Philanthropy (generosity) is part of Islamic teachings. The form of Islamic philanthropy in the form of charity is found in zakat, infaq, alms and endowments. While philanthropy in the form of non-charity is found in an attitude of helping and glorifying fellow Muslims. In its implementation, Islamic philanthropic activity is relatively still not getting the attention of the Islamic community in Indonesia. This condition is a little different if we look at philanthropic activities among the Tablighi Jama'ah, especially in the Serdang Bedagai Regency Sipispis. This research aims to explore the activities of Islamic philanthropy among the Tablighi Jamaat Halqah Sipispis Jama'ah of Serdang Bedagai Regency in North Sumatra, whatever forms of Islamic philanthropy are carried out and the factors underlying the spirit of Islamic philanthropy. By using a legal sociology approach and analyzed qualitatively it can be concluded that philanthropic activities among the Tablighi Jamaat halqah Sipispis of Serdang Bedagai Regency run continuously following the missionary effort. The forms of philanthropic activities include Khuruj funds, khidmad funds, funds for wives left to preach, Khidmad Markaz funds, zakat and other social assistance funds. This philanthropic activity is carried out with enthusiasm because the socialization of the importance of Islamic philanthropy for the afterlife of the world is always carried out in taklim and lectures (bayan) when participating in the Jamaah Tabligh da'wah program.


A new parameterization of the lightning-produced NO x has been developed for cloud-resolving models. This parameterization is based on the unique characteristics of identifying which convective cells are capable of producing lightning based on a vertical velocity threshold and estimating the lightning flash rate in each convective cell from the non-precipitation and precipitation ice mass flux product. Further, the source location is filamentary instead of volumetric as in most previous parameterizations. This parameterization has been tested on the 10 July 1996 Stratospheric-Tropospheric Experiment: Radiation, Aerosols and Ozone (STERAO) storm. Comparisons of the simulated flash rate and NO mixing ratio (control experiment) with observations at different locations and stages of the storm show good agreement. An individual flash produces on average 121±41 moles of NO (7.3±2.5×10 25 molecules NO) for the simulated high cloud base, high shear storm that is dominated by intra-cloud flash activity. Sensitivity tests have been performed to study the impact of the flash rate, the cloud-to-ground flash ratio, the flash length, the spatial distribution of the NO molecules, and the production rate per flash on the NO concentration and distribution. Results show a strong impact from the flash rate, the spatial placement of the lightning-NO x source and the number of moles produced per flash. On the other hand, the simulations show almost no impact from the different cloud-to-ground ( CG ) ratios and the lightning-NO x production rates per CG flash used as input to the model.


Under certain conditions aminoacyl-tRNA limitation can phenotypically suppress frameshift alleles. The observed suppression is due to an increase in abnormal translocation of ribosomes translating codons that have a short supply of aminoacyl-tRNA. The rIIB frameshift alleles of bacteriophage T4 are used here to pinpoint the sites of ribosome frameshifting caused by these hypothetical decoding errors. The data indicate that not all hungry codons are associated with abnormal translocation, only a relatively small subset. Analysis of the hungry codons which are associated with ribosome frameshifting points to the existence of severe context effects determining the shiftiness of these codons.


INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Insertion of penile prostheses after previously performed phalloplasty in female to male (FTM) transsexuals is essential in all patients whose main goal is to obtain rigidity and erection. The objective of our study was to evaluate the outcomes of penile prosthesis insertion after total musculocutaneous latissimus dorsi (MLD) phalloplasty in female to male transsexuals. METHODS: Between January 2009 and May 2017, 61 FTM transsexuals underwent implantation of penile prosthesis, as a second stage of gender affirmation surgery. All patients in our series had previously undergone total MLD phalloplasty. Period between phalloplasty and prosthesis insertion ranged from 9 and 23 months (mean 13 months). Malleable penile prostheses are inserted into the neophallus using dorsal and/or penoscrotal approach. The proximal end of the prosthesis was fixed to the pubic symphysis preventing dislocation of cylinders. When a three-component inflatable prosthesis was used, cylinders were inserted using dorsal approach. Pump was positioned in the opposite scrotum from microvascular anastomosis side, while the reservoir was placed retrovesically using the inguinal approach. RESULTS: Mean follow-up was 37 months (range 17-117 months). Inflatable and malleable prostheses were implanted in 22 and 39 patients, respectively. Good functioning with full rigidity was reported in 15 and 37 patients. Rejection of inflatable penile prosthesis due to an infection was noted in two patients and in one patient after malleable penile prosthesis implantation. In two patients, inflatable penile prosthesis was replaced by a malleable due to migration of cylinders with rigidity of only proximal part of the neophallus. Three patients reported no using of the inflatable implants. Broken malleable penile prosthesis was noted in two patients after sexual intercourse and thus had to be replaced. All other patients who were having sexual intercourse reported satisfying prosthesis functioning. CONCLUSIONS: Penile prosthesis plays a main role for FTM transsexuals who have undergone phalloplasty and wish to have penetrative sexual intercourse. Insertion of penile prosthesis represents complex procedure with risks of complications, like rejection and malfunctioning. Musculocutaneous latissimus dorsi flap results in good volume and dimensions of the neophallus offering simple and safe insertion of penile prosthesis. Our survey proved lower complication rate when compared to penile prosthesis insertion after other phalloplasty techniques. Source of Funding: None


The foreseeable evolution of electric networks within the next years walks towards a progressive and increasing use of Distributed Generation (DG), specially small clustered photovoltaic (PV) inverters on building rooftops thanks to the economic support in many countries, such as Spain. Plugged-in Electric Vehicle (EV) should be considered as well, having seen the big interest of the automotive industry on it. The separated introduction of these two elements may create benefits but also risks, both economical and technical. As benefits, the improvement of voltage profile along feeders and losses decrease. Overloading at equipments, excessive voltage raise or drop, increasing losses or the mandatory equipments reinforcement in order to satisfy the new requirements should be considered as possible risks. Quality of electrical supply must also be considered. This paper discusses the synergy of the coordinated introduction of both elements which would compensate the caused damages of the separated addition.


Methods: A prospective cohort study was designed. Twodimensional ultrasound (2D) (193 women) and three-dimensional ultrasound (3D) were performed (100 pregnant patients). Excluded were those with multiple pregnancies, congenital anomalies, abnormal karyotype and poly or oligohydramnios. For the 2D ultrasound we used the parasagittal plane in order to view and measure the soleus muscle. Measurements were carried out between the tibia and outer border of the skin, at the point of the upper third of the tibia. For the 3D ultrasound multiplanar images were used to measure the popliteus and the gastrocnemius. Results: The soleus muscle width increases with increasing gestational age (r2 = 0.9403; P = 0.0001). Also, the muscle and bone ratio decreases statistically significantly throughout pregnancy, but the slope is insignificant (r2 = 0.2198; P = 0.001). The popliteus and the gastrocnemius muscles' width also increase with increasing gestational age (r2 = 0.857, P < 0.0001), as does the ratio between soleus and the gastrocnemius muscles and the tibia (r2 = 0.158, P = 0.001). Conclusions: The present data provide a nomogram of the calf's depth with a direct correlation between muscle growth and gestational age. Measurements of calf growth performed by a combination of 2D and 3D ultrasound are highly reproducible with relative ease, between 15 and 42 weeks' gestation. This nomogram can offer a basis for normal calf development and may assist in distinguishing between different etiologies leading to club foot and other joint contractures.


The oxidation states of Fe within olivine, orthopyroxene, clinopyroxene, and spinel in a spinel lherzolite xenolith from the Tariat Depression, Mongolia were investigated using 57Fe Mossbauer spectroscopy to evaluate the redox condition of the upper mantle from which the Tariat spinel lherzolite xenolith was derived. The purity of separated minerals for the Mossbauer spectroscopic analysis was examined using X-ray powder diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. Average Fo and Fe contents of olivine at the core part of the xenolith are 89.9(4) mol % and 0.195(3) atoms per formula unit, respectively. The Fe3+/ΣFe values of the olivine, orthopyroxene, clinopyroxene, and spinel, determined by Mossbauer spectroscopic analysis, are 0.027(2), 0.15(1), 0.26(3), and 0.34(5), respectively. The Mossbauer spectrum of olivine consists of two doublets assigned to Fe2+ at the octahedral sites and one doublet, with I.S. of 0.40(2) mm/s and Q.S. of 0.69(3) mm/s assigned to Fe3+ at the octahedral site. Since the Tariat spinel lherzolite xenolith in this study shows no evidence of metasomatism or thermal alteration, the existence of a small amount of Fe3+ in olivine and the fairly high Fe3+ contents of clinopyroxene, orthopyroxene, and spinel imply that the upper mantle under the Tariat area was in a rather oxidized condition.


Serological and immunopathological analysis of the expression of Lea, Leb, X, and Y blood group antigens on cell lines and tissues was performed using a panel of mouse monoclonal antibodies. The distribution of the antigens was determined on 155 malignant tumor cell lines of various types and 10 short term cultures of normal fibroblasts and kidney cells. Among colon cancers, all four blood group antigens were expressed on the majority of cell lines. On lung, breast, bladder, and ovarian cancer cell lines, X and Y antigens were the main specificities found, whereas few of the renal and hematopoietic tumor cell lines demonstrated any of the four blood group antigens. No blood group antigens could be detected on astrocytoma or melanoma cell lines. The expression of the antigens was also analyzed on frozen sections of colon carcinoma and adjacent normal colon tissue from 42 patients using the immunoperoxidase method. Lea and X were detected throughout the normal colon and on most colonic tumors. In poorly differentiated colon cancer and in metastatic cancer, decrease of Lea antigen was observed. Leb and Y expression was observed in only 20-45% of normal tissue samples but in almost all colonic carcinoma tissues. A selected number of tumor and normal specimens from patients whose secretor status was known were examined in more detail. Both the staining of the tissues and the reactivity of blood group glycolipids from the same specimens were determined. These studies confirmed the above findings and demonstrated the unexpected ability of tumors of nonsecretors to express Leb and/or Y antigens. In such individuals, in whom the expression of Leb and Y antigens in normal tissues is absent or minimal, these antigens provide possible targets for immunodiagnosis and therapy.


