Abstract 3278 Poster Board III-1 Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) is a malignant hematopoietic stem cell disorder that is invariably associated with a balanced reciprocal translocation between chromosomes 22 and 9. The major product of the rearrangement is a 210 kD in-frame fusion protein (p210 BCR/ABL) that contains amino-terminal sequences from BCR, and carboxy-terminal sequences from the non-receptor tyrosine kinase ABL. This fusion event leads to the constitutive activation of the ABL-encoded kinase activity, which is the principal driving force behind CML. Thus, inhibitors that target the kinase activity produce durable clinical remissions. Although the ABL-encoded kinase activity is essential for disease progression, several studies have shown that BCR encoded sequences are also necessary for BCR/ABL-mediated leukemogenesis. In this current study we have identified ubiquitin as a binding partner for BCR, and demonstrated that binding is retained in p210 BCR/ABL. We have localized the docking site for ubiquitin to residues 180-191 which is present in all fusion variants of BCR/ABL (p190, p210 and p230). This putative ubiquitin binding domain (UBD) does not conform to any known consensus sequence, and is unique to BCR. Deletion of the UBD does not impair the auto-or trans-kinase activity of p210 BCR/ABL, nor does it impair the interaction between p210 BCR/ABL and GRB2, or the ability of p210 BCR/ABL to activate ERK1/2. A mutation at residue tyr-177 of p210 BCR/ABL also does not impair the interaction with ubiquitin suggesting that the GRB2 and ubiquitin binding sites are adjacent, but separable. β-catenin has been identified as a binding partner for BCR and BCR/ABL, and the docking site has been mapped to a region of BCR/ABL that contains the UBD. Over-expression of p210 BCR/ABL, but not the ubiquitin binding mutant, leads to an accumulation of β-catenin that is phosphorylated on the serine residues that normally trigger ubiquitin-mediated turnover. This difference cannot be attributed to a difference in the activation status of GSK-3β or Pin-1. These results suggest that either β-catenin and ubiquitin share a docking site on p210 BCR/ABL, or that the interaction between β-catenin and p210 BCR/ABL is ubiquitination dependent. The latter possibility is consistent with a previous study which showed that glycine residue in β-catenin is required for Bcr interaction. We propose a model in which p210 BCR/ABL may influence the Wnt signaling pathway by binding ubiquitinated β-catenin, and stabilizing it against degradation. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


Many scientists have noted that global temperature anomalies were highly correlated with solar irradiance values until sometime in the 1970s, but since that time, the pronounced warming in the near‐surface temperature record is not explained by variations or trends in solar receipt. In this investigation, spatial dimensions are explored in the relationship between irradiance and near‐surface air temperatures. At the scale of individual 5° by 5° grid cells, the solar control on annual temperature variations is not statistically significant. When the temperature data are aggregated by 5° latitudinal bands, the solar – temperature connect is generally significant, and in every band, there is substantial evidence that a non‐solar control has become dominant in recent decades. The buildup of greenhouse gases and/or some other global‐scale feedback, such as widespread changes in atmospheric water vapor, emerge as potential explanations for the recent residual warming found in all latitudinal bands.


Anchored on Republic Act No. 8371 that recognizes, respects, and preserves the culture, traditions and institutions of ICCs/IPs, this study described the demographic profile and socio-cultural practices of 160 indigenous peoplerespondents in Carol-an, Kabankalan City who were purposively identified in ten proximate sitios. Qualitative-descriptive methods utilized were key informant interviews and focus group discussion. The results revealed that most respondents were 16-26 years old; lived in the area for 31-40 years; female; married; mothers who belonged to a Carol-anon ethnic group; spoke Hiligaynon and Bisaya dialects. Their socio-cultural practices include high respect of family to the father in decision making, communal ownership of tax exempted land. "Kagon" (mediator), the elder, resolved legal disputes. Marriage proposal called "isaka" was mediated by "Dakong Tawo," (respected elder) and the bride was allowed to marry at age 12. They believed in sacred places and offer sacrificial pig called "Buhat". The dead were wrapped in bamboo coffin called "Iiya-liya" and brought to "Binangkilan" Cave, the tomb. To them man used supernatural powers known as "antinganting." The result of the study served as basis for considering these IPs' rights in the formulation and application of national educational plans and policies. Keywords - Social Science, indigenous people, socio-cultural practices, research and development, descriptive design, Philippines


This article argues that James Mill's immersion in Presbyterianism inspired an aversion to hierarchical government and a bias in favour of the Church of Scotland. These views are discernible in Bentham's Church-of-Englandism. Bentham argued for disestablishment on principle but, praising the Scottish Church as a 'model of perfection', omitted the Kirk from his church reform manifesto. His position on disestablishment, however, and his endorsement of Presbyterianism were aligned with a voluntaryist strain of Presbyterian ecclesiological theory; Presbyterian dissenters and Benthamite Radicals began to protest against the Kirk's established status. Underpinned significantly by Presbyterian tradition and laced with Benthamic influence, a radical voluntary campaign emerged in Scotland which sought to dismantle the old order and usher in a new era of political democracy and religious voluntaryism. Radicalism in Scotland was not solely characterized by the 'programmatic atheism' which J. C. D. Clark believes defined Benthamite ideology; Benthamism, it transpires, was not straightforwardly secularist.


BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
The expression of Glanzmann's thromboasthenia (GT) varies, even among patients carrying the same mutation. It is conceivable that other gene loci may influence the clinical expression of GT and lead to specific phenotypes.

DESIGN AND METHODS
To investigate GT clinical heterogeneity we screened 25 GT patients with a known alpha(IIb)beta3 molecular defect for thrombophilic mutations (FV Leiden, FII A20210) and the platelet glycoprotein (GP) alpha2 C807T gene polymorphism.

RESULTS
The FV Leiden mutation was found in 1 patient, the FII A20210 mutation in none. Three GT patients were homozygous for the T807 allele and showed a mild clinical expression of GT whereas none of the patients presenting with a moderate or severe GT phenotype carried the alpha2 TT genotype (p=0.037, two-sided exact test). In patients carrying the same mutation, the clinical GT phenotype was milder in those with the TT807 genotype.

INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSIONS
Since the platelet alpha2 C807T gene polymorphism is associated with alpha2beta1 receptor density on the platelet surface, our findings suggest that the level of alpha2beta1 on platelets may be an additional factor affecting GT clinical expression.


Biorobotics aims at developing artifacts as synthesis and simulation of living systems. Herein, an autonomous agent inspired to Lampetra fluviatilis that was developed in the framework of the LAMPETRA Project, has been described. Lampreys are established models for studying higher vertebrate locomotion, including humans. The LAMPETRA robotic artifact mimicked the flexibility, as well as the passive dynamic movement of the real animal, thanks to the muscle-like actuation system relying on the use of direct magnet interaction, and closely mimicking the central pattern generators (CPGs) architecture of the animal spinal cord. Furthermore, the robot included a binocular vision system to track objects and avoid obstacles, as well as an artificial skin that made it waterproof and compliant. This biomimetic agent can be used to interact with abiotic and biotic components of aquatic ecosystems, as well as could be interfaced with the central nervous systems of real fish creating a biohybrid configuration.


An electrodynamic shaker is modeled as a mixed electrical/mechanical system with an experimentally derived two port network characterization. The model characterizes the shaker in a manner that the performance of the shaker with a mounted load (test item and fixture) can be predicted. The characterization depends on the measurements of shaker input voltage and current, and on the acceleration of the shaker armature with several mounted loads. The force into the load is also required, and can be measured directly or inferred from the load apparent mass.


Stratospheric aerosol geoengineering is a proposal to artificially thicken the layer of reflective aerosols in the stratosphere and it is hoped that this may offer a means of reducing average climate changes. However, previous work has shown that it could not perfectly offset the effects of climate change and there is a concern that it may worsen climate impacts in some regions. One approach to evaluating this concern is to test whether the absolute magnitude of climate change at each location is significantly increased (exacerbated) or decreased (moderated) relative to the period just preceding deployment. In prior work it was found that halving warming with an idealized solar constant reduction would substantially reduce climate change overall, exacerbating change in a small fraction of places. Here, we test if this result holds for a more realistic representation of stratospheric aerosol geoengineering using the data from the geoengineering large ensemble (GLENS). Using a linearized scaling of GLENS we find that halving warming with stratospheric aerosols moderates important climate hazards in almost all regions. Only 1.3% of land area sees exacerbation of change in water availability, and regions that are exacerbated see wetting not drying contradicting the common assumption that solar geoengineering leads to drying in general. These results suggest that halving warming with stratospheric aerosol geoengineering could potentially reduce key climate hazards substantially while avoiding some problems associated with fully offsetting warming.


Children are increasingly using cell phones. "Family package" deals make it easy for parents to obtain phones for their children, and the phones provide parents with the comfort of easy access to their children. However, cell phones emit radio frequency (RF) radiation (Bucher & the Committee on Appropriations, 2010). While the government has deemed RF radiation to be safe, there is no current significant research to make this claim. To determine the relationship between cell phone radiation and brain cancer requires long-term studies lasting decades and with inclusion of frequent users in the subject pool. Further, to extend the results of any study to children requires controlling for the differences between juveniles and adults regarding the composition of the head, and bone density and neural tissue. Dr. L. Hardell of the University Hospital of Sweden noted that "it is necessary to apply the precautionary principle in this situation," especially for long-term exposure that is likely to affect children (Hardell as cited in Mead, 2008, p. 1). There is cause for concern.


