The design and performance of a single screen frequency selective surface (FSS) with gridded square loop patch element are described for diplexing the Xand Ku-band signals in an orbiting very long baseline interferometer (OVLBI) earth station reflector antenna system. The FSS grids were designed using an analysis code incorporating the accurate integral equation technique. The effects of the dielectric substrate and superstrate are accurately evaluated by this technique. Excellent agreement is obtained between the predicted and measured results. This validates the FSS design using the gridded square loop element. If the grid is sandwiched between two 0.889 mm thick Teflon slabs, the resonant frequency drift is noticeably reduced as the incident angle steered from normal to 40 degrees . >


Every patient suffering from arterial occlusive disease has to be considered a candidate for a bilateral amputation. Below-knee amputation is preferable if at all possible. Poor wound healing and reamputation at a higher level are factors to be expected in 20-30% of these patients. Therefore primary above-knee amputation is indicated only if a more distal amputation level is not possible, or if lower amputation offers no advantage to the patient. The question must be answered in each individual case.


During development the vast majority of cells that will later compose the mature cerebral cortex undergo extensive migration to reach their final position. In addition to intrinsically distinct migratory behaviors, cells encounter and respond to vastly different microenvironments. These range from axonal tracts to cell-dense matrices, electrically active regions and extracellular matrix components, which may all change overtime. Furthermore, migrating neurons themselves not only adapt to their microenvironment but also modify the local niche through cell-cell contacts, secreted factors and ions. In the radial dimension, the developing cortex is roughly divided into dense progenitor and cortical plate territories, and a less crowded intermediate zone. The cortical plate is bordered by the subplate and the marginal zone, which are populated by neurons with high electrical activity and characterized by sophisticated neuritic ramifications. Neuronal migration is influenced by these boundaries resulting in dramatic changes in migratory behaviors as well as morphology and electrical activity. Modifications in the levels of any of these parameters can lead to alterations and even arrest of migration. Recent work indicates that morphology and electrical activity of migrating neuron are interconnected and the aim of this review is to explore the extent of this connection. We will discuss on one hand how the response of migrating neurons is altered upon modification of their intrinsic electrical properties and whether, on the other hand, the electrical properties of the cellular environment can modify the morphology and electrical activity of migrating cortical neurons.


This paper has as its aim to establish a pedagogical strategy aimed at supporting the integration of ICTs (Information and Communication Technologies) into the higher education process. A survey was carried out aiming focus on the analysis of teachers' practices so that competences in ICT use at university education in Colombia could be enlarged. 81 universities answered the survey questionnaire: 51 private and 30 public, and a total of 423 lecturers from different academic disciplines. Our findings show the degree of attention paid by teachers to strengthening ICT skills in their training tasks. This research is complemented with Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) analysis performed with 50 professionals experienced in ICT use in higher education.


PURPOSE
There are few studies on predictors of extraprostatic extension (EPE) in the region of the neurovascular bundle (NVB). We investigated whether clinical information and prostate biopsy data could predict EPE of clinical localized prostate cancer.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
Through a retrospective analysis of the pathology database we identified 2,660 cases of clinically localized prostate cancer treated with radical retropubic prostatectomy without preoperative adjuvant therapy at The Johns Hopkins Hospital. The study sample involved a total of 3,006 lobes with prostate cancer including 2,070 with organ confined disease, 620 with EPE in the NVB at the posterolateral edge of the prostate and 316 with EPE in a region other than the NVB (EPE elsewhere). Through univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis we determined whether patient age, year of surgery, serum prostate specific antigen, digital rectal examination, biopsy highest Gleason score, perineural invasion, percent of side specific biopsy cores with cancer, percent of each core involved with cancer and the maximum percent of a core involved with cancer was predictive of EPE in the NVB.

RESULTS
Prostate specific antigen (10 or greater vs less than 10), biopsy Gleason score (7 or greater vs 6 or less), digital rectal examination (abnormal vs normal), percent of side specific cores with tumor (greater than 33.3% vs 33.3% or less) and average percent involvement of each positive core (greater than 20% vs 20% or less) were all found to be statistically significant independent predictors of NVB penetration in multivariate analysis. The generated model stratifies each of these variables into high and low risk. The probability of EPE in the NVB was less than 10% in cases with 1 or fewer of the higher risk variables and was 10% or greater in cases with more than 1 of the higher risk variables.

CONCLUSIONS
The model generated in this study allows for the preoperative identification of patients with 10% or greater probability of EPE in the NVB. Our algorithm will help provide objective parameters that aid in the decision to spare the NVB safely.


Teaching a computer to play video games has generally been seen as a reasonable benchmark for developing new AI techniques. In recent years, extensive research has been completed to develop reinforcement learning (RL) algorithms to play various Atari 2600 games, resulting in new applications of algorithms such as Deep Q-Learning or Policy Gradient that outperform humans. However, games from Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) are far more complicated than Atari 2600 games as many of these state-of-the-art algorithms still struggle to perform on this platform. In this paper, we present a new platform to research algorithms on SNES games and investigate NeuroEvolution of Augmenting Topologies (NEAT) as a possible approach to develop algorithms that outperform humans in SNES games.


The aim of this paper is to promote online learning Romanian as a foreign language in Serbia. The authors intended to create own website and contribute to promote teaching and learning Romanian as a foreign language. Especially, the website was created for students of the Faculty of Philosophy, but after giving good results all the other interested in learning Romanian language in Serbia, who like to use virtual learning environments, started using the website. The site is designed in modern concepts. On the home page, students can learn about content:
1. About Project,
2. About Department (Brief description of Department of Romanian language studies at University of Novi Sad),
3. Authors of the site (short CV),
4. About Romanian language ( A brief introduction to the basics of Romanian history and grammar.),
5. Romanian Grammar (course of phonology, phonetics course, morphology course, syntax course, lexicology course),
Testing knowledge (exercises in written and audio form),
6. References
7. Questions and comments,
8. Contact.
 Given the fact that students manifest a much greater interest in modern methods of online language learning than to classical approach, the authors have devised a website as an additional tool for learning Romanian language for all study groups at the Faculty of Philosophy in Novi Sad. Since this is an attempt in its infancy, the site will be upgraded in the future, according to requirements of the students.
All explanations, grammar and history of Romanian language are given in the Serbian language. The creation of such a web portal, the first in Serbia for learning the Romanian language, provides opportunities for promotion
of Romanian in modern way.


Background. Calcitonin (CT) is known to affect renal Ca handling. However, it remains unclear how CT affects Ca transport in the distal convolutions. The aim of this study was to investigate the contribution of the renal epithelial Ca channel, transient receptor potential vanilloid 5 (TRPV5), to renal Ca handling in response to CT. Methods. C57BL/6mice received a single overnight (16 hr) injection of CT. In addition, TRPV5 knockout (TRPV5) mice and their wild type (TRPV5) controls, received three bolus injections of CT over a 40 hr study period. All experimental groups were placed in metabolic cages. Results. C57BL/6 mice received a single bolus injection of CT, which significantly reduced the urinary Ca excretion. In addition, urinaryNa andK excretion also decreased after CT administration. No apparent changes in renal expression of TRPV5, calbindin-D28K (CaBP28K) or TRPV6 could be detected between CTand vehicle-treated mice. To evaluate whether TRPV5 activity is needed for the CT-induced increase in Ca reabsorption, mice with genetic ablation of TRPV5 (TRPV5) were employed. TRPV5mice as well as their wild-type (TRPV5) controls received three bolus injections of CT over a 40-hr study period. Overnight (16 hrs) as well as the subsequent 24-hr urine was collected. Overnight urinary Ca excretion was reduced in both TRPV5 and TRPV5 mice after a bolus injection of CT. The subsequent 24-hr urinary excretion of Ca which was collected after the third bolus injection showed no effect of CT on renal Ca handling in either mice group. Accordingly, CT did not alter the intrarenal protein abundance of TRPV5 and CaBP28K after three bolus injections of CT. Conclusion. CT augments the renal reabsorptive capacity for Ca. This increase is likely to occur independently of TRPV5.


Maintenance of subsurface drains may be the least understood and most neglected of all maintenance activities carried out by irrigation districts. Few irrigation districts have a maintenance budget for subsurface drains and even fewer have a regularly scheduled program. This is due in part to the out-of-sight, out-of-mind syndrome and in part to a lack of understanding of what could and should be done. The various drainage problems described in this paper lead to inadequate watertable drawdown. The net result of this situation is a decrease in farm productivity and profits, and an increase in farming difficulties. Practical and effective methods of subsurface drain inspection and maintenance have been developed but often are not widely publicized. This paper is based on experience and contains a brief discussion of problems analysis and detection; and maintenance: methods, techniques, and equipment.


Is another future possible? So called 'late modernity' is marked by the escalating rise in and proliferation of uncertainties and unforeseen events brought about by the interplay between and patterning of social–natural, techno–scientific and political-economic developments. The future has indeed become problematic. The question of how heterogeneous actors engage futures, what intellectual and practical strategies they put into play and what the implications of such strategies are, have become key concerns of recent social and cultural research addressing a diverse range of fields of practice and experience. Exploring questions of speculation, possibilities and futures in contemporary societies, Speculative Research responds to the pressing need to not only critically account for the role of calculative logics and rationalities in managing societal futures, but to develop alternative approaches and sensibilities that take futures seriously as possibilities and that demand new habits and practices of attention, invention, and experimentation.


Investigation results on linear and non-linear optical properties, damage threshold and potential efficiencies of biaxial negative LiInS_(2) crystal are represented. It shows that the crystal has phase-matching and groupvelocity matching in wide spectral range for second harmonic, sum- and difference-frequency generation of visible, near and middle IR lasers. The possibilities of designing middle IR optical parametric oscillator (OPO) pumped by Nd:YAG and dye lasers and specially possibility of frequency conversion with 3 ?m range femtosecond erbium lasers are given.


