The balance between the production and elimination of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is essential in determining whether cells survive or undergo apoptosis. Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) may act as a sensor for electrophilic stress, thus regulating the intracellular antioxidant response. The present study investigated the role of vitamin C (VC) and quercetin (Q) in the induction of Nrf2-mediated oxidative stress in cancer cells. An MTT assay was conducted to examine the anti-proliferative effects of VC and Q. Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blot analysis were performed to determine the messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein expression of Nrf2, respectively. The activity of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate dehydrogenase quinone 1, heme oxygenase 1, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase and reduced glutathione were measured by spectrophotometric analysis. Intracellular generation of ROS was determined using 2'-7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate fluorescent probes. The results demonstrated that the cytotoxicity (50% inhibitory concentration) of VC and Q were 271.6-480.1 and 155.1-232.9 µM, respectively. Additionally, there was a significant decrease in the expression of Nrf2 mRNA and protein levels following the treatment of breast cancer cells with VC and Q (P=0.024). Following treatment with VC and Q, the nuclear/cytosolic Nrf2 ratio was reduced by 1.7-fold in MDA-MB 231 cells, 2-fold in MDA-MB 468 cells, 1.4-fold in MCF-7 cells and 1.2 fold in A549 cells. Sequential treatment with VC and Q decreased endogenous production of ROS in a dose-dependent manner (P=0.027). The results of the current study suggest that VC and Q treatment may be developed as an adjuvant for patients with cancer and overexpression of Nrf2.


In 2016, the proof of principle for a new method of imaging was presented [1], which
uses many elements of traditional Magnetic Resonant Imaging, but replaces the detection of RF induction signals with that of the anisotropic gamma-emission from a
hyper-polarized radioactive noble gas. Since gamma-radiation is in comparison very
easy to detect, this method is sensitive to concentrations of imaged nuclei that are
up to ten orders of magnitudes lower than those needed in conventional MRI. Therefore, it has the perspective of combining the advantages of nuclear tracers, as they
are used in SPECT and PET, with the higher spatial resolution of MRI. In addition
to presenting a software for numerical simulations of the spin precession and nuclear emission behavior during magnetic resonance experiments on hyper-polarized
radioactive xenon, this thesis documents the development of two dedicated setups.
The first is dedicated to extracting 131mXe, the radioactive tracer required for the
measurements, from commercially available 131I. The second setup is designed for
magnetic resonance experiments on hyper-polarized xenon, capable of using both
the anisotropic gamma emission from radioactive nuclei as well as induction signals
from stable isotopes for detection. It utilizes an existing low-field MRI-scanner and
Si-PMT based gamma detectors in combination with elements from a spin-exchange
optical pumping setup developed for hyper-polarized MRI on stable Xenon. Both
setups were planned, built and tested in the frame of this thesis and are ready for
commissioning.


Permanent-magnet vernier machine (PMVM) is a relatively new type of PM machines. An analytical subdomain model accounting for tooth-tips and flux modulation poles is developed to accurately predict on-load field distributions in PMVMs. Based on two-dimensional (2-D) polar coordinate and magnetic vector potential, this method solves the Maxwell's equations in slot, air-gap, flux modulation pole slot (FMPS), and PM regions. Consequently, the electromagnetic performance such as cogging torque, back-electromotive force (EMF), electromagnetic torque, power factor, and magnet loss are calculated. In addition, the model can also be used for the evaluation of demagnetization withstand capability. The finite-element analysis (FEA) and experimental results validate the accuracy of the developed analytical model.


An array of a large number of LEDs will be widely used in future indoor illumination systems. In this paper, we investigate the problem of rendering uniform illumination by a regular LED array on the ceiling of a room. We first present two general results on the scaling property of the basic illumination pattern, i.e., the light pattern of a single LED, and the setting of LED illumination levels, respectively. Thereafter, we propose to use the relative mean squared error as the cost function to measure the uniformity of the realized illumination pattern, and provide an analysis for this cost function. Based on the analysis, the design of a basic illumination pattern is discussed. The performances of a few basic illumination patterns are compared, and an approach for optimizing the basic illumination pattern through a weighted combination of these basic patterns is also proposed. A weighted combination of Gaussian and raised-cosine functions is found to yield the best results. Finally, three basic regular grid shapes for an LED array are compared. The results show that 13% and 39% of LEDs can be saved for the same degree of uniformity, using the hexagonal instead of the rectangular and triangular grid, respectively.


Demand is growing rapidly, worldwide, for wideband telecommunications services, stimulated in part by the availability of new microwave technologies. Millimetre-wave transceivers based on GaAs monolithic microwave integrated circuits (MMICs) are a key component of these wideband systems. The CSIRO Division of Radiophysics offers an MMIC design and prototyping service which provides a low-risk entry point for those wishing to develop integrated millimetre-wave components. This paper demonstrates CSIRO's highly competitive capability for innovation in GaAs MMIC technology.


Context. Asteroseismology of Sun-like stars is undergoing rapid expansion with, for example, new data from the CoRoT mission and continuation of ground-based campaigns. There is also the exciting upcoming prospect of NASA's Kepler mission, which will allow the asteroseismic study of several hundred Sun-like targets, in some cases for periods lasting up to a few years. Aims. The seismic mode parameters are the input data needed for making inference on stars and their internal structures. In this paper we discuss the ease with which it will be possible to extract estimates of individual mode parameters, dependent on the mass, age, and visual brightness of the star. Our results are generally applicable; however, we look at mode detectability in the context of the upcoming Kepler observations. Methods. To inform our discussions we make predictions of various seismic parameters. To do this we use simple empirical scaling relations and detailed pulsation computations of the stochastic excitation and damping characteristics of the Sun-like p modes. Results. The issues related to parameter extraction on individual p modes discussed here are mode detectability, the detectability and impact of stellar activity cycles, and the ability to measure properties of rotationally split components, which is dependent on the relative importance of the rotational characteristics of the star and the damping of the stochastically excited p modes.


Beam is a structural member whose cross-sectional dimensions are relatively smaller than its length. Beams play significantroles in many engineering applications, including buildings, bridges, automobiles, and airplane structures. Beams arecommonly subjected to transverse loading, which is a type of loading that creates bending in the beam. In designing of amachine component or structure, deflection has an important role to be considered. If deflection occurred exceeds limitallowed, it can affect serious hazard on machine elements or structure due to it can affect of component deviate from its mainfunction. In this research, material to be used was Bright Mild Steel (ASTM 1060), with specimen in the form of portal beam.Physical condition of beam was modeled use of BEAM3 2D. Variation of loads to be applied were W = 100, 150, 200, 250,300, 350, 400, 450, 500, and 550 gr and concentrated in the one of portal in vehorizontal direction. The result of simulationwas verificated by experimental data. Evaluation was carried out by statistical test (t-test). The result of simulation iscategorized to be good if the result of simulation is same with experimental data. The result of research shows thatloading has a significant effect on the deflection. The higher load affect the higher of deflection Modeling use of BEAM3 2Dgave good result of deflection. This is showed from t-test have done, where the result of simulation was same withexperimental data.


ABSTRACT Geotechnical mapping of urban environments is usually constrained by the scarcity of outcrops during fieldwork. Such is the case of Avilés, a coastal Spanish city that has been heavily industrialized since the middle of the last century. This research approaches the study of its urban subsoil through the development of a Geographical Information Systems-based relational database containing thousands of unpublished ground data, partially extracted from geotechnical reports. This allowed analysing the distribution and changes of thickness of the superficial deposits and lithostratigraphic formations as well as the evaluation of their main geotechnical properties. Thus, 14 geotechnical units were differentiated (hierarchically displayed in three categories) depending on lithological, geotechnical and constructive criteria. As a result, this investigation provides a geo-engineering map at scale 1:25,000.


Purpose: The purpose of this article is to chronicle paradigm shifts in American political science during the twentieth century and their influence on political scientists' perspectives on pre-collegiate citizenship education curriculum.    Methodology: The research questions explored in this article are concerned with the history of political scientists' ideas about citizenship education. Therefore, historical method is used which involves an examination of evidence--primary sources. Those sources are the APSA's ten reports and statements. Findings: In different decades of the twentieth century, the APSA committees and one taskforce prepared ten (10) reports and statements on pre-collegiate citizenship education which reflected three different paradigms in political science—Traditionalism, Behavioralism, and Post-behavioralism.


During the recent years, the role of deposit insurance funds has increased, and their stable and efficient operation serves the interest of the bank system and also of the economy as a whole. More and more countries, including China, recognise that being familiar with the national bank system is not sufficient due to the complexity of today's economic connections. The bankruptcy of a geographically distant credit institution may deeply affect the bank systems of other countries, and may lead to panic. In such cases, the depositors may rush the bank branches, the panic may spread and lead to the closure of additional banks, which may cause a recess of the economy as a whole. This is when the deposit insurance funds may intervene, which are intended to minimise the damages suffered by the depositors of the credit institutions and consequently by the economy as a whole in the crisis situation. In our country, the National Deposit Insurance Fund started its operation ca. 25 years ago, and it provides compensation for the depositors unfortunately more and more frequently, as a result of which its assets and coverage ratio have significantly reduced.


WLANs will become a major portion of the fourth generation (4G) cellular system. The seamless handoff problem in WLANs is a very important design issue to support the new astounding amazing applications in wireless networks. The entire delay time of a handoff is divided into probe, authentication, and reassociation delay times. Because the probe delay occupies most of the handoff delay time, efforts have focused mainly on reducing the probe delay to develop faster handoff schemes. This paper presents a new fast handoff scheme, called the DeuceScan scheme, to further reduce the probe delay for 802.11- based WLANs. A spatiotemporal approach is developed in this work to utilize a spatiotemporal graph to provide spatiotemporal information for making accurate handoff decisions by correctly searching for the next AP (access point). The DeuceScan scheme is a pre-scan approach which efficiently reduces the MAC layer handoff latency. Two factors of stable signal strength and variable of signal strength are both used in our developed DeuceScan scheme. Finally, the simulation results illustrate the performance achievements of the DeuceScan scheme in reducing the handoff delay time and packet loss rate.


