ABSTRACT Aim: In RCT, use of surrogate endpoints for overall survival is increasingly common, yet the choice of surrogates and their definition are not standardized. As endpoint definitions directly affect the estimation of treatment effects, this limits the usefulness of surrogates in the comparison of results between studies. The aim of the DATECAN Kidney project is to obtain a formal consensus for endpoint definitions by providing recommendations for standardised definitions of TEE in RCT in RCC. Methods: Based on a literature review of RCTs (2006–2009), TEE and the associated events used in their definition were identified. Academic research groups were contacted by the Pilot group (PG) upon suggestions from the Steering Committee (SC) to select clinicians and methodologists for the Rating Group (RG) for the two scoring rounds and a face-to-face meeting. A modified Delphi method was used for establishing consensus. Recommendations were then proposed for final ratification to ensure consistency across definitions. Results: The PG and SC selected 9 potentially applicable TEE in the non metastatic (NM) and metastatic/advanced (MA) disease settings. Among the 42 experts contacted, 36 and 34 participated in the first and second rounds respectively, scoring a total of 121 events for the 9 endpoints. After the first two rounds, consensus was reached for 38 events (31%); and 52 events (43%) respectively. During the face-to-face meeting, consensus was reached for 103 (85%) events including 51 events for which there was a tendency to include (9) or exclude (42) the event. 3 endpoints were recommended in the NM setting: Disease-Free Survival (contra lateral RCC, appearance of metastases, local or regional recurrence, death from RCC, death from protocol treatment), Metastasis-Free Survival (appearance of metastases, regional recurrence, death from RCC); and Local regional Free-Survival (local or regional recurrence, death from RCC) Two endpoints were recommended in the MA setting: Kidney Cancer Specific Survival (death from RCC or from protocol treatment) and Progression-Free Survival (death from RCC or Local, regional, or metastatic progression). Conclusions: Recommendations for standardized definitions of TEE in RCT for RCC were established, thus facilitating the reporting of results and between trial comparisons. Disclosure: All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.


Nowadays stroke is one of the world leading causes of mortality and disability. In process of time the evolution in view about etiology, pathogenetic mechanisms and therapy of patients with stroke has underwent pivotal changes. In this work there have been elucidated contemporary theoretical and practical aspects of stroke treatment and prophylaxis based on the results of multicenter clinical trials and experience of leading foreign and native specialists. Much attention is devoted to the pharmacotherapy of patients with stroke. It is showed that application of neuroprotective drugs is of great importance, among which antihypoxants with pleiotropic action play a crucial role (mexidol).


Photographic film has commonly been exposed by a single-photon absorption mechanism. We determine the conditions for film exposure by direct two-photon absorption. Using subpicosecond laser pulses, we find that two-photon exposure for commercial film has a threshold fluence and an intensity of 0.0008 J/cm2 and 0.0066 TW/cm2, respectively, well below the optical damage threshold. Multiphoton photography has the potential for higher spatial resolution and affords an opportunity for three-dimensional image storage.


The well-known distinction between verbal participles and adjectival ones has been fine-grained in the last decades. Within the adjectival participles, Kratzer (1994) and Embick (2004), for German and English respectively, distinguish between stative and resultative participles. Sleeman (2011) distinguishes two types of verbal participles in Germanic. She argues that the postnominal verbal participle in Dutch and English is fully eventive, while the prenominal one is not fully adjectival, as has been claimed by Embick (2004), but to a lesser extent eventive. In this paper, we claim that Romance languages also display the four stages in the adjectivization process. We argue that, not only in Germanic, but also in Romance, the less fully eventive verbal participle does exist, on the basis of an analysis of the French passive participle in combination with the adverb tres "very" and the Romanian present participle in modifier position preceded by cel, a type of definite article selecting an adjective.


In specification-based test generation, sometimes having a formal specification is not sufficient, since the specification may be in a different formalism from that required by the generation approach being used. In this paper, we deal with this problem specifically in the context in which, while having a formal specification in the form of an operational invariant written in a sequential pro- gramming language, one needs, for test generation, a declarative invariant in a logical formalism. We propose a genetic algorithm that given a catalog of common properties of invariants, such as acyclicity, sortedness and balance, attempts to evolve a conjunction of these that most accurately approximates an original operational specification. We present some details of the algorithm, and an experimental evaluation based on a benchmark of data structures, for which we evolve declarative logical invariants from operational ones.


The Internet offers users some anonymity; at the network level, an Internet protocol (IP) address is only loosely associated with a device, and is not associated with a person. This article proposes the use of group signatures to bind the identity of the device responsible for sending a packet with the contents of the packet.

The group signature allows anyone to check that the signature is valid, but requires a number of cooperating group members to reveal the identity of the device from a signed packet. The authors suggest that manufacturers might include a unique device ID in their products, which could then be linked to the owner via purchase and maintenance records.

The article discusses some of the privacy issues, but does not consider the possible actions of a motivated offender. For example, an offender could hijack a computer and easily send IP packets from a machine that he controls, but that he does not own. In addition, laptops are already among the most coveted items for thieves. A clean device ID would make a laptop an even more attractive target. Finally, the billions of PCs, PDAs, and smartphones in use without device IDs would be preferred tools for offenders.

The clever technology proposed by Afanasyev et al. may help to trace back IP packets in some cases, but it is questionable whether the benefits outweigh the disadvantages.


Greenhouse gas mitigation is a key element of global climate change agreements, and soil carbon is a major component of these strategies. However, the estimation of soil carbon is presently limited to depths of 0.3 m despite some soil profiles containing carbon at greater depths. Low concentrations (0.01 - 0.5% TOC) of soil carbon remain even after deforestation in the last 80 years, in deep kaolinitic soil profiles in south-western Australia but the form, distribution and stability of this has not been reported. A similar situation pertains elsewhere in the world.

Therefore, using kaolin-based mixtures and soil profiles from this region, the main aims of this thesis were to (i) expand the methods used for deep soil carbon quantification (Chapters 3, 4) and (ii) characterise carbon in deep soil (Chapters 4, 5, 6). This laboratory-based study employed standard samples (such as lignin, humic acid, cellulose and chitin mixed with kaolinite) and their combinations with variation in concentrations (0.008 - 11.55% TOC) analysed in parallel with field samples.

Quantitatively, the limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) of the Walkley-Black method (0.015 and 0.050% TOC, respectively) were approximately five times lower than the Heanes method (0.085 and 0.281% TOC, respectively) evaluated using pure kaolinite as background. Based on the LOQ, the Walkley-Black method was slightly superior to the Heanes method.

 Therefore, the former method was further evaluated against dry combustion (Leco) using 94 calibration and 27 validation samples from deep soils (1 - 35 m depth) with a concentration range of 0.01 - 0.536% TOC. The predictive equation [TOC (%)]actual = 1.66[TOC (%)]WB + 0.018 (R2 = 0.91) obtained from the validation set agreed well with the benchmark dry combustion values (RMSE = 0.017).

A model for quantification of deep soil carbon using near infrared spectroscopy (NIR) was tested for sensitivity with standard samples in the concentration range 0.00 - 1.50% TOC. Positive prediction values were observed when employing square root of %TOC as input data. Then, models were developed from the 121 field soil samples previously used in the wet digestion analysis. The first derivative and standard normal variation (SNV) coupled with exclusion of bands in the range 5600 - 5000 cm-1 were suitable pre-processing approaches which gave an LOD of 0.001% TOC, with a very strong correlation (R2 = 0.98, RMSE = 0.0.32) but less accurate compared to the Walkley-Black method.

For characterisation, the ability of mid infrared spectroscopy (MIR) to characterise carbon in small concentrations was determined. Diffuse Reflectance Infrared Fourier Transform spectroscopy (DRIFT) had superior sensitivity to attenuated total reflectance spectroscopy (ATR). The best LODs were achieved when using kaolinite as a background. The LODs of DRIFT were 1.92% TOC for lignin or humic acid and 1.00% TOC for cellulose or chitin. However, key lignin and humic acid bands were concealed when mixed with cellulose and chitin at the same proportion. The identification of specific carbon structures from the mid infrared region was difficult in a mixture of several carbon types due to peaks overlapping. Therefore, qualification of deep soil samples was hampered by this method.

On the other hand, gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GC/MS) was a promising approach for deep soil carbon. The concentration of residual carbon, potential carbon derived from exogeneous organic matter, in the form of low molecular weight compounds (LMWCs) was determined to be in the range 3.15 - 14.27 μg C g soil-1. Three compound classes were typically observed from samples across three different field locations: 1) terpenes, 2) fatty acids, amides and alcohols, and 3) plant steroids; indicating the influence of above ground input and roots of the past and present vegetation. In conclusion, (Z)-docos-13-enamide and bis(6- methylheptyl) phthalate were the main components throughout the soil profiles representing 53 - 81% of the LMWC, particularly at depths of 18 - 19 m.

Pyrolysis and off-line thermochemolysis using tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH) were employed to characterise macro organic carbon (MOC) in deep soil to a depth of 29 m. Pyrolysis using the temperature range 250 - 600 oC was suitable to characterise all laboratory standard samples at 3.85% TOC. For TMAH thermochemolysis, pre-concentration of the sample with 0.1 M NaOH was required before analysis. Unfortunately, the method was limited to characterisation of soil at 0 - 0.1 m depth where biomarkers such as lignin, polysaccharides, proteins and terpenes were present. Distribution of carbon species throughout the profile was revealed by pyrolysis. The coincident evidence from pyrolysis and thermochemolysis implied influences of vegetation, fire events and traces of microorganisms at 0 - 0.1 m depth, while lignin compounds were detected consistently down to 29 m by the pyrolysis method. It is concluded that MOC occurs in multiple chemical forms in surface soil but only occurs in lignin derived forms in deep soil.

A key issue for global mitigation studies is how deep soil carbon will respond to both land-use change (deforestation, reforestation) and climate change itself. The studies presented in this thesis provide a suite of methods suitable for the quantification and characterisation of deep soil carbon in kaolinitic regoliths and these can be extended to deep soils in other parts of the world. Identification of LMWC and MOC shed some light on sources and distributions of carbon throughout a soil profile.


The nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra at 220 Mc of cyanodeuteroporphyrin IX dimethyl ester iron (III), cyanoprotoporphyrin IX diethyl ester iron (III), and cyanoprotoporphyrin IX iron (III) in a mixed solvent of 80 per cent d(5)-pyridine and 20 per cent D(2)O have been measured. The resonances are assigned and, except for the ester alkoxy groups, are shown to be shifted by temperature-dependent hyperfine interactions with Fe (III). From the experiments, upper limits are placed upon the pseudocontact contributions, and values of the contact interactions are derived. Spin densities in carbon pi-orbitals are calculated from the contact shifts and discussed in terms of preliminary Hückel calculations.


Background: Microdialysis (MD) can detect organ-related metabolic changes before they become measurable in plasma through the biochemical parameters. This study aims to evaluate the early detection of metabolic changes during experimental kidney transplantation (KTx). Material and methods: During preparation of 8 donor kidneys, one MD catheter was inserted in the renal cortex and samples were collected. After a 6-hour cold ischemia time (CIT), kidneys were implanted in the 8 recipient pigs. Throughout the warm ischemia time (WIT) and after reperfusion, kidneys were monitored. The interstitial glucose, lactate, pyruvate, glutamate, and glycerol concentrations were evaluated. Results: A significant decline in glucose level was observed at the end of CIT. The lactate level was reduced to the minimum point of 0.35 ± 0.08 mmol/L in CIT. After reperfusion, lactate values raised significantly. During the WIT, the pyruvate level increased, continued until the end of the WIT. For glutamate, a steady increase was noted during explantation, CIT, WIT, and early reperfusion phases. The increase of glycerol value continued in the early postreperfusion, which was then followed by a sharp decline. Conclusion: MD is a fast and simple minimally invasive method for measurement of metabolic substrates in renal parenchyma during KTx. MD offers the option of detecting minor changes of interstitial glucose, lactate, pyruvate, glutamate, and glycerol in every stage of KTx. Through the use of MD, metabolic changes can be continuously monitored during the entire procedure of KTx.


Background: Rates of foodborne illness linked to consumers misinterpreting, or lack of proper cooking instructions on frozen food products continue to rise. With many recalls and outbreaks in the recent years surrounding frozen breaded chicken (FBC) products due to consumers not adequately cooking products and in turn becoming ill. However, it is not just frozen breaded chicken to blame, frozen microwavable entrees have also contributed to this problem. Therefore, the purpose of this project was to determine what was actually being displayed on the packaging of these frozen foods. Identifying whether or not frozen food products have clear, specific and consistent cooking instructions for the consumers is critical in identifying the risk of cooking and eating these foods. Methods: Secondary data was obtained from the British Columbia Centers for Disease Control (BCCDC) of cooking instructions on FBC packaging, and primary data was collected through visiting grocery stores in the Metro Vancouver area by surveying cooking instructions on frozen microwavable entrees packaging. Four categories of data were assessed, 2008 and 2018 raw FBC products, 2018 cooked FBC, and 2019 frozen microwavable entrees. Parameters such as inclusion of internal cooking temperature, thermometer usage, microwave instructions, and additional food safety handling was gathered. Chi-square tests were used to analyze the results with the statistical software NCSS12. Results: Of all categories surveyed 87.1% (n=122) said to cook the product to a minimum of 74°C, and 12.9% (n=18) did not state anything. 2018 raw FBC always stated an internal cooking temperature (100%), whereas 58% of the 2008 raw FBC stated an internal temperature and 89% of both the 2019 frozen entrees and 2018 cooked FBC did. Out of all 140 products surveyed across categories only 8% stated to use a thermometer when cooking to ensure food has reached proper internal temperature. The frequency of categories to display food safety was as follows, the 2018 raw FBC (82%) and the 2008 raw FBC (79%), followed by the 2019 frozen entrees (42%) and the 2018 cooked FBC (21%). For the microwave instructions the frozen entrees almost always stated this (81%), whereas the 2008 and 2018 raw FBC both never stated to use a microwave (0%). There was a significant association between products and the inclusion of the statement of internal cooking temperature and thermometer usage. This was based on the food product category itself, frozen breaded chicken or frozen entrees, or based on manufacturer of the product. Conclusions: It was evident that the major gap lies in the consistency of instructions. Almost every manufacturer had their cooking instructions presented differently, which could in turn confuse the consumer. Instructions also rarely stated to use a thermometer to check the internal temperature, although almost always stated a specific temperature to cook to. A small portion of manufactures are diligent about displaying all necessary information to the consumer such as, Kraft, Conagra foods, and Olymel which adequately met all parameters assessed. In order to fix the gaps of inconsistency of instructions this information can be used as educational tools by the BCCDC to inform customers on what to look for in cooking instructions of frozen


This article gives a brief overview of the place of religious observance RO) within Scotland's non-denominational state school sector, and the background to recent changes in educational thinking and government policy which led to new guidelines being introduced in 2005. The article reports on a study conducted in 2008 into the reception of the new RO guidelines and their implementation within three primary schools and one secondary school in a local authority area, together with empirical data from each of the four case studies and interview extracts from head teachers, RO practitioners and pupils. The article then highlights some problems arising from the new guidelines and suggests some areas for
future empirical research.


The largescale adoption of energy efficiency technologies (EET) within existing housing stock presents a significant opportunity for the UK government to meet challenging climate change goals and reduce household energy consumption. However, despite the availability of innovative technologies and policy interventions, EET adoption rates remain low particularly within the UK's large owner-occupier sector. Prevailing dominant academic discourses are preoccupied with identifying factors for non-adoption based on assumptions of economic rationality and technological efficiency. In contrast, the research approach in this thesis focuses on elucidating the reasons why a small proportion of homeowners have succeeded in adopting EET, and explains how they learn to live with and embed innovative EET into their everyday lives.

Using the conceptual lens of Domestication theory (DT) applied to the activities of early adopters of technology, this research provides a sociotechnical perspective of peoples everyday interactions with EET. The theoretical approach is interrogated through a qualitative methodology based on 26 semi-structured householder interviews. A two-tiered analysis is undertaken inclusive of both the material and symbolic dimensions of multiple technology adoption. This occurs through an unfolding domestication process both at the household and technology specific level. Findings highlight a dynamic, multifaceted and multidimensional process of domestication, which embodies practical, social, technical and aesthetic values. In particular, it is concluded that domestication of technologies occurs simultaneously alongside a broader continuous process of household change that contributes to energy efficient sociotechnical re-configuration. The specific nature of sociotechnical interactions can support, speed-up or slow down successful domestication of EET.

This research makes a unique contribution to academic understandings of DT and offers scope for its theoretical modification. In addition, it contributes to debates on the interaction between sustainability policy, energy efficiency technologies, homeowners' every day experiences and domestic practices. Finally, more detailed elucidation of the dynamic four phase domestication model can contribute to achieving wider diffusion of household energy efficient technologies.


Abstract For the study described here the authors combined digital technology with 3D printing to explore the feasibility of visualizing the rhythm of natural ecosystems. The achievements of this study were nine pieces of 3D-printed works. The authors discussed the Chinese Taoist view on ecological philosophy, aesthetics, and ecofeminism; probed the spiritual meaning of nature; and adopted technologies to visualize the rhythm of nature. By doing so, the authors aimed to reveal a new form of dialogue between humans and nature, disclose the visual signs of the vital rhythm of nature, and propose a new form of artistic creation based on biotechnology.


The National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York, enshrines some players whose worthiness seems are questionable to the game's most knowledgeable fans...excludes others whose credentials are remarkable. Critics of the current voting system, which uses two sets of electors and has been used for over sixty years, argue that it is too subjective - the only measurable requirement is that the player have at least ten years of major league service at the position for which he is selected. This critical and statistical study identifies the errors of selection and omission in Hall of Fame voting. It proposes a method that adapts objective, statistical criteria to the current selection process. The method preserves positives that exist in the current subjective method, while simultaneously reducing the likelihood injustices to players, managers, and Negro Leaguers.


Few people know that Abdul Sattar Edhi, the renowned social worker, also tried his luck in the political field. This study draws attention to his activities in the political field. It uncovers the political style and ideologies of this future leviathan in social work to find out why and how a genuine social worker could not get a proper place in politics and did not succeed in winning the votes and support of people. Along with the analysis of his electoral contests, his political ideology has also been highlighted in this study. To arrive at its findings the study evaluates the primary as well as secondary sources employing historical methods of research. Multiple sources of primary data like the interviews, biographies, and authentic press reports helped in the formation of the needed evidence for the empirical historical research in this study. It is finally construed that Edhi's thoughts and style of work in politics did not match with the prevailing political atmosphere and behavior. His realistic approach could not attract a following in the political field where attachment of religious sentiments with politics and deceptive slogans of political characters did not leave any space for a real social worker to succeed.


We estimate the impact of internal migration on local labour markets in Thailand.Using an instrumental variable approach based on weather and distance we estimate an exogenous measure of the net migration in ow into each region. Our results show that instrumenting for the possible endogeneity of net inward migration is crucial to the analysis. The results suggest substantial adjustments in hours worked and weekly wages in response to short term changes in labour supply for low skilled males. We find no effect on high skilled workers. A theoretical section shows that a reduction in hours per worker in response to an increase in inward migration is consistent with the predictions of a standard search model.


