SIR,-The letters of Mr. Malcolm Donaldson and Dr. W. A. Ball (Journal, April 2, p. 849) criticizing our article (Journal, March 12, p. 627) call for brief replies. Mr. Donaldson is distressed by our " appalling " mistake in not mnentioning and emphasizing "cancer." We admire his own pioneer work in the field of cancer education, and wish him all success. However, had we adopted his method our task would have been much more difficult than it was, and the problem of recalling patients for follow-up examination after doubtful or suspicious findings would in many cases have been insuperable. When the pioneers, such as Mr. Donaldson, have done their own important educational task on a really large scale, it may be possible to talk freely of cancer at medical overhauls. But that day has not yet come, at least in this district. Dr. Ball's thesis, of a psychological-hormonal upset caused by our campaign and leading to an increase in cancer, is interesting, but not supported by figures. We have analysed the number of cancer cases in the practice (excluding theskin) over the last seven years, and there is no obvious effect of our campaign in the numbers recorded. In fact, there was a temporary increase that began six months before the outset of our investigation. It might well be that'an intensive educational campaign would be accompanied by an increased incidence of recorded cancer, but this would more probably be accounted for by an ageing population, improvement in diagnosis and certification, etc. Such factors would at least have to be ruled out first.-We are, etc., J. WALTER.


Background:
 Higher rates of CVD have been found in Mexicans and some Asian American subgroups as well as African Americans. However, little is known about the association between HTN, a main risk factor of CVD, and CVD among rapidly growing minority groups. Our study aims to identify racial/ethnic differences in CVD outcomes in HTN patients across Asian American subgroups (Asian Indian, Chinese, Filipino, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese), Mexican, African American, and non-Hispanic White (NHW) in a large, mixed payer ambulatory care setting in northern California.

 Study Design:
 We examined electronic health records of patients age 18 years or older with at least one primary care visit from 2008-2012. CVD was defined by ICD-9 codes while HTN was defined by ICD-9 codes, antihypertensive medication, or two or more abnormal blood pressure readings (>140/90mm Hg). We estimated the rate of CVD incidence among HTN patients. Follow-up period was six years on average.

 Results:
 African Americans had the highest prevalence of HTN (51%, 2,715 out of 5,328), followed by NHWs (35%, 96,965 out of 276,133), Mexicans (34%, 3,867 out of 11,532), and Asian Americans (24%, 29,872 out of 124,139). Among these HTN patients, 9% (11,667 out of 133,419) developed CVD by the end of year 2012. HTN patients with CVD were more likely to be older, male, smoker and have a higher BMI. There was no significant difference in baseline BP levels. Compared to NHWs, both African American (OR=1.84, CI: 1.61-2.10) and Mexican HTN patients (OR=1.28, CI: 1.12-1.46) were at a higher risk of developing CVD after adjusting for age and gender, while Asian Americans were at a lower risk (OR: 0.81, CI: 0.79-0.86). Racial/ethnic differences also presented across the Asian American subgroups with Filipino and Asian Indian HTN patients at an elevated risk of developing CVD compared to other Asian American subgroups.

 Conclusions:
 Among HTN patients, there is heterogeneity across R/E minority groups in their risk of developing CVD. It might be differential utilization pattern such that Mexicans, Filipinos, and Asian Indian are likely to receive HTN treatment at more severe stage. Further studies are needed to better understand the pathways of CVD development among HTN patients of different race/ethnicity.


ABSTRACT The present study examined the relationship between co-witness suggestibility and individual differences in interpersonal characteristics. Participants (N = 473) took part in an eyewitness simulation, and five independent conditions were used to control for misinformation size. Using confederates, the researchers exposed participants to misinformation about the witnessed event, prior to collecting their statements. The participants then completed the Fundamental Interpersonal Relations Orientation-Behavior assessment (FIRO-B; Schutz, 1958), a measure of expressed and wanted control, affection, and inclusion. Results suggested that the wanted-control dimension was an accurate predictor of co-witness suggestibility. Eyewitnesses who scored highly on wanted control were significantly more likely to accept misinformation from co-witnesses, and were more likely to lose confidence in their own judgments, after a group discussion. In addition, the results suggest that the unanimity of misinformation, but not the size, had a significant influence on co-witness suggestibility.


This study assessed the anti-apoptotic effects of the administration of ferulic acid (FrA) in rats 30 min before middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAo) followed by 3 d of ischemia and the involvement of 70 kDa heat shock protein (HSP70)-mediated signaling in the penumbral cortex. Our results demonstrated that FrA pretreatment at doses of 80 mg/kg (FrA-80 mg) and 100 mg/kg (FrA-100 mg) effectively ameliorated neurological functions and reduced the numbers of cytochrome c-, cleaved caspase-3-, and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL)-positive cells in the penumbral cortex 3 d after ischemia. Moreover, FrA-80 mg and FrA-100 mg pretreatment markedly upregulated cytosolic HSP70, Beclin-1, microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3) A/B-II and autophagy-related protein 5 (Atg5) expression; cytosolic and mitochondrial X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis (XIAP) expression and the Bcl-2/Bax ratio. FrA pretreatment downregulated cytosolic cytochrome c, apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF), procathepsin B, and cathepsin B expression and mitochondrial and cytosolic second mitochondria-derived activator of caspase/direct inhibitor of apoptosis protein-binding protein with a low isoelectric point (Smac/DIABLO) expression in the penumbral cortex. Pretreatment with VER155008, a HSP70 family inhibitor, significantly inhibited the effects of FrA-100 mg on the expression of the aforementioned proteins expression in the penumbral cortex. FrA-80 mg and FrA-100 mg pretreatment exerts neuroprotective effects against caspase-dependent and -independent apoptosis through activating HSP70/Bcl-2- and HSP70/autophagy-induced signaling pathways. Furthermore, the HSP70/Bcl-2- and HSP70/autophagy-induced anti-apoptotic effects of FrA pretreatment can be attributed to the regulation of Bax/cytochrome c/Smac/DIABLO/XIAP/ caspase-3- (or Bax/AIF-) and Beclin-1/LC3A/B-II/Atg5-mediated signaling, respectively, in the penumbral cortex 3 d after permanent MCAo.


The idea of this paper implies the possibility to exploit the properties of graphene oxide (GO) to fiber Bragg grating (FBG) UVA radiation sensor design. The idea assumes that a temperature change around the fiber can be induced by UVA radiation. UVA lighting will increase the internal energy of the GO and consequently locally raise the temperature on the surface of the optical fiber with FBG sensor and changing Bragg wavelength Full Text: PDF References Z. N. Azwa, B. F. Yousif, A. C. Manalo, W. Karunasena, " A review on the degradability of polymeric composites based on natural fibres", Materials & Design, Vol. 47, pp. 424-442, 2013 CrossRef B. R?nby, "Photochemical modification of polymers - photocrosslinking, surface photografting, and lamination", Polymer Ing. & Science, Vol. 38, Iss. 8, pp 1229-1243, 1998 CrossRef P. Lesiak, M. Szeląg, D. Budaszewski, R. Plaga, K. Milenko, G. Rajan, Y. Semenova, G. Farrell, A. Boczkowska, A. Domanski, T. Wolinski, "Influence of lamination process on optical fiber sensors embedded in composite material", Measurement: Journal of the International Measurement Confederation, vol. 45, No. 9, pp. 2275-2280, 2012 CrossRef G. Eda et al., "Large-area ultrathin films of reduced graphene oxide as a transparent and flexible electronic material", Nature Nanotechnology 3, 270 (2008) CrossRef H. J. Kim et al., "Unoxidized Graphene/Alumina Nanocomposite: Fracture- and Wear-Resistance Effects of Graphene on Alumina Matrix", Scientific Reports 4, 5176 (2014) CrossRef A. Wroblewska et al., "Statistical analysis of the reduction process of graphene oxide probed by Raman spectroscopy mapping", Journal of Physics: Condensed Matter 29, 475201 (2017) CrossRef P. Lesiak, P. Sobotka, M. Bieda, A. Duzynska, A. Wroblewska, M. Chychlowski and T. R. Wolinski, "Innovative UV sensor based on highly birefringent fiber covered by graphene oxide", Photonics Letters of Poland Vol. 7, No 4, pp. 124-126, 2015 CrossRef B. Qi, M. Bannister, X. Liu, A. Michie, L. Rajasekera, B. Ashton, Response of an embedded fibre Bragg grating to thermal and mechanical loading in a composite laminate, IOME Australasia, Materials Forum 27 (2004) 93?100. DirectLink E. Chehura, C-C. Ye, S. Staines, S. James, R. Tatam, Characterisation of the response of fibre Bragg gratings fabricated in stress and geometrically induced high birefringence fibres to temperature and transverse load, Smart Materials and Structures 13 (2004) 888?895. CrossRef K. Schroeder et al., A fiber Bragg grating sensor system monitors operational load in a wind turbine rotor blade, Measurement Science & Technology 17 (2006) 1167?1172. CrossRef Z. Zhou, Q. Liu, Q. Ai, C. Xu, Intelligent monitoring and diagnosis for modern mechanical equipment based on the integration of embedded technology and FBGS technology, Measurement 44 (9) (2011) 1499?1511 CrossRef Z. C. Wu et al., Science 305, 1273 (2004) CrossRef A. Jorio, M. Dresselhaus, R. Saito, and G. F. Dresselhaus, Raman Spectroscopy in Graphene Related Systems (Wiley-VCH, 2011) CrossRef G. Sobon, J. Sotor, J. Jagiello, R. Kozinski, M. Zdrojek, M. Holdynski, P. Paletko, J. Boguslawski, L. Lipinska, and K. M. Abramski "Graphene Oxide vs. Reduced Graphene Oxide as saturable absorbers for Er-doped passively mode-locked fiber laser" Optics Express 20, 19463 (2012) CrossRef


In the first half of the nineteenth century, glaciers taught us a great lesson about the earth. In the 1820s and 1830s, Swiss naturalists established the existence of the Ice Age. Their key insight was the fact that the small glaciers found at high elevations in mountainous regions were remnants of vast sheets of ice that once had covered large portions of the earth's surface. They combined many sources — Alpine villagers' intimate knowledge of mountain landscapes, earlier research by other geologists, and their own extensive explorations — to document the remote periods of the past, when areas that now are towns, fields, and forests had lain under miles of ice. Once they understood that this now-vanished ice had transformed the earth's surface, they were able to explain features such as the parallel scratches found on rock faces that were engraved by glaciers and the long walls of rocks, stretching across valleys, that were carried by glaciers. Later researchers traced multiple Ice Ages and linked them to the cyclical fluctuations in the earth's orbit. This first lesson, then, was of the dynamic quality of the earth. Geologists found common elements in the study of the ice sheets and other discoveries that were made around the same time, such as the formation of rocks from sediments deposited on the floor of the sea. They came to understand that the earth was immensely old and always changing. This first lesson faced many challenges, particularly from those who held to a literal interpretation of the Bible, but finally received broad acceptance.


