Fucoidan is a sulfated polysaccharide derived from brown seaweeds which mainly consist of L-fucose. In Asian countries such as Japan, Korea and China, peoples eat seaweeds willingly as nourishing health foods. We previously showed that the tumor formation by transplanted Sarcoma180 cells was suppressed in mice fed 2% fucoidan mix containing diets, and NK cell activity was enhanced in the fucoidan-fed mice. The results suggest that the activated NK cells participated in elimination of the tumor. However, in human, immune enhancing activities of fucoidan have hardly been proved. Therefore, we performed an open-label trial in this study. Five healthy volunteers (47 ± 6 years old, 2 male and 3 female) took 2.5 g fucoidan mix per day for 30 days. There were no abnormal observations in the values of WBC, RBC, platelet count and blood profile. On the other hand, NK cell activity was augmented by 1.42 times in the average at end of the trial than the initial value. The ratio of IFN-gamma-producing (Th1) cells also increased to 114% for the initial value by the day 30 by the fucoidan mix intake, whereas IL-4-producing (Th2) cells decreased to 77%. As a result, the rise of Th1/Th2 ratio by 1.46 times in the average was observed with 4 subjects among 5 examinees. Furthermore, CD8+ cells tended to expand with the all subjects. These results suggest that intake of fucoidan is effective to augment anti-tumor immunity in human.


Crowding is identified both internationally and in New Zealand as a key issue in public transport. Unfortunately, the concerns of public transport providers are focussed on economic imperative rather than a concern for the actual experiences of patrons. The social needs of public transport passengers are neglected, both in practice and in research. This research examines the delicate balance between the need for privacy and the need for social interaction in the setting of public transport. These needs are examined through naturalistic observation of 1703 passengers' behaviours, such as seat selection, activity use, and conversation on buses and trains. This was followed by a survey-based Exploratory study examining a range of individual difference variables. Based on the findings of this Exploratory study measures were identified for use in a series of subsequent surveys of public and private transport users. Specifically, questionnaires measuring the attitudes and self-reported behaviour of train (N = 319), car (N = 305) and bus commuters (N = 216). Results suggest that the seating layout of public transport forces people into an intimate distance with strangers, causing social discomfort. Hall's (1966) proxemic theory suggests that these intimate distances are typically reserved for people with closer relations. People compensate by adapting to this close yet impersonal social situation. There is evidence that interactive strategies such as talking and positive body language with other passengers reduces the level of social discomfort, whereas defensive strategies do not reduce discomfort, but do form a negative relationship with social interaction which helps perpetuate a socially stagnant atmosphere. Discomfort from close interpersonal distance and less positive attitudes towards other passengers, while not as important as instrumental variables (such as longer trip durations), are still potential barriers to public transport patronage and should be given greater attention. In conclusion, interactive behaviours are determined to be necessary to reduce social discomfort in public transport. Festinger and colleague's (1950) passive contact theory (PCT) is interrupted in the public transport setting, and it is posited that pro-social behaviours, such as smiling, and acknowledging other passengers with greetings are a precondition for successful interpersonal interaction.


The adsorption and electroadsorption of bromide from natural water has been studied in a filter-press electrochemical cell using a commercial granular activated carbon as the adsorbent. During electroadsorption experiments, different voltages were applied (2 V, 3 V and 4 V) under anodic conditions. The presence of the electric field improves the adsorption capacity of the activated carbon. The decrease in bromide concentration observed at high potentials (3 V or 4 V) may be due to the electrochemical transformation of bromide to Br2. The anodic treatment produces a higher decrease in the concentration of bromide in the case of cathodic electroadsorption. Moreover, in this anodic electroadsorption, if the system is again put under open circuit conditions, no desorption of the bromide is produced. In the case of anodic treatment in the following adsorption process after 24 h of treatment at 3 V, a new decrease in the bromide concentration is observed as a consequence of the decrease in bromide concentration after the electrochemical stage. It can be concluded that the electroadsorption process is effective against the elimination of bromide and total bromine in water, with a content of 345 and 470 µg L−1, respectively, reaching elimination values of 46% in a single-stage electroadsorption process in bromide and total bromine. The application of the electric field to the activated carbon with a positive polarization (anodic electroadsorption) increases the adsorption capacity of the activated carbon significantly, achieving a reduction of up to 220 µg L−1 after 1 h of contact with water. The two stage process in which a previous electrochemical oxidation is incorporated before the electroadsorption stage significantly increased the efficiency from 46% in a single electroadsorption step at 3 V, to 59% in two stages.


This report, from the Health Research Board, shows strong evidence of the increase of alcohol-related illness presenting to Irish hospital services. Against a background of previous reports on alcohol use in Ireland, this report shows that alcohol consumption in the Irish population has increased over the past 11 years, from 11.5 litres per adult in 1995 to 13.4 litres in 2006. This is an increase in consumption of over 17%. Over the period between 1995-2004, there was almost a 90% increase in the number of people discharged from hospital with alcohol-related problems or injuries. The number of people using beds in hospitals with alcohol-related illnesses used 117,373 bed days in 2004. This is over double the 1995 figure of 55,805 bed days. Another finding, using HIPE data, is the 147% rise in the number of discharges with alcohol-related liver disease between 1995 and 2004.

This report also looks at alcohol use in Ireland and women, young and old age groups, and minority communities. Conclusions and recommendations are included.


We present the development and detailed characterization of a range of amine functionalized microgels for utilization in conjugation reactions. Cationic N-isopropylmethacrylamide (NIPMAm) based microgels were synthesized through copolymerization with a primary amine containing monomer, N-(3-aminopropyl)methacrylamide hydrochloride (APMA). A range of synthesis conditions and monomer feed ratios generated microgels of diverse architectures, in different size ranges and with varying amounts of incorporated primary amines. The efficiency of amine incorporation was quantified using a fluorescence-based assay in order to determine the potential applicability of these particles for controlled bioconjugation reactions. The pH responsivity of all microgels was studied via dynamic light scattering and their height profile was investigated through atomic force microscopy following deposition on a functionalized flat substrate. Tunable resistive pulse sensing was employed to characterize microgels with respect to their number densities and molecular weights. These microgels were then conjugated to two dyes, malachite green and rose bengal with the purpose of investigating accessibility of primary amine groups for conjugation reactions. The microgel–dye constructs were then analyzed for dye content/microgel. Finally, the viability of NIH 3T3 fibroblasts incubated in the presence of varying concentrations of non-conjugated and dye conjugated microgels was studied. Confocal imaging revealed low cellular toxicity under conditions of incubation with low concentrations of microgel–dye conjugates, which is promising for eventual utilization of these constructs in bioimaging applications.


This article presents an original three-component model of the linguistic sign. It shares with the established
 triadic models of Peirce (1955 [1897]) and Ogden
 and Richards (1923/1949) in identifying thought, word and thing as essential components; but differs
 in being linear, with thought and thing at opposite poles. It is argued that this arrangement reflects the way
 the components of the sign relate to reality and thereby serves well as an explanatory tool for linguistic research. The model is
 further modified at each of the ontological realms using concepts from cognitive linguistics, renamed cognition, language
 and reality. The new model is employed as a research tool in two case studies: one illustrates its use in making sense of
 the complex field of language grammar; the other does the same for figurative language – metaphor and metonymy. The article's
 conclusions include that interrogating established cornerstones of linguistic theory in the light of new theory can lead to the
 development of improved research tools.


Abstract : HPLC and size-exclusion chromatography are used to purify chlorins from particles and sediments for delta 15N and delta 13C analysis with precisions greater than 0.15(1/1000). Chlorin delta 15N and delta 13C is also accomplished by irmGC-MS. Chlorophyll-whole phytoplankton DELTA delta 15N is 5.16 +/- 2.40(1/1000), while DELTA delta 13C is -0.02 +/- 2.12(1/1000). A model of 15N distribution in phytoplankton demonstrates that interspecies DELTA delta 15N variability is attributable to nitrogen partitioning between non-protein biochemicals. Chlorin delta 15N from six Late Quaternary Eastern Mediterranean sapropels averaged -5.01 +/- 0.38(1/1000), similar to chlorophyll delta 15N from surface waters of -6.38 +/- 1.80(1/1000). Chlorin-derived algal delta 15N in sapropels averaged 0.15(1/1000), similar to the whole-sediment average of -0.08 +/- 0.53(1/1000) and the delta 15N of contemporary deep-water nitrate, -0.05(1/1000). Non-sapropel sediment delta 15N averaged 5.3 +/- 1.0(1/1000), similar to core top delta 15N of 4.3(1/1000). We can thus conclude that surface waters were oligotrophic during sapropel events, as today, but that bottom waters were anoxic. Anoxia prevented the diagenetic enrichment of 15N observed in non-sapropel sediments and contributed to organic matter preservation. Finally, the very low delta 15N of chlorins and nitrate in the contemporary Eastern Mediterranean requires that nitrogen fixation is a significant new nitrogen source.


This correspondence considers an optimum nonuniform finite impulse response (FIR) transmultiplexer design problem subject to specifications in the frequency domain. Our objective is to minimize the sum of the ripple energy for all the individual filters, subject to the specifications on amplitude and aliasing distortions, and to the passband and stopband specifications for the individual filters. This optimum nonuniform transmultiplexer design problem can be formulated as a quadratic semi-infinite programming problem. The dual parametrization algorithm is extended to this nonuniform transmultiplexer design problem. If the lengths of the filters are sufficiently long and the set of decimation integers is compatible, then a solution exists. Since the problem is formulated as a convex problem, if a solution exists, then the solution obtained is unique, and the local solution is a global minimum.


