Coeliac disease, the intolerance for dietary gluten common in Western populations, is a multifactorial disorder, meaning that it is caused by the interaction of environmental factors and multiple susceptibility genes. The aim of this thesis was to gain insight into the pathogenesis by means of a genomics approach. We carried out integrated genetic analysis and gene expression studies to identify, and gain better understanding of genes and mechanisms behind the pathology and etiology of coeliac disease. In the introducing chapter we review genetic studies on coeliac disease and introduce new methods for gene expression profiling. First, we examined whether tissue heterogeneity ('patchiness') may have an effect on gene expression measurements performed on duodenal biopsies. We observed that mucosal inflammation and differentiation (represented by IFNG and TM4SF4 gene expression, respectively) were inversely correlated, depending on the extent of mucosal restructuring. However, the extent of variance in gene expression measurements was similar in cases and controls, and thus independent of lesion severity. Consequently, we proposed a model where gene expression mosaicism in the duodenum might result into tissue heterogeneity ('patchiness'). Second, we applied microarrays to study genome-wide gene expression in the duodenums of coeliac disease patients. Alterations induced by the pathology pointed to enhanced cell proliferation in the mucosa and arrested terminal differentiation of enterocytes. This impaired differentiation affected the uptake and processing of lipids, sterols, sugars, peptides, and iron. These deficiencies contribute to the wide variety of clinical features in coeliac disease. We also observed an impaired detoxification system, previously also described for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). This suggests that, like coeliac disease, IBD is also characterized by a differentiation defect. Third, we analyzed the tight junction gene network using genetics and gene expression profiling. The expression pattern of genes of the claudin family appeared to have been evolutionary conserved for over 75 million years. Three pairs of claudins showed tight co-regulation. Patients showed variable patterns of claudin gene expression marked by extreme outliers. Particularly genes involved in signal transduction and regulation of the cytoskeleton showed trends of changed gene expression. Genetic association analysis of this gene network was based on the use of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and information on linkage disequilibrium from the International HapMap Consortium. We identified two tight junction genes that were associated with coeliac disease, and to a lesser extent with IBD. This suggested that both gastrointestinal disorders, coeliac disease and IBD share a genetic barrier defect. Fourth, we examined candidate genes and gene families in the inflammatory and immune pathways. Both the IFNG gene (pivotal in the Th1 adaptive response), and SPINK4 (expressed by goblet cells) showed differential expression that correlated well with the extent of mucosal remodeling. Weak genetic association was only observed for INFG in the Dutch population, but not for the positional candidate genes SPINK1, -2, -4, and –5. Finally, in the General Discussion, we evaluate our approach and our interpretations of the data, which are than incorporated in possible models of the pathogenesis of coeliac disease.


Abstract The article is dealing with the new German legal regulation concerning so called securities class actions. Th e author sees the new possibilites to bind together claims which arose from false information in capital market as a followor of the US class actions, therefore the article explains with the aim to simplify the intepretation of the new German legal rules the current American legal regulation of class actions. Th is means it analyses mainly the article 23 of the Federal Rules of Civil Prodecure and brings opinions of the author whether its particularities may function in Germany or not.


Crohn's disease (CD) is associated with a high risk of intestinal complications such as stricture, fistula and abscess formation, as well as perianal disease, frequently requiring surgical procedures and intestinal stoma formation. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the prevalence as well as predictors for surgical stoma formation in CD patients.

 This is a retrospective single tertiary center cohort study of 1157 patients with CD with a median follow-up of 15 years whose characteristics (Table 1) are recorded via a validated data software (IBDIS, Inflammatory Bowel Disease Information System). The primary objective was the assessment of risk factors for intestinal stoma formation during follow-up. The probability of stoma-free survival was calculated for the entire patient population and for subgroups defined by their time of diagnosis (-1999, 2000–2009, 2010-), location and behavior of disease, presence of perianal disease (ever), gender, and smoking habits by means of Kaplan-Meier estimates.

 135 (11.7%) patients with intestinal stomas [78 (57.8%) ileostomies and 57 (42.2%) colostomies] were registered. The probability of stoma-free survival after 5, 10, and 20 years was 95.9%, 91.8%, and 85.5%, respectively. Stoma formation surgery was elective in 51 (37.8%) cases, emergency in 49 (36.3%) and unknown in the others (25.9%). The most common indications were perianal disease [(n=34; 25.2%), internal fistula/abscess [n=25 (18.5%)], postoperative complications [n=21 (15.6%)], stricture [n=11 (8.1%)], and refractory to treatment [n=10 (7.4%)]. The probability of stoma-free survival was significantly lower in patients with perianal disease (p<0.0001) (Figure 1), colon involvement (p<0.0001) (Figure 2), and penetrating disease behavior (p<0.0001) (Figure 3). Time of diagnosis, gender, and smoking habit were not significantly associated with stoma-free survival. In 73 (54.1%) patients a restorative surgery for intestinal continuity was performed.

 We found a high prevalence of intestinal stoma formation in CD patients of a tertiary center. Patients with perianal disease, penetrating behavior and colonic location, have a lower probability of stoma-free survival.


The Assessment of SpondyloArthritis International Society (ASAS) group has recently developed criteria to classify patients with axial SpA with or without radiographic sacroiliitis, and criteria to classify patients with peripheral SpA. The ASAS axial criteria consist of 2 arms and can be applied in patients with back pain (>3 months almost every day). In one arm, imaging (radiographs and magnetic resonance imaging [MRI]) has an important role, in the other arm--HLA-B27. MRI can detect active inflammation and structural damage associated with SpA. According to the ASAS axial SpA criteria, patients with chronic back pain aged less than 45 years at onset can be classified as having axial SpA if sacroiliitis on imaging (radiographs or MRI) plus 1 further SpA feature are present, or if HLA-B27 plus 2 further SpA features are present. The ASAS peripheral criteria can be applied in patients with peripheral arthritis (usually asymmetric arthritis predominantly involving the lower limbs), enthesitis, or dactylitis. Patients can be classified as having peripheral SpA if 1 of the following features is present: uveitis, HLA-B27, preceding genitourinary or gastrointestinal infection, psoriasis, inflammatory bowel disease, sacroiliitis on imaging (radiographs or MRI), or if 2 of the following features besides the entry feature are present: arthritis, enthesitis, dactylitis, inflammatory back pain, or a positive family history of SpA.


Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) is a promising absorber material for thin-film solar cells since it contains no rare or toxic elements, has a high absorption coefficient and a near ideal bandgap energy. It does, however, present some challenges due to the limited single-phase region of the desired kesterite phase and its instability towards decomposition. Sputtering of CZTS from quaternary, compound targets using RF magnetron sputtering is known. In this thesis work CZTS absorbers were made using pulsed DC magnetron sputtering on stainless steel substrates. The effects of varying substrate temperature and adding seed layers to promote grain growth were investigated, as well as the effects of a rapid thermal anneal in a S-rich atmosphere.Film compositions determined by X-ray fluorescence were found to be inside or close to the kesterite single-phase region in the phase diagram, but were generally too Cu-rich and Zn-poor to yield good results. The kesterite phase was confirmed with X-ray crystallography and Raman spectroscopy, indicating that it is possible to sputter CZTS from a single target with a high deposition rate. It was found that Cu2S seed layers could induce a significant increase in grain size, and preliminary experiments showed no evidence of the seed layer remaining after deposition of the absorber. Higher substrate temperatures also lead to increased grain size, but excessive heating caused the decomposition of the CZTS. Annealing induced grain growth, relaxed internal stress in the material and improved the electrical properties of the CZTS films, primarily by the removal of shunts.


This white paper analyzes the impact of GST (goods and services tax) effects on Indian tax scenarios. Here is a brief description of the historical scenarios of the tax and tax structure in India. Then the need to change the tax structure from tradition to GST model is increased. The GST is discussed in detail in this white paper about the background, silent features and the impact of the GST on contemporary scenarios in India. Goods and services tax (GST) is a value-added tax that will be implemented in India, and the decision is undecided. GST is the only indirect tax that directly affects all sectors and sectors of our economy. Ignorance is no excuse, but since you are responsible for the panel clause, you start learning GST and avoid the costs of ignorance. That is why we must all be prepared or forced to learn it. The Goods and Services Tax (GST) is intended to create a single integrated market that provides benefits for business and the economy.


In the first chapter, I document that online feedback loops, such as search engines, drive customers and revenue to prominent firms, contributing to rising industry concentration. To identify prominent firms online, I measure centrality in a network of firm websites covering more than 100,000 public and private firms. Industries with firms that are more central become more concentrated and central firms increase their market share during the sample period. This appears to be due to firms' ability to meet earnings expectations. Central firms become more profitable and peripheral firms earn negative risk-adjusted returns and underperform earnings forecasts. Evidence from the COVID-19 shutdown, which drove economic activity to the Internet, supports these conclusions. Central firms received the vast majority of the influx of web traffic and had significantly higher returns during the shutdown. In the second chapter, I create a novel definition of peer groups (web-based peers) for over 100,000 public and private firms by extracting clusters from a network of firm websites. The network is built from unique data on overlapping web traffic. Peer firms are therefore more likely to have similar website users, and by extension, provide similar products or services. Web-based peer groups are related to traditional industry classifications, the preferred choice when defining industries for private firms, but outperform them in standard benchmarking tests. To further demonstrate the benefits of web-based peer groups, I examine IPO waves. IPO activity is closely related to peer-firm IPO activity in the past 12 months, controlling for the overall IPO market and waves within traditional industries. IPO followers earn lower post-IPO returns up to three months after going public, consistent with these firms being lower quality and attempting to benefit from the successful IPOs of their peers.


