Purpose Compared with warfarin, novel oral anticoagulants (NOACs) are convenient to use, although they require a blanking period immediately before radiofrequency catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF). We compared NOACs and uninterrupted warfarin in the peri-procedural period of AF ablation. Materials and Methods We compared 141 patients treated with peri-procedural NOACs (72% men; 58±11 years old; 71% with paroxysmal AF) and 281 age-, sex-, AF type-, and history of stroke-matched patients treated with uninterrupted warfarin. NOACs were stopped 24 hours before the procedure and restarted on the same procedure day after hemostasis was achieved. Results We found no difference in the CHA2DS2-VASc (p=0.376) and HAS-BLED scores (p=0.175) between the groups. The preprocedural anticoagulation duration was significantly shorter in the NOAC group (76.3±110.7 days) than in the warfarin group (274.7±582.7 days, p<0.001). The intra-procedural total heparin requirement was higher (p<0.001), although mean activated clotting time was shorter (350.0±25.0 s vs. 367.4±42.9 s, p<0.001), in the NOAC group than in the warfarin group. There was no significant difference in thromboembolic events (1.4% vs. 0%, p=0.111) or major bleeding (1.4% vs. 3.9%, p=0.235) between the NOAC and warfarin groups. Minor stroke occurred in two cases within 10 hours of the procedure (underlying CHA2DS2-VASc scores 0 and 1) in the NOAC group. Conclusion Pre-procedural anticoagulation duration was shorter and intra-procedural heparin requirement was higher with NOAC than with uninterrupted warfarin during AF ablation. Although the peri-procedural thromboembolism and bleeding incidences did not differ, minor stroke occurred in two cases in the NOAC group.


1Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing Institute of Respiratory Medicine, Beijing, People's Republic of China; 2School of Biomedical Engineering, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, People's Republic of China Purpose: To explore the relationship between venous thromboembolism (VTE) and early mortality (within six months) in Chinese patients with newly diagnosed metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) after entering the era of precision treatment. Methods: A cohort of 706 consecutive subjects with newly diagnosed metastatic NSCLC were prospectively observed. Clinical and survival data were recorded over a six-month follow-up period. The predictive factors for the occurrence of VTE and the relationship with early mortality were evaluated through univariate and multivariate analyses. Results: During the six-month follow-up period, VTE events occurred in 12.2% (86/706) of the enrolled patients. In the multivariate analyses for VTE, an age older than 70 years (vs < 70: sub-distribution hazard radio [SHR], 1.678; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.073–2.600; P=0.022), an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status ≥2 (vs 0/1: SHR, 1.946; 95% CI, 1.277–2.970; P=0.002), and having an ALK rearrangement (vs nonrearrangement: SHR, 2.377; 95% CI, 1.186–4.760; P=0.015) were significantly associated with the occurrence of VTE. Within six months, 116 subjects (16.4%) died, and the occurrence of VTE (vs no VTE: adjusted HR: 1.863; 95% CI: 1.178–2.947, P=0.008) was remarkably associated with early mortality. Further analysis showed 98 patients (13.9%) with early mortality had EGFR/ALK wild-type genes, with a risk of early mortality 5.935-fold higher than that of patients with an EGFR mutation/ALK rearrangement. Finally, subgroup analyses showed that VTE occurrence was a significant factor for predicting early mortality in patients with EGFR/ALK wild-type genes (adjusted HR: 1.682; 95% CI: 1.023–2.768, P=0.041). Conclusion: Patients with an EGFR mutation/ALK rearrangement had a significantly decreased risk of early mortality in the era of targeted therapy; however, VTE occurrence remained an important predictor for early mortality in metastatic NSCLC patients, especially in patients with EGFR/ALK wild-type genes.


A cross-sectional study was used to examine how sport management undergraduate students judge their capabilities to occupy leadership positions in the sport industry; their occupational leadership efficacy (OLE). Specifically, this study explored differences in capability judgments between groups of students who were completing sequential courses within a sport management undergraduate program, and if and/or how male and female students differed in OLE. Of a total population of N = 484, n = 154 students of a 4-year Undergraduate Sport Management program were surveyed. An analysis of covariance was completed to determine if significant differences existed between courses completed (i.e., years) and sex. Results indicate no difference in OLE between years or between sex. However, the covariates Sport Employed and Sport Leader had significant impacts on OLE. Sport management educators can use these results to improve undergraduate degree programs. Self-efficacy can be fostered using strategies linked to Bandura's (1997) four sources.


This study was conducted with an aim to establish a relationship between sex and fingerprint ridge density. The fingerprints were taken from 500 subjects (250 males and 250 females) in the age group of 18-60 years. After taking fingerprints, the ridges were counted in the upper portion of the radial border of each print for all ten fingers
and mean value was calculated. The results have shown that a finger print ridge of 2 is more likely of male origin and finger print ridge of > 14 ridges/25 mm 2 is more likely of female origin. It has been successful to support the hypothesis that women tend to have a statistically significant greater ridge density than men. Keywords : Fingerprint, Ridge density, Sex, Personal
identification Internet Journal of Medical Update Vol. 2 (2) 2007: pp. 1-4


The coagulation/flocculation process is an essential step in drinking water treatment. The process of formation, growth, breakage and rearrangement of the formed aggregates is key to enhancing the understanding of the flocculation process. Artificial neural networks (ANNs) are a powerful technique, which can be used to model complex problems in several areas, such as water treatment. This work evaluated the evolution of the fractal dimension of aggregates obtained through ANN modeling in the coagulation/flocculation process conducted in high apparent color water (100 ± 5 PtCo), using alum as coagulant in dosages varying from 1 to 12 mg Al3+ L-1, and shear rates from 20 to 60 s-1 for flocculation times from 1 to 60 minutes. Based on raw data, the ANN model resulted in optimized condition of 9.5 mg Al3+ L-1 and pH 6.1, for color removal of 90.5%. For fractal dimension evolution, the ANN was able to represent from 95% to 99% of the results.


In this study, the effect of distributions of solution candidates on the problem space in the meta-heuristic search process and the performance of algorithms has been investigated. For this purpose, solution candidates have been created with random and gauss (normal) distributions. Search performance is measured separately for both types of distribution of algorithms. The performances of the algorithms have been tested on the most popular and widely used benchmark problems. Experimental studies have been conducted on the most recent meta-heuristic search algorithms. It has been seen that the search performance of algorithms varies considerably depending on the method of distribution. In fact, better results were obtained than the distribution methods used in the original versions of the algorithms. Algorithms have revealed their abilities in terms of neighborhoods searching, getting rid of local minimum traps and speeding up searches.


In this study, the main purpose is to present the main frame of revised version in 2001 of Bloom's taxonomy that has been accepted extensively in our country since 1956 as well as around the world. In accordance with this purpose, in the study, answers have been searched to these questions: 1- The rise of the original Bloom's taxonomy and what are the key features of? 2- What are the reasons for renewal of original taxonomy? 3- What kind of arrangements has been made in revised taxonomy? 4- What are the comments on Revised Taxonomy? Scanning method was used as a research method. These are the findings that were acquired in line with the research questions: 1- Between 1948-1956, a group of educators under the coordination of Bloom, developed the classification of cognitive domain. 2- Being modified of thinking and practices related with education by changes since 1956 is the leading motive of the taxonomy's being revised. 3- In revised taxonomy, two different dimensions revealed including dimension of information and dimension of the cognitive process. 4- Dimension of information is similar to the lower stages of knowledge digit of original taxonomy. Cognitive process dimension refers to the action size of the gains.


About 50% of patients with the polymyositis/scleroderma (PM-Scl) overlap syndrome are reported to have autoantibodies to a nuclear/nucleolar particle termed PM-Scl. The particle is composed of several polypeptides of which two have been identified as autoantigens. In this report, human cDNA clone coding for the entire 75-kD autoantigen of the PM-Scl particle (PM-Scl 75) was isolated from a MOLT- 4 lambda gt-11 library. The deduced amino acid sequence of the cDNA clone represented a protein of 355 amino acids and 39.2 kD; the in vitro translation product of this cDNA migrated in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) at approximately 70 kD. The aberrant migration of the polypeptide in SDS-PAGE was shown to be related to the COOH half that was rich in acidic residues. Authenticity of the cDNA coding for PM-Scl 75 was shown by immunoreactivity of PM-Scl sera with in vitro translation products and recombinant fusion proteins encoded by the cDNA. In addition, rabbit antibodies raised to recombinant fusion protein reacted in immunofluorescence, immunoblotting, and immunoprecipitation with the characteristic features displayed by human anti-PM-Scl sera.


This paper analyses factors affecting the likelihood of farmers to participate in short supply chains to market their products. While in literature participation in farmers markets is often emphasised as a re-action to mainstream production strategies, mainly imposed by large retailer, relatively little attention has been given to whether short channel mechanisms and location- related features induce selection for specific typologies of farms and farmers. Our results indicate that more attention needs to be given by both researchers and practitioners to the complexity of factors leading farmers to participate in short supply chains.


Chromosome segregation during mitosis and meiosis relies on the spindle and the functions of numerous microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs). One of the best-studied spindle MAPs is the highly conserved TPX2, which has been reported to have characteristic intracellular dynamics and molecular activities, such as nuclear localisation in interphase, poleward movement in the metaphase spindle, microtubule nucleation, microtubule stabilisation, microtubule bundling, Aurora A kinase activation, kinesin-5 binding, and kinesin-12 recruitment. This protein has been shown to be essential for spindle formation in every cell type analysed so far. However, as yet, TPX2 homologues have not been found in the Drosophila genome. In this study, I found that the Drosophila protein Ssp1/Mei-38 has significant homology to TPX2. Sequence conservation was limited to the putative spindle microtubule-associated region of TPX2, and intriguingly, D-TPX2 (Ssp1/Mei-38) lacks Aurora A- and kinesin-5-binding domains, which are highly conserved in other animal and plant species, including many insects such as ants and bees. D-TPX2 uniformly localised to kinetochore microtubule-enriched regions of the metaphase spindle in the S2 cell line, and it had microtubule binding and bundling activities in vitro. In comparison with other systems, the contribution of D-TPX2 to cell division seems to be minor; live cell imaging of microtubules and chromosomes after RNAi knockdown identified significant delay in chromosome congression in only 18% of the cells. Thus, while this conserved spindle protein is present in Drosophila, other mechanisms may largely compensate for its spindle assembly and chromosome segregation functions.


