A celestial body according to Merriam-Webster is "an aggregation of matter in the universe that constitutes a unit for astronomical study." More specifically it is a planet nebula star or some such natural heavenly entity. "Celestial Bodies" is a collection of poems dealing with these bodies. The human body and its celestial nature is a recurring aspect of my constellation of poems whether literal or figurative. It is composed of mostly lyric poems from a first- or second-person point of view. Though actual astronomical fixtures and images appear throughout many of the poems they only function as parentheses to the larger context of each poem. Many of them are influenced by natural setting though the emotion or pursuit within the poem itself exists in a larger context. Lyric poetry which originated in Greece around the 7th century B.C. was championed by Sappho and was originally intended for accompaniment on the lyre. As an aristocrat and scholar of poetry Sappho wrote emotional I-centered poems about the speaker's personal often-erotic reflections and desires which was contrary to predominant poetic trends of the time such as Homer's long-winded epics. Since then many poets have slid easily into lyric form writing subjective personal poems with universal overarching themes. In that vein thematic content doesn't necessarily provide the primary sense of cohesion in this collection. Instead an adherence to lyrical style a loyalty to the free verse tradition and the emotional nature of the poems themselves unify the collection as a whole. In the lyric tradition they often serve as a response to or reflection of a specific occasion or experience sometimes with a direct conversational tone and other times in a loftier more emotional sense. Thematically however the poems in "Celestial Bodies" occasionally deal with the speaker's rumination on a loss or unmet desire. The object of the speaker's affection or anger can be interpreted as various people--lover father mother God--and sometimes the line between one poem and another (in terms of addressee) is intentionally unclear. In addition the yearning poems are often offset by those communicating indifference irreverence or ennui. The speaker though not usually a direct manifestation of myself is occasionally informed by my own hang-ups emotions or experiences though many are vicarious. In terms of form my poems typically veer away from the contemporary experimental lyric and more toward grounded language and concepts. Current experimental poetic trends have only informed the way I write in the sense that I am aware of them. I've delved into reading some of it and occasionally I'll bear those trends in mind when I'm writing my own words and seeking to expand my perceptions and descriptions. However my aesthetic choices do not intentionally conform to specific period practices. In terms of personal influence writers such as Shara McCallum Keetje Kuipers Natasha Trethewey Alicia Ostriker Anthony Abbott Terrance Hayes Anna Journey and Li-Young Lee among others have strongly informed the way I write sometimes thematically and sometimes in form. While Trethewey writes poems that often adhere to traditional forms the poems' content--especially that which relates to etiquette and the female body--provides a solid backdrop for my own like-minded messages. Meanwhile the work of Kuipers and Abbott exists within a pervading sense of loss while relying on natural surroundings and images. Journey's sexual thematic content and Hayes's conversational sense of irreverence and ennui ring true in some of my own poems. While some of these authors do veer into narrative poetry they also successfully communicate on a lyric level and much of my work parallels that which they thematically expose and dissect. Many of the poems within this collection are based not on story alone but on emotion and the speaker's personal struggle with various attitudes and challenges. As a result the lyric seems appropriate for capturing these emotion-based snapshots and communicating them most effectively to the reader. As Sappho illustrated with her brief passion-infused poems a solid narrative structure isn't always necessary for a successful poem; however the larger context of a collection as a whole can instead serve as the foundation. "Celestial Bodies" operates in the same spirit. "Although they are only breath words which I command are immortal" -Sappho


Recently, evidence for acoustic universals in vocal communication was found by demonstrating that humans can identify levels of arousal in vocalizations produced by species across three biological classes (Filippi et al., 2017). Here, we extend this work by testing whether two vocal learning species, humans and chickadees, can discriminate vocalizations of high and low arousal using operant discrimination go/no-go tasks. Stimuli included vocalizations from nine species: giant panda, American alligator, common raven, hourglass treefrog, African elephant, Barbary macaque, domestic pig, black-capped chickadee, and human. Subjects were trained to respond to high or low arousal vocalizations, then tested with additional high and low arousal vocalizations produced by each species. Chickadees (Experiment 1) and humans (Experiment 2) learned to discriminate between high and low arousal stimuli and significantly transferred the discrimination to additional panda, human, and chickadee vocalizations. Finally, we conducted discriminant function analyses using four acoustic measures, finding evidence suggesting that fundamental frequency played a role in responding during the task. However, these analyses also suggest roles for other acoustic factors as well as familiarity. In sum, the results from these studies provide evidence that chickadees and humans are capable of perceiving arousal in vocalizations produced by multiple species. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).


This paper discovers the particular characteristics of leadership, learning, organisational culture and innovative behaviour among employees in large and medium-sized manufacturing companies in Russia, and presents empirical evidence of relationships between three factors as antecedents for innovative behaviour. The constructs for dependent and independent variables are developed drawing on a literature review. The model of casual path dependencies is tested on a database collected in 2013-2014 containing the responses of 143 employees from 26 companies. The partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) technique is applied. The study reveals the low rate of innovative behaviour among Russian employees. The findings suggest that to facilitate innovative behaviour managers should stimulate learning processes and exhibit transformational leadership that in turn enhances learning processes and creates organisation culture.


Background and Aim: Since tip projection is an important factor for the nose esthetics, one of the results in rhinoplasty is maintenance, increase or decrease of nasal tip. The aim of this research was to measure nasal tip dropping in profile after rhinoplasties done on Maxillofacial Department of Taleghani Hospital, Tehran in 2003- 2004. Methods & Materials: In this quasi experimental study, nasal tip dropping 2 months and 6 months after surgery in comparison with 20 days post operation in 28 patients were measured via profile photographs. Various variables such as tip projection, nasal length, nasolabial angle and (nose+upper lip length)/projection were calculated by computer software with accuracy of 0.01 mm and 0.1. Paired T and ANOVA tests were used to compare the changes. Result: Tip projection diminished slightly within 20 days to 6 months after rhinoplasty which means the tip had a little posterior movement. Nasolabial angle showed significant decrease (P Less than 0.001) and increase in nose length was apparent (P Less than 0.001). Changes indicated the inferior dropping of nasal tip. Nose tip change were seen after 2 months and continued 6 months postoperatively. The postoperative changes between 20 days and 2 months, 2 and 6 months, and 20 days and 6 months for NL, NLA, N+UL/P were significant in all cases (P Less than 0.05). Nasal tip changes were greater in male than female but patient's age seemed not important. Septoplasty and tip graft did not have significant effect on nose tip. Conclusion: Nose tip moved inferiorly and posteriorly within 20 days and 6 months after surgery but inferior


Climate change is leading to increased water scarcity and drought in many parts of the world. This has implications for the European Union (EU) because a lot of the water intensive goods consumed or used there are produced abroad. This makes the EU's economy dependent on water resources well beyond its borders since when a country imports water intensive goods, indirectly it also imports virtual water (water needed to produce the imported goods). This study maps the EU's global dependency on water resources outside its borders in terms of virtual water imports and assesses how water scarcity and drought may disrupt supplies of key food crops that it imports. The EU uses approximately 668 km3 of water for all of the goods it produces, consumes and exports, annually. Around 38% of that water comes from outside its borders, which means that the EU's economy is highly dependent on the availability of water in other parts of the world. In the near future, supplies of certain crops to the EU could be disrupted due to water scarcity in other parts of the world; a large portion of the water used in producing soybeans, rice, sugarcane, cotton, almonds, pistachios and grapes for import to the EU comes from areas with significant or severe levels of water scarcity. Although the immediate risks to the EU's economy are due to current water scarcity levels, any disruption to rainfall patterns that occur in the future, due to the effects of climate change in the countries of origin of key crops, could have a far greater impact. This is because as much as 92% of the EU's total external water demand from agriculture is attributed to green water use, availability of which has relatively higher vulnerability to drought.


Thyroiditis are common causes of the goitrous enlargement of the thyroid, and comprise a number of inhomogeneous disorders. The only criterion they have in common is an inflammatory infiltration of thyroid tissue. The following diseases belong to this group: Hashimoto's thyroiditis, thyroiditis de Quervain, acute thyroiditis, Riedel's thyroiditis and rare forms of thyroiditis. These diseases are reviewed with regard to incidence, etiology, pathogenesis, clinical features, diagnosis and treatment.


Transmission through a photoexcited semiconductor is used to temporally and spectrally shape a terahertz (THz) pulse. By adjusting the optical pump-THz probe delay, we experimentally introduce a polar asymmetry in the pulse profile as large as 92%. To shape the spectrum, we apply the same technique after strongly chirping the terahertz pulse. This leads to significant reshaping of the spectrum resulting in a 52% upshift of its median value. The pulse shaping techniques introduced here are of particular importance for temporal and spectral shape-sensitive THz nonlinear experiments.


Background Despite some evidences about protective or triggering role of opium use in patients with coronary artery disease, the exact role of opium is still under question. The current study aimed to address the relation of opium dependence on the severity and extension of myocardial infarction (MI) and its related mortality. Methods The study population consisted of 460 consecutive patients (239 opium addicts and 221 non-addicts) with first acute MI. Study information was extracted from hospital recorded files as well as face to face interview. Findings In-hospital mortality in opium addicted patients was numerically lower than another group (5.4% versus 8.2%), but this difference was not statistically significant. Regarding types of MI, anterior wall MI was higher in non-addicted patients than addicts (36.4% versus 26.4%). Among patients with anterior wall MI, early mortality was significantly higher in non-addicted compared to addicted subjects (20.0% versus 7.9% P = 0.043). The main associated factors of in-hospital mortality due to acute MI in addicts were advanced age and family history of coronary artery disease and in non-addicts were advanced age and hypertension. Conclusion In current study total in-hospital mortality was not different between opium addicted and non-addicted groups but opium may reduce the occurrence of anterior wall MI and its related early mortality.


