Endogenous and exogenous lectins have been found to activate the prophenoloxidase (proPO) system of the cockroach, Blaberus discoidalis, to the same extent as laminarin, a previously known microbial activator of proPO. The lectins can also further enhance this laminarin activation of the proPO system. Non-lectin proteins did not display any activation properties. The time course of proPO activation was studied after reconstitution of the reaction system using purified lectins, a trypsin-like enzyme, a trypsin inhibitor and partially purified lectin-binding proteins from the cockroach haemolymph. Lectin activation of the proPO system is probably not mediated by the lectin sugar-binding sites, as specific inhibitory sugars failed to abrogate the enhanced effect. The results suggest that alternative binding site(s) on the lectins may be involved in the proPO activation process. Evidence also suggests that several different lectins are involved in the regulation of the proPO system through separate receptors or binding molecules on the haemocytes, and that they exert their effects early in the sequence of events leading to conversion of proPO into its active form, possibly via regulation of serine proteases and protease inhibitors.


Tool geometric parameters, which are key factors to be considered in tool design, have a direct effect on tool cutting performance. Based on the diversity and complexity of geometric parameters and technological goals, we select cutting force and temperature as initial input conditions to build a comprehensive dimensionless tool geometric parameters evaluation method. According to the multilevel weight relationships between the technological goals and the basic cutting characteristics, the evaluation factors for cutting force and temperature are determined. The comprehensive evaluation method (CEM) is then applied to analyze and optimize the key parameters of a saw milling tool. As shown by the research results, the parameters obtained by the CEM prove that some tool parameters from actual production were reasonable, while others had re-optimized space. The CEM is shown to be effective and feasible. Also, the analysis results have an explicit guiding function for production practice.


This paper marks the emergence of a nationalist school of federalism. It serves as the introduction to a symposium that brings together the work of five scholars who have made unique contributions to the field. This introduction argues that, taken together, the essays collected in this symposium suggest that federalism is the new nationalism. Shorn of the trappings of sovereignty and separate spheres, detached from the notion that state autonomy matters above all else, attentive to the rise of national power and the importance of national politics, this work offers a descriptive and normative account that is deeply nationalist in character. Nationalists often pride themselves on taking a clear-eyed view of on-the-ground realities, rebuking federalism's proponents for not coming to grips with the changes in federal power brought on by the New Deal. But the nationalists are now the ones behind the times, as they have not yet absorbed how much state power has changed in recent years. States now serve demonstrably national ends and, in doing so, maintain their central place in a modern legal landscape. This papers identifies the basic tenets of the nationalist school. It is organized around the five features needed for any account of federalism: (1) a tally of the ends served by devolution, (2) an inventory of the governance sites that matter, (3) an account of what gets the system up and running, (4) a description of how the national and local interact, and (5) and "rules of engagement" to guide those interactions. In each instance, the nationalist school of federalism departs from state-centered accounts of federalism and pushes toward a nationalist vision of devolution's virtues.


Mutations in mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation complex I are associated with multiple pathologies, and complex I has been proposed as a crucial regulator of animal longevity. In yeast, the single-subunit NADH dehydrogenase Ndi1 serves as a non-proton-translocating alternative enzyme that replaces complex I, bringing about the reoxidation of intramitochondrial NADH. We have created transgenic strains of Drosophila that express yeast NDI1 ubiquitously. Mitochondrial extracts from NDI1-expressing flies displayed a rotenone-insensitive NADH dehydrogenase activity, and functionality of the enzyme in vivo was confirmed by the rescue of lethality resulting from RNAi knockdown of complex I. NDI1 expression increased median, mean, and maximum lifespan independently of dietary restriction, and with no change in sirtuin activity. NDI1 expression mitigated the aging associated decline in respiratory capacity and the accompanying increase in mitochondrial reactive oxygen species production, and resulted in decreased accumulation of markers of oxidative damage in aged flies. Our results support a central role of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation complex I in influencing longevity via oxidative stress, independently of pathways connected to nutrition and growth signaling.


Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is caused by an external force to the head, resulting in damage to the brain. TBI is especially common in children and young adults and is associated with long-term mortality and morbidity. Juveniles seem to be at increased risk of developing cerebral edema after TBI partly due to higher water content and developmental differences in the brain's response to injury. Aquaporin-4 (AQP4) is the most abundant water channel in the brain and plays a critical role in edema formation. Edema formation can be attributed to cellular swelling (cytotoxic edema) or breakdown of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). This dissertation examined the lesion composition (percentage of blood and edema) after graded juvenile TBI (jTBI) and role of AQP4 in the normal and pathologic rodent brain. Using an established rodent model of focal jTBI, we characterized the composition of the lesion using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). We found that 1 day after jTBI, the lesion was ~60% edema and ~40% blood. At 3 days, the edema volume decreased in all severity groups and the extravascular blood volume in the lesion remained unchanged. To understand water mobility in the brain after jTBI, we first evaluated the effects of knocking down AQP4 using RNA interference in an uninjured juvenile rodent brain. We demonstrated that a 27% decrease in AQP4 protein expression, induced by small interfering RNA against AQP4 (siAQP4), lead to a 50% reduction in water mobility using We then investigated the effect of siAQP4 injection in a juvenile rodent brain after TBI. We identified improved neurologic testing and physiologic measures, including reduced edema formation, neuronal cell death, astrogliosis, and BBB, in rat pups treated with siAQP4. Given these results, knock down of AQP4 may prove to be an effective therapy in the early time course after jTBI.


Learning at, and through, work is a key part of the skills literature. However, the idea and ideal of the 'community of practice' assumes that workplaces are coherent communities where the skilful are available for novices to consult and observe. This is not always the case. This research note, drawing on three months of detailed ethnographic research in a TV production company, explores the way communities of practice function in a labour market dominated by small firms and freelancers. It argues that the experienced workers who would normally be central to skills development are simply not available to consult or observe, since they are employed on freelance contracts. The novices' community is one with a 'missing middle'.


BACKGROUND
Bombesin prevents gastric injury primarily by the release of endogenous gastrin. Gastroprotection by exogenous gastrin is negated by nitric oxide synthase inhibition, which implicates a role for nitric oxide as a protective mediator. Because both endothelial and inducible isoforms of this enzyme can play a role in mucosal defense, this study was done to examine the contrasting effects of 2 nitric oxide synthase inhibitors on bombesin-induced gastroprotection.

METHODS
Rats were given subcutaneous saline or bombesin (10-100 microg/kg) 30 minutes before they received a 1-mL orogastric bolus of acidified ethanol (150 mmol/L of hydrochloric acid/50% ethanol) and rats were killed 5 minutes later for assessment of macroscopic injury (mm(2)). Gastric mucosal blood flow was measured by laser Doppler. Endothelial, neural, and inducible nitric oxide synthase were assessed by using Western immunoblot.

RESULTS
Bombesin decreased gastric mucosal damage, and dose-dependently increased blood flow when compared with saline-treated rats. Endothelial but not neural or inducible nitric oxide synthase immunoreactivity was increased by bombesin. In additional studies, intraperitoneal administration of N(G)-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME, 5-10 mg/kg), a nonselective nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, negated bombesin-induced gastroprotection and hyperemia, whereas the selective inducible inhibitor aminoguanidine (45 mg/kg) did not. Subcutaneous (SC) l-arginine (300 mg/kg), but not d-arginine, abolished the effects of l-NAME.

CONCLUSIONS
Taken together, these data suggest that nitric oxide produced by the endothelial isoform of nitric oxide synthase plays an important role in mediating the gastroprotective and hyperemic actions associated with bombesin.


Structured notes are fixed-income securities that combine derivative elements and do not necessarily reflect the risk of the issuer. The combination of derivatives and debt instruments allows parties to identify, isolate, transfer, and otherwise manipulate risk in clearly defined ways. While the evolution of the derivatives market has allowed the quantity and types of structured notes to proliferate, recent economic trends have pushed the use of structured notes more and more into the realm of Main Street investors. With structured notes, investors can implement strategies based on their views about the direction of interest rates; the range, the volatility, and the shape of long-term rates versus short-term rates; and the direction of equity and commodity markets and prices.


Scientific facts are constituted as consensus about observable phenomena against the background of an accepted, or at least plausible, theory. Empirical data without a theoretical framework are at best curiosities and anomalies, at worst they are neglected. The problem of parapsychological research since its inception with the foundation of the Society of Psychical Research in 1882 was that no sound theoretical basis existed. On the contrary, the proponents of the SPR often indulged in a theoretical model that ran contrary to the perceived materialism of mainstream science, and many tried to use the data of parapsychological research to bolster the case of "mind over matter," yet without producing a good model of how such effects could be conceptualized. In general, parapsychological (PSI) research has been rather devoid of theorizing and, if anything, assumed a tacit signaltheoretical, local-causal model of some sort of subtle energy that would be vindicated, once enough empirical data were amassed. History, and data, proved this stance wrong. We will present a theoretical approach that challenges this local-causal, signal-theoretical approach by proposing that parapsychological phenomena are instances of a larger class of phenomena that are examples of nonlocal correlations. These are predicted by Generalized Quantum Theory (GQT) and can be expected to occur, whenever global descriptions of a system are complementary to or incompatible with local descriptions of elements of such a system. We will analyze the standard paradigms of PSI-research along those lines and describe how they can be reconceptualized as instances of such generalized nonlocal correlations. A direct consequence of this conceptual framework is that misrepresentations of these phenomena as local causes, as is done in direct experimentation, is bound to fail long-term. Strategies to escape this problem are discussed. Journal of Scientifi c Exploration, Vol. 28, No. 4, pp. 605–631, 2014 0892-3310/14 606 Harald Walach, Walter von Lucadou, and Hartmann Romer


The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has tested more than 2500 samples for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) since 1970. What began as a troubleshooting, problem-oriented program has evolved into a statewide surveillance program designed to screen large geographic areas and to concentrate on local problem areas. The screening approach utilizes carp as an indicator species, while local problem areas are assessed using a wide range of fish species, as well as river sediment samples, to locate PCB point sources. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources provides it annual testing data to the Wisconsin Department of Health and Social Services, which in turn reviews the data and makes a public health recommendation concerning the consumption of fish containing PCBs. Currently, five locations in Wisconsin are affected by a consumption advisory: Lake Pepin (Mississippi River), Lake Michigan (including the bay of Green Bay), the lower Fox River, the upper Fox River, and the Sheboygan River. Various species of PCBs have been identified in fish from these areas. A knowledge of the industrial application of various species of PCB compared with existing industries in a PCB problem area can sometimes be used to locate the sources of these contaminants. The department also provides its annual data to sport and commercial fishermen to assist them in harvesting fish that are low in PCBs.