Paraoxonase 1 (PON1) is a hydrolytic enzyme with wide range of substrates, and capability to protect against lipid oxidation. Despite of the large number of compounds that can be hydrolyzed by paraoxonase, the biologically relevant substrates are still not clearly determined. There is a massive in vitro and in vivo data to demonstrate the beneficial effects of PON1 in several atherosclerosis-related processes. The enzyme is primarily expressed in liver; however, it is also localized in other tissues. PON1 attracted significant interest as a protein that is responsible for the most of antioxidant properties of high-density lipoprotein (HDL). Several bioactive molecules such as dietary polyphenols, aspirin and its hydrolysis product salicylate, are known to stimulate PON1 transcription activation in mouse liver and HepG2 cell line. Studies on the activity, function, and genetic makeup have revealed a protective role of PON1. Some striking data were obtained in PON1 gene knockout and PON1 transgenic mouse models and in human studies. The goal of this review is to assess the current understanding of PON1 expression, enzymatic and antioxidant activity, and its atheroprotective effects. Results from in vivo and in vitro basic studies; and from human studies on the association of PON1 with coronary artery disease (CAD) and ischemic stroke will be discussed.


Increased retention of minority undergraduates is a goal that can be supported for a variety of reasons, from the avoidance of human waste, to concern for balanced institutional budgets, to the desirability of turning out larger numbers of minority graduates who will become professional role models for the next generation. The authors have presented a state-of-the-art review of some promising retention programs, together with recommendations for strengthening such programs.


Shale oil retort water is obtained by centrifuging the oil/water emulsion produced by oil shale retorting. The ciliate Tetrahymena pyriformis was exposed to retort water; 2, 1, and 0.5% initially increased motility; longer exposures decreased motility. Three, 4, and 5% all decreased motility. Cell lysis was directly related to concentration; after 24 h, population densities were 0, 10, and 25% of controls for 2, 1, and 0.5% retort water, respectively. Oxygen consumption paralleled the motility pattern: at lower concentrations it increased initially but decreased with extended exposures while at higher concentrations it decreased rapidly. The most striking cytologic alteration of cells exposed to the toxicant occurred in the membranes; alterations of mucocysts and glycogen content were also observed, but mitochondrial changes were not. Population growth was affected at much lower concentrations than the other test indices. The growth of test populations reached a plateau at values inversely related to concentration: concentrations less than 0.4% had no effect on growth rate.


Periodically textured back reflectors with a honeycomb dimple pattern are investigated for improving the infrared response and conversion efficiency in substrate-type microcrystalline (μc-Si:H) silicon solar cells. For 1-μm-thick μc-Si:H cells, the best current density is obtained at the period of 1.4 µm, while a substantial enhancement in the external quantum efficiency is achievable in a wide range of period of 1–2 µm. In addition, photocurrent of the cells is improved with increasing the aspect ratio of the honeycomb textures. As a result of a high open-circuit voltage and fill factor, as well as the improved current densities, high conversion efficiencies of 9.4% and 9.9% are realized in the 1-µm-thick and 2-µm-thick μc-Si:H cells, respectively.


The depolarization of white light upon passage through a birefringent crystal, due to the unequal phase retardation of different wavelengths is considered. Assuming the incident light to be completely linearly polarized with the spectral power distribution of a blackbody radiator, the degree of polarization remaining after passage through various thicknesses of birefringent material is calculated. The problem is simplified by assuming that there is no dispersion in the crystal. Results show that under the assumptions made, the light from a 3000 K source is less than 1% polarized after passage through 2.66 × 10−1 mm of quartz and 1.41 × 10−2 mm of calcite.


The numerous lawsuits in progress or already judged by the Brazilian Supreme Court consists of a large amount of non-structured data. This leads to a large number of hidden or unknown information, since some relationships between lawsuits are not explicit in the available data; and contributes to generate non-intuitive influences between variables, which in addition increases the degree of uncertainty on judicial outcomes. This work proposes an approach to identify possible judgment outcomes that considers the use of similarity calculations and clustering mechanisms based on lawsuits patterns. The similarity problem was tackled by analysing metadata manually extracted from lawsuits; and this work also presents an approach to detect clusters and to compile past votes. From the results, it is possible to verify lawsuits most likely outcomes and to detect their degree of uncertainty.


Abstract Settlement responses were investigated for mussel (Perna canaliculus) larvae after exposure to catecholamines and their precursor metabolites. Settlement and mortality assays were conducted in Petri plates with chemical treatments (L-phenylalanine, L-tyrosine, L-DOPA, dopamine hydrochloride and epinephrine at various concentrations) and controls. The proteinogenic amino acids L-phenylalanine and L-tyrosine were both effective inducers (~65%) of larval settlement at 10−5 mol l−1 compared with controls (4%). Exposure of larvae to L-DOPA, dopamine and epinephrine resulted in maximum settlement induction (50, 60 and 51%, respectively) at 10−5 mol l−1. Larval mortalities were low (comparable to controls) across all concentrations of L-phenylalanine and L-tyrosine treatments, whereas high mortalities (>60%) were observed for L-DOPA, dopamine and epinephrine at concentrations ≥ 10−4 mol l−1. Our results indicate that P. canaliculus larval settlement is under endogenous regulation by a catecholaminergic mechanism. Furthermore, the inductive effects of all tested metabolites in the epinephrine biosynthesis pathway point to a putative involvement of adrenergic-type receptors in the regulation of larval settlement in this mussel species.


Two treatment regimens for the initial treatment of acute asthma in 50 patients between the ages of 12 and 20 years seen in the emergency room were evaluated. The treatments were randomized such that 26 patients received 2.5 mg of the beta 2-agonist fenoterol by nebulizer and 24 patients received 0.3 mg of epinephrine followed by 0.75 mg of Sus-Phrine. Clinical assessment and spirometry were performed over a two-hour period. Both groups responded within ten minutes and peak improvement was reached within one hour. Peak expiratory flow and clinical score were better following fenoterol treatment in the first hour (P less than .05). The one-second forced expiratory volume and the forced expiratory flow in the middle half of the vital capacity were greater at 20 minutes with fenoterol (P less than .05). Those with more severe obstruction (forced expiratory volume less than 30%) receiving aerosol therapy also had significantly greater improvement in the first 20 minutes compared with those who received injections. Four patients failed to respond to epinephrine whereas all patients showed improvement with fenoterol (P less than .05). These results demonstrated that an inhaled beta 2-agonist is effective in the initial treatment of acute asthma in children, regardless of severity, and avoids the need for injections.


Although cytoglobin is widely considered a tumour suppressor, re-expression plays a role in disease progression in a subset of oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSC), but the mechanism of action is not understood. In this thesis, we developed a new OSC cell model to study the effects of cytoglobin over expression on cellular phenotype and resistance to cisplatin. Microarray analysis of cytoglobin expressing cells showed significantly altered transcripts related to stress response, adhesion and locomotion, and metabolism. Treatment of cytoglobin-expressing cells with cisplatin revealed a greater response in p53-regulated target expression (MAP3K5, NQOl, CDKN2A and GADD45A) compared to non-expressing cells. Further investigation showed this was associated with higher CHKl, p53 and p21 protein levels, suggesting enhanced activation of p53 signalling pathways. Furthermore, cytoglobin-expressing cells were more resistant to cisplatin-induced apoptosis and altered their cell cycle distribution. These changes were linked to reduced total cellular and mitochondrial superoxide. Collectively, these findings demonstrate for the first time that cytoglobin over- expression is associated with resistance to cisplatin-induced cytotoxicity and the mechanism involves p53 signalling. In conclusion, we propose expression of cytoglobin may afford tumours cells a survival advantage in the harsh environmental conditions of the developing tumour as well as resistance to drugs like cisplatin.


This paper analyses the availability of external funding for Luxembourgish independent small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) before and during the crisis. SMEs represent a large part of the private sector in Luxembourg. External finance is essential to enable firms to invest in order to increase their productivity, innovate and create employment. Data used come from the Access to Finance (ATF) survey conducted by STATEC in 2010 and coordinated by Eurostat. This paper provides some stylized facts on access to finance in Luxembourg. It presents results from a regression analysis on how the individual characteristics, the past behavior and the business environment perception affect the decision about whether or not to seek external finance. The results of estimations show that past behavior is the most important determinant of seeking finance. Particular emphasis is placed on assessing the consequences of the 2007-2010 recession by introducing variables related to changes in perception between 2007 and 2010 and growth constraints.


Oral cancer makes up 1%-2% of all cancers that may arise in the body. The majority of oral cancers consists of squamous cell carcinomas. Oral cancer carries a considerable mortality rate, being mainly dependent on the stage of the disease at admission. Worldwide some 50% of the patients with oral cancer present with advanced disease. There are several ways of trying to diagnose oral cancer in a lower tumor stage, being 1) mass screening or screening in selected patients, 2) reduction of patients' delay, and 3) reduction of doctors' delay. Oral cancer population-based screening ("mass screening") programs do not meet the guidelines for a successful outcome. There may be some benefit when focusing on high-risk groups, such as heavy smokers and heavy drinkers. Reported reasons for patients' delay range from fear of a diagnosis of cancer, limited accessibility of primary health care, to unawareness of the possibility of malignant oral diseases. Apparently, information campaigns in news programs and TV have little effect on patients' delay. Mouth self-examination may have some value in reducing patients' delay. Doctors' delay includes dentists' delay and diagnostic delay caused by other medical and dental health care professionals. Doctors' delay may vary from almost zero days up to more than six months. Usually, morbidity of cancer treatment is measured by quality of life (QoL) questionnaires. In the past decades this topic has drawn a lot of attention worldwide. It is a challenge to decrease the morbidity that is associated with the various treatment modalities that are used in oral cancer without substantially compromising the survival rate. Smoking cessation contributes to reducing the risk of oral cancers, with a 50% reduction in risk within five years. Indeed, risk factor reduction seems to be the most effective tool in an attempt to decrease the morbidity and mortality of oral cancer. Key words:Oral cancer, early diagnosis, quality of life.


