While large scale deployment of plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) offers promising advantages, such as environmental benefits, energy security, and economic stability, it also poses certain cybersecurity related challenges. Unlike power grid security, PEV cybersecurity is significantly underexplored. However, cyberattacks on PEVs may lead to disastrous situations such as out-of-service EVs via denial-of-charging (DoC) or battery pack damage via overcharging. In this article, we attempt to address this issue by exploring control-oriented approaches for PEV cybersecurity. Specifically, we focus on designing algorithms for detecting cyberattacks that can potentially affect PEV battery packs during charging. We discuss two algorithms: first, static detector that utilizes only measured variables, and, second, dynamic detector that utilizes the knowledge of system dynamics along with the measurements. Furthermore, we propose a filter-based design approach for the dynamic detector that considers a multiobjective criterion including stability, robustness, and attack sensitivity. We perform theoretical analysis and simulation studies to evaluate the effectiveness of the algorithms under DoC and overcharging attacks that indicate the superiority of dynamic detector in terms of attack detectability.


As Indonesian economic grow, electrical energy demand increased significantly
over the last years. It is known that electrical industry is one of the largest sectors who
contributed to the global CO2 emission besides transportation. Highly dependent in coal,
fuel oil and diesel are the main causes of this problem. In the 20 years vision of
Indonesian government, the country plans to construct coal fired power plant in the near
future due to the abundance of coal reserves in the country and increase the share of
renewable energy to meet the electricity demand as well as to cut the reliance in fuel oil.
A clear view of 23 years trend of Indonesia's electricity generation from 1987 to
2009 has been reviewed to show a pattern of electricity generation and emission of the
country. In addition, Indonesian future power plant composition is investigated to
predict fuel consumption and emission production of electricity generation until 2025.
The result shows that most of CO2 emission is coming from steam turbine which uses
coal as a fuel. Moreover, by increase the share of renewable energy do not gives any
effect in CO2 emission reduction as the government intended to increase the supply of
coal for electricity generation. However, there are some other policies and technology to
control the emissions.
In order to answer the energy demand, the government cannot avoid developing
new coal-fired power plant to secure energy security of the country in the future.
Besides encouraging energy efficiency, the only way to minimize negative impact of
coal-fired power plant is by applying clean coal technology. To investigate the impact
of clean coal technology on emission reduction, the simple mathematical model was
selected as a method. The result showed clean coal technology could reduce CO2
emission up to 39% compare to conventional coal burning.In conclusion, by constructing more coal-fired power plant will give rise to the
level of emissions that are dangerous to human health and will not resolve the energy
sustainability problems. However, it may be able to sustain the energy security for a
little longer until the development of new and renewable energy reach its best potential.


A tandem repeat (TR) is a DNA sequence where a pattern of nucleotides is repeated a number of times. TRs cover more than ten percent of the human genome. They have been proven to play an important role in human diseases, regulation, and evolution. TRs vary for different individuals, so they are commonly used in human gene mapping, linkage studies, and forensic DNA fingerprinting analysis. In this paper, an efficient algorithm is presented for detecting TRs, especially short tandem repeats (STRs), in a DNA sequence. The algorithm, based on the autoregressive (AR) model, is to analyze the spectrum of the DNA sequences. Our algorithm can find TRs effectively and quickly. Furthermore, it is robust to mutations, deletions, and insertions. In comparison with the fast Fourier transform (FFT), our results show that the AR model based algorithm can provide more detailed qualitative information than the FFT when we analyze the spectrum of the STRs. Here, the methods and ideas underlying the algorithm are presented and the effectiveness of the algorithm on TRs is demonstrated.


The dramatic changes occurring throughout the agriculture industry are creating an increasingly turbulent business climate for the sector. The objective of this paper is to present a methodology to understand, assess, evaluate, and manage uncertainty. Five methods are discussed: scenario analysis, scorecarding and heat mapping, payoff matrix, decision tree, and options portfolio mapping. Scenario analysis can help identify the alternative futures that may unfold. Scorecarding and heat mapping assessment tools can be used to assess and map the uncertainties, and decide which uncertainties the company should capitalize on and which projects could be pursued to exploit those uncertainties. Payoff matrices and decision trees (using real option valuation) analysis tools can then help make a decision on which project to pursue. Finally, these projects cannot be evaluated in a vacuum. Mapping the portfolio of projects is necessary to make sure the company diversifies the risk. This paper includes an illustration of the methodology by applying the tools to a real life example that has been tested in several executive agribusiness educational workshops. A list of psychological traps to avoid and be mindful of when making decisions in an uncertain environment is also discussed.


Specific features of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) onset and course, short-term outcome and its causative factors have been analysed for women and men by the data from Register of Acute Myocardial Infarction of the city of Tomsk for 1994-1998 (a total of 3717 cases). It is shown that AMI men die largely of cardiogenic shock (CS), congestive heart disease (CHD) and cardiac arrhythmia. Death of AMI women was caused primarily by CS, CHD and rupture of the myocardium. For women the unfavourable factors for an AMI outcome were the following: an atypical clinical presentation, a symptomless preinfarction period, prior AMI, arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus, a complicated course, extensive and transmural lesion, acute cardiac aneurysm. For men the additional to these are previous angina and brain stroke. The short-term AMI outcome in women is more unfavourable than in men.


This paper will show some partial results from a research on accessibility developed by both the Pro-Access Research Group in the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro together with the Brazilian Historical Patrimony. It aims at an interdisciplinary perspective of the theme "access to museums", considering the understanding of atmosphere as an important tool for the mobility of the disabled body. We quickly discuss the concepts of "universal design" and "inclusive architecture" used internationally, working with what environment makes evident on the level of primary emotions, our leading thematic at Pro-Acesso. What does a person with disability feel when moving into the exhibition halls? The context of the environmental perception is usually built based on the level of access and on the affective relationship people develop towards the spaces they visit. We all agree that a person with disability will answer to the perceived world and also to the real world through their sensations. In this way, the notion of sensitive "atmospheres" is an important aspect in the relation between disability and museums, putting on evidence all the senses and sensations they experience during a walk through a museum. Rather than being concentrated on the behavioral theories or the physical barriers of accessibility, this research is based on the principle that atmospheres of museums are themselves disabled when not allowing mobility. This article also uses the works which have already been developed by the Department of Museums of the Historical Patrimony, the works of Cohen and Duarte (2004, 2008) about the developing of affection towards a place and by the senses and feelings spread on the routes of exhibitions (Mariani-Rousset, 2001; Thibaud, 2001). Our main objective is to enhance the theme of 'Accessibility to Museums', working with sensorial and emotional perspectives on environmental perception; in addition to this, we make use of a person with disability through its action-object: the museographic universe she wants to know. We work with a methodology that is concentrated on the ethnographic participant observation and on the analysis of routes made by persons with disability in the museums. Making use of guided visits, we map and shoot the experiences and, afterwards, interview the subjects of our research and the chairmen responsible for those institutions. As a researcher with disability, Cohen – one of the authors of this paper – is naturally enrolled in the anthropological perspective of investigation, living her own museographic experience, full of senses and sensations.


This project uses experimental techniques to explore the effects of surface active agent (surfactant) adsorption on a droplet of oil suspended in a flow. The fluorescent surfactant Rhodamine-6G was used to enable the use of optical techniques to visualise the build-up of surfactant at the rear of the droplet and its effects on the internal circulation within the droplet. This was done to enable an exploration of how surfactant accumulates behind a droplet with the aim of predicting the behaviour based on the internal circulation for non- fluorescentt surfactants.

An experiment was designed along with calibration procedures in order to utilise the non-intrusive measurement techniques laser-induced fluorescence and particle image velocimetry to measure the volume of surfactant held behind the droplet, the angle of the visible cap caused by the build-up of Rhodamine-6G, and the cap angle of the stagnant region obtained by measuring the velocity of the circulation within the droplet.

Laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) was used to visualise the development of a surfactant-rich cap that formed at the rear of the oil droplet as it rose through an aqueous solution, with different bulk concentrations of surfactant. The aqueous solution soluble surfactant, adsorbed to the forwards facing part of the droplet, was transported around to the rear where it accumulated in a surfactant cap before being swept back into the ow behind the droplet. The fluorescent properties of Rhodamine-6G were utilised to measure the size of the visible surfactant cap angle and the volume of surfactant stored within the cap. The results showed that increased concentrations of surfactant caused a larger volume of surfactant to be held behind the droplet with larger droplets resulting in smaller surfactant cap angles.

Particle image velocimetry (PIV) was used to explore the effects of surfactant at the interface on the internal circulation within the droplet. As surfactant accumulated an area of very low velocity at the rear of the droplet appeared. This was quantified by measuring the tangential velocity around the droplet with the area of low velocity signifying the presence of a stagnant cap. Measuring the internal velocity around the droplet close to the interface showed that the stagnant cap angle had large growth over the initial region of the tank, with larger droplets resulting in smaller surfactant cap angles.

The visible cap angle measured by LIF was related to the stagnant cap angle measured by PIV to compare how the results for each technique developed over the height of the tank. The angles for both techniques exhibited the same trends as the droplet height increased, although they showed different magnitudes revealing that the experimental procedure could be improved in the future to obtain better agreement.


The annona was the imperial service responsible for overseeing the supply of key food items to the city of Rome and the army. Primarily concerned with grain, the service became increasingly involved in the provisioning of other commodities, such as olive oil, wine, and pork. By the end of the 3rd century, the annona was a complex machinery involving private and public agents in different parts of the empire, overseen by the prefect of the annona, based in Rome. The operation of this system is documented in literary texts, administrative documents such as papyri and writing tablets, inscriptions, and a rich archaeological record, in Rome and in the provinces. However, the precise working of the system and the degree to which it was controlled by the Roman state remain open to debate. The annona was also involved in the supply of the army, especially with regards to provisions brought from distant producing centres. During the later empire, the system became more centralised, being overseen by the praetorian prefecture.


