This is the only book about the health and well being of young people leaving care, bringing together two funded leaving care research studies, one with co-researcher Lesley Saunders, and the other with co-researcher Maddy Monaghan. The health focus of the research gives this publication its unique position in the leaving care literature. The research studies' statistical and qualitative methodologies, including peer research, lend the book its strength, credibility, and wide appeal. Its important theoretical underpinnings are two-fold; methodological, deriving from grounded and triangulation theories, and its social inclusion framework, for comprehending health and well being.


Peer review needs recognition at every stage of scientific life

Peer review matters. Why? Firstly, scientific assertions can't be proved; they can only be disproved. The doubts raised by peer reviewers are therefore a crucial element in scientific reasoning.More specifically, as Francis Bacon put it in 1605, the "registering and posting of doubts has a double use:" it not only guards us "against errors," but also furthers the process of inquiry, causing issues that would otherwise be "passed by lightly without intervention" to be "attentively and carefully observed." Moreover, since scientific findings effectively don't exist until they're in written form, the doubts raised during editorial peer review come at a particularly crucial step in the overall scientific process.1 Secondly, the exchange of information for professional recognition is the principal instrument of social control within the scientific community.2 Approval by peer review is perhaps the single most powerful expression of that recognition. Thirdly, and more pragmatically, journal editors depend heavily on peer review to accomplish their two main tasks—selecting papers and improving their quality1 3—even though editors themselves are apparently the source of substantive improvements to manuscripts more often than either peer reviewers or statisticians. …


The present study was a retrospective chart review (N=128) that investigated the efficacy of profiles derived from the three factors of the Eating Inventory® test (EI) - cognitive restraint, disinhibition, and hunger - to predict successful weight loss in post surgical laparoscopic banding patients at 6 and 9 months post surgery. Although the EI is commonly used in bariatric presurgical assessment, few studies have found consistent relationships between presurgical factor scores and subsequent weight loss in this population. Based on restraint theory, 7 profiles (high CR, super high CR, high D, super high D, high H, super high H, and null) were derived from the raw scores on the subscales of the EI and tested for weight loss predictive ability using direct logistic regression. Results were mixed with high CR, super high CR, and null profiles accurately predicting successful weight loss. Raw scores on the three factors (cognitive restraint, disinhibition, and hunger) were tested individually for predictive ability using direct logistic regression. Overall results indicated that the profile model accurately predicted more cases than the general factor model. This study significantly contributes to both the bariatric presurgical assessment literature and the restraint theory literature. Suggestions for future research are offered.


Abstract Collaboration between stakeholders plays an important role in natural resource management (NRM). It is particularly key to managing water resources, which often cross jurisdictional boundaries and are typically managed by multiple stakeholders. The role of social capital in making NRM collaborations successful has also been recognised. In this paper, we explore the development of social capital in NRM governance networks through an analysis of the Actions for Clean Water (ACWA) project, a collaborative NRM planning process in the Upper Murrumbidgee Catchment, southeastern Australia. We argue that the success of collaborative processes like ACWA is related to the strength of linkages between stakeholders, and the stocks of social capital that these linkages contribute to. We further suggest that collaborative processes can stimulate linkages between participating organisations, paving the way for further collaboration and facilitating the integrated management of water resources. However, their ability to do so is strongly influenced by the geographical, historical, institutional, political and economic contexts in which they are embedded. These contextual factors must be taken into account if natural resource managers are to design collaborative processes that can strengthen governance networks and improve water resource management outcomes in a climate change future.


Many of simulation analysis were carried out under the complex conditions, and in general it will use some viable treatment, so get the reliable results. However, some external force rather complex or can not be directly measured, and some material properties is complex and can not be described by existing parameters, then the direct simulation analysis is not feasible and must have a different effective treatment. This paper narrates the comprehensive simulation analysis of mold cavity and core deformation with complex force by some analysis soft wares, and carries out data processing, data transmission, and gets the final feasible results, it can provide a reference example for the similar situation. Then explores the main issues about the performance of clad metal for simulate analysis, and holds that the relevant performance parameters obtained by experiment and simulation combined are also effective and feasible.


This study is aimed at characterising the structure, dynamics and thermophysical properties of five alkylammonium carboxylate ionic liquids (ILs) from classical molecular dynamics simulations. The structural features of these ILs were characterised by calculating the site-site radial distribution functions, g(r), spatial distribution functions and structure factors. The structural properties demonstrate that ILs show greater interaction between cations and anions when alkyl chain length increases on the cation or anion. In all ILs, spatial distribution functions show that the anion is close to the acidic hydrogen atoms of the ammonium cation. We determined the role of alkyl group functionalization of the charged entities, cations and anions, in the dynamical behavior and the transport coefficients of this family of ionic liquids. The dynamics of ILs are described by studying the mean square displacement (MSD) of the centres of mass of the ions, diffusion coefficients, ionic conductivities and hydrogen bonds as well as residence dynamics. The diffusion coefficients and ionic conductivity decrease with an increase in the size of the cation or anion. The effect of alkyl chain length on ionic conductivity calculated in this article is consistent with the findings of other experimental studies. Hydrogen bond lifetimes and residence times along with structure factors were also calculated, and are related to alkyl chain length.


Abstract Research suggests that victim cooperation is a strong predictor of arrest and prosecution in sexual assault cases. Relatively little research has focused on identifying the factors that shape the decision to cooperate and the research that does exist is largely atheoretical. We address these gaps by examining victim cooperation using a revised version of the focal concerns perspective. We use data on cases reported to law enforcement agencies in Los Angeles to estimate models using factors situated within three victim focal concerns—crime seriousness, costs of cooperation, and likelihood of conviction—for three stages of the case process. We supplement these results with qualitative data from police reports regarding the reasons why victims refused to cooperate. The findings of this study provide initial support for the theoretical development of victim cooperation using the focal concerns perspective and provide potential guidance to criminal justice practitioners on how to increase victim cooperation.


Resolving the identity, phylogeny, and distribution of cryptic species within species complexes is an essential precursor to management. The bonnethead shark, Sphyrna tiburo, is a small coastal shark distributed in the Western Atlantic from North Carolina (U.S.A) to southern Brazil. Genetic analyses based on mitochondrial markers revealed that bonnethead sharks comprise a species complex with at least two lineages in the Northwestern Atlantic and the Caribbean (Sphyrna tiburo, and Sphyrna aff. tiburo, respectively). The phylogeographic and phylogenetic analysis of two mitochondrial markers (control region [mtCR] and cytochrome oxidase I [COI]) showed that bonnethead sharks from southeastern Brazil correspond to S. aff. tiburo, extending the distribution of this cryptic species > 5,000 km. Bonnethead shark populations are only managed in the U.S.A, and in the 2000s were considered to be regionally extinct or collapsed in southeast Brazil. Our results indicate that there is significant genetic differentiation between S. aff. tiburo from Brazil and other populations from the Caribbean (ΦST = 0.9053, p <0.000), which means that collapsed populations in the former are unlikely to be replenished from Caribbean immigration. The species identity of bonnethead sharks in the Southwest Atlantic and their relationship to North Atlantic and Caribbean populations still remains unresolved. Taxonomic revision and further sampling are required to reevaluate the status of the bonnethead shark complex through its distribution range. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.


Bats account for ~20% of all extant mammal species and are considered exceptional given their extraordinary adaptations, including biosonar, true flight, extreme longevity, and unparalleled immune systems. To understand these adaptations, we generated reference-quality genomes of six species representing the key divergent lineages. We assembled these genomes with a novel pipeline incorporating state-of-the-art long-read and long-range sequencing and assembly techniques. The genomes were annotated using a maximal evidence approach, de novo predictions, protein/mRNA alignments, Iso-seq long read and RNA-seq short read transcripts, and gene projections from our new TOGA pipeline, retrieving virtually all (>99%) mammalian BUSCO genes. Phylogenetic analyses of 12,931 protein coding-genes and 10,857 conserved non-coding elements identified across 48 mammalian genomes helped to resolve bats' closest extant relatives within Laurasiatheria, supporting a basal position for bats within Scrotifera. Genome-wide screens along the bat ancestral branch revealed (a) selection on hearing-involved genes (e.g LRP2, SERPINB6, TJP2), which suggest that laryngeal echolocation is a shared ancestral trait of bats; (b) selection (e.g INAVA, CXCL13, NPSR1) and loss of immunity related proteins (e.g. LRRC70, IL36G), including pro-inflammatory NF-kB signalling; and (c) expansion of the APOBEC family, associated with restricting viral infection, transposon activity and interferon signalling. We also identified unique integrated viruses, indicating that bats have a history of tolerating viral pathogens, lethal to other mammal species. Non-coding RNA analyses identified variant and novel microRNAs, revealing regulatory relationships that may contribute to phenotypic diversity in bats. Together, our reference-quality genomes, high-quality annotations, genome-wide screens and in-vitro tests revealed previously unknown genomic adaptations in bats that may explain their extraordinary traits.


interspaced palindromic repeats) Abstract. With recent advances in biotechnology, the resurrection of recently extinct species has become a possibility, provoking a debate about the wisdom of what has become known as de-extinction. Regardless of the current feasibility and ethical controversies over de-extinction, ongoing technological advancement is likely to result in resurrected species in the near future. In our opinion, de-extinction will be followed by proposals for reintroduction into the wild. We argue that this development could be valuable for the advancement of ecological understanding and conservation. However, the current con-versations are happening in a vacuum. We therefore call for the initiation of field experiments using physiological and ecological surrogates. This type of research could shed light on the potential impacts of resurrected animals on modern ecosystems. While this research would have challenges, it could provide valuable information on the ecology of the past and better prepare scientists and wildlife managers for de-extinction.