Physical-synthesis tools are responsible for achieving timing closure. Starting with 130-nm designs, multiple cycles are required to cross the chip, making latch placement critical to success. We present a new physical-synthesis optimization for latch placement called Rip Up and Move Boxes with Linear Evaluation (RUMBLE) that uses a linear timing model to optimize timing by simultaneously replacing multiple gates. RUMBLE runs incrementally and in conjunction with static timing analysis to improve the timing for critical paths that have already been optimized by placement, gate sizing, and buffering. Experimental results validate the effectiveness of the approach: Our techniques improve slack by 41.3% of cycle time on average for a large commercial ASIC design.


This study aims at measuring the impact of personality characteristics such as risk-propensity, need for achievement, locus of control, autonomy, self-efficacy, tolerance of ambiguity, and education on the entrepreneurial intention of undergraduate students in Bangladesh. Primary data were collected from 250 undergraduate students of three educational institutions selected purposively from Rangpur using a questionnaire. Regression analysis was performed to identify the factors that have a significant impact on entrepreneurial intention. The findings of the study show that need for achievement, locus of control, autonomy, and self-efficacy significantly impact the entrepreneurial intention of undergraduate students. But this study finds no significant effect of risk taking propensity, tolerance of ambiguity and education on undergraduate students' entrepreneurial intention in Rangpur, Bangladesh. However, this research is geographically limited to only three educational institutions in Rangpur in Bangladesh and the sample size of this study is relatively small. Lack of budget is the main reason to limit this research to small sample size. But, this study has implications for economic policymaking, and universities providing education to undergraduate-level students. The findings of the research suggest that students having a high need for achievement, high preference for autonomy, and high perceived self-efficacy are more willing to be entrepreneurs. Hence, any initiatives to increase in need for achievement, autonomy, and self-efficacy among students will help stimulate entrepreneurship development by increasing entrepreneurial intention among the students in the country. This paper is an original one and contributes to the research literature empirically.


In the era of the industrial revolution 4.0 and increasingly incessant to become a society 5.0, SUBCOMTECH held a training & workshop on the use of technology at Ciputra World Surabaya Mall with technology training materials. One of the material is "the introduction of Google My Business for the use of digital marketing in the era of e-commerce & social media". The introduction of Google My Business for SMEs is felt to be appropriate because the features of the application and web features offered are suitable for MSME scale. Besides the list is free and can also be paid. Digital marketing for a company is a very important part today. No exception for MSME businesses (Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises) that require internet marketing publications for the continuity and added progress of their business. MSME managers are expected to have skills in internet promotion through digital devices, especially in publicizing products sold and places offered. When a UMKM manager has the ability to manage marketing through digital devices, making it easier to develop his business with wider sales, his products are more widely known and sought after. Therefore, it is necessary to implement the activities to conduct both training and creating a Google My Business application account regarding digital marketing in advancing the MSME sector.


In To Win and Lose a Medieval Battle, Andrew Villalon and Donald Kagay provide a full treatment of one of the major battles of the Hundred Years War. The authors have investigated the background to Najera, traced its immediate events, and laid out its effects on Iberia and the principal adversaries in the Hundred Years War.


In the early 1970s hundreds of hikers began to traverse all 2,000-plus miles of the Appalachian Trail in a single effort. Spanning from Maine to Georgia, today over 14,000 have trekked across the entirety of the famed "wilderness footpath." A particular mentality, characterized by perceptions of asocial self-discovery gained though physical activity and "wilderness" recreation led to the initial 1970s "thru-hiker" surge. This sense of autonomous self-discovery, however, was connected to a certain social and cultural context. Indeed, it could be argued that thru-hikers embraced a certain brand of individualism that should be read as a manifestation of a privileged social position as much as the achievement of personal authenticity.


Introduction : The 6MW is used to assess interventions in COPD but existing estimates of the MCID for have been derived from narrow cohorts where a non-blinded intervention, for example pulmonary rehabilitation, have been applied.

Objective: To define the MCID for 6MW distance in an unselected population.

Methods : Data from the ECLIPSE cohort were used. Briefly 2112 patients were prospectively followed for 3 years in a multicentre study. We defined an index event as death or first hospitalisation and calculated the change in 6MW (Δ6MW) in the last 12 month period before the event occurred. If a patient did not have an event the last 12 month change was used. We also related Δ6MW to commonly used outcome measures in COPD; FEV1 and St Georges Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ-C).

Results : Of the subjects with Δ6MW, 94 patients died and 323 were hospitalised. 6MW fell by mean (SD) 29.7 (82.9)m more in those who died than survivors (p<0.001). No significant difference in Δ6MW was observed in those who had a first hospitalisation than those who did not. Cox proportional hazard modelling showed that a Δ6MW of more than –30m conferred a hazard ratio of 1.93 (95% CI: 1.29, 2.90; p=0.001) for death. Weak relationships only were observed between Δ6MW and ΔFEV1 or Δ SGRQ.

Conclusions : A fall in 6MW of 30m or more is associated with increased risk of death in patients with COPD and therefore represents a clinically significant MCID for this test. The modest relationships between Δ6MW and ΔFEV1 or Δ SGRQ suggest that anchor based methods for determining MCID are context dependent.

Funded by GSK (SCO104960; [NCT00292552][1]).

 [1]: /lookup/external-ref?link_type=CLINTRIALGOV&access_num=NCT00292552&atom=%2Ferj%2F40%2FSuppl_56%2FP601.atom


Abstract The purpose of this study is to determine the role of metamorphism and thereby identify the preserved magmatic signature in metavolcanics from Wedel Jarlsberg Land in southwestern Svalbard. Samples have been collected from late Precambrian metavolcanics occurring within metasedimentary rocks of the Sofiebogen Group, as well as dikes cutting older metasedimentary rocks of the Deilegga Group. The volcanic rocks were metamorphosed under greenschist facies conditions during the Caledonian Orogeny. To investigate the role of metamorphism, we present petrography, major and trace element geochemistry, and use factor analysis as a tool to identify correlations that correspond to primary magmatic signals. The metavolcanics are classified as subalkaline basalt to basaltic andesite and they contain relicts of primary clinopyroxene and plagioclase. The metamorphic minerals are actinolite, secondary plagioclase, chlorite and minerals belonging to the epidote group. Major element variations are highly scattered with no obvious trends observed. The HFSE and REE show strong trends attributed to fractional crystallization. The LILE, Th and La show elevated contents in some samples. Factor analysis shows that the HFSE and REE are well correlated. The LILE form a separate well correlated group, while the major elements are not correlated, except for Na2O, Fe2O3 and CaO. The lack of correlation for major elements, as well as the lack of observed fractional crystallization trends between these elements suggests that they were modified by metamorphism. The strong correlation of HFSE and REE reflects the original geochemical signal generated by magmatic processes. The correlation of the LILE is consistent with their elevated composition implying the influence of crustal contamination processes, and though some variability is likely superimposed due to metamorphism, the primary magmatic record is not completely destroyed. We conclude that the HFSE and REE are not influenced by metamorphic processes and therefore provide robust records of magmatic processes.


BACKGROUND
The influence of the marker chromosome on reproductive failure is difficult to assess, especially in the case of low-rate mosaicism. The aim of our work was to examine the meiotic segregation of the marker chromosome der(20) in the sperm of a normal male whose wife had experienced three miscarriages, and therefore to determine whether there occurred a gametogenic tissue-specific mosaicism.

MATERIAL/METHODS
The proband was a phenotypically normal 35-year-old man, referred for pre-conceptional counseling after his wife had experienced three miscarriages. Chromosome cytogenetic analysis was performed on peripheral blood lymphocytes using routine protocols. Sperm chromosome complements were obtained after penetration of zona-free hamster oocytes. Dual-color FISH analysis was performed using directly labeled probes identifying X, Y, 9 and 20 chromosomes.

RESULTS
A small marker chromosome der(20) was identified in 4% of the proband's lymphocytes and 8.25% of his sperm, which indicated mosaicism among the gametogenic cells, in which the proportion of cells containing the der(20) marker may reach a minimum of approx. 16%.

CONCLUSIONS
In this case, we addressed a problem whether a revealed marker der(20) was the cause of reproductive failure or just a coincidental finding. In our view, each case of low-rate mosaicism of the marker chromosome should be individually assessed.


Abstract. Topography exerts influence on the spatial precipitation distribution over different scales, known typically at the large scale as the orographic effect, and at the small scale as the wind-drift rainfall (WDR) effect. At the intermediate scale (1~10 km), which is characterized by secondary mountain valleys, topography also demonstrates some effect on the precipitation pattern. This paper investigates such intermediate-scale topographic effects on precipitation patterns, focusing on narrow-steep valleys in the complex terrain of southern Germany, based on the daily observations over a 48 yr period (1960~2007) from a high-density rain-gauge network covering two sub-areas, Baden-Wuerttemberg (BW) and Bavaria (BY). Precipitation data at the valley and non-valley stations are compared under consideration of the daily general circulation patterns (CPs) classified by a fuzzy rule-based algorithm. Scatter plots of precipitation against elevation demonstrate a different behavior of valley stations comparing to non-valley stations. A detailed study of the precipitation time series for selected station triplets, each consisting of a valley station, a mountain station and an open station have been investigated by statistical analysis with the Kolmogorov–Smirnov (KS) test supplemented by the One-way analysis of variance (One-way ANOVA) and a graphical comparison of the mean precipitation amounts. The results show an interaction of valley orientation and the direction of the CPs at the intermediate scale, i.e. when the valley is shielded from the CP which carries the precipitation, the precipitation amount within the valley is comparable to that on the mountain crest, and both larger than the precipitation at the open station. When the valley is open to the CP, the precipitation within the valley is similar to the open station but much less than that on the mountain. Such phenomenon where the precipitation is "blind" to the valleys at the intermediate scale conditioned on CPs is defined as the "narrow-valley effect" in this work. Such an effect cannot be captured by the widely used elevation–precipitation relationship, which implies that the traditional geostatistical interpolation schemes, e.g. ordinary kriging (OK) or external drift kriging (EDK) applying digital elevation model (DEM) as external information, are not sufficient. An interpolation experiment applying EDK with orographic surrogate elevation defined in this paper as auxiliary information to account for the valley effects shows improvement for the cross-validation.


