Industrial is an aware and planned efforts in the frame of manage and exploit the resource to achieve development plan which is increase the nation life quality. Industry development really bring positive consequences to human life. The essence of industry development will always meaning for human life civilization and more concrete for industrial development will always useful too for increase society welfare. The nature condition that surround with seas, modern society is demanded to manage the nature resources. As all we know that Madura island not only famous with carok culture, but also known as salt producer, one of them at Lembung village, Galis subdistrict, Pamekasan regency. As a main salt production or raw material for salt in Madura, wherein at Lembung village there's a large part of salt making location with 233.001 Ha or 65.70 percent areas wide. At this research, researcher examine carefully about SALT INDUSTRIAL HUMAN MADURA. The aim of this research is for knowing the reason why the salt farmer hold out salt process system industry sector in Lembung village, to know the relation between salt farmer and salt Inc., to know the social status which happening in society. In this research, researcher using descriptive qualitative methods research, which is giving a clear described about the object condition based on facts that visible or as it like. Sampling withdrawal technique using purposive sampling technique with the result that 12 people be the informan sample. Data collecting methods using opened observation and deep interview, also documentation in the form of archives from village, farmer and photographer. Whereas the framework theory which use to analyze this research is Rationality Choose Theory by James Coleman, Structural Functionalism by Robert K. Merton. The result shows that the reason why farmer still holding on in salt industry sector because the limits that the farmer have and the salt making location available so the farmer can't do any jobs beside as being a salt farmer. The relations pattern between salt farmer wit salt Inc. and with trader before ASPEGAB exist was so inflicted a loss upon the farmer, but after ASPEGAB, farmers fate turns better. The salt value become higher. There's a changing in social status of salt farmer, it's increasing after being a self salt farmer who has it's own area. The higher social status so made a lot of changes in a life of salt farmer such as the area increasing widely, more income, a better life family quality, changing life style, better mind thinking.


Entity Linking (EL) is an essential task for semantic text understanding and information extraction. Popular methods separately address the Mention Detection (MD) and Entity Disambiguation (ED) stages of EL, without leveraging their mutual dependency. We here propose the first neural end-to-end EL system that jointly discovers and links entities in a text document. The main idea is to consider all possible spans as potential mentions and learn contextual similarity scores over their entity candidates that are useful for both MD and ED decisions. Key components are context-aware mention embeddings, entity embeddings and a probabilistic mention - entity map, without demanding other engineered features. Empirically, we show that our end-to-end method significantly outperforms popular systems on the Gerbil platform when enough training data is available. Conversely, if testing datasets follow different annotation conventions compared to the training set (e.g. queries/ tweets vs news documents), our ED model coupled with a traditional NER system offers the best or second best EL accuracy.


-Two short Nb3Sn dipole models based on a singlebore cos-theta coil with a cold iron yoke were fabricated and tested at Fermilab. This paper summarizes the details of magnet design and fabrication procedure, and reports the test results including quench performance and quench heater studies, and the magnetic measurements.


Background Adiponectin gene (ADIPOQ) single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have been shown to influence adiponectin levels and have been associated with risk for obesity and insulin resistance (IR). However, these associations have not been fully examined in Egyptian adolescents. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of ADIPOQ gene 45T > G with risk of obesity and metabolic syndrome (MS) in Egyptian female adolescents. Methods The cross-sectional study was performed on 285 Egyptian female adolescents (mean age: 15.5 ± 2.3 and mean body mass index: 20.34 ± 5.67). Genotyping of adiponectin 45T > G polymorphism was detected by PCR-RFLP analysis. Anthropometric and biochemical parameters were measured by standard procedures. Insulin resistance was determined by the Homeostasis Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR). Body fat was measured by Tanita Body Composition Analyzer. Results MS cases showed a higher distribution of TG and GG genotypes compared with cases without MS. Carriers of the mutated genotypes (TG+GG) exhibited higher levels of body mass index, body fat percentage, blood pressure, fasting insulin, fasting glucose, HOMA-IR, triglyceride, whereas lower levels of HDL-C and serum concentrations of adiponectin as compared with TT carriers. Association between MS and mutated genotypes of ADIPOQ gene 45T > G was observed (adjusted odds ratios (OR) = 3.65 for TG+GG carriers, OR = 2.25 for GG carriers and OR = 1.9 for G allele carriers). Conclusions The study suggests that adiponectin 45T > G polymorphism has a significant role in the development of MS in Egyptian female adolescents, possibly through an interaction with increase body weight and hypoadiponectinemia.


