The quality and lifetime of flexible photovoltaic (PV) modules is dependant on having an effective vapour barrier layer which protects active elements from environmental degradation. An effective flexible barrier layer can be produced by employing a thin film of Al2O3 (40-100 nm thick) on a polymer substrate using atomic layer deposition (ALD). By measuring the surface of the barrier coating critical defects that will result in excess vapour transmission can be detected and minimised. Such, knowledge of defect size, type and distribution forms a crucial dataset for informing process control. This paper reports on a practical embedded inspection technique to measure the surface topography of the thin ALD deposited Al2O3 barrier film on a roll-to-roll manufacturing platform. The method combines wavelength scanning interferometry (WSI) along with an auto-focus method. Example measurements are given and discussed.


A palynological analysis of sediments sampled from core HI-178, offshore High Island, Texas, provided a diverse and well-preserved palynoflora. The main objective was to analyze the environmental conditions at time of deposition. A secondary objective was to evaluate whether or not this site might have been occupied by Native Americans by looking for signs of human-driven changes in vegetation. Here we focus on the abundance of hornwort spores recovered from these samples, review their diversity, compare the fossil spores to modern analogues and discuss the paleoenvironmental implications of hornwort abundance. Although no direct evidence of human occupation was found, the pollen and spore assemblage recovered, marked by high abundance and diversity in spores of hornworts belonging to the families Anthocerotaceae and Notothyladaceae, indicate that this site was most likely not submerged at the time of deposition; human occupation was therefore possible. This site represents a coastal low-lying area with ponds or slow-moving waters that provided the humid environment needed for hornworts to reproduce and thrive under warm climatic conditions.


Editorial | Volume 4 | Number 2| e4 Copyright 2018 by Dridi S. This is an open-access article distributed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0), which allows to copy, redistribute, remix, transform, and reproduce in any medium or format, even commercially, provided the original work is properly cited. cc *Corresponding author Sami Dridi, PhD Center of Excellence for Poultry Science, University of Arkansas, 1260 W, Maple Street, Fayetteville AR 72701, USA; Tel. (479)-575-2583; Fax: (479)-575-7139; E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com


In the past, landforms were represented in physiographic and morphometric maps by hand drawing. With developments in digital elevation models (DEM), geographic information systems (GIS) and image analyses, automatic extraction of landforms from morphological parameters and data storage in databases is now possible and are actively utilized in various fields, such as geomorphology, soil science, and ecology. In the above scopes, DEM data forms the database of morphometric parameters, such as, relief, slope, curvatures, and topographic openness. Presently, calculation of parameters, implementation of relationships with landforms, scaling, classification methods, topological relations, homogeneity, and generalizations during the transformation of 3D components of landforms, such as mountains, peaks, slopes, valleys, and plain, into 2D geometric elements in computers are being investigated. In this study, the methods and applications for the automatic extraction of the landforms developed by researchers across different disciplines were reviewed. Classification methods were grouped as combined parameters method and unsupervised/supervised classification methods based on pixel/object. This paper emphasizes the importance of adopting machine learning to implement new models applicable to all terrains.


A computational scheme for accurate spectroscopic constants was presented in this work and applied to the lowest two electronic states of sulfur dimer. A high-level ab initio calculation utilizing explicitly correlated multireference configuration interaction method (MRCI-F12) was performed to compute the potential energy curves (PECs) of the ground triplet and first excited singlet a1Δg states of sulfur dimer with cc-pCVXZ-F12(X = T, Q) basis sets. The effects of Davidson modification, core–valence correlation correction, and scalar relativistic correction on the spectroscopic constants were examined. The vibration–rotation spectra of the two electronic states were provided. Our computational results show excellent agreement with existing available experimental values, and the errors of main spectroscopic constants are within 0.1% order of magnitude. The present computational scheme is cheap and accurate, which is expected for extensive investigations on the potential energy curves or surfaces of other molecular systems.


Intelligent and integrated architectural design can substantially reduce carbon dioxide emissions from energy used in buildings. However, architects need new tools to help them to design enjoyable, comfortable, attractive and yet technically rigorous, low energy buildings. This thesis investigates, by means of a Research Through Design approach, how architectural software could be better designed to fulfil this need by the integration of design, energy simulation and decision support systems.

The problem domain of the design of buildings with very low energy requirements was analysed. Two case studies were employed to investigate the limitations with current software. User and domain software requirements were recorded and analysed. Conflicting requirements were noted, in particular, dichotomous views of the building model. An investigation was carried out into the different interoperable standards that result in these views and rules on how to compose the building model as a series of Intelligent Spaces proposed. The Intelligent Spaces would be abstract volumes, enclosed by zero thickness surfaces, which have data and rules attached. Early prototyping of integrated software was carried out by means of a series of sketches and diagrammatic examples.

The novel feature of the proposal is that it maintains both an abstract and detailed version of the building model through all stages of the building design and use. Key features of the proposed software are: 1) the ability to move iteratively between sketch to detailed design to explore different approaches to the building form and construction, 2) the setting and monitoring of relevant energy targets throughout the different building design stages and 3) the integration of an advisory system linked to energy targets to support decision making. This space based approach to the software has the potential to provide a 'designerly' front to the sophisticated processes of a Building Information Modelling environment.


This paper attempts to highlight the usage of information technology for auditors at different levels and positions in audit firms in Malaysia. Factors influencing the usage of information technology in the audit processes are also investigated. Questionnaires were distributed to external auditors in Klang Valley. Descriptive statistics and regression analysis were carried out to analyze the data. Telephone interviews were also conducted to support the results. The result indicates that information technology is widely used in the audit processes. Information technology is especially used to generate the audit working papers and audited financial statements and to select samples during audit processes. The results indicate that information technology is mainly used by the senior auditors and audit managers in their organizations. The results appear to suggest that the auditors are motivated to use information technology because it helps to shorten the time of the audit process and get their job done in a more efficient manner.


A key aspect of future teacher training in this highly digitalized period of education requires a specific focus on digital skills, especially in the area of security. This study delves into this issue by means of a quantitative, theoretical and systematic review of future teachers currently in training at the Faculty of Education, Economy and Technology of Ceuta of the University of Granada (Spain). The specific intention is to determine their perception of the instruction they receive on digital matters, concretely on cybersecurity during their phase of pre-service. To carry out the project, the study resorted to a descriptive method by submitting the participants to a specifically designed questionnaire entitled "Digital Security Competence Required for Teachers". Examinations of the psychometric properties of the questionnaire reveal its relevance and reliability. The intention, after applying descriptive and inferential statistics tests, was to determine whether students in pre-service training really feel competent on digital matters or if they feel need more theoretical-practical training, especially in the area of security. The general findings reveal that future female teachers pursuing a university degree in Early Childhood Education, although competent from the techno-pedagogical viewpoint, indicate that attaining a high level of competence in digital security requires more theoretical and practical training. Future male Primary Education teachers, by contrast, perceive themselves as competent in digital security. This perhaps stems from their training (courses and workshops) in Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and the theoretical and practical instruction they received at the university during courses or during a practicum. This aspect deserves further research because, as highlighted elsewhere, higher education institutions must prioritize instruction on digital security in their teacher programs.


Increased calcitonin gene–related peptide (CGRP) in external jugular venous blood during migraine attack is one of the most cited findings in the headache literature. The finding has not been convincingly reproduced and is based on comparison with historic control subjects. The validity of this finding is important for the understanding of migraine. We therefore investigated the issue using an intrapatient comparison design and two different CGRP assays. We sampled blood from the external jugular and cubital vein during, as well as outside of, an attack of migraine without aura. We succeeded in 17 patients, whereas only cubital fossa blood could be sampled in an additional 4 patients. CGRP was measured with the same assay as most previous studies (assay I) and furthermore with a more sensitive and validated assay (assay II). For assay I, mean CGRP concentration in external jugular venous blood during attack was 17.18pmol/L compared with 15.88pmol/L outside of attack. Mean difference was 1.81pmol/L (95% confidence interval [CI]: −2.88, 6.41; p = 0.44). In peripheral blood during attack, CGRP was 16.86pmol/L compared with 17.57pmol/L outside of attack. Mean difference was −0.79pmol/L (95% CI: −4.64, 3.06; p = 0.69). For assay II, external jugular venous blood concentration of CGRP during attack was 32.59pmol/L compared with 30.59pmol/L outside of attack; mean difference was 2.00pmol/L (standard error, 2.39; 95% CI: −3.07, 7.07; p = 0.416). In peripheral blood during attack, CGRP was 33.37pmol/L compared with 31.84pmol/L outside of attack; mean difference was 1.53pmol/L (standard error, 1.90; 95% CI: −2.46, 5.51; p = 0.431). Thus, no difference between CGRP level in external jugular or cubital fossa blood during and outside of attack was found. No difference was found between external jugular and peripheral venous blood. Thus, previous findings of increased CGRP level in external jugular or cubital fossa venous blood could not be confirmed. Our finding strongly suggests that CGRP is not increased in jugular venous blood during migraine without aura. CGRP cannot be used as a biomarker to validate human or animal models of migraine. Ann Neurol 2005;58:561–568


ABSTRACT On the 22nd of December 2018 the shorelines of Sunda Strait, Indonesia, were hit by tsunami waves generated by the flank collapse of the Anak Krakatau volcano. The authors conducted a field survey of the affected areas in both Sumatra and Java islands to collect information on tsunami inundation and run-up heights, damage patterns at each coastal community, and the evacuation behaviour and tsunami awareness of the affected people. The survey results showed that in Sumatra island inundation heights of more than 4 m were measured along the coastline that was situated to the north-north-east of Anak Krakatau, while less than 4 m were measured along the north-western direction. Inundation heights of over 10 m were measured at Cipenyu Beach (Pandeglang Regency) in Java island (south-south-eastern direction from Anak Krakatau). A questionnaire survey conducted by the authors revealed residents' perception of danger and evacuation patterns during the event. The results indicate the importance of having an operational tsunami warning system in Sunda Strait and the establishment of an appropriate evacuation plan so that residents can start evacuation immediately and reach a safe place without facing severe congestion along evacuation routes.


