A relationship between crystallographic structure and morphological form of calcium oxalates in urinary sediments is established. The common tetragonal bipyramids have been confirmed as weddellite from their electron diffraction patterns. Other solid forms, such as needles, biconcave disks, and dumbbell forms, that can appear in hyperoxalurias, of both metabolic and alimentary origin, have been identified as whewellite. Micrographs reveal fibrous structure on those whewellite polycrystalline aggregates.


Current advances in software engineering practice involve the adoption of a component-based approach in developing large-scale, complex systems. The component-based paradigm provides better structuring of systems and facilitates systematic software reuse. However, complex interactions between components, especially in concurrent, real-time and embedded applications, pose greater challenges. This thesis proposes a formal language for this kind of systems, especially provides a formal underpinning for the Koala model, for managing the dependencies between components, in terms of their interactions in a concurrent setting. In our model, components are autonomous elements encapsulating functionality and connectors exist only to serve the communication needs of others. Connectors further can initiate and govern component communications. This design takes communication and control out of components and encapsulates them into connectors, hence improves the reusability of components. In our approach, each component is represented by a component signature, which identifies a component; and a timeslot language, which describes the behaviour of a component with timing sensitivity. This language-based representation of component behaviour makes it possible to capture concurrency at the individual interface level. The interpretation of concurrency is that of a non-interleaving model, with the notion of causal independence lifted to multi-threaded runs. Based on time-slot languages as an operational semantic domain, we introduce component protocols, a service-based expression language, serves as a syntactic behaviour description and which can be formally interpreted into time-slot languages via the initial algebra approach. Component interoperability in this approach is a design time concept. It boils down to the properties of deadlock-freedom on glue, loyalty on roles with glue, compatibility of ports and roles, and substitutability between replacement ports and current ports. The well-formedness properties of components and connectors will be evaluated individually before being wired together. These mainly build on the concepts of well-definedness, well-behavedness and refinement relationship of component protocols. This approach follows the practical bottom-up approach from unit-testing to integration-testing.


In most applications the method of moments (MoM) generates full reaction matrices. However, in this paper, we demonstrate that sparse reaction matrices are produced when modeling stripline interconnects. This is demonstrated by investigating the sparse nature of the MoM reaction matrices that are produced when using the full-wave layered interconnect simulator (UA-FWLIS) with a parallel-plate Green's function. In order to explain the sparse nature of the reaction matrices, the electric fields that are excited by horizontal and vertical electric dipole sources are briefly overviewed. Then the variations of the reaction elements with distance are studied, and this information is used to provide a cut-off criterion for the reaction element calculations. We found that by applying sparse matrix storage techniques and a sparse matrix solver, the matrix solution time is dramatically improved when compared with a commercial MoM-based simulator


The thesis explores the nature of postlexical representation, as compared to lexical representation. In particular, focusing on prosodic representations, the question is asked as to whether the representation really alters when it appears to do so. I investigate this question through a study of the postlexical process of High Vowel Devoicing/Deletion (HVD) in Japanese. In this process, apparent consonant clusters are created, with the apparent deletion of the vowel, and of the syllable and mora units projected from the vowel in the lexical domain. Two questions are raised. First, is the prosodic unit deleted in HVD? Second, does the prosodic inventory change in the postlexical domain; do these apparent consonant clusters actually form clusters linearly with the deletion of the vowel in the postlexical representation? The literature on HVD shows disagreement. Some researchers argue that the syllable unit is maintained (e.g., Beckman 1996) while others argue for desyllabification (e.g., Kondo 1997). Some researchers argue for the deletion of the vowel (e.g., Beckman & Shoji 1984) while others argue that the vowel is not deleted but rather devoiced (e.g., McCawley 1968, Tsuchida 1997). The thesis presents the following claims. First, the syllable unit and the mora unit are maintained in the postlexical domain in Japanese. By showing that the lexical accent contrasts are maintained in pitch contours in HVD, I conclude that the syllable unit remains present in HVD. With respect to the mora, by examining places where the mora is important (e.g., poetry), I show that there is no evidence for demoraification with HVD. Second, the syllable and mora inventories do not change in the postlexical domain in Japanese. I specifically test the hypothesis that HVD derives syllabic/moraic voiceless consonants. Considering the consequences of this hypothesis for segmental processes and the learning process along with the perception of Japanese speakers, I conclude that the apparent consonant clusters are best analyzed not as clusters postlexically, and that the prosodic inventory does not alter. Rather, segments and prosodic units are all kept intact as in the lexical representation, with the vowel undergoing HVD remaining present in the representation.


The paper presents results of an investigation on Technosols. The soils are located in "Podgumer" quartz quarry, village of Podgumer, district of Sofia, Bulgaria. Samples were collected upon deposit, 5 and 9 years after deposit. A phytocenological description was made 5 years after deposit and 9 years after deposit. Soil samples were taken from forty-five soil pits at a depth of 0-20 cm. The vegetation in the area is related to the rhizome - leguminous stage. There are statistically significant differences (a downward trend) in the bulk density of the samples collected 5 and 9 years after deposit. There is a statistically significant increase in total porosity after the establishment of vegetation. The presence of vegetation also results in statistically significant changes in the chemical characteristics (pH, SOM, TKN, P 2 O 5 , K 2 O). The establishment of vegetation and the increase in plant diversity result in the increase in TKN, P 2 O 5 , K 2 O, where existing changes have been described using reliable linear regressions.


In each of the past four terms, the United States Supreme Court has decided a case with important implications for the interpretation and application of the Religion Clauses of the United States Constitution: Hosanna-Tabor Evangelical Lutheran Church & Sch. v. EEOC, Burwell v. Hobby Lobby, Inc., Holt v. Hobbs, and, most recently, Zubik v. Burwell. Although the Court's decisions in these cases addressed — and seemed to resolve — a number of questions central to Free Exercise and Establishment Clause jurisprudence, including recognition of the "ministerial exception" and religious rights of a corporate entity, the decisions left a number of questions unanswered, such as the contours of free exercise rights for prisoners and the definition of a religious minister. More dramatically — though anticlimactically — in Zubik, rather than ruling in favor of one of the parties, the Court issued an unusual per curiam opinion instructing the parties to work to find a way to resolve the matter.This article suggests that the Supreme Court's inability to answer some of these questions, or even to resolve the controversy in Zubik, is rooted in the Court's continuing, and arguably expanding, hands-off approach to religious doctrine. Courts and scholars have offered sound justifications for the Supreme Court's hands-off approach to questions of religious doctrine grounded in constitutional principles of religious freedom as well as more general concerns over judicial competence and the role of judges. Nevertheless, as recent cases have illustrated, the hands-off approach raises concerns of its own, at times serving as a source of contention and confusion. The ongoing tensions and divisions among Justices and judges revolving around these issues may suggest a need for the Supreme Court to revisit and perhaps rethink the contours of the hands-off approach to achieve clarity for the future.


1. A computer model is described which simulates the spread of barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV) by aphids in winter cereals in SW England. The model has as a theoretical base the dynamic interaction between two temperature-dependent rate processes: (i) the frequency of virus transmission to uninfected plants by infected aphids, and (ii) the frequency of virus acquisition by uninfected aphids from infected plants. A distinction is made between virus spread into crops by alate migrant vectors (primary transmission), and more localized spread within crops mainly by apterous vectors (secondary transmission). Both types of spread may occur concurrently. Probabilities of multiple infection, and effects of this on the rate processes in the model, are described by a generalized frequency distribution. Vector dispersal and the latent periods, following transmission and acquisition of virus, are represented as constant functions of thermal time. 2. Simulations used field data of plant and aphid populations sampled every few weeks in crops of winter barley and wheat at Long Ashton near Bristol during 1978-89. The infectivity of autumn migrant aphids caught each year in a suction trap was measured by feeding transmission tests. Daily max-min screen temperatures used to estimate thermal time were obtained from records at Long Ashton. Crop infections were assessed from visible symptoms or by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). 3. The model was successfully validated for 61 cereal crops with 0-80% of the crop area affected. There was no significant divergence between field observations and incidence of BYDV as predicted by the model (barley, r = 0-98; wheat, r = 0.94). Curves of epidemic development obtained by measuring virus incidence at frequent intervals during crop growth were usually similar to those generated by the model. Prospects for practical and more reliable forecasting of BYDV epidemics, and of the need for control measures, are discussed.


Work, especially that in complex, dynamic workplaces, often requires subtle, local judgment with regard to timing of subtasks, relevance, importance, prioritization and so forth. Still, people in Nuclear Industry seem to think safety results from people just following procedures. In the wake of failure it can be tempting to introduce new procedures and an even stricter "rule following culture". None, or at least very little, attention is given to tacit knowledge and individual skills. I am aiming to highlight the inadequacy of putting too much trust in formalization and that reporting and trending of events will contribute to increased learning, an increased nuclear safety and an efficient operational experience. The ability to interpret a situation concrete depends on proven experience in similar situations, analogical thinking and tacit knowledge. In this essay I intend to problematize the introduction and use of so-called Corrective Action Program (CAP) and computerized reporting systems linked to CAP in the Nuclear Industry.What I found out is that the whole industry, from regulators to licensees, seems to be stuck in the idea that the scientific perspective on knowledge is the only "true" perspective. This leads to an exaggerated belief in that technology and formalized work processes and routines will create a safer business. The computerized reporting system will not, as the idea was from the beginning, contribute to increased nuclear safety since the reports is based on the trigger and not the underlying causes and in-depth analysis. Managing safety by numbers (incidents, error counts, safety threats, and safety culture indicators) is very practical but has its limitations. Error counts only uphold an illusion of rationality and control, but may offer neither real insight nor productive routes for progress on safety.The question is why the CAP, error counts and computerized reporting systems have had such a big impact in the nuclear industry? It rests after all, on too weak foundations. The answer is that the scientific perspective on knowledge is the dominating perspective. What people do not understand is that an excessive use of computerized systems and an increased formalization actually will create new risks when people lose their skills and ability to reflect and put more trust in the system than in themselves.


