The financial distress of listed companies not only threatens the interests of the enterprise and internal staff, but also makes investors face significant financial loss. It is important to establish an effective early warning system for prediction of financial distress. Financial news contains a lot of unstructured text data about the financial status of the business. Therefore, this paper takes into account the unstructured text data to the early warning system for sentimental analysis. In the section of financial indicators, this study uses the seven major categories of financial ratios in the ZETA model of Altman (2000). We use logistic regression and random forest to establish our model. However, the weakness of ZETA model is that the prediction accuracy will be greatly dropped over two years. This study introduces a hidden Markov model to improve the long-term prediction accuracy of the model. This paper provides a hybrid method which integrates text mining and hidden Markov model for prediction of financial distress for listed companies in Taiwan.


Kutch was previously believed to be impoverished in the Late Jurassic ammonite diversity. Recent intensive sampling yielded several new records of genera of different taxonomic affinities. Results of this research are presented here, based on the description of Corongoceras cf. lotenoense , C. sp. A; Himalayites sp.; Durangites cf. heilprini, D. sp. A and D. sp. B; Tithopeltoceras lakhaparense, Blanfordiceras sp. A and Pterolytoceras sutile. Additionally, we also present a systematic revision of Micracanthoceras Spath,1925, Aulacosphinctes Uhlig, 1910 and Umiaites Spath, 1931. All previously described Kutch species of Micracanthoceras have been found to belong to the type species, M. micrcanthus. Umiaites. Previously known as endemic only to Kutch, it appears to be the macroconch of the better known Proniceras Burckhardt, 1919. Kutch thus, appears to be taxonomically more diverse than previously assumed during the Late Tithonian.


Background: HIV-positive individuals have high incidence of anal high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL) at the squamocolumnar junction (SCJ), which can progress to cancer. Focal radiofrequency ablation (RFA) treats HSIL, but metachronous recurrence remains high and may be improved with circumferential treatment. Setting: The study was performed at a single center. Methods: This was a prospective trial of circumferential anal RFA using Barrx 60 RFA focal catheters in participants with ≥1 anal SCJ HSIL. The entire SCJ was ablated by RFA. Adverse events (AEs), symptoms, including pain, and quality of life were assessed. High-resolution anoscopy assessed recurrences at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months. Lesion site biopsies occurred at month 12. Recurrences were retreated with focal RFA. Results: Ten male participants (9 HIV+), with a median 2 HSILs (range 2–8) each, enrolled. Median T-cell count and viral load were 730 cells/mcL and 38 copies/mL. Median duration of RFA treatment was 6.5 (5–13) minutes. Lesion persistence occurred in 4 participants (3 at 3 months, 1 at 6 months). Recurrence at a new site occurred in 1 participant at 3 months. No lesion persisted after retreatment. All participants were HSIL free and completely healed by 12 months. Two device-related mild AEs occurred in 1 participant each (thrombosed external hemorrhoid and soft anal scar; both resolved). No serious AEs occurred. Conclusion: Circumferential anal SCJ RFA produced total HSIL eradication with no more than 2 treatments. Circumferential RFA seems to be well tolerated with minimal pain and no serious AEs in HIV+ participants. Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT02189161.


Though there exists a wide range of research surrounding theories of humour and the structure of jokes, very little academic attention is given to stand-up comedy, despite its popularity within modern culture and appreciation as a type of performance. Stand-up comedy's audience cognitively process highly creative discourse at great speed and reach the intended instances of humour created by the performer. This thesis seeks to address the inabilities of current linguistic theories of humour when applied to stand-up comedy, by proposing a new model of humour (the Possible Worlds Model of Humour). The most prolific of the linguistic theories of humour, the General Theory of Verbal Humor (GTVH), has been scrutinised for under-definition within the parameters of the model, and providing an analysis with a lack of focus into the cognitive processes that bring an audience to laugh. In creating a new linguistic model for the analysis of humour, cognitive stylistics (cognitive poetics) has been chosen to achieve cognitive insight into stand-up comedy as a text through logic based possible-world approaches to fiction. Appropriate incongruity, textual universes and their textual actual worlds, scripts, accessibility relations, and the alternative worlds in a comedian's jokes can be used in defining an individual style attributed to a particular stand-up comedian. Analyses are carried out on two extracts from British stand-up comedians (Milton Jones and Stewart Lee) to show the abilities of the proposed model when considering this type of text.


Background Groin pain is common in sports. More insight in risk factors is important to prevent groin injuries. Objective To examine potential risk factors for groin injuries. Design Prospective cohort study. Setting Project focusing on prevention and rehabilitation of groin injuries in elite male soccer players. Participants Teams of the first and second division in the Netherlands were invited to participate. The final cohort consisted of 238 players from 10 teams. Assessment of risk factors During the 2015-preseason the soccer players were examined through a baseline questionnaire on player characteristics and complaints (including Hip And Groin Outcome Score, HAGOS), and a clinical examination of the hip/groin (including several Range of Motion (ROM) tests and eccentric strength tests). Main outcome measurements The dependent variable is the occurrence of a groin injury. The hypothesis is that intrinsic risk factors, like previous (groin) injuries, hip/groin complaints, low hip ROM, and low hip muscle strength, are associated with increased risk of groin injuries. Logistic regression analyses were used to analyse the relationship between the occurrence of a groin injury and potential risk factors. Results In total, 28 groin injuries were reported, affecting 21 players. The incidence of groin injuries was 0.14 injuries per 1000 training hours (95% CI 0.06–0.31), and 2.41 injuries per 1000 match hours (95% CI 1.30–4.48). There were 6 minor injuries (time-loss <7 days), 7 moderate injuries (8–28 days) and 8 severe injuries (>28 days). In a multivariate model only injury history (moderate/severe injury during the previous season) was significantly associated with increased risk of groin injuries (OR=3.11, 95% CI 1.20–8.09, p=0.02). A multivariate analysis without minor injuries revealed no significant risk factors. Conclusion Injury history is a significant risk factor for groin injuries: players with an injury lasting at least one week previous season have a three times higher injury risk.


A novel electrophoretic separation system has been successfully applied for the preparation of human sperm prior to the execution of assisted reproductive techniques (ARTs). This new system is designed to overcome the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) through centrifugation in conventional sperm preparation. Since the previous study showed favorable outcomes in humans, this study intends to implement this new system for animal sperm preparation particularly in bull. Fresh semen from adult bulls were used.  Optimization of the electrophoretic system for optimum bull sperm separation involved different strength of voltage and separation time. The voltages applied were 10V, 20V, 30V, 40V, 50V, and 60V. For each voltage applied, the system was operated for a duration of 12 min . An average of 10 µl fractionalized semen was taken out at the collection site at every 2- min interval. Every fractionated sperm was then evaluated for percentage of viability, motility, and DNA damage assessment. Result showed that electrophoresis at 20V and 6 min yielded more than 80% viable and more than 70% motile sperm population with the lowest DNA damage. In conclusion, the system was able to fractionate high quality bull sperm at 20V and 6 min . DOI :  http://dx.doi.org./10.17576/JSKM-2019-1701-13


The aim of this article is to describe the impact of Christianity on sub-Saharan Africa. I shall start by first examining the key words in the title of this article, and by briefly discussing the phenomenal growth of Christianity in sub-Saharan Africa. The article further describes the impact of Christianity on sub-Saharan Africa in terms of education, socio-politics, and health; here I shall base my remarks on the history of Christian missions in the region since the late nineteen century. As far as education is concerned, this article recognises that education that focuses on holistic human development is a positive force, and a force that was introduced by Christianity. I shall also point out that Christianity initiated medical advances that improved the health of those who live in the region. Regeneration as espoused by Christianity constitutes something of great value. On the downside, Christianity led to the demise of the African customs, which it viewed as pagan and evil; the religion also led to the implementation of apartheid (to which it gave its theological support), and undermined the leadership role of women. Finally, Christianity has bedevilled race relations in Africa generally.


The combination of a beta-adrenoceptor-blocking drug with the dihydropyridine calcium channel antagonist, nitrendipine, has particular therapeutic advantages in the management of hypertension. The beta-blocker reduces any reflex increases in sympathetic nervous system and renin-angiotensin system activity that result from the vasodilating action of nitrendipine, whereas the latter drug reduces the peripheral effects of beta-blockade. At least three clinical studies have documented additional hypotensive effects when nitrendipine is used in combination with beta-blockers in the treatment of hypertension. This therapeutic combination is well tolerated, produces minimal alterations in clinical laboratory tests, and does not produce significant depression of atrioventricular conduction or left ventricular function.


The concept of negative absolute temperature, introduced by Ramsey based on the study of a nuclear spin system by Purcell and Pound in 1951, has been subject to continued debate. According to a recent analysis by Struchtrup, the apparent negative temperature states are temperature unstable states for which no temperature-positive or negative-can be defined. Ramsey was aware of the potential problem with his treatment of the negative temperature by pointing it out that the apparent negative temperature states cannot be achieved via any reversible process. In this paper, we demonstrate that the existence of an upper limit in the allowed states of the system is not a sufficient condition, albeit a necessary condition, for the appearance of negative temperatures. A thermal system cannot move into any negative temperature state via reversible thermodynamic processes. Negative temperature of a system is a direct outcome of incorrectly applying thermodynamic functions to an irreversible process.