Knowledge management, despite concerted attempts by information technology professionals, is not only about only storing knowledge on computers. It is an approach towards management that seeks to ensure that the knowledge in play in an organization's sphere of operation is appropriate for its purposes. Ensuring the appropriateness of knowledge entails examining an organization's objectives and the processes that shape the knowledge in play. Information technology plays a supportive role in knowledge management. It captures and stores knowledge into knowledge repositories. At the same time, it also improves access to knowledge stored in knowledge repositories. Terabytes of data are generated everyday in many organizations. To extract hidden predictive information from large volumes of data, data mining techniques are needed. This paper examines and discusses methods to extract information from polygraph data. To develop a stable work force with dependable work habits, it is important to find the right people for the job. Concerns about honesty and concerns about dependability on the job should be a primary focus in pre-employment screening. Knowledge management in association with risk management approaches, we need to consider three aspects of human behavior, individual productive behavior, workgroup productive behavior and counterproductive behavior. The most commented upon human behavior associated with risk is often counterproductive behavior. Much has been said about pre employment testing to detect counterproductive behaviors. Various tools have been employed to help detect counterproductive behaviors including the use of polygraph techniques. Polygraph Counterproductive Behavior Index Profile will be developed to help identify employee's whose behaviors, attitudes, and work-related values are likely to interfere with their success as employees – consisting of 17 questions used in pre employment polygraph testing. These 17 questions covered 10 major areas to be tabulated into the Polygraph-Counterproductive Behavior Index Profile namely theft propensity, illegal drug use, alcohol use, work history, work attitude, customer service, fundamental data, credibility, computer abuse and sexual harassment. Scale score of 1 to 10 will be developed which will be further divided into 3 major areas of concerns, namely little or no concerns, concerns and serious concerns. Lower scorers are of little or of no concerns. Medium scorers are of concerns while higher scores are of serious concerns.


In 1903 Edith Wharton was commissioned by Century Magazine to write a series of articles on Italian villas and gardens. She gathered her household together and set off with her husband, her housekeeper and her small dogs on a four-month tour of Italy. Her articles were published in 1904 as Italian Villas and their Gardens. One of the first books to treat the subject of Italian garden architecture seriously, it influenced a generation of garden writers and landscape architects. Nearly 100 years later, photographer and writer Vivian Russell set out on her own odyssey, following Edith Wharton's footsteps around Italy to photograph the best surviving gardens from her book and to tell the story of how each one was made. her lively text describes the patrons and architects who created the gardens and explores their hidden symbolic meaning.


Summary: Energy absorbing foam padding is widely applied in various areas of modern cars in conjunction with increasing number of airbags as passive safety systems. High efficient energy absorbing foams which can be used to optimise energy absorption or minimise packaging space are particularly popular. Foam padding is applied in doors for pelvis and thorax protection, behind headliners for head impact protection, in knee bolsters and under steering columns for knee impact protection, in the foot well area for ankle- and tibia protection and in bumpers to meet competing pedestrian, pendulum and insurance requirements. Since passive safety systems are developed with the aid of modern virtual simulation software such as LS-DYNA, it is imperative to have accurate and reliable material models for the energy absorbing systems used for the said applications. This paper describes the material model validation of high efficient energy absorbing foam based on a test matrix of physical tests. High speed drop tower tests were used to define the basic material model parameters. Sled tests with a rigid impactor shape based on SID IIs, dummy pelvis and head impact tests with a Free Motion Head (FMH) form according to FMVSS201U were used to validate the models and assess their accuracy with respect to various complexity of foam sample geometry.


Rapid advance in sensor and information technology has resulted in both spatially and temporally data-rich environment, which creates a pressing need for us to develop novel statistical methods and the associated computational tools to extract intelligent knowledge and informative patterns from these massive datasets. The statistical challenges for addressing these massive datasets lay in their complex structures, such as high-dimensionality, hierarchy, multi-modality, heterogeneity and data uncertainty. Besides the statistical challenges, the associated computational approaches are also considered essential in achieving efficiency, effectiveness, as well as the numerical stability in practice. On the other hand, some recent developments in statistics and machine learning, such as sparse learning, transfer learning, and some traditional methodologies which still hold potential, such as multi-level models, all shed lights on addressing these complex datasets in a statistically powerful and computationally efficient way. In this dissertation, we identify four kinds of general complex datasets, including "high-dimensional datasets", "hierarchically-structured datasets", "multimodality datasets" and "data uncertainties", which are ubiquitous in many domains, such as biology, medicine, neuroscience, health care delivery, manufacturing, etc. We depict the development of novel statistical models to analyze complex datasets which fall under these four categories, and we show how these models can be applied to some real-world applications, such as Alzheimer's disease research, nursing care process, and manufacturing.


Moloney murine leukemia virus (Mo-MuLV) has the unique ability to infect different cells via either a low-pH-dependent or a pH-independent entry pathway. Only the pH-independent mechanism of Mo-MuLV entry has been associated with Mo-MuLV-induced syncytium formation. We have now identified a transformed cell line (NIH 3T3/DTras) which efficiently forms syncytia when exposed to Mo-MuLV, yet is low pH dependent for Mo-MuLV entry. Treatment of NIH 3T3/DTras cells with chloroquine, an agent which raises endosomal pH, blocks Mo-MuLV entry, but not Mo-MuLV-induced syncytium formation. This demonstrates that fusion which accompanies viral entry and fusion which is responsible for syncytium formation occur as independent processes in these cells. In addition, we determined that neither inherent differences in the Mo-MuLV receptor nor reduced affinity for Mo-MuLV gp70 can account for resistance of NIH 3T3 cells to Mo-MuLV-induced syncytium formation.


Mapping impervious surfaces over regional or continental scale study areas with high spatial resolution imagery is difficult due to the cost and time involved in processing the large number of images required. This study investigated the benefits of using the coarse spatial resolution, high temporal resolution MODIS sensor to produce impervious surface maps. MODIS NDVI data for multiple years were analyzed with two multi-temporal image analysis methods: the Sequential Maximum Angle Convex Cone and Linear Spectral Unmixing. Impervious surface maps were generated and compared with a set of reference data and a Landsat-derived impervious cover map. The mapping accuracies for the algorithms used were generally good, particularly for the LSU approach, which was able to identify areas with 50-60% impervious cover at 77% accuracy and areas with a cumulative impervious cover of 50% or greater at 80% accuracy. The methods presented in this paper have potential for mapping impervious cover over large areas where the use of higher spatial resolution data is impracticable.


The sequence of the chicken alpha 2(I) collagen promoter from -712 to -85, relative to exon 1, has been shown to be important for transcriptional activity. Within this region a pyrimidine/purine asymmetrical element at -200 bp forms an in vitro S1 nuclease-sensitive site. The pyrimidine-rich strand of this element interacts specifically with single-stranded DNA-binding proteins present in fibroblast nuclear extracts [Bayarsaihan and Lukens (1996) Biochem. J. 314, 293-296]. To identify these proteins we performed expression screening of a chick embryo fibroblast cDNA library using a single-stranded polypyrimidine sequence derived from this element. One of the isolated clones was found to encode a member of the cold-shock gene family, either chicken YB-1 or a highly homologous protein. This protein and a known chicken Y-box protein were both found to bind sequence-specifically to the pyrimidine-rich strand of the pyrimidine/purine asymmetrical element in the chicken alpha 2(I) collagen promoter. The binding mechanism of these proteins could be based on the formation of a non-canonical triplex DNA structure (H-DNA). Although members of this widespread and conserved protein family have been reported to modulate the expression of a number of genes, the findings reported here provide the first evidence for a possible role of cold-shock proteins in the regulation of type I collagen genes.


Cu6PS5I-based thin films were deposited onto silicate glass substrates by magnetron sputtering. Chemical composition of the thin films was determined by energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. With increasing Cu content, a red shift of the exponential absorption edge energy position as well as a decrease of the Urbach energy are observed. Optical transmission spectra of Cu8.05P0.68S3.54I0.73 thin film were investigated in the temperature interval 77–300 K; the temperature behaviour of the optical absorption spectra and the refractive index dispersion was studied. Temperature dependences of the energy position of the absorption edge, the Urbach energy, and the refractive index of the Cu8.05P0.68S3.54I0.73 thin film were analysed. The influence of structural disorder on the optical properties of the Cu6PS5Ibased thin films is discussed.


Aims and Objectives: To analyze the evidence available in the literature on the stages
during which upper limb lymphedema after mastectomy occurs. Background: Among the adverse effects
of breast cancer treatment, lymphedema is the most prevalent. Design: Integrative literature review. Methods: The Latin American and
Caribbean Literature on Health Sciences (Literatura Latino-Americana e do
Caribe em Ciencias da Saude—LILACS), PubMed, and
Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) databases
were used to select the pertinent studies. The identification data for these
studies were summarized, and their methodological features and results were
extracted. Results: Regarding the
time elapsed since surgery, the highest prevalence of lymphedema corresponded
to the late postoperative period, and regarding its severity, mild lymphedema
was the most prevalent form. The prevalence was also the highest among
the women who were subjected to radical mastectomy and radiotherapy. Conclusions: Many women who are
undergoing treatment for breast cancer use strategies for the prevention and
control of lymphedema of the upper limb following mastectomy. Relevance to Clinical Practice: The
findings of the present study might inform future studies aiming to assess
strategies that can be started in the immediate and late postoperative stages
to detect lymphedema early and prevent the increase of its prevalence during
the late postoperative period after mastectomy.


OBJECTIVE
To analyse risk factors and comorbidities potentially associated with CNS involvement in a large cohort of Italian patients affected by SLE.

