Data literacy is becoming increasingly important in the modern world. While spreadsheets make simple data analytics accessible to a large number of people, creating transparent scripts that can be checked, modified, reproduced and formally analyzed requires expert programming skills. In this paper, we describe the design of a data exploration language that makes the task more accessible by embedding advanced programming concepts into a simple core language. The core language uses type providers, but we employ them in a novel way – rather than providing types with members for accessing data, we provide types with members that allow the user to also compose rich and correct queries using just member access ("dot"). This way, we recreate functionality that usually requires complex type systems (row polymorphism, type state and dependent typing) in an extremely simple object-based language. We formalize our approach using an object-based calculus and prove that programs constructed using the provided types represent valid data transformations. We discuss a case study developed using the language, together with additional editor tooling that bridges some of the gaps between programming and spreadsheets. We believe that this work provides a pathway towards democratizing data science – our use of type providers significantly reduce the complexity of languages that one needs to understand in order to write scripts for exploring data. 1998 ACM Subject Classification D.3.2 Very high-level languages


The globalisation process and the social changes associated with it demand the introduction of permanent changes and reforms in the educational systems. The teacher's new role is undisputable. It is the challenge of modern times and social needs. In their new role, teachers should support both the students and their parents. Teachers should act as guides for their students and direct them in their individual processes of development, taking into consideration the challenges of the globalisation process. In my article, I would like to show how secondary school teachers are prepared for their work in Poland. I will also discuss the system of professional preparation, with particular attention given to secondary school teachers in Poland, to find an answer to the following question – does the system of teachers' professional preparation really exist? In what way, if at all, does it take into account the specific character of work in a secondary school? I would also like to present the procedure of teachers' professional advancement in Poland and its influence on the standards and quality of school work. My intention is to discuss the issue of professional preparation of secondary school teachers and to answer the question of how such teachers should be prepared for work to be successful in coping with the challenges of modern school as well as the challenges from the society. Another question I wish to answer is what kind of support and from whom teachers should be given so that they are able to fulfil their duties, particularly those related to motivating students to self-study and unassisted work and to coping with life in a global society. What will be essential for my considerations is the notion of a good teacher in the context of a social function that is expected from teachers these days.


"Pensare" e "sentire" terapeutico nell'analisi della domanda familiare: la famiglia O. e la fuga dalla stanza di terapia - In this work the analysis of the family request coming from a family with a drug addicted daughter is described. Starting from the first ways of interaction between the family and the therapeutic system and from the explicit family request about the symptom, an hypothesis is expressed about the implicit request pertinent to the fragility, the failures and the pain proper of the single person and the entire family system. This hypothesis, already occurred before the first session with the family, drove the therapeutic system to the definition of the diagnosis of the relationships, to the building of a therapeutic contract and to the first therapeutic interventions, everything functional to the implicit request. Working on the implicit request means reading again the family story and enriching it with new meanings, from which the change process can start.


Mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) is an important regulator of cell cycle progression and proliferation, and is a target of the inhibitor rapamycin. The 40S ribosomal S6 Kinase 1 (S6K1) is one of the best characterized downstream targets of mTORC1. The mTORC1/S6K1 pathway is hyperactivated in many types of cancer, contributing to cancer pathogenesis and progression.

Autophagy is a cellular mechanism conserved in all eukaryotes, whose role is to maintain homeostasis of the cell under stress-induced conditions by recycling intracellular components. In cancer, autophagy may serve to protect cancer cells from cell death and may contribute to acquired drug resistance. The mTORC1/S6K1 signaling pathway is an important regulator of autophagy. One of the concerns that arise with the use of mTORC1 inhibitors, such as rapamycin analogs (or rapalogs), is that rapalogs promote autophagy and cause cell senescence, which protects cancer cells from undergoing apoptosis.

Recent evidence suggests that a possible mechanism by which mTORC1 regulates autophagy may involve the tumor suppressor programmed cell death protein 4 (PDCD4), which is a downstream target of S6K1. Inhibition of mTORC1/S6K1 signaling causes upregulation of PDCD4 expression, which correlates with increased autophagy induction. We observed that suppressing PDCD4 expression in combination with rapamycin reduces autophagy and causes cancer cells to undergo cell death via apoptosis. Our results indicate that such strategy prevents rapamycin-induced upregulation of autophagy, while maintaining inhibition of mTORC1/S6K1 signaling, and promotes progression to apoptosis.

Citation Format: Anya Alayev, Rose B. Snyder, Marina K. Holz. Targeting rapamycin-induced autophagy in cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Third AACR International Conference on Frontiers in Basic Cancer Research; Sep 18-22, 2013; National Harbor, MD. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(19 Suppl):Abstract nr B18.


Ever since I was in diapers, I've been playing video games. You read that correctly. Before I could control my own bodily functions, I was controlling virtual heroes and expertly guiding them through intense levels fraught with vicious enemies and bottomless pits. Turns out that video games come naturally to me. Throughout the years, I've never had any trouble dominating whatever title I've popped into a console system.But what about real life? I'm not quite so great at that. I've often wondered how much easier life would be if I had a controller and a set of extra lives to guide me through it. Eventually, this led to an epiphany: video games have taught me everything I need to know about succeeding in life. In fact, they've taught me everything I need to know about EVERYTHING. My extensive history with video games has prepared me for nearly every situation, from how to arrange blocks to how to save the universe. I just had to search my 8-bit soul and figure out what each game was trying to prepare me for in the real world. I've poured all of my "scientific" research and soul-searching into this book, drawn exclusively from the video game classics of the 1980s and early 1990s. So open up this book and start leveling up.Diapers are optional.


Legal education in Indonesia was introduced in the Dutch colonial period. During the early years of Indonesia's independence, legal education was mostly offered by public universities, and all public law schools were funded entirely by the government of Indonesia. Consequently, the views and policies of these law schools mostly paralleled the government of Indonesia's policies and views. Later, private institutions participated in providing legal education to Indonesian people interested in studying law. Although private law schools played an important role as an alternative for people who could not enter public law schools for many reasons (e.g., age limit, racial and religious discrimination fears, and political views), they received discriminatory treatment from the government before the 1990s. Prior to the reform era, which began in 1998, the participation of these law schools in the public sector was limited. Only a few alumni from these schools were chosen to hold significant positions in the public sector. After 1998, the situation changed, and the role of private law schools has become more significant in the country. This paper will document the changes that have been made over time by private law schools in an attempt to attain prominence in Indonesia. Additionally, this paper analyses the role of Indonesian private law schools in society, especially after the reform era started in 1998.


We present the design of a rate feedback architecture for TCP/IP networks. The architecture allows the traffic sources to receive periodic feedback of available rates from the network using ICMP. The sources shape their traffic according to the feedback rate. The performance of the proposed architecture is evaluated using computer simulations. Our results demonstrate that the proposed rate feedback architecture can significantly improve TCP throughput and fairness when buffering capacity in the network is extremely limited. The architecture also improves packet loss rate, delay and delay jitter in the network.


As far as the academic field is concerned, the use of Google applications has constantly increased. The facilities which at the beginning benefited only the business domain now have become quite popular among educational institutions. Nowadays, the possibilities of using Google Apps in universities go beyond the learning process and can influence various aspects of academic life. As a result, Google Apps have become an inherent part of data processing in universities, ensuring performance and quality management, by facilitating research and cooperation among educational institutions, as well as communication among teaching staff. Free of charge, Google Apps for Education provide integrated services on a domain which bears the acronym and the website of the respective educational institution in the form of a g-mail account, provided and hosted by Google. One of the major advantages of such applications is the speed of the data traffic, accelerated by storage in a cloud system which offers multiuser, quick access to information, as if it were stored in one's own server. The services provided include a multitude of technical possibilities to be explored in teaching and research, such as g-mail, drive, sites, calendar, google plus, etc., which can all enhace the quality of the educational offer. The present article primarily focuses on the advantages of using Google Apps in the attempt to improve academic standards. Consequently we shall analyse the cooperation possibilities among members of the academic community - staff and students - in the virtual environment. Last but not least, we shall discuss the impact of computer technology on the process of learning, emphasizing the importance of accepting change and seeking self-improvement.


Abstract. Vehicle detection from high-resolution aerial image facilitates the study of the public traveling behavior on a large scale. In the context of road, a simple and effective algorithm is proposed to extract the texture-salient vehicle among the pavement surface. Texturally speaking, the majority of pavement surface changes a little except for the neighborhood of vehicles and edges. Within a certain distance away from the given vector of the road network, the aerial image is decomposed into a smoothly-varying cartoon part and an oscillatory details of textural part. The variational model of Total Variation regularization term and L1 fidelity term (TV-L1) is adopted to obtain the salient texture of vehicles and the cartoon surface of pavement. To eliminate the noise of texture decomposition, regions of pavement surface are refined by seed growing and morphological operation. Based on the shape saliency analysis of the central objects in those regions, vehicles are detected as the objects of rectangular shape saliency. The proposed algorithm is tested with a diverse set of aerial images that are acquired at various resolution and scenarios around China. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm can detect vehicles at the rate of 71.5% and the false alarm rate of 21.5%, and that the speed is 39.13 seconds for a 4656 x 3496 aerial image. It is promising for large-scale transportation management and planning.


We read with interest the results of the pilot study in England, which was performed to establish the acceptability and diagnostic performance of screening with the faecal immunochemical test (FIT) over the guaiac faecal occult blood test (gFOBT).1 When comparing gFOBT to FIT, the uptake increased from 59.4% to 66.4%, positivity rate increased from 1.7% to 7.8% (at a cut-off level of 20 µg Hb/g faeces) and colorectal cancer (CRC) detection doubled. Moreover, this report showed that also with FIT cut-off levels above 20 µg Hb/g faeces, improved clinical outcomes can be achieved over gFOBT. However, for a screening programme to be effective, it is a prerequisite to detect cancers in an early stage. Thus far, information on stage distribution of screen-detected CRCs in a population-based FIT screening programme is lacking.