This is a moment of repudiation of international law and of reckoning with racial injustice and committing to anti-racism. Some of the leading States that have shaped international law are not only exiting treaties, but also openly declaring and operating outside its rules. This lecture argues that one important way to trace the promise of international law at this moment of difficulty is to go outside the beltway of our discipline to places often unfamiliar in our textbooks and the locations where we practice and teach international law. To do that, this lecture will take you to places like Arusha, Tanzania, the seat of three international courts.

In doing so, the lecture will bring into our conversation the voices of international lawyers from the Third World and the everyday issues that drive their practice and scholarship often under very difficult political circumstances. To appreciate fully the promise of international law, it is important to go beyond the usual debates, places and canons of our discipline in two ways.

First, this lecture challenges the limited geography of places and ideas that dominate the beltway of our discipline. This limited geography and set of ideas is characterized by the law of Geneva, the law of Strasbourg, the law of New York and that of Washington DC. These are the places that our discipline celebrates as producers of the type of international law which in turn becomes the benchmark for the efficacy of international law produced elsewhere. These are also the locations where the bulk of international legal practice is produced and which influences and reinforces our understandings not only of international practice but also of international law more generally.

My second major point in this lecture, which proceeds from a Third Approaches to International Law (TWAIL) perspective, is that TWAIL speaks from a subaltern epistemic location. This means that TWAIL questions international law's presumed universality. TWAIL contests the idea that international law is applicable everywhere and that we should therefore regard it as a view from nowhere. Third World States and TWAIL scholars have contested this non−situated, universal status of international law in a variety of ways. Ultimately, this lecture defends the claim that the Third World is an epistemic site of production and not merely a site of reception of international legal knowledge. Recognizing and grounding the Third World as a site knowledge production and of the practice of international law disrupts the assumptions that international legal knowledge is exclusively produced in the West for consumption and governance of the Third World. This lecture therefore argues that what is at stake is not an issue of inclusion or exclusion of non-western peoples, states within Western international law. Rather, it involves considerations of the very terms of the constitutional order of 'post-Enlightenment social knowledge, its structures of thought, and related constructions of political subjectivity'.

A bibliography of TWAIL scholarship from 1996 to 2019 is appended to this lecture.


Instability of longitudinal wave in magnetized strongly coupled dusty plasmas is investigated. The dust charging relaxation is taken into account. It is found that there exists threshold of interdust distance for the instability of wave, which is determined significantly by the dust charging relaxation, the coupling parameter of high correlation of dust as well the strength of magnetic field.


This paper describes a technique for image stabilization in video sequences. The warping that compensates for the camera motion is computed from tracked features in the images. In order to cope with moving objects, a robust technique is used to compute homographies. Moreover, the tracking is made more reliable by using the computed warping to help predict the features' positions. The effectiveness of the motion compensation is demonstrated by constructing mosaic images from the stabilized sequence and by computing the RMS error. An effort has been made to keep the computational cost low and to reduce the frame rate needed for tracking, with the aim of making a real-time implementation viable.


CSP hybrids are one of the possible technical solutions in order to increase the share of renewable energy and decrease greenhouse gas emission levels as well as fuel consump-tion. The main objectives of the thesis are to research state-of-the-art technologies in concentrated solar power (CSP) and conventional power plants, to comprehensively study the possible integration options and to develop one CSP hybrid configuration by using Advanced Process Simulator (Apros), which is a dynamic modelling and simula-tion tool for industrial processes. Furthermore, the objectives are to develop control strategy for the hybrid and demonstrate the operation of the hybrid under steady state and transient conditions in order to find challenges of hybrid systems and future devel-opment requirements. The theory is based on the available scientific literature for CSP, conventional power plants and CSP hybrids as well as on the information available from companies and organizations working with the technologies. The model development is based on the theoretical background as well as the know-how of VTT about Apros.
Based on the simulations, solar steam fed to the joint high pressure turbine increases thermal efficiency and changes the thermal balance of the steam cycle. In addition, at-tainable solar shares are studied, in which design values of live steam and reheated steam temperatures of steam boiler are reached. Furthermore, as the steam generation is decreased from the solar field, transients can be seen in steam mass flows to turbines, power output of the turbines and steam temperatures and pressures. However, the mod-elled transients could be compensated with the steam boiler and the transients are ac-ceptable for turbines. Based on the conducted research, the main challenges of the hy-brid system are identified. These are, for example, attainable solar shares, design of the steam parameters in solar field and steam boiler and combination of the two steam lines, imbalance between turbines and heat surfaces, optimization of heat surfaces and opera-tion of steam boiler under fluctuating solar irradiation conditions.
The developed and modelled CSP hybrid seems to be technically feasible at least with smaller solar shares. However, the hybrid system requires more research. Thus, future development requirements include, for example, improvement of the control engineer-ing of the hybrid, research on the optimal hybrid configuration and on the possibilities to reach higher solar shares, transient simulations with higher solar shares and conduct-ing exergy and economic analyses for the hybrid system. As a conclusion, the achieved results and the developed model in this thesis provide viable information for the future development of CSP hybrids.


Traditionally, time difference of arrival (TDOA) based acoustic source tracking consists of two stages, more precisely, estimation of TDOAs followed by a tracking algorithm. In general, these two stages are performed separately and presume that (1) TDOAs can be estimated reliably; and (2) the errors in detection behave in a well-defined fashion. The presence of noise and reverberation, however, leads to multimodal TDOA distributions and causes larger errors in the estimates, which ultimately lowers the tracking performance. To counteract this effect, we propose an approach that enhances TDOA estimation by (1) accounting for the multimodal aspect through a Gaussian mixture model and (2) integrating knowledge that has been obtained in the tracking stage. In doing so, this approach tightly couples the two stages. Experimental results on the AV16.3 corpus show that the proposed approach significantly improves the tracking performance compared to various other tracking algorithms.


OF DISSERTATION SUPERINTENDENTS AND THE MICROPOLITICS OF INNOVATION IN RURAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS Research shows that public school districts that follow traditional means of instruction and assessment are insufficiently preparing students for success in the today's global world. As a result, students are entering into higher education institutions and the workforce without the necessary skills to succeed in these 21st century environments. Extant literature suggest that there is a broad consensus on this perspective in public and private sectors nationally and globally. Evidence shows that some school district superintendents and their respective school boards continue to focus on improving the current practices and student academic performance and assessment. Other instructional leaders recognize that their current systems may insufficiently equip students for their futures. Despite financial challenges, state regulations, and limitations of traditional community expectations, these leaders introduce and support innovative education programs that offer extraordinary college and career preparatory opportunities. Some of these innovative districts are recognized by their respective state Departments of Education such as the districts represented in this study that are recognized as Kentucky Districts of Innovation (DOI). This exploratory, multiple-case study examines how several rural Kentucky school districts address these challenges. They've designed, developed, and supported innovative programs to prepare their students for success in post-secondary education and future careers. The researcher examined a wide array of documents, including program applications, district budgetary documents, strategic plans, website information as well as conducted six interviews of three rural Kentucky superintendents and either their respective board chairs or a school board member. An analysis of these data identified leadership characteristics of these superintendents, their relationships with their board members, and how these relationships effect the design, development, and continuous support for innovation. The researcher identified four common themes: student preparation, rural identity, cultures of innovation, and communication. Both superintendent and board members created change to prepare students for their future. The superintendents closely identified with and leveraged their intimate knowledge of their respective rural communities to align education innovations to meet community needs. Superintendents nurtured cultures of innovation that encouraged and accepted informed risk-taking at all levels of the district. In turn, their boards of education supported these innovative efforts through the allocation of resources as well as positive patronage in local communities. Further, effective communication patterns supported positive relationships and built trust with their respective boards and communities. Findings from this study support the notion that complex decision-making processes that support education innovation begin with the school board's decision to hire a school district superintendent. The support continues as the board also is well-educated about innovative practices, provides advice, and supports the district's education initiatives. It is also evident that superintendents who lead their respective district's education innovation initiatives are wellinformed by extant literature, exemplary practice, and have the political acuity to ensure that they work in concert with their local boards of education. In conclusion, superintendents and the relationships they had with their school boards of education directly affected innovation efforts within these rural Kentucky Districts of Innovation.


Rationale: The heterogeneous nature of gliomas makes the development and application of novel treatments challenging. In particular, infiltrating myeloid cells play a role in tumor progression and therapy resistance. Hence, a detailed understanding of the dynamic interplay of tumor cells and immune cells in vivo is necessary. To investigate the complex interaction between tumor progression and therapy-induced changes in the myeloid immune component of the tumor microenvironment, we used a combination of [18F]FET (amino acid metabolism) and [18F]DPA-714 (TSPO, GAMMs, tumor cells, astrocytes, endothelial cells) PET/MRI together with immune-phenotyping. The aim of the study was to monitor temozolomide (TMZ) treatment response and therapy-induced changes in the inflammatory tumor microenvironment (TME). Methods: Eighteen NMRInu/nu mice orthotopically implanted with Gli36dEGFR cells underwent MRI and PET/CT scans before and after treatment with TMZ or DMSO (vehicle). Tumor-to-background (striatum) uptake ratios were calculated and areas of unique tracer uptake (FET vs. DPA) were determined using an atlas-based volumetric approach. Results: TMZ therapy significantly modified the spatial distribution and uptake of both tracers. [18F]FET uptake was significantly reduced after therapy (-53 ± 84%) accompanied by a significant decrease of tumor volume (-17 ± 6%). In contrast, a significant increase (61 ± 33%) of [18F]DPA-714 uptake was detected by TSPO imaging in specific areas of the tumor. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) validated the reduction in tumor volumes and further revealed the presence of reactive TSPO-expressing glioma-associated microglia/macrophages (GAMMs) in the TME. Conclusion: We confirm the efficiency of [18F]FET-PET for monitoring TMZ-treatment response and demonstrate that in vivo TSPO-PET performed with [18F]DPA-714 can be used to identify specific reactive areas of myeloid cell infiltration in the TME.