METHODS
A number of generic (not strictly SLE related) and specific (disease related) risk factors to which all patients have been exposed in the span of 5 years before the first neuropsychiatric (NP) event or before the last available observation were checked for and their distribution was analysed in 959 SLE patients with and without NP involvement; all the first NP events that occurred in a time frame of 10 years were recorded and categorized as SLE related or SLE unrelated.

RESULTS
Three hundred and twenty-six SLE patients with and 633 SLE patients without NP manifestations were included in the study. A total of 469 NP events were recorded. Headache (26.1%), cerebrovascular events (22.7%), mood disorders (8.9%), seizures (14.4%) and cognitive dysfunctions (9.5%) were the most frequent SLE-related NP events. More risk factors [mean 4.52 (2.44) vs 3.73 (2.01); P < 0.0001] were observed in patients with than without NP involvement. Overall, aPLs, LA and APS were factors more strongly associated with NP involvement.

CONCLUSIONS
In SLE, NP involvement and aPLs were confirmed as closely related. Furthermore, other modifiable generic risk factors, such as hypertension, carotid vasculopathy and dyslipidaemia, appeared to be related to the occurrence of cerebral vascular accident (CVA) and cognitive dysfunctions, suggesting the need for a more intensive preventive strategy to optimize the management of NP lupus.


A four year study of attenuation and depolarization on an INTELSAT-V satellite link operating in the 11/14 GHz bands at a low elevation angle (10 degrees ) was conducted by British Telecom Research Laboratories from June 1983 to May 1987, followed by a shorter dual beamwidth study from July to December 1987 using the 11 GHz beacon. Scintillation has been analyzed from the data mainly associated with rain fading, with some identifiable dry data. High-pass filtering was applied to separate the more rapid component of the fluctuations from the underlying trend of rain fading. Short term, long term and worst case statistics of the 'de-rained' signal and spectra of illustrative events and of the database average are presented.


Protein tyrosine phosphorylation in rabbit peritoneal neutrophils was examined by immunoblotting with antibodies specific for phosphotyrosine. Stimulation of the neutrophils with chemotactic factor fMet-Leu-Phe (10 nM) caused rapid increases of tyrosine phosphorylation of several proteins with apparent molecular masses of (Group A) 54-58 kDa and 100-125 kDa and (Group B) 36-41 kDa. Stimulation of Group A proteins was observed by fMet-Leu-Phe (10 nM, maximum at 20 s) and A23187 (1 microM, 1 min). Stimulation of Group B proteins was observed by fMet-Leu-Phe (ED50 0.15 nM, 1 min), leukotriene B4 (ED50 0.15 nM, 1 min), phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) (ED50 25 ng/ml, 10 min) and partially by ionophore A23187 (1 microM, 1 min). Pretreatment of the cell with the protein kinase inhibitor H-7 (25 microM, 5 min) and PMA (0.1 microgram/ml, 3 min) partially inhibited the fMet-Leu-Phe effect. However, pretreatment of the cells with quin 2/AM (20 microM, 10 min) completely inhibited the fMet-Leu-Phe effect. The results indicate that rapid regulation of tyrosine phosphorylation is an early event occurring in stimulated neutrophils. Furthermore the effect of fMet-Leu-Phe on tyrosine phosphorylation may require Ca2+ mobilization and may partially require the activity of H-7-sensitive protein kinases.


Introduction: Infections are the main cause of mortality in half of the patients suffering multiple myeloma and disrupt the treatment process. Administration of the best prophylactic antibiotic with a minimum of complications is of prime importance. Aim of this study was to compare two antibiotics of Co-trimoxazole and Ciprofloxacin with different functional mechanisms.

Material and Method: 72 new patients suffering from multiple myeloma were admitted in this clinical trial study. The patients were divided into two equal groups by simple randomization. The first group received 500 mg ciprofloxacin capsules once daily, and the second group received co-trimoxazole tablets at a dose of 160/400 daily for 4 weeks. Occurrence of various types of infections were followed and compared by clinical and laboratory methods for a period of 6 months.

Results: Sex ratio, mean age, and the type of regimen prescribed to the patients were not different between two groups (p ≥ 0.05). The occurrence of infection in the ciprofloxacin group was 16.7% (6 cases) and 38.9% (14 cases) in the cotrimoxazole group during the 6 months (p ≤ 0.05). The most common type of infection in both groups was pneumonia. There was no significant difference in the occurrence of infection according to the type of regimen prescribed to the patients (p ≥ 0.05). No serious complication resulting in discontinuation of treatment was reported in the two groups. The bacterial resistance to ciprofloxacin was less than co-trimoxazole.

Conclusion: It was concluded that ciprofloxacin with less resistance can be routinely used in the prevention of various infections during the chemotherapy. In multiple myeloma, infection control as well as recognition of risk factors and phase of the disease has the main role in treatment.


With adjustment of rural industrial structure, development of rural secondary and tertiary industries, and transfer of rural labor, rural land circulation is accelerating. However, due to ideas, household contract responsibility system, and lack of well-established market mechanism and effective management organizations, land circulation in Dazhou is still very slow and its contribution to increase of farmers' income is to be improved. Through survey on increase of farmers' income after land circulation in Dazhou, it analyzed plight of land circulation, in the hope of seeking feasible paths for increasing farmers' income.


The link between regulations and innovation is puzzling. Some studies point to higher innovation performance as an effect of regulation, whereas other researchers disagree. A literature review shows empirical inquiries into various industries, with the financial sector attracting significant attention. The review also points to a company's responses' flexibility and complexity as variables mediating the relationship between regulation and innovation performance. These variables remain underexplored as empirical objects of analysis on a company level in the financial sector. By applying a case study research strategy, 100 launched financial service innovations' performance is compared with qualitative data assessing flexibility and complexity in the project work, leading to the launch of these products into the marketplace by a major Danish financial company. Finally, these data are quantitatively tested with a multinomial logit model. The results contribute to the differing views on how regulations influence innovation by showing links between high flexibility and low complexity in firm response for improved innovation performance. Increased complexity, in turn, impedes performance. Hence, specific innovation efforts from management are critical for striking the right balance between flexibility and complexity to achieve success in connection with regulatory changes.


Steroid sulfatase (STS; E.C.184.108.40.206), which acts on 3-hydroxysteroid sulfates, and arylsulfatase-C (ARC; E.C.22.214.171.124), assayed with aromatic artificial substrates, are both membrane-bound, microsomal enzymes with alkaline pH optima. Although they copurify during preparation and their gene loci are mapped to the short arm of the human X chromosome where they appear to have escaped from X inactivation, it has not been settled whether STS and ARC are the same enzyme or not. Recent work from our laboratory has shown that ARC exists in two electrophoretically distinct forms in human fibroblasts. We now report that these two forms--the faster migrating (F) and more slowly migrating (S)--occur in human tissues. Each of 11 human tissue types from 10 subjects showed a consistent pattern of ARC isozymes. Thyroid, heart, spleen, skeletal muscle, and adrenal tissue mainly had the S form. In contrast, kidney, liver, and pancreas tissue had mainly the F form, while gonadal, lung, and intestinal tissue had both the S and the F forms. The question of escape of their gene locus from X-chromosome inactivation was examined by comparing the specific activities of ARC and STS in male-derived vis-à-vis female-derived tissues. The majority of the tissues did not show any significant difference in these activities between the sexes, the exceptions being heart muscle, gonadal, and kidney tissue. None showed the 1:2 ratio between male- and female-derived tissues expected of a locus that had escaped X inactivation. The question of identity between ARC and STS was examined by comparing the ratios of their activities in these tissue types: if the enzymes were identical, the ratios of their activities should have remained constant across the different tissue types. It was thus shown that ARC activity varied by as much as 100-fold, depending on the ARC isozymic pattern of the tissue. STS, measured as estrone sulfatase and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfatase, did not show similar variations. This provides further evidence that ARC activity is not necessarily identical to that of STS.


P225

 Stem cell transplantation is a vibrant area of research with the goal of treatment of uncurable diseases. Bone marrow stromal cells (MSCs, including marrow stem and progenitor cells) have been employed to improve neurological functional recovery after stoke and injury. Grafted cell death is a common feature of intracerebral transplantation. Bcl-2 has been shown to protect a variety of cell types from apoptoic cell death. We tested the hypothesis that MSCs harvested from bcl-2 transgenic mice promote survival and decrease apoptosis of cells in vitro. MSCs were harvested from adult male C57BL/6 transgenic mice (n=4) overexpressing bcl-2, and from normal control C57BL/6 mice (n=4). Cells were cultured in regular medium, Iscove s Modified Dulbecco s medium (IMDM) supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS); and then isolated by their adherence to the plastic dishes from non-adherent hematopoietic cells at 72 h of incubation. To examine the effect of bcl-2 on cell death induced by serum deprivation. MSCs were washed and incubated with the serum-free medium. Immunostaining and Western blot were used to identify Bcl-2 protein expression, and TUNEL staining was used to identify in situ DNA fragmentation of apoptotic cells. Immunocytochemical staining indicated that 100% of MSCs harvested from bcl-2 transgenic mice express Bcl-2 protein. Western blot showed that Bcl-2 protein was 8 times more intense in the MSCs harvested from transgenic mice than that from normal control mice at 12 days cultured in regular medium. After 48 h cultured in the serum-free medium, 5.8% of MSCs from bcl-2 transgenic mice were presented apoptoic morphology, compared with 39% of MSCs from normal controls. Our finding demonstrates that the overexpression of bcl-2 gene in the MSCs reduces apoptotic cell death.


Schwannomas are benign neurogenic tumors of peripheral nerves that originate from neural sheath. The aim of this case report is to bring to mind the schwannoma in the patient with knee pain. A 39-year-old woman presented with a complaint of knee pain of three months history. After surgical intervention, the patient's complaints completely disappeared in the post-operative period. This should come to mind in the differential diagnosis of knee pain.