This study focuses on the role of media in facilitating and inhibiting the accessibility of stereotypes primed by race-related news stories. Specifically, it examines experimentally the effects of two strategies for reducing stereotype accessibility: an audience-centered approach that explicitly instructs audiences to be critical media consumers, a goal of media literacy training; and a message-centered approach using stereo-type-disconfirming, counter-stereotypical news stories. Participants viewed either a literacy or control video before reading stereotypical or counter-stereotypical news stories about African Americans or Asian Indians. Implicit stereotypes were measured using response latencies to hostile and benevolent stereotypical words in a lexical decision task. Results suggest that a combination of audience-centered and message-centered approaches may reduce racial stereotypes activated by news stories.


This thesis aims to broaden the understanding of how human capital and graduates' geographical mobility affects their individual careers as well as the firms, scientific systems, and countries in which they work. Firstly, it investigates the relationship between human capital, R&D, and productivity across different economies and industries. Secondly, it analyses whether interregional graduate mobility, as well as educational and cultural diversity among employees in a firm, have a positive effect on productivity. Subsequently, it studies how the interregional mobility of graduates affects their chances of obtaining a job in line with their qualifications. Finally, it investigates the role of geographical mobility for scientific upgrading by analysing the impact of international mobility of PhD holders on local and global scientific collaborations, and on the individual careers of researchers. The results indicate that the potential benefits that graduate mobility can bring are substantial (even if sometimes not wholly realized) and confirm the importance of maintaining a multi-level perspective in future research.


We use the concept of pointed pseudo-triangulations to establish new upper and lower bounds on a well known problem from the area of art galleries: What is the worst case optimal number of vertex π-guards that collectively monitor a simple polygon with n vertices? Our results are as follows: 1. Any simple polygon with n vertices can be monitored by at most n/2 general vertex π-guards. This bound is tight up to an additive constant of 1. 2. Any simple polygon with n vertices, k of which are convex, can be monitored by at most (2n − k)/3 edge-aligned vertex π-guards. This is the first non-trivial upper bound for this problem and it is tight for the worst case families of polygons known so far.


Purpose: This study is to provide a model that will promote the role of primary school vice-principals in educational leadership so that their vice-principals move towards the tasks related to education. Methodology: The sample size consisted of 610 principals, vice-principals and teachers, determined by a two-step classification procedure. In this research, Mazandaran Province was divided into three eastern, central and western parts; some cities were selected from each part and then these cities were divided into two or three sections. A number of schools were randomly selected in each section and all principals, vice-principals and teachers were selected as the sample. A two-part questionnaire was used to collect information from vice-principals' duties. The first part consists of closed questions in two existing and ideal conditions, and the second part includes open questions. Findings: Friedman's ranking and analysis, categorization and quantification of open questions revealed the following components for the vice-principals' educational leadership model: 1-Creating awareness among principals, vice-principals and teachers about the vice-principals' duties 2-Preparation of tasks description with the focus of educational affairs and the requirement for its implementation 3-Procurement of short-term university courses and vice-principals' pre-office training 4-Informing vice-principals about the educational regulations at the national and regional levels 5-Encourage the principals and vice-principals to lead a team and provide the requirement trainings in this field 6-Considering an individual to assist the vice-principals of the school 7-Improving the vice-principals' livelihoods . Discussion : Applying this model and its components can enhance the vice-principals' performance and role to a higher level and ultimately improve the performance of schools and the Iranian educational system.


Classification of high-dimensional data generally requires enormous processing time. In this paper, we present a fast two-stage method of support vector machines, which includes a feature reduction algorithm and a fast multiclass method. First, principal component analysis is applied to the data for feature reduction and decorrelation, and then a feature selection method is used to further reduce feature dimensionality. The criterion based on Bhattacharyya distance is revised to get rid of influence of some binary problems with large distance. Moreover, a simple method is proposed to reduce the processing time of multiclass problems, where one binary SVM with the fewest support vectors (SVs) will be selected iteratively to exclude the less similar class until the final result is obtained. Experimented with the hyperspectral data 92AV3C, the results demonstrate that the proposed method can achieve a much faster classification and preserve the high classification accuracy of SVMs.


The interaction of mesoporours magnesium carbonate (Upsalite) particles (50–100 μm) with human whole blood was investigated using an in vitro loop model and the effect on the complement system, blood coagulation and red blood cell lysis was assessed. The removal of Ca2+ by Upsalite and the possible exchange with and/or release of Mg2+ were explored as well. Upsalite was found to present anticoagulant properties, most probably due to the uptake of Ca2+ by the particles. No hemolytic activity was detected at Upsalite concentrations up to 1 mg ml−1. Moderate to high levels of C3a and sC5b-9 were observed for Upsalite, however such levels were statistically different from the negative control only when the particle concentrations were 0.25 mg ml−1 and 1.0 mg ml−1, respectively. The presented findings are promising for the future development of mesoporous magnesium carbonate-based materials for biomedical applications.


Background Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) primarily produce type 1 interferons but also present antigen. pDCs migrate towards inflammatory sites and, in established RA, are reduced in peripheral blood but increased in synovium. We questioned their role in early disease by studying circulating pDCs in early, drug-naïve RA patients. Materials and methods Drug-naïve early RA patients and healthy controls were recruited. Peripheral blood flow cytometry identified pDCs (CD20-CD19-CD3-CD203-CD14-HLADR+CD1c-Cd11c-CD141-CD123+). Frequency was calculated (percentage of lymphocytes) and activation/co-stimulation molecule expression quantified. Some RA patients were sampled longitudinally. The whole blood interferon gene signature (IGS) was defined as the mean expression (RT-PCR) of MxA, IFI6, OAS1, ISG15 and IFI44L. pDCs were flow sorted and their transcriptome analysed by NanoString nCounter technology. Significance when p<0.05. Results 44 early RA patients (median age 57 [33–84], male:female 3:4) and 30 healthy controls (median age 37 [23–62], male:female 3:2) were studied. pDC frequency was significantly reduced in early RA, most markedly in seropositive (n=25) patients where it associated with increased CCR7 expression. CD86, HLA-DR and CD40 expression was comparable between early RA and healthy controls with no effect of serostatus (univariate linear regression (age and sex corrected) and Mann-Whitney U tests). Longitudinal analysis of early RA patients (n=15) demonstrated significant reduction in CD86, HLA-DR and CD40 expression during the first 12 months of symptoms but no change in CCR7 expression or pDC frequency (Wilcoxon signed-rank tests). There was no significant association between the IGS and pDC frequency or phenotype (linear regression). The pDC transcriptome was examined in 8 early RA patients and 4 healthy controls (age and sex matched). Differentially expressed genes (R Core team 2016) and Ingenuity Pathway Analysis suggested increased proliferation and reduced apoptosis in early RA but no increased activation. Conclusions This is the first detailed examination of pDCs in early RA. The reduced frequency at diagnosis, alongside a comparatively activated phenotype, suggests possible migration to the synovium of potential pathogenic relevance. Furthermore, transcriptomic analysis highlighted a possible expansion of pDCs in early RA, via enhanced proliferation and reduced death. Synovial analysis will be essential to identify a pDC contribution to RA pathogenesis.


Event-based dynamic vision sensor (DVS) cameras possess a unique feature of outputting only sparse and asynchronous brightness changes rather than the conventional image sensor measurement of average intensity level during a fixed exposure time. This new technology opens a new window of opportunities for SST, especially for survey observations, where users are mostly interested in detecting objects moving within the telescope's field of view. In this work we present a comparison between a regular global-shutter CMOS camera (QHY174-GPS) and several DVS-based cameras - specifically, DVS, DAVIS and ATIS cameras. The measurements include new sensors, so far uncharacterized for space surveillance, specifically the first back illuminated DAVIS and a higher sensitivity DVS. The sensors were observationally tested during stellar observing runs with varying telescope tracking speed to simulate SST targets on different orbits, using identical optics and under the same weather conditions. Observations included daytime sky targets with high sky brightness and low object contrast. The DVS noise levels, minimum detectable object magnitudes and maximum object speeds were quantitatively assessed. The potential of existing event-based sensors is evaluated and future upgrades to EBS designs to fully utilize this technology in SST are discussed.


Certain provisions in an agency agreement, such as an ability by the principal to reduce the territory or market covered by an agent, arguably have the effect of eroding the value of the agency. This article considers the recent case of Vick v Vogle-Gapes [2006] EWHC 1579 (QB) and the extent to which such behaviour by the principal is constrained by the Commercial Agents (Council Directive) Regulations 1993 ("the Regulations"), with particular regard to the mandatory compensation provisions and the obligation on the principal to act in good faith. The case shows an inclination in the English courts to construe the Regulations and the concept of good faith in accordance with a common law analysis of repudiatory breach.


Privatizations in developing countries were an important element underlying the rapid increase in foreign direct investment to these countries in recent years. In particular Latin America, East Asia, and countries in Eastern Europe managed to attract substantial amounts of foreign investment through the sale of state-owned enterprises to foreign buyers. However, countries with strong privatization programs also witnessed a growth in foreign direct investment inflows that went beyond the direct impact of foreign participation in these sales. The privatization of infrastructure services, in particular, seems to have had a strong effect on the decision making process by foreign investors, advertizing a country as a more attractive investment location.