Trust in information technology (IT) is an important concept because people today rely on IT more than ever before. The Internet has increased reliance on IT by encouraging millions to download music or software, upload digital pictures, buy goods, or seek new information or new services. Because of the Internet's open, non-secured structure, trust in the Web itself is an issue. Trust in IT has to do with relying or depending on infrastructure systems like the Web or relying on specific information systems like Microsoft Excel. This review explores the dimensions of trust as it is used in information technology


: 45 children from 10 to 14 years of age with chronic laryngeal obstruction were examined psychologically. 29 of them had recurrent respiratory papillomatosis, 16 ones had cicatrical laryngostenosis. The majority of the examinees (65%) showed symptoms of posttraumatic stress syndrome (PTSS). The children develop PTSS one-two years after onset of laryngeal obstruction. Later, the children underwent persistent specific maladaptation personality disorders. Thus, children with recurrent laryngeal papillomatosis, especially with cicatrical laryngostenosis, should undergo psychological correction.


Achondroplasia and pseudoachondroplasia are autosomal dominant skeletal dysplasias resulting in short-limbed dwarfism. Histologic and ultrastructural studies of the cartilage in pseudoachondroplasia and in homozygous achondroplasia have suggested a structural abnormality in chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan (CSPG), a major structural protein in the extra-cellular matrix. The gene encoding CSPG core protein (CSPGCP) is thus a logical "candidate gene" for analysis in these conditions. cDNA probes encoding CSPGCP were used to identify restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) in DNA from a panel of control individuals. No gross alterations at the CSPGCP locus were noted in DNA from 37 individuals with achondroplasia and 5 individuals with pseudoachondroplasia. In addition, allelic frequencies of the RFLPs were not significantly different among controls and patients with either condition. In one three-generation family with achondroplasia, close linkage of the CSPGCP locus and the skeletal dysplasia was excluded using a Bgl II polymorphism. Similarly, in a three-generation family with pseudoachondroplasia, the CSPGCP gene was not tightly linked to the disease phenotype. These results indicate that mutations at the chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan core protein locus do not cause achondroplasia or pseudoachondroplasia in these families.


This article has a twofold purpose: to describe the social and economic situation in the countries of the Central American subregion prior to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic and to provide a comparative analysis of the macroeconomic policies introduced by the governments of these countries in response to this health crisis. As a central part of that analysis, it looks at the main structural policy challenges for the enhancement of social protection and reactivation of production activity and employment to be met by these countries during and after the pandemic. The need for a national compact around a new development agenda is explored, with special emphasis on external elements that should be coupled with national policies, such as regional coordination, international cooperation and finance, and a restructuring of financial and lending institutions.


In tropical climates, the high rainfall and temperature, throughout the annual cycle, allow high leaching rates of metallic elements from the basin upstream, which accumulate in the reservoirs. However, the concentration of these elements in natural waters is usually lower than expected, due to the ease of adsorption and co-precipitation in solid phases. We have studied two tropical dam reservoirs in Brazil, Três Marias (Minas Gerais) and Tucuruí (Pará), with the aim of understanding the correlation between physical-chemical parameters of the water column, chemical and mineralogical characteristics of the accumulated material and the solubility, mobilization and precipitation of metals in reservoirs. Metals speciation performed in selected samples determined that metallic micronutrients are preferentially adsorbed or retained through precipitation/co-precipitation onto fine-size charged crystalline/amorphous Fe-oxides. Under the prevailing reducing and low pH conditions of the bottom reservoirs, some adsorbed metals (particularly Fe and Mn) are easily released from their metal bearing-phases and mobilized to the aqueous phase of sediments, which show high levels of soluble forms of these elements. However, the solubilization process and the release to the water column are not very extensive, as abundances of metals such as Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu in water are low, although increasing with depth.


We have used whole-cell and perforated-patch recording techniques to characterize volume-sensitive Cl- channels in T and B lymphocytes. Positive transmembrane osmotic pressure (intracellular osmolality > extracellular osmolality) triggers the slow induction of a Cl- conductance. Membrane stretch caused by cellular swelling may underlie the activation mechanism, as moderate suction applied to the pipette interior can reversibly oppose the induction of Cl- current by an osmotic stimulus. Intracellular ATP is required for sustaining the Cl- current. With ATP-free internal solutions, the inducibility of Cl- current declines within minutes of whole-cell recording, while in whole- cell recordings with ATP or in perforated-patch experiments, the current can be activated for at least 30 min. The channels are anion selective with a permeability sequence of I- > SCN- > NO3-, Br- > Cl- > MeSO3- > acetate, propionate > ascorbate > aspartate and gluconate. GCl does not show voltage- and time-dependent gating behavior at potentials between -100 and +100 mV, but exhibits moderate outward rectification in symmetrical Cl- solutions. Fluctuation analysis indicates a unitary chord conductance of approximately 2 pS at -80 mV in the presence of symmetrical 160 mM Cl-. The relationship of mean current to current variance during the osmotic activation of Cl- current implies that each cell contains on the order of 10(4) activatable Cl- channels, making it the most abundant ion channel in lymphocytes yet described. The current is blocked in a voltage-dependent manner by DIDS and SITS (Ki = 17 and 89 microM, respectively, at +40 mV), the degree of blockade increasing with membrane depolarization. The biophysical and pharmacological properties of this Cl- channel are consistent with a role in triggering volume regulation in lymphocytes exposed to hyposmotic conditions.


Many studies have been conducted to develop models to predict speed and driver comfort thresholds on horizontal curves, and to evaluate design consistency. The approaches used to develop these models differ from one another in data collection, data processing, assumptions, and analysis. However, some issues might be associated with the data collection that can affect the reliability of collected data and developed models. In addition, analysis of speed behavior on the assumption that vehicles traverse horizontal curves at a constant speed is far from actual driving behavior. Using the Naturalistic Driving Study (NDS) database can help overcome problems associated with data collection. This paper aimed at using NDS data to investigate driving behavior on horizontal curves in terms of speed, longitudinal acceleration, and comfort threshold. The NDS data were valuable in providing clear insight on drivers' behavior during daytime and favorable weather conditions. A methodology was developed to evaluate driver behavior and was coded in Matlab. Sensitivity analysis was performed to recommend values for the parameters that can affect the output. Analysis of the drivers' speed behavior and comfort threshold highlighted several issues that describe how drivers traverse horizontal curves that need to be considered in horizontal curve design and consistency evaluation.


The stress system is essential for humans and other organisms to survive. However, when stress is prolonged it can have pathological effects on the brain. To experience long-term unemployment is often stressful, for it has been shown to correlate with depression, low selfesteem, learned helplessness and self-destructive behavior. Long-term unemployment also seems to have physiological consequences, for it has been shown to correlate with cortisol dysregulation. The hippocampus is a highly adaptable part of the brain located in the temporal lobe and is long known for its sensitivity to cortisol dysregulation due to stress. The aim of this thesis is to study how long-term unemployment affects physical and psychological wellbeing, focusing in particular upon finding out whether it affects the hippocampus. The results suggest that that the kind of stress caused by long-term unemployment is similar to the stress affecting the hippocampus. It thus seems to be a reasonably hypothesis that long-term unemployment has a negative influence upon the brain, and the hippocampus in particular. However, there is an additional issue that one needs to take into account. For some studies have shown that people with poor mental health are more likely to be unemployed. If poor mental health is associated with physiological disorders (including a damaged hippocampus), this implies that not only can long-term unemployment (via stress) affect the hippocampus, but a damaged hippocampus (along with other physiological factors) can increase the probability to become unemployed. This means that the relationship between long-term unemployment and a damaged hippocampus need not be a one-way causal relationship.


A short analytical review of Soviet and foreign studies devoted to metabolic regulation of neuron functioning is presented. It is shown that the electrical activity of neuron is accompanied by structural changes and an increase in RNA content. It is assumed that these changes are initiated by calcium ions, coming to the neuron during its excitation. The principles of metabolic regulation of functioning of electro- and chemoexcitable neuronal membranes are considered. It is shown that the metabolic reactions can be an intermediate between the activated chemoreceptor and the electrical response of the cell. Evidence is presented that the electroexcitable and chemosensitive structures in the membrane modulate each other. The role of intracellular messengers in regulating the activity of receptors and channels is considered. Possible mechanisms for their modifications under the influence of cellular factors are discussed. It is shown that the work of neuron is controlled by several metabolic regulatory systems simultaneously.


Pulsed Q dissociation enables combining LTQ ion trap instruments with isobaric peptide tagging. Unfortunately, this combination lacks a technique which accurately reports protein abundance ratios and is implemented in a freely available, flexible software pipeline. We developed and implemented a technique assigning collective reporter ion intensity‐based weights to each peptide abundance ratio and calculating a protein's weighted average abundance ratio and p‐value. Using an iTRAQ‐labeled standard mixture, we compared our technique's performance to the commercial software MASCOT, finding that it performed better than MASCOT's nonweighted averaging and median peptide ratio techniques, and equal to its weighted averaging technique. We also compared performance of the LTQ‐Orbitrap plus our technique to 4800 MALDI TOF/TOF plus Protein Pilot, by analyzing an iTRAQ‐labeled stem cell lysate. We found highly correlated protein abundance ratios, indicating that the LTQ‐Orbitrap plus our technique yields results comparable to the current standard. We implemented our technique in a freely available, automated software pipeline, called LTQ‐iQuant, which is mzXML‐compatible; supports iTRAQ 4‐plex and 8‐plex LTQ data; and can be modified for and have weights trained to a user's LTQ and other isobaric peptide tagging methods. LTQ‐iQuant should make LTQ instruments and isobaric peptide tagging accessible to more proteomic researchers.


