Summary: The chronically reserpinized rat has been proposed as an animal model for cystic fibrosis on the basis of morphologic and secretory alterations in the submaxillary gland and of abnormalities in pulmonary secretions. In this investigation, the volume and composition of pancreatic juice from reserpine treated rats (0.5 mg/kg/day) have been compared to those of untreated controls after stimulation with purified cholecystokinin (0.1 μ/ kg body wt) and with crude and purified preparations of secretin (6μ/100 g body wt) infused iv for 30-min periods. The results demonstrate that the treated animals secreted a significantly lower volume of pancreatic juice after stimulation with these secretagogues. Flow rates were also significantly reduced after stimulation with cholecystokinin and crude secretin. Protein and amylase outputs in response to cholecystokinin were smaller than in control animals after unrestricted feedings, but greater after a 24-hr fast. Total bicarbonate output was also reduced after stimulation with either crude or purified secretin and the normal excretion patterns for bicarbonate and chloride were either absent or reversed in the secretin-stimulated pancreatic juice of the treated animals. Whole pancreas homogenates from the treated animals showed significant increases in Ca++ and protein content. These results indicate that chronic administration of reserpine alters the secretion of water, protein, and bicarbonate from the rat pancreas and that it affects several of the exocrine glands involved in cystic fibrosis. These findings lend support to the concept of an animal model for the human disease.Speculation: The chronic administration of reserpine to rats has been shown to induce alterations in salivary and pulmonary secretions which resemble those seen in patients with cystic fibrosis. The concept of an animal model has been proposed on the basis of these observations. The pancreas is another exocrine gland prominently involved in cystic fibrosis and if it can be demonstrated that reserpine administration also induces alterations in pancreatic secretion, the concept of the animal model would be strengthened considerably.


An optical switch based on liquid crystal dielectric loaded surface plasmon polariton waveguides is proposed and theoretically analyzed. The infiltration of the plasmonic structure with a nematic liquid crystalline material serving as the dielectric loading is shown to allow for extensive electrical tuning of its waveguiding characteristics. Both the electrical switching and optical properties of the proposed waveguide are investigated in the context of designing a directional coupler optical switch, which is found to combine efficient voltage control, low power consumption, high extinction ratio, and relatively low insertion losses.


This study is concerned with the robust stabilization problem for a class of discrete-time Takagi-Sugeno (T-S) fuzzy systems with time-varying delays. To improve the conditions for the solvability of the stabilization problem, a nonquadratic Lyapunov-Krasovskii functional with a triple-summation term is established, and a nonparallel distributed compensation (non-PDC) scheme is adopted along with the matrixtransformation technique. In addition, an appropriate free-weightingmatrix method is proposed to exploit novel slack variables for null sum terms, especially resulting from Σi (xi+1 - xi)T (·)(xi+1 + xi).


Applied Physiology in Clinical Respiratory Care. Omar Prakash (ed.); Martinus Nijhoff; D.A. Book Depot, 11-13 Station St., Mitcham, Vic. 3132; $77.00; pp. 481; 240 x 160. This book is a collection of papers presented at a symposium to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Thorax Centre of Erasmus University, Rotterdam, in 1981. The list of authors includes many illustrious international names in respiratory physiology and medicine, intensive care, thoracic surgery, anaesthesia and pathology. So often published symposia evoke the same old comments from readers, "variable standard" , "scope for better editing", "of doubtful value other than to those who attended", that the pleasure derived from this book was somewhat unexpected. A number of the contributions are very stimulating, particularly Chapters 2-6, which cover mechanisms of acute lung pathology, Chapter 11 on surface tension and alveolar shape, and Chapter 12 on integrated left and right ventricular function. Only a couple of papers are downright weak. With contributions from so many disciplines it is not surprising that in places some authors get a bit too technical for one individual reader. Many anaesthetists and intensive therapists would derive benefit from reading this volume. It is unlikely that practices and techniques will be greatly altered in the light of its contents. However, much thoughtful discussion is likely to be provoked and some preconceived ideas questioned. One for the department library.


Computer vision systems which must operate in real-time face one overriding problem before high-level recognition and analysis processes can be applied. Real-time image capture at any useful image resolution and frame-rate yields prodigious quantities of data. Image resolutions of 512×512 pixels or higher at 8 bits per pixel are commonly used for analysis and a frame rate possibly exceeding 25 fps is desirable for real-time applications. This results in data rates in excess of 6.4 Mbytes/sec. Data rates of this level challenge the most expensive processors while relatively inexpensive processors have no chance of coping. Parallel processor implementations of low-level image processing tasks is one approach to the problem, however complete parallelism is not possible because it requires too many processors and connections. Hence the need to reduce the quantity of data requiring analysis becomes a priority in any low-cost vision system. A method of achieving this is to extract the regions of interest in the scene, as these usually constitute a considerably lesser proportion of the whole image. The interest of a region is of course a problem specific measure. This paper therefore presents a problem independent approach to directing the attention of a vision system to those regions in the scene which are likely to be of interest. The regions of non-interest can then be discarded thereby drastically reducing the volume of data for further analysis.


Purpose of review Cervical cancer is the second most frequent cancer in women in the world. Surgery plays a major role, particularly in patients with early-stage disease. This review focuses on the evaluation of important papers published since January 2003 on the management of invasive cervical cancer. Recent findings Patients are classified as having early-stage (stage IB1) or advanced-stage (stage IB2 or greater) disease. Several papers are devoted to the evaluation of prognostic factors in patients with early-stage disease and negative nodes. Several recurrences after radical trachelectomy have been reported that remind us that strict selection criteria are mandatory for conservative management. The development of sentinel node and laparoscopic procedures has gained momentum. For patients with advanced-stage disease, the place of staging procedures in para-aortic areas or pelvic surgery after chemoradiation therapy continues to be debated and is currently being investigated in randomized studies. Several papers also continue to debate surgical treatment modalities for recurrent disease (the place of laparoscopy and reconstructive surgery). Summary Several interesting papers have been published since 2003 about the surgical treatment of cervical cancer. Laparoscopic surgery and the sentinel node procedure have developed considerably, particularly for the surgical management of early-stage disease. The results of ongoing studies are awaited to determine the value of pelvic surgery (after neoadjuvant treatment) in patients with advanced-stage disease.


We propose an access control scheme to improve the security of a cross border health data access running under distributed systems such as OpenNCP that cooperate through message exchanges. The scheme allows messages that request data and services to cross different regional or national nodes after they are verified for security issues both by the sender and the receiver. It rejects those access requests that are detected to be malicious, and consequently throttles down the flow of permit messages via explicit feedback from threat detection software placed at the sender and the receiver. An analytical model is used to evaluate the message delay to determine the overhead caused by the enhanced security system, and numerical results illustrate the impact of attack rates and on the system's performance.


Job-shop scheduling is an important but difficult problem arising in low-volume high-variety manufacturing. It is usually solved at the beginning of each shift with strict computational time requirements. To obtain near-optimal solutions with quantifiable quality within strict time limits, a direction is to formulate them in an Integer Linear Programming (ILP) form so as to take advantages of widely available ILP methods such as Branch-and-Cut (B&C). Nevertheless, computational requirements for ILP methods on existing ILP formulations are high. In this letter, a novel ILP formulation for minimizing total weighted tardiness is presented. The new formulation has much fewer decision variables and constraints, and is proven to be tighter as compared to our previous formulation. For fast resolution of large problems, our recent decomposition-and-coordination method "Surrogate Absolute-Value Lagrangian Relaxation" (SAVLR) is enhanced by using a 3-segment piecewise linear penalty function, which more accurately approximates a quadratic penalty function as compared to an absolute-value function. Testing results demonstrate that our new formulation drastically reduces the computational requirements of B&C as compared to our previous formulation. For large problems where B&C has difficulties, near-optimal solutions are efficiently obtained by using the enhanced SAVLR under the new formulation.


Facebook has increasingly incorporated graphical means of communication such as emoticons, emoji, stickers, GIFs, images, and videos ('graphicons') into comment threads. Adapting methods of computer‐ mediated discourse analysis, we analyze the frequency and pragmatic functions of each graphicon type in threads sampled from public graphicon-focused Facebook groups. Six main functions emerged from the data: mention, reaction, tone modification, riffing, action, and narrative sequence. Reaction was most common, and emoji expressed the widest array of functions. We propose structural, social, and technical explanations for variation in graphicon use, and suggest improvements for the design of conversational graphical elements in social media systems.


The aim of this research is to demonstrate some more efficient approaches to solve the n1 security constrained optimal power flow (SCOPF) problems by using structure-exploiting primal-dual interior point methods (IPM). Firstly, we consider a DC-SCOPF model, which is a linearized version of AC-SCOPF. One new reformulation of the DC-SCOPF model is suggested, in which most matrices that need to be factorized are constant. Consequently, most numerical factorizations and a large number of back-solve operations only need to be performed once throughout the entire IPM process. In the framework of the structure-exploiting IPM implementation, one of the major computational efforts consists of forming the Schur complement matrix, which is very computationally expensive if no further measure is applied. One remedy is to apply a preconditioned iterative method to solve the corresponding linear systems which appear in assembling the Schur complement matrix. We suggest two main schemes to pick a good and robust preconditioner for SCOPF problems based on combining different "active" contingency scenarios. The numerical results show that our new approaches are much faster than the default structure-exploiting method in OOPS, and also that it requires less memory. The second part of this thesis goes to the standard AC-SCOPF problem, which is a nonlinear and nonconvex optimization problem. We present a new contingency generation algorithm: it starts with solving the basic OPF problem, which is a much smaller problem of the same structure, and then generates contingency scenarios dynamically when needed. Some theoretical analysis of this algorithm is shown for the linear case, while the numerical results are exciting, as this new algorithm works for both AC and DC cases. It can find all the active scenarios and significantly reduce the number of scenarios one needs to contain in the model. As a result, it speeds up the solving process and may require less IPM iterations. Also, some heuristic algorithms are designed and presented to predict the active contingencies for the standard AC-SCOPF, based on the use of AC-OPF or DC-SCOPF. We test our heuristic algorithms on the modified IEEE 24-bus system, and also present their corresponding numerical results in the thesis.