Homorosoma horridulum Voss 1958 (Curculionidae: Ceutorhynchinae) was described from Kuatun, China, based on two specimens in the J. Klapperich collection. Since that time it has been uninvestigated for more than half a century, except by Colonnelli (2004), who listed it in his world catalogue of the subfamily. The recent examination of the holotype of H. horridulum revealed that it should be placed in the genus Scleropteroides Colonnelli 1979. In addition, Scleropteroides specimens from Taiwan agree well with the holotype of H. horridulum not only in general appearance but also in male genital structures. Here we transfer Homorosoma horridulum Voss 1958 to the genus Scleropteroides Colonnelli 1979 as Scleropteroides horridulus (Voss 1958) and record the species from Taiwan for the first time. Depositories of specimens examined are abbreviated as follows: CMNC: Canadian Museum of Nature, Ottawa; CWOB: C.W. O'Brien collection, Green Valley, Arizona, USA; EUMJ: Laboratory of Environmental Entomology, Faculty of Agriculture, Ehime University, Matsuyama, Japan; NIAES: National Institute for Agro-Environmental Sciences, Tsukuba, Japan; SMNH: Swedish Museum of Natural History, Stockholm, Sweden; and ZIN: Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, Russia. Before going further, we wish to express our cordial thanks to R. S. Anderson, François Génier (CMNC), H. Kojima (Tokyo University of Agriculture), M. Sakai (Ehime University), C.W. O'Brien, and B. Viklund (SMNH) for the loan or donation of specimens examined. The first author thanks the late P. Lindskog (SMNH) for the help during his first visit to Stockholm. The study by the first author was supported by Grant No 13-04-01002 from the Russian Foundation for Basic Research.


This article discusses the work of Collier Schorr, Anna Gaskell and Sarah Jones, in particular their use of the youthful body and their focus on portraiture, through a revised interpretation of Judith Butler's concept of performativity. Catherine Grant argues: 'By looking at the work of these three photographers I want to argue that their portraits create uneasy viewing through the use of a more weighted concept of performativity where "difference" counts'.


In this paper, we investigate the impact of several local and global weighting schemes on Latent Semantic Analysis' (LSA) ability to capture semantic similarity between two texts. We worked with texts varying in size from sentences to paragraphs. We present a comparison of 3 local and 3 global weighting schemes across 3 different standardized data sets related to semantic similarity tasks. For local weighting, we used binary weighting, term-frequency, and log-type. For global weighting, we relied on binary, inverted document frequencies (IDF) collected from the English Wikipedia, and entropy, which is the standard weighting scheme used by most LSA-based applications. We studied all possible combinations of these weighting schemes on the following three tasks and corresponding data sets: paraphrase identification at sentence level using the Microsoft Research Paraphrase Corpus, paraphrase identification at sentence level using data from the intelligent tutoring system iSTART, and mental model detection based on student-articulated paragraphs in MetaTutor, another intelligent tutoring system. Our experiments revealed that for sentence-level texts a combination of type frequency local weighting in combination with either IDF or binary global weighting works best. For paragraph-level texts, a log-type local weighting in combination with binary global weighting works best. We also found that global weights have a greater impact for sententence-level similarity as the local weight is undermined by the small size of such texts.


Presented during Session 13: Skid, Safety and Texture, moderated by Seosamh Costello, at the 9th International Conference on Managing Pavement Assets (ICMPA9) in Alexandria, VA.


Mechanically isolated cell walls of the conchocelis phase of Bangia fuscopurpurea yield cellulose II (regenerated cellulose) upon treatment with Schweitzer's reagent. X-ray powder analysis and thin-layer chromatography of partial hydrolyzates confirm the presence of cellulose in this extract. Gas-liquid chromatographic analysis of wall hydrolyzates indicates that xylose, mannose, galactose, and glucose are major wall constituents. The presence of cellulose in the conchocelis provides evidence that this bangiophycean life cycle phase represents a transitional form or link between the two classes of red algae, Bangiophyceae and Florideophyceae. This suggests a close affinity of the two classes of the Rhodophyta and supports the hypothesis that bangiophycean algae were precursors of the Florideophyceae.


Preschool children today will not remember a time when there were no smartphones, laptops, or iPads. The purpose of this qualitative collective case study was to develop an in-depth understanding of the challenges and benefits of implementing tablet technology for early education teachers that work in subsidized preschool programs. Tablet utilization in preschool classrooms was generally defined as how teachers from five different classrooms utilize tablet technology to enhance the instructional programs for children in subsidized preschool programs. The setting for this study was five early education centers in a large urban school district. Data were collected through semistructured interviews, audio-visual recordings, and observations. Data were analyzed by applying within-case analysis, cross-case synthesis, and direct interpretation of the evidence. Issues of trustworthiness were addressed through triangulation, member checks, and clarifying researcher bias. The primary research questions were: (a) How do sociocultural learning theory and developmentally appropriate practice apply to a preschooler's use of tablet technology? (b) What do early education teachers need to understand so iPads can be successfully utilized in a preschool classroom? (c) How do early education teachers describe their experience as they implement iPads into the instructional program? The results of the study revealed that children benefit the most from technology when it is used in conjunction with interactions that are commensurate with socio-cultural learning theory and developmentally appropriate practices. Devoid of these interactions, children can use the technology but this does not always translate into meaningful learning. The study also revealed that teachers who systematically plan for how the devices will be implemented in their classrooms also experienced greater successes while mitigating their initial fears and challenges.


The animal health risks associated with the movement of wildlife products are infinitely less than those associated with the movement of live animals. Very few pathogens are sufficiently robust to survive the significant changes in temperature, pH, moisture content and osmolality which occur post mortem, or which are associated with preservation processes such as pickling, smoking or drying. Certain pathogens, however, (e.g. foot and mouth disease, classical swine fever [hog cholera] and African swine fever viruses and the anthrax bacillus) are hardy and resistant to these environmental changes and therefore constitute a finite animal health risk if raw, undercooked or under-preserved products from infected wild animals are imported. Other less robust pathogens, such as rinderpest virus, may remain infectious in animal products if these are obtained from acutely infected animals and frozen immediately. Macroparasitic diseases such as trichinellosis and echinococcosis-hydatidosis, if present in the unprocessed tissues of infected wildlife, are potentially infectious to carnivorous or omnivorous companion animals. The importation of untreated wet hides may result in the introduction of alien ectoparasites and/or the infectious diseases for which they are vectors. The author discusses the more significant pathogens found in free-ranging wildlife which should be taken into consideration when importing wildlife products from endemically or epidemically infected countries.


Hangzhou is known as the town of silk. It has a history of more than five thousand years. In recent years, Hangzhou government takes "To promote the silk product and develop women's wear" as an important content in building the city of outstanding quality life and harmonious society and has made remarkable achievements. Last year, the output of the silk and women's wear industry reached 178.2 billion yuan. Silk products' development is valued by the municipal government and it has very good prospects. While not many consumers of modern time are familiar with silk products and even less take silk products as their choices. The reasons of this problem lay one hand on the heritage of silk culture, and the other more important on the diversification and distribution of modern silk products. This paper firstly makes an introduction on the history of silk in Hangzhou and then makes detailed research on many local brands and specialize markets, it also describes silk's application in modern women's wear, accessories, home textiles and other articrafts. At last, the paper gives suggestions to silk enterprises on the improvement of Hangzhou silk products and the promotion of Hangzhou silk brands.


The structure of oxy phosphorus tetrabenzotriazacorrole (POTbc) was firmed up using time-of-flight electron ionization mass spectrometry (TOF-EI MS), elemental analysis (EA), and core level X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), addressing the contradictions in the literature around the nature of the bond between the phosphorus atom center and the axial oxygen atom(s). Pre-device fabrication physical characterization of POTbc was conducted in the solid-state using ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS), optical measurements, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) to enable appropriate device integration. POTbc, tetrabenzotriazacorroles in general, was then applied for the first time in an organic electronic device, a planar heterojunction organic photovoltaic (PHJ OPV). The functionality of POTbc was confirmed in PHJ OPV devices by pairing with conventional organic semiconductors, with fullerenes, C60 and C70, as an electron donor and with α-sexithiophene as an electron acceptor. POTbc showed highest promise as an electron donor within a POTbc:C70 based OPV owing to external quantum efficiencies broadly across the entire visible spectrum (300 nm–750 nm). The thicknesses of the POTbc and C70 active layers was then probed and a PHJ OPV with 1.96% power conversion efficiency (PCE) was achieved. The high short-circuit current densities (JSC) obtained with the POTbc:fullerene based OPVs is attributable to the unusual dual absorbance of POTbc in the visible spectrum, yielding a conclusion that POTbc and other Tbc derivatives are promising functional organic electronic materials for visible light harvesting applications.


