About the case: First-generation Latinx students in technical and professional communication (TPC) and other graduate programs represent a growing percentage of students, yet stories of their experiences within higher education remain muted. We analyzed 10 Latinx testimonios (culturally situated narratives) wherein they voice their experiences as first-generation students in US graduate programs. Testimonialistas expressed how they navigate the complexities of being first-generation students and described how they persist and enact social justice. Situating the case: TPC programs may examine the relationship between social injustices and student retention and recruitment efforts, yet there is a dearth of literature regarding specific obstacles that Latinx students face. We examined how they build success through coalitional action and culturally informed tactical decision-making. Methods: We recruited participants who self-identified as first-generation Latinx students in TPC and other graduate programs. We conducted and recorded semistructured interview sessions based in testimonio and intersectional feminist methodologies. We used qualitative data coding and MAXQDA coding software to assemble and map social justice themes at work across the testimonios. Results: Analysis suggests that first-generation Latinx graduate students draw on complex informal and formal networks to aid their success, desire more effective culturally responsive mentorship, and develop tactical decision-making skills to circumvent oppressive behaviors. Conclusions: We suggest that directors, mentors, administrators, faculty, and Latinx students begin with a social justice framework to better listen to, understand, and address first-generation Latinx college experiences and build cohort-based support mechanisms into programmatic objectives and professional development sessions.


Whoever dares to learn, finds a way, Whoever renounces to learn, finds a reason! Picasso The environment wherein the business organizations currently operate is increasingly becoming more competitive and the need to face a multitude of challenges arises. Adoption to this environment is conditioned upon finding and using the most analytical efficient forms of managing a business via the use of decision-making analytical methods. The qualitative decision-making highlights the necessity of the scientific and technical capabilities and skills, as well as the creative ideas present in the business environment, in order to provide a sustainable development. The focus of this paper is the aim to consider from the theoretical and practical prospective, the interrelations existing between the decision-making methods used in business and the respective business performance. In this framework, the article entitled: "The impact of the decision-making method in business achievements" poses besides one-another the impacts of the two methods used in the decision-making process. Initially, an overview is made, considering the dimensions of this paper, on some basic concepts of the decision-making theory. Thereafter the theoretical approach, the current decision-making situation and conditioning factors are being is analyzed. The hypothesis is of a simple character, due to the small number of independent variables. The research method is based upon on the ground surveying and the instrument used is face to face interviewing. The aggregate data is analyzed via the non-parametric, statistical analysis, such as the Association Coefficients, Pearson(C) Coefficient, Cuprov(T) Coefficient, Kendall Coefficient. The findings are indispensable as they highlight the necessity of considerable support with efficient programs the human resources development of the decision-making structures.


We evaluated an acinar cell line (SMG-C10) cloned from rat submandibular glands as a possible model for α1-adrenoceptor regulation of submandibular function. α1-Adrenoceptors are subdivided into three subtypes called α1A, α1B, and α1D, which can be distinguished from one another by their differential affinity values for subtype-selective α1-adrenoceptor antagonists. Thus, α1-adrenoceptor subtypes in SMG-C10 cells were characterized with reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and [3H]prazosin binding in side-by-side experiments with native submandibular glands. RT-PCR identified mRNAs for α1A-, α1B-, and α1D-adrenoceptors in SMG-C10 cells and submandibular glands. The inhibition of [3H]prazosin binding by 5-methylurapidil (α1A-selective) was biphasic and fit best to a two-site binding model with 40 ± 8% high (KiH)- and 60 ± 10% low (KiL)-affinity binding sites in SMG-C10 cells, and 76% high- and 24% low-affinity binding sites in submandibular glands. Respective KiH and KiL values for 5-methylurapidil were 1.9 ± 0.4 and 100 ± 30 nM in SMG-C10 cells and 3.2 ± 0.8 and 170 ± 20 nM in submandibular glands. BMY-7378 [8-[2-[4-(2-methoxyphenyl)-1-piperazinyl]ethyl]-8-azaspiro[4.5]decane-7,9-dione dihydrochloride (α1D-selective)] bound with low affinity in SMG-C10 cells and submandibular glands with Ki values of 81 ± 20 and 110 ± 20 nM, respectively. Chloroethylclondine, an irreversible alkylating agent selective for α1B adrenoceptors, reduced the density of [3H]prazosin binding sites by 42 and 26% in SMG-C10 and submandibular membranes, respectively. Thus, SMG-C10 cells and submandibular glands are similar in expressing receptor protein for α1A- and α1B-adrenoceptor subtypes, establishing SMG-C10 cells as a potential model for α1-adrenoceptor-mediated secretion.


Abstract Cellular autofluorescence, though ubiquitous when imaging cells and tissues, is often assumed to be small in comparison to the signal of interest. Uniform estimates of autofluorescence intensity obtained from separate control specimens are commonly employed to correct for autofluorescence. While these may be sufficient for high signal-to-background applications, improvements in detector and probe technologies and introduction of spectral imaging microscopes have increased the sensitivity of fluorescence imaging methods, exposing the possibility of effectively probing the low signal-to-background regime. With spectral imaging, reliable monitoring of signals near or even below the noise levels of the microscope is possible if compensation for autofluorescence and background signals can be performed accurately. We demonstrate the importance of accurate autofluorescence modeling and the utility of spectral imaging and multivariate analysis methods using a case study focusing on fluorescence confocal spectral imaging of host-pathogen interactions. In this application fluorescent proteins are produced when Francisella novicida invade host macrophage cells. The resulting analyte signal is spectrally overlapped and typically weaker than the cellular autofluorescence. In addition to discussing the advantages of spectral imaging for following pathogen invasion, we present the spectral properties and cellular origin of macrophage autofluorescence.


Clustering the time series gene expression data is an important task in bioinformatics research and biomedical applications. Recently, some clustering methods have been adapted or proposed. However, some concerns still remain, such as the robustness of the mining methods, as well as the quality and the interpretability of the mining results. In this paper, we tackle the problem of effectively clustering time series gene expression data by proposing algorithm DHC, a density-based, hierarchical clustering method. We use a density-based approach to identify the clusters such that the clustering results are of high quality and robustness. Moreover, the mining result is in the form of a density tree, which uncovers the embedded clusters in a data set. The inner-structures, the borders and the outliers of the clusters can be further investigated using the attraction tree, which is an intermediate result of the mining. By these two trees, the internal structure of the data set can be visualized effectively. Our empirical evaluation using some real-world data sets show that the method is effective, robust and scalable. It matches the ground truth provided by bioinformatics experts very well in the sample data sets.


There has been a shift by most developing countries away from public sector centrally planned economy to private sector driven economy. This move is as a result of the fact that the public sector driven economy resulted in resource inefficiency, poor service delivery and for the most part, steeped in corrupt practices. This move to private sector, through the encouragement of small and medium scale businesses (SME) is fraught with challenges due to paucity of needed credits from commercial banks and infrastructural facilities. This study seeks specifically to examine the impact of bank credit on private sector investment in Nigeria. The study was approached using Ordinary Least Square (OLS) tool to construct an econometric model. The key explanatory variables that impact on private sector investment used in this study are: Banks Loans and Advances (BLA), Real Gross Domestic Product (GDP), Interest Rate (INT) and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). A stationarity test was carried out using the Augmented Dickey-Fuller (ADF) test and stationarity was found at first difference at 5% level of significance. The Johansen-Juselius co-integration technique was also employed in this study in assessing the co-integrating properties of the variables, especially in a multivariate context. The result of the test showed that for the period, 1980-2009, there was co-integrating relationships among variables suggesting long run relationship. The result of white hetroscedasticity test confirmed that the assumption of homoscedasticity was not violated. Informed by the findings, recommendation demands that credits to private investors in Nigeria should be encouraged and that interest rate management should be structured to enhance private investment.


This thesis presents a comprehensive computational study of the bulk and surface properties of two major iron-bearing minerals: hematite (α-Fe2O3) and mackinawite (tetragonal FeS), and subsequently unravels the interactions of a number of environmentally important molecules with the low-Miller index surfaces of these iron-bearing minerals using a state-of-the-art methodology based on the density functional theory (DFT) techniques. First, we have used the Hubbard corrected DFT (GGA+U) calculations to unravel the interactions of a single benzene molecule with the (0001) and (01 2) surfaces of α-Fe2O3 under vacuum conditions. α-Fe2O3 is correctly described as a charge-transfer insulator, in agreement with the spectroscopic evidence when the optimized value for U = 5 eV is employed. The benzene molecule is shown to interact relatively more strongly with the (01 2) surface via cation-π interactions between the π-electrons of benzene ring and the surface Fe d-orbitals than with the (0001) where van der Waals interactions are found to play important role in stabilizing the molecule at the surface. In the second part of this thesis, DFT calculations with a correction for van der Waals interactions (DFT-D2 scheme of Grimme) have been used to simulate the bulk properties, surface structures and reactivity of layered mackinawite (FeS). We demonstrate that the inclusion of van der Waals dispersive interaction sensibly improves the prediction of interlayer separation distance in FeS, in good agreement with experimental data. The effect of interstitial impurity atoms in the interlayer sites on the structure and properties of FeS is also investigated, and it is found that these contribute considerably to the mechanical stability of the FeS structure. From the geometry optimization of the low-Miller index surfaces of FeS, we have shown the (001) surface terminated by sulfur atoms is by far the most energetically stable surface of FeS. The calculated surface energies are used successfully to reproduce the observed crystal morphology of FeS. As an extension to the surface studies, we have used the DFT-D2 method to model the adsorption mechanism of arsenious acid (As(OH)3), methylamine (CH3NH2) and nitrogen oxides (NO and NO2) molecules on the low-Miller index FeS surfaces under vacuum conditions. The As(OH)3 molecule is demonstrated to preferentially form bidentate adsorption complexes on FeS surfaces via two O‒Fe bonds. The calculated long As−Fe and As−S interatomic distances (> 3 A) clearly suggest interactions via outer sphere surface complexes with respect to the As atom, in agreement with the experimental observations. The growth modifying properties of methylamine, the capping agent used in the synthesis of FeS, are modelled by surface adsorption. The strength of the interaction of CH3NH2 on the different FeS surfaces is shown to increase in the order: (001) < (011) < (100) < (111) and an analysis of the nature of bonding reveals that the CH3NH2 molecule interacts preferentially with the surface Fe d-orbitals via the lone-pair of electrons located on the N atom. Our simulated temperature programmed desorption process shows that methylamine is stable up to about 180 K on the most reactive (111) surface, which is comparable to the experimental desorption temperatures predicted at metallic surfaces. Finally, the catalytic properties of FeS as a nanocatalyst for the adsorption, activation and decomposition of environmentally important NOx gases have been explored, where we consider the nature of binding of the NOx species to the FeS surfaces and their dissociation reaction mechanisms.