How do we explain divergent trajectories of change in wage bargaining
institutions? The advancement of European economic integration, leading to
markets liberalisation and increased competition, was expected to bring the
breakdown of centralised bargaining arrangements. This expectation was even
stronger given the internationalisation of new management practices, pushing
European firms to enhance their competitiveness via increasing flexibility.
Despite strong theoretical expectations towards a generalised breakdown of wage
bargaining, one finds divergent trajectories of change across European countries
and sectors. The task of this thesis is to explain the puzzle of varied responses in
otherwise similar sectors. Banking and telecommunications sectors in Italy and
Greece display a diversity of paths of institutional change: breakdown of
bargaining, reform of bargaining, successful centralisation, and failed
centralisation.
The direction of the paths of institutional change may be explained in large part
by two factors ignored by earlier literature: 'employer associability' and 'labourstate coalitions'. On the one hand, it is argued that employers associations which
possess the legal competence and take into account the collective interests of both
large and smaller firms, may reform the wage bargaining institution, getting the
'best of both worlds' for their members. Additionally, a 'labour-state coalition'
may moderate the destabilising pressures to wage bargaining, as long as trade
unions are able to speak with a 'single voice'. The government will not only be
motivated by electoral concerns, but also support centralised bargaining to gain
'room for manoeuvre' for tactical policy trade-offs advancing its agenda. Overall,
the thesis refines earlier propositions, suggesting a more nuanced causal
mechanism to explain institutional change. The argument speaks to wider debates
in comparative political economy and comparative employment systems; it
fleshes out empirically the role of the state in Mediterranean capitalism and
highlights factors that moderate pressures to convergence to the Liberal Market
model.


In vitro studies suggest that cerebrovascular contraction is more dependent on the influx of calcium to smooth muscle than general systemic arteries. The present study tested the in vivo effects of a calcium influx blocker (nimodipine) on cerebral blood flow and metabolism in 16 baboons. Thel33xenon clearance technique was used together with careful control of EEG and blood gases. With normal blood gases intravenous nimodipine infusion (1 /μg/kg/min) produced an 18% increase in cerebral blood flow with no alteration in cerebral oxidative metabolism or blood pressure. Higher doses (above 10 μ.g/kg/min) resulted in a decreased arterial blood pressure and a return to control cerebral flow. Infusion of the dose producing maximal increase in flow, decreased the cerebral reactivity to altered PCO2 (n = 5). These results suggest that nimodipine may be a relatively selective cerebrovascular dilator. Stroke Vol 15, No 3, 1984


Cryptosporidium is the most important waterborne pathogen due to its resistance to chlorine in drinking water. The contribution of Cryptosporidium to waterborne diseases in Australia is however, unknown. The level of faecal contamination of drinking water catchments with this parasite was assessed by longitudinal analysis of faecal samples collected from marsupials, sheep, cattle and rabbits (n = 5,774) from eleven drinking water catchments across three states; New South Wales (NSW), Queensland (QLD) and Western Australia (WA). Faecal samples were screened by quantitative PCR (qPCR) and typed at two loci using Sanger sequencing. The overall prevalence of Cryptosporidium in faecal samples was 18.3% (1,054/5,774; 95% CI, 17.3-19.3). Of these, 873 samples produced clean Sanger sequencing chromatograms, and the remaining 181 samples, which initially produced chromatograms suggesting the presence of multiple different sequences, were re-analysed by Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) to resolve the presence of Cryptosporidium and the species composition of mixed infections. The overall prevalence of mixed infection was 1.7% (98/5,774), and in the remaining 83 samples, NGS detected only one species of Cryptosporidium. Of the 17 Cryptosporidium species and four genotypes detected (Sanger sequencing combined with NGS), 13 are capable of infecting humans; C. parvum, C. hominis, C. ubiquitum, C. cuniculus, C. meleagridis, C. canis, C. felis, C. muris, C. suis, C. scrofarum, C. bovis, C. erinacei and C. fayeri. Sewage (influent) samples across these states were also collected (n = 730) and screened by qPCR and typed using next generation sequencing (NGS). In sewage samples, the overall Cryptosporidium prevalence was 11.4% (83/730); 14.3% (3/21) in NSW, 10.8% (51/470); in QLD and 12.1% (29/239) in WA, and a total of 17 Cryptosporidium species and 6 genotypes were detected by NGS, including some of the same zoonotic species detected in animal faecal samples. This study highlights the public health importance of continued identification of the sources/carriers of human pathogenic strains for accurate risk assessment and optimal catchment management.


The increasing prominence of the digital economy, a vital sector driving economic growth, is reflected in the increasing focus that competition authorities devote to intellectual property-intensive and high technology industries. This brings into relief longstanding tensions between competition and intellectual property (IP) laws. IP rights challenge some traditional assumptions about the benefits of competitive markets, in that they protect innovators from some forms of competition, thereby allowing them to price above competitive levels for a period of time. This conflict is more apparent than real, however, as competition law and policy encourages the innovation that IP rights promote. Ultimately, both policies seek to promote consumer welfare, economic growth and innovation.

At the same time, the interface between competition and IP law raises significant challenges regarding how the two regimes relate to each other, particularly in areas where they overlap. Approaches to the relationship between competition and IP laws s have evolved over time, moving from the application of formalistic rules to a contemporary focus on the effects of IP-related practices. Even following these developments, new challenges regarding the interface between competition and IP laws keep arising as the economy evolves, new business practices develop and potentially anticompetitive conducts are identified.

The goal of this paper is to provide an overview of the competition/IP interface, with a focus on identifying the main challenges that competition law faces in this respect at the moment. Its purpose is merely to identify challenges that the competition law community will likely face in coming years at the interface with IP laws and areas worthy of research.

With this goal in mind, the paper is structured as follows. Part II of provides a very brief recapitulation of the tensions between, and common goals of IP and competition policy. Part III reviews how the interface between IP and competition laws and policies has evolved throughout the years, concluding with a description of the current international consensus regarding this interface. Part IV then addresses current areas of tension between IP and competition. Part V concludes.


There is no internationally recognized standard for the Jurassic/Cretaceous boundary; a precise biostratigraphical correlation between different paleobiogeographic provinces is impossible due to barriers blocking faunal exchange. This problem may be overcome by using magnetic polarity events, which are globally isochronous. The magnetic polarity time scale of the latest Jurassic and earliest Cretaceous enables determination of the relative timing and age span of several possible definitions of this system boundary among different biostratigraphies within the Tethys-Atlantic faunal realm; therefore, the polarity scale can be used as a regional standard for this interval of time. The base of reversed polarity chron M18 falls in the middle of the interval covered by various recent definitions of the Tethyan Jurassic/Cretaceous boundary. If polarity chron M18 also proves to be recognizable in the Boreal realm, then its basal magnetic reversal could serve as a precise, globally correlatable event for defining the Jurassic/Cretaceous boundary.


The combination of nano sensors and nano devices with Internet have form the forum for the development of next modernization regular that deals with various types of data, supports high speed of communication from heterogeneous network namely (Nano link, Nano micro interface and Body Sensor Network, etc) which leads to "Internet of Nano Things" (IoNT). The Internet of Things (IoT) leads future where all the peripherals will be connected via internet and enables their identification as configured devices. This research article clearly explains the role of IoNT in Global Market, details of the Nanotechnology and Nano machines, Network Architecture of IoNT, IoNT applications in various domains and issues of IoNT.


A sudden geometric increase in population of Akoko North West Local Government Area of Ondo State has led to an increase in demand for water and harnessing of subsurface water reserve. A total of twenty six water samples obtained from both boreholes and hand-dug wells were analyzed for their physico-chemical characteristics with the aim of assessing their quality, usability and also to determine the level of their contamination in the local government which is dominated by granite gneisses, charnockites, and augen gneisses as the main rock types. The following physico-chemical properties were analyzed for in the samples collected: electrical conductivity (EC), pH, total alkalinity (TA), total dissolved solids (TDS), total suspended solids (TSS), acid neutralizing capacity (ANC) with major cations (Na + , Mg 2+ , Ca 2+ ), anions (PO4 3- , HCO3 - , SO4 3- ) and several heavy metals (Zn 2+ , Fe 2+ , As + , Ni + , Pb 2+ , Cd + , Cu 2+ ). The following results were obtained from the analysis: Zn 2+ (0.109 – 0.437 ppm), Fe 2+ (0.216 – 0.726 ppm), As + (0.01 – 0.03 ppm), Ni + (0.036 – 0.074), Pb 2+ (0.003 – 0.010), Cd + (0.002 – 0.007), Cu 2+ (0.086 – 0.241) with appreciable abundances of PO4 3- , Cd + , Fe 2+ and Ni + some exceeding while some others are below the WHO acceptable level for drinking water, thereby making it a serious source of concern as it indicates varying levels of faecal contamination (from leaky septic tanks, interception with pit latrines) and heavy metal liberation into the water consumed by the residents. It was also noticed that the water was fresh based on the analysis of the Total Dissolved Solids and the Pb 2+ concentrations almost exceeded the standard permissible limit. Generally, it was concluded that the overall quality of the ground water is averagely good physico-chemically.


