Synaptic plasticity relies on new protein synthesis in dendrites that involves the selective translation of specific mRNAs. This requires a tight control of mRNA levels in dendrites. However, unlike the pathways that activate local mRNA translation, the mechanisms that regulate local mRNA quantity are poorly understood. Here, we show that the Nonsense-Mediated mRNA Decay (NMD) pathway locally regulates GluR1 surface levels in dendrites by modulating internalization and promoting local synthesis of GluR1. We identified AMPK as a substrate for NMD that contributes to the NMD-mediated regulation of GluR1 by limiting total GluR1 levels in dendrites. We find that neuronal ablation of NMD in adult mice attenuates learning, memory, hippocampal LTP, and potentiates perseverative/repetitive behavior. These data establish that local protein synthesis is regulated at the level of degradation in dendrites and that NMD acts locally to influence cognition and synaptic plasticity.


Seasonal patterns in the incidence of insulin-dependent diabetes based on 2,062 cases diagnosed at age 14 years or under in Finland are described for the years 1987-1992. Seasonal patterns were estimated presenting the data as short Fourier series up to three harmonics together with a possible linear trend. This method allows an arbitrary shape for the seasonal effect. Likelihood ratio tests and Akaike's information criterion were used to determine the number of harmonics necessary to model the seasonal pattern and to test differences among age- and sex-specific subgroups in the population. Seasonal patterns in incidence were compared between sexes and between the three 5-year age groups with each controlling for the other's effect. A significant seasonal pattern in the incidence of insulin-dependent diabetes was found for the sexes combined and for two age groups (0-9 and 10-14 years). A statistically significant seasonal pattern could be confirmed for males, but not for females. During a calendar year, one cycle with a decreased incidence of insulin-dependent diabetes in June was found among younger boys. Among older boys, there were two distinct cycles with a decreased incidence, the first in June and the second during November-December. The most visible seasonal pattern was a lower number of cases diagnosed in June, while during the rest of the year the incidence remained relatively stable and high. The average annual incidence was 35.6 per 100,000 persons without any upward peaks.


The application of bibliometrics in healthcare research should be extensive; however, at present it is still an under-researched area. In our study we used a novel bibliometric technique called bibliometric mapping to visualize the published research regarding the influence of physical activity to children's quality of life. The research was visualized in the form of both chronological and cluster science landscapes. Science landscapes, contrary to conventional reviews, capture the relationships between multiple topics and concepts, enabling the generation of "synthetic reviews". Evolutionarily, three distinct research phases appeared, namely research on influence of physical activity on various chronic non-communicable diseases; research on quality of life and childhood diseases related to physical activity; and outcome-related research. The research consists of six main topics: asthmatic child and exercising, blood diseases, health-related quality of life, obesity and chronic diseases, childhood obesity and behavior, and depression and health outcomes.


The perennial problem of aging has come into even sharper national focus in recent years, with the percentage of our population aged 65 and over having more than doubled in this century, thus far, while the number has increased more than sixfold. These facts are basic; but their implications are manifold, presenting challenges for both the aging individual and for society-at-large. Number Eight in the Pastoral Psychology Series, this volume points up some of these challenges, and in addition, provides useful and productive responses. Reflecting attention to topics of an immediately current nature, it views the subject matter in an interdisciplinary context. Aging is first viewed in historical, cultural, and religious perspective. This background is followed by the dimensions of aging as seen by modern science. Focus is then placed on the topic of retirement as the center of the aging challenge, as experienced on the societal as well as the personal level, with particular attention given to the religious dimensions of aging. The final sections are devoted to the challenges to the individual and society: aging in marriage, aging and career development, the prospect of death, family and community care for the aged, and, ultimately, whether one's golden yearswill be rewarding and satisfying. The published proceedings of the 1973 Institute in Pastoral Psychology, this work will contribute to a better understanding of this increasingly challenging problem among an increasingly wider readership of the concerned.


Phylogenetic networks are rooted directed acyclic graphs that represent evolutionary relationships between species whose past includes reticulation events such as hybridisation and horizontal gene transfer. To search the space of phylogenetic networks, the popular tree rearrangement operation rooted subtree prune and regraft (rSPR) was recently generalised to phylogenetic networks. This new operation – called subnet prune and regraft (SNPR) – induces a metric on the space of all phylogenetic networks as well as on several widely-used network classes. In this paper, we investigate several problems that arise in the context of computing the SNPR-distance. For a phylogenetic tree $T$ and a phylogenetic network $N$, we show how this distance can be computed by considering the set of trees that are embedded in $N$ and then use this result to characterise the SNPR-distance between $T$ and $N$ in terms of agreement forests. Furthermore, we analyse properties of shortest SNPR-sequences between two phylogenetic networks $N$ and $N'$, and answer the question whether or not any of the classes of tree-child, reticulation-visible, or tree-based networks isometrically embeds into the class of all phylogenetic networks under SNPR.


We propose a uniform approach for recognizing all black box groups of Lie type which is based on the analysis of the structure of the centralizers of involutions. Our approach can be viewed as a computational version of the classification of the finite simple groups. We present an algorithm which constructs a long root SL2(q)-subgroup in a finite simple group of Lie type of odd characteristic, then we use the Aschbacher's ``Classical Involution Theorem'' as a model in the recognition algorithm and we construct all root SL2(q)-subgroups corresponding to the nodes in the extended Dynkin diagram, that is, we construct the extended Curtis - Phan - Tits system of the finite simple groups of Lie type of odd characteristic. In particular, we construct all subsystem subgroups which can be read from the extended Dynkin diagram. We also present an algorithm which determines whether the p-core (or ``unipotent radical'') Op(G) of a black box group G is trivial or not, where G/Op(G) is a finite simple classical group of odd characteristic p, answering a well-known question of Babai and Shalev


The potential attraction of fish to thin layers of zooplankton and the role of predation by fish in the formation and persistence of these layers were assessed using 3-dimensional sonar obser- vations. Zooplankton were found in intense layers with vertical scales of 0.2 to 4.6 m with a mode of 2.2 m. These thin zooplankton layers had complex 3-dimensional structure with significant, though gradual, undulations in their depth, thickness, and intensity. Fish spent significantly more time within zooplankton layers than expected, modifying their usual surface-coupled behavior when layers were present. Sonar tracks of individual fish showed them diving down through a zooplankton layer before spiraling slowly upwards through the layer. The upward portion of this behavior was correlated with a dramatic decrease in the intensity of zooplankton scattering at the scale of 1 m 2 , resulting in the appearance of holes in the layer. Continued observation of layers revealed that these holes slowly filled in with zooplankton an average of 4.3 min after the fish's departure. Survey results show that when more fish were observed, more holes were observed, and when larger fish were observed, larger holes were observed, so that a total of up to 5% of a layer's area could be comprised of holes. The thickness of layers was not affected by fish presence. Fish were attracted to zooplankton thin lay- ers, showing that thin layers in natural systems can have significant ecological effects; however, despite fish-associated changes to the structure of layers, the layers were resilient over time to the apparent foraging fish.


In this paper, we present a streaming end-to-end speech recognition model based on Monotonic Chunkwise Attention (MoCha) jointly trained with enhancement layers. Even though the MoCha attention enables streaming speech recognition with recognition accuracy comparable to a full attention-based approach, training this model is sensitive to various factors such as the difficulty of training examples, hyper-parameters, and so on. Because of these issues, speech recognition accuracy of a MoCha-based model for clean speech drops significantly when a multi-style training approach is applied. Inspired by Curriculum Learning [1], we introduce two training strategies: Gradual Application of Enhanced Features (GAEF) and Gradual Reduction of Enhanced Loss (GREL). With GAEF, the model is initially trained using clean features. Subsequently, the portion of outputs from the enhancement layers gradually increases. With GREL, the portion of the Mean Squared Error (MSE) loss for the enhanced output gradually reduces as training proceeds. In experimental results on the LibriSpeech corpus and noisy far-field test sets, the proposed model with GAEF-GREL training strategies shows significantly better results than the conventional multi-style training approach.


The Routledge Encyclopedia of Films comprises 200 essays by leading film scholars analysing the most important, influential, innovative and interesting films of all time. Arranged alphabetically, each entry explores why each film is significant for those who study film and explores the social, historical and political contexts in which the film was produced. Ranging from Hollywood classics to international bestsellers to lesser-known representations of national cinema, this collection is deliberately broad in scope crossing decades, boundaries and genres. The encyclopedia thus provides an introduction to the historical range and scope of cinema produced throughout the world.


INTRODUCTION. This chapter considers what we know, and what we might like to know about corporate philanthropy and community engagement. It does so particularly through a nonprofit marketing lens, that is, from the perspective of the nonprofit organization seeking mission revenue and resources from the corporate market. This concern for corporate support cannot be underestimated. Overall giving may be increasing in many countries, but so too are the numbers of nonprofits seeking donations. Add changes to traditional government funding and corporate involvement becomes even more vital for nonprofits, along with the marketing skills to win such support. At the moment, corporate giving represents only a small measure of the funds feeding the nonprofit sector as the various comprehensive giving studies undertaken in countries such as Australia, the USA, the Netherlands., Korea and South Africa attest. This situation must change: as Andreasen (2006) observes, developing explicit ties with business is needed if nonprofit organizations are to survive. However, it is not just ties that nonprofits will need. A clear understanding of the motivations, pressures and options of businesses in considering community engagement, as well as nonprofits' own requirements, is also critical to practice and scholarship alike. Thus, while written using a nonprofit marketing lens, this chapter takes the bifocal view and charts what research and commentary reveal about issues for corporate givers. Just as academic research relating to individual giving has fruitfully investigated the donor perspective, so it must do in the corporate market. Parallels between individual and corporate also guide potential future research directions.