The home and building automation systems evolution, creates the necessity to define new formalities for the clear and univocal description of their functionalities. To describe the operation of such a system, it is necessary therefore to add a further level that keeps in mind the logical connections among devices and their configurations. The addition of this level makes unambiguous the description of the plant functionalities. From the current state of the art it arises the demand of creating a software that allows the home automation system designer to exclusively focus on the logical functionalities of the system, furnishing to the system integrator the general details for the hardware settings. Particularly, the new network implementation details (KNX system, proprietary systems, etc.) will be completely transparent to the designer. The objective is to get a project documentation that is possible to adapt both for KNX home automation systems and for proprietary systems managed by a gateway (Xiaomi or Google Home).


which prompted the separate study of growth and differentiation in regenerating tissues. Several explanations may be offered for these differences. I t has already been suggested tha t the response of the embryo in ovo to inhibitors may be modified by the material in the egg (1, 6, 10). The greater dependence of the regenerating system on synthesis de novo may explain its greater sensitivity to such antimetabolites as azaserine, deoxypyridoxine, and DL-ethionine. On the other hand, the lower incidence of mitoses during the period under study (Chart 3) might account for the relative inactivity of colchicine. In the same fashion the dependence of regeneration on proper pitutiary-adrenal relationships, as demonstrated by the critical experiments of Schott6 (13, 14), may possibly explain the activity of hydrocrotisone on blastema formation, whereas it was relatively inactive on the embryo. No explanation is readily apparent for the difference between s phenyl)-6-ethylpyrimidine and $,4-diamino-5-(4'chlorophenyl)-6-ethylpyrimidine. Only the former was active against blastema formation, while both are active inhibitors of embryogenesis. However, this finding is similar to the difference in activity which was reported by Clarke et al. for the inhibition of S-180 (7), and the greater activity of the dichlorophenyl derivative found by Hitchings et al. in the growing ra t (11), by Hamil ton et al. in the dog (9), and clinically by Murphy et al. (1~). Worthy of note is the agreement between the response of this regenerating system and the average response of the tumor systems studied in the "Gellhorn" survey (8) (Table 2). Of the three compounds which differed in activity, two gave mismatched positives in this system (deoxypyridoxine and benzimidazole), and one gave a mismatched negative (urethan). Presumably such close agreement is not to be expected of a more extensive group of materials.


Objectives Phyllode breast sarcomas are rare fibroepithelial tumors that account for less than 0.5% of all breast tumors. Due to their rarity and heterogeneity, it was difficult to establish an optimal therapeutic protocol. Methods We carried out a retrospective study of 18 cases of Phyllode breast sarcomas collected at Salah Azaïz Institute between 2004 and 2013. Results The mean age was 48.8 years. The average delay of consulting was 12.3 months. A breast lump palpation was the chief complaint (97% of cases). The mean tumor size was 12.3 cm. Seventeen patients (94.4%) underwent mastectomy and one patient underwent wide lumpectomy. Adjuvant radiotherapy was done in 13 cases (72.2%), while chemotherapy was administrated to 5 patients (27.7%). After a follow-up ranging from 4 to 124 months, 5 patients (27.7%) developed local recurrences and 6 patients (33.3%) developed distant metastases. The median overall survival was 10 months and the median disease-free survival was 7 months. An analytical study of the parameters age, tumor size, mammographic appearance, presence or absence of metastases and local recurrences showed no correlation with the histological subtype (p> 0.05). In univariate analysis, the identified overall survival prognostic factors were surgical margins <1 cm (p = 0.005) and tumor necrosis (p = 0.028). Conclusions Phyllode breast sarcomas are rare tumors. The therapeutic approach is not well codified. Multicenter studies are needed to establish an optimal therapeutic strategy.


The behaviour of Norwegian spring spawning herring when migrating to the feeding areas in the Norwegian Sea in April was mapped by an acoustic survey in 1997. The distribution of herring was recorded by conventional echo integration, and the swimming behaviour of selected herring schools was recorded by a high-resolution sonar. Individual schools were tracked for up to o ne ho ur. The herring were recorded in an area between 66° and 68° north, 2° east to 3° 30' west. The western part of the area was influenced by the southbound, cold East Icelandic current which induced a termal front within the area. Schools far east of the front had a western migration direction, while schools closer to the front had a southern migration direction. The migration behaviour of the herring schools seemed to be influenced by the temperature distribution in the front. The herring were recorded in large dense schools at 200 - 400 m during daytime. At night the schools rose to surface and scattered or remained as distinct schools.


BACKGROUND
High-mobility group AT-hook 2 (HMGA2) protein acts as an oncofoetal transcriptional regulator. In mesenchymal tissues, its expression can be induced by a variety of growth factors such as fibroblast growth factor-1 (FGF1) and platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB) as well as by foetal bovine serum (FBS), thus enhancing proliferation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
To examine these effects in epithelial malignancies, we used the PC-3 prostate cancer cell line for assaying proliferation and HMGA2 expression in response to incubation with growth factors and FBS. The HMGA2 locus was investigated by fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) for loss, amplification or re-arrangement.

RESULTS
PC-3 is a cell line that moderately overexpresses HMGA2. None of the growth factors nor FBS caused significantly increased expression of HMGA2. In contrast, a significantly augmented proliferation rate was observed when applying FGF1 or PDGF-BB for 12 h.

CONCLUSION
HMGA2 is expressed independently of external stimuli, whereas proliferation stimulated by growth factors is independent of further elevated HMGA2 expression.


Whereas subjective well-being remains relatively stable across adulthood, emotional experiences show remarkable short-term variability, with younger and older adults differing in both amount and correlates. Repeatedly assessed affect data captures both the dynamics and stability as well as stabilization that may indicate emotion-regulatory processes. The article reviews (1) research approaches to intraindividual affect variability, (2) functional implications of affect variability, and (3) age differences in affect variability. Based on this review, we discuss how the broader literature on emotional aging can be better integrated with theories and concepts of intraindividual affect variability by using appropriate methodological approaches. Finally, we show how a better understanding of affect variability and its underlying processes could contribute to the long-term stabilization of well-being in old age.


Machine Reading Comprehension (MRC) is an essential task in natural language understanding in which the goal is to teach machines to understand the text. Machine understanding can be evaluated through question answering techniques. Limited research has been done in Arabic reading comprehension. This study presents a survey on trends and methods of Machine Reading Comprehension (MRC) methods in Arabic. The survey summarizes recent advances in Arabic reading comprehension, primarily emphasizing on two aspects (i.e., available datasets and methods). The study provides a detailed analysis of MRC techniques and compares various datasets used to study Arabic reading compression.


Estuaries have been recognized as important sources of carbon dioxide (CO2) to the atmosphere; however, contributions of these systems to regional and global carbon budgets are not well constrained due to limited information on seasonal and spatial variability. In this study, we use satellite remote sensing to obtain seasonal pCO2 distribution and air‐sea CO2 fluxes in Apalachicola Bay, a national estuarine research reserve located in the northern Gulf of Mexico that receives seasonally varying dissolved organic matter‐rich waters from the Apalachicola River. A combination of time series (2005–2016) and seasonal field observations (2015–2016) of pH and biophysical variables were used to develop seasonal pH‐pCO2 relationships for obtaining surface pCO2 estimates and air‐sea CO2 fluxes from Visible and Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) ocean color data. Monthly and seasonal maps of pCO2 and air‐sea CO2 fluxes showed a general trend of higher fluxes in winter and summer corresponding to high river flow and warm water temperatures. However, CO2 fixation via photosynthesis and low water temperatures contributed to lower fluxes to the atmosphere in spring and fall, respectively. Throughout the study period, Apalachicola Bay was a net source of CO2 with large seasonal and spatial variability and a mean annual CO2 flux to the atmosphere of 3.4 ± 3.1 mol·m−2·year−1 (9.4 ± 8.5 mmol·m−2·day−1), consistent with fluxes reported for other estuaries. This study demonstrates the critical role that satellite observations can play to improve the estuarine contributions to the global carbon flux estimates.


In this paper, we propose a chaotic cipher system consisting of Improved Volterra Filters and the mapping that is created from the actual voice by using Radial Basis Function Network. In order to achieve a practical system, the system supposes to use the digital communication line, such as the Internet, to maintain the parameter matching between the transmitter and receiver sides. Therefore, in order to withstand the attack from outside, it is necessary that complicate the internal state and improve the sensitivity coefficient. In this paper, we validate the robustness of proposed method from three perspectives of "Chaotic properties", "Randomness", "Coefficient sensitivity".


The nightmare continues... Vampire Rites trilogy comprising: Vampire Mountain, Trials of Death and The Vampire Prince. Join Darren Shan's descent into the darkness. VAMPIRE MOUNTAIN Darren Shan and Mr Crepsley embark on a dangerous trek to the very heart of the vampire world. But will a meeting with the Vampire Princes restore Darren's human side, or turn him further towards the darkness? TRIALS OF DEATH The Trials: seventeen ways to die unless the luck of the vampires is with you. Darren Shan must pass five fearsome Trials to prove himself to the vampire clan - or face the stakes in the Hall of Death. THE VAMPIRE PRINCE Can Darren reverse the odds and outwit a Vampire Prince, or is this the end of thousands of years of vampire rule...?


