In this paper, we present a Fourier Transform micro-spectrometer which works based on a lamellar grating interferometer. The spectrometer model is electrostatically driven by parallel plate actuators which change the optical path difference (OPD) between movable grating facets and fixed ones. With a 200V input voltage, a maximum OPD of 48.7μm is achieved. The spectrum of a combined light source of a diode-pumped solid-state (DPSS) laser (λ=532.0nm) and a laser diode (λ=637.2nm) is experimentally acquired to demonstrate the performance of the model. The reconstructed spectrum displays two separate spectral peaks at 530.5nm and 635.2nm and the corresponding full-width at half-maximum (FWHM) resolutions are 9.8nm and 12.8nm respectively, indicating good wavelength accuracy and optical resolution.


Context. Both dynamo theory and observations of stellar large-scale magnetic fields suggest a change from nearly axisymmetric configurations at solar rotation rates to nonaxisymmetric configurations for rapid rotation.
Aims. We seek to understand this transition using numerical simulations.
Methods. We use three-dimensional simulations of turbulent magnetohydrodynamic convection in spherical shell wedges and considered rotation rates between 1 and 31 times the solar value.
Results. We find a transition from axi- to nonaxisymmetric solutions at around 1.8 times the solar rotation rate. This transition coincides with a change in the rotation profile from antisolar- to solar-like differential rotation with a faster equator and slow poles. In the solar-like rotation regime, the field configuration consists of an axisymmetric oscillatory field accompanied by an m = 1 azimuthal mode (two active longitudes), which also shows temporal variability. At slow (rapid) rotation, the axisymmetric (nonaxisymmetric) mode dominates. The axisymmetric mode produces latitudinal dynamo waves with polarity reversals, while the nonaxisymmetric mode often exhibits a slow drift in the rotating reference frame and the strength of the active longitudes changes cyclically over time between the different hemispheres. In the majority of cases we find retrograde waves, while prograde waves are more often found from observations. Most of the obtained dynamo solutions exhibit cyclic variability either caused by latitudinal or azimuthal dynamo waves. In an activity-period diagram, the cycle lengths normalized by the rotation period form two different populations as a function of rotation rate or magnetic activity level. The slowly rotating axisymmetric population lies close to what in observations is called the inactive branch, where the stars are believed to have solar-like differential rotation, while the rapidly rotating models are close to the superactive branch with a declining cycle to rotation frequency ratio and an increasing rotation rate.
Conclusions. We can successfully reproduce the transition from axi- to nonaxisymmetric dynamo solutions for high rotation rates, but high-resolution simulations are required to limit the effect of rotational quenching of convection at rotation rates above 20 times the solar value.


The excessive or inappropriate response of the neuroendocrine system to impaired cardiac performance has become a major therapeutic target in heart failure. While the benefits of ACE inhibition and vasodilation are now established, and the necessary effects of diuretic therapy accepted, there is increasing evidence that in many patients additional benefit would follow modulation of the sympathetic nervous system. Beta-adrenergic blocking drugs improve survival following myocardial infarction and have improved patients with heart failure. Drugs such as carvedilol, which combine vasodilation mediated through alpha-adrenergic blockade with beta-adrenergic blockade have an attractive profile as they unite these two pharmacological actions in a way that may benefit patients with heart failure.


Subcellular maps of β cells reveal the coordinated reorganization of organelles during insulin secretion. Characterizing relationships between cell structures and functions requires mesoscale mapping of intact cells showing subcellular rearrangements following stimulation; however, current approaches are limited in this regard. Here, we report a unique application of soft x-ray tomography to generate three-dimensional reconstructions of whole pancreatic β cells at different time points following glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. Reconstructions following stimulation showed distinct insulin vesicle distribution patterns reflective of altered vesicle pool sizes as they travel through the secretory pathway. Our results show that glucose stimulation caused rapid changes in biochemical composition and/or density of insulin packing, increased mitochondrial volume, and closer proximity of insulin vesicles to mitochondria. Costimulation with exendin-4 (a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist) prolonged these effects and increased insulin packaging efficiency and vesicle maturation. This study provides unique perspectives on the coordinated structural reorganization and interactions of organelles that dictate cell responses.


Objective: To evaluate the clinical outcome of a simplified surgical technique for BAHA implantation, in terms of implant failure and its causes. Design: Retrospective analysis. Methods: Analysis of a consecutive cohort of 142 patients (150 loaded implants) fitted with the BAHA implant between January 1, 1997, and December 31, 1999. The simplified surgical Nijmegen technique comprises a longitudinal postauricular incision, extensive subcutaneous tissue reduction, and removal of the periosteum. Clinical outcomes were the rate of implant failures, its causes for this, and skin reactions around the percutaneous implants classified according to Holgers. Clinical results were compared with other BAHA series. Results: Mean follow-up was 5.6 ± 2.7 years (range, 0-10.5 yr). Holgers grade 2 or more severe skin reactions were seen in 6.5% of the 1,038 follow-up visits. Extrusion of the implants occurred as a result of failed osseointegration (n = 3), trauma (n = 5), infection (n = 1), and (other) medical reasons (n = 5 explanations). Total extrusion rate was 9.3%. Only 3% (1 and 3) were due to failed osseointegration or infection around the percutaneous implant. Conclusion: The modified Nijmegen surgical technique is a simple straightforward surgical procedure without the use of a pedicled skin flap. Surgery takes approximately 20 minutes. Meticulous performance of the procedure is considered important to achieve optimal results in the long-term. Particularly the soft tissue reduction has to be done with great care. In terms of the low rates of implant failure and adverse tissue reactions, the Nijmegen surgical technique proved to be a good alternative to other techniques.


Triple therapies using bismuth, metronidazole and tetracycline or amoxicillin were the first truly successful anti‐H. pylori therapies. Metronidazole resistance has become an increasing problem that has severely limited the usefulness of the original triple therapy. Resistance to tetracycline or amoxicillin has not been reported and both are effective against H. pylori. We therefore tested a new triple therapy consisting of 500 mg tetracycline, 500 mg amoxicillin, and 2 tablets of bismuth subsalicylate each administered four times daily (with meals and at bedtime) for 14 days during treatment with ranitidine 300 mg daily. H. pylori eradication was defined as no evidence of H. pylori one or more months after stopping therapy. H. pylori status was evaluated by a combination of urea breath test and histology. Sixteen patients with H. pylori infection and active peptic ulcers were enrolled. The new triple therapy was successful in only 7 individuals (43%). Metronidazole appears to be critical for the effectiveness of the original triple therapy. An alternative to metronidazole will be required for a new successful triple therapy.


ABSTRACT Hepatitis E virus (HEV) causes an acute, self-limiting hepatitis in healthy individuals and leads to chronic disease in immunocompromised individuals. HEV infection in pregnant women results in a more severe outcome, with the mortality rate going up to 30%. Though the virus usually causes sporadic infection, epidemics have been reported in developing and resource-starved countries. No specific antiviral exists against HEV. A combination of interferon and ribavirin therapy has been used to control the disease with some success. Zinc is an essential micronutrient that plays crucial roles in multiple cellular processes. Zinc salts are known to be effective in reducing infections caused by few viruses. Here, we investigated the effect of zinc salts on HEV replication. In a human hepatoma cell (Huh7) culture model, zinc salts inhibited the replication of genotype 1 (g-1) and g-3 HEV replicons and g-1 HEV infectious genomic RNA in a dose-dependent manner. Analysis of a replication-defective mutant of g-1 HEV genomic RNA under similar conditions ruled out the possibility of zinc salts acting on replication-independent processes. An ORF4-Huh7 cell line-based infection model of g-1 HEV further confirmed the above observations. Zinc salts did not show any effect on the entry of g-1 HEV into the host cell. Furthermore, our data reveal that zinc salts directly inhibit the activity of viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp), leading to inhibition of viral replication. Taken together, these studies unravel the ability of zinc salts in inhibiting HEV replication, suggesting their possible therapeutic value in controlling HEV infection. IMPORTANCE Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a public health concern in resource-starved countries due to frequent outbreaks. It is also emerging as a health concern in developed countries owing to its ability to cause acute and chronic infection in organ transplant and immunocompromised individuals. Although antivirals such as ribavirin have been used to treat HEV cases, there are known side effects and limitations of such therapy. Our discovery of the ability of zinc salts to block HEV replication by virtue of their ability to inhibit the activity of viral RdRp is important because these findings pave the way to test the efficacy of zinc supplementation therapy in HEV-infected patients. Since zinc supplementation therapy is known to be safe in healthy individuals and since high-dose zinc is used in the treatment of Wilson's disease, it may be possible to control HEV-associated health problems following a similar treatment regimen.


Examinations of the lacrimal duct in 55 patients with posttraumatic deformations of the median zone of the face evidence that lacrimal sac and nasolacrimal channel impairments can be diagnosed by dacryocystography in various modifications; the most reliable data may be obtained when the lacrimal duct is filled via a catheter. Etiotrast proved to be the most adequate contrast agent. The developed dacryocystography modifications help plan reconstructive surgery of the lacrimal duct and monitor the efficacy of the surgery. The suggested modifications may be employed in other diseases of the lacrimal duct.