The Department of Justice (DOJ) antitrust penalties have become harsher for violating individuals and firms, and the criminal enforcement of cases has become increasingly important during the last 20 years. In this study we investigate whether these changes in antitrust law led to improved effectiveness of antitrust actions with respect to price-fixing over 1981-2001. We measure effectiveness by suppressed stock market values of offending firms after successful Section 1 of the Sherman Act indictment, by duration of the deterrent effect and by the rate of recidivism. We use effectiveness of antitrust enforcement documented by Bosch and Eckard (1991) and Thompson and Kaserman (2001) for 1962-80 as a basis for comparison. Our results show that the changes in antitrust law do improve the effectiveness as measured by changes in market valuations of offenders, but the durability of deterrent effect and the rate of recidivism are left unaffected suggesting that Section 1 of Sherman Act enforcement has very little lasting effect.


Researchers in the life sciences are posting work to preprint servers at an unprecedented and increasing rate, sharing papers online before (or instead of) publication in peer-reviewed journals. Though the increasing acceptance of preprints is driving policy changes for journals and funders, there is little information about their usage. Here, we collected and analyzed data on all 37,648 preprints uploaded to bioRxiv.org, the largest biology-focused preprint server, in its first five years. We find preprints are being downloaded more than ever before (1.1 million tallied in October 2018 alone) and that the rate of preprints being posted has increased to a recent high of 2,100 per month. We also find that two-thirds of preprints posted before 2017 were later published in peer-reviewed journals, and find a relationship between journal impact factor and preprint downloads. Lastly, we developed Rxivist.org, a web application providing multiple ways of interacting with preprint metadata.


This essay thinks through some possibilities and implications for a trans studies formation in Europe and across the West that takes as some of its core concerns and ethical commitments black people, black life, and black capacities for insurgency, experimentation, and trans nonbinary method. Writing against the logics of displacement, disciplinarity, and depletion, what follows is a brief meditation on both the institutionalization of trans studies in Western academia and the material disregard of black people, trans people, migrants, and other oppressed and vulnerable people under the extractive regimes of cisheteropatriarchial white supremacy.


The aim of this study was to investigate the possible beneficial effects of Nigella sativa (NS) in comparison to methylprednisolone on experimental spinal cord injury (SCI) in rats. SCI was performed by placing an aneurysm clip extradurally at the level of T11-12. Rats were neurologically tested over 24 h after trauma and spinal cord tissue samples were harvested for both biochemical and histopathological evaluation. The neurological scores of rats were not found to be different in SCI groups. SCI significantly increased the spinal cord tissue malondialdehyde (MDA) and protein carbonyl (PC) levels, however SCI decreased superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and catalase (CAT) enzyme activities compared to the control. Methylprednisolone and NS treatment decreased tissue MDA and PC levels and prevented inhibition of SOD, GSH-Px and CAT enzymes in the tissues. The most significant results were obtained when NS was given. In SCI and placebo groups, the neurons of spinal cord tissue became extensively dark and degenerated with picnotic nuclei. The morphology of neurons in methylprednisolone and NS-treated groups were well protected, however, not as well as the neurons of the control group. The number of neurons in the spinal cord tissue of the SCI and placebo groups was significantly less than the control, laminectomy, methylprednisolone and NS-treated groups. In conclusion, NS treatment might be beneficial in spinal cord tissue damage, and therefore shows potential for clinical implications.


Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP), marked by elevated maternal serum bile acid levels, occurs in late pregnancy and is often associated with poor perinatal outcomes. In this issue of the JCI, Papacleovoulou et al. analyze the long-term consequences of ICP and find that teens born to mothers with ICP exhibit enhanced characteristics of metabolic syndrome relative to controls. The authors also used a new ICP mouse model to support and extend these findings, demonstrating that in utero exposure to bile acids induces persistent epigenetic alterations and abnormal placental lipogenesis,setting the stage for later metabolic dysfunction.


Higher Educational Institutions worldwide have become highly dependent on information Systems for their IT provision and service delivery. Thus, the necessities for education al resources like hardware, software, study materials, teaching tools, teaching stuff sets. Have been raised. The objective of this research is to find alternatives and replace the computing machines and other peripherals that are not optimally used, by adopting Cloud Computing. This research studies the current status of adopting Cloud Computing in Higher Educational Institutions in the Sultanate of Oman. It investigates the current state by distributing online questionnaire to Faculty in IT fields and employees who are working in ICT. Additionally, this research proposed a Higher Education Hybrid Cloud frame work which will be delivered to all Higher Educational Institutions in Oman to provide flexible means for accessing educational resources anywhere and anytime on demand. It facilitates the innovative teaching pedagogies, enables more effective knowledge transfer and encourages lifelong learning. There search finding shows that adopting Cloud Computing in Higher Educational Institutions in the Sultanate of Oman is a better solution for learning progression and service delivery requirements. Accordingly, when the Proposed Higher Education Hybrid Cloud framework will be implemented, different academic institutions' users will be able to access the services provided by cloud providers online which moves the user from being attached to a single machine to the Internet.


BACKGROUND
The first cases of Hodgkin's disease (HD) associated with HIV infection were reported in 1984. Since then, short series of seropositive patients suffering from HD have been published. In order to identify the characteristics, treatment response and outcome of HIV-associated Hodgkin's disease (HIV-HD), the data of HIV-HD patients recorded between 1987 and 1989 were analysed and compared with those of primary HD patient and with those of HIV-associated non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (HIV-NHL), registered during the same period.

PATIENTS AND METHODS
The 45 cases of HD collected by the French registry of HIV-associated tumors between January 1987 and December 1989 were included in this study. All patients were clinically staged according to the Ann Arbor system. To compare HIV-HD characteristics with those of primary HD, we used a cohort of 407 patients with clinical stages (CS) IA to IVB, who were enrolled between September 1981 and August 1988 in a multicentric clinical trial. To identify the relationship between HIV-HD and the course of HIV infection we studied, when available, the routes of infection, initial CD4 cell count at the moment of HD diagnostic as well as the CDC class of HIV infection and compared these data with the same parameters observed in 142 HIV-NHL enrolled in the registry during the same period.

RESULTS
HIV-HD is characterized by an increase in mixed-cellularity histology (49%), with a predominance of advanced stages (75%) and B symptoms (80%). A unique observation is made regarding mediastinal involvement, present in only 13% of HIV-HD (71% in primary HD). The HIV-HD/HIV-NHL ratio was significantly higher in intravenous drug abusers than in male homosexuals. Median CD4 cell count was 306/microliters at HIV-HD diagnosis, and only 11% of the cases were preceded by an AIDS manifestation. With standard therapy, 79% of the patients achieved complete remission, but hematological and infectious complications were very frequent. The progression to AIDS rate was 94% at two years and opportunistic infections were the most frequent cause of death. Overall two-year survival was 41% with 71% for patients with initial CD 4 cell counts higher than 300/microliter and 0% for those with CD4 cell counts lower than 300/microliter (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION
HIV-HD has a particular clinico-pathological profile when compared to primary HD, with a predominance of mixed-cellularity type, a high frequency of advanced stages and a high proportion of patients without mediastinal involvement. Moreover, HIV-HD seems to occur preferentially in the group of subjects infected by needle sharing. Standard HD therapy seems to be efficient but excessively toxic.


Hospital medical staffs are beginning to deal with the sensitive problem of the disruptive physician. Courts in 11 states already have allowed hospitals to dismiss physicians who display unprofessional behavior. Hospitals and medical staffs, however, must be careful to document a correlation between a physician's disruptive behavior and interference with patient care.


Of six Panulirus lobsters that occur in the shallow waters of Japan, the Japanese spiny lobster Panulirus japonicus is the most abundant and the most important to Japanese coastal fisheries. Hence, Japan has had a long and great interest in the propagation and aquaculture of this lobster. Research on larval (phyllosoma) lobster culture in Japan commenced in 1898, so there have now been over 100 years of research and development. However, specific biological characteristics of phyllosoma, such as their peculiar body form, protracted lifespan (ca. 1 year), and pelagic open-ocean life, have hindered significant progress in culture. The first complete culture from hatch to juvenile stage occurred in 1988 at Mie Prefectural Science and Technology Promotion Center, exactly 90 years after the first trial. Subsequently, the number of juveniles produced in the laboratory per year has increased gradually up to ca. 300 in 2003, a result that reflects the increasing availability of information on optimal culturing conditions, such as optimal environmental parameters, feeding, and tank design. Still, there are significant problems to overcome in the establishment of large-scale culture of phyllosoma. These further challenges include the control of bacterial diseases and excessive aggregation of larvae, the use of prepared diets such as artificial foods, and the reduction of high operating costs. At present, these problems are being examined in an effort to increase the number of larvae cultured in a single tank and to stabilize larval culture by controlling bacterial levels.


Recent progresses on cytocompatible encapsulation of living cells have witnessed their new role for constructing artificial spores. Their cell-in-shell structure emulated essential features of natural endospores that are able to survive under harsh environmental conditions, such as malnutrition, osmotic pressure, lytic enzyme, heat, and UV radiation, as well as the control over cell division. The field of artificial spores is not limited to the mimicry behavior of natural endospores, but also includes shell functionalization for developing cell-based sensor, and provides a basic platform for studying single-cell biology.