How do you make a mature student into a competent research candidate in their own workplace? And how do you turn that competent research candidate into a PhD graduate who eventually adds new knowledge to research communities via a completed dissertation? This paper offers a useful model for conducting doctoral workplace research that is problem-focused, context-specific and future-oriented. Apart from improving practice, it can also strengthen a candidate's timeless qualities such as confidence, capacity to think systemically and ability to realise their natural potential to learn. Further, the concepts used in this paper can also be applied to any learning experience.


This paper presents recent activities on the surface modification of blood contacting biomaterials and devices in the author's laboratory. Surface coating of inorganic films on materials for artificial heart valves, ventricular pumps and coronary stents, such as titanium, stainless steel and low temperature isotropic pryolitc carbon, etc, shows a significant improvement in the anticoagulation behavior. Further, the formation of functional groups such as hydroxyl or amino groups and the binding of biomolecules as well as seeding of endothelial cell shows the promise of biomimetic surface formation. Plasma grafting on materials for artificial heart valve sewing cuff, extracorporeal circulation tube, etc, such as PET, PU, PVC polymers, revealed a significant improvement of anti-platelet adhesion as well as anti-bacterial properties.


In this paper, we present simultaneous multiple pollutant gases (CO2, CO, and NO) measurements by using the non-dispersive infrared (NDIR) technique. A cross-correlation correction method is proposed and used to correct the cross-interferences among the target gases. The calculation of calibration curves is based on least-square fittings with third-order polynomials, and the interference functions are approximated by linear curves. The pure absorbance of each gas is obtained by solving three simultaneous equations using the fitted interference functions. Through the interference correction, the signal created at each filter channel only depends on the absorption of the intended gas. Gas mixture samples with different concentrations of CO2, CO, and NO are pumped into the sample cell for analysis. The results show that the measurement error of each gas is less than 4.5%.


We propose a control method to optimally use fuel and battery resources for power-split plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) under the case of pre determined driving route and associated energy demand profile. We integrate a battery thermal and degradation model and formulate a mixed-integer convex problem which can be approximately solved with standard efficient solvers. In simulation, we demonstrate that our controller can manage battery operation and state to avoid severe battery degradation, and balance fuel usage with battery degradation depending on ambient temperature or energy demand profiles of the routes. Under various scenarios, the results are validated by the Autonomie software [1] and compared with conventional existing CDCS controller and the earlier related work [2], which only optimized to achieve minimal fuel use and neglects the battery degradation. Lastly, we show our controller is efficient enough to be computed on the on-board vehicle computer and applied in real-time.


The hippocampal formation plays a central role in the development of temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE), a disease characterized by recurrent, unprovoked epileptic discharges. TLE is a neurologic disorder characterized by acute long‐lasting seizures (i.e., abnormal electrical activity in the brain) or seizures that occur in close proximity without recovery, typically after a brain injury or status epilepticus. After status epilepticus, epileptogenic hyperexcitability develops gradually over the following months to years, resulting in the emergence of chronic, recurrent seizures. Acting as a filter or gate, the hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG) normally prevents excessive excitation from propagating through the hippocampus, and is considered a critical region in the progression of epileptogenesis in pathological conditions. Importantly, lipid‐derived endogenous cannabinoids (endocannabinoids), which are produced on demand as retrograde messengers, are central regulators of neuronal activity in the DG circuit. In this review, we summarize recent findings concerning the role of the DG in controlling hyperexcitability and propose how DG regulation by cannabinoids (CBs) could provide avenues for therapeutic interventions. We also highlight possible pathways and manipulations that could be relevant for the control of hyperexcitation. The use of CB compounds to treat epilepsies is controversial, as anecdotal evidence is not always validated by clinical trials. Recent publications shed light on the importance of the DG as a region regulating incoming hippocampal excitability during epileptogenesis. We review recent findings concerning the modulation of the hippocampal DG circuitry by CBs and discuss putative underlying pathways. A better understanding of the mechanisms by which CBs exert their action during seizures may be useful to improve therapies.


