The topic variable is used in research on disinformation to analyze thematic differences in the content of false news, rumors, conspiracies, etc. Those topics are frequently based on national news agendas, i.e. producers of disinformation address current national or world events (e.g. elections, immigration, etc.) (Humprecht, 2019).
Field of application/theoretical foundation:
Topics are a central yet under-researched aspect of research on online disinformation (Freelon & Wells, 2020). The research interest is to find out which topics are taken up and spread by disinformation producers. The focus of this research is both on specific key topics for which sub-themes are identified (e.g. elections, climate change, Covid-19) and, more generally, on the question of which misleading content is disseminated (mostly on social media). Methodologically, the identification of topics is often a first step followed by further analysis of the content (Ferrara, 2017). Thus, the analysis of topics is linked to the detection of disinformation, which represents a methodological challenge. Topics can be identified inductively or deductively. Inductive analyses often use a data corpus, for example social media data, and try to identify topics using techniques such as topic modelling (e.g. Boberg et al., 2020). Deductive analyses frequently use topic lists to classify contents. Topics lists are initially created based on the literature on the respective topic or with the help of databases, e.g. by fact-checkers.
References/combination with other methods of data collection:
Studies on topics of disinformation use both manual and automated content analysis or combinations of both to investigate the occurrence of different topics in texts (Boberg et al., 2020; Bradshaw, Howard, Kollanyi, & Neudert, 2020). Inductive and deductive approaches have been combined with qualitative text analyses to identify topic categories which are subsequently coded (Humprecht, 2019; Marchal, Kollanyi, Neudert, & Howard, 2019).
Example studies:
Ferrara (2017); Humprecht (2019), Marchal et al. (2019)

Table 1. Summary of selected studies

Author(s)

Sample

Values

Reliability

Ferrara (2017)

Content type: Tweets
Sampling period: April 27, 2017 to May 7, 201
Sample size: 16.65 million tweets
Sampling: List of 23 key words and top 20 hashtags

Keywords: France2017, Marine2017, AuNomDuPeuple, FrenchElection, FrenchElections, Macron, LePen, MarineLePen, FrenchPresidentialElection, JeChoisisMarine, JeVoteMarine, JeVoteMacron JeVote, Presidentielle2017, ElectionFracaise, JamaisMacron, Macron2017, EnMarche, MacronPresident
Hashtags:
#Macron, #Presidentielle2017, #fn, #JeVote, #LePen, #France, #2017LeDebat, #MacronLeaks, #Marine2017, #debat2017, #2017LeDébat, #MacronGate, #MarineLePen, #Whirlpool, #EnMarche, #JeVoteMacron, #MacronPresident, #JamaisMacron, #FrenchElection

-

Humprecht (2019)

Content type: fact checks
Outlet/ country: 2 fact checkers per country (AT, DE, UK, US)
Sampling period: June 1, 2016 to September 30, 2017
Sample size: N=651
Unit of analysis: story/ fact-check
No. of topics coded: main topic per fact-check
Level of analysis: fact checks and fact-checker

conspiracy theory, education, election campaign, environment, government/public administration (at the time when the story was published), health, immigration/integration, justice/crime, labor/employment, macroeconomics/economic regulation, media/journalism, science/ technology, war/terror, others

Krippen-dorff's alpha = 0.71

Marchal et al. (2019)

Content type: tweets related to the European elections 2019
Sampling: hashtags in English, Catalan, French, German, Italian, Polish, Spanish, Swedish
Sampling criteria: (1) contained at least one of the relevant hashtags; (2) contained the hashtag in the URL shared, or the title of its webpage; (3) were a retweet of a message that contained a relevant hashtag or mention in the original message; (4) were a quoted tweet referring to a tweet with a relevant hashtag or mention
Sampling period: 5 April and 20 April, 2019
Sample size: 584,062 tweets from 187,743 unique users

Religion Islam (Muslim, Islam, Hijab, Halal, Muslima, Minaret)
Religion Christianity (Christianity, Church, Priest)
Immigration (Asylum Seeker, Refugee, Migrants, Child Migrant, Dual Citizenship, Social Integration)
Terrorism (ISIS, Djihad, Terrorism, Terrorist Attack)
Political Figures/Parties (Vladimir Putin, Enrico Mezzetti, Emmanuel Macron, ANPI, Arnold van Doorn, Islamic Party for Unity, Nordic Resistance Movement)
Celebrities (Lara Trump, Alba Parietti)
Crime (Vandalism, Rape, Sexual Assault, Fraud, Murder, Honour Killing)
Notre-Dame Fire (Notre-Dame Fire, Reconstruction)
Political Ideology (Anti-Fascism, Fascism, Nationalism)
Social Issues (Abortion, Bullying, Birth Rate)

-

References
Boberg, S., Quandt, T., Schatto-Eckrodt, T., & Frischlich, L. (2020). Pandemic Populism: Facebook Pages of Alternative News Media and the Corona Crisis -- A Computational Content Analysis, 2019. Retrieved from http://arxiv.org/abs/2004.02566
Bradshaw, S., Howard, P. N., Kollanyi, B., & Neudert, L. M. (2020). Sourcing and Automation of Political News and Information over Social Media in the United States, 2016-2018. Political Communication, 37(2), 173–193. https://doi.org/10.1080/10584609.2019.1663322
Ferrara, E. (2017). Disinformation and social bot operations in the run up to the 2017 French presidential election. First Monday, 22(8). https://doi.org/10.5210/FM.V22I8.8005
Freelon, D., & Wells, C. (2020). Disinformation as Political Communication. Political Communication, 37(2), 145–156. https://doi.org/10.1080/10584609.2020.1723755
Humprecht, E. (2019). Where 'fake news' flourishes: a comparison across four Western democracies. Information Communication and Society, 22(13), 1973–1988. https://doi.org/10.1080/1369118X.2018.1474241
Marchal, N., Kollanyi, B., Neudert, L., & Howard, P. N. (2019). Junk News During the EU Parliamentary Elections?: Lessons from a Seven-Language Study of Twitter and Facebook. Oxford, UK. Retrieved from https://comprop.oii.ox.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/93/2019/05/EU-Data-Memo.pdf


Social media monitoring brings brands and businesses insights into how their product is being perceived by the customers. By analysing what drives the users to mention their brand name and what types of emotions they are expressing, businesses can better understand their customer's needs and therefore have the possibility to improve their products.

For this project, the monitoring tool is provided by Twitter. The choice of this platform has been made taken into consideration the costs and also the quality of the data that is analysed. Twitter is one of the most known social media platforms, with more than 300M monthly active users that drive 1B unique visits monthly to sites with embedded Tweets, according to the statistics presented by the company ("Company | About").

"Mapping Top Irish Brands outside Ireland - sentiment analysis" research paper will collect, analyse and present the findings for top international Irish brands. The following sections of the technical report will present the project in more detail.


What is the relationship between the awareness of linguistic prestige and the security or insecurity in the use of minoritised languages? Is formal linguistic insecurity (as initially described by Labov) the same as the speakers' perception of linguistic insecurity? Which are the variables related to the various types of linguistic insecurity in bilingual environments? How does schooling affect this phenomenon? This paper attempts to provide an answer to these questions, based on the results of a research project on linguistic insecurity (LI) carried out in a social context, the Valencian Autonomous Community (Spain), where there are two official languages (Spanish and Catalan) competing against each other, but with a very different degree of social recognition. The choice of an academic environment for this study is justified by the importance that the LI phenomenon may have within the context of language learning in multilingual contexts.1


Drawing on the theoretical writings of Stoll, Erickson and Friedson, the following report empirically examines how images of man and ideologies of deviance influence the ways in which individuals respond to deviant acts and deviant actors. The specific image of deviance dealt with in this research consists of expectations or beliefs about the perceived permanence of the deviant behavior and the extent to which the deviant is perceived to be incapable of change. This image of deviance is referred to in this report as the future behavior image of deviants (FBID). Experimental and survey data are used to provide information on both correlates and consequences of FBID. The consequences of FBID were operationalized in terms of both attitudinal and behavioral responses to shoplifting. In addition, since the shoplifting incidents were staged and involved the experimental manipulation of shoplifter's appearance (hippie vs. straight), the joint effects of reactions to shoplifting of appearance and acceptance of FBID are examined. It was found that while acceptance of FBID was not significantly related to reactions to shoplifting, there was a major interaction effect between acceptance of FBID and appearance. It was concluded that for low acceptors the appearance variable was a stronger determinant of reactions than for high acceptors of FBID. It was argued that low acceptors of FBID responded more to the identity in question than to the shoplifting behavior, whereas high acceptors responded more to the shoplifting behavior and less to the shoplifter's identity. This finding suggests that the relationship between images of deviation and reactions to deviance is more complex than that offered either in Stoll's or Erickson's analysis, neither of whom dealt with the effects that positive or negative identities of the deviant might have on this relationship.


