Tape-casting technology is introduced to fabricate metal-arrayes patterned ceramic substance containing periodic multilayer silver wire structure in the low dielectric constant ceramic matrix for microvave bandgap materials and left hand material application. One important advantage of the metal patterned ceramic substance comparing with the periodic structures fabricated on the printed circuit boards (PCB) using a shadow mask/etching technique is that complex multilayer structure can be designed and fabricated in the ceramic body as well as on the surface by the tape-casting process, while the shadow mask/etching technique technology can only design patterns on the surface of printed circuit boards. An Hp8720ES network analyzer was used to measure the transmission properties of the metal patterned ceramic substance. The experimental result shows some novel properties at X-band microwave frequencies. The metal patterned ceramic substance can be used in the microwave communication, such as microwave antenna.


This paper deals with data (or information) fusion for the purpose of estimation. Three estimation fusion architectures are considered: centralized, distributed, and hybrid. A unified linear model and a general framework for these three architectures are established. Optimal fusion rules based on the best linear unbiased estimation (BLUE), the weighted least squares (WLS), and their generalized versions are presented for cases with complete, incomplete, or no prior information. These rules are more general and flexible, and have wider applicability than previous results. For example, they are in a unified form that is optimal for all of the three fusion architectures with arbitrary correlation of local estimates or observation errors across sensors or across time. They are also in explicit forms convenient for implementation. The optimal fusion rules presented are not limited to linear data models. Illustrative numerical results are provided to verify the fusion rules and demonstrate how these fusion rules can be used in cases with complete, incomplete, or no prior information.


This document makes some observations on the effects of virtualization
on Internet architecture, as well as provides some guidelines for
further work at the IETF relating to virtualization. This document
also provides a summary of IETF technologies that relate to network
virtualization. An understanding of what current technologies there
exist and what they can or cannot do is the first step in developing
plans for possible extensions.


We introduce CHURP (CHUrn-Robust Proactive secret sharing). CHURP enables secure secret-sharing in dynamic settings, where the committee of nodes storing a secret changes over time. Designed for blockchains, CHURP has lower communication complexity than previous schemes: $O(n)$ on-chain and $O(n^2)$ off-chain in the optimistic case of no node failures. CHURP includes several technical innovations: An efficient new proactivization scheme of independent interest, a technique (using asymmetric bivariate polynomials) for efficiently changing secret-sharing thresholds, and a hedge against setup failures in an efficient polynomial commitment scheme. We also introduce a general new technique for inexpensive off-chain communication across the peer-to-peer networks of permissionless blockchains. We formally prove the security of CHURP, report on an implementation, and present performance measurements.


Background
Cataract with preexisted dry eye is a common eye disease.It is speculated that preservative-free artificial tears can inhibit inflammatory procedure, prevent postoperative eye infections and reduce dry eye symptoms.However, relevant literature is rare up to now.

Objective
This study was to evaluate and compare the therapeutic effects between preservative-free or preservative sodium hyaluronate combined with fluorometholone eyedrops for cataract with dry-eye.

Methods
A randomized controlled single-blind clinical study was performed.Sixty patients with dry-eye syndrome who was going to receive surgery for cataract removal were enrolled in Yuhuangding Hospital from January to December 2015 under the informed consent.The patients were randomly divided into the test group and control group.Preservative-free or preservative 0.1% sodium hyaluronate combined with 0.1% fluorometholone eye drops were topically administered in the eyes of the test group and control group, respectively.Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) score, breakup time of tearfilm (BUT), Schirmer Ⅰ test (SⅠt), corneal fluorescein staining, impression cytology, goblet cell density and the concentrations of interleukin (IL)-1β, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2) in tears were evaluated and compared.

Results
There were significant differences in gender, ages, OSDI scores, BUT, SⅠt value, corneal fluorescein staining scores, impression cytology findings, and goblet cell density between the two groups (all at P>0.05). OSDI, corneal fluorescein staining scores and imprint cellular level were evidently reduced, and BUT, SⅠt values and goblet cell density were significantly increased 1 month and 2 months after operation in comparison with the baseline values in the test group(F=13.058, 8.027, 3.755, 21.652, 70.962, 92.354, all at P 0.05).

Conclusions
0.1% preservative-free sodium hyaluronate combined with 0.1% fluorometholone eyedrops can relieve the symptoms and signs of dry-eyes following cataract surgery by playing antiinflammatory and antioxidant effects.

Key words:
Dry eye syndrome; Cataract; Preservative; Artificial tears


In Chapter 1 of my dissertation, we first establish the presence of significant variation in principal effectiveness based on both an analysis of variance approach and the estimation of principal fixed effects. Teacher survey responses support the findings based on the principal fixed effects, though the much smaller magnitude of the analysis of variance estimates suggest that unobserved shocks inflate many existing estimates of the variance in principal effectiveness. We next consider potential differences in LSC behavior that contribute to the variation. Following Aghion and Tirole (1997) we develop a model that highlights the tensions between formal and real authority and incorporates potential differences in LSC capacity and incentives to maximize school quality. Using proxies for managerial capacity and incentives we find evidence largely consistent with the theory, showing that LSCs with higher management capacity and stronger incentives to raise school quality experience larger gains in principal effectiveness following the end of contracts.

In Chapter 2 of my dissertation, I study a principal merit award program in the CPS. Although visible awards may increase worker effort and productivity, they may also produce unintended consequences. By acting as a signal of quality, awards may increase outside options and increase worker turnover. In this chapter, I use a regression discontinuity design exploiting the fact that Chicago provides principals with merit awards based solely on achieving a particular threshold of performance. Given the similarity between awardees and non-awardees at the threshold, any differences in productivity, motivation, or ability are unable to explain subsequent differences in job mobility. I find that principals who just exceeded the threshold for a merit award are more likely to exit their school the year after winning compared to principals who fell slightly short of the award threshold. Those who transition within the district move toward higher paying and higher test performance settings than principals who just lose. The findings are consistent with the predictions of a search model where awards that signal high-quality performance shift right the distribution of outside job offers, leading to turnover for award winners.


Northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) populations have declined over the past 5 decades in the southeastern United States due to changes in agricultural and forestry practices, increases in mammalian and avian predator populations, acceleration in fire suppression, and increases in human populations. Because of these declines, many landowners and plantation owners supplement wild bobwhite populations using captive pen-reared bobwhites. Restoration efforts using pen-reared bobwhites have often resulted in low returns and little recruitment. The use of captive wild-strain parent-reared bobwhite chicks has not been examined for supplementation or restoration purposes. I estimated survival of parent-reared bobwhites released at 5 weeks of age and return rates for pen-reared and parent-reared bobwhites. I also compared breeding season demographics among wild-strain fall release, parent-reared, and wild bobwhites. Only parent-reared chicks provided enough recaptures to estimate survival therefore no survival comparisons could be determined for the pen-reared. Wild and fall release bobwhites nested at similar rates and parent-reared and wild bobwhites had similar chick survival. My results show that parent-rearing of bobwhites in captivity show promise as a restoration technique.


The ruling of Stott v. Thomas Cook heralded the 'exclusivity principle' of the Montreal Convention for future claims for damages. However, the case simultaneously raised concerns regarding the rights of differently abled air passengers. Mr Stott, partially paralysed, was denied all his requests for assistance. This resulted in a series of traumatic events following which, Mr Stott suffered severe emotional harm. When Mr Stott claimed damages under the concerned EC Regulations, it was held that the Convention would be applicable exclusive to all other laws. This article examines a new line of reasoning in arguments for differently abled passengers, in light of the circumstances of Stott. The article identifies relevant international and national legislations on rights of differently abled passengers to substantiate a claim under the Convention, from a fresh perspective, without overturning the exclusivity principle. The authors argue that failure of an airline to abide by prevailing national and international laws on disability rights amounts to an 'unexpected event' and breach of duty of care, thereby falling within the purview of an 'accident' under the Convention. Applying abundant case law on the interpretation of Article 17, the authors aim to craft a successful claim for damages for differently abled air passengers, under selected circumstances unexplored by courts, within the confines of the Convention.


Automated care systems are becoming more tangible than ever: recent breakthroughs in robotics and machine learning can be used to address the need for automated care created by the increasing aging population. However, such systems require overcoming several technological, ethical, and social challenges. One inspirational manifestation of these challenges can be observed in the training of seeing-eye dogs for visually impaired people. A seeing-eye dog is not just trained to obey its owner, but also to "intelligently disobey": if it is given an unsafe command from its handler, it is taught to disobey it or even insist on a different course of action. This paper proposes the challenge of building a seeing-eye robot, as a thought-provoking use-case that helps identify the challenges to be faced when creating behaviors for robot assistants in general. Through this challenge, this paper delineates the prerequisites that an automated care system will need to have in order to perform intelligent disobedience and to serve as a true agent for its handler.


The Sardinian Cainozoic rifted basin is a useful model for studying the stratigraphic response to the Oligo-Miocene structural extension in the western Mediterranean because it allows precise observations on the relationship between sedimentation and normal faulting based on outcrops and seismic reflection data. The purpose of this paper, essentially of stratigraphic nature is to propose a chronology as precise as possible of the tectonic events and of the sedimentary formations. Indeed the tectono-sedimentary framework is complex, characterized by an extreme facies variability, from continental to marginal transitional and to marine environments (shallow-water, hemipelagic). Rifting, active calc-alkaline volcanism and sea-level changes caused rapid physiographical evolution, which controlled progressive marine ingression. New chronobiostratigraphical data presented in this paper allow correlating the sequences, defining their environment and depth of deposition and specifying precisely the timing of pre-, syn-, and post-rift stages in the Oligo-Miocene graben system. In southwestern Sardinia during the middle-late Eocene, after the Pyrenean phase, a continental graben (Cixerri), W-E oriented, preceded the Oligo-Miocene extension, which reactivated inherited Eocene and Palaeozoic faults. The calc-alkaline volcanic activity ranging from 32 to 13 Ma, provides a good estimate for the time span of the west-dipping Apenninic subduction responsible for the continental extension and the oceanic accretion in the western Mediterranean. In Sardinia the Oligo-Miocene extensional tectonics started in a continental environment, preceding the earliest calc-alkaline volcanic products (32 Ma). The marine ingression is dated to the late Chattian-Aquitanian interval and corresponds to a rapid deepening of the Oligo-Miocene graben system of tectonic origin. The end of the rifting i.e. the end of normal faulting activity is pre-middle Burdigalian in age. When Sardinia was in the post-rift stage, extension continued until late Burdigalian – Langhian in the Algero-Provencal basin with oceanic accretion and rotation of the Corsica-Sardinia block (CSB).


