CARAT (Counselling, Assessment, Referral, Advice and Throughcare) schemes have been operational in prisons throughout England and Wales for three and a half years, designed to increase the support available to drug-using prisoners both during custody and on release. Specifically the CARAT service has a remit to 'bridge the gap' between custody and the community. However, to date there have been few attempts to evaluate schemes or their impact on throughcare provision. This article presents some research findings which highlight a number of shortcomings with current throughcare provision, many of these stemming from ineffective partnership working between the agencies that share responsibility for this. A qualitative design was used, employing semi-structured interviews to ascertain the beliefs and experiences of drug users and those working with them on either side of the prison gate. The authors propose a radical re-structuring of the services in place to support drug-using offenders on release, with the aim of promoting continuity of care, facilitating effective joint working between agencies and securing a responsive and accountable service for users.


Objectives: To investigate the value of two-dimensional combined with STIC technique to localize the VSD in fetus. Methods: From June 2010 to October 2010, 378 pregnant women were included in our study. GE Voluson E8 was used. The definition of the types of VSD: perimembrane type, isolated membrane type, subseptal valve type, subcrista type, intracrist type, and muscular type. The subseptal valve type and the inlet muscular type were confirmed in four-chamber view. Membrane type, perimembrane type, outlet muscular type were confirmed in left ventricle outlet view. Results: 27 ventricular septal defects were diagnosed by two dimensional echocardiography combined with STIC. The typy and located ventricular septal defect compared with autopsy and echocardiography after birth. The coincidence 92.5%. Conclusions: The type of ventricular septal defect can be diagnosed by two dimensional and STIC echocardiography.


Objectives:- Research examining the relationship between social support and longterm mental illness has, on the whole, failed to address the complexity of the processes involved in receiving support from relationships. As a result, few clinical implications have arisen from the research. The aim of this study was to gain a more detailed understanding about the nature and complexity of the factors that make it difficult for people with long-term mental health problems to form relationships with others and to utilise the social support that is potentially available. The study recruited participants who were suffering from schizophrenia or depression. The comparative element of the design aimed to provide an increased understanding of how the psychiatric disorders impacted on people's perceptions of their relationships, and how their relationships impacted on their emotional difficulties. Design:- The study employed a qualitative research paradigm using a grounded theory methodology. Method:- Two groups of participants were sought. One contained participants suffering from the symptoms of schizophrenia but not depression (the S group). The other contained participants suffering from severe unipolar depression (the D group). Face to face interviews were conducted using semi-structured interview schedules. The interviews aimed to develop a greater insight into users' perceptions of their past and current relationships, their beliefs about what friends are for and the way they form friendships, the types of interpersonal problems experienced, perceived contributory factors to these interpersonal difficulties and the nature of the support desired to help overcome them. Results:-Participant responses were analysed using aspects of the grounded theory method. Codes, categories and themes were generated from the data. Some themes were common to both groups. Others reflected important differences between them. Conclusions and Implications:-A tentative theoretical framework was developed to account for the responses given by the two groups to the research questions. The data generated from the responses given by S group participants suggested they had difficulties in reflecting on their own or others' mental states (i.e. difficulties in 'reflective functioning'). This had important implications not only for the way the S group described and made sense of their relationships, and could account for some of the different themes generated by the two groups, but also pointed to several new intervention strategies (particularly strategies for overcoming this group's social skills deficits). In contrast, the responses given by the D group suggested they had fewer difficulties in 'reflective functioning'. Rather, it appeared that negative internal working models of caring relationships, formed from earlier experiences in their family, had resulted in a deep suspicion of close relationships and a continued anticipation of betrayal and rejection. This theory also accounted for some of the different themes that emerged between the two groups. It also pointed to intervention strategies for the D group. These theories have been incorporated into, and contrasted with, existing theory and research developments. Hypothesised developmental frameworks have been proposed to account for the data. Methodological and conceptual issues in the research have also been addressed and suggestions made for future research.


DTU Orbit (06/10/2019) A New Comprehensive Approach for Predicting Injectivity Decline during Waterflooding Injectivity decline during sea waterflooding or produced water re-injection is widely observed in North Sea, Gulf of Mexico and Campos Basin fields. The formation damage occurs mainly due to the deposition of suspended solids around injectors and the build-up the external filter cakes in the well bores. The ability to predict injectivity decline accurately is of great importance for project designs and water management. A comprehensive model that incorporates a variety of factors influencing the process is desirable for the prediction. In this paper, a new comprehensive approach for predicting injectivity decline during water flooding is proposed. The deep bed filtration is described by novel stochastic random walk equations. The injectivity decline model takes into account the reservoir heterogeneity and the distribution of solid particles by sizes. It also accounts for the later formation of the external filter cake and its erosion. A piece of software SNY is developed with the proposed model. The model is able to capture the behaviors of the injectors in the field: the initial slow injectivity decline due to the deep bed filtration of suspended particles, the later faster decline due to the build-up of the external cake, and the temporary steady state due to the cake erosion. Stronger normal dispersion or median heterogeneity close to the injector leads to farther penetration of the particles and slower impedance increase. Neglecting the particle population heterogeneity may lead to the underestimation of formation damage and predicts late transition to external cake formation. The impedance at the steady state and the starting time are highly influenced by the cake properties. The impedance and the external cake thickness at the steady state are likely to be higher in horizontal wells than those in vertical wells.


Both hypoxia and insulin induce common target genes, including vascular endothelial growth factors and several glycolytic enzymes. However, these two signals eventually trigger quite different metabolic pathways. Hypoxia induces glycolysis, resulting in anaerobic ATP production, while insulin increases glycolysis for energy storage. Hypoxia-induced gene expression is mediated by the hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) that consists of HIF-1α and the aromatic hydrocarbon nuclear translocator (Arnt). Hypoxia-induced gene expression is initiated by the stabilization of the HIF-1α subunit. Here we investigated whether insulin-induced gene expression also requires stabilization of HIF-1α. Our results indicate that hypoxia but not insulin stabilizes HIF-1α protein levels, whereas both insulin- and hypoxia-induced gene expression require the presence of the Arnt protein. Insulin treatment fails to inactivate proline hydroxylation of HIF-1α, which triggers recruitment of the von Hippel-Lindau protein and oxygen-dependent degradation of HIF-1α. Insulin-induced gene expression is inhibited by the presence of the phosphoinositide (PI) 3-kinase inhibitor LY294002 and the dominant negative mutant of the p85 subunit of PI 3-kinase, whereas hypoxia-induced gene expression is not. Pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate, a scavenger of H2O2, reduces insulin-induced gene expression but not hypoxia-induced gene expression. Although both hypoxia and insulin induce the expression of common target genes through a hypoxia-responsive element- and Arnt-dependent mechanism, insulin cannot stabilize the HIF-1α protein. We believe that insulin activates other putative partner proteins for Arnt in PI 3-kinase- and H2O2-dependent pathways.


This paper presents experimental, numerical and analytical analysis of newly cast and pre-cracking flexural reinforced concrete beams strengthened with CFRP. In total, 9 intermediate-scale composite beams were cast and tested using 4-point bending test setup. Midspan deflection, width of the cracks, concrete and CFRP strains were measured during the experimental program. Clear efficiency of composite pre-cracked beams was observed in comparison to newly cast beams: enhanced flexural capacity and increased stiffness after appearance of primary cracks in tension zone. Good agreement was found comparing experimental and theoretical (EC2) deflections of RC beams strengthened with CFRP. However, for more detailed verification, the analysis should be extended with more specimens. The shear stress at the end of CFRP sheets between the concrete and CFRP increased rapidly until reaching maximum slip value, when the reinforced concrete beam strengthened with CFRP reaches 60-90 % utilization of load bearing capacity. All experimental results were compared with numerical and analytical calculations. Experimental, numerical and analytical results were in sufficiently good agreement.


The solar energy field has grown vastly in the past decades, and this trend seems to continue also in the future. But there is still a lot of work to be done in order to make solar energy competitive to other energy production systems. Because of this, there is constant research toward improving existing solar energy systems, and to find new materials to lower the initial cost and increase efficiency of energy producing units. Recently, a material called perovskite has received a lot of attention from the solar industry by potentially offering a cheap and efficient material for solar cell production. With efficiency increasing every year, this could potentially be the next dominant design for solar energy extraction. One of the main concerns brought up related to this new technology is the lead content of the perovskite solar cell. Because of the toxic nature of lead, and the potential of these cells to be produced in large quantities in the future, the possible impacts of lead to the environment have to be assessed.
This thesis consists of life cycle assessment of a perovskite solar cell and comparison to the currently most used common solar cell, which is the silicon solar cell. Several parameters were varied in the study in order to see which processes that have the largest influence to the environmental performance.
From the study, it was found that perovskite solar cells could be competitive with silicon solar cells from an environmental point of view if produced on a large scale. Management of lead use and emissions during the production process of perovskite cells had the largest impact on the results. If all of the lead used would be supplied from recycling, and emissions of lead from the cell itself during and after the use phase is completely prevented, perovskite cells show better environmental performance than silicon cells. Regarding manufacturing technology, the study showed that the blade coating technology is environmentally preferable over spin coating for large scale production of perovskite cells.


BACKGROUND
With the rapid growth of minority populations in the United States, the need to train healthcare providers to give culturally competent care has never been greater. Extensive research on cultural competence of healthcare providers has been conducted, but no systematic review specifically focused on the effect of cultural competence training on patient satisfaction of clients from minority groups.

AIMS
To search and critically appraise published research articles that evaluated the effectiveness of cultural competence training of healthcare providers on improving patient satisfaction of clients from minority groups.