The distribution of angles subtended between pairs of galaxies and the line of sight, which is uniform in real space, is distorted by their peculiar motions, and has been proposed as a probe of cosmic expansion. We test this idea using N-body simulations of structure formation in a cold dark matter universe with a cosmological constant and in two variant cosmologies with different dark energy models. We find that the distortion of the distribution of angles is sensitive to the nature of dark energy. However, for the first time, our simulations also reveal dependences of the normalization of the distribution on both redshift and cosmology that have been neglected in previous work. This introduces systematics that severely limit the usefulness of the original method. Guided by our simulations, we devise a new, improved test of the nature of dark energy. We demonstrate that this test does not require prior knowledge of the background cosmology and that it can even distinguish between models that have the same baryonic acoustic oscillations and dark matter halo mass functions. Our technique could be applied to the completed BOSS galaxy redshift survey to constrain the expansion history of the Universe to better than 2 per cent. The method will also produce different signals for dark energy and modified gravity cosmologies even when they have identical expansion histories, through the different peculiar velocities induced in these cases.


Objective: To assess the appropriateness and understanding of the revised, draft South African Paediatric Food-Based Dietary Guidelines (SA-PFBDGs) among mothers/caregivers of children aged 12–36 months. Exposure to guidelines with similar messages, barriers and enablers to following of the guidelines were also assessed. Design: A descriptive cross-sectional qualitative study was conducted. Data were collected from nine focus-group discussions (FGDs) conducted in isiXhosa, English and Afrikaans, resulting in 65 participants, 20 from formal areas and 45 from informal areas. Setting: Stellenbosch Municipality (Stellenbosch, Pniel and Franschhoek) Subjects: The study population included mothers/caregivers older than 18 years, who consented to participate. Results: This study revealed that participants expressed a general understanding of the core messages contained in the revised, draft SA-PFBDGs. Misinterpretation arose regarding certain guidelines as a result of ambiguity. Participants were familiar with and recognised the majority of the concepts conveyed owing to previous exposure, mostly from healthcare facilities and the media. Financial constraints were identified as the biggest barrier to following the guidelines, while perceived enablers included receiving education on the guidelines as well as visual portrayal thereof. Conclusion: Following field-testing, it is clear that the draft, revised SA-PFBDGs for the age group 12–36 months are appropriate. Minor rewording is required to enhance understanding. Effective dissemination of the guidelines through multiple communication platforms is recommended.


One of the major limitations in dealing with subvolcanic and plutonic magmatic processes is the inaccessibility of actifre magma chambers. Although this has the advantage of allowing scope for imagination and speculation, untrammelled by too many physical constraints, most igneous petrologists would dearly like to know what magma chambers are really like, and how magmatic differentiation is actually achieved in practice, despite the fact that many cherished notions would inevitably be upset. In recent years there have been considerable advances in our understanding of magmatic processes, and some of these have been concerned with presentday igneous activity. For example, seismologists are not only able to identify bodies of magma located within the crust, but they are also beginning to resolve some of the finer details in terms of external shape and internal characteristics, as shown by the investigations of Sharp et al. (1980) on Etna. However, the closest approach to the study of active magma chambers has been achieved on Kilauea volcano, Hawaii, where recent basalt lavas have locally been ponded in deep pit craters and have been sampled at various stages during the process of solidification, which takes many years to be completed (Wright et al. 1976). Despite these interesting developments, most of our present understanding of magmatic processes comes from the study of ancient magma chambers, as represented by plutonic igneous intrusions. Of these, the most amenable to interpretation are the layered intrusions which, ever since the classic work of Hess on the Stillwater Complex and


Prospective, randomized studies conducted over the past 10 years have changed the management of patients with advanced cervical cancer. The reviewed studies evaluated the use of surgery, irradiation, and chemotherapy in patients with various stages of cervical carcinoma in the absence and presence of high-risk factors for recurrence. A study by the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) compared pelvic with pelvic plus prophylactic para-aortic irradiation in patients with stages IB (> 4 cm), IIA, and IIB cervical cancer. The 10-year survival advantage was 11% for patients treated with prophylactic para-aortic irradiation. A follow-up study compared pelvic plus prophylactic para-aortic irradiation and brachytherapy with pelvic irradiation, brachytherapy, and chemotherapy with cisplatin and 5-FU in patients with IB-to IVA-stage cervical cancer. Overall and disease-free survivals were significantly improved in patients receiving chemotherapy. In patients with a prevalence of stage IIB and III, the Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG) demonstrated that treatment with hydroxyurea alone was inferior to cisplatin or cisplatin, 5-FU, and hydroxy-urea in patients treated concurrently with pelvic irradiation and brachytherapy, and the GOG adopted irradiation and weekly cisplatin as standard therapy. Further GOG studies suggest that irradiation and weekly cisplatin chemotherapy without hysterectomy is the optimal treatment for patients with stage IB cervical cancer. High-risk factors for recurrence include tumor size, depth of tumor invasion, lymphovascular space involvement, and lymph node involvement. Prospective, randomized studies conducted by the GOG evaluated the effectiveness of various treatments in patients with high-risk factors. In one study that did not use chemotherapy, the recurrence-free interval was about 10% better for stage IB patients receiving postoperative irradiation after radical hysterectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy compared with those who received no further therapy. Patients with Stages IB and IIA disease who, following radical hysterectomy and lymph node dissection, are identified as having positive pelvic lymph nodes and positive parametrial involvement, are at higher risk for recurrence and death than the high-risk group described above. An intergroup study conducted by the GOG, RTOG, and Southwest Oncology Group compared postoperative pelvic irradiation alone with postoperative pelvic irradiation plus concurrent chemotherapy in this group of patients. Overall and progression-free survivals were superior for patients receiving chemotherapy, and their greatest survival occurred in patients who received 3 or 4 chemotherapy cycles compared with 1 or 2 cycles or no chemotherapy. These findings are summarized with respect to their implications fortreatment of patients with advanced cervical cancer.


The new teaching environment features flexible delivery, heavy use of technology, increased infusion of skills into the curriculum, large class sizes and overall, an increasing sophistication of the higher education teaching environment. Even in this environment, Erica McWilliams'"teaching tech(no)body") the virtual instructor, needs some of the old-fashioned teaching skills so necessary for rounded delivery of knowledge and skills to the students. This article examines training needs and options for legal academics and points to effective ways of engendering excellence. The article argues that voluntary teaching improvement rather than accreditation is the more valuable. However, any up-skilling schemes should not become an institutional or personal barrier to personal diversity in teaching style in the university, and especially in the Law School.


Temporal analytical techniques to track nanoparticles in live cell would provide rich information to well understand the biologic properties of nanoparticles in molecular level. Significant advances in fluorescence microscopy techniques with high temporal and spatial resolution allow single nanoparticles to label biomolecules, ions, and microstructures in live cells, which will address many fundamental questions in cell biology. This review highlights the real time tracking techniques for monitoring the movement of nanomaterials such as carbon nanotubes (CNTs), quantum dots (QDs), metal clusters, upconver-sional nanomaterials, and polystyrene (PS) nanoparticles etc. in live cells. The biological properties of nanoparticles in live cells are also briefly summarized according to fluorescence microscopy studies.


Recent data have implicated nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) in the prevention of apoptosis in transformed cell lines exposed to tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α). However, it is obscure whether NF-κB plays an anti-apoptotic role in nontransformed cells, and it is not clear whether NF-κB inhibits apoptosis triggered by other mediators. We investigated the effect of specific inhibition of NF-κB on cytokine-induced apoptosis of glomerular mesangial cells, which is important in determining the outcome of glomerulonephritis. Cultured rat mesangial cells were stably transfected with the dominant negative mutant inhibitor of NF-κB (IκBαM). IκBαM was resistant to stimulus-dependent degradation and suppressed NF-κB activation induced by TNF-α (10 ng/ml) or IL-1β (10 ng/ml). IκBαM significantly sensitized mesangial cells to TNF-α-induced apoptosis in a dose- and time-dependent manner but had no significant effects on the level of apoptosis in the presence of proinflammatory or apoptosis-inducing stimuli including Fas ligand, IL-1α, IL-1β, hydrogen peroxide, lipopolysaccharide, cycloheximide, or serum deprivation. Moreover, IκBαM-mediated sensitization to TNF-α overcame the protective effect of mesangial cell survival factors present in serum, which usually inhibit killing of mesangial cells by the proapoptotic stimuli used. These data show that inhibition of NF-κB selectively sensitizes primary adult glomerular mesangial cells to TNF-induced apoptosis but not to other mediators of cell death including the Fas ligand.


