This study adopts the Harmony Search (HS) meta-heuristic algorithm (Geem et al., 2001; Kim et al., 2001) to calibrate a hydraulic simulation model (EPANET) for C-Town. The algorithm conceptualizes a musical process of searching for a perfect state of harmony (optimal solution) and allows a random search without initial values, thus removing the necessity for information on derivatives. The calibration procedure is implemented in a manner that the sum of errors between two data sets: the measured SCADA data and the values derived from the HS algorithm. The calibration process is implemented into three stages – preprocess, rough tuning, and fine tuning. In the preprocess stage the original SCADA data and pump control rules are modified to complement missing data and operation rules. In the rough and fine tuning stages the C-town network is divided into five sub-networks based on supply zones. Pipe roughness factors in each sub-network are calibrated by pipe diameters which are divided into five groups. Therefore, total number of decision variables in each sub-network is 168 nodal water demand factors and 5 pipe roughness coefficients. The entire C-town network is also calibrated using each already calibrated sub-network as the initial populations. It is found that the simple network in the downstream end can be calibrated separately; thus, the network division does accelerate the convergence speed. Several parameters of the HS algorithm such as HMCR and PAR can be adjusted to find better calibration results


OBJECTIVE
The aim of the present study was to test the effects of vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) on the descending pain inhibition, quantified by the nociceptive flexor (RIII) reflex and the conditioned pain modulation (CPM) paradigm, and on supraspinal nociceptive responses, assessed by pain intensity and unpleasantness ratings and late somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs), in healthy subjects.

BACKGROUND
Non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation (nVNS) showed promising effects on headache and pain treatment. Underlying mechanisms are only incompletely understood but may include the activation of the descending pain inhibitory system and/or the modification of emotional responses to pain.

METHODS
Twenty-seven adult, healthy, and pain-free subjects participated in this double-blind cross-over study conducted at a university research center. They received 4 minutes of cervical nVNS or sham stimulation in randomized order. RIII reflexes, pain ratings, and SEPs were assessed before, during, and 5, 15, 30, and 60 minutes after nVNS/sham stimulation, followed by CPM testing. The primary outcome was the nVNS effect on the RIII reflex size. Three subjects were excluded after the preparatory session (before randomization), 1 subject was excluded after outlier analysis, leaving 23 for analysis.

RESULTS
RIII reflex areas were 917.1 ± 563.8 µV × ms (mean ± SD) before, 952.4 ± 467.4 µV × ms during and 929.2 ± 484.0 µV × ms immediately after nVNS and 858.4 ± 489.2 µV × ms before, 913.9 ± 539.7 µV × ms during and 862.4 ± 476.0 µV × ms after sham stimulation, revealing no differences between the immediate effects of nVNS and sham stimulation (F [3,66]  = 0.67, P = .574). There also were no effects of nVNS over sham on RIII reflex areas up to 60 minutes after nVNS (F [1.7,37.4]  = 1.29, P = .283). Similarly, there was no statistically significant effect of nVNS on pain intensity ratings and thresholds, RIII reflex thresholds, late SEP amplitudes, and the CPM effect, compared to sham. Pain unpleasantness ratings statistically significantly decreased from 4.4 ± 2.4 (NRS 0-10) to 4.1 ± 2.5 during nVNS compared to sham stimulation (F [1,22]  = 8.74, P = .007), but there were no longer lasting effects (5-60 minutes after stimulation).

CONCLUSIONS
The present study does not support an acute effect of nVNS on descending pain inhibition, pain intensity perception or supraspinal nociception in healthy adults. However, there was a small effect on pain unpleasantness during nVNS, suggesting that nVNS may preferentially act on affective, not somatosensory pain components.


A cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the prevalence, intensity and risk factors associated with the transmission of helminths and haemoparasites of pigs in Homabay District, Kenya. A questionnaire survey was carried out on 297 pig farmers to collect information on pig production and management practices, feeding, importance of worm infestation and aspects of parasite control. The questionnaire survey revealed that pigs were mostly kept for income generation (83.2%) with the majority of the farmers keeping non-descript type of pigs (98%). Tethering was the main system of confining pigs and was mostly done during crop planting (98.6%), growing (99.3%) and harvesting (99%) seasons. The most common feed given to pigs was a mixture of kitchen left overs and pastures (40.7%) with none of the farmers supplementing their pigs with commercial feeds. Deworming was done by 20.5% of the farmers with only 3.7% deworming their animals after every 3 months.
The prevalence and intensity of helminths was determined by the modified McMaster technique and post-mortem examinations. Out of 372 animals examined, three hundred and eight pigs (83%) were found to excrete nematode eggs. The nematode eggs encountered were those of Strongyles (75%), Strongyloides spp (26.6%), Trichuris spp (7.8%), Ascaris spp (5.4%) and
Metastrongylus spp (0.3%). Coproculture of Strongyle-type nematode egg positive faecal samples revealed the presence of Oesophagostomum spp (74%), Hyostrongylus rubidus (22%)
and Trichostrongylus spp (4%). Post-mortem examination of 30 pigs revealed that 86.7% of the animals were infected with
various helminthes which included; Hyostrongylus rubidus, Physocephalus sexalatus,Trichostrongylus axei, Ascaris suum, Oesophagostomun dentatum, Trichuris suis and
Metastrongylus pudendodectus. The highest prevalence with helminth infections was recorded in finishers (88%) and the lowest prevalence recorded in adults (79%). The highest mean epg with helminth infections was recorded in adults (1,734) while the lowest mean epg was recorded in piglets (526). Age had significant influence on the prevalence of Strongyles (p = 0.04) with growers and finishers recording higher levels of infection than adults. Sex had significant effect on the prevalence of Strongyles (p = 0.028) and Ascaris suum (p = 0.012), with females recording
higher levels of infection than males. Housing, feed type and frequency of deworming were not significantly (p >0.05) associated with the prevalence of helminths. Division of origin of pigs had significant influence on the prevalence of infection with Ascaris suum (p = 0.000) and Strongyles (p = 0.000) with the mean epgs for Riana, Ndhiwa and Rangwe divisions being significantly higher (p <0.05) than those of Pala Division. The highest prevalence of infections with helminths was recorded in Riana Division (91%) and the lowest prevalence (50%) recorded in Asego Division. Similarly, the highest mean epg of infection with helminths was recorded in pigs from Riana Division (1,109) while pigs in Asego Division recorded the lowest mean epg (100).
The prevalence of haemoparasites was determined by microscopic examination of Giemsa stained blood smears. Out of the 374 animals examined, 125 animals (33.4%) were positive for Mycoplasma (Eperythrozoon) spp with the most predominant species being Mycoplasma suis (54.4%) while Eperythrozoon parvum had a prevalence of 45.6%. The overall mean PCV was 41.5% with significantly higher mean PCVs being recorded in growers and finishers than in piglets (p = 0.039). Haemopoarasites infections did not have an effect on the mean PCV of the animals examined. In conclusion, helminths were highly prevalent in pigs in the study area with low to moderate levels of infections. Pigs in the study area were infected by a wide variety of nematodes. The prevalence and levels of infection with helminths in the district was associated with age, sex and division of origin of pigs. Haemoparasites identified in the study area included Mycoplasma suis and Eperythrozoon parvum. There is need for control of helminths in the study area and control measures should integrate better nutrition with anthelmintic treatment.


Hybrid devices based on wholly bio-organic systems being interfaced with wholly inorganic systems are now being conceived of and constructed. A hypothetical device is likely to have some dynamic attributes and its dimensions will optimally be comparable with those of the current state of the art in microfabrication. While there are many established methods for interrogating the organic system in the laboratory, and thus extract information, few of those are compatible with micro/nano-technological integration. If magnetic dipoles can be incorporated into the biosystem, then there are a number of methods for non-intrusive interrogation (i.e. compatible with device functionality). Several such methods are discussed, and typical signal strengths are estimated for generic configurations. The most promising avenues arise either from detection of multiple parallel events, or from deployment of a scaled-down version of the well known vibrating loop method.


This paper proposes a robust fuzzy logic based control scheme for a rotating active magnetic bearing (AMB) system. We represent the nonlinear magnetic bearing by means of a Takagi-Sugeno-Kang (TSK) fuzzy model. Subsequently a systematic synthesis procedure is used to derive a nonlinear fuzzy logic control strategy that incorporates an integral control for improved tracking. Experimentation and simulation results demonstrate that the proposed fuzzy controller yields robustness against harmonic disturbances and parameter uncertainty.


OBJECTIVE
To make recommendations on the use of neoadjuvant or adjuvant therapy in addition to surgery in patients with resectable gastric cancer (T1-4, N1-2, M0).

OPTIONS
Neoadjuvant or adjuvant treatments compared with "curative" surgery alone.

OUTCOMES
Overall survival, disease-free survival, and adverse effects.

EVIDENCE
The MEDLINE, CANCERLIT and Cochrane Library databases and relevant conference proceedings were searched to identify randomized trials.

VALUES
Evidence was selected and reviewed by one member of the Cancer Care Ontario Practice Guidelines Initiative (CCOPGI) Gastrointestinal Cancer Disease Site Group and methodologists. A systematic review of the published literature was combined with a consensus process around the interpretation of the evidence in the context of conventional practice, to develop an evidence-based practice guideline. This report has been reviewed and approved by the Gastrointestinal Cancer Disease Site Group, comprising medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, surgeons, a pathologist and 2 community representatives.