METHODS
Using MeSH entry terms: Competency, Cultural; Cultural Competencies; Cultural Competence; Competence, Cultural; Satisfaction, Patient; and non-MeSh text words: Cultural Awareness, Cultural Sensitivity, Cultural Competence Training, Cultural Sensitivity Training, and Cultural Awareness Training, a comprehensive literature search of peer-reviewed articles from 2002 to 2014 in CINAHL, Cochrane, PsycINFO, PubMed, and Web of Science databases was conducted. Original studies that reported cultural competence training and measured its impact on patient satisfaction were included. Quality of the reviewed studies was assessed on the basis of methodological limitations related to experimental design, sample size and sampling approaches, and ethnic spread of the participants.

RESULTS
Seven studies met the inclusion criteria. Six studies revealed that cultural competence training intervention significantly increased the cultural competence level of healthcare providers. Five studies demonstrated that cultural competence training of healthcare providers was significantly associated with increased patient satisfaction.

LINKING EVIDENCE TO ACTION
Cultural competence training is an effective intervention that enables healthcare providers to give culturally competent care that increases satisfaction of patients from minority groups. However, more research with better research designs, large sample sizes, and validated standardized cultural competence and patient satisfaction assessment tools is needed to unequivocally attribute cultural competence training to patient satisfaction.


The central thesis developed in this paper is that snapshot views of the global measures of agricultural support mask what is really happening in U.S. and E.U. agricultural policies. We demonstrate that American and European farmers are effectively protected from market risk by these policies. The level of PSE is largely determined by the level of world price. Most economists do not pay much attention to the role of agricultural policies in income stability. Yet farm income stability is clearly a prime objective of government policy both in the E.U. and the U.S. and probably elsewhere. We need to turn out attention to this objective if we are to produce policy analysis relevant to real world policy decisions.


David Friedman posed a number of libertarian philosophical problems (Friedman 1989). This essay criticizes Walter Block's Rothbardian responses (Block 2011) and compares them with J C Lester's critical-rationalist, libertarian-theory responses (Lester 2000). The main issues are as follows. 1. Critical rationalism and how it applies to libertarianism. 2.1. How libertarianism is not inherently about law and is inherently about morals. 2.2. How liberty relates to property and can be maximized: carbon dioxide and radio waves. 2.3. Applying the theory to flashlights. 2.4. Applying the theory to the probability of imposed risks. 2.5. "Homesteading" or initial acquisition. 2.6 What is "essential" for a "true libertarian." 2.7. Crime and punishment. 2.8. Extent of punishment. 2.9. The libertarian response to a madman with a gun. 2.10. How contradictions in rights are possible. 2.11. The draft. 3.1. Utilitarian libertarianism and "nose counting". 3.2. How interpersonal comparisons of utility are possible and utility monsters are not a threat. 3.3. Why it is not utilitarian in practice to kill an innocent prisoner to prevent a riot. 3.4. Why David Friedman should not be forced to give up one of his eyes. 3.5. How utilitarians can be libertarians. Conclusion: a proper theory of liberty combined with critical rationalism offers superior solutions to Friedman's problems. Appendix: replies to two commentators.


Researchers at the University of Washington were surveyed to determine the biological criteria for dynamic positron emission imaging of rats. To be useful, 3-mm isotropic resolution and 2-3-s time binning were desirable characteristics for such a dedicated tomograph. A single plane in which two objects of interest could be imaged simultaneously was considered acceptable. Multilayered detector designs were evaluated as a possible solution to the dynamic acquisition and high-resolution imaging requirements. The University of Washington photon history generator was used to generate data to investigate a tomograph's sensitivity to true, scattered, and random coincidences for varying detector ring diameters. Intrinsic spatial uniformity advantages of multilayered detector designs over conventional detector designs were investigated using a Monte Carlo program. As a result, a modular two-layered detector prototype is being developed. A module will consist of a layer of five 3.5-mm-wide crystals and a layer of six 3.5-mm-wide crystals. It is believed that adequate sampling can be achieved with a stationary detector system using these modules. Economical crystal decoding strategies have been investigated, and simulations have been run to investigate optimum light channeling methods for block decoding strategies. >


Drug discovery attrition rates, particularly at advanced clinical trial stages, are high because of unexpected adverse drug reactions (ADR) elicited by novel drug candidates. Predicting undesirable ADRs produced by the modulation of certain protein targets would contribute to developing safer drugs, thereby reducing economic losses associated with high attrition rates. As opposed to the more traditional drug-centric approach, we propose a target-centric approach to predict associations between protein targets and ADRs. The implementation of the predictor is based on a machine learning classifier that integrates a set of eight independent network-based features. These include a network diffusion-based score, identification of protein modules based on network clustering algorithms, functional similarity among proteins, network distance to proteins that are part of safety panels used in preclinical drug development, set of network descriptors in the form of degree and betweenness centrality measurements, and conservation. This diverse set of descriptors were used to generate predictors based on different machine learning classifiers ranging from specific models for individual ADR to higher levels of abstraction as per MEDDRA hierarchy such as system organ class. The results obtained from the different machine-learning classifiers, namely, support vector machine, random forest, and neural network were further analyzed as a meta-predictor exploiting three different voting systems, namely, jury vote, consensus vote, and red flag, obtaining different models for each of the ADRs in analysis. The level of accuracy of the predictors justifies the identification of problematic protein targets both at the level of individual ADR as well as a set of related ADRs grouped in common system organ classes. As an example, the prediction of ventricular tachycardia achieved an accuracy and precision of 0.83 and 0.90, respectively, and a Matthew correlation coefficient of 0.70. We believe that this approach is a good complement to the existing methodologies devised to foresee potential liabilities in preclinical drug discovery. The method is available through the DocTOR utility at GitHub (https://github.com/cristian931/DocTOR).


This thesis examines the barriers, especially intellectual property rights concerned that inhibit industry academia collaboration. By analyzing Swedish firms in the engineering industry, I explore the influence of IPR barrier on firms' benefits, short- and long-term respectively from university-industry interaction. Three hypotheses are suggested to investigate the relationship between IPR barriers, firm categories, short-term benefits and long-term benefits. The results illustrate different firms' reactions to IPR barriers. According to the analysis, advanced firms are more likely to report IPR barriers. Moreover, they tend to benefit more in the long run. However, the short-term benefits from UI collaboration seem to have no significant relationship with IPR barriers. There is hence no proof in the data that IPR barriers are a significant hinder for firms to benefit from university-industry interaction.


The global rise of neoliberalism since the 1970s is widely seen as a dynamic originating in the United States and the United Kingdom, and only belatedly and partially repeated by Germany. From this Anglocentric perspective, Germany's emergence at the forefront of neoliberal reforms in the eurozone is perplexing, and tends to be attributed to the same forces conventionally associated with the Anglo-American pioneers. This book challenges this ruling narrative. It recasts the genesis of neoliberalism as a process driven by a plenitude of actors, ideas, and interests. And it lays bare the pragmatic reasoning and counterintuitive choices of German crisis managers obscured by this master story.
This book argues that German officials did not intentionally set out to promote neoliberal change. Instead they were more intent on preserving Germany's export markets and competitiveness in order to stabilize the domestic compact between capital and labor. Nevertheless, the series of measures German policy elites took to manage the end of golden-age capitalism promoted neoliberal transformation in crucial respects: it destabilized the Bretton Woods system; it undermined socialist and social democratic responses to the crisis in Europe; it frustrated an internationally coordinated Keynesian reflation of the world economy; and ultimately it helped push the US into the Volcker interest-rate shock that inaugurated the attack on welfare and labor under Reagan and Thatcher.
From this vantage point, the book illuminates the very different rationale behind the painful reforms German state managers have demanded of their indebted eurozone partners.


The α,ω-diacrylate poly(dimethylsiloxane) (DA-PDMS) containing vinyl ester of versatic acid/vinyl acetate (Veova-10/VAc) was prepared by emulsion copolymerization of (DA-PDMS), Veova-10 (with VAc), and auxiliary agents at 85 °C in the presence of ammonium peroxodisulfate (APS) as an initiator. Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and nonylphenol ethylene oxide-40 units (NP-40) were used as anionic and nonionic emulsifiers, respectively. The resulting copolymers were characterized by using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). Thermal properties of the copolymers were studied by using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The morphology of copolymers was also investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and then the effects of variables such as temperature, agitation speed, surfactant kinds, molecular weights, initiator, and DA-PDMS concentrations on the properties of the silicone-containing Veova-10/VAc emulsions were examined. The calculation of monomer conversion versus time histories indicates that by increasing the DA-PDMS concentration the polymerization rate and the number of polymer particles decrease, respectively.