Plant-derived protein biostimulants exhibit hormone-like activities promoting plant growth and yield, yet detailed investigations on hormonal function have remained limited. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of vegetal-derived-biostimulant on morphological and metabolic changes in cuttings of three herbaceous species demonstrating different rooting ability, basil (Ocimum basilicum L.), tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.), and chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum indicum L.), in comparison to auxin. Unrooted cuttings were applied with or without biostimulant (100, 1000, 5000, and 10000 mg L−1) or auxin [1% indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) plus 0.5% 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA); 100, 200, 300, and 500 mg L−1] as a basal quick-dip, stuck into inert media, and evaluated at 20 days after placement under intermittent mist. Both compounds increased adventitious rooting in all cuttings. Biostimulant required a significantly higher threshold for a series of adventitious rooting responses than auxin, and the maximum effectiveness was achieved at 5000 mg L−1 for biostimulant and 100, 200, and 300 mg L−1 for auxin in basil, tomato, and chrysanthemum, respectively. Adventitious rooting responses (dry mass and length) to biostimulant showed a gradual logarithmic rise as a function of increasing dosages, which was not in agreement with biphasic dose-response of auxin. Biostimulant significantly increased or tended to increase fine roots in all tested cuttings, which was not consistent with auxin. Relatively high levels of endogenous brassinosteroids (BRs) were present in non-treated cuttings of basil, tomato, and chrysanthemum in decreasing order. Both compounds had no effects or concomitantly increased or decreased BR levels in plant tissues, with fewer effects on basil and tomato, containing high BR levels, but more prominent effects on chrysanthemum, containing relatively low BR levels. Contrasting effects of biostimulant and auxin were found in antioxidant activities, which were promoted by biostimulant but inhibited by auxin either in roots or shoots. These results indicate that the hormonal effects of vegetal-derived biostimulant are primarily exerted by BR-mediated processes while involving interaction with auxin. Both the biostimulant-derived BRs and auxin were suggested to modulate endogenous BR pool via overlapping and interdependent regulatory functions, inducing morphological and metabolic changes during adventitious rooting of cuttings in a plant species-specific manner.


The paper studies the process and means of forming the professional competence of students of TEI, which are an important structural element for the formation of effective activities at relevant institutions. The interpretation of the concept of the categories "personality competence", "competence" and "web-quest" is analyzed. Problem quests concerning theoretical and practical training of students, and procedures of internship practice on professional specialization are investigated. The pedagogical conditions of creation of professional competence of students in the preconditions of professional and practical training are studied. The model of organization of professional competence of the perspective specialist-graduates of TEI is formed and the ways of reorganization of educational process and organizational-methodical insurance are defined. It has been established that the quality of education at TEI largely depends on the method of formation of the educational process, the chosen forms and methods. The role and basic objectives of the preliminary preparatory work on the part of the teacher are formed. It has been investigated that the web-quest is unanimously recognized as a motivational, resource-oriented technology that forms the course of creative potential of the student, which guarantees the effectiveness of all types of educational process and ensures the creation of appropriate professional competence of students.


Characterization of dopamine (DA) receptor subtypes was examined on the canine exocrine pancreas using selective DA receptor agonists and antagonists in anesthetized dogs. Each drug was injected i.a. in a single bolus fashion. Graded doses of DA (0.01-3 mumol) produced dose-dependent increases in the secretory rate of pancreatic juice, with a maximum effect at approximately 1 mumol. SCH23390 (3-30 nmol), a selective D-1 DA receptor antagonist, caused a progressive parallel shift to the right in the dose-response curve for DA-induced pancreatic secretion without changes in the maximal response. However, domperidone (3 mumol), a selective D-2 DA receptor antagonist, did not antagonize the DA-induced pancreatic exocrine secretion. A Schild analysis of the data indicates that the inhibitory constant value for SCH23390 to inhibit DA-stimulated secretion was 6.9 nmol. In addition, the stimulatory effects of SKF38393 (0.1-10 mumol) and YM435 (0.3-30 nmol), selective D-1 DA receptor agonists, and LY171555 (1-10 mumol), a selective D-2 DA receptor agonist, on pancreatic secretion were demonstrated. The rank order of agonist potency was YM435 > DA > SKF38393 >> LY171555. These results suggest that DA-induced pancreatic exocrine secretion is mediated by activation of D-1 DA receptors.


The development of intermittent wind firms in the restructured power market has required the entry of several creative approaches in evaluating the market clearing price in the restructured power market. This study proposes a model to investigate the seasonal market clearing price by considering the hybrid wind-heat firm. In this article, fixed and variable Feed in Tariff (FIT) is considered and compared as two regulatory policies for wind generation units. Wind resources modeled by using the scenario based technique. Furthermore, strategic behavior of other investors is considered based on the game theory concepts. The Cournot game concept has been applied to determine the Nash equilibrium for each state of stochastic programming. This model has been implemented on a test system. The effects of the fixed and variable FIT and the variations of electricity price cap have been investigated on the profit of each firm in the restructured power market. Moreover, the market clearing price offered for each season and load level.


Abstract Background Though recurrent Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is common and poses a major clinical concern, data are lacking regarding mortality among patients who survive their initial CDI and have subsequent recurrences. Risk factors for mortality in patients with recurrent CDI are largely unknown. Methods Veterans Affairs patients with a first CDI (stool sample with positive C. difficile toxin(s) and ≥2 days CDI treatment) were included (2010–2014). Subsequent recurrences were defined as additional CDI episodes ≥14 days after the stool test date and within 30 days of the end of treatment. A matched (1:4) case–control analysis was conducted using multivariable conditional logistic regression to identify predictors of all-cause mortality within 30 days of the first recurrence. Results Crude 30-day all-cause mortality rates were 10.6% for the initial CDI episode, 8.3% for the first recurrence, 4.2% for the second recurrence, and 5.9% for the third recurrence. Among 110 cases and 440 controls, 6 predictors of mortality were identified: use of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs; odds ratio [OR], 3.86; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.14–6.96), any antibiotic (OR, 3.33; 95% CI, 1.79–6.17), respiratory failure (OR, 8.26; 95% CI, 1.71–39.92), congitive dysfunction (OR, 2.41; 95% CI, 1.02–5.72), nutrition deficiency (OR, 2.91; 95% CI, 1.37–6.21), and age (OR, 1.04; 95% CI, 1.01–1.07). Conclusions In our national cohort of Veterans, crude mortality decreased by 44% from the initial episode to the third recurrence. Treatment with antibiotics, use of PPIs, and underlying comorbidities were important predictors of mortality in recurrent CDI. Our study assists health care providers in identifying patients at high risk of death after CDI recurrence.


Development methods are rarely followed to the letter, and, consequently, their effects are often in doubt. At the same time, information systems scholars know little about the extent to which a given method truly influences software design and its outcomes. In this paper, we approach this gap by adopting a routine lens and using a novel methodological approach. Theoretically, we treat methods as (organizational) ostensive routine specifications and deploy routine construct as a feasible unit of analysis to analyze the effects of a method on actual, "performed" design routines. We formulated a research framework that identifies method, situation fitness, agency, and random noise as main sources of software design routine variation. Empirically, we applied the framework to examine the extent to which waterfall and agile methods induce variation in software design routines. We traceenacted design activities in three software projects in a large IT organization that followed an objectoriented waterfall method and three software projects that followed an agile method and then analyzed these traces using a mixed-methods approach involving gene sequencing methods, Markov models, and qualitative content analysis. Our analysis shows that, in both cases, method-induced variation using agile and waterfall methods accounts for about 40% of all activities, while the remaining 60% can be explained by a designer's personal habits, the project's fitness conditions, and environmental noise. Generally, the effect of method on software design activities is smaller than assumed and the impact of designer and project conditions on software processes and outcomes should thus not be understated.


Protein phosphorylation has become a focus of many proteomic studies due to the central role that it plays in biology. We combine peptide-based gel-free isoelectric focusing and immobilized metal affinity chromatography to enhance the detection of phosphorylation events within complex protein samples using LC-MS. This method is then used to carry out a quantitative phosphoproteomic analysis of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) pathway using HeLa cells metabolically labeled with 15N-containing amino acids, where 145 phosphorylation sites were found to be up-regulated upon the activation of the TNF pathway.


Lake Baringo is a turbid lake that lies in a closed drainage basin of the Kenyan East African Rift Valley. The lake's water qualit sedimentation from its catchment arising from poor agricultural practices, deforestation and overgrazing. Its fishery has also declined since the 1980s and frequent lake closures to fishing activities have not alleviated the problem. This shows that there may be other critical ecological and environmental factors affecting the ecosystem. To understand problems facing the lake, there is need for well-coordinated and comprehensive ecological investigations considering the complexity of the ecosystem. Zooplankton is important in energy transfer from primary producers and constitute a significant component of the diets of the juveniles and some adults of many fish species. The objective of the present study was to determine the effect of some physical, chemical and biological factors on the spatial and temporal distribution, abundance and biomass of zooplankton in Lake Baringo. Stratified random design was used to allow for statistical comparison between zooplankton abundance and biomass at different stations and months with environmental factors using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). The relatively stable environmental factors across the sampling stations in the lake were attributed to its small size, shallowness and the daily mixing by wind action. A total of 39 species of zooplankton belonging to Rotifera, Cladocera and Copepoda groups were recorded. The results indicate that distribution, diversity, abundance and biomass of zooplankton were influenced by environmental factors especially depth, conductivity and turbidity. Diel vertical distribution of zooplankton was the reverse of what is reported from clear lakes with organisms congregating to the surface during the day and descending to the bottom at night. Investigations into the diet of three main fish species in the lake showed that Oreochromis niloticus baringoensis mostly depended on algae, Clarias gariepinus depended on fish while Protopterus aethiopicus thrives on molluscs as their dominant food. The growth performance of the once dominant endemic fish, O. niloticus baringoensis could be affected by the high turbidity, which reduces primary production. Moreover, reduced clarity hampers the feeding success of this visual feeding fish and has decreased macrophytes to near extinction. There is urgent need for rehabilitation of Lake Baringo and the study recommend afforestation and reduction of livestock numbers in the catchment as some of the ways of reducing soil erosion and sediment input in the lake. The results of the study may be used as an important tool for the detection of stability and trophic levels of the ecosystem and to provide data for models on maximal resource production of the lake.