Abstract : The Army Science Board was tasked to: (1) Characterize the level and nature of lethality, survivability, logistical and information systems for command, control, communications and computer improvements that must be achieved to yield a more effective Objective Force Soldier across the operational spectrum. Evaluate connectivity/interface between Future Combat System variants and the Objective Force Soldier. (2) Map the technology from present to future that would obtain the improvements as described above. (3) Include in the technology roadmap an assessment of current and projected Research Development and Acquisition efforts. Highlight those areas where modest investments now may yield significant capabilities in soldier effectiveness, weight reduction, power efficiency and affordability of soldier systems. (4) Recommend alternative science and technology strategies that can provide the level of improvements outlined above. Stratify the level of cost, technical and schedule risk associated with each alternative. Address emerging technologies from academia, industry and other government agencies. The ASB responded by identifying specific goals, highlighting the uncertainty in connectivity, identifying top effectiveness gains and preparing S&T investment/activity roadmaps. Each ASB subpanel provided specific recommendations corresponding to subpanel topics: Future Threats, Conceptual Framework, Analysis, Fightability echnologies, Weight Considerations, Power System Technologies, Manpower and Personnel, S&T Investment Strategy, Affordability and Cost Control, Senior Officer Observations.


Monetary and Fiscal policies interact in many ways. Recently the stance of fiscal policy in a number of countries has raised concerns about the risks for the outcomes of monetary policy. This paper first shows that these concerns are justified since, under ambitious fiscal policy makers, inflation bias and lack of monetary policy credibility may obtain in equilibrium even if the central banker is fully independent, patient and responsible. To reach a solution, the paper proposes an asynchronous game framework that generalises the standard commitment analysis. It allows concurrent and partial commitment; both policies may be committed at the same time for varying degrees or different periods. It is demonstrated that these undesirable outcomes can be prevented if monetary commitment is sufficiently strong relative to fiscal commitment. Interestingly, monetary commitment can not only resist fiscal pressure, but also discipline an ambitious fiscal policy maker to achieve socially desirable outcomes for both policies. We extend the setting to the European monetary union case with a common central bank and many fiscal policy makers, to show that these results carry over. The implication therefore is: by explicitly committing to a long run inflation target, the central bank can not only ensure its credibility, but also indirectly induce more disciplined fiscal policies. The paper shows that these predictions are broadly supported empirically.


In his novel ʾAmrīkānlī (2003), Sonallah Ibrahim contextualizes individuality and history within a narrative of decaying academia, ineffectual sexual desire and identities determined more often by ethnicity and heritage than by a genuine search for truth. Ibrahim's novel conceptualizes the intersection of the literary and the historical by introducing autobiographical elements, set in binary oppositions of the public and the private, the academic and the personal, the objective and the subjective. Ibrahim's semi-autobiographical fiction stages a comparison between history and literature, positing literature as an alternative to historical questions. This article examines the duality of the unreliable narrator as authorial voice in ʾAmrīkānlī, highlighting how Ibrahim's narrative embodies the binary existence of the main ideas that the novel addresses by constantly emphasizing the availability of two perspectives.


The article has been retracted due to the investigation of complaints received against it. The substantial portions of the text came from Le Duc Thong's former article, "New method of searching for cos-mological time variation of the fine-structure constant", which has also been retraced by Prog. Theor. Phys. because of plagiarism. The scientific community takes a very strong view on this matter and we treat all unethical behavior such as plagiarism seriously. This paper published in Vol.2 No.6 533-537, 2011, has been removed from this site.


The pancreatic islets and their blood vessels have been studied in the head, the body and the tail of the human pancreas. The following methods have been applied: injection, histological and quantitative estimation, graphic and plastic reconstruction. A rather great variability in the form of the pancreatic islets has been stated, with presence of one--two peculiar processes in large islets. In different parts of the pancreatic gland, relative volume of the endocrine parenchyma has been stated to be statistically greater (2.16 +/- 0.45%) in the caudal portion than in the head of the gland (1.31 +/- 0.26%). In every pancreatic islet an afferent arterial vessel is described, two types of its branching are determined: magistral and scattered. Relative volume of the pancreatic islets and morpho-functional coefficient reflecting the ratio of the capillary surface area to the volume of the islet capillaries in different parts of the pancreatic gland have been estimated.


The laser-Doppler velocimetry technique was adapted for use in sediment-laden flows. The developed instrumentation was used to make one-dimensional, instantaneous measurements of both fluid and sediment grain velocities throughout the water column in such a flow. The velocimetry results were obtained in a steady, uniform flow over a natural sediment bed in the high-transport, flat bed regime.

Laser-Doppler velocimetry is particularly attractive for use in sediment-laden flows as no calibration is required and no probe is introduced into the flow field. Measurements of the fluid velocity and the occurrence and velocity of individual sediment grains are possible with the instrumentation developed in this study. The major difficulties encountered are the possible conditional sampling, hence possible biasing, of the fluid velocity data and the failure of the instrumentation to record or resolve individual sediment grains at higher sediment transport rates. The instrumentation employed in this study is still in the developmental stages and suggestions for its improvement are given.

Despite the difficulties encountered, the data obtained in this study give some insights into the mechanics of suspension and entrainment of sediment during transport by water. The longitudinal turbulence intensity does not seem to be significantly affected by the presence of suspended sediment; the turbulence intensities observed in the sediment-laden flow of this study do not differ greatly from the values reported by previous investigators for clear fluid flows. The mean and standard deviation of the sediment grain velocity were observed to be less than those for the fluid velocity in the lower portion of the flow, but respectively greater near the water surface.

The data demonstrate the shortcoming of the continuum approach to the mechanics of the suspension on sediment. The length (or time) scales of the fluid turbulence are smaller than the length (or time) scale of a set of sediment grains required to define suspended sediment concentration. Near the water surface, where the velocimeter acts as a grain counter, the probability density functions of the sediment grain inter-arrival times, the time between the detection of successive sediment grains, were observed to be negative exponentials. The transport of individual sediment grains might be modeled as a Poisson process.

This work is the foundation of an ongoing experimental program of direct measurements of the fine-scale, time-fluctuating characteristics of sediment-laden flows. This study developed and implemented instrumentation capable of making such measurements and established a conceptual framework for the subsequent interpretation of the data obtained. Two-dimensional measurements, with improved instrumentation, will give additional insights into the mechanics of sediment transport.


Guidelines for the promotion of the well-being of South African psychologists The question in well-being research has changed from why people become ill to how people can experience a good and full life despite life problems, and this article addresses that specific question in relation to South African psychologists. Investment in the well-being of health professionals is crucial, as their professional contribution is vital to the effective provision of health services. Psychologists have been referred to as happiness facilitators and their work involves assisting with clients' well-being LitNet Akademies Jaargang 14, Nommer 2, 2017, ISSN 1995-5928 2 and mental health. It is therefore important to provide guidelines for South African psychologists to sustain and enhance their own well-being, and this makes the present research necessary and important. Social, economic and political problems are endemic to South Africa, while there exists a severe shortage of qualified health-care professionals, with a mere 0,32 psychologists per 100 000 people of the population. In addition, mental health-care budgets are disproportionately low in comparison with the high prevalence of mental disorders in South Africa. While the availability of psychologists as a resource in the South African health care sector is rather low, mental illness is very prevalent, with an estimated 16,5% of the population requiring mental health services, of whom a mere 25% actually receive mental health-care. This information clearly needs to be taken into account considering the impact that it may have on psychologists in terms of workload and functioning. Many researchers have investigated the spill-over effect between people's work and personal lives. Although psychologists implement strategies such as professional boundaries to prevent spill-over, certain types of spill-over still occur. Spill-over is an especial reality for psychologists, as they bring the tools of their trade, namely themselves, to each of their life roles. Psychotherapy works in two directions: while psychologists affect their clients they are also affected by their clients, which may impact psychologists' well-being. The American Psychological Association (APA) indicated that psychologists need measures to protect them against occupational stress. However, despite the clear need for such measures, this need is often ignored. The recommendations of the APA for psychologists towards self-care include awareness in order to avoid becoming overwhelmed by the challenges posed by their profession. Psychologists are also encouraged to identify mechanisms to reduce stress and foster proper self-care. In South Africa the word self-care does not even appear in the Health Professions Act (1974) that regulates psychologists' professional behaviour. Although many psychologists dedicate themselves to caring for others, it is questionable whether they are able to create a sustainable balance between client care and self-care with a view to experiencing well-being. Psychologists work long and inconvenient hours, have an unstable income when working in private practice, work with difficult cases such as homicide and suicide and are frequently faced with clients' exhausted medical aids. The limitations and problems experienced by psychologists as a result of scope of practice in psychology has led to legal action on the part of practitioners to attempt to have their experience and knowledge acknowledged and to be reimbursed for their services by medical aids. Complete mental health protects people against physical disease. The maintenance and promotion of mental health is therefore as important as the prevention and treatment of mental illness. Well-being can be promoted and protected via the strengthening of psychological capacity and by paying attention to possible threats to health. When such efforts are undertaken, it may ensure the experience of psychologists' well-being, as well as impact the level of service delivery to clients. Enhancing the well-being of psychologists will therefore contribute positively to the mental health sector in South Africa. The big question in positive psychology is how well-being can be advanced and how life problems can be survived. The central question of this article corresponds to the stated LitNet Akademies Jaargang 14, Nommer 2, 2017, ISSN 1995-5928 3 question of positive psychology: How can the well-being of South African psychologists be promoted while practical solutions are found for the career-specific problems experienced by them? This focus on well-being and intentional activities makes positive psychology an ideal paradigm for the development of guidelines for enhancing South African psychologists' wellbeing. This article is based on a thesis titled "The well-being of South African psychologists: a mixed method study" by the first author, Erika Hitge. The thesis consisted of a literature study and a qualitative and quantitative study pertaining to the well-being of South African psychologists (henceforth "psychologists", unless stated otherwise) and conclusions and recommendations. The researcher investigated well-being constructs namely meaning, resilience and positive affect of psychologists and valuable themes were identified indicating that specific skills and competencies are crucial aspects relative to the enhancement of wellbeing. The study emphasised that well-being does not occur automatically, but has to be strategically cultivated. It is suggested that enhancing well-being and experiencing flourishing can assist people in moving beyond mere existence to experiencing a well-lived life. The guidelines for the promotion of the well-being of psychologists are based on data forthcoming from the results of the mixed-method study, along with existing literature. Psychologists' well-being and character strengths need to be compared through preand posttesting to establish whether the guidelines and the resulting programme do indeed promote the well-being of local psychologists. Participants in the programme should be interviewed to establish the strengths and limitations of the programme. Once a pilot study has been conducted and the above steps have been executed to refine the programme, it will be possible to make recommendations to the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) and the Psychological Society of South Africa (PSYSSA) with a view to national application of this well-being programme. Aspects that should be incorporated into a well-being programme for psychologists are flourishing, character strengths, self-care, self-compassion, mindfulness, lovingkindness, work content and context, relationships and personal resources. The suggested programme consists of 13 sessions. These guidelines constitute an attempt to avoid focusing on what is negative and problematic regarding the work of psychologists, such as exhaustion, burnout, isolation and compassion fatigue. Instead, these guidelines focus on well-being as a motivation to accept the positive and negative dimensions of life and still to experience well-being through enhanced self-care. Practising these guidelines may result in a more meaningful life in which people use their best strengths in the service of both their own and others' well-being. Deciding to use these guidelines may require a willingness to be flexible and to grow increasingly towards acting on life, as opposed to merely consuming wellness. Designing a well-being programme for South African psychologists can also assist in promoting and protecting the well-being of these healthcare professionals through enabling psychologists to apply specific skills, such as practising of character strengths, career-sustaining behaviours and self-care, mindfulness, lovingkindness and self-compassion, with due consideration of the relevant context.