Background: No full consensus exists on which iron status parameters to use for iron status assessment. In this study, we assessed the usefulness of measurement of the hemoglobin content of reticulocytes (CHr) in the general population. Methods: The following iron status parameters were assessed in 1024 adults: CHr, reticulocytes, hemoglobin (Hb), ferritin, serum iron, transferrin, transferrin saturation and mean corpuscular volume (MCV). Mean parameter values and correlation coefficients for CHr and other parameters were calculated. In addition, mean CHr levels in subgroups based on low and normal values of other iron status parameters were compared. Results: Mean CHr values in men were 31.81 (SD=1.50) pg and in women 31.32 (SD=1.51) pg. A positive correlation was observed between CHr and Hb, ferritin, serum iron, transferrin saturation and MCV; a negative correlation was observed between CHr and transferrin. CHr levels were lower in subjects with low values of Hb, ferritin, serum iron and MCV compared to subjects with normal values for these parameters. Conclusion: Mean CHr values in this population were comparable to values reported in small healthy control groups. Associations with other parameters were in agreement with associations reported in literature. CHr measurement might have additional value in iron status assessment.


Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of mud pack treatment in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA). Material and Methods: Fifty-seven patients with bilateral primary OA of the knee were enrolled in the study. Patients were divided into two groups based on their availability for mud application during the study period. The patients in the study group (32 patients) were subjected to daily mud pack treatment on weekdays only for three weeks, applied to both knees for 30 minutes (min) at 45°C (total 15 applications). Mud applications were done in the musculoskeletal outpatient clinic by the same person. The patients in the control group (25 patients) had analgesic treatment with acetaminophen 2 g/day. All patients were evaluated three times by assessors who were blinded to both the intervention and evaluation period: (1) at the baseline, (2) immediately after the 15th application, and (3) 30 days after the end of the treatment. Western Ontario and McMaster Universities osteoarthritis index (WOMAC), pain intensity (as measured with 100 mm VAS) and patient's and physician's assessment of disease severity index were the primary outcome measures of the study. Results: As compared to the baseline, significant decreases were observed in both groups in terms of WOMAC, pain intensity, and disease severity index scores. The improvements were found to be superior in the study group as compared to the controls. Moreover, a significant number of patients in the study group had minimal clinically important improvement when compared to the control group. Conclusion: Mud pack treatment significantly improves the pain and functional status of patients with knee OA. (Turk J Rheumatol 2009; 24: 72-6)


The distribution of marsupial folivores in Australian eucalypt forests is extremely patchy and, although distribution patterns are known to be partly determined by nutritional factors, the role of plant secondary metabolites (PSMs) has been little studied. We investigated variation in the foliar concentrations of five constituents: total phenolics (TP); the foliar component bound by polyethylene glycol (PEGBC); the formylphloroglucinol compound, sideroxylonal (a strong deterrent of mammalian herbivory); the terpene, cineole; and nitrogen (N). These constituents were analyzed using near infrared spectroscopy in 501 individual tallowwood (Eucalyptus microcorys) trees at 42 sites across a broad geographic range in eastern Australia. We tested three hypotheses: (1) trees with lower foliar N produce higher PSM concentrations; (2) PSM concentrations are greater at colder sites; and (3) PSM concentrations are higher at sites with low resource availability. Hypothesis 1 was true for all PSMs considered and was the result of variation that occurred within sites. This is consistent with the carbon/nutrient balance hypothesis and with the hypothesis that PSMs protect leaves from photodamage. Hypothesis 2 was upheld for all constituents. This was consistent with both the growth–differentiation balance hypothesis, and with the hypothesis that PSMs represent an evolutionary adaptation to greater risks of photodamage and frost damage in cold environments. Hypothesis 3 was rejected, with one PSM, sideroxylonal, being affected by resource availability in a manner opposite to that predicted. The optimal defense hypothesis offers an explanation for this result (as sideroxylonal concentrations increased along with the apparent nutritional quality of the foliage, possibly to provide defense against higher rates of herbivory). We found that trees associated with koala fecal pellets had lower concentrations of sideroxylonal and cineole. We discuss this finding and further implications for the herbivores of Eucalyptus of the patterns of plant defense that we detected.


BACKGROUND
The higher prevalence of preterm birth (PTB) and low birthweight (LBW) following infertility treatment may relate to the treatment itself or indicate that subfertility predisposes to a higher risk. Our aim was to examine whether basal FSH levels are related to the risk for PTB and LBW among pregnancies resulting from IVF.

METHODS
We studied a retrospective cohort in the 2008 National Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology Database, including all women who underwent a fresh non-donor IVF cycle resulting in a singleton live birth having a recorded basal serum FSH value (n = 14 262). The FSH value used was either the maximum basal or clomiphene-stimulated serum level. Log binomial models were created to assess the associations between FSH and PTB (<37 weeks), and between FSH and LBW (<2500 g), adjusting for maternal age, ethnicity, gravidity/parity, history of PTB, smoking, BMI and infant gender.

RESULTS
Data for 14 086 patients were analyzed. FSH levels were inversely related to the risk of PTB and LBW. Women in the highest quartile of FSH levels (≥ 9 mIU/ml) had the longest adjusted mean gestational age (271.2 days), the lowest adjusted relative risk (RR) of PTB [0.87, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.76-1.01], the highest adjusted mean birthweight (3249 g) and the lowest adjusted RR of LBW (0.89, 95% CI: 0.73-1.04).

CONCLUSIONS
The inverse relationship between maximal basal FSH levels and the risk for PTB and LBW in singleton IVF gestations suggests that diminished ovarian reserve is not the primary mediator of the increased prevalence of PTB and LBW in IVF pregnancies.


ABSTRACT The reproductive biology of Eledone cirrhosa (Lamarck, 1798) was studied for the first time in the northern and eastern region of Tunisia. Monthly samples were provided from surveys carried out on board the Tunisian oceanographic vessel "Hannibal" and from commercial catches of bottom-trawl operating in this area from October 2005 to September 2006. Although specimens have been collected at a wide depth range, E. cirrhosa shows the greatest abundance between 100 and 300 m. The sex ratio was estimated at 0.94 with no significant difference (P > 0.05). Length-weight relationships calculated for each sex and the whole sample showed negative allometric growth (b < 3). The allometric coefficient in immature individuals revealed an allometric growth (b < 3) and isometric growth (b = 3) in maturing and mature individuals. A three-stage maturity scale was intended to distinguish between immature, maturing and fully mature animals. The reproductive season for females extended from April to August, with a spawning peak from June to August, and for males from January to August with a peak from April to August. The dorsal mantle length (DML) at maturity, corresponding to the size class when 50% of individuals were mature, was estimated at 6.88 cm in males, and 8.80 cm in females. The juveniles were mainly found in between 100 and 200 m where a nursery area for the species is probably present, while mature individuals were mostly fished at a depth greater than 200 m, which represents the spawning area of Eledone cirrhosa. Potential fecundity, estimated from 37 mature females, was 4171 ± 1216 oocytes. The number of spermatophores ranged from 42 to 121, with a mean length of 51.34 ± 4.86 mm.


Against the general opinion the history of graffiti goes back to the beginnings of civilization. There are numerous examples of graffiti, for instance the inscriptions hollowed with a chisel found on the ancient household artifacts or on the walls. The inscriptions had an informative function but they were also magical. The phenomenon of spray art was widespread in the 1960s and the beginning of the Polish taggers subculture was in the 1980s, although one can find street art during the Second World War. But it is usually neglected or disregarded in the Polish literature. The Anchor – the sign of "Fighting Poland", was placed on pavements, walls, notice boards or train stops of the occupied country. It was the sign of the fight for freedom and independence. As the years passed, the Polish reality was changing and the role of graffiti also changed. Now, it expresses itself in slogans, appeals, messages, drawings, portraits or murals. The aim of the work is to show the role of the Polish graffiti between 1942 and 2011. The author analyses graffiti in a number of aspects and throughout many years. The author identifies Polish spray art with teenage rebellion, sense of humor, political engagement, commentary or the negation of reality. Moreover, the article focuses on social, psychological or urban aspects of the examined phenomenon and identifies it with widespread modern hip-hop culture.


Journalists have the power to enhance the visibility of certain aspects of campaign issues and, thus, are relevant mediators between political actors and citizens. To serve the public interest, news media coverage should include the views of different political camps and should enable citizens to build opinions in an enlightened way. The authors analyze journalists' framing of the coverage of a 2008 campaign on the naturalization of immigrants. Content analysis was conducted of all campaign coverage by TV stations and major newspaper outlets over a period of 14 weeks. To identify dominant frames, the authors coded all campaign arguments made in news media coverage (N = 3,570). The results show that media coverage focused on three substantive frames—rule of law, mass naturalization, and people's final say. The findings reveal that coverage was not balanced but was clearly in favor of the rule of law frame. This framing bias applies to different types of media, including public service TV and elite newspapers. Furthermore, the authors found a striking bias toward institutional actors, who were covered much more often than civil society actors.


We identify patterns in volcano seismicity along the Aleutian arc using nearly 10 years of seismic data recorded at 46 volcanoes. The volcanoes in the central portion of the arc—those located from Aniakchak to Okmok—are associated with significantly more seismicity at depths below 15 km. We also examine the median weight percent SiO2 compositions of the seismically monitored volcanoes by compiling published geochemical data. We find that the transition between felsic volcanism in the east to more mafic volcanism in the west occurs in the same region where the depth distribution of volcanic earthquakes changes. Since deep volcanic earthquakes are often thought to be generated by the ascent of magma through the deep crust (i.e., depths > 15 km), our results suggest that magma ascent is more prolific in the central part of the arc compared to the western and eastern regions. This observation is in agreement with the location of the largest and most historically active volcanoes in the Aleutian arc, which are found in same region that generates abundant deep volcano seismicity. We propose two models to explain these apparent variations in magmatic flux: (1) a stress‐based model, in which subduction obliquity and the collision of the Yakutat block affect the stress regime in the upper plate, inhibiting the rise of magma in eastern and western regions of the arc and (2) a melt‐based model, where more magma is generated in the central region of the arc through increased H2O in the downgoing slab via water‐laden sediments and subducting fracture zones.