One major systematic uncertainty of lattice QCD results is due to the continuum extrapolation. For an asymptotically free theory like QCD one finds corrections of the form $a^{n_\mathrm{min}}[2b_0\bar{g}^2(1/a)]^{\hat{\Gamma}_i}$ with lattice spacing $a$, where $\bar{g}(1/a)$ is the running coupling at renormalisation scale $\mu=1/a$ and $n_\mathrm{min}$ is a positive integer. $\hat{\Gamma}_i$ can take any positive or negative value, but is computable by next-to-leading order perturbation theory. It will impact convergence towards the continuum limit. Balog, Niedermayer and Weisz first pointed out how problematic such corrections can be in their seminal work for the O(3) model. Based on Symanzik Effective Theory for lattice QCD with Ginsparg-Wilson and Wilson quarks, various powers $\hat{\Gamma}_i$ are found due to lattice artifacts from the discretised lattice action. Those powers are sufficient when describing spectral quantities, while non-spectral quantities will require additional powers originating from corrections to each of the discretised local fields involved. This new input should be incorporated into ans\"atze used for the continuum extrapolation.


Postoperative analgesia may be prolonged by the addition of clonidine to local anesthetic solutions used for regional anesthesia.The purpose of this study was to test this hypothesis in a clinical trial of patients undergoing podiatric surgery. The study design was prospective, double-blinded, and randomized. Ninety ASA physical status I or II patients scheduled for bunionectomy or hammer toe repair were randomized to receive ankle or metatarsal blocks with plain 1.73% lidocaine (Group L), 1.73% lidocaine with 10 micro gram/mL of clonidine added (Group C10), or 1.73% lidocaine with 20 micro gram/mL clonidine (Group C20). Time from the performance of the block to 1) loss of sensation to pinprick, 2) return of sensation to pinprick, 3) onset of postsurgical pain, and 4) time of first oral pain medication intake were recorded. Beginning at 1 h after the completion of the block, visual analog scale (VAS) and verbal pain scores were recorded every 30 min. Additional postoperative oral pain medication required in the first 9 h after the block was also recorded. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to analyze intergroup differences in the VAS and verbal pain scores, the time to first reported pain, the time to first oral pain medication, and the total amount of oral pain medications required. Repeated-measures ANOVA was used to analyze the VAS and verbal pain scores overall and integrated assessment of pain scores and rescue medication was per-formed. Adverse events were also recorded for each group. There were no differences among the three groups with regard to overall VAS pain scores although Group C10 had significantly better verbal pain scores after the first 3 h (P < 0.05). There was also no difference in time to loss or return of pinprick sensation. Group C10 had a longer time to first reported pain (P < 0.01), a longer time to first oral pain medication (P < 0.01), a lower average total dose of oral pain medication required (P < 0.05), and a lower integrated assessment of pain and medication (P < 0.01) than Group L. More patients in Group C10 reported no pain postoperatively (P < 0.01) and no pain medication taken (P < 0.01) than Group L. Group C20 results suggested no statistically significant improvement over plain lidocaine. One patient in Group C20 experienced significant hypotension postoperatively. pH determinations and chemical analysis by capillary electrophoresis showed no significant change in composition of the solutions when clonidine was mixed with lidocaine and stored at 4 degrees C for 1 wk. Compared to 1.73% lidocaine, combining clonidine (10 micro gram/mL) with lidocaine for local anesthetic block for foot surgery significantly increases the duration and quality of postoperative analgesia. (Anesth Analg 1996;83:760-5)


To investigate the effect of Mn on antioxidant status and expression levels of heat-shock proteins/factors in tissues of laying broiler breeders subjected to heat challenge, we used a completely randomised design (n 6) with a factorial arrangement of 2 environmental temperatures (normal, 21 (sem 1)°C and high, 32 (sem 1)°C)×3 dietary Mn treatments (an Mn-unsupplemented basal diet (CON), or a basal diet supplemented with 120 mg Mn/kg diet as inorganic Mn sulphate (iMn) or organic Mn proteinate (oMn)). There were no interactions (P>0·10) between environmental temperature and dietary Mn in all of the measured indices. High temperature decreased (P<0·003) Mn content, and also tended (P=0·07) to decrease copper zinc superoxide dismutase (CuZnSOD) activity in the liver and heart. However, an increased manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) activity (P<0·05) and a slight increase of malondialdehyde level (P=0·06) were detected in breast muscle. Up-regulated (P<0·05) expression levels of heat-shock factor 1 (HSF1) and HSF3 mRNA and heat-shock protein 70 (HSP70) mRNA and protein were found in all three tissues. Broiler breeders fed either iMn or oMn had higher tissue Mn content (P<0·0001), heart MnSOD and CuZnSOD activities (P<0·01) and breast muscle MnSOD protein levels (P<0·05), and lower (P<0·05) breast muscle HSP70 mRNA and protein levels than those fed CON. Broiler breeders fed oMn had higher (P<0·03) bone Mn content than those fed iMn. These results indicate that high temperature decreases Mn retention and increases HSP70 and HSF1, HSF3 expression levels in tissues of laying broiler breeders. Furthermore, dietary supplementation with Mn in either source may enhance heart antioxidant ability and inhibit the expression of HSP70 in breast muscle. Finally, the organic Mn appears to be more available than inorganic Mn for bone in laying broiler breeders regardless of environmental temperatures.


The use of a small-diameter, rigid ventriculoscope as a stylet to place a catheter optimally within cerebrospinal fluid-containing spaces, is described


Automated Routing Control System supersedes
the prior approach to LAN redundancy which provides two or more LANs and each
has a network (LAN) controller coupled to data communication devices. Devices
require some software to switch between the network (LAN) controllers to
counter some network segment failures. This approach is proven to be very costly due to
demands for "off-the-shelf" data communication devices with built-in LAN controller drivers [1]. Automated Routing Control System, is
the ultimate solution to the growing demands for inexpensive (less costly) and
less difficult approach which requires less modification rather than upgrade of network devices yet it minimizes data and information exchange losses and interruptions caused by connection
failures within the network and lessens the task of managing a complex network
having many segments rather than subnets under a centralized monitoring and management. Automated Routing Control System rather than mechanism is a
realistic approach applied to meet the ever
growing demands for reliability, high efficiency and availability within data
and information exchange networks.


Meta-analytic studies of the relationships between the five-factor model of personality constructs and job performance indicate that conscientiousness has been the most consistent predictor. Recent research has sought to identify situational factors that may explain additional variance beyond what has been reported by simple bivariate relationships. The authors hypothesized that perceptions of organizational politics would moderate the relationship between conscientiousness and job performance. Data collected from 234 male and 579 female workers in 4 organizations indicated that conscientiousness was related to job performance among workers perceiving average to high levels of organizational politics but unrelated to performance among workers perceiving low levels of organizational politics. Moreover, perceptions of organizational politics were negatively related to job performance only among workers of average to low levels of conscientiousness.


The present-day software application systems require a high degree of agility during development and operational phases due to the advancements in software technologies and also because of the need to support the variation points in software architecture. A single architectural style will not be adequate for the architectural design of such application systems. This paper proposes a composite architectural style involving three different architectural styles, namely model view controller, pipes and filters and reflection architectural pattern. A metric to evaluate the extent to which the proposed architectural design is modifiable is defined and formulated. The number of direct connections between the components and their modes of operation are the various factors that will determine the extent to which the architectural design is modifiable. The model has been tested successfully for a prototype document processing application system. The composite architectural design is quite generic and it can be used for any real-time application system where the three modes of operation - data stream mode, user interaction and dynamic invocation mode exist together.


Introduction: Intensive Care Units (ICU's) provides a suitable environment for the proliferation and persistence of multidrug organisms. The burden of nosocomial infections among critically ill patients is much higher in developing countries. Aims and Objectives: The present study was conducted to know the prevalence of bacterial pathogens from various ICU's of a tertiary care hospital and to determine their resistance profile. Materials and methods: A retrospective study was done on 188 isolates collected over a period of 10 months from January 2018 to October 2018. The isolates were identified by the conventional biochemical method and antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed by Kirby bauer disc diffusion method. Results: The most common gram negative isolate obtained in this study was Klebsiella spp. About 90/188 (47.87%), followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa 22/188 (11.70%), Acinetobacter spp. 21/188 (11.17%), and E. coli 20/188 (10.64%). The predominant gram positive cocci isolated were Enterococcus spp. 9/188 (4.79%). All gram negative bacilli were sensitive to Imipenem. About 23.33% of Klebsiella isolates were resistant to Piperacillin tazobactam and 18.89% to Cefoperazone sulbactam. The most effective drugs against gram negative bacilli were Imipenem, Piperacillin tazobactam, and Cefoperazone sulbactam. Conclusion: This study showed the prevalence of multidrug resistant Klebsiella spp. from various ICU's. These isolates were resistant to third generation cephalosporins, quinolones, and aminoglycosides and were sensitive to carbapenems. Among the non-fermenting gram negative bacilli, the resistant rates were higher for Acinetobacter isolates compared to Pseudomonas aeruginosa.


Terrestrial allochthonous organic matter represents a structuring element and an important source of energy and carbon to fauna in small forested streams. However, the role of this matter as a food resource for benthic macroinvertebrates, and consequently, for shredders and their performance in riverine processes, is not clear in low-order tropical streams. Aiming to investigate the relationship between shredders and leaves, we analyzed along a gradient of 8-93% canopy cover biomass and abundance of shredders, accumulated leaves and breakdown rates of local leaves to verify if these parameters were related to shade conditions and to each other. Three hypotheses were tested: i) shredder biomass, accumulated leaves and breakdown rates are related to canopy cover and exhibit higher values in shaded sites; ii) shredder biomass is positively related to accumulated leaves and breakdown rates; and iii) due to the relatively large body size of the important shredders, the association of shredders with leaves and importance to leaf processing should be better expressed in terms of guild biomass than abundance. Shredder biomass varied between 846 and 1506 mg DM m ‑2 and accumulated leaves varied between 479 and 1120 g AFDM m -2 across sites. Leaf breakdown rate ( k ), the only measured variable that varied significantly among sites, varied between -0.0015 and -0.0238 day -1 . Neither shredder biomass nor leaf biomass were associated with the shading gradient.  On the other hand, shredder abundance and biomass, mainly represented by Triplectides (Trichoptera, Leptoceridae), was positively related to accumulated leaves within sites and to breakdown rates assessed by leaf packs. Leaf breakdown, as assessed by the experimental leaf packs, was associated with shredder biomass, but not with shredder abundance. This result suggests that macroinvertebrates are important for leaf detritus processing and that their biomass reflects their activity, presumably because it is related to their secondary production and perhaps non-consumptive action. Their activity was observed at the scale of leaf packs and not at the scale of variation in canopy cover because apparently canopy did not modulate availability of leaves, which were apparently not limiting to the shredders.