Decent water consumption has a characteristic of colorless, odorless, tasteless and no solids dissolved. One of the heavy metals that harmful to health body if excessive contained in water is Iron (III) (Fe(III). The method used in 2 main stages for analyzing of Fe (III) content those were determination standard curve and Fe (III) content in water with UV-Vis spectrophotometer at 480 nm wavelength. The result of this research showed that Fe (III) content in water in 10 samples of well water in Tanggulangin sub-district of Sidoarjo regency is quite feasible for daily use because the result of Fe (III) all sample were < 0,3 mg / L, its based on maximum concentration iron in drinking water as the Minister of Health Decree No.907 / MENKES / SK / VII / 2002.


This paper deals with the problem of identity during and after the Partition of the Indian Subcontinent in 1947. It focuses on the portrayal of the shifting faces of communitarian identity/politics by analyzing two digital versions of this historical event – one is Mehreen Jabbar's drama-film Ramchand Pakistani and the other is the adapted version of Razia Butt's novel Bano, broadcast by a private T.V Channel with the title of Dastaan. Based on the postmodernist shift from performance to performance, our argument foregrounds the digital representation of 1947 which offers new angles to view the subaltern story(ies) vis-à-vis the official history of nationalism by showing different characters who experience a fleeing sense of identity in their attempt to cope with the trauma of displacement and violence during 1947. In this article, the textual and digital versions of 1947 are read as cultural texts which embody the human and subjective experience and perceptions of ordinary human subjects from both sides of the divide, either during the historical event of Partition as sufferers or survivors or in current scenario in the wake of the politics of mistrust between Pakistan and India. The study concludes that digitalizing the history of 1947 offers an introspective representation of myriad experiences of people and their past which is different from a retrospective illustration of official history with its nationalist certitude and xenophobia.


According to the latest findings of the MIUR (Ministry of Education, University and Research), Alunni con cittadinanza non italiana 2004-2005 (MIUR, October 2005), 4.2% of the school population in Italy is made up of non-Italian citizens, with no reference to students who have one Italian parent or adopted children. These findings show that schools have become multilingual, not so much or solely because of the proposed linguistic offerings, nor for the linguistic heritage of Italian-speakers, which alternates among dialect, regional Italian and standard Italian, but mostly because of the dimension created by the contacts developed between different linguistic and cultural heritages. The paper aims at emphasizing and showing different ways for mapping the role played and the weight exercised by these "new linguistic minorities" - (defined as such) so-called because they are related to immigrant settlements in the territory and, hence, "immigrant languages" - in redefining the linguistic landscape of a school and of a territory.


p53 is well-known as a tumor suppressor or genome guardian. It is a transcription factor composed of multiple domains. When bound to DNA, p53 assembles as a tetramer and starts recruiting other proteins to form a transactivation complex that initiates the transcription of p53-targeted genes. Due to p53's inherent flexibility in its N and C termini, the structure of full-length p53 has not been solved by X-ray crystallography. However, structures of fragments of p53 domains have been solved by X-ray crystallography. Electron microscopy (EM) single particle 3D reconstruction is an alternative way of solving p53's structure. In this thesis work, I have determined the structure of full-length p53 as a monomer and as a tetramer using EM single particle 3D reconstruction. p53 monomer, with a molecular weight of 43kDa, is one of the smallest proteins that have been solved by EM. The EM structure of p53 monomer looks like a sickle-shaped molecule where the N-terminus and C-terminus form a right angle, which is in agreement with existing crystallographic data. p53 tetramer, with a molecular weight of 172 kDa, has a square shape where the DNA- binding domains are not in contact and the tetrameric structure is maintained by interactions involving the N- and C-terminal domains. Based on this tetrameric structure and known structures of p53 fragments in X-ray crystallography, I have come to the conclusion that there are two distinct quaternary states of p53 tetramers, one unbound to DNA and the other bound to DNA. When unbound to DNA, p53 tetramer has an open, relaxed square shape which is larger than the compacted parallelogram shape of p53 tetramer when bound to DNA. p53 mutants often observed in cancer, which are being investigated in my lab at the moment, are speculated to accumulate inside the nucleus in this open, relaxed quaternary state


Introduction: Articular cartilage lesions of the hip are difficult to effectively treat. Osteochondral allograft (OCA) transplantation in the knee has been associated with long-term success, but OCA for the hip has not been extensively studied. Here, we present the clinical and radiological outcomes from a cohort of 10 patients treated with fresh OCA transplants for large osteochondral defects of the femoral head and/or acetabulum. Methods: 10 patients who had undergone osteochondral allograft transplantation of the femoral head and/or acetabulum at our institution between 2013 and 2016 were identified from our Institutional Review Board-approved registry. Hip disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (HOOS) was used to track patient progress. Results: 10 patients with an average clinical follow-up of 1.4 years were included in this study. 4 patients were treated solely with OCA plugs for femoral head defects, while the remaining 6 received femoral OCA plugs and at least 1 concomitant procedure for additional intraarticular pathology. 7 patients (70%) had successful functional outcomes, while 3 (30%) had unsuccessful outcomes and were subsequently converted to total hip arthroplasty (THA) 5 to 29 months after OCA. Conclusions: OCA transplantation can be an effective treatment strategy for young, healthy individuals with articular cartilage lesions of the hip. Smoking, avascular necrosis aetiology, acetabular involvement and concomitant procedures may be risk factors for unsuccessful outcomes necessitating salvage with THA. Long-term clinical studies to refine indications and determine functional outcomes and survival rates are warranted.


Bistable Auxetic Metamaterials (BAMs) are a class of monolithic perforated periodic structures with negative Poisson's ratio. Under tension, a BAM can expand and reach a second state of equilibrium through a globally large shape transformation that is ensured by the flexibility of its elastomeric base material. However, if made from a rigid polymer, or metal, BAM ceases to function due to the inevitable rupture of its ligaments. The goal of this work is to extend the unique functionality of the original kirigami architecture of BAM to a rigid solid base material. We use experiments and numerical simulations to assess performance, bistability, and durability of rigid BAMs at 10,000 cycles. Geometric maps are presented to elucidate the role of the main descriptors of the BAM architecture. The proposed design enables the realization of BAM from a large palette of materials, including elastic-perfectly plastic materials and potentially brittle materials.


Buddhist temples are important where the Buddhists used the temples as for training and study. The temples provide facility to educate professions to Buddhists. In the past the temples are the central administration and governance. Moreover, the temples are center for social activities with people in community. As globalization offers the new roles of the temples with capitalism domination, the monks are interested in other aspects such as donations, creation of a sacred objects for their survival, thus they use temple space by interest group. The interest group came into use as a tool for exploitation, involvement in the activities of the temple.The statistics of the population living in the region of four countries is mainly Buddhists, 75 per cent such as Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar and Laos, these are getting dominated by capitalism and a similar lifestyle. Thus capitalism has developed to such a point. Now this problem about new roles of the temples with capitalism and interest group of temples make the people ignore the moral. Thus, the people are very interested in material. This is like the mod insect eating Buddhism. A result from the topic by monk causes Buddhism dishonored.


IL-33, a new member of the IL-1 family, has been described as an important inducer of Th2 cytokines and mediator of inflammatory responses. In this study, we demonstrate that murine basophils sorted directly from the bone marrow, without prior exposure to IL-3 or FcεR cross-linking, respond to IL-33 alone by producing substantial amounts of histamine, IL-4, and IL-6. These cells express ST2 constitutively and generate a cytokine profile that differs from their IL-3-induced counterpart by a preferential production of IL-6. In vivo, IL-33 promotes basophil expansion in the bone marrow (BM) through an indirect mechanism of action depending on signaling through the βc chain shared by receptors for IL-3, GM-CSF, and IL-5. IL-3 can still signal through its specific βIL-3 chain in these mutant mice, which implies that it is not the unique growth-promoting mediator in this setup, but requires IL-5 and/or GMCSF. Our results support a major role of the latter growth factor, which is readily generated by total BM cells as well as sorted basophils in response to IL-33 along with low amounts of IL-3. Furthermore, GM-CSF amplifies IL-3-induced differentiation of basophils from BM cells, whereas IL-5 that is also generated in vivo, affects neither their functions nor their growth in vitro or in vivo. In conclusion, our data provide the first evidence that IL-33 not only activates unprimed basophils directly, but also promotes their expansion in vivo through induction of GM-CSF and IL-3.


Background Patients with tetralogy of Fallot experience changes in the dynamics of right ventricular outflow tract obstruction, or changes in systemic vascular resistance cause a decrease in the systemic arterial oxygen saturation. Dexmedetomidine use is not yet approved in pediatric patients, but its effects have been studied in pediatric patients during cardiac surgery, which showed a decrease in the incidence of arrhythmias after bypass. In this study, we postulate that dexmedetomidine may have potential benefits on the pulmonary vascular resistance, which may play a role in decreasing the incidence of tet spells during Fallot repair. Patients and methods This randomized controlled study was conducted in Cairo university pediatric hospitals, where patients were randomly allocated to two equal groups, 30 patients in each group between 6 months and 12 years of age. Patients were allocated to two groups to receive two different anesthesia maintenance regimens: group 1 (the ketamine group, n=30) received isoflurane 0–1% together with ketamine infusion 1 mg/kg/h, and group 2 (the dexmedetomidine group, n=30) received isoflurane 0–1% together with dexmedetomidine 0.25 μg/kg/h. Mean arterial pressure, heart rate, and oxygen saturation were recorded. Arterial blood gases, glucose and lactate levels, and number of tet spells, which is the primary outcome in our study, were evaluated. Results Our primary finding was the number of spells, which was 2 (range: 0–4) in the KET group compared with 0 (range: 0–2) in the DEX group (P<0.001). Intraoperative heart rate decreased more in the DEX group than in the KET group at all times of measurement but with a significant difference at T2 and T3. Mean arterial pressure also decreased in the DEX group with a significant difference between the two groups at T1, T2, and T3. Conclusion Dexmedetomidine infusion as an adjuvant to anesthesia decreased the number of spells in the prebypass period significantly better than ketamine infusion in children undergoing Fallot repair.