We retrospectively studied 232 patients with cold agglutinin disease (CAD) at 24 centers in five countries. In Norway and a northern region of Italy, the study was close to being population-based. For the first time, we demonstrate 4-fold differences between cold and warmer climates regarding prevalence (20 versus 5 cases/million) and incidence (1.9 versus 0.48 cases/million/year). Mean baseline hemoglobin level was 9.3 g/dL, but 27% had hemoglobin < 8 g/dL. Identification of typical features of 'CAD-associated lymphoproliferative disorder' in the bone marrow was greatly increased by centralized biopsy assessment. CAD seems to be associated with a slightly increased risk of venous thrombosis. This work included a follow-up study of therapies, focusing on the long-term outcomes of the rituximab plus bendamustine and rituximab plus fludarabine regimens. Rituximab plus bendamustine therapy resulted in responses in 35 (78%) of 45 patients; 24 (53%) achieved complete response. Interestingly, these rates were still higher than observed in the original (2017) prospective trial, and we also found a shift towards deeper responses with time. This is explained by the prolonged time to response seen in many patients, probably related to long-lived plasma cells. In patients responding to rituximab-bendamustine, median response duration was not reached after 88 months, and estimated 5-year sustained remission was 77%. The regimen appeared safe regarding late-occurring malignancies. Rituximab plus fludarabine therapy seems to carry a higher risk of long-term adverse effects.


Organizations are increasingly relying on data to support decisions. When data contains private and sensitive information, the data owner often desires to publish a synthetic database instance that is similarly useful as the true data, while ensuring the privacy of individual data records. Existing differentially private data synthesis methods aim to generate useful data based on applications, but they fail in keeping one of the most fundamental data properties of the structured data --- the underlying correlations and dependencies among tuples and attributes (i.e., the structure of the data). This structure is often expressed as integrity and schema constraints, or with a probabilistic generative process. As a result, the synthesized data is not useful for any downstream tasks that require this structure to be preserved.
 This work presents KAMINO, a data synthesis system to ensure differential privacy and to preserve the structure and correlations present in the original dataset. KAMINO takes as input of a database instance, along with its schema (including integrity constraints), and produces a synthetic database instance with differential privacy and structure preservation guarantees. We empirically show that while preserving the structure of the data, KAMINO achieves comparable and even better usefulness in applications of training classification models and answering marginal queries than the state-of-the-art methods of differentially private data synthesis.


Until mechanisms for true real-time network communications are deployed and pervasive, one must rely on adaptive, best-effort congestion control methods to provide acceptable levels of service for interactive, real-time multimedia applications. Here we report on our experiences with a novel media-scaling congestion control scheme that was implemented in an experimental version of the Intel ProShare videoconferencing system and tested over the Internet. The media scaling scheme is unique in that it employs two-dimensional media scaling-the bit-rate and packet-rate of media streams are independently scaled. The goals of our study were (1) to empirically assess the performance improvement of two-dimensional media scaling over the simpler, and more commonly employed, one-dimensional scaling approaches and (2) to determine if it was possible to sustain ProShare conferences for a significant enough fraction of the time that two-dimensional scaling could be considered effective. We observed that systems using one-dimensional and two-dimensional scaling were both able to sustain conferences and that the two-dimensional scaling system always produced conferences with greater effective throughput. Our study provides empirical evidence that two-dimensional media scaling can be used effectively to ameliorate the effects of congestion in the Internet and can significantly extend the usability of an interactive multimedia application on the Internet.


At Eurocrypt 2005, Boneh, Boyen, and Goh presented a hierarchical IBE for which they claimed a novel property, called limited delegation: it is possible to give an entity a private key that restricts it from generating descendant private keys beyond some depth d; in particular, with d equal to the entity's depth, such a key allows decryption only. In this paper, we argue that this claim is nonobvious and requires proof, provide a precise model for arguing about limited delegation, and prove that the Boneh-Boyen-Goh system does, in fact, have limited delegation. Whereas Boneh, Boyen, and Goh prove their system semantically secure under the BDHI assumption, our proof of limited delegation requires the stronger BDHE assumption.


The purpose of this study was to quantify health insurance misclassification among children treated at a pediatric trauma center and to determine factors associated with misclassification. Demographic, medical, and financial information were collected for patients at our institution between 2008 and 2010. Two health insurance variables were created: true (insurance on hospital admission) and payer (source of payment). Multivariable logistic regression was used to determine which factors were independently associated with health insurance misclassification. The two values of health insurance status were abstracted from the hospital financial database, the trauma registry, and the patient medical record. Among 3630 patients, 123 (3.4%) had incorrect health insurance designation. Misclassification was highest in patients who died: 13.9 per cent among all deaths and 30.8 per cent among emergency department deaths. The adjusted odds of misclassification were 6.7 (95% confidence interval: 1.7, 26.6) among patients who died and 16.1 (95% confidence interval: 3.2, 80.77) among patients who died in the emergency department. Using payer as a proxy for health insurance results in misclassification. Approaches are needed to accurately ascertain true health insurance status when studying the impact of insurance on treatment outcomes.


There were two major objectives for this thesis: 1) to integrate the existing literature based on vigilance, noise, and neuromuscular fatigue and 2) to determine the effects of muscle contraction intensity, neuromuscular fatigue, and noise on the performance of complex and simple vigilance tasks. Vigilance or an individual's state of physiological or psychological readiness to mediate performance when reacting to a stimulus can be affected simultaneously by noise and neuromuscular stimuli. Noise exposure and muscle contraction have been shown to both negatively and positively affect vigilance performance. However, this contradiction may be a result of differences in muscle contraction and noise intensities, durations, and type as well as the complexity of the vigilance task. It was determined in the present experiment that continuous noise at an intensity of 95 dB (A) impairs both simple and to a greater extent complex vigilance task performance. Isometric muscle contractions at 5% and 20% of a maximum voluntary contraction also impaired simple and complex vigilance task performance. There did not seem to be an interaction effect between noise and contraction intensity.


This paper studies gender differences in performance in a male‐dominated competitive environment chess tournaments. We find that the gender composition of chess games affects the behaviors of both men and women in ways that worsen the outcomes for women. Using a unique measure of within‐game quality of play, we show that women make more mistakes when playing against men. Men, however, play equally well against male and female opponents. We also find that men persist longer before losing to women. Our results shed some light on the behavioral changes that lead to differential outcomes when the gender composition of competitions varies.


The Hipparchus features a conversation between Socrates and an un-named companion, at an unknown time and place, about gain (or profit) and whether we should in any way limit our pursuit of gain. Socrates argues intransigently that we should not place any limits on our pursuit of gain, while the companion, despite being unable to counter his arguments, is equally firm in his rejection of Socrates' moral position. The dialogue thus shows the strength of the conviction, in the souls of decent people, that unrestrained pursuit of the good things is not good for you. This conviction exists prior to calculation, and the action of the dialogue thereby testifies to the existence of man's natural conscience.


With the development of the economy, the fast and accurate extraction of the city road is significant for GIS data collection and update, remote sensing images interpretation, mapping and spatial database updating etc. 3D GIS has attracted more and more attentions from academics, industries and governments with the increase of requirements for interoperability and integration of different sources of data. The quality of 3D geographic objects is very important for spatial analysis and decision-making. This paper presents a method for the quality assessment of the 3D road polygon objects which is created by integrating 2D Road Polygon data with LiDAR point cloud and other height information such as Spot Height data in Hong Kong Island. The quality of the created 3D road polygon data set is evaluated by the vertical accuracy, geometric and attribute accuracy, connectivity error, undulation error and completeness error and the final results are presented.


Moral judgments are elicited using dilemmas presenting hypothetical situations in which an agent must choose between letting several people die or sacrificing one person in order to save them. The evaluation of the action or inaction of a human agent is compared to those of two artificial agents – a humanoid robot and an automated system. Ratings of rightness, blamefulness and moral permissibility of action or inaction in incidental and instrumental moral dilemmas are used. The results show that for the artificial cognitive agents the utilitarian action is rated as more morally permissible than inaction. The humanoid robot is found to be less blameworthy for his choices compared to the human agent or to the automated system. Action is found to be more appropriate, morally permissible, more right, and less blameworthy than inaction only for the incidental scenarios. The results are interpreted and discussed from the perspective of perceived moral agency.


Fifty consecutive patients had posterior spinal fusion using only graft from bone banks. They were studied retrospectively in order to determine the pseudarthrosis rate, the quality of fusion mass obtained, the rate of infection, volume of blood lost, and operative time. The results showed that it is likely that the graft material used is not as important as the fusion technique. Strict adherence to facet obliteration, posterior element decortication, thorough removal of all soft tissue, and stable, well-planned instrumentation are probably the most important factors in preventing pseudarthrosis. With the complications associated with iliac crest graft and the potential benefits of reduced operative time and blood loss, use of allogeneic bone appears justified.


A brief review of the results obtained in recent research of underwater electrical wire explosions using microsecond and nanosecond generators is presented. It was shown that the increase in the rate of energy input into the exploding wire allows one to increase the wire temperature and amplitude of shock waves (SWs). Estimated energy deposition into Cu and Al wire material of up to 200 eV/atom was achieved. In microsecond time scale wire explosion, a good agreement was attained between the wire resistance calculated using the equation of state (EOS) and that obtained experimentally. Conversely, in nanosecond time scale wire explosion, the wire resistance of EOS was modified in order to fit experimental data. Analysis of the emitted radiation showed that black body approximation cannot be used to characterize exploding wire radiation. It was found that ⩽24% of the deposited energy is transferred into the water flow's mechanical energy. Also, it was shown that converging SWs formed by the explosion of cylindrical wire arrays can be used to achieve a pressure up to 250 kbar at the axis of implosion. Hydrodynamic simulations showed that with the use of relatively moderate pulsed power generators with stored energy of several hundred kilojoules, a pressure of several megabar can be achieved at the axis of implosion.


Abstract—In recent advancements in electric machine and drives, wound rotor motor is extensively used. The merit of using wound rotor induction motor is to control speed/torque characteristics by inserting external resistance. Wound rotor induction motor can be used in the cases such as (a) low inrush current, (b) load requiring high starting torque, (c) lower starting current is required, (d) loads having high inertia, and (e) gradual built up of torque. Examples include conveyers, cranes, pumps, elevators, and compressors. This paper includes speed control of wound induction motor using MATLAB/Simulink for rotor resistance and slip power recovery method. The characteristics of these speed control methods are hence analyzed.


