patients who had normal placental parenchyma. The groups were matched for maternal age, gestational age, parity, race, and smoking. Transverse and sagittal scans in real time were used to evaluate the degree and severity of thrombosis. The mean of the two largest lesion diameters was used for severity classification. Results: Mean gestational age at delivery was 39.1 wks (± 1.8) for the control group, 37.9 wks (± 2.8) for mild thrombosis and 35.2 wks (± 5.8) for severe thrombosis, (p < 0.0001). Mean birth weight was 3348 g (± 492) for the control, 3134 g (± 657) for the mild thrombosis and 2524 g (± 1339) for the severe thrombosis group, (p = 0.0005). The presence of IUGR was more frequent in patients with thrombotic lesions: 9.6% in mild thrombosis and 38.4% in severe thrombosis, in comparison to 3.1% in the control group (p = 0.0003; OR = 5.7; p = 0.0151). Pre-eclampsia was also more frequent in patients with thrombosis: control group, 0.0%; the mild group, 7.7%; and severe group, 15.4% (p < 0.0214; OR = 14.3, p = 0.0139). Conclusions: There is a strong association between placental thrombosis and adverse perinatal outcomes. Increased size and/or number of thrombotic lesions is associated with more adverse perinatal outcomes. Ultrasound may be useful in identifying patients with pro-thrombotic abnormalities associated with placental thrombosis.


We investigate the feasibility of directly detecting a generation mechanism of the cosmic baryon asymmetry, by repeating the same particle physics process inside the LHC. We propose a framework with R-parity and CP violating squark decays responsible for baryogenesis, which can be embedded in supersymmetric models and is partly motivated by naturalness. We argue that the baryon number generation here is closely related to lepton charge asymmetry on the resonance. We emphasize the importance of the single charged lepton plus multijet channel in the absence of significant missing energy in search of such a scenario.


More than half of the electrical faults on transmission lines are caused by lightning in Japan. In order to improve their lightning performance, gapped type transmission line arresters have been installed in many service lines since 1986. It is general that the arresters are installed on three phases of one circuit of double-circuit transmission lines to prevent interruptions of supply due to lightning flashover. The authors developed a new lightning surge analysis method, which is able to simulate the actual faults, by reviewing the existing parameters. Using this analysis method, they have studied new application concept of the arrester on 500 kV transmission lines with high-speed reclosing systems. As a result, it is found that the application of two arresters per one circuit of double-circuit line is able to prevent interruptions of supply.


We characterise the computational complexity of biological systems to assess their utility as novel models of computation and learn how efficiently we can simulate these systems in software. In this work we focus on the complexity of biological cells by using several established models of cell behaviour collectively known as Membrane Systems or P-Systems. Specifically we focus on analysing the power of cell division and membrane dissolution using the well established active membrane model. Inspired by circuit complexity, researchers consider uniform and semi-uniform families of recogniser membrane systems to solve problems. That is, having an algorithm that generates a specific membrane system to compute the solutions to specific instances of a problem. While the idea of uniformity for active membrane systems is not new, we pioneer uniformity conditions that are contained in P. Previously, all attempts to characterise the power of families of membrane systems used polynomial time uniformity. This is a very strong uniformity condition, sometimes too strong. We prove three major results using tighter uniformity conditions for families of recogniser active membrane systems. First, by tightening the uniformity condition slightly to log space (L) we improve a P upper-bound on a semi-uniform family of membrane systems to a NL characterisation. With new insight into the nature of semi-uniformity we explore the relation between membrane systems and problems complete for certain classes. For example, the problem STCON is NL-complete; by restricting the problem slightly it becomes Lcomplete. This restriction in turn suggests a restriction to the NL characterising model which produces a new, L characterising, variation of recogniser membrane systems. The second and most significant of our results answers an open question in membrane computing: whether the power of uniform families and semi-uniform families are always equal. The answer to this question has implications beyond membrane computing, to other branches of natural computing and to circuit complexity theory. We discovered that for AC uniformity, the problems solved by uniform families of systems without dissolution rules or charges are a strict subset of those problems solved by AC semi-uniform families of the same type. Finally we present a result contributing to another open question known as the P-conjecture. We provide a surprising P characterisation of a model that can generate exponential space in linear time using cell division. The algorithms that we use to compress this exponential information are of interest to those wishing to simulate cell behaviour or implement these models in silico. Tighter uniformity conditions allow researchers to study a range of complexity classes contained in P using the language of membrane systems. We argue that our stricter definition of uniformity is a more accurate one for characterising recogniser membrane systems because it allows researchers to see more clearly the actual power of systems, while at the same time all pre-existing results for classes that contain P (e.g. PSPACE, NP) still hold.


Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-specific natural killer (CD3- cells), CD4, and CD8 T cellular responses were determined in 79 HIV‐1-infected women in response to HIV‐1 peptide pools (Gag, Pol, Nef, Reg, and Env) with use of a whole‐blood intracellular cytokine staining assay that measures interferon-γ and/or interleukin-2. HIV‐specific CD3- cell responses to any region (Env and Reg predominantly targeted) were associated with lower viral load (P = .031) and higher CD4 T cell count (P = .015). Env‐specific CD3- cell responses were stronger in women who had both Gag CD4 and CD8 T cell responses and, in turn, was associated with lower viral load (P = .005). CD3- cell responders had significantly higher representation of CD4 T cell responses to Env and Reg (P = .012 and P = .015, respectively) and higher magnitudes of CD4 T cell responses (P = .017 and P = .037, respectively) than did nonresponders. Peptide‐specific natural killer cells are associated with markers of less severe disease progression among HIV‐1-infected women (lower viral load and higher CD4 T cell count) and with stronger HIV‐specific T cell responses.


The rising number of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) enable people to advance their knowledge and competencies in a wide range of fields. Learning though is only the first step, the transfer of the taught concepts into practice is equally important and often neglected in the investigation of MOOCs. In this paper, we consider the specific case of FP101x (a functional programming MOOC on edX) and the extent to which learners alter their programming behaviour after having taken the course. We are able to link about one third of all FP101x learners to GitHub, the most popular social coding platform to date and contribute a first exploratory analysis of learner behaviour beyond the MOOC platform. A detailed longitudinal analysis of GitHub log traces reveals that (i) more than 8% of engaged learners transfer, and that (ii) most existing transfer learning findings from the classroom setting are indeed applicable in the MOOC setting as well.


Four small seamounts that rise 800 to 1,200 m above the flanks of the East Pacific Rise at the Pacific-Rivera plate boundary were examined and sampled during four dives of DSV-3 Turtle . They are all volcanic cones, at least two of them with summit craters. Samples from three of the volcanos are tholeiitic basalt that chemically resembles the basalt erupted at the rise crest, although they are less fractionated. One of the cones within 15 km of the spreading axis has very young flows of sheet and pillow lava on its summit, including some en echelon pillow walls. The other seamounts, farther from the plate boundary, appear extinct and generally have more weathered lava with thicker ferromanganese crusts. They also have extensive flows of hyaloclastite that probably formed in deep-water phreatomagmatic eruptions. Typical hyaloclastite landforms are stone streams of rocks that have moved down side slopes of volcanos and been stabilized by precipitation of volcanogenic ferromanganese cements.


Studies have linked thin-ideal imagery in popular media to eating pathologies and related disorders. Although these disorders have long been associated with middle- and upper-class white women, racial or ethnic status may no longer confer a protective benefit, in part because the dominant white society's cultural values, as conveyed through mainstream media, reach all ethnic groups. This survey of 106 young African American and 102 young Latino women supports the conclusion that Latinas identify more closely with mediated thin-ideal imagery, while black respondents appear more satisfied with their body image. Acculturation theory suggests that ethnic minority individuals who maintain links, including ethnic-media use, to their culture of origin will be less acculturated to the norms and values of dominant white society. Three-quarters of Latinas read a mainstream fashion/beauty magazine regularly, while half of African-Americans read ethnic magazines published for the black community.


— Work for everyone, especially for person with disability is a condition in independence; it secures basic needs and develops manual and intellectual capabilities. The work is a source of income, and it builds and strengthens of self-esteem and competence. The purpose of this article is to identify work as an important factor in everyone's life, despite Polish disabled persons rarely having the chance to undertake a job. In order to achieve this purpose, two methods were used: comparative and qualitative. The theoretical part of this article is based on studies of a wide range of Polish and foreign literature devoted to the issue of the occupational development of people with disabilities. The article was also enriched with the institutional and legal analysis types of support for people with disabilities in Poland. Currently, a Polish person with disability who wants to enter or return to the labor market is under a special protection. Those entities employing workers with disabilities may obtain a subsidy for the salary of a person with disabilities. Unfortunately, people with disability in Poland rarely participate in the workforce. The factors that contribute to this include the difficulty in obtaining work, the uncertainty of keeping it, and the low salary offered. Despite that domestic and foreign literature highlight the important role of disabled people as a workforce, very few people with disability in Poland are economically active.


In order to compare the current status of Corporate Sustainability Management in China, Korea and Japan, the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES, headquartered in Japan) has conducted a survey project with cooperation from the Policy Research Center for Environment and Economy of State Environmental Protection Agency (China) and the LG Environmental Strategy Institute (Korea). Every year, the Ministry of the Environment of Japan (MOEJ) conducts a questionnaire survey on the current status of Corporate Sustainability Management (CSM) of Japanese companies. The survey has taken root as a basic material for policy makers and practitioners to analyze the current situation of Corporate Sustainability Management. However, information on other Asian countries is scarce, although the economic cooperation in Asia is expected to increase significantly in near future. The survey project developed a common questionnaire sheet in English, translated it into the national languages, and distributed to listed companies in Chinese and Korean stock exchange markets. For Japanese companies' data, the MOEJ survey was utilized. In order to have comparative data among the three countries, many of the questions in the questionnaire sheet were borrowed from the FY2002 MOEJ survey. By selecting questions from the FY2002 MOEJ survey and the previous IGES survey and adding some new questions, the survey project conducted its own survey on Chinese and Korean companies. It is very difficult to compare companies' behavior in different countries, because political and economic contexts differ each other. Besides, in a questionnaire sheet survey, even a slight difference of the expression of a question affects the results very much, and this survey needed translation processes between Japanese, English, Chinese and Korean. Although this survey has some these difficulties, the members of the survey project believe that the survey result still serves as a valuable material for policy makers and practitioners to analyze the Corporate Sustainability Management of Chinese, Korean and Japanese companies.