The aim of this work is to investigate and characterise particle behaviour in an (observationally-driven) 3D MHD model of the solar atmosphere above a slowly evolving, non-flaring active region. We use a relativistic guiding-centre particle code to investigate the behaviour of selected particle orbits, distributed throughout a single snapshot of the 3D MHD simulation. Two distinct particle acceleration behaviours are recovered, which affect both electrons and protons: (i) direct acceleration along field lines and (ii) tangential drifting of guiding centres with respect to local magnetic field. However, up to 40\% of all particles actually experience a form of (high energy) particle trap, because of changes in the direction of the electric field and unrelated to the strength of the magnetic field; such particles are included in the first category. Additionally, category (i) electron and proton orbits undergo surprisingly strong acceleration to non-thermal energies ($\lesssim42$MeV), because of the strength and extent of super-Dreicer electric fields created by the MHD simulation. Reducing the electric field strength of the MHD model does not significantly affect the efficiency of the (electric field-based) trapping mechanism, but does reduce the peak energies gained by orbits. We discuss the implications for future experiments, which aim to simulate non-flaring active region heating and reconnection.


Building on the established Post Keynesian theory of the firm, we identify different stakeholders inside and outside the firm, and we assess their potentially conflicting objectives. Depending on the bargaining power of these different stakeholders, we can distinguish different macroeconomic growth regimes characterized by the priority given to the realization of the dominant class's objectives. In previous work (Dallery and van Treeck, 2008), we have analysed these different institutional configurations of capitalism, which we call Fordism and financialisation, within a formal stock-flow consistent macro model. Here, we focus more specifically on linking macroeconomic growth dynamics to our reassessment of the Post Keynesian theory of the firm. Based on this microeconomic analysis, we stress the risk of financial fragility and macroeconomic instability involved with financialised capitalism.


Background Genetic variants in the BCHE (butyrylcholinesterase) gene are associated with reduced BChE enzyme activity and prolonged post-succinylcholine neuromuscular blockade, which can lead to postanesthetic apnea and respiratory depression. Testing for BChE deficiency is usually performed by biochemical methods and is generally only offered to patients who have a personal or family history of prolonged post-succinylcholine neuromuscular blockade. Purpose Using a clinical test, we investigated the frequencies of BCHE genotypes that are associated with increased risk for prolonged post-succinylcholine neuromuscular blockade. Materials and Methods Five BCHE variants, including the A (atypical, rs1799807), K (Kalow, rs1803274), F1 (fluoride-1, rs28933389), F2 (fluoride-2, rs28933390), and S1 (silent-1, rs398124632), were genotyped in a large (n = 13,301), multi-ethnic cohort in the United States. Subjects were recipients of pharmacogenetic testing ordered by their physicians as part of routine care. Results The minor allele frequencies of A, K, F1, F2, and S1 were 1.60%, 19.93%, 0.08%, 0.47%, and 0.04%, respectively, in this cohort. Based on a review of biochemical and clinical data of these variants, we grouped BCHE genotypes into four phenotypic categories to stratify the risk for prolonged post-succinylcholine neuromuscular blockade. Approximately 0.06% of patients were predicted to have severe BChE deficiency, 8% were predicted to have moderate BChE deficiency, and 29% were predicted to have mild BChE deficiency. Compared to other ethnic groups, Caucasians were predicted to have the highest frequency of BChE deficiency. Conclusion While severe BChE deficiency is rare in the United States, approximately 8% of Americans are at moderate risk of prolonged post-succinylcholine neuromuscular blockade, suggesting that a sizable percentage of patients may benefit from preoperative genetic testing of BCHE.


Deformation of ice in continental sized ice sheets determines the flow behavior of ice towards the sea. Basal dislocation glide is assumed to be the dominant deformation mechanism in the creep deformation of natural ice, but non-basal glide is active as well. Knowledge of what types of deformation mechanisms are active in polar ice is critical in predicting the response of ice sheets in future warmer climates and its contribution to sea level rise, because the activity of deformation mechanisms depends critically on deformation conditions (such as temperature) as well as on the material properties (such as grain size).
One of the methods to study the deformation mechanisms in natural materials is Electron Backscattered Diffraction (EBSD). We obtained ca. 50 EBSD maps of five different depths from a Greenlandic ice core (NEEM). The step size varied between 8 and 25 micron depending on the size of the deformation features. The size of the maps varied from 2000 to 10000 grid point. Indexing rates were up to 95%, partially by saving and reanalyzing the EBSP patterns.
With this method we can characterize subgrain boundaries and determine the lattice rotation configurations of each individual subgrain. Combining these observations with arrangement/geometry of subgrain boundaries the dislocation types can be determined, which form these boundaries. Three main types of subgrain boundaries have been recognized in Antarctic (EDML) ice core (Weikusat et al. 2010, 2011).
Here, we present the first results obtained from EBSD measurements performed on the NEEM ice core samples from the last glacial period, focusing on the relevance of dislocation activity of the possible slip systems. Preliminary results show that all three subgrain types, recognized in the EDML core, occur in the NEEM samples. In addition to the classical boundaries made up of basal dislocations, subgrain boundaries made of non-basal dislocations are also common.


Sentiment analysis has been a helpful mechanism that targets to understand the market feedback on certain commodities by utilizing the user comments. In the process of providing comments, each user comment is generated based on his/her preference which is referred to as harshness. Existing methods mainly apply majority voting or its variants to directly infer the evaluation of products. Nevertheless, due to the ignorance of the harshness of users, these methods will lead to low-quality inference outcome of sentiment analysis, which is far from the result of the expert analysis report. To this end, we propose HARK, a harshness-aware product analysis framework. First, we employ a Bayesian-based model for sentiment analysis. Moreover, in order to infer the reliable sentiment concerning each product from all the comments, we present a probabilistic graphical model in which the harshness is incorporated. Extensive experimental evaluations have shown that the result of our method is more consistent with the expert evaluation than that of the state-of-the-art methods. And our method also outperforms the method which infers the final sentiment with the ground truth of comments but without involving the harshness of users.


Coal combustion is the largest single source of sulfur oxide pollution. Treatment of some major representative U.S. coals with aqueous ferric solution removes 40 to 75 percent of the sulfur content through near quantitative oxidation of the pyritic sulfur contained in the coal matrix. Elemental sulfur and iron sulfate are recovered as products of the reaction. Engineering assessment indicates that the system, when fully developed, offers high potential for the economic abatement of sulfur oxide pollution.


Pentecostals usually believe that the presence of the Spirit of God in the lives of believers during the Old Testament period was sporadically. The Spirit only occasionally came over someone and then departed again. It was only after the outpouring of God's Spirit on the Day of Pentecost that the Spirit came to dwell permanently within believers. In an article on Psalm 51 a case was made for a permanent indwelling of the Spirit of God in the life of an Old Testament believer. In this article the role of the Spirit of God in the narratives on Elijah and Elisha (1 Kings 17-2 Kings 9) will be analyzed to ascertain whether these narratives support or contradict the conclusions of the article on Psalm 51.


OBJECTIVE Lung cancer shows the leading incidence of all cancers among men in the developed world and an increasing incidence among women. We performed a cost of illness study that aimed to assess the economic burden of lung cancer in Germany and to identify the main cost drivers. METHODS Costs were estimated for the year 1996. In a retrospective analysis we calculated direct and indirect costs based on secondary data from governmental institutions as well as from the pharmaceutical industry. We chose the cost perspective of sickness funds to estimate direct costs. The human capital approach was applied for the calculation of indirect costs. RESULTS Total estimated costs were DM 8.31 billion per year. The indirect costs of DM 7.40 billion accounted for 89 % of total estimated costs. The most important cost driver of the indirect costs, early death, represented on its own DM 4.85 billion, according to 58 % of total estimated costs. Of the direct costs, 93 % were due to hospitalization, amounting to DM 0.85 billion. CONCLUSIONS This cost of illness study concerning lung cancer illustrates the outstanding importance of the indirect costs, mostly due to early death, for total costs. Based on these findings and on the leading role of smoking in the etiology of lung cancer, we suggest that studies dealing with the net costs of smoking to society should include indirect costs.


A virus has been isolated from pigeons with the clinical symptoms of "infectious coryza". The virus produces numerous pocks on the chorio-allantoic membranes; livers from infected embryos have areas of necrosis. Microscopic examinations reveals basophilic and eosinophilic intranuclear inclusions. The virus produces a cytopathic effect of rounded refractile cells after 24 h with rapidly spreads throughout the monolayer. The virus is sensitive to chloroform. Electron microscopy of negatively stained lysed cell preparations shows that the virus is a herpesvirus. The strain is pathogenic for pigeons. Lesions produced by intralaryngeal inoculation consists of small necrotic foci in the laryngeal epithelium and in the liver.