Capacitive deionization (CDI) is a promising water desalination technology in which a pair of porous electrodes is electrically charged to remove ionic species from water. Rational design of electrode materials and device structure opens new possibilities in removing heavy metals from wastewater by the CDI process. Herein, a bench-scale CDI device based on 3D functionalized flexible carbonaceous aerogels (CAs) derived from natural and renewable biomass was designed for water decontamination. We put forward a new and promising fabrication method, which utilized only low valence metal precursors to fabricate high valence metal oxides (MO) and CA hybrids (denoted CAs/MO). The resultant CAs/MO hybrids exhibited a hierarchical porous structure with a specific surface area of 262.6 m2 g−1 and an excellent specific capacity of 120.4 F g−1. Enhanced electrochemical capacity and low inner resistance endowed the CAs/MO hybrid electrodes with an outstanding decontamination capacity of 57.13 mg g−1 for Cu(II) at a low applied voltage of 1.2 V, which was nearly 3 times higher than that of 19.28 mg g−1 at an open circuit and highlighted the advantages of the CDI process in decontamination technology. The CAs/MO electrodes had good cycling stability for CDI decontamination applications. This study certifies the feasibility of decontamination and recovery of aqueous toxic heavy metals using the CDI process in pollution cleanup.


Using qualitative research methods, this dissertation closely examines discourses and representations of disability from the cinematic images of disabled characters and their families in two South Korean films, Oasis (C. Lee, 2002) and Malaton (Y. Jung, 2005) as well as from the responses of nineteen Korean graduate students at a US research university to disability imagery of the films. The findings on the representation of disability in the films indicate that disability is used as a visual reminder to restore previously marginalized identities, such as gender and sexuality. Situated in the Korean male crisis brought on by the 1997 economic turmoil, the films disclose Neo-Confucian patriarchy's attempt at maintaining its privileged status and its complicity with the neo-liberal logic. The successful alliance between the two relies heavily on the depoliticization of disability. In the process, disabled characters are reduced to visual metaphors to signify the perceived marginalization of nondisabled people and a living means of proving able-bodied supremacy. In the films, the dominant ideologies, patriarchy, ableism, and neoliberalism, are materialized through normatively feminizing and sexualizing a disabled woman in Oasis and blaming a mother of an autistic son and remasculinizing the son with the familiar trope of "supercrip" in Malaton. Even though the films are saturated with disability imagery, the focus of the participants, none of whom are disabled themselves, shift away from disabled characters toward themselves. Consequently, disability becomes an emblem of these nondisabled participants' own concerns and desires to approximate "normal," especially gender-based obstacles, expression of gender identity, sexuality, and repression. A sense of marginalization and aspiration is strongly felt by female participants who symbolically use disability to critique male-oriented Korean society. Their male counterparts tend to deploy disability as a tool to express their perceived marginalization and nostalgia for a patriarchal social order. However, identification with disabled characters is short-lived, and the participants of both genders ultimately disassociate themselves from disability and disabled people due in large part to their hegemonic understanding of disability. In other words, narratives of tragedy, disease, and dependency appear to override their partial attachments to the plight of disabled characters and their family members. Constrained by the cinematic treatments of disability and participants' assumed fear and guilt of disability, the participants fail to fully engage with disability and to understand it as an important part of human diversity. The findings imply that a Disability Studies perspective, one that shifts from medical to social framing, is very useful when it interrogates the connections between disability and other social identities. A perspective can politicize disability, while also helping alleviate sensitivity and fear through discussion, and can, at its best, provide a safe space in which people can critically engage with disability. "SEEING ANOTHER/SEEING ONESELF": NONDISABLED AUDIENCES' PERSPECTIVES ON DISABILITY IN TWO SOUTH KOREAN FILMS, OASIS (2002)


This is an exploratory inquiry into signed language interpreters' perceptions of interpreter e-professionalism on social media, specifically Facebook. Given the global pervasiveness of Facebook, this study presents an international perspective, and reports on findings of focus groups held with a total of 12 professional signed language interpreters from the United States of America, the United Kingdom, and Denmark, all of whom are also Facebook users. The findings reveal that Facebook is seen to blur the traditional boundaries between personal and professional realms – an overlap which is perceived to be compounded by the nature of the small community in which signed language interpreters typically work –necessitating boundary management strategies in order to maintain perceptions of professionalism on the site. Facebook is considered a valuable professional resource to leverage for networking, professional development, problem solving and assignment preparation, but it is also perceived as a potential professional liability for both individual interpreters and the profession at large. Maintaining client confidentiality was found to be the most pressing challenge Facebook brings to the profession. Educational measures to raise awareness about e-professionalism were generally viewed favourably.


Lead can be considered as a pollutant material due to its toxic effect resulting from the tendency of potential values of the electrode to oxidization through ions release. In this study, the effect of Antimony (Sb) addition with Lead (Pb) at 2% – 5% by weight on the corrosion behavior has been investigated using the method of weight loss. The study conducted at a corrosion period of 288 and three H2SO4 acid solution concentrations. Study results showed that the addition of Antimony with Lead enhances the corrosion resistance and the better improvement obtained for alloy1 with all acid concentrations which found to be 6.6575 µm/y, 5.8628 µm/y and 6.1003 µm/y for H2SO4 concentration of 0.1M, 0.2M, and 0.3M respectively.On the other hand, the minimum rate of total corrosion obtained for alloy4 with all acid concentrations and found to be 4.9249 µm/y, 5.538 µm/y, and 5.2946 µm/y for H2SO4 concentration of 0.1M, 0.2M, and 0.3M respectively. In general, the rate of total corrosion inversely proportions to the corrosion medium concentration. Furthermore, the maximum and minimum average rates of corrosion observed at 0.2M and 0.3M respectively. However, the alloy of 15%Sb-83.35Pb didn't show any significant effect in the resistance proportion of corrosion to the high contents of Antimony compared to the first three alloys.


A combination of different methods is described whereby climatological time series can be tested for inhomogeneities using relative homogeneity techniques. The method set includes graphical analysis, a non-parametric Kruskal–Wallis homogeneity test and a Wald–Wolfowitz runs test application to the annual mean difference temperature series between highly correlated stations. A series of Monte Carlo simulation studies was carried out, which determined the inhomogeneity detection efficiencies of these tests. The procedure is statistically rigorous and provides estimates of the time and magnitude of change in the mean. Its application to annual mean temperature differences series for 82 Turkish climate stations indicates that the method set is a valuable tool for testing time series. © 1998 Royal Meteorological Society


Oxidative stress is an important causative factor in several human chronic diseases, such as atherosclerosis, cardiovascular disorders, mutagenesis, cancer, several neurodegenerative disorders, and the aging process. Phenolics and tannins are reported to be good antioxidants. Anogeissus latifolia (Combretaceae) bark has been used in the Indian traditional systems of medicine for curing a variety of ailments, but scientific validation is not available till date. Hence the present study was undertaken to isolate antioxidant compounds by activity-guided isolation. Inhibtion of diphenyl picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) and Xanthine oxidase along with photochemiluminescence assay were used as bioassay for antioxidant activity. Activity guided isolation was carried out using silica column and the compounds were quantified using HPLC. Ethyl acetate and butanol fraction exhibited potent antioxidant activity. Bioassay-guided isolation led to isolation of ellagic acid (1) and dimethyl ellagic acid (2) as the main active compounds, which along with gallic acid were quantified by HPLC. Thus we conclude that these three major tannoid principles present in A. latifolia, are responsible for the antioxidant potential and possibly their therapeutic potential.


This paper provides evidence that Belgian firms belonging to a business group have a lower effective tax rate (ETR) and face a less positive association between pre-tax income and ETRs than independent firms.These findings suggest that individual group members apply efficient tax planning techniques in order to minimize taxes at the group level.We hypothesize that group firms strategically adjust firm-level reported earnings levels in response to tax incentives.We find evidence consistent with this hypothesis, in that the intrinsic negative association between total accruals and operating cash flows is more (less) pronounced for group firms facing a positive (zero) marginal tax rate status, compared to independent firms.In addition, we find that a group firm s net tax-paying situation is more important in its discretionary accruals reporting decisions, compared to independent firms.Finally, we identify intra-group receivables as relevant tax-reducing accruals components.Results are robust to alternative model specifications, variable definitions and measures.


We have developed an 11.6" full high definition FHD, 1920* 1080 product with PenTile RGBW™ L6W pixel structure for notebook applications. with the increase of aperture ratio due to the reduced number of subpixels and additional white subpixel, this new product has approximately twice the brightness of comparable conventional RGB stripe products. The crosstalk that appeared when displaying a single colored pattern, which is an intrinsic problem for an even modulo subpixel repeat cell, was solved by means of a Vest feedback design. Furthermore, subpixel rendering SPR and dynamic backlight control DBLC algorithm gives us a cost effective, low power and high brightness solution.


AIM
To determine smartphone access and use including future opportunities for mHealth and potential ethical implications among health care professionals practicing at a health care facility in Bengaluru, India.

BACKGROUND
The evolution of smart phones can provide convenient, portable, and rapid access to resources for health care professionals. While mobile phone accessibility has improved in recent years in many low and middle-income countries, the use of smart phones to address health priorities remains limited in some limited resource settings.

DESIGN
A quantitative descriptive design was used.

METHODS
A survey was administered in November of 2016 to nurses and physicians at a tertiary care hospital in India.

RESULTS/FINDINGS
All respondents had a mobile phone, and the majority owned a smart phone that was used for text messaging, email, accessing internet, and downloading apps. Participants recommended smart phone use to improve health care provider access to continuing education and to improve patient knowledge about health. Physicians had better access to mHealth resources compared with nurses.

CONCLUSION
Credible, evidence-based, affordable mobile applications are needed to provide a platform for continuing health education to health professionals and patients in India and limited resource settings. Nurses need equitable access to mHealth resources to build successful mHealth initiatives.


The paper analyzes the topical issue concerning training of creative specialists in the professional training system. The concept of advanced education, which allows to provide such new properties and qualities as portability, adaptability, continuity, innovativeness, creativity is considered as key in professional education restructuring. The paper covers a number of existing modern researches in the field of advanced education, offers the author's solution for the introduction of such system as "training for the future", for the "advanced" professional model construction, the implementation of advanced education courses. According to the concept of advanced education courses, the concept of advanced training courses for students (ATC), which focus on finishing the present professional training model constructing by adding the future professional competence, is introduced, thus, allowing to increase future specialists' competitiveness, to form full readiness to the chosen professional profile realization. The paper considers the role of supplementary education as the most important structure of the advanced professional training concept realization as an additional stimulant for the change of management and educational policy of professional education institutions towards well-defined restructuring strategies, the need for the professional training track reconsideration, the educational process quality change. Keywords: education, creative specialist, advanced education, advanced education courses JEL Classifications: P46, P50


IMPORTANCE
Although the benefit of reducing blood pressure for primary and secondary prevention of stroke has been established, the effect of antihypertensive treatment in patients with acute ischemic stroke is uncertain.

