A set of graphs may acquire various desirable properties, if we apply suitable restrictions
on the set. We investigate the following two questions: How far, exactly, must one restrict
the structure of a graph to obtain a certain interesting property? What kind of tools are
helpful to classify sets of graphs into those which satisfy a property and those that do not?
Equipped with a containment relation, a graph class is a special example of a partially
ordered set. We introduce the notion of a boundary ideal as a generalisation of a notion
introduced by Alekseev in 2003, to provide a tool to indicate whether a partially ordered set
satisfies a desirable property or not. This tool can give a complete characterisation of lower
ideals defined by a finite forbidden set, into those that satisfy the given property and to
those that do not. In the case of graphs, a lower ideal with respect to the induced subgraph
relation is known as a hereditary graph class.
We study three interrelated types of properties for hereditary graph classes: the existence
of an efficient solution to an algorithmic graph problem, the boundedness of the graph
parameter known as clique-width, and well-quasi-orderability by the induced subgraph relation.
It was shown by Courcelle, Makowsky and Rotics in 2000 that, for a graph class, boundedness
of clique-width immediately implies an efficient solution to a wide range of algorithmic
problems. This serves as one of the motivations to study clique-width. As for well-quasiorderability,
we conjecture that every hereditary graph class that is well-quasi-ordered by
the induced subgraph relation also has bounded clique-width.
We discover the first boundary classes for several algorithmic graph problems, including
the Hamiltonian cycle problem. We also give polynomial-time algorithms for the dominating
induced matching problem, for some restricted graph classes.
After discussing the special importance of bipartite graphs in the study of clique-width,
we describe a general framework for constructing bipartite graphs of large clique-width. As
a consequence, we find a new minimal class of unbounded clique-width.
We prove numerous positive and negative results regarding the well-quasi-orderability of
classes of bipartite graphs. This completes a characterisation of the well-quasi-orderability of
all classes of bipartite graphs defined by one forbidden induced bipartite subgraph. We also
make considerable progress in characterising general graph classes defined by two forbidden
induced subgraphs, reducing the task to a small finite number of open cases. Finally, we
show that, in general, for hereditary graph classes defined by a forbidden set of bounded
finite size, a similar reduction is not usually possible, but the number of boundary classes
to determine well-quasi-orderability is nevertheless finite.
Our results, together with the notion of boundary ideals, are also relevant for the study
of other partially ordered sets in mathematics, such as permutations ordered by the pattern
containment relation.


Productivity and food habits of the Barn Owl ( Tyto alba ) utilizing nest boxes in Juab, Utah, and Salt Lake counties, Utah, During 1979-1984 were examined. Average clutch size was 5.8 eggs for the 6-yr period; mean number fledged was 3.9 young per successful nest. While severe weather during the 1981-82 winter did not result in significant decrease in productivity during the 1982 breeding season, it may have resulted in a significant overproduction of female young. Barn Owls in north central Utah fed almost exclusively on mammalian species, particularly Microtus spp. Difference in clutch size between areas and years may be a response to availability as well as abundance of prey.


VINCENT PERIES was born in Sri Lanka in 1933 and educated in England before coming to the United States in 1968. After his arrival, he earned an M.S. in teaching English as a second language, an M.B.A. in international finance, and a Ph.D. in adapted physical education and child development. In 1981, after teaching at York College of Pennsylvania and New York University, Peries became a teacher in the New York City Public Schools. In 1987, after working at a number of other schools, he joined the staff of Francis Lewis High School in Queens. Since then, he has served as a special education teacher, both in a resource room and in a self-contained classroom with a preponderance of emotionally disturbed students. Since the early 1990s, according to Peries, students have subjected him to a "steady barrage of insults and demeaning conduct . . . based on [his] national origin and race."1 For example, during the 1992-93 school year, he worked as one of three teachers who shared a single resource room, with the groups separated by partitions. One of the three teachers, Lorraine Valsich, served as the resource room coordinator. On November 16, when Peries went into Valsich's section to retrieve a book, one of her students began taunting him, calling him a "fucking Hindu," asking him, "Why are you here?" and telling him to "go home." Valsich giggled and did nothing to stop the student. Other students joined in and continued to harass Peries until the third resource room teacher took him out of the room, only to be followed by a couple of students who continued the abuse. Soon thereafter, Peries asked assistant principal William Stolfi, who was in charge of the special education department, to look into the matter. Later that day, Stolfi sent Peries a letter, allegedly admonishing him for responding "almost to the point of hysteria" and advising him to deal with such problems in a professional manner and not to try to delegate his disciplinary responsibility to Valsich. Additionally, Stolfi requested the names of the students who had harassed him, promising that "[t]hey will be dealt with in the usual procedures [for] troublesome students." He also asked him to write up the details of a threat of physical harm from one student, assuring him that "it will be handled expeditiously." Finally, the letter stated: "You should not be subjected to ridicule by any student, and these problems will be addressed." When Peries asked for her assistance, Valsich gave him false student names, and the school failed to investigate the matter once he provided the particulars. The taunting continued for the remainder of the school year, including incidents in which students threw paper balls at him, called him names like "Gandhi" and "Indian shit," and put a red dot on the picture of a polar bear in Valsich's room, which she left there for months. In addition, Peries found notes on his desk and chair, containing messages such as "Hindu, go home. You don't belong here." During the 1993-94 school year, Stolfi and the principal subjected Peries to singularly frequent observations, resulting at the end of the year in his first "unsatisfactory" rating while with the school system. During the 1994-95 school year, Peries took advantage of a union- negotiated program that allowed him to be evaluated by someone other than the principal or assistant principal, and he did not receive another unsatisfactory rating. Despite Peries' repeated oral requests during these two years and his five written complaints between February 1996 and May 1997, the students' hostile treatment continued "virtually unabated."When he sent the offending students to an administrator's office, they returned soon thereafter without even a written reprimand, much less more severe disciplinary action, such as a suspension. On 4 March 1997, Peries sent a long letter to Stolfi and the principal reporting harassment from G. …


Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) is characterised by ovarian enlargement, increased vascular permeability and fluid shift. Patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) or previous history of OHSS are at increased risk. A reduced risk of OHSS is seen with use of gonadotrophin‐releasing hormone antagonist instead of agonist, coasting of overstimulated cycles, metformin in women with PCOS and dopamine agonists. OHSS is likely to be more severe and prolonged in cycles where conception occurs. Patients of severe OHSS require close monitoring of fluid balance, thromboprophylaxis and attention to effusions.


In mobile opportunistic social networks (MOSNs), mobile devices carried by people communicate with each other directly when they meet for proximity-based MOSN services (e.g., file sharing) without the support of infrastructures. In current methods, when nodes meet, they simply communicate with their real IDs, which leads to privacy and security concerns. Anonymizing real IDs among neighbor nodes solves such concerns. However, this prevents nodes from collecting real ID-based encountering information, which is needed to support MOSN services. Therefore, in this paper, we propose FaceChange that can support both anonymizing real IDs among neighbor nodes and collecting real ID-based encountering information. For node anonymity, two encountering nodes communicate anonymously. Only when the two nodes disconnect with each other, each node forwards an encrypted encountering evidence to the encountered node to enable encountering information collection. A set of novel schemes are designed to ensure the confidentiality and uniqueness of encountering evidences. FaceChange also supports fine-grained control over what information is shared with the encountered node based on attribute similarity (i.e., trust), which is calculated without disclosing attributes. Advanced extensions for sharing real IDs between mutually trusted nodes and more efficient encountering evidence collection are also proposed. Extensive analysis and experiments show the effectiveness of FaceChange on protecting node privacy and meanwhile supporting the encountering information collection in MOSNs. Implementation on smartphones also demonstrates its energy efficiency.


†Summary Optimization of artificial neural network (ANN) parameters design for full-automation ability is an extremely important task, therefore it is challenging and daunting task to find out which is effective and accurate method for ANN prediction and optimization. This paper presents different procedures for the optimization of ANN with aim to: solve the time-consuming of learning process, enhancing generalizing ability, achieving robust and accurate model, and to reduce the computational complexity. A Genetic Algorithm (GA) has been used to optimize operational parameters (input variables), and we plan to optimize neural network architecture (i.e. number of hidden layer and neurons per layer), weight, types, training algorithms, activation functions, learning rate, momentum rate, number of iterations, and dataset partitioning ratio. A hybrid neural network and genetic algorithm model for the determination of optimal operational parameter settings based on the proposed approach was developed. The preliminary result of the model has indicated that the new model can optimize operational parameters precisely and quickly, subsequently, satisfactory performance.


How does a blanket mortgage work in the mortgagee's insolvency proceedings? This question led the author to the present investigation. The thesis moves between the laws regarding safeguarding of creditors and insolvency. After penetrating the doctrine behind its creation, the blanket mortgage is woven into the instruments regulating insolvency law. The creation and defeasibility of the blanket mortgage is analyzed after investigating the structure and organization of this overarching right in rem by examining its counterpart in lien law. One of the piece's linchpins is the teleology of Sections 1132 and 1222 German Civil Code. This leads back to the basic Roman legal principle of the entirety of the pledge liability - indivisa pignoris causa. By using this principle and the structural principles and guidelines of property law, conclusions necessary for the legal creation of a blanket mortgage are drawn, and then entered into the system of restraint on alienation and acquisition pursuant to Sections 81, 91 German Insolvency Statute (Insolvenzordnung), as well as those for contesting insolvency pursuant to Sections 129 of German Insolvency Statute.


