Activation of the complement component C3 is an important step in the complement cascade, contributing to inflammatory mechanisms. Considerable research on gene-disrupted mycobacterial strains using animal models of tuberculosis infection has reported the roles of some of the mycobacterial genes during tuberculosis infection. The aim of the present study was to assess the pattern of complement activation by the devR gene-disrupted Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv strain and compare with that by its wild-type strain. In vitro complement activation at the level of C3 by the gene-disrupted strain, its complemented strain, and wild-type strain was performed using solid-phase ELISA. It was observed that the ability of devR gene-disrupted M. tuberculosis H37Rv to activate C3 was significantly reduced in comparison to its wild-type strain (P < 0.05). In addition, C3 activation by the complemented devR mutant strain was almost similar to that of the wild strain, which indicated that the reduced ability to activate C3 could potentially be due to the deletion of devR gene. These findings indicate that the gene devR probably aids in complement activation and contributes to the inflammatory processes during tuberculosis infection.


Mobile Learning is developing rapidly with the development of Mobile communication technology. Mobile Internet brings a mount of resources in Mobile Learning, the explosion of information causes a lot of inconveniences to mobile learner. This paper introduces the conception of the Information Push Technology and Mobile Learning at the beginning, and tries to analyze the necessity and possibility of combination the both, finally, set an example to expound the way how to apply Push Technology to the Mobile Learning.


A series of MnO2 unique nanostructures were synthesized by a facile hydrothermal method with microwave-assisted procedures. A novel nanostructure formation mechanism has been proposed, that MnO6 octahedral nuclei and molecular layers can be rearranged into different nanostructured morphologies by restacking and splitting, and then clasping, which is associated with tunnel structure phase transformation. Systematic macrostructure observations and magnetic property measurements have been conducted on these nanostructures, which demonstrate that engineering layered structures has the potential to create many unique nanostructures and unusual physicochemical behaviours.


Embryonic-chicken epiphyseal cartilage was incubated in vitro with a variety of beta-xylosides and the amount of [3H]acetate incorporation into chondroitin sulphate was determined under conditions when normal protein core production was inhibited by cycloheximide. The ability of the different beta-xylosides to relieve thea cycloheximide-mediated inhibition of chondroitin sulphate synthesis was influenced by the nature of the aglycan group of te xyloside. beta-Xylosides with apolar and uncharged aglycan groups were most effective and produced a severalfold stimulation of chondroitin sulphate biosynthesis. beta-Xylosides with charged aglycan groups were less effective initiators of chondroitin sulphate synthesis. The rate of galactose transfer from UDP-galactose to each of the beta-xylosides, catalysed by a cell-free microsomal preparation from embryonic cartilage, was measured. This study showed that the nature of the aglycan group of the beta-xyloside was a factor determining the capacity of the xyloside to act as an acceptor for galactosyltransferase I, the enzyme that catalyses the first galactose transfer reaction of chondroitin sulphate synthesis. The aglycan group of the xyloside also appeared to influence other steps leading to chondroitin sulphate chain initiation in vitro.


Recently, mass spectrometry (MS) has emerged as an important tool for high-throughput screening (HTS) providing a direct and label-free detection method, complementing traditional fluorescent and colorimetric methodologies. Among the various MS techniques used for HTS, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) provides many of the characteristics required for high-throughput analyses, such as low cost, speed, and automation. However, visualization and analysis of the large datasets generated by HTS MALDI-MS can pose significant challenges, especially for multiparametric experiments. The datasets can be generated fast, and the complexity of the experimental data (e.g., screening many different sorbent phases, the sorbent mass, and the load, wash, and elution conditions) makes manual data analysis difficult. To address these challenges, a comprehensive informatics tool called MALDIViz was developed. This tool is an R-Shiny-based web application, accessible independently of the operating system and without the need to install any program locally. It has been designed to facilitate easy analysis and visualization of MALDI-MS datasets, comparison of multiplex experiments, and export of the analysis results to high-quality images.


We build a two-country model, in which currency values are endogenously determined. Risk plays a key role including idiosyncratic risk that creates precautionary savings demand for money, and aggregate risk that creates a demand for foreign assets and affects the risk profile of the local currency. In equilibrium, different currencies can coexist, but the value of local currency is non-monotonic in the idiosyncratic risk level. With idiosyncratic risk frictions, the optimal policy can differ significantly from the competitive outcome in terms of both the net foreign asset position in dollars and the value of local currency. Dollar monetary policy can have significant spillovers on the small country both in the competitive equilibrium and under optimal policy.


This article examines the contradictory functioning of the World Trade Organization Agreement on Safeguards during the first ten years of application. On the one hand, it shows that, by using a literal interpretive shift and proceduralizing some substantive requirements, the WTO case-law has established a highly restrictive interpretation of safeguards; as an absolutely exceptional safety valve in the case of serious unforeseen developments. On the other hand, it reviews State practice in order to highlight the emergence of a more lenient pattern according to which safeguards are non-compensated short-length tariff measures aimed at conveying temporarily protectionist pressures on markets in trouble, aggravated by increasing imports. This situation has led to two different interpretations in the literature, namely the "massive infringement scenario" and the "normative rejection scenario", neither of which is fully convincing. For this reason, the article concludes that the situation is better described as a dissociation scenario between the "law as stated" and the "law as applied". Furthermore, it analyses the causes of this dissociation and distinguishes between those pertaining to legal technique (the special features of the WTO dispute settlement system and the different efficiency of the international control devices laid down in the Agreement on Safeguards) and those pertaining to legal theory (namely, the conception of safeguards as a discretionary legal power instead of a temporary special treaty regime). Finally, the article draws some conclusions about the role of safeguards within the trade remedy context (currently under reconsideration).


Feline leukemia virus (FeLV), a common, naturally occurring gammaretrovirus in domestic cats, is associated with degenerative diseases of the haematopoietic system, immunodeficiency and neoplasia. FeLV infection causes an important suppression of neutrophil function, leading to opportunistic infections. Recently, a new microbicidal mechanism named NETosis was described in human, bovine and fish neutrophils, as well as in chicken heterophils. The purpose of the present study was to characterize NETosis in feline neutrophils, as well as to evaluate neutrophil function in FeLV naturally infected symptomatic and asymptomatic cats through the phagocytosis process, release of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity. The results showed that feline neutrophils stimulated with protozoa parasites released structures comprising DNA and histones, which were characterized as NETs by immunofluorescence. Quantification of NETs after neutrophil stimulation showed a significant increase in NET release by neutrophils from FeLV(-) and FeLV(+) asymptomatic cats compared with FeLV(+) symptomatic cats. Moreover, the number of released NETs and MPO activity in unstimulated neutrophils of FeLV(+) symptomatic cats were higher than those in unstimulated neutrophils from FeLV(-) and FeLV(+) asymptomatic cats. This study reports, for the first time, NET release by feline neutrophils, along with the fact that NET induction may be modulated by a viral infection. The results indicate that the NET mechanism appears to be overactivated in FeLV(+) cats and that this feature could be considered a marker of disease progression in FeLV infection.


1 The cardiovascular effects of a new substance (PR--G 138) with vasodilating action were analysed in 12 patients with moderately severe essential hypertension on a 60 mEq sodium diet in a metabolic ward. To prevent tachycardia, propranolol 40 mg four times daily was given during the control period until blood pressure (BP) was stabilized, and continued throughout the study. 2 The compound was effective in every patient except one, who also was resistant to hydrallazine and diazoxide. Mean arterial pressure was lowered from a mean control value of 121 +/- 11 supine and 118 +/- 13 standing to 98 +/- 18 and 95+/- 15 mm Hg (P less than 0.001) respectively after a single oral dosage of 5 to 15 mg PR--G 138. The effect was maximal after 1--2 h and lasted up to 6 h. 3 With adequate dosage, there was no orthostatic reaction. Pulse rate and plasma renin activity did not rise during PR--G 138 treatment, and cardiac output increased only slightly, doubtlessly as a result of the propranolol therapy. In most patients 5 mg of the drug was sufficient to cause a drop of BP to normal levels. Exercise tolerance (bicycle ergometry) was constant or improved during drug action. One patient complained of headache, but no other side effects were seen provided that propranolol was taken when the drug was given. During 3 months treatments on an out-patient basis the effect was sustained in four of eight patients. No toxic effects have been noticed.


In this paper, a novel approach for concurrent extraction of target range and Doppler information in radar systems is introduced. A pair of orthogonal waveforms with different pulse repetition frequencies (PRF) are bundled and transmitted as a single hybrid radar waveform for target measurement. At the receiver, two orthogonal signal processing channels consisting of a low PRF (LPRF) channel and a high PRF (HPRF) one, perform the extraction of target range and Doppler information, respectively. The CLEAN algorithm is innovatively used to suppress the interference from the cross-correlation residues and the autocorrelation sidelobe in the LPRF channel. The processing results, based on the proposed signal processing approach, demonstrate the technical feasibility of implementing such a signal processing scheme in radar systems.


Despite our preparation for fieldwork, a majority of what ethnographers actually do in the field is based on 'gut-feeling', 'sensing', and 'whim'. This paper is a piece of reflexive ethnography detailing a series of minor but important methodological decisions pertaining to researcher visibility throughout fieldwork in a digital community of social media Influencers. It details one anthropologist's private negotiations during the foray into the Influencer industry by situating the self along various spectrums of conspicuousness. These confessional anecdotes of 'behind the scenes' labour can be taken as suggestions on how to negotiate one's positionalities during ethnographic encounters between and betwixt physical and digital fieldsites. I detail these through six experiences from the field – as the esteemed guest, the exotic inbetweener, the willing apprentice, the trophy acquaintance, the concealed consultant, and the passing confidante – in which I negotiate being 'seen', being on 'show', and 'seeing' from somewhere between here and there.


