The authors of this e-learning resource have developed a system of exercises aimed at mastering of professional medical vocabulary and developing skills of working with authentic texts on the topic ""Infectious diseases, viruses"". Each section contains an authentic text that allows students to get aware and to memorize corresponding terminology. The peculiar feature of this e-learning resource is that after each text there is a series of exercises presented to develop skills of working with medical vocabulary. In addition, each section contains a glossary which includes lexical units for the studied topic. The structure of the electronic educational resource allows to fulfill the tasks of mastering medical professional vocabulary and oral speech skills. This e-learning resource consists of 12 sections united by one topic. The e-learning resource offers learners to study both in the classroom and at home to enhance the professional language.


A 73-year-old man with a history of prostate cancer and radiation proctitis presented for a surveillance colonoscopy. Radiation proctopathy was found and was treated with argon plasma coagulation. A retroflexion was performed with some difficulty. A 2-cm linear tear was noted at the rectum junction (●" Fig.1), showing exposure of the muscularis layer of the rectum with oozing blood. Three endoclips were successfully applied to approximate the epithelial margins of the tear (●" Fig.2). The patient remained asymptomatic and hemodynamically stable after the procedure. Computed tomography (CT) scan after the procedure revealed a full-thickness posterior midline rectal perforation with free air extending into the retroperitoneal space, right pelvic sidewall, and surrounding the aorta and iliac vessels (●" Fig.3). There was no evidence of intraperitoneal free air. The patient was managed conservatively with nil by mouth, intravenous fluids, and intravenous antibiotics. A follow-up CT scan on day 3 revealed closure of the rectal defect posterior to the endoscopic clips and a decrease in the retroperitoneal free air (●" Fig.4). Liquid diet was started on day 3 and advanced over the next 2 days. The patient was discharged home on day 5. Endoscopists should use caution while performing retroflexion in patients with radiation proctitis. Rectal perforations limited to the retroperitoneum can be managed conservatively with endoscopic clipping.


Exposure of ARL 15 cells, an established line from adult rat liver, to external K+ concentrations less than 1 mM for 24 h increases Na+-K+ pump abundance (Na+-K+-ATPase) (J. Gen. Physiol. 87:591-606, 1986). We found that treatment of confluent monolayers of ARL 15 cells with low-K+ medium (0.65 mM) caused a 100% increase in total RNA content per plate after 24 h, as well as a 25% increase in DNA and protein content per plate. Concomitant with this growth effect, low-K+ exposure for 6 h elicited 60% increases in mRNA alpha and mRNA beta, the mRNAs that encode the constituent subunits of the Na+-K+-ATPase, in a polyadenylated RNA fraction. At 24 h, however, the abundance of mRNA alpha increased by 290%, whereas mRNA beta increased by only 70%. Moreover, in both control and low-K+-treated cells, mRNA alpha was 30-fold or more greater in abundance than mRNA beta. This discrepancy in abundance was also present in rat liver, but not in cultured MDCK cells. The differences in abundance of mRNA alpha and mRNA beta suggest that the liver may have an unusual subunit composition or biosynthetic mechanism. Nevertheless, the increases in the abundance of mRNA alpha and mRNA beta are sufficient to account for the observed 70-100% increase in Na+-K+-ATPase activity in response to low external K+.


Modern large-scale software-intensive systems are complex conglomerates of interacting (socio-) technical systems. The single systems are highly adaptive and autonomous leading to emergent behavior. Well-established development approaches, that are appropriate for single software-intensive systems, do not scale well for such systems-of-systems; the focus of development shifts from a complete specification of the system to the handling of emergent behavior. Traditional development approaches are not prepared for that shift. This paper outlines an integrated software development approach for IT ecosystems, a class of ultra-large scale software intensive systems. Single systems as parts of IT ecosystems are developed applying common model-driven techniques while rules specify how to detect emergent and undesired behavior and how to react. The integrated solution aims at enabling model-driven software development for IT ecosystems. The approach will be demonstrated and discussed by its application to a feasibility study. The presented concepts are part of the methodological foundation of future tool support for software development in IT ecosystems.


In this paper, we formulate a potentially valuable panoramic depth completion (PDC) task as panoramic 3D cameras often produce 360{\deg} depth with missing data in complex scenes. Its goal is to recover dense panoramic depths from raw sparse ones and panoramic RGB images. To deal with the PDC task, we train a deep network that takes both depth and image as inputs for the dense panoramic depth recovery. However, it needs to face a challenging optimization problem of the network parameters due to its non-convex objective function. To address this problem, we propose a simple yet effective approach termed M{^3}PT: multi-modal masked pre-training. Specifically, during pre-training, we simultaneously cover up patches of the panoramic RGB image and sparse depth by shared random mask, then reconstruct the sparse depth in the masked regions. To our best knowledge, it is the first time that we show the effectiveness of masked pre-training in a multi-modal vision task, instead of the single-modal task resolved by masked autoencoders (MAE). Different from MAE where fine-tuning completely discards the decoder part of pre-training, there is no architectural difference between the pre-training and fine-tuning stages in our M$^{3}$PT as they only differ in the prediction density, which potentially makes the transfer learning more convenient and effective. Extensive experiments verify the effectiveness of M{^3}PT on three panoramic datasets. Notably, we improve the state-of-the-art baselines by averagely 26.2% in RMSE, 51.7% in MRE, 49.7% in MAE, and 37.5% in RMSElog on three benchmark datasets.


OBJECTIVE To compare surgical management and case-fatality rates of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) in 1988 and 2005. METHODS We identified all adult residents (age, ≥18 years) from the 5-county Greater Cincinnati region who were hospitalized with ICH in 1988 and 2005. Demographics, severity of illness, ICH volume, ICH location, rates and timing of surgery, and 30-day case-fatality rate were compared between the groups. RESULTS In 1988, 171 ICH patients (67 lobar, 80 deep cerebral, 10 brainstem, and 14 cerebellar) met the study criteria; in 2005, 259 ICH patients (91 lobar, 123 deep cerebral, 19 brainstem, and 26 cerebellar) met the study criteria. In 1988, 16% of the patients had surgical removal of their ICH versus 7% in 2005 (P = 0.003). In both 1988 and 2005, patients treated with surgery were younger (P < 0.001) and had a higher percentage of cerebellar hemorrhages than nonsurgical patients. The timing of surgery was similar in 1988 and 2005. In 1988, the 30-day case-fatality rate was 32% in surgical patients versus 50% in nonsurgical patients (P = 0.06). In 2005, the 30-day case-fatality rate was 16% (surgical) versus 45% (nonsurgical) (P = 0.02). CONCLUSION The frequency of surgery for ICH was lower in 2005 than in 1988, which may reflect the influence of recent clinical trial data showing no benefit for surgery rather than medical management. The ICH case-fatality rate was essentially the same in 1988 and 2005. Innovative clinical trials to improve ICH outcomes are warranted.


Magnetic nanoparticles biofunctionalized with antibodies are useful for specifically labeling target biomolecules. By measuring magnetic signals after the association between biofunctionalized magnetic nanoparticles and target biomolecules, the concentration of target biomolecules can be quantitatively detected. One of measuring methodologies is so-called immunomagnetic reduction (IMR), in which the reduction in ac magnetic susceptibility of magnetic reagent is a function of the concentration of target biomolecules. In this letter, the relationship between the magnetic reduction signal of reagent and the concentration of target biomolecules is explored. According to the experimental results on various kinds of target biomolecules, such as proteins and chemicals, the magnetic reduction signal as a function of concentration of various target biomolecules can be scaled to a universal curve. This universal curve is a logistic function. This implies that there exists a unique mechanism for the association between the target biomolecules and biofunctionalized magnetic nanoparticles in an IMR assay.


Two Salmonella typhimurium strains, which could be used as sources for the leucine biosynthetic intermediates aand ,8-isopropylmalate were constructed by a series of P22-mediated transductions. One strain, JK527 [flr-19 leuA2010 A(leuD-ara) 798 fol-162], accumulated and excreted a-isopropylmalate, whereas the second strain, JK553 (flr-19 leuA2010 leuB698), accumulated and excreted aand ,B-isopropylnalate. The yield ofa-isopropylmalate isolated from the culture medium of JK527 was more than five times the amount obtained from a comparable volume of medium in which Neurospora crassa strain FLRe2-1-216 (normally used as the source for aand ,-isopropylmalate) was grown. Not only was the yield greater, but S. typhimurium strains are much easier to handle and grow to saturation much faster than N. crassa strains. The combination of the two regulatory mutations flr-19, which results in constitutive expression of the leucine operon, and leuA2010, which renders the first leucine-specific biosynthetic enzyme insensitive to feedback inhibition by leucine, generated limitations in the production of valine and pantothenic acid. The efficient, irreversible, and unregulated conversion of a-ketoisovaleric acid into a-isopropylmalate (a-isopropylmalate synthetase Km for a-ketoisovaleric acid, 6 x 10-5 M) severely restricted the amount of a-ketoisovaleric acid available for conversion into valine and pantothenic acid (ketopantoate hydroxymethyltransferase Km for a-ketoisovaleric acid, 1.1 x 1O-' M; transaminase B Km for a-ketoisovaleric acid, 2 x 10M).