The medieval ›Mare‹ is known for its special ›Typik‹ and so far no particular attention has been paid to the prevalence and effects of time and space in the texts. This article focuses on the narration and perception of time- and space-arrangements in texts of Heinrich Kaufringer. In view of how Kaufringer acts as a narrative director giving time and space a special integrative function, his cyclic texts ›Die Suche nach dem glucklichen Ehepaar‹ and ›Drei listige Frauen‹ are discussed in detail. Interestingly, a narrative strategy of synchroniza- tion and poetic compression creates multifaceted possibilities of actions here that c o u l d be happening whereas the common strategy of didactic narration seems to become less important. These results could contribute to a better understand- ing of the effects and possible intentions of choosing time- and space-settings and especially narrating simultaneity in medieval literature.


India is a diversified country. Just as the geography, religion, and culture of India are diverse, so are Indians' food habits. Even so, regional heterogeneity in food consumption exists across states. But it may be hypothesized that regional heterogeneity in food consumption across states has been declining. This hypothesis is based on the fact that interstate migration has been growing since 1991. The present study tested whether or not regional heterogeneity in food consumption has been declining over the years 1993–1994, 1999–2000, and 2004–2005. The authors show that regional heterogeneity declined over these periods and that both rural and urban consumers shifted their preference from cereals to non-cereals. However, the article also provides some evidence that regional disparities remain in India. Implications of this shift in consumption are discussed.


In this paper, a 4 × 4 Nolen matrix beam-forming network for multibeam antenna applications is designed and demonstrated at 12.5-GHz center frequency. The structure is implemented using substrate integrated waveguide (SIW) technology for its attractive advantages including compact size, low loss, light weight, and planar form well suitable for high-density integration with other microwave and millimeter-wave planar integrated circuits. SIW cruciform couplers are used as fundamental building blocks for their wide range of coupling factors and their specific topology well adapted to the serial feeding topology of a Nolen matrix. The network performances are investigated over a 500-MHz frequency bandwidth ranging from 12.25 to 12.75 GHz. The matrix definition based on SIW cruciform couplers is similar to its microstrip counterpart in terms of coupling factors and phase delays. The whole network is fabricated. Measured results are in good agreement with the theoretical predictions, thus validating the proposed design concept. Using this matrix with a four radiating elements array antenna enables us to investigate the impact of the proposed matrix on the beam pointing angles versus frequency.


Today's physicians are medical scientists, drilled in the basics of physiology, anatomy, genetics, and chemistry. They learn how to crunch data, interpret scans, and see the human form as a set of separate organs and systems in some stage of disease. Missing from their training is a holistic portrait of the patient as a person and as a member of a community. Yet, a humanistic passion and desire to help people often are the attributes that compel a student toward a career in medicine. So what happens along the way to tarnish that idealism? Can a new approach to medical education make a difference?"Doctors Serving People" is just such a prescriptive. While a professor at Rush Medical College in Chicago, Edward J. Eckenfels helped initiate and direct a student-driven program in which student doctors worked in the poor, urban communities during medical school, voluntarily and without academic credit. In addition to their core curriculum and clinical rotations, students served the social and health needs of diverse and disadvantaged populations. Now, more than ten years old, the program serves as an example for other medical schools throughout the country. Its story provides a working model of how to reform medical education in America.


SYNOPSIS:  We examine MD&A disclosure practices concerning the positive transitory impact that LIFO liquidations have on reported earnings. This issue is particularly relevant in light of the recent calls to eliminate LIFO for tax revenue reasons and the controversy surrounding the proposed shift to IFRS, which does not permit LIFO inventory valuation. Our analysis of companies with income-increasing LIFO liquidations between 1993 and 2010 shows that, after controlling for materiality, MD&A disclosure tendencies were not as reliable as disclosures of this issue in financial statement footnotes. Also, MD&A disclosure rates did not significantly increase in the periods after the introduction of SEC regulations calling for more transparency in the MD&A. Contrary to expectations, companies whose incomes were negative disclosed at a higher rate than companies with positive incomes. Results may indicate a need for greater auditor involvement with MD&A disclosures. Data Availability: Data are available from the ...


Variations in the RF chain of radio transmitters caused by imperfections of manufacturing processes can be used as a signature to uniquely associate wireless devices with a given transmission. In our previous work, we proposed a model-based approach that allows for identification of wireless devices based on signatures obtained with time domain analysis of a pair of received and decoded signals. Here, we consider strong adversaries who intentionally introduce distortions to the data symbols before the symbols are exposed to the transmitter's inherent nonlinearities, with the intention of faking the signatures of their devices while still allowing for proper data decoding. The method proposed in this work is based on spectral analysis and on the observation that nonlinear components cause in-band distortion and spectral regrowth of the signal that is dependent on the parameters of the nonlinearity. Hence, by analysis of the in-band distortion of the spectrum as well as the spectral regrowth, we show that wireless devices can be successfully identified even when the users are digitally modifying their data symbols. The utility of the proposed identification approach is demonstrated with simulations based on parameters obtained from the measurements of commercially employed WLAN RF transmitters.


The work concerns contact problems focused on biomechanical systems modelled by a multibody approach. The example is modelling of impact between a body and an infrastructure. The paper firstly presents algorithm for minimum distance calculation. An analytical approach using a tangential plain perpendicular to an initial one is applied. Contact force generated during impact is compared by three different continuous force models, namely the Hertz's model, the spring-dashpot model and the non-linear damping model. In order to identify contact parameters of these particular models, the method of numerical optimization is used. Purpose of this method is to find the most corresponding results of numerical simulation to the original experiment. Numerical optimization principle is put upon a bouncing ball example for the purpose of evaluation of desirable contact force parameters. The contact modelling is applied to a double pendulum problem. The equation of motion of the double pendulum system is derived using Lagrange equation of the second kind with multipliers, respecting the contact phenomena. Applications in biomechanical research are hinted at arm gravity motion and a double pendulum impact example.


Interleukin-4 (IL-4), an important anti-inflammatory cytokine, is elucidated to regulate amyloid β-induced production of the inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1 and IL-6. It is assumed that IL-4 may involve in the inflammation pathology of surrounding senile plaques in Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients. DEAD (Asp-Glu-Ala-Asp) box polypeptide 39B (DDX39B), appears to be involved in regulation of the inflammatory cytokines which are in correlation with AD pathology. This study was conducted to investigate the two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), IL-4 -590 C/T and DDX39B -22 G/C, association with the risk of late-onset AD (LOAD) in Iranian population. In the present study, therefore, a cohort of 153 LOAD cases and 153 age-matched unrelated, non-dementia control subjects were analyzed for the two polymorphisms by polymerase chain reaction- restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). Our results successfully demonstrate a protective association between the IL-4 -590 T allele, IL-4 -590 C/T heterozygous genotype (P= 0.01, OR= 0.53 and P= 0.041; OR= 0.56, respectively) and LOAD in Iranian population. A resemblance significant association was detected in female population when subjects were stratified by sex: the IL-4 -590 T allele (P= 0.02, OR= 0, 40) and the heterozygous genotype (P= 0.009, OR= 0.29). However, no significant association was observed between the DDX39B -22 G/C polymorphism in the cases and controls. Furthermore, it is clarified that the protective effect of IL-4 -590 is independent from APOE protective genotypes. Accordingly, the IL-4 -590 T allele may be applied as a protective marker in the development of LOAD in Iranian population.


Towns are being explored by scientists of various disciplines, as various interests and processes influencing one another intertwine in this live structure.  Structure of towns constantly changes, i.e. old urban formations are replaced and supplemented with new ones under favourable economic conditions also all of them may be destroyed physically or by nature cataclysms. Such changes (transformations) change previous structure of towns, cityscape even totally new shape may be assumed. All towns are different and oddly unique as different utopian ideas of philosophers, artists and engineers had great influence on origin and structure of towns.  However, not all of us assess this remained immovable heritage, which reflects culture of appropriate civilisations, equally. Ideologies of different stages about urban planning and correspondence of such utopian thoughts in the structure of modern-day old town were analysed in this scientific article. Urban transformations that took place and influence of remained immovable cultural heritage on cityscape were reviewed. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5755/j01.sace.10.1.9175


This paper delves into the foreign policy of the United States of America towards the South American continent. Using the duality between the Monroe Doctrine and the Manifest Destiny as ideas that influence the US foreign policy, it seeks to analyze the logic behind the US policy towards South America in the 20th century, identifying interests and trends for the 21st century. The framework of analysis is based on offensive realism and geopolitics of South America. After a brief description of the theories, the paper describes the history of US foreign policy for South America in the early 20th century, during the Cold War and contemporarily. It concludes that the US has historically fostered the rivalry between Brazil and Argentina to hinder the integration of the region and that currently it props up integration processes that challenge the already established ones. On the international level, the US foreign policy has sought to balance off external powers, such as the Soviet Union and the Nazi Germany. For the 21st century, two alternatives are at hand: maintaining US primacy through buck-passing with a partnership with Brazil or by trying to politically split South American countries and hamper their integration process.


The 17th edition of the ISEA – International Symposium on Electronic Art, the leading world conference and exhibition event for art, media and technology, took place in Istanbul from 14 to 21 September 2011. The Symposium was the outcome of the synergy that was developed between the Inter-Society for the Electronic Arts and the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS) at the Sabanci University of Istanbul, under the direction of the ISEA2011 Istanbul Artistic Director and Conference Chair Prof. Lanfranco Aceti (Goldsmiths College, London, Sabanci University, Istanbul, LEA Editor in Chief, Kasa Gallery Director) and the Conference and Programme Director Ozden Şahin (LEA Co-Editor, Kasa Gallery Vice Director).

