Context: Androgenic alopecia (AGA) is a hereditary androgen-dependent disorder, characterized by gradual conversion of terminal hair into miniaturized hair and defined by various patterns. Common age group affected is between 30 and 50 years. Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of cardiovascular risk factors that include diabetes and prediabetes, abdominal obesity, dyslipidemia, and hypertension. The relationship between androgenic alopecia and MetS is still poorly understood. Aim: The aim was to study the clinical profile of androgenic alopecia and its association with cardiovascular risk factors. Materials and Methods: This was a hospital-based cross-sectional study done on men in the age group of 25–40 years. Fifty clinically diagnosed cases with early-onset androgenic alopecia of Norwood Grade III or above and fifty controls without androgenic alopecia were included in the study. Data collected included anthropometric measurements, blood pressure, family history of androgenic alopecia, history of alcohol, smoking; fasting blood sugar, and lipid profile were done. MetS was diagnosed as per the new International Diabetes Federation criteria. Chi-square and Student's t-test were used for statistical analysis. Results: MetS was seen in 5 (10%) cases and 1 (2%) control (P =0.092). Abdominal obesity, hypertension, and lowered high-density lipoprotein were significantly higher in patients with androgenic alopecia when compared to that of the controls. Conclusion: A higher prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors was seen in men with early-onset androgenic alopecia. Early screening for MetS and its components may be beneficial in patients with early-onset androgenic alopecia.


OBJECTIVE
To review evidence-based data on spontaneous retrogression of low-grade gliomas with respect to interval till regression, type of glioma and patient outcome.

METHODS
The systematic review comprised medical literature in English language published from January 1997 to January 2017 on Scopus, PubMed and Google Scholar databases to establish consensus about the possible mechanism of spontaneous regression, the role of therapeutic intervention and failure of management strategies in low-grade gliomas. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines were followed during the review.

RESULTS
Of the 176 articles identified, 73(41.5%) were shortlisted for detailed assessment. Of them, 10(13.7%) were included; 5(50%) case reports and 5(50%) case series. There were 23 cases of spontaneous regression; 15(65.2%) males and 8(34.7%) females. The interval of regression varied from 3 months to 15.5 years, and the most commonly presenting low-grade glioma type was optic pathway glioma 11(47.4%).

CONCLUSIONS
The phenomenon of regression was most evident in optic pathway glioma. Literature suggested that low-grade gliomas should undergo serial imaging before implying any therapeutic intervention. However, the evidencebased proof, large-scale experimental studies and ethical considerations are still required to standardise this strategy.


Unfortunately an incorrect version of Figure 4 appears on p517 of this paper; the correct version is as printed below. A sentence ("Increased N2O emissions.... Conversely") should then also be deleted from the corresponding paragraph of the main text as printed on pp516–517; the correct version of this paragraph is also given below. The authors and publisher regret any confusion or inconvenience this may have caused.


This thesis presents an investigation of two general factors affecting speech perception in normal-hearing adults. Two sets of experiments are described, in which speakers of English are presented with degraded (noise-vocoded) speech. The first set of studies investigates the importance of linguistic rhythm as a cue for perceptual adaptation to noise-vocoded sentences. Results indicate that the presence of native English rhythmic patterns benefits speech recognition and adaptation, but not when higher-level linguistic information is absent (i.e. when the sentences are in a foreign language). It is proposed that rhythm may help in the perceptual encoding of degraded speech in phonological working memory. Experiments in this strand also present evidence against a critical role for indexical characteristics of the speaker in the adaptation process. The second set of studies concerns the issue of individual differences in speech perception. A psychometric curve-fitting approach is selected as the preferred method of quantifying variability in noise-vocoded sentence recognition. Measures of working memory and verbal IQ are identified as candidate correlates of performance with noise-vocoded sentences. When the listener is exposed to noise-vocoded stimuli from different linguistic categories (consonants and vowels, isolated words, sentences), there is evidence for the interplay of two initial listening 'modes' in response to the degraded speech signal, representing 'top-down' cognitive-linguistic processing and 'bottom-up' acoustic-phonetic analysis. Detailed analysis of segment recognition presents a perceptual role for temporal information across all the linguistic categories, and suggests that performance could be improved through training regimes that direct attention to the most informative acoustic properties of the stimulus. Across several experiments, the results also demonstrate long-term aspects of perceptual learning. In sum, this thesis demonstrates that consideration of both stimulus-based and listener-based factors forms a promising approach to the characterization of speech perception processes in the healthy adult listener.


Various physical-layer techniques have so far been proposed to achieve perfect secrecy in wireless communication systems. In this framework, an approach is investigated to enhance secrecy using a helping interferer transmitted by a friendly node in the network, aiming at confusing a passive eavesdropper. Commonly, such physical layer security approaches rely on the injection of a noise-like signal to intentionally degrade the eavesdropper capacity. Instead, the use of a jamming signal with the same probability mass function as that of the actual data is proposed here. The gains of this approach are investigated via extensive symbol error rate measurements and evaluations of the achievable secrecy rates.


The workflow management system should be flexible enough to manage workflow changes caused by new partnerships, new technologies, and new strategies in collaborative design. Therefore, this paper attempts to introduce the version concept of configuration management into the workflow management system to handle this problem. In this study, the baseline is applied to record the sequence of tasks in a workflow and the version number of the baseline is given whenever the workflow is created. Whenever any change happens, the version number of the task or baseline will be modified accordingly. Both version numbers of the baseline and the tasks are checked while the workflow is being processed, so that the user could notice any differences in the tasks or workflow and decides whether to use the newly changed workflow or to keep the old version. A JADE development platform was applied to develop a prototype system and the architecture was based on Workflow Management Coalition. A scenario was shown in this paper to verify the feasibility of this study, and the result showed that users can choose whether to use the modified workflow baseline or not, for any running processes. This approach increases the workflow flexibility for collaborative design projects.


In this study, nanoindentation is used to determine Young's modulus of chemically vapor deposited films consisting of silicon carbide, silicon nitride, boron carbide, boron nitride, and silicon dioxide. Diethylsilane and ditertiarybutylsilane were used as precursors in the synthesis of the silicon-based material, while triethylamine borane complex was used for the boron-based material. The modulus of these films was observed to be dependent on the processing conditions and resulting composition of the deposits. For the silicon carbide, silicon nitride, boron carbide, and boron nitride films, the carbon content in the films was observed to increase significantly with higher deposition temperatures, resulting in a corresponding decrease in values of Young's modulus. The composition of the silicon dioxide films was near stoichiometry over the investigated deposition temperature range (375–475 °C) with correspondingly small variations in the micromechanical properties. Subsequent annealing of these oxide films resulted in a significant increase in the values of Young's modulus due to hydrogen and moisture removal.


This thesis presents a reliable technology to assemble free standing lipid membranes using microfabricated devices. A microfluidic cartridge consisting of parallel channels connected with a rectangular aperture was designed and characterized to assemble artificial membranes. This methodology resulted on a system capable of assembling lipid bilayer membranes of different lipid composition. Using decane as organic solvent, ~70% of the aperture was covered by the lipid bilayer, while the remaining are was occupied a pocket of solvent (annulus). An almost complete depletion of the annulus can be achieved by choosing a solvent (chloroform) capable of being absorbed by the flowcell material. In comparison with others methods, this approach is an important contribution to the field as it is allows real-time control over conditions (voltage, molecules in solution, pH) over both leaflets of the membrane. Furthermore, the lipid bilayer plane is perpendicular to the microscope focal plane, allowing observation of morphological changes in the lipid membrane and straightforward combination with optical techniques. This work shows the first successful operation of optical tweezers combined with planar lipid membranes accessible from both sides. Direct manipulation of the membrane is demonstrated with membranes with a reduced annulus. One of the microfluidic devices designed in this thesis can host several membranes simultaneously, which are all accessible with an optical tweezers. This device facilitates optical tweezers studies of by allowing to work with different membranes of same lipid composition in a same device with access to both sides of the membranes. Direct mechanical manipulation and adjustable buffer conditions both simultaneously are highly desired features that this technique offers, enabling the study of biological processes that depend on asymmetric conditions on each membrane sides. In addition, the easy access facilitates the study of the formation of lipid nanotube via the intrusion of objects on a flat membrane. The methodology developed in the context of this thesis can be used for combined electrophysiology and force spectroscopy of lipid membranes. To reach the full potential of this technique, a more complete descriptive model of the membrane is needed. More complex lipid membranes could also be implemented as future work.


During the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, Robert Paul Lanza studied embryonic stem cells [5], tissues, and endangered species as chief scientific officer of Advanced Cell Technology, Incorporated in Worcester, Massachusetts. Lanza's team cloned the endangered species of gaur Bos gaurus [6]. Although the gaur did not survive long, Lanza successfully cloned another cow [7]like creature, called the banteng (Bos javanicus [8]). Lanza also worked on cloning [9] human embryos to harvest stem cells [10], which could be used to treat dieases. While previous techniques required the embryo's destruction, Lanza developed a harvesting technique that does not destroy the embryo, forestalling many ethical objections to human embryonic research.


The centipede game posits one of the most well-known paradoxes of backward induction in the literature of experimental game theory. Given that deviations from the unique subgame perfect Nash equilibrium generates a Pareto improvement, several theoretical models have been employed in order to rationalize this kind of behavior in this social dilemma. The available explanations range from social preferences including fairness, altruism or cooperation motives, errors in playing, inability to perform backward induction or different depths of reasoning. In the present study, we use the Blavatskyy's theoretical contribution, and relax the assumptions of Expected Utility maximization and risk-neutral attitudes, to test an alternative explanation. We compare various probabilistic decision theory models in terms of their descriptive (in-sample) and predictive (out-of-sample fit) performance, using data from experimental centipede games. We find that introducing non-Expected Utility preferences to the Quantal Response Equilibrium model, along with a nonlinear utility function, provides a better explanation compared to alternative specifications such as the Level-k or the Quantal Response Equilibrium model with altruistic motives. (JEL C72, C92, D81, D82).