OBJECTIVE
To evaluate whether immediate blood pressure reduction in patients with acute ischemic stroke would reduce death and major disability at 14 days or hospital discharge.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS
The China Antihypertensive Trial in Acute Ischemic Stroke, a single-blind, blinded end-points randomized clinical trial, conducted among 4071 patients with nonthrombolysed ischemic stroke within 48 hours of onset and elevated systolic blood pressure. Patients were recruited from 26 hospitals across China between August 2009 and May 2013.

INTERVENTIONS
Patients (n = 2038) were randomly assigned to receive antihypertensive treatment (aimed at lowering systolic blood pressure by 10% to 25% within the first 24 hours after randomization, achieving blood pressure less than 140/90 mm Hg within 7 days, and maintaining this level during hospitalization) or to discontinue all antihypertensive medications (control) during hospitalization (n = 2033).

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES
Primary outcome was a combination of death and major disability (modified Rankin Scale score ≥3) at 14 days or hospital discharge.

RESULTS
Mean systolic blood pressure was reduced from 166.7 mm Hg to 144.7 mm Hg (-12.7%) within 24 hours in the antihypertensive treatment group and from 165.6 mm Hg to 152.9 mm Hg (-7.2%) in the control group within 24 hours after randomization (difference, -5.5% [95% CI, -4.9 to -6.1%]; absolute difference, -9.1 mm Hg [95% CI, -10.2 to -8.1]; P < .001). Mean systolic blood pressure was 137.3 mm Hg in the antihypertensive treatment group and 146.5 mm Hg in the control group at day 7 after randomization (difference, -9.3 mm Hg [95% CI, -10.1 to -8.4]; P < .001). The primary outcome did not differ between treatment groups (683 events [antihypertensive treatment] vs 681 events [control]; odds ratio, 1.00 [95% CI, 0.88 to 1.14]; P = .98) at 14 days or hospital discharge. The secondary composite outcome of death and major disability at 3-month posttreatment follow-up did not differ between treatment groups (500 events [antihypertensive treatment] vs 502 events [control]; odds ratio, 0.99 [95% CI, 0.86 to 1.15]; P = .93).

CONCLUSION AND RELEVANCE
Among patients with acute ischemic stroke, blood pressure reduction with antihypertensive medications, compared with the absence of hypertensive medication, did not reduce the likelihood of death and major disability at 14 days or hospital discharge.

TRIAL REGISTRATION
clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT01840072.


Cannabis is a mostly dioecious multi-use flowering plant genus. Sexual dimorphism is an important characteristic in Cannabis-based commercial production systems, which has consequences for fibre, seed, and the yield of secondary metabolites, such as phytocannabinoid and terpenes for therapeutic uses. Beyond the obvious morphological differences between male and female plants, metabolic variation among dioecious flowers is largely undefined. Here, we report a pilot metabolomic study comparing staminate (male) and pistillate (female) unisexual flowers. Enrichment of the α-linolenic acid pathway and consensus evaluation of the jasmonic acid (JA) related compound 12-oxo-phytodienoicacid (OPDA) among differentially abundant metabolites suggests that oxylipin signalling is associated with secondary metabolism and sex expression in female flowers. Several putative phytocannabinoid-like compounds were observed to be upregulated in female flowers, but full identification was not possible due to the limitation of available databases. Targeted analysis of 14 phytocannabinoids using certified reference standards (cannabidiolic acid (CBDA), cannabidiol (CBD), Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinolic acid A (Δ9-THCAA), Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC), cannabichromenic acid (CBCA), cannabichromene (CBC), cannabigerolic acid (CBGA), cannabigerol (CBG), cannabinolic acid (CBNA), cannabinol (CBN), cannabidivarinic acid (CBDVA), cannabidivarin (CBDV), tetrahydrocannabivarinic acid (THCVA), and tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV)) showed a higher total phytocannabinoid content in female flowers compared with the male flowers, as expected. In summary, the development of a phytocannabinoid-specific accurate-mass MSn fragmentation spectral library and gene pool representative metabolome has the potential to improve small molecule compound annotation and accelerate understanding of metabolic variation underlying phenotypic diversity in Cannabis.


Wild badgers (Meles meles) in Wytham woods, Oxfordshire, are routinely trapped, transported to a central field laboratory, studied and released as part of an on-going population study. These procedures have been carefully developed to minimise impact on the badgers' welfare; however they are potentially stressful, and, as part of our on-going welfare refinements, and our exploration to develop methods for quantifying stress in wild mammals, we studied the effects of transport stress on neutrophil activation in wild trapped badgers. Blood samples were obtained from 28 badgers. We compared three transport regimes: transported (n = 9), transported and rested for at least 30 mins (n = 11), and not transported (n = 8). Total and differential white cell counts were carried out and neutrophil activation was measured by the nitroblue tetrazolium test. Our goal was primarily to validate neutrophil activity as an indicator of stress, on the basis that the transport treatment was expected to be more stressful than the non-transport treatment. There were significant increases in % activated circulating neutrophils in response to transport. This study supports the proposition that stress affects circulating neutrophil numbers and the state of their activation, as determined by the nitroblue tetrazolium reduction assay, and therefore adds weight to the idea that neutrophil activation is a potential measure of stress in wild animals.


Floods and droughts are climate extremes that account for more than 80% of people affected by natural disasters worldwide. Both catastrophes co-exist in many river basins, for example, the Mun River Basin in Thailand, which is selected as the study area. Approximately 90% of rice cultivation here is rain-fed, and that results in the lowest yields in the country, making many farmers persist in poverty. This study aims to assess floods and droughts and their impacts on agriculture at the basin scale. For flooding, the hydrologic and hydraulic models were developed to produce the first completed flood hazard maps at the Mun River Basin. Droughts in the basin were determined by the proposed drought risk assessment scheme that combines all three key components (hazard, exposure, and vulnerability). Subsequently, the study attempts to tackle both floods and droughts simultaneously and sustainably by using integrated measures and strategies. If the problems caused by flood and drought climate extremes are solved, this will ensure adequate food availability and alleviate poverty in the basin. Furthermore, the study shows that a holistic approach to simultaneously solving both problems is efficient as most water will be utilized to benefit agriculture, the primary sector that feeds a growing population.


ABSTRACT In this study, the inactivating properties of liquid hydrogen peroxide (L-H2O2), vaporized hydrogen peroxide (V-H2O2), UV light, and a combination of V-H2O2 and UV light were tested on murine norovirus 1 (MNV-1) and bacteriophages (φX174 and B40-8) as models for human noroviruses. Disinfection of surfaces was examined on stainless steel discs based on European Standard EN 13697 (2001). For fresh-produce decontamination, a mixture of the viruses was inoculated onto shredded iceberg lettuce and treated after overnight incubation at 2°C. According to our results, L-H2O2 (2.1%) was able to inactivate MNV-1 and φX174 on stainless steel discs by approximately 4 log10 units within 10 min of exposure, whereas for B40-8, 15% of L-H2O2 was needed to obtain a similar reduction in 10 min. Only a marginal reduction (≤1 log10 unit after 5 min of exposure) by V-H2O2 (2.52%) was achieved for the tested model viruses, although in combination with UV light, a 4-log10-unit decrease within 5 min of treatment was observed on stainless steel discs. Similar trends were observed for the decontamination of shredded iceberg lettuce, but the viral decline was reduced. These results demonstrated that both L-H2O2 and a combination of V-H2O2 and UV light can be used for norovirus inactivation on surfaces; V-H2O2 (2.52%) in combination with UV light is promising for decontamination of fresh produce with much less consumption of water and disinfectant.


In this experiment, we have used the soil as a biological filter that can to absorb pollution in the domestic wastewater. In this experiment, we had 15 lysimeters, that were planted Mentha spicata in 1 to 5 lysimeters were irrigated by domestic wastewater and primary drainage water were accumulated. The 6 to 9 lysimeters were planted Mentha piperita were irrigated by primary drainage water and then, were accumulated secondary drainage water and we have irrigation 10, 11 and 12 lysimeters by secondary drainage water that were planted Mentha aquatica. In order to compare plants characteristics, in 13 (Mentha spicata), 14 (Mentha piperita) and 15 lysimeters (Mentha aquatica) were irrigated by agronomical water. The essential oil yield of mint 14% increased under irrigation by secondary drainage water into irrigation by agronomical water. The findings may give applicable advice to commercial farmers and medicinal and aromatic plants researches for management and concern on water strategy and estimate of irrigation carefully for increase of quantity and quality yields in medicinal and aromatic plants farming.


Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are important precursors to the formation of ozone and fine particulate matter, the two pollutants of most concern in Sydney, Australia. Despite this importance, there are very few published measurements of ambient VOC concentrations in Australia. In this paper, we present mole fractions of several important VOCs measured during the campaign known as MUMBA (Measurements of Urban, Marine and Biogenic Air) in the Australian city of Wollongong (34°S). We particularly focus on measurements made during periods when clean marine air impacted the measurement site and on VOCs of biogenic origin. Typical unpolluted marine air mole fractions during austral summer 2012-2013 at latitude 34°S were established for CO2 (391.0 ± 0.6 ppm), CH4 (1760.1 ± 0.4 ppb), N2O (325.04 ± 0.08 ppb), CO (52.4 ± 1.7 ppb), O3 (20.5 ± 1.1 ppb), acetaldehyde (190 ± 40 ppt), acetone (260 ± 30 ppt), dimethyl sulphide (50 ± 10 ppt), benzene (20 ± 10 ppt), toluene (30 ± 20 ppt), C8H10 aromatics (23 ± 6 ppt) and C9H12 aromatics (36 ± 7 ppt). The MUMBA site was frequently influenced by VOCs of biogenic origin from a nearby strip of forested parkland to the east due to the dominant north-easterly afternoon sea breeze. VOCs from the more distant densely forested escarpment to the west also impacted the site, especially during two days of extreme heat and strong westerly winds. The relative amounts of different biogenic VOCs observed for these two biomes differed, with much larger increases of isoprene than of monoterpenes or methanol during the hot westerly winds from the escarpment than with cooler winds from the east. However, whether this was due to different vegetation types or was solely the result of the extreme temperatures is not entirely clear. We conclude that the clean marine air and biogenic signatures measured during the MUMBA campaign provide useful information about the typical abundance of several key VOCs and can be used to constrain chemical transport model simulations of the atmosphere in this poorly sampled region of the world.