Abstract. Accurate information about the built-up area in a city or town is essential for urban planners for proper planning of urban infrastructure facilities and other basic amenities. The normalized difference indices available in literature for built-up area extraction are mostly based on moderate resolution images such as Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) and enhanced TM (ETM+) and may not be applicable for high resolution images such as Sentinel-2A. In the present study, an attempt has been made to extract the built-up area from Sentinel-2A satellite data of Chennai, India using normalized difference index (NDI) with different band combinations. It was found that the built-up area was clearly distinguishable when the index value ranges between −0.29 and −0.09 in blue and near-infrared (NIR) band combination. Post extraction editing using Google satellite imagery was also attempted to improve the extraction results. The results showed an overall accuracy of 90% and Kappa value of 0.785. Same approach when applied for another area also yields good results with overall accuracy of 92% and Kappa value of 0.83. As the proposed approach is simple to understand, yields accurate results and requires only open source data, the same can be used for extracting the built-up area using Sentinel-2A and Google satellite imagery.


Methyl bromide is an effective and useful insecticide. It has ability to enter rapidly into materials at room temperature & pressure. Nowadays, it is primarily used for container fumigation purposes. However, exposure to it causes serious health-related issues. It is also one of the ozone-depleting substances. In this work, "cradle to gate" and "cradle to grave" approaches are considered to carry out a life cycle assessment of methyl bromide production. SimaPro software with the IMPACT 2002+ method is used to compute the results. From the results of cradle to gate approach, it is inferred that major emissions are due to usage of plant utilities and methanol production process which have a substantial effect on the atmosphere. From the results of cradle to grave approach, it is noted that application of methyl bromide causes significant environmental damage particularly to ozone layer followed by non-carcinogen.


How sticky were wages during the Great Depression? Although classic accounts emphasize the importance of nominal rigidity in amplifying deflationary shocks, the evidence is limited. In this paper, I calculate the degree of nominal wage rigidity in the United Kingdom between the wars using new granular data covering millions of wages. I find that nominal wages were more flexible downwards than in most modern economies, but that the frequency and magnitude of wage cuts were too low to fully offset deflation.


This study examined the relationship between young adolescent girls' feelings of closeness to mother and father and the ages at which they expected to make certain transitions to adult life, including becoming sexually active, marrying, becoming a mother, establishing an independent residence, completing education, and beginning to work full-time. Interviews with 106 girls (13-17 years of age) from a rural school district were conducted. Results indicated that the closer girls felt to their mothers, the later they expected to make the transitions related to sexuality and family formation. Feelings of closeness to father covaried with girls' expectations of becoming sexually active later but were not related to expectations about the timing of other transitions. Although analyses of the stability of girls' ideas about life course timing revealed considerable stability in girls' timing expectations across a six-month period, it was also clear that some shifting in ideas about life course transitions and timing had occurred. A more fine-grained study of continuity and change in these ideas across the adolescent years would be a promising direction for future research.


This paper describes the response of explosives to stress and impact and in particular the mechanisms of ' hot-spot production. Samples in the form of single crystals, powder layers, pressed pellets, gels, polymer bonded explosives (PBXS) and propellants have been studied. Techniques used include a drop-weight facility with transparent anvils which allows photography at microsecond framing intervals, an instrumented drop-weight machine, a miniaturized Hopkinson bar system for high strain rate property measurement, laser speckle for studying the deformation and fracture of PBXS, an automated system for analysing speckle patterns and heat sensitive film for recording the positions and temperatures of hot spots. Polishing and staining methods have been developed to observe the microstructure of PBXS and failure during quasi-static loading. Ignition, when it occurred, took place at local hot-spot sites. Evidence is discussed for a variety of ignition mechanisms including adiabatic shear of the explosive, adiabatic heating of trapped gases during cavity collapse, viscous flow, friction, fracture and shear of added particles and triboluminescent discharge.


The analysis of signs in cities is known as research into 'linguistic landscapes'. Following Jaworski and Thurlow (2010), this paper focuses on 'semiotic' not linguistic landscapes. I argue that visual images and visual aspects of writing such as font or colour are essential for the meanings conveyed on signs. As an example, I examine the semiotic landscape of parts of Prenzlauer Berg, a neighbourhood of the former East Berlin. Neglected in the 1980s, after reunification, this originally working class area became middle class and trendy, popular for its shops, cafes and arts culture. Using multimodal and ethnographic methods, my paper reveals the important role commercial signs and street art play in the discursive re-construction of this gentrified neighbourhood. Both contribute to the area's commercialization and aestheticization. My paper also illustrates how semiotic landscapes contribute to placemaking and the commodification of urban spaces. The combination of multimodal analysis with interviews with sign authors allowed for insights into the reasons specific semiotic choices were made, adding to our understanding of discourse production by revealing intended meanings which were not identifiable based on text analysis alone.


In 2006 in Australia there was an inquiry into allegations of kickbacks being paid to the former Iraqi regime by the grain trading company AWB Limited. The inquiry and its aftermath provided an opportunity for proponents of unregulated trade in wheat to press for the removal of the AWB's control of export sales. This article is a review of the history of the development and dismantling of wheat marketing regulation in Australia, treated as a case study to illustrate two things: the shift in the prevailing values in Australian agricultural policy over the last 35 years; and the way in which legislative cycles, reviews, institutional change and particular events provide opportunities for policy advocates to press for change, in this case over at least 40 years. It is argued here that the dominant paradigm for trading agricultural commodities shifted from one based on agrarian collectivism and sectoral stabilisation to a less regulated system with the focus on the values of efficiency and competitiveness.


Complete interaction testing of components is too costly in all but the smallest systems. Yet component interactions are likely to cause unexpected faults. Recently, design of experiment techniques have been applied to software testing to guarantee a minimum coverage of all t-way interactions across components. However, t is always fixed. This paper examines the need to vary the size of t in an individual test suite and defines a new object, the variable strength covering array that has this property. We present some computational methods to find variable strength arrays and provide initial bounds for a group of these objects.


The expectation of a functional shoulder joint, even in advanced age, the growing experience and success in shoulder surgery have brought the operative treatment another step further. The goal of any advanced knowledge should be a proper treatment of the patients and the pathology. Complex rotator cuff tears can be repaired by means of muscle transfer and partial reconstruction. In cases of irreparable rotator cuff tear arthropathy prosthetic replacement of the gleno-humeral joint can be performed. In this article a review on the different techniques and indications for rotator cuff repair is given.


In spite of the large extensive literature reporting the effects of motivational variables on performance, very few studies have focused on the dynamics at the group level. None has empirically tested the transference of perceptions of group efficacy to different teams, nor have these studies taken advantage of computer mediated communications (CMC) as a research tool, where members of a group can interact in a virtual space, thereby suppressing many personal biases. Most of the discussions concerning the relationship of these variables have been held at the theoretical level, thus awaiting empirical testing. These issues seem to be particularly relevant to the new trends in education and human resources practices, which emphasize team collaboration and encourage or require the participation of individuals in multiple and diverse groups. The purpose of this research is twofold: (i) to investigate the effects of efficacy-performance spirals at the individual and group levels, as produced by the manipulation of feedback, and (ii) to study the transference of efficacy beliefs (about the self and about the group) to new working groups. Computer-mediated communication will be used as a tool to investigate these issues. The theoretical framework for this research is based on Bandura' self-efficacy theory, and Lindsley's et al . (1995) model of multilevel efficacy-performance spirals. According to this model, feedback, task uncertainty and task experience are factors affecting the generation of efficacy-performance spirals. Since, among several variables, the effect of feedback on self-efficacy-performance spirals at the individual level is well established in the literature, this variable was manipulated. Three research questions were proposed: (1) Do the efficacy-performance cycles generated at the group level affect individual perceptions of self-efficacy? (2) Do individual members transfer their perceptions of group-efficacy to other groups when faced with similar tasks? (3) Do individual members transfer their perceptions of self-efficacy to other groups when faced with similar tasks? Data was collected from a sample of 86 undergraduate students in a Mexican University. The virtual groups consisted of four to five students. These teams were divided into two conditions: with feedback and without feedback. Participants worked on two activities of collaborative writing, each to be performed with a different group. Various variables which, according to the literature, may affect self-efficacy were measured before, during, and after completion of the tasks. Appropriate multivariate techniques were used for data analyses. Results indicated a positive relationship between the perceptions at the group and individual levels while testing for transference of efficacy beliefs between both activities (r = 0.58, p < .01 for the individual level, and r = 0.52, p < .01 at the group level), thus suggesting some kind of transference had occurred. However, t-tests yielded significant differences (t = -3.07, p < .05 at the individual level, and t = 4.2, p < .0001), thus suggesting that these perceptions change positively from one group to the next. The MANCOVA analysis of perceptions while working in the same group seemed to confirm this conclusion. The effect of group efficacy-performance spirals to the individual level indicated no significant results. However, descriptive data suggest differences worthy of further research, and the need to consider other strong variables in the model. Implications for theoretical interpretations, for further research, and for pedagogical practice are discussed.


Cu-coated Ti3SiC2 powder was fabricated by electroless copper plating method from CuSO4 using poisonless ascorbic acid (C6H6O4(OH)2) as reducing agent. Sensibilization and activation on Ti3SiC2 powder surface was performed by Sn-Ag catalyst system. Surfactants lauryl sodium sulfate (SDS) and Polysorbate 80 (Tween-80) were used as modifiers to control copper particle sizes and shapes. It is found that good pretreatment and activation can obtain fully-formed copper coating. The optimal copper deposition rate can reach to 2.053 g.dm-2.h-1 at 80°C . The best coating effect can be obtained in the samples modifying with 12g/L SDS+8ml/L Tween-80.


population of its surrounding villages and the abandonment of both farmland and pastureland. In 1995 the Majella National Park was established, which includes the mountain and adjoining territory. Despite the area's natural beauty and numerous religious sites, a lack of infrastructure (including hotels, maintained trails, and efficient public transportation) together with insufficient incentives to revive sustainable agricultural and shepherding practices have slowed the development of the park. These trends may be reversed by land use regulations and governmental incentives that take into careful consideration the need to safeguard and develop not only the natural, but also the spiritual and traditional agropastoral resources of the mountain.