The water-energy nexus is increasingly important as climate change alters social, policy, and economic tradeoffs and choices. This is particularly true in the arid western United States. This article provides an original empirical assessment of 33 integrated resource plans (IRPs) of electric utilities in that region. The analysis shows that only a minority of utilities address the risk of drought in their IRPs. Even fewer use their IRPs to develop concrete plans to address drought risk. Consequently, we suggest four different strategies for utilities to better integrate water and electricity planning. Importantly, our analysis reveals that legal and policy changes may best encourage such improved planning integration. In developing these conclusions, the article also (1) overviews different cooling technologies used for electricity generation facilities, (2) details cooling technology and water use for utilities in the West, and (3) provides and analyzes original data on whether utility IRPs assess different water- and non-water related risks.


BACKGROUND
In utero exposure to ethanol can result in severe fetal brain defects. Previous studies showed that ethanol induces apoptosis in differentiated cortical neurons. However, we know little about ethanol's effects on proliferating embryonic cortical progenitors. This study investigated the impact of ethanol exposure on the Fas/Apo-1/CD95 suicide receptor pathway, and on the survival of proliferating cortical neuroepithelial progenitors.

METHODS
Murine embryonic-derived primary cortical neuroepithelial cells were maintained as neurosphere cultures and exposed to a dose range of ethanol for periods ranging from 1 to 5 days. Programmed cell death was measured by 4 independent means (Annexin-V staining, caspase activation, DNA fragmentation, and autophagic vacuole formation). Surface Fas/Apo-1 suicide receptor expression was measured by flow cytometry. Expression of Fas/Apo-1-associated DISC-complex genes was measured by quantitative polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTS
Ethanol exposure did not substantially increase apoptosis, necrosis, or surface Fas/Apo-1 expression. Moreover, ethanol significantly decreased caspase activation and autophagic activity. Finally, ethanol exposure induced mRNA expression of genes that constitute the death receptor complex.

CONCLUSIONS
This study provides surprising evidence that ethanol does not induce either programmed cell death or necrosis of immature progenitors during neurogenesis, although ethanol may render neural progenitors susceptible to future apoptotic insults. Furthermore, our novel observation that ethanol suppresses autophagy is consistent with a hypothesis that ethanol promotes premature neural progenitor maturation. Taken together with our previous data regarding the role of the Fas/Apo-1 receptor in neural development, we conclude that ethanol disrupts basic proliferation and differentiation machinery rather than initiating cell death per se.


The Hagia Triada Sarcophagus, a painted limestone larnax, has been an enigma in the Minoan artistic canon since the time of its discovery in 1903. It is the only larnax found to date made of limestone, and the only one to contain a series of narrative scenes of Minoan funerary rituals. Conversely, most contemporaneous Aegean larnake are decorated with randomly arranged abstract designs and figures. The late twentieth century re-excavations at the site of its discovery have, at last, allowed scholars to assign a tentative date (1370-1320 BC) to the sarcophagus. This period coincides with the late Eighteenth Dynasty in Egypt, a time when interconnections between Crete and Egypt were extensive. This development now permits a reexamination of the artistic and technical elements on the Hagia Triada Sarcophagus that seem closely related to the Egyptian techniques used to decorate temples and tombs since the third millennium BC. DOI:10.2458/azu_jaei_v04i1_martino


Previously we found that curcumin, the active constituent of dietary spice turmeric, showed potent inhibitory effects on the cell growth of thyroid cancer cells. However, the detailed anti-cancer mechanism of curcumin is still unknown. In this study, we have reported that curcumin induces significant DNA damage in human papillary thyroid carcinoma BCPAP cells in a dose-dependent manner as evidenced by the upregulated phosphorylation of H2A.X at Ser139, which was further confirmed by the long tails in the comet assay and the increase in the number of TUNEL-positive cells. Subsequently, curcumin treatment caused a significant accumulation of cells at the G2/M phase that eventually resulted in a caspase-dependent apoptosis in BCPAP cells. DNA agarose gel electrophoresis revealed that curcumin-induced DNA damage in BCPAP cells was independent of DNA conformational change. Pretreatment with reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavengers failed to block the phosphorylation of H2A.X, suggesting the non-involvement of ROS in curcumin-mediated DNA damage. Interestingly, ATM/ATR activation by curcumin induced phosphorylation of Chk2 (Thr68) followed by that of Cdc25C (Ser216) and Cdc2 (Tyr15), and Cyclin B1 accumulation. In addition, the ATM-specific inhibitor KU-55933 reversed curcumin-induced phosphorylation of H2A.X. These results collectively show that curcumin treatment induced the DNA damage response via triggering an ATM-activated Chk2-Cdc25C-Cdc2 signaling pathway. These observations provide novel mechanisms and potential targets for the better understanding of the anti-cancer mechanisms of curcumin.


There is a shortage of spine surgeons in Sweden. To guarantee the legal right to healthcare, many counties must hire doctors, with increasing costs. In our new out-patient department routine, the majority of the patients are examined by a physiotherapist at their first visit. History taking and clinical and radiographic examinations are discussed in a team conference, and possible candidates for spine surgery are selected for an appointment with a spine surgeon. Furthermore, the patients were more satisfied with the new routine and management plan.


This paper analyses possible synergies between demand response flexibility programmes and energy savings delivered by households. In the framework of the energy transition, European Union (EU) directives are endorsing energy consumers to become full-fledged participants of the energy market, mostly via independent aggregator intermediaries. The flexibility aggregators have a very arduous role in collecting, optimising and settling aggregated flexibility delivered from heterogenous sources on the energy market. Novel business models incorporating both flexibility and energy savings opportunities from households' consumers could deliver revenue diversification for flexibility aggregators and support them in overcoming technical and motivational challenges for activating consumers in the energy market. This paper discusses the main pillars for a sustainable flexibility aggregator business model which sums up the potential for flexibility placement on energy, ancillary services and energy savings markets. The main challenge identified in this work are the requirements for programme establishment, allowing the recognition and proper interpretation of energy savings triggered by short-term events and obtained by an aggregator via explicit demand response actions. This paper proposes possible solutions for a joint venture of a flexibility and energy savings aggregator, thus alleviating possible data collection problems. Collaborative efforts have been recognised in the establishment and maintenance of information and communication technologies and infrastructure, therefore facilitating continuous monitoring and verification of flexibility programmes which are able to deliver energy savings.


A prepayment scheme for health through the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) was commenced in Nigeria about ten years ago. Nigeria operates a federal system of government. Sub- national levels possess a high degree of autonomy in a number of sectors including health. It is important to assess the level of coverage of the scheme among the formal sector workers in Nigeria as a proxy to gauge the extent of coverage of the scheme and derive suitable lessons that could be used in its expansion. This is a cross-sectional, descriptive survey carried out among formal sector workers in Ilorin Kwara State, Nigeria. A stratified sampling technique was used to select study participants. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data from respondents. Data was analysed with the SPSS. Ethical approval to conduct the study was obtained from the Bowen University Teaching Hospital Research Ethics Committee. A total of 370 people participated in the study. Majority, (78.9%) of the respondents were aware of the NHIS, however only 13.5 % paid for health care services through the NHIS. Logistic regression analysis shows that respondents with post-secondary education (OR = 9.032, CI = 2.562 – 31.847, p = 0.001) and in federal civil service (OR = 2.679, CI = 1.036 – 6.929, p = 0.042) were over nine and three times more likely to be aware of the scheme than others. Coverage of the scheme among the respondents was unimpressive. A lot still need to be done to fast-track the expansion of the scheme among this sector of the population. Key words: health insurance, awareness, enrolment status, tiers of governance


"Relational criminal liability," or one person's criminal liability for the actions of another by way of a group of which both individuals are a part, generates a fundamental tension between collectivist and individualist approaches to liability. The collectivist approach, which reifies the group qua group, enables individuals to be liable for the acts of the group, and the group liable for the acts of individuals. The individualist approach treats individuals qua individuals, holding them liable only for their own conduct.This tension sounds both in moral philosophy and legal theory. As to philosophy, Michael Bratman, Margaret Gilbert, and Christopher Kutz take an ultimately individualistic approach to assigning moral responsibility in a group context. John Searle, Raimo Tuomela, and others posit irreducible collective bodies, capable of intent and agency distinct from those of their individual members. As to legal theory, long-standing American legal norms treat individuals as individuals, whereas work by George P. Fletcher and, more recently, Gideon Yaffe and Jens David Ohlin suggest a collectivist turn.The tension remains unresolved, producing inconsistency, unpredictability, and normative failures in the determination of relational criminal liability. This article relieves that tension by showing, through an exposition of the relevant moral philosophy, legal theory, and case law that an individualist approach best accounts for the concerns of collectivists and individualists alike. This account details the normative contours of relational criminal liability from the standpoint of mens rea, actus reus, and causation. It also addresses legitimate concerns regarding omissions law and the defense of abandonment. Finally, it develops a normative test for relational criminal liability and applies that test to a taxonomy of relational criminal liability, which includes the many theories of liability that fall under the relational label. It concludes that most, but not all, aspects of relational criminal liability are normatively justified, and that many of its criticisms are better understood as aimed not at the substantive liability itself, but at external failures that sound in procedure, interpretation, and sentencing.


3D die stacking of logic and memory die can greatly enhance system performance, by enabling the logic die to have high bandwidth, low latency, low energy access to memory. To demonstrate the concept of testing an AI (Artificial Intelligence) core through a 3D die, the following method was used. An AI core which was previously designed and tested was resynthesized along with a Pseudo Random Binary Sequencer (PRBS) along one edge of the die. In the same reticle set, a second die of the same dimensions was designed with an I/O (Input/Output) buffer and a similar PRBS along one edge. The second die was designed with Keep Out Zones (KOZ) so that TSVs (Through Silicon Vias) could be integrated in this die during the fabrication process. Wafers were then built to harvest the first and second dies. The wafers that were used to create the second dies were thinned to reveal TSVs, and subsequently diced into thinned individual die. The first and second dies were then attached in a vertical 3D die stack, which was further assembled onto an organic packaging substrate. The substrate was terminated with a BGA (Ball Grid Array).Both parametric and functional electrical tests were performed to understand effects of the 3D stacking. These tests were conducted by probing the BGA, to determine the response of the first die when it was tested through the 3D thinned die. Parametric testing verified that the introduction of the 3D die not cause shorts, opens, or additional variability in electrical parameters, while functional tests verified that the designed logic, with communication across the 3D interface, produced the expected outcome.The results indicate successful design and resynthesis of both the AI core and the I/O buffer, and successful TSV integration, grind side processing, and final 3D die stacking and assembly. The functional testing of the AI core showed excellent results when tested through the intermediate 3D die. This demonstrates viability of 3D stacking of AI cores and other functional die with an I/O buffer die.


