Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) metastasectomy improves survival, however most patient develop recurrences. Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are an independent prognostic marker in stage IV CRC. We hypothesized that CTCs can be enriched during metastasectomy applying different isolation techniques. Methods: 25 CRC patients undergoing liver (16 (64%)) or lung (9 (36%)) metastasectomy were prospectively enrolled (clinicaltrial.gov identifier: NCT01722903). Central venous (liver) or radial artery (lung) tumor outflow blood (7.5 ml) was collected at incision, during resection, 30 min after resection, and on postoperative day (POD) 1. CTCs were quantified with 1. EpCAM-based CellSearch® system and 2. size-based isolation with a novel filter device (FMSA). CTCs were immunohistochemically identified using CellSearch®'s criteria (cytokeratin 8/18/19+, CD45- cells containing a nucleus (DAPI+)). CTCs were also enriched with a centrifugation technique (OncoQuick®). Results: CTC numbers peaked during the resection with the FMSA in contrast to CellSearch® (mean CTC number during resection: FMSA: 22.56 (SEM 7.48) (p = 0.0281), CellSearch®: 0.87 (SEM ± 0.44) (p = 0.3018)). Comparing the 2 techniques, CTC quantity was significantly higher with the FMSA device (range 0–101) than CellSearch® (range 0–9) at each of the 4 time points examined (P < 0.05). Immunofluorescence staining of cultured CTCs revealed that CTCs have a combined epithelial (CK8/18/19) and macrophage (CD45/CD14) phenotype. Conclusions: Blood sampling during CRC metastasis resection is an opportunity to increase CTC capture efficiency. CTC isolation with the FMSA yields more CTCs than the CellSearch® system. Future studies should focus on characterization of single CTCs to identify targets for molecular therapy and immune escape mechanisms of cancer cells.


The findings in ?Index Fundamentalism Revisited? on the relative performance of Vanguard synthetic active and index portfolios are explained largely by differing exposures to the value and small–stock premiums. Other findings such as the relative 15–year annualized returns and relative 2000–2002 performance of the two portfolios are similarly explained. Left unexplained is the synthetic active portfolio's lower volatility relative to the synthetic index portfolio.


Audio descriptions (ADs) can increase access to videos for blind people. Researchers have explored different mechanisms for generating ADs, with some of the most recent studies involving paid novices; to improve the quality of their ADs, novices receive feedback from reviewers. However, reviewer feedback is not instantaneous. To explore the potential for real-time feedback through automation, in this paper, we analyze 1,120 comments that 40 sighted novices received from a sighted or a blind reviewer. We find that feedback patterns tend to fall under four themes: (i) Quality; commenting on different AD quality variables, (ii) Speech Act; the utterance or speech action that the reviewers used, (iii) Required Action; the recommended action that the authors should do to improve the AD, and (iv) Guidance; the additional help that the reviewers gave to help the authors. We discuss which of these patterns could be automated within the review process as design implications for future AD collaborative authoring systems.


Previously, our laboratory reported on novel quinuclidinone derivatives that cause cytotoxicity in human non-small lung carcinoma epithelial cells null for p53 (H1299). The current study aims to investigate the effect of novel designed quinuclidinone derivatives on cytotoxicity towards human MCF-7 breast cancer cells, normal breast epithelial cells (MCF-12a) and an animal model of breast cancer. Quinuclidinone 2 induced growth inhibition mainly through apoptosis in breast cancer cells (MCF-7), with less cytotoxic effects towards normal breast epithelial cells (MCF-12a) compared to the other derivatives. Our novel quinuclidinone-2 increased expression of p53 and cyclin-D and reduced expression levels of (Mdm2), (Bcl-2) and (Akt). It also reduced expression of (Bax) as down stream target of p53 at both RNA and protein levels. Additionally, quinuclidinone 2 induced G1 phase arrest presumably sensitizing breast cancer cells to apoptosis by increasing expression of p21. In vivo studies were performed to assess the anticancer effect of quinuclidinone 2 on N-Nitroso-N-methylurea-induced breast cancer in female rats by evaluating physiological processes and the expression levels of β-catenin and E-cadherin. The approximate lethal dose of quinuclidinone 2 was determined to be 90 mg/kg and it led to significant reduction in tumor size compared to the untreated group. In vivo studies revealed that quninuclidinone derivative 6 does not induce any apparent toxicity towards the treated hosts and under the present experimental set up seems to be a promising candidate for further evaluation in cancer therapy.


Nowadays, an intensive development of multilevel inverters has been seen in hybrid and fuel cell electric vehicles. For this, a high voltage cascade inverter with step pulse PWM strategy is an applicable topology as it can reduce electromagnetic interference as well as switching losses on power devices. The converter is usually controlled with a look-up table of commutation angles, which are computed off-line base on an assumption of equal dc voltage sources. However, in reality, the inequality of these dc voltage sources can occur due to different charging/discharging processes and this reduces the quality of output voltages such as the existence of low order harmonics and an error in fundamental voltage. To overcome this problem, PWM angles in the look-up table can be changed according to different cases of dc source variation. However, this solution may require a large memory for the look-up table. Thus, off-line PWM strategy in case of dc voltage source variation may not be a suitable approach to control the converter. In this paper, an on-line step pulse PWM method will be proposed to control fundamental voltage and reduce the amplitudes of low-order harmonics to possibly low values. Similar to the original on-line method, the control principle between two defined trajectories will be appropriately modified for solving the problem. The principle is mathematically formulated, and demonstrated by simulation results.


From a functional point of view, the (mecatronic) system consists of various parts: a sensitive head, an analogical part of signal conditioning, and a digital part of information processing. In this paper, we will attempt to show our proposal for complete system modeling while associating the analogical part (amplifier, stabilized power supply, adaptation of impedance…) with the digital one. Thanks to the same approach based on information flow, we have modelled these various analogical components, through several levels of abstraction to make sure that the final information is generated as characteristics lists without any losses. The same approach can also allow the tracking of information till processor, and to propose a model including both analogical and digital parts. According to a qualitative study, we quote the types of failure that may be encountered in the analogical part. The inclusion of these types of failure is a necessary step in the construction of scenarios and combinations of possible errors. To make the system more efficient in a wireless sensor network, we have proposed a communication process, develop algorithms to ensure the proper functioning of this process and increase its reliability.


In a virtual internet architecture, multiple routing architectures can run on a shared physical infrastructure, which is carried out with network virtualization. This paper presents the design and evaluation of a bandwidth allocation algorithm based on multi-commodity flow problem solver integrated with a traffic predictor: linear predictor with dynamic error compensation (L-PREDEC). The basic idea of our design is that some failure in the MFP computation implies that one or more links do not have enough available capacity, which violates the linear constraints on the commodities for each link when modeling MFP. To avoid producing bottleneck links, we employed traffic predictor. On one hand, MFP solver makes better resource utilization by making use of the thin pieces of available bandwidth, by which the virtual network can accept more service requests. On the other hand, the traffic predictor adjusts the link with the largest occupation (bottleneck link) by periodically monitoring the traffic rate of a user link and adjusting the reserved bandwidth based on the prediction made from the traffic history. Then we present the results of performance comparisons of the predictor-integrated algorithm and the allocation algorithm only by Solving MFP. The comparisons are based on the mean packet delay, the variance of the packet delay, and the buffer requirements. Our performance tests show that predictor-integrated algorithm works better than the allocation algorithm only by Solving MFP in terms of the three metrics listed above.


This paper derives and analyzes the outage probability of mixed radio frequency (RF)/unified free space optical (FSO) dual-hop decode-and-forward (DF) relaying scheme, where heterodyne detection (HD) and intensity modulation-direct detection (IM-DD) are considered for FSO detection. In doing that, we correctly utilize, for the first time to the best of our knowledge, a precise channel capacity result for the IM-DD channel. Moreover, this is the first time that not only the (IM-DD input-independent) but also the (IM-DD cost-dependent) AWGN channel is considered in such system analysis. This work assumes that the first hop (RF link) follows Naka-gami-m fading, while the second hop (FSO link) follows Málaga (M) turbulence with pointing error. These fading and turbulence models include other ones (such as Rayleigh fading and Gamma-Gamma turbulence) as special cases, so our analysis can be considered as a generalized one from both RF and FSO fading models point of view. Additionally, the system outage probability is investigated asymptotically in high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) regime, where a new non-reported diversity order and coding gain analysis are shown. Interestingly, we find that in the FSO hop, based on SNR, the HD or IM-DD cost-dependent results in a same diversity order which is twice the one of IM-DD input-independent. However, based on transmitted power all these FSO detectors result in a same diversity order. Furthermore, we offer simulation results which confirm the derived exact and asymptotic expressions.


The study assessed the difference between Classical Test Theory (CTT) and Item Response Theory (IRT) methods of scoring multiple-choice objective test items. The sample comprised of pupils from three purposively selected primary schools in Pankshin Local Government Area of Plateau state. The descriptive research design was used for the study. Data were collected through a primary school mathematics diagnostic test (PRISMADAT) developed and calibrated based on IRT. All research participants were ranked on the CTT number correct scores and the corresponding IRT item pattern scores from their performance on the PRISMADAT. Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed-ranks tests were used to test the hypotheses. A statistically significant difference existed between the ranks participants obtained with CTT number correct scores and the ranks with corresponding IRT item pattern scores. It was recommended that teachers should be trained in IRT pattern scoring to use in assessing children's school performance instead of the CTT number-correct method. Keywords: Classical Test Theory, Item Response Theory, Number correct scores


Nonprofit, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) are important development actors that operate in ecosystems of multi and cross-sector stakeholders in order to reach the most vulnerable social groups of people. Having this in mind, our goal was to explore to what extent their social capital influences their knowledge in order to propose a model that could optimize their knowledge management maturity through social resources embedded into their structure. Therefore, we focused on NGOs from the European Union and the Western Balkans operating in the international development and cooperation sector. We first conducted a survey among 215 NGOs and then cross-checked the received data through desk research and in-depth interviews. We utilized collected structured data and devised a binary classification model capable of discriminating high level from the low level of knowledge management maturity in NGOs, and multi-class classification model for estimating the actual category of knowledge management maturity which can simulate the real connection among social capital and existing knowledge management maturity. Our findings provide valuable data to the NGO management, regardless of where the NGO comes from, of the number of employees it has, and the number of projects it runs. The mathematical models based on neural networks used in this paper show with high accuracy what the knowledge management maturity level (for each output) is in case there exists prior information about social capital (inputs).