Pupillary dilation to perform binocular indirect ophthalmoscopy and gain three dimensional evaluation of the disc, cup and macula is a routine part of optometric practice. However, many patients find the resulting photophobia and loss of near vision to be an inconvenience. Therefore, clinical interest in ophthalmic agents that will safely reverse the pharmacologically induced mydriasis and cycloplegia have existed for over fifty years. 0.5% dapiprazole HCL is a relatively new adrenergic agent reported to reverse the effects of pupillary dilation and cycloplegia secondary to tropicamide, phenylephrine hydrochloride and other analogs.2 To date, there have been no studies published to show the effects of dapiprazole on cyclopentolate, another popular cycloplegic/mydriatic agent. In this study, the clinical usefulness and efficacy of dapiprazole in reversing the effects of cyclopentolate were studied. A placebo in a masked (single blind) study was used. Bilateral cycloplegia was used to eliminate any residual accommodation that might have existed between the two eyes. Twenty seven subjects were tested: nine were used as controls, and eighteen were used as experimentals. The experimental group received two drops of dapiprazole administered five minutes apart in each eye 30 minutes after instillation of the cycloplegic drops. The control group received two drops of ocular lubricant administered five minutes apart. The diagnostic agents used for the experimental group were one drop each of 0.5% proparacaine and 1% cyclopentolate. Pupil diameter, amplitude of accommodation, and intraocular pressure were evaluated on each patient. These measurements were taken: (1) before instillation of the cycloplegic agents; (2) prior to instillation of dapiprazole (1 hour after cycloplegia); and (3) at 30, 60, 120, and 180 minutes after the final instillation of dapiprazole. Results indicated no significant difference on positive relative accommodation or negative relative accommodation, or pupil diameter, but with a statistically significant difference in the other variable: decreased lOP. Suggestive trends to dapiprazole's effects on cyclopentolate do exist that could be turned into statistical trends with an increase in number of test subjects and thier ages.


Krypton and xenon have been discovered in the martian atmosphere with the mass spectrometer on the second Viking lander. Krypton is more abundant than xenon. The relative abundances of the krypton isotopes appear normal, but the ratio of xenon-129 to xenon-132 is enhanced on Mars relative to the terrestrial value for this ratio. Some possible implications of these findings are discussed.


OBJECTIVE
Experimental and clinical studies support a role for the fetus in the control of the onset of labor. Fetal systemic inflammation, but not a maternal inflammatory response, has been linked to the onset of preterm labor and delivery on the basis of the determination of inflammatory cytokines in fetal and maternal blood. We propose that parturition requires fetomaternal cooperation and that inflammation is an integral part of the parturitional process. This study used flow cytometry, a sensitive technique for the detection of intravascular inflammation, to assess whether maternal inflammation is present in preterm labor.

STUDY DESIGN
A prospective cross-sectional study was performed including patients with preterm labor (n = 55) and women with normal pregnancy (n = 50). Intravascular inflammation was studied by using flow cytometry. Maternal blood was assayed to determine granulocyte and monocyte phenotype by using monoclonal antibodies, which included the following cluster of differentiation (CD) markers: CD11b, CD14, CD15, CD16, CD18, CD49d, CD62L, CD64, CD66b, and HLA-DR. Oxidative burst and generation of basal intracellular oxygen radical species were assessed. Statistical analysis was conducted with the use of nonparametric methods. A P value of <.01 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS
Preterm labor was associated with a significant increase in the median mean channel brightness of CD11b, CD15, and CD66b on granulocytes and median mean channel brightness of CD11b and CD15 on monocytes. The ratio of oxidative burst over basal intracellular oxygen radical species in both granulocytes and monocytes was increased in preterm labor (P <. 01).

CONCLUSION
Preterm labor with intact membranes is associated with phenotypic and metabolic changes of maternal granulocytes and monocytes.


On March 16 2020, French authorities ordered a large scale lockdown to counter the COVID-19 epidemic wave rising in the country, stopping non-essential economic, educational, and entertainment activities, maintaining mainly food retailers and healthcare institutions. One month later, the number of new hospitalizations and ICU admissions had reached a plateau and were beginning a slow descent. We developed a spatialized, deterministic, age-structured, and compartmental SARS-CoV-2 transmission model able to reproduce the pre-lockdown dynamic of the epidemic in each of the 13 French metropolitan regions. Thanks to this model, we estimate, at regional and national levels, the total number of hospitalizations, ICU admissions, hospital beds requirements (hospitalization and ICU), and hospital deaths which may have been prevented by this massive and unprecedented intervention in France. If no control measures had been set up, between March 19 and April 19 2020, our analysis shows that almost 23% of the French population would have been affected by COVID-19 (14.8 million individuals). Hence, the French lockdown prevented 587,730 hospitalizations and 140,320 ICU admissions at the national level. The total number of ICU beds required to treat patients in critical conditions would have been 104,550, far higher than the maximum French ICU capacity. This first month of lockdown also permitted to avoid 61,739 hospital deaths, corresponding to a 83.5% reduction of the total number of predicted deaths. Our analysis shows that in absence of any control measures, the COVID-19 epidemic would have had a critical morbidity and mortality burden in France, overwhelming in a matter of weeks French hospital capacities.


Composite silicon dioxide-titanium dioxide (SiO 2 -TiO 2 ) films are deposited on a large area of 15.6 × 15.6 cm textured multicrystalline silicon solar cells to increase the incident light trapped within the device. For further improvement of the antireflective coatings (ARCs) quality, dimethylformamide (DMF) solution is added to the original SiO 2 -TiO 2 solutions. DMF solution solves the cracking problem, thus effectively decreasing reflectance as well as surface recombination. The ARCs prepared by sol-gel process and plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) on multicrystalline silicon substrate are compared. The average efficiency of the devices with improved sol-gel ARCs is 16.3%, only 0.5% lower than that of devices with PECVDARCs (16.8%). However, from equipment depreciation point of view (the expiration date of equipment is generally considered as 5 years), the running cost (USD/watt) of sol-gel technique is 80% lower than that of PECVD method for the first five years and 66% lower than that of PECVD method from the start of the sixth year. This result proves that sol-gel-deposited ARCs process has potential applications in manufacturing low-cost, large-area solar cells.


Abstract Purpose: To determine the prevalence of falls in the 12 months prior to cataract surgery and examine the associations between visual and other risk factors and falls among older bilateral cataract patients in Vietnam. Methods: Data collected from 413 patients in the week before scheduled cataract surgery included a questionnaire and three objective visual tests. Results: The outcome of interest was self-reported falls in the previous 12 months. A total of 13% (n = 53) of bilateral cataract patients reported 60 falls within the previous 12 months. After adjusting for age, sex, race, employment status, comorbidities, medication usage, refractive management, living status and the three objective visual tests in the worse eye, women (odds ratio, OR, 4.64, 95% confidence interval, CI, 1.85–11.66), and those who lived alone (OR 4.51, 95% CI 1.44–14.14) were at increased risk of a fall. Those who reported a comorbidity were at decreased risk of a fall (OR 0.43, 95% CI 0.19–0.95). Contrast sensitivity (OR 0.31, 95% CI 0.10–0.95) was the only significant visual test associated with a fall. These results were similar for the better eye, except the presence of a comorbidity was not significant (OR 0.45, 95% CI 0.20–1.02). Again, contrast sensitivity was the only significant visual factor associated with a fall (OR 0.15, 95% CI 0.04–0.53). Conclusion: Bilateral cataract patients in Vietnam are potentially at high risk of falls and in need of falls prevention interventions. It may also be important for ophthalmologists and health professionals to consider contrast sensitivity measures when prioritizing cataract patients for surgery and assessing their risk of falls.


Several arguments suggest that minimal change nephrotic syndrome (MCNS) results from yet unknown systemic disorder of T cell function. By screening a cDNA library from T cell relapse, we identified a new pleckstrin homology (PH) domain-containing protein encoded by a gene located on chromosome 16q24. Two alternative transcripts were identified. The first species (c-mip) was expressed in fetal liver, kidney, and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), but weakly detected in PBMCs from MCNS patients. The second form (Tc-mip, standing for truncated c-maf inducing protein), corresponds to subtracted transcript and lacks the NH2-terminal PH domain. The expression of Tc-mip was restricted to fetal liver, thymus, and MCNS PBMCs where it was specifically recruited in CD4+ T cells subset. Overexpression of Tc-mip in T cell Jurkat induced c-maf, transactivated the interleukin 4 gene and down-regulated the interferon γ expression, characteristic of a Th2 commitment. Moreover, the overexpression of Tc-mip induced Src phosphorylation, T cell clustering, and a cellular redistribution of the cytoskeleton-associated L-plastin, by a PI3 kinase independent pathway. Tc-mip represents therefore the first identified protein, which links proximal signaling to c-maf induction.


Purpose: In recent years, safety has become an important issue in developing countries and has attracted much attention from many organizations. In this regard, the present study aims to investigate the effect of organizational culture on safety performance in the regional electricity distribution organization in Gilan province.
Methods: The present research is an applied descriptive study. The statistical population of the research included 1311 employees of regional electricity distribution organization of Gilan province, 286 of whom were chosen as the sample through random sampling method and the required data were collected using the questionnaire. After examining the validity (content) and reliability of the questionnaire, the research hypotheses were tested using structural equation modeling method and based on Smart PLS2 software.
Result: The findings show that (1) management commitment culture to safety on creating a safe work environment, (2) creating a safe work environment on concurrent engineering, (3) creating a safe work environment to design-for-safety and (4) design-for-safety on safety performance, have a significant effect. However, the effect of concurrent engineering on safety performance was not confirmed. The results also indicate that the model variables explain 73.9% of safety performance variations.
Conclusions: The results can be used as a suitable procedure to explain the safety performance of employees of regional electricity organization in Gilan province. In addition, they provide a situation for managers to develop policies to improve safety performance by promoting predictive variables.


We have studied, by means of simulations and experiments, the interaction between the electromagnetic field, generated by excimer laser, and Si device. This study strictly refers to laser annealing process, recently attracting a broad interest as an alternative thermal treatment. Our numerical methodology is based on coupling the simulation of the electromagnetic field, for the calculation of the heat source distribution, and the simulations of the thermal, phase, and impurity fields. Simulations of laser irradiation in metal-oxide-semiconductor transistor structures are discussed and compared to the corresponding experimental analysis. Our results are useful to understand problematics and perspectives of the laser annealing application in the fabrication of scaled devices.