Spectrum access strategy plays a critical role in multichannel cognitive radio networks (CRNs). However, the CRNs cannot obtain the maximal throughput, when the existing access strategies, including overlay, underlay, and hybrid access strategies, are applied to multichannel CRNs. In this paper, we present a generalized access strategy in a multichannel CRN smart home environment, in which a secondary user (SU) system selects part of channels for sequential spectrum sensing, and accesses these channels based on the sensing results. Moreover, it accesses the remaining channels directly. We then formulate a two-phase optimization framework, which takes the sensing channel selection, sensing time allocation, and the power allocation into consideration, to maximize the gross average throughput of the multichannel CRN. In the sensing phase, a generalized access strategy algorithm (GAS) is first proposed, where we prove that only part of channels needs to be selected for spectrum sensing to achieve the maximum throughput. An optimal stopping rule is proposed to determine the optimal number of selected sensing channels. In addition, a completed hybrid access strategy algorithm is further investigated where the SU system senses all channels. An approximation algorithm is also presented to achieve suboptimal results with low computational complexity. In the transmission phase, the transmission powers of all channels are optimized via convex algorithms. Numerical experiments show that, compared with the existing schemes, the proposed schemes are able to achieve considerable throughput improvement.


The trace assertion method is a formal state machine based method for specifying module interfaces. A module interface specification treats the module as a black-box, identifying all the module's access programs (i.e., programs that can be invoked from outside of the module) and describing their externally visible effects. In the method, both the module states and the behaviors observed are fully described by traces built from access program invocations and their visible effects. A formal model for the trace assertion method is proposed. The concept of step-traces is introduced and applied. The stepwise refinement of trace assertion specifications is considered. The role of nondeterminism, normal and exceptional behavior, value functions, and multiobject modules are discussed. The relationship with algebraic specifications is analyzed. A tabular notation for writing trace specifications to ensure readability is adapted.


The role of personal responsibility in the lives of adolescents remains a largely overlooked area in the psychological and educational fields. The present study used focus groups of 20 white, middle-class adolescents to examine how they understand and integrate the notion of personal responsibility into their lives. Key themes, including awareness of thoughts and feelings, behavioural choices and control, and consideration of consequences were found to be important components of the personal responsibility variable. Interesting gender differences were noted, with females and males identifying different emotions as being within or outside their control, and only females said that concern for the feelings of others was a major factor in decision-making. The key themes served to generate parameters with which to define the personal responsibility variable.


Background: Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) represents approximately half of heart failure, and its incidence continues to increase. The leading cause of mortality in HFpEF is sudden death, but little is known about the underlying mechanisms. Methods: Dahl salt-sensitive rats were fed a high-salt diet (8% NaCl) from 7 weeks of age to induce HFpEF (n=38). Rats fed a normal-salt diet (0.3% NaCl) served as controls (n=13). Echocardiograms were performed to assess systolic and diastolic function from 14 weeks of age. HFpEF-verified and control rats underwent programmed electrical stimulation. Corrected QT interval was measured by surface ECG. The mechanisms of ventricular arrhythmias (VA) were probed by optical mapping, whole-cell patch clamp to measure action potential duration and ionic currents, and quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting to investigate changes in ion channel expression. Results: After 7 weeks of a high-salt diet, 31 of 38 rats showed diastolic dysfunction and preserved ejection fraction along with signs of heart failure and hence were diagnosed with HFpEF. Programmed electric stimulation demonstrated increased susceptibility to VA in HFpEF rats (P<0.001 versus controls). The arrhythmogenicity index was increased (P<0.001) and the corrected QT interval on ECG was prolonged (P<0.001) in HFpEF rats. Optical mapping of HFpEF hearts demonstrated prolonged action potentials (P<0.05) and multiple reentry circuits during induced VA. Single-cell recordings of cardiomyocytes isolated from HFpEF rats confirmed a delay of repolarization (P=0.001) and revealed downregulation of transient outward potassium current (Ito; P<0.05). The rapid components of the delayed rectifier potassium current (IKr) and the inward rectifier potassium current (IK1) were also downregulated (P<0.05), but the current densities were much lower than for Ito. In accordance with the reduction of Ito, both Kcnd3 transcript and Kv4.3 protein levels were decreased in HFpEF rat hearts. Conclusions: Susceptibility to VA was markedly increased in rats with HFpEF. Underlying abnormalities include QT prolongation, delayed repolarization from downregulation of potassium currents, and multiple reentry circuits during VA. Our findings are consistent with the hypothesis that potassium current downregulation leads to abnormal repolarization in HFpEF, which in turn predisposes to VA and sudden cardiac death.


This guide is meant to help you with citing & documenting your sources. Different tabs have information about the main citations styles (APA, Chicago, MLA, & CSE) as well as links to citation tools you can use to organize and manage your references.


Graphic novels do not and aren't intended to replace other kinds of reading—it's not an either/or choice. Reading all kinds of formats encourages readers to think critically about how stories work across the different formats.


A research about arthropode fauna in laying hen excrement was carried out in a poultry house in the State of Sao Paulo, from January 2001 to December 2002. The objective was to verify the frequency of Diptera and Coleoptera collected by Berlese funil and flutuation methods, and to show correlation between the collect methods and sazonality possible in the currents seasons. A total of 29,499 insects were collected from seventy five collects, being 16,702 Diptera (six families) and 12,797 Coleoptera (four families). Some arthropodes presented direct relation with the collect method, the seasons of the years and the rainfall precipitation, with significant increase in the number of insects collected in certain periods of the year.


Let $\eta(t)$ be stationary, Gaussian, and suppose one wants to predict the future upcrossings of a certain level $u$. The paper investigates criteria for a good level crossing predictor, and restates in simple form a result by de Mare on optimal prediction. Write $\hat{\eta}_t(t + h)$ for the mean square predictor of $\eta(t + h)$ at time $t$, and let $\hat{\xi}_t(t + h)$ be the conditional expectation of $\eta'(t + h)$ given observed data and given $\eta(t + h) = u$. It is shown that an alarm which predicts an upcrossing at $t + h$ if $\hat{\eta}_t(t + h)$ differs from $u$ by a quantity that is a certain function of $\hat{\zeta}_t(t + h)$ is optimal in the sense that it maximizes the detection probability for a fixed total alarm time. Explicit formulas are given for the upcrossing risks at alarm, detection probability, and total alarm time. In an example the optimal alarm is compared to a naive alarm which predicts an upcrossing if $\hat{\eta}_t(t + h)$ differs from $u$ by a fixed proportion of the residual standard deviation. The optimal alarm locates the upcrossings more precisely and at an earlier stage than the naive alarm, which has a tendency to give late alarms.


In this study, we report a novel Gram-stain-positive bacterium, designated strain S6T, isolated from deep-sea sediment in Okinawa Trough. Growth of strain S6T occurred at 10-45 °C (optimum, 35 °C), at pH 6.0-11.0 (optimum, 8.0) and with 0-8 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 3 %). Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence indicated that strain S6T belonged to the genus Domibacillus. The closest phylogenetic neighbours of strain S6T were Domibacillus robiginosus WS 4628T ( = DSM 25058T) (98.6 %16S rRNA gene sequence similarity), D. indicus SD111T ( = DSM 28032T) (97.6 %), D. enclensis NIO-1016T ( = DSM 25145T) (97.6 %), and 'D. tundrae' PAMC 80007 ( = DSM 29572) (97.6 %). Levels of similarity between strain S6T and other close relatives were below 96 %. The levels of DNA-DNA relatedness between strain S6T and its closest relatives in the genus Domibacillus were well below 70 %. The genomic DNA G+C content of strain S6T was 44.4 mol%. The major menaquinone was MK-6. The polar lipids of strain S6T contained diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol mannosides, phosphatidylethanolamine and three unknown phospholipids. Strain S6T harboured meso-diaminopimelic acid as the diagnostic diamino acid and an A1γ type of peptidoglycan. The major cell-wall sugars of strain S6T were xylose and glucose. Phylogenetic, physiological, biochemical and morphological analyses suggest that this strain represents a novel species of the genus Domibacillus, for which the name Domibacillus iocasae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is S6T ( = DSM 29979T = CCTCC AB 2015183T). An emended description of the genus Domibacillus is also provided.


Count rates, representing the rate of 14C decay, are the basic data obtained in a 14C laboratory. The conversion of this information into an age or geochemical parameters appears a simple matter at first. However, the path between counting and suitable 14C data reporting (table 1) causes headaches to many. Minor deflections in pathway, depending on personal interpretations, are possible and give end results that are not always useful for inter-laboratory comparisons. This discussion is an attempt to identify some of these problems and to recommend certain procedures by which reporting ambiguities can be avoided.


