Oncolytic measles viruses (MV) derived from the live attenuated vaccine strain have been engineered for increased antitumor activity, and are currently under investigation in clinical phase 1 trials. Approaches with other viral vectors have shown that insertion of immunomodulatory transgenes enhances the therapeutic potency. In this study, we engineered MV for expression of the cytokine granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF). For the first time, therapeutic efficacy and adaptive immune response in the context of MV oncolysis could be evaluated in the previously established immunocompetent murine colon adenocarcinoma model MC38cea. MC38cea cells express the human carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), allowing for infection with retargeted MV. Intratumoral application of MV-GMCSF significantly delayed tumor progression and prolonged median overall survival compared with control virus-treated mice. Importantly, more than one-third of mice treated with MV-GMCSF showed complete tumor remission and rejected successive tumor reengraftment, demonstrating robust long-term protection. An enhanced cell-mediated tumor-specific immune response could be detected by lactate dehydrogenase assay and interferon-γ enzyme-linked immunospot assay. Furthermore, MV-GMCSF treatment correlated with increased abundance of tumor-infiltrating CD3(+) lymphocytes analyzed by quantitative microscopy of tumor sections. These findings underline the potential of oncolytic, GM-CSF-expressing MV as an effective therapeutic cancer vaccine actively recruiting adaptive immune responses for enhanced therapeutic impact and tumor elimination. Thus, the treatment benefit of this combined immunovirotherapy approach has direct implications for future clinical trials.


BACKGROUND
Haematological malignancies are malignant neoplasms of the myeloid or lymphatic cell lines including leukaemia, lymphoma and myeloma. In order to manage physical and psychological aspects of the disease and its treatment, complementary therapies like yoga are coming increasingly into focus. However, the effectiveness of yoga practice for people suffering from haematological malignancies remains unclear.

OBJECTIVES
To assess the effects of yoga practice in addition to standard cancer treatment for people with haematological malignancies.

SEARCH METHODS
Our search strategy included the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), MEDLINE (1950 to 4th February 2014), databases of ongoing trials (controlled-trials.com; clinicaltrials.gov), conference proceedings of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, the American Society of Hematology, the European Haematology Association, the European Congress for Integrative Medicine, and Global Advances in Health and Medicine. We handsearched references of these studies from identified trials and relevant review articles. Two review authors independently screened the search results.

SELECTION CRITERIA
We included randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of yoga in addition to standard care for haematological malignancies compared with standard care only. We did not restrict this to any specific style of yoga.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
Two review authors independently extracted data for eligible studies and assessed the risk of bias according to predefined criteria. We evaluated distress, fatigue, anxiety, depression and quality of sleep. Further outcomes we planned to assess were health-related quality of life (HRQoL), overall survival (OS) and adverse events (AE), but data on these were not available.

MAIN RESULTS
Our search strategies led to 149 potentially relevant references, but only a single small study met our inclusion criteria. The included study was published as a full text article and investigated the feasibility and effect of Tibetan Yoga additional to standard care (N = 20; 1 person dropped out before attending any classes and no data were collected) compared to standard care only (N = 19). The study included people with all stages of Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, with and without current cancer treatment. The mean age was 51 years.We judged the overall risk of bias as high as we found a high risk for performance, detection and attrition bias. Additionally, potential outcome reporting bias could not be completely ruled out. Following the recommendations of GRADE, we judged the overall quality of the body of evidence for all predefined outcomes as 'very low', due to the methodical limitations and the very small sample size.The influence of yoga on HRQoL and OS was not reported. There is no evidence that yoga in addition to standard care compared with standard care only can improve distress in people with haematological malignancies (mean difference (MD) -0.30, 95% confidence interval (CI) -5.55 to 4.95; P = 0.91). Similarly, there is no evidence of a difference between either group for fatigue (MD 0.00, 95% CI -0.94 to 0.94; P = 1.00), anxiety (MD 0.30, 95% CI -5.01 to 5.61; P = 0.91) or depression (MD -0.70, 95% CI -3.21 to 1.81; P = 0.58).There is very low quality evidence that yoga improves the overall quality of sleep (MD -2.30, 95% CI -3.78 to -0.82; P = 0.002). The yoga groups' total score for the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was 5.8 (± 2.3 SD) and better than the total score (8.1 (± 2.4 SD)) of the control group. A PSQI total score of 0 to 5 indicates good sleep whereas PSQI total score 6 to 21 points towards significant sleep disturbances. The occurrence of AEs was not reported.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS
The currently available data provide little information about the effectiveness of yoga interventions for people suffering from haematological malignancies. The finding that yoga may be beneficial for the patients' quality of sleep is based on a very small body of evidence. Therefore, the role of yoga as an additional therapy for haematological malignancies remains unclear. Further high-quality randomised controlled trials with larger numbers of participants are needed to make a definitive statement.


Founded in 1904, ACCA has consistently held unique core values: opportunity, diversity, innovation, integrity and accountability. We believe that accountants bring value to economies in all stages of development. We aim to develop capacity in the profession and encourage the adoption of consistent global standards. Our values are aligned to the needs of employers in all sectors and we ensure that, through our qualifications, we prepare accountants for business. We work to open up the profession to people of all backgrounds and remove artificial barriers to entry, ensuring that our qualifications and their delivery meet the diverse needs of trainee professionals and their employers.


Sustainably managed roadsides limit non-native turf grass and include meadows of native warm season grasses and flowering perennials, native shrubs, and trees. Sustainable roadside vegetation management strategies contribute to a matrix of economically conservative, environmentally responsible and aesthetically pleasing landscapes. Implementation of sustainable strategies results in cost savings, better water quality and conductivity, increased diversity of insect life and benefits to the socioeconomic health of the state. Lacking an awareness of associated benefits, the public is often hesitant to accept sustainable, but less manicured roadsides, causing many Departments of Transportation to revert to traditional management regimes. This research assessed perception and determined that acceptance could be increased with an awareness of associated benefits. An Internet survey was administered to three groups of participants. A control group rated eleven roadside images from least to most desirable and completed a brief survey. An experimental group read a list of information about traditional and sustainable strategies of roadside vegetation management before rating the images and completing the survey. Another experimental group viewed a 6 ½ minute video that delivered the same information as the list, but engaged the respondent differently. This group then rated the images and completed the survey, as did the previous two groups. Among those who read the list, a significant change in perception occurred for three of the images when compared to those in the control group. Among those who viewed the video, a significant change in perception occurred for four of the images when compared to those in the control group. When all images were compared to the baseline image (mown turf), Delaware's current default vegetation management strategy, each response distribution was significantly different than that of mown turf. Respondents rated images of flowering meadows, meadow with a mown turf margin, turf with a wooded edge, shrubs and trees more desirable than mown turf and images with grassy meadows less desirable. When strategies were grouped according to similar attributes and compared to mown turf, respondents rated images with flowers (flowering meadows, shrubs and trees), and images with a mown turf margin more desirable than turf and grass meadows less desirable.


BACKGROUND
In vitro studies have demonstrated that ciprofloxacin suppresses Escherichia coli attachment on stents, and ciprofloxacin has been shown to prolong stent patency in cats. However, clinical studies with antibiotic prophylaxis have produced conflicting results. The aim of this study was to isolate and identify the bacteria that attach early on unblocked stents removed from patients and to study their enzyme activities.

METHODS
Eighteen unblocked biliary stents were removed from 17 patients (benign obstruction in 14 and malignant obstruction in 4). All patients received antibiotic prophylaxis (mean of 6 days). Stents were in place for a mean of 33 days. The inside of stents was scraped and sludge was cultured aerobically and anaerobically. Identification of isolated bacteria and measurement of beta-glucuronidase and phospholipase C activities were performed by using standard techniques. Gastric and duodenal juice from 18 patients with no biliary diseases was used as control samples.

RESULTS
All stents were patent and only 6 had visible sludge. There were 19 anaerobes isolated from 16 stents (Clostridium perfringens 13, Clostridium bifermentans 4 and Bacteroides fragilis 2). Phospholipase C was detected in all Clostridium species. beta-Glucuronidase was produced only by 12 of 13 C perfringens isolates. Sixteen aerobes including Enterococcus species and Bacillus species were isolated but none produced beta-glucuronidase or phospholipase C. There were no aerobic gram-negative bacteria isolated from stents. Clostridium species and B fragilis were not recovered from the control samples.

CONCLUSIONS
In patients who had received antibiotic prophylaxis against gram-negative bacterial infection, anaerobic bacteria may play a role in initiating stent blockage.


Mefenamic acid reacts with cobalt(II) ions in aqueous alkaline medium to form a highly stable deep brown complex at ambient temperature. The complexation process was optimized in terms of pH, temperature, agitation rate, and contact time using classical studies. A response surface method based on Box-Behnken design was used to statistically model the complexation reaction and investigate factor effects along with their interactions. A quadratic model was developed using experimental data with a correlation coefficient of 0.9609. Numerical optimization was performed to achieve the optimum solutions of factor combinations. The results of the classical investigation and statistical method were in close agreement with each other, while the advantages of the modern experimental design method over conventional one-factor-at-a-time studies were revealed.