OBJECTIVE
To identify the social representation guiding decisions of parents of teenage drug users to face consumption of their children.

MATERIAL AND METHODS
A qualitative study using free lists, characterization questionnaires, and in-depth interviews was performed among 60 systematically selected parents of young drug users who were receiving treatment in Centros de Integración Juvenil. Data analysis included correlations and interpretive analysis.

RESULTS
Three stages were identified: 1) discovery of the addiction, characterized by parental disappointment; 2) permanence: The highest in duration, resource investment, and losses; and 3) withdrawal: Featured by seeking health services.

CONCLUSIONS
The representation that guided parental decisions was "the offer of a better world", which stemmed from the social, cultural, and family context that revolves around consumption and that was sustained by two beliefs: "Learning from mistakes" and "where there is a will there is a way".


Myeloproliferative neoplasms are clonal stem cell disorders characterized by hematopoietic stem/progenitor cell expansion. The acquired kinase mutation JAK2V617F plays a central role in these disorders. Abnormalities of the marrow microenvironment are beginning to be recognized as an important factor in the development of myeloproliferative neoplasms. Endothelial cells are an essential component of the hematopoietic vascular niche. Endothelial cells carrying the JAK2V617F mutation can be detected in patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms, suggesting that the mutant vascular niche is involved in the pathogenesis of these disorders. Here, using a transgenic mouse expressing JAK2V617F specifically in all hematopoietic cells (including hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells) and endothelial cells, we show that the JAK2V617F-mutant hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells are relatively protected by the JAK2V617F-bearing vascular niche from an otherwise lethal dose of irradiation during conditioning for stem cell transplantation. Gene expression analysis revealed that chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 12, epidermal growth factor, and pleiotrophin are up-regulated in irradiated JAK2V617F-bearing endothelial cells compared to wild-type cells. Our findings suggest that the mutant vascular niche may contribute to the high incidence of disease relapse in patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms following allogeneic stem cell transplantation, the only curative treatment for these disorders.


Theoretical bases of creation, stages of development, normative-and-legal base, structure and problems of a All-Russia service of disaster medicine are stated. In article some questions about experience of rendering of the medical aid to the injured in the extreme situations (North Caucus region, Sakhalin, Budenovsk, Irkutsk), training of personnel, creation of reserves of medical property for extreme situations, organization of service management are submitted. The federal program "Perfection of All-Russia service of disaster medicine on 1997-2001 years" is considered in detail. Language: ru


Background: Naringin, pharmaceutically active flavonoid, rapidly metabolizes in liver into naringenin. Both naringin and naringenin have significant biological activity and less toxicity. Objective: In the present study, in silico molecular interactions of naringin and its metabolite naringenin have been evaluated against different human liver fibrosis proteins. Materials and Methods: The major human therapeutic protein targets such as epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR-2), fibroblast growth factor receptor-1 (FGFR1), Kelch-like ECH-associated protein-1 (Kaep1), transforming growth factor beta receptor I (TGFBR-1), angiotensin II receptor type-1 (Angio-II-Type-1), Janus kinase-2 (JAK-2), Zeta-chain-associated protein kinase-70 (ZAP-70) have been selected for the docking studies. This computational study was performed using Schrödinger Suite Maestro 10.3 Glide software 2015. Results: The studies demonstrated comparable binding affinities of naringin and naringenin with human therapeutic protein targets such as JAK-2, ZAP-70 Kinase, Angio-II-Type 1, TGFBR1, Kaep1, EGFR, VEGFR-2, and FGFR1 when compared to their respective standard drugs such as gefitinib, regorafenib, dovitinib, bardoxolone methyl, SB-431542, olmesartan, and ruxolitinib. Naringin showed better glide score ranging from −8.5 to −13.3 kcal/mol whereas its metabolite Naringenin also showed comparable glide score ranging from −5.4 to −9.3 kcal/mol. The binding of target proteins with respective standard drugs showed −2.2 to −10.12 kcal/mol. Conclusion: The observed in silico human protein interactions of naringin and its metabolite naringenin could be exploited for the anti-liver fibrosis therapy. The results derived from this pioneering virtual study may advance further mechanistic in vitro and preclinical in vivo studies. Abbreviations used: Jak-2: Janus kinase-2, ZAP-70: Zeta-chain-associated protein kinase-70, Angio-II-type-1: Angiotensin II receptor type-1, TGFBR1: Transforming growth factor beta receptor I, Kaep1: Kelch-like ECH-associated protein-1, EGFR: Epidermal growth factor receptor, VEGFR-2: Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2, FGFR1 kinase: Fibroblast growth factor receptor-1.


[The author examines various trends and methodological developments in African Christian theology, particularly processes of "ordering" and subsequently "disordering" as a particularly African theological method. His framework suggests that colonialists and theologians shared a common purpose, namely ordering, and as a result, theology and colonialism developed related methodologies of ordering knowledge. In the postcolonial era a process of theological disordering is taking place led, among others, by François Kabasele Lumbala and his conception of the body within African liturgical theology.]


Regulators need a method that is versatile, is easy to use and can handle complex path models with latent (not directly observable) variables. In a first application of partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) in financial stress testing, we demonstrate how PLS-SEM can be used to explain the transmission of systemic risk. We model this transmission of systemic risk from shadow banking to the regulated banking sector (RBS) using a set of indicators (directly observable variables) that are sources of systemic risk in shadow banking and consequences of systemic risk measured in the RBS. Procedures for predictive model assessment using PLS-SEM are outlined in clear steps. Statistically significant results based on predictive modeling indicate that around 75% of the variation in systemic risk in the RBS can be explained by microlevel and macrolevel linkages that can be traced to shadow banking (we use partially simulated data). The finding that microlevel linkages have a greater impact on the contagion of systemic risk highlights the type of significant insight that can be generated through PLS-SEM. Regulators can use PLS-SEM to monitor the transmission of systemic risk, and the demonstrated skills can be transferred to any topic with latent constructs.


Two size fractions of atmospheric particulate matter < 2.5 µm and 2.5-10 µm were collected in Kenitra City from February 2007 to February 2008. The sampling was done using a Gent Stacked sampler on nuclepore polycarbonate filters and the collected filters were analyzed using Total Reflection X-Ray Fluorescence (TXRF) and Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS). The particulate matter trends show higher concentrations during the summer as compared to other seasons. The highest concentrations were obtained for Ca in coarse particles and Fe for fine particles. However, the lowest concentrations were observed for Cd in both particulate sizes. The principal component analysis (PCA) based on multivariate study enabled the identification of soil, road dust and traffic emissions as common sources for coarse and fine particles.


A recent study has found an explosive synchronization in a Kurammoto model on scale-free networks when the natural frequencies of oscillators are equal to their degrees. In this work, we introduce a quantity to characterize the correlation between the structural and the dynamical properties and investigate the impacts of the correlation on the synchronization transition in the Kuramoto model on scale-free networks. We find that the synchronization transition may be either a continuous one or a discontinuous one depending on the correlation and that strong correlation always postpones both the transitions from the incoherent state to a synchronous one and the transition from a synchronous state to the incoherent one. We find that the dependence of the synchronization transition on the correlation is also valid for other types of distributions of natural frequency.


Higher education faces the challenge of high student attrition, which is especially disconcerting if associated with low participation rates, as is the case in South Africa. Recently, the use of learning analytics has increased, enabling institutions to make data-informed decisions to improve teaching, learning, and student success. Most of the literature thus far has focused on "at-risk" students. The aim of this paper is twofold: to use learning analytics to define a different group of students, termed the "murky middle" (MM), early enough in the academic year to provide scope for targeted interventions; and to describe the learning strategies of successful students to guide the design of interventions aimed at improving the prospects of success for all students, especially those of the MM. We found that it was possible to identify the MM using demographic data that are available at the start of the academic year. The students in the subgroup were cleanly defined by their grade 12 results for physical sciences. We were also able to describe the learning strategies that are associated with success in first-year biology. This information is useful for curricular design, classroom practice, and student advising and should be incorporated in professional development programs for lecturers and student advisors.


O n 17 February, John W. Gardner died in Stanford, California, at the age of 90. Science does not ordinarily run obituaries, having decided long ago that saluting some worthy lives and ignoring others offered more possibilities to offend than to reward. This page, however, is open to co-option for a more personal kind of editorial farewell. I'm taking advantage of that, but I promise that it won't happen often.

John Gardner's is an American story, but I think it will have meaning for Science 's many friends abroad as well. Our long-term readers will remember that he served as secretary of the Department of Health, Education and Welfare during an especially bright period for science, education, and health in the United States. Appointed in 1965 by President Lyndon Johnson, Gardner described the still uncharted landscape of the future Great Society in this way: "What we have before us are some breathtaking opportunities disguised as insoluble problems." In the 3 years that followed, he launched Medicare, enforced the 1964 Civil Rights Act, and presided over remarkable growth in the nation's support for biomedical research. He resigned in 1968 at the height of the Vietnam War protest. A decade later, when I had come to head an agency in his old department, I discovered that working folks all over the place still remembered his tenure with pride and affection—not a surprising memory to have about a boss who once said "the first and last task of a leader is to keep hope alive."

Even the generation of scientists too young to have known that period owe Gardner a debt for having built a big part of the infrastructure that now supports health research in the United States. But we all should be grateful to him for something else, too. Before his term in federal office, he had led both the Carnegie Corporation and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and laid the groundwork for the White House Fellows program. And after he left government, he played a founding or sustaining role in one vital civic organization after another: first the Urban League, then Common Cause, and then Independent Sector. In this later part of his life, he gradually emerged as the nation's civic conscience, arguing powerfully for citizen engagement with public need and then creating and leading new organizations that could implement that vision.

