Our object was to assess the relative roles of transsarcolemmal calcium entry and intracellular calcium release in the contraction of cardiac Purkinje fibers. We observed intracellular calcium transients, membrane potential, and contraction in aequorin-injected canine cardiac Purkinje fibers exposed to highly selective pharmacological modifiers of excitation-contraction coupling. To influence selectively the release of calcium from the sarcoplasmic reticulum, we used the plant alkaloid, ryanodine. To influence calcium entry, selectively, we used either the calcium channel antagonist, nitrendipine, or the calcium channel agonist, Bay k 8644. Ryanodine alone (1μM) reduced both components of the intracellular aequorin luminescence signal (L1 and L2). In three muscles, the luminescence signals were 3% of control in amplitude (standard error of the mean, 2%) without two distinct components and the twitch tension was 2% of control (standard error of the mean, 3%), whereas the action potential was prolonged. The aequorin signal and twitch remaining in ryanodine were abolished by the calcium antagonist nitrendipine (10 μM), which also lowered the action potential plateau, consistent with the block of functional calcium channels. In two experiments, the calcium-channel agonist, Bay k 8644, in the presence of ryanodine, increased the aequorin luminescence and the contraction, but only to a very small fraction of their control values. Sodium withdrawal in potassium-free, ryanodine-containing solution produced large slow increases in calcium and tension, showing that tension could still be produced, that aequorin remained functional, and that sodium/calcium exchange was not inhibited by ryanodine. Caffeine increased intracellular calcium, showing that calcium stores were not depleted. In summary, the negative inotropic effect of ryanodine is due to a decrease in the calcium released from internal stores, and calcium entry normally contributes only a very small fraction of the total activator calcium.


This research proposes NTSO (Neural Text Self Organizer) as the approach to text clustering and sets inverted index as the basis for execution of the NTSO. For using one of traditional approaches, documents should be encoded into numerical vectors and encoding so causes the two main problems: the huge dimensionality and the sparse distribution. This research proposes that documents should be encoded into string vectors as the alternative structured forms to numerical vectors and NTSO should be used as the approach to text clustering. By solving the two main problems, the proposed approach is expected to improve the performance of text clustering. By comparing the proposed approach with other approaches, we will validate the text clustering performance of the proposed approach as the results of solving the problems.


From 2011 to 2013, SIAP with Reinvestment Fund undertook new research that featured development of multidimensional indexes of social wellbeing for the city of Philadelphia. This report presents the results of that collaboration. Chapter 1 documents construction of a neighborhood-based social wellbeing index for the city. Chapter 2 uses the social wellbeing index to analyze patterns of advantage and disadvantage in Philadelphia neighborhoods. Chapter 3 draws on SIAP's historical data to examine changes in Philadelphia's cultural ecology between 1997 and 2012. The summary highlights how the policy tool helps conceptualize and measure culture as a dimension of social wellbeing as well as a contributor to equitable communities. Disciplines Arts and Humanities | Public Policy | Social Welfare | Urban Studies and Planning Comments SIAP undertook this research in collaboration with Reinvestment Fund and in partnership with the City of Philadelphia Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy (OACCE) and Department of Commerce with support by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA Our Town Program) and ArtPlace America. This research report is available at ScholarlyCommons: https://repository.upenn.edu/siap_cultureblocks/1 ! ! Cultural!Ecology,!Neighborhood!Vitality,!and!Social!Wellbeing—! A!Philadelphia!Project! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ________________________________________________________________________________! CultureBlocks!Final!Research!Report! Prepared!by!the!University!of!Pennsylvania!Social!Impact!of!the!Arts!Project!(SIAP)!! with!The!Reinvestment!Fund!(TRF)! ! Submitted!to!The!Reinvestment!Fund! By!Mark!J!Stern!and!Susan!C!Seifert! University!of!Pennsylvania! December!2013! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! CultureBlocks!is!a!partnership!of!The!Reinvestment!Fund!(TRF)!and!PolicyMap;!the!City!of!Philadelphia!Office!of! Arts,!Culture!and!the!Creative!Economy!(OACCE)!and!Department!of!Commerce;!and!the!University!of!Pennsylvania,! Social!Impact!of!the!Arts!Project!(SIAP)!generously!supported!by!the!National!Endowment!for!the!Arts!(NEA)!and! ArtPlace.!!The!views!expressed!in!this!report!are!those!of!the!authors!and!do!not!necessarily!reflect!those!of!NEA!or! ArtPlace.!


Abstract Objective The aim of this study is to study the impact of graphical representation of health record data on physician decision-making to inform the design of health information technology. Materials and Methods We conducted a within participants crossover design study using a simulated electronic health record (EHR) in which we presented cases with and without visualized data designed to highlight important clinical trends or relationships, followed by assessment of the impact on decision-making about next steps for patients with chronic diseases. We then asked whether trends were observed and about usability and satisfaction using validated usability questions and asked open-ended questions as well. Time to answer questions was also collected. Results Twenty-one primary care providers participated in the study, including five for testing only and sixteen for the full study. Questions about clinical assessment or next actions were answered correctly 55% of the time. Regarding objective trends in the data, participants described noticing the trends 85% of the time. Differences in noticing trends or difficulty level of questions were not statistically significant. Satisfaction with the tool was high and participants agreed strongly that it helped them make better decisions without adding to the time it took. Discussion The simulation allowed us to test the impact of a visualization on clinician practice in a realistic setting. Designers of EHRs should consider the ways information presentation can affect decision-making. Conclusion Testing visualization tools can be done in a clinically realistic context. Providers desire visualizations and believe that they help them make better and faster decisions.


This paper focuses on the relatively successful experience of territorialization by a group of aborigine migrants in metropolitan Taipei, northern Taiwan. The aborigine migrants of the Amis established a self-built community in a marginal site along the riverbank of northern Taipei that was constantly under the threat of floods and eviction and forced relocation by the government. But eventually the settlers and the government came to an agreement regarding on-site relocation, and the municipal authority granted special land use rights to the settlers. Several historical processes help explain their success. First, the rising political discourse of Taiwan Independence in the past decade has provided the aborigine migrants with political legitimacy and support. Second, Taiwan's social activism has been developing rapidly since the 1990s, as its electoral democracy takes shape and matures; the aborigine migrants' rights to the city were an integral part of this social mobilization. Third, the reinforced identity and solidarity within the community in question helped form a coherent front at the moment of confrontation and negotiation with the government. Finally, a group of professional and progressive planners have been actively involved throughout the territorialization process, acting as planners, brokers and coordinators.


The term 'biometrics' refers to a measurable characteristic that is unique to an individual such as fingerprints, facial structure, the iris or a person's voice. This paper presents a fingerprint based biometric system that records the attendance of a person by using a hand held fingerprint sensor. The experimental results suggest that many fraudulent issues can be overcome using the fingerprint based attendance system and improves the reliability of the attendance records.


Background and aims: Patients in intensive care unit (ICU) experience not only serious physical problems, but also emotional, psychological, financial, and social problems. Therefore, they need holistic care (HC). The aim of this study was to explore nurses' beliefs about HC provision to patients in ICU. Methods: This qualitative study was conducted in 2019–2020 using the content analysis approach. Participants were sixteen nurses purposively selected from four ICUs of two hospitals affiliated to Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran. Data were collected using face-to-face in-depth semi-structured interviews and analyzed through conventional content analysis. The COREQ checklist was used as a guideline to report the findings. Results: A total of 304 primary codes were generated during data analysis which were grouped into twelve subcategories and two main categories. The two main categories of the study were purposeful nursing care and humanistic care provision beyond duty. Conclusion: Nurses attempt to provide HC and go beyond their assigned duties in HC provision.


We propose a viewpoint invariant model for 3D human pose estimation from a single depth image. To achieve viewpoint invariance, our deep discriminative model embeds local regions into a learned viewpoint invariant feature space. Formulated as a multi-task learning problem, our model is able to selectively predict partial poses in the presence of noise and occlusion. Our approach leverages a convolutional and recurrent network with a top-down error feedback mechanism to self-correct previous pose estimates in an end-to-end manner. We evaluate our model on a previously published depth dataset and a newly collected human pose dataset containing 100K annotated depth images from extreme viewpoints. Experiments show that our model achieves competitive performance on frontal views while achieving state-of-the-art performance on alternate viewpoints.


The key objective of well cementing has always been to provide zonal isolation in oil, gas, and carbon dioxide (CO2) storage wells to ensure safety and prevent environmental problems. The loss of zonal isolation and wellbore failures are mostly associated with inappropriate cementing and/or cement-sheath stability problems. Depending on the operations in a well, the cement sheath can experience a range of conditions that might induce its failure. To provide a long-term zonal isolation, the cement sheath should be designed to work throughout the entire lifetime of a well. Advances in materials and technologies, such as nanomaterials, polymeric materials, controlled processes, and electrokinetic processes, are currently implemented, and can further be implemented, by the cement industry to solve problems encountered in oil/gas well cementing. This paper provides a review of advances in applications of nanomaterials in oil/gas well cementing. These include expansive nanoadditives for shrinkage mitigation, nanorubber (NR)/flexible particles for modifying mechanical properties, and charged nanoparticles for hardened-cement treatment. In addition, new technologies, such as electrokinetic methods, self-sealing processes, and controlled-release processes for adjusting cement properties, are also reviewed. We discuss how these new materials and technologies can be the solution for providing a life-lasting cement sheath, through enhanced performance of the cement sheath with reasonable cost and minimized environmental effect, both of which have high importance in the oil/gas industry.