Pre-clinically, the potential of Eleutherine americana Merr. as antioxidant has been studied, but it's safety level of its safety has not been widely known. Safety level of ethanolic extract of E. americana Merr leaves (EEEaL) can be detected by acute toxicity test using OECD 425. The aim of this study was to investigate the acute toxicity of EEEaL as the guideline of its safe dose for therapy. This test was performed through OECD 425 (Up and Down Procedure) method with two doses (2000 and 5000 mg/kgbw) of EEEaL administration orally which observed for two weeks toward Wistar rats. The results of the test dose showed no toxic symptoms and they did not cause death in the test animals. Single dosage up to 5000 mg/kgbw also did not show any symptoms of toxicity, and did not cause weight loss until the 14th day of test. The LD50 value of EEEaL is more than 5000 mg/kgbw, suggesting that the plants is practically non toxic according to Loomis classification. Phytochemical screening showed that EEEaL contains compounds such as alkaloids, flavonoids, triterpenoids, steroids, and saponins.
Dhaka Univ. J. Pharm. Sci. 18(2): 171-177, 2019 (December)


Using BFRPS to increase strength and durability of the structure has recently started to be used as a new technical mean. In this paper, eight BFRPS timber columns under axial compressive loads are tested, and damage characteristics and mechanical properties are studied based on the testing results. Compared with the components which are reinforced and not, the relationship between the effects of bearing factors and increasing degrees can be concluded, providing reference for the similar engineering problems.


In today's highly integrated world, when solutions to problems are cross disciplinary in nature, Soft computing promises to become a powerful means for obtaining solutions to problem quickly, accurately and acceptably. Soft computing refers to a consortium of computational methodologies that has motivated many scientific researchers to contribute their efforts in designing highly powerful intelligent systems. During the early 20th century, the advent of malignant tissues in the human cells came into knowledge of medical researchers. A herculean task of classifying the tumorous cells became a very challenging task in the gamut of information, especially in the field of intelligent systems. In this work, we have applied Artificial Bee Colony (ABC) optimization along with the supervised learning technique i.e. Support vector machine (SVM) to estimate the cost of classification. We have also simulated the cancerous dataset with the implementation of Cat Swarm Optimization (CSO) with SVM. Prior to classification, we have tried our level best to eliminate redundant and unwanted data with the help of Principal Component Analysis (PCA) technique. A great deal of work in predicting feasible as well as global best solutions have been put forward by many innovative and advanced heuristic search strategies.


A study was carried out to assess the immunomodulatory effect of Levamisole and Stressroak in chicks vaccinated with different Newcastle Disease (ND) vaccines viz. live RDF, live RDF in-oil and live RDF + killed R2B-in-oil. Two promising immunomodulators i.e. Levamisole and Stressroak were used to study their role in further enhancement of immune response. The humoral antibody levels as detected by HI and ELISA appeared significantly higher in live RDFin-oil and live RDF + killed R2B-in-oil groups with or without immunomodulators at different weeks post-vaccination (wpv) compared to live RDF vaccine groups. The cell-mediated immune (CMI) response, studied by lymphocyte proliferation assay, revealed that the mean stimulation indices (SI) of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) subjected to non-specific Con-A stimulation in all the vaccinated groups appeared significantly higher than the control group on 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th wpv, thus suggesting better efficacy of oil-adjuvanted vaccines to enhance the CMI response in chickens. The vaccine groups treated with Levamisole or Stressroak showed better mean SI values in comparison to vaccine alone groups suggesting the immunopotentiating effect of Levamisole and Stressroak on CMI response. Challenge study revealed that the live RDF vaccine protected the birds completely upto 4th week of age but not till marketing age (6–8 weeks), while oil-adjuvanted vaccine groups with or without immunomodulators offered a complete protection against virulent RD virus till 8th week of age and also revealed refractivity of birds to multiplication of virus. Thus in an overall assessment, livze RDF-in-oil is deemed superior and there was an added enhanced immune response with immunomodulators.


INTRODUCTION
This retrospective study assessed the surgical outcomes of patients for whom the transobturator polypropylene mesh kit was used for the management of pelvic organ prolapse (Gynecare Prolift) in a tertiary urogynaecological centre in Singapore from January 1, 2006 to December 31, 2007.

METHODS
169 patients (2006 n = 95; 2007 n = 74) with total (n = 76), anterior (n = 82) and posterior (n = 11) Prolifts were followed up for two years post-surgery.

RESULTS
Intraoperatively, the incidence of haematoma, blood loss > 1,000 mL and blood transfusion was lower in 2007 than in 2006, although the difference was not statistically significant. One (1.4%) patient had rectal perforation in 2007. The mesh erosion rates were similar for all Prolift types (total 17.2%; posterior 14.5%; anterior 18.2%). Two patients, who had total Prolift in 2006, required mesh excision under anaesthesia for mesh extrusion. 138 (81.7%) patients were available for review at two years - nine (6.5%) patients had recurrent cystourethrocoeles and two (1.4%) had recurrent vault prolapse. Of the nine patients who had total Prolift with uterine conservation, two (1.4%) had recurrent uterine descent. The subjective cure rates two years after Prolift surgery were 98.7% for patients from 2006 and 100% for patients from 2007. The objective cure rates were 89.6% for patients from 2006 and 91.8% for patients from 2007.

CONCLUSION
Prolift mesh surgery appears to have a very high success rate for pelvic reconstructive surgery. The learning curve of the surgeon may, however, be a factor determining surgical outcome in these patients.


As the lifeline of national economy, real estate industry attracts wide attention from all walks of life, and to solve drawbacks of real estate industry at the current stage, central government of China has proposed the method of levying real estate tax. Through the establishment of closed DSGE(Dynamic Stochastic General Equilibrium) Model, and according to data in recent years, this study analyzed the effect of levying real estate tax(economic variable) on national macro-economy as a whole by numerical simulation method. Main conclusions are drawn as follows: levying real estate tax, though having the effect of effectively curbing housing price in the long run, will reduce the overall social welfare and influence the living standard of residents; rapid rising in housing price, which causes negative effect on national economy for the time being, contributes as the driving force for its development as time goes by; positive currency policy, while having the effect of improving the value of property selling on market, also plays as a driving factor of consumption and total output of society; positive change occurred in customerÂ's preference in terms of housing and consumption, on one hand, weakens the operation of national economy, while on the other hand, it has driving effect on total value of national output and public service. Besides, DSGE Model adopted in this study, compared with display value, has shown out relatively higher degree of agreement in many aspects, signifying that it is feasible for simulating ChinaÂ's economic operation, i.e., economic development situation of China can be objectively reflected by which to a good extent.


This paper presents a quantitative analysis of the impacts of the "Luxembourg Compromise" as compared to a continuation of Agenda 2000 to the year 2010. The employed new version of the CAPRI model allows us to represent the different member states' implementations of the CAP reform and to reflect endogenous world market prices based upon a spatial global trade model. The specific contribution of the analysis is a detailed look at the impacts of national differences in the CAP implementation and regional production structures with respect to changes in land allocation. At EU level, cereal areas decrease by about 5% and oilseeds by about 3%. This is paralleled by increases in the set-aside acreage and extensive fodder production. However, significant differences at the regional level can be observed. They are caused mainly by differences in the shares of durum wheat and fodder maize.


The quantitative analysis of amino acids, nucleosides and nucleobases is important for the quality evaluation of the popular fruit Annona squamosa L. obtained from different regions in China. To establish a repeatable and accurate LC-QTRAP-MS/MS method for the simultaneous determination of 23 target components in fruitages obtained from 5 different regions, chromatographic separation was carried out on an amide column with gradient elution using water and acetonitrile. The method is rapid and completed in less than 6 min and has acceptable linearity in the range of the tested concentration. The average recoveries of the 23 components were 95.30–104.53% with the relative standard deviations of 1.01–3.90%. The results show that the qualities of AAs and NNs in the A. squamosa fruit obtained from the Guangxi province are optimal. The contents of these targets in the Annona squamosa fruitages obtained from 5 regions are significantly different, which might be due to their environment and species.


Palaeomagnetic records of the Laschamp (LE, ∼41 ka) and Mono Lake (MLE, ∼33 ka) geomagnetic excursions have been discovered globally in volcanic and sedimentary records; however, records from the southern hemisphere are rare. This research presents new and revised direction and intensity estimates of characteristic remanent magnetization from 46 - 24 ka lavas from the Tongariro Volcanic Centre (TgVC) in the central North Island, addressing controversies regarding the age, duration, and global structure of the field, to understand features of excursions and the underlying geodynamo mechanism. Existing data from the TgVC and the Auckland Volcanic Field are combined with data from two new sites on Mt Tongariro and revised data from eight previously sampled sites on Mt Ruapehu, dated by 40Ar/39Ar methods.
Palaeodirection results show evidence of reversed and intermediate polarity directions around ∼43 ka and ∼31 ka, lying within the accepted age ranges of the LE and MLE excursions. Palaeointensity estimates made using traditional Thellier-type methods yield anomalously low palaeointensities from three of four studied sites around the MLE and from a post-LE site. Additional Shaw-type experiments were conducted to test the efficacy of limiting heating to minimize thermal alteration. Results show an unequivocal record of both excursions in the central North Island, with strong support for full polarity reversals of the field during both excursions and decay of field strength to ∼20 - 30%. Mapping of virtual geomagnetic pole (VGP) positions for all North Island sites suggests that the field evolved through complex non-dipole field configurations during both events.
However, a possible underlying dipolar control is indicated by an apparent favoured VGP longitude over the Americas that is identified in both excursions, separated by 10 ky. Support for this hypothesis is observed in the simple, wide, clockwise VGP loop proposed, and in the correlation of VGP positions across global datasets for both the MLE and LE. Palaeointensity results indicate a possible period of anomalously low field strength over the studied period, which may have given rise to intermittent periods of greater non-dipole field strengths, during which a possible Laschamp rebound event is identified at ∼38 ka corresponding with Japanese sediment records.