The biopsy is the primary examination method in diagnosing duodenal pathologies and Gluten enteropathy that can cause symptoms such as gas, diarrhea, weight loss, anemia, osteoporosis. Allows monitoring of response to therapy. Histochemical studies are inevitable in specific findings such as reactive changes, giardia, subepithelial collagen thickening, fibrosis, and gastric metaplasia. We aimed to understand the contribution of histochemical applications to differential diagnosis and to show their superiority compared to hematoxylin-eosin sections in routine use by simultaneously making histomorphological evaluations on hematoxylin and eosin sections. This research is a retrospective study conducted in 2011, using the archives of Yüzüncü Yıl University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pathology, between 2001-2010. Ten normal, 50 Gluten enteropathy and 50 duodenitis samples; Along with histopathological examinations, we applied Masson Trichrome, Periodic acid-Schiff, Periodic acid-Schiff with diastasis, Periodic acid Schiff-Alcian Blue, High Iron Diamine-Alcian Blue. Chi-square, likelihood ratio tests, and SPSS (ver: 13) statistical package program used. We detected microscopic findings parallel to diagnostic criteria. While the number of goblet cells and intraepithelial neutrophils did not differ in the groups (P =0.176 and P=0.096), there was a significant variation in the intraepithelial lymphocyte count (P=0.010). The frequency of flattening and blunting of the villi, crypt hyperplasia, and Brunner gland hyperplasia were significant in gluten enteropathies (P=0.000). Conclusion We could not find any difference in specific pathologies associated with histochemical studies in our group, so hematoxylin-eosin sections are more valuable in the differential diagnosis.


PURPOSE
To determine whether there is an association between dermal fibroblast differentiation characteristics in vitro and breast fibrosis developing in patients following radiotherapy for breast cancer.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
Three hundred and eighty-five patients had been characterized for the degree of breast fibrosis and the level of clinical risk factors for fibrosis as established by logistic regression. Early-passage fibroblasts from 79 patients with a high (HR) or low (LR) level of risk factors were studied in vitro. The percentage differentiated cells (%DC) 7 days after 0 and 8 Gy was scored, and unirradiated colonies were scored for the ratio of early:late fibroblast differentiation stages (E:L ratio).

RESULTS
%DC: For the 0 Gy data there was a significant interpatient variation (CoV = 55%, p = 0.0001). HR patients with breast fibrosis had a higher %DC compared with patients without (p = 0.017). E:L ratio: for HR patients there was a significant interpatient variation (82%, p = 0.0030) and a lower E:L ratio for patients with fibrosis compared with those without (p = 0.086), but for LR patients this relationship was reversed (p = 0.079)

CONCLUSIONS
There was a true interpatient variation in the in vitro parameters of fibroblast differentiation but insufficient correlation with observed fibrosis after radiotherapy for use as a predictive test.


Abstract "Art Work as Life Work: Lu Märten's Feminist 'Objectivity'" highlights the feminist stakes of German feminist-materialist art historian Lu Märten's interventions in the interwar discourses on art and labor, on objectivity (Sachlichkeit), and the new media of film and radio. The essay argues that Märten's contributions to these areas sit squarely within more familiar narratives of materialist aesthetics and Weimar culture (from Walter Benjamin's epochal Artwork Essay to the Bauhaus) and that they do so on account of her heterodox reading of Marx and commitment to Spinoza's monism. In Märten's view, this non-binary materialism offered an alternative, non-Hegelian route to a materialist conception of art or as she preferred to say, form. In contrast to art history's academic formalism, Märten espouses a notion of form that does not maintain art's autonomy but instead connects art to other social fields. Here form always evolves out of informality. The essay traces the close bond between art work and life work across Märten's multiple publications, including her theoretical magnum opus Essence and Transformation of Forms/Arts and her studies on The Economic Conditions of Artists and The Female Artist. In so doing, the text contributes to revisiting the firm boundaries that art history has drawn between objects and communities.


In last two decades, businesses have shown a remarkable growth potential since we entered the modern era of technology. People from different backgrounds claimed their leadership on business principles from time to time. The origin of incentive based system has disbalanced the business core and has balanced functioning whenever it has been raised off as a big issue within organizations. The research is an attempt at understanding the impact of business ethics, corporate social responsibility (CSR) on Indian business growth. While it is recognized that teaching of this subject is essential, not much is known about the content delivered in the courses, the pedagogy in the classroom, the teaching material used and the adaptation done for different kinds of nature of participants on the course. This study was conducted using experimental/experiential analysis of employees, peoples, managers and surveys using a questionnaire to understand the extent of ethics these people follow while doing their business transactions in their usual course of working. Some of the significant findings were that a large number of corporate houses with special reference in the field of ethics, CSR, CG and profitability. The widespread industries and service sector firms are the main source of study


The nephron is composed of a monolayer of epithelial cells that make up its various compartments. In development, these cells begin as mesenchyme. NCAM1, abundant in the mesenchyme and early nephron lineage, ceases to express in mature kidney epithelia. We show that, once placed in culture and released from quiescence, adult human kidney epithelial cells (hKEpCs), uniformly positive for CD24/CD133, re-express NCAM1 in a speci fi c cell subset that attains a stem/progenitor state. Immunosorted NCAM1 þ cells overexpressed early nephron progenitor markers ( PAX2 , SALL1 , SIX2 , WT1 ) and acquired a mesenchymal fate, indicated by high vimentim and reduced E-cadherin levels. Gene expression and microarray analysis disclosed both a proximal tubular origin of these cells and molecules regulating epithelial e mesenchymal transition. NCAM1 þ cells generated clonal progeny when cultured in the presence of fetal kidney conditioned medium, differentiated along mesenchymal lineages but retained the unique propensity to generate epithelial kidney spheres and produce epithelial renal tissue on single-cell grafting in chick CAM and mouse. Depletion of NCAM1 þ cells from hKEpCs abrogated stemness traits in vitro . Eliminating these cells during the regenerative response that follows glycerol-induced acute tubular necrosis worsened peak renal injury in vivo . Thus, higher clone-forming and developmental capacities characterize a distinct subset of adult kidney-derived cells. The ability to in fl uence an endogenous regenerative response via NCAM1 targeting may lead to novel therapeutics for renal diseases. (Am J Pathol 2013, 183: 1621 e 1633; http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ajpath.2013.07.034)


Many works have studied the properties of CSPs which are based on the structures of constraint networks, or based on the features of compatibility relations. Studies on structures rely generally on properties of graphs for binary CSPs and on properties of hypergraphs for the general case, that is CSPs with constraints of arbitrary arity. In the second case, using the dual representation of hypergraphs, that is a reformulation of the instances, we can exploit notions and properties of graphs. For the studies of compatibility relations, the exploitation of properties of graphs is possible studying a graph called microstructure which allows to reformulate instances of binary CSP. Unfortunately, this approach is limited to CSPs with binary constraints. In this paper, we propose theoretical tools based on graphs to represent microstructures for the general case. This approach avoids to exploit directly hypergraphs, even if the microstructure based on hypergraphs has already been mentioned in (Cohen 2003). The advantage of such an approach is that the literature of Graph Theory is really more extended than one of Hypergraph Theory. Thus the theoretical results and efficient algorithms are more numerous, offering a larger number of existing tools which can be operated. We introduce here three possible definitions of microstructures based on graphs. We show how these representations can form new theoretical tools to generalize a number of results already obtained on binary CSPs. We think that these representations should be of interest for the community, firstly for the generalization of existing results, but also to obtain original results for CSPs with constraints of arbitrary arity.


The objective of this research was to investigate the influence of the in-cylinder surfaces on the net emission of particulate matter in the exhaust of a single-cylinder diesel engine. In order to obtain this information, time resolved sampling was performed to characterize the particulate matter emitted in the engine exhaust. A rotating probe sampled the free exhaust plume once every engine cycle. The rotation of the probe was synchronized with the engine cycle in such a way that the samples could be taken at any predetermined crank angle degree window. The sampling probe was designed for isokinetic sampling in order to obtain reliable results. To accomplish this, the unsteady flow through the probe was modeled based on the measured instantaneous velocities and temperatures of the exhaust. Two methods were used to characterize the exhaust particulate matter in real time : a filter for mass concentration measurements, and an electrical aerosol analyzer (EAA) for size distribution and volume concentration measurements. The results showed about 45% higher mass concentrations as well as larger diameter particles emitted during blowdown than late in the displacement phase of the exhaust stroke. This suggests that high in-cylinder shear rates and velocities which are associated with the blowdown process cause the deposited soot to be reentrained from the surfaces of the combustion chamber, where reentrainment is favored by conditions of high surface shear.


Using the process of rapid urbanization and indutrialization under-gone by Brasil as a background, the article discusses the existing mechanisms of financing urban development in the country's largest metropolitan area, Sao Paulo. By reviewing the institutional framework of urban planning and data concerning sources of financing urban development in Sao Paulo, the author singles out various problems that affect the metropoli's future development. Centralization of decision-making associated with and extremely unbalanced tax structure are, according to the author, depriving local administrations of the financial support necessary to provide urban infraestructure and services. Coordination of legal, institutional and financial mechanisms to ensure attainment of development objetives in regardered as essencial to ensure the proper solution to the problems generated by the failures of market mechanism to supply services in a metropolitan area, undergoing a rapid growth.