ISEA2011 was a very successful international event with the participation of 1,350 delegates, artists, and attendees. 450 paper presentations, 70 panels, 60 workshops, 8 keynotes, 4 fora, networking events, artist lounges, and other special events took place during the course of the conference program. The conference themes ranged from robotics to bioart, from computer graphics to ecology, from avatars to philosophy.

The exhibitions titled ISEA2011: Uncontainable, which took place in various spots all over Istanbul, saw the participation of more than 100 international artists working with contemporary electronic and digital media. Two video programs of ISEA2011, Dislocations and Geometries of Sublime curated by Lanfranco Aceti and Tihomir Milovac are continuing to run on the 400 square meters screens of the Media Facade of The Museum of Contemporary Art Zagreb. All of the ISEA2011 exhibitions were in the official parallel program of the 12th Istanbul Biennial.

A variety of publications will follow through the collaborations that have been developed during ISEA2011, including conference proceedings, catalogues, annotations, and special journal issues.

***

About ISEA: Founded in the Netherlands in 1990, ISEA International (formerly Inter-Society for the Electronic Arts) is an international nonprofit organization fostering interdisciplinary academic discourse and exchange among culturally diverse organizations and individuals working with art, science and technology.

The main activity of ISEA International is the annual International Symposium on Electronic Art. Selection of ISEA symposia is made by the ISEA International Foundation Board.


Lightning location systems provide valuable and vital data for study of lightning on the earth. Developed nations already built not only one but aslo many lightning location networks in their territories in order to collect highly reliable national dataset of lightning. Moreover, these national lightning detection systems are linked together to increase both the collecting range and the accuracy. However, in Vietnam, lightning location systems are not payed enough attention on. Therefore, the authors attempt to provide an overiew of lightning location systems and their importance to the field of lightning protection in this research. The paper provides an overview of the operating principles of popular lightning location systems in the world. Besides, typical lightning activity data extracted from Blitzortung lightning location system in Vietnam are presented. In addition, a number of studies around the world using lightning data from these location systems to improve the lightning protection performance of transmission lines are briefly introduced. These results and information show the vital role of lightning location systems not only in lightning protection but also in analyzing the causes of failures on power systems.


In order to ascertain the presence of very fine material passing the No. 200 sieve, cleanliness tests are performed in the laboratory. The most important of these tests refer to the determination of the quantity of fines, of the sand equivalent value, of the plasticity index, as well as the methylene blue value of the material tested. Performing the sand equivalent test the percentage of very fine dust in claylike form can be established. Materials with very low sand equivalent are characterized as "impure" and the possibility of the existence of clay size grains in them is very high. In such cases it is necessary to perform a test in order to determine the plasticity of the soil material. The determination of the plasticity index of natural soils specifies their suitability as subgrade layers in pavement structures. Soils having a sand equivalent value lower than 10% will develop excessive swell with a simultaneous decrease in their bearing capacity when a pavement is built on them. The quantity of methylene blue absorbed by clay components of a soil mass is proportional to the specific area of the clay minerals. The methylene blue test supplements the sand equivalent and Atterberg limits tests, since with these the existence of clay-size grains is determined, but not the existence of active clay minerals as well. A number of soil samples have been examined in the laboratory, involving the procedures of cleanliness tests. The quantity of fine grained material was determined and their activity was accessed. The magnitudes were correlated in order to check the suitability of soils as a pavement foundation. Empirical relationships have been established which connect the attributes characterizing the cleanliness of soil materials. These relationships compare very well with most of the findings published worldwide.


For existing MPLS LSP tunnel services, it is hard for LSP tunnels to
be booked in advance. In addition, once an LSP tunnel is set up, it is
assumed to consume a certain amount of resources such as link
bandwidth forever. Temporal LSP tunnel services (TTS) provides an
easy way for us to book temporal LSP tunnels in advance. More
importantly, a temporal LSP is an LSP with one or more time intervals
and it is assumed to consume the resources and carry traffic only in
these time intervals. This document specifies extensions to PCEP for
computing a path for a temporal LSP, initiating and maintaining a
temporal LSP with a sequence of time intervals, during each of which
the LSP carries traffic.


Importance
Rectal cancer management has significantly evolved over the last 2 decades.

Objective
This study aimed to evaluate trends in the characteristics, treatment, and outcomes of rectal adenocarcinoma across 16 years.

Design, Setting, and Participants
This retrospective, observational case series study used data from the National Cancer Database (NCDB) to evaluate patients diagnosed with rectal adenocarcinoma from 2004 through 2019. Data analysis was performed from March to May 2022.

Exposures
Trends in the treatment and outcomes of rectal adenocarcinoma in the US between 2004 and 2019 were explored. This period was subdivided into 4 equal periods: 2004-2007, 2008-2011, 2012-2015, and 2016-2019.

Main Outcomes and Measures
Patient and tumor characteristics, treatments, short-term outcomes, and overall survival.

Results
A total of 318 548 patients diagnosed with rectal adenocarcinoma were included in the analysis, 191 369 (60.1%) of whom were males and 127 179 (39.9%%) were females. The mean (SD) age of the patients was 63.5 (13.4) years, and 46 824 patients (14.8%) were younger than 50 years. Among the patients, 10 859 (3.4%) were of Asian race and ethnicity, 28 464 (8.9%) were Black, and 271 236 (85.1%) were White. The percentage of patients younger than 50 years who were diagnosed with rectal cancer increased by 1.5%, from 13.9% in period 1 to 15.4% in period 4. Patients in the last period (2016-2019) presented more often with stages III (36.2% vs 30.2% vs 25.0% vs 23.4%; P < .001) and IV (21.5% vs 19.3% vs 18.1% vs 18.6%; P < .001) disease compared with those in the remaining 3 periods. The use of chemotherapy (36.8% vs 48.1% vs 49.1% vs 47.0%; P < .001) and immunotherapy (0.4% vs 0.2% vs 3.5% vs 6.5%; P < .001) significantly increased across the 4 periods. Although neoadjuvant radiotherapy was used more often across the periods studied (28.6% in period 1 to 34.3% in period 4), the use of adjuvant radiotherapy was reduced by half (12.9% to 6.0%). The median (IQR) time from diagnosis to definitive surgery increased from 95 (15-126) days in period 1 to 128 (47-158) days in period 4. The rate of use of open surgery decreased by half (60.1% in period 2 to 30.1% in period 4), and the use of robotic surgery significantly increased (5.2% in period 2 to 28.4% in period 4). The conversion rate was significantly reduced (11.2% in period 2 to 7.3% in period 4) and the median (IQR) hospital stay decreased by 2 days, from 6 (3-9) days to 4 (2-7) days. The median (IQR) overall survival significantly increased across the periods (from 83.1 months [95% CI, 81.8-84.6 months] in period 1 to 92.1 months [95% CI, 90.2-93.6 months] in period 3; P < .001).

Conclusion and Relevance
The findings of this case series study suggest a treatment trend of increased use of chemotherapy, immunotherapy, sphincter-saving surgery, and minimally invasive surgery. In addition, the time between diagnosis and definitive surgery increased by a median of 33 days. This treatment trend was associated with a significant improvement in the overall survival, reduction in the conversion rate by 3.9%, and a 2-day shorter hospital stay. These findings have major clinical relevance to the management of rectal cancer. The improvements seen in short-term outcomes and survival of patients diagnosed with rectal cancer can probably be attributed to the treatment trends observed. Continued improvement in outcomes warrant further updates in treatments.


Epithelial ovarian cancer is the most lethal of the gynecologic malignancies, largely due to the advanced stage at diagnosis in most patients. Screening strategies using ultrasound and the cancer antigen (CA) 125 tumor marker are currently under study and may lower stage at diagnosis but have not yet been shown to improve survival. Women who have inherited a deleterious mutation in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene and those with the Lynch syndrome (hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer) have the highest risk of developing ovarian cancer but account for only approximately 10% of those with the disease. Other less common and less well‐defined genetic syndromes may increase the risk of ovarian cancer, but their contribution to genetic risk is small. A clear etiology for sporadic ovarian cancer has not been identified, but risk is affected by reproductive and hormonal factors. Surgery has a unique role in ovarian cancer, as it is used not only for diagnosis and staging but also therapeutically, even in patients with widely disseminated, advanced disease. Ovarian cancer is highly sensitive to chemotherapy drugs, particularly the platinum agents, and most patients will attain a remission with initial treatment. Recent advances in the delivery of chemotherapy using the intraperitoneal route have further improved survival after initial therapy. Although the majority of ovarian cancer patients will respond to initial chemotherapy, most will ultimately develop disease recurrence. Chemotherapy for recurrent disease includes platinum‐based, multiagent regimens for women whose disease recurs more than 6 to 12 months after the completion of initial therapy and sequential single agents for those whose disease recurs earlier. New targeted biologic agents, particularly those involved with the vascular endothelial growth factor pathway and those targeting the poly (ADP‐ribose) polymerase (PARP) enzyme, hold great promise for improving the outcome of ovarian cancer. CA Cancer J Clin 2011. © 2011 American Cancer Society, Inc.


Current British government economic development policy emphasises regional and sub-regional scale, multi-agent initiatives that form part of national frameworks to encourage a 'bottom up' approach to economic development. An emphasis on local multi-agent initiatives was also the mission of Training and Enterprise Councils (TECs). Using new survey evidence this article tracks the progress of a number of initiatives established under the TECs, using the TEC Discretionary Fund as an example. It assesses the ability of successor bodies to be more effective in promoting local economic development. Survey evidence is used to confirm that many projects previously set up by the TECs continue to operate successfully under new partnership arrangements. However as new structures have developed, and policy has become more centralized, it is less likely that similar local initiatives will be developed in future. There is evidence to suggest that with the end of the TECs a gap has emerged in the institutional infrastructure for local economic development, particularly with regard to workforce development. Much will depend in future on how the Regional Development Agencies deploy their growing power and resources.