The more traditional perspective in Geography views territory as a dichotomous reality of sociodemographic and biophysical characteristics yet, literature states that both territorial dimensions coexist and interact. The number of indicators for each territorial dimension is vast which makes the territory categorization a complex task. Despite it, territory categorization generates knowledge about the differences between territories that improve the planning process and make it more directed and strategic. This work main goal is to test a methodologic approach to categorize Lisbon Municipality area at the statistical section level, integrating information on the physical and social aspects. For this purpose, multivariate and complementary statistical analysis techniques will be used: Principal Component Analysis (applied to the physical and social aspects of the territory) and Hierarchical Classification Analysis (based in the factors extracted in the Principal Component Analysis). The resulting clusters will then be mapped and its distribution will be tested for spatial autocorrelation.


Tsunami deposits are currently a subject of intensive studies. Tsunamis must have occurred in the geological past in the same frequency as nowadays, yet their identified depositional record is surprisingly scarce. Here we describe a hitherto unrecognized example of probable palaeotsunamites. The Upper Silurian (Pridoli) carbonate succession of Podolia (southwestern Ukraine) contains variously developed event beds forming intercalations within peritidal deposits (shallow water limestones, nodular marls and dolomites). The event beds are represented by stromatoporoid and fine-grained bioclastic limestones, in some places accompanied by flat-pebble conglomerates. The interval with event beds can be traced along the Zbruch River in separate outcrops over a distance of more than 20 km along a transect oblique to the palaeoshoreline. The stromatoporoid beds have erosional bottom surfaces and are composed of overturned and often fragmented massive skeletons. The material has been transported landward from their offshore habitats and deposited in lagoonal settings. The flat-pebble conglomerates are composed of sub-angular micritic clasts that are lithologically identical to the sediments forming the underlying beds.  Large-scale landward transport of the biogenic material has to be attributed to phenomena with very high energy levels, such as tropical hurricanes or tsunamis. This paper presents a tsunamigenic interpretation. Morphometric features of redeposited stromatoporoids point to a calm original growth environment at depths well below storm wave base. Tsunami waves are the most probable factor that could cause their redeposition from such a setting. The vastness of the area covered by parabiostromal stromatoporoid beds resembles the distribution of modern tsunami deposits in offshore settings. The stromatoporoid beds with unsorted stromatoporoids of various dimensions evenly distributed throughout the thickness of the beds and with clast-supported textures most probably represent deposition by traction. In some sections, the stromatoporoids are restricted to the lowermost parts of the beds, which pass upwards into bioclastic limestones. In this case, the finer material was deposited from suspension. The coexistence of stromatoporoid beds and flat-pebble conglomerates also allows presenting a tsunami interpretation of the latter. The propagating tsunami waves, led to erosion of partly lithified thin-layered mudstones, their fragmentation into flat clasts and redeposition as flat-pebble conglomerates.


The accuracy of parents' impressions about their child's hearing status is variable and may not correspond to the child's complaints. Aim: To investigate children's self-reported hearing symptoms and parents' impressions about it. Methods: 477 children (2nd to 5 th grades of elementary schools) were interviewed and parents answered a survey at home. There were 393 matches between the children's interview and the parent's survey. Results: 29% of the children reported trouble in understanding what people said, 36.1% had history of 1-3 ear infections, 12.7% had four or more ear infections, 21.7% had continuous tinnitus (positive association with history of exposure to loud sounds, p = 0.0007), 3.8% had pulsatile tinnitus and 2.9% had auditory hallucinations. 28.5% of the children were annoyed by loud sounds (associated with tinnitus, p = 0.0142, and gender, p = 0.0029) 10.4% had had audiological tests, and the determinant factors were history of ear infections (p < 0.001) and parents' concern about their child's hearing (p = 0.043). Parents and their own child's responses were significantly different. Conclusions: Children's auditory complaints were prevalent and relevant, but most of them had never had an audiological evaluation and most parents were not aware of their child's complaints. Sound intolerances and auditory hallucinations should be considered in clinical and audiological examinations.


Abstract. The concept of vulnerability is pillared by multiple disciplinary theories underpinning either a technical or a social origin of the concept and resulting in a range of paradigms for either a qualitative or quantitative assessment of vulnerability. However, efforts to reduce susceptibility to hazards and to create disaster-resilient communities require intersections among these theories, since human activity cannot be seen independently from the environmental setting. Acknowledging different roots of disciplinary paradigms, issues determining structural, economic, institutional and social vulnerability are discussed with respect to mountain hazards in Austria. It is argued that structural vulnerability as originator results in considerable economic vulnerability, generated by the institutional settings of dealing with natural hazards and shaped by the overall societal framework. If vulnerability and its counterpart, resilience, is analysed and evaluated by using a comprehensive approach, a better understanding of the vulnerability-influencing parameters could be achieved, taking into account the interdependencies and interactions between the disciplinary foci. Thereby the overall aim of this paper is not to develop another integrative approach for vulnerability assessment, different approaches are rather applied by using a vulnerability-of-place criterion, and key issues of vulnerability are reconsidered aiming at a general illustration of the situation in a densely populated mountain region of Europe.


The Cartan subalgebra of the sl2 quantum affine algebra is generated by a family of mutually commuting operators, responsible for the l-weight decomposition of finite dimensional modules. The natural Jordan filtration induced by these operators is generically non-trivial on l-weight spaces of dimension greater than one. We derive, for every standard module of quantum affine sl2, the dimensions of the Jordan grades and prove that they can be directly read off from the t-dependence of the q,t-characters introduced by Nakajima. To do so we construct explicit bases for the standard modules with respect to which the Cartan generators are upper-triangular. The basis vectors of each l-weight space are labelled by the elements of a ranked poset from the family L(m,n).


In this study, electrical discharge machining process was performed to investigate the machinability of Al/B4Cp metal matrix composites manufactured by powder metallurgy. For this, an experimental layout was conducted by using full factorial design. In the analysis, there are three parameters of which one is at three levels and the remaining are two levels. Totally, 48 experiments were carried out. The surface roughness (Ra) was increased with increasing the current (C), pulse-on-time (Ton), pulse-o -time (Toff) and amount of particle (PR).


There is a clear and pressing need to better manage our planet's resources. Phosphorus is a crucial element for life, but the natural phosphorus cycle has been perturbed to such an extent that humanity faces two dovetailing problems: the dwindling supply of phosphate rock as a resource, and the overabundance of phosphate in water systems leading to eutrophication. This Tutorial Review will explore the current routes to industrial phosphorus compounds, and innovative academic routes towards accessing these same products in a more sustainable manner. It will then describe the many ways that useful phosphate can be recovered from waste streams, and how it can be recycled and used as a resource for new products. Finally, we will briefly discuss the barriers that have thus far prevented the widespread adoption of these technologies, and how we can close the loop to establish a modern phosphorus cycle.


Palladium nanoparticles of improved stability against aggregation were prepared using 5-arm star-shaped block copolymers with a poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) core and a poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL) corona as templates. The PEO core of these star-shaped block copolymers could be swollen with palladium acetate (Pd(OAc)(2)) in N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF), and Pd nanoparticles were obtained by reduction with NaBH4. This procedure resulted in well defined Pd nanoparticles that were stabilized against aggregation due to a barrier of PCL chains. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) experiments strongly suggested that one Pd nanoparticle was formed inside each star-shaped block copolymer. The stability of the Pd nanoparticles with respect to aggregation was strongly dependent on the length of the PCL chains. Subsequently, these nanoparticles were evaluated for their capability to act as catalysts in Heck coupling reactions. These reactions were performed in an automated synthesizer and monitored by GC-MS revealing that these particles are highly active for the catalytic reactions mentioned. Up to 99% conversion was observed for the coupling of styrene with 4-bromoacetophenone within 24 h at a catalyst loading of 0.1 mol%.


This paper provides an overview of psychiatric consultation-liaison services in a general hospital setting. The patient most frequently referred for consultation-liaison services is the individual experiencing depression secondary to physical illness. The dimensions of occupational therapy intervention with this population is featured, including assessment, intervention strategies, and documentation guidelines useful in the treatment planning.


The effect of Methylammonium Iodide (CH3NH3PbI3) perovskites(MIP) concentration on the performance of perovskites sensitized solar cell (PSC) was studied. Three MIP concentrations, namely 0.2, 0.4, and 1.0 M were prepared. In this study PSC with a sandwich structure of ITO/TiO2/ MIP /electrolyte/ Pt film was fabricated for this purpose. It was found that power conversion efficiency (PCE) increased with the increasing the concentration of MIP, from 0.01 to 0.21% as the concentration increase from 0.2 to 1.0 M. Photoluminescence (PL) study showed that the increase of the MIP concentration decrease therecombination of carrier in the device. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) analysis also shows that with the increased of MIP concentration results in the decreased of the Rct due to the improvement of the carrier transport in the devices.


Objectives Pregnancy-related lumbopelvic pain (LPP) is a frequent condition known to significantly affect women in their daily life. The aetiology of pregnancy-related LPP pain is still not clearly established but the mode of conception has been suggested to contribute to LPP. Anxiety related to fertility treatments may be one of the contributing factors. The primary objectives of this study were to determine the evolution of LPP prevalence and severity, and anxiety throughout pregnancy in women who conceived spontaneously (SP) or after fertility treatments (FT). A further aim was to examine the relationship between pregnancy-related LPP severity and anxiety. The secondary objective was to determine the evolution of physical activity and their correlation with the severity of pregnancy-related LPP. Design Prospective cohort study. Setting Pregnant women were recruited through physicians' referrals, posters and newspaper advertisements in the local and surrounding communities (hospital, maternity care clinic, prenatal centres, sports centres, local university) in the city of Trois-Rivières, Canada. Participants 59 pregnant women (33 SP and 26 FT) were assessed during the first, second and third trimester of pregnancy. Primary and secondary outcome measures Pregnancy-related LPP prevalence and severity (primary), trait and state anxiety, and physical activity levels (secondary). Results There was no relationship between the mode of conception and the outcome measures. The prevalence and severity of LPP increased over the course of pregnancy (time effect, p<0.0001) whereas trait anxiety decreased from early to mid-pregnancy (time effect, p=0.03). Activity limitations increased throughout pregnancy (time effect, p<0.0001) and physical activity levels decreased (time effect, p<0.0001). The severity of LPP was positively correlated with activity limitations (r=0.51 to 0.55) but negatively with physical activity levels (r=−0.39 to −0.41). Conclusions Maternal health-related factors, such as LPP, anxiety and physical activity, are not different in women who conceived spontaneously or after fertility treatments. The more LPP was severe, the more the women were physically limited and inactive.