In today's competitive business environment, opening a new business store has a strong influence on both financial and corporational appearance. For this reason, it can be clearly stated that a location selection problem presents a very complex structure which includes several matters such as, profitability, cost cutting, boosting durability and efficiency, etc. In order to reach their goals regarding above mentioned issues, companies have to select their locations by considering relevant criteria and using convenient methods. Therefore it can be said that this issue has to be handled within all its aspects. In this study a new store location selection problem of Carglass Turkey is handled. As this problem includes both tangible and intangible criteria, analytic hierarchy process (AHP) was accepted as the main methodology. During the solution process a strict cooperation was ensured with the Carglass Turkey's administration. Obtained results were presented to the management as a report and its feasibility was confirmed accordingly.


The femicide in Ciudad Juarez is a story made of extreme violence against women for different
reasons, by different actors, under different circumstances, and following different behavioural
patterns. All within a gender discrimination frame based on the idea that women are inferior,
interchangeable and disposable according to the patriarchal hierarchy still present in Mexico, but
strongly reinforced by a sort of conspiracy of silence provoked either by the high impunity rate, the
governmental incompetence to solve the crimes, or the general indifference of the population. It is
the story of hundreds of kidnapped, raped, in many cases tortured, and murdered young women in
the border between Mexico and the United States. The murders first came into light in 1993 and up
to now young women continue to "disappear" without any hope of bringing the perpetrators to
justice, stopping impunity, convicting the assassins, and bringing justice to the families of the
deceased girls and women.
The main questions about femicide in Ciudad Juarez seem to be: why were they brutally
assassinated?, why most of the crimes have not been solved yet?, why and how is Ciudad Juarez
different from other border cities with the same characteristics?, which powers are behind those
crimes in a city that implies mainly women as its labor force, and which has the lowest
unemployment rate in the whole country? But there are also many other questions dealing more
with the context, the Juarences' lifestyles, the eventual hidden powers behind the crimes, the
possible murderers' reasons, the response of the local civil society, or the international community
actions to fight against femicide there, among many other things, that are still waiting for an answer
and that this paper will 'narrate' in order to provide a holistic panorama for the readers. But above
all there is the need to remember that every single woman or girl assassinated there had a name, an
identity, a family, a story to be told time after time and as many times as necessary, in order to
avoid accepting these crimes just as statistics, as cold numbers that might make us forget the human
tragedy that has been flagellating the city since 1993. We must remember as well that their deaths
express gender oppression, the inequality of the relations between what is male and what is female,
a manifestation of domination, terror, social extermination, patriarchal hegemony, social class and
impunity.
The city is the perfect mirror where all the contradictions of globalization get reflected. It is there
where all the globalization evils are present and survive by sucking their women's blood. It is a
city where some concepts such as gender, migration and power are closely related with a negative
connotation.


Abstract The recognition and use of bounding surfaces continues to be a problem in the study of modern and ancient aeolian sediments. The economic problems involve the apparent partitioning of aeolian petroleum reservoirs by cementation along bounding surfaces and associated strata. Bounding surfaces have also become a significant part of outcrop description. Ideally, bounding surfaces in ancient rocks should be tied to modern analogs, of which many are now recognized. The currently popular approach to bounding surface description involves breakdown of rock units into orders based on theoretical relationships to draa migration. As described in this report, however, there are numerous bounding surfaces within aeolian genetic units, and between aeolian and non-aeolian strata that are not the product of draa migration. Indeed, conditions in which modern bedforms climb, and are preserved in perfect sequence are relatively rare, occurring most commonly where sand seas pile up at mountain fronts. Further, aeolian deposition and preservation is more complex and episodic than can be accommodated by the restrictive requirements of the climbing bedform model. The author's preferred approach to the description of aeolian sequences is in terms of genetic units and subunits, with objective description of crossbed sets using either Campbell's or Mckee & Wier's methods. These methods tie in well to sequence stratigraphic concepts that are applied at higher heirarchial levels. Some examples of the application of bounding surface geometries and terminologies can be found in the Permian Minnelusa Formation of Wyoming, USA. The Upper Minnelusa Formation comprises a parasequence set of at least four parasequences. Each parasequence boundary was formed by marine transgression over an aeolian dunefield. The entire sequence is bounded by unconformities at the top and based. Most oil exploration takes place within the individual parasequences. Development drilling, however, usually making use of core, focuses on bounding surfaces at a much smaller scale. Perhaps surprisingly, the most important form of bounding surface control on reservior quality that can confidently be identified is fabric-selective cementation along primary bounding surfaces and strata. Other forms of cementation and decementation, not directly tied to bounding surfaces are also important.


Preeklampsia is complication in pregnancy characterized by various symptoms as clinical hypertension and protein urine and usually occurs after the age of 20 weeks of pregnancy until 48 hours after labor. Highest Insidence of preeclampsia in DIY was in Sleman (22%- 30%). Preeclampsia was caused by multy factoral. Goal of this research aimed to know the the correlation between age, parity and birth spacing to the preeclampsia. The research used Cross sectional design with purposive sampling technique. The subject of this research was 381 labor patiens in RSUD Sleman in 2016. The data were collected from register book and medic record of labor in 2016. The data were analyzed using Chi squareand logistic regression. The analysis showed of most subjects aged ≥30 years, had parity 2, had a gestational distance of 2-5, and did not have preeclampsia.As the result showed age ≥30 years had a significant association with preeclampsia p value of 0.023 Exp B 10.630 95% CI: 1.378 to 82.005. Distance pregnancy <2 years had a significant association with preeclampsia p value 0,000  Exp B 3,201 95% CI: 1.862 to 5.503, and the distance Pregnancy >5 years had a p-value 0.013 with Exp B 3,622 95% CI: 1.308 to 10.026.The conclusion of this research shows that there is a relationship between age and the incidence of preeclampsia pregnancy spacing.


We propose factor-augmented out of sample forecasting models for the real exchange rate between Korea and the US. We estimate latent common factors by applying an array of data dimensionality reduction methods to a large panel of monthly frequency time series data. We augment benchmark forecasting models with common factor estimates to formulate out-of-sample forecasts of the real exchange rate. Major findings are as follows. First, our factor models outperform conventional forecasting models when combined with factors from the US macroeconomic predictors. Second, our factor models perform well at longer horizons when American real activity factors are employed, whereas American nominal/financial market factors help improve short-run prediction accuracy. Third, models with global PLS factors from UIP fundamentals overall perform well, while PPP and RIRP factors play a limited role in forecasting.


This report addresses a deceptively simple question: How can the productivity of American health care be substantially improved? Productivity, in lay terms, is the ratio of output to inputs. A more colloquial rendition of the question might be: how can we get a lot more bang for our health care buck?By design, we have brought together a varied assortment of ideas and suggestions, illustrating the messy, grab-bag nature that effective changes often need to take. Yet our proposals do fall (albeit with some overlap) into four broad categories, which structure the recommendations section of this report.Harnessing information: how systematically gathering and sharing data can unlock knowledge that produces systematically better choices. The key here is to incentivize a new corps of data entrepreneurs to collect and analyze existing medical data to discover and then disseminate the use of new therapies.Improving research: encouraging more collaboration across institutions and funding more translational research (aimed at "translating" basic scientific discoveries into medicines and therapies). Legal and regulatory reform: modernizing medical malpractice systems, removing counter-productive restrictions on health insurance premiums, and streamlining new drug approvals.Empowering patients: there are large benefits of giving more power to the people who matter most — patients — to make informed decisions about their own care.The ideas here are not new, though many of them are familiar only to the cognoscenti. To the contrary, we have sought ideas that have showed promise in the field, and then attempted to set them in a context that exploits the adjacent possible.If this report can focus more minds in the health policy community and general public on finding and implementing those changes, in everything from clinical practices to regulatory structures, it will have succeeded.From the Kauffman Task Force on Cost-Effective Health Care Innovation.


The application of an ultrasonic vibration is one of promising means in machining micro-holes. In this study, the differences of in the geometric machining mechanism between the ultrasonic and the conventional drilling were investigated. Specifically, the uncut chip thickness before machining and the tool trajectories of the cutting edges were formulated and compared with machining results. Through the machining experiments, it was found that those these parameters well matched with the appearance of both the disposed chips and the machined surface. Furthermore, the results indicated that the change of uncut chip thickness resulted in decreased machining resistance as well as improvement of the machined surface


Optical rectification of laser pulses in LiNbO3 by tilted-pulse-front pumping (TPFP) is a powerful way to generate terahertz(THz) pulses. However, comprehensive theoretical analysis is still lack. In this work, we first established and presented a detailed theoretical model for TPFP scheme, which then was used to analyze the pump beam polarization dependent terahertz pulses generated by this scheme. The results indicate that one can change the polarization state of the terahertz pulse by changing the pump beam polarization. A scheme using tilted-pulse-front pumping was also set up, and the generated terahertz pulses have maximal conversion efficiency when the pump beam electric field vector is parallel to the crystal axis, which is consistent with theoretical model.


The plans for the second Run of the LHC changes the focus in the Higgs sector from searches to precision measurements. Effective Lagrangians can be used for parameterisation. A signal morphing method is developed to take all parameters into account simultaneously and model interference effects. It provides a continues description of arbitrary physical signal observables such as cross sections or differential distributions in a multidimensional space of coupling parameters. This method is capable of morphing signal distributions and rates based on a minimal orthogonal set of independent base samples and therefore allows to directly fit the coupling parameters that describe the Standard Model and possible non-Standard Model interactions for, for example, the Higgs boson.


