The effects of Portulaca oleracea and its constituent, alpha linolenic acid on serum oxidant levels and inflammatory cells in sensitized rats were examined. Eight groups of rats including control, sensitized, sensitized rats treated with 1, 2 and 4 mg/mL extract of P. oleracea, 0.2 and 0.4 mg/mL alpha linolenic acid (ALA) and 1.25 μg/mL dexamethaswere studied serum levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT, thiol groups, NO2, NO3, and Malondialdehyde (MDA) as well as total and differential WBC in blood were measured. Serum concentrations of SOD, CAT and thiol were significantly decreased but NO2, NO3 and MDA as well as total WBC number and percentages of eosinophil and neutrophil were increased in sensitized group (p<0.001 for all cases).Treatment of sensitized animals with dexamethasone, high concentrations of the extract and ALA improved all measured variables except monocyte for all three treatment groups and eosinophil for dexamethasone treatment (p<0.01 to p<0.001). In addition, treatment with low and medium extract and low ALA concentrations improved serum levels of NO2, NO3 and total WBC count (p<0.001 for all cases). Neutrophil and lymphocyte percentages and serum level of thiol also improved due to treatment with medium extract and low ALA concentration (p<0.01 to p<0.001). Medium extract and low ALA treatment also caused improvement of serum level of CAT and eosinophil percentage as well as SOD level respectively (p<0.01 to p<0.001). The effect of the extract of P. oleracea and ALA on serum oxidants and inflammatory cells were demonstrated in sensitized rats, which was comparable with dexamethasone effects at used concentrations.


Abstract:  Indicator groups may be important tools with which to guide the selection of networks of areas for conservation. Nevertheless, the literature provides little guidance as to what makes some groups of species more suitable than others to guide area selection. Using distributional data on all sub‐Saharan birds and mammals, we assessed factors that influence the effectiveness of indicator groups. We assessed the influence of threatened, endemic, range‐restricted, widespread, and large‐bodied species by systematically varying their number in indicator groups. We also assessed the influence of taxonomic diversity by systematically varying the number of distinct genera and families within the indicator groups. We selected area networks based on the indicator groups and tested their ability to represent a set of species, which, in terms of species composition, is independent of the indicator group. Increasing the proportion of threatened, endemic, and range‐restricted species in the indicator groups improved effectiveness of the selected area networks; in particular it improved the effectiveness in representing other threatened and range‐restricted species. In contrast increasing the proportion of widespread and large‐bodied species decreased effectiveness. Changes in the number of genera and families only marginally affected the performance of indicator groups. Our results reveal that a focus on species of special conservation concern, which are legitimate conservation targets in their own right, also improves the effectiveness of indicator groups, in particular in representing other species of conservation concern.


The reflection and transmission coefficients of the perpendicular and parallel polarization plane electromagnetic waves of a finite quasi-periodic Fibonacci sequence of chiral and convenient isotropic magnetodielectric layers are obtained using the 2×2-block-representation transfer-matrix formulation. A correlation has been established between geometrical and spectral properties of the structure under consideration. Numerical simulations are carried out for different structures to reveal the dependence of the reflection and transmission coefficients on the frequency, chirality parameter, and the angle of wave incidence.


After the conquest of Jajce in 1528, by order of the Ottoman rule, the former Church of St. Mary was converted into a mosque which was named after the then sultan, namely Sultan Suleyman's Mosque or the Emperor's Mosque. Without referring to the pre-Ottoman period of the construction and activities of St. Mary's Church for which our literature accumulated considerable material, this paper will focus on the period of the foundation of the mosque in 1528 until the beginning of the Second World War. Based on the archival material and published sources, this paper tries to explain why St. Mary's Church had been converted into a mosque and how that had been done. More significant events from the history of the mosque are highligted, and also imams, hatibs, muezzins and other mosque officials are portrayed chronologically to the present day. Special attention is focused on the history of Sultan Sulayman's Mosque in the 19th century when a fire broke out at the mosque, and it has never been restored to the present day. Referring to the sources from the archives of the Islamic Community in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the author has pointed to the causes of the fact that the mosque was not restored after the fire.


Pyruvate compartmentation and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were studied in isolated perfused working guinea pig hearts. The mean intracellular pyruvate (Pyr) contents increased with perfusate Pyr (0-2 mM) but varied only slightly with glucose (0-10 mM) and additional insulin (0.04-5 U/l), respectively. With 5-10 mM glucose plus 5 U/l insulin, but not with Pyr or lactate (Lac) as substrates, a near equilibrium between the LDH and the glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase seemed to exist. Evidence for an inhibitory effect of Pyr on the activity of the LDH system of the perfused hearts was not obtained. With [U-14C]glucose as sole substrate, the specific activity of coronary venous Lac was near half that of precursor glucose. 14CO2 production was thus in quantitative agreement with rates of pyruvate oxidation that were determined as glucose uptake minus (Pyr + Lac) release. In contrast, with 0.2 mM [1-14C]Pyr plus 5 mM glucose, the ratio of 14CO2 production to specific activity of Lac overestimated Pyr oxidation judged from myocardial substrate balances and O2 uptake, respectively; here, at least three pools of [14C]HCO-3 and [14C]lac, respectively, were kinetically demonstrable during washout of trace amounts of 14C-labeled Pyr. Evidently, the specific activity of Lac was equivalent to that of mitochondrial oxidized Pyr provided [14C]glucose was the sole or major precursor of cellular pyruvate. However, exogenously applied [1-14C]Pyr of high specific activity seemed to induce intracellular formation of both a highly and lowly labeled Pyr; the latter Pyr compartment did not seem in ready equilibrium with the cell physiologically prevailing highly labeled Pyr pool.


We consider the communication complexity of a number of distributed optimization problems. We start with the problem of solving a linear system. Suppose there is a coordinator together with $s$ servers $P_1, \ldots, P_s$, the $i$-th of which holds a subset $A^{(i)} x = b^{(i)}$ of $n_i$ constraints of a linear system in $d$ variables, and the coordinator would like to output $x \in \mathbb{R}^d$ for which $A^{(i)} x = b^{(i)}$ for $i = 1, \ldots, s$. We assume each coefficient of each constraint is specified using $L$ bits. We first resolve the randomized and deterministic communication complexity in the point-to-point model of communication, showing it is $\tilde{\Theta}(d^2L + sd)$ and $\tilde{\Theta}(sd^2L)$, respectively. We obtain similar results for the blackboard model.
When there is no solution to the linear system, a natural alternative is to find the solution minimizing the $\ell_p$ loss. While this problem has been studied, we give improved upper or lower bounds for every value of $p \ge 1$. One takeaway message is that sampling and sketching techniques, which are commonly used in earlier work on distributed optimization, are neither optimal in the dependence on $d$ nor on the dependence on the approximation $\epsilon$, thus motivating new techniques from optimization to solve these problems.
Towards this end, we consider the communication complexity of optimization tasks which generalize linear systems. For linear programming, we first resolve the communication complexity when $d$ is constant, showing it is $\tilde{\Theta}(sL)$ in the point-to-point model. For general $d$ and in the point-to-point model, we show an $\tilde{O}(sd^3 L)$ upper bound and an $\tilde{\Omega}(d^2 L + sd)$ lower bound. We also show if one perturbs the coefficients randomly by numbers as small as $2^{-\Theta(L)}$, then the upper bound is $\tilde{O}(sd^2 L) + \textrm{poly}(dL)$.


A superhydrophobic Cu–Zn coating was fabricated on a steel surface by facile one-step electrodeposition, without being chemically modified by a low surface energy material. It was noted that three-level hierarchical structures, just like the surface morphology of a lotus leaf, were formed on the Cu–Zn coating surface via scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images. The water contact angle of the prepared Cu–Zn coating surface was 153.40°, and the sliding angle was less than 10°. From the aspect of chemical composition, it was characterized to confirm that the oxidation of Cu and Zn, and oxygen adsorption were the reasons for the superhydrophobicity. In terms of the surface morphology, based on the classical Wenzel and Cassie models, an idealized three-dimensional (3D) model was fabricated to demonstrate the rationality of the superhydrophobicity without chemical modification. Moreover, this three-level hierarchical Cu–Zn coating had stable superhydrophobicity, excellent self-cleaning properties, and stability.


In patterned media recordings such as discrete track and bit-patterned media (BPM) recordings, the presence of pattern structures on the media surface causes the slider air bearing problems more complicated to be analyzed and studied. Using the 3-D direct simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) method, the plain slider surface and bit/discrete track-patterned disk surface are designed for case studies in this paper. This paper reports the local bearing pressure variations acted on the slider surface due to the air bearing effects of pattern structures on the disk surface using the DSMC method. From the results obtained under the steady-state condition, it is observed that the bearing pressure profiles will be smoother and the bearing forces will approach to a stable value when the pattern pitch values are smaller than 0.4 μm. This critical pitch value is close to 0.3 μm that we reported previously based on modified Reynolds equations. We also investigate the effects of the pattern depth and total recess area ratio on the air bearing characteristics in BPM recording. Furthermore, in order to understand the effect of bit-pattern movements, we simulate the motion of bit-pattern structures by using four typical moving bit-pattern layouts. As of the outcomes, we can conclude that this effect could be negligible if the bit size is in several tens of nanometer scale.