An increased interest in the study of the adrenal cortex, together with the ready availability of corticotrophin (A.C.T.H.), have, in recent years, led to the development of improved methods for the assessment of adrenal cortical function. The first of such methods was devised by Thorn, Forsham, Prunty, and Hills (1948) and depended upon the fall in blood eosinop'lils after injection of a single dose of corticotrophin. It was subsequently realized, however, that this test was by no means specific, since a fall in eosinophils could be produced by the injection of adrenaline, for example, without any effect on the adrenal steroids (Nelson, Sandberg, Palmer, and Glenn, 1952). Moreover, there is a considerable spontaneous variation in the eosinophil count and results may be difficult to interpret when the initial count is low. The urinary 17-ketosteroid excretion after corticotiophin provides a more valuable indication of adrenal cortical function and many of the current tests rely on this estimation. In males, however, the 17-ketosteroids are only partly derived from the adrenal cortex, and sometimes a clearly defined rise after corticotrophin is not obtained even in normal individuals. Jenkins, Forsham, Laidlaw, Reddy, and Thorn (1955) find that 14% of normal controls showed a rise of less than 2 mg. in 24 hours. Recently, relatively simple methods have been devised for the estimation of urinary 17-hydroxycorticoids, and it seems that these methods provide a more direct measure of adrenal cortical function since the 17-hydroxycorticoids represent that fraction of the adrenal steroids known as the glucocorticoids, of which hydrocortisone and its urinary metabolites are the most important. It is now recognized that for an adequate assessment of its function a prolonged stimulation of the adrenal cortex is necessary. Jenkins et al. (1955) describe


The control of heart rate with
pulsometer is a good marker for evaluating
the response of heart to exercise. The aims
of this research were: first, to assess heart
rate obtained during a tennis training,
changing the intensity at those stages in
which the player is hitting the ball, through
various forms of displacement: 1) view if
there are significant differences between
them and 2) see if they get heart cardiac
frequency. 45 students were monitored for
4th and 5th of Science Degree in Physical
Activity and Sport (20.98 ± 3.67 years).
They do a session with four areas of
intensity (walking slowly, walking fast,
jogging and running). The cardiac response
to exercise showed that these areas have
significant differences among themselves
and are within the areas marked as hearthealthy.


1. Gammarus duebeni from brackish water was acclimatized to salinities ranging from 100% sea water down to 0.25 mM/1 NaCl at 9 °C.

2. The body water content increased from 76 to 81% body wet weight. The ratio of total body sodium/chloride increased from 1.04 to 1.52. The sodium space remained constant, equivalent to about 65 % body H2O. The chloride space decreased from about 60% body H2O down to 35% body H2O.

3. Total body potassium remained almost constant and showed only a small decrease in dilute NaCl-media. Potassium balance was maintained for several days at an external potassium concentration of 0.010-0.015 mM/1.

4. The proportion of body water in the extracellular blood space was calculated from the assumption that potassium and chloride ions were distributed in a Donnan equilibrium between the blood and intracellular spaces. The blood space was slightly smaller than the chloride space.

5. The mean intracellular concentrations of sodium, potassium and chloride were calculated. Sodium fell from 120 to 75 mM/kg cell H2O, potassium fell from 125 to 75 mM/kg cell H2O and chloride fell from 55 to 12 mM/kg cell H2O. These concentrations are similar to the concentrations found in the muscles of decapods and in the tissues of other animals.

6. About 10% of the body chloride and 93-97% of the body potassium is situated in the cells. The proportion of intracellular sodium increased from 17-18% body sodium at 100% sea water to 40-50% body sodium at 0.25 mM/l NaCl.

7. G. duebeni from three freshwater populations were acclimatized to 2 % sea water, 0.5 and 0.25 mM/l NaCl. The body surface is three times more permeable to potassium than it is to sodium and chloride. Potassium balance in starved animals was achieved at 0.010-0.015 mM/l K. Fed animals had a higher body sodium and chloride content than starved animals.

8. The regulation of body water and ions in animals from the freshwater populations was essentially the same as in animals from brackish-water populations. The significance of the results is discussed in relation to the process of adaptation to fresh water.


Electronic systems of the future require a very high bandwidth communications infrastructure within the system. This way the massive amount of compute power which will be available can be inter-connected to realize future powerful advanced electronic systems. Today, electronic inter-connects between 3D chip-stacks, as well as intra-connects within 3D chip-stacks are approaching data rates of 100 Gbit/s soon. Hence, the question to be answered is how to efficiently design the communications infrastructure which will be within electronic systems. Within this paper approaches and results for building this infrastructure for future electronics are addressed.


Vigorous research in the field of constraint programming has led to the expectation of handling various types of constraints in a dynamic environment such a chemical process industry where constraints tend to alter their scope of impact and sometimes even context in which they are used.  Constraint programming languages are developed to handle such scenarios focusing more on domain specific problem. These approaches ensure modeling in a particular domain but extending such models for other domains becomes unmanageable to suit needs. In this research, we propose a theoretical framework which gathers all types of constraints that are possible in a dynamic environment with an objective to organize and administer them. The aim is achieved by having functionalities for observing their scope by setting their preferences and priorities according to their lifespan in the system. The type of constraint determines the technique in which it is supposed to be handled. Since, the framework modules work in collaboration to help find a solution to the problem; we use multi-agent technology for catering environment dynamicity. The principle contribution can be considered in classifying constraints and managing them independent of their domain. For validation, a chemical continuous flow process scenario is studied as an application.


Anyone who has attended an academic conference will be able to sympathize with the audience of the lecture delivered at the Royal Society of Literature on May 18, 1825. What the members of the society heard that day, a lecture announced and eventually published under the title "On the Prometheus of Aeschylus," not only lasted an hour and twenty-five minutes but never referred to a single line of Aeschylus's play and consisted largely of assertions such as the following, in which the liberal admixture of Greek and Latin terms is representative: "The sum, stated in the terms of philosophic logic, is this: First, what Moses appropriated to the chaos itself: what Moses made passive and a materia subjecta et lucis et tenebrarum [underlying matter of both light and dark], the containing prothemenon (1) [something posited before] of the thesis and antithesis; this the Greek placed anterior to the chaos: the chaos itself being the struggle between the hyperchronia, the ideai pronomoi [ideas prior to law] as the unevolved unproduced prothesis of which idea kai nomos (idea and law), are the thesis and antithesis (I use the word 'produced' in the mathematical sense, as a point elongating itself to a bipolar line)" (Shorter Works and Fragments [1995], 1273). The following day the lecturer himself expressed, in a letter to his nephew, "remorseful Sympathy with the Audience, who could not possibly understand the 10th part--For let its merits be what they may, it was not a thing to read, but to be read by" (Collected Letters [1956-71], 5:461). At the risk of anticlimax I shall reveal that the lecturer was Samuel Taylor Coleridge, and the occasion of the lecture his election to the Royal Society of Literature. Although membership entailed an obligation to address the society every year, that requirement was evidently waived in Coleridge's case, for he delivered no successor to his inaugural lecture. It is understandable that someone who had reason to be anxious about his reputation should have wanted to impress a distinguished audience with his erudition. It is also likely, as Anthony Harding has concluded (The Reception of Myth in English Romanticism [1995], 248-50), that Coleridge sought to ingratiate himself with that audience, consisting as it would have of precisely the educated upper class to whom he had sought to address himself in his lay sermons of 1816-17, in the hope of fostering the development of what he called the clerisy, a class of people who would provide intellectual and moral leadership for the nation. Both Coleridge's subject and his hermetic presentation of it were consistent with this broader ideological aim, which he would propound explicitly in On the Constitution of the Church and State (1830). With its complicated syntax, recondite scholarly references, frequent use of un-translated Greek and Latin, and casual assumption of the listeners' equal familiarity with the Bible, Greek mythology, and ancient mystery religions, Coleridge's lecture in effect sought to perform the very function that it attributed to Aeschylus's play, that of conveying a profound religious truth to a select few while disguising it from the multitude. If the "secret doctrines of the mysteries" had to be protected from the "debasing influences" of polytheism in ancient Athens (1277), then those same doctrines had to be protected from materialism and Palyean natural theology in modern London. What were those doctrines? A passage Coleridge incorporated into his lecture from the 1818 edition of his miscellany The Friend summarizes his conviction that the Greek mystery cults, guided by divine providence, communicated a philosophically inflected form of Mosaic monotheism and thereby protected the Greeks from the worst effects of their popular religion: "The earliest Greeks took up the religious and lyrical poetry of the Hebrews; and the schools of the prophets were, however partially and imperfectly, represented by the mysteries derived through the corrupt channel of the Phoenicians. …


This report describes a case of quinine‐induced acute renal failure as a result of a combination of haemolytic uraemic syndrome and rhabdomyolysis with disseminated intravascular coagulation. The abrupt onset of symptoms occurred after ingestion of 300 mg of quinine along with atorvastatin. The patient recovered with supportive management, suggesting that plasma exchange may not be necessary in this situation. The possibility of a drug interaction contributing to rhabdomyolysis is raised. The proposed mechanism is through quinine inhibition of the cytochrome P450 isoenzyme 3A4, which may increase systemic levels of atorvastatin by reducing its first‐pass metabolism.