In this paper, we present an analytical solution of the interaction of the nanotube(NT) with a wedge disclination dipole in nanotube-based composites. The corresponding boundary value problem is solved exactly by using complex potential functions. The explicit expression of the force exerted on disclination dipole is given by using the generalized Peach–Koehler formula. As a numerical illustration, both the equilibrium position and the stability of the disclination dipole are evaluated for different material combinations, relative thickness of an NT, surface/interface effects, and the features of the disclination dipole. The results show that as the thickness of the NT layer increases, the NT has a relatively major role in the force acting on the disclination dipole in the NT-based composite. The cooperative effect of surface/interface stresses and the NT becomes considerable as the increase of NT layer thickness. The equilibrium position may occur, even more than one, due to the influences of the surface/interface stress and the NT thickening. The influences of the surface/interface stresses and the thickness of the NT layer on the force are greatly dependent on the disclination angle.


OBJECTIVE
To explore the mechanism of ginger-partitioned moxibustion in the treatment of cold-damp stagnation type primary dysmenorrhea (PD) patients.

METHODS
A total of 209 PD outpatients of cold-damp stagnation type from 3 hospitals were randomized into moxibustion group (n = 105) who were treated with ginger-partitioned moxibustion, and control group (n = 104) who were asked to take Yueyue Shu Granules (an effective patent drug for PD). Ginger-partitioned moxibustion was applied to Shenque (CV 8) and Guanyuan (CV 4) from the menstrual onset on for the first course and 3 days before the onset for the second and third course, continuously for 3 days. Before and after the treatment, plasma endothelin-1 (ET-1) and serum nitric oxide (NO) contents in those patients (n = 40/group) and normal women (n = 20) experiencing menstrual period were determined by radioimmunoassay and nitrate reductase method.

RESULTS
After the treatment, of the 105 and 104 cases in moxibustion and control groups, 58 and 32 cured, 37 and 33 markedly effective, 5 and 24 effective, 5 and 15 failed, with the effective rates being 95.24% and 85.58% respectively. The therapeutic effect of moxibustion group was significantly better than that of control group (P<0.05). Before treatment, in comparison with normal group, plasma ET-1 contents in both moxibustion and control groups were significantly higher (P<0.01), while serum NO contents in these two groups markedly lower (P<0.01). After the treatment, self-comparison of both moxibustion and control groups showed that plasma ET-1 decreased significantly and serum NO levels in increased considerably (P<0.05, P<0.01), and the therapeutic effect of moxibustion group was markedly superior than that of control group in lowering plasma ET-1 (P<0.01).

CONCLUSION
Ginger-partitioned moxibustion is effective in relieving primary dysmenorrhea patients' abdominal pain, which may be closely associated with its actions in lowering plasma ET-1 level and raising serum NO contents.


Abstract Unconformity-type uranium deposits from the Athabasca Basin area are considered to be the result of mixing between oxidized basinal brines and basement-derived reduced fluids/gases, and/or reduced basement rocks. Graphite and its breakdown products are suggested to be responsible for uranium mineralization by acting as a reductant that could trigger deposition of uranium. In addition, the presence of well-connected graphite and sulfides within graphitic pelitic rocks is considered to be potentially indicative of basement structures, as the minerals are often concentrated along the structures, which hence become electromagnetic (EM) conductors. Thus, exploration for uranium deposits is often focused on the search for EM conductors. Variably graphitic pelitic schists with a steeply dipping fabric underlie the sedimentary rocks of the basin in the Dufferin Lake zone, south-central Athabasca Basin (Saskatchewan, Canada). Up dip, and just below the unconformity with the Athabasca Group, the pelitic schists are replaced by texturally similar rocks within "graphite-depleted zones". These zones consist of chlorite and hematite alteration (Red/Green Zone; RGZ) and a bleached zone immediately adjacent to the unconformity. Both zones are characterized by a lower concentration of carbon and sulfur, with the bleached zone showing higher concentrations of uranium and boron, the latter corresponding to a high dravite content. The major elements composition of the graphite-bearing pelitic schists and altered equivalents (RGZ) are similar. Raman analyses indicate that well-ordered carbon species (graphite to semi-graphite) are present in the pelitic schists, with both types more common within shear zones. In contrast, only rare low-ordered carbon species (carbonaceous matter) were detected in the graphite-depleted samples within the RGZ. This variation is interpreted to be the result of graphite consumption by oxidizing fluids migrating downward from the Athabasca Group. This graphite consumption may have resulted in the production of a mobile reductant (gas or fluid), which may have played a subsequent role in the deposition of uranium mineralization.


ABSTRACT Selection of suitable reference genes is important for relative quantification in quantitative PCR (qPCR). We investigated the expression stability of candidate reference genes for qPCR in the raphidophyte Chattonella marina at different irradiance, temperature, and oxidative stress conditions, and in different growth phases. Nine candidate reference genes (18S rRNA, cytochrome c oxidase subunit 2, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, actin, alpha-tubulin, beta-tubulin, calmodulin, 60S ribosomal protein L18, and elongation factor) were selected and used for qPCR analysis. After qPCR analysis, gene expression stabilities were evaluated using four frequently used algorithms (geNorm, NormFinder, BestKeeper and ΔCt). A comprehensive evaluation, based on statistical analysis, revealed that calmodulin constantly ranked in the top three at all conditions and growth phases. The gene expression profile of peroxiredoxin, a known antioxidant enzyme, was analysed in C. marina grown at different temperatures (10, 20, and 30 °C) to confirm the applicability of the high-ranked reference genes to relative quantification. The 2-Cys peroxiredoxin gene expression profile using the top-three ranked genes (18S rRNA, alpha-tubulin, and calmodulin) and the second-lowest ranked gene (elongation factor) showed a temperature-dependent increase in expression levels. However, there was no significant difference in the lowest ranked gene, cytochrome c oxidase subunit 2, at the three temperatures. This result showed that evaluation of the candidate reference genes using the four algorithms was valid, and indicates the importance of reference gene selection for relative qPCR in C. marina.


This paper examines the role of serendipity in the entrepreneurial process in the context of the UK's creative economy, with the music industry in Glasgow taken as its exemplar. The study draws upon primary evidence to provide an empirical account of how serendipity acts as the bridge between causal and effectual logic within the opportunity identification process. Dew's (2009) inclusion of serendipity in this journal prompted its discussion in this study, while Martello (1994) provided the framework used to understand serendipity as a construct. The study assumes that Sarasvathy's (2001) causal and effectual logics drive the process at agent level. Empirical data was collected via in-depth, semi-structured interviews with 16 music-entrepreneurs working within Glasgow's independent rock music sector. The findings suggest that causal logic inspires their initial search, a process or event of recognition, following a systematic search or a chance encounter, inspires the fit between the individual and the idea and finally, the deployment of effectuation logic underpins the exploitation stage, enabling entrepreneurs to work within their given set of means. This study contributes to emerging discourses exploring the nature of the entrepreneurial process as well as adding to the sparse empirical analyses on music-entrepreneurs.


Owing to the high interfacial resistance between a solid electrolyte and sodium metal anode, the development of solid-state sodium batteries is greatly limited. In this work, the introduction of the coating layer composed of micro-sized and cotton-cloth-derived disordered carbon tubes (DCTs) on the surface of the β′′-Al2O3 solid electrolyte (BASE) reduces the interfacial resistance. Better wetting of the DCT modified BASE by sodium results in uniform and rapid Na ion transport across the interface, which significantly reduces the interfacial resistance from 750 Ω cm−2 to 150 Ω cm−2 and presents stable Na stripping/plating profiles at a temperature of 58 °C. Solid-state sodium batteries with a sodium anode, DCT-BASE, and Na3V2(PO4)3 (NVP) gel composite cathode are successfully operated at 58 °C, and deliver good cycling performance and high efficiency. In addition, the self-supported DCT electrode material is proved to have reversible, stable, and rapid Na ion insertion/extraction ability in NIBs.


This paper examines the relationship between information technology (IT) and the organizational architecture of firms. Firms that are extensive users of information technology tend to adopt a complementary set of organizational practices that include: decentralization of decision authority, emphasis on subjective incentives, and a greater reliance on skills and human capital. We explore these relationships using detailed data on work systems and information technology spending for 273 large firms. Overall, we find that increased investment in IT is linked to a system of decentralized authority and related practices. Our findings may help resolve some of the questions about the relationships of information technology to internal organization and provide insight into the optimal organization of knowledge work.


Already centuries ago, humans had observed the weather in their everyday lives, seeking ways to understand, comprehend, and predict it. Until the present day, weather has had tremendous impacts on our lives and with climate change human civilizations as well. With new media technologies weather constitutes a part of the information services used by many residents of modern cities, people and businesses worldwide.The rise of Web 2.0, a cyberspace where individuals may connect and interact under new premises, bridging the size of weather systems, creates new opportunities to share, and potentially improve, weather information. This thesis develops a concept "share weather", based on individuals who share local weather information using interactive media technologies. The concept is empirically tested in eight papers, and, finally, evaluated in the summary of the compilation thesis. Since it explores a new research field, the thesis develops a framework for studying "share weather" based on several theories on motivation and participation in networks. Key issues are associated with accuracy of user-generated observations of weather, methods and design used to employ them, and estimating the potential levels of user contributions. The focus of this thesis lies on motivation theory and design of a "share weather" artifact.Drawing on prior research on online networks, a model for studying "share weather" is constructed by merging several theories, with the aim of studying the problem from both the individual perspective, and the relationships and structures created by ties and interactions. In addition, the thesis attempts to thoroughly investigate the context of "share weather", in order to contribute new knowledge to research on online networks, whereas a sustainability perspective is added and associated with the information domain. In order to test the feasibility of the "share weather" concept, several empirical studies based on a mixture of qualitative and quantitative analysis and design research science methodology were conducted during 2008-2011. The studies included six surveys and 17 interviews, involving four different user groups: over 440 traffic-interested individuals who received a weather service, 60 schoolchildren, 20 patients at a dental clinic, and 50 students. A separate study on African farmers was also analyzed.The findings of this thesis confirmed that, in online networks, individuals are often driven by intrinsic rewards, but this thesis highlights the strong effects of interactions and reciprocity of receiving useful information (weather forecasts) as rewards. In order to capture the range of drives of different instrumentality that might occur, in particular in networks for knowledge creation, a holistic approach can be recommended, where a larger scale of instrumentality is applied when studying online networks for knowledge creation.Other results, acquired by studying accuracy of user-generated observations, pointed at the powerful abilities possessed by all humans when they perceive weather through their senses. Sharing weather information can be realized using simple methods based on the human eye and perception. Collection methods, based on pictures and predefined text messages inspired by methods used previously in history, can easily be integrated with different interactive media technologies: web, mobile technology, and SMS.Based on the empirical results and design research methodology, the thesis concludes that "share weather" can contribute to improved weather information. Moreover, it is also suggested that "share weather" might serve some additional goals. The environmental challenges of the future imply that weather will become even more important and that active participation and information sharing is requested at all levels. Based on learning and social processes that can be activated in online networks, "share weather" might potentially contribute to increased public participation in environmental issues.