Myrtle (Myrtus communis L.) is an evergreen aromatic and medicinal bush native to the Mediterranean Basin. It has long been considered an important fruit since ancient times especially because of its use for medical purposes. Myrtle oil is also conventionally produced from the leaves by traditional distillation methods. Myrtle fruits are consumed fresh by people of the Mediterranean Basin. The common complaints by the consumers is the small fruit size as well as the high number of seed in fruits. The main aim of this study was to test the impact of the application of gibberellic acid (GA(3)) on seed counts and seedlessness (parthenocarpic fruit) in black myrtles by utilizing 50, 100 and 200 ppm GA(3) applications. GA(3) was applied as spray to the leaves a week before bud break and blooming period. None of the three GA(3) applications at the bud break stage had any significant effects on fruit characteristics whereas some GA(3) applications at the blooming period reduced seed numbers and fruit set in considerable amounts. The highest seed numbers per berry were recorded 14.72 from 200 ppm GA(3) and 12.96 from 100 ppm GA(3) applications at bud break stage. On the other hand, average seed numbers per berry were reduced to 3.01, 2.80 and 3.96 by bloom applications of 50, 100 and 200 ppm of GA(3), respectively.


This study bases on previous research on student perceptions regarding e-learning. Enhancing IT integration in scholar activities compelled the providers of educational services to adapt and redesign their "learning spaces". The aim of this research is to identify how the students perceived the new architecture and design of the new learning spaces through positive and negative feedback. Validation of the first hypothesis (that students own a laptop/ PC, mobile phone, etc.) enabled us to analyse an array of independent variables. These include the degree of use of electronic resources during teaching (blended teaching), their usage and easiness to be accessed, students' interest to increase learning efficiency by accessing such resources on learning platforms and through virtual classes (that enable them to synchronise the learning "rhythm" with student possibilities, provision of self-assessment based on learning progress and interaction with colleagues during the learning process) and learning efficiency based on visual and audio memory. Dependent variables considered in the analysis are student grades and duration on navigation in virtual environment (on the internet). There are two interesting results identified from data analysis. During teaching, the time spent in the virtual space (in order to access various electronic resources) is very important to ensure superior scholar results. Student grades improve with the student's interest (as declared in the survey) to use platforms and access virtual classes for various stages of the learning process. Such outcome may be explained due to the possibility of students to adapt learning to their own rhythm and circumstances, opportunity to assess their own learning progress and communicate with colleagues. Such instant communication with classmates from other locations and/or geographical localities supports learning through peer discussions about what they are studying. Considering the disadvantages associated with e-learning we extended the research to include student's perceptions regarding the importance of academic environment on learning. Results reveals that only the students with good and excellent grades (bursary and grades closed to bursary) and those that navigates a very large amount on the internet considers this variable to be very important. The results of this research are valuable and may be used by scholars and University administrators to redesign the learning spaces and provide solutions that will better serve needs of the students.


This paper investigates trading volume before scheduled and unscheduled corporate announcements to explore how traders respond to private information. I show that cumulative trading volume decreases inversely to information asymmetry prior to scheduled announcements, while the opposite relation holds for volume after the announcement. In contrast, trading volume before unscheduled announcements increases dramatically and shows little relation to proxies for information asymmetry. I investigate the behavior of market makers and find that they act appropriately by increasing price sensitivity before all announcements, implying that they extract timing information from their order books.


ABSTRACT
Lipid-rich diet is the major cause of obesity, affecting 13% of the worldwide adult population. Obesity is a major risk factor for metabolic syndrome that includes hyperlipidemia and diabetes mellitus. The early phases of metabolic syndrome are often associated with hyperexcitability of peripheral small diameter sensory fibers and painful diabetic neuropathy. Here, we investigated the effect of high-fat diet-induced obesity on the activity of dorsal root ganglion (DRG) sensory neurons and pain perception. We deciphered the underlying cellular mechanisms involving the acid-sensing ion channel 3 (ASIC3). We show that mice made obese through consuming high-fat diet developed the metabolic syndrome and prediabetes that was associated with heat pain hypersensitivity, whereas mechanical sensitivity was not affected. Concurrently, the slow conducting C fibers in the skin of obese mice showed increased activity on heating, whereas their mechanosensitivity was not altered. Although ASIC3 knockout mice fed with high-fat diet became obese, and showed signs of metabolic syndrome and prediabetes, genetic deletion, and in vivo pharmacological inhibition of ASIC3, protected mice from obesity-induced thermal hypersensitivity. We then deciphered the mechanisms involved in the heat hypersensitivity of mice and found that serum from high-fat diet-fed mice was enriched in lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC16:0, LPC18:0, and LPC18:1). These enriched lipid species directly increased the activity of DRG neurons through activating the lipid sensitive ASIC3 channel. Our results identify ASIC3 channel in DRG neurons and circulating lipid species as a mechanism contributing to the hyperexcitability of nociceptive neurons that can cause pain associated with lipid-rich diet consumption and obesity.


The study assessed the health quality of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) seed samples collected from formal and informal sector in Ethiopia and Syria. In Ethiopia, several seed-borne fungi were found on wheat samples: Cochliobolus sativum, Fusarium avenaceum, F. graminearum, F. nivale, F. poae and Septoria nodorum. C. sativum was predominant with 84% of samples infected (frequency) and 1.85% mean infection level (rate) followed by F. graminearum with 74% and 1.54%, respectively. Certified seed consistently showed less infection for most seed-borne pathogens. In Syria, 68% and 14%, respectively, of wheat samples were infected with common bunt (Tilletia spp) and loose smut (Ustilago tritici). Mean loose smut infection rate was 0.79%. In barley, 85% of samples were infected with covered smut (Ustilago hordei) and 83% with loose smut (Ustilago nuda). Mean loose smut infection rate was 18%. Wheat seed health was better than of barley in terms of frequency and rate of infection. In Ethiopia, significant difference (P<0.001) in infection levels was detected for most pathogens from different seed sources, but not in Syria. There were significant differences (P<0.001) in mean infection levels across regions and districts for both crops in Ethiopia and Syria. All seed samples infected with loose smut of wheat or barley were in excess of minimum standards for seed certification across West Asia and North Africa, showing fundamental weaknesses in seed health from both formal and informal sources. National seed programs should set realistic standards and introduce routine testing to produce healthy seed.


Chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) remains a common and potentially life-threatening complication of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HCT). The 2-year cumulative incidence of chronic GVHD requiring systemic treatment is ~30% to 40% by National Institutes of Health criteria. The risk of chronic GVHD is higher and the duration of treatment is longer after HCT with mobilized blood cells than with marrow cells. Clinical manifestations can impair activities of daily living and often linger for years. Hematology and oncology specialists who refer patients to centers for HCT are often subsequently involved in the management of chronic GVHD when patients return to their care after HCT. Treatment of these patients can be optimized under shared care arrangements that enable referring physicians to manage long-term administration of immunosuppressive medications and supportive care with guidance from transplant center experts. Keys to successful collaborative management include early recognition in making the diagnosis of chronic GVHD, comprehensive evaluation at the onset and periodically during the course of the disease, prompt institution of systemic and topical treatment, appropriate monitoring of the response, calibration of treatment intensity over time in order to avoid overtreatment or undertreatment, and the use of supportive care to prevent complications and disability.


Our new method, presented here for the first time, demonstrates the possibility of storing a human periodontal ligament (PDL) in a frozen state over a period of 3 days with the perio-dontal membrane remaining viable, enabling the thawed tooth to heal with a normal perio-dontal ligament. The final temperature, incubation at -5 oC and the intensity of the magnetic field for the freezer were examined. Cells were cryopreserved for 3 days at -150 oC and the number of survived cells were counted by trypan blue stain solution. When -30 oC was used as the prefreezing temperature, the number of survived cells was over 90%. The intensity of the electric current required to generate a magnetic field was 75mA. From the results, pre-serving not only PDL cells but also valuable cells in high order is possible.


Interaction of graphene and templated cluster arrays with CO, H2 and O2 was studied by means of scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS). The experimental data was complemented by ab initio density functional theory (DFT) calculations. As a prerequisite for studies of gas interaction, the binding mechanism of the clusters to graphene, as well as the growth and structure of Pt clusters, was investigated in detail.

The formation of cluster lattices on graphene on Ir(111) has been explained by graphene rehybridization. This DFT picture was tested by comparing calculated core level spectra to XPS measurements. For pristine graphene, DFT and XPS agree on a 140 meV modulation of the C 1s core level shifts (CLS), which correlates with the height modulation of the graphene layer above the Ir surface. With Pt clusters adsorbed, measured Pt 4f CLS of the adsorbed clusters also support the calculations. The modulation of the C 1s spectrum is strengthened with clusters adsorbed, and C atoms both under and in the vicinity of the Pt clusters are experimentally distinguished as a broad shoulder of positive C 1s CLS. The calculations suggest that the sp2 to sp3 rehybridization of graphene displaces the involved C atoms closer to the Ir(111) surface, implying chemical bond formation. The signature of these bonds in the Ir 4f spectrum was identified.

The growth of Pt clusters, their structure, and their interaction with the graphene layer was studied as a function of Pt coverage. STM measurements revealed that
once Pt clusters are two-layered, their further growth is restricted to two dimensions. The threshold for sintering was found to be at 0.75ML Pt, so that the upper size limit
for Pt clusters arranged in a lattice is 65 atoms. The cluster-graphene interaction, as well as the graphene-Ir surface interaction was investigated with spectra of the C 1s and the Ir 4f regions, respectively. It was found that the related components, namely the C 1s shoulder and the Ir interface component, agree regarding their relative intensities. Combining these results, schematic representations of the clusters and their binding geometry with the graphene layer was derived.