Intermediate filaments (IF) are involved in key cellular functions including polarization, migration, and protection against large deformations. These functions are related to their remarkable ability to extend without breaking, a capacity that should be determined by the molecular organization of subunits within filaments. However, this structure-mechanics relationship remains poorly understood at the molecular level. Here, using super-resolution microscopy (SRM), we show that vimentin filaments exhibit a ∼49 nm axial repeat both in cells and in vitro. As unit-length-filaments (ULFs) precursors were measured at ∼59 nm, this demonstrates a partial overlap of ULFs during filament assembly. Using an SRM-compatible stretching device, we also provide evidence that the extensibility of vimentin is due to the unfolding of its subunits and not to their sliding, thus establishing a direct link between the structural organization and its mechanical properties. Overall, our results pave the way for future studies of IF assembly, mechanical and structural properties in cells.


During the COVID-19 pandemic, studies have documented increased and decreased cigarette smoking among adults. Individual differences in the perceived susceptibility and seriousness of the virus, for people who smoke in general and for oneself personally, may relate to changes in smoking. Using the Health Belief Model (HBM) as a theoretical framework, we examined associations with self-reported increasing and decreasing smoking a lot during the COVID-19 stay-at-home period. Adults in 30 large U.S. cities who smoked cigarettes daily completed an online survey between 14 July and 30 November 2020. The analytic sample (N = 2768) was 54.0% male and 68.3% white with 23.7% reporting increasing and 11.3% decreasing smoking (6% reported both). Younger age, a diagnosis of COVID-19, and greater pandemic-related stress were associated with greater odds of both increased and decreased smoking. Increased smoking also was associated with heavier nicotine dependence, greater desire to quit, and greater perceived susceptibility and lower perceived seriousness of COVID-19 for people who smoke, while pandemic-related job-loss, lower nicotine dependence, and greater self-efficacy were associated with decreased smoking. Among respondents who had not contracted COVID-19 (n = 2418), correlates were similar with the addition of greater perceived personal susceptibility to COVID-19 associated with both increased and decreased smoking, while greater perceived personal seriousness of COVID-19 was associated with increased smoking. Findings for risk perceptions were largely in directions that contradict the HBM. Circumstances surrounding behavior change during the pandemic are complex and may be especially complex for nicotine addiction.


Various Internet protocols and applications require some mechanism for
identifying relationships between Domain Name System (DNS) names. In
this document we provide examples of protocols and applications for
which knowledge of these relationships is useful, if not required.
Further we discuss the various types of domain name relationships,
review current needs and solutions, and identify considerations for
solution sets.


Effective host defense requires a robust, yet self-limited response to pathogens. A poorly calibrated response can lead to either bacterial dissemination due to insufficient inflammation or organ injury due to excessive inflammation. Recent evidence suggests that the cholinergic anti-inflammatory reflex helps calibrate the immune response. However, the influence of peripheral noradrenergic neurons, which are primarily sympathetic neurons, in regulating immunity remains incompletely characterized. Using a model of 6-hydroxydopamine–mediated noradrenergic nerve ablation, we show that elimination of noradrenergic neurons improves survival during Klebsiella pneumoniae peritonitis (67 versus 23%, p < 0.005) in mice. The survival benefit results from enhanced MCP-1–dependent monocyte recruitment and a subsequent decrease in bacterial loads. Splenectomy eliminated both the survival benefit of 6-hydroxydopamine and monocyte recruitment, suggesting that monocytes recruited to the peritoneum originate in the spleen. These results suggest that noradrenergic neurons regulate the immune response through two pathways. First, sympathetic nerve-derived norepinephrine directly restrains MCP-1 production by peritoneal macrophages during infection. Second, norepinephrine derived from the vagally innervated splenic nerve regulates splenic monocyte egress. Removal of these two modulators of the immune response enhances antibacterial immunity and improves survival. These results may have implications for how states of catecholamine excess influence the host response to bacterial infections. The Journal of Immunology , 2013, 190: 000–000.


This paper reviews of some of the recent progress made in the development of high quality MgZnO and ZnCdO layers grown epitaxially by RF-plasma molecular beam epitaxy (MBE). We summarize optical and electrical properties of high quality CdxZn1-xO alloys with Cd mole fraction from 0.02 to 0.78 and discuss phase separation phenomenon which may be present in ternary alloys. A single-crystal wurtzite structure of CdZnO alloys for this entire range of compositions was confirmed by X-ray diffraction. Compositional analysis was performed using SIMS and RBS. Strong optical emission in the 380 nm to 574 nm spectral range was achieved at RT from CdxZn1-xO with various compositions, demonstrating a great potential for use in LEDs. Compositional fluctuations in a Cd0.16Zn0.84O films were not detected by spatially resolved CL measurements, although intensity fluctuation with features of ~0.5 μm diameter were seen on the intensity maps. Dependence of the fundamental optical band gap on the composition of CdxZn1-xO alloys, band gap bowing, and the possible effect of composition micro-fluctuations in ternary CdxZn1-xO alloys on the optical bandgap is also discussed. Time resolved photoluminescence shows multi-exponential decay with 21 psec. and 49±3 psec. lifetimes, suggesting that composition micro-fluctuations may be present in Cd0.16Zn0.84O film. High conductivity and optical transparency of the CdZnO films with high Cd-mole fraction is attractive for making high performance electrodes. We also report on crystallographic and optical properties of CdZnO/ZnO multiple quantum wells (MQW).


This Letter presents a method for the design of metal nanosphere antenna arrays with broadband plasmonic field enhancement over the whole visible spectra. In particular, thanks to a customized hybrid genetic algorithm (HGA), the plasmonic near-field enhancement and the sidelobe level are maximized and minimized, respectively, by thinning the nanoarray, optimizing the elements spacing and dimensions. In particular the problem is recast as an optimization one by defining a suitable cost function, which is then minimized with the HGA. The obtained preliminary results demonstrate the potentialities of the proposed approach.


This research aims to address the problems of estimating e-Learning development costs particularly within the United Kingdom. Hundreds of managers with no prior experience of managing e-Learning development often find themselves needing to produce cost estimations for e-Learning development and rely on structured expert judgement to produce accurate cost estimates. The lack of prior experience in e-Learning development means that these managers will not be able to apply structured expert judgement to their cost estimations and the risk of inaccurate estimations will be high, with all the subsequent problems this will bring with it. A solution needs to be found whereby these managers can produce accurate estimates without past experience. This research seeks to create a cost model, built on data from e-Learning projects in the United Kingdom which managers can use to produce cost estimates for e-Learning development.


When orally anticoagulated patients need to have surgery, the goals of management are to minimize the risks of thromboembolism and of bleeding from the invasive procedure. Some invasive procedures can be performed while patients are fully or partially anticoagulated because bleeding is rare and/or easily controlled. When it is necessary to reverse oral anticoagulant therapy it should be interrupted for as short a time as possible, usually 4 or 5 days. Intravenous unfractionated heparin or therapeutic-dose subcutaneous low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) can be given as "bridging therapy" to reduce the risk of thromboembolism while oral anticoagulation is interrupted. However, the risks and benefits of bridging therapy are uncertain. Bridging therapy, particularly with LMWH, may not be very effective at preventing embolism in patients with atrial fibrillation or mechanical heart valves, and it may be associated with bleeding. My preference is to minimize the time that patients are off oral anticoagulant therapy, generally restarting warfarin the day of surgery; reserve bridging therapy for those at highest risk of thromboembolism; and to use "prophylactic" rather than "therapeutic" doses of heparin after major surgery. As major surgery markedly increases the risk of venous thromboembolism, postoperative bridging therapy should be considered for patients without an inferior vena caval filter that have had proximal deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism during the previous month.


Previous research in the knowledge management and information systems fields simply define knowledge by a few categories, and then describe knowledge systems and their usage and the difficulties with them. Knowledge and Knowledge Systems: Learning from the Wonders of the Mind starts from the beginning: where and how knowledge is formed and how it can be measured, describing humans and their knowledge path from conception and birth to maturity. Knowledge and Knowledge Systems: Learning from the Wonders of the Mind explores the process of knowledge formation in the mind and how humans generate complex constructs from their sensorial inputs. This book also describes how we store and utilize this complex knowledge in organizational and technological systems that allow us to communicate and to generate and manage social interactions and functions, providing estimable, value-rich content on a captivating and cutting-edge issue to researchers, scholars, and practitioners in a variety of settings.


Here, we present the first report of the molecular cloning of zebrafish protocadherin 10 (Pcdh10, OL‐protocadherin) and describe its functional analyses in the development of segmental plate. Epitope‐tagged Pcdh10 expressed in embryos was localized on cell peripheries of adjacent cells. In situ hybridization showed that pcdh10 was expressed in the paraxial mesoderm (PAM) and developing somites, and in the pineal body, the diencephalon, and the vicinity of otocysts. Expression in PAM increased in the last few presumptive somites, reached the maximum level in the latest segmenting somites, and decreased thereafter during somite maturation. These expression patterns suggested that Pcdh10 is involved in development of PAM and somites. This was confirmed by morpholino knockdown and dominant‐negative inhibition of Pcdh10 in embryos, which disturbed movements of PAM cells and somite segmentation. Comparative studies showed that pcdh10 expression lasted up to approximately three times longer in maturing somites than that of paraxial protocadherin (pcdh8). They also indicated that the adaxial cells expressed pcdh8 but not pcdh10. We propose that Pcdh10 is involved in the morphogenic movements of PAM cells and somite segmentation and that differential adhesion of Pcdh8 and Pcdh10 plays a role in the morphogenic machinery of somites and adaxial cells. Developmental Dynamics 235:506–514, 2006. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.