Background Frail populations burdened with chronic diseases can get more severe forms of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) and have a higher mortality rate. Aim To test the efficacy of a severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) containment protocol in patients with endstage renal disease (ESRD) diabetes mellitus (DM) requiring dialysis, who are a typical example of the above category. Methods The protocol included: (i) daily telephone COVID-19 related triage for patients and their general practitioners (GPs); (ii) social distancing; (iii) environment sanitization, including ambulances, transfer vans, medical equipment, patient/health personnel clothing, and individual protection devices; (iv) adoption of quota systems for patients allowed to the dialysis room, and increased time lags among dialysis shifts. Eight hundred twenty-five (825) patients on dialysis (315 with and 510 without DM), and 381 healthcare providers (HCPs) were monitored continuously from the start of the pandemic until the end of the lockdown. Results No HCPs were infected, while only two patients on dialysis were positive for SARS-CoV-2: one with DM, who died in intensive care, and one without DM, who recovered at home. The adopted contagion containment protocol proved to be effective for both HCPs and patients. Conclusion Therefore, we propose it as a useful model for any internal medicine or ESRD specialized units dealing with patients on dialysisoriented with or without DM.


This article stages an examination of the complex imbrication of contemporary civil society with war and militarized violence. I ground my investigation in the context of the increasing cooption of civil sites, practices and technologies by the United States military in order to facilitate their conduct of war and the manner in which drone warfare has now been seamlessly accommodated within major metropolitan cities such as Las Vegas, Nevada. In the context of the article, I coin and deploy the term civil militarization. Civil militarization articulates the colonizing of civilian sites, practices and technologies by the military; it names the conversion of such civilian technologies as video games and mobile phones into technologies of war; and it addresses the now quasi-seamless flow that telewarfare enables between military sites and the larger suburban grid and practices of everyday life. In examining drone kills in the context of Nellis Air Force Base, Las Vegas, I bring into focus a new military configuration that I term 'drone casino mimesis'.


Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is an autologous concentration of platelets in concentrated plasma, which is extensively used to promote soft and hard tissue healing. The significance behind its use refers to the abundance of growth factors present in a well-prepared PRP concentrate. These growth factors enhance the rate and quality of wound healing by different mechanisms. The objective of this review article is to explain the biological aspect of hard and soft tissue healing by application of PRP in conjunctions with its molecular basis.


A matrix method for description of some thermodynamic properties in multicomponent alloys in explicit form has been proposed. It has been found that the method for determining thermodynamic properties from the cross-section data allows to find the contribution of short-range ordering into the thermodynamic state of an imperfect alloy. Diffusion processes in alloys are formed both from purely kinetic migrations of particles and from the system's thermodynamic properties. A consequence of this fact is that the diffusion coefficients D in all systems except for perfect solid solutions include to factors being D = Lg , the second one is the thermodynamic factor directly related to the system's chemical potential. However direct experimental separation of these factors can easily be performed in binary systems only while in triple systems in is highly difficult let alone multicomponent systems. Experimental evaluation of the factors in multicomponent systems from short-range order's parameters [1] would allow to establish a relation between the system's thermodynamic properties which is highly important for further progress in multicomponent diffusion theory and for practical applications.


In this paper, we present a novel approach for the parallel evaluation of procedural shape grammars on the graphics processing unit (GPU). Unlike previous approaches that are either limited in the kind of shapes they allow, the amount of parallelism they can take advantage of, or both, our method supports state of the art procedural modeling including stochasticity and context‐sensitivity. To increase parallelism, we explicitly express independence in the grammar, reduce inter‐rule dependencies required for context‐sensitive evaluation, and introduce intra‐rule parallelism. Our rule scheduling scheme avoids unnecessary back and forth between CPU and GPU and reduces round trips to slow global memory by dynamically grouping rules in on‐chip shared memory. Our GPU shape grammar implementation is multiple orders of magnitude faster than the standard in CPU‐based rule evaluation, while offering equal expressive power. In comparison to the state of the art in GPU shape grammar derivation, our approach is nearly 50 times faster, while adding support for geometric context‐sensitivity.


Investment has a very crucial role from the point of view of national economy. For any country, investment, as well as business ethics, is necessarily to create a good business environment. The rate of growth of the economy and employment is directly related to the level of investment and business ethics. This study mainly concerns about the contribution of private domestic investment towards multidimensional business opportunities including employment creation in Mettu Town of Ethiopia. Its main objective is to assess the contribution of private domestic investment towards employment creation in Mettu town. The research is conducted by using both primary and secondary data. Primary data are collected through interview and questionnaire and secondary data are gathered from published and unpublished materials. The researcher used purpose and systematic random sample techniques as a major advantage of easy administer relatively convenient and less time-consuming. The researcher collected data from 51 investors from a total of 106 investors in the service, industrial and agricultural sectors to assess the contribution of private domestic investments towards employment creation in Mettu town. The method of analysis is the descriptive analysis which includes statistical tools such as table and percentage with interpretation in order to achieve the objective of the study. The results from the descriptive analysis of private domestic investment towards business opportunities and employment creation are found significant despite different challenges of investment such as high-interest rate, lack of capital, high taxation, poor infrastructure, etc. Thus, to achieve private domestic investment the measures include government motivation, good investment policymakers who take a remarkable decision in order to facilitate the growth of investment which results in increasing the participation of private investors.
Keywords: private domestic investment, business opportunities, business ethics employment opportunities, industrial sector, agriculture sector, and government policies.


Template matching is a fundamental method of detecting the presence or the absence of objects and identifying them in an image. A template is itself an image that contains a feature or an object or a part of a bigger image, and is used to search a given image for the presence or the absence of the contents of the template. This search is carried out by translating the template systematically pixel-by-pixel all over the image, and at each position of the template the closeness of the template to the area covered by it is measured. The location at which the maximum degree of closeness is achieved is declared to be the location of the object detected. The problem of object/shape recognition is addressed in this paper in a multiresolutional setting using pyramidal decomposition of images with respect to an orthonormal wavelet basis. A new approach to efficient template matching to detect objects using computational geometric methods is put forward. An efficient paradigm for object recognition is described in detail with a complexity analysis.


Continuous image capture via a wearable camera is currently one of the most popular methods to establish a comprehensive record of the entirety of an indi- vidual's life experience, referred to in the research community as a lifelog. These vast image corpora are further enriched by content analysis and combined with additional data such as biometrics to generate as extensive a record of a person's life as possible. However, interfacing with such datasets remains an active area of research, and despite the advent of new technology and a plethora of com- peting mediums for processing digital information, there has been little focus on newly emerging platforms such as virtual reality. We hypothesise that the increase in immersion, accessible spatial dimensions, and more, could provide significant benefits in the lifelogging domain over more conventional media. In this work, we motivate virtual reality as a viable method of lifelog exploration by performing an in-depth analysis using a novel application prototype built for the HTC Vive. This research also includes the development of a governing design framework for lifelog applications which supported the development of our prototype but is also intended to support the development of future such lifelog systems.


The output structure of database-like tables, consisting of values structured in horizontal rows and vertical columns identifiable by name, can cover a wide range of NLP tasks. Following this constatation, we propose a framework for text-to-table neural models applicable to problems such as extraction of line items, joint entity and relation extraction, or knowledge base population. The permutation-based decoder of our proposal is a generalized sequential method that comprehends information from all cells in the table. The training maximizes the expected log-likelihood for a table's content across all random permutations of the factorization order. During the content inference, we exploit the model's ability to generate cells in any order by searching over possible orderings to maximize the model's confidence and avoid substantial error accumulation, which other sequential models are prone to. Experiments demonstrate a high practical value of the framework, which establishes state-of-the-art results on several challenging datasets, outperforming previous solutions by up to 15%.


In a complex and flexible manufacturing environment tasks maybe dynamically reconfigured. In this situation a robot needs to plan paths automatically to avoid obstacles and rendezvous with changing target points. A novel path planning system is presented which takes into account both kinematic and dynamic constraints. The main part of the system comprises a robot "Path Planner" and "Path Adapter", both using a dynamic "World Model" updated by a vision system. The Path Planner contains a geometric model of the static environment and the robot. Given a task, the Path Planner calculates an efficient collision free path. This is passed to the control computer where a trajectory is generated.

Pre-determination of optimum paths using established techniques frequently involve unacceptably high time penalties. To overcome this problem the automatic path refinement techniques employed avoid the necessity for optimality before beginning a movement. Repeated improvements to the sub optimal paths initially generated by the Path Planner are made until the robot is ready to begin the new path. Algorithms are presented which give a rapid solution for simplified obstacle models. The algorithms are robust and are especially suitable for repetitive robot tasks.

With the Path Planner, the robot structure is modelled as connected cylinders and spheres and the range of robot motion is quantised. The robot path, calculated initially only takes account of geometric, kinematic and obstacle constraints. Although this path is sub optimal, the calculation time is short. The path avoids obstacle and seeks the "shortest" path in terms of total actuator movement. Several of the new path planning methods presented employ a local method, taking a "best guess" at a path through a 2-D space for two joints and then calculating a path for the third joint such that obstacles are avoided. A different approach is global and depends on searching a 3-D graph of quantised joint space.

The Path Planner works in real time. If there is enough time available a "Path Adapter" modifies the planned path in an effort to improve the path subject to selected criteria. The Path Adapter considers dynamic constraints. The first robot path improvement method depends on detecting the joint motor currents in order to minimise changes in joint direction, the other is based on a set of adaptive rules based on simplified dynamic software models of the robot stored within the planning computer. The adapted path is passed to the control computer.

The static model of the robot work-cell is held in computer memory as several solid polyhedral. With the aid of a vision system, this model is updated as new obstacles enter or leave the work-place. Overlapping spheres and 2-D slices in joint space are used to model obstacles. In this form the vision system can be updated quickly and the obstacle data can de accessed efficiently by the path planning and path improvement algorithms.