Collaborative filtering is a method of making predictions about the interests of a user based on interest similarity to other users and consequently recommending the predicted items. There is a widespread use of collaborative filtering systems in commercial websites, such as Amazon.com, which has popularized item-based methods. There are also many music and video sites such as iLike and Everyone's a Critic (EaC) that implement collaborative filtering systems. This trend is growing in product-based sites. This paper discusses the implementation of graph-based semisupervised learning methods and memory-based methods to the collaborative filtering scenario and compares these methods to baseline methods such as techniques based on weighted average. This work compares the predictive accuracy of these methods on the MovieLens data set. The metrics used for evaluation measure the accuracy of generated predictions based on already known, held-out ratings that constitute the test set. Preliminary results indicate that graph-based semi-supervised learning methods perform better than baseline methods. However, some of the memory-based methods outperform the graph-based semi-supervised learning methods as well as the baseline methods.


In this paper, we
have developed estimators of finite population mean using Mixture Regression
estimators using multi-auxiliary variables and attributes in two-phase sampling
and investigated its finite sample properties in full, partial and no
information cases. An empirical study using natural data is given to compare
the performance of the proposed estimators with the existing estimators that
utilizes either auxiliary variables or attributes or both for finite population
mean. The Mixture Regression estimators in full information case using multiple
auxiliary variables and attributes are more efficient than mean per unit,
Regression estimator using one auxiliary variable or attribute, Regression
estimator using multiple auxiliary variable or attributes and Mixture
Regression estimators in both partial and no information case in two-phase
sampling. A Mixture Regression estimator in partial information case is more
efficient than Mixture Regression estimators in no information case.


Based on the -mapping topological current theory and the decomposition of gauge potential theory, we investigate knotted vortex lines and monopoles in Skyrme theory and simply discuss the branch processes (splitting, merging, and intersection) during the evolution of the monopoles.


protests and the military coup in Egypt in the summer of 2013 and the sustained political turmoil in Tunisia have not only exemplified the tumultuous course of the Arab Spring but they have also reignited the debate on the compatibility of Islam and democracy. But the monopolization of power is more pertinent to democratization than incumbents' political identity. The experience in recent years in countries like Egypt, Tunisia, and Turkey has indicated that superior capacity of Islamic parties to mobilize supporters has functioned as a mechanism of electoral hegemony, which combined with a majoritarian understanding of democracy has proven to be a pathway towards monopolization of power and an important obstacle to democratization in the region. Analysis


"It is therefore the purpose of this paper to make a thorough study and analysis of the statutes and court decisions with a view to obtaining information relative to the statutes that could or might be affected by passage of an equal rights amendment...Any study of marital laws is a complicated undertaking, and this survey is only a beginning. The main objective is to emphasize and illustrate the need for granting equal rights to women in Texas. "-- leaf 3.


We propose an algorithm for detecting patterns exhibited by anomalous clusters in high dimensional discrete data. Unlike most anomaly detection (AD) methods, which detect individual anomalies, our proposed method detects groups (clusters) of anomalies; i.e., sets of points which collectively exhibit abnormal patterns. In many applications, this can lead to a better understanding of the nature of the atypical behavior and to identifying the sources of the anomalies. Moreover, we consider the case where the atypical patterns exhibit on only a small (salient) subset of the very high dimensional feature space. Individual AD techniques and techniques that detect anomalies using all the features typically fail to detect such anomalies, but our method can detect such instances collectively, discover the shared anomalous patterns exhibited by them, and identify the subsets of salient features. In this paper, we focus on detecting anomalous topics in a batch of text documents, developing our algorithm based on topic models. Results of our experiments show that our method can accurately detect anomalous topics and salient features (words) under each such topic in a synthetic data set and two real-world text corpora and achieves better performance compared to both standard group AD and individual AD techniques. All required code to reproduce our experiments is available from https://github.com/hsoleimani/ATD.


For the coming energy-efficient buildings, the guarantee of energy performance becomes a major challenge. It is therefore crucial to implement accurate and reliable measurements, in order to ensure this performance. The in-force French EP-regulation RT2012 already imposes compulsory justification of envelope airtightness. Moreover, the Effinergie+ label requires ventilation systems control and ductwork airleakage performance. These requirements, ventilation controls for IAQ concern and regulatory compulsory controls of buildings need reliable diagnostic protocols. In 2014, several French partners, led by the Cerema 1 , proposed a new project, PROMEVENT, which main objective is to improve ventilation systems measurements protocols. It aims to deal with different phases of a diagnostic: 1) Several points will be tested through repeatability and reproducibility assessments. Then measurements will be performed on laboratory benches, and on ventilation systems of single-family and multi-family dwellings. By the end of the PROMEVENT project, recommendations and a first version of a protocol for the measurement of residential buildings ventilation systems will be proposed. Moreover, one of the main objective is to produce a more reliable and optimised protocol which will be written as a proposed draft standard. This paper presents the context in which the PROMEVENT project has been defined, and describes its different steps.


This article investigates how a firm's workforce characteristics affect an individual's timing of exit from the labor market. It analyzes the relations between the age, skill, and wage structures of companies and the risk of labor market exit of Finnish older workers by using the detailed longitudinal register-based Finnish Linked Employer–Employee Data. The study follows the Finnish working population born between 1942 and 1950 (N = 216,713). Multilevel discrete-time survival analysis with individuals nested in firms is applied to estimate the risk of permanent exit from work between the ages of 53 and 68. The results show that these risks differ between firms: greater diversity in age and education levels among the workforce as well as seniority-based wage systems within a firm decrease the propensity of early exit, while being employed at a firm with an older staff increases the risk of exit. The findings from interactions between individual- and firm-level characteristics further illustrate that one's individual characteristics matter in relation to the characteristics of the overall firm's workforce. Being dissimilar from one's coworkers, especially in terms of skills and education, can reduce the risk of early exit.


The introduction of nanometric contrast agents to optical imaging is helpful for the understanding of some biological processes at the molecular level, as well as the development of diagnostic tools and therapies. Optical imaging agents such as gold nanorods (GNRs), quantum dots (QDs), and organically modified silica (ORMOSIL) nanoparticles can overcome many drawbacks of conventional agents, such as poor contrast, photobleaching, and low chemical and optical stability in biological environment. These nanoparticles can also be developed for absorbance, emission, and scattering in the near-IR region, which allows optical approaches for deep-tissue real-time imaging. The synthesis methods and optical properties of GNRs, QDs, and ORMOSIL nanoparticles are briefly introduced, and some of their applications in optical bioimaging are demonstrated. Specific targeting, "green" synthesis methods, and optical signal demodulation are also introduced.


The minimum bounding box, the convex hull, the minimum bounding four- and five-corner, rotated boxes, and the minimum bounding ellipses and circles convex conservative approximation methods for handling complex spatial objects in spatial access methods are discussed. Results indicate that, depending on the complexity of the objects and the type of queries, the approximations five-corner, ellipse and rotated bounding box clearly outperform the bounding box. It is the reduced number of false hits that yields a considerable improvement in total query time when using the proposed approximations.<<ETX>>


In dynamic multileaf collimation (DMLC), pairs of servo-controlled leaves sweep across the target to deliver the modulated radiation intensity map while the beam is on continuously. The mathematical model for dynamic, optimal control of a single leaf pair has been developed for the case of a rigid target, translating parallel to the leaf trajectories. This mathematical model ensures delivery of the modulated intensity map while minimizing beam-on time. Numerical solutions of the model are presented here for optimal IMRT delivery for stationary and oscillating targets, together with a discussion of the results. Comparisons between solutions for stationary and mobile targets, as well as comparisons between optimal and suboptimal algorithms, are provided. These comparisons allow us to estimate potential gains in the effectiveness of DMLC IMRT delivery when it is based on optimal algorithms.


Abstract The Guerrero, Mexico, accelerograph network has recorded, at short distances, earthquakes with magnitudes from 3.0 to 8.1. In this article, the initial 3.5 sec of the P waves, on the vertical component, are compared. In addition to unfiltered accelerograms, several causal bandpass filters are applied. We do not see significant differences, in either original or filtered records, between the initial (e.g., 0.5 sec) seismograms of moderate and large earthquakes. In the original and 2- to 5-Hz passband, the main differences among events with magnitudes over about 4.5 is in the duration of shaking. The initial ground motions of all the large events have very small amplitudes, which gradually get larger. At lower frequencies, seismograms of the largest events show a complex series of multiple pulses, assumed related to failure of numerous asperities. In our lowest frequency band (0.2 to 0.5 Hz), most of the large events that we examined begin with rupture of asperities that are not necessarily larger, and are sometimes smaller, than the asperities that fail during smaller events. The observations are consistent with a model of faulting in which the largest asperities are located at random on the eventual fault plane, and fail when the rupture front, propagating from the hypocenter, reaches them. This allows the largest asperities to occasionally be at the hypocenter and to fail immediately, but for a large fault, it is more likely that they will be located elsewhere and fail later.


Several DOE sites have been contaminated by transuranic radionuclide (TRU) discharges including neptunium and plutonium. Their interaction with the surrounding geological media can affect the transport and remediation of these radionuclides in the environment. Manganese based minerals, present as minor phases in the vadose zone, can preferentially sequester TRU over other minerals present in larger quantities. The objective of this project is to understand the interactions between plutonium and neptunium and manganese oxyhydroxide minerals to predict potential hazards they represent to the environment, as well as to provide important scientific information for the design of effective remediation strategies for contaminated DOE sites.