BACKGROUND--High titres of serum antiphospholipid antibodies are a possible pathogenic factor for cardiac lesions in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. OBJECTIVE--To test the hypothesis of a causal link between high titres of antiphospholipid antibodies in the serum and myocardial involvement in patients without systemic lupus erythematosus. PATIENTS AND DESIGN--18 patients with primary antiphospholipid syndrome (recurrent fetal loss, arterial and/or venous thrombosis, high titres of antiphospholipid antibodies, and no criteria for systemic lupus erythematosus) were prospectively studied by cross sectional, M mode, and pulsed Doppler echocardiography, and compared with 18 healthy controls. The pulsed Doppler indices of left ventricular diastolic function included isovolumic relaxation time and four mitral outflow indices: peak velocity of early flow, peak velocity of late flow, early to late peak flow velocity ratio, and rate of deceleration of early flow. Four computerised M mode indices were also measured: peak rate of left ventricular enlargement in diastole, peak rate of posterior wall thinning, peak velocity of lengthening of the posterior wall, and velocity of circumferential chamber lengthening. RESULTS--Compared with controls, patients with primary antiphospholipid syndrome had higher values for isovolumic relaxation time and peak velocity of late mitral outflow and lower values for early to late mitral peak outflow velocity ratio, rate of deceleration of early mitral outflow, peak rate of left ventricular enlargement in diastole, peak rate of posterior wall thinning, peak velocity of lengthening of the posterior wall and velocity of circumferential chamber lengthening. CONCLUSION--This abnormal pattern reflects an impairment of myocardial relaxation and filling dynamics of the left ventricle in patients with primary antiphospholipid syndrome who were free of any clinically detectable heart disease. These data suggest that high serum titres of antiphospholipid antibodies may be associated with subclinical myocardial damage.


The population of the United States is gradually aging. Within a generation, over 20 percent of the population will be >65 years of age. Since cancer is a disease of older persons, the incidence of malignancies of all types is expected to increase during the coming decades. In general, since older patients appear to tolerate chemotherapy less well than their younger counterparts, strategies that lessen toxicity and yet maintain efficacy are desperately needed. Recently, the use of single-agent oral etoposide has been shown to be an effective palliative therapy for older patients with small-cell lung cancer


The paper presents the conclusions drawn from a 2010 questionnaire survey of adult language users' knowledge about, and attitudes to their own names, family names from their places of residence and family names of occupational origin. The 68 respondents involved in the survey had little understanding of the onomastic features of their own family names and were also ill-informed about names typical in their home towns, but possessed a great deal of relatively precise information about their first names. In general, respondents displayed a positive attitude towards their family names, appreciating family names as distinctiveness and identity markers. Occupational family names, which account for a considerable proportion of Hungarian family names, were only recognised if the term for the occupation is commonly used and widely known in the present day and the nameform is morphologically and etymologically transparent. Language users were found to have very little knowledge of etymology, and were prone to rely on folk-etymology instead. Furthermore, the uncertainty of language users in connection with the possible motivations of family name giving could also be observed in their responses.


This paper reports the experimental qualification of an original uranium characterization method based on fluorescence X-rays induced by the spontaneous gamma emission of bituminized radioactive waste drums. The main 661.7 keV gamma ray following the 137Cs decay produces by Compton scattering in the bituminized matrix an intense photon continuum around 100 keV, i.e. in the uranium X-ray fluorescence region. "Self-induced" X-rays produced without using an external source allow a quantitative assessment of uranium as 137Cs and uranium are homogeneously mixed and distributed in the bituminized matrix. The paper presents the experimental qualification of the method with real waste drums, showing a detection limit well below 1 kg of uranium in 20 min acquisitions while the usual gamma rays of 235U (185 keV) or 238U (1001 keV of 234mPa in the radioactive decay chain) are not detected. The relative uncertainty on the uranium mass assessed by self-induced X-ray fluorescence (SXRF) is about 50%, with a 95% confidence level, taking into account the correction of photon attenuation in the waste matrix. This last indeed contains high atomic numbers elements like uranium, but also barium, in quantities which are not known for each drum. Attenuation is estimated thanks to the peak-to-Compton ratio to limit the corresponding uncertainty. The SXRF uranium masses measured in the real drums are in good agreement with long gamma-ray spectroscopy measurements (1001 keV peak) or with radiochemical analyses.


Recent work exploring the use of agent-based models (ABMs) in a planning support role must be accompanied by an evaluation of the possible constraints that exist to the use of these models. This research presents an evaluation, from the perspective of professional tourism planners, of the potential for ABM of tourism dynamics to serve as a planning support system (PSS). Tourism is a phenomenon that is inherently individually based, with many interacting processes occurring at multiple scales, across space and time. This makes it a natural environment in which to test an ABM-based PSS. We conducted a series of interviews with tourism planners operating in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, a region where tourism plays an important economic role. These interviews consisted of a general-needs overview, coupled with an assessment of a prototype model we developed, called TourSim. The interviews sought to uncover the specific planning tasks to which ABM would be best applied and identify areas of adoption constraint. The results of this research indicate that TourSim served as a scenario development tool, with a focus on data analysis and communication. Conversely, TourSim was reported to lack transparency, which affected the confidence that planners had in its results. This evaluation clarifies the path forward for developers looking to introduce ABM to planning practice.


Abstract The aim of this study was to develop an automated segmentation approach for small gross tumor volumes (GTVs) in 3D planning computed tomography (CT) images using dense V-networks (DVNs) that offer more advantages in segmenting smaller structures than conventional V-networks. Regions of interest (ROI) with dimensions of 50 × 50 × 6–72 pixels in the planning CT images were cropped based on the GTV centroids when applying stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) to patients. Segmentation accuracy of GTV contours for 192 lung cancer patients [with the following tumor types: 118 solid, 53 part-solid types and 21 pure ground-glass opacity (pure GGO)], who underwent SBRT, were evaluated based on a 10-fold cross-validation test using Dice's similarity coefficient (DSC) and Hausdorff distance (HD). For each case, 11 segmented GTVs consisting of three single outputs, four logical AND outputs, and four logical OR outputs from combinations of two or three outputs from DVNs were obtained by three runs with different initial weights. The AND output (combination of three outputs) achieved the highest values of average 3D-DSC (0.832 ± 0.074) and HD (4.57 ± 2.44 mm). The average 3D DSCs from the AND output for solid, part-solid and pure GGO types were 0.838 ± 0.074, 0.822 ± 0.078 and 0.819 ± 0.059, respectively. This study suggests that the proposed approach could be useful in segmenting GTVs for planning lung cancer SBRT.


(HR) was measured continuously (Polar). Core temperature was measured via a rectal (PROBE-C) thermistor and an ingestible pill (PILL). Skin temperature (PROBE-S) was measured at the arm, chest, thigh, and calf, and a mean value was calculated (Ramanathan, 1964). Core and skin temps were also estimated from a sensor electronics module located in a vest (VEST, Equivital) worn by each participant. Vest temperatures were calculated according to equations developed previously (Buller et al., 2013). Repeated measures ANOVA, Pearson correlations, and dependent t-tests were used to examine relationships among the various temperature measurement modalities (Alpha = p<0.05). RESULTS: HR averaged 125±25 and 151±18 b/min for the first and second 30 min of exercise, respectively. Likewise, Power averaged 81±22 and 97±22 W. While core temperatures were nearly identical at onset of exercise (~37.3 C), the three modalities differed after 60 min of cycling (PROBE-C; 37.9±0.8, PILL; 38.3±0.3, VEST; 38.6±0.4 C (p<0.05). Skin temperatures differed between PROBE-S and VEST at both beginning (31.2± 1.1 vs 33.8±1.2 C) and end (32.9± 1.5 vs 37.0±0.6 C) of exercise (p<0.01). Correlations among the various modalities were significant (p<0.05) and ranged from R=0.51 0.77, but did not differ from each other. CONCLUSION: The major study finding was that the vest estimated higher core and skin temperatures during exercise compared to traditional temperature measuring devices, overestimating work intensity at study ambient conditions.


This book explains how to care for someone at home throughout a terminal illness. It explores the practical issues arising from the shock of the initial diagnosis, through to the day to day caring and management of the last days and hours. The author discusses how to balance the advantages of accepting help from external professional agencies - making the most of what is available - while maintaining the most important individual options. It is not a rule book, but instead tries to offer practical suggestions and alternatives to help families make their own decisions confidently. The emphasis of the book is upon open communication within the family, and the understanding that there is no right or wrong way of managing the situation. The author's intention is that the book will be useful to everyone, including the terminally ill family member, who will want to be a contributing member of the family for as long as possible. Common reactions by children as well as friends and neighbours are explored and discussed and practical advice of how best to manage them is described sensitively. The writer believes that the experience can end with everyone looking ahead without overwhelming feelings of guilt and regrets.


Total energy consumption by com. and residential buildings in the US nears 40 Quads. Approx. 1/3 of that energy use is due to space heating and cooling. Recent anal. of materials that comprise the building envelope would benefit from smarter windows that more effectively managed heat. We will describe recent efforts in using doped metal oxide nanocrystals in electrochromic windows to manage solar heat gain in buildings. These nanocrystals show switchable absorption properties in the IR due to their dynamically tunable surface plasmon resonances. We will describe the impact of different mesoscale nanocrystal architectures on the switching, optical properties, etc - which are controllable by block copolymer-directed assembly.