In our study, we collected data on all CRCs detected in patients aged 60–75 years in the Netherlands in 2015 through the Netherlands Cancer Registry. In total, 9437 CRCs were diagnosed in 9301 patients: 3579 (38.5%) patients were diagnosed after a positive FIT in the CRC screening programme (screen-detected), 4506 (48.4%) patients were diagnosed due …


Ultra-short pulses with high average power are required for a variety of technical and medical applications. Single, multi-pass, and regenerative amplifiers are used, in order to increase the power of ultra-short lasers. Typical laser crystals for such amplifiers include Ti:Sapphire or Yb:YAG laser crystals. Difficulties in the amplification of ultra-short pulses include gain narrowing effects and dispersion effects in the laser crystal. In particular, these complications arise, when a pulse stretcher is needed before amplification of the laser beam. We present a technique to model and simulate the amplification of ultra-short pulses. This technique allows to model both gain narrowing effects and decrease of beam quality caused by amplification of the laser beam. This requires a detailed 3-dimensional simulation of population inversion. Gain narrowing effects are taken into account by analyzing the gain of the spectrum of the laser beam. It is important to distinguish amplifiers with one or only two passes and a regenerative amplifier. These two different kind of amplifiers are modeled by different approaches. A regenerative amplifier is modeled by a set of time dependent rate equations. However, a single pass amplifier is modeled by a set of spatial dependent rate equations. In both cases, a system of rate equations arises from spectral discretization of the laser beam. Detailed simulation results are presented.


A partial obstruction of the left ureter was created in weanling (3-week-old) rats. Renal function was studied after 7-9 weeks and compared to that in age-matched controls. Arterial blood pressure was found substantially increased. During normal hydration, the hydronephrotic kidney had low excretions of urine, potassium, osmoles and, especially, sodium. The contralateral, intact side showed no compensatory traits. On volume expansion, the hydronephrotic kidney demonstrated an unimpaired reacting capacity, leading to normalization of urine, sodium and osmole excretions and even to supernormal renal blood flow, glomerular filtration and potassium excretion. On the intact side, the excretion of potassium was increased like that on the hydronephrotic one, while excretions of urine, sodium and osmoles were increased even more. The fact that the intact kidney handled most of the urine excretion was interpreted as the result of a mechanism protecting the obstructed kidney from additional pressure insults while homeostasis was maintained. The arterial hypertension may result from the combination of retention of fluid and sodium by the hydronephrotic kidney and the absence of compensation by the intact kidney during normal hydration--like that in everyday life. The functional changes during normal hydration were generally more severe than those we found after obstruction in neonatal and adult rats, in which arterial hypertension was never observed. The clinical implication would be that the kidney may be less tolerant to pressure rises during the infant year. Changes due to obstruction are known to occur rapidly, but after that neither progress nor reverse.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


Introduction : Nanotechnology deals with structures that their dimensions are approximately between 1 to 100 nanometers. Research has shown that the composition, shape and different sizes of nanosilver make the features that possess different toxic effects compared with the chemicals with same but larger composition (microsilver). Nanosilver is associated with cell division, oxidative stress, and apoptosis or cell death. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of nanosilver on lung tissues. Methods: In this study, 50 adult male Wistar rats were examined in two groups of experimental and control. 70 nm silver nanoparticles with four different concentrations 0. 25, 0.5,1 and 2 mg kg-1 were orally administered for 30 days. To investigate the pathological changes after 30 days, the lung tissue of mice in each group was apart and kept in formalin for histopathological examination. After molding and cutting, template samples were stained with H &E staining method. Then slides were observed by invert microscope. Results: According to the results, the high-dose groups(N4, N5) showed more pathological effects compared with other groups(N2, N3) and controls. In general, the effect of silver nanoparticles on lung tissue was significant and the resulting changes revealed cell and tissue damage. Conclusion: The toxicity of silver nanoparticles, administrated orally for 30 days in the experimental groups, was investigated that showed its harmful effect on lung tissue determined by pathological examination.


In 1906, Morgan described a new bacterium, referred to merely as "Bacterium No. 1," which he isolated from the intestines and feces of patients suffering from infantile diarrhoea. The first to name this organism were Winslow et al. (1919), who called it Bacillus morgani (sic). Subsequent authors transferred Morgan's organism to a number of different genera. Among these was Rauss (1936), who stated that Morgan's bacillus belongs to "the Proteus group," but who did not use or propose a scientific name for the organism. In 1939 Yale described Morgan's "Organism No. 1" under the scientific name "Proteus morganii (Winslow et al.) Rauss." The questions arise whether the name Proteus morganii was validly published and, if so, by whom? It is clear that Yale was the first to propose the name P. morganii, although he attributed the name to Rauss, apparently because Rauss was the first to suggest placement of Morgan's bacillus in Proteus. Therefore it was Yale, not Rauss, who validly published the name P. morganii, and Yale, not Rauss, should be cited as the author of this name. ATCC 25830 (ATCC 8076h; NCTC 235), described herein, is designated as the neotype strain for P. morganii Yale.


This paper seeks to examine the ways in which the idea of the child as high vulnerable to risk is constituting new pedagogical subjects, ie, the teacher/caregiver as a professional risk-manager, and the child as a risk-management 'case'. It does so by indicating how an expanded notion of the duty of care has reconstituted the child as a work-in-progress case rather than 'the concrete subject of [educational] intervention' (Castel, 1991: 288). It examines how the new teacher as a risk-conscious professional caregiver both needs and comes to acquire a new intimacy with the child not as a fleshly body but as a case of risk minimisation.


A total of 880 pigs were used in a 21-day trial conducted in a commercial research facility to determine the influence of feeding graded levels (0, 4.5, 6.75, and 9.0 g/ton) of ractopamine HCl (Paylean, Elanco Animal Health) on pig performance and carcass composition. Ractopamine supplementation improved ADG 17 to 22% and F/G 12 to 20%. Increasing ractopamine dosages resulted in improved F/G, but similar ADG. With the exception of a tendency to increase yield, carcass parameters were not different among treatments. Ractopamine supplementation resulted in improved economic returns ($2.55 to $3.20/pig), which were due to the improvements in carcass weights (80%) and lean premium (20%).


T his essay analyses key examples of language used during the recent case of Private Jake Kovco, the first Australian solider to die during Australia's military involvement in Iraq. Kovco died not in combat but in his barracks room, shot in the head by his own pistol. In particular, the essay considers the implications of the military inquiry being told that Kovco may have accidentally shot himself while joking with his roommates 'in a female/homosexual way', the gun held to his head 'almost to say this is so gay I would rather be dead'. Payne revisits Sedgwick's concept of 'homosexual panic' to argue that the erasure of homophobia from the record of the incident (euphemised as 'skylarking') contributes to the normalisation of homophobia as an unworthy source of social and political panic, precisely because of the 'systemic function' Sedgwick attributes to homosexual panic in reinforcing heterosexual masculine entitlement.


Modafinil (MOD) is a wakefulness-inducing compound prescribed for treatment of excessive daytime sleepiness as a consequence of sleep disturbances such as shift work sleep disorder, obstructive sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome, or narcolepsy. While providing effective results in patients with sleepiness, MOD also produces positive outcomes in the management of fatigue associated with different conditions including depression, cancer, or tiredness in military personnel. Although there is clear evidence of the stimulant effects of MOD, current data also show that administration of this drug apparently induces positive neurobiological effects, such as improvement in memory. However, serious concerns have been raised since some reports have suggested MOD dependence. Taken together, these findings highlight the need to characterize the changes induced by MOD which have been observed in several neurobiological functions. Moreover, further work should follow up on the likely long-term effects of this drug if used for treatment of drowsiness and tiredness. Here, we review and summarize recent findings of the medical uses of MOD in the management of sleepiness and fatigue associated with depression or cancer as well as exhaustion in military personnel. We also discuss the available literature related with the cognitive enhancing properties of this stimulant, as well as what is known and unknown about MOD addiction.


DNA is exposed to both endogenous and exogenous DNA damaging agents that chemically modify it. To counteract the deleterious effects exerted by DNA lesions, eukaryotic cells have evolved a network of cellular pathways, termed DNA damage response (DDR). The DDR comprises both mechanisms devoted to repair DNA lesions and signal transduction pathways that sense DNA damage and transduce this information to specific cellular targets. These targets, in turn, impact a wide range of cellular processes including DNA replication, DNA repair and cell cycle transitions. The importance of the DDR is highlighted by the fact that DDR inactivation is commonly found in cancer and causes many different human diseases. The protein kinases ATM and ATR, as well as their budding yeast orthologs Tel1 and Mec1, act as master regulators of the DDR. The initiating events in the DDR entail both DNA lesion recognition and assembly of protein complexes at the damaged DNA sites. Here, we review what is known about the early steps of the DDR.


This study, co-commissioned by Natural Resources Defense Council and Green For All, considers the employment and other policy effects of a $150 billion annual investment in clean-energy specifically in terms of its ability to raise living standards for lower-income workers and families. This report shows that investments in clean energy can benefit lower-income families first by expanding job opportunities, and also by lowering household utility bills through energy efficiency investments and transportation costs by making public transportation more accessible. >> Read more about the study and download state and regional fact sheets here


A major preoccupation in assessment is connecting examinees' performance in assessment and nonassessment contexts. This preoccupation has traditionally been framed in terms of generalizability. This article reconceptualizes this problem from a qualitatively different perspective on human abilities and their development, namely, the Sociocultural Theory of Mind outlined in the work of Vygotsky (1986, 1998). From this perspective, assessment occurs not in isolation from instruction but as an inseparable feature of it. Assessment and instruction are dialectically integrated as a single activity that seeks to understand development by actively promoting it. This pedagogical approach, known as Dynamic Assessment (DA), challenges the widespread acceptance of independent performance as the privileged indicator of individuals' abilities and calls for assessors to abandon their role as observers of learner behavior in favor of a commitment to joint problem solving aimed at supporting learner development. In DA, the traditional goal of producing generalizations from a snapshot of performance is replaced by ongoing intervention in development. Following Vygtosky's argument that true development goes beyond improvement on a given assessment task, DA practitioners have devised a method known as transcendence (TR), in which they collaborate with learners on increasingly complex tasks. In this article, transcendence in the second language (L2) domain is illustrated with examples of advanced learners of French composing oral narratives with support from a mediator. The article concludes with recommendations for future research on TR in L2 development.