Multiple imputation was first conceived as a tool that statistical agencies could use to handle nonresponse in large-sample public use surveys. In the last two decades, the multiple-imputation framework has been adapted for other statistical contexts. For example, individual researchers use multiple imputation to handle missing data in small samples, statistical agencies disseminate multiply-imputed data sets for purposes of protecting data confidentiality, and survey methodologists and epidemiologists use multiple imputation to correct for measurement errors. In some of these settings, Rubin's original rules for combining the point and variance estimates from the multiply-imputed data sets are not appropriate, because what is known—and thus the conditional expectations and variances used to derive inferential methods—differs from that in the missing-data context. These applications require new combining rules and methods of inference. In fact, more than 10 combining rules exist in the published literature. This article describes some of the main adaptations of the multiple-imputation framework, including missing data in large and small samples, data confidentiality, and measurement error. It reviews the combining rules for each setting and explains why they differ. Finally, it highlights research topics in extending the multiple-imputation framework.


Conventional kinesin is a processive, microtubule-based motor protein that drives movements of membranous organelles in neurons. Amino acid Thr(291) of Drosophila kinesin heavy chain is identical in all superfamily members and is located in alpha-helix 5 on the microtubule-binding surface of the catalytic motor domain. Substitution of methionine at Thr(291) results in complete loss of function in vivo. In vitro, the T291M mutation disrupts the ATPase cross-bridge cycle of a kinesin motor/neck construct, K401-4 (Brendza, K. M., Rose, D. J., Gilbert, S. P., and Saxton, W. M. (1999) J. Biol. Chem. 274, 31506-31514). The pre-steady-state kinetic analysis presented here shows that ATP binding is weakened significantly, and the rate of ATP hydrolysis is increased. The mutant motor also fails to distinguish ATP from ADP, suggesting that the contacts important for sensing the gamma-phosphate have been altered. The results indicate that there is a signaling defect between the motor domains of the T291M dimer. The ATPase cycles of the two motor domains appear to become kinetically uncoupled, causing them to work more independently rather than in the strict, coordinated fashion that is typical of kinesin.


Background The interactions between large artery function and neurovascular coupling (NVC) are emerging as important contributors to cognitive health. Women are disproportionally affected by Alzheimer's disease and related dementia later in life. Understanding large artery correlates of NVC in young women may help with preservation of cognitive health with advancing age. Purpose To explore the association between large artery function, NVC and cognitive performance in young women. Methods Vascular measurements were made in 61 women (21 ± 4 yrs) at rest and during a cognitive challenge (Stroop task). Transcranial Doppler was used to measure left middle cerebral artery (MCA) maximum velocity (Vmax), mean velocity (Vmean), and pulsatility index (PI). NVC was determined as MCA blood velocity reactivity to the Stroop task. Large artery function was determined using carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV) as a proxy measure of aortic stiffness and carotid ultrasound-derived measures of compliance and reactivity (diameter change to the Stroop task). Cognitive function was assessed separately using a computerized neurocognitive battery that included appraisal of response speed, executive function, information processing efficiency, memory, attention/concentration, and impulsivity. Results MCA Vmax reactivity was positively associated with executive function (β = 0.26, 95% CI 0.01–0.10); MCA Vmean reactivity was negatively associated with response speed (β = −0.33, 95% CI −0.19 to −0.02) and positively with memory score (β = 0.28, 95% CI 0.01–0.19). MCA PI reactivity was negatively associated with attention performance (β = −0.29, 95% CI −14.9 to −1.0). Path analyses identified significant paths (p < 0.05) between carotid compliance and carotid diameter reactivity to select domains of cognitive function through MCA reactivity. Conclusions NVC was associated with cognitive function in young women. Carotid artery function assessed as carotid compliance and carotid reactivity may contribute to optimal NVC in young women through increased blood flow delivery and reduced blood flow pulsatility.


Catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT) is an inherited arrhythmic syndrome characterized by exercise- or stress-induced polymorphic ventricular tachyarrhythmias and sudden cardiac death in the context of a structurally normal heart.1,2 It is estimated to occur in ≈1 in 10 000 of the population and has a poor prognosis, with up to 50% mortality by 20 years of age.3 The pathophysiology has been studied extensively since the first genetic mutation was first identified by Priori and colleagues in 2002.1,2 Abnormal calcium storage and release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) within the cardiomyocytes underpin the disease, with causative mutations in 2 critical proteins in the SR complex: the cardiac SR calcium release channel known as the ryanodine receptor (RyR2) and the calcium buffering and RyR2 regulatory protein calsequestrin (CASQ2). Mutations have been identified in the RyR2 or CASQ2 genes in ≈60% to 70% of individuals with the clinical syndrome.

Article see p 2673

Diastolic SR calcium release via RyR2 is the molecular basis for delayed afterdepolarizations (DADs), triggered activity, and ventricular ectopy and, if oscillatory, can be sustained ventricular tachyarrhythmias, leading to cardiac arrest and sudden death. Increased sympathetic activity activates the cardiac β-adrenoceptor (βAR) pathways, leading to phosphorylation of RyR2 and increasing the RyR2 channel opening probability.4 βAR activation also increases sarcoplasmic endoplasmic reticular calcium ATPase2 (SERCA2a) activity via phosphorylation of the inhibitory protein phospholamban, increasing SR calcium loading. Both of these effects are important for the normal increase in cardiac inotropy during exercise or stress as part of the "flight or fight" response.

Individuals with CPVT harbor mutations in RyR2 or CASQ2, lowering the threshold for abnormal SR calcium release during diastole, when the RyR2 channel should be closed.1 Hence, individuals with CPVT develop complex ventricular tachyarrhythmias secondary to maladaptive handling of …


Background: The prevalence of HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) has not changed considerably in the last two decades. Potent antiretroviral therapy has shifted the severity of HAND to milder phenotypes, but excess morbidity and mortality continue to be associated with HAND. Changes in numerous markers of immune function, inflammation, and cellular stress have been repeatedly associated with HAND, but the underlying systems that drive these changes have not been identified. Method: In this study, we used systems informatics to interrogate the cerebrospinal fluid proteomic content of longitudinal samples obtained from HIV-infected adults with stably unimpaired, stably impaired, worsening, or improving neurocognitive performance. Results and conclusion: The patterns of change in cerebrospinal fluid protein content implicated the induction of acute phase and complement systems as important regulators of neurocognitive status. Worsening neurocognitive performance was preceded by induction of acute phase and complement systems, whereas improving neurocognitive performance was preceded by a downregulation of these systems.


AXIN2 gene plays a crucial role in morphogenesis of craniofacial area and is essential for tooth development. AXIN2 gene is one of the most studied genes associated with tooth agenesis, the most common defect of dentition in humans. Polymorphic variants in AXIN2 gene are discussed in relation to the occurrence of the tooth agenesis but also as an indication of the risk of cancer. Mutations in AXIN2 gene were found in patients with colorectal or hepatocellular carcinoma, prostate cancer, ovarium or lung cancer. These findings support the hypothesis that missing teeth may be a significant marker for predisposition for cancer.


Aim: To study hydrodynamics of the eye after combined treatment – a combination of laser activation of trabecula and cataract phacoemulsification – in a comparative aspect.Material and methods. The study included 65 patients (65 eyes) with initial and advanced stages (I–II stages) of primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and complicated cataract. Among the patients there were 38 women (58.5 %) and 27 men (41.5 %), the average age was 68.8 ± 8.2 years. The follow-up period is 12 months after the treatment. The patients were divided into two groups: the main one – 33 patients (33 eyes) who underwent combined treatment – YAG-laser activation of trabecula (YAG-LAT) and phacoemulsification of cataract with intraocular lens (IOL) implantation, the control group – 32 patients (32 eyes) who underwent only phacoemulsification.Initially, the average intraocular pressure (IOP) (P0) in the main and control groups was 20.72 ± 3.39 mm Hg and 21.02 ± 3.55 mm Hg respectively. The average number of antihypertensive drugs used in the study group was 1.53 ± 0.64, in the control group – 1.34 ± 0.55.Results. There were no intraand postoperative complications. By the end of the follow-up period, a significant decrease in the average IOP level compared to its preoperative value by 29.2 % was determined in the main group, and 9.8 % in the control. The average number of antihypertensive drugs used in the study group decreased from 1.53 ± 0.64 to 0.67 ± 0.59 (p < 0.05), in the control group of patients, on the contrary, the average number of antihypertensive agents increased from 1.34 ± 0.55 to 1.91 ± 0.70 (p < 0.05).Conclusion. In the long-term postoperative period after combined treatment (YAG-LAT + phaco), IOP normalization was achieved in 96.9 % of cases, as well as a significant increase in visual acuity of patients. The developed method of treatment is safe, has a minimal risk of complications and can be used for the treatment of patients with initial stages of POAG in combination with complicated cataracts with increased IOP level, inefficiency of antihypertensive therapy.


The authors report a case of probable serotonin syndrome caused by the coadministration of sertraline and oxycodone. A 34 year‐old male patient experienced visual hallucinations and severe tremor after dramatically increasing his dosage of oxycodone while on stable amounts of sertraline and cyclosporin. Discontinuation of cyclosporin did not result in resolution of his symptoms. Consideration of a possible sertraline‐oxycodone interaction led to withholding sertraline, which resulted in symptom resolution. Serotonin syndrome has been noted with sertraline in combination with other drugs, but this is the first report in combination with a narcotic analgesic. Possible pharmacological mechanisms are discussed. In complicated patients that are taking multiple medications, physicians should be aware of this possible interaction to avoid delay in the diagnosis of serotonin syndrome.