The dithiocarbamate anions in the title compound, [Sn(C6H5)2(C4H8NS2)2], chelate to the SnIV atom, which is six-coordinated in a skew-trapezoidal-bipyramidal geometry. The molecule lies across a twofold rotation axis.


Is nationalism morally defensible, or is it a destructive holdover from our primitive past? Are certain forms of nationalism normatively preferable to others? To what extent are liberals ethically entitled to accommodate the demands and concerns of nationalists? Do the claims of nationality entail a right to independence or autonomy? Can the 'politics of cultural survival' justify the state's protection and promotion of particular national identities? This article will provide an overview of how thinkers have dealt with such problems in the different eras of the study of nationalism.


A modified star-ring architecture (MSRA) consisting of a star network on the upper level and many concatenated ring subnets on the lower level is proposed for subcarrier multiplexed passive optical network (SCM-PON). The upper level star network ensures high network capacity and its weakness in reliability is overcome by the concatenated ring subnets with self-healing capabilities. The self-healing function can be performed at remote nodes (RNs) by using optical switches (OS) to reconfigure the ring subnets if any link fails. Moreover, we design the cascade add/drop transceiver (CAT) structure in the lower level ring subnets to completely eliminate the optical beat interference (OBI) problem and achieve an OBI-free optical network. Finally, we set up an experimental network to demonstrate the feasibility of this cost-effective survivable structure.


When heated, insects loose coordinated movement followed by the onset of heat coma (CTmax). These phenotypes are popular measures to quantify inter- and intraspecific differences in insect heat tolerance, and CTmax correlate well with current species distributions. Here we examined the function of the central nervous system (CNS) in five species of Drosophila with different heat tolerances, while they were exposed to either constant high temperature or a gradual increasing temperature (ramp). Tolerant species were able to preserve CNS function at higher temperatures and for longer durations than sensitive species and similar differences were found for the behavioral indices (loss of coordination and onset of heat coma). Furthermore, the timing and temperature (constant and ramp exposure, respectively) for loss of coordination or complete coma coincided with the occurrence of spreading depolarisation (SD) events in the CNS. These SD events disrupt neurological function and silence the CNS suggesting that CNS failure is the primary cause of impaired coordination and heat coma. Heat mortality occurs soon after heat coma in insects and to examine if CNS failure could also be the proximal cause of heat death, we used selective heating of the head (CNS) and abdomen (visceral tissues). When comparing the temperature causing 50% mortality (LT50) of each body part to that of the whole animal, we found that the head was not particularly heat sensitive compared to the abdomen. Accordingly, it is unlikely that nervous failure is the principal/proximate cause of heat mortality in Drosophila. Summary statement Hyperthermic failure of the Drosophila central nervous system causes heat coma, a phenotype varying in temperature between drosophilids, but neural failure is likely not the primary cause of heat mortality.


This article tracks workers' responses to redundancy and impact on the local labour market and regional unemployment policy after the closure of a large employer, Anglesey Aluminium (AA), on Anglesey in North Wales. It questions human capital theory (HCT) and its influence on sustaining neo-liberal policy orthodoxy – focused on supplying skilled and employable workers in isolation from other necessary ingredients in the policy recipe. It is concluded that HCT and associated skills policy orthodoxy are problematic because supply of particular skills did not create demand from employers. Ex-AA workers faced a paradox of being highly skilled but underemployed. Some workers re-trained but there were insufficient (quality) job opportunities. In picking up the pieces after redundancy many workers found themselves part of a labour 'precariat' with little choice but to 'make do and mend'.


Type theories can be formalized using the intrinsically (hard) or the extrinsically (soft) typed style. In large libraries of type theoretical features, often both styles are present, which can lead to code duplication and integration issues. We define an operator that systematically translates a hard-typed into the corresponding soft-typed formulation. Even though this translation is known in principle, a number of subtleties make it more difficult than naively expected. Importantly, our translation preserves modularity, i.e., it maps structured sets of hard-typed features to correspondingly structured soft-typed ones. We implement our operator in the MMT system and apply it to a library of type-theoretical features.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of acupuncture at acupoint of Shenshu (BL 23) in ovariectomized rats and sham-operated rats.

METHODS
Female Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into the following four groups (n = 12 each): sham operation only (Sham), sham operation with acupuncture (Sham + ACP), ovariectomy only (OVX), and ovariectomy with acupuncture (OVX + ACP). Operations were performed at the 9th week of age. Acupuncture of Shenshu (BL 23) was started at the 11th week of age and conducted 3 times per week until the 26th week of age.

RESULTS
Among ovariectomized rats, the acupuncture-treated rats had significantly lower body weights and cross-linked N-telopeptide of type 1 collagen levels in the urine after 3 weeks of acupuncture treatment, higher bone mineral density of the lumbar vertebra after 7 weeks, and smaller trabecular separation of the sixth lumbar vertebra, measured by micro-computed tomography, after 17 weeks than control rats. These effects were not observed in sham-operated rats. Blood concentrations of estradiol were significantly higher in the OVX + ACP group than in the untreated group. Acupuncture treatment increased plasma testosterone levels in sham-operated rats, while this increase was not observed in OVX rats.

CONCLUSION
Acupuncture of Shenshu (BL 23) prevents bone loss and structural changes by suppressing bone resorption.


The analysis of 91 case records of children and adolescents living in rural area with a high incidence of tuberculosis was made. These patients were detected through screening and by means of tuberculin diagnosis and fluorography carried out by a team of health workers on a case-finding mission. The organization of work with due regard for the local conditions makes it possible to use the above methods for an early detection of the given disease; to assess the results obtained from the very beginning of their combined and parallel application; to practice fluorography from the age of 7; to exercise a differentiated approach to an additional examination depending on the distance between the population area and regional center; and optimize health record handling.


To validate the clinical applicability and feasibility of an automated ultrasound (US) method in measuring the arterial stiffness of patients with chronic inflammatory rheumatic diseases, comparing automated measurements performed by a rheumatologist without experience in vascular sonography with those obtained by a sonographer experienced in vascular US, using a standardized manual method. Twenty subjects affected by different chronic inflammatory rheumatic disorders were consecutively recruited. For each patient, the arterial stiffness of both common carotids was manually calculated. Subsequently, the measure of the pulse wave velocity (PWV) was obtained using an US device called Radio Frequency - Quality Arterial Stiffness (RF-QAS), provided by the same US system (ie, My Lab 70 XVG, Esaote SpA, Genoa, Italy) equipped with a 4–13 MHz linear probe. The reliability comparison between the two US methods was calculated using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). ICC between the values obtained with the two methods for calculating the arterial stiffness resulted 0.789. A significant positive correlation between the two methods was also established with Pearson's (r=0.62, p<0.0001) and Spearman's analysis (r=0.66, p=0.001). A significant performance comparison was seen using Bland-Altman plot. The acquisition of the arterial stiffness parameter with the automated method required about 2 min for each patient. Clinical applicability of this US automated method to assess PWV at common carotid level by a rheumatologist is reliable and feasible in comparison with a conventional manual method.


Saccades were examined clinically and with an improved version of infrared reflection oculography in 79 patients with multiple sclerosis (31 definite, 17 probable, 31 possible cases). With regard to employing saccade recordings in the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis, suitability of saccadic parameters and examination technique for routine use was investigated. Accuracy and peak velocity of 30 degrees and 20 degrees saccades detected mild abnormalities most reliably. Latencies were not reliable enough for routine examinations. The yield of pathology with infrared reflection oculography was improved by using separate normal ranges for abduction, adduction, and interocular differences. Additional examination of vestibulo-ocular reflex suppression seemed to be a reliable supplement to saccade testing, while smooth-pursuit testing cannot be recommended for routine diagnosis. Clinical examination of saccades revealed about half of the dissociated and half of the conjugate hypermetric disorders.


Abstract. We applied photogrammetric methods with aerial photography from 11 different years between 1946 and 2005 to assess changes in area and volume of 33 glaciers in the Cariboo Mountains of British Columbia for the latter half of the 20th century. These are used to identify changes in extent and elevation primarily for the periods 1952–1985, 1985–2005, and 1952–2005. All glaciers receded during the period 1952–2005; area retreat averaged −0.19 ± 0.05 % a−1. From 1952 to 1985, nine glaciers advanced; following 1985, retreat rates accelerated to −0.41 ± 0.12% a−1. Thinning rates of a subset of seven glaciers likewise accelerated, from −0.14 ± 0.04 m w.e. a−1 (1952–1985) to −0.50 ± 0.07 m w.e. a−1 for the period 1985–2005. Temperatures increased from the earlier to the latter period for the ablation (+0.38 °C) and accumulation (+0.87 °C) seasons, and average precipitation decreased, particularly in the accumulation season (−32 mm, −3.2%). Our comparison of surface area change with glacier morphometry corroborates previous studies that show primary relations between extent change and surface area. We also find that the strength and sign of these relations varied for different epochs. Our results also indicate that the 1985 glacier extent for the study area reported previously by other studies may be slightly overestimated due to errant mapping of late-lying snow cover.


The plant Cassia angustifolia vahl has been used in various diseases. The alcoholic extract of the plant was investigated for the hepatoprotective properties against carbon tetrachloride-induced liver damage. Various biochemical parameters were studied to evaluate the hepatoprotective activity of crude extract. In serum, total bilirubin, total protein, glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT) and glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT) were determined. In addition to these glutathione (GSH) and lipid peroxides (LPO) were determined in liver tissue and is supported by histopathological studies of liver before and after the treatment. Results of this study revealed that leaves of Cassia angustifolia could afford a significant protective action in CCl4-induced hepatocellular injury.