Purpose: In this paper I investigate the information fl ow between the credit default swap market and the stock market as well as insider trading in the credit default swap market. Methodology: For my analysis I use the event study methodology. Using the event study methodology I calculate abnormal stock returns and abnormal credit default swap premium changes. The analysis is based on 175,874 observations collected for 92 companies between the years 2001 and 2010. Findings: The results show that the information fl ow from the credit default swap market to the stock market is the most signifi cant in terms of negative rating outlooks. The information fl ow is much less signifi cant in relation to negative surprises during announcements of annual fi nancial results and rating upgrades. Evidence of insider trading is also most evident with reference to negative rating outlooks. Additionally, a distinctive feature of the credit default swap market and the stock market is the asymmetric response to negative and positive credit information. Research limitations: The event study methodology does not consider other potentially important reasons for the information fl ow between markets than the ones actually investigated. The credit events and credit risk information used in this research are just a proposal and can be extended by future researchers. Originality: This paper discusses a new research area. The main research area in terms of insider trading is still the stock market, with special focus on the US market. I decided to explore the insider trading phenomenon in the credit default swap market. I only considered contracts that are quoted with reference to European underlying assets. This part of the fi nancial market is attractive in terms of economic research as credit derivatives are more commonly used not only in North America but also in Europe.


The extensive use of pesticides for controlling insects has been widely used in agricultural activities. However, the indiscriminate use of the pesticides has inflicted serious harmful problems to humans in the ecosystem. Our study aims to evaluating the capacity of Armillaria tabescens to remove the chemical oxygen demand (COD) and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5) at different concentration of malathion insecticide (50, 100 and 150 ppm) under agitated (130 rpm) submerged culture conditions at 27 0C after 8 and 15 days. According to our results, A. tabescens has achieved COD reduction as 52.39, 27.24, and 38.30% at concentration of 50, 100 and 150 ppm respectively on 15 days. The BOD5 reduction rates were found as 78.2, 74.76 and 81.26% at 50, 100 and 150 ppm concentration respectively at the end of the 15th days. At the end of this time period, the dried biomass of A. tabescens was weighted and we have suggested that malathion in medium reduced the biomass production compared the control group (Sabouraud dextrose broth + A. tabescens). Our experiments have focused that; A. tabescens could be an alternative and useful fungus for bioremediation of wastewater containing malathion insecticide.


Background: Healthcare professionals commonly exhibit negative attitudes toward people with mental disorders. Few international studies have sought to investigate the determinants of stigma. Objective: To conduct an international comparison of pharmacy students' stigma towards people with schizophrenia, and to determine whether stigma is consistently associated with stereotypical attributes of people with schizophrenia. Method: Students (n = 649) at eight universities in Australia, Belgium, India, Finland, Estonia and Latvia completed a seven-item Social Distance Scale (SDS) and six items related to stereotypical attributes of people with schizophrenia. Results: Mean SDS scores were 19.65 (± 3.97) in Australia, 19.61 (± 2.92) in Belgium, 18.75 (± 3.57) in India, 18.05 (± 3.12) in Finland, and 20.90 (± 4.04) in Estonia and Latvia. Unpredictability was most strongly associated with having a high social distance in Australia (β = —1.285), the perception that people will never recover in India (β = — 0.881), dangerousness in Finland (β = —1.473) and the perception of being difficult to talk to in Estonia and Latvia (β = —2.076). Unpredictability was associated with lower social distance in Belgium (β = 0.839). Conclusion: The extent to which students held stigmatizing attitudes was similar in each country, however, the determinants of stigma were different. Pharmacy education may need to be tailored to address the determinants of stigma in each country.


Introduction
 The monitoring of a patient's response to chemotherapy, called, measurable residual disease (MRD) is one of the most important predictors of outcome in Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML). Although universally applicable, FCM-MRD for AML suffers from low sensitivity as compared to precursor B lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Here, we evaluated the clinical utility of error corrected next generation sequencing (NGS) to detect MRD (NGS-MRD) in AML using single molecule molecular inversion probes (smMIPS). We compare NGS-MRD and FCM-MRD and determine their impact on patient outcome. We demonstrate that error corrected NGS-MRD at early timepoints in therapy is an independent and significant predictor of outcome in patients of AML treated with conventional therapies.
 Methods
 We created a 35 gene "hotspot" panel comprising of a pool of 302 smMIPS. In brief, this panel covers regions of 35 commonly mutated genes in AML.FLT3-ITD were detected using a novel one-step PCR based NGS assay. Post mapping, singleton reads (originating from one UMI) were discarded and consensus family based variant calling was performed. We then created a site and mutation specific error model to ascertain the relevance of an observed variant at each site. A limit of detection (LOD) experiment demonstrated a lower detection limit of 0.05%. For FLT3-ITD the LOD was 0.002%. A total of 393 adult patients of AMLwere accrued over a period of six years.Patients were treated with standard 3+7 induction followed by 3 doses of HiDAC. Allogeneic bone marrow transplantation was offered where feasible. Somatic mutations at diagnosis were evaluated using a smMIPS based 50 gene myeloid panel which was applicable to 327 patients [83.2% of AMLs, median 2 mutations per case (range 1 - 6 trackable mutations)].MRD assessment could be performed in 201 adult patients of AML in morphological remission (not performed in the rest because of suboptimal quality DNA at MRD time points or missing sample).Samples were sequenced on multiple S4 flow cells of a NovaSeq 6000 using 150PE chemistry.FCM-MRD was obtained from the bone marrow at end of induction (PI, n=200) and end of first consolidation cycle (PC, n=98). NGS-MRD sample also obtained at the same time points (PI, n=196& PC, n=127) from the bone marrow (n=266) or peripheral blood (n=45).
 Results
 The interaction of mutations that were trackable at diagnosis can be seen in Figure 1A. A total of 345 mutations could be detected in 196 patients (Figure 1B) with a median VAF of 1.01% [0.82% after exclusion of mutations in DNMT3A, TET2, ASXL1 (DTA) genes; (median of 2 mutations for PI and one for PC timepoint)]. The median consensus read coverage was 11,127 for the smMIPS assay, whereas for the FLT3-ITD assay it was 13,96,366.The median follow-up of the cohort was 42.3 months. The presence of NGS-MRD (70.9%) was associated with inferior overall survival (OS; p=0.001) [hazard ratio(HR)- 2.24; 95% confidence interval (CI)- 1.47 to 3.43] and relapse free survival (RFS; p=0.0002) [HR- 2.28; 95% CI- 1.58 to 3.31] at PI time point as well as PC time points [40.94% positive; OS (p=0.008)(HR- 1.92; 95% CI- 1.14 to 3.22) and RFS (p=0.004)(HR- 1.90; 95% CI- 1.18 to 3.05)].Similarly, FCM-MRD (44%) was predictive of inferior OS (p=0.0002)(HR- 2.08; 95% CI- 1.38 to 3.13)and RFS (p=0.0008)(HR- 1.81; 95% CI- 1.26 to 2.60) at PI as well as PC time points [21.4% positive, OS (p=0.04)(HR- 1.87; 95% CI- 0.89 to 3.91) and RFS (p=0.001)(HR- 2.38; 95% CI- 1.17 to 4.81)].
 On multivariate analysis post induction NGS MRD emerged as the most important independent prognostic factor predictive of inferior outcome for OS [HR- 1.94; 95% CI-1.15 to 3.27; (p<0.0001)]as well asRFS[HR-2.05; 95% CI-1.30 to 3.23; (p<0.0001)].On incorporating results combining both the MRD modalities,patients that were positive by both techniqueshad a significantly inferior outcome with respect to OS (p=0.0002; HR- 4.66; 95% CI- 2.71 to 8.0)and RFS (p=0.0001; HR- 4.03; 95% CI- 2.51 to 6.47) at PI timepoint as well as PC timepoint [OS (p=0.02; HR- 3.73; 95% CI- 1.07 to 12.97) and RFS (p=0.0015; HR- 4.17; 95% CI- 1.27 to 13.7)] as compared to patients negative by both modalities (Figure 1E,F)
 Conclusion
 In conclusion, we demonstrate that error corrected panel-based sequencing is feasible for MRD monitoring in AML and may offer an advantage over existing techniques. Maximum clinical utility may be leveraged by combining FCM and NGS modalities.
 Figure

 No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


Summary : The paper deals with the analysis of the electromagnetic transients in mixed power net--works. Special emphasis is made on assessing the effectiveness of using cable sections in reducing the transients in the power network components such as transformer substations. A distributed parame -ter modeling of the overhead lines, underground cables and transformer windings is applied in the Laplace domain. The simulation can handle the different time waveforms of the sources initiating the transients, the lengths of the cable sections as well as the transformers' neutral treatment. The direct analytical s -domain solution is numerically inverted in order to get the corresponding time domain results. The affecting parameters such as the line and cable surge impedances, the length of the cable section (or its time delay) and the transformer data, are investigated. A case involving multiple-pulse lightning surges is also addressed. The results of four case studies of known solutions are presented in order to validate the developed mathematical model and computer program.


In this paper we propose a new framework for learning from large scale datasets based on iterative learning from small mini-batches. By adding the right amount of noise to a standard stochastic gradient optimization algorithm we show that the iterates will converge to samples from the true posterior distribution as we anneal the stepsize. This seamless transition between optimization and Bayesian posterior sampling provides an inbuilt protection against overfitting. We also propose a practical method for Monte Carlo estimates of posterior statistics which monitors a "sampling threshold" and collects samples after it has been surpassed. We apply the method to three models: a mixture of Gaussians, logistic regression and ICA with natural gradients.