The U.S. beef industry must provide documentation to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA-FSIS) that the antimicrobial interventions implemented or any subsequent changes in the process are effective under the actual conditions that apply in its operation. The main objective of this study was to determine whether surface pH after application of diluted lactic acid solution on surfaces of fresh meat can be used as a control measure indicator for the reduction of E. coli O157:H7 and Salmonella. Samples (240 each) of lean and adipose beef tissues were inoculated with cocktail mixtures of Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Salmonella. Application parameters were varied such that lean and adipose tissues were spray treated with either 2 or 4.5% lactic acid solution at either 38 or 60°C for 1 to 10 s. Lean and adipose tissues were collected before and after spray treatments for enumeration of the pathogens. Based on the conditions of this study, there was no difference between spray treatments at 38 or 60°C, but 4.5% lactic acid solution reduced pathogens more effectively ( P ≤ 0.05) than did 2% lactic acid solution. Spray treatment with lactic acid solution for 1 to 10 s reduced surface pH values of lean tissues (3 to 3.8) and adipose tissues (2.75 to 3.65). At surface pH values of 3.0 and 2.75, lactic acid reduced E. coli O157:H7 on surfaces of lean and adipose tissues by approximately 1.60 and 1.54 log CFU/cm2, respectively. At surface pH values of 3.8 and 3.65, lactic acid reduced E. coli O157:H7 on lean and adipose tissues by approximately 0.3 and 0.42 log CFU/cm2, respectively. The surface pH values after lactic acid treatment and the reductions of both pathogens showed a strong linear relationship; this indicates that a surface pH of 3.1 would provide at least 1-log reduction of E. coli O157:H7 and Salmonella, regardless of lactic acid application parameters. Therefore, surface pH after spray treatment with lactic acid could be used to validate pathogen reduction.


Results (A46G, C79G A523C) and mutation (C491T) of ADRB2 were found. Genotype distributions of A523C in control and hypertriglyceridemia, control and hypo-HDL-c individuals were different (p < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that the OR for hypertension was 2.894 in C523C group against the A523A+A523C group (p ¼ 0.009); compared the A523A+A523C group, the OR for hypertriglyceridemia in C523C group were 2.666 (p ¼ 0.031). The frequency of C491T was 1.2% (n ¼ 5) and no TT genotype was found. That C491Twas found only in hypertensive or dyslipidemia group. All fi ve subjects were diagnosis with hypertension and dyslipidemia. Four out of fi ve individuals with C491T had Hyper-LDL-C. The mean blood pressure and serum LDL-C of the fi ve subjects were much higher than normal value. Xinjiang, and were divided into hypertensives (EH group) and normotensives (NT group). The gene polymorphism of T663A by PCR-RFLP and the serum electrolytes were examined. Results The frequencies of AA, AG, GG genotypes were 15.7%, 50.2%, 34.1% and the frequencies of alleles A, G were 40.8%, 59.2%, respectively. The frequencies of AA, AG, GG were 16.3%, 49.1%, 34.6% in EH group and 15.1%, 51.4%, 33.5% in NT group, respec-tively. genotypic and allelic cant difference in of pressure K , Na /K between among genotypes. T663A polymorphism were excluded as independent variables controlling age and BMI. more than 30 years were recruited by cluster sampling from the pasture area of Xinjiang and were divided into hypertensives (EH group) and normotensives (NT group). The genotypes of T3593C were determined by PCR-RFLP method and the serum electrolytes were measured. Results The frequencies of TT, TC, CC genotypes were 88.39%, 10.63%, 0.98% and the alleles frequencies of T, C were 93.7%, 6.3%, respectively. The distributed genotypic frequencies of TT, TC, CC were89.33%,9.88%,0.79%inEHgroupand87.45%,11.37%,1.18%inNTgroup,respectively.Thegenotypicandallelicfrequencieswerenot different between EH group and NT group (p ¼ 0.78; p ¼ 0.46). There was no signi fi cant difference in levels of blood pressure and serum electrolytes between subjects with the TT and TC+CC genotypes (p > 0.05). The T3593C polymorphism were excluded as independent variables whichrelated tothebloodpressureandserumelectrolytes of subjects controlling FPR age and gender by multiple logistic analysis. Conclusions The T3593C polymorphism might not be associated with EH and serum electrolytes of Xinjiang Kazakhs. Objective This study was designed to determine the in vitro effects of different doses and different kinds of Low Molecular Weight Heparin (LMWH) on clot rate (CR), and to determine whether the CR can be used to monitor LMWH. Methods This study was performed in two phases in vitro. The fi rst, CR was measured with different reagent (glass beads, celite and kaolin) on volunteer (n ¼ 20) blood samples spiked with increasing concentrations of LMWH


There are endemic cacti species in the North of Chile with edible fruits and a fledgling productive potential, with unknown degree diversity. Low diversity compromises the ability of populations to evolve and reduces their chances of survival under environmental changes. Copao ( Eulychnia acida Phil.), a cactus endemic to Chile that grows in the Coquimbo Region (30º S lat) and able to bear fruit in water stress conditions, were morphologically characterized using descriptors of other columnar cacti at three different locations where it usually grows wild. Five inter simple sequence repeat (ISSR) primers, which were reported for other cacti that produced replicable and informative amplifications, were selected for the genetic characterization. Statistical analysis was performed to describe the diversity of this species and morphological and genetic results compared each other. High variation was observed between and within the evaluated populations for parameters of central tendency, dispersion, and univariate statistical analysis of the morphological traits. Principal component analysis showed that 73% of the population variation at the three locations could be explained by the first three principal components with 34%, 22%, and 17% of the observed variation, respectively. The five ISSR primers generated 7 to 11 polymorphic bands with a band range between 100 and 1517 bp. The polymorphic information content (PIC) averaged 0.75, which suggests high diversity between and within populations. Consensus of 85% existed between the selected descriptors and the ISSR markers, which points them out as suitable tools to analyze diversity in this species. ABSTRACT


During the last several years, illegal commercial application of methyl parathion (MP) in domestic settings in several U.S. Southeastern and Midwestern States has affected largely inner-city residents. As part of a multiagency response involving the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA), the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), and state and local health departments, our laboratory developed a rapid, high-throughput, selective method for quantifying p-nitrophenol (PNP), a biomarker of MP exposure, using isotope dilution high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. We measured PNP in approximately 16,000 samples collected from residents of seven different states. Using this method, we were able to receive sample batches from each state; prepare, analyze, and quantify the samples for PNP; verify the results; and report the data to the health departments and ATSDR in about 48 hr. These data indicate that many residents had urinary PNP concentrations well in excess of those of the general U.S. population. In fact, their urinary PNP concentrations were more consistent with those seen in occupational settings or in poisoning cases. Although these data, when coupled with other MP metabolite data, suggest that many residents with the highest concentrations of urinary PNP had significant exposure to MP, they do not unequivocally rule out exposure to PNP resulting from environmental degradation of MP. Even with their limitations, these data were used with the assumption that all PNP was derived from MP exposure, which enabled the U.S. EPA and ATSDR to develop a comprehensive, biologically driven response that was protective of human health, especially susceptible populations, and included clinical evaluations, outreach activities, community education, integrated pest management, and decontamination of homes.


ABSTRACT Numerous chemical reactions within clay sequences have been proposed to produce dissolved material for diagenesis of deeply-buried sands. However, reactions responsible for solubilizing inorganic and organic constituents in clays at intermediate depths, and their importance to sandstone diagenesis, have not been evaluated. Results from this study show that the processes of microbial organic-acid production (via fermentation) in clays and microbial organic-acid consumption (via sulfate reduction) in sands effectively link organic-rich clays to sandstone diagenesis in the Black Creek Formation of South Carolina. Diagenetic processes have resulted in the formation of 10 volume percent calcite cement, 0.1 volume percent authigenic pyrite, and 1.5 volume percent secondary porosity in Black Creek sands. However, the distribution of these diagenetic processes is not uniform, resulting in net destruction of porosity in some parts of the sand and net porosity enhancement in other parts. Mass balance-derived rates of microbial organic-acid production (10-5 mmole carbon 1-1 yr-1) and microbial CO2 production (4 10-5 mmole l-1 yr-1) show that microbial processes can account for all organic carbon in the calcite cements (at least 11% of carbonate carbon based on isotope-balance calculations), all observed authigenic pyrite, and all observed secondary porosity. These findings show that microbial processes can serve to link organic-rich clays with sandsto e diagenesis at intermediate depths.


Abstract Fall-planted cover crops offer many benefits including weed suppressive residues in spring sown crops when controlled and left on the soil surface. However, vegetable growers have been slow to adopt direct-seeding (no-till) into cover crop residues. Field studies were conducted in 2009 and 2010 near Paterson, WA and Urbana, IL to evaluate mortality of rye and common vetch (WA) hairy vetch (IL) cover crops, weed density and biomass, and snap bean growth and yield following four cover crop control methods utilizing a roller–crimper. Rye had higher mortality than common and hairy vetch by roller-crimping, and carfentrazone applied after roller crimping only slightly increased vetch mortality. Heavy residues of rye and escaped vetch were difficult to plant into, often resulting in lower snap bean populations. Rye and hairy vetch residues suppressed final weed biomass, while common vetch reduced weed biomass 1 of 2 years. Escaped plants of both vetch species became a weed. Snap bean yields were inconsistent and often lower following cover crops compared with a fallow treatment. Being able to completely control cover crops and to plant, manage escaped weeds and mechanically harvest in the presence of heavy residues are challenges that deter vegetable growers from readily adopting these systems.


Pyoderma Gangrenosum is an autoimmune disease which is associated with number of other systemic diseases mainly ulcerative colitis, crohn's disease, rheumatoid arthritis and few others. But the rare associations are PG with oral involvement and PG with liver abnormalities. Uniqueness of this case is that, it has both of these rare characteristics. A 20 year old patient presents with the diffuse involvement of skin ulceration along with the oral ulcers too. He was diagnosed on the basis of the ulcer's biopsy report and all other associations were denied appropriately with the help of colonoscopy, endoscopy and Extractable Antigen Nuclear Profile. So, initially he was started on prednisone and he responded well but then he started to develop the Iatrogenic Cushing Syndrome so then his medication was changed to the cyclosporine. Later on, his Hepatitis-C, ELISA came to be positive, so then his medication for that was started too.