In chemical process industries, maintenance costs may comprise of up to 20−30%of the operating budget, and therefore, improving maintenance practices can significantly impact plant economics and reduce production losses. Developing so-called "Smart" preventive maintenance policies/systems of key manufacturing components, especially those that may cause process upsets, losses and downtime, is therefore an important task. A high percentage of the day-to-day preventive maintenance tasks in the chemical process industry deals with control actuators and measurement sensors employed by process control systems. Motivated by these considerations, the first part of this dissertation focuses on the development of methods for integrating the on-line preventive maintenance of actuators and sensors with advanced process control system design. To accomplish these preventive maintenance tasks, economic model predictive control (EMPC), that optimizes economic process performance over an operating horizon by employing a dynamic process model to predict the evolution of the process, is employed to maintain stable operation of a process while dictating an economically optimal operating policy with respect to varying numbers of control actuators and measurement sensors. Novel EMPC schemes are developed that explicitly account for scheduled preventive control actuator/sensor maintenance programs, process economics and feedback control. In the second part of this dissertation, EMPC of transport-reaction processes is considered for the first time. Compared with lumped-parameter processes, no work has been done on the problem of designing EMPC for transport-reaction processes modeled by partial differential equations (PDEs). The thesis proposes EMPC schemes those are formulated on the basis of suitable reduced-order models to ensure input and state constraint satisfaction and economics optimization for both parabolic and hyperbolic PDEs. Finally, the thesis concludes with the presentation of multiscale, computational fluid dynamics modeling framework for an industrial-level steam methane reforming unit.


Serum obtained from mice 3 to 5 weeks after the third i.p. dose of dengue type 2 virus (DV) protected recipient mice against intracerebral challenge with DV, whereas the serum obtained after 1 and 2 weeks provided minimum protection. Adoptive intravenous transfer of immune spleen cells obtained from mice 1 to 5 weeks after immunization did not protect recipient mice against even a small dose (10 LD50) of DV. Depletion of T-cells by treatment of mice with anti-thymocyte serum did not potentiate DV infection. Development of a cell-mediated immune response (CMI) against DV was noted only at two periods by the leucocyte migration inhibition test (LMI), with borderline values of 20 and 21%. Dengue virus did not cause illness or death in mice when given by i.p. or i.v. routes and this was not affected by pre-treatment of mice with silica to damage local macrophages. It is concluded that humoral antibody plays a critical role in recovery from primary dengue virus infection of mice whereas CMI and macrophages appear to have no protective role.


The fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) causes chytridiomycosis, a lethal epizootic disease of amphibians. Rapid identification of the pathogen and biosecurity is essential to prevent its spread, but current laboratory‐based tests are time‐consuming and require specialist equipment. Here, we describe the generation of an IgM monoclonal antibody (mAb), 5C4, specific to Bd as well as the related salamander and newt pathogen Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal). The mAb, which binds to a glycoprotein antigen present on the surface of zoospores, sporangia and zoosporangia, was used to develop a lateral‐flow assay (LFA) for rapid (15 min) detection of the pathogens. The LFA detects known lineages of Bd and also Bsal, as well as the closely related fungus Homolaphlyctis polyrhiza, but does not detect a wide range of related and unrelated fungi and oomycetes likely to be present in amphibian habitats. When combined with a simple swabbing procedure, the LFA was 100% accurate in detecting the water‐soluble 5C4 antigen present in skin, foot and pelvic samples from frogs, newts and salamanders naturally infected with Bd or Bsal. Our results demonstrate the potential of the portable LFA as a rapid qualitative assay for tracking these amphibian pathogens and as an adjunct test to nucleic acid‐based detection methods.


The role of exercise in vocal fold wound healing has been overlooked. Data from numerous other systems suggest a positive role of tissue mobilization to facilitate optimal wound healing and biomechanically superior tissue. The current study sought to investigate the potential role of mechanical signaling to attenuate the inflammatory and alter the synthetic properties of fibroblasts cultured from the vocal folds. Vocal fold fibroblasts were subjected to one of four conditions: no treatment, IL-1â alone, mechanical stress alone, or mechanical stress plus IL-1â. Results suggest that mechanical stress may limit the inflammatory phenotype of vocal fold fibroblasts in the short-term (4 hours), but not in the long-term (24 hours). In fact, 24 hours of mechanical stress may actually increase the inflammatory response. In addition, neither IL-1â nor mechanical stress had an effect on vocal fold fibroblast synthesis of extracellular matrix proteins. As a potential explanation for the current findings, it is hypothesized that the vocal folds may be more resilient to mechanical stress given the inherently stressful environment associated with phonation.


Background and objectives To understand the utility of glycated haemoglobin (HBA1C) in screening for diabetes and Abnormal Glucose Regulation (AGR) in primary care, we compared its performance to that of the fasting plasma glucose (FPG) test. Methods This was a prospective diagnostic accuracy study conducted in eastern Uganda. Patients eligible for inclusion were consecutive adults, 30–75 years, receiving care at the outpatient department of a general hospital in eastern Uganda. We determined the sensitivity, specificity and optimum cut-off points for HBA1C and FPG tests using the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) as a clinical reference standard. Results A total of 1659 participants underwent FPG testing of whom 310 were also HBA1C and OGTT tested. A total of 113 tested positive for diabetes and 168 for AGR on the OGTT. At recommended cut-off points for diabetes, the HBA1C and FPG tests had comparable sensitivity [69.8% (95% CI 46.3–86.1) versus 62.6% (95% CI 41.5–79.8), respectively] and specificity [98.6% (95% CI 95.4–99.6) versus 99.4% (95% CI 98.9–99.7), respectively]. Similarly, the sensitivity of HBA1C and the FPG tests for Abnormal Glucose Regulation (AGR) at ADA cut-offs were comparable [58.9% (95% CI 46.7–70.2) vs 47.7% (95% CI 37.3–58.4), respectively]; however, the HBA1C test had lower specificity [70.7% (95% CI 65.1–75.8)] than the FPG test [93.5% (95% CI 88.6–96.4)]. At the optimum cut-offs points for diabetes [45.0 mmol/mol (6.3%) for HBA1C and 6.4 mmol/L (115.2 mg/dl) for FPG], HBA1C and FPG sensitivity [71.2% (95% CI 46.9–87.8) versus 72.7% (95% CI 49.5–87.8), respectively] and specificity [95.1% (95% CI91.8 97.2) versus 98.7% (95% CI 98.0 99.2), respectively] were comparable. Similarly, at the optimum cut-off points for AGR [42.0 mmol/mol (6.0%) for the HBA1C and 5.5 mmol/l (99.0 mg/dl) for the FPG test], HBA1C and FPG sensitivity [42.3% (95% CI 31.8–53.6) and 53.2 (95% CI 43.1–63.1), respectively] and specificity [89.1% (95% CI 84.1 92.7) and 92.7% (95% CI 91.0 94.1), respectively] were comparable. Discussion HBA1C is a viable alternative diabetes screening and confirmatory test to the FPG test; however, the utility of both tests in screening for prediabetes in this outpatient population is limited.


Oct 2016 Abstract Introduction: Relationship between periodontal infection and pulp pathosis has been debated for many years. This human case control study was performed to evaluate the possible effects of moderate to advanced chronic periodontitis on pulp stone formation and pulpal calcifications. Methods : Current study is an experimental case control study. Samples included 23 hopeless permanent teeth, affected with periodontitis in the case group and 23 periodontally healthy teeth in the control group, which were extracted for reasons like full denture treatment plan. After extraction and sectioning the apical 2-3 mm of root, teeth were immersed in 10% Formalin solution for 7 days. Then, teeth were decalcified in 5% HNO 3 for 10 days. After implementation of tissue preparation steps, sections were made of apical, middle and coronal part of root of each sample. After histological processing, sections were examined by an experienced pathologist under a light microscope. Prescence of pulp stone was investigated in the sections and the results of the two groups were compared with each other. Results: Frequency of pulp stone showed no significant differences between the case and control groups in non of sections. (P-value= 0.730, 0.300, 0.760). Conclusion: Inflammation of periodontium in chronic periodontitis has no influence on pulp


Bauhinia variegata Linn. (Kachnar) (Fabaceae- Leguminosae) is popular ornamental plants, commonly known as Cow's paw. Bauhinia variegata is a widely used as medicinal plant distributed in the tropical regions. According to WHO third world countries depends mainly native medicinal plants for their health purpose. various part i.e. flowers, buds, stem, roots, bark, seeds, leaves have been used since ancient times for the treatment of a wide range of diseases. It is used traditionally in dysentery, diarrhea, hemorrhoids, piles, edema, laxative, anti-helmintic, astringent, anti-leprotic, wound healing, anti-goitrogenic, anti-tumor, antidote for snake poisoning, dyspepsia and carminative disease. It have numerous chemical values and is rich phytochemicals such as flavonoids, tannin, kaempferol, terpenoids, saponins, reducing sugars steroids, cardiac glycosides and quercetin. Studies on the medicinal and biological importance of B. variegata have been reported. In modern studies and scientific knowledge on the biological/ medicinal properties is demonstrate that B. variegata used as a anti-bacterial, anti-helmintic, anti-arthritic, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, immunomodulatory, hepato-protective, anti-oxidant, trypsin inhibitor and anti-carcinogenic activity. B. variegata can be used as molluscicidal agent against harmful vectors/pests. The present review highlights the current status of researches on the advancement of pharmacological/ biological aspect of B. variegata and their multidimensional use in various diseases.


Background Vehicle speed changes impact the probability of injuring a pedestrian in ways that differ from the way that it impacts the probability of a collision or of death. Therefore, return on investment in speed reduction programmes has complex and unpredictable manifests. The objective of this study is to analyse the impact of motor vehicle speed reduction on the collision-related morbidity and mortality rates of urban pedestrians. Methods and Findings We created a simple way to estimate the public health impacts of traffic speed changes using a Markov model. Our outcome measures include the cost of injury, quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) gained and probability of death and injury due to a road traffic collision. Our two-way sensitivity analysis of speed, both before the implementation of a speed reduction programme and after, shows that, due to key differences in the probability of injury compared with the probability of death, speed reduction programmes may decrease the probability of death while leaving the probability of injury unchanged. The net result of this difference may lead to an increase in injury costs due to the implementation of a speed reduction programme. We find that even small investments in speed reductions have the potential to produce gains in QALYs. Conclusions Our reported costs, effects and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios may assist urban governments and stakeholders to rethink the value of local traffic calming programmes and to implement speed limits that would shift the trade-off to become between minor injuries and no injuries, rather than severe injuries and fatalities.