This study evaluates the quality of 'Tainung no. 1' papaya cultivated by partial rootzone drying (PRD) at summer and winter seasons, in Mocambinho, Jaiba, Minas Gerais, Brazil. The ten treatments resulted from the combination of four PRD forms and one with full irrigation (FI), without water deficit, during two production seasons. The experiments were set up in an entirely randomized. The treatments using PRD were based on the reduction of the calculated irrigation water level by 50%, alternating the side of the irrigated row with only one lateral line irrigation per row. The alternating frequencies (AF - changing of sides) were 7, 14 and 21 days and a fixed side without alternation. The FI was composed per two lateral lines per row of plants. The quality and sensorial evaluations were performed on ripe fruits (totally yellow peel). Papayas produced in summer were larger, firmer, with an orange and more acidic pulp. Irrigation managements interfered with the purchase intention and the sensorial attributes of fruits produced in summer and winter. Consumers liked the overall appearance and the color of papaya pulp produced in the summer, with the exception of PRD AF 7 days. The acceptance of texture and flavor varied depending on irrigation management.


The Austrian director Ulrich Seidl often films interview subjects as though they were posing for portrait photographs, and Seidl maintains that one of his major influences is the photographer Diane Arbus. This article examines how this high level of control over a film's frames reveals strategies central to his filmmaking and especially to his documentary films. Seidl is particularly concerned with depicting his subjects' complicity in the exploitation of labor, as seen in Safari (2016), a film about Austrians who travel to Namibia to hunt and collect trophies. Seidl presents viewers with unforgiving portraits of Austrian tourists, as he employs nearly every one of his trademark techniques to highlight the many contradictions behind his subjects' perspectives.


An ex-boxer once attacked a nurse with ferocity. Matron Vimla Sharma remembers it well because the victim was a colleague of hers. The man punched the female nurse round the head and body and only calmed down when police arrived. The nurse was badly injured physically and emotionally by the attack and brought a private prosecution against the man. Ms Sharma does not know if the nurse won, but she does know that the woman was so traumatised she never nursed again.


Purpose: To establish a correlation between radiation dose and diagnostic accuracy when employing a new digital method for angle determinations. The specific intention was to determine how far the radiation dose can be reduced without losing measuring accuracy and to compare this radiation dose with that employed with our conventional method.

Material and Methods: An image succession of an anthropomorphic phantom was generated with a computed radiography (CR) system, by reducing the exposure stepwise. The images were archived and transferred to a workstation for evaluation. The intraobserver variation of two angle determinations was used as an indicator of the evaluation accuracy. Patient radiation doses were measured with thermoluminescent dosimeters. The energy imparted, indicating the relative risk associated with exposure to ionising radiation, and the effective dose, which determines the absolute risk, were calculated.

Results and Conclusion: No significant correlation was found between patient dose and measuring accuracy within the evaluated exposure interval. At the lowest exposure of the CR system, the energy imparted to the patient was 30 μJ. Compared with our conventional analogue method this is a reduction by 98%. The effective dose was as low as 1.5 μSv. The CR technique creates possibilities to adapt exposure parameters, and thus the radiation dose to the patient, according to the purpose of the investigation.


Macrophages (MΦs) are prevalent innate immune cells, present throughout human bodily tissues where they orchestrate innate and adaptive immune responses to maintain cellular homeostasis. MΦs have the capacity to display a wide array of functional phenotypes due to different microenvironmental cues, particularly soluble bacterial secretory products. Recent evidence has emerged demonstrating that metabolism supports MΦ function and plasticity, in addition to energy and biomolecular precursor production. In this study, 1D 1H-NMR-based metabolomics was used to identify the metabolic pathways that are differentially altered following primary human monocyte-derived MΦ exposure to P. aeruginosa planktonic- and biofilm-conditioned media (PCM and BCM). Metabolic profiling of PCM- and BCM-exposed MΦs indicated a significant increase in glycolytic metabolism, purine biosynthesis, and inositol phosphate metabolism. In addition, these metabolic patterns suggested that BCM-exposed MΦs exhibit a hyperinflammatory metabolic profile with reduced glycerol metabolism and elevated catabolism of lactate and amino acids, relative to PCM-exposed MΦs. Altogether, our study reveals novel findings concerning the metabolic modulation of human MΦs after exposure to secretory microbial products and contributes additional knowledge to the field of immunometabolism in MΦs.


Intra‐ and interannual variability of precipitation can lead to major modifications of grassland production and carbon storage capacity. Greater understanding of how climatic variability affects net CO2 exchange [i.e. net ecosystem exchange (NEE)] of grazed grasslands is important to adapt grassland management and reduce risks of carbon losses. Since 2002, we continuously measured NEE (i.e. eddy covariance technique) on an upland grassland site (7 ha), divided in two paddocks grazed by heifers (intensive: 1 LSU ha−1 yr−1, 213 kg N ha−1 yr−1 and extensive: 0.5 LSU ha−1 yr−1, no fertilization). For years with dry and warm growing seasons (i.e. 2003, 2005 and 2008), absolute annual NEE was higher in the intensive paddock compared with the extensive paddock. The opposite was observed during years of ample seasonal rainfall and soil moisture (i.e. 2004, 2006 and 2007). Contrasted management led to two distinct plant communities being different in leaf area index (LAI), soil bulk density and soil water holding capacity. Differences in annual NEEs could thus be assigned to interactions between in carbon and water fluxes during dry and wet growth periods. Dry growth periods led to a reduction in weekly gross primary productivity (GPP) in the extensively managed paddock, whereas the GPP was maintained in the intensive paddock. In turn, during wet growth periods, GPP was similar in both paddocks, whereas N amendment and frequent defoliation significantly increased ecosystem respiration in the intensive paddock, presumably through a higher heterotrophic respiration following on a better C substrate quality and availability (rhizodeposition and senescent fine roots). In the extensive paddock, where plant cover was denser (reducing soil temperature) and less decomposable, C losses through heterotrophic respiration were comparatively smaller under wet conditions. Our results demonstrate that grassland subjected to a moderately intensive management could be more resilient in terms of carbon storage during drought and heat waves, presumably because of a trade‐off between heterotrophic and autotrophic respiration.


We develop a framework for joint constraints on the CO luminosity function based on power spectra (PS) and voxel intensity distributions (VID) and apply this to simulations of CO Mapping Array Pathfinder (COMAP), a CO intensity mapping experiment. This Bayesian framework is based on a Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) sampler coupled to a Gaussian likelihood with a joint PS + VID covariance matrix computed from a large number of fiducial simulations and re-calibrated with a small number of simulations per MCMC step. The simulations are based on dark matter halos from fast peak patch simulations combined with the LCO(Mhalo) model of Li et al. We find that the relative power to constrain the CO luminosity function depends on the luminosity range of interest. In particular, the VID is more sensitive at large luminosities, while the PS and the VID are both competitive at small and intermediate luminosities. The joint analysis is superior to using either observable separately. When averaging over CO luminosities ranging between , and over 10 cosmological realizations of COMAP Phase 2, the uncertainties (in dex) are larger by 58% and 30% for the PS and VID, respectively, when compared to the joint analysis (PS + VID). This method is generally applicable to any other random field, with a complicated likelihood, as long a fast simulation procedure is available.


Alcohol exposure affects neuronal plasticity in the adult and developing brain. Astrocytes play a major role in modulating neuronal plasticity and are a target of ethanol. Tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) is involved in modulating neuronal plasticity by degrading the extracellular matrix proteins including fibronectin and laminin and is up‐regulated by ethanol in vivo. In this study we explored the hypothesis that ethanol affects DNA methylation in astrocytes thereby increasing expression and release of tPA. It was found that ethanol increased tPA mRNA levels, an effect mimicked by an inhibitor of DNA methyltransferase (DNMT) activity. Ethanol also increased tPA protein expression and release, and inhibited DNMT activity with a corresponding decrease in DNA methylation levels of the tPA promoter. Furthermore, it was observed that protein levels of DNMT3A, but not DNMT1, were reduced in astrocytes after ethanol exposure. These novel studies show that ethanol inhibits DNA methylation in astrocytes leading to increased tPA expression and release; this effect may be involved in astrocyte‐mediated inhibition of neuronal plasticity by alcohol.


Background and objective: During childbirth some practices are common and widely accepted though they have no scientific basis. Despite of being implemented some centuries ago, they last in time up to the present day, as for example episiotomy. Currently it is a controlled use intervention in some countries, especially in northern Europe, and a liberal (and almost unquestionable) use intervention in other countries: It is so common that, there is not even accounting for this procedure as a quality care indicator. In the present time, there is a conflict that involves the advocated minimally invasive care versus defensive practices… Episiotomy perfectly illustrates this dichotomy. To synthesize the current knowledge about intrapartum perineal care, regarding the origin and introduction of episiotomy in the midwives practice over time, in order to comprehend the evolution of the concept and methods of perineal preservation.Methods: A literature search was conducted in the electronic databases CINAHL, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, MedicLatina, PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science, using descriptors MeSH and natural language. The results were synthesized and evidenced throughout this review.Results: A total of 27 articles were identified, which fully comply with the inclusion criteria. The most representative categories of papers are literature reviews (37%) and nonempirical articles (26%).Conclusions: Although scarce, the existing literature on this subject is very meticulous. One third of the articles are from midwives/nurse-midwives authorship which reveals special interest and concern of this professional class for this subject, that admittedly belongs to its field of expertise whether theoretical or practical. Major milestones were identified in the history of episiotomy which led to significant changes in midwifery intrapartum care patterns, with supremacy of the biomedical model.