Using the combinatorial formula for the transformed Macdonald polynomials of Haglund, Haiman, and Loehr, we investigate the combinatorics of the symmetry relation $\widetilde{H}_\mu(\mathbf{x};q,t)=\widetilde{H}_{\mu^\ast}(\mathbf{x};t,q)$. We provide a purely combinatorial proof of the relation in the case of Hall-Littlewood polynomials ($q=0$) when $\mu$ is a partition with at most three rows, and for the coefficients of the square-free monomials in $\mathbf{x}$ for all shapes $\mu$. We also provide a proof for the full relation in the case when $\mu$ is a hook shape, and for all shapes at the specialization $t=1$. Our work in the Hall-Littlewood case reveals a new recursive structure for the cocharge statistic on words.


In this thesis, the value of various MRI techniques was addressed in patients with nonpalpable breast lesions. Both studies with an emphasis on the clinical – epidemiological aspects of MRI of the breast (chapters 2, 3, 6) and studies that focused primarily on the physics – technical aspects (chapters 4, 5, 7) were performed. In a diagnostic meta-analysis (chapter 2), we found an overall sensitivity of dynamic contrast-enhanced Breast MRI of 0.90 (95% CI 0.88 – 0.92) and an overall specificity of 0.72 (95% CI 0.67 – 0.77) using the bivariate analysis apporach for diagnostic meta-analyses. The specificity varied more across the individual studies than the sensitivity did. In chapter 3, the rationale, objectives and study design of the MONET - study (MR mammography Of Nonpalpable BrEast Tumors) were described. The purpose of this randomized study is to evaluate whether performing dynamic contrast-enhanced Breast MRI in addition to mammography in patients with nonpalpable suspicious breast lesions will improve breast cancer management. The results of the MONET – study are expected to be available medio 2010. The influence of the choice of b-values on the ADC of suspicious breast lesions in quantitative DWI of the breast was assessed in chapter 4. The magnitude of the ADC value varied with the choice of different b-values. However, the diagnostic performance was not affected by the choice of the b-values. These results imply, that to differentiate benign from malignant breast lesions, the choice of the b-values is not relevant. However, when the absolute ADC value of a lesion would be compared to reported ADC threshold values in literature, the b-values should be taken into account. In our computer simulations and phantom experiments, we found that in the simple situation of a single hypointensity or calcification against a homogeneous background, the hypointensity or calcification could be visualized on MR images with both a negative and a positive contrast by applying a projection dephaser in the slice select direction (chapter 5). If these results could be extrapolated to the clinical situation of a patient with microcalcifications in the breast, a challenging diagnostic problem could potentially be overcome. The results described in chapter 6 show that MRI-guided 14-gauge core-needle biopsy at 3T is a safe and effective method for breast biopsy in lesions that are occult on mammography and ultrasound. The 9.5 mm susceptibility artifact caused by the biopsy needle did not hamper the procedure. In case of a benign biopsy result, 6 month follow-up Breast MRI should be performed. The performance of proton resonance frequency shift (PRFS) – based MR thermometry in clinical practise can be hampered by local magnetic field disturbances in the breast due to respiration and cardiac motion. We found these field disturbances in the breast to amount to approximately 0.13 ppm due to regular respiration and 0.16 ppm due to maximum capacity respiration and due to cardiac motion


Mobile Cloud Computing (MCC) is an emerging technology which attempts to combine the storage and processing resources of cloud environment with the dynamicity and accessibility of mobile devices. Security, particularly authentication, is fast evolving as a focal area in mobile cloud computing research. This paper comprehensively surveys the various authentication mechanisms proposed so far for mobile cloud computing. We propose a novel classification system for existing authentication methods in MCC. Further, the pros and cons of the various methods are discussed. We present a comparative analysis and recommends future research in improving the surveyed implicit authentication by establishing cryptographic security of stored usage context and actions.


The objective of this project is to model and simulate a threephase Voltage Source Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) Rectifier Based on Direct Current Control feeding an indirect vector controlled Induction Motor Drive (VCIM) . Based on the mathematical model of PWM rectifier, the dual close loop design with decoupled feed-forward control is applied to the three phase voltage source rectifier. The objective of this project is to model and simulate a three-phase Voltage Source Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) Rectifier The first objective is to realize unity power factor at the input ac mains and regulate output voltage. The second one is to realize that the above designed PWM rectifier will always give its objectives of stiff dc voltage and unity power factor irrespective of the load and its controlling methods. Considered resistive load on rectifier and check the performance of the PWM rectifier with direct current control. The induction motors is taken with indirect vector control and consider a load on inverter, so as to reflect the most practical aspect of the load for checking the viability of the rectifier design. The operation of Induction machine is not disturbed the PWM rectifier objectives. The designed PWM rectifier is considered as capable of feeding the Common DC coupling point(dc bus).


Objective: High-frequency stimulation of the globus pallidus internus (GPi) is a highly effective therapy in primary dystonia. Recent reports have also demonstrated almost immediate improvement of motor symptoms in patients with tardive dystonia after pallidal deep brain stimulation (DBS). Here, we show the long-term effect of continuous bilateral GPi DBS in tardive dystonia on motor function, quality of life (QoL), and mood. Methods: Nine consecutive patients undergoing DBS for tardive dystonia were assessed during continuous DBS at 3 time points: 1 week, 3 to 6 months, and last follow-up at the mean of 41 (range 18–80) months after surgery using established and validated movement disorder and neuropsychological scales. Clinical assessment was performed by a neurologist not blinded to the stimulation settings. Results: One week and 3 to 6 months after pallidal DBS, Burke–Fahn–Marsden Dystonia Rating Scale (BFMDRS) motor scores were ameliorated by 56.4 ± 26.7% and 74.1 ± 15.8%, BFMDRS disability scores by 62.5 ± 21.0% and 88.9 ± 10.3%, and Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale (AIMS) scores by 52.3 ± 24.1% and 69.5 ± 27.6%, respectively. At last follow-up, this improvement compared with the presurgical assessment was maintained as reflected by a reduction of BFMDRS motor scores by 83.0 ± 12.2%, BFMDRS disability scores by 67.7 ± 28.0%, and AIMS scores by 78.7 ± 19.9%. QoL improved significantly in physical components, and there was a significant improvement in affective state. Furthermore, cognitive functions remained unchanged compared with presurgical status in the long-term follow-up. No permanent adverse effects were observed. Conclusion: Pallidal deep brain stimulation is a safe and effective long-term treatment in patients with medically refractory tardive dystonia.


Internal stipe necrosis of Agaricus bisporus is recognized as an emerging and potentially serious disease in the UK mushroom industry. Symptoms are visible only on harvest and appear as a variable browning reaction in the centre of stipes, which may be accompanied by limited collapse of the internal tissues. The hypothesis that this problem is of bacterial origin was investigated, initially by an extensive bacteriological examination of affected mushrooms. The enteric bacterium Ewingella americana was isolated from at least 93% of symptomatic mushrooms. Various strains of Pseudomonas fluorescens are also usually present in diseased mushrooms, but no single P. fluorescens biovar was consistently associated with the disease. Typical symptoms were reproduced following infection trials with isolates of E. americana derived from diseased mushrooms. In addition, strains recovered from diseased mushrooms following such trials were shown by RFLP studies to be identical to those applied, thereby confirming Koch's postulates for these strains. The possible contribution of other bacterial species to symptom development is discussed.


The paper deals with chemometric analysis of the inductive effect. The notion of inductive effect is discussed, and unambiguous definitions are given for the notions of triad: reaction centre-basic skeleton-substituent, and the therewith connected definitions of inductive effect. For a quantitative description of inductive effect 7 types of chemical models were selected including noncyclic compounds, cyclic, and bicyclic compounds, derivatives of quinuclidine, 3-substituted benzoic acids, sulfonamides and pyridines. Altogether 139 sets of experimental data from literature have been used including altogether 1 294 points (9.3 points per set, 5 points at least) reflecting substituent effects of 34 substituents. It has been found that for a standard model the dissociation of substituted bicycloalkanecarboxylic acids only is satisfactory, all the other models reflecting also the mesomeric effects to variable extent (up to 10%). A distinctly different substitution behaviour was observed with 19F and 13C NMR chemical shifts of 4-substituted 1-fluoro- or 1-methylbicyclo[2.2.2]octanes. The earlier suggested model of substituent effects based on different way of transmission of substituent effects (3 classes) has been used for separating the inductive and mesomeric effects: it is mathematically presented as a set of straight lines with the intersection point at the so-called isoeffect substituent constant. Using the modified method of conjugated deviations a chemometric scale has been created for the inductive effect which agrees very well with the conventional scales given in literature; the only differences were observed for F and CH=O substituents (which are overestimated and underestimated, respectively, in literature). In the context given the inductive effect appears as a fundamental quantity forming a basis for quantitative description of other effects transferred by electrons.


We study the relationship between offshoring and job stability in Italy in the period 1995–2001 by using an administrative dataset on manufacturing workers. We find that the international fragmentation of production negatively affects job stability. Service offshoring and material purchases from developed countries foster job-to-job transitions within manufacturing of all workers and white collars, respectively. However, the most detrimental effects for job stability come from material offshoring to low income countries which drives blue collar workers out of manufacturing. Therefore, policy interventions should especially focus on this latter category of workers more exposed to fragmentation processes and foreign competition © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.


Norbert Elias's The Civilizing Process, which was published in German in 1939 and first translated into English in two volumes in 1978 and 1982, is now widely regarded as one of the great works of twentieth-century sociology. This work attempted to explain how Europeans came to think of themselves as more "civilized" than their forebears and neighboring societies. By analyzing books about manners that had been published between the thirteenth and eighteenth centuries, Elias observed changing conceptions of shame and embarrassment with respect to, among other things, bodily propriety and violence. To explain those developments, Elias examined the interplay among the rise of state monopolies of power, increasing levels of economic interconnectedness among people, and pressures to become attuned to others over greater distances that led to advances in identifying with others in the same society irrespective of social origins. Elias's analysis of the civilizing process was not confined, however, to explaining changing social bonds within separate societies. The investigation also focused on the division of Europe into sovereign states that were embroiled in struggles for power and security.