Abstract. The Southern Ocean (south of 30° S) is a key global scale sink of carbon dioxide (CO2). However, the isolated and inhospitable nature of this environment has restricted the number of oceanic and atmospheric CO2 measurements in this region. This has limited the scientific community's ability to investigate trends and seasonal variability of the sink. Compared to regions further north, the near-absence of terrestrial CO2 exchange and strong large-scale zonal mixing demands unusual inter-site measurement precision to help distinguish the presence of mid-to-high latitude ocean exchange from large CO2 fluxes transported southwards in the atmosphere. Here we describe a continuous, in-situ, ultra-high-precision, Southern Ocean region CO2 record, which ran at Macquarie Island (54°37' S, 158°52' E) from 2005–2016 using a LoFlo2 instrument, along with its calibration strategy, uncertainty analysis and baseline filtering procedures. Uncertainty estimates calculated for minute and hourly frequency data range from 0.01 to 0.05 μmol mol−1 depending on averaging period and application. Higher precisions are applicable when comparing MQA LoFlo measurements to those of similar instruments on the same internal laboratory calibration scale and more uncertain values are applicable when comparing to other networks. Baseline selection is designed to remove measurements that are influenced by local, Macquarie Island, CO2 sources, with effective removal achieved using a within-minute CO2 standard deviation metric. Additionally, measurements that are influenced by CO2 fluxes from Australia or other southern hemisphere land masses are effectively removed using model-simulated radon concentration. A comparison with flask records of atmospheric CO2 at Macquarie Island highlights the limitation of the flask record (due to corrections for storage time and limited temporal coverage) when compared to the new high-precision, continuous record; the new record shows much less noisy seasonal variations than the flask record. As such this new record is ideal for improving our understanding of the spatial and temporal variability of the Southern Ocean CO2 flux particularly when combined with data from similar instruments at other Southern Hemispheric locations.


We report direct structural evidence of the bridged radical (CH2ICH2·) in a polar solution, obtained using time-resolved liquid-phase x-ray diffraction. This transient intermediate has long been hypothesized to explain stereo-chemical control in many association and/or dissociation reactions involving haloalkanes. Ultrashort optical pulses were used to dissociate an iodine atom from the haloethane molecule (C2H4I2) dissolved in methanol, and the diffraction of picosecond x-ray pulses from a synchrotron supports the following structural dynamics, with ∼0.01 angstrom spatial resolution and ∼100 picosecond time resolution: The loss of one iodine atom from C2H4I2 leads to the C-I-C triangular geometry of CH2ICH2·. This transient C2H4I then binds to an iodine atom to form a new species, the C2H4I-I isomer, which eventually decays into C2H4 + I2. Solvent dynamics were also extracted from the data, revealing a change in the solvent cage geometry, heating, and thermal expansion.


Several range image segmentation algorithms have been proposed, each one to be tuned by a number of parameters in order to provide accurate results on a given class of images. Segmentation parameters are generally affected by the type of surfaces (e.g., planar versus curved) and the nature of the acquisition system (e.g., laser range finders or structured light scanners). It is impossible to answer the question, which is the best set of parameters given a range image within a class and a range segmentation algorithm? Systems proposing such a parameter optimization are often based either on careful selection or on solution space-partitioning methods. Their main drawback is that they have to limit their search to a subset of the solution space to provide an answer in acceptable time. In order to provide a different automated method to search a larger solution space, and possibly to answer more effectively the above question, we propose a tuning system based on genetic algorithms. A complete set of tests was performed over a range of different images and with different segmentation algorithms. Our system provided a particularly high degree of effectiveness in terms of segmentation quality and search time.


Research on providing single-attribute utility analysis has shown moderate or even negative effects on the acceptance of selection and training tests by human resource decision makers. In this study, we contrasted the perceived utility of single-attribute utility analysis with causal chain analysis as an alternative way of conducting utility analysis. Causal chain analysis focuses on measuring the linkages between HRM interventions and organizational outcomes mediated by employee attitudes and customer perceptions. We compared 144 managers' reactions to both methods of utility analysis concerning the variables understandability, information quality, perceived usefulness, user information satisfaction, and intention to use. Causal chain analysis yielded higher results than single-attribute analysis for these variables, and a compound measure of these constructs supported this finding. This indicates that causal chain analysis is a valuable alternative method of communicating the utility of HRM interventions.


Molecular genetics are an invaluable tool in whole-organism biology, allowing the indirect investigation of life history traits and evolutionary processes that are otherwise unobservable. In this thesis, I apply molecular genetic techniques to the study of the hawksbill sea turtle Eretmochelys imbricata, using a population in the Republic of Seychelles. My aim in this study was two-fold. Firstly, to better characterise certain key aspects of the hawksbill's life history and demography, with a view to better informing hawksbill conservation. Secondly, to test several hypotheses relating to broader evolutionary questions, e.g. regarding the forces shaping mating systems and the link between individual genetic variability and fitness. I found that the majority of females were fertilised by a single male each, and that they used stored sperm to fertilise all of their multiple clutches across a nesting season. There was no evidence of females biasing paternity towards males with particular genetic properties (variability, dissimilarity), suggesting that females are not using sperm storage to promote sexual selection. Males were rarely seen to fertilise more than one female in the study, suggesting low reproductive skew and a large male population that is mobile and/or dispersed. Females at nesting beaches spanning 450 km comprised a single genetic stock, but males were more dispersive than females. I found that the effective size of the population was relatively large, and did not show signs of inbreeding or loss of genetic variation following the substantial reduction in hawksbill numbers caused by historic overhunting. Finally, I found that both male genetic variability and parental genetic dissimilarity can predict nest success, but in a way that might select for a stabilised level of genetic variability. I discuss the implications of these results for both evolutionary biology and the ongoing conservation management of a species internationally listed as critically endangered.


: Total mercury content have been determined in fruiting bodies of Variegated Bolete (Suillus variegates), European Cow Bolete (S. bovinus) and Slippery Jack (S. luteus) and in underlying to mushroom's surface layer of soil substrate collected from several spatially distant one from another sites in Poland. All three Suillus mushroom species independent of the site characterized were by small mercury content. The arithmetic mean values of mercury concentration in caps and stipes, respectively, were: 0.17 +/- 0.07-0.22 +/- 0.12 and 0.047 +/- 0.015-0.071 +/- 0.035 microg/g dry weight for Variegated Bolete; 0.28 +/- 0.11-0.79 +/- 0.40 and 0.17 +/- 0.07- 0.51 +/- 0.22 microg/g dw for European Cow Bolete, and 0.095 +/- 0.082-0.17 +/- 0.05 and 0.045 +/- 0.026- 0.070 +/- 0.026 microg/g dw for Slippery Jack. All three species of Suillus mushrooms bio-concentrated mercury (BCF > 1). European Cow Bolete bioconcentrated mercury relatively more efficiently when compared to two other species, and means of BCF value of this element in its caps ranged from 18 +/- 10 to 45 +/- 20, and in stipes from 9.4 +/- 7.5 to 29 +/- 11. A level of surface soil pollution with mercury was low and averaged from 0.017 +/- 0.003 do 0.029 +/- 0.020 microg/g dw.


This paper studies multimodality in Own Communication Management (OCM) focusing on how linguistic communication involves gestures in order to manage communication. OCM is a basic function in face-to-face communication and concerns how a speaker, on the basis of feedback needs to be able to plan his or her contributions and to modify earlier content or expressions. Thus OCM has two major functions namely "choice" and "change" both of which are realized with OCM related expressions and operations. This paper reports on studies of the expressions, and operations in both of the OCM functions and their distribution patterns. It also reports on interaction between OCM expressions, and between OCM operation and other communicative functions (Interactive Communication Management (ICM) and main message (MM)). Some of the main findings from the study are that about 66% of all OCM expressions involve gestures, and that the distribution of choice and change function of OCM is about 90% to 10%. The OCM expressions have multiple functions and interact with other communicative functions including ICM and the main message resulting in a complex system.


The self-healing ceramic coating against oxidation for carbon/carbon composite was fabricated via preceramic polymer pyrolysis process using polysilazane as preceramic and MoSi2, B4C powders as fillers. By means of SEM and XRD, the phase compose and microstructure of coating were characterized, and preliminarily study on its anti-oxidation ability and thermal shock resistance were conducted. The results showed that, the coating is composed of the resisting oxidation layer and the sealing layer. The thickness of the coating is about 50μm, and the coating is uniform and densified. Good contact at the interfaces is visible on the SEM photograph. At 1300°C temperature, the thermal shock resistance test was conducted 50 times, the weight loss rate was 2.12%. In range of 1200°C~1500°C, the anti oxidation ability of the coating is good.


An understanding of the evolutionary morphology of extraembryonic membranes in reptiles requires information about oviparous as well as viviparous species. We are studying histology and ultrastructure of the extraembryonic membranes of snakes to clarify the evolutionary history of reptilian fetal membranes, including determination of basal (ancestral) ophidian and squamate patterns. Microscopic anatomy of the membranes of oviparous corn snakes (Elaphe guttata) was examined using light and electron microscopy. At mid-development the inner surface of the eggshell is lined by two extraembryonic membranes, the chorioallantois and the omphalallantoic membrane. The chorioallantois consists of a bilayered cuboidal epithelium that overlies the allantoic blood vessels. During development, allantoic capillaries become more abundant, and the chorionic epithelium thins, decreasing the diffusion distance for respiratory gas exchange. The abembryonic pole of the egg is delimited by a bilaminar omphalopleure and isolated yolk mass, the latter of which is lined on its inner face by the allantois. The isolated yolk mass regresses developmentally, and patches of yolk droplets become isolated and surrounded by allantoic blood vessels. By late development, the abembryonic hemisphere has been fully vascularized by allantoic vessels, forming a "secondary chorioallantois." With regard to its extraembryonic membranes, Elaphe gutatta is similar to viviparous snakes. However, this species exhibits features that have not previously been reported among squamates, perhaps reflecting its oviparous reproductive habits. Morphological evidence for the uptake of eggshell material by epithelia of the chorion and omphalopleure suggests that the potential for absorption by extraembryonic membranes predates the origin of viviparity.