Pt cluster arrays were tested for their stability with respect to CO gas exposure. Cluster stability and adsorption-induced processes were analyzed as a function of
cluster size. Small clusters containing fewer than 10 atoms are unstable upon CO adsorption. They sinter through Smoluchowski ripening – cluster diffusion and
coalescence – rather than the frequently reported Ostwald ripening mediated by metal-adsorbate complexes. Larger clusters remain immobile upon CO adsorption, but become more three-dimensional. An implication of the CO-induced cluster mobility is the sensitivity of Pt cluster array growth to the CO background pressure. In order to generalize the results, the study was extended to the adsorption of other gases (H2, O2) on Pt clusters, as well as to the adsorption of CO on other metal clusters (Ir, Au).

The temperature, time and flake-size-dependent intercalation phases of oxygen underneath graphene on Ir(111) formed upon exposure to molecular oxygen were studied. Through the applied pressure of molecular oxygen, the atomic oxygen created on the bare Ir terraces is driven underneath the graphene flakes. The importance of substrate steps and of the unbinding of graphene flake edges from the substrate for the intercalation is identified. Using CO titration to selectively remove oxygen from the bare Ir terraces, the energetics of intercalation were uncovered. Cluster decoration techniques were used as an efficient tool to visualize intercalation processes in real space. To give an outlook, the study was extended to the intercalation of hydrogen.

Intercalation of graphene often leads doping of graphene. Comparing XPS and angular resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) data for various systems, it was found that the Dirac point and the C 1s core level shift in the same direction. These shifts can be described in terms of a rigid band model and the C 1s core level shift may be used to estimate the level of doping. It was found that graphene/Ir(111)is p-doped by H and O intercalation, whereas it is n-doped after Eu intercalation. The graphene layer is also doped by Pt and Ir clusters on top of it. The smallest clusters n-dope the graphene by charge spill-out. The largest Pt coverage results in a slight p-doping of the graphene layer. When Pt clusters coalesce upon CO exposure, the level of doping is reduced.


How do molluscs build their shells? Despite hundreds of years of human fascination, the processes underpinning mollusc shell production are still considered a black box. We know molluscs can alter their shell thickness in response to environmental factors, but we do not have a mechanistic understanding of how the shell is produced and regulated. In this thesis I used a combination of methodologies from traditional histology, to shell damage-repair experiments and 'omics technologies to better understand the molecular mechanisms which control shell secretion in two species, the Antarctic clam Laternula elliptica and the temperate blunt-gaper clam Mya truncata. The integration of different methods was particularly useful for assigning putative biomineralisation functions to genes with no previous annotation. Each chapter of this thesis found reoccurring evidence for the involvement of vesicles in biomineralisation and for the duplication and subfunctionalisation of tyrosinase paralogues. Shell damage-repair experiments revealed biomineralisation in L. elliptica was variable, transcriptionally dynamic, significantly affected by age and inherently entwined with immune processes. The high amount of transcriptional variation across 78 individual animals was captured in a single mantle regulatory gene network, which was used to predict the regulation of "classic" biomineralisation genes, and identify novel biomineralisation genes. There were some general shared patterns in the molecular control of biomineralisation between the two species investigated in this thesis, but overall, the comparative work in this thesis, coupled to the growing body of literature on the evolution of molluscan biomineralisation, suggests that biomineralisation mechanisms are surprisingly divergent.


Fractures that result from torsional loading of shafts in mechanical systems of nonbiologic materials generate a fracture line that forms a 45 degrees angle to an axis that is perpendicular to the direction of torsional loading on the shaft. As tension and compression are applied to these isotropic substances, the angle of fracture increases and decreases, respectively. Understanding how these forces, particularly compressive forces, generate elongation of a spiral fracture increases the ability to predict the extent of injury to bone. Fibular and metatarsal fractures are of primary importance to the podiatric physician, but any spiral fracture may be subject to torsional loading. Thus the principles stated here apply to the entire skeletal system. The purpose of this article is to provide a better understanding of the mechanics behind the causes and characteristics of fractures and to explore whether these same factors apply to the fracture mechanics of bone.


The work refers to the analysis of aroma compounds identified in Tamaioasa Romanian wines from 2 distinct Romanian wine-growing areas: vineyard Stefanesti-Arges and Pietroasa, watching, and in particular the variation of flavorings depending on the region of origin. Gas chromatographic method coupled with mass Spectrometry were identified 6 esters, 3 higher alcohols, 1 aromatic alcohol, 2 terpenes, 1 lactone, 1 acid and 1 aldehyde. The high concentration of ethyl acetate, ethyl butanoate, isoamyl alcohol were identified; flavor specific Tamaioasa Romanian wine is given by 1-terpineol, terpenic alcohol has been identified in this wine in large quantities. Research has shown that wine-growing region influence the organoleptic characteristics of wine and aromatic content of their wines, so the wines can be very quickly recognized when tasting.


The use of plastics for packaging has some advantages, since they are flexible and inexpensive. However, most plastics are of single use, which, combined with low recycling or reuse ratios, contributes substantially to environmental pollution. This work is part of a project studying the habits of Portuguese citizens concerning plastic food packaging and focuses on aspects related to sustainability. The survey was carried out via an online questionnaire about sustainability, recycling, and knowledge of the effects of plastic materials or their residues on the environment. The results were obtained based on a statistical analysis of the data. The participants tend to think about the negative impact of plastic packages on the environment; 39% sometimes do not buy plastic; and 30% try to look for alternatives. A substantial fraction, 81%, support the avoidance of plastic utensils and reduction in the use of plastic bags. Most participants have a good knowledge of recycling and strongly agree with the use of recycled materials, and 87% of respondents practice separation of different types of waste for recycling. Changing plastic consumption habits has not been an easy task. Nevertheless, it is expected that society will increasingly move toward sustainable habits, questioning its actions and considering their impact on the environment.


The performance of cyclodextrin (CD)‐enhanced push‐pull (PP) and line‐drive (LD) approaches to remediation of a site contaminated with a multicomponent dense nonaqueous phase liquid (DNAPL) present in a surficial sandy aquifer was evaluated in this field study. The treatment techniques were compared to each other and to the projected performance of a conventional water‐flushing system. Performance was assessed based on contaminant mass removed per unit volume of extraction solution and per unit time of operation. As expected, the CD‐enhanced LD and PP approaches to remediation were more efficient than conventional flushing with water. Between the two techniques, the PP approach performed 1.5 to 2 times better than the LD approach, particularly for higher DNAPL saturation of the source zone. This result suggests that forcing the flushing solution directly into and through the DNAPL source zone minimized flow bypassing and consequently resulted in a more efficient transfer of contaminant mass between the DNAPL phase and the flushing solution. Nonuniform treatment zone contaminant concentrations and changes in contaminant composition influenced the treatment performances, but these effects were small and still permitted the comparison of successive tests. Although CD was used as the solubility‐enhancing flushing agent in this study, it is likely that the results can be transferred to other chemically enhanced flushing technologies that use, for example, surfactants or alcohols.


Background Shift work has well-known adverse effects on health. However, few studies have investigated the relationship between shift work and hepatic disorders. This study aimed to evaluate the association between shift work and abnormal level of liver enzymes. Methods The aggregated data from the 2007–2009, 2010–2012, and 2013–2015 cycles of the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey was used for this study. The χ2 test and multiple logistic regression analysis were used to assess relationship between shift work and abnormal level of liver enzymes stratified by gender. Results The odds ratio (OR) of abnormal serum level of alanine aminotransferase (abnormal ALT) in female shift workers was higher with 1.31 (95% confidence interval: 1.00–1.71) compared with day workers after adjusting for covariates. After dividing into subgroups of the shift work pattern, the ORs of abnormal liver enzymes for each pattern compared with day work were not significantly higher. Conclusions This study provides limited support for the hypothesis that shift work is related to liver enzyme abnormalities, but offers some evidence in favor of the idea that shift work affects female workers more than males on abnormal ALT. Further studies are needed to define the relationship between shift work and abnormal liver enzymes to be carried out as well as the gender difference in the association.


Research and development on smart wearable health systems and applications (SWHSA) was motivated by the need to respond successfully to the healthcare challenges of reducing healthcare costs while maintaining a high quality of care, providing ubiquitous easy access to care, and shifting the focus of healthcare expenditure from treatment to prevention through wellness programs. Physiological monitoring with SWHS has so far dealt mostly with measurement of vital signs like ECG, heart rate, respiratory rate, skin temperature, and posture. There is a trend to extend monitoring capabilities toward biochemical variables. There are several promising techniques for achieving this type of monitoring in a purely noninvasive, painless way. One could thus envisage the integration of noninvasive transdermal biosensors in SWHS;e.g., in biomedical clothes. The future development of intelligent biomedical clothing (IBC) based on full integration of sensors/actuators, energy sources, processing, and communication within the clothes could overcome barriers to existing wearable health systems. The area of SWHSA is further developed in FP6 (Framework Program 5) of the EC, through significant support of new functionalized systems based on the integration of several technologies and disciplines such as micro/nanotechnologies, textile materials, physiology, biology/biochemistry, and ICT (information and communication technologies) as well as data integration and decision support. This area is expected also to be further developed within FP7.


Aims Open-label and small crossover studies have shown that exogenous melatonin can improve sleep latency (time to fall asleep) in children with neuro-developmental disabilities including autistic spectrum disorders. Anecdotal data have also suggested that it may also improve total sleep time. The aim of this randomised study was to determine the effectiveness and safety of melatonin in improving total sleep time in this population. Methods A double-blind, placebo-controlled study was undertaken in 21 centres in England and Wales. Children aged 3 to 15 years with neuro-developmental delay (including children with autism) and severe sleep-onset and maintenance problems, were recruited to an initial standardised behavioural intervention for 1 month. Non-responders after this period were then randomised to receive placebo or pharmaceutical grade fast release melatonin (Sourced by Alliance Pharmaceuticals and supplied by Penn Pharmaceutical Service) administered 45 min before their optimal bedtime and in escalating doses from 0.5 mg to 12 mg. Study duration was 12 weeks. The primary outcome was total sleep duration measured by nightly sleep diaries (somnologs). Secondary outcomes included sleep variables measured objectively by actigraphy and behavioural measures. Biochemical and genetic data were also collected. Results 146 children with severe sleep problems who did not respond to behavioural intervention were randomised. Provisional results are presented and analysis was by analysis of covariance and adjusting for baseline values. The adjusted difference in mean total sleep time between the melatonin and placebo groups was 15.92 min 95% CI (−6.43 to 38.26) (p=0.16) and the unadjusted mean difference was 11.08 min (−15.91 to 38.06) (p=0.42). Conclusion On average the children treated with melatonin slept nearly 16 min longer than those in the placebo group. However, the upper limit of the CI was less than 1 h, the minimum worthwhile difference specified at the outset of the trial. This study provides strong evidence that melatonin does not improve total sleep time by a significant amount.