A Disappearing Number gives vent to Simon McBurney's fascination with science, in this case with mathematics. The story of the mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan constituted the groundwork for the collective theatrical production whose literary "translation" was published by Oberon Books in 2007. This article investigates the ways in which the text de-automatises dramatic conventions. On the one hand, the text, as a literary record of the theatrical production, seems to be an intersemiotic translation of the "original," which suggests its secondary, derivative character, but, on the other hand, because of its status as a dramatic text, A Disappearing Number enters the sphere of literature which is intrinsically subordinated to the powers of imagination. In this way, it is argued, Complicite associates mathematics with art (literature): these are the spheres where imagination is of the greatest importance. This is made explicitly apparent in the characters' utterances and in various textual strategies. A Disappearing Number begins, for example, with an explanation of a mathematical concept provided by Ruth, a lecturer, in a "university lecture hall." The explanation is followed by a strictly meta-theatrical greeting of the audience. The illusion of the stage is emphasised as much as the immutable nature of mathematical reality at this point. The function of mathematics is not restricted to the thematic dimension of the play; mathematical principles are also decisive for the construction of the model of the world. Simultaneity of action, for instance, reflects the complicated nature of certain equations, the Great War is associated with the number of its victims, Ramanujan's death is shown on stage through a metaphorical subtraction and the passing of the number zero, and even the title suggests some equivalence between a number and a life of a human being.


OBJECTIVES
Despite universal infection control precautions, the risk of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in patients on chronic haemodialysis (HD) remains high. For this reason anti-HBV vaccination is recommended in these subjects. In hemodialyzed patients vaccinal response is often suboptimal and it's not clear what factors may influence it.

STUDY DESIGN
The aim of our study is to assess the influence of some clinical and laboratory factors on seroconversion rate after anti HBV vaccination in a cohort of patients on maintenance HD.

METHODS
We analysed 60 patients on regular HD, 40 men and 20 women (age 64±12 years, range 40-88 years), immunized with Engerix B ® vaccine, followed for an average time of 62 month (12-120 months). For each patient the following data were collected: age, serum albumin (sAlb), Blood urea nitrogen before HD session (BUN), age at vaccination, dialysis vintage, presence of systemic disease, type of vascular access, dialysis modality. Correlation between these factors and anti Hbs titer was estimated with multiple regression analysis.

RESULTS
Anti-Hbs seroconversion rate ( Anti Hbs > 10 IU/l) was 77%. Better rate of seroconversion (86%) was observed in patients with arteriovenous fistula (AVF) and serum albumin > 3,5 g/dL (93%), while higher rate of not responders (50%) in patients with systemic diseases. The only parameter correlated to anti Hbs titer was sAlb (p =0,0012). sAlb was correlated to age in all patients (p=0,01) and age was correlated to higher anti Hbs titer in the responder group (p=0,018).

DISCUSSION
In our experience an early vaccination, when patients on chronic HD are younger and in better nutritional conditions, improves anti-HBV response.


INTRODUCTORY STATEMENT The Honeybrook uplift lies on the east side of the large Paleozoic limestone lowland around Lancaster in the Piedmont of southeastern Pennsylvania. This lowland is an embayment of the limestones of the Appalachian Valley into the Piedmont area around the plunging end of folds of Cambrian quartzites of South Mountain, which is the northern extension of the Blue Ridge (Fig. 1). The Honeybrook uplift brings Cambrian quartzites and pre-Cambrian basement rocks to the surface on the east side of the limestone lowland. Chester Valley, a long narrow synclinal limestone valley of east-northeast trend, lies south of the Honeybrook uplift, which is overlapped on the northeast side by gently north-dipping Triassic redbeds. This paper is the result of detailed studies for a report on the Honey-brook and Phoenixville quadrangles to be published by the United States Geological Survey. The pre-Cambrian rocks, which were mapped by Florence Bascom and will . . .


This descriptive study randomly surveyed all 302 Massachusetts members of the Intravenous Nurses Society in 1991 regarding their perceptions of nine possible consequences of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection caused by accidental occupational exposure. Areas of highest concern were financial: adequacy of worker's compensation, ability of the employer to cover all healthcare costs, and job security. Nurses also were concerned about confidentiality of their HIV status and personal history jeopardizing their benefits. The i.v. nurses felt most secure in areas of their personal lives: housing and support of family and friends. Although some concerns correlated significantly with fear of contagion, others were unrelated, indicating a need for policy and attitude changes to promote comfort in working with HIV.


Early Cretaceous bryozoans are key to understanding the evolutionary radiation of order Cheilostomata, the dominant modern group. Prior to the current study, there were few records of any Cretaceous cheilostomes from eastern Asia, and no pre-Cenomanian records. We found bryozoan fossils to be common in brackish-water to marine deposits representing estuary–tidal-flat and shoreface–inner-shelf habitats in the late Albian–early Cenomanian Goshoura Group, Goshoura Island, Kyushu, Japan. Bryozoans from the Goshoura Group were poorly preserved; for identification, we made silicone casts of colony moulds and studied them by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). We detected six cheilostome and one cyclostome species (Berenicea sp. 1), all forming multiserial encrusting colonies. We erect the new genus Haplostoechios for two new Conopeum-like malacostegans (H. hayamiae and H. clusum), and describe another new malacostegan as Charixa goshouraensis. Additionally, we briefly describe three species detected from a single specimen each: the malacostegan Incertae sedis sp. 1 and neocheilostomes Incertae sedis sp. 2 and sp. 3. The Goshoura fauna is dominated by cheilostomes rather than cyclostomes, with malacostegans marginally outnumbering neocheilostomes. Bryozoans were a common component of the shell-rubble community, encrusting shells of one brachiopod and a broad variety of molluscan species, including 15 bivalves, two gastropods, an ammonite, a nautiloid and wood fragments containing Teredolites. Bryozoans were less diverse in estuary–tidal-flat deposits (three cheilostomes) than in shoreface–inner-shelf deposits (four cheilostomes and Berenicea sp. 1. Cheilostome average zooid length differed between the estuary–tidal-flat deposits (≤0.38 mm) and the shoreface–inner-shelf deposits (most specimens ≥0.49 mm). This study demonstrates that bryozoan assemblages worldwide were not of similar composition at the onset of cheilostome radiation, and underscores the need for further work in less studied regions. http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:F1B0D7FC-5E0B-4E9E-8098-CD1E6DBE47B8


O God, enlarge within us the sense of fellowship with all living things, even our brothers the animals, to whom thou gavest the earth as their home in common with us. We remember with shame that in the past we have exercised the high dominion of man with ruthless cruelty so that the voice of the earth, which should have gone up to thee in song, has been a groan of pain. May we realize that they live, not for us alone, but for themselves and for thee, and that they love the sweetness of life. —St Basil the Great, Bishop of Caesarea (329-379)


Steamboats became commercially viable in the early nineteenth century, and by the 1830s were arguably the most popular form of long-distance travel around North America, especially on inland waterways like Lake Champlain. Due to this popularity, demand for faster, larger boats drove shipwrights to experiment with new designs that differed greatly from traditional ship construction. Unfortunately, steamboat plans from this period are mostly missing or incomplete, and therefore our knowledge of their changing shapes and features must be derived from archaeological data. A survey of Lake Champlain's Shelburne Shipyard revealed the remains of four nineteenth-century steamboats. The four hulls, labeled Wrecks 1 through 4, were recorded for comparative study during a field school that took place in the month of June, 2014. Researchers from Texas A&M University and the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum spent three weeks recording the remains in order to identify the individual boats, develop preliminary site plans for each wreck, and compare the differing construction patterns. Though Wreck 1 (A.Williams) proved to be from 1870, the other three were nearly contemporaneous, all built in the 1830s. Despite their close launch dates, Wrecks 2, 3 and 4 (Winooski [1832], Burlington [1837] and Whitehall [1838]) displayed very different construction methods. This study examines the archaeological findings of the Shelburne Shipyard steamboats along with historical background information in order to illustrate how shipwrights were straying from traditional, heavy-timbered ship designs to make lighter and longer hulls in an effort to make faster vessels. URI http://hdl.handle.net/1969.1/155709 Subject Steamboats Lake Champlain Construction nineteenth century nautical archaeology ship design Collections Electronic Theses, Dissertations, and Records of Study (2002– ) Citation Kennedy, Carolyn (2015). Shelburne Shipyard Steamboat Graveyard: Archaeological Investigation of Four Steamboat Wrecks. Master's thesis, Texas A & M University. Available electronically from http://hdl.handle.net/1969.1/155709. Shelburne Shipyard Steamboat Graveyard: Archaeological Investigation of Four Steamboat Wrecks  


In debates about the Swedish and Dutch drug policies are usually positioned as opposites. The goal for the Swedish drug policy is to create a 'drug-free society'; while in the Netherlands a harm reduction approach prevails. In this study a drug policy is considered a practice of formal social control that can develop differently depending on the contexts in which it emerged. The period studied starts in mid 1960s and ends mid 1980s. This period can be said to be the formative years of the drug policies. The objective of the thesis is to investigate why the drug policies in Sweden and the Netherlands have taken such disparate courses. In order to analyse and explain the differences, two tracks will be followed: the way in which the problem was defined and the influence of institutional factors on both the problem definition and the action programme to counteract drug problems. In social problem theory, perceptions of the nature of the problem and its importance for society are perceived as the outcome of a collective process of problem definition. In addition it is important to identify the actors that were involved in this process and the problem definition that eventually gained master status. An underlying hypothesis for the study is that institutionalised traditions of formal social control are reproduced when a new social problem is established and they influence the problem definition as well as the action programme. These traditions will be examined in the three fields of the action programme, which in both countries have been singled out as crucial, namely judicial measures to control supply of illegal drugs, assistance to cure drug abusers and reduce demand and prevention to withhold people from using drugs. To understand the differences one has to comprehend their historical contexts. For a study of drug policies, three institutional factors are of particular interest: the role of the state in society, traditions of formal social control and the international context. If the right of the state to interfere in the private sphere of its citizens is fundamentally different than practices of formal social control will be different as well. By comparing formal control of another drug, 'alcohol', with control of illegal drugs, traditions in this field can be traced that have been of decisive importance for the elaboration of the drug policies in the 1960s up till today. This is the national context. The international context is constituted by the international control system that since the early twentieth century has been an increasingly constraining factor to national drug policies. The results of the study strengthen the hypothesis. The Swedish strong adherence to fundamentalist principles to the early policy on alcohol led by the central state, was preserved in the country's drug policy. The Dutch experimentalist approach is a prolongation of the country's tradition of pragmatism and a restrictive role of the central state.