Dynamic evolution inherently involves dynamic update and the issue of its atomicity. We show how this issue can be addressed in a similar manner to a communication failure via an extension to behavior protocols. First, we discuss the problem of defining a composition operator for behavior protocols so as to be able to reflect communication failures. Classical architecture description languages (ADLs) supporting behavior description, such as Wright and TRACTA, use a CSP-like parallel composition, which inherently yields only 'successful traces' ignoring non-accepted communication attempts. We show that component composition can produce several different types of behavior errors: bad activity, no activity, and divergence. The key idea behind bad activity is that real programs typically have an asymmetry of roles during event exchange: the caller is considered to be the initiator of the call while the callee has only a passive role. This contrasts with most formal systems, which treat communication symmetrically. We propose a new composition operator, 'consent', which reflects these types of errors by producing erroneous traces. By using the consent operator it can be statically determined whether the atomicity of a dynamic update of a component is implicitly guaranteed by the behavior of its current environment. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


The treatment of choice for supraglottic carcinomas of intermediate size (stages T2 and T3) remains controversial. Between 1974 and 1983 in our institution, 139 patients with supraglottic carcinoma of intermediate size were judged retrospectively to have been technically amenable to conservation surgery. Primary disease control at three years was achieved in 100% of the patients treated by supraglottic laryngectomy, 91% (34 patients) of those treated by total laryngectomy, and 69% (81 patients) of those treated by radiotherapy. Of the latter group, 62% were salvaged by total laryngectomy yielding a net three-year local control of 85%. Determinate five-year survival rates were 89% for supraglottic laryngectomy, 78% for total laryngectomy, and 70% for radiotherapy. Significant problems with aspiration occurred in four patients (16%) who were treated by conservation surgery, and two patients (8%) required a permanent tracheostomy. The results of this study show that supraglottic laryngectomy with postoperative radiotherapy as indicated is a highly effective method for the local control of supraglottic carcinoma of intermediate size that is amenable to conservation surgery.


Infusion excretory urography not only clearly delineates the urinary tract structures, but provides additional information about the type of pelvic mass present. Benign uterine fibroids show contrast enhancement in a significant number of cases, whereas endometrial and cervial malignancies give no specific pattern. Cystic and mixed ovarian neoplasms show rim opacification in over 50 per cent of cases, and the presence of this rim sign points strongly to an ovarian lesion. The opacification of solid ovarian tumors cannot be differentiated from that of uterine fibroids unless other identifying features such as specific calcification or visualization of a normal uterus are present. Pelvic inflammatory disease shows no specific type of opacification. Excretory urography is part of the preoperative evaluation in most patients with pelvic mass lesions. By utilizing the infusion method, high quality excretory urograms are obtained, and, in addition, helpful information is obtained regarding the type of pelvic mass present.


The renal transcriptome in experimental hypertension The kidneys importantly determine blood pressure. Kidney dysfunction can result in hypertension, which in turn leads to renal damage. In primary hypertension the cause is unknown. The condition is polygenic, however, which genetic defects cause elevated blood pressure remains obscure. Models of secondary hypertension have a known mono-causal pathogenesis. This thesis addresses primary and secondary hypertension in rats and mice and focuses on the renal cortical transcriptome (studied using microarrays) in relation to blood pressure. Three studies were performed on transcription modulation in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), a rat model for primary hypertension. First, renal cortical transcription was studied from newborn to old SHR and compared to normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats of the same ages. A number of persistent changes in renal gene expression was observed in SHR, but also a remarkable switch in the direction of altered expression of some genes in early life. Second, adult SHR were treated with several antihypertensive regimens. Mono-therapy with antihypertensive agents failed to normalize blood pressure. Angiotensin II (Ang II) AT1 receptor blocker, calcium channel inhibitor and two agents inhibiting oxidative stress caused quite distinct modulation of the renal cortical transcriptome. As a consequence, in the third study it was tested whether combining antihypertensive treatments led to a further decrease in blood pressure and to normalization of the renal cortical transcriptome in SHR towards WKY. This was indeed the case. Epoxide hydrolase 2 (Ephx2) that metabolizes the vasodilator epoxyeicosatrienoic acid, was consistently induced in renal cortex of SHR at all ages. Yet up till now Ephx2 has not been recognized as "hypertensive" gene in the rat because it does not lie within a so-called quantitative trait locus (QTL) for blood pressure. This illustrates the limitation of the QTL approach that by definition is determined by measurements of blood pressure. This is impossible in newborn and pre-weaning pups. Inhibiting Ephx2 in SHR during pregnancy and up to 4 weeks after birth revealed persistently lower blood pressure in female SHR up to 28 weeks of age compared to untreated SHR. In studies on secondary hypertension the vasoconstrictor Ang II was infused or synthesis of the vasodilator nitric oxide (NO) was inhibited for several weeks in wild-type mice or rats, respectively. Both treatments caused hypertension, however, renal damage only occurred in NO-depleted rats. The transcriptome in damaged and non-damaged kidneys did not reveal many candidates related to potentially damaging effects of Ang II or NO depletion, but rather revealed reduced synthesis of the protective antioxidants glutathione and bilirubin even before onset of renal damage. The thesis indicates the usefulness of genomics to study renal processes in genetic models of hypertension, both before onset of hypertension and when hypertension is manifest. Moreover, antihypertensive treatment responses in the kidneys were successfully analyzed. The studies underline the importance of antioxidants in renal protection against damaging effects of hypertension and suggest that combining antihypertensive agents not only further reduces blood pressure and the risk of end-organ damage but also lead to further normalization of the renal transcriptome.


Fashions are hard to resist, and it is now fashionable in much of the North to rely on a fiscal engine of growth. As for emerging markets, however, boosting spending at a time in which revenues are contracting or, in many cases, collapsing for an uncertain period of time is an more complicated matter. Policymakers would do well to keep four risks in mind. Fiscal multipliers: North and South; Emerging markets and global crowding out; Domestic debt is no panacea; and Above all--remember debt intolerance!


History of tense relations between India and Pakistan dates back to the time of independence of both the states from the British Raj in 1947. Nonetheless, attempts have been made to pave the way for peace and trust building but in vain. This study looks at idiosyncrasy in policy making by looking at three different attacks that took place in India and the response of New Delhi to each. It further explores the personality of Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi vis-à-vis his religious and ideological beliefs and also analyses the extent to which these factors sway Modi in formulating policy particularly towards Indian minority (Muslims) and neighbours like Pakistan. Employing content analysis of the daily Dawn with the timeline of 2001 to 2019, the paper methodologically looks at three significant attacks in Indian administered territories till the Pulwama bombing. To have a perspective of the latter, this paper raises the question why the attack on the Indian parliament and Mumbai attacks failed to generate similar response as the Pulwama attack did. The paper argues that the Pulwama attack generated a different response due to idiosyncrasy, personality traits, religious and nationalistic tendency of the current administrator of India. More importantly, the season of election is always sensitive; meanwhile incumbent government is always scouting for event(s) to be exploited as political capital for election victory. Premised on the theoretical underpinnings of personality traits, religious ideology and an event such as the Pulwama attack, Modi has managed to change the playbook of India-Pakistan relations.


OBJECTIVE
We developed a comprehensive, medication-related clinical decision support (CDS) software prototype for use in the operating room. The purpose of this study was to compare the usability of the CDS software to the current standard electronic health record (EHR) medication administration and documentation workflow.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
The primary outcome was the time taken to complete all simulation tasks. Secondary outcomes were the total number of mouse clicks and the total distance traveled on the screen in pixels. Forty participants were randomized and assigned to complete 7 simulation tasks in 1 of 2 groups: (1) the CDS group (n = 20), who completed tasks using the CDS and (2) the Control group (n = 20), who completed tasks using the standard medication workflow with retrospective manual documentation in our anesthesia information management system. Blinding was not possible. We video- and audio-recorded the participants to capture quantitative data (time on task, mouse clicks, and pixels traveled on the screen) and qualitative data (think-aloud verbalization).

RESULTS
The CDS group mean total task time (402.2 ± 85.9 s) was less than the Control group (509.8 ± 103.6 s), with a mean difference of 107.6 s (95% confidence interval [CI], 60.5-179.5 s, P < .001). The CDS group used fewer mouse clicks (26.4 ± 4.5 clicks) than the Control group (56.0 ± 15.0 clicks) with a mean difference of 29.6 clicks (95% CI, 23.2-37.6, P < .001). The CDS group had fewer pixels traveled on the computer monitor (59.5 ± 20.0 thousand pixels) than the Control group (109.3 ± 40.8 thousand pixels) with a mean difference of 49.8 thousand pixels (95% CI, 33.0-73.7, P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS
The perioperative medication-related CDS software prototype substantially outperformed standard EHR workflow by decreasing task time and improving efficiency and quality of care in a simulation setting.


Advanced communication technologies has allowed the powerline communication (PLC) channel to be a transmission medium that enables the transferring of high-speed digital data over the classical indoor electrical wires. The development of PLC systems for Internet, voice, and data services requires models of the transfer characteristics of the mains network suitable for performance analysis by simulation. In this paper, a deterministic approach for powerline channel modelization is described. It is based on transmission lines theory to model the PLC transfer function while taking into account impedance loads of electrical appliances that can affect the channel. In order to be more representative, a measuring method of cable linear parameters is proposed.