Severe PPHTN is a contraindication to liver transplantation and predicts an abysmal 5‐year outcome. It is defined as a resting mPAP >45 mm Hg with a mean pulmonary artery wedge pressure of <15 mm Hg and pulmonary vascular resistance of >3 wood units in the setting of portal hypertension. There have been limited reports of successful treatment of PPHTN leading to successful liver transplantation in adults, and one reported use of monotherapy as a bridge to successful liver transplant in pediatrics. To our knowledge, we describe the first use of combination therapy as a successful bridge to liver transplantation in a pediatric patient with severe PPHTN. This report adds to the paucity of data in pediatrics on the use of pulmonary vasodilator therapy in patients with severe PPHTN as a bridge to successful liver transplantation. Early diagnosis in order to mitigate or avoid the development of irreversible pulmonary vasculopathy that would preclude candidacy for liver transplantation is crucial, but our report demonstrates that combination therapy can be administered safely, quickly, and may allow for successful liver transplantation in patients with severe PPHTN.


Management of neonatal hyperglycemia is complex, especially in immature newborns. Etiology is diverse, the most frequent cause being iatrogeny. Neonatal diabetes mellitus is a rare cause of hyperglycemia during the first days of life. Insulin treatment is sometimes required to control the condition. When insulin requirements exceed 2I U/kg/day insulin resistance syndrome should be suspected. We present the case of a newborn infant with Donohue syndrome, or leprechaunism, which is a rare, genetically determined dysmorphic syndrome leading to significant insulin resistance.


Objective—Previous studies supported the contribution of exosomes to an acellular mode of communication, leading to intercellular transfer of molecules. In this study we provide evidence that mast cell-derived exosomes induce plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 (PAI-1) expression in endothelial cells, detectable at the level of PAI-1 mRNA and protein synthesis. The stimulating effect was also measured at the level of PAI-1 promoter activity. Methods and Results—To identify components responsible for this activity, exosome proteins were separated by 2-dimensional PAGE, and protein spots were identified by microsequencing using electrospray (ISI-Q-TOF-Micromass) spectrometer. Components of 3 independent systems that can be involved in activation of endothelial cells, namely the prothrombinase complex, tumor necrosis factor-α, and angiotensinogen precursors were identified. Procoagulant activity of exosomes was confirmed by a thrombin generation assay using a specific chromogenic substrate. Because the potential of mast cell-derived exosomes to induce PAI-1 expression was completely abolished by hirudin, thrombin generated on exosomes seems to be responsible for this activity. Conclusions—It can be concluded that mast cell-derived exosomes via significant upregulation of PAI-1 secretion from endothelial cells may provide feedback between the characteristically increased PAI-1 levels and procoagulant states, both observed in diverse syndromes manifesting as endothelial cell dysfunction.


Considerations for CMOS image sensors with self-power generation capability design are presented. Design of CMOS imagers, utilizing self-powered sensors (SPS) is a new approach for ultra low-power CMOS active pixel sensors (APS) implementations. The SPS architecture allows generation of electric power by employing a light sensitive device, located on the same silicon die with an APS and thus reduces power dissipation from the conventional power supply. A detailed analysis of the SPS structure is carried out, with respect to power dissipation requirements, sensor area and power generation efficiency, showing advantages and drawbacks of the proposed concept. An illustrative example of CMOS imager with self-power generation capability in 0.18-mum standard CMOS technology is discussed. Measurements from a test chip, implemented in 0.18-mum CMOS process, are presented


Introduction: The vitamin D effect on orthodontic tooth movement in pregnant women remains unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the post administration of vitamin D effect on osteoblast numbers and bone alkaline phosphatase (BALP) expression in the tension side in pregnant rats during orthodontic tooth movement. Materials and Methods: This study was an in vivo animal experiment; 28 healthy female Wistar rats (Rattus norvegicus) (16–20 weeks' old) were divided into four groups, with or without intramuscular administration of vitamin D, which were to be observed after 7 and 14 days. Pregnancy was induced with pregnant mare serum gonadotropin and human chorionic gonadotropin. Nickel–titanium coil springs with 30 g/mm2 of force were connected between the right maxillary incisors and the right maxillary first molar. After 7 and 14 days, the animals were sacrificed. Statistical Analysis Used: Analysis of variance with post hoc test (P < 0.05) was performed based on the results of a Levene's test and a Kolmogorov–Smirnov test (P > 0.05). Results: The highest number of osteoblasts occurred in the C-7 group with mean ± standard deviation of 20.54 ± 8.4. Statistically significant differences were seen in decreased osteoblast number between groups (P = 0.001, P < 0.05). The highest BALP expression was in the E-7 group (3.40 ± 1.625). Nevertheless, no statistically significant difference was observed between the groups (P = 0.240, P > 0.05) in the expression of BALP. Conclusion: The post administration of vitamin D during orthodontic tooth movement in pregnant rats produced no significant enhancement on BALP expression and osteoblast number.


OBJECTIVE To describe the occurrence and management of reflex epilepsy (ie, seizure activity triggered by exposure to specific locations or situations) in dogs. DESIGN Retrospective case series. ANIMALS 43 client-owned dogs. PROCEDURES Discussions by veterinarians participating in the Veterinary Information Network online community for the years 2000 through 2014 were reviewed to identify dogs with a diagnosis of reflex epilepsy and seizure activity in response to stimuli. History, signalment (including age at onset), the specific stimulus or stimuli that provoked seizures, treatments, and any concurrent neurologic diagnoses were recorded. RESULTS A variety of breeds were affected. Median age at onset was 5 years (range, 3 months to 11 years). Reflex seizures were reported as being repeatedly triggered by visits to a veterinary clinic (35/43 dogs), grooming facility (24/43 dogs), or boarding facility (13/43 dogs) and, less commonly, by other situations (eg, pet store or car ride). Over half of the dogs (24/43) had multiple triggers. Eight (19%) dogs had seizures at other times that were not induced by location or a specific situation. A variety of sedatives and maintenance antiepileptic drugs administered to affected dogs failed to prevent the stimulus-specific seizure activity. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results of the present study suggested that seizures provoked by specific situations or locations occur in dogs with reflex epilepsy and that common triggers were visits to veterinary and grooming facilities. Further studies are necessary to elucidate the characteristics of reflex epilepsy in dogs and to determine the most effective means to manage these patients.


During 1975-2002, 50 % of the Swedish multi-family buildings from before 1945 was renovated. A
large part of these buildings are now facing a second renovation as the renovation measures are reaching
the end of their service life. In order to identify further possibilities for increased energy efficiency in
connection with a second renovation, a detailed investigation of the energy use has been made in one of
these buildings.
The thesis aims to identify the parameters that have the greatest effect on energy use in a renovated
multi-family building from before 1945. The results are also generalized to be applicable on buildings
similar to the studied building in order to find best measures for increased energy efficiency. Simulations
with a parameter study was chosen as the method for reaching the aim.
A renovated "Landshovdingehus" from 1910 was chosen as the case study for simulations. The major
part of the building consists of apartments, but there are also restaurants and storage areas on the ground
floor. The building was simulated in its current state but also as a 100 % residential building, the later
case is referred to as the "normalised" building. The parameter study, including measures for decreased
energy use, was performed on the normalised building.
A comparison between the current and normalised building showed that transmission losses becomes
more dominant when changing the activities from restaurants/storage to apartments. This is due to
a combination of higher indoor temperatures and lower ventilation rates. A main observation from
the comparison is that the activities inside the building has a large influence on the magnitude of the
losses. The parameter study showed that the best measures to reduce energy use are to install a ventilation
system with a heat exchanger, insulate the outer walls of the ground floor and replace old windows.
General conclusions about "Landshovdingehus" are that the ground floors can account for a large use of
energy compared to the other floors. Indications of energy inefficient ground floors are uninsulated brick
walls and large old display windows. The ground slab is also unfavourable for the ground floor as it was
not originally insulated in these type of buildings.


An optimal solution of multi-objective optimization has been proposed for the measure project of automatic test system (ATS) because of the formation complexity and the factors diversity. The method is used to select the optimal measure project for ATS. First a quasi-ideal solution is defined using maximum subjection principle from fuzzy theory. Then calculate the subjection of the existing projects and get their maximum subjection under specific weight set. Finally the optimal measure project has been obtained. The signal integrity, data throughput, cost, degree of automation, volume scale and expansion capabilities are regarded as integrated key factors according to bus forms and system architecture. The optimal measure project of ATS is determined by finding maximum subjection. Therefore the selection method enhances the cost-effectiveness of ATS formation.


Occupational aetiology accounts for 1 in 6 cases of new onset adult asthma. Better health and employment outcomes from occupational asthma are achieved with rapid diagnosis and removal from exposure to or avoidance of the causative agent 1 . Despite this, occupational asthma remains poorly recognized by healthcare professionals, demonstrated previously in UK primary care 2 . We aimed to determine whether an occupational cause is considered in adult asthmatic patients when attending hospital. We assessed medical records of 200 working-age adults with asthma symptoms. One hundred patients presented to the emergency department (ED) and a further 100 to the acute medical unit (AMU) at 3 city hospital sites at Heart of England NHS Trust, Birmingham, UK, between April 2015 and November 2016. The average age of patients was 33.6 years (28.3 in ED, 38.9 in AMU), 42% of whom were male. Only 26% were asked about their occupation (ED 20%, AMU 31%), 58.8% of whom were employed. Of these, 67% received enquiry about the nature of their work (ED 50%, AMU 75%). Smoking status was not established in 27% of cases (ED 41%, AMU 13%). The results demonstrate that health care professionals do not routinely assess risk of occupational asthma in working-age adults when not prompted to do so. Re-education of health care professionals and standardisation of admission documentation to include occupation history are proposed ways to tackle this issue. 1) X. Baur, T. Sigsgaard, T.B. Aasen et al. Guidelines for the management of work-related asthma. European Respiratory Journal Mar 2012, 39 (3) 529-545 2) G. I. Walters, E. E. McGrath, J. G. Ayres. Audit of the recording of occupational asthma in primary care. Occupational Medicine 2012;62:570–573


Over 100 specimens deposited under Melastiza in the PRM herbarium (Prague, Czech Republic) were revised. They were identified as M. carbonicola, M. cornubiensis, M. flavorubens and M. contorta (84 specimens), remained unidentified (1 specimen) or were included in Scutellinia (23 specimens). Most of the previously published differences in hair and ascospore characters between M. carbonicola and M. cornubiensis were confirmed based on the studied material. Lists of revised specimens with collection data are given. The lists show that some differences in distribution between M. carbonicola and M. cornubiensis probably exist, but it is also taken into account that these are finds by various collectors who may prefer visiting different habitats. A final decision on the identity of M. carbonicola and M. cornubiensis is not made due to a lack of molecular data.