The use of non-viral vectors (plasmids) for therapeutic purposes is gaining increasing importance, as evidenced by the growing number of clinical evaluations using these vectors. Such vectors contain elements for replication in the host (bacteria) and elements for expressing the antigenic protein of interest. This allows us to estimate that in the near future the demand for plasmid DNA (pDNA) will substantially increase. pDNA production is carried out using Escherichia coli (E. coli) in high cell density cultures to maximize volumetric efficiency. In this review we analyze the recent work that has been done both in strains and in vectors to increase the production yield of plasmid DNA, in addition to facilitating purification.


Rotaliids are one of the groups of larger foraminifera that quickly recolonized the shallow-water environments after the mass extinction at the end of the Cretaceous. Here we present a summary of the state of the art about their stratigraphic distribution and diversity across the Paleocene and Eocene epochs. Our data suggest that their differentiation at the genus level was very rapid and reached its maximum in the upper Danian SBZ2. Specific diversification, instead, culminated in the upper Thanetian SBZ4, with a second peak during the Cuisian (=upper Ypresian). Successively, the rotaliid diversity definitely declined, whereas other groups of larger foraminifera, and especially Alveolina and Nummulites, became more widespread and flourished with a large amount of species, up to the lower Bartonian SBZ17, when a final drop in rotaliid diversity is recorded. These major changes appear strictly linked to climate warming events such as Late Danian Event (LDE, generic diversification of rotaliids), Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM, faunal turnover followed by abrupt decrease in both generic and specific diversity), Early Eocene Climatic Optimum (EECO, increase in number of K-strategists under oligotrophic conditions) and Middle Eocene Climatic Optimum (MECO, ultimate drop in diversity and competition with other larger foraminifera).


Popular press articles report that consumers often experience inconsistent results with retail potting media; however, few reports in the popular or scientifi c literature have quantifi ed the variability in media properties. The purpose of this study was to assess the variability in physical and chemical properties among different brands of retail potting media and within certain brands. Twenty-four different packages of branded media, and multiple packages of fi ve brands, were acquired from nine regional and national retail chain stores located in the Salt Lake City, Utah, area. Samples were analyzed for fi ve physical and nine chemical properties. The coeffi cients of variation (CVs) among brands for initial gravimetric water content, bulk density, porosity, water retention, and air space were 85%, 74%, 21%, 59%, and 44%, respectively. The CVs among brands for saturated media (SM) pH, SM extract electrical conductivity (EC), nitratenitrogen (NO3-N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), total carbon (C), total nitrogen (N), and C:N ratio were 18%, 81%, 132%, 153%, 96%, 78%, 71%, 36%, 45%, and 49%, respectively. Only one of the 24 brands met all published standards for chemical properties of premium media. Thirteen of the brands did not meet standards for NO3-N; 12 did not meet standards for pH; and six did not meet standards for EC. There was more variation in physical and chemical properties among brands than within a brand of media. Label information describing media composition was not consistent with certain physical and chemical properties. No recommendations can be made which would allow consumers to select media that meets published standards. These results indicate better awareness of and/or adherence to standards is needed by the retail media industry to improve product quality and consistency.


The natural environment factor is one of the main indexes for evaluating human habitats, sustained economic growth and ecological health status. Based on Geographic Information System (GIS) technology and an analytic hierarchy process method, this article presents the construction of the Natural Environment Suitability Index (NESI) model of China by using natural environment data including climate, hydrology, surface configuration and ecological conditions. The NESI value is calculated in grids of 1 km by 1 km through ArcGIS. The spatial regularity of NESI is analyzed according to its spatial distribution and proportional structure. The relationship of NESI with population distribution and economic growth is also discussed by analyzing NESI results with population distribution data and GDP data in 1 km by 1 km grids. The study shows that: (1) the value of NESI is higher in the East and lower in the West in China; The best natural environment area is the Yangtze River Delta region and the worst are the northwest of Tibet and southwest of Xinjiang. (2) There is a close correlation among natural environment, population distribution and economic growth; the best natural environment area, the Yangtze River Delta region, is also the region with higher population density and richer economy. The worst natural environment areas, Northwest and Tibetan Plateau, are also regions with lower population density and poorer economies.


ABSTRACT In biodiesel production, catalyzed by immobilized lipase, a solvent is needed to reduce the inhibition effects caused by excessive use of short-chain alcohols and deposited glycerol. Volatile and toxic organic chemicals are commonly used to achieve this by enhancing the solubility of the alcohols and glycerol. In this work, non-volatile ionic liquids (ILs) are proposed as alternative solvents, which are safer and easier to recycle. Several ILs were tested and their effectiveness was compared to that of the conventional solvents, n-hexane and tert-butanol. Hydrophobic ILs showed much more promising results and much higher biodiesel production yields compared to hydrophilic ILs. A set of experiments was designed using full factorial (33) experimental design to statistically evaluate the results. The effects of reaction temperature, methanol-to-oil molar ratio and enzyme loading were considered. Response surface methodology (RSM) was then used to optimize process variables. The highest yields of 72 and 48% were achieved after 14 hrs of reaction at 50°C, 6:1 molar ratio and 40% enzyme loading in [bmim][PF6] and [bmim][NTf2], respectively. Regression models were developed to predict the optimal production yields and found to be adequate and statistically acceptable.


Abstract Conclusion: The present study suggests that adeno-associated viral vector AAV2-mediated expression of activity-dependent neurotrophic factor-9 (ADNF-9) in the cochlea could be a promising approach to protect the cochlea from aminoglycoside-induced impairment, although a further in vivo study is needed. Objectives: To construct vectors over-expressing ADNF-9 to overcome its short half-life and investigate the effect of ADNF-9 on aminoglycoside-induced hair cell impairment. Methods: We ligated ADNF-9 cDNA to the signal and leader peptides of neurotrophin 4 (NT4) and the fusion gene was named NT4-ADNF-9. NT4-ADNF-9 was subcloned into the prokaryotic expression vector pBV220 to obtain pBV220/NT4-ADNF-9. The induced recombinant ADNF-9 proteins were added into the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) cultures of embryonic day 8 chickens. In addition, we constructed the recombinant vector rAAV-NT4-ADNF-9 and transfected rat neonatal organ of Corti explants in the presence of aminoglycoside G418. Results: Our data showed that the induced expression of ADNF-9 protein could promote cultured DRG neuronal survival and neurite outgrowth. In addition, transfection of rAAV-NT4-ADNF-9 could prevent hair cell loss induced by G418 treatment in the rat organ of Corti.


We present DL2, a system for training and querying neural networks with logical constraints. Using DL2, one can declaratively specify domain knowledge constraints to be enforced during training, as well as pose queries on the model to find inputs that satisfy a set of constraints. DL2 works by translating logical constraints into a loss function with desirable mathematical properties. The loss is then minimized with standard gradientbased methods. We evaluate DL2 by training networks with interesting constraints in unsupervised, semi-supervised and supervised settings. Our experimental evaluation demonstrates that DL2 is more expressive than prior approaches combining logic and neural networks, and its loss functions are better suited for optimization. Further, we show that for a number of queries, DL2 can find the desired inputs in seconds (even for large models such as ResNet-50 on ImageNet).


In this book, three leading scholars have integrated some of their most important research in order to answer these questions on firm growth. The result is a volume that builds on studies of many thousands of firms in several different projects. It offers deep insights into the firm growth phenomenon and how it can be studied.


Bariatric endoscopy is a novel and expanding field in gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy [1]. The most common bariatric endoscopy procedure is intragastric balloon (IGB) placement [2]. Currently most training occurs with a proctor and a patient. Of course, this approach has potential ethical disadvantages [3], and obtaining the skills for IGB placement using an ex vivo hands-on model would be an ideal solution [4]. We developed a novel mechanical simulator for endoscopic hands-on training with the IGB procedure (LELLA model; EndoWorks LLC, Florida, USA). The model consists of a transparent polycarbonate resin phantom with a fully accessible upper GI tract (▶Fig. 1; ▶Video1). The IGB placement is carried out step by step with endoscopic, as well as external, visual control, which allows an extended comprehensive view of the physics applied in IGB placement and retrieval (▶Video1). The esophagus was developed from a plastic conduit of 3 cm in diameter. It connects proximally to a standard mouthpiece and distally to a red rubber ring, which simulates the gastroesophageal junction and cardia region, an important anatomical landmark for the IGB procedure. The stomachmodel is a round acrylic based chamber of 20 cm in diameter and supports all Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved single IGBs. For the purpose of this video, we used the Spatz 3 Adjustable Balloon System (Spatz FGIA, Inc., New York, USA) (▶Fig. 2). The IGB was filled with 600mL of purple isotonic drink (Gatorade) allowing several reuses of the device and thereby reducing the costs associated with training (▶Fig. 2). IGB systems that require drilling are an exception as they are ruptured after one use. In addition, the use of isotonic drinks avoids staining the prototype, which can be an issue when using a saline and methylene blue solution. Balloon emptying is carried out after retrieving the retractile drainage catheter with a rat-tooth forceps and aspirating the fluid using a negative pressure aspiration system (▶Fig. 2; ▶Video1). After endoscopically confirming complete shrinkage of the IGB, the decompressed balloon is withdrawn through the esophagus and mouthpiece. E-Videos