Introduction Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the fourth commonest cancer worldwide. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is one of the many risk factors. Ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's colitis both increase the risk of developing CRC by greater than 15 fold compared to the population without IBD. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) produced evidence-based recommendations in 2011 on the colonoscopic surveillance for prevention of CRC in people with UC, Crohn's disease or adenomas. These are broadly consistent with those in the BSG 2010 guidelines. One of the key recommendations is that chromoscopy (pan-colonic dye spray) is the technique of choice. Methods We compared results from two audits (2012/13 and 2014/15) performed at Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals (BHRUH), each assessing adherence to the key features of the BSG guidelines. The interventions made between auditing included; adding a 'surveillance' option to the endoscopy request form, specifying 'dye spray' on the request and clerical staff dedicating 3 points (i.e more time) to perform the procedure. Results 100 patients undergoing surveillance colonoscopy from September 2014 to August 2015 at BHRUH (49% male, 65% UC) were analysed compared with 35 patients in the period September 2012 to August 2013 (66% male, 97% UC). The number of chromoscopies performed for CRC surveillance in IBD patients increased from 1 in the initial audit to 30 in the follow up audit, after implementation of changes (p = 0.003). 23% of colonoscopies were performed in patients with less than 10 years duration of disease in the first audit compared with 9% in the second (p = 0.03). Polyps and dysplasia were identified in 20% and 8.6% of patients in 2013, respectively. This is compared to 31% (p = 0.21) and 8% (p = 0.91)in 2015. Conclusion Adaptations to the way in which endoscopies are requested at BHRUH along with increased awareness amongst clerical staff booking the more time consuming surveillance colonoscopy has resulted in a significant increases in chromoscopy rates. However, there has not been a corresponding increase in the number of polyps or adenomas detected. This may be explained by the overall improvement in the quality of white light endoscopy and technical ability of endoscopists. Further work comparing chromoscopy, narrow band imaging and white light endoscopy in the detection of early cancers in IBD is required. References 1 Colonoscopic surveillance for prevention of colorectal cancer in people with ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease or adenomas. NICE Guidelines, 2011. 2 Guidelines for colorectal cancer for screening and surveillance in moderate and high risk groups (update from 2002). BSG Guidelines, 2010. Disclosure of Interest None Declared


Regional human rights tribunals are an essential element in the enforcement of international human rights in each continental region, especially in the context of mental disability law. In Asia and the Pacific region, however, there is no such body. Without a regional tribunal, we cannot be overly optimistic about the real life impact of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) on the rights of persons with disabilities in this region. The author - director of the International Mental Disability Law Reform Project at New York Law School - is working with colleagues to create a Disability Rights Tribunal for Asia and the Pacific (DR-TAP). The creation of this Tribunal would be a bold, innovative, progressive and important step on the path towards realization of the rights of persons with disabilities, an especially timely venture in light of the recent ratification of the CRPD. It is expected that, at first, this will be a voluntary tribunal and that eventually it will become state-sponsored. This paper will (1) explain the proposed need for and structure of the DR-TAP (focusing specifically on, inter alia, issues related to the appointment of counsel, remedies, and sanctions) in the context of the historical background of such regional tribunals in Asia, (2) discuss the steps that have been taken so far to create this Tribunal, (3) explore the relationship between the DR-TAP and the CRPD, (4) explain why it is critical that China become a part of the DR-TAP, (5) discuss the role of online, distance learning courses in training counsel to represent individuals at such a Tribunal, and (6) offer strategies to enhance the possibilities that China would choose to participate in the Tribunal.


Extremely large epitaxial waveguides with thickness tWG = 8.6 μm enable diode lasers with very narrow vertical divergence angle. We demonstrate that when such designs are processed in ridge waveguide laser format, there is substantial interaction between the vertical and lateral waveguiding mechanisms. For very narrow stripes with width w ≪ tWG, such interaction leads to lasing operation in the second-order mode in the vertical direction. For the case of an optimal stripe width w~tWG single fundamental mode operation is achieved, with peak kink-free optical output power of 1.3 W and beam divergence angles (vertical, lateral) of 9° × 6° at full-width at half-maximum and 17° × 13° with 95% power content. The maximum brightness is 90 MW × cm-2 sr-1 for 95% power content.


Printers are always seeking higher productivity by increasing their production rates and minimizing process delays. When process delays have known causes, they can be mitigated by acquiring causal rules from human experts and then applying sensors and automated real-time diagnostic devices to the process. However, for some delays the experts have only weak causal knowledge or none at all. In such cases, machine learning tools can collect training data and process it through an induction engine in search of diagnostic knowledge. We have applied a machine learning strategy known as decision tree induction to derive a set of rules about a long-standing problem in rotogravure printing. The induction mechanism is embedded within a knowledge acquisition system that suggests plausible rules to an expert, who can override the rules or modify the data from which the rules were derived. By using decision tree induction to derive process control rules, this system lets experts participate in knowledge acquisition by doing what they do best: exercising their expertise.<<ETX>>


To better understand the performance of hospital operations in response to IT-enabled improvement, we report the results of a system dynamics model designed to improve core medical processes. Utilizing system dynamics modeling and emerging HIS data, we demonstrate how current behavior within the hospital leads to a 'stove-pipe' effect, in which each functional group employs policies that are rational at the group level, but that lead to inefficiencies at the hospital level. We recommend management improvements in both materials and staff utilization to address the stove-pipe effect, and estimate the resultant cost-saving. We believe that the major gains in health information systems use will accompany new information gathering capabilities, as these capabilities result in collections of data that can be used to greatly improve patient safety, hospital operations, and medical decision support.


Objective: To determine the Prevalence of pathogenic bacterial isolates in swabs obtained from patients with Ear, Nose and Throat Infections.
Methodology: This Cross sectional hospital based study was conducted at Otolaryngology outpatients department of Capital Hospital, Islamabad, Pakistan from August, 2014 to July, 2016. Swabs for microbial culture from representative infected area were obtained i.e. ear, nose or throat. These included patients of either gender or age, who presented in the Otolaryngology outpatients with suspected bacterial ear, nose or throat infections on the basis of history and clinical examination. Patients on steroids, those with co-morbidities, immune deficient cases and those who took antibiotics in last one week were excluded. Samples (swabs) were taken throat swabs, processed by routine microbiological culture techniques for microbiological isolation. Data collected included gender, age, area of infection (ear, nose or throat) and pathogenic bacteria isolated. Data was recorded, cross tabulated and analyzed using Microsoft Excel Worksheet.
Results: Of the study sample of 1439, 737(51.22%) were males and 702(48.78%) females with mean age of 29.12+19.24 years. These included 811(56.36%) cases of aural, 221(15.35%) cases of nasal and 407 (28.29%) cases of throat infections. 800(55.59%) were culture negative for pathogenic bacteria, while pathogens were isolated in 639(44.41%) cases. Staphylococcus aureus was isolated in majority i e., 434(30.16%), followed by pseudomonas in 167(11.61%) swabs.
Conclusion: Staph aureus was the commonest isolate from aural and nasal swabs while majority of throat swabs were negative and in a few streptococcus pneumoniae was isolated, indirectly indicating prevalence of viral infections in the cases with throat infections. This indicates importance of culture and sensitivity in these cases before starting antibiotics.


The DISTRIX operating system is a multiprocessor distributed operating system based on UNIX. It consists of a number of satellite processors connected to central servers. The system is derived from the MINIX operating system, compatible with UNIX Version 7. A remote procedure call interface is used in conjunction with a system wide, end-toend communication protocol that connects satellite processors to the central servers. A cached file server provides access to all files and devices at the UNIX system call level. The design of the file server is discussed in depth and the performance evaluated. Additional information is given about the software and hardware used during the development of the project. The MINIX operating system has proved to be a good choice as the software base, but certain features have proved to be poorer. The Inmos transputer emerges as a processor with many useful features that eased the implementation. CR Categories: C.l.2 [Multiprocessors]; C.2.1 [Networ~ Arc_hitecture and Design]; C.2.4 [Distributed Systems]; D.4.3 [File Systems Management]; D.4.4 [Communications Management]; D.4.7 [Organization and Design]; D.4.8 [Performance].


The Achalasia is a motor disorder of the esophagus characterized by loss of the esophageal peristalsis with lack in the relaxation or incomplete relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) (1). The exact cause of this disease is unknown. The most common symptoms are dysphagia, regurgitation, loss of weight and chest pain (2). The esophageal manometry is the main method diagnosis; showing peristalsis absent of the esophageal body with elevated pressure, lacks or incomplete relaxation of the LES (3, 4). The goal of the treatment is to reduce the pressure of the LES, so that the gravity can to facilitate the esophageal evacuating, since any treatment does not exist to recover muscular activity of the esophagus (6). The treatment includes certain medications, like the nitrates or calcium channels antagonists. They are useful in patients with slight symptoms or previous a more effective invasive procedure or in those who the invasive procedures are contraindicated (7). Another therapeutic option is the positioning by means of injection under endoscopic guide of Botulinum toxin (BT) at level of the zone of higher pressure of the lower esophageal sphincter (5). The results to this drug are not uniform and one third part of these patients relapse 3 months later (5, 6). The goal of the pneumatic dilatation is to produce a controlled tear of fibers muscular of the LES, to lower the obstruction of the distal esophageal and lightening of the symptoms. The pneumatic dilatation has an immediate success of 85% to 95% (7). The technique of the pneumatic dilatation defers in each study and is not clear the number from sessions, like the caliber of the dilator (22). The Open Heller myotomy, has been the surgical treatment widely used in the patients with achalasia, nevertheless the coming of less invasive surgical techniques for the treatment of the same, have changed the handling algorithm (27, 28). The present surgical handling includes the laparoscopic Heller myotomy, which was reported in 1991 (29). Comparative studies that involve the different therapeutic techniques in achalasia are rare (33). More prospective randomized and controlled studies between the different modalities of treatment to achalasia are required to define which one is better.