Ningdong-Shandong ±660 kV DC Power Transmission Demonstration Project is the first ±660 kV DC transmission project built around the world. It is also the symbolic project at this voltage level and one of the major West-East Power Transmission projects built in China. This paper demonstrates the selection of transmission capacity, converter configuration and DC line conductors of the ±660 kV DC system, discusses the project characteristics, performance requirements, main circuit arrangement, insulation coordination, main equipment parameters and converter station arrangement scheme of Ningdong-Shandong ±660 kV DC Project. Also, it describes the demonstration of ±660 kV DC voltage level and the equipment localization as well as the implementation priorities of the technical scheme for the project. (5 pages)


Efficiency and energy consumption reduction are becoming a key issue in elevation applications. Energy Storage Systems (ESS) can play a significant role in this field, together with their associated Energy Management Strategy (EMS) to optimize the overall behavior of the elevator. This paper presents an EMS based on Dynamic Programming (DP) for a stochastic application where the cost function is based on the stock management theory. For that purpose, an implementation methodology for DP-based EMS is also proposed. That methodology has been applied on an elevator where the system modeling has been carried out. Due to the stochastic behavior of the application, a novel representation method is also presented (General Energy and Statistical Description). The EMS has been implemented and validated experimentally on a real elevator with energy storage capability reducing grid power peaks by 65% and braking resistor energy losses up to 84%.


The world is at a critical point as humanity contemplates how its own activity is contributing to changes in the earth and atmosphere. Formidable challenges require raising fundamental questions and learning from unlikely sources. Drawing on field research conducted on the Zambian Copperbelt, this article explores how public conversations concerning differing views of reality can inform development-related thinking about the environment. Enumerating practical examples where words and images both conveyed and shaped conflicting viewpoints in the industrial mine setting, the article asserts that much can be learned from the experiential viewpoints of underground miners. Policy making could benefit, for instance, from lessening its dependence on dominant economic thinking and increasingly drawing upon historical, cultural, philosophical, and theological insights when devising policies, projects, and procedures. Questions of power, control, and humanity's self-conception in relation to the physical world are also explored.


153 pages. A thesis presented to the Department of Product Design and the Clark Honors College of the University of Oregon in partial fulfillment of the requirements for degree of Bachelor of Science, Spring 2017


Objectives This thesis investigates biomechanical and clinical performances of endovascular repair for thoracic aortic dissection (AD) and aneurysm. Insights from both medical and bio-engineering perspectives are pursued with the aim of providing scientific data that will help guide endovascular aortic treatment. Materials and Methods All patients enrolled in the International Registry of Acute Aortic Dissection from 1996 through 2015 were reviewed to better stratify patients with retrograde dissection extension. Four-dimensional imaging was used to quantify thoracic aortic pulsatility, before and after thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR). A new formal definition is proposed, defining changes in length as the result of a force pulling up and down the proximal end of the aorta, referred to as extensibility. In addition, we quantified changes in longitudinal and radial aortic strains induced by TEVAR, using an ex-vivo porcine model as well as uniaxial tensile testing. Modern computational modelling techniques were used to study adverse cardiovascular modelling and aortic thrombosis following TEVAR. Results Acute retrograde dissection into the arch or ascending aorta was not uncommon, occurring in about 7% [101/1433] of acute AD cases. Early mortality was comparable for those managed with medical, surgical, or endovascular treatment. A favourable early mortality was observed in patients with retrograde extension limited to the arch (8.6%) versus into the ascending aorta (18.6%). Four-dimensional imaging revealed considerable aortic deformations throughout the thoracic aorta in both the longitudinal and circumferential direction, with notable differences between the ascending and descending aorta. Moreover, we found that TEVAR was followed by an increase of pulsatile strains in the non-stented aortic segments. This was most evident in the longitudinal direction of the arch, with an average strain increase of 77% in thoracic aneurysm patients managed with TEVAR. Our experimental data showed that TEVAR stiffened the aorta by two-fold. This resulted in a proximal strain mismatch between the non-stented and stented aorta. Tensile testing revealed that aortic tissue was most vulnerable in the longitudinal direction, in particular proximally close to the arch. Assessing adverse cardiovascular remodelling following TEVAR, we found a significant33% increase of left ventricular mass after one-year follow-up. Computational modelling showed that regions of high virtual thrombus potential were associated with aortic thrombosis, while virtual surgical repair and branched stent-grafting both reduced such thrombus potential. Conclusion A subset of patients with acute retrograde AD originating from a tear in the descending aorta might be managed non-operatively with acceptable in-hospital results, particularly among those with proximal extension limited to the arch. Significant aortic pulsatility highlights the importance of dynamic imaging for stent-graft sizing. Additionally, the acute strain mismatch between stiff stent-grafts and elastic aortic tissue might play a role in TEVAR-related complications. Moreover, TEVAR was associated with significant aortic stiffening. This diminishes the Windkessel function, increasing impedance and cardiac workload, as observed in this thesis. These data highlight the need for more compliant devices, in particular for TEVAR of the highly pulsatile proximal thoracic aorta. Finally, computational modelling enriches our understanding of hemodynamic complex cases and may help guide repair strategies.


As performance and power consumption of modern micro-chips are increasingly limited by electrical on-chip interconnects, all-optical interconnect systems promise data transmission at speed of light and wavelength- division multiplexing. To realize complex networks, active devices, like lasers, need to be integrated on Si. III-Vs are excellent candidates for optical devices, however, their integration on Si is challenging due to a significant lattice and thermal mismatch. Template-assisted selective epitaxy (TASE) was recently developed by our group, allowing for the selective growth of III-Vs from a small Si seed in a confined oxide template. In this work, we extend TASE towards optical devices and demonstrate the monolithic integration of InGaAs lasers via a novel approach using a virtual substrate (VS) in a two-step templated growth. First, μm2 sized 60 nm thick InGaAs VSs are grown by MOCVD using TASE on SOI. Subsequently, 500 nm oxide are deposited onto the VS and patterned in arbitrary shapes like disks, and rings. In a second InGaAs growth, the defined vertical cavities are filled. The investigated structures have diameters of 1.7 μm, thicknesses of 0.5 µm and total cavity volumes of 0.5 λ30. Photoluminescence spectroscopy reveals a broad spontaneous emission peak around 1.1 μm (FWHM = 150 nm) that increases linearly with pump power for low excitation powers (<< 2.6 pJ/pulse). Above excitation threshold, a strong emission peak emerges at 1.1 μm (FWHM = 7 nm). The Input-Output curve (log- log, T = 10 K) exhibits the characteristic S-shape which constitutes a strong indication for the lasing operation. The onset of the lasing threshold is observed up to 200 K with a characteristic temperature of T0 = 192 K.


Despite the widespread occurrence and the great number of studies of the common opossum Didelphis aurita (Didelphimorphia, Didelphidae), there is a serious lack of information about helminth parasitism in these species. The synanthropic characteristic of these animals may influence their parasite fauna and the ecological parameters. We evaluated the abundance, intensity, prevalence and spatial aggregation of the most abundant nematodes of the large intestine and stomach, recovered from the common opossum D. aurita, in Pedra Branca State Park and its surroundings, which includes the FIOCRUZ Atlantic Forest Campus, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. We investigated the effects of anthropic disturbances on the helminth populations comparing the parameters in relation to host habitat types, season and host gender in order to understand the ecological host-parasite interaction. The animals were sampled in three different habitats. We conducted eight small mammal samplings in different seasons and collected 48 individuals of the common opossum. The nematode species found in the large intestine were Aspidodera raillieti and Cruzia tentaculata while Turgida turgida was found in the stomach. Cruzia tentaculata was the species with the highest abundance, intensity and prevalence indices. The three species had a highly aggregated distribution. No species had significant difference in prevalence when compared with host habitat types, host gender or season. Cruzia tentaculata had higher intensity in the rainy season, which suggests that rainfall contributes to the development of the life cycle of this helminth. Turgida turgida had higher abundance in the disturbed forest habitat, suggesting that the presence of intermediate hosts may be favoured by the characteristics of this environment.


The notion of a contraceptive vaccine based on gamete-specific surface antigens was first proposed over a decade ago, as the result of in-vitro and in-vivo studies, and in recent years has been the subject of intensive research. In particular, the zona pellucida has attracted much attention as a potential target for immunological intervention in the fertilization process. Such is the rapidly-expanding nature of research into the biochemical and biological characterization of this structure, that a review of the implications for the development of a contraceptive vaccine seems timely.