This article provides an overview and analysis of Elias's principal claims in the light of growing interest in this seminal work in sociology. The analysis shows how Elias defended higher levels of synthesis in the social sciences to explain relations between "domestic" and "international" developments, and changes in social structure and in the emotional lives of modern people. Elias's investigation, which explained long-term processes of development over several centuries, pointed to the limitations of inquiries that concentrate on short-term intervals. Only by placing short-term trends in long-term perspective could sociologists understand contemporary developments. This article maintains that Elias's analysis of the civilizing process remains an exemplary study of long-term developments in Western societies over the last five centuries.


The United States International Trade Commission ("ITC") investigates alleged trade violations of Section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (19 U.S.C. § 1337) including importation of products infringing patents. This paper seeks to explore the impact of voluntary public commitments made by patentees, limiting the enforcement and exploitation of their patents, on the role of the ITC in protecting domestic industry. The ITC exists to protect domestic industry, and not the patent. A patent pledge may preclude the seeking of injunctive relief, but that goes to the patent itself. Exclusion orders are an appropriate remedy for infringement of a patent subject to a patent pledge, unless the exclusion order is contrary to the public interest. An exclusion order is not an injunction, and can be not conclusively precluded by a patent pledge. The exclusion order is a statutory mandate that can be overcome only by evidence that the statutorily enumerated public interest factors are frustrated. The availability of an exclusion order remains critical to a continuing balance of encouraging contribution to standard setting bodies, while still allowing access to standards, preventing unfair competition and protecting our domestic industry.


Current analog harmonic rejection mixers typically provide 30-40 dB of harmonic rejection, which is often not sufficient. We present a mixed analog-digital approach to harmonic rejection mixing that uses a digital interference canceler to reject the strongest interferer. Simulations indicate that, given a practical RF scenario, the digital canceler is able to improve the signal-to-interference ratio by 30-45 dB.


No empire has been larger or more diverse than the British Empire.At its apogee in the 1930s, 42 million Britons governed 500 million foreign subjects.Britannia ruled the waves and a quarter of the earth's surface was painted red on the map.Where Britain's writ did not run directly, its influence, sustained by matchless industrial and commercial sinews, was often paramount. Yet no empire (except the Russian) disappeared more swiftly.Within a generation this mighty structure sank almost without trace, leaving behind a scatter of sea-girt dependencies and a ghost of empire, the British Commonwealth of nations.Equally, it can be claimed that Britain bequeathed its former colonies economic foundations, a cultural legacy, a sporting spirit, a legal code and a language more ubiquitous than Latin ever was. In a book of unparalleled scholarship, Piers Brendon presents the story of the decline and eclipse of British might, the major historical event in the closing stages of the second millennium.Full of vivid particulars, brief lives, telling anecdotes, comic episodes, symbolic moments and illustrative vignettes, The Decline and Fall of the British Empire evokes remote places as well as distant times. From the war for American independence, the end of the Raj, the 'scram out of Africa' and the unfinished business of the Falklands and Hong Kong to the new 'informal' empire of the United States, this is a comprehensive and engaging account.


Prescription rates for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) medications for both adults and children have been steadily increasing over the last two decades. Widely used ADHD medications include methylphenidate hydrochloride (Ritalin and Concerta), amphetamine (Adderall), and lisdexamfetamine dimesylate (Vyvanse). Urine excreted within 48-96 hours can contain 78-97% of the intact drug or metabolites. Because the drugs and their metabolites may not be removed from influent by conventional wastewater treatment, detectable concentrations can be found in wastewater effluent and in surface water, becoming an environmental problem. This research focuses on the detection of amphetamine, hippuric acid, methylphenidate, and ritalinic acid in wastewater. Influent and effluent wastewater samples were collected and filtered prior to solid phase extraction (SPE) using Oasis HLB cartridges. HLB is an all-purpose, strongly hydrophilic, reversed-phase, water-wettable polymer. Known concentrations of amphetamine-D5, methylphenidate-D9, and benzoylecgonine-D3 were added to all samples and to all calibration standards to serve as internal standards. Half of the collected samples were spiked with known concentrations of amphetamine, methylphenidate, and ritalinic acid, and the remaining half were not spiked. All samples were analyzed using a Varian ProStar210 high-performance liquid chromatograph system interfaced with a Varian 320 MS triple quadrupole mass spectrometer.


KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDE OF RURAL ADULTS REGARDING TOBACCO CHEWING AT PAKWARA, MORADABAD, NORTHERN INDIA. MRS.KALAISELVI, PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR, LECTURER, MR.JAIJO,
CO-INVESTIGATOR, NURSING TUTOR.
BACK GROUND OF THE STUDY: Tobacco is an addictive substance because it contains the chemical nicotine. It causes the brain to release adrenaline, creating a buzz of pleasure and energy. Chewing tobacco is known to be strongly associated with a number of major health problems, including oral cancer, high blood pressure, gum disease, reduced sperm count, and erectile dysfunction. The World Health Organization predicts that tobacco deaths in India may exceed 1.5 million annually by 2020. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A descriptive survey design was adopted for the study. In this study 500 adults were selected by convenience sampling method from Pakwara area of Moradabad, UP, India. The data were collected from Dec 2014 to Jan 2015 by using structured interview schedule. RESULTS: Majority of the adults had low knowledge regarding tobacco chewing. Whereas nearly a quarter of subjects had average knowledge. Shockingly no one of them had high knowledge regarding tobacco chewing. Only about 5% of subjects were having highly favorable attitude whereas nearly a third of adults had moderately favorable attitude and approximately two third of adults had unfavorable attitude towards tobacco chewing. There is no significant association between knowledge of adults regarding tobacco chewing and their socio demographic variables except with dietary pattern. The result interprets that variables like knowledge and attitude is having a weak positive correlation.
Key words: Tobacco Chewing, Rural Adults, Knowledge, Attitude


This book explores the historical, cultural, and political effects of teaching English composition in China. Until recently, American composition scholars have studied writing instruction mainly within the borders of their own nation, rarely considering English composition in the global context in which writing in English is increasingly taught. "Writing in the Devil's Tongue" challenges this anachronistic approach by examining the history of English composition instruction in an East Asian country. Author Xiaoye You offers scholars a chance to observe how a nation changed from monolingual writing practices to bilingual writing instruction in a school setting. You makes extensive use of archival sources to help trace bilingual writing instruction in China back to 1862, when English was first taught in government schools. Treating the Chinese pursuit of modernity as the overarching theme, he explores how the entry of Anglo-American rhetoric and composition challenged and altered the traditional monolithic practice of teaching Chinese writing in the Confucian spirit. The author focuses on four aspects of this history: the Chinese negotiation with Anglo-American rhetoric, their search for innovative approaches to instruction, students' situated use of English writing, and local scholarship in English composition. Unlike previous composition histories, which have tended to focus on institutional, disciplinary, and pedagogical issues, "Writing in the Devil's Tongue" brings students back to center stage by featuring several passages written by them in each chapter. These passages not only showcase rhetorical and linguistic features of their writings but also serve as representative anecdotes that reveal the complex ways in which students, responding to their situations, performed multivalent, intercultural discourses. In addition, You moves out of the classroom and into the historical, cultural, and political contexts that shaped both Chinese writing and composing practices and the pedagogies that were adopted to teach English to Chinese in China. Teachers, students, and scholars reading this book will learn a great deal about the political and cultural impact that teaching English composition has had in China and about the ways in which Chinese writing and composition continues to be shaped by rich and diverse cultural traditions and political discourses. In showcasing the Chinese struggle with teaching and practicing bilingual composition, "Writing in the Devil's Tongue" alerts American writing scholars and teachers to an untimely English monolingual mentality and urges them to modify their rhetorical assumptions, pedagogical approaches, and writing practices in the age of globalization.


I. Introduction II. The Development of the Pro Se Frenzy III. The Development of Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 8(a)(2) A. Conley v. Gibson & Bell Atlantic v. Twombly B. Erickson v. Pardus C. Ashcroft v. Iqbal IV. The relationship between Pro Se Litigation and Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 8(a)(2) V. Denial of Due Process and the Role of the Court System A. Labor and Employment Law and the Pro Se Litigant B. Civil Rights Claims and the Pro Se Litigant C. Divorce Law and the Pro Se Litigant VI. Proposed Solution A. Modifying the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure B. State-Wide Programs Should Be Implemented 1. Self-Service Centers 2. Court Personnel 3. Attorneys C. Say "NO" to Pro Se Litigation VII. Conclusion I. INTRODUCTION At the core of the American judicial system is the unfettered right to due process and equal protection of the law. (2) Indeed, the Due Process Clause of the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments contain the constitutional underpinning of our right to access the judicial system. (3) However, the Supreme Court of the United States has yet to interpret the Due Process Clause of the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendment as providing the absolute right to access the courts. (4) In response, most states have enacted a constitutional provision that either expressly, or by interpretation, allows individuals to represent their own causes in the courts of that state. (5) Ideally, equal protection of the law entitles an individual to equal justice and the right to access the American court system, notwithstanding their financial status. (6) The painstaking truth of the matter is that the financial status of the aggrieved party does play a vital role in the ability of an individual to successfully maneuver through our adversary system. (7) In particular, pro se litigants, (8) who often do not have the financial means to hire legal representation, are frequently denied the right to proceed through our court system because their complaints fail to allege a "short and plain statement showing that the pleader is entitled to relief." (9) In light of the recent decision announced by the Supreme Court of the United States in Ashcroft v. Iqbal, (10) the pleading standard established under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 8(a)(2) requires that, in order to survive a motion to dismiss, a complaint must contain sufficient factual matter to "state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face." (11) With respect to pro se plaintiffs, Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 8(a)(2) is unconstitutional because it violates an individual's procedural due process rights by requiring a pleading standard that a layperson finds difficult to satisfy. Even under the less stringent standard announced in Conley v. Gibson, (12) pro se plaintiffs have found it difficult to survive a motion to dismiss. (13) Nevertheless, pro se plaintiffs who do not possess the requisite skill, knowledge, or experience to effectively comply with the requirements of Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 8(a)(2), are allowed to draft and file their own complaints in civil action cases. (14) Contrary to numerous opinions, which propose that pro se plaintiffs are granted more leniency in fulfilling the requirements of Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 8(a)(2), an overwhelming majority of their complaints are dismissed for failure to pass muster under the 8(a)(2) standard. (15) This, in turn, could potentially violate a pro se litigant's due process rights because their claims are prematurely dismissed, thus depriving them of the opportunity to be heard before a court of law. Furthermore, this pattern of premature dismissal is prevalent in areas of the law such as labor and employment, civil rights cases, and divorce law. (16) Therefore, in order to afford pro se litigants their constitutional due process rights, this Comment proposes that the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure be modified to include guidance for pro se plaintiffs filing a civil complaint or a prohibition against pro se plaintiffs filing their own complaint. …