Graphene is a two dimensional material with extraordinary properties, which make it an interesting material for many optical and electronic devices. The integration of graphene in these devices often requires the deposition of thin dielectric layers on top of graphene. Atomic layer deposition (ALD) is the method of choice to deposit these layers due to its ability to deposit ultra‐thin, high quality films with sub‐monolayer thickness control. ALD on graphene however, is a challenge due to the lack of reactive surface sites on graphene. This leads to the selective growth on grain boundaries, wrinkles and defect sites present in the graphene. In this review an overview of the different methods to achieve uniform deposition of ALD on graphene is presented. The advantages and disadvantages of each method are discussed from the perspective of ALD together with the opportunities for further research. Special emphasis is given to the recent advancements in the understanding of the ALD process conditions and their influence on the deposition uniformity on graphene. Particularly, improving the quality of the dielectric layers deposited by ALD while maintaining the pristine properties of graphene, will prove vital for the device integration of graphene.


This paper reviews evidence on causes of unemployment in Australia from disaggregated modelling of the labour market. Three main types of modelling are considered. First, information on unemployment rates of labour force participants with different skills is presented, and analyses that seek to explain why unemployment varies between skill groups are described. Second, descriptive evidence on unemployment rates by state and neighbourhood is presented, and possible causes of regional differences in unemployment rates are assessed. Third, descriptive information on the distribution of unemployed persons by duration of unemployment spell is presented, and studies of the determinants of the duration of unemployment spells are summarised.


This paper proposes a new Kalman-filter-based recursive frequency estimator for discrete-time multicomponent sinusoidal signals whose frequencies may be time-varying. The frequency estimator is based on the linear prediction approach and it employs the Kalman filter to track the linear prediction coefficients (LPCs) recursively. Frequencies of the sinusoids can then be computed using the estimated LPCs. Due to the coloredness of the linear prediction error, an iterative algorithm is employed to estimate the covariance matrix of the prediction error and the LPCs alternately in the Kalman filter in order to improve the tracking performance. Simulation results show that the proposed Kalman-filter-based iterative frequency estimator can achieve better tracking results than the conventional recursive least-squares-based estimators.


An optimization-based algorithm is presented for scheduling hydrothermal power systems with cascaded and head-dependent reservoirs. Within the Lagrangian relaxation framework, the hydro river catchment subproblems are difficult to solve because of the continuous reservoir dynamics and constraints, discontinuous operating regions, discrete operating states and hydraulic coupling of cascaded reservoirs. The head-dependent water-power conversion adds another dimension of difficulty since the objective functions of hydro subproblems are no longer stage-wise additive with respect to water discharge. It is difficult to solve the subproblems by relaxing the reservoir limits or the hydraulic coupling among units as in previous work. A new algorithm with a novel relaxation structure is presented in this paper to solve hydro river catchment subproblems. Numerical testing based on the data sets of a practical system shows that this method is efficient and effective to deal with hydrothermal systems with cascaded and head-dependent reservoirs, and discrete hydro constraints. The results indicate that near-optimal schedules are obtained.


The Troodos Archaeological and Environmental Survey Project is investigating human activity across the landscape during all time periods, using intensive archaeological and geomorphological survey. TAESP is working in a broad area of the north-central Troodos mountains that includes fertile valleys and plains, copper-bearing foothills, and the northern part of the Troodos Range itself. Other than some rescue excavation of tombs, no systematic archaeological work had been done in this area, and none at all in the mountains. Because of our interdisciplinary research goals and intensive methodology, developed in an earlier, already published project, we are contributing a wide-ranging analysis of the Cypriot landscape for all periods, one that will make a key contribution to landscape archaeology and to regional studies more widely in the Mediterranean. Our research is focused on the dynamic relationship between human society and the environment. We are documenting and analysing settlement patterns, site hierarchies, land use patterns and communication networks across the landscape during all time periods, and relating them to environmental factors such as physical landforms, soils and sediments, vegetation, and water. A particular focus is the nature and development of resource exploitation, in particular agriculture and metallurgical production. Related themes include the production of pottery and stone tools, forest resources and soil management. Within our 159 sq km survey area we carried out fieldwalking transects in five 'intensive survey zones' totalling 37 sq km. The rest was sampled by means of a grid of 20 short transects and more purposive survey. Transects are lines of 'survey units' traversed by fieldwalkers placed 5 m apart. Throughout the project, they consistently counted and collected a sample of artefacts, and recorded geomorphological and environmental data. We examined clusters of contiguous survey units in broader areas of importance, and employed various gridding and sampling techniques for more intensive investigation of particular foci of human activity.


Efforts to recover Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis canadensis) throughout western North America have had limited success with the majority of current populations remaining in small and isolated areas on a fraction of their historical range. Prairie environments with rugged topography throughout the Northern Great Plains ecoregion were historically occupied by relatively robust bighorn sheep populations. We predicted there is likely unrealized potential habitat for restoring bighorn sheep to these areas; however, relatively little attention has been devoted to identifying habitat in unoccupied prairie regions. We used global positioning system (GPS)‐collar data collected from 43 female bighorn sheep in 2 populations located in the eastern Montana, USA, portion of the Northern Great Plains during 2014–2018 to estimate a population‐level annual resource selection model and identify the important factors affecting bighorn sheep resource selection. We extrapolated model predictions across eastern Montana's prairie region and identified potential habitat to understand restoration potential and assist with future translocations of bighorn sheep. Resource selection of bighorn sheep was most strongly associated with terrain slope and ruggedness, tree canopy cover, and a normalized difference vegetation index metric. Within currently unoccupied areas of the historical range, the model extrapolation predicted 7,211 km of habitat, with most owned and managed by private landowners (44%), Bureau of Land Management (33%), and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (15%). Our results provide an empirical evaluation of landscape covariates influencing resource selection of bighorn sheep occupying prairie environments and provide a habitat model that may be generalizable to other areas in the Northern Great Plains ecoregion. We demonstrate substantial potential for restoration opportunities of bighorn sheep in the Northern Great Plains ecoregion. Broad restoration of bighorn sheep across the ecoregion would likely require strong collaboration among and between public resource managers, private landowners, and livestock producers given the heterogeneous land ownership patterns, management strategies, and domestic sheep distributions. © 2020 The Wildlife Society.


Tantalum metal was soaked in NaOH and CaCl2 solutions, and then subjected to heat treatment at 500°C. EDX analysis showed that about 6.5 at. % of Na was incorporated into the surface of the tantalum metal by the first NaOH treatment. These Na+ ions were replaced by Ca2+ ions by the subsequent CaCl2 treatment. According to TF-XRD patterns, an amorphous sodium tantalate was seemed to be formed on the tantalum metal by the NaOH treatment and transformed into amorphous calcium tantalate by the CaCl2 treatment. This phase was crystallized into Ca2Ta2O7 by heat treatment. Critical detaching load of the surface of the CaCl2-treated tantalum metal was as low as 5mN, while as high as 42mN after the heat treatment. Apatite-forming ability of the NaOH-treated tantalum metal in a simulated body fluid (SBF) was appreciably increased by the CaCl2 treatment and maintained even after the heat treatment.


ALTHOUGH elevation of the serum calcium level is associated with a variety of conditions, the most pronounced alterations occur in hyperparathyroidism. This disease process is characterized by anorexia, nausea, vomiting, thirst, and polyuria, with associated muscular weakness, confusion, and drowsiness which may progress to lethargy and coma. The symptoms are attributed directly to "calcium intoxication," and the syndrome constitutes medical and surgical emergency since it represents the only potentially lethal hypercalcemic state than can be cured.1This report describes a case in which the correct clinical diagnosis was clouded by the occurrence of convulsions with hypercalcemic coma. Since seizures have never been included in the symptom complex of hyperparathyroidism, this paper reports a case in which hypercalcemia indirectly resulted in central nervous system hyperactivity and relates these symptoms to the underlying disease. Report of a Case A 56-year-old white man was admitted to Memorial Hospital of Long Beach Calif


Introduction: In the orthognatic surgery of the mandible and specially bilateral sagital spilt osteotomy (B.S.S.O), the most complication is some change in mandibular border movement, and as a result limitation of mandibular movement. The aim of this study was to evaluate the changes in maximum interincisal opening, left and right lateral excursion, and protrusive movements in all patients before and after operation in the period of three to six months and the effects of modern physiotherapical plans (CPM) on increasing these movements after surgery. Materials and Methods: This is a prospective clinical trial study. In this study 30 patient,s (18 females & 12 males) who were 13-30 years old (average age 20.5), BSSO surgery was performed according to Epker procedure with surgical handpice and bur, rigid fixation were performed with 3 postional screw of 2mm diameter for all patients. MIO, LLE, RLE, PM were measured before and after operation in the period of three to six months. At the end the patients who still had mandibular movement limitations were divided into two groups of experiment and sample, then the effects of 20 physiotherapical sessions were studied after the 9th month. Results: After 3 months post-op, considerable reduction in all mandibular movements has occured, but after 6 months post-op, 12 patients (40) had significant limitation of mandibular movements, specially in MIO & PM. At the end of nine months post-op all patients in sample group, had limitation in mandibular mobility but in the experiment group all patients had normal mandibular border movement. Discussion: There are different reports about the effect of orthognatic surgery on mandibular border movements. In this study BSSO for mandibular setback has led to considerable reduction in mandibular movement sepecially maximum interincisal opening & protrusive movements and the physiotherapical treatment have been considered as the solution of the mentioned problems but the major difference between our study and others are, using of Rigid fixation, not using MMF and two week usage of elastic Traning.