This paper focuses on the questions which heterosexual trainees ask about lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) experience within diversity training about LGB issues. Drawing on a data corpus of 162 questions asked by trainees in 13 tape-recorded training sessions, questions were coded into six categories: (1) general understanding questions; (2) questions about the trainer's life, experience and practices; (3) professional practice questions; (4) questions about lesbian and gay related legislation, policies and procedures; (5) questions about specific people and projects and (6) questions about the meanings, derivations and correct use of terms and symbols. Real questions are compared with the decontexualized questions (and answers to them) that are provided in training manuals and it is demonstrated that these questions differ markedly from how questions actually get asked and how they actually get answered. Recommendations are provided for improving training and the argument made for turning towards analyses of the real world in action, especially when considering intergroup relations. Copyright ? 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


Energy optimization is important in wireless ad hoc networks, where node battery power is usually limited. Research results show that such a network can exploit controlled node mobility to reduce communication-related energy consumption. However, node movement itself usually consumes energy. In this paper we study the energy optimization problem that accounts for energy costs associated with both communication and physical node movement. We refer to this model as informed mobility. We first review the theoretical foundations on how to reduce total communication energy consumption, as well as increase system lifetime, by combining node movement and transmission power adaptation. Next, we describe and analyze the informed mobility optimization problem. Based on this analysis, we introduce localized algorithms and protocols for informed mobility. We propose iMobif, a flow-based informed mobility framework that collects network information for mobility decision making. We demonstrate how to use iMobif to minimize total communication energy consumption as well as to maximize system lifetime. We compare the performance of iMobif to that of systems with no mobility or only cost-unaware mobility. Simulation results show iMobif is effective in reducing energy consumption relative to such systems


The surface of the X-ray shadow of the gallbladder was determined by a planimeter in 100 random patients examined for complaints suggesting gallbladder disease, in whom the viscus was well visualized and no gallstones were discernible. No correlation was found between the gallbladder size and body surface or sex. The mean surface of the gallbladder shadow in thirty-two diabetic patients was significantly larger than the mean surface in forty-three nondiabetic individuals. The frequency of large gallbladders (over 24 sq. cm.) was higher among the diabetic than the nondiabetic individuals. Elimination of twenty-seven diabetic and nondiabetic patients with clinical signs of cholecystitis, duodenal ulcer or gastroduodenitis did not alter the relationship between the gallbladder size and presence of diabetes, found for the whole group. In some diabetic patients the large gallbladder may be a manifestation of biliary dyskinesia due to autonomic neuropathy ("diabetic neurogenie gallbladder"). A search for diabetes is justified in patients with a large gallbladder.


Localization and mapping are very important for autonomous robot and human-robot communications. This paper propose a self localization method by using a range sensor. The range sensor can get point clouds. Then, we achieve robust 3D alignment of the point clouds. The iterative closest point (ICP) algorithm is famous for 3D alignment, however, in general, before applying the ICP algorithm, point clouds must be registered to roughly correct positions. Therefore, we solve this problem by using exhaustive search. In addition, to reduce computational cost, we use non-extremum suppression and distance field. In order to evaluate the proposed method, we apply for real environment. From the result, the computational time are very fast and alignment accuracy is very good.


A weakly nonlinear theory, based on the combined amplitude–multiple timescale expansion, is developed for the flow of an arbitrary fluid governed by the low-Mach-number equations. The approach is shown to be different from the one conventionally used for Boussinesq flows. The range of validity of the applied analysis is discussed and shown to be sufficiently large. Results are presented for the natural convection flow of air inside a closed differentially heated tall vertical cavity for a range of temperature differences far beyond the region of validity of the Boussinesq approximation. The issue of possible resonances of two different types is noted. The character of bifurcations for the shear- and buoyancy-driven instabilities and their interaction is investigated in detail. Lastly, the energy transfer mechanisms are analysed in supercritical regimes.


Armadillos of the species Dasypus novemcinctus have been used as an experimental model of leprosy. Besides non-human primates, they are the only species naturally infected with Mycobacterium leprae and when experimentally inoculated, reproduce the lepromatous form of the disease producing large quantities of bacilli. This species has been maintained in captivity by numerous researchers and specific housing and feeding requirements have been developed to guarantee their survival during long experimental periods. In the 'Lauro de Souza Lima' Institute, armadillos receive dog food, ground beef, boiled eggs and vitamin C. However, despite the balanced diet, anemia has been observed in some captive animals, especially in armadillos inoculated with M. leprae in advanced stages of infection. Thus, the objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of iron sulfate supplementation in the feed provided for armadillos, both inoculated and non-inoculated with M. leprae, by means of the evaluation of their hematological profile. Fourteen armadillos received 10 mg/animal of iron sulfate (Hematofer(R)) diluted in sterile water mixed with their daily feed for 50 days. Hemograms and serum iron dosages for each armadillo were performed before and after supplementation. The hematocrit values increased significantly after iron supplementation, both in armadillos inoculated and non-inoculated with M. leprae. It is possible that the amount of iron in the feed is insufficient for the formation of hemoglobin, leading to microcytic anemia. Dietary supplementation with iron sulfate reversed this state, showing the importance of understanding the metabolism of exotic species for their maintenance in captivity, and thus ensuring their well-being.


We address the problem of learning self-supervised representations from unlabeled image collections. Unlike existing approaches that attempt to learn useful features by maximizing similarity between augmented versions of each input image or by speculatively picking negative samples, we instead also make use of the natural variation that occurs in image collections that are captured using static monitoring cameras. To achieve this, we exploit readily available context data that encodes information such as the spatial and temporal relationships between the input images. We are able to learn representations that are surprisingly effective for downstream supervised classification, by first identifying high probability positive pairs at training time, i.e. those images that are likely to depict the same visual concept. For the critical task of global biodiversity monitoring, this results in image features that can be adapted to challenging visual species classification tasks with limited human supervision. We present results on four different camera trap image collections, across three different families of self-supervised learning methods, and show that careful image selection at training time results in superior performance compared to existing baselines such as conventional self-supervised training and transfer learning.


ABSTRACT This paper complicates notions of Black girlhood by examining the dual experiences of gendered racism that result in both strength and sadness in Black girls' educational experiences. I highlight the need for a curriculum of liberation to combat historical and current social conditions negatively impacting school-aged Black girls, such as harsh disciplinary practices, low academic expectations, and sexual objectification. The Super-Girl phenomenon serves as a metaphor illustrating the balance and imbalance of multiple social constructs. Utilising constructivist grounded theory [Charmaz, K. 2006. Constructing Grounded Theory. London: Sage], the key concepts in the research derived directly from the voices of 18 school-aged girls (8–13) as well as my observations, interpretations, and related experiences. Data collection utilising observation notes, interviews, written responses, and activity products provided from monthly sessions over the course of two years, offer critical insight into some of the complexities of Black girlhood. The most striking common themes abstracted from their voices were concepts related to 'strength' and 'sadness' in their lives. Thematic narratives were found to be most relevant to (1) negative teacher–student relationships, as well as, (2) policed bodies and sexual objectification. This work offers specific recommendations for future girl empowerment programming, curriculum, and evidence-based intervention development that can aide in liberating Black girls.


Why are there religious beliefs in all cultures? Do they have features in common and why does religion persist in the face of science? Pascal Boyer shows how experimental findings in cognitive science, evolutionary biology and cultural anthropology are now providing precise answers to these general questions, and providing, for the first time, real answers to the question: Why do we believe?


Individuals with schizophrenia typically perform poorly on measures of executive function. This poor performance is widely attributed to disease-related cognitive deficits; however, the influence of task engagement and interpersonal rapport has not been adequately evaluated. In the present study, 30 individuals with schizophrenia completed two trials each of the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST), a measure of executive function. Between trials, half of the participants received enhanced instructions (i.e., explanation of the underlying rules and strategy coaching). It was hypothesized that the enhanced instruction group would achieve better WCST scores, and that this group difference would be mediated by participants' self-reported task engagement on the WCST and rapport with the experimenter. Results showed significantly improved WCST performance in the enhanced-instruction group, but the groups did not differ in task engagement or rapport. Task engagement showed a trend-level association with WCST performance across all participants. These findings suggest that further research is necessary to understand potential motivational mechanisms underlying executive functioning performance in schizophrenia.


Heterogeneous catalytic dinitrogen reduction to produce ammonia at ambient pressure and temperature is a challenging task when attempting to mimic the natural dinitrogen fixation process because the N2 molecule hardly binds with solid catalytic materials and the generation of high energy intermediates is required. Energetic solvated electrons, as highly reactive species, can directly react in solution and thus can overcome such limitations in ammonia synthesis. Although solvated electrons are commonly generated by high energy radiation, a facile approach for generation of solvated electrons is of increasing importance. Previous literature reported that photo-illuminated hydrogen-terminated diamond yields solvated electrons for reduction of N2. In this study, the solvated electrons were produced by direct emission of stabilized electrons from heavily reduced TiO2 into water under thermal or infrared light excitation. The structural change of the reduced TiO2 was characterized to understand the process of stabilization and release of excess electrons. Furthermore, the conversion of N2 into NH3 at different conditions under thermal excitation was tested to evaluate the reduction activity of solvated electrons. The thermal energy-controlled electron emission from the reduced TiO2 particles into solution has great application potentials in areas of energy conversion, chemical synthesis, and medical treatment.