System of higher education is under permanent development and blended learning is a format rapidly spreading in academic area around the world. Increasing numbers of universities are adopting blended learning because it integrates traditional face-to-face with online learning. Blended learning offers opportunities to incorporate different resources like books, multimedia files, web pages and innovative learning activities. Interactive assignment, chat and forum, quiz, survey, workshop and social networking are examples of activities that teachers can include in their courses. On the other side, online learning tools can be expensive and unacceptable for some of the teachers and students who resist to change or afraid of new technology. With the rapid development and wide application of e-learning, online and in-class teaching methods enhances each other and offers many benefits for students and teachers. The purpose of this paper is to reveal the advantages and applicability of the blended learning in higher education sector by reviewing the relevant literature, and then to investigates students' perceptions and attitudes towards blended learning tools used by The Bucharest University of Economic Studies. An exploratory research based on questionnaire was conducted among the students from the Faculty of Business and Tourism. Results of the research showed that the students have positive attitudes towards blended learning. The findings also indicated that blended learning tools do enhance students' learning experiences and learning outcomes. Based on these results, suggestions for future research directions and recommendations for both students and teachers interested to combine face-to-face and online learning were formulated.


Droughts occur frequently in China and their real-time monitoring and timely reporting are required for prevention and mitigation. This paper presents a method for developing an operational drought monitoring system for China. The method is based on various components such as Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer data access, data processing, indices calculations, drought monitoring and analysis, and information dissemination. The system was tested by monitoring drought conditions in the early spring of 2009 in the Hai Basin of China. Results were compared with the in situ data-based indices. It was found that the system was capable of monitoring spatial variation in vegetation conditions attributed to droughts. The traditional meteorological drought index and yield data were collected to evaluate the system performance. A stronger relationship was found between the vegetation health index and the three-month standard precipitation index for the rainfed cropped areas. The relationship between the drought-area percentage and the winter wheat yield reduction percentage for 16 counties was stronger for the April–May period than for the February–March period. The drought monitoring system could explain about 60% of the variance in the winter wheat yields.


Both excitable and non-excitable cells possess plasma membrane ion channels and evidence has accumulated over the last 30 or so years that these channels perhaps play key roles in the cell life and death. This Thesis investigated the characteristics and putative functions of one class of potassium channel, the BK channel in osteoblast-like cells and primary osteoblasts from human, rat and mouse. The properties and functions were defined in vitro using a combination of patch-clamp, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and functional assays for cell growth and mineralisation. RT-PCR showed the presence of KCNMA1, KCNMB1, KCNMB2, KCNMB3 and KCNMB4, the gene for BK channel α, β1, β2, β3 and β4 subunits respectively. The channel was voltage-dependent with a mean unitary conductance of 315 pS in cell-attached patches, a conductance of 124 pS in excised outside-out and 151 pS in inside-out patches. The channel was blocked by TEA (0.3 mM), TBuA (1 mM), TPeA (1-10 μM), THeA (1-3 μM), tetrandrine (5-30 μM) and paxilline (10 μM) and was activated by isopimaric acid (20 μM). Notably iberiotoxin (IbTX) (90 nM) only blocked a proportion of the channels tested (2/5). Osteoblast-like MG63 cell number changed in response to BK channel modulators. It increased significantly with TEA and tetrandrine at low concentrations (1 mM, 3 μM respectively), and reduced at high concentrations (>10 mM, >10 μM respectively). It was not affected by IbTX (20-300 nM) or slotoxin (300 nM). The increase in cell number by TEA was blocked by isopimaric acid. In addition, TPeA and THeA caused a decrease of osteoblast-like SaOS2 cell mineralisation at the concentrations (3 and 0.3 μM, respectively) increased MG63 cell numbers. The BK channel has a distinctive pharmacology and represents a new target for therapeutic strategies in modulating osteoblast proliferation.


This paper reviews studies that investigate conditions resulting in long-lasting modifications of synaptic efficacy in horizontal connections within layers II/III of adult rat motor cortex using the in vitro slice preparation. Long-term potentiation (LTP) was induced by high frequency theta burst stimulation (TBS) when local synaptic inhibition was transiently suppressed by bicuculline methiodide application at the recording site immediately prior to TBS of the horizontal pathway. Without bicuculline, TBS failed to produce LTP. LTP could also be induced without Bic application by conjoint TBS of horizontal and vertical (ascending) inputs. By contrast, long-term depression (LTD) of horizontal transmission was induced by 10 min of 2 Hz stimulation. Depressed horizontal connections nevertheless retained the capability for synaptic strength increases. These studies indicate that synaptic modification across horizontally connected neurones is regulated both by the arrangement of their intrinsic circuits and by the availability of mechanisms for modification at individual synapses. Activity dependent forms of synaptic plasticity operating within horizontal connections may form a spatial substrate and mechanism for experience-dependent regulation of cortical representations.


Polymer-based products are widely used as load-carrying components in different structural applications due to the ease of manufacture, installation, and long lifetime properties. In mining and tunnelling industry, fast-setting, thin polymer-based products are in demand as an underground support liner. Researchers have agreed that the time-dependent material properties of underground support liners have significance for short to long term applications. Although some creep tests were performed in literature, there is no available study on the numerical analysis/simulation of the creep behaviour of underground support liners. In this study, viscoelastic mathematical models developed for two different underground support liners were analyzed in ABAQUS finite element numerical modelling software with a developed subroutine. After the implementation, tensile creep test specimens were modelled to verify the new subroutine. There are two main purposes of the simulation of experiments; Firstly, to verify that the subroutine works in accordance with the actual behaviour of the material, secondly, to obtain realistic creep behaviour results for cases where experiments were not performed. As a result, a good agreement was obtained between the mathematical model predictions and numerical results for different stress levels. The proposed subroutines may create a basement for future numerical studies.


INTRODUCTION
Nearly 15% of youth in India use tobacco. However, few studies have explored the use, knowledge, and attitudes of smokeless tobacco use among youth.

AIM
To determine the patterns of use as well as knowledge and perceptions of smokeless tobacco among youth in Mumbai attending municipal schools.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
A cross-sectional survey was performed among 1053 students in the 8th and 9th grades in 16 municipal schools in Mumbai to determine the knowledge and perceptions about smokeless tobacco products as well as the patterns of use.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS
Ever use of smokeless tobacco was reported by 47 (4.7%) students in the survey. Twenty-nine (2.9%) students reported ever using smoked tobacco. Students were more likely to identify cigarettes and bidis as tobacco products compared to smokeless tobacco products such as gutkha, mishri, and khaini. Betel nut products were used by 178 (17.9%) students. The high rate of smokeless tobacco and betel nut use coupled with low levels of knowledge about their contents and harms suggests that tobacco control programs targeting youth should ensure that these products are adequately explained and understood by students.


This work is situated at the intersection between the historiographies on European integration, the Cold War, and human rights, and scrutinizes the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE, 1973-75) from the specific angle of the history of European integration. According to a narrative that has become standard in historiography, the EC countries achieved remarkable cohesion in the CSCE process through the newly-created European Political Cooperation (EPC), an informal intergovernmental mechanism set up in 1970.

This thesis argues instead that the EPC was less successful in achieving cohesion and a common position of the EC's member states than has been claimed so far. Human rights was a divisive issue, and ideas of dA©tente differed widely in the West European camp. The thesis emphasizes the political fault lines among the nine member states, and in particular between West Germany and the Netherlands, two countries that stand out for their quite different negotiating style and equally different political goals. The author argues that while West German and Dutch foreign policy eventually achieved a degree of coordination, common understanding was lacking. West Germany and the Netherlands often fought for very different goals. In the case of West Germany, its key goal at the CSCE was human relief, a long-standing goal of West German policy that had marked Ostpolitik since its very beginnings: the conspicuous sufferings of German people and the personal experiences of German leaders had a powerful impact on West German foreign policy. The Dutch by contrast thought of human rights as a principle of international law to be used in an ideological confrontation. The work emphasizes the multifaceted nature of the domestic discussions about human rights at the time, points out that the very idea of human rights needs to be historicized, and highlights the role played by domestic influences and by individuals, with a specific focus on domestic political actors, like the Dutch foreign minister Max van der Stoel, who emerges as a staunch – and relatively poorly known - key-advocate of human rights.


This thesis presents the study of the coding technique and the simulation results for the Forward Error Correction (FEC) of the wireless data in a highly noisy and severe fading wireless medium, based on standard (IEEE 802.11 Wireless Local Area Network specification) and GPS driven non-standard MAC schemes. The design and testing of this coding scheme is a part of MYMAR, a new Mobile Yellow page Messaging And Retrieval system, which is based on GPS driven slow frequency hopping access. The main contributions of this thesis are the demonstration of the performance of the coding scheme, which works well in severe fading environments. The coding technique uses simple Reed-Solomon Forward Error Correction mechanisms coupled with a new highly interleaved data table. The performance of the coding scheme is assessed in Rayleigh fading multipath propagation with additive white Gaussian noise interference coupled with interference due to like user frequency hop overlapping (in non-standard MAC scheme). Simulation results for severe fading channel with burst error models are presented for both standard and non-standard MAC mechanisms. The simulation show very good and satisfactory results for high data rate with good TPDU (Transport Protocol Data Unit) loss probabilities.