Introduction: Central obesity down regulates adiponectin gene expression and plasma adiponectin concentration. The effects of lifestyle activity modification (LAM) training according to Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and American College of Sports Medicine ACSM guidelines on adiponectin gene expression and its secretion in obese people is not well known. The purpose of this study hence was to examine the effects of LAM on adiponectin gene expression and plasma adiponectin in obese men. Materials and Methods: Sixteen healthy middle aged men (42.06±6.01 years; mean ± SD) participated in this study. The subjects were randomly assigned to the LAM (n=8) and control group (n=8). Subjects in the LAM group walked 2 miles for 30 minutes for 4 days for 12 weeks on treadmill according to the CDC and ACSM guidelines. After 12 weeks LAM training, subjects were asked to avoid any high intensity physical activity for a week. Results: The results showed that weight, BMI, body fat mass, body fat percent, central (visceral and subcutaneous) and peripheral subcutaneous fat volume, waist and hip circumstance and waist to hip ratio (WHR) were decreased significantly after 12 weeks in the LAM group, compared to the controls (P<0.05). After one week detraining, body composition in the training group was maintained and did not change significantly. Also, maximum oxygen uptake, adiponectin gene expression on abdominal and hip subcutaneous adipose tissue were increased significantly in the LAM group compared to controls after 12 weeks (P<0.05). On the other hand, after 12 weeks LAM training no significant differentces were observed in plasma adiponectin and serum high sensitive C reactive protein (hs-CRP), levels between groups, while after one week detraining plasma adiponectin and serum hs-CRP levels were significantly increased and decreased respectively (P<0.05). Conclusion: Although, twelve weeks LAM training improved body composition, cardiorespiratory fitness and adiponectine gene expression in obese men, but the intensity and time of these exercises are not enough to increase plasma adiponectin and hs-CRP reduction.


Abstract Shorebirds, including sanderlings (Calidris alba) and ruddy turnstones (Arenaria interpres), were observed scavenging beached fish, such as thread herring (Opisthonema oglinum), scaled sardine (Harengula jaguana) and mullet (Mugil spp.) killed during a 2005 Karenia brevis red tide along the central west coast of Florida. Brevetoxin concentrations in dead fish tissues were analyzed to determine the potential exposure risk to scavenging shorebirds. This component of brevetoxin cycling in the food web has not previously been explored and the risks or benefits of this behavior for shorebirds are not currently understood. Toxin levels in freshly dead fish tissues ranged from 32 to 95,753 ng PbTx g-1. Brevetoxins in shorebird livers were also confirmed (26–1313 ng PbTx g-1) in dead birds collected opportunistically from local beaches and rehabilitation centers during the red tide event, suggesting that brevetoxin exposure is a risk factor for mortality. These findings underscore the need to assess the ecological impacts of K. brevis blooms on Florida's migratory and resident shorebird populations.


This paper addresses the kinematic calibration issues for a 7-DOF cable-driven humanoid arm in order to improve its motion control accuracy. The proposed 7-DOF humanoid arm has a hybrid parallel-serial kinematic structure, which consists of three serially connected parallel cable-driven modules, i.e., a 3-DOF shoulder module, a 1-DOF elbow module, and a 3-DOF wrist module. Due to the unique arm design features such as hybrid parallel-serial structure, modular configuration, and redundant sensors, an integrated two-level self-calibration method is proposed in this work. The first level of self-calibration, termed as the central linkage mechanism calibration, is to identify the kinematics errors existed in the 7-DOF central linkage mechanism based on its self-motion capability. The second level of calibration, termed as the cable-driven module calibration, is to identify the kinematics errors existed in each of the parallel cable-driven modules based on its sensing redundancy. To simplify the formulation of the calibration algorithms, the error model of the serial central linkage mechanism is derived from its forward kinematics, in which the Products-Of-Exponential (POE) formula is employed, while the error models of the parallel cable-driven modules are derived from their inverse kinematics. The simulation and experimental results have shown that the proposed self-calibration algorithms can effectively improve the accuracy of the 7-DOF cable-driven humanoid arm.


The C57BL/6J mouse is an inbred strain with selective hypertaurinuria. C3H/HeJ mice (control) and C57BL/6J mice have comparable values for plasma taurine and renal creatinine clearance but significantly different fractional taurine excretion: C3H mice, 0.15 +/- 0.03; C57BL mice, 0.44 +/- 0.08 (P less than 0.01). C57BL mice fed control diet have significantly higher renal cortex taurine (11.5 +/- 0.4 mumol/g wet wt, mean +/- SE) relative to C3H mice (10.5 +/- 0.5 mumol/g, P less than 0.05); the difference is magnified when mice are fed low protein or low sulfur amino acid diet and experience renal adaptation with enhanced taurine transport at the luminal membrane (P less than 0.01). Taurine transport by purified brush border membrane vesicles is similar in the two strains fed control diet. On the other hand, renal cortex slices show the following differences: 1) net uptake of taurine at 0.11 mM is lower in C57BL slices at initial rates and at steady state; 2) the difference in uptake between strains is magnified in the presence of phlorizin, an inhibitor of taurine efflux; 3) efflux of taurine from preloaded slices is less per unit time in C57BL mice; and 4) uptake differences are specific for taurine. These findings are not accountable to differences in taurine oxidation, slice weight, or water spaces. They indicate that hypertaurinuria in the C57BL/6J strain is a function of decreased basolateral membrane permeability to taurine at physiologic concentrations.


The records of 82 women who had undergone unilateral breast reconstruction with the transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous (TRAM) flap at the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center were analyzed to determine what effect obesity had on the rate of complications and the aesthetic quality of the ultimate result. The patients were divided into four groups--thin, average, moderately obese, and markedly obese--based on a weight/height index derived by dividing the weight in kilograms by the height in meters. In the thin group (13 patients), the complication rate was only 15.4 percent. In the average group (22 patients), the complication rate was 22.7 percent. In the moderately obese group (35 patients), the complication rate was 31.4 percent. In the markedly obese group (12 patients), the rate was 41.7 percent. Aesthetic results in the abdomen tended to be better in the nonobese group, but in the breast they correlated better with the number of revisions performed than with degree of obesity. The findings in this study suggest that the complication rate of TRAM flap breast reconstruction does increase in proportion to the degree of obesity. Surgeons can therefore avoid many of the complications from TRAM flap surgery by not operating on very obese patients. Reports of complication rates from different authors may vary in part depending on their mix of obese and nonobese patients.


All archaeal genomes encode RNA polymerase (RNAP) subunits E and F that share a common ancestry with the eukaryotic RNAP subunits A43 and A14 (Pol I), Rpb7 and Rpb4 (Pol II), and C25 and C17 (Pol III). By gene replacement, we have isolated archaeal mutants of Thermococcus kodakarensis with the subunit F‐encoding gene (rpoF) deleted, but we were unable to isolate mutants lacking the subunit E‐encoding gene (rpoE). Wild‐type T. kodakarensis grows at temperatures ranging from 60°C to 100°C, optimally at 85°C, and the ΔrpoF cells grew at the same rate as wild type at 70°C, but much slower and to lower cell densities at 85°C. The abundance of a chaperonin subunit, CpkB, was much reduced in the ΔrpoF strain growing at 85°C and increased expression of cpkB, rpoF or rpoE integrated at a remote site in the genome, using a nutritionally regulated promoter, improved the growth of ΔrpoF cells. RNAP preparations purified from ΔrpoF cells lacked subunit F and also subunit E and a transcription factor TFE that co‐purifies with RNAP from wild‐type cells, but in vitro, this mutant RNAP exhibited no discernible differences from wild‐type RNAP in promoter‐dependent transcription, abortive transcript synthesis, transcript elongation or termination.


At the present time we are under contract from the Kentucky Environmental Quality Com- mission to study three aspects of Kentucky starling-blackbird roost problems: (1) a study of birds killed this coming winter through PA-14 treatments, to obtain more accurate data on species composition, sex ratios, kill success and food items; (2) a compilation of breeding and wintering data on Kentucky populations through analysis of U.S. Fish and Wild- life Service summer bird counts and banding returns; and (3) a study of spore dispersal of various fungal species, most notably Histoplasma capsulatum , from roost sites. The winter sampling is yet to be done, as sprayings most likely will not be undertaken until December. The analysis of population figures is complete and will be partially reported herein, as some data may be of significance for application to future management efforts. The histoplasmosis study began in June 1976 and will continue throughout the winter and spring; some preliminary results are deemed of significance to management efforts and are also reported herein.


In the first part of the study, nine estimators of the first-order autoregressive parameter are reviewed and a new estimator is proposed. The relationships and discrepancies between the estimators are discussed in order to achieve a clear differentiation. In the second part of the study, the precision in the estimation of autocorrelation is studied. The performance of the ten lag-one autocorrelation estimators is compared in terms of Mean Square Error (combining bias and variance) using data series generated by Monte Carlo simulation. The results show that there is not a single optimal estimator for all conditions, suggesting that the estimator ought to be chosen according to sample size and to the information available on the possible direction of the serial dependence. Additionally, the probability of labelling an actually existing autocorrelation as statistically significant is explored using Monte Carlo sampling. The power estimates obtained are quite similar among the tests associated with the different estimators. These estimates evidence the small probability of detecting autocorrelation in series with less than 20 measurement times.