An early report during the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) outbreak noted myocardial involvement with cardiac troponin I (cTnI) levels > 99 th percentile in approximately 20% of hospitalized patients. Patients with cTnI elevations had higher in-hospital mortality. Additionally, myocarditis is associated with exercise-related sudden cardiac death in athletes. Therefore, reports of COVID-19 myocarditis concerned the sports cardiology community, which issued two guidelines on managing athletes with COVID-19 infection. We reviewed reports of myocardial involvement in athletes after COVID-19 infection published before June 2021. The incidence of the diagnosis of myocarditis in athletes post-COVID-19 ranged from 0 to 15.4% based on cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (cMRI) performed 10 to 194 days after initial diagnosis of COVID- 19. Only a few studies adhered to accepted myocarditis diagnostic guidelines and only two studies included a control group of uninfected athletes. There was significant heterogeneity in the method and protocols used in evaluating athletes post-COVID-19. The incidence of COVID-19 myocarditis in athletes appears to be over-diagnosed. The evaluation of myocarditis post-COVID-19 should be individually performed and managed according to the current guidelines. This can potentially prevent needless training restrictions and the inability to participate in competitive sports.


We examine entry across 113 national markets in 16 different industries using a comprehensive data set of French manufacturing firms. The data are unique in indicating how much each firm exports to each destination. Looking across all manufacturers: (1) Firms differ substantially in export participation, with most selling only at home; (2) The number of firms selling to multiple markets falls off with the number of destinations with an elasticity of ?2.5; (3) Decomposing French exports to each destination into the size of the market and French share, variation in market share translates nearly completely into firm entry while about 60 percent of the variation in market size is reflected in firm entry. Looking within each of 16 industries we find little variation in these patterns. We propose that any successful model of trade and market structure must confront these facts.


Single-component azobenzene thiol (Me-SH) and two-component azobenzene dodecyl disulfide (Me-SS) have been used to understand how "space" necessary for trans ↔ cis photoisomerization, "intermolecular interactions" and "phase separation" affects the repeated photoswitching ability of azobenzene units on flat gold surfaces. Me-SH self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) with available space and π–π stacking interactions between photoswitchable azobenzene units showed ∼51% of the first trans-to-cis photoisomerization and good photoswitching performance in response to alternating irradiation with UV and visible light. On the other hand, our absorption spectral data and AFM observations suggest that each chemical component of Me-SS did not move continuously on a flat gold surface and was almost fixed after partially phase-separated SAM formation. The first trans-to-cis photoconversion of the Me-SS SAMs with additional free space arising from phase separation reached as high as 75 ± 3%. Repeated irradiation of the Me-SS SAMs with UV and visible light seems to cause (i) out-of-plane (homeotropic and/or oblique) reorientation and/or (ii) random arrangements of mixed trans- and cis-azobenzenes. Consequently, the initial excellent photoswitching ability declined gradually as the number of repeated irradiations increased. The observations indicate that a balance between space, intermolecular interactions, and phase separation plays an important role in forming repeatedly photoswitchable monolayers.


Those legal terms in the Lex Frisionum of the late 8th century that are introduced by the phrase 'quod uocant' or 'quod dicunt' are generally considered to be Frisian. In this study, the phonological and morphological character of these words is analysed and compared to evidence from the contemporaneous Frisian runic corpus and later Old Frisian. It turns out that none of the fourteen words show an unambiguously Frisian shape, while various instances lack features that are expected to have been present in the Frisian language of that time. It is therefore concluded that the fourteen words cannot be considered as Frisian from a phonological and morphological perspective. They are most likely Low Franconian. This means a severe reduction of the linguistic evidence for Frisian from that early period. In a lexicological sense, the words can very well be Frisian and probably originate in the Frisian legal terminology of those days.


Multisupply voltage design technique is widely used in modern system-on-chips to tradeoff energy and speed. Level shifters (LSs) allow different voltage domains to be interfaced. In this brief, a new LS is presented for fast and wide range voltage conversion. Because of a novel architecture combined with the use of multithreshold CMOS technique, the proposed circuit guarantees robust voltage shifting from the deep subthreshold to the above-threshold domain while exhibiting fast response and low energy consumption. When implemented in a 90-nm technology node, considering process-voltage-temperature variations, the proposed design reliably converts 100-mV input signals into 1 V output signals. Post-layout simulation results demonstrate that the new LS shows a propagation delay of 16.6 ns, a static power dissipation of 8.7 nW and a total energy per transition of only 77 fJ for a 0.2 V 1-MHz input pulse.


This paper presents a system dynamics model to study the spread of HIV/AIDS in Southern Africa. The HIV/AIDS model includes important feedback mechanisms of the spread of HIV/AIDS, and partly explains the dynamics of the epidemic in a representative Southern African country. The HIV/AIDS model indicates that prevention to reduce risk behavior is crucial in all stages of the epidemic, but is most efficient in an early stage. Financial relief is most appropriate in a more advanced stage of the epidemic.


In the future fusion reactor, the plasma density peaking is important for the increase in the fusion power gain and for the achievement of confinement improvement mode. The density control and the internal transport barrier (ITB) formation due to the pellet injection has been simulated in tokamak and helical reactors using the toroidal transport linkage code TOTAL. Firstly, the pellet injection simulation is carried out including the neutral gas shielding model and the mass relocation model in the TOTAL code, and the effectiveness of the high field side (HFS) pellet injection is clarified. Secondly, the ITB simulation with the pellet injection is carried out with the confinement improvement model based on the ExB shear effects, and it is found that the deep pellet penetration is helpful for the ITB formation as well as the plasma core fuelling in the reversed shear tokamk reactor, but the deep pellet penetration is not effective in the helical reactor.


We propose a method to both identify and synchronize multi-camera video recordings within a large collection of video and/or audio files. Landmark-based audio fingerprinting is used to match multiple recordings of the same event together and time-synchronize each file within the groups. Compared to prior work, we offer improvements towards event identification and a new synchronization refinement method that resolves inconsistent estimates and allows non-overlapping content to be synchronized within larger groups of recordings. Furthermore, the audio fingerprinting-based synchronization is shown to be equivalent to an efficient and scalable time-difference-of-arrival method using cross-correlation performed on a non-linearly transformed signal.


Multi-scale spectrum sensing is proposed to overcome the cost of full network state information on the spectrum occupancy of primary users (PUs) in dense multi-cell cognitive networks. Secondary users (SUs) estimate the local spectrum occupancies and aggregate them hierarchically to estimate spectrum occupancy at multiple spatial scales. Thus, SUs obtain fine-grained estimates of spectrum occupancies of nearby cells, more relevant to scheduling tasks, and coarse-grained estimates of those of distant cells. An agglomerative clustering algorithm is proposed to design a cost-effective aggregation tree, matched to the structure of interference, robust to local estimation errors, and delays. Given these multi-scale estimates, the SU traffic is adapted in a decentralized fashion in each cell, to optimize the trade-off among SU cell throughput, interference caused to PUs, and mutual SU interference. Numerical evaluations demonstrate a small degradation in SU cell throughput (up to 15% for a 0 dB interference-to-noise ratio experienced at PUs) compared to a scheme with full network state information, using only one-third of the cost incurred in the exchange of spectrum estimates. The proposed interference-matched design is shown to significantly outperform a random tree design, by providing more relevant information for network control, and a state-of-the-art consensus-based algorithm, which does not leverage the spatio-temporal structure of interference across the network.


Two endoglucanases designated EG1 and EG2 were purified by column chromatography from the nonsedimentable extracellular culture fluid of Bacteroides succinogenes S85. They accounted for approximately 32 and 11%, respectively, of the total endoglucanase present in the nonsedimentable fraction. The most active enzyme (EG1) had a molecular weight of 65,000, pI of 4.8, and temperature and pH optima of 39 degrees C and 6.4, respectively. The Km for carboxymethyl cellulose was 3.6 mg/ml, and the Vmax was 84 U/mg. The major products of cellulose hydrolysis catalyzed by EG1 were cellotriose and cellobiose. EG2 was present as two components with molecular weights of 118,000 and 94,000. The two components had nearly identical cyanogen bromide peptide maps, thereby indicating that the 94,000-dalton component was a proteolytic degradation product of the 118,000-dalton enzyme. The larger component, which was more abundant in the culture fluid than the smaller form was, had a Km of 12.2 mg/ml and a Vmax of 10.4 U/mg. It was a basic protein with a pI of 9.4, a temperature optimum of 39 degrees C, and a pH optimum of 5.8. The major product of cellulose hydrolysis was cellotetraose. EG2 exhibited specific binding to acid-swollen cellulose, whereas EG1 did not, and neither of them had affinity for crystalline cellulose. Based on the substrate specificities and the affinities of the two enzymes for cellulose, we postulated that EG2 is involved in the early stages of cellulose hydrolysis and that EG1 is active primarily on the products arising from EG2.