Plastic ratcheting plays a key role in causing rolling contact failure of rails. Due to demanding conditions imposed by rail transport of mineral products, the main aim of this research is to quantify cyclic plasticity for investigating the plastic deformation behaviour of high strength rail steels currently used in heavy haul railways in Australia. Three high strength rail steels with similar nominal hardness but different chemical composition were considered. Experimental studies were first carried out to investigate the ratcheting behaviour of the three rail steels subjected to uniaxial and non-proportional bi-axial compression-torsion cyclic loading conditions. The results show that an obvious cyclic softening occurs in all three rail steels under uniaxial strain cycling. Under uniaxial stress cycling, the materials behave slightly different under tension and compression. Under bi-axial compression-torsion stress cycling, both ratcheting strain and ratcheting strain rate are strongly influenced by the non-proportional loading paths. Among all three rail steels, the low alloy heat-treated rail steel grade has a better resistance to ratcheting than the two hypereutectoid rail steel grades. To quantify plastic ratcheting of the three rail steels, an existing cyclic plasticity model was modified by coupling a non-proportional multi-axial parameter into isotropic softening and kinematic hardening rules. The method to calibrate the material parameters for the plasticity model and the simulated results were validated with experimental data for the three studied rail steels. Comparisons between the simulated results and the experimental data show that the modified cyclic plasticity model has the capacity to simulate both uniaxial and bi-axial ratcheting behaviour of the three rail steels with an acceptable accuracy. A comprehensive study was carried out to evaluate the ratcheting performance of the three rail steels under different wheel-rail cyclic rolling contact conditions, i.e. free rolling, partial slip, and full slip conditions, different friction coefficient and different axle load with the use of the developed constitutive plasticity material model. The results indicate that the crack initiation life decreases with the increase of the normalized tangential traction, the friction coefficient and the axle load for all three rail steels. Additionally, the results demonstrate that the possible location of crack initiation is within the depth of 3 mm from the running surface of the rail head. Among the three rail steels, the hypereutectoid rail steel grade with the lower carbon content is the best one to apply in heavy haul railway for higher axle load in order to fulfil the demanding conditions imposed by railway transport of mineral products in Australia due to its consistent ratcheting performance under different rolling contact conditions. A single parameter, the maximum SWT parameter, which originated from the strain-life phenomenological approach, Smith-Watson-Topper (SWT) method, for multiaxial fatigue analysis, was proposed to evaluate the stress state in the rail head for assessing the fatigue integrity of the structure. A numerical procedure to determine the maximum SWT parameter was presented and applied in a case study. The capability of the maximum SWT parameter to predict fatigue crack initiation in the rail head was confirmed in the case study. Analogous to von Mises stress for strength analysis, the maximum SWT parameter can be applied to evaluate fatigue loading state. This doctoral study systematically investigates the ratcheting behaviour and quantified cyclic plasticity of the three rail steels currently used in heavy haul railways in Australia. A constitutive plasticity material model for ratcheting and a systematic program to evaluate ratcheting performance of rail steels under service loading are developed. A better understanding of the influence of wheel-rail rolling contact conditions and alloy design on the ratcheting performance of rail steels is gained. The outcomes of this study can provide useful information to the development and application of rail steels and the development of effective rail maintenance strategies in order to mitigate rail degradation.


Since the first OMG specification of the Unified Modeling Language (UML), the Object Constraint Language (OCL) has been used for the definition of well-formedness rules in the UML specification. These rules have been specified within the early OCL years, when no appropriate tooling existed. Thus, they could not be checked for syntactical and static semantics correctness. In this paper we present an analysis of the static correctness of all OCL rules specified in the UML 2.3 superstructure document. We categorise found errors and propose changes for both the UML specification process and the OCL language to improve the UML specification's correctness in future versions.


OBJECTIVE: To localize cytochrome P450 enzymes 4A and 2C in central nervous cells of normal male rats. METHODS: Eight drug/alcohol untreated normal male rats (150-200 g of body weight) were treated by the optimized perfusion technique, then brain tissues were postfixed, paraffin-embedded and cut into series sections, which were labeled by the improved strept-avidin-biotin complex DAB-nickel enhancer (SABC-DAB-Ni) immunohistochemistry and hematoxylin & eosin (H & E) stain techniques. RESULTS: The immunohistochemical results indicated that P450 2C-11 enzyme was localized in diverse numbers of neurons as well as some neuroglial cells, with focal or defuse distribution in many brain regions such as cerebrum, thalamus, olfactory bulb, hypothalamus, brain-stem, hippocampus, cerebellum, interpositus nucleus, caudate-putamen, and globus pallidus. In contrast, no positive findings of P450 4A-2, 3 and 8 enzymes were obtained in the same animals. With high magnification, 2C-11 protein was able to be roughly observed on the endoplasmic reticulum of the rat neurons. CONCLUSIONS: P450 2C-11 protein, rather than P450 4A-2, 3 and 8, may be a candidate of brain P450 enzymes in the normal male rats.


Background: Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is the most common cancer in kidney malignancies. UCA1 has been identified as an oncogenic lncRNA in multiple cancers, including RCC. How-ever, the underlying molecular mechanism of UCA1 involved in RCC progression is far from being addressed. Methods: Reverse-transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) assays were used to measure expressions of UCA1, miR129, and SOX4 mRNA. Western blot assays were employed to detect SOX4 protein expression. Cell proliferation, invasion, and apoptosis were assessed by CCK-8, Matrigel invasion, and annexin–fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) apoptosis-detection assays, respectively. The interaction between UCA1 and miR129 was demonstrated by luciferase, RNA pull-down, and RNA-immunoprecipitation (RIP) assays. Luciferase assays were also used to explore whether UCA1 was able to act as a molecular sponge of miR129 to affect the interplay of miR129 and SOX4. Results: UCA1 expression was upregulated in RCC tissue and cells, and higher UCA1 expression was associated with advanced pathogenic status and poor prognosis of RCC patients. UCA1 knockdown suppressed proliferation and invasion and induced apoptosis in RCC cells. UCA1 inhibited miR129 expression by direct interaction in RCC cells. miR129 overexpression inhibited cell proliferation and invasion and promoted apoptosis. Moreover, miR129 downregulation abrogated UCA1 knockdown-mediated antiproliferation, anti-invasion, and proapoptosis effects in RCC cells. Furthermore, UCA1 acted as a ceRNA of miR129 to enhance target-gene SOX4 expression in RCC cells. Conclusion: UCA1 promoted cell proliferation and invasion and inhibited apoptosis by regulating SOX4 via miR129 in RCC, offering a promising therapeutic target and prognosis marker for RCC patients. molecular basis underlying RCC progression to identify more effective intervention strategies.


We present Griffin, a hybrid storage device that uses a hard disk drive (HDD) as a write cache for a Solid State Device (SSD). Griffin is motivated by two observations: First, HDDs can match the sequential write bandwidth of mid-range SSDs. Second, both server and desktop workloads contain a significant fraction of block overwrites. By maintaining a log-structured HDD cache and migrating cached data periodically, Griffin reduces writes to the SSD while retaining its excellent performance. We evaluate Griffin using a variety of I/O traces from Windows systems and show that it extends SSD lifetime by a factor of two and reduces average I/O latency by 56%.


The Hierarchical Temporal Memory Cortical Learning Algorithm (HTM CLA) is an algorithm inspired by the biological functioning of the neo-cortex, which combines spatial pattern recognition and temporal sequence learning. It organizes neurons in layers of column-like units built from many neurons such that the units are connected into structures called regions (areas). Layers can be hierarchically organized and can further be connected into more complex networks, which would allow to implement higher cognitive capabilities like invariant representations. However, a complex topology and a potentially high number of neurons would require more computing power than a single machine even with multiple cores or a GPU could provide. This paper aims to improve the HTM CLA by enabling it to run on multiple nodes in a highly distributed system of processors; to achieve this we use the Actor Programming Model. The proposed concept also makes use of existing cloud and server less technology and it enables easy setup and operation of cortical algorithms in a distributed environment. The proposed model is based on a mathematical theory and computation model, which targets massive concurrency. Using this model drives different reasoning about concurrent execution and should enable flexible distribution of cortical computation logic across multiple physical nodes.This work is the first one about the parallel HTM Spatial Pooler on multiple nodes with named computational model. With the increasing popularity of cloud computing and serverless architectures, this work is the first step towards proposing interconnected independent HTM CLA units in an elastic cognitive network. Thereby it can provide an alternative to deep neuronal networks, with theoretically unlimited scale in a distributed cloud environment. This paper specifically targets the redesign of a single Spatial Pooler unit.


5420 Cancer cells are often characterised by an over-expression of PPARα and γ, members of the nuclear receptor superfamily, which may therefore be potential targets for biological therapy. In this report, we provide data on the in vitro anti-cancer activity of a new series of clobifric acid derivatives with PPARα/γ agonist activities. 10 compounds were synthesized and their effects on cancer cell growth, apoptosis and signalling pathways were evaluated. Breast, colon and liver cancer cell lines (HepG2, MCF7, MDA-MB- 231, HT-29, LoVo and HCT-15) were utilised in all the experiments. All agents showed an IC50 range between 20μM and 100μM; among them, the main active ones were LT127 and LT160 (two enantiomers). They induced apoptosis after 1-2 days exposure, with at least a 20% increase in annexin V positive cells. There was also a slight modification of cell cycle progression, with cells accumulating at the G0/G1 phase. Preliminary results with a specific PPARγ irreversible inhibitor, showed that the relationship between the drugs' effects and PPARγ activation is cell line dependent. Furthermore, as already reported for troglitazone (the reference compound), 1 day exposure to our compounds stimulated the proliferation pathway, with increased expression of phosphorylated Erk1/2, and inhibited the survival pathway, with increased PTEN expression and consequently reduction of p-Akt expression level, after 1 day-drug exposure. Surprisingly, after 2 days drugs exposure, PTEN was strongly inhibited with a consequent increase of p-Akt level, suggesting that combinations of these drugs with agents acting upstream or downstream of the PI3K/Akt pathway are worth investigation. In HepG2 cells, combination of the PPARγ ligands with gefitinib or rapamycin enhanced growth inhibition and increased apoptosis. Further studies are required to fully evaluate the anti-cancer potential of these clofibric acid derivatives. However, further experiments will clarify if these effects are cell line- and schedule-dependent. Gefitinib is a trademark of the AstraZeneca group of companies


This paper is based on the argument that the cosmos is but an observable, measurable, material subset of the Universe which is an unbounded continuum beyond description or definition. There may be uncountable space-time-bounded cosmoses beyond the range of terrestrial observation. The Universe has no known history while the cosmos, a massive discontinuum filled with particles in motion, has a history. A plausible history of the cosmos is given by the hot big bang theory and chronology which posit its origin and rapid expansion from a point singularity. We propose an alternate chronology which assumes that the cosmos emerged from a universal energetic substratum, expanded, and agglomerated hierarchically; ultimately forming galaxies which subsequently spawned the stars that illuminate them. We reckon that the energetic substratum is an integral part of the mesostratum and identify the cosmos as the physiostratum. We argue that the mesostratum and its vast hyperspace energetic resources preexisted the physiostratum and that the cosmos sprang - quantum particle by quantum particle - from the mesostratum.