In the context of lightweight design, the so-called tailored blanks are more frequently used to improve sheet-bulk metal forming process results. In order to meet the requirements of tailored blank designs for subsequent sheet-bulk metal forming process steps, design engineers can influence many process or geometry parameters. A crucial task for design engineers is to find the optimal process and geometry parameter setting that is an optimal design with respect to multiple design requirements. A simulation-based approach to face this challenge is presented in this paper.


In the early decades of the twentieth century, a group of Jewish legal scholars working in Eastern Europe, and later in Mandatory Palestine, sought to « revive » (i.e., modernize) Jewish law and turn it into the legal system of the Jewish community in Palestine — and later the legal system of the State of Israel. Inspired by the nationalist legal ideas of the German historical school, as well as the successful revival of the Hebrew language, the Jewish legal revival project created a body of scholarship on Jewish law, established the first Jewish law school in Mandatory Palestine, and even influenced the work of a unique communal court system that functioned in the Jewish community in Palestine until the end of British rule in that territory.

The Jewish legal revival project had an ambivalent attitude to Roman law (both ancient and modern). Modern scholarship on Roman law, especially nineteenth-century German legal scholarship, was seen as a model to be emulated by the Jewish legal revivers. Indeed, the Jewish legal revival project was often simply understood as a process of reorganization of the materials of Jewish law based on legal categories, models, and methodologies taken from modern Roman law scholarship. On the other hand, the legal revivers saw Roman law as the « other » of Jewish law, often arguing that the principles underlying the latter were utterly different from those of the former. Roman law was thus imagined and used by the early-twentieth-century Jewish law scholars discussed in this article in contradictory ways: sometimes as a legal system that should be emulated, and sometimes as a legal system whose norms and institutions should be shunned. Thus, as this article shows, Roman law, as it was described in the legal thought of the group of legal scholars I study, was used as a foil against which modern Jewish legal identity could be created.


PURPOSE
Precision oncology relies on frequent pathologic, molecular, and genomic assessments of tumor tissue to guide treatment selection, evaluate pharmacodynamic effects of novel agents, and determine drug resistance mechanisms. Newer forms of analyses such as drug screens in cell lines and patient-derived xenografts demand increasing amounts of tissue material. It remains unknown how the need for serial biopsies with large numbers of tumor cores relates to tissue yields and biopsy complication rates.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
In this study, we performed a retrospective analysis of 199 focal liver biopsies performed in 143 patients in the setting of oncologic research protocols (research biopsy group) over a 4-year period at a single-intervention oncology service. Practice patterns and complication rates were compared with those related to 1,522 consecutive biopsies performed in 1,154 patients in whom two cores were obtained for standard clinical management of patients (standard biopsy).

RESULTS
In the research biopsy group, 1,100 tissue cores (average, 5.5 cores per procedure) were harvested and distributed to trial sponsors, internal research laboratories, and pathology services. The complication rate in this cohort was 0.5% for major complications (one of 199) and 1.0% for minor complications managed conservatively (two of 199). In the standard biopsy control group, major complications were observed in 1.4% of procedures (22 of 1,522) and minor complications in 0.2% (three of 1,522). These complication rates were not statistically different.

CONCLUSION
Harvesting extra tissue cores through coaxial needles during focal liver biopsies does not increase complication rates and yields valuable tissue for additional experimental testing.


Little is known about the effects of acute acoustic stress on anorectal function. To determine the effects of acute acoustic stress on anorectal function and sensation in healthy volunteers. Ten healthy volunteers (7 M, 3 F, mean age 34 +/- 3 years) underwent anorectal manometry, testing of rectal compliance and sensation using a barostat with and without acute noise stress on separate days. Rectal perception was assessed using an ascending method of limits protocol and a 5-point Likert scale. Arousal and anxiety status were evaluated using a visual analogue scale. Acoustic stress significantly increased anxiety score (P < 0.05). Rectal compliance was significantly decreased with acoustic stress compared with control P (P < 0.000001). In addition, less intraballoon volume was needed to induce the sensation of severe urgency with acoustic stress (P < 0.05). Acoustic stress had no effect on hemodynamic parameters, anal sphincter pressure, threshold for first sensation, sensation of stool, or pain. Acute acoustic stimulation increased anxiety scores, decreased rectal compliance, and enhanced perception of severe urgency to balloon distention but did not affect anal sphincter pressure in healthy volunteers. These results may offer insight into the pathogenesis of stress-in-induced diarrhoea and faecal urgency.


Summary
1. Non-native invasive and nitrogen (N)-fixing plant species can cause large ecosystem-level impacts, particularly when they differ in functionally important plant traits from native and non N-fixing species. However, it remains unclear as to whether and how plant invasion status and N fixation ability consistently influence key plant leaf and litter traits, and trait-driven processes like herbivory and decomposition.

2. We compared leaf and litter traits, leaf palatability and litter decomposability for 41 co-occurring woody species, including native N-fixers, native non N-fixers, invasive N-fixers and invasive non N-fixers, from a New Zealand floodplain. We tested the hypotheses that: (i) invasive and N-fixing species have higher foliar N and specific leaf area, and lower concentrations of defensive phenolics and structural compounds than do native and non N-fixing species, and (ii) invasive and N-fixing species generally produce more decomposable litter and palatable foliage than do native and non N-fixing species.

3. Consistent with our hypotheses, invaders had higher foliar N and N : P ratio, and lower C : N ratio, than did native species. However, in contrast to our hypotheses, foliar phenolics were higher for the invaders while other leaf and litter traits were unaffected by invasion status. Further, N-fixers had higher N and N : P ratios, and lower C : N ratios than did non N-fixers, but other leaf and litter traits were unaffected by N fixation ability.

4. Leaf palatability was unaffected by invasion status but was higher for N-fixers than for non N-fixers. Litter decomposability was unaffected both by invasion status and N fixation ability. We found a significant positive relationship between leaf palatability and litter decomposability across all species, because similar traits, particularly the C : P ratio and total phenolic concentrations of plant tissues, were correlated with both processes.

5. Our results demonstrate that a small number of key traits, such as C : P ratio and total phenolic concentrations, drive both herbivory and decomposition irrespective of plant invasion status or N fixation ability. As such, they highlight that interspecific differences in particular plant traits, rather than plant functional group memberships based on invasion status and N fixation ability, are more effective in predicting palatability and decomposability.


Abstract Background and aims Studies have demonstrated associations between both problematic smartphone and social networks use with everyday life adversities. However, examination of associations between problematic smartphone use (PSU) and problematic use of specific social networking platforms, especially on item-level data, has received relatively little attention. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to explore how items of problematic smartphone, Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram use are associated. Methods 949 German-speaking adults participated in a web survey study. The participants were queried about their socio-demographics as well as levels of problematic smartphone, Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram use. In addition to bivariate correlation analysis, exploratory graph analysis (EGA), a type of network analysis, was conducted. Results The results showed that while problematic Facebook and Instagram use seem to be distinct phenomena, problematic smartphone and WhatsApp use were heavily intertwined. Furthermore, the only cross-platform symptom observed was the extent of reported pain in wrists and neck due to digital technology use. The EGA network models showed very good stability in bootstrap analyses. Discussion and conclusions In general, the results of this study suggest that while Instagram and Facebook use may potentially constitute distinct problematic behaviors, problematic smartphone/WhatsApp use scales may be measuring highly similar or even the same construct.


The effect of four different niobium(From 0-0.1%) addition on the mechanical properties of allotriomorphic ferrite (FGBA)/ granular bainite (BG) air cooling bainitic steels has been investigated in this paper. The results show that (1) The 0.06%Nb steel acquired superior strength and toughness combination by applying 1250°C×60min solution treated, finish rolling at 850°C, and air cooling. The corresponding mechanical property of the thick plate (30mm) is: σb>1050MPa, σ0.2>700MPa, δ5>17%, Akv>90J. (2) The addition of niobium refine the grain size of FGBA, and promoted the transformation of bainite structure. With the increase of niobium content, the refinement of ferrite grain and bainitic cluster is improved. (3) More refined M-A island is acquired by the small addition of niobium. According to M-A Analysis tools and transversal methods, with the rise of niobium content, the volume fraction of M-A island increase from 21% to 35%, and the average size of M-A island decrease from 1.1μm to 0.7um. (4) It is suggested that 0.02-0.06% niobium can improve the mechanical properties of the steel obviously. However, excess addition of Nb (0.1%) deteriorates the impact toughness obviously. (5) Under the synthetic roles of the microstructure refinement and precipitation strengthen, 60-160MPa yield strength improvement has been acquired in the low carbon air cooling bainitic steel by the small addition of niobium. (6) This steel is with low production cost since the alloying element Mn is cheap.


In this study, the dynamic stability problem of a cylindrical shell composed of non-homogeneous orthotropic materials with Young's moduli and density varying continuously in the thickness direction under the effect of an axial compressive load varying with a parabolic function of time is considered. At first, the fundamental relations and the modified Donnell type dynamic stability equations of a non-homogeneous orthotropic cylindrical shell are set up. Applying the Galerkin method, first, and then the Ritz-type variational method, the closed-form solutions have been derived for the dynamic critical axial load and dynamic factor. Finally, carrying out some computations, the effects of the non-homogeneity of the orthotropy ratio and the axial loading parameter on the critical parameters have been studied. Comparing results with those in the literature validates the present analysis.