The aim of this study is to obtain a more in-depth explanation regarding the prob- lems in the life of classical Javanese performance from a sociological-artistic angle, in the face of changes that have occurred in the environment during the post Orde Baru era.   Nevertheless, in order to gain a clear picture about the changes during each era, this study also covers the life of classical Javanese performance during the two previous era, namely the era preceding the Orde Baru and the Orde Baru era itself.  This problem includes a general picture of the life of classical Javanese performance during these three periods, in particular at the time of this research. The next problem is concerned with the possibility of change occurring in the pat- tern of classical Javanese performances during the same period, and the nature of these new patterns, including which aspects, and with  what substance.   Likewise, to what extent are the aspects related to social change and  social phenomena re- flected in classical Javanese performance a response from the artist, in connection with preserving his existence.In accordance with its goal, this study uses a sociological-artistic approach, from the  result of Arnold Hauser's ideas in his book The Sociology of Art.   This ap- proach principally looks at the relation between a community and its art.  Classical Javanese performance is made up of a number of different elements, including its group, equipment, and audience.  Arnold Hauser explains that social changes in a given area will result in a unique artistic style, in accordance with the form of the community at that particular time.  An art form which in a certain period may be considered as a ritual art,  may have the potential to be used as a tool of propa- ganda by the authority or even emerge as a form of popular art.Based on the results of the research, classical Javanese performance has a ten- dency  to  stand alone in each of the three eras, according to the changes in its environment.   During the era prior to the Orde Baru, classical Javanese was en- joyed mainly by the  agrarian community, who were influenced by arts from the court.   During the Orde  Baru era, performances were not only enjoyed by the agrarian community but also by the urban community as it spread to towns outside the court territory. At the present time, classical Javanese performances are coloured by government development policies and for  this reason are often used as a gov- ernment tool for conveying messages about  development.   In addition, during the Orde Baru era, other art forms began to penetrate and influence the form of clas- sical Javanese performance.  In the postOrde Baru era, its form has become moreopen, as a result of the euphoria created by an excess of reformation, and it has become difficult to identify.  Furthermore, it is evident that audiences can no longer respond to the  moral messages conveyed in a classical Javanese performance. Key words: classical Javanese performance, group, audience.


The article reports a case of dermoid cyst of the left testis in a 18-year-old young man. The cyst contained masses of fat, a great number of hairs, multilayer squamous epithelium. The cyst was removed with preserving 1/2 of testicular parenchyma. The examination 3 years after the operation found no local recurrence, the spermogram was normal. 10 literature cases are analysed. Basing on these 10 cases, available in Russian medical literature, and one own case, the authors analyse clinical, diagnostic and therapeutic aspects of dermoid testicular cysts.


Objective: The purposes of this study were to investigate the clinical and pathologic characteristics of patients with endometrial cancer (EC) and associated breast, colorectal, or ovarian cancer, and to define the risk of developing an associated malignancy during follow-up after EC treatment. Methods/Materials: During a 13-year period, 1028 women had a hysterectomy for EC at our institution and available clinical information. An associated malignancy was defined as diagnosis of another malignant disease before or at the time of operation for EC or during follow-up. Results: Of these 1028 patients, 208 (20%) had a history of another malignancy besides EC. Most frequent were carcinomas of the breast (10%), colon-rectum (3%), and ovary (4%). Patients with a family history of hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC)-related cancers and presence of EC in the lower uterine segment (LUS) had a higher risk of developing colorectal cancer within 5 years after hysterectomy (2% and 6%, respectively). After multivariate analysis, only LUS involvement remained significantly associated with this risk. Patients with EC and associated ovarian cancer were more likely to be younger and have superficially invasive EC, family history of HNPCC-related tumors, and family history of breast or ovarian cancer. After multivariate analysis, only age younger than 50 years (odds ratio [OR], 4.27; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.49-12.21) and family history of breast or ovarian cancer (OR, 3.95; 95% CI, 1.60-9.72) were significantly related to risk of having ovarian cancer associated with EC. No significant risk factors were identified for development of an associated breast cancer after EC. Conclusions: Young age, family history of malignancy, and LUS involvement may indicate the need for more intensive preventive strategies for colorectal cancer and for evaluating the risk of synchronous ovarian cancer in patients with EC.


Never has the term mad scientist been more fascinatingly explored than in internationally recognized popular science author Clifford Pickover's richly researched wild ride through the bizarre lives of eccentric geniuses. A few highlights: "The Pigeon Man from Manhattan" Legendary inventor Nikola Tesla had abnormally long thumbs, a peculiar love of pigeons, and a horror of women's pearls."The Worm Man from Devonshire" Forefather of modern electric-circuit design Oliver Heaviside furnished his home with granite blocks and sometimes consumed only milk for days (as did Nikola Tesla and Thomas Edison)."The Rabbit-Eater from Lichfield" Renowned scholar Samuel Johnson had so many tics and quirks that some mistook him for an idiot. In fact, his behavior matches modern definitions of obsessive-compulsive disorder and Tourette's syndrome.Pickover also addresses many provocative topics: the link between genius and madness, the role the brain plays in alien abduction and religious experiences, UFOs, cryonics -- even the whereabouts of Einstein's brain!


ABSTRACT CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells (CD25+ Tregs) play a key role in immune regulation. Since hepatitis C virus (HCV) persists with increased circulating CD4+CD25+ T cells and virus-specific effector T-cell dysfunction, we asked if CD4+CD25+ T cells in HCV-infected individuals are similar to natural Tregs in uninfected individuals and if they include HCV-specific Tregs using the specific Treg marker FoxP3 at the single-cell level. We report that HCV-infected patients display increased circulating FoxP3+ Tregs that are phenotypically and functionally indistinguishable from FoxP3+ Tregs in uninfected subjects. Furthermore, HCV-specific FoxP3+ Tregs were detected in HCV-seropositive persons with antigen-specific expansion, major histocompatibility complex class II/peptide tetramer binding affinity, and preferential suppression of HCV-specific CD8 T cells. Transforming growth factor β contributed to antigen-specific Treg expansion in vitro, suggesting that it may contribute to antigen-specific Treg expansion in vivo. Interestingly, FoxP3 expression was also detected in influenza virus-specific CD4 T cells. In conclusion, functionally active and virus-specific FoxP3+ Tregs are induced in HCV infection, thus providing targeted immune regulation in vivo. Detection of FoxP3 expression in non-HCV-specific CD4 T cells suggests that immune regulation through antigen-specific Treg induction extends beyond HCV.


Heart disease is any disease that affects the normal condition and functionality of heart. Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) is the most common. It is caused by the accumulation of plaques within the walls of the coronary arteries that supply blood to the heart muscles. It may lead to continued temporary oxygen deprivation that will result in the damage of heart muscles. CAD caused more than 7,000,000 deaths every year in the worldwide. It is the second cause of death in Malaysia and the major cause of death in the world. To diagnose CAD, cardiologists usually perform many diagnostic steps. Unfortunately, the results of the diagnostic tests are difficult to interpret which do not always provide definite answer, but may lead to different opinion. To help cardiologists providing correct diagnosis of CAD in less expensive and non-invasive manner, many researchers had developed decision support system to diagnose CAD.

A fuzzy decision support system for the diagnosis of coronary artery disease based on rough set theory is proposed in this thesis. The objective is to develop an evidence based fuzzy decision support system for the diagnosis of coronary artery disease. This proposed system is based on evidences or raw medical data sets, which are taken from University California Irvine (UCI) database. The proposed system is designed to be able to handle the uncertainty, incompleteness and heterogeneity of data sets. Artificial Neural Network with Rough Set Theory attribute reduction (ANNRST) is proposed is the imputation method to solve the incompleteness of data sets. Evaluations of ANNRST based on classifiers performance and rule filtering are proposed by comparing ANNRST and other methods using classifiers and during rule filtering process. RST rule induction is applied to ANNRST imputed data sets. Numerical values are discretized using Boolean reasoning method. Rule selection based on quality and importance is proposed. RST rule importance measure is used to select the most important high quality rules. The selected rules are used to build fuzzy decision support systems. Fuzzification based on discretization cuts and fuzzy rule weighing based on rule quality are proposed. Mamdani inference method is used to provide the decision with centroid defuzzification to give numerical results, which represent the possibility of blocking in coronary arteries.

The results show that proposed ANNRST has similar performance to ANN and outperforms k-Nearest Neighbour (k-NN) and Concept Most Common attribute value Filling (CMCF). ANNRST is simpler than ANN because it has fewer input attributes and more suitable to be applied for missing data imputation problem. ANNRST also provides strong relationship between original and imputed data sets. It is shown that ANNRST provide better RST rule based classifier than CMCF and k-NN during rule filtering process. Proposed RST based rule selection also performs better than other filtering methods. Developed Fuzzy Decision Support System (FDSS) provides better performance compared to multi layer perceptron ANN, k-NN, rule induction method called C4.5 and Repeated Incremental Pruning to Produce Error Reduction (RIPPER) applied on UCI CAD data sets and Ipoh Specialist Hospital's patients. FDSS has transparent knowledge representation, heterogeneous and incomplete input data handling capability. FDSS is able to give the approximate percentage of blocking of coronary artery based on 13 standard attributes based on historical, simple blood test and ECG data, etc, where coronary angiography or cardiologist can not give the percentage. The results of FDSS were evaluated by three local cardiologists and considered to be efficient and useful.


The radiative QED corrections for the valence electron of the neutral Rg (Z =111) atom are estimated within the framework of the post-Dirac–Fock method. In this method the Koopmans' approximation is proposed for the electron propagator in the QED diagrams. Such calculation is done for the first time for this super-heavy atom. These results contribute to the discussion concerning the accuracy of the QED corrections in the super-heavy elements. They also provide the accuracy limit of the modern relativistic theoretical calculations for the super-heavy elements.