Angiosarcomas (ASs) represent a heterogeneous group of malignant vascular tumors that may occur spontaneously as primary tumors or secondarily after radiation therapy or in the context of chronic lymphedema. Most secondary ASs have been associated with MYC oncogene amplification, whereas the role of MYC abnormalities in primary AS is not well defined. Twenty‐two primary and secondary ASs were analyzed by array‐comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) and by deep sequencing of small RNA libraries. By aCGH and subsequently confirmed by fluorescence in situ hybridization, MYC amplification was identified in three out of six primary tumors and in 8 out of 12 secondary AS. We have also found MAML1 as a new potential oncogene in MYC‐amplified AS. Significant upregulation of the miR‐17‐92 cluster was observed in MYC‐amplified AS compared to AS lacking MYC amplification and the control group (other vascular tumors, nonvascular sarcomas). Moreover, MYC‐amplified ASs were associated with a significantly lower expression of thrombospondin‐1 (THBS1) than AS without MYC amplification or controls. Altogether, our study implicates MYC amplification not only in the pathogenesis of secondary AS but also in a subset of primary AS. Thus, MYC amplification may play a crucial role in the angiogenic phenotype of AS through upregulation of the miR‐17‐92 cluster, which subsequently downregulates THBS1, a potent endogenous inhibitor of angiogenesis. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.


The paper presents a distributed digital motion control system based on SERCOS (Serial Real-time Communication System). The transmission medium is optic fiber, which guarantees the system is noise immunity and high speed. The international standardize bus-SERCOS is applied to the system. It offers good openness and real-time. The host computer is composed of a PC and SERCOS interface card. The slave computer comprises DSP, driver circuit and feedback circuit. Application layer program applies the interface to control and monitor the shaft. The designed DSP program implements to control the motor and communicate with host computer. The system has high speed and high precision. The experiments are presented to validate the proposed system.


Abstract We provide, for the first time, a detailed and comprehensive overview of the demography of more than 50,000 towns, villages, and manors in 1871 Prussia. We study religion, literacy, fertility, and group segregation by location type (town, village, and manor). We find that Jews live predominantly in towns. Villages and manors are substantially segregated by denomination, whereas towns are less segregated. Yet, we find relatively lower levels of segregation by literacy. Regression analyses with county-fixed effects show that a larger share of Protestants is associated with higher literacy rates across all location types. A larger share of Jews relative to Catholics is not significantly associated with higher literacy in towns, but it is in villages and manors. Finally, a larger share of Jews is associated with lower fertility in towns, which is not explained by differences in literacy.


I show that sentences with two subordinate clauses may receive two syntactic analyses, and that each syntactic analysis may receive two semantic interpretations. Hence, I put forward an underspecified semantic representation such that each syntactic analysis receives only one underspecified interpretation.


Development of an erythematous, papulonodular to papulopustular skin eruption in four febrile, immunocompromised patients raised the possibility of a systemic mycosis when Gram's stains of unroofed lesions disclosed budding yeasts. Candidiasis, torulopsosis, sporotrichosis, and cryptococcosis were considered in the differential diagnosis, and therapy with amphotericin B was begun. Skin biopsy specimens disclosed fungi to be located exclusively within intact and ruptured hair follicles. Inability of the fungi to grow on media that were not supplemented with lipid and their structure and location all suggested the presence of Pityrosporum sp. When hematogenous dissemination of a mycosis to the skin is suspected, the diagnosis must be based on biopsy specimen demonstration of dermal invasion, ideally with positive cultures. Pityrosporum sp, common skin saprophytes, may produce folliculitis, and be mistaken for pathogenic yeasts.


The Malaysian construction industry has been urged to change from using a conventional method to industrialized building system (IBS) to attain, (1) better build quality and productivity, (2) reduce risks related to occupational safety and health, (3) alleviate issues for skilled workers and dependency on manual foreign labor, and (4) achieve the ultimate goal of reducing the overall cost of construction. Despite acknowledging its benefits, the construction industry is still not rapidly embracing IBS. This is mainly due to its traditional and conservative nature where anything new or different, faces implementation barriers. An investigation by some researchers identified that one of the main obstacles to IBS implementation in the Malaysian construction industry is related to poor integration among stakeholders involved during the design stage. Responding to the issue above, this research aims to counter this problem and help towards the betterment of the IBS Malaysian construction industry using an integrated design team delivery approach. Therefore, this paper discusses a strategy by the identifying key factors that are pertinent to improving the integration of design and construction activities and summarizes the recommendations from multiple case studies on the key factors towards effective integrated design team delivery. Keywords: Industrialized Building System, Integration, Integrated Practiced, Key Factor JEL Classifications: L14, L74, L88


UNC119, also known as Retinal Protein 4 (HRG4) is significantly up-regulated in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissues. However, the clinical significance of UNC119 and its biological roles and associated mechanisms in HCC tumorigenesis remain unknown. In current study, quantitative real-time PCR, western bolt and immunohistochemical analyses were applied to evaluate the expression of UNC119 in HCC tissues and cell lines. The roles of UNC119 in cell proliferation, cell growth and cell cycle were analyzed by both loss- and gain-function assays in vitro and in vivo. Luciferase reporter assays and western blot were employed to investigate the mechanisms. We found that compared with normal liver, UNC119 is highly expressed in HCC tissues both in published GSE datasets and in our fresh or TMA tissues. We further found that highly expressed UNC119 is not only closely correlated with liver cirrhosis, tumor size and TNM stage but also predicts a poor prognosis of patients. Cellular function assays reveal that UNC119 promotes cell proliferation. In addition, it might through enhancing the activity of Wnt/β-catenin signaling to promote the progression of cell cycle and ultimate promotes cell proliferation and growth. Taken together, we found that UNC119 is commonly highly expressed HCC tissues and the expression pattern makes a difference in the prognosis of patients. Furthermore, it promotes cell proliferation and growth through Wnt/β-catenin signaling.


Urban stormwater lakes in cold regions are ice-covered for substantial parts of the winter. It has long been considered that the ice-covered period is the "dormant season," during which ecological processes are inactive. However, little is known about this period due to the historical focus on the open-water season. Recent pioneering research on ice-covered natural lakes has suggested that some critical ecological processes play out on the ice. The objective of this study was to investigate the active processes in ice-covered stormwater lakes. Data collected during a two-year field measurement program at a stormwater lake located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada were analyzed. The lake was covered by ice from November to mid-April of the following year. The mean value of chlorophyll-a during the ice-covered period was 22.09% of the mean value for the open-water season, suggesting that primary productivity under ice can be important. Nitrogen and phosphorus were remarkably higher during the ice-covered period, while dissolved organic carbon showed little seasonal variation. Under ice-covered conditions, the total phosphorus was the major nutrient controlling the ratio of total nitrogen to total phosphorus, and a significant positive correlation existed between total phosphorus and chlorophyll-a when the ratio was smaller than 10. The results provide preliminary evidence of the critical nutrient processes in the Stormwater Lake during the ice-covered period.


Background—Bacteria that adhere to implanted medical devices play an important role in industry and in modern medicine. Staphylococci are among the most common pathogens that cause biomaterial infections. Vascular prosthetic graft infection is one of the most feared complications that the vascular surgeon treats, frequently resulting in prolonged hospitalization, organ failure, amputation, and death. A rat model was used to investigate the topical efficacies of temporin A and the quorum-sensing inhibitor RNAIII-inhibiting protein (RIP) as prophylactic agents of vascular prosthetic graft infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis with intermediate resistance to glycopeptides. Methods and Results—Graft infections were established in the back subcutaneous tissue of adult male Wistar rats by implantation of Dacron prostheses 1 cm2 followed by topical inoculation with 2×107 colony-forming units of bacterial strains. The study included, for each staphylococcal strain, a control group (no graft contamination), a contaminated group that did not receive antibiotic prophylaxis, and 6 contaminated groups that received grafts soaked with temporin A, RIP, rifampin, temporin A plus RIP, RIP plus rifampin, or temporin A plus RIP. The infection was evaluated by quantitative agar culture. When tested alone, temporin A and RIP showed comparable efficacies, and their efficacies were significantly higher than that of rifampin against both strains. All combinations showed efficacies significantly higher than that of each single compound. The combinations of temporin A and RIP exerted the strongest antistaphylococcal efficacies, eliminating infection by 100%. Conclusions—The results of the present study make these molecules potentially useful for antimicrobial chemoprophylaxis in vascular surgery.


In the article about The First Naval Hospital, that became famous during the Great Patriotic War, the authors present the facts of the heroic work of the hospital and its staff under the hardest conditions of the Siege of Leningrad, in an atmosphere of constant shelling, its productive clinical and scientfic work during the war years (1941-1945). As a material for the preparation of this article were used documents of the Military-Medical Museum, factual information about the history of the hospital published in various sources.


The aim of this study is to take advantage of both shape and texture properties of image to improve the performance of image indexing and retrieval algorithm. Further, a framework for partitioning image into non-overlapping tiles of different sizes, which results in higher retrieval efficiency, is presented. In the new approach, the image is divided into different regions (tiles). Then, the energy and standard deviation of Hartley transform coefficients of each tile, which serve as the local descriptors of texture, are extracted as sub-features. Next, invariant moments of edge image are used to record the shape features. The shape features and combination of sub-features of texture provide a robust feature set for image retrieval. The most similar highest priority (MSHP) principle is used for matching of textural features and Canberra distance is utilised for shape features matching. The retrieved image is the image which has less MSHP and Canberra distance from the query image. The proposed method is evaluated on three different image sets, which contain about 17 000 images. The experimental results indicate that the proposed method achieves higher retrieval accuracy than several previously presented schemes, whereas the computational complexity and processing time of the new method are less than those of other approaches.


The electro-optic (EO), thermo-optic, and dielectric coefficients of pure as well as Nd-doped YCa4O(BO3)3 crystals are determined. The frequency and wavelength dependence of the EO coefficients were determined in the 0-150 MHz and 0.5-1.3 µm ranges, respectively. The analysis of the frequency dependences of both EO and dielectric properties provides the unclamped and clamped values of the whole set of coefficients. It appears that the acoustic contributions to the EO and dielectric properties are very low. Small differences in the properties found for the two crystals are attributed to the Nd doping ions. It is to be noticed that, surprisingly, the birefringence (n_X - n_Y) was found to be independent of the temperature in the range 20-40°C.


