportation algorithm is used to produce a viable initial selection of merger partners which can then be subjected to more rigorous qualitative considerations before making the final decision.


Cirrhosis results from progressive fibrosis and is the final outcome of all chronic liver disease. It is among the ten leading causes of death in United States. Cirrhosis can result in portal hypertension and/or hepatic dysfunction. Both of these either alone or in combination can lead to many complications, including ascites, varices, hepatic encephalopathy, hepatocellular carcinoma, hepatopulmonary syndrome, and coagulation disorders. Cirrhosis and its complications not only impair quality of life but also decrease survival. Managing patients with cirrhosis can be a challenge and requires an organized and systematic approach. Increasing physicians' knowledge about prevention and treatment of these potential complications is important to improve patient outcomes. A literature search of the published data was performed to provide a comprehensive review regarding the management of cirrhosis and its complications.


This Many theoreticians and practitioners are inspired by the current situation on the labour market and, in particular, flexibility of employment as an a-typical form to analyse broadly understood theme of flexibility. Requirements of this non-traditional form of making a living make an employee acquire a permanent capacity to adjust to multifaceted changes of irregular frequency. This relatively permanent tendency may be the result of a longer exercise, be formed due to regularly repeating operations or be intrinsic capacity manifested in a meta-ability responsible for optimal for an individual use of psycho-social domains due to a situational context (which is a cognitive, emotional and behavioural potential). In the first case, we are dealing with a cognitive habit performing an economic function, liberating the mind from controlling operations resulting from cognitive schemes that can be automated. However, excessive leaning toward habits leads to impoverishment of cognitive processes, automation of performed actions, mental laziness and emotional depletion. This effect is shown in a later section describing the area of flexibility qualified as pathological (cf. Dobrowolska, 2011, 2012, 2014). The article presents the results of research on a sample of n=2118 flexible employees, using a tool devised by the author of the paper - Personal Flexibility Auto-perception Tool.


To investigate whether piglets show different personality types due to teat position, a number ofexperiments were performed on 21 different litters, 9 to 31 days old. The tests included threefocal piglets in each litter with different teat position, anterior, middle and posterior, inobservations on suckling behaviour, undisturbed behaviours, a novel object test and a straw-testwhere thirteen behaviours were observed. The tests found an effect on teat position on frequencyof disputes between piglets during suckling and their teat position (P=0.018) and a tendency ofdifference in undisturbed playing behaviour between piglets at different teat position (P=0.057).All tests found differences between litters concerning behaviours. With a Principal componentanalysis, the four personality types curiosity, playful, food interest and straw interest wasestablished. No effect between different teat positions and personality type were found, but atendency of difference between personality trait playful and different teat positions (P=0.062). Inconclusion: no significant differences between teat position and personality type in piglets couldbe established.


Atherosclerosis is a very common cardiovascular disease (CVD) causing increased morbidity. Atherosclerosis is a disease that involves several factors and usually affects the wall of the arterial bifurcations. Advanced Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) techniques has the potential to shed more light in understanding of the causes of atherosclerosis and perhaps in its early diagnosis. Fluid Structure Interaction (FSI) study was carried out on two different three dimensional patient specific cases (a) Normal carotid bifurcation and (b) Stenosed carotid bifurcation. Physiological conditions were considered to evaluate hemodynamic parameters and understand the origin and progression of atherosclerosis in the carotid artery bifurcation, first for the normal and then with hypertension disease. Commercial soft-ware ANSYS and ANSYS CFX (version 19.0) was used to perform a two-way FSI using a fully implicit second-order backward Euler differencing scheme. Arterial response was calculated by employing an Arbitrary Lagrangian – Eulerian (ALE) formulation and using the temporal blood response. The carotid artery bifurcation caused a velocity reduction and backflow was observed causing a reduction in the shear stress. A low shear stress resulted due to an oscillatory behavior at the start point of the internal carotid artery near the carotid sinus. Shear stresses are obtained by using anatomically realistic 3D geometry and representative physiological conditions. Results of this study agree with those in the literature showing that the regions with low wall shear stress. Geometry and flow conditions greatly affected the hemodynamics of the carotid artery. Furthermore, regions of relatively low wall shear stress were observed post stenosis, which is a known cause of plaque development and progression. Under altered gravity conditions the same artery was studied to determine the flow conditions and predict the progression of plague.