Climate warming is predicted to increase the frequency and severity of droughts in Central Europe through increasing temperatures and regional changes in the precipitation regime. Fagus sylvatica (European beech), the most abundant tree species of Central Europe's natural forest vegetation and one of the key species in forestry, is thought to be particularly vulnerable to drought. As broad-leaved mixed forest stands in Central Europe are widely dominated by this species, the predicted climatic changes may have considerable impact on those forest ecosystems, what could lead to a shift in the competitive hierarchy and species composition of those forests. To evaluate how relevant changes may take shape, it is of great interest how co-occurring tree species react to drought compared to F. sylvatica and how mixed forest ecosystems are affected by drought in general.
In the frame of the present study F. sylvatica as well as the four co-occuring species Acer pseuoplatanus (sycamore maple), Acer platanoides (Norway maple), Quercus petraea (sessile oak) and Fraxinus excelsior (common ash) were examined with regard to their drought sensitivity. For this purpose wood cores of the corresponding species were collected at three stands along a precipitation gradient (590-685 mm). The sampled cores were used for dendrochronological and xylem anatomical analysis to investigate the species specific response and adaption to climatic changes in the period from 1951-2010. Furthermore, the neighborhood of any target tree was recorded, to evaluate possible effects of neighborhood diversity and identity on the drought resistance of the target tree. This was done to (I) investigate the impact of drought on increment of the five species, (II) examine the adaption processes in the hydraulic architecture of the stem xylem to changes in climate and (III) identify how tree characteristics and neighborhood composition affect the drought resistance of the investigated trees.
Increment of the investigated species was primarily determined by temperatures and precipitation amounts of the current and previous years spring and summer months. F. sylvatica was the only species showing growth decline since about 1980 at the driest stand. This growth decline was closely related to increasing temperatures and increasing drought intensity. Furthermore, F. sylvatica showed the strongest growth depression during extreme droughts and the frequency of corresponding growth depressions (negative pointer years) did increase during the end of the investigated period only in this species.
Climate response analysis showed that hydraulically-weighted mean vessel diameter Dh was determined by the same climate conditions as tree-ring width, leading to smaller vessels under increased aridity. However, this trend was overlain by a marked age/size effect that led to a significant increase of Dh in all species except F. sylvatica over the investigated period and as a result in an increase of the sapwood area-specific hydraulic conductivity (Kp). Despite the missing increase in Dh, F. sylvatica was also able to increase its Kp through an increased vessel density (VD), reflecting a remarkably plasticity of the hydraulic architecture of this species. Yet, while Kann, the conductivity generated by annual ring growth, showed an even larger increase than Kp in the four other species, Kann of F. sylvatica decreased in conjunction with the observed growth decline.
While the neighborhood diversity had no effect on the growth resilience to severe drought events, the proportion of F. sylvatica had a negative impact on resilience in some cases. Of greater importance for a high resilience was the size of the target tree. In all species growth resilience after two extreme drought events was negatively related to diameter at breast height (DBH). The higher sensitivity of large-diameter trees results in a shift in intra- as well as interspecific population structure with smaller, less competitive trees surpassing larger dominant trees in radial increment in the decades after a severe drought. This pattern was clearest in F. sylvatica and enabled small trees at the driest stand to even increase their BAI since 1980, contrary to the general trend.
Those results indicate that extreme drought events represent an important structuring force in Central European mixed forests that trigger dynamic change in the population structure of the species and also in species composition. Despite its high plasticity, F. sylvatica was the species strongest affected by drought and it can be expected that this species will lose at least some of its competitive strength in the course of climate warming.


Reconfigurable architectures promise significant performance and flexibility advantages over conventional architectures. Automatic mapping techniques that exploit the features of the hardware are needed to leverage the power of these architectures. In this paper, we develop techniques for parallelizing nested loop computations from digital signal processing (DSP) applications onto high performance pipelined configurations. We propose a novel data context switching technique that exploits the embedded distributed memory available in reconfigurable architectures to parallelize such loops. Our technique is demonstrated on two diverse state-of-the-art reconfigurable architectures, namely, Virtex and the Chameleon Systems reconfigurable communications processor. Our techniques show significant performance improvements on both architectures and also perform better than state-of-the-art DSP and microprocessor architectures.


With reference to Islamic intellectual traditions, this article seeks to demonstrate the possibility of speaking about existence qua existence, namely, the possibility of metaphysical knowledge . In fulfilling this aim, criticisms towards metaphysical knowledge are summarized in two main arguments, and then criticized. The first criticism is that metaphysical investigation transcends the limits of reason which is criticized in the article by answering the question of whether any kind of power including reason can transcend its limits. The second criticism is that concepts and propositions which are thought to be metaphysical are nothing but false perceptions (idrāk). As a criticism of this argument, it is proposed that our knowledge of existence is indeed intuitional in the sense of being direct and non-instrumental, and that this intuition can be conceptualized by an analysis of everyday experience. In this context, with reference to "self-awareness", the article analyses the process of the transition of existence as a predication in the proposition of "I am" from ordinary conception of existence in the sense of being in the external world to the conception of universal existence which surround every thing in the external world and that is the very itself of being externally. It also sets forth the necessity and universality of the meaning of existence. Finally, the article seeks an answer to the question of how we can know that concepts and propositions which are achieved through a priori concepts, correspond to the external world.


Solubility is an important physicochemical factor affecting absorption of drug and its therapeutic effectiveness. Consequences of poor aqueous solubility would lead to failure in formulation development. The poor solubility of drug substances in water and their low dissolution rate in aqueous G.I.T fluid often leads to insufficient bioavailability. In the present investigation, an attempt was made to improve the solubility and dissolution rate of a poorly soluble drug, Risperidone by solid dispersion method using Beta-cyclodextrin, crospovidone and croscarmellose as carrier with varying drug: carrier ratios. The solid dispersions were formulated as fast dissolving tablets by using Doshion P544 resin (C), a taste masking agent with different superdisintegrants such as Croscarmellose and crospovidone and were subjected to various pre formulation and post formulations studies. All the formulations showed marked improvement in the solubility behaviour and improved drug release. The results concluded that fast dissolving tablets of poorly soluble drug, Risperidone showed enhanced dissolution, may lead to improved bioavailability and hence better patient compliance.


In this paper we design a robust opportunistic scheduler to be implemented at the base station in a cellular network for broadcast media streaming applications. The scheduling mechanism operates based on information on both the average and the instantaneous user distributions, and on radio link channel quality, obtained through the cellular uplink channel. Video streams are encoded into multiple scalable video layers, that are split into video packets opportunistically scheduled at the base station with the goal of minimizing the wireless resource usage while keeping the overall target Quality of Service (QoS) in the cell. We finally discuss potential extensions of this framework to more sophisticated scheduling solutions for broadcast video delivery over next generation cellular networks.


This paper reports on an evaluation study that was conducted on a tutor training programme (TTP) at a University of Technology in South Africa. The TTP was dichotomized into a centralized and decentralized model with the former being managed by the Academic Development Department (to provide generic training) and the latter by the respective faculties (to provide discipline-specific training). The evaluation was framed by activity theory in order to help focus the study. A triangulation of methods were adopted and include the following: 1) A qualitative study involving face-to-face, semi-structured interviews with the TTP manager, tutor training coordinators and tutors; 2) A qualitative study pertaining to observation of tutor training programmes and 3) Document analysis of the course materials and other relevant documents. The results showed that the generic training provided (by both models of the TTP) was effective in preparing tutors to cope with a diverse student population. The training was ineffective in that tutors were not trained, within the context of a discipline-specific TTP, on how to facilitate learning so that they would be able to create more meaningful learning places in tutorials. Specifically, during tutor training, too much emphasis was being placed on how to work in a group (in a generic sense) instead of training tutors to facilitate group work (within the context of their disciplines). Among the recommendations made for improvement of the TTP as a place of learning is that there should be a balance between generic and discipline-specific training when conceptualizing and implementing TTPs.


Abstract:  Technologies that deploy algorithmic calculation are becoming ubiquitous to the homeland securitization of the war on terror. From the surveillance networks of the city subway to the biometric identifiers of new forms of border control, the possibility to identify "association rules" between people, places, objects and events has brought the logic of pre-emption into the most mundane and prosaic spaces. Yet, it is not the case that the turn to algorithmic calculation simply militarizes society, nor even that we are witnessing strictly a commercialization of security. Rather, algorithmic war is one form of Foucault's sense of a "continuation of war by other means", where the war-like architectures of self/other, here/there, safe/risky, normal/suspicious are played out in the politics of daily life. This paper explores the situated interplay of algorithmic practices across commercial, security, and military spheres, revealing the violent geographies that are concealed in the glossy techno-science of algorithmic calculation.


Dynamic task mapping solutions based on task migration has been recently explored to perform run-time reallocation of task to maximize performance and optimize energy consumption in MPSoCs. Even if task migration can provide high flexibility, its overhead must be carefully evaluated when applied to soft real-time applications. In fact, these applications impose deadlines that may be missed during the migration process. In this paper we first present a middleware infrastructure supporting dynamic task allocation for NUMA architectures. Then we perform an extensive characterization of its impact on multimedia soft realtime applications using a software FM Radio benchmark.


ABSTRACT This paper analyses the determinants of satisfaction with daily activities among retirees aged 65 years or older in 11 European countries. We use data from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe on self-assessed satisfaction with daily activities and anchoring vignettes to correct for potential differences in response scales across countries and socio-demographic groups. On average, retired Europeans appear to be satisfied with their daily activities, but there are large differences across countries: respondents from Northern countries tend to be more satisfied than individuals from Central European or Mediterranean countries. Our analysis shows that correcting for response scale differentials alters the country ranking for satisfaction with daily activities but hardly affects the conclusions on the factors driving within-country differences between socio-demographic groups.


: The results of the College of American Pathologists (Skokie, III) Microbiology Surveys from 1980 through 1987 indicate subscriber laboratories have continued to improve their ability to identify and test the antimicrobial susceptibility of Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Bacteriology and Comprehensive Surveys participants correctly identified this organism more frequently (95% to 96%) than did the Basic Surveys Laboratories. Neisseria gonorrhoeae samples in mixed cultures were slightly more difficult (3% to 5% decreased accuracy) to identify. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing by the disk-diffusion and beta-lactamase tests were more accurate (98% to 99%) than minimum inhibitory concentration-dilution methods (92%). Currently, most laboratories use the commercially prepared beta-lactamase reagents and the disk-diffusion test. The National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards is currently standardizing methods for the susceptibility testing of several antibiotics against gonococci. The College of American Pathologists Microbiology Surveys will continue to monitor participant accuracy for the identification and resistance recognition of this epidemiologically important pathogen.