Learning management systems are groups of software designed to support online or local network education. In response to this effort, the Ministry Education of Malaysia has provided a learning management system through the 1BestariNet Project. It is known as Frog Virtual Learning Environment (Frog VLE). "Roti Canai" is the latest module introduced in this system that can be implemented this year. However, the Report of Malaysian Education Development Plan (PPPM) from 2015 to 2018 found that the percentage of Frog VLE use in the most schools was not satisfactory. The main cause is that educators do not have sufficient training, lack of skills and are less aware of the potential of Frog VLE to improve their daily teaching & facilitating (PdPc) techniques. Therefore, the objective of this study is to discover the potential of the "Roti Canai" Frog VLE module to enhance learning excellence in primary schools especially in History subject. This study also provides a lot of useful information on the potential of Frog VLE and it opens up the scope and need for future research. The study also outlines the features of this module, the best practices and advantages of the Frog VLE "Roti Canai" module in which every primary school teacher can manipulate the privileges that have been bestowed to them.


The relationship between job performance and voluntary employee turnover was investigated for 5,143 exempt employees in a single firm. As hypothesized, support was found for E. F. Jackofsky's (1984) curvilinear hypothesis, as turnover was higher for low and high performers than it was for average performers. Two potential moderators of the curvilinearity were examined in an attempt to explain conflicting results in the performance-turnover literature. As predicted, low salary growth and high promotions each produced a more pronounced curvilinear performance-turnover relationship. Most notably, salary growth effects on turnover were greatest for high performers, with high salary growth predicting rather low turnover for these employees, whereas low salary growth predicted extremely high turnover. Additionally, once salary growth was controlled, promotions positively predicted turnover, with poor performer turnover most strongly affected.


Listening skill is one of the four important language competencies. However, it has not received the needed scholarly attention, not only in classroom pedagogy and curriculum planning but also in studies and researches in Applied Linguistics and Teaching English as Second Language. This study therefore attempts an investigation into the teaching and learning of listening skills in the language classroom in Ghana. It focuses on three issues in English as Second Language (ESL) listening comprehension; i) the strategies/methods for teaching listening skills, ii) the challenges for learning listening skills and iii) the ways to overcome the challenges. This descriptive qualitative study, having used two major instruments for data collection; observation and open-ended questionnaire, engaged 200 students and 7 teachers as the sample from selected Senior High Schools in the Agona West Municipality. The analysis of data revealed that indeed clarity of speaker, speed of delivery, learning environments, etc posed challenges to the teaching and learning of listening skills. It was also revealed that combining listening with other skills, predictive and summative strategies were the strategies teachers employed in teaching listening. Then, finally, the solutions to listening comprehension challenges, as revealed in the data, were indicated as including planning, overt student participation, clarity of speaker, assessment strategies, etc.


Safari parks, roadside menageries, exotic animal auctions and wildlife rehabilitation centres exist world-wide, and serve as sites of wild animal concentrations. When these animals are brought together, the potential is great for the spread and eventual outbreak of many different infectious and parasitic diseases. It is therefore necessary that procedures be developed in these facilities to minimize the risk of occurrence and spread of these diseases. This will require financial resources for professional personnel, diagnostic testing and appropriate facility design.


This study was carried out to investigate impacts of Myrobalan rootstock and Blackthorn interstem on fruit growth, physico-chemical features and bioactive compounds of two apricot cultivars ('Harcot' and 'Roksana') in 2010 and 2011. Fruits of both cultivars on Myrobalan and/or Blackthorn grew with a classic double sigmoid curve from full bloom time to harvest. During growth and development periods, average fruit weight of both cultivars significantly increased, but differences between rootstock and interstem were not found. Myrobalan induced higher values of most fruit physical features (fruit thickness, sphericity, aspect ratio, surface area, fruit volume, flesh firmness) and some chemical attributes (soluble solids content and titratable acidity), whereas Blackthorn induced only higher ripening index values. Regarding cultivars, 'Roksana' possessed better physical features, except flesh firmness, and higher soluble solids content, ripening index value, total flavonoids content and total antioxidant capacity. Present results confirm the better adaptation of Myrobalan rootstock with 'Roksana' and 'Harcot' scion cultivar to sandy loam and acidic soil than Blackthorn interstem.


Many healthcare systems recommend root-cause analysis (RCA) as a key method for investigating critical incidents and developing recommendations for preventing future events. In practice, however, RCAs vary widely in terms of their conduct and the utility of the recommendations they produce.1 ,2 RCAs often fail to explore deep system problems that contributed to safety events3 due to the limited methods used, constrained time and meagre financial/human resources to conduct RCAs.4 Furthermore, healthcare organisations often lack the mandate and authority required to develop and implement sophisticated and effective corrective actions.4 Consequently, corrective actions primarily aim at changing human behaviour rather than system-based changes.5 ,6

In this issue of BMJ Quality and Safety , Kellogg et al 7 confirm these concerns about RCAs. Reviewing 302 RCAs conducted over an 8-year period at a US academic medical centre, the authors report the most common solution types as training, process change and policy reinforcement. Serious events (eg, retained surgical sponges) recurred repeatedly despite conducting RCAs. These findings highlight the long overdue need to enhance the effectiveness of RCAs.

James Reason (of the Swiss Cheese Model8) once characterised the goal of error investigations as draining the swamp not swatting mosquitoes.8 Critical incidents arise from the interplay between active failures (eg, not double checking for allergies before administering a medication) and latent conditions9 (eg, workload for the nurse and reliance on human memory for a critical safeguard when electronic systems with built-in reminders exist). Returning to Reason's analogy, we do not want to spend our time and expend our resources swatting at the mosquitoes of 'not double checking'. Rather, we want to drain the swamp of the many latent conditions that make not double checking more likely to occur. Too often, RCA teams focus on the …


Benjamin Graham reigns as one of the greatest investment thinkers of the 20th century. Author of the bestseller Security Analysis, he has influenced many Wall Street legends including Warren Buffett, Mario D, John Neff and John Bogle. Now, readers can discover Storage and Stability, his 1937 study on supply and demand, production and consumption, and their impact on value investing. A rare glimpse into Graham's social theories and their impact on his investing strategies, this book ushers in the new Benjamin Graham Classics series, and will earn a coveted place on any investor's bookshelf.


The antidepressant pill is an important modern commodity. Its growing role in the world has been largely ignored by researchers in economics departments and business schools. Scholars may be unaware how many citizens and employees now take these pills. Here we review some of the social-science literature on the topic. We discuss research on the impact of advertising upon antidepressant consumption, the link between antidepressants and the human 'midlife crisis', and evidence on how antidepressants are connected to crime, suicide, and financial hardship. We argue that antidepressants will eventually have to be modelled as a new form of consumption that lies in the currently grey area between medicines and consumer goods. This topic demands scholarly and societal attention.


Freedom of Information (FOI) laws state that government documents should be open to the public. However, many government documents contain sensitive information that is exempt from release. In this PhD programme, we aim to develop a framework that can automatically classify sensitive information in documents. However, automatic classification of sensitive information is a complex task that requires a relative judgement on the effect of a combination of factors. In this paper, we present an overview of the features of sensitivity that we can use to automatically classify documents containing FOI exemptions, such as International Relations. Moreover, we argue that current Named Entity Recognition (NER) approaches to classifying sensitive information are not appropriate for classifying FOI exemptions and, therefore, we need classification models that consider the document's content and context at the time of classification.


Abstract Some habitat traits and haematic parameters were studied to understand the relationships between the hare densities, habitat characteristics and physiological and nutritional condition of the animals. A total of 33 protected areas, reserved for wild game reproduction, located in the Province of Florence (Central Italy), were monitored during a 2-year period. In each protected area the hares were submitted to census. The habitat features of the protected areas were studied and the following parameters were categorised: altitude; cleared-land/total-land ratio; main exposure; main ground composition; water availability; main slope; anthropogenic presence; predator presence; wooded borders; presence of trees and shrubs; surveillance against hunting; demographic predator control; kind of cultivation; unharvested crops for game. After the census the hares were captured for translocation outside in "free" hunting areas. During capture the hares were put in darkened, wooden capture-boxes and remained inside for a variable period of time (10min to 3h). A sample of 3 to 7 hares, captured per year and per each protected area, were removed from the boxes (physically restrained, with covered eyes) for blood sample collection, sex, age and live weight determination. The following analyses were performed on frozen plasma samples: ALanine aminoTransferase (ALT), ASpartate aminoTransferase (AST), glucose, cholesterol, Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN), Ca, P, Mg, Na, K, and Cl concentrations. The relationship between hare density and habitat characteristics was analysed by single regressions analysis. Then the habitat characteristics were subjected to multivariate analysis in relationship to hare body condition. The haematic parameters were analysed by least square means considering habitat traits, animal density, age and sex, as main categorical factors, interaction sex*age, and "pregnant and non-reproducing" nested within sex. Results showed that the highest density and best body conditions can be found in highlands, open fields with low tree presence and wooded borders, medium mixture soils, scarce predator presence and limited anthropogenic presence and with abundant water availability and shrubbiness. The study of the absolute values of metabolic profile, indicator of the physiological and nutritional condition of the reared animals, did not show any nutritional winter deficiency in wild hares and, as census data, should be repeated for several years since, probably, only their variations can be used as indicators of preliminary problems.