BENEFITS, HARMS AND COSTS
When compared with surgery alone, at 3 years adjuvant chemoradiotherapy has been shown to increase overall survival by 9% (50% v. 41%, p = 0.005) and to improve relapse-free survival from 31% to 48% (p = 0.001). At 5 years, it has been shown to increase overall survival by 11.6% (40% v. 28.4%) and to improve relapse-free survival from 25% to 38% (p < 0.001). Treatment has been associated with toxic deaths in 1% of patients. The most frequent adverse effects (> grade 3 [Southwest Oncology Group toxicity scale] are hematologic (54%), gastrointestinal (33%), influenza-like (9%), infectious (6%) and neurologic (4%). The radiation fields used can possibly damage the left kidney, resulting in hypertension and other renal problems. Furthermore, this therapy could increase the demand on radiation resources. Physicians and patients should understand the tradeoffs between survival benefit and toxicity and cost before making treatment decisions.

RECOMMENDATIONS
After surgical resection, patients whose tumours have penetrated the muscularis propria or involve regional lymph nodes should be considered for adjuvant combined chemoradiotherapy. The current standard protocol consists of 1 cycle of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) (425 mg/m2 daily) and leucovorin (20 mg/m2 daily) administered daily for 5 days, followed 1 month later by 45 Gy (1.8 Gy/d) of radiation given with 5-FU (400 mg/m2 daily) and leucovorin (20 mg/m2 daily) on days 1 through 4 and the last 3 days of radiation. One month after completion of radiation, 2 cycles of 5-FU (425 mg/m2 daily) and leucovorin (20 mg/m2 daily) in a daily regimen for 5 days are given at monthly intervals. There is no evidence on which to make a recommendation for patients with node-negative tumours that have not penetrated the muscularis propria. For patients unable to undergo radiation, adjuvant chemotherapy alone may be of benefit, particularly for those with lymph-node metastases. The optimal regimen remains to be defined. There is insufficient evidence from randomized trials to recommend neoadjuvant chemotherapy, or neoadjuvant or adjuvant radiotherapy or immunotherapy, either alone or in combination, outside a clinical trial.

VALIDATION
A draft version of this document was circulated to 166 clinicians using a 21-item feedback questionnaire. Ninety-nine (63%) returned the questionnaire, and 74 of these indicated that the guideline was relevant to their clinical practice and completed the survey. Of the 74 clinicians, 52 (70%) agreed that the document should be approved as a practice guideline.

SPONSORS
The CCOPGI is supported by Cancer Care Ontario and the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care.


A pilot of item-of-service payments (85 Pounds per annum per patient) to general practitioners for monitoring long-term mentally ill individuals was successful in recruiting practices and ensuring assessments. It did not, however, demonstrate an improvement in health care.


This Article addresses a problem that has attracted significant attention from patent scholars: the potential for patents on research tools - technological products and processes that are critical inputs of scientific experimentation - to inhibit basic scientific research. The Article first argues that a fundamental distinction between "upstream" intellectual assets and "downstream" particularized technologies is central to the structure of patent law and its contribution to scientific progress. In this system, patent law specifically prohibits the patenting of upstream assets such as natural laws, natural phenomena, and abstract principles on a "fundamentality" rationale; these assets enable wide varieties of derivative applications and are better suited for common ownership in the public domain where all persons can freely draw upon them in their innovative endeavors. Rather, patent law reserves proprietary rights - and the monopoly profits they confer - for downstream, particularized technologies such as end-user goods. Drawing from studies in the sociology of science concerning the "material culture" of scientific exploration, this Article shows how some patented technologies may be even more foundational than knowledge itself. For example, human embryonic stem cells, which are patentable technologies when isolated and purified outside of the human organism, hold the key to revealing basic biological knowledge. Patents over this resource effectively create exclusive individual rights over an area of immense scientific importance and wide downstream applicability. This Article argues that the common law prohibition against patenting natural laws, natural phenomena, and abstract principles provides a legal and prudential basis for constraining patents on human embryonic stem cells and other similarly-situated biotechnology research tools. Just as knowledge itself is not patentable, courts should constrain patents on the necessary technological fountains from which it springs.


ABSTRACT The potential benefits and dangers of physical contact between social workers and their clients have been debated for decades. Some authors and researchers assert that non-erotic touch, when done with discretion and client consent, may be therapeutic, while others caution that such contact, regardless of intent, risks being harmful to clients. The issue of physical contact between social workers and clients with schizophrenia may deserve special attention, given the boundary, interpersonal, and sensory deficits experienced by many of those persons. The purposes of this article are to review the literature on client/practitioner physical contact, consider the issue in the context of working with clients who have schizophrenia, and provide a list of practice recommendations for social workers.


This paper describes a Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cell system model for automotive applications that includes an air compressor, cooling system, and other auxiliaries. The fuel cell system model has been integrated into a vehicle performance simulator that determines fuel economy and allows consideration of control strategies. Significant fuel cell system efficiency improvements may be possible through control of the air compressor and other auxiliaries. Fuel cell system efficiency results are presented for two limiting air compressor cases: ideal control and no control. Extension of the present analysis to hybrid configurations consisting of a fuel cell system and battery is currently under study.


Dynamic analysis of Android apps is often used together with an exerciser to increase its code coverage. One big obstacle in designing such Android app exercisers comes from the existence of text-based inputs, which are often constrained by the nature of the input field, such as the length and character restrictions.In this paper, we propose TextExerciser, an iterative, feedback-driven text input exerciser, which generates text inputs for Android apps. Our key insight is that Android apps often provide feedback, called hints, for malformed inputs so that our system can utilize such hints to improve the input generation.We implemented a prototype of TextExerciser and evaluated it by comparing TextExerciser with state-of-the-art exercisers, such as The Monkey and DroidBot. Our evaluation shows that TextExerciser can achieve significantly higher code coverage and trigger more sensitive behaviors than these tools. We also combine TextExerciser with dynamic analysis tools and show they are able to detect more privacy leaks and vulnerabilities with TextExerciser than with existing exercisers. Particularly, existing tools, under the help of TextExerciser, find several new vulnerabilities, such as one user credential leak in a popular social app with more than 10,000,000 downloads.


While the sharing economy brings significant social benefits in China, it comes with regulatory challenges that are novel and unpredictable. How should regulators handle these challenges? This paper offers fresh insights into the regulatory approach to the ride-hailing industry, the most comprehensively regulated sharing industry in China. A historical review identifies three regulatory approaches deployed to date: self-regulation, market-based regulation and government regulation. Self-regulation relies on the platforms with incentive to provide better service for greater profit, and to deal with sharing-specific challenges. Market-based regulation invites rivals to keep a watchful eye on other players, in order to enhance their market position by outperforming the competition. Both approaches are capable of delivering quick, and often innovative, responses to new challenges. Government regulation, on the other hand, came late and plays a neutral role. The rules there are mostly of the "old wine in a new bottle" kind; in other words, applying existing (old) rules to the new sharing economy. Those rules could contribute to a level playing field for traditional and sharing-market players if managed properly. This article argues that government regulations are inadequate for solving sharing-specific challenges such as the legal status of the participants, the challenges of uncertain externalities, and new forms of competition. Instead, regulators should in the future give more affirmative value to self-regulation and market-based regulation. These complementary approaches are capable of yielding innovative and sharing-specific regulatory responses, from which the government regulators can glean and evaluate before codifying them.


Since the emergence of transformational and charismatic leadership models in the mid-1980s, full range leadership theory has become established as the predominant and most widely researched theory on leadership. The most commonly used survey instrument to assess full range leadership theory is the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire, originally developed by Bass in 1985. Although much research has supported the strength of the psychometric properties of the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire, some researchers have suggested that contextual factors such as a leader's hierarchical level can lead to conflicting results. This research effort involved an extensive review of existing literature to develop a new full range leadership theory measurement instrument that effectively targets lowto mid-level supervisors, or tacticallevel leaders. Results indicate that the newly developed Leadership Profile Measure scales have stronger internal consistency reliability (Cronbach's α) than the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire. The Leadership Profile Measure also demonstrated better model fit (evaluated by confirmatory factor analysis). Correlations between the Leadership Profile Measure and performance evaluations conducted by trained raters were low, although many were significant.


First-generation peer-to-peer storage systems unnecessarily couple the unit of client data access to the unit of infrastructure data management. Designs that require all peers to operate on data at a fixed granularity lead to inefficiencies such as high query load and high per-block storage overheads. To provide variable granularity access and support more efficient peer-to-peer storage systems, we introduce two-level naming of self-verifying data. We describe how to implement two-level naming and advocate an extension to the traditional API used by peer-topeer storage systems to support two-level naming.


The evolution of bird coloration has inspired many hypotheses. We report the results of comparative tests involving the interacting effects of microhabitat use, sexual selection and parasite transmission on colour evolution. We used a data set of chewing lice (Insecta: Phthiraptera) sampled from 122 Neotropical bird species to test Hamilton and Zuk's prediction that species subjected to high parasite pressure' evolve showy traits that enhance the ability of females to choose parasite free mates. We found no significant relationship between mean parasite abundance and showiness among the 122 species. However, for the 66 non-passerine species in the data set, we found a significant negative relationship between parasite a bundance and showiness, contrary to the Hamilton and Zuk prediction. These results are discussed in light of recent work on parasite-mediated sexual selection. We also tested for a relationship between showiness and the microhabitat use of different species of rainforest birds. Like other authors, we found a significant positive relationship between showiness and foraging stratum among the 113 species analysed. While drab species occur in all forest strata, showy species occur mostly in the midstorey and canopy. We discuss variables which may influence the evolution of such a pattern among forest birds.