As astronomers push towards discovering ever-smaller transiting planets, it is increasingly common to deal with low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) events, where the choice of priors plays an influential role in Bayesian inference. In the analysis of exoplanet data, the selection of priors is often treated as a nuisance, with observers typically defaulting to uninformative distributions. Such treatments miss a key strength of the Bayesian framework, especially in the low SNR regime, where even weak a priori information is valuable. When estimating the parameters of a low-SNR transit, two key pieces of information are known: (i) the planet has the correct geometric alignment to transit and (ii) the transit event exhibits sufficient signal-to-noise to have been detected. These represent two forms of observational bias. Accordingly, when fitting transits, the model parameter priors should not follow the intrinsic distributions of said terms, but rather those of both the intrinsic distributions and the observational biases. In this work, we derive the shape of these priors for trapezoidal transits and occultations, including the case of grazing events. These results naturally explain why the observed population shows a bias towards equatorial transits and why the observational bias of ratio-of-radii is super-quadratic, scaling as $(R_P/R_{\star})^{5/2}$. We may account for these observational biases by adding on log likelihood penalty terms, for which we provide Python code to generate, ExoPriors.


Traditionally, the Central Bank of Russia used regular expressions for the payment classification as part of its supervisory activities. Regular expressions often spanned multiple pages to cover varied relevant keywords and their forms. We compare this approach to two modern short text classification approaches: fastText and BERT-based transformer in terms of speed, accuracy and flexibility, including few-shot learning.


The aim of this article is to study the influence of TiC/a:C protective thin film on the corrosion and mechanical properties of sandblasted/polished Ti and TiAl6V4 substrates. The electrochemical corrosion behaviors of the samples were investigated in simulated body fluid (SBF) by potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) techniques at 7.4 pH and 37 °C. The metal ion release has been quantified by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). The experimental results obtained from different electrochemical methods, ICP-OES, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that the TiC/a:C protective coating on sandblasted implant device improves the corrosion properties of the implant material and it is able to control the metal ion release. It was also shown that the hardness of the bare implant materials is improving by four orders of magnitude with the TiC/a:C nanocomposite coating beside a moderate elastic modulus value. The highest hardness (H) o...


The 4 < sup > th < /sup > edition of the World Health Organization (WHO) Classification of Head and Neck Tumors was published in January 2017. The edition serves to provide an updated classification scheme, and extended genetic and molecular data that are useful as diagnostic tools for the lesions of the head and neck region. This review focuses on the most current update of odontogenic cysts and tumors based on the 2017 WHO edition. The updated classification has some important differences from the 3 < sup > rd < /sup > edition (2005), including a new classification of odontogenic cysts, 'reclassified' odontogenic tumors, and some new entities.


Hamming code-based LDPC (H-LDPC) block codes are obtained by replacing single parity-check codes in Gallagerpsilas LDPC codes with Hamming constituent codes. This paper investigates the asymptotic error-correcting capabilities of ensembles of random H-LDPC codes, used over the binary symmetric channel and decoded with a low-complexity hard-decision iterative decoding algorithm. The number of required decoding iterations is a logarithmic function of the code length. It is shown that there exist H-LDPC codes for which such an iterative decoding corrects any error pattern with a number of errors that grows linearly with the code length. For various choices of code parameters the results are supported by numerical examples.