This paper presents a numerical simulation of a directional solidification experiment, which was conducted in microgravity conditions in the Material Science Lab (MSL) onboard the International Space Station. Solidification of an Al-7wt.%Si alloy in the Low Gradient Furnace (LGF) was investigated. The LGF is a Bridgman-type furnace insert for the MSL, consisting of two heated cavities separated by an insulated adiabatic zone. The simulation results include the prediction of Columnar to Equiaxed Transition (CET) and average as-cast equiaxed grain diameters. A front tracking algorithm was employed to track the growing columnar dendrite front while a volume averaging method was used to model equiaxed nucleation, growth and impingement. The thermal boundary conditions for the simulation domain were defined and computed via temperature readings that were recorded during the experiment. The experimental data were obtained from a number of thermocouples that were attached to the crucible of the sample cartridge assembly. To conclude, the microgravity experimental results and the model simulation results, including the CET, are compared.


The difficulties in making effective decisions and the abundant amount of data have driven many businesses to adopt data-driven processes using enterprise applications like business intelligence. Although these applications have been around over the last decade and the benefits of using them are evident in several countries, Cambodia still falls behind in adopting such technology. This thesis, therefore, aims to explore opportunities for a data tool, specifically tailored to meet the needs of retail firms in Cambodia.  In order to achieve the objective, the study employs a two-phase approach. In the first phase, a qualitative method through in-depth interview was undertaken. Six managers from different retail businesses were interviewed in the areas of: data utilisation, perception and investment towards data technologies, and relevant future plans. Findings reveal that the incorporation of data in decision-making was limited. Although managers did embrace the use of data and acknowledge its importance, the costly nature of the technologies held them back from major investments. The findings imply that although there are opportunities for data-related tools for enterprises, certain components are necessary for their success. Managers tended to look for technology that produced final results with little or no technical assistance from their side. The ability to gather data outside their consumer base is also emphasised. The need for a low-cost application is an important implication.  The first phase of the research led to the decision to create a data-driven loyalty programme due to its double benefits for firms (loyalty and data), its low cost, and the ability to capture data from a large base of consumers. To understand consumers' usage and attitude towards loyalty programmes, the second phase of the research was carried out using a quantitative method. One survey was distributed and completed by 187 respondents, the majority of whom were teenagers and young adults, a potential segment for the loyalty programme. Data was cleaned and analysed using descriptive analysis. Findings from consumers revealed interesting insights into how loyalty programmes are perceived in relation to shopping behaviours. Consumers were open to a new loyalty programme and embraced the idea of combining all the cards into one application. Flexibility was found to be the most important factor driving the participation of loyalty programmes. That covered the ability to set up their own plan for reward redemption and to receive personalised communication. Technology was another important success factor, specifically mobile technology that allows consumers to manage their profile through touch on their smart devices.  A business case for the loyalty programme has been developed based on the findings from both phases, relevant literature, and discussions with others. The target segment, who are the urban, young, and middle- and high-income class, was studied. The potential market for the programme was assessed by looking at the size, need and trends of the segment. Competition in the country and the ASEAN is also evaluated. The programme adopts a multi-sided platform model and the closed-loop mechanics. Furthermore, the details of how the programme is designed and managed are discussed. At this early stage, many other features still need to be further studied, including the technical development, detailed financial forecast and planning, and team management.


In the standard thin disc formalism the dimensionless $\alpha$ parameter is usually assumed to be constant. However, there are good theoretical reasons for believing, as well as evidence from simulations, that $\alpha$ is dependent on intrinsic disc properties. In this paper we analyse the conditions for the stability of a thin accretion disc in which $\alpha$ is a function of the magnetic Prandtl number, the ratio of collisional viscosity to resistivity. In the inner disc, where the free electron opacity and radiation viscosity dominate, the disc is unstable if $\alpha$ is proportional to the magnetic Prandtl number with an exponent, $n$, and $6/13<n<10/3$. This is within the range of values for the power-law index found in MHD simulations with simple energetics. We calculate the evolution of the unstable disc within the $\alpha$ formalism and show that the physically accessible solutions form a limit cycle, analogous to the behaviour seen in recurrent dwarf novae. It is noteworthy that the time-dependent global behaviour of the instability results in cyclic heating of the inner section of the disc, when parameters appropriate for an X-ray binary system are used. We calculate a model spectrum of the disc in the flaring and quiescent states and show that the behaviour is compatible with X-ray observations of the thermal accretion disc in flaring X-ray binary systems.


Despite their central roles in ecology, patterns and scales of variation in the distribution of species and their densities are seldom satisfactorily described for most ecosystems. This is mainly due to spatial structures being scale-dependent across broad ranges of scales with partly different processes operating at different scales. In this study, scale-dependent distributional patterns in soft- sediment macrofaunal communities of naturally low species richness were studied on the Aland Islands, northern Baltic Sea, in 3 model areas (I, II and III) representing different environmental regimes with regard to openness (water renewal rate), depth, and organic and nutrient content as well as an increasing intrasite variability. A systematic grid design comprising 64 biotic and 16 abi- otic sampling points, hierarchically arranged at 3 (at distances 10, 100 and 1000 m) and 2 spatial scales (100 and 1000 m), respectively, was used in each area. The intrasite distribution of macrofauna was predictably the most uniform in Area I, the least variable environmentally, followed by Area II, which was intermediate with respect to both abiotic and biotic variability, and then Area III, which was always the most variable area. This was true when analysed by both univariate and multivariate statistical means. When examining the contribution of each spatial scale to the total variance, most variability was observed at the smallest sampled level (10 m) for the majority of the studied variables. Despite a high overlap in species composition, the areas differed significantly in animal community structure. This was driven by both (1) the top-dominant species (Macoma, Mytilus, Monoporeia, Oligochaeta, Marenzelleria) and (2) the proportion and distribution of rare species. These systems with low diversity showed clear species distribution patterns driven by local environmental condi- tions, but also showed a substantial biotic component seen as the proportion and role of rare species and the high spatial variability observed at the smallest scale. Our understanding of spatial variabil- ity (or 'stability') is thus influenced by both the habitat and the species composition. The results are valuable for the refinement of sampling design, improved interpretation of monitoring programs (including detection of anthropogenic impact) and incorporation of scaling issues into questions of marine biodiversity and conservation.


Background: Controversies persist regarding excision of ilioinguinal nerve after inguinal hernia repair and the procedure is not widely accepted. The present study was aimed to compare outcomes and its impact on the quality of life between routine ilioinguinal nerve excision, and nerve preservation following Lichtenstein inguinal hernia repair. Materials and Methods: Eighty-six patients scheduled for Lichtenstein inguinal hernia repair were randomly divided into two equal groups of 43 patients each. Group A patients underwent prophylactic neurectomy, whereas, in Group B patients, the nerve was preserved. Follow-up was done on day one, 3 months, 6 months, and 9 months after surgery. The primary outcome measure was the incidence of chronic groin pain, whereas secondary outcome measures were an impact on the quality of life and time to return to work. Inter-group comparison of categorical and continuous variables was done using Fisher's exact test and unpaired t-test respectively. Results: The incidence of postoperative pain at 3 months was 13/43 (30.2%) and 5/43 (11.6%) in Group B and Group A, respectively (P = 0.034). The incidence of postoperative pain at 6 months was 11/43 (25.6%) and 3/43 (7.0%) in Group B and Group A, respectively (P = 0.038). The RAND 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey parameters such as mean social functioning scores at 6 months postoperatively were 88.4 and 82.9 in Group A as Group B, respectively (P = 0.037) and mean pain score was 98.7 and 95.3 in Group A as Group B, respectively (P = 0.047). The mean time to return to work was 4.5 days and 5.7 days in Group A as Group B, respectively (P = 0.002). Conclusion: A routine ilioinguinal neurectomy is a reasonable option for preventing neuralgia when performing Lichtenstein inguinal hernia repair.


OBJECTIVE
To study the effect of human umbilical blood (UB) mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) on the CD34(+) cells transplantation in NOD/SCID Mice.

METHODS
Umbilical blood CD34(+) cells (3.5 x 10(5) cells) alone or combined with umbilical cord MSC cells were transplanted into NOD/SCID mice that had been irradiated with (137)Cs (3.0 Gy) before transplantation. Changes in peripheral blood cells within 6 post-transplantation weeks were detected. The mice were sacrificed 6 weeks after transplantation. The human hematopoietic cells (hCD45(+)) and multi-lineage engraftment cells (CD3/CD19, CD33, CD14, CD61, and CD235a) in NOD/SCID recipients bone marrow, spleen, and peripheral blood were analyzed by flow cytometry.

RESULTS
In the 3rd post-transplantation week, white blood cells (WBC), platelets (PLT), and red blood cells (RBC) began to increase in both two groups. In the 6th post-transplantation week, WBC and PLT counts in CD34(+) + MSC group reached peak levels and were significantly higher than CD34(+) alone group (P < 0.05), while RBC level was not significantly different between these two groups P > 0.05). hCD45(+) cell levels in bone marrow and peripheral blood were (42.66 +/- 2.57) % and (4.74 +/- 1.02) % in CD34(+) + MSC group, which were significantly higher than those in CD34(+) alone group [(25.27 +/- 1.67) % and (1.19 +/- 0.54) %, respectively, P = 0.006]. Also in the 6th post-transplantation week, the proportions of CD19(+), CD33(+), CD14(+), CD61(+), and CD235a(+) in CD34(+) + MSC group were significantly higher than those in CD34(+) alone group (P < 0.05), while the proportion of CD3(+) T lymphocyte in CD34(+) + MSC group was significantly lower than that in CD34(+) alone group (P = 0.003). The amplification of CD19(+) B lymphocyte was significantly higher than other blood cell lineages (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION
The co-transplantation of MSC cells and CD34(+) cells can promote hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and hematopoietic recovery in vivo.