Nonreciprocal light transmission is critical in building optical isolations and circulations in optical communication systems. Achieving high optical isolation and broad bandwidth with CMOS-compatibility are still difficult in silicon nano-photonics. Here we first experimentally demonstrate that the fiber-chip-fiber optomechanical structure, which is based on the thermal radiative effect, is effective at achieving a broad operation bandwidth of 24 nm and an ultra-high nonreciprocal transmission ratio up to 63 dB. These satisfactory nonreciprocal performances can mostly be attributed to the significant characteristics of the thermal radiative effect, which could cause a fiber displacement up to tens of microns. This powerful thermal radiative effect opens up a new opportunity for nonreciprocal light transmission which is promising to be used in complete on-chip nonreciprocal devices in the future.


Credit scoring is regarded as a one the most important techniques in banks and has become a very critical
tool during recent decades. A number of credit scoring models have been developed to evaluate the credit
risk process of both new and existing loan clients. This research aims to investigate the ability of neural nets,
such as probabilistic neural nets and multi-layer feed-forward nets, as well as conventional techniques, such
as the weight of evidence measure, discriminant analysis, probit analysis, and logistic regression as credit
scoring statistical tools. Results so far have revealed that neural nets give better average correct
classification rates than the other traditional techniques. In this research, analyses of the credit scoring task
are performed on one bank's personal loans' data-set. In order to evaluate the misclassification costs, both
type I errors and type II errors have been calculated.


This chapter explores the efficacy of psychotherapeutic interventions for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This condition can lead to serious adverse health outcomes (e.g., cardiovascular disease, blindness, loss of limbs, etc.). Medical interventions alone are often not sufficient to manage the disease. Psychotherapy can promote behavioral change that improves medication adherence, dietary choices, exercise, stress, and other variables that affect blood sugar levels. The current chapter summarizes the trends in recent research for psychotherapeutic interventions for the management of T2DM. The results from 16 randomized controlled trials on cognitive-behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing, counseling, and mindfulness-based therapies are discussed. These interventions varied in length (3 to 18 months) and were conducted in many geographic regions (e.g., Australia, Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, and more). Changes in biological health outcomes (i.e., HbA1c levels) were the primary focus of this chapter, but diabetes-related behavioral changes (e.g., diet and exercise) and psychological variables (e.g., stress, depression, and well-being) are also discussed. This chapter highlights that recent research has provided the most support for mindfulness-based therapies for improving blood sugar levels in patients with T2DM.


Objective: To identify a cohort of COVID-19 cases, including when evidence of virus positivity was only mentioned in the clinical text, not in structured laboratory data in the electronic health record (EHR). Materials and Methods: Statistical classifiers were trained on feature representations derived from unstructured text in patient electronic health records (EHRs). We used a proxy dataset of patients with COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests for training. We selected a model based on performance on our proxy dataset and applied it to instances without COVID-19 PCR tests. A physician reviewed a sample of these instances to validate the classifier. Results: On the test split of the proxy dataset, our best classifier obtained 0.56 F1, 0.6 precision, and 0.52 recall scores for SARS-CoV2 positive cases. In an expert validation, the classifier correctly identified 90.8% (79/87) as COVID-19 positive and 97.8% (91/93) as not SARS-CoV2 positive. The classifier identified an additional 960 positive cases that did not have SARS-CoV2 lab tests in hospital, and only 177 of those cases had the ICD-10 code for COVID-19. Discussion: Proxy dataset performance may be worse because these instances sometimes include discussion of pending lab tests. The most predictive features are meaningful and interpretable. The type of external test that was performed is rarely mentioned. Conclusion: COVID-19 cases that had testing done outside of the hospital can be reliably detected from the text in EHRs. Training on a proxy dataset was a suitable method for developing a highly performant classifier without labor intensive labeling efforts.


Abstract Objective The purpose of the current study was to examine the unique contribution of personal and medical factors, objective and subjective cognition, and self-efficacy to the explained variance of quality of life (QoL) among survivors with self-reported cancer related cognitive impairment (CRCI). Method Seventy-three cancer survivors (non-central nervous system) with CRCI (mean age: 50.85 ± 10.82 years old, mean years post-treatment: 3 ± 2.7) participated in this cross-sectional study. QoL was assessed using the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy (FACT)–GP, while the cognitive function was assessed both objectively using tests of attentional control, speed of processing and sustained attention, and subjectively using the FACT-Cognition perceived cognitive impairments (FACTcog-PCI) subscale. Self-efficacy was assessed using the New General Self-Efficacy Scale (NGSE). Results A hierarchical multiple linear regression analysis revealed that sustained attention, perceived cognitive impairment and self-efficacy, accounted for 54% of the variance of QoL (R 2 = 0.543, p < 0.000), each providing a unique contribution to the explained variance (15–20% each) after controlling for age and gender. Conclusions Considering that these variables may be amenable to change, this model can serve as a conceptual framework for designing effective cognitive treatment options for CRCI. Clinical Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT Implication for rehabilitation Cancer related cognitive impairment is characterized by difficulties in the speed of processing performance, severe perceived cognitive impairments, and relatively low general self-efficacy. Multi-dimensional assessments including subjective and objective cognition as well as self-efficacy should be administered to cancer survivors with cognitive complaints to understand the underlying mechanisms of their QoL. Integrative cognitive rehabilitation interventions that aim to improve QoL among people with cancer-related cognitive impairment should target sustained attention, perceived cognitive impairment, and self-efficacy.


Abstract In the problem of optimal taxation in an economy with labor and capital, the optimal solution when the government can commit to a sequence of tax rates entails that the tax on capital tends to zero in the limit, with all the tax burden on labor. It is well known, however, that this solution is time inconsistent; so if the commitment power is not perfect, this second best tax plan will not be sustainable. We model explicitly the trade-off between the cost of revising the tax plan, and the benefit of the revision. As a result, when commitment is not possible, both the limit tax rate and the steady state capital are different from their levels in the second best solution. Limit taxes on capital may be strictly positive; but it may also be the case that the only sustainable plan has subsidies to capital. The subsidies induce an overaccumulation of capital, which becomes a commitment device against revisions of the tax plan. Journal of Economic Literature Classification Numbers: H21, C73.


AIM: The purpose of this study was to the effectiveness of self-regulated learning strategies on math anxiety of dependent cognitive style school students. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: This quasi-experimental study was conducted with pretest-posttest and control group. The statistical population included all first grade high school female students consisted of 136 participants in the academic year 2014–2015, and the sampling method was random sampling. The instruments of this study were: The math anxiety questionnaire (totally 30-item scale, the scale is a 5 Likert-type scale, Cronbachs alpha 0/86) and instruments was Witkin's Group embedded figures test and 18 is the geometric shape, each of which consists of several irregular geometric shape. Concurrent validity for men 0/82, and for women was 0/63 in the pretest questionnaire completed math anxiety by the students and students had high math anxiety in the experimental two group and a one control group were replaced. The experimental groups received training in self-regulated learning strategies method in order to analyze the data. In all hypotheses, ANCOVA analysis and SPSS 22 (IBM SPSS Software SPSS Statistics is a software package used for statistical analysis) was used. RESULTS: According to the findings, the self-regulated learning strategies training is reduced math anxiety of dependent cognitive style school students. CONCLUSIONS: Employing the self-regulated learning strategies training reduced the math anxiety of dependent cognitive style school students.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to describe dose regimens, dose escalation and clinical outcomes in TNF-α inhibitor (TNFi)-naive patients with PsA treated with infliximab in routine rheumatology care.

METHODS
We conducted an observational cohort study based on the nationwide Danish Rheumatologic Database (DANBIO) and Center for Rheumatology Research (ICEBIO) registries. Stratified by country, characteristics of patients treated with ≤3 mg infliximab/kg body weight, 3-5 mg/kg or ≥5 mg/kg every 8 weeks were described. Outcomes were evaluated by ACR 20%, 50% and 70% (ACR20/50/70) responses and European League Against Rheumatism good response after 6 months, disease activity after 12 months, Kaplan-Meier plots and regression analyses.

RESULTS
Four hundred and sixty-two patients (376 Danish, 86 Icelandic) received treatment with infliximab. In Danish patients, the starting dose was ≤3 mg/kg in 110 patients (29%), 3-5 mg/kg in 157 (42%), ≥5 mg/kg in 38 (10%) and unregistered in 71 (19%). In Icelandic patients, corresponding numbers were 64 (74%), 17 (27%), 0 (0%) and 5 (6%). Patients with a higher body weight received lower doses per kilogram. Danish patients received higher doses than Icelandic patients at baseline [median 3.1 (interquartile range 3.0-3.8) vs 2.3 (2.1-2.9) mg/kg, P < 0.05] and after 12 months [3.3 (3.0-4.5) vs 2.9 (2.2-3.5) mg/kg, P < 0.0001]. After 12 months, 58% of Danish and 66% of Icelandic patients maintained treatment. Danish patients had shorter drug survival than Icelandic patients (1183 vs 483 days). In univariate analyses stratified by country, time until dose escalation, response rates, drug survival and 1-year's disease activity were independent of starting dose. Drug survival was shorter among patients not receiving concomitant MTX.

CONCLUSION
In clinical practice, > 70% of Icelandic and Danish PsA patients treated with infliximab received sustained doses below the 5 mg/kg every 8 weeks recommended in international guidelines. Lower starting doses did not affect drug survival or response.


Service-Oriented Architectures enable the consumption of existing services in a standardized way to solve some specific needs. In order to consume some services made available by cooperating parties e.g. for performing some business activity, such services must be located based on different criteria. In this paper, we investigate how the semantic description of the capability of Web services and of customer goals can be exploited for (semi)automating Web service discovery based on functional requirements. For this purpose, we propose a two-phased Web service discovery model. In a first phase, relevant Web services in terms of the results they potentially provide are efficiently located. In a second phase, the inputs required by relevant Web services are considered and only Web services for which the customer can provide appropriate input and for which this input can lead to the expected results are selected. The first phase relies on subsumption reasoning with Description Logics, while the second one relies on a combination of query answering for Logic Programs and subsumption reasoning with Description Logics.