Keywords: relativistic and quantum electrodynamic effects in atoms and molecules


Habitat degradation leads to small and fragmented populations, lower genetic variability and fertility overtime. Assisted reproductive techniques represent important tools to cope with the dramatic loss of biodiversity. Fallow deer (Dama dama), beyond its high commercial value and wide distribution, may represent the most suitable model to study endangered cervids. In this study, oocytes were recovered post mortem from fallow deer during the breeding and no breeding seasons and were in vitro matured (IVM). The ability of cryopreserved thawed sperm samples recovered by electroejaculation from 4 adult males was tested by in vitro fertilization of IVM oocytes. The number of oocytes collected per ovary did significantly vary across seasons from 6.2 ± 0.92 during breeding season to 10.4 ± 1.26 during no breeding season (p = 0.006). Oocytes collected during the breeding season showed higher in vitro fertilization rate compared to the no breeding season (p = 0.045). However, no embryos reached the blastocyst stage. Semen samples obtained by electroejaculation were successfully cryopreserved, although the cryopreservation process negatively affected most kinetic parameters, mainly at 2h post-thawing. Moreover, the percentage of rapid spermatozoa significantly decreased between fresh samples and at 2h post thawing, whereas the percentage of slow spermatozoa increased across the same period (p < 0.05). Our study provides the logistic steps for the application of assisted reproductive techniques in fallow deer and might be of great interest for genetic resource bank planning.


In order to improve fracture toughness of ceramics, an intrinsically small frontal process zone (FPZ) size must be expanded. An intra-type nano-structure, where nano-particles are embedded within matrix grains, yields dislocations around the dispersed particles due to residual stresses. These dislocations become sessile dislocations at room temperature, operate as origins of small stress concentration in the matrix, and create nano-cracks in the FPZ. To produce the intra-type nano-structure, we developed a soaking method. This method makes it possible to produce nano-sized metallic particles dispersed within ceramic powders. In this research, alumina-nickel nanocomposite powder was obtained using the soaking method. The powder mixed with α-alumina as a seed was sintered using a pulse electric current sintering technique. The sintered nanocomposites are then annealed to disperse dislocations around the nanoparticles into alumina grains. Results showed that the maximum fracture toughness was 7.6 MPam1/2, which was two times higher than that of alumina.


The main drawback of the method proposed by Marciniak and Kuczynski for prediction of the limit strains in sheet metal forming processes is requirement of an experimental point of the forming limit curve (FLC) in order to calibrate the curve. The purpose of this work is to introduce a new method to calibrate the FLC using the M-K model in which no experimental data is needed. To achieve this goal, many experimental FLCs were collected from the literature and the values of the initial inhomogeneity factors were determined for them with trial and error aproach. Using these data, an empirical law was developed to predict the value of inhomogeneity factor. The resultant curves show good agreement with the experiments.


In this paper, we describe our research into flexible, agent-based e-commerce systems. During the summer, we are building an experimental multi-player shopping game, in which agents will represent buyers, sellers, brokers and services of various kinds. The choice of a game format has intrinsic appeal for demonstration and educational value, and also serves as a controlled vehicle for experimenting with alternative individual and group economic strategies, and for evaluating the effectiveness of agent-based systems for e-commerce.


This paper describes an Autoassociative Neural Network (AANN) based plant wide sensor calibration monitoring system that detects sensor drifts and replaces the faulty sensor output with a best estimate of the fault free value. A network tuning paradigm has also been implemented that allows the network to function when new plant conhtions are encountered. The system was tested using data from the High Flux Isotope Reactor operated at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.


This document compares the results of flexural fatigue tests performed on experimental concrete beams made of the standard Caltrans concrete mix and five other fast-setting mixes. The three research objectives were: to investigate the fatigue characteristics of the fast-setting mixes, to compare the fatigue life of all the mixes tested, and to contrast this experiment's results with those of similar published studies. The experimental concrete samples included the standard Caltrans mix (using Portland cement type I/II) and five fast-setting mixes that used one of three cements: Portland cement type III, calcium sulfoaluminate, or calcium aluminate. Beams were fabricated from each mixture were used to determine the materials' flexural strength (or modulus of rupture) and fatigue life (or number of cycles to failure) at stress ratio levels of 0.70 and 0.85, and, in most cases 0.75. Three subsequent data analyses compared the number of cycles to failure of each mix at each stress ratio level, applied regression to compare the fatigue life of each fastsetting mix with the Caltrans standard mix, and applied regression to compare this study's results with common models for beam flexural fatigue life found in the literature. The study's main conclusions were: (a) fast-setting concrete mixes present similar or higher fatigue resistance than the standard Caltrans type, (b) at a stress ratio 0.70 all the mixes presented similar fatigue resistance, but at a stress ratio of 0.85 the Type III Portland cement mix displayed the longest fatigue life, and (c) linear regression curves generated by the tested mixes compared better to the "zero maintenance" model — the most common fatigue-life model used in concrete pavement engineering — than they did to the NCHRP 1-26 model.


With the help of the time-dependent Lagrangian for a damped harmonic oscillator, the quantization of mesoscopic RLC circuit in the context of a number-phase quantization scheme is realized and the corresponding Hamiltonian operator is obtained. Then the evolution of the charge number and phase difference across the capacity are obtained. It is shown that the number-phase analysis is useful to tackle the quantization of some mesoscopic circuits and dynamical equations of the corresponding operators.


Abstract. Eruption source parameters (ESP) characterizing volcanic eruption plumes are crucial inputs for atmospheric tephra dispersal models, used for hazard assessment and risk mitigation. We present FPLUME-1.0, a steady-state 1-D (one-dimensional) cross-section-averaged eruption column model based on the buoyant plume theory (BPT). The model accounts for plume bending by wind, entrainment of ambient moisture, effects of water phase changes, particle fallout and re-entrainment, a new parameterization for the air entrainment coefficients and a model for wet aggregation of ash particles in the presence of liquid water or ice. In the occurrence of wet aggregation, the model predicts an effective grain size distribution depleted in fines with respect to that erupted at the vent. Given a wind profile, the model can be used to determine the column height from the eruption mass flow rate or vice versa. The ultimate goal is to improve ash cloud dispersal forecasts by better constraining the ESP (column height, eruption rate and vertical distribution of mass) and the effective particle grain size distribution resulting from eventual wet aggregation within the plume. As test cases we apply the model to the eruptive phase-B of the 4 April 1982 El Chichon volcano eruption (Mexico) and the 6 May 2010 Eyjafjallajokull eruption phase (Iceland). The modular structure of the code facilitates the implementation in the future code versions of more quantitative ash aggregation parameterization as further observations and experiment data will be available for better constraining ash aggregation processes.


This Special Issue arrives at a time of contradiction and challenge in the study of gender and politics. The strive to have the voices of those outside of the straight white male political order is one that has been the subject of political debate for over a century. From the 1970s onwards, equality came to be enshrined in law in many countries. Progressive politics has begun to internalise this drive for equality of representation, with political institutions such as the Nordic states and devolved parliaments of Wales and Scotland increasing the proportions of women elected to office. Male politicians have been encouraged to demonstrate their own acceptance of such equality issues. Yet, throughout political life, women still confront variations of the dilemma between the exercise of power and conventions of femininity commonly referred to as the "double bind". In what has recently articulated as the "power paradox", women are encouraged to pursue political office, but are routinely demeaned and treated with suspicion when they meet with success. Added to this is the rise of a new populism, laced with that toxic masculinity identified by some of our contributors, where gendered abuse has become a tactical resource in a grotesque lexicon of "authentic" expression.


There are only a few visualisations targeting the communication of trust statements. Even though there are some advanced and scientifically founded visualisations—like, for example, the opinion triangle, the human trust interface, and T-Viz—the stars interface known from e-commerce platforms is by far the most common one. In this paper, we propose two trust visualisations based on T-Viz, which was recently proposed and successfully evaluated in large user studies. Despite being the most promising proposal, its design is not primarily based on findings from human-computer interaction or cognitive psychology. Our visualisations aim to integrate such findings and to potentially improve decision making in terms of correctness and efficiency. A large user study reveals that our proposed visualisations outperform T-Viz in these factors.


In the last decade point cloud datasets, created using various scanning technologies, have revolutionised the way we document in three dimensions. But a surprising bi product of this fascinating new technology is the extraordinarily beautiful images created as part of the process.

Art of the Point Cloud is the first book to collect the very best in point cloud imagery from across the globe. Contributions come from Italy, France, Spain, Germany, Australia, New Zealand, India, Japan, Russia, USA, Canada, Saudi Arabia, Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England, amongst others.

The full colour images found here are not only hugely appealing but also intriguing. The vast range of subject matter it is possible to scan is startling, from historic sites, topography, architecture and interiors to plants, machines, objects, animals and even people. This book is proof that art can be found in surprising places.


Contour extracting plays an important role in image processing and computer vision, and it's one of the most important components in low level processing. Based on many tests, this paper applies hue and texture as feature combined with mathematical morphology to have a rough segmentation of homogeneous objects, then restores the obtained contour based on h component. Tests prove that acceptable contour can be obtained. Compared with traditional method of contour extracting, the algorithm mentioned here includes self-differing, contour restoring based on hue and so on, so it has better robustness to light variation.


We report the case of a woman from sub-Saharan Africa who presented with pyrexia, pulmonary lesions and a urinary tract infection (UTI). She was found to have multiple infections, i.e. Salmonella bovis bacteraemia, Escherichia coli UTI, and pulmonary nocardiosis. In the presence of lymphopaenia, a Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) antibody test was performed and was positive. This is the first reported case of S. bovis infection in Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). It is a reminder that HIV infection should always be suspected in patients who normally reside in an area of high prevalence of HIV and present with any infection, but particularly if unusual or multiple infections occur simultaneously.


OBJECTIVE
To test the toxicity of reactive nitrogen intermediates (RNI), including authentic nitric oxide (NO), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and peroxynitrite anion (ONOO-), a potent oxidant derived from NO and superoxide anion, on various mycobacterial strains including M. tuberculosis.