Evaluations of porosity relevant to hydrocarbon storage capacity in kerogen-rich mudrocks (i.e., source rocks) have thus far been plagued with ambiguity, in large part because conventional core and petrophysical techniques were not designed for this rock type. The growing recognition of an intraparticle organic nanopore system that is related to thermal maturity is beginning to clarify this ambiguity. This mode of porosity likely evolved with the thermal transformation of labile kerogen and probably neither depends nor interacts (except perhaps chemically) with previously assumed matrix or mineral porosity that is dominated by bound water, and that may be largely irrelevant to hydrocarbon storage capacity in these rocks. To address this newly recognized and important nonmatrix kerogen pore system, that is arguably the dominant hydrocarbon storage and mobility network in these rocks, we introduce a relatively simple kinetic model that describes porosity development within kerogen as a function of thermal maturation. Kerogen porosity development is estimated within the upper Albian Mowry Shale in the Powder River Basin of Wyoming to illustrate the approach. Relevant storage capacity is considered to have evolved with thermal decomposition of organic matter during catagenesis, where we estimate that kerogen porosity does not typically exceed 3% of bulk rock volume. Modeled oil-in-place estimates are comparable to residual oil estimates from pyrolysis data (S1) at lower maturities, but exceed pyrolytic S1 yields at higher maturities. We hypothesize, therefore, that a subsurface kinetic porosity model might represent a means to account for S1 losses at surface conditions and to circumvent difficulties surrounding estimations of expulsion efficiencies that are inherent to more traditional mass balance calculations.


IntroductionThe Secure Anonymised Information Linkage (SAIL) databank facilitated linkage of routinely collected health and education data, high spatial resolution pollution modelling and daily pollen measurements for 18,241 pupils in 7 cross-sectional cohorts across Cardiff city, UK, to investigate effects of air quality and respiratory health conditions on education attainment.
Objectives and ApproachAn urban atmospheric dispersion and chemistry modelling system (ADMS-Urban) simulated modelled hourly concentrations of air pollutants: PM2.5, PM10, NO2 and ozone levels. These were summarised into minimum, average and maximum daily readings for 4 time periods (e.g. school hours 9am-3pm) for all home and school locations across Cardiff between 2009 and 2015. The combination of different pollutants, measurements and time-periods created a comprehensive multi-row dataset per location. We transformed the dimensionality of this high-resolution data to create one row of summarised data per pupil per cohort, in preparation for statistical analysis.
Results157,361 school and home locations across Cardiff were anonymised and household linkage fields were appended to combine pollution estimates at the household/school to individual health data. The pollution dataset contained 369 columns, 472,083 rows per year with one column per location, pollutant type, pollutant measurement, daily time-period, and day of year. Dataset transformation reduced algorithm computation by creating a single date column, producing a five column, 3,446,205,900-row matrix per year dataset. The algorithm adjusted for weekends, school/bank holidays and allowed location to vary 3pm-5pm on school days when pupil location was uncertain. The algorithm calculated tailored pollution exposures per pupil for revision and examination periods, creating one row per pupil and reducing 7 years of data and 24 billion rows to 18,241.
Conclusion/ImplicationsWe successfully linked 95% of the cohorts' household/school pollution data to their corresponding health and education data. This demonstrates data linking retrospective exposures for total populations using multiple daily locations, and extends our analysis platform for natural experiments to include daily exposure. Future work includes adding modelled route exposures.


Contemporary architectural practise has come to depend upon digital representation as a means of design and for the production of architectural drawings. The computer is common place in architectural offices, relegating the drawing board as a machine of the past. Today, the architect is more likely to draw with a mouse than a mechanical pencil. The proposition of this research suggests such a dramatic shift within representational technology will not only affect how architects design, but also, what they design. Digital modes of architectural representation are reliant on mathematical code designed to artificially simulate visual experience. Such software offers strict alliance with a geometrically correct perspective code making the construction of perspective as simple as taking a 'snap shot'. The compliance of the digital drawing to codes prescribed by a programmer distance the architect from the perspectival representation, consequently removing the architect's control of the drawing convention. The universality of perspectival views is enforced by computer programmes such as Google Sketch-Up, which use perspective as a default view. This research explores the bias of linear perspective, revealing that which architects have forgotten due to a dependence on digital software. Special attention is drawn to the lack of control the architect exerts over their limits of representation. By using manual drawing the perspective convention is able to be unpacked and critiqued against the limitations of the system first prescribed by Brunelleschi. The manual drawing is positioned as a powerful mode of representation for it overtly expresses projection and the architect's control of the line. The hand drawing allows the convention to be interpreted erroneously. The research is methodology driven, focusing on representation as more than a rudimentary tool, but a component of the design process. Thus, representational tools are used to provide a new spatial representation of a site. Computer aided design entered wide spread architectural practice at the end of the 1980's, a decade that provided an ideal setting for speculative drawn projects. Such projects proved fruitful to architects critically approaching issues of representation and drawing convention, treating the drawing as more than utilitarian in the production of architecture. Whilst the move into digital imagining is not a paradigm shift for the act of drawing, it fundamentally shifted the way architects draw, separating drawing conventions onto visually separate 'sheets'. The architectural drawing known today was that discovered in the Renaissance, Renaissance architects, the first to conceive of architecture through representation, thus was their endeavour to produce a true three dimensional image. The Renaissance architect executed absolute control of perspective, control, which has since defined the modern architect. Positioned within research by design, the 'drawing-out' process is a critical interpretation of perspective. In particular the drawing of instrumental perspective is unpacked within the realm of scientific research. The picture plane, horizon line and ground plane remain constant as the positions of these are well documented. The stationary point, vanishing point (possibly the most speculative components of the drawing) or the relationship between the two, behave as independent variables. In breaking the assumptions that underlie linear perspective as a fixed geometric system we may ask ourselves if we are in control of representational methods, or if they control us. Since architects are controlled by their means of representation this question is paramount to the discipline, particularly today, when digital drawing has shifted the relationship between architect and representation. The implications of this new relationship may result in monotony across the architectural disciple, where the production of critical architecture is secondary to computer technology.


Abstract Objective Efficient diagnosis of an underlying genetic aetiology in a patient with congenital heart disease is essential to optimising clinical care. Copy number variants are one aetiology of congenital heart disease; the majority are identifiable by targeted fluorescence in situ hybridisation or array comparative genomic hybridisation, not by classical cytogenetic analysis. This study assessed the utility of array comparative genomic hybridisation as a first-tier diagnostic test for neonates with congenital heart disease. Study design A prospective chart review of neonates with congenital heart disease in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC was performed. Patients were tested by array comparative genomic hybridisation and classical cytogenetic analysis simultaneously. Data collected included all chromosome abnormalities detected, physical examination findings, and imaging results. McNemar's test was used to compare detection of array comparative genomic hybridisation and classical cytogenetic analysis. Results Of 45 patients, three (6.7%) had an abnormality detected by classical cytogenetic analysis and an additional 10 (22.2%) had a copy number variant detected by array comparative genomic hybridisation, highlighting an increased detection rate (p=0.008). Several of these copy number variants had unclear clinical significance, requiring additional investigation. The prevalence of dysmorphology and/or comorbidity in this population was 72%. Identification of dysmorphic features was greater when assessed by a geneticist than by providers of different subspecialties. Conclusions Array comparative genomic hybridisation has significant clinical utility as a first-tier test in this population, but it carries the potential for incidental findings and results of uncertain clinical significance. Collaboration between cardiologists and medical geneticists is essential to providing optimal clinical care.


The obtaining of commercial cultivars of potato with resistance to the phytopatogen is a very promising alternative that the genetic engineering can provide, through the introduction of exogenous genes for the genetic transformation. In order to establish an efficient system of transformation, it is crucial first to optimize in vitro organogenesis protocol. This work aimed to establish an efficient protocol for the genetic transformation of potato cv. Atlantic. The efficiency of the in vitro organogenesis is influenced by the explant type and by the kind and concentrations of growth regulators used. Shoot segments of potato cv. Atlantic present better organogenesis capacity than leaf explants. It is recommended to use the woody plant medium (WPM) supplied with 1,0 mg L-1 of naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) + 5,0 mg L-1 of zeatin riboside (ZEA), to obtain shoots from shoot segments, and the carbenicilin (Cb) added to this medium increased this formation. For the process to enlarge shoots, this same antibiotic when added to the WPM medium in growing concentrations (100; 250; 500 mg L-1) promoted a decrease in the height of plants, number of shoots and length of roots. After the co-cultivation of shoots segments with Agrobacterium tumefaciens these concentrations of Cb are not efficient in the elimination of the bacteria, which commits the organogenesis. However, it is possible to establish a protocol of in vitro organogenesis of potato cv. Atlantic starting from shoots segments not co-cultivated. These results will be useful for futures experiments of genetic transformation with this and another commercials cultivars of potato.


Preface to the New Edition . Preface to the First Edition . Acknowledgments . Chapter One: Introduction : Mean Markets and Lizard Brains. Part One: The New Science of Irrationality. Chapter Two: Crazy People : Lizard Brains and the New Science of Irrationality. Chapter Three: Crazy World : Mean Markets and the New Science of Irrationality. Part Two: The Old Art of Macroeconomics. Chapter Four: U.S. Economic Snapshot : America the Talented Debtor. Chapter Five: Inflation : Rising Prices and Shrinking Dollars. Chapter Six: Deficits and Dollars : Uncle Sam the International Beggar. Part Three: Applying Science and Art to Bonds, Stocks, and Real Estate. Chapter Seven: Bonds : Are They Only for Wimps? Chapter Eight: Stocks : For the Long Run or for Losers? Chapter Nine: Real Estate : Live in Your Home Make Your Money at Work. Part Four: Profiting from the New Science of Irrationality. Chapter Ten: Timeless Advice : How to Shackle the Lizard Brain. Chapter Eleven: Timely Advice : Investing in the Meanest of Markets . Notes. Index.


