Background Recently published Guidelines for the Management of Arterial Hypertension jointly written by the European Society of Hypertension and the European Society of Cardiology are of great relevance to the diabetic population as a result of the elevated cardiovascular and renal risk that accompanies the simultaneous presence of hypertension and diabetes. Guidelines also recognize the relevance of prediabetes, a situation characterized by the presence of the metabolic syndrome. Methods Guidelines consider the need for integral protection of the cardiovascular and renal systems that includes a goal blood pressure (BP) lower than 130/80 mmHg, accompanied by strict metabolic and lipid control often accompanied by antiplatelet therapy. In order to attain the adequate BP and cardiorenal protection beyond the BP decrease, suppression of the renin–angiotensin system should be attempted, usually in association with other antihypertensive drugs. Results A few months after the publication of the guidelines, the ADVANCE study was published. This study has shown that the addition of a fixed combination of perindopril and indapamide on top of the other medications in patients with diabetes with BP ranging from normal to elevated greatly helps diminish BP when required, while protecting the cardiovascular and renal systems from the deleterious effects of diabetes associated with high BP. This protection includes as the most relevant finding a significant decrease in all-cause death. Conclusion The combination of a diminution in BP with further suppression of the renin–angiotensin system obtained through the administration of a fixed combination of perindopril and indapamide explains the benefits observed in ADVANCE in terms of the cardiovascular and renal prognosis of patients with diabetes with BP ranging from normal to elevated.


Many studies have confirmed hops (Humulus lupulus L.) as the source of a number of physiologically active polyphenols, important for both brewing and potentially pharmaceutical purposes. The three-year screening of polyphenols and 23 free phenolics profile (HPLC/coulometric detection) showed a significant association of polyphenols and free phenolics with DPPH antioxidant potential and the genetically determined specificity of free phenolics composition in hops. Varieties of American origin have a different profile compared to European varieties. For the first time, the free phenolics hydroxycoumarins were detected in hops. The DPPH strongly correlated with total polyphenols and flavanoids (n = 95, r = 0.92, 0.93 respectively) and correlated negatively with alpha acids (n = 95, r = -0.73). The polyphenols and the DPPH decrease with increasing alpha acids both among varieties and within one variety. These findings can serve as a useful tool for hop selection in brewing or pharmaceutical production.


BACKGROUND: The worldwide prevalence and severity of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease are increasing in parallel with the growing obesity epidemic. According to the US Practice Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of NAFLD, weight loss interventions based on hypocaloric diets – either alone or in conjugation with physical activity – can reduce hepatic steatosis. Hence, understanding the ways in which calorie restriction affects NAFLD can help in developing optimal treatments. METHOD: In this review study, the main focus was on possibly disturbed pathways in NAFLD, and how calorie restriction may attenuate them. For this purpose, both human and animal studies available through Pubmed were reviewed. RESULTS: Calorie restriction can upregulate energy-sensing pathways, including AMPK/SIRTUIN, and downregulate insulin-signaling pathway IGF1/PI3K/AKT. In NAFLD, AKT is over-activated through the PI3K-active mTOR and FOXO recruitment. Consequences include gluconeogenic and lipogenic enzyme alteration, insulin resistance, autophagy reduction, and liver cells apoptosis, all of which may be inverted through calorie restriction. Moreover, increased mitochondrial biogenesis, reduced inflammation, and increased fatty acid oxidation are mediated through AMPK, SIRTUIN, and PPARS, all of which are altered in NAFLD. CONCLUSION: This review outlines prominent pathways, the targeting of which may be promising for NAFLD treatment, according to evidence-based studies.


The covalent binding of dialdehyde derivatives of ATP and ADP (o-ATP and o-ADP) results in inactivation of chloroplast CF1-ATPase, the degree of inactivation being increased at a rise in temperature and pH. o-ADP causes predominant inhibition of the Mg2+-dependent, while o-ATP--of both Mg2+- and Ca2+-dependent activities of CF1-ATPase. The substrates and reaction products prevent the enzyme inactivation, whereas the stimulators of the Mg2+-dependent ATPase activity enhance it. The effect of these stimulators is correlated with predominant incorporation of [3H] o-nucleotide into the beta-subunit of CF1. In the absence of the stimulators o-ADP is predominantly bound to the alpha-subunit of CF1. The binding of o-ADP and o-ATP to the beta-subunit is increased in the presence of Mg2+. A comparative analysis of the labelled nucleotides incorporation into individual subunits and the changes in the catalytic and regulatory properties of the enzyme demonstrated that the catalytic and stimulator-sensitive "regulatory" sites of the enzyme are located on the beta-subunits.


The neighborhood selection method directly explores the conditional dependence structure and has been widely used to construct undirected graphical models. However, except for some special cases with discrete data, there is little research on nonparametric methods for neighborhood selection with mixed data. This paper develops a fully nonparametric neighborhood selection method under a consolidated smoothing spline ANOVA (SS ANOVA) decomposition framework. The proposed model is flexible and contains many existing models as special cases. The proposed method provides a unified framework for mixed data without any restrictions on the type of each random variable. We detect edges by applying an L 1 regularization to interactions in the SS ANOVA decomposition. We propose an iterative procedure to compute the estimates and establish the convergence rates for conditional density and interactions. Simulations indicate that the proposed methods perform well under Gaussian and non-Gaussian settings. We illustrate the proposed methods using two real data examples.


This paper presents an analysis of how the geometry component of the National Curricula for mathematics in Japan and in one selected country of the UK, specifically Scotland, is interpreted by textbook writers. While, of course, textbooks are not the only critical influences on student learning, such texts, as analyses of data from the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) confirm, do have a major impact and are thus important subjects for study. Our analysis is framed by the procedures derived from the work associated with TIMSS. The results presented focus on identifying features of geometry, and approaches to geometry learning, privileged in the textbooks, together with a discussion of how these designs might influence students' performance in geometry. Our analysis indicates that, following the specification of the mathematics curriculum in these countries, Japanese textbooks set out to develop students' deductive reasoning skills through the explicit teaching of proof in geometry, whereas comparative Scottish textbooks tend, at this level, to concentrate on measuring, drawing, finding angles, and so on, coupled with a modicum of opportunities for conjecturing and inductive reasoning. The available research suggests that each approach has its own strengths and weaknesses. Finding ways of capitalising on the strengths and mitigating the weaknesses could prove helpful in formulating new curricular models and designing new student textbooks. An emerging issue is how the design of textbooks might either build on, or neglect, students' intuitive skills when they tackle geometrical problems.


As stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) for gastrointestinal (GI) gains popularity, there is a need to optimize doses and fractionation to minimize GI toxicity. GI organs that have classically developed radiation-induced toxicity include the liver & biliary system, small bowel, esophagus, and rectum. While the literature quantifies dose restrictions for these organs under standard fractionation, there is limited data regarding toxicity with the ablative dose schedules used in SBRT. We conducted a review of the literature to identify prospective and retrospective studies that detail GI toxicities when SBRT was employed. Based on the literature, the median SBRT dose for abdominal and thoracic tumors ranged from 24 to 60 Gy, at 5 to 25 Gy per fraction. The respective observed frequencies of grade 3 and 4 toxicities for the liver, biliary system, small bowel, and esophagus were variable among different studies. Typically, patients who suffered grade 3 and 4 toxicities were more likely to have had some form of systemic therapy as well. The effect of dose, fractionation, timing, and volume on GI toxicities has been described in the literature but more data is necessary to develop uniform treatment guidelines for SBRT.


A growing body of evidence suggests that larval fish use sound as an orientation cue to remotely locate suitable settlement habitats. Several theoretical models have used hearing thresholds to estimate the distance at which fish larvae can detect reefs. However, researchers have often measured hearing thresholds from fish raised in aquaculture environments, or held them in closed-system tanks once caught, where equipment can significantly increase the noise levels in the tanks. The possibility arises that exposure to such noise negatively affects the hearing ability of the fish held there, such that distances predicted from these studies may be underestimated. The objective of this study was to compare the hearing ability of wild versus aquacultured snapper Pagrus auratus using auditory evoked potentials. Juvenile snapper from aquaculture tanks had significantly higher hearing thresholds at 100, 200 and 400 Hz than wild snapper. A controlled noise-exposure experiment, where snapper were ex posed for 2 wk to low-intensity noise at 120 dB re 1 μPa, confirmed these results. When plotted using an extended reef-based model, the distance at which aquaculture-raised snapper are predicted to detect a particular reef was half of that found for their wild counterparts. Clearly, the acoustic history of experimental subjects is an important consideration when using hearing thresholds to make ecological estimations, such as the distance at which larvae could detect reefs.


The present study aimed to determine whether dietary supplementation with methanogen inhibitors during early life may lead to an imprint on the rumen microbial community and change the rumen function and performance of calves to 49-weeks of rearing. Twenty-four 4-day-old Friesian x Jersey cross calves were randomly assigned into a control and a treatment group. Treated calves were fed a combination of chloroform (CF) and 9,10-anthraquinone (AQ) in the solid diets during the first 12 weeks of rearing. Afterward, calves were grouped by treatments until week 14, and then managed as a single group on pasture. Solid diets and water were offered ad libitum. Methane measurements, and sample collections for rumen metabolite and microbial community composition were carried out at the end of weeks 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 14, 24 and 49. Animal growth and dry matter intake (DMI) were regularly monitored over the duration of the experiment. Methane emissions decreased up to 90% whilst hydrogen emissions increased in treated compared to control calves, but only for up to 2 weeks after treatment cessation. The near complete methane inhibition did not affect calves' DMI and growth. The acetate:propionate ratio decreased in treated compared to control calves during the first 14 weeks but was similar at weeks 24 and 49. The proportions of Methanobrevibacter and Methanosphaera decreased in treated compared to control calves during the first 14 weeks; however, at week 24 and 49 the archaea community was similar between groups. Bacterial proportions at the phylum level and the abundant bacterial genera were similar between treatment groups. In summary, methane inhibition increased hydrogen emissions, altered the methanogen community and changed the rumen metabolite profile without major effects on the bacterial community composition. This indicated that the main response of the bacterial community was not a change in composition but rather a change in metabolic pathways. Furthermore, once methane inhibition ceased the methanogen community, rumen metabolites and hydrogen emissions became similar between treatment groups, indicating that perhaps using the treatments tested in this study, it is not possible to imprint a low methane microbiota into the rumen in the solid feed of pre-weaned calves.