DESIGN
Relatively avirulent mycobacteria including M. smegmatis and BCG, as well as the pathogenic M. Bovis Ravenel and M. tuberculosis Erdman and the clinical isolate M160 (also known as the C strain) were tested for their susceptibility to the toxic effects of NO, NO2, and ONOO-, Deaerated, NO-saturated solutions as well as an anaerobic in vitro system in which mycobacteria can be exposed to desired concentrations of authentic NO or NO2, were employed in these studies. An in vitro ONOO- killing assay was used to examine the adverse effects of this NO-derived oxidant on the various strains of mycobacteria.

RESULTS
Both NO and NO2 exhibit antimycobacterial activity, with the former being more potent. Results obtained using ONOO- killing assay revealed that while avirulent mycobacteria including BCG and M. smegmatis are susceptible to this NO-derived oxidant, the virulent Erdman strain of M. tuberculosis and M. bovis, as well as the clinical tuberculous isolate M160, are remarkably resistant.

CONCLUSION
These results suggest that the interactions between RNI and various species of mycobacteria could be highly specific. And since activated macrophages produce peroxynitrite, the significance of the ONOO- resistance of M. tuberculosis strains in relation to intracellular survival deserves further investigation.


Nomenclatural changes are proposed and herein implemented for several beetles in the family Lampyridae (Coleoptera). Corrections of authorship are proposed for Psilocladus marginatus (Lewis), Psilocladus ruficollis (Kiesenwetter), and Dryptelytra fulvipennis E. Olivier. Dates of publication are corrected for Magnoculus marginatus (Guerin-Meneville), Psilocladus calvus Kirsch, Psilocladus peruvianus Kirsch, and Vesta vitellinothorax (Perty) a synonym of Vesta thoracica (G. A. Olivier). " Dodacles grandjeani E. Olivier" is found to be a nomen nudum , which actually refers to Dryptelytra grandjeani (E. Olivier).


Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is characterized by a chronic low‐grade inflammatory state. Follicular helper T cells (Tfh) play critical roles in inducing B‐cell activation and producing various cytokines, whereas circulating CD4+CXCR5+ T cells (CTfh) may act as a counterpart to measure Tfh cell disorders. In this study, we investigated whether Tfh could be involved in the development of T2DM by assessing CTfh in peripheral blood. CTfh and it subtypes were determined by measuring CD3, CD4, CXCR5, CXCR3, and CCR6 in 68 T2DM patients and 60 healthy controls using flow cytometry. Results showed that proportion of CTfh in the peripheral CD4+ T cells was significantly increased in T2DM patients (8.5 ± 0.5%) than in controls (4.5 ± 0.3%) (p < 0.001). Further study revealed that the balance of CTfh subtypes was greatly dysregulated, in which percentage of Th17 subtype was significantly increased in patients. Investigating the correlation between CTfh and risk factors of T2DM demonstrated that proportion of CTfh were significantly elevated in patients with body mass index (BMI) over 24.0 (p = 0.005). Interestingly, patients with abdominal obesity had further increase in CTfh than those without abdominal obesity. This study suggests the involvement of CTfh in T2DM, especially in T2DM‐related obesity.


The fine structure and the composition of pteridine pigments of erythrophores in adults of the swordtail fish, Xiphophorus helleri, were studied by means of cytochemistry, paper chromatography, ionophoresis, centrifugal fractionation, and electron microscopy. It was found that water-soluble pigments of erythrophores consisted exclusively of pteridine derivatives including large amounts of drosopterin, isodrosopterin, neodrosopterin, and moderate amounts of sepiapterin. While these substances were responsible for red pigmentation, moderate quantities of colorless pteridines, biopterin, Rana-chrome 3, xanthopterin, isoxanthopterin, and others, were also detectable. The ultrastructure of the erythrophore is characterized by numerous pigment granules and a well developed tubular endoplasmic reticulum. The former consist of a three-layered limiting membrane and inner lamellae which appear to be whorl-like due to a concentric arrangement of parallel membranes. All of the mentioned pteridines are primarily contained in this organelle which is designated, accordingly, "pterinosome." The possible functions of erythrophores and pterinosomes are discussed in the light of their structure and pigmentary constitution.


In this paper, we present a method for localizing the global position of the heart from Cine MRI images. This method is fast, and fully automatic. It depends on the standard deviation from the stack of images that we work on, and the position of the heart will have the greatest motion standard deviation because the heart is almost the only organ moves in the images. We test this method on 14 patients, and we get 100% accuracy of localizing the heart.


Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the analgesic efficacy of Bupivacaine application at port-site and intraperitoneal infiltration in patients with laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Study Design: Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial. Place and Duration: The study was conducted at Rehman Medical Institute (RMI) Peshawar, Pakistan from June 2009 to June 2012. Materials and Methods: Patients who underwent elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy during the study period were included in the study. Eighty patients were randomized into two groups, study group and control group. The study group received 40 ml of 0.25% bupivacaine intraoperatively as intraperitoneal infiltration and local infiltration at the port sites. Pain assessment was done using visual analogue pain score (VAS) of 0-10 at fixed intervals during the first 24 hours post surgery. Results: The mean VAS score in the study group was less as compared to the control group throughout the 24 hours assessment period, however this difference was statistically significant ( p <0.001) only during the first three assessments at 1 hour, 4 hours and 8 hours post surgery. The analgesia requirement was also significantly ( p <0.001) decreased in the study group. Conclusion: Port site and intraperitoneal application of local anesthetic bupivacaine significantly reduced pain during the first 8 hours post surgery and total analgesia requirement was also significantly reduced. It is a simple and easily applicable technique which increases patient comfort and can be safely used to decrease post operative pain in


Mechanical Damage on pipelines is the most frequent in service failure cause, at least in Europe. The category of Mechanical Damage actually covers on one hand rock dents, on the other hand, combined "Dent and Gouge" defects resulting from an impact by a ground moving machinery. The latter are complex defects in terms of geometry and mechanical behavior. Improved understanding of toughness reduction in these defects and their vicinity, especially in the case of vintage pipelines, and its impact on burst pressure and remaining fatigue lifetime is crucial in order to ensure a high safety level at the best economic conditions for transmission pipelines. PRCI and DOT/PHMSA supported a large experimental program to investigate the burst and fatigue strength of such defects in modern pipes as well as in vintage pipes by producing very detailed reference experimental data in order to support improvement of current burst and fatigue strength models for these defects.This paper focuses on experimental results data for two vintage pipes removed from service, one 26″ in diameter, X52 grade (from US) with high carbon content and sulfur content involving very low toughness and another 24″ in diameter, X63 grade (from Europe) characterized by alternated pearlite and ferrite bands. In each pipe, two different types of combined "Dent and Gouge" defects were created, "shallow dent with shallow gouge" and "severe dent with moderate gouge". Each defect was reproduced three times:• One for destructive metallurgical investigation;• A second one for highly instrumented burst test;• A third one for highly instrumented fatigue test.The defect profile was monitored during pressure increase until burst, and a camera recorded pictures at each fatigue cycle to detect crack initiation at the gouge bottom and its further propagation. The different features of the experimental work and results described in this paper are:• Material characterization;• Metallurgical and residual stress investigation on combined dent and gouge defects;• Burst tests conditions and results;• Fatigue tests conditions and results.• Comparison with results from modern pipes containing the same types of defects.All this experimental data is made available for an in-depth understanding of the "Dent and Gouge" type defects leading to improved models, as well as reference data for validating these improved models for burst and fatigue strength of these defects.Copyright © 2014 by ASME


Chamberlin's focal point for this synthesis is the concept of ambiguity, which has played an important role in the liberal arts tradition and in medieval discourses regarding reading and preaching - discourses that are fundamental to Langland's poetic ways with words. His work takes its place among other recent attempts to retrieve medieval literary theory, making it possible for it to inform the reading of medieval literature, but places this theory within a particularly wide context. Chamberlin claims that the excess of meaning ambiguity gives language is at least as important to the understanding of Piers Plowman and other medieval texts as is allegory. He deals with lexical ambiguity and the ambiguity of words-as-words - in which words themselves are taken as objects - offering linguistic, philosophical, and historical perspectives on these subjects. How ambiguity works in Langland's poetry is explained in close analysis of a number of passages from the poem. Chamberlin's overview of the historical development of the concept of ambiguity pays special attention to the doctrines of Augustine and the twelfth-century masters. He elucidates these by reference to similar ideas from Romantic and twentieth-century theorists, providing a coherent view of language that stands as an alternative to structuralist and post-structuralist views.


Chronic kidney disease (CKD) has become a global health burden and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. In particular, wasting is highly prevalent in later stages of the illness with muscle loss being a common problem. The aetiology and progression of this wasting is complex and multiple states have been identified linked to wasting in CKD. These include: 'malnutrition', 'disease‐related malnutrition', 'protein‐energy wasting', 'cachexia', 'sarcopenia', 'frailty' and 'muscle wasting'. The purpose of this paper is to review these terms in the context of CKD. Common features include weight loss, loss of muscle mass and muscle function principally driven by CKD disease specific factors and inflammatory mediators. Disease‐related malnutrition would appear to be a more appropriate term for CKD than malnutrition as it take in to consideration disease specific factors such as inflammation for example. Frailty is commonly associated with age‐related decline in physiological function. Development of novel screening tools measuring across multiple domains of nutritional status, muscle and physical function may be useful in CKD. Research into potential treatments are currently underway with focus on multi‐modal therapies including nutrition, resistance training and anabolic drugs such as myostatin blockade and selective androgen receptor modulators. A better understanding of different states and terms may help guide assessment and treatment opportunities for patients.