A garment that responds to emotions, lace patterns that grow from a plant, textile that decomposes itself and fashion that literally zips people together... With a critical look at today's fashion industry, more than fifty young designers and a number of illustrious innovators such as Viktor&Rolf and Comme des Garcons give us their vision of the fashion of tomorrow.

The development of new technologies and a grasp of the importance of sustainability are what is driving young designers worldwide and causing them to expand the borders of the traditional fashion system. With their innovative solutions and fresh designs, this latest generation of fashion designers has arrived at the interface between fashion and art.

This book not only provides an overview of the work by the more than fifty designers being shown at the exhibition, but it also traces the development of and ideas behind the exhibition's special works.


Self-organizing motion is an important yet inadequately understood phenomena in the field of collective behavior. For birds flocks, insect swarms, and fish schools, group behavior can provide a mechanism for defense against predators, better foraging and mating capabilities and increased hydro/aerodynamic efficiency in long-distance migration events. Although collective motion has received much scientific attention, more work is required to model and understand the mechanisms responsible for school initiation and formation, and information transfer within these groups. Here we investigate schooling of black tetra (Gymnocorymbus ternetzi) fish triggered by startle stimuli in the form of approaching objects. High-speed video and tagging techniques were used to track the school and individual members. We then measured several variables including reaction times, group formation shapes, fish velocity, group density, and leadership within the group. These data reveal three things: (1) information propagates through the group as a wave, indicating that each fish is not reacting individually to the stimulus, (2) the time taken for information to transfer across the group is independent of group density, and (3) information propagates across large groups faster than would be expected if the fish were simply responding to the motion of their nearest neighbor. A model was then built wherein simulated fish have a simple 'stimuli/escape' vector based on a hypothetical field of vision. The model was used to simulate a group of individual fish with initial conditions, size, and stimuli similar to the biological experiments. The model revealed similar behavior to the biological experiments and provide insights into the observed patterns, response times, and wave speeds.


Nanotechnology is the most promising field for generating new applications in medical field. Silver ion has been used for centuries to prevent and treat variety of diseases and infections. In this study we have selected Polyvinyl pyrrolidine (PVP) as a binder for nano silver particles. This was done with the aim to investigate the blend behavior of PVP with nanoparticles which can have their application in medical field. PVP is a water soluble polymer with a large number of consumer uses. This commercial success derives from its biological compatibility, low toxicity, film-forming and adhesive characteristics, unusual complexing ability, relatively inert behavior toward salts and acids, and its resistance to thermal degradation in solution. Because of these diverse properties, FTIR and 13C NMR are employed successfully to study the blend behavior of PVP with nanosilver. FTIR spectrum is recorded in the range 400-4000cm-1. The characteristic vinyl bands are observed in the region 965 cm-1and C-C, C=O stretching and bending are found in the appropriate region in pure PVP and PVP and Nano silver complex . The 13C NMR provides valuable information about the structure of the complex. FTIR and NMR studies confirm that structure of the complex is stable and the characteristic bands of PVP are not disturbed by the presence of silver ions. Thus this study suggest that a product made of PVP and nanosilver composite can be used as external formulation such as wound healing in medical field.


Early in its differentiative pathway, a given B lymphocyte expresses immunoglobulin of the mu heavy chain class (IgM). Subsequent differentiative processes may involve rearrangement within the immunoglobulin heavy chain chromosomal locus to enable cells of the same lineage to synthesize immunoglobulins of other heavy chain classes (e. g. IgG, IgE or IgA), but with specificity for the same antigen as the original IgM molecule. Switch recombination, the molecular event which facilitates this chromosomal rearrangement, has been shown to occur between segments of DNA consisting of tandemly repeated unit sequences. These DNA segments have been functionally defined as switch regions. We have cloned the gamma 1 switch region from the BALB/c germline, and have demonstrated that significantly divergent sequence elements are interspersed among the tandemly repeated units characteristic of this switch region. We show that these unique elements exist in at least three copies within the switch segment, and discuss the implications of this novel and previously unreported primary structure.


The Banda Sea is separated into two oceanic fragments, the south and north Banda basins, by a large intervening region of ridges and basins called the Banda ridges. The north and south Banda basins appear to be trapped pieces of pre-Tertiary oceanic crust, whereas the Banda ridges are a submerged and displaced continental borderland, structurally very similar to the southern California offshore borderland. Analysis of dredged rocks from the Banda ridges suggests an origin from western Irian Jaya.


Comorbidity refers to the situation in which an individual qualifies for the diagnosis of more than one disorder, either across their lifecourse (lifetime comorbidity) or at present (current comorbidity). In many services, comorbidity of psychological disorders is the norm rather than the exception. In this chapter, the common experience of comorbid problems is described and the literature on the treatment of comorbidity using CBT is briefly reviewed. A transdiagnostic model of psychological distress is introduced that unifies across different cognitive, behavioural and interpersonal processes ? proposing that they each involve control as a process. A simple model for formulation is introduced that allows therapists to model the clients? conflicting attempts to control their internal experiences, and the underlying personal goals that drive these processes. Several cases are introduced to illustrate how a CBT approach can be based around a theory of hierarchical control and conflict. The approach is designed to guide and sustain clients? present moment awareness on the higher order goals and values that drive their experience and allow them to shift perspectives and reprioritise in a way that gains a greater overall level of control and purpose in their lives. A newly formed version of cognitive therapy called Method of Levels is proposed as the most efficient technique, yet its aims are consistent with many familiar methods in CBT. The chapter finishes with key points for discussion in relation to diagnosis, its utility, and the future of the transdiagnostic approach.


Accurate and efficient spectrum sensing is critical in providing the cognitive radios with radio environmental awareness in order to improve the efficiency of spectrum utilization. Since narrowband sensing techniques only concentrate on one band at a time with prefixed band locations and bandwidth, wideband sensing is relatively more efficient. Considering the adverse effects of shadowing and multipath fading, in this paper, a cooperative wideband spectrum sensing algorithm based on the subspace method is proposed to detect the presence of a number of primary users in the band of interest. Specifically based on the collected samples of the received signals over multiple antennas, each secondary user estimates the number of primary user signals and their carrier frequencies using the subspace method. Before fusing all local estimates, the fusion center needs to determine which estimates belong to which primary users. The k -means algorithm built on the minimum description length principle is proposed for the data association problem, which can further eliminate false alarms. A linear unbiased estimator is proposed for data fusion and it reduces to a weighted sum of local estimates that belong to the same primary user. Experiments are conducted to demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed algorithm in detecting the correct number of primary users and estimating their carrier frequencies.


The paper highlights the role of afforestations as an important method for management of agricultural land with adverse natural farming conditions in Poland. In the first place, it assessed natural farming conditions in Poland in regional terms and their impact on the economic situation and the possibility of afforestation on farms. The next step was to assess the state of implementing existing afforestations financed from the RDP 2014-2020. Then, it estimated their contribution to carbon dioxide (CO2) sequestration from the atmosphere in the Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF) area. The paper used the data from the Agency for Restructuring and Modernisation of Agriculture (Agencja Restrukturyzacji i Modernizacji Rolnictwa, ARiMR), Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation – State Research Institute (Instytut Uprawy Nawożenia i Gleboznawstwa – Panstwowy Instytut Naukowy, IUNG) and the data from farms conducting accounting for the Polish Farm Accountancy Data Network (Polish FADN) in 2013-2015, as well as the literature data.


Over the last twenty-five years small 100-125cc motorcycles have become the "mule of Asia" a common mode of transportation for both passengers and goods. This paper describes a number of novel and distinctly Asian game input devices for playing a futuristic motorcycle computer game that takes the mule of Asia into cyberspace. The controllers are constructed from cheap, readily available, local materials and in addition to their functionality the design and choice of these materials is presented as a commentary on many aspects of life in modern South-East Asia.


In 2020, DIDO$^©$ turned 20! The software package emerged in 2001 as a basic, user-friendly MATLAB$^\circledR$ teaching-tool to illustrate the various nuances of Pontryagin's Principle but quickly rose to prominence in 2007 after NASA announced it had executed a globally optimal maneuver using DIDO. Since then, the toolbox has grown in applications well beyond its aerospace roots: from solving problems in quantum control to ushering rapid, nonlinear sensitivity-analysis in designing high-performance automobiles. Most recently, it has been used to solve continuous-time traveling-salesman problems. Over the last two decades, DIDO's algorithms have evolved from their simple use of generic nonlinear programming solvers to a multifaceted engagement of fast spectral Hamiltonian programming techniques. A description of the internal enhancements to DIDO that define its mathematics and algorithms are described in this paper. A challenge example problem from robotics is included to showcase how the latest version of DIDO is capable of escaping the trappings of a ``local minimum'' that ensnare many other trajectory optimization methods.


Book synopsis: French philosopher and Talmudic commentator Emmanuel Levinas (1906-1995) is best known for his two major, highly original works on ethics, Totality and Infinity (1961) and Otherwise Than Being or Beyond Essence (1974). Among his lesser known works is a short but remarkable essay published in 1934, "Refections on the Philosophy of Hitlerism," in which he considers German conservatism and the Nazi movement, and reflects on Western philosophy's capacity to insure itself against 'elemental evil.' Difficult Justice uses this essay as an introduction to a collection of papers on Levinas's ethical and political thought.