The subtemporal approach is applied to the middle cranial fossa and infratemporal fossa in addition to the tentorial incisura, petroclivus, and brain stem lesions. To minimize compression damage to the temporal lobe, it is essential to perform the craniotomy along the middle cranial fossa, to remove the zygomatic arch for supratentorial lesions, and to remove the petrous pyramid for infratentorial lesions. To avoid venous damage, the drainage pathways of the superficial sylvian vein and bridging veins, including Labbé's vein, should be preoperatively evaluated. Furthermore, with the recent advances in endoscopic surgery, it has become possible to approach the middle cranial fossa and infratemporal fossa endonasally. In the endonasal approach, surgical simulation is important because of the variations in the nasal cavity and paranasal sinus structures. In this article, we outline the surgical anatomy of the middle cranial fossa required for the subtemporal approach, including the endonasal approach, and variations in the venous drainage of the superficial sylvian vein and petrosal vein. Moreover, we describe the treatment of pontine lesions by the subdural subtemporal approach, Meckel cave lesions by the epidural subtemporal approach, petroclival lesions by the anterior transpetrosal approach, and infratemporal lesions by the endonasal approach. (Received January 26, 2018;accepted February 8, 2018)


A review of newspaper reports of the three largest aftershocks of the August 31, 1886 Charleston earthquake, which occurred on October 22, 1886 (5:20 am and 2:45 pm local time) and on November 5, 1886 (12:20 pm local time), documents that they were felt over larger areas than those listed in current catalogs. We estimated felt areas and area within various isoseismal levels. Using recursion relationships of Johnston (1996) between intensity areas and their seismic moments, we have calculated their moment magnitudes. Our results give Mw of 5.1, 5.7, and 5.3 for the three events, significantly greater than the mb 4.4, 4.7, and 4.4, respectively, listed in current catalogs. These new magnitude estimates are probably more reasonable values for the largest aftershocks of the M 7.3 mainshock.


We studied the neuronal mechanisms that implement acoustic short-term memory (ASTM) for pitch using event-related potentials (ERP). Experiment 1 isolated an ERP component, the sustained anterior negativity (SAN), that increased in amplitude with increasing memory load in ASTM using stimuli with equal duration at all memory loads. The SAN load effect found in Experment 1, when pitch had to be remembered to perform the task, was absent in Experiment 2 using the same sounds when memory was not required. In Experiment 3 the memory task was performed without or with concurrent articulatory suppression during the retention interval, to suppress rehearsal via an articulatory loop. Load-related effects found in Experiment 1 were found again, whether participants engaged in concurrent suppression or not. The results suggest that the SAN reflects activity required to maintain pitch objects in an ASTM system that is distinct from articulatory rehearsal.


A low concentration of the S-containing amino acids, cysteine and methionine, often limits the nutritive value of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] seed protein. On a whole-plant level, the localization and duration of cysteine and methionine synthesis during seed filling in soybean have not been reported previously. The objective of this study was to characterize the localization and duration of ATP sulfurylase activity in reproductive soybean. ATP sulfurylase is the first enzyme in the S-reduction pathway. Samples of soybean (cv. Kenwood 94) root, leaf, stem, pod wall, and seed tissues on a whole-plant basis were taken at beginning seed filling (approximately R5.5) from two field sites in Iowa in 1997. In addition, samples of leaf, pod, and seed tissue from the same nodal position (Node 11) were collected weekly from R5 to R8 (full maturity) at one of the sites. At R5.5 almost half of whole-shoot ATP sulfurylase activity was located in seed tissue. Leaf tissue contributed approximately 30 to 40% of the shoot ATP sulfurylase activity, and stems and pod wall contributed approximately 10% each. The profile of specific activity (fresh weight basis) for leaf, pod, and seed tissue at node 11 over time showed that activity of leaf tissue steadily declined during seed tilfing, whereas that of seed tissue increased initially with seed expansion and remained high until physiological maturity. Thus, in terms of both specific activity, and sustained duration of activity, seed tissue was the dominant site of ATP sulfurylase activity during seed filling. It appears, then, that most of the S-containing amino acids synthesized during reproductive growth may be synthesized in the seed itself, rather than being imported from other tissues. J. Paper No. J-17709 of the Iowa Agric. and Home Econ. Exp. Stn., Ames, IA. Supported in part by a grant from the Iowa Soybean Promotion Board.


The dynamics of suprathermal electrons in the presence of magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) activity and the excitation of MHD modes by suprathermal electrons are studied experimentally to improve the understanding of the interaction of fast particles with MHD instabilities in a tokamak. The study focuses on three different aspects of the internal kink mode with poloidal/toroidal mode number m/n=1/1 ?>: the sawtooth instability, electron fishbones and coupled bursts alternating with sawtooth crashes (CAS), all located where the safety factor (q) ?> profile approaches or takes the value q=1 ?>. New quantitative results on suprathermal electron transport and an investigation of electron acceleration during sawtooth crashes are followed by the characterization of initial electron fishbone observations on the Tokamak à configuration variable (TCV). Finally, m/n=1/1 ?> bursts associated with the sawtooth cycle, coupled to a persisting m/n=2/1 ?> mode and alternating with sawtooth crashes, are discussed, in particular in view of the fast electron dynamics and their role in confinement degradation and mode excitation.


BACKGROUND
Hilar cholangiocarcinoma is a rare tumour which is best managed by an aggressive surgical approach. The role of adjuvant or neoadjuvant radiation therapy, chemotherapy or chemoradiation remains controversial, as no prospective randomized studies have been performed.

METHODS
This review summarizes the recent literature regarding the role of radiation, chemotherapy and chemoradiation in hilar cholangiocarcinoma. The results of a biliary cancer questionnaire regarding current treatment strategies are also reported.

RESULTS
A number of retrospective studies have shown that patients treated with adjuvant radiation therapy have prolonged survival compared with untreated patients. However, most of these reports did not control for tumour stage or performance status. A carefully controlled trial from the Johns Hopkins Hospital did not demonstrate any benefit for adjuvant radiation therapy. A number of phase II trials of chemotherapy have demonstrated modest response rates (20-40%). The best responses have been reported with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) in combination with interferon-alpha or with leucovorin and mitomycin C. Recent non-randomized reports of chemoradiation with 5-FU with or without gemcitabine as the radiosensitizer suggest, but do not prove, improved survival. Adjuvant chemoradiation is currently being employed at specialized centres most often in the Americas (71%) and the Asia/Pacific region (55%) and to a lesser degree in Europe (29%).

DISCUSSION
The only chance for long-term survival in patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma is complete resection with negative margins. Neither radiation therapy nor chemotherapy alone has been proven to prolong survival in completely or partially resected patients or in unresected patients. Recent uncontrolled data suggest that chemoradiation may improve survival in resected and locally unresectable patients. However, prospective, randomized multicentre trials need to be performed to confirm efficacy.


With the higher quality requirement of automotive assembly, the demand for forming precision of the stamping part gets higher. The simulation of resilience around the edge of drawn parts of autobody panels has become a hot spot of automotive field. Currently, the study on resilience mainly focused on the principle of resilience of bent parts and its relative control whereas the investigation on resilience of drawing process is quite less. This paper has studied the object of automobile cover panel through comparison of captured contour to calculate the resilience of edges of part, resolve the resilience problems of drawn part, for which the traditional calculation method and CAE software, focusing on bending resilience issues, couldn't provide their solution.


Food and beverage processors that use dilute caustic solutions for cleaning process equipment have shown increased interest in recovering the used caustic. The primary reason is that the price of caustic has increased significantly in the past year or so. Membrane filtration technology can be used to remove suspended solids (clarify with microfiltration) and/or dissolved solids (purify with nanofiltration) from these used caustic solutions. These treated caustic solutions are suitable for reuse within the processing plant as cleaning solutions. While an end-user's specific process, performance, capital and operating cost parameters require pilot testing and process design evaluations to determine the economic viability of caustic recovery, the existing body of information from commercial and process development work allows for an evaluation of a "typical" caustic recovery application.Paper published with permission.Compilation Copyright © 2018 ASME


Lichens associated with old forest are commonly assumed to be negatively affected by tree logging or natural disturbances. However, in this study performed in a spruce‐dominated sylvopastoral landscape in the Swiss Jura Mountains, we found that genetic diversity of the epiphytic old‐forest lichen Lobaria pulmonaria depends on the type of disturbance. We collected 923 thalli from 41 sampling plots of 1 ha corresponding to the categories stand‐replacing disturbance (burnt), intensive logging (logged) and uneven‐aged forestry (uneven‐aged), and analysed the thalli at six mycobiont‐specific microsatellite loci. We found evidence for multiple independent immigrations into demes located in burnt and logged areas. Using spatial autocorrelation methods, the spatial scale of the genetic structure caused by the clonal and recombinant component of genetic variation was determined. Spatial autocorrelation of genotype diversity was strong at short distances up to 50 m in logged demes, up to 100 m in uneven‐aged demes, with the strongest autocorrelation up to 150 m for burnt demes. The spatial autocorrelation was predominantly attributed to clonal dispersal of vegetative propagules. After accounting for the clonal component, we did not find significant spatial autocorrelation in gene diversity. This pattern may indicate low dispersal ranges of clonal propagules, but random dispersal of sexual ascospores. Genetic diversity was highest in logged demes, and lowest in burnt demes. Our results suggest that genetic diversity of epiphytic lichen demes may not necessarily be impacted by stand‐level disturbances for extended time periods.


Abstract The paper explores the social, ecological, and religious factors which shape the village forms in India. Linear, nucleated and dispersed villages have been identified with different regions. Caste and kinship groups form the basic unit of a neighbourhood. The castes ranked on a hierarchical scale, locate themselves in a centre‐periphery distribution in the village. This layout also expresses the duality between ritually pure and polluting space and defines the social interaction patterns between the different castes.


Volume 1 1. The Algebra of Mohammed ben Musa, London, Oriental Translation Fund 19, 1831 Volume 2 2. Practical Philosophy of the Muhammadan People, from the Persian of Fakir Jany Muhammad Asaad: (with references and notes), London, Oriental Translation Fund 50, 1839 Volume 3 3. The Chronology of Ancient Nations, London, Oriental Translation Fund, 1879 Volume 4 4. Ibn al 'Arabi, Tarjuman al Ashwaq, Oriental Translation Fund New Series 20, 1911 5. al-Ghazzali, Mishkat al anwar, The Niche for Lights, Asiatic Society Monographs 19, 1924 Volume 5 7. 'A Trealise on the Principles of Shi'te Theology, Oriental Translation Fund New Series 29, 1928 8. Tracts on Listening to Music: Being Dhamm al-malahi by Ibn abi 'l-Dunya and Bawariq al-ilma by Majd al-Din al-Tusi al-Ghazali, London Oriental Translation Fund New Series 34, 1938 9. Introduction to the Science of Tradition, Oriental Translation Fund New Series 39, 1953


A 62-year-old woman presented with weight loss, anoexia and back pain. She was found to have a palpable left abdominal mass. Radiographs, CT and MR imaging revealed a large left 3rd lumbar neurogenic tumour with both intra- and extradural components. A neurofibroma was excised and the diagnosis was confirmed histopathologically. The patient has no recurrence at six years follow-up. The pathological classifications, clinical and imaging features of neurogenic tumours are discussed. With the knowledge of characteristic imaging features, these tumours can be differentiated from other types of intradural-extramedullary tumours.


