This paper describes a benchmark for evaluation of 3D mesh segmentation salgorithms. The benchmark comprises a data set with 4,300 manually generated segmentations for 380 surface meshes of 19 different object categories, and it includes software for analyzing 11 geometric properties of segmentations and producing 4 quantitative metrics for comparison of segmentations. The paper investigates the design decisions made in building the benchmark, analyzes properties of human-generated and computer-generated segmentations, and provides quantitative comparisons of 7 recently published mesh segmentation algorithms. Our results suggest that people are remarkably consistent in the way that they segment most 3D surface meshes, that no one automatic segmentation algorithm is better than the others for all types of objects, and that algorithms based on non-local shape features seem to produce segmentations that most closely resemble ones made by humans.


Task 1.1 of Pendant Work Package 1 has a threefold objective: firstly to develop methods and guidelines for the reconstruction of road traffic accidents, secondly to develop a database of information about public domain crash tests, and thirdly to develop methods for determining the comparability and accuracy of reconstruction methods. As part of the third aim the Description of work (2001) states:
"Specific reference will be made to the use of smart technologies to collect and retain information about the crash ('black boxes', 'crash recorders'). The Task will examine current capabilities and identify the main obstacles to their wider implementation."
The purpose of this report is to provide an overview of the state of the art in recording information about the crash phase, including current capabilities and main obstacles to further implementation.


BACKGROUND
Collecting duct carcinoma (CDC) of the kidney is a rare type of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) of collecting duct origin. Cytologic differentiation of CDC from conventional RCC is important because CDC has a poorer prognosis than the latter.

CASE
A 60-year-old male incidentally demonstrated a left renal mass that was hypovascular by angiography. Fine needle aspiration (FNA) revealed numerous clusters of cells arranged in a tubular structure. The cells consisted of highly atypical cells having large nuclei with coarse or vesicular chromatin, prominent nucleoli and lacy or granular cytoplasm. Based on these findings, which were indicative of high grade RCC, he underwent left radical nephrectomy and lymphadenectomy. Histologic and immunohistochemical findings, including anti-high-molecular-weight cytokeratin (HMCK) antibody, confirmed the diagnosis of CDC.

CONCLUSION
CDC should be added to the differential diagnosis when the result of cytologic examination of a renal mass is suggestive of high grade RCC. These features of FNA smears, together with HMCK immunohistochemistry, can be useful for the cytologic differential diagnosis of renal tumors.


Corrosion behaviour of a Mg-Y alloy (commercial WE54) has been studied. This alloy presents excellent retention of mechanical properties and corrosion resistance at elevated temperatures, a combination of properties that can be of interest in many technology applications. To evaluate the effect of heat treatment on the corrosion resistance, WE54 samples in extruded state and after T6 heat treatment were studied. Corrosion behaviour was evaluated by electrochemical and immersion tests in 3.5 wt.% NaCl solution at room temperature and neutral pH. Surface examination was carried out by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). It was found that corrosion resistance of the magnesium alloy WE54 in chloride medium was improved by applying the heat treatment to the material, a fact that was correlated with the developed microstructure in T6 condition.


AIM
This paper reports a study to translate the Childbirth Self-efficacy Inventory into Chinese and examine its reliability and validity among pregnant Chinese women in Hong Kong.

BACKGROUND
Self-efficacy for childbirth has been emerged as an important psychological construct in childbearing care. A reliable and valid self-efficacy measure for pregnant women is crucial to the understanding of their psychological preparation, as well as the development of an appropriate childbirth education programme.

METHODS
Two experienced midwives undertook translation of the Childbirth Self-efficacy Inventory into Chinese, and another two experienced midwives independently conducted back translation. An expert panel of six healthcare professionals and 10 pregnant women examined the face and content validity of the translated instrument. A convenience sample of 148 pregnant Chinese women of not <36 weeks of gestation, and attending a regional teaching hospital in Hong Kong, were invited to complete the translated inventory and a demographic data sheet.

RESULTS
The Childbirth Self-efficacy Inventory indicated high internal consistency. Principal components analysis supported the fact that each of the efficacy and outcome expectancy subscales is uni-dimensional. Neither scores in the efficacy nor outcome expectancy subscales suggested any statistically significant relationships with parity, age, education and attendance at childbirth education classes. No statistically significant differences in efficacy and outcome expectancy scores were found between the active phase (when contractions are not more than 5 minutes apart) and second stage (when pushing out the baby) of labour.

CONCLUSION
The study provides initial support for the reliability and validity of the Childbirth Self-efficacy Inventory. Although its sensitivity in differentiating between the two stages of labour was not evident, the distinguishing role of its expectancy subscales has been identified.


It is generally believed that a major cause of motor dysfunction is the impairment in neural network that controls movement. But little is known about the underlying mechanisms of the impairment in cortical control or in the neural connections between cortex and muscle that lead to the loss of motor ability. So understanding the functional connection between motor cortex and effector muscle is of utmost importance. Previous study mostly relied on cross-correlation, coherence functions or model based approaches such as Granger causality or dynamic causal modeling. In this work the information transfer index (ITI) was introduced to describe the information flows between motor cortex and muscle. Based on the information entropy the ITI can detect both linear and nonlinear interaction between two signals and thus represent a very comprehensive way to define the causality strength. The applicability of ITI is investigated based on simulations and electroencephalogram (EEG), surface electromyography (sEMG) recordings in a simple motor task.


We reported a rare case of Ectodermal dysplasia in a young child born to a consanguineous married couple presented to a tertiary health care centre characterized by triad of defects of partial or complete absence of sweat glands, anomalous dentition and hypotrichosis. There are four types, of which X-linked recessive type is the most common. The basic defect is in non development or under development of certain ectodermal structures namely the skin and its appendages and the teeth. Diagnosis is usually clinical, but can be confirmed by skin biopsy which shows deficiency of sweat glands and other skin appendages. These patients have a normal life expectancy if they avoid exposure to hot environments.


Background Malaria is one of the strongest recent selective pressures on the human genome, as evidenced by the high levels of varying haemoglobinopathies in human populations–despite the increased risk of mortality in the homozygous states. Previously, functional polymorphisms of Hp, coded by the co-dominant alleles Hp1 and Hp2, have been variously associated with several infectious diseases, including malaria susceptibility. Methodology/Principal Findings Risk of a clinical malarial episode over the course of a malarial transmission season was assessed using active surveillance in a cohort of Gambian children aged 10–72 months. We report for the first time that the major haplotype for the A-61C mutant allele in the promoter of haptoglobin (Hp)–an acute phase protein that clears haemoglobin released from haemolysis of red cells–is associated with protection from malarial infection in older children, (children aged ≥36 months, >500 parasites/ul and temperature >37.5°C; OR = 0.42; [95% CI 0.24–0.73] p = 0.002) (lr test for interaction, <36 vs ≥36 months, p = 0.014). Protection was also observed using two other definitions, including temperature >37.5°C, dipstick positive, plus clinical judgement of malaria blinded to dipstick result (all ages, OR = 0.48, [95% CI 0.30–0.78] p = 0.003; ≥36 months, OR = 0.31, [95% CI 0.15–0.62] p = 0.001). A similar level of protection was observed for the known protective genetic variant, sickle cell trait (HbAS). Conclusions/Significance We propose that previous conflicting results between Hp phenotypes/genotypes and malaria susceptibility may be explained by differing prevalence of the A-61C SNP in the populations studied, which we found to be highly associated with the Hp2 allele. We report the -61C allele to be associated with decreased Hp protein levels (independent of Hp phenotype), confirming in vitro studies. Decreased Hp expression may lead to increased oxidant stress and increased red cell turnover, and facilitate the development of acquired immunity, similar to a mechanism suggested for sickle cell trait.


A cluster consisting of many atoms or molecules may be considered, in some circumstances, to be a single large molecule with a well defined polarizability. Once the polarizability of such a cluster is known, one can evaluate certain properties, e.g. the cluster's van der Waals interactions, using expressions derived for atoms or molecules. In the present work, we evaluate the static polarizability of a cluster using a microscopic method that is exact within the linear and dipolar approximations. Numerical examples are presented for various shapes and sizes of clusters composed of identical atoms, where the term "atom" actually refers to a generic constituent, which could be any polarizable entity. The results for the clusters' polarizabilities are compared with those obtained by assuming simple additivity of the constituents' atomic polarizabilities; in many cases, the difference is large, demonstrating the inadequacy of the additivity approximation. Comparison is made (for symmetrical geometries) with results obtained from continuum models of the polarizability. Also, the surface effects due to the nonuniform local field near a surface or edge are shown to be significant.


The aim of present study was to develop ethanolic vesicles of proteolytic enzyme Serratiopeptidase (SRP) by solvent evaporation with high speed homogenization method and to evaluate the Serratiopeptidase ethosomes in treating the topical inflammation. The feasibility of SRP niosomes prepared by using lecithin and ethanol has been successfully demonstrated in this investigation. The entrapment efficiency was found to be influenced by the molar ratio of lecithin: ethanol concentration of SRP in ethosomes. The developed ethosomes were characterized for morphology, particle size, and in vitro release. SRP niosomes obtained were round in nanosized range. At lecithin: ethanol molar ratio 2.5:1 entrapment efficiency was maximum, that is, 75.37% ± 0.67, and showed consistent release pattern over 24 h. Keywords: Ethosomes, Serratiopeptidase (SRP), lecithin, anti-inflammatory Cite this Article Vijayan V, Jayaraja Kumar K, Selvadurai Muralidharan, Parasuraman S. Formulation and characterization of novel ethanolic carrier for improves penetration of Serratiopeptidase, Research & Reviews: A Journal of Drug Formulation, Development and Production . 2015; 2(1): 1–6p.