Objective: The current study aimed to examine the effect of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) on cerebral blood flow and age-related loss of cognitive functioning in subjects diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Design, setting and participants: A total of 20 patients with single or multiple domain MCI took part in this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, wherein we investigated the effects of four weeks of daily supplementation with either a high pharmacological dose of 3 g eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) plus docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) (n=10) or placebo (n=10) on cerebral blood flow and cognitive performance. Measurements: Cerebral blood flow and cortical oxygenation were measured by Transcranial Doppler and Near Infrared Spectroscopy together with blood pressure measurements using Finapres. Cognitive function was assessed by sensitive neuropsychological tests measuring reaction times, episodic memory and attention. Results: Daily supplementation with EPA+DHA for 4 weeks had no effect on cerebral hemodynamics or blood pressure. All subjects improved on most of the neuropsychological tests, but there was no difference between the fish oil and the placebo groups. Conclusions: In this randomized controlled trial in MCI patients, daily supplementation with EPA+DHA for four weeks had no effect on cerebral hemodynamics, blood pressure, or cognitive performance


ABSTRACT To create an organism, two genetic programs are required. The first one is geometric, i.e. a scheme, how to design the body. The second program is in the form of a meaningful text which contains instructions and explanations how to use the first program, how to understand and build the organism. These programs exist in the form of "DNA video tapes", which are used by the genetic apparatus, acting like a bio-computer. When the bio-computer reads these video tapes, sound and light images appear that constitute the movie program of the development of the organism. When the creation of a grown-up organism is completed, the movie ends. Then the second movie starts, which contains the instructions for maintenance of the organism for indefinitely long time. Unfortunately, the videotapes containing information about a perfectly healthy organism, get corrupted with time, errors accumulate (DNA mutations). The instructions accumulate errors and the organism gets sick, grows old and dies. It is very likely that these DNA video tapes can be renewed and corrected. With this new understanding of how our genetic apparatus works, completely new technologies for healing a person and extending a person"s life become feasible. And this is the essence of wave genetics and its practical applications to come.


Damage to swathed grains by ducks, geese, and cranes is a long-standing problem in many parts of central North America. We describe the history of the problem, its nature and extent, its causes, and control tactics used; we also make recommendations for research and management. The problem was first recognized in the early 1900's from a growing conflict involving increased agricultural use of the land, a perceived reduction of waterfowl habitat, and increasing populations of birds. The most damage occurred to swathed grain and frequently coincided with waterfowl migration and changeable weather conditions. Damage occurs by direct consumption, contamination by feces, and trampling of swaths. More grain is trampled than consumed by waterfowl, the ratio being as much as 5:1. One Canadian researcher has estimated Canadian prairiewide losses of $6-$10 million annually. Losses to waterfowl on the northern Great Plains of the United States are largely undetermined. Waterfowl tend to select high points of large rolling fields that provide unobstructed views near bodies of water. Most grain farmers never suffer waterfowl damage; those that do usually tolerate it within reason. Tolerance to damage seems to be declining in a depressed farm economy. Most farmers are willing to alleviate the problem themselves unless a local situation becomes too severe. Many methods are available to reduce losses, but success varies. Methods include permanent and temporary diversionary feeding programs such as baiting stations (United States and Canada) and lure-crops (Canada) on government and private land; hazing with exploders, shotguns, rifles, and pyrotechnic devices; scarecrows of many descriptions, and aircraft. Chemical agents such as repellents and soporifics have been tested sparingly and with limited success. New farming practices, such as planting overwintering grains, straight-combining standing grain, delayed plowing of grain stubbles, and no-till farming, show potential for reducing losses to waterfowl if birds are allowed to feed in these fields undisturbed. Public relations should include better use of the media for disseminating information about scare methods and tactics and forecasting migratory waterfowl movements. These forecasts would alert farmers to the potential for damage so they can implement scare tactics at the earliest possible time, thereby increasing their chances of success. We summarize the background of depredation insurance and damage compensation programs in Canada, their successes, and pitfalls. Both methods seem to be relatively expensive and controversial even though they serve a need. Several potential sources of revenue are suggested to cover the cost of waterfowl damage prevention and damage abatement or mitigation programs, including use of the U.S. Federal Crop Insurance Program. Foremost among recommendations made for wildlife managers and researchers in the United States are problem definition and quantification, use of the media to relay information to the agricultural community, implementation of lure-crops and bait stations, possible changes in farming practices, and research to further develop an environmentally safe and cost-effective chemical deterrent to minimize depredation by waterfowl. URI http://hdl.handle.net/1969.3/21065 Collections Galveston Bay Bibliography GBIC Materials Available at Jack K. Williams Library DSpace software copyright © 2002-2016 DuraSpace Waterfowl damage and control methods in ripening grain: an overview  


The influence of the implantation temperature on the surface roughness and the resistivity of aluminum implanted 4H-silicon carbide was determined. A dose of 1.2 ⋅1015cm-2 aluminum ions was implanted at temperatures between room temperature and 1000°C. A decrease of the surface roughness down to an rms-value of 12nm and a decrease in the resistivity down to 0.35Wcm were found with increasing implantation temperature. The influence of the implantation temperature on the resistivity was identified by modeling temperature dependent resistivity data. The results showed an increase in mobility with temperature due to the reduction of compensation centers.


Electro-hydrostatic actuators (EHAs) are hydraulic systems that operate without control valves, making them a compact, cheap, and highly energy efficient system. However, resonance, static friction, and oil leakage degrade their control performance. Three controllers are integrated to overcome these issues. First, static friction is suppressed by a feedback modulator (FM). Input torque is quantized to exceed the maximum static friction force, and quantization errors are suppressed by the FM. Second, resonance is canceled out by a self resonance cancellation (SRC) technique. In the SRC, both angle responses of a hydraulic pump and a hydraulic motor are measured, and the rigid body mode is extracted. Then, resonance becomes unobservable, changing the system as a second-order system. Third, modeling errors, including oil leakage, are suppressed by a self resonance cancellation disturbance observer (SRCDOB). As the SRCDOB is implemented in the rigid body mode, the cut-off frequency of the SRCDOB can be greater than that of most common disturbance observers. This combination of controllers drastically improves the control performance, and it enables control system design based on frequency.


Results are presented of an investigation made to determine the two-dimensional lift and drag characteristics of nine NACA 6-series airfoil section at Reynolds numbers of 15.0 x 10sub6, 20.0 x 10sub6, and 25.0 x 10sub6. Also presented are data from NACA Technical Report 824 for the same airfoils at Reynolds numbers of 3.0 x 10sub6, 6.0 x 10sub6, and 9.0 x 10sub6. The airfoils selected represent sections having variations in the airfoil thickness, thickness form, and camber. The characteristics of an airfoil with a split flap were determined in one instance, as was the effect of surface roughness. Qualitative explanations in terms of flow behavior are advanced for the observed types of scale effect.


A research work was undertaken to evaluate the feeding effect of tree forages on performance of growing sheep. Twenty growing sheep (in 4 groups) were fed three different tree forage diets. Tree forages Melia azardirachta, Leucaena leucocephala and Artocarpus heterophyllus were supplied in three treatments except one consisted no tree forages which was considered as control. There were significant (p<0.05) differences among the animal groups in terms of total DM and ME intake, although there were no significant differences in the digestibility of DM, OM, CP and ADF. Feeding of tree forages had significant (p<0.05) effect on live weight gain of sheep. Animals fed with tree forage based diets significantly increased weight gain (60.70 and 50.70 g/d for L. leucocephala and A. heterophyllus, respectively) compared to that (45.66 g/d) of control group fed with silage. Feed conversion efficiency (kg feed/kg gain) also showed that animals fed with tree forage of L. leucocephala and M. azardirachta based diets were having significantly (p<0.05) higher efficiency (11.33 and 11.47, respectively ) compared to those of A. heterophyllus and control diet (13.77 and 13.33 , respectively ). The results of nitrogen balance of M. azardirachta and L. leucocephala tree forage had significantly (p<0.05) positive effect on the nitrogen retention in the body of the animals. Intake of all the tree forages was not similar which indicated that all of them were not accepted to the lamb in same level. So, diets with tree forages of L. leucocephala resulted better in terms of weight gain, digestibility and nitrogen balance compared to A. heterophyllu, M. azardirachta and silage (control). Asian J. Med. Biol. Res. December 2015, 1(3): 654-659


Between September 1975 and April 1981, 258 patients were sterilized at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, using minilaparotomy and laparoscopy. Selected sociodemographic data as well as the technical and surgical difficulties encountered have been reviewed in this article. The mean age at sterilization was 38.3 years whilst the mean parity was 7.2. In all, there were 215 minilaparotomy sterilizations and forty-three laparoscopic sterilizations. Surgical difficulties were reported for 12.1% of minilaparotomy and 11.6% for laparoscopic procedures. The most frequently reported difficulties were obesity and pelvic adhesions. The failure rates were 1.4% for minilaparotomy and 2.3% for laparoscopy.