Cranial cruciate ligament rupture is the major cause of lameness and degenerative joint disease in the canine stifle. The cause of this disease is multifactorial, especially involving degenerative and inflammatory changes. Many techniques have been described for the management of this condition, and current recommendations include the use of corrective osteotomies, most recently using the Maquet (or modified Maquet) procedure. This technique is fundamentally similar to the classical tibial tuberosity advancement (TTA), but without the use of the bone plate. The main advantages of using this technique are a shorter operative time and less use of implants. The main complication of this technique is an increased risk of tibial crest fracture. This report describes the Maquet technique for the treatment of a three-year-old male West White Terrier dog with rupture of the cranial cruciate ligament. Cruciate ligament rupture was diagnosed by a positive cranial tibial drawer test. Mediolateral stifle radiography performed under anesthesia with the stifle in 135° of extension demonstrated a tibial plateau angle of 22°. A cage of six millimeters was necessary to allow advancement. The Maquet technique produced excellent post-operative results, including early weight-bearing and neutralization of the cranial tibial drawer. The consolidation time of the osteotomy was 63 days.


A city-wide wireless sewer sensor network can be made intelligent by having parasitic slot array manhole cover antennas. The utilization of parasitic antennas is explored to demonstrate the effect of limited beam scanning on a real sensor network system. The combination of an electronically steerable beamforming capability and an angular diversity technique in this antenna allowed the antenna to adapt to its radio environment and find optimal receive characteristics. The sensor measurement result indicates that the intelligence of the antenna significantly improves packet reception rate and received signal strength indication (RSSI). We improved by 64% in packet rate and 10 dB in RSSI, compared to a uniformly radiating dipole antenna.


The authors assessed the extent to which socioeconomic status (SES) and the personality factors termed the "big 5" (neuroticism, extraversion, openness to experience, agreeableness, conscientiousness) represented confounded or independent risks for all-cause mortality over a 10-year follow-up in the Midlife Development in the United States (MIDUS) cohort between 1995 and 2004. Adjusted for demographics, the 25th versus 75th percentile of SES was associated with an odds ratio of 1.43 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.11, 1.83). Demographic-adjusted odds ratios for the 75th versus 25th percentile of neuroticism were 1.38 (95% CI: 1.10, 1.73) and 0.63 (95% CI: 0.47, 0.84) for conscientiousness, the latter evaluated at high levels of agreeableness. Modest associations were observed between SES and the big 5. Adjusting each for the other revealed that personality explained roughly 20% of the SES gradient in mortality, while SES explained 8% of personality risk. Portions of SES and personality risk were explained by health behaviors, although some residual risk remained unexplained. Personality appears to explain some between-SES strata differences in mortality risk, as well as some individual risk heterogeneity within SES strata. Findings suggest that both sociostructural inequalities and individual disposition hold public health implications. Future research and prevention aimed at ameliorating SES health disparities may benefit from considering the risk clustering of social disadvantage and dispositional factors.


In the decade since the Asian financial crisis, the vast majority of problem loans and other distressed assets have reached a point of resolution. Publicly sponsored asset management companies (AMCs) were an important agent in the resolution of non-performing loans (NPLs), particularly in the crisis-affected countries of Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and South Korea. Each country chose a different path, based on the philosophical positions of government sponsors regarding the relative power they chose to grant their respective AMCs, the merits of temporary versus permanent operating charters, and the desired speed of resolving problem assets. This Asia Focus provides a brief history of these AMCs, describes their asset purchase methods, and compares their resolution results and future prospects.


–SO2NHSO2C4F9/CF3-functionalized silica was prepared. The preparation experiments introduced different amounts of –CH3 moieties to regulate the surface properties. Introduction of more –CH3 in the –SO2NHSO2C4F9 series brought about the materials' macroscopic hydrophobicity as expected, shown by the increased contact angle; but it was not so in the –SO2NHSO2CF3 series, which kept their hydrophilicity. In the application of fructose dehydration, the yields of HMF catalysed by the –C4F9-series catalysts were 10% higher than those by the –CF3-series catalysts at the same level of –CH3 introduced in 20% aqueous ethanol. This was due to their macroscopic hydrophobicity. However, the maximum amount of –CH3 introduced in both the –C4F9– and –CF3-series catalysts caused ca. 6% higher HMF yields, suggesting that the –CH3 moiety always promoted the dehydration. It was proposed that –CH3 changed the surface properties, even in the hydrophilic catalysts. This was confirmed by fluorescence spectrometry with pyrene as a probe molecule. An obvious enhancement of the surface nonpolarity in the introduction of a high amount of –CH3 was shown by the band III/I ratio of the spectra (0.60–0.83). The improved nonpolarity helped to repel water, both for the –C4F9– and –CF3-series catalysts. In particular, for the –C4F9 series, their water-repellent ability was strengthened, and the –C4F9 group preferably repelled the produced water away from the adjacent NH site. This could weaken HMF rehydration at the acid site. The regulation effect of –CH3 along with the enhancement caused by –C4F9 thus raised the total yield of HMF to ca. 15%. The enhanced nonpolarity effect by perfluoroalkyl around the acid site should be interesting to design new solid acids with hydrophilicity–hydrophobicity balance.


Increasing livestock product consumption in many Asian countries has been accompanied by growth in some countries' imports of feedgrains for their domestic livestock sectors. This contributes to debate over future levels of grain imports. Yet projections often pay little attention to developments in livestock production. The impacts of technological catch‐up in livestock production on trade in livestock and grains products among countries in the Asia‐Pacific region are assessed. Tests are conducted of the hypothesis that productivity levels in the Asia‐Pacific region are converging. Projections of livestock productivity are made and incorporated in a modified GTAP model. The consequences for regional and global trade in livestock and grains products are explored.


A new direction-of-arrival (DOA) estimation technique using subarray beamforming is proposed. Two virtual subarrays are used to form a signal whose phase relative to the reference signal is a function of the DOA. The DOA is then estimated based on the computation of the phase shift between the reference signal and its phase-shifted version. Since the phase-shifted reference signal is obtained after interference rejection through beamforming, the effect of cochannel interference on the estimation is significantly reduced. The proposed technique is computationally simple, and the number of signal sources detectable is not bounded by the number of antenna elements used. Performance analysis and extensive simulations show that the proposed technique offers significantly improved estimation resolution, capacity, and accuracy relative to existing techniques


BACKGROUND
The standard approach for survival analysis of the elderly population is to define the survival time as the elapsed time from entry into the study until death, and to adjust by age using stratification and regression procedures. However, the interest is in the study of the aging process and the risk factors related to it, not in the use of time-on-study as the time scale. Here, we present methods to use age as the time scale and compare inferences and interpretations with those obtained using the standard approach.

METHODS
A total of 1,315 individuals aged 65 years or older from the city of Barcelona, Spain, were interviewed in 1986 (baseline). The vital status of the cohort was assessed in October 1994. To illustrate the usefulness of age as time scale (alternative approach) instead of time-on-study in the survival analysis of the elderly population, both methods were used to assess the relationship between baseline functional capacity and mortality.

RESULTS
Using the alternative approach, we observed that 50% of the sample died at age 80.6 years; this information could not be estimated with the standard approach. Using age as a covariate in the standard analysis with time-on-study as the time scale and using age as the time scale in the alternative analysis, the association of functional capacity at baseline and mortality was of similar magnitude under both analyses. Nevertheless, using the alternative approach, relative risks were slightly lower, and the adjustment by age was tight and was not subject to the inherent assumptions in regression models of the functional relationship of independent variables with outcome. We illustrated the methods with fixed covariates (i.e., gender) and baseline values of time-dependent covariates (i.e., functional capacity), but we discussed the extension of our methods for the analysis of time-dependent covariates measured at several visits in a cohort study. Methods proposed here are easily implemented with widely available statistical software packages.

CONCLUSIONS
Although the use of standard survival analysis generally produces correct estimates, the use of age as time scale is deemed more appropriate for survival analysis of the elderly: Inferences are easier to interpret and final models are simpler. We therefore recommend the use of age as time scale for survival analysis of the elderly population.


MQL (minimal quantity lubrication) machining produces almost similar cutting performance to conventional flood supply machining while using much less metal working fluid. To take full advantage of MQL machining and expand its applicability, an understanding of its jet orientation is critical. Through computer fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis of MQL flow field surrounding the workpiece and tool, it was found that a zone of negative pressure (ZNP) existed between workpiece and flank tool face in turning and was in favor of coolant particle arriving at tool tip. Cutting force was minimal and discontinuous chip effect was best of all when spraying from principal flank face and at range of target 20mm.


In Alzheimer disease (AD), the microtubule-associated protein tau is found hyperphosphorylated in paired helical filaments. Among many phosphorylated sites in tau, Ser-262 is the major site for abnormal phosphorylation of tau in AD brain. The kinase known to phosphorylate this particular site is MARK2, whose activation mechanism is yet to be studied. Our first finding that treatment of cells with LiCl, a selective inhibitor of another major tau kinase, glycogen synthase kinase-3beta (GSK-3beta), inhibits phosphorylation of Ser-262 of tau led us to investigate the possible involvement of GSK-3beta in MARK2 activation. In vitro kinase reaction revealed that recombinant GSK-3beta indeed phosphorylates MARK2, whereas it failed to phosphorylate Ser-262 of tau. Our further findings led us to conclude that GSK-3beta phosphorylates MARK2 on Ser-212, one of the two reported phosphorylation sites (Thr-208 and Ser-212) found in the activation loop of MARK2. Down-regulation of either GSK-3beta or MARK2 by small interfering RNAs suppressed the level of phosphorylation on Ser-262. These results, respectively, indicated that GSK-3beta is responsible for phosphorylating Ser-262 of tau through phosphorylation and activation of MARK2 and that the phosphorylation of tau at this particular site is predominantly mediated by a GSK-3beta-MARK2 pathway. These findings are of interest in the context of the pathogenesis of AD.