Luminescent semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) and a range of biomolecules are now being routinely co-integrated into functional optical devices in pursuit of creating novel 'value added' photonic and energy harvesting/transfer materials. Amongst the biological molecules, structural DNA architectures are particularly useful due to their unrivaled ability to assume almost any desired shape along with allowing fluorophores to be precisely arranged on them with controlled stoichiometry and sub-nanometer positional accuracy. The unique properties available to joint QD–DNA composites suggest them for a host of new applications in light harvesting, biosensing, and molecular computation amongst others. To fully realize the synergistic benefits from such organic–inorganic composites, especially when they constitute complex, multidimensional Forster resonance energy transfer (FRET) networks, a detailed understanding of the mechanisms that govern the individual components is imperative. Here, we demonstrate hybrid FRET systems comprising an initial QD scaffold/donor displaying DNA dendrimers decorated with dyes and which are capable of efficiently capturing UV light and transporting it to spectrally and spatially distant fluorophores via multistep FRET. We evaluate two primary strategies to conjugate the DNA-dendrimers to the QDs, namely covalent attachment of DNA to the termini of the QDs surface ligands and polyhistidine-based metal affinity coordination of modified DNA to the QD's ZnS shell surface. Analysis of the resulting FRET data shows that the dendritic arrangement of the dyes and the ability to place multiple dendrimer copies around the QD's nontrivial surface provides for significant energy transfer efficiencies of 20–25% through these multi-FRET step systems. In analyzing the properties of the conjugates, we further find that each assembly chemistry brings with it a series of benefits and liabilities that serve as mutual trade-offs and potential rules of thumb for designing future nanodevices based on these materials.


Men do not carry a handbag to keep the money, so they keep a wallet in their trousers back pocket which over a period of time commonly gives rise to a condition termed as "fat wallet syndrome". This condition leads to compression of sciatic nerve and involvement of the piriformis muscle. The primary objective to write this article is to discuss the ill effects, create awareness and prevention towards the occurrence of fat wallet syndrome as this condition puts an impact on individual's mental, social and economic wellbeing.


OBJECTIVE
Retrospective study of the epidemiological, clinical, diagnostic and therapeutic data corresponding to adult patients with chickenpox pneumonia that needed admission in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in the last 10 years.

MATERIAL AND METHODS
The diagnosis was established through clinicoradiological criteria along the chickenpox progress. Assessed parameters are underlying diseases, pregnancy, smoking habits, analytical data, progress toward adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), need for mechanical ventilation, and pharmacological treatment.

RESULTS
They were studied 8 patients (7 women and 1 man) with an average age of 30 years (range: 25-38). Only one of the patients showed underlying pathology (chronic B hepatitis and alcoholism), and another patient was pregnant with 24 weeks of gestation. All of them were smokers. The respiratory symptoms appeared between the second and fourth day from the onset of the exanthema. All the patients showed dyspnea and in seven of them it was associated to dry cough. The chest x-ray at the time of the admission showed in all the patients a bilateral interstitial infiltrate of basal predominance. In 7 of the 8 cases less than 150,000 platelets/mm3 were observed, in 5 patients an increase of transaminases was detected, and all the patients showed elevation of LDH. In 6 patients hypoxemia (PaO2<60 mmHg) was detected with need in 3 of them of orotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation. These 3 patients progressed toward ARDS. All the cases studied were treated with intravenous aciclovir. None of the hospitalized patients died.

CONCLUSIONS
Chickenpox pneumonia is a serious complication that can force hospitalization in the ICU. The severity of the disease can range from the observation of asymptomatic radiological alterations up to ARDS. Mortality is high, but is probably declining in recent years due to the early antiviral treatment and to the application of appropriate support measures.


The RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) receptor is an attractive target for treating human norovirus (HNV). A computer-aided approach like e-pharmacophore, molecular docking, and single point energy calculations were performed on the compounds retrieved from the Development Therapeutics Program (DTP) AIDS Antiviral Screen Database to identify the antiviral agent that could target the HNV RdRp receptor. Induced-fit docking (IFD) results showed that compounds ZINC1617939, ZINC1642549, ZINC6425208, ZINC5887658 and ZINC32068149 bind with the residues in the active site-B of HNV RdRp receptor via hydrogen bonds, salt bridge, and electrostatic interactions. During the molecular dynamic simulations, compounds ZINC6425208, ZINC5887658 and ZINC32068149 displayed an unbalanced backbone conformation with HNV RdRp protein, while ZINC1617939 and ZINC1642549 maintained stability with the protein backbone when interacting with the residues. Hence, the two new concluding compounds discovered by the computational approach can be used as a chemotype to design promising antiviral agents aimed at HNV RdRp.


A Monte Carlo Potts′ model with different ratios of grain boundary energy is proposed for the sintering process of two-phase nanocomposite ceramic materials. The grain growth process is successfully investigated, and the effect of grain boundary energy on the microstructure is discussed. The simulation results show that the competition between grain boundary and interfacial energies can affect the pinning effect of nano-particles, lead to various microstructure. The simulation results are in accordance with the experiments.


The autonomic efferent neurotransmission to the bladder and prostate smooth muscle is a potential target for drug therapy of specific low urinary tract disfunction (LUTD). Since amikacin and other amynoglicosides were reported to affect neurotransmission by a pre-junctional mechanism, we investigated the effect of amikacin on isolated rat and human detrusor smooth muscle contraction and on isolated rat and human prostate contraction, to further evaluate its potential relaxant properties. MATERIALS AND METHODS. Samples of detrusor smooth muscle and prostate tissue, obtained from 97 rats and 16 patients undergoing surgery, were studied through the measurement of isometric contraction induced by electrical field stimulation (EFS) and other pharmacological stimuli in the presence or absence of 1mM amikacin in a low-Ca medium. RESULTS. Amikacin 1 mM significantly reduced contraction of isolated rat and human detrusor muscle and prostate, achieved with pre-junctional stimulation, while no significant effect was observed on contraction induced by pharmacological post-junctional stimulators. EFS contraction inhibited by amikacin was restored after addition of calcium chloride. The amikacin effect was comparable to the effect of magnesium ions, which are known to exert a pre-junctional inhibition of neurotransmitter release. CONCLUSIONS. Amikacin significantly inhibited rat and human detrusor and prostate contraction evoked by pre-junctional stimulation in vitro, suggesting a depressant effect on autonomic efferent neurotransmission. Further pharmacokinetics studies and researches on related compounds may hold potential for future development in the treatment of specific low urinary tract disfunction (LUTD).


The problem of domestic violence is widespread, with research indicating men and women both perpetrate a substantial amount of aggression. However, aggression perpetrated by women is a relatively understudied area compared to aggression perpetrated by men. Additionally, research is needed to determine the correlates of aggression perpetration among women, as this can inform more effective treatment programs. Thus, the current study sought to examine the association between trait anger and impulsivity and the perpetration of physical and psychological intimate partner violence (IPV) and general aggression among women arrested for domestic violence (N = 80). Findings indicated that both trait anger and impulsivity were significantly associated with aggression perpetration and trait anger mediated the relationship between impulsivity and aggression perpetration. Directions for future research and violence intervention programs are discussed.


Opioid receptors have been solubilized from human striatal and rat whole-brain membranes by use of 3-[(3-cholamidopropyl)dimethylammonio]-1-propanesulfonate (CHAPS). Tritiated human beta-endorphin (3H-beta h-EP) binding revealed high-affinity competition by morphine, naloxone, and various beta-EP analogues, suggesting predominantly mu-type binding. Lack of high-affinity competition by (+/-)-3,4-dichloro-N-methyl-N-[2-(1-pyrrolidinyl)cyclohexyl]benzeneaceta mide methanesulfonate (U50-488, Upjohn) indicated that kappa sites were not labeled by 3H-beta h-EP under these conditions. Affinities were similar in both soluble and membrane preparations except for [Met]enkephalin, which appears to be rapidly degraded by the solubilized extract. Size differences between human and rat solubilized 3H-beta h-EP-receptor complexes were revealed by exclusion chromatography.


The present study investigates the use pattern of literature as revealed through the citation analysis of doctoral theses submitted to the Department of Political Science, Chaudhary Charan Singh University Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, India from 2010-2015, with the aim of improving the existing collection development in the library. The study employed descriptive research design. Theses submitted for the award of Doctoral degree from 2010 to 2015 to the Department of Political Science, Chaudhary Charan Singh University Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, India were examined. For the present study, 22 Ph.D. theses of political science were chosen as a sample during the year 2010-2014, there are in all 2192 citations appended in 22 theses. Extracted data were analysed using statistics. The study shows that the highest numbers of citations (61.1%) were recorded from books, followed by journal articles, newspapers, conference/proceedings, reports etc. Analysis on distribution of country-wise scattering of citations reveals that Indian literature received (51.6%) citations and ranked first, followed by USA and UK with 325 (14.8%) and 172 (7.8%) citations. The analysis of authorship pattern in political science theses reveals that 79.6% of citations were the papers written by single authors, which implies that political sciences are less collaborative as compared to sciences and technology. The analysis of citations indicates that most cited authors in the theses are Indian authored 64.8% and citations to foreign authors are about 35.2%. The outcome of the study is an original research work with citation analysis of doctoral theses in political science. It highlights the information materials available and used by researchers of the Department of Political Science for their research work and those which need to be added for a healthy collection.


Schlumberger RPS (Retail Petroleum Systems) integrated the Goal/Question/Metric approach into their existing measurement programs to improve their program performance. Key to their success was the use of feedback sessions as a forum to analyze and interpret measurement data. The paper discusses the elements of the GQM approach and fitting GQM to a measurement program.