Early Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇava theologians developed a unique path of Hindu devotion during the 16th century through which an aspirant cultivates a rapturous form of selfless love (premā) for Kṛṣṇa, who is recognized as the supreme and personal deity. In the course and consequence of cultivating this selfless love, the recommended practices of devotion are claimed to free one from the basic existential condition of bondage that is of concern for a wide range of South Asian religious and philosophical traditions. One of the principle cognitive tendencies characterizing this condition is to have thoughts and feelings of possessiveness over objects of the world, or what is referred to as the state of "my-ness" (mamatā), e.g., my home, my children, or my wealth. Using the therapeutic model of schema therapy as a heuristic analogue, this article explores the relationship between recommended practices of rule-based devotion (vaidhi-bhakti) and the modulation of thoughts and feelings of possessiveness towards mundane objects. I argue that such practices function as learning strategies that can systematically rework and modulate how one relates to and responds to these objects in theologically desirable ways. I conclude by suggesting that connectionist theories of cognition and learning may offer a promising explanatory framework for understanding the dynamics of this kind of relationship.


Introduction Patient decision aids (PDAs) have been developed to help patients make an informed choice for a treatment option. Despite proven benefits, structural implementation falls short of expectations. The present study aims to assess the effectiveness and cost-utility of the PDA among newly diagnosed patients with localised prostate cancer and their partners, alongside implementation of the PDA in routine care. Methods/analysis A stepped-wedge cluster randomised trial will be conducted. The PDA will be sequentially implemented in 18 hospitals in the Netherlands, over a period of 24 months. Every 3 or 6 months, a new cluster of hospitals will switch from usual care to care including a PDA. The primary outcome measure is decisional conflict experienced by the patient. Secondary outcomes comprise the patient's quality of life, treatment preferences, role in the decision making, expectations of treatment, knowledge, need for supportive care and decision regret. Furthermore, societal cost-utility will be valued. Other outcome measures considered are the partner's treatment preferences, experienced participation to decision making, quality of life, communication between patient, partner and health care professional, and the effect of prostate cancer on the relationship, social contacts and their role as caregiver. Patients and partners receiving the PDA will also be asked about their satisfaction with the PDA. Baseline assessment takes place after the treatment choice and before the start of a treatment, with follow-up assessments at 3, 6 and 12 months following the end of treatment or the day after deciding on active surveillance. Outcome measures on implementation include the implementation rate (defined as the proportion of all eligible patients who will receive a PDA) and a questionnaire for health care professionals on determinants of implementing an innovation. Ethics and dissemination This study will be conducted in accordance with local laws and regulations of the Medical Ethics Committee of VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. The results from this stepped-wedge trial will be presented at scientific meetings and published in peer-reviewed journals. Trial registration Nederlands Trial Register NTR TC5177, registration date: May 28th 2015.Pre-results.


A 2-year, three-panel (T1-T3) longitudinal study of 233 entering Ph.D. students examined the relationships between student potential for mentoring, (i.e., attitudes and objective abilities at entry (T1), mentoring functions used by the faculty adviser (T2,T3), and student research productivity and commitment (T3). Student potential was found to predict the amount of psychosocial mentoring, career mentoring, and research collaboration provided by the adviser. Psychosocial mentoring and collaboration were not related to student productivity or commitment after controlling for the students' entering abilities and attitudes. Career mentoring at T2 was negatively related to the students' affective commitment to their program at T3. Implications for our understanding of mentoring and future research are discussed.


Background/Aims
Fexuprazan is a novel potassium-competitive acid blocker that could be of benefit to patients with gastric mucosal injury. The aim of this study was to assess the 2-week efficacy and safety of fexuprazan in patients with acute or chronic gastritis.

Methods
In this study, 327 patients with acute or chronic gastritis who had one or more gastric erosions on endoscopy and subjective symptoms were randomized into three groups receiving fexuprazan 20 mg once a day (q.d.), fexuprazan 10 mg twice a day (b.i.d.), or placebo for 2 weeks. The posttreatment assessments were the primary endpoint (erosion improvement rate), secondary endpoints (cure rates of erosion and edema and improvement rates of redness, hemorrhage, and subjective symptoms), and drug-related adverse events.

Results
Among the patients, 57.8% (59/102), 65.7% (67/102), and 40.6% (39/96) showed erosion improvement 2 weeks after receiving fexuprazan 20 mg q.d., fexuprazan 10 mg b.i.d., and placebo, respectively. Both fexuprazan 20 mg q.d. and 10 mg b.i.d. showed superior efficacy to the placebo (p=0.017 and p<0.001, respectively). Likewise, both fexuprazan 20 mg q.d. and 10 mg b.i.d. also showed higher erosion healing rates than the placebo (p=0.033 and p=0.010, respectively). No difference was noted in the edema healing rate and the improvement rates for redness, hemorrhage, and subjective symptoms between the fexuprazan and placebo groups. No significant difference was noted in the incidence of adverse drug reactions.

Conclusions
Fexuprazan 20 mg q.d. and 10 mg b.i.d. for 2 weeks showed therapeutic efficacy superior to that of placebo in patients with acute or chronic gastritis (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT04341454).


Thin-film solar cells based on Cu(In,Ga)(Se,S) 2 (CIGS) have demonstrated both high efficiencies and a high cost-reduction potential in industrial production. This way, future CIGS module production lines can be profitable even for scales below the GW range. Among the different technologies, only the coevaporation method has demonstrated efficiencies above 20%, approaching the record values of polycrystalline Si cells. The main focus of this contribution is on the new results of the ZSW cell line with efficiencies above 20%, as well as on the mini-module line on glass substrates. Mini modules (10 cm × 10 cm) with efficiencies in the range of 17% give a proof of concept for industrial-sized modules. ZSW is also developing flexible cells and modules, transferring the processes from the glass-based technology. We achieved 18.6% cell efficiency on metal substrates and a 15.4% efficient mini module could be demonstrated with adapted methods of module patterning. In order to develop industrially relevant processes for foils, we are running a roll-to-roll deposition plant. Additionally, we have improved CIGS cell efficiencies with alternative buffers to certified 19.0% for solution-grown Zn(O,S), to 16.4% for sputtered Zn(O,S), and 17.1% for evaporated In 2S 3. Our cells deposited by vacuum-free methods exhibit an efficiency of 8.5% with a nanoparticle-based process.


BACKGROUND & AIMS
A consensus has been reached that liver donor allocation should be based primarily on liver disease severity and that waiting time should not be a major determining factor. Our aim was to assess the capability of the Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score to correctly rank potential liver recipients according to their severity of liver disease and mortality risk on the OPTN liver waiting list.

METHODS
The MELD model predicts liver disease severity based on serum creatinine, serum total bilirubin, and INR and has been shown to be useful in predicting mortality in patients with compensated and decompensated cirrhosis. In this study, we prospectively applied the MELD score to estimate 3-month mortality to 3437 adult liver transplant candidates with chronic liver disease who were added to the OPTN waiting list at 2A or 2B status between November, 1999, and December, 2001.

RESULTS
In this study cohort with chronic liver disease, 412 (12%) died during the 3-month follow-up period. Waiting list mortality increased directly in proportion to the listing MELD score. Patients having a MELD score <9 experienced a 1.9% mortality, whereas patients having a MELD score > or =40 had a mortality rate of 71.3%. Using the c-statistic with 3-month mortality as the end point, the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve for the MELD score was 0.83 compared with 0.76 for the Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP) score (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS
These data suggest that the MELD score is able to accurately predict 3-month mortality among patients with chronic liver disease on the liver waiting list and can be applied for allocation of donor livers.


SiC nanowire based electronics hold promise for data collection in harsh environments wherein conventional semiconductor platforms would fail. However, the full adaptation of SiC nanowires as a material platform necessitates strict control of nanowire crystal structure and orientation for reliable performance. Toward such efforts, we report the growth of hexagonal phase SiC nanowire arrays grown with vertical alignment on commercially available single crystalline SiC substrates. The nanowire hexagonality, confirmed with Raman spectroscopy and atomic resolution microscopy, displays a polytypic distribution of predominantly 2H and 4H. Employing a theoretical growth model, the polytypic distribution of hexagonal phase nanowires is accurately predicted in the regime of high supersaturation. Additionally, the reduction of disorder-induced phonon density of states is achieved while maintaining nanowire morphology through a postgrowth anneal. The results of this work expand the repertoire of SiC nanowires by imp...