Data are presented on the effects of oxygen at 2.36 and 3.70 atmospheres on retinal venous oxygen saturation, retinal vessel size, and retinal mean circulation time as measured by photographic techniques. Retinal venous oxygen saturation is found to increase with increase of inspired oxygen tension (PO 2 ). Vessel size becomes progressively smaller at higher PO 2 and retinal mean circulation time is prolonged. If retinal oxygen consumption is not altered by exposure to high PO 2 , it is suggested that at these pressures the choriocapillaris is supplying part of the oxygen previously delivered by the retinal circulation and that the retinal blood flow is reduced proportionately more than the flow in the choriocapillaris.


Present day shopping environments are centered around the needs of the consumer, and they aim to facilitate convenient access to different product lines varying from groceries to books to everyday electronics. Supermarkets and hypermarkets are examples of trends that have evolved providing a rich shopping experience. Unfortunately, such systems have been envisioned to cater to sighted customers and inadequately address the necessities of a person who is blind or visually impaired. In this work, we present a new system design that leverages the potential of emerging technologies like Electronic Product Code (EPC) and Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) to provide a wearable wireless device capable of delivering product information at realtime in order to enhance the shopping experience of customers who are visually impaired or blind. Various technologies have been proposed by earlier researchers to address the accessible shopping problem. In this paper, we have discussed each of these approaches, and analyzed their benefits and limitations, eliciting the motivation for a new design. Detailed descriptions of the various components of the proposed system are presented. An implementation of our system is illustrated with results from calibrated tests with wearable RFID readers and tags installed on various products. Studies of crucial design parameters like the variation of RFID reader sensitivity with orientation, range and material, along with system response time, are discussed to highlight the choice of technology elements in the design.


This project aims to ascertain the perceived effectiveness of using content curation digital apps in active learning environments upon student learning and engagement. Specifically it focuses on the use of content curation apps that can be used in class as part of active learning sessions. It is anticipated that they will encourage students to bring their own device for learning (BYOD4L) and engage in active and collaborative learning. The proliferation of 'smart' mobile devices amongst the population has filtered through to virtually all industries and spheres of business including that of education. This project builds upon existing pedagogic research in relation to the use of pre-existing mobile content curation apps that can organise and present subject specific information for students to access through their smartphones or tablet devices. Bolan and Kearney (2015) and Bolan et al (2016) have found that students are highly receptive to such a resource for their studies, and their use results in much higher engagement, rates of access and usage than more traditional academic sources, thus indicating the huge potential to harness digital technology as an active learning resource. On-going data gathering through a range of techniques including student focus groups and staff reflective logs is taking place between September 2016 and May 2017, aiming to ascertain the implications for social and collaborative learning, encouraging students to take more ownership of their own learning and moving beyond 'teacher-centred to 'student-centred' learning.


Gastric antral vascular ectasia (GAVE), though a rare disorder, causes up to 4% of non-variceal upper GI bleeding. This paper gives an overview of studies examining clinical presentation and pathophysiology, and reviews the current evidence for invasive and non-invasive treatments. GAVE is often associated with systemic illnesses, such as cirrhosis of the liver, autoimmune connective tissue disorders, bone marrow transplantation and chronic renal failure. The pathophysiological changes leading to GAVE have not been fully explained and remain controversial. Patient presentation varies from chronic iron-deficiency anaemia to heavy acute gastrointestinal bleeding. It is important to differentiate GAVE from portal hypertensive gastropathy as GAVE does not respond to measures reducing portal pressures. Endoscopic ablation (Nd:YAG-laser or argon plasma coagulation) is the first-line treatment of choice. As evidence for pharmacological therapy with oestrogen (and/or progesterone), tranexamic acid or thalidomide stems from case reports only, these should be used if endoscopic measures have failed to stop chronic blood loss. Surgical antrectomy should be reserved for unresponsive cases as it is associated with a high mortality. Ultimately, treatment of the underlying medical co-morbidities may lead to resolution of GAVE.


Although there is no consensus among educationalists as to the role schools play as drivers of hostilities in divided societies, there is broad agreement that they can facilitate more positive intergroup relations. In Northern Ireland the promotion of school based intergroup contact has been offered as a means through which this can happen. Until 2007, the approach was twofold, reflected on the one hand in short-term contact opportunities for pupils in predominantly Catholic and Protestant schools, and on the other, in support for integrated schools that educate Catholics and Protestants together. In 2007 the Shared Education Programme was introduced to 'bridge the gap' between short-term opportunities for contact, and 'full immersion' integrated schools. Informed by contact theory, shared education offers curriculum-based interaction between pupils attending all school types, aimed at promoting the type of contact likely to reduce negative social attitudes and ultimately contribute to social harmony. In this paper, we examine the impact of shared education thus far. Our analysis suggests that while shared education is generally effective in promoting positive assessments of other group members, there is a danger that programme impact may be inhibited by the foregrounding of educational over reconciliation priorities. Appreciating that the downplaying reconciliation objectives may have been necessary when the programme was established in order to maximise recruitment to it, we argue that if the full potential of shared education is to be realised, moving forward, it is important for schools to engage with issues of group differences.


The extent to which dromological desires, the desires of the roads, have become intertwined with the Singaporean condition may not be underestimated. Life in the island city develops through a unique range of circumstances from limited land resources, economic aspirations,and political harmonisation to the constant evanescing of its ground for national identity. The mix of modernisation, claustrophobia, result-oriented policy-making, and endless cultural renewal creates an explosive context for the resident to embrace speed. This essay aims to study the impact of Singapore's excessive but necessary reliance on its roads and will explore both the observations of its poets and how they compare with regular political answers. Some of the most representative poems from the last four decades will be examined in order to outline the human experience of urban speed as a catastrophe.


In this paper we present a methodology to exploit human-machine coalitions for situational understanding. Situational understanding refers to the ability to relate relevant information and form logical conclusions, as well as identifying gaps in information. This process requires the ability to reason inductively, for which we will exploit the machines' ability to 'learn' from data. However, important phenomena are often rare in occurrence, thus severely limiting the availability of instance data for training, and hence the applicability of many machine learning approaches. Therefore, we present the benefits of Subjective Bayesian Networks—i.e. Bayesian Networks with imprecise probabilities—for situational understanding; and
the potential role of conversational interfaces for supporting decision makers in the evolution of situational understanding.


The rubber industry in Sri Lanka is of much economic importance. The current world consumption of rubber, totalling around 18 million tonnes per year, consists of 48% natural rubber (NR). Thus, in terms of quantity by type, NR is still the largest. Price returns on rubber have effect on both its production and replanting and also the GDP of the Sri Lankan economy in the long run and the world economy. Therefore, accurate analysis and prediction of the price returns on the asset become very important since the supply of agricultural products in the future is affected by continuous future price uncertainties or volatility. Quantile regression was used for the estimation, prediction and analysis of the effects of price returns on rubber production and GDP of Sri Lanka. There were high changes at the percentile 75%, 90%, and the 95% which shows that the rate of change of price decreased drastically with a unit increase in production. At the 50% percentile, the values coincide with that of the conditional mean value with all other quantile having varying rate of change of price with respect to a unit change in production. For each quantile, a regression model was fitted. Tropical Agricultural Research Vol. 26 (4): 693 – 699 (2015)


This study begins to unravel the multiple bidirectional relationships between service-learning pedagogy and civic and academic engagement attitudes and behaviors. A quasi-experimental, nonequivalent comparison group pre- and post-test design was used with a sample of 300 first- semester freshmen participating in either a service-learning-based learning community or a learning community without service-learning. Participants completed a pre-test at the beginning of the semester measuring high school civic and academic engagement behaviors and attitudes and a post- test at the end of the semester measuring the same variables based on their first semester in college. Students with higher civic engagement attitudes and behaviors prior to college were more likely to take a service-learning course than students with lower civic engagement attitudes and behaviors. Students in service-learning were more likely to participate in community activities than students not participating in service-learning. Finally, within the service-learning groups, students who were more academically engaged had higher academic and civic attitudinal engagement at the end of the course. Students who were more civically engaged were more likely to see lower costs of helping to themselves; they did not change in terms of their beliefs about the community's needs. This study replicates and extends previous research to demonstrate that there are multiple bidirectional relationships among these variables that need to be taken into account in research and practice.