We present a parameter-extraction method that is applicable to many metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect-transistor (MOSFET) models. A simple intermediate model is introduced to eliminate model dependency of parameter estimation for numerical optimization techniques. The process of the parameter estimation is decomposed into two parts: extraction of parameters of the intermediate model and transformation of the intermediate parameters into target model parameters. Only the latter part should be devised to accommodate new MOSFET models, which may be mostly identical with that for another model. We have integrated the method onto an extraction system, and verified that the method is effective for parameter extraction of major SPICE models.


The paper offers comments on Obstfeld and Rogoff (2000). The comments primarily focus on three issues: (a) How do we reconcile the numerical examples of OR, which show quantitatively plausible resolutions to the major puzzles arising from costs of trade, with previous studies that have found trade costs do not get us very far? (b) Does the solution proposed by OR solve the puzzles at the expense of introducing new puzzles? That is, does their solution have counterfactual implications for other economic relationships? (The prime example of what I have in mind here is what OR call the Backus-Smith puzzle'.) (c) Some of the problems connected with points (a) and (b) can be rectified by moving away from the assumption of complete asset markets. But, then, how do we assess how much of the solution to the puzzle is coming from trade costs versus capital-market imperfections?


The World Health Organisation recently recommended that governments should impose a tax on sugary drinks as a means of combating the obesity epidemic. This article examines the merits of this proposal and also suggests how, if such a tax were to be introduced, it might work. The article addresses the issues as they arise in New Zealand but it seems likely that much the same issues would arise in other countries.


Introduction: Piperine (PIP) is a natural ingredient possessing important biological activities. However, its practical usefulness is limited due to its low water solubility. In our previous research article (PART A), we demonstrated inclusion complexation of PIP with cyclodextrins (CDs) in the influence of certain hydroxy acids resulted in tremendous improvement in physicochemical characteristics of PIP. The aim of current research work was to study biological properties and stability analysis of PIP and its lyophilized inclusion complexes. Materials and Methods: Initially, Job's plot experiment was carried out to assess the type of solubility and stoichiometry of complexes. The solid inclusion complexes were obtained by lyophilization and characterized by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray powder diffractometry (XRPD), saturation solubility, in-vitro dissolution, in-vitro antioxidant activity, and in-vivo anti-inflammatory activity in carrageenan-induced rat paw edema model. The short-term stability studies were carried out as per the ICH guidelines. Results: During assessment, the complexes performed better in terms of in-vitro antioxidant and in-vivo anti-inflammatory activities than the native PIP. However, PIP: Hydroxypropyl β-CD (HPβCD): Ascorbic acid (AA) ternary complexes elicited immediate and maximum onset of anti-inflammatory action, as compared to other test samples. In the stability studies, no noteworthy changes were recorded concerning DSC, XRPD, and in-vitro dissolution studies over a period of 6 months except complexes with HPβCD. Conclusion: Taking everything into account, complexation of PIP with CDs, in the influence of AA, would be a successful way to improve its biological properties.


There are few purely Renaissance cities in Europe, for experiments with new urban ideas were generally constrained by the existence of older city fabrics. But the New World offered a clean slate, and the Spanish conquests and settlements led to the building of almost 350 new cities in accordance with a set of edicts, The Laws of the Indies, that embodied Renaissance concepts of urban form: regular street patterns, harmonious groupings of major institutions around large central open spaces, and provisions for orderly expansion.In examining North American Spanish cities, this book presents a neglected aspect of American urban history. It opens with an annotated translation of Phillip II's Laws of the Indies, making available for the first time in book form "the most influential body of urban law in human history." It then presents studies of the urban history of Santa Fe, Los Angeles, and St. Louis. Even today, under the successive waves of population sprawl and industrialization in these cities, the bare outlines of Spanish Colonial planning can be detected, which still affects the ebb and flow of daily life.A final section of the book discusses the gradual breakdown in the first part of the 19th century of traditional Spanish patterns of city design, as exemplified in Monterey and San Jose. Illustrations include plans, maps, and early views that show the stages of development and reveal the founders' dreams of future prospects.Dora P. Crouch is an architectural historian affiliated with Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Daniel J. Garr is a planner and planning historian at San Jose State University, and Axel I. Mundigo is an urban sociologist with the Population Council in Mexico City.


Fluxes of the greenhouse gases, N 2 O and CH 4 , were measured across a skid trail at three beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) forest sites with soils of different texture. At each site three skid trails were established by applying two passes with a forwarder. Soil compaction in the middle of the wheel track caused a considerable increase of N 2 O emissions with values elevated by up to 40 times the uncompacted ones. Compaction reduced the CH 4 consumption at all sites by up to 90%, and at the silty clay loam site its effect was such that CH 4 was even released. These changes in N 2 O and CH 4 fluxes were caused by a reduction in macropore volume and an increase of the water-filled pore space (WFPS). Additionally, the slipping of the forwarder's wheels led to a mixing of the humus layer with the mineral soil, which resulted in a new layer. This layer reduced gas exchange between the soil and the atmosphere. Trace gas fluxes were altered in the trafficked soil and in the adjacent areas. Despite the significant changes in the trace gas fluxes on the skid trails, the cumulative effect of the two gases on the atmosphere was small with respect to total emissions. However, if soil trafficking is not restricted to the established skid trail system the area of compaction and consequently the atmospheric load by greenhouse gases may increase with every harvesting operation.


Existing formalisms for default reasoning capture some aspects of the nonmonotonicity of human commonsense reasoning. However, Perlis has shown that one of these formalisms, circumscription, is subject to certain counterintuitive limitations. Kraus and Perlis suggested a partial solution, but significant problems remain. In this paper, we observe that the unfortunate limitations of circumscription are even broader than Perlis originally pointed out. Moreover, these problems are not confined to circumscription; they appear to be endemic in current nonmonotonic reasoning formalisms. We develop a much more general solution than that of Kraus and Perlis, involving restricting the scope of nonmonotonic reasoning, and show that it remedies these problems in a variety of formalisms.


This paper presents information from a series of preliminary asynchronous international conversations across four cultural contexts that focus on enhancing the profile of teachers in curriculum decision making. The paper challenges education systems to match the rhetoric about the place of teachers in curriculum decision making with curriculum change and professional development practices. It sets a context for the preliminary conversations by addressing the place of and space for teachers in curriculum decision making, their readiness to engage in it, and the potential for them to have authentic inclusion in curriculum decision making at the classroom, school, and wider policy levels. The paper also considers the methodological framework within which the issue was developed and how the processes associated with it have developed. The three appendixes offer initial comments from participants, followup comments from participants, and an invitation to be part of the continuing conversation. (Contains 25


The overall aim of the present studies was, in selected muscles, to investigate muscle activation levels and muscular patterns in classical singers. Further was these muscles' relation to thorax movement investigated.Loading levels and respiratory phasing of TR, STM and SC was investigated in vocalization tasks with high and moderate expiration. Further, PN activity was investigated in inhalation and phonation and finally, TR, INT, OBL and RC muscle loading in student and professional singers was examined.Muscle activity was recorded by use of an ambulatory four-channel monitoring system (Physiometer PHY 400, Premed, Norway). TX movement pattern was traced with two strain gauge sensors (RES-117) placed around the upper TX and lower TX .A phasing of upper TR activity to INT and OBL activity was discovered, all muscles supporting the expiration phase. During phonation TR contributes in the compression of the upper TX, thus serving as an accessory muscle of expiration. TR activity is reduced with short breathing cycles and is mostly inactive in simplified speaking tasks During phonation professional opera singers activate the expiratory phased TR, INT, OBL and RC muscles to higher levels than student singers do.STM and SC show correlated activity patterns during inhalation and phonation by classical singers. During demanding singing expiratory phased STM and SC activity peaks produce a counterforce to the compression of upper TX at high pitches. As breathing demands are lowered STM and SC activity are reduced and attain inspiratory phasing. Substantial muscle activity is observed in posterior neck muscles (PN) during inhalation and phonation. EMG biofeedback performed on TR and STM have a secondary effect of lowering EMG activity in PN.


A new simple, rapid and sensitive reversed-phase liquid chromatographic method was developed and validated for the simultaneous determination of ascorbic acid (ASC) and salicylamide (SAL) in their combined dosage form. The analysis was carried out on CLC Shim-pack C8 column (250 x 4.6 mm, 5 μm particle size) using a mobile phase consisting of methanol: 0.03 M phosphate buffer mixture (55: 45, v/v) of pH 4.0. The mobile phase was pumped at a flow rate of 1 mL/min with ultraviolet detection at 255 nm. The selectivity, linearity of calibration, accuracy, intra and inter day precision and recovery were examined as parts of the method validation. The concentration– response relationship was linear over a concentration range of 0.50-10.00 and 5.00-50.00 μg/mL for ASC and SAL, respectively with limits of detection of 0.048 and 0.676 μg/mL. The proposed method was applied for the simultaneous determination of the two studied drugs in their combined tablets with average recoveries of 100.04 ± 0.75% and 100.11 ± 1.04% for ASC and SAL, respectively. The results were favorably compared to those obtained by the comparison methods.