Chronic heart failure after myocardial injury (MI) is characterized by an extensive loss of myocytes due to considerable cell death. Bone marrow derived stem cells (BMSCs) can transdifferentiate and show potential for regenerating the myocardium after MI. Stem cell mobilization, egress from the bone marrow and recruitment to the site of injury can be regulated by signals through G protein coupled receptors (GPCRs). βArrestins have signalling and scaffolding functions and act as downstream regulators of GPCR desensitization and endocytosis. We explored the potential role for βArrestins in cardiac precursor cell function, concentrating on BMSCs. Using knockout (KO) mice, we investigated the role βArrestin1 (βArr1) and βArrestin2 (βArr2), their modulation of regenerative competence of BMSCs and their contribution to cardiac repair after ischemic injury. in vitro, we observed that BM derived cells devoid of either βArr1 or βArr2 are slower to proliferate, colonize and migrate, compared to wild type (WT) BM cells. We also observed elevated cell death in βArr2 deficient cells following oxidative stress. Additionally, the number of cKit+ stem cells, thought to be potential cardiac precursor cells, was significantly lower in the BM and blood of βArr KO vs WT. Similarly, BM and blood of the chimeras contained fewer and less viable cardiac stem/precursor cells pre and post MI, compared to WT transplanted controls. In our in vivo study, we carried out BM transplants to determine whether the βArrs may be involved in cardiac repair. WT mice were irradiated and received BM transplants from WT, βArr1 KO or βArr2 KO mice. Following BM reconstitution, mice underwent MI and their recovery was monitored. Interestingly, chimeric mice with βArr1 and βArr2 KO BM had significantly inferior outcomes, including significantly decreased post MI survival with βArr2 KO BM and both βArr chimeras had significantly lower cardiac function post MI than mice receiving WT BM. Histology revealed that both chimeras developed larger infarcts and hypertrophy at an faster rate. We conclude that βArrs play a novel role downstream of GPCR desensitization in cardiac progenitor cells in BM and appear to be critically involved in the heart's response to ischemic injury via cardiac repair and regeneration.


Some modes of two parallel, circular, lossless, dielectric rods are discussed for identical and nonidentical rods. The electromagnetic boundary-value problem is solved by use of an expansion of the mode field in circular harmonics. Examples of the distribution of flux density are given. The beat wavelength for the beating of energy between the rods computed for identical rods is compared with approximate results of coupled-mode theory.


Aphasia is a neurological disorder resulting from damage to the brain. Individuals with aphasia experience deficits in language-based abilities, such as reading, writing, speech comprehension and/or speech production. These limitations reflect in the population's social and personal lives, with individuals often reporting fewer social contacts, fewer social activities and increased feelings of isolation, social exclusion, anxiety and depression. Considering this, efforts must be made to increase the support and accessibility for this population. Integral to gauging the efficacy of these initiatives is the assessment of health-related quality of life (HRQoL). There are currently several measures used to evaluate HRQoL in people with aphasia. Each measure provides an evaluation of HRQoL from a broad perspective. However, several shortcomings cause these measures to lack sensitivity to the specific problems faced by this population, particularly with regard to communication. Stemming from this, the primary objective of this study was to design and validate an accessible HRQoL measure for people with aphasia while the secondary objective was to determine how individuals with aphasia score on this measure and the well-established SAQOL-39 compared with a matched control group. While this new measure demonstrates favorable properties, findings from the analyses of reliability, construct validity and concurrent validity have informed some essential changes. Once these changes have been made, these properties will be re-evaluated in a larger population. Consistent with the hypothesis, the findings from a Mann-Whitney U test indicate that participants with aphasia scored lower on both measures of HRQoL compared with a matched control group. Overall, this study served as an essential step in the development of this measure. The findings provide us with a more comprehensive understanding of how communication loss can impact an individual's life and help us pinpoint how to better aid this population.


ABSTARCT

This research uses Mangkang Bus Station as the object of examination. The station is closely related to people-related activities. The CO contents found at the location, based on sampling result from minibus, shows threatening impact due to pollution. The impact does not only apply to the commuters, but also to the passengers as well as the people living nearby the researched location. Object to be used for this research is CO concentration. Sample collection is performed outside and inside the minibus at the parking lot of Mangkang Bus Station to get data on CO concentration. Sample collection stage will be performed seven days in three times, morning, afternoon, and noon. The data used for the analysis are obtained by primary data collection. The research uses a statistically quantitative analysis. Result showed that the content of the concentration on the bus that observed during the study period was 13.086 mg/m3 in the morning, 13.518 mg/m3 during daytime and night time concentrations of CO reached 14.213 mg/m3, so concentration of CO is below than standard. Content of concentration outside the monitored bus during the study period was 17.606 mg/m3 in the morning, 117.202 mg/m3 during daytime and night time concentrations of CO reached 17.488 mg/m3. Such conditions can affect the health of humans in the vicinity and also interfere with breathing. The number of vehicles affects the content of CO produced both inside and outside the bus. The more number of buses around the site, the higher the CO content is in that location, Mangkang Bus Station.

Keyword : CO Concentration, Inside, Outside, Minibus, Mangkang Bus Station


Chapter 1 looks at the empirical estimation of the welfare impacts of bargaining. Bargaining for retail goods is common in developing countries, but rare in the developed world. The welfare implications of this difference are theoretically ambiguous-if bargaining is a low cost form of price discrimination, it may lead to greater trade and welfare and even approximate the optimal incentive compatible outcome. However, if bargaining imposes large utility costs on the participants, then a fixed price may be preferable. I develop the tools to resolve this question, specifying a model of repeated trade with asymmetric information adapted to the context of bargaining, and developing a dynamic structural estimation technique to infer the structural parameters of the market. I then apply these techniques to the market for local autorickshaw transportation in Jaipur, India, using data I collected over 2008-2009. Chapter 2 carries out the first comparison of production function parameters estimated by structural techniques with those estimated via randomized instrumental variables using a unique dataset and field experiment performed by De Mel, McKenzie, and Woodruff (2008). In the context of a simple model of a household firm, I discuss the coefficients that each approach estimates, and the assumptions necessary to interpret those coefficients as the structural parameters of the model. I find that the values of structural and experimental estimators that most plausibly estimate the same parameters are indeed statistically and economically similar, suggesting that in some contexts structural models of production functions may be effective in recovering the parameters of production functions in the context of developing markets. These parameters may then be used to address questions relating to firm productivity and capital allocation that are both central to the study of firms in development, and potentially difficult to identify using randomized variation alone. Chapter 3 documents an attempt to overcome the challenges of police reform in the Indian state of Rajasthan, evaluated through a series of RCT (Randomized Control Trials). Four reform interventions were implemented in a randomly selected group of 162 police stations across 11 districts of the state: (1) weekly duty rosters with a guaranteed rotating day off per week; (2) a freeze on transfers of police staff; (3) in-service training to update skills; and (4) placing community observers in police stations. To evaluate these reforms, data was collected through two rounds of surveys (before and after the intervention) including police interviews, decoy visits to police stations, and a large scale crime survey-the first of its kind in India. The results suggest that two of the interventions, the freeze on transfers and the training, do have the potential to improve the police effectiveness and public image. The other reforms showed no robust effects, an outcome that may be due to their incomplete implementation. Thesis Supervisor: Abhijit Banerjee Title: Ford International Professor of Economics Thesis Supervisor: Esther Duflo Title: Abdul Latif Jameel Professor of Poverty Alleviation and Development Economics Thesis Supervisor: Robert Townsend Title: Elizabeth & James Killian Professor of Economics


What is the source of ethnographic truth? One might just as well ask what is the real economy, for neither has a clear-cut empirical referent. Critical efforts to counter economic abstractions or finance's fictions often seek a grounding truth in something "real." In anthropology, this has meant variously the household (oikos) or kinship, or the lived experiences that ethnography supposedly evokes. But none of these concepts are innocent. This essay considers efforts like this special colloquium in Hau and allied projects like the Gens Manifesto, by way of a detour through method acting and the history of other anthropological attempts to theorize the connections among different economic formations. The focus on the real economy falters wherever there are seams or articulations among diverse or plural practices delimited as economic. Ethnography falters when we see it as a representation of a reality rather than as a bridge permitting conversions from one form of action to others. The question, Does capitalism depend on noncapitalist forms, is analogous to the question, Does ethnography depend on an underlying lived experience? This essay suggests that these are the wrong questions. Asking the right ones might mean taking a page from the scripts of the players in ethnographic stories who are always engaged in different games, simultaneously or sequentially, and permitting ourselves the same allowance.