Abstract Objective: Precrash occupant motion may affect head and trunk position and restraint performance in a subsequent crash, particularly for young children. Others have studied seat belt–restrained adult drivers and adult and adolescent passengers in precrash maneuvers. For younger children, optimal restraint includes a belt-positioning booster seat, which in precrash maneuvers may contribute in unique ways to the overall body motion. Therefore, the objective of this study was to quantify booster-seated child occupant kinematic, kinetic, and muscle responses during precrash maneuvers and characterize booster movement with respect to the overall occupant kinematics. Methods: Vehicle maneuver tests were conducted with a recent model year sedan at the Transportation Research Center Inc. (TRC, Marysville, Ohio). Three precrash vehicle maneuvers were simulated: Automated and manual emergency braking (AEB and MEB) and oscillatory swerving or slalom (SLA). Each maneuver was repeated twice for each participant. Seven 6- to 8-year-old booster-seated children participated in the study and all subjects were seated in the right rear seat. Vehicle dynamics (i.e., motion, position, and orientation) were measured with an inertial and Global Positioning System navigation system (Oxford RT 3003). Kinematic data from human volunteers were collected with an 8-camera 3D motion capture system (Optitrack Prime 13 200 Hz, NaturalPoint, Inc.). Photoreflective markers were placed on participants' head and trunk. Electromyography (EMG; Trigno EMG Wireless Delsys, Inc., 2,000 Hz) sensors were placed on bilateral muscles predicted to be most likely involved in bracing behaviors. Results: Children demonstrated greater head and trunk velocity in MEB (head 123.7 ± 13.1 cm/s, trunk 77.6 ± 14.1 cm/s) compared to AEB (head 45.31 ± 11.5 cm/s, trunk 27.1 ± 5.5 cm/s; P < .001). Participants also showed greater head motion in MEB (18.9 ± 1.4 cm) vs. AEB (15.1 ± 4.8 cm) but the differences were not statistically significant (P < .1). Overall, the booster seats themselves did not move substantially (<3 cm) in the braking maneuvers. During the SLA, however, the booster seat moved laterally up to 5 cm in several subjects, contributing substantially to peak trunk (6.5–14.0 cm) and head (9.9–21.4 cm) excursion during the maneuver. Booster-seated children also exhibited a greater activation of biceps and deltoid muscles and abdominal and middle trapezii muscles than the sternocleidomastoids during these maneuvers. Conclusions: The quantification of booster seat motion and neuromuscular control and the relationship between kinematics and muscle activation in booster-seated children in precrash maneuvers provides important data on the transition between the precrash and crash phases for this young age group and may help identify opportunities for interventions that integrate active and passive safety.


REPORT OF A CASE A 65-year-old man was admitted to the Erie County (New York) Medical Center with epigastric pain, weakness, fatigue, and difficulty walking. A dermatology consultation was requested to evaluate a purpuric eruption on his legs. He had a history of alcohol abuse, cirrhosis, and emphysema. The epigastric pain had been present for 2 weeks and was associated with increased alcohol consumption (24 cans of beer per day). The weakness, fatigue, and difficulty walking had been present for many months, and he had not left his home for 9 months. He was receiving no medicine but had been taking aspirin intermittently. On physical examination he appeared unkempt, very thin, and unshaven. His conjunctiva were pale and dentition was poor. There were two areas of gingival hemorrhage. Examination of the skin revealed a nonpalpable purpuric eruption on the forearms, thighs, and legs. There was a large ecchymosis over the


Although reusing buildings has always been considered throughout the history of architecture, this concept was raised as one the most effective methods of conversation and achieving sustainable development since the 1960s. While preserving the cultural heritages, subsequently, the history and identity of the society, this approach provides a ground for meeting people's daily needs. Also, using this approach leads to preserving the buildings for the next generations while keeping them away from being abandoned and useless. Despite the numerous experiences in this regard, many adaptive reuse projects do not achieve the success desired by designers because the building capacity to accept the new function or the functional needs of its surrounding environment is not given enough attention. Therefore, the current paper sought to present a proper method for decision-making by considering the influential components in this process. This study applied a mixed approach, the logical reasoning strategy, and content analysis in the qualitative part, based on the library resources and relevant international conventions, re-reading and analyzing the influential factors and criteria in the adaptive reuse approach. Thus, it prioritized the influential criteria in the adaptive reuse process to assign the educational land use to the building using the experts' and specialists' opinions, the Multi-Criteria Decision Making method (MCDM), and Super Decision Software. In this regard, based on the survey of experts, three historical monuments, including Darolfunun School, Etehadieh Historical House, and Negarestan Museum Garden, were selected as the proposed options for the School of Conservation and Restoration to be assessed and ranked based on the stated criteria. Finally, after assessing the final scores and presenting the most appropriate building to meet the considered functional need, the weaknesses and strengths of the selected option were investigated in the reuse process. The current study attempted to study another way of the reuse approach by raising the proper space to assign to the considered function through which the feasibility and capacity assessment of several valuable historical and cultural monuments to assign the considered land use was done based on the extracted criteria. The significance of these criteria was also considered based on the required uses (educational use).


In murine cells expressing the PaeR7 endonuclease and methylase genes, the recognition sites (CTCGAG) of these enzymes can be methylated at the adenine residue by the PaeR7 methylase and at the internal cytosine by the mouse DNA methyltransferase. Using nonadecameric duplex deoxyoligonucleotide substrates, the specificity of the PaeR7 endonuclease for unmethylated, hemi-methylated, and fully methylated N6-methyladenine (m6A) and C5-methylcytosine (m5C) versions of these substrates has been studied. The Km, Kcat, and Ki values for these model substrates have been measured and suggest that fully or hemi-m6A-methylated PaeR7 sites in the murine genome are completely protected. However, the reactivity of fully or hemi-m5C-methylated PaeR7 sites is depressed 2900- and 100-fold respectively, compared to unmodified PaeR7 sites. The implications of the kinetic constants of the PaeR7 endonuclease for these methylated recognition sites as they occur in murine cells expressing this endonuclease gene are discussed.


In our previous studies, 10-40wt%Ni/Al2O3 membrane was prepared by uniaxial pressing and sintered at 900 to 1400°C for 2 h. It was found that 10wt%Ni/Al2O3 membrane sintered at 1400°C showed the highest physical and mechanical properties. Thus, this work we focused on the effect of different pressing processes on the properties of Ni/Al2O3 membrane with longer soaking time. Firstly, 10-40wt%Ni and Al2O3 powders were mixed by dried ball-milling. Then, the mixture powder was pressed to form a bar shape by two different processes; uniaxially pressing (No CIP) and uniaxially pressing followed by cold isostatic pressing (CIP) at 250 MPa for 5 min. All Ni/Al2O3 specimens from two pressing routes were sintered at 1400°C for 4h under air atmosphere and reduced at 900 °C under H2 (99.99%). From the results, it was found that the densification process affected to physical and mechanical properties of Ni/Al2O3. The CIPed - 10wt%Ni/Al2O3 membrane sintered at 1400°C for 4 h showed the highest relative density and flexural strength of 76% and 106 MPa with the lowest pore size (78 nm) and 17% porosity. The addition of nickel content gradually decreased physical and mechanical properties of Ni/Al2O3.


The precise measurement of time intervals is a primary goal in a growing number of applications and the challenge to achieve increasingly higher resolutions is a main topic of research. In this sense, time-of-flight measurements and time-correlated photon counting are two milestones. Since the intrinsic resolution of the sensors used today is in the order of tens of picoseconds, the measurement systems must guarantee performance at least of this order. The choice of making digital a part or the totality of the measurement electronic systems exploits well-known advantages from the adaptivity, to the versatile calibration, to the easiness of implementation of powerful processing algorithms, but also new methods must be put in place to significantly improve the resolution of the measurements. The well-established method for high-accuracy time interval measurements is the time-to-amplitude conversion (TAC). Another diffused method is the time-to-digital conversion (TDC), which has the advantage of easy integration. Methods based on phase measurements have also been proposed in literature. This work concerns a strategy of time measurement, with resolution of the order of few picoseconds, based on the additional features of very limited analog hardware, easy integrability in contexts where computation power is already present, no need of intensive calibration procedures, and minimizing the necessity of a-priori information. We present an improvement on time resolution of the VCO based time measurement technique. The improved analog frontend improves the time resolution with no effects on linearity, full scale range and event rate. The new method achieves the resolution of 8 ps rms.


Trabajo presentado al Proceedings of the 30th Biennial Conference of the Australian Society of Animal Production 2014. Harnessing the Ecology and Physiology of Herbivores (Camberra, Australia, 8 al 12 septiembre, 2014).


Public policies aimed at mitigating climate change can come with the transition risk of sudden adjustments of asset prices. We study the consequences of a policy intervention addressing greenhouse gas emissions in the housing market. Leveraging a unique data set of the population of all house transactions in England and Wales, we document novel evidence of transition risk. Prices of carbon-intensive properties affected by this policy decreased by about £5,000 to £9,000 relative to unaffected ones. We interpret this result as evidence in favour of semi-strong market efficiency in the housing market. We infer moderate implications for financial stability and for the wealth distribution among homeowners.


Driven by the longer lifespans of humans, particularly in Westernised societies, and the need to know more about 'healthy ageing', ageing mice are being used increasingly in scientific research. Many departments and institutes involved with ageing research have developed their own systems to determine intervention points for potential refinements and to identify humane end points. Several good systems are in use, but variations between them could contribute to poor reproducibility of the science achieved. Working with scientific and regulatory communities in the UK, we have reviewed the clinical signs observed in ageing mice and developed recommendations for enhanced monitoring, behaviour assessment, husbandry and veterinary interventions. We advocate that the default time point for enhanced monitoring should be 15 months of age, unless prior information is available. Importantly, the enhanced monitoring should cause no additional harms to the animals. Where a mouse strain is well characterised, the onset of age-related enhanced monitoring may be modified based on knowledge of the onset of an expected age-related clinical sign. In progeroid models where ageing is accelerated, enhanced monitoring may need to be brought forward. Information on the background strain must be considered, as it influences the onset of age-related clinical signs. The range of ageing models currently used means that there will be no 'one-size fits all' solution. Increased awareness of the issues will lead to more refined and consistent husbandry of ageing mice, and application of humane end points will help to reduce the numbers of animals maintained for longer than is scientifically justified.


can result in considerable morbidity and mortality. Undiagnosed; a choledochal cyst can lead to development of serious complications such as hepatic fibrosis, pancreatitis, cholangitis, and liver failure in infants. Prenatal diagnosis, postnatal ultrasound evaluation and early surgical treatment can reduce the development of serious complications. We report a case of a choledochal cyst diagnosed prenatally by ultrasound. A 24 year old woman, gravida2, para1, presented at 29 weeks gestation to our hospital for a routine ultrasound evaluation. Ultrasound examination revealed a singleton fetus with normal amniotic fluid volume and measurements consistent with 29 weeks. Assessment of the fetal abdomen demonstrated an ovoid shaped well defined anechoic mass measuring 1.2 × 1.2 cm. in the right upper quadrant, located medially and communicating with the gall bladder. The postnatal ultrasound confirmed the diagnosis and it was classified as Type 1 choledochal cyst.