OBJECTIVEOur goal was to increase the safety of anterior cervical discectomy, a routine surgery performed by neurosurgeons worldwide, in the face of vertebral artery (VA) anomalies. CLINICAL PRESENTATIONA 59-year-old woman had an intraoperative injury of the left VA during elective anterior cervical discectomy and fusion from C3 to 7. Retrospective analysis of her magnetic resonance images showed bilateral anomalous VAs. Intervention postoperatively, a pseudoaneurysm developed that was subsequently coiled. The patient underwent embolization of the pseudoaneurysm and sacrifice of the parent vessel by endovascular neurosurgical techniques. She had no neurological sequelae but did have some difficulty swallowing. CONCLUSIONRadiologists, neuroradiologists, and surgeons should note the location and course of the VA in their routine evaluation of cervical magnetic resonance images. Neuroradiologists should alert surgeons to the possibility of anomalous VAs that are at risk of injury during surgery. Ultimately, it remains the responsibility of the surgeon to carefully review the images, assess for vascular anomalies, and plan the surgery accordingly.


The rise of antibiotic resistance and the decline in antibiotic discovery have been well publicised. These issues, in combination with a growing global reliance upon antibiotics for everyday modern life, urgently require the discovery of novel antibacterial drugs. Endolysins are one potential candidate to support, or replace, conventional antibiotics. Endolysins are lytic enzymes produced by bacteriophage in natura to enable the release of viral progeny from inside the host bacterium. When applied exogenously, endolysins can lyse Gram-positive bacteria, and thus could be used as a novel antibacterial for this group of pathogens. Biologically active endolysins have been successfully expressed as recombinants in the chloroplast of the green alga, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. C. reinhardtii, and in particular the chloroplast, has several features as a cell factory which make it an attractive alternative to the traditional recombinant protein production platforms. C. reinhardtii is free of endotoxins, can be cultivated at low cost in photobioreactors, has GRAS status, and is genetically tractable. This study initially focuses upon improving the accumulation and activity of one endolysin, Cpl-1, targeting Streptococcus pneumoniae. Recombinant Cpl-1 has been shown previously in the Purton lab to accumulate to moderate levels in the C. reinhardtii chloroplast. Here we present two transgenic lines of C. reinhardtii that appear to accumulate recombinant Cpl-1 to higher levels – one through the incorporation of multiple expression cassettes, and one through codon pair optimization. To improve the activity of Cpl-1 as an enzyme, Cpl-1 binding site mutagenesis, Cpl-1 dimerization, and the production of a potentially synergistic holin protein were all attempted. Finally, an endolysin against Clostridium difficile, CD27L, was successfully produced in the C. reinhardtii chloroplast and shown to be active in vitro. Another endolysin, this time targeting Propionibacterium acnes, failed to express in C. reinhardtii, but was expressed in E. coli, albeit without obvious lytic activity.


A dispensing cabinet of total nutrient admixture is introduced in this paper. Which can be used for nutrient solution dispensing. The clinical application shows that it can provide a practical, simple, safe and satisfactory sterile environment.


A sensitive (1σ rms ≤ 3 mK) 1 mm spectral survey (214.5–285.5 GHz) of the oxygen-rich circumstellar envelope of the red hypergiant NML Cygni (NML Cyg) has been conducted using the Sub-millimeter Telescope (SMT) of the Arizona Radio Observatory (ARO). Over 100 spectral lines were detected, arising from 17 different molecules, including the carbon-bearing species CO, HCN, HCO+, CN, and HNC; sulfur- and silicon-containing compounds H2S, SO, SO2, SiO, and SiS; and more exotic NaCl and AlO. The 1 mm spectrum of NML Cyg closely resembles that of VY Canis Majoris (VY CMa) suggesting that the chemistries of hypergiant stars are similar. The line profiles in NML Cyg consist of multiple velocity features, particularly evident in SO2 and SO. In addition to a spherical wind at the star's systemic velocity, the spectra suggest an asymmetric, blueshifted component near V LSR = −21 ± 3 km s−1 and a collimated, redshifted component near 15 ± 3 km s−1, positioned ∼34° and ∼12°, respectively, from the line of sight. The red- and blueshifted flows appear to be randomly oriented, and likely trace sporadic mass loss events. Their LSR velocities align closely with those of 22 GHz water masers, suggesting an NE–SE orientation. The winds may also be associated with the asymmetric nebula in F555W HST images but extending to 5″ (∼600R *). NML Cyg appears to be another example of rare, massive stars with collimated, episodic ejections, analogous to Betelgeuse and VY CMa, lending support for an important new mass loss mechanism—surface activity.


Research shows that the majority of the population in developing countries lack basic financial services, which reduces opportunities of capital and wealth accumulation. As more service opportunities become available online, there is a growing need to develop technology platforms that can enable the world's poor participate in the global e-economy. Thus, in this paper, we review some of the prominent electronic money transfer systems and propose M-cash, a mobile money transfer service ideal for low-resourced environments. M-cash is developed in Hietml and Postgres SQL. The interface with the GSM network is provided by Kannel SMSC gateway. We simulated the various transactions of the system using dummy clients. The system is built on the concept of making the service available even to people who cannot afford to own a cellular phone. We discuss the operation ecosystem of M-cash and conclude with a discussion of the future research direction.


This paper presents a research on railway station usability, where Usability Performances Areas (UPA) and Usability Performances Indicators (UPI) have been defined in order to understand the gap between intended design quality and actual quality as perceived by end-users of the building. According with the ISO 9241/11 standard, the definition of usability metrics has been based on the observation of users and tasks in the railway station, resulting in 13 clusters of users, with characterizing behaviours and needs, involved in 15 elementary tasks. UPAs express the general usability requirements common to all tasks, which have been successively elicited in a set of corresponding usability indicators, specifically addressing each task. The full list of UPIs has been applied for the assessment of an underground station of Naples (Italy), belonging to an underground stations network created with the joint work of world-class architects and artists. Usability critical points related to architectural plan, architectural detailing and outfitting which result from poor consideration of end-users in building design process are discussed, together with implications for the effective integration of ergonomic skills in the design process.


This paper presents the theoretical and computational analysis for a photovoltaic (PV) receiver for the Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) dish concentrator. During photovoltaic energy conversion, thermal energy is also generated which results in increases in cell temperature. However, as the cell temperature increases, the efficiency of the PV cells drops—a 40°C increase in temperature for this unit cuts performance by 25%. An algorithm has been developed to predict the maximum cell temperature and working fluid temperature as a function of channel size, mass flow rate, cooling configuration, fluid-to-tube heat transfer coefficient and other parameters. To evaluate the transient characteristics of the system, a dynamic model of the concentrating PV collector has been developed. The model describes the change in temperature of the cells and the coolant in the receiver as a function of time, taking into account the: solar insolation, change in energy content of the element, energy transfer by the fluid flow, and temperature dependent energy flow between the element and the surroundings. Five energy balance differential equations have been solved simultaneously to examine the transient nature of the system. Computational fluid dynamics flow modeling (CFD) software has also been utilized to compare the temperature distribution along the module with the analytical results. The flow model is built and applied mesh using the preprocessing tool, GAMBIT, and the CFD analysis has been done by using Fluent. The model quantifies temperature, velocity and pressure profiles of the module.Copyright © 2004 by ASME


The purpose of this study is to analyse the determinants of life expectancy as proxy for health status of the OECD countries' population. A production function of health is used to explain life expectancy at birth for total and ageing population and according to gender. Socio-economic factors, health resources and lifestyles are defined as the main determinants of heath status. The estimation approach assumes that income and education are endogenous and a panel data approach is used to control for this problem. Our evidence shows that income, education and health resources (through consultations) are important factors affecting positively life expectancy and risky lifestyles (tobacco and alcohol consumption) are harmful to health. However there are differences between males and females. Income and lifestyles are the major determinants affecting men's health while for women education and the effective use of health services (through consultations) explain mostly life expectancy both at birth and late age.


Abstract The chemical composition of volcanic gas emissions from each of the four summit craters of Mount Etna was measured remotely in May 2001, using a Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometer operated on the upper flanks of the volcano. The results reveal constant HCl/HF ratio but distinct SO2/HCl and SO2/HF ratios in the emitted gases, which, in the light of melt inclusion data for Etna basalts, can be interpreted in terms of escape of gases from partially, and variably, degassed magma at different depths beneath the summit. Gases released from the three main summit craters (Bocca Nuova, Voragine, and Northeast) had an identical composition, controlled by bulk degassing of a single magma body that had previously lost c. 25% of its original sulphur. The similar gas composition at all three main craters suggests that these are connected to a central conduit system that branches at relatively shallow depth. Measurements of the bulk volcanic plume on the same day, c. 7 km downwind, show that degassing from these craters dominated the total gas output of the volcano, and that no significant chemical evolution occurred within the plume over a time-scale of c. 12 min. Weaker gas emissions from the Southeast crater were comparatively depleted in SO2 (SO2/HCl and SO2/HF ratios a factor of two lower), implying that this crater is fed either by a separate conduit or by a branch of the central conduit whose geometry favours solubility-controlled volatile fractionation. Still lower SO2/HCl and SO2/HF ratios measured for residual degassing of a lava flow erupted from the Southeast crater verify the lower solubility and earlier escape of sulphur compared to halogens at Etna. Fractional magma degassing is also implied by strong chemical contrasts between the bulk volcanic plume and fissure gas emissions measured during the July-August 2001 flank eruption. These results highlight the ability of FTIR spectrometry to detect fine spatial and temporal variations in magma degassing processes, and thereby constrain models of shallow plumbing systems.