Purpose

The purpose of the current article is to provide an account of the financial crimes that are committed within the football clubs in Greece.

Design/methodology/approach

First, ethnographic research with two football clubs in Greece was conducted. Additional information on the issues at stake was obtained through interviews with informed actors from the realm of Greek football. Moreover, the telephone conversations that were available as the result of wiretapping by the Greek National Intelligence Agency, in relation to the latest football match-fixing scandal (2011) were used. Finally, published media sources were used. These provided information not only on the process behind financial crimes within football clubs but also on the key actors involved.

Findings

A number of financial (and finance-related) crimes committed within football clubs were identified in the study. These include: ticket "tricks", fake tax certificates, crimes related to the players' salary payments, owing money, money laundering and match-fixing. Issues around financial crimes within football clubs must be located within the overall football-related context in the country, which is, of course, an extension of the general financial, entrepreneurial and political landscape in the country.

Originality/value

This is the first article on football clubs and financial crimes in Greece. Although this is a case study from Greece, it constitutes a potential template for research on an international level. By using the case of football and football clubs in Greece, this article adds to understandings of the complexity of the broader motivational context of financial crime.


Accreditation standards for professional schools offering social work degrees mandate curriculum content that provides students with skills to analyze, formulate, and influence social policies. An important source of analytical thinking about social policy is the "grey" literature issued by public policy organizations, think tanks, university-based research institutions, professional organizations, etc., that is increasingly available via the Internet. This research surveys library social work subject pages for content and links related to the social policy grey literature. A coding scheme was developed that counted the number of paths to relevant grey literature from the libraries' subject guides. The results of the study suggest that there is a great deal of variance across institutions in how much help they provide users. Libraries must do a better job guiding users to the policy organizations that produce reports, briefs, newsletters, etc., that are important to social policy problem solving and implementation.


We study the equilibration of an initial surface misoriented relative to a high-symmetry (low-energy) direction. The surface considered consists of parallel monatomic ledges separated by terraces. Both repulsive and attractive interactions between step pairs are taken into account. Repulsive interactions between steps are assumed to vary as and attractive interactions to vary as where is the average step separation between neighbouring steps. Attractive interactions lead to step bunching, and as a consequence the resulting morphology is in the form of macro-steps separated by large flat terraces. The time dependence of flat parts that separates the macro-steps (step bunches) is not expressible as a simple analytic function.


The changing global energy environment which promotes efficiency in energy use and production as well as the use of renewable energies has led to the need for appropriate methodologies and tools in order to manage energy more efficiently. The objective of this paper is to describe the methodology and tools developed and implemented by Aqualogy (a subsidiary company of the AGBAR water utility company, specialised in technology) in order to improve energetic performance and reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from water facilities. The methodology combines energy auditing with an energy consumption monitoring plan. Some tools have been developed in this field in order to support decision-making, such as those regarding tariff optimisation, and prediction of equipment anomalies that could lead to an increase in energy consumption. Using the tool CAFCA, a carbon footprint calculator specifically for the water cycle, it is possible to report greenhouse gases emissions and to quantify savings in CO2 emissions. By applying this methodology to 21.7% of AGBAR's facilities we have been able to observe a reduction of 3% audited energy, which means 6% of the facilities' energetic cost.


The postsynaptic density (PSD) is a structural, electron-dense region of excitatory glutamatergic synapses, which is involved in a variety of cellular and signaling processes in neurons. The PSD is comprised of a large network of proteins, many of which have been implicated in a wide variety of neuropsychiatric disorders. Biochemical fractionation combined with mass spectrometry analyses have enabled an in-depth understanding of the protein composition of the PSD. However, the PSD composition may change rapidly in response to stimuli, and robust and reproducible methods to thoroughly quantify changes in protein abundance are warranted. Here, we report on the development of two types of targeted mass spectrometry-based assays for quantitation of PSD-enriched proteins. In total, we quantified 50 PSD proteins in a targeted, parallel reaction monitoring (PRM) assay using heavy-labeled, synthetic internal peptide standards and identified and quantified over 2100 proteins through a pre-determined spectral library using a data-independent acquisition (DIA) approach in PSD fractions isolated from mouse cortical brain tissue.


Background: Different techniques of Brachial Plexus block in upper limb surgery depending on the site of operation the approach of the brachial plexus was chosen. For the operations around the shoulder joint interscalene approach was chosen; for the operations up to the shoulder either interscalene or supraclavicular or Infraclavicular routes were chosen and for the operations up to and around the elbow joint any one of the four approaches were tried. Objective of this study was to evaluate its clinical applications and practical utility in providing good analgesia for the upper extremity surgery in elective as well as emergency cases.Design: This was a hospital based retrospective study. Duration: One Year i.e. from June 2018 to June 2019. Participants: 80 patients.Subjects and Methods:The present study includes 80 blocks of brachial plexus by four different routes. 1. Supraclavicular approach – 20 cases. 2. Infraclavicular approach – 20 cases. 3. Axillary perivascular approach – 20 cases. 4. Interscalene – 20 cases. The cases were selected at random, who were subjected for various types of surgery of upper extremity both elective and emergency as in-patients.Results:In this series of 80 blocks, when the type of the surgery (emergency or elective) is considered, it has been that about one third of the patients underwent emergency surgery successfully with the brachial plexus block. In the remaining two-third of the patients, the surgery was planned procedure.Conclusion:Thus, our study reveals that the brachial plexus block can be equally safely employed for emergency surgery as for any elective procedure. Some-times the brachial plexus block can be the only choice with no alternatives affording a reasonable chance to a moribund patient to undergo emergency surgery. The dosage of the drug was modified according to the patient's general condition.


The developing of vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) has led to new types of low power, high efficiency light sources for data communication. The small size, low power, and surface-normal emission of VCSELs has enabled relatively dense 2D arrays for highly parallel data communication and optical signal processing. In this paper we examine the issues of device scaling on VCSEL performance. We look specifically at what benefits may be derived from continued scaling of the active volume down to minimum sized dimensions, and what device schemes may be required to obtain the scaling. Laser rate equations are used to show that when the VCSEL mode volume is reduced to wavelength cubed dimensions, a significant improvement in modulation speed is predicted based on the radiative lifetime change due to the Purcell effect. However, several parasitic effects must be controlled in order to realize these benefits. Most important are control of the otpical loss due to diffraction or scattering, and control of the electronic losses due to carrier diffusion and surface effects. Novel optical confinement schemes based on oxide- apertures, photonic band gaps, and/or closely coupled 2D arrays may be useful for controlling optical loss, while self-assembled quantum dots are attractive for controlling electronic diffusion to dimensions within the minimum optical mode volume.


LL-37 is the sole antimicrobial peptide of human cathelicidin comprising 37 amino acids, which is expressed mainly in epithelial cells and neutrophils, and activates mast cells. In the present study, in order to elucidate the mechanism of mast cell activation by LL-37, the associations between the internalization of LL-37 and Mas-related gene X2 (MrgX2)-mediated mast cell activation (degranulation) was investigated using the human mast cell line, LAD2. LL-37 was rapidly internalized into the cells, and induced degranulation, as assessed by the extracellular release of β-hexosaminidase. Pertussis toxin, a G-protein inhibitor, significantly suppressed the internalization of LL-37 and the degranulation of LAD2 cells. Furthermore, small interfering (si)-RNA-mediated knockdown of MrgX2, a putative G protein-coupled receptor for LL-37, inhibited the internalization of LL-37 and degranulation of LAD2 cells. Notably, LL-37 internalization was enhanced by the stable expression of MrgX2 in HMC-1 and 293 cells. In addition, the internalized LL-37 mainly colocalized with MrgX2 in the perinuclear region of LAD2 cells. Furthermore, neuraminidase treatment, which removes negatively charged sialic acid from the cell surface, markedly reduced the internalization of LL-37 and degranulation of LAD2 cells, and clathrin-mediated endocytosis inhibitors (dynasore and chlorpromazine) inhibited the internalization and degranulation of LAD2 cells. Taken together, these observations indicated that LL-37 may bind the negatively charged cell surface molecules, rapidly internalize into the cells via clathrin-mediated endocytosis and interact with MrgX2 to activate mast cells (LAD2 cells).