The Lenggong Valley, from a standpoint of natural tourism research, presents strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and challenges that can be utilized to help increase the opportunities for the local community to increase their standard of living. Asar Cave comprises one of the caves that are found in Lenggong. A series of external studies have been done on Asar Cave in order to measure its potential for natural tourism in Lenggong. The objective of this study is to discuss caves as a natural resource that has great potential in the growth of the economy of the residents of the Lenggong Valley. Marketing caves as a source of nature tourism helps the government's achievements in National Key Result Areas, apart from being a form of environmental control as well as helping to increase awareness about environmental education, specifically those associated with caves. The research results find that SWOT analysis presents huge potential for caves to become a source of nature tourism development in Lenggong. Great potential can also be seen from a standpoint of increasing the standard of living of its residents through their involvement in the tourism sector based on local natural assets.


We analyse the local effect of exogenous shocks to the value of mineral deposits at the district level in Indonesia using a panel of manufacturing plants. To the best of our knowledge, we are the first to model and estimate the effect of heterogeneity in natural resource extraction methods. We find that in areas where mineral extraction is relatively capital-intensive, mining booms cause virtually no upward pressure on manufacturing earnings per worker, and both producers of traded and local goods benefit from mining booms in terms of employment. In contrast, labour-intensive mining booms drive up local manufacturing wages such that producers of traded goods reduce employment. This source of heterogeneity helps to explain the mixed evidence for `Dutch disease' effects in the literature. In addition, we find no evidence that fiscal revenue sharing between sub-national districts leads to any spillovers.


Sialic acids, occupying a terminal position in cell surface glycoconjugates, are major contributors to the net negative charge of the vascular endothelial cell surface. As integral membrane glycoproteins, LDL receptors also bear terminal sialic acid residues. Pretreatment of near‐confluent, cultured bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAEC) with neuraminidase (50 mU/ml, 30 min, 37°C) stimulated a significant increase in receptor‐mediated 125l‐LDL internalization and degradation relative to PBS‐treated control cells. Binding studies at 4°C revealed an increased affinity of LDL receptor sites on neuraminidase‐treated cells compared to control BAEC (6.9 vs. 16.2 nM/106 BAEC) without a change in receptor site number. This enhanced LDL endocytosis in neuraminidase‐treated cells was dependent upon the enzymatic activity of the neuraminidase and the removal of sialic acid from the cell surface. Furthermore, enhanced endocytosis due to enzymatic alteration of the 125l‐LDL molecules was excluded. In contrast to BAEC, neuraminidase pretreatment of LDL receptor‐upregulated cultured normal human fibroblasts resulted in an inhibition of 125l‐LDL binding, internalization, and degradation. Specifically, a significant inhibition in 125l‐LDL internalization was observed at 1 hr after neuraminidase treatment, which was associated with a decrease in the number of cell surface LDL receptor sites. Like BAEC, neuraminidase pretreatment of human umbilical vein endothelial cells resulted in enhanced receptor‐mediated 125l‐LDL endocytosis. These results indicate that sialic acid associated with either adjacent endothelial cell surface molecules or the endothelial LDL receptor itself may modulate LDL receptor‐mediated endocytosis and suggest that this regulatory mechanism may be of particular importance to endothelial cells.


To develop software in a larger scale, some kind of software development method is needed to organize the development. Many different software development methods have emerged since the beginning of software development, and Continuous Integration (CI) is one of them. Many companies have applied, or tried to apply CI in their business. Some companies were successful, some were not. This thesis examines what CI is in the theory, and compare it to how it works in the practice in the department "Product Development Traffic Control" (PD TC) which is a part of the "Product Development Unit LTE Multistandard Radio" (PDU LMR) within Ericsson. The theory of CI is examined mostly through literature studies. CI in practice was examined through interviews with developers and employees working with the CI-machinery at PD TC. The comparison between the theory and the studied company revealed that it is difficult to adapt CI perfectly to a large organization. This does not imply that CI is implemented in the wrong way, but the benefits of implementing CI in large projects may not be as enormous in comparison with smaller projects.


Using data on per capita income among 67 provinces in Turkey over the period 1975–2001, regional stochastic convergence is evaluated. This study employees the LM unit root test to endogenously determine the number and location of structural breaks for each province. On the contrary, convergence literature on Turkish provinces, both univariate and panel LM tests provide strong evidence for convergence except for the provinces of Bitlis and Erzurum when structural breaks are taken into account. Our empirical results are in accordance with the neoclassical model.


Aim: In order to achieve a fairer system of health care, it is important that the research and education of health professionals, as well as the organisation of health care, takes into account the gender perspective. The gender order influences women's and men's lifestyles and living conditions and, through this, their health, quality of life and daily activities. The aim of the present study was to explore the perceptions of gender in occupational therapy students in their choice of activities: do students choose activities according to traditional roles? Method: The method was a fictional case study containing 16 activities. Each student was given a copy of one of the versions of the case, Eric or Erica. The students were told to underline the three activities regarded as being of most benefit for the actual patient. Eight male and 99 female students participated. Results: The most chosen activities were cooking, visits to cafeterias and gardening, and the least chosen were spinning, laundry and computer work. The results showed that the students made choices based on traditional gender roles. Conclusion: Extended knowledge is needed about how gender is constructed in occupational therapy, and about whether gendered choices contribute to a prolonged period of treatment or rehabilitation, or the opposite.


Purpose: The purpose of this study is to scientifically and critically comprehend the experience of European countries in overcoming the COVID-19 consequences and, on its basis, to construct an optimal model of modern anti-crisis legal regulation. Design/Methodology/Approach: The authors constructed the anti-crisis legal regulation model and studied using the systematic scientific approach and the method of analysis and programming to reconstruct typical patterns of social relations, basing on knowledge about the regulation object and using legal tools and techniques. Through the methods of modeling and reconstruction the authors could develop and substantiate the anti-crisis model structure. In order to determine the national characteristics of the subject, the authors used the comparative legal method as well as statistical, system-structural and functional methods. Findings: As a result of the study, the authors made the conclusions about the essence of the crisis impact caused by the COVID-19 on the mechanism of legal regulation, about the features and principles of anti-crisis legal regulation, in particular, its subject, method, goals and tasks, and means of legal influence. The authors determined the conditionality of the anti-crisis legal regulation model by the initial legal principle underlying it, and the national legal awareness features. The authors prove that total restrictions make the population to overstep law, thereby reduce the authority of the law and trust in the legal bodies, deform legal awareness, violate existing legal relations and relationships. Practical Implications: The results of the study, based on a wide range of empirical data, are necessary for the development of state programs for the business normalization and the economy recovery, as well as for the formation of national strategies for anti-crisis legal regulation and guidelines, recommendations and clear procedures for the public emergency introduction. In particular, the authors proposed to use political and legal programming as a method of legal regulation in a crisis. Originality/Value: The novelty of the article is to develop the structure, models and features of anti-crisis legal regulation in COVID-19 pandemic conditions on the analysis and generalization of the experience of some European countries. The study proves the low effectiveness of the restrictive anti-crisis model of legal regulation in comparison with the creative legal impact both in conditions of a crisis and in overcoming its negative consequences.


Plasma generated electromagnetic oscillations at the frequency an order ion-cyclotron have been investigated in the high energy content regimes of GDT operation. That waves are found to be an Alfvén ion-cyclotron instability. The microinstability threshold scaling law has been defined: with increase of the plasma column radius to Larmor radius ratio the threshold value of the diamagnetism in the midplane decreases. It qualitatively matches the theoretical calculations.


The FRBR Review Group has the mandate to review and maintain IFLA's family of conceptual models and to develop guidelines and interpretive documents to assist in the application of the models. In September 2011 the Aggregates Working Group submitted its final report, clarifying the modeling of three distinct types of aggregates within an FRBR framework. Since the approval of the FRSAD model in 2010, the FRBR Review Group has been concentrating its efforts on the development of a consolidated statement of the three models (FRBR, FRAD, FRSAD) in the entity-relationship formalism. The interrelationships between the models are particularly illuminating with regards to the subject entities and relationships and the "naming" entities. In parallel, the FRBR/CIDOC CRM Harmonisation Working Group has been working to extend FRBRoo to include the entities, attributes and relationships defined in FRAD and FRSAD. A third essential aspect of the FRBR Review Group's work is the development of a series of namespaces for the entities, relationships, attributes and user tasks as defined in the three models. This process has raised a number of interesting questions and often clarifies the underlying semantics of the models.


PURPOSE
To evaluate the safety, pharmacokinetics, and efficacy of a chimeric anti-epidermal growth factor receptor monoclonal antibody, cetuximab, in combination with radiation therapy (RT) in patients with advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

PATIENTS AND METHODS
We treated 16 patients in five successive treatment schedules. A standard dose escalation procedure was used; three patients entered onto the study at each dose level of cetuximab received conventional RT (70 Gy, 2 Gy/d), and the final three patients received hyperfractionated RT (76.8 Gy, 1.2 Gy bid). Cetuximab was delivered as a loading dose of 100 to 500 mg/m(2), followed by weekly infusions of 100 to 250 mg/m(2) for 7 to 8 weeks. Circulating levels of cetuximab during therapy were determined using a biomolecular interaction analysis core instrument. Human antichimeric antibody response was evaluated with a double-antigen radiometric assay. The recommended phase II/III dose was defined as the optimal cetuximab dose level based on the pharmacologic parameters and adverse events.

RESULTS
The most commonly reported adverse events were fever, asthenia, transaminase elevation, nausea, and skin toxicities (grade 1 to 2 in most patients). Skin toxicity outside of the RT field was not strictly dose-dependent; however, grade 2 or higher events were observed in patients treated with higher dose regimens. There was one grade 4 allergic reaction. Most acute adverse effects were associated with RT (xerostomia, mucositis, and local skin toxicity). No antibodies against cetuximab were detected. All patients achieved an objective response (13 complete and two partial remissions).