The loss of pancreatic β-cell identity emerges as an important feature of type 2 diabetes development, but the molecular mechanisms are still elusive. Here, we explore the cellautonomous role of the cell cycle regulator and transcription factor E2F1 in the maintenance of β-cell identity, insulin secretion and glucose homeostasis. We show that the β-cell-specific loss of E2f1 function in mice triggers glucose intolerance associated with defective insulin secretion, an altered endocrine cell mass, a downregulation of many β-cell genes and a concomitant increase of non-β-cell markers. Mechanistically, the epigenomic profiling of promoters of these non-β-cell upregulated genes identified an enrichment of bivalent H3K4me3/H3K27me3 or H3K27me3 marks. Conversely, promoters of downregulated genes were enriched in active chromatin H3K4me3 and H3K27ac histone marks. We find that specific E2f1 transcriptional, cistromic and epigenomic signatures are associated with these β-cell dysfunctions, with E2F1 directly regulating several β-cell genes at the chromatin level. Finally, the pharmacological inhibition of E2F transcriptional activity in human islets also impairs insulin secretion and the expression of β-cell identity genes. Our data suggest that E2F1 is critical for maintaining β-cell identity and function through a sustained control of β-cell and non β-cell transcriptional programs.


Alternative algebraic techniques to approximate a given Hamiltonian by a harmonic oscillator are described belch for time-independent and tinle-dependent systems. We iapp[y th('_ to the description of a one diniensional atom-diatom collision. From the resulting evolution operator, we evahlate vibrational tral,.sition probabilities as well as other time-depend('nt properties. As expected, the ground vibrational state becomes a squeeze


Renesting is an important strategy for coping with nest loss in many species of birds. We investigated renesting behavior of radiomarked Mallards ( Anas platyrhynchos) breeding in the Canadian Prairie Parklands and found that females were persistent renesters, replacing >57% of 4,112 destroyed nests. Renesting propensity was most affected by nest initiation date, with ~90% of unsuccessful females renesting if destroyed clutches had been initiated in April but <10% renesting for clutches initiated after 20 June. Probability of renesting declined with successive number of nesting attempts, but this was primarily an effect of initiation date. Renesting propensity increased with female age and body condition and declined for birds that had invested more time tending their previous clutch, but the latter effect was pronounced only among late-nesting females. The amount of time required to produce a replacement clutch was primarily a function of whether females were engaged in rapid follicle growth when nest failure occurred: 44% of females (383 of 870) that lost nests during early laying renested within 4 days, whereas only 2% (12 of 639) that lost nests after clutch completion renested within 4 days. Although clutch size was smaller in renests, this was entirely an artifact of later laying dates. Our results suggest that seasonal timing had the most influence on renesting behavior. Female age, body condition, and prior nesting effort had smaller, but demonstrable, influence. Received 23 January 2009, accepted 23 July 2009.


BACKGROUND
Recognizing the suboptimal public health effects of a complete cessation strategy for parents and child caregivers who smoke, some researchers have called for a harm reduction approach; however, the evidence remains scanty and controversial.

OBJECTIVE
To examine the effects of secondhand smoke and smoking hygiene on infant health and related health care costs during the first 18 months of life.

METHODS
We conducted prospective follow-up on 8327 newborns during April and May of 1997 for 18 months in a population-based birth cohort of infants from Hong Kong, China.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES
Number of hospital admissions, adjusted odds ratios for ever hospitalization for each secondhand smoke exposure variable, and corresponding population attributable risks.

RESULTS
Most secondhand smoke exposure came from fathers and other household contacts, whereas only 2.8% of mothers smoked postpartum. The odds ratio of ever hospitalization due to all illnesses combined for infants living in a household with any (maternal, paternal, or other) smoker who was smoking at least 3 m away from the infant, as reported by a parent, was 1.00 (95% confidence interval, 0.88-1.13) compared with those in a smoke-free household. The corresponding odds ratio for infants living with any smoker at home with poor smoking hygiene (<3 m away) was 1.28 (95% confidence interval, 1.07-1.52), which translated into 2.8% of all inpatient episodes in the first year of life, representing an additional 616 admissions.

CONCLUSIONS
Hospital admission was significantly more likely among infants exposed to secondhand smoke if it was accompanied by poor smoking hygiene. Harm reduction strategies should be rigorously adhered to when complete cessation is not possible.


This mixed-methods community-based participatory research generated knowledge of school staff perceptions of the facilitators of and barriers to implementation of a Canadian First Nation school's healthy nutrition policy. Themes derived from seven qualitative staff interviews were integrated with quantitative data derived from 28 staff surveys. The Medicine Wheel was used to describe results, as it provided a non-hierarchical and relational way to categorize all components and stakeholders of nutrition policy implementation. Factors that facilitated policy implementation were associated with the school environment, including the nutritional quality of foods sold or offered at school, administrative support, and foundational health programming prior to policy development. Staff identified the school as a role model for community members and as a key facilitator of policy implementation (for example, in leading health initiatives, providing a place for nutritious food and physical activity opportunities, and acting as a health resource for all community members). Barriers included inconsistency between staff members in policy implementation, uncertainty about staff members' role in policy implementation, and lack of school communication with parents regarding the policy. One of the informative barriers from a First Nation perspective was the perceived misalignment of traditional foods, such as bannock or wild game, served at First Nation cultural events with federally derived nutrition standards that emphasize a low-fat diet. Results suggest strengthening school nutrition policy implementation by increasing staff nutrition education and certainty of their roles as policy facilitators, advocates, and enforcers; improving communication with families; having supportive school health programming; and ensuring the school, community, and home environment all reinforce healthy eating.


The New England Regional Infant Cardiac Program (NERICP) is a voluntary association of all hospitals in the New England states which offer definitive care for infants with heart disease. With the purpose of improving infant cardiac care, the program began in 1968 and continues to the present. Specific activities include professional education to improve case finding and earlier referral; identification and subsidy of appropriate transportation facilities; improved communication with participating hospitals; subsidy of follow-up where needed; provision for room and board for indigent parents when their baby has been moved some distance from home; and continuing nursery nurse education in the recognition of infants with heart disease. All participating hospitals agree to tabulation of their entire experience with infants with heart disease (3626 infants in 9 years). Case histories of surviving infants have been updated systematically. The period of July 1968 to June 1974 was selected for this detailed analysis because data from this period form the basis of an ongoing long-term follow-up study and have been reverified several times. This analysis is continued to the first year of life. More recent data, July 1974 to June 1977, are discussed separately and italicized numerical data from 1974 to 1977 have been added to tables where the results may be of interest. In the early years, case finding rose by 20% and has continued to increase gradually. By 1976, there were 2.4 NERICP infants per 1000 live births identifiable in the New England states. Surveys of state vital statistics showed a 50% decrease in infants who died with heart disease who did not reach a participating hospital. Neonates are admitted to participating hospitals earlier; admissions of infants less than 2 days old increased from 20% to 34% in 1977. Of infants admitted in 1977, more than 50% were in the first week of life. During the period of study from 1969 to 1974, there was a consolidation of hospital services for infants with heart disease. Of the initial 11 participating hospitals in 1969, by 1974, there were 5 hospitals offering a full range of cardiac services, 3 hospitals offering limited surgical services, 2 hospitals no longer performing cardiac catheterizations or cardiac surgery in infants, and 1 hospital that had discontinued all pediatric cardiology. Despite expected differences in case findings, the patient material and management of patients among the various hospitals were surprisingly comparable. There was little variation in the kinds of heart disease encountered over the years, among the states, and among the hospitals. There was a significantly higher mortality among infants whose birth weight was less than 2.0 kg and among infants who had additional, severe noncardiac anomalies. Mortality was significantly higher for infants admitted in the first days or weeks of life and cardiac surgery resulted in higher mortalities in this age group. Among the many specific anatomic diagnostic categories, there was little change in outcome during the years 1969 to 1974. Subsequently, immediate and 30-day survival from surgical procedures showed improvement whether viewed by age at surgery, diagnosis, operative procedure, or years. The introduction of early reparative surgery, as opposed to early palliative surgery followed by late repair, occurred in 1973. Subsequent data showed an increasing number of "open heart" procedures in infants with steadily improving 30-day mortality. A similar fall in mortality for closed heart procedures was documented. Results of palliation versus repair for ventricular septal defects, transposition of the great arteries, and tetralogy of Fallot were investigated. The average number of days of hospitalization, the number of cardiac catheterizations, and the numbers of cardiac operations were evaluated. By using hospital charges for 1975, the estimated cost for care of an average cardiac infant for the first year of life ranged from $3800 to $7200 (average $6699). Among the hospitals, the payments by state agencies for hospital costs in the first year of life were estimated to range from $4300 to $8000 per patient for the same year. Because NERICP can provide detailed data on a consecutive series of infants from a finite geographic area, epidemiologic information can be gleaned ( Am J Epidemiol 1976; 104:527, Am J Epidemiol 1979; 109:433). Similarly, detailed experience with the various anatomic cardiac lesions was extracted and presented as a guideline for expected average experience for regions outside of New England.


On 14th February, 2016, a Mw 5.7 earthquake occurred 17km off the east coast of Christchurch, New Zealand. Fortunately, there were no fatalities but widespread rockfalls and liquefaction were observed across the region. The earthquake was part of the aftershock sequence following the devastating Canterbury earthquakes in 2010 and 2011. The earthquake was the largest to have occurred since the Mw5.9 earthquake on 23rd December 2011. Due to the offshore position of the epicenter, the orientation of the fault plane is ambiguous with either a north-south or east-west trending fault plane explaining the seismic data. In this study we used geodetic data to investigate the co-seismic deformation pattern to find the best fitting slip model. Despite the offshore location, InSAR and GPS indicated displacements of up to 10 cm located along the coastal region east of the city center. Despite the large number of continuous and campaign GPS data across the region, the orientation of the fault plane remains ambiguous when inverting GPS data alone. However, the inclusion of ascending and descending ALOS-2 data in addition to GPS indicate an east-west trending fault. We estimate slip of ~1m on a fault plane whose width and length is about 4 and 6 km respectively. The orientation of the fault is consistent with the December 2011 aftershock and may represent a continuation of the fault offshore.