We investigated the bird composition and preference at visiting the sacred figs ( Ficus sp.) and its adjacent area in two villages of Tengger tribe: Ngadas and Poncokusumo, Malang, Indonesia. We applied the point count method and the sacred tree became the center of point count circle. We recorded 16154 individual birds in 35 days of observation, consisted of 46 species and 24 families. The bird composition composed of 362 predators, 9452 insectivores, 6029 omnivores, 278 nectarivores, and 33 frugivores. The observed bird were recorded utilizing seedling (652 individuals), sapling (3122 individuals), pole (3440 individuals), perching on a tree (2782 individuals), and flying overs (6158 individuals). Most of the insectivores were recorded flying over, where this character is owned by Cave Swiftlet. Figs, as an important component at the sacred area, provides many important component that could support the bird life and regeneration process. The presence of sacred tree also improving the relation between birds and plants, higher than those in the urban area or natural forest, and resulted a positive impact to the sustainable system of its surrounding agriculture. Keywords: Bird, fig, sacred area, Bromo Tengger Semeru


Background: Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMNs) of the pancreas may evolve from low- to high-grade dysplasia to invasive cancer. Accurate discrimination of IPMN-associated grade of dysplasia is an unmet clinical need for appropriate patient management and treatment. This study used an integrated metabolomics and lipidomics approach, aiming to define the metabolic profiles of IPMNs.
Methods: Metabolomic and lipidomic profiles of peri-operative pancreatic cyst fluid and pre-operative fasted plasma from IPMN and serous cystic neoplasm (SCN) patients were determined single-blinded in this pancreas resection cohort (n=31). Targeted (semi)quantitative analysis of 100 metabolites from 24 classes and >1000 lipid species spanning 13 classes were performed. The datasets were correlated against histological diagnosis and clinical parameters after correction for confounding factors. Group classification and model performance was done with Partial Least Squares Discriminant Analysis (PLS- DA) and a Leave-One-Out cross validation (LOO-CV) strategy, respectively. Variable Importance in Projection (VIP) ranking scores were used to select the best explanatory molecules.
Findings: Over 1000 different compounds were identified in plasma and cyst fluid. The IPMN biofluid profiles showed significant lipid pathway alterations compared to SCN controls. Integrated metabolomics and lipidomics data modeling allowed accurate discrimination between IPMN and SCN and could determine the IPMN-associated grade of dysplasia. Correlations were found between plasma lipid compounds of free fatty acids, ceramides, and triacylglycerol classes and the circulating levels of CA19-9, albumin and bilirubin (r>0·6, p<0·05).
Interpretation: An integrated metabolomic and lipidomic analysis of plasma or cyst fluid can improve discrimination of IPMN from SCN and within PMNs predict the grade of dysplasia, which is highly relevant for pancreatic surgery management.
Funding Statement: This work was supported by the Swedish Cancer Society (CAN2016/731 to MSC), (CAN 2014/634, CAN 2015/621, CAN 2017/409, CAN 2017/419 to MDC). Ruth och Richard Julins funds and Karolinska Institutet funds, SOF Strategic Odontological Research (to MSC). ALF SLL20150113 (to MDC), Biocenter Finland and HiLIFE, University of Helsinki (to AP and VV).
Declaration of Interests: "None."
Ethics Approval Statement: This study follows the Helsinki convention and good clinical practice with permission of the Ethical Review Board Stockholm and the Karolinska Biobank Board (Dnr 2015/1580- 31/1).


Organised into sections dealing with basic principles of treatment, therapeutic interventions, including non-medical management of pain, and specific clinical situations, the Handbook emphasises the multimodal treatment options available for patients with pain conditions and brings them together to provide a truly biopsychosocial approach to management. Covering both chronic and acute pain, it will help the practitioner to choose the right treatment for the right patient at the right time.


Induced abortion is as common in religious as secular cultures, but interpretations and ways to handle abortion differ. This study focuses on existential aspects of abortion, in relation to a secularized context, through in-depth interviews with 24 Swedish women. Existential questions belonging to four areas were found: Life and Death, Meaning of Life, Morality, and Self-Image. Furthermore, four different existential strategies were found: (1) Detaching Strategies (creating distance to the pregnancy), (2) Meaning-Making Strategies (relating the abortion to one's worldview), (3) Social Strategies (sharing the abortion with others), and (4) Symbolic Strategies (expressing the experience in bodily ways). Existential questions and strategies did not imply that the woman regretted her abortion. However, while some women easily processed existential questions, others seemed to be more at a loss. In a secularized country, where many people are unaccustomed to dealing with existential issues, greater existential competence among abortion personnel might thus be needed.


The European Mars Express mission was launched in June 2003 and sent into orbit around Mars. On board the orbiter is the German High Resolution Stereo Camera (HRSC). This multi-line sensor images the Martian surface with a resolution of up to 12m per pixel in three dimensions and provides RGB and infra-red color information. The usage of the stereoscopic image information for the improvement of the observed position and attitude information via bundle adjustment is important to derive high quality 3D surface models, color orthoimages and other data products. In many cases overlapping image strips of different orbits can be used to form photogrammetric blocks, thus allowing the simultaneous adjustment of the exterior orientation data. This reduces not only local, but also regional inconsistencies in the data. With the growing number of HRSC image strips in this ongoing mission, the size and complexity of potential blocks is increasing. Therefore, a workflow has been built up for the systematic improvement of the exterior orientation using single orbit strips and regional blocks. For a successful bundle adjustment of blocks using multiple image strips a sufficient number of tie points in the overlapping area is needed. The number of tie points depends mainly on the geometric and radiometric quality of the images. This is considered by detailed analysis of the tie point accuracy and distribution. The combination of methods for image pre-processing, tie point matching, bundle adjustment and evaluation of the results in an automated workflow allows for all HRSC images a global assessment of the quality and a systematic selection of data for larger blocks.


We have intensively studied the growth temperature and interruption time of AlGaInAs/AlGaAs single-quantum-well (SQW) for application in high-power laser diodes. The growth process was monitored by reflectance anisotropy spectroscopy (RAS) in metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD). The most suitable photon energy for monitoring the growth process was investigated. The indium diffusion and the resulting emission wavelength shift during growth of AlGaInAs/AlGaAs SQW have been studied. Photoluminescence (PL) and high resolution X-ray diffraction (HRXRD) were adopted for the evaluation of specified interfaces and the quality of layers. Comparison the RAS and ex-situ techniques allowed us to find that the growth temperature and interruption time plays a significant role in the case of AlGaInAs/AlGaAs SQW grown by MOCVD technique. In situ RAS measurement has proven itself to be a powerful tool for the development of growth processes for high-power laser diodes.


Anatomy, histology and innervation of the heart of the jungle bush quail, Perdicula asiatica have been described. The cardiac conducting system is well developed except the atrioventricular node. The sinuatrial node is located at the cephalic end of the interatrial septum and comprised of a large number of specialised muscle fibres enclosing a few small nodal arteries. A few syncytial cells could also be observed. The atrioventricular node is small, rounded and compact mass present at the ventrocaudal end of the interatrial septum. The node is not enclosed by any connective tissue sheath. Atrioventricular bundle is quite conspicuous and a special left bundle branch descends from it and extending to the left ventricle. The presence of special left bundle branch probably helps in pumping the pure blood of left ventricle with a great force. The heart of the jungle bush quail is richly innervated. Large number of nerve fibres and ganglion cells are present at the sulcus terminalis and atrioventricular sulcus. Fine nerve fibres are also present in the mass of sinuatrial node, atrioventricular node, atrioventricular bundle and its branches. Nerve cells are found to be absent in the conducting system. A nervous connection exists between the sinuatrial node and atrioventricular node. Nerve fibres are also seen in the ventricular myocardium and at the sites of aortic arches.


We examine a direct filtered back projection approach that is suitable for the reconstruction of weakly absorbing homogeneous phase objects. Like recent similar approaches this method needs only one intensity image in each projection without the requirement for an intermediate step of phase retrieval. We tested the method using simulation and experimental results. Simulation results show good quantitative reconstruction which includes the correct refractive index value and distribution of the sample. However, experimental result still indicates the presence of artifacts.


Clinical guideline about functional evaluation of lung cancer patients before lung resection is well known. Patients with lung tuberculosis (LT) have another pathogenesis and morphological changes of lungs. However importance of the functional status in estimating risk of lung resections for patients with LT is not so definitely.

Aim: To evaluate preoperative pulmonary function status in patients with LT who were performed pneumonectomy.

Materials and Methods: Fifty-one patients with LT were studied. Spirometry, bodyplethysmography, diffusion capacity, computed tomography and perfusion scintigraphy were performed before pneumonectomy.

Results. There were obstructive disorders (OD) in 40 patients (FEV1=65,4% pred., RV=152,7% pred., 95%ДИ 142,0-163,4), restrictive disorders (RD) in 3 patients and mixed disorders (MD) in 5 patients (FEV1=52,6% pred., 95%CI 43,2,6-62,11; TLC=73,7% pred., 95%ДИ 66,6-80,8) and normal ventilation parameters in 3 patients (FEV1 from 105,6% to 123,1% pred.). Patients with OD had significant decline of DLCO (DLCO=55,7% pred., 95%CI 52,5-58,9). Patients with RD and MD had severe decline of DLCO (DLCO=40,0%pred., 95%CI 31,8-48,2). Even patients without ventilation disorders had decline of DLCO (from 62,8% to 78,9% pred.). Only 3 patients with OD but all patients with MD had DLCO less 40% pred. There was not registered 30-day postoperative lethality in all group of the surveyed patients.