ABSTRACT Pirkle, F.L.; Pirkle, W.A., and Rich, F.J., 2013. Heavy-mineral mining in the Atlantic Coastal Plain and what deposit locations tell us about ancient shorelines. Economic mining of heavy-mineral sands has a long history in the Atlantic Coastal Plain. From the early part of the 20th century to date, a total of 11 heavy-mineral ore bodies either have been or currently are being mined in Florida and Georgia. Additional deposits have been lost to mining, primarily due to cultural events, or are waiting future exploitation. These deposits have different origins, as has been seen during recent evaluations of the deposits, some in contrast to conventional depositional models. It has long been believed that deposits formed along shorelines at the height of major marine transgressions, but it is now postulated that some heavy-mineral-bearing sands accumulated on regressional beach ridge plains during periods of temporary stillstands or during slight transgressions that accompanied general marine regressions. Although many deposits might indeed have formed as conventional beach placers, others might have accumulated as deposits associated with fluvial–deltaic regimes or with vegetational baffles. These different origins are reflected in the chemical and physical characteristics of the deposits as well as grain size of the sediment. The relationship of the heavy-mineral mineral deposits (location) to the landforms in the Atlantic Coastal Plain provides insight into the ancient shorelines of the Atlantic Coastal Plain.


U1-snRNA is an integral part of the U1 ribonucleoprotein pivotal for pre-mRNA splicing. Toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling has recently been associated with immunoregulatory capacities of U1-snRNA. Using lung A549 epithelial/carcinoma cells, we report for the first time on interferon regulatory factor (IRF)-3 activation initiated by endosomally delivered U1-snRNA. This was associated with expression of the IRF3-inducible genes interferon-β (IFN-β), CXCL10/IP-10 and indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase. Mutational analysis of the U1-snRNA-activated IFN-β promoter confirmed the crucial role of the PRDIII element, previously proven pivotal for promoter activation by IRF3. Notably, expression of these parameters was suppressed by bafilomycin A1, an inhibitor of endosomal acidification, implicating endosomal TLR activation. Since resiquimod, an agonist of TLR7/8, failed to stimulate A549 cells, data suggest TLR3 to be of prime relevance for cellular activation. To assess the overall regulatory potential of U1-snRNA-activated epithelial cells on cytokine production, co-cultivation with peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) was performed. Interestingly, A549 cells activated by U1-snRNA reinforced phytohemagglutinin-induced interleukin-10 release by PBMC but suppressed that of tumor necrosis factor-α, indicating an anti-inflammatory potential of U1-snRNA. Since U1-snRNA is enriched in apoptotic bodies and epithelial cells are capable of performing efferocytosis, the present data in particular connect to immunobiological aspects of apoptosis at host/environment interfaces.


Uterine secretory proteins protect the uterus and conceptuses against infection, facilitate implantation, control cellular damage resulting from implantation, and supply embryos with nutrients. The early conceptus of the European polecat (Mustela putorius) grows and develops free in the uterus until implanting at about 12 days after mating. Using a proteomics approach we found that the proteins appearing in the uterus leading up to and including the time of implantation changed dramatically with time. Several of the proteins identified have been found in pregnant uteri of other placental mammals, such as α1-antitrypsin, serum albumin, lactoferrin, cathepsin L1, uteroferrin, and ectonucleotide pyrophosphatase. The broad-spectrum proteinase inhibitor α2-macroglobulin rose from relatively low abundance initially to dominate the protein profile by the time of implantation. Its functions may be to limit damage caused by the release of proteinases during implantation, and to control other processes around the site of implantation. Lipocalin-1 (also known as tear lipocalin) has not previously been recorded as a uterine secretion in pregnancy, and also increased substantially in concentration. If polecat lipocalin-1 has similar biochemical properties to the human form, then it may have a combined function in transporting or scavenging lipids, and antimicrobial activities. The changes in the uterine secretory proteome of Euroepan polecats may be similar in those species of mustelid that engage in embryonic diapause, but possibly only following reactivation of the embryo.


Recent studentcentered teaching approaches in high schools in Shanxi Province have made dramatic changes to the organization of the classroom space and given over the majority of the classroom time to student talk instead of teacher talk. These approaches to student centered teaching are characterized by a high level of systematization and coordination and are focused heavily on efficiently raising student achievement in the infamously high-stakes college entrance examination. The development and refinement of these new teaching techniques has been accomplished collaboratively by teachers and educational leaders through the mechanism of the teaching research network. When placed in the context of global academic and policy debates about effective and high-quality approaches to teaching and learning, the Shanxi model of student-centered teaching is instructive. In this paper, we describe the reforms that have been implemented in high school classrooms in Shanxi province and analyze them in light of contemporary educational debate regarding the characteristics of high-quality teaching. What emerges from the analysis is a discussion of conflicting educational values and educational purposes that are faced universally around the globe.


Cognitive and affective aspects of learning are the effective recipes in
producing competent students in higher learning institutions. The two aspects are
vital to produce undergraduates which posses high self-credibility in analytical skill,
problem solving, creative thinking, communication, work in group and hands-on
skill. This study has evaluated the learning experiences of engineering students at
KUiTTHO. This study explores the perceptions of students learning experiences
from the two aspects of cognitive and affective learning. Respondents for this study
involved 155 final semester students from civil, electrical dan mechanical
engineering of engineering students, which were chosen randomly (51, 57 and 47
students respectively). By using questionnaires, the evaluations are based on the
perception of respondents towards the learning experiences. The data collected were
also collected from interview session with several respondents to identify the
indicators of engineering students' experiences learning. The data collected were
then analyzed using SPSS version 11.0 which were represented by mean scores,
standard deviation and null hypothesis used ANOVA and paired t-test. The findings
show that the overall quality of learning experiences for engineering students at
KUiTTHO were at a moderate level (mean = 3.55). As for the learning experiences
in cognitive and affective aspects, they were also at the same level (mean = 3.48 and
3.61 respectively). There is a significant difference between learning experiences in
cognitive and affective aspects in students experiences learning at KUiTTHO.
However, there is no significant difference between the civil, electrical and
mechanical engineering department in students' experiences learning at KUiTTHO.
The researchers suggest that the institution should take a responsibility to improve
the engineering students' experiences learning in cognitive dan affective aspects.
The institution should also improve the infrastructure and accommodation in
KUiTTHO to enhance the quality of engineering student experiences learning.


This article interrogates the performative effects of mutualist ideas in the context of market-making. Mutualism is a variety of anarchism associated with the work of Pierre-Joseph Proudhon, who argued for the centrality of market exchanges and mutual credit as a means for emancipating workers from capitalist exploitation. The discussion is informed by an ethnographic inquiry within a Local Exchange Trading System in Spain – the Moneda Social Puma – which illustrates how actors put mutualist ideas to work. This research makes three contributions: first, it frames a view of market multiplicity and plasticity that broadens the current scope of market studies beyond a managerialist focus. Second, it reveals how actors mobilise anarchist theories to shape – rather than escape – markets. Third, this work elucidates how actors negotiate and stabilise conflicting forms of valuation as mutualist ideas are implemented. In particular, we draw attention to a set of infrastructural practices and mutual credit arrangements whereby the market is cooperatively managed as a common. We conclude by reflecting on the implications of our work for extant debates concerning post-capitalist politics, markets and anarchism.


The mathematical theory of persistence answers questions such as which species, in a mathematical model of interacting species, will survive over the long term. It applies to infinite-dimensional as well as to finite-dimensional dynamical systems, and to discrete-time as well as to continuous-time semiflows. This monograph provides a self-contained treatment of persistence theory that is accessible to graduate students. The key results for deterministic autonomous systems are proved in full detail such as the acyclicity theorem and the tripartition of a global compact attractor. Suitable conditions are given for persistence to imply strong persistence even for nonautonomous semiflows, and time-heterogeneous persistence results are developed using so-called ""average Lyapunov functions"". Applications play a large role in the monograph from the beginning. These include ODE models such as an SEIRS infectious disease in a meta-population and discrete-time nonlinear matrix models of demographic dynamics. Entire chapters are devoted to infinite-dimensional examples including an SI epidemic model with variable infectivity, microbial growth in a tubular bioreactor, and an age-structured model of cells growing in a chemostat.


This paper describes a new model for local messaging based on the network proximity. We present a novelty mobile mashup which combines Wi-Fi proximity measurements with Cloud Messaging. Our mobile mashup combines passive monitoring for smart phones and cloud based messaging for mobile operational systems. Passive monitoring can determine the location of mobile subscribers (mobile phones, actually) without the active participation of mobile users. This paper describes how to combine the passive monitoring and notifications.


To realize high speed and high precision positioning for photolithography, a novel scheme of six degree of freedom magnetically levitated precision positioning stage is designed, where 8 air core solenoid coils and 32 permanent magnets are employed as the stator and mover respectively, and the levitation and linear drive parts of the stage are separated, thus the coupling between them is minimized and the nonlinearity due to the material ferromagnetism is avoided. Based on Lorentz law, some parameters, including permanent magnets length, currents and levitation height are analyzed to determine the equilibrium position. A dynamical model in levitation direction is established and an H infinity robust control algorithm based on the mixed sensitivity control is applied. Lastly, the dynamic response is simulated. The results show that the stage enable to work stably under the conditions with 2A current and 0.5mm levitation height. This validates the design of the system and demonstrates the feasibility of the developed controller.


During the start of the 2002-2003 Ontario youth hockey season, Hockey Canada lowered the age of allowable bodychecking from 12-13 years of age to 9. Dr.Michael Cusimano, a neurosurgeon from St. Michael's hospital, investigated the neurological impact of this rule change on youth players in an effort to educate hockey parents on the dangers of bodychecking. Using Dr. Cuismano's research data, the investigator created three information graphics through three different design approaches: intuitive, theoretical and content-theoretical. Through a 5-Step practical-based methodology, the investigator sought to understand whether Dondis'basic elements of design and Gestalt theory would guide the design process to create a visual solutions geared towards educating hockey parents.