To determine whether oxytetracycline hydrochloride and the sodium salt of ampicillin have any adverse effects on the rat intestine, enteric enzyme levels and glucose transport rates were measured in vitro in rats. The intestinal transport of glucose did not differ significantly between control animals and those pretreated with ampicillin. For animals pretreated with oxytetracycline, the transport rates were significantly lower than those for the control group. The difference between the ampicillin and oxytetracycline groups, however, was not statistically significant. No significant differences in enteric levels of sucrase and maltase activity were found between any of the groups. The possibility that some antimicrobial agents may interfere with the absorption of nutrients suggested the need for caution in using these drugs in experimental animals.


This paper uses data from the European Community Household Panel surveys of 1994 and 1996 to study the association between changes in care-giving and changes in weekly work hours. Our sample comprises women aged 45–59 years who participated in the labour force in at least one of the two years studied. Controlling for country variation, we find significant relationships between starting or increasing informal care-giving and changes in weekly work hours. No such association is found however among women terminating a care-giving commitment or reducing their care hours. Starting care-giving significantly reduces work hours for women in northern European countries (except Ireland). By contrast, women in southern Europe and Ireland respond to an increase in care-giving hours by a smaller increase or a higher decrease in work hours than non care-givers. In summary, our results show that the impact of care-giving on adjustments of weekly work hours is asymmetrical and that it differs in southern and northern Europe.


Background/Aim: Malignant melanoma is an aggressive skin cancer, accounting for the majority of skin cancer deaths. Prognosis is often poor and finding effective treatment remains a challenge. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) are main bioactive components of Cannabis sativa plant extracts that have been shown to exert anti-tumor effects. In this study, we aimed to perform gene expression analysis of human melanoma A375 cells following stimulation with C. sativa extracts. Materials and Methods: Gene expression profiles of A375 human melanoma and Vero (control) cell lines were evaluated by RNA sequencing and quantitative real-time PCR. Results: Flow cytometry showed that the THC+CBD cannabis fractions induced apoptosis on A375 cells. Induction of apoptosis was accompanied by a notable up-regulation of DNA damage inducible transcript 3 (DDIT), nerve growth factor receptor (NGFR), colony-stimulating factor 2 (CSF2), growth arrest and DNA damage inducible beta (GADD45B), and thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) genes and down-regulation of aryl hydrocarbon receptor nuclear translocator 2 (ARNT2), cyclin E2 (CCNE2), integrin subunit alpha 9 (ITGA9), proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and E2F transcription factor 1 (E2F1) genes. Treatment of A375 cells with the THC+CBD fraction inhibited the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 signaling pathway, which regulates melanoma cell proliferation. We showed that the THC+CBD combination disrupted melanoma cell migration. Conclusion: Use of C. sativa-derived extracts containing equal amounts of THC and CBD is proposed as a potential treatment of melanoma.


Changes in transverse refractive index induced by the photoelastic effect are calculated when an optical fiber is subjected to a uniformly applied diametral stress. For moderate values of the force per unit length applied to the fiber, we find that regions of comparable or higher refractive index than the core may be induced in the outer region of the fiber. Thus the stressed region is capable of acting as a mode converter that affects the transmission characteristics of the fiber and may enable coupling of energy in or out of the fiber.


To evaluate the 3-D stress field inside a specimen from displacement data on the free surface obtained from the 2-D intelligent hybrid method, we developed the 3-D local hybrid method based on inverse problem analysis. In a previous study, when a uniform load was applied to a structure with a surface crack, it was demonstrated that the stress field was analyzed with high accuracy. In this study, the 3-D local hybrid method was applied to a structure with a surface crack subjected to bending load. However, a suitable solution was not able to be obtained on a bending problem. Therefore, another method was applied. The relative error between the J integral value of the whole model and the local model was compared, and accuracy was investigated. First, the variation of accuracy with width and thickness was examined. If thickness is increased, the relative error decreases as found in the uniform load case. Moreover, as width increases, the relative error decreases. However, even if width and thickness become large, accuracy does not necessarily become better. Therefore, the relative error was compared and a suitable hybrid size was examined.


The greater mouse-eared bat (Myotis myotis) is a flagship species for the protection of hibernation and summer maternity roosts in the Western Palearctic region. A range of pathogenic agents is known to put pressure on populations, including the white-nose syndrome fungus, for which the species shows the highest prevalence and infection intensity of all European bat species. Here, we perform analysis of blood parameters characteristic for the species during its natural annual life cycle in order to establish reference values. Despite sexual dimorphism and some univariate differences, the overall multivariate pattern suggests low seasonal variation with homeostatic mechanisms effectively regulating haematology and blood biochemistry ranges. Overall, the species displayed a high haematocrit and haemoglobin content and high concentration of urea, while blood glucose levels in swarming and hibernating bats ranged from hypo- to normoglycaemic. Unlike blood pH, concentrations of electrolytes were wide ranging. To conclude, baseline data for blood physiology are a useful tool for providing suitable medical care in rescue centres, for studying population health in bats adapting to environmental change, and for understanding bat responses to stressors of conservation and/or zoonotic importance.


Spectrum sensing is an essential technique for cognitive radios. This paper addresses the spectrum sensing under uncertain noise power and proposes an adaptive spectrum sensing algorithm. The adaptive decision threshold of energy detection is derived, which is based on the weighted probability of detection and probability of false alarm. By means of estimating noise power and signal power, the decision threshold is able to adapt to the noise fluctuation. Simulation results show that the proposed algorithm has robustness to the noise uncertainty. It can be used for detecting various kinds of signal without any knowledge of noise power or signal power.


Background: Maternal obesity is a growing public health concern in Belgium as well as in other European countries and is now becoming the most common risk factor associated with pregnancy complications with impact on the health of the women and her offspring. At this moment, there is no specific management strategy for obese pregnant women and mothers, focusing on physical health and psychological well-being. Objectives: We aimed (1) to study the influence of socio-demographic and obstetrical correlates on pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) and gestational weight gain (GWG) in different regions of Flanders, Belgium, (2) to review the literature on the onset and progression of labour in normal weight and obese pregnant women, (3) to compare levels and evolution of anxiety and depressed mood during pregnancy between obese women and normal-weight women, (4) to examine whether a prenatal lifestyle intervention programme, based on principles of motivational interviewing, in obese pregnant women reduces GWG and lowers levels of anxiety and depressed mood during pregnancy, (5) to examine associations between inter-pregnancy weight change from the first to the second pregnancy and the risk for adverse perinatal outcomes during the second pregnancy and finally (6) to study predictors of postpartum weight retention (PPWR) in obese mothers at six months after delivery in order to provide clues for the design of interventions aimed at preventing weight retention related to childbearing. Methods: We performed an epidemiological study, an intervention study during pregnancy with postpartum follow up and a literature review. Results: One in three Flemish women start pregnancy being overweight or obese and this prevalence has slowly been rising since 2009 in the Flanders. We identified women at risk for a high pre-pregnancy BMI and excessive GWG, both being important predictors for increased pregnancy and birth related complications. In a literature review, we showed that the combination of a higher incidence of post-term deliveries and increased inadequate contraction pattern during the first stage of labour in obese women suggests an influence of obesity on myometrial activity. Given the low compliance for adequate GWG in obese women in the general Flemish population and their increased psycho-social vulnerability compared to the normal weight pregnant women, counselling obese pregnant women can lead to a reduced GWG and increased psychological comfort. Stabilizing inter-pregnancy maternal weight for all women is an important target for reducing adverse perinatal outcomes in the subsequent pregnancy. Psychological discomfort during pregnancy does impact on PPWR in obese mothers six months after delivery. Discussion and conclusion: Focusing on weight management in obese women before, during and after a pregnancy has advantages for both the mother and her infant. Theoretical and practice based training modules should be developed and focus on: (1) awareness of techniques for identifying the clearly identified risk groups with a high pre-pregnancy BMI and excessive GWG, (2) the increased perinatal risks, (3) an adapted perinatal management and (4) counselling techniques for an adequate weight management and psychological wellbeing in obese pregnant women. To achieve better care for the future, we must focus on tackling maternal obesity. This means that obese women should be reached before they get pregnant for the first time. Targeting primary and community based care, promotion and education are challenging, but the psychosocial context should be acknowledged.


Two like-signed vorticity regions can pair or merge into one vortex. This phenomenon occurs if the original two vortices are sufficiently close together, that is, if the distance between the vorticity centroids is smaller than a certain critical merger distance, which depends on the initial shape of the vortex distributions. Our conclusions are based on an analytical/numerical study, which presents the first quantitative description of the cause and mechanism behind the restricted process of symmetric vortex merger. We use two complementary models to investigate the merger of identical vorticity regions. The first, based on a recently introduced low-order physical-space moment model of the two-dimensional Euler equations, is a Hamiltonian system of ordinary differential equations for the evolution of the centroid position, aspect ratio and orientation of each region. By imposing symmetry this system is made integrable and we obtain a necessary and sufficient condition for merger. This condition involves only the initial conditions and the conserved quantities. The second model is a high-resolution pseudospectral algorithm governing weakly dissipative flow in a box with periodic boundary conditions. When the results obtained by both methods are juxtaposed, we obtain a detailed kinematic insight into the merger process. When the moment model is generalized to include a weak Newtonian viscosity, we find a 'metastable' state with a lifetime depending on the dissipation timescale. This state attracts all initial configurations that do not merge on a convective timescale. Eventually, convective merger occurs and the state disappears. Furthermore, spectral simulations show that initial conditions with a centroid separation slightly larger than the critical merger distance initially cause a rapid approach towards this metastable state.