Abstract Objectives Many patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) report persistent pain even when treated with anti-inflammatory agents. Our aim was to explore the presence of central sensitization (CS) and different types of illness perceptions in patients with axSpA, and to assess their associations with disease activity assessments. Methods Consecutive outpatients from the Groningen Leeuwarden Axial Spondyloarthritis (GLAS) cohort were included. Besides standardized assessments, patients filled out the Central Sensitization Inventory (CSI), Illness Perception Questionnaire (IPQ-R) and Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS). Univariable and multivariable linear regression analyses were used to investigate the association between questionnaire scores, patient characteristics and disease activity assessments ASDASCRP, BASDAI and CRP. Results We included 182 patients with a mean symptom duration of 21.6 years. Mean ASDASCRP was 2.1, mean BASDAI 3.9, and median CRP 2.9. Mean CSI score was 37.8 (scale 0–100) and 45% of patients scored ≥40, indicating a high probability of CS. CSI score, IPQ-R domain identity (number of symptoms the patient attributes to their illness), and IPQ-R domain treatment control (perceived treatment efficacy), and obesity were significantly and independently associated with both ASDASCRP and BASDAI, explaining a substantial proportion of variation in these disease activity scores (R2=0.35 and R2=0.47, respectively). Only obesity was also independently associated with CRP. Conclusion CS may be common in patients with long-term axSpA. CS, as well as specific illness perceptions and obesity were all independently associated with the widely used (partially) patient-reported disease activity assessments ASDASCRP and BASDAI. Treating physicians should take this into account in the follow-up and treatment of their patients.


Proposes that the challenges both for marketing specialists and for consumers, raised by the concept of green marketing, are due to several issues, such as the lack of an acceptable definition for green marketing, the absence of a clear understanding of cause‐and‐effect relationships in matters affecting the environment, and the overt and covert reasons for concern about such issues. Suggested that, in the hands of unscrupulous marketers, green marketing can turn into green gold.


Animal navigation research posits that organisms build and maintain internal spatial representations, or maps, of their environment. We ask if machines – specifically, artificial intelligence (AI) navigation agents – also build implicit (or 'mental') maps. A positive answer to this question would (a) explain the surprising phenomenon in recent literature of ostensibly map-free neural-networks achieving strong performance, and (b) strengthen the evidence of mapping as a fundamental mechanism for navigation by intelligent embodied agents, whether they be biological or artificial. Unlike animal navigation, we can judiciously design the agent's perceptual system and control the learning paradigm to nullify alternative navigation mechanisms. Specifically, we train 'blind' agents – with sensing limited to only egomotion and no other sensing of any kind – to perform PointGoal navigation ('go to ∆x, ∆y') via reinforcement learning. Our agents are composed of navigation-agnostic components (fully-connected and recurrent neural networks), and our experimental setup provides no inductive bias towards mapping. Despite these harsh conditions, we find that blind agents are (1) surprisingly effective navigators in new environments (∼95% success); (2) they utilize memory over long horizons (remembering ∼1,000 steps of past experience in an episode); (3) this memory enables them to exhibit intelligent behavior (following walls, detecting collisions, taking shortcuts); (4) there is emergence of maps and collision detection neurons in the representations of the environment built by a blind agent as it navigates; and (5) the emergent maps are selective and task dependent (e.g. the agent 'forgets' exploratory detours). Overall, this paper presents no new techniques for the AI audience, but a surprising finding, an insight, and an explanation.


ABSTRACT In this essay I speculate on the idea that literary style can be informed by concepts of yoga and can constitute a yogic textual practice in its own right. As a popular practice around the world, yoga is often considered a set of embodied pursuits that promote holistic health and spiritual advancement. Yet yoga also claims a long tradition in South Asian philosophies as a modality of knowledge. Drawing on remediated concepts from these traditions, I theorise a form of yogic style that integrates changing genealogies of textual practice with attention to structures of power. This understanding of yogic style resonates with a twenty-first-century decolonising effort in Indian literature to animate the power of Indian cultural genealogies, while it contests a parallel tendency to manufacture mystiques of Indian civilisational belonging that legitimate the hierarchies and exclusions of majoritarian populism.


This article aims to explore the possibilities and ambivalent practices of feminist management in the context of research management in higher education in Britain. Drawing on a reflexive and critical analysis of our experiences of contract research and research management over the past 15 years, we discuss the challenges of putting feminist management principles into practice in team-based and collaborative research projects. By rendering academic cultures increasingly competitive, individualist and managerial, we argue, new managerialist reforms in higher education over the past two decades have intensified those very aspects of academic life that feminists have long struggled with. In particular, in creating the new subject position of research manager, with concomitant institutional expectations and obligations, new managerialism has exacerbated tensions between our identities as feminists, scholars and managers and between collective, individual and institutional needs and aspirations. We illustrate these tensions through a discussion of four related aspects of team research which, we suggest, undermine attempts at implementing the feminist ideals of intellectual equity and political equality: divisions of labour in research teams; divisions of intellectual status and the differential valuation of researchers and research labour; divisions of formal power and the management structure of research teams; and exertions of informal power and the micropolitics of research teams. We suggest that feminist research management and feminist management, more generally, need to recognize and accept differences and inequalities among feminists and work with these issues in reflexive, ethical and caring ways.


: TRNAPhe is able to elute phenylalanyl-tRNA synthetase from cation exchangers in a 1:1 ratio. Elution of phenylalanyl-tRNA synthetase in a 1:1 ratio is also observed for four noncognate tRNAs investigated, specific for valine, serine, isoleucine and tyrosine. If protein mixtures are subjected to affinity elution the cognate pair [tRNAPhe-phenylalanyl-tRNA synthetase] is eluted first, followed by noncognate pairs. The unspecific elution is not influenced by complexation of phenylalanyl-tRNA synthetase with an analog of phenylalanyl-adenylate.


The notion "unaccompanied and separated children" was introduced by the UN Convention on the rightsof the child. It is widely used by both international human rights community and governmental bodies ofvarious countries in regulation of treatment of the specific vulnerable group of children. The notion, which initially aimed to address specific needs of children-refugees, gradually evaluated and presently refers tochildren outside of country of their origin who are not being cared for by a responsible adult or who are with family members that are not their primary caregivers, including illegal migrants. Certain scope of rightsand guarantees is attributed to the notion to address their needs that should be determined using the bestinterests of the child principle. Russia does not use the notion developed on the international level in the national law in its human rights meaning. It was literary translated and adjusted to national perceptions (redefined).The content of the term used to define the group in Russia - "children deprived of a parental care" (deti, ostavshiyesya bez roditelskogo popecheniya) is similar but not equal. It allows to strip children of the guarantees attributed to the notion "unaccompanied and separated children" by the international treaty andto consider unaccompanied and separated children within the contexts of "violation by parents of their parental rights" and "migration". The change of the focus brings along a perversion of the understanding of thebest interests of these children and measures the state is obliged to undertake to protect them. Moreover, it puts all the blame regarding the situation of children on their parents, leaving the state a secondary role.


The Advanced Visible and Near Infrared Radiometer type 2 (AVNIR-2) on-orbit radiometric performance has been improved through the comparison of cross-calibration and onboard lamp calibration. We proposed a new cross-calibration scheme which uses top-of-atmosphere reflectance functions of satellite zenith angle at temporally and spatially stable ground sites. Each function is made from Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) 500-m resolution data over 16 days, which includes AVNIR-2 observation dates. The results showed that the radiances of AVNIR-2 bands 1 (463 nm), 2 (560 nm), and 3 (652 nm) agreed with the radiances of Aqua and Terra MODIS within 3% accuracy (standard deviation of 2%). AVNIR-2 band 4 (821 nm) had a difference of about 7% (AVNIR-2< MODIS) due to water-vapor absorption which could explain more than half of the 7%. Using many samples from this scheme, we found dependences of radiometric calibration errors within the field of view (FOV) and for different gain modes. The lamp calibration system onboard AVNIR-2 unveiled these dependences over the FOV and time. Furthermore, for the gain mode, consistent results could be retrieved using the cross-calibration scheme. The retrieved radiometric correction factors (over the FOV and gain modes) have been applied to the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency AVNIR-2 processing scheme. The subsequent validation of the correction showed, for polar snow areas, an improved radiometric performance over the entire FOV.


The goal of this research is to formulate a Whole Life Cost (WLC) model for in order to support in the sales conversation with customers. It helps the customer to make a more informed decision when buying a vehicle. Customers tend to look solely at the purchase price while other cost factors are also significant when looking at the whole life cost.
Multiple models are already being used internally; this thesis unifies them in a global format that can be specified to each market. The first part of the thesis consists of a literature review and collection of current models in order to identify the relevant cost factors and variables. The second part formulates the WLC model based on the data retrieved in part one, and assesses the model's sensitivity to alterations of the variables.
Appendix A states a clear structure of the model formulated. The model is divided up into three different sections namely financing costs, operating costs, and automotive taxes. Within these three sections relating cost factors are included. The sensitivity analysis shows financing costs, taxes, and fuel costs to be the most significant factors in the WLC. Most relevant variables for these factors are residual value, term, mileage, customer type, and tax incentives.
The result of this research is a globally formatted WLC model where a The company vehicle can be compared to a competitor vehicle. Variables can be altered so that the calculations are specified to the customer and provides a representable review of the costs involved. This model is to be used by both Sales and Corporate Sales departments in the conversation with potential customers, and incorporated into the website so customers can get insight directly. Validation of the assumptions is difficult and as such the author suggests to use external databases the acquire values for the cost factors. Another solution would be to incorporate disclaimers into the model relieving The company Motors Inc. from possible claims. With regards to the roll-out strategy the author suggests a try-out per country to specify the global format to be applicable to the selected country, including possible tax incentives.


The majority of patients with disseminated germ cell cancer can be cured with cisplatin-based combination chemotherapy. For more than a decade the gold standard regimen is cisplatin, etoposide, and bleomycin (BEP). On both sides of the Atlantic, a number of studies have been carried out to either modify the toxicity of therapy in good prognosis patients or to improve the treatment outcome by intensifying the regimen or incorporating new agents in patients with intermediate or poor prognosis disease. This review discusses the trials that have been conducted in Europe, mainly through the European Organization of Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) and Medical Research Council (MRC) in the United Kingdom, as well as the studies that are currently being conducted by the collaborative groups in Europe.