Abstract:John Henry Newman was a discerning critic of the dominant social values and cultural features of England in the Victorian era that revolved around the sovereign self. Insofar as many of these features—individuals as their own masters, wealth and celebrity, the arbitrariness of answers about faith and meaning, and the character of higher education in the absence of theology—also characterize American society and culture in the early twenty-first century, Newman's critique of his own time and society also applies to ours. This essay was first delivered as the 2014 Newman Legacy Lecture, sponsored by the National Institute for Newman Studies, at Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on April 3, 2014.


This thesis work aims at implementing the sparse matrix vector multiplication on eight-core Digital Signal Processor (DSP) and giving insights on how to optimize matrix multiplication on DSP to achieve high energy efficiency. We used two sparse matrix formats: the Compressed Sparse Row (CSR) and the Block Compressed Sparse Row (BCSR) formats. We carried out loop unrolling optimization of the naive algorithm. In addition, we implemented the Registerblocked and the Cache-blocked sparse matrix vector multiplications to optimize the naive algorithm.The computational performance improvement with loop unrolling technique was promising (≈12%). With this optimization, we observed a decrease of power usage (0.3 W) when using a matrix size of 600 and an increase of power usage (1.2 W), when using larger size matrices. The Register-blocked algorithm resulted to be the most efficient technique on DSP. With this algorithm, we were able to increase performance by a factor of six when compared to the naive algorithm, still retaining low power consumption (≈ 14 W). The Cache-blocked sparse matrix vector multiplication is known to be most convenient for large number of architectures with coherent caches. However, because DSP does not support coherency between caches, this method did not show large improvement in computational performance. In fact, we confirm that power consumption for the Cache-blocked method was higher when compared to other effective algorithms such as Register-blocked sparse matrix vector multiplication and loop unrolling of naive algorithm. In conclusion, we found that the DSP delivers low power consumption, excellent computational performance and energy efficiency when the Register-blocked sparse matrix vector multiplication technique is used.


IZA DP No. 14561 JULY 2021 Family Ties, Geographic Mobility and the Gender Gap in Academic Aspirations* This paper provides new evidence supporting that gender differences in post-graduate educational choices contribute to the glass ceiling in the labor market. We study the decision to pursue an advanced degree form an internationally renowned institution, which greatly facilitates access to top jobs. Relying on a unique dataset on applications to a highly selective program that provides merit-based graduate fellowships to Spanish students, we show that women apply for the fellowships at lower rates than observationally equivalent male graduates. We also implemented a large-scale survey on current college students and show that female college graduates have stronger family ties than males, which restricts their geographical mobility and has a negative effect on their educational aspirations. Importantly, the previous pattern is reversed in STEM fields: female graduates in STEM participate in the fellowship program at equal or higher rates than comparable males. In fact, we show that female STEM students originate from more educated families, have higher academic ability, and higher educational and earnings aspirations than women in other fields. JEL Classification: J3, J7


A procedure is described for computing range and orientation invariant spectral signatures of buried unexploded ordnance (UXO) from electromagnetic induction (EMI) data. The normalized eigenvalues of the magnetic polarizability tensor that characterizes the target response are used as the orientation-invariant spectral signatures. It is shown that the eigenvalues can be normalized with respect to depth under the assumption that a multiplicative scale factor can be applied at all frequencies. The eigenvalues are derived by measuring the matrix elements of the polarizability tensor from above-ground spatial data and then by diagonalizing this matrix. This method is linear, and does not require a nonlinear parameter search. After normalizing for depth, the eigenvalues derived from an unknown object can then be compared with library eigenvalues using the L2 norm as a goodness-of-fit measure. The procedure is demonstrated using data obtained from cylinders and UXO at different orientations.


This paper presents a short review, compiled with a computational perspective, of the empirical neuroscientific evidence related to amygdala, a brain complex situated at the core of various brain systems underlying motivations and emotions. The functions of amygdala are fundamental for organisms' adaptive behaviour as they allow them to assign subjective saliency and value to experienced world states, so enhancing the adaptive power of their cognitive processes. In this respect, the major goal of the review is outlining the main computational functionalities of amygdala emerging from the neuroscientific investigations on affective processes so as to contribute to highlight the general architectural and functioning mechanisms underlying organisms' emotional processes. This effort is also expected to fertilise the design of robot controllers exhibiting a flexibility and autonomy comparable to that of real organisms.


Modelling in magnetoencephalography (MEG) and electroencephalography (EEG) is increasingly based on the boundary element method (BEM). We quantify the influence of boundary element discretization on the neuromagnetic and neuroelectric forward and inverse problem for different dipole depths, brain regions and the quasispherical correction. In particular we derive standards for the general use of BEM models in MEG/EEG source localization. For this purpose simulation with single current dipoles, and source reconstructions from somatosensory evoked potentials and magnetic fields were employed. It was found that both local and global discretization influence source reconstruction. Only at a minimum triangle side length of 10 mm was it possible to achieve stable results for MEG and EEG. In order to obtain acceptable errors within the stable region, the ratio of dipole depth to triangle side length must not be less than 0.5. The results obtained from a comparison of the different brain regions indicate that the similarity to spherical geometry might well have an influence on the estimated dipole location, but not so much on its strength. Source reconstruction employing quasispherical correction was found to be the most stable, in particular in the case of coarse BEM discretization.


Purpose: This research analysizes the legal effects that may have in the future Judgment of the Constitutional Court of Kosovo on the inadmissibility of some provisions of the Law in the banking sector. Design/Methodology/Approach: In the study we dealt with the statistics of microfinance in institutions such as NGOs and also addressed the decision of the constitutional court regarding the law on banks, microfinance institutions, and non-bank financial institutions. Findings: It is found that, even after the decision of the court, inconsistencies continue to emerge between the functional and operational objectives of MFI NGOs with those of the Central Bank of Kosovo and the Ministry of Public Administration. Practical Implications: What is considered unclear in this situation is the negligence of state institutions to amend and synchronize a series of legal acts that should more clearly regulate the position and function of MFI NGOs in the spirit of the Court Judgment Constitutional of Kosovo. Originality/Value: In reality, this situation presents many legal uncertainties for these entities.


Closed intra-articular proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint fractures--often with accompanying joint subluxation--constitute a difficult treatment problem. This article presents an alternative method consisting of closed treatment of complex PIP joint fractures with a mini-external fixator. The method utilizes the traction principle without necessitating a complex outrigger system. Immobilization is reduced to 3 weeks and monitored with a mini-fluoro unit. The three cases presented had 1- to 2-year follow-up and excellent clinical results despite suboptimal roentgenographic appearance.


Neck pain is a common musculoskeletal disorder which causes an increase in worker absenteeism and health expenses of companies. This study aimed to determine the relationship of the head position and other risk factors towards the incidence of acute neck pain among taxi drivers. The study was carried out on June to September 2015 using cross-sectional design with a sample of 113 respondents via consecutive sampling. Data were collected by interview, physical examination and photographic methods for measuring the head position while driving. The subject were taxi drivers in Jakarta. Exclusion criteria were driver with preexisting neck pain or neck discomfort at the initial time of the study, analgesic usage in the last 24 hours and the usage of neck pads while driving. Data was analyzed using multivariate logistic regression and cutoff point determination based on ROC curve. 46.7% of respondents were experiencing acute neck pain. The head position associated with acute neck pain was neck-horizontal angle (OR=14.72, 95% CI=5.08-42.6). Respondents with neck-horizontal angle ≤50o had 15 times greater risk of experiencing acute neck pain than neck-horizontal angle >50o. Risk factor of occupation associated with acute neck pain was duration of rest on duty (OR=7.61, 95% CI=2:51 to 23:13). Respondents with the duration of rest on duty ≤3 hours per day had 8 times greater risk of experiencing acute neck pain than respondents with longer rest >3 hours. There were no individual factors associated with acute neck pain.


Background Emerging studies have proposed that cytokines secreted following macrophage polarization may contribute to skeletal muscle aging. The current study primarily aimed to determine whether these cytokines have an impact on the progression of sarcopenia in an elderly population. Methods In total, 120 elderly adults aged 65 years and older who underwent health examinations from 2015 to 2019 were included in this retrospective study. Sarcopenia was based on the criteria proposed by the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People in 2019. Macrophages and cytokines datasets were obtained from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Comprehensive assessments were performed for muscle strength, muscle mass, gait speed, tumor growth factor-β (TGF-β), and interleukin-12 (IL-12). Thereafter, the association between sarcopenia and cytokines was analyzed using regression models. Results Low muscle strength and low-speed gait were negatively associated with IL-12 [β: −8.96 (95% CI: −14.12, −3.79) and −7.16 (95% CI: −12.54, −1.78), respectively]. Participants with more sarcopenia components and more severe sarcopenia had lower IL-12 (P for trend < 0.001). Conversely, more amount of sarcopenia components were associated with increased TGF-β (P for trend < 0.05). A definite diagnosis of sarcopenia was associated with decreased IL-12 and increased TGF-β with β of −8.96 (95% CI: −14.12, −3.79) and 147.75 (95% CI: 36.27, 259.23). Furthermore, increased IL-12 levels were significantly associated with reduced occurrence of sarcopenia with and odd ratio (OR) of 0.36 (95% CI: 0.15–0.834). Conclusion Our findings on the relationship between cytokines and age-related muscle loss showed that IL-12 may be an early diagnosis indicator for sarcopenia in the elderly population.