The citrate salt form of ixazomib, an orally bioavailable second generation proteasome inhibitor (PI) with potential antineoplastic activity. Ixazomib inhibits the activity of the proteasome, blocking the targeted proteolysis normally performed by the proteasome, which results in an accumulation of unwanted or misfolded proteins; disruption of various cell signaling pathways may follow, resulting in the induction of apoptosis. Compared to first generation PIs, second generation PIs may have an improved pharmacokinetic profile with increased potency and less toxicity. Proteasomes are large protease complexes that degrade unneeded or damaged proteins that have been ubiquinated.


Abstract Our novel approach was to compare the pharmacokinetics of 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA), ALA-n-butyl and ALA-n-hexylester induced protoporphyrin IX (PpIX), together with the phototoxicity after photodynamic therapy (PDT) in human skin in vivo, using iontophoresis as a dose-control system. A series of four increasing doses of each compound was iontophoresed into healthy skin of 10 volunteers. The kinetics of PpIX metabolism (n = 4) and the response to PDT (n = 6) performed 5 h after iontophoresis, were assessed by surface PpIX fluorescence and post-irradiation erythema. Whilst ALA-induced PpIX peaked at 7.5 h, highest PpIX fluorescence induced by ALA-n-hexylester was observed at 3–6 h and no clear peak was seen with ALA-n-butylester. With ALA-n-hexylester, more PpIX was formed after 3 (P < 0.05) and 4.5 h, than with ALA or ALA-n-butylester. All compounds showed a linear correlation between logarithm of dose and PpIX fluorescence/phototoxicity at 5 h, with R-values ranging from 0.87 to 1. In addition, the ALA-n-hexylester showed the tendency to cause greater erythema than ALA and ALA-n-butylester. Fluorescence microscopy (n = 2) showed similar PpIX distributions and penetration depths for the three drugs, although both ALA esters led to a more homogeneous PpIX localization. Hence, ALA-n-hexylester appears to have slightly more favorable characteristics for PDT than ALA or ALA-n-butylester.


We have considered elsewhere 1 the differentiation between initial atelectasis and resorption atelectasis, the degree of expansion of the lungs with the first breath, and the presence in premature babies of unexpandable pulmonary tissue, consisting of incompletely developed parenchyma. The pathogenesis of the ordinarily recognized type of atelectasis in new-born and, particularly, premature infants forms the subject of this study. The diagnosis of this condition as a complete and satisfactory cause of death, especially in premature infants, is widely accepted. It is obvious that when large areas of atelectasis are found in the lungs of a new-born infant who has died after exhibiting such evidences of imperfect respiratory function as constant or intermittent cyanosis, there must be a relation between the atelectasis and the anoxemia. The atelectasis may be accepted as the immediate cause of the anoxemia. It has seemed to us, however, that so long as the lung is


Three series of nociceptin (NC)-related peptides were synthesized and their abilities (i) to bind to the NC sites expressed in mouse forebrain membranes, (ii) to inhibit the electrically evoked contraction of the mouse vas deferens, and (iii) to inhibit forskolin-stimulated cAMP accumulation in Chinese hamster ovary cells expressing the human recombinant NC receptor (CHONCR) were investigated. The compounds of the first series (a series) have an ordinary Xaa1-Gly2 bond, those of the second series (b series) have a Xaa1psi(CH2-NH)Gly2 pseudopeptide bond, and those of the third series (c series) have a peptoid (Nxaa1-Gly2) structure. The affinity values measured in the binding assay and in the two functional assays with the compounds of the three series showed high levels of correlation. Thus, (I) the compounds of the a series in which Phe1 was substituted with Tyr, Cha, or Leu acted as potent NC receptor agonists; (II) the b series compounds behaved as NC receptor antagonists in the mouse vas deferens and as full agonists in CHO(NCR) cells with different potencies depending on the first amino acid residue, [Phe1psi(CH2-NH)Gly2]NC(1-17)NH2 and [Phe1psi(CH2-NH)Gly2]NC(1-13)NH2 being the most potent compounds; (III) the compounds of the third series were all inactive both as agonists and as antagonists with the exception of [Nphe1]NC(1-17)NH2 and [Nphe1]NC(1-13)NH2, which behaved as NC receptor antagonists both in the isolated tissue and in CHO(NCR) cells (pKB 6.1-6.4). In conclusion, this study demonstrates that chemical requirements for NC receptor agonists are different from those of antagonists. Moreover, modifications of the steric orientation of the aromatic residue Phe1 in the NC sequence as obtained with the pseudopeptide bond between Phe1 and Gly2 or with the displacement of the benzyl side chain by one atom, as in Nphe1, lead respectively to reduction or elimination of efficacy. Indeed, in contrast to [Phe1psi(CH2-NH)Gly2]NC(1-13)NH2 which has been reported to exhibit agonist activity in several assays involving either central or recombinant NC receptors, [Nphe1]NC(1-13)NH2 antagonizes the effect of NC at human recombinant NC receptors and in the mouse tail withdrawal assay.


Magnetic resonance at ultra-high field increases signal and spectral dispersion. In this thesis, I use those characteristics to investigate three different subjects in 13C spectroscopy, hyperpolarized methods and chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) used for molecular imaging. In the brain, metabolism is driven by glia-neuron interactions and is composed of at least two compartments with distinct TCA cycle kinetics. The first study examines cerebral metabolic adaptation after an induced glial TCA-cycle impairment using 1H and 13C spectroscopy. We treated rats with fluoroacetate, which specifically blocks glial aconitase and measured changes in neurochemical profile at euglycemic and hyperglycemic condi-tions by in vivo 1H MR spectroscopy. In addition, we evaluated the brain-compartmentalized metabolic adap-tation by following 13C-incorporation into brain amino acids by modern dynamic 13C MRS methods during infu-sion of [1,6-13C2]glucose. By following [1,6-13C2]glucose incorporation, we successfully observed an augmen-tation of pyruvate carboxylase and glutamine synthetase fluxes and a 20% decrease of glial TCA cycle flux. Neuronal metabolism was also affected. In the second study, we focused on hyperpolarized methods to increase acetate 13C polarization allowing us to follow the kinetics of its metabolic products in the TCA cycle. Indeed, infusion of hyperpolarized [1-13C]acetate, an astrocyte-specific precursor, and the in vivo detection of 2-oxo[5-13C]glutarate (2OG), a TCA intermediate, enables the direct analysis of glial Krebs cycle activity. We examined the effect of hyperpolar-ized acetate concentration on its cerebral metabolism and calculate the production rate of 2OG. A healthy group was compared to rodents treated with fluoroacetate. The conversion rates of acetate to 2OG were calculated and were found to depend on the substrate dose. We successfully estimated 2OG production rates. In partially inhibited TCA cycle conditions, the production rate of 2OG was reduced by a quarter. This level of reduction is agrees with the percentage of inhibition calculated in the first study. Finally, we investigated glycogen imaging in skeletal muscle using the CEST strategy. It has been demonstrat-ed in perfused liver that glycogen can be detected indirectly through the water signal using CEST. Glycogen detection is, due to its resonance close to water, strongly sensitive to spectral dispersion and improved by a higher static magnetic field. In contrast to liver, which contains  300 mmol/g of glycogen and enjoys good glycogen specificity, myocellular content is also rich in creatine, which produces a spectral signal on the same order of amplitude as its glycogen content of  80-30 mmol/g. In this study, we allowed glycogen to be de-tectable in vivo and distinguishable from the neighboring creatine at 14.1T. We propose to use creatine as an internal reference for muscular glycoCEST analysis. Scanning muscle after physical exercise, resulted in a 50% reduction of glycoCEST compared to muscle at resting state. This result supportis the specificity of the CEST method and is consistent with literature. This last study demonstrates for the first time that glycoCEST imag-ing is feasible in vivo.


Background: When discussing matters of reproduction, the 2015 revised guidelines for the management of medullary thyroid carcinoma recommend that patients diagnosed with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2A (MEN 2A) are informed about the option of Preimplantation Genetic Testing for Monogenic Disorders (PGT-M). In addition, patients seem to have a genuine interest in reproductive options. However, there are just two reports worldwide of this technology being used for patients with MEN 2A. We here present, in a Danish couple where the man has MEN 2A, the first European family with children born after PGT-M. Objective: To report the results of PGT-M in relation to multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2A with the aim to increase awareness among physicians treating this and other genetic disorders. Methods: A Danish couple was referred to the PGT Center at Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet and opted for PGT-M after counseling by a clinical geneticist and a fertility doctor. The embryos were diagnosed using microsatellite polymorphic marker close to RET. Results: The couple had two healthy children born in 2017 and 2019 as a result of a total of three ICSI treatments including controlled ovarian stimulation, oocyte retrieval and PGT-M, and a total of six blastocyst transfers. Conclusion: A session with a clinical geneticist covering all reproductive options for patients in early adult life is a relevant part of the clinical management of patients with MEN 2A, and other patients with hereditary cancer predisposition syndromes.


In the field of restorative dentistry, the use of composites has become widespread with increasing aesthetic demand. Nowadays the composites are divided into various classes depending on the type and size of the filler particles. Apart from this, many new composites have been produced in order to protect the healthy tooth structure, to reduce microleakage and secondary caries formation, to reduce marginal pigmentation and postoperative sensitivity together with developments in technology. The aim of this review is to improve the clinical performance and to evaluate new composite resins that will provide more selection criteria for dentists.
How to cite this article: Cangul S, Adiguzel O. The latest developments related to composite resins. Int Dent Res 2017;7:32-41.