The viscosities of a series of Cu–Ag melts in a temperature range from 1473 K to nearly liquid temperatures are measured by using an oscillating viscometer. At the same temperature, the value of viscosity increases first with silver content increasing, and reaches a maximum value at the eutectic component Cu40Ag60, then decreases. All the temperature dependences of the viscosities of Cu–Ag melts conform with the Arrhenius equation. The parameters of correlation length D of the studied Cu–Ag melts are calculated according to the experimental results of x-ray diffraction. The temperature dependence of correlation length D shows an exponential decay function, which is similar to the Arrhenius equation. Based on the values of viscosities and correlation length D, a direct correlation between viscosity and liquid structure is found for the investigated Cu–Ag melts through comparative analysis.


Objective: Propolis, a natural product of the honeybee, is currently used as an anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial agent. Using different antibacterial agents is an important step to reduce the number of microorganisms within the root canal and improve the endodontic treatment prognosis. The present in vitro study investigated the antibacterial efficacy of Propolis against Enterococcus faecalis compared to calcium hydroxide. Methods: In this experimental study, 42 single-rooted human teeth were selected and their smear layer was completely removed after access cavity and canal preparation. After infecting the prepared canals with Enterococcus faecalis species, negative control group was used during sterilization period and in two groups of 18 each, canals were filled with 30%propolis extract and calcium hydroxide, respectively. No material was added to the positive control group. The specimens were stored in CO2 incubator for 72 hours, 1 week and 1 month and afterwards, samples were taken from inside the canals and Enterococcus faecalis colonies were counted. Number of colonies at different time intervals was statistically analyzed using Kruskal-Wallis test. Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare the number of colonies after using the understudy medicaments. Results: Number of colonies was 55,000±46,368.09 and 43,333.33±48,027.077 after incubation for 72 hours and using 30% Propolis extract and calcium hydroxide, respectively. After 1 week incubation, number of colonies was 166.67±408.25 in the Propolis group and zero in the calcium hydroxide group. No colonies were observed after 1 month incubation in both groups. No significant differences were noted between two medicaments at different time intervals. Conclusion: In general, antimicrobial activity of Propolis against Enterococcus faecalis species was comparable with that of calcium hydroxide at different time intervals. Therefore, it can be used as an alternative natural material for disinfection of canals during endodontic treatment.


Cancer and inflammation are connected by intrinsic pathways and extrinsic pathway where the intrinsic pathway is activated by genetic events including mutation, chromosomal rearrangement or amplification, and the inactivation of tumor-suppressor genes, as well as the extrinsic pathway, is the inflammatory or infectious conditions that increase the cancer risk. On the other hand, introns are non-coding elements of the genome and play a functional role to generate more gene products through splicing out, transcription, polyadenylation, mRNA export, and translation. Moreover, introns also may act as a primary element of some of the most highly expressed genes in the genome. Intron may contain their regulatory function as CRISPR system which is activated after the demand of specific gene for specific protein formation where those are required for gene expression, they go for transcription and rest of them form splicing. This chapter will focus on the plausible role of introns to influence the genetic events of inflammation-mediated cancer cell development.


Cancer is the second leading cause of mortality in the United States. There are several therapeutic regimens employed to mitigate the mortality rate of cancer. This includes the use of chemotherapy, radiation, immunotherapy, and precision medicine/targeted therapy. Targeted therapy involves the use of drugs that target a specific pathway or biomolecule compromised in cancer for cancer treatment. Aberrant expression of epigenetic enzymes has been well documented for their contribution in driving tumorigenesis and other cancer hallmarks. Hence, there is an urgent need for novel drug discovery and development in epigenetics to help combat various cancer morbidities. Herein, we review the roles and consequences of dysregulated function of several epigenetic enzymes, with a focus on histone methyltransferases (HMTs). Additionally, we discussed the current efforts made in the development of small molecule inhibitors for a few representative HMTs implicated in different cancers. Furthermore, the common screening assays used in discovering potent small molecule inhibitors were also detailed in this chapter. Overall, this book chapter highlights the significance of targeting HMTs in different cancers and the clinical application potentials/limitations faced by the developed or emerging small molecule inhibitors of HMTs for the purpose of cancer therapy.


Gaussian mixture models (GMMs) are commonly used as the output density function for large-vocabulary continuous speech recognition (LVCSR) systems. A standard problem when using multivariate GMMs to classify data is how to accurately represent the correlations in the feature vector. Full covariance matrices yield a good model, but dramatically increase the number of model parameters. Hence, diagonal covariance matrices are commonly used. Structured precision matrix approximations provide an alternative, flexible, and compact representation. Schemes in this category include the extended maximum likelihood linear transform and subspace for precision and mean models. This paper examines how these precision matrix models can be discriminatively trained and used on state-of-the-art speech recognition tasks. In particular, the use of the minimum phone error criterion is investigated. Implementation issues associated with building LVCSR systems are also addressed. These models are evaluated and compared using large vocabulary continuous telephone speech and broadcast news English tasks.


We introduce a mechanism for generating power law distributions, referred to as highly optimized tolerance (HOT), which is motivated by biological organisms and advanced engineering technologies. Our focus is on systems which are optimized, either through natural selection or engineering design, to provide robust performance despite uncertain environments. We suggest that power laws in these systems are due to tradeoffs between yield, cost of resources, and tolerance to risks. These tradeoffs lead to highly optimized designs that allow for occasional large events. We investigate the mechanism in the context of percolation and sand pile models in order to emphasize the sharp contrasts between HOT and self-organized criticality (SOC), which has been widely suggested as the origin for power laws in complex systems. Like SOC, HOT produces power laws. However, compared to SOC, HOT states exist for densities which are higher than the critical density, and the power laws are not restricted to special values of the density. The characteristic features of HOT systems include: (1) high efficiency, performance, and robustness to designed-for uncertainties; (2) hypersensitivity to design flaws and unanticipated perturbations; (3) nongeneric, specialized, structured configurations; and (4) power laws. The first three of these are in contrast to the traditional hallmarks of criticality, and are obtained by simply adding the element of design to percolation and sand pile models, which completely changes their characteristics.


The paper carried out a review of relevant literature and observed that Nigerian graduates in electrical power engineering are strongly affected by unwanted factors such as inadequate provision for the massive admission of students, inadequate period for students' practical, shortage of academic staff, lack of collaboration between schools and the industries, all of which constitute variables that are potentially controllable. Four gaps were identified between the industries as the major problems arising from the unwanted condition. It is concluded that electrical power engineering education can only be enhanced through provision of adequate facilities in our institutions, adequate teaching staff,continuous professional development program, adequate time for students' practical and improve relationship between educational institutions and industries. In addition, the paper recommended that the curriculum should be modified to include a combination of the traditional teaching and inquiry methods of teaching through the use of virtual laboratory.


Background Following the production of Syrian gel, the scientists from Atomic Energy Commission of Syria, researchers in Yazd Atomic Energy Commission Radiation Processing Center in Iran, have manufactured a hydrogel wound dressing. This study was conducted to evaluate and compare the efficacy of these two hydrogels. Methods In this study, 32 male Wistar rats underwent a full thickness circular skin wound on the dorsum under light anesthesia. Animals were divided into two groups. Wounds in the 1st group were dressed by the Syrian hydrogel and in the 2nd group by Iranian gel. Wound contraction rate was determined on days 1, 3, 7 and 12 for comparing the wound healing rate in two groups. Laboratory investigation of blood samples, skin tensile strength and histopathology of repaired skins were also evaluated. Results Wound contraction ratio on 7th and 12th days in Iranian gel was significantly greater than Syrian gel group. According to histopathological evaluations, wound repair in 63.6% of specimens in Iranian gel group was excellent and in 35.5% good while in Syrian gel group, 54.5% of repaired wounds were graded as excellent and 1 case showed to be in a weak repairing state. A significant difference was noticed in wound repair patterns between the two groups. The differences in skin tensile strength in two groups on days 15 and 30 were not significant. Conclusion According to our findings Iranian and Syrian hydrogels did not show any adverse effects on wound healing in rats and could be easily removed from the wound area without any trauma. However Iranian hydrogel dressings were more effective in wound repair regarding wound contraction rate and histopathological evaluation of the skin specimens in the region of healed wounds.


Polymer wastes litter everywhere. The objective of the paper is to assess the quantity and effects in the cities and towns with a view to make suggestions for globule in the risks of resultant environmental degradation for sustainable environment. The plants and facilities for manufacturing were visited. Nine research assistants were used for data and information collection. Market women and dealers were forth coming in the quantity sold per month/year; wastes generated; challenges and means of eluding the challenges. Directors of Environment in the States visited also gave information on the enormity of plastic wastes and their impact. They offered suggestion for sustainable environment. A dump each in 30 Nigerian cities and towns were studied for ten years (2003-2012). Composition, quantity and spread of plastic wastes were examined. Impacts were studied. 80 photographic snaps were taken of polymer wastes and sceneries of visible consequences. Maps, graphs, charts, tables and percentiles were used for data analysis and presentation. Averagely, polymer wastes constitute 28.00% of the wastes found at dumps and around streets, residential, recreational and other public places. They are non-degradable; and every moment, there are additions. On the average, less than 12% are recycled annually. The recycling is not absolute. A time will come when there may be no substratum for plant growth. They are hide-out and breeding grounds for disease vectors, animals and insects; and even, hoodlums; it destroys the aesthetic value of the physical environment: atmosphere, water bodies and soil. There are no special technology nor policies and programmes for special collection, transportation and disposal. Government may have to invest massively on research and development and campaign for reducing, reusing and recycling the polymer wastes. Respecting the urban physical environment for sustainable development in Nigeria and generally in Africa is recommended.