Background: Technology advancement and modernity have ended up to physical activity depletion in human life. However, 70 % of diseases are associated with physical activity deprivation. Physical activity and exercise play an important role to maintain and enhance health significantly. The aim of the present study is to assess physical activity levels among bank employees in Iranshahr. Materials and Methods: It is a descriptive - analytical cross-sectional study. One-hundred twenty four bank employees in Iranshahr participated through convenience sampling. Data was collected through the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), 7 days version. Data was analysed with SPSS software through descriptive & inferential statistics. Results: It showed age mean (34±7.1), male (91.1%), married (88.7%) and diploma (56.5%). Weekly physical activity level was low (38.7%), moderate (50.8%) and severe (10.5%). Physical activity level did not reveal any significant association with age, sex, marital status, educational background and the number of children. But, there was a significant relationship between physical activity and marital status. Conclusion: It is strongly recommended that bank employees modify their lifestyle and have a more active life particularly in transportation and their free time


A linear stratified ocean model is used to study the wind-driven response of the equatorial ocean. The model is an extension of the Lighthill (1969) model that allows the diffusion of heat and momentum into the deeper ocean, and so can develop non-trivial steady solutions. To retain the ability to expand solutions into sums of vertical normal modes, mixing coefficients must be inversely proportional to the square of the back ground Väisälä frequency. The model is also similar to the earlier homogeneous ocean model of Stommel (i960). He extended Ekman dynamics to the equator by allowing his model to generate a barotropic pressure field. The present model differs in that the presence of stratification allows the generation of a baroclinic pressure field as well. The most important result of this paper is that linear theory can produce a realistic equatorial current structure. The model Undercurrent has a reasonable width and depth scale. There is westward flow both above and below the Undercurrent. The meridional circulation conforms to the 'classical' picture suggested by Cromwell (1953). Unlike the Stommel solution, the response here is less sensitive to variations of parameters. Ocean boundaries are not necessary for the existence of the Undercurrent but are necessary for the existence of the deeper Equatorial Intermediate Current. The radiation of equatorially trapped Rossby and Kelvin waves is essential to the development of a realistic Undercurrent. Because the system supports the existence of these waves, low-order vertical modes can very nearly adjust to Sverdrup balance (defined below), which in a bounded ocean and for winds without curl is a state of rest. As a result, higher-order vertical modes are much more visible in the total solution. This property accounts for the surface trapping and narrow width scale of the equatorial currents. The high-order modes tend to be in Yoshida balance (defined below) and generate the characteristic meridional circulation pattern associated with equatorial Ekman pumping.


Local food has recently gained popularity under the assumption that it is more sustainable than food from distant locations. However, evidence is still lacking to fully support this assumption. The goal of this study is to compare local and global food chains in five dimensions of sustainability (environmental, economic, social, ethical and health), covering all stages of the chain. In particular, four cheese supply chains are compared in detail: a local (L'Etivaz) and global (Le Gruyere) case in Switzerland and a local (Single Gloucester) and global (Cheddar) case in the UK. A multi-dimensional perspective is adopted to compare their sustainability performance. Eight attributes of performance (affordability, creation and distribution of added value, information and communication, consumer behaviour, resource use, biodiversity, nutrition and animal welfare) are used to frame the comparative analysis. The results suggest that local cheese performs better in the field of added value creation and distribution, animal welfare and biodiversity. Global chains, by contrast, perform better in terms of affordability and efficiency and some environmental indicators. This analysis needed to be expressed in qualitative terms rather than quantified indicators and it has been especially useful to identify the critical issues and trade-offs that hinder sustainability at different scales. Cheese supply chains in Switzerland and the UK also often present hybrid arrangements in term of local and global scales. Comparison is therefore most meaningful when presented on a local (farmhouse)/global (creamery) continuum.


Masked Priming is an established paradigm to investigate consciousness. The impact of prime visibility on specific priming effects determines whether associated processes can occur independently of consciousness or might rely on consciousness. A meta-analytic review of 84 studies was conducted to assess the impact of prime visibility on effect sizes in interaction with various moderators (Chapter 2). A psychological model concerning the emergence of priming effects was proposed. Two main confoundings between moderators were identified. Specific task levels were predominantly applied with specific masking methods. Furthermore, temporal parameters were chosen differently between effect types. Subsequent experiments (Chapter 3) revealed that priming effects increase with increasing prime visibility when pattern masks are applied. Priming effects were independent of prime visibility with metacontrast masks. Pattern masks are thought to reduce prime visibility on an early level whereas metacontrast masks disturb recurrent processing. Lamme and Roelfsema (2000) previously proposed that recurrent processing characterizes consciousness. Perceptual and semantic priming effects were equally affected by variations in prime visibility. However, perceptual priming effects were generally larger than semantic priming effects. Further experiments were conducted to determine the courses of perceptual and semantic priming effects with increasing prime-mask SOA and mask-target SOA (Chapter 4). Priming effects generally increase with increasing prime-mask SOA and decline at long mask-target SOA. This decline seems to be based on a simple decay and active mechanisms of inhibition (e.g. Klapp, 2005). However, courses of perceptual and semantic priming effects with increasing mask-target SOA differed. This seems to be due to an additional mechanism of object updating that acts only with relevant masks (Lleras & Enns, 2004). In the current design, masks only activated the incongruent category (i.e. relevant masks) with perceptual congruency. An electrophysiological study was conducted to compare perceptual and semantic priming with identical stimulation (Chapter 5). The applied design allowed the estimation of behavioral priming effects without response association as well as effects on event-related potentials without response execution. Perceptual priming effects without response association were larger than semantic priming effects without response association. Furthermore, the P2 component and the P3(b) component were modulated through perceptual congruency. Semantic congruency was reflected in an N400-like effect with a delayed latency. Perceptual ERP effects were observed earlier and with different distributions than semantic ERP effects. Perceptual and semantic priming effects seem to be based on different mechanisms that share several attributes. However, the current work supports the idea of approaching consciousness through the comparison of different masking methods (cf. Breitmeyer, 2014).


Risk assessment concerning impacting space debris or micrometeoroids with spacecraft or payloads can be performed by using environmental models such as MASTER (ESA) or ORDEM (NASA). The validation of such models is performed by comparison of simulated results with measured data. Such data can be obtained from ground-based or spacebased radars or telescopes, or by analysis of space hardware (e.g. Hubble Space Telescope, Space Shuttle Windows), which are retrieved from orbit. An additional data source is in-situ impact detectors, which are purposed for the collection of space debris and micrometeoroids impact data. In comparison to the impact data gained by analysis of the retrieved surfaces, the detected data contains additi onal information regarding impact time and orbit. In the past, many such in-situ detectors have been developed, with dif ferent measurement methods for the identification and classif ication of impacting objects. However, existing detectors have a drawback in terms of data acquisition. Generally the detection area is small, limiting the collected data as the number of recorded impacts has a linear dependence to the exposed area. An innovative impact detector concept is currently under development at the German Aerospace Centre (DLR) in Bremen, in order to increase the surface area while preserving the advantages offered by dedicated in-situ impact detectors. The Solar Generator based Impact Detector (SOLID) is not an add-on component on the spacecraft, making it dif ferent to all previous impact detectors. SOLID util ises existing subsystems of the spacecraft and adapts them for impact detection purposes. Solar generators require large panel surfaces in order to provide the spacecraft with suff icient energy. Therefore, the spacecraft solar panels provide a perfect opportunity for application as impact detectors. Employment of the SOLID method in several spacecraft in various orbits would serve to significantly increase the spatial coverage concerning space debris and micrometeoroids. In this way, the SOLID method will allow the generation of a large amount of impact data for environmental model validation. The ground verif ication of the SOLID method was performed at Fraunhofer EMI . For this purpose, a test model was developed. This paper focuses on the test methodology and development of the Hypervelocity Impact (HVI) test setup, including pretesti ng at the German Aerospace Centre (DLR), Bremen. Foreseen hardware and software for the automatic damage assessment of the detector after the impact are also presented.


Aeroplysinin-1 (1) and the structurally related dienone 2 were cytotoxic to Ehrlich ascites tumor (EAT) cells and HeLa tumor cells in the microculture tetrazolium (MTT) and clonogenic assays. Both compounds are bromotyrosine derivatives, isolated from the marine spong Aplysina aerophoba. As the effective concentrations in the MTT assay were lower than in the clonogenic assay, 1 and 2 are able to cause growth inhibition as well as actual cell death in these cell lines. With an IC50 value of 8.2 microM (MTT assay, 2-h incubation, EAT cells), 1 was the more toxic compound. When the cells were depleted of glutathione by pretreatment with buthionine sulfoximine, they were significantly more sensitive toward 1 and 2 in the MTT assay. A dose-enhancement factor as high as 11.8 was found in EAT cells after 2-h incubation with 2. Using electron paramagnetic resonance we were able to measure free radical formation of 1 and 2, yielding the semiquinone structures 3 and 4, respectively, in a culture medium with tumor cells. It is concluded that free radicals are, at least in part, responsible for the cytotoxicity of 1 and 2. This conclusion is in line with expectations derived from the chemical structures of both compounds.


Objective: To investigate the effect of health education on the childhood with diabetes. Methods :86 cases of children diabetic and their parents were payed attention to knowledge of diabetes health education, which including of diet controlling, exercising, using insulin and monitoring of blood sugar with a period of one month. It was as the evaluation of blood sugar, lose rate of adverse events, management and satisfaction rate of parents before and after one month. X2 test was used with count data and t test was done with measurement data. Results: While fasting and postprandial two hours blood glucose decreased significantly and adverse events was lose, parents have the significantly higher management level and satisfaction.after health education. Conclusions: Health education was helpful to diabetic children's diet, exercise and application of insulin and blood sugar monitoring, ,which was conducive to controlling of blood sugar, improving the management ability of the parents ,reducing the occurrence of adverse events


Formalized task shifting structures have been used to rapidly scale up antiretroviral service delivery to underserved populations in several countries, and may be a promising mechanism for accomplishing universal health coverage. However, studies evaluating the quality of service delivery through task shifting have largely ignored the patient perspective, focusing on health outcomes and acceptability to health care providers and regulatory bodies, despite studies worldwide that have shown the significance of patient satisfaction as an indicator of quality. This study aimed to measure patient satisfaction with task shifting of antiretroviral services in hospitals and health centres in four regions of Ethiopia. This cross-sectional study used data collected from a time–motion study of patient services paired with 665 patient exit interviews in a stratified random sample of antiretroviral therapy clinics in 21 hospitals and 40 health centres in 2012. Data were analyzed using f-tests across provider types, and multivariate logistic regression to identify determinants of patient satisfaction. Most (528 of 665) patients were satisfied or somewhat satisfied with the services received, but patients who received services from nurses and health officers were significantly more likely to report satisfaction than those who received services from doctors [odds ratio (OR) 0.26, P < 0.01]. Investments in the health facility were associated with higher satisfaction (OR 1.07, P < 0.01), while costs to patients of over 120 birr were associated with lower satisfaction (OR 0.14, P < 0.05). This study showed high levels of patient satisfaction with task shifting in Ethiopia. The evidence generated by this study complements previous biomedical and health care provider/regulatory acceptability studies to support the inclusion of task shifting as a mechanism for scaling-up health services to achieve universal health coverage, particularly for underserved areas facing severe health worker shortages.