Recent studies in breast cancer tissue have demonstrated that C-terminal binding protein (CtBP) over-expression induces stem cell-like features and genome instability; whereas CtBP depletion or caloric restriction reverses gene expression and increases DNA repair. C-terminal binding proteins (CtBP) are dimeric nuclear factors that function as transcriptional regulators in response to changes in the cellular level of NADH. Based on the binding affinity of CtBP for NADH, CtBP can function as a sensor of cellular metabolism and therefore has the potential to act as a metabolic marker in known obesity-related cancers. Thus, we decided to study CtBP expression and localization in colorectal cancer (CRC), a known obesity-related cancer.
To study the potential role of CtBP as a metabolic marker in obesity-related cancer, we first subjected a panel of colorectal (HT-29, HCT-15, and SW480), lung (NCI-H1299) and breast (MCF-7) cancer cell lines to a number of metabolic perturbations including hypoxia and hyperglycemia and then observed the expression of known CtBP target genes. The results from these experiments suggested that CtBP does not function as a transcriptional regulator in the colorectal cancer cell lines studied, even while under conditions which are known to elevate cellular NADH levels. We then determined that simultaneous knockdown of CtBP 1 and 2 had no effect of the mRNA expression of known CtBP targets, suggesting again that it was not functioning as a transcription repressor in the colorectal cells. Furthermore we determined the subcellular localization of CtBP1 and CtBP2 in all the cell types interrogated. From these localization experiments we determined that CtBP 1 and CtBP2 were found in primarily in the cytoplasm of the CRC cell lines studied, in contrast to the breast and lung cancer cell lines, where they were found in the nucleus. Based on these findings, we conclude that CtBP does not act as a transcriptional regulator in the colorectal cancer cell lines tested. To test the therapeutic implications of this finding, we also treated the panel of cancer cell lines with purported inhibitors of CtBP and performed MTT assays at 24, 48, and 72 hours to determine the amount of cell death. The results of these experiments showed no significant differences in response to the inhibitors among the different cell types, thus suggesting that the inhibitors used potentially act through a mechanism other than one in which CtBP is responsible.; Extracted text


The low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein (LRP) is a large multifunctional receptor implicated in the cellular uptake of functionally diverse ligands. Biochemical evidence suggests that LRP is a clearance receptor for apoE-rich remnant lipoproteins, lipoprotein lipase, alpha 2-macroglobulin/protease complexes, plasminogen activator/inhibitor complexes, the active protease tissue-type plasminogen activator and exotoxin A from Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Mice genetically deficient in LRP die early during gestation, underscoring the essential physiological role of this gene in vivo. To study the effect of LRP deficiency at the cellular level, we have used Pseudomonas exotoxin A (PEA) to select murine embryonic fibroblasts that are genetically deficient in LRP. Our results demonstrate that this single gene defect is sufficient to confer resistance to PEA on cultured cells. In addition, embryonic fibroblasts lacking LRP are unable to bind, internalize and degrade methylamine-activated alpha 2-macroglobulin and complexes of urokinase with plasminogen activator inhibitor-1. Furthermore, cellular uptake and degradation of receptor-associated protein, a 39 kDa accessory protein of LRP, is reduced by 90% in the absence of LRP. These results provide genetic evidence for the multifunctional nature of LRP and its crucial role in protease/inhibitor complex metabolism.


Atelectasis of the new-born has received scant attention in recent years, despite important advances which have been made in closely related fields. In current textbooks of pathology and of pediatrics, the subject is usually treated briefly, and its presentation is based on traditional conceptions. Certain interesting and highly skilful researches by earlier investigators have been forgotten by later writers. That the term atelectasis of the new-born has been loosely used and its significance misunderstood is shown by the frequency with which atelectasis has been regarded as a complete and satisfactory cause of death, not only in mortality records, but also in autopsy protocols. Clinical and pathologic observations on more than five hundred premature and full-term babies, as well as experimental studies made in the past few years, have led us to a reconsideration of the problem of atelectasis of the new-born. We shall particularly consider the following points: The


Soil-borne pathogenic microorganisms are known to cause extensive crop losses. Agrobacterium tumefaciens, a member of the Proteobacteria, causes the neoplastic crown gall disease in plants. Plant protection is mainly based on toxic chemicals that are harmful to the environment. The use of cold atmospheric-pressure plasma is an attractive method for microbial eradication. Its antimicrobial mechanism includes the formation of large quantities of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The advantages of eradicating bacteria using cold plasma are not needed for chemicals, short treatment, and environmental temperatures. This study examined the impact of plasma corona discharge exposure on A. tumefaciens viability, membrane permeability, relative cell size, and ROS formation. The results showed that 90 s of plasma exposure led to a reduction by four orders of magnitude when the initial concentration was 1 × 107 CFU/mL and in a dry environment. When the initial concentration was 1 × 106 CFU/mL, 45 s of exposure resulted in total bacterial eradication. In a liquid environment, in an initial concentration of 2.02 × 106 CFU/mL, there was no complete bacterial eradication even at the most prolonged examined exposure (90 s). The influence of plasma treatment on the membrane permeability of A. tumefaciens, and their possible recovery, were analyzed using flow cytometer analysis using propidium iodide (PI). When the plasma-treated bacteria were suspended in Luria–Bertani (LB) (rich medium), the PI-positive count of the plasma-treated bacteria after two hours was 12 ± 3.9%. At the 24th hour, this percentage was only 1.74 ± 0.6%, as the control (0.7 ± 0.1%). These results may indicate the repair of the plasma-treated bacteria that were suspended in LB. At the 24th hour, the relative cell size of the treated bacteria shifted to the right, to ~3 × 104 forward side scatter (FSC), about 0.5-fold higher than the untreated cells. Measurement of the ROS showed that the intracellular fluorescence of the 90-s plasma-treated cells led to significant fluorescence formation of 32 relative fluorescence units (RFU)/cell (9 × 104 fold, compared to the nontreated cells). This study showed that cold plasma is a useful method for A. tumefaciens eradication. The eradication mechanism involves ROS generation, membrane permeability, and changes in cell size.


TO THE EDITOR: The American Society of Hospital Pharmacists (ASHP) Commission on Credentialing recently voted to withdraw accreditation of our residency "unless significant progress has been made in implementing a housewide unit-dose drug distribution program." This action comes as no surprise to us. We carefully chose not to provide what I call traditional unit-dose in our 360-bed hospital. If this sounds like heresy, let me continue. Our current drug distribution system is modified unit-dose.' We distribute twoto three-day supplies of completely labeled unit-dose medications to unit-dose carts, providing a system that is basically "unit-dose" in its presentation to nursing. We avoid liquid unit-dose because of high cost, but do extensive sterile syringe-filling to provide unit-doses of most injectable medications. Our iv admixture and total parenteral nutrition distribution is unit-dose. Modifying unit-dose has been positive for us. Our professional staff consists of 5.5 full-time equivalent pharmacists (including a working director) and one resident. Our personnel cost is 43 percent of most normal hospital pharmacies our size.' This small professional staff is totally involved in patient-oriented services through a clinical-liaison pharmacist approach.' Included in our services are: (1) an accredited poison control center for southeastern Ohio; (2) drug interaction surveillance and follow-up for all patients; (3) pharmacokinetic services-the pharmacy schedules all drug blood levels, interprets most, and provides kinetic consults as required; (4) patient education in diabetic classes, bedside medication instructions, discharge drug instructions for selected patients, and drug histories for selected patients; (5) medical staff involvementour pharmacists serve on seven medical staff committees; and (6) a drug information center for southeastern Ohio. To summarize, we have tried to professionalize our pharmacists' activities by borrowing time from unit-dose distribution methods. We believe that we have not given up effective drug distribution in the process. Abramowitz and Nold, writing in the American Journal ofHospital Pharmacy, discuss changes for drug distribution and clinical programs: "Hospital pharmacists will be directed to cut costs in all areas, and the innovative abilities of the profession will be .... challenged. Changes in drug distribution systems will be necessary to achieve the goal of reducing costs while maintaining high standards of quality." It appears we have been able to accomplish much of what these authors suggest (complete clinical services, operational budget at 43 percent of the norm). I hope this letter serves as a mild form of protest. It is intended to point out the need for the ASHP to reevaluate the inflexibility of the unit-dose residency standard.


Abstract The scientific and technological aspects of weather modification are addressed, emphasizing the need for physical understanding, sequential development, predictor variables and an interdisciplinary approach. The experience of the successful experiments in weather modification such as Climax, Israel and Florida single cumuli have shown the importance of two-phase development, namely, exploratory and confirmatory. A decision ladder to screen out unfavorable cases and/or select between treatments must be optimally based on concepts, numerical simulation and measurement. Cooperation between the academic, government and private sectors in these endeavors will optimize use of people and resources. All these steps together should improve the credibility of weather modification in the scientific community and protect against the present fragility suffered by many operational programs.


This report evaluates the U.S. and world sugar markets for 2007-2017 using the Global Sugar Policy Simulation Model. This analysis is based on assumptions about general economic conditions, agricultural policies, population growth, weather conditions, and technological changes. Both the U.S. and world sugar economies are predicted to remain profitable over the next ten years mainly because of the recent surge in world oil prices have increased the conversion of sugar into ethanol in Brazil, while other exporting countries have increased their production in response to those higher prices. Brazil is the largest exporter of sugar, and it is expected that the rate of increase in Brazilian sugar exports may be reduced due to high oil prices. World demand for sugar is expected to grow at a similar rate to world supply, resulting in Carribean sugar prices remaining near the 13.0 -15.5 cents/lb range throughout the forecast period. The U.S. wholesale price of sugar is projected to increase slightly from 26.25 cents/lb in 2007 to 29.9 cents/lb in 2017, if Brazil continues to convert sugar into ethanol. It is projected that Mexico will be able to export 621 thousand metric tons of sugar to the United States by 2017. World trade volumes of sugar are expected to increase throughout the forecast period.