Leprosy is a chronic infection affecting mainly the skin and peripheral nerve. Pure neuritic form of this disease manifests by involvement of the nerve in the absence of skin lesions. Therefore, it can sometimes create a diagnostic problem. It often requires a nerve biopsy for diagnosis, which is an invasive procedure and may lead to neural deficit. Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) of an affected nerve can be a valuable and less invasive procedure for the diagnosis of such cases. We report five suspected cases of pure neuritic Hansen's disease involving the common and superficial peroneal, ulnar, and median nerve, who underwent FNAC. Smears revealed nerve fibers infiltrated by chronic inflammatory cells in all cases, presence of epithelioid cells granulomas, and Langhans giant cells in three cases, and acid fast bacilli in two cases. In conclusion, FNAC is a safe, less invasive, and time saving procedure for the diagnosis of pure neuritic leprosy.


Abstract. Aerosol light absorption measurements most commonly rely on filter-based techniques. These methods are influenced by light scattering constituents in the aerosol phase deposited on the filters. The coating of soot by non-absorbing constituents changes the mixing state of soot as the aerosol ages and increase light absorption by the aerosol. Most light scattering constituents in a sub-micron aerosol are volatile by their nature due to their chemical composition and can be volatilized by heating the sample air. The initial mixing state is lost but the remaining light absorption by the aerosol should be by non-coated soot alone. This was studied during a short field campaign with two groups of equipment measuring in parallel for six days in April 2009 at the SMEAR III station in Helsinki. When heated, the light scattering constituents were evaporated thus reducing the single-scattering albedo (ω0) of the aerosol by as much as 0.4. An oven was set to scan different temperatures which revealed the volatility of the urban aerosol at different temperatures as well as the single-scattering albedo's dependence on the non-volatile volume fraction remaining (NVFR). The NVFR was 0.72 ± 0.13, 0.42 ± 0.06 and 0.22 ± 0.05 at 50, 150 and 280 °C respectively. ω0 behaved analogically, it was 0.71 ± 0.05, 0.62 ± 0.06 and 0.42 ± 0.07 at the respective temperatures. We found that absorption coefficients measured at different temperatures showed a temperature dependency possibly indicating initially different mixing states of the non-volatile constituents. By heating the aerosol the mode of the size distribution gets shifted to smaller sizes which in turn changes the filter-based instrument's response due increased penetration depth into the filter by the smaller residual particles. This was compensated for by using size distribution data.


Non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are difficult to identify by biochemical and genetic methods due to their microbiological properties and complex taxonomy. The development of more efficient and rapid methods for species identification in the veterinary microbiological laboratory is, therefore, of great importance. Although MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry (MS) has become a promising tool for the identification of NTM species in human clinical practise, information regarding its performance on veterinary isolates is scarce. This study assesses the capacity of MALDI-TOF MS to identify NTM isolates (n = 75) obtained from different animal species. MALDI-TOF MS identified 76.0% (n = 57) and 4% (n = 3) of the isolates with high and low confidence, respectively, in agreement with the identification achieved by Sanger sequencing of housekeeping genes (16S rRNA, hsp65, and rpoB). Thirteen isolates (17.3%) were identified by Sanger sequencing to the complex level, indicating that these may belong to uncharacterised species. MALDI-TOF MS approximated low confidence identifications toward closely related mycobacterial groups, such as the M. avium or M. terrae complexes. Two isolates were misidentified due to a high similarity between species or due to the lack of spectra in the database. Our results suggest that MALDI-TOF MS can be used as an effective alternative for rapid screening of mycobacterial isolates in the veterinary laboratory and potentially for the detection of new NTM species. In turn, Sanger sequencing could be implemented as an additional method to improve identifications in species for which MALDI-TOF MS identification is limited or for further characterisation of NTM species.


The article shows that in a finite-trader version of the Diamond and Dybvig model (1983), the ex ante efficient allocation can be implemented as a unique equilibrium. This is so even in the presence of the sequential service constraint, as emphasized by Wallace (1988), whereby the bank must solve a sequence of maximization problems as depositors contact it at different times. A three-trader example with constant relative risk-aversion utility is used in order to illustrate clearly the requirements that the sequential service constraint imposes on implementation.


In this article, I analyze efforts to remove Aboriginal people from town camps and public parks in Darwin, capital of Australia's Northern Territory. In early 2003, the territory government enjoined the corporate representative of Darwin's traditional owners to assert their prior title, thereby policing and reimagining public space by reference to this Aboriginal corporate custody. Public discourse, as reflected in news accounts, framed this move as engendering conflict, pitting one Aboriginal "mob" (owners) against another (campers), dividing those amenable to corporate recognition from those who more starkly confronted settler Australian sensibilities and suburban development. Here I explore forms of intra-Aboriginal relationship that these tabloid accounts ignored and describe how such relationships have mediated, if not mitigated, paradoxical features of Australian neoliberal governmentality. [Indigenous Australia, Aboriginal homelessness, anthropology of the state, neoliberal governmentality, citizenship and sovereignty]


In the present article, we review the pharmacological properties of KDS-4103 (URB597), a highly potent and selective inhibitor of the enzyme fatty-acid amide hydrolase (FAAH), which catalyzes the intracellular hydrolysis of the endocannabinoid anandamide. In vitro, KDS-4103 inhibits FAAH activity with median inhibitory concentrations (IC(50)) of 5 nM in rat brain membranes and 3 nM in human liver microsomes. In vivo, KDS-4103 inhibits rat brain FAAH activity after intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration with a median inhibitory dose (ID(50)) of 0.15 mg/kg. The compound does not significantly interact with other cannabinoid-related targets, including cannabinoid receptors and anandamide transport, or with a broad panel of receptors, ion channels, transporters and enzymes. By i.p. administration to rats and mice KDS-4103 elicits significant, anxiolytic-like, antidepressant-like and analgesic effects, which are prevented by treatment with CB1 receptor antagonists. By contrast, at doses that significantly inhibit FAAH activity and substantially raise brain anandamide levels, KDS-4103 does not evoke classical cannabinoid-like effects (e.g., catalepsy, hypothermia, hyperphagia), does not cause place preference, and does not produce generalization to the discriminative effects of the active ingredient of cannabis, Delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Delta9-THC). These findings suggest that KDS-4103 acts by enhancing the tonic actions of anandamide on a subset of CB(1) receptors, which may normally be engaged in controlling emotions and pain. KDS-4103 is orally available in rats and cynomolgus monkeys. Sub-chronic repeated dose studies (1,500 mg/kg, per os) in these two species have not demonstrated systemic toxicity. Likewise, no toxicity was noted in bacterial cytotoxicity tests in vitro and in the Ames test. Furthermore, no deficits were observed in rats on the rotarod test after acute i.p. treatment with KDS-4103 at doses up to 5 mg/kg or in a functional observation battery after oral doses up to 1,500 mg/kg. The results suggest that KDS-4103 will offer a novel approach with a favorable therapeutic window for the treatment of anxiety, depression and pain.


In data management, and in particular in data integration, data exchange, query optimization, and data privacy, the notion of view plays a central role. In several contexts, such as data integration, data mashups, and data warehousing, the need arises of designing views starting from a set of known correspondences between queries over different schemas. In this paper we deal with the issue of automating such a design process. We call this novel problem "view synthesis from schema mappings": given a set of schema mappings, each relating a query over a source schema to a query over a target schema, automatically synthesize for each source a view over the target schema in such a way that for each mapping, the query over the source is a rewriting of the query over the target wrt the synthesized views. We study view synthesis from schema mappings both in the relational setting, where queries and views are (unions of) conjunctive queries, and in the semistructured data setting, where queries and views are (two-way) regular path queries, as well as unions of conjunctions thereof. We provide techniques and complexity upper bounds for each of these cases.


We apply numerical and computational analyses to the decay of a topologically nontrivial, bundle-structured superfluid vortex tangle via mutual friction effected energy transfer to an initially stationary, viscous normal fluid. We demonstrate that, as long as the coherent superfluid vorticity structures remain intact, the induced normal-fluid vorticity acquires a similar to the superfluid vorticity morphology, and the normal-fluid energy spectrum mimics the superfluid energy spectrum presenting a low-wavenumber scaling regime. After a (smaller than the integral advective time scale) transient, the superfluid vorticity bundles disintegrate; this is followed by the decay of normal-fluid energy. The kinetic energies of the two fluids are mismatched throughout the decay period, and the dismantling of coherent vorticity destroys the low-wavenumber energy spectrum scaling in both fluids. At the point of maximum normal-fluid energy, the circulation of the induced normal-fluid vortices is comparable to the ''macroscopic'' circulation of the superfluid vorticity bundles. We show that the superfluid dynamics are dominated throughout the decay period by inertial rather than mutual friction effects, that the formation of bundlelike coherent superfluid vortices cannot be the outcome of pure (reconnecting) Biot-Savart dynamics, and that superfluid vortex length dynamics are not analogous to superfluid energy dynamics. We conjecture that themore » dynamics of fully developed, turbulent thermal superfluid flow could be described in terms of interactions of cyclic coherent vorticity patterns in both fluids.« less


This study draws upon previous research to establish if 'low cost, high volume' university outreach interventions change subsequent application behaviour. The results of two distinct but related randomised controlled trials with two-armed designs (RCT 1, n=2,199; RCT 2, n=1,166) compared application outcomes between recipients and non-recipients of messages from existing undergraduates. The research sought to determine if undergraduate student messaging reinforced prior exposure to the University outreach programme and thereby influenced recipient behaviour, in terms of applications and acceptances to that specific institution. The first trial found moderate statistical evidence that sending an email, written by and addressed from an existing undergraduate, to prospective applicants resulted in the opposite of the intended effect; reducing the rate of applications to the University. The second trial found no statistical evidence of any difference in application or acceptance rates amongst the treatment cohort, who received a personal letter in the post from two current undergraduate students, in comparison to the control group who received no correspondence. This reinforces the notion that there is no 'one size fits all' programme of widening participation interventions; successful 'messaging' is not necessarily transferrable, and can even backfire, given different characteristics of activity providers and recipient cohorts.