Battery monitoring is vital for most electric vehicles (EVs), because the safety, operation, and even the life of the passenger depends on the battery system. This attribute is exactly the major function of the battery-management system (BMS)-to check and control the status of battery within their specified safe operating conditions. In this paper, a typical BMS block diagram has been proposed using various functional blocks. The state of charge (SOC) estimation has been implemented using Coulomb counting and open-circuit voltage methods, thereby eliminating the limitation of the stand-alone Coulomb counting method. By modeling the battery with SOC as one of the state variables, SOC can be estimated, which is further corrected by the Kalman filtering method. The battery parameters from experimental results are integrated in the model, and simulation results are validated by experiment.


This guide provides a sampling of the materials available on this subject. To view more visit the library or browse the catalog. For Atlantic City information view our Heston Collection.


1. Historical data of the spring migration of the damson hop aphid Phorodon humuli recorded at Wye, Kent, and Rosemaund, Herefordshire, and the phenology of overwintering host-plant flowering, recorded at East Malling, Kent, were examined for possible associations. 2. Relationships between mean temperature over a phenophase interval, defined by flowering phenology of two overwintering host plum species (Myrobalan Prunus cerasifera and Victoria Prunus domestica), which are overwintering hosts for P. humuli, and the start of migration of the aphid, versus the reciprocal of the interval duration (days), were significant for Wye (situated 32 km from East Malling) and at Rosemaund, a more north-westerly site 260 km from East Malling. 3. Predictive sample reuse (PSR) methodology was used to validate the potential of derived models to predict the start of migration of P. humuli at the two sites. Data for model determination and validation consisted of observations of P. humuli migration over 20 years (1967-86) at Wye and 15 years (1972-86) at Rosemaund. 4. The predictive performance of the host-plant flowering- aphid migration phenology models was compared with that of two other methods that use historical field data to predict insect life cycle events. The host-plant flowering-aphid migration phenology model using the beginning of flowering of Victoria gave the best prediction of the start of migration at Wye using one PSR criterion. The empirical degree-day (DD) program gave the best prediction using an alternative criterion. For the more distant Rosemaund site, the empirical DD program performed best. 5. The potential use of host-plant phenology to predict 50% migration of P. humuli at Wye and Rosemaund was also investigated, and compared with the empirical DD programme using the PSR method. The host-plant phenology model gave good prediction of migration at Wye but poor prediction at Rosemaund, whereas the empirical DD programme gave poor prediction at Wye and only reasonable prediction at Rosemaund. 6. The value of using historical data of host-plant and insect phenology to develop predictive models is illustrated, and the desirability of comparing the performance of alternative phenology models that may be used for prescriptive use is discussed


Introduction: Adviced by the ISS team in 2000,
team members Steve Squyres, Peter Thomas (Cornell
Univ.), and Gerhard Neukum (DLR Berlin) agreed to
split the upcoming planning task for Cassini Imaging
(ISS) observations of the mid-sized icy moons between
the two groups. (Excluded were observations for orbit
dynamic purposes and optical navigation.) Since this
time, Mimas, Enceladus, Tethys, and Hyperion became
"Cornell moons", while Dione, Rhea, Iapetus, and
Phoebe are the "DLR moons" for ISS. This discrimina-
tion is not considered strict, and mutual support be-
tween the two groups worked extremely well through-
out the mission. The Cornell group is also responsible
for ISS observation planning of the small inner moons,
and the DLR/FU Berlin groups later took over the ISS
observations of the irregular moons.
Prime mission concept: For the icy mid-sized
moons (and to a lesser degree for distant Iapetus), the
observations were subdivided into the following six
categories: (A) Targeted flyby observations; (B) Re-
gional mapping, geodesy, regional color; (C) Limb
topography; (D) global multi-color; (E) Spectropho-
tometry; (F) miscellaneous (like pre-SOI, photo opps,
zero phase, or eclipse imaging).
The targeted flybys (there was one for each "DLR
moon" in the prime mission) were treated most impor-
tant. As a general scheme, the agreement was to stay
≥ 2 min at each location ("footprint") to allow VIMS to
take data at the same field-of-view as the ISS Narrow
Angle Camera (ISS-NAC). In the meantime, ISS took 3
or 4 color images (Uv3, green (Grn), infrared-1 (Ir1)
and/or Ir3) in 2x2 binning (summation) mode, followed
by a full-resolution image in the clear filter.
REGMAP: Second most important was regional
mapping which followed the same scheme.
REGGEOD: The purpose of these is stereo imag-
ing; they can be combined with regional mapping or
other "geodesy" observations.
Limb topography: Except for Iapetus LIMB-
TOPOs, these observations were usually not planned
separately because all global and many regional images
contain the limb and are thus useful here.
For global multi-color observations (GLOCOLs)
which were taken at spatial resolutions so that the full
disk of the moon roughly fills the field-of-view of the
NAC, a consistent filter scheme was developed. Uv3,
Grn, Ir1, and Ir3 ("N04" filter sets) were used jointly
with the Bl1 (blue), Red, Ir2, and Ir4 broadband filters
(N08) plus the 3x3 polarizer filters (P0,P60,P120) x
(Grn,Uv3,Mt2) (NP09 filter set). Mt2 (methane-2) is
RHEA, IAPETUS, AND PHOEBE IN THE
and K.-D. Matz2, 1Freie Universitat Berlin, Germany
Berlin, Germany.
the filter with the longest wavelength useable with the
three polarizer filters. As a maximum, up to 24 differ-
ent color filters (N24) plus NP09 were used with the
NAC for satellite multi-color imaging.
The spectrophotometry task had four variables to
deal with: sub-spacecraft (sub-S/C) location, distance
to the moon, phase angle, and position of the illuminat-
ed side (left, right, top, bottom). Since control of all
four was not practical, we chose to observe five of the
mid-sized moons (Mimas to Rhea) mainly during equa-
torial orbits at sub-S/C longitudes of 22°W, 94°W,
166°W, 238°W, and 310°W, while the lit side was
pointing towards bottom right (north up). The phase
angles of the available data range from almost zero to
168°. The request naming scheme contains the sub-S/C
longitude and the phase angle. For example, a Dione
observation at 310°W and 64° phase angle in orbit 15
is named 015DI_310W064PH.
Tools: Critical tools used for planning are pdt
("pointing design tool", from JPL), ISSPT ("ISS plan-
ning tool", from the Imaging team), and ckView
("cKernel Viewer", from DLR). Pdt computes the
command files required to control the S/C's attitude for
general poining and detailed mosaics. With ISSPT, the
camera command files ("IOIs") are built. CkView is
extremely valuable and capable to visualize the
pointings created with pdt. It is also used for many
other missions like Dawn, Rosetta, or JUICE.
Phoebe 000PH: The sole targeted flyby of an out-
er satellite took place at 11 June 2004 at a minimum
altitude of 2070 km over the lit side. Approach took
place at 87° phase, departure around 93°. Complete
rotations of Phoebe (9.3 h) were observed twice in-
bound and once outbound.
Iapetus 049IA: The sole targeted Iapetus flyby
took place at 10 September 2007 at a closest-approach
distance of 1615 km. The inbound trajectory allowed
high phase observations and included a "Saturn system
view from Iapetus", a stellar occultation and a cool ride
over the giant equatorial ridge. Outbound imaging at
low phase showed the bright trailing hemisphere at
great detail. About 15 min after downlink start, a cos-
mic-ray hit triggered a switch and forced the S/C to go
into safe mode. The S/C was recovered within a few
hours, and the data downlink and a large orbit-trim
maneuver were executed properly. However, all lower
resolution outbound data was lost. More details and a
brief history of the Iapetus flyby are described in [1].
References: [1] Denk, T. (2008), Planetary Report
28, no.1, 10-16.


The search space of rooted phylogenetic trees is vast and a major research focus of recent decades has been the development of algorithms to effectively navigate this space. However this space is tiny when compared with the space of rooted phylogenetic networks, and navigating this enlarged space remains a poorly understood problem. This, and the difficulty of biologically interpreting such networks, obstructs adoption of networks as tools for modelling reticulation. Here, we argue that the superimposition of biologically motivated constraints, via an SQL-style language, can both stimulate use of network software by biologists and potentially significantly prune the search space.


The explosion in wireless information technology has changed the way we live and work. However, the possibilities for improvement and expansion of these wireless services are immense. The planning of future wireless architectures has already begun and some of the pitfalls identified. This paper presents the security concerns in a novel implementation of a future (fourth and fifth generation) wireless architecture and the techniques to overcome them. These techniques involve the use of elliptic curve cryptography in a public key cryptosystem.


Abstract This paper proposes a new class of estimators for the autoregressive coefficient of a dynamic panel data model with random individual effects and nonstationary initial condition. The new estimators we introduce are weighted averages of the well-known first difference (FD) GMM/IV estimator and the pooled ordinary least squares (POLS) estimator. The proposed procedure seeks to exploit the differing strengths of the FD GMM/IV estimator relative to the pooled OLS estimator. In particular, the latter is inconsistent in the stationary case but is consistent and asymptotically normal with a faster rate of convergence than the former when the underlying panel autoregressive process has a unit root. By averaging the two estimators in an appropriate way, we are able to construct a class of estimators which are consistent and asymptotically standard normal, when suitably standardized, in both the stationary and the unit root case. The results of our simulation study also show that our proposed estimator has favorable finite sample properties when compared to a number of existing estimators.