We present a single common tool to strictly subsume all known cases of polynomial time blackbox polynomial identity testing (PIT), that have been hitherto solved using diverse tools and techniques, over fields of zero or large characteristic. In particular, we show that polynomial time hitting-set generators for identity testing of the two seemingly different and well studied models - depth-3 circuits with bounded top fanin, and constant-depth constant-read multilinear formulas - can be constructed using one common algebraic-geometry theme: Jacobian captures algebraic independence. By exploiting the Jacobian, we design the first efficient hitting-set generators for broad generalizations of the above-mentioned models, namely: - depth-3 (Ω Π Ω) circuits with constant transcendence degree of the polynomials computed by the product gates (no bounded top fanin restriction), and - constant-depth constant-occur formulas (no multilinear restriction). Constant-occur of a variable, as we define it, is a much more general concept than constant-read. Also, earlier work on the latter model assumed that the formula is multilinear. Thus, our work goes further beyond the related results obtained by Saxena & Seshadhri (STOC 2011), Saraf & Volkovich (STOC 2011), Anderson et al. (CCC 2011), Beecken et al. (ICALP 2011) and Grenet et al. (FSTTCS 2011), and brings them under one unifying technique.
 In addition, using the same Jacobian based approach, we prove exponential lower bounds for the immanant (which includes permanent and determinant) on the same depth-3 and depth-4 models for which we give efficient PIT algorithms. Our results reinforce the intimate connection between identity testing and lower bounds by exhibiting a concrete mathematical tool - the Jacobian - that is equally effective in solving both the problems on certain interesting and previously well-investigated (but not well understood) models of computation.


Spring viremia of carp virus (SVCV) ia a carp sprivivirus and a member of the genus Sprivivirus within the family Rhabdoviridae. The virus is the etiological agent of spring viremia of carp, a disease of cyprinid species including koi Cyprinus carpio L. and notifiable to the World Organisation for Animal Health. The goal of this study was to explore hypotheses regarding inter-genogroup (Ia to Id) SVCV infection dynamics in juvenile koi and contemporaneously create new reverse-transcription quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) assays and validate their analytical sensitivity, specificity (ASp) and repeatability for diagnostic detection of SVCV. RT-qPCR diagnostic tests targeting the SVCV nucleoprotein (Q2N) or glycoprotein (Q1G) nucleotides were pan-specific for isolates typed to SVCV genogroups Ia to Id. The Q2N test had broader ASp than Q1G because Q1G did not detect SVCV isolate 20120450 and Q2N displayed occasional detection of pike fry sprivivirus isolate V76. Neither test cross-reacted with other rhabdoviruses, infectious pancreatic necrosis virus or co-localizing cyprinid herpesvirus 3. Both tests were sensitive with observed 50% limits of detection of 3 plasmid copies and high repeatability. Test analysis of koi immersed in SVCV showed that the virus could be detected for at least 167 d following exposure and that titer, prevalence, replicative rate and persistence in koi were correlated significantly with virus virulence. In this context, high virulence SVCV isolates were more prevalent, reached higher titers quicker and persisted in koi for longer periods of time relative to moderate and low virulence isolates.


Since the end of the Bretton Woods era, the world has operated on a de facto system of free‐floating exchange rates, with the US dollar as the dominant international currency. The system, characterized by large pro‐cyclical capital flows and chronic imbalances, is inherently unstable, and has contributed to repeated crises, recessions and geopolitical tensions. One potentially "least‐difficult" line of reform would be to allow the evolution of a multi‐currency system, underpinned by an expanded role for Special Drawing Rights (SDRs). Attempts to promote wider use of the SDR have foundered on the liquidity premium. However, for Chinese corporations and institutions, at present restricted in their capital account activities, the SDR liquidity premium would appear less daunting. The Chinese authorities could provide policy encouragement for the use of SDRs by their institutions. This initiative, supported by China's Special Administrative Region Hong Kong, would kick‐start an international SDR ecosystem, and encourage even broader use of SDRs, to the benefit of international monetary stability.