Background: Chonemorpha grandiflora (Syn. Chonemorpha fragrans (Apocynaceae) is an endangered medicinal plant. It is used in different preparations, such as sudarsanasavam and kumaryasavam used in Kerala Ayurvedic system. C. grandiflora is used for the treatment of fever and stomach disorders. Phytochemical investigations have revealed the presence of steroidal alkaloids, such as chonemorphine and funtumafrine in C. grandiflora. Camptothecin, a well-known anticancer alkaloid has been detected in ethanolic extracts of stem with bark and callus cultures derived from C. grandiflora. Methods: Callus cultures of C. grandiflora were raised on Murashige and Skoog's medium supplemented with 2, 4-D. Stem with bark and callus were used for phytochemical analysis mainly the alkaloids. Detection and identification of camptothecin was carried out using thin-layer chromatography (TLC), high-performance thin-layer chromatography, (HPTLC) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Results: An important anticancer alkaloid, camptothecin was detected in ethanolic extracts of stem with bark and callus cultures of C. grandiflora. camptothecin content was 0.013 mg/g in stem with bark and 0.003 mg/g in callus. Conclusion: This is the first report on in vivo and in vitro production of camptothecin in C. grandiflora. Camptothecin is known to occur only in six plant sources so, alternative sources for camptothecin are needed. Thus of C. grandiflora could be a new promising alternative source of camptothecin.


This paper is centered on the random graph generated by a Doeblin-type coupling of discrete time processes on a countable state space whereby when two paths meet, they merge. This random graph is studied through a novel subgraph, called a bridge graph, generated by paths started in a fixed state at any time. The bridge graph is made into a unimodular network by marking it and selecting a root in a specified fashion. The unimodularity of this network is leveraged to discern global properties of the larger Doeblin graph. Bi-recurrence, i.e., recurrence both forwards and backwards in time, is introduced and shown to be a key property in uniquely distinguishing paths in the Doeblin graph, and also a decisive property for Markov chains indexed by $\mathbb{Z}$. Properties related to simulating the bridge graph are also studied.


Stochastic gradient descent (SGD) remains the method of choice for deep learning, despite the limitations arising for ill-behaved objective functions. In cases where it could be estimated, the natural gradient has proven very effective at mitigating the catastrophic effects of pathological curvature in the objective function, but little is known theoretically about its convergence properties, and it has yet to find a practical implementation that would scale to very deep and large networks. Here, we derive an exact expression for the natural gradient in deep linear networks, which exhibit pathological curvature similar to the nonlinear case. We provide for the first time an analytical solution for its convergence rate, showing that the loss decreases exponentially to the global minimum in parameter space. Our expression for the natural gradient is surprisingly simple, computationally tractable, and explains why some approximations proposed previously work well in practice. This opens new avenues for approximating the natural gradient in the nonlinear case, and we show in preliminary experiments that our online natural gradient descent outperforms SGD on MNIST autoencoding while sharing its computational simplicity.


Information Services are services whereby information is provided in
response to user requests, and may include involvement of a human or
automated agent. A popular existing Information Service is Directory
Assistance (DA). Moving ahead, Information Services providers envision
exciting multimedia services that support simultaneous voice and data
interactions with full operator backup at any time during the call.
Information Services providers are planning to migrate to SIP based
platforms, which will enable such advanced services, while continuing
to support traditional DA services. Operator Services are traditional
PSTN services which often involve providing human or automated
assistance to a caller, and often require the specialized capabilities
traditionally provided by an operator services switch. Market and/or
regulatory factors in some jurisdictions dictate that some subset of
Operator Services continue to be provided going forward. This document
aims to identify how Operator and Information Services can be
implemented using existing or currently proposed SIP mechanisms, to
identity existing protocol gaps, and to provide a set of Best Current
Practices to facilitate interoperability. For Operator Services, the
intention is to describe how current operator services can continue to
be provided to PSTN based subscribers via a SIP based operator
services architecture. It also looks at how current operator services
might be provided to SIP based subscribers via such an architecture,
but does not consider the larger question of the need for or
usefulness or suitability of each of these services for SIP based
subscribers. This document addresses the needs of current Operator and
Information Services providers; as such, the intended audience
includes vendors of equipment and services to such providers.


Context. Planet formation is expected to take place in the first million years of a planetary system through various processes, which remain to be tested through observations.
Aims. With the recent discovery, using ALMA, of two gaseous spiral arms inside the ∼120 au cavity and connected to dusty spirals, the famous protoplanetary disk around AB Aurigae presents a strong incentive for investigating the mechanisms that lead to giant planet formation. A candidate protoplanet located inside a spiral arm has already been claimed in an earlier study based on the same ALMA data.
Methods. We used SPHERE at the Very Large Telescope to perform near-infrared high-contrast imaging of AB Aur in polarized and unpolarized light in order to study the morphology of the disk and search for signs of planet formation.
Results. SPHERE has delivered the deepest images ever obtained for AB Aur in scattered light. Among the many structures that are yet to be understood, we identified not only the inner spiral arms, but we also resolved a feature in the form of a twist in the eastern spiral at a separation of about 30 au. The twist of the spiral is perfectly reproduced with a planet-driven density wave model when projection effects are accounted for. We measured an azimuthal displacement with respect to the counterpart of this feature in the ALMA data, which is consistent with Keplerian motion on a 4 yr baseline. Another point sxce is detected near the edge of the inner ring, which is likely the result of scattering as opposed to the direct emission from a planet photosphere. We tentatively derived mass constraints for these two features.
Conclusions. The twist and its apparent orbital motion could well be the first direct evidence of a connection between a protoplanet candidate and its manifestation as a spiral imprinted in the gas and dust distributions.


Based on the normal value-at-risk, we develop a new value-at-risk method called modified value-at-risk. This modified value-at-risk has the property to adjust the risk, measured by volatility alone, with the skewness and the kurtosis of the distribution of returns. The modified value-at-risk allows us to measure the risk of a portfolio with non-normally distributed assets like hedge funds or technology stocks and to solve for optimal portfolio by minimizing the modified value-at-risk at a given confidence level.


Background: The Journal clubs are used as a standard teaching tool for the post graduates. However, the success of this method is related to how they are run and abilities of the organizers. The aim of this study was to compare the journal clubs of Kashan University of Medical Sciences with standards. Methods: During a descriptive cross-sectional study, 117 (42 lecturers and 75 residents) of different specialties of Kashan University of Medical Sciences (KAUMS) were asked about journal clubs in their groups. The tool was a two-part questionnaire : first was included the demographic data of participants, and the second part 34 questions in 5-point Likert scale measuring triple fields of journal club, Preparation, Scheduling, and performance compared to standards. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 16 software. P<0.05 was considered significant. Results: In total, the journal clubs are run favorably in clinical wards of KAUMS, based on lecturers and resident viewpoints. Regarding three domains of journal club holding, all participants believed that journal clubs were held regularly and there is no problem in scheduling, but the main problem were seen in performance. In this domain, the most important challenge was absence of methodologist in journal sessions to help for selecting articles and answering possible questions during discussions. No significant difference was found regarding lecturers and residents beliefs about journal clubs (P= 0.22). Conclusions: Despite the favorable running of journal clubs in accordance to standards in the university, appropriate intervention should be performed to reach ideal condition.


A technology of self-emulsification coacervation to prepare starch sodium octenyl succinate (SSOS) microcapsules consisting of evening primrose oil (EPO) as a core material has been illustrated in this report. The optimal microencapsulation conditions has been investigated and the morphology of the microcapsules has been observed by Optical microscope. The results show that the optimized microencapsulation condition is core-wall ratio 2 g/g , DS 0.050, coacervating agent 0.8 mL/mL emulsion, with the cross-linker 0.04 g/g SSOS, stirring speed 700 rpm for emulsification, and 350 rpm for coacervation. Meanwhile,the protective effect experiments via aeration method indicate that the increment of peroxide value (POV) of entrapped EPO is only 5.68% compared to unencapsulated EPO after aeration for 48 h, which shows good protection performance of SSOS microcapsules to entrapped substances.


During the century and a half between 1700 and 1850, communications in North Derbyshire and South Yorkshire were greatly improved. During the first half of the 18th century, the Don was made navigable as far as Tinsley; the Seven Years war saw a great number of roads turnpiked; the canal linking Chesterfield with the Trent was made in the 'seventies and the Canal Mania of 1793 saw Acts passed to build canals through parts of the coalfield previously unexploited. Forty seven years later, the North Midland Railway was opened, crossing the area from north to south. During the Railway Mania, a number of Acts were passed, authorising the building of new lines both to open up the South Yorkshire and North Derbyshire Coalfield and to connect it with areas to the east and south where its coal might win new markets.
Industrially, lead, iron and coal dominated the district during these 150 years. During the first half of the 18th. century, a charcoal iron industry was built upon the iron ore, timber and water power of the region, but this was threatened with extinction by 1750 by a shortage of fuel. During the next half century, the lead ores of Ashover were exploited, on what was for 18th. century Derbyshire, a large scale. With their exhaustion early in the next century, the mines closed down and with them, the adjacent smelting works and red lead mills. Most important in the long term industrial development of the region was the exploitation of its coal. In 1700, this was of little more than local importance. By l850, it was a factor to be reckoned with in most markets south of the Humber. This growth in output was accompanied by changes in the size of the average firm in the industry, by methods of mining technique and management.