The effects of a commercially available Polyphenolic Vegetable Extract (PVE) from Schinopsis lorentzii (Bioquina ) for the reduction of coccidiosis in broiler chicks was evaluated. Day-of-hatch male broiler ® chicks were obtained from a local hatchery and randomly assigned to three experimental groups consisting of 8 chickens per group with four replicates per treatment: Group 1, PVE 10% challenged; Group 2, untreated challenged and Group 3, -untreated, non-challenged. Heated brooder batteries were used for housing and chicks were allowed ad libitum access to unmedicated broiler rations and water for the duration of the experiment. On day 21 post-hatch, all birds in groups 1 and 2 were challenged by oral gavage with 3 mL of a mixed suspension of freshly sporulated oocysts of Eimeria tenella (50,000 oocyst/mL), E. maxima (50,000 oocyst/mL) and E. avervulina (50,000 oocyst/mL). Group 3 was sham inoculated with 3 mL of PBS. Body weight gain was obtained seven days after coccidia challenge. Oocyst sheeding was performed at 5, 7 and 10 days PI. Intestinal macroscopic lesions and histological morphometric analysis was performed 7 days PI. No significant differences were observed in terms of total mortality or lesion scores. Supplementation of PVE significantly increased body weight gain, crypt:villi ratio and decreased oocyst excretion (p<0.05), suggesting that PVE may have an impact against a mixed subclinical Eimeria challenge. Further studies on the potential value of this product as a therapeutic or prophylactic anticoccidial agent are currently being evaluated.


We have previously shown that the modification of high-density lipoprotein subclass 3 (HDL(3)) by HOCl transformed an anti-atherogenic lipoprotein into a high-uptake form for macrophages and caused a significant impairment of cholesterol efflux capacity [Panzenboeck, Raitmayer, Reicher, Lindner, Glatter, Malle and Sattler (1997) J. Biol. Chem. 272, 29711-29720]. To elucidate the consequences of treatment with OCl(-) on distinct regions in apolipoprotein A-I (apo A-I), lipid-free and lipid-associated apo A-I were modified with increasing molar ratios of NaOCl or HOCl generated by the myeloperoxidase/H(2)O(2)/Cl(-) system. CD analysis revealed a pronounced decrease in alpha-helicity for lipid-free apo A-I modified by NaOCl, whereas lipid-associated apo A-I was less affected. The modification of apo A-I by NaOCl (molar oxidant-to-lipoprotein ratio 6:1) resulted in the formation of two distinct oxidized forms of apo A-I with molecular masses 32 or 48 atomic mass units (a.m.u.) higher than that of native apo A-I, indicating the addition of two or three oxygen atoms to the native protein. HPLC analysis of tryptic digests obtained from lipid-free and lipid-associated apo A-I modified with increasing oxidant-to-apolipoprotein molar ratios revealed a concentration-dependent modification of apo A-I: at a low molar oxidant-to-lipoprotein ratio (5:1) the peaks corresponding to the methionine-containing tryptic peptides T11 (residues 84-88), T16 (residues 108-116) and T22 (residues 141-149), located in the central region of apo A-I, disappeared. Their loss was accompanied by the formation of three oxidation products with a molecular mass 16 a.m.u. higher than that of the native peptides. This indicates the addition of oxygen, most probably caused by the oxidation of Met(86), Met(112) and Met(148) to the corresponding methionine sulphoxides. At a molar NaOCl-to-apo A-I ratio of 10:1 the disappearance of peptides T1 (residues 1-10), T7 (residues 46-59) and T9 (residues 62-77) was accompanied by the occurrence of new peaks 33.5 and 33.1 a.m.u. higher than those of the native peptides. Amino acid analyses of peptides T7 and T9 after modification with NaOCl confirmed that Phe(57) and Phe(71) were primary targets for oxidation by HOCl. GLC-MS analysis of hydrolysates obtained from OCl(-)-modified T7, T9, apo A-I and HDL(3) confirmed that Phe residues are an early target for OCl(-) modification. At molar NaOCl-to-apo A-I ratios of 25:1, the peak areas of peptides T31 (residues 189-195) and T32 (residues 196-206) decreased markedly. Most importantly, incubation of apo A-I with the myeloperoxidase/H(2)O(2)/Cl(-) system (the source of HOCl in vivo) resulted in almost identical modification patterns to those observed with reagent NaOCl.


Objective To investigate the ability of human dendritic cells ( DCs) inducing specific T lymphocyte response and inhibit the expression of HBeAg and HBsAg in 2.2.15 cell culture supernatant.Methods DCs were prepared from peripheral blood mononuclear cells induced with granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor( GM-CSF) and interleukin-4. DCs was impulsed with pure HBsAg before DCs maturation and cocultured with self-blood T lymphocyte, while DCs without pure HBsAg stimulated group, T lymphocyte group and only T lymphocyte group were prepared as control group. The culture supernatant of 2.2. 15 cell with stimulated T lymphocytes was collected on day 1, day 3,day 5 and day 7, respectively. The expressed levels of HBeAg and HBsAg were detected by ELISA method. Results DCs after antigen stimulation had a strong ability to present antigen and induce immune activation , DCs after loading with antigen in normal control and chronic hepatitis patients group had stronger stimulative ability for T lymphocytes proliferation than that of DCs without loading with antigen and only T lymphocyte group(P 0.01). The stimulating ability of DCs had a positive correlation to the dosage of loaded antigen; CTLs produced as a result of DCs stimulation had a specific inhibitive effect on the expression of HBeAg in 2.2.15 cell supernatant, but not on the expression of HBsAg. Conclusion Human dendritic cells stimulated with HBsAg in vitro can efficiently present antigen and stimulate the production of specific CTLa to HBV, which can efficiently inhibite the expression of HBeAg in 2.2.15 cell supernatant. DC vaccine may become an antiviral therapy strategy for chronic hepatitis B virus infected patients in future.


One of the most efficient approaches for minimizing antimicrobial resistance of pathogenic bacteria is to develop rapid and reliable diagnostic protocols for antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST). Here a multidrug resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) strain was used to isolate its virulent phages. Then the virulent phages were adopted to establish a bioluminescent (BL) method for evaluating bacterial viability. Since the viability of susceptible bacteria could be inhibited or eliminated by antibiotics, an AST protocol was designed by utilizing virulent phages to evaluate the viability of antibiotics-exposed bacteria. Minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBCs) could be easily obtained through comparing the BL signals of antibiotics-exposed bacteria in the presence and absence of phages. Within 3 h, the MBCs of tobramycin, gentamicin, ceftazidime, piperacillin and levofloxacin were evaluated to be 32 μg mL−1, >128 μg mL−1 and >8 μg mL−1, respectively. The protocol has immense potential to reduce the frequency of empirical antibiotic therapy. It can be extended to the AST of other pathogens by isolation of their virulent phages.


OBJECTIVE
The goal was to identify criteria that would allow low-risk infants presenting with an apparent life-threatening event to be discharged safely from the emergency department.

METHODS
We completed data forms prospectively on all previously healthy patients <12 months of age presenting to the emergency department of an urban tertiary care children's hospital with an apparent life-threatening event over a 3-year period. These patients were then observed for subsequent events, significant interventions, or final diagnoses that would have mandated their admission (eg, sepsis).

RESULTS
In our population of 59 infants, all 8 children who met the aforementioned outcome measures, thus requiring admission, either had experienced multiple apparent life-threatening events before presentation or were in their first month of life. In our study group, the high-risk criteria of age of <1 month [corrected] and multiple apparent life-threatening events yielded a negative predictive value of 100% to identify the need for hospital admission.

CONCLUSIONS
Our study suggests that >30-day-old infants who have experienced a single apparent life-threatening event may be discharged safely from the hospital, which would decrease admissions by 38%.


This qualitative study aims at exploring certain features of the Target Text (TT) in comparison with the Source Text (ST) and investigating the factors that affect the translation process. Further, the research examines the essence of the original conveyed in the translation as well as difference in representation of the ST reality in the TT language. The selected texts for this study are The Reluctant Fundamentalist (2007) written by Mohsin Hamid and its translation by Nadeem Akhtar titled Bunyad Parast (2010-12). The Source Language (SL) for this research study is English and the Target Language (TL) is Urdu. The study is delimited to comparative analysis of 8 selected excerpts from the original text and their parallel translations. The study explores translation as a socio-cultural phenomenon from target-oriented approach and is conducted within the paradigm of product-oriented DTS using Toury's three-phase methodology as a model for investigation. The selected data is analysed through comparative textual analysis of the two texts and examines the differences between them.


Background: Tobacco smoking is one of the major causes of preventable deaths worldwide. To quit smoking is a challenging task and is governed by multiple factors such as physiological, behavioural and psychological. Evidences advocate that religious involvement might aid in termination of smoking by providing additional strength to fight against stressors resulting in lower levels of cigarette smoking.

Aim: To evaluate the prevalence of smoking and relationship of Hajj with smoking behaviour of pilgrims.

Method: 500 questionnaires were distributed to the pilgrims in Mena area of Makkah. Questionnaires included items regarding demographics, smoking status, and physiological, behavioral and psychological factors. Data were analyzed appropriately. Result: Majority of the smokers and ex-smokers were males, highly educated and belonged to Indonesia. During Hajj, the number of cigarettes smoked was drastically decreased in smokers (p<0.001). Nicotine dependence of the smokers was low-to-moderate during pilgrimage.

Conclusion: Hajj is a proper season to start cessation programs that include anti-smoking activitie


Ideally, diesel hybrid autonomous power systems would operate with
high penetration of renewable energy sources such as wind and photovoltaic to
minimize fuel consumption. However, since these are inherently intermittent and
fluctuating, the grid-forming diesel engine generator sets are usually required
to operate with larger amounts of spinning reserve, often at low loading
conditions what tends to increases operating and maintenance costs. Frequency
stability is of great concern in "small" systems, such as mini-grids, where any
individual generator in-feed represents a substantial portion of the total
demand. There, the initial rate of change of frequency is typically larger and
a lower value of frequency can be reached in a shorter time than in
conventional systems with all generation supplied by rotating machines,
possibly resulting in under-frequency load shedding and tripping of renewable
energy generators. The first part of this paper, discusses some general
concepts regarding frequency stability in a diesel hybrid mini-grid and how
energy storage systems can be used to enhance system performance. Then, a
particular technique based on a virtual synchronous generator is presented and
its effectiveness is demonstrated with simulation results.