Advances in telecommunication which started with telephone lines, FAX, integrated service digital network (ISDN) lines and now internet have provided an unprecedented opportunity for transfer of knowledge and sharing of information. The information can be used for overlapping applications in patient care, teaching and research. In medicine there is increasing utilization of telemedicine; radiology and pathology being regarded as mature specialties and emergency medicine as maturing specialties compared to other evolving specialties which include psychiatry, dermatology, cardiology and ophthalmology. Of the emergencies, status epilepticus and stroke have high potential for improving patient management. Administration of tPA was more frequent when carried out under telemedicine guidance. Telemedicine has great potential for medical education. The principles of education are in congruence with those of telemedicine and can be closely integrated in the existing medical education system. Our experience of telemedicine as a medical education tool is based on video conferencing with SCB Medical College, Cuttack. We had 30 sessions during 2001 to 2004 in which 2-3 cases were discussed in each session. The patients' details, radiological and neurophysiological findings could be successfully transmitted. These conferences improved the knowledge of participants, provided an opportunity for a second opinion as well as modified the treatment decisions in some cases. The advances in telemedicine should be utilized more extensively in neurology, especially in emergency management, epilepsy and stroke patients as well, as it may have a role in neurophysiology and movement disorders.


Abstract In South Africa, the 1998 National Water Act has created two user-driven water resource management organisations, namely the Water User Association at the local level and the Catchment Management Agency at a larger catchment level. The paper investigates some challenges concerning the participation of smallholders in water resource management organisations involving also large-scale users. Specifically, the paper analyses the possible discrepancies between the needs of smallholders with regard to water and the functions of these organisations. A simple typology of needs concerning water is presented and used to classify the main problems faced by smallholders in selected case studies. In some of the cases studied, smallholders need above all funds for investment in waterworks and their operation. They are not directly affected by water resource management issue, a lack of overlap between their needs and the functions of a water resource management organisation might lead to their unsustainable presence within the organisation. In such cases, one alternative is to achieve cross-subsidization. The National Water Act calls for it, without providing specific requirement. The proposed creation of small-scale user forums in the Olifants Water Management area can be described as cross-subsidization. It might improve the internal organisation among smallholders and give them a voice. Some funds will be dedicated to forums' activities, but they are not entrenched as part of the core functions of the Catchment Management Agency. This analysis shows the importance of undertaking an assessment of smallholder water related needs to orientate the public participation process.


Knowing how stem cells and their progeny are positioned within their tissues is essential for understanding their regulation. One paradigm for stem cell regulation is the C. elegans germline, which is maintained by a pool of germline stem cells in the distal gonad, in a region known as the 'progenitor zone'. The C. elegans germline is widely used as a stem cell model, but the cellular architecture of the progenitor zone has been unclear. Here we characterize this architecture by creating virtual 3D models of the progenitor zone in both sexes. We show that the progenitor zone in adult hermaphrodites is essentially a folded epithelium. The progenitor zone in males is not folded. Analysis of germ cell division shows that daughter cells are born side-by-side along the surface of the epithelium. Analysis of a key regulator driving differentiation, GLD-1, shows that germ cells in hermaphrodites differentiate along the path of the folded epithelium, with previously described "steps" in GLD-1 expression corresponding to germline folds. Our study provides a three-dimensional view of how C. elegans germ cells progress from stem cell to overt differentiation, with critical implications for regulators driving this transition.


The use of PCR has enabled the survey of transposable elements in many plants; thereby making the study of their diversity and applications possible in species where the full genome sequence data are not yet available. In the present study, we used PCR primers anchored on the conserved domain of reverse transcriptase and endonuclease to amplify the Ty3/Gypsy-like polyprotein fragment from the genome of cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz). The PCR product was cloned and sequenced. Sequence analysis of individual clones clearly identified the conserved domain of the polyprotein enzymes and showed the cassava Ty3/Gypsy-like retrotransposon, Megyp (for Manihot esculenta gypsy-like), sequences to be highly heterogeneous. Some Megyps clustered with other plants' Ty3/Gypsy-like retrotransposons, while some clustered with Gypsy of Drosophila melanogaster and Ty3-2 of Saccharomyces cerevisiae in the comparative multiple sequence analysis. This suggests that the later belong to the retrovirus lineage of this group of elements. Southern analysis showed that, the Megyps and analogues were highly repeated within the genomes of cassava cultivars.


Although several microorganisms are known to produce proteases, Bacillus strains are often preferred as major sources for commercial alkaline proteases due to their exceptional ability to secrete large amounts of highly active enzymes. The present study aimed at isolation and molecular identification of alkaline protease producing Bacillus spp. from soil samples of Damghan County in Iran. This research was conducted in the laboratory complexes in the school of pharmacy of Islamic Azad University Damghan Branch. Soil samples were collected from 3 different regions. Streaking plate was done and 9 colonies were selected on the basis of appearance. To identify isolates, biochemical tests were performed. 16SrRNA gene duplicated with PCR and sent to Sinagene Company for sequencing. All isolates were oxidase–negative and catalase–positive. The ONPG tests were negative. 16SrRNA analysis showed that the isolated bacteria belonged to genus Bacillus. The results confirmed that four bacterial isolates had alkaline protease production capacity. It appears that after complementary examinations, the isolated Bacillus strains can be used for production of alkaline protease. Keyword: alkaline protease, Bacillus, enzyme, biochemical tests.


Abstract Multislice simulations in the transmission electron microscope (TEM) were used to examine changes in annular-dark-field scanning TEM (ADF-STEM) images, conventional bright-field TEM (BF-CTEM) images, and selected-area electron diffraction (SAED) patterns as atomically thin hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) samples are tilted up to 500 mrad off of the [0001] zone axis. For monolayer h-BN the contrast of ADF-STEM images and SAED patterns does not change with tilt in this range, while the contrast of BF-CTEM images does change; h-BN multilayer contrast varies strongly with tilt for ADF-STEM imaging, BF-CTEM imaging, and SAED. These results indicate that tilt series analysis in ADF-STEM image mode or SAED mode should permit identification of h-BN monolayers from raw TEM data as well as from quantitative post-processing.


This paper investigates the harmonic distortion problem and mitigation method at the Mingtan pumped storage power station in Taiwan, where six 300 MVA synchronous generator/motors are started by a static frequency converter (SFC) before the pumping stage. Since the SFC uses a 6-pulse rectifier technique, a large amount of harmonic currents are produced during the starting period. The harmonic distortion level at each bus of the power plant was very high. Especially, the total harmonic distortion (THD) of current at the lighting feeder reached up to 184%, so that power fuses were burned out. At first a 5 mH reactor was inserted in the SFC feeder and a 5th order and high pass filter was installed. However, the harmonic distortion levels were still too high, but there is no space for additional higher-order filters. Finally, the SFC is feeded with an individual transformer and the harmonic disturbance problem is avoided. This paper also gives computer simulations to investigate the harmonic distortion problems and verify the mitigation methods.


Vehicular Ad-hoc Networks (VANET) is one of the emerging and actual research fields in automotive companies and Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) designers. In the Smart City the presence of such networks opens the way for a wide range of applications such as safety applications, mobility and connectivity for both driver and passengers to exploit the transport systems in a smoothly efficiently and safer way. The 802.11p is a draft amendment to the IEEE 802.11 standard for vehicular communications. VANET are characterized by a dynamic topology triggered by the vehiculars mobility. In the Smart City the main problems of inter-vehicle communication are the speed, density of vehicles and the size of the buildings. For this purpose, we first examine and then display the simulation findings of the impact of different radio propagation models on the performance of vehicular ad hoc networks in terms of the characteristics of the physical layer. In our study, we have compared the performances of two routing protocols (AODV and OLSR) for three propagation model (two-Ray ground, Rice and Nakagami). We study those protocols under varying metrics such as Traffic density, Smart City Architecture (size of the scenario areas) and the mobility of vehicle. Our objective is to provide a qualitative assessment of the protocols applicability in different vehicular scenarios. These two routing protocols are simulated and compared with Network Simulator-2 under Manhattan Grid Mobility Model. To conclude, the simulation findings are to be taken as a strong reference on the three routing protocols behaviour; however, it shouldn't be considered as an exact representation of its behaviour and real environment because of several simulation constraints such as: the dimension of movement field of vehiculars, the traffic type and the simulation timing.


Various aspects of the interaction of electromagnetic radiation with matter are explored. The fundamental interaction involves the response of matter to electric and magnetic fields generated by the radiation. Any collection of charged particles will respond through its polarization P, which may be expanded in increasing powers of electric field E as P = χ(1)E + χ(2)E2 + χ(3)E3. The term χ(1) is called the linear susceptibility (or more commonly the polarizability α), and is the term responsible for the linear refractive index as well as for linear absorption. The first order susceptibility is shown to be responsible for normal one-photon spectroscopy, and we examine microwave, infrared, and optical spectroscopy as tools to obtain information as to the rotational, vibrational, and molecular orbital nature of molecules. Rydberg states, vibronic interactions, and magnetic resonance spectroscopy are also considered. χ(2) is the second-order polarizability, sometimes called the hyperpolarizability β. This is responsible for hyper-Rayleigh scattering and second-harmonic generation, as well as the hyper-Raman effect. These are often termed two-photon effects owing to the quadratic dependence on the electric field. Three-photon effects are obtained from the third-order polarizability χ(3) or γ. Stimulated Raman spectroscopy and four-wave mixing are some of the most important consequences of this term. These involve coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) as well as Raman-induced Kerr-effect spectroscopy (RIKES).