The objective of this paper is to examine the impact of land reform that was carried out in the mid-1970 in the context of the controversy between public and private ownership of land, this study evaluates the impact of the land reform on economic performance in general and agricultural output in particular. This evaluation is made using a medium-size macro-econometric model to trace the feedback effects of this policy on other r sectors of the economy. But the study limits itself to the particular period in which the reform was implemented. The results of this study suggest (1) agricultural output would not have been higher if land distribution were not undertaken; but the margin of improvement due to land distribution is minimal;(2) the results of this study are consistent with most of the studies undertaken in that they all seem to suggest an improvement in agricultural performance, at least in the early years of the land reform.


Properties of mobile ad hoc networks (MANET) like dynamic topology and decentralized connectivity make routing a challenging task. Moreover, overloaded nodes may deplete their energy in forwarding others pack-ets resulting in unstable network and performance degradation. In this paper we propose load-balancing schemes that distribute the traffic on the basis of three important metrics -residual battery capacity, average interface queue length and hop count along with the associated weight values. It helps to achieve load bal-ancing and to extend the entire network lifetime. Simulation results show that the proposed load-balancing schemes significantly enhance the network performance and outperform one of the most prominent ad hoc routing protocols AODV and previously proposed load balanced ad hoc routing protocols including DLAR and LARA in terms of average delay, packet delivery fraction and jitter.


Neurons express a variety of plasma-membrane potassium channels that play important roles in regulating neuronal excitability and synaptic transmission, but also contain mitochondrial ATP-sensitive potassium channels, the functions of which are unknown. Studies of cardiac cells suggest that similar mitochondrial ATP-sensitive potassium channels are involved in the process of ischemic preconditioning, suggesting a role in regulating cell survival. The authors report that mice given diazoxide, an activator of mitochondrial ATP-sensitive potassium channels, exhibited a large (60% to 70%) decrease in cortical infarct size after permanent occlusion of the middle cerebral artery. Diazoxide decreases neuronal apoptosis and increases astrocyte survival and activation in the penumbral region of the ischemic cortex. The neuroprotective effect of diazoxide is abolished by 5-hydroxydecanoate, a selective antagonist of mitochondrial ATP-sensitive potassium channels. Studies of cultured hippocampal neurons reveal that diazoxide depolarizes mitochondria, prevents cytochrome c release, and protects cells against death induced by staurosporine and chemical hypoxia. Diazoxide increased the levels of Bcl2 and inhibited the association of Bax with mitochondria in neurons exposed to an apoptotic insult, suggesting that activation of mitochondrial ATP-sensitive potassium channels may stabilize mitochondrial function by differentially modulating proapoptotic and anti-apoptotic proteins. Collectively, the data suggest that mitochondrial ATP-sensitive potassium channels play a key role in modulating neuronal survival under ischemic conditions, and identify agents that activate mitochondrial ATP-sensitive potassium channels as potential therapeutics for stroke and related neurodegenerative conditions.


Many vision-based automatic traffic-monitoring systems require a calibrated camera to compute the speeds and length-based classifications of tracked vehicles. A number of techniques, both manual and automatic, have been proposed for performing such calibration, but no study has yet focused on evaluating the relative strengths of these different alternatives. We present a taxonomy for roadside camera calibration that not only encompasses the existing methods (VVW, VWH, and VWL) but also includes several novel methods (VVH, VVL, VLH, VVD, VWD, and VHD). We also introduce an overconstrained (OC) approach that takes into account all the available measurements, resulting in reduced error and overcoming the inherent ambiguity in single-vanishing-point solutions. This important but oft-neglected ambiguity has not received the attention that it deserves; we analyze it and propose several ways of overcoming it. Our analysis includes the relative tradeoffs between two-vanishing-point solutions, single-vanishing-point solutions, and solutions that require the distance to the road to be known. The various methods are compared using simulations and experiments with real images, showing that methods that use a known length generally outperform the others in terms of error and that the OC method reduces errors even further.


With the advent of E-Commerce and the increased need to deliver reliable systems in a short timeframe, software reuse is progressively receiving increased interest from both the academic and practitioner communities. Like other technologies, software reuse, has been surrounded by a lot of hype. A major problem often cited in the reuse literature is that management in many organizations is not willing to undertake a longterm reuse initiative. In an attempt to identify reasonable requirements that are acceptable by both reuse experts and management in software developing organizations, we studied the practices of five reuse programs in four organizations. Our research question focuses on qualitatively describing key attributes of a reuse program from the perspective of both reuse experts and top management. Our findings suggest that the key requirements for the success of a reuse program are creating a shared vision for the reuse program, and gaining customer support.


In 1143 a Cistercian abbey was founded in the parish of Vastra Tollstad in the province of Ostergotland in Eastern Middle Sweden. The abbey of Alvastra and the role of the Cistercian monasteries in medieval Swedish society forms the main subject of this thesis. This thesis is based on an analysis of architecture, artefacts and graves recovered during the excavations of Alvastra, and analogies are made with the abbeys of Varnhem, Gudhem and Vreta but also with urban and rural areas in the region. The abbeys are studied in long-term perspective, using archaeology to study not only monastic life but the Reformation and post-dissolution periods.The primary results of the thesis concern the later history of Alvastra, which is poorly known from written sources. The archaeological material in many ways highlights the 14th century as an important period in the history of the abbey of Alvastra. New monastic buildings were erected that in both form and function directly related to secular society. The use of international currency increased, as did the use of imported pottery. Burial practices changed, particularily in regards to the spatial distribution of graves. Several if not all of these changes may be interpreted as part of a transformation of the relationship between the abbey and secular society. The relationship between the abbey and secular society became closer, which was manifested in architecture, artefacts and burials. This may be seen as an attempt by the abbey to adapt monastic culture to changing religious ideals, but it caused secular perceptions of the abbey to change.By opening the abbey to seculars and making lay people a part of the Cistercian brotherhood, the monks adapted a traditional structure to changing circumstances. At the same time, the very relationship with the seculars changed. The position and authority of the Cistercians stemmed in large part from their distance and isolation from lay society. Monastic culture did not provide the tools for understanding religious change in terms that allowed the monasteries to survey the consequences of their actions in terms of the social and religious position of the abbey.


Epitaxial growth of cubic silicon carbide on 6H-SiC substrates, and 6H-SiC substrates with (111) 3C-SiC buffer layer, deposited by vapour liquid solid mechanism, was compared. The morphological details of the grown layers were studied by optical microscopy and their microstructure by transmission electron microscopy. The influence of the substrate on the nucleation of 3C-SiC, the initial homoepitaxial 6H-SiC nucleation before 3C-SiC as well as the formation of defects, are discussed.


Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) specifically stimulates particulate guanylate cyclase, and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) has been recognized as its second messenger. Spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) have elevated plasma ANP levels, but manifest an exaggerated natriuretic and diuretic response to exogenous ANP when compared to normotensive strains. In isolated glomeruli, the maximal cGMP response to ANP corresponds to a 12- to 14-fold increase over basal levels in normotensive strains (Wistar 13 +/- 2; Wistar-Kyoto 12 +/- 2; Sprague-Dawley 14 +/- 2) while a maximal 33 +/- 3-fold elevation occurs in SHR (P < 0.001). This hyperresponsiveness of cGMP is reproducible in intact glomeruli from SHR from various commercial sources. Furthermore, this abnormality develops early in life, even before hypertension is clearly established, and persists despite pharmacological modulation of blood pressure, indicating that it is a primary event in hypertension. In vitro studies have revealed a higher particulate guanylate cyclase activity in membranes from glomeruli and other tissues from SHR. This increase is not accounted for by different patterns of ANP binding to its receptor subtypes between normotensive and hypertensive strains, as assessed by competitive displacement with C-ANP102-121, an analog which selectively binds to one ANP receptor subtype. The hyperactivity of particulate guanylate cyclase in SHR and its behavior under basal, ligand (ANP), and detergent-enhanced conditions could be attributed either to increased expression or augmented sensitivity of the enzyme. Radiation-inactivation analysis does not evoke a disturbance in the size of regulatory elements normally repressing enzymatic activity, while the expression of particulate guanylate cyclase gene using mutated standard of A- and B-receptors partial cDNAs, quantified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) transcript titration assay, manifests a selective increase of one guanylate cyclase subtype. Our data suggest that in hypertension, genetic overexpression of the ANP A-receptor subtype is related to the exaggerated biological response to ANP in this disease.


The article offers a way to unite three recent developments in the field of motor control and coordination: (1) The notion of synergies is introduced based on the principle of motor abundance; (2) The uncontrolled manifold hypothesis is described as offering a computational framework to identify and quantify synergies; and (3) The equilibrium-point hypothesis is described for a single muscle, single joint, and multijoint systems. Merging these concepts into a single coherent scheme requires focusing on control variables rather than performance variables. The principle of minimal final action is formulated as the guiding principle within the referent configuration hypothesis. Motor actions are associated with setting two types of variables by a controller, those that ultimately define average performance patterns and those that define associated synergies. Predictions of the suggested scheme are reviewed, such as the phenomenon of anticipatory synergy adjustments, quick actions without changes in synergies, atypical synergies, and changes in synergies with practice. A few models are briefly reviewed.