Background: In 2011, a community health study revealed a prevalence of diabetes in Eatonville, FL of 24%, three times the national rate and twice the national prevalence for African Americans who comprise most of Eatonville's population. As a result, Healthy Central Florida, a group created by Florida Hospital and the Winter Park Health Foundation, worked with Eatonville leaders and residents to support the creation of Healthy Eatonville Place (HEP), a diabetes education and research center with objectives to provide resources for prevention, early diagnosis, and support for diabetes. Methods: The first step in creation of the diabetes education and research center was the completion of a health risk assessment study to characterize individual risk factors and characteristics of the Eatonville community. Classes focusing on promotion of exercise, nutrition, and diabetes counseling were provided. Results: The health risk assessment revealed that 67% of respondents were female, the average age was 54.2 years, and 89% identified as black/African American. In terms of health disparities, 48% reported some degree of food insecurity, 58% were unemployed, 32% were uninsured, and 32% had not seen a healthcare provider other than in the ED during the past year. A total of 3,924 visits to HEP occurred from March 2015 through March 2016. A comparison of Florida Hospital participants before and after enrollment in the HEP program showed a decrease in their number of total ED visits but an increase in the number of admissions from ED visits. Conclusion: HEP had a positive impact on community diabetes education and improved access to healthcare services.


OBJECTIVE
The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) has undergone significant organizational transformation as part of a comprehensive strategic plan to enhance mental health services. Organizational change can create stress and decrease employee morale, even if the change is beneficial for patients and the organization. The study examined whether psychiatrists' work satisfaction and work environment perceptions changed during a period of transformation. Facility-level turnover rate was also examined.

METHODS
Data were analyzed from 7,218 psychiatrists who responded to an annual organizational survey between 2004 and 2010 (excluding 2005) conducted with 139 facilities. Survey ratings were regressed on individual and facility-level characteristics in a multilevel model. Adjusted mean scores for the measures were compared with Tukey post hoc tests to identify significant differences by year.

RESULTS
Most satisfaction ratings on measures improved after the initial actions for strategic reform and stabilized in 2006. Turnover rates and intention to leave were also consistent during this time. Positive linear trends over time were observed for pay satisfaction, management for achievement, skill development, workplace civility, and satisfaction with senior management.

CONCLUSIONS
Extensive reorganization of VHA mental health services was associated with improvements in psychiatrists' workplace satisfaction, and these increases were sustained over time. In the current climate of rapid transformation under health care reform nationally, the VHA experience may inform the broader national process and organizational strategies to improve and maintain the morale of the health care workforce.


Human embryonic stem cell research (ESCR) raises ethical issues. Among the sources of embryonic stem cells are (i) embryos left from in vitro fertilisation (IVF) trials which are no longer needed for reproduction denoted as 'surplus embryos', and (ii) embryos intentionally created solely for research purposes from donated gametes via IVF, denoted as 'research embryos'. The process of extracting stem cells from these 4–5 day old embryos which are subsequently destroyed in the research raises ethical controversies.
Past studies on the ethics of ESCR largely revolve around the moral status of embryo, which is secular in nature. However, in a multi-religious and multi-cultural country like Malaysia, the ethical discussions pertaining to ESCR have taken a different outlook given the diverse views within and among the various faiths. The Malaysian Guidelines on Stem Cell Research and Therapy (2009) is based on the Islamic ruling (fatwa). Accordingly, surplus embryos are allowed to be used in research, but the creation of embryos solely for research purposes is prohibited. This study acknowledges the absence of documented views from other main religions like Buddhism, Hinduism and Catholicism pertaining to ESCR in Malaysia. In addition, no previous study has collected multiple religious viewpoints on the use of surplus and research embryos in ESCR.
Hence, this study explores the ethical considerations of the religious leaders from the Buddhist, Hindu and Catholic traditions pertaining to ESCR in Malaysia, and their viewpoints on the use of surplus and research embryos. In this regard, the ethical standpoints of 11 religious leaders, comprising four Buddhist monks and leaders, four Hindu leaders and three Catholic priests were obtained via semi-structured, face-to-face
iv
interviews. The ethical responses of these participants are presented in reflection of various sacred texts.
The main findings of this study is the emergence of three ethical concerns, denoted as themes, namely (i) sanctity of life, (ii) 'do no harm' and (ii) 'intention' of the research. Concerns on sanctity of life are directed at the religious notion of ensoulment and early consciousness, deliberating as to whether there is a sign of life in a 5-day old embryo. The precept 'do no harm' is closely related to the religious principle of ahimsa which prohibits hurting living entities. Finally, 'intention' of the research is viewed as a strong point among Buddhist and Hindu respondents to encourage ESCR. The findings indicate that generally, all Buddhist leaders approve the use of surplus and research embryos in ESCR except for one leader who disapproved the use of research embryos. The Hindu leaders cautiously support ESCR but it is limited to the use of surplus embryos. The Catholic leaders do not support any form of ESCR and strictly observe the inviolability of embryonic life.
While the ethical concerns of the Catholic respondents are in accordance with the standpoint of the Vatican, the Buddhist and the Hindu respondents have provided new insights on the subject, striking new frontiers in the ethics discussion.


Mathematics is often seen as the uncovering of eternal truths that exist independently of the human mind. However, even if this epistemological view is correct, the mathematics that humans can know can only be the result of cognitive processes. We investigate this ability of the human mind to make mathematical discoveries. More precisely, we present a cognitive model of how the ability to use metaphors and analogies plays a key role in such discoveries. As a proof of concept we present an ACT-R model that uses path-mapping and that is capable of discovering the commutativity property of addition.


The main aim of this article is to explain the differences of adaptation of the French and Italian e-waste management regimes to the European WEEE directive by examining modalities of waste governance at different levels. By carrying out a comparative case study analysis between Milan and Toulouse, it focuses on the local construction of a management chain in Italy and France that has been built to pursue the territorialisation objectives set by the European WEEE Directive. The empirical and theoretical framework driving the analysis is to evaluate the overall (dis)functioning of the "Clearing House" model through the relationships between involved actors: citizens-consumers, local authorities, distribution systems, hi-tech equipment producers (via eco-organisms), third sector actors (social economy) and treatment operators. In this approach, the concepts of socio-technical regime and transition management have been deemed useful tools since it is believed that the particular configuration of the supply chain is the result of the reciprocal interaction between the following factors: 1) A macro normative framework represented by the WEEE Directive and its implementation in France and Italy; 2) A meso dimension, which corresponds to the implementation on the urban scale of this regulatory framework; 3) A micro level, which is represented by technological niches where radical innovations occur.


Single crystals of racemic charge-transfer complexes comprising a helical polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon molecule, [6]helicene, as the electron donor (D) and 7,7,8,8-tetracyano-p-quinodimethane (TCNQ) analogs as the electron acceptor (A) were obtained via either co-sublimation or solvent evaporation. All complexes consist of heterochiral DA-type alternating π-columns with a [⋯(P)-[6]helicene⋯TCNQ⋯(M)-[6]helicene⋯TCNQ⋯] repeating unit, which show a peculiar wavy feature primarily related to the nonplanar geometry of the [6]helicene molecules. [6]Helicene molecules form a two-dimensional sheet intersecting the columns, and the molecular arrangement (namely, either homochiral or heterochiral arrangement) in the sheets depends on the TCNQ analog. Theoretical calculations were carried out to discuss the origin of the molecular deformation of [6]helicene molecules in the CT solids in terms of intermolecular interactions.


The stability of junctions formed by spike anneal remains a crucial issue for the device performance. In this study, 0.2 keV B implanted silicon was thermally spike annealed at 1100 °C. Samples were then furnace annealed under temperatures between 550 and 750 °C to study their stabilities. We have observed the anomalous diffusion of boron during the post-spike furnace annealing in nitrogen ambient. The anomalous behavior shows two features in the near-surface region and in the tail region. B diffusion in the tail region was transient, e.g., with an enhancement of 103×equilibrium at 700 °C for the first 60 s. In the near-surface region, a large number of B atoms move toward the native oxide/Si interface with a diffusion rate also transient and similar to that observed in the tail region. It is indicated that interstitials are generated due to spike annealing and will cause instability of the junction during the following thermal processes.


More and more of the world's people live in urban areas, which share the same problems: unemployment, corroding infrastructure, deteriorating environment, a collapsing social compact, and weakening institutions. To ask why this is happening and what can be done, twenty-two leading social scientists and experienced public officials have pooled their experience and their research in preparation for the June 1996 United Nations conference on human settlement in Istanbul. Their collaborative effort is published in Preparing for the Urban Future: Global Pressures and Local Forces. The contributors find commonalities in the globalized economy in which all cities compete and in the mixes of squalor and splendor found in urban environments east and west, north and south. But common, too, in these accounts, are local, rather than national, solutions to urban challenges, which local community groups often view in purely local terms. Contributors are Nezar Al Sayyad, Ilona Blue, Jordi Borja,Robert Bruegmann, Galia Burgel, Guy Burgel, Michael A. Cohen, Maria Elena Ducci, Allison Garland, Mohamed Halfani, Trudy Harpham, Lisa Peattie, Julie Roqu, Blair A. Ruble, Hank Savitch, K. C. Sivaramakrishnan, Martha Schteingart, Richard Stren, Joseph S. Tulchin, Edmundo Werna, Michael White, and Weiping Wu.