High redshift quasars at z>6 have masses up to ~$10^9$ M$_\odot$. One of the pathways to their formation includes direct collapse of gas, forming a supermassive star, precursor of the black hole seed. The conditions for direct collapse are more easily achievable in metal-free haloes, where atomic hydrogen cooling operates and molecular hydrogen (H2) formation is inhibited by a strong external UV flux. Above a certain value of UV flux (J_crit), the gas in a halo collapses isothermally at ~$10^4$ K and provides the conditions for supermassive star formation. However, H2 can self-shield, reducing the effect of photodissociation. So far, most numerical studies used the local Jeans length to calculate the column densities for self-shielding. We implement an improved method for the determination of column densities in 3D simulations and analyse its effect on the value of J_crit. This new method captures the gas geometry and velocity field and enables us to properly determine the direction-dependent self-shielding factor of H2 against photodissociating radiation. We find a value of J_crit that is a factor of two smaller than with the Jeans approach (~2000 J_21 vs. ~4000 J_21). The main reason for this difference is the strong directional dependence of the H2 column density. With this lower value of J_crit, the number of haloes exposed to a flux >J_crit is larger by more than an order of magnitude compared to previous studies. This may translate into a similar enhancement in the predicted number density of black hole seeds.


BACKGROUND
Many states have passed legislation mandating that health plans provide direct access to obstetricians/gynecologists (hereinafter "ob/gyns") for women, limiting the ability of plans to require referrals or otherwise restrict access. One benefit of these laws may be improved preventive screening rates, but no literature has examined the relationship between ob/gyn direct access laws and use of breast cancer and cervical cancer screening.

DATA AND METHODS
We use repeated cross-sections of privately insured women age 18-64 (Pap test) and 40-64 (mammography) from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System for 1996-2000, linked to data on the presence of ob/gyn direct access laws by state. Outcome measures are receipt of mammography and receipt of a Pap test within the past 2 years. Regression analyses are used to assess the relationship between the presence of ob/gyn direct access laws and screening, adjusting for a range of individual characteristics, fixed state characteristics, and time trends.

RESULTS
We find no statistically significant relationships between the presence of an ob/gyn direct access law and receipt of either mammography or Pap test screening. We explore a range of alternate specifications and find none that yield clear evidence of a relationship.

CONCLUSIONS
Laws requiring direct access to ob/gyns are not associated with large or consistent measurable impacts on use of cancer screening.


Background/Context Sociopolitical development (SPD) refers to the processes by which an individual acquires the knowledge, skills, emotional faculties, and commitment to recognize and resist oppressive social forces. A growing body of scholarship has found that such sociopolitical capabilities are predictive in marginalized adolescents of a number of key outcomes, including resilience, academic achievement, and civic engagement. Many scholars have long argued that schools and educators have a central role to play in fostering the sociopolitical development of marginalized adolescents around issues of race and class inequality. Other scholars have investigated school-based practices for highlighting race and class inequality that include youth participatory-action research, critical literacy, and critical service-learning. Objective of Study The present study sought to add to the existing scholarship on schools as opportunity structures for sociopolitical development. Specifically, this study considered the role of two different schooling models in fostering adolescents' ability to analyze, navigate, and challenge the social forces and institutions contributing to race and class inequality. Setting The six high schools participating in the present study were all urban charter public high schools located in five northeastern cities. All six schools served primarily low-income youth of color and articulated explicit goals around fostering students' sociopolitical development. Three of these high schools were guided by progressive pedagogy and principles, and three were guided by no-excuses pedagogy and principles. Research Design The present study compared the sociopolitical development of adolescents attending progressive and no-excuses charter high schools through a mixed methods research design involving pre-post surveys, qualitative interviews with participating adolescents and teachers, and ethnographic field notes collected during observations at participating schools. Results On average, adolescents attending progressive high schools demonstrated more sig-nificant shifts in their ability to analyze the causes of racial inequality, but adolescents attending no-excuses high schools demonstrated more significant shifts in their sense of efficacy around navigating settings in which race and class inequality are prominent. Neither set of adolescents demonstrated significant shifts in their commitment to challenging the social forces or institutions contributing to race and class inequality. Conclusions Both progressive and no-excuses schools sought to foster adolescents' commitment to challenging race and class inequality, but focused on different building blocks to do so. Further research is necessary to understand the pedagogy and practices that show promise in catalyzing adolescents' analytic and navigational abilities into a powerful commitment to collective social action—the ultimate goal of sociopolitical development.


Abstract. During the last days of 2009 and the first days of 2010, a wide and deep low pressure system over Western Europe generated a very extended and strong southerly pressure gradient on the whole Western Mediterranean Sea with a resulting very rough to high sea state. Over the Ligurian Sea (North Western Mediterranean) the resulting sea state was a combination of a very tuned (in both frequency and direction) swell coming from the south-west, with nearly oceanic peak wave period, and a broader north-westerly wind sea with shorter period. This kind of sea state, not extreme in terms of significant wave height, caused unusual widespread damages to Ligurian coastal structures. In this study, authors investigated the structure of such a combined sea state by analysing numerical weather prediction outputs coming from atmospheric and wave models and comparing them with data coming from ondametric buoys and meteorological stations located in the Ligurian Sea area. As a result, it was found that the forecasting model chain almost correctly predicted the wave height in a first phase, when the sea state was only due to the first south-westerly swell peak, while significantly underestimated the combined sea state, when also the second north-westerly wind sea developed and interacted with the first one. By analysing the structure of directional wave spectra forecasted by the operational wave model and measured by the buoys, authors have attempted to find out the reasons for model deficiencies in forecasting the time evolution of significant parameters characterising the sea state.


Eleven micro-fungal species isolated from both the north facing slope (NFS) and the south facing slope (SFS) of Evolution Canyon, Lower Nahal Oren, Israel, were examined for growth rates before and after exposure to 60Co irradiation. Species of Alternaria, Aspergillus, Humicola, Oidiodendron, and Staphylotrichum from SFS grew faster than the NFS isolates while Fusarium, Sordaria, and Stachybotrys grew at greater rates from the NFS than from the SFS. Mucor and Ulocladium isolates grew at the same rate from both SFS and NFS. The eleven isolates from each slope were next subjected to 60Co irradiation. At 40,000 rads exposure, Alternaria, Fusarium, and Stachybotrys grew more rapidly when isolated from the NFS, while Humicola and Staphylotrichum grew at a faster rate when isolated from the SFS. Aspergillus, Mucor, Sordaria, and Ulocladium from both the NFS and the SFS had relatively the same growth rate at 40,000 rads exposure. At 400,000 rads exposure, growth rates remained much the same for both the N and S exposed isolates as they were at 40,000 rads. Above 10(6) rads, growth ceased but recovery occurred at various times for individual isolates of the same species from opposing canyon slopes.


Orientation field plays the most important role in fingerprint recognition. Proposed in this paper is a novel approach of pixel-wise orientation field estimation using multi-scale Gaussian filter. A three-stage averaging framework in pixel-scale, block-scale, and orientation-scale is developed for handling gradient vectors, coherence data, and orientation vectors, respectively. Experimental results on various FVC datasets show the proposed algorithm achieves accurate orientation field estimation which is robust to local defects, such as scar, low contrast, ridge discontinuity, smudged area, etc. with a low computational cost.


Individual rationality, Pareto efficiency, and strategy- proofness are crucial properties of decision making functions, or mechanisms, in social choice literatures. In this paper we investigate mechanisms for exchange models where each agent is initially endowed with a set of goods and may have indifferences on distinct bundles of goods, and monetary transfers are not allowed. Sonmez (1999) showed that in such models, those three properties are not compatible in general. The impossibility, however, only holds under an assumption on preference domains. The main purpose of this paper is to discuss the compatibility of those three properties when the assumption does not hold. We first establish a preference domain called top-only preferences, which violates the assumption, and develop a class of exchange mechanisms that satisfy all those properties. Each mechanism in the class utilizes one instance of the mechanisms introduced by Saban and Sethuraman (2013). We also find a class of preference domains called m-chotomous preferences, where the assumption fails and these properties are incompatible.


Background Across a range of studies, health scientists have found that being in a romantic relationship can have positive and negative influences on one's health. A couple's health outcomes are often influenced by relationship quality—or how they perceive the positive or negative character of their relationship. These findings have important implications for how scientists and interventionists may leverage romantic relationships facilitating good health among couples. However, in general, couples research has not included Black same-sex male couples in large enough numbers to make previous studies' findings relevant to them. This represents a gap in the scientific literature and, more importantly, a missed opportunity to understand how romantic relationships influence health for a group that must navigate distinct, multilevel health and social inequities. Objective This study aims to (1) decode and understand the ways in which Black same-sex male couples express their romantic relationships in virtual contexts via symbolic indicators, (2) determine how Black same-sex male couples describe the quality of their romantic relationships, and (3) explore how Black same-sex male couples make meaning of their relationship quality and its impact on their relational and individual health. Methods We will use joint dyadic interviews embedded within a symbolic netnography research design to accomplish our aims. We will use grounded theory to analyze our qualitative data. We will then triangulate our findings to determine how well they answer our research questions. Results This study received ethical approval on October 8, 2020 and we began data collection in November 2020. Results are expected to be available no later than December 31, 2022. Conclusions This study will apply novel symbolic netnographic qualitative methods to further our understanding of Black same-sex male couples' romantic relationships and how they contribute to their health. The findings will be used to develop programs to improve Black same-sex male couples' health in community and virtual settings. International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID) DERR1-10.2196/29589


relapses is effective provided it is regularly administered, and the therapeutic discipline for this is the responsibility of the doctor at home. In the field on active service that same responsibility becomes the concern of the military authorities, who if they show any laxity are soon discovered by a rise in the malaria rate of the men in their command. Mepacrine, one tablet a day, can be taken for indefinite periods with no ill result. Malignant tertian (otherwise subtertian malaria in our present faulty nomenclature), because of the rapid multiplication of plasmodia in the red blood corpuscles, can produce a dangerous infection requiring special treatment, whereas the benign forms can usually be brought under control in three days, but are more subject to relapse. But these relapses never occur if attention is paid to the details of prophylaxis. A summation of the present position is that although malignant tertian can be prevented and cured by mepacrine, benign tertian is prone to recur when the suppressive mepacrine is stopped.-I am, etc.,