Inhomogeneous deformation in a magnesium alloy with long-period stacking order (LPSO) phase has been investigated using high-precision markers drawn by electron beam lithography. Mg alloys containing Zn and rare earth elements such as Y have a characteristic microstructure including the LPSO phase and the usual hcp matrix phase. The mechanical performance of this alloy is remarkably enhanced by warm-extrusion. The microstructure developed by such extrusion consists of elongated grains with fine-lamellae of LPSO phase and fine-grained matrix of hcp phase. In order to clarify the details of inhomogeneous deformation which should relate with the superior mechanical properties in this alloy, high-precision marking method using electron beam lithography has been employed. By using the method, local displacement due to tensile deformation in the Mg alloy was directly measured.


Two magnetotelluric stations have been installed in the South-Eastern Thessaly basin (Central Greece), which have recorded the geomagnetic and geoelectric fields since 1993. The aim is to detect long lasting abnormal changes of the geoelectric field which may be due to impending earthquakes. The geoelectric recordings were checked against the climatic changes such as temperature changes and precipitation and no correlation was observed. Ten anomalies were observed with characteristics similar to seismoelectric signals which have been reported in the literature and thus we can assume that these changes constitute precursory phenomena. The duration of these signals varies from several days to a few weeks. Some of them keep on developing until the occurrence of an earthquake, and others appear like transient changes several days before. The high seismicity of the area where the stations are located creates difficulties in the correlation of the signals with certain shocks.


Author(s): Kumar, Satish; Sartor, Dale; Stetz, Mark; Webster, Lia | Abstract: Energy and water efficiency projects meet a range of objectives, including upgrading equipment, improving performance, helping to achieve environmental compliance, or simply saving energy and money. All projects have one thing in common, an initial financial investment. The type of investment may be an internal allocation of funds (in-house project) or it may be a complex contractual agreement with an ESCO and/or third-party financial institution. A lack of resources to implement costly capital intensive infrastructure improvement projects such as replacement of old chiller, installation of variable speed drives, upgrading the lighting system, etc. has led to an increase in third-party financed projects. All types of financial investments have a common goal - making money or a "return" on investment. Investment performance is measured by various financial yardsticks such as simple payback, return on investment, or internal rate of return. The expected rate of return is governed by the risk associated with the investment. Typically, the higher the project risk, the greater the return demanded. Risk takes a variety of forms in efficiency projects. Most risks can be identified and managed. The premiums for many risks associated with investing in energy or water efficiency project can be measured using tools common to the finance industry, such as internal rate of return or customer credit-worthiness. Measurement and verification (MaV), sometimes also referred to as monitoring and verification, is a process, which is used to determine energy and demand savings. The primary application of measurement and verification is in those energy efficiency projects where the return on the capital investment is tied to the projected energy savings that will be achieved. Measurement and verification of energy savings becomes a central part of a contract if the contract payments or performance guarantee in a project is dictated by the magnitude of the energy savings that will result from the implementation of a set of energy efficiency measures e.g. the installation of an energy management control system, installation of a variable frequency drive, etc. MaV is primarily focused on risks that affect the measurement or determination of savings from energy or water efficiency programs. These risks are defined in the terms of the contracts between the participants.


The PI3K/AKT pathway is one of the main processes involved in cancer development since it primarily controls cellular proliferation and apoptosis. Understanding its behaviour and how it interacts with other pathways or how it is influenced by the presence of specific molecules, is a crucial task in cancer therapy. In this paper we propose a model developed according to the abstractions provided by the Biochemical Tuple Spaces for Self-Organising Coordination framework and simulated on top of TuCSoN. The model and simulation procedure is fully described, demonstrating how much flexible and robust the computational framework is. Simulation results show critical points in the overall cascade, where activations or inhibitions can change the fate of the cell, turning it into apoptosis or proliferation.


Prostate cancer is the second most frequently diagnosed cancer and the sixth most commonly fatal cancer in men worldwide. Endothelin-1 (ET-1), produced by the prostate epithelia, likely plays an important role in the progression of prostate cancer. ET-1 has been previously reported in prostate and other organs. However, ET-1 expression in Prostate cancer cell lines has not been described. Therefore, we have used Western Blot to demonstrate ET-1 expression in breast cancer cell lines (LNCap cell line, PC3 cell line and DU145 cell line). The results suggest the expression of ET-1 is significantly high expressed in PC3 cell line. Moreover, knockdown of ET-1 gene with siRNA can effectively repress the cell proliferation and the cell cycle was blocked in G1/G2 phase. Knockdown of ET-1 gene can affect cell invasion, which is confirmed by cell invasion and migration related genes using west blot (-catenin, Ecadherin, RhoC and RhoA). Characterization of the role of ET-1 in the development of tumors could lead to a better understanding of the changes occurring at the molecular level during the development and progression of primary human Prostate cancer.


ABSTRACTIn this study 15 fly ash samples were collected from 15 large-scale coal-fired power plants (CFPPs) in China. The samples were then re-suspended through PM2.5 and PM10 inlets and analyzed for the contents of 39 inorganic elements (IEs) using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS) and inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). The results show that the particle size distributions for the 15 FAs samples exhibited bimodal patterns. The Ʃ39IEs (g g–1) for the PM2.5 (0.292–0.564) in all the 15 CFPPs were higher than that of PM10 (0.269–0.403). Except for Cu, all the other 38 IEs were more enriched in the PM2.5 with the PM2.5/PM10 ratios being 1.06–1.73. Considering 13 heavy metals, the same orders occurred between PM2.5 and PM10 with Al >> Cr > Zn > Mn > Cu > V > Pb > Sn > Co > As > Sb > Tl > Cd. More attention should be paid to the high contents of Cr in both PM2.5 (1310 mg g–1) and for PM10 (1240 mg g–1) from all 15 CFPPs. 23 IEs for PM10 and 26 IEs for PM2.5 had the geo-accumulation index (Igeo) values higher than 0, indicating different pollution levels for them. On the other hand, there was moderate to extreme levels of pollution for Cr, Zn, Cu, Pb, Sn, Sb, Tl, Cd and Al based on Igeo values. The element profiles for PM2.5 or PM10 from 15 CFPPs were similar based on low coefficients of divergence for PM2.5 (0.254 ± 0.038) and PM10 (0.244 ± 0.054) according to the comparison between any two CFPPs. Most elements with low relative enrichment factors (REF) as less than 0.70 or 0.70–1.30 indicated no or weak condensation occurred for them during coal combustion, while Cr, Cu, Zn, Sn, W and Pb had REF values higher than 1.30 indicated that significant condensation occurred for these elements.


Summary We compiled hydrogen and oxygen stable isotope compositions (δ2H and δ18O) of leaf water from multiple biomes to examine variations with environmental drivers. Leaf water δ2H was more closely correlated with δ2H of xylem water or atmospheric vapour, whereas leaf water δ18O was more closely correlated with air relative humidity. This resulted from the larger proportional range for δ2H of meteoric waters relative to the extent of leaf water evaporative enrichment compared with δ18O. We next expressed leaf water as isotopic enrichment above xylem water (Δ2H and Δ18O) to remove the impact of xylem water isotopic variation. For Δ2H, leaf water still correlated with atmospheric vapour, whereas Δ18O showed no such correlation. This was explained by covariance between air relative humidity and the Δ18O of atmospheric vapour. This is consistent with a previously observed diurnal correlation between air relative humidity and the deuterium excess of atmospheric vapour across a range of ecosystems. We conclude that 2H and 18O in leaf water do indeed reflect the balance of environmental drivers differently; our results have implications for understanding isotopic effects associated with water cycling in terrestrial ecosystems and for inferring environmental change from isotopic biomarkers that act as proxies for leaf water.


Pseudo solder is one kind of familiar solder joint defect, and it is very difficult to be detected in surface mounted technology. Reduce the pseudo solder is viewed as one of effectively way to keep the quality of solder joints. In this manuscript, the quality of component, solder paste printing process, mounting processing, reflowing process, solder material are analyzed to illustrate the cause of pseudo solder in surface mounted technology. Based on the five factors, a pseudo solder model is built for IC component. In the pseudo solder model, its parameters are used corresponding to the cause of pseudo solder, and their values are used to evaluate the degree of satisfaction based on the SMT technological process. Experiments results show that parameters of the pseudo solder model can illustrate the cause of pseudo solder effectively.


Two mature clones of Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) that have previously been shown to have differential degrees of resistance towards the necrotrophic pathogen Heterobasidion parviporum (Niemelä & Korhonen) were compared with respect to the primed defense expression of transcripts related to biosynthesis of lignin, stilbenes and other phenolic compounds from one year to the next. The host's response to physical wounding and pathogen inoculation was examined in the initial year, whereas indications of heightened basal defense level or primed response, and responses to re-wounding, were examined the following year. The responses of the two clones to wounding and pathogen inoculation, examined in the initial year, differed; the increases in lignin and phenolics were more distinct in response to the pathogen than to wounding alone. The more resistant clone 589 had higher initial lignin concentrations in the cell walls when compared with clone 409, and these remained higher in clone 589 over both years and increased after the treatments. Both clones responded at the transcriptional and chemical levels to wounding; changes were evident both in the initial wounds and when re-wounded the following year. There were distinct differences in the basal transcript levels of the lignin pathway-related genes, phenolics and total lignin levels in healthy tissue from the initial year to the following year indicative of a primed host response or at least altered constitutive level of defense expression.