As for the widely used five-axis NC machine with dual turntable, this paper constructs the kinematics mathematic model and finishes solving the machine kinematics formula on the basis of workpiece coordinates system. On the basis of detailed discussion on the effective method for calculating nonlinear error, this paper provides the analysis and calculation and processing procedure for overproof. By processing cutter location (CL) data, the validity and feasibility of the method is tested correct by simulation. Accordingly, this paper provides an inerrable basis for the overproof processing method for design of the general postprocessing system.


Effects of alumina and chromium interlayers on the microstructure and optical properties of thin Ag films are investigated by using spectrophotometry, x-ray diffraction and AFM. The characteristics of Ag films in Ag/glass, Ag/Al2O3/glass and Ag/Cr/glass stacks are analysed. The results indicate that the insertion of an Al2O3 or Cr layer decreases the grains and influences the reflectance of Ag films. The reflectance of the Ag film can be increased by controlling the thickness of alumina interlayer. The stability of Ag films is improved and the adhesion of Ag films on glass substrates is enhanced by alumina as an interlayer.


Implementing Product Diversification Strategies for Small and Medium Retail Businesses' Sustainability by Justin D. Vogl MA, Ashford University, 2013 BA, Ashford University, 2011 Doctoral Study Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Business Administration Walden University April 2018 Abstract Small businesses make up about 90% of all business entities and employ about 60% of the total workforce, yet 50% of small businesses fail within their first 5 years. The purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore how SBOs use the appropriate product diversification strategies to remain sustainable. The sample population were 3 small retail business owners in a large-sized county in the Washington,Small businesses make up about 90% of all business entities and employ about 60% of the total workforce, yet 50% of small businesses fail within their first 5 years. The purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore how SBOs use the appropriate product diversification strategies to remain sustainable. The sample population were 3 small retail business owners in a large-sized county in the Washington, D. C. metropolitan area who employed fewer than 19 people and have successfully used product diversification strategies to remain sustainable beyond 5 years. Data were collected through interviews, observations, and company document reviews. Data analysis entailed using an alphabetic coding process to identify the frequency and importance of themes. Grounded in the conceptual framework of the model of market orientation, this study revealed 4 themes that could help small business owners use the appropriate product diversification strategies to remain sustainable: customer-centric decision-making, market-trend orientation, resource orientation, and complementary products and services. The implications for positive social change include the potential to give small business owners a decision-making framework to achieve sustainability and growth, which would contribute to healthy economic conditions through consumerism, higher employment rates, and a reduction in poverty. The findings of this study could benefit local, small businesses and communities. Implementing Product Diversification Strategies for Small and Medium Retail Businesses' Sustainability by Justin D. Vogl MA, Ashford University, 2013 BA, Ashford University, 2011 Doctoral Study Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Business Administration Walden University April 2018


Background: Diagnosis and treatment of breast cancers is based on histopathological analysis of tumor tissue obtained by invasive biopsies. However invasive biopsies cause pain, anxiety and carry the risk of needle seeding. Though Immunocytochemistry (ICC) profiling of Circulating Tumor Cells (CTCs, defined as EpCAM+, panCK+, CD45-) has been previously attempted for diagnosis, these efforts have been unsuccessful. We used an epigenetically modified medium for enrichment of sufficient viable CTCs. These CTCs were used for diagnosis and characterization. Methods: We obtained 15 ml of venous blood draw from 2500 patients with confirmed diagnosis of breast cancer. CTCs were enriched from PBMCs fraction using an epigenetically acting enrichment process that is lethal towards normal (non-malignant) cells, but confers survival privilege on apoptosis-resistant CTCs. Harvested CTCs were confirmed by immunostaining for EpCAM and pan-CK. Deep ICC profiling of these CTCs was performed with organ specific marker GCDFP15. Theranostic ICC Profiling was performed with ER and Her2. Results: CTCs could be obtained from 2232 samples (89.3%) out of 2500. A subset of 100 samples were characterised by deep ICC profiling, among which 80% of samples were positive for GCDFP15. 14 and 17 samples out of 100 were positive for ER and Her2 respectively. Conclusions: Our results show that ICC based characterization of CTCs can provide necessary diagnostic information non-invasively to substitute conventional procedures dependent on tissue extraction. Citation Format: Dadasaheb Akolkar. Wholesome non-invasive liquid biopsies for pharmacodiagnostic work-up in breast cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Advances in Liquid Biopsies; Jan 13-16, 2020; Miami, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2020;26(11_Suppl):Abstract nr B62.


A great deal of attention has been given in the last years to the study of the
influence of incorporating nanosized particles and particularly nanoparticles
with a flat-like morphology such as nanoclays or layered double hydroxides,
in the properties of polymer nanocomposites. The high aspect ratio of these
nanofillers could result in improved interactions with polymer molecules at
low filler concentrations, maintaining some of the main advantages of
polymer composites such as reduced density. These improved interactions
could lead to mechanical improvements or enable to regulate polymer
nanocomposites' properties such as transport properties or even improve
their intrinsically low flame retardancy. Recently, polymer foam preparation
and characterization has gained a lot of attention, as foams have been shown
to extend the range of properties and thus possible applications of polymers.
The combination of foaming with the incorporation of nanosized particles
(polymer nanocomposite foams) could further extend the material's
properties, as nanoparticles could have a direct effect in the cellular structure
of the foamed material and thus in its final properties. This chapter pretends
to give a review of the most recent studies carried out on the influence of
layered nanoparticles, focusing on silicate nanoclays and layered double
hydroxides, on the mechanical and flame retardancy properties of polymer
foams, with the final goal of developing multifunctional lightweight
materials with improved properties for applications in sectors such as
construction or automotive.


Electronic beehive monitoring extracts critical information on colony behavior and phenology without invasive beehive inspections and transportation costs. As an integral component of electronic beehive monitoring, audio beehive monitoring has the potential to automate the identification of various stressors for honeybee colonies from beehive audio samples. In this investigation, we designed several convolutional neural networks and compared their performance with four standard machine learning methods (logistic regression, k-nearest neighbors, support vector machines, and random forests) in classifying audio samples from microphones deployed above landing pads of Langstroth beehives. On a dataset of 10,260 audio samples where the training and testing samples were separated from the validation samples by beehive and location, a shallower raw audio convolutional neural network with a custom layer outperformed three deeper raw audio convolutional neural networks without custom layers and performed on par with the four machine learning methods trained to classify feature vectors extracted from raw audio samples. On a more challenging dataset of 12,914 audio samples where the training and testing samples were separated from the validation samples by beehive, location, time, and bee race, all raw audio convolutional neural networks performed better than the four machine learning methods and a convolutional neural network trained to classify spectrogram images of audio samples. A trained raw audio convolutional neural network was successfully tested in situ on a low voltage Raspberry Pi computer, which indicates that convolutional neural networks can be added to a repertoire of in situ audio classification algorithms for electronic beehive monitoring. The main trade-off between deep learning and standard machine learning is between feature engineering and training time: while the convolutional neural networks required no feature engineering and generalized better on the second, more challenging dataset, they took considerably more time to train than the machine learning methods. To ensure the replicability of our findings and to provide performance benchmarks for interested research and citizen science communities, we have made public our source code and our curated datasets.


The autocatalytic equation derived in this study describes and even predicts the evolution of the number average molecular weight of aliphatic polyesters upon hydrolytic degradation. The main reaction in the degradation of aliphatic polyesters is autocatalytic hydrolysis of ester bonds, which causes the molecular weight to decrease. During hydrolysis of the ester bonds in the main chain of the polyester, the chains are cleaved and the end group concentrations will rise. The fundamentals of this equation are based on that principle. To validate the derived equation, the hydrolytic degradation of poly(4-methylcaprolactone), poly(epsilon-caprolactone), poly(d,l-lactide), and two different poly(d,l-lactide-co-glycolide) copolymers was monitored after immersion in a PBS buffer (pH = 7.4) at 37 degrees C. The number average molecular weight, mass loss, and crystallinity were determined after different time intervals. The experimental results confirm that hydrolytic degradation of aliphatic polyesters is a bulk erosion process. When comparing the M(n), calculated with the new autocatalytic equation, with the experimental results, it was found that the new model can predict the decrease of the M(n) upon hydrolytic degradation for semicrystalline and amorphous polymers, as well as for copolymers, without the need for complicated mathematics and excessive input parameters. This is a major improvement with respect to earlier proposed models in literature.


In a changing global environment, previously suboptimal habitats may become climate refuges for species. For instance, the ranges of some tropical reef corals are already expanding poleward. Understanding the demographic strategies by which isolated or marginal populations persist is therefore important, especially since such populations are often both vulnerable to local extinction and sources of evolutionary novelty. This study builds an integral projection model from individual-level demographic rates for a genetically isolated population of a reef coral, Plesiastrea versipora, in Sydney Harbour, Australia, in order to understand the population-level demographic characteristics allowing its persistence. We show that this population is thriving, with the potential to rapidly increase in benthic cover, due to high adult survivorship and at least sporadic high recruitment. Medium-sized colonies are the most important for long-term population viability due to their reproductive potential. Nonetheless, the population's persistence is sensitive to recruitment and growth rates, and protecting it from factors that affect these processes is likely to be crucial for its longer-term survival.


ABSTRACT Background: We present a macular dystrophy of differing severity in a single kindred caused by a heterozygous nonsense mutation in CRX. Case report: A 21-year-old Caucasian male from a Swiss family was investigated for decreasing central visual acuity associated with dischromatopsia. Clinical examination revealed posterior pole atrophy, including the maculopapillary bundle. Multimodal imaging, including autofluorescence, showed a hyperautofluorescent paramacular ring in both eyes. Genetic analysis identified a c.313C>T, p.Q105* nonsense mutation in CRX. The same mutation was identified in his father and uncle. Both of them showed signs of the disease, however with different severity. Conclusion: We describe an intrafamilial variable expressivity of a CRX mutation causing an isolated macular dystrophy.