In contrast to adult vertebrates, which have limited capacities for neurogenesis, adult planarians undergo constitutive cellular turnover during homeostasis and are even able to regenerate a whole brain after decapitation. This enormous plasticity derives from pluripotent stem cells residing in the planarian body in large numbers. It is still obscure how these stem cells are programmed for differentiation into specific cell lineages and how lineage identity is maintained. Here we identify a Pitx transcription factor of crucial importance for planarian regeneration. In addition to patterning defects that are co-dependent on the LIM homeobox transcription factor gene islet1, which is expressed with pitx at anterior and posterior regeneration poles, RNAi against pitx results in islet1-independent specific loss of serotonergic (SN) neurons during regeneration. Besides its expression in terminally differentiated SN neurons we found pitx in stem cell progeny committed to the SN fate. Also, intact pitx RNAi animals gradually lose SN markers, a phenotype that depends neither on increased apoptosis nor on stem cell-based turnover or transdifferentiation into other neurons. We propose that pitx is a terminal selector gene for SN neurons in planarians that controls not only their maturation but also their identity by regulating the expression of the Serotonin production and transport machinery. Finally, we made use of this function of pitx and compared the transcriptomes of regenerating planarians with and without functional SN neurons, identifying at least three new neuronal targets of Pitx.


Chapter I : The Comedy of Errors This Chapter starts with the hypothesis that mistaken identity initiates all the confusion in the play, which in turn leads to a re-appraisal of the nature of identity. The recurring image of 'a drop of water' falling into the ocean suggesting an analogy to the losing or modification of self in relationships is then discussed. Mistaken identity leads to an assessment of an individual's response in the relationship of love, and the views of Adriana, Antipholus of Syracuse and Luciana are discussed. The chapter goes on to deal with other consequences of the growing confusion, namely physical violence, and the disorder manifested in the breakdown of a marriage, and spreading outwards to encompass the wider community. Explanation for the bewildering events is sought in supernatural forces. Finally, the chapter reiterates the central concern with identity in the play where errors have made the main characters unsure of their own natures. Chapter II : Twelfth Night This chapter begins with a discussion of the device of disguising a woman as a boy, which features so largely in the main character, Viola. There is a comparison between As Yon Like It and Twelfth Night, which seeks to define the atmosphere of the latter as more disturbing and altogether darker. Chapter III : A Midsummer Night's Dream The introduction to this chapter establishes the fact that this play is concerned with disguise as it illuminates Shakespeare's investigation of his own craft. Dramatic analogies are constantly implied and attendant questions about the nature of dramatic illusion arise, issues which come to a head in The Tempest. The experience of the lovers in the dream world of moonlit woods is discussed, stressing the inherent analogy of that to a dramatic situation. Chapter IV : Henry V Disguise in this play has political manifestations. Critics' arguments for accepting an unambiguous portrayal of Henry V are questioned. Henry is shown to be surrounded by prelates who are shrewd opportunists, and to posses a character closely akin to the cold, calculating Hal of the Henry IV, plays. What is really a war of aggression is made out to be a glorious, noble enterprise by the King's skilful rhetoric. Chapter V : Measure for Measure The introduction discusses the term 'problem' play, and discusses the Duke's disguise with reference to his identity, and to the dramatic analogy suggested by his manipulative powers. Angelo's dissembling is investigated, as it bears on the pervasive atmosphere of ambivalence within the play. Chapter VI : King bear The introduction makes the point that the structure of this tragedy differs from the others in the Shakespeare canon in that the hero achieves a substantial measure of self-knowledge. Dear's first action of abdication initiates the process of his own suffering, in which he is forced to come to terms with a world stripped of deception. Chapter VII : The Tempest This is a play very much concerned with questions about dramatic effect and the powers of art, as the introduction points out. The character of Prospero is found to be ambiguous and fallible under the guise which he projects of all powerful and all knowing magician. The dramatic analogy of Prospero's manipulation of characters and use of theatrical effects through Ariel is discussed. Also, his own attitude to his powers, and his bitterness at having his plans thwarted are examined. Caliban is the focus for Prospero's hatred; his character also reveals hidden depths, despite Prospero's unqualified condemnation. Such ambivalence in the main characters is reflected in the ambiguity of the play's setting, and the perspectives of the characters caught up in the confusion of the island. The ending of the play is seen to deny Gonzalo's optimistic formulations. Prospero's Art, which culminates in the triumph of the masque at the marriage feasts is thwarted by Caliban, and Prospero ends the play in a mood of disillusionment. The implications of this on the question of dramatic effect in the play overall are discussed.


As a University of Applied Sciences located in Rotterdam, one of the most diverse cities in The Netherlands, we aspire to a diverse community, not only students but also of faculty and staff. While diversity is portrayed by the community's national, racial, class, (dis)ability, sexual and gender identity profile, it also relates to the diversity of opinion and perspectives represented within the school. The notion of Cultural Diversity as represented through the Professorship of Applied Sciences of the same name is interested in aesthetic strategies, political action and socio-economic developments and their histories. Cultural Diversity is a contested term, often misunderstood and even more often regarded as a 'problem'.

It is thus quintessential to ask: Where does the work on Cultural Diversity start: with ourselves, or with the other? Can we find meaningful answers through researching databases? Or rather trough social inquiries, and by making visible those who have been excluded from this discussion? Drawing on developments in contemporary arts, this lecture will focus through a historical perspective on knowledge from various disciplines that has been neglected in a European context, in order to use these as a starting point for a discussion on what Cultural Diversity might mean today. Embedded in a historical understanding of our current condition, the Inaugural Lecture will unfold the potential that lies within seeing diversity as a state of constant charge.

Nana Adusei-Pkou is Professor of Applied Sciences for Cultural Diversity at the Research Center Creating 010 of Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences in which she conducts practice-oriented research on the subject of Cultural Diversity within the arts and the city of Rotterdam. She initiates projects to raise diversity awareness on content and practice level within the school as well as with external parties in collaboration with students, tutors.


Increasingly prominent variational effects impose imminent threat to the progress of VLSI technology. This work explores redundancy, which is a well-known fault tolerance technique, for variation tolerance. It is observed that delay variability can be reduced by making redundant paths distributed or less correlated. Based on this observation, a gate splitting methodology is proposed for achieving distributed redundancy. We show how to avoid short circuit and estimate delay in dual-driver nets which are caused by gate splitting. A spin-off gate placement heuristic is developed to minimize redundancy cost. Monte Carlo simulation results on benchmark circuits show that our method can improve timing yield from 59% to 72% with only 03% increase on cell area and 2.2% increase on wirelength on average.


In ultra high precision roundness measurement, a high accuracy and high integrated measuring circuit system equipped with inductive sensor are a developing trend. In order to meet the demand, a novel method to improve the accuracy of measuring circuit of amplitude modulation sensor using digital synthesizing, digital phase sensitivity detection (PSD), and digital set average techniques, is presented. The measuring circuit system based on the method is easy to realize and to operate. It can be plugged directly into an ISA Bus slot for use. Experimental results show that the stability of the sensor measuring system that consists of the measuring circuit system and a Taylor inductive sensor reaches nanometer accuracy. The digital measuring circuit of amplitude modulation can not only be applied widely in amplitude modulation measuring circuit for use of inductive sensors to improve the accuracy of the sensor measuring circuit system but also used in the one for use of capacitance sensors and magnetic grating sensors.


The Australian Saltwater Crocodile, Crocodylus porosus, is an iconic species of the Kimberley region of Western Australia. Biogeographically, it is distributed in the Indo-Pacific region and extends to northern Australia, with Australia representing the southernmost range of the species. In Western Australia C. porosus now extends to Exmouth Gulf. In the Kimberley region, C. porosus is found in most of the major river systems and coastal waterways, with the largest populations in the rivers draining into Cambridge Gulf, and the Prince Regent and Roe River systems. The Kimberly region presents a number of coastlines to the Saltwater Crocodile. In the Cambridge Gulf and King Sound, there are mangrove-fringed or mangrove inhabited tidal flats and tidal creeks, that pass landwards into savannah flats, providing crocodiles with a landscape and seascape for feeding, basking and nesting. The Kimberley Coast is dominantly rocky coasts, rocky ravines/embayments, sediment-filled valleys with mangroves and tidal creeks, that generally do not pass into savannah flats, and areas for nesting are limited. Since the 1970s when the species was protected, the depleted C. porosus populations have recovered across northern Australia. Monitoring shows large geographical variations in current population abundance between and within rivers of the Northern Territory, Queensland and Western Australia, and modelling shows strong support for linkage to the ratio of total area of favourable wetland vegetation (Melaleuca, grass and sedge) to total catchment area, rainfall seasonality, and other climate parameters.


Insufficient and unrepresentative participation in voluntary public hearings and policy discussions has been problematic since Aristotle's time. In fisheries, research has shown that involvement is dominated by financially resourceful and extreme-opinion stakeholders and tends to advantage groups that have a lower cost of attendance. Stakeholders may exhibit only one or all of these traits but can be still similarly advantaged. The opposites of these traits tend to characterize the disadvantaged, such as the middle-ground opinions, the less wealthy or organized, and the more remote stakeholders. Remoteness or distance is the most straightforward and objective of these characteristics to measure. We analyzed the New England Fishery Management Council's sign-in sheets for 2003-2006, estimating participants' travel distance and associations with the groundfish, scallop, and herring industries. We also evaluated the representativeness of participation by comparing attendance to landings and permit distributions. The distance analysis showed a significant correlation between attendance levels and costs via travel distance. These results suggest a potential bias toward those stakeholders residing closer to meeting locations, possibly disadvantaging parties who are further and must incur higher costs. However, few significant differences were found between the actual fishing industry and attendee distributions, suggesting that the geographical distribution of the meeting attendees is statistically similar to that of the larger fishery. The interpretation of these results must take into consideration the limited time span of the analysis, as policy changes may have altered the industry make-up and location prior to our study. Furthermore, the limited geographical input of stakeholders may lend bias to the Council's perception of ecological and social conditions throughout the spatial range of the fishery. These factors should be further considered in the policy-formation process in order to incorporate a broader range of stakeholder input.