From Summary: "The methods of NACA reports 865 and 1090 have been applied to the calculation of the rolling-moment and yawing-moment coefficients due to rolling for unswept wings with or without flaps or ailerons. The methods are based on lifting-line theory and allow the use of nonlinear section lift data. The method presented in this report permits calculations to be made somewhat beyond maximum lift for wings having no twist or continuous twist and employing airfoil sections which do not display large discontinuities in the lift curves. Calculations can be made up to maximum lift for wings with discontinuous twist such as that produced by partial-span flaps or ailerons, or both. Two calculated examples are presented in simplified computing forms in order to illustrate the procedures involved."


The paper determined the species richness, distribution, and status of mosses in selected mountains in Mindanao, Philippines. Field collections of mosses were conducted in Mt. Kalatungan, Bukidnon Province, Mt. Matutum, South Cotabato Province, and Mt. Malambo, Davao Province at 10 meters on each side of the trails using alphataxonomy method. The mosses were collected, classified, and identified. Its status was also assessed. The study revealed 137 species, 87 genera and 33 families of mosses. Of the 137 species, 109 were found in Mt. Kalatungan , 59 in Mt. Matutum. and 20 in Mt. Malambo . Assessment of status of the species revealed 7 species as Philippine record, 37 new to Mindanao, 1 collected only twice, 29 widespread, 12 rare species, and all species collected were new record in terms of locality. Mt. Kalatungan had the highest species richness, followed by Mt. Matutum, and Mt. Malambo had the least number of species. Based on the findings, with the alarming rate of degradation of the mountains which is basically caused by human activities such as land clearing, slash and burn method for expanding crop plantation, urbanization, firewood consumption, over collection of moss plant materials of horticulture, landscaping and other commercial purposes. Some species are epiphytes on tree trunks or branches of live trees while others are on rotten logs, rock surfaces, moist stones along the stream banks and some grow well on soil. Hence, the identified habitats of new records in the Philippines, new to Mindanao, new in terms of locality, widespread, and rare species of mosses should be protected through a strict implementation of the forest laws by concerned authorities. Keywords - Mosses, species richness, distribution, status, Mindanao Island, Philippines.


We present a method for determining streambed seepage rates using time series thermal data. The new method is based on quantifying changes in phase and amplitude of temperature variations between pairs of subsurface sensors. For a reasonable range of streambed thermal properties and sensor spacings the time series method should allow reliable estimation of seepage rates for a range of at least ±10 m d−1 (±1.2 × 10−2 m s−1), with amplitude variations being most sensitive at low flow rates and phase variations retaining sensitivity out to much higher rates. Compared to forward modeling, the new method requires less observational data and less setup and data handling and is faster, particularly when interpreting many long data sets. The time series method is insensitive to streambed scour and sedimentation, which allows for application under a wide range of flow conditions and allows time series estimation of variable streambed hydraulic conductivity. This new approach should facilitate wider use of thermal methods and improve understanding of the complex spatial and temporal dynamics of surface water–groundwater interactions.


The kinetic investigation between diphenylbenzidine (DPBD) and different reductants i.e. sodium thiosulfate, ascorbic acid and arsenic trioxide is being reported. The results of these reactions in triplicate have been interpreted through the statistical calculation using Standard deviation in MS excel 2000. The characterization of diphenylbenzidine has also been undertaken. It was prepared using mole ratio method by allowing interaction between diphenylamine (DP A) and cerium (IV) sulfate tetra hydrate and the product DPBD was identified through spectral analysis.

The reduction of DPBD with sodium thiosulfate has been investigated and the rate of reaction with respect to DPBD, S2O32- and H+ has been determined. Kinetic order of the system with respect to each of the DPBD, S2O32- and H+ has been observed and it has been found that the reaction follows first order kinetics in DPBD and similar results were recorded for the other reactants Le. thiosulfate and H+. The redox mechanism has been explained through the bimolecular step reaction proceeding through an intermediate ion pair resulting from the interaction of oxidizing and reducing species. The suggested rate law for the system is as follows,

Rate = {k1[C12H10 N2 C12 H10 ]+ k2 K[C12H10 N2 C12 H10] [H+]} [S2O32-]

Having the values of k1 and k2 AS 1.07 X102 ± 1.52 dm3. mol-1 s-1 and 7.45 X102± 0.14 dm3. mol-1 .s-1 respectively.

Activation parameters, for the reaction, have also been determined by varying temperature between 15 - 30°C. The values of energy of activation, enthalpy and entropy were subsequently evaluated. These values have been calculated by using the Arrhenius and Eyring plot and are found to be as with standard deviation Ea = 28.73 ± 0.5 kJ / mol , I"H≠= 26.33 ± 0.10 kJ / mol and I"S≠= -113 ± 0.33 J/mol. K.

The redox reaction between diphenylbenzidine and ascorbic acid (ASC) has been spectrophotometrically investigated with in pH range of 3.5-5.0. To find out the effect of single species on rate of reaction the study has been under taken using pseudo first order condition. It is found that the rate of reaction increased with the increase of hydrogen ion concentration and the first order is found w.r.t [H+]. The rate law for the redox reaction has been suggested. Experimental results confirm the validity of the suggested mechanism. The rate law for the reaction is as follow,

Rate = {k1[C12H10 N2 C12 H10 ]+ k2 K[C12H10 N2 C12 H10] [H+]} [C6H8O6]

Where k1, and k2 are the rate constants, having the value of kl = 7.71x102 ± 1.05 dm3 .mol-1 s-1 and k2 = 4.201 x 103 ± 4.93 dm3 .mol-1 s-1 . K is the equilibrium constant of protonated and deprotonated forms of diphenylbenzidinc having value of 476 dm3.mol-l. The over all order of reaction is two.

Effect of temperature with in a range of 15 - 30°C has been examined for the determination of the activation parameters. They are found to be Ea = 30.00 ± 0.56 kJ / mol. I"H≠= 28.00 ± 0.34kJ/ mol and I"S≠= -99 ± 0.05 J/ mol. K.

The work was also extended to the study pertaining to electron transfer reaction between diphenylbenzidine and arsenic (III) oxide. The reaction has been scrutinized under pseudo first order condition keeping the concentration of arsenic (III) oxide constant and varying the concentration of DPBD. To find out the effect H+ and temperature the reaction was carried out in between a pH of 3.0 to 4.5 and at temperature 15-30°C. Effect of pH and temperature on the order of reaction with respect to each of DBPD , arsenic (III) oxide and H+ has been evaluated and has been found to be first. The rate law for the system mechanism has been recommended as follows,

Rate = k2 [C12H10 N2 C12 H10] [As2O3] 1+K[H+]

From the slope the value for the rate constant k2 has been calculated as = 1.01 x 102 ±2.46 dm3 .mol-1s-1 Activation parameters for the redox system have also been calculated using Arrhenius and Eyring equations. In these Ea= 26.41 ± 0.34 kJ.mol-1 and that the values of I"H≠and I"S≠have been found to be 23.49± 0.80 kJ.mol-1 and -117± 2.79 J mol-1 K-1 .


Background. Reliable genotyping that provides an accurate description of diversity in the context of pathogen emergence is required for the establishment of strategies to improve disease management. MultiLocus variable number tandem repeat analysis (MLVA) is a valuable genotyping method. It can be performed at small evolutionary scales where high discriminatory power is needed. Strains of the Ralstonia solanacearum species complex (RSSC) are highly genetically diverse. These destructive pathogens are the causative agent of bacterial wilt on an unusually broad range of host plants worldwide. In this study, we developed an MLVA scheme for genotyping the African RSSC phylotype III. Methods. We selected different publicly available tandem repeat (TR) loci and additional TR loci from the genome of strain CMR15 as markers. Based on these loci, a new phylotype III-MLVA scheme is presented. MLVA and multiLocus sequence typing (MLST) were compared at the global, regional, and local scales. Different populations of epidemiologically related and unrelated RSSC phylotype III strains were used. Results and Discussion. Sixteen polymorphic TR loci, which included seven microsatellites and nine minisatellites, were selected. These TR loci were distributed throughout the genome (chromosome and megaplasmid) and located in both coding and intergenic regions. The newly developed RS3-MLVA16 scheme was more discriminative than MLST. RS3-MLVA16 showed good ability in differentiating strains at global, regional, and local scales, and it especially highlighted epidemiological links between closely related strains at the local scale. RS3-MLVA16 also underlines genetic variability within the same MLST-type and clonal complex, and gives a first overview of population structure. Overall, RS3-MLVA16 is a promising genotyping method for outbreak investigation at a fine scale, and it could be used for outbreak investigation as a first-line, low-cost assay for the routine screening of RSSC phylotype III.


Various modalities are available for imaging the female pelvis. This paper reviews the use of each of those radiographic techniques in the evaluation of female infertility.


Interoperability is the key target of integrated architecture design, as well as the basis of the capability of integrated systems. Since interoperability plays an important role in fulfilling operational missions, this study proposes a quantification measurement method for the interoperability at architecture level by matching the missions with the initial conditions of executable model—Petri Net. First, the process net of the Petri net model is used to present the interoperation relationship between systems. Then the quality attribute for interoperation is assigned by incident matrix of system interoperation to accomplish the measurement on the interoperability of a heterogeneous set of integrated systems. Finally, the National Missile Defense System is taken as an example to illustrate the application of this method.