A survey was carried out to investigate the incidence of fungal leaf spots disease of mango ( Mangifera indica ) in Sokoto metropolis using random sampling methods.  Field survey was carried out in six mango growing areas; Arkilla, Dambuwa, Gagi, Illela, More and permanent site of the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto. Diseased plant leaves were identified using disease symptoms. A total of 125 healthy and diseased leaves were collected using detached leaf technique. The diseased plant leaves were taken to the laboratory for culture, isolation, and identification of pathogens. Plant disease incidence was determined using disease index and severity scale of 0-4 rating. Eleven fungal pathogens were isolated and identified. These included; Alternaria longipes,  Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus niger, Colletotrichum gloesporioides, Fusarium oxysporum, Fusarium mangifera, Pestalotiopsis  mangiferae, Phoma mangiferae, Phomopsis mangiferae,  Pseudofusicoccum spp. and Rhizopus oryzae . The incidence of leaf blight was high in Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto with percentage frequency of (56.75%), followed by Dambuwa (45.50%), More  (44.48%), lllela (37.00%), Gagi (34.15%) and Arkilla (31.65%). Leaf spots intensity was more influenced by environmental  conditions and cultural practices rather than climatic factors in the areas. Also, programs aimed at enlightening the farmers on proper cultural practices and  boosting mango yield and reducing pathogen invasion are recommended. Keywords : Incidence, Fungi, Leaf spot, disease, Mango, Sokoto.


A global epidemic of obesity is rapidly developing in children and adults, both in developed and developing countries. It is expected to create a huge public health problem in the future because of the conditions associated with obesity, both the immediate psychosocial and somatic problems and the longterm complications including glucose intolerance, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidaemia, and therefore an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, increased risk of certain cancers and of gallstones, and eventually, excess mortality. It is commonly assumed that the causes of the epidemic is simple, namely both overeating and sedentary behavior, often in combination, and the preventive measures are all targeted to reverse this life style. When developed, obesity as such leads to overeating and physical inactivity for obvious reasons, but, unfortunately, it has not yet been possible to demonstrate that these behaviors precede the development of obesity. What are then the causes of obesity? Multiple family, twin and adoption studies leave no longer any doubt that obesity has a genetic predisposition that explains most if not all of the familial aggregation of obesity. Intensive search through the last 6 years has revealed some specific genes (e.g. leptin and the leptin receptor) that may cause obesity, but genetic variants that can account for the common obesity have not yet been identified. The development of obesity epidemic also shows that there in addition must be rapid environmental changes that may operate on the genetic background although clear gene‐environment interaction (synergism/antagonism) has not yet been found. We have conducted detailed analyses of very large population‐based Danish cohorts of boys in school age and young men examined as draftees, and we have have found that the obesity epidemic developed in two waves that appeared to be closely linked to birth cohorts and to be emerging already before school age: the first one during the 1940es and the second since mid 1960es. These findings strongly indicate that parallel preceding changes in the fetal or early childhood environment have played a role. To our great surprise, after having peaked among those born in the late 1980es, the prevalence of obesity in the young men is now rapidly declining again, further substantiating the role of rapidly altered environmental influences, the nature of which is unknown. Identification of the specific environmental factors may allow much more effective preventive measures to be taken in the future.


Dual-energy techniques can be used to provide additional information during X-ray examinations. A recent development has been in the application of dual-energy analysis to fluoroscopic procedures. In this paper the effects of scattered radiation upon the results obtained with a small area, dual-energy probe used during fluoroscopy has been evaluated. The method employed has been the development and application of a Monte Carlo photon transport computer program. Experimental confirmation of the model has been performed and the model extended to study the effects of scattered radiation upon the chemical sensitivity of the dual-energy probe. These effects have been studied using a simplified phantom geometry to represent a homogeneous patient. The results indicate that for tissue analysis where the effective atomic number (Z) is less than 13 the effects of scattered radiation lead to errors in estimates of Z of +or-0.25 when the acceptance angle of the detected radiation is below +or-20.


Oxysterols are oxidized derivatives of cholesterol with many important biological functions. Trafficking of oxysterols in and between cells is not well studied, largely due to the lack of appropriate oxysterol analogs. Intrinsically fluorescent oxysterols present a new route towards direct observation of intracellular oxysterol trafficking by fluorescence microscopy. We characterize the fluorescence properties of the existing fluorescent 25-hydroxycholesterol analog 25hydroxycholestatrienol, and propose a new probe with an extended conjugated system. The location of both probes inside a membrane is analyzed and compared with that of 25-hydroxycholesterol using molecular dynamics simulations. The analogs' oneand two-photon absorption properties inside the membrane are evaluated using electronic structure calculations with polarizable embedding. Due to predicted keto–enol tautomerisation of the new oxysterol analog, we also evaluate the keto form. Both analogs are found to be good probe candidates for 25-hydroxycholesterol, provided that the new analog remains in the enol-form. Only the new analog with extended conjugated system shows signif∗Corresponding author. Tel.: +45 655


"Radio Tracking and Animal Populations" is a succinct synthesis of emerging technologies and their applications to the empirical and theoretical problems of population assessment. The book is divided into sections designed to encompass the various aspects of animal ecology that may be evaluated using radiotelemetry technology - experimental design, equipment and technology, animal movement, resource selection, and demographics. Wildlife biologists at the leading edge of new developments in the technology and its application have joined forces.


In this work, the upconversion Er3+/Yb3+ co-doped ZrO2 nanoparticles were synthesized and characterized. The nanoparticles were obtained via sol-gel method. To achieve upconversion activity ZrO2 nanoparticles were doped with lanthanide ion pair of the Yb3+ and Er3+ and further calcined at 800°C. According to X-ray powder and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy the well-crystallized monoclinic nanoparticles were formed, which size ranges from 20 to 30 nm for undoped ZrO2 and from 30 to 40 nm for doped ZrO2. The calcined Er3+/Yb3+ co-doped ZrO2 nanoparticles demonstrated an upconversion luminescence visible by the bare eye. Namely, when excited with NIR-laser, the nanoparticles emit visible green light. Moreover, the Er3+/Yb3+ co-doped ZrO2 nanoparticles showed red (650-673 nm) and green (520–570 nm) upconversion luminescence due to the 4F9/2 → 4I15/2 of and (2H11/2 and 4S3/2) → 4I15/2 transitions of Er3+ ion, respectively. The obtained nanoparticles exhibited intense luminescence alongside with low toxicity according to colorimetric assay for cellular growth and survival. It was concluded that Er3+/Yb3+ co-doped ZrO2 nanoparticles are perfect prospective bioimaging agents for using as extremely sensitive detectors of biomarkers or excessive contrast deep tissue indicators.


We build a simple model of the optical/ultraviolet (UV) emission from irradiation of the outer disc by the inner disc and coronal emission in black hole binaries. We apply this to the broad-band Swift data from the outburst of the black hole binary XTE J1817−330 to confirm previous results that the optical/UV emission in the soft state is consistent with a reprocessing a constant fraction of the bolometric X-ray luminosity. However, this is very surprising as the disc temperature drops by more than a factor of 3 in the soft state, which should produce a marked change in the reprocessing efficiency. The easiest way to match the observed constant reprocessed fraction is for the disc skin to be highly ionized (as suggested 30 yr ago by van Paradijs), so that the bulk of the disc flux is reflected and only the hardest X-rays heat the disc. The constant reprocessed fraction also favours direct illumination of the disc over a scattering origin as the optical depth/solid angle of any scattering material (wind/corona) over the disc should decrease as the source luminosity declines. By contrast, the reprocessed fraction increases very significantly (by a factor of ∼6) as the source enters the hard state. This dramatic change is not evident from X-ray/UV flux correlations as it is masked by bandpass effects. However, it does not necessarily signal a change in emission, for example, the emergence of the jet dominating the optical/UV flux as the reflection albedo must change with the dramatic change in spectral shape.


In this paper, we attempt a comparative study of gender structures between Japan and Korea by analyzing the branching employment sequences among females. This sequence is based on personal job histories; however, events are composed of changing patterns of the status of elnployment, including turnover (changing company) as well as quitting from and re-entering the labor market. For data, we use the 2005 SSM (Social Stratification and Social Mobility) Survey in Japan and in Korea. Our basic frame of reference for comparison is the "M-shaped curve" with regard to female labor force participation, which is peculiarly salient in Japan and Korea among industrialized countries. Under this frame, by focusing on the average pattern of employment sequence, we examine the similarities and differences in the patterns between males and females, as well as between Japan and Korea. The comparison clarifies three branching patterns that are particular to Korean women. A noteworthy point is that these patterns, being different from those displayed by Japanese women, are commonly related to self-employment, thereby suggesting that a unique gender bias is prevalent in Korea. Thereafter, for the Korean married samples, we examine the effects of gender and social stratification in determining the experience of self-en1ploYlnent after marriage. Having a self-employed father has a positive effect and is stronger for males ; on the other hand, educational attainment indicates a positive effect even for females. The result indicates that, for Korean women, self-employment is a complex field where gender bias and stratification effects are overlapping. An additional analysis suggests that the experience as "partnership selfemployed" (not qeing a "family worker") could imply a career that is categorized as urban selfen1ployment for female college graduates.