The increasing number of date rapes occurring on University campuses and the need to decrease rape supportive attitudes point to the need for continued research on this field. Correlational survey design was adopted to examine the extent to which attitude towards date rape is associated with the respondents' emotional empathy, beliefs in rape myths and gender. Simple random sampling technique was adopted at three stages to draw one thousand two hundred and sixteen undergraduates comprising 645 (53.2%) males and 571 (46.8%) females from three Federal universities in South-western, Nigeria. Respondents' ages ranged from 16-32 years with mean of 18.21years. College Date Rape Attitudes Survey (α=0.71); Beliefs about Women Scale (α=0.78) and Multi-Dimensional Emotional Empathy Scale (r=0.77) were adopted for data source. The results of the Product Moment Correlation Coefficient tested at 0.05 level of significance showed that while emotional empathy had inverse relationship with attitude towards date rape, beliefs in rape myths had positive relationship. Attitude towards date rape also differed on the basis of gender. It was concluded that psycho-demographic variables correlated with attitude towards date rape. Rape prevention programmes should therefore be broadened to incorporate strategies that could reverse erroneous rape myths as well as provide appropriate therapies to enhance the emotional empathy of University students.Keywords: Emotional empathy, beliefs in rape myths, attitude, universities, Nigeria


This article explores why people adopt different processes to participate in mass mobilizations, using the 2006 Anti-CPE (labor law) Movement in France and the 2008 Candlelight Movement against American Beef Imports in South Korea as case studies. In France, initiators and participants followed the 'ready-made' way: left-wing organizations led the whole process of mass mobilizations. In contrast, in South Korea, initiators came from 'nowhere': they were middle and high school students without any political organizations; participants were 'tainted' by the left wing political line. The key finding of this study is that the levels of demarcation of political lines in people's everyday life may explain this difference. In France, strong establishment of a
political line in people's everyday life brought fewer new actors, creating less surprise but a solid mobilization; in South Korea, the less-established political line in people's everyday life attracted more new actors, creating more surprise but 'frivolous' mobilizations.


: Dengue is at present the most important human arbovirosis. It is the main cause of hospitalization and death among children from southeast Asia. Two fifth of the world population live in dengue risk areas. In 1997, over 100 countries reported epidemic and more than 50,000,000 cases and 25,000 deaths were estomated. Nowadays, the Americas is passing through the same situation Asia faced years ago. In 1997, 27 countries reported cases of dengue, and in 14 of them cases of dengue hemorrhagic fever were documented. In all, 387,459 cases of classic dengue and 11,645 of dengue hemorrhagic fever were registered. During the last 2 decades dengue has increased significantly in our region with ups and downs in the annual incidence since 1981. It should be remarked that every 3 or 4 years there is a cyclic decrease and a further increase of the incidence, though it trends to rise. As regards dengue hemorrhagic fever, the situation is not more favorable. The Cuban epidemic that appeared in 1981 was completely untimely in the region. In 1989, 8 years later, the second important dengue hemorrhagic fever epidemic emerged in Venezuela, and from that moment on there has been an increasing tendency of this clinical form of the disease. The factors of the emergence and reemergence are present and rise year after year. The neoliberal policies and the consequent privatization of the health services in most of the countries allow us to watch a gloomy future in relation to the development of dengue and its severe form, the dengue hemorrhagic fever/dengue shock syndrome.


Inorganic polysulfides have significant technological importance, and their environmental role is gradually being unraveled. But despite their importance, there is still no method for quantification of the individual members of the polysulfide family in nonsynthetic samples. The method is based on fast, single-phase derivatization with methyl trifluoromethanesulfonate followed by one of three modes of sample treatment depending on polysulfide concentration. Under the most aggressive preconcentration treatment involving liquid-liquid extraction, solvent evaporation to dryness, dissolution in n-dodecane, and finally HPLC-UV analysis of the dimethylpolysulfane distribution, the minimum detection limits of the individual polysulfides are in the range 15-70 nM. The method was demonstrated for the analysis of synthetic solutions, natural groundwater, polysulfide fortified seawater, and surface water and for time tracing of the distribution of the individual polysulfides during the oxidation of hydrogen sulfide by hydrogen peroxide. The observed speciation was evaluated by comparison with the theoretical distribution of polysulfides at equilibrium with sulfur precipitate showing that the dominant polysulfides' (i.e., tetra- to hexasulfide) concentrations agree well with the predicted distribution (90% of the results fall within less than 30% deviation from the predicted values), whereas up to 3-fold deviation was observed for the less abundant trisulfide and octasulfide species.


Photograph of Historical Marker entitled: "Site of Camp Belknap." Text reads: "In May 1846 when war was declared against Mexico, the U.S. Congress authorized the raising of 50,000 volunteer troops to supplement the regular U.S. Army. General Zachary Taylor was quickly inundated with volunteer soldiers arriving at Brazos Santiago, and was forced to place them in temporary encampments. Camp Belknap, located on this site, was established in the summer of 1846. The camp was located on a long narrow rise of land, measuring about 2 miles in length and one-half mile at its widest point. It was the first high ground encountered after leaving the Gulf Coast. Thought to be the largest encampment for volunteer soldiers, troop estimates total 7,000-8,000 men including several regiments from eight states. Soldiers suffered exposure to the elements, unsanitary living conditions, overcrowding, biting insects, thorny plants, and disease. Many died a premature death, often resulting in one two two funerals daily. No enemy attacks took place despite one false alarm. During August and September most of the volunteers were moved upriver either to camps nearer Matamoros, or further to Camargo. The camp was completely empty by December 1846." Marker is dated 1996 in the lower-right corner.


In this paper, we study a class of stochastic bilevel optimization problems, also known as stochastic simple bilevel optimization, where we minimize a smooth stochastic objective function over the optimal solution set of another stochastic convex optimization problem. We introduce novel stochastic bilevel optimization methods that locally approximate the solution set of the lower-level problem via a stochastic cutting plane, and then run a conditional gradient update with variance reduction techniques to control the error induced by using stochastic gradients. For the case that the upper-level function is convex, our method requires $\tilde{\mathcal{O}}(\max\{1/\epsilon_f^{2},1/\epsilon_g^{2}\}) $ stochastic oracle queries to obtain a solution that is $\epsilon_f$-optimal for the upper-level and $\epsilon_g$-optimal for the lower-level. This guarantee improves the previous best-known complexity of $\mathcal{O}(\max\{1/\epsilon_f^{4},1/\epsilon_g^{4}\})$. Moreover, for the case that the upper-level function is non-convex, our method requires at most $\tilde{\mathcal{O}}(\max\{1/\epsilon_f^{3},1/\epsilon_g^{3}\}) $ stochastic oracle queries to find an $(\epsilon_f, \epsilon_g)$-stationary point. In the finite-sum setting, we show that the number of stochastic oracle calls required by our method are $\tilde{\mathcal{O}}(\sqrt{n}/\epsilon)$ and $\tilde{\mathcal{O}}(\sqrt{n}/\epsilon^{2})$ for the convex and non-convex settings, respectively, where $\epsilon=\min \{\epsilon_f,\epsilon_g\}$.


Objective. Adhesions are one of the most common complications of myomectomy and subsequent surgical procedures. Laparoscopic myomectomy is a low-risk procedure, with an adhesion rate of 50%, unlike laparotomy which has increased rates of 94%. The primary consequences of postoperative adhesions are chronic pelvic pain and female infertility. This narrative review is conducted to report the evidence on methods to reduce adhesions after laparoscopic myomectomy. Materials and Methods. An electronic database search (PubMed, Medline and Embase) was performed up to April 2022. A search algorithm was developed incorporating the terms "myomectomy", "adhesions", "laparosco-py", "infertility", "anti-adhesion agents". Results. The incidence of adhesions after laparoscopic myomectomy without adhesion barriers is variable, between 23% and 88%. The variability in adhe-sions' onset is due to tissue trauma, the incision location and length, number of knots or kind of suture material and the experience of the surgeon, but also the use of anti-adhesion agents. The icodextrin 4% and the auto-crosslinked hyaluronic acid solution gel showed a significant decrease in the incidence and severity of adhesions in intervention groups. The polyethylene glycol amine plus dextran aldehyde polymers reported a decrease in the total adhesion score at second-look surgery after laparoscopic myomectomy. Oxidized regenerated cellulose showed efficacy in prevention of adhesions after laparoscopic myomectomy. Conclusions. Laparoscopic myomectomy reduces the risk of new adhesion formation but do not eliminate it entirely. Oxidized regenerated cellulose, au-to-crosslinked hyaluronic acid gel among natural materials, and polyethylene glycol amine plus dextran aldehyde polymers among synthetic materials, decrease the incidence of adhesions.


This morphologic study compares the regenerative response in submandibular gland (SMG) autografts placed in the tongues of previously sympathectomized rats to autografts placed in tongues of sham‐sympathectomized rats. We hypothesized that sympathectomy would alter the process of cellular proliferation and inhibit cytodifferentiation in regenerating SMG autografts. Either 1 week, or 8 to 11 weeks following the SMG autografting procedure, the rats were sacrificed and their tongues were removed and sectioned in a cryostat. Frozen tissue sections containing the SMG autografts were either reacted for cholinesterase activity, treated with a glyoxylic acid mixture to induce histofluorescence, or stained for histologic examination. In addition, 3H‐thymidine labeled and unlabeled cells were counted in autoradiographs of 1‐week autografts, and these counts were used to calculate labeling indices. The 1‐week SMG autografts from both the sympathectomized and the sham‐sympathectomized rats were similar in histologic appearance, and neither group of autografts contained cholinesterase‐positive or monoaminergic nerve fibers. The 8‐ to 11‐week autografts from sympathectomized and sham‐sympathectomized rats contained cholinesterase‐positive fibers, but monoaminergic fibers were present in the autografts only from the sham‐operated rats. Acinar cells were observed in one‐third of the 8‐ to 11‐week autografts of both the sympathectomized and the shamsympathectomized rats. This finding suggests that sympathectomy did not preclude cytodifferentiation in the autografts. The autoradiographic data revealed no statistically significant difference between the mean labeling indices of the 1‐week autografts from the sympathectomized and sham‐sympathectomized rats, which suggests that sympathectomy also did not alter the level of cellular proliferation in the autografts.