CONCLUSION
Cetuximab can be safely administered with RT. The recommended dose for phase II/III studies is a loading dose of 400 to 500 mg/m(2) and a maintenance weekly dose of 250 mg/m(2).


The Microsoft Kinect sensor, a popular gaming console, is widely used in a large number of applications, including close-range 3D measurements. This low-end device is rather inexpensive compared to similar active imaging systems. The Kinect sensors include an RGB camera, an IR projector, an IR camera and an audio unit. The human morphologic measurements require high accuracy with fast data acquisition rate. To achieve the highest accuracy, the depth sensor and the RGB camera should be calibrated and co-registered to achieve high-quality 3D point cloud as well as optical imagery. Since this is a low-end sensor, developed for different purpose, the accuracy could be critical for 3D measurement-based applications. Therefore, two types of accuracy test are performed: (1) for describing the absolute accuracy, the ranging accuracy of the device in the range of 0.4 to 15 m should be estimated, and (2) the relative accuracy of points depending on the range should be characterized. For the accuracy investigation, a test field was created with two spheres, while the relative accuracy is described by sphere fitting performance and the distance estimation between the sphere center points. Some other factors can be also considered, such as the angle of incidence or the material used in these tests. The non-ambiguity range of the sensor is from 0.3 to 4 m, but, based on our experiences, it can be extended up to 20 m. Obviously, this methodology raises some accuracy issues which make accuracy testing really important.


This article analyses the structural changes that took place in Brazilian industry between 1995 and 2009, by considering their intersectoral relations, through input-output analysis using the structural decomposition method and the calculation of linkage indices. The results show that the expansion of final demand plays a key role in industry growth in terms of employment, value added and gross production value. Natural-resource-intensive industry has grown particularly strongly. Another finding is that intersectoral demand has weakened, particularly in scale-intensive sectors that use differentiated technology.


ABSTRACT Passive systems with constructed wetlands are designed to simulate natural attenuation processes in order to treat mine water in a long-term and cost-effective manner. In this way, they are especially appropriate to treat mine water discharging from abandoned mines. This paper presents geochemical and mineralogical data obtained from a recently constructed passive system in the Jales abandoned mine, north Portugal. It shows the role of fresh ochre-precipitates, formed as waste products from the neutralization process, in the retention of trace elements. Chemical analysis of these waste products revealed strong enrichment factors for metals and arsenic, relative to the water from which they precipitate. The mineralogical study shows that ochre-precipitates are poorly ordered iron-rich material, such as ferrihydrites, that occur as small spherical aggregates (<0.1 μm in diameter). Heating experiments on these precipitates gave rise to hematite and to a crystalline arsenate. This provides evidence for the scavenging of arsenic by means of a precursor arsenic-rich amorphous compound. The results reveal that ochre-precipitates are wastes of environmental concern, which should be taken into account when considering the possibilities for reuse or disposal.


For an ATM switch system, we have developed a 100 Gb/s I/O throughput optical I/O interface ATM switch multichip module (MCM) that has 320-ch optical I/O ports. This MCM is fabricated using ceramic (MCM-C) technology and very-small highly-parallel O/E and E/O optical converters. It uses 0.25 /spl mu/m CMOS ATM switch LSIs and has a total I/O throughput of up to 160 Gb/s. A prototype module with total I/O throughput of 100 Gb/s has been partially assembled using 8 optical I/O interface blocks, each composed of a 40-ch O/E converter and a 40-ch E/O converter; the data rate per channel is from DC to 700 Mb/s. Using this module we developed an optical I/O interface ATM switch system and confirmed the operation of the optical interface.


ABSTRACT The genus Solanum represents a significant gap in our knowledge of the East African flora. The coastal forests of Tanzania are understudied and vulnerable due to habitat loss, and the Ruvu Catchment Forest Reserve in the Morogoro District was not botanically explored prior to the Tanzania Frontier Project in the 1990s. We describe a new Tanzanian endemic species, Solanum ruvu sp. nov., which is known from only one collection. The unusually long inflorescences with a dense covering of long straight prickles on the rachis distinguish S. ruvu from all other African species of spiny Solanum. Its likely affinities lie with another coastal forest species, S. zanzibarense, which exhibits a similar scandent habit, subentire leaves, thin stems, and prickles that are sometimes straight. The Ruvu Forest area is now increasingly populated and planted with rice and sesame. The relict natural vegetation is restricted to small areas of limestone outcrops unsuitable for agriculture and there is no forest canopy to support an understorey species such as S. ruvu. Recent recollection efforts have been unsuccessful and the species is likely to be extinct in the wild.


Murine monoclonal antibody 3E1.2, made against human breast cancer cells, detects a glycoprotein (Mr greater than 300,000) called mammary serum antigen (MSA) which is elevated in the serum of patients with breast cancer. An enzyme immunoassay was developed to detect MSA in human serum and used to detect MSA in subjects with breast cancer and other diseases. Raised levels of MSA (greater than 300 inhibition units) were found in the serum of 1.9% of 2406 blood donors, in 18% of sera from 40 subjects with benign breast disease, and in 16% of sera from 222 subjects with non-breast cancers. However, in patients with a diagnosis of breast cancer, 76% (84 of 110) of Stage I and II, and 86% (142 of 166) of Stage III and IV had levels of greater than 300 inhibition units. Nineteen % of patients, classified clinically disease free, had raised MSA levels. In 34 of 37 (92%) patients followed over 2 to 11 mo the level of MSA correlated with the clinical course of disease. Changes in MSA levels not only corresponded to changes in the clinical course of disease, but also preceded the clinical detection of progressive disease. Immunoblotting has detected a heterogeneous molecule of Mr greater than 300,000 and been used to confirm the elevation of MSA in breast cancer patients. Determination of MSA level may be useful for the detection of breast cancer and for monitoring progress of disease and response to therapy.


The US Army Missile Research and Development Command has set up an instrumented propagation range at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, for the purpose of systematically identifying and exploring the effects of the atmosphere and materials reflectance (natural and cultural) on high angular resolution radar systems. The emphasis will be on propagation and reflectance measurements in the water vapor absorption windows around 730, 870, and 1,200 micrometers. This paper describes the techniques, apparatus, and goals, and provides detail about some Army interest in this spectral region.


For year 2021 graduates of US veterinary medical schools and colleges who had accepted a full-time position in a private or public practice or an advanced education program (n = 2,448), mean starting annual salary was $80,844. Excluding salaries for individuals who were pursuing advanced education, mean starting annual salary for graduates who had accepted a full-time position in a private or public practice was $98,088. For the 2,771 year 2021 graduates who reported information on debt, mean educational debt accumulated during veterinary school was $156,221 (median, $160,000). Mean educational debt for the 2,322 year 2021 graduates who had educational debt was $186,430, compared with a mean of $188,853 for year 2020 graduates who had educational debt.


Background: CT-guided biopsy provides results in a short period and can be applied on outpatient and even high risk patients however; some studies do not recommend it in lesions with benign histology probability Objectives: To report our experience regarding fungus ball diagnosis on CT-guided biopsy and to identify the complication rate of procedure. Materials and methods: We evaluated 99 CT-guided biopsies of infected thoracic lesions performed from March 2004 to December 2008, retrospectively. All biopsies were performed by one radiologist by westcott needle number 20 and 18. The CTs were assessed by a trained general practitioner for the size and location of lesions and pneumothorax or pneumomediastinum diagnosis and then all CTs were double checked by the same radiologist. Lesions considered fungus and their differentiations based on pathology reports. Results: During four year study 20 fungus lesions (15 male and 5 female) were found with the mean age 54.75 years (ranging: 19-77). In these series there were 16 (80%) Aspergillosis, 2 (10%) Mucor mycosis and 2 undifferentiated fungus bal. The mean diameter of lesions and lesion distance to chest wall were 5.650 cm (range: 1 to 11.5) and 0.75 cm (range: 0 to 3), respectively. Nine (45%) fungus lesions were located in left upper, 4 (20%) in right lower, 4 (20%) in right upper and the rest (15%) in left lower and right middle lobes. Pneumothorax occurred in 2 cases (1 Aspergillosis and 1 Mucor mycosis) while chest tube was placed only for patient with Mucor mycosis to manage the complication. Conclusion: CT-guided needle biopsy seems to be safe and feasible diagnostic modality with low risk probability of complications for fungus balls.


This paper presents a new set of linear constraints for designing broadband time domain element space processor which can handle a variety of steering situations, namely, no pre-steering, coarse/ quantized pre-steering and exact pre-steering. The relationship that the new processor has to other broadband processors is established. Furthermore, the approach presented enables the processors to be made robust against directional errors. Analytical as well as simulation results on the new processors are presented.


This study aims to investigate the relationship of workplace to family conflict, fatigue, recognition of health status and health enhancement behaviors in the subjects of middle aged businesswomen, and to analyze the factors to affect their health enhancement behaviors. The subjects of this study were 152 middle aged businesswomen from 40 to 64 years old who lived in South and North Choongchung Provinces, and their data were collected using by the survey form. The collected data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson's correlation coefficients, and multiple linear regression with stepwise method. The variables with the highest influence to the health promotion activity of middle-aged working women were fatigue 16.0% (β= -.319, p<.001), family type 2.2% (β=-.163, p=.031), and work-family conflict 1.8% (β=-.181, p=.033) and it was found that these three variables explained 20.9% of health promotion activity. There needs to be plans to lower the levels of fatigue and work-family conflict that is known as predictive factors of health promotion activity of middle-aged working women as well as further social support for subjects who do not live with their family. In addition, it is required to establish the simple exercise facilities in the workplace so as for the middle aged businesswomen who hardly spend the time to enhance their health so often. Moreover, the atmosphere of the workplace should be organized to increase the perception and the practices on the health enhancement by sports for all that can be simply practiced in the workplace without specific facilities.