The debate on fiscal policy in Europe centers on how to let automatic stabilizers work while achieving fiscal consolidation. There is significant agreement on the importance of using fiscal policy as a counter-cyclical instrument, as monetary policy can no longer play this role. In contrast, most of the discussion on fiscal policy in Latin America and the Carribean region (LAC) deals just on solvency issues, largely ignoring the effects of the economic cycle. This is surprising as LAC economies are much more volatile than their European counterparts and have been generally applying pro-cyclical fiscal policies that exacerbate volatility. Some analysts and policymakers appear to think that counter-cyclical fiscal policies are a luxury that only industrial countries can indulge in or, at least, that LAC countries (with the exception of Chile) that have successfully put in place a counter-cyclical fiscal policy need to deal first with pressing adjustment and solvency issues before they attempt to reduce the highly pro-cyclical character of their fiscal policies. The author argues that this is a major mistake because the costs of pro-cyclical fiscal policies in LAC are huge in growth and welfare terms, especially for the poor, and because pro-cyclical policies and rules tend to develop a deficit bias, thus ending up being nonsustainable and noncredible. Perry illustrates both propositions. He then examines the causes of the pro-cyclicality of fiscal policies in LAC and discusses how well-designed fiscal rules may help to deal with the political economy and credibility factors behind pro-cyclicality. He also examines conflicts between flexibility and credibility in rules, showing how a good design can both facilitate the operation of automatic stabilizers while at the same time supporting solvency goals and enhancing credibility. Perry evaluates the experience with different fiscal rules and institutions in LAC to see the extent they have helped or can help to achieve the twin goals of avoiding deficit and pro-cyclical biases.


For the first time; ground magnetic survey was performed which data were inverted by means of total horizontal derivative; horizontal gradient analytic signal; and hyperbolic tilt angle techniques to identify subsurface volcanic structures around Isparta city (South-Western Turkey). Here; Golcuk volcanism took place at the apex of the Isparta Angle at the intersection of the Lycian and Antalya nappes. It initiated between 4.0—4.7 my ago mainly as lava extrusions and ended with phreatoplinian eruptions during Quaternary time. The study area is covered by authochtonous and allochthonous units that are intruded by Pliocene and Quaternary Golcuk volcanics and also overlain by pyroclastic fall and flow deposits. The boundaries were revealed for the buried volcanic structure from the edge detection methods. The geometry of the trachytic dome southwestern of the Golcuk Lake and its downward continuation were studied by 2D modelling with the control of the power spectrum depth results applied to the focused anomaly. The azimuthally-averaged logarithmic power spectra plot indicates that the downward continuation of source depth of the trachytic dome reaches up to 850 m. The forward inversion results indicate that the horizontal size of the model for this trachytic dome is 1250 m beneath the surface while it's surface extension is only about 400 m.


Conversational agents (CAs) are becoming increasingly prevalent and permeating into our daily lives. We conducted a between-subjects design experiment to examine the effects of age and interaction types on the perceptions about social abilities of CAs among 25 older (aged 60 or more) and 26 younger adults. Bridging the Computers are Social Actors paradigm and theories in socioemotional development and technology acceptance, CAs' perceived sociability (i.e., to what extent the CA was perceived as a pleasant conversational partner) and social presence (i.e., to what extent the CA was perceived as a living entity) were gauged by two types of interactions: human-human interaction (wherein the human experimenter interviewed participants) and human-agent interaction (wherein the CA itself interviewed participants). We found that older adults perceived CAs to be more pleasant to interact with when the CA gauged the perceptions than human experimenters. For younger adults, their perceived sociability of CAs did not differ across the types of interactions. Furthermore, the perceived pleasant social experience was associated with technology acceptance of CAs for both younger and older adults. However, social presence of CAs was only critical in the development of technology acceptance for older adults. The age differences in the associations between technology acceptance and perceived social abilities of CAs might be partly because of the tendency to favor positive social experience in our memories with age. Based on these findings, we discussed implications on designing social interactions with CAs, especially for older adults.


We introduce the notion of m-privacy, which guarantees that the anonymized data satisfies a given privacy constraint against any group of up to m colluding data providers. Second, we present heuristic algorithms exploiting the equivalence group monotonicity of privacy constraints and adaptive ordering techniques for efficiently checking m- privacy given a set of records. We present a data provider-aware anonymization algorithm with adaptive m- privacy checking strategies to ensure high utility and m-privacy of anonymized data with efficiency.We introduce a novel data anonymization technique called slicing to improve the current state of the art. Slicing partitions the data set both vertically and horizontally. Vertical partitioning is done by grouping attributes into columns based on the correlations among the attributes. Each column contains a subset of attributes that are highly correlated. Horizontal partitioning is done by grouping tuples into buckets. The basic idea of slicing is to break the association cross columns, but to preserve the association within each column. This reduces the dimensionality of the data and preserves better utility than generalization and bucketization.


The focus of this thesis is on the problematic aspects of directors' loyalty to their companies under Iraqi law. This issue belongs to one of the most complex areas of company law, because it relates to the fallibility of human nature and a director's temptation to put his personal interests ahead of the company's interests. A comparison with English law is undertaken, with an emphasis on recent developments, particularly the English Companies Act of 2006. This comparison is aimed at identifying defects in Iraqi law and providing solutions to problems arising from the incoherence of Iraqi legislation and its lack of a fiduciary doctrine.
In order to achieve this goal, this thesis focuses on certain managerial duties: the duty to act in the company's interests; the duty to avoid conflicts of interest; and the director's duty to declare his interest in transactions, as well as the enforcement of these duties.
The author of this thesis argues that in Iraqi law there are several legislative loopholes and contradictions with regard to addressing the problems of a director's divided loyalty. The main shortcoming is ascribed to the absence of a unifying conceptual underpinning of managerial duty within Iraqi legislation. This contrasts with the situation in English law, in which the fiduciary doctrine underpinning managerial duty operates to protect the company (as a vulnerable person) from certain aspects of a director's self-interest and dishonesty by imposing strict duties relating to any eventuality in which the director might be swayed by personal interests rather than his duty. The plurality of legislation dealing with managerial duties is a further challenge facing Iraqi law, and such a situation often leads to a conflict between the rules governing this area. The above shortcomings in Iraqi law inevitably affect its unity and its coherence, and limit its capability to address certain fundamental aspects of director's misbehaviour.
This thesis demonstrates that addressing the problems of the divided loyalties of directors under Iraqi law should take the form of a comprehensive systematic overhaul of Iraqi Company Law. This reform should take into account the necessity of transplanting certain aspects of U.K. fiduciary duties into Iraqi law, particularly the concept of fiduciary duty, in order to provide a clear guide, not only to the courts when they apply and interpret the law, but also to the director himself and other practitioners.


BACKGROUND
Patients with metastatic breast cancer to the ovary, without tumor debulking and after systemic therapy, have a 5-year survival rate < 10%.

PATIENTS AND METHODS
We analyzed a series of 37 patients, operated in one institution over 10 years, for both the primary tumor (PT) and ovarian/pelvic metastases (OPM). Estrogen receptors (ER), progesterone receptors (PgR), HER-2 and Ki-67 were determined.

RESULTS
Patients were predominantly young: 27 (73%) patients were < 50 years. Average ER/PgR expression did not change significantly between PT (mean ER = 66%, PgR = 35%) and OPM (mean ER = 67%, PgR = 28%). Median time to OPM was 42 months (range 0-176); 5-year OS after OPM was 51% (95% confidence interval 32% to 67%). When combining ER and PgR status, patients with ER > 50% on both PT and OPM and with PgR > 50% on PT and/or OPM (good prognosis, 11 patients) had a better outcome versus0 patients with ER and PgR ≤ 50% on both PT and OPM (bad prognosis, eight patients) and also versus the remaining patients (intermediate prognosis, 18 patients), P value = 0.010.

CONCLUSION
Patients with OPM from breast cancer show a favorable prognosis after tumor debulking, whether it was radical or not, especially when a high expression of ER and PgR is present in both PT and OPM.


Niemann‐Pick C disease (NPC) is an autosomal recessive neurodegenerative disorder caused by the abnormal function of NPC1 or NPC2 proteins, leading to an accumulation of unesterified cholesterol and glycosphingolipids (GSLs) in the lysosomes. The mechanisms underlying the pathophysiology in NPC disease are not clear. Oxidative damage is implicated in the pathophysiology of different neurological disorders and the effect of GSL accumulation on the intracellular redox state has been documented. Therefore, we determined whether the intracellular redox state might contribute to the NPC disease pathophysiology. Because the treatment of NPC mice with allopregnanolone (ALLO) increases their lifespan and delays the onset of neurological impairment, we analysed the effect of ALLO on the oxidative damage in human NPC fibroblasts. Concentrations of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and lipid peroxidation were higher in fibroblasts from NPC patients than in fibroblasts from normal subjects. Fibroblasts from NPC patients were more susceptible to cell death through apoptosis after an acute oxidative insult. This process is mediated by activation of the NF‐κB signalling pathway. Knockdown of NPC1 mRNA both in normal fibroblasts and in human SH‐SY5Y neuroblastoma cells caused increased ROS concentrations. ALLO treatment of fibroblasts from NPC patients or NPC1 knockdown cells reduced the levels of ROS and lipid peroxidation and prevented peroxide‐induced apoptosis and NF‐kB activation. Thus, these findings suggest that oxidative stress might contribute to the NPC disease and ALLO might be beneficial in the treatment of the disease, at least in part, due to its ability to restore the intracellular redox state.


The literature on biotin in human nutrition and therapy has been reviewed. The influence of the diet on biotin excretion and the intestinal synthesis of biotin is discussed. Biotin deficiency symptoms are occasionally seen, especially in infants where the deficiency is manifested as seborrhoeic dermatitis. Nevertheless, low urinary excretion and low circulating biotin levels can be found in certain sections of the population.