This paper presents the total process model of automation for construction and maintenance, with a focus on roads and bridges. This multi-phase model includes: initial measurements, product modeling and design, construction control and machine guidance, quality assurance and control, and lifecycle operations and maintenance. The paper then provides detailed discussion of current applied research results from Finland and California. The paper gives a summary of the key findings of Finland and California, noting areas of commonality and areas for further investigation. Finally, the paper presents plans for further collaborative research between the University of Oulu and the University of California – Davis. 1. Introduction: The Total Process Model


In shale rock formations, multistage hydraulically fractured horizontal wells with slick water are generally used to enhance the production of shale gas and oil. However, slick water proppant transport in simultaneously growing multiple fractures has not been well studied. Motivated by these considerations, we initially focus on the development of a new high-fidelity model for simultaneously growing multiple fractures to describe the fracture propagation by explicitly accounting for stress shadow effects as well as the proppant transport. The hydrocarbon production rate through these multiple fractures is strongly dependent on the proppant distribution within the fractures. To regulate the distribution of proppant at the end of pumping in simultaneously growing multiple fractures, we propose a model-based pumping schedule. Specifically, we develop a reduced-order model utilizing the simulation data from the above-developed high-fidelity model, which is then used to design a Kalman filter and a model predi...


Patients that have undergone organ transplantation are life-long treated with immunosuppressant drugs and these have to be monitored regularly to get the desired effect of suppressing the immune system. To monitor the drug concentration normally a venous blood sample is collected at a clinic but the use of dried blood spots (DBS) as a matrix for drug monitoring for immunosuppressant drugs will make home sampling possible for this patient group. The aim of this study was to develop and validate a bioanalytical method for quantifying cyclosporine A and tacrolimus in dried blood spots. The method consist of punching out a 5 mm disc from a blood spot , followed by extracting the spot in a 96-well hydrophobic filter plate with 150 µL extraction solution containing internal standard (ascomycin and cyclosporine A d12) in a methanol water solution (80:20v/v%). The extract is then centrifuged through the filter plate down in a 96-deep well plate and injected on the LC-MS/MS, with an analysis time of 2.5min. The method will be validated in accordance with the guidelines set by the European Medicines Agency with additions specific to DBS. The method is not fully validated but will be in due time. The validated parameters show a robust and fast analysing method that has the prospects of being used for analysing DBS samples for patients and in the future can possibly be used by patients in home environment.


type="main"> This is an introduction to a special issue sponsored by UNU-WIDER focusing on key governance challenges related to addressing gaps in urban service delivery in sub-Saharan Africa. First, due to decentralisation policies in much of Africa, the provision of services is often transferred to sub-national authorities. But complex layers of administration and high levels of poverty deprive local governments of adequate resources. Secondly, opposition parties now control a number of African cities, a situation known as 'vertically-divided authority'. Consequently, central governments do not always have an incentive to help municipal governments improve their performance. Case studies of Senegal, South Africa and Uganda highlight how and when such dynamics become problematic for the delivery of urban services, and offer important implications for the donor community.


We have developed an ion cyclotron resonance frequency (ICRF) heating system for the Ring Trap 1 (RT-1) magnetospheric device. We excite slow waves from the polar region of the dipole magnetic field. The target helium plasma is produced by electron cyclotron heating. The electrons comprise high-temperature (>10 keV) and low-temperature (<100 eV) components with both typically exhibiting densities of the same order of magnitude. The ICRF heating causes an increase in the ion temperatures and toroidal flow velocities in the core plasma region. We observe appreciable temperature differences between the different ion species (main He+ and impurity C2+), suggesting a strong influence of the charge-exchange loss, which caused the bulk ions to remain relatively cold (~20 eV) compared to the impurity ions (~40 eV). By developing an electro-optical measurement system, we have measured the local wave electric field in the plasma.


The objective was to evaluate the effects of 6 months of supplementation with Altilix®, containing chlorogenic acid and its derivatives, and luteolin and its derivatives, on cardiovascular risk and hepatic markers in subjects with metabolic syndrome (MetS). A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was performed in 100 subjects with MetS with a follow-up period of 6 months; 50 subjects were randomized to Altilix® (26 men and 24 women, mean age 63 ± 8 years) and the other 50 to placebo (28 men and 22 women, mean age 63 ± 11 years). Anthropometric, cardiometabolic, and hepatic parameters were assessed at baseline and at the end of follow-up. Carotid intima-media thickness and endothelial function were assessed by doppler ultrasound and by flow-mediated dilation of the brachial artery, respectively. The presence and degree of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) was assessed by the fatty liver index (FLI), and subjects were divided into three subgroups: (1) without NAFLD; (2) with borderline NAFLD; and (3) with NAFLD. After 6 months of Altilix® supplementation, we found a significant improvement vs. placebo in most of the evaluated parameters, including body weight (-2.40% (95% CI -3.79, -1.01); p < 0.001), waist circumference (-2.76% (95% CI -4.55, -0.96); p = 0.003), HbA1c (-0.95% (95% CI -1.22, -0.67); p < 0.001), plasma lipids, FLI (-21.83% (95% CI -27.39, -16.27); p < 0.001), hepatic transaminases, flow-mediated dilation (10.56% (95% CI 5.00, 16.12); p < 0.001), and carotid intima-media thickness (-39.48% (95% CI -47.98, -30.97); p < 0.001). Further, the improvement in cardiometabolic variables was independent of the degree of hepatic steatosis. Altilix® supplementation improved hepatic and cardio-metabolic parameters in MetS subjects. Altilix® supplementation was a beneficial approach in the management of hepatic and cardiometabolic alterations in MetS subjects.


The presence of current sheet instabilities, such as the tearing mode instability, are needed to account for the observed rate of energy release in solar flares. Insights into these current sheet dynamics can be revealed by the behavior of flare ribbon substructure, as magnetic reconnection accelerates particles down newly reconnected field lines into the chromosphere to mark the flare footpoints. Behavior in the ribbons can therefore be used to probe processes occurring in the current sheet. In this study, we use high-cadence (1.7 s) IRIS Slit Jaw Imager observations to probe for the growth and evolution of key spatial scales along the flare ribbons—resulting from dynamics across the current sheet of a small solar flare on 2016 December 6. Combining analyses of spatial scale growth with Si iv nonthermal velocities, we piece together a timeline of flare onset for this confined event, and provide evidence of the tearing mode instability triggering a cascade and inverse cascade toward a power spectrum consistent with plasma turbulence.


This paper presents a trace-driven experimentation and analytics framework that allows researchers and engineers to devise and evaluate operational strategies for large-scale AI workflow systems. Analytics data from a production-grade AI platform developed at IBM are used to build a comprehensive system and simulation model. Synthetic traces are made available for ad-hoc exploration as well as statistical analysis of experiments to test and examine pipeline scheduling, cluster resource allocation, and similar operational mechanisms.


Background To reduce the increasing burden of pneumonia hospitalizations, we need to understand their determinants. Being married may decrease the risk of severe infections, due to better social support and healthier lifestyle. Patients and methods In this population-based case-control study, we identified all adult patients with a first-time pneumonia-related hospitalization between 1994 and 2008 in Northern Denmark. For each case, ten sex- and age-matched population controls were selected from Denmark's Civil Registration System. We performed conditional logistic regression analysis to estimate the odds ratios (ORs) for pneumonia hospitalization among persons who were divorced, widowed, or never married, as compared with married persons, adjusting for age, sex, 19 different comorbidities, alcoholism-related conditions, immunosuppressant use, urbanization, and living with small children. Results The study included 67,162 patients with a pneumonia-related hospitalization and 671,620 matched population controls. Compared with controls, the pneumonia patients were more likely to be divorced (10% versus 7%) or never married (13% versus 11%). Divorced and never-married patients were much more likely to have previous diagnoses of alcoholism-related conditions (18% and 11%, respectively) compared with married (3%) and widowed (6%) patients. The adjusted OR for pneumonia-related hospitalization was increased, at 1.29 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.25–1.33) among divorced; 1.15 (95% CI: 1.12–1.17) among widowed; and 1.33 (95% CI: 1.29–1.37) among never-married individuals as compared with those who were married. Conclusion Married individuals have a decreased risk of being hospitalized with pneumonia compared with never-married, divorced, and widowed patients.


It is well known that acceptor and donor doping results in opposite ferroelectric aging effects; however, the aging effects in hybrid-doped (acceptor+donor) has remained unclear. Thus, the aging effect of dielectric and ferroelectric properties in Fe3+/Nb5+ hybrid-doped BaTiO3 ceramics was investigated in this research. The concentration of acceptor dopant (Fe3+) was fixed at 1 mol% while that of donor dopant (Nb5+) was varied from 0.5-2.0 mol%. XRD technique was used to study the phase morphology. Before measuring dielectric and ferroelectric aging effect, all samples were deaged at 250 °C for 1 hour. The results showed that the dielectric properties of all deaged samples have decreased exponentially with time. The deaged samples with 0.5 and 1.0 mol% of Nb5+ obviously showed double hysteresis loop while that with higher concentration of Nb5+ (1.5-2.0 mol%) showed the rectangular (normal) hysteresis loop. The explanations based on the effect of defect dipole were discussed.


In recent years many experimental investigations have been carried out on vasculogenesis and angiogenesis, the mechanisms of blood vessels formation. Neovascularization is a hallmark of embryogenesis and many other physiological processes, such as wound healing or endometrium vascularization during the mestrual cycle. Angiogenesis also plays a key role in tumor growth, tumor metastasis and other pathological processes including many inflammatory diseases. Understanding biological phenomena regulating angiogenesis is therefore essential for clinical treatment of cancer and other angiogenesis-dependent diseases. This paper describes the development of a fully-automated computerized angiogenesis analysis system, which enables angiogenesis parameters to be quantified in an in-vitro model. The proposed methodology works on phase contrast microscopy snap photographs of cultured endothelial cell plates, and extracts a detailed graph-based representation of the blood vessels network thus supporting accurate angiogenesis parameters measurement.