Determination of the magnitude and location of pre‐glomerular oxygen shunting is critical in understanding its role in renal hypoxia. Unfortunately, experimental studies have been unable to quantify the magnitude and location of pre‐glomerular oxygen shunting. Computational models could theoretically fill this void by providing quantitative information related to renal oxygen shunting. However, their use is limited by uncertainty in model parameters. In this study we show the benefits of integrating oxygen pulse experiments with computational models of oxygen transport to quantitatively analyze oxygen shunting. The method involves injecting an oxygen pulse of known shape into the renal artery and monitoring the oxygen concentration profile at the renal vein exit. The shape and timing of the venous oxygen elution curve indicates the magnitude and location of oxygen shunting along the renal vasculature. Here, we developed a transient computational model for oxygen transport in pre‐glomerular vasculature simulating the above experimental protocol. The role of shunting on renal vascular oxygen transport is investigated by varying the shape of the input oxygen pulse in the renal artery and recording the timing and shapes of the corresponding exit pulses in the renal vein. The oxygen shunting parameters in our model can subsequently be fine‐tuned to match the pulse shapes from experimental data. The fine‐tuned model can then provide definitive answers about the magnitude and location of oxygen shunting.


ABSTRACT Seasonal epidemics of malaria occur in highland areas of western Kenya where transmission intensity varies according to rainfall. This study describes the seasonal changes in cytokine responses toPlasmodium falciparum liver-stage antigen 1 (LSA-1) by children (≤17 years old) and adults (≥18 years old) living in such a highland area. Fourteen- to 24-mer peptides corresponding to the N- and C-terminal nonrepeat regions of LSA-1 stimulated production of interleukin-5 (IL-5), interleukin-10 (IL-10), gamma interferon (IFN-γ), and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from 17 to 73% of individuals in both age groups in both seasons. IL-10 and TNF-α responses were more frequent during the high-transmission, rainy season than during the low-transmission, dry season (73 and 67% versus 17 and 25% response rates, respectively). In contrast, there was no seasonal change in the proportion of LSA-1-driven IFN-γ and IL-5 responses. Children produced less IFN-γ than adults, but IL-5, IL-10, and TNF-α levels were similar for both age groups. Depletion of CD8+ cells from PBMC decreased IFN-γ but increased IL-10 production. Individuals with LSA-1-stimulated IL-10 responses in the dry season were less likely to become reinfected in the subsequent rainy season than those without IL-10 responses (25% versus 49%;P = 0.083). These data support the notion that maintenance of LSA-1-driven IL-10 and TNF-α responses requires repeated and sustained exposure to liver-stage P. falciparum. In contrast, IFN-γ responses increase slowly with age but persist once acquired. CD8+ T cells are the major source of IFN-γ but may suppress production or secretion of IL-10.


Reverse osmosis (RO) membranes have high rejection for most of solutes in seawater except for boron. Therefore, boron rejection should be considered in the design and operation of the RO process for seawater desalination. In this paper, we investigated boron rejection and its relation to salt rejection using an irreversible thermodynamic model. Permeability constants for commercially-available RO membranes were obtained using theoretical model and the simulation data from membrane performance test program provided by membrane manufacturers. The effect of pH and concentration of the feed water on the boron rejection was also theoretically investigated under various operating conditions. The model calculations revealed that the rejection of boron follows a different mechanism from those of other ionic solutes and could not be readily correlated with ion rejections. To overcome the limit of mechanistic models, we explored an alternative approach for predicting boron permeability from membrane properties and ion permeability. It appears that this alternative approach can aid to achieve a better understanding of boron rejection by seawater RO membranes.


Micro hot embossing mold of microfluidic chip used in flow cytometry is designed and microfabricated. After some kinds of microfabrication processes are tried, this paper presents a novel microfabrication technology of micro hot embossing metal mold. Micro metal mold is fabricated by low-cost UV-LIGA surface micro fabrication process using negative thick photoresist, SU-8. Different from other micro hot embossing molds, the micro mold with vertical sidewalls is fabricated by micro nickel electroforming directly on Nickel base. Based on the micro Nickel mold and automation fabrication system, high precision and mass-producing microfluidic chips have been fabricated and they have been used in flow cytometry


Statement of problem: Angiogenic squamous dysplasia (ASD), a qualitative distinct form of angiogenesis, was first described in pre-invasive bronchial mucosa of high-risk individuals. It is characterized histologically by the presence of capillary tufts that are closely juxtaposed to and projecting into the dysplastic bronchial epithelium. Objective: To determine whether ASD occurs in oral epithelial dysplastic lesions. Methods: Sixty cases of potentially malignant oral epithelial lesions comprising 20 mild epithelial dysplasia (ED), 20 moderate ED and 20 severe ED(inclusive of carcinoma-in-situ), and 10 normal oral mucosa (as normal controls) were retrieved from the archives of the Department of Oral Pathology, Oral Medicine & Periodontology, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Malaya, and the Cancer Research Centre, Institute for Medical Research, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The grading of oral ED was in accordance with the recommendations of the World Health Organization. For all selected cases, new 5 micron thick sections were prepared for H&E staining, and for immunohistochemistry with three vascular markers, CD31, CD34 and CD105, with appropriate positive and negative controls. The established criteria for identification of ASD was applied. Results: ASD was identified in parts of severe oral ED, but was absent in normal oral epithelium, mild and moderate oral ED. About 65% of these severe oral ED cases were from individuals with high-risk habits. As with bronchial ASD, the capillaries typically formed CD31- and CD34-positive projections or loops that abut onto the overlying dysplastic oral epithelium causing the latter to assume a papillary surface configuration. Unlike bronchial ASD which occurs in respiratory-type epithelium, oral ASD was found in keratinzed stratified squamous epithelium. CD105 confirmed the presence of neoangiogenesis. Conclusions: Present findings confirm that ASD can occur in oral severe ED. It also demonstrates that this angiogenic abnormality is not unique to bronchial mucosal dysplastic lesions.


Since the financial crisis, there have been major changes in the regulation of large banks directed at reducing their risk. Measures of regulatory capital have substantially increased; leverage ratios have been reduced; and stress-testing has sought to further assure safety by raising levels of capital and reducing risk-taking. Standard financial theories predict that such changes would lead to substantial declines in financial market measures of risk. For major banks in the United States and around the world and for midsized banks in the United States, we test this proposition using information on stock price volatility, option-based estimates of future volatility, beta, credit default swaps, price–earnings ratios, and preferred stock yields. To our surprise, we find that financial market information does not bear out the predictions of financial theory. Measures of volatility and risk premiums today are no lower and perhaps somewhat higher than they were prior to the financial crisis. We examine a number of possible explanations for our findings. While financial markets underestimated risk prior to the crisis and regulatory measures of capital are flawed, we believe that the most important explanation for our findings is the dramatic decline in the franchise value of major banks. We highlight that the ratio of the market value of common equity to assets on both a risk-adjusted and risk-unadjusted basis has declined significantly from the precrisis period to the current period for most major banks. As a consequence, banks are more vulnerable to adverse shocks. We argue for taking a dynamic view of capital that recognizes future profits as a source of capital, and urge approaches to financial regulation supervision that will reliably force rapid capital replenishment in difficult times—something that did not take place in the United States in 2008 and is not taking place in Europe today.


IMPORTANCE
Abnormalities of axonal excitability characterized by upregulation of persistent sodium (Na+) conductances and reduced potassium (K+) currents have been reported in sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (SALS) phenotypes and linked to the development of clinical features such as fasciculations and neurodegeneration.

OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether abnormalities of axonal ion channel function, particularly upregulation of persistent Na+ conductances and reduced K+ currents, form the pathophysiological basis of chromosome 9 open reading frame 72 (c9orf72) familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (FALS).

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS
This was a prospective study. Clinical and functional assessment, along with motor-nerve excitability studies, were undertaken in 10 clinically affected patients with c9orf72 FALS, 9 asymptomatic c9orf72 mutation carriers, and 21 patients with SALS from 3 hospitals and 2 outpatient clinics.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES
Axonal excitability variables were measured in patients with c9orf72 ALS and results compared with matched patients with SALS and healthy control participants.

RESULTS
Strength-duration time constant (τSD) was significantly increased in the patients with c9orf72 FALS and those with SALS (mean [SD], c9orf72 FALS: 0.50 [0.02] milliseconds; SALS: 0.52 [0.02] milliseconds; P < .01) when compared with control participants (mean [SD], 0.44 [0.01] milliseconds). In contrast, there were no significant changes of τSD in asymptomatic c9orf72 mutation carriers (P = .42). An accompanying increase in depolarizing threshold electrotonus at 90 to 100 milliseconds (TEd 90-100 milliseconds) was also evident in the c9orf72 FALS (P < .05) and SALS (P < .01) cohorts. Mathematical modeling suggested that an increase in persistent Na+ conductances, along with reduced K+ currents, best explained the changes in axonal excitability. Importantly, these abnormalities in axonal excitability correlated with the motor amplitude (τSD: R = -0.38, P < .05 and TEd 90-100 milliseconds: R = -0.44, P < .01), muscle weakness (TEd 90-100 milliseconds: R = -0.32, P < .05), and the ALS Functional Rating Scale (TEd 90-100 milliseconds: R = -0.34, P < .05).

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE
Findings from the present study establish that upregulation of persistent Na+ conductances and reduced K+ currents were evident in both c9orf72 FALS and SALS cohorts, and these changes in axonal excitability were associated with motor neuron degeneration.