Keywords:

molecular spectroscopy;
microwave spectroscopy;
infrared spectroscopy;
optical spectroscopy;
Raman spectroscopy;
Rydberg states;
multiphoton spectroscopy;
second-harmonic generation;
coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS)


The present study develops the ground work for modular prediction of free-surface jet arrays. Jet arrays generate one of the highest single-phase heat transfer rates, while covering reasonably large areas with good thermal uniformity, relevant to electronics cooling. However, due to liquid evacuation problems, free-jet arrays suffer from flooding, cross-flow and jet interaction, together with the large amount of influencing geometrical parameters, this them very difficult to predict. For the modular prediction approach to be applied, key issues are here addressed: experiments were conducted employing de-ionized water in both single and basic multiplejet array (2x2, with local liquid extraction in the jet interaction zones) configurations. Modular conditions, wherein all jets are similar to each other, were created experimentally in a consistent fashion, by use of liquid extraction in the jetinteraction zones. Based on present and previous experimental data the influencing parameters on the pre-jump depth were identified. This description was then used to predict the location of the hydraulic jump (as dependant on the measured post-jump depth). The model combines elements of two previous approaches the shallow-water vs. jump conservation model, and obtains good agreement with available data. In addition conditions were shown for maximizing the distance at which the hydraulic jump occurs to the point that the supercritical flows of adjacent jets touch (standing fountain type jump). This not only permits prediction of the supercritical flow heat transfer distribution over almost the entire array area, but also reduces the low heat transfer post-jump regions to a minimum. Finally, a more universal single-jet heat transfer model was developed incorporating inherent self-similarities recently identified by the authors and considering all relevant parameters: jet velocity profiles, nozzle-plate spacing, and inclination relative to gravity, to predict stagnation heat transfer as well as its radial decay. It is further identified that the influence of inclination is also of vital importance to freesurface jets (breakage of symmetry) and must be examined in future studies. By addressing these three key issues the foundation for a modular prediction of heat transfer under a free jet array is laid.


In 1999, the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) reversed course on its tradition of free education and installed a tuition requisite for attendance. In response, students launched a massive strike and eventually overturned the decision. This paper explores the possible role global institutions like the IMF may have played and argues that the strike was part of a broader movement against economic globalization. This paper places the student strike in its proper context and analyzes how students perceived their role in the strike.


Abstract: Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy is a non‐invasive technique, which allows the study of cellular biochemistry and metabolism. It is a diverse research tool, widely used by biochemists to investigate pathophysiological processes in vitro and, more recently, by physicians to determine disease abnormalities in vivo. This article reviews the basics of the NMR phenomenon and summarises previous research on the hepatobiliary system using both laboratory‐based and clinical methodologies. The role of proton and phosphorus‐31 (31P) NMR spectroscopy in the study of malignant and non‐malignant liver disease and studies of bile composition are discussed. In vivo techniques (magnetic resonance spectroscopy, MRS) can be performed as an adjunct to standard MR examination of the liver. Although still primarily a research tool, the in vivo technique provides non‐invasive biochemical information on disease severity and holds promise in its use to gauge response to treatment regimens.


We are writing in response to the review article: Stein. J. (2018). What is Developmental Dyslexia? Brain Sciences, 8, 26, doi:10.3390/brainsci8020026. We consider that the section entitled, "Eye Movement Control", presents a misleading characterisation of current empirical and theoretical understanding. We outline five specific points relating to Stein's views on eye movement control and developmental dyslexia with which we disagree and conclude that disruption to oculomotor behaviour occurs as a consequence of processing difficulty that individuals with dyslexia experience as they engage in reading.


A significant amount of lignin and hemicellulose are dissolved in the hydrothermal treatment of biomass. The hemicellulose can be recovered and utilized for value-added products. The dissolved lignin can undergo depolymerization and condensation reactions, and interferes with the separation and purification process for hemicellulose recovery. This paper investigated the behavior of the lignin extracted from the hydrothermal pretreatment of bamboo and its contributions to the physical characteristics of the hydrolysate. It was found that the turbidity of the hydrolysate was strongly associated with the lignin fragments and suspended long chain hemicelluloses. As the lignin depolymerization and condensation reactions occurred simultaneously, the dissolved lignin fractions in the hydrolysate increased first and then decreased. The molecular weight (MW) of the dissolved lignin fragments ranged from 3342 ~ 5611 g/mol, with mainly guaiacyl (G) and syringyl (S) unit in the structure.


Abstract We have investigated the physical and structural properties of phase D (MgSi2O6H2) at high pressure by means of a first-principles calculation method. Phase D is important as a dense hydrous magnesium silicate with high stability under pressure, and as one of the most likely candidates for a water reservoir in the Earth's lower mantle. The calculated compression behavior of phase D is in very good agreement with experimental results. We found a distinct but continuous change from asymmetric to symmetric hydrogen bonding in phase D at 40 GPa. This pressure-induced hydrogen bond symmetrization has a significant effect on the compression behavior of phase D. The bulk modulus increases by about 20% with this structural change. This behavior of pressure-induced hydrogen bond symmetrization is very similar to that previously reported by us for δ-AlOOH. The transition is reversible and second-order, and thus the high-pressure state is probably unquenchable.


Winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is used as fresh green winter forage worldwide, and its ability to regenerate after mowing determines whether it can be used for forage production; however, the molecular mechanism of regeneration is poorly understood. This study identified long-chain coding and non-coding RNAs in the wheat cultivar "XN9106," which is cultivated for forage and grain production separately in winter and summer, and analyzed their function during post-mowing regeneration. The results showed that the degradation of carbohydrate plays an important role in regeneration, as demonstrated by decreased carbohydrate content. The increased gene expression of enzymes including β-amylase, β-fructofuranosidase, sucrose synthase, sucrose-6-phosphate synthase, trehalose-6-phosphate synthase, and trehalose-6-phosphate phosphatase in mowed seedlings suggests regeneration is fueled by degraded carbohydrates that provide energy and carbon skeletons for the Krebs cycle and amino acid synthesis. The decreased auxin content relieved the inhibition of cytokinin synthesis, that controls the transition from cell division to cell expansion and stimulates cell expansion and differentiation during the cell expansion phase, and eventually accelerate post-mowing regeneration of seedlings. Additionally, differentially expressed long-chain non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) might participate in the regulation of gene expression related to carbohydrate metabolism and hormone signal transduction. This study demonstrated the responses of key mRNAs and lncRNAs during post-mowing regeneration of winter wheat and revealed the importance of carbohydrate and hormone during regeneration, providing valuable information for genetic improvement of forage wheat.


Abstract Habitat management guidelines for greater sage-grouse, Centrocercus urophasianus, have been formulated, in part, based on studies of nest site selection. However, these guidelines may not represent conditions when the female initiates nesting because sampling occurs posthatch (> 30 days after nest initiation) to avoid disturbing incubating females. In 2002, we investigated differences in 22 habitat variables at initiation and hatch. Sampling was at 30 randomly selected active nests marked in 2001. There was no significant difference in structural or cover data (P > 0.05). Grass height and percent grass cover differed (P < 0.05) based on timing of sampling. Grass heights at the nest bowl and at 1 m from the edge of the nest bowl were 10 and 9 cm at initiation and 16 and 13 cm at hatch, respectively. Percent grass cover increased from 4% to 6% cover from initiation to hatch. Sampling occurred in a dry year; differences in grass heights and percent cover may be more pronounced in years of normal precipitation. Preliminary results indicated current habitat sampling techniques conducted posthatching adequately described selection of structural components of shrub height, visual obstruction, and percent cover of shrubs, bare ground, litter, and forbs at the nest site at initiation. Data need to be verified for other study areas and under different climatic conditions.


The period 1870–1930 witnessed the emergence of the local public library as a widespread and enduring American institution. We document the expansion of public libraries in the United States using data drawn from library surveys conducted by the federal Bureau of Education. We then review causal accounts for that expansion. Exploiting cross-state and temporal variation in the data, we use statistical techniques to assess a number of plausible demand-and-supply factors affecting the pace of library development. Social and economic variables in the analysis include state income or wealth, urbanization, ethnic composition, and gender ratios. We also examine the effect of institutional innovations, such as state library commissions and library associations, that likely affected the establishment of public libraries. We confirm that library expansion was robustly related to urbanization and greater ethnic (immigrant) diversity and to institutional innovations and that it was greatly delayed in southern states.


Since November 1, 1970, doctors in Quebec have been operating under a government-controlled compulsory and universal "fee-for-service" insurance plan. After a review of some characteristics of the new system, the author describes the impact of this social legislation on physicians' lives, control of health delivery costs, and various policy issues. He examines the implications of these changes for medical education. A qualitatively different kind of physician must be able to deal comfortably and effectively with a reality which includes: (a) the concept of "global medicine" and its social implications, (b) greater external control of costs and increased public concern with quality, (c) a new concept of the role of the hospital and its integration within the system, and (d) the concept of team care. Possible changes associated with the new system include a reevaluation of the criteria for a good clerkship, an acquisition of a new perspective on community health ecology, and a need to become an efficient team-worker.


Natural gas vehicles are being developed because of increasing concerns about energy dependence, air quality and emissions, and, more recently, climate change. The major advantage of natural gas vehicles is their lower fuel cost. Several economic and technical factors such as limited range and availability of relevant infrastructure prevent widespread adoption of natural gas vehicles. A model for the financial analysis of the possibility of compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles being competitive with gasoline-powered vehicles is offered. The model evaluates the extent to which commuters find adoption of CNG vehicles to be economically viable in the United States. The results indicate that the percentage of commuters who would adopt CNG vehicles is small, even if fueling infrastructure were fully developed and CNG vehicles were widely available for purchase. A larger number of vehicle miles traveled and increased gasoline prices encourage commuters to adopt CNG vehicles, while higher fuel economy and purchase price differentials result in lower adoption rates. In some cases, which vary in accordance with the values of the model's parameters, commuters purchase a CNG vehicle as their second car and keep a gasoline-powered car as their first.


One of the open problems in machine learning is whether any set-family of VC-dimension d admits a sample compression scheme of size O ( d ). In this paper, we study this problem for balls in graphs. For balls of arbitrary radius r , we design proper sample compression schemes of size 4 for interval graphs, of size 6 for trees of cycles, and of size 22 for cube-free median graphs. We also design approximate sample compression schemes of size 2 for balls of δ -hyperbolic graphs.