In this work and in his earlier books [for example, Excellence (1961) and Self-Renewal (1964)], he undertook an uncommonly thoughtful exploration of the relationship between individual and society. He had a deep grasp of the chronic paradox in American life, one noted by de Tocqueville (among other wise European visitors): Our frontier devotion to personal freedom, even license, on the one hand; and our strongly felt commitment to social order on the other. It is a topic visited by many scholars, but Gardner had a unique ability to extract the essence of this age-old dilemma. He once compressed it into a nine-word summary of the social contract. "Freedom and responsibility, liberty and duty: that's the deal." That is, indeed, the deal. In formulating it in this way, he reminds us, as he often did, that we need one another and that our society needs each of us.

He also became a counselor and advisor to a host of younger people. Having started life as an academic (Ph.D. in psychology, University of California, Berkeley; assistant professor of Psychology, Connecticut College) he never stopped being a teacher; and one knew, without being told directly, that his mentorship carried a lifetime warranty. A frequent theme of his advice was that lives are built on the promises we make to others; he once told a group of Stanford students: "People run around searching for identity, but it isn't handed out free any more—not in this transient, rootless, pluralistic society. Your identity is what you've committed yourself to."

A colleague once asked him for advice on a choice, in which the preferred option contained a fairly rich mixture of risk and reward. He thought for a while, and then said this: "You don't want to die with the music still in you." John Gardner left all his music here. It belongs to a legion of beneficiaries, to whom his gift was a special kind of personal inspiration. What a life; what a legacy; what an uncommon man.


This article analyses the trajectories into teacher education of a group of child minders who are studying to become pre-school teachers. The specific focus is what impact their prior experiences and learning from pre-school have on their trajectories, and how these experiences and learning are recognised in the first year of teacher education. A situated learning perspective is applied, with a focus on participation and trajectories in the two communities of practice in which teacher education is situated – the university and the pre-school. The data consist of transcribed interviews with ten student teachers, and additional data are gathered from stakeholders in the program. The results show that prior experiences and learning are given implicit and indirect recognition. In the practice of the pre-school, the trajectory means a shift in identity, from child minder to student teacher and pre-school teacher. In the practice of the university, prior experiences and learning help students in their trajectories from peripheral to fuller participation.


Discusses the OTIS (Occupational Therapy Internet School) experience in providing Internet-based courses to student and professional occupational therapists in four centres across Europe. It uses a problem-based learning approach to promote collaboration between students based in several different European countries, who study and evaluate different strategies for the assessment and treatment of patients across Europe. Some of the issues arising from the development of this pilot course are discussed, together with the experiences of the project team in bringing it through to a successful pilot. These have included not only technical matters, but also managerial, pedagogical and classroom control issues, which are often neglected. Only if all these are addressed can large-scale distance learning activities be developed.


Effective management of educational change is an important element in ensuring our sustainable competitive advantage. Realizing this, the research was carried out to identify the external and internal factors that influence changes in schools. Based on extensive review of literature, the researcher had identified the three change management processes practiced in effective school. These processes
were defreezing, moving and refreezing. A case study method was utilized, triangulated data were gathered through the
use of participant observation and interviews with two group of respondents, that is, the principals and teachers of three selected schools. For the purpose of interviews, two set of semi-structured guide questions were prepared.
The result of the analysis indicated that respondents had a fairly good understanding of educational change. Principals with an in-depth understanding of the importance of educational change succeeded in managing change
effectively. The external factors perceived as influencing the change in school were identified as politics, social, economics and technological development. The internal factors that influences the change management in school were identified as schools leadership which includes the knowledge and experience of the principal. Teachers' past experiences and workload influence teachers
attitudes towards change. The analysis also revealed that effective change managers practiced the three change management processes effectively. Sample schools were found to implement the process of defreezing by dissemination of
information to their teachers by various approaches. The process of moving was executed by having talks and in-house training while refreezing by having a continuous staff develoment programmes and teachers recognitions. The study
also showed that effective change management would have effects on the organizational cultures and the school norms. It was also found that proper recognition for teachers would increase their self esteem and thus their
receptivity towards educational change. As a summary, the study verified that effective change management in schools depends on the competencies of the schools management to execute the three prosesses of managing change effectively.


With increased use of ultrasound in early pregnancy, detection of adnexal masses in pregnancy has become more common. Adnexal masses in pregnancy have a wide spectrum of clinical manifestations and imaging characteristics. Therefore, it is important that the obstetrician be skilled in the diagnosis and management of adnexal masses in pregnancy. Common adnexal lesions seen in pregnancy include simple cysts, hemorrhagic cysts, leiomyomas, and hyperstimulated ovaries in patients who have undergone fertility treatments. Adnexal masses associated with pain include ovarian torsion and heterotopic pregnancy. Some adnexal lesions are detected incidentally that includes teratomas, endometriomas, hydrosalpinx, cystadenoma, and cystadenocarcinoma. Sonography is important in diagnosing, monitoring, and determining the malignant potential of these adnexal masses. In the absence of symptoms or sonographic findings concerning for malignancy, patients should be expectantly managed. However, an adnexal mass suspicious for malignancy, at risk for torsion, or clinically symptomatic, surgical management is recommended. When surgery is indicated, laparoscopy is safe and feasible and both perinatal and maternal outcomes are favorable when performed by trained and experienced operators.


We have modelled the process of reionization of the intergalactic medium (IGM) by photoionization by galaxies, in order to learn what galaxy formation in the framework of the cold dark matter (CDM) model predicts for the epoch of reionization. We use a sophisticated semi-analytic model of galaxy formation to track the formation of these galaxies, their influence on the IGM and the back reaction of the state of the IGM on further galaxy formation. Our study represents a much more complete and physically consistent modelling of reionization than has been conducted in the past. In particular, compared to previous work by ourselves and others, our new calculations contain significant improvements in the modelling of the effects of reionization of the IGM on the collapse of baryons into dark matter haloes (this is now computed self-consistently from the properties of model galaxies), and in the model for the cooling and condensation of gas within haloes (our new model includes photoheating from a self-consistently computed ionizing background and also includes cooling due to molecular hydrogen). We find that reionization can be achieved by z∼ 10–20 in a ΛCDM cosmological model with σ8≈ 0.9. However, a cosmological model with a running spectral index is only able to achieve reionization before z≈ 9, and thus be consistent with an optical depth of 0.1, if very extreme assumptions are made about the physics of feedback at high redshifts. We also consider the specific galaxy formation model recently discussed by Baugh et al., which includes a top-heavy initial mass function (IMF) in starbursts, and find that it is able to reionize the Universe by z≈ 12. The previous results assume that all of the ionizing photons produced by stars in galaxies are able to escape and ionize the IGM. If this is not the case, then the redshift of reionization could be substantially reduced. We find that extended periods of partial reionization and double reionizations can occur in models in which the first stars formed via cooling by H2 molecules, are very massive, and in which the escape fraction of ionizing photons ∼10–30 per cent. Such models do not fully reionize until z≈ 6–7, but predict an electron scattering optical depth as large as 0.15. The recent Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP) three-year data suggest lower values of σ8= 0.7–0.8. Models with lower σ8 have reduced redshifts of reionization, consistent with the lower optical depth also suggested by the WMAP three-year data.


Compact disc players have problems playing discs with surface defects such as scratches and finger prints. The problem is that handling normal disturbances such as mechanical shocks etc, require a high bandwidth of the controllers which keep the optical pick-up focused and radial tracked on the information track on the disc. In order for the controllers to handle the surface defects it is required that they are non-sensitive to the frequency contents of the defect, since a defect can be viewed as a disturbance on the measurements. A simple solution to this problem is to decrease the controller bandwidth during the defect. However, due to the variation of defects a more adaptive control strategy would be preferable. In this paper the defects are categorised into three groups. A discriminator is designed, based on the local most discriminating basis vectors of the Karhunen-Loeve and Haar basis as well as the mean of defect groups vectors. In these basis the discrimination rule is simple. The defect in question is a member of the group it is closest too. The Karhunen-Loeve basis gives a correct classification rate of more than 85.7% with 3 basis vectors and the Haar basis of more than 94.6% with 5 basis vectors.


ABSTRACT Food deprivation 24 h before stress increases bacterial translocation in hemorrhage. Presently it tested whether hyperosmolality, induced by exogenous glucose infusion to improve plasma refill, prevents or reduces bacterial translocation after experimental hemorrhage in 24 h food-deprived rats. Rats were given an i.v. infusion of either 2 mL of 30% glucose (G) or the same volume of .9% NaCl (C) while simultaneously being submitted to a standardized 60 min hemorrhage period, of moderate or more severe hemorrhage. Blood was not reinfused. Despite development of marked hyperglycemia (p < .001, G vs. C) resulting in significantly greater reductions in packed cell volume (p < .001, G vs. C), bacterial translocation was detected similarly in both groups regardless of whether moderate (10/12-G, 9/12-C) or severe (15/19-G, 15/18-C) hemorrhage was inflicted. It was concluded that hyperglycemic hyperosmolality did not prevent bacterial translocation in these models of hemorrhagic stress in 24 h-starved rats.