ABSTRACT Alternaria spp. were sampled from brown spot lesions in several geographically separated citrus groves and different grapefruit and tangerine x grapefruit hybrid cultivars in Florida and screened for variation at 16 putative random amplified polymorphic DNA loci. Populations of the pathogen on two hybrids, Minneola and Orlando, in five locations throughout Florida were moderately differentiated (Nei's coefficient of gene differentiation [G(ST)] = 0.12) among locations. The hypothesis that host-specialized forms of Alternaria spp. cause brown spot on different Citrus spp. and cultivars was tested by estimating genetic differentiation among isolates sampled from different hosts and by pathogenicity assays. Isolates sampled from grapefruit and the hybrid cv. Nova were genetically distinct from isolates sampled from other hybrid cultivars including Robinson, Sunburst, Minneola, Orlando, and Murcott. No differentiation could be detected among isolates sampled from this latter group of hybrids. Quantitative pathogenicity assays on leaves using spray inoculation revealed that 'Nova' isolates were not significantly more pathogenic on 'Nova' compared with isolates from 'Minneola' and 'Orlando'. Similarly, grapefruit isolates were not significantly more pathogenic on grapefruit compared with isolates from 'Minneola'. Isolates from all hosts had similar disease rankings on each inoculated cultivar, with 'Minneola' the most susceptible, followed in decreasing order of susceptibility by 'Orlando', 'Sunburst', 'Nova', and 'Duncan' grapefruit. Rough lemon was generally immune to all isolates tested; however, occasional brown spot lesions were observed on leaves of this host with isolates from grapefruit. No evidence was found to support the hypothesis that unique genotypes of the pathogen, which are more virulent on 'Sunburst' or grapefruit, have been introduced to Florida. Populations of Alternaria spp. causing brown spot of citrus on grapefruit and 'Nova' in Florida are genetically distinct from isolates on other cultivars, and we speculate that these populations are in the early stages of adaptation to and possible speciation on these hosts.


Several studies have revealed that fear recovery is prevented when extinction training is conducted after retrieval of a fear memory. Postretrieval extinction training is related to modification of memory during reconsolidation. Providing new information during reconsolidation can modify the original memory. We propose that avoidance behavior is a relevant factor that prevents subjects from obtaining new safety information during reconsolidation. Postretrieval extinction training without avoidance behavior reduced the fear response to conditioned stimulus and prevented spontaneous recovery in the current study, which corresponded with previous studies. Under the condition of postretrieval extinction training with avoidance behavior, the fear response was not reduced as much as it was in the condition without avoidance. It is possible that avoidance behavior prevents receiving new safety information during postretrieval extinction training.


We present an explicit formula for the expected value of a product of several independent symplectically invariant matrices in which the trace and real part function may be applied, possibly to different subexpressions. This takes the form of a topological expansion; however, each term has two topologies: one for the trace, and another for the real part.
The traces and real parts can always be written in terms of index contraction, but in some cases, it is possible to write the expression as a product in which the two functions are applied to bracketed intervals in a legal bracket diagram. We present the conditions under which this may be done, and an algorithm to construct such an expression given the contracted indices when possible.
The summands in the topological expansion are written in terms of matrix cumulants. We compute the matrix cumulants of quaternionic Ginibre, Gaussian symplectic, quaternionic Wishart, and Haar-distributed symplectic matrices, which allow direct computation of an expression constructed from several independent ensembles of any of these matrices.


We report the discoveries of the two-image gravitationally lensed quasars SDSS J074653.03+440351.3 and SDSS J140624.82+612640.9, selected from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS). SDSS J0746+4403, which will be included in our lens sample for statistics and cosmology, has a source redshift of zs = 2.00, an estimated lens redshift of zl ∼ 0.3, and an image separation of 1.08″. SDSS J1406+6126 has a source redshift of zs = 2.13, a spectroscopically measured lens redshift of zl = 0.27, and an image separation of 1.98″. We find that the two quasar images of SDSS J1406+6126 have different intervening Mg II absorption strengths, which are suggestive of large variations of absorbers on kiloparsec scales. The positions and fluxes of both lensed quasar systems are easily reproduced by simple mass models with reasonable parameter values. These objects bring to 18 the number of lensed quasars that have been discovered from the SDSS data.


In the Jesuit theologian Karl Rahner's life and work, philosophy, spirituality and systematic theology are harmonized for the benefit of the increasingly desacralized and secularized man of the late modernity. Familiarization with the great world's philosophers, from Plato to Aristotle up to Blondel and Heidegger, with Ignatian spirituality and with the Eastern and Western Fathers of the Church decisively helped Rahner in his endeavour to free the Catholic theology from the "captivity" of scholastic rationalism and objectivism and to redirect it "existentially", by a genuine turn, from an abstract God, isolated in the transcendent and irrelevant for the Christian life, to the concrete man, "hearer of God's word". The spiritual experience of the most influential Catholic theologian of the 20th century was conveyed in an original way, by pastoral guidance, through lectures and his monumental work, on many generations of Catholic servants and believers.Setting out the Ignatian and Patristic sources of Karl Rahner's spiritual theology, this article outlines, against its background, the odyssey of yesterday's and today's Christian experience, at the same time emphasizing the profound ecumenical dimension of patristic spirituality.
Keywords: Karl Rahner, Jesuit, Spiritual Exercises, Ignatian spirituality, Church Fathers, existential experience


This paper first briefly discusses the relationship between comparative discourse analyses of original and translated texts as the basis for revealing the behavior of a particular linguistic phenomenon in context and use. Concretely, the paper examines how global English impacts on translations from English into German with regard to so-called 'linking constructions,' a hitherto rather neglected area of connectivity in discourse. The analysis focusses on the forms, functions, distribution, and the translation equivalents in parallel and comparable corpora. Results indicate that the use of linking constructions differs substantially in English and German discourse, and these differences may well block English influence on German discourse norms via translation.


The accurate detection of minute amounts of chemical and biological substances has been a major goal in bioanalytical technology throughout the twentieth century. Fluorescence dye labeling detection remains the effective analysis method, but it modifies the surroundings of molecules and lowering the precision of detection. An alternative label free detecting tool with little disturbance of target molecules is highly desired. Theoretical calculations and experiments have demonstrated that many biomolecules have intrinsic resonance due to vibration or rotation level transitions, allowing terahertz (THz)-probing technique as a potential tool for the label-free and noninvasive detection of biomolecules. In this paper, we first ever combined the THz optoelectronic technique with biochip technology to realize THz biosensing. By transferring the edge-coupled photonic transmitter into a thin glass substrate and by integrating with a polyethylene based biochip channel, near field THz detection of the biomolecules is demonstrated. By directly acquiring the absorption micro-spectrum in the THz range, different boiomecules can then be identified according to their THz fingerprints. For preliminary studies, the capability to identity different illicit drug powders is successfully demonstrated. This novel biochip sensing system has the advantages including label-free detection, high selectivity, high sensitivity, ease for sample preparation, and ease to parallel integrate with other biochip functionality modules. Our demonstrated detection capability allows specifying various illicit drug powders with weight of nano-gram, which also enables rapid identification with minute amounts of other important molecules including DNA, biochemical agents in terrorism warfare, explosives, viruses, and toxics.


The mean transverse velocity and elliptic flow of light fragments (A ≤ 2) as a function of transverse radius are studied for 25 MeV/nucleon 64Cu+64Cu collisions with impact parameters 3–5 fm by the isospin-dependent quantum molecular dynamics model. By comparison between the in-plane and the out-of-plane transverse velocities, the elliptic flow dependence on the transverse radius can be understood qualitatively, and variation of the direction of the resultant force on the fragments can be investigated qualitatively.


Background: The placement of arteriovenous loops can enable microvascular anastomoses of free flaps when recipient vessels are scarce. In animal models, elevated fluid shear stress in arteriovenous loops promotes neoangiogenesis. Anecdotal reports in patients indicate that vein grafts used in free flap reconstructions of ischemic lower extremities are able to induce capillary formation. However, flow-stimulated angiogenesis has never been systematically investigated in humans, and it is unclear whether shear stress alters proangiogenic signaling pathways within the vascular wall of human arteriovenous loops. Methods: Eight patients with lower extremity soft-tissue defects underwent two-stage reconstruction with arteriovenous loop placement, and free flap anastomoses to the loops 10 to 14 days later. Micro-RNA (miRNA) and gene expression profiles were determined in tissue samples harvested from vein grafts of arteriovenous loops by microarray analysis and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Samples from untreated veins served as controls. Results: A strong deregulation of miRNA and gene expression was detected in arteriovenous loops, showing an overexpression of angiopoietic cytokines, oxygenation-associated genes, vascular growth factors, and connexin-43. The authors discovered inverse correlations along with validated and bioinformatically predicted interactions between angiogenesis-regulating genes and miRNAs in arteriovenous loops. Conclusions: The authors' findings demonstrate that elevated shear stress triggers proangiogenic signaling pathways in human venous tissue, indicating that arteriovenous loops may have the ability to induce neoangiogenesis in humans. The authors' data corroborate the nutrient flap hypothesis and provide a molecular background for arteriovenous loop–based tissue engineering with potential clinical applications for soft-tissue defect reconstruction.


The article studies Beijing's reaction to the activities of Soviet diplomacy related to the Taiwan issue. The authors examine the dynamics of Sino-Soviet interaction in 1949-1985 within the context of this geopolitical problem. The article is based on historical sources (including proclama tions and speeches of Chinese and Soviet representatives at official meetings and within the framework of the General Assembly, as well as diplomatic correspondence) and on the Russian and foreign historiography. The paper covers the period of cooperation between Beijing and Moscow (1950s) and the time of high tension in bilateral relations (1960-1985). The PRC government's harsh criticism of Soviet diplomacy, together with its rigid position with regard to the establishment of official relations between the Soviet Union and Taiwan, lead to the conclusion that Beijing could have been deliberately delaying the solution of the issue, using the Taiwan question in its political interests. The authors make suggestions concerning what could have influenced such a position of Beijing towards the Taiwan issue. The real aims of Beijing concerning Taiwan were different from those that Beijing officially proclaimed.