History repeatedly demonstrates that rural communities have unique technological needs. Yet, we know little about how rural communities use modern technologies, so we lack knowledge on how to design for them. To address this gap, our empirical paper investigates behavioral differences between more than 3,000 rural and urban social media users. Using a dataset collected from a broadly popular social network site, we analyze users' profiles, 340,000 online friendships and 200,000 interpersonal messages. Using social capital theory, we predict differences between rural and urban users and find strong evidence supporting our hypotheses. Namely, rural people articulate far fewer friends online, and those friends live much closer to home. Our results also indicate that the groups have substantially different gender distributions and use privacy features differently. We conclude by discussing design implications drawn from our findings; most importantly, designers should reconsider the binary friend-or-not model to allow for incremental trust-building.


Daniel Wilson comments on the similarities between some artefacts belonging to First Nations groups in north-western Canada and those of the early peoples of the British Isles. In particular, he notes that an adze made one tribe is used to hollow out their canoes in a way that he believes echoes the way that wooden canoes found in the Clyde were made. This hand tool is also compared to some stone weaponry made by Pacific Islanders.

Meeting notes for April 13, 1857 are appended. During this meeting a communication on a German cruet was read by John MacKinlay and the Great Seal of Scotland of George III and the Quarter Seal of Scotland of George IV were presented to the Society as donations with accompanying explanatory notes.


The purpose of this paper is to analyse the effects that the practice of setting prices of milk sporadically has on the deliveries of milk to processors in Malawi. This is of particular importance due to two factors: first, Malawi has a significant inflationary process, which erodes quickly the real price paid to farmers, and second, the existence of an informal parallel market for milk which may absorb some of the milk that otherwise would go to the processors. If the real price paid by processors is not adjusted, the informal market becomes more attractive as farmers can sell there their milk with less quality control and at a similar price. This paper explores the response of deliveries of milk to processors to changes in the real price paid for milk, using a nonlinear autoregressive distributed lag (NARDL). The results indicates that the response differ by processor and in most of the cases is asymmetric. Managerial implications are explored.


LAY ABSTRACT
Preschool classrooms provide a unique context for supporting the development of children with social-communication challenges. This study evaluates the feasibility and acceptability of an adapted professional development intervention for preschool teachers (Social Emotional Engagement-Knowledge & Skills-Early Childhood). Social Emotional Engagement-Knowledge & Skills-Early Childhood is a low-resource-intensive, transdiagnostic intervention to address the learning needs of children with a broad range of social-communication challenges in authentic preschool classrooms. The intervention consists of four asynchronous online modules and three synchronous coaching sessions. Participants included one teacher and one target child with social-communication challenges from 25 preschool classrooms from private childcare, Head Start, and public Pre-K programs. Results reveal high levels of Social Emotional Engagement-Knowledge & Skills-Early Childhood feasibility, with 9 out of 10 feasibility benchmarks met: (a) procedures for participant recruitment reliably identified a neurodiverse sample of children with teacher-reported social-communication challenges; (b) teachers showed high levels of program engagement and Social Emotional Engagement-Knowledge & Skills-Early Childhood completion (76%); and (c) results revealed a robust pattern of gains in Social Emotional Engagement-Knowledge & Skills-Early Childhood classrooms and associations among key outcome measures (including active engagement, student-teacher relationship, social-communication competencies). This research prepares a subsequent, larger effectiveness-implementation hybrid trial (Type 1) that investigates the effectiveness of Social Emotional Engagement-Knowledge & Skills-Early Childhood for improving child outcomes and explores facilitators and barriers of program implementation and sustainability.


BACKGROUND: Experimental studies have demonstrated that unfiltered coffee increases cholesterolemia. In Spain, filtered coffee is mainly consumed and its effect on cholesterolemia is controversial. METHODS: The relationship between coffee intake and the serum levels of total cholesterol was transversally studied in a population of 609 women between 18 to 65 years in age. The questionnaire and analyses were carried out in the context of periodic health examination. RESULTS: The consumption of coffee was positively associated with cholesterolemia in subjects under 30 years of age (p < 0.01) and in the group from 30 to 45 years in age (p < 0.05). This association was found to be statistically significant on multivariant analysis (multiple lineal regression) after adjusting for age, body mass index, cholesterol consumed in the diet, smoking, alcohol consumption and physical activity. CONCLUSIONS: Coffee was found to increase cholesterolemia in the female population and therefore a reduction in coffee intake would be recommendable in hypercholesterolemic subjects.


Abstract Bilingual call centers in El Paso, Texas, an extensively bilingual US-Mexico border setting, provide a valuable opportunity to examine empirically what occurs with respect to language shift reversal of Spanish in the context of new information economy. Interviews were conducted with thirty-nine call center operators and managers, and twelve translators and interpreters. Call centers provide an important occupational performance of and recognition to the Spanish language. Nevertheless, bilingual call centers mainly rely on uncompensated, socially provided language skills in Spanish, a freely available "heritage language" in the border setting. Spanish is not valued as a technical competency, worth specific attention to training, management of language features, and extra compensation. Bilingualism is used in the labor market as a sign of cheap and flexible labor, rather than as economically and socially valued "skill," even though in the new information workplace it serves the latter role. (Call centers, new economy, language and workplace, bilingualism, Spanish, borders)*


In 1984, Hollywood star Shirley Jones convinced the Supreme Court to adopt an effects-based test for personal jurisdiction when she brought suit in California against a Florida defendant for defaming her reputation. After adopting the test in Calder v. Jones, the Court never returned to the issue, and in fact avoided personal jurisdiction questions entirely for more than two decades. This past spring, however, the Supreme Court not only revisited the personal jurisdiction doctrine but also signaled an intention to return to personal jurisdiction issues in the near future, with two justices calling specifically for development of the doctrine in cases involving modern "commerce and communication." When the Court chooses to accept such a case, it will likely be to resolve an emerging issue that has divided lower courts - the proper scope of the Calder effects test. This Article seeks to limit the reach of the effects test. It argues that many of the conflicting cases in this area can be reconciled only by acknowledging courts' implicit assumptions about the underlying merits of the case. The Article then demonstrates that once these assumptions are made explicit, the merits of the cases are so inextricably intertwined with the jurisdictional issues that courts cannot resolve the jurisdictional question without fully trying the case on the merits - an action that would require the defendant to forfeit the very constitutional interests that the personal jurisdiction doctrine was developed to protect. Finally, the Article examines how the development of the Internet destroyed previous assumptions about the litigation resources of likely defendants. It concludes that narrowing the effects-test doctrine would minimize the cost of forum selection for both plaintiff and defendant, would promote online commercial development, and would better protect a robust speech environment.


In spring 1991, a survey was conducted of chief academic officers (CAO's) at two-year colleges to identify the instructional improvement categories and strategies that received the highest levels of support. The study replicated a 1987 survey of CAO's at four-year institutions and asked respondents to rate their commitment to practices in five areas: campus environment and culture, employment policies and practices, strategic administrative actions, instructional enhancement efforts, and instructional development activities. Responses were also compared to results of the 1987 survey to determine any differences between the perceived commitment of two-year college CAO's and their four-year college counterparts. Surveys were mailed to CAO's at 1,243 public and private two-year colleges, and usable responses were received from 712 administrators. Study findings included the following: (1) in general, responses confirmed limited support and commitment for instructional effectiveness; (2) the highest level of perceived commitment was in the area of campus environment and culture, including such ideas as faculty ownership of the curriculum, faculty confidence in administrative leadership, and a feeling of institutional pride; (3) the lowest level of reported commitment was in regard to instructional development activities, including faculty workshops, colleag'ie support mechanisms, and organized campus units to promote effective teaching! and (4) compared to data from the study of four-year institutions, two-year college CAO's reported higher commitment for all the areas except for employment practices and policies. Recommendations for practice and seven tables showing ratings of commitment to practices per area are included. (Contains 10 references.) (BCY) Chief Academic Officers 1 A National Study of Community College Chief Academic Officers' Perceived Commitment to Instructional Effectiveness


Double-stem silicone implants have been used to reconstruct destroyed hallux metatarsophalangeal joints (MTPJ) for many years. When smaller implants became available, they were used to reconstruct the lateral four MTPJ. An arthroplasty of all MTPJ was performed using these implants in 44 patients (72 feet) with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The mean age of patients was 46 years (range, 21 to 66) and 84% were female. Previous surgery had been performed on 28% of the feet. All patients were followed prospectively for an average of 67 months (range, 36 to 111). The patients were evaluated clinically and radiographically; results were recorded on a standardized foot form that allowed computer analysis of the data. The results showed improvement in the hallux valgus angle from 41.6 degrees to 16.1 degrees postoperatively, with no loss of correction over time. Similarly, other forefoot deformities, such as plantar callus and lateral toe abnormalities, all improved both clinically and radiographically. The pain, walking, and function scores all improved, with the greatest improvement being pain relief. Radiographic analysis showed some evidence of fracture in seven hallux (9.7%) and nine lateral toe (3%) implants. Only three toes with implant fracture had some pain at follow-up examination. Three other lateral toe implants were removed for pain. There was no evidence of deep infection or silicone synovitis. Other complications included superficial infection, delayed wound healing, and second surgery for heterotopic bone excision.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