The intestines of most animals contain bacterial species called lactobacilli. Lactobacillus plantarum is a microorganism that settles in the intestinal environment and inhibits the activities of useless microorganisms and pathogens (Andanil et al., 2012). Lactic acid bacteria are the most important probiotic microorganisms including various bacteria such as lactobacilli and Bifidobacterium (Marco et al. 2006). Lactobacilli are gram-positive, non-motile, spore-less and catalase negative bacilli that convert different sugars into lactate and acetate (Guy et al., 2014). L. casei and L. plantarum also have good antagonistic impacts on Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli (Salehi, 2013). Probiotics can stabilize microbial balance in the intestinal environment by improving their health and usefulness. In addition, probiotics play an important role in maintaining the consumers' health through the synthesis of some essential nutrients (Behnsen et al., 2009; Mohammadian et al., 2014). The bacterium was identified by a molecular technique using a primer designed from the 16S rRNA gene to perform PCR reaction for the detection of Lactobacillus genera (Nour, 1998). The intestines from 50 fish specimens were sampled, among which 28 positive samples of L. plantarum were identified and isolated after staining and testing by PCR (Lotfi et al. 2010).
Keywords: Lactobacillus plantarum; silver carp; probiotic
References:
Takaver, M., Masood, G., Mojtaba, A., M, Reza., Dariush, G. (2014). Isolation and Biochemical Detection of Lactobacilli with Probiotic Potential from Barbus grypus, Iranian Journal of Veterinary Medicine 10(2).
Hajieh, L., Mohammad, A. H., Bahram, M. Z., Abolfazl B. (2010). Isolation and Biochemical and Molecular Identification of Probiotic Bacteria from Traditional Dairy Products in Harris & Sarab Regions, Journal of Food Industry Research, Faculty of Agriculture, Tabriz University, Tabriz, Iran.
Hojatollah, J., Mehdi, T. K., AliReza, N. (2009) Effects of probiotic bacilli supplemented with Daphnia magna powder on the growth of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) larvae, Journal of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources 16(3).
Reza, K. D., Naser, G., Mirsasan, M., Fatemeh, M. (2013) Anti-mutational Activity of a Probiotic Strain Isolated from Probiotics Products, Journal of Qom University of Medical Sciences 6(2), 37-44.
Fatemeh, M. D., Naser, G., Mirsasan, M., Reza, KD. (2011) Effect of culture medium on metabolic and antibacterial activities of probiotics, Journal of Qom University of Medical Sciences 5(5).
Fahimeh, K., Vahid, N., Amir, T., Norouz, D., Pooyan, N., (2010). In vitro Growth Inhibition of 562 Chronic Human Myeloid Leukemia Using Cytoplasmic Extracts of Lactobacilli Isolated From Common Carp, Journal of Faculty of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences 68(12), 691-698.
Salehi M. (2013). Evaluation of the Antagonistic Effect of Lactobacilli Isolated from Iranian Native Foods, Journal of Innovation in Food Science and Technology 5(1), 79-84.
Mozhgan, H., Ali, G., Fahimdokht, M., Saeed, M. (2008). Isolation and identification of Bifidobacterium from Native Dairy Products, Khorasan Science and Technology Park, Khorasan Razavi Institute of Food Science and Technology (18th National Congress on Food and Drug Science).
Moein, I., Mohammad, H. F., Gholamreza, S. S., Javid, A. (2011). Isolation of Lactobacillus plantarum from yogurt samples of Shahr-e-Babak City and its molecular identification, Journal of Agricultural Biotechnology 2(2).


OBJECTIVES/SPECIFIC AIMS: Wake Forest Baptist Health (WFBH) is an Academic Learning Healthcare System (aLHS) serving 24 counties in North Carolina and Virginia. Like many aLHSs, WFBH experiences strained community relationships attributable to a history of medical and research abuses against marginalized populations. This legacy accompanies longstanding community mistrust in the healthcare system and research. To overcome these challenges, community-engaged research (CEnR) approaches have potential to repair community-academic relationships, improve public health, and empower groups that traditionally have been neglected by or overlooked in research. To develop and revise our understanding of how CEnR is harnessed at WFBH, semi-structured interviews were conducted with investigators and study staff experienced in CEnR approaches. In-depth interview guides were designed iteratively to capture socio-contextual and detailed descriptions of perceptions, experiences, and strategies specific to the use of CEnR. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: A keyword search performed within WFBH study records identified 51 investigators whom had submitted research proposals related to CEnR within the past ten years. Sixteen were confirmed eligible based on a review of proposal abstracts, of which 14 responded to email invitations agreeing to participate. Four additional participants were referred by initial participants. Eighteen investigators (16 faculty and 2 research associates) provided consent and completed Interviews. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: The participant sample was 50% female with a mean age of 55 years, 11% Black and 89% White, with representation across various academic backgrounds (e.g., anthropology, medicine, psychology, and public health) A majority of participants (89%) hold doctoral degrees (i.e., PhD, DrPH, EdD, MD, and MD-PhD). On average, participants had been employed at WFBH for 13.9 years, and represented various departments including dermatology, epidemiology and prevention, family medicine, neurology, social sciences and health policy, and psychiatry. Nearly all participants (89%) indicated they had never received formal education or training in CEnR, though 100% reported "on-the-job" training in CEnR. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, coded, and analyzed following an inductive thematic approach, from which twenty-two themes emerged across six domains related to CEnR (Table 2), including: Conceptualization and Purpose, Value and Investment, Community-Academic Partnerships, Sustainability, Facilitators, and Challenges. Results also provided key characteristics that define CEnR (Table 3), and yielded 11 emerging needs necessary to enhance CEnR within aLHSs (Table 4). DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE OF IMPACT: The results of this study provide information critical to understanding how CEnR frameworks and approaches can be harnessed not just in Schools of Public Health, but within aLHSs to build and repair community-academic partnerships, inform research and institutional priorities, and address community health concerns. Despite the small sample size, the number of participant interviews was sufficient to achieve saturation while also providing broad and unique perspectives across various fields and CEnR approaches. Overall, participants conceptualized the purpose and goals of CEnR quite similarly, though there was a great deal of variance in how CEnR was defined and operationalized across interviews, indicating a need to more clearly articulate important features that enhance understanding of what CEnR is and what it is not (Table 3). These discrepancies and inconsistencies indicate a potential need for additional formal training in the understanding and use of CEnR approaches, which is supported by the fact that nearly all participants reported receiving no formal training in CEnR. Across all interviews, participants expressed a need for health care providers and researchers to better understand community contexts, social determinants of health, and historical factors influencing community health and participation in research (Table 4). This work and the data presented here are important for informing CEnR approaches and will be useful for guiding the development of a model incorporating the core tenets of CEnR within the mission, vision, and priorities of aLHSs.


In this paper, the performance of limited feedback precoded spatial multiplexing multiple-input multiple-output orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (MIMO - OFDM) systems is investigated in time varying fading channels. Most studies into limited feedback precoded (MIMO - OFDM) systems are based on the notion of time invariant channels throughout transmission. Therefore, the precoding matrix for each subcarrier can be designed at the receiver in terms of the current channel state, fed back to the transmitter, and used for the subsequent block of data symbols. However, in time varying channels, the feedback information becomes outdated, which results in significant system performance degradation. To mitigate this system performance degradation caused by outdated information due to a delay in the feedback channel, this paper considers a more practical system, where the channel varies from one block of symbols to another. A method is proposed based on modelling the channel as an autoregressive (AR) model and using a Kalman filter linear predictor at the receiver to predict the channels states, required to design the precoding matrices for the next OFDM symbol carriers whose indexes are fed back to the transmitter. The performance of this method is investigated using computer simulation, and the results obtained for the proposed channel prediction demonstrate improved bit error rate performance for time-varying Rayleigh fading channels, even in systems with high mobility


Certain oxygen free radicals are produced constantly in cells by metabolism and
exogenous agents. Some, such as the hydroxyl radical, may react with various
biomolecules like DNA, lipids or proteins, and thus be involved in the pathogenesis of
various diseases. It is often difficult to detect oxygen free radicals due to their relatively
short half-life. This problem may be overcome, however, using the spin trapping
technique. In this technique, the spin-trap compound is used to trap free radicals, making
them stable enough to be analysed using techniques like Electron Paramagnetic
Resonance (EPR) spectroscopy or Mass Spectrometry (MS). In the current study, Fenton chemistry has been used to generate hydroxyl radicals. Since
the hydroxyl radical adduct of the spin-trap N-tert-butyl-α-phenylnitrone (PBN) is shortlived
at room temperature a secondary trapping technique is employed. The resulting
spin-trapped species have been sampled using solvent-free extraction approaches i.e.
Headspace Solid Phase Microextraction (HS-SPME) or Thermal desorption (TD), and
the extracted products then detected and identified by using gas chromatography-mass
spectrometry (GC-MS). GC-MS provides an alternative to other traditional techniques
like EPR spectroscopy, as it provides more detailed information about structure of the
radical adduct. Aldehydes are some of the most important products of oxidative stress, mostly produced
through lipid peroxidation, and potentially may be used as biomarkers for different
diseases. Their reactivity, production in low quantities and need of derivatisation are
some of the challenges faced by analytical chemists to detect them. In the current
research, aldehydes are used as secondary source of radicals in the Fenton reaction to
produce aldehyde related free radicals. The developed method is not only a solvent free
approach but also there is no need of derivatisation. It has the potential to be used as a
biomarker assay of oxidative stress.


A clinical case of Relapsing Polychondritis (RP) with Microscopic Polyangiitis (MPA) is described in a 66 years old woman. This case represents a rare association of the two pathologies. Polychondritis is a rare inflammatory disease of unknown origin, but immunological mechanisms are essential in the pathogenesis. Histological features are inflammation and destruction of cartilage. The disease is systemic, may have a remitting course. The osteoarticular lesions are sometimes unusual, involving the temporomandibular or cervical articulations, and the renal lesions may be severe. This can be primary or associated with several other diseases. Microscopic Polyangiitis is a systemic disorder characterized by necrotizing vasculitis, affecting the small vessels. Most patient with MPA have Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibodies for Myeloperoxidase (MPO-ANCA). ANCA have become an established tool for the diagnosis of systemic vasculitis. The primary target antigens for ANCA are myeloperoxidase (enzyme present in the secretory granules of neutrophils and monocytes) and antibodies to these antigens are tested by ELISA and IIF (indirect immunofluorescence). We describe a case of histologically confirmed MPA with Relapsing Polychondritis. Clinically she presented livedo reticularis in the lower limbs and pain in the joints. During the follow-up the patient developed asymmetric oligoarticular arthritis. Immunosuppressive drugs like glucocorticoids and cyclofosfamide are the drugs of choice, depending on the stage and severity of the disease.