Oral controlled release delivery systems are programmed to deliver the drug in predictable time frame that will increase the efficacy and minimize the adverse effects and increase the bioavailability of drugs. It is most widely utilized route of administration among all the routes that have been explored for systemic delivery of drugs via pharmaceutical products of different dosage form. Recent technological and scientific research has been devoted to the development of rate controlled drug delivery systems to overcome physiological adversities such as short gastric residence times and unpredictable gastric emptying times. Differences in gastric physiology such as gastric pH and motility exhibit both intra and inter subject variability demonstrating significant impact on gastric residence time and drug delivery behavior. This triggered an increased interest towards formulation of novel delivery systems which retained in the stomach for prolonged and predictable period of time. Several approaches such as floating drug delivery systems (FDDS), swelling and expanding systems, bioadhesive systems, modified shape systems, high density systems or other delayed gastric emptying devices have been discovered till now. FDDS are of particular interest for drugs that are locally active and have narrow absorption window in stomach or upper small intestine, unstable in the intestinal or colonic environment, and exhibit low solubility at high pH values. This review article is in pursuit of giving detailed information on the pharmaceutical basis of their design, classification, advantages, in vitro and in vivo evaluation parameters, and the future potential of FDDS.


: We monitored the management of acute cholecystitis in a rural area of Japan to determine the effectiveness of new guidelines for the management of acute cholecystitis and cholangitis. Between January 2000 and September 2011, 366 patients were treated for acute cholecystitis. Of these, 59 had common bile duct stones (CBDS) and 307 did not. Patients in both groups were further subdivided into two groups: a before guidelines group (BGG; n=153) and an after guideline group (AGG; n=154). Among the patients without CBDS, early cholecystectomy was more common in the AGG group (n=53) than in the BGG group. Furthermore, the length of hospital stay was four days shorter in the AGG group than in the BGG group (n=23). Among the patients with CBDS, the timing of cholecystectomy after endoscopic retrograde cholangiography was seven days earlier in the AGG group than in the BGG group. Even in a rural area of Japan, early cholecystectomy appears safe and can decrease the length of hospital stay.


Quiescence is a reversible G0 state essential for differentiation, regeneration, stem-cell renewal, and immune cell activation. Necessary for long-term survival, quiescent chromatin is compact, hypoacetylated, and transcriptionally inactive. How transcription activates upon cell-cycle re-entry is undefined. Here we report robust, widespread transcription within the first minutes of quiescence exit. During quiescence, the chromatin-remodeling enzyme RSC was already bound to the genes induced upon quiescence exit. RSC depletion caused severe quiescence exit defects: a global decrease in RNA polymerase II (Pol II) loading, Pol II accumulation at transcription start sites, initiation from ectopic upstream loci, and aberrant antisense transcription. These phenomena were due to a combination of highly robust Pol II transcription and severe chromatin defects in the promoter regions and gene bodies. Together, these results uncovered multiple mechanisms by which RSC facilitates initiation and maintenance of large-scale, rapid gene expression despite a globally repressive chromatin state.


Objective First-trimester abortion is widely available in Mexico City since legalisation in 2007, but few data exist surrounding pharmacy staff knowledge and sales practices. We describe misoprostol availability, whether a prescription is required, and knowledge of the legal status of abortion and uses for misoprostol among pharmacy staff in Mexico City. Methods Data were collected from 174 pharmacies in Mexico City. One employee at each pharmacy was asked about availability, need for prescription, indications for misoprostol, and sociodemographic information. Our primary outcome was availability of misoprostol. We used descriptive and bivariate statistics to compare knowledge and practices by type of pharmacy and staff gender. Patients and public involvement No patients were involved in this study. Results Of the 174 pharmacies, 65 were chain and 109 small independent. Misoprostol was available at 61% of sites. Only 49% of independent pharmacies sold misoprostol, compared with 81.5% of chain pharmacies (p<0.05). Knowledge of indications for misoprostol use was similar. The majority (80%) of respondents knew that abortion was legal in Mexico City, and 44% reported requiring a prescription for sale of misoprostol, with no significant difference between male and female staff or by pharmacy type. Conclusions Availability, requirement of a prescription, and knowledge of indications for use of misoprostol varies among pharmacies, resulting in differential access to medical abortion. Pharmacies may be a good place to target education for pharmacy staff and women about safe and effective use of misoprostol for abortion.


Hot section parts of combined cycle gas turbines are susceptible to degradation due to high temperature creep, crack formation by thermal stress, and high temperature oxidation, etc. Thus, regularly repairing or replacing the hot section parts such as gas turbine blades is inevitable. For this purpose, revolutionary and advanced repair technologies for gas turbines have been developed to enhance reliability of the repaired parts and reduce the maintenance cost of the gas turbines. The cold spraying process, which has been studied as not only a new coating technology but also as a process for obtaining a thick deposition layer, is proposed as a potential repairing solution. The process results in little or no oxidation of the spray materials, so the surfaces stay clean, which in turn enables superior bonding. Since the operating temperature is relatively low, the particles do not melt and the shrinkage on cooling is very low. In this study, the cold spraying conditions were optimized by taking into account the particle kinetic energy and the rebound energy for application in repairing gas turbine blades. A high quality cold-sprayed layer is that which has lowest porosity; thus the spraying parameters were optimized to achieve low-porosity layer, which was verified by scanning electron microscopy (SEM).


Due to their excellent piezoelectric and ferroelectric properties lead oxide based ceramics, generally represented by lead zirconate titanate [PbZrxTi1-xO3]/ (PZT), are the most widely used materials for piezoelectric actuators, sensors and transducers applications. Considering lead toxicity, there is an urgent need to develop effective lead-free ferroelectric systems, which are biocompatible and environmental friendly in nature. Several classes of materials are now being reconsidered as potentially attractive alternatives to PZT based systems. The solid solution of potassium niobate and sodium niobate, (1-x)KNbO3–xNaNbO3, was found to exhibit better piezoelectric properties around the MPB at x~0.5, which separates two orthorhombic ferroelectric phases. Therefore, K0.5Na0.5NbO3 (KNN) has been recognized as one of the most promising host materials for new lead-free piezoelectrics. However, the piezoelectric properties of KNN ceramics are not comparable to PZT ceramics. Moreover, the proper densification of KNN ceramics, synthesized by conventional process is very difficult. The presence of volatile alkali elements further makes the sintering of KNN ceramics difficult. In order to solve these problems researchers have tried to make solid solution of KNN system with other systems. LiSbO3 (LS) modification in KNN based ceramics improves the piezoelectric properties as well as the sintering behavior and makes them comparable to lead based systems. The enhanced piezoelectric and ferroelectric properties in KNN-LS ceramics are due to the presence of the orthorhombic to tetragonal (TO-T) polymorphic phase transition (PPT) temperature close to room temperature. The role of PPT in KNN-LS ceramics is similar to the MPB in PZT based systems. However, the MPB in PZT based systems is nearly independent of temperature and exists over a broad temperature range. Whereas in KNN-LS based system it is dependent on temperature and maximum properties are obtained when the PPT occurs close to RT. Hence, poling temperature will have strong effect on the piezoelectric properties of KNN-LS based ceramics. In this work, lead-free (1-x)[K0.5Na0.5NbO3]-x[LiSbO3] (x=0, 0.04, 0.05 and 0.06)/(KNN-LS) ceramics were prepared by conventional solid-state reaction (CSSR) route. For dense morphology, pure KNN ceramics were sintered at 1120oC for 4h, whereas in LS modified KNN ceramics dense morphology was obtained at 1080oC for 4h. The structural study at room temperature (RT) revealed the transformation of pure orthorhombic to tetragonal structure with the increase in LS content in (1-x)KNN-(x)LS ceramics. Temperature dependent dielectric study confirmed the increase of diffuse phase transition nature with the increase in LS content in KNN-LS ceramics. The presence of orthorhombic to tetragonal (TO-T) polymorphic phase transition temperature (PPT) ~43oC confirmed the existence of two ferroelectric (orthorhombic and tetragonal) phases in 0.95KNN-0.05LS ceramics at RT. 0.95KNN-0.05LS ceramics showed better ferroelectric and piezoelectric properties i.e., remnant polarization (Pr) ~ 18.7 μC/cm2, coercive field (Ec) ~ 11.8 kV/cm, piezoelectric coefficient (d33) ~ 215 pC/N, planar mode coupling coefficient (kp) ~ 0.415 and remnant strain ~0.07% were obtained. These properties are still lower than the PZT based ceramics. In order to further improve the piezoelectric properties the effect of Ag, Ta and V doping in 0.95KNN-0.05LS system has been investigated in detail. It was found that the substitution of Ag+ ions in place of (K0.5Na0.5)+ ions in 0.95[(K0.5Na0.5)(1-X)AgxNbO3]-0.05LiSbO3 ¬/ KNAN-LS system initially decreased the piezoelectric and ferroelectric properties but for x=0.06 improvement in the piezoelectric and ferroelectric properties were obtained in comparison to the 0.95KNN-0.05LS ceramics. The improved properties were discussed in terms of the structural changes occurred in the ceramics. Substitution of Ta+5 ions in place of Nb+5 ions in 0.95[(K0.5Na0.5)Nb(1-x)TaxO3]-0.05LiSbO3/KNNT-LS ceramics increased the ferroelectric and piezoelectric properties without affecting the crystal structure of the ceramics. The KNNT-LS ceramics with x=0.02 exhibited maximum ferroelectric and piezoelectric properties. Moreover, the piezoelectric properties were found to be nearly independent of temperature up to ~ 200oC, which is a good characteristic requirement for the ceramic to be used in high temperature piezoelectric applications. In order to improve the sintering behavior of the ceramics, V+5 has been substituted on the Nb+5 site of the 0.95[(K0.5Na0.5)Nb(1-x)VxO3]-0.05LiSbO3/KNNV-LS ceramics. The sintering temperature was drastically reduced with the increase in V+5 content, whereas the electrical properties also decreased significantly. Among all the V+5 doped ceramics, maximum piezoelectric and ferroelectric properties were obtained in case of KNNV-LS ceramics with x=0.06.
 It is well known from the previous reports on different piezoelectric ceramics that microwave (MW) processing of ceramics could be an effective way to enhance the densification behavior as well the electrical properties. To further enhance the density and the electrical properties of 0.95[K0.5Na0.5NbO3]-0.05[LiSbO3], 0.95[(K0.5Na0.5)0.94Ag0.06NbO3]-0.05LiSbO3, 0.95[(K0.5Na0.5)Nb0.98Ta0.02O3]-0.05LiSbO3 , 0.95[(K0.5Na0.5)Nb0.94V0.06O3]-0.05LiSbO3 ceramics, these ceramics were synthesized by microwave processing technique. It was found that microwave processing of these ceramics not only saved the processing time but also improved the ferroelectric and piezoelectric properties in comparision to the conventionally processed ceramics. Among all the microwave processed ceramics, 0.95[(K0.5Na0.5)Nb0.98Ta0.02O3]-0.05LiSbO3 ceramic showed maximum ferroelectric and piezoelectric properties i.e., d33~ 257 pC/N, Pr ~ 30.48 μC/cm2, kp ~ 0.48 and remnant strain ~ 0.10%.