The theoretical checklist played played an important role in the creation of the theoretical and content-theoretical designs. Furthermore, the process determined that richness of data generated more robust design solution. When comparing the three designs, it is evident that there is a continual evolution, with each new design extracting strong graphical elements and colour schemes from its predecessor. A blind test was conducted on Dr. Cusimano to determine the success of the visual solutions for the intended target audience. Selected designs included the intuitive and content-theoretical solutions, which Dr. Cusimano felt best represented his research and effectively captured the attention of hockey parents.

This experimental design provides a solid foundation, which can be taken further; the three recommendations made by the investigator are to experiment with data-driven parameters, examine the impact of culture on the information design process or hold a focus group with hockey parents to test the impact of the three information graphics created.


Metacarbonates located in Sa Thay, Kon Tum massif are distributed in ultramafic marble assemblage from Kham Duc (NP-e1kđ) complex.The main rock-formingminerals arecalcite and dolomite (40÷85%), olivine (5÷20%), pyroxene (5÷15%), and serpentine (5÷25%). Accessory minerals aretalc and epidote. Chemical composition of pyroxene in metacarbonate was determined by EPMA method: the composition of pyroxene is diopsite (Wo49.5 En50.1Fs0.4 to Wo50.8En48.9Fs0.2). The rim of pyroxene grains generally have higher wollastonite than core(49.9÷50.8%).Metacarbonates originated from metamorphic sources with three main stages: regional metamorphism, superimposed metamorphismand hydrothermal metamorphism stages. With each stage, they have different color characteristicsto create a variety of color. Metacarbonateshave quality characteristicsofcolor, durability, pattern, diversity, and low radioactivity. These make the metacarbonates suitable for gemstone applications.


[1] In July 2002 Canadian forest fires produced a major smoke episode that blanketed the east coast of the United States. Properties of the smoke aerosol were measured in situ from aircraft, complementing operational Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET), and Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) remotely sensed aerosol retrievals. This study compares single scattering albedo and phase function derived from the in situ measurements and AERONET retrievals in order to evaluate their consistency for application to satellite retrievals of optical depth and radiative forcing. These optical properties were combined with MODIS reflectance observations to calculate optical depth. The use of AERONET optical properties yielded optical depths 2–16% lower than those directly measured by AERONET. The use of in situ–derived optical properties resulted in optical depths 22–43% higher than AERONET measurements. These higher optical depths are attributed primarily to the higher absorption measured in situ, which is roughly twice that retrieved by AERONET. The resulting satellite retrieved optical depths were in turn used to calculate integrated radiative forcing at both the surface and top of atmosphere. Comparisons to surface (Surface Radiation Budget Network (SURFRAD) and ISIS) and to satellite (Clouds and Earth Radiant Energy System CERES) broadband radiometer measurements demonstrate that the use of optical properties derived from the aircraft measurements provided a better broadband forcing estimate (21% error) than those derived from AERONET (33% error). Thus AERONET-derived optical properties produced better fits to optical depth measurements, while in situ properties resulted in better fits to forcing measurements. These apparent inconsistencies underline the significant challenges facing the aerosol community in achieving column closure between narrow and broadband measurements and calculations.


OBJECTIVE
Fourteen brain death cases diagnosed in Mart 2012-May 2013 period in Tokat State Hospital were studied retrospectively. CT angiography experience about those cases was shared, and use of CT angiography in confirmation of brain death was discussed.

MATERIAL AND METHODS
All 14 cases were patients on mechanical ventilator, who did not respond to medical and surgical treatments at intensive care unit and were diagnosed clinically with brain death. All of these patients had CT angiography as a confirmatory test using a 4-slice CT scanner in Radiology department in Tokat State Hospital.

FINDINGS
Six of the patients were female and eight were male. All of them were referred from intensive care unit and had clinical brain death diagnosis before CT angiography. In the evaluation of CTA, four-point scoring involving opacification loss in both ICVs and cortical segments of MCA was used. CTA examinations confirmed brain death diagnoses in all patients who had clinical brain death diagnoses, and no confliction between CTA findings and clinical diagnoses was observed.

CONCLUSION
Demonstrating the lack of cerebral circulation is a necessity for confirmation of brain death diagnosis. While conventional angiography remains the standard method, CTA emerged as an alternative method. In parallel to increase in prevalence of organ implants, CTA, a fast and efficient method, has been increasingly used in confirmation of brain death diagnoses.


Abstract Semantic parsing (SP) allows humans to leverage vast knowledge resources through natural interaction. However, parsers are mostly designed for and evaluated on English resources, such as CFQ (Keysers et al., 2020), the current standard benchmark based on English data generated from grammar rules and oriented towards Freebase, an outdated knowledge base. We propose a method for creating a multilingual, parallel dataset of question-query pairs, grounded in Wikidata. We introduce such a dataset, which we call Multilingual Compositional Wikidata Questions (MCWQ), and use it to analyze the compositional generalization of semantic parsers in Hebrew, Kannada, Chinese, and English. While within- language generalization is comparable across languages, experiments on zero-shot cross- lingual transfer demonstrate that cross-lingual compositional generalization fails, even with state-of-the-art pretrained multilingual encoders. Furthermore, our methodology, dataset, and results will facilitate future research on SP in more realistic and diverse settings than has been possible with existing resources.


There is a substantial body of literature that explores family adaptation within the context of childhood disability. However, closer analysis indicates that the primary focus of this research has concentrated on two-parent family systems. Despite evidence to suggest that single mothers are more likely to be parenting children with disabilities, their experiences have received minimal attention within social science research. Furthermore, when single mothers do become the focus of study, much of the attention is directed toward identifying the deficits within their family systems. Grounded in family resilience theory, the intent of this study was to explore the family adaptation of single mothers of children with disabilities within a longitudinal framework, and to identify the individual, family, social,and environmental factors that contribute toward resilience within this population. Concepts of family resilience were revealed by mothers who challenged definitions of single mothers as inadequate, who disputed the definition of their children as "disabled," and who moved from a position of received to authoritative knowledge. The study demonstrates in contrast to public perceptions, single mothers of children with disabilities view their experiences as personally transformative and as means of building confidence that empowers them to further disrupt negative expectations of their families.


Bioprospecting has primary economic purposes (e.g., new drugs, crops, industrial products). It entails the research and exploration of biodiversity for commercially and economically valuable genetic and biochemical resources of MAPs. Biodiversity of Nepal is unique and richest within its small territory. The impetus for bioprospecting came from a growing realization that the plant resources of Nepal are depleting rapidly due to over exploitation and unsustainable practices. Legal tools are being developed whereby developing countries and other biodiversity rich countries may exert greater leverage over the use of the resources that can be used to earn revenues, promote conservation, and train and educate the multidisciplinary experts. Based on the ethno botanical information and public demand, the laboratory prospects certain MAPs for phytochemical and biological studies. It not only expands the skills of Nepalese scientists but also benefits local communities that drawn their skills and knowledge by growing public demand for plant based products. Bio-prospecting can lead to substantial increases in value of natural resources. Therefore, this paper seeks to provide previous and future of biodiversity prospecting in Nepal. Key words: Bio-Prospecting, Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (MAPs), Conservation, Standardization, Sustainable use, Economic value of marginal species, Indigenous knowledge, Convention of Biological Diversity (CBD).


Abstract : Using a Variable frequency Microwave Furnace (VFMF) technology, Lambda Technologies has demonstrated the ability to tune to the optimum incident frequency for best coupling into a given material structure (e.g., polymer matrix composite, PMC), and then by sweeping around that incident center frequency, producing uniform energy distribution throughout the cavity and sample volume. Hence, the advantages of microwave energy---enhanced reaction rates, reduced process time, and heat generation at the molecular level---are now obtainable with controlled and uniform results compatible for commercial scale-up. The processing via VFMF is 8 - 10 times faster than conventional processing methods. The advantages of VFMF technology over single frequency microwave technology in achieving the uniform electromagnetic energy distribution required for rapid and reliable processing of advanced polymer composites are systematically demonstrated in the Phase I (Both Glass and Carbon fiber reinforced PMC were investigated). In addition, a numerical modeling program implemented during Phase I provided a foundation for the ability to predict field distribution and temperature profiles in various geometries (plate, disk and cylinder) and materials (glass and graphite fiber reinforced PMCs) when being heated with variable frequency microwave energy. (MM)


Methods: PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, CINAHL, Cochrane databases, and recent abstracts from major conferences were searched (June 2014). Studies examining the use of probiotics versus no probiotics or placebo for prevention or maintenance of remission of pouchitis in UC patients who underwent IPAA surgery were included. Standard forms were used to extract data by 2 independent reviewers. Meta-analysis for the eff ect of probiotics or no probiotics or placebo was performed by calculating pooled estimates of recurrence of pouchitis by odds ratio (OR) with random eff ects models. Heterogeneity was assessed by calculating the I2 measure of inconsistency. RevMan 5.2 was utilized for statistical analysis. Results: Six randomized controlled trials and 1 observational study met the inclusion criteria (n=311). Th e incidence of pouchitis was signifi cantly lower in probiotics group (8.6%) compared to placebo group (51.5%). Cumulative analysis showed statistically signifi cant decrease in the relapse or incidence of pouchitis in probiotics group compared to placebo (OR 0.05; 95% confi dence interval [CI]: 0.01-0.19; p<0.01; I2=61%). No signifi cant adverse eff ects were noted between the 2 groups (OR 0.39; 95% CI: 0.02-10.33; p=0.58). Conclusion: Use of probiotics appears to signifi cantly reduce the incidence of pouchitis and maintains remission in patients with IPAA for ulcerative colitis. Disclosure Dr. Bechtold Consultant: Nestle Nutrition Institute.