Background: Noninvasive Ventilation (NIV) delivers mechanical ventilation to the lungs using techniques that do not require an indwelling endotracheal airway. Since it provides partial ventilatory support, NIV is used in preventing reintubation in patients with ARF from COPD, cardiogenic edema. The aim of the study is to evaluate the role of NIV as a weaning mode and to ascertain difference with conventional weaning. Methods: A randomized prospective study was conducted after getting permission from ethical committee of our university. 40 patients of age group 18-65 years, in ICU who received mechanical ventilation for more than 72 hours were considered and were divided randomly and equally in to 2 groups after satisfying weaning criteria, Group A : Included those patients who were weaned by NIV ( using BiPAP mode with Oro nasal interface ), Group B: Included those patients who were weaned by conventional methods ( Spontaneous mode with pressure support ). Results: Incidence of weaning failure and reintubation was 35% (7 cases) in Group A as compared to none in Group B (p=0.004). Following this, 7 failed cases from Group A were excluded from assessment, and thus the sample size of Group A was reduced to 13. This was done to compare the hemodynamic profile, duration of hospital stay & ventilator use between the patients weaned by NIV and to that of conventional weaning. Now statistically the difference between two groups for the mean Systolic, Diastolic blood pressures and Pulse rate, was significant at all the follow up intervals (p<0.001) with continuous declining trend of all these variables was observed in Group A patients, along with their mean values lesser than that of group B patients throughout the follow up period. Mean duration of hospital stay and ventilator use was significantly lower in Group A as compared to Group B (p=0.002 & p=0.004 respectively). There was no change in outcome of the patients in terms of VAP between the two groups. Conclusion: NIV does not prevent the need for reintubation, or reduce the incidence of weaning failure. Despite this NIV can be considered as an alternative weaning procedure taking in to consideration of the advantages provided by them, although a judicious clinical decision of when to wean and selection of appropriate patients gives a favourable outcome in patients who are weaned by NIV.


Develop skills in many aspects of the trade, including electrical and control systems, installation, maintenance, repair and servicing of basic heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration systems for residential and commercial application.


PURPOSE
The aim of this study was to review 14 patients with congenital esophageal stenosis (CES) from diagnostic and therapeutic points of view.

METHODS
From 1976 to 1999, 14 patients with CES were treated at the authors' hospital. In each diagnostic examination, an esophagogram, 24-hour pH monitoring, a manometric study, and an endoscopy were performed. The medical, radiologic, and operative reports of these patients were reviewed.

RESULTS
Esophagogram results showed an abrupt stenosis in 5 patients and a tapered stenosis in 9. After 24-hour pH monitoring and an endoscopy, we were able to rule out the possibility of gastroesophageal reflux with esophagitis in most of the patients. Of the 11 patients who initially underwent bougienage or balloon dilatation, 8 of them had recurrent stenosis. Eleven patients required surgical treatment, including the 8 who had recurrent stenosis after undergoing dilatation. Nine of the patients underwent a resection of the stenotic segment and esophago-esophagostomy. An antireflux procedure was performed on 2 patients. Another patient had an esophageal rupture, which required a jejunal interposition. A histopathologic study showed that tracheobronchial remnants were present in 6 patients, and fibromuscular thickening was found in 4 patients.

CONCLUSIONS
The efficacy of dilatation seems to be limited and may even result in severe complications such as an esophageal rupture. In this study, most patients ultimately required surgical treatment. Surgical repair for CES is the authors' preferred treatment, although initial dilatation may be effective for some patients.


Reactivation of chick-erythrocyte nuclei in heterokaryons (obtained by Sendai virus-induced fusion of chick erythrocytes with HeLa cells) is suppressed by specific inhibitors of trypsin and trypsin-like enzymes. N-alpha-tosyl-L-lysyl-chloromethane and N-alpha-tosyl-L-arginine methylester inhibit erythrocyte nuclear enlargement and suppress RNA and DNA synthesis in nuclei of erythrocytes and HeLa cells in heterokaryons at concentrations that only minimally influence individual HeLa cells or HeLa homokaryons. Although other unknown mechanisms of action cannot be formally excluded, the data are interpreted as fitting best with an intracellular site of action of the protease inhibitors studied, and as suggesting a role for cellular proteases in reactivation of chick-erythrocyte nuclei in heterokaryons.


This paper examines various aspects of the design process and subsequent field test measurements of a large and complex substation grounding system. The study and measurements show that soil layering and lead interference can have a significant impact on the appropriate test location that yields the exact substation ground impedance. Applying a specific percentage rule such as the 61.8% rule for uniform soils to obtain the true ground impedance may lead to unacceptable errors for large grounding systems. This poses significant problems when attempting to validate a design based on raw test data that are interpreted using approximate methods to evaluate substation ground impedance, and determine ground potential rise (GPR), touch and step voltages. Advanced measurement methodologies and modern software packages were used to obtain and effectively analyze fall of potential test data, compute fault current distribution, and evaluate touch and step voltages for this large substation. Fault current distribution between the grounding system and other metallic paths were computed to determine the portion of fault current discharged in the grounding system. The performance of the grounding system, including its GPR and touch and step voltages, has been accurately computed and measured, taking into account the impedance of the steel material used of the ground conductors and circulating currents within the substation grounding system.


An extremely low level of the cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase (CAD) enzyme activity in a mutant loblolly pine tree leads to a different pool of precursors for lignin production. Characterization of CAD-deficient wood by pyrolysis mass spectroscopy indicates significant increased levels of dihydroconiferyl alcohol, not usually considered a lignin subunit. Also, in comparison to normal pine lignin, the CAD-deficient lignin has increased levels of coniferaldehyde, the substrate of CAD, and of p-coumaryl alcohol, along with greatly decreased levels of coniferyl alcohol. These findings are consistent with trees of different ages and confirm that there is considerable plasticity in the biosynthesis of lignin. Trees are able to utilize structures beyond the traditional definition of precursors to make lignin.


OBJECTIVE
Mannitol is the standard of care for patients with increased intracranial pressure (ICP), but multiple administrations of mannitol risk renal toxicity and fluid accumulation in the brain parenchyma with consequent worsening of cerebral edema. This preliminary study assessed the safety and efficacy of small-volume injections of 23.4% sodium chloride solution for the treatment of intracranial hypertension in patients with traumatic brain injury who became tolerant to mannitol.

METHODS
We retrospectively reviewed the charts of 13 adult patients with traumatic brain injury who received mannitol and 23.4% sodium chloride independently for the treatment of intracranial hypertension at San Francisco General Hospital between January and October 2003. Charts were reviewed to determine ICP, cerebral perfusion pressure, mean arterial pressure, serum sodium values, and serum osmolarity before and after treatment with 23.4% sodium chloride and mannitol. Complications were noted.

RESULTS
The mean reductions in ICP after treatment were significant for both mannitol (P < 0.001) and hypertonic saline (P < 0.001); there were no significant differences between reductions in ICP when comparing the two agents (P = 0.174). The ICP reduction observed for hypertonic saline was durable, and its mean duration of effect (96 min) was significantly longer than that of mannitol treatment (59 min) (P = 0.016). No complications were associated with treatment with hypertonic saline.

CONCLUSION
This study suggests that 23.4% hypertonic saline is a safe and effective treatment for elevated ICP in patients after traumatic brain injury. These results warrant a rigorous evaluation of its efficacy as compared to mannitol in a prospective randomized controlled trial.


Abstract The purpose of this study was to investigate the origin of the genetic variation in the prevalence of bovine digital dermatitis (DD) by comparing a genetic analysis of infection events to a genetic analysis of disease status. DD is an important endemic infectious disease affecting the claws of cattle. For disease status, we analysed binary data on individual disease status (0,1; indicating being free versus infected), whereas for infections, we analysed binary data on disease transmission events (1,0; indicating becoming infected or not). The analyses of the two traits were compared using cross‐validation. The analysis of disease status captures a combination of genetic variation in disease susceptibility and the ability of individuals to recover, whereas the analysis of infections captures genetic variation in susceptibility only. Estimated genetic variances for both traits indicated substantial genetic variation. The GEBV for disease status and infections correlated with only 0.60, indicating that both models indeed capture distinct information. Together, these results suggest the presence of genetic variation not only in disease susceptibility, but also in the ability of individuals to recover from DD. We argue that the presence of genetic variation in recovery implies that breeders should distinguish between infected individuals versus infectious individuals. This is because epidemiological theory shows that selection for recovery is effective only when it targets recovery from being infectious.


Interfaces between stratified epithelia and their supporting stromas commonly exhibit irregular shapes. Undulations are particularly pronounced in dysplastic tissues and typically evolve into long, finger-like protrusions in carcinomas. In previous work (Basan et al 2011 Phys. Rev. Lett. 106 158101), we demonstrated that an instability arising from viscous shear stresses caused by the constant flow due to cell turnover in the epithelium could drive this phenomenon. While interfacial tension between the two tissues as well as mechanical resistance of the stroma tend to maintain a flat interface, an instability occurs for sufficiently large viscosity, cell-division rate and thickness of the dividing region in the epithelium. Here, extensions of this work are presented, where cell division in the epithelium is coupled to the local concentration of nutrients or growth factors diffusing from the stroma. This enhances the instability by a mechanism similar to that of the Mullins–Sekerka instability in single-diffusion processes of crystal growth. We furthermore present the instability for the generalized case of a viscoelastic stroma.