A number of prenatal, early childhood, and middle childhood factors were studied to determine their utility for predicting hospitalization for depression. Data were acquired from the Helsinki Longitudinal Temperament Project, an ongoing longitudinal study of a Finnish birth cohort (N = 6401) that includes temperament, medical, and demographic data. The present study focuses on the 61 members of the birth cohort who were hospitalized under a depression related diagnosis (major depressive disorder, dysthymic disorder, bipolar disorder, or adjustment disorder/brief depressive reaction) prior to the age of 23. Specifically, prenatal smoking, fever, and nausea; infant and preschool temperament; age 12 behavior problems; maternal hospitalization history; and demographic data were analyzed. Temperament was assessed with Finnish versions of the Carey Infant Temperament Scale, the Thomas, Chess, and Korn Temperament Questionnairre (preschool), and behavior problems with the Lambert-Hartsough-Wrede Adjustment Difficulty Scale (Age 12 behavior problems). Chi-square analyses revealed gender, birth order, and maternal hospitalization for blood disorder, digestive problems, accidents, and pscyhosis to be significant predictors of hospitalization for depression. Temperament and behavior problems are discussed in terms of trends as data were available for an insufficient number of subjects to perform the analyses. More subjects than expected had deviations from average on one or more temperament scales. Independently, the Fussy/Demandingness infant scale and the preschool Negative Emotionality and Lack of Task Persistence scales appear to predict hospitalization for depression. Suggestions for further research involving larger sample sizes and formulating maternal hospitalization profiles of at-risk children are offered.


A single capsule of sustained release pseudoephedrine (SUDAFED S.A., Burroughs Wellcome Co.) was shown by objective and subjective measurements to be superior to placebo in relieving nasal congestion associated with allergic rhinitis. The drug had no discernible effect on (1) the degree of wetness perceived in the mouth or nose, (2) a complex of symptoms which included sneezing, coughing, sniffing, swallowing, itching of eyes and nose or (3) number of nose blows. The study was marked by an absence of serious adverse reactions.


Recent experiments reveal both passive subdiffusion of various nanoparticles and anomalous active transport of such particles by molecular motors in the molecularly crowded environment of living biological cells. Passive and active microrheology reveals that the origin of this anomalous dynamics is due to the viscoelasticity of the intracellular fluid. How do molecular motors perform in such a highly viscous, dissipative environment? Can we explain the observed co-existence of the anomalous transport of relatively large particles of 100 to 500 nm in size by kinesin motors with the normal transport of smaller particles by the same molecular motors? What is the efficiency of molecular motors in the anomalous transport regime? Here we answer these seemingly conflicting questions and consistently explain experimental findings in a generalization of the well-known continuous diffusion model for molecular motors with two conformational states in which viscoelastic effects are included.


Transmissible ileal hyperplasia (TIH) was experimentally induced in weanling hamsters, and the development of lesions was characterized. Ileal lesions developed in two phases: a hyperplastic phase which was detected by Day 10 and an inflammatory phase which began by Day 20. Hyperplasia began as focal lengthening of villi with expansion of crypt-type epithelium onto villus walls. Diffuse hyperplasia of distal ileum developed; dilated, tortuous crypts penetrated subjacent supporting tissues; but metastases were not seen. Inflammation began in association with focal or segmental necrosis of crypt epithelium, and crypt abscesses developed. Severe pyogranulomatous inflammation of the ileal wall, focal peritonitis, mesenteric lymphadenitis, and portal hepatitis were common in advanced lesions. Development of ileal lesions was closely correlated with accumulation of particulate antigen, detectable by immunofluorescence, in the cytoplasm of mucosal epithelial cells. Antigen was also detected in ileal granulomas, mesenteric lymph nodes, and liver. There was simultaneous development of serum antibody specific for intracytoplasmic antigen. These studies comfirm that mucosal hyperplasia is the primary lesion in TIH.


A two-phase cooperative framework in Cognitive Radio Networks (CRNs), whereby the secondary users (SUs) can fully exploit the transmission opportunities through cooperation with primary users (PUs), is proposed. Specifically, the SU cooperates with the active PU to improve the PU's utility. As a reward, the period of time when the PU is inactive, is allocated to the cooperating SU for its own transmissions. During the cooperation, the PU and the cooperating SU use quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) to attain orthogonal signaling to cooperate efficiently, while the SU selects the optimal power allocation coefficient to maximize the performance of the PU, when its own transmission requirement is satisfied. The SU selection and power allocation determination procedure is formulated as a nonlinear optimization problem. The closed-form solution is derived. Numerical results demonstrate that, with the proposed cooperative strategy, the PU can achieve optimal performance and the SU can gain transmission opportunities through cooperation.


The past decades have been characterized by considerable advancements of laser/optics technology, imaging capabilities along with rapidly growing computing resources that in combination constituted the enabling technologies leading to the emergence of a wide variety of nowadays readily available image-based measurement techniques. Among these, particle image velocimetry (PIV) has made substantial impact on experimental fluid mechanics and associated fluid engineering fields, in part already through its capability of making complex fluid flows "visible" and quantifiable. Although fully capable of providing temporally and volume resolved velocity data, the use of PIV continues to play a secondary role in applied industrial research and is often side-lined with respect to conventional "established" point-wise measurement techniques. In many PIV applications, the acquired PIV data is mainly used for the "Validation" of numerical methods, leaving the full potential provided by the spatio-temporal resolved PIV data untapped.

The presentation introduces several examples of utilization of advanced image-based measurement techniques such as PIV in industrial R&D settings, mainly from the turbomachinery sector involving investigations of transonic compressor aerodynamics and measurements within combustion chambers operating at flight-relevant conditions. A prerequisite for making any optical measurements in these rough operating environments possible has been the direct involvement of the measurement specialists at the early stages of the rig design, for instance, to integrate optical accessibility to the areas of interest. Yet, oftentimes issues such as beam steering, light absorption, contamination or strong vibrations degrade the signal to unacceptable levels, requiring creative solution strategies. To improve the overall understanding of the underlying aero- and thermodynamics of the investigated component, the combination of measurement techniques has proven to be very valuable. Beyond this, more advanced, 3-D and high-speed imaging approaches still hold significant potential, as will be highlighted with a few examples from recent experiments, but must be balanced against an increased instrumentation and processing effort.


Objectives: On the basis of the "Surgical Checklist" proposed by the WHO, we propose a new Checklist model adapted to the procedures of endodontic treatment. Study Design: The proposed document contains 21 items which are broken down into two groups: those which must be verified before beginning the treatment, and those which must be verified after completing it, but before the patient leaves the dentist's office. Results: The Checklist is an easy-to-use tool that requires little time but provides, order, logic and systematization by taking into account certain basic concepts to increase patient safety. Discussion: We believe that the result is a Checklist that is easy to complete and which ensure the fulfillment of the key points on patient safety in the field of endodontics. Key words:Checklist, endodontics, patient safety, adverse event.


Gastrointestinal (GI) motility is the muscular contractions that move intestinal contents in an anterograde (mouth to anus) direction and is necessary for nutrient absorption and elimination of waste. GI motility is highly coordinated and rhythmic contraction patterns. Interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC), enteric neurons, and smooth muscle cells all regulate GI 1notility. ICC function as pacemaker cells and determine contraction frequency. ICC growth and development is influenced by Kit, a tyrosine kinase receptor located on the plasma membrane of ICC. TMEM16A is a calcium activated chloride channel which contributes to the slow wave in the GI tract. Constipation, delayed gastric emptying, and bloating have been correlated with deficits of ICC in GI tissues. A functional Kit receptor and stimulation of Kit with Kit ligand is necessary for ICC growth and development. However, little is known about ICC development in adults or in developing GI tissue. The objective for this project is to determine the relative and temporal expression levels of Kita, Kitb, Kitla, and Kitlb in the zebrafish model system at several developmental time points. Understanding the temporal and relative expression pattern of these genes is the first step towards a more complete understanding of ICC development and turnover. The zebrafish model system is anatomically similar to the human GI tract and at early time points the zebrafish is transparent. One advantage to this model system is that GI motility may be examined in the intact larvae. RNA was isolated from dissected zebrafish GI tissues and used as template for reverse transcriptase reactions to make eDNA. Relative and temporal expression levels of Kita, Kitb, Kitla, and Kitlb was determined at 5 days post fertilization ( dpf), 7 dpf, 11 dpf, 28dpf, and in adult gut tissues using eDNA as template for real time PCR. Kita and Kitla were confirmed as a functional receptor/ligand pair which was first identified in 1nelanocyte 1nigration 19 . The relative expression data suggests that Kitb and Kitlb are also a functional receptor/ligand pair. Temporal expression data shows high expression of Kitb early in development (5dpf). Besides the early high expression of Kitb, gene expression for all genes of interest peak at 11 dpf. TMEM16A (also called ANOI) was identified as a more accurate marker for gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) than Kit . RNA isolated from dissected zebrafish GI tract was used to make eDNA which became the template for reversetranscriptase (RT)-PCR and real-tin1e PCR (q-PCR). Anti-ANOI antibodies were used to identify TMEM16A in dissetcted, fixed zebrafish GI tract.


Buddying and mentoring schemes are playing an increasingly vital role in student support and integration, especially in the context of a global shift in internationalisation rationale. In this project, one cycle of improvements to a buddy scheme for exchange students was completed in accordance with three principles: ongoing orientation, the internationalisation of "home" students and staff/student liaison. Theory and student feedback were applied to professional practice, with a focus on student participation. Suggested future evaluation includes quantitative measures such as levels of participation, as well as qualitative data from surveys and focus groups. Reflective practice and the practical implementation of the three principles have contributed to the process of personal and institutional internationalisation.