Liver cancer (LC) ranks fifth in frequency in the world with an estimated number of 437,000 new cases in 1990. In developing countries, incidence rates are two- to three-fold higher than in developed countries. The geographic areas at highest risk are located in Eastern Asia, with age-adjusted incidence rates (AAIRs) ranking from 27.6 to 36.6 per 100,000 in men; Middle Africa, with AAIRs ranking from 20.8 to 38.1 per 100,000 in men; and some countries of Western Africa, with AAIRs ranking from 30 to 48 per 100,000 in men. The geographic areas at lowest LC risk are Northern Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and the Caucasian populations in North and Latin America, with AAIRs below 5.0 per 100,000 in men. Excess of LC incidence among men compared to women is universal, with sex ratios between 1.5 and 3.0. Significant variations in LC incidence among different ethnic groups living in the same geographical area and among migrants of the same ethnic groups living in different areas have been extensively described. The variability of LC incidence rates between countries and within countries, strongly suggests differences in exposure to risk factors. The role of chronic infection with the Hepatitis B and hepatitis C viruses (HBV and HCV) in the etiology of LC is well established. The attributable risk estimates for LC for each of these hepatotropic viruses vary among countries but the combined effects of persistent HBV or HCV infections account for well over 80% of LC cases worldwide. Other documented risk factors such as aflatoxin exposure in diets, cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, and oral contraceptives may explain the residual variation between and within countries. Interactions between some risk factors have been postulated, and are subject of active research. New laboratory techniques and biological markers such as polymerase chain reaction detection of HBV DNA and HCV RNA, as well as specific mutations related to aflatoxin exposure may help to provide quantitative estimates of the risk related to each these factors.


The sources of vascularization of the kidneys of five polar owl carcasses were studied by filling the vessels with self-hardening plastic Belokril through the femoral artery. High-grade oil paints were added to the monomer to give the vessels the desired color. After the injection, the carcasses were placed in a high concentration caustic soda solution for three days. The resulting corrosion impression was washed under warm water and dried. It was identified that in the lumbar trunk, the main vessel was the descending aorta, from which extraand intraorganic arteries departed for vascularizing the kidneys. Extraorganic arteries included external and internal iliac, sciatic and middle sacral arteries. Intraorganic arteries included cranial, middle, and caudal renal arteries. Inside the parenchyma of each lobe of the kidney, intraorganic arteries branched in the main type of caudomedial, dorsomedial and lateromedial directions and were subdivided into segmental, interlobular and perilobular arteries and intralobular capillaries. An asymmetry in the branching of the renal arteries was observed. During histological examination, we noted that the renal arteries were lined with endothelium on the inner side and the intima contained endotheliocytes with oval nuclei. Under the endothelial layer were loose collagen fibers running along the middle shell. There was no loose connective tissue between the inner and middle shells, so the subendothelial layer was very weak and there was no internal elastic membrane. The muscle membrane was well developed, with collagen and elastic fibers located between the muscle fibers. The outer shell was represented by loose connective tissue with the presence of arterial and venous vessels. The collagen fibers had a slightly convoluted course.


The protein product of the v-myb oncogene of avian myeloblastosis virus, v-Myb, differs from its normal cellular counterpart, c-Myb, by (i) expression under the control of a strong viral long terminal repeat, (ii) truncation of both its amino and carboxyl termini, (iii) replacement of these termini by virally encoded residues, and (iv) substitution of 11 amino acid residues. We had previously shown that neither the virally encoded termini nor the amino acid substitutions are required for transformation by v-Myb. We have now constructed avian retroviruses that express full-length or singly truncated forms of c-Myb and have tested them for the transformation of chicken bone marrow cells. We conclude that truncation of either the amino or carboxyl terminus of c-Myb is sufficient for transformation. In contrast, the overexpression of full-length c-Myb does not result in transformation. We have also shown that the amino acid substitutions of v-Myb by themselves are not sufficient for the activation of c-Myb. Rather, the presence of either the normal amino or carboxyl terminus of c-Myb can suppress transformation when fused to v-Myb. Cells transformed by c-Myb proteins truncated at either their amino or carboxyl terminus appear to be granulated promyelocytes that express the Mim-1 protein. Cells transformed by a doubly truncated c-Myb protein are not granulated but do express the Mim-1 protein, in contrast to monoblasts transformed by v-Myb that neither contain granules nor express Mim-1. These results suggest that various alterations of c-Myb itself may determine the lineage of differentiating hematopoietic cells.


Distribution of manganese (Mn) and its binding to specific proteins were examined in rat pancreas. A MnCl2 solution was injected subcutaneously into Wistar rats daily at a single dose of 15 mg of Mn/kg body weight for 10 days and the animals were killed 1 day after the last injection. The concentration of Mn in the pancreas increased considerably from 1.4 +/- 0.2 (control) to 13.3 +/- 3.7 micrograms/g wet tissue by the repeated injection of Mn. The distribution of Mn in the soluble fraction of the pancreas (170,000 g supernatant) was determined on a gel-filtration column (Asahipak GST-520) using an h.p.l.c.-inductively coupled argon plasma atomic-emission spectrometry (i.c.p.) technique. The metal was eluted as a single peak in the high-molecular-mass protein fraction, where Mn had been observed as a small peak in the control profile, suggesting that the administered Mn was bound to the same Mn-binding component as that in the control. On the basis of enzymic and chemical characterization of the protein, it was identified as a zymogen of carboxypeptidase B (pro-carboxypeptidase B, pro-CPB). The elution profiles of the protein by h.p.l.c.-i.c.p. indicated that Mn and zinc (Zn) were bound to the zymogen with a molar ratio of 1:4 in normal rat pancreas. Mn bound to the zymogen was easily replaced by Zn in vitro, suggesting that Mn was bound to the Zn-binding site and that the binding affinity to Zn was higher than that to Mn. The present results indicate that pro-CPB is the primary Mn-binding protein in the pancreas of control and also Mn-administered rats.


1. The incorporation of methyl groups into histones from dimethylnitrosamine and from methionine was studied by injection of the labelled compounds, isolation of rat liver and kidney histones, and analysis of hydrolysates by column chromatography. 2. Labelled methionine gave rise to labelled in-N-methyl-lysine, di-in-N-methyl-lysine and an amino acid presumed to be omega-N-methyl-arginine. 3. Administration of labelled dimethylnitrosamine gave rise to labelled S-methylcysteine, 1-methylhistidine, 3-methylhistidine and in-N-methyl-lysine derived from the alkylating metabolite of dimethylnitrosamine. In addition, labelled formaldehyde released by metabolism of dimethylnitrosamine leads to the formation of labelled S-adenosylmethionine, and hence to labelling of in-N-methyl-lysine, di-in-N-methyl-lysine and omega-N-methylarginine by enzymic methylation. 4. The formation of in-N-methyl-lysine by alkylation of liver histones was confirmed by using doubly labelled dimethylnitrosamine to discriminate between direct chemical alkylation and enzymic methylation via S-adenosylmethionine. These experiments also suggested the possibility that methionine residues in the histones were alkylated to give methylmethionine sulphonium residues. 5. The extent of alkylation of liver histones was maximal at about 5h after dosing and declined between 5 and 24h. The methylated amino acids resulting from direct chemical alkylation were preferentially lost: this is ascribed to necrosis of the more highly alkylated cells. 6. Liver histones were about four times as alkylated as kidney histones; the extent of alkylation of liver histones was similar to that of liver total nuclear proteins. 7. Methyl methanesulphonate (120mg/kg) alkylated liver histones to a greater extent than did dimethylnitrosamine. Diethylnitrosamine also alkylated liver histones. 8. The results are discussed with regard to the possible effects of alkylation on histone function, and the possible role of histone alkylation in carcinogenesis by the three compounds.


This study investigates institutional investors' perceptions and assessment of the level (poor, medium, strong) of corporate accountability in bridging the audit expectation gap, following the implementation of the Jordanian corporate governance code (JCGC). This study employed a qualitative approach; In-depth interviews were conducted with ten financial analysts who work with investment institutions. The study outcomes were based on the literature review, the analysis of the qualitative data and discussions of generated themes. The results revealed that adopting effective corporate accountability system positively contributes in narrowing the audit expectation gap due to the increasing interest in the role of accountability in fighting corruption in Jordan. Such interest arises from the implication that weak corporate accountability suggests that the top management are not accountable and, if they are also major shareholders, they may consider it appropriate to view the company as theirs to do whatever they wished with. This implication has negatively affected trading in the shares of some companies. Similarly, poor corporate accountability has led to a perception by analysts that external auditors in Jordan are failing to accomplish their role as agents of shareholders. The study also highlighted the importance of active and fully-independent audit committee in ensuring the best implementation of corporate accountability among corporate governance constituents. KeywordsAudit Expectation Gap, Corporate Accountability, Audit committees, Corporate Governance, Financial Analysts, Qualitative Research.


The theory of psychological reversals developed by Michael Apter, a British psychologist, is used to explain behavior and motivation in employees. The article explains that such behaviors are neither haphazard nor necessarily undesirable. Reversal theory provides a structured way of analyzing employee behaviors through the use of four pairs of exclusive, opposite states. An employee may reverse back and forth between these states.


An approach towards quantum games is proposed that uses the unusual probabilities involved in EPR type experiments directly in twoplayer games.