The venture capital industry in Poland represents one of the most dynamic investment markets in the emerging economies of Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). However, in spite of significant growth of the private sector, the most significant source of deals came from privatizing state-owned firms. This article describes the process of investing in a state-owned firm by five venture capital funds operating in the CEE region. It focuses on some unique challenges related to investing in these types of firms.


Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of January sentiment on investors' asset allocation decisions in the US corporate bond market during the rest of the year. Specifically, the study evaluates if the shift in January sentiment is a predictor of corporate bond spreads from February to December.

Design/methodology/approach
Using corporate bond trades reported in TRACE between 2005 and 2014, the authors examine the ability of the Index of Consumer Sentiment and the Index of Investor Sentiment to predict bond spreads over the 11 months following January. The study evaluates both the sign of the change in sentiment and the magnitude of the change in sentiment using two generalized linear models, controlling for industry, bond and firm fixed effects. Portfolios are analyzed based on yield, firm size and firm leverage. Additional analysis is performed to ensure results are robust to the impacts of the subprime financial crisis.

Findings
This paper finds that the changes in the sentiment measures in January predict bond spreads associated with bond trades in the subsequent 11 months, and this phenomenon, which the authors label as the "January sentiment effect," has opposing impacts on risky and less risky bond portfolios.

Originality/value
This paper adds to the literature on the relationship between sentiment and investor's allocation decisions. The evidence documented in this study is the first known to find that investors' allocation decisions in a year are driven by their sentiment in January.


Summary form only given. The paper describes the application of Takagi-Sugeno (TS) type fuzzy logic controller to three-phase shunt active power filter (APF) for the power quality improvement and reactive power compensation required by a non-linear load. The advantage of fuzzy logic control is that it does not require a mathematical model of the system. The application of Mamdani type fuzzy logic controller to three-phase shunt active power filter have been investigated earlier but it has the limitation of more number of fuzzy sets and rules. Therefore, it needs to optimize large number of coefficients, which increases the complexity of the controller. On the other hand, TS fuzzy controllers are quite general in that they use arbitrary input fuzzy sets, any type of fuzzy logic, and the general defuzzifier. Moreover, TS fuzzy controller could be designed by using less number of rules and classes. Further, in this paper hysteresis current control mode of operation is implemented for PWM switching signal generation. Computer simulation results show that the dynamic behavior of TS fuzzy controller is better than the conventional Pl controller and is found to be more robust to changes in load and other system parameters compared to the conventional Pl controller


Education is arguably one of the most significant, urgent, and rapidly changing arenas for research on language and sexual identity, but there has been little synthesis to date of the knowledge and theories of knowledge that are emerging through this work. Here I survey a relatively small but important segment of this disparate literature: studies that investigate classroom talk about and by students who either self-identify as gay, lesbian or queer, or who are positioned as such by others. By bringing together such studies from applied linguistics as well as education and literacy/composition, I seek to consolidate and to cultivate critical explorations of sexual identity, language and learning as interlinked domains. To this end, I identify some defining features of the queer epistemologies that are emerging in the empirical, lingua-centric literature on 'gay'-student discourses, and I suggest future directions for this sort of work.


The prevalences of extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBL) and their encoding bla genes, TEM, SHV and CTX_M, were investigated in isolates of Escherichia coli that were resistant to beta-lactam and/or non-beta-lactam antibiotics. Of the 250 E. coli isolates investigated, all of which came from patients in a major hospital in southern Lebanon, 61 (13.3%) were found to have ESBL, their production of beta-lactamase being confirmed by the ceftazidime and ceftazidime/clavulanic-acid disc methods. All 61 ESBL isolates were resistant to beta-lactams and sensitive to imipenem, piperacillin/tazobactam and cefoxitime. Only 40% were resistant to fluoroquinolones, 33% were resistant to aminoglycosides, and 18% were considered to have multi-drug resistance. The results of the PCR-based amplification of the bla gene in DNA samples from the 61 ESBL isolates indicated that 11 (18%) of the isolates carried both the TEM and SHV genes, 37 (61%) carried the TEM gene but not the SHV, and 13 (21%) had the SHV gene but not the TEM. None of the isolates carried the CTX_M gene. Of the 37 TEM-positive/SHV-negative isolates, 43% were resistant to fluoroquinolones and 37% to aminoglycosides. Increased resistance to non-beta-lactam antibiotics was observed in the isolates harbouring both the TEM and SHV genes, of which 54% were resistant to all of the tested antibiotics except imipenem, 36% were only resistant to fluoroquinolones, and 9.1% only resistant to aminoglycosides. The possibility that the concomitant presence of TEM- and SHV-type beta-lactamases is associated with resistance to non-beta-lactam antibiotics requires further research. The prevalences of ESBL and their encoding genes in Gram-negative bacteria collected from various regions in Lebanon will now be investigated.


Underground subway RC structures suffered significant damage during many earthquakes, so it is important to study the seismic behavior on RC subway structure. The shaking table model test is made of the Beijing typical subway station structure. In this article, the test is introduced briefly; then, the acceleration history curves are analyzed. By the test, it is found that the interaction exits between structure and soil. Under the low intensity earthquake, the underground structure will exert a very small influence on soil and vibrates with soil; under the high intensity earthquake, the soil will exert a large thrust on the underground structure and the relative displacement exists between them. Moreover, At the bottom of the structure side wall, the peak acceleration is larger than it in soil around the place, and at the top and middle of the structure side wall, the peak accelerations are smaller than them in soil around the place; with the depth increase, decrease the peak value, the excellence frequency and its amplitude of the acceleration time history.


We present continuum observations of the Perseus B1-E region from the Herschel Gould Belt Survey. These Herschel data reveal a loose grouping of substructures at 160 - 500 micron not seen in previous submillimetre observations. We measure temperature and column density from these data and select the nine densest and coolest substructures for follow-up spectral line observations with the Green Bank Telescope. We find that the B1-E clump has a mass of ~ 100 solar masses and appears to be gravitationally bound. Furthermore, of the nine substructures examined here, one substructure (B1-E2) appears to be itself bound. The substructures are typically less than a Jeans length from their nearest neighbour and thus, may interact on a timescale of ~ 1 Myr. We propose that B1-E may be forming a first generation of dense cores, which could provide important constraints on the initial conditions of prestellar core formation. Our results suggest that B1-E may be influenced by a strong, localized magnetic field, but further observations are still required.


This article presents three indexes that may be used to examine the expected exchange rate as reflected in trading in exchange-rate options. With these indexes one may examine, on a daily basis, whether the expectations of exchange-rate change were determined in a normal-distribution environment (hereinafter: the "N-Index"), the modal risk level in the forex market (hereinafter: the "R-Index"), and the expected direction and intensity of exchange-rate change in the event of an exchange-rate jump (hereinafter: the "J-Index"). We applied the indexes to daily trading in NIS/dollar exchange-rate options on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange. By analyzing the indexes for the October 2002–June 2004 period, we found that even though the NIS appreciated perceptibly against the dollar (about 10 percent in the first half of 2003), the Israeli public continued to associate the exchange-rate risk with depreciation: When the N-Index reflected an abnormal market environment and the R-Index reflected a high modal risk level, the J-Index reflected expectations of an exchange-rate jump only in the direction of depreciation. One of the possible reasons for the decrease in the forex sector's contribution to financing activity earnings in the Israeli banking system in 2003 (Supervisor of Banks, 2004) may have been the rather severe misalignment between the expected behavior of the exchange rate and its de facto behavior.


With direct trade barriers banned, governments may be tempted to use indirect policy tools to interfere with trade, such as environmental taxes. The author uses a model of an endogenous market structure, where the number of firms is determined by a zero-profit condition in one country but is exogenously given in the other country, to show that a government harboring a fixed number of firms fails to affect aggregate supply, and therefore has little scope for improving domestic environmental quality (if pollution is transboundary). Moreover, owing to the absence of a terms-of-trade effect, it diverts from the classical strategic tax rule. The author argues that both governments arguably fix their equilibrium emission taxes "too low," meaning that tax competition plausibly leads to "ecological dumping." Copyright 2003 Blackwell Publishing Ltd..


Abstract Objective A wealth of data is generated through Australia's universal health care arrangements. However, use of these data has been hampered by different federal and state legislation, privacy concerns and challenges in linking data across jurisdictions. A series of data reforms have been touted to increase population health research capacity in Australia, including pharmacoepidemiology research. Here we catalogued research leveraging Australia's Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) data (2014–2018) and discussed these outputs in the context of previously implemented and new data reforms. Methods We conducted a systematic review of population-based studies using PBS dispensing claims. Independent reviewers screened abstracts of 4,996 articles and 310 full-text manuscripts. We characterised publications according to study population, analytical approach, data sources used, aims and medicines focus. Results We identified 180 studies; 133 used individual-level data, 70 linked PBS dispensing claims with other health data (66 across jurisdictions). Studies using individual-level data focussed on Australians receiving government benefits (87 studies) rather than all PBS-eligible persons. 63 studies examined clinician or patient practices and 33 examined exposure-outcome relationships (27 evaluated medicines safety, 6 evaluated effectiveness). Medicines acting on the nervous and cardiovascular system account for the greatest volume of PBS medicines dispensed and were the most commonly studied (67 and 40 studies, respectively). Antineoplastic and immunomodulating agents account for approximately one third of PBS expenditure but represented only 10% of studies in this review. Conclusions The studies in this review represent more than a third of all population-based pharmacoepidemiology research published in the last three decades in Australia. Recent data reforms have contributed to this escalating output. However, studies are concentrated among specific subpopulations and medicines classes, and there remains a limited understanding of population benefits and harms derived from medicines use. The current draft Data Availability and Transparency legislation should further bolster efforts in population health research.