NK cells can kill MHC-different or MHC-deficient but not syngeneic MHC-expressing target cells. This MHC class I-specific tolerance is acquired during NK cell development. MHC recognition by murine NK cells largely depends on clonally distributed Ly49 family receptors, which inhibit NK cell function upon ligand engagement. We investigated whether these receptors play a role for the development of NK cells and provide evidence that the expression of a Ly49 receptor transgene on developing NK cells endowed these cells with a significant developmental advantage over NK cells lacking such a receptor, but only if the relevant MHC ligand was present in the environment. The data suggest that the transgenic Ly49 receptor accelerates and/or rescues the development of NK cells which would otherwise fail to acquire sufficient numbers of self-MHC-specific receptors. Interestingly, the positive effect on NK cell development is most prominent when the MHC ligand is simultaneously present on both hemopoietic and nonhemopoietic cells. These findings correlate with functional data showing that MHC class I ligand on all cells is required to generate functionally mature NK cells capable of reacting to cells lacking the respective MHC ligand. We conclude that the engagement of inhibitory MHC receptors during NK cell development provides signals that are important for further NK cell differentiation and/or maturation.


Recent conflicts between Islamist and secularist parties in Iraqi Kurdistan have politicized pious and nonpious orientations to Islamic traditions. In public debate and domestic relations, tensions pervade relations between Muslims who pursue piety and those who do not. Yet affects of pleasure and joy also play a key role in the ethics of domestic relations. Evidence from the life of a Kurdish man and his family demonstrates that their orientation to Islam is inseparable from their orientation to one another. It also shows that affective pleasures linking the poetic imagination to household life are central to the ethical task of sustaining intimate relations. Within the household, Muslims with different orientations to Islam accept and accommodate one another through an "ethos of reception." [poetry, pluralism, ethics, kinship, Sufism, Islam, Iraqi Kurdistan]


Meningococcal disease is caused by Neisseria meningitidis and is an infection which rapidly progresses to multiorgan failure. It was a major killer in the epidemics of the 1980's in the United States. With the advent of Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccine in the 1990s, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Neisseria meningitidis have become the most common causes of bacterial meningitis in the United States. This article provides a review of the meningococcal illness and attempts to update current information regarding the same.


A number of mammalian genomes having been sequenced, an important next step is to catalog the expression patterns of all transcription units in health and disease by use of microarrays. Such discovery programs are crucial to our understanding of the gene networks that control developmental, physiological, and pathological processes. However, despite the excitement, the full promise of microarray technology has yet to be realized, as the superficial simplicity of the concept belies considerable problems. Microarray technology is very new; methodologies are still evolving, common standards have yet to be established, and many problems with experimental design and variability have still to be fully understood and overcome. This review will describe the time course of a microarray experiment—RNA isolation from sample, target preparation, hybridization to the microarray probe, data capture, and bioinformatic analysis. For each stage, the advantages and disadvantages of competing techniques are compared, and inherent sources of error are identified and discussed.


Background: The earliest manifestation of alcohol-related liver disease (ALD) is steatosis, characterized by the accumulation of lipid droplets (LDs) in hepatocytes. Findings from our laboratory have indicated that many pathological changes, including steatosis, correlate with the alcohol-induced hepatocellular increases in S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH). Based on these considerations, we hypothesized that an experimental increase in intracellular SAH alone will result in similar steatotic changes to those seen after alcohol exposure. Methods: Freshly isolated rat hepatocytes grown on collagen-coated plates were exposed to serum-free medium containing 50 µmol/L oleic acid and varying concentrations of 3-deazaadenosine (DZA) to experimentally elevate intracellular SAH levels. Results: Overnight exposure to DZA treatment dose-dependently increased hepatocellular triglyceride accumulation, which was also evident by morphological visualization of larger-sized LDs. The rise in triglycerides and LDs accompanied increases in mRNA and protein levels of several LD-associated proteins known to regulate LD number and size. Furthermore, DZA treatment caused a decline in the levels of lipases that prevent fat accumulation as well as increased the expression of factors involved in lipogenesis and fatty acid mobilization. Collectively, our results indicate that the elevation of intracellular SAH is sufficient to promote fat accumulation in hepatocytes, which is similar to that seen after alcohol exposure.


AZ91D Magnesium alloy matrix composites (MMC) were fabricated by squeezing-infiltration casting with the preform made of crystallined aluminum silicate short fibers as reinforcement and aluminum phosphate as binder at high temperature. Drying sliding friction and wear resistance of the MMC were examined by means of MM200 wear tester ( block-on-ring configuration) against a hardened alloy steel counterface with 53HRC under loadings of 10 N,30 N and 50 N at 0.47 m/s and 0.92 m/s, and the wear morphology of the tested specimens was observed by scanning electronic microscope ( SEM ). The results indicate that wear mechanism of the MMC is characterized by abrasive wear with loadings 10 N and 30 N at 0.47m/s; while it is characterized by abrasive wear with slight flaking wear under loadings of 50 N at 0.47m/s, and it exhibits combined wear of abrasive wear with slight adhesive wear under loadings of 50 N at 0.94 m/s, increasing the wear resistance of the MMC.


This chapter critiques the UK's Prevent programme since its inception in 2006, and argues that it has been significantly flawed and counter-productive from the start through its partial, monocultural focus on Muslims as an entire and undifferentiated 'suspect' community. This focus on, and interference in, British Muslim communities may well have fuelled precisely the separation from and suspicion of the state and wider society which Prevent claimed to address, fatally damaging the flow of human intelligence vital to countering domestic terrorism. This approach has provoked resentment within Muslim communities and 'resource envy' from other communities, so perpetuating exactly the sort of divisive policy approaches to ethnic identity which the post 2001 riots analysis of 'community cohesion' identified. The chapter suggests that Prevent, for those reasons, has been contradictory and damaging to parallel policy attempts to promote 'cohesion' and that the 2011 Prevent Review's attempts to differentiate Prevent and Cohesion made things worse, not better. The Chapter argues that Prevent is a fatally damaged and ineffective programme that needs to be allowed to die a natural death. Instead, the only meaningful approach to 'preventing violent extremism' amongst young people must be one of promoting genuine democratic engagement and political debate amongst young people through processes of 'contact' that enable real learning and understanding of difference within society.


In the option pricing theory, two important approaches have been developed to evaluate the prices of a European option. The first approach develops an almost closed-form option pricing formula under a specific GARCH process (HestonaNandi, 2000). The second approach develops an analytical approximation for computing European option prices with more widespread NGARCH models (Duan, GauthieraSimonato, 1999). The analytical approximation was also developed under GJR-GARCH and EGARCH models by Duan, Gauthier, SassevilleaSimonato (2006). However, no empirical work was performed to study the comparative performance of these two formulas (closed-form solution and analytical approximation). Also, it is possible to develop an analytical approximation under the specific GARCH model of HestonaNandi (2000). In this paper, we have filled up those gaps. We started with the development of an analytical approximation, for computing European option prices, under Heston-Nandi's GARCH model. In the second step, we carried out a comparative analysis of the three formulas using CAC 40 index returns from 31 December 1987 to 31 December 2013.


This issue of the Journal of AHIMA contains a Position Statement on advance directives. Here we have included several "tools" or helpful documents to support your organization's ongoing education regarding advance directives. First, we offer a "Sample Policy and Procedure" addressing the administrative process of advance directives. This sample policy was adapted from a policy shared by Jean Clark, RRA, operations director with Roper Hospital in Charleston, SC, and a director on the AHIMA Board of Directors. Do not automatically accept this policy and procedure for your organization. Instead, the health information management professional could use this sample to write your organization's own, specific policy and procedures that are consistent with your state's law and legal counsel's advice. The second article, "Advance Directives and the New Joint Commission Requirements," compares 1992 Joint Commission standards for Patient Rights and The Patient Self-Determination Act requirements. Selected sections from the Joint Commission chapter on Patient Rights are highlighted and comments added that contrast it with the act. "Common Questions and Answers Related to Advance Directives" is the third tool we offer. These questions and answers may be used for a patient education brochure or staff inservice education program outline. Again, information specific to your own state needs to be added. The fourth tool we offer is miniature "Sample Slides" or overhead transparency copy that can be enlarged and used for a presentation on the basics of advance directives for a community group for staff education. We thank Dee McLane, RRA, director, Medical Information Services at Self Memorial Hospital in Greenwood, SC, who developed these slides for presentations conducted at her hospital. We also thank Jeri Whitworth, RRA, who produced the graphics on these slides. Whitworth is a first year director on the AHIMA Board of Directors this year. Again you can use as is or consider these a model as you develop your own presentation geared for your specific audience. Last, but not least, we include samples of a "Living Will Declaration" and a "Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care" forms reprinted with permission from the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP). We include them here so you can examine the language of each type of advance directive. Copies for your organization should be requested from AARP at 1909 K Street NW, Washington, DC 20049, (202) 662-4895. Forms specific to each state are available from The Society for the Right to Die/Concern for Dying at 250 W. 57th Street, New York, NY 10107, (212) 246-6973. The requirement under The Patient Self-Determination Act became effective December 1, 1991, but the educational requirements of the act are meant to be ongoing. These "tools" are to help you continue to be a regular contributor to the educational process in your organization.