This clinical and theoretical paper discusses the broad areas of similatity and overlap that exist between behavior therapy and psychoanalytically oriented psychotherapy. It opens with a fantasy of the origins of anxiety and of psychotherapy followed by some historical and contemporary definitions from both points of view. A final common pathway of theory and technique is suggested and illustrated with two case vignettes. "Anyone who wants to make a living from the treatment of nervous patients must clearly be able to do something to help them." 1


The physiology and pharmacology of the sympathetic nervous system has been studied in congestive heart failure, both in man and in experimental animals. Increased plasma NE during muscular exercise and increased urinary excretion of NE at rest in patients with heart failure have provided evidence of augmented activity in the sympathetic nervous system; no evidence of an accompanying augmentation of adrenal medullary function has been obtained. Associated with the overall increase of sympathetic activity in the body, a depletion of NE stores in the failing human heart was observed. Marked reduction of NE concentration was found both in the atrium and ventricle; in the latter the reduction of NE was related directly to the contractile state of the myocardium, although it has been emphasized that this relationship cannot be considered to be causal. Frequently, the diminution of ventricular NE was sufficient to have abolished the response to tyramine.

These findings in man have led to investigations in chronic heart failure preparations in the dog and the guinea pig, in which similar changes in cardiac NE concentration were observed. The depression in cardiac NE concentration was found to reflect a reduction of the total amount in the ventricles. In the guinea pig, left ventricular failure was associated with both diminished cardiac NE formation and diminished binding capacity in the heart. Evidence is presented, however, that in the failing heart there is no alteration of those binding mechanisms which remain intact. These findings are consonant with the hypothesis that the absolute number of nerve endings in the heart is diminished. Some of the possible effects of the altered cardiac sympathetic nerve function which were described on the contractile state of the failing heart were discussed.


It is widely assumed that disability is typically a bad thing for those who are disabled. Our purpose in this essay is to critique this view and defend a more nuanced picture of the relationship between disability and well-being. We first examine four interpretations of the above view and argue that it is false on each interpretation. We then ask whether disability is thereby a neutral trait. Our view is that most disabilities are neutral in one sense, though we cannot make simple generalizations about disability's relationship to well-being in other important senses. After defending this view, we discuss its practical implications for selective abortion for disability, nondisabled people's interactions with disabled people, and the use of QALYs in health policy.


Destabilization of casein micelles in reconstituted skim milk due to the enzymatic hydrolysis was studied at 32oC with solutions containing from 0.090 to 0.110 g cm−3 of skim milk powder at pH 6.4. Destabilized micelles were precipitated by the acetate bu er and dissolved in NaOH solutions, where their concentration was determined spectrophotometrically. Within the narrow range of skim milk concentrations around 0.10 g cm−3 the kinetics of the micelle destabilization process changed rapidly and qualitatively, indicating changes in the destabilization mechanism. While in the solution with the 0.090 g cm−3 skim milk concentration the destabilized micelles were produced shortly after beginning of the hydrolysis, in the more concentrated mixture a substantial lag phase exists, leading to a considerably di erent time evolution of the destabilized micelle concentration. According to the analysis based on the mathematical model of the destabilization process, these changes can be attributed to the shift of the hydrolysis kinetics from the rst order to a two-step mechanism and to the change of character of the spatial enzyme activity from the locally correlated action to the spatially random hydrolysis.


Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL) also known as Kala-azar (Hindi: kala means black, azar means sickness, also known as Assam fever, Dumdum fever, Sikari disease, Burdwan fever, Shahib's disease and tropical splenomegaly). This disease is endemic and widely spread in 88 countries, including India. Because of its importance, was selected by WHO out of six most precarious diseases. Due to diversity of epidemiological situations, no single diagnosis treatment, or control will be suitable for all. Serological tests which have been used and evaluated are aldehyde test, Napier Test, Complement Fixation Test Direct agglutination test, Immuno-fluorescent test, Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay Immuno-chromatographic dipstick test for VL diagnosis. They all are based on detection of antibody titre in patients serum, but antigen detection is most superior diagnostic test over antibody, as in this case HIV-Co infected can be easily detected because there antibody titre is very low and can't be detected upto a certain limit.


The Walvis Ridge is the connecting link between the Tristan da Cunha hotspot and the Etendeka continental flood basalt province. This is an ideal location to get a better understanding for the plume-lithosphere interaction and the breakup of the continents. In the midst of the controversial topic of the likes of plume theory and various deep-Earth processes it is essential to have a clear image of this region to put forward any kind of geodynamical model. Within the frame of the WALPASS project twelve broadband ocean-bottom seismometer (BBOBS) had been deployed off the north-west coast of Namibia. as well as 28 land stations in northwestern Namibia. The seismological net covers an area of approximately 400 x 800 km. Data from eleven months (BBOBS) and up to two years (land stations) are available.

We are presenting some preliminary work done on the BBOBS data set. Due to problems with internal power of the instruments, the internal clock drift could be measured at only two stations. We test ambient noise correlation to estimate the clock drift for the remaining 10 seafloor instruments. Furthermore, we will outline following steps of analyses of ambient noise and surface waves.


OBJECTIVE
To ascertain the prevalence of epilepsy in Junín, a town of 70,000-80,000 inhabitants from the Province of Buenos Aires, Argentina.

BACKGROUND
Some South American communities have reported extremely high prevalences of epilepsy. We investigated whether Junín would also have a high prevalence.

DESIGN/METHODS
Systematic sampling was used to select 5,839 households (sampling fraction = 25%). Participating households amounted to 5,648 (97%), with 17,049 persons. A two-phase case-finding strategy was used. Phase 1 was the screening of the 17,049 persons, which was performed by trained but medically unsophisticated interviewers. Phase 2 was the neurological evaluation of the 250 persons who were screened positive for epilepsy. Diagnoses were based on defined diagnostic criteria.

RESULTS
As of January 1, 1991 (prevalence day), 106 persons had epilepsy, including 64 (60%) with active epilepsy. Among these, 9 (14%) were epilepsy cases newly diagnosed by survey neurologists, and 50 (78%) were on antiepileptic treatment at the time of the survey. Regarding the same 64 persons, seizures were generalized in 37 (58%) and partial in 24 (38%). Lifetime prevalence of epilepsy was 6.2/1,000 (6.3/1,000, age adjusted to the world standard population). Total point prevalence for active epilepsy was 3.8/1,000 (4.0 for females and 3.5 for males). In addition, prevalence peaked at the ages of 40-59 for females and 0-4 for males.

CONCLUSIONS
This is one of the first community-based studies of epilepsy in Argentina, and the prevalence results provide new epidemiological data contributing to our understanding of the different prevalence rates found in Latin America.


As the use of fossil fuels becomes more and more restricted there is a need for alternative fuels also at sea. For short sea distance travel purposes, batteries may be a solution. However, for longer distances, when there is no possibility of recharging at sea, batteries do not have sufficient capacity yet. Several projects have demonstrated the use of compressed hydrogen (CH2) as a fuel for road transport. The experience with hydrogen as a maritime fuel is very limited. In this paper, the similarities and differences between liquefied hydrogen (LH2) and liquefied natural gas (LNG) as a maritime fuel will be discussed based on literature data of their properties and our system knowledge. The advantages and disadvantages of the two fuels will be examined with respect to use as a maritime fuel. Our objective is to discuss if and how hydrogen could replace fossil fuels on long distance sea voyages. Due to the low temperature of LH2 and wide flammability range in air these systems have more challenges related to storage and processing onboard than LNG. These factors result in higher investment costs. All this may also imply challenges for the LH2 supply chain.


The purpose of the current study was to examine intimate partner violence (IPV) among adolescent pregnant teens and their partners. The intention was to test a preventive intervention among adolescent relationships. Forty-one Latino couples were recruited through public health clinics and high schools. Couples were randomly selected to intervention or control groups; 24 couples participated in the intervention and 17 couples participated in the control. An original scoring template was created to measure IPV within the relationship. Results indicated that couples who participated in the intervention had significantly less IPV than couples who did not. Results also indicated that jealousy was significantly related to IPV; however, this outcome was not expected. This study shows that the preventive intervention being tested may have an effect on the participants who were involved.


In this paper, an alternative approach to design controlled switches at millimeter and sub-millimeter waves, based on coupled tunable Bessel-beam launchers in the radiative near field region, is proposed. In particular, we investigate the possibility of tuning the electromagnetic properties of the radiating apertures through the application of a driving voltage in order to dynamically switch the cover distance of the launchers. Such a controlled switch is intended to work in a bi-stable mode: when the control signal is high (low), the launchers exhibit an efficient (a poor) electromagnetic coupling through the Bessel-beam main lobe. Therefore, the device acts as a switching transistor, i.e., as in digital applications, and also as an opto-isolator at lower frequencies.


OBJECTIVE
To clarify the relationship of patient and critical illness characteristics (including any history of diabetes mellitus) to glycemic control with insulin and hospital mortality.

PATIENTS AND METHODS
A case-control descriptive study was performed of patients admitted to a tertiary-care center multidisciplinary closed intensive care unit (ICU) at Mayo Clinic Hospital in Phoenix, Ariz, between January 1, 1999, and December 31, 2003, after implementation of a glycemic management protocol. Hospital mortality, the primary outcome, was examined in nondiabetic and diabetic ICU patients receiving insulin and in patients not requiring insulin (control group).

RESULTS
Of 7285 patients, 2826 (39%) required insulin, 1083 of whom (15% of total) had a history of diabetes mellitus. The control group had a median (10th-90th percentile) glucose level of 118 mg/dL (range, 97-153 mg/dL) and a 5% mortality rate. The median glucose level was 134 mg/dL (range, 110-181 mg/dL) in nondiabetic patients and 170 mg/dL (121-238 mg/dL) in diabetic patients (P<.001), whereas mortality rates were 10% and 6%, respectively (P<.001). Compared with nondiabetic survivors, nondiabetic nonsurvivors had longer periods with glucose levels greater than 144 mg/dL. Diabetic nonsurvivors vs diabetic survivors had longer periods with glucose levels greater than 200 mg/dL. Poor glycemic control in nondiabetic patients was associated with increased insulin requirement and increased mortality. Critical illness characteristics that predicted poor glycemic control were advanced age, history of diabetes, cardiac surgery, postoperative complications, severity of illness, nosocomial infections, prolonged mechanical ventilation, or concurrent medications.