This book is a critically informed challenge to the traditional histories of rhetoric and to the current emphasis on Aristotle and Plato as the most significant classical voices in rhetoric. In it, Susan C. Jarratt argues that the first sophistsa diverse group of traveling intellectuals in the fifth century B.C.should be given a more prominent place in the study of rhetoric and composition. Rereading the ancient sophists, she creates a new lens through which to see contemporary social issues, including the orality/literacy debate, feminist writing, deconstruction, and writing pedagogy.The sophists pleasure in the play of language, their focus on historical contin-gency, and the centrality of their teaching for democratic practice were sufficiently threatening to their successors Plato and Aristotle that both sought to bury the sophists under philosophical theories of language. The censure of Plato and Aris-totle set a pattern for historical views of the sophists for centuries. Following Hegel and Nietzsche, Jarratt breaks the pattern, finding in the sophists a more progressive charter for teachers and scholars of reading and writing, as well as for those in the adjacent disciplines of literary criticism and theory, education, speech communication, and ancient history.In tracing the historical interpretations of sophistic rhetoric, Jarratt suggests that the sophists themselves provide the outlines of an alternative to history-writing as the discovery and recounting of a set of stable facts. She sees sophistic use of narrative in argument as a challenge to a simple division between orality and literacy, current discussions of which virtually ignore the sophists. Outlining similarities between "ecriture feminine "and sophistic style, Jarratt shows that contemporary feminisms have more in common with sophists than just a style; they share a rhetorical basis for deployment of theory in political action. In her final chapter, Jarratt takes issue with accounts of sophistic pedagogy focusing on technique and the development of the individual. She argues that, despite its employment by powerful demagogues, sophistic pedagogy offers a resource for today s teachers interested in encouraging minority voices of resistance through language study as the practice of democracy."


Flood mitigation in developing countries has been hindered by a lack of near real‐time reservoir storage information at high temporal resolution. By leveraging satellite passive microwave observations over a reservoir and its vicinity, we present a globally applicable new algorithm to estimate reservoir storage under all‐weather conditions at a 4 day time step. A weighted horizontal ratio (WHR) based on the brightness temperatures at 36.5 GHz is introduced, with its coefficients calibrated against an area training data set over each reservoir. Using a predetermined area‐elevation (A‐H) relationship, these coefficients are then applied to the microwave data to calculate the storage. Validation results over four reservoirs in South Asia indicate that the microwave‐based storage estimations (after noise reduction) perform well (with coefficients of determination ranging from 0.41 to 0.74). This is the first time that passive microwave observations are fused with other satellite data for quantifying the storage of individual reservoirs.


Introduction: Alcohol consumption increases breast cancer risk in women. Additionally, alcohol increases the metastatic ability of cancer cells. Metastasis suppressor genes encode proteins that have the ability to slow down or prevent the invasiveness of cancer cells, thus inhibiting the establishment of metastases. We analyzed the expression level of metastasis suppressor genes to determine the mechanisms by which alcohol increases the invasive ability of breast cancer cells. Methods: The invasiveness, or metastatic ability, of breast cancer cells was determined by the Boyden assay. To determine if alcohol increases invasion of breast cancer cells via the metastasis suppressor gene Nm23, we over-expressed or down-regulated Nm23 using siRNA-mediated knockdown; subsequently, we determined the effects of alcohol on the invasiveness of these cancer cells. Results: Results show that alcohol increased breast cancer cell invasion in a dose-dependent manner. Alcohol significantly decreased the expression of Nm23. Overexpression of Nm23 in breast cancer cells suppressed the effects of alcohol on the invasive ability of the cancer cells. Also, exposure of cancer cells to alcohol led to an increase in the expression level of the fibronectin receptor subunit ITGA5, and overexpression of Nm23 blocked the effects of alcohol. Further, the invasiveness of the breast cancer cells was inhibited when ITGA5 was knocked down by siRNA, and alcohol was unable to increase the invasiveness of the cancer cells when ITGA5 was knocked down. Conclusions: Results suggest that alcohol increases the invasive ability of breast cancer cells by down-regulating the metastatic suppressor Nm23 gene, which leads to increased expression of ITGA5. Consequently, up-regulated ITGA5 may increase the invasive ability of the cancer cells. Citation Information: Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2010;19(10 Suppl):A100.


Australian schools are now under constant pressure to improve their schools for students to have increased achievement and wellbeing outcomes, particularly for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander learners. This thesis has investigated the professional relationships of Indigenous Education Workers/Community Education Counsellors (IEWs/CECs) and principals and how they can lead together to improve their schools for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students. Until now, their professional relationship has not been well understood or documented. This thesis captures the research that has sought to examine, interpret and transform the ambiguity of the professional relationship between IEW/CEC and principal. On another level, the study has aimed to highlight effective practice, inform future improvements for Indigenous education within the schools studied and for those in the greater region, and finally, provide a call for change of policy and practice within the wider school system of Queensland.

Informed by a plurality of paradigms, that of transformation and pragmatism and a tripartite of theory—critical theory, Indigenous standpoint theory and relationship leadership theory—this investigation was conducted across a large state educational region in Queensland. Using a mixed methods approach, quantitative and qualitative data were concurrently and sequentially collected over two phases in a four-year process. Each phase provided a collection of data that contributed to the separate and integrated, consecutive analysis of the core research questions. In Phase 1, 41 principals and 35 IEWs/CECs were surveyed for the broad analysis of the region's schools and contributed answers to the first core research question. In Phase 2, an instrumental case study was then undertaken in four schools with five exemplar IEW/CEC and principal pairs within the same region. The predominant methodological orientation for the case study was participatory and an adaption of critical participatory action research (CPAR) was conducted in three cycles over three years. Case study data were collected from a partnership assessment questionnaire, nine hours of responsive interviews, school documents and descriptive field notes from 13 site visits. This provided data for a holistic and detailed analysis of the IEW/CEC and principal professional relationship to answer all of the core research questions. Overall three rounds of data analysis occurred, multiple logics were employed together, with abduction, deduction and induction of descriptive statistics and thematic analysis of documentation.

Results of this study indicate while similar conditions were experienced by most schools across the region, the IEW/CEC and principal relationship was variable and fragmented for many and the role of IEW/CEC was underestimated and underutilised. The case study pairs presented differently and of the six relational dynamics evident between every pair, the most highly enacted was that of trusting interpersonal communication. Their strong relationships were created through certain personal predispositions and deliberate practices, but these occurred more by chance and less by systemic design. Strong relationships between IEW/CEC and principals showed they could mitigate detrimental contextual features like racism, perceived or actual uncertainty of funding and insufficiency of system support, while they ameliorated school members' capacity so leader agency, student success, parent engagement and staff cultural competency growth could occur. This study revealed that the IEW/CEC and principal relationship was not only microcosmic to school-community partnerships, but was also that of the greater project of national reconciliation.

This thesis provides implications that call for a change of policy and practice within the wider school system in the state of Queensland. It concludes that if educational outcomes for Indigenous students and engagement their families are to be maximised, professional relationships between IEWs/CECs and their principals need to exist and then expand beyond the pair through deliberate and greater systemic support. The position of IEW/CEC needs to be guaranteed in schools, training for Indigenist perspectives must be promulgated and systemic provision of resources for IEWs/CECs and principals in schools to grow their professional relationship must occur. A strong IEW/CEC and principal relationship can lead to less a transactional and different type of leader collaboration, one that creates a 'vorticity' of influence that enrols others into taking on the responsibility of supporting every Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander student succeed, something that is more than the power of two.


Ideally, each simulationist would employ a self-selected set of software tools operating within an integrated environment. Some of these tools would perform simulation specific tasks such as model building. Other tools, such as word processors and spreadsheets, are more general purpose but able to perform simulation project tasks such as graphing simulation results, entering simulation input values, and performing statistical analyses. Tailoring of these general purpose tools to simulation activities or particular problem contests is necessary. These requirements are addressed by a modular simulation environment. A database management system provides for the organization, storage and retrieval of simulation input values, simulation results, and models. Standard information exchange mechanisms retrieve data from the database for use by software tools and store data resulting from the use of these tools. Pre-existing and newly developed tools can be attached or detached as needed from a modular simulation environment to serve different user types or different contexts. Standard user interfaces, such as those provided by a windowing environment support a common user interface for the tools as well as other possibilities for information exchange between tools.


We have recently developed a chaotic gas turbine, the rotational motion of which might simulate the random reversals of large-scale circulation in turbulent Rayleigh-Bénard convection. The nondimensionalized equations of motion of the turbine are represented as a star network of many Lorenz subsystems sharing dimensionless angular velocity as the central node, referred to as augmented Lorenz equations. In this study, we investigate the dynamical nature of the augmented Lorenz model, focusing on the chaotic synchronizability of coupled augmented Lorenz oscillators with parameter mismatch.


Ultrastructure of epidermal surface of floating and submerged leaves of Trapa natans at vegetative phase was investigated. Heterophylly is character for this plant. The determine differences were established. The presence of stomata on upper epidermis and the presence of high cuticular combs along perimeter at each cell on lower epidermis were typical for floating leaves. Submerged leaves have not stomata, but cuticular combs and pore-like structures were revealed in abaxial surface. The contours of epidermal cells are indistinct because outer cell walls of epidermis are coated by solid cuticle layer.


OBJECTIVE
To determine effects of incremental radial shortening and subsequent ulnar ostectomies on joint surface contact patterns in a canine elbow joint model.

SAMPLE POPULATION
Paired forelimbs from 9 adult dogs.

PROCEDURE
Joint casting was performed by placement of colored polymethylmethacrylate in the elbow joint cavity and loading in a materials testing system at physiologic angle and load. Joint casting was performed in unaltered specimens, after radial shortening, and after subsequent distal ulnar ostectomy, proximal ulnar ostectomy, and proximal ulnar ostectomy with intramedullary pinning. Computer-aided analysis of photographs of proximal radial and ulnar articular surfaces without joint casts was performed before and after each casting procedure.