Abstract Detailed analysis of certain growth characteristics in Trabeculites maculatus contributes to an understanding of the paleobiology and phylogeny of early tabulate corals. Some coralla of T. maculatus contain peculiar, vertically oriented cylindrical lacunae (open areas) that are lenticular, or in one case circular, in cross section. The nature of these structures and their relation to adjacent corallites suggest that they were formed by the coral in response to soft-bodied biotic associates of unknown taxonomic affinity. Trabeculites maculatus is an unusual tabulate coral featuring both axial and lateral modes of corallite increase. Axial increase was common, often occurring in association with rejuvenation following injury and less commonly involving normal, undamaged corallites. Lateral increase of normal corallites was typical, but this form of increase could also be involved in the termination of lacunae and occurred in response to a divergent growth pattern around the circular lacuna. Corallite decrease was fairly common, usually taking place adjacent to lenticular lacunae but in some cases involving normal corallites not associated with lacunae. Corallite fusion was uncommon; it could be either temporary or permanent. Conspicuous relocation of corallites and restructuring of corallite arrangement generally involved mass rejuvenation and/or regeneration, usually over a large surface area of the corallum. The growth features in T. maculatus are fundamentally the same as those in the co-occurring Saffordophyllum newcombae, including types of axial increase unknown in other tabulate corals. The basic paleobiologic similarity of these species supports the interpretation that the genera they represent are closely related phylogenetically. The relationship of these taxa to other tabulates, however, remains unresolved.


Abstract: Small-scale irrigation schemes provide a worthwhile livelihood for smallholder farmers, though those farmers struggle to obtain a guaranteed and consistent market for their produce. This article focuses on constraints and opportunities that different types of smallholder irrigation farmers in South Africa have in meeting requirements of fresh produce markets. It draws on findings from 94 household interviews, in-depth life histories, and in-depth interviews with stakeholders. The findings reveal that not all farmers are able to effectively market their produce, while not every smallholder is suited to the same type of market. Matching of smallholder characteristics with particular markets is thus necessary.


We use an established model of organizational identification to try to understand the voluntary cooperative behavior of professionals in organizations. We examined the relationships among physicians' assessments of the attractiveness of a health care system's perceived identity and construed external image, strength of system identification, and cooperative behaviors. We surveyed 1,504 physicians affiliated with three health care systems and collected follow-up data from 285 physicians a year later. Attractiveness of perceived identity and construed external image were positively related to physicians' identification with the system, which in turn was positively related to cooperative behavior. Extensions to the model of organizational identification are suggested.


A population pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic analysis evaluated the relationships of dose, plasma concentrations of bupropion and metabolites, and patient covariates with the safety and efficacy of bupropion sustained release (SR) for smoking cessation. A total of 519 outpatient chronic cigarette smokers were randomized to one of three bupropion SR doses: 100, 150, or 300 mg/day or placebo. The bupropion plasma concentration time data were fit and subject-specific bayesian estimates of clearance were obtained. Logistic regression analyses evaluated the role of dose, concentrations, and covariates in predicting efficacy and safety endpoints. For the evaluation of efficacy, patients were classified as quitters or non-quitters on the basis of a 4-week quit variable (defined as complete abstinence for weeks 4-7 of the study). For the evaluation of safety, patients were classified into two categories for each adverse event evaluated, corresponding to whether the patient ever experienced the adverse event during the course of the study or never experienced the event, regardless of whether the event was treatment-emergent. The efficacy of bupropion SR in facilitating smoking cessation was found to be related to dose and a mean metabolite concentration, and quitting in general was found to be related to the number of cigarettes smoked per day at baseline. Smoking cessation was 1.42, 1.69, and 2.84 times more likely in patients receiving 100, 150, and 300 mg/day of bupropion SR, respectively, as compared to placebo (p = 0.0001). As the baseline number of cigarettes smoked per day increased, the likelihood of quitting decreased regardless of the treatment condition. Insomnia and dry mouth were positively associated with mean metabolite concentrations, and dry mouth was inversely related to patient weight. Anxiety was inversely related to predicted steady-state concentration (Cpss), suggesting a positive effect on this withdrawal symptom. Bupropion SR exhibits a statistically significant dose/plasma level-response relationship for smoking cessation. Dry mouth and insomnia, related to concentrations, may be managed with dose reduction, with the realization that smoking cessation may be impaired.


Silica-based aerogels doped with nano-ITO powder were synthesized using sol–gel process followed by supercritical drying. The main factors were studied including dosage of compling agent KH570 and ITO. The result shows that thermal radiation conductivity is 0.02659 W/(m•K) with ITO of 44.44% after 10 g ITO powder is modified with 1 mL KH570. The microstructure and physical characteristic of the SiO2–ITO aerogels were characterized by FTIR, SEM, TG-DSC and BET. Their specific surface was in the range of 513–775m2/g and their average pore size was mainly 20 nm. Nano-ITO powders are physically embedded by SiO2 aerogels.


This research entitled Semiotic Analysis Meaning Motivation Song Lyrics "Stories About Mountains and Seas" Work Payung Teduh. This research is intended to know the meaning of the content of the song lyrics. The theory used and relevant in this research is Ferdinand De Sausurre Semiotics Theory. The method used in this study using qualitative methods. The subject of this research is the song lyrics of Stories About the Mountain and the Sea. Techniques Data collection is done by doing the object appreciate research, dissect the object of research and interpret the meaning of signs. This study found some conclusions of meaning that exist in the lyrics of the song About the Mountain and the Sea Work Payung Teduh has the meaning of members of the motivation in the life of each stanza. In each stanza in this song using parable words that can be analyzed in semiotics. Keywords: semiotics, song lyrics, motivation


The interactions between endothelial cells (ECs) and smooth muscle cells (SMCs) in a complex hemodynamic environment play an important role in the control of blood vessel function. Since autologous SMCs are not readily available for the tissue engineering of a blood vessel substitute, a substitute for SMCs, such as human adult bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), is needed. The objective of this study was to use a three-dimensional coculture model of the blood vessel wall, comprised of ECs and MSCs, to determine how the presence of MSCs affects EC function. Two vascular coculture models with an EC monolayer were created using type I collagen. All models were exposed to steady laminar flow with a shear stress of 15 dyn/cm2 for up to 48 h. ECs in both the MSC and SMC coculture models expressed up-regulated EC-specific markers compared to the EC-only control model. The most dramatic difference observed between the two coculture models was in the experiments assessing monocyte adhesion. Here, fewer monocytes bound after laminar shear compared to static conditions; however, the number of bound monocytes was much lower for the EC-MSC coculture model than the EC-SMC coculture model for both static and shear conditions. These results suggest the feasibility of developing a tissue-engineered blood vessel substitute using MSCs as a substitute for SMCs.


Background Relatively few studies have examined the effects of layoffs on remaining workers, although the effects of layoffs and downsizing events may extend beyond those employees who lose their jobs. Methods We examined the effects of layoffs on mental healthcare utilisation and injury risk among workers at 30 US plants between 2003 and 2013. We defined layoffs as reductions in the hourly workforce of 20% or more at each plant. Using a difference-in-differences approach, we compared the change in outcomes during layoffs versus the same 3-month period 1 year previously, accounting for secular trends with control plants. Results Our study population included 15 502 workers and 7 layoff events between 2003 and 2013. Layoffs were associated with only minor decreases in injuries (−0.006, 95% CI −0.013 to 0.001). The probability of outpatient visits related to mental health increased by 1% during layoffs (0.010, 95% CI 0.003 to 0.017), and the probability of mental health-related prescriptions increased by 1.4% (0.014, 95% CI −0.0006 to 0.027). Among women, the increase in outpatient visits was more pronounced (0.017, 95% CI 0.003 to 0.031). Increased prescription utilisation appeared attributable primarily to opioid use (0.016, 95% CI 0.005 to 0.027). Conclusion Our results indicate an association between layoffs and remaining workers' mental health and safety, although changes mental healthcare utilisation may reflect both changes in underlying mental health and changes in care-seeking. Future research on concordance of service utilisation and underlying health may yield valuable insight into the experiences employed workers in the wake of layoffs.


A B S T R AC T Background: Vasculopathy is a major cause of mortality and morbidity in Behcet's Disease (BD). Subclinical atherosclerosis can even be detected in the early stage of BD. Soluble tumor necrosis factor-like (TNF) weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK) is known as a good marker of the inflammation in vascular tree. The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between carotid artery intima-media thickness (cIMT) and serum TWEAK levels in patients with BD. Materials and Methods: In line with International BD Study Group criteria, 48 BD, and 30 controls were included in our study. Disease activity was evaluated according to BD current activity form (BDCAF). C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), lipid parameters, serum TWEAK levels, and cIMT were measured. Results: Disease activity score of BD patients was found as 2 (range 0–7). cIMT, serum TWEAK, CRP and ESR levels of BD patients were significantly higher comparing to cIMT (0.62 ± 0.13 mm vs. 0.43 ± 0.09 mm, p < 0.001), serum TWEAK (667.5 ± 130.6 vs. 603.4 ± 89.6 pg/ml, p = 0.015), CRP (3.9 ± 4.3 vs. 1.4 ± 1.0 mg/dl, p < 0.001) and ESR (10.2 ± 10.0 vs. 5.6 ± 3.7 mm/h, p = 0.005) levels of the control group. There was a positive correlation between serum TWEAK level and disease activity (r = 0.251, p = 0.030) and cIMT (r = 0.463, p < 0.001). Our study also revealed an independent correlation between cIMT and serum TWEAK levels (beta = 0.354, p < 0.001). Conclusion: Increased serum TWEAK levels can play a part in the development of atherosclerotic heart disease in BD. Due to their liability to atherosclerosis, patients with BD must followed closely.


AIMS
Candida species is the common cause of opportunistic fungal infections all over the world with increased mortality and morbidity especially in immunosuppressed patients. Fluconazole is the first line therapy for candidiasis. The antifungal resistance pattern in high-risk patients is a major concern. The present study was aimed to assess the anticandidal activity of Punica granatum peel against fluconazole resistant Candida species isolated from HIV patients.

MATERIALS & METHODS
Ethanol, chloroform, petroleum ether and aqueous extracts of the peel of P. granatum were evaluated against standard strains of Candida spp. and fluconazole resistant clinical isolates by agar diffusion and broth dilution techniques. The GC-MS analysis of the extracts was performed to identify the phytochemicals present in it. The predominant phytochemical was subjected to molecular docking study to determine its binding efficacy with lanosterol 14-alpha demethylase.