Cerro Prieto geothermal reservoirs tend to exhibit good hydraulic communication with adjacent cool groundwater aquifers. Under natural state conditions the hot fluids mix with the surrounding colder waters along the margins of the geothermal system, or discharge to shallow levels by flowing up fault L. In response to exploitation reservoir pressures decrease, leading to changes in the fluid flow pattern in the system and to groundwater influx. The various Cerro Prieto reservoirs have responded differently to production, showing localized near-well or generalized boiling, depending on their access to cool-water recharge. Significant cooling by dilution with groundwater has only been observed in wells located near the edges of the field. In general, entry of cool water at Cerro Prieto is beneficial because it tends to maintain reservoir pressures, restrict boiling, and lengthen the life and productivity of wells. 15 refs., 10 figs., 1 tab.


ABSTRACT This work aims to present an overview of the methods that can be used to understand the categorization of reptiles in ancient Egyptian culture. Firstly, the widespread practice of using determinatives (classifiers) is here applied to the case of a fragment from the temple of Djedkara, where the word ḥfȝ.w is written with the classifier of the lizard. It is suggested that ḥfȝ.w has been not be used to indicate a snake here, but rather a similar reptile. The second part makes comparison between lists, which were a way to organize and summarize knowledge. Two texts are here presented in order to better understand the possible clusters and hierarchization of snakes: the Brooklyn papyrus 47.218.48 and .85 (Traité d'ophiologie) edited by Sauneron, which contained in its first part a list of snakes with their description, and the section about snakes in the Theriaká of Nicander of Colophone, which permits a cultural comparison with the Greek world regarding the organizing principles of the reptile world. Finally, a statistical study then presented which analyses Egyptian words meaning "snakes" (jm.j-tȝ, fnṯ, sȝ-tȝ, ḥfȝ.w, ḏdf.t), as found across different time periods and genres of text, which attempts to establish the specific field of use of each word.


This paper critically reviews theories of migration in the context of EU East-West flows. In addition to outlining the weaknesses of the dominant approaches, it also reviews migration theorizing more generally and synthesizes current suggestions on how to advance migration theorizing. The paper empirically tests the neoclassical paradigm on the actual data of after-accession labor mobility from the EU8 countries to the UK and Ireland. It argues that the neoclassical theory of migration struggles to account for significantly different rates of outmigration from CEE countries which share relatively similar living standards and wage differentials relative to Western Europe. The analysis help to support the conceptual critique of this theory and to emphasize the need to incorporate country-specific institutional and structural variables into migration research while analyzing migration as part of broader global processes and socio-economic change.


Increasing concern about the problem of risk associated with poultry business has highlighted the need for its comprehensive understanding. A clear knowledge of financial risk in broiler enterprise will pave the way to efficient mitigation strategies among broiler producers. This study investigates financial risk programming, and threshold analysis in broiler enterprises in Delta State, Nigeria. Probabilistic (multi-stage) sampling procedure was adopted in selecting 200 broiler farmers for the study. Structured questionnaire was used to collect 6 years time series data (2004-2009) from the respondents. Collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, QSB version of linear programming model, and threshold model. The results of the study showed that broiler enterprise is profitable with optimum net profit of N 47,925 and N357,558 per small scale and large scale producers, respectively. An optimum profit of N389.9 per bird was earned by broiler producers. The output of QSB version of linear programming showed that at the stocking rate of 20, 692 birds, financial risk is optimized at 15%. The threshold regression model revealed that the broiler enterprise in the study area generally operated below the risk threshold. Simple regression indicated that expected return is positively and significantly (P < 0.05) related with financial risk. Incorporating financial risk as a constraint in the broiler farm plan is a useful contribution that will enhance efficient farm planning. The optimal return and financial risk threshold provided in this study will improve the confidence level of stakeholders in poultry industry such as current and potential investors, insurance institution and institutional lenders. This will translate to growth in the broiler subsector of the poultry industry in Delta State.


Background and aim: Neutrophil granulocytes express well known adhesion molecules on their cell membranes that during inflammation participate in neutrophil adhesion to endothelial cells. Earlier experiments have shown that neutrophils adhere to artificial surfaces and biomaterials when known adhesion molecules are inactive, indicating that also other adhesion molecules are involved. Certain proteoglycans expressed on neutrophils are thought to participate in neutrophil adhesion. Neutrophils are short lived cells and cannot be cultured for experimental use. A promyelocytic HL60 cell line can differentiate towards neutrophils and be used as a model to study neutrophil adhesion. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of certain proteoglycans on HL60 cells and their ability to adhere to artificial surfaces compared to isolated neutrophils.Methods: HL60 cells were differentiated towards mature neutrophils with stimulation of all-transretinoic-acid. Differentiated HL60 cells were labelled with antibodies against two different proteoglycans, syndecan-4 and CD44, and measured by flow cytometry. Adhesion experiments were performed on differentiated HL60 cells pre-treated with anti-CD44 antibodies and quantified with an enzymatic method based on the level of myeloperoxidase in the cells. Neutrophils were isolated from whole blood from blood donor samples and compared to HL60 cells in the adhesion experiments.Conclusions: The experiments from flow cytometry showed that differentiated HL60 cells express CD44 on their cell membrane, but there was no expression of syndecan-4 on differentiated HL60. Using antibody-mediated blockage of CD44, adhesion of differentiated HL60 cells and isolated neutrophils to a polystyrene surface was reduced. This indicated that CD44 acted as a proadhesive molecule involved in HL60 cell and neutrophil adhesion. The differentiated HL60 cells can function as a model of CD44 proteoglycan mediated adhesion of neutrophils to polystyrene surfaces, but they probably cannot be used as a model to study syndecan-4 mediated adhesion of neutrophils.


In a review of the literature it is shown that most HIV-infected patients experience psychoreactive disorders early in the course of the disease and psycho-organic disorders at its more advanced stages. The latter are due either to the HIV itself or to opportunistic infections and malignancies. Differential diagnoses comprise adverse-effects of chemotherapeutics or illicit drugs and, in addition, independent psychiatric disorders certains of which may be over-represented in high-risk groups. Diagnostic and therapeutic strategies are reviewed.


Many beginning teachers struggle in teaching, consequently, tertiary education has been criticised for not preparing preservice teachers well enough. This qualitative study uses interviews and questionnaires to investigate 10 first-year teachers' understandings of how universities can support them more effectively. The findings indicated that university preparation needed more literacy (particularly reading and spelling), numeracy, catering for lower socio-economic students, understanding behaviour differentiation, and communicating with parents. A two-prong approach may support beginning teachers: (1) timely induction and mentoring within school settings, and (2) research for advancing teacher education coursework to ensure currency of addressing beginning teachers' needs.


In all our well-established theories, it is assumed that events are embedded in a global causal structure such that, for every pair of events, the causal order between them is always fixed. However, the possible interplay between quantum mechanics and general relativity may require a revision of this paradigm. The process matrix framework keeps the validity of quantum physics locally but does not assume the existence of a global causal order. It allows to describe causal structures corresponding to a quantum superposition of 'A is before B' and 'B is before A'. So far, the framework has been developed only for finite-dimensional systems, and a straightforward generalization to infinite dimensions leads to singularities. Such generalization is necessary for continuous-variable systems and is a prerequisite for quantum fields on indefinite causal structures. Here we develop the process-matrix framework for continuous-variable systems. We encounter and solve the problems of singularities. Moreover, we study an example of a process in infinite dimensions, and we derive correlations exhibiting intereference due to processes in which A is before B and B is before A.


Abstract: We compared survival rates of eastern wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo sylvestris) gobblers in hunted (Crackerneck Wildlife Management Area and Ecological reserve [CWMA]) and unhunted (Savannah River Site [SRS]) populations in South Carolina to assess impact of spring gobbler-only hunts. Annual survival rate of gobblers on SRS (0.71) was greater (χ2 = 5.11; df = 1; P = 0.02) than that of gobblers on CWMA (0.54). Our results indicate that spring gobbler harvests constitute additive mortality to turkey populations. However, even in years when reproductive rates were relatively low, a spring-only gobbler harvest rate of 25% appeared to have a minimal effect on turkey populations.


Vossian Antonomasia is a prolific stylistic device, in use since antiquity. It can compress the introduction or description of a person or another named entity into a terse, poignant formulation and can best be explained by an example: When Norwegian world champion Magnus Carlsen is described as "the Mozart of chess", it is Vossian Antonomasia we are dealing with. The pattern is simple: A source (Mozart) is used to describe a target (Magnus Carlsen), the transfer of meaning is reached via a modifier ("of chess"). This phenomenon has been discussed before (as 'metaphorical antonomasia' or, with special focus on the source object, as 'paragons'), but no corpus-based approach has been undertaken as yet to explore its breadth and variety. We are looking into a full-text newspaper corpus (The New York Times, 1987-2007) and describe a new method for the automatic extraction of Vossian Antonomasia based on Wikidata entities. Our analysis offers new insights into the occurrence of popular paragons and their distribution.


Abstract Introduction: For more than a decade, conflict in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has been claiming lives. Within that conflict, sexual violence has been used by militia groups to intimidate and punish communities, and to control territory. This study aimed to: (1) investigate overall frequency in number of Eastern DRC sexual assaults from 2004 to 2008 inclusive; (2) determine if peaks in sexual violence coincide with known military campaigns in Eastern DRC; and (3) study the types of violence and types of perpetrators as a function of time. Methods: This study was a retrospective, descriptive, registry-based evaluation of sexual violence survivors presenting to Panzi Hospital between 2004 and 2008. Results: A total of 4,311 records were reviewed. Throughout the five-year study period, the highest number of reported sexual assaults occurred in 2004, with a steady decrease in the total number of incidents reported at Panzi Hospital from 2004 through 2008. The highest peak of reported sexual assaults coincided with a known militant attack on the city of Bukavu. A smaller sexual violence peak in April 2004 coincided with a known military clash near Bukavu. Over the five-year period, the number of sexual assaults reportedly perpetrated by armed combatants decreased by 77% (p = 0.086) and the number of assaults reportedly perpetrated by non-specified perpetrators decreased by 92% (p < 0.0001). At the same time, according to the hospital registry, the number of sexual assaults reportedly perpetrated by civilians increased 17-fold (p < 0.0001). This study was limited by its retrospective nature, by the inherent selection bias of studying only survivors presenting to Panzi Hospital, and by the use of a convenience sample within Panzi Hospital. Conclusions: After years of military rape in South Kivu Province, civilian adoption of sexual violence may be a growing phenomenon. If this is the case, the social mechanisms that prevent sexual violence will have to be rebuilt and sexual violence laws will have to be fully enforced to bring all perpetrators to justice. Proper rehabilitation and reintegration of ex-combatants may also be an important step towards reducing civilian rape in Eastern DRC.