RESULTS
All increments of radial shortening changed the size and location of radial and ulnar contact areas. The radial contact area became smaller, the anconeal contact area disappeared, the medial coronoid contact area migrated craniolaterally, and the lateral projection of the coronoid process became a contact area. A proximal ulnar ostectomy stabilized with an intramedullary pin restored normal contact area size and location and restored continuity of the radial and coronoid contact areas across the radioulnar articulation in 6 of 10 specimens. A midshaft ulnar ostectomy, distal to the level of the radioulnar ligament, had no effect on contact patterns. A proximal ulnar ostectomy without stabilization resulted in varus deformity during loading.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE
Proximal radial shortening, which creates articular step incongruity, changes the location and size of the radioulnar contact areas. Dynamically stabilized ulnar ostectomies proximal to the radioulnar ligament restore contact patterns in vitro.


The Human Variome Project (HVP) is an international consortium of clinicians, geneticists, and researchers from over 30 countries, aiming to facilitate the establishment and maintenance of standards, systems, and infrastructure for the worldwide collection and sharing of all genetic variations effecting human disease. The HVP‐China Node will build new and supplement existing databases of genetic diseases. As the first effort, we have created a novel variant database of BRCA1 and BRCA2, mismatch repair genes (MMR), and APC genes for breast cancer, Lynch syndrome, and familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP), respectively, in the Chinese population using the Leiden Open Variation Database (LOVD) format. We searched PubMed and some Chinese search engines to collect all the variants of these genes in the Chinese population that have already been detected and reported. There are some differences in the gene variants between the Chinese population and that of other ethnicities. The database is available online at http://www.genomed.org/LOVD/. Our database will appear to users who survey other LOVD databases (e.g., by Google search, or by NCBI GeneTests search). Remote submissions are accepted, and the information is updated monthly. 32:1335–1340, 2011. ©2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.


Saccharomyces cerevisiae adapts to changing nutrient conditions by regulating its genome-wide transcription profile and cell-wide protein complement in correlation with the reigning nutrient conditions. The target of rapamycin (TOR) signalling pathway is one of the major control mechanisms within the cell that facilitates these changes. The transcription, intracellular trafficking, and protein turnover of nutrient transporters, including the hexose transporter proteins (Hxts), are regulated in response to nutrient conditions. The Vid and Gid proteins facilitate the nutrient-dependent degradation of the gluconeogenic enzymes FBPase and Mdh2p when glucose-starved cells are replenished with glucose. Three members of the VID and GID gene families, VID30/GID1, GID2, and VID28/GID5 are needed for the rapamycin or nitrogen starvation-induced degradation of the high-affinity hexose transporter Hxt7p is shown here. In addition, evidence that the functions of several Vid and Gid proteins are in close relation to the TOR signalling pathway is provided.


Purpose The hypertriglyceridemic waist (HTGW) phenotype can predict cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. Additionally, strong evidence indicates that elevated urinary albumin–creatinine ratio (UACR) is associated with increased prevalence of CVD. However, few studies have explored the association between the HTGW phenotype and UACR. Patients and Methods In this cross-sectional descriptive study, a total of 40,674 subjects (28,562 women and 12,112 men older than 40 years) were recruited from seven different geographic regional centres. The HTGW phenotype was defined as increased triglyceride levels (triglyceride ≥ 1.5 mmol/L for female and ≥2.0 mmol/L for male) and waist circumference (WC; WC ≥ 85 for female and WC ≥ 90 cm for male). Logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the relationship between UACR and the HTGW phenotype. Results Subjects with the HTGW phenotype showed a more significant trend towards increased excretion of UACR [among all subjects, odds ratio (OR) = 1.303, 95% CI: 1.132–1.499, P < 0.001; among men, OR = 1.406, 95% CI: 1.057–1.870, P = 0.019; among women, OR = 1.268, 95% CI: 1.074–1.496, P = 0.005]. Furthermore, the stratified analysis showed that the OR for high-risk significantly increased in individuals in the HTGW group aged below 65 years, with 5.6 ≤ fasting blood glucose < 7.0 or 7.8 ≤ post-load blood glucose <11.1 mmol/L, 120 ≤ systolic blood pressure < 140 or 80 ≤ diastolic blood pressure < 90, 24 ≤ body mass index < 28 kg/m2, and estimated globular filtration rate > 90 mL/min per 1.73 m2. Conclusion This study has advanced the understanding of visceral obesity and our results supported the fact that the HTGW phenotype is associated with elevated UACR excretion among general Chinese adults.


We report the fabrication of optically pumped solid‐state polymer lasers based on the semiconducting polymer poly(9,9‐dioctylfluorene) (PFO) using resonator structures that offer one‐ and two‐dimensional distributed feedback. The lasers are readily fabricated by solution deposition of thin polymer films on top of suitable grating microstructures etched into fused silica substrates. The devices operate in the blue spectral region, are highly efficient (slope efficiencies as high as 7.8 % are demonstrated), and exhibit very low threshold energies for oscillation (0.8 nJ per pulse). The operating characteristics of the lasers are investigated in detail. The transverse mode profiles and divergence of the output beams are measured and correlated with the internal lasing modes and the feedback mechanism present in the resonators. Additionally, broadband tuning of the emission wavelength over a range of ∼ 40 nm is demonstrated by controlling the supported resonant frequency of the laser cavities.


Organizational-economic experiments at various levels in the sphere of development of science and technology indicate the great potential for using this form of testing new managerial ideas. In particular, the new system of planning, financing, and economic stimulation of new technology, the introduction of which was begun in 1969 in the electrotechnical industry, created great economic motivation for organizations to raise their scientific and technical level and the economic effectiveness of their research and development. Like a number of branches of material production, this system envisages the formation of three economic incentive funds in scientific organizations: the material incentive fund, the fund for sociocultural measures and housing construction, and the organizational development fund. The guaranteed economic effect of the introduction of the results of R&D and the scientific and technical level of these results are the basic fund-forming indicators. The degree of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union and the USSR Council of Ministers "On Improving the Planning and the Intensification of the Effect of the Economic Mechanism on Increasing the Effectiveness of Production and Improving the Quality of Work" makes provision for the formation of the three indicated economic incentive funds in scientific research, project-planning and design, and technological organizations in all branches of industry. Consequently, the economic stimulation of scientific organizations is based on the principle that they realize part of the economic effect (profit) the creation of which they have promoted.


Bearing systems in engine-oil lubricated turbochargers (TCs) must operate reliably over a wide range of shaft speeds and withstand severe axial and radial thermal gradients. An engineered thermal management of the energy flows into and out of the bearing system is paramount in order to ensure the component's mechanical integrity and the robustness of the bearing system. The bearings, radial and thrust type, act both as a load bearing and low friction support with the lubricant carrying away a large fraction of the thermal energy generated by rotational drag and the heat flow disposed from a hot shaft. The paper introduces a thermohydrodynamic analysis for the prediction of the pressure and temperature fields in a (semi) floating ring bearing (S)FRB system. The analysis simultaneously solves the Reynolds equation with variable oil viscosity and the thermal energy transport equation in the inner and outer films of the bearing system. Flow conditions in both films are coupled to the temperature distribution and heat flow through the (semi) floating ring. Other constraints include calculating the fluid films' forces reacting to the externally applied load and to determine the operating journal and ring eccentricities. The predictions of performance for a unique realistic (S)FRB configuration at typical TC operating conditions reveal a distinct knowledge: (a) the heat flow from the shaft into the inner film is overwhelming, in particular, at the inlet lubricant plane where the temperature difference with the cold oil is largest; (b) the inner film temperature quickly increases as soon as the (cold) lubricant enters the film and is due to the large amount of energy generated by shear drag and the heat transfer from the shaft; (c) a floating ring develops a significant radial temperature gradient; (d) at all shaft speeds, low and high, the thermal energy carried away by the lubricant streams is no less than 70% of the total energy input; the rest is conducted through the TC casing. To warrant this thermal energy distribution, enough lubricant flow must be supplied to the bearing system. The efficient computational model offers a distinct advantage over existing lumped parameters thermal models and there is no penalty in the execution time.


.   Crystallographically specific pyramidal planes in 4H-SiC could be naturally formed at mesa sidewalls by a thermal etching at 900oC in a chlorine (Cl2) based ambience. The mesa structures have been fabricated on the 4H-SiC C-face with 0-45o off-angle toward [11-20]. The etched surface was rather smooth, and bunched step structures on the specific pyramidal planes were not observed with atomic force and scanning electron microscopes. The formation mechanisms of the specific pyramidal planes at mesa sidewalls are discussed on the basis of these experimental results.


Surface-based sensing assays based on fluorescence-based detection have become commonplace for both environmental and biomedical diagnostics. Traditional array scanners are expensive, large, and complex instruments. This paper describes the design of an active CMOS biosensor substrate for fluorescence-based assays that enables time-gated, time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy without the need for an external reader. The array is sensitive to photon densities as low as 1.15times108/cm2, has a dynamic range of over 74 dB, and has subnanosecond timing resolution. Sensitivity is achieved through subsampling and averaging


Abstract. The geospatial research and development team in the National and Homeland Security Division at Idaho National Laboratory was tasked with providing tools to derive insight from the substantial amount of data currently available – and continuously being produced – associated with the critical infrastructure of the US. This effort is in support of the Department of Homeland Security, whose mission includes the protection of this infrastructure and the enhancement of its resilience to hazards, both natural and human. We present geovisual-analytics-based approaches for analysis of vulnerabilities and resilience of critical infrastructure, designed so that decision makers, analysts, and infrastructure owners and managers can manage risk, prepare for hazards, and direct resources before and after an incident that might result in an interruption in service. Our designs are based on iterative discussions with DHS leadership and analysts, who in turn will use these tools to explore and communicate data in partnership with utility providers, law enforcement, and emergency response and recovery organizations, among others. In most cases these partners desire summaries of large amounts of data, but increasingly, our users seek the additional capability of focusing on, for example, a specific infrastructure sector, a particular geographic region, or time period, or of examining data in a variety of generalization or aggregation levels. These needs align well with tenets of in-formation-visualization design; in this paper, selected applications among those that we have designed are described and positioned within geovisualization, geovisual analytical, and information visualization frameworks.