In this volume editors Asher and Gad Horowitz bring together contributors from a variety of disciplines and backgrounds to explore how Levinas's work relates to a broad range of contemporary philosophical and political questions. In particular, they examine Levinas's challenge to liberalism 'to find another kinship for man ... absolutely opposed to oppression,' and his movement beyond liberalism to embrace 'the claim of the Other.' This thought-provoking collection will not only be invaluable to Levinas scholars, it will also be of interest to those working in the areas of Jewish studies, women's studies, and political theory.


This is an examination of how vigorous and truly pluralistic policy debate has evolved in both mature and emerging democracies. The book suggests how it may be encouraged from within and sustained by outside assistance. The contributors argue that a strong democracy thrives on a rich population of organizations and individuals that respond to the issues of the moment, the concerns of groups within society that wish to be heard, and the styles of interaction that seem most appropriate at any one time. The volume has five parts. In the first, three US-based authors present models of public debate from the American experience. In the second part, four authors - two from Latin America and two from Eastern Europe - chronicle and analyze the public debate that accompanied their countries' transitions to democracy. The third section includes chapters on specific areas of policy research, the fourth shifts attention to the institutions that foster debate, and the fifth assesses contributions to public debate from abroad by foundations and the corporate sector. The book concludes with a look ahead to challenges and opportunities.


ABSTRACT The amantadine-sensitive ion channel activity of influenza A virus M2 protein was discovered through understanding the two steps in the virus life cycle that are inhibited by the antiviral drug amantadine: virus uncoating in endosomes and M2 protein-mediated equilibration of the intralumenal pH of the trans Golgi network. Recently it was reported that influenza virus can undergo multiple cycles of replication without M2 ion channel activity (T. Watanabe, S. Watanabe, H. Ito, H. Kida, and Y. Kawaoka, J. Virol. 75:5656–5662, 2001). An M2 protein containing a deletion in the transmembrane (TM) domain (M2-del29–31) has no detectable ion channel activity, yet a mutant virus was obtained containing this deletion. Watanabe and colleagues reported that the M2-del29–31 virus replicated as efficiently as wild-type (wt) virus. We have investigated the effect of amantadine on the growth of four influenza viruses: A/WSN/33; N31S-M2WSN, a mutant in which an asparagine residue at position 31 in the M2 TM domain was replaced with a serine residue; MUd/WSN, which possesses seven RNA segments from WSN plus the RNA segment 7 derived from A/Udorn/72; and A/Udorn/72. N31S-M2WSN was amantadine sensitive, whereas A/WSN/33 was amantadine resistant, indicating that the M2 residue N31 is the sole determinant of resistance of A/WSN/33 to amantadine. The growth of influenza viruses inhibited by amantadine was compared to the growth of an M2-del29–31 virus. We found that the M2-del29–31 virus was debilitated in growth to an extent similar to that of influenza virus grown in the presence of amantadine. Furthermore, in a test of biological fitness, it was found that wt virus almost completely outgrew M2-del29–31 virus in 4 days after cocultivation of a 100:1 ratio of M2-del29–31 virus to wt virus, respectively. We conclude that the M2 ion channel protein, which is conserved in all known strains of influenza virus, evolved its function because it contributes to the efficient replication of the virus in a single cycle.


Recently, not only robotic welders have replaced human welders in many welding applications, but also reasonable seam tracking systems are commercially available. However, fully adequate process control systems have not been developed due to a lack of reliable sensors and mathematical models that correlate welding parameters to the bead geometry for the automated welding process. Especially, real-time quality control in automated welding process is an important factor contributing to higher productivity, lower costs and greater reliability of the bead geometry. In this paper, on-line empirical models with experimental results are proposed in order to be applicable for the prediction of bead geometry. For development of the proposed predicting model, an attempt has been made to apply for a several methods. For the more accurate prediction, the prediction variables are first used to the surface temperatures measured using infrared thermometers with the welding parameters (welding current, arc voltage, CTWD and gas flow rate) because the surface temperature are strongly related to the formation of the bead geometry. And the developed model has been carried out a learning each time data acquired.


India is rapidly modernising its naval capabilities and expanding its maritime interests in Asia-Pacific region. The recent surge in its maritime domain is associated with two factors: Firstly, the rise of China as an 'Asian power' with growing influence in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR); secondly, India's aspirations to become a leading player in the IOR while expanding its sway in the Pacific ocean. This paper argues that India's increased regional engagements and its strategic partnership with the US will strengthen Indian footprints in the Indo-Pacific region which will increase security concerns for China. This paper explores the evolution of Indian strategic thinking over the years on 'sea power,' examines the emerging contours of India's 'Indo-Pacific' strategy as well as fulfilling its aspirations of becoming a global power, and discusses the implications of 'India's Extended Neighbourhood' policy for China's economic and strategic interests in East Asia and the South China Sea.


Many of the newest DSLRs include HD video capability, and while the interest from the photography community was initially cool, we have seen a recent shift. Photographers are beginning to explore the video capabilities of their cameras and want to learn about the art and craft of creating high quality video. In this book learn how to capture and edit video footage, how to achieve the unique "motion picture look " and the effects which have not been possible with standard digital video equipment. The book takes the reader all the way from mastering video concepts, specific video features of their DSLRs, and equipment needed to shoot video, to understanding the restrictions, problems, and pitfalls of shooting video with a DSLR. Using an easy to follow approach of introducing concepts, thoroughly explaining the process of shooting video, and finally presenting step-by-step projects that take the reader from capture to editing. Examples and other useful materials and video clips can be found on the DVD that comes with the book. Photographers who are ready to give HD video a serious try, as well as videographers interested in exploring the possibilities of DSLRs for their work, will find this book an indispensable source of technical know-how and inspiration.


The impact of short-term intravenous large dose streptokinase injection on the myocardial infarction size estimated by a QRS score system was studied in 57 patients with primary myocardial infarction admitted to hospital at least 6 hours following the onset of the disease. There was a lower myocardial infarction size despite its localization and the time of treatment initiation when thrombolysis was successful, as evidenced by non-invasive criteria. The reliability of the QRS score system used to estimate the myocardial infarction size increased when the patients with anterior or inferior myocardial infarction and those with successful and unsuccessful systemic streptokinase thrombolysis.


We are pleased to present the latest account of the sequence of burial and construction at the site of Stonehenge, deduced by its most recent excavators and anchored in time by the application of Bayesian radiocarbon modelling. Five prehistoric stages are proposed, of varied duration, and related by our authors to neighbouring monuments in the Stonehenge environs. While it may never be possible to produce a definitive chronology for this most complex of monuments, the comprehensive and integrated achievement owed to these researchers has brought us much closer to that goal. It is from this firm platform that Stonehenge can begin its new era of communication with the public at large.


In most songbirds, both sexes produce calls, or short vocalizations used to coordinate behaviors and maintain social cohesion. In contrast, songs are longer, more elaborate vocalizations typically only produced by males in behavioral contexts shaped by sexual selection operating through female choice. However, both males and females sing in many cooperatively breeding species, including the superb starling (Lamprotornis superbus). In this species, both sexes produce songs and calls composed of sequences of temporally discrete elements called motifs. Calls signal social group and individual identity, but the function of songs is currently unknown. Because superb starlings often sing in groups, song could be used not only in a sexual context, but also to signal identity and rank within the separate dominance hierarchies observed in males and females. To determine whether songs are used in mate attraction (sexually selected) and/or to influence social rank (socially selected), we compared song diversity with three potential indicators of fitness and dominance: social status, the number of seasons spent breeding, and age. We found that age is correlated with song diversity in both males and females, suggesting that (1) these signals serve similar purposes in both sexes, and (2) song diversity is likely the result of selection by both mutual mate choice and social competition. To test whether songs carry a signal of individuality, we applied spectrogram dynamic time warping to measure pairwise similarity among song motifs, and then calculated motif similarity within and between individuals. We found that motif similarity is higher within individuals than between individuals, suggesting that songs signal individual identity, which may help to establish social rank. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that superb starling vocal behavior in each sex is shaped by both social and sexual selection. Additionally, because call motifs are also used in songs, our data suggest that at least some vocal building blocks have evolved to convey multiple signaler traits and to facilitate complex social and sexual interactions in different contexts.


This paper sought the perception of Nigerian real estate valuers on sustainable development and how sustainability can be integrated into the real estate valuation process in Nigeria. One hundred and sixty Estate Surveyors and Valuers were asked, among others, to rate the significance of a range of sustainability features on the market value of a hypothetical property based on the social, economic and environmental features that make up the triple bottom line of sustainability. The study showed evidences of a growing awareness of the need to mainstream sustainability into the real estate valuation process: though the majority of the respondents tended to define real estate sustainability only in terms of its social features leaving out the economic and environmental features. Nigerian valuers are therefore enjoined to broaden and improve on their present knowledge of sustainability to enable them to account for the phenomenon in their valuations as appropriate. the study identified the investors, the government, property occupier, and the estate surveyor and valuer (appraiser), in that order, as the frontline drivers of the sustainability crusade in the country. Keywords : integration, perception, real estate, sustainability, valuation process.


This paper explores the parameters of a traditional Bedouin legal practice called al-jala (tribal banishment). Aljala (banishment) has been around for centuries and has strived to restore peace to a community disrupted by the commission of a murder or honor crime. The century-old practice is arranged by the elders through tribal law and requires the offending party, and his co-liable group of relatives, to leave the community where the crime was committed and live in another traditional enemy community. In this way, the offending party and his family are psychologically and physically punished as a collective whole. The paper will describe al-jala by explaining its liability, time, place, duration, and functions. Also, the paper will discuss the effect of rapid social change on aljala and provides relevant recommendations to deal with this old tradition in a 21st century society.