Conclusions. All patients with LT even without ventilation disorders had decrease of DLCO. Decline of DLCO had been especially expressed in patients with MD. The meaning of DLCO as criterion of functional operability demands the further analysis for patients with LT.


Based on the results of an inventory of possible dioxin sources other than municipal solid waste (MCW) incinerators, a number of sources not previously measured, are selected for additional measurements. The results of all measurements carried out in the Netherlands, partly supplemented with data from the literature were then elaborated into a total estimate of the dioxin emissions in the Netherlands. In total, the emission to air in 1991 was 484 g I-TEQ. Of that total, the MSW incinerators emit the largest quantity, i.e. 80% of the total. The remainder of the estimated yearly emission is distributed over 16 different process categories. As a result of emission regulating developments it is expected that the dioxin emission in the year 2000 will be descreased to 58 g I-TEQ.


In Tanzania's largest city, Dar es Salaam, water supply does not meet the needs of the community. In response, people adopt multiple strategies to secure adequate water for their daily requirements. This paper investigates urban water provision and governance in Dar es Salaam, and has two aims: to investigate the causes of urban water failure; and to examine the full range of strategies employed by the local community to overcome water shortages. We critique the socioeconomic implications of both water shortages themselves and the methods used to overcome them. The paper draws on a household survey and key informant interviews in Temeke, one of the city's three municipalities. We find that failing urban infrastructure and rapid urbanisation place additional pressure on water supply, but argue that the primary cause of water shortages is water governance failure.


In order to implement vision-based navigation of AGV (Automated guided vehicle) with complex path, a method incorporating RFID (radio frequency identification) technology with image processing technology is proposed, in which RFID technology is used to recognize nodes and image processing technology is used to detect path. Straight line path is detected by Hough transform in case that AGV runs straightly, while curve path is detected by line scanning in case that AGV turns right and left. Experiment results show that, with the method presented in this paper, the navigation of path tracking for AGV is implemented well.


In this paper, we study the problem of facial expression recognition using a novel space-time geometric representation. We describe the temporal evolution of facial landmarks as parametrized trajectories on the Riemannian manifold of positive semidefinite matrices of fixed-rank. Our representation has the advantage to bring naturally a second desirable quantity when comparing shapes – the spatial covariance – in addition to the conventional affine-shape representation. We derive then geometric and computational tools for rate-invariant analysis and adaptive re-sampling of trajectories, grounding on the Riemannian geometry of the manifold. Specifically, our approach involves three steps: 1) facial landmarks are first mapped into the Riemannian manifold of positive semidefinite matrices of rank 2, to build time-parameterized trajectories; 2) a temporal alignment is performed on the trajectories, providing a geometry-aware (dis-)similarity measure between them; 3) finally, pairwise proximity function SVM (ppfSVM) is used to classify them, incorporating the latter (dis-)similarity measure into the kernel function. We show the effectiveness of the proposed approach on four publicly available benchmarks (CK+, MMI, Oulu-CASIA, and AFEW). The results of the proposed approach are comparable to or better than the state-of-the-art methods when involving only facial landmarks.


In this paper we report on a longitudinal study of a Leonardo da Vinci program regard- ing the application of a Computer Based Learning environment in three EU countries, Greece, Germany, and Holland. The "Orestis" CD-ROM was a multimedia CBL environment aimed at teaching young offenders the basic and advanced skills for the use and maintenance of a photo- copy shop. The complete project consisted of three phases: construction of the CD-ROM, applica- tion of the instructional methodology in the participating countries and evaluation of the outcome. In this paper we firstly clarify the notion of CBL environments, in comparison to multimedia and distance learning ones, and then we provide some theoretical background on these environments. The main research question we tried to answer was whether the application of the environment under real circumstances could perform adequately without the presence of a domain expert as a "teacher", but rely on a "tutor" who had five main tasks to perform during the instructional phase, as described in the paper. In order to answer this question, we designed and constructed the afore- mentioned integrated CBL environment and, in addition to this, an instructional methodology in order to apply it effectivelly in the participating countries. The application of the environment by the partners showed our hypothesis about the tutor to be correct, moreover we elicited results about the different user groups that worked with the environment and their performance under different circumstances. We studied also the combination of CBL training and real practice in real envi- ronments, among some other issues concerning the application of CBL environments in general, and we provide some statistical facts as observed and reported during the two pilot studies and the five applications of the environment in the three participating European countries. We conclude by arguing that the tutor, as described in this paper, performs more than satisfactorily and demands far fewer resources than a real domain expert. However, it must be emphasized once more at this point, that this conclusion implies the application of a predefined instructional methodology that aids the tutor in his role, since the teaching procedure will be a task for the hypermedia enriched CBL environment, designed ad hoc for the intended user group and according to the appropriate educational theories.


This Essay urges a more robust examination of affirmative action policies applied in the United States. It suggests that there is more to be said about affirmative action than the narrow, predictable frames typically accounted for in the literature that places race at the center of the debate. Rather, this project takes up the role of gender and the middle-class white family. On the one hand, it makes the case that legal scholarship has overlooked that affirmative action benefits middle class white families. On the other hand, it explains that, overwhelmingly, the lead litigants opposing affirmative action have been white women. The Essay examines the legacy of exclusion from education in the US, including the pernicious quota systems imposed against Jews in the 20th century. It concludes by challenging scholars and educators to think beyond traditional frames and to critique who really benefits from and who is left behind in the application of contemporary affirmative action practices in the United States.


This paper supplements and extends consideration of quantitative models with application to building (costs and) prices by examining human elements inherent in modelling. In considering the concepts of modelling, attention is focused on the recently developed sociology of science, which questions the traditional perspective of total separation of a reality from the observer—the 'objective' basis of scientific positivism. It is argued that human activities are fundamental in, and inseparable from, reality and so, they are integral in modelling. The aim of modelling should be to enhance understanding and knowledge rather than to secure inert objectivity. Application to modelling of prices of building projects investigates how prices are formulated, which prices are commonly modelled and the impact of the decision‐makers involved. It is concluded that new models are required, perhaps developed through methodological pluralism, which identify people‐oriented variables and assumptions explicitly. Further, the models should be stochastic and with sound bases in theories of economics and human behaviour to ensure that users are aware of the major variabilities in the processes modelled and so, by realistically informing, promote better decision making.


The A3 report is a Kaizen tool that must contain, on one side of an A3 paper sheet, a context, the current situation, the objective, an analysis, countermeasures, an action plan, the monitoring and an upgrade regarding the situation to be improved. This study seeks to analyze the post-implementation effects of the A3 tool, which is part of the Kaizen method. The research method consisted in the collection and evaluation of A3 reports produced in the past seven years in a company of pre-fabricated steel structures. Among the 154 developed A3 reports, it was observed that 76% were drafted by the engineering and manufacturing departments, which converged on the improvement of processes, services and innovative solutions. The manufacturing and assembly sectors had 60% of the improvements implemented by the A3 tool, but the impacts with the greatest economic significance for the company were found in other sectors, such as sales and logistics. The conclusion is drawn that the A3 report was effective in the deployment of Kaizen, resulting in the improvement of services and processes, and consequently in the direct reduction of the cost of the finished product. In addition, it influenced market and business expansion strategies throughout the company.


Preparation of thin film composite (TFC) polyamide (PA) membranes by interfacial polymerization (IP) reaction is remarkably sensitive to the interactions between synthesis parameters. Here we report the effect of the simultaneous change in four synthesis parameters, namely monomers concentrations (m-phenylenediamine, MPD, and trimesoyl chloride, TMC), reaction time and curing temperature, on the surface morphology and on the permeation properties of TFC membranes. By varying several synthesis parameters at the same time using a Taguchi robust design (L9 orthogonal arrays), it was found that monomers concentration and curing temperature significantly affected water permeation by creating a substantial change in morphology of the PA films. More importantly, a strong interaction between monomers concentration was observed, which demonstrates the importance of smart adjustment of these parameters in the preparation process. Permeation properties were justified by thickness and by the cross-link density of the synthesized films; the latter was found to be more influential. Based on analysis of variance (ANOVA), the contribution of the synthesis parameters towards change in water permeation was determined as: curing temperature (40.7%) > MPD concentration (28%) ∼ TMC concentration (27.8%) > reaction time (1.9%). The findings will provide valuable guidelines to develop practical low cost, robust and high performance membranes by changing the curing temperature and the monomer concentrations as critical parameters.


Offshore wind farm is a key item in green energy and sustainable development. The Taiwan strait owns the world-class wind farm with average wind speed of 12 m/s and a potential for 3000 hours/year of power generation. Compared to wind turbines on land, the offshore wind turbine provide more stable power and less obstacles as well as less power loss. The potential and advantages of offshore wind farm development in the Taiwan strait has become the aims of the Taiwan government policy from now to 2025. This research will collect the historical climate data (wind and wave) of the Taiwan offshore wind farm in the Chan-hwa county. Combined the productivity loss respected to the installation of wind turbine due to different wind speed effect, as well as the productivity loss respected to the construction of pile foundation due to different wave height effect, this study will build up a total project duration forecast system based on the historical climate data of the offshore wind farm. Even the literature views from the experienced projects in North Europe including UK, Netherland and Spain, the climate uncertainty still plays a significant factor of the total construction duration for offshore wind farm. The results of this research can provide a more scientific and reliable duration forecast for future offshore wind farms construction in Taiwan.


The notion of a characteristic fibration is introduced. This fibration consists of a base space M and a set of fibres which are dimension groups associated to a noncommutative ring R. Every dimension group of the fibration is isomorphic to the first Betti group of M with a 'positive cone' depending continuously on the fibre. The characteristic fibrations are linked to the codimension–1 regular foliations on M . In particular, we prove that the characteristic classes of such foliations coincide with the Stiefel-Whitney class of M .