Quantization is a key technique to reduce the resource requirement and improve the performance of neural network deployment. However, different hardware backends such as x86 CPU, NVIDIA GPU, ARM CPU, and accelerators may demand different implementations for quantized networks. This diversity calls for specialized post-training quantization pipelines to built for each hardware target, an engineering effort that is often too large for developers to keep up with. We tackle this problem with an automated post-training quantization framework called HAGO. HAGO provides a set of general quantization graph transformations based on a user-defined hardware specification and implements a search mechanism to find the optimal quantization strategy while satisfying hardware constraints for any model. We observe that HAGO achieves speedups of 2.09x, 1.97x, and 2.48x on Intel Xeon Cascade Lake CPUs, NVIDIA Tesla T4 GPUs, ARM Cortex-A CPUs on Raspberry Pi4 relative to full precision respectively, while maintaining the highest reported post-training quantization accuracy in each case.


Chemokines such as IFN-inducible protein-10 (IP-10) and JE/monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) are induced in the murine liver in a tissue-specific manner. We examined whether IP-10 and MCP-1 are pathologically involved in chronic hepatitis. Whereas the serum levels of IP-10 and MCP-1 in patients with chronic persistent hepatitis C were elevated compared with those in normal volunteers, both chemokine levels were further significantly higher in patients with the active form (chronic active hepatitis (CAH)). The elevated IP-10 level was not a general phenomenon of inflammation, because it was not seen in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, whereas MCP-1 levels were elevated to the same extent in both patient groups. Better responsiveness to IFN therapy in CAH was related to lesser grades of necroinflammatory activity and was predicted by the lower IP-10 and higher MCP-1 levels. IP-10 levels in patients cured by IFN therapy decreased to the levels in normal volunteers, while the MCP-1 levels only slightly decreased. Serum levels of both chemokines in patients who were not cured remained unchanged after IFN therapy. In situ hybridization analysis of CAH revealed that IP-10 mRNA was expressed mainly in hepatocytes around intralobular focal and periportal piecemeal necrosis, while some MCP-1 mRNA was expressed in some sinusoidal cells. These results suggested that IP-10 plays a specific role in the intralobular accumulation of mononuclear cells and/or the death of hepatocytes in chronic hepatitis.


Aim To investigate life expectancy and mortality among former elite athletes and controls. Methods HR analysis of cause-specific deaths sourced from the national death registry for former Finnish male endurance, team and power sports athletes (N=2363) and controls (N=1657). The median follow-up time was 50 years. Results Median life expectancy was higher in the endurance (79.1 years, 95% CI 76.6 to 80.6) and team (78.8, 78.1 to 79.8) sports athletes than in controls (72.9, 71.8 to 74.3). Compared to controls, risk for total mortality adjusted for socioeconomic status and birth cohort was lower in the endurance ((HR 0.70, 95% CI 0.61 to 0.79)) and team (0.80, 0.72 to 0.89) sports athletes, and slightly lower in the power sports athletes (0.93, 0.85 to 1.03). HR for ischaemic heart disease mortality was lower in the endurance (0.68, 0.54 to 0.86) and team sports (0.73, 0.60 to 0.89) athletes. HR for stroke mortality was 0.52 (0.33 to 0.83) in the endurance and 0.59 (0.40 to 0.88) in the team sports athletes. Compared to controls, the risk for smoking-related cancer mortality was lower in the endurance (HR 0.20, 0.08 to 0.47) and power sports (0.40, 0.25 to 0.66) athletes. For dementia mortality, the power sports athletes, particularly boxers, had increased risk (HR 4.20, 2.30 to 7.81). Conclusions Elite athletes have 5–6 years additional life expectancy when compared to men who were healthy as young adults. Lower mortality for cardiovascular disease was in part due to lower rates of smoking, as tobacco-related cancer mortality was especially low.


In an effort to better understand the impacts of high penetrations of photovoltaic generators on distribution systems, Arizona Public Service and its partners have begun work on a multi-year project to develop the tools and knowledge-base needed to safely and reliably integrate high penetrations of utility- and residential-scale photovoltaics (PV). Building upon the APS Community Power Project - Flagstaff Pilot, this project will analyze the impact of PV on a representative feeder in northeast Flagstaff. To quantify and catalog the effects of the estimated 1.3 MW of PV that will be installed on the feeder (both smaller units at homes as well as large, centrally located systems), high-speed weather and electrical data acquisition systems and digital "smart" meters are being designed and installed to facilitate monitoring and to build and validate comprehensive, high-resolution models of the distribution system. These models will be used to analyze the impacts of the PV on distribution circuit protection systems (including anti-islanding), predict voltage regulation and phase balance issues, and develop volt/var control schemes. This paper continues from a paper presented at the 2011 IEEE PVSC conference that introduces the project and describes some of the preliminary consideration, as well as project plans and early results. This paper gives a status update of the project and presents selected results from Phase 2 of the project. It discusses baseline feeder modeling, load allocation, data acquisition, utility-scale PV integration, preliminary model validation, and plans for future phases.


Ceramic materials have been studied and used in considerable industrial applications due to their high hardness and strength at high temperature and extreme wear resistance. However, the machining costs of these materials may reach as high as 90% of their total component costs and the grinding of these materials are much more susceptible to surface damage as compared to metals. Electrolytic InProcess Dressing (ELID) grinding can be used to machine hard and brittle materials, such as aluminum oxide (Al2O3), that are difficult to be machined by conventional grinding processes to achieve high surface quality and high material removal rate. The effect of each major machining parameter in processing Al2O3 on the surface roughness and material removal rate were analyzed and presented. Furthermore, by using the process models built with Neuro-fuzzy theory, an optimization algorithm is constructed for multiple objectives and which incorporates tournament sharing selection and G-bit local search is applied to find the machining parameters for achieving the best product quality and/or production rate.


Abstract This paper argues that many widely referenced studies on the cost effectiveness of alternative assistance programs were conducted at a time when rental housing markets were depressed. Recent increases in rent appear to have reduced the apparent cost advantage that demand‐side subsidies hold over supply‐side interventions. In addition, the nonsubsidized poor increasingly must compete for a dwindling supply of low‐cost privately owned housing. Housing vouchers or similar demand subsidies may be appropriate in some contexts, but economic theory and recent empirical analysis suggest that such subsidies are "not the best at all times and under all situations." Rather, the "best policy" depends on program targeting and the nature and extent of program‐induced price increases and externality effects. Since funding limitations currently block the creation of an entitlement housing assistance program, housing policy must balance the often competing goals of expanding the ability of participating low‐incom...


IntroductionThe Cleft Collective Cohort study is the world's largest multidisciplinary cleft lip/palate research programme. Despite being one of the most common birth anomalies, the causes of clefting are unknown. Treatment involves a considerable burden of care from birth onwards, together with a variety of social and psychological challenges.
Objectives and ApproachOur aim is to create the infrastructure and resources necessary to gain important new knowledge that will advance our understanding of the causes of cleft lip/palate, inform treatment and improve the lives of people born with cleft; data linkage is a key aspect of this. There are challenges associated with linking to multiple data sources (NHS Digital, Cleft National Registry). However, using the consent obtained, we are also able to link directly to the participant's medical notes held by their NHS cleft team; enabling us to access a variety of data, including free text.
ResultsThe study already collects social and demographic data via questionnaires and genetic data from biological samples. Data linkage enriches this but also enables us to validate and address missing data problems. However, linkage to external sources brings many challenges, including, governance, costs, access issues. By gaining direct access to cleft team medical notes these issues are significantly reduced and provide us with rich phenotype data that cannot be obtained elsewhere, for example, via 'read codes' within electronic medical records. By tailoring our own data collection tool we can collect specific cleft data to enhance the resource and allow for subtype analyses. This process can be repeated throughout the duration of this longitudinal study for subsequent data.
Conclusion/ImplicationsData linkage is a valuable resource but comes with many challenges. One route to overcome many of these issues is by accessing free text data directly from participants medical notes. The richness of these data allows for more in depth phenotypic analyses.


Dyneema composite is used in lightweight armour applications, because of its high specific material properties such as strength and stiffness. In armour applications, Dyneema composite is used to protect people or vehicles from projectile impact. In order to be able to guarantee a certain protection level, an accurate prediction of fracture phenomena that are caused by projectile impact is required. Currently, fracture phenomena such as delamination and fibre fracture are not accurately described. This is because a good understanding of fracture phenomena in Dyneema composite lacks. Therefore, both Dyneema fibre and Dyneema composite are analysed by different (impact) experiments to gain more insight in both the fracture phenomena as well as in the material properties. Parallel to these experiments, a start is made with the development of a new material model in ABAQUS\Explicit using cohesive zone techniques that is able to predict the fracture phenomena due to projectile impact.


Abstract Firths are geomoiphological and hydrological sites typical for flat, neutral coast of no tidal sea basins. There in the greatest extend is preserved the geological column of the correlative Pleistocene- Holocene sediments. They make possible to reveal the Quaternary evolution of the contact zone "land-sea". Firths are one of the most reliable indicators for the Quaternary Earth crust movements. Along the Black Sea coast most widely are developed the firths in the north - west and the west periphery, where they form a classic firth type coast. This report examines the results of complex studies of Batova river firth, located (developed) on the North Bulgarian Black Sea coast.


This study tests the hypothesis that transcription factor activation by exposure of macrophages to titanium particles can be modulated by the addition of the antiinflammatory cytokine, interleukin 10 (IL-10). The experiments were carried out with primary human monocyte/macrophages that were treated in the presence or absence of IL-10 with and without exposure to titanium particles. The time course for experiments varied from 1 h-5 h for analysis of nuclear protein and up to 48 h for analysis of cytokine release. Transcription factor translocation to the nucleus was analyzed using electrophoretic gel shift assays and cytokine release was quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Addition of titanium particles increased release of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta). In addition, titantium particle induced translocation of the transcription factors, NF-kappa B and NF-IL6, in the nucleus within 1 h. Treatment of macrophages with IL-10 prior to exposure to titanium particles decreased translocation of NF-IL6 but did not significantly alter nuclear levels of NF-kappa B. In addition, pretreatment of the cells with IL-10 decreased particle-induced cytokine release. These data show that antiinflammatory cytokines may provide a mechanism by which particle-induced inflammatory response may be modulated in vivo.