Based on the most comprehensive work on Iranian snakes to date, 4 species of the boid snakes of the genus Eryx (Daudin, 1803), E. tataricus (Lichtenstein, 1823), E. miliaris (Pallas, 1773), E. elegans (Gray, 1849), and E. jaculus (Linnaeus, 1758), have been reported from northeastern Iran. In this study, the distribution, morphological characters, and taxonomic status of the genus Eryx in northeastern Iran are reviewed. Four metric and 9 meristic characters were studied in 47 specimens belonging to various populations of Eryx in different parts of Khorasan provinces. Descriptions of the characters of the species of Eryx in northeastern Iran were revised. According to the results, and considering the principle of priority, we concluded that the northeastern populations of E. elegans are conspecific with E. jaculus, and the populations of E. tataricus are conspecific with E. miliaris. In addition, 2 specimens belonging to a population of Eryx in the area were found that differ from all other Iranian species of the genus in several taxonomic characters, but generally were similar to E. miliaris. These specimens need more comprehensive study to clarify their taxonomic status and phylogenetic relationship using more morphology traits, ecology, and molecular studies.


The geographic distribution is plotted, and where known, the seasonal occurrence with new data on sightings is given for the smaller Cetacea of Chile. Species documented are: Cephalorhynchus commersonii, C. eutropia, Delphinus delphis, Lissodelphis peronii, Lagenorhynchus australis, L. obscurus, L. cruciger, Tursiops sp., Grampus griseus, Orcinus orca, Globicephala melaena, and Phocoena spinipinnis. Several small dolphin fisheries exist. The pilot whale may be exploited in the future in Chile.


Background and aims To remedy problematic Internet use (PIU) and problematic online gaming (POG) in adolescents, much is expected from efforts by parents to help youths to contain their screen use. Such parental mediation can include (a) refraining from acting, (b) co-viewing or co-gaming with the teen, (c) active mediation, and (d) restrictive mediation. We evaluated if parental mediation practices are linked to PIU and POG in adolescents. Methods For a systematic literature review, we searched for publications presenting survey data and relating parental mediation practices to levels of PIU and/or POG in adolescents. The review's selection criteria were met by 18 PIU and 9 POG publications, reporting on 81.002 and 12.915 adolescents, respectively. We extracted data on gaming problems, mediation interventions, study design features, and sample characteristics. Results No type of parental mediation was consistently associated with lower or elevated problematic screen use rates in the adolescents. Refraining from parental mediation tended to aggravate screen use problems, whereas active mediation (talking to the teen) may mitigate such problems in PIU, but less clearly in POG. The link of restrictive mediation with problematic screen use varied from positive to negative, possibly depending on type of restriction. In both PIU and POG, family cohesion was related to lower rates of the problem behavior concerned and family conflict to higher rates. Discussion and conclusions Parental mediation practices may affect problematic screen use rates for better or worse. However, research of higher quality, including observations of parent-teen interactions, is needed to confirm the trends noted and advance the critical issue of the possible association between PIU, POG, and family interactions.


The balance between protein production, folding, transport, assembly and the timely degradation of proteins is defined as protein homeostasis. This process is controlled by a network of protein quality control (PQC) that includes molecular chaperone and protein degradation systems. Various situations may perturb protein homeostasis. In this thesis, we studied how acute injury and chronic diseases may lead to protein homeostasis imbalances. In particular, we tested under each of these conditions of stress, how heat shock proteins (HSPs) or other pathways in PQC may help to rebalance protein homeostasis. The experimental research in this thesis is dedicated to two entirely different different challenges: 1) the poultry breeding industry in China, where animals often suffer from acute heat stress induced myocardial cell injury; 2) heritable neurodegenerative diseases in humans, in particular Huntington's disease (HD), where patients chronically express an aggregation-prone mutant protein. Our studies support the idea that acute stress and chronic stress are largely different and require different PQC networks for optimal protection. Even within one chaperone family, as was illustrated for the group of small HSPs, different members are not only differentially regulated but also protect against different forms of stress. Our data on insulin growth factor pathways further unscored how cells regulate protein homeostasis multiple ways, not only by improving chaperone capacities and degradative capacities, but even by extracellular dumping of protein damage. These multiple layers of PQC underscore the importance of maintaining protein homeostasis for cellular and organismal fitness.


Cash transfers programs have been shown to have positive effects on a variety of outcomes. While much of the literature focuses on the role of conditionality in achieving desired impact, this paper focuses on the role of 'soft conditionality' implemented through both 'labeling' and 'messaging' in evaluating the impact of the Child Grants Program in Lesotho, an unconditional cash transfer targeting poor households with orphans and vulnerable children. Beneficiary households received a clear message that the transfer should be spent on the interest and needs of children. Our findings are based on a randomized experiment and suggest that 'soft conditionality' does play a strong role in increasing expenditure for children, especially on education, clothing and footwear. Results indicate in fact that transfer income is spent differently from general income as it exerts both an income and a substitution effect. This behavioral change is confirmed by comparing the ex-ante expected behaviors with the ex-post actual response to the program. We find that for expenditure categories linked to the wellbeing of children the ex-post response was much higher than the ex-ante expected behavior.


In this study, the authors propose a novel full-diversity combination algorithm to significantly improve the performance of the network Kalman-based blind equalizers. Based on the weighted Gaussian sum (WGS) technique and the network of extended Kalman filters (NEKF), the proposed full-diversity blind equalizer can employ the prediction errors of network of Kalman filters to achieve the maximum likelihood (ML) detection. In the first initial condition, the proposed full-diversity blind equalizer requires an initial training sequence in order to estimate the initial channel coefficients. For symbol detection, the proposed full-diversity blind equalizer demonstrates a significant improvement over the conventional WGS-IMM(Interacting Multiple Model) blind equalizer in the bit error rate (BER) performance. Besides, from the trade-off between performance and computational complexity, the proposed modified 2-Diversity blind equalizer is shown to be a best choice for the WGS-based blind equalizer.


. Intermetallic Ti-Al-Cr layers with small additions of Si, Zr, W, and Y were deposited on γ-TiAl specimens using magnetron sputtering. The oxidation behaviour of the coated γ-TiAl alloy was studied in the temperature range between 950 and 1000°C under cyclic oxidation conditions in air. Compared to the bare substrate material, the coatings exhibited higher oxidation resistance. During prolonged exposure the intermetallic layers degraded losing their capability to form a protective alumina scale. On coated γ-TiAl samples zirconia topcoats were deposited by electron beam physical vapour deposition. These thermal barrier coating systems exhibited lifetimes exceeding the maximum exposure length of 1000 1 h cycles at 950°C, but failed at 1000°C. Failure was caused by degradation of the bond coats resulting in spallation of the thermally grown oxides.


The SI-5 electron-paramagnetic-resonance (EPR) centre is a dominant defect in some high-purity semi-insulating (HPSI) SiC substrates and has recently been shown to originate from the negatively charged carbon vacancy-carbon antisite pair (VC − Si C ). In this work, photoexcitation EPR (photo-EPR) was used for determination of the energy position of deep acceptor levels of VCCSi in 4H-SiC. Our photo-EPR measurements in slightly n-type material show an increase of the EPR signal of VC − Si C for photon energies from ~0.8 eV to ~1.3 eV. Combining the data from EPR, deep level transient spectroscopy and supercell calculations we suggest that the (1–|2–) levels of the different configurations of the defect are located in the range ~0.8-1.1 eV below the conduction band.


This study explored the relationship between articulator movement and prosody in children at different developmental ages. Jaw, lower lip, and upper lip kinematics were examined in 4-, 7-, and 11-year-old children as they produced the declarative and interrogative forms of utterances "Show Bob a bot" and "Show Pop a pot." Articulator movement differences were found between declaratives and interrogatives during the production of vowel and consonant targets. The 7- and 11-year-olds differentiated the duration and displacement of their articulator movements to distinguish between declaratives and interrogatives. Several age-related differences in movement duration between the 4-year-olds and the older participants were associated with the production of these targets. Productions of declaratives and interrogatives were not associated with any significant differences in articulator movement variability, although variability did decrease significantly with maturation. The results suggest that children modify their articulator movements to meet the prosodic and linguistic demands of the task. While 4-year-olds appear to be able to modify lip and jaw movement to mark the declarative-interrogative contrast, refinement of these movements continues throughout childhood.


The relevant meaning of moral has been constantly discussed topic in terms its sources and its universality. We have seen as the source of morality the Metaphysics in ancient times, Theology in the Middle Ages, and the information theory in new era. In modern times, we have different perspectives for the source of the formation of morality determined by good or bad reasons as a result depending on the individuals. Statements related to the source of moral and what forms the moral can be said in two words: one of them is human itself, and the other is the thought of existing love. On the other hand, it has been a subject for discussion if the moral is always valid, over the ages, objective and universal or something subjective that changes depending on individuals and also because of different societies. Therefore, who accepts moral as objective and universal, it is a propensity that comes from birth, but who thinks that moral is a subjective definition that changes lives depending on the society and during the period of time particular people live. In this study, we referred to the related debates about the issues and serious changes of technology and science which have brought to our lives but along with misuse of these facilities, such as the reality of violence against women, terrorism, human rights violations, But how about the meaning of moral, and its possible sources. If there is still a universal meaning of moral in this world that looks like now like a small village.