Endometriosis affects 10–20% of women during reproductive age and is a common cause of infertility and pain leading to work absenteeism and reduced quality of life.The objective of this study was to investigate the association between the presence and concentration of interleukin-8 (IL-8), RANTES, osteoprotegerin (OPG), pregnancy-associated plasma protein A (PAPP-A), tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), midkine and glycodelin in the peritoneal fluid (PF) and the intensity of pain reported by patients undergoing laparoscopy in our clinic. They rated their pain during menstruation, intercourse and lower abdominal using a visual analogue scale. During laparoscopy, PF was aspirated. Pain scores were correlated to the concentration of the above substances in the PF and to the stage of endometriosis. Endometriosis was histologically confirmed in 41 of 68 participating women; 27 without such evidence were considered as controls. TNF-α and glycodelin correlated positively with the level of menstrual pain. For IL-8, RANTES, OPG and PAPP-A no correlation between their PF concentration and the menstrual pain scores was observed. Patients with severe dysmenorrhoea had increased PF cytokine and marker levels; the difference was significant for TNF-α and glycodelin when compared with the other patients (no or moderate pain). TNF-α and glycodelin may thus play a role in endometriosis and the severity of menstrual pain.


in a viable ipregnancy, provided that maternal efficiency remained constant. The only way to resolve these questions is to make an effort to inspect all spontaneously aborted fetuses and to record any malformations found. Mothers are very willing to keep products of conception, and sihould be asked to do so if bleeding occurs early in prgenancy. Sadly their medical attendants often fail to show any interest in the fetus once it is aborted. We have received several fetuses with obvious neural tube defects that had not been medically diagnosed, or whose state had not been recorded in the notes. Before these questions are resolved there is no way of testing the hypothesis put forward by Dr. Roberts and Mrs. Lloyd. There is, however, an alternative possible explanation of their findings. At least 50%,0 and arguably 80%(', of all truly spontaneous abortions are due to fetal cihromosomal anomaly. It is therefore just possible that the observed inverse relationshiip between abortion rate and prevalence of neural tube defects is secondary to one between incidence of fetal chromosome anomaly and neural tube defect. Assuming that trisomy 21 behaves like tihe prenatally lethal chromosome comDonents, a comparison of rates of mongolism in their areas A and B might throw some light on this question.-We are, etc., EVA ALBERMAN MICHAEL CREASY PAUL E. POLANI


In the framework of the European Research Council-funded project, "Reconstructing Ancient (Biblical) Israel: The Exact and Life Sciences Perspective," we carried out multiple analyses on iron and bronze objects from provenanced contexts in Israel, as well as on previously unidentified metallurgical remains from the production of both metals. In addition, we counted anew iron and bronze objects from well-stratified contexts and studied metalworking sequences at major sites, which included those that had undergone the bronze/iron transition. This enabled us to clarify some of the issues related to the bronze/iron transition in the southern Levant. Using this evidence, we showed that iron was not used for utilitarian purposes before the Iron I (late 12th century BCE) and that iron only became dominant concurrently with the beginning of its systematic production during the Iron IIA (10th–9th centuries BCE). A strong correlation between iron and bronze production suggests that during the Iron I local independent bronzesmiths adopted the new iron technology. Under local administrations that developed during the Iron IIA, workshops that previously produced bronze turned to iron production, although they continued to manufacture bronze items as a secondary venture. Significantly, at some of the major urban centers iron production was an independent industry that included the entire operational sequence, including the on-site smelting of the ore. This development appears to have been a major contributor to the transition to systematic production of iron.


Considerations of whether a travel alternative (e.g., mode, destination) affords a traveler an acceptable level of safety from traffic collisions and personal security from crime may be especially important for active modes of walking and bicycling. Although theory suggests that safety and security influence nonmotorized travel decision making, empirical evidence to support these hypotheses is inconclusive. In addition to measurement limitations and data constraints, safety and security concerns are often inadequately distinguished. This study advances knowledge in this area by analyzing objective safety and security measures within a mode–destination choice context. Discretionary trips from a Portland, Oregon, household travel survey were analyzed with a joint mode–destination choice multinomial logit model. Some measures of traffic safety—more comfortable facilities, sidewalks, traffic signals, and traffic calming installations—were positively associated with walking and bicycling. Measures of a lack of personal security (higher levels of crime) were negatively associated with walking, but this effect was countered by a positive interaction of origin–destination crime on walking. Age and gender rarely moderated these safety and security relationships. Although results provide tentative support of hypotheses on the relationship between safety and security and travel mode choice, more work is needed in this area. Measuring safety and security perceptions and applying more flexible structures for discrete choice modeling might be the most promising avenues for future research on the effects of safety and security in discretionary decision making of active travel. This analysis informs interventions to promote active travel and provides one way to include safety and security concerns in travel demand models.


In nowadays the domain of health data is composed by different dimensions with an emphasis in Electronic Health Records and also in Genomic, Public Health and Social Data among others. The enormous quantity of data provided from different sensors and communication languages forms what we call the Big Data of Health and Wellness. However, the unstructured data does not necessary conducts to information. The usage of Smart Technologies to promote information and knowledge is a very important issue for independent living and wellbeing.
According with [1], intelligent data analysis applied to big data, presents the following challenges:
a)Increase of sensor data volume (terabytes to exabytes);
b)Heterogeneity: multiple data formats and standards, mix of structured and unstructured;
c)Need to quickly acquire and process intelligence information;
d)Agility is required to be able to incorporate new data sources;
e)Support to data exploitation: each piece of data represents some part of a situation, intelligence data contain entities that must be understood and correlated.
This paper presents a methodology validated by a case study to extract information from patients' discharge notes.


St ud ie s on B al ka n an d N ea r Ea st er n So ci al S ci en ce s This volume is a collection of empirical and theoretical research papers in the social sciences regarding the Balkans and the Near East written by researchers from several different universities and institutions. The studies include a wide range of topics from economic, financial, political, agricultural, sociological, international relations to historical, cultural, and feminist issues in the region of the Balkan and Near East. The book is aimed at educators, researchers, and students interested in the Balkan and Near Eastern countries.


In birds, the temperature at which eggs are incubated shapes many aspects of hatchling phenotype, but long-term effects are less studied. We studied the effect of incubation temperature and pattern on the subsequent development of innate immune function in Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica). We incubated quail eggs in one of three replicated treatments: control (37.5°C), low (36.0°C), and cyclical incubation. The cyclical treatment had the same average temperature as the low-temperature treatment (36.0°C) and an upper temperature that was the same as the control. When individuals were 5, 20, and 55 d of age (i.e., adults), we measured the ability of blood plasma to kill Escherichia coli. Throughout development there was a nonsignificant trend for immune function to be lower in the cycling treatment. In adulthood, however, individuals incubated at cycling temperatures had significantly lower immune function than control birds but did not differ from individuals incubated at constant low temperatures. Males and females responded similarly to the incubation treatment, but females developed a greater plasma bactericidal ability than males. We conclude that variation in innate immune function of adult birds is shaped by temperature fluctuations experienced during incubation.


Two main parameters, which determine the radial velocity semi-amplitude of the host star in a star-planet system, are the planet mass and the orbital period. In order to examine the effect of planet mass on the radial velocity semi-amplitude, we firstly select sensitive data of spectroscopic orbital solutions of 737 systems, given in the database of exoplanet.org. The selected systems are then categorized into 31 groups according to their orbital periods. For each group, an empirical relation between the radial velocity semi amplitude and the planet mass is obtained. In order to check the accuracy of these empirical relations, the measured and expected values of planet masses are compared.


The Discrete wavelet transform (DWT) has become one of the most used techniques for signal analysis and image processing applications.. In this paper, we propose FPGA implementation of CDF 5/3 wavelet transform. The lifting scheme 5/3 algorithm is used for implementing 1D-DWT architecture. The 2D-DWT lifting based architecture is designed using 1D-DWT lifting architectures. The proposed architecture uses less hardware interns of dedicated multipliers compared to existing architectures. The proposed architecture is implemented on Virtex-IV FPGA and it is observed that the parameters such as LUT's and delays are efficient. KeywordsDiscrete Wavelet Transform (DWT), Lifting Schemes, CDF-5/3, 1D-DWT, 2D-DWT etc.


Abstract Taking into account possible development of some pathology in maxillae alveolar processes not always the fulfilled orthopantomographic study allowed to describe in full the clinical picture of maxillary sinuses. In case of such pathology it was necessary to carry out therapeutic or surgical sanation. After operation of radical maxillary sinusotomy the question about reconstruction operation of the sinus lifting type advisability was rather problematic. We suggested the scheme of such operation including in the first place volumetric X-ray patient's examination and also original technique of such operative intervention.