This paper argues that the best way to achieve major improvements in scholarly communication in the short and medium term is to make it mandatory to deposit research papers in open access institutional repositories. This is what the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee report of 2004 on scientific publishing recommended. The paper defines what open access repositories are and explains why they should be institutional. It also deals with question of what should be deposited in institutional repositories and why these improve scholarly communication. It then deals with the issue of mandating deposition: why deposition should be mandatory, who should mandate deposition and who should carry out deposition. The paper concludes with an analysis of the wider implications of mandating deposition in institutional repositories and a summary of the existing situation in the UK and elsewhere. The paper discusses the Select Committee report and the UK Government response in relation to institutional repositories.


There is no doubt that fluoride has been playing an important role in the prevention of dental caries and has been incorporated in various products (in both topical and systemic forms). However, few researchers consider fluoride to be a double edged sword as its use as an anticaries agent has been marked by various controversies because of the health concerns associated with the excessive use of the fluorides with its chronic use has been found to be associated with dental fluorosis, skeletal fluorosis, osteoporosis of long bones, carcinomas, renal and gall bladder calcification etc. The efficacy of fluorides to pit and fissured of the tooth surface is also questioned as its effect only seems to be limited to the smooth surface to the tooth. Hence, this review provides the readers with alternative fluoride free delivery mechanisms for caries prevention which can be used as an effective public health measure.


Theories and frameworks for regulation of particular industries or types of behavior have grown in richness in recent years. This article identifies three perspectives within contemporary regulatory theory: "normative,""descriptive," and "poststructuralist" perspectives. We ask whether contemporary models of regulatory governance arrangements adequately capture and explain the characteristics and operation of existing regulatory spaces. We outline three key models linked to these perspectives (responsive regulation, smart regulation, and nodal governance) and discuss their relevance with specific reference to one complex case study, the gambling industry in a federal polity, Australia, where the regulatory arrangements are quite diverse. We argue that regulatory theory needs to remain flexible if it is to inform an understanding of concrete regulatory challenges, thereby assisting analysts and practitioners to assess current and potential approaches for improved regulatory governance arrangements. Accordingly, we build a case for considering a learning perspective on regulation and governance theory linked to pragmatism.


Discusses the theoretical foundation for type hierarchy of complex objects to extend modelling concepts, semantics and constraints. Complex objects consist of entities and data-structure instances. We assume general constructions of data structures, i.e. not only sets and tuples but any structuring operators are allowed. Our discussion uses an instance-based data model. Since there may be infinite complex type information to each instance, we explore a simplified description in such a way that type schemes contain only least-general types. The heart of our approach exists in the semantic orders of complex objects.


This contribution offers some critical reflections on the Diagnostic Overview produced by the South African National Planning Commission. The argument is structured in the form of catena and commentary with main sections devoted to the assumption of the need for economic growth, factors inhibiting economic growth, the category of unemployability, and the impact of inequalities. It is suggested that Christian discourse on sin, understood as a form of social diagnostics, can contri-bute to an in-depth diagnosis by uncovering the root causes of the problem from an ultimate perspective.


Governments are increasingly relying on algorithms to automate decision-making in diverse areas, including social welfare, criminal justice, healthcare, law enforcement and national security. This chapter sketches the way in which algorithms are or may be used across the spectrum of government decision making — from the drafting of legislation, to judicial decision making, to the implementation of laws by the executive branch. Then, based on scholarship in the field and our own empirical, doctrinal and theoretical work, the chapter examines the rule of law values affected by automated government decision making systems and the legal and practical issues that the implementation and supervision of such systems may pose in practice.


In a society where multimodal stories (movies, TV series, and computer games) have a big influence on young people, reports show that young people demonstrate a decrease in reading habits, reading comprehension, and reading abilities. This article analyses to what extent and in what way(s) various text and media forms are used in literary studies at upper secondary level in Sweden through interviews with five teachers, who offer their experiences, ideas, and thoughts on working with various fictional texts. The results show that novels are used most frequently, that the teachers struggle with the decrease in reading habits among their students, that the students prefer and show great knowledge about films, that there is an absence of multimodal fictional texts in literary studies, and that the teachers see that neither text form nor media form has an impact on student performance.


As transnational capital continues to penetrate the agricultural sectors of developing countries, agri-food production-consumption is increasingly organised at the global scale. This has profound implications for small-scale farmers in the global South, who are being integrated into a globalising agri-food system geared towards the provision of agricultural commodities to meet the demands of wealthy consumers in Northern markets. Chile is one country that has purposefully inserted itself into the world trading system as an agri-exporter - a strategy that has fundamentally transformed Chilean agriculture. Framed within an examination of agrarian transformations in Chile and a world-historical account of agri-food globalisation, this thesis critically examines local-global linkages engendered by agri-food globalisation through a case study of export-oriented Chilean smallholder raspberry growers. The study aims to understand the structure and dynamics of the global value chain for raspberries, and to determine the livelihood implications of smallholder growers' participation in it. A detailed, locality case study was conducted in Yerbas Buenas - an important site of raspberry production within Chile - combining analysis of the raspberry value chain, and an in-depth survey of grower livelihoods. The value chain component focuses on key chain actors and functions within Chile, examining the role of public and private sector organisations governing and coordinating activities along the chain. The livelihoods component examines the significance of raspberry production within diversified household livelihood strategies, considering key assets, capabilities and mediating factors shaping smallholders' access to the value chain. Additionally, the research seeks to explore synergies and tensions between global value chain and sustainable rural livelihoods approaches, and to consider their integrative potential. The thesis finds that increasing competitive pressures, particularly arising from the evolving quality requirements of key overseas buyers, are seriously undermining the capacity of smallholder growers to participate in the chain. While existing private and public sector support is necessary for the participation of the smallest growers, it is not sufficient to secure their survival. It is argued that the neoliberal macroeconomic model represents a major barrier to smallholder participation, as the modernising agri-export-led growth strategy that it underpins can not accommodate the degree of intervention or the redistribution of resources required to address socio-economic inequality in the Chilean countryside.


OBJECTIVE
To determine the effectiveness of a short-term intervention to promote best practices for control of respiratory infections in primary care physicians' offices.

DESIGN
Before-after observational study.

SETTING
Family physicians' offices in Ottawa, Ont.

PARTICIPANTS
General practitioners and office staff.

INTERVENTIONS
Four infection-control practices (use of masks, alcohol-based hand gel, and signs, and asking patients to sit at least 1 m apart in the waiting room) were observed, and 2 reported infection-control practices (disinfecting surfaces and use of hand-gel dispensers in examining rooms) were audited before the intervention and 6 weeks after the intervention.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES
Percentage of patients asked to use masks and alcohol-based hand gel, number of relevant signs, and percentage of patients asked to sit at least 1 m away from other patients. Percentage of surfaces disinfected and percentage of physicians using hand-gel dispensers in examining rooms.

RESULTS
Of 242 practices invited, 53 agreed to participate (22% response rate), and within those practices, 143/151 (95%) physicians participated. Signs regarding respiratory infection control measures increased from 15.4% to 81.1% following the intervention (P < .001). At least 1 patient with cough and fever was given a mask in 17% of practices before the intervention; during the observation period after the intervention, at least 1 patient was given a mask in 66.7% of practices (P < .001). Patients were instructed to use alcohol-based hand gel in 24.5% of practices before the intervention and in 79.2% of practices after it (P < .001). Instruction to sit at least 1 m from others in the waiting area was given in 39.6% of practices before the intervention and in 52.8% of practices following the intervention (P < .001). Before the intervention, the percentage of practices using all 4 audited primary prevention measures was 3.8%; after the intervention, 52.8% of practices were using them (P < .001), demonstrating a 49% increase in adoption of best practices.

CONCLUSION
A multifaceted intervention by public health nurses successfully promoted best practices for control of respiratory infections in primary care offices. Collaboration between public health services and primary care can promote best practices and warrants further study and development in areas of common interest.


The damage of structure leads to variation of structural modal parameter,so the wavelet transform for damage detection is introduced in this paper for considering the variation. First, structural dynamic response signal on the basis of the vibration-based structural damage diagnosis methods is calculated by structural analysis in the paper, then, each of sub-signals is calculated according to wavelet analysis, also, the sub-signal energy spectrum of dynamic response signal and energy spectrum variation are known. By observing the difference of the sub-signal and the variation of the sub-signal energy spectrum, we can get the variation of structural modal parameter and the sub-signal energy spectrum due to the performance degradation of the whole structure and local variations of damage level and location ,so that this method can be used in on-line damage detection for bridge structure.