A process for reducing the nucleic acid content of Candida utilis NRRL Y900 has been developed. The optimal process consists of heating the cells suspended in spent medium initially at pH 4.0 for various times at three different temperatures. Initially a heat-shock at 68 C for 1 to 3 sec is performed followed by incubation for 1 hr at 45 to 50 C and for a 2nd hr at 52 to 55 C. The distribution of degradation products has been characterized. Initially 90% of the nucleic acids were in a polymerized form (extractable by hot perchloric acid). After 30 min, much of this material was hydrolyzed but remained within the cell (extractable by cold perchloric acid). After 2 hr, most of the hydrolysis products leaked into the surrounding medium with only a small amount of low-molecular-weight material remaining within the membrane. Predominantly 3′-mononucleotides accumulated within the cell and eventually leaked from the cell.


BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE
The delay in the initiation of antibiotic treatment in patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) could influence their prognostic. The aim of our study was to evaluate the influence of a delay in antibiotic treatment on mortality, occurrence of complications, and length of stay in the hospital, in relation to the prior duration of the fever.

PATIENTS AND METHOD
This is a cohort study which includes all patients over 18 years of age admitted with CAP over a 4 year period. The response variables analysed were in-hospital mortality, average stay in days and occurrence of complications during evolution. The relationship between the delay in antibiotic treatment and the outcome variables was estimated by logistic regression models, adjusting the estimations by PSI (Pneumonia Severity Index) and APACHE II (Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation).

RESULTS
Six hundred fifty-nine patients were included (average age of 71 years, 71% males). Seventy-six (11.6%) patients died, 12.1% of those who arrived after 48 hours (55.4% of patients) and 10.9% of those who came early. The delay in antibiotic treatment was associated with a higher mortality (odds ratio [OR] = 3.05; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.86-10.9; threshold of 8 h), prolonged stay (OR = 2.38; CI 95%, 1.11-5.14; threshold of 5 h) and a higher rate of complications (OR = 2.24; CI 95%, 0.90-5.53; threshold of 3 h).

CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest the importance of the early administration of antibiotics in patients with CAP. There is also an increased risk for each of these outcomes in those patients with a history of fever of more than 2 days before arriving in hospital.


This article discusses creativity within the classroom with a focus on creative writing. First, it reviews concepts of creativity in the educational literature and a previous study on how science teachers fostered "small c" creativity in their classrooms. Small-c creativity values the kind of thinking that produces new ideas in learners but is not necessarily historically important to any field or domain. It can be argued that when educators help their students excel at thinking creatively every day, it assists them in more frequently producing creative products. Using this theoretical lens, an analytical study framework was developed from a review of the literature stating that teachers who foster small-c creativity: (1) support divergent thinking; (2) accept learning artifacts that are novel; (3) nurture collaboration in which individual kinds of creativity are supported; (4) provide choices in what is an acceptable response; and (5) include lesson guidelines that enhance learning and self-confidence. Findings of the science study were applied to the writing classroom, as five poet-teachers were interviewed regarding their beliefs about small-c creativity. The themes that emerged within the teacher interviews are discussed. The piece concludes with recommendations for writing teachers geared to help them foster small-c creativity in their classrooms.


We develop statistical methods to model ultrafine particle (UFP) counts as a function of size and time using Bayesian functional time-series methods. Because of their small diameter and relatively large surface area, UFPs can penetrate the lung, enter the circulatory system, and deposit in the brain. Health effects of UFPs may be strongly linked to particle size as this characteristic determines which region in the lung the particles deposit. UFP counts can increase by orders of magnitude above natural levels in urban environments from anthropogenic processes such as the operation of combustion engines. Understanding how UFP counts of various sizes change over time near combustion engines and high traffic roadways is crucial in setting idling, vehicle reduction, and vehicle emissions policy.We first propose Bayesian longitudinal functional time series models to understand the impact of engine idling on UFP counts inside school buses. Our approach is a varying coefficient model and we model UFP counts over size at a given time with a cubic B-spline basis. UFP counts across a range of sizes were collected over time during multiple experiments while the bus engines were off and then turned on, making the data multivariate longitudinal. Steady meteorological and background traffic conditions during individual experiments imply that UFP counts over size do not vary greatly with time before the engine is on, but variation in engine-off UFP counts is observed between experiments. We model this using a spline random effect model across all UFP sizes. We allow counts to increase over time at a size dependent rate once the engine is turned on. We explore alternate models for the engine-on increase: a possible jump in counts at engine-on followed by either a quadratic or bent line time trend. A random jump by experiment is also explored. Residuals are modeled with an autoregressive model over time to accommodate correlation over time. To account for larger count variance for smaller particles relative to larger particles, the log residual variance over size bin is modeled using a quadratic B-spline basis.We next propose distinct Bayesian functional time series models to model the how UFP counts change over time near the I-405 roadway. As with the bus experiment, we model UFP counts over size at a given time with a cubic B-spline basis. Our methods allow UFP counts to then change over time at a size bin dependent rate by letting B-spline coefficients evolve over time following a random walk model. This model smooths UFP counts both over size and over time. To account for larger count variance for smaller particles relative to larger particle size bins, the log residual variance over size bin is again modeled using a quadratic B-spline basis. We also explore modeling residuals with an autoregressive model to accommodate correlation over time.In both studies, we provide statistical summaries of how particle counts evolve over time as a function of size bin to estimate the contribution of emissions to UFP counts. We utilize plots to aid in the interpretation of model inferences and make model output interpretable to non-statisticians. Graphs also aid in diagnosis of lack of fit and can help suggest model improvements. Taken jointly, our methods can be used to understand the behavior of UFP counts over size and over time near combustion engines and high traffic roadways.


Marine Operations such as pipe laying, subsea installations, heavy lifting operations, work-over operations, crane operations are extremely sensitive to metocean conditions. Wind, wave and currents from different directions and long period wave motion can cause adverse vessel response which may impair operations. Thus, without systematic sea state monitoring, marine operations sensitive to wind, wave height, wave period and vessel motion can be subject to delays, cost overruns, safety issues, and asset damage. Precise knowledge of the sea state during such operations is an essential requirement which has become more critical as offshore activities have moved into ever greater water depths, and into hostile frontier areas. This calls for a reliable and accurate on-board system for continuous, real-time wave and motion monitoring and recording.


Targeted therapies for cancer are inherently limited by the inevitable recurrence of resistant disease after initial responses. To define early molecular changes within residual tumor cells that persist after treatment, we analyzed drug-sensitive lung adenocarcinoma cell lines exposed to reversible or irreversible epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitors, alone or in combination with MET-kinase inhibitors, to characterize the adaptive response that engenders drug resistance. Tumor cells displaying early resistance exhibited dependence on MET-independent activation of BCL-2/BCL-XL survival signaling. Further, such cells displayed a quiescence-like state associated with greatly retarded cell proliferation and cytoskeletal functions that were readily reversed after withdrawal of targeted inhibitors. Findings were validated in a xenograft model, showing BCL-2 induction and p-STAT3[Y705] activation within the residual tumor cells surviving the initial antitumor response to targeted therapies. Disrupting the mitochondrial BCL-2/BCL-XL antiapoptotic machinery in early survivor cells using BCL-2 Homology Domain 3 (BH3) mimetic agents such as ABT-737, or by dual RNAi-mediated knockdown of BCL-2/BCL-XL, was sufficient to eradicate the early-resistant lung-tumor-cells evading targeted inhibitors. Similarly, in a xenograft model the preemptive cotreatment of lung tumor cells with an EGFR inhibitor and a BH3 mimetic eradicated early TKI-resistant evaders and ultimately achieved a more durable response with prolonged remission. Our findings prompt prospective clinical investigations using BH3-mimetics combined with targeted receptor kinase inhibitors to optimize and improve clinical outcomes in lung-cancer treatment.


Thermal washout curves have been proposed as noninvasive tools for analysing lower airway dimensions and pulmonary blood flow, but how upper airway heat transfer affects these washout curves is unclear. The present study was designed to compare extrathoracic and tracheobronchial contributions to thermal washout curves. Respiratory frequency, air ambient temperature, and body core temperature (tc) were varied in six male subjects before and after immersion in cold (1.1 degrees C) water for up to 2 h under three conditions: 1) control: ambient temperature (tamb) = 25 degrees C, rectal temperature change (delta tre) = 0 degrees C; 2) pre-immersion: tamb = 4 degrees C, delta tre = 0 degrees C; and 3) post-immersion: tamb = 25 degrees C, delta tre = -0.7 degrees C. Both peak expiratory nasal (tpn) and oral (tpo) airstream temperatures were measured. Each subject was tested twice. Expiratory tpo was generally higher than tpn in all conditions. Increasing breathing rates lowered tpn and tpo in the control and cold air environments. Orifice temperatures, which are presumed to reflect upper airway blood temperatures, correlated with both tpn and tpo. Lowering tc had no effect on washout curves during quiet breathing and affected only tpn during rapid breathing. The results suggest that while tracheobronchial conditions may contribute to thermal washout curves, extrathoracic conditions predominate. Strong correlations between orifice temperatures, peak expiratory nasal temperatures and peak expiratory oral temperature demonstrate the dominant role of upper airway heat exchange in determining thermal washout curves.


An empirical numerical model that includes nuclear absorption, multiple Coulomb scattering and energy loss is presented for the calculation of transmission through thick objects in high energy proton radiography. In this numerical model the angular distributions are treated as Gaussians in the laboratory frame. A Monte Carlo program based on the Geant4 toolkit was developed and used for high energy proton radiography experiment simulations and verification of the empirical numerical model. The two models are used to calculate the transmission fraction of carbon and lead step-wedges in proton radiography at 24 Ge V/c, and to calculate radial transmission of the French Test Object in proton radiography at 24 Ge V/c with different angular cuts. It is shown that the results of the two models agree with each other, and an analysis of the slight differences is given.