Indoor air quality guidelines (IAQGs) provide safe levels of indoor pollutant concentrations below which adverse health effects are not expected to occur in the general population, including susceptible groups. The development of French IAQGs has been on-going since 2005 in the framework of the National Environment and Health Action Plan (NEHAP, 2004-2008). According to toxicological and epidemiological data, benzene inhalation leads to acute and chronic effects. For long-term exposure, haematological effects and leukaemia have been observed in the Pliofilm cohort. Benzene is classified as carcinogenic for humans and its genotoxic effects have been demonstrated. Considering non carcinogenic effects and available toxicological reference values for benzene, the IAQG of 10 micro g.m-3 is proposed to protect the general population for long-term exposure. To protect from carcinogenic effects, the proposed IAQGs are based on WHO's potency slope factor: 2 and 0.2 micro g.m-3 respectively associated with an excess lifetime risk of 10-5 and 10-6.


Molecular simulation can provide mechanism insights into how material behaviour related to molecular properties and microscopic details of the arrangement of many molecules. With the development of Graphics Processing Unit (GPU), scientists have realized general purpose molecular simulations on GPU and the Common Unified Device Architecture (CUDA) environment. In this paper, we provided a brief overview of molecular simulation and CUDA, introduced the recent achievements in molecular simulation based on GPU in material science, mainly about Monte Carlo method and Molecular Dynamics. The recent research achievements have shown that GPUs can provide unprecedented computational power for scientific applications. With optimized algorithms and program codes, a single GPU can provide a performance equivalent to that of a distributed computer cluster. So, study of molecular simulations based on GPU will accelerate the development of material science in the future.


Instructional
  pragmatics
  in
  teacher
  education
  is
  generally
  focused
  on ways
  that
  ESOL
  teachers
  can
  develop
  the
  pragmatic
  competence
  of
  L2 learners.
  However,
  as
  every
  interaction
  in
  an
  English
  medium
  classroom requires
  a
  high
  level
  of
  pragmatic
  competence
  on
  the
  part
  of
  teachers themselves,
  it
  can
  also
  be
  conceptualised
  more
  broadly
  to
  encompass
  the development
  of
  aspects
  of
  NNS
  teachers'
  own
  pragmatic
  competence which
  are
  important
  for
  teaching.
  This
  article
  reports
  on
  a
  case
  study involving
  a
  small
  group
  of
  NNS
  teachers
  who
  were
  taught
  about implicature
  with
  an
  explicit
  focus
  on
  concepts
  and
  metalanguage
  taken directly
  from
  Gricean
  pragmatics.

  Part
  of
  a
  published
  DCT
  which
  had
  been originally
  designed
  for
  research
  purposes
  was
  then
  adapted
  as
  a
  follow-‐up activity,
  assessing
  learning
  and
  providing
  students
  with
  opportunities
  to reflect
  on
  the
  linguistic
  and
  cultural
  factors
  underlying
  their
  initial responses.

  While
  raw
  test
  scores
  suggested
  that
  the
  explicit
  knowledge
  of theory
  was
  limited
  in
  its
  application
  to
  understanding
  implicature,
  the post-‐task
  reflections
  and
  discussion
  gave
  a
  very
  different
  picture.
  The research
  suggests
  firstly
  that
  despite
  the
  limitations
  of
  the
  Gricean
  model of
  implicature
  its
  intuitive
  nature
  makes
  it
  valuable
  for
  the
  education
  of teachers,
  and
  secondly
  that
  its
  application
  is
  most
  effective
  in
  a
  context
  of intercultural
  learning.


This paper proposes simulation and optimization of the rectangular Stewart cable-suspended robot with 6 cable and 6 degrees of freedom. With the selection of proper configuration for load handling and moving in a specified path, unloading and returning to initial position, motion of the robot for covering that path is simulated and for various positions of path, stiffness of robot and tension in the cables are calculated. By selecting the stiffness of the robot as the objective function in genetic algorithm, various sizes of the moving platform as the optimization variable can be evaluated in such a way that the stiffness of robot is optimized. Later motion of the robot before and after optimization can be simulated. The software used for this process is Matlab. Then confirmation of accuracy of these results is analyzed using Working Model 4D software.


: We studied the risk factors of coronary disease in 52 patients (46 male and 6 female) survivors of myocardial infarction (MI). We found that a group of patients under 40 years old had predominant lipid alteration (100%) being hypercholesterolemia (CT greater than or equal to 260 mg/dl), the decrease of HDL-C levels (less than or equal to 35 mg/dl) and the increase of the atherogenic index (CT/HDL-C greater than or equal to 6) being the most frequent. At the same time, we observed an important association between several risk factors, such as tobacco consumption (58.5%), sedentary life (56.1%), lipid alterations (hypercholesterolemia: 46.3%, decrease of HDL-C: 41.4%, increase of atherogenic index: 60.9%) in the group of patients under 40 years old. These data show that the alterations of lipid metabolism are risk factors frequently observed in young patients with ischemic cardiac disease.


The intracellular concentrations of the polyamines are highly regulated and high polyamine concentrations are associated with rapidly proliferating cells. Hormones, nutrients and growth factors that stimulate the proliferation of the intestinal epithelium, increase the intracellular polyamine concentration mainly by activating ODC expression. Other cell types stimulated to proliferate satisfy their requirement for polyamines by increasing polyamine uptake. In the present study, we investigated polyamine uptake by a human colon carcinoma cell line, CaCo-2. Uptake of putrescine, spermidine and spermine by CaCo-2 cells was saturable and temperature dependent and all polyamines appear to share a common carrier. The carrier of differentiated cells had an apparently higher affinity and lower activity than the carrier of replicating cells. Culture of CaCo-2 cells on porous filters showed that polyamine accumulation occurred mainly through the basolateral membrane in replicating cells, while an increase in the rate of apical uptake was observed after differentiation. A significant increase in polyamine uptake and in ODC expression resulted from fresh medium replacement, a well-known stimulus to proliferation; no change in uptake occurred after ODC inhibition by DFMO. We conclude that CaCo-2 cells are able to increase their polyamine concentration by both enhanced synthesis and increased polyamine uptake.


Abstract Children in Nigeria are frequently born with HIV, despite available services to prevent mother-to-child transmission (MTCT). Not offering, or non-acceptance of, HIV testing during antenatal care (ANC) delays anti-retroviral commencement for infected women, thereby increasing the risk of MTCT. This study assessed the determinants of HIV testing during antenatal care in Nigeria using nationally representative data from the 2013 Nigerian Demographic Health Survey. This study included 13,352 women aged 15–49 years who reported having at least one antenatal visit. The outcome variables were HIV testing during ANC and during labour, while socio-demographic and maternal factors, including number of ANC visits, offer of HIV testing during ANC and labour, place of delivery and knowledge and counselling on MTCT, were among the independent variables. Multivariate regression analysis was used to predict HIV testing during ANC and labour. About half (53%) of the women were tested for HIV during antenatal care with 85% of those tested receiving their test results. Only 6% had HIV tests during labour. There was a 33% excess probability of urban women testing during ANC compared with rural women. Never having a previous pregnancy terminated was associated with lower odds of testing during ANC. No counselling on MTCT and no counselling to get tested were associated with a lower probability of testing during ANC. Counselling on the prevention of MTCT is crucial for women's willingness to be tested, and acceptance of testing. More effort is needed to ensure that providers in Nigeria offer these services to all women, educate women on the dangers of opting out and ensure the earliest commencement of ARV enrolment for those infected.


Sialite, made according to the theory of simulation to formation of rock, is a new aluminosilicate-based cementitious material. Production of sialite does not require calcination, which consists of a main body (90%-97%) and an auxiliary body. Main body is made up of solid wastes such as fly ash, gangue, blast furnace slag, steel slag, red mud, waste bricks, waste glass and any other types of slag produced as a by-product in burning processes. The auxiliary body is a diagentic substance made by natural minerals. Sialite products have been successfully put into practice, which have the characteristics of cleaning production and low consumption of natural resources. Therefore sialite technology would provide an efficient method for promoting the development of a sustainable economy.


The North Atlantic with its spring-bloom ecosystem has its particular responses to climate change, many of them different from the other parts of the world's oceans. The system is strongly influenced by anthropogenic climate change as well as to strong decadal to multidecadal natural climate variability. In particular, the northernmost part of the system and the Arctic is exposed to higher increase in temperature than any other ocean region. The most pronounced examples of poleward migration of marine species are found in the North Atlantic, and comprise the recent warming phase after the 1970s. The latitudinal asymmetric position of the Arctic Front and its nature of change result in a considerably larger migration distance and migration speed of species in the Northeast Atlantic part of the system. However, we here hypothesize that there is a limit to the future extent of poleward migration of species constrained by the latitudinal region adjacent the Polar Circle. We define this region the critical latitudes. This is because the seasonal light cycle at high latitudes sets particular demands on the life cycle of planktivore species. Presently, boreal planktivore species at high latitudes deposit lipids during the short spring bloom period and overwinter when phytoplankton production is insufficient for feeding. Unless invading temperate species from farther south are able to adapt by developing a similar life cycle future poleward migration of such species will be unlikely.