Cyberbalkanization has been observed in some online activities, but its mechanism remains uncertain. Drawing on the Social Balance Theory, we theorized that the formation of "mutual ignoring" triads (three actors in a group with only a pair of interacts) in a network is a key procedure for cyberbalkanization. A cyberbalkanized network was constructed using data shared on Facebook Pages during the 2014 Hong Kong protests. Our findings indicate "mutual ignoring" was a prominent triad network configuration, whereas no such configuration was found in randomly generated networks. Our empirical-based observation was retested with simulation by agent-based model, confirming that "mutual ignoring" is essential for the emergence of cyberbalkanization. A strategy is then suggested to minimize cyberbalkanization.


We report plasmon-mediated two-photon photoluminescence (TPPL)-detected circular dichroism (CD) from colloidal metal nanoparticle assemblies. Two classes of solid gold nanosphere (SGN) dimers--heterodimers and homodimers--were examined using polarization-resolved TPPL, second harmonic generation (SHG), and one-photon photoluminescence (OPPL). Unambiguous CD was detected in both the TPPL and SHG signals, and the magnitudes of the CD responses in these measurements showed agreement for individual nanostructures. Heterodimers gave larger CD responses (average TPPL-CDR = 0.62 ± 0.33; average SHG-CDR = 0.51 ± 0.21) than homodimers (average TPPL-CDR = 0.19 ± 0.04; average SHG-CDR = 0.18 ± 0.06). OPPL-CD was not detected for either structure. Analysis of dimer emission properties suggested the CD responses were determined by properties of the one-photon-resonant mode excited by the laser. Average TPPL signals were (4.3 ± 0.6)× larger than those for SHG. Because signal amplitude is a primary determinant for spatial accuracies and precisions obtained from optical microscopy, CD contrast generated from plasmon-mediated TPPL, which we report for the first time, can extend the suite of super-resolution imaging techniques.


Rohingya refugees from the Arakan state of Myanmar found their ways a number of times to Bangladesh to escape state-sponsored persecution. While there is no dearth of studies on refugees, Rohingya has so far received very little research attention. This article tries to understand the dynamics and severity of reported humiliation by the government on the Rohingya population, and how are they marginalized in their destination points. A qualitatively and quantitatively designed questionnaire was used to interview 134 refugees from two existing camps in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh. Both qualitative and quantitative analyses reinforce that the level of abuse and persecution perpetrated upon them surpass all human rights standards. This was confirmed by both the in-depth and the case studies. These people were forced out by state-sponsored persecution and again they are forced to be repatriated due to the fact that Bangladesh cannot afford to welcome them back.


A great deal of the relevant literature mentions that one of the reasons for the 1990s recession in Japan is increasing "uncertainty." To clarify the effect of uncertainty, this study demonstrates the relationship between uncertainty of productivity growth and investment using Japanese firm-level panel data from FY1986-FY2004. It is found that increasing uncertainty of firm-level productivity growth has a negative effect on investment, and especially higher uncertainty in the shifting of a technological frontier has had a larger impact on investment since the mid-1990s. It is also found that such a negative effect is weakened in industries with higher expected growth of demand.


Melatonin, a circadian anti-cancer hormone produced by the pineal gland during darkness at night suppresses the Warburg effect, linoleic acid (LA) uptake/metabolism and tumor cell proliferation in both estrogen receptor (ERα+) and ERα- in tissue-isolated human breast cancer xenografts. The nighttime circadian melatonin signal regulates circadian rhythms in tumor glucose and fatty acid metabolism as well as related signaling pathways that are important in controlling cell proliferative and survival mechanisms. Over-the-counter (OTC) melatonin supplements are used by millions of individuals to treat insomnia and/or jet-lag. The present study addressed the hypothesis that oral ingestion of OTC melatonin supplements by normal adult human female volunteers results in blood levels of melatonin that suppress LA uptake/metabolism, aerobic glycolysis and cell proliferative activity in human breast cancer xenografts, growing in nude female rats, directly perfused in situ with human subject donor whole-blood following melatonin intake. Twelve young, healthy premenopausal women were recruited to ingest an OTC melatonin supplement at a single dose of either 75μg, 150μg, 300μg or 1 mg during midday (low endogenous melatonin levels) resulting in low to high pharmacological blood concentrations of melatonin. A pre-supplement venous blood sample was collected from the antecubital vein of the forearm. Each subject then ingested a randomly selected oral dose of melatonin followed approximately 1 hour later by the withdrawal of a post-supplement venous blood sample. On the following day, the pre- and post-supplement whole-blood samples collected from a given subject were separately placed into a tumor perfusion reservoir. Tissue-isolated ERα- MCF-7 human breast cancer xenografts grown in female nude rats were then directly perfused in situ for 1 hour with either pre- or post-supplement oxygenated blood (37°C). Irrespective of the dose tested, melatonin induced a 50% decrease in both tumor glucose uptake and lactate release, 22% and 44% deceases in O2 uptake and CO2 production, respectively, 50% decrease in cAMP concentrations, and a 100% decrease in linoleic acid (LA) uptake and 13-hydroxyoctadecadienoic acid (13-HODE) formation. Melatonin also caused a marked decrease in the expression of phospho-AKT, GSK3β and ERK1/2, and an 85% decrease in the incorporation of [3H]thymidine into DNA. Similar results were obtained at the lowest dose of melatonin (e.g., 75μg) in ERα+ human breast cancer xenografts. The melatonin-induced suppression tumor proliferative and metabolic activity in both ERα- and ERα+ breast cancer xenografts was completely prevented by the co-perfusion with the non-selective MT1/MT22 melatonin receptor blocker S20928 consistent with the involvement of a melatonin receptor-mediated mechanism. These results indicate that oral administration of an OTC melatonin supplement at a variety of low to high doses were equally effective in suppressing the Warburg effect and key tumor proliferative and survival signaling pathways, cAMP-dependent LA uptake and metabolism to mitogenically active 13-HODE and ultimately cell proliferation in tissue-isolated human breast xenografts irrespective of ERα status via a melatonin receptor-mediated mechanism. These findings suggest that even low doses of OTC melatonin preparations may play a potentially important role as a new chronotherapeutic agent in human breast cancer treatment and/or prevention by targeting aerobic glycolysis and fatty acid signaling and metabolism. Supported by NIH Grants R21CA129875 (DEB) and R01CA54152 (SMH). Citation Format: David E. Blask, Robert T. Dauchy, Erin M. Dauchy, Steven M. Hill, Lulu Mao, Melissa M. Wren, Mary M.C. Meyaski-Schluter, Lin Yuan. Over-the-counter melatonin supplementation in human subjects: A potentially novel chronotherapeutic approach targeting the Warburg effect and fatty acid metabolism in breast cancer therapy/prevention. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference: Metabolism and Cancer; Jun 7-10, 2015; Bellevue, WA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Res 2016;14(1_Suppl):Abstract nr A91.


The article aims to show how Bernardin de Saint-Pierre – whose philosophical and theological thought is generally overlooked by scholars – provides an original solution to the problem of the existence of evil. A comparative reading of the systematic discussion of Providence that animates The Studies of Nature, his major theoretical work, and Paul and Virginie, true Romanesque application of the philosophical treatise, brings out a 'double' theodicy. Saint-Pierre establishes a fruitful synergy between Rousseau's anthropodicy, which provides a social and historical justification of evil, and Leibniz's eschatology, aimed at its metaphysical and otherworldly justification.


In 1845 Prosper Merimee published the novella Carmen. In 1875 Georges Bizet pro- posed an opera adaptation from the short story of the same name, immortalizing the myth of the beautiful gypsy. The construction of the figure of Carmen has been one of the most explored topics, as here Spain is represented as a peculiar land. This article focuses on the similarities and differences about the representation of Carmen in two audiovisual productions: Carmen (1943) by the Argentine director Luis Cesar Amadori and Carmen (1983) by the Spanish Carlos Saura. Both productions staged some topics of the Spanish culture, as, for instance, the representa- tion of a flamenco show, the magnetism of its protagonists, the unrequited love and the final outcome, presented in a completely different way in the two productions. Both representations, in their own way, consolidate the myth of Carmen, revitalizing the essence of a country consid- ered exotic.


When the WHO defined high-grade B-cell lymphoma with MYC and BCL2 and/or BCL6 rearrangements (HGBL-DH/TH) as a clinical category, rearrangements were the only structural variant (SV) incorporated. An "atypical double-hit" entity has been proposed, encompassing tumors with concurrent MYC and BCL2 SVs other than co-occurring translocations - i.e. copy number variations (CNVs). While the identification of a gene expression signature (DHITsig) shared among tumors harboring MYC and BCL2 rearrangements (HGBL-DH/TH-BCL2) has confirmed a shared underlying biology, the biological implication of MYC and BCL2 CNVs requires further elucidation. We performed a comprehensive analysis of MYC and BCL2 SVs, as determined by fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH), in a cohort of 802 de novo tumors with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) morphology. While BCL2 CNVs were associated with increased expression, MYC CNVs were not. Furthermore, MYC and BCL2 CNVs, in the context of atypical double-hit, did not confer a similar gene expression profile as HGBL-DH/TH-BCL2. Finally, while MYC IHC has been proposed as a screening tool for FISH testing, two mechanisms were observed that uncoupled MYC rearrangement from IHC positivity. 1) low MYC mRNA expression and 2) false-negative immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining mediated by a single nucleotide polymorphism resulting in an asparagine to serine substitution at the 11th amino acid residue of MYC (MYC-N11S). Taken together, these results support the current exclusion of MYC and BCL2 CNVs from HGBL-DH/TH and highlight the ability of a molecular based classification system to identify tumors with shared biology that FISH and IHC fail to fully capture.