ABSTRACT This paper explores whether ambitions to open up the traditional Swedish model of top-down conservation methods to local influences are indicative of an actual transition in governance of Swedish national park policy (NPP), and examines whether such a shift entails an increase in local influence over local interests and needs. Methodologically, we analyse a combination of governance types and incorporate theoretical definitions of power and accountability. The establishment of new governance arrangements – where power is shared, interactions promoted and accountability is directed downwards – indicates that Sweden's NPP is undergoing a change in its mode of governance. This change also seems to include ceding some influence to local interests, and the possibility of combining conservation with the utilisation of certain natural resources. The results of our research also provide valuable insights into when the establishment of shared-governance arrangements are likely to succeed; in short, this seems more likely when there are established sectors sited in a robust legal framework and where strong international commitments potentially play a role. In conclusion, we contend that when seeking diversified governance arrangements it is not enough simply to take local practices and customs into consideration – they have to be strengthened.


Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to undertake a systematic literature review to appraise the current evidence relating to the factors associated with violence and aggression in adult psychiatric hospital inpatient settings.

Design/methodology/approach

A systematic search of following four databases was conducted: Scopus, PsychINFO Medline, CIHAHL and PsychArticle. Following the application of the inclusion criteria, ten papers were extracted and included in the review. A quality appraisal tool, Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT) version 2011 (Pluye et al., 2011), was employed for the appraisal of the qualitative and quantitative studies. MMAT has been designed for systematic literature reviews that include qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods studies. Of these, eight were of quantitative methodology and two were of qualitative studies.

Findings

These ten papers provide an insight into factors associated with violence and aggression towards nursing staff. Three main themes were identified: the environment, attitudes/interaction of staff, and the patient's mental illness. The themes were important factors in the causes of violence but were interlinked highlighting the complex nature of violence towards nursing staff. The findings support the need for training for nursing staff and the development of ongoing support and for organisations to consider both the environment and the restrictive procedures to help reduce violence and aggression towards nursing staff.

Practical implications

The paper concludes by outlining the importance of considering the three main themes for clinical practice, training and development of secure services.

Originality/value

This paper gives insight into the factors associated with patient violence and aggression towards nursing staff in a secure setting.


We review the state of the art in DNA micro array image compression. First, we describe the most relevant approaches published in the literature and classify them according to the stage of the typical image compression process where each approach makes its contribution. We then summarize the compression results reported for these specific-specific image compression schemes. In a set of experiments conducted for this paper, we obtain results for several popular image coding techniques, including the most recent coding standards. Prediction-based schemes CALIC and JPEG-LS, and JPEG2000 using zero wavelet decomposition levels are the best performing standard compressors, but are all outperformed by the best micro array-specific technique, Battiato's CNN-based scheme.


Blogs have become a typical online publication in Web2.0 era. The users of blogs interact with each other by publishing entries, reading and posting comments to other's entries, and discussing with friends. By these actions, information propagates from user to user on the social networks. This paper extracts the information flow hidden in entries and investigates the rules of information flow in both temporal and spatial dimensions. A new approach for information flow detection and tracking on blogs has been proposed by using both social features and text features. The proposed approach has been evaluated through experiments using large scale of real data collected from SOHU blogs. The results demonstrate that our approach is more effective in Web2.0 blogs. The rules of information flow have also been investigated by analyzing the results, which in turn proves the necessity of using social features for information detection and tracking on blogs.


The Deutsch-Mark (DM) formalism was used to calculate absolute total electron impact ionization cross sections for the two C3H6 isomers cyclopropane (-H2C-CH2-CH2-) and propene (H2C=CH-CH3). The agreement between the calculated cross sections and the experimentally determined cross sections (Nishimura H and Tawara H 1994 J. Phys. B: At. Mol. Opt. Phys. 27 2063) is excellent in terms of the absolute magnitude for impact energies below 100 eV and satisfactory for higher impact energies. However, the DM calculation does not reproduce the slight isomer effect that was found in the experimental data: i.e. the measured ionization cross section for propene was found to be larger by a few per cent than the cross section for cyclopropane.


SUMMARY
PURPOSE: Similar to findings obtained for most carcinomas,
the pathogenesis of pancreatic cancer (PC) is considered to be
multifactorial. Nowadays, there is a research into the
contribution of genetic factors to the pathogenesis of cancer,
including pancreatic. The present study was undertaken to
investigate the protective role of human leukocyte antigens
in a group of patients with pancreatic cancer, and also to
correlate the findings with the development of metastatic
disease in the lungs. Additionally, we searched for the
protective role of HLA-B35, recognised worldwide in
relation to several types of cancer.
SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The allele frequencies of
serologically defined human leukocyte antigen classes II
and I were studied in 60 patients with a recent, histologically
confirmed diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. All individuals
in this study were unrelated to each other. Patients were
also classified with regard to alcohol consumption, to the
presence of non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus and
the presence of pulmonary metastatic disease. The results
obtained for leukocyte frequencies were compared with
those of 105 healthy control subjects (control group).
Additionally, HLA frequencies of PC patients with sole
pulmonary metastatic disease (7 subjects) were compared
with those of the other patients (53 subjects). RESULTS: Among several HLA antigens that were
identified in lower frequencies in PC patients compared
with healthy individuals, HLA-B35 seemed to be the most
likely to play a protective role, although statistically
significant differences were marginal (21,7% in healthy
individuals vs 36,8% in patients, P=0,056, OR=0,488).
Furthermore, HLA involvement in the development of
pulmonary metastatic disease in PC patients was not
proved.
CONCLUSION: Although recent observation of specific
human leukocyte antigen associations with particular
subsets of pancreatic cancer strongly suggested that genetic
susceptibility for the development of pancreatic cancer
exists, their protective role to the pathogenesis of the disease
needs further investigation. On the other hand, no
involvement of HLA system in the pulmonary metastatic
development was finally identified. In conclusion, the
multifactorial pathogenesis of pancreatic cancer must
always be considered and human leukocyte antigens may
show useful predictive and diagnostic value in the near
future.
Key words: HLA, pulmonary metastases, pancreatic
cancer, genetic markers.


What does it take to make and what does it take to be in making in the 21st century? This paper examines digital embodiment in contemporary painting. It seeks to discover how the physical making of a painted object becomes an overlapping, reflexive activity that meets with the disembodied informational digital screen. Throughout this paper I would like you to consider how data, which is reflected through pixelated screens as physically depthless, inter-relates with paintings physical and expressive qualities.

I will argue, in the first instance, that painting is viewed as a conjoining or connecting with the flat surfaces of the screen; that the painter develops her/his material practice as a reflection of the augmented space of the screen either through digital production or as an idealised counterpart, sometimes both simultaneously. Secondly, that by exploring the paintings of Glenn Brown (b.1966), who I will claim, successfully negotiates the phenomenological divide between the embodied act of making and the disembodied digitally received image, we come to examine, as a contextual model, future student understandings of expanded painting. The third and final part of my text will explore how, in the wake of Brown, student painters negotiate painting as a personalized, expressive response to the saturation of the screens social reach regardless of whether their paintings are presented as figurative or abstract, gestural or flat, electronically produced or as an installation. The style or finish of a painting (or expanded medium of painting) I will conclude, will reflect Isabelle Graw's (b.1962) indexical notion that the ''authors quasi-presence as an effect'',1 is read as a semiotic agency witnessed in paintings surfaces. This surface effect, as a comparative trace of the author, will then allow me to introduce images of student's work. I will argue on the one hand that material making for students amplifies Paul Crowther's (b.1953) phenomenological examination of paintings physical and optical particularities of autography, that ''drawing and painting are the products of gesture. As such they can embody individual style''.2 And on the other hand, I will suggest how paintings autographic activity can include electronic and screen production.

Although based on my own research this is not a prescriptive plan for teaching nor is it a manifesto. Since starting work on the painting course at the Glasgow School of Art in December 2015, I've witnessed an ever growing trend that wrestles with the relations between painting and the digital. Apart from regular tutorials and crits, it is my once yearly seminar for the 3rd and 4th years called 'Imaged Painting/Imagined Painting' that has prompted this enquiry. This seminar, which is loosely based on Craig Staff's (b.????) 'After Modernist Painting', explores his distinction between imaging the digital and imagining the digital. Painters who image are those who utilise technology to generate imagery. And painters who imagine reflect upon ideas on the digital.


Background Kaposi Sarcoma (KS) is a vascular lesion of low-grade malignant potential. A clear diagnosis is presented after a tegument biopsy and also commonly involves lymph nodes and visceral organs. Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus is a worldwide diagnostic, and patients with complications and co-morbidities are presents in services dedicated to this disease.
Aim This case presentation is a rare occasion of association at the same patient of type 2 diabetes mellitus, obesity and diabetic neuropathy and lesions of Kaposi Sarcoma present at inferior limb.
Details Patient was scheduled for an evaluation in Department of Diabetes after a personal phone call. The main complaint is the pain located at inferior limbs and some lesions presented locally. At presentation, from personal medical history was retained: type 2 diabetes mellitus treated with oral medication from more than 20 years, obesity (Body Mass Index=41,25 kg/m2), cardiac failure NYHA 2 stage. No other complication for diabetes (retinopathy, renal disease) was present. Clinical examination reveals lesions at inferior limbs, with a lot of brownish nodules, pustules and local pus with unbearable small together with additional macules and lesion of tegument at contralateral limb, prompted a referral of this otherwise diabetic patient with common comorbidities to a dermatologist who diagnosed Kaposi's sarcoma, which was verified by biopsy (Figure 1). No other infection (with HIV or herpes viruses) was diagnosed. Patient was performed other investigation (liver biopsy and CT scan) but other manifestation of this KS was not diagnosed. The main challenge was the local infection, with normal values of leucocitosis, but multiple bacterial infections from plagues. Surgical Department proposed the amputation, but the patient refused. These images presentation deal with the manifestation of KS in cutaneous inferior limb regions.
Discussions The development of KS within wounds and only tegument presentation could be a difficult challenge to diagnose, resulting in patient mismanagement when aspect is uncommon. Our case, with cutaneous presentation of KS is usual way to be diagnosed, when size of skin lesions are at this level. 12 photos of skin lesions in different stages of evolution will help other medical doctors to be closer to this simple diagnostic when skin biopsy is available. Theories to explain the rarity and development of KS in these sites are not well sustained especially when a clear diagnosis of HIV infection or Herpes infection could not be done using actual tools.