Two bacterial strains, designated IWT246(T) and IWT248, were isolated from orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.) silage from Iwate prefecture, Japan, and examined for a taxonomic study. Both organisms were rod-shaped, Gram-stain-positive, catalase-negative, facultatively anaerobic and homofermentative. The cell wall did not contain meso-diaminopimelic acid and the major fatty acids were C18 : 1ω9c and C19 cyclo 9,10/:1. Comparative analyses of 16S rRNA, pheS and rpoA gene sequences revealed that these strains were novel and belonged to the genus Lactobacillus. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity, the isolates were most closely related to the type strains of the following members of the genus Lactobacillus: Lactobacillus coryniformis subsp. coryniformis (96.7 % similarity), L. coryniformis subsp. torquens (96.6 %), L. bifermentans (95.5 %) and L. rennini (94.1 %). However, the 16S rRNA gene sequences of both IWT246(T) and IWT248 were 99.7 % similar to that of 'Lactobacillus backi' JCM 18665; this name has not been validly published. Genotypic, phenotypic and chemotaxonomic analyses confirmed that these novel strains occupy a unique taxonomic position. DNA-DNA hybridization experiments demonstrated genotypic separation of the novel isolates from related Lactobacillus species. The name Lactobacillus iwatensis sp. nov. is proposed for the novel isolates, with strain IWT246(T) ( = JCM 18838(T) = DSM 26942(T)) as the type strain. Our results also suggest that 'L. backi' does represent a novel Lactobacillus species. The cells did not contain meso-diaminopimelic acid in their cell-wall peptidoglycan and the major fatty acids were C16 : 0, C19 cyclo 9,10/:1 and summed feature 10 (one or more of C18 : 1ω11c, C18 : 1ω9t, C18 : 1ω6t and unknown ECL 17.834). We therefore propose the corrected name Lactobacillus backii sp. nov., with the type strain JCM 18665(T) ( = LMG 23555(T) = DSM 18080(T) = L1062(T)).


The influence of food aid and remittances on West African food import demand is evaluated using a Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) model. Our results show that imports of oilseeds and the rest of the agricultural products category are highly price elastic, and that fruit and vegetables and dairy products are least responsive to price changes. Food aid did not influence West African food imports, but remittances were found to be statistically significant in determining food imports. The influence of remittances was particularly prominent in oilseed import demand.


Pressure Transient Test Analysis of Vuggy Naturally Fractured Carbonate Reservoir: Field Case Study. (August 2007) Babatunde Tolulope Ajayi, B.S., Bosphorus University Chair of Advisory Committee: Dr. Christine Ehlig-Economides Well pressure transient analysis is widely used in reservoir management to obtain reservoir information needed for reservoir simulation, damage identification, well optimization and stimulation evaluation. The main objective of this project is to analyze, interpret and categorize the pressure transient responses obtained from 22 wells in a vuggy naturally fractured carbonate reservoir in an attempt to understand the heterogeneities of the porosity system. Different modeling techniques useful in simulating well behavior in vuggy naturally fractured reservoirs were developed and categorized. The research focused on pressure transient analysis using homogeneous, radial composite, single fracture, dual porosity and triple porosity reservoir models along with conventional boundary models which show boundary limits including single and double sealing boundary, closure and constant pressure boundary. A triple porosity model was developed, and it proved to be very effective for use in the analysis of the pressure responses obtained from this field. For some wells, the need for new models to characterize the pressure responses in more complex reservoirs was highlighted as conventional models failed.


Objective: In the general population cannabis use is associated with better cardiometabolic outcomes. Patients with severe mental illness frequently use cannabis, but also present increased cardiometabolic risk factors. We explore the association between cannabis use and cardiometabolic risk factors in patients with severe mental illness. Method: A total of 3169 patients with severe mental illness from a Dutch cohort were included in the study. The association of cannabis use with body mass index, waist circumference, blood pressure, cholesterol, triglycerides, glucose, glycated hemoglobin and Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale was examined with separate univariate AN(C)OVA. Changes in metabolic risk factors and Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale were examined after a follow-up interval of 9–24 months, for patients who continued, discontinued, started or were never using cannabis between the two assessments. Results: Cannabis users at baseline had lower body mass index, smaller waist circumference, lower diastolic blood pressure, and more severe psychotic symptoms than non-users. Patients who discontinued their cannabis use after the first assessment had a greater increase in body mass index, waist circumference, diastolic blood pressure and triglyceride concentrations than other patients, and the severity of their psychotic symptoms had decreased more compared to continued users and non-users. Conclusion: Extra attention should be paid to the monitoring and treatment of metabolic parameters in patients who discontinue their cannabis use.


This article analyses the narrative disruption processes and quality of life of adolescent immigrants in Spain. Furthermore, it also provides a new methodological approach to assess meta-subjective and narrative quality of life. Participants were 30 adolescents (15 immigrant and 15 autochthons) selected form a sample of 884 adolescents (from which 204 were immigrants). Data regarding quality of life was collected applying the Friendship Quality Scale and the Vancouver Index of Acculturation to all the participants (n = 884). According to the punctuation of the questionnaires a subsample was chosen, the Biographical Grid was applied to 30 participants; the immigrants group was also asked to write a text. Results indicate that both perceived quality of life and self-esteem of immigrant's group are lower than the autochthons' while narrative disruption is higher. A deeply explanation about some of the causes of these results is provided by the narratives' analysis.


Cambridgeshire County Council's Archaeological Field Unit conducted an evaluation in December 1996 on arable land adjacent to Airport Way in Fen Ditton and Teversham parishes (TL 4676/5909). The work, carried out for the County Council's Environment and Transport Department, followed a desktop study and geophysical survey by WS Atkins. The evaluation consisted of the opening of trenches by machine so that any archaeological features could be recorded and assessed before the realignment of the Airport Way road proceeded. Archaeological features were identified in several of the trenches, but the most significant were in Trench C. Here, in addition to two ditches, an oval pit was identified which contained an unusual concentration of Romano-British pottery. Two postholes and a shallow gully were thought likely to suggest the former presence of a timber structure or building.

On the basis of this evidence, the County Archaeological Office requested further investigation around trench C in February 1997, before roadworks began on this part of the route. An area measuring 21m x 13m was stripped of topsoil and subsoil by machine, and cleaned by hand so that the archaeological remains could be planned. Most of the remains were then investigated by selective excavation. Evidence was recovered for at least two timber structures, one of which was probably a building, a chalk platform, and for a number of ditches dating from at least three phases of activity. Many of these features contained late Roman Pottery, and in one posthole a small bronze coin was found minted during the reign of the emperor Constans in the period AD 337-438. It is probable that most of the archaeological features investigated in this area date to the mid to late fourth century.

When this evidence is considered together with the results of a geophysical survey conducted early in 1996, it can be suggested that the road corridor passes through the edge of a Romano-British settlement centred on the crest of the low hill to the east. The alignment of a substantial late Roman ditch was followed by the modern parish boundary.


For nearly 25 years, advances in panel data and quantile regression were developed almost completely in parallel, with no intersection until the work by Koenker in the mid-2000s. The early theoretical work in statistics and economics raised more questions than answers, but it encouraged the development of several promising new approaches and research that offered a better understanding of the challenges and possibilities at the intersection of the literatures. Panel data quantile regression allows the estimation of effects that are heterogeneous throughout the conditional distribution of the response variable while controlling for individual and time-specific confounders. This type of heterogeneous effect is not well summarized by the average effect. For instance, the relationship between the number of students in a class and average educational achievement has been extensively investigated, but research also shows that class size affects low-achieving and high-achieving students differently. Advances in panel data include several methods and algorithms that have created opportunities for more informative and robust empirical analysis in models with subject heterogeneity and factor structure.


Cutaneous endometriosis is a rare manifestation of endometriosis, representing 0.5% to 1% of all endometriosis cases. It can be divided into primary and secondary, when appearing spontaneously or after a surgical procedure, when it is mostly found on surgical scar tissue. Some etiologies were proposed, but none of them could entirely explain the appearance of the tumor. Differential diagnosis includes melanoma, metastatic nodule, keloid and pyogenic granuloma. Dermoscopic features are not yet well established, but there are some characteristics that suggest the diagnosis. Treatment is surgical in larger sized lesions. Malignization can occur. The screening for endometriosis is mandatory by means of gynecologic, imaging and marked-tumor evaluation. We report a case of primary umbilical endometriosis and discuss its dermoscopic aspects.


The research descriptively covers the agricultural supply chain and its different units of the potato (Solanum tuberosum) in the provinces of Carchi, Imbabura and Pichincha, as well as a detailed study of the fluctuations in the prices in this chain of economic importance in this agriculturally productive area of Ecuador. Documentary, field and descriptive research was conducted, using techniques such as structured surveys of producers, forums with producers, and associations to tackle the problem. As a result, a characterization of the potato's agricultural supply chain was obtained, which presents an isolated value-added link; only 15% of the total production is processed, the intermediaries increase the value of the item by 40-50%, decreasing the producer's profit and representing a factor in increased product prices. Smuggling in the province of Carchi is not possible to quantify because it is complex to estimate, but one can qualitatively perceive its presence, in this case the scarcity of the product is not perceptible. The margin of increase in the price of potatoes (of the superchola and unica varieties) was determined to be 166% and 120%, respectively in the markets of Carchi, Imbabura and Pichincha from 2013 to 2015.