Abstract Given a pair of graphs with the same number of vertices, the inexact graph matching problem consists in finding a correspondence between the vertices of these graphs that minimizes the total number of induced edge disagreements. We study this problem from a statistical framework in which one of the graphs is an errorfully observed copy of the other. We introduce a corrupting channel model, and show that in this model framework, the solution to the graph matching problem is a maximum likelihood estimator (MLE). Necessary and sufficient conditions for consistency of this MLE are presented, as well as a relaxed notion of consistency in which a negligible fraction of the vertices need not be matched correctly. The results are used to study matchability in several families of random graphs, including edge independent models, random regular graphs, and small-world networks. We also use these results to introduce measures of matching feasibility, and experimentally validate the results on simulated and real-world networks. Supplemental files for this article are available online.


The need for logistics management explained convent-house reasons, among which we distinguish the main. One of them – the development of competition caused by the transition from a seller's market to a buyer's market. Cash invested in the sphere of distribution, began to influence the position of the supplier on the market is much stronger than the same money invested in the sphere of production. The logistically organized material leading chains cost of goods delivered to the final consumer was lower than the cost of the same goods held by the traditional way. Emerging difference provides the participants a competitive advantage, not dependent on the size of included capital, and the ability to organize the logistics process. In addition, using the logistics providers can guarantee the delivery on time the right amount of product required quality and represent for the consumer is much more valuable than suppliers that the reliability of such assurances do not provide. Keywords: management, administration, logistics, competitive advantage JEL Classifications : L14, L17, L23, M11


GIANT cell tumors most frequently involve long bones. The sites of predilection are the lower end of the femur, the upper end of the tibia, the radius, the mandible, the humerus, the small bones of the hand, the sacral bone, and, on occasion, the patella. It has been noted in the temporomandibular joint. Neither the pathologist nor I had ever previously noted a giant cell tumor in the middle ear. Hence, we feel it is sufficiently unusual to justify this brief report. Report of a Case The patient, a 51-year-old man, was first seen by me on July 25, 1966. He complained of difficulty in hearing of ten months' duration. He was told at a clinic that he had an "infection in the left ear," and that there was a "swelling in the ear." Aside from the hearing loss the patient had no complaints. He saw an ear specialist who


This paper reviews the model-based qualitative and quantitative Operations Management research in the context of Construction Supply Chain Management (CSCM). Construction industry has been traditionally blamed for low productivity, cost and time overruns, waste, high fragmentation and adversarial relationships. The construction industry has been slower than other industries to employ the Supply Chain Management (SCM) concept and develop models that support the decision-making and planning. However the last decade there is a distinct shift from a project-based to a supply-based approach of construction management. CSCM comes up as a new promising management tool of construction operations and improves the performance of construction projects in terms of cost, time and quality. Modeling the Construction Supply Chain (CSC) offers the means to reap the benefits of SCM, make informed decisions and gain competitive advantage. Different modeling approaches and methodologies have been applied in the multi-disciplinary and heterogeneous research field of CSCM. The literature review reveals that a considerable percentage of the CSC modeling research accommodates conceptual or process models which present general management frameworks and do not relate to acknowledged soft Operations Research methods. We particularly focus on the model-based quantitative research and categorize the CSCM models depending on their scope, objectives, modeling approach, solution methods and software used. Although over the last few years there has been clearly an increase of research papers on quantitative CSC models, we identify that the relevant literature is very fragmented with limited applications of simulation, mathematical programming and simulation-based optimization. Most applications are project-specific or study only parts of the supply system. Thus, some complex interdependencies within construction are neglected and the implementation of the integrated supply chain management is hindered. We conclude this paper by giving future research directions and emphasizing the need to develop optimization models for integrated CSCM. We stress that CSC modeling needs a multi-dimensional, system-wide and long-term perspective. Finally, prior applications of SCM to other industries have to be taken into account in order to model CSCs, but not without translating the generic concepts to the context of construction industry. Keywords—Construction supply chain management, modeling, operations research, optimization and simulation.


Using the Boltzmann-radiation-hydrodynamics code, which solves the Boltzmann equation for neutrino transport, we present the results of the simulations with the nuclear equations of state (EOSs) of Lattimer and Swesty (LS) and Furusawa and Shen (FS). We extend the simulation time of the LS model and conduct thorough investigations, though our previous paper briefly reported some of the results. Only the LS model shows the shock revival. This seems to originate from the nuclear composition: the different nuclear composition results in the different energy loss by photodissociation and hence the different strength of the prompt convection and the later neutrino-driven convection. The protoneutron star seen in the FS model is more compact than that in the LS model because the existence of multinuclear species softens the EOS. For the behavior of neutrinos, we examined the flux and the Eddington tensor of neutrinos. In the optically thick region, the diffusion of neutrinos and the dragging by the motion of matter determine the flux. In the optically thin region, the free-streaming determines it. The Eddington tensor is compared with that obtained from the M1-closure relation. The M1-closure scheme overestimates the contribution from the velocity-dependent terms in the semitransparent region.


The participation of Pakhtuns1 in debates of identity during the current conflict in Pakistan-Afghanistan borderland has received little attention from the scholars of conflict studies on the region. These debates (held in cultural and virtual spaces) represent a non-violent, dialogical and discursive resistance put up by people who are often painted by media as perpetrators of violence. This paper argues that, there is discernible change in Pakhtun region and that one way to understand such a change is to study the debates and deliberations that engage diverse people at inclusive and exclusive spaces of engagement such as cyberspace (internet) and cultural spaces such as hujras, jirgas, etc. The analysis in the paper are based on data collected from two internet discussion forums as 'Global Hujra' hosted by Khyberwatch and 'Pashtun Forums' between 2007-2010. Besides these forums, insights were taken from the fieldwork done by the author in district Malakand (Pakistan) to reflect on debates in cultural spaces such as hujra, etc. The findings of the paper suggest that the use of cyberspace among Pakhtuns itself is an evidence of change that highlights the acceptance and engagement of new means of communication (globalization agents) for the purpose to generate debate. The way issues are initiated, deliberated and articulated on these forums represents acumen, keenness, and dedication of the posters. The dialogical skills demonstrated by the educated Pakhtun through these internet forums represent a change from other wise traditional forums of deliberation such as jirgas or hujras. Moreover, the debates and interaction on internet relate to the dominant official discourse of Pakistani identity and the radical Islamic discourse. In the relating process the deliberations constitute a discourse, which manifest identity construction.


Purpose The coronary calcium score (CCS) predicts significant coronary artery disease (CAD) in the general population. While moderate chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with high CCS, the use of CCS to predict significant CAD in these patients is unknown. Methods A total of 704 patients underwent computed tomography coronary angiography for the assessment of CCS and CAD. Sixty-nine (10 %) patients had moderate CKD, defined by an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) between 30 and 59 mL/min/1.73m, and the remaining patients were considered to be without significant CKD (eGFR≥60 mL/min/1.73m). Results Patients with moderate CKD were older, had a higher CCS, and a higher prevalence of obstructive CAD than patients without significant CKD. Receiver-operator curve analysis showed that CCS predicted the presence of obstructive CAD in both patients with moderate CKD and those without significant CKD. In patients with moderate CKD, the optimal cut-off value of CCS to diagnose obstructive CAD was 140 (sensitivity 73 % and specificity of 70 %), and is 2.8 fold higher than in patients without significant CKD (cut-off value=50; sensitivity 75 % and specificity 75 %). Conclusion The present results demonstrate that CCS can predict obstructive CAD in patients with moderate CKD, although the optimal cut-off value is higher than in patients without significant CKD.


National sanatoria for Hansen's disease in Japan were special institutions that only treated in-patients.But a few sanatoria for Hansen's disease located in islands and rural districts should have other duty, namely service to community health because there was no other clinic office.New patients with Hansen's disease are very small in number and inpatients become older and older. Then the new role should be seeked to National sanatoria for Hansen's diaease in Japan. Amami-wakoen, National sanatoium for Hansen's disease in Amami island started skin clinic for out -patients with skin diseases in March, 1983 because there were few skin clinics in Amami district. The number of patients with skin diseases increases year by year (from 12.3 persons every day in 1983 to 36.4 in 1989).We surveyed receipts of Naional health insurance for the purpose of studying the main diseases in Amami main island and the behavior of the patients with skin diseases.The results of survey are followings; 1. The percentage of patients with skin diseases in Amami main island in August, 1987 was significantly superior. 2. The percentage of patients with mental diseases and pregnant woman in hospital and patients with gastrointestinal disorders and pregnant women in clinic were significantly large in May, 1987 in Amami main island. 3. There was a tendency that the patients with skin diseases visited to the clinic near in place. It was found that we treated only 5.1 percent persons of patients with skin diseases in August, 1987.