SUMMARY: The difference in environmental conditions along with foods in the subcontinent than other parts of the world incited this work to see how complications and outcome differ in diabetic and non-diabetic patients. 240 patients (76 diabetic and 164 non-diabetic) suffering from ST-segment Elevation acute myocardial infarction were included in the study. Complications of Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI) and the outcome were compared between diabetics and non-diabetic patients. Different complications studied varied significantly (P 0.5) in diabetic and non-diabetic patients. The abnormalities including Cardiogenic shock (OR= 1.9; 95%CI = 0.85-4.22), left ventricular failure (OR = 2.5), re-infarction (OR= 2.2), arrhythmia (OR= 2.04) and ventricular septal defect (OR= 2.17) were 4.2, 4.7, 21.3, 4.2 and 85.24 times higher in diabetics, respectively. However, occurrence of post myocardial angina (OR=0.38) was low in diabetics than non-diabetics. Odds of having diastolic dysfunction were 1.8 times higher in diabetic patients. The moderate and severe LV-dysfunction was 3.3 and 2.5 times higher diabetics, while mild LV-dysfunction in was 2.1 times higher in non-diabetics. Mortality due to STEMI in diabetics was 2.3 times higher than in non-diabetics. Mortality varied significantly between different age groups in non-diabetics and in overall after controlling for diabetes. In non-diabetic group, mortality was 8.4 times higher in patients those were not given streptokinase than those were given streptokinase, while in diabetic group it was 2.5 times higher in patients were not given streptokinase than those were given streptokinase. The results indicate that the diabetics have higher risk of mortality. Inferior infarction is more serious in diabetics than non-diabetics and chances of survival in streptokinase treated patients is five times in non-diabetic while it about two times in diabetics. The results suggest the importance of streptokinase treatment in patients having ST-segment Elevation Acute Myocardial Infarction.


The purpose of this thesis is to examine the potential impact of High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) innovations on the power industry. A short historical review is provided on the socalled 'War of the Currents', which has placed alternating current (AC) as the dominant platform for power transmission. The revival of DC in high voltage transmission is here examined as a reverse salient, as various indicators show that the role of HVDC in the power industry seems to be constantly growing. In this thesis the potential of HVDC to drive industrial change is put to question, and an effort is made to define that change; questions are being addressed such as 'how likely is HVDC to gain a more important role in power transmission, and what may that role be?' and 'how may the power market look like after a wider implementation of HVDC in power systems?'. The competition between ABB and Siemens (and at a lower level Alstom), market leaders in HVDC technologies, is analyzed with specific regard to the pursuit of inventing a HVDC circuit breaker; a technological leap that has been considered necessary for overcoming a number of obstacles to creating a DC grid. As of November 2012, ABB has developed the world's first HVDC circuit breaker, acknowledged as a technological breakthrough. An attempt is being made to evaluate the impact of this innovation in terms of enhancing ABB's entrepreneurial activity and granting the company with a competitive edge. Furthermore, the vision of developing DC grids – and thus R&D investments for the invention of a HVDC circuit breaker – is approached as a case of climate change being a main driving force for innovation, since this novel invention promises to make easier the integration of more renewable energy sources in power systems. This co-evolution of environment policy and innovation strategy is examined under the scope of Erik Dahmén's theory of development blocks. Finally, ABB's recent innovation is considered a disturbance in the system capable of bringing implications on the market that are here interpreted as a case of creative destruction, based upon Schumpeter's terminology. In the conclusion section possible threats for Siemens and Alstom are also realized, and the need for them is questioned to go through changes in order to remain competitive, a situation that is here regarded as a case of transformation pressure.


Abstract Extracranial malignant rhabdoid tumors (extracranial MRT) are rare, highly aggressive malignancies affecting mainly infants and children younger than 3 years. Common anatomic sites comprise the kidneys (RTK – rhabdoid tumor of kidney) and other soft tissues (eMRT – extracranial, extrarenal malignant rhabdoid tumor). The genetic origin of these diseases is linked to biallelic pathogenic variants in the genes SMARCB1, or rarely SMARCA4, encoding subunits of the SWI/SNF chromatin-remodeling complex. Even if extracranial MRT seem to be quite homogeneous, recent epigenome analyses reveal a certain degree of epigenetic heterogeneity. Use of intensified therapies has modestly improved survival for extracranial MRT. Patients at standard risk profit from conventional therapies; most high-risk patients still experience a dismal course and often therapy resistance. Discoveries of clinical and molecular hallmarks and the exploration of experimental therapeutic approaches open exciting perspectives for clinical and molecularly stratified experimental treatment approaches. To ultimately improve the outcome of patients with extracranial MRTs, they need to be characterized and stratified clinically and molecularly. High-risk patients need novel therapeutic approaches including selective experimental agents in phase I/II clinical trials.


Advanced driver support systems are often used by drivers as comfort systems. Drivers tend to adapt their behavior to the increased safety margins created by the system by driving at higher speeds and paying less attention to driving. From a traffic safety perspective, it is therefore important that driver support systems can adapt their support to how drivers actually use the system. We propose a way to mitigate drivers- misuse of the safety margins created by the system by employing an adaptive support policy that is less predictable for the driver. We conclude by describing ongoing work, were the safety effect of such an adaptive support policy is empirically studied.


Armadillos have been involved in leprosy transmission and are considered a source of Mycobacterium leprae in numerous reports. Clinicians from certain areas of the USA consider contact with armadillos a risk factor for leprosy. However, there is a challenge associated with the role of wild armadillos perpetuating human leprosy in the American Continent. The presence of anti-PGL-I antibodies was investigated in wild nine-banded armadillos from leprosy-endemic areas in State of Espirito Santo, Brazil, by ELISA performed on serum samples from 47 armadillos. Positive ELISA was obtained from 5 (10.6%) armadillos. Infected armadillos may play some role in leprosy transmission, disseminating bacilli in the environment, perhaps making it more difficult to interrupt transmission and reduce the number of new leprosy cases. ELISA is an efficient tool for seroepidemiological investigations of Mycobacterium leprae in armadillos.


Background. Tamoxifen has been reported to enhance the antitumor activity of cisplatin in preclinical models by modulation of protein kinase C signal transduction and apoptosis-related pathways. Methods. We conducted a phase I study of high-dose oral tamoxifen in combination with intravenous cisplatin, with two objectives: 1) to determine tolerability, and 2) to determine the daily tamoxifen dose required to achieve serum levels equivalent to in vitro concentrations reported to enhance cisplatin cytotoxicity in preclinical models. Tamoxifen was administered days one through seven at escalating daily doses of160 mg/m2 (n=5),200 mg/m2 (n=6), and250 mg/m2 (n=4) by patient cohort, followed by cisplatin at 100 mg/m2 on day eight. Serum concentrations of tamoxifen and its hydroxylated metabolite N-desmethyltamoxifen were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) on day eight of the first treatment cycle in seven patients. Results. Fifteen patients with advanced malignancies received treatment with tamoxifen at 160 mg/m2, 200 mg/m2, and 250 mg/m2 per cycle, respectively. Serum concentrations of tamoxifen and N-desmethyltamoxifen on day eight of the first cycle ranged from 1.75–8.22 μM (mean 4.72 μM) and 3.62–10.85 μM (mean 3.87 μM), respectively. Toxicity analysis demonstrated that grade 3/4 nonhematological toxicity occurred in 0/5 at a tamoxifen dose of 160 mg/m2, 1/6 at a tamoxifen dose of 200 mg/m2, and in 1/4 patients at the 250 mg/m2 dose level. No grade 4 hematological toxicity occurred. Classic dose-limiting toxicity was not observed; the trial was closed to further accrual after documentation that targeted tamoxifen levels (around 5 μM) were achieved with daily tamoxifen doses≥160 mg/m2 in combination with cisplatin. Conclusions. This regimen of high-dose tamoxifen in combination with cisplatin can be safely administered. Serum tamoxifen levels comparable to concentrations required for enhancement of cisplatin sensitivity in vitro are clinically achievable with acceptable toxicity. The level of antitumor activity in nonsmall cell lung cancer NSCLC is encouraging (partial response in 4/10 patients). Based on these data, a Phase II study of high-dose tamoxifen in combination with cisplatin in patients with metastatic NSCLC is being conducted through the Southwest Oncology Group.


Multiple common law nuisance lawsuits have been filed against companies to either get them to stop emissions of greenhouse gases or to seek damages for harm from climate change. In American Electric Power v. Connecticut, the United States Supreme Court held that federal common law nuisance lawsuits for injunction of emissions activities were preempted by the Clean Air Act. The viability of state common law nuisance lawsuits, especially for damages, remains an open question, though several lower courts have weighed in on various aspects.

This Article provides an economic analysis showing that common law strict liability damage nuisance lawsuits for climate change damages would increase economic efficiency in all circumstances as well as provide an important incentive for climate change mitigation innovation. Because nuisance determinations can turn on arguments of economic efficiency, we argue that our findings argue for state common law nuisance lawsuits for damages from greenhouse gas emissions to be preserved and allowed to go forward.