: The urea-induced equilibrium unfolding transition of dihydrofolate reductase from Escherichia coli was monitored by UV difference, circular dichroism (CD), and fluorescence spectroscopy. Each of these data sets were well described by a two-state unfolding model involving only native and unfolded forms. The free energy of folding in the absence of urea at pH 7.8, 15 degrees C is 6.13 +/- 0.36 kcal mol-1 by difference UV, 5.32 +/- 0.67 kcal mol-1 by CD, and 5.42 +/- 1.04 kcal mol-1 by fluorescence spectroscopy. The midpoints for the difference UV, CD, and fluorescence transitions are 3.12, 3.08, and 3.18 M urea, respectively. The near-coincidence of the unfolding transitions monitored by these three techniques also supports the assignment of a two-state model for the equilibrium results. Kinetic studies of the unfolding and refolding reactions show that the process is complex and therefore that additional species must be present. Unfolding jumps in the absence of potassium chloride revealed two slow phases which account for all of the amplitude predicted by equilibrium experiments. Unfolding in the presence of 400 mM KCl results in the selective loss of the slower phase, implying that there are two native forms present in equilibrium prior to unfolding. Five reactions were observed in refolding: two slow phases designated tau 1 and tau 2 that correspond to the slow phases in unfolding and three faster reactions designated tau 3, tau 4, and tau 5 that were followed by stopped-flow techniques. The kinetics of the recovery of the native form was monitored by following the binding of methotrexate, a tight-binding inhibitor of dihydrofolate reductase, at 380 nm.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


As American family structures have become more heterogeneous, status-based intestacy statutes have become less suited to promoting donative intent. Indeed, numerous scholars of wealth transfer law have noted the critical need for intestacy law reform to address the needs of decedents whose donative intent does not comport with traditional family norms. We propose addressing this concern by looking to intestate decedents' non-probate transfers, such as a revocable trust, life insurance policy, 401(k) account, brokerage account, or joint tenancy with right of survivorship deed. In 2010, we, along with a co-author, published the first study to consider the relationship between donative intent with respect to the probate estate and donative intent as expressed in non-probate transfers. That study utilized a factorial research design to assess public attitudes and offered support for our new heir hypothesis, that, depending on the identity of the non-probate transfer beneficiary and the identity of the existing heir, a decedent would want a non-probate transfer beneficiary who is not otherwise an heir to be treated as an heir. The instant two-part study of estate planners produces additional knowledge about how best to integrate non-probate transfers into intestacy statutes. In the first part of our study, we conducted a paper survey of forty-five estate planners. The responses to this survey greatly influenced the second part of our study in which we conducted in-person or telephone interviews with nineteen estate planners. The findings reported in this study provide the framework for statutory reform. This study demonstrates that the new heir reform increases the likelihood of promoting intestates' donative intent in a growing number of twenty-first century familial situations.


A hybrid formalism combining elements from Kramers-Kronig based analyses and dispersion analysis was developed, which allows removing interference-based effects in the infrared spectra of layers on highly reflecting substrates. In order to enable a highly convenient application, the correction procedure is fully automatized and usually requires less than a minute with non-optimized software on a typical office PC. The formalism was tested with both synthetic and experimental spectra of poly(methyl methacrylate) on gold. The results confirmed the usefulness of the formalism: apparent peak ratios as well as the interference fringes in the original spectra were successfully corrected. Accordingly, the introduced formalism makes it possible to use inexpensive and robust highly reflecting substrates for routine infrared spectroscopic investigations of layers or films the thickness of which is limited by the imperative that reflectance absorbance must be smaller than about 1. For thicker films the formalism is still useful, but requires estimates for the optical constants.


We study the effect of correlated noise on the accuracy of population coding using a model of a population of neurons that are broadly tuned to an angle in two-dimension. The fluctuations in the neuronal activity is modeled as a Gaussian noise with pairwise correlations which decays exponentially with the difference between the preferred orientations of the pair. By calculating the Fisher information of the system, we show that in the biologically relevant regime of parameters positive correlations decrease the estimation capability of the network relative to the uncorrelated population. Moreover strong positive correlations result in information capacity which saturates to a finite value as the number of cells in the population grows. In contrast, negative correlations substantially increase the information capacity of the neuronal population.


In 1999, under the leadership and direction of the Director of Clinical Services (Nursing), Roger Napthine, Project Consultant, was commissioned to undertake a review of medication policies and practices for a regional acute-care hospital. This initiative was taken with the view of improving nursing practice and patient care. Recommendations from Napthine's review included the trial in a medical and a surgical unit of a change in the administration of routine morning and evening medication times. A descriptive study that included a convenience sample of 52 patients and 25 registered nurses was conducted in the two units. The findings demonstrated that patients were able to sleep longer. Further, although they tended to wake earlier, their 'in hospital' and 'at home' sleeping patterns were more closely aligned. There was agreement among the nurse participants that the change to flexible medication times allowed patients to sleep longer. However, concerns were raised about the impact of the change on other nursing duties, particularly those performed in the mornings.


The major outer-membrane protein (MOMP) of Chlamydia trachomatis is the focus of attention for chlamydial vaccine design, particularly those serovar- and subspecies-specific epitopes which provoke neutralizing immune responses. Selected surface-exposed B-cell epitopes of MOMP, incorporating B-subspecies specificities, were expressed as fusions with LamB, an inducible outer-membrane transport protein of Escherichia coli. These recombinant chlamydial-LamB proteins were correctly transported to the outer membrane of both E. coli and an aro A mutant of Salmonella typhimurium. The immunogenicity of the constructs was investigated in a mouse model of chlamydial salpingitis. After oral immunization, recombinant S. typhimurium were recovered from the livers of mice for up to two weeks, and a serum IgG response was induced both to the Salmonella and to the inserted chlamydial epitopes. By contrast, intravenous inoculation was ineffective. Although these LamB fusions proved only weakly immunogenic, this approach should be useful for investigating the ability of attenuated S. typhimurium vaccines incorporating chlamydial epitopes to stimulate protective mucosal immunity in the mouse model of chlamydial salpingitis.


OBJECTIVE
To examine the effect of the number of pregnancies on the subsequent risk for stroke and stroke subtypes.

DESIGN
Prospective cohort study.

PARTICIPANTS
National cohort of 3852 women aged 45 to 74 years who participated in the first National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Epidemiology Follow-up Study.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES
Stroke, cerebral infarction, and intracerebral hemorrhage during a 20-year follow-up period.

RESULTS
After adjusting for differences in age, women with 6 or more pregnancies were at an increased risk for any type of stroke (relative risk [RR] = 1.7; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.2-2.3) and cerebral infarction (RR = 1.6; 95% CI, 1.2-2.3). Adjustment for stroke risk factors explained some but not all of the risk associated with pregnancy (RR = 1.3; 95% CI, 0.9-1.9 for all stroke, and RR = 1.3; 95% CI, 0.9-1.9 for cerebral infarction). The rate of intracerebral hemorrhage was 3-fold higher among women who had been pregnant when compared with nulligravida women; however, this finding did not reach statistical significance possibly because of the small number of intracerebral hemorrhages (n = 33).

CONCLUSION
The number of pregnancies may influence the risk for stroke, particularly cerebral infarction, in women.


Investigations for space-selected structure ordering from nano-particles to single-crystal patterning in glasses will be described. Transparent crystallization in glass must be the best material solution to obtain novel functional glasses with a permanent second-order optical nonlinearity. We focus on the new functions created by structure ordering in glass by means of laser micro-fabrication for space-selected crystallization. Two topics in our recent experimental results of space-selected structure ordering in glass will be presented as follows: 1) Single crystalline patterning by atom heat laser processing in Sm-doped glasses for optical waveguides with second-order optical nonlinearity, 2) structure ordering of domains in crystallized glass fibers for possible photonic fiber-type devices with active signal processing.


Tay-Sachs disease is an inherited disorder in which the alpha chain of the lysosomal enzyme beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase A bears the mutation. Ashkenazi Jews are found to be carriers for a severe type of Tay-Sachs disease, the classic form, 10 times more frequently than the general population. Ashkenazi Jewish patients with classic Tay-Sachs disease have appeared to be clinically and biochemically identical, and the usual assumption has been that they harbor the same alpha-chain mutation. In this study I have isolated the alpha-chain gene from an Ashkenazi Jewish patient, GM2968, with classic Tay-Sachs disease and compared its nucleotide sequences with that of the normal alpha-chain gene in the promoter region, exon and splice junction regions, and polyadenylylation signal area. Only one difference was observed between these sequences: at the 5' boundary of intron 12, a guanosine in the conserved splice junction dinucleotide sequence G-T had been altered to a cytidine. The alteration is presumed to be functionally significant and to result in aberrant mRNA splicing. Utilizing the polymerase chain reaction to amplify the region encompassing the mutation, I developed an assay to screen patients and heterozygote carriers for this mutation. Surprisingly, in each of two Ashkenazi patients, only one alpha-chain allele harbored the splice junction mutation. Only one parent of each of these patients was positive for the defect. Another Ashkenazi patient did not bear this mutation at all nor did either of the subject's parents. In addition, 30% of obligate heterozygotes tested carried the splice junction mutation, whereas 20 Ashkenazi Jews designated noncarriers by enzymatic assay were negative for this alteration. The data are consistent with the presence of more than one mutation underlying the classic form of Tay-Sachs disease in the Ashkenazi Jewish population.


In this paper, hierarchical flower-like Ni–Al-layered double hydroxide (NA-LDH) and Ni–Fe–Al-layered double hydroxide (NFA-LDH) intercalation compounds were synthesized by a facile one-step hydrothermal method using sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) as the intercalation layer and template. The NFA-LDHs with a Ni : Fe : Al molar ratio of 1 : 1 : 1 (NFA 1-1), which have porous hierarchical nanostructures and channels between the layers, provided the channels with fast carrier transportation and gas adsorption–desorption. Therefore, NFA 1-1 showed good sensing properties at 100 ppb for the detection of NOx at room temperature, and the response toward 100 ppm NOx was 82%, which was 2.3 times higher than that of pure NA-LDHs at room temperature. NFA-LDHs might be promising compounds for high performance gas sensing for commercial application. The enhanced gas sensing of NFA 1-1 can be ascribed to the unique hierarchical porous structure and the highly oriented layered single crystal structure and composition, which can enhance conductivity/carrier densities, fast carrier transportation and gas adsorption–desorption, and provide a large number of active sites for surface contact reactions.