Introduction Acute carotid stent occlusion (CSO) is a rare complication of endovascular carotid stent placement that requires emergent intervention. We describe angioplasty or combined angioplasty and aspiration thrombectomy as a new endovascular technique for CSO treatment. The technique is compared to others previously described in the literature. Methods We performed a retrospective cohort study of all patients who underwent endovascular treatment (ET) of acute symptomatic CSO from January 2008 to March 2018 at our neurovascular referral center. Patient demographics, endovascular treatment details, and outcome data were determined from the electronic medical record. Primary outcome was successful stent recanalization and cerebral reperfusion (modified thrombolysis in cerebral infarction (mTICI) score IIB-III). Secondary outcomes were National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) shift from presentation to discharge, mortality, and modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score at 3 months. Additionally, a literature review (years 2008-2019) was performed to characterize other techniques for ET of CSO. Results Four patients who underwent ET of acute CSO were identified. ET treatment by angioplasty (n = 1) or combined aspiration thrombectomy and angioplasty (n = 3) resulted in carotid stent recanalization in all patients. Tandem intracranial occlusions were present in three patients (75%), and successful cerebral reperfusion was achieved in all patients. Patient symptoms improved (mean NIHSS shift -5.3 ± 7.2 at discharge). One patient died of a symptomatic reperfusion hemorrhage and another died of cardiac complications by 3-month follow-up. The mRS scores of the surviving patients were 1 and 3. Previously described studies (n = 14) using different and varied techniques had moderate recanalization rates and outcomes. Conclusion Combined aspiration thrombectomy and angioplasty for the neurointerventional treatment of acute CSO leads to high rates of stent recanalization and cerebral reperfusion. The recanalization rate here is improved compared to previously reported techniques. Further multicenter studies are required to risk-stratify patients for specific ET interventions.


In recent years, the Mobile Ad hoc Networks (MANETs) became more popular due to their multiple advantages such as the low setup cost, auto-configuration and auto-healing features. This kind of network is distinguished by its dynamic and distributed nature since it does not contain any form of centralized infrastructure. These characteristics have led to the emergence of new routing protocols specifically designed for dynamic topologies. Some protocols construct and maintain paths before they are needed (proactive protocols). However, this method generates a massive volume of overhead. Other protocols reduce the overhead by constructing paths only when it is necessary (reactive protocols). On the other hand, this method is not well adapted when the topological changes are frequent and can increase the transmission delay. Though the features presented by this type of network seem appealing, maintaining the network connectivity in a distributed fashion is a complicated task and could drain a significant piece of the network resources. Moreover, considering that the network members are usually embedded devices equipped with limited resources, it is vital to minimize the resources spent by the routing protocol. In this study we compare the various routing strategies designed for MANET and propose a proactive routing algorithm that consumes an acceptable quantity of the network members resources. Furthermore, we present how our protocol works and multiple tests to show the protocol reactions to the different topological parameters.


Soon after the discovery of lasers in the 1960s it was realized that laser therapy had the potential to improve wound healing and reduce pain, inflammation and swelling. Today, dentists have a variety of wavelengths to choose from the growing industry of lasers. Also, the field has broadened to include light-emitting diodes and other light sources, and the range of wavelengths used now includes many in the red and near infrared. Each wavelength has a unique interaction with the target tissues of the oral cavity. Laser dentistry, formerly embraced only by the speciality of oral and maxillofacial surgery, now, is positively affecting every field of dentistry. From pediatric and operative dentistry to periodontics, prosthetics to cosmetics and implantology, lasers have made a tremendous impact on the delivery of dental care in the 21st century and will continue to do so as the technology continues to improve and evolve. As low level lasers are more biocompatible than hard lasers, they are evolving rapidly. This article discusses low level laser therapy technology, its dosage, their application in every field of dentistry and risks associated with them, so that they can be used in delivery of superior dental care.


The effect of grain boundary character distribution (GBCD) on intergranular stress corrosion cracking (IGSCC) in austenitic stainless steels in high temperature water was verified experimentally. GBCD control using the strain annealing method increased the fraction of low- S coincidence site lattice (CSL) boundaries and the segmentalized network of random grain boundaries in austenitic stainless steels. The fractions of low- S CSL boundaries of GBCD controlled steels were 75–85%, while those of uncontrolled steels were 60–70%. Creviced bent beam tests were conducted at 561 K in pure water containing 8 ppm dissolved oxygen for stress corrosion cracking (SCC) evaluation. The tests revealed that GBCD control suppressed IGSCC initiation or propagation and that cracks were predominantly propagated along random grain boundaries. It is considered that induced lower- S CSL boundaries result in high resistance to IGSCC.


The global Multidimensional Poverty Index, published annually since 2010, captures acute multidimensional poverty in the developing world. In 2018, five of its ten indicators were revised with the purpose of aligning the index to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) insofar as current data permit. This paper provides comprehensive analyses of the consequences of this revision from three perspectives. First, we thoroughly discuss new empirical insights for 105 countries in the developing world based on a data set including 8.78 million individual observations. Second, we analyze the robustness of country orderings to changes in key parameters, including the poverty cutoff and dimensional weights. Third, we compare the revised and the original specifications by implementing both on the same 105 national data sets. The country orderings in the revised specification are found to be robust to a range of plausible parametric alternatives. Largely, these country orderings are at least as robust as the original one.


The purpose of stability testing is to provide evidence on how the quality of a drug substance or drug product varies with the time under the influence of a variety of environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, pH and light, and to establish a retest period for the drug substance or a shelf life for the drug product and recommended storage conditions. Due to high lipophilicity of budesonide, it is not possible to prepare simple solution having the desired concentration of this drug without using co-solvent. Aim of this study was to compare the stability of budesonide at different canisters (standard aluminium, anodized aluminium direct surface modification (DSM) and fluorocarbon polymer (FCP) and pH values. Two type of formulation without and with acid were prepared to evaluate the effect of pH on stability of budesonide solution in anodized aluminium, DSM and FCP cans. After addition of strong acid, under accelerated stability conditions, only a slight decrease in the assay is observed after six months. In this study the best results have been obtained with anodized aluminium cans and solution with a pH of 3.5.


Urban malaria is an underestimated serious health concern in African countries. This study aimed to evaluate the risk of malaria transmission in an urban area by evaluating the level of human exposure to Anopheles bites using an Anopheles salivary biomarker (gambiae Salivary Gland Protein-6 peptide 1 [gSG6-P1] peptide). Two multidisciplinary cross-sectional studies were undertaken in five sites of Bouaké city (three urban districts and two surrounding villages, used as control; Côte d'Ivoire) during the rainy season and the dry season. Blood samples were obtained from children 6 months to 14 years of age for immunological tests. The level of anti-gSG6-P1 immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies was significantly higher in the rainy season than the dry season in both urban and rural sites (P < 0.0001). Interestingly, children with the highest anti-gSG6-P1 IgG responses in the rainy season were infected by Plasmodium falciparum. Surprisingly, no difference of anti-gSG6-P1 IgG level was observed between urban and rural areas, for either season. The current data suggest that children in the urban city of Bouaké could be as highly exposed to Anopheles bites as children living in surrounding villages. The immunological biomarker of human exposure to Anopheles bites may be used to accurately assess the potential risk of malaria transmission in African urban settings.


Leucite crystal was prepared using SiO2-Al2O3-K2CO3-Na2CO3 as raw materials and adopting melt quenching and appropriate heat treatment temperatures. The crystal was characterized and analyzed by X-ray powder diffraction, the coefficient of thermal expansion, and biocompatibility. The results showed that appropriate Na2O could advance the growth of leucite, but high concentration facilitates the formation of KAlSiO4 crystal. The coefficient of thermal expansion was 24.52×10-6/°C at 600 °C, and thereby the coefficient could be adjusted by adding appropriate amount of leucite. The biocompatibility of leucite was almost the same as the Songfeng powder for clinical applications.


This paper studies the effect of employer concentration on wages in the United States. We make two primary new contributions. First, we develop an instrument for employer concentration, based on differential local exposure to national firm-level trends. We use the instrument to estimate the effect of plausibly exogenous variation in employer concentration on wages across the large majority of U.S. occupations and metropolitan areas. Second, we adopt a flexible "probabilistic" approach to labor market definition, identifying relevant job options outside a worker's own occupation using new occupational mobility data constructed from 16 million resumes, and estimate the effect of these outside-occupation options on wages. We find that moving from the median to the 95th percentile of employer concentration reduces wages by 3%. But we also reveal substantial heterogeneity: the effect of employer concentration is at least four times higher for low outward mobility occupations than those with high outward mobility. Since the majority of U.S. workers are not in highly concentrated labor markets, the aggregate effects of concentration on wages do not appear large enough to have substantial explanatory power for income inequality or wage stagnation. Nonetheless, our estimates suggest that a material subset of workers experience meaningful negative wage effects from employer labor market power. Our findings imply that labor market regulatory agencies and antitrust authorities should take employer concentration seriously, but that measures of employer concentration – typically calculated for narrowly defined occupational labor markets – need to be adjusted to incorporate the availability and quality of job options outside the focal occupation.