The effect of various concentrations of benzotriazole (C6H5N3) on plant morphology, days taken for first flowering, pollen fertility and yield in Helianthus annuus var. MSFH-17 was studied. All the treatments with this chemical hybridizing agent caused reduction in plant height, pollen fertility and yield component. One or two spray of 1% benzotriazole caused insignificant reduction in height and other parameters; however, these treatments induced almost complete pollen sterility among treated plants. On the other hand, the flowering was delayed in benzotriazole treated plants, in comparison to control ones. Plants treated once and twice with 1.0% benzotriazole showed 23.01 and 22.22 g total seed yield/plant, in comparison to 23.68 g total yield/plant produced by control plants. This reduction in yield was insignificant as analyzed by paired student's 't' test. The seeds of 1.5% benzotriazole treated plants showed significant enhancement in total yield in F1 generation from that of control plants due to heterotic effect.


The effect of long-term administration of acetazolamide on the potassium balance of 15 glaucoma patients was studied. Average duration of treatment was two years. No total body potassium depletion was noted; serum potassium was below normal in one case (3.1 mEq/liter). Administration of potassium chloride (average dose, 58 mEq daily) did not cause a lowering of intraocular pressure; nor did it appear to alter potassium balance. Patients receiving long-term treatment with acetazolamide were unable to excrete concentrated urine (serum osmolarity per urine osmolarity ratio of 1:2.3 after an 18-hour fast). Three of 15 patients developed urinary tract disease. Patients on long-term acetazolamide therapy rarely need supplemental potassium. Where advisable, it is best provided by a diet high in potassium-rich foods, as enteric-coated preparations may cause small-bowel ulceration.


This study is focused on the development and validation of a concept test in Introductory Physics for Biology students as a diagnostic tool, a misconception test, a formative assessment tool, and a summative test. Its final form is a 50-item multiple-choice concept test in Introductory Physics for Biology 1st term (Mechanics, Fluids & Heat) students wherein each item has four choices. One among the choices serves as the correct answer while the rest are considered distracters. It was originally developed as a 67-item multiple-choice concept test in Introductory Physics for Biology students covering all the topics specified in the syllabus of the course offered at the Philippine Normal University. Classical test item analysis and validation were conducted to establish test validity while item reliability was tested using Cronbach's Alpha, which was 0.67, and K-R 21, which was 0.70. Analysis of the distracters was done to determine the Physics misconceptions that can be diagnosed by the instrument. The misconception diagnostic capability of the test is a feature, which can be of help to Physics teachers for better concept understanding of students.


A novel scanning probe measurement system has been developed to achieve precise profile measurements of micro-aspheric surfaces. The system consists of a scanning stage (a spindle and a linear slide) and a sensor unit. The sensor unit consists of a ring artifact, two capacitance sensors and a contact-mode displacement sensor. The two capacitance sensors scan the surface of the ring artifact to measure and compensate the error motions of the scanning stage while the contact-mode displacement sensor scans the surface of a micro-aspheric. In this paper, a new contact-mode displacement sensor that has a small contact force of less than 2.3 mN and a stable output has been developed. After investigating the fundamental performance of the contact-mode displacement sensor, the sensor has been applied to the micro-aspheric surface profile measurement system. The effectiveness of the measurement system has been verified by the measurement results.


Understanding the dynamics of many-body systems is crucial for understanding, e.g., thermalization or transmission of information. Nevertheless, little is known in the case of quantum systems with long-range interactions. Here, we analyze the long-range Ising model in a transverse field, where interactions decay as a power-law with distance $\propto r^{-\alpha}$, $\alpha>0$. Using complementary numerical and analytical techniques, we identify three dynamical regimes: short-range-like with an emerging light cone for $\alpha>2$; weakly long-range for $1<\alpha<2$ without a clear light cone but with a finite propagation speed of excitations; and fully non-local for $\alpha<1$ with instantaneous transmission of correlations. This last regime breaks generalized Lieb--Robinson bounds. Numerical calculation of the entanglement spectrum demonstrates that the usual picture of propagating quasi-particles remains valid for long-range interactions. This allows an intuitive interpretation in terms of qualitative changes to the spin-wave dispersion, leading to diverging quasi-particle velocities in the long-range regime. Our results may be tested in state-of-the-art trapped-ion experiments.


Background: Aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL) require intensive therapies which seemed impracticable in elderly patients. Dose reduction and therapy attenuation reduced treatment-related toxicity, but also decreased therapeutic efficacy. In elderly patients too, the achievement of complete remission is the most important prognostic factor affecting outcome. Therefore, we have treated elderly patients with a dose-intensified protocol. Aim of the study was to verify the feasibility of this scheme in a subset of patients with high-risk aggressive lymphomas. Methods: Between June 2002 and June 2004, 26 patients over the age of 60 years with a diagnosis of aggressive NHL and an intermediate-high or high International Prognostic Index were treated with biweekly CHOP plus rituximab with the support of granulocyte colony-stimulating factors (G-CSF). Results: Seventeen patients (65%) regularly kept the interval between cycles. Haematological and extrahaematological toxicities were moderate in all the patients. Twenty (77%) patients achieved complete remissions, 6 (23%) partial remissions with an overall response rate of 100%. After a median follow-up of 23 months, the overall survival was 79%; after a median follow-up of 17 months, the disease-free survival was 70%. Conclusion: These results confirm that a dose-dense CHOP programme can be administered safely and effectively in a subset of elderly patients with high-risk aggressive NHL. The addition of rituximab could increase the response rate without adding toxicity.


When undertaking cybersecurity risk assessments, it is important to be able to assign numeric values to metrics to compute the final expected loss that represents the risk that an organization is exposed to due to cyber threats. Even if risk assessment is motivated by real-world observations and data, there is always a high chance of assigning inaccurate values due to different uncertainties involved (e.g., evolving threat landscape, human errors) and the natural difficulty of quantifying risk. Existing models empower organizations to compute optimal cybersecurity strategies given their financial constraints, i.e., available cybersecurity budget. Further, a general game-theoretic model with uncertain payoffs (probability-distribution-valued payoffs) shows that such uncertainty can be incorporated in the game-theoretic model by allowing payoffs to be random. This paper extends previous work in the field to tackle uncertainties in risk assessment that affect cybersecurity investments. The findings from simulated examples indicate that although uncertainties in cybersecurity risk assessment lead, on average, to different cybersecurity strategies, they do not play a significant role in the final expected loss of the organization when utilising a game-theoretic model and methodology to derive these strategies. The model determines robust defending strategies even when knowledge regarding risk assessment values is not accurate. As a result, it is possible to show that the cybersecurity investments' tool is capable of providing effective decision support.


Over the past few years, in the huge field of Artificial Intelligence (AI), new Machine Learning techniques are playing a central role, proving to be very powerful and versatile. For this reason, it is expected that they could become protagonist of space applications and they are already under study. Thanks to the large availability of data, neural networks are able to elaborate and extract useful information to predict from sequences of data or to classify new ones. The goal of this work is to demonstrate how it is possible to lighten space navigation, replacing computational heavy algorithms with a well trained neural network. This proves to be a very useful tool in proximity operations with celestial objects. More in detail, this research is focused on the development of neural networks able to perform a lunar landing, exploiting an optic navigation, i.e. Moon surface images. Recurrent Neural Networks (RNN) have been developed, in which the descent trajectory state is the input and the relative control action is the output. Considering the optimal achieved results, the analysis has been carried forward with the study of Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN), where the lunar surface images are the inputs and the relative control actions are the outputs. Two kinds of landings have been considered: the first one is a pure vertical (1D) landing, faced exploting only the images; the second one is a planar (2D) landing. In this last case, both neural networks have been used (RNN and CNN). The results are particularly satisfying even if the limits of the adopted approach emerged. In fact, in the final part of this thesis new solutions for future developments are proposed.


Proceedings: AACR Annual Meeting 2014; April 5-9, 2014; San Diego, CA

The limited success of anti-MEK and anti-RAF therapies with KRAS mutant cancers has been attributed, in part, to de novo or acquired resistance mechanisms that arise after prolonged treatment. A majority of resistance mechanisms involve kinome reprograming to reactivate ERK downstream of inhibitor activity. Therefore, we hypothesized that directly targeting ERK would be an effective method for overcoming these resistance mechanisms. To address this possibility, we evaluated the sensitivity of a panel of mutant KRAS pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) cell lines to the highly selective SCH772984 ERK1/2 protein kinase inhibitor. First, we found that the anchorage-dependent growth of 6 of 12 cell lines were sensitive to SCH772984 treatment (IC50<2 uM). Some sensitive PDAC lines were resistant to the AZD6244 MEK1/2-selective inhibitor, indicating different mechanisms of action of these two inhibitors. Second, we identified phospho-AKT as a potential biomarker for PDAC SCH772984 sensitivity. Third, we assessed the molecular basis for anchorage-dependent growth inhibition. After 72 h treatment, flow cytometry analyses indicated impaired cell cycle progression through G1. Additionally, we found increased apoptosis as measured by formation of cleaved caspase-3. Together these observations suggest that sensitivity is a result of both impaired cell cycle progression and induction of apoptosis. Surprisingly prolonged SCH772984 treatment (2 weeks) resulted in senescence, as sensitive lines stained positive for senescence-associated beta-galactocidase. Furthermore, we found that senescent cells induced p16 and lost phospho-RB two common markers associated with induction of senescence. Onset of senescence was dependent on the loss of total MYC protein expression. Finally, we found that treatment with SCH772984 reduced tumorigenic growth in an in vivo xenograft mouse model. Our ongoing studies include determining the mechanisms of inhibitor resistance. In summary, our findings suggest that targeting ERK will be therapeutically beneficial for the treatment of KRAS mutant PDAC.