The present study was carried out during 2005 to 2010 to determine the important plants of Colchic Province in Turkey, which includes Ordu, Giresun, Trabzon, Rize, Gumushane and Artvin cities. The research area is located in the Colchic part of the Euxin province of the Euro-Siberian floral region, within the Holarctic phytogeographical region. In this study, 327 genera, 540 species and subspecies belongs to 89 different families, were identified in the research area. The distribution of taxa according to phytogeographic regions is as follows: 40.56% Euro-Siberian, 7.78% Irano-Turanian, 2.96% Mediterranean and 48.70% unknown region or widely distributed. The families with the largest number of genera are Asteraceae (64; 11.85%), Fabaceae (54; 10.00%), Poaceae (47; 8.70%), Lamiaceae (33; 6.11%), Scrophulariaceae (23; 4.26%) and Rosaceae (22; 4.07%), respectively. The richest genera are Trifolium L. (13 taxa), Campanula L. (11 taxa) and Astragalus L. (8 taxa). The distribution of taxa according to life-form is as follows: 309 Hemicryptophyte (57.22%), 92 Therophyte (17.04%), 44 Chamaephyte (8.15%), 44 Phanerophyte (8.15%), 43 Geophyte (7.96%), and 8 Hydrophyte (1.48%). The study identified 540 taxa, of which 428 are perennial, 84 are annual, 19 are biennial, 6 are annual and biennial, and 6 are biennial and perennial. The endemism rate is 11.67% (63 taxa). The risk status of 39 taxa was evaluated according to International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) risk criteria.

 Key words: Eastern black sea, flora, Colchic province, Turkey.


The establishment and spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) viruses of the H5N1 subtype in birds and coincident infections in humans since 2003 have raised concerns that we may be facing an influenza pandemic caused by an H5N1 influenza virus [4]. Globally, from January 2003 to 2 March 2017, there were 860 cases of human infection with avian influenza A(H5N1) virus reported from 16 countries worldwide. Of these 860 cases, 454 were fatal (CFR of 53%). The last case was reported from Indonesia on 26 September 2017 [7]. Although the human cases of H5N1 in Indonesia has decreased significantly since 2010, according to WHO until 2017 there have been reported 200 cases H5N1 in  human with 168 cases of deaths. The last case was reported from Indonesia on 26 September 2017. This is indicate Indonesia as the highest fatal case of H5N1 globally. With continued incidence of avian influenza due to existing AI H5N1 viruses in poultry, the avian influenza H5N1 has been believed remain to threaten Indonesia [6]. Passive immunization using specific antibody against AI H5N1 from bovine colostrum is one of an alternative to control H5N1 virus infection due to lack of H5N1 vaccine production for human. Bovine colostrums consider an ideal alternative antibody source, as the antibody in the bovine's blood is transported to mammary gland easily and accumulates in the colostrum in large quantities. As a "biological factory"  and the source of natural antibody, bovine colostrum could be designed to produce the specific antibody against certain disease for animal and human by immunizing the dry cow (with the antigen of interest). Vaccine is an antigenic material used to produce active immunity against diseases. Vaccination is the administration of vaccine to the individual to generate immunity against a disease [2]. According to [1], the exposure of a dry cow against antigen (vaccine) will produce specific antibody in their blood circulation. Therefore, evaluation on the status of antibody against AI H5N1 following the vaccination of dry Holstein cows with killed AI H5N1 vaccine is needed.


Synthetic biology combines biological parts from different sources in order to engineer non-native, functional systems. While there is a lot of potential for synthetic biology to revolutionize processes, such as the production of pharmaceuticals, engineering synthetic systems has been challenging. It is oftentimes necessary to explore a large design space to balance the levels of interacting components in the circuit. There are also times where it is desirable to incorporate enzymes that have non-biological functions into a synthetic circuit. Tuning the levels of different components, however, is often restricted to a fixed operating point, and this makes synthetic systems sensitive to changes in the environment. Natural systems are able to respond dynamically to a changing environment by obtaining information relevant to the function of the circuit. This work addresses these problems by establishing frameworks and mechanisms that allow synthetic circuits to communicate with the environment, maintain fixed ratios between components, and potentially add new parts that are outside the realm of current biological function. These frameworks provide a way for synthetic circuits to behave more like natural circuits by enabling a dynamic response, and provide a systematic and rational way to search design space to an experimentally tractable size where likely solutions exist. We hope that the contributions described below will aid in allowing synthetic biology to realize its potential.


Convolutional neural networks (CNNs) are trained using stochastic gradient descent (SGD)-based optimizers. Recently, the adaptive moment estimation (Adam) optimizer has become very popular due to its adaptive momentum, which tackles the dying gradient problem of SGD. Nevertheless, existing optimizers are still unable to exploit the optimization curvature information efficiently. This paper proposes a new AngularGrad optimizer that considers the behavior of the direction/angle of consecutive gradients. This is the first attempt in the literature to exploit the gradient angular information apart from its magnitude. The proposed AngularGrad generates a score to control the step size based on the gradient angular information of previous iterations. Thus, the optimization steps become smoother as a more accurate step size of immediate past gradients is captured through the angular information. Two variants of AngularGrad are developed based on the use of Tangent or Cosine functions for computing the gradient angular information. Theoretically, AngularGrad exhibits the same regret bound as Adam for convergence purposes. Nevertheless, extensive experiments conducted on benchmark data sets against state-of-the-art methods reveal a superior performance of AngularGrad. The source code will be made publicly available at: https://github.com/mhaut/AngularGrad.


The number of different identities and credentials used for authentication towards services on the Internet has increased beyond the manageable. Still, the most common authentication scheme is based on usernames and passwords which are neither secure nor user-friendly. Hence, better solutions for simplified, yet secure authentication, is required in the future. This thesis present an authentication scheme based on a One-Time Password (OTP) MIDlet running on a mobile phone for unified authentication towards any type of service on the Internet. The scheme is described in detail by an analysis and a design model. Based on the analysis and design an implementation of a prototype has been developed using Java. The security aspects of scheme are thoroughly evaluated in a security evaluation which identifies threats, security objectives and possible attacks. The proposed solution offers a strong authentication scheme which can substitute many of the authentication schemes we are using to day. Not only can it replace the standard username/password scheme, but due to its security services it can also replace stronger schemes such as existing OTP and smartcard solutions. Therefore the solution is suitable for many services on the Internet which requires authentication such as Internet banking, corporate intranet, Internet stores and e-Government applications.


We experimentally demonstrate a simple modulation-free scheme for offset locking the frequency of a laser using buffer gas-induced resonance. Our scheme excludes the limitation of low diffraction efficiency and laser input intensity when an acousto-optic modulator is applied to shift the laser frequency from the resonance. We show the stabilization of a strong 795-nm laser detuned up to 550 MHz from the 87Rb 5S1/2F=2->5P1/2 F'=2 transition. The locking range can be modified by controlling the buffer gas pressure. A laser line width of 2 MHz is achieved over 10 min.


BACKGROUND
Lidocaine hydrochloride is the preferred anesthetic agent used in outpatient surgical procedures. While type I hypersensitivity reactions to lidocaine are uncommon, type IV hypersensitivity is reported even less frequently.

OBSERVATIONS
Between January 1, 2001, and December 31, 2001, 183 patients were patch tested at the Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center (Hershey, Pa) to the North American Contact Dermatitis Group tray. All patients who had a positive patch test reaction to lidocaine were challenged with 0.1 mL of preservative-free 1% lidocaine intradermally. Of the 183 patients patch tested, 4 had positive reactions to lidocaine, 2 of whom had histories of sensitivity to local injections of lidocaine manifested by dermatitis.

CONCLUSIONS
Delayed-type hypersensitivity to lidocaine may occur more frequently than previously thought. In cases of suspected lidocaine contact type IV sensitivity, patients should be patch tested to lidocaine. Positive patch test reactions should be confirmed by intradermal challenge with lidocaine. To provide the patient with alternative local anesthetics, patch testing should be performed with other injectable anesthetics. If positive patch test results occur, intradermal testing should follow.


Combination of cultivated plants conducted in RHLP program in Cikanyere village enable for differences response occurrence to main plant growth. The purpose of this research is to examine the main plant growth of Gmelina arborea Roxb. in several agroforestry patterns in Cikanyere Village, Sukaresmi District, Cianjur Regency. Main plant growth parameters (height, diameter and crown projection) measured in the census in each agroforestry patterns. Physical and chemical soil analyzed from each agroforetsri patterns in the laboratory. Traced the history of land management by conducting interviews with managers of farmers each selected agroforestry patterns. The data obtained were analyzed descriptively. Agroforestry pattern wasa developed by the farmers is AF 1 (Gmelina, corn, cassava, banana), AF 2 (Gmelina, corn, coffee, bananas), AF 3 (Gmelina, mahogany, cassava, petai), AF 4 (Gmelina, mahogany, corn, chili peppers) and AF 5 (Gmelina, mahogany, dry land rice, cassava, corn). The pattern of AF 3 has the lowest of growth, while the pattern of AF 1  and AF 4 showed the most growth compared with other patterns. The pattern of AF 3 have small LCR and LAI, while the pattern of AF 1 and AF 4 have the largest LCR and LAI so that photosynthesis function optimal and main plant growth are better than the other patterns. The phosphorus (P) on the pattern of AF 3 suspected to be a limiting factor for plant growth gmelina. P and K needed cassava plants in sufficient numbers to form the root and tuber enlargement so that suspected as the cause of the low content of P elements in AF 3 pattern. Basic plant growth G.arborea Roxb. influenced by the interaction between components and land management systems that do farmers in each agroforestry patterns.