Periodic droughts affect both developing and developed countries, with direct impacts on agriculture and on other productive sectors reliant on water, such as hydroelectricity. It is in developing countries; however, where drought is highly correlated with the performance of the overall economy, as a result of heavy reliance on rain fed agriculture. The 2009 Red Cross Drought Operations Update indicated that pastoralists cluster around a few areas in central parts of Kajiado in such of pasture. The most affected divisions are Ewaso, Central, Magadi and Mashuru. The aim of the study was to investigate the livestock preservation strategies deployed by pastoralist communities before the occurrence of a drought. The study was conducted in Kajiado district, Magadi division among the Oldonyo Onyekie community. The targeted respondents included the key informants (people residing in the district and have extensive knowledge about the district due to their line of duty in managing droughts and other natural disasters they include Government line ministries and Non Governmental Organizations . Focus group and house hold members. The sample size for this study consisted of 5 key informants, 6 focus group discussions consisting of 6-12 members and 139 household heads. Primary data from 139 households' heads was collected using questionnaires and an interview schedule. Focus group discussion consisted of 6-12 men and women who are community opinion leaders and well knowledgeable on issues confronting community of OlDonyo onyekie. Data was analyzed both qualitative and quantitatively. The study identified disabilities group, the children and adults as the vulnerable group, since they are unable to migrate with the livestock and the sick group. The strategies pursued by pastoralists in the face of drought include: movement, migration in search of work by some household members, water and land conservation, sale of livestock for income and breeding management. In institution framework analysis, the study confirmed the government, the NGO's and CBOs involvement in mitigation measures such as; early warning system, support for activities like marketing and livestock off-take, water development, livestock health, public-works schemes, food aid, and initiatives to promote post-drought recovery and key recommendations.


The effect of applied crossed electric and magnetic fields on the heterostructure semiconductor is used in the scientific investigation on electronic and optical exciton properties. The aim of this work is to study the magneto-Stark effect for confined excitons in single GaAs-〖Ga〗_(0.7) 〖Al〗_(0.3) As QWs. The magnetic field B is taken as perpendicular to the z-growth direction of the heterostructure, whereas the applied electric field E is along the z-growth direction. The data we used includes intrinsic parameters of the systems and manipulated external magnetic and electric fields. In the model equation, we utilized variational non-degenerate parabolic band approximations using 1 s hydrogen like ion ground state to calculate the position at which spatial distance b/n electron and hole (∆=0), that is, overlap e-h occurred where B→∞  and E→0; we also used Matlab version R2017a to simulate our result as depicted in graphs. As electric field (E) increases along growth z-direction, the spatial distance (∆) increases due to a reduction of Coulomb interaction b/n e–h, whereas increasing the magnetic field (B) perpendicular to the growth z-direction has the reverse effect and shrinks the wave function in the QW plane. This shrinkage enhances the e–h interaction, which in turn, more likely localizes the electron within the same QW as the whole and thus keeps the ground state in a direct exciton which is efficient in photonics.

 Key words: Spatial distance, exciton, growth direction, non-correlation, magneto-Stark.


These three articles describe a pioneering experience on e-books carried on by Prato Public Library (in Tuscany). The library has started to lend to its public some devices (with a number of downloaded texts) and, then, has sent out a questionnaire to check the interest of the users. The results of this survey are here described and discussed


Carbon nanotubes have excellent mechanical and electrical properties, and are also a good reinforcement material for composites than conventional materials. The matrix used in this study was epoxy and reinforcement filler in multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). The different MWCNTs loading concentrations (0 ~ 10 wt. %) were added into the epoxy resin. The dispersion of MWCNTs in epoxy resin was conducted using high speed mixer through mechanical shearing mechanism. The mixture of epoxy/MWNTs suspension was poured into the mold and compression molding was conducted for fabrication of MWCNTs/epoxy nanocomposites. The electrical conductivity of nanocomposite by variation of CNTs concentration was measured by the four point probe. Dispersion state of CNTs in epoxy matrix was observed on fractured surface by scanning electron microscopic. Hardness of the composite was tested using the Dinamic Ultra Micro Hardness machine. Non conductive epoxy polymer becomes conductor as addition of CNTs.. Electrical conductivity of nanocomposite plates increased with increasing CNTs concentration. Agglomerations of CNTs were observed on fractured surfaces. This phenomenon due to CNTs which used in this study was at as produced state where no modification is being done on it. Long and entanglement of individual CNTs easily lead to agglomerations. Van de Wall's force interactions between CNTs also contribute to the agglomerations of CNTs. Hardness of the composite increases with the CNTs loading concentrations until it reaches a maximum peak at the composition of 5wt% of CNTs but the hardness decreases rapidly with loading greater than 5wt% of CNTs.


Abstract : This Final Report summarizes work performed and results obtained over the entire three year term of this project. It consists of two volumes. While this Final Report was being written, the Contracting Officer s Technical Representative for this project (S.R. Mangum of Carderock NSWC) asked us to describe application of this technology to purifying gray water on a future class of ships, the aircraft carrier presently designated as CVNX. Our response, lightly edited, is attached to this report as Appendix 1 of Volume I. Therein we present our best estimates of how this technology would actually look installed on ship, and how large and expensive it would be. Because the CVNX carrier will be a very large ship, an installation of maximum size is described; a ship with a smaller crew would require an installation that is smaller and cheaper in proportion. This project advanced the state of the art sufficiently to warrant patent protection. A US Patent Application has been filed, and an identical international patent application; that is, a PCT filing, from which subsequent applications in other countries may be derived. The entire patent application is attached to Volume I as Appendix 2. The reader may refer to it for detailed descriptions of the anodes, procedures for coating them, how needed chemicals are prepared, etc.. The detailed procedures for coating the anodes were in large part developed under this project. The physical design of the electrodes and the basic design of the cell pack predated this project. The patent application just filed contains a very detailed, up-to-date description of the technology, and it will be placed on open file at the US Patent Office a few months from now. For this reason, there is little in the way of technical information related to the technology itself that we consider sensitive or confidential at this time.


Background Insulin-degrading enzyme (IDE) is widely recognized as the principal protease responsible for the clearance and inactivation of insulin, but its role in glycemic control in vivo is poorly understood. We present here the first longitudinal characterization, to our knowledge, of glucose regulation in mice with pancellular deletion of the IDE gene (IDE-KO mice). Methodology IDE-KO mice and wild-type (WT) littermates were characterized at 2, 4, and 6 months of age in terms of body weight, basal glucose and insulin levels, and insulin and glucose tolerance. Consistent with a functional role for IDE in insulin clearance, fasting serum insulin levels in IDE-KO mice were found to be ∼3-fold higher than those in wild-type (WT) controls at all ages examined. In agreement with previous observations, 6-mo-old IDE-KO mice exhibited a severe diabetic phenotype characterized by increased body weight and pronounced glucose and insulin intolerance. In marked contrast, 2-mo-old IDE-KO mice exhibited multiple signs of improved glycemic control, including lower fasting glucose levels, lower body mass, and modestly enhanced insulin and glucose tolerance relative to WT controls. Biochemically, the emergence of the diabetic phenotype in IDE-KO mice correlated with age-dependent reductions in insulin receptor (IR) levels in muscle, adipose, and liver tissue. Primary adipocytes harvested from 6-mo-old IDE-KO mice also showed functional impairments in insulin-stimulated glucose uptake. Conclusions Our results indicate that the diabetic phenotype in IDE-KO mice is not a primary consequence of IDE deficiency, but is instead an emergent compensatory response to chronic hyperinsulinemia resulting from complete deletion of IDE in all tissues throughout life. Significantly, our findings provide new evidence to support the idea that partial and/or transient inhibition of IDE may constitute a valid approach to the treatment of diabetes.


Both male and female peafowl grow crests on top of their head - iridescent blue in males, dull iridescent green and brown in females - but the potential signal function of this plumage ornament is unknown. In this study, peafowl crests were measured in three feral populations, and morphological variation in this ornament was studied in relation to body condition (body mass in relation to tarsus length) and health (white blood cell concentration and ectoparasite load). Prior to the start of the breeding season, male crests are wider with greater pennaceous area, and are more likely to have all feathers grown out compared with female crests. Only crest length changed with measurement date, increasing over time; in males, crest measurements were not related to the extent of train feather development. Crest morphology is a potential signal of individual health and condition in both sexes, but in different ways. In females, the amount of crest plumage grown out to its full extent was related to body condition at the start of the breeding season, whereas in males, the size and pennaceous area of the ornament were related to ectoparasite load. Observations of within-sex agonistic behaviour suggest a possible role for the crest ornament in status signaling in males, because males that engage in more aggressive interactions tend to have wider crests. There was no evidence for a relation between crest morphology and agonistic behaviour in females.


Romania is out of step with its neighborsoincluding the Soviet Union and several other Communist East European countries, who seem to be moving away from the vestiges of Stalinism while Romania is moving toward it. As if to create a dynasty, Nicolae Ceausescu, the Romanian leader, has embarked on an extensive program of destroying entire historic towns and replacing them with monuments to his own era, has spurred an entire body of Romanian literature devoted to himself and his wife, seems to be grooming his son to take over the government, and has filled key posts with members of his own family. The Romanian economy has been driven by whims of its leader: agriculture has been neglected, industries are big money losers, and Romanians suffer shortages of electricity, heat and food. Romania is today the most oppressive regime in Europe, with a disastrous human rights record. To address the complicated situation in Romania, Freedom House invited nine prominent Romanians and Hungarians to discuss the issues, yielding fascinating observations concerning the nature of the Romanian political system and the possibility of its change.


Location based routing protocols are the kinds of routing protocols, which use of nodes' location information, instead of links' information for routing. They are also known as position based routing. In position based routing protocols, it is supposed that the packet source node has position information of itself and its neighbors and packet destination node. In recent years, many location based routing protocols have been developed for ad hoc and sensor networks. In this paper we shall present the concept of location-based routing protocol, its advantages and disadvantages. We shall also look into two popular location-based protocols: Geographic Adaptive Fidelity (GAF) and Geographic and Energy Aware Routing (GEAR).