This paper examines Cambodia's socioeconomic development since the early 1990s peace settlement. The country's economic growth has arguably been the fastest among post-conflict societies, driven by the credible restoration of peace and security, large public and private capital inflows, economic openness, reasonably prudent macroeconomic management, and a dynamic, integrating neighborhood. A legacy of history and small size is that the government has limited policy space, although this has not necessarily retarded economic development. We also highlight some key challenges, including rising inequality, uneven spatial development, weak institutions, and high levels of corruption. Looking forward, we highlight the importance of strengthening supply side capabilities, broadening the benefits of growth, and developing stronger institutions and property rights.


Artificial Intelligence (AI) - the phenomenon of machines being able to solve problems that require human intelligence - has in the past decade seen an enormous rise of interest due to significant advances in effectiveness and use. The health sector, one of the most important sectors for societies and economies worldwide, is particularly interesting for AI applications, given the ongoing digitalisation of all types of health information. The potential for AI assistance in the health domain is immense, because AI can support medical decision making at reduced costs, everywhere. However, due to the complexity of AI algorithms, it is difficult to distinguish good from bad AI-based solutions and to understand their strengths and weaknesses, which is crucial for clarifying responsibilities and for building trust. For this reason, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has established a new Focus Group on "Artificial Intelligence for Health" (FG-AI4H) in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO). Health and care services are usually the responsibility of a government - even when provided through private insurance systems - and thus under the responsibility of WHO/ITU member states. FG-AI4H will identify opportunities for international standardization, which will foster the application of AI to health issues on a global scale. In particular, it will establish a standardized assessment framework with open benchmarks for the evaluation of AI-based methods for health, such as AI-based diagnosis, triage or treatment decisions.


Abstracts: 10th Biennial Ovarian Cancer Research Symposium; September 8-9, 2014; Seattle, WA

The known genetic variance for epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) accounts for less than half the familial risks of the disease. BRCA1 and BRCA2 are the major high-penetrance EOC susceptibility genes. More recently genes that interact with BRCA1 and BRCA2 in the same biological pathways, but conferring more moderate penetrance (e.g. RAD51C, RAD51D) have also been identified. Mutations in these genes result in defects in homologous recombination and double strand break repair (HR/DSB). We hypothesized that other genes operating in these and other DNA repair pathways may also confer EOC susceptibility. Whole exome sequencing data, available from more than 400 high-grade serous ovarian cancers, were used to identify 24 candidate genes harboring germline truncating mutations in at least 2 cases, followed by replication analysis using targeted resequencing in ~3,000 cases and 3,000 controls. Subjects were also sequenced for the known susceptibility genes listed above. The data confirmed the previously reported contributions of BRCA1, BRCA2, RAD51C and RAD51D to EOC. In addition, we identified BRIP1, and FANCM as candidate EOC susceptibility genes. Surprisingly, for several genes we found truncating mutations were equally prevalent in cases as they were in controls. These mutations may still represent rare low-penetrance susceptibility alleles for EOC, which we are too limited in sample size and power to confirm; or more likely, it indicates that cells can tolerate heterozygous loss-of-function mutations in apparently critical DNA repair genes without any impact on neoplastic development. These findings may have implications for risk prediction and prevention strategies for EOC and possibly for the identification of novel therapeutic targets.

Citation Format: Susan J. Ramus, Honglin Song, Ed Dicks, Maria Intermaggio, Jane Hayward, Jonathan P. Tyrer, Jacek Gronwald, Susanne Kruger Kjaer, Alice Wittemore, Beth Karlan, Kunle Odunsi, Usha Menon, David D. Bowtell, Ellen L. Goode, Paul D.P. Pharoah, Simon A. Gayther. Whole exome and targeted resequencing, of population based ovarian cancer cases and controls, identifies susceptibility genes for ovarian cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 10th Biennial Ovarian Cancer Research Symposium; Sep 8-9, 2014; Seattle, WA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2015;21(16 Suppl):Abstract nr POSTER-CTRL-1213.


FMVSS 202a and the head restraint global technical regulation specify a dynamic sled test with Hybrid III dummy as an alternative to static tests. However, the poor biofidelity of Hybrid III dummy and the evaluation method based on the neck rearward rotational angle of the dummy during rear impact are urgent issues. To solve these issues, a dynamic evaluation of OC-T1 displacement, corrected for the seat back rearward inclination (hereinafter called "dynamic backset"), using BioRID II which has superior biofidelity, was studied to establish a test method with higher effectiveness, repeatability and reproducibility. From dynamic Backset evaluations by dynamic tests and simulations using IIWPG crash pulse on various types of seats and analysis of real world minor neck injuries involving such seats in Japan, the following new facts were found. (1) Dynamic backset can evaluate the effectiveness of various types of seats with whiplash mitigation features, such as reactive, passive, and WHIPS, more accurately than neck rearward rotation of Hybrid III. Since the seat effectiveness increases as dynamic backset decreases, it is appropriate for a dynamic evaluation parameter as an alternative of static backset tests. (2) By setting each seat back to its design torso angle, instead of 25 degrees for every seat, the variation in BioRID II installation is decreased, resulting in higher repeatability and reproducibility. (3) According to the correlation analysis among real world accidents, minor neck injury phenomena, and various evaluation indicators, reduction of dynamic backset has an inhibitory effect on occurrence of minor neck injuries. (4) Confirming the relationship between other injury criteria. The full text of this paper may be found at: http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/pdf/esv/esv21/09-0302.pdf For the covering abstract see ITRD E145407.


Summary The underlying basis of vertebrate mesodermal patterning by which the mesodermal cells become sequentially determined to more precisely defined cell fates during embryonic development remains largely unknown and is one of the classical problems in developmental biology. This demands an in-depth analysis of the endogenous signaling cascades and transcription factor networks. Till date, this fascinating puzzle is not yet solved since isolation of pure early stage mesodermal cells was not feasible due to practical difficulties and hence the functional genomics of the mesodermal cells has not yet been successful. Recently, embryonic stem (ES) cells have been proven to be a promising tool to study the early embryonic development in a more physiological context in vitro because of their versatility over the other conventional systems. Furthermore, ES cells may revolutionize medicine by providing an unlimited renewable source of cells capable of replacing or repairing tissues that have been damaged in all degenerative diseases. Using ES cell model in vitro, for the first time pure populations of T Brachyury and BMP-2 expressing mesodermal lineages and mesodermal derived pure and functional cardiomyocytes have been isolated and their entire transcriptomes were profiled using microarrays. To isolate the pure lineage specific cells, stable transgenic ES clones transfected with a targeting vector construct in which the promoter of lineage specific marker (T, BMP-2 or aMHC) drives the expression of both puromycin resistance and enhanced green fluorescence bicistronically with the help of an IRES element were generated. The EBs made from these clones were treated at the onset of the particular transcript expression with puromycin to enrich the respective lineages. Furthermore, analysis of the gene signatures specific to mesodermal cells and cardiomyocytes that defines their unique cellular and genetic identities contributing a major molecular insight into mesodermal patterning has been performed. In addition, a significant number of novel putative transcripts whose functions are unknown but expressed in specific lineages are enlisted. Few of these transcripts were functionally evaluated for their role in germ layer development and patterning. In addition, the purified populations of T Brachyury and BMP-2 mesodermal cells are capable of priming themselves to give rise to cardiomyocytes along with other mesodermal lineages. Interestingly, the BMP-2 positive cells contained predominantly neural crest stem cells (NCSCs) and their lineages namely smooth muscle cells, epithelial cells, melanocytes, and astrocytes along with cardiomyocytes. The transcriptome characterization of ES cell-derived aMHC cardiomyocytes clearly proves that these cells are exhibiting the properties more like the cardiomyocytes developed in in vivo conditions from the point of biological processes and hence are promising candidates for the future cardiac cell replacement therapy. In overall, the part of the work presented here will better contribute substantially to the lineage specific transcriptomic atlas which will shed light in understanding the complex embryonic developmental process.


Beam training in dynamic millimeter-wave (mm-wave) networks with mobile devices is highly challenging as devices must scan a large angular domain to maintain alignment of their directional antennas under mobility. Exploiting the fact that mobile devices will typically integrate multiple chipsets, we study a set of non-mmwave input data that can be leveraged jointly to provide faster beam search and better data rate. We leverage these findings to introduce SLASH, an algorithm that adaptively narrows the sector search space and accelerates link establishment, link maintenance and handover between mm-wave devices. We evaluate SLASH both with simulations and experiments in a 60-GHz testbed. SLASH can increase the data rate by more than 64% for link establishment and 67% for link maintenance with respect to prior work.


With the use of RNG k-e turbulence model, SIMPLEC algorithm and CFD software, the turbulent flow in an axial flow impeller was numerically simulated in the clear water (single-phase) and the sandy water (solid-liquid two-phase) conditions. The distributions of solid concentration, velocity and pressure on the impeller of an axial flow pump were analyzed at the same particle diameter but different volume concentrations in sandy water. And these distributions were comparatively analyzed under the clear water and the sandy water conditions. According to the simulation results, the axial pump impeller will be damaged more easily and quickly in sandy water than in clear water. And the area more prone to damage on the axial flow impeller is predicated. The predicted vulnerable parts in an axial flow impeller are consistent with that in actual projects. This study shows that the numerical simulation results are the same as the actual situation, and it has guiding significance for the wear design of the axial flow pump. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5755/j01.mech.24.3.13854


The family-centered safe birthing initiative (P4K) is aimed to reduce maternal and newborn mortality rates. The P4K program involves the distribution of promotional stickers by community health care workers. In 2011, the coverage of the P4K had reached 100% of villages, and 98.9% of expectant mothers had attached the promotional sticker on a visible section of their homes. However, the process is reported not implemented using standard procedures before placing the sticker on their homes. This study is aimed to explore the barriers to the implementation of P4K in Badung. This study was descriptive qualitative using phenomenology approach. Data were collected using focus group discussion (FGD) with 20 midwives and 10 cadres, in-depth interviews (with 6 expectant mothers and 3 husbands/family members) and participant observation of P4K implementation in community health centers. Secondary data was obtained through relevant P4K document analysis. Informants were purposively selected using the criteria of 1) midwives already trained in P4K, 2) cadres already trained in P4K and 3) P4K participating expectant mothers. Research findings indicate that knowledge, attitude and mother's and husband's behaviour impact negatively upon program implementation. There is also an evident of lack of logistical support including: P4K administrational forms, IEC pamphlets and transportation costs. Midwives and participating healthcare providers were having a very good knowledge; however, their behaviour does not demonstrate this. The poor governance of centres and high mobility of expectant mothers are also impacted upon program implementation. Future recommendations include program widening of scope and upscale, increased logistical support, continual monitoring and evaluation, research into program funding governance as well as upscale involvement of stakeholders.