Citation Format: Tikvah K. Hayes. Therapeutic benefit of targeting ERK in mutant KRAS pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 4497. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-4497


Conferencing services for Internet telephony and multimedia can be enhanced by the integration of other Internet services, such as instant messaging, presence notification, directory lookups, location sensing, email and web. These services require a service programming architecture that can easily incorporate new Internet services into the existing conferencing functionalities, such as voice-enabled conference control. W3C has defined the Call Control eXtensible Markup Language (CCXML), along with its VoiceXML, for telephony call control services in a point-to-point call. However, it cannot handle other Internet service events such as presence enabled conferences. In this paper, we propose an architecture combining VoiceXML with our Language for End System Services (LESS) and the Common Gateway Interface (CGI) for multi-party conference service programming that integrates existing Internet services. VoiceXML provides the voice interface to LESS and CGI scripts. Our architecture enables many novel services such as conference setup based on participant location and presence status. We give some examples of the new services and describe our on-going implementation.


The effect of adding an inoculant containing Lactobacillus buchneri, L. plantarum and L. casei to wilted perennial ryegrass, harvested at four growth stages and ensiled for either 60 or 150 d on silage fermentation quality, chemical composition, rumen degradability of neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and organic matter (OM) and in vitro OM digestibility (OMd) was studied. Compared to the control silage, more sugars were fermented to lactic and acetic acid with the inoculant, resulting in a lower pH, less dry matter losses and protein degradation and a better aerobic stability. The effects of the additive on fermentation quality were more pronounced after 150 than after 60 d of ensiling, because the quality of the control silage was worse after long ensiling period. The treatment lowered NDF content of grass harvested at the first two growth stages by degrading cell walls to complex sugars, but had no effect on NDF degradability of the silage. The inoculant had no effect on rumen OM degradability nor on OMd after the short ensiling period, but increased the rumen OM degradability for the first two growth stages and OMd for all growth stages after long ensiling period.


Dr. Richard McCollum: The patient is an 8-year-8-month-old girl who fell off of her bed injuring her left arm. She was able to sleep through the night, but by morning considerable pain and swelling was noted and a physician was consulted. Roentgenological studies made at the local hospital revealed a fracture of the neck of the radius with marked displacement of the proximal radial epiphysis (Fig 1). Due to difficulties of transportation from her island community, the patient remained overnight in the local hospital and arrived at the Massachusetts General Hospital 36 hours following her injury. The admission physical examination was entirely normal except for the left elbow which was markedly swollen and tender. The arm was held in 45° of flexion at the elbow and 10° of pronation of the forearm. The patient resisted any attempt to move from this position either actively or passively. The patient also refused


Centella asiatica is known for its antibacterial property from time immemorial. A comparative study on the action of its crude extract on Shigella dysenteriae and Bacillus coagulans was performed to see the difference of its effects on the two bacteria. As one of them is a pathogen and the other one is useful for human hosts. The study revealed that 1 mg of the extract dissolved in 1ml 4% DMSO inhibits Shigella. dysenteriae with zone of inhibition of 12±1 mm but could not act on Bacillus coagulans in same concentration. However, known antibiotics act on both the organisms. The action of acetone, chloroform and methanol extracts of Centella asiatica on Shigella dysenteriae did not vary significantly. The GC-MS analysis of the methanol extracts with peaks > 90% similarity index with NIST library revealed bicyclo[7.2.0]undec-4-ene,4,11,11-trimethyl-8-methylene; caryophyllene; 1,2-benzenedicarboxylic acid, bis(2-methylpropyl) ester; 1h-3a,7-methanoazulene, octahydro-1,4,9,9-tetramethyl.


In the vector space of real vectors, comparison was executed of the multilinear forms, covariant derivatives, the total differentials and derivatives in the direction which are calculated with different metrics—with Euclidean metric and with pseudoeuclidean metric of a zero index. Comparison was executed of the Taylor's formulas to different metrics. What is established by us is that multilinear forms of different metrics have different values; covariant derivatives have identical values; the total differentials and derivatives in the direction have different values. In Euclidean space, Taylor's formula with any order of accuracy assigned in advance is equal, but in pseudoeuclidean space Taylor's formula is not equal with any order of accuracy. It is concluded that in space with a pseudoeuclidean metric, the computing sense of the differential and integral calculus created in Euclidean space is lost and the possibility of mathematical model operation of real physical processes in vector space with pseudoeuclidean metric is called into question.


A computer-aided-prognosis system is demonstrated based on quantitative ultrasound spectroscopy methods, textural features using local binary patterns (LBPs), and estimation of the distance between "pre-" and "post-treatment" samples using a kernel-based metric. The proposed method estimates the level of cell death, non-invasively, in preclinical animal models. In this study, sarcoma xenograft tumour-bearing mice were injected with microbubbles followed by ultrasound and X-ray radiation therapy successively as a new anti-vascular treatment. High frequency (central frequency 25 MHz) ultrasound imaging was performed before and 24 hours after treatment. Quantitative ultrasound spectral parametric maps were subsequently generated. Textural features were extracted by applying LBPs to the 2D parametric maps. Finally a supervised learning paradigm was used to classify the level of cell death to less/more than two threshold levels, i.e., 20% and 40%, by using the distance between the "pre-" and "post-treatment" images computed using a kernel-based metric. A maximum accuracy of 88% was achieved for both cell death level thresholds using the computer-aided-prognosis system and demonstrated the success of the system to identify the level of cell death, non-invasively in order to evaluate the effectiveness of cancer treatment administration.


The event-driven and highly dynamic nature of JavaScript, as well as its runtime interaction with the Document Object Model (DOM) make it challenging to test JavaScript-based applications. Current web test automation techniques target the generation of event sequences, but they ignore testing the JavaScript code at the unit level. Further they either ignore the oracle problem completely or simplify it through generic soft oracles such as HTML validation and runtime exceptions. We present a framework to automatically generate test cases for JavaScript applications at two complementary levels, namely events and individual JavaScript functions. Our approach employs a combination of function coverage maximization and function state abstraction algorithms to efficiently generate test cases. In addition, these test cases are strengthened by automatically generated mutation-based oracles. We empirically evaluate the implementation of our approach, called JSEFT, to assess its efficacy. The results, on 13 JavaScript-based applications, show that the generated test cases achieve a coverage of 68% and that JSEFT can detect injected JavaScript and DOM faults with a high accuracy (100% precision, 70% recall). We also find that JSEFT outperforms an existing JavaScript test automation framework both in terms of coverage and detected faults.


This paper presents a modified rational function modeling technique for multi-port high-speed differential circuit simulations. It models the differential channel and multi- aggressor crosstalk with modified rational functions extracted from the single-ended multi-port S-parameters of the circuit. The multi-port S-parameters of a high-speed circuit can be directly measured or simulated using electromagnetic simulators, and the poles and residues of the modified rational functions are determined by a vector fitting algorithm. Compared to the traditional rational function modeling, far fewer poles are needed to model a channel and crosstalk. With the modified rational function modeling technique, the output signals of the differential channel and crosstalk can be expressed in closed forms, providing a simple way to do quasi-analytic time-domain analysis of multi-port differential structures. The presented modeling technique is demonstrated for a 16-port high-speed electrical backplane.


We examine the problem of the proliferation of misinformation through platforms that offer a solution – fact-checking platforms. While these platforms have become popular, there is scant evidence on their effectiveness to shape public perception. In particular, we are interested in understanding how race and gender impact perceptions of the warmth, morality and competence of a spokesperson (i.e. the public figures making a claim) and how these perceptions are altered by reducing information asymmetry, i.e. by offering fact-checking information. In a lab experiment where we replicate the PolitiFact interface and manipulate gender (male vs. female), race (Caucasian vs. under-represented minority), truth evaluation (false vs. true) and supporting information (scorecard vs. full analysis), we find compelling results that 1) support that race and gender bias effects persist when evaluating the morality and competence of a spokesperson making a claim; but 2) show that reducing information asymmetry can help mitigate some of these biases. By focusing on a single and highly popular response to the problem of fake news, fact-checking, and by further examining the role of the spokesperson in contrast to the content or statements made, we provide novel, interesting, and important perspective on understanding how to intervene in the proliferation and propagation of misinformation online.


The endeavours of physicians taxed with the problem of iron deficiency over the last 100 years have successfully eliminated this as an issue of hematological interest. Iron overload, although by no means a new problem, has drawn much more attention over the last few decades. The development of reliable indicative tests of iron status since the early 1970s has sparked a revolution in our understanding of the mechanisms of iron absorption, the processes of internal iron metabolism, and the effects of iron in excess of physiological needs. There continues to be regular reviews of specific issues in iron overload but this article sets out our understanding of the principles of iron metabolism in the context of iron overload, and is intended to point the ways by which this potentially fatal disorder, created by nature or by man, might be overcome.


Words and phrases associate with each other to form a semantic network. Characterizing such associations is a first step toward understanding natural languages for machines. Psychologists and linguists have used concepts such as typicality and basic level conceptualization to characterize such associations. However, how to quantify such concepts is an open problem. Recently, much work has focused on constructing semantic networks from web scale text corpora, which makes it possible for the first time to analyze such networks using a data driven approach. In this paper, we introduce measures such as typicality, basic level conceptualization, vagueness, ambiguity, and similarity to systematically characterize the associations in a semantic network. We use such measures as the basis for probabilistic semantic inferencing, which enables a wide range of applications such as word sense disambiguation and short text understanding. We conduct extensive experiments to show the effectiveness of the models and the measures we introduce for the semantic network.