Using cytological, histochemical and morphometric methods, the changes of leiomyocytes of cerebral arteries was studied in 55 pups with experimental hypertension induced by coarctation of the aorta and in 15 animals following reversal of coarctation as compared to the normal characteristics of these cells established in 15 control dogs. It was established that hypertension induced hypertrophy and polyploidy of leimoyocytes of the circular muscular layer in the tunica media of the cerebral arteries, that was manifested as the increase in their nuclear DNA content and in the numbers of binuclear cells. After the elimination of hypertension, which was previously established in the cerebral vasculature, the tendency for the reversal of the changes in nuclear and cytoplasmic linear parameters of the cells examined was observed. However, the nuclear DNA content and the number of polyploid leiomyocytes in the cerebral arteries remained practically unchanged. The latter indicates that the polyploidy of leiomyocytes in the cerebral arteries is irreversible.


Recombinant growth hormone is an effective treatment for many children with short stature, but certainly not for all of them. The approach outlined here will help you make the right choices.


Abstract The composite was prepared by mixing aqueous solution of different ratios of poly(vinyl alcohol) into dried kenaf fibres. The water absorbency of this polymer composite was investigated. It was found that the polymer composite starts to swell when immersed into water and reaches the highest water absorption percentage in the first 1 hour. The highest water absorption percentage was 273 and 251% for the composite with 2 and 10 wt% of poly(vinyl alcohol), respectively, in 24 hours. The high water absorbency could be due to the interaction of water with the hydroxyl group in the poly(vinyl alcohol) and fibres, similar to other reported works on cellulose composites. Interestingly, the poly(vinyl alcohol) in the composite only starts to dissolve very slowly over more than 7 days before the kenaf fibres started to dropout from the composite. This water absorption capability of the polymer composite could have potential applications that require high water-retaining properties. Besides, this composite is non-toxic.


Let G be a fixed connected multigraph with no loops. A random n-lift of G is obtained by replacing each vertex of G by a set of n vertices (where these sets are pairwise disjoint) and replacing each edge by a randomly chosen perfect matching between the n-sets corresponding to the endpoints of the edge. Let XG be the number of perfect matchings in a random lift of G. We study the distribution of XG in the limit as n tends to infinity, using the small subgraph conditioning method. We present several results including an asymptotic formula for the expectation of XG when G is d-regular, d ≥ 3. The interaction of perfect matchings with short cycles in random lifts of regular multigraphs is also analysed. Partial calculations are performed for the second moment of XG, with full details given for two example multigraphs, including the complete graph K4. To assist in our calculations we provide a theorem for estimating a summation over multiple dimensions using Laplace's method. This result is phrased as a summation over lattice points, and may prove useful in future applications.


Regular patterns of neurohormone secretion are driven by underlying pulsatile and subordinate (feedback sensitive) dynamics. Measures of time-series orderliness, e.g., the approximate entropy (ApEn) statistic (Pincus SM. Proc Natl Acad Sci 88: 2297-2301, 1991), vividly discriminate pathological and physiological patterns of hormone release. To investigate how specific pulsatility features impact regularity estimates, we have examined the sensitivity of the ApEn metric to systematic variations in the frequency, amplitude, and half-life of simulated neurohormone pulse trains (Veldhuis JD, Carlson ML, and Johnson ML. Proc Natl Acad Sci 84: 7686-7690, 1987) and compared the impact of a high vs. low baseline luteinizing hormone (LH) pattern regularity state mimicking the normal female luteal phase and the young male, respectively. Shortening the interpulse interval length elevated ApEn in both pulsatility models, thereby signifying greater ensemble series irregularity. The frequency sensitivity of ApEn was robust to several complementary renditions of ApEn and to variations in experimental uncertainty, basal (nonpulsatile) LH secretion, and secretory burst amplitude. ApEn rose with increasing hormone half-life, especially in the face of low baseline variability emulated by midluteal LH secretion profiles. High variability of secretory burst amplitude, pulse duration, or interpeak intervals increased ApEn in the more orderly femalelike construct; in the highly irregular malelike LH pulse model, these variability changes had little effect on ApEn. In summary, the ensemble regularity statistic, ApEn, quantifies unequal pattern orderliness in neurohormone pulse trains with minimal dependence on mean pulse amplitude, interpulse baseline, or (subthreshold) sample uncertainty. Thus ApEn monitors changing secretory event frequency and interpulse variability with sensitivity to starting pattern regularity, providing a mechanistic linkage between model evolution and statistical change.


I am one of those strange teachers who actually enjoy programming - in fact I love it. It is the most powerful I ever get, as a particular curriculum story that I am telling myself unfolds across the page, progressing in just the order, at just the pace, and with just the results I imagine will be best for my class, who are always cooperative and engaged learners in my imagination, eager to discuss the texts, quick to pick up the subtle meanings and connections I have woven into the fabric of our planned experience, and happy to suspend their disbelief in my promise that they will enjoy this activity, as well as learn from it. The reality, of course, is never quite like I imagine it. This is because, from the moment we enter the classroom, I play out my curriculum story with feedback - right from the first moment. Good morning. Yes? No? Yes and no? My plan, of course, was for yes, for everyone, but, if no, for even some, then my lovely curriculum story has a new complication. This is exciting rather than discouraging. I always begin a new class, unit of work or lesson with an optimistic wish that the story I told myself, as I was planning the teaching and learning that is about to take place, might perhaps 'come true' this time. But I have an equally optimistic confidence that whatever happens, I have up my sleeve a very good map of the territory we are meant to be covering, and we will not be wasting our time.


The promoters of immediate early genes (IEGs) are rapidly activated in response to an external stimulus. These genes, also known as primary response genes, have been identified in a range of cell types, under diverse extracellular signals and using varying experimental protocols. Whereas genomic dissection on a case-by-case basis has not resulted in a comprehensive catalogue of IEGs, a rigorous meta-analysis of eight genome-wide FANTOM5 CAGE (cap analysis of gene expression) time course datasets reveals successive waves of promoter activation in IEGs, recapitulating known relationships between cell types and stimuli: we obtain a set of 57 (42 protein-coding) candidate IEGs possessing promoters that consistently drive a rapid but transient increase in expression over time. These genes show significant enrichment for known IEGs reported previously, pathways associated with the immediate early response, and include a number of non-coding RNAs with roles in proliferation and differentiation. Surprisingly, we also find strong conservation of the ordering of activation for these genes, such that 77 pairwise promoter activation orderings are conserved. Using the leverage of comprehensive CAGE time series data across cell types, we also document the extensive alternative promoter usage by such genes, which is likely to have been a barrier to their discovery until now. The common activation ordering of the core set of early-responding genes we identify may indicate conserved underlying regulatory mechanisms. By contrast, the considerably larger number of transiently activated genes that are specific to each cell type and stimulus illustrates the breadth of the primary response.


A method of computer analysis of DNA sequences has been proposed. It is based on information similarity of compared sequences and it significantly increases the usefulness of the computer analysis. This approach has been applied to the search of interconnected areas of Alu-repeats and replication origins of p15A and R6K plasmids. An Alu-like region located in the first stem of the secondary structure of RNA-1 and E. coli RNA-polymerase binding site has been found in the p15A. On R6K replication origin, Alu-like repeats have been found in the area of tandem 22 bp repeats. This comparison also allowed to reveal hidden periodicity of the sequence of human Alu-repeat. A hypothesis that explained the data obtained has been proposed. The proposed approach may be used as a method for revealing DNA sequences that have similar genetic functions.


Interaural Timing Differences (ITDs) are a cue for sound localisation. In response to low-frequency sounds, sensitivity to ITDs can be conveyed by the fine-structure of the sound waveform. In response to high-frequency sounds, sensitivity to ITDs can only be conveyed by the amplitude modulated envelope of the sound waveform. Sensitivity to ITDs within high-frequency sounds has classically been described as poorer than in response to low-frequency sounds. However, using a "transposed" sound stimulus, it has been shown that human sensitivity to ITDs in high-frequency sounds can be equivalent to sensitivity to ITDs in low-frequency sounds. In the present study, sensitivity to ITDs was investigated in the responses of neurons from the Inferior Colliculus of the guinea pig using transposed, and conventional, stimuli. A neural correlate of the improvement in sensitivity to ITDs provided by transposed tones was found. ITD-tuning functions had greater depths of modulation in response to transposed tones as compared to conventional stimuli, and neural discrimination thresholds for ITDs in transposed tones were similar to those obtained in response to low-frequency tones. Neural coding of ITDs at low frequencies has been shown to depend on a neuron's frequency tuning. Therefore, the responses of neurons were examined for evidence of frequency-dependent tuning to ITDs in the envelope of high-frequency stimuli. The frequency-dependent ITD-tuning that was found contradicts a model of ITD coding proposed in 1948 by Jeffress. ITD-coding at high-frequencies, similarly to at low- frequencies, may use a population of neurons which are broadly tuned to ITDs. It is suggested that sensitivity to ITDs in the envelope of high-frequency sounds is restricted both by peripheral processing and also by an upper fm above which sensitivity to ITDs does not occur. For these reasons, the physiological relevance of sensitivity to ITDs in the envelope of high-frequency may be limited.