Physico-chemical and biological properties of an interferon inducer, a natural double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) obtained from RNA-genome bacteriophage-infected E. coli are described. Three independent methods i.e. sedimentation analysis, gel chromatography, and direct measurement of electronograms, were used to determine an average length of dsRNA molecules which was found to correspond to about 432 nucleotide pairs. dsRNA melting temperature in 0.15 M NaCl is 103 degrees C, and the resistance to RNase A is above 85%. Additional purification of the preparation by the methods eliminating bacterial endotoxin and other possible admixtures does not decrease acute toxicity of dsRNA. The influence of dsRNA on the cytolytic activity of natural killers (NK) in normal subjects and patients with viral diseases of the liver was demonstrated. dsRNA enhances the activity of NK in normal subjects as well as in patients with acute virus hepatitis B in the abatement stage of the disease and in patients with chronic persisting hepatitis. At the peak of acute virus hepatitis B NK stimulation was detected in only 40 +/- 16% of the patients. In patients with chronic active liver diseases dsRNA enhanced NK activity in 50 +/- 22% of cases. A similar effect on NK cell activity is exerted by human leukocyte interferon.


A variety of evidence suggests that the effects of light on the mammalian circadian system are mediated by direct retinal ganglion cell projection to the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN). This synaptic connection is glutamatergic and the release of glutamate is detected by both N-methyl-D-asparate (NMDA) and amino-methyl proprionic acid/kainate (AMPA/KA) iontotropic glutamate receptors (GluRs). It is well established that NMDA GluRs play a critical role in mediating the effects of light on the circadian system; however, the role of AMPA/KA GluRs has received less attention. In the present study, we sought to better understand the contribution of AMPA/KA-mediated currents in the circadian system based in the SCN. First, whole cell patch-clamp electrophysiological techniques were utilized to measure spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic currents (sEPSCs) from SCN neurons. These currents were widespread in the SCN and not just restricted to the retino-recipient region. The sEPSC frequency and amplitude did not vary with the daily cycle. Similarly, currents evoked by the exogenous application of AMPA onto SCN neurons were widespread within the SCN and did not exhibit a diurnal rhythm in their magnitude. Fluorometric techniques were utilized to estimate AMPA-induced calcium (Ca(2+)) concentration changes in SCN neurons. The resulting data indicate that AMPA-evoked Ca(2+) transients were widespread in the SCN and that there was a daily rhythm in the magnitude of AMPA-induced Ca(2+) transients that peaked during the night. By itself, blocking AMPA/KA GluRs with a receptor blocker decreased the spontaneous firing of some SCN neurons as well as reduced resting Ca(2+) levels, suggesting tonic glutamatergic excitation. Finally, immunohistochemical techniques were used to describe expression of the AMPA-preferring GluR subunits GluR1 and GluR2/3s within the SCN. Overall, our data suggest that glutamatergic synaptic transmission mediated by AMPA/KA GluRs play an important role throughout the SCN synaptic circuitry.


This introductory article explains how the concept of biopolitics can be used as an analytical tool in the sphere of Russian studies. The author elucidates different approaches to the idea of biopolitics in contemporary political philosophy, and relates the extant theoretical debate to the ongoing political and academic discussions on power and identity in Russia, both from domestic and international perspectives. He claims that biopolitical vocabulary is a nuanced cognitive instrument for unpacking a plethora of social and cultural dimensions inherent to relations of power, and further conceptualizing the specificity of post-Soviet illiberal regimes.


In static applied general equilibrium models, the exogenous/endogenous split between variables or closure is used to alter the time frame over which the effects of a shock are simulated. Currently, the Global Trade Analysis Project (GTAP) Model (Hertel and Tsigas, 1997) has two closures: a short run and a medium run closure. This paper introduces a simple long run closure for the GTAP model and uses this closure to simulate and compare the short, medium and long run effects of Asia-Pacific Trade Liberalisation. As well 'isolation closures' are defined which allows the change in a region's terms of trade to be partitioned into a component due to changed external trading conditions and a component due to that region's endogenous reaction to these conditions.


The main work involved the PMWS (Post-weaning multisystemic Wasting Syndrome), caused by PCV-2 (Porcine Circovirus type 2) that involved post-weaned pigs. Merial Italy has funded a study activity in which groups of 3-5 animals were sampled for lungs, tracheo-bronchial and superficial inguinal lymph nodes, ileum and tonsils. The protocol applied can be identified as a more diagnostic potential on the individual than on the group.
PNP. Another investigation has been conducted to study proliferative and necrotizing pneumonia (PNP), a form of interstitial pneumonia in weaning and post-weaning pigs characterized by hypertrophy and hyperplasia of type II pneumocytes, coagulative necrosis and granular debris within alveolar spaces. Many studies suggest porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) and porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) as the main causes of the disease, but Aujeszky disease virus (ADV) and swine influenza virus (SIV) are also considered. An immunohistochemical study was carried out to evaluate the role of these viruses in PNP lesions in Italy. PNP results primarily associated with PRRSV, even if co-infection is characterized by more severe histological features.
Reproductive pathology. A major risk factor for PCV2 infection is a viraemic episode taking place in pregnant sows with low antibody titer which is transmitted by specific PCV2 products of conception. PCV2 can infect the fetus even by vehicles through infected semen or ova, or as a result of infection of the genital tract. An investigation was carried out to identify the presence and localization of PCV2 in the genital tracts of sows experimentally infected with PCV2 and in their fetuses. The results obtained suggest that: conventional sows can be infected by intrauterine exposition; low antibody titres increase the probability of infection; PCV2 infection close to insemination time reduces the pregnancy rate; placental lesions may represent an additional cause of fetal suffering.


Having discovered that the dendritic cell (DC)–associated heparan sulfate proteoglycan–dependent integrin ligand (DC-HIL) receptor on APCs inhibits T cell activation by binding to syndecan-4 (SD-4) on T cells, we hypothesized that the DC-HIL/SD-4 pathway may regulate autoimmune responses. Using experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) as a disease model, we noted an increase in SD-4+ T cells in lymphoid organs of wild-type (WT) mice immunized for EAE. The autoimmune disease was also more severely induced (clinically, histologically, and immunophenotypically) in mice knocked out for SD-4 compared with WT cohorts. Moreover, infusion of SD-4−/− naive T cells during EAE induction into Rag2−/− mice also led to increased severity of EAE in these animals. Similar to SD-4 on T cells, DC-HIL expression was upregulated on myeloid cells during EAE induction, with CD11b+Gr-1+ myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) as the most expanded population and most potent T cell suppressor among the myeloid cells examined. The critical role of DC-HIL was supported by DC-HIL gene deletion or anti–DC-HIL treatment, which abrogated T cell suppressor activity of MDSCs, and also by DC-HIL activation inducing MDSC expression of IFN-γ, NO, and reactive oxygen species. Akin to SD-4−/− mice, DC-HIL−/− mice manifested exacerbated EAE. Adoptive transfer of MDSCs from EAE-affected WT mice into DC-HIL−/− mice reduced EAE severity to the level of EAE-immunized WT mice, an outcome that was precluded by depleting DC-HIL+ cells from the infused MDSC preparation. Our findings indicate that the DC-HIL/SD-4 pathway regulates autoimmune responses by mediating the T cell suppressor function of MDSCs.


Gallium-67 (67Ga) scanning was assessed for its usefulness in the evaluation and follow-up of 54 patients with sarcoidosis, both treated and untreated. Scans were repeated in 23 subjects. Serum levels of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) were determined concurrently in all 54 patients and bronchoalveolar lavage was performed in 29 patients. Gallium-67 scan was effective in the detection and assessment of lesions not revealed by traditional methods of investigation, particularly those affecting the mediastinum, spleen, and salivary glands. The scan also enabled fibrotic lesions, which do not show uptake, to be distinguished from granulomatous lesions, which do--an advantage of prognostic interest particularly in patients with pulmonary lesions. Another merit of 67Ga scanning was that it offered a means of following disease progression in each site. In patients showing spontaneous clearing of disease or receiving treatment the scintigraphic method was more sensitive than serum ACE determination. Scan findings showed a rough correlation with serum ACE but not with bronchoalveolar lavage findings. This suggests that the three markers probably reflect different stages of the granulomatous process. On the strength of this study the indications for gallium scanning in sarcoid patients can be defined more clearly than has previously been possible.


Circulating skin-homing cutaneous lymphocyte-associated antigen (CLA)+ T cells constitute a small subset of human memory T cells involved in several aspects of atopic dermatitis: Staphylococcus aureus related mechanisms, the abnormal Th2 immune response, biomarkers, clinical aspects of the patients, pruritus, and the mechanism of action of targeted therapies. Superantigens, IL-13, IL-31, pruritus, CCL17 and early effects on dupilumab-treated patients have in common that they are associated with the CLA+ T cell mechanisms in atopic dermatitis patients. The function of CLA+ T cells corresponds with the role of T cells belonging to the skin-associated lymphoid tissue and could be a reason why they reflect different mechanisms of atopic dermatitis and many other T cell mediated skin diseases. The goal of this review is to gather all this translational information of atopic dermatitis pathology.


The purpose of this paper is multifold.Key aspects discussed include exploring the extent of theory discussion and progression in social work journals for the year 2004; discussing the necessity of theory in social work research and practice; reviewing previous research literature regarding evaluation of theory discussion and progression; proposing criteria for defining theory in social work journals; and presenting
findings from the current study concerning theory discussion and progression in social work journals. Results: Of the 1,168 articles reviewed from 37 journals, 71 (approximately 6%) met the criteria for theory development with empirical base.
Thus, a minimal number of articles (3 out of 71 or 4.2%) evaluated, based on the criteria in the theory quality scale (Table 1), received high quality ratings. Conclusion:
Based on the results yielded by the analysis, we assert that social workers need to make a conscious effort to include theory in practice decisions.