ABSTRACT Purpose: To investigate if a metacognitive goal-based intervention (IMPACT) improves self-awareness (SA) in adults with cognitive-communication disorders (CCDs) following acquired brain injury (ABI). It was hypothesized that following the intervention, participants would exhibit improved SA and thus would perceive a higher frequency of communication difficulties. Method: A post-hoc analysis of two pre–post pilot trials was conducted in this study to investigate changes in the level of SA in 16 community-dwelling adults with CCDs following ABI. The treatment, IMPACT, contained three components: individual goal-based therapy, group therapy and significant other facilitated home practice. Results: Whilst the intervention programme did not elicit a significant change in participants' self-assessment of communication ability (p = .310), it did produce a statistically significant improvement in overall SA (p = .021) and emergent awareness (p = .034). Changes in participants' level of intellectual awareness approached statistical significance (p = .059). Participants achieved a statistically significant improvement in GAS T-score (p< .001), with the majority of participants achieving all of their individualized treatment goals. Conclusions: Metacognitive strategy instruction (MSI) appears effective at improving impaired self-awareness (ISA) in adults with CCDs following ABI. To strengthen the conclusions of the current investigation, further research involving a standardized treatment protocol, a stable measure of communication ability, a larger sample size and the inclusion of participants with more significant ISA is recommended.


The face of Indian retailing has witnessed a rapid transformation over the last decade. It was rated the fifth most attractive emerging retail market and ranked second in a Global Retail development Index of 30 developing countries drawn up by AT Kearney. This is evident from the fact that shopping mall activity which was earlier only a part of the big cities has started percolating down to smaller cities and towns. There is brisk development of retail space in tier-II cities and towns of India barring the Far East region with the development at 220 new shopping malls by 2008. This has resulted in the Indian consumer being exposed to a variety of retail formats leading to change in consumer buying behavior. The entertainment and curiosity value of the new formats is fast diminishing for the consumer who is no longer satisfied with the blanket proposition offered by them .In order to cater to the increasing complexity in the market place the Indian retailer will need to know his customer and design a unique value proposition for his segment. Segmentation is useful because it goes beyond total scores or averages and helps in identifying and grouping the differences such that they are actionable.


A recent experimental and clinical observation on the use of bone marrow-derived stem/progenitor cells (BM-SC) to treat non-hematologic degenerative diseases has renovated the long-standing knowledge of their biology and function. However, the paradoxical lack of histological studies limits the identification of SC within the human BM, constraining their purification and further obscuring the sites where SC fate is decided. In an attempt to identify human hematopoietic BM-SC and their relationships with the tissue environment, bone marrow biopsies from 31 subjects without BM involvement by hemo-lymphoproliferative diseases were analysed with stringent morphometric criteria for the quantification of cells expressing CD117 (c-kit) and CD34, as candidate SC markers, and/or CD45, CD3, CD20, myeloperoxidase (MPOX), CD68, Glycophorin A (GlyA) and Factor VIII (vWF), as lineage commitment. Immunofluorescence combined with confocal examination was also performed to allow the simultaneous detection of multiple surface/cytoplasmic antigens together with transcription factors. Hematopoietic cells constituted 54% of the tissue among which MPOX, GlyA and vWF positive cells represented 43.8%, 13.5% and 0.06% of marrow cells, respectively. The frequency of CD34pos cells was 93.5±43.6 each 105 total nucleated cells; c-kit involved 2.7±2.6/105 cells and c-kit-CD34 co-expression was present in 1.14±0.98/105cells. When the incidence of CD45 was evaluated among these two cell populations only 15% of c-kitpos and 49% of CD34pos cells showed hematopoietic lineage commitment, indicating the presence in the human bone marrow of undifferentiated SC. The analysis of the expression of Terminal Deoxynucleotidyl Transferase (TdT) in hematopoietic cells demonstrated that 10% of c-kitpos, 20% of CD34pos and 0.62% of CD45pos cells possessed the nuclear transcription factor. The distribution of BM-SC was predominantly scattered throughout the tissue although interstitial and paratrabecular clusters were detected and are currently under intense scrutiny in search of BM-SC sites of activation. In a subset of patients, the histological analysis was complemented by the cytofluorimetric estimation of the same BM cells populations. The results of this study may contribute to the improvement in the isolation and characterization of BM-SC aimed to the identification of their niches and to an appropriate clinical application in the field of regenerative medicine.


The South Brazilian Bight (SBB) is a hydrographically dynamic environment with strong seasonality that sustains a diverse planktonic community involved in diverse biogeochemical processes. The inherent optical properties (IOPs; e.g., absorption and scattering coefficients) of optically actives constituents of water (OACs; phytoplankton, non-algal particles–NAP, and colored dissolved organic matter–CDOM) have been widely employed to retrieve information on biogeochemical parameters in the water. In this study conducted in the SBB, a cross-shelf transect was performed for biogeochemistry and hydrographic sampling during a summer expedition. Our research aimed to determine the distribution and amount of the optically active constituents of water based on their spectral signature, in relation to the distribution of water masses in the region. That allows us to get insights into the biogeochemical processes within each water mass and in the boundaries between them. We observed a strong intrusion of South Atlantic Central Water (SACW) over the shelf, mainly driven by the wind action. With that, phytoplankton development was fueled by the input of nutrients, and increased chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) concentrations were observed within the shallowest stations. Colored dissolved organic matter (CDOM) did not follow the distribution of dissolved organic carbon (DOC). Both CDOM and DOC presented high values at the low salinity Coastal Water (CW), as an indication of the continental influence over the shelf. However, CDOM was inversely correlated with salinity and lowest values were observed within Tropical Water (TW), whereas DOC values within TW were as high as within CW, indicating an autochthonous DOM source. Additionally, a deep Chl-a maximum (DCM) was noticed in the boundary between the TW and SACW. Along with the DCM, we observed the production of fresh, non-colored DOM attributed to the microbial community. Finally, our results suggest that CDOM is photodegraded at the surface of CW. This is mainly due to the Ekman transport effect over the region that traps CW at the surface, making it longer exposed to solar radiation.


We show how to lift a generic non-scale invariant action in Einstein frame into a locally conformally-invariant (or Weyl-invariant) theory and present a new general form for Lagrangians consistent with Weyl symmetry. Advantages of such a conformally invariant formulation of particle physics and gravity include the possibility of constructing geodesically complete cosmologies. We present a conformal-invariant version of the standard model coupled to gravity, and show how Weyl symmetry may be used to obtain unprecedented analytic control over its cosmological solutions. Within this new framework, generic FRW cosmologies are geodesically complete through a series of big crunch - big bang transitions. We discuss a new scenario of cosmic evolution driven by the Higgs field in a "minimal" conformal standard model, in which there is no new physics beyond the standard model at low energies, and the current Higgs vacuum is metastable as indicated by the latest LHC data.


Abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) is a frequently encountered problem for which women used to have gynecological consultation. Endometrial aspiration cytology (EAC) is an acceptable and valuable diagnostic procedure for screening the endometrial status. The study was conducted to evaluate the utility of EAC in women with AUB, and to compare cytological findings were compared with the histopathological findings. Cross-sectional cohort study done at different districts of Gujarat from October 2011 to June 2021. A total of 1405 patients presenting with AUB were subjected to EAC using a 4?mm Karman's cannula. We have also performed endometrial dilation and curettage. The cytology smears were prepared and evaluated for various cytomorphological features. The cytological diagnoses made were compared with the histopathological diagnosis to obtain sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic accuracy of EAC. Statistical analyses were performed using the IBM SPSS (Statistical package for the Social Sciences v15.0) and Microsoft Excel 2007 software. EAC showed a sample adequacy of 96.65% in relation to 98.15% for histopathology. EAC showed a sensitivity of 98% and 100% for diagnosing benign and malignant conditions, respectively. There was a good correlation between cytological and histopathological diagnosis (κ = 0.643). EAC is a cost effective and least invasive procedure for the primary investigation & work up of women with AUB.


The recently-discovered titi, Callicebus coimbrai, is endemic to the coastal Brazilian Atlantic Forest south of the São Francisco River, a region with a long tradition of deforestation. While a number of C. coimbrai populations have now been identified, little is known about basic population parameters. Considering the importance of this information for conservation planning, the population of a site in southern Sergipe (with a total area of forest of approximately 500 ha) was surveyed between April and October 2008. Standard line transect procedures were used in the four largest fragments, and additional monitoring included the use of playback broadcasts for the observation of titi groups. The presence of titis was confirmed in all the forest fragments at the site, including one of only five hectares. Two other primates - Callithrix jacchus and Cebus xanthosternos - were also recorded at the site, but were less abundant than titis. A total transect walk of 476 km provided 164 sightings of primates, the majority of which (104) were of Callicebus coimbrai. Titi groups ranged in size between two and five individuals. The most reliable estimate of overall population density, derived from the combined data set, was 12.6 individuals per km²;, although density was much higher in smaller (more disturbed) fragments. The total population of Callicebus coimbrai at the site was estimated to be at least 50 individuals, which may represent a considerable proportion of the population of the species remaining in the wild. In addition to its apparent tolerance of habitat fragmentation, densities of C. coimbrai recorded at the site compare favourably with those of other Atlantic Forest titi species.