Some 18 million people die annually from poverty-related causes. Many more are suffering grievously from treatable medical conditions. These burdens can be substantially reduced by supplementing the rules governing pharmaceutical innovation. Established by the World Trade Organization's TRIPS Agreement, these rules cause advanced medicines to be priced beyond the reach of the poor and steer medical research away from diseases concentrated among them. We should complement these rules with the Health Impact Fund (HIF). Financed by many governments, the HIF would offer any new pharmaceutical product the opportunity to participate, during its first 10 years, in the HIF's annual reward pools, receiving a share equal to its share of the assessed health impact of all HIF-registered products. In exchange, the innovator would have to agree to make this product available worldwide at the lowest feasible cost of manufacture. Fully consistent with TRIPS, the HIF achieves three key advances. It directs some pharmaceutical innovation toward the most serious diseases, including those concentrated among the poor. It makes all HIF-registered medicines cheaply available to all. And it incentivizes innovators to promote the optimal use of their HIF-registered medicines. Magnifying one another's effects, these advances would engender large global health gains.


Anxiety disorders are extremely debilitating and are the most common psychiatric disorders in the United States. Such patients have greater chances of developing other medical illnesses such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes and hypertension. The underlying anxiety that exists in these patients also tends to prolong the course of any additional medical illnesses that they may develop. The conventional approach to severe anxiety involves pharmacotherapy with benzodiazepines, selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs), or other medications such as buspirone, imipramine or trazodone. A case report demonstrated that the use of 2500mg of niacinamide (nicotinamide) per day ameliorated severe anxiety in a 34-year-old male patient. It appears that niacinamide has therapeutic properties similar to the benzodiazepines. However, the therapeutic effects of niacinamide likely have little to do with it acting as a ligand for the benzodiazepine receptor. Niacinamide might exert its effects through its modulation of neuro-transmitters that are commonly unbalanced in those areas of the brain associated with anxiety. Niacinamide might also reduce anxiety by shunting more tryptophan toward the production of serotonin and/or by simply correcting a vitamin B3 dependency. The use of niacinamide for extended periods of time appears to be safe, but megadoses can cause sedation, nausea and vomiting. More case reports, research and rigorous controlled trials are needed to properly evaluate niacinamide's therapeutic effectiveness, safety and mechanisms of action for the treatment of anxiety.


In 2006, more than 55,000 patients died of colorectal cancer in the US, accounting for approximately 10% of all cancer deaths. Despite significant progress in screening combined with the development of novel effective therapies, colorectal cancer ranks second to lung cancer as a cause of cancer death. Twin studies indicate that 35% of all colorectal cancers are inherited, but high-penetrance tumor susceptibility genes only account for approximately 3-6% of all cases. The remainder of the unexplained familial risk is presumably due to other high-penetrance genes, but polygenic mechanisms and low-penetrance tumor susceptibility genes are likely to account for a greater proportion of familial colorectal cancers. In this regard, there is growing evidence that a common hypomorphic variant of the type I TGF-beta receptor, TGFBR1*6A, may account for approximately 3% of all colorectal cancer cases, a fraction higher than that attributable to mismatch repair genes MLH1, MSH2, MSH6 and PMS2. Furthermore, TGFBR1*6A is emerging as a potent modifier of colorectal cancer risk among individuals with a strong family of colorectal cancer. The TGF-beta signaling pathway plays a central but paradoxical role in the predisposition and progression of colorectal cancer. TGF-beta is a potent inhibitor of normal colonic epithelial cells acting as a tumor suppressor. However, TGF-beta promotes the survival, invasion and metastasis of colorectal cancer cells, thereby acting as an oncogene. Understanding how selective alterations of the TGF-beta signaling pathway contribute to colorectal cancer development and progression will likely permit the identification of an additional fraction of inherited colorectal cancer cases and provide novel opportunities for therapeutic intervention.


This list of references is the third in an annual series relating to instruction at the elementary-school level. The first list contains items on the curriculum, methods of teaching and study, and supervision. The second list contains items grouped under the following subject fields: reading, English, spelling, handwriting, geography, and the social sciences. The present list covers the remaining subject fields at the elementary-school level and is the last of the series on elementary-school instruction. In this issue an additional aid for educational workers is supplied by a list of films and filmstrips appearing after the references to publications in the various subject areas. The films and filmstrips listed are suitable for use by teachers in the several fields of instruction.


OBJECTIVE Skull base chordoma is relatively rare, and a limited number of reports have been published regarding its clinical features. Moreover, the factors associated with extent of resection, as well as the value of marginal resection for long-term survival, are still in question for this disease. The objective of this study was to investigate these factors by evaluating their clinical features and surgical outcomes. METHODS A retrospective analysis of 238 patients with skull base chordomas, who met the inclusion criteria, was performed. This study summarized the clinical features, selection of approaches, degree of resection, and postoperative complications by statistical description analyses; proposed modified classifications of tumor location and bone invasion; studied the contributions of the clinical and radiological factors to the extent of resection by Pearson χ2, ANOVA, rank test, and binary logistic regression analysis; and estimated the differences in overall survival and progression-free survival rates with respect to therapeutic history, classification of tumor location, extent of bone invasion, and extent of tumor resection by the Kaplan-Meier method. A p value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS The study included 140 male and 98 female patients with a mean age of 38.1 years. Headache and neck pain (33.2%) and diplopia (29%) were the most common initial symptoms. Sphenoclival type accounted for the largest proportion of tumor location (59.2%); endophytic chordoma was the more common type of bone invasion (81.5%). Lateral open approaches were performed in two-thirds of the study population (78.6%). The rate of marginal resection was 66%, composed of gross-total resection (11.8%) and near-total resection (54.2%). Meningitis (8%) and CSF leakage (3.8%) were the most frequent complications. The mean follow-up period was 43.7 months. The overall survival and progression-free survival rates at 5 years were 76% and 45%, respectively. Recurrent tumor and larger tumor volume (≥ 40 cm3) were identified as risk factors of marginal resection. Patients who presented with recurrent tumor and underwent intralesional resection had a worse long-term outcome. CONCLUSIONS The classifications of both tumor location and bone invasion demonstrated clinical value. Marginal resection was more likely to be achieved for primary lesions with smaller volumes (< 40 cm3). The rate of CSF leakage declined due to improved dura mater repair with free fat grafts. Marginal resection, or gross-total resection when possible, should be performed in patients with primary chordomas to achieve better long-term survival.


The clustering of metabolic traits (known as metabolic syndrome), including central obesity, abnormal glucose regulation, dyslipidemia and elevated blood pressure, was associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. The close clustering and strong heritability of these metabolic traits suggest a common underlying genetic basis. Genetically modified mice models and identification of causative gene for human monogenic obesity/insulin resistance syndrome provided important insights into the pathogenesis of the metabolic syndrome. Recent genome-wide association studies (GWAS) also identified several genes reproducibly associated with the metabolic syndrome or multiple metabolic traits, including genes involved in lipid metabolism (CETP, APOA1/C3/A4/A5 cluster, LPL, LIPC and ABCB11), glucose sensing (GCKR), insulin signalling (IRS1), beta-cell function (TCF7L2) and appetite control (FTO). However, these variants explain only a small fraction of the observed heritability. Further pursuit for structural variants, rare sequence variants and epigenetic modification related to the metabolic syndrome may help to elucidate the unexplained heritability.

Key Concepts:

The estimated heritability of the metabolic syndrome and related metabolic traits (including obesity, dyslipidemia, abnormal glucose regulation and elevated blood pressure) is relatively high.

Genetically modified knockout mice models and human monogenic obese/insulin resistant syndrome provide important molecular insights into the pathogenesis of the metabolic syndrome.

Family linkage mapping for the metabolic syndrome is of limited success because of inconsistency among studies.

Large-scale genome-wide association mapping identified many genetic loci associated with the metabolic syndrome and related traits. Important loci are located in genes involved in lipid metabolism (CETP, APOA1/C3/A4/A5 cluster, LPL, LIPC and ABCB11), glucose sensing (GCKR), insulin signalling (IRS1), beta-cell function (TCF7L2) and appetite control (FTO).

The genetic variants identified by genome-wide association mapping explain only a minor fraction of the estimated heritability. Other potential contributors to the unexplained heritability are structural variants, rare sequence variants and epigenetic modification.