There is evidence that transmission of serum hepatitis is associated with transmission of virus-like particles, approximately 20 mμ in diameter, containing the Australia or serum hepatitis (SH) antigen, which is currently referred to as the hepatitis associated antigen (HAA). Virus-like particles containing HAA were in the following materials, inoculation of which produced serum hepatitis: (1) a pool of human plasma, (2) serum obtained during the acute phase of hepatitis from a recipient of the plasma pool, (3) a preparation of human thrombin, and (4) serum from a proved hepatitis carrier. The HAA appeared in the serum samples of 61 individuals inoculated with these materials; serum hepatitis developed in 38 of them. Inoculation of dilutions of the plasma pool showed that serum hepatitis can be transmitted by materials containing HAA in amounts too low to be detected by current techniques.


Magnesium (Mg) and potassium (K) are the major intracellular cations whose presence in the serum are low, but minor changes of those may show a remarkable change in the various body functions specially in the heart. The study was designed to find out the correlation between serum Mg and K in acute myocardial infarction (AMI), chronic ischemic heart disease (CIHD) and normal healthy volunteers. It was carried out over a period of 18 months in the Department of Biochemistry, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) in collaboration with Department of Cardiology, Sir Salimullah Medical College & Mitford Hospital (SSMC & MH) and Atomic Energy Center, Dhaka. A total of 101 subjects were included in which 32 subjects were AMI, 34 CIHD and 35 normal healthy volunteers. Serum glucose and serum creatinine were estimated to exclude diabetes and renal dystrophies. Estimation of serum CK-MB and ECG tracing were done as diagnostic tools of AMI and to categories the subjects into various groups. Serum Mg was estimated by Atomic absorption spectrophotometer and serum K by Ion sensitive electrode. The present study shows that there is a strong positive correlation of serum Mg and K in AMI, CIHD and healthy control subjects (r = 0.566, p<0.01 level). So it is suggested to estimate and supplement both Mg and K in IHD patients for their better management. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjmb.v3i2.13812 Bangladesh J Med Biochem 2010; 3(2): 50-56


Abstract Background Factors that influence vaginal microbiota composition, including its source, are not well understood. To determine if vaginal microbiota transmission from mother to daughter at birth influences the human vaginal microbiota composition in adolescence, we investigated the relationship between the vaginal microbiota of 13 mother/daughter pairs and the daughter's birth mode. Results Based on analysis of bacterial 16S rRNA gene sequences, the vaginal microbiotas of mother/daughter pairs were more similar to each other if the daughter was born by vaginal delivery rather than by C-section. Additionally, genome sequences from an important member of the vaginal microbiota, Lactobacillus crispatus, isolated from one mother/daughter pair in which the daughter was born by vaginal delivery, were highly similar. Conclusions Both community-level analysis and isolate genome sequence analysis provide evidence of birth-mode dependent transmission and persistence of at least some members of the vaginal microbiota. Importance The composition of the human vaginal microbiota is related to many aspects of health from infection susceptibility to preterm birth. Our study provides evidence that transmission of vaginal bacteria from mother to daughter at birth is an important factor influencing vaginal microbiota composition into adolescence.


Advanced models for engineering properties of polycrystalline materials require
description of the spatial distribution of lattice phase and orientation. For this purpose
the n-point statistical measures present a natural extension of the orientation
distribution function, which is equivalent to the one-point measure of lattice orientation
in single-phase microstructures. This paper describes the origin of the n-point measures
in the context of statistical theory, and some aspects of their experimental
determination. Fourier representation of the n-point measures in terms of tensorial basis
functions is described. It is proposed that tensorial representations have some natural
advantages over the ordinary representation using generalized spherical functions. An
example of the application of occurrence of the n-point statistics of lattice orientation in
a theory of creep in polycrystals is presented, and some limited comparisons with the
uniform strain-rate and self-consistent theories are described.


The immune changes that accompany pregnancy are in several ways similar to those required for solid organ transplantation. Successful pregnancy involves controlled downregulation of the maternal immune system with increased tolerance of foetal cells expressing paternal HLA antigens. This is mediated principally by human chorionic gonadotrophin which has a documented ability to alter the action of T cells, dendritic cells and natural killer cells as well as increasing vascularisation. Chronic graft rejection is now the leading cause of graft dysfunction and failure. Long term anti-rejection therapy is accompanied by immune deficiency and an adverse cardiovascular profile. In contrast, overall immune function is preserved in pregnancy and pregnant women generally feel well. As such hCG initially added to conventional therapy may reduce or prevent chronic rejection in transplantation. In the future hCG may even replace long term anti-rejection therapy.


Abstract.
 Melilotus albus is recognised as an important source of forage for ruminant animals in rangelands, particularly some of the germplasm of Melilotus collected in Argentina. This study was designed to evaluate the effects of 2 years of selection in M. albus for late flowering and branching on forage yield in a 2-year field plot experiment and to evaluate the effects of selection for late flowering on photoperiodic requirements in a 1-year pot experiment under natural and artificial lighting conditions. Three populations were evaluated, namely original population (T), a population selected for late flowering and greater number of basal branches (ET1), and a population selected only for late-flowering plants (ET2). The field plot experiment showed that total DM yield per year was higher for ET1 and T than for ET2 in Year 1 and higher for ET1 than T and ET2 in Year 2. Relative leaf yield was higher for ET1 and ET2 than for T in both years. Leaf number was greater for ET1 than for ET2 and T in both years. The number of new basal and total branches was greater in ET1 than in ET2 and T for both years. The pot experiment showed that days to flowering, calculated as the average of natural and artificial lighting treatments, were higher in ET2 and ET1 (83.4 days ± 15 and 72.8 days ± 19, respectively), than in T (61.2 days ± 21). Supplementary lighting reduced days to flowering compared with natural lighting conditions for all populations (58.7 days ± 13 v. 86.1 days ± 12). Results showed that 2 years of selection proved to be efficient in breeding for late flowering and greater number of basal branches in M. albus. The longer vegetative stage observed in the improved populations can be explained by the selection of plants which require a longer photoperiod to flower. Selection for late flowering and greater number of basal branches resulted in a population with more leaves and higher relative leaf yield.


The hierarchical approach to the solution of logical paradoxes is considered in the article. The foundations and main theses of the hierarchical approach are analysed through consideration of Russell's theory of types and Tarski's semantic conception. Basic arguments critical of such an approach that have been formulated in logical and epistemological research are presented. A specific characteristic of Wittgenstein's position in the context of the hierarchical approach expressed by him in Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus is identified. The Wittgensteinian version of the hierarchical approach is the most stable in the relation to the critical arguments considered. If we still want to evaluate the hierarchical approach as an acceptable solution to the problem of logical paradoxes, we should employ its Wittgensteinian interpretation, because it is able to overcome the serious critical arguments against the approach presented in contemporary research on logic, epistemology, and the philosophy of mathematics.


In this thesis a chirally symmetric technicolor model is investigated as an extension to the Standard Model. The extension is based on low-energy QCD, with a linear sigma model used to induce the additional degrees of freedom corresponding to the lightest particles of the new techni-sector. The main goal is to incorporate the Standard Model Higgs into the new model, as to explain its vacuum expectation value and origin within the framework of the new model. The new model is examined for two cases. First, introducing two new fermions under the new sector; this will be shown to give rise to a possible explanation of the Higgs vacuum expectation value's origin. Second, three fermions are introduced under the new sector, making for a possible identification of the Higgs as a composite object of the fermions in question.


Online consumer revenge is costing companies millions of dollars annually. Yet, a limited number of studies have investigated the factors that influence online consumer revenge and the degree to which they carry on across cultural boundaries. A serious gap was noticed concerning the forms, triggers, and process of consumer revenge in the online context. Additionally, it was noticed that previous theoretical models of consumer revenge go directly from the desire for revenge state to the actual revenge state without explaining the cognitive process the consumer goes through when evaluating the decision whether or not to commit revenge. To address these research gaps, a mixed method approach was applied. A qualitative approach was employed first to explore this behaviour. Afterwards, a scenario based survey was used in order to examine and test the casual relationships between the variables identified in the first study on a larger sample from Jordan and Britain.
Overall, the findings of this thesis have proven for the first time the secondary appraisal state consumers go through when evaluating their online revenge coping options. In this state, consumers were found to evaluate the reach of their actions, the risk involved, and the ability to perform the online revenge behaviour. Additionally, this thesis found that the British participants cognitively evaluate their online revenge options more extensively when compared to the Jordanian participants. The findings of this thesis also identify a new set of triggers for online consumer revenge including the type (process/outcome) and the severity of the service failure. This finding shifts away from the traditional fairness violations view of the triggers of consumer revenge. Moreover, the findings of this thesis establishes the role of the national culture in influencing online revenge as demonstrated by the difference in the harm appraisals, negative emotions, and the desires for revenge between the English and Jordanian participants.