CONCLUSIONS
Critical illness characteristics determined glycemic control and clinical outcome in ICU patients. Acute insulin resistance was associated with worse outcomes in nondiabetic patients. Although critical illness characteristics influenced glycemic control, future evaluation of the effect of insulin administration and optimal glycemic control in ICU patients is necessary.


Fast growing technologies, and rising demands of every day's tasks, resulted in increasing interest for developing smart systems to make life's chores easier and more convenient. Implementing such technologies for the benefit of humanity and nature would achieve its highest goal and purpose. Since agriculture sector is one of the most important sectors that affect our daily lives, an investigation for developing means that enhance this process is required. Launching from previous facts, an integrated robotic system that is dedicated for the environment and serves the agriculture sector is to be designed. The robot, called iPlant, would be able to take care of its own garden, greenhouse, by interacting with the environment around it. iPlant is a robotic system employer that is easy to use, effortless, and saves time. iPlant has the ability to monitor and broadcast plants' state, water level, and nutrients. Therefore, iPlant will provide a great reduction in both financial and physical resources.


The quantitative and qualitative changes of human granulopoietic stem cells (CFU-C) after perturbation give a comprehensive view of their reaction pattern. The proliferative state of CFU-C may be assessed using the 3H-Thymidine (3H-TdR) technique. This technique is well established in experimental animals. In order to utilize it for the study of human CFU-C, the kinetics and the variables affecting the suicide of human CFU-C were analysed in detail. From the results, it appears that under optimal conditions considerable higher 3H-TdR concentrations (greater than or equal to 100/muCi/ml) have to be utilized than have been reported to be satisfactory in the murine system. Colony growth inhibition is S-phase-specific; if reutilization of the label occurs in vitro, it does not detectably affect colony growth. Minimum exposure of CFU-C to 3H-TdR is 20 minutes. Using these optimal suicide conditions, human marrow CFU-C can be shown to be a highly proliferating cell population.


High efficiency solar photocatalysis requires an effective separation of photogenerated charge carriers and their rapid transport to the semiconductor interface. The mechanisms and kinetics of charge separation and interfacial/interparticle charge transfers (CT) are significantly influenced by both the bulk and surface properties of the semiconductor. The surface properties are particularly important because the photocatalysis should be driven by the interfacial CT. The most popular and the most investigated semiconductor photocatalyst is based on bare and modified TiO2. This article highlights the interfacial and interparticle CTs under the bandgap excitation of TiO2 particles, visible light-induced photochemical processes via either dye-sensitization or ligand-to-metal CTs at surface modified TiO2 particles, and the applications of the photo-processes to pollutant degradation and simultaneous hydrogen production. While a variety of surface modification techniques using various nanomaterials and chemical reagents have been developed and tested so far, their effects are very diverse depending on the characteristics of the applied photocatalytic systems and even contradictory in some cases. Better understanding of how the modification influences the photoinduced CT events in semiconductors is required, particularly for designing hybrid photocatalysts with controlled CTs, which is sought-after for practical applications of photocatalysis.


This paper shows the results of measurements performed with a medium-sized hotel in the North of Sweden. The harmonic emission and other parameters were measured before, during and after a replacement of all incandescent lamps with energy saving lamps, both compact fluorescent lamps (CFL's) and light emitting diodes (LED's). it was not possible to see any major difference in harmonic spectrum before and after the replacement. The reduction in power factor that was observed was completely due to the reduction in active power.


We derive solutions for radially polarized Bessel-Gauss beams in free-space by superimposing decentered Gaussian beams with differing polarization states. We numerically show that the analytical result is applicable even for large semi-aperture angles, and we experimentally confirm the analytical expression by employing a fiber-based mode-converter.


The ubiquitous distribution of vitamin D receptors in the human body is responsible for the pleiotropic effects of vitamin D-receptor activation. We discuss the possible beneficial effects of a selective activator of vitamin D receptor, paricalcitol, on the cardiovascular system in chronic heart failure patients and chronic kidney patients, in light of new trials. Paricalcitol should provide additional clinical benefits over the standard treatment for chronic kidney and heart failure, especially in cases of cardiorenal syndrome.


Network alignment is the problem of matching the nodes of two graphs, maximizing the similarity of the matched nodes and the edges between them. This problem is encountered in a wide array of applications---from biological networks to social networks to ontologies---where multiple networked data sources need to be integrated. Due to the difficulty of the task, an accurate alignment can rarely be found without human assistance. Thus, it is of great practical importance to develop network alignment algorithms that can optimally leverage experts who are able to provide the correct alignment for a small number of nodes. Yet, only a handful of existing works address this active network alignment setting. The majority of the existing active methods focus on absolute queries ("are nodes a and b the same or not?"), whereas we argue that it is generally easier for a human expert to answer relative queries ("which node in the set b1,...,bn is the most similar to node a?"). This paper introduces two novel relative-query strategies, TopMatchings and GibbsMatchings, which can be applied on top of any network alignment method that constructs and solves a bipartite matching problem. Our methods identify the most informative nodes to query by sampling the matchings of the bipartite graph associated to the network-alignment instance. We compare the proposed approaches to several commonly-used query strategies and perform experiments on both synthetic and real-world datasets. Our sampling-based strategies yield the highest overall performance, outperforming all the baseline methods by more than 15 percentage points in some cases. In terms of accuracy, TopMatchings and GibbsMatchings perform comparably. However, GibbsMatchings is significantly more scalable, but it also requires hyperparameter tuning for a temperature parameter.


Longitudinal studies of gut microbiota following specific interventions are vital for understanding how they influence host health. However, robust longitudinal sampling of gut microbiota is a major challenge, which can be addressed using in vitro fermentors hosting complex microbial communities. Here, by employing 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing, we investigated the adaptation and succession of human fecal microbial communities in an automated multistage fermentor. We performed two independent experiments using different human donor fecal samples, one configured with two units of three colon compartments each studied for 22days and another with one unit of two colon compartments studied for 31days. The fermentor maintained a trend of increasing microbial alpha diversity along colon compartments. Within each experiment, microbial compositions followed compartment-specific trajectories and reached independent stable configurations. While compositions were highly similar between replicate units, they were clearly separated between different experiments, showing that they maintained the individuality of fecal inoculum rather than converging on a fermentor-specific composition. While some fecal amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) were undetected in the fermentor, many ASVs undetected in the fecal samples flourished in vitro. These bloomer ASVs accounted for significant proportions of the population and included prominent healthassociated microbes such as Bacteroides fragilis and Akkermansia muciniphila. Turnover in community compositions is likely explained by feed composition and pH, suggesting that these communities can be easily modulated. Our results suggest that in vitro fermentors are promising tools to study complex microbial communities harboring important members of human gut microbiota. IMPORTANCE In vitro fermentors that can host complex gut microbial communities are promising tools to investigate the dynamics of human gut microbiota. In this work, using an automated in vitro gut fermentor consisting of different colon compartments, we investigated the adaptation dynamics of two different human fecal microbial communities over 22 and 31 days. By observing the temporal trends of different community members, we found that many dominant members of the fecal microbiota failed to maintain their dominance in vitro, and some of the low-abundance microbes undetected in the fecal microbiota successfully grew in the in vitro communities. Microbiome compositional changes and blooming could largely be explained by feed composition and pH, suggesting that these communities can be modulated to desired compositions via optimizing culture conditions. Thus, our results open up the possibility of modulating in vitro microbial communities to predefined compositions by optimizing feed composition and culture conditions.


We have proven that the growth of Co68Fe24Zr8 layers under external field yields a uniaxial anisotropy, defined by the direction of the field. No magnetic coupling is present between Co68Fe24Zr8 layers when separated by a 3 nm of Al70Zr30. The anisotropy axis can therefore be manipulated at will and the direction can be tailored, layer by layer in multilayers, by the choice of the direction of the applied field during growth. The g-factor (2.13) and the anisotropy constant, obtained from ferromagnetic resonance, support the existence of short-range order. The relation between the temperature dependences of magnetic anisotropy and magnetization are partially captured by Callen-Callen power law.


Down syndrome (DS) or Trisomy 21, occurring in 1/700 and 1/1000 livebirths, is the most common genetic disorder, characterized by a third copy of the human chromosome 21 (Hsa21).
DS is associated with various defects, including congenital heart diseases, craniofacial abnormalities, immune system dysfunction, mental retardation (MR), learning and memory deficiency. The phenotypic features in DS are a direct consequence of overexpression of genes located within the triplicated region on Hsa21.
In addition to developmental brain abnormalities and disabilities, people with DS by the age of 30-40 have a greatly increased risk of early-onset of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and an apparent tendency toward premature aging. Many of the immunological anomalies in DS can be enclosed in the spectrum of multiple signs of early senescence.
People with DS have an increased vulnerability to oxidative damage and many factors, including amyloid beta protein (Abeta), genotype ApoE4, oxidative stress, mutations in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), impairment of antioxidant enzymes, accelerated neuronal cell apoptosis, are related to neuronal degeneration and early aging in DS.
SUBJECTS and METHODS: Since 2007 a population of 50 adolescents and adults with DS, 26 males and 24 females (sex-ratio: M/F = 1.08), has been evaluated for the presence of neurological features, biomarkers and genetic factors correlated with neuronal degeneration and premature aging. The control group was determined by the mother and the siblings of the patients. A neuropsychiatric evaluation was obtained from all patients. The levels of thyroid antibodies (antiTg and antiTPO) and of some biochemical markers of oxidative stress, including homocysteine (tHcy), uric acid, cobalamin, folate were measured. All patients, the mother and the siblings were genotyped for ApoE gene.
RESULTS: 40% of patients, with a mild prevalence of females aged between 19 and 30 years, showed increased levels of antiTg and antiTPO. The levels of tHcy were normal in 52% patients and mildly increased in 40%; hyperomocysteinemia was associated with normal levels of thyroid antibodies in 75% of patients (p<0.005). The levels of uric acid were elevated in 26%.
Our study showed a prevalence of severe MR in patients aged between 1-18 years and over 30 years. Only 3 patients, 2 females and one male, over 30 years of age, showed dementia.
According to the literature, the rate of Down left-handers was high (25%) compared to the rest of population and the laterality was associated with increased levels of thyroid antibodies (70%). 21.5% of patients were ApoE4 positive (ApoE4+) with a mean/severe MR.
CONCLUSIONS: Until now no biochemical evidence of oxidative damage and no deficiency or alteration of antioxidant function in our patients with DS were found. mtDNA sequencing could show some mutations age-related and associated with oxidative damage and neurocognitive decline in the early aging of DS. The final aim is found predictive markers of early-onset dementia and a target strategy for the prevention and the treatment of diseases caused by oxidative stress.