Keywords:

genetics;
metabolic syndrome;
insulin resistance;
obesity;
dyslipidemia;
genome-wide association analysis


Abstract How can the individual preserve his identity within a crowd? How can he/she counter the threats and the temptations of the mass phenomenon? In the following, these questions are answered, correctly based on two contrasting and complementary situations and approaches: on the one hand, the beginnings of the Soviet Union in the 1920s as manifested in everyday life in Moscow (journalistic-systemic view). On the other hand, on biographies of NSDAP members in Germany in the 1920s (biographical approach). The theoretical background provides philosophical treatises from this period (Elias Canetti, José Ortega y Gasset, and Karl Jaspers). Because the situations characterize starting points of totalitarian system (Sowjet-Union/Nazi-Regime), they allow transformations into current and future experiences of collective and group pressure in private and business life, where people experience similar challenges and temptations that are more elementary.


For years, vehicle trajectory data have increasingly been important for a wide range of applications, from driver behavior investigation/classification, travel time/distance estimation, and routing in vehicular networks, to vehicle energy/emission evaluation. This article presents TrajData, the first systematic solution to reliable vehicle trajectory data collection, with only reliance on commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) onboard unit (OBU) devices that utilize lightweight GPS modules and low-cost onboard diagnostics (OBD) readers. In the practical use of trajectory collection, GPS outages inevitably occur in urban environments thereby leading to large trajectory errors as well as missing vehicle location data. To resolve this, we propose a novel data-fusion-enabled deep learning approach with the purpose of achieving reliable vehicle trajectory collection in various urban road conditions. Specifically, we leverage motion information retrieved from OBD readers in TrajData to help reconstruct the trajectory data during GPS outages. By investigating the changes of direction angle from the OBD readings, we can identify different types of road sections. Furthermore, we integrate the neural arithmetic logic units (NALUs) into our trajectory reconstruction model to tame the challenges when GPS outages take place in various road sections. Experimental results from realistic data have demonstrated the effectiveness and reliability of the proposed method. In the road test, TrajData achieves an average position error below 15-m around a 60-s GPS outage, even in complex road sections, i.e., continuous turns and driving with accelerations/decelerations resulting in frequent changes of direction and speed.


Methods for detecting depression in fathers after the birth of their child are scarce. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), used to screen mothers for postpartum depression (PPD), lacks somatization and externalizing items. This potentially decreases its sensitivity in detecting depression in fathers, as many men actually express depression with somatization or externalizing symptoms. The present study assessed depressive symptoms in fathers of children 0-18 months old, and evaluated whether addressing both typical depression and externalizing, so-called "depressive equivalent" symptoms, might be more suitable for such assessment. The Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), EPDS, and Gotland Male Depression Scale (GMDS) were responded to by 447 Swedish fathers online. Among participants, 27% reported depressive symptoms above the BDI-II cut-off suggestive of depression. Most fathers reported both traditional and depressive equivalent symptoms and a subgroup expressed exclusively depressive equivalent symptoms. Consistently, a scale combining items from the EPDS and GMDS showed higher sensitivity than the EPDS alone in identifying fathers with elevated depressive symptoms, at equal levels of specificity. Our findings suggest that a combination of EPDS and depressive equivalent symptom items results in a more suitable instrument for screening for depression in fathers during the postnatal period.


Plastic is capital. We readily think of the plastic of credit cards and debit cards for the financial power they give us. At this time, there is a burgeoning industry of plastic surgery in North and South America. This type of Plastica introduces an economy of appearances in which physical beauty is the valued product. In my area of Dallas, Texas, women's social gatherings can include Botox parties in the place of bridge (card) parties or garden clubs. Using a study of beauty and plastic surgery among Siliconadas in Brazil and comparing it with research on cosmetic or aesthetic plastic surgery in Texas, I will draw some findings of interest to us as practical and pastoral theologians. Specifically, this research looks at self-esteem of women opting for augmentation or alteration of their physical self and at how colonialism, post-colonialism, and de-colonialism has addressed and impacted this issue. The paper explores asymmetries of power that impact individual and group social identity. For those whose history has been shaped ontologically, theologically, and psychologically by colonial forces, detaching from the lure of the "colonial gaze" as defined by the powerful, the elite, the slave holders, the media, capitalism, film, and conquerors, requires both resistance and resilience. How do we as pastoral and practical theologians in our work facilitate freedom from the images and the industry "of beauty"? This is an issue for practical theology in both research and action as we seek to liberate Hope and Self-Esteem.


The outcoupling of light from AlGaAs-based light-emitting diodes (LEDs) can be improved by means of metal nanoparticles deposited on the surface of the device: light that would otherwise remain trapped in the high-refractive-index material by total internal reflection is scattered to the outside. We present an experimental study on the emission enhancement produced by single isolated gold nanoparticles of various sizes (60–150 nmin diameter) and compare the results with numerical simulations. We find a clear enhancement as long as the dipole plasmon resonance of the particle is at a shorter wavelength than the LED emission. If the plasmon resonance coincides with the LED emission or is at a larger wavelength, the enhancement turns into damping. The simulations indicate that this latter effect is mainly caused by the particle quadrupole resonance producing absorption.


: Purpose: Working capital management is one of the essential elements of financial management. In this paper, we focus on the essence of working capital management in hospitals. The research aims at the analysis of the working capital management in hospitals based on CCC. We also investigate how hospitals finance working capital changes. Design/Methodology/Approach: The research hypotheses are confirmed based on financial data from 77 non-profit hospitals in the period 2015-2018 (with the year 2014 as the basis to calculate the growth). We build panel regression models, using several dependent, explanatory and control variables. Findings: Our results explain the way non-profit hospitals manage their working capital. This process is quite different, compared to commercial (production and service) companies. We show that higher profitability correlates with a longer cash conversion cycle and that operating activities are financing by profit. The observation that the capital structure is irrelevant for the cash conversion cycle strongly supports this conclusion. Practical Implications: This research is fundamental for hospital's managers and other stakeholders. Originality/value: Although research on hospital financial management is relatively numerous, the authors rarely undertake the problem of working capital management. Our study is one of the few in this area.


The determination of the appropriate number and location of the phasor measurement units (PMUs) has raised the issue of the system monitoring as the main challenge. In this study, the problem of optimal PMU placement (OPMUP) is carried out in order to achieve a fully observable power system under normal and contingency conditions considering network expansion. For this purpose, network expansion is investigated considering two fixed and flexible PMU placement scenarios. The contingency index is introduced through the modelling process of N
 - 1 contingency states. This index is inserted as a new term in the objective function by compromising the observability confidence level and the number of PMUs. Other goals including minimising the number of PMUs, measurement channels and redundancy are considered along with the OPMUP process. The IEEE 57-bus standard network in the MATLAB is studied during the expansion time horizon with the proposed algorithms to achieve the above goals.


This study combines quantitative data from the Living Standards Measurement Study and qualitative information from an in-depth qualitative study of poverty and exclusion conducted in 10 villages in Guatemala. Both data sources were designed to capture issues related to vulnerability, risks, and risk management. The quantitative survey included a risks and shocks module, in which households were asked to report if they had experienced a shock during the previous 12 months, using precoded questions for 28 economic, natural, social/political, and life-cycle shocks. These shocks were classified ex ante into covariant and idiosyncratic shocks. Households also reported: (1) whether these shocks triggered a reduction or loss of their income or wealth; (2) the main strategy that they used to cope with their welfare loss; (3) if they had succeeded in reversing the reduction or loss in their welfare by the time of the survey, and (4) the estimated time that had elapsed until successful resolution of the situation. Information on covariant shocks was also collected from the community questionnaire at the survey cluster level. The vulnerability assessment includes several types of analysis of shocks and their impact, including (1) factor analysis to understand the correlation structure or"bunching"of shocks; (2) a multivariate logistic model to examine the association between a household's characteristics and location and the probability that it reports a shock or incurs wealth and income losses due to the shock and the probability that it has recovered from the negative impact of the shock by the time of the interview; (3) nonparametric density estimation to estimate the counterfactual density of consumption or income; (4) multiple regression analysis to estimate the cost of shocks; (5) propensity score matching to estimate the cost of shocks; and (6) multiple regression analysis toestimate vulnerability to consumption poverty.


Computed tomography was performed in 27 patients with confirmed malignant fibrous histiocytoma of the soft tissue. Compared with the CT results obtained in other tumours of the soft tissues. CT accuracy in malignant fibrous histiocytoma was only 74%. Non-typical attenuation values, diffuse tumour growth and non-typical contrast enhancement are discussed as reasons for the diagnostic understaging or overstaging of these soft tissue tumours. A higher accuracy was found on ultrasound examination with regard to tumour extension. Bone destruction was better visualised by CT. A base-line CT is recommended postoperatively for the earlier detection of recurrent tumours in further investigations.


This article discusses the stability and dynamics of the Czech constitution, especially the 'frame of government'. First, the circumstances of the adoption of the Czech Constitution from 1993 are described, as well as the initial problems with the implementation of bicameralism. Second, the rigidity of the constitution in formal and material sense is analysed. Here, the article demonstrates that the procedural rules for adopting constitutional acts (qualified majorities in both chambers of the Parliament) have to be considered in connection with the electoral and political system in the Czech Republic in order to get a good picture. By an overview of constitutional acts adopted since 1993, it is shown that the constitutional system has not been subject to major changes and remained rather stable. Two important exceptions, i.e. moments of constitutional development are discussed in detail: the cancellation of early election in the Chamber of Deputies by the annulment of a constitutional act by the Constitutional Court and the introduction of direct election of the President of the Republic and its impact. In both cases, the lack of governmental control over the dissolution of the Chamber of Deputies—arguably the weakest point of the constitutional system—amplified the political crises in the short-term, but did not prevent the return to regular functioning of the parliamentary system. The article, therefore, comes to the conclusion that the Czech constitution is rather stable and functional. The rules ensuring its rigidity have been successful and may serve as an inspiration from the comparative perspective.


The hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) has been successfully produced in tobacco leaves, potato tubers and banana fruits, but at a rather low yield. Plant seeds are well suited for the accumulation, long-time storage and preservation of recombinant proteins with pharmaceutical interest, including antigens for prophylactic or therapeutic vaccines. In this work, we assessed the effi cacy of the tissue-specifi c phaseolin promoter in driving the expression of the HBsAg gene in tobacco seeds. Two binary constructs were designed to synthesize this antigen fused or not to the KDEL motif for protein targeting to the endoplasmic reticulum. Tobacco plants were transformed via Agrobacterium tumefaciens using each construct. The highest yield (2.2 μg of the recombinant protein per gram of seed) was achieved by a transgenic line carrying the HBsAg gene without the KDEL fusion. The heterologous antigen aggregated properly forming particles that could be determined using an immunoenzymatic assay based on monoclonal antibody which recognizes the immunodominant epitope a of HBsAg, although seed-derived antigens sedimented slightly faster than the one produced in Pichia pastoris yeast. The HBsAg-expressing tobacco seeds could constitute a novel alternative source for the cost-effective production of the antigen.


Functional imaging with positron emission tomography (PET) is playing an increasingly important role in the diagnosis and staging of malignant disease, image-guided therapy planning, and treatment monitoring. PET with the labeled glucose analogue fluorine 18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) is a relatively recent addition to the medical technology for imaging of cancer, and FDG PET complements the more conventional anatomic imaging modalities of computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging. CT is complementary in the sense that it provides accurate localization of organs and lesions, while PET maps both normal and abnormal tissue function. When combined, the two modalities can help both identify and localize functional abnormalities. Attempts to align CT and PET data sets with fusion software are generally successful in the brain; other areas of the body is more challenging, owing to the increased number of degrees of freedom between the two data sets. These challenges have recently been addressed by the introduction of the combined PET/CT scanner, a hardware-oriented approach to image fusion. With such a device, accurately registered anatomic and functional images can be acquired for each patient in a single scanning session. Currently, over 800 combined PET/CT scanners are installed in medical institutions worldwide, many of them for the diagnosis and staging of malignant disease and increasingly for monitoring of the response to therapy. This review will describe some of the most recent technologic developments in PET/CT instrumentation and the clinical indications for which combined PET/CT has been shown to be more useful than PET and CT performed separately.


Insulin receptor (IR) and hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) master two different intracellular signaling pathways. Both the pathways regulate growth, glycolysis, migration and angiogenesis in cancer. We hypothesized that the IR and HIF-1 pathways are interrelated to each other in pancreatic cancer cells. To test this hypothesis, we designated 45 athymic mice to six tumor-carrying groups (6-7 mice per group) and an intact control group (n=5). All tumor carriers were subject to one of the following conditions: (i) injection of beta-cell-toxin streptozotosin (SZ) before cancer induction, (ii) daily injection of insulin after cancer induction, and (iii) no treatment other than cancer induction. In a 12-week experiment, wild-type MiaPaCa2 human pancreatic cancer cells and HIF-1-null si-MiaPaCa2 cells were implanted orthotopically. When wild-type cells were used, the resulting groups were mice(wt-sz), mice(wt-in), and mice(wt-un). When si-MiaPaCa2 cells were used, the resulting groups were mice(si-sz), mice(si-in), and mice(si-un). In the end of the experiment, insulin was determined in pancreas and plasma by radioimmunoassay. Tumor viability was assessed by histology and Western blots. We found that pancreatic insulin was decreased in all tumor carriers except mice(wt-in), which suggests that tumor carriage per se impaired pancreatic beta-cells. When plasma insulin was determined, significant decreases were seen in mice(wt-sz) and mice(si-sz). Thus, SZ treatment caused additional damage on pancreatic beta-cells and thereby decreased plasma insulin. When glucose and lactate were determined in the plasma, decreased glucose and increased lactate were seen in four out of six tumor-carrying groups. These changes may be due to an uncontrolled glycolysis in cancer cells (also known as the Warburg effect). When tumors were weighed, the biggest ones came from mice(wt-in). Necrosis was seen in all tumors, but tumors from mice(wt-un) had the least necrosis. It suggests that normal pancreas is the best environment for insulin-HIF-1 cooperation. We performed Western blots to determine IR, hexokinase-II (HK-II, a glycolytic enzyme), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in tumor grafts. HK-II and VEGF are known to be regulated by HIF-1. In addition, HK-II and VEGF are also known to be involved in IR-motivated signaling cascades. In the present study, insulin injection in mice(wt-in) and mice(si-in) increased IR expression. However, increased HK-II and VEGF expression were only seen in tumors from mice(wt-in) but not mice(si-in). This suggests that HIF-1 is a prerequisite for insulin to stimulate glycolysis and angiogenesis. Finally, we determined caveolin-1 in tumors. Caveolin-1 is an IR regulator, and caveolin-1 gene is regulated by HIF-1. In this study, we found that wild-type tumors had greater caveolin-1 expression than HIF-1-null tumors. In conclusion, insulin and HIF-1 systems cooperate to give survival advantage to pancreatic cancer cells. HIF-1 expression is a prerequisite for insulin to stimulate pancreatic cancer cells. HIF-1 is also necessary for pancreatic cancer cells to express caveolin-1. Citation Format: Yue Chen, Dapeng Zhang, Lihua Cui, Feng Wang. Insulin and hypoxia-inducible factor-1 cooperate to increase the viability of pancreatic cancer cells. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Pancreatic Cancer: Innovations in Research and Treatment; May 18-21, 2014; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(13 Suppl):Abstract nr A35.


Many human activities are a bottleneck in progress Technological innovations are penetrating all areas of science, making predominantly human activities a principal bottleneck in scientific progress while also making scientific advancement more subject to error and harder to reproduce. This is an area where a new generation of artificial intelligence (AI) systems can radically transform the practice of scientific discovery. Such systems are showing an increasing ability to automate scientific data analysis and discovery processes, can search systematically and correctly through hypothesis spaces to ensure best results, can autonomously discover complex patterns in data, and can reliably apply small-scale scientific processes consistently and transparently so that they can be easily reproduced. We discuss these advances and the steps that could help promote their development and deployment.


A 3-year-old boy with chest pain and trouble breathing that had developed over the past 24 hours was brought to the emergency department. The parents reported that his most prominent symptom was a cough. The chest pain appeared to worsen with coughing. He had undergone open atrial septal defect repair about 3 weeks before presentation.


Over the next few years, we will witness radical changes in the way users consume communication services. Two of the most visible trends are the Over-The-Top (OTT) models, pushed by webcos, i.e. the major companies driving the offering of web services, and the telco model, favored by telecommunication network operators. Are they that different? With an analysis of the differences and the commonalities between these two models, this paper unveils the reality about some of the myths surrounding OTT and the telcos' models.


A number of current policy issues are discussed which illustrate serious confusion and economic illiteracy in the minds of many influential farm leaders. The issues discussed are: the cost-price squeeze in agriculture; the embargo on the export of merino rams; promotion of farm products; land policy; and tax concessions for agriculture. In some cases policies are followed which run counter to both farmer and national interests. Along with farm management extension, there is a growing need for agricultural policy extension.


BACKGROUND
A huge variety of plant forms can be found in nature. This is particularly noticeable for inflorescences, the region of the plant that contains the flowers. The architecture of the inflorescence depends on its branching pattern and on the relative position where flowers are formed. In model species such as Arabidopsis thaliana or Antirrhinum majus the key genes that regulate the initiation of flowers have been studied in detail and much is known about how they work. Studies being carried out in other species of higher plants indicate that the homologues of these genes are also key regulators of the development of their reproductive structures. Further, changes in these gene expression patterns and/or function play a crucial role in the generation of different plant architectures.

SCOPE
In this review we aim to present a summarized view on what is known about floral initiation genes in different plants, particularly dicotyledonous species, and aim to emphasize their contribution to plant architecture.


With mining of seafloor massive sulfides (SMS) coming closer to reality, it is vital that we have a good understanding of the geochemistry of these occurrences and the potential toxicity impact associated with mining them. In this study, SMS samples from seven hydrothermal fields from various tectonic settings were investigated by in-situ microanalysis (electron microprobe (EMPA) and laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS)) to highlight the distribution of potentially-toxic trace elements (Cu, Zn, Pb, Mn, Cd, As, Sb, Co, Ni, Bi, Ag and Hg) within the deposits, their minerals and textures. We demonstrate that a combination of mineralogy, trace element composition and texture characterisation of SMS from various geotectonic settings, when considered along with our current knowledge of oxidation rates and galvanic coupling, can be used to predict potential toxicity of deposit types and individual samples and highlight which may be of environmental concern. Although we cannot quantify toxicity, we observe that arc-related sulfide deposits have a high potential toxicity when compared with deposits from other tectonic settings based on their genetic association of a wide range of potentially toxic metals (As, Sb, Pb, Hg, Ag and Bi) that are incorporated into more reactive sulfosalts, galena and Fe-rich sphalerite. Thus, deposits such as these require special care when considered as mining targets. In contrast, the exclusive concern of ultra-mafic deposits is Cu, present in abundant, albeit less reactive chalcopyrite, but largely barren of other metals such as As, Pb, Sb, Cd and Hg. Whilst geological setting does dictate metal endowment, ultimately mineralogy is the largest control of trace element distribution and subsequent potential toxicity. Deposits containing abundant pyrrhotite (high-temperature deposits) and Fe-rich sphalerite (ubiquitous to all SMS deposits) as well as deposits with abundant colloform textures also pose a higher risk. This type of study can be combined with "bulk lethal toxicity" assessments and used throughout the stages of a mining project to help guide prospecting and legislation, focus exploitation and minimise environmental impact.