Existing research indicates that instructed learners' L2 proficiency and their metalinguistic knowledge are moderately correlated. However, the operationalization of the construct of metalinguistic knowledge has varied somewhat across studies. Metalinguistic knowledge has typically been operationalized as learners' ability to correct, describe, and explain L2 errors. More recently, this operationalization has been extended to additionally include learners' L1 language-analytic ability as measured by tests traditionally used to assess components of language learning aptitude. This article reports on a study which employed a narrowly focused measure of L2 proficiency and incorporated L2 language-analytic ability into a measure of metalinguistic knowledge. It was found that the linguistic and metalinguistic knowledge of advanced university-level L1 English learners of L2 German correlated strongly. Moreover, the outcome of a principal components analysis suggests that learners' ability to correct, describe, and explain highlighted L2 errors and their L2 language-analytic ability may constitute components of the same construct. The theoretical implications of these findings for the concept of metalinguistic knowledge in L2 learning are considered.


Abstract This study employed the international Relevance of Science Education questionnaire to survey the interest in biology and the out-of-school experiences of Abu Dhabi secondary school students (median age 17, mean age 17.53 and mode age of 16) in the third semester of 2014. It included 3100 participants. An exploratory factor analysis was used to categorise the items for both interest in biology and out-of-school experience. Ten interest in biology and 12 out-of-school experience factors were extracted. The summated means for each factor indicated that 'health and fitness' and 'disease control' enjoyed highest interests among students. For out-of-school experiences, the two factors of 'digital applications' and 'medical treatment' received the highest scores. Multivariate analysis of variance revealed that all factors for both interest in biology and out-of-school experience exhibited significant differences between boys and girls. More girls than boys were interested in disease control, reproduction (human biology), alternative science, health and fitness, zoology, and applied cosmetic biology. No significant differences were observed for the remaining five other categories. Furthermore, analysis of variance revealed significant differences between boys and girls with regard to individual items comprising each of the factors. The highest correlations were between the two factors of out-of-school experiences of 'the natural world' and 'learning through observation' and the interest in biology factor related to 'plant and animal farming and agriculture'. Results suggested that more emphasis must be placed on students' out-of-school experience and their engagement in informal learning in contextual outdoor environments to enhance their interest in learning more about biology and the living environment in general.


Reindeer herding involves hard physical work carried out in a cold climate under variable weather conditions. In the fall and winter, herders' work in northern Finland includes collecting and moving reindeer herds to round-up sites, working in round-ups, slaughtering and processing meat as well as daily feeding and monitoring of the animals in the field. To study the experiences and perceptions of coping with cold among physically active herders in harsh winter conditions, we interviewed 22 herders from six herding districts of the central reindeer management area within the north boreal coniferous forest zone. We focused on behavioral and cultural strategies that accompany the physiological cold adaptations. Semi-structured interviews revealed that the main behavioral and cultural strategies used by herders to successfully carry out their duties while avoiding cold-related injury include clothing, physical activity, nutrition, and shelter as well as protecting vehicles and devices. Herders across sex, age, and herding district reported using modern layered clothing developed for extreme conditions, often combined with traditional footwear and clothes made of reindeer fur or woollen fabric. In addition, herders increase their physical activity; eat warm, energy-rich foods; make fires; stay overnight or take breaks in a house or a cabin, a car, or other protected places to reduce exposure to the harsh environment. Coping with extreme conditions not only requires flexibility, preparedness, and innovation from the herders but also thoughtful caution when approaching and managing unexpected situations. We conclude that modernization of reindeer husbandry, climate change, and rapidly increasing land use competition not only drive herders to modify their behavioral and cultural coping mechanisms for extreme weather conditions but may also create new, unexpected vulnerabilities.


Participating in the seminar's first session were Dr. William R. Richardson, Kings County Hospital, Brooklyn, New York, who served as moderator, Dr. Thomas Santulli, Children's Surgeon at Columbia-Presbyterian Hospital, New York City, Dr. Marel H. Harmel, Anesthesiologist at Kings County Hospital, and Dr. Lawrence K. Pickett, Chief of Surgery at the State University of New York Medical Center in Syracuse. All speakers emphasized the importance of closely co-operative effort by pediatricians, surgeons, radiologists, anesthesiologists and nursing personnel to facilitate early recognition, diagnosis and effective treatment of neonatal complications requiring surgery.
 Diagnosis
 Early recognition of surgical problems usually depends upon the observations of well-trained nurses. Any history of obstetric complications especially breech presentation, a maternal history of hydramnios, any signs of respiratory distress, difficulty in swallowing at the time of the first feeding, emesis of bile-stained fluid, abdominal distention, or failure of the appearance of the first stool within 24 hours after birth should alert all observers to the possibility of complications which will require surgery.
 As soon as respiratory or gastrointestinal complications are suspected, Dr. Pickett requests radiologic consultation. A roentgenogram of the chest, taken at this time, will delineate not only the infant's pulmonary status, but also the gas pattern of the intestinal tract. When the clinical picture suggests gastrointestinal obstruction, Dr. Pickett and his colleagues employ a No. 8 to 10 French soft rubber catheter, specially prepared by punching several holes in its terminal 1 cm portion. This tube is inserted under fluoroscopic control and passed cautiously to avoid traumatic puncture of any obstructing tissue which may be encountered When esophageal atresia is recognized the proximal esophageal pouch is carefully aspirated to remove pooled saliva.


In this paper, we analyze the effect of the criminal justice system on juvenile recidivism. Using a unique sample of German inmates, we are able to disentangle the selection into criminal and juvenile law from the subsequent recidivism decision of the inmate. We base our identification strategy on two distinct methods. First, we jointly estimate selection and recidivism in a bivariate probit model. In a second step, we use a discontinuity in law assignment created by German legislation and apply a (fuzzy) regression discontinuity design. In contrast to the bulk of the literature, which mainly relies on US data, we do not find that the application of criminal law increases juvenile recidivism. Rather, our results suggest that sentencing adolescents as adults reduces recidivism in Germany.


The prime objective of this study is to examine the psychological effect of competition among banks on employee retention with the moderating effect of supply chain management. The population of the study was based on Indonesian banks. All the employee; managerial and non-managerial were selected as the respondents of the current study. Two hundred eight questionnaires were used to conduct a survey among Indonesian banks. Data were analyzed through structural Equation Modeling (SEM) by using Partial Least Square (PLS) as a statistical tool. It is found that bank competition has a significant psychological effect on employee retention through employee satisfaction and employee stress. Increase in bank competition increases the level of employee's stress and decreases employee performance. Moreover, a decrease in employee stress and bank competition has the potential to increase employee satisfaction which causes to increase employee retention. Therefore, the current study has significant implications for literature and banking industry.


The contribution to the clinical picture of eosinophilic granuloma of the spine. This tumor-like, osteolytic bone lesion presents both diagnostic and therapeutic problems. Solitary eosinophilic granuloma of the spine is not common. Compared to the multiple manifestation of eosinophilic granuloma, which seldom spares the spine, vertebral involvement is rare in cases of solitary eosinophilic granuloma (about 10 p.c.). Spinal involvement of this disease is mainly characterized by an undramatic, uneventful clinical course, even in cases of extensive osteolytic bone defects, varying laboratory findings as well as partial or complete collapse of a vertebra, mostly in form of a true vertebrae plana. Open biopsy is recommended instead of needle aspiration biopsy in solitary eosinophilic granuloma of the spine in order to exclude Ewing's sarcoma, neuroblastoma, or bony manifestations of leukemia. In cases of solitary eosinophilic granuloma various therapeutic methods have been tried. Some authors have registered good results by means of prolonged immobilization, similar to fracture treatment. Others have used radiation therapy in moderate doses. We suggest operative treatment of solitary eosinophilic granuloma. Our procedure comprises open biopsy, frozen section examination, and curettage of the affected vertebral body, taking care not to destroy the epiphyseal plate or the intervertebral disc. Vertebral body replacement is achieved by means of a bone graft, taken from the iliac crest. The original height of the vertebra is thus restored and immediate stability of the involved area guaranteed. Undisturbed bone growth of the end plated of the vertebral body can be observed. This technique is to prevent disturbances of spinal growth and permanent deformities.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


PspA, ‐B and ‐C regulate the bacterial phage shock protein stress response by controlling the PspF transcription factor. Here, we have developed complementary approaches to study the behaviour of these proteins at their endogenous levels in Yersinia enterocolitica. First, we observed GFP‐tagged versions with an approach that resolves individual protein complexes in live cells. This revealed that PspA, ‐B and ‐C share common behaviours, including a striking contrast before and after induction. In uninduced cells, PspA, ‐B and ‐C were highly mobile and widely distributed. However, induction reduced mobility and the proteins became more organized. Combining mCherry‐ and GFP‐tagged proteins also revealed that PspA colocalizes with PspB and PspC into large stationary foci, often located close to the pole of induced cells. In addition, co‐immunoprecipitation assays provided the first direct evidence supporting the model that PspA switches binding partners from PspF to PspBC upon induction. Together, these data suggest that PspA, ‐B and ‐C do not stably interact and are highly mobile before induction, perhaps sampling the status of the membrane and each other. However, an inducing signal promotes PspABC complex formation and their relocation to discrete parts of the membrane, which might then be important for mitigating envelope stress.