Abstract Pollen characters of the Algerian oleaster (Olea europaea subsp. europaea var. sylvestris [Mill.] Lehr) from eight ecotypes were analysed to evaluate the geo-climatic effect of their environment. Samples were collected along an altitudinal gradient from western to central Algeria. Eighteen morphological characters of the pollen grains were studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results show significant inter-populations variability. The geo-climatic conditions, duration and timing of dry periods vary from one area to another. Depending on the area, the length of the dry period (P p ≤ 2T) coincides more or less with anthesis periods. No significant geo-climatic effects on exine parameters were detected, except for lumina density (LD) and mean lumina diameter (Lm). However, polar axis (P), pollen size index (PSI) and pollen colpis length (PCL) were found to be related to latitude, longitude and temperature. LD and Lm were strongly linked to the pollen parameters, resulting in variation in pollen shape and size. Depending on the geo-climatic conditions, three morphotypes appear. The morphotype from a site with high temperature, low humidity associated with a long dry period is characterised by small pollen size, low lumina surface area and high lumina density/100 μm2 and vice versa. The results indicate that the exine has played an important role in the environmental adaption in these wild populations.


REM sleep Behaviour Disorder (RBD) in Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) may be attributed to a decrease in dopaminergic neurotransmission. Thus, we studied the therapeutic efficacy of the pre and postsynaptic D2 and D3 receptor antagonist tiapride, which at a low dosage preferentially blocks presynaptic dopamine receptors and consequently leads to feedback activation of dopamine synthesis and to increased extracellular levels of dopamine.

 Six consecutive patients presenting at our memory clinic with RBD in DLB, in whom melatonin had been ineffective and clonazepam was found inappropriate for clinical reasons, were treated with triapride at dosages between 50 and 150 mg for twelve weeks.

 Tiapride was well tolerated by all patients. Five of the six patients, reported was a decrease of the self-perceived frequency of bad dreams and the intensity and severity of motor and vocal enactments during sleep. In four of these six patients, this was also the case in the view of the patients' bed partners.

 Tiapride may by an effective and well-tolerated treatment for RBD in patients with DLB.


The effect on EMI of stitching multiple ground planes together along the periphery of multi-layer PCB stacks is studied. Power bus noise induced EMI and radiation from the board edges is the major concern herein. The EMI at 3 meters for different via stitch spacing and layer thickness is modeled with FDTD modeling. It is shown that the ground plane stitching effectively reduces the radiated EMI that results from fringing fields at the power bus edges. Two families of curves are generated to demonstrate the variation of the radiated EMI as a function of layer thickness and stitch spacing. Further studies show that the reduction of the EMI from ground plane stitching may be compromised by other radiation mechanisms.


Paleoproterozoic supracrustal rocks of the Upper Granite Gorge are divided into three mappable units: the Rama, Brahma, and Vishnu Schists, here collectively named the "Granite Gorge Metamorphic Suite." The Brahma Schist consists of mafic to intermediate-composition metavolcanic rocks that have yielded an age of 1750 Ma. The Rama Schist consists of felsic metavolcanic rocks that have yielded an age of 1742 Ma. On the basis of the presence of relict pillow structures, interlayering of metavolcanic units, and the large volumes of metavolcanic rocks, the combined volcanic package is interpreted to be metamorphosed, island-arc-related, submarine volcanic rocks. The metavolcanic units are locally overlain by the metamorphosed, arc-basin, submarine sedimentary rocks of the Vishnu Schist. The term "Zoroaster Plutonic Complex," previously used for all Paleoproterozoic and Mesoproterozoic plutonic rocks in the Grand Canyon, is abandoned in favor of use of names for individual plutons. Plutons are classified into two genetically and temporally separate intrusive suites: (1) 1740–1713 Ma plutons that are typically concordant to foliation, range in composition from gabbro to granodiorite, have calc-alkalic chemistry, and are interpreted to be arc-related plutons and (2) 1698–1662 Ma granite plutons, stocks, and pegmatite and aplite dikes that have textures and intrusive geometries indicating they were emplaced synchronously with peak metamorphism and northwest-southeast shortening. The dominant tectonic fabric is a northeast-striking, subvertical, variably developed foliation (S 2 ) that is axial planar to plunging, open to isoclinal, upright, asymmetric folds (F 2 ) of an early, penetrative, apparently initially northwest-striking foliation (S 1 ). F 2 folds have wavelengths of kilometres and cause repetition of rock units across the transect. Partitioning of deformation in space and perhaps in time was strongly influenced by crustal heterogeneity. For example, plutons, pegmatite networks, and fold-hinge zones acted as buttresses, and S 2 high-strain domains and shear zones are localized at the margins of these features. Generally northeast-striking, S 2 -related shear zones segment the transect into blocks. Shear zones last moved late during shortening and postdate the metamorphic peak. One of these, the Crystal shear zone, may be a fundamental crustal province boundary. Paleoproterozoic rocks in the Grand Canyon record the accretion of 1750–1713 Ma island-arc rocks and their assembly to Laurentia via dynamic interaction of deformation, metamorphism, and magmatism over ≈20 m.y. Changes in styles of deformation from F 1 -related thrusting and penetrative S 1 fabric development to F 2 -related upright folding and variable S 2 fabric development coincided with changes in styles of magmatism. The 1740–1730 Ma arc-related mafic to intermediate-composition plutons preserve strong S 1 foliation. The 1717–1713 Ma arc-related plutons preserve weak S 1 tectonic layering and locally strong S 2 strain. The 1698–1685 Ma granitic plutonism locally preceded S 2 and F 2 strain and was regionally synchronous with peak S 2 and F 2 strain (1700–1685 Ma) and peak metamorphism (1706–1697 Ma). More limited deformation and plutonism continued until at least 1662 Ma.


Gastric cancer has reduced prevalence, but poor prognoses. To improve treatment, better knowledge of carcinogenesis and cells of origin should be sought. Stomach cancers are typically localized to one of the three mucosae; cardial, oxyntic and antral. Moreover, not only the stem cell, but the ECL cell may proliferate and give rise to tumours. According to Laurén, the classification of gastric carcinomas seems to reflect biological important differences and possible different cell of origin since the two subtypes, intestinal and diffuse, do not transform into the other and show different epidemiology. The stem cell probably gives rise to the intestinal type, whereas the ECL cell may be important in the diffuse type. Elevation of gastrin may be the carcinogenic factor for Helicobacter pylori as well as the recently described increased risk of gastric cancer due to proton pump inhibitor treatment. Therefore, it is essential to determine the role of the gastrin target cell, the ECL cell, in gastric carcinogenesis. Clinical trials with gastrin antagonists could improve prognoses in those with gastrin receptor positive tumours. However, further studies on gastric carcinomas applying relative available methods and with the highest sensitivity are warranted to improve our knowledge of gastric carcinogenesis.


: Using xenon-133, we measured regional lung volumes in three seated young men with 25 to 40 per cent pneumothorax. There was no gravitational gradient of regional lung expansion in the lung affected by the pneumothorax. There was no gravitational gradient of regional lung expansion in the lung affected by the pneumothorax, whereas an apex-to-base gradient of regional volume was apparent on the contralateral, normal side. When over-all lung volume increased from residual volume to 20 per cent of vital capacity, there was little volume change in the lungs with pneumothoraces. These lungs received relatively small fractions of boluses inhaled at residual volume and bolus distributuion was even from apex to base on the sides with the pneumothoraces. Regional washout half-times were not prolonged in lungs with pneumothoraces and did not differ from apex to base, whereas in unaffected lungs, half-times at the apex exceeded those at the base. The results indicated that regional volume and half-time gradients were absent when gravitational gradients of pleural surface pressure were abolished by pneumothorax. Lungs with pneumothorax demonstrated uniform airway closure at low lung volumes, and it is suggested that this is the chief cause of ventilation maldistribution in spontaneous pneumothorax.


Most studies on susceptible-infected-susceptible epidemics in networks implicitly assume Markovian behavior: the time to infect a direct neighbor is exponentially distributed. Much effort so far has been devoted to characterize and precisely compute the epidemic threshold in susceptible-infected-susceptible Markovian epidemics on networks. Here, we report the rather dramatic effect of a nonexponential infection time (while still assuming an exponential curing time) on the epidemic threshold by considering Weibullean infection times with the same mean, but different power exponent ?. For three basic classes of graphs, the Erd?s-Renyi random graph, scale-free graphs and lattices, the average steady-state fraction of infected nodes is simulated from which the epidemic threshold is deduced. For all graph classes, the epidemic threshold significantly increases with the power exponents ?. Hence, real epidemics that violate the exponential or Markovian assumption can behave seriously differently than anticipated based on Markov theory.


In a rapidly evolving healthcare environment, nurse anesthetists will experience increased pressure to deliver value based anesthesia care. Activities of the professional association must be dedicated to advancing patient safety and excellence in anesthesia. To best serve the public and the profession, the nurse anesthetist profession must continue to be accountable for quality of care to patients, committed to continuing competency for professional practice, and promote sustained communication and dissemination of research-based standards development.


In 2012 the International Criminal Court (ICC) celebrates its ten-year anniversary since its establishment. It is fair to say that the current age of the Court reflects its present maturity. At the time of writing, the Court has finally rendered its first verdict, by condemning the Congolese warlord Thomas Lubanga for the conscription of child soldiers after a rather wobbly trial that took 6 years. In May 2011, the Court faced another unprecedented challenge. Four witnesses transferred from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to testify in the Lubanga and Katanga & Ngudjolo Chui (hereinafter: Katanga) trials, applied for asylum in the Netherlands. This matter, which was not anticipated in the Statute or secondary sources of ICC law, raises issues concerning the cooperation between the ICC, the Netherlands as host state and the DRC, and raises intriguing questions about the interaction of international criminal law and international refugee law.