Purpose: This research note presents a secondary data analysis of language impairment (LI) prevalence rates of children in public schools before and after a statewide mandate for response-to-intervention (RTI) implementation.Method: Statewide and district-level LI prevalence rates were compared across 10 school years. Prevalence data from 67 school districts located in 1 state in the United States are reported as the proportion of the general student population (students ages 3–21 years) who were identified with a primary disability of LI.Results: The mandated implementation of RTI within special education prereferral, evaluation, and eligibility processes coincided with significant changes in LI prevalence as a primary disability for most of the school districts. The majority of school districts experienced an increase in LI prevalence within 1 school year following RTI implementation. However, the degree and direction of change in prevalence rates varied across some of the school districts. Similar degrees of change were not evident across the other years of prevalence data review, suggesting the systemic change that occurred via RTI requirements coincided with fluctuations in the LI prevalence rates for the majority of school districts in the state.Conclusion: A causal relation between RTI and LI prevalence cannot be established with the current data; however, this study establishes a temporal connection between the timing of RTI implementation and changes in LI prevalence in public schools of 1 very large state. Implications are presented for further research investigating the potential impact of systemic mandates on the identification of school-age children with LI.Supplemental Material S1. Summary of Florida State Board of Education (SBE) rule changes reflecting response-to-intervention (RTI) process interface with the evaluation and identification of students with disabilities. Hall-Mills, S. (2019). A comparison of the prevalence rates of language impairment before and after response-to-intervention implementation. Language, Speech, and Hearing Services in Schools. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1044/2019_LSHSS-18-0144


A green and simple method, ionic liquid-based microwave-assisted surfactant-improved dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction and derivatization was developed for the determination of aminoglycosides in milk samples. Nonionic surfactant Triton X-100 and ionic liquid 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate were used as the disperser and extraction solvent, respectively. Extraction, preconcentration, and derivatization of aminoglycosides were carried out in a single step. Several experimental parameters, including type and volume of extraction solvent, type and concentration of surfactant, microwave power and irradiation time, concentration of derivatization reagent, and pH value and volume of buffer were investigated and optimized. Under the optimum experimental conditions, the linearities for determining the analytes were in the range 0.4-10.0 ng/mL for tobramycin, 1.0-25.0 ng/mL for neomycin, and 2.0-50.0 ng/mL for gentamicin, with the correlation coefficients ranging from 0.9991 to 0.9998. The LODs for the analytes were between 0.11 and 0.50 ng/mL. The present method was applied to the analysis of different milk samples, and the recoveries of aminoglycosides obtained were in the range 96.4-105.4% with the RSDs lower than 5.5%. The results showed that the present method was a rapid, convenient, and environmentally friendly method for the determination of aminoglycosides in milk samples.


Real estate & property industry was a sector which had difficult characteristics to predict and high risk. WhenEconomy growth was high, it was booming and tended to be over supplied and the main capital was generallygot through bank loans. The purpose of this research was to analyze the impact of firm structure consisting ofthe firm size, firm age, capital structure, and stock ownership toward profitability measured using ROI andROE. The sample was selected using purposive sampling with 120 observations from 52 real estate & propertycompanies listed in Indonesian Stock Exchange in 2009 – 2011. By using multiple regression, the result of thisresearch showed that firm size had positive significant effect on ROI and ROE; firm age had negative significanteffect on ROI but it did not have significant effect on ROE; capital structure had positive significant effecton ROE but did not have significant effect on ROI; public ownership had negative significant effect on ROIand ROE.


A new, to our knowledge, iterative algorithm for achieving optimization of beam profiles in a three-dimensional volume is presented. The algorithm is based on examining the region of interest at discrete plane locations perpendicular to the propagation direction. At each such plane an intensity constraint is imposed within a well-defined transverse spatial region of interest, whereas the phase inside that region as well as the complex amplitude outside the region is left unchanged from the previous iteration. Once the optimal solution is found, the mask that generates the desired distribution can be readily implemented with a planar diffractive optical element such as a computer-generated hologram. Several computer simulations verified the utility of the proposed approach.


A total of 17 participants (30.2 ± 4.8 years; 35.4 ± 4 kg/m2; 38.2 ± 3.6 % body fat) were enrolled in this randomized crossover trial to analyze the effects of a single session of high-intensity interval (HIIE) and moderate-intensity continuous exercise (MICE) on the physical activity and sedentary behavior levels in inactive obese males. The participants performed two exercise sessions and one control session (no exercise): i) low-volume HIIE (10 x 60 s at 90% of maximal aerobic velocity [MAV] interspaced by 60 s at 30% of MAV); ii) MICE (20 min at 70% of maximum heart rate); and iii) control (25 min in a seated position). After all sessions, the physical activity and sedentary behavior levels were monitored by accelerometer over seven consecutive days. No differences in the physical activity (activity counts, and time spent at light, moderate, and vigorous intensities) and sedentary behavior (time spent at sedentary behavior, breaks, and bouts) levels were found among the sessions (HIIE, MICE and control) (p > 0.05). In summary, a single session of HIIE and MICE does not change the physical activity and sedentary behavior levels in inactive obese males. Therefore, low-volume of both high- and moderate-intensity exercise should be considered for inactive obese males given that it does not reduce the physical activity level or increase the time spent at sedentary behavior.


The increasing impact of noise in deep submicron designs combined with a need for high performance circuits warrants development of noise tolerant dynamic circuits. A circuit technique for addressing this problem is presented in this paper. Traditionally, an output controlled refresh has been used for providing noise immunity to the dynamic node. An input controlled refresh technique has been developed for noise-free performance with minimal impact on delay and power. Also this technique eliminates functional failure that occurs due to charge loss from the dynamic node. A metric, Unity Noise Gain (UNG) has been used to compare the proposed method with the existing approaches. Simulations show a significant improvement is noise immunity, for a NAND gate and an adder circuit.


The enormous personal and societal costs associated with tobacco are well documented. Unlike the large literature on the prevalence and consequences of tobacco use, there are fewer data on the genetic epidemiology (family, adoption, and twin studies) of tobacco use initiation and nicotine dependence. This review is limited to smoking as this has been the overwhelming focus of the literature. The data from family, adoption, and twin studies strongly support a substantial genetic influence on the initiation and maintenance of smoking. The literature supports the following hypothesis of the development of nicotine dependence. Smoking initiation is the obligatory first step. Liability to initiating smoking results from genetic influences (approximately 60%) and from environmental influences shared by members of a twin pair (approximately 20%) and that are specific to an individual (approximately 20%). The impact of shared environment may be particularly pronounced in mid-adolescence when many begin smoking. A subset of those who initiate smoking progress to nicotine dependence: genetic factors appear to be more prominent in this transition (approximately 70%) and shared environmental influences appear to be negligible. The genetic factors that predispose to smoking initiation appear to overlap substantially but not completely with those for nicotine dependence. The substantial impact of genetic factors on smoking behavior has engendered molecular genetic studies of this complex trait. We need to localize and identify the specific genes involved-which genes predispose to smoking initiation and which to nicotine dependence? If such genes are located, by what biological mechanisms do they operate? Do these genes act directly by altering or enhancing the pharmacokinetics or pharmacodynamics of nicotine? Do they act indirectly via personality or depression? Are these genes specific to nicotine or are they also involved in dependence on other licit and illicit psychoactive substances? Are there different mechanisms in men and women? What are the specific environmental factors and how do genes and environment interact?


Abstract Objectives: To evaluate the outcome of mobile ear surgery, in terms of tympanic membrane perforation closure, absence of otorrhoea and hearing threshold improvement. Study design: Descriptive study. Methods: The study enrolled patients with chronic ear disorders requiring surgery who presented to the mobile ear surgery unit at Sakaeo Hospital, Thailand, from 1 to 4 July 2008. The following data were recorded: pre-operative audiogram, post-operative middle-ear and mastoid infection, wound infection, graft condition, any complications, and post-operative audiogram. Patients were followed up at one week, two weeks, four weeks and 24 weeks post-operatively. Results: For the 31 cases of tympanic membrane perforation, the closure rate was 90.3 per cent. For the 32 patients with otorrhoea, the rate of ear dryness was 87.5 per cent. All 35 patients had impaired hearing initially; the rate of hearing improvement was 74.3 per cent (95 per cent confidence intervals = 56.7–87.5 per cent). Patients' mean hearing improvement was 22.9 dB. Conclusion: The assessed ear surgery procedures had good results.


Floating wind turbines (FWTs) are proposed as a method to harness the significant wind energy resource in deep water. International research efforts have led to the development of coupled numerical global analysis tools for FWTs in order to understand their behavior under wind and wave actions. The hydrodynamic models in such tools are typically based on first-(and second-)order potential flow theory, sometimes also including Morison's equation. In order to accurately model highly nonlinear waves, their interaction with a floating platform, and obtain estimates of the resulting loads on the structure, a numerical wave tank approach is generally needed. In this thesis, the response of floating structures to nonlinear wave loading is investigated by means of two different numerical approaches: a fully nonlinear Navier-Stokes/VOF solver and a second-order potential flow theory solver. Firstly, the fully nonlinear Navier-Stokes/VOF numerical wave tank, developed within the open-source CFD toolbox OpenFOAM, is validated against experimental data for two cases. These comprise the response of a 2D floating box and a 3D floating vertical cylinder. In order to model the motions of the floating structures, together with the generation and absorption of the waves, the interDyMFoam solver, provided by the OpenFOAM library, is extended with the waves2Foam package, developed by Jacobsen et al. (2012). Furthermore, a simple catenary mooring line is implemented for the moored cases. Secondly, a potential flow theory based model of the OC5-semisubmersible floating platform is generated. The frequency-domain analysis is done with the Wadam software and the time-domain simulations with SIMO. This model is validated against measurement data from a 1:50 scale test campaign performed at the MARIN offshore wave basin and the fully nonlinear validated CFD model. Lastly, both numerical models of the OC5-semisubmersible are compared in order to assess the suitability of the diffraction model in two different conditions where nonlinearities are of relevance. The first one involves very long waves, with periods close to 20s, which are likely to take place under swell wave conditions. These may excite the OC5-semisubmersible platform in heave at its natural frequency. The second situation deals with regular waves with increasing steepness. In principle, the fully nonlinear CFD model, if no experimental data is available, is needed to calibrate the diffraction model. However, once the latter is adjusted and validated, results are given at a much lower computational cost. According to the computations throughout this work, when dealing with waves with high steepness and high excitation frequencies, the motions, as well as the peak forces, are properly captured by the diffraction model. However, other local effects of importance for offshore structures, such as wave run-up, or the different components in frequency of the loading, require the use of a fully nonlinear CFD solver. Therefore for preliminary design stages a diffraction model is able to give suitable results regarding the motions and peak inline and vertical forces at a much lower computational cost; however, for detailed design, or optimisation phase stages, where local effects are of relevance, a fully nonlinear CFD model is required.