A 40-year-old woman with a history of ileocolonic Crohn's disease treated with oral mesalamine presented with fever and diffuse abdominal pain without diarrhoea. Laboratory tests were notable only for increased serum C-reactive protein (CRP) (46 mg/L) and leucocytosis (10 100 cells/μL) with neutrophilia (8700 cells/μL). Abdominal CT revealed multiple mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs) without evidence of thickening of the bowel wall or complications such as stricture, fistula or abscess. Laparoscopic biopsy samples of some MLNs were performed; their histopathological analysis revealed a suppurative lymphadenitis, with a strong infiltration by neutrophils, oedema and tissue necrosis without granuloma or identification of any micro-organisms, including alcohol acid-resistant bacilli (AARB). Three …


The emphasise on the visual manifestation of space has determined how architects comprehend the correlation between society and the environment, and ultimately influenced if not dictated the manner in which they perceive, manufacture and develop their ideas into built form. The objectified notion of space – as visually prescribed – prevails in contemporary techniques of representation with, for example, computation being utilised to fuel hyper-real visualisation of projects or produce mute virtual reality environments that visually mimic the physical world. In this chapter a significantly different approach is proposed involving firstly, a challenge to the prominence of sight in our conceptualisation of space generally, followed by the argument that the manner in which computation is employed as a tool in design needs to be reconsidered to account for this challenge to the limitations of the visual. It suggests that the most recent potentialities offered by computation in the field of spatial design conceptually draw on issues of semiosis and the abductive (non-anthropocentric and non-materialistic) nature of living systems that free our understanding of space and the role of computation in its creation and representation. In doing so, it will be suggested that the next steps for the role of technologies in the evolution of architecture may not be visual at all, but rather more fundamental, involving an ever greater potential to mimic, learn and engage with natural systems at a level much deeper than any human sense, most of all the purely visual.


This paper analyzes price fixing by the Joint Executive Committee railroad cartel from 1880 to 1886 and develops tests of two game-theoretic models of tacit collusion. The first model, due to Abreu, Pearce and Stacchetti (1986), predicts that price will switch across regimes according to a Markov process. The second, by Rotemberg and Saloner (1986), postulates that price wars are more likely in periods of high industry demand. Switching regressions are used to model the firms' shifting between collusive and punishment behavior. The main econometric novelty in the estimation procedures introduced in this paper is that misclassification probabilities are allowed to vary endogenously over time. The JEC data set is expanded to include measures of grain production to be shipped and availability of substitute transportation services. Our findings cast doubt on the applicability of the Rotemberg and Saloner model to the JEC railroad cartel, while they confirm the Markovian prediction of the Abreu, et al. Model.


Coconut palms of the Tall group were introduced to Brazil from the Cape Verde Islands in 1553. The present study sought to evaluate the genetic diversity among and within Brazilian Tall coconut populations. Samples were collected of 195 trees from 10 populations. Genetic diversity was accessed by investigating 13 simple sequence repeats (SSR) loci. This provided a total of 68 alleles, ranging from 2 to 13 alleles per locus, with an average of 5.23. The mean values of gene diversity (He ) and observed heterozygosity (Ho ) were 0.459 and 0.443, respectively. The genetic differentiation among populations was estimated at θ^P=0.1600and the estimated apparent outcrossing rate was ta = 0.92. Estimates of genetic distances between the populations varied from 0.034 to 0.390. Genetic distance and the corresponding clustering analysis indicate the formation of two groups. The first consists of the Baía Formosa, Georgino Avelino, and São José do Mipibu populations and the second consists of the Japoatã, Pacatuba, and Praia do Forte populations. The correlation matrix between genetic and geographic distances was positive and significant at a 1% probability. Taken together, our results suggest a spatial structuring of the genetic variability among the populations. Geographically closer populations exhibited greater similarities.


The extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase 5 (ERK5) is a non-redundant mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) that exhibits a unique C-terminal extension which comprises distinct structural and functional properties. Here, we sought to elucidate the significance of phosphoacceptor sites in the C-terminal transactivation domain of ERK5. We have found that Thr732 acted as a functional gatekeeper residue controlling C-terminal-mediated nuclear translocation and transcriptional enhancement. Consistently, using a non-bias quantitative mass spectrometry approach, we demonstrated that phosphorylation at Thr732 conferred selectivity for binding interactions of ERK5 with proteins related to chromatin and RNA biology, whereas a number of metabolic regulators were associated with full-length wild type ERK5. Additionally, our proteomic analysis revealed that phosphorylation of the Ser730-Glu-Thr732-Pro motif could occur independently of dual phosphorylation at Thr218-Glu-Tyr220 in the activation loop. Collectively, our results firmly establish the significance of C-terminal phosphorylation in regulating ERK5 function. The post-translational modification of ERK5 on its C-terminal tail might be of particular relevance in cancer cells where ERK5 has be found to be hyperphosphoryated.


This research and analysis is for the sake of re-existence of the influence of equality relationship of marga / ethnicity in political system and its network as winner of Regent or commonly called with successful team 2015, and its power as political machine in Toba Samosir. The genus whose origin is the name of a person who is then named after the first name, is made so that they can understand each other from who can keep the marriage of a very clan descendant because it still has a blood relation. Then whether the political machine utilize relatives and similarities in the clan to campaign or realize the victory partner Ir. Darwin Siagian and Ir. Hulman Sitorus, MM. The research method using qualitative method. This study is a rare case elsewhere. Please note that any of these research procedures should produce descriptive data of speech and writing and the behavior of the observed. A qualitative approach is expected to produce in-depth descriptions of the words, writings, and / or observable behavior of a particular individual, group, society, or organization in a given context setting that is studied from a holistic, comprehensive, and holistic perspective. The informants were Team Success, Chairman of KPU, Regent / Vice Regent and Chairman of Adat. The research finds 3 important things that is, first how figure of candidate of Regent itself in public eye. The two ways of association of the clan network of candidate regents with political machine winning candidate pairs, and third is how the winning strategy is used. The conclusion of this research is the genus that has a real relationship with the political machine in Toba Samosir District. Keywords: Marga, Machine Politik , Regent


Two commercial zirconia powders with 3 mol% of yttria
(TZ3YE and TZ3YS, labeled as ZE and ZS, respectively) sup-
plied by Tosoh (Japan) were used for this study. Maximum
colloidal stability for ZE was achieved by dispersing the pow-
ders in a mixture of water/ethanol of 90:10 (wt/wt) using a
sonication probe. The rheological behavior of the suspensions
was optimized in terms of solids content ranging from 20 to
33 vol% and sonication time (0
–
6 min), the best results being
obtained after 2 min. ZS samples were prepared to a solids
loading of 30 vol% in water dispersing with 2 min-sonication.
Samples obtained by slip casting in plaster molds were used for
dynamic sintering studies, and fully dense and nanostructured
specimens were obtained at temperatures of 1300
°
C
–
1350
°
C
(ZE samples) and 1400
°
C per 2 h (ZS samples). The Hardness
(
H
) and Young's Modulus (
E
) properties of the specimens were
studied by nanoindentation technique giving 17 and 250 GPa
mean values for
H
and
E
, respectively. The specimens were
then forced to a low-temperature degradation (LTD) treatment
at 130
°
C for 240 h in steps of 60 h. Raman spectroscopy and
nanoindentation results of hydrothermally treated samples
showed the absence of transformation from tetragonal to
monoclinic phase until 180 h whereas the mechanical properties
maintained constant even at the sample surface. After 240 h of
LTD, the monoclinic phase was detected on all specimens by
Raman peaks centered at 180, 191, and 383 cm
1
. The nanoin-
dentation study revealed an important loss of mechanical fea-
tures reaching 10 and 175 GPa for
H
and
E
, respectively. In
the case of the ZS specimens, no monoclinic phase is detected
after 240 h of LTD treatment and no decay of
E
or
H
is
detected. The free defect microstructure reached for the ZS
specimen revealed a higher hydrothermal resistance so that it is
concluded that the excellent behavior against thermal degrada-
tion is possible due to the large uniformity obtained by colloi-
dal processing rather than the particle size of the starting
powders


In September 2017, Irma became the first recorded category 5 hurricane to hit the Caribbean Windward Islands. The second category 5, Maria, followed two weeks later. In November 2017, we assessed the structural impact of this disturbance on highly valued Caribbean forest ecosystems. We recorded the status of 935 tree stems on Saba and St. Eustatius in stands at different elevations. Tree damage was substantial on both islands, with 93 percent of stems being defoliated, 84 percent having lost primary and/or secondary branches and 36 percent having structural stem damage. Average tree mortality was 18 percent, with mortality being nearly twice as high on St. Eustatius than on Saba. Surprisingly, we found that neither individual stem size nor community size distributions mediated the forests' response to the hurricanes. Our results show that these hurricanes comprised a density‐independent disturbance, which may become more common as the frequency of strong hurricanes is projected to increase.


We propose a system that finds text in natural scenes using a variety of cues. Our novel data-driven method incorporates coarse-to-fine detection of character pixels using convolutional features (Text-Conv), followed by extracting connected components (CCs) from characters using edge and color features, and finally performing a graph-based segmentation of CCs into words (Word-Graph). For Text-Conv, the initial detection is based on convolutional feature maps similar to those used in Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs), but learned using Convolutional k-means. Convolution masks defined by local and neighboring patch features are used to improve detection accuracy. The Word-Graph algorithm uses contextual information to both improve word segmentation and prune false character/word detections. Different definitions for foreground (text) regions are used to train the detection stages, some based on bounding box intersection, and others on bounding box and pixel intersection. Our system obtains pixel, character, and word detection f-measures of 93.14%, 90.26%, and 86.77% respectively for the ICDAR 2015 Robust Reading Focused Scene Text dataset, out-performing state-of-the-art systems. This approach may work for other detection targets with homogenous color in natural scenes.