Field studies in a winter wheat - maize - soybean crop rotation were conducted at Maksimir in 1996 and 1997 to determine the agronomic responses of winter wheat cultivars under intensive (IMS) and extensive (EMS) management systems. IMS consisted of ploughing at 30-32 cm, fertilisation with 194 kg N ha -1 including three top-dressing applications, 130 kg P ha -1, 130 kg K ha -1, and intensive crop protection (herbicide, fungicide and insecticide application). EMS consisted of ploughing at 20-22 cm, fertilisation with 59 kg N ha -1 including one top-dressing application, 104 kg P ha -1 and 104 kg K ha -1, less effective herbicide (2,4 D), and insecticide, but no fungicide, application. In each management system two factorial experiment with eight winter wheat cultivars at two sowing rates (440 and 770 seeds m -2 ) was arranged as a strip-plot design in five replications. Cultivars Sana and Darka, that outyielded other cultivars in IMS, had also the highest grain yield in EMS. Significant differences among cultivars were found for grain yield and yield components in both management systems. All cultivars increased ear number per square meter and grain yield at high sowing rate in both management systems. In two growing seasons some cultivars exert the different type of response for grain yield and ear number per square meter only in IMS. Test weight and 1000-grain weight were highly affected by growing season, cultivar and their interaction. Thousand grain weight decreased in IMS, and at high sowing rate for most cultivars in both management systems. Test weight showed the tendency to increase in IMS, and at high sowing rates in both management systems.


Spousal death is one of the most traumatic events that can occur in marital experience and most times, engenders different reactions. The paper investigated the grief reactions of bereaved spouses in Ilorin metropolis, Kwara State. A total of 395 bereaved spouses were selected using a purposive sampling technique. Data were collected from the respondents using an instrument titled "Grief Reaction of Bereaved Spouses Questionnaire" (GRBSQ). The research questions raised were answered with percentages while the hypotheses generated were analysed using t-test statistics and three-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) at 0.05 alpha level. The findings of the study indicated that (90.6%) of bereaved spouses in Kwara state have positive grief reactions, while 37 (9.4%) have negative grief reactions. The study further revealed significant differences in the grief reactions of bereaved spouses in Ilorin metropolis based on age at bereavement, nature of death and length of years of loss. Based on these findings, recommendations were made on the desirability of establishing counselling centres in governmental and non-governmental organisations aside from the conventional ones in schools and hospitals. The study also stresses the need for bereaved spouses to be exposed to grief counselling to help them adjust better to their bereavement and educated on the adverse effect of complicated grief as a result of


The ventilation performance of a vertical exhaust duct system in the high riser public house has been evaluated by a commercial software, Fluid Flow, which solves pressure losses through the duct system including bathroom fans and a hybrid roof fan. During the numerical experiments, outdoor wind condition and stack effects in summer and winter were considered as well as the operating conditions of a basement damper and the roof fan. The results show that the bathroom ventilation in summer is the most unsatisfactory. The opening of the basement damper has a problem that the polluted air in the lower floors is exhausted to the underground parking lot, not to the rooftop. If the basement damper is closed, the exhaust flow rate in the lower floors is not sufficient due to the strong flow resistance in the long vertical duct even though the roof fan is under operating.


Clustering for probability density functions (CDFs) has recently emerged as a new interest technique in statistical pattern recognition because of its potential in various practical issues. For solving the CDF problems, evolutionary techniques which are successfully applied in clustering for discrete elements have not been studied much in CDF. Therefore, this paper presents for the first time an application of the differential evolution (DE) algorithm for clustering of probability density functions (pdfs) in which the clustering problem is transformed into an optimization problem. In this optimization problem, the objective function is to minimize the internal validity measure-SF index, and the design variable is the name of the cluster in which pdfs are assigned to. To solve this optimization problem, a DE-based CDF is proposed. The efficiency and feasibility of the proposed approach are demonstrated through four numerical examples including analytical and real-life problems with gradually increasing the complexity of the problem. The obtained results mostly outperform several results of compared algorithms in the literature.


Laboratorio de Innovacion en Humanidades Digitales (UNED) has developed Entorno Virtual de Investigacion del Laboratorio de Innovacion en Humanidades Digitales (EVI-LINHD), the first virtual research environment devoted mainly to Spanish speakers interested in digital scholarly edition. EVI-LINHD combines different open-source software for developing a complete digital project: (1) a Webbased application markup tool—TEIscribe—combined with an eXistdb solution and a TEIPublisher platform, (2) Omeka for digital libraries, and (3) WordPress for simple Web pages. All these instances are linked to a local installation of the LINDAT/Common Language Resources and Technology Infrastructure (CLARIN) digital repository. LINDAT/CLARIN allows EVI-LINHD users to have their projects deposited and stored safely. Thanks to this solution, EVI-LINHD projects also improve their visibility. The specific metadata profile used in the repository is based on Dublin Core, and it is enriched with the Spanish translation of DARIAH's Taxonomy of Digital Research Activities in the Humanities.


We studied the elemental composition of autopsy tissue samples to characterize the trace element changes induced in various human tissues by uremia. Samples from the United States and Australia, including those from 120 uremic patients who had been on dialysis, 29 uremic patients who had not been on dialysis, and 64 control subjects, were analyzed by x-ray fluorescence. Tissues analyzed were aorta, bone, brain, heart, kidney, liver, lung, muscle, and spleen; elements measured included potassium, calcium, iron, copper, zinc, selenium, bromine, rubidium, strontium, molybdenum, cadmium, tin, and uranium. Uremic abnormalities that were statistically very significant were found, including increases of calcium, strontium, molybdenum, cadmium, and tin and decreases of potassium and rubidium. The distribution of iron, copper, and zinc are altered. We conclude that these abnormalities are primarily the result of the uremia and that, generally, they are neither greatly moderated nor exacerbated by the dialysis procedure.


This paper presents a phase of the research program to determine the feasibility of a proposed CFRP retrofit method to strengthen the corroded concrete filled steel tube columns. This method is wrapping the corroded concrete filled steel tube column with CFRP material. Eight concrete filled steel tube columns were tested in the laboratory with four of them strengthened using the proposed technique. All specimens were notched in the center zone to simulate the loss of section due to corrosion the four of them were wrapped with CFRP composite tubes in the damage area. All specimens were axially loaded to failure while strain and displacement were measured to demonstrate the validity of this repair concept. This paper presents the experimental results and discusses the findings with preliminary conclusions on the feasibility of the proposed strengthening method.


Climate variability and change will definitely stress the rural livelihoods and especially the agropastoral communities in various ways which include, but not limited to, reduction of harvested produce and death of livestock. It is very important for communities to understand the actual and anticipated changes that may affect their livelihood systems to enable them make informsed choices in tackling the adverse impacts. Understanding the factors that make a certain community vulnerable and managing climate related risks opens opportunities for the communities to overcome the challenges hence increase their resilience. This paper presents empirical findings on the opportunities associated with climate variability and change that the agropastoral community in Kieni can pursue to adapt better. House hold survey, key informant interviews and focus group discussions were used to gain insight into what the community has in terms of resources and the opportunities perceived as a result of changing and variable climate. The study revealed that 91% of the agropastoral community are aware of the opportunities brought by climate variability and change. Those opportunities were seen in livelihood diversification including poultry farming, dairy goat farming and dairy cow farming; social and environmental entrepreneurship mainly in agribusiness; technological innovation and development; land use and land management; improved farm production practices; financial and market services; employment and in education. Of the 350 households who were aware of the opportunities, only 67% had taken up one or more, 33% of those households did not utilise any of the perceived opportunities. The research revealed that despite being the majority who perceived opportunities brought by climate variability and change; female headed households had a lower uptake level (48%) as compared to male headed households (52%). Some of the barriers that hinder utilisation of these opportunities include lack of financial capital, lack of knowledge and technological awareness, old age( because majority of the young people have migrated to urban areas in search of employment),health problems, unreliable water supply and hindering market services and credit facilities. Keywords : Livelihoods; climate variability and change; opportunities; Adaptation


[1] Measurements of 7Be and oxygen isotope (18O/16O) ratios from the 1997–1998 SHEBA experiment were used to trace the source of the high heat and freshwater content of the upper ocean observed during the initial occupation of the SHEBA site in October 1997. The evidence suggests that the heating resulted from local input primarily through extended lead coverage in the late spring and summer of 1997 with no requirement of advective input. The freshening was derived from a large ice melt (1.2 m) that was consistent with the thin ice and extensive melt pond coverage (by then frozen) observed at the site. However, a significant contribution to the freshwater budget (0.8 m) included enhanced input from river runoff during the melt season. This obviates the requirement for an unrealistically large ice melt (∼2 m) to account for the freshwater content of the mixed layer, and would have increased the stratification stability of the upper ocean that in turn would have promoted local heating. The question then arises, however, as to the fate of the significant upper ocean heat at SHEBA in the fall 1997 which resulted from an active heating season. Similar evaluation of the fall 1998 SHEBA site indicate that the ice melt was comparable to that of 1997, but the riverine input and stored water column heat were less than in the previous year.


A systematic study on the long-term periodicities of known Galactic cataclysmic variables (CVs) was conducted. Among 1580 known CVs, 344 sources were matched and extracted from the Palomar Transient Factory (PTF) data repository. The PTF light curves were combined with the Catalina Real-Time Transient Survey (CRTS) light curves and analyzed. Ten targets were found to exhibit long-term periodic variability, which is not frequently observed in the CV systems. These long-term variations are possibly caused by various mechanisms, such as the precession of the accretion disk, hierarchical triple star system, magnetic field change of the companion star, and other possible mechanisms. We discuss the possible mechanisms in this study. If the long-term period is less than several tens of days, the disk precession period scenario is favored. However, the hierarchical triple star system or the variations in magnetic field strengths are most likely the predominant mechanisms for longer periods.