Osbeckia muralis Naudin is an endemic herb in Wester Ghats. It is hispid herb from Melastomaceae family. Scientific exploration of the drug has been done by acute oral toxicity study and Anti bacterial Study. Acute oral toxicity study showed no signs of toxicity or behavioural changes. Antibacterial study with Disk diffusion method showed the action of Osbeckia muralis Kashaya in Klebseilla pneumoniae was positive.


We are seeing a Cambrian explosion of 3D shape representations for use in machine learning. Some representations seek high expressive power in capturing high-resolution detail. Other approaches seek to represent shapes as compositions of simple parts, which are intuitive for people to understand and easy to edit and manipulate. However, it is difficult to achieve both fidelity and interpretability in the same representation. We propose DualSDF, a representation expressing shapes at two levels of granularity, one capturing fine details and the other representing an abstracted proxy shape using simple and semantically consistent shape primitives. To achieve a tight coupling between the two representations, we use a variational objective over a shared latent space. Our two-level model gives rise to a new shape manipulation technique in which a user can interactively manipulate the coarse proxy shape and see the changes instantly mirrored in the high-resolution shape. Moreover, our model actively augments and guides the manipulation towards producing semantically meaningful shapes, making complex manipulations possible with minimal user input.


The three dimensional model of a 2-cylinder diesel engine block is established with the P ro/E software, and then the modal analysis of the engine block is carried out using finite element method with ANSYS software . Through the analysis, the inherent frequencies and mode shapes of the first 6 order modes are obtained respectively, and then are compared with the testing result; comparison shows the results of FEA estimation are in good agreement with those of testing which indicates the FEA results' correctness. The results of the relative distribution of the vibration magnitude in the whole block are given, which provide necessary guides for the dynamic optimal design of the engine block.


Mainland China has been concerned about the national growth rate of older adults aged 60 or above. The rapid growth of the cohort of older adults will significantly burden the Chinese healthcare system as they are at higher risk of suffering from chronic illnesses and functional disabilities. In geriatrics, aged populations often endure a wide range of diseases, dysfunctions, and cognitive impairment, so the corresponding healthcare services needed for them are substantial. The rise in the older adults' life expectancy has compounded the burden of the healthcare system in mainland China in the long term. In this narrative essay, it is important to discuss how the state should assume a higher share of relevant responsibilities, by assessing how Chinese policymaking has been transformed to better satisfy the older population's care and healthcare needs in mainland China. It is also pivotal to focus on analysing relevant Chinese policy development within the most recent dozen years to address how China's state and local governments have been progressing in promptly providing health and older population care services to older Chinese adults. Because of the supply shortage and low quality of older population caregivers and alternative professionals, it is necessary to discuss and highlight the need to reskill or upskill relevant caregivers. As the trend of rural-to-urban labour migration continues, working adults of rural origins increasingly cannot provide domestic older population care, and human investment in training caregivers is an urgent task of Chinese policymaking. Therefore, how Chinese policymaking encourages upskilling or reskilling relevant caregivers is examined in this narrative essay.


Objective: This study aims to evaluate outcome after conservative management (no pharmacological/surgical intervention other than fluid restriction, diuretics, or ventilator adjustments) compared with active (pharmacological and/or surgical) treatment for patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in preterm infants and analyze differences in outcome between randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and cohort studies. Study Design: This is a systematic literature review using PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane library. RCTs and cohort studies comparing conservative management with active treatment were included. Meta-analysis was used to compare conservative management with any active (pharmacological and/or surgical), any pharmacological (non-prophylactic and prophylactic), and/or surgical treatment for mortality as primary and major neonatal morbidity as secondary outcome measure. Fixed-effect analysis was used, unless heterogeneity (I2) was >50%. Outcome is presented as relative risk (RR) with 95% confidence interval. Results: Twelve cohort studies and four RCTs were included, encompassing 41,804 and 720 patients, respectively. In cohort studies, conservative management for PDA was associated with a significantly higher risk for mortality (RR, 1.34 [1.12–1.62]) but a significantly lower risk for bronchopulmonary dysplasia (RR, 0.55 [0.46–0.65]), necrotizing enterocolitis (RR, 0.85 [0.77–0.93]), intraventricular hemorrhage (RR, 0.88 [0.83–0.95]), and retinopathy of prematurity (RR, 0.47 [0.28–0.79]) compared with any active PDA treatment. Meta-analysis of the RCTs revealed no significant differences in outcome between conservative management and active treatment. Conclusion: No differences in mortality or morbidity for conservative management compared with active treatment regimens were observed in RCTs. Findings from cohort studies mainly highlight the lack of high-quality evidence for conservative management for PDA in preterm infants.


Plans by the Bureau of the Census to incorporate data from two new sample surveys into the 2000 decennial census count have had a mixed congressional reception. Three sampling bills in the 105th Congress (H.R. 1220, H.R. 1178, and H.R. 776) have been referred to committee, without further action. Sampling has been debated chiefly in the appropriations process (H.R. 1469, H.R. 1871 [P.L. 105-18; 111 Stat. 158], and H.R. 2267/S. 1022 [P.L. 105-119; 111 Stat. 2440]). The bureau now is a defendant in two anti-sampling suits brought under P.L. 105-119. The law also established a Census Monitoring Board and directed the bureau to prepare for a traditional headcount in 2000, not just to continue with its sampling plans.


Closed-end burst tests were conducted on sections of fuel cladding cut from five Pickering-type fuel bundles after exposures of 2.5 to 4.8 x 10 2 4 n/m 2 (>1 MeV) at 300 C (572 F). Five batches or heat treatments of Zircaloy-2 and -4 were tested at 22 and 300 C (72 and 572 F). Two of the bundles contained an unfueled element in the center ring. The burst test results obtained from fueled and unfueled sheaths are compared with the same cladding batches irradiated to similar fluences without fuel in a fast neutron facility at 125 to 250 C (257 and 482 F) and to unirradiated controls. The fueled cladding specimens exhibited higher strength and lower total circumferential elongation than unfueled specimens irradiated in the fast neutron facility. Although the fueled cladding was strained as much as 1.2 percent by thermal expansion of the UO 2 , the uniform elongation in subsequent burst tests was often higher than that obtained on bursting tubing irradiated in the fast neutron facility. Most of these differences were attributed to the different irradiation temperatures that produced a variation in the size distribution of radiation damage and perhaps a variation in the stability of the defect loops under strain. While there was no visual or metallographic evidence of interaction between the fuel and the cladding, there was a slight difference in properties between the fueled cladding and unfueled sheaths contained in the same fuel bundles. The slightly lower strength and total circumferential elongation of the fueled cladding were taken as evidence of some mechanical interaction, probably the 0.1 to 1.2 percent plastic strain imposed on the sheath by the thermal expansion of the UO 2 . There were indications of a texture effect in irradiation hardening with the greater values occurring in instances where deformation took place almost entirely by slip. Hydrogen concentrations in the range 170 to 719 ppm drastically reduced the 22 C (72 F) strength and ductility, but the 300 C (572 F) properties were significantly reduced only in cladding with a low level of cold work.


of lungs obtained at necropsy from 44 children at or above the 50th centile dying from non-pulmonary causes were described. In the present paper some results from the analysis of 92 further pressure-volume curves are described. These were compared with the theoretically normal values according to total body length, by dividing the observed value by the theoretically normal one. This was done for both the maximum inflation volume and the low pressure air retention index. These indices were then plotted against each other to look for 'clusters'. One cluster showed low maximum volume, but, in contrast to the IRDS group, an above normal low pressure air retention index. The deflation curve characteristics of this group closely resembled the normal curves of premature infants rather than those of the growthmatched controls. Histological examination of these lungs fixed distended at a pressure of + 5 cm. H20 showed only alveolar ducts and collapsed alveoli, whereas the controls showed alveolar ducts lined with open alveoli. Stains for elastic tissues showed that the alveoli were normally developed, but collapsed against the duct walls. At low pressures, alveolar morphology is almost certainly controlled by surfactant. From these findings, it is suggested that, (1) the finding in an older child's lung of a deflation curve profile similar to that of a premature lung but with a severely diminished maximum inflation volume is characteristic of alveolar closure with surfactant malfunction in a more mature lung; (2) the reason for the different deflation profiles of surfactant malfunction in the newborn and the older child is that in the older child the elastic tissues around the alveolar ducts are sufficiently rigid to hold them open against the increased surface tension (due to surfactant malfunction); and (3) the similarity of deflation curve profile between the premature lung and abnormal older child's lung is because both are respiring with simple alveolar ducts without functioning definitive alveoli.