Deterioration in performance may increase the likelihood of the recognition of goodwill impairment in firms. It is believed that the magnitude of discretion given in the new accounting standards FRS 136- Impairment of Assets gives managers an additional incentive to manage the perception of users of financial statements using the impairment of goodwill item, particularly during the transition period. This problem can be exacerbated when there is a high concentration of family ownership and when family owners have control over the management and Board of Directors at the same time. This paper argues that the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Chairman role duality, particularly in family-controlled firms, could enhance the effect of entrenchment and expropriation activities. This study uses a sample of 948 firm-years observations of public firms listed on Bursa Malaysia from years 2006 to 2008 to examine whether the combined effect of CEO duality and family-controlled firms is related to goodwill impairment. This study finds evidence that the combined effect of CEO duality and family-controlled firms have significant effect on the recognition of goodwill impairment.Keywords: CEO Duality, Corporate Governance, Corporate Reporting, Family-Controlled Firms, Financial Accounting, Goodwill ImpairmentJEL Classification: M41


In this paper, we present an experimental comparison of two LiDAR systems, employing the SiPM and the APD as photodetectors, in terms of TOF measurements differing for the distance of the target and at different intensities of ambient light. The use of the APD represents the conventional approach, while the implementation of the SiPM is innovative. The performed measurements achieved very promising results, thus demonstrating the effectiveness of our LiDAR based on SiPM.


Amplification of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) from human cord blood has applications for a variety of cell therapy protocols. The purpose of this thesis (performed in collaboration with ViaCell, Inc.) was to analyze differential gene expression (especially related to cytokines) during the process of human HSC amplification in vitro. When applied to markers previously shown to be specific for HSC's and/or progenitor cells, the analysis validates ViaCell's cellular product. Total cellular RNA was isolated from cord blood samples at various stages of amplification and used to synthesize cDNAs as probes for hybridization arrays. mRNA candidates increased in cell populations enriched for stem cells were first identified using hybridization arrays, then confirmed by RT-PCR. Restriction mapping confirmed RT-PCR amplicons. The results identified several developmentally interesting cytokines (CD117, Jagged-2, Manic Fringe, and Notch) upregulated in stem cell enriched fractions. Analysis of one candidate previously shown to be a marker for HSCs and progenitors, CD117, was extended using Western blots to show a CD117-related protein upregulation. The observed upregulations did not contain many inflammatory cytokines, which could hinder survival of HSC grafts. The future hope for the non-CD117 candidates is as potential growth modifiers for stem cell samples isolated by clonogenic amplification.


We use a smoothed version of the explicit formula to find an accurate pointwise approximation to the Riemann zeta function as a product over its nontrivial zeros multiplied by a product over the primes. We model the first product by characteristic polynomials of random matrices. This provides a statistical model of the zeta function which involves the primes in a natural way. We then employ the model in a heuristic calculation of the moments of the modulus of the zeta function on the critical line. For the second and fourth moments, we establish all of the steps in our approach rigorously. This calculation illuminates recent conjectures for these moments based on connections with random matrix theory


With today's specialized medical care, life expectancy of persons with a spinal cord injury (SCI) has considerably improved over the last decades. However, it seems that with increasing age and time since injury (TSI), more health problems arise in persons with a SCI. These "secondary health conditions (SHCs)" have been defined as: "physical or psychological health conditions that are influenced directly or indirectly by the presence of a disability or underlying physical impairment". Examples of SHCs are bladder- and bowel disorders, pressure ulcers, spasticity, musculoskeletal and neuropathic pain and cardiovascular and respiratory problems. These SHCs hamper an active lifestyle and quality of life on top of the primary motor and sensory impairments due to the SCI. Avoiding a downward spiral, that threatens persons aging with SCI, is crucial. Unfortunately, no regular long-term rehabilitation aftercare system is currently operational in the Netherlands, nor have relationships between inactive lifestyle, de-conditioning, and SHCs been systematically evaluated in long-term SCI. In response to this lack of knowledge, the research program "Active LifestyLe Rehabilitation Interventions in aging Spinal Cord injury" (ALLRISC) was developed. ALLRISC focused on the preservation and promotion of an active lifestyle, physical fitness and health in wheelchair-dependent persons with a SCI for at least ten years.The program consisted of one cross-sectional study and three Randomized Clinical Trials. This Thesis describes a part of the results from the cross-sectional study within the ALLRISC research program. The general aim of the present Thesis was to describe the prevalence and impact of several SHCs in persons with long-term SCI and to examine possible determinants of the presence of these SHCs. The main hypothesis was that a longer duration of injury would be associated with a higher prevalence of SHCs. Persons were included if they had a traumatic or non-traumatic SCI with a time since injury of at least 10 years, an age at injury between 18 and 35 years, a current age between 28 and 65 years, and they had to be wheelchair-dependent (hand-rim propelled or electric), at least for longer distances (>500 m). Persons were excluded if they had insufficient mastery of the Dutch language to respond to an oral interview. Participants were invited for a one-day visit to one the eight participating rehabilitation centres with a speciality in SCI rehabilitation. The visit included an extensive medical assessment and physical examination performed by a rehabilitation physician and an oral interview and several physical tests performed by a research assistant. Two weeks before the visit to the rehabilitation centre, participants were asked to complete a self-report questionnaire. This Thesis provides more knowledge on the health status and functioning of persons aging with SCI living in the Netherlands and helps clinicians to formulate requirements and guidelines for a lifespan covering rehabilitation aftercare system, thereby preventing and reducing the impact of SHCs.


Knowledge of normal anatomy and physiology of swallowing is fundamental in the identification of individuals with or at risk for swallowing disorders. Learning anatomy and physiology however, is not an easy task thus, computer-assisted learning (CAL) approaches have been incorporated into the learning of the topics to enhance understanding. Although evidence exists on the benefits of using CAL in education, more studies are necessary in the field of swallowing. While courseware for the learning of anatomy and physiology of swallowing exist, they are not comprehensive. Therefore, this study aimed to develop a comprehensive CAL courseware for anatomy and physiology of swallowing. The current study used a designed-based research following the ADDIE (analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation) model to create a multimedia courseware, incorporating the use of text, still images, animations, audio narrations, and presented on a simple graphical user interface. The courseware was evaluated by 27 undergraduate students in terms of its usefulness, ease of use, and users' satisfaction. Results indicate that the participants were satisfied with the courseware and that they perceived the courseware as useful, easy to learn and easy to use. The study represents an initiative to investigate the use of CAL in the subject and to establish the basis for further work which includes assessment on the learning outcomes from the usage of the CAL courseware. It is hoped that the use of this courseware in teaching and learning of anatomy and physiology of swallowing can enhance students' knowledge and understanding of the area efficiently and effectively.  DOI :  http://dx.doi.org./10.17576/JSKM-2018-1601-21


This paper describes our participation in the first shared task on Automatic Taxonomy Construction for the Russian language RUSSE'2020. The goal of this task is the following: input words (neologisms that are not yet included in the taxonomy) need to be associated with the appropriate hypernyms from an existing taxonomy. For example, for the input word "duck", it is expected that participants will provide a list of its ten hypernyms-synsets to which the word can most likely be attributed, such as "animal," "bird" and so on. An input word can refer to one, two, or more "parents" at the same time. In this article we are trying to answer the following question: what results can be achieved using only "raw" vectors from distributional models without additional training? The article presents the results for several pre-trained models that are based on fastText, Elmo, and BERT algorithms. Also, an outof-vocabulary analysis was performed for the models under consideration. Taking into account all public scores from the leaderboards, we showed the results corresponding to the following places in the ranking: the 3rd place on public nouns, the 2nd on private nouns, the 4th on public verbs, and the 4th on private verbs.


In 2013, Orlin proved that the max flow problem could be solved in $O(nm)$ time. His algorithm ran in $O(nm + m^{1.94})$ time, which was the fastest for graphs with fewer than $n^{1.06}$ arcs. If the graph was not sufficiently sparse, the fastest running time was an algorithm due to King, Rao, and Tarjan. We describe a new variant of the excess scaling algorithm for the max flow problem whose running time strictly dominates the running time of the algorithm by King et al. Moreover, for graphs in which $m = O(n \log n)$, the running time of our algorithm dominates that of King et al. by a factor of $O(\log\log n)$.


Novel PE- and PP-based electromagnetic wave shielding and absorbing materials with low combustibility, enhanced thermal and mechanical properties, containing graphite, grinded wood and fire retardants, were developed and investigated. Their flame-resistance, thermal and mechanical properties are investigated. Electromagnetic wave reflection coefficients of the materials over the frequency range 20-40 GHz were measured; despite low concentration (10%) of functional filler, reflection coefficient can be as low as -15 dB. Criteria of incombustibility of polymeric composites are formulated: thermochemical, kinetic, thermal, physical and mass transfer. These criteria allowed to set up the principles of decreasing combustibility of polymeric composites. Materials requirements, allowing to choose the most effective shielding and fireproof systems for multicomponent composites, containing polymers, wood and other fillers, were formulated.