Clinal variation across replicated environmental gradients can reveal evidence of local adaptation, providing insight into the demographic and evolutionary processes that shape intraspecific diversity. Using 1773 genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphisms we evaluated latitudinal variation in allele frequency for 134 populations of North American and European Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). We detected 84 (4.74%) and 195 (11%) loci showing clinal patterns in North America and Europe, respectively, with 12 clinal loci in common between continents. Clinal single nucleotide polymorphisms were evenly distributed across the salmon genome and logistic regression revealed significant associations with latitude and seasonal temperatures, particularly average spring temperature in both continents. Loci displaying parallel clines were associated with several metabolic and immune functions, suggesting a potential basis for climate-associated adaptive differentiation. These climate-based clines collectively suggest evidence of large-scale environmental associated differences on either side of the North Atlantic. Our results support patterns of parallel evolution on both sides of the North Atlantic, with evidence of both similar and divergent underlying genetic architecture. The identification of climate-associated genomic clines illuminates the role of selection and demographic processes on intraspecific diversity in this species and provides a context in which to evaluate the impacts of climate change.


The grofit package was developed to fit many growth curves obtained under different conditions in order to derive a conclusive dose-response curve, for instance for a compound that potentially affects growth. grofit fits data to different parametric models and in addition provides a model free spline method to circumvent systematic errors that might occur within application of parametric methods. This amendment increases the reliability of the characteristic parameters (e.g.,lag phase, maximal growth rate, stationary phase) derived from a single growth curve. By relating obtained parameters to the respective condition (e.g.,concentration of a compound) a dose response curve can be derived that enables the calculation of descriptive pharma-/toxicological values like half maximum effective concentration (EC50). Bootstrap and cross-validation techniques are used for estimating confidence intervals of all derived parameters.


Choice in the job seeking process may lead to increased satisfaction with the chosen job, and improve attention, performance, and motivation. Consequently, providing opportunities to express choices and interests while planning vocational activities is a key factor in achieving employment outcomes. Despite their commitment to promoting choice-making, service providers encounter important barriers to understanding the vocational interests of persons with intellectual disabilities who may have difficulty expressing their choices verbally. Methods of recording choices expressed through nonverbal means of communication are therefore needed. Such a method was designed and field-tested. Interviews were conducted with participating job coaches to assess its practical value and provide recommendations pertinent to its implementation and dissemination. This step is crucial to the knowledge-to-action process since it tailors research findings to make them meaningful to daily practice. The authors present results relevant to improving choice-making opportunities in the job seeking and planning process of persons with intellectual disabilities. The results demonstrate the need for training to enable support staff to embed choice-making opportunities in the daily life of persons with intellectual disabilities.


The effect of 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP), the serotonin precursor, on food intake in rats was investigated in this study. 5-HTP (100 mg/kg, i.p.) reduced food intake by 68.9% of control level. The anorectic effect of 5-HTP was antagonized by cyproheptadine (CYP, 4 mg/kg, i.p.), a serotonin receptor blockade. However, the anorectic effect of 5-HTP was also antagonized by propranolol (PROP 1mg/kg, i.p.) and sulpiride (SULP, 20 mg/kg, i.p.), while Pinodol (PIN 2mg/kg, i.p.) and Haloperidol (HAL 0.5 mg/kg, i.p) did not affect the suppressive effect of 5-HTP on food intake by 5-HTP. These results indicates that the anorectic action of 5-HTP was mediated by the serotonergic mechanism through 5-HT1 and 5-HT2 receptors.


OBJECTIVES
We estimated the prevalence of overweight in a population of young children enrolled in a New York City Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children.

METHODS
Administrative and survey data were collected from a sample of enrolled families. Body mass index (BMI) of 557 children aged 2, 3, and 4 years was compared by sociodemographic and nutrition characteristics.

RESULTS
Forty percent of the children were overweight or at risk for overweight (BMI >/= 85th percentile). Compared with other racial/ethnic groups combined, Hispanic children were more than twice as likely (odds ratio = 2.6; 95% confidence interval = 1.8, 3.8) to be overweight or at risk for overweight. Two-year-olds were less likely to be overweight than 3- and 4-year-olds.

CONCLUSIONS
Interventions to address childhood overweight should be culturally specific and target very young children.


In the entrepreneurship literature a central question is how startups pursue opportunities to create value. One major drawback of startups is that they are known to have liability of newness and smallness. One way startups can overcome these liabilities are by forming relationships and building a network with other firms where exchange of knowledge and resources with other firms can be facilitated. Nonetheless, relationships are no simple task for startups to create. Relationships between firms can include a great deal of ambiguity and it is not always known what type of value that will come out of the relationship. This present study sets out to research how startups pursue opportunities through networks and more specifically relationships with other firms to co-create value or co-destruct value. Based on the explorative nature of this study, a qualitative case-based research design was developed. In the study, we conduct interviews with representatives of the startups so as to capture what relationship the firm has formed, how these relationships have evolved, and the roles of the relationships for the startup. Findings indicate that startups relationships are dynamic and include both episodes of value co-creation and co-destruction. Moreover, these episodes result in three different types of changes of the start-up and their relationships.


Hydroperoxidase-positive Phi bodies and rods are much more prominent and prevalent than rods visualized with a Romanovsky-type stain (Auer rods) in immature leukocytes of patients with active acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). They are readily observed with the light microscope in peripheral blood or marrow films of AML patients stained to show their peroxidatic activity. In many of these patients, Auer rods, which apparently constitute only a small subpopulation of the hydroperoxidase-positive Phi bodies and rods, were detected with difficulty, if at all. The hydroperoxidase-positive Phi bodies and rods were observed in 92% of 36 patients with active disease. They were never observed in leukocytes of patients with other hematopoietic disorders or of normal individuals. Thus, they facilitated the distinction of AML from acute lymphocytic leukemia and chronic granulocytic leukemia in blast crisis. They were absent in full clinical remission after chemotherapy and were greatly diminished in partial remission. They were present in disease relapse and reappeared in five patients who had been in full remission. These results suggest that these hydroperoxidase-positive enlarged particles are pathognomonic of AML and that monitoring them with the light microscope may aid in guiding its clinical management.


In this issue of JAMA, Neuman et al1 assessed the proportion of class I clinical practice guideline recommendations from the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) that changed their level of support or were omitted from subsequent versions of the guideline. This is a significant topic as practice guidelines have become important tools to improve the quality of medical care. Practice guidelines are used by clinicians to help determine what care patients will receive, are used by patients to understand what their treatment options may be, are used to create performance measures to benchmark clinician care quality, and are used to help set payment policies (for example, the recommendations from the US Preventive Services Task Force and insurance coverage under the Affordable Care Act). Reflecting this increasing importance, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) recently released standards for developing clinical practice guidelines.2


Background Protein induced by vitamin K absence or antagonist-II (PIVKA-II) and α-fetoprotein (AFP) are promising tumor markers for the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Yet, their diagnostic performance differs throughout HCC investigations. The aim of this meta-analysis was to assess the effectiveness of PIVKA-II and AFP in the diagnosis of HCC. Methods A systematic literature search was performed to identify relevant studies from eight databases, which were published up to February 2023, in order to compare the diagnostic performance of PIVKA-II and AFP for HCC. Pooled sensitivity and specificity were calculated. Summary receiver operating characteristic (SROC) curve was performed to assess the diagnostic accuracy of each biomarker. Results Fifty-three studies were identified. The pooled sensitivity (95% confidence interval (CI)) of PIVKA-II and AFP was 0.71 (0.70 - 0.72) and 0.64 (0.63 - 0.65), respectively in diagnosis of HCC, and the corresponding pooled specificity (95% CI) was 0.90 (0.89 - 0.90) and 0.87 (0.87 - 0.88), respectively. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) of PIVKA-II and AFP was 0.89 (0.88 - 0.90) and 0.78 (0.77 - 0.79), respectively. Subgroup analysis demonstrated that PIVKA-II presented higher AUC values compared to AFP in terms of ethnic group (African, European, Asian, and American patients), etiology (mixed-type HCC, hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related, and hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related) and sample size of cases (≤ 100 and > 100). Conclusion This study reveals that PIVKA-II is a promising biomarker for identifying and tracking HCC, exhibiting greater accuracy than AFP. Our findings indicate that PIVKA-II outperforms AFP in detecting HCC across diverse racial groups and sample sizes, as well as in cases of HBV-related, HCV-related, or mixed-etiology HCC.


Vaccination program is an important strategy in eradicating Covid-19 pandemic. Vaccination can intervene to accelerate the formation of herd immunity. When herd immunity is formed later, it is believed that the Covid-19 virus will gradually eradicated. Furthermore, economic activity will return to normal. Then, has the vaccination program run by the Indonesian government had an impact on health and economic recovery? Some claim that this vaccination program has had a positive impact. However, in-depth research is felt to be done to really look at this impact. As a first step, it is necessary to look at the relationship between vaccination, health and economic development. This relationship will be an early indication of whether the vaccination program is successful or not. In fact, vaccination was strongly correlated with a decrease in the transmission of new cases and moderately correlated with the recovery rate. Overall, vaccination is strongly correlated with health based on the canonical correlation. Meanwhile, for the economy, vaccination has a weak correlation with the poverty rate and Gini ratio. However, overall based on the canonical correlation, vaccination is strongly correlated with the economy. Furthermore, the development of tourism shows an indication of a correlation with vaccination.


Automated motion-planning technologies for industrial robots are critical for their application to Industry 4.0. Various sampling-based methods have been studied to generate the collision-free motion of articulated industrial robots. Such sampling-based methods provide efficient solutions to complex planning problems, but their limitations hinder the attainment of optimal results. This paper considers a method to obtain the optimal results in the roadmap algorithm that is representative of the sampling-based method. We define the coverage of a graph as a performance index of its optimality as constructed by a sampling-based algorithm and propose an optimization algorithm that can maximize graph coverage in the configuration space. The proposed method was applied to the model of an industrial robot, and the results of the simulation confirm that the roadmap graph obtained by the proposed algorithm can generate results of satisfactory quality in path-finding tests under various conditions.


An important but underexplored aspect of our negative agency is that it is fitting to regret only a limited subset of our non-doings even though there are many things that we fail to do. This paper examines why it is ill-fitting to regret certain non-doings, arguing that abilities form the primary constraint on the fittingness of this regret. There are many types of abilities, so a central aim of this paper is to clarify which abilities are relevant to such regret. Finally, virtues and further applications of the proposed ability-based account are explored.