Mobile-assisted language learning have received more and more popularity across all levels of education. More and more EFL learners have accepted technology-enhanced language learning. Following this educational technology trend, this present study aims to enhance technological college learners' English vocabulary and collocation learning with the applications of mobile clickers. Mobile clickers are applied to an EFL college classroom for the purpose of gamifying the learning dynamics through question-and-answer activities. Among dozens of clickers, Kahoot! is selected as the target tool due to its easy-to-use functions, world-wide popularity and free registration. The study involved two classes of participants joining in this Kahoot!-assisted English learning. The collected data included the participants' background and their attitudes towards English learning. This study results provided evidence to support that clickers or Kahoot! may play an influencing role to make the learners have more positive attitudes towards or perceptions of English learning.


sBuLi and tBuLi have been combined with a new family of ligands, i.e. lithium silanolates, and used as initiators for the ligated anionic polymerization (LAP) of methyl methacrylate (MMA) in toluene at 0 °C. Compared to other known μ-ligands, the accordingly formed Bu(Me2)SiOLi are more efficient stabilizers for the active centers. Under appropriate reaction conditions, a fast polymerization proceeds quantitatively without self-termination at 0 °C and leads to high molecular weight polymer of narrow molecular weight distribution (Mw/Mn < 1.2) and high isotacticity (90% isotactic triads).


Abstract Yerba mate is a source of biologically active substances. The aim was to determine whether the place of origin of Yerba and the brewing method have any influence on the levels of Ca, Mg and Fe and antioxidant activity of infusions. Samples were steeped in cold water (25°C) and hot water (three consecutive infusions with 85°C water). Infusions had a high antioxidant activity and high Mg level. The levels of elements and the antioxidant activity were influenced by the brewing method. There were no significant differences in the examined parameters depending on the country of origin. The results on the levels of elements and the antioxidant activity indicate that the most efficient brewing method was infusion in hot water. The highest levels of elements were found in first infusions, with the highest antioxidant activity in the third infusions.


If in the past, promotion of sexual services was done face to face – on the streets or brothels – but now it has turned to social media. Data shows that online prostitution continues to increase because it can be accessed easily on social media. Social media, with its more open communication, is considered adequate for the promotion of commercial sex services. The purpose of this study is to get an overview of the interaction and communication with regards to online promotion of prostitutions on social media. Netnography is the research method chosen. The results of the study concluded that in the interaction regarding prostitution on social media and communication between fellow perpetrators is very open and vulgar. Commercial sex workers and pimps are the main promoters of the services offered. The message conveyed includes the services offered, ways of payment, and rules of the game accompanied by terms and conditions that are commonly used among actors. The use of the hashtag (#) by service providers helps facilitate the promotion and search for customers. In addition to the timelines used by actors, social media commentary, and the direct message (DM) feature are also used for communication purposes. Furthermore, if there has been an agreement between the actors, an extension of the private communication is continued through instant messaging such as talking about time, location of the service, payment and sharing of testimonials from previous customers. Keywords: Communication, cyber, interaction, online prostitution, social media.


Abstract This work is to show which is more relevant to cause local failures (LFs) due to patient setup uncertainty between the planning target volume (PTV) underdosage and the potential target underdosage subject to patient setup uncertainties in head and neck (H&N) cancer treated with volumetric‐modulated arc therapy (VMAT). Thirteen LFs in 10 H&N patients treated by VMAT were analyzed. Measures have been taken to minimize the chances of insufficient target delineation for these patients and the patients were clinically determined to have LF based on the PET/CT scan results by an experienced radiologist and then reviewed by a second experienced radiation oncologist. Two methods were used to identify the possible locations of LF due to underdosage: (a) examining the standard VMAT plan, in which the underdosed volume in the nominal dose distribution (UVN) was generated by subtracting the volumes receiving the prescription doses from PTVs, and (b) plan robustness analysis, in which in addition to the nominal dose distribution, six perturbed dose distributions were created by translating the CT iso‐center in three cardinal directions by the PTV margin. The coldest dose distribution was represented by the minimum of the seven doses in each voxel. The underdosed volume in the coldest dose distribution (UVC) was generated by subtracting the volumes receiving the prescription doses in the coldest dose distribution from the volumes receiving the prescription doses in the nominal dose distribution. UVN and UVC were subsequently examined for spatial association with the locations of LF. The association was tested using the binominal distribution and the Fisher's exact test of independence. We found that of 13 LFs, 11 were associated with UVCs (P = 0.011), while three were associated with UVNs (P = 0.99). We concluded that the possible target underdosage due to patient setup uncertainties appeared to be a more relevant factor associated with LF in VMAT for H&N cancer than the compromised PTV coverage at least for the patients included in this study.


Existing gasoline DI injection equipment has been modified to generate single hole pulsed gas jets. Injection experiments have been performed at combinations of 3 different pressure ratios (2 of which supercritical) respectively 3 different hole geometries (i.e. length to diameter ratios). Injection was into a pressure chamber with optical access. Injection pressures and injector hole geometry were selected to be representative of current and near-future DI natural gas engines. Each injector hole design has been characterized by measuring its discharge coefficient for different Re-levels. Transient jets produced by these injectors have been visualized using planar laser sheet Mie scattering (PLMS). For this the injected gas was seeded with small oil droplets. The corresponding flow field was measured using particle image velocimetry (PIV) laser diagnostics. From the corresponding measurements, both the jet spreading angle and penetration have been determined according to different definitions and the interrelation between these definitions has been examined. Results show that -beyond the initial transition period and almost up to the tip vortex region - (average) jet angle is almost constant. Furthermore, jet penetration is well predicted by correlations that implicitly assume momentum conservation at constant static pressure. Measurements suggest a different time-averaged velocity profile from that typically assumed in some of these correlations. Tip vortex position and size scale with transient jet penetration. © 2010 SAE International.


Phase-change memory (PCM) is an emerging non-volatile memory technology that has recently been commercialized as storage-class memory in a computer system. PCM is also being explored for non-von Neumann computing such as in-memory computing and neuromorphic computing. Although the device physics related to the operation of PCM have been widely studied since its discovery in the 1960s, there are still several open questions relating to their electrical, thermal, and structural dynamics. In this article, we provide an overview of the current understanding of the main PCM device physics that underlie the read and write operations. We present both experimental characterization of the various properties investigated in nanoscale PCM devices as well as physics-based modeling efforts. Finally, we provide an outlook on some remaining open questions and possible future research directions.


Abstract Actinonin is a naturally occurring hydroxamic acid and a potent inhibitor of the essential cotranslational protein processing enzyme peptide deformylase. Actinonin has both pre- and post-emergence herbicidal activity, but it is rapidly metabolized by plants, thus limiting herbicidal efficacy. Studies designed to elucidate the metabolic fate of actinonin revealed that after absorption actinonin was metabolized by tobacco plants with only about 17% of the parent compound remaining 48 h after application. Subcellular fractionation revealed that a microsomal fraction was capable of metabolizing actinonin in vitro. Two actinonin metabolites were isolated by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography and identified by mass spectrometric analyses. The major metabolite was derived from the hydrolysis of the hydroxamate group to its corresponding acid, and a relatively minor metabolite through reduction of the hydroxamate group to the corresponding amide. Both metabolites were functionally inactive as inhibitors of peptide deformylase. These results provide rationale for the low efficacy of actinonin as a broad-spectrum herbicide, and identify functional groups in actinonin targeted by plants during detoxification. This information may facilitate the design and synthesis of actinonin analogues with increased herbicidal efficacy. Nomenclature: actinonin; tobacco, Nicotiana tabacum L. 'Samsun NN'.


Gold mining has been undertaken in South Africa for more than a century. A great proportion of that mining has been from the Witwatersrand Basin; a geological phenomenon that has few parallels throughout the world. It has produced some 47 000 tonnes of gold mainly from underground mines, many of which have been truly world-class gold mines. The gold mines of the Witwatersrand Basin have dominated world gold production from their inception and their production has been one of the comerstones of the development of South Africa as a whole. The mines have some very specific characteristics; their sheer size, the depth of extraction, the nature of their orebodies, and their labour-intensive methods. The mines have also been part of the Mining House concept - a concept unique to South Africa. South African production has declined from a maximum of 1000 tonnes in 1970 to 470 tonnes in 1997. This, as a percentage of westem world production, has declined from a maximum of 79 per cent (in 1970) to 21 per cent of world production (in 1997). The nineties have seen South Africa and its mining companies move onto the world stage and face the harsh realities of having to compete compete in all spheres of business with their aggressive counterparts, principally in Australia, Canada and USA. The fight is for investment funds with the owners looking for the best returns on their money. In his address, Roger Dixon will examine the current situation in the gold mining industry and examine the competitiveness of the mines of the Witwatersrand Basin compared with their peers worldwide. He will also discuss some of the fundamental challenges facing South African gold mines in the areas of legislation, industrial relations, and health and safety. The environment in which the mines operate has changed radically in recent years and their challenges will determine their future existence.


BACKGROUND
In individuals with chronic kidney disease (CKD), healthy dietary patterns are inversely associated with CKD progression. Metabolomics, an approach that measures many small molecules in biofluids, can identify biomarkers of healthy dietary patterns.

OBJECTIVES
We aimed to identify known metabolites associated with greater adherence to 4 healthy dietary patterns in CKD patients.