This study in the main object for Jiangxi blue sky institute teachers, cover English, machinery, electronics, computer four major. The basic connotation of the teaching and research integration is "teach without inquiry is shallow, inquiry and not teach is empty, teaching and scientific research, teaching research of initialization, both supplement each other, promote each other, improve together. Teaching and scientific research integration, it should make the teaching and scientific research and fusion, inseparable. Teaching and scientific research integration is not easy implementation, to really make every teacher's every day work have the research content, must ensure that teachers can with correct education theory as the guide, in view of the actual problem, in teaching and research in the process of finding appropriate medium develop education scientific research and will eventually scientific research achievements into solving teaching problem, improve teaching quality of valuable use of resources. The teaching and the scientific research integration is aimed at school this overall instead of the individual teacher, teacher team is to realize the overall objectives and teachers' personal goal of the organic combination of Bridges. Therefore, in order to promote the teaching aim of integrating scientific research, actively develop the college teachers' team construction, to further improve the teaching quality in universities, and realize the healthy and sustainable development plays a very important and realistic significance. Therefore, this investigation focus on respectively from the Angle of teachers and students to analyze the teaching and the scientific research integration aspects, in order to get on teaching and scientific research integration teachers team construction effective approach.


Catalytic conversion of CO to CO2 has been investigated in ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) under cryogenic conditions (10 K). This cryogenic oxidation is assisted by iron upon its co-deposition with CO, on a substrate. The study shows that the interaction of Fe and CO results in a Fe-CO complex that reacts in the presence of excess CO at cryogenic conditions leading to CO2. Here, the presence of CO on the surface is a prerequisite for the reaction to occur. Different control experiments confirm that the reaction takes place in the condensed phase and not in the gas phase. Surface sensitive reflection absorption infrared spectroscopy (RAIRS), temperature programmed desorption (TPD), and Cs+ based low energy ion scattering are utilized for this study. The iron assisted formation of CO2 may be proposed as another pathway relevant in interstellar ices, containing CO. This direct oxidation process, which occurs at extremely low temperatures and pressures, in the presence of a reactive metal species like iron (the most abundant metal in the interstellar medium) may have astrochemical importance. It does not require any external energy in the form of photo-irradiation or thermal processing. Such reactions are highly relevant in cold dense molecular clouds where interactions between neutral species are more favoured.


BACKGROUND
Calcinosis cutis is the cutaneous deposition of calcium salts. Tumoral Calcinosis is a condition consisting of massive subcutaneous deposits of calcium salts often overlying large joints in otherwise healthy patients.

OBJECTIVE
To describe the characteristics of a series of patients with Tumoral Calcinosis in the Gurage Zone of Central Ethiopia.

METHODOLOGY
Data was collected from 59 patients who presented with clinical diagnosis of calcinosis cutis around hip region between January 2005 and January 2009.

RESULTS
All cases were females, with a mean (standard deviation) age at diagnosis of 50.7(10.8). The duration of illness ranged from one to eighteen years. The cases were distributed in the different villages of Gurage Zone without any sign of clustering of cases. The lesions were localized around hip region on both sides. The patients did not have any related co-morbidity or any history of similar illness among close family members. None of the patients gave history of evident trauma to the site of the lesions. Significant proportion of the patients (53.4%) confirmed to carry water container and/or other goods on their side. Serum Phosphate and Calcium levels in selected patients were with in normal limit. Histo-pathological examinations of five cases revealed Calcium deposits in collagenous connective tissue.

CONCLUSION
The lesion was found to be relatively common in the study area and specifically confined to females. The probable factor associated with the cases is carrying objects on their side (hip area). Further research with in-depth clinical and laboratory evaluation is of paramount importance.


Introduction:
 Approximately 20% of Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS) and Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia (CMML) are associated with SIAD, but pathophysiological mechanisms underlying this association remain largely unknown and data on somatic mutations are very scarce. Autoreactive T lymphocytes play a major role in SIAD development. The main objective of this study was to investigate the mutational landscape of MDS/CMML associated with SIAD, and its impact on the immunological phenotype of T lymphocytes.
 Patients and Methods:
 This retrospective study was conducted in the hematology department of Hôpital Saint-Louis, Paris, in all MDS/CMML patients diagnosed between 2012 and 2017, and with a molecular analysis by NGS targeting a panel of 80 genes. MDS/CMML patients with associated SIAD (n= 85, whose diagnosis was based on usual international criteria) were compared with MDS/CMML patients without SIAD (n=319) who constituted the control cohort.
 Flow cytometry was performed on peripheral blood samples from 28 MDS/CMML patients (of whom 12/28 had SIAD) and 18 healthy controls, on a BD Fortessa X20 to study CD8+T lymphocytes subsets and the expression of immune checkpoints. Analysis was performed with FlowAI R v1.14.0 and Cytobank website for T cells clustering with unsupervised Citrus algorithm.
 Results:
 We included 404 MDS/CMML patients (323 MDS, 81 CMML), of whom 85 (21%) had SIAD diagnoses including 35 (34%) inflammatory arthritis, 20 (19%) systemic vasculitis, 16 (15%) autoimmune cytopenias, 15 (14%) connective tissue diseases, 9 (9%) neutrophilic dermatosis, 6 (6%) inflammatory bowel disease, and 3 (3%) unclassified SIAD. Both SIAD and control cohorts were similar in terms of age, levels of cytopenias, MDS/CMML subtypes and cytogenetic features. There was a preponderance of low risk MDS/CMML (85.9% and 82.8% in SIAD and control cohort), and the number of patients with CMML did not differ between the 2 groups (p=0.36). Median follow-up was 32.2 months in the whole cohort. Median overall survival was 95.7 months [60.7 - not estimable] and 101.0 months [70.8 - not estimable] in the control and SIAD cohort respectively (p=0.91).
 Figure A represents the mutational landscape of MDS/CMML patients for the recurrent mutated genes. Median number of mutations was 2 [1-4] in both cohorts (ns). TET2mutations were found in 39/85 (46%) and 108/319 (34%) patients in the SIAD and control cohorts respectively (p=0.04), and IDH1/2 mutationsin 12/85 (14%) patients in the SIAD cohort vs 14/319 (4%) in the control group (p<0.01). When considering TET2/IDH genes (that act on the same methylation pathway) together, their mutations were more frequent in the SIAD cohort (51/85 (60%) vs 122/319 (38%), p<0.01).
 SRSF2 mutations were also more frequent in the SIAD cohort (26/85 (31%) vs 47/319 (15%), p<0.01), but they were correlated with the presence of TET2 or IDH mutations, in both SIAD (p<0.01) and control (p<0.01) cohorts, which could possibly explain the higher frequency of SRSF2 mutations in our SIAD cohort.There was no difference in the rate of mutations in other genes.
 Flow cytometry analysis of CD8+ T cells from TET2/IDHmut patients (17/28, 60.7%) showed an increase of the terminally differenciated effector memory T cells (p<0.01) and a reduction of the stem memory (p=0.02), central (p<0.01) and transitional (p=0.01) memory subsets. CD96 is an immune checkpoint that regulates CD8+ T-cell functions, activation and effector responses (Figure B). Interestingly, the proportion of CD8+CD96+T cells was significantly reduced in TET2/IDHmut patients (48.8% vs 71.1% respectively, p<0.05, Figure C), confirmed by unsupervised analysis using the Citrus Algorithm, and suggesting a reduced control against autoimmune reactivity. TET2/IDH mutational status had not impact on the expression of other immune checkpoints.
 Discussion
 Our study provides an extended mutational landscape of MDS/CMML associated with SIAD, and finds a correlation between TET2/IDH mutations, T lymphocyte imbalance and association with SIAD in those diseases. This correlation could suggest common mechanisms underlying both SIAD and MDS/CMML, and reinforces our observations of a frequent positive effect of Azacytidine (a drug with better response in patients with TET2mutation) on both MDS/CMML and SIAD in patients with both disorders (Fraison, Leuk Res 2016). Further analysis of the functional role of T lymphocytes in those patients is underway.

 Clappier: Amgen: Honoraria, Research Funding. Itzykson:Novartis: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Janssen: Research Funding; Oncoethix (now Merck): Research Funding; Astellas: Honoraria; Sanofi: Honoraria; BMS (Celgene): Honoraria; Daiichi Sankyo: Honoraria; Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Abbvie: Honoraria; Amgen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Otsuka Pharma: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Karyopharm: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Stemline: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Mékinian:LFB: Honoraria; CELGENE: Honoraria; CELGENE: Honoraria; SANOFI: Honoraria. Fenaux:BMS: Honoraria, Research Funding; Novartis: Honoraria, Research Funding; Abbvie: Honoraria, Research Funding; Jazz: Honoraria, Research Funding. Ades:jazz: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Abbvie: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Amgen: Research Funding; takeda: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; novartis: Research Funding; Celgene/BMS: Research Funding.


The acute stress response is an adaptive and necessary function which, when activated under appropriate conditions, promotes survival. However, studies have demonstrated that chronic over-activation of the systems that regulate the stress response leads to the dysregulation of the hormonal mediators, which can, subsequently, result in deleterious health outcomes.

Whilst the psychobiological response to acute stressors has been explored extensively, literature assessing the anticipatory and recovery windows surrounding stressor exposure is currently in its infancy. It has been observed that the anticipatory period prior to exposure to a stressor can prolong the activation of the stress response; however less is known of the effects of delayed recovery
following stress exposure.

The present thesis addressed the question of whether anticipatory patterns differ between a naturalistic and laboratory stressor, by firstly developing an ecological and easily administered socially evaluative stressor paradigm, and using this stressor as a tool for a) assessing the psychobiological response to the novel stressor and b) assessing the anticipatory and recovery period following this stressor, through the collection of psychobiological data over four days (the day prior to exposure, the day of exposure, the day after and on a control day). A similar sampling protocol was applied to assess the anticipation period preceding a naturalistic stressor (skydiving). Individual differences, which may potentially exacerbate or buffer the negative effects of stress, were also explored within the context of these stressors.