In dialogue with afro-caribbean philosophy, this book seeks in Cassirer's philosophy of symbolic forms a new vocabulary for approaching central intellectual and political issues of our time. For Cassirer, what makes humans unique is that we are symbolizing creatures destined to come into a world through varied symbolicforms; we pluralistically work with and develop these forms as we struggle to come to terms with who we are and our place in the universe.This approach can be used as a powerful challenge to hegemonic modes of study that mistakenly place the Western world at the center of intellectual and political life. Indeed, the authors argue that the symbolic dimension of Cassirer's thinking of possibility can be linked to a symbolic dimension in revolution via the ideas of Frantz Fanon, who argued that revolution must be a thoroughgoing cultural process, in which what isat stake is nothing less than how we symbolize a new humanity and bring into being a new set of social institutions worthy of that new humanity.


The global human rights regime has undergone extraordinary expansion in the last thirty years. It is particularly notable for its profusion of state and non-state actors and levels of formal articulation. This article seeks to make legible the human rights governance architecture from the global to the local level, within an issue-specific domain. Orchestration theory is employed as a general mode of governance, with application across political units and political levels. Orchestration applies when a focal actor enlists and supports third-party actors to address the target indirectly in pursuit of shared governance objectives. Using the UN Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture (OPCAT) as an example, the article explores the authority relationship across two central political units (the orchestrator and intermediary), with a focus on how this new global human rights architecture may offer a way of bridging the steps separating international instruments from practices on the ground.


Modern component frameworks support continuous deployment and simultaneous execution of multiple software components on top of the same virtual machine. However, isolation between the various components is limited. A faulty version of any one of the software components can compromise the whole system by consuming all available resources. In this paper, we address the problem of efficiently identifying faulty software components running simultaneously in a single virtual machine. Current solutions that perform permanent and extensive monitoring to detect anomalies induce high overhead on the system, and can, by themselves, make the system unstable. In this paper we present an optimistic adaptive monitoring system to determine the faulty components of an application. Suspected components are finely instrumented for deeper analysis by the monitoring system, but only when required. Unsuspected components are left untouched and execute normally. Thus, we perform localized just-in-time monitoring that decreases the accumulated overhead of the monitoring system. We evaluate our approach against a state-of-the-art monitoring system and show that our technique correctly detects faulty components, while reducing overhead by an average of 80%.


The softening and melting (SM) under load test is routinely conducted to assess the quality of ferrous burden materials and to predict their possible performance in blast furnace. Due to complex phase interactions coupled with chemical reactions at an elevated temperature range (~973 to 1 873 K), the flow dynamics in the test system are quite complex. This study systematically investigates the contraction behaviour and associated pressure drop in a SM test bed for sinter, lump (NBLL, Newman Blend Lump) and a mixture of these two types of ore (21 wt% NBLL + 79 wt% sinter). To quantify the structural changes in a sample bed, interrupted tests at various temperatures were conducted and analysed using both synchrotron X-ray computed tomography (CT) at a lower temperature range (1 273 to 1 473 K) and neutron CT at a higher temperature (1 723 K). It was noted that existing packed bed pressure drop models (Ergun model, 1952, fused bed model, Sugiyama et al., 1980, orifice model, Sugiyama et al., 1980) and modified orifice model, Ichikawa et al., 2015) exhibited divergence in their predictions at higher temperature when the porosity parameter was computed directly from the bed contraction data. To avoid this modelling failure, a growth-decay type porosity-temperature relationship based on extensive SM test data was incorporated in the well-known Ergun equation which estimated reasonable bed pressure drops. Furthermore, a simplified ore specific friction factor model was empirically derived which was also shown to produce reasonable pressure drop predictions for all types of ferrous burden samples.


This paper applies an integrated approach using the Taguchi method, neural network (NN) and genetic algorithm (GA) to optimize the tensile-shear strength of resistance spot welding (RSW) specimens in automotive industry. The proposed approach consists of two stages. First stage executes initial optimization via Taguchi method to construct a database for the NN. In second stage, a NN with Levenberg-Marquardt back-propagation (LMBP) algorithm is used to provide the nonlinear relationship between factors and the response. Then, a GA is applied to obtain the optimal factor settings. The experimental results showed that the tensile-shear strength of the optimal welding parameter via the proposed approach is better than apply Taguchi method only.


The authors examine the effectiveness of the ten–year, the five–year, and the two–year treasury note futures contracts in hedging the price risk of fixed–rate mortgage–backed securities. The ten–year treasury note futures contract offers superior hedging opportunities across all six coupon MBS examined. Using multiple instruments simultaneously results in minor improvements with–in sample. In out of–sample experiments, however, the use of a single instrument provides better hedging performance than the use of multiple instruments.


In an experiment to investigate cognitive skill differences between clinicians and lay persons, eight individuals in each group were asked to determine if an explicit concept existed in an ambulatory encounter note (a simple task) or if the concept could be inferred from the same note (a complex task). Subjects answered questions, highlighted text used to answer each question, and commented on their reasoning for selecting specific text. Quantitative results were mixed for expert vs. non-expert task performance on simple vs. complex tasks. Qualitative analysis revealed that data ambiguity obscured quantifiable skill differences between groups. In addition, this analysis offered new insight into whether a concept identification task is simple or complex. We present this case study to demonstrate the value of mixed method approaches to task-based performance study design and evaluation. We discuss the results in terms of their implications for evaluating meaningful use of technologies.


We implement the Hamiltonian treatment of a nonAbelian noncommutative gauge theory, considering with some detail the algebraic structure of the noncommutative symmetry group. The first class constraints and Hamiltonian are obtained and their algebra derived, as well as the form of the gauge invariance for the first order action.


he racial means and the residual covariance matrix from the multivariate analysis of variance of an experiment based on a randomized block design involving 15 races of maize (Zea mays L.) from southeastern South America were used to calculate generalized distances between the races. Sixteen characters commonly used in taxonomic studies of the races of maize were employed. The effects of transformations designed to eliminate some of the heterogeneity among the withinrace, within-row covariance matrices were studied, and the effects of within-plot sampling were investigated. It was shown that the use of transformations had very little effect on the relative distances (and hence that highly significant heterogeneity — as measured by the multivariate extension of Bartlett's test — had little effect on the analysis of the non-transformed data). Similarly, essentially the same relative distances were obtained when only a single plant from each race was used per block (eight blocks were used). In all cases the distances obtained were relatively very similar (i.e., Spearman rank correlation coefficient between 0.91 and 0.99) to the distances obtained from the commonly employed Mahalanobis' generalized distance technique.


OBJECTIVES: Critically ill cancer patients are at increased risk for acute kidney injury, but studies on these patients are scarce and were all single centered conducted in specialized intensive care units. The objective was to evaluate the characteristics and outcomes in a prospective cohort of cancer patients admitted to several intensive care units with acute kidney injury. METHODS: Prospective multicenter cohort study conducted in intensive care units from 28 hospitals in Brazil over a two-month period. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression were used to identify factors associated with hospital mortality. RESULTS: Out of all 717 intensive care unit admissions, 87 (12%) had acute kidney injury and 36% of them received renal replacement therapy. Kidney injury developed more frequently in patients with hematological malignancies than in patients with solid tumors (26% vs. 11%, P=0.003). Ischemia/shock (76%) and sepsis (67%) were the main contributing factor for and kidney injury was multifactorial in 79% of the patients. Hospital mortality was 71%. General and renal-specific severity-of-illness scores were inaccurate in predicting outcomes for these patients. In a multivariate analysis, length of hospital stay prior to intensive care unit, acute organ dysfunctions, need for mechanical ventilation and a poor performance status were associated with increased mortality. Moreover, cancer-related characteristics were not associated with outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: The present study demonstrates that intensive care units admission and advanced life-support should be considered in selected critically ill cancer patients with kidney injury.


TNF-alpha is an essential component of the innate defence mechanism of the host against pathogenic challenge. Unfortunately, it can also play a major role in the pathology of certain diseases, such as tuberculosis. This disease is a striking example of the role of TNF-alpha as a 'double-edged sword', because apart from its role in controlling the Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection, it can also cause severe tissue damage. TNF-alpha exhibits a very complex network of interactions and many of its activities are still not fully understood. This report aims to review the pivotal role of TNF-alpha in controlling the mycobacterial infection, with a particular emphasis on its influence on chemokine expression and cell movement during granuloma formation, and the issues surrounding the use of TNF-alpha inhibitors for therapeutic use in inflammatory diseases.


For early satellite altimeters, the retrieval of geophysical information (e.g., range, significant wave height) from altimeter ocean waveforms was performed on board the satellite, but this was restricted by computational constraints that limited how much processing could be performed. Today, ground-based retracking of averaged waveforms transmitted to the earth is less restrictive, especially with respect to assumptions about the statistics of ocean waves. In this paper, a theoretical maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) ocean waveform retracker is applied tothe Envisat Radar Altimeter system (RA-2) 18-Hz averaged waveforms under both linear (Gaussian) and nonlinear ocean wave statistics assumptions, to determine whether ocean wave skewness can be sensibly retrieved from Envisat RA-2 waveforms. Results from the MLE retracker used in nonlinear mode provide the first estimates of global ocean wave skewness based on RA-2 Envisat averaged waveforms. These results show for the first time geographically coherent skewness fields and confirm the notion that large values of skewness occur primarily in regions of large significant wave height. Results from the MLE retracker run in linear and nonlinear modes are compared with each other and with the RA-2 Level 2 Sensor Geophysical Data Records (SGDR) products to evaluate the impact of retrieving skewness on other geophysical parameters. Good agreement is obtained between the linear and nonlinear MLE results for both significant wave height and epoch (range), except in areas of high-wave-height conditions.