1. Non-reproducing Sundevall Jird ( Meriones crassus ) females (body mass = 84 g; n = 51), with a mean average daily metabolic rate (ADMR) of 88 kJ day − 1 , were divided into three groups: high (H), medium (M) and low (L) ADMR. It was hypothesized that ADMR is related to reproductive rate and predicted that the H group could support a higher reproductive rate than the L group. It was also hypothesized that allocation of energy differs with ADMR level and predicted that the H group would use mainly the reallocation of metabolizable energy to compensate for an increased energy demand for reproduction whereas the L group would increase their metabolizable energy intake markedly. To test the hypotheses, the females were mated and, in those that had litters ( n = 32), changes in body mass and metabolizable energy intake were determined and milk production was estimated during 15 days of lactation. Litter size, offspring mass and growth rate were determined for pups. 2. Body mass of dams, litter size and body mass of young at birth were similar among ADMR groups. However, milk production was 42% higher and litter mass at 15 days was significantly greater in the H than in L group, supporting our first hypothesis. All females were in negative energy balance during lactation. Mobilization of body energy reserves increased with litter size but was similar among ADMR groups. In addition, the increase in metabolizable energy intake of lactating females above that of nonreproducing females was similar among ADMR groups and therefore the second hypothesis was rejected. 3. ADMR was reduced by 23% during lactation and milk energy was only 30% of total metabolizable energy invested in milk production in all females. It is concluded that lactating M. crassus used a combination of reallocation of energy and increased metabolizable energy intake during lactation. The efficiency of offspring production did not differ among ADMR groups and therefore a high ADMR has an advantage when food is abundant, whereas a low ADMR has an advantage when food is sparse.


Polyamines (PA) are naturally occurring low molecular weight aliphatic amines found in all living organisms and essential for their growth and development. The present study uses the tool of transgenic manipulation to elucidate the regulation of PA pathway in poplar cells. This study was divided into two segments; the first segment provides insight into biochemistry of a putrescine overproducing cell line (HP) that overexpresses a mouse ornithine decarboxylase (mODC) under 35S-CaMV promoter, with respect to different treatments. The second segment focused on creation and biochemical characterization of a cell line (SOS1) that overexpresses ODC/SAMDC from Plasmodium falciparum controlled by the same 35S-CaMV promoter producing a bifunctional protein. From the results it is concluded that: (i) nutrient stress in the form of Ca deficiency in the growth medium is more detrimental to HP cells than control cells, (ii) the tested PA analogues and inhibitors at the tested concentrations have no major observable effect on either HP or the control cells, (iii) Cysteine and methionine although consumed faster in HP cells, are not limiting either for protein synthesis or for growth, (iv) uptake of sucrose is higher in the control cells but its incorporation into PAs is higher in HP cells, (v) SOS1 cells after stable integration of PfODC/SAMDC produce significantly increased amounts of Spd and Spm than control cells, and (vi) the simultaneous expression of both SAMDC and ODC from Plasmodium has greater impact on production of Spd/Spm than on Put in SOS1 cells.


Self-assembly and self-organization have recently emerged as robust scaffold-free tissue engineering methodologies that can be used to generate various tissues, including cartilage, vessel, and liver. Self-assembly, in particular, is a scaffold-free platform for tissue engineering that does not require the input of exogenous energy to the system. Although self-assembly can generate functional tissues, most notably neocartilage, the mechanisms of self-assembly remain unclear. To study the self-assembling process, we used articular chondrocytes as a model to identify parameters that can affect this process. Specifically, the roles of cell-cell and cell-matrix adhesion molecules, surface-bound collagen, and the actin cytoskeletal network were investigated. Using time-lapse imaging, we analyzed the early stages of chondrocyte self-assembly. Within hours, chondrocytes rapidly coalesced into cell clusters before compacting to form tight cellular structures. Chondrocyte self-assembly was found to depend primarily on integrin function and secondarily on cadherin function. In addition, actin or myosin II inhibitors prevented chondrocyte self-assembly, suggesting that cell adhesion alone is not sufficient, but rather the active contractile actin cytoskeleton is essential for proper chondrocyte self-assembly and the formation of neocartilage. Better understanding of the self-assembly mechanisms allows for the rational modulation of this process toward generating neocartilages with improved properties. These findings are germane to understanding self-assembly, an emerging platform for tissue engineering of a plethora of tissues, especially as these neotissues are poised for translation.


Procedures for eyewitness identification of suspects in the United Kingdom must adhere to the Police and Criminal Evidence (PACE) Act Codes of Practice. These Codes stipulate what methods can and cannot be used, what must be said to eyewitnesses before the procedure, and how procedures must be constructed. Our approach has been two fold. The first has been to contact all police forces in England, Wales and Northern Ireland to obtain copies of the protocols followed when they conduct identification tests. The second has been to review evidence from the psycho- logical literature on a range of factors that can influence outcomes on eyewitness identification tests. We make several recommendations that would bring PACE in line with research-based best practice, including mandatory single-suspect procedures, blind administration, and systematic recording of eyewitness confidence. The technology and the structure of specialist identification suites in the UK would allow each of the recommendations to be imple- mented effectively and inexpensively.


The subject of this study is the influence of favourable exogenous shocks on the structure of prices and output composition in small open economies. The study is based, theoretically, on the Dutch Disease theory; and, empirically, on research conducted on Jordan. Under general equilibrium conditions, a boom in a traded sector is likely to produce a contraction of output and employment in non-booming traded sectors - de-industrialisation. This is the essence of the Dutch disease theory, its conclusions valid only within its particular set of assumptions about factor-market underpinnings of the model, including macro-equilibrium and full employment, fixed national stock of labour and capital, and perfect capital markets; and unchanging technical conditions of production. Furthermore, changes in the structure of demand that underlie the process of industrialisation are ignored, as the model assumes growth, other than that generated by the windfall gain, away. The present study contests this analytical approach, and offers an alternative that considers initial conditions of disequilibrium and conducts dynamic analysis to show the effects of demand expansion, with its disproportionately large stimulus to manufacturing, on these conditions. Demand-led output growth combined with supply-side changes induced by booming conditions leads to rapid productivity growth in manufacturing, by both increasing production efficiency and inducing technological advance. The outcome of these inter-linked supply-demand changes is an acceleration of industrialisation. The study thus presents an antithesis to the Dutch disease hypothesis. After an overview of the Dutch disease theory, the study discusses the necessary modifications when certain characteristics of industrialising economies are taken into consideration. The focus of the analysis is the Dutch disease theory's assumptions, its level of abstraction, and the static nature of its analysis. Various countries' experience of booms are presented to show that the outcome of sectoral shifts is crucially dependent on the pre-boom economic conditions; and thus to show also that boom experiences of industrial and industrialising economies differ considerably. The discussion of Jordan starts by outlining that country's historical experience of sectoral shifts. The counterfactual to the Dutch disease is established with the aid of trend analysis, and it is shown that at the end of the boom, the share in aggregate output of agriculture was smaller, and that of manufacturing larger, than 'expected' from historical trends. Dutch disease analysis is used to show that resource mobility and the spending effect have induced currency appreciation, as would have been predicted by the theory. Contrary to the theory's predictions, however, the examination of the commodity trade balance reveals significant growth in agricultural and manufacturing exports during the boom. The study then examines the reasons behind the discrepancy between the theory and this empirical observation. The performance of agriculture and manufacturing are examined separately. In both sectors booming conditions brought about rapid technological advance which expanded profits in these sectors. In addition, the disproportionately large demand for manufactured goods, both for consumption and investment, led to a rapid expansion of this sector's share in aggregate output; which was compensated for by a decline in that of agriculture. Seen in this light, the decline in the share of agriculture was a manifestation of successful industrialisation, rather than the Dutch disease effect.


The uptake and release of 3-O-methyl-D-[3H]glucose at 37 degrees C by acini, prepared from lactating-rat mammary gland with collagenase, was inhibited by glucose, phloretin, cytochalasin B, HgCl2 and low temperature. Uptake and phosphorylation of 2-deoxy-D-[3H]glucose, studied in greater detail, could be ascribed to a specific, saturable, inhibitable, process of apparent Km 16 mM and Vmax. approx. 56 nmol/min per mg of protein, plus a non-specific, non-inhibitable process that was monitored with [14C]fructose. The mean rate of uptake of 5 mM-2-deoxyglucose (16 nmol/min per mg of protein) was similar to the rate of consumption of 5 mM-glucose, suggesting that transport was a rate-limiting step in the overall metabolism of glucose. This accords with evidence for a glucose gradient across the plasma membrane.


Coding in social sciences is a process that involves the categorisation of qualitative or quantitative data in order to facilitate further analysis. Coding is usually a manual process that involves a lot of effort and time to produce codes with high validity and interrater reliability. Although automated methods for quantitative data analysis are largely used in social sciences, there are only a few attempts at automatically or semi-automatically coding the data collected in qualitative studies. To address this problem, in this work we propose an approach for automated coding of social behaviours and environments based on verbatim transcriptions of everyday conversations. To evaluate the approach, we analysed the transcripts from three datasets containing recordings of everyday conversations from: (1) young healthy adults (German transcriptions), (2) elderly healthy adults (German transcriptions), and (3) young healthy adults (English transcriptions). The results show that it is possible to automatically code the social behaviours and environments based on verbatim transcripts of the recorded conversations. This could reduce the time and effort researchers need to assign accurate codes to transcribed conversations.