—Entropy is a key measure in studies related to information theory and its many applications. Campbell for the first time recognized that the exponential of the Shannon's entropy is just the size of the sample space, when distribution is uniform. Here is the idea to study exponentials of Shannon's and those other entropy generalizations that involve logarithmic function for a probability distribution in general. In this paper, we introduce a measure of sample space, called 'entropic measure of a sample space', with respect to the underlying distribution. It is shown in both discrete and continuous cases that this new measure depends on the parameters of the distribution on the sample space - same sample space having different 'entropic measures' depending on the distributions defined on it. It was noted that Campbell's idea applied for R ` enyi's parametric entropy of a given order also. Knowing that parameters play a role in providing suitable choices and extended applications, paper studies parametric entropic measures of sample spaces also. Exponential entropies related to Shannon's and those generalizations that have logarithmic functions, i.e. are additive have been studies for wider understanding and applications. We propose and study exponential entropies corresponding to non additive entropies of type ( α,β ) , which include Havard and Charvˆat entropy as a special case.


PURPOSE
To describe the biologic and clinical features of children with primitive neuroectodermal tumors (PNETs) arising in the pineal region (pineoblastomas) and evaluate prospectively the efficacy of radiation therapy (RT) and/or chemotherapy.

PATIENTS AND METHODS
Between 1986 and 1992, 25 children with PNETs of the pineal region were treated as part of a Childrens Cancer Group study. Eight infants less than 18 months of age were nonrandomly treated with eight-drugs-in-1-day chemotherapy without RT. The remaining 17 patients were treated with craniospinal RT and randomized to receive either vincristine, lomustine (CCNU), and prednisone or the eight-drugs-in-1-day regimen.

RESULTS
Of 24 completely staged patients, 20 (83%) had localized disease at diagnosis. All infants developed progressive disease a median of 4 months from the start of treatment. Of the 17 older patients treated with RT and chemotherapy, the Kaplan-Meier estimate of progression-free survival (PFS) at 3 years is 61% +/- 13%. This is superior to the PFS of children with other supratentorial PNETs (P = .026). Following RT, 12 of 17 patients (70.6%) had a residual pineal region mass, which persisted for as long as 5 years before resolving; only four subsequently developed progressive disease.

CONCLUSION
(1) Eight-in-1 chemotherapy without RT appears to be ineffective therapy for young children with PNETs of the pineal region. (2) For children more than 18 months of age at diagnosis treated with craniospinal RT and chemotherapy, the PFS is superior to that of children with other supratentorial PNETs. (3) A residual enhancing mass following RT is not predictive of treatment failure.


The 1993 inaugural issue of the Journal of Statistics Education (JSE) published an article about a small conference for Principal Investigators (PIs) and co-PIs of twelve projects in statistics education funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF). This twenty-year retrospective (1) offers some personal memories related to the founding of JSE, (2) offers some thoughts about the legacies of the twelve funded projects, (3) sets out a sense of how the conference themes have fared over the last twenty years, and (4) indicates what this might suggest about the future of our profession. In conclusion, I argue (briefly) that at this moment in its history, statistics education faces the biggest opportunity and challenge of its last 40 years.


Empirical cross-country studies have yielded ambiguous results with respect to the impact of different exchange rate regimes on macroeconomic performance particularly on private domestic investment. This study extended this body of knowledge by carrying out an empirical analysis of the consequences of the foreign exchange rate reforms on the performances of private domestic investment in Nigeria. The ordinary least square multiple regression analytical method was used for the data analysis. Some statistical tools were employed to test the statistical significance of the variables. The analysis started with the test of stationarity and co-integration of Nigeria's time series data. The empirical study found that the data were stationary and co integrated. The multiple regression results showed a significant but negative relationship between floating foreign exchange rate and private domestic investment in Nigeria. These results were robust to a number of econometric specifications. Our findings and conclusion support the need for the government to dump the floating exchange regime and adopt purchasing power parity which has been considered by researchers to be more appropriate in determining realistic exchange rate for naira and contribute positively to macroeconomic performances in Nigeria.


The purpose of this study using a total of 1170 B6C3F1 mice was to detect and evaluate possible carcinogenic effects in mice exposed to radio‐frequency‐radiation (RFR) from Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) and Digital Personal Communications System (DCS) handsets as emitted by handsets operating in the center of the communication band, that is, at 902 MHz (GSM) and 1747 MHz (DCS). Restrained mice were exposed for 2 h per day, 5 days per week over a period of 2 years to three different whole‐body averaged specific absorption rate (SAR) levels of 0.4, 1.3, 4.0 mW/g bw (SAR), or were sham exposed. Regarding the organ‐related tumor incidence, pairwise Fisher's test did not show any significant increase in the incidence of any particular tumor type in the RF exposed groups as compared to the sham exposed group. Interestingly, while the incidences of hepatocellular carcinomas were similar in EMF and sham exposed groups, in both studies the incidences of liver adenomas in males decreased with increasing dose levels; the incidences in the high dose groups were statistically significantly different from those in the sham exposed groups. Comparison to published tumor rates in untreated mice revealed that the observed tumor rates were within the range of historical control data. In conclusion, the present study produced no evidence that the exposure of male and female B6C3F1 mice to wireless GSM and DCS radio frequency signals at a whole body absorption rate of up to 4.0 W/kg resulted in any adverse health effect or had any cumulative influence on the incidence or severity of neoplastic and non‐neoplastic background lesions, and thus the study did not provide any evidence of RF possessing a carcinogenic potential. Bioelectromagnetics 28:173–187, 2007. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.


Objective: The objective was to study the muscle imbalance, restrictive motility in unlike gazes and the outcomes of the scleral buckling surgery for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment. Study design: Prospective follow-up study Settings and duration: The study was conducted at Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital Rawalpindi from Aug 2015 to Jan 2016. Methodology: The patients were checked prior to surgery and two follow up visits were done afterwards. Thorough history was taken along with full orthoptic assessment and ocular motility in all four main gazes including elevation, depression, adduction and abduction. Vision, type and position of explants, site of detachment, and risk factors of detachment were also observed. Results: A total of 48 eyes of 46 patients were taken. Mean age of the study participants was 37.16±20.37 years. Horizontal, vertical and combined deviations were observed in study population. Exo deviation was most common deviation among patients. Most reported risk factors of retinal detachment included trauma, pseudophakia, aphakia and myopia. Motility limitations of all four gazes was observed and it was found out that after buckling the squint and restriction is been increased up till two months. Conclusion: Ocular restriction among the patients was observed over a period of 2 months and it depicted that encircling with sclera buckling elicited an increase in restrictive ocular motility from pre-operative to 1 week and 2 months after surgery.


Dietary diversity has been considered a potential 'proxy' indicator to reflect nutrient intake adequacy. The study assessed the Dietary Diversity and Nutrient Intake Adequacy among adult women in Iwo Local Government (LGA) area of Osun State. Apparently healthy 250 adult women (20-59) were the respondents in the study. The anthropometric measurements of the respondents were taken using standard equipment. A 24-hour dietary recall questionnaire was used to assess the food intake of the respondents, which was converted into nutrient intake using adapted Total Dietary Assessment (TDA) software. Dietary Diversity Score (DDS) was created using a 15-food group model. Nutrient intake was evaluated using Nutrient Adequacy Ratio (NAR). Mean adequacy ratio (MAR) was calculated as an indicator of nutrient intake adequacy. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software was used for analysis of the data collected. More than half (56.4%) of the respondents had normal body weight, 15.2% were underweight, 21.2% were overweight and 7.2% were obese. The diet of the respondents consisted of food items mainly from food groups such as cereals, white roots and tubers, vitamin A-rich vegetables, spices, condiments and beverages. Fruits and foods from milk and milk products were the least consumed. The mean DDS was 8.29±1.3, 4.4% of the respondents had high DDS, 94.4% had minimum DDS and 1.2% had low DDS. The MAR was 2.56±0.69, the intake of some nutrients such as carbohydrate, fat, iron, zinc and protein was above the recommended dietary intake and there was inadequate intake for some nutrients such as calcium, vitamin C and potassium among the respondents. Consumption of foods from groups such as meat and meat products, eggs and poultry and fish were found to be significantly related with nutrient intake adequacy as respondents with adequate intake of nutrients consumed more from these food groups. These results indicate that dietary diversity is an indicator of nutrient intake adequacy. Most of the respondents consumed foods from cereals, white roots and tubers, vegetables, legumes, oil and fats, spices and condiments than from other food groups. Keywords: Dietary-diversity, Nutrient, Women, Food-groups, Overweight, Micronutrient, Adequacy, Nigeria


The specific activity of 40K, 232Th and 226Ra in marine sediment samples collected from National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries (NIOF) and Safier Hotel area in Hurghada city (the most important regions in Egypt), were measured by gamma ray spectrometry using NaI(Tl) detector. The values of specific activity varied from 7 ± 1 Bq kg–1 to 53 ± 4 Bq kg–1, 6 ± 1 Bq kg–1 to 32 ± 6 Bq kg–1, and from 167 ± 11 Bq kg–1 to 1120 ± 63 Bq kg–1 for 226Ra, 232Th and 40K, respectively. The heavy metals have been measured and analysed by atomic absorption spectrometer. The major range values of heavy metals concentrations in marine sediment samples were: Cu (10.5–78.0 μg g–1), Zn (21–150 μg g–1), Pb (30–53 μg g–1), Cd (2.50–4.00 μg g–1), Fe (5100–13150 μg g–1), Mn (118–298 μg g–1), Ni (17–36 μg g–1) and Co (16–18 μg g–1). The total organic matter (TOC) and carbonates (CaCo3) distribution have been measured at some locations. Also, the frequency distribution and the value of ( 232Th/226Ra), ( 232Th/40K) Assessment of Natural Radionuclides 22 and ( 226Ra/40K) ratio for all measured samples were determined. Additionally, evaluations have been made of the radiological hazards and the results are diagrammed by Surfer program in maps.