High performance coronagraphic imaging of faint structures around bright stars at small angular separations requires fine control of tip, tilt, and other low order aberrations. When such errors occur upstream of a coronagraph they result in starlight leakage, which reduces the dynamic range of the instrument. This issue has been previously addressed for occulting coronagraphs by sensing the starlight before or at the coronagraphic focal plane. One such solution, the coronagraphic low order wave-front sensor (CLOWFS), uses a partially reflective focal plane mask to measure pointing errors for Lyot-type coronagraphs. To deal with pointing errors in low inner working angle phase mask coronagraphs which do not have a reflective focal plane mask, we have adapted the CLOWFS technique. This new concept relies on starlight diffracted by the focal plane phase mask being reflected by the Lyot stop towards a sensor which reliably measures low order aberrations such as tip and tilt. This reflective Lyot-based wavefront sensor is a linear reconstructor which provides high sensitivity tip-tilt error measurements with phase mask coronagraphs. Simulations show that the measurement accuracy of pointing errors with realistic post adaptive optics residuals are ≈10-2λ/D per mode at λ = 1.6 μm for a four quadrant phase mask. In addition, we demonstrate the open loop measurement pointing accuracy of 10-2λ/D at 638 nm for a four quadrant phase mask in the laboratory.


A collection of 66 commercial apple (Malus ×domestica Borkh.) cultivars was screened with six previously described SSR (Simple Sequence Repeat) markers for molecular identifi cation. In total, 55 polymorphic alleles were detected at the 6 SSR loci (average 9.2 alleles per locus) and the polymorphism information content (PIC) aver- aged 0.72. Successful differentiation of all apple genotypes except for somatic mutants was accomplished by using only four (CH03g07, CH04e03, CH05d11, and CH05e03) SSR markers. Sport mutants proved to be indistinguishable from each other and their progenitors. The cumulative probability of obtaining an identical SSR profi le for two randomly chosen apple genotypes was 1.79 × 10 -4 , which confi rms the high potential of simple sequence repeats (SSRs) for cultivar identifi cation.


BACKGROUND: Failure to wean can prolong ICU stay, increase complications associated with mechanical ventilation, and increase morbidity and mortality. The spontaneous breathing trial (SBT) is one method used to assess weaning. The aim of this study was to assess proportional assist ventilation plus (PAV+) as an SBT by comparing its applicability, safety, and efficacy with T-tube and pressure support ventilation (PSV).

METHODS: A randomized study was performed involving 160 adult subjects who remained on mechanical ventilation for > 24 h. Subjects were randomly assigned to the PAV+, PSV, or T-tube group. When subjects were ready to perform the SBT, subjects in the PAV+ group were ventilated in PAV+ mode (receiving support of up to 40%), the pressure support was reduced to 7 cm H2O in the PSV group, and subjects in the T-tube group were connected to one T-piece with supplemental oxygen. Subjects were observed for signs of intolerance, whereupon the trial was interrupted. When the trial succeeded, the subjects were extubated and assessed until discharge.

RESULTS: The subjects were predominantly male (66.5%), and the leading cause of admission was traumatic brain injury. The groups were similar with respect to baseline characteristics, and no significant difference was observed among the groups regarding extubation success or failure. Analysis of the specificity and sensitivity revealed good sensitivity for all groups; however, the PAV+ group had higher specificity (66.6%) and higher sensitivity (97.6%), with prediction of ∼92.1% of the success and failure events.

CONCLUSIONS: No significant differences in the groups was observed regarding the rate of extubation failure, duration of mechanical ventilation, and ICU and hospital stay, indicating that PAV+ is an alternative for use as an SBT.


Regional Asthma Management and Prevention describes its collaborative approach to address a social determinant of health—air quality—and the associated inequities that have led to asthma disparities impacting African American and Latino communities in the San Francisco Bay Area. The strategies, aimed at decreasing diesel pollution in disproportionately impacted communities, span the levels of the socioecological model, with an emphasis on policy outcomes. Regional Asthma Management and Prevention describes how this work fits within a larger comprehensive approach to address asthma disparities encompassing several components, ranging from clinical management to environmental protection.