Using panel data on over 300,000 Israeli women from 1999 to 2005, we exploit variation in Israel's child subsidy to identify the impact of changes in the price of a marginal child on fertility. We find a positive, statistically significant, and economically meaningful price effect on overall fertility and, consistent with Becker (1960) and Becker and Tomes (1976), a small effect of income on fertility, which is negative at low and positive at high income levels. We also find a price effect on fertility among older women, suggesting that part of the overall effect is due to a reduction in total fertility.


The Chinese presence in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) has been increasing continuously since the beginning of the new century, making China the largest trade partner of ssa and the largest emerging investor and donor in Africa. Moreover, along with economic relations, China has also increased its presence in the continent in forms of cultural exchange and military cooperation. Therefore, the impact of the Chinese presence in SSA on the economic growth and industrial development of the continent, either positively or negatively, is undeniable. In this context, we analyse China's move to Africa through three complementary and highly correlated channels - aid, FDI and trade - along with the emerging focus on industrial and telecommunications upgrading, peace-keeping, climate change and increasing cultural presence. The analysis of the Chinese presence in ssa pushes to rethink the Italian approach to Africa opening alternative paths for Italy's engagement in terms of industrial investment, trade and international development cooperation in SSA. Indeed, exploiting emerging synergies and complementarities of action between China and Western countries, including Italy, together with pushing competition leverages towards upgrading, is an undeniable opportunity to foster high road to industrial development for every single economy involved and for the Sub-Saharan area as a whole.


Microtubule-dependent processes in Funaria hygrometrica spore mother cells (SMCs) were analysed by monitoring the effects of colchicine and oryzalin on pre-meiotic and meiotic events. The techniques used were electron microscopy, immunofluorescence microscopy of microtubules (MTs)and continuous video recording of events in treated and recovering live cells sampled at various stages of sporogenesis. Inferences drawn from previous work that the SMC plastids serve as MT-organizing centres were confirmed in so far as MT recovery in MT-depleted cells starts at the tips of the plastids. The MTs that emanate from these regions are required for positioning the plastids in the tetrahedral conformation, which defines the meiotic poles, for positioning lipid droplets in clusters at these poles and for positioning and holding the nucleus in the tetrahedral cage. If released, the nucleus can be moved by a non-MT system. Other phenomena not controlled by MTs are plastid elongation, maintenance of the tetrahedral conformation-when the MTs are absent (during divisions or as a result of drug treatment) and (probably) development of the organelle band that spans the cell between divisions I and II. In cells treated during division, when there is nonuclear envelope, the pattern of MT recovery is different: the plastids are inactive as microtubule-organizing centres (MTOCs) but MTs reappear among the chromosomes. Spindles capable of transporting chromosomes regenerate. However, the importance of interactions between nucleus and plastids is highlighted by cases in which treatmenthas resulted in: (1) movement of the nucleus out of the quadripolar plastid cage; and (2) loss of the MTs at plastid tips that normally contribute to the spindle poles; in such cases quadripolarity is lost even though functional spindles return. Plastid MTOC activity returns when the nuclear envelope isin place, i.e. in interkinesis and after telophase II.


As reported in the 1999 Conference Proceedings (Bourne and Mikalsen, 1999), a field study was initiated in 1996 to evaluate the response of a segment of Proctor Creek in Cobb County to the impact of rapid urbanization in the watershed over time and in comparison to a segment of a physically comparable but almost fully developed urban watershed. The objectives of the study are to measure and evaluate long-term changes in channel cross-sections, bank and channel scouring, streambed composition, longitudinal reach profiles, plan-form dimensions, biological habitats and communities, water chemistry, and land cover to determine the timing and response of the stream to urbanization within the watershed and compare them with corresponding measurements of the developed urban watershed. These interim results describe measured and observed changes in the Proctor Creek study reach. Since the onset of physical observations in 1996, when increased sedimentation was the only evident indication of increased upstream development in the study reach, there has been a decline in the diversity of the macroinvertebrate community, enlargement of channel cross-sections and extensive bank undercutting and cantilever failure in the lower portion of the reach, scouring and undercutting of an outside bank and downstream migration of a cobble deposit in the middle section, and scouring of root-armored banks in the upper portion of the reach, and extensive silt and sediment deposition over the entire reach.


Research for new biocompatible and easily implantable materials continuously
proposes new molecules and new substances with biological, chemical and physical
characteristics, that are more and more adapted to aesthetic and reconstructive
surgery and to the development of biomedical devices such as cardiovascular
prostheses.
Two classes of polymeric biomaterials seem to meet better these requirements:
"hydrogels" , which includes polyalkylimide (PAI) and polyvinylalcohol (PVA) and
"elastomers", which includes polyurethanes (PUs). The first ones in the last decade
have had a great application for soft tissue augmentation, due to their similarity to
this tissue for their high water content, elasticity and oxygen permeability (Dini et
al., 2005). The second ones, on the contrary, are widely used in cardiovascular
applications (catheters, vascular grafts, ventricular assist devices, total artificial
hearts) due to their good mechanical properties and hemocompatibility (Zdrahala
R.J. and Zdrahala I.J., 1999).
In the biocompatibility evaluation of these synthetic polymers, that is important for
its potential use in clinical applications, a fundamental aspect is the knowledge of the
polymers cytotoxicity and the effect of their interaction with cells, in particular with
the cell populations involved in the inflammatory responses, i.e.
monocyte/macrophages.
In consideration of what above said, the aim of this study is the comprehension of
the in vitro effect of PAI, PVA and PU on three cell lines that represent three
different stages of macrophagic differentiation: U937 pro-monocytes, THP-1
monocytes and RAW 264.7 macrophages.
Cytotoxicity was evaluated by measuring the rate of viability with MTT, Neutral Red
and morphological analysis at light microscope in time-course dependent
experiments.
The influence of these polymers on monocyte/macrophage activation in terms of
cells adhesion, monocyte differentiation in macrophages, antigens distribution,
aspecific phagocytosis, fluid-phase endocitosis, pro-inflammatory cytokine (TNF-α,
IL-1β, IL-6) and nitric oxide (NO) release was evaluated.
In conclusion, our studies have indicated that the three different polymeric
biomaterials are highly biocompatible, since they scarcely affected viability of U937,
THP-1 and RAW 264.7 cells. Moreover, we have found that even though hydrogels
and polyurethane influences monocyte/macrophage differentiation (depending on the
particular type of cell and polymer), they are immunocompatible since they not
induced significantly high cytokine release. For these reasons their clinical
applications are strongly encouraged.


The highest avian species richness on Earth is found in the Neotropics, with the speciose antbird superfamily (Thamnophilidae, Formicariidae, Grallariidae and Conopophagidae) accounting for 15 percent of South American passerine diversity. Antbird species have divergent life histories and ecological requirements, resulting in considerable interspecific variation in responses to anthropogenic habitat modification. Here, we examine interspecific differences in antbird responses to both habitat fragmentation and perturbation in a region of the so‐called 'Arc of Deforestation' of southern Brazilian Amazonia in northern Mato Grosso. We surveyed the antbird community of 31 variable‐sized forest patches and found that antbird species richness was predominantly affected by patch size and isolation, although forest patch quality was also important. Life history predictors were less important overall in determining patch occupancy and minimum patch area requirements with body mass and geographic range size the most important predictors. Foraging niche was also important; mixed flock followers, bamboo specialists and army‐ant followers were all more prone to local extinction in small fragments. Although most Amazonian antbird species are not currently threatened, rates of interfluvial endemism are high and future forest loss may imperil many species currently considered to be of low conservation concern. Lessons learnt in the identification of fragmentation‐sensitive genera and guilds may be applicable to other antbird species outside Amazonia, such as those in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. Ensuring future survival of antbirds across neotropical forest landscapes that retain only a small percentage of their original primary forest cover will rest on protecting remaining large forest patches and maintaining structural and functional connectivity between them.


Background Dural venous sinus thrombosis (DVST) is an increasingly recognized cause of a wide array of neurological symptoms, with outcomes that range from complete recovery to death. The condition of approximately 23% of patients with DVST will worsen after initial presentation, as a result of restricted venous outflow and venous hypertension, but early identification of this subset is challenging. A venous collateral scale (VCS) that grades alternative drainage routes may improve prediction of clinical deterioration. Objective To examine the ability of the VCS system to accurately identify patients with DVST who will experience clinical worsening, based on their imaging at presentation. Methods From our institutional database, we identified patients with DVST on dedicated venous imaging between January 2010 and July 2016. A VCS was created and calculated from venous imaging at presentation by two reviewers blinded to subsequent data. Results The 27 patients who met the inclusion criteria for this study had a median age of 42 years and 14 (52%) were female. Initial symptoms included headache without hemorrhage in 30% and focal deficit in 30%. Transverse sinus occlusion was present in 70% and superior sagittal sinus occlusion in 41%. VCS was 0 in 11%, 1 in 37%, and 2 in 52%. A lower VCS was significantly associated with clinical worsening both from time of initial symptom onset (77% vs 29%, VCS 0–1 vs 2, p<0.05) and during hospitalization (62% vs 0%, VCS 0–1 vs 2, p<0.01). In multivariate analysis, VCS but no other presenting features was significantly associated with in-hospital worsening (OR=2, p<0.01). Conclusions The type and quality of venous collaterals influence outcome in DVST. VCS helps to identify patients whose condition is likely to deteriorate and may need additional aggressive interventions.


The development of laparoscopic surgery has extended its uses to include adrenalectomy in children and in adults. Because conventional adrenalectomy requires a large incision, minimally invasive surgery offers a less aggressive solution in some selected cases. Twenty-nine adrenal masses in 26 children were treated using adrenalectomy between 1994 and 2004 (12 were treated laparoscopically, the remaining 17 with open surgery). Minimally invasive procedures were limited to the removal of small localized adrenal tumors and to biopsies. Although this approach must be limited to operations on lesions presumed to be benign, preoperative criteria for nonmalignancy are often difficult to define. Indications can be expanded to include to stage I neuroblastoma. There seems to be no age and weight limit. The technique applied varies in accordance with anatomy and the surgeon's experience: minimally invasive adrenalectomy, in our experience, was preferentially performed through a lateral retroperitoneal approach. Laparoscopic adrenalectomy can be used if the selection of cases is rigorous and the operations are performed by well-trained laparoscopic surgeons.