The electrocardiograms of 7 patients with anatomical diagnosis of right ventricular infarction, were studied. Electrocardiographic and vectorcardiographic records of 11 patients surviving the acute stage of myocardial infarction, were also analized. In 10 cases, both ventricles were involved. All patients had echocardiograms, ventriculograms and cineangiograms of coronary arteries, which showed the damaged vessels and the severity of their alterations. A severe obstrucción of the right coronary artery was found in all the cases, except one, in each group. The signs of necrosis were recognized in DIII, aVF, right unipolar thoracic leads and abdominal leads MD, ME, less frequently MI. They consisted in QS, Qr or W complexes in the absence of intraventricular blocks, and in slurred QR complexes in the cases with right proximal or distal blocks. Q wave duration fluctuated between 35 and 60 msec. The orientation of the initial vectors resulting from the ventricular activation sequence (20 - 40 msec) as well as ARST were different if obtained from usual precordial loads or the right thoracic ones. The latter was concordant with the orientation observed in the standard leads. VCGF suggested the posterior-inferior necrosis by its clockwise rotation and delayed downward crossing (32.5 - 50 msec) or by the situation of the entire ventricular curve above and to the left of E point. The duration of QF loop as increased in 9 (17.5 - 35 msec) Analysis of VCGH made possible the diagnosis of anterior septal necrotic zone because of the changes in QH loop. VCGS generally started upward and showed a delayed crossing of the anterior-posterior axis downward.


Abstract Ivor Noel Hume is one of the founders of historical archaeology in North America and has long championed the integration of documentary and archaeological evidence for understanding the past. As the chief archaeologist at Colonial Williamsburg for three decades, he directed numerous excavations and literally wrote the book on colonial artifacts. Committed to sharing research findings with the public, he led the way through varied publications and films and developed the first major exhibits about colonial archaeology in the United States. His most well-known project is the exploration and exhibition of the early seventeenth-century Virginia settlement of Martin9s Hundred.


How do we motivate survey respondents to truthfully answer questions on sexual behavior, drug use, and other topics that are "sensitive"? This issue has posed a dilemma throughout the history of survey research, and many investigators have examined the issue of how to modify survey questions or administration procedures in order to maximize truthful responding (see Bradburn, 1983; Schaeffer, 2000; Tourangeau, Rips, & Rasinski, 2000; for reviews). Generally, these investigators have advocated the use of self-administration rather than interviewer-administration of sensitive questions, and the increasing capability of computers to facilitate selfadministration has in fact produced a technologicallydriven evolution in survey methods. In particular, the use of laptop computers having digitized speech capability has led to the development and widespread application of ACASI (Audio Computer-Assisted Self-Interviewing) systems, in which the computer is used to present the questions via both headphones and the laptop screen, and the respondent is able to enter responses by pressing single keys.


Radiocarbon-dated glacial-geologic evidence documents an abrupt advance of the northern margin of the Labrador sector of the Laurentide Ice Sheet during the last deglaciation. Ice-flow directional indicators, together with ice-marginal features found onshore and offshore, delimit an ice stream that advanced north-northeast >300 km, crossed the mouth of Hudson Strait and outer Frobisher Bay, and overran summits ∼400 m above sea level on outer Hall Peninsula, southeast Baffin Island. Fifty-eight 14 C ages, including 27 accelerator mass spectrometry ages on single shells, indicate that the advance was extremely rapid. The entire advance-retreat cycle took place in an ∼300 yr ( 14 C) interval, 9.9-9.6 ka. At its maximum extent, the ice stream supported a calving margin >200 km long terminating in open water ∼500 m deep, implying a massive iceberg release. Marine evidence for the outflow is preserved along the Labrador Sea shelf as thick carbonate-rich glacial-marine drift but has not been recognized farther east in the North Atlantic. Either the discharge of icebergs was insufficient to produce a trans-North Atlantic, carbonate-rich (Heinrich) layer, or the icebergs tracked southward where they encountered warming sea-surface temperatures. Although the advance seems to have been coincident with a brief interval of minor regional cooling, it failed to trigger a significant climate perturbation, suggesting that the ocean-atmosphere system had attained its stable interglacial condition by that time.


For decades, alternative fuels have been studied to further engine efficiency and lower combustion emissions. Of these fuels, biodiesel, alcohols, and ethers have shown advantageous benefits of improved mixing capability or reduced combustion emissions. Ether fuels consist of a range of C-O-C chain lengths that offer various noteworthy fuel properties such as fuel oxygen content and cetane number. In this work, oxymethylene dimethyl ether (OME3) and diesel are used as neat and blended fuels on a single-cylinder high compression ratio engine. Four test fuels are investigated in this work; baseline diesel, two diesel/OME3 blends, and neat OME3 fuel. Engine tests are conducted at an engine load of 6 bar and the intake oxygen concentration is modulated via EGR to realize the resulting engine performance, stability, and exhaust emissions among the test fuels. The results show that blending OME3 fuels with diesel is an effective technique to reduce soot emissions with minimal effect on NOx emissions. Moreover, neat OME3 was capable of emitting low NOx and soot emissions with a lower EGR amount than that of diesel-blends, mitigating negative combustion implication of EGR at high levels.


Fifth generation of mobile communication networks will support a large set of new services and applications. One important use case is the remote area coverage for broadband Internet access. This use case has significant social and economical impact, since a considerable percentage of the global population living in low populated area does not have Internet access and the communication infrastructure in rural areas can be used to improve agrobusiness productivity. The aim of this paper is to analyze the performance of a SG transceiver for Remote Areas, implemented on field programmable gate array based hardware for real-time processing. This transceiver employs the latest digital communication techniques, such as generalized frequency division multiplexing waveform combined with 2 by 2 multiple-input multiple-output diversity scheme and polar channel coding. The performance of the prototype is evaluated regarding its out-of-band emissions and bit error rate under AWGN channel.


ABSTRACT The food-borne pathogen Listeria monocytogenes is known to colonize the lumen of the gallbladder in infected mice and to grow rapidly in this environment (J. Hardy et al., Science 303:851-853, 2004). However, relatively little is known about the mechanisms utilized by the pathogen to survive and grow in this location. We utilized gallbladder bile (GB bile) isolated directly from porcine gallbladders as an ex vivo model of gallbladder growth. We demonstrate that GB bile is generally nontoxic for bacteria and can readily support growth of a variety of bacterial species including L. monocytogenes, Lactococcus lactis, Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium, and Escherichia coli. Significantly, L. monocytogenes grew at the same rate as the nonpathogenic species Listeria innocua, indicating that the pathogen does not possess specialized mechanisms that enable growth in this environment. However, when we reduced the pH of GB bile to pH 5.5 in order to mimic the release of bile within the small intestine, the toxicity of GB bile increased significantly and specific resistance mechanisms (Sigma B, BSH, and BilE) were essential for survival of the pathogen under these conditions. In order to identify genetic loci that are necessary for growth of L. monocytogenes in the gallbladder, a mariner transposon bank was created and screened for mutants unable to replicate in GB bile. This led to the identification of mutants in six loci, including genes encoding enzymes involved in purine metabolism, amino acid biosynthesis, and biotin uptake. Although GB bile does not represent a significant impediment to bacterial growth, specific metabolic processes are required by L. monocytogenes in order to grow in this environment.


This thesis addresses the processing of semantics by structure editor-based programming environments. This processing is performed incrementally while the user writes and tests her programs. The semantics processing involves the manipulation of two kinds of properties, static and dynamic. Static properties can be determined by inspection of the program while dynamic properties reflect the interaction between the user and the programming environment. The implementor of a programming environment describes the semantics processing in terms of these properties. For example, symbol resolution, type checking and code generation involve static properties while interpretation, run-time support and language-oriented debugging involve dynamic properties.
Recent research in structure editing environments has focused on the generation of programming environments from descriptions. Several mechanisms have been proposed for writing the semantics description, and the most successful of these have been action routines and attribute grammars. However, action routines are written as a collection of imperative subroutines and it has proved difficult for an implementor to anticipate all possible interactions between these subroutines that may result in adverse behavior. Attribute grammars are written in a declarative style and the implementor need not be concerned with subtle interactions because all inteactions among attribute grammar rules are handled automatically. Unfortunately, attribute grammars have been successfully applied only to the description of static properties, and have hitherto seemed unsuited to the description of dynamic properties.
This thesis describes a very large extension to attribute grammars that solves this problem. The extended paradigm is called action equations. Action equations are written in a declarative notation that retains the flavor of attribute grammars but adds an easy means to express dynamic properties as well as static properties. The extensions to attribute grammars include attaching particular attribute grammar-style rules to events that represent user commands; supporting propagation of events as well as supporting propagation of change with respect to attribute values; and limited support for non-applicative mechanisms, allowing attributes to be treated as variables and permitting modification in addition to replacement for changing the values of attributes. Together, these extensions are sufficient to support dynamic properties.


Hyperspectral data have the characteristics of massive data and high dimensions, which lead lots of difficulties for spectrum analyzing and processing. Especially spectral feature extraction and analysis are the foundation of further processing. In this paper, we discuss a number of spectral data processing algorithms for spectral feature extraction and analysis. The main contribution is that we combine both Douglas-Pcucker (DP) algorithm and spectrum derivative algorithm to extract spectral absorption characteristics from the rock and mineral spectral data. The experiments indicate effectiveness while using the proposed algorithms for spectral feature extraction.


A 50-year-old male patient who had undergone Senning repair for transposition of the great arteries at the age of 7 years was referred to our electrophysiology lab with recurrent supraventricular tachycardias. Fast anatomical mapping of the systemic venous atrium was performed with the CARTO electroanatomical mapping system. Propagation mapping with animated dynamic maps facilitates the understanding of the underlying mechanism and provides visualization of reentrant circuits of tachycardias in cardiac chambers with native barriers and surgical scars.