The reform of waqf (property donated for religious use/religious foundation) system in Indonesia, has been started for many years, but it still remains many problems of waqf because the system it self is not well socialized. The enactment of UU No. 41/2004, brings a new paradigm in the waqf system in Indonesia. This paper tries to provide a description of seven new paradigm of waqf system, as pointed in that regulation. Those new paradigms are certification (formalizing of waqf land with a certificate), the exchange of waqf property, selection to the property that will be donated, nadzir requirements, expansion of waqf property and development of waqf system.


A disk-type integrated motor-bearing system having axial magnetic flux is newly invented and its design, analysis, and control methods are presented. Sinusoidal motoring currents to four symmetrically placed winding groups produce a torque, whereas control currents of the same magnitude but opposite signs added to the opposite winding groups create radial forces. The control currents are intended to break force symmetry, resulting in unbalanced radial forces. The system employs two stators not only to effectively remove the rotational frequency modulation effect in the radial control forces, but also to reduce the torque ripple. It is shown that the prototype integrated motor-bearing system built in the laboratory succeeds in stable radial direction control and operation of the rotor.


The future's inevitability makes it a matter of continual concern. (A concern, more significantly, that is played out in divergent ways; a state of affairs already signalled by the interplay of the inevitable and the continuous.) If the future's inevitability works as a continual refrain, what then of the future? What would comprise an account of its presence? What is it to think the future? Allowing for the future - though not just as a mere event but also as part of a discursive possibility - makes demands. Thinking the future is already to allow time, and consequently both a philosophy as well as a politics of time, to have a direct impact on how thought is constructed. Once it is conceded that the future exists as that which demands to be thought, then more is at stake than its simple occurrence. What is of significance is that thought - understood as a practice - is 'placed' (place allowing for an intersection of history - understood as the work of time - and geography). Indeed it is possible to conjecture that thinking is 'placed' even if that state of affairs is not recognized as such. The place of thought is of course the 'now' of its happening: thought occurs in the present (thereby having presence). And yet, inherent in these concerns is the question of whether the future need be envisaged. In other words, the general question is whether thought is always to be accompanied by an image. More specifically, as indicated, what is of concern is the presence of the future within and as an image. While the history of art and literature provides a divergent range of imagined futures, it is also the case that ritual (and in a certain sense the theological) works to guarantee the content of the future. This means that elements of ritual can be understood as linked to an attempt to guide the future's inevitability by providing it with its form. Hence, there is an immediate distinction between the future's insistent reality and that reality having one particular determination (and thus image) rather than another. The disjunction between two particular forms of the political can be situated in relation to this distinction. In fact, what is brought into stark contrast are two different conceptions of a politics of time. In the first instance there is one that works in relation to the image. In the second, there is a different conception of the political and with it a different conception of time. Their combination distances the hold of the image by linking the future - not its inevitability, but its quality - to an undertaking no longer structured by the image but by action.


With ever increasing demand of electrical energy, the power system is growing both in size and complexities. The generating capacities of power plants and transmission voltage are on the increase because of their inherent advantages. If the transmission voltage is doubled, the power transfer capability of the system becomes four times and the line losses are also relatively reduced. As a result, it becomes a stronger and economical system. In India, we already have 400 kV lines in operation and 800 kV lines are being planned. In big cities, the conventional transmission voltages (110 kV–220 kV etc.) are being used as distribution voltages because of increased demand. A system (transmission, switchgear, etc.) designed for 400 kV and above using conventional insulating materials is both bulky and expensive and, therefore, newer and newer insulating materials are being investigated to bring down both the cost and space requirements. The electrically live conductors are supported on insulating materials and sufficient air clearances are provided to avoid flashover or short circuits between the live parts of the system and the grounded structures. Sometimes, a live conductor is to be immersed in an insulating liquid to bring down the size of the container and at the same time provide sufficient insulation between the live conductor and the grounded container. In electrical engineering all the three media, viz. the gas, the liquid and the solid are being used and, therefore, we study here the mechanism of breakdown of these media.


Background: Breastfeeding is recognised as the optimal feeding method, conferring short and long term benefits to infants and their mothers. In the UK some women do not initiate breastfeeding. Many commence formula milk feeding at birth or after a brief period of breastfeeding. Often women have decided how to feed their infants before conception or even during adolescence, prior to when infant feeding education has traditionally been provided. Negative attitudes to breastfeeding amongst some social groups, and lack of familiarity with the practice appear to contributing factors. This research has explored infant feeding awareness of children in primary schools as a first step towards informing appropriate health education interventions.
Methods: Fifty six children aged 5/6, 7/8 and 10/11 years were recruited to the study from 3 schools in rural and urban areas of Southern England. Children were shown a series of drawings, and read a story about a hungry baby. They were asked to finish the story, showing how they thought the baby was fed, using the 'draw, write and tell' method, developed as an adaptation of 'draw and write'. The children produced one or more pictures, often with text, and were offered the opportunity to talk about their work; the data were united in a 'commentary'. Codes emerged, which were combined into categories. Mapping and charting techniques were used to identify five key areas for discussion.
Results: The development, and flexibility, in children's ideas regarding infant feeding was noted. Whilst breastfeeding was identified by some children, breastfeeding terminology and imagery were problematic for many. The prevalence of feeding bottles and references to formula milk were striking, with children identifying these as equivalent to breastfeeding. Solid foods were frequently referred to by children, and seemed to be identified with formula milk feeding rather than breastfeeding.
Conclusions: For the first time this study identified primary school children's awareness of different feeding methods and the inter-relationships between these methods. It appeared difficult for children to view breastfeeding as normal, perhaps because it is rarely seen or discussed, and formula milk feeding is so prevalent. The children were interested in the subject and it is anticipated that infant feeding education with these age groups would be beneficial. Introducing children to breastfeeding needs to be achieved with care and sensitivity, using language and imagery with which they are confident. In addition, the efficacy of 'draw, write and tell' and the challenges of using this method are discussed.


Nimesulide, similar to other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), has been associated with rare and unpredictable but serious hepatic adverse reactions. The low incidence (about 0.1 case per 100,000 treated patients, no more than with most other NSAIDs), estimated from the total number of reported cases relative to the unit sales, plus the fact that the time to onset of liver reactions varied from several days to almost 1 year, suggest that the rare cases of liver injury may be caused by a metabolic idiosyncrasy. This implies that multiple individual host factors affect the toxic potential of nimesulide and/or its metabolites. At the molecular level, reductive bioactivation of the aromatic nitro group might cause oxidoreductive stress and induce covalent binding of, reactive intermediates to proteins. Nimesulide can cause toxicity to mitochondria in vitro, although it is unlikely that the high concentrations required are therapeutically relevant. The mitochondrial toxicity at these supratherapeutic concentrations of nimesulide is characterised by uncoupling of oxidative phosphorylation and opening of the membrane permeability transition pore. Because severe hepatic damage is very rare, and because normally reactive metabolites are readily inactivated or their deleterious effects antagonised, perhaps genetically or environmentally determined alterations in these pathways account for the rare individual susceptibility.


The fluorogenic tetrazolium dye 5-cyano-2,3 ditolyl tetrazolium chloride (CTC) has been increasingly used as a measure of cell-specific metabolic activity in bacteria, in that it acts as an electron acceptor in the electron transport system (ETS) of bacterial cells. As such, it is taken to be a direct measure of abundance of those bacterial cells that are actively engaged in respiration. Although it would, thus, be anticipated that microbial respiration should be strongly correlated to the number of CTC-active cells, such a relationship has yet to be demonstrated for natural bacterioplankton comrnunities. CTC was used in sj tu to assay cell-specific respiratory activity w~thin the pelagic community of Chesapeake Bay. Over the course of sampling, the observed variation in CTC-active cell abundance was 25-fold, substantially greater than the 6-fold variation in total cell abundance (estimated by DAPI staining). As a result, the proportion of CTC-active cells ranged from 3.5 to 47.4 % of the total bacterial population, with this proportion varying seasonally as well as spatially. Both abundance and proportion of CTC-active cells were highly correlated with respiration rates within the microplankton community (c3 pm size fraction), explaining 80%, or more, of the variations in these rates. Although respiration rates and total bacterial abundance also tended to covary seasonally, the relationship was not as strong. and large spatial differences in respiration along the Bay could not be explained by total abundance alone. This suggests that the large spatiaVtempora1 variations previously observed in respiration rates are the result of changes in the number of active bacteria, rather than total bacterial abundance. Results of the present study thus encourage the view that CTC provides an ecologically meaningful measure of active bacterial abundance in aquatic systems, and that CTC-active bacteria are likely responsible for the bulk of bacterial community metabolic activity.