Face plays an important role in identification of any individual and it is the first and primary point of attention in social life. Face recognition is one of the important and popular visual recognition problems due to its challenging nature and its diverse set of applications. A face acknowledgment mechanism is one of the well-known Computer Vision Application for verification or identification of any individual either from a given picture or from any feature source. Face recognition finds application in surveillance, law enforcement, security and other areas. A face recognition is three-step process: preprocessing, feature extraction and classification. Before preprocessing, detection of facial part is carried out but now it is optional, in this, our aim is to select out the face region and reject out any other region so that further steps can be applied very effectively. Face detection is useful for compression, tracking of face, and estimating a pose of the face. Once a face portion is separated out then next step is to remove various disturbances present in that such as illumination variation, noise etc., using a preprocessing chain. Preprocessing chain consists of gamma correction, difference of Gaussian filtering, masking and contrast equalization. Then extricate the useful information using different feature extraction such as Local Binary Pattern (LBP), Local Ternary Pattern (LTP) and Dual Cross Pattern (DCP) from that in the form of feature vector. Local Binary Pattern compares the neighboring pixels with center pixel and generates the LBP code. In LTP, three-value code is generated depending upon the comparison between neighboring pixels and center pixel. From that, positive local binary pattern and negative local binary pattern are obtained. At last, system does recognition of face and returns the identity of that individual from the database. Accuracy measures, classification techniques and compression methods are involved in this phase. DCP encodes second order information in the vertical, horizontal and diagonal direction, by performing the encoding of sample points in the local surrounding region of every center pixel in an face image.

 Simulation is performed in Matlab 8.6 to evaluate the performance of face recognition framework using LBP,LTP and DCP, and ORL, AR, CMU-PIE face database is used for this purpose. The simulation performance of presented technique is evaluated in terms of face recognition rate. On the ORL face database, face recognition rate for LBP is 80.50%, for LTP is 87.50% and for DCP is 97.00% similarly on the AR database face recognition for LBP is 88.62% for LTP is 91.73% and for DCP is 95.74% On the CMU PIE database for LBP is 23% for LTP is 27.85% and for DCP is 73%.


This study was designed to investigate the pathogenesis of chlorine gas (Cl2) induced acute lung injury and oedema. Isolated blood-perfused rabbit lungs were ventilated either with air (n=7) or air plus 500 parts per million (ppm) of Cl2 (n=7) for 10 min. Capillary pressure, measured by analysing the pressure/time transients of pulmonary arterial, venous and double (both arterial and venous) occlusions, was unchanged in both groups. In Cl2-exposed lungs, the fluid filtration rate increased from -0.228+/-0.25 to 1.823+/-1.23 mL min(-1) x 100 g(-1) (p<0.001) and the filtration coefficient increased from 0.091+/-0.01 to 0.259+/-0.07 mL x min(-1) x cmH2O(-1) x 100 g(-1) (p<0.001). No changes were observed in the control lungs. The extravascular lung water/blood-free dry weight ratio was 8.6+/-1.6 in the Cl2 group and 4.0+/-0.5 in the control group (p<0.001), confirming that the increase in lung weight was related to accumulation of extravascular fluid. Although the alveolar flooding by oedema is explained, in part, by the Cl2-induced epithelial injury, our results suggest that Cl2 exposure induces acute lung injury and oedema due to an increased microvascular permeability.


The waggle dance of the honeybee Apis mellifera, used to recruit nestmates to a food source, takes place on the surface of the combs in the dark hive. The mechanism of information transfer between dancer and follower bees is not entirely understood. The results presented here reveal a novel factor that must be brought into any consideration of this mechanism, namely that the nature of the floor on which the bees dance has a considerable influence on the recruitment of nestmates to a food source. Dancers on combs with open empty cells recruit three times as many nestmates to a food source as dancers on capped brood cells.


A radar meteor facility in operation in the Southern Hemisphere has been constructed so as to provide routine measurements of the heliocentric orbits of Earth-intersecting meteoroids to a limiting size equivalent to the largest of the zodiacal dust particles (a few hundred mum). Such information pertaining to the orbital characteristics of the solar system small particle population is essential in providing a database for dynamical studies of this population, and of its origin and evolutionary processes. The features of this installation (Advanced Meteor Orbit Radar: AMOR) are compared with those of other techniques for orbit determination. The system uses a 26.2 MHZ, 20 kW pulse radar transmitter. AMOR's limiting sensitivity is equivalent to a visual meteor magnitude Of +13 corresponding to a particle radius of approximately 100 mum, or a mass of approximately 1 mug. In contrast to previous orbit radars the system employs a narrow (width 3.2-degrees to 3 dB) fan-shaped antenna beam to constrain the echo azimuth of detected meteor trains, a 5lambda phase pair being used to determine their elevations. The velocity and radiant position are then obtained by measuring the time-lags between multiple receiver sites, these time differences being the result of the time-of-flight between points on the train at which specular reflections occur for each site. These multiple stations provide an 8 km baseline and are linked via FM telemetry. In addition, for a proportion of the meteors the echoes at one or more of the sites provide independent velocity determinations through the Fresnel diffraction profile as the train forms, permitting the determination of meteoroid atmospheric decelerations in 5-10 per cent of cases. This is an important feature since an accurate calculation of the pre-atmospheric speed can then be made for many meteoroids and the deceleration modelled for those not displaying the Fresnel oscillations. The tasks of on-site recording of multiplexed signal channels, the data organization, and signal processing routines to extract suitable echoes in the presence of noise, are facilitated by the use of high-level software language operation on PCs. Data processing provides multiple echo analysis and the extraction of velocity and deceleration information from diffraction patterns in order to yield the meteor motion in topocentric coordinates, and thereafter the heliocentric orbit. The radar measurement uncertainties are also investigated in terms of the accuracy of the deduced orbits. Additionally, well-known streams which yield meteors of high atmospheric velocity provide a stringent astronomical test of AMOR's overall performance. The data handling capacity of AMOR permits the recording, the orbit reduction and the efficient presentation of orbital data using graphical packages to be carried out on a routine basis. The daily Yield is approximately 1500 with > 2 X 10(5) secured to date; this is greater than the number determined in all previous meteoroid orbit surveys combined. Most of these orbits have been from radiants at declinations +5-degrees < delta < -30-degrees, but the transmitting antenna is now being modified so as to permit deep southern radiants to be surveyed more effectively.


Most climate models use a rheology of the viscous-plastic type to simulate sea ice dynamics. With this rheology, large scale velocity and thickness fields can be realistically simulated, but the representation of small scale defor- mation rates and Linear Kinematic Features (LKF) is thought to be inadequate. Here, the spatial grid spacing of a traditional VP sea ice model is gradually reduced to 1 km in order to investigate how LKFs emerge with increasing resolution and to explore spatial and temporal scaling laws for sea ice deformation.
Increasing the spatial resolution localizes the strain rates along the LKFs. At 1 km grid spacing, the distributions of strain rates have power-law tails that clearly deviate from the basin of attraction of Gaussian distributions and, in this sense, agree with satellite observations and results obtained with the elasto-brittle rheology. Increasing the resolution of the wind forcing leads to more small scale strain rate events in the ice and improves the agreement with observational spatial scaling laws.


The effect of hydrogen on the properties of amorphous carbon nitride films deposited onto Si substrates by magnetron sputtering device has been studied. The influence of hydrogen to roughness, porous character of films, composition and residual stress was investigated by atomic force microscopy, thermal desorption mass spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning low energy electron microscopy and by goniometer equipped with Cu X-ray tube. The adding of hydrogen to nitrogen discharge a causes decrease in the high value of compressive stress (elimination of delamination of the films, increasing of nitrogen content in the bulk). On the other hand hydrogen increases roughness and porosity.


The purpose of this study was to examine the attitudes among lecturers and find out if there was a resistance that could be an obstacle to an increased use of LMS (Learning management systems) in the higher education. At the University College of Boras 22 lecturers were interviewed, the sample consisted of lecturers that had the opportunity to use WebCT during the last 9 months. The answers show that most of the lecturers, including those who only used minor parts of the LMS, believed that they could benefit from using a LMS in the future. The study did not support the hypothesis that fear of the complexity of the system or unwanted effects on the education is a main reason for lecturers not to use LMS, when lecturers decide individually to use tools in the systems, the major concern is the initial amount of work compared with the expected benefits. Due to the benefits of a fully implemented LMS and the result of this study it is recommended that institutions in higher education take actions to establish LMS as a standard tool, and the handling a part of the professional competence of the lecturers.


Aims The aim of this report is to use the GO-CHILD birth cohort to map the prevalence of atopic diseases in children in the UK at 1 year. Methods GO–CHILD is a multicentre prospective birth cohort study. 2135 infants were recruited antenatally and followed up by questionnaires to determine the prevalence of infections and atopic symptoms at 3, 6, 12 and 24 months. The 12 month questionnaire ascertains atopic symptoms within the first year of life. Results From the 1226 1 year questionnaires that have been received, 1123 had been entered and analysed by 3/12/2014. 351 (31%) children had eczema and of these 169 (48%) had this condition for over 6 months. 176 (16%) had experienced dry cough unrelated to infection and 253 (23%) had experienced wheeze. Of those reporting wheeze, 243 (96%) had developed the wheeze during or soon after a viral infection, 161 (60%) had been prescribed salbutamol, 97 (39%) had attended their GP as an emergency and 47 (19%) had been admitted to hospital. 523 (47%) of the children were reported to snore at night and 252 (22%) had a runny or blocked nose unrelated to infection: both symptoms are potentially indicators of allergic rhinitis. 187 (17%) reported a reaction to a food item, of which the most common was cow's milk. Conclusion These interim results show a high prevalence of wheeze, eczema and nasal symptoms in 1 year old children. These data are in line with previous cohort studies. The Manchester Asthma and Allergy Study (MAAS) showed the prevalence of eczema to be 37% and wheeze to be 28% at 1 year. The ALSPAC study found the prevalence of eczema and wheeze to be 25.6% and 23% respectively between 6 and 18 months of age. However our study shows higher levels of upper respiratory symptoms than MAAS which showed a prevalence of 1–2% by 1 year. This study was funded by SPARKS.