Game-based training are popular in team-sports; however there is a lack of research specific to team handball. The aim of this study was to assess i) the test-retest reliability of heart rate (HR), time spent in HR zone intensities and rating of perceived exertion of a novel small-sided game, ii) and whether it is comparable to that of generic intermittent shuttle running and match play with team handball players. Fourteen elite male handball players completed each exercise comprising two periods of 10min interspersed with 2min recovery in separate occasions and repeated them one week apart. Exercises consisted of intermittent 30s-30s shuttle running (ISR), intermittent 30s-30s small-sided game (with 3-a-side field players, 3vs3) and match play (with 6-a-side field players, 6vs6). Mean HR demonstrated high level of reproducibility for the three drills (r = 0.86-0.89, TEM = 2.21-2.63 bpm, CV = 1.23-1.55%). For time spent in heart rate zones TEMs reached up 1.12, 1.40 and 2.48 min for ISR, 6vs6 and 3vs3, respectively. Specifically for HR zone higher than 90% of HRmax, CVs showed wide extent of scores with 9.73 (ISR), 27.39 (6vs6) and 108.29% (3vs3). Mean HR results suggest that physiological response was consistent between sessions. Because of the poor reproducibility for time spent in the target zone higher than 90% of HRmax, the efficiency of both 3vs3 and 6vs6 in improving aerobic power should be analysed with caution. The present results suggest that reproducibility of physiological demand of ball-drills should be considered before prescribing them as conditioning training.


Developing effective partnerships between parents and teachers are recognised as an effective way of supporting and maintaining student achievement. This critical literature review explores the power relationships that underpin such partnerships and greatly contribute to their success. It will begin by recapping the history of parent-teacher power relationships and looking at examples of the arguments both for and against more parental power in schools. It will then look at school board of trustees as a particularly New Zealand example of attempting to improve parental power and discuss why both these and parent-teacher interviews may fail to meet their projected goals. Finally it will elaborate on some of the suggestions that have been made on improving the power relationships between parents and teachers in order to support partnerships that benefit the student.


Platforms have revolutionized the way we think about marketing and strategy. Further, the platform strategy is a growing area that has provided the business firms with mul tiple opportunities for generating value. Many firms are employing noticeably different tactics depending on whether they see a platform as a way to improve performance (by focusing on what they do best), grow their footprint (by leveraging capabilities that in the past they would have had to own), innovate (drawing on that vast majority of smart people who aren't strictly in their employ), or capture more value. Platform thinking has thus revolutionized the way value is created and transferred. The business, which will survive in the modern era, should place a platform strategy as one of the key priority areas. It is not just enough to prioritize the platforms, but understanding that they can be integrated within a marketing strategy is very essential. Even though the study on plat- form strategy only focuses on digital platforms, this chapter provides a comprehensive overview of both digital and non-digital platforms and the strategic implications of both.


Recently, pairing-based cryptographic application sch-emes have attracted much attentions. In order to make the schemes more efficient, not only pairing algorithm but also arithmetic operations in extension field need to be efficient. For this purpose, the authors have proposed a series of cyclic vector multiplication algorithms (CVMAs) corresponding to the adopted bases such as type-I optimal normal basis (ONB). Note here that every basis adapted for the conventional CVMAs are just special classes of Gauss period normal bases (GNBs). In general, GNB is characterized with a certain positive integer h in addition to characteristic p and extension degree m, namely type- GNB in extension field Fpm. The parameter h needs to satisfy some conditions and such a positive integer h infinitely exists. From the viewpoint of the calculation cost of CVMA, it is preferred to be small. Thus, the minimal one denoted by hmin will be adapted. This paper focuses on two remaining problems: 1) CVMA has not been expanded for general GNBs yet and 2) the minimal hmin sometimes becomes large and it causes an inefficient case. First, this paper expands CVMA for general GNBs. It will improve some critical cases with large hmin reported in the conventional works. After that, this paper shows a theorem that, for a fixed prime number r, other prime numbers modulo r uniformly distribute between 1 to r-1. Then, based on this theorem, the existence probability of type- GNB in Fpm and also the expected value of hmin are explicitly given.


OBJECTIVE
The impact of resident involvement in the operating room for common procedures in obstetrics and gynaecology can shed light on the resource demands of teaching. The objective of this study was to quantify the increased surgical time associated with teaching obstetrics and gynaecology resident trainees across a range of procedures known to require surgical assistance.

METHODS
This population-based retrospective cohort study compared surgical duration between academic (teaching) hospitals and community (non-teaching) hospitals. The cohort was made up of adult residents of Ontario between fiscal years 2002 and 2013 who were undergoing commonly performed obstetrics and gynaecologic procedures. The most commonly billed procedures requiring surgical assistance were included: Caesarean section, anterior or posterior repair, anterior and posterior repair, salpingo-oophorectomy, myomectomy, ectopic pregnancy, total or subtotal hysterectomy, vaginal hysterectomy, and laparoscopic hysterectomy. Linked administrative databases held at the Institute of Clinical Evaluative Sciences (ICES) were used to define patient-, surgeon-, institution-, and procedure-related variables to limit confounding. Surgical duration, determined by anaesthetic billing records, was analyzed using a negative binomial regression.

RESULTS
The total cohort included 337 389 surgical procedures. Of these procedures, 28% (94 203 procedures) were conducted in academic settings. The mean surgical duration of the procedures of interest (excluding vaginal hysterectomy) was significantly longer in academic hospitals compared with community hospitals. With many controls for case variability, this time differential reflects the burden of teaching resident trainees and other learners in the academic environment. The operating time increased between 6% and 20% for cases completed in academic centres versus in the community. As an example, the mean surgical duration of Caesarean sections was 20.6 minutes (19%) longer in academic centres. Furthermore, the data highlighted a trend of increased teaching time for laparoscopic procedures compared with open procedures. The time ratio was the greatest for salpingo-oophortectomy and surgical management of ectopic pregnancies. The additional cost of carrying out these nine procedures in academic centres during the study period was $16.3 million.

CONCLUSION
The cost of teaching resident trainees is increased operative time. This increased surgical cost in a publicly funded system must be considered as funding models evolve.


Purpose: Adoptive cell therapy with autologous tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) has shown promising results in metastatic melanoma patients. Although objective response rates of over 50% have been reported, disadvantages of this approach are the labor-intensive TIL production and a very high drop-out rate of enrolled patients, limiting its widespread applicability. Previous studies showed a clear correlation between short TIL culture periods and clinical response. Therefore, we used a new TIL production technique using unselected, minimally cultured, bulk TIL (Young-TIL). The use of Young-TIL is not restricted to human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-A2 patients. The purpose of this study is to explore the efficacy and toxicity of adoptively transferred Young-TIL following lympho-depleting chemotherapy in metastatic melanoma patients, refractory to interleukin-2 and chemotherapy. Experimental Design: Young-TIL cultures for 90% of the patients were successfully generated, enabling the treatment of most enrolled patients. We report here the results of 20 evaluated patients. Results: Fifty percent of the patients achieved an objective clinical response according to the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors, including two ongoing complete remissions (20+, 4+ months) and eight partial responses (progression-free survival: 18+, 13+, 10+, 9, 6+, 4, 3+, and 3 months). All responders are currently alive. Four additional patients showed disease stabilization. Side effects were transient and manageable. Conclusion: We showed that lympho-depleting chemotherapy followed by transfer of short-term cultured TIL can mediate tumor regression in 50% of metastatic melanoma with manageable toxicity. The convincing clinical results combined with the simplification of the process may thus have a major effect on cell therapy of cancer. Clin Cancer Res; 16(9); 2646–55. ©2010 AACR.


Power system has dynamic behavior as it faces various disturbances like sudden variation in load, sudden variation in generation and different faults. Due to the variation of load demand, the operation, maintenance and control of power system have become a challenging task. To meet the load requirements, many noticeable research activities are going on in the field of deregulation, restructuring of power system, utilization of renewable energy sources and installing small generators at the load centre referred to as Distributed Generation (DG) etc. Furthermore, among many different types of DG units, renewable DG units are widely accepted. In this paper, adequacy evaluation of the 220kV distribution system with DG has been proposed. This concept deals with installation of additional capacity with the existing capacity for supplying load, which is provided by renewable DG units. Reliability index such as average unsupplied load (AUL) is calculated using Monte Carlo simulation (MCS).


Guanylin, a peptide homologue of the bacterial heat-stable enterotoxins, is an endogenous activator ofguanylate cyclase C (GC-C). Wedetermined the tissue content and plasma concentration of human guanylin, and its cellular source in the intestine. Humanguanylin is distributed widely from the duodenum to the rectum, the highest content being in the ileum and proximal colon. The plasma concentration of immunoreactive guanylin in the normal individuals tested was 30.3±3.7 fmol/ml (mean±SE) and that in patients with chronic renal failure was elevated with increasing serum creatinine concentration. Guanylin immunoreactivity was detected in the villus epithelial cells in the small intestine and these guanylin-containing cells were increased in number along the cephalocaudal axis of the gut. Guanylin was also present in Paneth cells in the small intestine and superficial epithelial cells in the large intestine. Guanylin mRNAwas detected in the intestine by the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Guanylin may have paracrine action on neighboring enterocytes, activating intestinal guanylate cyclase and thereby regulating intestinal fluid as well as electrolyte transport through the second messenger, cyclic GMP. (Internal Medicine 35: 171-175, 1996)


Shaped by a combination of romantic aesthetics and capitalist economics in the 19th century, the musical work was only enshrined in copyright law at the beginning of the 20th. However, even as the distinctiveness of the work was being legally inscribed, there emerged a new form of popular music making based on iteration. The recorded blues depended on continuity with other record-songs rather than the uniqueness of the individual work. Significantly, the phonographic orality at stake here was effectively unregulated, with 'plagiarism' being tolerated. The contrast is then with the hip hop genre. This has the same iterative mode as the blues, yet with the later style rights owners have become quite litigious, and now guard their symbolic property jealously. Focusing on the USA this article examines the differences between the two moments of blues and hip hop by analysing some key music copyright cases. It argues that despite stronger legal scrutiny of phonographic oral production in the contemporary period, this does not represent straightforward censorship in the way suggested by some commentators. Rather recent cases show the deep contradictions in copyright law between principles of uniqueness and tolerable continuity, and between the codification of physical sound and formal structure in music. These contradictions are inherent in the capitalist organization of music making, and are not susceptible to any quick policy fix.