Primary cultures from enzymatically dissociated satellite cells of newborn rat skeletal muscles enabled developmental in vitro studies of mechanical and electrical properties during the first steps of myogenesis. The present work focused on the appearance, evolution and roles of two types of calcium currents (ICa,T and ICa,L) and of depolarization-induced contractile activity during the early stages of muscle cell development in primary culture. Prefusional mononucleated cells (myoblasts), young myotubes of 1 day (with less than 10 nuclei) or 2-3 days (more than 9 nuclei) and myoballs from 4-6, 7-9, 10-12 and 13-16 days cultures were patch-clamped (whole-cell configuration), and calcium currents and contraction simultaneously recorded. Sodium but not calcium currents could be recorded at the myoblast stage. In young myotubes (1 day), ICa,L was present with high incidence as compared to ICa,T, which was poorly expressed. Contractile responses appeared at the next stage (2-3 days) while the occurrence of ICa,T progressively increased. This developmental evolution of the calcium currents and contraction expression was accompanied by some changes in their characteristics: the ICa,T/ICa,L amplitudes ratio progressively increased and the time-to-peak of contraction progressively decreased with the age of myoballs. Physiological functions for calcium currents in developing muscle are suggested and discussed: ICa,T, which is transiently expressed, could be involved in the pacemaker-like activity while ICa,L could serve as an early contraction triggering mechanism and/or initially to fill and then to maintain the intracellular calcium stores.


ABSTRACT: A general framework is proposed for using precipitation estimates from NEXRAD weather radars in raingage network design. NEXRAD precipitation products are used to represent space time rainfall fields, which can be sampled by hypothetical raingage networks. A stochastic model is used to simulate gage observations based on the areal average precipitation for radar grid cells. The stochastic model accounts for subgrid variability of precipitation within the cell and gage measurement errors. The approach is ideally suited to raingage network design in regions with strong climatic variations in rainfall where conventional methods are sometimes lacking. A case study example involving the estimation of areal average precipitation for catchments in the Catskill Mountains illustrates the approach. The case study shows how the simulation approach can be used to quantify the effects of gage density, basin size, spatial variation of precipitation, and gage measurement error, on network estimates of areal average precipitation. Although the quality of NEXRAD precipitation products imposes limitations on their use in network design, weather radars can provide valuable information for empirical assessment of rain‐gage network estimation errors. Still, the biggest challenge in quantifying estimation errors is understanding subgrid spatial variability. The results from the case study show that the spatial correlation of precipitation at subgrid scales (4 km and less) is difficult to quantify, especially for short sampling durations. Network estimation errors for hourly precipitation are extremely sensitive to the uncertainty in subgrid spatial variability, although for storm total accumulation, they are much less sensitive.


Global economic growth has led to an increase of FDI activity in the agro-food sector, which together with the increased FDI in the manufacturing sector, has generated increased FDI activity in food processing. This paper fills a gap in the literature on the role of FDI by extending the recent Knowledge-Capital (CMM) model of multinational enterprises to the food processing sector. Following the CMM model, this paper analyzed the determinants of US outgoing FDI in the food processing sector using data on developed countries over the period 1983 - 2002. The result suggests that economy size, factor endowment, home country trade cost and host country investment cost have significant effect on FDI activity in the food processing sector. Only weak empirical evidence was found for the effect of exchange rate, food price and corruption level.


Displacement triggered by internal conflict is a common phenomenon in Nigeria. It is rampant without boundary and has impacted every part of the country. This study examines the occurrence of internal crises in Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria which consist of ethno-religious and political conflicts as case study I and bomb related violence as case study II respectively in the structure of three stages namely, pre-displacement, displacement and post-displacement. This study aims to probe into how and why internal displacement occurred in the research area and examines international law
such as refugee law, humanitarian law, human rights law and criminal law as well as Nigerian domestic laws such as constitutional law, land law and criminal law governing internal displacement. This study also involves comparative study of law
and practice in two foreign powers, namely Sri Lanka and Uganda which face the same challenges as experienced by Nigeria to acquire some insights. Being a socio-legal research and evidently qualitative in nature and guided by the research objectives and questions, the study adopts case study strategy in probing the issues and the problems. Primary data were gathered through in-depth interview with internally displaced
persons, public officials and legal experts, observations, and official documents. Secondary data were collected through journal articles, newspapers and internet sources. This study finds among others, that the contradictions in the Nigerian Constitution, its biasness and erroneous interpretations have been arbitrarily used to
provoke ethnic animosity between the natives and the settlers in the research area in addition to a number of loopholes identified in the legal frameworks relating to internally displaced persons in Nigeria. This study proposes a reassessment made to the both of the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution involving the rights of citizenship and entitlement as well as to the existing international and domestic law in addressing the internal displacement in Nigeria as a practical approach in looking for solutions of the problems faced. The government and other relevant stakeholders should consider these suggestions seriously so that the evolving legal and policy
frameworks would be effective enough to address the issues and problems associated with the internal displacement in Nigeria.


Hamstring injuries are common, especially in athletes. They are particularly associated with sports that involve running and jumping, as well as rapid acceleration and deceleration. The spectrum of hamstring injuries spans from minor strains to partial tears to complete avulsions of 1, 2, or all 3 tendons. Severe hamstring injuries in which one or more tendons are completely torn or avulsed are typically characterized by a sudden onset of posterior thigh pain associated with localized tenderness in the upper thigh and some degree of loss of function. When a more serious injury than just a hamstring strain is suspected, magnetic resonance imaging should be done to confirm the diagnosis. Magnetic resonance image provides anatomical detailed information on the hamstrings and their pathology and it can be used to assess the amount of tendon retraction, which is an important feature for preoperative planning in proximal hamstring avulsions. In complete 1- or 2-tendon avulsions of the proximal hamstrings, surgical treatment should be considered the treatment of choice, at least in high level athletes. If, however, nonoperative treatment is chosen, surgery can be a useful option, also later should the conservative treatment fail. In this article, the indications of surgery in proximal 1- or 2-tendon hamstring avulsions are discussed, and the operative technique is presented.


Attention to global and world cities has directed the field of urban studies to the significance of international and transnational processes in shaping city economies. This article evaluates these approaches, from a position off their maps. I argue that the circulation of these approaches in academic and policy realms adversely impacts on cities which do not fall into these categories by setting up the idea of the global city as a 'regulating fiction', a standard towards which they aspire. It establishes a small sector of the global economy as most desirable in planning the future of cities. By contrast, mega-cities function as the dramatic 'other' of world and global cities, and highlight the developmentalist discourse through which most cities in poor countries are assessed as fundamentally lacking in qualities of city-ness. I argue that the long-standing categories of western/third-world cities have been translated into the apparently transnational accounts of global and world cities. Western cities continue to be the primary site of production of apparently unlocated urban theory; so-called third-world cities (and other cities off the map of the world cities cartography) are interpreted through a developmentalist lens and, where they are referred to at all, are framed in terms of 'difference' or irrelevance. This article draws attention to the emergence of an alternative set of theoretical approaches, which are more inclusive in their geographical reach and which are concerned with the diverse dynamics of ordinary cities. These approaches have not yet realized that they have the potential to broaden the base for theorizing about cities and, with this in mind, the article explores the potential for a more cosmopolitan urban theory. The policy stakes in this are high, and the article notes that there are important political reasons to promote the analysis of ordinary cities in the face of the persistence of ambitions in many cities to become 'world cities'. Copyright Joint Editors and Blackwell Publishers Ltd 2002.


The Internet brings suppliers unprecedented opportunity of selling directly to consumers, a trend predicted as disintermediation (Malone et al. 1987). However, the coexistence of online reseller channels and direct channels leads to a subtle relationship between suppliers and online resellers, that is, the two parties cooperate as well as compete with each other. In this paper, we build a game-theoretical model to examine the relationship of symbiotic competition between a supplier and a reseller, in which while the supplier relies upon the reseller in distribution, she also competes with the reseller. We further compare possible mechanisms for the supplier to control the symbiotic competition (i.e., the low-price guarantee and the capacity control mechanism). Both mechanisms are shown to reduce the channel conflicts and benefit the supplier. The capacity control mechanism provides the supplier a competitive advantage over the reseller and consequently the maximum profit. The related IT/IS techniques and information systems adoption issue are also discussed.


The social network is a main tunnel of rumor spreading. Previous studies concentrated on a static rumor spreading. The content of the rumor is invariable during the whole spreading process. Indeed, the rumor evolves constantly in its spreading process, which grows shorter, more concise, more easily grasped, and told. In an early psychological experiment, researchers found about 70% of details in a rumor were lost in the first six mouth-to-mouth transmissions. Based on these observations, we investigate rumor spreading on social networks, where the content of the rumor is modified by the individuals with a certain probability. In the scenario, they have two choices, to forward or to modify. As a forwarder, an individual disseminates the rumor directly to their neighbors. As a modifier, conversely, an individual revises the rumor before spreading it out. When the rumor spreads on the social networks, for instance, scale-free networks and small-world networks, the majority of individuals actually are infected by the multirevised version of the rumor, if the modifiers dominate the networks. The individuals with more social connections have a higher probability to receive the original rumor. Our observation indicates that the original rumor may lose its influence in the spreading process. Similarly, a true information may turn out to be a rumor as well. Our result suggests the rumor evolution should not be a negligible question, which may provide a better understanding of the generation and destruction of a rumor. © 2013 American Physical Society.