Habitat geometry, especially when resulting from ecosystem-engineering species, is a key property of natural ecosystems. Habitat geometry influences the abundance and distribution of species through an interplay between habitat area and perimeter. However, few studies have tested the interacting effects of these distinct geometry parameters on community and ecosystem dynamics. We used experimental mussel (Mytilus spp.) beds as a model system to control and test for the effect of perimeter, area and their interaction on the diversity and abundance of macro-invertebrate species associated with mussel beds and on ecosystem functions (ammonium and oxygen fluxes). Live blue mussels were used to create artificial mussel transplants corresponding to 9 factorial combinations of area and perimeter, and both community and ecosystem effects were assessed after a 2 mo colonization period in the field. Our results showed an interacting and scale-dependent effect of area and perimeter on both community and ecosystem characteristics: area had a negative effect on taxonomic diversity of small-perimeter transplants, and perimeter had a negative effect on diversity of small-area transplants. At the ecosystem level, ammonium release increased with area in large-perimeter transplants. This study stresses the importance of integrating the explicit and interactive effects of multiple metrics of habitat shape for resolving the relationship between community dynamics and ecosystem functions in fragmented habitats.


Objective(s): Berberine is one of the main alkaloids and it has been proven to have different pharmacological effects including inhibition of cell cycle and progression of apoptosis in various cancerous cells; however, its effects on cancer metastasis are not well known. Cancer cells obtain the ability to change their chemokine system and convert into metastatic cells. In this study, we examined the effect of berberine on breast cancer cell migration and its probable interaction with the chemokine system in cancer cells. Materials and Methods: The MCF-7 breast cancer cell line was cultured, and then, treated with berberine (10, 20, 40 and 80 μg/ml) for 24 hr. MTT assay was used in order to determine the cytotoxic effect of berberine on MCF-7 breast cancer cells. Wound healing assay was applied to determine the inhibitory effect of berberine on cell migration. Moreover, real-time quantitative PCR analysis of selected chemokine receptors was performed to determine the probable molecular mechanism underlying the effect of berberine on breast cancer cell migration. Results: The results of wound healing assay revealed that berberine decreases cell migration. Moreover, we found that the mRNA levels of some chemokine receptors were reduced after berberine treatment, and this may be the underlying mechanism for decreased cell migration. Conclusion: Our results indicate that berberine might be a potential preventive biofactor for human breast cancer metastasis by targeting chemokine receptor genes.


Major League Baseball has recently experienced two puzzling upheavals. First, the number of foreign players has grown, to twenty-eight percent of all players. At the same time, the fraction of African-American players has declined, and is now at its lowest level in more than thirty years. The solution to the puzzle lies within the league itself. In 1965, MLB instituted two regulations that penalized domestic players: the draft and age minimums. Because the regulations applied only to U.S. players, teams shifted their scouting and development resources to foreign countries. Our empirical analysis, using a new data set, shows that the shift has caused growth in the numbers of foreign MLB players and a decline in U.S. players, especially harming disadvantaged groups such as African-Americans. The regulations violate the Civil Rights Act of 1964 in two ways. First, because they explicitly burden only U.S. players, they constitute intentional discrimination based on national origin. Second, because the regulations' impact falls disproportionately on African-Americans, the league has engaged in unlawful racial discrimination. The appropriate remedy is that the draft and age limits should be eliminate.


Objective: To prepare a novel protein molecularly imprinted membrane. Methods: Konjac glucomanan was swollen, cross-linked, added papain and glycerol, dried to form imprinted membranes. Results: After eluted, the rebinding adsorption amounts of papain for imprinted and blank membranes were (12.692±3.452) μg/cm2 and (7.849±2.321) μg/cm2 respectively. The papain imprinted membrane had the highest imprinted factor α 1.8 for papain than for other proteins. Results of FT-IR and SEM showed that the cavity structure of the eluted membrane provided space for rebinding. Conclusions: Konjac glucomannan-based imprinted membrane has good specific adsorption and selective recognition abilities for the templates- papain, and shows great possibilities to be a promising protein molecularly imprinted polymer.


This contribution deals with giving a possible most simplified view on one of the most frequently used numerical methods – Boundary Element Method (BEM). However, after reading the previous related papers the reader would be able to realize the adequate model by-hand, this time the relative complicate integral formulations probably will not allow to do the same. In spite of this we hope that the principles of this method will also be presented clearly and could be understand.


It is well-known that, for separable data, the regularised two-class logistic regression or support vector machine re-normalised estimate converges to the maximal margin classifier as the regularisation hyper-parameter λ goes to 0. The fact that different loss functions may lead to the same solution is of theoretical and practical relevance as margin maximisation allows more straightforward considerations in terms of generalisation and geometric interpretation. We investigate the case where this convergence property is not guaranteed to hold and show that it can be fully characterised by the distribution of error terms in the latent variable interpretation of linear classifiers. In particular, if errors follow a regularly varying distribution, then the regularised and re-normalised estimate does not converge to the maximal margin classifier. This shows that classification with fat tails has a qualitatively different behaviour, which should be taken into account when considering real-life data.


Abstract Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the therapeutic role of ureteral stent removal following balloon dilatation (BD) in patients with a stent implanted for unilateral ureteral obstruction and with normal contralateral renal function. Materials and methods: This retrospective cohort study consisted of 37 consecutive patients with unilateral ureteral obstruction whose stents were removed after BD. All patients satisfied the following criteria: normal contralateral renal function, no evidence of malignancy, and the patient was eager to obtain a stent-free state (SFS) without invasive treatment. The relative function of the affected kidney and total renal function before and after stent removal were analyzed using renal scans and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). A successful outcome was defined as SFS without pain or febrile urinary tract infection plus maintenance of eGFR. Results: The mean age of all patients was 58.2 years. The mean follow-up periods before and after stent removals were 15.7 and 23.6 months, respectively. The most common underlying cause of ureteral obstruction was pelvic or abdominal surgery (51.4%). Of the 37 patients, 32 (86.5%) achieved successful SFS at last follow-up. Overall in the 37 patients, the eGFR (from 77.1 to 69.8 ml/min/1.73 m2; p = 0.017) and relative renal function of the affected kidney (from 35.5 to 30.2%; p = 0.002) were significantly compromised. However, the reduction in total eGFR was not significant (p = 0.075) in the successful SFS group. Conclusion: The removal of a stent with BD is a viable option for achieving a successful SFS in patients with unilateral ureteral obstruction.


ABSTRACT
Afiati, Dania. 2017. "Maksim Sopan Santun dalam Iklan Tokyo Gas". Thesis, department of Japanese Studies Faculty of Humanities, Diponegoro University. The advisor Reny Wiyatasari, S.S M.Hum
The main matter of this reaserch are : 1. What kind of maxim that obeyed by Tokyo Gas ads? 2. What kind of maxim that violated by Tokyo Gas ads? The purpose of this reaserch are : 1. To improve linguistics insight, especially in pragmatic's scope which is the maxim of politeness. 2. To understand the used the maxim of politeness and it's variaty that can be implemented in daily activities. The data are collected from Tokyo Gas ads. Method of data analysis used is padan ekstralingual. Data were analyzed by using complination theory of Searle and Iori as reference to analyze speech act meaning, and theory from Leech and Koizumi used to analyze about the maxim of politeness.
Based from the result of reaserch show that the most appeared maxim is approbation maxim. This is because the conversation that occured in the Tokyo Gas ads are mostly take place in home used by the mother to her child, the father to his child, the husband to wife.

Keyword : speech act, politeness, maxim


In invasive cardiology practices, the most commonly used vascular access site is the femoral artery. Atherosclerotic stenoses on the femoral and iliac arteries create difficulties in these practices. Vasospasm rarely occurs on large arteries like these. This paper reports stenosis encountered during coronary angiography on iliac arteries in 2 patients. The stenoses caused difficulties for guidewire and catheter insertion in catheterization. In the revisualization of these arteries at the next session, the stenoses had disappeared, but the arteries were tortuous. The patients did not have peripheral ischemia signs previously, nor did they appear after the proce - dure. These transient stenoses might have occurred due to vasospasm and the accordion effects caused by the guidewire and/or catheter.


DNA sequence variation in a 1410-bp region including the Cu,Zn Sod locus was examined in 41 homozygous lines of Drosophila melanogaster. Fourteen lines were from Barcelona, Spain, 25 were from California populations and the other two were from laboratory stocks. Two common electromorphs, SODS and SODF, are segregating in the populations. Our sample of 41 lines included 19 SodS and 22 SodF alleles (henceforward referred to as Slow and Fast alleles). All 19 Slow alleles were identical in sequence. Of the 22 Fast alleles sequenced, nine were identical in sequence and are referred to as the Fast A haplotypes. The Slow allele sequence differed from the Fast A haplotype at a single nucleotide site, the site that accounts for the amino acid difference between SODS and SODF. There were nine other haplotypes among the remaining 13 Fast alleles sequenced. The overall level of nucleotide diversity ( P) in this sample is not greatly different than that found at other loci in D. melanogaster. It is concluded that the Slow/Fast polymorphism is a recently arisen polymorphism, not an old balanced polymorphism. The large group of nearly identical haplotypes suggests that a recent mutation, at the Sod locus or tightly linked to it, has increased rapidly in frequency to around 5096, both in California and Spain. The application of a new statistical test demonstrates that the occurrence of such large numbers of haplotypes with so little variation among them is very unlikely under the usual equilibrium neutral model. We suggest that the high frequency of some haplotypes is due to natural selection at the Sod locus or at a tightly linked locus.


Medical service to bronchial asthma (BA) outpatients and their education were assessed in a specially designed study of BA outcomes. Negative factors which contributed to unfavourable BA outcome were the following: formal approach of the physicians to the patients follow-up, the patients' noncompliance, their rejection to apply for medical aid in BA exacerbation, bad skills of self-care in grave BA attacks.