Background Heart failure is associated with activation of thrombin‐related pathways, which predicts a poor prognosis. We hypothesized that treatment with rivaroxaban, a factor Xa inhibitor, could reduce thrombin generation and improve outcomes for patients with worsening chronic heart failure and underlying coronary artery disease. Methods In this double‐blind, randomized trial, 5022 patients who had chronic heart failure, a left ventricular ejection fraction of 40% or less, coronary artery disease, and elevated plasma concentrations of natriuretic peptides and who did not have atrial fibrillation were randomly assigned to receive rivaroxaban at a dose of 2.5 mg twice daily or placebo in addition to standard care after treatment for an episode of worsening heart failure. The primary efficacy outcome was the composite of death from any cause, myocardial infarction, or stroke. The principal safety outcome was fatal bleeding or bleeding into a critical space with a potential for causing permanent disability. Results Over a median follow‐up period of 21.1 months, the primary end point occurred in 626 (25.0%) of 2507 patients assigned to rivaroxaban and in 658 (26.2%) of 2515 patients assigned to placebo (hazard ratio, 0.94; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.84 to 1.05; P=0.27). No significant difference in all‐cause mortality was noted between the rivaroxaban group and the placebo group (21.8% and 22.1%, respectively; hazard ratio, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.87 to 1.10). The principal safety outcome occurred in 18 patients who took rivaroxaban and in 23 who took placebo (hazard ratio, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.43 to 1.49; P=0.48). Conclusions Rivaroxaban at a dose of 2.5 mg twice daily was not associated with a significantly lower rate of death, myocardial infarction, or stroke than placebo among patients with worsening chronic heart failure, reduced left ventricular ejection fraction, coronary artery disease, and no atrial fibrillation. (Funded by Janssen Research and Development; COMMANDER HF ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01877915.)


This study was to explore the involvement of DNA repair genes in the pathogenesis of age-related cataract (ARC). We genotyped nine single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of genes responsible to DNA double strand breaks (DSBs) in 804 ARC cases and 804 controls in a cohort of eye diseases in Chinese population and found that the ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM) gene-rs4585:G>T was significantly associated with ARC risk. An in vitro functional test found that miR-2964a-5p specifically down-regulated luciferase reporter expression and ATM expression in the cell lines transfected with rs4585 T allele compared to rs4585 G allele. The molecular assay on human tissue samples discovered that ATM expression was down-regulated in majority of ARC tissues and correlated with ATM genotypes. In addition, the Comet assay of cellular DNA damage of peripheral lymphocytes indicated that individuals carrying the G allele (GG/GT) of ATM-rs4585 had lower DNA breaks compared to individuals with TT genotype. These findings suggested that the SNP rs4585 in ATM might affect ARC risk through modulating the regulatory affinity of miR-2964a-5p. The reduced DSBs repair might be involved in ARC pathogenesis.


The Geospatial data has been used extensively in many scientific areas but a lot of issues arise for sharing and processing such large amount of data. The geospatial data is exposed most of the time using geospatial Web services, standardized by the Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC). In this paper we discuss solutions and approaches, based on the integration of OGC Web services into the Grid environment, for solving those problems in the context of enviroGRIDS project. The interoperability between the OGC and Grid technologies is promising in solving important challenges in Earth Observation (EO) environment and is discussed at different levels in the project architecture: data level, execution/processing level and portal level.


Every rhinolaryngologist has been consulted by patients who, while eating, have had something lodge in the throat, which they could feel sticking them. The question arises, What shall be done by the physician who does not care to employ endoscopic procedures? Among the many foreign bodies found in the faucial and lingual tonsils and in the lymphoid tissues of the pharynx, fish bones are more common than all the other forms combined. Other substances, such as toothbrush bristles, toothpicks or slivers of wood, spicules of some of the long bones, plant stems and occasionally some form of metallic foreign bodies, are found. These foreign bodies are introduced through the mouth, in contradistinction to the tonsillolith or calculus of the tonsil, which originates from within the tonsillar crypt, but which may give rise to symptoms suggesting the lodgment of a foreign body. ETIOLOGY As all of these substances are introduced from


BACKGROUND
Evidence on the use of drugs during pregnancy in Switzerland is lacking.

OBJECTIVES
To evaluate utilisation of prescribed drugs during pregnancy in outpatient care in Switzerland, focusing on treatments for pain, infections, gastro-oesophageal reflux, nausea/vomiting, and constipation.

METHODS
We conducted a descriptive study using the Swiss Helsana claims database (2014–2018). We established a cohort of pregnancies by identifying deliveries and estimating the date of the last menstrual period. We identified claims for the following drugs during pregnancy; analgesics (opioids, paracetamol, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs [NSAIDs]), oral antibiotics, antacids, proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), anti-nausea drugs (propulsives and 5HT3-antagonists), and laxatives. Within these drug groups we quantified exposure prevalence to the most prescribed drugs (to >1% of pregnancies) during pregnancy as well as to specific potentially teratogenic or fetotoxic drugs during specific risk periods. Results were extrapolated relative to the demographic distribution of the Swiss population.

RESULTS
We identified an extrapolated population of 369,371 pregnancies, with a weighted mean maternal age of 32.0 years (weighted standard deviation 5.1). Analgesics were claimed in 34.5% (95% confidence interval [CI] 33.9–35.0%) of pregnancies, most frequently paracetamol (30.3%, 29.8–30.8%), followed by NSAIDs (8.6%, 8.3–8.8%), and opioids (2.6%, 2.4–2.8%). NSAIDs were claimed in 1.3% (1.2–1.4%) of pregnancies after week 24, and opioids were claimed in 1.3% (1.2–1.4%) in trimester 3. Antibiotics were dispensed in 26.3% (25.8–26.8%) of pregnancies, most frequently amoxicillin (14.6%, 95% CI 14.2–14.9%). Claims for potentially teratogenic or fetotoxic antibiotics during risk periods were each recorded in <0.6% of pregnancies. PPIs were claimed in 16.0% (15.6–16.3%) and antacids in 10.6% (10.3–11.0%) of pregnancies, but several antacid products are not reimbursed and thus not present in insurance claims. Anti-nausea drugs were claimed in 16.4% (16.0–16.7%) of pregnancies, most frequently metoclopramide in 14.4% (14.0–14.7%). Ondansetron was mainly dispensed in trimester 1, 1.0% (0.9–1.1%). In total, 6.4% (6.2–6.7%) of pregnancies had a claim for laxatives, most frequently for macrogol (2.4%, 95% CI 2.2–2.5%).

CONCLUSION
The observed pattern of claimed drugs during pregnancy is in line with existing treatment guidelines. Exposure to potentially teratogenic and fetotoxic drugs was small, but given the lack of recorded diagnosis, we cannot determine if their use was clinically indicated.


Group A streptococcal peptidoglycan has previously been shown to be arthritogenic in rats and has been implicated as a structure present in a class of possible etiologic agents for rheumatoid arthritis. The present study reports that conditioned medium from human monocytes, after interaction with cell wall sonicates of four group A streptococcal strains, stimulates the plasminogen activator (PA) activity of nonrheumatoid synovial fibroblasts. Low concentrations of N- acetylmuramyl-L-alanyl-D isoglutamine (muramyl dipeptide) can also generate this synovial activator (SA) activity from human monocytes. Preliminary biochemical data suggest that the SA activity is distinct from interferon-gamma, interleukin 1, and interleukin 2. These results indicate that agents that are arthritogenic in rats can modulate human synovial fibroblast functions via monocytes. The findings are proposed to have possible significance for an understanding of the cellular interactions involved in the formation and function of the rheumatoid pannus, because PA has been invoked as possibly being generally important for the processes of cell migration, tissue remodeling, and inflammation.


The paper introduces an approach to derive a total ordering between increasing sets of subgoals by defining a relation over atomic goals. The ordering is represented in a so-called goal agenda that is used by the planner to incrementally plan for the increasing sets of subgoals. This can lead to an exponential complexity reduction because the solution to a complex planning problem is found by solving easier subproblems. Since only a polynomial overhead is caused by the goal agenda computation, a potential exists to dramatically speed up planning algorithms as we demonstrate in the empirical evaluation.


This study examines the relative contributions of giving versus receiving support to longevity in a sample of older married adults. Baseline indicators of giving and receiving support were used to predict mortality status over a 5-year period in the Changing Lives of Older Couples sample. Results from logistic regression analyses indicated that mortality was significantly reduced for individuals who reported providing instrumental support to friends, relatives, and neighbors, and individuals who reported providing emotional support to their spouse. Receiving support had no effect on mortality once giving support was taken into consideration. This pattern of findings was obtained after controlling for demographic, personality, health, mental health, and marital-relationship variables. These results have implications for understanding how social contact influences health and longevity.