Rutherford backscattering spectrometry (RBS) was used to measure the titanium concentration profile for hydrogen-reduced, vacuum-reduced, and as-received, stoichiometric rutile. These profiles give the degree of reduction, specifically, the extent of oxygen deficiency, as a function of depth below the sample surface. Using forward-recoil spectrometry (FRES), the hydrogen-reduced rutile was found to contain more bulk and near-surface hydrogen than the as-received, stoichiometric rutile. This observation provides additional evidence for a hydrogen-diffusion model for the reduction of rutile in a hydrogen environment.


This contribution studies the impact of the KF‐induced Cu(In,Ga)Se2 (CIGSe) absorber modification on the suitability of different transparent conductive oxide (TCO) layers in solar cells. The TCO material was varied between ZnO:Al (AZO), ZnO:B (BZO), and In2O3:H (IOH). It is shown that the thermal stress needed for optimized TCO properties can establish a transport barrier for charge carriers, which results in severe losses in fill factor (FF) for temperatures >150°C. The FF losses are accompanied by a reduction in open circuit voltage (Voc) that might originate from a decreased apparent doping density (Nd,app) after annealing. Thermally activated redistributions of K and Na in the vicinity of the CdS/(Cu,K)‐In‐Se interface are suggested to be the reason for the observed degradation in solar cell performance. The highest efficiency was measured for a solar cell where the absorber surface modification was removed and a BZO TCO layer was deposited at a temperature of 165°C. The presented results highlight the importance of well‐designed TCO and buffer layer processes for CIGSe solar cells when a KF post deposition treatment (KF‐PDT) was applied.


This paper uses the data in the NBER/CPE pilot sample of genealogies to create a new time series on life expectation in the U.S. since 1720. After attaining remarkably high levels toward the end of the eighteenth century, life expectation as measured by e0(10) began a decline that lasted about 80 years before beginning the new rise with which we have long been familiar. Second, time series on the average adult stature of national populations in North America and Europe are used as a measure of nutritional status. The properties of this measure in the analysis of labor welfare and an explanation for the high correlation between stature and the Cini ratio are discussed.The time series on stature is strongly correlated with the series on e0(10) and other measures of mortality. Third, these correlations are used to estimate the contribution of improvements in nutritional status (not diet alone but diet net of prior claims) to the decline in mortality in Europe and America since 1800. Improvements in nutritional status may have accounted for as ifiuch as four tenths of the decline in mortality rates, but nearly all of this effect was concentrated in the reduction of infant mortality. The new findings are used to resolve several paradoxes and the implication of the findings for the standard-of-living controversy are considered.


The low-temperature ankle foot orthosis (AFO) was designed in the anterior leaf type, called anterior AFO, to meet the need of indoor barefoot walking. It could be easily molded and remolded to fit the foot, as well as to adjust the position of the foot and ankle. Two kinds of low-temperature plastic anterior ankle foot orthoses, anterior encased and anterior direct molding ankle foot orthoses, were compared to analyze the effectiveness of ankle fixation in plantar flexion and inversion. Force was applied to each of the anterior AFOs at the anterior-middle and anterior-lateral sides to simulate the movement of ankle plantar flexion and inversion. At the same time, the deformation in plantar flexion and inversion of both anterior AFOs were recorded to analyze the relationship between force and the deformed angle. The results showed that plantar flexion deformed angles of the anterior direct molding AFO were 2.6 times more flexible than anterior encased AFO. The ankle inversion deformed angles of the anterior direct molding AFO were 3 times more flexible than the anterior encased AFO in inversion. These results support our belief that anterior encased AFO is more effective in controlling ankle plantar flexion and inversion than anterior direct molding AFO, especially for severe spastic hemiplegia in gait correction.


Importance
Individuals with homonymous hemianopia (HH) are permitted to drive in some jurisdictions. They could compensate for their hemifield vision loss by scanning toward the blind side. However, some drivers with HH do not scan adequately well to the blind side when approaching an intersection, resulting in delayed responses to hazards.

Objective
To evaluate whether auditory reminder cues promoted proactive scanning on approach to intersections.

Design, Setting, and Participants
This cross-sectional, single-visit driving simulator study was conducted from October 2018 to May 2019 at a vision rehabilitation research laboratory. A volunteer sample of individuals with HH without visual neglect are included in this analysis. This post hoc analysis was completed in July and August 2020.

Main Outcomes and Measures
Participants completed drives with and without scanning reminder cues (a single tone from a speaker on the blind side). Scanning was quantified by the percentage of intersections at which an early large scan was made (a scan with a head movement of at least 20° made before 30 m from the intersection). Responses to motorcycle hazards at intersections were quantified by the time to the first fixation and the time to the horn-press response.

Results
Sixteen individuals were recruited and completed the study. Two were subsequently excluded from analyses. Thus, data from 14 participants (median [IQR] age, 54 [36-66] years; 13 men [93%]) were included. Stroke was the primary cause of the HH (10 participants [71%]). Six (43%) had right-sided HH. Participants were more likely to make an early large scan to the blind side in drives with vs without cues (65% vs 45%; difference, 20% [95% CI, 5%-37%]; P < .001). When participants made an early large scan to the blind side, they were faster to make their first fixation on blind-side motorcycles (mean [SD], 1.77 [1.34] vs 3.88 [1.17] seconds; difference, -2.11 [95% CI, -2.46 to -1.75] seconds; P < .001) and faster to press the horn (mean [SD], 2.54 [1.19] vs 4.54 [1.37] seconds; difference, -2.00 [95% CI, -2.38 to -1.62] seconds; P < .001) than when they did not make an early scan.

Conclusions and Relevance
This post hoc analysis suggests that auditory reminder cues may promote proactive scanning, which may be associated with faster responses to hazards. This hypothesis should be considered in future prospective studies.


This paper presents a positive approach in an optimized design of a combinatory unified power-quality conditioner (UPQC) and superconducting fault current limiters (SFCLs). This is based on a normalized simulated annealing algorithm compared with analytic hierarchy process objective optimization. The optimization algorithm for simultaneous optimization computes and produces three-dimensional alignments in Pareto front at the end of the optimization run. The results show that the SFCL can reduce the volt-ampere rating of the UPQC by limiting the fault current, thereby reducing the cost of UPQC installation. The aforementioned algorithm requires advanced numerical techniques for simulation studies by PSCAD/EMTDC on a sample distribution system for determining a global optimal combination of UPQC and SFCL by considering individual parameters and accounting for the constraints, which is the main motivation of this paper. This will result in a more thorough knowledge of "scaling factors" and the system quality mechanism which will enable the most efficient systems from the viewpoints of cost cutting, energy savings, and downsizing.


Ultrasound is more valuable in prenatal diagnosis than in the treatment of urinary tract anomalies. Two thirds of our patients had no clinical evidence of urinary tract disease at birth, and those with obstructive lesions would not have been diagnosed and treated so early had it not been for prenatal ultrasonography. Even in this respect a note of caution: not all dilated urinary tracts are obstructed (and surgical intervention is usually contraindicated) while the natural history of the lesser degrees of obstruction now being detected by ultrasound is largely unknown.2 With our presently limited knowledge it would be unwise to make any extravagant claims for the benefits of prenatal ultrasound examinations in the treatment of congenital anomalies of the urinary tracts.


Teenagers represent a promising target population for organ donor registration efforts, as in the US teenagers age 15–17 may register their intent for organ donation, which later translates to consent at age 18. However, teenagers constitute a relatively understudied population in the organ donation literature. A sample of teenagers (N = 466) ranging in age from 13 to 19 was recruited from driver's education schools in Ohio and Michigan in order to learn more about their perceived reasons for and against registering as an organ donor. A coding scheme was developed, and responses were coded by two trained coders. In line with previous work in adult samples, our results revealed the three most common reasons for registering were prosocial benefits, rational arguments, and personal experience. In contrast to previous work among adults, the two most common reasons for not registering were bodily integrity and religious reasons. Several novel beliefs among teenagers that were both supportive and non‐supportive of organ donor registration were identified. Findings from the current study are discussed with an emphasis on implications for practitioners working to promote organ donor registration among teenage audiences.


Cerebrovascular diseases are currently among the three primary causes of death worldwide and are the first cause of disability in adults. Nevertheless, there are no neuroprotective or neurorestorative therapies that have shown considerable beneficial effects, except for the FDA-approved recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rtPA), which has been used for decades for the treatment of stroke and its effectiveness is still controversial. This is why it is very important to develop effective therapeutic options. In order to achieve this objective, it is essential to recognize the secondary mechanisms involved in the pathological development. The immunological system is one of these mechanisms that participate during the acute and chronic phases of disease, both in deleterious and beneficial manners. It is known that the immune system's duality contributes to the ischemic injury through proinflammatory cytokine (tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1 (IL-1), interleukin-6 (IL-6)), and oxygen reactive species production, etc. Nevertheless, it also provides protection and even restoration through anti-inflammatory cytokine (interleukin-4 (IL-4), interleukin-10 (IL-10), transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β)), and growth factor (brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), neurotrophin-3 (NT-3), neurotrophin-4 (NT-4)) production. This states that innovative therapeutic options must be proposed with the goal of protecting and restoring the tissue after the ischemic event. Such therapies are exposed in the present chapter.