Specimens of Deuteraphorura collected in 11 Georgian caves were analysed morphologically and molecularly based on the COI gene barcode region. Two molecular delimitation methods revealed four species (MOTUs); however, only two of them were distinguished morphologically and are described in this paper as new to science. Both new species, D. colchisi sp. nov. and D. kozmani sp. nov., belong to the group with a pseudocellus on the first thoracic tergum; the differential diagnosis table to this species group is provided. The potential of the Caucasus as a hotspot region of subterranean biodiversity and evolution centre of subterranean animals is discussed.


This case highlights the importance of detecting HIV infection in its earliest stages. Each year, 40,000 new cases of HIV infection are diagnosed in the United States; however, very few of these are identified at the acute infection stage. Diagnosis of primary HIV infection is important because it improves the patient's chances for a good outcome, reduces the risk of transmission, and provides epidemiologic data on virus strains in the community.


The Swirl reactor is an innovative concept for performing reactions in gas phases or solid and gas phase mixtures. It was developed during the initial boom of the solar cell industry, where the need for more energy- and cost-efficient means of producing high-purity solid silicon became important. The Swirl reactor was designed to fulfil the following requirements: continuous production of high-purity silicon; efficient energy transfer from the reactor to the gas; controlled transport of the Si-fines and the gas formed; the use of silane as feed for silicon. By employing a stainless steel tubular reactor honed on the inside and heated from the outside, and using argon as the carrier gas, the requirements were all shown to be fulfilled. The Swirl reactor throughput can be increased by having more than one injector introducing new swirls. Also, two swirls—each containing reacting agents—may form product where they mix, i.e. along the path where the swirls overlap. Thus, reactions can be controlled but still be run continuously. The possible uses of the Swirl reactor are numerous.


We introduce a new environmentally robust optical interferometry system
for fast surface profile measurement. The proposed white light channelled spectrum
Interferometer (WLCSI) is effective for applications in on-line surface inspection
because it can obtain a surface profile in a single shot. Compared to the traditional
spectral interferometry techniques, cylindrical lens is used in the Michelson
interferometric objective of our system to achieve the measurement of long profiles.
Combined with a modern high speed CCD camera, general-purpose graphics
processing unit (GPGPU) and multi-core processors computing technology, large
dynamic measurement with a high signal-to-noise ratio is realized. The designed
prototype of WLCSI is presented and its performance was evaluated experimentally
by measuring two surface samples. The measuring results closely align with the
calibrated specifications given by the manufacturer as well as the measurement results
by the other commercial instrument, which shows that the proposed WLCSI could be
applied to production line like the roll-to-toll (R2R) surface inspection where only
defects on the film surface are concerned in terms of the quality control


In the application of intuitionistic fuzzy sets(IFSs), distance measures play a very important role in decision science. Though different distance measures of IFSs are developed with various aspects, many of them do not satisfy the axioms of distance measure or encounter some counterintuitive cases. To fill up the deficiency it is always useful to define novel distance measures, which motivates us towards the development of new distance measure. This paper presents a new method for distance measure between IFSs. For the efficiency and validity of the proposed distance measure a comparitive study is carried out with the numerical examples and also the distance measure is applied in a multi criteria decision making process. Finaly, two medical diagnosis problems are discudssed under this setting.


The mechanisms responsible for the increase in RNA per cell during the first 48h of renal compensatory growth were studied in the renal cortex. Unilaterally nephrectomized, sham-operated or non-operated rats were used. Incorporation into RNA of labelled precursors was studied in vivo and in vitro. Sham-operation produced significant changes in precursor incorporation, absolute amounts of UTP and RNA, and the rate of RNA synthesis. At 6h after surgery, the amount of RNA decreased in sham-operated controls, whereas that in growing cortex remained unchanged. Incorporation into RNA in vivo was greater in the growing cortex, although the rate of RNA synthesis was not increased. At 24h, precursor incorporation into RNA and UTP and RNA synthesis were all increased in the growing cortex. In contrast with results obtained in vivo, slices of growing cortex incorporated less labelled precursor into RNA than did cortex slices from sham-operated controls, from 3 to 48h. Maximal differences were found from 6 to 24h. An attempt was made to equalize endogenous precursor pool sizes by increasing the concentration of unlabelled uridine in the media; incorporation differences were narrowed significantly. Serum from nephrectomized animals did not increase precursor incorporation into RNA in vitro. An increase in RNA synthesis is an important factor in RNA accretion in the renal cortex beyond 12h of compensatory growth. This is accompanied by increased UTP content and preceded by expansion of other pools. The amount of labelled precursor incorporated into RNA is greatly influenced by its delivery rate to the growing kidney in vivo and by intracellular dilution of expanded precursor pools in vitro.


Background: Appendicitis is more common during the second and third decade of life and appendectomy scar is important in terms of cosmetic issues. The scar is an important factor in the patient's satisfaction. Conventional teaching has an emphasis on the closure of skin incision with "separate" sutures. The aim of this study was to reconsider this dogma.

Methods: Among 321 patients with acute appendicitis who came to the emergency unit of Imam Khomeini Hospital in Tehran, Iran since april 2007 till april 2008, 278 (86.6%) patients had uncomplicated appendicitis and were enrolled in our clinical trial. The patients were randomly assigned to two groups of interrupted suture closure (n=139) and subcuticular suture closure (n=139). Anesthesia method and surgical technique were similar between the two groups. All patients were followed up post-operatively (four weeks) for the presence of infectious drainage, pain, erythema, swelling and warmness at the surgical site.

Results: The patients' sex and their mean age were not statistically different between the groups. There was no significant difference in the frequency of surgical site complications between the two groups (five cases in the "interrupted" group and eight cases in the "subcuticular" group p=0.415).

Conclusion: This study showed that appendectomy incision closure with subcuticular sutures did not increase the risk of wound complications. From the point of better cosmetic outcome of subcuticular sutures, this method may be the method of choice for the closure of appendectomy incisions in uncomplicated appendicitis.


The hernia content involving a bladder segment occurs in 1-4 % of cases of the inguinal hernias. Inguinoscrotal bladder hernias are usually found incidentally on radiological examinations or at the time of herniorrhaphy. We present an adult case that has a left inguinal bladder hernia detected and evaluated by sonography, intravenous pyelography (IVP), and computerized tomography (CT).


A comparative study of proteolytic enzymes and their inhibitors in three human leukemic lymphoid cell populations has been carried out. The lysates of all lymphoid cells contained cathepsins D, B, L and H as well as serine trypsin-like proteinases, several aminopeptidases, dipeptidyl aminopeptidase IV and plasminogen activator (urokinase type). The activities of individual proteinases and their ratios in all cell types under study varied essentially, suggesting that lymphoid cells with different functions have different sets of proteolytic enzymes. FPLC chromatography of the lysates revealed the presence of inhibitors of cysteine and serine trypsin-like proteinases. The procedure for isolation of cathepsins D, B, L and H and of their inhibitors has been proposed and partially purified protein preparations obtained. Some properties of cathepsins B and L and those of their inhibitor have been examined.


The objective of this paper is to control the speed of a motor using PID controller. The PID controller is generated by an arduino program and used in the speed control of motor. Arduino is an open-source electronic prototyping platform based on flexible easy to use hardware and software. It is intended for artists, designers, hobbyists and anyone interested in creating interactive objects or environments. Ardino can sense the environment by receiving input from a variety of sensors and can affect its surroundings by controlling motors. The microcontroller on the board is programmed using the arduino programming language (based on wiring) and the arduino development (based on processing). Arduino projects can be stand alone or they can communicate with software running on the computer. The arduino language program is dumped into the microcontroller and it is given to the analog input of microcontroller and the analog outputs are connected to PID controller. The speed of the motor will be controlled based on the PID controller and the speed sensed through Encoder would be compared with the reference value and obtained error is projected over PID controller and the process continues till we get minimum errors.


This thesis presents an experimental demonstration of a chemical reactor design based on film boiling using aqueous mixtures of ethylene glycol. Termed a Film Boiling Reactor (FIBOR), the reactor volume is established around a horizontal heater tube (Nickel Alloy-Inconel 600) that is immersed in the aqueous bulk liquid. Chemical reactions are promoted within the vapor layer due to large temperature gradients inherent to film boiling. Product gas flow rates and chemical composition are analyzed to assess the extent that the FIBOR can promote chemical change of the reactant liquid mixture. Catalytic reaction and thermal decomposition (pyrolysis) in the FIBOR are investigated by using a catalyst coated tube and a bare tube respectively. The heater tube surface temperature is the central operating parameter. Pure ethylene glycol is examined and compared to previously reported results to assess the role of the heater diameter. This work extends the FIBOR concept to aqueous mixtures of ethylene glycol to explore if the FIBOR is capable of promoting steam reforming chemistry. The results show that the FIBOR has the potential to support both catalytic and thermal decomposition of aqueous ethylene glycol mixtures. Diluting ethylene glycol with water decreases the reaction of ethylene glycol but it also reduces the effects of carbon deposition or "coking." Peak product yields for thermal decomposition of pure ethylene glycol and aqueous mixtures of 90% (vol) and 80% (vol) ethylene glycol reached 4.5, 1.8 and 0.8 LPM/min·m 2 respectively at an operating temperature of 1475K. Results for platinum and nickel based coatings converting an 80% (vol) ethylene glycol aqueous mixture achieved product yields approximately 3-4 times higher than the case for a bare tube, however platinum showed slightly better overall performance with respect to product yields and resistance to deactivation. Thermochemical and gas chromatography analysis revealed the FIBOR's capability to convert organic aqueous mixtures through steam reforming. An upward shift in the boiling curve for the catalyst coated tubes was determined to be due to the endothermic nature of the chemical mechanism. Conversion of aqueous mixtures with a bare tube produced synthesis gas (syngas) with a lower ratio of H2:CO (1:1) compared to catalytic conversion which resulted in a significant enrichment of syngas products with hydrogen (H2:CO=3). This difference is attributed to the FIBOR's ability to promote steam reforming of ethylene glycol.