The aim of this thesis was to investigate the processes behind an unexpected runoff behaviour after a clear-cut in a boreal forest in northern Sweden (Balsjo). The risks of increased flooding, erosion, nutrient leakage and changes in the local ecosystems are some reasons why it is important to fully understand the effect of clear-cuts on the water balance. In northern boreal forests the snow is of great importance as it results in the main hydrological event of the year, the spring flood. In general, open areas accumulate more snow, have a lower evapotranspiration and therefore maintain a higher runoff than a forest. In a recent paired catchment study at Balsjo the expected pattern after a clear-cut was only shown in three out of five years (2007-2011). The expected increase in runoff did not occur in 2010 and 2011. Two hypothesized alternatives were year-to-year variation of ET or changes in soil water storage.In order to investigate this further the rainfall-runoff model HBV was used. First, the model was calibrated for the forest catchment (Ref) and the clear-cut catchment (CC), using observed data from Balsjo. To account for parameter uncertainty the calibration was performed using parameter optimization, resulting in 100 different parameter sets. Model results were evaluated using observed snow data from Balsjo and ET from Flakaliden, a nearby forest. Both the simulated snow and ET were quite consistent with the observed values. Finally the annual and the spring water balance were studied, using the simulated data.The simulated results did not detect the unexpected runoff behavior for the two years as clearly as the observations. The reason for this was that the model was calibrated for all five years, which meant that annual variations were not taken into account. The hypothesis, that higher ET could be the reason for the unexpected runoff behavior, could neither be dismissed nor confirmed by this thesis. This was because there were no observed data for the clear-cut area and limitations within the HBV model, which meant that sublimation and interception processes could not be analyzed separately. The model results indicated that the change in soil water storage was a more likely explanation for the unexpected runoff behavior. The simulation result showed that the meltwater was stored in the soil water storage. However, this theory does not seem likely since a clear-cut is normally wetter than a forest.The results of this thesis are consistent with other studies as they indicate that clear-cut effects should be studied seasonally as well as annually. The special feature of this thesis was the opportunity to study observed ET and investigate its influence on the water balance.


Graphene films were grown on thin polycrystalline Ni using a buried amorphous carbon (a-C) layer as C source. Rapid thermal processes (RTP) at temperatures from 600 to 800°C were used to promote C diffusion into Ni and its subsequent segregation on Ni surface, during the sample cool down. RTP at 800°C was the optimal condition for graphene film formation. Micro-Raman spectroscopy showed that the grown film is mostly composed by multilayers of graphene. Atomic force microscopy showed that the film presents peculiar corrugations (wrinkles), isotropically oriented and with heights ranging from from ~1 to ~15 nm. Selected area diffraction by transmission electron microscopy on the MLG membranes shows a rotational disorder between the stacked graphene layers.


Background Reports of motor polyneuropathies in young cats are scarce. Further, in‐depth electrophysiologic evaluation to confirm a motor polyneuropathy in young cats of various breeds other than 2 Bengal cats is lacking. Hypothesis/Objectives To confirm a motor polyneuropathy in young cats of various breeds. Animals Five young cats with heterogenous chronic or relapsing episodes of weakness. Methods Retrospective case series. Cats were presented for evaluation of generalized neuromuscular disease and underwent electrophysiologic examination including electromyography, nerve conduction, and repetitive nerve stimulation. Minimum database and muscle and nerve biopsy analyses were carried out. Descriptive statistics were performed. Results Disease onset was at 3 months to 1 year of age and in 5 breeds. The most common clinical sign (5 of 5 cats) was weakness. Additional neurologic deficits consisted of palmigrade and plantigrade posture (4/4), low carriage of the head and tail (4/4), and variable segmental reflex deficits (5/5). Motor nerve conduction studies were abnormal for the ulnar (4/4), peroneal (5/5), and tibial (2/2) nerves (increased latencies, reduced amplitudes, slow velocities). A marked decrement was observed on repetitive nerve stimulation of the peroneal nerve in 3 cats for which autoimmune myasthenia gravis was ruled out. All sensory nerve conduction studies were normal. Histologic evaluation of muscle and nerve biopsies supported heterogenous alterations consistent with motor polyneuropathy with distal nerve fiber loss. Conclusions and Clinical Importance Heterogenous motor polyneuropathies should be considered in young cats of any breed and sex that are presented with relapsing or progressive generalized neuromuscular disease.


Climate change is a " threat multiplier and a prime cause of universal threat to health in the 21st century, including 4 th industrial revolution. The health effects of climate change will increase dramatically over the next few years and pose a risk to human life and the well-being of billions of people. As we all know, the milieu is fundamental to our sustained earth survival and environmental changes (natural and artificial) affect it either to the benefit or detriment of humans. Climate change is one of such changes in the physical environment which has grave consequences for the existence of mankind. Climate change is interestingly, no longer a speculative subject. There is a good international scientific consensus existing to show that this phenomenon is real and if recent global warming movements continue, temperature rise, ocean levels and more frequently weather conditions that is extreme (storms, heat-waves, droughts, floods, cyclones, etc . ) may perhaps cause severe food shortages, loss of shelter, water, livelihoods, extinction of flora and fauna species. In the recent past, the earth has witnessed devastating weather-related events in different portions of the globe including hurricanes (e.g., Katrina and Rita in USA), tsunamis, typhoons, flooding especially in the Asian Continent, wild fires especially in Australia, USA , etc. Currently, the on-going flood incident in Pakistan that has so far claimed about 1,600 lives and rendered another four million people homeless is a sad reminder of the ugly and devastating consequences of global warming on the environment. There is no gainsaying the fact that humankind is paying dearly for the massive alterations in the environment that have induced changes in climate. This is because of frequent incidence of changes in climate related disasters in the world today. There is hardly any month that passes without an incident occurring in one part of the globe or another since the advent of the 21 st century. Changes in climate has significant and potentially devastating health consequences, whether through direct actions (e.g. , deaths resulting from heat wave and weather disasters) or disruption of complex biological methods (e.g. , changes in infectious diseases patterns, supplies in fresh water and production of food). The report of the fourth assessment of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) have globally submitted that "it is estimated that the health of millions of people is affected, for instance, malnutrition increases; deaths increase, diseases and injury; burden of increase diarrheal diseases; frequency of increased cardio-respiratory diseases caused by high levels of ground-level ozone in cities due to climate change; besides altered spatial distribution of some communicable diseases". The association amongst changes in climate, its drivers, systemic effects, health and socioeconomic growth, mitigation and adaptation has been specified.


The paper purpose is to present some aspects regarding the calculus model and technical solutions for small satellites attitude control. Mathematical model is put in nonlinear and linear form. The linear form is used for attitude control system synthesis. The attitude control system obtained is used in nonlinear form in order to maintain desired attitude. A few numerical simulations are made for standard input and the satellite behavior is obtained. The satellite model presented will be with six DOF and use Cartesian coordinates. At this item, as novelty of the work we will use the rotation angles to describe the kinematical equations. Also this paper proposes a Fourier linearising of Trigger Schmidt element used for applying the command moment. The results analyzed will be the rotation angles of the satellite as well the rotation velocity. The conclusions will focus the comparison between results obtained using optimal attitude control system, and the possibility to use such system for small satellite.


Nerve growth factor-beta (NGF beta) and a NGF beta-immunoreactive protein derived from human prostatic stromal cell secretory protein (hPS) have been shown to stimulate the growth of prostate epithelial cells. An NGF beta-immunoreactive protein has been localized to the stroma of human prostate tissues, and a low affinity NGF receptor (gp75NGFR) has been localized to the adjacent epithelia, consistent with the paracrine regulation of prostate growth. Interestingly, gp75NGFR is progressively lost during neoplastic progression of the human prostate. In this report we have characterized the expression of the signal-transducing component of the NGF receptor, the Trk tyrosine receptor kinase, in prostate epithelial cells that bind exogenous NGF beta and an endogenous NGF beta-immunoreactive protein in hPS. In this context, a pan-Trk antibody that recognizes all of the members of the Trk receptor family (TrkA, TrkB, and TrkC) specifically localized expression of the Trk receptor to the epithelial component of normal prostate tissue, benign prostatic hyperplasia, and adenocarcinoma tissue. The binding of [125I]NGF beta to the surface of primary cultures of human prostate epithelia and the TSU-pr1 human metastatic prostate tumor cell line was displaced with either excess cold NGF beta or hPS, whereas binding was not displaced by epidermal growth factor or platelet-derived growth factor. Scatchard plot analysis of [125I]NGF beta binding to these cells identified a low affinity binding site (Kd = 1.9 x 10(-9) M) and a high affinity binding site (Kd = 1.8 x 10(-11) M) on the primary prostate epithelia, whereas only a high affinity binding site (Kd = 1.3 x 10(-11) M) was observed on the TSU-pr1 tumor cells. Stimulation of TSU-pr1 cells with either NGF beta or hPS induced tyrosine phosphorylation of Trk proteins, whereas no phosphorylation was evident in untreated cells, cells treated with hPS immunoprecipitated with anti-NGF beta antibody, or brain-derived neurotrophic factor- and neurotrophin-3-treated cells. The Trk protein was also observed in these cells by immunoblot analysis with pan-Trk antibody. These results demonstrate a functional Trk receptor in the epithelia of the human prostate that is responsive to exogenous NGF beta and an endogenous NGF beta-immunoreactive protein in hPS, thereby supporting the concept of the paracrine regulation of growth in the human prostate via a stromal neurotrophin-epithelial Trk receptor interaction.