The finite element method (FEM) is commonly used to design the reinforcement in concrete slabs. In order to simplify the analysis and to be able to utilize the superposition principle for evaluating the effect of load combinations, a linear analysis is generally adopted although concrete slabs normally have a pronounced non-linear response. This type of simplification in the modeling procedure will generally lead to unrealistic concentrations of cross-sectional moments and shear forces. Concrete cracks already at service loads, which leads to redistribution of moments and forces. The moment- and force-peaks, obtained through linear finite element analysis, can be redistributed to achieve a distribution more similar to what is seen in reality. The topic of redistribution is however poorly documented and design codes, such as the Eurocode for concrete structures, do not give descriptions of how to perform this in practice.In 2012, guidelines for finite element analysis for the design of reinforced concrete slabs were published in a joint effort between KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Chalmers University of Technology and ELU consulting engineers, which was financially supported by the Swedish Transport Administration. These guidelines aim to include the non-linear response of reinforced concrete into a linear analysis.In this thesis, the guidelines mentioned above are followed to obtain reinforcement plans based on crack control, for a fictitious case study bridge by means of a 3D finite element model. New models were then constructed for non-linear analyses, where the reinforcement plans were implemented into the models by means of both shell elements as well as a mixture of shell and solid elements. The results from the non-linear analyses have been compared to the assumptions given in the guidelines.The results from the non-linear analyses indicate that the recommendations given in the aforementioned guidelines are indeed reasonable when considering crack width control. The shell models yield crack widths equal to approximately half the design value. The solid models, however, yielded cracks widths that were 15 - 20$\%$ lower than the design value. The results show that many factors attribute to the structural behavior during cracking, most noticeably the fracture energy, a parameter not featured in the Eurocode for concrete structures.Some limitations of the models used in this thesis are mentioned as well as areas for further improvement.


The Anthropocene narrative portrays humanity as a species ascending to power over the rest of the Earth System. In the crucial field of climate change, this entails the attribution of fossil fuel combustion to properties acquired during human evolution, notably the ability to manipulate fire. But the fossil economy was not created nor is it upheld by humankind in general. This intervention questions the use of the species category in the Anthropocene narrative and argues that it is analytically flawed, as well as inimical to action. Intra-species inequalities are part and parcel of the current ecological crisis and cannot be ignored in attempts to understand it.


Abstract The study of 4 dasyatid stingrays—Dasyatis centroura (Mitchill, 1815), D. americana Hildebrand and Schroeder, 1928, D. say (Lesueur, 1817), and D. sabina (Lesueur, 1824)—from the northwestern Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico showed the presence of monocotylid monogeneans Thaumatocotyle Scott, 1904 in their nasal fossae. Specimens collected from D. centroura from the northern Atlantic were identified as T. dasybatis (MacCallum, 1916). This confirmed the incorrect type host attribution of D. pastinaca (Linnaeus, 1758), which does not occur in the geographic area where T. dasybatis was described. Monogeneans collected from D. americana and D. say in the western Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico were identified as T. longicirrus Hargis, 1955 and T. retorta Hargis, 1955, respectively, which corresponds to the opposite hosts attributed for each parasite species compared with their original description in the Gulf of Mexico. The species T. roumillati de Buron and Euzet, 2005 described from D. sabina in the northwestern Atlantic is reported for the first time in D. sabina from the Gulf of Mexico. Results clarify confusion in the literature regarding the hosts and habitats of Thaumatocotyle from dasyatids of the western Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico and support the oioxenous specificity of these monogeneans as well as their specificity for the nasal fossae of their hosts.


This paper presents an assessment of several published statistical regression models that relate software development effort to software size measured in function points. The principal concern with published models has to do with the number of observations upon which the models were based and inattention to the assumptions inherent in regression analysis. The research describes appropriate statistical procedures in the context of a case study based on function point data for 104 software development projects and discusses limitations of the resulting model in estimating development effort. The paper also focuses on a problem with the current method for measuring function points that constrains the effective use of function points in regression models and suggests a modification to the approach that should enhance the accuracy of prediction models based on function points in the future. >


Parallel measurement systems are widely used in modern manufacturing systems. It is not feasible to analyze this kind of measurement systems with the traditional MSA (measurement system analysis) method. Thus two measurement analysis models for the parallel measurement systems are put forward. One is for the analysis of the variation between the instruments and the other is for the analysis of the time variation of one instrument. In the first model, the different measurement instruments are seen as the source of variation. With this MSA model, the GR&R (gauge repeatability and reproducibility) of the parallel measurement system can be calculated. If the GR&R is less than 15 percent, the instruments of the parallel measurement systems can be seen as one. And in the second model, the time is seen as the source of variation and the stability of an instrument is analyzed. Based on the result of MSA, a SPC (statistical process control) model for the parallel measurement systems is put forward and the variation of the products and different instruments can be controlled at the same time. At last, a case in mobile telephone assembly is studied.


Sekkizhar composed Periyapuranam to exhibit greatness of Saivism and guide the people and king who has eagerly immersed in the themes of aham (love affairs) expressed in the kavyam of Civakacintamani. Therefore, there is no theme of love affairs beautifying songs of the Periyapuranam as in the case of Cintamani. However, there is a humble beauty in the Periyapuranam and the beauty is nothing but portrayal of beautiful elements of physical appearances of Saiva saints. The Periyapuranam which speaks Saiva saints portrays beauty of the saints. Periyapuranam comprises of lives of saints who are unequal in caste and economical hierarchy. The research paper studies how much Periyapuranam gives importance to exhibit beauty of the saints and in which manner the beauty of saints is articulated by Periyapuranam. The research paper reveals that Periyapuranam depicts modest beauty of physical appearances of Saiva saints with holy ash, rutratcam, holy thread, matted hair, white dress and shred dress. Besides, Periyapuranam shows that forms of mahamuni and ghost are conceived as the extra ordinary forms which can reach the God. Further, Periyapuranam tries to bring beauty of physical appearances of the orthodox saints in a kind of structure in view of competition between orthodox and heterodox system.


The quantitative evaluation of research performance in business administration has recently gained some attention in German-speaking countries. This holds especially for rankings of persons, which are discussed controversially. Rankings of academics can be constructed in two different ways, either based on journal rankings or based on citations. Despite citation based rankings promise some fundamental advantages, they are still not common in German-speaking business administration. However, the choice of the underlying data base is crucial. This paper argues that for German-speaking researchers in business administration (as an example for a non-English speaking scientific community in the social sciences) Google Scholar is an appropriate data base. Unfortunately, it contains some structural errors that require diligent corrections. With that in mind, all 1,572 members of the German Academic Association for Business Research (VHB, membership data by 2007) are ranked according to the citations of their recent publications (2005-2009). Obviously the citations follow a Pareto distribution amongst the scholars with large rank differences only at the top. The results are compared to those of the Handelsblatt-BWL-Ranking which is the most prominent journal based ranking of German-speaking academics in this discipline. It becomes clear that differences in method lead to different results.


Few now dispute that a few percent of the DNA of non-African humans is a legacy of interbreeding with Neanderthals. However, heterozygosity and mutation rate appear to be linked such that the loss of diversity associated with humans migrating out of Africa caused a mutational slowdown, allowing Africans to diverge more from both our common ancestor and Neanderthals. Here I use a range of contrasting tests aimed at distinguishing between mutation slowdown and introgression as explanations for the higher rates of base-sharing between non-Africans and Neanderthals. In every instance the mutation slowdown hypothesis fits better. Thus, while some interbreeding likely occurred, as evidenced by the finding of skeletons of admixed individuals, adaptive genes and the apparently large contribution of Denisovan DNA to Oceanian genomes, my results challenge the idea that non-Africans generally carry an appreciable Neanderthal legacy. My analysis shows that inferences about introgression may be unreliable unless variation in mutation rate linked to demographically induced changes in heterozygosity can be excluded as an alternative hypothesis.


Severe generalized degenerative myopathy was diagnosed in a population of captive bred satanic leaf-tailed geckoes (Uroplatus phantasticus). The diagnosis was based on characteristic histological changes and response to dietary therapy. This is the first reported case of nutritional myopathy in the satanic leaf-tailed gecko.


Pesticides are recognized as serious pollutants in the aquatic environment with the potential to cause genotoxic on the aquatic organism, especially fish. The micronucleus (MN) assay has been used to evaluate genotoxicity of many compounds in polluted ecosystems such pesticides. The aim of this study to determine genotoxic effect of methomyl-based pesticide on tilapia ( Oreochromis niloticus ). Fish were exposed to six different concentrations base on range finding test (0 ppm, 3.2 ppm, 4.2 ppm, 6.5 ppm, 8.7 ppm and 10 ppm) of methomyl-based pesticide. The micronucleus were collected from peripheral blood erythrocyte of fish after 96 h exposure. Peripheral blood samples smears were stained with Giemsa, MN frequencies were counted and statistically analyzed using one-way ANOVA. The result of this study showed after 96 hours exposed to methomyl-based pesticide, at concentration 0 ppm causes 0% mortality, at concentration to 3.2 ppm causes 30% mortality, at concentration 4.2 ppm causes 60% mortality, at concentration 6.5 ppm causes 70% mortality, at concentration 8.7 ppm causes 80% mortality, at concentration 10 ppm causes 100% mortality of fish test. Lethal Concentration 50 (LC50 - 96 hours) of methomy-base pesticide towards tilapia ( O . niloticus ) is 4.015 ppm. Through micronuclei assay during 96 hour exposure of methomyl-based pesticide, the result shows that frequencies of micronuclei in erythrocyte of fish test at concentration at 0ppm is 12‰, 18‰ and 16‰; at concentration at 3.2ppm is 33‰, 26‰ and 29‰; at concentration at 4.2ppm is 41‰, 38‰ and 46‰; at concentration at 6.5ppm is 68‰, 81‰ and 82‰; at concentration 8.7ppm is 133‰, 130‰ and 137‰; at concentration 10ppm is 163‰, 166‰ and 156‰. It revealed that methomyl-based pesticide exposure induced after 96 h significantly (P<0.05) increased genotoxic potentials simultaneous with increased concentration. Keywords: Genotoxic, Methomyl, Micronucleus Assay, Pesticide, Tilapia.


A system and method of performing off chip drive (OCD) and on-die termination (ODT) are provided. A common pull-up network composed of transistors and a common pull-down network composed of transistors are employed to implement both of these functions. In drive mode, the pull-up network is configured to produce a calibrated drive impedance when an "on" output is to be generated, and the pull-up network is configured to produce a calibrated drive impedance when an "off" output is to be generated. In termination mode, the pull-up network and the pull-down network are configured to produce a calibrated pull-up resistance and pull-down resistance respectively such that together, they form a split termination.