ABSTRACT. Almeida D.O., Tortely R., Nascimento E.R., Khan M., Pereira V.L.A & Babapoor S. [Use of RT-PCR and elisa techniques for the diagnostic of infectious bronchitis virus in broilers at slaughter.] Uso das tecnicas de RT-PCR e elisa no diagnostico da bronquite infecciosa em frangos de corte ao abate. Revista Brasileira de Medicina Veterinaria, 37(1):55-59, 2015. Departamento de Saude Coletiva Veterinaria e Saude Publica, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Rua Vital Brazil Filho, 64, Santa Rosa, Niteroi, RJ 24230-340, Brasil. E-mail: email@example.com Avian infectious bronchitis (IB) is a viral, acute and highly contagious disease caused by infectious bronchitis virus (IBV). The disease affects broilers improvement and performance causing major economic losses in the world poultry industry. Generally, IBV infections can be diagnosed by detection of IBV itself or the specific antibody response. This study aimed to detect IBV in broilers under Sanitary Inspection by RT-PCR and ELISA, comparing the results and relating them with the average weight of the flock. Samples were collected from 40 vaccinated broiler flocks under Sanitary Inspection at slaughter. Ten birds from every flock were randomly selected and blood samples were collected for ELISA as well three birds had their trachea and caecal tonsils collected for RT- -PCR test. From 40 flocks, 30 were IBV positive by ELISA and 26 by RT-PCR, in which 15 were detected simultaneously in trachea and caecal tonsil and 5 in each sample. There was no agreement between ELISA and RT-PCR results regarding IBV diagnosis as well positivity in both tests was not statistically significant with the average weight of the flock. There was an improvement on IBV diagnosis when caecal tonsils and tracheas were used instead of just one of them. Considering the only vaccine serotype allowed by Brazilian government is the Mass serotype and its persistence in broilers would only be detected up to 28 days, possibly the studied broilers were challenge with a field strain.


Organised knowledge structures (schemas) in long-term memory (LTM) alter the characteristics of working memory (WM). Therefore, tracing the content of WM during problem solving may provide a measure of levels of acquisition of corresponding schematic knowledge structures. In this paper, a proposed rapid approach to diagnostic assessment of levels of acquisition of organised domain-specific knowledge structures has been used as a means of optimising cognitive load by tailoring instructions to levels of learner expertise in an adaptive computer-based tutor in kinematics. Two alternative adaptation procedures were compared to the control condition without an adaptation. The first procedure used only results of learners' rapid test performance, and the second one combined rapid measures of performance with measures of mental load. The study indicates that the developed assessment instruments could be embedded into adaptive e-learning packages as diagnostic tools for tailoring instructional materials to changing levels of student expertise in cognitively optimal ways. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


The marine losses during the Permo-Triassic mass extinction were the worst ever experienced. All groups were badly affected, especially amongst the benthos (e.g. brachiopods, corals, bryozoans, foraminifers, ostracods). Planktonic populations underwent a fundamental change with eukaryotic algae being replaced by nitrogen-fixing bacteria, green-sulphur bacteria, sulphate-reducing bacteria and prasinophytes. Detailed studies of boundary sections, especially those in South China, have resolved the crisis to a ∼55 kyr interval straddling the Permo-Triassic boundary. Many of the losses occur at the beginning and end of this interval painting a picture of a two-phase extinction. Improved knowledge of the extinction has been supported by numerous geochemical studies that allow diverse proposed extinction mechanisms to be studied. A transition from oxygenated to anoxic-euxinic conditions is seen in most sections globally, although the intensity and timing shows regional variability. Decreased ocean ventilation coincides with rapidly rising temperatures and many extinction scenarios attribute the losses to both anoxia and high temperatures. Other kill mechanisms include ocean acidification for which there is conflicting support from geochemical proxies and, even less likely, siltation (burial under a massive influx of terrigenous sediment) which lacks substantive sedimentological evidence. The ultimate driver of the catastrophic changes at the end of the Permian was likely Siberian Trap eruptions and their associated carbon dioxide emissions with consequences such as warming, ocean stagnation and acidification. Volcanic winter episodes stemming from Siberian volcanism have also been linked to the crisis, but the short-term nature of these episodes (<decades) and the overwhelming evidence for rapid warming during the crisis makes this an unlikely cause. Finally, whilst the extinction is well studied in equatorial latitudes, a different history is found in northern Boreal latitudes including an earlier crisis which merits further study in order to fully understand the course and cause of the Permo-Triassic extinctions.


In present day, digital signal processing (DSP) is a popular technology and widely used in many fields. There have increasing number of applications that need high resolution converters. Therefore, analog-to-digital converters play a major role in DSP, and a well-performed ADC will enhance the performance of a certain system. Different types of ADCs are available for various functions. Delta-sigma converters are famous for high resolution. Dynamic parameters can be used to judge the performance of an ADC, this paper will focus on the critical parameters of spectrum analysis, which contains Signal-to-Noise-and-Distortion Ratio (SINAD), Effective Number of Bits (ENOB) and Spurious-free Dynamic Range (SFDR). The theory and test method of these critical parameters are proposed in this paper using the Evaluation Module and Matlab. The results we acquired from the Evaluation Module are SINAD=86.15dB, SFDR=109.2dB, ENOB=14.177bits; and the results we calculated from MATLAB are: SINAD=86.14dB, SFDR=108.8dB, ENOB=14bits.


Hurricanes Katrina and Rita devastated the Gulf Coast in 2005. Commentary and analysis typically focused on what went wrong in the post-disaster emergency response. This forward-looking book, however, presents a more cautiously optimistic view about the region's ability to bounce back after multiple disasters. Catastrophes come in different forms --hurricanes, recessions, and oil spills, to name a few. It is imperative that we learn how best to rebuild in the wake of disasters and what capacities and conditions are needed to improve future resilience. Since the devastating summer of 2005, leaders have made important inroads to restoring communities in more prosperous ways. Resilience and Opportunity is an important contribution to our collective learning from a teachable moment. Contributors: Ivye Allen, Foundation for the Mid South; Lance Buhl, Duke University; Ann Carpenter, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta; Robert A. Collins, Dillard University; Mark S. Davis, Tulane University Law School; Breonne DeDecker, Brandeis University; Karen B. DeSalvo, Tulane University School of Medicine; Kathryn A. Foster, University at Buffalo Regional Institute, SUNY; Linetta Gilbert, The Declaration Initiative; Ambassador James Joseph, Duke University; Mukesh Kumar, Jackson State University; Luceia LeDoux, Baptist Communities Ministries; Silas Lee III, Xavier University of Louisiana; David A. Marcello, Tulane University; Richard McCline, Southern University; Nancy T. Montoya, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta; Reilly Morse, Mississippi Center for Justice; Elaine Ortiz, Greater New Orleans Community Data Center; Andre Perry, Loyola University, New Orleans; John L. Renne, University of New Orleans; Kalima Rose, PolicyLink; Michael Schwam-Baird, Tulane University; Jasmine M. Waddell, Brandeis University; Nadiene Van Dyke, New Orleans Police and Justice Foundation; Alandra Washington, W. K. Kellogg Foundation; Frederick Weil, Louisiana State University; Leslie Willams, LeaderShift Consulting; Jon Wool, Vera Institute of Justice.


An evaluation of Zequanox ® (a naturally derived biopesticide that is non-toxic to humans and other aquatic life and selectively kills dreissenid mussels) for controlling zebra mussel infestations in shallow-water habitats in lakes was conducted at Deep Quarry Lake in DuPage County, Illinois during summer 2012 and 2013. During the 2012 trial, three sets of paired 24-m² treatment and control sites were established within the lake, while a single 324-m² treatment site was established for the 2013 trial. Zequanox was applied to treatment plots, contained using PVC barrier curtains, and barriers were removed during the morning following application. Zebra mussel mortality and size distributions on natural substrates were assessed one day and one week post-treatment for 2012 trials and one day and two weeks posttreatment for 2013 trials; percent mortality of zebra mussels in mesh containers in treatment and control sites was also monitored up to 14 days and 48 days post-treatment in 2012 and 2013, respectively. Several water quality parameters were measured in control and treatment plots before and during application and up to 14 d post-treatment. Mean percent mortality for adult zebra mussels on natural and artificial substrates in treatment locations 7–48 d following Zequanox application ranged from 92–98% during both years, while mortality was consistently ≤10% in control locations. Mean percent mortality ranged from 15–76% in locations > 5 m from and in water shallower than Zequanox application points (<0.6 m depth) during the 2013 trial likely due to limited product dispersal into these areas. There was no significant difference in the size distribution of live and dead zebra mussels in treatment plots. Mean veliger mortality was 94.4% 20-h after the start of the 6-h Zequanox treatment period in the treatment area compared to 15.1% in untreated locations during the 2013 trial. Temporary but substantial reductions in dissolved oxygen were observed in treatment locations during the morning following Zequanox treatment in both 2012 and 2013 trials, likely due to the presence of the barriers that prevented well-oxygenated water from circulating into treatment zones from adjacent areas in the lake. Dissolved oxygen concentrations quickly rebounded to levels consistent with control sites upon removal of barriers. No effects of Zequanox treatment on ammonia, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, biochemical oxygen demand, chlorophyll a, pH, or conductivity were observed. Results suggest that Zequanox has potential as a tool for controlling zebra mussels in shallow-water habitats in lakes without significant long-term effects on water quality.


This Article aims to unveil and undermine one of the most resonant truisms in contract law. It shows that a dominant criterion used by courts and academics in applying the omnipresent and overarching principle of good faith is essentially flawed. Our argument is innovative in at least four respects. First, it uncovers a common denominator of the major accounts of good faith performance in case law and academic literature, namely resort to community standards. While not unheard of, this test has never been recognized or addressed as a unifying thread of the various theories. Second, the Article distinguishes two forms of community standards: common views of morality and common practice. This has never been done before in this context. Third, the Article fiercely challenges the common denominator by proving that all definitions of community standards are either theoretically unsound or impractical. This conclusion undermines the validity of judicial practice and contemporary legal theories. Fourth, the Article uses a novel theoretical perspective that can be labeled "axiomatic jurisprudence," employing tools from a branch of economics known as social choice theory. In this respect, it follows up on our recent publication, which utilized similar tools to analyze the concept of reasonableness in tort law.