Abstract In the first chapter of this work, I focus on the effects of international mobility on discrimination. Every year, millions of people relocate to a foreign country for school or work. I provide evidence of how international experience shifts preferences and stereotypes related to other nationalities. I use participation in the Erasmus study abroad program to identify the effect of international experience: students who are ready to participate in the Erasmus program are chosen as a control group for students who have returned from studies abroad. Individuals make decisions in a Trust Game and in a Triple Dictator Game. Results show that while students do not differentiate between partners from Northern and Southern Europe in the Trust Game prior to an Erasmus study abroad, students who have returned from Erasmus exhibit less trust towards partners from the South. Behavior towards other nationalities in the Triple Dictator Game is not affected by the Erasmus study experience. Overall, the results suggest that participants learn about cross-country variation in cooperative behavior while abroad and therefore statistical discrimination increases with international experience. The second chapter concentrates on inter-ethnic interactions. Ethnic hostilities often spread rapidly, making it essential to understand how individual willingness to engage in causing harm is shaped. Here we study the influence of peers among adolescents and present experimental evidence from a region characterized by tensions with Roma, the largest ethnic minority in Europe. We examine the effect of observing choices of randomly assigned peers on the individual willingness to harm majority or Roma counterparts in incentivized tasks. We find that peers are very influential. When choices are performed in isolation or when individuals are exposed to observing the peaceful behavior of peers, subjects do not discriminate against the ethnic minority. In contrast, when subjects are exposed to a peer who harms the ethnic minority instead of to a peer who does not, the likelihood of harming the ethnic minority increases by 60 percentage points and ethnic discrimination emerges. The results are consistent with theories suggesting a parochial response to a threat of ethnic conflict and can help to explain why ethnic hostilities of masses can spread quickly, even in societies with few visible signs of systematic inter-ethnic hatred. In the third chapter, we study how psycho-social stress affects willingness to compete and performance under tournament incentives across gender. The paper has implications for gender gaps on the labor market, since many key career events involve competition in stressful settings (e.g. entrance exams or job interviews). We use a laboratory economic experiment in which a task is compensated under both tournament and piece-rate schemes and subsequently elicit subjects' willingness to compete. Stress is exogenously introduced through a modified version of the Trier Social Stress Test, and stress response is measured by salivary cortisol levels. We find that stress reduces willingness to compete. For female subjects, this can be explained by performance: while tournament incentives increase output in the control group, women under the stress treatment actually perform worse when competition is introduced. For males, output is not affected by the stress treatment and lower competitiveness seems to be preference-based. These results may explain previous findings that men and women react differently to tournament incentives.


Clean energy is one of the immediate requirements all over the world to tackle the global energy demands. Natural gas hydrates (NGHs) are one of the proposed alternatives that could be used to extract methane as clean energy and simultaneously sequestrate carbon dioxide. However, the formation of CH4-CO2 mixed hydrates and the first hydrate layer besides the interface reduces the rate of CO2 sequestration and methane extraction in NGHs, and thus, multistep extraction of methane is one of the proposed solutions. We report the atomic level factors that could enhance CO2 sequestration in the newly formed first hydrate layer besides the interface in the presence of flue and noble gases using DFT calculations and molecular dynamics simulations at 250 K and 0.15 kbar. The simulations show the formation of stable dual cages (large-large or small-large) that lead to the formation of a four-caged, Y-shaped cluster (growth synthon) which leads to the formation of a hydrate unit cell in heterogeneous medium. Among the flue and noble gases, only argon forms energetically favorable dual cages with itself and CO2 due to which enhanced CO2 sequestration is observed at different concentrations of Ar and CO2 where the CO2 : Ar (2.5 : 1.5) system shows the best CO2 sequestration in the first layer besides the interface. The results also provide understanding into the previously reported concentration dependent CO2 selectivity in sI hydrates in the presence of third gases (N2 and H2S).


This study uses quantitative and qualitative methods to examine Alberta newspaper coverage of the Wildrose Party's 2009 leadership contest. We compared the overall visibility of the two candidates, Danielle Smith and Mark Dyrholm, and contrasted news framing of their public and private personas and assessments of their ideological positions and leadership skills. Smith was more visible than her male opponent, reflecting her front-runner status during the leadership race. Somewhat surprisingly, Smith was not framed as a woman candidate, nor were evaluations of her performance marked by sexism or gender stereotypes. We argue that these findings are atypical and other women leadership contenders are not likely to receive the glowingly positive assessments Smith enjoyed. Smith's conservative ideological position, and the possibility that she had the skills and public appeal necessary to topple the longstanding governing party, prompted the remarkably adulatory coverage accorded her candidacy by the Alberta press corps.


Hypopharyngeal fibroepithelial polyp is a rare entity. It could extend along the esophagus, leading to dysphagia. In rare cases, this polyp could present as airway compromise due to occlusion of the inlet of the larynx. The treatment of choice is surgical resection. Accurate defining of the origin of such polyp is mandatory in order to achieve complete resection and avoid recurrence. Although hypopharyngeal FEP is rare, physicians must keep this in mind when a patient presents dysphagia or airway compromise. In the current case, we present a rare case of giant hypopharyngeal FEP originating from the right pyriform sinus detected in a Caucasian female. The patient threw up the polyp after severe vomiting. This case should be the fourth and largest case of hypopharyngeal FEP reported in the literature.


Body-area networks are led to target multimedia applications where high-data rate is involved. In this paper, the characterization of the measured body-to-body channels and the ergodic capacity with uniform power allocation is discussed when using multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) PIFA and IFA antenna systems. This capacity is compared to the measured belt-head and belt-chest on-body channels using PIFA antennas in the same environment. It is shown that body channels reach less ergodic capacity than the equivalent Rayleigh channel because of the presence of a LOS component. The capacity is the same for the body-to-body case regardless of the antenna and the on-body channels reach better capacity values compared to these former.


Carbazole based polymers are materials of considerable scientific and industrial interest due to their attractive features, such as hole-transporting, high charge-carrier mobility, and electroluminescent properties. Among carbazole polymers, a central place is reserved for poly (N-vinyl carbazole) (PVK) because it is easily synthesized, is soluble in common organic solvents and as the poly (N-vinyl carbazole)/2,4,7-trinitro-9- fluorenone (PVK/TNF) charge transfer complex is one of the bestknown organic photos conducting materials for application in electrophotography. it's an electroluminescent material and emits strong fluorescence and long phosphorescence when excited with UV light. In the present research a spectrophotometric method applied for the study of (colored charge transfer complexes) CTC of PVK with TNF reveals the formation of 1:1 (A:D) complex, and formation of CTC with PVK and TNF, From the conductivity of the CT Complex, it is obtained that the concentration of the donor is affected when it reacts with the acceptor and that when we increase the concentration of the donor.


A Br-Doped Bi2O2CO3 exposed (001) crystal facet was synthesized by a one-pot hydrothermal method. The results of the total densities of states of the valence band (VB) and UV-vis diffuse-reflectance spectrum (DRS) for the Br-doped Bi2O2CO3 exposed (001) crystal facet demonstrate that the doping of the Br anion can effectively narrow the band gap of Bi2O2CO3 by improving the valence band position. The photocatalytic performance is evaluated by degrading methyl orange (MO) and rhodamine B (RhB) dyes in an aqueous solution. In comparison with pure Bi2O2CO3, Br-doped Bi2O2CO3 exhibits drastically enhanced solar-light photoactivity, which is also superior to many other reported Bi2O2CO3-based photocatalysts. The highly enhanced photocatalytic performance is attributed to a combination of expanded photoresponse range caused by the doping of Br anions and effective separation of the photogenerated electron–hole pairs owing to the exposed active (001) crystal facet of Bi2O2CO3. The Br-doped Bi2O2CO3 exposed (001) crystal facet also shows photochemical stability, which is of special importance for its practical applications. This work demonstrates that doping enables band gap engineering and the design of high-performance photocatalysts.


We present a generic approach in the form of a layer-based framework for building up applications that perform diagnosis or asset management functions. This framework is designed to run fully automated, gaining and managing all required information. Thereby, only little engineering effort is required and the framework is able to scale with the complexity of the plant structure. This is realized by mapping different plant situations to simplified and unified situations in real time. The modular layers decouple semantically differing tasks and the corresponding information from each other, which makes the framework modular and thus open to plug in new plant elements to be considered, new or changing plant properties or new diagnosis or asset management functionality. The framework presented here is already implemented in a German BP refinery, realizing a completely automated pump monitoring application.


Water interaction with quasi-freestanding graphene deposited on Pt(111) has been investigated by using vibrational spectroscopy. Loss measurements show that water molecules dosed at room temperature can dissociate giving rise to C-H bonds. The formation of the C-H bonds strongly attenuates the optical phonons of the graphene sheet. On the other hand, at 100 K water has been found to adsorb only in molecular state. Present findings should be taken into account in engineering graphene-based devices which should work at atmospheric pressure and at room temperature.