Stress response can be considered a consequence of psychological or physiological threats to the human organism. Elevated cortisol secretion represents a biological indicator of subjective stress. The extent of subjectively experienced stress depends on individual coping strategies or self-regulation skills. Because of their experience with competitive pressure, athletes might show less pronounced biological stress responses during stressful events compared to non-athletes. In the present study, the short version of the Berlin Intelligence Structure Test, a paper-pencil intelligence test, was used as an experimental stressor. Cortisol responses of 26 female Swiss elite athletes and 26 female non-athlete controls were compared. Salivary free cortisol responses were measured 15 minutes prior to, as well as immediately before and after psychometric testing. In both groups, a significant effect of time was found: High cortisol levels prior to testing decreased significantly during the testing session. Furthermore, athletes exhibited reliably lower cortisol levels than non-athlete controls. No significant interaction effects could be observed. The overall pattern of results supports the idea that elite athletes show a less pronounced cortisol-related stress response due to more efficient coping strategies.


The recent passing of Senate Bill (SB) 493 – effective on January 1, 2014 – addresses a primary care provider shortage in California by declaring pharmacists as health care providers and authorizing new roles for them in patient care. The aims of this pilot study were to examine California registered pharmacists' awareness and knowledge of the expanded authorities granted by SB 493 as well as to assess their perception of their own readiness to exercise these new authorities. A cross-sectional, observational study was designed, and a 40-question survey was administered electronically through Qualtrics to adjunct faculty, clinical faculty, and alumni of Touro University California College of Pharmacy. All participants were aware of this new legislation. Through their responses to Likert-scale questions, pharmacists' self-perceived readiness for each new authority was discovered. A Kruskal-Wallis test revealed no statistically significant difference among the three subgroups' self-perceived readiness to exercise most of the new authorities, except initiating and administering vaccinations independently to those older than three years old without a physician's collaborative practice protocol (p = 0.0123). The lower degree of self-perceived readiness to provide immunizations independently reported by adjunct faculty might have been due to not being certified as immunizers, reflecting the need to be educated on administration of vaccinations.


The estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) are over-expressed in ∼50% of breast cancer lesions, and used as biomarkers to stratify patients for endocrine therapy. Currently, immunohistochemical (IHC) assessment of these lesions from a core-needle biopsy in deep-sited metastases has limitations associated with sampling error and lack of standardization. An alternative solution is positron emission tomography (PET)-based probes, which are inherently quantitative and capable of imaging the entire tumor, including metastases. This work features the synthesis and biological evaluation of a novel fluorinated derivative of tanaproget, a high affinity non-steroidal PR ligand, as a candidate for imaging PR expression in vivo. Radiolabeling of the candidate was achieved in a 15% ± 4 radiochemical yield (non-decay corrected) in one step from [18F]fluoromethyltosylate in 30 min. Cell uptake studies showed a significant difference between the radioligand uptake in PR+ and PR− cell lines; however, in vivo imaging was confounded by defluorination hypothesized to occur via iminium salt formation. Investigation into high affinity, metabolically stable non-steroidal PR ligands is currently ongoing.


Brewer's collect yeast from one fermentation and re-pitch the cells into subsequent fermentations; this process is termed serial re-pitching. Deviations in the serial repitching process often impact the quality of the beer produced. Three variables within this process were investigated: the percentage of petite mutants in the pitched yeast, varying levels of dissolved oxygen in the wort and the length of yeast storage time between re-pitched fermentations. Results found that when petites in the culture increased from 3.7 % to 10.8 %, levels of esters and vicinal diketones were increased after the primary fermentation. The elevated concentrations of flavour compounds, however, would likely be undetectable to a consumer. When the yeast was subjected to 66 hour storage between fermentations, as opposed to 18 hour, the density attenuation rates during fermentation became less consistent. When investigating dissolved oxygen on serial re-pitching, the effect of low (3 mg/L) and high (16 mg/L) dissolved wort oxygen levels were not apparent on the flavours produced until the third fermentation; then, levels of propan-1-ol and 2,3-butanedione were increased with higher dissolved oxygen levels. Overall, these results could be used to help a brewer prioritize the controllable variables within the re-pitching process.


This thesis study the panel data to investigate the problem of fiscal deficit at five ASEAN countries namely Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam. Beside that, this analysis used the fiscal variable and country characteristics as the variable in this model based on GDP per capita. The variables in fiscal variable consist of total tax revenue (TTR), non tax (NT), productive expenditure (PE), total expenditure (TE), and budget deficit (BD). While for country characteristics the variable are population growth (PG), investment (I), government debt (GD) and external debt (ED). This thesis examines the standard method test for panel unit root test there is Maddala and Wu (1999). After that this thesis applies the cointegration method based on panel cointegration test by Pedroni (1999). A fully modified OLS (FMOLS) test is used to estimate the long run relationship in fiscal deficit at ASEAN-5 countries. As a result, we find out that all the variables are significant between them. This thesis recommends that policymakers should concern all of the significant variables since they give impact on fiscal deficit.


Online microblogging has been very popular in today's Internet, where users follow other people they are interested in and exchange information between themselves. Among these exchanges, video links are a representative type on a microblogging site. The impact is fundamental—not only are viewers in a video service directly coming from the microblog sharing and recommendation, but also are the users in the microblogging site representing a promising sample to all the viewers. It is intriguing to study a proactive service deployment for such videos, using the propagation patterns of microblogs. Based on extensive traces from Youku and Tencent Weibo, a popular video sharing site and a favored microblogging system, we explore how video propagation patterns in the microblogging system are correlated with video popularity on the video sharing site. Using influential factors summarized from the measurement studies, we further design a neural network-based learning framework to predict the number of potential viewers and their geographic distribution. We then design proactive video deployment algorithms based on the prediction framework, which not only determines the upload capacities of servers in different regions, but also strategically replicates videos to these regions to serve users. Our PlanetLab-based experiments verify the effectiveness of our design.


The quest for NATO membership led to a reorientation of Polish security and defence policies. Attempts were made to engage the neighbouring states to the East in a constructive partnership while at the same time expanding links with NATO. Efforts were undertaken to upgrade Polish defence to meet NATO requirements. After membership was obtained in 1999, Poland has attempted to use the geopolitical position as a focal point both for the surrounding countries and for NATO's policy towards the Baltic republics and the Ukraine. These attempts have, as shown in this study, not been an unmitigated success. Also the plans for defence upgrading have been singled out for criticism at home and abroad. Lack of realism and conservatism both in the defence sector and at the political level has hampered modernisation. Finally, Poland's strong pro-American leanings are discussed in order to assess the implications for NATO cohesion and Polish participation in the emerging BU foreign and security policy structures.


Osteocytes could release some small molecules (≤ 1 kDa) through gap junctions and hemichannels to extracellular environment, such as prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), nitric oxide (NO) and adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which play key roles in transferring signals between bone cells and other tissue cells. Connexin (Cx) 43 is the most abundant connexin in osteocytes. To further discover molecules released by osteocytes through Cx43 channels and better understand the regulatory function of Cx43 channels in osteocytes, we performed non-targeted global metabolomics analysis using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) on conditioned medium collected from osteocytes isolated from two transgenic mouse models with Cx43 dominant negative mutants driven by a 10 kb-DMP1 promoter: R76W (gap junctions are blocked, whereas hemichannels are promoted) and Δ130-136 (both gap junctions and hemichannels are blocked). The results revealed that several new categories of molecules, such as "fatty acyls" and "carboxylic acids and derivatives", could be released through osteocytic Cx43 channels. In addition, alteration of Cx43 channel function affected the release of metabolites related to inflammatory reaction and oxidative stress. Pathway analysis further showed that citric acid cycle was the most differential metabolic pathway regulated by Cx43 channels. In sum, these results isolated new potential metabolites released by osteocytes through Cx43 channels, and offered a novel perspective to understand the regulatory mechanisms of osteocytes on themselves and other cells as well.


Sambucus (Adoxaceae) is a tall tree-like shrub distributed throughout temperate and subtropical regions in Europe, Asia, North Africa and North America. Since there is not any morphological and anatomical comprehensive study on Sambucus species in Iran and Sambucus nigra is located in the Arasbaran region with very limited distribution, we have encouraged studying the patterns of morphological variation and anatomical structure among Sambucus taxa.

In this study, the morphological and anatomical structure of 18 populations from two species of Sambucus (S. ebulus and S. nigra) has been considered to evaluate the relationships in this genus. In total, nine quantitative and nine qualitative morphological features were evaluated and measured. Ward's dendrogram showed two main clusters. The first cluster is composed of a population of S. nigra. The second cluster was composed of two subsets and contained populations of S. ebulus in Golestan, Mazandaran and Gilan provinces. There were two types of epidermal cells, puzzle-shaped in S. ebulus and oblong cells in S. nigra. The stems are rounded shape in both species. The margin is quite wavy in S. ebulus and straight in S. nigra. Both species showed a rounded shape with a wavy margin in petiole cross-sections. Pedicel cross-sections of both species are similar to each other in the general shape of cross-sections and margins. Both are rounded in shape and the margin is quite sinuous shapes in S. ebulus and wavy in S. nigra. The present study showed that a combination of morphological and anatomical data provides reliable evidence for the differentiation of two species of S. nigra and S. ebulus.