Two experiments were conducted to study gastric and small intestinal digestion of soybean glycinin and beta-conglycinin in preruminant calves fed milk replacers containing a mixture of skim milk powder and antigenic heated soybean flour. In experiment 1, duodenal passage of immunoreactive beta-conglycinin lasted for a much longer time after the morning meal than that of glycinin. Western blotting revealed the early abomasal outflow of glycinin subunits that associated nearly intact basic polypeptides to partially degraded acidic polypeptides. Intact beta-conglycinin was evidenced at most sampling times. In experiment 2, intact basic glycinin (M(r) = 21000) associated with partially digested acidic glycinin (7000 < M(r) < 25000) was demonstrated in ileal digesta up to 8-10 h after the meal. beta-Conglycinin immunoreactivity could not be evidenced by Western blotting in ileal digesta.


INTRODUCTION
Periodic spirometric assessment is critical in the health surveillance of workers who are exposed to respiratory pollutants and plays a key role in the prevention of occupational lung diseases.

OBJECTIVES
The aim of this review is to provide updates on the proper spirometry examination procedure and the criteria for data interpretation, in order to correctly diagnose obstructive impairment and longitudinal decline of pulmonary function.

METHODS
A review of the most recent scientific literature was carried out focusing on those papers dealing with spirometric techniques, choice of reference values, and criteria for data interpretation.

RESULTS
Over the years, the use of different diagnostic algorithms and reference values have led to poor clarity among users as well as diagnostic misclassifications.

CONCLUSIONS
For spirometric data reliability it is mandatory to perform appropriate pulmonary function tests, make a correct selection of reference values and use updated interpretive criteria.


Recently semiconductor optical amplifiers have become the device of choice in semiconductor diode laser scenarios which require an external cavity owing to the extremely low facet reflectivity requirement. In this talk, recent results will be presented on the 1) physical operating mechanisms associated with hybrid modelocked diode lasers, 2) the generation of simultaneous 4 wavelength modelocked operation at 2.5 GHz for WDMTDM networks, and 3) the dynamics of all optical clock recovery oscillators using modelocked diode lasers. We will present experimental measurements of the intracavity gain, saturable absorption, intracavity pulse shapes and spectrograms. These results were obtained by taking the compressed output of the modelocked diode laser and reinjecting it into the external cavity and performing time resolved gain and saturable absorption measurements. Intracavity intensity profiles and their corresponding spectrograms were obtained by cross-correlating the intracavity pulses with the compressed output in a LiIO, crystal and monitoring the generated SHG intensity and its spectrum. The results of these measurements show that the nonlinearity associated with gain depletion, coupled with group velocity dispersion leads to the generation of asymmetric pulse shapes with quasi-parabolic instantaneous frequency chirp, while saturable absorption and GVD contribute to linearizing the chirp. The end result of these dynamics produce optical pulses with fast rise edges, with slower trailing edges, which are highly compressible with linear dispersion compensation. We also show these intracavity dynamics can allow for the development of an external cavity modelocked diode laser which can produce 4 independently tunable wavelengths, each modelocked at a repetition rate of 2.5 GHz, producing optical pulses of 12 psec in duration. The tuning characteristics show that the wavelength separation between each channel can be varied between -0.3 nm to over 2 nm, while the 4 wavelength packet can be tuned over 20 nm. This data suggests that operating the laser with over 20 wavelengths should be possible. In addition, preliminary evidence suggests that coherent coupling between the independent wavelength channels exists, owing to intracavity four wave mixing. This is verified by observing four wave mixing sidebands generated directly within the laser cavity, which occupy the identical frequency spectrum as the independently generated wavelength channels. Finally we demonstrate the use of passively modelocked diode lasers as all optical clock recovery oscillators. In these experiments, an optical pulse train is generated from a hybridly modelocked diode laser. By passing the pulse train through a second SOA which is pulse-biased, the optical pulse train can be modulated. Once the optical pulse train is modulated, a small portion of the optical intensity is injected into the optical clock recovery oscillator (passive modelocked diode laser). By varying the duty cycle of the injected pulse train, one can obtain fundamental information regarding the dynamics of the optical clock recovery process. In these experiments we demonstrate a minimum injection power of <6 p,W in order to obtain clock synchronization, with a total jitter of <93 fsec. Measurements of the total fractional locking bandwidth of 3.1K3 of the data clocking rate is obtained, with a large asymmetry in the locking bandwidth owing to causality. In addition, synchronization of 1/50th of the data rate is also achieved without jitter degradation.


Cilia and flagella are eukaryotic organelles involved in multiple cellular functions. The primary cilium is generally non motile and found in numerous vertebrate cell types where it controls key signalling pathways. Despite a common architecture, ultrastructural data suggest some differences in their organisation. Here, we report the first detailed characterisation of the ciliary pocket, a depression of the plasma membrane in which the primary cilium is rooted. This structure is found at low frequency in kidney epithelial cells (IMCD3) but is associated with virtually all primary cilia in retinal pigment epithelial cells (RPE1). Transmission and scanning electron microscopy, immunofluorescence analysis and videomicroscopy revealed that the ciliary pocket establishes closed links with the actin-based cytoskeleton and that it is enriched in active and dynamic clathrin-coated pits. The existence of the ciliary pocket was confirmed in mouse tissues bearing primary cilia (cumulus), as well as motile cilia and flagella (ependymal cells and spermatids). The ciliary pocket shares striking morphological and functional similarities with the flagellar pocket of Trypanosomatids, a trafficking-specialised membrane domain at the base of the flagellum. Our data therefore highlight the conserved role of membrane trafficking in the vicinity of cilia.


We study Sobolev a priori estimates for the optimal transportation $T = \nabla \Phi$ between probability measures $\mu=e^{-V} \ dx$ and $\nu=e^{-W} \ dx$ on $\R^d$. Assuming uniform convexity of the potential $W$ we show that $\int \| D^2 \Phi\|^2_{HS} \ d\mu$, where $\|\cdot\|_{HS}$ is the Hilbert-Schmidt norm, is controlled by the Fisher information of $\mu$. In addition, we prove similar estimate for the $L^p(\mu)$-norms of $\|D^2 \Phi\|$ and obtain some $L^p$-generalizations of the well-known Caffarelli contraction theorem. We establish a connection of our results with the Talagrand transportation inequality. We also prove a corresponding dimension-free version for the relative Fisher information with respect to a Gaussian measure.


The present crisis in sociology: a way beyond spurious pluralism?

At the end of the 20th century the state of sociology gives cause for serious con¬cern. The main reasons for this concern can be stated in three features of contem¬porary sociology: First, there is a manifest lack of integration of research and theory. This is a long-standing difficulty, but what makes it worse today than pre¬viously is, that it is now less often seen as a serious problem. Second, there is an evident collective failure among sociolo¬gists to decide just what kind of discip¬line sociology is or ought to be. For some sociology should aim to be a social scien¬ce and to have therefore well-defined links with other social sciences, such as economics and political science, and al¬so human sciences. For others such aspi¬rations represent an outmoded "posi¬tivsm". If sociology is to be thought of as a social science at all then it must be one of a distinctive kind; and the crucial inter¬disciplinary links should be with cer¬tains kinds of philosophy and with cul¬tural studies. Third and finally, there is disagreement about how the disagree¬ments on the nature of sociology should itself be viewed.
Despite the state of intellectual disar¬ray today´s sociology has some signifi¬cant achievements which can be charac¬terised as success stories and two are mentioned in the article. The first suc¬cess story is about the quantitative soci¬al research: more specifically, research that involves both data collection and da¬ta analysis that are based on statistical methods and on the theory of probability. Through statistical modelling know¬ledge about important social regularities has been established and these social re¬gularities are of major theoretical signi¬ficance. The modelling has typically ena¬bled sociologists to separate out more clearly than before what are the probabi¬litic regularities inherent in complex da¬ta-sets.
The second success story of sociology is that of the theory of social action. Today, if we want to have an effective kind of sociological theory then it will be a theory of social action of some kind or other. Two developments lead to this conclu¬sion. The first is the evident collapse of functionalist theory over the last two to three decades. For functionalism to have explanatory power it is necessary that the systems which are taken as the units of analysis should exists in a selective environment; i. e. there must be the possi¬bility that the systems will in some sense fail to survive. Then it becomes possible to explain their constituent feature by re¬ference to their "survival value". This ap¬proach underlines the need for sociologi¬cal explannation to have a "micro-foun¬dation": i.e. to comprise not only "macro¬-to-micro" link but a "micro-to-macro" link as well. We need to return to the in¬dividualistic tradition in sociology. The second argument goes as following: Wi¬thin the individualistic tradition, theory based on the concept of action has in fact shown much greater promise than the main alternative has: i. e. theory based on the concept of behaviour. The attempts to revitalise the individualistic tradition via the theory of social action has proved rewarding and it seems to be around rational action theory that we may best try to build up a more general theory of social action.
Through the statistical modelling ba¬sed on data collection and the theory of probability on the one hand and through developing a theory of rational social ac¬tion within the individualistic tradition on the other hand we might be able to overcome the present difficulties of socio¬logy as a science.