The long‐held belief that degeneration of the cholinergic basal forebrain was central to Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathogenesis and occurred early in the disease process has been questioned recently. In this regard, changes in some cholinergic basal forebrain (CBF) markers (e.g. the high affinity trkA receptor) but not others (e.g., cortical choline acetyltransferase [ChAT] activity, the number of ChAT and vesicular acetylcholine transporter‐immunoreactive neurons) suggest specific phenotypic changes, but not frank neuronal degeneration, early in the disease process. The present study examined the expression of the low affinity p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR), an excellent marker of CBF neurons, in postmortem tissue derived from clinically well‐characterized individuals who have been classified as having no cognitive impairment (NCI), mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and mild AD. Relative to NCI individuals, a significant and similar reduction in the number of nucleus basalis p75NTR‐immunoreactive neurons was seen in individuals with MCI (38%) and mild AD (43%). The number of p75NTR‐immunoreactive nucleus basalis neurons was significantly correlated with performance on the Mini‐Mental State Exam, a Global Cognitive Test score, as well as some individual tests of working memory and attention. These data, together with previous reports, support the concept that phenotypic changes, but not frank neuronal degeneration, occur early in cognitive decline. Although there was no difference in p75NTR CBF cell reduction between MCI and AD, it remains to be determined whether these findings lend support to the hypothesis that MCI is a prodromal stage of AD. J. Comp. Neurol. 443:136–153, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.


The extensive use of digital images at this age has led to the content manipulations that misrepresent the information with malicious intent. This issue demands the requirement of digital image investigation to verify the sources and validate trustworthiness. One of the image manipulation techniques is called copy-move forgery (CMF). It is a process of duplicating one or more regions in an image before being pasted to another location within the same image. The CMF is mainly comprised of translation attacks and commonly combined with other attacks, such as scaling, rotation, compression and Gaussian noise addition. In this thesis, the research is divided into two stages. The first stage looks into the performance analysis of the existing CMF detection methods, while the second stage focuses on proposing detection methods for reflection-based attacks in CMF. At present, CMF detection performance is evaluated, either through image-level evaluation, pixel-level evaluation, or both. Since there is no evaluation standard, the analysis also studies the effects of these evaluations towards the result interpretation. The study shows that both image and pixel-level evaluations are dependent, therefore, must be incorporated together to ensure fair evaluation. These evaluations are then applied to study the effects of reflection-based attacks in the second stage of research. Methods called SIFT-Symmetry and CMF-iteMS are proposed to alleviate the reflection-based problems in CMF. The SIFT-Symmetry incorporates symmetry matching in a keypoint-based CMF detection while the CMF-iteMS uses a block-based approach that includes iterative means of region size. To evaluate the performance of the two proposed methods, they are compared with state-of-the-arts methods, based on keypoint, block, and a combination of both approaches. The evaluations involve CombineTranslation, CPHALL, NB-Casia, and NBr-Casia datasets which include translation, scale, rotation, and reflection attacks. The results are measured using multiple F-score values which are for image, pixel, and both, image and pixel. The image score shows the ability of the detection methods in distinguishing the original image and CMF image, while the pixel score defines the reliability of determining the exact location of the CMF detection. Both scores are multiplied to get the overall percentages of the detection. The CMF-iteMS surpassed the minimum value of 96% for image score and 88% for both pixel score and percentages of detection for simple translation attacks, while having maintained the highest percentages for rotation, simple reflection, and a mix of attacks with the minimum value of 87%, 76%, and 62%, respectively. In terms of reflection-based CMF, the CMF-iteMS achieved the highest percentages in all reflection cases even if the reflection is combined with scale attacks. Alternatively, the SIFT-Symmetry obtained the highest image score with a value of 94% for simple reflection and 75% for reflection with scale attacks. Moreover, the results also proved that the combination of the existing CMF detection methods with the iterative means of region size increases the performance of the block-based approach. The combination with other approaches, on the other hand, is able to reduce the spurious matching even though the percentages of both image and pixel-levels are dropped.


Abstract. The growing trend of developing standards of information exchange and management processes is leading to Building Information Models (BIM) being adapted to work with linear infrastructure assets. For this reason, the Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) has developed standards for linear infrastructure such as roads. Furthermore, the usage of remote sensing technologies, such as Mobile Laser Scanning (MLS) systems for infrastructure monitoring is increasingly common. This paper presents an automated methodology that takes as input 3D point cloud tiles from an MLS and its trajectory, and outputs an IFC-compliant file that models the alignment of the road and the width of the roadway along the length of the road. The methodology is evaluated in 48 km of mountain roads, in some cases without road markings, using neither intensity nor colour fields.


Interleukin-13 (IL-13) and IL-4 are cytokines produced by T cells that are encoded by the q23-31 region of human chromosome 5. To investigate the regulation of IL-13 gene expression by T cells, we isolated and sequenced the human IL-13 gene, analyzed its 5'-flanking region for potential transcriptional activation elements, and examined its expression in nontransformed T-lineage cell populations. The human IL-13 gene was located 12.5-kb upstream of the IL-4 gene and 2-kb downstream of a CpG island. The IL-13 gene 5' flank region included a segment with sequence homology to P elements of the IL-4 promoter involved in transcriptional activation in T cells. Mutation of the IL-13 P element site significantly reduced IL-13 promoter activity in response to T-cell activation. Oligonucleotides containing the IL-13 or IL-4 P element sites specifically bound the transcriptional activator protein, nuclear factor-activated T cells, preformed (NF-ATp), when incubated with nuclear protein extracts from activated T cells. Similar to IL-4, IL-13 mRNA expression was highest in T-cell populations enriched for cells that had previously been primed in vivo or in vitro, indicating that priming increases the expression of the IL-13 and IL-4 genes in a coordinate manner. Because the primed T cells contain higher levels of nuclear NF-ATp, capable of binding to P elements of the IL-4 and IL-13 promoters, than do freshly-isolated T cells, the NF-AT-binding P elements are attractive candidates to mediate the coordinate expression of these two cytokine genes.


The groundwater resource contained within the sandy aquifers of the Swan Coastal Plain, south-west West- ern Australia, provides approximately 60 percent of the drinking water for the metropolitan population of Perth. Rainfall decline over the past three decades coupled with in- creasing water demand from a growing population has re- sulted in falling dam storage and groundwater levels. Pro- jected future changes in climate across south-west Western Australia consistently show a decline in annual rainfall of between 5 and 15 percent. There is expected to be a reduc- tion of diffuse recharge across the Swan Coastal Plain. This study aims to quantify the change in groundwater recharge in response to a range of future climate and land cover patterns across south-west Western Australia. Modelling the impact on the groundwater resource of potential climate change was achieved with a dynamically linked unsaturated/saturated groundwater model. A vertical flux manager was used in the unsaturated zone to estimate groundwater recharge using a variety of simple and complex models based on climate, land cover type (e.g. native trees, plantation, cropping, urban, wetland), soil type, and taking into account the groundwater depth. In the area centred on the city of Perth, Western Aus- tralia, the patterns of recharge change and groundwater level change are not consistent spatially, or consistently down- ward. In areas with land-use change, recharge rates have in- creased. Where rainfall has declined sufficiently, recharge rates are decreasing, and where compensating factors com- bine, there is little change to recharge. In the southwestern part of the study area, the patterns of groundwater recharge are dictated primarily by soil, geology and land cover. In the sand-dominated areas, there is little response to future climate change, because groundwater levels are shallow and much rainfall is rejected recharge. Where the combination of native vegetation and clayey surface soils restricts possible infiltration, recharge rates are very sensitive to reductions in rainfall. In the northern part of the study area, both climate and land cover strongly influence recharge rates. Recharge under native vegetation is minimal and is relatively higher where grazing and pasture systems have been introduced af- ter clearing of native vegetation. In some areas, the recharge values can be reduced to almost zero, even under dryland agriculture, if the future climate becomes very dry.


In this study, adding coal cinder to bottom of solar pond as a means of increasing temperature of the solar pond is presented. A series of small-scale tests are conducted in the simple mini solar ponds. These small-scale tests include the temperature evolution comparisons of this mode with other normal modes; the comparisons of the material added to LCZ and the comparisons of the different soaking times for coal cinder. In addition, a numerical calculation on predicting temperature evolution in large area of salt gradient solar pond is also given. Both of the experimental and numerical results suggest that adding porous media with low thermal diffusivity (e.g. coal cinder) could significantly increase the temperature in the vicinity of the bottom of the pond. From the view of long-term, this effect is supposed to enhance the average temperature of the solar pond.


"Greening" the engineering curriculum is an important consideration for sustainable engineering education from fundamentals to design in the 21 st century. This paper describes the latest advances in an educational project sponsored by the United States Environmental Protection Agency to integrate green engineering principles into the chemical engineering curriculum. This project has engaged faculty from engineering schools across the country to develop web-based instructional modules to allow for the seamless integration for green engineering principles such as risk concepts, green chemistry, mass and energy integration, life-cycle assessment into chemical engineering courses. Currently, faculty have contributed to chemical engineering core courses from material and energy balances to plant design. In addition, faculty have developed modules for multidisciplinary offerings such as freshman-level introduction to engineering and upper-level system dynamics and control. This paper will review some of the innovative modules developed and show how they can be used in the chemical engineering curriculum. This educational project's goal is to integrate green engineering concepts horizontally and vertically into the curriculum by taking existing courses and integrating topics as appropriate through examples, problems and case studies. Using green engineering principles at the start of the design process can lead to processes and products of a sustainable future. Support for this project is funded by the US Environmental Protection Agency Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics and Office of Prevention, Pesticides, and Toxic Substances through grant CX 827688-01-0 titled Implementing Green Engineering in the Chemical Engineering Curriculum


Introduction: Therapeutic ERCP is integral to the treatment of a number of common disorders, but is associated with a 5-15% rate of post ERCP pancreatitis (PEP). Aggressive intravenous hydration has shown promise to reduce this adverse event but trials have produced mixed results. We aim to clarify its performance through systematic review and meta-analysis. Methods: In conjunction with a health science librarian, Pubmed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, OVID Medline, Web of Science, ClinicalTrials.gov were queried from inception through April 2021 to identify randomized control studies comparing aggressive versus standard hydration for prevention of post ERCP pancreatitis (PEP). Pooled odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using the random effects model. Results: The search yielded 584 citations that were assessed by two reviewers, with 46 articles selected for full text review. Eleven RCTs, with N 5 3267 participants were included in our analysis, the most frequent indication (64%) was for choledocholithiasis. Aggressive hydration was associated with reduced incidence of PEP (OR 5 0.47, CI: 0.29 – 0.77, P 5 0.0068 compared to standard hydration. Furthermore, the incidence of hyperamylasemia (OR 5 0.51, CI: 0.34 0.77, P 5 0.0084), abdominal pain (OR5 0.30, CI: 0.11 0.76, P5 0.024)and length of hospitalization (SMD: -0.20, CI: -0.55 0.16, P5 0.1761) were decreased with aggressive hydration. There was a trend toward reduced incidence of moderate-severe pancreatitis (OR: 0.33, CI: 0.072 – 1.53, P 5 0.27). Only one study compared hydration strategy in patients universally receiving rectal NSAIDs, limiting subgroup analysis. Conclusion: Aggressive hydration is associated with a significant reduction of post ERCP pancreatitis. Studies in the setting of universal NSAID use are required to fully elucidate its role.