Chronic exposure to elemental metallic mercury may induce an immunological glomerular disease. Since humans are exposed to mercury vapor (Hg0) from dental amalgam restorations and kidney is an important target organ of mercury vapor and mercury deposition in kidney increases proportionally with the dose, our aim was to test the occurrence of specific antibodies to antiglomerular basement membrane (anti-GBM-IgG) among individuals with adverse effects to mercury from dental amalgam fillings. We selected a group of patients (n=24) with a history of long-term exposure to mercury vapor from mercury-containing amalgam fillings and showing adverse effects that were laboratory confirmed. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) were used to evaluate serum levels of antibodies to anti-GBM-IgG. None of the patients showed evidence of anti-GBM autoimmunity, either in subgroups with strong allergy to mercury or its compounds (i.e., organic mercury) or in those patients who had past thimerosal-containing vaccines coverage (7 of 24). There was no evidence of the presence of circulating anti-GBM antibodies in subjects suffering from adverse events due to long-term exposure to mercury from dental amalgams, even in individuals who presented allergy to mercury.


Database search in tandem mass spectrometry is a powerful tool for protein identification. High-throughput spectral acquisition raises the problem of dealing with genetic variation and peptide modifications within a population of related proteins. A method that cross-correlates and clusters related spectra in large collections of uncharacterized spectra (i.e., from normal and diseased individuals) would be very valuable in functional proteomics. This problem is far from being simple since very similar peptides may have very different spectra. We introduce a new notion of spectral similarity that allows one to identify related spectra even if the corresponding peptides have multiple modifications/mutations. Based on this notion, we developed a new algorithm for mutation-tolerant database search as well as a method for cross-correlating related uncharacterized spectra.


Background:Previous experimental studies of ventilator-induced lung injury have shown that positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) is protective. The authors hypothesized that the application of PEEP during volume-controlled ventilation with a moderately high tidal volume (VT) in previously healthy in vivo rats does not attenuate ventilator-induced lung injury if the peak airway pressure markedly increases during the application of PEEP. Methods:Sixty healthy, male Sprague-Dawley rats were anesthetized and randomized to be mechanically ventilated for 4 h at (1) VT of 6 ml/kg, (2) VT of 20 ml/kg, or (3) VT of 20 ml/kg plus 10 cm H2O of PEEP. Peak airway pressures, gas exchange, histologic evaluation, mortality, total lung tissue cytokine gene expression, and serum cytokine concentrations were analyzed. Results:Peak airway pressures exceeded 30 cm H2O with high VT plus PEEP. All lungs ventilated with high VT had perivascular edema and inflammatory infiltrates. In addition, those ventilated with PEEP had small hemorrhages foci. Five animals from the high VT plus PEEP group died (P = 0.020). Animals ventilated with high VT (with or without PEEP) had a substantial increase in serum interleukin-6 (P = 0.0002), and those ventilated with high VT plus PEEP had a 5.5-fold increase in systemic levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (P = 0.007). Conclusions:In contrast to previous reports, PEEP exacerbated lung damage and contributed to fatal outcome in an in vivo, mild overdistension model of ventilator-induced lung injury in previously healthy rats. That is, the addition of high PEEP to a constant large VT causes injury in previously healthy animals.


Accurate terrestrial glacial chronologies are needed for comparison with the marine record to establish the dynamics of global climate change during transitions from glacial to interglacial regimes. Cosmogenic beryllium-10 measurements in the Wind River Range indicate that the last glacial maximum (marine oxygen isotope stage 2) was achieved there by 21,700 � 700 beryllium-10 years and lasted 5900 years. Ages of a sequence of recessional moraines and striated bedrock surfaces show that the initial deglaciation was rapid and that the entire glacial system retreated 33 kilometers to the cirque basin by 12,100 � 500 beryllium-10 years.


According to National Center for Education Statistics (2018), in 2016-17, the average tuition fees for first-time, full-time undergraduates is $8,800 at 4-year public institutions, $16,300 at private for-profit institutions, or $33,500 at private nonprofit ones. The expense is either paid by students and their families or by private and governmental institutions. Either way, it is of everyone's interest to ensure that the money spent is due, in comparison with the outcomes (high salary, skilled workers, etc.). Hence, it is crucial and beneficial to investigate what factors influence academic performance variable, measured in grade-point average (GPA). This paper investigated the relationship between the number of friends full-time college students have and their academic performance, retention, and persistence since the rate of retention and persistence and academic excellence are intercorrelate and often coexist. The difference in degrees of impact between high school friends and new college friends on undergraduates was examined. The benefits of social support arose from friendship on undergraduates' welfare, academic retention and performance were explored. Outside factors that could potentially affect the relationship between the number of friends and GPA, such as gender, living arrangement, satisfaction with college environment and overall life were also assessed. It was established that the more friends an undergraduate student has, the more social support they perceive, the happier and more satisfied with college life they are, and the higher GPA they obtain. However, when the size of undergraduate's network becomes too big, the available time for intimate friends and for studying is compensated, thinning the positive effect of social support and inflicting undergraduates' potential capability and performance. Since the conclusion was generated from previous researches and reports, it would be beneficial to have surveys or experiments conducted to either disprove or further support the conclusion.


Avibactam, a novel non-β-lactam β-lactamase inhibitor with activity against Ambler class A, class C, and some class D enzymes is being evaluated in combination with various β-lactam antibiotics to treat serious bacterial infections. The in vivo mass balance recovery and metabolite profile of [14C] avibactam (500 mg/1-h infusion) was assessed in six healthy male subjects, and a series of in vitro experiments evaluated the metabolism and drug-drug interaction potential of avibactam. In the mass balance study, measurement of plasma avibactam (using a validated liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method) and total radioactivity in plasma, whole blood, urine, and feces (using liquid scintillation counting) indicated that most of the avibactam was excreted unchanged in urine within 12 hours, with recovery complete (>97% of the administered dose) within 96 hours. Geometric mean avibactam renal clearance (158 ml/min) was greater than the product of unbound fraction of drug and glomerular filtration rate (109.5 ml/min), suggesting that active tubular secretion accounted for some renal elimination. There was no evidence of metabolism in plasma and urine, with unchanged avibactam the major component in both matrices. Avibactam demonstrated in vitro substrate potential for organic anion transporters 1 and 3 (OAT1 and OAT3) proteins expressed in human embryonic kidney 293 cells (Km > 1000 μM; >10-fold the Cmax of a therapeutic dose), which could account for the active tubular secretion observed in vivo. Avibactam uptake by OAT1 and OAT3 was inhibited by probenecid, a potent OAT1/OAT3 inhibitor. Avibactam did not interact with various other membrane transport proteins or cytochrome P450 enzymes in vitro, suggesting it has limited propensity for drug–drug interactions involving cytochrome P450 enzymes.


The study presents the subject analysis of Punjabi language books written in 'Gurmukhi' script from 2004-2013 covering different fields of arts and humanities, social sciences, science, engineering, and technology. The distribution of major subjects and their subdivisions were based on the Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC) 22 nd edition. The information centres, and academic institutions such as universities from the different parts of Northern India, having a good collection of Punjabi language books were the focus for data collection. The Punjabi language books publishers and several websites/resources were also consulted to get the required information. A total number of 7997 Punjabi books on different subjects published during the period 2004-2013 have been studied. The largest number of books in Punjabi [5587 (69.9%)] is published in the field of literature. Subject analysis, decadal growth, analysis of books translations from different Indic and foreign languages to the Punjabi language are also included in the study. A growth rate of 29.37% in the publication of Punjabi books is seen during the decade.


The United States Constitution provides that rules for the election of congressional representatives for each state shall be set by the "Legislature thereof." Last Term, in Arizona State Legislature v. Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission, a Supreme Court majority joined by Justice Anthony Kennedy permitted Arizona to bypass its formal legislature and adopt congressional district lines drawn by an independent commission pursuant to an authorization from the people of the state. Commentary on Justice Kennedy's vote suggested that practical policy considerations moved him to approve this reassignment of legislative power. But placing Arizona State Legislature in its proper context suggests that a deep principle was at work. While the federal Constitution carefully assigns federal legislative, judicial, and executive powers to specific institutions, it leaves the states free to allocate such powers differently. Justice Kennedy's opinion for the Court in ASARCO, Inc. v. Kadish, allowed a state to have its judicial branch make decisions more typical of an executive agency, and to have private proponents defend those decisions to the Supreme Court. The outlier in this trilogy was Hollingsworth v. Perry. There, over Justice Kennedy's vigorous dissent, the Court prevented a state from granting executive power to private proponents, and declined to hear their substantive arguments. Analyzing the cases together reveals striking parallels, and provides a new perspective on Hollingsworth's anomalous holding.