Background: Pain, Agitation and Delirium (PAD) are common in critically ill patients admitted in Intensive Care Units (ICU) being reported in 15-80% of the patients. Control of agitation and delirium in critically ill patients is somehow different and hard to achieve in patients with drug abuse and opium addiction.
Aim: We hypothesized if a protocol could be designed and implemented to concomitantly control Pain, Agitation and Delirium (PAD) and prevent withdrawal signs in this population during ICU admission.
Methods: This prospective cross-sectional study. A multidisciplinary team designed the protocol. We included a total number of 30 critically ill patients during the study period. We included adult patients (>18 years) who were opium dependent and used drugs daily and had uncontrolled behaviors of drug consumption and reportedly had withdrawal symptoms. Methadone was used to prevent withdrawal syndrome and pain was assessed hourly, by Behavioural Pain Scale and controlled by morphine or fentanyl. Level of sedation was also assessed hourly, by Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale and controlled by midazolam or propofol, according to the protocol. Delirium was checked by Confusion Assessment Method for ICU, once in every working shift.
Results: Patients were recruited during an eight months period in 2 mixed medical-surgical ICU's. The protocol was effective to completely prevent the withdrawal syndrome in 24 patients (80%). The average need to methadone was 14.5 ± 22.2 mg in the patients. The pain, sedation and delirium were evaluated and documented by the staff in 97%, 98% and 56% of situations, respectively. Pain and sedation scores were within acceptable limits in 93% and 98% of occasions, respectively. Delirium occurred in 2 patients during the ICU stay.


Individual heterogeneity is an important source of variation in demand. Allowing for general heterogeneity is needed for correct welfare comparisons. We consider general heterogenous demand where preferences and linear budget sets are statistically independent. We find that the dimension of heterogeneity and the individual demand functions are not identified. We also find that the exact consumer surplus of a price change, averaged across individuals, is not identified, motivating bounds analysis. We use bounds on income effects to derive relatively simple bounds on the average surplus, including for discrete/continous choice. We also sketch an approach to bounding surplus that does not use income effect bounds. We apply the results with income effect bounds to gasoline demand. We find little sensitivity to the income effect bounds in this application.


This paper presents a one factor and a two factor arbitrage-free interest rate models with parsimonious implied volatility functions. The models are empirically tested on the entire swaption surface in three currencies (U. S. dollar, Euro and Japanese yen) over a flve year period. They are shown to be robust in explaining the swaption values, and the implied volatility functions are shown to exhibit a three factor movement in all three currencies. The results show that the observed swaption prices incorporate the market conditional expectations of the correlations of the key interest rates and the stochastic process of the yield curve, and the interest rate models should be calibrated to such market information to provide accurate relative valuation. Further this paper describes a modeling approach that has important implications on hedging interest rate derivatives dynamically taking the stochastic volatility risks into account. c


Background Although vaccine rollout for COVID-19 has been effective in some countries, there is still an urgent need to reduce disease transmission and severity. We recently carried out a meta-analysis and found that pre- and in-hospital use of statins may improve COVID-19 mortality outcomes. Here, we provide an updated meta-analysis in an attempt to validate these results and increase the statistical power of these potentially important findings. Methods The meta-analysis investigated the effect of observational and randomized clinical studies on intensive care unit (ICU) admission, tracheal intubation, and death outcomes in COVID-19 cases involving statin treatment, by searching the scientific literature up to April 23, 2021. Statistical analysis and random effect modeling were performed to assess the combined effects of the updated and previous findings on the outcome measures. Findings. The updated literature search led to the identification of 23 additional studies on statin use in COVID-19 patients. Analysis of the combined studies (n = 47; 3,238,508 subjects) showed no significant effect of statin treatment on ICU admission and all-cause mortality but a significant reduction in tracheal intubation (OR = 0.73, 95% CI: 0.54-0.99, p = 0.04, n = 10 studies). The further analysis showed that death outcomes were significantly reduced in the patients who received statins during hospitalization (OR = 0.54, 95% CI: 0.50-0.58, p < 0.001, n = 7 studies), with no such effect of statin therapy before hospital admission (OR = 1.06, 95% CI = 0.82-1.37, p = 0.670, n = 29 studies). Conclusion Taken together, this updated meta-analysis extends and confirms the findings of our previous study, suggesting that in-hospital statin use leads to significant reduction of all-cause mortality in COVID-19 cases. Considering these results, statin therapy during hospitalization, while indicated, should be recommended.


ABSTRACT Three purified glucan binding proteins (GBP-2, GBP-3, and GBP-5) from Streptococcus sobrinus 6715 were compared structurally by mass spectroscopy of tryptic fragments and antigenically by Western blot analysis with rat antisera to each GBP or to peptides containing putative glucan binding epitopes of mutans streptococcal glucosyltransferases. Structural and antigenic analyses indicated that GBP-3 and GBP-5 are very similar but that both are essentially unrelated to GBP-2. None of theseS. sobrinus GBPs appeared to have a strong antigenic relationship with GBPs from Streptococcus mutans. Thus,S. sobrinus GBP-2 and GBP-3 appear to be distinct proteins with potentially different functions. S. sobrinusGBP-5 may be a proteolytic fragment of GBP-3, or, alternatively, the genes coding for these proteins may be closely related.


Eight mapped mutants (er, tfl, fb, fca, fd, fe, fg, and fy) of arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh.) were chosen as the model for investigation of plant response to vernalization and day length. Six quantitative characters were recorded: the number of days from sowing until flowering, plant weight, stem height, number of rosette leaves, number of cauline leaves, and total leaf number. The genotypes responded differently to environmental changes, which altered the effects of genes on quantitative traits, genotype ranks, and selection consequences. A certain set of environmental factors may result in selection in favor of one genotype, and another set may result in selection for another genotype, with direction and intensity of selection being the same.


In this study, new metal organic frameworks have been designed by modifying the linker of IRMOF-1 with different carbon flakes (circular, rectangular and rhombus). The adsorption of gas molecules such as H2, CH4 and CO2 has been investigated at different temperatures and pressures using Grand Canonical Monte Carlo (GCMC) simulation. It is interesting to observe from the results that the modification of the IRMOF-1 linker with carbon flakes enhances the gas storage capacity. It is possible to note that IRMOF-1 modified with circular carbon flakes is highly suitable for CO2 storage. On the other hand, IRMOF-1 with a rhombus linker has considerable potential for H2 molecule storage. These findings form a solid foundation for designing aesthetically pleasing as well as functional new metal organic framework molecules for gas storage applications.


Report of a meeting of the Metamorphic Studies Group held at Burlington House, 16 March 1983. The meeting was organized by Dr M. Brown. A Metamorphic Studies Group Meeting on 'Metamorphic studies: research in progress' together with the second Annual General Meeting of the Group were held on 16 March 1983; approximately 65 members of the Group participated in the meeting. A total of 13 papers was presented, covering a wide range of interests in metamorphic geology and including a mixture of old faces and new contributors; it was disappointing that only four of the papers were given by current research students, although it remains the policy of the Group to encourage research students to contribute to its meetings. The morning session, chaired by Professor Bernard Leake, was opened by Brown, who presented an account of the metamorphic history preserved within cordierite-bearing pelitic gneisses from Timor in eastern Indonesia. The rocks, which form part of the Mutis Complex, are allochthonous, having been located in SE Asia during Mesozoic time and having been emplaced onto Australian continental rise deposits by thrusting during the mid-Pliocene collision between the Banda Arcs, now separated from SE Asia by the Banda Sea marginal basin, and the Australian continental margin. Estimated metamorphic conditions resulting from decompression under high temperatures evolved from T > 750°C and P ≃ 10 kbar through T ≃ 700°C and P ≃ 5 kbar at P H2


This paper proposes a modified sensorless control technique for an interior permanent magnet synchronous motor over its full-speed range based on current derivative measurements and fundamental pulsewidth modulation excitation (FPE). The proposed method employs measurement of the current derivative at only one active-voltage vector at low speeds, and at one active-voltage vector and one zero-voltage vector at medium and high speeds during each pulsewidth modulation (PWM) cycle, in contrast to two active- and two zero-voltage vectors in the conventional FPE method. The theoretical analysis is developed based on the three-phase model of the machine. The rotor position and speed are estimated at PWM frequency. In addition, the selection voltage vectors for current derivative measurement as well as the pulse stretching scheme for extending and compensating the selected voltage vectors is proposed in order to improve the accuracy of the current derivative measurement and to minimize the current distortion. The experimental results show that the proposed method results in a considerable improvement of the estimation accuracy at low speeds, a significant reduction of current distortion compared to the conventional FPE method and a full-speed range operation from no load to full load.


The depectinization kinetics of bael (Aegle marmelos) juice using the enzyme pectinase was evaluated and it was observed to follow the Michaelis–Menten model. The suitable reaction time and enzyme concentration were estimated to be 60 min and 0.25% w/w, respectively. The conditions to obtain a unique steady state for such a reaction in a continuous stirred tank reactor were determined using the fixed point theorem and contraction mapping. The phase space plot was generated using parameters and , involving the operating conditions and kinetic constants (V is the reactor volume, vmax and KM are the kinetic parameters of the Michaelis–Menten model, v0 is the volumetric flow rate and CA0 is the feed concentration of the substrate), and the envelope of a unique steady state was developed. From the iso-conversion curves, the values of α and β were identified so that the reactor can operate at a unique steady state. It was found that β > 4 results in a feasible steady state. The range of α was reduced at a higher β in order to get a unique steady state. The critical residence time of the reactor decreased with the enzyme concentration and became invariant beyond 0.20% w/w. Deviation of the CSTR from ideal behavior led to an increase in the critical residence time. The present analysis is extendable to other reaction kinetic models as well, for appropriate design and scale up of commercial reactors so as to prevent the occurrence of multiple steady states leading to inaccurate product specifications.