Mathematical models serve as a powerful tool for visualizing and describing the dynamics of infectious diseases. In this article, the SEIRD (Susceptible-Exposed-Infected-Re-covered- Deceased) epidemic model consisting of a system of five non-linear differential equations is considered. By using COVID-19 data pertinent to the United States and the world situation, the use of existence and uniqueness of the disease-free equilibrium is established, the value of the basic reproductive number is determined, a stability analysis is carried out, and the parameters that fit the model to the data are estimated. An optimal control approach is performed to study the effect of quarantine and isolation on the spread of COVID-19. The goal is to explore the effectiveness of quarantine and isolation at controlling the spread of COVID-19.


The terms traditional and modern and the processes thereof are often discussed in isolation; as if they do not intersect. Some scholars have argued that chieftaincy, as a traditional form of governance in South Africa cannot coexist with modern democratic governance. Additional discussions have separated agrarian activities from modern economy. This article seeks to show the complexities of the terms modern and traditional, the institutions they characterise as well as the processes that are involved, essentially to demonstrate the fluidity of these terms. The familial chieftaincy dispute that erupted in 2001 between two Kekana candidates with personalities, backgrounds and histories that are inextricably bound up in controversies that are not of their making, is central to this paper. The Mokopane local government and the Limpopo provincial government officials arbitrated the dispute and then awarded one of the contenders with slightly more modern aspirations and whose father was an ally of the apartheid and democratic administrations, the position of chief. Also significant to this paper is the encounter between the chief and Platinum Reef Resource (PlatReef ) mine. The chief in this article is key to the local economy of Mokopane. He, along with the local and provincial government are responsible for approving any economic activities that PlatReef seek to embark on. This creates a complex intersection of a traditional and a modern institution, systems and processes that are conventionally understood to be dissociated.


Sensitive and specific detection of β-hCG in women's serum and cervical secretions is of great significance for early pregnancy evaluation. However, the accurate detection of trace amounts of β-hCG in cervical secretions remains challenging because of its low level. Herein, we report a unique strategy for β-hCG detection in a heterogeneous sandwich-type bioassay by using LiLuF4:Ce,Tb nanoparticles as time-resolved photoluminescence (PL) nanoprobes. By taking advantage of the intense and long-lived PL of the nanoprobes, the short-lived background autofluorescence can be completely eliminated, which enables the sensitive detection of β-hCG with a linear range of 0-10 ng mL-1 and a detection limit down to 6.1 pg mL-1, approximately two orders of magnitude improvement relative to that of a commercial β-hCG assay kit. Furthermore, we demonstrate the application of the nanoprobes for accurate detection of β-hCG in clinical serum and cervical secretion samples and unveil that the ratio of β-hCG levels in cervical secretions and serum can be a good indicator of early pregnancy viability in unknown locations. These findings bring new opportunities in perinatal medicine by employing luminescent lanthanide nanoprobes, thus laying a foundation for future development of luminescent nanoprobes for versatile biomedical applications.


Isoflavones in soy may play a role in the prevention of cancer through their capacity to affect antioxidant or protective phase II enzyme activities. This study evaluated the effects of dietary isoflavone levels on the induction of antioxidant and phase II enzyme activities and inhibition of breast carcinogenesis. Female Sprague-Dawley rats (36 d) were fed one of four purified diets with casein, or with soy containing three levels of isoflavonoids (0.03, 0.4 or 0.81 mg/g diet; low, middle and high level of isoflavones, respectively). After 2 wk, enzyme activity was determined of rats (n 5 6–7) from each diet group. Liver glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase activities, blood glutathione levels, kidney glutathione S-transferase and colon quinone reductase (QR) activities were greater in rats consuming the high isoflavone diet compared to rats consuming the casein diet. Kidney QR and liver, kidney, small intestine, and colon UDP-glucuronosyltransferase activities were greater in rats fed the high isoflavone diet compared to rats fed the casein and low-isoflavone diets. Liver and blood oxidized glutathione were lower in rats fed the high-isoflavone diet compared to those fed the low-isoflavone diet. A subset of rats (n 5 86) was fed the purified diets for 2 wk and intubated with dimethylbenz[a]anthracene or peanut oil and palpated weekly for tumors. At 13 wk, there was an inverse relationship (R 5 0.911, P , 0.09) between tumor incidence and increasing isoflavone intake. These data support the mechanism of soy and soy isoflavones as antioxidant and phase II enzyme inducers, but not as tumor inhibitors. J. Nutr. 129: 1820–1826, 1999.


Summary The use of geophysical methods for the location of cavities and mineshafts is reviewed in relation to engineering problems at the site investigation stage. Their success is limited by the resolution and penetration achieved by the particular method applied in a given situation. It is shown that no one single geophysical method will provide the answer to all the problems associated with cavity location but considerable improvement can be achieved by the application of several methods to a given problem. It is suggested that for most standard geophysical methods it is possible to detect a cavity whose depth of burial is less than twice its effective diameter. The concept of effective diameter is shown to be of considerable importance since the presence of the cavity or mineshaft does affect the physical properties of the surrounding rock mass and, hence, gives rise to a far larger anomalous zone than that produced by the cavity on its own.


The issue of climate change and security has received much attention in recent years. Still, the results from research on this topic are mixed and the academic community appears to be far from a consensus on how climate change is likely to affect stability and conflict risk in affected countries. This study focuses on how climate-related natural disasters such as storms, floods, and droughts have affected the risk of civil war in the past. The frequency of such disasters has risen sharply over the last decades, and the increase is expected to continue due to both climate change and demographic changes. Using multivariate methods, this study employs a global sample covering 1950 to the present in order to test whether adding climate-related natural disasters to a well-specified model on civil conflict can increase its explanatory power. The results indicate that this is the case, but that the relation is opposite to common perceptions: Countries that are affected by climate-related natural disasters face a lower risk of civil war. One worrying facet of the claims that environmental factors cause conflict is that they may contribute to directing attention away from more important conflict-promoting factors, such as poor governance and poverty. There is a serious risk of misguided policy to prevent civil conflict if the assumption that disasters have a significant effect on war is allowed to overshadow more important causes.


In this paper we describe the architecture of a vision-based workspace monitoring system for different kinds of nonautonomous service robots. Based on a hardware system with a movable color CCD-camera, mounted on a linear sledge above the workspace, we are developing a hierarchical, modular software system with a flexible control which is not restricted to a single application. During the initialization a 3D map of the workspace is generated by tracking prominent features like edges and corners while the camera is moved. In the following, regions of interest are determined by means of motion detection and/or color classification. These regions are used for the search of known objects, e.g. humans, the robot itself, etc. After an object is identified, its posture and location is estimated by matching a geometric 3D model of the object with the detected regions. The feasibility of this approach will be proved with two applications.


Objective. Non-invasive light delivery into the brain is needed for in vivo optogenetics to avoid physical damage. An innovative strategy could employ x-ray activation of radioluminescent particles (RLPs) to emit localized light. However, modulation of neuronal or synaptic function by x-ray induced radioluminescence from RLPs has not yet been demonstrated. Approach. Molecular and electrophysiological approaches were used to determine if x-ray dependent radioluminescence emitted from RLPs can activate light sensitive proteins. RLPs composed of cerium doped lutetium oxyorthosilicate (LSO:Ce), an inorganic scintillator that emits blue light, were used as they are biocompatible with neuronal function and synaptic transmission. Main results. We show that 30 min of x-ray exposure at a rate of 0.042 Gy s−1 caused no change in the strength of basal glutamatergic transmission during extracellular field recordings in mouse hippocampal slices. Additionally, long-term potentiation, a robust measure of synaptic integrity, was induced after x-ray exposure and expressed at a magnitude not different from control conditions (absence of x-rays). We found that x-ray stimulation of RLPs elevated cAMP levels in HEK293T cells expressing OptoXR, a chimeric opsin receptor that combines the extracellular light-sensitive domain of rhodopsin with an intracellular second messenger signaling cascade. This demonstrates that x-ray radioluminescence from LSO:Ce particles can activate OptoXR. Next, we tested whether x-ray activation of the RLPs can enhance synaptic activity in whole-cell recordings from hippocampal neurons expressing channelrhodopsin-2, both in cell culture and acute hippocampal slices. Importantly, x-ray radioluminescence caused an increase in the frequency of spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic currents in both systems, indicating activation of channelrhodopsin-2 and excitation of neurons. Significance. Together, our results show that x-ray activation of LSO:Ce particles can heighten cellular and synaptic function. The combination of LSO:Ce inorganic scintillators and x-rays is therefore a viable method for optogenetics as an alternative to more invasive light delivery methods.