In this work we study the presence of expert units in pre-trained Transformer Models (TM), and how they impact a model's performance. We define expert units to be neurons that are able to classify a concept with a given average precision, where a concept is represented by a binary set of sentences containing the concept (or not). Leveraging the OneSec dataset (Scarlini et al., 2019), we compile a dataset of 1641 concepts that allows diverse expert units in TM to be discovered. We show that expert units are important in several ways: (1) The presence of expert units is correlated ($r^2=0.833$) with the generalization power of TM, which allows ranking TM without requiring fine-tuning on suites of downstream tasks. We further propose an empirical method to decide how accurate such experts should be to evaluate generalization. (2) The overlap of top experts between concepts provides a sensible way to quantify concept co-learning, which can be used for explainability of unknown concepts. (3) We show how to self-condition off-the-shelf pre-trained language models to generate text with a given concept by forcing the top experts to be active, without requiring re-training the model or using additional parameters.


The title compound exists as polymorph (I), Fdd2 with Z = 8 [Pérez-Folch et al. (1997). J. Chem. Cryst. 27, 367-369; Marsh (2004). Acta Cryst. B60, 252-253], and as polymorph (II), P2(1)2(1)2 with Z = 2 [Martins et al. (2009). J. Phys. Chem. A, 113, 5998-6003]. We have redetermined both structures at somewhat lower temperatures [(I) at 180 K rather than room temperature; (II) at 100 K rather than 150 K]. For polymorph (I) the space group Fdd2 is confirmed rather than the original choice of Cc. The molecular structures of both polymorphs are essentially identical, with exact crystallographic twofold symmetry, approximate C(2v) symmetry, and a trans orientation of the H-N-C=O moiety. In both polymorphs the molecules associate into chains of rings with graph set C(4)[R(2)(1)(6)] via bifurcated hydrogen-bond systems C(N-H)(2)···O=C. In the polar structure (I) the chains are necessarily all parallel, whereas in (II) equal numbers of parallel and antiparallel chains are present. Further physical investigations [differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), powder investigations, solvent-induced phase conversions] were undertaken: these showed: (i) that the commercially available compound consists predominantly of polymorph (II), which on heating transforms into polymorph (I) by an endothermic reaction, so that both polymorphs are related by enantiotropism; (ii) that polymorph (I) represents the more stable modification at room temperature, where polymorph (II) is metastable, with the thermodynamic transition temperature lying somewhere between 253 K and room temperature. An apparent third polymorph, consisting of fibrous needles, was shown by powder diffraction to consist of a mixture of polymorphs (I) and (II).


AbstractBackground and Problem: The altering business world and the growing requests from stakeholders have resulted in the establishment of new reports. These are among others Sustainability reports and Integrated Reporting. On the contrary, traditional financial reports do not consider the significance of intangible assets in modern entities. The social and relationship capital has further shown to be important for firms, especially healthcare companies and pharmaceuticals, but is not as developed as other capitals within the framework and therefore not always included in annual reports. However too few disclosures within this area could lead to high liabilities. The IIRC launched the framework year 2013 as a solution, as it gives a more comprehensive view of the reporting entity. Within this framework there are six capitals: manufactured, human, financial, natural, intellectual and social and relationship. Purpose: The purpose of this thesis is to find out how the International Framework has influenced the reporting of the social and relationship disclosures within the healthcare industry, to compare the reporting of the six medical firms chosen and to examine how the social concerns have been developed over time.Delimitations: This study is conducted over a period of three years, from year 2012 to year 2014. It only examines healthcare companies which use the International framework and it has solely focus on the social and relationship capital. All other capitals within the framework are excluded from the study.Method: This study has a qualitative research strategy and is based on information collected from published documents in form of annual reports. The annual reports from year 2010, 2011 and 2012 are used to find social and relationship disclosures and a disclosure scoreboard is used to find similarities, differences and patterns.Empirical Results and Conclusion: It has been found that the aggregated social and relationship disclosures have been reduced over time. The year followed by the release of the framework was seen to have the least disclosures and therefore conclusion was drawn that the framework had a negative influence on the social and relationship disclosures. There were also differences among the companies studied both in extent and content. The former could be linked to factors such as size and nationality and the latter could be linked to reputation preservation and legitimacy interests.


Plant growth rate represents one of the main factors in the vegetal-model bioassays design and the development of phytoremediation technologies. Lolium perenne is a promising plant to heavy metals monitoring and phytoremediation, but bioassays protocols and toxicity limits are needed. In this research, the effects of cadmium and mercury on germination time and emergence as toxicity markers of Lolium perenne plants were determined. Seeds were exposed to increasing concentrations in the range of 0 to 25 mg/L of cadmium (Cd2+) and mercury (Hg2+) in Petri dishes, by independent experiments carried out for 14 d. Emergence, root and shot length were assessed and kinetic parameters of growth were calculated. After 14 d, the maximum germination index of control seeds was 78.7 ± 4.8 %. The treatment of 25 mg/L Cd2+ posed an inhibitory effect on the seeds emergence of 24.7 %, and reduced the velocity germination Index (VGI). The maximum germination index of Hg2+ treated seeds had not significant differences to control. Toxic effects of Cd2+ and Hg2+ were found on the development of stem and roots of Lolium perenne, however, the range of concentrations which the plant grows well, is considered a suitable condition to potentially act as a phytoremediator. The kinetic parameters of growth are useful to perform toxicity tests and phytoremediation protocols of Lolium perenne.


This presentation focuses on the element of male and female sexuality and its transformation from page to screen. The 'sample' for the analysis comprises of Mickey Spillane's hard-boiled detective fiction featuring the private detective Mike Hammer, novels I, the Jury (1947), My Gun Is Quick (1950), and Kiss Me, Deadly (1952) which were turned into film noirs of the 1950s – I, the Jury (1953), Kiss Me, Deadly (1955), and My Gun Is Quick (1957). I will be analyzing how the Hollywood filmmakers adapted the graphic sexuality from Spillane's novels to the screen while being constrained by the restrictions of the Motion Picture Production Code (1930-1968). And simultaneously I will be applying a social history approach – examining sexuality in relation to historical events and social climate distinctive for the America's 1950s. I am going to ascertain how and why the sexuality presented on the pages of Mickey Spillane's novels were either completely left out or altered in chosen film noirs.


Extracting secret information from an integrated circuit by disturbing it with an electromagnetic (EM) pulse has a growing interest. The success of such a process depends directly on the EM probes used. In this paper, we present the results of the experimental characterization of three electric probes, through their bandwidth and opening width. Strangely, the probe specifically designed to inject high power EM fields turns out to be the least efficient. Another, handmade, transfers only very low power to its victim. The latter is very satisfactory, but only in a preferred direction.


Natural gas pipeline network was made up of several points of supply and several delivery points connected by pipeline, allowing steady-state flow of natural gas in the complex pipeline network system. The system model consists of a set of nonlinear simultaneous equations obtained by writing the continuity equation at each node in the system. Therefore an iterative technique, for example Newton's method, can be applied to obtain a solution of these systems of equations. The method requires that a good initial guess be given for all unknowns for convergence of the method. Usually this is not an easy task. In this paper we propose a technique that uses a Genetic Algorithm to overcome the problem. This method is basically used to generate initial pressure and rate data of the model, which will be executed by Newton's method. The model has been validated with data from ST-WLHR station which is an off-take station that distributes gas to several industrial consumers in Jakarta-Indonesia. This distribution system consists of a complex pipeline network.


We present molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of radiation damage in pure Fe nanoparticles (NP) and bimetallic FeCu core-shell nanoparticles (CSNP). The CSNP includes a perfect body centered cubic (bcc) Fe core coated with a face-centered cubic (fcc) Cu shell. Irradiation with Fe Primary Knock-on Atoms (PKA) with energies between 1 and 7 keV leads to point defects, without clustering beyond divacancies and very few slightly larger vacancy clusters, and without interstitial clusters, unlike what happens in bulk at the same PKA energies. The Fe-Cu interface and shell can act as a defect sink, absorbing radiation-induced damage and, therefore, the final number of defects in the Fe core is significantly lower than in the Fe NP. In addition, the Cu shell substantially diminishes the number of sputtered Fe atoms, acting as a barrier for recoil ejection. Structurally, the Cu shell responds to the stress generated by the collision cascade by creating and destroying stacking faults across the shell width, which could also accommodate further irradiation defects. We compare our MD results to Monte Carlo Binary Collision Approximation (BCA) simulations using SRIM code, for the irradiation of an amorphous 3-layer thin film with thickness equal to the CSNP diameter. BCA does not include defect recombination, so the number of Frenkel pairs is significantly higher than in MD, as expected. Sputtering yield (Y) is underestimated by BCA, which is also expected since the simulation is for a thin film at normal incidence. We also compare MD defect production to bulk predictions of the analytic Athermal Recombination Corrected Displacements Per Atom (arc-dpa) model. The number of vacancies in the Fe core is only slightly lower than arc-dpa predictions, but the number of interstitials is reduced by about one order of magnitude compared to vacancies, at 5 keV. According to the radiation resistance found for FeCu CSNP in our simulations, this class of nanomaterial could be suitable for developing new radiation resistant coatings, nanostructured components, and shields for use in extreme environments, for instance, in nuclear energy and astrophysical applications.