This research was proposed to figure out the importance of human influence on landslide disaster. The research objectives were: (1) to map the locations of landslide during the period of January 2004-March 2008 of the study area; (2) to map the degree of landslide hazard of the study area; (3) to analyze the distribution of landslide based on the landslide hazard map; and (4) to analyze the distribution of landslide based on the road network. The method of this research consists of field survey and laboratory works. The field survey was intended to map the location of landslide which happened during the period of January 2004 up to March 2008. The land characteristics and land qualities data have been collected based on geomorphological approach. The laboratory works were proposed to analyze the field data of land characteristics and land qualities for landslide hazards classification and mapping purposes. Scoring method was applied for landslide hazard evaluation. Some geographical information techniques were applied for mapping purposes and spatial data analysis of landslide distribution. Map overlay and buffering techniques were applied during landslide distribution analysis. The results of the research showed that: (1) there were 291 landslides collected during the research period; (2) the study area consists of very high, high, moderate, and low of landslide hazard classes. There was no safe area of landslide hazard within the study area; (3) most the landslide occasions were more influenced by human activities than derived by physical conditions. Some of human activities that induced landslide in the study area were slope cutting for: road construction, houses, agricultural purposes, and sand and stone mining in the river canal; (4) the spatial distribution of most landslide (>90%) were parallel with road networks.


Vietnam builds the market economy from the planned economy, in which development plans, especially the medium-term socio-economic development plans, were determined by the leading economic management tools. Currently, the development plans remain the important tools of economic management. However, the contents and methodologies for development planning have changed considerably. The plans have been built according to the direction of the market and consider macroeconomic forecasts as the most important input for planning. The purpose of this paper is to briefly present the structure of a macro-econometric model for medium-term socio-economic development planning in Vietnam. The model is based on the main ideas of the forecasting procedures and the system of forecast models for strategic planning in the Russian Federation. Furthermore, the model utilizes the experience of macro-econometric models in other countries. This model is based on the approaches of supply and demand, and is organized into blocks that have a close relationship to combine forecasts from the built model and using judgmental methods in a favourable way. The model can fully forecast the needs of socio-economic development planning. It is also used to build forecast scenarios and to assess the impact of shocks and economic policies.


The Microwave Imaging Radiometer by Aperture Synthesis (MIRAS) is the single payload of the European Space Agency's (ESA) Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity (SMOS) Earth Explorer Opportunity mission. MIRAS will be the first two-dimensional aperture synthesis radiometer for Earth observation. Two-dimensional aperture synthesis radiometers can generate brightness temperature images by a Fourier synthesis process without mechanical antenna steering. To do so and have the necessary wide swath for Earth observation, the array is formed by small and low directive antennas, which do not attenuate enough bright noise sources that may interfere with the measurements. This study analyzes the impact of the radio-frequency emission from the Sun in the SMOS mission, reviews the basic image reconstruction algorithms, and proposes a technique to minimize Sun effects.


Severe acute malnutrition and acute systemic infection are often synergistic in children and lead to considerable mortality. The main aim of this research was to determine whether children with severe acute malnutrition can mount an acute phase reactant response measured by C-reactive protein. This was a descriptive, cross-sectional, hospital-based study that was carried out in the five main children hospitals in Khartoum state, from November 1st, 2012 to March 1st, 2013. 132 children with severe acute malnutrition were included in the study. Data collection included history, examination and C-reactive protein measurement. The data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) for descriptive and inferential statistics. The main results revealed that 93(70.5%) children between 12-23 months of age and most of them had marasmus. Diarrhoea was the commonest presenting symptoms in 86.4%, followed by fever and vomiting. Most of the children (82.6%) had positive C-reactive protein with variable levels. In conclusion malnourished children are able to synthesize C-reactive protein in response to an infectious process and the magnitude of this response is increased in those with severe infections.


Our aim is to give a fairly complete account on the construction of compatible model structures on exact categories and symmetric monoidal exact categories, in some cases generalizing previously known results. We describe the close connection of this theory to approximation theory and cotorsion pairs. We also discuss the motivating applications with the emphasis on constructing monoidal model structures for the derived category of quasi-coherent sheaves of modules over a scheme.


HLA DR4 antigens have been considered as a risk factor in periodontal disease. The aim of this "case control" study was to verify and to provide fuller clarification of such data. "Cases" or patients had to be aged between 20 and 48 years. They presented at least 5 sites spread over several teeth with an attachment loss equal or greater than 6 mm, and 10 sites spread over several teeth with periodontal pockets equal to or greater than 5 mm. Verification with a WHO probe showed an individual CPITN score of 4. Moreover, subjects whose average CPITN score for the 6 sextants was less than 3 were excluded from the study. Among these "severe periodontitis" patients, a subgroup was distinguished composed of subjects aged 20-35 years who presented, in accordance with the cases by Katz and co-workers, 5 or more teeth showing pocket depths of 6 mm or more. The dental chartings of these subjects showed an attachment loss of more than 3 mm on certain teeth over an inter-exam period of 1-3 years. They all displayed obvious loss of bony support in the affected sites. This constituted the "rapidly progressive periodontitis" subgroup. The "controls" were all over 20 years of age, and it was clinically verified that they were free of periodontal disease. There were 48 "cases" and 55 "controls". HLA typing of patients and controls was performed using "sequence oligoprobe hybridization after polymerase chain reaction" in accordance with the 11th International Workshop. This method allowed the detection of DR4 alleles as well as DR4 subtypes. The ethno-geographic origin of the subjects, considered as a confounding variable, was neutralized by stratified analysis. Subtypes 0401, 0404, 0405 and 0408 tended to be more frequent (p=0.08) in the cases (Severe Periodontitis). Focusing on analysis of "rapidly progressive periodontitis" in subjects aged 20-35 years, a very significant Mantel-Haenszel chi2 was obtained (p=0.0058) which led to a Mantel-Haenszel standardized odds ratio (OR) equal to 17. The 95% confidence interval was 1.03<0.R.<180.10. In conclusion, this supports previous reports and gives further clarification: in particular subtypes 0401, 0404, 0405 and 0408 can be considered as a risk factor for "rapidly progressive periodontitis". It should be noted that these determinants have been implicated in rheumatoid arthritis.


The external morphology of female heads of three populations of each of two cytological races of Meloidogyne hapla (race A-meiotic, race B-mitotic) and single populations of M. arenaria, M. incognita, and M. javanica was compared by light (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Perineal patterns of all nine populations were observed with a LM and then examined with a SEM. In addition, female stylets of each population were excised, viewed with a SEM, and compared with observations made with a LM. Head morphology of the females, including shape of medial and lateral lips, expression of sensilla, and head annulation, was distinct for each species, each race of M. hapla, and each population of M. hapla race A. The morphology of a given perineal pattern appeared similar with the SEM and the LM. The SEM emphasized surface details, whereas the LM revealed subcuticular structure as well. Stylet morphology was unique for each species but similar in all populations of M. hapla. There were differences between species in the shape of the cone, shaft, and knobs and in the distance of the dorsal esophageal gland orifice from the stylet knob base. Several of the morphological characters first detected in the SEM were seen subsequently with the LM and are helpful in species identification.


The sign of any dynamic technology is its ability to continuously redefine and extend its application scope. Such is the case with solid expandable tubular technology that has been applied successfully in a variety of conditions and scenarios that include highangle wells, deepwater wells, multiple installations in the same well, situations that require a relatively long expandable casing string, and various cementing designs. Solid expandable tubular technology was developed originally to address drilling challenges in high pressure zones, deepwater environments, and for the repair and mechanical enhancement of existing casing strings. With nearly 300 system installations, their value, reliability, and diversity have been established and augmented with innovative applications. A notable example of expanding the application spectrum is the use of openhole liner systems in sidetrack window exits and through milled sections. This paper will describe the design process, installation procedure, and value added of using solid expandable tubulars in sidetracking operations and through milled windows. Case histories will be used to define actual conditions and results of these applications. In addition, this paper will demonstrate how these enabling systems can be used more than once in the same wellbore but in different capacities, further illustrating the technology's resourcefulness.


This paper suggests the art of activelistening as the main pedagogical tool for teaching the elements of music in the high school. Aside from using the traditional audio recordings as educational media materials, the researcher augments the listening materials with video footages of actual concerts as well as live musical performances in the classroom. The researcher emphasizes on the importance of active-listening on the part of the students, and the utilization of proper listening materials on the part of the music teacher. This study is conceived from the various works and researches from different music educators, pedagogues and scholars, which stressed the importance of developing the listening skill of the students. The methodologies presented in this action research are applied and executed by the researcher in his music literature classes in a laboratory school of a state university.


The Cities and Local Government Devolution Bill 2015–2016[HL] was introduced into the House of Lords as Bill No. 1 in the 2015–2016 parliamentary session. The Bill forms a critical element of the government's high-profile policy of devolving powers and responsibilities to local areas within England. The transition from first-generation 'city deals' to second-generation 'devolution deals' within five years provides a sense of the pace and development of the reform agenda but there is also a strong sense that something is missing. 'Missing' in the sense of an understanding of the specific type of devolution on offer, 'missing' in the sense of how an explosion of bilateral new 'deals' will be offset against the obvious risks of fragmentation and complexity, and 'missing'—most importantly—in relation to the democratic roots that might be put in place to counterbalance the economic thrust and make the reform agenda sustainable. It is in exactly this context that this article argues that the full potential of the current devolution agenda will only be realised when the Conservative government fulfils its September 2014 commitment to wider civic engagement about how England is governed.