REFERENCES:
1) Rachidi M, Lopes C: "Mental retardation and associated neurological dysfunctions in Down syndrome: a consequence of dysregulation in critical chromosome 21 genes and associated molecular pathways." - Eur J Paediatr Neurol. May;12(3):168-82 (2008).
2) Lott IT, Head E: "Down syndrome and Alzheimer's disease: a link between development and aging." - Ment Retard Dev Disabil Res Rev, 7(3):172-8 (2001).
3) Lee HC, Wei YH: "Oxidative Stress, Mitochondrial DNA Mutation, and Apoptosis in Aging." - Exp Biol Med (Maywood), May;232(5):592-606 (2007).


Two molecular dynamics (MD) simulations totaling 25 ns of simulation time of monomeric scytalone dehydratase (SD) were performed. The enzyme has a ligand-binding pocket containing a cone-shaped alpha+beta barrel, and the C-terminal region covers the binding pocket. Our simulations clarified the difference in protein dynamics and conformation between the liganded protein and the unliganded protein. The liganded protein held the ligand molecule tightly and the initial structure was maintained during the simulation. The unliganded protein, on the other hand, fluctuated dynamically and its structure changed largely from the initial structure. In the equilibrium state, the binding pocket was fully solvated by opening of the C-terminal region, and the protein dynamics was connected with hydration water molecules entry into and release from the binding pocket. In addition, the cooperative motions of the unliganded protein and the hydration water molecules produced the path through the protein interior for ligand binding.


In 1976, Vanguard introduced the first index mutual fund for individual investors. The new offering—Vanguard 500 Index Fund—was met not only with widespread skepticism, but downright derision. "Index Funds an idea whose time has passed" declared a headline of an article appearing in Pensions & Investments. An article in Financial World brandished an equally blunt, but more succinct title: "Marketing Mediocrity." The fund was far from a commercial success, too. It mustered a meager $11 million in its initial underwriting, far short of its $150 million target. Now, fast forward some 17 years to the introduction of a new index product—the exchange-traded fund or ETF. The first of these investment hybrids was the Standard & Poor9s Depositary Receipt or SPDR. The SPDR is a unit investment trust based on the SP its shares began trading on the American Stock Exchange in 1993. The new vehicle offered the inherent advantages of indexing (low costs, broad diversification, and tax efficiency), along with the continuous pricing and trading flexibility of an individual stock. It, too, did not gain immediate acceptance in the marketplace.


ABSTRACT A study of the variation in distribution of heavy minerals in stream bed sands of some tributaries of the South River, Augusta County, Virginia, was planned according to a nested sampling design so that the results of grain counts could be examined by the analysis of variance. The sampling design provided data for comparing heavy-mineral content on the two sides of the main stream, in five tributaries on each side, in four sampling localities in each tributary, and in three counts on each heavy-mineral slide. The study showed that both ilmenite and zircon differed significantly percentage-wise between the tributaries within a side, and when the data were expressed as weight in grams, these also differed significantly between the sides. The heavy minerals were derived from sedimentary rocks of Early Cambrian to Early Ordovician age, with one tributary obtaining minerals from Precambrian(?) rocks. The mineral assemblages have few species, as is common in sandstones and limestones. Opaques (largely ilmenite), zircon, tourmaline, rutile, and epidote are the most abundant minerals. The study was restricted to the grains in the 0.12-to 0.06-mm grade (-120 +230 mesh U. S. Standard Sieves).


Catalysts are conventionally designed with a focus on enthalpic effects, manipulating the Arrhenius activation energy. This approach ignores the possibility of designing materials to control the entropic factors that determine the pre-exponential factor. Here we investigate a new method of designing supported Pt catalysts with varying degrees of molecular confinement at the active site. Combining these with fast and precise online measurements, we analyse the kinetics of a model reaction, the platinum-catalysed hydrolysis of ammonia borane. We control the environment around the Pt particles by erecting organophosphonic acid barriers of different heights and at different distances. This is done by first coating the particles with organothiols, then coating the surface with organophosphonic acids, and finally removing the thiols. The result is a set of catalysts with well-defined "empty areas" surrounding the active sites. Generating Arrhenius plots with >300 points each, we then compare the effects of each confinement scenario. We show experimentally that confining the reaction influences mainly the entropy part of the enthalpy/entropy trade-off, leaving the enthalpy unchanged. Furthermore, we find this entropy contribution is only relevant at very small distances (<3 Å for ammonia borane), where the "empty space" is of a similar size to the reactant molecule. This suggests that confinement effects observed over larger distances must be enthalpic in nature.


DNA methylation is a critical epigenetic modification that is established and maintained across the genome by DNA methyltransferase enzymes (Dnmts). Altered patterns of DNA methylation are a frequent occurrence in many tumor genomes, and inhibitors of Dnmts have become important epigenetic drugs. Azacitidine is a cytidine analog that is incorporated into DNA and induces the specific inhibition and proteasomal-mediated degradation of Dnmts. The downstream effects of azacitidine on CpG methylation and on gene transcription have been widely studied in many systems, but how azacitidine impacts the proteome is not well-understood. In addition, with its specific ability to induce the rapid degradation of Dnmts (in particular, the primary maintenance DNA methyltransferase, Dnmt1), it may be employed as a specific chemical knockdown for investigating the Dnmt1-associated functional or physical interactome. In this study, we use quantitative proteomics to analyze the degradation profile of proteins in the nuclear proteome of cells treated with azacitidine. We identify specific proteins as well as multiple pathways and processes that are impacted by azacitidine. The Dnmt1 interaction partner, Uhrf1, exhibits significant azacitidine-induced degradation, and this azacitidine-induced degradation is independent of the levels of Dnmt1 protein. We identify multiple other chromatin- and epigenetic-associated factors, including the bromodomain-containing transcriptional regulator, Brd2. We show that azacitidine induces highly specific perturbations of the Dnmt1-associated proteome, and while interaction partners such as Uhrf1 are sensitive to azacitidine, others such as the Dnmt1 interaction partner and stability regulator, Usp7, are not. In summary, we have conducted the first comprehensive proteomic analysis of the azacitidine-sensitive nuclear proteome, and we show how 5-azacitidine can be used as a specific probe to explore Dnmt- and chromatin-related protein networks.


: A new homoxenos trypanosomatidae, Wallaceina vicina sp. n., is described from the digestion tract of the water strider Gerris rufoscutellatus. The laboratory culture of W. vicina has been obtained. Flagelated have been studied with TEM.


A key question for speech enhancement and simulations of auditory scene analysis in high levels of nonstationary noise is how to combine principles of auditory grouping and to integrate several noise-perturbed acoustical cues in a robust way. We present an application of recent online, nonlinear, non-Gaussian multidimensional statistical filtering methods which integrates tracking of sound-source direction and spectro-temporal dynamics of two mixed voices. The framework used is in agreement with the notion of evaluating competing hypotheses. To limit the number of hypotheses which need to be evaluated, the approach developed here uses a detailed statistical description of the high-dimensional spectro-temporal dynamics of speech, which is measured from a large speech database. The results show that the algorithm tracks sound source directions very precisely, separates the voice envelopes with algorithmic convergence times down to 50 ms, and enhances the signal-to-noise ratio in adverse conditions, requiring high computational effort. The approach has a high potential for improvements of efficiency and could be applied for voice separation and reduction of nonstationary noises


The Islamic City of Marawi
In the southern island of Mindanao, nestled by the shores of Lake Lanao, lies the Islamic City of Marawi. At an elevation of 700 meters or 2,300 feet, it has a cooler climate compared to most other areas in the Philippines. It is thus known as the "Summer Capital of the South".

Marawi is the capital city of Lanao del Sur province. It is the province's commercial and educational center. It has a total land area of 87.55 square kilometres (33.80 square miles). In 2015, Marawi had a population of 201,785 (2015 Census of Population and Housing). Though Marawi City has the second smallest land area in Lanao del Sur province (its area is just 0.58% of the total land area of Lanao del Sur), it is home to one in every five residents of Lanao del Sur. Lanao del Sur is the poorest province in the Philippines with a 74.3% poverty incidence (Philippine Statistics Authority 1st semester 2015 report) which means that 7 out of every 10 families in the province are poor. Of the 20 poorest provinces in the Philippines, 11 are located in Mindanao, and 3 out of 5 provinces of Muslim Mindanao are among the poorest. The poverty situation in Mindanao exists despite its vast natural resources, which remain untapped due to decades-long conflicts brought about by communist rebels, Islamic separatists and local warlords in the region. A century-long discrimination resulted in resentment and rivalry, and destroyed the once highly valued and unique Muslim culture.