Overthrust sheets of granitic rock have numerous features in common with overthrust sheets of ultramafic rock. Regardless of rock type, these overthrust masses are 5 to 10 km thick or more, tens of kilometers wide, and up to hundreds of kilometers long. Their upper parts may consist of undeformed and unmetamorphosed igneous or sedimentary rocks, but near their base the crystalline rocks become tectonites, and retrograde metamorphism is widespread.

A necessary condition for the formation of these sheets is a region of unusually steep geothermal gradient such as may be found behind volcanic arcs or in any region of upwelling mantle (for example, young ocean floor). At the time of detachment, the relatively brittle and rigid cover moves away from its underlying thermally softened base. At first, displacement between cover and base is penetrative, but as strain softening (and shear heating?) proceeds, displacement becomes localized along a fault zone that will be parallel to isotherms in the rock, and the overthrust crystalline-based sheet is thus freed from its base. During movement, the underlying rocks of the detached sheet may be metamorphosed, and fragments of the overridden rocks may be picked up. When movement ends, the cooled sheet is emplaced on top of cooler rocks. Fluids driven from overridden rocks during movement, and following emplacement, will act to reduce frictional resistance and will result in retrograde metamorphism of the overlying crystalline mass. K-Ar dates in the lower part of the overriding sheet may be set during movement.

Such a model explains the observed structural relations, metamorphic history, and thinness of the overthrust sheets. Rigidity of the detached cover and isostasy prevent the cover (suprastructure) from folding; these conditions require that the cover be displaced laterally for great distances. Lateral constraints and lithologic anisotropy will dictate the direction of overthrusting.


Red blood cells (RBCs) moving in circulation are continuously exposed to the reactive oxygen species (ROS) that are circulating within the vascular system of body. The objective of the study is to determine the erythrocyte zeta potential and its morphological changes caused by oxidative stress in hypertensive patients in relation to the risk of development of cardiovascular disease (myocardial infarction). In this retrospective study, we investigated 186 samples, which include hypertension patients (n = 64), myocardial infarction patients (n = 52), treated myocardial infarction patients (n = 20), and normal healthy volunteers (n = 50). Morphological and electrochemical characteristics of RBCs in patients were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy and zeta potential study. These parameters were also statistically analyzed applying one way ANNOVA (Tukey's comparison) using Graph Pad. Statistical analyses of data showed that Hypertensive (ZP-16.06 mV) and cardiac patients (ZP-9.94 mV) RBCs possessed significantly reduced zeta potential relative to that of RBCs from healthy individuals (ZP-23.39 mV) (P-value <0.0001). Microscopic imaging of Hypertensive RBCs revealed increased anisocytes and poikilocytes. These parameters were found exacerbated in patients suffering from Myocardial infarction. Hence, it can be concluded that ZP can be used as an effective diagnostic tool for detection of hypertension associated cardiovascular disorder risk.


To study the effect of acute and chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) on recurrent leukemia, we analysed data on patients with acute leukemia receiving allogeneic marrow transplants in Seattle between 1970 and 1986. Four hundred fifty-four patients survived in remission 150 days after HLA-identical transplant and 114 currently survive five to fifteen years after marrow grafting. At the time of transplant, 252 patients had acute nonlymphocytic leukemia in remission or relapse and 202 had acute lymphocytic leukemia in remission or relapse. According to Kaplan-Meier estimates, recurrence of leukemia following transplantation was observed in 28% of patients developing moderate to severe (grade II-IV) acute GVHD and 48% of patients with no or mild (grade O-I) acute GVHD (p = 0.0028). Relapse was observed in 34% of patients developing clinical extensive chronic GVHD and 45% of patients free of chronic GVHD (p = 0.0001). The incidence of recurrent leukemia was 28% in recipients developing both acute and chronic GVHD and 52% in patients free of both acute and chronic GVHD (p = 0.0001). These data confirm an apparent graft-versus-leukemia effect in patients developing GVHD after allogeneic marrow grafting. Current studies are aimed at determining the influence of such apparent adoptive immunotherapy within the different categories of leukemia and methods to manipulate and augment the clinical benefit of this observation.


Using short-term cultures of hamster embryo cells, we have examined the effects of the free-radical scavenger su- peroxide dismutase (superoxide: superoxide oxidoreductase, EC 18.104.22.168) and the enzyme catalase (hydrogen-peroxide :hydrogen- peroxide oxidoreductase, EC 184.108.40.206) on x-ray- and bleomycin-in- duced transformation and on the enhancement of radiogenic transformation by the tumor promoter 12-0-tetradecanoylphor- bol 13-acetate (TPA). We find that superoxide dismutase inhibits (i) transformation induced by x-ray and bleomycin and (ii) pro- motional action of TPA in vitro. The results suggest that the on- cogenic action of x-rays and bleomycin and the enhancement of oncogenic transformation by TPA are mediated in part by free radicals. The findings also suggest that superoxide dismutase can serve as an inhibitor of oncogenesis and that its actions, as seen in this in vitro system, are most predominantly on inhibiting late events in the progression of cellular transformation-those associated with promotion.


Intestinal guanylate cyclase mediates the action of the heat-stable enterotoxin to cause a decrease in intestinal fluid absorption and to increase chloride secretion, ultimately causing diarrhea. An endogenous ligand that acts on this guanylate cyclase has not previously been found. To search for a potential endogenous ligand, we utilized T84 cells, a human colon carcinoma-derived cell line, in culture as a bioassay. This cell line selectively responds to the toxin in a very sensitive manner with an increase in intracellular cyclic GMP. In the present study, we describe the purification and structure of a peptide from rat jejunum that activates this enzyme. This peptide, which we have termed guanylin, is composed of 15 amino acids and has the following amino acid sequence, PNTCEICAYAACTGC, as determined by automated Edman degradation sequence analysis and electrospray mass spectrometry. Analysis of the amino acid sequence of this peptide reveals a high degree of homology with heat-stable enterotoxins. Solid-phase synthesis of this peptide confirmed that it stimulates increases in T84 cyclic GMP levels. Guanylin required oxidation for expression of bioactivity and subsequent reduction of the oxidized peptide eliminated the effect on cyclic GMP, indicating a requirement for cysteine disulfide bond formation. Synthetic guanylin also displaces heat-stable enterotoxin binding to cultured T84 cells. Based on these data, we propose that guanylin is an activator of intestinal guanylate cyclase and that it stimulates this enzyme through the same receptor binding region as the heat-stable enterotoxins.


Paraphimosis usually develops when a tight foreskin is retracted over the glans penis for a prolonged period. Many esoteric aetiologies have been implicated in the development of paraphimosis including piercing the foreskin, Plasmodium falciparum infection, application of celadine juice to the foreskin, chancroid, pessaries and the implantation of pearls. We report the first two cases of paraphimosis developing during wining, an erotic dance native to Trinidad & Tobago.


Traditionally, the peoples of Southeast Asia have held beliefs in numerous forms of vampires often crossed with ghosts or other spirits, such as Pontianak of the Malay Peninsula, Phi Krasue and Phi Pop of Thailand and the Aswang and Manananggal of the Philippines. These have been theorised as manifestations of fears and repressed aspects of life, including, previously, of dangers that lurk in the wilds surrounding villages. In modern times rumours of and belief in vampires persist and have moved to cities, but these tales are also joined by a more modern bloodsucker, the organ harvester. Poorly-sourced stories of dubious veracity circulate on Facebook feeds, warning parents to keep a close eye on their children lest they are snatched away and killed for their organs. This paper examines parallels between traditional vampire legends of Southeast Asia and current rumours of organ trafficking targeting children, and delves into some of the anxieties fuelling the contemporary stories, anxieties that ultimately spring from the region's fraught reaction to Neoliberalism. Keywords: Vampires, Southeast Asian vampires, Organ trafficking, Social media, Mythology, Neoliberalism


Bovine tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) in which it is hard to identify the pathological symptoms. Release of bovine interferon gamma (BoIFN-γ) by T-cells provides an important diagnostic marker of MTB infections. In this work, we developed for the first time an electrochemical aptasensor for sensitive and specific determination of BoIFN-γ. A thiolated IFN-γ-binding aptamer was conjugated with methylene blue (MB) and immobilized on a gold electrode by self-assembly. Binding of IFN-γ to the electrode surface caused a conformational change in the aptamer, decreasing electron transfer efficiency. The redox current was quantified using square wave voltammetry (SWV) and was found to be specific for bovine IFN-γ with detection limit of 0.1 nM in pristine buffer and 0.9 nM in blood. The biosensor described here may, in the future, be used for on-site testing of bovine blood to help better identify and contain outbreaks of bovine TB.


Seth MacFarlane is well known for his groundbreaking animated series Family Guy (Fox, 1999-), a trademark of which is the inclusion musical numbers that reflect MacFarlane's knowledge of the film musical. While many criticize the controversial approach and seeming arbitrary nature of not just the show's jokes, but also its musical numbers, the way MacFarlane integrates them into his animated series allows todays cynical audience to enjoy a taste of the rather dormant genre. MacFarlane does so by employing elements of the Warner Brothers/Berkeley musical, the integrated and aggregate musical forms, the myth of integration, The Great American Songbook, the folk musical, the backstage musical, the MGM musical, and studio-era-style choreography. Through the analysis of some of Family Guy's most impressive musical numbers, I propose to show that Family Guy boasts the most musically informed and detailed numbers in an animated television series today. MacFarlane employs these numbers for either one, two, or all three of the following purposes: to create a sense of community among the characters of the narrative and in the show's audience, to simultaneously pay homage to and satirize the traditional film musical genre, and to facilitate controversial sociopolitical commentary.