In addition to assessing anticipation of forthcoming stressful events, following recent suggestions that forthcoming positive activities may also elicit similar patterns of anticipatory responses, the current thesis also addressed the question of whether these anticipatory responses may represent a reaction to memory recall for an upcoming task, and not exclusively a response experienced prior to a stressful event. This was addressed by assessing the anticipatory period prior to the requirement to remember to complete a simple task in order to receive
a reward.

The findings indicate that the developed stressor successfully elicited a stress response, and was anticipated to be a forthcoming demanding situation. State anxiety was greater on the day of planned stressor exposure, as was stress and worry about the event. In the skydiving study, those who knew they would complete a skydive that day secreted greater levels of cortisol across the day compared to those who were unsure whether they would participate in a skydive or not, and those who knew for certain that they would not complete the skydive. The study assessing the psychobiological response to anticipation of a pleasant stimulus, however, revealed no significant effects. The exploration of a range of individual difference factors demonstrates the importance of appraisal of the event. That is, irrespective of the nature of the event, an individual's perception of the event is an important determinant of psychological and biological responding.

On the basis of the empirical findings of this thesis, it is concluded that both the laboratory and naturalistic stressors elicit some form of anticipatory response. This finding is in concordance with previous suggestions that the stress response can be observed prior to direct stressor exposure. Furthermore, exploration of the role of individual differences in the anticipation of novel events identified a number of characteristics which may serve to buffer or exacerbate the negative effects of prolonged stress on health outcomes.

Finally, the findings from this thesis do not suggest that the anticipatory responses reported for stressors are extended to the anticipation of pleasant events, but that they may exclusively apply to stimuli perceived to be stressful and ultimately, a forthcoming demand. However, when individual differences are taken into account, it appears that the novelty of a forthcoming event in general may be more influential in appraisals of the event, rather than the nature of the task itself.


The New York State Milk Price Gouging Law establishes that the retail prices of fluid milk products are not to exceed 200% of the prices that NYS milk processors pay for Class I milk. The enforcement of this law significantly affected the nature of the Class I fluid milk price transmission process and the milk pricing strategies of supermarkets in the five largest cities in New York State: New York City, Albany, Syracuse, Buffalo and Rochester. During the pre-law period, supermarkets used a retail price-stabilization strategy, as evidenced by asymmetric Class I fluid milk price transmission. In contrast, supermarkets use a retail profit stabilization strategy during the law period. This variation of retail milk price control actually creates an institutional environment that facilitates cooperative conduct of supermarkets, acting in an oligopolistic market environment, which caused greater instability in retail milk prices. Differences in the competitive environments of each city impact the effects of the statewide law.


substituted, make it highly likely that metoprolol indirectly caused nocturnal angina in this patient. Unfortunately, I was unable to rechallenge him with metoprolol before his myocardial infarction and death. Changing metoprolol to once daily dosage or giving it earlier in the evening may have had the same beneficial effect as substitution with atenolol. Metoprolol causes nightmares only rarely whereas with propranolol this side effect is much more common. Thus in those patients who do have nocturnal angina related to vivid dreams a review of their antianginal treatment, particularly beta blockers, is appropriate.


This dissertation consists of two studies that investigate the impact of advertising and user-generated content on media bias. The first study analyzes how advertising revenues in addition to subscription revenues play a role in affecting the extent of media bias. When making advertising choices, advertisers evaluate both the size and the composition of the readership of the different outlets. The profile of the readers matters since advertisers wish to target readers who are likely to be receptive to their advertising messages. It is demonstrated that when advertising supplements subscription fees, it may serve as a polarizing or moderating force, contingent upon the extent of heterogeneity among advertisers in appealing to readers having different political preferences. When heterogeneity is large, each advertiser chooses a single outlet for placing ads (Single-Homing), and greater polarization arises in comparison to the case that media relies only on subscription fees for revenues. In contrast, when heterogeneity is small, each advertiser chooses to place ads in multiple outlets (Multi-Homing), and reduced polarization results. In the second study, a newspaper's decision to expand its product line by adding an online edition that incorporates user-generated content and the impact of this decision on its slanting of news are investigated. It is demonstrated that adding an online edition results in reduced profits for competing newspapers in comparison to an environment in which they offer only print editions. However, at the equilibrium, each newspaper offers the online version in order to avoid losing market share to rivals.


In this paper we give a formal characterization of reactive control using action theories. In the process we formalize the notion of a reactive control program being correct with respect to a given goal, a set of initial states, and action theories about the agent/robot and about the exogenous actions. We give sufciency conditions that guarantee correctness and use it to give an automatic method for constructing provenly correct control modules. We then extend our approach to action theories and control modules that have specialized sensing actions and that encode conditional plans. Finally we brie y relate our theory with the implementation of our mobile robot Diablo, which successfully competed in AAAI 96 and 97 mobile robot contests.


Soil acidity is one of the main factors limiting agricultural production due to high aluminum (Al(3+)) saturation in soil. Campomanesia pubescens (Mart. ex DC.) O. Berg, popularly known as "gabiroba", is a species of Myrtaceae family and typical of Brazilian Cerrado. The aim of this study was to evaluate the root growth and anatomical structure of C. pubescens roots, subjected to different concentrations of Al(3+), grown in a simple and complete solution as culture form. This experiment was performed with seedlings cultivated hydroponically using a simple and complete solution. The simple nutrient solution was carried out using 0.1 mM of Ca (CaCl(2).2H(2)O) and five concentrations of Al in the form of Al(2)(SO(4))3.18H(2)O, while the complete nutrient solution of low ionic strength was conducted using 0.5 mM of N (NH(4)NO(3)), 0.2 mM of Ca (CaCl(2).H(2)O), 0.2 mM of Mg (MgSO(4).7H(2)O), 0.5 mM of K (K(2)SO(4)), 0.1 mM of P (NaH(2)PO(4).2H(2)O), 10 μM of Fe (FeNa) EDTA, 0.4 μM of Mn (MnSO(4).H(2)O), 0.16 μM of Zn (ZnSO(4)), 0.04 μM of Cu (CuSO(4)), 0.5 μM of Mo (MoO(3)), and 0.04 μM of Co (CoSO(4).7H(2)O).The experiment was a factorial design (2×5) with two nutrient solutions (single and complete) and five aluminum concentrations (0, 150, 300, 600 and 1200 μmol L-1). It was observed that both in simple and complete nutrient solution the rate of root elongation and root growth decreased with increasing Al(3+) concentration. At the concentration of 300 μmol L-1, were observed cellular disorganization and rupture of the epidermis. The presence of aluminum inside the vascular cells may indicate some mechanism of transport to other parts of the plant. It was concluded that Campomanesia pubescens showed sensitivity towards high Al(3+) concentrations, indicating that the establishment of these plants can be compromised in acidic soils with toxic concentrations of Al(3+).


26.1 Migraine
26.2 Pathogenesis of Migraine
26.3 Cortical Spreading Depression
26.4 Neurogenic Inflammation Theory
26.5 Role of 5-HT in Migraine
26.6 Acute and Prophylactic Treatment of Migraine


Various Stem cells including induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are expected to contribute to the development of regenerative medicines. Human artificial chromosome (HAC) vectors have no limits with respect to the size of inserts, and are independently maintained from host chromosomes. HACs could be promising vectors that will contribute to gene and cell therapy in the future. Various applications and methods have been developed using HAC vectors; however, in this review we introduce current research focused towards gene and cell therapy of Duchenne muscular dystrophy and hemophilia A using stem cells. In addition, HAC vectors to generate iPSCs, with a safeguard system to eliminate tumorigenic cells are proposed.


Objective Hyponatremia is frequently observed in patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis and it is also related to a poor prognosis. The vasopressin V2-receptor antagonist tolvaptan is used to treat cirrhotic patients with ascites and increases the serum sodium (Na) level. In this study, we investigated (i) whether or not correction of the Na level improves the prognosis of cirrhotic patients with ascites and (ii) predictors of normalization of the serum Na level after tolvaptan therapy. Methods This was a single-center retrospective study. A total of 95 Japanese cirrhotic patients (60 men, median age 63 years) were enrolled and received tolvaptan orally after hospitalization for ascites treatment. The serum Na level was monitored during the period of tolvaptan treatment. The laboratory data and survival rates of patients who achieved serum Na levels of <135 and ≥135 mEq/L after 1 week were compared. Results Patients showed serum Na levels of 136 (121-145) mEq/L, and 42.1% had a serum Na level of <135 mEq/L. Among patients with an initial serum Na level <135 mEq/L, 60.0% achieved a normal level after 1 week, and the survival rate was significantly higher in patients with a normalized serum Na level (p<0.01). The pretreatment brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) level was predictive of achieving a serum Na level of ≥135 mEq/L (odds ratio: 0.87, 95% confidence interval: 0.316-0.987, p<0.05). Conclusion Normalization of the Na level after one week was associated with a favorable outcome of tolvaptan therapy, and Na correction improved the prognosis.


Background The appropriate balance between anti-inflammatory and pro-inflammatory cytokines is necessary for protection against pregnancy-associated malaria and poor pregnancy outcomes. This study therefore aims to investigate the relationship between plasma levels of some regulatory cytokines and P. falciparum infection in Cameroonian women during pregnancy. Methods


Numerous research studies have established a strong relationship between body dissatisfaction and eating disorders. As more and more young people in South Africa embrace Western values, the aspiration to attain the Western body ideal of beauty may be putting some women at risk of developing eating disorders. This study focused on body image satisfaction among a sample of 150 black South African female university students. Data were collected using a revised Body Shape Questionnaire (Cooper, Taylor, Cooper, & Fairburn, 1987). The results showed the majority of the women were satisfied with their body image. However, there was a minority who engaged in unhealthy eating behaviors. Implications of the findings are discussed.