The people of Marawi are called Maranaos. They are named after Lake Lanao which is called Meranau in the Maranao dialect. Lake Lanao is the second largest lake in the country and is one of a handful of ancient lakes around the world. Marawi was founded under the name Dansalan in 1639 by would-be Spanish conquerors led by Francisco Atienza. The Spanish conquistadores, however, were thwarted by thousands of Maranao warriors who forced the Spaniards to retreat that same year.

The Islamification of the Maranaos began in the 15th century with the arrival of Tausug preachers in Lake Lanao and culminated in the 16th century with the coming of an Arab named Muhammad Sharif Kabungsuwan. Though among the last Muslims in the country to be fully Islamized, the Maranaos are staunch believers. This is evinced by their many graceful mosques -- from the glistening, golden Capitol Mosque to the largest mosque in Marawi City, the King Faisal Mosque, which was donated by the former king of Saudi Arabia to Mindanao State University.

Along with the domes and minarets which punctuate Marawi's skyline, the torogans or the ancestral homes of Maranao royalties dazzle with their indigenous, ornate okir designs carved into prominent panolongs (beams which protrude in the front of a house), together with their steep roofs and thick wooden columns. One can almost visualize the sultans and datuswho once proudly lived there.

Maranaos are known for their vibrant traditional arts and culture. There's the famous singkil dance where a dancer gingerly steps in and out of moving, criss-crossed bamboo poles. Colorful multipurpose malongs are handwoven on backstrap looms. Expert craftsmen create unique brassware as well as woodcarvings of the mythical Sarimanok bird.

Maranaos are a business-minded people. They enthusiastically engage as shopkeepers, entrepreneurs or traders of various types of businesses.

Marawi City is home to a marker designated as Kilometer Zero. Located near the Marawi City Hall, it is considered the beginning of or KM 0 for all road distances on the island of Mindanao. The Battle of Marawi: From Kilometer Zero to Ground Zero.

For the staff of ASA Philippines Marawi Branch 0521, May 23, 2017 started out just like any other day. Five microfinance officers (MFOs), 1 branch manager (BM) and 1 househelp attended to their daily duties. The MFOs and BM visited their clients in the morning, then came back to the branch to do loan releases at 1:00 pm. It was the month of Ramadan. They suddenly heard gunshots from close by. They were not alarmed though as they thought some neighbors were welcoming the coming of Ramadan by making loud noises. After the loan releases, they decided to visit some clients who had not paid their loans. The MFOs paired up with each other and went out. MFOs Monalisah and Abdul were wondering why there were so many people going out into the streets, but other than that, they didn't notice anything unusual. While at the client's community, they met some people who urged them to go home. Monalisah didn't want to go home though, she wanted to stay and try to collect from the client. Then they got a call from the branch telling them to go back. So they started to make their way back to the branch, and that is when they saw an ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria or ISIL - Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant) inspired militant at the end of a bridge in a truck. What the ASA Marawi Branch staff did not realize at that point was that they had walked into the start of what would become a sustained urban battle between the Philippine military and police versus local Islamic militant groups led by the Abu Sayyaf and the Maute groups. The Abu Sayyaf is a notorious group responsible for kidnappings and bombings in the Philippines. These militant groupsare inspired by the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group.

Incidentally, a gathering of Tablighi Jamaat (Muslim missionaries who preach fellow Sunnis to practice faith) started on or around May 16 in Marawi. Many devotees from across the country as well as foreigners attended. It was most likely that some known terrorists like Isnilon Hapilon, the head of Abu Sayyaf, entered into the area disguised as attendees of Tablighi.

Prior to May 23, the military together with the police descended upon Marawi to verify information that the wanted Maute brothers Omar and Abdullah were in the area. Instead of the brothers, they saw Isnilon Hapilon. Hapilon had been appointed "emir"of the IS caliphate of the Philippines. He was in the process of unifying his Abu Sayyaf group with other terrorist groups including the Maute group.

The military decided to conduct a precisionoperationto capture Hapilon. On May 23, it proceeded with the operation, engaging the Abu Sayyaf in firefights. In response, the Abu Sayyaf called for reinforcements from the Maute group. Instead of a swift in-and-out operation, much to the military's surprise, they had walked into an entire city swarming with armed Islamic militants. Unprepared to deal with this armada, the military retreated. Around 400 Islamic militants in trucks equipped with machine guns then spread out across Marawi City. Carrying high-powered rifles, rocket-propelled grenades and Molotov cocktails, they laid siege to the city and declared the city a new caliphate of ISIL. They attacked Camp Ranao military base and the police station. They occupied the main streets, major bridges, the public hospital Amai Pakpak Medical Center, Marawi City Hall, Mindanao State University and Marawi City Jail. Fire broke out in the city jail and prisoners escaped. The militants burned Dansalan College, Ninoy Aquino School and the Cathedral of Maria Auxiliadora. A priest named Fr. Chito and some churchgoers were taken hostage while a police officer was killed. Power was cut in the city.

Trying to avoid the ISIS inspired militants, Monalisah and Abdul found themselves trapped in Bubong private school. After some time, they ventured out and took a different route from their usual one. The area they passed was very quiet, seemingly like a ghost town as there was no one around. Night had fallen. Monalisah got a call from her sibling who warned them not to go out as the ISIS inspired militants were corralling guys in the streets, forcing them to join the militants' cause. They noticed that power had been cut across the city making the fires raging in the city even more prominent. When they got close to the branch, they saw that an abandoned house that they called the White House was occupied by the ISIS inspired militants. Power had not been cut to the White House nor to its surrounding area. The ASA Philippines branch, which was located close to the White House, benefited from the uninterrupted power supply.

Clashes continued that night. Residents took to social media to report explosions across the city. By the end of the night, President Rodrigo Duterte, who was in Russia for an official visit, declared martial law across the Mindanao group of islands. Marawi City, the proud owner of a Kilometer Zero marker in Mindanao, had become the center of an armed conflict that was to last for five long months, leaving more than 1,200 people dead. Marawi City had become Ground Zero. An exodus of people started filling all roads leading out of Marawi.


This report considers the subset difference scheme for broadcast encryption and the number of broadcast transmissions required when using this scheme. For cases where the privileged users are gathered in a few groups we derive the worst case number of transmissions. We also present an upper bound for the number of transmissions based on the number of transitions between privileged and nonprivileged users in the user set.


Abstract 2221 The intricate process of hemostasis is a highly regulated mechanism which implements the conversion of prothrombin to thrombin and the crucial formation of a fibrin clot. The direct progression of hemostasis is pivotal to the prevention of various clotting disorders associated to hypercoagulation and excess bleeding. Upon vascular injury, the proteolytic conversion of prothrombin to thrombin compatible to rates of survival is catalyzed by the prothrombinase complex composed of the enzyme, factor Xa (fXa), the cofactor, factor Va (fVa), assembled on a phospholipid membrane in the presence of divalent metal ions. Coagulation factor V (fV) is synthesized as a multi-domain (A1-A2-B-A3-C1-C2) quiescent procofactor with nominal procoagulant activity. Following the three sequential catalytic cleavages by a-thrombin at Arg709, Arg1018 and Arg1545 amino acids 710–1545 of the B-domain are liberated to generate the noncovalently associated light and heavy chains of fVa. The cleavage at Arg1545 is crucial for full procoagulant activity. The heterodimer of fVa is composed of a heavy chain associated with the 2 A domains (residues 1–303 and 317–656) and a light chain composed of one A domain (1546-1877) and two C domains (residues 1878–2036 and 2037–2196). Since single chain fV does not bind fXa, the proper removal of the B-domain is vital to generate procoagulant activity. The incorporation of fVa into the prothrombinase complex results in a 300,000-fold increase in the catalytic efficiency of fXa for thrombin generation. Appropriate binding of fVa to fXa during prothrombinase function is essential to the proper activation of the substrate, prothrombin. Previous studies have determined the heavy and light chains of fVa to have fXa interactive sites. A highly basic region of amino acids in the B-domain suggests a potential sheathing of either the heavy or light chain fXa interface sites. To verify this hypothesis we investigated the role of amino acid region 1000–1008 that contains seven basic amino acid residues. To ascertain the role of this region we have constructed a recombinant mutant fV molecule with all activation cleavage sites (R709/R1018/R1545) mutated to glutamine (fV*T3Q), a mutant fV molecule with region 1000–1008 deleted (fVΔ1000-1008), and a mutant fV molecule containing the same deletion with all activation cleavage sites changed to glutamine (fVΔ1000-1008/*T3Q). The recombinant molecules along with wild type fV (fVWT) were transiently expressed in COS7L cells, purified to homogeneity, and assessed for their capability to bind fXa within prothrombinase prior (fV) and after incubation with thrombin (fVa). The data showed that fV*T3Q and fVa*T3Q were unable to interact with fXa. In contrast, the Kd values for fVΔ1000-1008 (0.9 nM), fVaΔ1000-1008 (0.4 nM), fVΔ1000-1008*T3Q (0.7 nM) and fVaΔ1000-1008*T3Q (0.5 nM), were similar to the affinity of fVaWT for fXa (0.22 nM). Two-stage clotting assays revealed that while fVa*T3Q was practically devoid of clotting activity, the mutant molecules fVaΔ1000-1008, and fVaD1000-1008*T3Q had clotting activities comparable to fVaWT. Thus, unactivated fVΔ1000-1008*T3Q has an affinity for fXa that is similar to the affinity of fVaWT for the enzyme. In addition, fVΔ1000-1008*T3Q that cannot be cleaved and activated by thrombin or activated during the course of the clotting assay, has similar clotting activity as fVaWT (∼3110 U/mg). The data presented in this study provide an important insight into one of the possible roles of the B domain of factor V, explicitly the fXa interactive sites on fVa are covered/inhibited by amino acids 1000–1008 of the fV B-domain. These data strongly suggest that amino acid region 1000–1008 of fV contains a regulatory sequence protecting the organisms from spontaneous binding of the procofactor to fXa and unnecessary prothrombinase complex formation which will result in catastrophic physiological consequences. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