Sir Tony Wrigley's classic regional study of industrial development and demographic change in the Austrasian coalfield belt (stretching from Pas-De-Calais in the West to the Ruhr in the East) was first published in 1959. Its first part deals with the circumstances which encouraged more rapid industrial growth in some areas while inhibiting in others, and with the relationship between regional economic growth and the increase of industrial population. The second part deals with the demographic history of the coalfield industrial areas; their relation to the sociology of those areas; and the sources of the population growth which took place in them. In both parts the discussion centres on the contrast between the coalfield industrial areas and the three national units of France, Belgium and Germany on the one hand; and on the other on the contrasts which existed within the coalfield industrial areas themselves. Industrial Growth and Population Change deliberately strays across the conventional boundaries of social scientific analysis, embracing economic history, historical geography, demography and sociology. The underlying thesis is that economic historians have tended too readily to suppose that the national entity is the appropriate unit of study. Regional or local analysis is sometimes equally or more revealing about the nature of major changes taking place and the reasons for them.


Histories of Everyday Life is a study of the production and consumption of popular social history in mid-twentieth-century Britain. It traces how non-academic historians, many of them women, developed a new breed of social history after the First World War, identified as the 'history of everyday life'. The 'history of everyday life' was a pedagogical construct based on the perceived educational needs of the new, mass democracy. It was popularized to ordinary people in educational settings, through books, in classrooms and museums, and on BBC radio. In the 1970s this popular social history declined, not because academics invented an alternative 'new' social history, but because bottom-up social change rendered the 'history of everyday life' untenable in the changing context of mass education. Histories of Everyday Life ultimately uses the subject of history to demonstrate how profoundly the advent of mass education shaped popular culture in Britain after 1918, arguing that the twentieth century was Britain's educational century.


The paper applies the social systems theory of Claus Offe to a case study of the Environmentally Hazardous Chemicals Act (EHCA) 1985 (NSW). The events of the case study lead to the conclusion that the EHCA represents a failed attempt at democratic rationalisation and reform of toxic chemicals legislation in NSW. Moreover, the values embedded in the legislation reflect the interests of international corporate goals and domestic political expediency. Offe's exposition of the contradictory role of the advanced capitalist state illuminates both critiques. Not only must the state actively foster the process of capitalist accumulation but it must prevent this drive from suffering its own consequences through the violation of 'natural limits' as well as instigate policies to maintain and further its own legitimacy. Hence the paper acts as a study of the structural impediments to environmental policy reform.


Commodity markets have gone through a long journey. World's first commodity exchange, the Chicago board of trade was started in the USA in 1848 and in India, Bombay Cotton Trade Association Ltd started commodity exchange in year 1875. At present in India, total number of recognised commodity exchanges is 23 including six national level electronic commodity exchanges, which are dealing in more than 100 commodities together. The present paper is an attempt to study the growth of commodity exchanges in India. Keeping the recent intensification in Indian commodity exchanges in mind, the aim of this paper is to outline the history, evolution, regulatory framework and growth of commodity exchange. Hence the present paper reviews and examines the various issues related to commodity exchanges currently operating in India. The authors have used secondary data taken from the various publication of forward market commission FMC.


Impedance spectroscopy was used to measure the changes of electrical properties during the isothermal crystallisation of the phosphate phase in bulk samples of a glass with nominal molar composition (3CaO.P2O5)20(SiO2)35(MgO)38.354(K2O)6.646, developed for biomedical applications. Crystallization studies were performed in isothermal conditions at 800°C and 860°C, and were monitored by impedance spectroscopy. XRD shows that a stable orthophosphate phase, Ca9MgK(PO4)7 crystallizes at about 860°C, after formation of earlier phosphate precursors formed at lower temperatures, namely oxyapatite (Ca5(PO4)3O) and tricalcium phosphate (Ca3(PO4)2). The conductivity of bulk glass samples decreases at 800°C, as the phosphate precursors phases crystallize. The opposite trend is observed on crystallizing the orthophosphate phase, at 860°C.