Author(s): Lee, Mary | Advisor(s): Lowengrub, John S | Abstract: The objective of this work is to use mathematical modeling to understand the mechanisms that regulate tumor growth and metabolism. A hallmark of cancer is cell-intrinsic metabolic reprogramming that enhances anabolic support of cell proliferation and leads to metabolic heterogeneity in tumors at larger scales. Here we report a self-organizing pattern of metabolism in xenograft colon tumors, where Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Kinase (PDK1), a negative regulator of oxidative phosphorylation, is highly active in clusters of cells arranged in a spotted array. To explore the basis for this pattern, we developed reaction-diffusion models describing the interactions between two different metabolic cell types, nutrients, and growth factors. Our first model is based on Gierer-Meinhardt's activator-depleted substrate model and characterizes the relationship between cells, glucose, and lactate. In the other mathematical models reported here, we incorporated Wnt, a signal known to upregulate PDK1 and Warburg metabolism, so that Wnt promotes a metabolic switch to glycolysis. Diffusive instability analysis, or classic Turing analysis, is used to determine parameter sets in which patterns are expected to form and is found to be in good agreement with numerical simulations. Partial inhibition of Wnt alters the pattern in tumors and in the model, which also predicts that inhibition of Wnt alters the expression of proteins that increase the range of Wnt ligand diffusion. This prediction is validated in xenograft tumors and is consistent with expression data in primary human colon cancer. The model also predicts that inhibitors that target glycolysis or Wnt signaling are not so effective as single therapies for cancer as they are in combination for synergistic reduction of tumor growth. We present another mathematical model similar to the Wnt signaling model, but which includes other factors known to be involved in cancer metabolism. This larger mathematical model and numerical results demonstrate good agreement with the Wnt signaling model, and we therefore conclude that the smaller model contains all essential elements necessary to capture the effects we observe, to make predictions for the mechanisms that cause the altered metabolic pattern in Wnt-inhibited tumors, and to investigate treatment programs in silico. It is hoped that these mathematical models will be useful in informing researchers and collaborators about cancer and metabolism.


This paper introduces an innovative partially destructive method called "Twist-off," for the assessment of in situ concrete strength. In this method, a 40 mm diameter metal probe is bonded to a concrete surface by means of a high strength epoxy resin adhesive. To measure the concrete compressive strength, a torque is applied using an ordinary torque wrench and the maximum torque or shear stress at failure is used to estimate the cube compressive strength by means of a calibration graph. The relationship between the results of this new method and the compressive strengths of concrete cores as well as the correlation of this method with friction-transfer method are also presented in this paper. The average coefficient of variation of the results of this method was seen to be of the order of 8 % and the correlation coefficients of its comparative results with concrete cube and core compressive strengths were found to be 0.98 and 0.90, respectively. In order to assess the performance of this method on site, tests were undertaken on a number of concrete structures. Based on these results, this method is suggested for in situ determination of concrete strength.


When a voltage in the direction opposite to that for anodic bonding is applied to an anodically-bonded joint of glass whose alkali ion content is substituted by silver, silver precipitates of peculiar morphology form in the glass adjacent to the joint interface. In order to acquire knowledge about factors that control the configuration of the precipitates, effects of bonding time of the joints and application temperature of the reverse voltage on morphology of the precipitates were investigated. Shortening of the bonding time and increase of the application temperature of the reverse voltage cause decrease of the size of precipitates, and these effects were explained from formation frequency of current paths in the Ag+ depletion layer with penetration of Ag+ ions into the layer.


Neural tissue engineering is one of the most promising strategies for treatment of nerve tissue injuries. Three‐dimensional (3D) environment mimics in vivo conditions for cells. 3D distribution and growth of the cells within the scaffold are both important for neural tissue engineering. In this study, endometrial stromal cell‐derived oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (EnSC‐derived OPCs) were cultured in fibrin gel and cell differentiation and viability were evaluated after 8 days of post‐culture. The structural and mechanical characteristics of fibrin gel‐like scaffold were examined with rheological analysis. EnSCs were isolated from donor tissue and were induced to OPCs with growth factors (FGF2/EGF/PDGF‐AA) for 12 days, then were cultured in fibrin gel with Triiodothyronine (T3) medium for another 8 days. The viability of cells was analyzed using MTT assay for a period of 8 days culturing in a fibrin matrix. Structure of fibrin matrix and cell morphology was analyzed with SEM. TEM, immunostaining and quantitative RT‐PCR was performed for OPCs markers after cell culturing in fibrin matrix. Cell viability is enhanced in fibrin matrix after 8 days. SEM and TEM show that cells are in good integration with nano‐fibers. Moreover, immunohistochemistry and quantitative RT‐PCR of OPCs differentiation markers showed that Olig2, Sox10, PDGFRa, CNP, and A2B5 are expressed after 8 days culturing within fibrin matrix. Fibrin can provide a suitable 3‐D scaffold for EnSCs differentiated cells for the regeneration of CNS.


This study was conducted to identify relation ships among knowledge and attitudes of unmarried mothers toward emergency contraceptive pills. Methods: Data were collected through structured questionnaires from 135 unmarried mothers enrolled in 7 single mothers` facilities nationwide. Data were analyzed using the SPSS/WIN 17.0 program for descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Scheffe-test, and Pearson correlation coefficients. Results: For knowledge about emergency contraceptive pills, there were significant differences among who live with her before pregnancy, experience of past pregnancies, state of present pregnancy and preparation in using contraceptives. For attitude toward emergency contraceptive pills, there were significant differences according to age, education level and religion. There were significant positive relationships between knowledge and attitudes toward emergency contraceptive pills. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that unmarried women should be better informed about emergency contraceptive pills, and reassured about their safety. Efforts are needed to disseminate up-to-date information to experts in sex education including nurses.


Incorporating SEM model comparison and hierarchical multiple regression procedures and using the survey data collected from 1,432 participants in five cities in China, this study revealed the influence nature of age and gender differences in relation to the decision pattern of WMDS adoption in China. Age had both strong direct and moderating effect on major causal relationships toward WMDS adoption intentions. Gender alone did not influence much of the decision intention pattern regarding WMDS adoption in China. Age and gender combined did not exert strong interaction on major causal relationships regarding WMDS adoption as well. This study reveals with delight that consumers in China now pay increasing attention to quality, functions and services of mobile phones in addition to brands and outlooks. They have strong desire to use more wireless mobile Internet services, when data transmission speed, content and service charges get more appealing.


The primary concern of this thesis is the analysis of long wavelength quasioptical
receiver systems operating within the Terahertz and submillimetre wavebands. Specific
attention is paid to the front-end coupling optics of the Band 5 and Band 9 receiver
channels of the Atacama Large Millimetre Array (ALMA). The theory of Gaussian Beam
Mode Analysis (GBMA) is expanded and developed as the basic analytical tool for the
work presented. This technique is utilised to model both classical optics diffraction and
interference patterns. An alternate method of describing these diffraction patterns is
developed using the Angular Spectrum of Plane Waves (ASPW). The general GBMA
technique is supplemented by the commercially available Physical Optics (PO) package
GRASP9 developed by TICRA. A comprehensive analysis of the ALMA Band 5 front
end optics was conducted in conjunction with the Group for Advanced Receiver
Development (GARD). This analysis was developed to investigate the efficiency of
various configurations of the optics and was supplemented by a rigorous measurement
campaign at GARD. As part of our ongoing collaboration with the Space Research
Organisation of the Netherlands (SRON) a series of theoretical and experimental
analyses were performed with the aim of improving the cross polar efficiency of the
ALMA Band 9 receiver.
In addition to these investigations of long wavelength receiver optics the theory of
GBMA was combined with mode-matching theory to describe the behaviour of
standing waves in typical submillimetre receiver systems. The reflection and
transmission amplitude response patterns of several standing wave cavities were
predicted with this technique and compared with experimental measurements. The
effect of minor alterations to the feed horn structures on the resonance profiles are
studied in depth. The eigenmodes of these resonant cavities are also analysed. A
complex stray light baffle structure is introduced within the cavity and its effect upon
the system is quantified.


This guide lists sources of information to assist students who are researching prospective employers. All of the sources listed can be found in the University at Buffalo Libraries or on the World Wide Web.