We study information aggregation in organizational decision-making for the financing of entrepreneurial ventures. We introduce a formal model of voting where agents face costly tacit information to improve their decision quality. Equilibrium outcomes suggest a theoretical tension for group decision-making between the benefits of information aggregation and a cost from the participation of uninformed agents, and this tension presents a boundary condition for when a group decision is superior to an individual decision. We test the implications of the model for a particular phenomenon in venture capital: private angel investments by the partners outside of their employer, which represent investments passed on by the employer. Venture capital partners, acting independently with their personal funds, make investments into younger firms with less educated and younger founding teams than their employing VC firms, but these investments perform financially similarly or better on some metrics even when controlling for investment size, stage, and industry. Geographic distance and technological inexperience by the VC increase the probability the investment is taken up by a partner and not the VC. This work contributes to an emerging stream of literature on information aggregation in organizations and the established literatures on resource allocation and incumbent spin-outs.


Abstract Within Hofstede's framework of individualistic and collectivistic cultures, this contribution examines measurement equivalence of hedonic and eudaimonic entertainment motivations in two different cultures, namely Germany representing a more individualistic culture (N = 180) and Turkey representing a more collectivistic culture (N = 97). By means of a multi-group confirmatory factor analysis, we could secure configural invariance for both hedonic and eudaimonic entertainment motivations across the German and Turkish sample. Metric invariance, however, could only be obtained for hedonic, but not for eudaimonic motivations. Scalar invariance was obtained for neither of the two entertainment motivations. The study points to the importance of equivalence testing when conducting cross-cultural research.


The care given in a group practice to 47 patients with epilepsy was reviewed.Since 1960 all newly diagnosed patients had been referred for a specialist opinion and EEG before the diagnosis of epilepsy was confirmed.Patients were not being counselled sufficiently on the problems of epilepsy, and over half the patients considered themselves to be unacceptable to the rest of society.Less than half the patients were treated with a single drug; more could probably have achieved control with one drug and run fewer risks of drug interaction. Although consideration of the clinical condition and haematological results showed problems in only 38 per cent of the patients, the use of serum drug level estimation affected decisions on management in 70 per cent. I suggest that the more widespread use of serum drug levels would be of great value to general practitioners interested in the care of epileptics.In half the cases it was the patient and not the doctor who decided the frequency of consultations. Of 17 patients with problems, nine were not having regular follow-ups. Since patients with epilepsy maintain regular contact with their family practitioner by requests for repeat prescriptions, it should not be difficult for the doctor to exercise appropriate control of the care of his patients.


Congenital ectropion uveae is a rare ocular manifestation of neural crest syndrome. It is a non progressive anomaly characterized by presence of iris pigment epithelium on anterior surface of iris from the pigment ruff.Congenital glaucoma is its common association 3-8 . Classically it is unilateral with ipsilateral glaucoma. There is one case report of bilateral congenital ectropion uvea with bilateral glaucoma. Here we are documenting a case report with bilateral congenital ectropion uvea with bilateral congenital glaucoma, bilateral megalocornea, bilateral anterior segment dysgenesis, bilateral microspherophakic cataract, bilateral rubiosis iridis, bilateral non developed zonules and optically empty vitreous and bilateral nystagmus in a three months old full term baby. Anterior segment dysgenesis spans an anomaly ranging from posterior embryotoxon with iris strands adherent to it to hypoplastic iris and dyscoria. Severe iris hypoplasia manifests as aniridia which is an autosomal dominant bilateral condition with variable appearance of iris from a rudimentary stump to mild iris atrophy. Central corneal pannus, cataract, foveal hypoplasia, decreased vision and nystagmus can be an association of aniridia. Our case report is a conglomeration of all these independently reported ocular anomalies, never found coexistant and reported before. Throughout the literature review we did not find a single case report of such a stark bilateral anterior segment disfigurement and developmental disarray. It is a novel case report.


I joined the staff of the Westinghouse Research Laboratories in 1954 and I have been with Westinghouse ever since, except for a recent two‐year stint as the Science Attache at the American Embassy in London. In retrospect, the industrial research environment has happened to suit my particular life goals extremely well. For this Conference, I was asked to comment on the problems, challenges and opportunities confronting a physicist attempting to develop a career in a large industrial company. I believe that what I have to say is fairly generally applicable for high technology corporations in the United States, but of course some of it will be specific to Westinghouse.My talk consists of essentially three parts, first, some historical background on Westinghouse and its Research Laboratories, second, some facts on the employment of physicists and other technical personnel at the Westinghouse RD Center and in the Company as a whole and third, some personal views on what it takes for a physicist to survive and...


Complex transmission concepts may enable high fuel efficiency but require much effort in controller development. This effort should only be spent if the potential of the concept if high, a potential which can be determined using optimization techniques. This paper examine the use of stochastic dynamic programming for transmission potential evaluation, applied on a wheel loader. The concepts evaluated is the present automatic gearbox and a multi-mode CVT (MM-CVT). A probabilistic driving cycle is created from a measurement including 34 loading cycles. Trajectory optimization is performed both against probabilistic and deterministic cycles. The paper shows that the introduction of a probabilistic load highly affect the application of optimization. It is also shown that the MM-CVT has approximately 20% lower minimum fuel requirement than the present transmission, and that this number is not sensitive to the quality of the prediction.


BACKGROUND Ablative resurfacing lasers are effective for treatment of acne scars, but they have a high risk of complications. Fractional lasers have less severe side effects but more moderate efficacy than ablative devices. Studies were performed in individuals with Fitzpatrick skin type I to VI. OBJECTIVE To determine the efficacy and safety of an erbium 1,550‐nm fractional laser in the treatment of facial acne scars in Fitzpatrick skin types IV to VI. METHODS We conducted a prospective, single‐blind, randomized trial in patients with acne scars (n=15), skin type IV to VI, with a 1,550‐nm erbium fractionated laser. Patients were divided into two groups; one was treated with 10 mJ and the other with 40 mJ. Five monthly laser sessions were performed. A patient questionnaire was distributed. RESULTS There was a significant improvement in the acne scarring and overall appearance (p<.001). No significant difference was found between 10 and 40 mJ. Patients were highly satisfied with their results. Significant postinflammatory hyperpigmentation was seen; pain was significantly higher in darker skin. CONCLUSIONS Fractional photothermolysis is effective for the treatment of acne scars, but practition‐ers should be aware of the higher incidence of pain and postinflammatory hyperpigmentation in individuals with skin types IV to VI. The study was funded by Reliant Technologies, Inc., which participated in the study design. Galderma (Ft. Worth, TX) provided Tri‐luma cream and GlaxoSmithKline (Research Triangle Park, NC) provided valacyclovir (Valtrex).


Despite their substantial contribution to the uniqueness and diversity of the California Floristic Province's flora and vegetation, surprisingly little is known about the region's native cypress species (genus Hesperocyparis Bartel & R.A. Price). Current ideas about the fire regimes that maintained these species in the past are based largely or solely on assumptions about the expression and function of life-history characteristics. Empirical studies of fire history are generally lacking. I used a combination of dendrochronological methods, field observations, and contemporary fire records to investigate the history of fire and its role in stand development in McNab cypress (Hesperocyparis macnabiana [A. Murray bis] Bartel), an uncommon serotinous cypress endemic to northern California. Although even-aged stands were present within all 20 populations surveyed, 4 populations also contained stands exhibiting uneven age structure. Fire records and field observations confirmed that even-aged stands originated following stand-replacing fires, but no link between fire and recruitment was found for uneven-aged stands. Rather, trees within uneven-aged stands were generally older, larger, and exhibited higher rates of senescence than those found in even-aged stands, suggesting that inter-fire tree mortality and inter-fire establishment may be linked. When aggregated, the dates of stand-replacing fires (derived from stand recruitment dates and fire records) revealed that relatively few stand-replacing fires occurred in McNab cypress populations during the 50 yr period between 1940 and 1989 (1 fire per decade) compared to either the previous 100 yr period (at least 3 fires per decade) or the subsequent 20 yr period (3.5 fires per decade). This suggests that short fire return intervals do not appear to be a significant threat to McNab cypress persistence at the present time, and there is little ecological justification for fire exclusion.


Automating the extraction and quantification of features from three-dimensional (3-D) image stacks is a critical task for advancing many applications, such as the analysis of biological structures. The quantification of biological resistance of a plant tissue to fungal infection through the analysis of attributes such as fungal penetration depth, fungal mass, and branching of the fungal network at large scales requires the union of 3D image acquisition and analysis. From an image processing perspective, these tasks reduce to segmentation of vessel-like structures and the extraction of features from their skeletonization. In order to sample multiple infection events for analysis, we have developed an approach we refer to as macroscopic microscopy. However, macroscopic microscopy produces high-resolution image stacks that pose challenges to routine approaches and are difficult for a human to annotate to obtain ground truth data. We present a synthetic hyphal network generator, a comparison of several vessel segmentation methods, and a minimum spanning tree method for connecting small gaps resulting from imperfections in imaging or incomplete skeletonization of hyphal networks. Qualitative results are shown for real microscopic data. We believe the comparison of vessel detectors on macroscopic microscopy data, the synthetic vessel generator, and the gap closing technique are beneficial to the image processing community.