Context. At low redshift, a handful of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) have been discovered with luminosities that are substantially lower (Liso 10 49.5 erg s −1 ). It has been suggested that the properties of several low-luminosity (low-L) GRBs are due to shock break-out, as opposed to the emission from ultrarelativistic jets. This has led to much debate about how the populations are connected. Aims. The burst at redshift z = 0.283 from 2012 April 22 is one of the very few examples of intermediate-L GRBs with a γ-ray luminosity of Liso ∼ 10 49.6−49.9 erg s −1 that have been detected up to now. With the robust detection of its accompanying supernova SN 2012bz, it has the potential to answer important questions on the origin of low- and high-L GRBs and the GRB-SN connection. Methods. We carried out a spectroscopy campaign using medium- and low-resolution spectrographs with 6–10-m class telescopes, which covered a time span of 37.3 days, and a multi-wavelength imaging campaign, which ranged from radio to X-ray energies over a duration of ∼270 days. Furthermore, we used a tuneable filter that is centred at Hα to map star-formation in the host and the surrounding galaxies. We used these data to extract and model the properties of different radiation components and fitted the spectral energy distribution to extract the properties of the host galaxy. Results. Modelling the light curve and spectral energy distribution from the radio to the X-rays revealed that the blast wave expanded with an initial Lorentz factor of Γ0 ∼ 50, which is a low value in comparison to high-L GRBs, and that the afterglow had an exceptionally low peak luminosity density of <2 × 10 30 erg s −1 Hz −1 in the sub-mm. Because of the weak afterglow component, we were able to recover the signature of a shock break-out in an event that was not a genuine low-L GRB for the first time. At 1.4 hr after the burst, the stellar envelope had a blackbody temperature of kBT ∼ 16 eV and a radius of ∼7 × 10 13 cm (both in the observer frame). The accompanying SN 2012bz reached a peak luminosity of MV = −19.7 mag, which is 0.3 mag more luminous than SN 1998bw. The synthesised nickel mass of 0.58 M� , ejecta mass of 5.87 M� ,a nd kinetic energy of 4.10 × 10 52 erg were among the highest for GRB-SNe, which makes it the most luminous spectroscopically confirmed SN to date. Nebular emission lines at the GRB location were visible, which extend from the galaxy nucleus to the explosion site. The host and the explosion site had close-to-solar metallicity. The burst occurred in an isolated star-forming region with an SFR that is 1/10 of that in the galaxy's nucleus. Conclusions. While the prompt γ-ray emission points to a high-L GRB, the weak afterglow and the low Γ0 were very atypical for such a burst. Moreover, the detection of the shock break-out signature is a new quality for high-L GRBs. So far, shock break-outs were exclusively detected for low-L GRBs, while GRB 120422A had an intermediate Liso of ∼10 49.6−49.9 erg s −1 . Therefore, we conclude that GRB 120422A was a transition object between low- and high-L GRBs, which supports the failed-jet model that connects low-L GRBs that are driven by shock break-outs and high-L GRBs that are powered by ultra-relativistic jets.


Cortical GABAergic neurons are indispensable in controlling the activity of cortical networks. Parvalbu- min (PV), somatostatin (SST) and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) expressing neurons are three main classes of GABAergic cells. They differ in morphology, physiology and output connectivity. We wanted to investigate the largely unknown input-connectivity of these neurons on a brain-wide scale using rabies virus tracing. We focused on the PV and VIP neurons in the mouse barrel cortex.
First, we used intersectional rabies virus tracing, to specifically target GABAergic PV cells and exclude a small fraction of excitatory PV cells from our starter cell population. We combined the Vgat- Cre/PV-Flp line with Cre- and Flp-dependent helper viruses. After thoroughly evaluating the specificity of these novel viral constructs, we mapped the local and long-range inputs to PV neurons. Local inputs were mainly from layer (L) IV and excitatory. A small number of inputs originated from LI inhibitory neu- rons, which we found to connect to LII/III PV neurons. Long-range inputs originated mainly from other sensory cortices and the thalamus. Surprisingly, in visual cortex most retrogradely labeled neurons were located in LIV, which sent direct connection to PV cells in all layers of barrel cortex as demonstrat- ed with anterograde tracing experiments.
Second, we assessed the long-range input connectivity of VIP neurons in wildtype and reeler mutant mice, in which layers are not formed during development. VIP neurons received input from the same areas in both genotypes. The major input sources were other sensory cortices, motor cortex, posterior parietal association area and the thalamus. VIP neurons in reeler mice received a much low- er number of ipsilateral cortical inputs and a much higher number of contralateral cortical inputs. We hypothesize that the disorganized arrangement of neurons in reeler compromises the establishment of cell-type specific ipsilateral long-range projections and necessitates a compensation by an excess of contralateral inputs.
Both studies provide valuable insights in the brain-wide circuits in which GABAergic neurons are embedded and introduce new and very specific rabies virus tracing tools.


We report that object 282P/(323137) 2003 BM80 is undergoing a sustained activity outburst, lasting over 15 months thus far. These findings stem in part from our NASA Partner Citizen Science project Active Asteroids (http://activeasteroids.net), which we introduce here. We acquired new observations of 282P via our observing campaign (Vatican Advanced Technology Telescope (VATT), Lowell Discovery Telescope (LDT), and the Gemini South telescope), confirming 282P was active on UT 2022 June 7, some 15 months after 2021 March images showed activity in the 2021–2022 epoch. We classify 282P as a member of the quasi-Hilda objects (QHOs), a group of dynamically unstable objects found in an orbital region similar to, but distinct in their dynamical characteristics to, the Hilda asteroids (objects in 3:2 resonance with Jupiter). Our dynamical simulations show 282P has undergone at least five close encounters with Jupiter and one with Saturn over the last 180 yr. 282P was most likely a Centaur or Jupiter-family comet (JFC) 250 yr ago. In 350 yr, following some 15 strong Jovian interactions, 282P will most likely migrate to become a JFC or, less likely, an outer main-belt asteroid orbit. These migrations highlight a dynamical pathway connecting Centaurs and JFCs with quasi-Hildas and, potentially, active asteroids. Synthesizing these results with our thermodynamical modeling and new activity observations, we find volatile sublimation is the primary activity mechanism. Observations of a quiescent 282P, which we anticipate will be possible in 2023, will help confirm our hypothesis by measuring a rotation period and ascertaining the spectral type.


Abstract Objective To estimate the very early stroke risk after a transient ischaemic attack (TIA) or minor stroke and thereby inform the planning of effective stroke prevention services. Design Population based prospective cohort study of patients with TIA or stroke. Setting Nine general practices in Oxfordshire, England, from April 2002 to April 2003. Participants All patients who had a TIA (n = 87) or minor stroke (n = 87) during the study period and who presented to medical attention. Main outcome measures Risk of recurrent stroke at seven days, one month, and three months after TIAs and minor strokes. Results The estimated risk of recurrent stroke was 8.0% (95% confidence interval 2.3% to 13.7%) at seven days, 11.5% (4.8% to 18.2%) at one month, and 17.3% (9.3% to 25.3%) at three months after a TIA. The risks at these three time periods after a minor stroke were 11.5% (4.8% to 11.2%), 15.0% (7.5% to 22.5%), and 18.5% (10.3% to 26.7%). Conclusions The early risks of stroke after a TIA or minor stroke are much higher than commonly quoted. More research is needed to determine whether these risks can be reduced by more rapid instigation of preventive treatment.


We suggest an iterative power and greedy subcarrier allocation algorithm to improve rate-sum capacity in an uplink OFDMA system. For the downlink, it has been accepted as an optimal solution that each subcarrier is allocated to the user with the best channel condition and power is allocated by water-filling over subcarriers. However, it is not true in an uplink OFDMA system which has distributive power constraints. We formulate the optimization problem having constraints power and subcarriers in uplink, then draw two necessary conditions for optimality. Using the conditions, we propose a greedy subcarrier allocation algorithm based a marginal rate junction and iterative power allocation algorithm based on water-filling. Simulation results show that the enhanced system capacity is achieved by our proposed scheme.


The effect of water on the catalytic oxidation of 1,4-butanediol in methanol over Au/TiO(2) has been investigated by catalytic reaction studies and NMR diffusion and relaxation studies. The addition of water to the dry catalytic system led to a decrease of both conversion and selectivity towards dimethyl succinate. Pulsed-field gradient (PFG)-NMR spectroscopy was used to assess the effect of water addition on the effective self-diffusivity of the reactant within the catalyst. NMR relaxation studies were also carried out to probe the strength of surface interaction of the reactant in the absence and presence of water. PFG-NMR studies revealed that the addition of water to the initial system, although increasing the dilution of the system, leads to a significant decrease of effective diffusion rate of the reactant within the catalyst. From T(1) and T(2) relaxation measurements it was possible to infer the strength of surface interaction of the reactant with the catalyst surface. The addition of water was found to inhibit the adsorption of the reactant over the catalyst surface, with the T(1)/T(2) ratio of 1,4-butanediol decreasing significantly when water was added. The results overall suggest that both the decrease of diffusion rate and adsorption strength of the reactant within the catalyst, due to water addition, limits the access of reactant molecules to the catalytic sites, which results in a decrease of reaction rate and conversion.


The microstructures of 11 kinds of commercial steels quenched from high temperature were deeply studied by optical microscope and canning election microscope. It was proved that packet martensite in medium and high carbon steels is not lath martensite, but rather packet plate martensite. Through the analysis of crystallography,it was found that four change rules of crystal orientation may arise during the process of martensite transformation. Two inner interfaces spontaneously formed were only discovered in martensite transformation process: small-angel boundary (misorientation angle is 0 ~ 10º) and twin boundary (misorientation angle is 70º32'). The former mainly appeared in low carbon martensite, and the latter principally formed in medium and high carbon martensite. The twin boundary packet mechanism in medium and high carbon steels has made in detail in this paper.


We demonstrate that the amplitude of vector-vortex beams has a Bessel-Gauss (BG) distribution through a rigorous vector electromagnetic analysis. We also investigate the intensity profiles in the focal plane of vector-vortex beams that are focused by a high numerical-aperture lens obeying the Helmholtz condition. Although the intensity of a vector-vortex BG beam with a topological charge n=1 is nonzero along the axis in the focal plane, the beams with n≠1 show discrete multiple spots which can be useful for optical trapping.