I defend the correspondence theory of truth, according to which a statement's truth consists in a
relation of correspondence with extralinguistic fact. There are well-known objections to this view,
which I consider and rebut, and also important rival accounts, principal among which are so-called
deflationist theories and epistemic theories. Epistemic theories relate the concept of truth to our
state of knowledge, but fail, I argue, to respect the crucial distinction between a criterion of truth
and the meaning of truth: the view that one cannot do semantics, or metaphysics, without
addressing epistemic issues is rejected by this work. Against epistemic theories, I illustrate how
truth is independent of epistemic considerations. Deflationism is the more popular of the rival
accounts and has gained considerable momentum over the past two decades. It is therefore dealt
with in greater detail by this work. Deflationist theories exploit the paradigmatic '"Snow is white"
is true iff snow is white' biconditional to argue for an insubstantialist account, according to which
truth is conservative with respect to non-semantical facts. On this view, truth's raison d'etre is
merely to perform the useful expressive function of generalising over possibly infinite sets of
assertions. Against deflationist theories, I claim that the work done by Jeffrey Ketland and Stewart
Shapiro conclusively demonstrates how truth is informationally additive over non-semantic facts,
while deflationism itself is also an excessively impoverishing theory, inadequate to the tasks it
purports to accomplish.
This work also defends the thesis that Alfred Tarski's well-known theory of truth is an authentic
correspondence theory. To say this is to say that the clauses of a Tarskian truth-definition can be
interpreted in terms of a relation of correspondence that holds between true sentences and the states
of affairs they describe. I provide a precise account of what the correspondence in question consists
in, claiming that true sentences are homomorphic images of facts, i.e. a true sentence represents, in
a form-preserving manner, the truth-making facts in it. This gives precise expression to
Wittgenstein's thesis that true sentences picture the world.


Abstract The herbicide glyphosate has undergone multiple safety tests for developmental toxicity in rats and rabbits. The European Commission's 2002 review of available glyphosate data discusses specific heart defects observed in several individual rabbit developmental toxicity studies, but describes the evidence for a potential causal relationship as equivocal. The present assessment was undertaken to analyze the current body of information generated from seven unpublished rabbit studies in order to determine if glyphosate poses a risk for cardiovascular malformations. In addition, the results of six unpublished developmental toxicity studies in rats were considered. Five of the seven rabbit studies (dose range: 10–500 mg/kg/day) were GLP- and testing guideline-compliant for the era in which the studies were performed; a sixth study predated testing and GLP guidelines, but generally adhered to these principles. The seventh study was judged inadequate. In each of the adequate studies, offspring effects occurred only at doses that also caused maternal toxicity. An integrated evaluation of the six adequate studies, using conservative assumptions, demonstrated that neither the overall malformation rate nor the incidence of cardiovascular malformations increased with dose up to the point where severe maternal toxicity was observed (generally ≥150 mg/kg/day). Random occurrences of cardiovascular malformations were observed across all dose groups (including controls) and did not exhibit a dose–response relationship. In the six rat studies (dose range: 30–3500 mg/kg/day), a low incidence of sporadic cardiovascular malformations was reported that was clearly not related to treatment. In summary, assessment of the entire body of the developmental toxicity data reviewed fails to support a potential risk for increased cardiovascular defects as a result of glyphosate exposure during pregnancy.


The digitisation of public sector ICT is driven by a number of factors, which are not altogether dissimilar from the private industries: Increased self-service via the Internet, the Internet of Things (IoT), real-time business intelligence and the advent of integrated information systems as the "backbone" of organisational ICT. This fundamentally changes the landscape of public sector ICT. Particularly the smart cities concept has become a main driver of this evolution, whereby the smart cities concept heavily relies on an intelligent infrastructure that is the large-scale application of IoT.
However, how does this translate into public sector-oriented education? This paper presents a university level teaching programme that covers the topics of integrated information systems for the environment described above. The paper deals with the research question how to embed such a programme in a conventional public sector-oriented university course programme. It details the didactic specificities and analyses the feedback from the roll out. It also analyses the prior knowledge required from students and the changes in other elements of a public administration course programme necessitated by a digitisation orientation.


Introduction: During gestation period the fetal lung undergoes significant morphological changes to provide at birth an organ capable of maintaining respiration and gas exchange. Although lung development is continuous during embryogenesis, five developmental stages have been delineated, based on anatomic and histologic characteristics. With the aim to understand the histological differences during the embryogenesis, we conducted a descriptive study to analyse the different components of fetal lung.Materials and Methods: The present study was carried out on 15 human fetuses of known gestational age (GA) in the department of Anatomy, Kasturba Medical College Manipal. The lungs were resected and the tissues were processed for histological observations. The sections were stained using Hematoxylin and Eosin stain.Results: In first trimester the lung showed the sections of intrapulmonary bronchi and varying sizes of bronchioles. The intrapulmonary bronchus was lined by pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium surrounded by immature hyaline cartilage. Bronchioles were lined by cuboidal to columnar epithelium. No prominent blood vessels were observed. In second trimester the well developed blood vessels were observed adjacent to it. The hyaline cartilage surrounding it showed some signs of maturity by 16 weeks. In third trimester all the components of the lung were well developed and the glandular components were observed. The bronchioles were well differentiated into terminal and respiratory bronchioles with saccular outpouchings of alveoli.Conclusion: The present study explains the histogenesis of the fetal lungs according to the GA which is an essential aspect in the embryological and clinical domain.


Background Clubfoot is a three-dimensional deformity in which the calcaneopedal complex rotates under the talar–tibial–fibular complex. The deformity includes four components: metatarsus adductus, cavus, hindfoot varus, and equinus. The Ponseti method consists of serial manipulation and casting for the correction of cavus, metatarsus adductus, and hindfoot varus; however, equinus is corrected by means of percutaneous Achilles tenotomy. The Ponseti method depends on clinical assessment. In our study, we used radiological assessment in combination with clinical assessment for the evaluation of correction of the clubfeet using the Ponseti method and early detection of pseudocorrection and lastly for the evaluation of the effect of percutaneous Achilles tenotomy on the correction of equinus deformity. Patients and methods Twenty-eight patients with clubfoot (20 patients) were included in this study. There were 12 boys and eight girls and their ages averaged 2 weeks (range=1 day to 3 weeks). All of them were treated with weekly manipulation and casting, followed by fluoroscopic evaluation after the fifth to sixth cast. Percutaneous Achilles tenotomy was performed when the foot could be abducted to 70° in relation to the leg with restoration of the anteroposterior talocalcaneal angle to 30° and the foot can be dorsiflexed to less than 10° with the lateral tibiocalcaneal angle more than 70°. Results Pirani score was used for the assessment of the deformity at presentation, at final removal of cast before bracing, and at latest follow-up. Pirani score improved from average 2.5 at first presentation to 0.5 at final removal of cast, to 0.25 at latest follow-up. At removal of the last cast, the foot could be abducted to an average of 70° in relation to the leg, with restoration of the anteroposterior talocalcaneal angle to an average of 37°, and the foot can be dorsiflexed to an average of 25° above right angle with restoration of lateral tibiocalcaneal angle to an average of 68°. Percutaneous Achilles tenotomy improved equinus by an average of 20° and the lateral tibiocalcaneal angle by an average of 19°. There were no complications such as infection, vascular injury, or recurrence. Conclusion The Ponseti method is an excellent method for the treatment of clubfoot, and we found that the addition of radiographic to clinical evaluation helps in the better assessment of correction and early detection of pseudocorrection to avoid recurrence or development of rocker bottom deformity. All components of clubfoot would be corrected by stretching, but equinus usually needs percutaneous tenotomy, which helps acute correction of the deformity.


Prune Belly Syndrome (PBS) is a congenital multisystem myopathy with mild to lethal severity. While of uncertain etiology, 95% male predominance and familial occurrence suggest a genetic basis. As copy number variations (CNVs) can cause unexplained genetic disorders, we tested for novel CNVs in a large PBS population. We genotyped 21 unrelated PBS patients by high‐resolution array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) and phenotyped using a novel PBS severity scoring system. Available parents were screened for detected CNV via quantitative PCR (qPCR). We additionally screened for recurrence of identified novel candidate CNVs on 106 PBS probands by qPCR. We identified 10 CNVs in 8 of 21 PBS patients tested (38%). Testing confirmed inheritance from an unaffected biological parent in six patients; parental samples were unavailable in two probands. One candidate CNV includes duplication of the X‐chromosome AGTR2 gene, known to function in urinary tract development. Subsequent screening of the larger PBS cohort did not identify any recurrent CNVs. Presence of CNV did not correlate with PBS severity scoring. CNVs were uncommon in this large PBS population, but analysis of identified variants may inform disease pathogenesis and reveal targets for therapeutic intervention for this rare, severe disorder.


We consider the following receiver architecture for a wireless communication link with one transmit and multiple receive antennas: Spatial and temporal rank reduction based on long-term (average) spatio-temporal channel properties followed by space-time processing using Maximun-Likelihood estimates of the channel CO- efiicients. Receivers based on this architecture use e.g. a temporal or spatio-temporal Rake, beamspace processing, or eigenvalue decom- position. Their performance critically depends on a good choice of the spatio-temporal rank. We define the effective spatio-temporal rank based on the mean square error (MSE) of the receiver's rednced rank channel estimate. Thus, we can determine the optimum rank and get an analytical insight in the fundamental trade-offs involved, when de- signing such systems. Using this criterion we discuss under which conditions beamfonning is optimal compared to diversity combining.


the degree of cortical organization and the age at which the person had begun to play. They interpret these results as suggesting that the representation of various body parts m the primary somatosensory cortex of humans is altered by use, and they speculate that continuous changes in cortical organization may provide a form of activity-related adaptation to the functional needs and experiences of the individual.