This article analyzes Mongolia's legal and judicial reforms and the efforts of international organizations and outside states to assist or encourage those reforms. Most international organizations and outside states predicate their legal assistance on establishing the "rule of law," but they rarely operate from a developed definition of this concept. This article analyzes what the concept of "rule of law" commonly means, and establishes a cogent and tangible, and procedurally-minimalist, rule of law definition. This article then uses this formulation to analyze Mongolia's legal and judicial reforms. Mongolia's experiences demonstrate four important best practices for future rule of law promotion: (1) judicial independence is the cornerstone of the rule of law; (2) formal government action plans offer "more bang for your buck;" (3) public participation and sentiment is a proxy for the institutionalization of the norms and culture of the rule of law; and (4) the leverage of donor coordination pays dividends.


Hematogenous metastases to the limb skeletal muscles are extremely rare. Better understanding of the mechanisms resulting in the relative resistance of skeletal muscle to metastases could have bearing on therapeutic interventions for prevention of metastases. Three patients with non‐small cell lung cancer and metastases in the proximal limb muscles are presented. Skeletal muscle metastases may present as painful masses in the proximal skeletal muscles. Subcutaneous and osseous metastases which are more frequent must be excluded by careful physical examination, bone scan and x‐rays. Computed tomography (CT) can confirm the location of the tumor within the fascial planes of skeletal muscles and may help in the accurate delineation of the radiation portal. The tumor can be diagnosed and more common causes, such as hematoma or abscess, can be excluded by thin needle aspiration with cytologic examination. Clinical recognition of metastases in this unusual site is important based on our report that total tumor dose of 3600 to 4200 cGy of radiation in fractions of 300 cGy, 5 days a week, is effective in palliation of swelling and pain.


This thesis studies the differences between the European Union's (EU's) Enlargement Policy toward Turkey and the United States' (U.S.'s) Foreign Policy toward Turkey. Both actors have a strong relationship with Turkey but for different reasons. Turkey is a candidate country to the EU and is in the process of accession negotiations. It is also a key ally to the U.S. and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization partners and its secular while Muslim identity, location, use as an energy transport route, and strong democracy make Turkey particularly important. In this thesis I argue that enlargement policy and foreign policy toward Turkey are shaped by three factors, geostrategic interests, culture, and economics, but the EU and U.S. place different stress on each factor. This is based on distinctions between the EU and U.S. including that enlargement policy consists of external, internal, and bilateral elements whereas foreign policy only includes external and bilateral elements. The EU approach toward Turkey via enlargement policy focuses strongly on all three factors: geostrategic interests, culture, and economics. Each factor is analyzed with respect to Turkey by each EU member-state, making member-states' decisions dependent on how membership will affect Turkey (externally), how Turkey will affect the EU as a whole (internally) and how Turkey will affect the member-states themselves (bilaterally). However, the U.S. foreign policy approach toward Turkey is constructed mainly on geostrategic interests. This difference in the factors shaping enlargement policy and foreign policy is rooted in a distinction between the EU and U.S.: while Turkey could possibly accede to the EU, making it a full member of the Union, no such membership could ever be attained with the U.S.


Forum Theatre as a technique is increasingly being drawn upon within research with marginalised groups.  However the degree to which it's underlying philosophical approach of emancipatory participation is being incorporated into the use made of it across services and sectors is debatable. Forum Theatre uses drama techniques to draw a group into discussion and reflection about embodied and structural dynamics that otherwise may go unarticulated. As such it is a process that explores the inter-relations of language, materiality, silence, and speaking . This article reflects on a research process that sought to gain the views of people with complex needs about new protection policy in Scotland using Forum Theatre to explore the moment by moment negotiations that people with complex needs face when their life plans and choices come under scrutiny.  Participants made compelling use of embodied expression to highlight issues around decision making and dynamics that can act to silence them within protection processes.  However the degree to which professionals were unwilling to enter themselves into embodied deliberations through participating in Forum Theatre activities, we argue, sealed the process in a bubble not unlike a fishbowl.


Background: 3-Hydroxylation of proline residues in type I collagen is rare but important. Results: 3-Hyp sites have been identified in both chains of mouse type I collagen in wild type and P3H1 null mice. Conclusion: The absence of 3-Hyp does not alter the D-period of collagen fibrils, but alters the lateral growth of the fibrils. Significance: Type I collagen prolyl 3-hydroxylation is tissue-specific. Type I collagen extracted from tendon, skin, and bone of wild type and prolyl 3-hydroxylase 1 (P3H1) null mice shows distinct patterns of 3-hydroxylation and glycosylation of hydroxylysine residues. The A1 site (Pro-986) in the α1-chain of type I collagen is almost completely 3-hydroxylated in every tissue of the wild type mice. In contrast, no 3-hydroxylation of this proline residue was found in P3H1 null mice. Partial 3-hydroxylation of the A3 site (Pro-707) was present in tendon and bone, but absent in skin in both α-chains of the wild type animals. Type I collagen extracted from bone of P3H1 null mice shows a large reduction in 3-hydroxylation of the A3 site in both α-chains, whereas type I collagen extracted from tendon of P3H1 null mice shows little difference as compared with wild type. These results demonstrate that the A1 site in type I collagen is exclusively 3-hydroxylated by P3H1, and presumably, this enzyme is required for the 3-hydroxylation of the A3 site of both α-chains in bone but not in tendon. The increase in glycosylation of hydroxylysine in P3H1 null mice in bone was found to be due to an increased occupancy of normally glycosylated sites. Despite the severe disorganization of collagen fibrils in adult tissues, the D-period of the fibrils is unchanged. Tendon fibrils of newborn P3H1 null mice are well organized with only a slight increase in diameter. The absence of 3-hydroxyproline and/or the increased glycosylation of hydroxylysine in type I collagen disturbs the lateral growth of the fibrils.


In the central nervous system, the ATP-gated Purinergic receptor P2X ligand-gated ion channel 7 (P2X7) is expressed in glial cells and modulates neurophysiology via release of gliotransmitters, including the proinflammatory cytokine interleukin (IL)-1β. In this study, we characterized JNJ-42253432 [2-methyl-N-([1-(4-phenylpiperazin-1-yl)cyclohexyl]methyl)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline-5-carboxamide] as a centrally permeable (brain-to-plasma ratio of 1), high-affinity P2X7 antagonist with desirable pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties for in vivo testing in rodents. JNJ-42253432 is a high-affinity antagonist for the rat (pKi 9.1 ± 0.07) and human (pKi 7.9 ± 0.08) P2X7 channel. The compound blocked the ATP-induced current and Bz-ATP [2′(3′)-O-(4-benzoylbenzoyl)adenosine-5′-triphosphate tri(triethylammonium)]–induced release of IL-1β in a concentration-dependent manner. When dosed in rats, JNJ-42253432 occupied the brain P2X7 channel with an ED50 of 0.3 mg/kg, corresponding to a mean plasma concentration of 42 ng/ml. The compound blocked the release of IL-1β induced by Bz-ATP in freely moving rat brain. At higher doses/exposure, JNJ-42253432 also increased serotonin levels in the rat brain, which is due to antagonism of the serotonin transporter (SERT) resulting in an ED50 of 10 mg/kg for SERT occupancy. JNJ-42253432 reduced electroencephalography spectral power in the α-1 band in a dose-dependent manner; the compound also attenuated amphetamine-induced hyperactivity. JNJ-42253432 significantly increased both overall social interaction and social preference, an effect that was independent of stress induced by foot-shock. Surprisingly, there was no effect of the compound on either neuropathic pain or inflammatory pain behaviors. In summary, in this study, we characterize JNJ-42253432 as a novel brain-penetrant P2X7 antagonist with high affinity and selectivity for the P2X7 channel.


This paper presents a detailed study of improving visual representations for vision language (VL) tasks and develops an improved object detection model to provide object-centric representations of images. Compared to the most widely used bottom-up and top-down model [2], the new model is bigger, better-designed for VL tasks, and pre-trained on much larger training corpora that combine multiple public annotated object detection datasets. Therefore, it can generate representations of a richer collection of visual objects and concepts. While previous VL research focuses mainly on improving the vision-language fusion model and leaves the object detection model improvement untouched, we show that visual features matter significantly in VL models. In our experiments we feed the visual features generated by the new object detection model into a Transformer-based VL fusion model OSCAR [20], and utilize an improved approach OSCAR+ to pre-train the VL model and fine-tune it on a wide range of downstream VL tasks. Our results show that the new visual features significantly improve the performance across all VL tasks, creating new state-of-the-art results on seven public benchmarks. Code, models and pre-extracted features are released at https://github.com/pzzhang/VinVL.


This study assessed the susceptibility of Escherichia coli to the antimicrobial activity of honeys by different techniques. Honeys used were from the southeast region of Buenos Aires province. In order to evaluate antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, solutions containing 0, 1, 5, 10, 25 and 50% (w/v) of honey were prepared. Liquid media (Mueller-Hinton and Mac Conkey broths) were used to assess the Minimal Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) by the serial dilution test. The minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC) was determined by counting on nutritive and Mac Conkey agar. In addition, for the evaluation of total antibacterial activity, the agar diffusion method was used. A reduction of microbial growth of 96% in Mueller-Hinton broth and of 90% in Mac Conkey broth by honey solutions containing 50% and 25% (w/v), was respectively observed. The bactericide action of honey in nutritive agar proved negative. The MBC value in Mac Conkey agar was 25% (w/v) of honey. The methods used for measuring the antibacterial activity in the present work were adequate to prove that honeys are active against E. coli at 25 and 50% (w/v) concentrations. The results obtained by the dilution method with Mueller-Hinton broth and the agar diffusion method were both concordant.