Disseminated nocardiosis is a rare and complicated opportunistic bacterial infection with propensity of delay in establishing the correct diagnosis and high frequency for misdiagnosis and due to the non-specific clinical presentation and the inherent difficulty in cultivating the organism. The infection is caused by gram-positive aerobic actinomycetes in the genus Nocardia. A definitive diagnosis requires the isolation and identification by Gram stain and modified acid-fast stain from a clinical specimen. Treatment heavily relies on species and susceptibility testing. There is a real paucity of prospective studies in nocardiosis infection, resulted in severely limited understanding of its diagnosis and treatment among the medical community. We report a clinical case of a 42-year old HIV-infected Burmese man with culture proven Nocardia infection.


Diabetes is a nationwide health concern and the seventh leading cause of death in the Unites States. The disease and its complications negatively impact the health of the patients and increase health care costs. As a chronic disease, diabetes requires self-care on a daily basis, including lifestyle behaviors, medications adherence, and metabolic control. However, patients often failed an effective management of their conditions, which highlighted the need of diabetes self-management education and diabetes self-management support. A current evidence suggests the effectiveness of diabetes self-management education and support on improving clinical outcomes of diabetic patients. However, a literature review shows that providers do not always refer patients because they do not acknowledge the efficacy of diabetes education or they are not aware of available resources. The purpose of this quality improvement project was to increase the number of patient referrals to diabetes education. The project was implemented at private non-profit clinic in Eastern North Carolina. The participants of the project were four primary care providers and one health coach. During an implementation phase, an educational session regarding the importance of diabetes education was provided and educational material was distributed to the providers and the health coach. Pre-implementation (4-weeks period), out of 144 patients seen by providers six patients were referred to diabetes education that corresponded to four percent. Post-implementation (6-weeks period), out of 245 patients seen by providers 17 patients were referred to diabetes education that corresponded to seven percent. After analyzing data, it had been concluded that there was a small increase in referrals post-implementation.


Epigenetics is the study of changes in gene expression or cellular phenotype that do not change the DNA sequence. In this review, current methods, both genomic and proteomic, associated with epigenetics research are discussed. Among them, chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) followed by sequencing and other ChIP-based techniques are powerful techniques for genome-wide profiling of DNA-binding proteins, histone post-translational modifications or nucleosome positions. However, mass spectrometry-based proteomics is increasingly being used in functional biological studies and has proved to be an indispensable tool to characterize histone modifications, as well as DNA-protein and protein-protein interactions. With the development of genomic and proteomic approaches, combination of ChIP and mass spectrometry has the potential to expand our knowledge of epigenetics research to a higher level.


This paper presents the first study aimed at capturing stylistic similarity between words in an unsupervised manner. We propose extending the continuous bag of words (CBOW) embedding model (Mikolov et al., 2013b) to learn style-sensitive word vectors using a wider context window under the assumption that the style of all the words in an utterance is consistent. In addition, we introduce a novel task to predict lexical stylistic similarity and to create a benchmark dataset for this task. Our experiment with this dataset supports our assumption and demonstrates that the proposed extensions contribute to the acquisition of style-sensitive word embeddings.


Abstract In this study, the steady and transient neutronic behaviour of MYRRHA ADS is investigated. For this purpose, a recently proposed analytical benchmark of the diffusion kinetics as 1D slab model of the MYRRHA ADS concept developed in Belgium has been extended to the cylindrical geometry which represents the system more realistically. Analytical calculations are performed using the Customized Solution Method and numerical Laplace inversion techniques such as Fixed-Talbot and Gaver-Wynn-Rho algorithms. Results are compared with the finite element program FLEXPDE® and they are found to be in complete agreement. The necessity of modeling the MYRHHA reactor in cylindrical geometry rather than slab geometry to obtain more realistic benchmark results is demonstrated.


We assessed the attitudes of Canadian obstetricians toward chiropractic with a 38-item cross-sectional survey. Ninety-one obstetricians completed the survey, for a response rate of 14% (91 of 659). Overall, 30% of respondents held positive views toward chiropractic, 37% were neutral, and 33% reported negative views. Most (77%) reported that chiropractic care was effective for some musculoskeletal complaints, but 74% disagreed that chiropractic had a role in treatment of non-musculoskeletal conditions. Forty percent of respondents referred at least some patients for chiropractic care each year, and 56% were interested in learning more about chiropractic care. Written comments from respondents revealed concerns regarding safety of spinal manipulation and variability among chiropractors. Canadian obstetricians' attitudes toward chiropractic are diverse and referrals to chiropractic care for their patients who suffer from pregnancy-related low back pain are limited. Improved interprofessional relations may help optimize care of pregnant patients suffering from low back pain.


To the Editor: I read with interest the article, "Now You See It, Now You Don't?" by Haroun et al. The authors have shared a real-time documentation wherein a part of left atrial myxoma had embolized into the brain, lower limbs, and possibly in the coronary arteries. Tumor embolization is one of the malignant presentations of cardiac myxoma which is a benign tumor. I would like to add 1 or 2 points in this context. There are 4 gray areas in the management of cardiac myxoma located in the left heart or right heart. These are as follows: (1) the lack of reliable predictors of embolism; (2) the exact time interval between the onset of diagnosis and surgical resection, although most of the series indicate early surgery is better; (3) the timing of surgery for residual myxoma after embolic episodes; and (4) anticoagulation during waiting for surgical resection. The incidence of embolism as a part of cardiac myxoma varies in different series from 9% to 30% to 40% in some other series. Approximately 25% of these cases may have cerebral embolism at the time of presentation. The literature reports that type 1 myxomas are associated with higher risk of embolization than type 2 myxomas. Although the authors have diagnosed the left atrial mass to be left atrial myxoma by 2-dimensional echocardiography, they have not mentioned the type of myxoma they saw. Transesophagial echocardiography would have given a better anatomic presentation in this case, which could have facilitated an earlier surgery. In histopathologic studies, >40% of cardiac myxomas show evidence of surface thrombi, which is an important predictor of embolism. The most common proposed mechanism of cerebral infarct is attributable to the embolization of surface thrombus over the myxoma, but the routine use of anticoagulation is not recommended. One possible reason may be that most left atrial myxomas consist of myxomatous tissue as the major component. Recently, it was reported that tumor location, macroscopic appearance, mean platelet volume, and high platelet count are strong risk factors for embolic events in patients with cardiac myxomas. Although most published series report that immediate surgery is necessary to avoid embolism, the authors planned surgical resection for the following week. What is the meaning of the following week? Does it mean emergency, urgency, or early surgery? The authors could have given the benefit of emergency surgical resection because the authors say "Now You See It, Now You Don't?" The cited experience shared by the authors is not new, because acute embolic presentation is a usual feature of cardiac myxoma.


Proceedings of the Int. Workshop on Spatial Computing (SCW 2012)

Many multiagent systems are spatial computers – collections of local computational devices distributed through a physical space, in which:
• the interaction between localized agents is strongly dependent on the distance between them, and
• the "functional goals" of the system are generally defined in terms of the system's spatial structure.
For example, spatial relationships are often used to organize the interactions between agents, at least in applications in which the problem and the space are intertwined. Furthermore, multiagent-based systems and their behaviors can be specified and analyzed relying on spatial notions like: location, region, frontier, neighborhood, obstruction, field,
basin, communication, diffusion, propagation, etc.

Systems that can be viewed as spatial computers are abundant, both natural and manmade. For example, in wireless sensor networks and animal or robot swarms, inter-agent communication network topologies are determined by the distance between devices, while the agent collectives as a whole solve spatially-defined problems like "analyze and react to spatial temperature variance" or "surround and destroy an enemy."

On the other hand, not all spatially distributed systems are spatial computers. The Internet and peer-to-peer overlay networks may not in general best be considered as spatial computers, both because their communication graphs have little relation to the Euclidean geometry in which the participating devices are embedded, and because most applications for them are explicitly defined independent of the network structure. Spatial computers, in contrast, tend to have more structure, with specific constraints and capabilities that can be used in the design, analysis and optimization of algorithms.

The goal of the 5th Spatial Computing Workshop is to serve as an inclusive forum for the discussion of ongoing or completed work focusing on the theoretical and practical issues of explicitly using space in the design process of multiagent or multiactor systems.

Indeed, the handling of space often remains implicit and elementary in general, reflected also in its limited adoption in the myriad of domain-specific programming languages. We believe that progress towards identifying common principles, techniques, and research directions—and consolidating the substantial progress that is already being made—will benefit all of the fields in which spatial computing takes place. And, as the impact of spatial computing is recognized in many areas, we hope to set up frameworks to ensure portability and cross-fertilization between solutions in the various domains.
The Spatial Computing Workshop provides a premier forum for sharing both research and engineering results, as well as potential challenges and prospects.


: The examination of immunomodulatory properties of oligopeptides derived from two exposed loops (containing thymopentin-like and tuftsin-like sequences, respectively) of the proteins belonging to TGF beta family suggests that the particular species of the TGF beta family should differ distinctly in their influence on the immune response. According to our results obtained from three TGF beta species of mammals, TGF beta 2 should be a strong immunosuppressor, whereas for TGF beta 3 the immunostimulative potency is more probable. TGF beta 1 species would possess both immunosuppressive and immunostimulative potency, residing in two different loops of the protein. The results obtained also suggest that chicken TGF beta 4 should be associated with immunostimulative effects and xenopus TGF beta 5 with immunosuppressive ones.