Wave Star A/S has produced and installed a test and demonstration Wave Energy Converter (WEC) by Roshage pier near Hanstholm at the west coast of Denmark. The test unit is a prototype/test section of a complete commercial WEC. Only a few days after the installation, which took place in September 2009, the first storm with wind speeds above 30 m/s passed. During the winter more storms have passed without any damage. After an initial period of finalizing the installation and testing, the WEC was launched for production in January 2010 and in May 2010 automatic unmanned operation was initiated. The first power production figures show that the power absorption is taking place in accordance with the expectations and targets. No unexpected performance has been noticed. The Roshage WEC is an ideal test converter for the further development of the Wave Star concept, and several activities are planned in order to demonstrate the future potential. The converter can be accessed by foot on a 300 m long access bridge via the pier from the beach. More than 30 groups have already visited the converter.


The olds' self-adjustment is the olds' capability in making mental process to establish a harmonic objective as the consequence of demand in their selves and environment as they enter a closing stage of human life or old age. Many factors are affecting self-adjustment on the old people. One of them is socio-economy status. It will affect self-adjustment on the old people, where physiological mechanism in the body cannot function as good as at young. The weakening reaction time and body immune, the decreasing work capacity, the longer restoration to the original condition after working and the brittle body structure. Thus, purpose of this research is to examine the correlation between socio-economy status with self adjustment on the old people. This research represents a correlation quantitative research. It uses socio-economy status as the independent variable and self-adjustment on the old people as the dependent variable. The research subjects are the old people at 60-70 years in age, who are resided in Landungsari Village of Malang. The number of respondents is 50 people. Data analysis uses regression analysis method. From the research result, it can be known that there is positive correlation among the socio-economy status with self-adjustment on the old people with the significance level is r = 0.629 p = 0.000. It means that the higher the socio-economy status, the better the olds' self-adjustment. The socio-economy status' effective contribution to self-adjustment on the old people is 39.5%.


OBJECTIVE
To determine the significance of the Bordetella pertussis strain used as the antigen in the agglutinin assay for the evaluation of pertussis vaccines.

DESIGN
Randomized, double-blind study.

SETTING
Health maintenance organization clinics, primary care clinic at a referral hospital, and private practices in Los Angeles County, California.

PARTICIPANTS
Forty healthy infants.

SELECTION PROCEDURES
Convenience sample.

INTERVENTIONS
Twenty infants received whole-cell pertussis-component diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine (DTP), and 70 infants received acellular pertussis-component diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine (APDT) at ages 2, 4, and 6 months.

MEASUREMENTS
The agglutinin assay was performed using three separate B pertussis strain preparations: (1) strains 130 and 138 in equal quantities, the constituents of the DTP vaccine, (2) strain 460, and (3) strain Tohama, the constituent of the APDT vaccine.

RESULTS
The agglutinin titers were highly strain dependent; in both groups of vaccinees at both ages the Tohama values were highest, followed by strain 460 and then strains 130/138. The vaccine groups had comparable titers at age 2 months regardless of the assay antigen used. However, at age 7 months, after three immunizations, the DTP group geometric mean titer was more than 10 times greater than that of the ADPT group using strains 130/138, but only 2.6 times higher using strain 460 and almost equivalent using Tohama strain.

CONCLUSION
Vaccine group agglutinin value comparisons strongly depend on assay antigens used.


Whether the South has a distinct legal history has not been adequately explored by scholars. In this essay, Professor Finkelman discusses southern legal history through an examination of race relations, violence, crime, legal institutions, and legal culture concluding that marked differences exist between northern and southern legal history. By highlighting the many unanswered questions concerning the South's legal heritage, Professor Finkelman invites and encourages scholars to engage in research that will relieve the South of "the pressure [its] past must exercise" upon it today.


Many IoT applications consist of two types of actions: interaction with the device, which can be sensors or actuators, and interaction with the data, for example, to reveal insights. In this poster, we introduce a software stack that provides these functionalities in a scalable manner. The API for device interaction is designed with generality in mind so that widest possible array of devices are supported and in large numbers. The analytics framework, called Composer, is designed to allow user code to be easily integrated into data analytics. We present the design, describe the implementation and deployment, and present some evaluation results. We share the performance data from a live deployment with tens of thousands of active users to demonstrate the scalability of the design.


This paper presents a new non-linear adaptive filter for blocking artefacts reduction of images coded with block-based compression standards. Fuzzy logic has been used to develop this filter.


BACKGROUND
Fetal ventriculomegaly is one of the more common fetal anomalies detected during prenatal screening.

OBJECTIVES
To assess the rate of genetic aberrations as the cause for ventriculomegaly in these fetuses.

METHODS
A historic cohort study was conducted on 164 fetuses with sonographic diagnosis of ventriculomegaly. All cases were analyzed for karyotype and 41 cases were further analyzed by chromosomal microarray (CMA). The study group was subdivided by laterality, severity, and whether the ventriculomegaly was an isolated finding or not. Subgroups were compared and the study group was compared to a control group of 209 fetuses.

RESULTS
Karyotype aberrations were more common among fetuses with ventriculomegaly (6.6%) compared to controls (0%, P < 0.001). CMA aberrations were more common in the non-isolated ventriculomegaly cases (24.1%) compared to controls (6.2%, P = 0.031). The rate of genetic aberrations was not associated with the degree of dilatation or laterality.

CONCLUSIONS
It is equivocal whether CMA testing should be conducted on every amniotic fluid sample taken from fetuses with isolated ventriculomegaly. However, if more anomalies are detected during an anatomical survey, CMA analysis should be conducted to decrease oversights of genetic diagnoses.


Against a current backdrop which includes several atheists getting a lot of press (Richard Dawkins, The God Delusion ; Sam Harris, The End of Faith; Christopher Hitchens, God is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything ), Kressel provides a fairly compelling argument for not giving up on religion. By the same token, he has little sympathy for those on the Religious Right who teeter toward extremist thinking on a good day. He listens to and respects those in the middle. For Kressel, the moderates are those who are able to negotiate the Left's atheism and intellectual bravado and the Right's fundamentalism. The moderates steer the vehicle just fine and avoid both extremes.


The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of the school committees in the management of primary school resources and projects. The study was specifically
based on three objectives namely to establish the school resource and project management and monitoring activities in which school committees are involved, to examine the extent to which school committees play their roles in mobilizing School resources, to examine the challenges encountered by school committees as they engage in management and monitoring of school resources and projects. The area of study was at Rufiji district. A descriptive survey design was used for data collection and analysis. A sample size of 47 respondents was involved in this study where by focused group discussion, documentary review and interview methods were used for collecting data. Content and thematic analysis was used for data analysis. The study
revealed that there were five major activities involved school committee members in resource and projects management and monitoring. However, the involvement of
school committees in resources and project management was almost less effective because most decisions and supervision of projects were left in the hands of the
teachers. The roles that school committees played in mobilizing school resources were minimal. As a result, schools were still lacking resources. Based on the
findings, it was recommended for local community to choose relevant and capable individuals as their representatives in school committees who are ready to serve their interests. The community should also be educated to take their responsibility in supporting their schools both financially and materially. The school committee members should take responsibility to mobilize resources for school projects and be aware of the negative impact of dependence.


High-power wind converters are operated with maximal active power utilization. One of the additional important features is the phase shifter operation. To determine the proportionate reactive power through the generator or by the front-end converter is a further optimization problem. As the optimal criterion, the converter and generator loading has been chosen. The solution is explained using a 0.6/1.5 MW windpower station.


Abstract:In this essay, drawn from the 2017 Dewey lecture for the John Dewey Society, I argue that a positive response to the question raised by nine scientists in a Scientific American essay, "Will Democracy Survive Big Data and Artificial Intelligence?", February 25, 2017, requires a different kind of politics, citizen-centered, educative, productive, and empowering, as well as places to learn and practice such politics. Drawing on Dewey's 1902 speech, "The School as Social Center," I suggest schools embedded in communities as potential "free space" for citizen politics which transforms the widespread sense of victimhood into civic agency. This kind of politics in community-embedded schools can counter what Robert Kanigel calls the "Credo of Rational Efficiency" that drives civic unravelling, growing powerlessness, and a Manichean politics, accelerated by Big Data and Artificial Intelligence. Manichean politics is especially corrosive and disempowering and derives from the fact that hatred is the most efficient emotion to activate for cheap, quick political results. The essay details examples of citizen politics and signs of public interest in schools as free spaces.


Pure anti-estrogen fulvestrant has been shown to be a promising ER antagonist for locally advanced and metastatic breast cancer. Unfortunately, a significant proportion of patients developed resistance to this type of endocrine therapy but the molecular mechanisms governing cellular responsiveness to this agent remain poorly understood. Here, we've reported that knockdown of estrogen receptor coactivator MED1 sensitized fulvestrant resistance breast cancer cells to fulvestrant treatment. We found that MED1 knockdown further promoted cell cycle arrest induced by fulvestrant. Using an orthotopic xenograft mouse model, we found that knockdown of MED1 significantly reduced tumor growth in mice. Importantly, knockdown of MED1 further potentiated tumor growth inhibition by fulvestrant. Mechanistic studies indicated that combination of fulvestrant treatment and MED1 knockdown is able to cooperatively inhibit the expression of ER target genes. Chromatin immunoprecipitation experiments further supported a role for MED1 in regulating the recruitment of RNA polymerase II and transcriptional corepressor HDAC1 on endogenous ER target gene promoter in the presence of fulvestrant. These results demonstrate a role for MED1 in mediating resistance to the pure anti-estrogen fulvestrant both in vitro and in vivo.