Social network graphs, concept maps, and process charts are examples of diagrammatic representations employed by intelligence analysts to understand complex systems. Unfortunately, these 2D representations currently do not easily convey the flow, sequence, tempo and other important dynamic behaviors within these systems. In this paper we present Configurable Spaces, a novel analytical method for visualizing patterns of activity over time in complex diagrammatically- represented systems. Configurable Spaces extends GeoTime's X, Y, T coordinate workspace space for temporal analysis to any arbitrary diagrammatic work space by replacing a geographic map with a diagram. This paper traces progress from concept to prototype, and discusses how diagrams can be created, transformed and leveraged for analysis, including generating diagrams from knowledge bases, visualizing temporal concept maps, and the use of linked diagrams for exploring complex, multi-dimensional, sequences of events. An evaluation of the prototype by the National Institute of Standards and Technology showed intelligence analysts believed they were able to attain an increased level of insight, were able to explore data more efficiently, and that Configurable Spaces would help them work faster.


orphan nuclear receptor, plays an important role in the maintenance of gut epithelial homeostasis. We have shown that Pxr mice exhibit a distinctly leaky gut barrier pathology. The barrier defects in Pxr mice resulted from an enhanced epithelium-specific Tlr4 gene expression and signaling. These defects were found to be corrected in Pxr/Tlr4 double knock-out mice. Indeed, the role of PXR in maintaining gut epithelial barrier was found to be directly related to its ability to inversely regulate TLR4 expression. PXR is known to predominantly function as a classical ligand-dependent transcription factor. However, nuclear run-on and ChIP studies have shown that PXR has minimal effects on TLR4 gene transcription. However, we observed that PXR activation in vitro, decreased TLR4 mRNA stability and this effect was mediated by PXR binding to the TLR4 mRNA 30 untranslated region. CONCLUSION(S): Overall, our studies implicate epithelial PXR as a central regulator of TLR4 mediated control of gut immunity. These findings indicate that novel immune regulation strategies might involve PXR-RNA binding.


Assessment of intraepidermal nerve fiber density (IENFD) has become a useful tool for the investigation of patients with suspected small-fiber neuropathy (SFN). Here, we estimate epidermal nerve fiber lengths in 12 patients with SFN and 36 healthy controls using global spatial sampling and compare the lengths with IENFD and axonal swelling ratios. Skin biopsies were analyzed on 50-μm-thick free-floating sections immunostained for the neuronal cytoplasmic marker PGP 9.5. Mean IENFD in SFN patients was 2.22 ± 1.63 mm versus 7.51 ± 2.17 mm in controls; mean length density was 112 ± 82.6 mm in SFN patients versus 565 ± 240 mm in controls (p < 0.001 for both). The correlation between the nerve fiber length and the IENFD was r = 0.16 for healthy subjects and r = 0.39 for patients, suggesting that these variables provide different quantitative information. There were significant differences in axonal swelling ratios between healthy subjects and patients, that is, per IENFD and per nerve fiber length. Together, these results suggest that, although length estimation requires more time and additional equipment, it is as effective as IENFD in differentiating SFN patients from healthy subjects. Estimating nerve fiber length may increase mechanistic understanding beyond IENFD estimation and improve efficiency in diagnosing SFN.


Despite the importance of strategic competence theory in language assessment, only a few studies have set out to validate it using empirical data. Phakiti (2007) points out that while human cognitive processing is subtle and highly dependent on context, little is known about the influence of strategic competence on test performance over time.

This thesis reports on two empirical studies to address these issues. Study One is a large scale cross-sectional study (N=416) and Study Two a longitudinal one in which three lexico-grammatical tests and various sets of strategy use questionnaires were given to Chinese EFL students over 3 months (1-month interval; N=519). The cross-sectional study aimed to reveal the nature of strategic competence and provide a baseline model, while the longitudinal investigation aimed to assess and evaluate issues of 'performance consistency' (Chapelle, 1998), including both lexico-grammatical and strategic abilities, over time through a multi-trait multi-method (MTMM) approach (Campbell & Fiske, 1959), using structural equation modeling (SEM).

Study One found that the nature of strategic competence is highly complex. Strategic competence was found to be a metacognitive function of human cognition associated with general strategic awareness and online strategic processing. Metacognitive awareness as a long-term mental process in L2 test-takers' mind constantly manages and regulates their use of language in test-taking. Also, strategic competence does not directly contribute to language test performance since it acts as a cluster of strategic processing, which individually has a direct/indirect positive effect on test performance. The results of Study Two suggested that test-takers' cognitive strategic processing used in tests became more stable and automatic, ie. test-takers might transition from being conscious to being unconscious of their mental processing. Additionally, strategic behaviours accounted for more when test-takers faced unfamiliar and difficult test tasks. However, even when the difficulty of the test tasks was similar, after test-takers' strategic processing became automatic the impact of strategic thinking and behaviour accounted for less or little in their actual performances.


The 1960s protest movements marked an astonishing moment for West Germany. They developed a political critique, but are above all distinctive for their overwhelming emphasis on culture and the symbolic. In particular, reading and writing had a uniquely prestigious status for West German protesters, who produced an extraordinary textual culture ranging from graffiti and flyers to agit-prop poetry and autobiographical prose. By turns witty, provocative, reflective and offensive, the avantgarde roots of anti-authoritarianism are as palpable in their texts as their debt to high literature. But due to this culture's (apparently) anti-literary tone, it has often remained illegible to traditional criticism. This volume presents close readings and analyses of emblematic examples of texts, some forgotten, others better known, embedding them in historical, cultural, theoretical and aesthetic context, and illuminating representative moments and preoccupations in anti-authoritarian culture, from the Vietnam War to the Nazi past, to dirt and hygiene. They outline an anti-authoritarian poetics and uncover some of the texts' latent content, revealing often hidden tensions and contradictions, above all in relation to the German past and questions of authority.


The aim of the current study is to investigate the relationships between physico-chemical parameters, seasons, and fish size to determine levels of some heavy metals in water, sediment, and gills of Sander lucioperca in Karatas Lake, Turkey. Temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, and EC (electrical conductivity) were measured. DORM 3 and DOLT 4 reference material showed good accuracy. In the water, Fe had the highest level, while Cd had the lowest. Generally, heavy metal levels increased in spring. Both positive and negative correlations were detected between their content in water and physico-chemical parameters. Results of the heavy metal levels were compared with national and international water quality guidelines. In sediment, Fe was the highest too. In fish, high levels of heavy metals were found in liver of pikeperch while low levels in muscle and gill samples depended on metal properties. In season, the metal levels were highest in autumn in muscle, in summer in liver, and in winter in gill. Positive and negative relationships were found between metal levels and fish size. Metal concentrations in the muscle of examined fish were compared with Turkish Food Codex and EC standarts.


We study a perturbation of the hydrogen atom by small homogeneous static electric and magnetic fields in a specific mutual alignment with angle approximately pi/3 which results in the 12 resonance of the linearized Keplerian n-shell approximation. The bifurcation diagram of the classical integrable approximation has for most such field configurations the same typical structure that we describe. The structure of the corresponding quantum energy spectrum, which we describe in detail, is in certain ways an analogue of the well-known degeneracy found by Herrick [Phys. Rev. A 26, 323 (1982)] for the quadratic Zeeman effect.


The MeerKAT Exploration of Relics, Giant Halos, and Extragalactic Radio Sources (MERGHERS) survey is a planned project to study a large statistical sample of galaxy clusters with the MeerKAT observatory. Here we present the results of a 16-h pilot project, observed in response to the 2019 MeerKAT Shared Risk proposal call, to test the feasibility of using MeerKAT for a large cluster study using short (0.2–2.1 h) integration times. The pilot focuses on 1.28-GHz observations of 13 massive, low-to-intermediate redshift (0.22 < z < 0.65) clusters from the Sunyaev–Zel'dovich-selected Atacama Cosmology Telescope (ACT) DR5 catalogue that show multiwavelength indications of dynamical disturbance. With a 70 per cent detection rate (9/13 clusters), this pilot study validates our proposed MERGHERS observing strategy and provides twelve detections of diffuse emission, eleven of them new, indicating the strength of MeerKAT for such types of studies. The detections (signal-to-noise ratio ≳ 6) are summarized as follows: two systems host both relic(s) and a giant radio halo, five systems host radio haloes, and two have candidate radio haloes. Power values, k-corrected to 1.4 GHz, assuming a fiducial spectral index of α = −1.3 ± 0.4, are consistent with known radio halo and relic scaling relations.


Background and aims : Noise pollution is one of the risk factors of the human environment that may seriously threat physical and mental health of human beings. One of the main sources of this type of pollution is the noise produced by urban transportation and traffic, particularly subway in the environment. This article aims at study and evaluation of the noise condition in drivers' cabin and inside wagons of the subway of Tehran and the suburbs. Methods: Noise level and noise frequency analysis in the trains of lines one, two, four and five of the subway which are among the active lines of Tehran subway and the suburbs have been measured and evaluated at 345 points within one week over two days while the train was moving and stopped of which 96 points were located inside the driver's cabin and 258 points were in wagons. Noise was evaluated based on Free Air Standard approved by the Environment Higher Council of Iran and ACGIH Organization. The subway trains were also compared regarding noise pollution based on type of the train (TM, DC, AC). Calibrated analyzer instrument, model CEL-450/490 was used to measure noise and the data were analyzed by statistical descriptive methods, t-test and analysis of variance by SPSS18 software. Results : Mean equivalent noise level measured in the moving wagon was equal to 71.9 dBA that is significantly higher than the standard level (65 dBA) (p<0.01). In case the mean equivalent noise level measured in the moving cabin is equal to 73.3 dBA, that is significantly less than the standard level (85 dBA) (p<0.01). There is a significant difference between mean noise pressure level in wagon and in driver's cabin while moving and stoppage (p<0.01). However, there is no significant difference between noise pressure level in the wagon and driver's cabin while moving (p=0.5). There is no significant difference between the mean noise pressure level while moving and stoppage in different frequencies inside the wagon (p=0.5). However, there is a significant difference between the mean noise pressure level while moving and stoppage in 250 and 500 frequencies in the cabin (p<0.01). TM1 and TM2 trains are in the same class considering mean noise equal level and noise pressure (p=0.667) and AC and DC trains are in the same class (p=0.5) and their mean noise is equal to 69.5 and 73, respectively. Conclusion: The results obtained in this research showed that the mean equivalent noise level in the cabins is less than the authorized limit; however, it is higher than the authorized limit in the wagon. Therefore, it seems necessary to take control and prevention measures for noise reduction inside wagons.