A new EDTA derivative, ethylenediamine tetraacetanilide, has been synthesized and characterised from spectrophotometric (IR, 1H NMR) data. The complexing ability of the ligand to interact with metal cations in water saturated butan-l-ol at 298 K was investigated by uv/visible spectrophotometry and the results obtained show that in this solvent system the new ligand is able to complex copper, cobalt and nickel. The stoichiometry of the complexes determined by using the method of continuous variation (Job's method) indicated the formation of 1:1 (ligand:metal) complexes with Cu(II), Co(II) and Ni(II) in water saturated butan-1-ol. In addition, the presence of a binuclear complex of the type [Cu2L3]4+ is suggested. Thermodynamic data (stability constant, Gibbs energy, enthalpy and entropy) for the complexation of ethylenediamine tetraacetanilide at 298.15 K show a selective sequence in the order Ni2+ > Cu2+ > Co2+, Entropy data reflect the mobility and flexibility of the ligand toward complexation with these metal cations. Furthermore, a higher (more positive) entropy (AcS°) found for the reaction between the ligand and Co(II) suggests the formation of additional chelate rings in the structure of this complex relative to Ni(II) and Cu(II) complexes. Various complexes of ethylenediamine tetraacetanilide have been isolated and characterised by infrared spectroscopy and two of them were analyzed by X-ray diffraction studies. Thus, crystal structure of aqua-ethylenediaimine tetraacetanilide copper(II) perchlorate, [CuL(H2O)](ClO4)2 1.5H2O and aqua-ethylenediamine tetraacetanilide cobalt (II) perchlorate, [CoL(H2O)](ClO4)2 H2O0.5C2H5OH are reported in this thesis. The ability of the ligand to extract metal cations (Cu2+, Ni2+, Co2+, Al3+ and Fe3+) from water to the non-aqueous phase was assessed from distribution data as a function of the hydrogen-ion concentration of the aqueous phase and of the ligand concentration in the organic phase. The data show that copper is selectively extracted over a wide range of hydrogen-ion concentrations in the aqueous phase. Furthermore, plots of distribution data versus the percentage of extracted metal show that at a suitable concentration of ligand, almost 100% of Cu(II) can be extracted by this ligand. A new polymeric material containing ethylenediamine tetraacetanilide as anchor group has been synthesized and the ability of this material to uptake metal cations from water was investigated. Finally, suggestions for further research in this area are given.


This chapter deals with the sensitive and complex question of decision-making for critically ill children. An analysis of the case law reveals that although parents are generally believed to be the most suitable interlocutor for a shared decision with the medical team focussing on the child's best interests widely construed, where conflict arises, it is necessary to seek court intervention. I examine how the framework of the child's best interests includes consideration of what the child may want herself, yet this begs the question why is the judge's interpretation of what the child would want any more valid than that of parents or the doctors? Rejecting the claim that the court should only be involved where it is shown that the parents' decision on the child's treatment would cause harm to the child, I question whether it would be more appropriate to develop the best interests test into a 'not against the child's interests' test, or indeed, what is 'compatible' with the child's interests. This would have the advantage of alleviating the perception that it is a binary decision between a right and wrong choice, and better serve the overall objective of minimising conflict and ensuring the best outcome for the child. Focusing on how the decision is taken is ultimately just as important as who makes the decision.


This document contains the front matter (including table of contents), Chapter 1, and Chapter 7 of our monograph "Fiduciaries of Humanity: How International Law Constitutes Authority" (Oxford University Press 2016). We argue that under international law today, states serve as fiduciaries of humanity, and their authority to govern and represent their people is dependent on their satisfaction of numerous duties, the most general of which is to establish a regime of secure and equal freedom on behalf of the people subject to their power. International institutions also serve as fiduciaries of humanity and are subject to similar fiduciary obligations. The fiduciary theory reconciles state sovereignty and responsibility by explaining how a state's obligations to its people are constitutive of its legal authority under international law. We elaborate and defend the fiduciary model while exploring its application to a variety of current topics and controversies, including human rights, emergencies, the treatment of detainees in counterterrorism operations, humanitarian intervention, and the protection of refugees fleeing persecution.Chapter 1 introduces the book's argument. The chapter begins by examining the classical model of sovereignty, which posits that states wield absolute authority within their respective jurisdictions. It then discusses a variety of features of contemporary international law that are in tension with the classical model, suggesting that states are now obligated under international law to use their sovereign powers to advance the interests of their people. The chapter explains how this relational conception of sovereignty is consistent with the idea that states serve as fiduciaries for humanity, and it outlines three philosophical accounts of states' fiduciary obligations, drawing on the writings of Immanuel Kant, John Locke, and Joseph Raz. Lastly, the chapter summarizes the arguments developed in subsequent chapters of the book.Chapter 7 discusses the fiduciary theory's implications for the protection of refugees under international law. It argues that the fiduciary theory of sovereignty best explains the duty of non-refoulement as a peremptory norm of international law. A state's obligation to provide refuge to foreign nationals fleeing persecution abroad flows from the intersection of the state's position as a joint trustee of the earth's surface on behalf of humanity, on the one hand, and its position as a local fiduciary that international law entrusts with sovereignty over the people within a certain territory, on the other. As a fiduciary of humanity, the state acquires a cosmopolitan duty to grant refuge when an individual fleeing irresoluble threats to her human rights appears at its border.


The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2) and propolis intracanal medicaments on bond strength of AH Plus to root dentin. After chemomechanical instrumentation using Revo-S rotary system, three groups of root canal specimens were prepared: 10 root canals were left untreated as controls (G1), 10 received Ca(OH)2 intracanal medicament (G2), and another 10 received propolis intracanal medicament (G3). Canals were obturated with AH Plus and gutta-percha. After bond strength evaluation using micro push-out test, data were analyzed using ANOVA and Tamhane's test (p=0.05). At coronal and middle thirds, there were no significant differences in bond strength among the three groups (p>0.05). At apical third, G3 was significantly superior to G2 (p<0.05) and G1 (p<0.05), but there was no significant difference between G2 and G1 (p>0.05). Therefore, when AH Plus was used as the sealer in endodontic treatments, its combined use with propolis as an intracanal medicament seemed to result in favorable sealer-dentin interfacial bond strength.


Recent literature on Hungary seems to be conclusive about the fact that elite consensus has collapsed and democracy is backsliding towards autocracy because of the elites' norm-breaking behavior (Lengyel 2014; Bozoki 2015; Kristof 2015). It is also recognized that the governmental elite has been gaining influence and power over other elite groups. Since 2010, the ruling political elite has reallocated property rights, public and EU funds to new loyal economic elites who are much more closely controlled by the political elite (Csillag and Szelenyi 2015). Though less the focus of scientific inquiry, a similar process has occurred in the field of culture: the incumbent political elite aspires to eliminate old cultural structures in order to redistribute cultural positions and resources. This case study is based on interviews with leaders of theatres, cultural policy-makers and the most renowned actors and directors in the Hungarian theatrical field. Interviews are supplemented with discourse analysis about the circulation of the theatre elite, and a public opinion poll (N=500) about the reputation of two emblematic figures of the old and the new elite.


Waterborne polydimethylsiloxane-modified epoxy-resin-based polyol dispersions were synthesized by the reaction of 2,4-toluene diisocyanate with 2,2-bis(hydroxymethyl) propionic acid, hydroxypropyl-terminated polydimethylsiloxane (HTPDMS), and bisphenol A epoxy resin based polyol. These HTPDMS-modified polyol dispersions exhibited a small particle size and an excellent dispersion stability. Two-component waterborne polyurethane (2K-WPU) was prepared from the HTPDMS-modified polyol dispersion and a hydrophilic-modified polyisocyanate. The structure of the HTPDMS-modified polyol and its crosslinked 2K-WPU films (SEFs) were characterized with Fourier transform infrared and NMR spectroscopies. The effects of the HTPDMS content on the mechanical and thermal properties of the resulting SEFs were investigated. The results show that the thermal stability of the crosslinked SEFs was enhanced with increasing HTPDMS content, whereas the modulus, tensile strength, and pencil hardness values of the films decreased with increasing HTPDMS content. Siloxane segments migrated onto the surface during the film-formation process. The contact angle of the films increased from 71 to 96 °, and the water absorption ratio of the films decreased from 6.6 to 5.0% when the HTPDMS content in the films increased from 0 to 10%. These results indicate that the water resistance of the films was enhanced by the introduction of HTPDMS into the 2K-WPU networks. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016, 133, 44342.


Anacardium occidentale is a plant with reported antidiabetic and antioxidant properties. The stem, leave and bark extracts are known to contain saponin, phenolics, flavonoids, vitamins and selenium. Diabetes is a multisystemic disease characterised by defects in insulin secretion or inaction. In this study, forty male Wistar rats ( Rattus norvegicus ) were randomly divided into four experimental groups A, B, C and D. Hyperglycemia was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of 70 mg/kg b.w streptozotocin (STZ). Hyperglycemia was confirmed 48 hours later. Five days after, the confirmation of hyperglycemia by using a glucometer (Roche (R) ) and compatible glucose test strips, Groups A and B were treated with 300 mg/kg b.w of A. occidentale extract (AOE) and 1 I U/kg b.w insulin, respectively. Groups C and D served as hyperglycemia and normal controls and received 1 ml/kg b.w citrate buffer, respectively. After 16 days of treatment the animals were sacrificed and the pancreas was processed for histological staining. Data obtained were expressed as means of ten (10) replicates ± SEM and subjected to one way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and the Scheffe's post hoc test for multiple comparison. Findings showed that STZ-induced diabetes induced hyperglycemia and histopathological changes in the pancreas of untreated rats. Treatment with the methanolic extract of Anacardium occidentale resulted in reduction in hyperglycaemia and regeneration of beta cells.