RESULTS
P. granatum peel extracts showed excellent anticandidal activity with ethanol extract exhibiting the most inhibitory activity. C. albicans and C. krusei were the most inhibited and C. parapsilosis was the least inhibited species. The GC-MS analysis of the ethanol extract identified five predominant phytochemicals. On docking studies, the five phytochemicals showed a good binding to the lanosterol 14-alpha demethylase.

CONCLUSION
The present study is the first report on the antifungal activity of various extracts of P. granatum against fluconazole resistant Candida isolates. Ethanol extract of P. granatum peel showed excellent anticandidal activity against fluconazole resistant Candida spp. Hence, it can be explored further to identify a potential drug candidate.


Purpose Although many intracranial dural arteriovenous fistulas (DAVFs) are straightforward to treat, de novo and rapidly progressive ("runaway" or "malignant") DAVFs are more complex, often requiring multiple treatment sessions with suboptimal results. As these are rare entities, we sought to review our experience in the treatment of de novo and progressive DAVFs in order to better understand predictors of disease progression. Materials and methods Under an IRB-approved protocol, 29 patients with multiple, recurrent, de novo, or progressive DAVFs were identified from our hospital's neurointerventional radiology database of 578 patients treated for intracranial DAVFs between 1986 and 2012. One patient with acute traumatic carotid cavernous fistulas was excluded. Patient demographics, clinical presentation, lesion angioarchitecture, treatment approaches, and clinical outcomes were categorized and assessed. Categorical variables were analyzed with odds ratios and 2-sided Fisher's exact tests. Results We compared 28 patients with multiple, recurrent, de novo, or progressive DAVFs to 550 DAVF patients without such features. Whereas 18/28 (64%) of patients with multiple, recurrent, de novo, or progressive DAVFs were female, 283/550 (51%) without such features were female (OR 1.7, 95% CI: 0.73–4.2, p = 0.24). Mean age at presentation in the multiple, recurrent, de novo, or progressive DAVF group was 42 ± 23 years (range 2 months to 77 years) compared to 52 ± 20 years (range 1 day to 87 years) for the entire DAVF cohort. The most common presenting signs and symptoms the 28 patients treated for multiple, recurrent, de novo, or progressive DAVFs were headache (50%), cranial neuropathy (46%), tinnitus (36%), visual changes (32%), and intracranial haemorrhage (29%). 59 DAVFs were identified in these 28 patients. Location of fistulas included transverse/sigmoid sinus in 18 (64%), superior sagittal sinus in 8 (29%), torcula in 6 (21%), cavernous sinus in 5 (18%), marginal sinus in 5 (18%), and petrosal sinus in 2 patients (7%). Eight patients had DAVFs in other intracranial locations. Number of interventions per patient ranged from 2 to 19 (mean 5.5, median 4.5). All 28 patients were treated endovascularly; 15 (54%) were also treated with surgery. Embolic agents included coils in 25 patients (89%), ethanol in 23 (82%), polyvinyl alcohol in 21 (75%), N-butyl cyanoacrylate in 10 (36%), and Onyx in 5 (18%). 153 transarterial, transvenous, and surgical interventions were performed. The time between diagnosis of DAVF and last imaging ranged from 10 days to 21 years. At last follow up, 10 patients (36%) had no symptoms or residual DAVFs, 15 patients (54%) had neurological symptoms and/or residual DAVFs, and 3 patients (11%) had died due to intracranial haemorrhage or refractory elevations in intracranial pressure related to intracranial venous hypertension. A total of 19/28 patients had de novo or rapidly progressive DAVFs (68%) with all 3 deaths occurring in that group. No deaths were recorded in the other 9 patients with only recurrent or multiple DAVFs. Conclusion De novo or rapidly progressive DAVFs constituted 3% of all intracranial DAVF cases treated at our institution. Among these patients, despite aggressive endovascular and surgical care, a minority followed a malignant clinical course. Disclosures S. Hetts: 1; C; NIH-NIBIB, NIH-NCI, Siemens, Covidien. 2; C; Stryker, Penumbra, Medina Medical, Silk Road Medical. 4; C; Medina Medical, ChemoFilter, DriftCoast. T. Tsai: None. D. Cooke: 1; C; Siemens. 4; C; Viket. M. Amans: None. J. Narvid: None. C. Dowd: None. R. Higashida: None. V. Halbach: None.


Research to date in mobile (m-)learning has focused mainly on the learners and the processes they utilize when learning using mobile technologies. This action research study considers the role of the teacher in (m-)learning—the responsibilities, the pedagogies employed in teaching when using mobile devices, and also the changing levels of power and control in the m-learning context. Activity theory (AT) is used as the lens through which the teacher's role during m-learning is analyzed. The findings propose an enhanced AT model assuming a three-dimensional (3D) representation that encapsulates the teacher at the heart of the activity system radiating power and control to maintain the balance between the components necessary for effective learning. In addition, the term "adaptive framing" is used to denote the changing power dynamic and level of control in activity systems using the proposed enhanced model.


Complex uncertainty expressions such as probably likely and certainly possible naturally occur in everyday conversations. However, they received much less attention in the literature than simple ones. We propose a probabilistic model of the use and interpretation of complex uncertainty expressions based on the assumption that their predominant function is to communicate factual information about the world, and that further layers of uncertainty are pragmatically inferred. We collected empirical data on the use and interpretation of these expressions and use it for detailed model criticism.


The initial chapter, &dquo;Skills and Strategies,&dquo; nicely summarizes the important basics of dining out, such as monitoring frequency, choosing the restaurant, controlling portions, and enjoying nonfood pleasantries. This chapter should be assigned reading for everyone. The ensuing chapters each focus on a particular ethnic or style of restaurant; there are 15 in all, including airline meals. Each chapter is introduced with an overview of information about that type of cuisine, including cooking techniques, typical ingredients, serving styles, historical tidbits, and pros and


In this study we establish an efficient method for the regeneration for Boechera holboellii via somatic embryogenesis. Immature cotyledons from siliques of 4–6 month-old plants were cultured on MS medium supplemented with plant growth regulators (BA — 6-benzylaminopurine; NAA — α-naphthaleneacetic acid; TDZ — 1-phelyl-3-(1,2,3-thiadiazol-5-yl) urea: 2,4 D-2,4-dichlorophenoxy-acetic acid). A high frequency of embryogenic callus was produced after two weeks in culture. The somatic embryos were obtained with a frequency of 10% of explants on MS medium supplemented with 1.34 μM NAA + 8.87 μM BA and 2.68 μM NAA + 17.74 μM BA within 3 weeks in culture. The alternative regime of MS medium supplemented with 1.34 μM NAA + 4.44 μM BA produced somatic embryos at a frequency of 38%.


Introduction: Incidence of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) has increased greatly over time, especially in children. Improved diagnostic methods alone cannot explain this increase, especially the increase observed in sub-Saharan Africa, where diagnostic capabilities are low.

Objectives and aims: The objectives of this study were to better understand known risk factors for NHL, such as Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), and their impact on disease characteristics. The specific aims were: I. to understand the background role of EBV, II. to elucidate the basis for and strength of the diagnosis of childhood NHL in Uganda, III. to highlight trends in characteristics of childhood NHL, and IV. to examine the impact of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection.

Subject and Method: Aims I and II were studied in Papers I and II using samples and data from a case-control study carried out at the Mulago National Referral Hospital between 2004 and 2008. This study enrolled children with suspected tumours or masses referred to the Departments of Paediatrics, Paediatric surgery, Orthopaedics and to the Uganda Cancer Institute. In Paper I, EBV viral load was measured in saliva, whole blood, and white blood cells by real-time PCR, serological values for IgG-VCA, EBNA1, and EAd-IgG were measured and compared in NHL and chronic inflammatory conditions (CIC). Comparisons were also done by NHL subtypes (Burkitt lymphoma, BL and other NHL). Odds ratios (ORs) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. In Paper II children were diagnosed with suspected NHL based on initial clinical examination; tissue samples were then taken and examined in Uganda and sent thereafter to a pathology laboratory in The Netherlands for re-examination and additional tests. Agreement between diagnoses assigned in Uganda and The Netherlands were compared using kappa statistics.
For aims III and IV a review of routine clinical records of paediatric BL patients seen at the Uganda Cancer Institute was done and reported in Papers III and IV. Information on demographic characteristics (age and sex), clinical features (symptoms, signs, disease site, and stage), treatment response and vital status information were obtained. In Paper III the frequency distribution of the clinical characteristics, treatment, and outcome of childhood BL over 20 years were summarised by means and standard deviations (SD), or proportions; differences were tested by the 2 test, t-test, z-test or analysis of variance (ANOVA) procedures. In Paper IV descriptive statistics of frequencies, means and SD were done using Student's t-test and Chi-square test statistic and ORs, CIs and P-values were obtained. Survival analysis was performed using the Kaplan-Meier method.

Results: In Paper I the most common clinical presentations were fever, night sweats and weight loss. EBV viral load in blood was elevated in BL vs other NHL (OR 6.67, 95% CI 1.32-33.69; P-value=0.04) and a significant difference in EAd-IgG was observed in NHL vs CIC (OR 0.19, 95% CI 0.07-0.51; P-value=0.001). In Paper II, the agreement between clinical and pathological diagnoses of NHL in Uganda was 91% (95% CI 84-95; kappa 0.84; P-value=0.001). The agreement between clinical diagnoses in Uganda and pathological diagnoses in The Netherlands was 49% (95% CI 40-59; kappa 0.04; P-value=0.612). The agreement between all pathological diagnoses assigned in Uganda and The Netherlands was

36% (95% CI 28-46; kappa 0.11; P-value=0.046). In Paper III, facial tumour (n=945, 77.65%) and abdominal disease (n=842, 69.19%) were the most common presentations. Significant presentation with advanced-stage disease (hepatic mass, malignant pleocytosis) was noted (P-value <0.01). Mortality was higher in older children, children with advanced- stage BL, and HIV-positive children. In Paper IV HIV-positive children presented significantly more often with disease in the lymph nodes (67%), liver (51%), and chest (10%). Response to chemotherapy was similar in HIV-positive and HIV-negative children although survival was poorer in HIV-positive children (median survival of 11.79 months, 95% CI 8.65-14.92; P-value<0.000).