Circulation system & hemodynamics is one of the advanced topics in an undergraduate mechanical engineering course on bioengineering applications. It studies the dynamics of blood flow which is directly related to fluid mechanics. The interdisciplinary nature of the subject poses multiple challenges in teaching and learning. Often times, students are unfamiliar with the medical context of the human circulatory system and the pathological/activity states. They have little or no experience working with the pulsatile flow (heartbeat), soft pipes (blood vessels), and one-way valves (heart valves). To address these challenges, an interactive simulation model supplemented with scenario-based problems has been developed to teach the circulation system & hemodynamics and cardiac assist devices. Simulation has been shown to be an effective method for students to acquire knowledge and conceptual understanding of sophisticated systems. In this study, the model allows students to simulate a range of physiological conditions, study hemodynamic variables, and understand the conditions for using cardiac assist device interventions as well as its benefits. The effectiveness of the simulation was assessed by asking students to solve a scenario-based problem and answering survey questions. The data from problem solutions indicate that after one 75-minute class, students are able to understand the mechanism of the human circulation system and the value of using cardiac assist devices. Student feedback to the survey rate the simulation model very positive in helping them understand human circulation and the proper use of a cardiac assist device.


An important failure mode in sandwich structures is the debonding between the core and facesheet, which can destroy the load capacity of the structure. This work addresses the critical interfacial modes and studied the effects of thickness variation of the core material. The single cantilever beam (SCB) geometry is adopted for conducting experiments after optimizing the thicknesses of the core and facesheet by minimizing the difference in the bending stiffness matrix between the upper facesheet and the lower facesheet/core combination. Two samples of single cantilever beam, having two different core material thicknesses, were tested. The experimental results showed that the critical energy release rate could be influenced by core thickness variations. Furthermore, the cohesive zone method and elastic-plastic core material model in conjunction with fracture criteria were used to model the entire structure failure response. The validation results predicted load/extension curves in full agreement with actual tests for both specimen SCB geometries. The model also had the ability to predict the crack initiation in the core materials which occurred under the interface zone as in the actual test. In addition, the mixed-mode ratios through the interface area were analyzed as function of crack length.


Objective To develop guidance on the use of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines in patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases (ARD). Methods The Canadian Rheumatology Association (CRA) formed a multidisciplinary panel including rheumatologists, researchers, methodologists, vaccine experts, and patients. The panel used the GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation) approach. Outcomes were prioritized according to their importance for patients and clinicians. Evidence from the COVID-19 clinical trials was summarized. Indirect evidence for non–COVID-19 vaccines in ARD was also considered. The GRADE evidence-to-decision (EtD) framework was used to develop a recommendation for the use of the 4 COVID-19 vaccines approved in Canada as of March 25, 2021 (BNT162b2, mRNA-1273, ChAdOx1, and Ad26.COV2.S), over 4 virtual panel meetings. Results The CRA guideline panel suggests using COVID-19 vaccination in persons with ARD. The panel unanimously agreed that for the majority of patients, the potential health benefits of vaccination outweigh the potential harms in people with ARDs. The recommendation was graded as conditional because of low or very low certainty of the evidence on the effects in the population of interest, primarily due to indirectness and imprecise effect estimates. The panel felt strongly that persons with autoimmune rheumatic diseases who meet local eligibility should not be required to take additional steps compared to people without ARDs to obtain their vaccination. Guidance on medications, implementation, monitoring of vaccine uptake, and research priorities are also provided. Conclusion This recommendation will be updated over time as new evidence emerges, with the latest recommendation, evidence summaries, and EtD available on the CRA website.


Alarmins are a group of structurally diverse host defense antimicrobial peptides that are important immune activators. In this article, we present a novel role for two potent alarmins, human β-defensin 2 and 3 (HBD2 and 3), in promoting IFN-α production by human plasmacytoid dendritic cells. We demonstrate that HBD2 and 3 activate pDCs by enhancing the intracellular uptake of CpG and self DNA and promote DNA-induced IFN-α production in a TLR9-dependent manner. Both CpG and host DNA form aggregates that resemble DNA nets when combined with HBD2 and 3. Isothermal titration calorimetry studies to elucidate the nature of HBD3/CpG complexes demonstrate involvement of enthalpy-driven interactions, in addition to hydrophobic interactions, with the formation of complexes at a molar ratio of 2:1 defensin/CpG. The i.v. administration of HBD3/CpG complexes induced proinflammatory cytokines like IL-12, IFN-γ, IL-6, IFN-α, and IL-10 in serum, associated with an increased recruitment of APCs in the spleen. Subcutaneous injections of these complexes showed enhanced infiltration of inflammatory cells at the injection site, indicating a potential pathophysiological role for alarmin/DNA complexes in contributing to inflammation. Intraperitoneal immunization of HBD3/CpG complexes with OVA enhanced both cellular and humoral responses to OVA, compared with OVA/HBD3 or OVA/CPG alone, indicative of a much more potent adjuvant effect of the HBD3/CpG complexes. Thus, the ability of defensins to enhance cellular uptake of nucleic acids can lead to improved vaccine formulations by promoting their uptake by various cells, resulting in an enhanced immune response.


The DC distribution technology brings challenges and opportunities to the penetration of large-scale distributed renewable energy sources. In a medium-voltage DC (MVDC) distribution network, operation mode switch occurs owing to some large disturbances. To manage these disturbances and achieve seamless switch of the operation mode, a hierarchical control strategy with two layers, namely local and global layers, is proposed in this work. The novel local layer controller called P–U–I controller is designed to enhance the voltage stability, improve system controllability and suppress overcurrent under large disturbances. This controller only needs local information and does not rely on fast communication. Furthermore, as the scale of the DC distribution network expands continuously, the number of system operation mode increases in geometric progression. Therefore, a global layer controller based on breadth-first search algorithm is proposed. This controller can automatically identify the system topology and adjust the control mode of converters to optimise the system operating characteristics. Thus, this hierarchical control strategy can accurately control the system power in steady state, suppress overcurrent under large disturbances and suit large-scale DC distribution networks. Finally, a three-terminal MVDC distribution network simulation model established on power systems computer-aided design and RT-LAB validates the proposed strategy.


It does. Depending on the forecast horizon, a one standard deviation increase in our measure for ambiguity about consumption volatility predicts a significant increase in average excess equity returns varying between 200 and 600 basis points annualized. The ambiguity measure we propose is easily obtained from the cross-section of analysts' forecasts for aggregate output growth. We estimate a version of the long-run risk model, where the investor is concerned about a potential misspecification of the variance dynamics. The measures we construct from survey data can be interpreted as proxies of the usually latent state variables in the model, so that we can perform the estimation without the use of asset pricing information. The model produces unconditional moments and return predictability patterns via the variance premium in line with the data.


Prof. Fujikado presents his research, which demonstrated the surgical feasibility and safety of a newly developed, dual-array, suprachoroidal-transretinal stimulation prosthesis in animals. The dual-array design was able to activate retinal neurons and optic nerve axons. Findings indicate the future possibility of activating of a larger visual field with the prosthesis.


Background: Denture stomatitis (DS) is a multifactorial condition that commonly affects denture users and is mainly caused by Candida albicans . Due to the toxic effects of antifungal therapy, new therapies for DS are claimed. Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of aqueous extract of Buchenavia tomentosa and sodium bicarbonate against C. albicans in a model of DS in rats. Material and Methods: An acrylic resin device simulating a denture base was fixed covering the palate of forty-eight male rats followed by candidiasis induction. Rats were divided into 4 groups (n=12): Control, sodium bicarbonate, B. tomentosa and nystatin (positive control). Each group was subdivided according to the period of treatment; 24 hours (n=6) and 48 hours (n=6). Animals were sacrificed and had their devices removed for C. albicans counts and SEM analysis. The palate mucosa was removed and processed for histopathologic analysis. Results: After 24 hours of treatment, both B. tomentosa and nystatin groups reduced significantly C. albicans counts when compared to control (nystatin x control, p<0.01; B. tomentosa x control, p=0.03). The results were confirmed by the histologic analysis. Conclusion: Both the aqueous extract of B. tomentosa and sodium bicarbonate was able to significantly decrease C. albicans counts in an experimental model of DS.


The intracellular microRNAs that negatively regulate Toll-like receptor 4 signaling pathways in peripheral blood mononuclear cells are associated with major depressive disorder (MDD). However, that the distribution of these microRNAs in exosomes could be a biomarker of central nervous system diseases is just beginning to be explored. In the present study, we isolated serum exosomes from patients with MDD and healthy controls to explore the levels of exosomal microRNAs, including let-7e, miR-21-5p, miR-223, miR-145, miR-146a, and miR-155. We also investigated the changes of these exosomal microRNAs after antidepressant treatment and their association with clinical changes in scores on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale. An ANCOVA adjusted by age, sex, BMI, and smoking showed higher expression levels of miR-146a (p = 0.006) in patients with MDD compared to controls. Patients who achieved remission showed significantly lower let-7e, miR-21-5p, miR-145, miR-146a, and miR-155 levels before treatment and increased levels after antidepressant treatment compared with the non-remission group. Through receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, let-7e, miR-145, and miR-146a showed acceptable discrimination between the remission and non-remission groups, whereas miR-21-5p and miR-155 showed poor discrimination. These findings demonstrate that exosomal microRNAs may play essential roles in predicting antidepressants response.


A modern concept considers acute coronary syndrome as an autoinflammatory disorder. From the onset to the healing stage, an endless inflammation has been presented with complex, multiple cross-talk mechanisms at the molecular, cellular, and organ levels. Inflammatory response following acute myocardial infarction has been well documented since the 1940s and 1950s, including increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate, the C-reactive protein analysis, and the determination of serum complement. It is surprising to note, based on a wide literature overview including the following 30 years (decades of 1960, 1970, and 1980), that the inflammatory acute myocardium infarction lost its focus, virtually disappearing from the literature reports. The reversal of this historical process occurs in the 1990s with the explosion of studies involving cytokines. Considering the importance of inflammation in the pathophysiology of ischemic heart disease, the aim of this paper is to present a conceptual overview in order to explore the possibility of curbing this inflammatory process.