In 2011, fetal researcher Vivette Glover published "Annual Research Review: Prenatal Stress and the Origins of Psychopathology: An Evolutionary Perspective," hereafter, "Prenatal Stress and the Origins of Psychopathology," in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry. In that article, Glover explained how an evolutionary perspective may be useful in understanding the effects of fetal programming. Fetal programming is a hypothesis that attempts to explain how factors during pregnancy [7] can affect fetuses after birth. Researchers associate exposure to prenatal stress, or stress experienced before birth, with an increased likelihood of some mental disorders. Glover states that such outcomes may be traced back to a fetus's response to stress during pregnancy [7], and that those outcomes may have been beneficial in the past. By taking an evolutionary approach toward understanding mental disorders, Glover provided insights for studying the lasting effects of maternal stress during pregnancy [7] on children's mental health.


The marine ecosystems of Todos os Santos Bay (TSB, The State of Bahia, Brazil) have been impacted by the presence on its coast of a large metropolitan area as well as of chemical and petrochemical activities. Despite its ecological importance, there is a lack of scientific information concerning metal contamination in TSB marine biota. Thus, we analyzed concentrations of metals in four species of marine benthic organisms (two seaweeds, Padina gymnospora and Sargassum sp. one seagrass, Halodule wrightii and one oyster, Crassostrea rhizophorae) in three sites from the TSB region that have been most affected by industrial activities. The concentrations of Al, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn were determined by Atomic Absorption Spectrophometry. The obtained data indicates that cadmium and copper in seaweeds, oysters and seagrass, as well as Ni concentrations in oysters, were in range of contaminated coastal areas. Cadmium and copper are available to organisms through suspended particles, dissolved fraction of water column and bottom sediment interstitial water. As oysters and other mollusks are used as food sources by the local population, the metal levels found in oysters in TSB may constitute a health risk for this population. Our results suggest implanting a heavy metals biomonitoring program in the TSB marine ecosystems.


Background
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) disproportionately affects disadvantaged communities.

Objective
To examine processes and outcomes of Screen, Treat, Or Prevent Hepatocellular Carcinoma (STOP HCC), a multicomponent intervention for HCV screening and care in safety-net primary care practices.

Design
Mixed-methods retrospective analysis.

Setting
5 federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) and 1 family medicine residency program serving low-income communities in diverse locations with largely Hispanic populations.

Patients
Persons born in 1945 through 1965 (baby boomers) who had never been tested for HCV and were followed through May 2018.

Intervention
The Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance (RE-AIM) model guided implementation and evaluation. Test costs were covered for uninsured patients.

Measurements
All practices tested patients for anti-HCV antibody (anti-HCV) and HCV RNA. For uninsured patients with chronic HCV in 4 practices, quantitative data also enabled assessment of HCV staging, specialist teleconsultation, direct-acting antiviral (DAA) treatment, and sustained virologic response (SVR). Implementation fidelity and adaptation were assessed qualitatively.

Results
Anti-HCV screening was done in 13 334 of 27 700 baby boomers (48.1%, varying by practice from 19.8% to 71.3%). Of 695 anti-HCV-positive patients, HCV RNA was tested in 520 (74.8%; 48.9% to 92.9% by practice), and 349 persons (2.6% of those screened) were diagnosed with chronic HCV. In 4 FQHCs, 174 (84.9%) of 205 uninsured patients with chronic HCV had disease staging, 145 (70.7%) had teleconsultation review, 119 (58.0%) were recommended to start DAA therapy, 82 (40.0%) initiated free DAA therapy, 74 (36.1%) completed therapy (27.8% to 60.0% by practice), and 70 (94.6% of DAA completers) achieved SVR. Implementation was promoted by multilevel practice engagement, patient navigation, and anti-HCV screening with reflex HCV RNA testing.

Limitation
No control practices were included, and data were missing for some variables.

Conclusion
Despite a similar framework for STOP HCC implementation, performance varied widely across safety-net practices, which may reflect practice engagement as well as infrastructure or cost challenges beyond practice control.

Primary Funding Source
Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.


This document presents partial results of a much broader research project that has recognized historical and technical aspects pertaining to a set of 34 historic brick arch bridges, 20 of which still exist; all with diverse geometric characteristics and singular dimensions. The methodological process is exposed as was carried out with one of them and conclusions are presented, which can be extended to almost the totality of the cases studied for the purpose of offering analysis alternatives to professionals interested in the rehabilitation and conservation of the South American architectural and engineering patrimony.


Background/ Purpose: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services recently made 2011 hospital charge (i.e., list price) and total payment data (CMS reimbursement data and co-payments by patient) publicly available for common Diagnosis-Related Groups, including cerebral infarction/intracranial hemorrhage, at www.cms.gov. We provide descriptive statistics of the data and begin to explore the association of these data with the quality of stroke care hospital's provide. Methods: We report the median, mean and extreme hospital charge and reimbursement data for cerebral infarction or intracranial hemorrhage without complications or comorbidity (CC) or major complications and comorbidities (MCC), with CC and with MCC. We report the correlation between charges and reimbursement as well as charge, reimbursement and hospital stroke volumes using a Spearman correlation coefficient. We also report median charge and reimbursement data by state for pooled stroke DRGs. Results: Data were available for 5735 hospitals. The minimum, median, mean, and maximum charge data were as follows: without CC or MCC: $5392, $19976, $23593, $117831; with CC: $5223, $25151, $29492, $162923; with MCC: $9539, $40953, $48522, $234913. The minimum, median, mean, and maximum reimbursement data were as follows: without CC or MCC: $3916, $5326, $5714, $14744; with CC: $5369, $7280, $7922, $26510; with MCC: $8174, $12084, $13263, $50882. There was modest correlation between hospital charges and reimbursement (without CC or MCC ρ= 0.28; with CC ρ= 0.38, with MCC ρ= 0.46.) There was less correlation between discharge volume and charges or reimbursements (ρ =0.15 and 0.12 respectively). By state, pooled median charges ranged from $10,150 (Maryland) to $58,032 (New Jersey). Pooled median reimbursements ranged from $6,306 (Alabama) to $11,529 (Alaska). Conclusions: The variability in the amount hospitals charge for stroke admissions is enormous and currently inexplicable. Much more research is needed to understand the reason for this variation and if there is any association to the quality of care provided; otherwise, this information may have unintended consequences for patients and providers.


A unilateral facet dislocation noted in a 17-year-old boy after an axial cervical trauma proved to be an incidentally encountered preexisting lesion, most likely originating from a forceps delivery at birth. The surgical treatment initially considered was converted to a conservative approach, with full clinical recovery.


In order better to define the extent of protein synthesis capacity of the human prostate, we have studied the translation of selected serum proteins using isolated poly(A)+ RNA preparations and the rabbit reticulocyte lysate system. The translation of alpha 1-acid glycoprotein could be conclusively demonstrated but there was no apparent translation of albumin and plasmatic transferrin. Labeled alpha 1-acid glycoprotein was identified by specific immunoprecipitation with a commercial anti alpha 1-acid glycoprotein antiserum and correct processing by canine pancreatic microsomal membranes. Furthermore, we have shown by the immunoperoxidase technique that alpha 1-acid glycoprotein was indeed localized mainly in prostatic epithelial cells in 2 out of 2 patients with benign prostatic hypertrophy and in 3 out of 11 patients with prostatic adenocarcinoma. The significance of the synthesis and secretion of alpha 1-acid glycoprotein by prostatic cell themselves is presently unknown. However, we think that it could represent an interesting subject to explore further in relation with prostatic inflammation.


Abstract In the setting of mechanical circulatory support devices, including ventricular assist devices, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, intraaortic balloon pumps, and the total artificial heart, the spectral Doppler waveform is significantly altered, reflecting systemic hemodynamic changes. As the prevalence of these devices increases, a better understanding of both the devices themselves and their associated Doppler ultrasound findings is necessary for accurate image interpretation. This article reviews the clinical indications, pathophysiology, and sonographic findings of these devices, with emphasis on the variation in arterial Doppler waveforms that can be seen with normal function, as well as the major complications.


In the consumer decision-making both personally and institutionally not always maximize profits but often anticipate the unpleasant feeling that will be experienced. According Zeelenberg, van Dijk, Manstead and Plight (1998) unpleasant feelings that dominated the feeling of regret. Regret studies on consumer behavior is one of the important studies in this discipline called behavioral economics which is currently a trending topic. The purpose of this article is to understand consumer behavior based on the theory regret the hope of obtaining a more adequate explanation in understanding the phenomenon of consumer behavior.


Jewelry is main aspect of dressing and Mughal Jewelry is a fascinating theme to explore. Its styles can be traced through the paintings that clearly give accurate information of the style and variety of ornaments that were used during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Jewelry is considered the feminine adornment part but miniature shows the beautiful ornamentation of Mughal emperors also with variation in sizes and design. This article discusses the Mughal male head ornaments and study is focused on the turban ornamentations. As man's turban is his sacrosanct property and variety of turban ornaments were used by Mughals. This paper is an attempt to understand and examine that how the Mughal turban ornament develops from simple feather to piece of complex jewelry designs and how other culture helps in its development. Why Mughal emperors worn such gemstones in headdress and which techniques were used for its decoration? Is there any specific reason of using such gemstones or just for ornamentations purposes? In the end it concludes that sarpech shapes helps in the development of European aigrette and became a part of European jewelry that later helped in the modification of turban ornaments and Euro-Indian sarpech-aigrette appeared with more delicate style.


High-spatial-resolution solid-state detectors being developed for gamma-ray applications benefit from having pixel dimensions substantially smaller than detector slab thickness. This leads to an enhanced possibility of charge partially spreading to neighboring pixels as a result of diffusion (and secondary photon emission) transverse to the drift direction. An undesirable consequence is the effective magnification of the event "size" and the spatial overlap issues which result when two photons are absorbed in close proximity within the integration time of the detector/readout system. In this work, we develop the general statistics of spatial pileup in imaging systems and apply the results to detectors we are developing based on pixellated cadmium zinc telluride (CdZnTe) and a multiplexing application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) readout. We consider the limitations imposed on total count rate capacity and explore in detail the consequences for the LISTMODE data-acquisition strategy. Algorithms are proposed for identifying and, where possible, resolving overlapping events by maximum-likelihood estimation. The efficacy and noise tolerance of these algorithms will be tested with a combination of simulated and experimental data in future work.