The distribution of video contents generated by Content Providers (CPs) significantly contributes to increase the congestion within the networks of Internet Service Providers (ISPs). To alleviate this problem, CPs can serve a portion of their catalogues to the end users directly from servers (i.e., the caches) located inside the ISP network. Users served from caches perceive an increased QoS (e.g., average retrieval latency is reduced) and, for this reason, caching can be considered a form of traffic prioritization. Hence, since the storage of caches is limited, its subdivision among several CPs may lead to discrimination. A static subdivision that assignes to each CP the same portion of storage is a neutral but ineffective appraoch, because it does not consider the different popularities of the CPs' contents. A more effective strategy consists in dividing the cache among the CPs proportionally to the popularity of their contents. However, CPs consider this information sensitive and are reluctant to disclose it. In this work, we propose a protocol based on Shamir Secret Sharing (SSS) scheme that allows the ISP to calculate the portion of cache storage that a CP is entitled to receive while guaranteeing network neutrality and resource efficiency, but without violating its privacy. The protocol is executed by the ISP, the CPs and a Regulator Authority (RA) that guarantees the actual enforcement of a fair subdivision of the cache storage and the preservation of privacy. We perform extensive simulations and prove that our approach leads to higher hit-rates (i.e., percentage of requests served by the cache) with respect to the static one. The advantages are particularly significant when the cache storage is limited.


The use of diazo reagents of the general formula N2C(R)(R1) as carbene sources to create new C-C bonds is of broad scientific interest due to the intrinsic sustainability of this class of reagents. In the presence of a suitable catalyst, diazo reagents react with several organic substrates with excellent stereo-control and form N2 as the only by-product. In the present report the catalytic efficiency of metal porphyrins in promoting carbene transfer reactions is reviewed with emphasis on the active role of the porphyrin skeleton in stereoselectively driving the carbene moiety to the target substrate. The catalytic performances of different metal porphyrins are discussed and have been related to the structural features of the ligand with the final aim of rationalizing the strict correlation between the three-dimensional structure of the porphyrin ligand and the stereoselectivity of carbene transfer reactions.


Background: Biomarkers may qualify diagnosis, treatment allocation, and prognostication in neonatal encephalopathy. Biomarker development is challenged by competing etiologies, inter-individual genetic variability, and a lack of specific neonatal markers. To address these challenges, we used a standardized neonatal hypoxic-ischemic (HI) encephalopathy model with pre- and post-HI sampling of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and plasma. Objectives: The study aimed to identify novel candidate protein biomarkers of HI encephalopathy in a newborn piglet model in CSF and plasma. Methods: FiO2 was lowered to 4% in 6 newborn piglets, then adjusted over a 45-min period keeping the amplitude integrated-EEG < 7 µV to induce HI encephalopathy. CSF and plasma was sampled pre-HI and 2 h after HI, protein levels were then analyzed by mass spectrometry. Results: Protein levels after HI changed significantly for 18 CSF proteins and 37 plasma proteins. CSF and plasma data showed distinct information, although peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase A had elevated levels in both fluids. HI regulation involved functional groups such as the antioxidant system, cell proliferation, cell structure, and apoptosis. S100-A8, which increased the most in CSF (9.5 fold), is known to be involved in inflammatory and immune response and to be highly regulated during injury. In plasma, increased proteins included FABP1 (31.8 fold) and proteins with antioxidant (SOD1, GPX3) and lectin function (REG3A, LGALS3). Conclusions: In this exploratory study, we have identified candidate biomarkers for HI in CSF and plasma, many not previously associated with HI. Identified proteins are promising candidates for further validation in time series experiments and clinical studies.


A key player in cancer prevention Obstacles that block DNA replication can lead to chromosomal abnormalities and ultimately cancer. Fanconi anemia, for example, is caused by defects in the repair of DNA interstrand cross-links. The Fan1 nuclease was originally identified as a protein essential for this cross-link repair. Lachaud et al. now show that it does much more. It is recruited to stalled replication forks by ubiquitinated Fancd2 enabling the processing of these structures, thereby preventing chromosomal abnormalities and acting more broadly in cancer prevention. Science, this issue p. 846 The Fan1 nuclease protects stalled DNA replication forks and thereby prevents chromosomal damage and cancer. Mono-ubiquitination of Fancd2 is essential for repairing DNA interstrand cross-links (ICLs), but the underlying mechanisms are unclear. The Fan1 nuclease, also required for ICL repair, is recruited to ICLs by ubiquitinated (Ub) Fancd2. This could in principle explain how Ub-Fancd2 promotes ICL repair, but we show that recruitment of Fan1 by Ub-Fancd2 is dispensable for ICL repair. Instead, Fan1 recruitment—and activity—restrains DNA replication fork progression and prevents chromosome abnormalities from occurring when DNA replication forks stall, even in the absence of ICLs. Accordingly, Fan1 nuclease-defective knockin mice are cancer-prone. Moreover, we show that a Fan1 variant in high-risk pancreatic cancers abolishes recruitment by Ub-Fancd2 and causes genetic instability without affecting ICL repair. Therefore, Fan1 recruitment enables processing of stalled forks that is essential for genome stability and health.


Few-shot class-incremental learning is to recognize the new classes given few samples and not forget the old classes. It is a challenging task since representation optimization and prototype reorganization can only be achieved under little supervision. To address this problem, we propose a novel incremental prototype learning scheme. Our scheme consists of a random episode selection strategy that adapts the feature representation to various generated incremental episodes to enhance the corresponding extensibility, and a self-promoted prototype refinement mechanism which strengthens the expression ability of the new classes by explicitly considering the dependencies among different classes. Particularly, a dynamic relation projection module is proposed to calculate the relation matrix in a shared embedding space and leverage it as the factor for bootstrapping the update of prototypes. Extensive experiments on three benchmark datasets demonstrate the above-par incremental performance, outperforming state-of-the-art methods by a margin of 13%, 17% and 11%, respectively.


The first-line chemotherapies for patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer (PC) are 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and gemcitabine therapy. However, due to chemoresistance the prognosis of patients with PC has not been significantly improved. Mitochondria are essential organelles in eukaryotes that evolved from aerobic bacteria. In recent years, many studies have shown that mitochondria play important roles in tumorigenesis and may act as chemotherapeutic targets in PC. In addition, according to recent studies, mitochondria may play important roles in the chemoresistance of PC by affecting apoptosis, metabolism, mtDNA metabolism, and mitochondrial dynamics. Interfering with some of these factors in mitochondria may improve the sensitivity of PC cells to chemotherapeutic agents, such as gemcitabine, making mitochondria promising targets for overcoming chemoresistance in PC.


Background The aim of this study was to compare the effect of supine versus lateral position on clinical signs of fat embolism during orthopedic trauma surgery. Dogs served as the current study model, which could be extended and/or serve as a basis for future in vivo studies on humans. It was hypothesized that there would be an effect of position on clinical signs of fat embolism syndrome in a dog model. Materials and Methods 12 dogs were assigned to supine ( n = 6) and lateral ( n = 6) position groups. Airway pressures, heart rate, blood pressure, cardiac output, pulmonary artery pressure, pulmonary artery wedge pressure, right atrial pressure, arterial and venous blood gases, white blood count, platelet count and neutrophil count were obtained. Dogs were then subjected to pulmonary contusion in three areas of one lung. Fat embolism was generated by reaming one femur and tibia, followed by pressurization of the canal. Results No difference was found in any parameters measured between supine and lateral positions at any time (0.126 < P < 0.856). Conclusions The position of trauma patients undergoing reamed intramedullary nailing did not alter the presentation of the features of the lung secondary to fat embolism.


To assess risk factors associated with deaths and injuries in a major earthquake area. First, we used the official data including 824 seismic deaths, 271 serious injuries, and 302 moderate injuries to elucidate and compare the demographic, structural, and injury characteristics among the three groups. Secondly, a population based case-control study was conducted to examine how structural factors, medical assistance, personal characteristic, and behavior and preparedness contributed to injury. The age-specific proportions of the three groups were similar and higher in the elderly population. Severity of injuries was proportional to the proportion of completely collapsed houses. Fracture was the most frequently observed among the serious injuries and moderate injuries. Head injury was the major body site caused by the collapsed houses for the seismic deaths. In a case-control study, people who were trapped (adjusted OR = 12.31, 95% CI: 6.29 - 24.28) had the greatest risk of serious injuries, followed by those who were illiterate, in completely collapsed houses, and experienced unprepared flares. This study reveals that improvement in anti-seismic construction, head protect, and literacy education could decrease the effect of disaster. Further, using a flashlight to see in the dark, and moving slowly rather than running should be rigorously recommended as common-sense responses.


Clathrin‐coated vesicles are known to play diverse and pivotal roles in cells. The proper formation of clathrin‐coated vesicles is dependent on, and highly regulated by, a large number of clathrin assembly proteins. These assembly proteins likely determine the functional specificity of clathrin‐coated vesicles, and together they control a multitude of intracellular trafficking pathways, including those involved in embryonic development. In this study, we focus on two closely related clathrin assembly proteins, AP180 and CALM (clathrin assembly lymphoid myeloid leukemia protein), in the developing embryonic rat brain. We find that AP180 begins to be expressed at embryonic day 14 (E14), but only in postmitotic cells that have acquired a neuronal fate. CALM, on the other hand, is expressed as early as E12, by both neural stem cells and postmitotic neurons. In vitro loss‐of‐function studies using RNA interference (RNAi) indicate that AP180 and CALM are dispensable for some aspects of embryonic neurogenesis but are required for the growth of postmitotic neurons. These results identify the developmental stage of AP180 and CALM expression and suggest that each protein has distinct functions in neural development. J. Comp. Neurol. 518:3803–3818, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.