Predictive power, for total and vascular mortality, of selected indices measured at baseline in the British National Diet and Nutrition Survey (community-living subset) of People Aged 65 Years and Over was tested. Mortality status and its primary and underlying causes were recorded for 1100 (mean age 76·7 (sd 7·5) years, 50·2 % females) respondents from the baseline survey in 1994–5 until September 2008. Follow-up data analyses focussed especially on known predictors of vascular disease risk, together with intakes and status indices of selected nutrients known to affect, or to be affected by, these predictors. Total mortality was significantly predicted by hazard ratios of baseline plasma concentrations (per sd) of total homocysteine (tHcy) (95 % CI) 1·19 (1·11, 1·27), pyridoxal phosphate 0·90 (0·81, 1·00), pyridoxic acid 1·10 (1·03, 1·19), α1-antichymotrypsin 1·21 (1·13, 1·29), fibrinogen 1·14 (1·05, 1·23), creatinine 1·20 (1·10, 1·31) and glycosylated Hb 1·23 (1·14, 1·32), and by dietary intakes of energy 0·87 (0·80, 0·96) and protein 0·86 (0·77, 0·97). Prediction patterns and significance were similar for primary-cause vascular mortality. The traditional risk predictors plasma total and HDL cholesterol were not significant mortality predictors in this age group, nor were the known tHcy-regulating nutrients, folate and vitamin B12 (intakes and status indices). Model adjustment for known risk predictors resulted in the loss of significance for some of the afore-mentioned indices; however, tHcy 1·34 (1·04, 1·73) remained a significant predictor for vascular mortality. Thus, total and primary vascular mortality is predicted by energy and protein intakes, and by biochemical indices including tHcy, independent of serum folate or vitamin B12.


Complete genome sequencing of three Tamdy (TAMV) virus strains was carried out. The prototype strain TAMV/LEIV-1308Uz was isolated for the very first time from the Hyalomma asiaticum asiaticum Schülce et Schlottke, 1929 (Ixodidae, Hyalomminae) collected in the August 1971 from sheep in the arid area near Namdybulak town (41 degrees 36' N, 64 degrees 39' E) in the Tamdinsky district of the Bukhara region (Uzbekistan). TAMV was revealed to be a prototype member of the new phylogenetic group within the limits of the Nairovirus. The TAMV homology for RdRp (L-segment) amino acid sequence is not less than 40% with Crimea-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV), Hazara virus (HAZV), and Dugbe virus (DUGV), which are also linked with Ixodidae ticks. The TAMV homologies with the Issyk-Kul virus (ISKV) and Caspiy virus (CASV) for RdRp are 37.6% and 37.7%, respectively. These data conformed to the low values of GnGc (M-segment) and nucleocapsid protein N (S-segment) homology. The TAMV homologies with the nairoviruses for GnGc is in average 25%; with the nairoviruses linked with Ixodidae ticks (CCHFV, DUGV, HAZV) - 33%; with Argasidae ticks (ISKV, CASV) - 28%. The TAMV/LEIV-1308Uz, LEIV-6158Ar, and LEIV-10226Az have high level of identity. The TAMV/LEIV-10226Az from Azerbaijan has 99% homology for both nucleotide and amino acid sequences of the prototype TAMV/LEIV-1308Uz RdRp. The TAMV/LEIV-6158Ar from Armenia is more divergent and has 94.2% and 96.3% homologies with the TAMV/LEIV-1308Uz, respectively. The homology between the TAMV/LEIV-1308Uz and TAMV/LEIV-10226Az for GnGc is 93%. The TAMV/LEIV-6158Ar has 90% homology for this protein with the TAMV/LEIV-1308Uz and 93% with the TAMV/LEIV-10226Az, respectively. Differences in nucleocapsid protein between three TAMV strains are 5-7%.


Artificial neural networks have become the go-to solution for computer vision tasks, including problems of the security domain. One such example comes in the form of reidentification, where deep learning can be part of the surveillance pipeline. The use case necessitates considering an adversarial setting—and neural networks have been shown to be vulnerable to a range of attacks. In this paper, the preprocessing defences against adversarial attacks are evaluated, including block-matching convolutional neural network for image denoising used as an adversarial defence. The benefit of using preprocessing defences comes from the fact that it does not require the effort of retraining the classifier, which, in computer vision problems, is a computationally heavy task. The defences are tested in a real-life-like scenario of using a pre-trained, widely available neural network architecture adapted to a specific task with the use of transfer learning. Multiple preprocessing pipelines are tested and the results are promising.


What should journals do about the circulation of "preprints"—drafts of scientific papers that have not yet been formally published? Within the research community they serve several purposes. Some researchers routinely send such drafts to colleagues for their comments. Others use them as an early warning system, to keep colleagues abreast of research that may take months to get into print. Until recently distributing preprints entailed making multiple photocopies of a manuscript and posting them. The advent of faxes quickened the pace but did little to reduce the workload, which effectively limited their circulation. All this has changed with the internet. Draft manuscripts can now be posted on institutional or individual websites. Hundreds of colleagues, instead of a handful, may now see a preprint before its formal publication. Thousands more internet users may be led to a preprint by search engines, which scour the web's pages for key words.

Some journals, such as the New England Journal of Medicine, have come down unequivocally against electronic preprints: "Posting a manuscript, including its figures …


Bioactive ceramics have the ability to chemically bond to bone. This class of biomaterials can be used as coatings on metallic implants, alloplastic bone defect fillers and as scaffold for tissue engineering. The most widely used bioactive ceramics are hydroxyapatite, Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2 and tricalcium phosphate, Ca3(PO4)2. This study presents new bioactive ceramics based on Nb2O5 and Ta2O5. These materials were produced from bioinert ceramics chemically activated by an alkali hydrothermal treatment. Scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersion X-ray spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction analyses on samples incubated in simulated body fluid showed the presence of bone-like apatite, confirming that the modified ceramics surface became bioactive.


The purpose of the study was to investigate the relationship between Delegation of Authority and Staff Commitment in the School of Finance and Banking in Kigali, Rwanda. A cross-sectional survey design was used with the target sample size of 97 out of 130 parent population. The total number of questionnaires that were filled and returned was 78, giving a high response rate of 80.5 percent. Due to the heterogeneous nature of the population, the researchers used stratified sampling and random sampling. Descriptive analysis involving frequencies, percentages and Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient for inferential statistics were carried out. The correlation between the two variables was weak at .287, and significant at .011 value. The results were linearly correlated and this implies that staff commitment is positively correlated with Delegation of Authority; whenever employees are delegated authority, they are likely to be more committed and vice versa.


At the limits of nuclear stability, increasing proton-neutron asymmetry leads to a shifting of orbitals from nuclear shell model predictions. In turn this leads to a weakening of shell gaps such as at N = 20, and the emergence of new gaps at N = 14 and 16. To observe this evolution of the structure as the neutron dripline is approached, single-nucleon removal reactions have been employed for oxygen and fluorine isotopes. These reactions are an excellent way of probing the nuclear wavefunction to reveal information on the single-particle content in the wavefunction. Cross sections have been measured, both inclusive and exclusive, and partial production cross sections calculated. This has allowed spectroscopic factors to be extracted and compared to theoretical predictions from shell model calculations. Longitudinal momentum distributions, both inclusive and exclusive, have also been measured. The orbital angular momentum of the removed nucleon has a pronounced effect on the momentum distribution of the surviving core, which can be compared to theoretical predictions based on eikonal theory. This gives a valuable insight into the configuration mixing for the ground and excited states of the nuclei of interest.


Identifying the performance factors of organizations is of utmost importance for labor studies for both empirical and theoretical research. The present study investigates the essential intra- and extra-organizational factors in determining the performance of firms using the European Company Survey (ECS) 2019 framework. The evolutionary computation method of genetic algorithm and the machine learning method of Bayesian additive regression trees (BART), are used to model the importance of each of the intra- and extra-organizational factors in identifying the firms' performance as well as employee well-being. The standard metrics are further used to evaluate the accuracy of the proposed method. The mean value of the evaluation metrics for the accuracy of the impact of intra- and extra-organizational factors on firm performance are MAE = 0.225, MSE = 0.065, RMSE = 0.2525, and R2 = 0.9125, and the value of these metrics for the accuracy of the impact of intra- and extra-organizational factors on employee well-being are MAE = 0.18, MSE = 0.0525, RMSE = 0.2275, and R2 = 0.88. The low values of MAE, MSE and RMSE, and the high value of R2, indicate the high level of accuracy of the proposed method. The results revealed that the two variables of work organization and innovation are essential in improving firm performance well-being, and that the variables of collaboration and outsourcing, as well as job complexity and autonomy, have the greatest role in improving firm performance.


Deepening regionalism in Asia demands new leadership. Strong elites who are committed to a supranational identity are a minimum requirement of successful regionalism. Regional leaders are increasingly seen as a new set of leaders in Europe. Currently, Asian regional leaders largely come from the diplomacy community, or trade and economic sectors. Yet further regionalization demands a new type of leadership from civil society and citizens. In this context it is important to cultivate new regional leadership through the development of regional citizenship.This book examines contested ideas of regionalism in Asia with a particular focus on two competing ideas of pan-Asianism and Pacificism. It also identifies a new trend and contestation, the fundamental shift from a civilization understanding of regionalism to a technocratic and functional understanding of regionalism in the form of regulatory regionalism. It also examines the other contested imaginations of regionalism in Asia including elitist versus participatory approaches to regionalism, and democracy-centric versus nationalism-centric approaches to regionalism.