This paper presents the designing of an online course to teach anaphora in English and Spanish as foreign languages. Anaphora is a discursive mechanism that contributes to textual cohesion. Instead of repeating the same nouns in their texts, speakers can use different pronouns or even ellipsis to improve communication. Each language has its own anaphoric system, which can be very distinct from null-subject languages, such as Spanish, to non-null-subject languages, such as English. Focusing on this topic, a two-week course was designed and taught in 2020 at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil) and at the University of Algarve (Portugal) to language undergraduate students. The first lesson was an introduction to the concepts of cohesion, anaphora, and the pronominal system in the target language. These topics were further explained in the second lesson, which was also about ambiguity. The activities included: educational videos; tools for corpus analysis and coreference resolution; discussion forums; short answer, matching, and multiple-choice exercises; hyperlinks to more videos, texts, and exercises. Students' knowledge of anaphora was assessed in a pre-test and in three post-tests (discussed in another article), and the results were compared between experimental and control groups. The teaching module improved learners' comprehension of written texts and could be adapted to teach anaphora in other languages.


This paper presents a procedure of calculating cogging torque of Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor (PMSM) for NC machine tool servo-system based on finite element method (FEM). Simulation models of PMSM are established to complete coupled calculation between magnetic fields and mechanical dynamics. Furthermore, the distributions of magnetic flux and electromagnetic force densities are also gained. Finally, the cogging torque of the motor in operating process is suppressed by changing slot opening configuration. The references for the optimization design on NC machine tool servo-system are provided by the simulation model.


Over the last decade there has been an explosive growth in the use of wireless mobile communications. Second generations systems are mature technologies now and third generation systems and beyond are being implemented and researched. Future systems should support a substantially wider and enhanced range of services and thus would require even higher data rates compared to current system in order to deliver these services. A fundamental necessity for being able to provide high data rates is that the physical channel between transmitter and receiver is efficiently utilized. Signal processing algorithms are integral part of any wireless mobile communication systems that makes this possible. In this thesis, several signal processing techniques for improving the performance and capacity of wireless mobile communications systems are discussed. In Part I a simulation package for the simulation of communication systems is implemented and verified. In Part II, the linear and non-linear Projection Approximation Subspace Tracking with Deflation (PASTD) algorithms are proposed for Blind Source Separation (BSS) and Independent Component Analysis (ICA) of linearly mixed signals, respectively. Here, the signals are transmitted simultaneously from multiple antennas. In Part III, the PASTD algorithm is compared to the Rao-Principe (RP) and the Exact Eigendecomposition (EE) algorithm for the purpose of assessing their performance for different configurations. Beamforming is an important function of receivers, in particular to base stations, and in Part IV an efficient and effective space-time adaptive algorithm is proposed. In Part V, an adaptive blind equalization technique for time varying multipath fading channels is suggested and analyzed, and in Part VI a combined channel estimation algorithm for coherent detection in mobile communication systems is proposed. Finally, Part VII investigates several algorithms for power allocation in Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) systems and the impact of channel estimation error on the performance of the system is evaluated. In this thesis, the above mentioned algorithms are implemented in Matlab and their applicability and effectiveness were investigated by using several performance measures via Monte Carlo simulation approach. The simulation results clearly demonstrate the promise of using these different signal processing algorithms for improving the performance of wireless mobile communication systems.


Sewage pollution leads to the contamination of bivalve shellfish by pathogenic microorganisms. Bacterial indicators support the management of risks associated with the consumption of shellfish; however, they often fail to indicate adequately the potential hazard to human health posed by certain human enteric viruses. Bacteriophages have been proposed as alternative indicators that may more effectively predict the presence of enteric viral pathogens. This study explored the relationships between bacterial indicators (Escherichia coli (E. coli), faecal coliforms (FC) and intestinal enterococci (IE)), phages (somatic (SOMPH), F-specific RNA (F + PH) and human-specific Bacteroides GB-124 phages (GB124PH)) and Norovirus (NoV) (GI/GII) in mussels (Mytilus edulis) and their overlying waters. The bioaccumulation of these indicators and Norovirus in shellfish matrices (e.g., flesh, digestive gland) was investigated bimonthly over a 12-month period in an English estuary. The findings revealed a marked seasonality in the distribution of all organisms, with the highest levels occurring during the autumn/winter months. The levels of all phages in shellfish and their overlying waters correlated better with the levels of Norovirus than with those of bacterial indicators. Somatic coliphages were the indicator that exhibited the strongest correlations with NoV (rho = 0.929). This study suggests that relatively low-cost culture-based phage enumeration appears to offer a more accurate indication of the likely presence of Norovirus in mussels than traditional bacterial indicators.


One of the challenges for building a quantum computer with superconducting qubits is being able to integrate a sufficient density of microwave lines in a cryogenic environment. Traditionally this has been limited by the pitch of SMA cables. When trying to go beyond this approach there are two problems to address. The first is outfitting a dilution refrigerator with enough lines to run from room temperature to the base temperature stage. The second is building a package for a quantum integrated circuit that houses enough microwave lines itself. We propose a solution to both of these problems by using RF flexible circuits to increase signal density in the dilution refrigerator and package while maintaining signal integrity. We also discuss the thermal, mechanical and RF considerations that go into designing such a system. Finally we show a proof-of-concept integration of the entire system including measurements with superconducting qubits.


Empathy is a necessity in our multicultural world. Modern democratic societies are home to communities with the most diverse religious, political, and moral convictions, and these convictions often directly, even perilously, contradict one another. Educational theorists differ on how empathy can be taught in the face of these contradictions. Does proper pedagogical action entail an attempt to teach students to understand the other, to see their world through the eyes of the other? Or is such an attempt doomed to fail, a vain and presumptuous striving to surpass the epistemologically preordained limits of subjectivity? While theorists who promote mutual understanding traditionally look to some form of dialogue to establish their empathic pedagogies, those who doubt the possibility of mutual understanding formulate critical, often monological pedagogies in which students are encouraged to "talk back" to their others about their idiosyncratic perspectives. Theorists have thus had choose: dialogue or relativism? Using the robust educational philosophy of Friedrich Nietzsche, Douglas Yacek demonstrates that this is a most unsatisfactory choice, one that ignores the pedagogical complexity needed to teach students genuine empathy. He argues that Nietzsche's educational writings yield a tripartite empathic pedagogy founded on self-knowledge, foreign language learning, and experimentalism. Upon these three pedagogical pillars, Yacek problematizes Megan Laverty's recent attempt to formulate an empathic pedagogy as dialogical philosophical inquiry. Although Nietzsche would endorse much of Laverty's pedagogy, Yacek concludes that Nietzsche's pedagogy requires engagement with perspectives across the democratic curriculum and, indeed, beyond.


Tourist centres throughout the Alps are currently exploring the potential of new presentation strategies that will maximise the promotional appeal of their region and its main assets, which include a unique landscape and scenery, an impressive cultural heritage, and a wide range of sports facilities and other tourist amenities. The EU Travel Study carried out by Sloggett (1997) revealed that major travel and tourist companies and organisations take an increasing interest in satellite technology, and in the development of a Travel, Leisure and Tourism Information Service which will allow potential clients to pay an on-line visit to their chosen holiday resort. The kind of innovative Information Service they envisage will provide information on the resort and the region, offer entertainment and also allow business transactions. It will integrate satellite images, GPS data, GIS information, terrestrial images and will also include tourist information as well as offering multimedia and 3D-visualization technologies and interactive navigation. This paper will briefly discuss the current situation in the leisure and tourism industry as regards currently available modes of information presentation for specific target groups. It will then discuss proposals for a novel interactive multimedia information system, focussing on the various components of such a system. The system will integrate satellite images, GPS data, GIS information and other information on leisure activities and tourist facilities. Aerial and satellite images will be used to implement the visualisation of the tourist region for multimedia CD ROMs (digital brochure) and display on the internet.


OBJECTIVES
Endonasal operations such as septoplasty, rhinoplasty, nasal septal reconstruction and conchotomy, as well as endoscopic sinus surgery, especially when combined with turbinectomy and/or submucous resection of the septum, may produce bleeding and postoperative hematoma requiring postoperative hemostatic measures. Since nasal packing may cause pain, rhinorrhea and inconvenience, a more effective and less uncomfortable hemostatic technique is needed.

OBJECTIVES
To compare the hemostatic efficacy of the second-generation surgical sealant (Quixil in Europe and Israel, Crosseal in the USA) to that of nasal packing in endonasal surgery.

METHODS
We conducted a prospective randomized trial that included 494 patients (selected from 529 using exclusion and inclusion criteria and completed follow-up) undergoing the above-mentioned endonasal procedures. Patients were assigned to one of three surgical groups: septoplasty + conchotomy + nasal packing or fibrin sealant (Group 1); ESS + nasal packing or fibrin sealant (Group 2); and ESS + septoplasty + conchotomy + nasal packing or fibrin sealant (Group 3). The hemostatic effects were evaluated objectively in the clinic by anterior rhinoscopy and endoscopy and assessed subjectively by the patients at follow-up visits.

RESULTS
Postoperative hemorrhage occurred in 22.9-25% of patients with nasal packing vs. 3.12-4.65% in the fibrin sealant groups (late hemorrhage only). Drainage and ventilation of the paranasal sinuses, which are impaired in all cases of packing, remained normal in the fibrin sealant group. There were no allergic reactions to the sealant.

CONCLUSIONS
Our results show that fibrin sealant by aerosol spray in endonasal surgery is more effective and convenient than nasal packing. It requires no special treatment, e.g., antibiotics, which are usually used if nasal packing is involved.