The distribution of ingested bacteria in nanoflagellates was assessed to suggest whether or not there are subgroups of grazers with different grazing rates. Several discrete random distributions were compared to the distribution of ingested fluorescently labeled bacteria (FLB) in cultures of Rhynchomonas nasuta and Paraphysomonas vestita. Sample distributions typically fit both the Poisson with extra zeros (Poisson EZ, tested as a truncated Poisson) and negative binomial, but only occasionally fit a Poisson. Both the Poisson EZ and the negative binomial distributions suggest a heterogeneous population composed of subgroups of flagellates with different grazing rates. Although these models provide acceptable mathematical descriptions, their specific biological implications with regard to the number of flagellate subgroups remain to be proven. Based on fit of the distribution of ingested prey to a Poisson EZ, a rapid cytometnc method for estimation of grazing rates on FLB is presented. The method uses changes in the probability of grazers not ingesting FLB during short incubations (ca 15 rnin) to estimate the Poisson parameter and the fraction of extra zeros, from which the average grazing rate is calculated. Grazing rates determined by microscopy and by this cytometry method were similar. Frequency distributions of cytometric histograms of fluorescent microspheres in grazers suggest that both the Poisson EZ and negative binomial models are simplifications of a more complex distribution of grazing rates.


In this paper, a solution to realize a low-power programmable frequency divider using dynamic logic is proposed. By cascading compact dual-modulus divider slice with recursive feedback mechanisms, any dividing ratio is easily implemented. A 5-stages 0.18 mum CMOS implementation demonstrates a power consumption factor as low as 235 nW/MHz under 1.2 V supply for high dividing ratios.


Large-scale funding by both the Government and the private sector continues in support of the Working-for-Water Programme, which is active in many regions of the country. One justification for this programme of alien tree removal is the streamflow enhancement that is believed to follow the replacement of dense stands of invasive trees by indigenous, largely herbaceous or shrub dominated plant communities. Often the densest stands of invader trees occur within riparian zones, where removal of trees in close proximity to stream channels is believed to strongly enhance streamflow. Few data are available, however, to support this assumption. Results from a number of research catchments have consistently shown that afforestation significantly decreases streamflow where the pre-afforestation vegetation was seasonally dormant mountain grassland or fynbos (Versfeld, 1994). The net difference in evapotranspiration (ET) between riparian thickets of alien trees and riparian fynbos may be quite different, due to the yearlong availability of soil water and enhanced plant growth in riparian zones. The water use of alien invasive trees in South Africa remains largely unknown, adding further uncertainty to the effect of alien removal on streamflow. This paper describes the results of a comparative study of annual ET between indigenous riparian plant communities and riparian wattle thickets (Acacia mearnsii() at four sites in the Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal. The Bowen ratio energy balance (BREB) technique was used to record a 12-month record of 20 min evaporation rates from a fynbos riparian plant community in the Jonkershoek valley (Western Cape), and a grassland riparian community on the property Gilboa in the KwaZulu-Natal midlands. Closed-canopy, mature stands of self-established (A. mearnsii( in the Wellington and Groot Drakenstein areas of the Western Cape were selected to provide comparative transpiration data. The heat pulse velocity (HPV) technique was used to record hourly sap-flow rates in six sample trees representing the range of tree sizes at both wattle sites. Total daily sap flow in all sample trees experiencing adequate soil water availability was found to be very closely correlated to tree size and an index defined as the product of mean daily vapour pressure deficit (VPD) of the air and the number of daylight hours. These relationships were used to predict the water use of wattle thickets at Jonkershoek and Gilboa, using VPD and day-length data recorded at these sites. Published estimates of canopy rainfall interception were added to the sap flow (transpiration) component to yield a combined annual ET to compare to the BREB ET data. Table 1 summarises the annual evapotranspiration at each site. (table***) We conclude that the removal of riparian wattle and its replacement by indigenous herbaceous plants may indeed result in significant reductions in annual ET, and could very likely lead to streamflow enhancement. However, this study has clearly shown that annual ET varies considerably in different riparian plant communities, and that one must consider the structural and physiological characteristics of both the pre-clearing and post-clearing vegetation in order to predict the net change in ET. This conclusion supports an earlier view (Versfeld et al., 1998) that an improved methodology of general applicability is required to enhance the accuracy of water use predictions for a wide range of alien and indigenous plant communities. Such predictions are important to prioritise clearing operations in areas invaded by alien trees. WaterSA Vol.27(4) 2001: 529-538


Background: Recently, identification and functional studies of circular RNAs, a type of non-coding RNAs arising from a ligation of 3' and 5' ends of a linear RNA molecule, were conducted in mammalian cells with the development of RNA-seq technology. Method: Since compared with animals, studies on circular RNAs in plants are less thorough, a genome-wide identification of circular RNA candidates in Arabidopsis was conducted with our own developed bioinformatics tool to several existing RNA-seq datasets specifically for non-coding RNAs. Results: A total of 164 circular RNA candidates were identified from RNA-seq data, and 4 circular RNA transcripts, including both exonic and intronic circular RNAs, were experimentally validated. Interestingly, our results show that circular RNA transcripts are enriched in the photosynthesis system for the leaf tissue and correlated to the higher expression levels of their parent genes. Sixteen out of all 40 genes that have circular RNA candidates are related to the photosynthesis system, and out of the total 146 exonic circular RNA candidates, 63 are found in chloroplast.


The effect of primary bone grafts on craniofacial growth was evaluated in adult patients with complete unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP).The subjects were 18 UCLP patients with primary bone grafts and a control group of 36 UCLP patients without bone grafts. The former received primary transplantation of autogenous rib bone simultaneously with primary cheiloplasty by the same surgeon between 1963 and 1969. Frontal and lateral cephalograms taken after 16 years of age were traced. Skeletal landmarks were Identified on them, and their x,y-coordinates were digitized. The effects of gender and/or primary bone graft on the craniofacial morphology were tested by ANOVA using 21 angles, 8 breadths, 13 distances, and 2 ratios. Nasal cavity breadth was wider in the primary bone grafted group. However, the anterior maxilla in that group was more upward and retruded than that in the nongrafted group. The primary bone grafted group was divided into two subgroups based on the overjet of the incisors: group N = normal overjet; group C = anterior cross-bite. There was no difference in the maxilla between groups N and C. However, the mandible in group C was more anterior and superior than in group N. In conclusion, primary bone graft may impede maxillary horizontal and vertical growth to a certain degree, and severe anterior cross-bite in primary bone grafted subjects may be brought about by mandibular closure.


IN the present article an account is given of a skin disease with ocular manifestations. At the beginning the skin disease was diagnosed as lentigenes and the eye-affection was suggested to be a melanoma bulbi. Observation of the clinical picture, however, and later familial investigations, gave clear evidence of a close connection between the two affections, and the condition became recognised 'as xeroderma pigmentosum (x.p.). X.p. belongs to the so-called actinic dermatoses, and is a rare disease in this part of the world. From the present work it clearly appears that in the initial stage of the disease the diagnosis may be difficult. Here the condition has been described' from its first manifestation up to the fully developed clinical picture. The term lentigenes has been made to describe from pinhead to lentil-seed-sized, brownish maculae, considerably darker than freckles. They may be sitting close together or. singly, and so they may be scattered all over the body. They are not congenital, but appear in the growing age. Lentigenes, in contrast to ephelides, are fairly uninfluenced by light. A melanoma is, according to G. Miescher, a new-growth having the power of forming melanin. There are malignant and benign forms of these tumours. Distinction is further made between epidermogenic and cutaneous forms and those proceeding from the mucous membranes. Examples of epidermogenic melanomas are naevi spili, ephelides and lentigenes. " Mongolenfleck ", and, " Der blaue Naevus " (Jadassohn) are cutaneous forms. Melanomas also occur on the eye, and seem to have three sites of predilection: the corneal limbus, the lacrimal caruncle and the palpebral border. They may be malignant or benign. A benign melanoma may suddenly become malignant, and in these conditions it has been claimed that external factors (traumas) are of some importance in the transition to malignancy. Schieck declares that the suspicibn of malignancy should be specially strong where a macula suddenly begins to grow in an individual past the age of 30 years. Special attention should also be paid to tumours presenting marked pigmentary irregularities or


The intercalating growth of new silicate layers or metal hydroxide layers in the interlayer space of other clay minerals is known from various mixed-layer clay minerals such as illite-smectite (I-S), chlorite-vermiculite, and mica-vermiculite. In a recent study, the present authors proposed that smectitegroup minerals can be synthesized from solution as new 2:1 silicate layers within the low-charge interlayers of rectorite. That study showed how oxalate catalyzes the crystallization of saponite from a silicate gel at low temperatures (60ºC) and ambient pressure. As an extension of this work the aim of the present study was to test the claim that new 2:1 silicate layers can be synthesized as new intercalating layers in the low-charge interlayers of rectorite and whether oxalate could promote such an intercalation synthesis. Two experiments were conducted at 60ºC and atmospheric pressure. First, disodium oxalate solution was added to a suspension of rectorite in order to investigate the effects that oxalate anions have on the structure of rectorite. In a second experiment, silicate gel of saponitic composition (calculated interlayer charge -0.33 eq/O10(OH)2) was mixed with a suspension of rectorite and incubated in disodium oxalate solution. The synthesis products were extracted after 3 months and analyzed by X-ray diffraction and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). The treatment of ultrathin sections with octadecylammonium (nC =18) cations revealed the presence of 2:1 layer silicates with different interlayer charges that grew from the silicate gel. The oxalate-promoted nucleation of saponite and talc crystallites on the rectorite led to the alteration and ultimately to the destruction of the rectorite structure. The change was documented in HRTEM lattice-fringe images. The crystallization of new 2:1 layer silicates also occurred within the expandable interlayers of rectorite but not as new 2:1 silicate layers parallel to the previous 2:1 silicate layers. Instead, they grew independently of any orientation predetermined by the rectorite crystal substrate and their crystallization was responsible for the destruction of the rectorite structure.