Intensional logic is the technical study of such intensional phenomena in human reasoning as modality, knowledge, or flow of time. These all require a richer semantic picture than standard truth values in one static environment. Such a picture is provided by so-called possible worlds semantics, a paradigm which is surveyed in this book, both as to its external sources of motivation and as to the internal dynamics of the resulting program. In particular, Manual of Intensional Logic presents the major classical topics, including modal logic, tense logic, and conditional logic, all of which illustrate motivations coming from philosophy and linguistics. The Book also discusses recent computational applications in computer science and AI. Finally, Manual of Intensional Logic takes up recent developments in the study of language and information making themselves felt in the area. The Book examines the role of partial information--with illustrations drawn from different branches of Intensional Logic--and various influences stemming from current theories of the semantics of natural language, involving generalized quantifiers and theories of types.


In a simple voting committee with a finite number of members, in which each member has a voting weight, the voting rule is defined by the quota (a minimal number of voting weights is required to approve a proposal), and the efficiency of voting in the committee is defined as the ratio of the number of winning coalitions (subsets of the set of members with total voting weights no less than the quota) to the number of all possible coalitions. A straightforward way of calculating the efficiency is based on the full enumeration of all coalitions and testing whether or not they are winning. The enumeration of all coalitions is NP-complete problem (the time required to find the solution grows exponentially with the size of the committee) and is unusable for big size committees. In this paper we are developing three algorithms (two exact and one heuristic) to compute the efficiency for committees with high number of voters within a reasonable timeframe. Algorithms are applied for evaluating the voting effi ciency in the Lower House of the Czech Parliament, in the European Parliament and in the Council of Ministers of the EU.


Serum levels of 17β-oestradiol and testosterone peaked and fell within 6 days of spawning in Tilapia zillii suggesting that vitellogenic growth began as early as day 2 or 3 postspawning. As early as day 8, stage 6/7 (late nitellogenic and maturing) oocytes occupied 60–70% of the ovary. From day 8 onwards the proportion of stage 6/7 oocytes changed little, though IG increased (as oocytes grew) to reach maximal levels of ∼ 5·5% by day 14. IG was correlated significantly to the proportion of stage 6/7 oocytes. Postovulatory follicles were observed immediately following spawning occupying up to ∼ 7% of the ovary but were not present from day 3 onwards. Atretic oocytes were found throughout the time period monitored (generally occupying <2% of the ovary) but were more prevalent from day 18 onwards. Data suggest that previtellogenic oocytes are recruited into vitellogenic growth immediately after spawning and can complete vitellogenesis as early as day 8 postspawning. Knowledge of this timing is likely to be important in the development of spawning induction programmes in T. zillii and other related species.


Reverse characteristics of diamond PiN diodes were studied under high reverse bias for high voltage applications. We have fabricated vertical diamond PiN diode structures consisting of a phosphorus‐doped n‐type diamond layer and an undoped intrinsic diamond layer on a heavily boron‐doped p‐type diamond substrate with Au/Pt/Ti Ohmic contacts on both the top and the bottom surfaces. Temperature dependent current–voltage (I–V) and capacitance–voltage (C–V) measurements were carried out to reveal the diode characteristics. The fabricated PiN diodes exhibited a sharp and repeatable reverse breakdown with positive temperature dependence indicating an avalanche mechanism. The obtained maximum breakdown field was 2.3 MV cm−1 (920 V) which is comparable to the ideal dielectric breakdown field of SiC. The reverse breakdown field and the leakage current were correlated with the hillock density. This research indicates that robust diamond power devices with high breakdown reliability can be achievable after improvement the quality of the intrinsic layer.


Self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) improves glycaemic control and enhances
patient empowerment. It is particularly useful for diabetes mellitus (DM) patients who
are using insulin as it facilitates insulin titration and detection of hypoglycaemia as well
as hyperglycaemia. Despite this, SMBG remains underutilised in many countries,
including in Malaysia, as only 15.3% of the patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus
(T2DM) practised SMBG. This study was conducted to explore the views and
experiences on SMBG by patients with T2DM using insulin. Factors influencing SMBG
practice as well as their suggestions to improve such practice were also explored.
Qualitative methodology was employed in this study. Semi-structured, individual indepth
interviews were conducted on patients with T2DM using insulin who have
practised SMBG. Patients were selected from the primary care family clinic of the
University Malaya Medical Centre in Malaysia. Patients were purposively sampled
from different age groups, ethnicity, educational levels and levels of glycaemic control
[as reflected by the glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) levels] to achieve patient
variation in sampling. All interviews were conducted using an interview topic guide and
were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, checked by an independent person, and
analysed using a thematic approach. A total of 15 patients were interviewed and
thematic saturation was reached. The themes that emerged under the patients' views and
experiences on SMBG included: initiation of SMBG; feasibility and practice patterns of
SMBG; actions in response to blood glucose readings; and the emotions related to
SMBG. Factors that influenced SMBG practice were mainly related to equipment,
psychological and social aspects. Barriers for practising SMBG included: cost of test
strips and needles; unavailability of test strips and needles; lack of reliability;
inconvenience; frustration related to high blood glucose readings; perception that
iv
SMBG was only for insulin titration; fear of needles and pain; lack of motivation,
knowledge and self-efficacy; forgetfulness; lack of patient education; stigma; and
unconducive workplace. Facilitators for practising SMBG were: desire to know if the
blood glucose levels were controlled; desire to please the physician; and motivation
from family. Suggestions by the participants to improve SMBG practice included: cost
reduction; patient attitudinal and behavioural change; and explicit patient education by
healthcare providers. The findings in this study revealed that healthcare providers can
affect patients' SMBG practice and that abnormal blood glucose readings can change
their behaviour, where negative emotions may lead to their poor adherence to SMBG.
Healthcare providers should be made aware of the impact of their consultation in order
to improve patients' utilisation of SMBG and decrease the negative impact of 'poor'
blood glucose readings on their SMBG practice. Policy makers should consider the
impact of barriers to SMBG such as cost and accessibility issues to encourage optimal
utilisation of SMBG.


Health Care has traditionally been dominated by a strong professional culture, to which information and communications technology has not maybe fitted in the optimal way. Currently, however, strong currents are changing the intellectual climate in the field. Modern information and communications technology is being taken into usage in the Health Care sector at an increasing pace. This article provides and overview of the activities related to modern information and communications technology in the Health Care Sector. Our research questions are: 1. Which reasons led to the late adoption of modern ICT in the Health Care sector? 2. Why is the situation now changing fast? 3. Which seem to be the main application areas? 4. Which kind of progress we can now see? To each of the research questions, we allocate one chapter in our paper. This article is conceptual in nature, but argumentation is supported by concrete examples. The main conclusions are that • Starting from "scratch" has made a fast development in the field possible as it comes to modern ICT • Developments have been very fast: on the other hand demand for information and ICT has too grown enormously • ICT has been a total change agent for the industry, and a needed one • Fast introduction of modern ICT has been made possible through the simultaneous introduction of many modern management techniques such as quality assurance • Internet was and is the "killer platform" in this industry too • The whole sector has turned from a handicraft industry to knowledge industry


BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
We studied the function of both Pgp and MRP1 to identify subgroups of patients who could benefit from Pgp reversion, and to clarify in different FAB subtypes and in cytogenetic risk groups their expression and function.

DESIGN AND METHODS
We examined 132 adults with de novo acute myeloid leukemia (AML) for Pgp and MRP1 expression and function. We correlated our finding with the FAB subtypes and the cytogenetics, and clinical data of our patients.

RESULTS
Among FAB subtypes and cytogenetic subgroups, patients with good risk cytogenetics have a low expression and activity of Pgp and MRP1 except patients with inv(16) who have a higher activity of MRP1 than t(8;21) and t(15;17) (p=0.05). All other AML patients, except M5, have a high expression and activity of Pgp. In contrast, M5 have a high expression, but a low activity of Pgp. In this subgroup, M5 with MLL gene rearrangement did not express an active Pgp. Others patients with M5 AML did not have a functional Pgp. Monosomy 7, 11q2.3 gene rearrangement and complex cytogenetic have a higher activity of MRP1 than other cytogenetic (p=0.03).

INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSIONS
Resistance mechanism in M5 was not mediated by Pgp. In contrast, MRP1 may play a role in patients who have a 11q2.3 gene rearrangement, or in M4E with inv(16). Thus trials that modulate Pgp are likely to achieve limited success in AML with low activity of Pgp, i.e., M5 and, AML with good risk cytogenetics.


The present study includes 32 cases of sudden deafness treated with Sequential External Counterpulsation in addition to combined TCM-WM therapy, 30 cases treated with combined TCM-WM, and 30 cases treated with WM alone. The clinical findings of these 3 groups were quite similar, hence they were comparable. The mean duration of treatment, percentage of effectiveness and percentage of recurrence within 3 years were 13 days, 75% and 16.6% respectively in the first group; 19 days, 56.6% and 29.4% in the second group; and 21 days, 53.2% and 37.5% in the third group. The first group showed shorter duration of treatment higher effective rate and lower recurrence rate; and all their differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). The data revealed that, the treatment of sudden deafness with Sequential External Counterpulsation in addition to combined TCM-WM has great advantage over treatment with combined TCM-WM or WM alone.