Abstract Objectives To evaluate the efficacy of flecainide and digoxin combination in foetal supraventricular tachycardia. Setting This study was carried out in a tertiary referral centre. Methods We conducted a retrospective review of 29 patients diagnosed with supraventricular foetal tachycardia between 2001 and 2009. Mode of presentation, foetal cardiac function, maternal anti-arrhythmic serum levels, drug tolerance, and maternal electrocardiogram recordings were assessed. The postnatal outcome of each infant was also evaluated for tachycardia recurrence. Results In all, 27 foetuses were treated with digoxin and flecainide combination, and two foetuses were delivered without any treatment. Of the 27 foetuses, seven had atrial flutter and the remaining 22 had atrioventricular re-entry tachycardia. There were eight foetuses with hydrops (27%), of whom three had atrial flutter and five had atrioventricular re-entry tachycardia; 26 foetuses (96%) responded to flecainide and digoxin combination, with restoration of sinus rhythm in 22 (81.4%) and rate control in the other four. In one severely hydropic foetus, there was no response to treatment. In all, 26 treated infants were delivered alive, but one pregnancy was terminated for non-cardiac causes when the foetus was in sinus rhythm. There was no intrauterine death due to tachycardia. Although there were minor side effects to anti-arrhythmic medications, none of the pregnant women developed proarrhythmia. Conclusion Flecainide and digoxin combination treatment offers a safe and effective treatment for foetal supraventricular tachycardia with fast restoration of sinus rhythm.


In the context of structure-to-structure transformation tasks, learning sequences of discrete symbolic operations poses significant challenges due to their non-differentiability. To facilitate the learning of these symbolic sequences, we introduce a differentiable tree interpreter that compiles high-level symbolic tree operations into subsymbolic matrix operations on tensors. We present a novel Differentiable Tree Machine (DTM) architecture that integrates our interpreter with an external memory and an agent that learns to sequentially select tree operations to execute the target transformation in an end-to-end manner. With respect to out-of-distribution compositional generalization on synthetic semantic parsing and language generation tasks, DTM achieves 100% while existing baselines such as Transformer, Tree Transformer, LSTM, and Tree2Tree LSTM achieve less than 30%. DTM remains highly interpretable in addition to its perfect performance.


Shift work (SW) is viewed as a risk factor for the development of many serious health conditions, yet prospective studies that document such risks are rare. The current study addressed this void by testing the hypothesis that long-term exposure to repeated diurnal phase shifts, mimicking SW, will accelerate disease onset or death in inbred mice with genetic risk of developing cancer, diabetes, or autoimmune disease. The data indicate that 1) life-long exposure to simulated SW accelerates death in female cancerprone AKR/J mice; 2) a significant proportion of male NON/ShiLtJ mice, which have impaired glucose tolerance but do not normally progress to type 2 diabetes, develop hyperglycemia, consistent with diabetes (that is, blood glucose 250 mg/dL or greater) after exposure to simulated SW for 8 wk; and 3) MRL/MpJ mice, which are prone to develop autoimmune disease, showed sex-related acceleration of disease development when exposed to SW as compared with mice maintained on a stable photocycle. Thus, longterm exposure to diurnal phase shifts that mimic SW reduces health or longevity in a wide variety of disease models. Our approach provides a simple way to assess the effect of chronic diurnal disruption in disease development in at-risk genotypes.


In search and rescue scenarios, it is important to find survivors and map their locations quickly and efficiently. This paper presents a multimodal exploration and mapping approach that extends an occupancy grid map formulation to incorporate conditionally dependent sensor observations from multiple sensors and enables reasoning about uncertainty to select maximally informative actions. Temperature from a simulated thermal camera and range from a simulated time-of-flight camera provide updates to spatial and thermal dense voxel maps. The information gain is computed as the sum of the Mutual Information between the depth sensor and spatial map and Conditional Mutual Information between the multimodal sensor and map. Formulating multimodal exploration and mapping in this way results in selecting actions that drive the robot to collect thermal observations of occupied regions and reduce the uncertainty of both the occupancy state and temperature state of the environment. The performance of the proposed methodology is evaluated through simulations with an aerial robot exploring an office room and compared to state-of-art information-theoretic exploration techniques.


Aims. The incidence of multiplicity in cool, luminous massive stars is relatively unknown compared to their hotter counterparts. In this work we present radial velocity (RV) measurements and investigate the multiplicity properties of red supergiants (RSGs) in the 30 Doradus region of the Large Magellanic Cloud using multi-epoch visible spectroscopy from the VLT-FLAMES Tarantula Survey.
Methods. Exploiting the high density of absorption features in visible spectra of cool stars, we used a novel slicing technique to estimate RVs of 17 candidate RSGs in 30 Doradus from cross-correlation of the observations with model spectra.
Results. We provide absolute RV measurements (precise to better than ±1 km s−1) for our sample and estimate line-of-sight velocities for the Hodge 301 and SL 639 clusters, which agree well with those of hot stars in the same clusters. By combining results for the RSGs with those for nearby B-type stars, we estimate systemic velocities and line-of-sight velocity dispersions for the two clusters, obtaining estimates for their dynamical masses of log(Mdyn/M⊙) = 3.8 ± 0.3 for Hodge 301, and an upper limit of log(Mdyn/M⊙) < 3.1 ± 0.8 for SL 639, assuming virial equilibrium. Analysis of the multi-epoch data reveals one RV variable, potential binary candidate (VFTS 744), which is likely a semi-regular variable asymptotic giant branch star. Calculations of semi-amplitude velocities for a range of RSGs in model binary systems and literature examples of binary RSGs were used to guide our RV variability criteria. We estimate an upper limit on the observed binary fraction for our sample of 0.3; for this sample we are sensitive to maximum periods for individual objects in the range 1–10 000 days and mass ratios above 0.3 depending on the data quality. From simulations of RV measurements from binary systems given the current data, we conclude that systems within the parameter range q >  0.3, log P [days] < 3.5 would be detected by our variability criteria at the 90% confidence level. The intrinsic binary fraction, accounting for observational biases, is estimated using simulations of binary systems with an empirically defined distribution of parameters in which orbital periods are uniformly distributed in the 3.3 < log P [days] < 4.3 range. A range of intrinsic binary fractions are considered; a binary fraction of 0.3 is found to best reproduce the observed data.
Conclusions. We demonstrate that RSGs are effective extragalactic kinematic tracers by estimating the kinematic properties, including the dynamical masses of two LMC young massive clusters. In the context of binary evolution models, we conclude that the large majority of our sample consists of effectively single stars that are either currently single or in long-period systems. Further observations at greater spectral resolution or over a longer baseline, or both, are required to search for such systems.


Foreign direct investment (FDI) and its multinationals' activities are well accepted as an engine of growth by which a host country can benefit from the injection of capital investment, technology and managerial knowhow to build up indigenous competitiveness through spillovers effects and productivity gap between foreign affiliates and local firms New Zealand is a small but developed economy. FDI plays an important role in the development and growth of local industry in New Zealand. In the extant literature, there was very few studies research on the performance gap in New Zealand context. This paper investigates the effect of inward FDI on host country theoretically, focusing on the spillover effects and firm performance. Statistical analysis tests the possibility of performance gap's existence in New Zealand firms. In addition, separated attention is provided to service industry to differ from manufacturing industries that always be testified in many empirical studies. The findings provide evidence that foreign owned firms have superior performance advantages over local firms. But more research needs to be conducted for more


The bone mineral content (BMC) of the spine can be measured from the attenuation of two photon beams. An equation was derived for the theoretical precision of BMC measurement and validated experimentally. Though 153Gd was found to possess the better energy combination, the precision due to the photon energy levels using 241Am, 137Cs was only 1.5 times the value obtained from 153Gd. The available photon outputs from 241Am and 153Gd were investigated and with a 12 mm diameter disc source a theoretical precision of 1% could be obtained with source strengths 20 GBq 241Am or 5GBq 153Gd in a 40 min and 20 min patient scan respectively. There was no great advantage in either energy combination when the problems of fat or patient dose were considered. Given the disadvantages of 153Gd, its cost and availability, 241Am, 137Cs can be used as a practical alternative to measure spine BMC from a reconstructed bone mineral image.


Abstract Very accurate timing of seismic recordings is critical for modern processing techniques. Clock synchronization among the instruments constituting an array is, however, difficult without direct communication between them. Synchronization to Global Positioning System (GPS) time is one option for on‐land deployments, but not for underwater surveys as electromagnetic signals do not propagate efficiently in water. If clock drift is linear, time corrections for ocean‐bottom seismometer (OBS) deployments can be estimated through GPS synchronization before and after the deployment, but this is not sufficient for many applications as the nonlinear component of the drift can reach tens to hundreds of milliseconds for long‐duration experiments. We present two techniques to retrieve timing differences between simultaneous recordings at ocean‐bottom instruments after deployment has ended. Both techniques are based on the analysis of the cross correlation of ambient seismic noise and are effective even if clock drift is nonlinear. The first, called time symmetry analysis, is easy to apply but requires a proper illumination so that the noise cross‐correlation functions are symmetric in time. The second is based on the doublet analysis method and does not have this restriction. Advantages and drawbacks of both approaches are discussed. Application to two OBS data sets shows that both can achieve synchronization of recordings down to about five milliseconds (a few percent of the main period used).