METHODS
We examined associations between 486 known plasma metabolites and Healthy Eating Index (HEI)-2015, Alternative Healthy Eating Index (AHEI)-2010, the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet, and alternate Mediterranean diet (aMED) in 1056 participants (aged 21-74 y at baseline) in the Chronic Renal Insufficiency Cohort (CRIC) Study. Usual dietary intake was assessed using a semiquantitative FFQ. We conducted multivariable linear regression models to study associations between healthy dietary patterns and individual plasma metabolites, adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics, health behaviors, and clinical factors. We used principal component analysis to identify groups of metabolites associated with individual food components within healthy dietary patterns.

RESULTS
After Bonferroni correction, we identified 266 statistically significant diet-metabolite associations (HEI: n = 60; AHEI: n = 78; DASH: n = 77; aMED: n = 51); 78 metabolites were associated with >1 dietary pattern. Lipids with a longer acyl chain length and double bonds (unsaturated) were positively associated with all 4 dietary patterns. A metabolite pattern low in saturated diacylglycerols and triacylglycerols, and a pattern high in unsaturated triacylglycerols was positively associated with intake of healthy food components. Plasmalogens were negatively associated with the consumption of nuts and legumes and healthy fat, and positively associated with the intake of red and processed meat.

CONCLUSIONS
We identified many metabolites associated with healthy dietary patterns, indicative of food consumption. If replicated, these metabolites may be considered biomarkers of healthy dietary patterns in patients with CKD.


We conduct a quantitative analysis of the star formation history (SFH) of the Milky Way's (MW) bulge by exploiting the constraining power of its stellar [Fe/H] and [Mg/Fe] distribution functions. Using Apache Point Observatory Galactic Evolution Experiment survey data, we confirm the previously established bimodal [Mg/Fe]–[Fe/H] distribution within 3 kpc of the inner Galaxy. To fit the chemical bimodal distribution, we use a simple but flexible star formation framework, which assumes two distinct stages of gas accretion and star formation, and systematically evaluate a wide multidimensional parameter space. We find that the data favour a three-phase SFH that consists of an initial starburst, followed by a rapid star formation quenching episode, and a lengthy, quiescent secular evolution phase. The metal-poor, high-α bulge stars ([Fe/H] < 0.0 and [Mg/Fe] > 0.15) are formed rapidly (<2 Gyr) during the early starburst. The density gap between the high- and low-α sequences is due to the quenching process. The metal-rich, low-α population ([Fe/H] > 0.0 and [Mg/Fe] < 0.15) then accumulates gradually through inefficient star formation during the secular phase. This is qualitatively consistent with the early SFH of the inner disc. Given this scenario, a notable fraction of young stars (age <5 Gyr) is expected to persist in the bulge. Combined with extragalactic observations, these results suggest that a rapid star formation quenching process is responsible for bimodal distributions in both the MW's stellar populations and in the general galaxy population and thus plays a critical role in galaxy evolution.


Coastal aquaculture involves the cultivation of marine and brackish water species in ponds, protected Bays,
Gulfs and Lagoons. Aquaculture became an important commercial food production since 1960s (Chua, 1986; 1994)
and lateer in 1970s the aquaculture transformed rapidly with the success in breeding work of fish, shellfish, seaweed,
artificial feed and genetic improvements. In particular Shrimp farming spread far and wide within three decades and
became the prime export earning industry in many parts of the World (Liao, 1990). In the last two decades, many
intensive aquaculture enterprises have suffered severe losses due to disease outbreaks (ADB and NACA, 1991) due
to poor farm management. The quality of aquatic environment began to show a sign of unsustainability in many
countries. U$ 1 billion dollar has been lost due to shrimp disease in Asia (FAO and NACA, 1995). It was reported in
many countries like Taiwan, Thailand, Philippines, China and India. The environmental impact of aquaculture is becoming
a matter of concern in the present scenario due to increase in industrialization, intensified aquaculture development,
urbanization, population increase, pollution of coastal water due to sewage-industrial and agricultural waste.
Intensification of culture practices has led to environmental deterioration both within the system and in the surrounding
areas. The code of conduct for Responsible Fisheries evolved by the Food and Agricultural Organization, Rome in
1995 (FAO, 1995) is adapted by 168 countries including India. India is a signatory to implement many aspects besides
the major issues related to aquaculture i.e. assessment for the discharge of effluents, use of drug and chemicals
during aquaculture activities. Sustainability has become the major challenge to aquaculture development.


The simulation model for describing the transportation and transformation of landfill leachate pollutant in landfill, soil and underground water was established. Taking Wuhan Changshankou landfill for example, the numerical simulation was carried out. The simulation results showed that if there's no any seepage control measure, the groundwater and soil under landfill will be polluted seriously after MSW was filled; the highest pollutant concetration in landfill was about 25000, and the one in groundwater and soil was about 20000; at the thirtieth year, the pollutant concetration in groundwater and soil still remained up to 10000 although the one in landfill was about 0. The simulation results also showed that the vertical stonewall can't be used as a nature, and artificial seepage control system must be used.


BACKGROUND
Brachytherapy for patients with early tongue cancer is an accepted method of treatment.

PATIENTS AND METHODS
The records of 409 patients with T1/2N0M0 tongue cancer treated with brachytherapy between 1978 and 2004 were reviewed.

RESULTS
The overall and disease-free 5-year survival rates were 82.3% and 64.6% for patients with T1 disease, and 72.2% and 56.0% for patients with T2 disease, respectively. The 5-year nodal metastasis-free survival rates for patients treated between 1978 and 1986, 1987 and 1996, and 1997 and 2004 were 64.8%, 74.8% and 81.3% for patients with T1 disease (p=0.22), and 47.4%, 70.4% and 76.4% for patients with T2 disease (p=0.0011), respectively. The 5-year local recurrence-free survival rates for patients treated between 1978 and 1986, 1987 and 1996, and 1997 and 2004 were 91.0%, 84.0% and 96.9% for patients with T1 disease (p=0.31), and 87.6%, 83.3% and 85.8% for patients with T2 disease (p=0.90), respectively.

CONCLUSION
The incidence rate of nodal metastasis in patients with early tongue cancer improved over the 25-year period studied, while the local recurrence-free survival rates remained stable.


BACKGROUND
Individual differences in susceptibility to the detrimental effects of prenatal ethanol (EtOH) exposure have been demonstrated. Many factors, including genetics, play a role in susceptibility and resistance. We have previously shown that C57BL/6J (B6) mice display a number of morphological malformations following an acute dose of EtOH in utero, while DBA/2J (D2) mice are relatively resistant. Here, we present the results of quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping for EtOH teratogenesis in recombinant inbred strains derived from a cross between B6 and D2 (BXD RIs).

METHODS
Pregnant dams were intubated with either maltose-dextrin or 5.8 g/kg EtOH on day 9 of gestation (GD9). On GD 18, dams were sacrificed and fetuses and placentae were removed. Placentae and fetuses were weighed; fetuses were sexed and examined for gross morphological malformations. Fetuses were then either placed in Bouin's fixative for subsequent soft-tissue analyses or eviscerated and placed in EtOH for subsequent skeletal examinations. QTL mapping for maternal weight gain (MWG), prenatal mortality, fetal weight (FW) at c-section, placental weight (PW), and several morphological malformations was performed using WebQTL.

RESULTS
Heritability for our traits ranged from 0.06 for PW to 0.39 for MWG. We found suggestive QTLs mediating all phenotypes and significant QTLs for FW and digit and rib malformations. While most QTL regions are large, several intriguing candidate genes emerged based on polymorphisms between B6 and D2 and gene function.

CONCLUSIONS
In this first mapping study for EtOH teratogenesis, several QTLs were identified. Future studies will further characterize these regions. Identification of genes and epigenetic modifications mediating susceptibility to the teratogenic effects of alcohol in mice will provide targets to examine in human populations.


We consider a multi-stage stochastic lot-sizing problem with service level constraints and supplier-driven product substitution. A firm has multiple products and it has the option to meet demand from substitutable products at a cost. Considering the uncertainty in future demands, the firm wishes to make ordering decisions in every period such that the probability that all demands can be met in the next period meets or exceeds a minimum service level. We propose a rolling-horizon policy in which a two-stage joint chance-constrained stochastic program is solved to make decisions in each time period. We demonstrate how to effectively solve this formulation. In addition, we propose two policies based on deterministic approximations. We demonstrate that the proposed chance-constraint policy can achieve the service levels more reliably and at a lower cost. We also explore the value of product substitution in this model, demonstrating that the substitution option allows achieving service levels while reducing costs by 7% to 25% in our experiments, and that the majority of the benefit can be obtained with limited levels of substitution allowed.