In the political economy of energy, World War II was a significant watershed: it accelerated the transition from dependence on coal to petroleum and natural gas. At the same time, mobilization provided an unprecedented experience in the management of energy markets by a forced partnership of business and government. In this 1985 book, Vietor covers American policy from 1945 to 1980. For readers convinced that big business contrived the energy crisis of the 1970s, this story will be disappointing, but enlightening. For those committed to theories of regulatory capture or public interest reform it should be frustrating. More than a history of government policy making, this book provides us with an innovative and insightful approach to the study of business-government relations in modern America. For managers, bureaucrats, and anyone interested in seeing a more effective national industrial policy, this history should put the relationship of business and government in a critical new perspective.


This paper gives an overview of the Jacob project. This project involves the construction of a 3D virtual environment where an animated human-like agent called Jacob gives instruction to the user. The project investigates virtual reality techniques and focuses on three issues: the software engineering aspects of building a virtual reality system, the integration of natural language interaction and other interaction modalities, and the use of agent technology. The Jacob agent complies with the H-Anim standard. It has been given a task model and an instruction model in order to teach the user a particular task. The results of the project can be generalised so that the agent can be used to instruct other tasks in other virtual environments. One of the applications we foresee is the use of a navigation agent which advises the user in a VR
environment or, using a PDA-like device, about a real environment, thatcan be perceived in reality and in a matching virtual reality.


A neuroprotective drug may treat cocaine addiction and prevent cocaine-induced neurotoxicity by inhibiting the nitrosylation of GAPDH. One mechanism through which cocaine stimulates long-term changes in the central nervous system is by increasing dopamine- and serotonin-mediated transcription in postsynaptic neurons. Cocaine is highly addictive, and prolonged use induces neurotoxicity and neuronal cell death. Xu et al. found that cocaine induced the nitrosylation of GAPDH (glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase) and that the neuroprotective drug CGP3466B inhibited this cocaine-induced nitrosylation and reduced the transcriptional reprogramming and neurotoxic effects of cocaine in mice. Increased abundance of nitrosylated GAPDH correlated with decreased histone methylation and increased binding of the transcription factor CREB to the c-fos promoter, resulting in increased abundance of c-fos and Arc (activity-regulated cytoskeleton-associated protein), markers of neuronal activation. In contrast, either single or multiple doses at higher concentrations induced the acetylation and binding of p53 to the PUMA promoter and increased the abundance of the proapoptotic proteins PUMA and Bax. The cocaine-induced increases in transcriptional activity and protein abundance after either dosing regimen were decreased or abolished in mice deficient for neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS). Similarly, these cocaine-induced effects on CREB-mediated transcription or p53-mediated transcription after either dosing regimen were absent in striatum of mice injected with a GAPDH mutant that cannot be nitrosylated. Mice treated with CGP3466B prevented the nitrosylation and nuclear translocation of GAPDH induced by either low or high doses of cocaine, and it reduced apoptosis in striatum exposed to high doses of cocaine. CGP3466B also prevented the histone demethylation and binding of CREB to the c-fos promoter, and acetylation and binding of p53 to the PUMA promoter, induced by low or high doses of cocaine, respectively. Treatment with CGP3466B reduced the locomotor stimulation of cocaine-treated mice without affecting basal locomotor activity. Furthermore, drug-seeking behavior of cocaine-addicted mice was reduced when the mice were treated with CGP3466B. The findings suggest that treating addicts with CGP3466B may be a therapeutic tool to block cocaine's effects on the brain. R. Xu, A.V. Serritella, T. Sen, J. M. Farook, T. W. Sedlak, J. Baraban, S. H. Snyder, N. Sen, Behavioral effects of cocaine mediated by nitric oxide-GAPDH transcriptional signaling. Neuron 78, 623–630 (2013). [Online Journal]