Abstract The scintillator bismuth germanate (BGO) has attractive properties for positron emission tomography (PET) systems such as high stopping power, high photo-fraction, and relatively low cost. However, its moderate scintillation light yield and slow rise and decay time compared to lutetium (yttrium) oxyorthosilicate (L(Y)SO) results in a degradation of coincidence timing resolution when scintillation photons are used for timing. Recently, it has been reported that the coincidence timing resolution of BGO can be improved by detecting Cerenkov photons, while scintillation photons still provide energy information. However, the measured coincidence timing spectrum showed much longer tails compared to the single Gaussian distribution. Because of this, TOF PET detectors based on BGO will perform worse than the full width at half maximum (FWHM) of the distribution, which is the most common metric for timing resolution, would suggest. From simulation studies, during the first few picoseconds, BGO generates ~16 Cerenkov photons per photoelectric interaction, following a 511 keV gamma ray interaction, while the probability of producing a scintillation photon during the first few picoseconds is very small. Therefore, when we configure a BGO crystal with dual-ended readout, the first arriving photons among the two opposing SiPMs are most likely Cerenkov photons, and by selecting the appropriate SiPM, an improvement in coincidence timing resolution can be achieved. In this study, both ends of a 3  ×  3  ×  20 mm3 BGO crystal were coupled to NUV-HD SiPMs. Trigger time differences from the dual-ended readout of BGO were widely distributed due to detecting a mixture of prompt Cerenkov and scintillation photons on both SiPMs. When using trigger times from only a single SiPM, the estimated coincidence timing resolution between two identical BGO detectors was 463 ps FWHM and 1463 ps FWTM. In contrast, when using trigger times from both SiPMs, the estimated coincidence timing resolution was 399 ps FWHM and 936 ps FWTM with no loss of events. Based on a recent report, high-bandwidth amplifiers were implemented and shown to further improve the estimated coincidence timing resolution to 331 ps FWHM and 923 ps FWTM. In summary, the coincidence timing resolution of BGO, most notably the FWTM, was significantly improved using time information from the dual-ended readout.


Until the 1990s, the "dispatching" of children to convalescent homes and sanatoriums was a mass phenomenon in the FRG. It is probable that several million people were affected. Numerous reports by those affected feature accounts of degrading treatment, violence and medical "immobilization." Until recently, hardly anything was known about this in public. Historical research on this topic has only just begun. Doctors of the time demanded a multi-week stay at a health resort for every child living in a large city. Children with specific diseases such as tuberculosis or asthma were "dispatched" for a longer period of time. Children suffering from homesickness were given psychotropic drugs for sedation. Children with physical illnesses were not only treated with appropriate drugs, but drugs were also tested on them under certain circumstances. Some children died during these tests. For one trial, there is evidence that the parents had not given their consent. There are some parallels to drug trials on children in care homes in the FRG. The article provides an overview of what we know today and raises some questions about the economic and (health) policy background of this mass phenomenon.


Code reviews are an effective mechanism to improve software quality, but often fall short in the development of software. To improve the desirability and ease of code reviews, we introduce an approach that explores how multi-touch interfaces can support code reviews and can make them more collaborative. Our approach provides users with features to collaboratively find and investigate code smells, annotate source code and generate review reports using gesture recognition and a Microsoft Surface Table. In a preliminary evaluation, subjects generally liked the prototypical implementation of our approach for performing code review tasks.


This paper raises complication for the standard interpretive view of Liebniz's mature metaphysical system as idealist. Body-realist affirmations are found in his writings up to his death, in bulk and diversity very difficult to accommodate to phenomenalist or idealist construal. Claims of Leibnizian inconsistency and indecisiveness do not seem adequately to account for them. The view that body is real for Liebniz, though not a substance, is explored. Alternative non-idealist interpretations of the system are considered, the most plausible argued to be a variety of dualism. At the same time, dialectical features of Leibnizian philosophy make it a matter of proper caution not to settle emphatically on a decided conclusion of the issue.


A collection of 198 clinical isolates of strains belonging to the tribe Proteeae was examined for haemolytic activity on blood agar and in Brain Heart Infusion Broth. The strains were of diverse bacteriocin and O-antigenic types and from a wide variety of sources. They included representatives of all species of Morganella, Proteus and Providencia. Approximately half of the M. morgani strains were haemolytic on blood agar. This activity was not associated with any particular bacteriocin type. The haemolysin was also produced during exponential growth in broth and was thermolabile and calcium dependent. All P. mirabilis strains and some P. vulgaris strains were non-haemolytic on blood agar. However, most strains of the Proteus spp., irrespective of their bacteriocin and antigenic type, produced, over a short period during exponential growth in broth, a heat-stable, cell-associated calcium-independent haemolysin. A smaller proportion of P. vulgaris and P. penneri strains produced, in addition, a thermolabile, calcium-dependent haemolysin which was associated with the formation of large haemolytic zones on blood agar. The relationship of these haemolysins to Escherichia coli haemolysin and their possible role in virulence is discussed. Haemolysin production was not found in any of the 74 strains of four species of Providencia.


Isolation identification and characterization of the structures of degradation products is typically collaborative research involving knowledge of analytical and organic chemistry with spectroscopic information. Stability testing guidelines issued by International Conference on Harmonization (ICH) require the reporting, identification and characterization of degradation products. A simple, selective and reproducible stability-indicating liquid chromatographic method was developed for the determination of Diacerein. Developed method was used to evaluate the Diacerein in bulk drug and its degradation product. The drug was subjected to stress conditions of acid hydrolysis, alkali hydrolysis, oxidation, thermal, and photo degradation according to ICH guidelines. The drug was found to degrade extensively in alkali. The drug and the degraded compounds were separated by isocratic reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography. An isocratic separation was achieved using a thermosil C18 column (ODS-3, 250×4.6 mm, 5 µm) with a flow rate of 1 ml/min and using a UV detector set at 254 nm. The mobile phase consisted of Phosphate buffer (pH 3.6): acetonitrile (45:55 % v/v). Degradation products resulting from the stress studies did not interfere with the detection of diacerein. Structural elucidation of impurity was carried out by LC–MS, 1H NMR, and IR spectroscopy. The isolated impurity was characterized as 5-acetoxy-4-hydroxy-9, 10-dioxo-9, 10-dihydroanthracene-2-carboxylic acid. An understanding of the different parts of the molecule that are susceptible to degradation can help in the designing of more stable analogs.


Anterior urethral valves (AUVs) are uncommon congenital anomalies causing urethral obstruction in boys and uncommon causes of lower urinary tract obstruction. Hameturia, urinal tract infection and weak voiding confirmed the diagnosis. On cystoruethroscopy, cusp like valves in the anterior urethral were seen. Although they are referred to as valves. These cases shows saccular or bulbar dilatation known as anterior urethral diverticulum (AUD). They typically occur where there is a defect in the corpous spongiosum. Leaving a thinwalled urethra. This segment of the urethra balloons out during voiding, simulating a mass that is sometimes visible along the ventral wall of the penis. The swelling is fluctuant and urine dribbles from the meatus on compression. AUV are extremely serious and if left untreated may result in end stage renal disease. The presence of valves in the anterior urethra is a rare pathology. Anterior valves are more frequently located at the bulbar level and are associated with urethral diverticula. Clinical manifestations are secondary to the obstructive process and can have mild to severe urodynamic repercussions. Treatment is always surgical, and can be endoscopic or open surgery. The present study reveals the importance of RGU and MCU in diagnosing the anterior urethral valve radiologically.


Numerous antimicrobial drugs have been developed and commercialized to kill and inhibit the growth of pathogenic microbes. The therapeutic efficiency of these drugs has however become often inadequate for the treatment of microbial infections, the reasons being multiple. Oral administration results often in only partial absorption and up to 50% of the active compound can be excreted in the urine. Furthermore, antibiotic therapy is also frequently accompanied by gastrointestinal complications, including vomiting, nausea and diarrhea. From a therapeutic point of view, the low solubility of antibiotics in lipid membranes presents a limitation for rapid and efficient treatment of infections. The preferred route for the delivery of antimicrobial drugs is the oral one; oral formulations capable of extending the duration of drug delivery and minimizing side effects have received much attention. The combination of antimicrobial agents with nanomaterials has been seen as a particularly promising strategy to overcome these limitations. Particulate formulations have proven their efficiency in achieving better pharmacokinetic profiles and improving the bio availability of several antibiotics. Antibiotic modified particles have shown their capability to protect some of the antimicrobial drugs from stomach acid and first-pass metabolisms in the gastrointestinal tract. Likewise, particle formulations can increase the circulation times of a drug and the local concentration gradient across absorptive cells. The present review describes the current status of different types of antibiotic loaded nano-systems. Key principles such as antibiotic loading, the release mechanism and the mode of action involved in pathogen killing or inhibition will be discussed in more detail. It is hoped that the general knowledge obtained here will help in the generation of advanced nanomaterials loaded with antimicrobials agents.


Taguchi optimization method was used to determine optimum conditions for the extraction of nickel from lateritic ore in hydrochloric acid solution with hydrogen peroxide. Leaching time, stirring speed, temperature, hydrochloric acid concentration and hydrogen peroxide concentration were chosen as parameters. The optimum conditions for dissolution were found as leaching time of 240 min, a temperature of 70°C, hydrochloric acid concentration of 3 M, hydrogen peroxide concentration of 0.1 M and without stirring. The experimental results under optimum leaching conditions, showed that the extraction of nickel from lateritic ore was 90.66%. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was applied to experimental results. Percentage contributions of each factor for the extraction of nickel were determined.


1. Total rates of urea loss from adult euryhaline crab-eating frogs ( Rana cancrivora ) adapted to various environmental salinities between fresh water and 80 % sea water increase as salinity increases above 40% sea water. Oxygen consumption is constant in rate in all salinities studied. 2. The presence of urea in the Ringer solution bathing isolated pieces of skin of frogs adapted to 60% sea water increases both the electrical potential and the inwardly directed short-circuit current across the skin. 3. In skeletal muscle cells addition of intracellular solutes maintains tissue hydration in the face of large increases in plasma osmotic concentration in high-salinity media. Changes in the intracellular urea and free amino acid concentrations are primarily responsible for increases in intracellular osmotic concentration. 4. Some implications of these observations are discussed and comparisons made with the euryhaline green toad, Bufo viridis .