Organizations nowadays face crucial business challenges, like globalization, profitability through growth, technology integration, intellectual capital management, continuous change. Seeking to survive in the turbulent environment organizations need to assess the complexity of environment and to choose strategic development directions which are concretized in organizational strategy. Every organization is guided by its strategy, by a design or plan for achieving an organization's policy goals and objectives, however the inequality between intended and implemented strategies exists (Mintzberg, 1978). Acknowledging this fact, the paper raises a question why organizations focus on difficulties by implementing their strategies and provides an insight into the aspects related to a successful implementation of an intended strategy into praxis. The fruitful strategy formulation and the effective strategy implementation require the coordination of multiple actors and their activities (Heide, Gronhaug & Johannessen, 2002). Whereas top management is responsible for the strategic and organizational decisions that affect the organization as a whole (Helfat, Harris & Wolfson, 2006) and line managers operate as an intermediary between strategic and operational organizational activities (McCarthy, Darcy & Grady, 2010), the interaction between these two key actors in order to minimize the gap between strategies is essential. Assuming that some aspects may affect the success of key actors interaction, the assumptions, which determine the nature of interaction are presented. The paper looks into four assumptions: organizational culture, organizational structure, communication and allocation of resources which discloses the complexity of interaction. The paper proposes the discussion concerning the top management and line managers interaction and the key dimensions of that interaction seeking to ensure the implementation of strategic directions into praxis. Whereas top management and line managers can cooperate in a various number of activities, some dimensions of interaction are more significant. Goals determination, strategy formulation and strategy implementation are three key dimensions where interaction between top management and line managers is in demand if the organization strives to translate strategic directions into praxis. Finally assessing the character of activity and the discussed assumptions, the theoretical aspects on interaction between top management and line managers were verified during the empirical research in educational organizations and is presented in this paper. This brings to conclusion that the interaction between top management and line managers implementing strategic directions into praxis should be considered as a central issue of management literature. The paper is based on the material of the Leonardo da Vinci innovation transferring project "Crossnational quality management in continuing learning for people with low educational attainment in the European context" ("Landerubergreifendes Qualitatsmanagement in der Weiterbildung fur Personen mit niedrigem Bildungsstand im Europaischen Kontext") (No 2009-1-PL-LEO05-05039).http://dx.doi.org/10.5755/j01.ee.22.4.716


The article presents a broad and comprehensive guide to personal finance that the author uses to teach financial planning to advisors working for banks and insurance companies. This is an attempt to create a holistic approach to financial planning, managing the risks that could damage the different forms of individuals' wealth: mortality risk, liquidity risk, credit risk, property risk, standard of living risk, and aspirational risk. The main idea is that financial advice should be concerned about the global wealth of individuals. For example, in addition to financial wealth, people who work have the so-called human wealth that derives from their specific ability to generate income. The risks pyramid presented here is an organized process to treat personal finance with a rigorous yet simple method. To achieve it, many insights from behavioral finance are used.


Pituitary dwarfism is a genetically heterogeneous group of disorders associated with a variety of pathogenetic mechanisms which may involve any level of the hypothalamic-pituitary-somatomedin-peripheral tissue axis. Developmental defects of the pituitary, such as congenital absence of the pituitary, and developmental defects of the hypothalamus, such as anencephaly and holoprosencephaly, have been described. Degeneration of the hypothalamus and pituitary, as in histiocytosis X, may also result in pituitary dwarfism. In "idiopathic" forms of pituitary dwarfism, defects limited to either the hypothalamus or pituitary have been suggested by releasing hormone stimulation studies and it is quite likely that specific defects of the hypothalamus, and pituitary, as well as defects in releasing hormonal synthesis and secretion and growth hormone synthesis and secretion all exist. In Laron dwarfism the basic defect appears to lie in the ability to generate somatomedin, in the Pygmy the defect appears to involve peripheral unresponsiveness to somatomedin. Further pathologic studies of the hypothalamus and pituitary in pituitary dwarfism; analysis of growth hormone and somatomedin cellular receptors; and elucidation of the structure of growth hormone releasing factor and techniques for its synthesis and assay should allow for the delineation of the specific pathogenetic mechanism in each of these syndromes.


In this paper, we propose a method for a transcription system for music by two instruments. We analyze all of the main elements printed on the score, including tempo, time of attack, tone, pitch and length from the sound. The method is mainly time-frequency analysis. This transcription system is for monaurally recorded music and the instruments we cover in this system are piano, flute, trumpet and violin. We simulated the system with one instrument, monophony and two instruments chosen arbitrarily from the four instruments, polyphony. The accuracy depended on the combination of the instruments, but a considerably high accuracy was obtained in various patterns.


Pedestrian injury poses a significant problem throughout the world. Pedestrians contribute to the second largest category
of motor vehicle deaths accounting for about 13% of fatalities, after occupant injuries. Therefore is vital to design pedestrian friendly
vehicles to mitigate injuries and fatalities. A statistical methodology employing the Design of Experiments (DoE) is adopted in this
work to obtain the optimum design parameters for the vehicle front end geometry. The work studies the feasibility of the use of Central
Composite Designs (CCD) between a Circumscribed design (CCC) and a Faced design (CCF). A total of 100 simulation runs are
performed and the response is tabulated. Multi linear regression analysis is performed following which, quadratic programming is used
to carry out the optimization task using the Response Surface models obtained. It is concluded that the CCC offers a better prediction
for the optimum values in comparison to the CCF design. The SSR value for the CCC design offers a better fit for the model yielding
the value of 2.68 which is lesser than CCF's value of 2.87. In addition, the practical error margin between the predicted CCC designs
and observed experimental values are 43.68 for CCC and 187.66 for CCF respectively, thus affirming the conclusion made.


When the gene for CspA, the major cold shock protein of Escherichia coli, was disrupted by a novel positive/negative selection method, the deltacspA cells did not show any discernible growth defect at either 37 or 15 degrees C. By two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, total protein synthesis was analyzed after temperature downshift in the deltacspA strain. The production of the CspA homologs CspB and CspG increased, and the duration of their expression was prolonged, suggesting that both CspB and CspG compensate for the function of CspA in the absence of CspA during cold shock adaptation. Interestingly, the production of the 159-base 5'-untranslated region (5'-UTR) of cspA from the chromosomal cspA::cat gene, detected by primer extension, failed to be repressed after cold shock. When an independent system to produce CspA was added to the deltacspA strain, the 5'-UTR production for the cspA::cat gene was significantly reduced compared to that of the deltacspA strain. By examining the expression of translationally fused cspA and cspB genes to lacZ in the deltacspA strain, it was found that cspA is more strongly regulated by CspA than cspB is. We showed that the increased expression of the 5'-UTR of the cspA mRNA in the deltacspA strain occurred mainly at the level of transcription and, to a certain extent, at the level of mRNA stabilization. The mRNA stabilization in the deltacspA strain was observed for other mRNAs, supporting the notion that CspA functions as an mRNA chaperone to destabilize secondary structures in mRNAs.


This paper analyzes the mathematical model of load-sensing hydraulic system based on power linkage graph method and builds the simulation model AMESim of the system. The load sensitive hydraulic system is applied in the working device of loader, and the simulation model AMESim with ADAMS is built by combining the dynamics analysis system with ADAMS,. The study of simulation on the dynamics is completed under different working conditions and the results of simulation analysis are given.


Aims: This study examined relations between cultural norms and drinking practices in Italian young people using qualitative interviewing techniques. We collected self-report drinking history information from young people including whether or not they were allowed alcohol with meals in a family setting when growing up. Methods: We conducted ethnographic interviews of 80 adolescent (ages 16–18) and 80 young adult (ages 25–30) regular and heavy drinkers in two regions (Abruzzo and Umbria). All 20 Italian regions produce wine. Abruzzo has a high ratio of heavy drinkers while Umbria has a high ratio of regular drinkers. We used the AUDIT to determine eligibility. We queried age at first drink, first 5+, first drunk, context of drinking, drinking with family during meals, availability of alcohol at home, parent's relationship to, attitudes about and discussion about alcohol. Results: Half of regular and heavy drinkers were allowed alcohol in a family setting while growing up. Those allowed alcohol with meals when growing up consumed less on their first drink occasion and were more likely to never drink 5+ or get drunk than those not allowed. They also had reduced or delayed 5+ or drunk occasions. Conclusions: In Italy the tradition of incorporating alcohol with meals in a family setting may protect against harmful drinking. Other qualitative research should explore family, other adult and peer relationships to clarify alcohol use and risk-related behaviors. Research in countries with similar and different early age introduction would increase knowledge about the protective aspect of drinking in a family setting.


Objectives To determine the frequency of pathogenic inherited mutations in 157 select genes from patients with metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). Design Observational. Setting Multisite US-based cohort. Participants Seventy-one adult male patients with histological confirmation of prostate cancer, and had progressive disease while on androgen deprivation therapy. Results Twelve patients (17.4%) showed evidence of carrying pathogenic or likely pathogenic germline variants in the ATM, ATR, BRCA2, FANCL, MSR1, MUTYH, RB1, TSHR and WRN genes. All but one patient opted in to receive clinically actionable results at the time of study initiation. We also found that pathogenic germline BRCA2 variants appear to be enriched in mCRPC compared to familial prostate cancers. Conclusions Pathogenic variants in cancer-susceptibility genes are frequently observed in patients with mCRPC. A substantial proportion of patients with mCRPC or their family members would derive clinical utility from mutation screening. Trial registration number NCT01953640; Results.


The complex and often confounding factors that influence gas emission from biological materials require a measurement procedure that is precise, accurate, repeatable, and reliable. A multiple-chamber instrumentation system was developed to rapidly and precisely measure gas emission potential from multiple sources, such as manure and biosolids, to compare gas emission reduction potential of various treatments. Up to eight steady-state flux chambers, a photoacoustic multi-gas monitor, and a hydrogen sulfide pulsed fluorescence analyzer were coupled through a multiplexer relay to measure concentrations of ammonia and hydrogen sulfide, respectively. Depending on the number of chambers used, gas concentration in the chambers was measured on 20- to 72-min intervals over a nominal 24-h period via fully-automated data collection software. Built-in quality controls allowed potential cross-contamination to be quickly identified in order to maintain the precision of the instrument. Air flow rate in each chamber was maintained at 0.5 air changes per minute using calibrated flow meters. The performance of the multiple chamber system in evaluating ammonia gas flux was tested using ammonia calibration gas (accuracy; 97.3% recovery through the system) and freestall barn-floor manure sub-samples (precision 8% for biologically heterogeneous material; standard error of 2% of mean). Using separately-collected dairy cow urine and feces the instrument system was used to evaluate impact of source depth showing an apparent slight reduction of ammonia release with increasing depth but findings were within the expected precision range of the instrument for this type of material. An example demonstrating the multiple-chamber system use in evaluating ammonia flux processes evaluated urine and feces mixed to five ratios ranging from 10:90 to 90:10. The 50:50 ratio had the highest cumulative emission over 23 h. Removing ammonia with a scrubber and moisture via condensation trap significantly improved the accuracy of hydrogen sulfide concentration measurements when analyzing dairy manure slurry. Odorous air samples were easily collected from each chamber headspace and evaluated using triangular forced-choice dynamic olfactometry and odor-quality assessments for simultaneous gas emission and odor evaluation. This instrumentation system offers repeatable, concurrent monitoring of gas and odor emission from biological sources and provides a powerful tool for gas emission research and evaluation of management practices directed at reducing gas release.