Learedius learedi Price, 1934 , is a blood fluke found in sea turtles, and the adult fluke parasitizes the cardiovascular system of the host. In this study we surveyed 46 green sea turtles, Chelonia mydas, on the Ogasawara Islands, Japan, and blood flukes were detected in the heart and blood vessels of 26 turtles. The flukes were identified as L. learedi based on a detailed morphological description. In addition, molecular identification and characterization of the parasite were performed. The nucleotide sequences of nuclear internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) regions were almost identical to those of L. learedi reported previously, but not to those of Hapalotrema spp., which is the closest related genus. The nucleotide sequences of the 28S ribosomal DNA region formed a single clade with those of the reference L. learedi in the phylogenetic tree, but not with those of Hapalotrema spp. Therefore, the nucleotide sequences of ITS2 and 28S are robust markers for distinguishing L. learedi from other species. The nucleotide sequences of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COI) region were analyzed to evaluate the genetic variations in L. learedi. The COI haplotypes revealed the extremely high genetic diversity of the species as well as the host turtles on the Ogasawara Islands. The haplotype frequency in the mitochondrial DNA of the green sea turtles on the Ogasawara Islands is known to be significantly different from those in other Pacific rookeries. Although the number of analyzed flukes is small in this study, no haplotype was close to that in other areas; on the basis of the data, we hypothesized that L. learedi differentiated along with the host turtles on the Ogasawara Islands.


Effective convolutional features play an important role in saliency estimation but how to learn powerful features for saliency is still a challenging task. FCN-based methods directly apply multi-level convolutional features without distinction, which leads to sub-optimal results due to the distraction from redundant details. In this paper, we propose a novel attention guided network which selectively integrates multi-level contextual information in a progressive manner. Attentive features generated by our network can alleviate distraction of background thus achieve better performance. On the other hand, it is observed that most of existing algorithms conduct salient object detection by exploiting side-output features of the backbone feature extraction network. However, shallower layers of backbone network lack the ability to obtain global semantic information, which limits the effective feature learning. To address the problem, we introduce multi-path recurrent feedback to enhance our proposed progressive attention driven framework. Through multi-path recurrent connections, global semantic information from the top convolutional layer is transferred to shallower layers, which intrinsically refines the entire network. Experimental results on six benchmark datasets demonstrate that our algorithm performs favorably against the state-of-the-art approaches.


The Munda group of languages of the Austroasiatic family are spoken within central and eastern India by almost ten million people. To date, they are the least well-known and least documented languages of the Indian subcontinent. This unprecedented and original work draws together a distinguished group of international experts in the field of Munda language research and presents current assessments of a wide range of typological and comparative-historical issues, providing agendas for future research. Representing the current state of Munda Linguistics, this volume provides detailed descriptions of almost all of the languages in the family, in addition to a brief chapter discussing the enigmatic Nihali language.


If the relations of the smell in the constructed space remain little explored in the contemporary scientific world, today, numerous artists confront with it. Their experiments, by putting on stage the smells in the built space, test the properties of the smell itself, in a sometimes-renewed effectuation question simultaneously the frames of our social and esthetic standards. A directory of olfactory effects allows understandings of phenomena, between the physic-chemical, sociocultural, individual worlds, active in the olfactory artistic actions. These deciphering sometimes reveal gaps, mysteries, which represent so many leads to be explored to enrich this olfactory effects directory or to direct new strategies of research.


This paper estimates the effects of a change in the wage share on growth at a national and global level in the G20 countries. A decrease in the wage share leads to lower growth in the euro area, Germany, France, Italy, UK, US, Japan, Turkey, and Korea, whereas it stimulates growth in Canada, Australia, Argentina, Mexico, China, India, and South Africa. However, a simultaneous decline in the wage share in all these countries leads to a decline in global growth. Furthermore, Canada, Argentina, Mexico, and India also contract when they decrease their wage-share along with their trading partners.


In favor of … Charity publications in the nineteenth century

 In Dutch history, charity publications were almost entirely a 19th century phenomenon. In this article I provide an overview of this phenomenon. The first publication that I have been able to trace is from 1784, the most recent one from 1930. However there are some predecessors of charity publications. The few studies that have been published about charity literature emphasize their national message. Occasions for charity publications were many and varied. Even so, flood disasters prevail. The most varied genres could be employed for the purpose: theater plays, poetry, sermons, essays, etc. However, poems are in the majority, and it is they in the first place that become the object of criticism. From mid-century onward critical comments become ever fiercer, in particular concerning their quantity and their countless platitudes. What makes the phenomenon typically nineteenth century is the shared mentality behind it. To help out in the case of disasters or poverty was not yet a public matter but rested with privately undertaken initiatives.


In the present study, the biotransformation and oxidative stress responses in relation to chemical burden in the liver of male and female Nile crocodiles—Crocodylus niloticus—from a commercial crocodile farm passively exposed to various anthropogenic aquatic pollutants was investigated. In general, the data showed that male crocodiles consistently produced higher biotransformation and oxidative stress responses compared to females. Relationships between these responses and concentrations of aliphatic hydrocarbons and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were also observed. Specifically, the catalytic assays for EROD and BROD (not PROD and MROD) showed sex-differences between male and female crocodiles and paralleled immunochemically determined CYP1A and CYP3A protein levels; the relatively similar levels of PAHs in both sexes suggest an estrogen-mediated reduction of this pathway in females. The antioxidant system exhibited higher levels in male crocodiles with slight or significant higher values for catalase (CAT), glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione peroxidases-H2O2 (GPx-H2O2), glutathione peroxidases-Cu (GPx-Cu), total antioxidant capacity towards peroxyl radicals (TOSC-ROO) and hydroxyl radicals (TOSC-HO), total glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA). On the other hand, the activities of acyl-CoA oxidase (AOX) and glutathione S-transferases (GST) were significantly higher in females. Principal component analysis (PCA) produced significant groupings that revealed correlative relationships (both positive and negative) between biotransformation/oxidative stress variables and liver PAHs and aliphatic hydrocarbon burden. The overall results suggest that these captive pre-slaughter crocodiles exhibited adverse exposure responses to anthropogenic aquatic contaminants with potentially relevant effects on key cellular pathways, and these responses may be established as relevant species biomarkers of exposure and effects in this endangered species.


Marine litter problem has gained great attetion in regional seas and lead to degredation and threaten aquatic life in marine environment. Coastal marine litter in the Black Sea is mainly caused by transportation and deposition of antropogenic waste resulting from river outflows. Measures and regulations remain inadequate to protect the coastal regions against pollution in the region. Geomorphology of the region creates many watersheds supplied by extensive stream networks. To estimate litter load on the Black Sea coastal areas 15 streams were surveyed. Study area is densely populated coastal region with scattered settlemets toward steep higher areas. Dry solid waste load is triggered by settlement plan and leads to accumulation of marine litter in coastal areas. Regional precipitation characteristic of the region determines flood timing and frequency with very high rainfall records. Composition and distrubution of sampled marine litter is carried out by identifying litter type propotionality to total load. Plastic has the highest ratio of 56% among all litter type. Yearly total litter load for Degirmendere stream is estimated 102.25 m3/year for 100 ha. Multispectral satellite images are used to asses transportation of floating or drifting litter from coastal areas to inner basin. Man made alterations of coastal areas are also evaluated in terms of aquatic living resources and pollution. Main problems are stressed and possible solutions and implications are given to reduce pollution problem in coastal areas.

 Key words: Marine litter, Black Sea, satellite remote sensing.


The purpose of this case–control study was to evaluate the frequencies and potential genetic susceptibility of the −330 IL2 T and G alleles and HLA‐DRB1*1501 allele in Iranian patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) compared to healthy controls. Two hundred and sixty Iranian patients with MS from medical genetics department of Sarem Women hospital were selected. Besides, 450 ethnically age‐ and sex‐matched healthy individuals without personal or family backgrounds of autoimmune disorders were enrolled as a control group. All polymorphisms were analysed using RFLP‐PCR technique. HLA‐DRB1 genotyping was carried out by HISTO TYPE SSP high‐resolution Kits according to the manufacturer's suggestions. The frequency of the T allele at the −330 IL2 polymorphism was significantly higher in patients with MS than controls (OR: 2.45, 95 CI: 1.9–3, P = 4 × 10−14). Moreover, the T/T genotype was more frequent in patients than in controls (51% vs. 30%). This study indicated that the −330 T IL2 allele and the T/T genotype were related to increased plasma concentration of IL2 and a higher risk of developing MS among Iranian patients. Carrying both the −330 T IL2 and the HLA, DRB1* 1501 alleles showed the most susceptibly effect to MS. Our data demonstrated −330 T IL2 allele provided major susceptibility to MS and HLA‐DRB1* 1501 allele had an additive effect. In addition, it seems that studies with larger sample size are required to bring about more authentic results. Our findings suggest that IL2 gene polymorphisms influence the susceptibility to MS in Iranian patients.


Who's Who in Kindergarten Literacy Skill Groups: What Really Matters? E. Imani Mitchell American kindergartners enter schools with varying levels of emergent literacy skills. The present study examined the nature of variation of these skills through the lens of distinct literacy skill groups. Using the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study – Kindergarten (ECLS-K) data set, the literacy skill sets of over 10,000 children were examined at kindergarten and third grade. Latent class cluster analysis was used to demonstrate the presence of these groups through the analysis of proficiency probabilities of mastery of the following skills: 1) letter recognition; 2) beginning sound recognition; 3) ending sound recognition; 4) sight word recognition; 5) reading words in context; 6) literal inference; 7) extrapolation; and 8) evaluation. Three groups emerged for kindergarten based on skills 1-5, and three groups for third grade based on skills 4-8. Latent class multinomial logistic regression was used to examine the influence of contextual factors on determining group membership at both time points. Findings indicate that phonological awareness skills have the largest influence on determining literacy skill sets at kindergarten, most children enter kindergarten without mastery of the skills to be ready to learn to read, ethnicity does not have a significant effect once a comprehensive set of contextual factors (i.e., child, family, maternal, school, and family environment characteristics) are considered, and the family literacy environment has one of the strongest effects above and beyond the rest. By third grade, comprehension skills have the largest influence on determining skill sets. As for contextual factors, the patterns of influence appear to be lasting with consistency in group membership over time. Taken together these results have the potential implications supporting parents throughout the nation.