Marine ports are the largest single business complex in the maritime sector impacting the coastal, marine, and atmospheric environment. The environmental effects of port operations mostly originate from the vessel and cargo handling operations, and maintenance. Port operations generate marine pollution in many forms (chemical, biological, solid waste, and sedimentation) and present a challenge to all port operators. Because ports are often located near urban areas, the wider impact of port operations on the environment cannot be ignored as it can potentially affect the economy of these areas as a whole. Air pollution is a significant externality for ports located close to urban areas. Around 4.5% and 6.2% of the total SO2 and NOX respectively, emitted by ships are due to in-port activities such as manoeuvring (approaching harbours) and hoteling (at the dock in port). A vessel consumes around 10% of fuel during slow manoeuvring. Assuming around 4.5% and 6.2% of the total SO2 and NOx emitted by ships are due to in-port activities such as manoeuvring (approaching harbours) and hoteling (at the dock in port), simplifying the traffic model hinders the ability to conduct accurate emission assessment and limits the ability to conduct an environmental assessment as a result of increased port capacity. The research aim is to develop a multi-method simulation model of port systems to simulate port traffic for assessing various port challenges like emission, throughputs, etc. The study will develop a mixed simulation model of port systems comprising of marine traffic and associated processes using the port of Liverpool as a case study. The developed simulation model will be used to estimate emission within the case study port. The study developed a multi-method simulation model representing individual actors and specific processes of the entire port system. The developed simulation method integrates two major modelling approaches: discrete-event simulation and agent-based simulation. Due to the complexity within the port, the study focused on the vessel and cargo handling sector of the port because manoeuvring (approaching harbours) is a significant source of pollution. The developed method adopts an object-oriented approach. Object-oriented modelling is an important aspect of the modelling methodology because it supports the reusability and scalability of the developed model as entities are represented as objects with specific characteristics based on their types. This is significant in representing vessel and cargo terminal types. Each vessel type was encapsulated with internal characteristics e.g. passage plan, speed, etc. A terminal developed to handle bulk cargoes is different from a terminal that handles container cargoes. Therefore, agents were developed to represent various cargo terminal types (such as container terminal, bulk terminal, passenger terminal, etc.), with each terminal type possessing its characteristics specific to itself. The method was applied in the study area. AIS data was collected for the Port of Liverpool over the 12 months of 2016. The data provides information on all marine traffic (fitted with AIS) for the Port of Liverpool outer channel (Liverpool Bay) and the port inbound and outbound lanes along the River Mersey. This data set was used to design and validated the simulation model. A maximum of seven vessels was observed to be transiting through the outer waterway, four at the inner and two in the manoeuvring waterway. Vessel transit times and speed variation are observed to be influenced by the vessel traffic density within each waterway. Vessel waiting and dwell time are seen to be influenced by lock availability and the tidal condition of the port. An increase in tidal duration results in an increase in both waiting and dwell time and vice versa. The validation outcome reveals that the developed model also possesses a relative realistic speed changing behaviour when compared to real-world data. The simulation result also shows a realistic relationship with the travel time distribution from the historical data set. The developed model represents the port as an entire system, however, the study only focussed on the vessel handling process. Previous port modelling has witnessed lots of simplification in vessel traffic models, port process models, and exclusions of external condition models over the years, but the object-oriented programme implemented in this study can help solve these issues. Therefore, the developed methodology would enable better models to be integrated.


Abstract. The oceans at the time of the Cenomanian–Turonian transition were abruptly perturbed by a period of bottom-water anoxia. This led to the brief but widespread deposition of black organic-rich shales, such as the Livello Bonarelli in the Umbria–Marche Basin (Italy). Despite intensive studies, the origin and exact timing of this event are still debated. In this study, we assess leading hypotheses about the inception of oceanic anoxia in the Late Cretaceous greenhouse world by providing a 6 Myr long astronomically tuned timescale across the Cenomanian–Turonian boundary. We procure insights into the relationship between orbital forcing and the Late Cretaceous carbon cycle by deciphering the imprint of astronomical cycles on lithologic, physical properties, and stable isotope records, obtained from the Bottaccione, Contessa and Furlo sections in the Umbria–Marche Basin. The deposition of black shales and cherts, as well as the onset of oceanic anoxia, is related to maxima in the 405 kyr cycle of eccentricity-modulated precession. Correlation to radioisotopic ages from the Western Interior (USA) provides unprecedented age control for the studied Italian successions. The most likely tuned age for the base of the Livello Bonarelli is 94.17 ± 0.15 Ma (tuning 1); however, a 405 kyr older age cannot be excluded (tuning 2) due to uncertainties in stratigraphic correlation, radioisotopic dating, and orbital configuration. Our cyclostratigraphic framework suggests that the exact timing of major carbon cycle perturbations during the Cretaceous may be linked to increased variability in seasonality (i.e. a 405 kyr eccentricity maximum) after the prolonged avoidance of seasonal extremes (i.e. a 2.4 Myr eccentricity minimum). Volcanism is probably the ultimate driver of oceanic anoxia, but orbital periodicities determine the exact timing of carbon cycle perturbations in the Late Cretaceous. This unites two leading hypotheses about the inception of oceanic anoxia in the Late Cretaceous greenhouse world.


In silico medicinal chemistry investigates molecular systems that are too large to be tackled by medium to high level ab initio quantum chemistry. Only atomistic force fields can deliver rapid computation of energy required in sampling the many conformational and orientational degrees of freedom of a ligand within a protein pocket. However, the predictive reliability of a force field critically depends on the quality and realism of its energy function. Particularly, the electrostatic component of this energy needs to be as accurate as possible because druglike ligands and proteins are polar molecules, whose interaction does not just depend on shape. Surprisingly, the challenging problem of energy accuracy receives much less attention than it deserves. Docking results in the literature are still dependent on atomic point charges, which are inherently inaccurate at short and medium range. This has been known for decades but improved and more accurate methods have not (yet) found their way in mainstream in silico medicinal chemistry. Moreover, often the "details" of the electrostatic energy are poorly and not at all reported, as if they do not matter. This article attempts to inspire future docking algorithms with ideas from an approach called Quantum Chemical Topology (QCT). The way this method partitions energy and treats the electrostatic interaction should inject more realism into the current paradigm. The gap between the medicinal chemistry "world view" and that of physical and computational chemistry needs to narrow en route to reach the currently elusive goal to make docking work for the right reasons. We discuss in detail a path to make electrostatics drastically more realistic, based on novel ideas, some partially implemented.


In the present study, we explore the observational characteristics of Electromagnetic Ion Cyclotron (EMIC) wave propagation from the source region to the ground. We use magnetometers aboard Geostationary Operational Environment Satellite (GOES) 13, the geosynchronous orbit satellite at 75°W, and at Sanikiluaq ground station (SNK, 79.14°W and 56.32°N in geographic coordinates, and L ∼ 6.0 in a dipole magnetic field) which is located in northern Canada. Using these magnetically conjugate observatories, simultaneous EMIC wave observations are carried out. We found a total of 295 coincident and 248 non‐coincident EMIC wave events between GOES 13 and the SNK station. Our statistical analysis reveals that the coincident events are predominantly observed on the dayside. The wave normal angles are slightly higher for the non‐coincident events than for coincident events. However, the coincidence of the waves is mostly governed by the intensity and duration of the wave. This is confirmed by the geomagnetic environment which shows higher auroral electrojet (AE) and Kp indices for the coincident events. We also found that some events show high‐frequency (f > 0.4 Hz) wave filtering. The statistics of the high‐frequency filtered and non‐filtered wave events show that there are clear magnetic local time (MLT) and F10.7 index differences between the two groups, as well as in ionospheric electron density measurements. In addition, we also found differences in the wave properties which possibly indicate that the propagation in the magnetosphere also plays an important role in the wave filtering.


A uniform asymptotic high frequency solution is presented for the problem of diffraction of plane harmonic sound waves by an acoustically rigid cylindrical rod of finite length with the ends characterized by the same surface impedance. This problem is described by a modified Wiener‐Hopf equation of the third kind and then solved approximately. The solution involves two infinite sets of constants satisfying two infinite systems of linear algebraic equations. Numerical solutions of these systems are obtained for various values of the parameters of the problem and their effects on the diffraction phenomenon are shown graphically.


Recent research works show that wastewater treatment plants may contribute significantly to the total emission of volatile org. compds. (VOCs) in urban areas. In order to investigate this contribution, a measurement campaign was carried out during Sept., 1999, in the Lausanne, Switzerland, area. The concns. of monocyclic arom. hydrocarbons (MAHs) over a wastewater treatment plant at Lausanne were monitored by differential optical absorption spectroscopy (DOAS) and gas chromatog. with a flame ionization detector (GC-FID). An FID was used for monitoring the overall concn. of nonmethane hydrocarbons (NMHCs). The local meteorol. conditions were also measured. The concns. of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylenes, 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene, and phenol over the wastewater treatment plant as measured by DOAS and GC-FID are compared. In addn., based upon the results of a recent field expt., the impact of the oxygen interference on DOAS measurements of arom. compds. is addressed. The MAH concn. time series and its relation to that of NMHCs, as well as to the meteorol. conditions, are presented. The VOC release and prodn. phenomena involved in the wastewater and sludge treatment processes are analyzed using complementary measurements of arom. compds. in wastewater and gas processing streams.


This paper reports on a case study of the use of Facebook in learning and teaching in higher education. Facebook was used as a venue for online discussion to support the existing Learning Management System (in this case Blackboard) in the unit Internet Collaboration and Organisation as part of the Internet Communications degree taught fully online through Open Universities Australia (OUA). Students' posts to both Facebook and the Blackboard discussion forum were analysed for content, length, and when throughout the study period they were posted. This is significant as much of the previous work in this area has relied on students self-reporting, rather than direct observation of student behaviour. These results were then compared to earlier instances of the same unit that ran within the previous twelve months, one fully online with OUA only using the Blackboard discussion group, and a second taught at Curtin University with both blended learning for students at the University's Bentley campus as well as fully online for external students, that utilised both Blackboard and Facebook. The results show that Facebook greatly increases the level of student activity in online discussions, both absolutely and in the level of sustained activity across the unit's study period. Facebook groups also had a different pattern of content from Blackboard. In Blackboard discussion is more focused on the set unit learning content, in Facebook students were using the groups to discuss administration and assignments and also bring in additional material from outside the units set learning materials. Facebook posts, while more sustained over the semester, were shorter in length. This study found that the addition of a Facebook discussion forum does not noticeably impact on the use of Blackboard's discussion forum, but rather adds a new dimension to the mix of online interaction. The paper concludes that there is value in using both of these forums for student interaction, but unit design needs to take into account the different affordances of each to maximise their utility. https://doi.org/10.34105/j.kmel.2016.08.028