We use regime switching and regression tree methods to evaluate performance in the risk premia strategies provided by Deutsche Bank and constructed from U.S. research data from the Fama French library. The regime switching method uses the Baum-Welch algorithm at its core and splits return data into a normal and a turbulent regime. Each regime is independently evaluated for risk and the estimates are then weighted together according to the expected value of the proceeding regime. The regression tree methods identify macro-economic states in which the risk premia perform well or poorly and use these results to allocate between risk premia strategies. The regime switching method proves to be mostly unimpressive but has its results boosted by investing less into risky assets as the probability of an upcoming turbulent regime becomes larger. This proves to be highly effective for all time periods and for both data sources. The regression tree method proves the most effective when making the assumption that we know all macro-economic data the same month as it is valid for. Since this is an unrealistic assumption the best method seems to be to evaluate the performance of the risk premia strategy using macro-economic data from the previous quarter.


We re-examined the sensitivity and specificity of 31 PCR assays (including four commercially available and developed in-house methods) for the identification of Campylobacter species, with particular reference to taxa described since 2004, which are closely related to C. jejuni and C. coli, the pathogenic species of most interest. Each of the assays was used by at least one of the participating nine laboratories in eight countries. The sensitivity and specificity of these PCR assays examined varied considerably and ranged from 100% to 0% for sensitivity and 100% to 55% for specificity. None of the three assays examined for C. lari were successful in detecting all strains of this species, possibly reflecting its complex taxonomy. A number of assays for C. jejuni, C. coli, and a subgroup of enteropathogenic campylobacters, were found to yield false positive results for Campylobacter species described since PCR tests were reported, including C. cuniculorum, C. subantarcticus, C. peloridis and C. volucris. Our study supports the need for attention to detail in initial PCR assay design and evaluation, and also for on-going revalidation of laboratory assays to ensure that diagnoses are correct. Recommendations to guide the revalidation process are presented.


In the words of late Professor Moshe Kochavi, the Philistine repository pit at Yavneh is the kind of discovery made only once every fifty years. It is the richest repository pit ever found from Bronze and Iron Ages Israel/Palestine, containing thousands of cultic finds originating from a temple, including an unprecedented number – more than a hundred – of cult stands (so-called 'architectural models') carrying rich figurative art, dozens of fire-pans, chalices and other objects. The present volume includes the full publication of the excavation, the stratigraphy, the cult stands and the figures detached from cult stands, several clay and stone altars and some pottery vessels related to burning of plant material, most likely incense.
This exceptional book raises a host of highly important and intriguing questions. Is this a favissa, or even a genizah? Why are many cult stands badly broken, while some are intact – were cult stands broken on purpose? What is the explanation for the unique stratigraphy and for the layer of gray ash in the pit – was fire kindled inside as part of a ritual? How do we know that these finds are Philistine? Are they part of the 'furniture' of the temple or objects dedicated by worshipers as votives? Do the figures on the cult stands represent mortal beings, or divinities? If divinities, can we relate them with Biblical or extra-biblical data on the gods of the Philistines? What was the function/s of cult stands? Were they models of buildings, supports for images, offerings tables, altars, or perhaps incense burners? Why are female figures dominant, while male figures are virtually absent? In discussing such topics, Yavneh I treats issues that are central to many fields of study: religion and cult in Iron Age Israel/Palestine; the history and archaeology of the Philistines and their 'western' relations; Near Eastern iconography, the meaning of cult stands/architectural models and the understanding of votive objects and of repository pits in general.
Literally salvaged from the teeth of the bulldozer, these rare finds are now published. Generations of scholars will discuss and reinterpret them – there is no 'final word' for such finds and hence, this final excavation volume is not an end, but a beginning.


In recent years, the resolution of remotely sensed imagery has become increasingly high in both the spectral and spatial domains, which simultaneously provides more plentiful spectral and spatial information. Accordingly, the accurate interpretation of high-resolution imagery depends on effective integration of the spectral, structural and semantic features contained in the images. In this paper, we propose a new multifeature model, aiming to construct a support vector machine (SVM) ensemble combining multiple spectral and spatial features at both pixel and object levels. The features employed in this study include a gray-level co-occurrence matrix, differential morphological profiles, and an urban complexity index. Subsequently, three algorithms are proposed to integrate the multifeature SVMs: certainty voting, probabilistic fusion, and an object-based semantic approach, respectively. The proposed algorithms are compared with other multifeature SVM methods including the vector stacking, feature selection, and composite kernels. Experiments are conducted on the hyperspectral digital imagery collection experiment DC Mall data set and two WorldView-2 data sets. It is found that the multifeature model with semantic-based postprocessing provides more accurate classification results (an accuracy improvement of 1-4% for the three experimental data sets) compared to the voting and probabilistic models.


[1] Recent research has revealed that the plan view evolution of a coast due to gradients in alongshore sediment transport is highly dependant upon the angles at which waves approach the shore, giving rise to an instability in shoreline shape that can generate different types of naturally occurring coastal landforms, including capes, flying spits, and alongshore sand waves. This instability merely requires that alongshore sediment flux is maximized for a given deepwater wave angle, a maximum that occurs between 35 and 50 for several common alongshore sediment transport formulae. Here we introduce metrics that sum over records of wave data to quantify the long-term stability of wave climates and to investigate how wave climates change along a coast. For Long Point, a flying spit on the north shore of Lake Erie, Canada, wave climate metrics suggest that unstable waves have shaped the spit and, furthermore, that smaller-scale alongshore sand waves occur along the spit at the same locations where the wave climate becomes unstable. A shoreline aligned along the trend of the Carolina Capes, United States, would be dominated by high-angle waves; numerical simulations driven by a comparable wave climate develop a similarly shaped cuspate coast. Local wave climates along these simulated capes and the Carolina Capes show similar trends: Shoreline reorientation and shadowing from neighboring capes causes most of the coast to experience locally stable wave climates despite regional instability.


During a system engineering process there are an important number of tasks that need to be organized, mapped together and recursively considered. The tasks that are mapped together are exchanging different flows of information and material. In this type of iterative processes, significant savings in term of development time can be made by providing a method that is optimizing the amount of feedbacks and iterations to the minimal level simply required for the successful development of the system. Task scheduling in a system engineering process can become extremely complex. Nevertheless it is a crucial step of the early stages of the systems engineering process for time-to-market, cost-efficiency and quality reasons. In this article, the authors are proposing to combine a computational approach (Discrete Differential Evolution) with Model Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) for minimizing iterations and reducing lead-time development. The present article is contributing to recent research works using Design Structure Matrixes (DSM) and computational methods for visualizing and analyzing systems engineering processes. The paper is proposing a framework integrating a model-based approach and a DSM based analysis of the process architecture to assist system engineers in organizing and scheduling tasks. As a result, this framework allows engineers to automatically populate DSMs generated from MBSE models developed in SysML. A specific stereotype is proposed to represent system development tasks in SysML. The sequencing of the engineering tasks is optimized with the application of a Discrete Differential Evolution algorithm (DDE) taking into account the different constraints. The practical use of the proposed framework is demonstrated on the case study of a mobile robot developed for the Eurobot competition. The article also discusses the possibility to use the current framework to analyze the impact of requirement changes on the scheduling of development tasks.


Abstract— Autism has been neurobiology developmental disorder experienced by a person since birth or toddler that makes him unable to form social interaction and communication (language and speech), having emotional behavior problems, sensory and motoric disturbances and abnormal or delayed development. This condition leads people with autism to being insulated with other persons and entering the repetitive world, obsessive activities and interests. Autism therapy using dolphins to produce ultrasonic waves of certain frequencies can help aligning the work function of motor and sensory nerves of people with autism. Detection and analysis of the characteristics of ultrasonic waves generated by dolphins on several conditions required to remove the background noises created by water and breathing sound from a dolphin (hiss and noise reduction). Keyword – Autism, Neurobiology, Interaction, Sensory, Ultrasonic


Synthesis carbon nanofibers from V-type pyrolysis flame use simple carbon monoxide and acetylene /air premixed flame. Catalyst is transported by helium into the burner. The carbon nanofibers from the sampling probe were characterized by scanning electron microscope and transmission electron microscope. The influence of the fuel equivalence ratio and the flow of carbon monoxide were discussed in detail to reveal the formation rule of carbon nanofiber from the pyrolysis flame. The results indicate that carbon monoxide is a good carbon source gas for the preparation of carbon nanofibers. Under appropriate temperature and optimized flow of carbon monoxide, carbon nanofibers with good quality can be prepared from the V-type pyrolysis flame. It can be concluded that this flame method is effective for the preparation of carbon nanofibers.


"Service delivery is the specialty of the city government. The more competently it performs this function, the greater will be its bargaining power in Albany and Washington. Successful local program management and supportive local constit uents in this urban colossus cannot be ignored by other governments ... This, therefore, is the problem-rich prospect for New York as it enters the 1970s. On the positive side, however, there are a diversified, resilient and growing economy, and a long record of comparative political stability. One may optimistically hope that the present period is one of growing pains...."


Our patient, a 23-year-old white woman with congenital rubella syndrome, presented with claudication and upper extremity hypertension. To our knowledge this is the first patient with congenital rubella syndrome to present with an abdominal coarctation. Since 75% of the patients with abdominal coarctation are young women, this may be only a chance association.


The efficiency of the high speed milling process is often limited by the occurrence of chatter. In order to predict the occurrence of chatter, accurate models are necessary. In most models regarding milling, the cutter is assumed to follow a circular tooth path. However, the real tool path is trochoidal in the ideal case, i.e. without vibrations of the tool. Therefore, models using a circular tool path lead to errors, especially when the cutting angle is close to 0 or pi radians. An updated model for the milling process is presented which features a model of the undeformed chip thickness and a time-periodic delay. In combination with this tool path model, a nonlinear cutting force model is used, to include the dependency of the chatter boundary on the feed rate. The stability of the milling system, and hence the occurrence of chatter, is investigated using both the traditional and the trochoidal model by means of the semi-discretisation method. Due to the combination of this updated tool path model with a nonlinear cutting force model, the periodic solution of this system, representing a chatter-free process, needs to be computed before the stability can be investigated. This periodic solution is computed using a finite difference method for delay-differential equations. Especially for low immersion cuts, the stability lobes diagram (SLD) using the updated model shows significant differences compared to the SLD using the traditional model. Also the use of the nonlinear cutting force model results in significant differences in the SLD compared to the linear cutting force model.