Degraded and drained peat swamp forests (PSFs) are major sources of carbon emissions in the forestry sector. Rewetting interventions aim to reduce carbon loss and to enhance the carbon stock. However, studies of rewetting interventions in tropical PSFs are still limited. This study examined the effect of rewetting interventions on carbon dynamics at a rewetted site and an undrained site. We measured aboveground carbon (AGC), belowground carbon (BGC), litterfall, heterotrophic components of soil respiration (Rh), methane emissions (CH4), and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentration at both sites. We found that the total carbon stock at the rewetted site was slightly lower than at the undrained site (1886.73 ± 87.69 and 2106.23 ± 214.33 Mg C ha−1, respectively). The soil organic carbon (SOC) was 1685 ± 61 Mg C ha−1 and 1912 ± 190 Mg C ha−1 at the rewetted and undrained sites, respectively, and the carbon from litterfall was 4.68 ± 0.30 and 3.92 ± 0.34 Mg C ha−1 year−1, respectively. The annual average Rh was 4.06 ± 0.02 Mg C ha−1 year−1 at the rewetted site and was 3.96 ± 0.16 Mg C ha−1 year−1 at the undrained site. In contrast, the annual average CH4 emissions were −0.0015 ± 0.00 Mg C ha−1 year−1 at the rewetted site and 0.056 ± 0.000 Mg C ha−1 year−1 at the undrained site. In the rewetted condition, carbon from litter may become stable over a longer period. Consequently, carbon loss and gain mainly depend on the magnitude of peat decomposition (Rh) and CH4 emissions.


OBJECTIVES
Accumulating data indicate that serum gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) activity represents a true marker of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and has prognostic importance. In this study, we sought to evaluate serum GGT activity in patients with metabolic syndrome (MetS).

STUDY DESIGN
We enrolled 232 patients (mean age 60.4 years) from our outpatient cardiology clinic, 117 with and 115 without MetS (control group) as defined by the ATP-III criteria. The results of serum liver function tests including serum GGT and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were compared between the two groups.

RESULTS
The two groups were similar with regard to age, sex, smoking, and family history of coronary artery disease (p>0.05). The prevalences of hypertension and dyslipidemia were significantly higher in patients with MetS. Compared with controls, patients with MetS had significantly higher serum GGT [(median 21, interquartile range (16-33) vs. 19 (14-26) U/l; p=0.008] and C-reactive protein levels [6.2 (3.6-9.4) vs. 5.0 (3.1-7.0) U/l; p=0.044]. A high GGT activity (>40 U/l) was determined in 14.5% of the patients with MetS and in 4.4% of the control subjects (p=0.012). Serum GGT level showed significant correlations with MetS (r=0.24, p=0.001), CRP (r=0.20, p=0.003), triglyceride (r=0.18, p=0.006), HDL cholesterol (r=-0.19, p=0.004), aspartate aminotransferase (r=0.15, p=0.02), alanine aminotransferase (r=0.32, p=0.001), and alkaline phosphatase (r=0.16, p=0.01). This significant association continued only for MetS (β=-0.25, p=0.03), HDL cholesterol (β=-0.18, p=0.03), and alkaline phosphatase (β=0.17, p=0.01) in multivariate regression analysis.

CONCLUSION
Our findings suggest that patients with MetS have higher serum GGT and CRP levels compared with controls. This increased GGT level might be a marker of increased oxidative stress and premature atherosclerosis.


In children, asthma hospitalization rates are highest among those aged 0–4 yr, indicating more acute and/or severe asthma exacerbations in younger children. We investigated the relationship between indoor exposures and three asthma morbidity measures in children of different age groups (0–4, 5–11, and 12 yr of age or older). Identifying the factors leading to asthma morbidity in specific subgroups may lead to a better understanding of the disease and contribute to the development of effective interventions tailored to subgroups.


This report was funded by the European Union's Rights, Equality and Citizenship Programme (2014-2020). The content of this report represents the views of the author only and is his/her sole responsibility. The European Commission does not accept any responsibility for use that may be made of the information it contains.


OBJECTIVES
We identified Minnesota's initial dental therapy employers and surveyed dental safety net providers' perceptions of dental therapy.

METHODS
In July 2011, we surveyed 32 Minnesota dental safety net providers to assess their prospective views on dental therapy employment options. In October 2013, we used an employment scan to reveal characteristics of the early adopters of dental therapy.

RESULTS
Before the availability of licensed dental therapists, safety net dental clinic directors overwhelmingly (77%) supported dental therapy. As dental therapists have become licensed over the past 2 years, the early employers of dental therapists are safety net clinics.

CONCLUSIONS
Although the concept of dental therapy remains controversial in Minnesota, it now has a firm foundation in the state's safety net clinics. Dental therapists are being used in innovative and diverse ways, so, as dental therapy continues to evolve, further research to identify best practices for incorporating dental therapists into the oral health care team is needed.


SUMMARY Felodipine was compared with prazosin in patients with essential hypertension whose blood pressure was not controlled by a β-blocking drug. One hundred patients with a supine diastolic blood pressure ∼95 mm Hg after 4 weeks or more on a β-blocking drug and placebo were randomly assigned to felodipine or prazosin tablets. The drugs were titrated at 2-week intervals if diastolic BP was ∼90 mm Hg. Titration steps of felodipine were 5, 10, 20 mg b.i.d. and of prazosin were 1,2,4 mg b.i.d. The fall in blood pressure with felodipine 32/21 mm Hg was greater than the fall with prazosin 16/12 mm Hg (p < 0.001); 36 patients achieved a diastolic blood pressure of <90 mm Hg with felodipine, which was a significantly greater number than the 20 patients who obtained such a level with prazosin (p < 0.01). Both drugs were well tolerated, but more patients complained of vascular type side effects (flushing, peripheral edema) with felodipine than with prazosin. There was significant weight gain with prazosin but not with felodipine. Felodipine was shown to be a well-tolerated, effective antihypertensive agent when used with a β-blocking drug and to be suitable for people with hypertension who fail to be controlled with a β-blocking drug.


Most organisms are exposed to a continuously changing environment throughout their life. For instance the ambient temperature is usually not constant and many species are exposed to a diverse range of anthropogenic stressors like toxic compounds. Moreover, individuals are prone to genetic changes due to mutation and allelic recombinations. All these factors might affect particular phenotypes, while others remain unchanged. This thesis provides insight into how phenotypic traits are affected by external stress factors and allelic recombinations in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans (Nematoda; Rhabditidae).  Because phenotypes and their variation may be explained by variation in gene expression, this thesis explored the architecture of gene expression and some of the elements that contribute to gene expression.  Chapters 2 and 3 focus on environmental stressors with i) a specific target (two organophosphorus pesticides) and ii) a non-target mode of action (temperature) to study their influence on gene expression. A single genotype, the canonical wild type strain Bristol (N2) was used to study the effect of interacting pesticides by exposing nematodes to a toxicant mixture at two different temperatures Analysis revealed common transcriptional responses related to detoxification, stress, innate immunity, and transport of lipids to all treatments. It was found that for both pesticides these similar processes were regulated by different gene transcripts in single and combined treatments. These results also showed that the effect of a mix of low doses of pesticides is not a summed effect of the single components. Moreover, increased temperature elevates the toxic consequences to the pesticides exposures. This toxicity gain is attributed to an elevated uptake and accumulation of the toxicants in the organisms. These results support the idea that the observed higher toxicity of pesticides with temperature might be a consequence of gene-environment interactions affecting detoxification genes. Together, thefirst part of this thesis illustrates the intense crosstalk between gene pathways in response to interacting environmental stressors in C. elegans.  The second part of the thesis elaborates on the influence of different genotypes as multiple perturbations on gene expression. How the genotype-phenotype relationship progresses with age was investigated using a quantitative genetics approach (genetical genomics). We performed a genetic mapping strategy of gene transcription variation (expression-QTL, eQTL) to explore the dynamics of regulatory loci affecting genome-wide gene expression at three different ages. We used a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population generated from a cross between the C. elegans strain N2 and the wild type CB4856 in Chapter 4. Also, we investigated the influence of age to reveal a genotype-by-age effect ( gxa eQTL) on gene expression. The total number of detected eQTL decreased with age whereas the variation in expression increased. In developing worms, the number of genes with increased expression variation (1282) was similar to the ones with decreased expression variation (1328). In aging worms the number of genes with increased variation (1772) was nearly 5 times higher than the number of genes with a decreased expression variation (373). Furthermore, the number of cis-acting eQTL in juveniles decreased by almost 50% in old worms whereas the number of trans-acting loci decreased by ~27%, indicating that cis-regulation becomes relatively less frequent than trans-regulation in aging worms. Our findings demonstrate that eQTL patterns are strongly affected by age and suggest that gene network integrity declines with age. To better understand the changes in the gene network with age, gene expression profiles of N2 and CB4856 were generated for Chapter 5. We explored gene expression heritability and transgression as genetic parameters for the analysis of gene expression divergence in different genotypes. The average broad sense heritability was similar in developing and aging worms; but the gene expression variance that can be attributed to genetic variance in each gene changes with age. It can be proposed that regulation became more polygenic in aging worms. These changes explain the decrease in detected eQTLs. Likewise, it explains the imbalance between highly heritable genes and eQTLs in aging worms. Chapter 6 discusses the main conclusion of this thesis in the context of the robustness theory. Robustness in biological systems provides the potential to survive severe environmental and genetic perturbations in the form of cryptic genetic variation. The variation we observed in gene transcripts due to external and internal perturbations not always translated to physiological phenotypic variation. In some cases however, the mechanisms underlying phenotypic robustness failed and phenotypic variation was observed. Such genetic cryptic variation was revealed as new molecular and physiological phenotypes.