Conclusion: This study provides additional understanding of the role of EBV in childhood NHL, shown by the significant association between virological and serological markers and common general features, suggesting a common factor. We noted a weak basis for diagnosis of childhood NHL in Uganda with a high probability of error. The presenting features of childhood NHL have not changed with time, although more children present late, especially those with HIV. Improvements in the cancer care system in Uganda should include better diagnostic and treatment services for children as a basis for better understanding of disease and high-quality research.


Either space or object consists of parts, where a part of it is interchangeable with part from other objects based on similarities in the nature of the parts. However, the similarity of the two objects in advance must quantified to determine the difference and the closeness. There are many ways to measure similarity and dissimilarity, but there is no measurement of the similarity of two objects by the parts semantically. In this article, we will reveal new similarity formally based on the concept of multilevel sections and triangular equation. The new similarity applied to the URL address to measure the similarity of identity of web pages.


Neighbourhood effects on land use change are very common. Therefore, they are often included in spatially explicit models of land use change and other spatial analyses. Neighbourhood indices, however, depend strongly on the spatial extent set for calculating them. So far, most of the existing land-use change analyses or models using neighbourhood indices assumed some predefined neighbourhood extents without proving whether the selected extents are optimal for the analysis of the corresponding land use dynamics. This paper presents a methodological procedure to identify (i) the optimal neighbourhood extent and (ii) the range of scale-dependency in neighbourhood effects of different land use types and different types of land conversions. We applied this procedure in the canton Valais of Switzerland, an inner Alpine mountainous region. The findings clearly show the differences in optimal neighbourhood extent and the scale-dependency among conversion types. The procedure introduced in this contribution can help to optimize the neighbourhood variables in spatially explicit landuse change models toward improving model robustness and accuracy.


This study analyzes the role of human factors in the steering system of two-wheeled vehicles, using equivalent mechanical elements as the first step toward systems analysis of the man/vehicle relationship. This steering system, including human factors, has approximately one torsional degree of freedom. These factors can be obtained by the frequency response of a steering bench model with a rider. First, the repeatability and linearity of human factors are checked. Then, the human factor values are shown to change accordingly as the rider's handle grip and press forces vary. Finally, an equation for two-wheeled vehicle motion is derived, and the result of these calculations makes it clear that human factors play a major role in the behavior of two-wheeled vehicles.


The functional role of CD8 T cells in in vivo IgE production, immediate cutaneous reactivity, and altered airways responsiveness (AR) was examined in a murine model of allergen-induced sensitization. Exposure of BALB/c mice to nebulized OVA triggered an IgE anti-OVA response in the serum, immediate-type skin test responses to OVA, and the development of increased AR (as measured by nonspecific reactivity to electrical field stimulation). In spleens of sensitized mice, analysis of the distribution of CD4/CD8 T cell subpopulations revealed an increase in total numbers of CD8 T cells. Transfer of purified spleen CD8 T cells from OVA-sensitized mice (CD8OVA) to sensitized recipients reduced serum IgE anti-OVA production by roughly 50%. Furthermore, studies of in vitro Ig production indicated that mononuclear cells from recipients of CD8 cells (CD8OVA > CD8PBS) produced less IgE and IgG1 antibodies, whereas in vitro IgG2a production was enhanced. The suppression of IgE production in recipients of CD8OVA T cells was associated with the failure to respond to intradermal challenge with OVA. The increase in AR found in sensitized mice was prevented after transfer of CD8OVA cells. When CD8 T cells from nonimmunized animals (CD8PBS) were used for the transfer into sensitized recipients, serum anti-OVA IgE was decreased by only 20%, whereas skin test reactivity and AR were not significantly affected. The ex vivo analysis of the pattern of cytokine-producing lymphocytes by immunofluorescence microscopy indicated that the sensitization procedure increased the fraction of IFN-gamma- and IL-4-positive cells in the spleen. Further in vitro analysis demonstrated that a high percentage of CD8 T cells were positive for IFN-gamma, whereas IL-4 was produced mainly by CD4 T cells. These data suggest that CD8 T cells may play an important role in the negative regulation of IgE production and AR and that IFN-gamma may be a relevant mediator of the functions of CD8 T cells in this model.


In many countries, there is a growing interest in cooperation among archives, libraries and museums. For the sake of the interested user it is important to make it easier to obtain information from the different institutions, and so to make a crossover strategy to give people access to their cultural heritage. The goal is to provide people with the opportunity to search material in archives, libraries and museums simultaneously. Consequently, it is necessary to try to create minimum standards for cataloguing and description with the starting point in the standards already accepted internationally. In Denmark there have been some interesting projects the objective of which has been to make it possible to search for material in several institutions at the same time. NOKS is one of these projects, it is an abbreviation for Nordjyllands Kulturhistoriske Sogebase, which is a database with material about the cultural history of the North of Jutland. The project involved nine institutions. The records from the institutions have been put together in one database, which can be reached via the Internet address www.noks.dk. The database consists of 115,000 records, among them 8,000 photos, including different types of material, printed material, books, leaflets, newspaper clippings, archives, museum items, etc.


A novel pentalene-centered polycyclic 24π-electron system, IB1, was synthesized via a Pd-catalyzed homocoupling reaction. The geometry structure was studied by X-ray diffraction and theoretical method. The HOMO level of IB1 was studied by electrochemical experiment and DFT methods. The IB1 molecule shows a strong electro-donating property and can form a charge transfer complex with electro-acceptor TCNQ, indicating fascinating potential in the field of organic electronics.


To evaluate the role of the expression of hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAg) in liver cell damage the immunoperoxidase staining pattern of cryostat liver biopsy specimens from 16 chronic carriers of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) was investigated using three different kinds of anti-HBc antibodies. Polyclonal antibody prepared from recombinant HBcAg seemed to be more sensitive in detecting HBcAg than did monoclonal antibody from the same antigen. The topographical distribution of HBcAg detected by these two antibodies was similar, showing a close correlation to the histological activity of disease. Furthermore, the predominant localisation of cytoplasmic HBcAg usually reflected an active and severe ongoing hepatitis. On the other hand, monoclonal antibody prepared from purified Dane particles resulted in the prominent cytoplasmic staining for HBcAg regardless of histological severity of the hepatitis. The quantitative expression and topographical distribution of HBcAg depended on the type of anti-HBc antibodies used.


Lead titanate (PbTiO3) nanowires have been synthesized by hydrothermal method at 200°C for 48h using lead acetic and tetrabutyl titanate as the starting materials and NaOH served as a mineralizer. The phase composition and microstructure of PbTiO3 nanowires were studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and selected area electron diffraction (SAED). The results showed that the obtained nanowires are of single crystalline, tetragonal perovskite structure with diameters of ac. 12 nm and lengths ranging from 500 nm up to 5 μm. The PbTiO3 nanowires have good optical transmissivity. Photoluminescence (PL) study at room temperature for wavelength between 400 and 700 nm reveals a strong light emission band peaking at ac. 471.4 nm (2.63 eV).


ABSTRACT Purpose The complex monitoring of rock slides with the size of 16 ha in order to predict the development of other slides and prevent possible human and material losses. Methods Precise geodetic point measurement, terrestrial laser and image scanning and aerial photogrammetry were used to obtain detailed knowledge about the geometry and behaviour of the rock slide. Except for terrestrial images, the images were taken using an SLR camera (set on a motor paraglide) and a compact camera (set on a remotely piloted system). The state and condition of the locality before the rock slide was taken from archive images taken by a digital large format camera. Results Vectors and velocities of the displacements of discrete points were determined with high precision; the changes in quarry wall surfaces were determined by laser and photogrammetry scanning. Finally, high resolution orthophotomosaics of the site were generated using aerial photogrammetry at each observation point. Practical implications The termination of mining and the design of the remediation works were determined according to the results of the measurements. Also, monitoring was carried out in order to observe any changes due to the implementation of a highway project based in the localisation. Originality/value Complex geodetic and photogrammetric monitoring of rock slides offers detailed information about slide surfaces and has previously been used in Slovakia on a significant scale.


The overtraining syndrome is characterized by an excessive training that results in several adverse effects the main of which being the decay in performance. Its incidence among elite athletes has been experiencing a significant increase lately, which prompted a rush of interest in the search for efficient measures to prevent and treat this condition. It is necessary, however, to clarify possible mechanisms involved in the development of overtraining. Several hypothesis are being proposed, such as a greater activation of both the autonomic nervous system and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, and suppression of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. On the contrary, some studies suggest that the modulation of such systems is but a consequence of the overtraining syndrome and not its cause. Thus, recent hypothesis related to cytokine release, to central fatigue, to depletion of muscle and liver glycogen, and to a reduction in glutamine availability during physical activity are being raised.