Radiotherapy is one of the most effective treatments for cancer, with an estimated 50% of all patients receiving radiotherapy at some point during their treatment. Ionising radiation acts by damaging the DNA of the targeted cells, with the most important, and difficult to repair, damage being the result of DNA double strand breaks. In recent years, several studies have detected indirect effects of irradiation known as radiation induced bystander effects (RIBEs). The mechanisms of RIBE are not well understood, although experiments have shown that irradiated cells can release a signal into the extra-cellular medium which can cause cell death or DNA damage to cells which have never been directly irradiated. It has also been hypothesised that irradiated cells can cause damage to neighbouring cells through gap-junction-mediated effects.  RIBEs are particularly important at low radiation doses where a high proportion of cells may be damaged but not killed directly, thus facilitating the release of a bystander signal, and causing subsequence damage to surrounding tissue.  Understanding the implications of radiation induced bystander effects may allow these responses to be used to enhance tumour cell killing, or to protect healthy tissue from the potentially harmful effects of ionising radiation. We present a stochastic process algebra model, defined in bio-PEPA, which models the survival response to a given dose of radiation. Our system aims to quantify the cell kill due to bystander effects, and hence consists of a fixed number of cell colonies which may be: healthy (undamaged by radiation), damaged and able to emit the bystander signal, damaged and non-emitting, or dead. This epidemic-type model is able to predict the surviving fraction of cell colonies, showing good agreement with the commonly-used linear quadratic model, as well as predicting the proportion of cell death caused by the bystander effect. The formulation of this model in bio-PEPA enables us to encode the biological processes described above in a simple and easily interpreted way, whilst also allowing the model to be analysed in a number of different ways. The underlying CTMC is easily solvable both deterministically, via conversion to ODEs, or stochastically using Gillespie's algorithm. The bio-PEPA model also allows us to easily determine probability density functions for particular, abstract properties of the model, in this case allowing us to estimate the probability of observing bystander effect for a given dose.


Invasive plant species are a major threat to the biodiversity of protected areas and South Africa's Kruger National Park (KNP), which covers some 20 000 km2, is no exception. Landscape and habitat diversity and a river network that drains highly invaded catchments outside the park make KNP highly susceptible to alien plant invasions. Efficient control of the threat requires early detection of introduced species, effective methods of eradication, and dissemination of current data to increase awareness. A collaborative project was initiated to provide a platform and a range of tools to support these actions. Methods Pl@ntInvasive-Kruger aimed to develop a suite of science-based, computer-driven tools for use by KNP managers, researchers and teams involved in alien plant control. Three applications were developed, each of which is supported by a global, multi-user database: i. The PUBLISH tool returns synthesised species information; ii. IDAO, which utilises computer-aided plant identification ; and iii. IDENTIFY, an image recognition system. Results & Discussion The online DataManager database allows data management by members for field surveys and facilitates collections management and the automated synthesis of species information. These syntheses are available as HTML pages through the PUBLISH tool, which detail descriptions and imagery of both invasive and contained alien plants, and includes information on ecology, biology and management. These data support the two identification tools. PlantInvKruger-IDAO constructs unknown species in a step-wise manner from prominent characteristics selected by the user from schematic multiple-choice menus. The IDAO application is compatible with a range of mobile electronic devices. PlantInvKruger-IDENTIFY assists, through image recognition algorithms, with the specific identification of images of plants and plant parts submitted to the database through a web interface. In both cases the suggested identification is expressed as the similarity of the unknown specimen to the type specimen information housed in the database and can be confirmed by accessing the species HTML pages. All tools are used from a collaborative web platform (Pl@ntNet) where members can also share information and documents and manage discussions (http://community.plantnet-project.org/pg/groups/561/plntinvasivekruger/). Conclusions Correct identification is an essential aspect of alien plant control programs, but is difficult and time consuming where large numbers of alien and indigenous species occur. The Pl@ntInvasive-Kruger database currently contains information on almost 400 alien plant species, with the identification tools focussing on the 113 most important species. By assisting with the identification of invasive plant species and facilitating the sharing of information between interested parties, Pl@ntInvasive-Kruger will promote biodiversity conservation in KNP. This project is a case study of the Pl@ntNet project funded by Agropolis Fondation. It is currently in the final testing and refinement stage, with evaluations being conducted with end users. (Resume d'auteur)


This study aims to determine whether or not eighth graders' level of success in Turkish classes changes according to some variables such as their facilities at home, mothers' level of education, gender, and the number of brothers or sisters. In line with the aim of the research, a 25-item Turkish test and a questionnaire to specify the students' personal traits and views were designed and developed, and thus relevant data were obtained The research is concerned with all the eighth grade students attending the primary schools in Turkey. According to the findings, an increase in students' facilities at home caused an increase in their achievement; girls were better at verbal courses like Turkish; the level of mothers' education occupied an important place in children's success; mothers' high level of education along with high level of facilities increased achievement more; and higher number of brothers/sisters reduced achievement. In conclusion, convenient educational environment must be prepared at home, girls who would-be mothers must be facilitated to benefit from educational services to the maximum, and parents must have number of children at which they can afford to educate.


Airglow imager and dynasonde/imaging Doppler interferometer (IDI) radar wind measurements at Halley Station, Antarctica (75.6degreesS, 26.6degreesW) have been used to estimate the seasonal variation of the vertical fluxes of horizontal momentum carried by high-frequency atmospheric gravity waves. The cross-correlation coefficients between the vertical and horizontal wind perturbations were calculated from sodium (Na) airglow imager data collected during the austral winter seasons of 2000 and 2001. These were combined with wind velocity variances from coincident radar measurements to estimate the daily averaged upper limit of the vertical flux of horizontal momentum due to gravity waves. The resulting momentum flux at the Na airglow altitudes, while displaying a large day-to-day variability, showed a marked rotation from the northwest to the southeast throughout the winter season. Calculations show that this rotation is consistent with seasonal changes in the wind field filtering of gravity waves below the Na airglow region. The calculations also indicate that while the magnitude of the meridional wind is small, this filtering leads to the observed seasonal changes in the meridional momentum flux.


This article describes how a participatory action research project, the Zambezi Valley Advocacy Project, assisted the process of improving the autonomy of communities over wildlife management issues in the Zambezi Valley, Zimbabwe. The project was based on the assumption that negligible conservation and development benefits realised from wildlife resources were both a policy and a management problem of the Communal Areas Management Programme for Indigenous Resources (CAMPFIRE). Using a participatory analysis, we found that CAMPFIRE is a resilient programme despite the increase in poaching, unscrupulous hunting safari operators, continued destruction of crops by wildlife, reduced flow of financial benefits to producer communities, and economic decline which Zimbabwe has experienced since around the year 2000. This study demonstrates the value of participatory research, so much so that by the end of the project, stakeholders had already started implementing the findings to the hunting contract system, anti-poaching activities, and direct payment system. This represented a significant start to improving community autonomy over wildlife management. It also provided significant opportunities for both researchers and participants to collaborate and use their collective power to create political will for opening up greater decision-making, ownership wildlife resources, and benefit-sharing options for local communities. The lessons from this study are likely to be applicable to other community-based natural resource management contexts.


The international circulation of audiovisuals, films and TV series constitutes an important field of research, especially in the European context, historically characterized by a limited ability of cultural and media products to cross national borders and obtain success in other non-national markets. Italy suffers from a traditional difficulty in exporting its media content, with the exception of films that manage to earn a kind of "prestige value" thanks particularly to festivals and awards (such as the Oscars), and a few other exceptions. During the 2000s, however, and in particular in the last decade, there were signs of change, that affectedparticularly series production more than films: titles such as Romanzo criminale – La serie, Gomorrah – La serie, The Young Pope/The New Pope, Suburra – La serie, My brilliant friend, Devils, to name the most notable, seem to radically change the attitude of the national television system to create fictional content intended only for local audiences. At the origin of this mutation, several factors have contributed to restoring the centrality of the audiovisual "made in Italy". One of the important factors is undoubtedly the emergence, starting in 2008, of an unprecedented production model built by the pay or subscription based TV. This essayanalyzes what can be defined as a "Renaissance" of Italian TV fiction and presents an original research dedicated to the role of Italian "premium seriality".


Introduction To prevent neural tube defects (NTD) folic acid fortification of wheat and corn flour has been mandatory in Brazil since 2004. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect that folic acid fortification has had on serum folate levels and its contribution of total folate intake. Methods Data were obtained from two 24 h dietary recalls from a population-based study (2008–2010) in São Paulo-Brazil for 297 participants who also had serum folate concentrations measured. Folate intake was obtained using the software program Nutrition Data System for Research. Descriptive statistics, Pearson's correlates, Kruskal-Wallis and Student's t-tests were performed using Stata (Version 10.0). Results The reference range (5th–95 th percentiles) for the population after the introduction of folic acid fortification was 4.6–16.4 ng/ml for serum folate. The prevalence of low (<3 ng/ml) serum folate was 0.6%, while 1.4% of population exceed the limit value of 20 ng/ml. Synthetic folate (folic acid) contributed 51.3% [49.2 to 53.4 95% CI] of total folate intake. Both natural folate and synthetic folate did not correlate with folate serum concentrations (p>0.05), however participants in the highest serum folate tertile were older (p=0.001), and synthetic folate intake among adults and the elderly was less than the group aged <19 years (p=0.01). Conclusion There was a very low risk of folate deficiency in the studied population; older participants had higher levels of serum folate and lower intake of synthetic folate. Participants with excessive serum folate concentrations after the folic acid mandatory fortification of flour were identified.