Residual variance is one of the main sources of bias which affecting the accuracy and precision of genetic studies. The residual values decreased when the model used for genetic evaluation get more complete. Variance component usually use for measuring and explaining of variations. Considering residual variance is essential to more efficient genetic evaluation of animals. The aim of the present research was determining the effect of heterogeneity of residual variance to genetic evaluation of reproductive traits in Iranian dairy cattle. The registered records of National Livestock Breeding Center (1981 to 2011) were used in the current study. Data preparation was done using CFC and FoxPro software. Analysis of genetic parameters was done by ASReml 3.1 software, and statistical analysis done with PWR and Agricola packages (R.2.14 software). The studied reproductive traits were the calving interval (CI), calving to first service (CTFS), and the interval between first services to conception (FSTC) in the three first parities. Linear model methodology used to evaluation of environmental and genetic effects. Fixed effects affecting the studied traits were herd-year-season, age at calving, Holstein-Frisian percentage, birth type and sex. Factors influencing the heterogeneity of variance in the current study were calving year, herd size and mean of the milk production. Result of Bartlett test indicated that heterogeneity of variance significantly affects on reproductive traits (p<0.001). Log Likelihood ratio test used to determine the most appropriate model in the evaluations. Model included year of birth were best fitted. Spearman correlations figures used for ranking of animals. Spearman correlations between heterogeneous models in comparison with the base model were high and near 1, except for the top 10% of male animal in CTFS trait. This study showed that no change may be occurred in ranking of animals using heterogeneous model. Also, t-test statistics were used for access the accuracy of the breeding values. Considering modeling clouded year of birth effect was significantly affected on mean standard error prediction of the accuracy of estimated breeding values. Considering the effect of year of birth was not effecting on estimated genetic process, however.


OBJECTIVE The hypothermia and hemostasis in severe trauma (HYPOSTAT): a new crossroads workshop was convened to evaluate the interplay among hypothermia, hemostasis, and severe trauma/hemorrhage. Trauma is the major cause of death in young individuals in the United States, with uncontrolled hemorrhage representing the major cause of preventable deaths. DATA SOURCES This workshop organized by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and the US Army Medical Research and Material Command as a forum for exchange of ideas among experts from diverse fields. The specific workshop goals were to (1) identify state-of-the-art and needs in knowledge of biology of hypothermia and hemostasis in the setting of significant traumatic injury; (2) provide an interdisciplinary forum to enhance knowledge regarding early detection of traumatic shock and monitoring of the level and effect of controlled hypothermia in severe trauma settings; and (3) identify future research directions of the role of therapeutic-oriented hypothermia and hemostasis in trauma with severe blood loss. STUDY SELECTION Not applicable. DATA EXTRACTION Expert opinion and literature review. CONCLUSION This document provides a summary of the expert opinion and highlights the recommendations that came out of the discussions at this workshop to guide scientific efforts in basic, translational, and clinical research in this area.


The National cinema of Wales is a contested site of representation and identity, which has struggled to overcome systemic and historic obstacles to scholarship, as well as to funding, production, exhibition and distribution of its products, related organizations, agents and services. This study considers Welsh filmic product (produced from 19632007), produced by independent producers for prominent broadcasting entities, including Channel Four Films, BBC Wales, S4C, or HTV/ITV Wales; a review of relevant literature regarding Welsh national cinema by Berry, Blandford, Ffrancon and others; the historical context of the Welsh film industry, was followed by an assignment of new aesthetic and industrial categories, including Welsh Coming-of-age genre films, Welsh Magical Realism, Welsh Grotesque cinema, the Welsh Chapel 'Gothic' in cinema, 'Outsider' fllmmakers in Wales, and Welsh fllmmakers in exile; the use of Welsh myths and legends in films, and how this contributes to a national identity. Consequently this study locates Welsh national cinema in a critical milieu inflected by feminist, Queer, post-colonial and national cinema analysis approaches.


Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) provide increasing opportunities for skills acquisition. Their widespread use can be justified by a number of critical motivating factors such as the possibility of free courses, the flexibility of the learning process as well as the reputation of some of the world most prestigious universities offering these courses. This level of popularity has created the need for a deep understanding of learning in MOOCs. This has been so far achieved through Learning Analytics (LA) using data mining techniques. Nevetheless, it is difficult to perform a sytematic analysis of learning processes based on students' behaviour using these techniques alone. Therefore, we propose to apply process mining since it provides important techniques for understanding learning processes based on students'activities trails from MOOC platforms logs. In this paper, we analyze a Coursera MOOC dataset using several process mining techniques and provide some indications in terms of useful insights and guidance that could inspire intervention measures to improve both the quality and delivery of MOOCs. Keywords: Learning Analytics, Mooc, Coursera, Educational Data Mining, Process Mining,Online Learning


Objective: First episode psychosis can be a distressing and traumatic event which has been linked to comorbid symptomatology, including anxiety, depression and PTSD symptoms (intrusions, avoidance, etc.). However, the link between events surrounding a first episode psychosis (i.e. police involvement, admission, use of Mental Health Act, etc.) and PTSD symptoms remains unproven. In the PTSD literature, attention has now turned to the patient's appraisal of the traumatic event as a key mediator. In this study we aim to evaluate the diagnostic status of first episode psychosis as a PTSD-triggering event and to determine the extent to which cognitive factors such as appraisals and coping mechanisms can mediate the expression of PTSD (traumatic) symptomatology. Method: Approximately 1.5 years after their first episode of psychosis, patients were assessed for traumatic symptoms, conformity to DSM-IV criteria for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and their appraisals of the traumatic events and coping strategies. Psychotic symptomatology was also measured. Results: 31% of the sample of 35 patients who agreed to participate reported symptoms consistent with a diagnosis of PTSD. Although no relationship was found between PTSD (traumatic) symptoms and potentially traumatic aspects of the first episode (including place of treatment, detention under the MHA etc.), intrusions and avoidance were positively related to retrospective appraisals of stressfulness of the ward (i.e. the more stressful they rated it the greater the number of PTSD symptoms) and the patient's coping style (sealers were less likely to report intrusive re-experiencing but more likely to report avoidance). Conclusions: The results call into question whether it is possible to make claims for a simple causal link between psychosis and PTSD. Instead patients' appraisals of potentially traumatic events and their coping styles may mediate the traumatic impact of a first episode of psychosis.


Frost heave and thaw weakening are typical problems for engineers building in northern regions. These unsaturated-soil behaviors are caused by water flowing through the capillary zone to a freezing front, where it forms ice lenses. Although suction-controlled tests are the standard for characterizing unsaturated soils, such testing is too laborious, time-consuming, and costly for routine engineering projects. Characterizing the stress/strain behavior for only one unsaturated soil can take up to three years, and moisture content measurements are unreliable. This research team seeks to develop a method for rapidly determining and analyzing unsaturated soil behavior through a new approach, the Modified A shake table model of a single pipe embedded in a frozen silt layer overlying a liquefiable sand layer adjacent to a river channel. In these experiments, the loads induced on the bridge foundations by unfrozen and frozen ground crust will be measured from two shake table tests by means of strain gauges. The Modified State Surface Approach (MSSA) can potentially reduce the time required to characterize unsaturated soils to a few weeks, as well as provide more reliable measurements and more representative soil behavior. If successful, this research will produce a useful tool for geotechnical engineers, allowing fast, practical, and more comprehensive soil characterization for more complicated soil behavior problems.


Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) is an uncommon B‐cell lymphoid malignancy affecting 8540 new patients annually and representing approximately 10% of all lymphomas in the United States.


ABSTRACT In response to injury, skeletal muscle stem cells (MuSCs) undergo myogenesis where they become activated, proliferate rapidly, differentiate and undergo fusion to form multinucleated myotubes. Dramatic changes in cell size, shape, metabolism and motility occur during myogenesis, which cause cellular stress and alter proteostasis. The molecular chaperone heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) maintains proteostasis by regulating protein biosynthesis and folding, facilitating transport of polypeptides across intracellular membranes and preventing stress-induced protein unfolding/aggregation. Although HSP70 overexpression can exert beneficial effects in skeletal muscle diseases and enhance skeletal muscle repair after injury, its effect on myogenesis has not been investigated. Plasmid-mediated overexpression of HSP70 did not affect the rate of C2C12 proliferation or differentiation, but the median number of myonuclei per myotube and median myotube width in differentiated C2C12 myotubes were increased with HSP70 overexpression. These findings reveal that increased HSP70 expression can promote myoblast fusion, identifying a mechanism for its therapeutic potential to enhance muscle repair after injury. This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper. Summary: In C2C12 myoblasts, HSP70 overexpression does not alter proliferation or differentiation but enhances fusion to increase myotube size.


A boy suffered from severe recurrent intestinal infections from the age of 8 months onwards; investigation into an immune disorder ultimately resulted in the diagnosis of 'hyper-IgM syndrome'. He was treated successfully with bone marrow transplantation, using an HLA-matched donor. Another boy had severe recurrent respiratory tract infections from the age pf 3 months onwards. At the age of 6.5 years, 'hyper-IgM syndrome' was diagnosed. No suitable donor was available. In addition, he developed sclerosing cholangitis and end-stage liver disease, making a combined bone marrow and liver transplantation too risky. He died at I0.5 years of age. X-linked hyper-IgM syndrome is a rare congenital immunodeficiency disorder, characterised by a defect in both humoral and cellular immune responses. Deficiency in the membrane glycoprotein CD40 ligand (expressed on activated T-cells) compromises T-cell interactions with antigen-presenting cells. In a child with severe recurrent infections, and with dysgammaglobulinaemia with a normal or increased IgM level, the diagnosis of 'X-linked hyper-IgM syndrome' should be considered.