This paper considers the suitability of a number of emerging and future instruments for the study of radio recombination lines (RRLs)
at frequencies below 200 MHz. These lines are of interest because they arise only in low-density regions of the ionized interstellar
medium and because they may represent a frequency-dependent foreground for next-generation experiments trying to detect Hi signals
from the Universe's Epoch of Reionization and Dark Ages (so-called "21-cm cosmology" observations). We summarize existing
decametre-wavelength observations of RRLs, which have detected only carbon RRLs. We then show that, with reference to an interferometric
array, the primary instrumental factor limiting detection and study of the RRLs is the areal filling factor of the array. We
consider the first station of the Long Wavelength Array (LWA-1), the LOw Frequency ARray (LOFAR), the low-frequency component
of the Square Kilometre Array (SKA-lo), and a future Lunar Radio Array (LRA), all of which are likely to operate at decametre
wavelengths. Key advantages that many of these arrays offer include digital signal processing, which should produce more stable and
better defined spectral bandpasses; larger frequency tuning ranges; and better angular resolution than that of the previous generation
of instruments that have been used in the past for RRL observations. Detecting Galactic carbon RRLs, with optical depths at the level
of 10 −3 , appears feasible for all of these arrays, with integration times ranging from a few hours to as much as 100 h; at optimal
frequencies this would permit a Galactic survey. The SKA-lo and LRA, and the LWA-1 and LOFAR at the lowest frequencies, should
have a high enough filling factor to detect lines with much lower optical depths, of order 10 −4 in a few hundred hours. The amount
of RRL-hosting gas present in the Galaxy at the high Galactic latitudes likely to be targeted in Epoch of Reionization and Dark Ages
Hi studies is currently unknown. If present, however, the spectral fluctuations from RRLs could be comparable to or exceed the
anticipated HI signals.


A semantic-mediation architecture advances traditional approaches for standard-based business-to-business interoperability. The architecture formally models a business domain in a reference ontology and annotates domain message schemas to define public and proprietary reconciliation rule sets. Enterprises can use the rule sets to implement standard-based message interfaces and to translate message content between their proprietary message forms. An implementation of the semantic-mediation architecture augments a general applications-integration toolset developed for the Athena European FP 6 project. The implementation demonstrates the architecture's feasibility and suggests directions for future tool enhancements.


Aims of the study were to compare medical students (MS) to non-MS with respect to their knowledge of smoking and to investigate the effect of a short educational intervention on MS knowledge. MS (n = 962) and students of architecture and law (n = 229) were asked to complete a 60-item questionnaire addressing knowledge of smoking epidemiology and health effects ("Score 1"), and effectiveness of cessation treatments ("Score 2"). Upon completion of questionnaire, fourth year MS received a lecture on tobacco dependence. These students were asked to complete the same questionnaire one and two years later. Mean values for Score 1 were 48.9 ± 11.5% in MS and 40.5 ± 11.4% in non-MS (P < 0.001; d = 0.69). Respective values for Score 2 were 48.1 ± 10.8% and 42.6 ± 10.6% (P < 0.001; d = 0.50). Fifth year students who had attended the lecture in year 4 scored higher than students who had not attended the lecture. Significant differences were noted one but not two years after the educational intervention. In conclusion, MS know slightly more about smoking-related diseases and methods to achieve cessation than nonmedical students; a short educational intervention was associated with better knowledge one year later, but the effect was moderate and short-lived.


It is unknown whether atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) is a mediator of environmental salt tolerance in euryhaline teleost fish. This was investigated in anesthetized Gila atraria, a euryhaline teleost native to springs of pleistocene Lake Bonneville. Plasma levels of immunoreactive (ir) ANF [using anti-human ANF-(99-126) antibodies] in fish obtained from a "fresh water" spring were significantly lower (146 +/- 27) than those in fish obtained from a "1% NaCl" spring (347 +/- 21 pg/ml, P less than 0.01). Electron micrographs of fish atrial and ventricular cardiocytes demonstrated many perinuclear granules, which closely resembled ANF-containing secretory granules seen in mammalian atriocytes. Fish heart extract contained ANF-like material of 3 kDa, which caused a marked diuresis and natriuresis in rats. In a second study, fish from a 1% NaCl spring were kept in tanks. One-third of the fish were maintained in 1% NaCl and one-third each were either adapted to fresh- or high-salt water. After 12 days, plasma irANF levels in 1% NaCl fish were 343 +/- 55, in fresh water fish 213 +/- 20 and in high-NaCl fish 691 +/- 79 pg/ml. These values differed significantly from each other (P less than 0.01). There was a close correlation between plasma irANF levels and both environmental and internal salt concentration. These data suggest that piscine ANF is an as yet unrecognized mediator of salt tolerance in this teleost and that ANF in these animals closely resembles mammalian ANF.


Gas atmosphere at the sand mould/cast alloy interface determines the quality of the casting obtained. Therefore the aim of this study was to measure and evaluate the gas forming tendency of selected moulding sands with alkyd resins. During direct and indirect gas measurements, the kinetics of gas evolution was recorded as a function of the temperature of the sand mixture undergoing the process of thermal destruction. The content of hydrogen and oxygen was continuously monitored to establish the type of the atmosphere created by the evolved gases (oxidizing/reducing). The existing research methodology [1, 7, 8] has been extended to include pressure-assisted technique of indirect measurement of the gas evolution rate. For this part of the studies, a new concept of the measurement was designed and tested. This article presents the results of measurements and compares gas emissions from two sand mixtures containing alkyd resins known under the trade name SL and SL2002, in which the polymerization process is initiated with isocyanate. Studies of the gas forming tendency were carried out by three methods on three test stands to record the gas evolution kinetics and evaluate the risk of gas formation in a moulding or core sand. Proprietary methods for indirect evaluation of the gas forming tendency have demonstrated a number of beneficial aspects, mainly due to the ability to record the quantity and composition of the evolved gases in real time and under stable and reproducible measurement conditions. Direct measurement of gas evolution rate from the tested sands during cast iron pouring process enables a comparison of the results with the results obtained by indirect methods.


Information on any given topic is often scattered across the Web. Previously this scatter has been characterized through the inequality of distribution of facts (i.e. pieces of information) across webpages. Such an approach conceals how specific facts (e.g. rare facts) occur in specific types of pages (e.g. fact-rich pages). To reveal such regularities, we construct bipartite networks, consisting of two types of vertices: the facts contained in webpages and the webpages themselves. Such a representation enables the application of a series of network analysis techniques, revealing structural features such as connectivity, robustness and clustering. Not only does network analysis yield new insights into information scatter, but we also illustrate the benefit of applying new and existing analysis techniques directly to a bipartite network as opposed to its one-mode projection. We discuss the implications of each network feature to the users' ability to find comprehensive information online. Finally, we compare the bipartite graph structure of webpages and facts with the hyperlink structure between the webpages.


2, 3-Iminosqualene (ISq) is a powerful inhibitor of squalene oxide: lanosterol cyclase (EC 188.8.131.52). When added to lipid-depleted culture media (LDM) of rat hepatoma (H-4-II-E-C3) or Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells at a concentration of 10 μg ml-1, it causes the cells to float off the substratum in a few days. Lipoproteins in the culture medium completely counteract this effect. Cells in lipoprotein-containing media (FGM) grow normally in the presence of ISq. Irrespective of the culture medium, ISq at 10 μg ml-1 causes an almost complete and apparently irreversible inactivation of the squalene oxide cyclase in CHO and H4 cells and the accumulation in the cells of squalene, of squalene 2, 3-oxide (mostly), and of squalene 2, 3-22, 23-dioxide when [14C]acetate or [14C]mevalonate is fed to the cells. Chronic treatment of H4 cells with ISq failed to elicit induction of the cyclase, but increased the conversion of mevalonate into squalene and squalene dioxide, and depressed the conversion of squalene oxide to the dioxide. Cells loaded with squalene and the squalene oxides from mevalonate in the presence of ISq get rid of these substances by rapidly secreting them into the media and by some unidentified metabolic processes.


The medicinal shrub Carapichea ipecacuanha (ipecac) is an amphitropic species with three disjunct areas of distribution. In the Brazilian Atlantic and Amazonian ranges, the species was associated mostly with the understory of seasonal semideciduous forests, whereas in the Central American–Colombian range, the species occurred in the understory of moist evergreen forests. We examined the phylogeographic structure of ipecac using chloroplast trnT‐trnL and nuclear internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences from 120 and 46 specimens, respectively. To complement existing data on root alkaloid profiles, we used high‐performance liquid chromatography to assess the levels of emetine and cephaeline in 33 specimens from the two Brazilian ranges. The three ranges shared neither nuclear nor chloroplast haplotypes. The phylogeographic structures showed an uneven distribution of genetic diversity, sharp breaks and high levels of genetic differentiation among ranges. Our results suggest that the extant populations are descendents of at least four distinct ancestral lineages. The Atlantic ipecacs showed higher levels of genetic diversity than ipecacs from the other two ranges; it is likely that they derive from two ancestral lineages, with long‐term persistence in that region. The Amazonian ipecacs were monomorphic with respect to the ITS and cpDNA sequences, which supports the view that there was a recent expansion from a single parental source after a strong genetic bottleneck. The existence of a fourth distinct lineage is apparent from the high levels of genetic and chemical differentiation that we identified in the Central American–Columbian ipecacs.


Structural attributes of forest, such as canopy crown closure, stand height, stem density and basal area, derived from the third Spanish National Forest Inventory (IFN‐3) were used in combination with spectral information derived from Landsat Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+) imagery and topographic information to evaluate their relationships. To deal with the variability found in the literature, three different types of vegetation, dominated by conifers, evergreen sclerophyll and broad‐leaved deciduous trees, were analysed. In addition, the analyses were performed using three sets of plots filtered to be successively more homogeneous. A multivariate canonical ordination method, redundancy analysis (RDA), was used to enable the simultaneous evaluation of the two data sets and provide a useful graphical output highlighting the relationships between response (structural attributes) and explanatory (spectral and topographic) variables. Rank correlation analyses were also performed. The low percentage of explained variance at the multivariate analyses and low rank correlation coefficients made it difficult to derive practical empirical models. The strong influence of vegetation type on the results was confirmed, given that each type was sensitive to a different kind of spectral information. Finally, the results did not allow validation of the hypothesis that the relationship should be better when using a more homogeneous set of plots.