Wastewater from facilities processing livestock that may harbor transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) infectivity is permitted under license for application to land where susceptible livestock may have access. Several previous risk assessments have investigated the risk of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) associated with wastewater effluents; however, the risk of exposure to classical scrapie and atypical scrapie has not been assessed. With the prevalence of certain TSEs (BSE in cattle and classical scrapie in sheep) steadily in decline, and with considerable changes in the structure of carcass‐processing industries in Great Britain, a reappraisal of the TSE risk posed by wastewater is required. Our results indicate that the predicted number of new TSE infections arising from the spreading of wastewater on pasture over one year would be low, with a mean of one infection every 1,000 years for BSE in cattle (769, 555,556), and one infection every 30 years (16, 2,500), and 33 years (16, 3,333) for classical and atypical scrapie, respectively. It is assumed that the values and assumptions used in this risk assessment remain constant. For BSE in cattle the main contributors are abattoir and rendering effluent, contributing 35% and 22% of the total number of new BSE infections. For TSEs in sheep, effluent from small incinerators and rendering plants are the major contributors (on average 32% and 31% of the total number of new classical scrapie and atypical scrapie infections). This is a reflection of the volume of carcass material and Category 1 material flow through such facilities.


Biochar from conifers wood was used in soilless culture as growing substrate alternative to peat for ornamental crops. Potted plants of Euphorbia × lomi Rauh cv. 'Ilaria' were grown with different mixtures (v:v) of brown peat and biochar in order to evaluate main physical and chemical characteristics of this biomaterial as well as its effect on plant growth, ornamental characteristics and nutrients uptake. Biochar addition to peat increased pH, EC and K content of the growing substrates, as well as air content and bulk density. Biochar content of substrates significantly affected plant growth and biomass partitioning: higher number of shoots and leaves, leaf area and leaf dry weight were recorded in plants grown in 40% peat-60% biochar, with respect to plants grown in 100% peat and secondarily in 100% biochar. Leaf chlorophyll content was higher in plants grown in 60% and 80% biochar, while biomass water use efficiency was higher with 60% biochar. Plant uptake of K and Ca increased as biochar content of the substrates increased. Hence, a growing substrate containing 40% brown peat and 60% conifers wood biochar was identified as the more suitable mixture allowing to have a high-quality production of Euphorbia × lomi potted plants.


: Poor germination and eventual loss of viability of rye grains on storage reflects a decreasing ability of embryos to synthesize protein in vivo. Cell-free protein-synthesizing systems from low viability embryo stocks exhibit lesions in the soluble components of the post-ribosomal supernatant fractions. tRNA and aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases are not impaired. The activity of enzymes concerned with transfer of phenylalanyl-tRNA from the aminoacyl to the peptidyl site on the ribosome is slightly decreased. The transfer enzymes (transferase I) involved in the binding of phenylalanyl-tRNA to the aminoacyl site show a loss of activity that closely reflects the loss of viability and the decline of protein synthesis of the embryo in vivo. The inactivation of labile transferase I components may be a major factor leading to senescence and loss of viability in rye grains.


O mainly PBTC, HEDP, NTMP, EDTMP and DTPMP are increasingly gaining attention of environmental authorities and scientists. These compounds are used in a wide range of industrial and household applications due to their excellent complexing properties. Organophosphonates are associated with various environmental issues. For example, phosphate, which has an eutrophication effect on water bodies, can be formed by their abiotic degradation. In addition, they are associated with heavy metal remobilization in waters, make it more difficult to comply with strict P discharge targets in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), and in individual cases interfere with the operation of WWTPs due to complex formation. It is estimated that in 2012, with a consumption of 49,000 t/a in Europe, organophosphonates were discharged at 9000–18,600 t/a into European waters via inadequately purified industrial wastewater and municipal WWTPs. The elimination of organophosphonates specifically from industrial wastewaters is therefore strongly recommended. Wastewater contaminated with organophosphonates can be roughly divided into two categories. On the one hand, there are concentrates, e.g. from membrane filtration and cooling water treatment, where phosphonates are used as antiscalants and hardness stabilizers. On the other hand, there are mainly organically contaminated wastewaters containing phosphonates from industrial cleaning agents or, e.g., from paper and textile industries, where phosphonates are used as bleach stabilizers. This wide variety of possible wastewater matrixes requires different approaches in terms of the objective to eliminate organophosphonates from industrial wastewater. The presentation will compare different wastewater treatment processes (precipitation/flocculation with FeIII or Ca(OH)2, (photo-)Fenton, UV/Fe II, filtration) and will present the effects of the wastewater matrix on these processes. For example, the presence of CaII promotes the adsorption of phosphonates on iron hydroxides. Furthermore, organophosphonates can impede the precipitation of iron hydroxides due to their complexing properties.


The concept of seeking help is largely used in the healthcare system and seems relatively well-understood by healthcare professionals, even though no consensus on this concept has yet been reached. More specifically, the concept of adolescents with suicidal thoughts seeking help via the internet has yet to be explored. To clarify this concept and eventually develop tools for future research in nursing, a concept analysis using the Walker and Avant method was conducted. Three main help-seeking attributes were identified as a result of the analysis: problem-oriented, intentional action, and use of an external mean. The antecedents that precede the concept are: problem recognition and perception influenced by beliefs, desired relief, the selection of a source of help, and the decision to act. The consequences that follow help-seeking are either relief, maintenance, or exacerbation of the problem. Many empirical referents are identified but none seem to evaluate or conceptually define the attributes of the concept. Finally, a deeper meaning of the concept of adolescents seeking help online is reached by this concept analysis and further research and practice recommendations are given.


MicroRNAs profoundly impact hematopoietic cells by regulating progenitor cell-fate decisions, as well as mature immune effector function. However to date, microRNAs that regulate hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) function have been less well characterized. Here we show that microRNA-125b (miR-125b) is highly expressed in HSCs and its expression decreases in committed progenitors. Overexpression of miR-125b in mouse HSC enhances their function, demonstrated through serial transplantation of highly purified HSC, and enriches for the previously described Slamf1loCD34− lymphoid-balanced and the Slamf1negCD34− lymphoid-biased cell subsets within the multipotent HSC (CD34-KLS) fraction. Mature peripheral blood cells derived from the miR-125b–overexpressing HSC are skewed toward the lymphoid lineage. Consistent with this observation, miR-125b overexpression significantly increases the number of early B-progenitor cells within the spleen and induces the expansion and enrichment of the lymphoid-balanced and lymphoid-biased HSC subset via an antiapoptotic mechanism, reducing the mRNA expression levels of two proapoptotic targets, Bmf and KLF13. The antiapoptotic effect of miR-125b is more pronounced in the lymphoid-biased HSC subset because of their intrinsic higher baseline levels of apoptosis. These effects of miR-125b are associated with the development of lymphoproliferative disease, marked by expansion of CD8+ T lymphocytes. Taken together, these data reveal that miR-125b regulates HSC survival and can promote lymphoid-fate decisions at the level of the HSC by preferentially expanding lymphoid-balanced and lymphoid-biased HSC.


: At present great attention is paid to Ca2+ metabolic derangement in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular alterations. Some researchers interpret this derangement as change in the ratio of parathyroid secretory activity and thyroid C-cell activity. For this purpose the blood levels of parathormone and calcitonin were investigated by radioimmunoassay with simultaneous recording of lower limb hemodynamic indices in 136 patients with diabetes mellitus. Change of elasticity of major vessels, a decrease in the reserve blood flow, marked to a greater extent in patients over 40 and combined with essential hypertension, were observed. An increase in the blood levels of parathormone and calcitonin was also observed. Direct correlation was established in both age groups between the levels of parathormone and calcitonin and hemodynamic indices.


This paper presents an approach in which Pareto dominance is incorporated into particle swarm optimization (PSO) in order to allow this heuristic to handle problems with several objective functions. Unlike other current proposals to extend PSO to solve multiobjective optimization problems, our algorithm uses a secondary (i.e., external) repository of particles that is later used by other particles to guide their own flight. We also incorporate a special mutation operator that enriches the exploratory capabilities of our algorithm. The proposed approach is validated using several test functions and metrics taken from the standard literature on evolutionary multiobjective optimization. Results indicate that the approach is highly competitive and that can be considered a viable alternative to solve multiobjective optimization problems.


The yeast alpha 2 repressor suppresses expression of a-mating-type-specific genes in haploid alpha and diploid a/alpha cell types. We inserted the alpha 2-binding site into the multicopy TRP1/ARS1 yeast plasmid and examined the effects of alpha 2 on the chromatin structure of the derivative plasmids in alpha cells, and a/alpha cells. Whereas no effect on nucleosome position was observed in a cells, nucleosomes were precisely and stably positioned over sequences flanking the alpha 2 operator in alpha and a/alpha cells. In addition, when the alpha 2 operator was located upstream of the TRP1 gene, an extended array of positioned nucleosomes was formed in alpha cells and a/alpha cells, with formation of a nucleosome not present in a cells, and TRP1 mRNA production was substantially reduced. These data indicate that alpha 2 causes a positioning of nucleosomes over sequences proximal to its operator in TRP1/ARS1 chromatin and suggest that changes in chromatin structure may be related to alpha 2 repression of cell-type-specific genes.


Experience with hemodynamic correction of the only heart ventricle is presented. Four operations have been performed: plastic closure of the right atrioventricular opening and formation of a direct right atrial--pulmonary anastomosis using a pericardial autograft patch in 3 patients, and the suture of atrioventricular opening with the formation of an anastomosis between the right atrium and the pulmonary artery, using an avalvular prosthesis, in 1 patient. The results are quite satisfactory in all cases.