Background : Inadequate ventilation, esophageal intubation and difficult intubation are the most common adverse respiratory outcomes in patient undergoing anesthesia .The aim of this study was to compare Mallampati test in supine and sitting positions in traditional approach and during phonation for predicting difficult laryngoscopy and intubation. Methods : In this study performed in Imam Khomeini Hospital in Tehran, Iran, Mallampati test was performed on 661 patients who met the inclusion criteria for the study. The test was done in supine and sitting positions with and without phonation by a rater who was blind to Mallampati test. Subsequently, laryngoscopy view and difficult intubation were evaluated in the four aforesaid positions by Mallampati test for predicting difficult laryngoscopy and intubation. For each situations, sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values and accuracy were calculated. Results : Overall, 28 (4.2%) patients had difficult laryngoscopy and 9 (1.4%) patients had difficult intubation. The highest sensitivity for Mallampati test in predicting difficult laryngoscopy and intubation was in supine and sitting positions without phonation, and the highest specificity was seen in sitting position with phonation. Negative predictive values were more than 95% in all different positions for Mallampati tests and the highest positive predictive value was seen in supine position with phonation. Conclusion: According to our findings, the highest correlation between Mallampati test and different positions in predicting difficult laryngoscopy and intubation was seen in supine position with phonation. Phonation improved Mallampati score in supine rather than sitting position.


Combining social, political, and cultural history, this book examines the contestation over space, history, and power in the late Qing and Republican-era reconstruction of the ancient capital of Suzhou as a modern city. Located fifty miles west of Shanghai, Suzhou has been celebrated throughout Asia as a cynosure of Chinese urbanity and economic plenty for a thousand years. With the city's 1895 opening as a treaty port, businessmen and state officials began to draw on Western urban planning in order to bolster Chinese political and economic power against Japanese encroachment. As a result, both Suzhou as a whole and individual components of the cityscape developed new significance according to a calculus of commerce and nationalism. Japanese monks and travelers, Chinese officials, local people, and others competed to claim Suzhou's streets, state institutions, historic monuments, and temples, and thereby to define the course of Suzhou's and greater China's modernity.


Intelligence-led policing (ILP) is a managerial law enforcement model that seeks to place crime intelligence at the forefront of decision-making. This model has been widely adopted, at least notionally, in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia. Drawing on interviews with intelligence analysts from two Australian state law enforcement agencies, this article contributes to the relatively small body of literature that has examined ILP in practice. The article identifies three relational themes that inhibit the successful implementation of ILP: analysts and data, analysts and tools, and analysts and decision makers. Furthermore, it calls attention to the need to better understand the structure and operations within law enforcement agencies, including the similarities and differences among organizational units, in order to better understand how these nuances shape the practice of ILP.


This paper seeks to identify the optimal policies for promoting product recovery and remanufacturing. Using a stylized equilibrium model, the authors analyze the problem as a Stackelberg game between a regulator and a monopolistic firm. They compare three types of policies that legislated regulation could effect: (i) A recovery target policy that requires firms to recover no less than a specified fraction of their production for proper disposal or possible remanufacturing; (ii) a taxation policy that both taxes manufacturing and subsidizes remanufacturing; and (iii) a newly introduced mixed approach that incorporates a recovery target as well as taxes and subsidies. They study a firm's behavior under the three policy types, including pricing decisions for new and remanufactured products as well as the strategic decision of whether to create a secondary channel for remanufactured products. They find that legislative intervention makes it more likely that firms will maintain a single-market strategy. The authors further demonstrate the mixed approach's superiority as measured by a comprehensive set of economic and environmental criteria, and show that this finding is robust under two different objective functions for the policy maker, one that does and one that does not entail a budget neutrality constraint.


This paper explores the reasons why sovereign borrowers post collateral. Such
 behavior is paradoxical because conventional interpretations of collateral stress
 repossession of the assets pledged as the key to securing lenders against information
 asymmetries and moral hazard. However, repossession is generally difficult in the case
 of sovereign debt and in some cases impossible. Nevertheless, such sovereign
 "hypothecations" have a long history and are again becoming very popular today in
 developing countries. To explain sovereign collateralization, we emphasize an
 informational channel. Posting collateral produces information on opaque borrowers by
 displaying borrowers' behavior and resources. We support this interpretation by
 examining the hypothecation "mania" of 1849-1875, when sovereigns borrowing in the
 London Stock Exchange pledged all kinds of intangible revenues. Yet, at that time,
 sovereign immunity fully protected both sovereigns and their assets and possessions.
 Still, we show that hypothecations significantly decreased the cost of sovereign debt.
 To explain how, we stress the pledges' role in documenting sovereigns' wealth and the
 management of revenue streams. Based on an exhaustive library of bond prospectuses
 collected from primary sources, matched with a panel of sovereign bond yields and an
 innovative measure of sovereign fiscal transparency, we show that collateral minutely
 described in debt covenants served to document and monitor sovereign resources and
 development prospects. Encasing this information in contracts written by lawyers served
 to certify the quality of the resulting data disclosure process, explaining investors'
 readiness to pay a premium.


Neurotheology is a fast-growing field of research. Combining philosophy of mind, neuroscience, and religious studies, it takes a new approach to old questions on religion. What is religion and why do we have it? Neurotheologists focus on the search for the neural correlate of religious experiences. If we can trace religious experiences to specific parts of the brain, chances are we can reduce religion as such to that grey soggy matter as well. This article predicts neurotheology will not be able to locate the neural correlate of religious experiences. As we cannot decide phenomenally what makes an experience religious, neurologically we cannot find its correlate either. That is, if there are fixed neural correlates to begin with, because their existence is still a matter of debate. In addition, religious experiences seem to be a kind of experience, like emotional or relational experiences, making them indistinguishable from similar nonreligious experiences. Even if one manages to trace the neural correlate of religious experiences, neurotheology will still not be able to account for the rise of religion without resorting to theories from other disciplines. In the end, we do not know enough about consciousness and the way it relates to the brain to make conclusive claims about the search for religious states of consciousness. It seems, however, that even though neurotheology could provide fascinating insights in the workings of the religious brain, on its own, it will prove unable to explain religion fully.


ABSTRACT Rocks of Mississippian age cropping out in the northwestern Highland Rim include, in ascending order, the Maury Formation, New Providence Shale, Fort Payne Chert, Warsaw Limestone, St. Louis Limestone, and Ste. Genevieve Limestone. Field and microscopic examination of the post-New Providence formations shows that each contains characteristic and lithologically distinct units reflecting variations in depositional environment. The Fort Payne is characterized by an abundance of chert which occurs either as discrete beds separated by layers of highly siliceous limestone or as very rough, irregular plates intimately associated with limestone. In both types of chert the silica is largely cryptocrystalline and probably was syngenetically concentrated from silica-rich calcareous ooze. Coarse-grained fossil-fragmental calcarenite is the dominant lithology of the Warsaw. Subordinate lithologies include fine-grained siliceous calcarenite, coquinite, and fine-grained dolomitic limestone. Clear secondary calcite is generally lacking in the Warsaw and much of the matrix in the calcarenite and coquinite appears to have developed through recrystallization. Most of the chert in the Warsaw is clearly of secondary origin. Like the Warsaw, the St. Louis consists primarily of coarse-grained fossil-fragmental calcarenite, but it differs in that much of the matrix is clear secondary calcite. Other lithologies in the St. Louis are coquinite, foraminiferal limestone, and siliecous and dolomitic limestone. Beds of shaly limestone also are present locally. The Ste. Genevieve Limestone, which is of limited extent in the northwestern part of the Highland Rim, consists of poorly sorted ooliths developed around fossil fragments in a matrix of clear crystalline calcite.


Background Solid organ transplantation patients are at high risk for opportunistic air-borne fungal infections due to using the potent immunosuppressive agents. Objectives The current study aimed to qualitatively and quantitatively evaluate the fungal flora present in the air of Kidney transplant unit of Baqiyatallah hospital. Materials and Methods In this prospective study, air samples from patient room, baths site, ICU and isolated room, corridor site and outside the ward were obtained by settled plate technique using plates containing Sabouraud's dextrose agar medium. In the current study, 36 agar plates containing Sabouraud dextrose agar medium were used. The plates were exposed for 20 min at height of 100-150 cm above the ground in units of hospital. Immediately after collection, samples were incubated at 27 ± 2ºC for four weeks. The slide culture method and Lacto-phenol cotton blue were used for definitive identification and staining fungal cultures, respectively. Results The mean of colony forming units (CFUs) on indoor and outdoor plates was 6.6 ± 1.3 and 6 ± 1.9 / plate respectively. Statistical analysis showed that the observed difference is not significant. Also, the results showed that the mean of CFUs in the air of patient's rooms (6.8 ± 1.7), halls (4.5 ± 1.7), bathrooms (6.8 ± 1.5), and ICU rooms (3.2 ± 1.8) were not significantly different. The mean of different fungal genera isolated from indoor and outdoor plates were 1.9 ± 0.2 and 4 ± 0.5 genera/plate respectively, that indicates significant difference between indoor and outdoor air quality (P < 0.001). Conclusions Lack of difference between quantity of outdoor and indoor air fungi indicates inefficiency of air control measures, and indoor lower genus diversity compared to outdoor air shows that there may be conditions that facilitate fungal growth in the environment of kidney transplantation unit.