Stochastic defects in the photoresist profile are one of the main yield limiters in EUV lithography patterning. These stochastic defects can be, for example, local resist loss, resist profile footing, or resist scumming. A subset of these defects is transferred through the hardmask open (HMO) patterning, leading ultimately to electrical opens and shorts. We use on-wafer data and process recipes to inform a physical etch model of the HMO process. This model is tested and confirmed by comparison to additional on-silicon data. The established model provides a visualization of the defect transfer through individual process steps and highlights critical patterning steps that may limit electrical yield. For example, a change in in-situ deposition time is observed to be more sensitive than oxide open or planarization film open times both in the model and on-wafer. This provides us the insight to focus tuning deposition step times to reduce defectivity and improve process performance. Furthermore, this model provides insight into the type of defects which are eliminated during specific patterning steps, and the type of defects which are persistent and ultimately lead to electrical opens and shorts. To characterize these defects, we plant intentional defects with varying dimensions and study which ones stay through the entire HMO process and which ones are eliminated. This insight helps better understand the HMO process, which may lead in the future to further process improvements.


The objective of present study was to derive the economic values for important traits in broiler breeding program and to specify their sensitivity to production circumstances, using a deterministic bio-economic model, reflecting an integrated or non-integrated broiler chicken's production system. Model focuses on multiplier breeder, hatchery, commercial grower and processor stages. The estimated economic values ranged from -0.2035 to 0.2318 for both integrated and non-integrated systems. The estimated economic values based on non-integrated system were higher than those of integrated system except for hatching egg number (0.0009 vs. 0.0014), mortality (-0.0078 vs. -0.0068) and wings yield (0.0206 vs. 0.0158). In integrated situation, the effect of changes in the mean of hatching egg number, finishing weight and mortality on the economic values of traits was examined. The results showed that hatching egg number did not affect the economic values of traits at the preceding stages. On the other hand, changes in traits at the commercial grower, namely finishing weight and mortality affected the economic values of traits at both commercial grower and processor stages. The results of sensitivity analysis (± 20%) showed that traits at the multiplier and hatchery stages were sensitive to changes in feed costs at rearing and laying periods and also changes in the price of parental stock chicks, but the traits relating to commercial stage did not show any sensitivity to these factors. Among different factors, feed cost in commercial stage had the most impact on economic values of finishing weight, feed consumption and mortality.


SIR: In the June 12, 1971, issue of the Journal, "Penicillin Allergy" is discussed in a letter by W. P. Nelson. I think this allergy is more common than is generally realized. When I was in England a few years ago, it was the practice in some hospitals for one sister to give all the penicillin injections in the hospital. As well as being nonallergic, she always wore rubber gloves and a gauze mask. I saw a man in London who had a penicillin injection four years earlier. From time to time a penicillin rash appeared over most of his body, something necessitating hospital treatment. Some years ago, when I was at Darwin Hospital, a man came into the out-patient department cornplatning of an irritable rash. He said, "I think it is a penicillin rash". That was a Wednesday afternoon. I asked him when he had the penicillin injection, and he replied "Last. Monday morning". Thinking he might have had the injection at the Darwin Hospital and that I might. have been responsible, I asked him where he had the injection. He replied, "At London Airport". He had just arrived by air. We move quickly these days in a small world.


Ionothermal reactions of 1,4-benzenedicarboxylic acid (H2BDC) and 4,4′-biphenyldicarboxylic (H2BPDC) with Mn(OAc)2 resulted in 12 compounds divided into four kinds of structural models: [RMI]2[Mn3(BDC)3X2] (1–5, type A), [EMI]2[Mn3(BPDC)4] (6, type B), [RMI]2[Mn2(BPDC)3(H2O)3] (7–9, type C) and [RMI]6[Mn9(BPDC)9(HBPDC)2(OAc)4] (10–12, type D). A combination effect of ligands and IL components can be observed in the structural construction, which also is reflected in the properties of thermal stability and fluorescence. The decomposition temperatures of Mn–BDC compounds are higher than those of Mn–BPDC compounds. The decomposition temperatures decrease with the alkyl chain in [RMI]+, due to a +I inductive effect. The maximum emissions of compounds 1–5 and 6–12 located at ca. 410 or 407 nm are assigned to ILCT of H2BDC and H2BPDC ligands, respectively.


Traditional sampling involves encoding a signal through (time, value)-pairs. In contrast, time encoding machines (TEMs) characterize a signal by recording time points which depend on the integral of the signal over time. We study multi-channel TEMs where channels have shifted values for their integrators. We show that M channels can enable recovery of bandlimited signals with M times the bandwidth of that allowed in the single channel case. Moreover, our recovery algorithm is linear, even when the shift between the integrators of the TEMs is unknown. This is in stark contrast to traditional multi-channel sampling, where complicated non-linear methods are required to recover the unknown time shift between channels.


In 1997 the British colony of Hong Kong reverted to the People's Republic of China after over 150 years under British control. Two years later, in 1999, the Portuguese-administered territory of Macau will be reunited with the mainland. How did these two capitalist systems manage to survive, clinging to the edge of communist China, until the late 20th century? With introductory essay and bibliography...the dictionary's uniqueness fills a subject void for many collections. - LIBRARY JOURNAL ...serves well as a handy tool for those who need a quick reference to some essential features of the history of Hong Kong and Macau. - PACIFIC VIEWPOINT ...as a quick reference to personalities, institutions, and events...will be especially handy for the increasing number of journalists writing about the handover of the last imperial outposts on China's coast. - FAR EASTERN ECONOMIC REVIEW


Law, Immunization and the Right to Die focuses on the urgent matter of legal appeals and judicial decisions on assisted death. Drawing on key cases from the United Kingdom and Canada, the book focuses on the problematic paternalism of legal decisions that currently deny assisted dying and questions why the law fails to recognize what many describe as "compassionate motives" for assisted death. When cases are analyzed as discourses that are part of a larger socio-political logic of governance, judicial decisions, it is argued here, reveal themselves as relying on the construction of neoliberal fictions - fictions that are here elucidated with reference to Michel Foucault's theoretical insights on pastoral power and Roberto Esposito's philosophical thesis on immunization. Challenging the socio-political logic of neoliberalism, the issue of assisted dying goes beyond the predominant legal concern with protecting - or immunizing - individuals from one another, in favor of minimal interference. This book calls for a new kind of politics: one that might affirm people and their finitude both more collectively, and more compassionately.


The effects of 4,4'-diisothiocyanatostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid (DIDS), a potent anion transport blocker, on transmembrane action potentials (APs) and the sodium current (I[Na]) of guinea pig ventricular myocytes were examined by using conventional microelectrode and whole-cell patch-clamp recording techniques. In papillary muscle preparations, DIDS (> or =0.1 mM) suppressed the maximal upstroke velocity (.v[max]) of the AP without significant changes in other AP parameters. Extracellular application of DIDS on single cardiomyocytes isolated from the guinea pig ventricle markedly reduced the peak amplitude of the tetrodotoxin (TTX)-sensitive and voltage-activated sodium current. The concentration-dependent block of DIDS could be expressed by the Hill equation with a Hill coefficient of 0.97 and a dissociation constant of 0.15 mM at a holding potential of (VH) -120 mV. DIDS (0.1 mM) shifted the steady-state inactivation curve for I(Na) toward more negative potentials by 6.0 +/- 0.5 mV and the activation curve to more positive potentials by 5.0 +/- 1.0 mV, although the slope factors were unaffected. With repetitive depolarizing pulses from -120 mV, DIDS produced a use-dependent block on the I(Na). Recovery of I(Na) from inactivation was slowed (time constant = 245 ms, compared with 10 ms of control) in the presence of 0.1 mM DIDS. In the two-pulse experiments, DIDS produced two distinct phases of development of I(Na) block, the rapid phase (tau = 5 ms) caused by an open channel block, and the slower phase (tau = 382 ms) induced by an inactivated channel block. These results suggest that the Cl- transport blocker DIDS has a direct inhibitory effect on the cardiac sodium channel. DIDS-induced use dependence of I(Na) block may result from the interaction of the drug with sodium channels in both the open and inactivated channel states.


Constructing Tutoring System on Computer Network is a problem that is being interested by researchers. The main of  this paper is to introduce a method for constructing a Tutoring System via presenting one for concrete problem of geometry. The Tutoring System describes approximately process of studying and teaching in class. The paper proposes a method for presenting pupil actions in a defined studying session. This presentation method permits to diagnostic knowledge status of pupils and to help them in any time in the studying session. The  experiment Tutoring System confirms possibitity of distance  education automatically controlled by computers.


The pleiotropic effects of vitamin D on the various metabolic, anticancer, and immunomodulatory functions of the body based on the presence of vitamin D receptors (VDR) on various cell types has been recognized worldwide now. Of few understood mechanisms of immunomodulatory actions of vitamin D are the suppressive action on the maturation of antigen-presenting cells and decrease in the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Vitamin D deficiency has been implicated in the immune diseases like rheumatic diseases, asthma, psoriasis, and multiple sclerosis. Vitamin D deficiency has been associated with increased frequency and severity of disease flares in rheumatic diseases like lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. Other studies have shown higher prevalence of persistence and evolution in to more definite rheumatic disorder in undifferentiated arthritis and undifferentiated connective tissue disorder patients with vitamin D deficiency. Multiple factors like avoidance of sunlight, the use of corticosteroids and hydroxychloroquine, skin pigmentation, etc. should be considered when evaluating vitamin D levels in these patients, needless to say the consideration of higher-dose supplement for these patients. It is thus prudent that all patients with established or undifferentiated rheumatic diseases are evaluated for vitamin D status and an adequate supplementation is recommended to prevent the associated consequences.