In Ethiopia, there are several barley production constraints, among which shortage of high yielding and stable improved food barley varieties is the major one. The field experiment was conducted at Chencha district in the 2015 and 2016 cropping season using eleven   improved food barley ( Hordeum vulgare L.) varieties with one local check with the objective of evaluating the mean performance of food barley varieties for grain yield and other agronomic traits over years and across locations. The improved varieties studied include Biftu, Basso, Diribe Tila,Dafo, Misirach, Abay, Mulu, Mezezo, Setegn and Dinsho. These varieties, as experimental treatments, were arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replications. They were evaluated for days to 50% heading, days to 95% physiological maturity, plant height, spike length, tiller number and grain yield. Significant variations were recorded among the tested varieties for the measured traits over the years and across environments. The highest average grain yield (2279 kg ha- 1 , 2186 kg ha -1 and 2137)  were obtained from  varieties Diribe, Setegn and Basso without significant differences between the three ) respectively . Based on the results obtained under these study varieties   Diribe, Seteg and Basso   could be used for demonstration, popularization and pre-scaling up in Chencha and in the farming communities of similar agro-ecologies. Keywords: food barley, varieties, grain yield


A mini review of literature data on the mechanisms of
formation of the stock of free amino acids and their derivatives in
liver pathology and methods for correcting metabolic imbalance...


On the basis of measurements of the concentration of aggrecan fragments, cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP), stromelysin, and TIMP in samples of synovial fluid obtained from injured and uninjured knees of subjects with unilateral knee trauma, Dahlberg and colleagues' concluded that an abnormality of cartilage metabolism existed in the contralateral knee and suggested that mechanical compensation for the injury, or cytokines or other products released from the injured joint initiated a pathological process in the uninjured knee. The authors provided reference values for concentrations of the above molecules in a control group of '... 10 healthy athletes without knee symptoms and with no previous knee injury.' However, the median volume of synovial fluid aspirated from the reference group (2-5 ml) was some 3-5 times greater than that from the uninjured knee of subjects with unilateral knee injury, strongly suggesting that the reference group was not 'normal'; unfortunately, results of routine synovial fluid analyses (total leucocyte count and differential) were not provided. If concentrations of the various markers are normalised for dilution, using the median synovial fluid volume in the uninjured knee of the subjects with unilateral injury (0-7-1-0 ml), the median quantity of aggrecan, for example, present in synovial fluid samples from the reference group was nearly 150% greater than that in samples from the contralateral knee of the subjects with knee injury, raising doubt about the authors' interpretation of the findings for the contralateral knee. Other factors may also have confounded the results. Did subjects limit usage of the injured joint as a result of pain? This would have decreased the rate of clearance of protein from the joint space. In contrast, synovial inflammation resulting from the injury would have increased clearance of the 'marker' from the joint space; even low grade synovitis, with a synovial fluid leucocyte count no greater than 1000-2000 cells/mm3, may increase clearance of protein from the joint space threeto fourfold.2 If the rate of clearance is not controlled for, the authors' conclusion that abnormalities in synovial fluid concentrations of the molecules measured reflect quantitative changes in articular cartilage metabolism may be misleading."A The possibility that joint structures other than articular cartilage (inflamed synovium, damaged cruciate ligament or meniscus) contributed significantly to the synovial fluid concentrations of the molecules measured also should not be overlooked.


Mehr housing scheme in 1386 as one of the key policies of the government was used for the development of construction and housing. Mehr housing scheme with the main feature of the reduction of housing prices and the largest national project in the sphere of housing is based on the constitution and the government's plan to provide housing for helping the target groups (low and middle income deciles). Despite the 10-year age of the Mehr housing project, the purposes for which it was intended, i.e., housing and challenging are the issues that have not been created in the project. The Mehr housing project has been the largest national housing due to its expansion and the new projects need to review the results of this experience too. The main purpose of this study is to evaluate the satisfaction of residents of housing complexes of Nourabad in terms of access, quality of housing in the neighborhoods, strength and beauty, the noise level and the populated areas, as well as the basic facilities. The research method in the present study is descriptive - analytical and the necessary data were collected using documentary and scrolling through the distribution of questionnaires and interviews. The study population and sampling was restricted to the Nourabad housing residents due to the limitations of randomly selected samples. Of the 255 households residing in the city, 180 households have been questioned. The data analysis was performed using the SMART-PLS and SPSS software. The results showed that the satisfaction of the residents of housing in terms of access and the strength and beauty were at the average level of satisfaction while the quality of the neighborhood and the basic facilities were lower than the intermediate level. Also, there was a direct and positive correlation between the satisfaction of housing and its components.


We study the energy levels of an electron (or hole) polaron in a parabolic quantum well structure, including the spatial dependence of the effective mass. We also consider the two-mode behaviour of longitudinal optical phonon modes of the ternary mixed crystals in the structure, in the calculation of the effect of the electron-phonon interaction. We calculate the ground state, the first excited state and the transition energy of an electron (or hole) in the GaAs/AlxGa1-xAs parabolic quantum well structure. The numerical results show that the electron-phonon interaction obviously affects the energy levels of the electron (or hole), which are in agreement with experimental results.


BACKGROUND
The randomized clinical trial ESO-SPARE investigates if oesophagus-sparing radiotherapy (RT) can reduce dysphagia in patients with metastatic spinal cord compression (MSCC). Patient-reported outcome (PRO) is the only follow-up measure. Due to the fragile patient population, low respondent compliance was anticipated. We performed a planned interim analysis of dosimetry and respondent compliance, to ensure that the protocol requirements were met.

METHODS
Patients >18 years referred for cervical/thoracic MSCC radiotherapy in 1-10 fractions were included from two centres. Patients were randomized (1:1) to standard RT or oesophagus-sparing RT, where predefined oesophageal dose constraints were prioritized over target coverage. Patients completed a trial diary with daily reports of dysphagia for 5 weeks (PRO-CTC-AE) and weekly quality of life reports for 9 weeks (QLQ-C30, EQ-5D-5L). According to power calculation, 124 patients are needed for primary endpoint analysis. The sample size was inflated to 200 patients to account for the fragile patient population. The co-primary endpoints, peak patient-reported dysphagia, and preserved ability to walk (EQ-5D-5L), are analysed at 5 and 9 weeks, respectively. The interim analysis was conducted 90 days after the inclusion of patient no 100. Respondent compliance was assessed at 5 and 9 weeks. In all RT plans, oesophagus and target doses were evaluated regarding adherence to protocol constraints.

RESULTS
From May 2021 to November 2022, 100 patients were included. Fifty-two were randomized to oesophagus-sparing RT. In 23% of these plans, oesophagus constraints were violated. Overall, the dose to both target and oesophagus was significantly lower in the oesophagus-sparing plans. Only 51% and 41% of the patients were evaluable for co-primary endpoint analysis at five and nine weeks, respectively. Mortality and hospitalization rates were significantly larger in patients who completed <4 days PRO questionnaires.

CONCLUSION
Compliance was lower than anticipated and interventions to maintain study power are needed.


Using a non-parametric linear programming approach, our contribution is (1) to examine if efficiency gains in hog production are realized due to vertical integration and (2) to demonstrate the efficiency gains that are realized are a product of economies of scope and scale. The model uses U.S. hog sector data for the period, 1982-1997. Results indicate efficiency gains are realized due to vertical integration and can be explained by scope and scale efficiency gains. The t-test at the 5% level of significance indicates the mean overall efficiency gains; scope efficiency gains and scale efficiency gains are significantly different from one.


Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH), a particle-based, meshless method originally developed for modeling astrophysical problems, is being increasingly used for modeling fluid mechanics and solid mechanics problems. Due to its advantages over grid-based methods in the handling of large deformations and crack formation, the method is increasingly being applied to model material removal processes. However, SPH method is computationally expensive. One way to reduce the computational time is to partition the domain into two parts where, the SPH method is used in one segment undergoing large deformations and material separation and in the second segment, the conventional finite element (FE) mesh is used.
 In this work, the accuracy of this SPH-FEM approach is investigated in the context of orthogonal cutting. The high deformation zone (where chips form and curl) is meshed with the SPH method, while the rest of the workpiece is modeled using the FE method. At the interface, SPH particles are coupled with FE mesh for smooth transfer of stress and displacement. The boundary conditions are applied to tool and FE zone of the workpiece. For comparison purposes, a fully-SPH model (workpiece fully discretized by SPH) is also developed. This is followed by a comparison of the results from the coupled SPH-FE model with the SPH model. A comparison of the chip profile, the cutting force, the von Mises stress and the damage parameter show that the coupled SPH-FE model reproduces the SPH model results accurately. However, the SPH-FE model takes almost 40% less time to run, a significant gain over the SPH model. Similar reduction in computation time is observed for in a micro-cutting application (depth of cut of 300 nm). Based on these results, it is concluded that coupling SPH with FEM in machining models decreases simulation time significantly while still producing accurate results. This observation suggests that three-dimensional machining problems can be modeled using the combined SPH-FEM approach without sacrificing accuracies.


The effect of dehydration and rehydration at pre and post-flowering stages on the water relations, gas exchange characteristics (stomata conductance, photosynthesis and Fv/Fm (quantum efficiency) ratio), pigment compositions (chlorophyll and carotenoid contents) and water use efficiency on maize (cv Melkassa-2) and sorghum (cv Macia) were investigated with the objectives of understanding the physiological basis of drought resistance mechanisms and investigating whether there were differential responses in some of the physiological traits of drought resistance and recovery upon rehydration of maize and sorghum. The study was carried out in a controlled environment growth chamber under constant environmental conditions (12/12 h day/night, 28-32/17°C day/night temperature, 60-80% RH and PPFD of 1200-1400 μ mol m-2s-1). Both species showed reduced gs (stomatal conductance) in response to dehydration to reduce water loss over a range of relative water contents during both developmental stages. In maize, stomata appeared to be closed earlier and completely, while partial stomatal closure at relatively higher relative water contents appeared to have occurred in sorghum. gs recovery occurred following pre-flowering rehydration to the control level in both species only. The response of all other gas exchange characteristics (Pn and Fv/Fm) and water use efficiency followed similar trends to that of gs both in maize and sorghum at pre and post-flowering dehydration and rehydration. Dehydration also led to a decrease in Fv/Fm ratios as compared to the control plants in both species. Both species, however, exhibited similar rates of Fv/Fm ratios during pre and post-flowering dehydration. Fv/Fm ratios appeared to be affected more during post than pre-flowering dehydration in both species. Fv/Fm ratios of both species were recovered following pre-flowering rehydration but only maize recovered from post-flowering rehydration.