This study was conducted to determine profitability and feasibility of fruit farms by investment analysis in Tokat - Turkey. The criteria of Net Present Value (NPV ), Cost-Benefit Ratio (CBR) and Internal Rate of Return (IRR) were used for investment analysis. Three different discount rates (10%, 8% and 5%) were used to get the NPV and CBR for peach and apple. The NPV for peach were found to be positive (1113.6 $/da; 1454.7 $/da; and 2156.2 $/da). Also the NPV for apple were found to be positive (574.2 $/da; 805.4 $/da; and 1342.9 $/da). In addition to that, the CBR for peach were bigger than 1 (1.38; 1.43 and 1.51) and the CBR for apple were bigger than 1 (1.23; 1.27 and 1.33). The IRR for peach was 25.05 percent and 22.12 for apple. According to the results that were achieved by the study, it could be conducted that the investment is economically feasible. In the light of the findings of the present study, it can be perceived that the fruit farming can be one of the most important income sources for the farmers growing fruit in the research region in Turkey.


In this article, the turbulent flow features in a patient-specific upper airway model with obstructive sleep apnea before and after surgery are numerically and experimentally studied by applying the large eddy simulation and laser Doppler anemometry. Two three-dimensional anatomically accurate numerical models are reconstructed based on the CT-scan of one severe obstructive sleep apnea patient for both pre- and post-surgery. Two experimental models of the same upper airway are established by using the three-dimensional printing technique according to the numerical models. The first direct comparison of flow velocity profiles between measurement and simulation at different locations and cross-sections is conducted in two upper airway models. The simulated result indicates that the especially large axial velocity and negative pressure appear in the narrowest cross-section before surgery, but they either reduce or vanish after surgery. Both measurement and simulation can capture the "pharyngeal jet" flow and the reversed flow in two upper airway models, and the agreement between the measured and calculated velocity profiles at different locations and cross-sections is excellent, which gives us great confidence that the large eddy simulation can be a reliable method for predicting the flow features associated with obstructive sleep apnea airway. Although this work represents significant advance, there still exists some limitations, such as the discrepancies between measurement and simulation in the interface of main stream velocity and reverse velocity due to the flow complexity, in the reversed flow region owing to the uncertainty of laser Doppler anemometry measurement at low velocity range, and the incapability of capturing flow near the wall due to the intrinsic feature of laser Doppler anemometry measurement. Besides, it is very difficult to find the corresponding locations exactly between experimental and numerical models, which could also cause the deviation between experiment and simulation.


The textile industry consumes large quantities of water and produces large volumes of waste water from different step of designing, scouring, bleaching, dyeing, finishing, folding and packing. Waste water from dyeing unit is rich in color containing residues of reactive dyer and chemical such as complex components many aerosols, high chrome, high COD & BOD concentration as well as much more hard degradation materials. The photo catalytic degradation of this effluent is reported in the present paper TiO2/ZnO were used as photo catalyst for the study. The rate de-colorization was estimated from residual concentration spectrophotometrically. Effect of some operating parameters such as the initial pH, H2O2/COD ratio and the amounts of catalyst on the degradation of the effluent were investigated.


The H.E.S.S. instrument has observed a diffuse flux of ~TeV γ-rays from a large solid angle around the Galactic center (GC). This emission is correlated with the distribution of gas in the region, suggesting that the γ-rays originate in collisions between cosmic-ray hadrons (CRHs) and ambient matter. Of particular interest, H.E.S.S. has detected γ-rays from the Sagittarius (Sgr) B molecular cloud complex. Prompted by the suggestion of a hadronic origin for the γ-rays, we have examined archival 330 and 74 MHz Very Large Array radio data and 843 MHz Sydney University Molonglo Sky Survey data covering Sgr B, looking for synchrotron emission from secondary electrons and positrons (expected to be created in the same interactions that supply the observed γ-rays). Intriguingly, we have uncovered nonthermal emission, but at a level exceeding expectation. Adding to the overall picture, recent observations by the Atacama Pathfinder Experiment telescope show that the cosmic-ray ionization rate is 10 times greater in the Sgr B2 region of Sgr B than the local value. Lastly, Sgr B2 is also a very bright X-ray source. We examine scenarios for the spectra of CRHs and/or primary electrons that would reconcile all these different data. We determine that (1) a hard (~E-2.2), high-energy (≳TeV) population of CRHs is unavoidably required by the H.E.S.S. γ-ray data, and (2) the remaining broadband, nonthermal phenomenology is explained either by a rather steep (~E-2.9) spectrum of primary electrons or a (~E-2.7) population of CRHs. Perhaps unsurprisingly, no single power-law population of either leptons or hadrons can explain the totality of broadband, nonthermal Sgr B phenomenology.


ESRD incidence is much lower in Europe compared with the United States. This study investigated whether this reflects a difference in the prevalence of earlier stages of chronic kidney disease (CKD) or other mechanisms. CKD prevalence in Norway was estimated from the population-based Health Survey of Nord-Trondelag County (HUNT II), which included 65,181 adults in 1995 through 1997 (participation rate 70.4%). Data were analyzed using the same methods as two US National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys in 1988 through 1994 (n = 15,488) and 1999 through 2000 (n = 4101). The primary analysis used gender-specific cutoffs in estimating persistent albuminuria for CKD stages 1 and 2. ESRD rates and other relevant data were extracted from national registries. Total CKD prevalence in Norway was 10.2% (SE 0.5): CKD stage 1 (GFR >90 ml/min per 1.73 m2 and albuminuria), 2.7% (SE 0.3); stage 2 (GFR 60 to 89 ml/min per 1.73 m2 and albuminuria), 3.2% (SE 0.4); stage 3 (GFR 30 to 59 ml/min per 1.73 m2), 4.2% (SE 0.1); and stage 4 (GFR 15 to 29 ml/min per 1.73 m2), 0.2% (SE 0.01). This closely approximates reported US CKD prevalence (11.0% in 1988 through 1994 and 11.7% in 1999 through 2000). The relative risk for progression from CKD stages 3 or 4 to ESRD in US white patients compared with Norwegian patients was 2.5. This was only modestly modified by adjustment for age, gender, and diabetes. Age and GFR at start of dialysis were similar, hypertension and cardiovascular mortality in the populations were comparable, but US white patients were referred later to a nephrologist and had higher prevalence of obesity and diabetes. In conclusion, CKD prevalence in Norway was similar to that in the United States, suggesting that lower progression to ESRD rather than a smaller pool of individuals at risk accounts for the lower incidence of ESRD in Norway.


This paper deals with an automatic monitoring method for digital telecommunication systems. The method is based on the use of wavelet networks (WNs) for signal classification. After some theoretical considerations on the WN theory, the procedure for the implementation of the method is described. The method, designed for quadrature amplitude modulation signals, can be easily extended to further modulation schemes. The metrological characterization of the method is carried out by means of numerical and experimental tests. The results highlight the good performance of the method.


This portfolio consists of two programmatic compositions for orchestra. The first work applies to the theatre stage and the second to a young audience.

Alices' Adventures in Wonderland is comprised of scenes from a ballet noir libretto I have composed. Lewis Carroll's original idea of a girl falling down a rabbit-hole and into a fantastical kingdom is adapted into a modern setting, involving a teenager's dangerous hallucinogenic trip and her participation in bizarre events based on the lives of real historical Alices and their circumstances. Every scene has been treated diversely. That is, every scene in which the fictional and drugged Alice is "transported" through time and embodies an historical Alice is composed in a different style, and Alice is characterized by a different instrument, or groups of instruments. For example, the scene exploring Adeline Virginia Woolf's suicide is musically structured in modified sonata form, and includes a waltz. Conversely, Alice Bailey's episode is articulated through serial processes specifically researched and devised for this work around a postminimal frame. The scene is also informed by Indian music notions (symbolic of Bailey's lifework). It is my intention to combine different modes of symbolism and expression, and convincingly thread them together by story and musical structure. The work calls for large orchestral forces with an exceptionally large percussion section.

Three Scenes from an Imaginary Forest is a tripartite work for orchestra, addressing a young audience. It is thematically connected to the larger work, in that it depicts three allegorical scenes from the same forest within which Lewis Carroll's Alice had her 'Wonderland' adventures. In this instance the music depicts three short scenes of natural and animal life in that enchanted environment.

The works in this portfolio serve as a personal exploration into disparate compositional approaches through which drama is narrated musically.


Sprouting is a common strategy to enhance the nutritional value of seeds. Here, all the reports regarding the occurrence of isoflavones in soybean sprouts have been covered for the first time. Isoflavones were detected with concentrations ranging from 1 × 10-2 to 1 × 101  g/kg in soybean sprouts. Isoflavone concentration depends on the cultivar, germination time, part of the sprout, light, and temperature. Aglycon isoflavones increased during germination, especially in the hypocotyl, while 6″-O-malonyl-7-O-β-glucoside isoflavones decreased in the hypocotyl and increased in the cotyledon and root. Cooking reduced total isoflavone content. Regarding the strategies to enhance isoflavone contents, fermentation with Aspergillus sojae and external irradiation with UV-A or far-infrared were the methods that caused the greatest increases in aglycon, 7-O-β-glucoside, and total isoflavones. However, the largest increases in 6″-O-malonyl-7-O-β-glucoside and 6″-O-acetyl-7-O-β-glucosides isoflavones were detected after treatment with chitohexaose and calcium chloride, respectively. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Soybean sprouts are widely consumed and provide essential proteins, antioxidants, and minerals. They are rich in isoflavones, which exhibit numerous health benefits, and have been studied as alternative therapies for a range of hormone-dependent conditions, such as cancer, menopausal symptoms, cardiovascular disease, and osteoporosis. Despite numerous reports being published to date regarding the occurrence of isoflavones in soybean sprouts, the publications in this field are highly dispersed, and a review has not yet been published. This review aims to (1) highlight the particular isoflavones that have been detected in soybean sprouts and their concentrations, (2) compared the effects of temperature, light, cooking and soybean cultivar affect the isoflavone levels on the different parts of the sprout, and (3) discuss the efficacy of the methods to enhance isoflavone contents. This review will provide a better understanding of the current state of this field of research by comparing the general trends and the different treatments for soybean sprouts.