The increased use of engineered nanoparticles (NPs) in manufacturing and consumer products raises concerns about the potential environmental and health implications on the ecosystem and living organisms. Organs initially and more heavily affected by environmental NPs exposure in whole organisms are the skin and digestive system. We investigate the toxic effect of two types of NPs, nickel (Ni) and copper oxide (CuO), on the physiology of the intestine of a living aquatic system, zebrafish embryos. Embryos were exposed to a range of Ni and CuO NP concentrations at different stages of embryonic development. We use changes in the physiological serotonin (5HT) concentrations, determined electrochemically with carbon fiber microelectrodes inserted in the live embryo, to assess this organ dysfunction due to NP exposure. We find that exposure to both Ni and CuO NPs induces changes in the physiological 5HT concentration that varies with the type, exposure period and concentration of NPs, as well as with the developmental stage during which the embryo is exposed. These data suggest that exposure to NPs might alter development and physiological processes in living organisms and provide evidence of the effect of NPs on the physiology of the intestine.


The International Commission for Alpine Rescue (ICAR, http://www.icar-cisa.org/) was founded 1948 by influential representatives of the alpine rescue organizations in Austria, France, Germany, Italy and Switzerland. From the beginning of the partnership, the aim was to coordinate materials, techniques, strategies and information for alpine rescue-actions. At present, 33 organizations representing 22 countries (in Europe and Northern America) are associated in the ICAR. At the annual meetings, four sub-commissions deal with the different tasks of alpine rescue. Besides climbing, glacier or cave accidents, snow avalanches are of eminent interest. Recommendations for safety measures in outdoor equipments are a strong tradition in the avalanche section of ICAR. We mention the harmonization of the frequency for avalanche beacons in 1989, which, after intense discussions, was fixed worldwide to 457 kHz after ICAR's intervention. Also 1993, when the avalanche warning services coordinated the avalanche danger scale, ICAR played a dominant role in the harmonization. Overall statistics for the last 20 years prove an annual mean of 106 avalanche fatalities in the alpine countries and 138 after adding those in Northern America. Most persons died in avalanches during 'Backcountry' touring, but important (and with a gentle positive trend) are also those caught during off-piste skiing/boarding or snowmobiling. In analyzing the questionnaires of the rescue teams and the characteristics of the snow cover progress during winter, detailed information on avalanche accidents can be found and should stay a main focus. Today, efforts are necessary to merge the practical work of the alpine rescuers, avalanche forecasters and educators. Special efforts are also necessary to reduce the risk of the rescuers themselves.


This study was performed for the detection of hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in the sera of the hemophiliac patients. A total of 232 frozen (at -30°C) hemophiliac sera were examined. It was found that 114 of the patients (49.13%) had HCV RNA positive sera, 114 of the patients (49.13%) had HCV RNA negative sera and the sera of the 4 patients (1.72%) were considered as indetermined. [Journal of Turgut Özal Medical Center 1996;3(4):294-298]


Health care-associated infections (HAIs) and antimicrobial resistance constitute a major public health challenge. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence rate of HAIs and antimicrobial use in acute care hospitals in Kosovo. A multicenter study was performed in all hospitals in Kosovo. The standardized protocol for Point Prevalence Survey (PPS) on HAIs and antimicrobial use developed by European Center for Disease Control and Prevention (ECDC) was used for this survey. A total of 915 patients were included in PPS. Countrywide prevalence rate of HAIs was 4.9%. The highest rate was noticed in tertiary care level in University Clinical Centre of Kosovo (UCCK) (7.2%). The most common type of HAI was surgical site infection, representing 35.5% of all reported HAIs. Prevalence of HAIs was highest in surgical departments (46.6%). The median length of stay before onset of HAI was 11 days (range: 3-27 days). Gram negative bacteria were the predominant microorganisms (61% of cases). From all patients, 520 (56.8%) of them were using at least one antibiotic. Ceftriaxone was the most prescribed antibiotic with 40.3%. Antibiotics were administered mainly through parenteral route (93.8%). Empiric treatment was the physician's choice for prescribing in 87.1%. The main reason for antibiotic treatment was pneumonia (19.8%). Medical prophylaxis was reported in 10% of antibiotic prescriptions. Key recommendations driven by this study are to improve surveillance systems of HAI and antibiotic use, enhance infection prevention and control and establish antimicrobial stewardship program.


In this paper we present our results, challenges and learnings, over a two-year period wherein robust multi-objective optimization was applied at the Mariner asset which is being currently developed. Many different problems were solved with different objectives. These problems were formulated based on the phases of planning and development at the asset. The optimization problems include drilling order and well trajectory optimization as the main objectives with reduction in water cut and reduction of gas production to minimize flaring as secondary objectives. We use the efficient stochastic gradient technique, StoSAG, to achieve optimization incorporating geological and petrophysical uncertainty. For some problems computational limitations introduced challenges while for other problems operational constraints introduced challenges for the optimization.
 Depending on the problems significant increases between 5% and 20% in the expected value of the objective function were achieved. For the multi-objective optimization cases we show that non-trivial optimal strategies are obtained which significantly reduce (40% decrease) gas production with minimal loss (less than 1%) in the economic objective. Our results illustrate the importance of flexible optimizations workflows to achieve results of significant practical value at different stages of the planning and development cycle at an operational asset.


[Italiano]:The volume contains the proceedings of the conference on the subject of relational ontology, which involved a group of scholars of classical German philosophy with the aim of explaining the reasons, drawing inspiration and categories from the ideal and conceptual constellation of that age of culture. The idea from which they make the contributions is that for relational ontology we can understand a theory on the structure of reality (onto-logic), attentive to the development of the explanatory and normative potential of the category of reciprocity. The contributions thus define a path that, starting from Kant and the question of a unity and duplicity of the ego, passing through the consideration of the Fichtian relational ontology and the idea of a constitution of identity responding to the appeal from the other (on this theme a dialogue Ricoeur / Fichte is also staged), it touches on the notion of natural law of Schelling, to arrive at the Hegelian construction of an ontology and logic of the relationship, which can be found in the very notion of civil society, and finally to reading in a 'materialistic' key of Kantian transcendental idealism, in relation to the notion of reciprocal action. /[English]:The volume contains the proceedings of the conference on the subject of relational ontology, which involved a group of scholars of classical German philosophy with the aim of explaining the reasons, drawing inspiration and categories from the ideal and conceptual constellation of that age of culture. The idea from which they make the contributions is that for relational ontology we can understand a theory on the structure of reality (onto-logic), attentive to the development of the explanatory and normative potential of the category of reciprocity. The contributions thus define a path that, starting from Kant and the question of a unity and duplicity of the ego, passing through the consideration of the Fichtian relational ontology and the idea of a constitution of identity responding to the appeal from the other (on this theme a dialogue Ricoeur / Fichte is also staged), it touches on the notion of natural law of Schelling, to arrive at the Hegelian construction of an ontology and logic of the relationship, which can be found in the very notion of civil society, and finally to reading in a 'materialistic' key of Kantian transcendental idealism, in relation to the notion of reciprocal action.


Essential oils (EO) could address the need for alternative additives for food producers to maintain safety and quality of meat products. The aim of this study was to evaluate antimicrobial activity of Thymbra spicata L. subsb. spicata EO on Escherichia coli and Salmonella Typhimurium in Turkish dry fermented sausage (sucuk). Antimicrobial activity of EO, obtained from the collected plant, has been demonstrated in vitro and in sucuk matrices against selected foodborne pathogens. In the composition of the essential oil obtained in the study, total of 47 components (99.41%) were assayed including mainly carvacrol (43.6%), ɣ-terpinene (16.69%) and p-cymen (13.97%). Thymbra spicata L. observed to have antimicrobial effect on the related pathogens in vitro however, increased amount of EO use, to be antimicrobiologically effective in sucuk, negatively affected the organoleptic properties. It is concluded that natural additives could potentially be used as an alternative to chemicals in food technology to prevent foodborne diseases and to extend the shelf life of products. Further studies are needed to evaluate the combined and synergetic effects of different EOs and other preservation methods to cope with foodborne pathogens in the food matrices.


The >1000‐km‐long transform fault defining the continental western boundary of the Indian plate (Fig. 1) is named after the town of Old Chaman (30.85° N, 66.52° E) that was damaged by an 6.5<Mw<6.7 earthquake there in 1892 (Griesbach, 1893). We quantify slip and afterslip in the 1892 earthquake from historical reports of rail offsets and rotation, and estimate rupture length from survey reports. We estimate that total slip exceeded 1 m, similar to the current potential slip deficit now prevailing on the fault derived from recent Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar and Global Positioning System studies. As a consequence, a recurrence of the 1892 earthquake could soon occur. In 1892, the population of Chaman numbered less than 1000. The present population of Chaman and nearby villages exceeds 0.5 million.