We consider the problem of separating the direct effects of an exposure from effects relayed through an intermediate variable (indirect effects). We show that adjustment for the intermediate variable, which is the most common method of estimating direct effects, can be biased. We also show that, even in a randomized crossover trial of exposure, direct and indirect effects cannot be separated without special assumptions; in other words, direct and indirect effects are not separately identifiable when only exposure is randomized. If the exposure and intermediate never interact to cause disease and if intermediate effects can be controlled, that is, blocked by a suitable intervention, then a trial randomizing both exposure and the intervention can separate direct from indirect effects. Nonetheless, the estimation must be carried out using the G-computation algorithm. Conventional adjustment methods remain biased. When exposure and the intermediate interact to cause disease, direct and indirect effects will not be separable even in a trial in which both the exposure and the intervention blocking intermediate effects are randomly assigned. Nonetheless, in such a trial, one can still estimate the fraction of exposure-induced disease that could be prevented by control of the intermediate. Even in the absence of an intervention blocking the intermediate effect, the fraction of exposure-induced disease that could be prevented by control of the intermediate can be estimated with the G-computation algorithm if data are obtained on additional confounding variables. (Epidemiology 1992;3:143–155)


Pathogenetic studies of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) strains ANG and its mouse brain-passaged descendant ANG path revealed no difference in neurovirulence but a significant difference in neuroinvasiveness. Thus, both viruses induced a fatal encephalitis in mice after direct injection into the brain, but only ANG path induced lethal neurologic disease after inoculation on rear footpads. The difference in neuroinvasiveness is not related to the capacity to replicate in mouse neural tissues or mouse cells in general, but is specifically related to virus entry into the peripheral nervous system in the footpad. Marker rescue experiments in which ANG path genes were used to confer neuroinvasiveness on ANG indicated that the gene that codes for glycoprotein D (gD) is responsible for the phenotypic difference. Analyses of the gD genes by dideoxy-sequencing techniques identified a base difference in the coding sequences and predicted that the ANG gD gene codes for alanine (GCC codon) at amino acid position 84 in the open reading frame and the ANG path gD gene codes for glycine (GGC codon) at this site. Using these data, an oligonucleotide probe predicted to be specific for the ANG path gD gene was prepared, and in Southern blot analyses, this probe revealed that neuroinvasiveness- rescued agents had incorporated the base change seen in the ANG path gD gene. We conclude that HSV-1 glycoprotein D functions to effect neuroinvasiveness and we discuss potential mechanisms that may be involved.


This thesis focuses on T-cell dynamics in healthy and both treated and untreated HIV-infected individuals. Although the progressive decline in CD4+ T-cell numbers is the hallmark of HIV infection, the mechanisms behind this depletion remain controversial. Currently the most prevailing ideas include direct HIV-induced cytopathicity, thymic impairment and chronic immune activation. We show that direct virus kill is insufficient to fully explain CD4+ T-cell depletion and that chronic immune activation plays a predominant role in CD4+ T-cell loss. To investigate the effects of non-HIV related chronic immune activation, we studied healthy Ethiopians who are known to have increased exposure to environmental pathogens. While immune characteristics of Ethiopian and Dutch neonates are similar, and therefore differences are not genetic, the CD4+ TREC content and fraction naive CD4+ T cells decrease at very early childhood in Ethiopia. We surprisingly found that when Dutch and Ethiopian HIV-infected patients were matched for CD4+ T-cell count, the percentages proliferating CD4+ and CD8+ T cells were lower in Ethiopians. This is in line with the slower CD4+ T-cell decline found in HIV+ Ethiopians compared to Dutch HIV-infected individuals. In chickens and mice it has been shown that recent thymic emigrants (RTE) form a substantial pool of short-lived naive T cells. In humans however, the lifespan and number of RTE are unknown. Currently there is no unambiguous marker for RTE and therefore the contribution of the thymus to the maintenance of the T-cell pool during aging, the role of thymic impairment in HIV-related CD4+ T-cell depletion and the role of thymic output during reconstitution following HAART are difficult to assess. By using in vivo heavy water labeling of T cells from young healthy adults, we determined the production of naive and memory CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, and followed the survival of these recently produced T cells. The average life-span of naive CD4+ en CD8+ T cells is 4.2 and 6.6 years and of memory CD4+ en CD8+ T cells 0.4 en 0.7 years. Furthermore, we show that in humans, recently produced naive T cells are long-lived and even preferentially incorporated into the naive T-cell pool. Our data thereby provide the first conclusive experimental evidence that there is no substantial population of short-lived RTE in healthy humans. Although children could recover to normal levels within 1 year after treatment even when HAART was initiated at an extremely lymphopenic stage, adults with a CD4+ nadir below 200 cells/l persistently sustained lower CD4+ T-cell counts than adults with high pre-therapy CD4+ T-cell counts throughout follow-up, but nevertheless normalized CD4+ T-cell counts after 7 years of HAART. Absolute numbers of naive CD4+ T cells normalized in all children and in adults with high baseline CD4+ T-cell counts, whereas naive CD4+ T-cell counts in adults with low CD4+ nadirs lagged behind. The reconstitution of the peripheral T-cell pool of adults and children was attributed to both thymic output and peripheral T-cell proliferation and did not seem to cause more 'proliferative history' of the T-cell pool as compared to age-matched controls.


Objective: Mental illnesses are important determinants in response to the pandemic. However, there are only a limited number of studies investigating the effects of COVID-19 in individuals with mental illnesses. We aimed to reveal the fear of COVID-19, somatosensorial amplification levels, anxiety, depression, and stress levels of patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Method: We evaluated 500 participants in three groups. This study enrolled 137 patients with MDD, 140 patients with GAD, and 223 healthy controls. Participants were evaluated with the Whiteley Index-7, Somatosensory Amplification Scale (SSAS), Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21), and The Fear of COVID-19 Scale. Results: There was a statistically significant difference between the groups' SSAS, DASS-21, Whiteley Index, and The Fear of COVID-19 Scale scores. In the post hoc analysis, Whiteley Index and DASS-21 subscale scores were higher in patient groups than in the control group (p<0.001). Regression analysis revealed that Whiteley Index, COVID-19 Fear, and DASS-S had a significant effect on somatosensorial amplification. Conclusion: The findings of our study show that MDD and GAD patients are susceptible to normal bodily sensations. COVID-19 fear and hypochondriasis appear to be essential determinants of somatosensorial amplification. Accordingly, there is a need to develop effective psychological interventions focused on these factors in MDD and GAD.


In the 1960s and 1970s Herbert Marcuse's One-Dimensional Man exerted a profound influence on revolutionary politics and on theories on the effects of capitalism as a system of 'total administration'. Its analytic power began to fade, however, as capitalism itself began to radically transform in the 1980s. Apart from its historical significance, the work is largely overlooked today. This essay, however, seeks to recover the immense diagnostic power and political relevance that the book still has. Centrally, it is argued that through a theory of temporality, it is possible to see that Marcuse over-determined the power of clock-time under 1960s Fordism, and therefore over-determined the power of 'total administration'. However, by developing and applying the theory of network time for our post-Fordist age, the new 'temporalized' perspective gives Marcuse's core argument new significance and gives a more positive and potential-filled dimension to his ultimately negative political and philosophical vision from the 1960s.


This paper examines generification in open source software development of information systems for low resource environments. The challenge addressed is that of designing generification processes in which key aspects of generification – information flow, selection and prioritisation – involve a distributed community. The objective of this study is to understand how this challenge is dealt with in practice, with the aim of expanding the current analytical scope available to researchers to study generification processes as well as the guidance available to practitioners to address its practical challenges. Doing so, we build on the work of Gizaw et al (forthcoming) who broach a debate on more 'open' generification. We propose a reconceptualization of open generification by being more specific on its conditions and process aspects. Open, we argue, is about closed generification circuits that enable a 'community based' generification process.


According to scopus between the years 2012 and 2016 there are 3556 scientific documents about Blended Learning, these have been and are still an emerging learning methodology. With this document, we determine the association rules with statistical implicative analysis (SIA) in B-Learning courses in Science Faculty at the ESPOCH University. To this end, we use mapping review in the blended learning courses used in the last 5 years (2012 to 2016) in Institutional platform, milaulas.com, and google. We started with 3350 B-Learning courses and finally 13 had all quality criteria. This document also describe a Institutional experience about Association rules with SIA in B-Learning Courses in the last five years.


The recent proliferation of knowledge graphs (KGs) coupled with incomplete or partial information, in the form of missing relations (links) between entities, has fueled a lot of research on knowledge base completion (also known as relation prediction). Several recent works suggest that convolutional neural network (CNN) based models generate richer and more expressive feature embeddings and hence also perform well on relation prediction. However, we observe that these KG embeddings treat triples independently and thus fail to cover the complex and hidden information that is inherently implicit in the local neighborhood surrounding a triple. To this effect, our paper proposes a novel attention-based feature embedding that captures both entity and relation features in any given entity's neighborhood. Additionally, we also encapsulate relation clusters and multi-hop relations in our model. Our empirical study offers insights into the efficacy of our attention-based model and we show marked performance gains in comparison to state-of-the-art methods on all datasets.


This article examines the etymology, some historical highlights and today's relevancy of the everyday expression "flying false colors." The ruse de guerre was resorted to by all navies during the age of fighting sail. Our focus will be primarily on its Anglo-American application. The terrestrial use of flying false colors is contrary to modern international law. However, its naval application is still condoned by the Geneva Conventions and encompasses only the use of flags but not modern electronic means of identification.


Chemical fertilizer use has contributed significantly to increased global food output in the past half century, especially in climatically favourable regions of the world. However, in drier agro-ecological zones, such as in West Asia and North Africa (WANA) with a Mediterranean-type climate, fertilizer use has been low but has increased rapidly in the past few decades. Chemical fertilizer use is now widely adopted in rainfed and irrigated agriculture. As elsewhere, fertilizer use is underpinned by concerns about biological and economic efficiency. Fertilizer use efficiency is central to the current concept of fertilizer best management practices (FBMP), which embraces right source, right place, right timing and right application method. In this brief review, we highlight such FBMP concepts as related to agriculture of the WANA region, with emphasis on the key nutrients for crop production. Rainfall has a dominant influence on dryland crop yields. Nitrogen (N) use efficiency increases with increasing rainfall and is influenced by crop rotation. Under rainfed conditions, modest N losses by volatilization can occur. Leaching losses are usually minimal. Phosphorus use (P) efficiency is higher with band application than with broadcasting. Balanced fertilization, especially involving potassium (K) and micronutrients, is fundamental to efficient nutrient use. Fertilizer efficiency is also influenced by soil test values and agronomic factors that influence crop yields, e.g. sowing date and varietal differences. Rational fertilizer application rates are guided by calibration–response trials. Effective fertilizer use in the region is also dictated by external factors such as government policies and a functioning extension service. In contrast to other regions of the world, environmental impacts from the overuse of fertilizers are relatively minor, while developments in fertilizer formulations that promote efficiency have yet to have impact. Despite the relatively low fertilizer use intensity in dryland areas such as the WANA region, the FBMP comprehensive approach is a logical framework within which to achieve the most efficient management and use of fertilizer in the region's agriculture.