The present study was conducted to determine the association between fibre intake and insulin resistance in 264 women using a cross-sectional design. Insulin resistance was indexed using homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) (US formula: fasting insulin (μU/ml) × fasting glucose (mg/dl)/405 international formula: fasting glucose (mmol/l) × fasting insulin (μU/l)/22.5). Fibre and energy consumption were assessed using 7 d weighed food records. Fibre was expressed as g/4184 kJ (1000 kcal). Body fat percentage (BF%) was measured using the BOD POD, and physical activity (PA) was ascertained using Actigraph accelerometers (Health One Technology) worn for seven consecutive days. Women with high total fibre intakes (F= 4·58, P= 0·0332) or high soluble fibre intakes (F= 7·97, P= 0·0051) had significantly less insulin resistance than their counterparts. Participants with high insoluble fibre intakes did not differ from their counterparts (F= 0·7, P= 0·6875). Adjusting for either PA or BF% weakened the relationships significantly. Controlling for BF% nullified the total fibre–HOMA-IR link (F= 1·96, P= 0·1631) and attenuated the association between soluble fibre and HOMA-IR by 32 % (F= 6·86, P= 0·0094). To create dichotomous variables, fibre intake and HOMA-IR were each divided into two categories using the median (low and high). In women who had high soluble fibre intake (upper 50 %), the OR of having an elevated HOMA-IR level was 0·58 (95 % CI 0·36, 0·94) times that of women with low soluble fibre intake (lower 50 %). After controlling for all of the potential confounding factors simultaneously, the OR was 0·52 (95 % CI 0·29, 0·93). High fibre intake, particularly soluble fibre, is significantly related to lower levels of insulin resistance in women. Part of this association is a function of differences in PA and BF%.


A rapid study was performed to analyse the diversity of plankton and periphyton from a freshwater pond stocked with Labeo rohita (Hamilton), an Indian major carp. The pond was installed with bamboo substrates for periphyton growth. Diversity and richness of planktonic and periphytic communities were observed for six months. Results showed little difference in richness between plankton and periphyton in the pond, but percentage abundance of Bacillariophyceae was more on substrates than in water column. Shannon Wiener diversity and evenness values were also high for both plankton and periphyton. It was concluded that in presence of L. rohita, plankton and periphyton maintains indifferent algal richness and high Shannon Wiener diversity.


This paper investigates the relationship between CAP direct payments and managerial efficiency for French crop and beef farms. Managerial efficiency scores are calculated using a four-step approach that allows to disentangle managerial inefficiency from other technical inefficiency components, notably what is due to unfavourable environment conditions. Then managerial efficiency scores are regressed over a set of explanatory variables, including CAP direct payments. Our empirical application, based on individual farm data and meteorological data at the municipality level for the year 2000, shows that there is a substantial component of inefficiency that is due to unfavourable conditions. Moreover, there is a significant negative relationship between managerial efficiency and CAP direct payments for crop farms, but a positive relationship for livestock farms. The type of payments also matter, with area-based and Less Favoured Area payments reducing crop farms' efficiency but headage and agri-environmental payments increasing beef farms' efficiency.


ABSTRACT: The economic crisis didn't affect Brazil as it did in United States and in Europe. Brazil took an advantage of this period and became a leadership among others developing countries (I). Consequently, people who work with international commerce were obliged to find better ways to protect humanistic goals of law. Thereby, they were led to analyze the legal education, essentially the methods of comparative law, in addition to the role of the jurists, who were forced to put into practice creativity and imagination in theirs researches and actions (II). Jointly the crisis, many innovations had arisen to overcome the situation. There are many examples: in France was established a mediation process to resolve credit disputes, which improves the society and became an indispensable item in the commercial life; in Belgium had commenced a great debate about the solutions presented by public authorities to deal with the situation of the principal bank of the country (III). Talking about this context of economic crisis we choose to approach the arbitration crisis according to the sign of Phillipe Fouchard: the excess of the diversions and litigation related arbitral proceedings withdraw the specificity and the value of arbitration. We adopted the solutions proposed by professors Jens Damman and Henry Hansmann. We worked, by this article, to suggest a creation of a public and international legal authority specialized in economic subject. This authority must get some inspiration by the lessons and explore the possibilities opened by international arbitration (IV). Our great wish is to see our Brazilian friends working in this project, exercising the functions of artisans and exhilarating in a legal laboratory, without the one, the G20 will hardly promote a global economy full of solidarity.


Studies on the physiological functionality of purple-fleshed sweet potatoes and their dominant anthocyanin pigments are described. The purple-fleshed sweet potato cultivar 'Ayamurasaki' contained anthocyanins, which consisted of mono- or di-acylated forms of cyanidin (YGM-1a, -1b, -2 and -3) and peonidin (YGM-4b, -5a, -5b and -6). It was also rich in anthocyanins with peonidin aglycon. The 'Ayamurasaki' extract and the purified YGM exhibited multiple physiological functions such as radical-scavenging, antirnutagenic, angiotensin I-converting enzyme-inhibitory, and α-glucosidase-inhibitory activities in vitro. Moreover, they also showed an ameliorative effect on carbon tetrachloride-induced liver injury and decreased postprandial blood glucose levels in rats. In addition, their role in restoring the liver function and blood pressure levels to normal in volunteers with impaired hepatic function and/or hypertension was also confirmed. The acylated anthocyanins, which were the major radical scavengers in 'Ayamurasaki', were directly absorbed into the blood stream of rats and were present as intact acylated forms in the plasma, and could also enhance the plasma antioxidative capacity. Based on these evidences, the purple-fleshed sweet potato can be recommended as a superior source for the production of foods with health benefits. Some foods and beverages in Japan that utilize these characteristics of anthocyanin pigments are also introduced in this paper.


Creativity is an important characteristic of engineering design and one can learn much about creative methods for solving design problems in the literature. In reality, however, the spontaneous creativity of engineers also leads to new innovative ideas that are not directly applicable in current projects. Therefore, it is important that companies have the ability to extract and use these ideas to ensure long-term innovativeness. A suggestion system, the most classic of which is the suggestion box, is an approved general way that can enable this transfer of employee creativity; however, the literature provides little information about the applicability of suggestion systems in organizations for engineering design. This paper investigates the applicability and potential of suggestion systems to enable the critical transfer of creativity from engineering designers to the company. This research, performed as a case study, shows that a suggestion system, along with strong leadership, can help transfer creativity of the engineers to future products.


The Wilms' tumour suppressor gene ( wt1) is mutated in a subset of patients with Wilms' tumour and has a critical role in urogenital development. wt1 encodes a zinc finger transcription factor which regulates expression of several genes involved in cellular proliferation and differentiation. Although a number of studies have characterized the DNA binding properties of the WT1 protein, recent evidence has suggested that WT1 may also have a role in RNA metabolism. We have used an RNA selection method to identify WT1 binding ligands from a random RNA pool. Three groups of RNA ligands specifically recognized by WT1 were identified. Mutational analysis pinpointed ribonucleotide sequences critical for binding. Analysis of truncated WT1 proteins demonstrated that three of four zinc fingers were necessary for RNA–protein interaction. The naturally occurring WT1 isoforms with insertion of lysine, threonine and serine between zinc fingers three and four were unable to bind the selected RNAs. The selected RNA ligands competed with the cognate WT1 DNA binding site for complex formation with WT1. Our findings suggest potential cellular RNA target sequences for WT1 and provide tools for studying the structural and functional properties of this tumour suppressor protein.


The structures of the termini and their flanking regions of two human Kpnl family members were investigated. The two differed in length, but the starting sequence at one terminal (defined as the 5 terminal) was found to be common to both members. The Alu family sequence was found in the 5 flanking regions. The Kpnl family sequence started several base-pairs downstream from the 3' end of the Alu family sequence. In both cases, the Alu family sequence wa3 not flanked by the direct repeat sequence common to the Alu family. These two members showed no sequence homology in 3' terminal regions. Interestingly, the Alu family plus the Kpnl family unit was found to be flanked by a direct repeat sequence of several base-pair length. Based on these findings, relationship between the Alu family and Kpnl family is discussed.


GaN MIS diodes were demonstrated utilizing AlN and Ga{sub 2}O{sub 3}(Gd{sub 2}O{sub 3}) as insulators. A 345 {angstrom} of AlN was grown on the MOCVD grown n-GaN in a MOMBE system using trimethylamine alane as Al precursor and nitrogen generated from a wavemat ECR N2 plasma. For the Ga{sub 2}O{sub 3}(Gd{sub 2}O{sub 3}) growth, a multi MBE chamber was used and a 195 {angstrom} oxide is E-beam evaporated from a single crystal source of Ga{sub 5}Gd{sub 3}O{sub 12}. The forward breakdown voltage of AlN and Ga{sub 2}O{sub 3}(Gd{sub 2}O{sub 3}) diodes are 5V and 6V, respectively, which are significantly improved from {approximately} 1.2 V of schottky contact. From the C-V measurements, both kinds of diodes showed good charge modulation from accumulation to depletion at different frequencies. The insulator GaN interface roughness and the thickness of the insulator were measured with x-ray reflectivity.


The clinical case of Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome was observed in psycho neurological department of Republican Children's Rehabilitation Center. The syndrome was passing behind a mask of the atonic-astatic form of children's cerebral palsy. The main signs of this syndrome are the following: stagnation of patients in psychomotor and speech development, craniofacial dismorfism, anomalies in development of fingers. Different symptoms of other organs and systems lesion were described basing on the literature review. Data of genetic researches concerning Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome are submitted.


A number of recent studies have examined the connection between pornography use and relationship outcomes for Americans already in marriages. The current study takes this research in a different direction by examining (1) whether pornography use may be associated with entrance into marriage during early adulthood and (2) whether this association is moderated by both gender and religion, two key factors strongly related to both pornography use and earlier marriage. Longitudinal data were taken from waves 1, 3, and 4 of the National Study of Youth and Religion, a nationally-representative panel study of Americans from their teenage years into early adulthood (N = 1,691). It was theorized that frequent pornography use at earlier survey waves may foster more sexually progressive attitudes that may lead to devaluing marriage as an institution, and, for religious men in particular, may disincentivize marriage as a "socially legitimate" means of sexual fulfillment. Findings affirmed that, compared to more moderate levels of pornography use, higher levels of pornography use in emerging adulthood were associated with a lower likelihood of marriage by the final survey wave for men, but not women. This association was not moderated by religiosity for either gender. Moreover, among men, higher frequency pornography viewers were not significantly different from non-viewers in their likelihood of marriage entry. Data limitations and implications for future research are discussed.