 Key words: Chlorophyll, carotenoid, dehydration, electrolyte leakage, rehydration, stomatal conductance.


Objective This study investigated the reasons why pedohebephilic clients disclose their sexual attraction to children in therapy and the experiences associated with this decision among English-speaking samples. Method: The pre-registered online survey combined (1) quantitative correlational data of self-reported improvement, alliance, therapist reaction to disclosure, and the belief that mandatory reporting laws were in place, and (2) qualitative data about reasons for disclosure or no disclosure as well as perceived consequences. The sample consisted of pedohebephilic people who have been clients in therapy and have disclosed (n = 96) or not disclosed (n = 40). Results: While the disclosure and no disclosure groups did not differ in improvement or beliefs about mandatory reporting, those who had disclosed reported a stronger alliance. Clients who did not perceive the therapist's reaction as supportive reported less improvement than the no disclosure group. Thematic analysis of qualitative data identified three themes concerning motives for disclosing or not disclosing and a fourth regarding differential impacts of disclosure. Discussion: This study indicates that disclosing pedohebephilia does not in and of itself lead to improvement but is contingent on a therapist's reaction.


This paper is devoted to the use of an electrodynamical model for lithosphere – atmosphere – ionosphere (LAI) coupling to explain plasma and electromagnetic earthquake (EQ) precursors. Our consideration is based on the calculation results of electromagnetic perturbations and ionospheric irregularities accompanying the electric field and electric current occurring in the global atmosphere – ionosphere electric circuit. Our theoretical results are confirmed by satellite- and ground-based experimental data of plasma and electromagnetic perturbations obtained for several days before an EQ. It is shown that the growth of current in the global circuit might result in the AGW (acoustic gravity wave) instability in the ionosphere, the formation of field-aligned current and plasma irregularities, magnetic field ULF oscillations and electromagnetic ELF radiation, spectral broadening of VLF transmitter signals registered by satellites, depressions of ULF magnetic pulsations, VHF radio emissions generated in the troposphere and propagation of the signals of a VHF transmitter behind the horizon. Moreover, the generation of electric current in the global circuit is accompanied with the modification of D, E and F ionospheric layers. All of these phenomena are shown to be attributed just to a single cause; namely, the variation of conducting electric current in the global circuit by the injection of charged aerosols into the atmosphere during seismic activity.


In District of Columbia v. Heller the Supreme Court held that individuals have a constitutional right to own firearms, notably to keep a loaded handgun at home for self-protection. The historic shift announced by Heller was the recognition of a personal right, rather than a collective right tied to state militias. In McDonald v. Chicago, the Supreme Court – in a familiar 5-4 ideological split – held that the 2nd Amendment applies not only to the federal government, but also to state and local gun control laws. In his dissent, Justice Stevens predicted that "the consequences could prove far more destructive to our nation's communities and constitutional structure." Justice Alito, writing for the Court in McDonald, found that the 2nd Amendment is "fundamental to our system of ordered liberty," justifying its extension to the states. Why is the right to bear arms "fundamental," when it appears that firearms – designed to cause injury or death – are antithetical to social order and public safety? Firearms cannot be intrinsic to liberty because they have a unique potential to cause serious injury and death, posing a distinctive threat to social order. Unlike other liberties, carrying firearms directly puts the gun owner, family, and community at risk. "Your interest in bearing a firearm may diminish my interest in being and feeling safe from armed violence," wrote Stevens. Possessing a functioning handgun at home, moreover, does not enhance the right to self-defense. A homeowner's gun is substantially more likely to kill the gun owner or a family member (through accidental firing or suicide) than it is to harm an intruder.Going forward, state and local legislatures must remain determined in the face of litigation threats as they craft laws that comply with McDonald while also safeguarding the populace against gun violence. If not, firearm injury and death statistics will show the cost we have paid for McDonald.


As an example of noisy dynamic image processing, the paper presents a plan-guided analysis system of cineangiograms, X-ray motion pictures of a beating heart in which X-ray opaque dye is injected through a catheter. A task of the system is the detection of both the internal and external surfaces of the left ventricular chamber and the measurement of the spatial and temporal change in thickness of the heart wall, which gives us important measures of various heart diseases. The features of the system are as follows: 1) sophisticated edge detectors to detect boundary points having low contrast in noisy pictures, 2) an efficient search method for finding smooth boundaries of heart wall accurately using an improved optimization method, and 3) use of the plan to guide the above two processes so that the cineangiogram can be analyzed efficiently and reliably. Experiments have been carried out, and the results obtained so far show very good agreement with boundaries detected by radiologists.


This article outlines and interrogates the neglected settler-colonial discourse of White Appalachians, in particular their construction of a White indigeneity. In order to justify occupation and reconcile themselves to the wider settler-colonial society, influential settler Appalachian scholars and activists positioned themselves as a colonized Indigenous people, advancing the once-paradigmatic Colonialist model of Appalachian exploitation. This discursive replacement of American Indians allows settler Appalachians to assert their own White subjectivity as a form of indigeneity and their ownership of the land as decolonization.


Airborne wind energy (AWE) refers to a novel technology capable of harvesting energy from wind by flying crosswind patterns with tethered autonomous aircraft. Successful design of flight controllers for AWE systems relies on the availability of accurate mathematical models. Due to an expected nonconventional structure of the airborne component, the system identification procedure must be ultimately addressed via an intensive flight test campaign to gain additional insight about the aerodynamic properties. In this paper, the longitudinal dynamics of a rigid‐wing, high lift, autonomous aircraft for AWE are identified from experimental data obtained within flight tests. The aerodynamic characteristics are estimated via an efficient time‐domain multiple experiments model‐based parameter estimation algorithm.


Many microalgae produce compounds that exhibit potent biological activities. Ingestion of marine organisms contaminated with those toxins results in seafood poisonings. In many cases, the lack of toxic material turns out to be an obstacle to make the toxicological investigations needed. In this study, we evaluate the cytotoxicity of several marine toxins on neuroblastoma cells, focusing on gambierol and its effect on cytosolic calcium levels. In addition, we compared the effects of this toxin with ciguatoxin, brevetoxin, and gymnocin-A, with which gambierol shares a similar ladder-like backbone, as well as with polycavernoside A analogue 5, a glycosidic macrolide toxin. For this purpose, different fluorescent dyes were used: Fura-2 to monitor variations in cytosolic calcium levels, Alamar Blue to detect cytotoxicity, and Oregon Green 514 Phalloidin to quantify and visualize modifications in the actin cytoskeleton. Data showed that, while gambierol and ciguatoxin were successful in producing a calcium influx in neuroblastoma cells, gymnocin-A was unable to modify this parameter. Nevertheless, none of the toxins induced morphological changes or alterations in the actin assembly. Although polycavernoside A analogue 5 evoked a sharp reduction of the cellular metabolism of neuroblastoma cells, gambierol scarcely reduced it, and ciguatoxin, brevetoxin, and gymnocin-A failed to produce any signs of cytotoxicity. According to this, sharing a similar polycyclic ether backbone is not enough to produce the same effects on neuroblastoma cells; therefore, more studies should be carried out with these toxins, whose effects may be being underestimated.


The social networking websites have become quite popular in recent times. Millions of people have grasped the concept and embedded their lives in the interactions on these websites. Academics and businesses have begun to study how information that spreads through these loose associations and the way in which some people become particularly important disseminators of information with their regular postings perhaps would be replacing the traditional marketing communication channels.  The purpose of this study is to investigate how the interactions on these websites impact on the decision making process of participants.  Through content analysis of fifty (50) individual cases reported on TripAdvisor travel review websites at Greece forums of Tripadvisor.com.  The study finds that the online travel community has members that come to the site to search and share travel information and these postings has influenced on community members in their decision making process on planning, purchasing and use of travel products and services. The implications of the findings are discussed and future social networking websites research for the hospitality industry is suggested. Keywords: social networking sites, purchasing behaviour, travelers.


(Ba,Sr)TiO3 (BST) thin films have been investigated because of significant interest in device applications of their nonlinear dielectric properties such as in frequency tunable devices. We have investigated frequency conversion devices using BST films as new nonlinear devices, such as frequency mixers and multipliers. In this paper, we report the evaluation of nonlinear properties of various capacitors, and the experimental equation of the properties and the equivalent circuit model for frequency converters were established. A frequency multiplier using the BST film capacitor was fabricated, and obvious third harmonic signals could be observed. A conversion efficiency of -20 dB was obtained with a low input power of 0.25 W. Analysis of the converter with an equivalent circuit was also carried out, and the calculated output voltage agreed well with the measured result. The model is expected to be used for the analysis and improvement of conversion devices.


Electric arc furnace (EAF) slag has a range of functions, including improving energy efficiency through the "slag foaming" phenomenon. As such, the study of slag is important in EAFs. One of the factors that determine foaming quality and efficiency is the presence of solid particles. MgO saturation is highly significant since, in addition to ensuring the presence of solid particles, it also ensures chemical compatibility to minimize refractory consumption. The present study aims to examine MgO saturation, using the software FactSage v.6.4 for all calculations, in the CaO-SiO2-FeO-MgO-Al2O3 slag system and the influence of binary basicity, FeO and Al2O3 content on this system. Ternary diagrams revealed the influence of Al2O3 content on the liquid field and other phases present. Isothermal saturation diagrams (ISDs) were constructed, showing the same dual saturation points found in the ternary diagrams. The ISDs were validated by comparing the results of different heats in terms of the electrical energy consumption. The closer the heat is to the MgO saturation line, the less energy is consumed.