King Cotton's Advocate: Oscar G. Johnston and the New Deal. By Lawrence J. Nelson. (Knoxville: University of Tennessee Press, 1999. Pp. 376. Preface, acknowledgments, epilogue, notes, bibliography, and index. $38.00.) Much of the history of the New Deal has been written by historians in sympathy with President Franklin Roosevelt's administration and the programs that were created to help solve the problems caused by the Great Depression. When scholars criticize these programs, it is often because, in their view, they did not go far enough in remaking American society. A great deal has been written about the flood of New Dealers who descended upon Washington determined to reinvent the country with none but the best of intentions and the most lofty of goals. Anyone seen to be in opposition to those goals has often been described as a reactionary, standing in the way of a fairer and more just social order. In particular, large landowners of the South have often been singled out as mean-spirited villains who stole from the sharecroppers and kept them as modern-day serfs, tied to the land. Though there is some justification for this description, there is, as always, another side to the story. Lawrence Nelson's book about Oscar Johnston is a worthy attempt at redressing this longstanding imbalance. Nelson's purpose is to show, through the life of Johnston, that not all of the landowners were instinctively regressive. If anything, though, selecting Oscar Johnston as an example makes Nelson's job too easy. Johnston was by all accounts a brilliant man. He had a keen, quick mind and the oratorical skills to put it to good use. A native of Mississippi, he began his business career as an attorney, but quickly became involved in politics. He served in the state legislature, becoming well known throughout the state, but finally left politics after being defeated in a campaign for the governor's office in 1919. Through a serendipitous chain of events in 1926, Oscar Johnston found himself working for a largely British-owned plantation known as Delta and Pine Land Company. This plantation was one of the largest in the world, consisting of over 38,000 acres of land and employing several thousand sharecroppers. Managing such an enterprise was a challenge, but Johnston liked challenges and he was uniquely suited for the task. His business acumen and legal training, along with his political experience, were used to great effect in turning around the struggling plantation's fortunes. In 1933 these same traits resulted in Johnston's appointment to a New Deal agency called the Agricultural Adjustment Administration. …


Fine-scale behaviour such as foraging is difficult to quantify in free-swimming wild fish yet has important basic and applied implications. Here, we used tri-axial accelerometer biologgers to determine accelerometric predictors of bonefish Albula vulpes behaviours (resting, swimming, bursting, coasting, and foraging) in a wetland mesocosm in Eleuthera, The Bahamas. We also used a swim flume to estimate the relationship between acceleration and swimming speed for bonefish (n = 9). In the wetland study, 5 bonefish were tagged externally with accelero - meter loggers and monitored for a 5 d period during which visual behavioural observations were conducted for 4 h. Classification tree models were used to identify accelerometric criteria for bonefish behaviours, and a classification algorithm was applied to estimate behavioural frequen- cies for bonefish in the wetland for the 5 d period. Bonefish spent the majority of time resting (57%), followed by swimming (26%) and coasting (17%), and foraged an average of 11 times h �1 . Bonefish exhibited primarily slow swimming speeds (average 0.18 m s �1 ) while in the wetland, with occasional burst swimming events (14 h �1 ) to maximum swimming speeds ranging from 4.3 to 6.4 m s �1 across individuals. Swimming and foraging behaviours varied among individuals and over the diel cycle. Bonefish generally swam most at dawn and foraged most at night. Tempera- ture and tide were also significant predictors of swimming behaviour, and fish were generally most active at lower temperatures (~24°C) and during ebbing tidal periods despite the fact that the wetland was disconnected from the ocean. The ability to estimate fine-scale behaviours such as foraging and activity levels has important implications for understanding energy dynamics, which is fundamental to the fitness of wild fish.


For laypeople, media coverage of science on television is a gateway to scientific issues. Defining scientific evidence is central to the field of science, but there are still questions if news coverage of science represents scientific research findings as certain or uncertain. The framing approach is a suitable framework to classify different media representations; it is applied here to investigate the frames of scientific evidence in film clips (n = 207) taken from science television programs. Molecular medicine is the domain of interest for this analysis, due to its high proportion of uncertain and conflicting research findings and risks. The results indicate that television clips vary in their coverage of scientific evidence of molecular medicine. Four frames were found: Scientific Uncertainty and Controversy, Scientifically Certain Data, Everyday Medical Risks, and Conflicting Scientific Evidence. They differ in their way of framing scientific evidence and risks of molecular medicine.


We report a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) that was preceded by immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). She subsequently developed refractory thrombocytopenia. An accessory spleen was found and removed, however, she continued to have severe thrombocytopenia.


Abstract This article is an investigation into why the U.S. federal courts have failed to effectively control local police conduct by means of constitutional rules. In so doing, the article finds that the federal courts' approach to the control of police abuse of power—federalization and constiotutionalization of criminal procedures—is ill informed of the nature and essence of police work within the community context and at the grassroots level. Particularly, it fails to take into account the structural and normative forces giving rise to police abuse. The central thesis of this paper is that the federal courts' constitutional supervision of local police conduct is at odd with the police's operational reality and functional requirements, as reflecting entrenched local customs, shifting community expectations and contingent situational circumstances. The courts' right-based approach is in sharp contrast with the police's utilitarian method. At a more structural level, traditionally and by design, the court is made to stand aloof from the people. The police is required to stay in touch with the people. One of the main purpose of this paper is thus to illuminate the differences in decision-making process and clarify observable disparity in constitutional value preferences between the federal courts and the local police. This will be discussed in the context of police civil liability under Title 42, United States Code, Section 1983 of the Civil Rights Act. The article concludes in observing that the federal courts and the local police, though housed under the same criminal justice system, are two distinctive social control institutions, each with its own political legitimacy base and social utility functions. They share different values, orientation, allegiance and thinking process. These differences, more so than other behavioral or organization factors, accounted for much of the observed police misconduct to date.


Introduction: Quality assessment of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) is important to prevent clinical application of erroneous results. Materials and Methods: This was an assessment of published RCTs in surgical subspecialties during 2011–2018 based on MEDLINE and EMBASE search. The primary objective of the present study was to quantitatively and qualitatively analyze the RCTs published from India based on year of publication, geographical distribution, and subspecialty using the modified Jadad score (high quality if score is ≥3; or ≥2 if blinded design was not feasible). Its secondary objective was to identify factors affecting the quality of RCTs. Results: Among 1304 trials identified, 162 were analyzed. Of these 96 (59%) had a score of ≥3; and 104 (64.2%) were of high quality (score ≥2). Year-wise there was no significant quantitative (P = 0.329) or qualitative (P = 0.255) variation. Geographic regions had similar quantity (P = 0.206) and quality (P = 0.068). The RCTs among subspecialties too were comparable in quantity and quality. Higher impact factor of journal (P = 0.013) and assessment by Institute Review Board (IRB) (P = 0.004) were significantly associated with a better study quality. Type of institution, number of authors, centricity, assistance by a statistician, and source of funding did not affect the quality of RCTs. Conclusions: The quantity and quality of surgical RCTs were stable and comparable over the years and across geographical regions and subspecialties. Higher impact factor of journal and review by IRB were significantly associated with a better study quality.


Background and Objectives The aim of the present study was to evaluate left ventricle systolic and diastolic function, using tissue Doppler echocardiography (TDE), in relation to blood glucose status in prediabetic patients who had no evidence of heart disease by conventional echocardiography (CE). Subjects and Methods We included 60 patients (30 female, 30 male) and 20 healthy controls (10 male, 10 female). All participants were randomised into four groups according to their oral glucose tolerance test. Group-I consisted of those patients who had only impaired fasting glucose (IFG). group-II consisted of patients who had only impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and group-III consisted of patients who had both IFG and IGT, that is so-called combined glucose intolerance. Group-IV included the healthy controls. All subjects underwent both CE and TDE. Results No significant differences were found among the four groups in terms of CE. There was no significant difference between group-IV and group-I with respect to the early peak diastolic velocity (Ea) of medial mitral annulus (11.65±0.66 vs. 9.72±1.58, p>0.05), whereas a statistically significant difference was found between group-IV and group-II (11.65±0.66 vs. 9.06±1.07, p<0.001) and between group-IV and group-III (11.65±0.66 vs. 9.74±1.09, p<0.05). Conclusion Diastolic myocardial dysfunction in prediabetic patients may be identified by quantitative TDE before the appearance of CE indices of myocardial dysfunction.


This paper describes the possible approaches to encouraging diversity within the workplace that are available to all professional organizations, including the American Association of Law Libraries [AALL]. Part I reviews the basic terms: discrimination, bias, and diversity. Reasons for pursuing diversity in the workplace are discussed in Part II. Two instrumental justifications and one intrinsic rationale reveal the range of motivations behind these projects. Each rationale supports its characteristic form of diversity: reflective, substantive, and cognitive. Because the kind of diversity determines the anticipated outcome, disagreement over progress may be the result of expecting different kinds of diversity. Clarity on goals and means will lead to better communication about results and progress. The data in Part III demonstrate, however, that if reflective diversity is the appropriate standard AALL not only falls short of the goal but is farther behind in 2014 than it was in 2000. Although evaluating AALL in absolute terms shows that it is becoming less diverse with time, that conclusion does not tell us what we should do about it. Part IV compares AALL's diversity record with those of similar professions of law, general librarianship, and postsecondary teaching. The purpose is to identify to what extent AALL's performance suggests an unusual obstacle to entering law librarianship, and to what extent it is symptomatic of the society-wide lack of a sizeable pool of suitable candidates for professions of this type. The thesis is that to judge AALL's diversity efforts we must place law librarianship into broader social contexts so that patterns can be meaningfully interpreted. In order to devise effective remedies we need to know how much of any demonstrated lack of diversity arises out of the intrinsic features of law librarianship. These should be separated from the difficulties situated elsewhere, such as from libraries and library education generally, or in the legal profession with which we are allied. Recognizing these wider patterns will allow us to target limited resources toward factors under our immediate control before moving on to address general societal shortcomings.


To what extent do friendship ties influence the conversation structure in open groups? Openly accessible Facebook groups offer the opportunity to examine how individuals leverage their existing friendship relations when speaking to a large and often heterogeneous audience. For example, those with many friends in the group may receive more positive signals from others and also may have their content validated more easily. Thus, while the group is ostensibly open to all, existing relationships may impede such openness on a practical level. We employ a stratified sample of 30 Facebook groups from UK Russell Group universities. Using multilevel regression, we examine the effects of several structural metrics at both the actor and group level on the magnitude of three conversational metrics: likelihood of initiating a conversation, responding to a conversation and receiving responses for content. We find that aspects of individual network positions, e.g. degree-centrality and eigenvector-centrality, as well as qualities of the group e.g. group-density and modularity, have a consistent and highly significant effect on conversational metrics, while the strength of these relationships clearly varies by group type. We contextualise our findings via Gibson's notion of "conversational agency", and point to future directions for designing and managing online communities.