Much of our understanding and knowledge of human parturition has been blurred by conjecture and extrapolation. The limited available data on human parturition reflect the inability to directly experiment with pregnant human subjects. In spite of this obvious impediment and the scarcity of longitudinal data on fundamental physiological changes in human pregnancy, recent reports have generated a better understanding of the synchronous activities leading to labor. The purpose of this review was to organize, in an evidence-based format, the current understanding of maternal physiologic phenomena leading from uterine quiescence to uterine labor activity. Recent discoveries have prompted a revision of pre-existing classical theories on the initiation of parturition, such as the progesterone block theory or the prostaglandins stimulation of the uterotonic action of oxytocin. The presence in the circulation of extrahypothalamic corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH) produced by the placenta and myometrium is an inciting unique feature of primate pregnancy and a promising field for research. The concept of anatomical regionalization in labor promotion, including the cervical physiological inflammatory reaction, is also discussed in the review, especially in support of the strong link between inflammatory activation and onset of preterm labor. Understanding the intimate chain of events leading to parturition is critical, and elucidating the interplay of signals and processes that initiate normal labor may help us to understand the abnormal variant, spontaneous preterm labor, and devise efficacious interventions against it.


Organic–inorganic methylammonium lead halide perovskites have recently emerged as superior solar photovoltaic absorbers. In this chapter, we present our recent theoretical studies on the structural, electronic, and optical properties of metal-halide perovskites, including crystal structures, electronic structures, and the optical absorption coefficient of bulk, point defect, and grain boundaries. The passivation effect of Cl on grain boundaries is proposed. The relation of our theoretical results with the existing experiments as well as current challenges are discussed.


The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and its predecessor organizations historically have devoted considerable time and effort to the standardization of test procedures, the development and use of calibration and performance audit procedures, quality control and reference samples, training, and other quality assurance (QA) activities. However, these QA activities were essentially voluntary, and most of the data generated were reported with no indication of quality, thereby severely reducing their usefulness. Due to questions concerning the quality of EPA's data, Agency policy stipulated on 30 May and 29 June 1979 requires participation in a centrally managed QA program by all organizational units engaged in environmentally related measurements. This policy applies equally to those extramural efforts performed on behalf of EPA. The primary responsibility for program development and direction is assigned to the Office of Research and Development, while other program offices, regions, and laboratories are responsible for its implementation. Essential elements of the program include developing and implementing QA program plans, QA project plans, and standard operating procedures; conducting audits of the capability and performance of measurement systems, and data quality; maintaining a mechanism for corrective actions; QA training; and frequency reports to management on the quality of data, program effectiveness, andmore » problems. The goal of the QA program is to ensure that all data generated are of known, documented, and acceptable quality. 2 references.« less


Several functional imaging studies of pain, using a number of different experimental paradigms and a variety of reference states, have failed to detect activations in the somatosensory cortices, while other imaging studies of pain have reported significant activations in these regions. The role of the somatosensory areas in pain processing has therefore been debated. In the present study the left hand was immersed in painfully cold water (standard cold pressor test) and in nonpainfully cold water during 2 min, and PET-scans were obtained either during the first or the second minute of stimulation. We observed no significant increase of activity in the somatosensory regions when the painful conditions were directly compared with the control conditions. In order to better understand the role of the primary somatosensory cortex (S1) in pain processing we used a regression analysis to study the relation between a ROI (region of interest) in the somatotopic S1-area for the stimulated hand and other regions known to be involved in pain processing. We hypothesized that although no increased activity was observed in the S1 during pain, this region would change its covariation pattern during noxious input as compared to the control stimulation if it is involved in or affected by the processing of pain. In the nonpainful cold conditions widespread regions of the ipsilateral and contralateral somatosensory cortex showed a positive covariation with the activity in the S1-ROI. However, during the first and second minute of pain this regression was significantly attenuated. During the second minute of painful stimulation there was a significant positive covariation between the activity in the S1-ROI and the other regions that are known to be involved in pain processing. Importantly, this relation was significantly stronger for the insula and the orbitofrontal cortex bilaterally when compared to the nonpainful state. The results indicate that the S1-cortex may be engaged in or affected by the processing of pain although no differential activity is observed when pain is compared with the reference condition.


Philosophers of language distinguish among the lexical or linguistic meaning of the sentence uttered, what is said by an utterance of the sentence, and speaker's meaning, or what is conveyed by the speaker to her audience. In most views, what is said is the semantic or truth-conditional content of the utterance, and is irreducible either to the linguistic meaning or to the speaker's meaning. I will show that those views account badly for people's intuitions on what is said. I will also argue that no distinguished level of what is said is required, and that the notion of linguistic meaning is the best placed to play the role of what is said. This relies on two points. First, our intuitions on what is said cannot be detached from the ways in which we talk about what is said, and from the semantics of speech reports and indirect discourse in general. Second, besides what is said, there is an equally important notion of what what-is-said is said about, or that about which the speaker is talking. These are, then, the three main ingredients needed for the theory of what is said: linguistic meaning, what is talked about, and a semantic account of reported speech.


OBJECTIVE
Diabetic patients with incapacitating orthostatic hypotension can have either a "hyperadrenergic" or "hypoadrenergic" presentation. Although the latter is related to overt autonomic neuropathy, the former is proposed to be explained by appropriate autonomic responses. We hypothesize, however, that both conditions are part of a spectrum of autonomic dysfunction.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS
We studied 16 consecutive diabetic patients with preserved renal function referred for incapacitating orthostatic hypotension and characterized their autonomic and neurohumoral cardiovascular regulation.

RESULTS
Six patients had a hyperadrenergic orthostatic response: systolic blood pressure fell 42 +/- 15 mmHg, heart rate increased 20 +/- 3 bpm, and plasma norepinephrine increased from 340 +/- 80 to 910 +/- 100 pg/ml. Ten patients had a hypoadrenergic response: systolic blood pressure fell 78 +/- 5 mmHg, heart rate increased only 7 +/- 3 bpm, and norepinephrine increased only from 130 +/- 28 to 230 +/- 40 pg/ml. Vagal (sinus arrhythmia, Valsalva ratio) and sympathetic (response to hyperventilation, postprandial hypotension) responses were impaired in both groups, but to a greater extent in the hypoadrenergic group. Notwithstanding severe orthostatic hypotension, the postural increase in plasma renin was blunted in both groups, more so in the hypoadrenergic group. Despite preserved renal function, patients had mild anemia due to impaired erythropoietin release, as seen in primary cases of autonomic failure.

CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that diabetic patients presenting with hyperadrenergic orthostatic hypotension have an initial stage of autonomic neuropathy, with overtly abnormal vagal function and early signs of sympathetic impairment. Furthermore, altered renin response can contribute to the patients' orthostatic hypotension.


Coal bottom ash is a waste material produced by the coal based thermal power plants. The annual production of coal bottom ash(CBA)in India is 25 million tons, in US 14 million tons, Europe 4 million tons and in Malaysia about 1.7 million tons, which creates environmental problems for the global society. Hence, the aim of this study is to utilize CBA in concrete as a partial cementer placement. In this study, the CBA was ground for three different grinding periods 20, 30 and 40 hours and concrete mix was prepared at a replacement rate of 10, 20 and 30% by weight of cement. Total 120 specimens were cast to assess the fresh and hardened properties of concrete at the age of 28days. For the fresh mix concrete, workability reduced as quantity of ground CBA increased in the mix. However, the density of concrete was continuously declined due to addition of ground CBA and opposite behaviour was observed in water absorption capacity. The high rate of water absorption was observed as the fineness and replacement level increased in the mix. Furthermore, no significant rise in the compressive and flexural strength was recorded in this study but with 10% ground CBA as a replacement of ordinary cement the targeted compressive strength of concrete was achieved. Besides that, the splitting tensile strength was increased about8% in concrete containing 10% ground CBA (obtained through 30 hours grinding period)as compared with the control specimen. Hence, it was concluded that the ground CBA has a good potential to be utilized as cement replacement in concrete which will reduce the construction cost and minimize the environmental burden.


ABSTRACT Oil palm trees are important economic crops in tropical areas. Accurate knowledge of the number of oil palm trees in a plantation area is important to predict the yield of palm oil, manage the growing situation of the palm trees and maximise their productivity. In this study, we propose a novel automatic method for detection and enumeration of individual oil palm trees using images from unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). This method required three major steps. First, images from UAVs were classified as vegetation or non-vegetation by the support vector machine (SVM) classifier. Second, a feature descriptor based on the histogram of oriented gradient (HOG) was designed for palm trees and used to extract features for machine learning. Finally, a SVM classifier was trained and optimised using the HOG features from positive (i.e., oil palm trees) and negative samples (i.e., objects other than oil palm trees). The trained classifier was then applied to detect individual oil palm trees using adaptive moving windows that allowed it to also return the crown size of each oil palm tree. The method was trained at one site and validated independently at four other sites with different situations. The overall accuracy of palm tree detection was 99.21% at the training site and 99.39%, 99.06%, 99.90% and 94.63% at the four validation sites; the last one was for the most challenging site, in which palm trees were mixed with other trees. These tests confirm the effectiveness of the proposed method. The simplicity and great efficiency of the proposed method allow it to support oil palm tree counting for large areas using imagery from UAVs.