Despite many building have firefighting systems installed in them; many people are still losing their lives and property due to fire accidents. The cost of installation of these systems is usually high and most of them are operated manually. They are often located inside the building which may not be accessible during fire accidents. In this research, an automatic cost effective prototype of a fire fighting system for the detection and control of fire has been designed and fabricated. The system has an additional feature of sending a short text message to all the occupants of the building and the fire department for immediate response. It is made up of 8 sensors, computer interfacing board, system software and 8 controlled firefighting equipment (water sprinkler) operated by an electric valve. Smoke and temperature sensors have been integrated to form a single unit to improve the accuracy and efficiency of fire detection. LM 35 Ie has been used as temperature sensor while light dependent resistor (LDR) made of cadmium sulphide has been used as smoke sensor. All sensors are interfaced to computer through an 8 input; 8 output interfacing board using parallel port. The controlling software for the whole system is designed in Lab VIEW in conjunction with attention (AT) commands. The system is finally tested by introducing fire parameters (smoke and temperature) close to the detector. When the parameters go above the set level in the detectors, audio alarm is initiated. Indicators on the computer are switched on automatically after 5 seconds and the corresponding water sprinkler activated after 10 seconds. Short text messages are sent to all the occupants and the fire fighting department within a period of 70 seconds. With feedback mechanism sprinklers are switched off when fire is fully extinguished.


Summary The ability to anticipate is a hallmark of cognition. Inferences about what will occur in the future are critical to decision making, enabling us to prepare our actions so as to avoid harm and gain reward. Given the importance of these future projections, one might expect the brain to possess accurate, unbiased foresight. Humans, however, exhibit a pervasive and surprising bias: when it comes to predicting what will happen to us tomorrow, next week, or fifty years from now, we overestimate the likelihood of positive events, and underestimate the likelihood of negative events. For example, we underrate our chances of getting divorced, being in a car accident, or suffering from cancer. We also expect to live longer than objective measures would warrant, overestimate our success in the job market, and believe that our children will be especially talented. This phenomenon is known as the optimism bias, and it is one of the most consistent, prevalent, and robust biases documented in psychology and behavioral economics.


Abstract— The Middle Ordovician Granby structure in Sweden is generally considered the result of an asteroidal or cometary collision with Earth, although no hard evidence, i.e., shock metamorphic features or traces of the impactor, have been presented to date. In this study, drill core samples of a sedimentary breccia from the Granby structure have been investigated for microscopic shock metamorphic evidence in an attempt to verify the impact genesis of the structure. The finding of multiple sets of decorated planar deformation features (PDFs) in quartz grains in these samples provides unambiguous evidence that the structure is impact derived. Furthermore, the orientation of the PDFs, e.g., ω {101 }, π {101 } and r, z {101 }, is characteristic for impact deformation. The fact that a majority of the PDFs are decorated implies a water‐bearing target. The shocked quartz grains can be divided into two groups; rounded grains found in the breccia matrix likely originated from mature sandstone, and angular grains in fragments from crystalline target rocks. The absence of melt particles provides an estimated maximum shock pressure for the sedimentary derived quartz of 15–20 GPa and the frequency distribution of PDF orientations in the bedrock quartz implies pressures of the order of 10 GPa.


Biometric technologies are becoming inevitable in highly secure identification and personal verification solutions. With an increase in transaction frauds, security breaches the need for highly secure identification and personal verification technologies is becoming need of the hour. The major advantage of biometric system over traditional methods is that they are typically unique for each person and cannot be forged easily. Biometric use of palm prints uses ridge patterns to identify an individual. The Palm print identification system is most promising to identify an individual based on statistical properties of palm print image. Its rich features like principal lines, minutiae points, wrinkles, ridges and singular points makes it favourable to be used as one of the best biometric identification. This paper proposed the palm print identification system on GPU.


Heterojunction band lineups have been investigated for over 40 years, and still are one of the most difficult open problems in condensed matter research—with an immediate impact on heterojunction devices. Steady progress has been made at least in understanding the ingredients of the band lineup process since the advent of surface‐sensitive techniques in this field. Empirical links with the problem of Schottky barriers were discovered, and for both cases ''extreme'' models based on only one ingredient had to be abandoned except in very special cases. A whole array of new and advanced instruments such as ultrabright synchrotron sources, photoemission spectromicroscopes, and free electron lasers is now being developed that will allow a rejuvenated attack to this problem, raising questions about old experiments, and opening new perspective in the very definition of interface barriers and band lineups.


Purpose
Reports show that 6.77m people published blogs on blogging websites and more than 12m people write blogs using their social network. However, few studies have explored consumer attitudes toward bloggers and their advertising. Therefore, an effort to discover how paid blog advertisements influence consumer attitudes toward bloggers and the products they advertise will help marketers gain an understanding of how to use bloggers as paid sponsors to influence consumer purchase intent. Using online survey approach, a study recruited participants (n=210) through an online survey platform (MTurk). The results indicated that the similarity between the consumer and the ad creator is an important psychological reason why consumers are more likely to perceive advertisements as more authentic, more affective, less deceptive and more credible, and they are thus more likely to trust the blogger. On the other hand, the importance of ad attribute (authenticity) does not significantly influence consumers' intention to purchase products advertised by a blogger. As consumers are becoming more skeptical of advertisements, blogs need to be entertaining and a pleasure to view. Not only does the content need to be interesting, the design, flow and clarity of the blogs must also be considered important factors. In addition, advertising needs to be believable, credible and honest. In the online world, trust and credibility are still paramount in attracting consumers' engagement; hence, promoting companies' products and services through blogs can be an effective strategy to lower consumer skepticism barriers. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach
Participants answered questions about their attitudes toward bloggers and their advertising when purchasing products in an online retail environment. Furthermore, participants also answered questions about their perceived trust in the bloggers themselves as well as the authenticity and credibility of the brand-related communication received from bloggers. Moreover, they reported on their attitudes toward how deceptive they considered bloggers and their advertising to be. Finally, participants reported how paid blog advertisements influence their purchase intent.

Findings
Similarity toward the ad creator is an important psychological reason behind consumers' attitude toward blogs. Consumers who follow a blog often have the same interests and are thus more likely to support bloggers. This idea can be used as a segmentation strategy to reach particular consumers. Consumers who perceive similarity with the ad creator are more likely to recognize the ads as more authentic, affective, credible and trustworthy as well as less deceptive, regarding the blogger. Blogs need to be entertaining and a pleasure to view. Not only does the content need to be interesting but the design, flow and clarity of the blog are also important factors. Blog advertising needs to be believable, credible and honest. In the online world, trust and credibility are still paramount in attracting consumers' engagement with the website, bloggers or social media.

Originality/value
Trust in the blogger did not influence consumers' purchase intent; however, it did influence their attitude toward how similar they are with the blogger. In an online shopping environment, the human touch and personal contact between consumers and retailers has been lost. Consumers often leave the online transaction due to a lack of trust. Therefore, bloggers can be replacements for the missing "salesperson" in online interactions. Companies can use bloggers as the mediating person to reach their intended audiences, bridging the gap between the company and consumers.


Background: Airway management of the critically ill patient is challenging. An audit of airway management in the UK reported higher incidence of significant airway complications (death and hypoxic brain damage) in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) compared to regular anesthetic practice in the operating theatre.1 Virtual bronchoscopy (VB) can be valuable in airway management in the ICU. Methods: Virtual reality (VR) emerged in the clinical field 20 years ago2,3 utilizing graphics, high-end information technology, advanced sensors, and human-computer interfaces to create an immersive and interactive artificial environment. Conversion of standard radiological Computer Tomography (CT) images as computer-generated simulation of airway anatomy is referred to as VB or virtual endoscopy (VE).2,3 VB allows the display of high-resolution airway images down to 6/7th bronchial subdivisions and simulates findings of traditional fiberoptic bronchoscopy (FOB)3 (Figures 1 and 2). The indications of VB in ICU include evaluation and management of tracheobronchial stenosis, airway trauma, inhalation injury, foreign body aspiration, tracheostomy tracheoesophageal fistula (TOF) (3), and bronchopleural fistula (BPF)2. Results: VB has several advantages including non-invasiveness, non interruption of mechanical ventilation or potential loss of airway, and no need for specific patient preparation. In addition, there is no exposure to contrast and it can be accomplished within a minute. VB allows airway evaluation of intra- and extra-luminal airway structure from all angles in isolation from its surroundings. Being operator-independent is a major advantage of VB.4 FOB has significant limitations and potential complications. These include limited access via severe stenosis, inability to evaluate caliber and morphology of post-stenotic airway, limited information about airway surrounding structures in addition to risk of hypoxia, hypercarbia, and de-recruitment. Notably there is absence of bronchial colour or texture information, no endobronchial gesture such as bacterial sampling is possible, there are many false negatives and false positives, and the reproducibility of the measurements is still mediocre. Adequate sedation is needed during FOB with associated hazards. Moreover, risks of airway trauma, bleeding, pneumothorax, infection, and increased airway pressure with FOB have been observed.2–4 In tracheobronchial stenosis, VB showed sensitivity of 63–100% and specificity of 61–99%, allows examination of the post-stenotic section of tracheobronchial tree and provides information about extra-luminal pathology.3 VB is safe and well-tolerated by critically ill patients and does not pose a risk of contamination or infection of critically ill immunocompromised patients.3 3D reconstruction and VB can be performed either by the radiologist, anesthetist or surgeon on an appropriate workstation utilizing widely available software to generate an internal simulated view of the airway or the pathology. This can be utilized to formulate an airway management plan in critical and challenging situations.4,5 However, retained mucus or blood mimic tracheobronchial stenosis. VB cannot be utilized for evaluation of pulmonary mucosa, biopsy, or pulmonary lavage. Dynamic changes, such as vocal cord palsy can be challenging to appreciate using VB. In addition, VB mandates transfer of critically ill patients to the radiology department and exposure to radiation.3 Conclusion: 3D and VB volume rendering of CT images of the airway can provide anesthetists and intensivists with an alternative view of the airway in ICU settings. This can be utilized to formulate an airway management plan in the most demanding conditions.