The motivation for integrating strong cryptographic algorithms into passive RFID tags is to prevent counterfeiting of goods, providing privacy protection, and granting protected access to the tag?s memory. In contrast to contactless smart cards, passive RFID tags have fierce constraints concerning power consumption and chip area due to the increased operating range and the silicon costs of a passive tag. Authentication allows to achieve the security goals by means of challenge-response protocols. What about the implementation costs of the cryptographic primitives? An extensive evaluation of several symmetric-key algorithms and public-key primitives has been done. A comparison shows the performance figures of block ciphers, stream ciphers, hash functions, and public-key algorithms. In order to provide a proof-of-concept, two prototypes of the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) are available in silicon. Further topics like attacks on RFID systems and implementation security will be covered shortly.


This paper introduces the notion of a secure data capsule, which refers to an encapsulation of sensitive user information (such as a credit card number) along with code that implements an interface suitable for the use of such information (such as charging for purchases) by a service (such as an online merchant). In our capsule framework, users provide their data in the form of such capsules to web services rather than raw data. Capsules can be deployed in a variety of ways, either on a trusted third party or the user's own computer or at the service itself, through the use of a variety of hardware or software modules, such as a virtual machine monitor or trusted platform module: the only requirement is that the deployment mechanism must ensure that the user's data is only accessed via the interface sanctioned by the user. The framework further allows an user to specify policies regarding which services or machines may host her capsule, what parties are allowed to access the interface, and with what parameters. The combination of interface restrictions and policy control lets us bound the impact of an attacker who compromises the service to gain access to the user's capsule or a malicious insider at the service itself.


An international standard, SQL, or structured query language, is a programming language used to store, manage, and retrieve data housed in relational databases. Ideal as a stand-alone primer or when used in conjunction with another introductory computer science text, The SQL Programming Language prepares you for future SQL programming courses offered within CS and CIS. With a clear, concise, and descriptive writing style, you will see real-world examples and cases of SQL functionality in database management. Each section focuses on a concrete concept which is illustrated with one or more example queries and the tables of results which they produce. The exercises parallel the examples, allowing you to reinforce the concepts introduced and explore them further. The book includes an example Microsoft Access database, allowing you to run the given example queries and see them in action, and also allows you to work the exercises and check your solutions against those provided.


: In 1973, Austria, Cuba, England and Wales, Hungary, Japan, New Zealand, Sweden and the U.S. collaborated with the World Health Organization (WHO) to produce a report on the impact of social and biological factors on perinatal mortality. This article explores trends in perinatal mortality in each of the 8 participating countries in the years after the study was done; data were supplied by WHO for the years 1968-78. Perinatal mortality in 1973 ranged between 14/1000 in Sweden to 33/1000 in Hungary. At that time perinatal mortality was already decreasing in most countries, and kept decreasing at least until 1978. Austria is the country which recorded the greatest reduction, from 26/1000 in 1973 to 15/1000 in 1978, or a reduction of 43%. To summarize, between 1973 and 1978 all countries showed decreases going from 24% in Cuba to 43% in Austria. Between 1970-73 and in 1978 the greatest reductions in late fetal death were recorded in Japan (39%) and in Sweden (36%); the lowest in Hungary (18%) and in the U.S. (15%). During the same period early neonatal mortality rates decreased even more rapidly, between 26% in Cuba to 49% in Austria. The general pattern was that the ratios of early neonatal death to late fetal death tended to approach 1.0, with the exception of the U.S. and New Zealand. Moreover, there was some evidence that during the 1970s a general fall in perinatal mortality rates had occurred in many countries outside of those considered in the 1973 study. There is no indication of the eventual level below which reduction in perinatal death can be expected to occur. The data presented in the 1973 study showed that the level of perinatal mortality was due to the interplay of both social and biological factors.


The entire manuscript is available for download as a single PDF file. Higher-resolution images may
be available upon request. For technical assistance, please contact email@example.com. Fieldwork Team: Dr. Mustapha Hashim Kurfi (Principal Investigator), Malam
Umar Hajji Mustapha (Local Project Manager) and Abdullahi Mohammed (General Field Facilitator).
Technical Team: Prof. Fallou Ngom (Director African Studies Center), and Eleni Castro (Technical Lead, BU Libraries). This collection of Yoruba Anjemi materials are copied as part of the African Studies Center's African Ajami Library. Access Condition and Copyright: These materials are subject to copyright. All rights reserved to the author. For use, distribution or reproduction contact Professor Fallou Ngom (email@example.com). Citation: Materials in this web edition should be cited as: Kurfi, Mustapha Hashim, Ngom, Fallou, and Castro, Eleni (2019). African Ajami Library: Digital Preservation of Yoruba Anjemi Materials of Southwestern Nigeria. Boston: Boston University Libraries: http://hdl.handle.net/2144/38122. For Inquiries: Please contact Professor Fallou Ngom (firstname.lastname@example.com).


Recognizing cross-subject emotions based on brain imaging data, e.g., EEG, has always been difficult due to the poor generalizability of features across subjects. Thus, systematically exploring the ability of different EEG features to identify emotional information across subjects is crucial. Prior related work has explored this question based only on one or two kinds of features, and different findings and conclusions have been presented. In this work, we aim at a more comprehensive investigation on this question with a wider range of feature types, including 18 kinds of linear and non-linear EEG features. The effectiveness of these features was examined on two publicly accessible datasets, namely, the dataset for emotion analysis using physiological signals (DEAP) and the SJTU emotion EEG dataset (SEED). We adopted the support vector machine (SVM) approach and the "leave-one-subject-out" verification strategy to evaluate recognition performance. Using automatic feature selection methods, the highest mean recognition accuracy of 59.06% (AUC = 0.605) on the DEAP dataset and of 83.33% (AUC = 0.904) on the SEED dataset were reached. Furthermore, using manually operated feature selection on the SEED dataset, we explored the importance of different EEG features in cross-subject emotion recognition from multiple perspectives, including different channels, brain regions, rhythms, and feature types. For example, we found that the Hjorth parameter of mobility in the beta rhythm achieved the best mean recognition accuracy compared to the other features. Through a pilot correlation analysis, we further examined the highly correlated features, for a better understanding of the implications hidden in those features that allow for differentiating cross-subject emotions. Various remarkable observations have been made. The results of this paper validate the possibility of exploring robust EEG features in cross-subject emotion recognition.


Introduction: Additional lenses implanted in the ciliary sulcus (AddOn) are one option for permanent correction of refractive error or generate pseudoaccommodation in the pseudophakic eye. The purpose of this paper was to model the power and magnification behaviour of toric AddOn and to show the effect sizes with a Monte Carlo simulation. Methods: Anonymized data of a cataractous population uploaded for formula constant optimization were extracted from the IOLCon platform. After filtering out data with refractive spherical equivalent (RSEQ) between −0.75 and 0.25 dpt and refractive cylinder (RCYL) lower than 0.75, for each of the N = 6,588 records, a toric AddOn was calculated which transfers the refraction error from spectacle plane to AddOn plane using a matrix-based calculation strategy based on linear Gaussian optics. The equivalent (AddOnEQ) and toric (AddOnCYL) power of the AddOn and the overall lateral magnification change and meridional magnification were derived for the situations before and after AddOn implantation, and a linear modelling was fitted for all 4 parameters. Results: RSEQ is the dominant effect size in the prediction of AddOnEQ and overall change in magnification (ΔM), whereas the lens position (LP), corneal thickness (CCT), and mean corneal radius (CPa) play a minor role. In a simplified model, AddOnEQ can be estimated by 0.0179 + 1.4104 RSEQ. RCYL and corneal radius difference (CPad) are the dominant effect sizes in the prediction of AddOnCYL and the change in meridional magnification (ΔMmer), whereas LP, CCT, CPa, and RSEQ play a minor role. In a simplified model, AddOnCYL can be predicted by −0.0005 + 0.0328 CPad + 1.4087 RCYL. Myopic eyes gain in overall magnification, whereas in hyperopic eyes, we observe a loss. Meridional distortion could be in general reduced to 35% on average with a toric AddOn. Conclusion: Our simulation shows that with a linear model, the equivalent and toric AddOn power, as well as overall change in magnification, meridional distortion before and after AddOn implantation, and the reduction in meridional distortion, can be easily predicted from the biometric data in pseudophakic eyes with moderate refractive error.


When digitizing a print bilingual dictionary, whether via optical character recognition or manual entry, it is inevitable that errors are introduced into the electronic version that is created. We investigate automating the process of detecting errors in an XML representation of a digitized print dictionary using a hybrid approach that combines rule-based, feature-based, and language model-based methods. We investigate combining methods and show that using random forests is a promising approach. We find that in isolation, unsupervised methods rival the performance of supervised methods. Random forests typically require training data so we investigate how we can apply random forests to combine individual base methods that are themselves unsupervised without requiring large amounts of training data. Experiments reveal empirically that a relatively small amount of data is sufficient and can potentially be further reduced through specific selection criteria.


Introduction Burn injuries contribute significant morbidity and mortality in developing countries. We undertook a study at Kamuzu Central Hospital in Lilongwe, Malawi, to determine (1) the epidemiology and burden of burn injuries and (2) quantify outcome measures including physiotherapy, wound infection and mortality. Methods Retrospective analysis of hospital-based trauma registry burn victims (July 2008 to June 2009, N=332) and cross-sectional analysis of burn injuries (November 2009, N=39). Results Burn injuries constituted 6% of injuries at KCH. The average total burn surface area (2nd/3rd degree) was 13%, and the majority (75%) presented within 8 h of injury. The commonest mechanism was scalding (67%). Fifty-seven percent were male, and the majority (75%) were under age 15. The commonest procedure was debridement or amputation (13% of inpatients). In-hospital mortality was 19%. Average length of stay was 22 days (2–109 days). The rate of burn wound infections was 31%. Only 8% of victims received physiotherapy. Inappropriate use or lack of use when appropriate for key interventions (nutrition, physiotherapy and intravenous fluids) was noted in 59% of cases. Conclusions Primary prevention of burns should be aimed at preventing paediatric burns and scald burns, the most common age group and mechanism observed. Secondary and tertiary prevention should aim to (1) train healthcare providers on basic burn care and resuscitation and (2) improve the efficiency and availability of key therapeutic interventions. Though challenging in resource-limited settings, improvements in utilisation and availability of key therapeutic interventions are attainable.