Abstract: The construct of leadership conveys a variety of images in one's mind. Depending on the area in which the leader is imagined, these visualizations may vary.  Militaristic leaders one imagines in uniform, following prescribed policy and a strict chain of command. The individual's gender or ethnicity rarely dominates the position as the entity itself is the central image, with the underlying support of the strengths associated with the organization. Leadership within the political realm in the United States, as the 2016 election has shown, has begun to evolve to a position whereby both ethnic and gender variance have been embraced in such a manner that the sole political voice is no longer exclusively that of a Caucasian male. While these changes signal a clear change in the thought pattern of millions of Americans, one realm of leadership still struggles to emerge with an equal voice in leadership. Ironically, this area is known as Educational Leadership, which purports to educate and train educators to become educational administrators and lead public P-12 schools throughout the country. This paper reveals the existing gaps in administrative leadership for women in educational settings and seeks to help reveal the apparent altered response men and women find in attempting to reach a pinnacle in their career as leaders only to encounter what is often seen as a glass cliff in terms of "pernicious processes such as a lack of alternative opportunities, sexism, or men's in-group favoritism" (Ryan, Haslam, & Postmes, 1988).  Clearly, it is time to disenfranchise such antiquated mindsets, empowering women's educational leadership to rise at all levels, forever shattering the glass ceiling and leaving in its wake an environment of opportunity for all who are willing to respond to the call to lead.


Purpose Stairways into buildings present a significant environmental barrier for those with mobility impairments. A number of home access solutions that allow users to safely enter and exit the home exist; however, these all have some limitations. The purpose of this work was to develop a novel, inclusive home access solution that integrates a staircase and a lift into one device. Method We developed an integrated staircase lift following a structured protocol with stakeholders providing feedback at various stages in the design process, consistent with rehabilitation engineering design methods. Results A novel home access device was developed. The integrated staircase-lift has the following features: inclusivity, by a design that provides an option for either use of stairs or a lift; constant availability, with a lift platform always ready for use on either level; and potential aesthetic advantages when integrating the device into an existing home. The potential also exists for emergency descent during a power outage, and self-powered versions. Conclusions By engaging stakeholders in a user-centred design process, we were able to gain insight into the limitations of existing home access solutions and get specific feedback on our lift concept. This information strengthened the development of a novel home access device.


BACKGROUND There is a lack of randomized split‐face studies investigating treatments for dermatosis papulosa nigra (DPN) in dark skin. OBJECTIVE To compare the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of potassium‐titanyl‐phosphate (KTP) laser with efficacy, safety, and tolerability of electrodesiccation in the treatment of DPN in subjects with Fitzpatrick skin phototypes IV to VI. METHODS Fourteen subjects with Fitzpatrick skin phototypes IV to VI were randomized to receive two KTP laser treatments 4 weeks apart to half of the face. The contralateral half received two electrodesiccation treatments 4 weeks apart. Response was evaluated by photography reviewed by blinded dermatologists at 4 weeks after the second treatment. A treatment quality questionnaire about side effects and cosmetic outcome was also administered. RESULTS Difference in improvement of DPN between the KTP side and the electrodesiccation side per each rater (p=.99, p=.54) and per raters combined (p=.50) did not reach statistical significance. There was no treatment difference for subjective effectiveness (p=.06) or subjective confidence improvement (p=.99), although there was a significant treatment difference for subjective discomfort (p=.002) in favor of KTP. Both treatments were well tolerated without significant adverse effects. CONCLUSIONS Although treatment of DPN with KTP laser and electrodesiccation are comparable in efficacy, KTP laser is preferable for patient comfort. The authors have indicated no significant interest with commercial supporters.


BACKGROUND
Current diagnostic tests for pharyngitis do not distinguish between symptomatic group A Streptococcus (GAS) infection and asymptomatic colonization, resulting in over-diagnosis and unnecessary use of antibiotics. We assessed whether measures of host response could make this distinction.

METHODS
We enrolled 18 children with pharyngitis having Centor scores of 4 or 5 and 21 controls without pharyngitis or other acute infections. Both groups had throat cultures, molecular tests for GAS and respiratory viruses and IgM serology for Epstein-Barr virus. Host response was evaluated with white blood cell count (WBC), C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin (PCT), and sequencing of RNA from peripheral blood leukocytes.

RESULTS
Of 18 cases, 11 had GAS pharyngitis, 3 had adenovirus pharyngitis and 4 had other pharyngitis. Among asymptomatic controls, 5 were positive for GAS. WBC, CRP, and PCT were higher in subjects with pharyngitis compared to asymptomatic controls including those with GAS. Transcriptional profiles from children with symptomatic GAS were clearly distinct from those of children in all other groups. The levels of two genes, CD177 and TLR5 each individually accurately distinguished between symptomatic and asymptomatic GAS. Optimal diagnostic sensitivity and specificity were achieved by the combination of CRP and PCT, and by each of the two gene markers.

CONCLUSION
In this exploratory study, we showed that traditional measures of inflammation and markers of host gene expression distinguish between symptomatic and asymptomatic GAS. These results point to future rapid molecular approaches for improving the diagnosis of GAS pharyngitis, that may help reduce unnecessary antibiotic use.


Background Most cell therapy trials failed to show an improvement in global left ventricular (LV) function measures after myocardial infarction (MI). Myocardial segments are heterogeneously impacted by MI. Global LV function indices are not able to detect the small treatment effects on segmental myocardial function which may have prognostic implications for cardiac events. We aimed to test the efficacy of allogeneic cardiosphere-derived cells (CDCs) for improving regional myocardial function and contractility. Methods In this exploratory analysis of a randomised clinical trial, 142 patients with post-MI with LVEF <45% and 15% or greater LV scar size were randomised in 2:1 ratio to receive intracoronary infusion of allogenic CDCs or placebo, respectively. Change in segmental myocardial circumferential strain (Ecc) by MRI from baseline to 6 months was compared between CDCs and placebo groups. Results In total, 124 patients completed the 6-month follow-up (mean (SD) age 54.3 (10.8) and 108 (87.1%) men). Segmental Ecc improvement was significantly greater in patients receiving CDC (−0.5% (4.0)) compared with placebo (0.2% (3.7), p=0.05). The greatest benefit for improvement in segmental Ecc was observed in segments containing scar tissue (change in segmental Ecc of −0.7% (3.5) in patients receiving CDC vs 0.04% (3.7) in the placebo group, p=0.04). Conclusions In patients with post-MI LV dysfunction, CDC administration resulted in improved segmental myocardial function. Our findings highlight the importance of segmental myocardial function indices as an endpoint in future clinical trials of patients with post-MI. Trial registration number NCT01458405.


Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) has been used to image membrane surface topography at nanometer resolution. In this study we used the AFM to characterize the physical changes resulting from hyperoxia on cultured human glioblastoma cells (U87). U87 cells were exposed to air (21% O2), hyperoxia (95% O2) or hyperbaric oxygen (HBO2, 3.5ata O2) for 30 min. H2O2 (200μM) was used as a positive control. Following treatment, the cells were fixed with 2% glutaraldehyde for 20 min prior to AFM imaging. Three dimensional surface plots of U87 cells revealed a significant distortion of the plasma membrane (membrane blebbing) caused by HBO2 and H2O2, which is thought to be indicative of lipid peroxidation. Individual cells from each group were analyzed to assess Mean Roughness (Ra) and Maximum Roughness (Rmax). Ra was 40 ± 4 nm in 21% O2, 52 ± 5 nm in 95%O2, 64 ± 7 nm in HBO2, and 91 ± 9 nm in H2O2 treated cells. Rmax was 253 ± 27 nm in 21% O2, 302 ± 30 nm in 95% O2, 366 ± 35 nm in HBO2, and 608 ± 39 nm in H2O2 treated cells. In conclusion, these data show that oxidative damage in the plasma membrane is proportional to oxygen concentration. Moreover, the AFM is capable of characterizing subtle changes in membrane topography from oxidative damage.


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Carsharing is a modern way of car rental, attractive to customers who make only occasional use of a car on demand. In a carsharing system, a fleet of cars is distributed at specified stations in an urban area, customers can take a car at any time and station and return it at any time and station, provided that there is a car available at the start station and a free place at the destination station. To ensure the latter, customers have to book their demands in advance. For operating such a system in a satisfactory way, the stations have to keep a good ratio between the total number of places and the number of cars in each station, in order to serve as many requests as possible. This leads to the problem of balancing the load of the stations, called Relocation Problem: an operator has to monitor the load and to decide when and how to move cars from "overfull" stations to "underfull" ones.We consider an innovative carsharing system, where the cars are partly autonomous, which allows to build wireless convoys of cars leaded by a special vehicle, such that the whole convoy is moved by only one driver. This setting is similar to bikesharing, where trucks can simultaneously move several bikes during the relocation process.In this thesis, we address the dynamic and static aspects of the Relocation Problem. The "Dynamic Relocation Problem" describes the situation when cars can be moved between stations during the working hours in order to satisfy the needs of the customers. Hereby, the operator has to make decisions dynamically according to the current situation. In the "Static Relocation Problem" we assume that there is no (or only little) interaction by customers with the system. This situation occurs when the carsharing system is prepared for the next day, i.e., the relocation process is performed during the night. We model the Relocation Problem in the framework of a metric task system. Afterwards, we theoretically analyze both problems and give strategies to solve them. Finally, we perform some computational experiments to examine the applicability of the presented algorithms in practice.


The growth of GaN 3-D microstructures is investigated by SAG-HVPE. Capitalizing on the properties of this kinetically-controlled process, the main experimental parameters and physical mechanisms that control the shaping of 3D GaN prisms and pyramids in SAG-HVPE are highlighted. Growth experiments performed on N-polar AlN/Si(100) and Ga-polar GaN/Si(111) substrates also provide insight into how to switch from a pyramid to a prismatic shape for a given substrate polarity. The aspect ratio of GaN rods could be tuned by playing with the HCl partial pressure additionally introduced during growth. The influence of both mass transport and surface kinetics is discussed, as the crystal growth rate varies with increasing surface area as time goes by. Ammonia treatment prior to the growth, aimed at blocking the r planes thanks to H2 passivation, is proposed to tune the morphology of the GaN rods. Raman spectroscopy performed on individual GaN rods shows no relevant strain field and no structural differences between the rods and state-of-the-art bulk GaN.