The purpose of this study was to develop screening and in silico modeling methods to obtain accurate information on the active center of CYP2A6, a nicotine oxidizing enzyme. The inhibitory potencies of 26 naphthalene and 16 non-naphthalene derivatives were determined for human CYP2A6 and mouse CYP2A5 enzymes. Several comparative molecular field analysis (CoMFA) models were developed to find out what types of steric and electrostatic properties are required for potent inhibitors. The IC(50) values of the tested compounds varied from 0.55 to 35 400 microM for CYP2A6 and from 1 to 1500 microM for CYP2A5. The generated CoMFA models were able to accurately predict the inhibition potencies of an external test set of chemicals. Potent and specific inhibitors of the CYP2A6 enzyme can be used in the future to increase nicotine bioavailability and thus make oral nicotine administration feasible in smoking cessation therapy.


Peculiarities of the defect modes of cholesteric liquid crystals (CLCs) with an isotropic/anisotropic defect inside are investigated. The influence of the defect layer thickness and its anisotropy of refraction, the influence of the system thickness and of the defect layer position in the system, as well as the influence of the dielectric borders on the defect modes are investigated. It is shown that it is possible to change reflection at the defect modes in wide intervals and change the defect mode wavelength, by tuning the defect location and its thickness. Such a system possesses transmission asymmetry. Also, the CLC system thickness and the refraction coefficient of the medium bordering the CLC layer on its both sides have essential influence on the reflection at the defect mode and on the reflection frequency.


The quest continues for accurate and efficient computational fluid dynamics (CFD) algorithms for convection-dominated flows. The boundary value 'optimal' Galerkin weak statement invariably requires manipulation to handle the disruptive character introduced by the discretized first-order convection term. An incredible variety of methodologies have been derived and examined to address this issue, in particular, seeking achievement of monotone discrete solutions in an efficient implementation. The UT CFD research group has participated in this search, leading to the development of consistent, encompassing theoretical statements exhibiting quality performance, including generalized Taylor series (Lax– Wendroff) methods, characteristic flux resolutions, subgrid embedded high-degree Lagrange bases and assembled stencil optimization for finite element weak statement implementations. For appropriate model problems, recent advances have led to accurate monotone methods with linear basis efficiency. This contribution highlights the theoretical developments and presents quantitative documentation of achieved high-quality solutions. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


The present study aimed to verify the degree of correlation between the modified Gordon & Whitlock (GW) and Centrifugal Fluctuation (CF) techniques in the diagnosis of gastrointestinal endoparasites in cattle, and to compile a table with the degree of helminth infection of the Strongyloidea Superfamily, measured by number of eggs per gram of feces (EPG) using the two techniques. Feces samples were collected directly from the rectal bulb of 12 females, ¾ Dutch / zebu, from six months of age, weighing between 100 and 150 kg, naturally parasitized by gastrointestinal nematodes, at Santa Monica Dairy Station, Embrapa/Gado de Leite, in the Municipality of Valenca, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Samples were collected every 21 days in a period of 28 months. EPG counts were performed at the Parasitology Laboratory of Embrapa, in the Municipality of Juiz de Fora, MG, Brasil. The CF technique detected 80.81% of positive samples, against 15.17% of the GW technique, demonstrating that the CF technique is more sensitive than the GW for EPG count in cattle. The GW technique showed a higher Coefficient of Variation (CV = 237%) than CF (CV = 68%). However, there was a significant agreement between them (rho = 0.12), confirming the existence of a correlation between them. This confirmation allowed the elaboration of a table of the degree of helminth infection of the Strongyloidea Superfamily based on the two techniques, which will aid in the determination of the treatment threshold. Thus, the absence of parameters in the decision making for the treatment of helminths in cattle, from the degree of infection, considered the great disadvantage of the CF technique, was eliminated.


Tax competition is the quintessential example of policy interdependence. The general idea is that tax changes in one jurisdiction lead to similar changes in others. However, research has shown that institutional and political constraints limit competition. This article develops another argument: that socialization among policy makers attenuates competitive dynamics by setting limits to the extent of competition that is considered acceptable. Using fine-grained Swiss data and spatial econometric techniques, it shows that personal income tax rates are more strongly correlated among competitors that do not participate in the same intergovernmental organizations. This finding implies that, to some extent, the detrimental consequences of competition can be mitigated by fostering institutionalized forms of interaction among policy makers.


Fuel poverty is a critical issue for a globally ageing population. Increasing heating/cooling requirements combined with declining incomes has resulted in a global challenge that requires urgent attention. Three Scottish Universities/Colleges collaborated on a user centred and user led concept development process that focused on empowering elderly users to take steps to make their energy usage more cost effective and efficient. This study starts by analysing a cross section of home energy products and then develops and evaluates concepts with a range of stakeholders, including housing associations. The study benefitted from Research Teaching linkages/projects across undergraduate and postgraduate levels. From the initial research, it was concluded that there are serious usability issues with existing products. These failings prevent the products from being successful within the chosen demographic and ironically add to the energy challenge. Design concepts were developed by academic (teaching and research) staff from a diversity of backgrounds including: Electronic and Electrical Engineering, Interaction Design, Product Design Engineering, Psychology, Ergonomics and Social Sciences. The concept and design development benefited from engagement with the target audience and the paper will present the findings of this engagement. Key evaluation targets for the concepts were based on user insights, including: user-friendly interface; informative displays; ease of implementation and understanding of data. Concepts also had to fundamentally gain the confidence of the demographic through demonstrating how one could reduce energy consumption, therefore reducing fuel poverty. This step change in the acceptance would be a critical driver during the development of the concepts.


This research programme investigates the influence of genetic variability on the clinical pharmacology of carbamazepine (CBZ) and lamotrigine (LTG).

Common polymorphisms in genes that may influence the response to CBZ and LTG include CYP3A4 g.-392A>G, CYP3A5 g.6986A>G, CYP1A2 g.5734C>A, EPHX1 c.337T>C, EPHX1 c.416A>G, UGT2B7 c.802C>T, ABCB1 c.1236C>T, ABCB1 c.2677G>T/A, ABCB1 c.3435C>T and SCN2A c.56G>A.

The prevalence of these common polymorphisms was evaluated in a 400-strong study population from a single research unit. Minor allele frequency ranged between 3.5% (CYP3A4 -392G) and 48.0% (ABCB1 1236T). Allele and genotype distributions were comparable to published data for other Caucasian populations.

The influence of common polymorphisms in drug metabolising enzyme (DME) and sodium channel genes on the optimal dose of CBZ was assessed in a cohort of 70 patients. This study revealed that age and common polymorphisms in the EPHX1 gene (c.337T>C and c.416A>G) are potential predictors for optimal dose of CBZ. The significant effects of EPHX1 variants may be explained by their significant contribution to the inactivation of CBZ. These potential predictors explain approximately 15% of the inter-individual variation in CBZ dose requirements.

Preliminary findings suggest that common polymorphisms in DME genes do not form a unique profile which increases the risk of developing intolerable CBZ adverse effects.

It is unlikely that common polymorphisms in ABCB1 and SCN2A genes influence the expression and/or activity of their respective proteins to the level at which they can dictate response to LTG therapy.

The influence of common polymorphisms in ABCB1 and SCN2A genes on the optimal dose of LTG was assessed in a cohort of 94 patients. Optimal dose in this study was defined as the final dose given to the patients that successfully maintained seizure freedom for at least 1 year with LTG monotherapy. Several basic clinical factors such as age and gender were also examined as potential predictors. The effect of predictors on the optimal dose of LTG was investigated using linear regression analysis. This study revealed that gender and common polymorphisms in the ABCB1 gene (c.1236C>T and c.3435C>T) are potential predictors for optimal dose of LTG. These predictors explain approximately 17% of the inter-individual variation in LTG dose requirement. These findings further highlight the potential role of P-gp in the management of epilepsy.

The final study investigated the influence of ABCB1 c.1236C>T and ABCB1 c.3435C>T polymorphisms on the pharmacokinetics of LTG. A total of 156 blood samples from 50 patients receiving LTG monotherapy were available for analysis. The influence of ABCB1 variants was evaluated by population pharmacokinetics. This approach successfully estimated the oral clearance of LTG monotherapy at steady-state. However, the absorption rate constant (Ka) and volume of distribution (Vd) of LTG were poorly estimated. The inclusion of common polymorphisms in the ABCB1 gene in the pharmacokinetic model did not improve the estimation of oral clearance. This may indicate that common variants of ABCB1 do not influence clearance of LTG.


The composition, and thus the energy content and monetary value of natural gas and biogas, vary considerably depending on the source. Present energy measurement techniques are riot suitable for online use. We show with experiments on mixtures of ethane (C/sub 2/H/sub 6/) and oxygen (O/sub 2/) how partial least squares regression (PLSR) can be used to predict the molar fraction of ethane in the mixtures, given spectral data from ultrasonic pulse-echo measurements. The PLSR technique is compared with the standard principal component regression (PCR), and we show that PLSR yields better predictive performance.