Energy conservation guides and supports people to save energy of existing buildings energy through policy guidance and painstaking ideological work. Through demonstration projects, a set of building energy efficiency market transformation model has been formed. This paper introduces the overview of the building, room function, the air conditioning system, maintenance of the structure as the fundamental basis for energy saving. On this basis, suitable energy-saving proposals and measures for the building are proposed.


Expert advice in political processes is supposed to improve decisions. If expertise fails in this function, a legitimacy problem occurs: granting political power to experts may be defensible, but only on the grounds that it contributes to enlightening political processes and facilitate problem-solving. The paper provides a theoretical exploration of four variables that are key when assessing the epistemic quality of expert deliberations: the degree to which these deliberations are 1) informed by technical expertise, 2) regulated by epistemically optimal respect and inclusion norms, 3) focused on politically relevant and applicable knowledge, and 4) approaching questions involving moral judgment and standard setting competently. Previous research on the European Commission's use of expert advice has more or less overlooked the question of experts' epistemic performance, and this paper discusses the possible reasons for this in light of well-known methodological challenges in studies of elite behaviour; access and bias problems. A discussion of the merits and limitations of different available data on the Commission experts shows that the biggest obstacle in the study of experts' epistemic performance is rather the problem of epistemic asymmetry, i.e. of how researchers as non-experts can assess the epistemic quality of experts' contributions and behaviour. The paper offers, finally, a set of strategies to get research going despite this problem.


In this article, the authors run experiments to test if and how human subjects can differentiate time series of actual asset returns from time series that are generated synthetically via various processes, including AR1. In contrast with previous anecdotal evidence, they find that subjects can distinguish between the two. These results show that temporal charts of asset prices convey to investors information that cannot be reproduced by summary statistics. They also provide a first refutation based on human perception of a strong form of the efficient-market hypothesis. Their experiments are implemented via an online video game (http://arora.ccs.neu.edu). The authors also link the subjects' performance to statistical properties of the data and investigate whether subjects improve performance while playing.


In the last two decades, primary and secondary school enrollment rates have declined in Nigeria while enrollment rates in post-secondary school have increased. This paper estimates from the General Household Survey for Nigeria the private returns to schooling associated with levels of educational attainment for wage and self-employed workers. The estimates for both men and women are small at primary and secondary levels, 2 to 4 percent, but are substantial at post-secondary education level, 10-15 percent. These schooling return estimates may account for the recent trends in enrollments. Thus, increasing public investment to encourage increased attendance in basic education is not justifiable on grounds of private efficiency, unless investments to increase school quality have higher private returns. With high private returns to post-secondary schooling, students at this level should pay tuition, to recoup more of the public costs of schooling, which may be redistributed to poor families through scholarships.


We have utilized the adenocarcinoma cell line HT29 as an in vitro model to investigate the turnover and the metabolism of the alpha 2-adrenoceptor. The biosynthesis rate of the receptor was studied in postconfluent HT29 cells, when its density expressed as fmol/mg of cell membrane protein is constant, by following the recovery of the receptor binding capacity after blockade with the non-reversible alpha-adrenergic antagonist benextramine. Study of the inhibition of [3H]yohimbine and [3H]UK-14,304 binding showed that benextramine was a more potent antagonist at alpha 2-adrenoceptor than phenoxybenzamine. The incubation of intact HT29 cells for 30 min in the presence of 10(-5) M benextramine irreversibly blocked more than 95% of the alpha 2-adrenoceptors and totally suppressed the inhibitory effect of UK-14,304 on cyclic AMP production. The blockade appeared specific, since benextramine effects were prevented by alpha 2-adrenergic agents. Moreover, neither vasoactive intestinal polypeptide responsiveness nor other tested aspects of the regulation of the adenylate cyclase was altered by the treatment. Study of the time course of receptor recovery after irreversible blockade indicated that alpha 2-adrenoceptors reappeared in the cells with a monoexponential kinetic. The linearization of the repopulation curve obtained with the labeled antagonist [3H]yohimbine allowed the determination of the rate constant for receptor degradation (k = 0.0268 +/- 0.0025 hr-1) and the rate of receptor synthesis (6.91 +/- 0.64 fmol/mg of cell membrane protein/hr) corresponding to the synthesis of about 500 receptors/cell/hr. The alpha 2-adrenoceptor half-life was 26 +/- 3 hr. Measurement of the biological effects associated to the alpha-adrenoceptor stimulation during the course of receptor recovery indicated a relationship between the number of cell receptors and the percentage of inhibition of the cyclic AMP accumulation induced by forskolin. The receptor reappearance was totally inhibited by either actinomycin or cycloheximide or tunicamycin, showing that the recovery corresponded to de novo synthesized receptor and giving indirect evidence for the glycoproteic nature of the alpha 2-adrenoceptor. Deprivation for glucose or glutamine also impeded the recovery process; by contrast, addition of UK-14,304 or clonidine did not interfere, indicating that the expression of the alpha 2-adrenoceptor is not subject to homologous regulation in the HT29 cell.


Indole-3-carbinol (I3C) and phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC) are breakdown products of the glucosinolates glucobrassicin and gluconasturtiin, respectively, and are thought to reduce carcinogen activation by P450 enzymes. To assess the effects of these compounds on colon cancer risk, rats were divided into five groups and fed the following diets: control diet (AIN-93G), or diets with PEITC or I3C added to the control diet: high-PEITC (3.37 mmols/kg diet-high level of PEITC), low-PEITC (0.67 mmols/kg-low level of PEITC), high-I3C (6.8 mmols/kg-high level of I3C) and low-I3C (1.36 mmols/kg-low level of I3C). Diets were fed for 2 weeks before and 10 weeks after administration of the colon carcinogen azoxymethane. Precancerous lesion (aberrant crypt foci, ACF) number in the distal colon was significantly lower in both high-I3C and low-I3C groups (6.9 +/- 0.8 and 5.9 +/- 0.59 per cm2, respectively) when compared with the control group (10.4 +/- 0.9). No significant difference in ACF number was found between the PEITC group and the control group. ACF expressing sialomucin, thought to indicate ACF more likely to progress to tumors, were greater in the high-PEITC group (13 +/- 3) than the control (5.6 +/- 2). Mucin-depleted ACF, suggested to have the greatest tumorigenic potential, tended to be lower in the low-I3C group (P < 0.06) compared with the control group. Mucosal apoptotic and cell proliferation labeling indices did not differ among groups, suggesting that reduction in the ACF number by I3C does not involve alterations in mucosal cell kinetics. No significant differences were found among the groups in hepatic cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) activity, the first enzyme involved in activation of azoxymethane. However, there was increased activity of NADPH- and NADH reductases with high-I3C, which are the enzymes involved in the transfer of reducing equivalents to cytochrome P450. These results suggest that I3C lowers colon cancer risk through a mechanism not involving reduction of carcinogen activation by CYP2E1.


The purpose of this research was to provide a road map for the effective use of condition and performance assessment tools and techniques by water and wastewater utilities within the context of different asset management sophistication levels. Generic approaches to assessment program design and tool selection are offered, which can be applied across a range of asset types.

The recommended approach to assessment program development draws on various protocols reviewed in the research and case study examples from leading utilities throughout the world and is aligned with the best practice concept that condition assessments should ideally be undertaken only when required to fill a specific gap in asset-related information to improve decision-making. The recommended tool selection approach uses an exclusion process in which tools are excluded on the basis of criteria relating to technical feasibility, technical suitability and utility technical capacity. Useable options must then be evaluated through economic or financial analysis such that final tool selection is made with regard to available resources, the cost-benefits accrued and utility affordability issues.

This research provides descriptions and reviews of 83 individual condition assessment tools and techniques used in the water and wastewater industry, including a discussion of principles, applications, practical considerations, advantages and limitations. A prototype expert system was developed to facilitate the selection of condition assessment tools using software systems. Such an expert system could provide a framework for updating, maintaining and distributing refinements of these tool reviews as condition assessment technologies and understanding advance in the future.

This title belongs to WERF Research Report Series

ISBN: 9781843397854 (eBook)


We develop an information-theoretic view of the stochastic block model, a popular statistical model for the large-scale structure of complex networks. A graph $G$ from such a model is generated by first assigning vertex labels at random from a finite alphabet, and then connecting vertices with edge probabilities depending on the labels of the endpoints. In the case of the symmetric two-group model, we establish an explicit `single-letter' characterization of the per-vertex mutual information between the vertex labels and the graph.
The explicit expression of the mutual information is intimately related to estimation-theoretic quantities, and --in particular-- reveals a phase transition at the critical point for community detection. Below the critical point the per-vertex mutual information is asymptotically the same as if edges were independent. Correspondingly, no algorithm can estimate the partition better than random guessing. Conversely, above the threshold, the per-vertex mutual information is strictly smaller than the independent-edges upper bound. In this regime there exists a procedure that estimates the vertex labels better than random guessing.