If the British allocation for overseas aid is increased more generous agreements could be made with host universities and with expatriate staff. It would greatly stimulate overseas service by specialist trainees if the professional colleges and the universities agreed that they would be willing to substitute in their training programmes a year or two of service in an overseas medical school for one or more of their orthodox appointments. Consideration might be given by the councils for postgraduate education to ways of facilitating service overseas by specialist trainees and young consultants. The suggestion of the Royal Commission for the expansion of departmental staff establishments and training pools requires that the temporary expatriate occupying a supernumerary post is absorbed into the establishment on his return. While this may be done now in individual cases by personal arrangement a national agreement between universities and the N.H.S. would be necessary for these secondments to be made on the large scale commensurate to the need. For other returning young doctors not yet in specialist training schemes an assurance that applications for appointments by those who had worked in developing countries would receive favourable weighting, by both university and N.H.S. selection committees, would be very helpful.


Helicobacter pylori is highly adapted to its unusual ecological niche in the human stomach. Urease activity permits H. pylori survival at a pH of <4 in vitro and is required for the organism to colonize in animal models. However, urease does not play an important role in the survival of the organism in a pH range between 4 and 7. Other mechanisms of pH homeostasis remain poorly understood, but preliminary studies indicate that novel proteins are produced when H.pylori cells are shifted from pH 7 to 3, and the gene encoding a P-type adenosine triphosphatase that may catalyze NH4+/H+ exchange across the cytoplasmic membrane has been cloned. Mechanisms of pH homeostasis in other enteric bacteria are reviewed and provide insight into additional pathways that may be used by H. pylori. An important adaptation of H. pylori to the gastric environment may be its ability to alter gastric acid secretion. Acute infection is associated with transient hypochlorhydria, whereas chronic infection is associated with hypergastrinemia and decreased somatostatin levels. Thus, the survival of H. pylori in the gastric environment may be attributed to both the development of specialized intrinsic defenses and the organism's ability to induce physiological alterations in the host environment.


A frequently cited Ibbotson study (2009) shows that over an 80-year period, large and small stocks have provided the highest returns and largest increases in wealth. The problem is not the math, it's the logic: How many investors have an 80-year investment horizon? Most face two lifetime financial phases: 20–25 years spent accumulating wealth and a like period spending it in retirement. Considering the brevity of the two draws attention to the extended secular bear markets that would have negatively affected their outcome: 1929–1949, 1966–1982, and 2000–?? Such extended declines can devastate retirement savers, making lifetime financial success an accident of birth as opposed to purposeful planning. In structuring client portfolios, the goal is not about beating active or passive indexes, but rather providing returns over time that help achieve long-term investment goals while minimizing the emotional trauma along the way. An investment portfolio needs to be constructed to account for all market conditions, and this means including both tactical and more traditional asset allocation strategies. The author attempts to explain the value of tactical asset allocation within a portfolio and how it works; what are the upsides/downsides; what do financial advisors, asset managers, and end-clients need to know; and some tips learned along the way.


Background: The use of paravertebral block (PVB) for postoperative analgesia in the thoracic surgery has increased in recent years. However, the traditional methods used to evaluate the success and adequacy of the block are time-consuming, subjective and depend on the patient's compliance. Therefore, the search still continues to find a method to objectively evaluate the success and adequacy of the paravertebral block. Aims: The aim of this study was to investigate whether the Perfusion Index (PI) measured by pulse oximetry technology was an early and quantitative marker for the success of PVB. We also aimed to compare the PI and pinprick method. Methods: The study included a total of 38 patients undergoing elective thoracotomy surgery within the age group of 18-65 years, with class I-II American Society of Anesthesiologists' (ASA) physical status classification. Thoracic PVB was performed for all patients using 20 mL of 5% bupivacaine under ultrasound guidance. After the block was performed, PI measurements were made from the finger and earlobe of the block side for 30 minutes at one-minute intervals. The spread of the block to the anterior chest wall T3-T8 dermatomes was recorded by pinprick sensory test before the block application and fifth, 10th, 15th, 20th, and 30th minutes following the block application. Results: The PI value measured from the finger on the block side increased 1.5 times compared to the baseline value 12 minutes after the block application (p < 0.05). The sensitivity and specificity of PI in determining the success of PVB at 12th minute were 67% and 85%, respectively. Positive predictive value [PPV] was 93% and negative predictive value [NPV] was 75%. The accepted cut-off PI value was found to be 0.84 for a successful PVB. A weak positive correlation was observed between PI and pinprick test (rs = 0.35, P < 0.05). Conclusion: The present study has shown that PI is an objective, fast, practical and non-invasive method, when compare with pinprick method, that can be used to evaluate PVB success.


The aim of this study was to uncover the membrane protein profile differences between colorectal carcinoma and neighboring normal mucosa from colorectal cancer patients. Information from cellular membrane proteomes can be used not only to study the roles of membrane proteins in fundamental biological processes, but also to discover novel targets for improving the management of colorectal cancer patients. We used solvent extraction and a gel‐assisted digestion method, together with isobaric tags with related and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ) reagents to label tumoral and adjacent normal tissues in a pairwise manner (n = 8). For high‐throughput quantification, these digested labeled peptides were combined and simultaneously analyzed using LC‐MS/MS. Using the shotgun approach, we identified a total of 438 distinct proteins from membrane fractions of all eight patients. After comparing protein expression between cancerous and corresponding normal tissue, we identified 34 upregulated and eight downregulated proteins with expression changes greater than twofold (Student's t‐test, P < 0.05). Among these, the overexpression of well‐established biomarkers such as carcinoembryonic antigens (CEACAM5, CEACAM6), as well as claudin‐3, HLA class I histocompatibility antigen A‐1, tapasin and mitochondrial solute carrier family 25A4 were confirmed by western blotting. We conclude that gel‐assisted digestion and iTRAQ labeling MS is a potential approach for uncovering and comparing membrane protein profiles of tissue samples that has the potential to identify novel biomarkers.


Based on the reports of UNSCEAR for the period from 1958 to 2001 the paper presents a retrospective analysis of the use of direct methods and the doubling dose method for quantitative determination of the genetic risk of human exposure expressed as different hereditary diseases. As early as 1962 UNSCEAR estimated the doubling dose (a dose causing as many mutations as those occurring spontaneously during one generation) at 1 Gy for cases of exposure to ionizing radiations with low LET at a low dose rate and this value was confirmed in the next UNSCEAR reports up to now. For cases of acute irradiation the doubling dose was estimated at 0.3-0.4 Gy for the period under review. The paper considers the evolution of the concepts of human natural hereditary variability which is a basis for assessing the risk of exposure by the doubling dose method. The level of human natural genetic variability per 1,000,000 newborns is estimated at 738,000 hereditary diseases including mendelian, chromosomal and multifactorial ones. The greatest difficulties in assessing the doubling dose value were found to occur in the case of multifactorial diseases the phenotypical expression of which depends on mutational events in polygenic systems and on numerous environmental factors. The introduction in calculations of the potential recoverability correction factor (PRCF) made it possible to assess the genetic risk taking into account this class of hereditary diseased. The current estimate of genetic risk is 3000-4700 genetic diseases in the first generation per 1,000,000 newborns after exposure of the parental generation to 1 Gy at low dose rate. A certain part of genetic changes after exposure of the parental generation to radiation will express themselves in the second generation, in grandchildren (1150-3200 cases or 56% of the effect predicted for the first generation), and in succeeding generations.


Purpose: To determine the effects of age on estimated midbrain volume. Patients and Methods: T2-weighted MR imaging and an unbiased stereologic method were used in 75 volunteers; the subjects ranged in age from 21 to 82 years and were without any significant neurologic or psychiatric disorders. Results: Age was negatively correlated with estimated midbrain volume (R = - .39, P<.0005), with the anteroposterior diameter through the substantia nigra (R = -.33, P<.004) and with the interpeduncular distance (R = - .24, P< .04). The linear measurements for the right and left side were almost identical. These findings are consistent with prior reports of nigrostriatal degeneration with increasing age. Furthermore, they suggest a close symmetry of age-related changes between the right and left side in normal subjects. Conclusion: Volumetric and linear measurements of midbrain morphology with MR may prove useful in the investigation of neurologic disorders such as Parkinson disease.


Bi2Sr2Co2-xCuxOy (x=0.0, 0.2, 0.4) samples were prepared by solid-state reaction method and the effect of Cu substitution on the high-temperature thermoelectric properties was investigated. The presence of Cu element improved the grain size and the thermoelectric properties increased owing to the simultaneous increase of conductivity and Seebeck coefficients. The optimal thermoelectric performance was obtained in x=0.2 sample and the power factor was two times as large as that in Cu-free sample at 923K.


ABSTRACT Elevated winter losses of managed honeybee colonies are a major concern, but the underlying mechanisms remain controversial. Among the suspects are the parasitic mite Varroa destructor, the microsporidian Nosema ceranae, and associated viruses. Here we hypothesize that pathogens reduce the life expectancy of winter bees, thereby constituting a proximate mechanism for colony losses. A monitoring of colonies was performed over 6 months in Switzerland from summer 2007 to winter 2007/2008. Individual dead workers were collected daily and quantitatively analyzed for deformed wing virus (DWV), acute bee paralysis virus (ABPV), N. ceranae, and expression levels of the vitellogenin gene as a biomarker for honeybee longevity. Workers from colonies that failed to survive winter had a reduced life span beginning in late fall, were more likely to be infected with DWV, and had higher DWV loads. Colony levels of infection with the parasitic mite Varroa destructor and individual infections with DWV were also associated with reduced honeybee life expectancy. In sharp contrast, the level of N. ceranae infection was not correlated with longevity. In addition, vitellogenin gene expression was significantly positively correlated with ABPV and N. ceranae loads. The findings strongly suggest that V. destructor and DWV (but neither N. ceranae nor ABPV) reduce the life span of winter bees, thereby constituting a parsimonious possible mechanism for honeybee colony losses.