The aim of this study was to evaluate the antibacterial activity and cytotoxic effect of the compound SIAB-GV3, a new formulation presenting as an aqueous suspension of silicon dioxide (SiO2) functionalized with silver (Ag+) nanoparticles and benzalkonium. The product is formulated as an adjuvant for the treatment of inflammatory diseases of the oral cavity. This study demonstrates that SIAB-GV3 possesses strong antimicrobial activity against most of the common oral pathogens, in particular against Streptococcus pyogenes, Porphyromonas gingivalis and Aggregatibacter actinimycetemcomitans. The cytotoxic effect against human embryo lung fibroblasts (HELF cells) was evaluated at different times, from 1 h to 168 h, using concentrations of SIAB-GV3 ranging from 50 mg/ml to 0.0008 mg/ml. At the concentration of 10 mg/ml, commonly used in clinical practice, the compound results cyto- toxic after about 2 hours, this time being much longer than the typical time of local application, which is no more than 10 minutes. In conclusion, our findings suggest that SIAB-GV3 has a good antibacterial activity against the most common oral pathogens even at very low concentrations and a low cytotoxic activity, thanks to the synergistic effects of Ag nanoparticles, silicon dioxide and benzalkonium.


This paper tests the hypothesis that analysts report biased earnings estimates in order to enhance their stock recommendation performance. In particular, we argue that analysts with optimistic (pessimistic) stock recommendations tend to issue negatively (positively) biased earnings forecasts so that the underlying firms are more likely to beat (miss) the consensus forecasts and thus have higher (lower) stock returns after these recommendations are issued. Consistent with this hypothesis, we find that average stock recommendations prior to earnings announcements significantly and positively predict subsequent earnings surprises. In addition, the predictability is substantially stronger when the net benefits associated with such strategic behavior are larger, for example, among firms with lower analyst coverage.


We measured photoelectron yield, light output, decay times of the light pulses, cerium concentration, energy resolution and time resolution of LSO:Ce manufactured by different laboratories and LGSO:Ce. The LSO samples show excellent scintillation properties: high light output, close to 30,000 ph/MeV and good energy resolution of 7.3% FWHM for /sup 137/Cs /spl gamma/-source full energy peak. Time resolution measured in geometry fulfilling the PET scanners requirements is equal to 450 ps. We also present results from the measurements with LGSO:Ce by Hitachi Chemical Co., which is of similar chemical composition to LSO. LGSO, at present stage of development, shows about 20% lower light output than LSO and energy resolution of 12.4% FWHM for 662 keV /spl gamma/-rays. LSO crystals used in our studies posses similar in scintillation properties, although we suppose that the details of the productions method are different due to the differences in Ce concentration. LGSO is a new and very promising scintillator due to lower background radiation in comparison to LSO, but it features worse energy resolution and smaller number of photoelectrons.


The study considers the issues of discussion in education and in the training of students of the «Tourism» major. Tourism is one of the most popular majors among the students. Working in the tourism industry person must have professional skills and a high level of knowledge of foreign languages. While applying theoretical knowledge into practice, some complications occur for the students. The ability to produce clearly utterances in a foreign language widens professional possibilities of future specialists of tourism industry. The problem-solving approach helps students to put appropriative knowledge into practice and to develop communicative skills. The creation of problem situations is a promising approach, which we can conceive as a principle of education and as a method of education. This new didactic approach can be used at all stages of the educational process. Discussion is one of the problem-solving methods in teaching foreign languages. The author analyses the modern forms of discussion. The aim of the research is to draw attention of the foreign languages teachers to the discussion as a pedagogical technology and to point out the importance of application of this modern pedagogical method in teaching foreign languages and education of students of the «Tourism» major. The article outlines different forms of discussion and considers the debating process and content for the foreign languages teachers to adapt this technology to their objects and aims. The author concludes the effectiveness of using discussions on foreign language lessons and gives the recommendations of the discussion and debates application in the teaching process. This method can be used for many majors. In this article the author shows the effectiveness of using discussions on foreign language lessons for students of the «Tourism» major. The usage of this method will foster achievement of the forecast results in mastering not only lexical skills but also communicative skills to work successfully in the travel industry.


MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are emerging as important post tran-scriptional regulators that may regulate key plant genes responsible for agronomic traits such as grain yield and stress tolerance. Several studies identified species and clades specific miRNA families associated with plant stress regulated genes. Here, we propose a novel resource that provides data related to the expression of abiotic stress responsive miRNAs in wheat, one of the most important staple food crops. This database allows the query of small RNA libraries, including in silico predicted wheat miRNA sequences and the expression profiles of small RNAs identified from those libraries. Our database also provides a direct access to online miRNA prediction software tuned to de novo miRNA detection in wheat, in monocotyledon clades, as well as in other plant species. These data and software will facilitate multiple comparative analyses and reproducible studies on small RNAs and miRNA families in plants. Our web-portal is available at: http://wheat.bioinfo.uqam.ca.


The article analyses a relatively new position in the field of social services for the family: the com plexity of the professional activity of a case manager, and the prospects of applying supervision as a form of professional support. In the field of social work, supervision is already a well-known way of counselling professional relationships. While improving their professional qualifications, social workers seek to participate in group, team and individual supervision. The supervision of the ma nager and the whole organisation is also well known in social work practice. In Lithuania, as in the rest of the world, supervision first established itself in the field of social work, which only proves the complexity of this profession. Social work as a profession is undergoing constant change, services are expanding, and more and more attention is being paid to specialised methodologies when the global approach no longer sa tisfies the current situation of empowerment. The case manager is a new position, the content of which is still being formed. The research has revealed that employees experience stress and tension as a burden of responsibility, they become the creators of the content of this position, and they face obstacles to inter-institutional cooperation. The qualitative research presented in this article, the interviews with case managers, and the ref lection on the experience of supervision, allow us to draw conclusions about the prospects for su -pervision, and allow us to offer specific forms of supervision; and individual and team supervision become unique in this situation.


Supplemental Digital Content is Available in the Text. Background: Data on clinical characteristics and outcomes of people living with HIV (PLWH) hospitalized with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) who develop acute kidney injury (AKI) are limited. Setting: Large tertiary health care system in the Bronx, NY. Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study of 83 PLWH and 4151 patients without HIV hospitalized with COVID-19 from March 10, 2020, to May 11, 2020. We compared the clinical characteristics and outcomes associated with AKI by HIV serostatus and evaluated HIV-related factors for AKI among PLWH. AKI was defined and staged using Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes criteria. Results: The incidence of AKI in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 did not differ significantly by HIV serostatus (54.2% in PLWH vs 49.5% in patients without HIV, P = 0.6). Despite a higher incidence of stage 3 AKI (28.9% vs 17.1% P = 0.05) in PLWH compared with those without HIV, there was no significant difference in the need for renal replacement therapy (22.2% vs 13.4% P = 0.12), renal recovery (76.9% vs 82.5% P = 0.61), or dependence on renal replacement therapy (7.7% vs 3.8% P = 0.27). CD4 T-cell count, HIV-1 RNA viral suppression, and antiretroviral therapy use were not associated with AKI. AKI was associated with increased need for invasive ventilation and in-hospital death, but HIV was not an independent risk factor of in-hospital death after AKI [adjusted hazard ratio 1.01 (95% CI: 0.59 to 1.72), P = 0.98]. Conclusions: HIV-related factors were not associated with increased risk of AKI in PLWH hospitalized with COVID-19. PLWH hospitalized with COVID-19 had more stage 3 AKI, but outcomes after AKI were similar to those without HIV.


Intracranial electrophysiological recording in humans has been a long-standing technique in neurosurgical treatment for epilepsy. Due to the clinical constraints as well as the necessity to map critical language sites prior to resection of tissue, electrode coverage often involves brain areas relevant for language function. This cortical sampling as well as the excellent temporal and spatial resolution provided by intracranial recordings have made the technique particularly important for our understanding of how the human brain processes speech and language. This chapter provides an introduction to the technique and describes how it historically contributed to language mapping. Furthermore, it discusses the advantages and disadvantages of intracranial recordings as a research tool and illustrates the use of the technique with examples of novel findings and approaches in the area of language processing.


Background Potential associations between oral health and respiratory disease, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), have been suggested in several studies. Among the indicators reflecting oral health, the number of natural teeth is an integrated and simple index to assess in the clinic. In this study, we examined the relationship between the number of natural teeth and airflow obstruction, which is a central feature of COPD. Methods A total of 3,089 participants over 40 years, who underwent reliable spirometry and oral health assessments were selected from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2012, a cross-sectional and nationally representative survey. Spirometry results were classified as normal, restrictive, or obstructive pattern. Total number and pairs of natural teeth were counted after excluding third molars. Results After adjusting for other variables, such as age, body mass index, socioeconomic factors, and oral health factors, the group with airflow obstruction showed significantly fewer natural teeth than the other groups in males (P=0.014 and 0.008 for total number and total pairs of natural teeth, respectively). Compared with participants with full dentition, the adjusted odds ratio for airflow obstruction in males with fewer than 20 natural teeth was 4.18 (95% confidence interval: 2.06–8.49) and with fewer than 10 pairs of natural teeth was 4.74 (95% confidence interval: 2.34–9.62). However, there was no significant association between the total number or pairs of natural teeth and airflow obstruction after adjustment in females. Conclusions Loss of natural teeth was significantly associated with the presence of airflow obstruction in males. Our finding suggests that the number of natural teeth could be one of the available indices for obstructive lung diseases, including COPD.


Introduction Bok choy, also known as pak choy or pac choi, is a leafy vegetable that belongs to the mustard family. It is commonly referred to as 'chinese cabbage.' Bok choy is a non-heading form of Chinese cabbage and has thick white or pale green leafstalks (petioles). Leaves are dark green in color but there are cultivars with red leaves as well. Chinese cabbage is a coolseason annual vegetable and is grown by a number of vegetable growers in the state. The crop grows best with short days and moderate to cool temperatures (60 to 70F mean temperature). Higher temperatures lead to soft and bitter heads and often lead to seed stalk formation (bolting).