Medically unexplained symptoms are considered 'somatoform disorders' in the fourth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV). The introduction of this nosographic category has been helpful in drawing attention to a previously neglected area, but has not been successful in promoting an understanding of the disorders' biological basis and treatment implications, probably because of a series of diagnostic shortcomings. The newly proposed DSM-V diagnostic criteria try to overcome the limitations of the DSM-IV definition, which was organised centrally around the concept of medically unexplained symptoms, by emphasising the extent to which a patient's thoughts, feelings and behaviours concerning their somatic symptoms are disproportionate or excessive. This change is supported by a growing body of evidence showing that psychological and behavioural features play a major role in causing patient disability and maintaining high level of health care use. Pain disorders is the sub-category of DSM-IV somatoform disorders that most closely resembles fibromyalgia. Regardless of the diagnostic changes recently brought about by DSM-V, neuroimaging studies have identified important components of the mental processes associated with a DSM- IV diagnosis of pain disorder.


More and more scientific literature, care guidelines, health records, social media, and other textual eHealth information are electronically available. Language technologies provide a way to analyse these documents for the benefit of both individuals and populations. In order to catalyse the development of eHealth language technologies, we propose a virtual laboratory with a standardised platform for easy building and assessment of the systems from the "lego" bricks of shared data, resources, and software. Our aim is to address specific needs in eHealth: governance and sharing of private data; provenance and sharing of resources and software; systematic benchmarking and quality control of systems and their components; and collaboration of eHealth language technology developers and users across healthcare services, academia, industry, and government. The Epicure virtual laboratory is intended to be used for software and resource evaluation and development as well as for data analysis if data subjects' privacy is ensured. Epicure is a meta-framework in the sense of abstracting over existing frameworks. Its five roles for clients are data or resource provider, application assembler, application user, software developer, and system administrator. We have implemented Epicure based on publicly available software. Its control layer is a Glassfish JavaEE server, providing a RESTful (REpresentational State Transfer) application programming interface; web interface for accessing and installing third-party platforms; and easy operation via standard web commands. After proper user authentication and authorisation of incoming requests, it builds applications, analyses data and assesses outcomes by orchestrating storage and execution layers. The storage layer of Epicure uses a CouchDBbased repository for centralised storage of data, resources, and software. It enables controlling document access on the level of documents; tracking all changes; recording these revisions; storing all analysis outcomes; and associating the outcomes with the data, resources and software used in their generation. The execution layer of Epicure provides a runtime environment for executing data analysis tasks and installing third party platforms. It invokes tools as simple commands. A tool must be specify its input format, output formats, parameters, and their possible values as a file and be executable on a command line. Tools do not need to be installed within Epicure itself but instead be accessed via a network interface and wrapper, which provides access from Epicure to this remote service.


markdownabstractThis paper examines the recent changes in global land politics and agrarian movements and the activists and academics that mobilize around and study these issues. There are several arguments, or propositions for discussion, in this paper:
(1) Land politics today are more diverse than at other points during the past century;
(2) The changing character of land politics has shaped the broadening social movements that mobilize around land issues: some agrarian movements have transformed into environmental and climate justice movements as well as food sovereignty movements --or have moved on towards alliance-building (objective or subjective) with environmental and climate justice as well as food sovereignty movements;
(3) During the past three decades, the transnationalization of agrarian movements has been one of the most significant shifts in agrarian politics,
(4) The changes in land politics and agrarian movements in light of the changing global context have ushered in a new period and inspired a new generation of agrarian scholar-activists. By scholar-activism, I mean, rigorous academic work that aims to change the world, or committed activist work that is informed by rigorous academic research, which is explicitly and unapologetically connected to political projects or movements. There are three types of scholar-activists in this broad sense:
(1) scholar-activists who are primarily located in academic institutions who do activist work and are connected to a political project or movement(s);
(2) scholar-activists who are principally based in social movements or a political project and do scholar-activism from within; and
(3) scholar-activists who are mainly located in non-academic independent research institutions who do activist work and connect with a political project or movement(s).
The changes on the agrarian front have also altered the character and reshaped the agenda of scholar-activism, as well as the style, methods, strategy and tactics of work. It is thus important to have a better understanding of contemporary scholar-activists in general. However we must not see agrarian scholar activists as a stand-alone category, but in relationship to their institutional location and in the context of their interaction with other scholars and activists, to highlight the tensions, synergies, limits, and possibilities for agrarian scholar-activism. I conclude by putting forward a proposition for discussion around the idea of an 'agrarian scholar-activist research movement.'


Owen Chadwick describes the effects of the European Revolution of 1789 to 1815 on the Papacy, and compares Catholic Church of the ancient regime to that of the early nineteenth century. The book shows how strongly the Counter-Reformation still worked in Italy during the eighteenth century; how it was the constitutional development of states, rather than the incoming of new ideas, which forced change; how traditional was the Catholic world even in the age of the Enlightenment. It shows reform at work, and the fierce pressure on the Papacy marked first in the forced suppression of the Jesuits and afterwards in the kidnapping of two successive Popes by French governments. It shows how revolution in Italy affected church structures and brought on peasant war, yet encouraged, in a radical form, some improvements of church life towards which the earlier reformers had striven. Finally, it shows the political swing of the Restoration after the fall of Napoleon, the way in which the Church was already associated with the political right, the great difficulties of restoring church life after the evolutionary years, and the persistence, half unnoticed, of the earlier reforming ideas among Catholics.


Objective: To assess the level of knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding infection control procedures among undergraduate dental students. Methods: A validated questionnaire of 23 questions regarding the basic knowledge, attitude, and practices regarding infection control in dental clinics was distributed among 150 students randomly belonging to third year, final year, and internship (fifth year trainee) of undergraduate dental program in Saveetha Dental College and Hospital, Saveetha University, Chennai. The data extracted were tabulated, statistically analyzed, and results obtained. Results were calculated on the basis of frequency and percentages using SPSS. Results: Nearly, 81.3% of students agreed that disinfection of dental clinic is important to prevent cross-infection among patients and dental personnel. 94.6% of dental students agreed that proper isolation during treatment is important for infection control in dentistry. 92% were aware of post-exposure prophylaxis against hepatitis B virus (HBV). 53.3% of them answered that HBV infection has the highest risk of transmission in the dental setting. 88% of students use gloves, face mask, head cap, gown always. 65.3% of dental students were willing to treat patients with infectious diseases after following universal/standard precautions. Conclusion: Dental students in this study have a good level of knowledge and positive attitudes about infection control. However, the knowledge acquired must be transferred into daily practice. Continuing education programs and refreshing courses regarding cross infection control procedures are necessary to update the knowledge of dental practitioners.


Space safety and hazard-reduction techniques for space-transportation vehicles are becoming critical in the advent of commercial crewed launches and suborbital intercontinental travel. One way to mitigate risks is to use advanced guidance strategies to centralise mission planning, and guidance, navigation and control. Convex optimisation can be suitable for this purpose, as it solves second-order-cone programming problems sequentially in polynomial time. As atmospheric re-entry contains a large number of non-convexities, an advanced optimal-control optimiser based on successive convex optimisation was developed and analysed with a golden-section line-search method to enhance its convergence. A direct-linearisation approach, although slightly sensitive to initial guesses, was seen to be robust when compared in different objective formulations. However, a hybrid approach using a lossless convexification performed better for most problems, although it relied on a regularisation condition, which was sometimes difficult to satisfy. The reachability capabilities of the SPHYNX lifting body during orbital and descent aborts were analysed and showed that around 14 minutes are available to perform an abort to an alternative landing site for a nominal mission. While there is significant room for improvement, the study shows that successive convex optimisation could be potentially used for mission planning and on-board applications as an optimal trajectory planner during realistic re-entry missions.


This research uses the theory of flow to examine the effect of 2D versus 3D virtual world environments on brand equity and use intention. The results suggest that a 3D virtual world environment has both positive (indirect) and negative (direct) effects on brand equity. The positive, indirect effect of the 3D virtual world environment occurs through feelings of telepresence and enjoyment, both of which contribute positively to brand equity and, in turn, induces a higher behavioral intention. The negative, direct effect can be explained using distraction-conflict theory, where attentional conflict is faced by users of a highly interactive and rich medium. This paper explains the flow experience and its effects on brand equity in 2D versus 3D virtual world environments, and provides insights to practitioners for designing 3D virtual world sites to enhance brand equity and behavioral intention.


Spirulina is an edible algae and has a wide range of pharmaceutical applications in addition to its nutritional value. Isolation and identification of several Spirulina species were conducted in the western part of Mexico especially in the state of Jalisco. The purification strategy consisted of five optimized processing steps: 1) washing and centrifugation, 2) chemical treatment, 3) micromanipulation, 4) serial dilution, and 5) plating. Four species were isolated from different locations and two out of these four species were identified taxonomically up to the species level: Spirulina subsalsa and S. major. For short term conservation (30 days), the strains were maintained in liquid and solid agar medium at 10˚C and 4˚C. For medium term (few months), they were preserved in solid medium under a dried condition as agar flakes and for long term, cryopreservation was employed by using 5% and 10% DMSO, glycerol and methanol as osmoprotectants in liquid nitrogen. For short term preservation nearly 90% liquid and 100% agar recovered strains were viable after one month at both temperatures. In the case of the agar flakes, cells were viable after three months of conservation at room temperature. Cryopreservation did not give any suitable results after three months of conservation. Variable and two-step improved cryopreservation processes are now in progress for conservation.