A new program to address the feral cat population on Prince Edward Island was undertaken during the spring and summer of 2001. Feral cats from specific geographic areas were trapped, sedated, and tested for feline leukemia virus and feline immunodeficiency virus. Healthy cats were neutered, dewermed, vaccinated, tattooed, and released to their area of origin. A total of 185 cats and kittens were trapped and tested during a 14-week period; 158 cats and kittens as young as 6 weeks of age were neutered and released. Twenty-three adult cats were positive for feline leukemia virus, feline immunodeficiency virus, or both, and were euthanized.


: Along with the growth of the overall disease incidence, the cancer incidence is constantly growing as well. Malignancies are diseases that lead to high mortality. This work covers one of the most important provisions of internal diseases--gastroenterology. It is known that the main work of healthcare professionals, therapists, is the diagnosis and treatment, and the second part of their work is prevention (primary, secondary and tertiary) of diseases and on this basis--prevention of malignant diseases. The search of precancerous diseases is always complicated, so it is advisable to create risk groups, which are observed in the dynamics. The Article helps to make the program not only of rational control, but also to designate a circle of the activities continuously replacing oncologic transformation of the observed pathology. The psychological condition of the patient in terms of impact of oncological process is included into the examination, as well as the role of health care professionals--therapist, oncologist and psychologist on the stabilization of the process of recovery and cancer patients.


In this work, engine-out particulate matter (PM) mass emissions from an off-highway diesel engine measured using a low-cost photometer, scanning mobility particle sizer (SMPS), elemental versus organic carbon (EC/OC) analysis, and a photo-acoustic analyzer are compared. Tested engine operating modes spanned the range of those known to result in high semivolatile particle concentration and those that emit primarily solid particles. Photometer measurements were taken following a primary dilution stage and a sample conditioner to control relative humidity prior to the instrument. Results of the study show that the photometer could qualitatively track total particle mass trends over the tested engine conditions though it was not accurate in measuring total carbon (TC) mass concentration. Further, the required photometric calibration factor (PCF) required to accurately measure total PM mass changes with the OC fraction of the particles. Variables that influence PCF include particle effective density, which changes both as a function of particle diameter and OC fraction. Differences in refractive index between semivolatile and solid particles are also significant and contribute to high error associated with measurement of total PM using the photometer. This work illustrates that it may be too difficult to accurately measure total engine PM mass with a photometer without knowing additional information about the sampled particles. However, removing semivolatile organic materials prior to the instrument may allow the accurate estimation of EC mass concentration alone.


Several protocols have been proposed to improve data accessibility and reduce query delay in MANETs. Some of these proposals have adopted the cooperative caching scheme, allowing multiple mobile hosts within a neighborhood to cache and share data items in their local caches. Cross-layer optimization has not been fully exploited to further improve the performance of cooperative caching in these proposals. In this paper we propose a cluster-based cooperative caching scheme. A cross-layer design approach is employed to further improve the performance of cooperative caching and prefetching schemes. The cross-layer information is maintained in a separate data structure and is shared among network protocol layers. The experimental results in the NS-2 simulation environment demonstrate that the proposed approach improves caching performance in terms of data accessibility, query delay and query distance compared to the caching scheme that does not adopt the cooperative caching strategy.


Land use is being considered as an element in determining land change studies, environmental planning and natural resource applications. The Earth's surface Study by remote sensing has many benefits such as, continuous acquisition of data, broad regional coverage, cost effective data, map accurate data, and large archives of historical data. To study land use / cover, remote sensing as an efficient technology, is always desired by experts. In this case, classification could be considered as one of the most important methods of extracting information from digital satellite images. Selecting the best classification method and applying the proper values for parameters extremely influence the trust level of extracted land use maps. This research is an applied study which attempts to introduce Support Vector Machines (SVM) classification method, a recent development from the machine learning community. Moreover, we prove its potential for structure–activity relationship analysis on Aster multispectral data of central county of Kabodar-Ahang region in Hamedan, Iran. Accuracy of SVMs method is varied by the type of kernel functions and its parameters. The purpose of this research is to find the accuracy of Land use extraction by SVM method by Polynomial and radial basis functions kernel with their estimated optimum parameters in addition to compare the results with Maximum Likelihood method. Most of the scientists imply that Maximum Likelihood method is suitable for classification. Therefore, we try to compare SVM with ML method and to deliberate the efficiency of this new method in classification progress on Aster multispectral data. The accuracy of SVM method by Polynomial and radial basis functions kernel with optimum parameters and ML classification methods achieved 93.18%, 91.77% and 88.35 % respectively as an overall accuracy. By comparing the accuracy of these methods, SVM method by Polynomial kernel was evaluated as suitable. Therefore, we can suggest using SVM method especially with the use of Polynomial kernel to determine land use. In general, the results of this research are very practical in natural resources conservation planning and studies. Also, this study verifies the effectiveness and robustness of SVMs in the classification of remotely sensed images.


Polo-like kinase 1 (Plk1) is a protein kinase currently considered as an attractive cancer target due to its critical role in the cell division cycle. Plk1 is overexpressed in a wide spectrum of human tumors, being frequently considered as an oncogene. However, its contribution to tumor development is unclear. Using a new inducible knock-in mouse model we report here that Plk1 overexpression does not favor cell proliferation but rather results in abnormal chromosome segregation and cytokinesis, leading to the formation of polyploid cells with reduced proliferative potential. Mechanistically, these cytokinesis defects correlate with defective loading of Cep55 and ESCRT complexes to the abscission bridge during cytokinesis in a Plk1 kinase-dependent manner. In vivo, elevated levels of Plk1 markedly prevent the development of mammary gland tumors induced either by KrasG12D or Her2, in the presence of increased rates of chromosome instability. In patients, higher Plk1 expression levels are associated with significantly increased overall survival in breast cancer subtypes. These data suggest that, despite the therapeutic benefits of inhibiting Plk1 due to its essential role in tumor cell cycles, Plk1 overexpression has tumor suppressive properties by perturbing mitotic progression and cytokinesis.


As part of the author's studies on equational reasoning for monadic programs, this report focus on non-determinism monad. We discuss what properties this monad should satisfy, what additional operators and notations can be introduced to facilitate equational reasoning about non-determinism, and put them to the test by proving a number of properties in our example problem inspired by the author's previous work on proving properties of Spark aggregation.


To offer wireless data access services that are more efficient than GPRS or UMTS networks, public WLANs are in a predominant position to embrace the wireless broadband era. Reusing the existing mechanisms for user authentication, access control, billing, and roaming handling procedures in mobile territory to construct a complementary network, public WLAN (PWLAN) has drawn the attention of cellular operators such as Vodafone and T-Mobile. In this article we aim to investigate a practical end-to-end PWLAN architecture capable of using GPRS/UMTS SIM-based authentication for current mobile users and carrying out Web-based authentication for occasional users without SIM modules simultaneously. Additionally, we consider a confederation of various PWLAN service providers by a RADIUS-based roaming mechanism to leverage the existing resources of cellular operators. The proposed considerations and guidelines provide a baseline skeleton to build an extendable environment and successfully construct a flexible cellular/PWLAN hotspot in mobeeLAN service.


The cell-of-origin of high grade serous ovarian carcinoma (HGSOC) remains controversial, with fallopian tube epithelium (FTE) and ovarian surface epithelium (OSE) each suggested as candidates. Here, by using genetically engineered mouse models and novel organoid systems, we assessed the tumor-forming capacity and properties of FTE and OSE harboring the same oncogenic abnormalities. Combined RB family inactivation (via T121 expression) and Tp53 mutation in Pax8+ FTE caused transformation to Serous Tubal Intraepithelial Carcinoma (STIC), which rapidly metastasized to the ovarian surface. This mouse model was recapitulated by FTE organoids, which, upon orthotopic injection, generated widely metastatic HGSOC. The same genetic lesions in Lgr5+ OSE cells or organoids also caused metastatic HGSOC, although with longer latency and lower penetrance. Comparative transcriptome analysis was consistent with different human HGSOCs arising from FTE and OSE. Furthermore, FTE- and OSE-derived organoids showed differential sensitivity to HGSOC chemotherapeutics. Our results comport with a dualistic origin for HGSOC and suggest the cell-of-origin could influence therapeutic response. SIGNIFICANCE The cell-of-origin for high grade serous ovarian carcinoma (HGSOC) has been controversial. By generating novel GEMMs and organoid models with the same oncogenic defects, we demonstrate that HGSOC can originate from either fallopian tube epithelium (FTE) or ovarian surface epithelium (OSE). Importantly, FTE- and OSE-derived tumors differ significantly in biologic properties.


The foot and mouth disease (FMD) status of a country or region has a profound bearing on access to export markets for live animals and animal products. In countries without FMD-free status, and in accordance with the international standards of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), restrictions may be applied to trade in both vaccinated and unvaccinated animals and their products. Available information suggests that, provided there is compliance with essential criteria concerning vaccines, vaccination and other zoosanitary measures (especially quarantine and ante- and post-mortem inspection), the risk of spreading FMD through the importation of vaccinated cattle, sheep and pigs is extremely small. The risk from products derived from vaccinated animals is even smaller, provided that appropriate risk mitigation measures are applied. Knowledge of the zoosanitary status of the exporting country is critical for risk assessment, but can be difficult to verify. Although empirical evidence and practical experience strongly indicate low risk, it is not possible to assert that the risk is zero for vaccinated animals or their products. In the absence of key factual data, risk analysis is only practicable on a qualitative or semi-quantitative basis. However, a very low level of risk is both unavoidable and acceptable if such trade is to be conducted.