We evaluated in vitro the functional role of mucoid exopolysaccharide (MEP) of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in blocking antibiotic-induced and polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN)-mediated pseudomonal killing. The serum-resistant P. aeruginosa isolates used were mucoid strain 144MR and its nonmucoid revertant, strain 144NM. By timed kill curves, early bacterial effects of amikacin against mucoid strain 144MR were substantially less than those observed with nonmucoid strain 144NM; this effect was reversible with enzymatic hydrolysis of MEP of strain 144MR by alginase. Also, early tobramycin uptake (15 to 30 min) by mucoid 144MR cells was less than that seen with nonmucoid strain 144NM; pretreatment of 144MR cells with alginase substantially enhanced early tobramycin uptake compared with untreated 144MR cells (P = 0.08). In strain 144NM (but not in strain 114MR) there was a notable postantibiotic leukocidal enhancement effect manifested by increased nonopsonic killing following brief exposure of these cells to supra-MIC amikacin; pretreatment of strain 144MR with alginase rendered these cells more susceptible to amikacin-induced postantibiotic leukocidal enhancement. Similarly, direct PMN-mediated nonopsonic killing of mucoid strain 144MR was significantly less than that observed with strain 144NM (P less than 0.05); pretreatment of 144MR cells with alginase rendered this strain equal to strain 144NM in susceptibility to nonopsonic killing. In addition, exogenous sodium alginate or extracted MEP of strain 144MR interfered with effective nonopsonic killing of strain 144NM by PMNs. Studies also indicated that mucoid strain 144MR was phagocytosed significantly less well than its nonmucoid mate (P less than 0.00001), an effect reversed by pretreatment of the mucoid cells with alginase. These data confirm that P. aeruginosa MEPs functionally decrease the uptake and early bactericidal effect of aminoglycosides in vitro and interfere with effective PMN-mediated nonopsonic phagocytosis and killing of mucoid strains.


This study presents a technique of measuring the fiiction losses of a compressor. The basic idea is that the kinetic energy of compressor mechanism is dissipated by the fiiction when compressor is turned off. So, the viscous fiiction losses can be calculated from measured acceleration. This method has the advantage that losses of a compressor are measured by placing the accelerometer on proper position of compressor without modifying the shaft or another parts of compressor. INTRODUCTION Estimation of friction losses is very important in the compressor design. Theoretical calculation is simple, but experimental measurement has the following two difficulties. 1. Test compressor must be modified to attach the transducers. 2. Transducer attachment itself is very difficult This paper describes simple measurement method without above difficulties.


pay management, which is an important function of human resources management in enterprises. Enterprises pay gets relationship with effective management of the entire enterprise human cost of reasonable control, overall satisfaction of staff and internal management of enterprises in the fair and so on, all kinds of problems. This article states the contents of salary management and the function of incentives and analyzes the mistake and reasons in pay administration, and establishes some ways to solve those problems. At the same time, it also analyses a fair and effective pay system to attract and retain the talented in order to encourage employees' enthusiasm for work and improve enterprises' overall performance.


Proc Amer Assoc Cancer Res, Volume 47, 2006

5564

Background and objective: We have reported that the therapy by an immunotherapeutic agent OK-432 and 5-fluorouracil (FU) in combination with radiation exhibits a marked therapeutic effect in the patients with head and neck cancer. Although it is important in anti-cancer immunity to polarize T-cell response to helper T-cell 1 (Th1)-dominant state, CD4+T cells are able to differentiate to Th2 as well as to regulatory T cells (Treg), and produce interleukin (IL)-10 and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β, which decrease anti-cancer immunity. In the current study, we conducted the in vitro study to examine the effect of 5-FU and X-irradiation in the OK-432-induced cytokine production and expression of the molecules related to cytokine balance. Methods: Human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were stimulated with OK-432 (1μg/ml), 5-FU (5μg/ml) or X-ray (2Gy). Twenty-four hours later, cytokines in the supernatants were measured by ELISA, expression of the genes for T-bet, GATA-3 and Foxp3 which are pivotal transcription factors for Th1, Th2 and Treg, respectively, and for suppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS)-1 and SOCS-3 which are negative regulators for cytokine signaling, on the PBMCs, was evaluated by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Results: Stimulation of PBMCs with OK-432 induced Th1-type cytokines (interferon-γ, tumor necrosis factor-α, IL-12, IL-18) as well as IL-10 and TGF-β. When PBMCs were stimulated by 5-FU and/or X-ray in combination with OK-432, production of IL-10 and TGF-β was significantly inhibited. No significant change in the production of Th1-type cytokines was observed. Although OK-432 enhanced the expression of the genes encoding T-bet, GATA-3 and Foxp3, 5-FU and X-irradiation inhibited the increased expression of GATA-3 and Foxp3 genes but not of T-bet gene. Gene expression of negative regulators, SOCS-1 and SOCS-3, was augmented by OK-432, however, this was also inhibited by 5-FU and X-irradiation. OK-432-induced IL-10 and TGF-β, but not Th1-type cytokines, was significantly reduced by addition of antisense oligonucleotide for SOCS-1 or that for SOCS-3. Conclusions: Radiation and 5-FU induce Th1-dominant state by inhibiting the OK-432-induced production of IL-10 and TGF-β mediated by regulation of negative regulators, SOCS-1 and SOCS-3, and are strongly suggested to increase anti-cancer immunity.


We demonstrate two approaches that use the recently developed helium spin-echo technique to measure surface potential energy landscapes. For helium–lithium fluoride (100), we use the selective adsorption phenomenon to obtain the complete experimental band structure of atoms in a corrugated surface potential. For carbon monoxide–copper (001), we measure the diffusion-induced energy broadening in the scattered helium beam and extract properties of the adsorbate-substrate potential. The measurements are made possible by the resolution of our new spectrometer, which improves on existing resolution by three orders of magnitude. We show that it is possible to produce benchmark energy landscapes to assist evaluation and development of first-principles theory in the problematic van der Waals/weak chemisorption regime.


The traditional world has transformed into a digital society where almost anything can be accessed from anywhere. However, this digital society is responsible for an explosive growth of high-volume, high-velocity and high-variety information assets, with high demand for "Big Data". A Software Defined Connectivity (SDC) is an emerging paradigm, which promises to simplify network management, to provide the flexibility to program the network through centralized network control by providing new abstractions in networking with all real objects for reliable and energy efficient data transmission. In a SDC architecture, the connectivity controller decides the forwarding rules as per the demands and objectives of users when transmitting information to the intended destination through either internet or existing transport infrastructure. The key idea is to have flexibility in the network to utilize existing transport infrastructure to shift traffic from the internet towards public bus services as per the current users requirements. The numerical studies reported in this paper confirm that this new opportunity helps to achieve efficient resource utilization and high performance with significant savings of energy.


Four very unusual cases of neuroblastoma in children are reported. Clinically, they had a similar presentation: advanced disease at onset, diffuse abdominal spread, poor treatment response, and rapid progression. Pathologically, the four cases were characterized by a striking degree of cellular and nuclear pleomorphism and anaplasia with bizarre and monstrous expressions. Although some authors have referred to the immature ganglion cells found in neuroblastoma as "bizarre ganglion cells," they usually mean the enlarged, maturing neuroblasts that are typical of ganglioneuroblastoma but far from the extreme anaplasia seen in our cases. A correlation between the clinical course and the histological picture could be hypothetically suggested, but additional evidence and confirmation is needed. These cellular aberrations might represent an unsuccessful and impaired attempt at maturation. Independent from prognosis, the definition of anaplastic neuroblastoma is a useful conceptual specification in the study of this tumor and of giant cell and pleomorphic malignant neoplasms of childhood.


Existing studies suggest that the liberalization of university education, which paved the way for faith-based and other nonstate players in the higher education sector, improved access to and the morality and quality of education in Nigeria. The validity of such claims is far from settled, but adequate attention has not been focused on the unintended political fallout of the nonstate entry into university education. Drawing on the responses of a random sample of 1,886 respondents from eleven university campuses (five public or state universities and six faith-based universities), this article examines how different university education experiences produce variations in citizenship along the dimensions of obedience (readiness to comply with state orders and willingness to pay tax), interfaith accommodation (willingness to vote for and support candidates from another religious group), and patriotism (disposition to volunteer or sacrifice for the state). The study reveals that public or state university respondents are stronger along all these dimensions than faith-based university respondents.


ABSTRACT Autophagy plays an essential role in cellular homeostasis through the quality control of proteins and organelles. Although a time-dependent decline in autophagic activity is believed to be involved in the aging process, the issue remains controversial. We previously demonstrated that autophagy maintains proximal tubular cell homeostasis and protects against kidney injury. Here, we extend that study and examine how autophagy is involved in kidney aging. Unexpectedly, the basal autophagic activity was higher in the aged kidney than that in young kidney; short-term cessation of autophagy in tamoxifen-inducible proximal tubule-specific autophagy-deficient mice increased the accumulation of SQSTM1/p62- and ubiquitin-positive aggregates in the aged kidney. By contrast, autophagic flux in response to metabolic stress was blunted with aging, as demonstrated by the observation that transgenic mice expressing a green fluorescent protein (GFP)-microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3B fusion construct, showed a drastic increase of GFP-positive puncta in response to starvation in young mice compared to a slight increase observed in aged mice. Finally, proximal tubule-specific autophagy-deficient mice at 24 mo of age exhibited a significant deterioration in kidney function and fibrosis concomitant with mitochondrial dysfunction as well as mitochondrial DNA abnormalities and nuclear DNA damage, all of which are hallmark characteristics of cellular senescence. These results suggest that age-dependent high basal autophagy plays a crucial role in counteracting kidney aging through mitochondrial quality control. Furthermore, a reduced capacity for upregulation of autophagic flux in response to metabolic stress may be associated with age-related kidney diseases.