This study is aimed to assess the bioequivalence of five generic ciprofloxacin tablets from different manufacturer using in vitro dissolution study under biowaiver conditions by RP-HPLC. Dissolution media were USP buffer solutions at pH 1.2 (hydrochloric acid solution), pH 4.5 (acetate buffer solution), and pH 6.8 (phosphate buffer solution). Other general quality assessment tests of these tablets like weight variation, hardness, friability, disintegration time and assay were also determined according to established methods. All brands complied with the official specification for uniformity of weight, friability and disintegration time. Assay of selected tablets revealed that all samples contained over 99% (w/w) of labeled chemical content. The dissolution profiles showed no significant inter brand and intra brand variability. Dissolution results of all the tablet formulations and the innovator brand were further analyzed with difference factor (f1), similarity factor (f2), dissolution efficiency and dunnet,s test. These results indicated that all generic ciprofloxacin tablets included in this investigation were bioequivalent with the chosen innovator brand and so may be used interchangeably.


If we knew more about "music" as a human capability and its potential as an intellectual and affective force in human communication, society, and culture, we could use it more generally to enhance general education and to build peaceful, egalitarian, and prosperous societies in the twenty-first century, just as our prehistoric ancestors once used it to invent the cultures from which all civilisations evolved. (Blacking, 1995, p. 242) In December 2008 I travelled to Sierra Leone to undertake research into the role of music in effective health promotion. Situated on the coast of West Africa, Sierra Leone sits at the bottom of the UNDP human development index, and has the highest maternal mortality rates in the world; the country is recovering from a ten-year civil war which decimated infrastructure and traumatised the nation. These facts notwithstanding, I took as my premise that music continues to be a vibrant part of Sierra Leonean culture, and has a key role to play in promoting good health, but that its full potential has yet to be fully harnessed. My field research was funded by a Gerry Farrell Scholarship, awarded by the Society for Education, Music and Psychology Research (SEMPRE). This paper follows on from my field research; through a combination of ethnographic method, musical and textual analysis, and insights from the ethnomusicology literature, I examine the different ways in which music can be used to promote health and well-being in rural post-conflict Sierra Leone.


Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) are new generation of wireless networks which have many potential applications and unique challenges. Some of their most important problems are their hard organization and management, limited resources, dynamic topology and scalability. One significant technique against to these problems is clustering. Clustering leads to more scalability, energy efficiency, prolonged network lifetime and easy management of large-scale WSNs. As a result, this paper is focused on WSNs' clustering and it be represented a new centralized clustering algorithm for homogenous and large-scale WSNs. The proposed clustering algorithm is based on calculating distances between sensor nodes, Distance Average (DA) between each node and other nodes, finding distance average range, dividing it into K sub-range and selecting associated nodes of each sub-range. The proposed algorithm using of the WSN's sensor nodes deployment location coordinates. Also, all of these calculations will be done by Sink through using of mathematical and statistical formula, in centralized. This work enables us to verify the purpose and capabilities of the WSNs and clustering techniques. Also, it would enable WSNs' designers and managers to design, organize and manage WSNs, more significantly.


In Publishing the Family June Howard turns a study of the collaborative novel The Whole Family into a lens through which to examine American literature and culture at the beginning of the twentieth century. Striving to do equal justice to historical particulars and the broad horizons of social change, Howard reconsiders such categories of analysis as authorship, genre, and periodization. In the process, she offers a new method for cultural studies and American studies at the beginning of the twenty-first century.

Publishing the Family describes the sources and controversial outcome of a fascinating literary experiment. Howard embeds the story of The Whole Family in the story of Harper & Brothers' powerful and pervasive presence in American cultural life, treating the publisher, in effect, as an author.

Each chapter of Publishing the Family casts light on some aspect of life in the United States at a moment that arguably marked the beginning of our own era. Howard revises common views of the turn-of-the-century literary marketplace and discusses the perceived crisis in the family as well as the popular and expert discourses that emerged to remedy it. She also demonstrates how creative women like Bazar editor Elizabeth Jordan blended their own ideas about the "New Woman" with traditional values. Howard places these analyses in the framework of far-reaching historical changes, such as the transformation of the public meaning of emotion and "sentimentality." Taken together, the chapters in Publishing the Family show how profoundly the modern mapping of social life relies on boundaries between family and business, culture and commerce, which The Whole Family and Publishing the Family constantly unsettle.

Publishing the Family will interest students and scholars of American history, literature, and culture, as well as those studying gender, sexuality, and the family.


The M-15 has been the most important movement that Spain has seen in the past years. This article analyzes the M-15 phenomenon by studying the four elements that are believed to be at the root of its causes and of the enormous social support it attained. Secondary data analysis was used to study blockage of public debate, how social media accelerate political impact, activist groups and the unrest of Spanish society. Analyzing public opinion concluded in an understanding that crisis management caused the economic issue in the crisis to become a social issue, which later evolved into a political issue expressed in an overall restlessness towards the political situation and the government. The onset of the M-15 was an asset to the eruption of the unrest that had accumulated, turning a small act of protest organized by minority groups into a wave of citizen rejection.


We report the case of a 50-year-old woman who was admitted to the hospital for acute abdominal pain with nephrotic proteinuria, rapidly progressive renal failure, and moderate anemia. Laboratory tests showed mild Bence Jones (λ) proteinuria with negative serum immunofixation and a mild increase in λ free light chains. A bone marrow biopsy and a fat tissue aspirate showed multiple myeloma and amyloidosis. Because of the end-stage renal disease, the patient began regular dialysis treatment and was started on bortezomib 1.3 mg/m2 plus dexamethasone 40 mg on days 1, 4, 8 and 11 of 21-day cycles. Ten days later she complained of a new episode of abdominal pain with jaundice. A CT scan and an MRI scan ruled out all secondary causes of cholangitis including cancer. Acute intrahepatic cholestasis due to amyloid deposition was then hypothesized. After 4 well tolerated cycles of bortezomib and dexamethasone, blood tests showed a complete hematological response with full reversal of cholestasis. After three months, a new episode of abdominal pain occurred and this time the patient was operated on and found to have an intestinal volvulus. Because of the jaundice, a transjugular liver biopsy was performed showing no evidence of amyloid deposits. Two months later the patient died of septic shock. Although no autopsy was performed and the ultimate cause of the cholestasis could not be ascertained, amyloidosis remains the major culprit in this unfortunate case.


This presentation will reflect on the experience of teaching formal methods in an industrial context. Our experience includes teaching formal specification using Z and program verification using the SPARK language and tools. Our results are surprisingly positive - industrial engineers (from a wide range of academic backgrounds) seem capable of taking on and applying these notations and techniques. The presentation will also offer some reflection on tools and how they present formal techniques to their users.


Many organophosphorus compounds are irreversible inhibitors of acetylcholinesterase. The methods used in the literature to determine the inhibition kinetic constants usually involve either manual determination of the slope at various points along the inhibition progress curve or fitting polynomials to the curve. The present study investigates the use of non-linear-regression analysis to determine the various parameters. A method is suggested that yields accurate values for the inhibition constants under a range of circumstances.


Atherosclerosis is an inflammatory disease of the blood vessel wall, characterized in early stages by endothelial dysfunction, recruitment and activation of monocyte/macrophages. Glimepiride is one of the third generation sulphonylurea drugs useful for control of diabetes mellitus type two and it may exert anti inflammatory activity by induction of nitric oxide production or through selective suppression of the cyclooxygenase pathway . Repaglinide is a new hypoglycemic agent, a member of the carbamoylmethyl benzoic acid family. Some results from the literature demonstrate that repaglinide has a favorable effect on the parameters of antioxidative balance.

 Objectives:
 The objective of present study was to assess the effect of glimepiride and repaglinide on atherosclerosis via interfering with inflammatory and oxidative pathways.

 Methods:
 twenty four local domestic male rabbits were involved in this study. The animals were randomly divided into four groups;
 Group I
 rabbits fed normal chow (oxiod) diet for 10 weeks.
 Group II
 rabbits fed with 1% cholesterol enriched diet. Group III rabbits fed with 1% cholesterol enriched diet together with Glimepiride (0.1mg/kg once daily before morning feed).
 Group IV
 rabbits fed with 1% cholesterol enriched diet together with Repaglinide (0.3mg/kg once daily before morning feed). Blood samples were collected before (0 time) and every two weeks of experimental diets for measurement of serum triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), HDL-C, high sensitive C - reactive protein (hsCRP), IL-6 and TNF-α level. At the end of 10weeks the aorta was removed for measurement of aortic Malondialdehyde (MDA), reduced glutathione (GSH) and aortic intimal thickness.

 Results:
 Glimepiride and repaglinide treatment did show significant effect on lipid parameters compared with induced untreated group (
 P
 > 0.05).Also they were significantly reduced the elevation in hsCRP, IL-6, TNF-α, aortic MDA and aortic intimal thickness compared with induced untreated group (
 P
 < 0.05),and they restore aortic GSH level (
 P
 < 0.05) .

 Conclusions:
 Glimepiride and repaglinide may reduce atherosclerosis progression in hypercholesterolemic rabbit via interfering with inflammatory and oxidative pathways without affecting lipid parameters.