We apply the generalized vector sampled pattern matching (GVSPM) method to an inverse parameter problem for the reconstruction of electrical impedance tomography (EIT). Most of the inverse problems are reduced into solving for an ill-posed system of equations whose solution is not uniquely determined. The GVSPM introduced in this paper enables us to select the physically existing solution among possible ones. By applying GVSPM for EIT reconstruction, this point is verified by reliable reconstructed images.


This is an overview of a network model for OpenStack, designed to
dramatically simplify scalable network deployment and operations.
Requirements Language The key words 'MUST', 'MUST NOT',
'REQUIRED', 'SHALL', 'SHALL NOT', 'SHOULD',
'SHOULD NOT', 'RECOMMENDED', 'MAY', and
'OPTIONAL' in this document are to be interpreted as described
in [RFC2119]. Design Principle Perfection is achieved, not when there
is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.
Antoine de Saint-Exupery


Objectives To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of 320-detector row CT coronary angiography (CTCA) to detect CAD in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) undergoing operations for rheumatic mitral valve disease. Methods Thirty-five patients were enrolled. All patients underwent both CTCA and conventional coronary angiography (CCA) before the operations. CT image quality (good, moderate, poor) and significant stenosis (≥50%) were evaluated by two cardiac surgeons,who blinded to the results of CCA. Pearson's correlation analysis was performed to compare image quality with mean heart rate. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) were calculated by using conventional coronary angiography as the reference standard. Agreement in detection of CAD between 320-detector CTCA and CCA were evaluated with kappa statistics,which was also used to assess intraobserver agreement. Results The mean heart rate was 94.7 ± 21.4 beats/min. There was highly significant correlation between mean heart rate and image quality, especially for RCA (r = 0.554, P = 0.002) and LCX (r = 0.559, P = 0.016). On segment-based analysis, sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV were 87.5%, 99.4%, 82.4% and 99.6%, while the data were 87.5%, 97.6%, 82.4% and 98.4% on vessel-based analysis, 84.6%, 86.3%, 78.6% and 90.5% on patient-based analysis. The kappa statistics were 0.843, 0.828 and 0.699, respectively. The agreement of intraobserver was 0.770. Conclusions 320-row CTA allows accurate assessment of significant CAD. And it can be taken as an noninvasive coronary angiography to screen CAD in patients with atrial fibrillation,who scheduled for rheumatic mitral valve operations.


Recent regulatory requirements in the United States and the growing complexity of transmission grids worldwide have prompted the need for greater substation data communications security. Southern company, one of the largest utilities in North America, required a comprehensive security solution for providing and controlling access to intelligent electronic devices within its substations. Using a combination of commercial hardware and software, in conjunction with software developed by SUBNET solutions Inc., southern company has begun a standardized rollout of the proposed solution across four of its electric utility companies. This paper explores the challenges faced by southern company and other utilities, the subsequent development of a solution, and the future benefits of that solution.


The use of fibrin sealant has been advocated to enhance the healing of high-risk intestinal anastomoses. Colonic anastomoses were performed in 162 rats randomly assigned to four groups: control animals with or without fibrin sealant applied to the anastomosis and steroid-treated animals with or without fibrin sealant. At five days postoperatively, the use of steroids alone significantly reduced the anastomotic bursting pressure (ABP) and enhanced abscess and adhesion formation. The addition of fibrin sealant to the anastomosis in steroid-treated animals did not improve ABP and, in fact, further increased abscess formation. In control animals, the use of fibrin sealant also reduced ABP and enhanced abscess and adhesion formation. By ten days, there was no difference in ABP among the groups, and the rate of abscess formation was reduced in all groups. These findings indicated that short-term treatment with steroids delayed colonic anastomotic healing. Fibrin sealant did not enhance the integrity of these high-risk anastomoses. The present data do not support the use of fibrin sealant in high-risk colonic anastomoses.


This article addresses three main issues: why there is such a huge diversity of disposable income inequality across the world, why there is such a deterioration of market inequality among countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), and why inequality seems to move in 'waves'. There are many underlying questions: does diversity reflect a variety of fundamentals, or a multiplicity of power structures and choice? Is rising market inequality the product of somehow 'exogenous' factors (e.g., r>g), or of complex interactions between political settlements and market failures? How do we get through the veils obscuring these interactions and distorting our vision of the often self‐constructed nature of inequality? Has neoliberal globalization broadened the scope for 'distributional failures' by, for example, triggering a process of 'reverse catching‐up' in the OECD, so that highly unequal middle‐income countries like those in Latin America now embody the shape of things to come? Are we all converging towards features such as mobile elites creaming off the rewards of economic growth, and 'magic realist' politics that lack self‐respect if not originality? Should I say, 'Welcome to the Third World'? In this paper I also develop a new approach for examining and measuring inequality (distance from distributive targets), and a new concept of 'distributional waves'. The article concludes that, to understand current distributive dynamics, what matters is to comprehend the forces determining the share of the rich — and, in terms of growth, what they choose to do with it (and how they are allowed do it).


In this paper, we show that the nonlinear parametric gain (PG) interaction between signal and noise is a nonnegligible factor in the design and analysis of long-haul dispersion-managed optical 10-Gb/s on-off keying nonreturn to zero transmission systems operated at small signal-to-noise ratios (OSNRs) such as those employing forward-error correction (FEC) coding. In such a regime, we show that the in-phase noise spectrum exhibits a large gain close to the carrier frequency, which is due to the higher order noise terms accounting for the noise-noise beating during propagation that is usually neglected in the nonlinear Schro/spl uml/dinger equation. With a novel stochastic analysis that keeps such higher order terms, we are able to analytically quantify the maximum tolerable signal power after which PG unacceptably degrades system performance. We verify such an analytical power threshold by both simulation and experiment. We finally quantify the needed extra OSNR, or equivalently FEC coding gain, required when taking PG into account.


Corporate takeover legislation has evolved significantly since it was first introduced in Australia. Starting with only a handful of provisions in the state based legislation enacted from 1961, the takeover provisions now in chs 6-6C of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) form the basis of a complex regulatory regime. Since 1981, the legislation has been supplemented by a regulatory power to exempt persons from and modify the operation of the takeover provisions. There has also been a shift towards the resolution of takeover disputes by non-judicial bodies. From 1991, the regulator was given the power to apply to the Corporations and Securities Panel for orders where it considered circumstances to be unacceptable based on the principles underlying the legislation, even if the letter of the law had been complied with. This role was expanded in 2000 by allowing any interested party to apply to the Panel and limiting the ability to commence court proceedings during a takeover. This article analyses the forces driving each of these developments, with a particular focus on the resulting tensions and the evolution of the principles underlying the legislation.


Plants and plant-based products have been used for a long time for medicinal purposes. This study aimed to determine the antioxidant and anti-α-glucosidase activities of eight selected underutilized plants in Malaysia: Leucaena leucocephala, Muntingia calabura, Spondias dulcis, Annona squamosa, Ardisia elliptica, Cynometra cauliflora, Ficus auriculata, and Averrhoa bilimbi. This study showed that the 70% ethanolic extract of all plants exhibited total phenolic content (TPC) ranging from 51 to 344 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/g dry weight. A. elliptica showed strong 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and nitric oxide (NO) scavenging activities, with half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values of 2.17 and 49.43 μg/mL, respectively. Most of the tested plant extracts showed higher inhibition of α-glucosidase enzyme activity than the standard, quercetin, particularly A. elliptica, F. auriculata, and M. calabura extracts with IC50 values of 0.29, 0.36, and 0.51 μg/mL, respectively. A total of 62 metabolites including flavonoids, triterpenoids, benzoquinones, and fatty acids were tentatively identified in the most active plant, i.e., A. elliptica leaf extract, by using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC)–electrospray ionization (ESI) Orbitrap MS. This study suggests a potential natural source of antioxidant and α-glucosidase inhibitors from A. elliptica.


In this paper, the mechanical model of Soil-Pile-Structure interaction of transmission tower-cable system in in-plane is presented and the corresponding equations of motion are derived, in which the nonlinear characteristics of soil is included in the dynamic time history analysis. The computer program for the system is complied and used to calculate the earthquake response of an actual transmission tower. The results of numerical calculation are compared with and without considering soil-pile-structure interactions, which show that the dynamic interaction should be taken into account in the soft foundation.© 2002 ASME


AIM: To investigate the mechanism of diosgenin-induced HeLa cell apoptosis. METHODS: HeLa cell growth was measured by MTT method. Apoptosis was detected by electron microscopy and agarose gel electrophoresis. Ratio of apoptotic cells was measured by APO-BRDU kit. Cell cycle distribution and changes of mitochondrial membrane potential were monitored by flow cytometry. Caspase activities were assayed by caspase apoptosis detection kit. Western blot analysis was used to evaluate the level of mitochondrial Bcl-2 expression. RESULTS: Diosgenin inhibited HeLa cell growth. HeLa cells treated with diosgenin showed typical characteristics of apoptosis including the morphological changes and DNA fragmentation. Caspase family inhibitor (z-VAD-fmk), caspase-9 inhibitor (Ac-AAVALPAVLLALLAPLEHD-CHO), and caspase-3 inhibitor (z-DEVD-fmk) partially prevented diosgenin-in-duced apoptosis, but not caspase-8 inhibitor (z-IETD-fmk) and caspase-10 inhibitor (z-AEVD-fmk). Diosgenin caused reduction of mitochondrial membrane potential and down-regulated Bcl-2 expression. CONCLUSION: Diosgenin induced HeLa cell apoptosis through caspase pathway.