A detailed study of canopy fuel characteristics in five different forest types provided a unique dataset for simulating the effects of various stand manipulation treatments on canopy fuels. Low thinning, low thinning with commercial dbh limit, and crown thinning had similar effects on canopy bulk density (CBD) and canopy fuel load (CFL), but only the strict low thinning significantly affected canopy base height (CBH). In four of five sampled stands, CBD and CFL responded linearly to increasing treatment intensity in those three thinning treatments. The ponderosa-pine/Douglas-fir stand, with its significant understory component, showed little change in CBD with the commercial limit and crown thinning treatments. The diameterlimit harvest exhibited little consistency among sites and, hence, it is not a good silvicultural tool for creating canopy fuel reduction prescriptions. Due to fire-induced mortality, crown scorch (from prescribed fire) was more effective than mechanical pruning (to an equivalent height) at modifying canopy fuel characteristics. At achievable scorch and pruning heights, neither treatment had a significant effect on CBD or CFL.


Interactions between nontransmembrane domains and the lipid membrane are proposed to modulate activity of many ion channels. In Kir channels, the so-called "slide-helix" is proposed to interact with the lipid headgroups and control channel gating. We examined this possibility directly in a cell-free system consisting of KirBac1.1 reconstituted into pure lipid vesicles. Cysteine substitution of positively charged slide-helix residues (R49C and K57C) leads to loss of channel activity that is rescued by in situ restoration of charge following modification by MTSET+ or MTSEA+, but not MTSES− or neutral MMTS. Strikingly, activity is also rescued by modification with long-chain alkyl-MTS reagents. Such reagents are expected to partition into, and hence tether the side chain to, the membrane. Systematic scanning reveals additional slide-helix residues that are activated or inhibited following alkyl-MTS modification. A pattern emerges whereby lipid tethering of the N terminus, or C terminus, of the slide-helix, respectively inhibits, or activates, channel activity. This study establishes a critical role of the slide-helix in Kir channel gating, and directly demonstrates that physical interaction of soluble domains with the membrane can control ion channel activity.


We apply reservoir engineering to construct a thermal environment with controllable temperature in an ultracold atomic Rydberg system. A Boltzmann distribution of the system's eigenstates is produced by optically driving a small environment of ultracold atoms, which is coupled to a photonic continuum through spontaneous emission. This technique provides a useful tool for quantum simulation of both equilibrium dynamics and dynamics coupled to a thermal environment. Additionally, we demonstrate that pure eigenstates, such as Bell states, can be prepared in the Rydberg atomic system using this method.


[1] The spatial properties of ionospheric ion outflows associated with perpendicular heating processes in the cusp are studied using a conjunction study from two satellites and ground radar systems. Low-energy outflowing ions are measured in a wide longitudinal range, between 13,000 and 19,000 km in altitude, over the dayside polar cap by the Hyperboloid experiment aboard the Interball Auroral Probe (AP). These observations are related to conjugate convection field measurements by the Saskatoon-Kapuskasing pair of the Super Dual Auroral Radar Network (SuperDARN). Data analysis suggests that outflowing ions originate from a wide magnetic local time range associated with both the dayside cusp region and the dayside cleft region. A direct cusp crossing by the Fast Auroral Snapshot (FAST) satellite at 2000-km altitude shows a correlation between transverse ion heating in a thin latitudinal region (∼1.3°) and the presence of broadband extremely low frequency (BBELF) turbulence, in addition to more intense electrostatic waves near and just above the lower hybrid (LH) frequency. This event is unusual because on the basis of the statistical survey of Freja and FAST data, most of the ion-heating events in the midaltitude auroral zone are correlated with enhanced emissions in the BBELF range. Furthermore, the electron population has energies that are too small to drive LH waves unstable. This event offers the opportunity to analyze the contribution of cusp magnetospheric ion injections to the heating of the ambient H+ and O+ ions. Kinetic instability calculations demonstrate that LH waves are destabilized by the ring distributions, which result from injections of high-energy magnetosheath ions. Calculations show that a preheating mechanism by BBELF turbulence near the ion gyrofrequencies is also required so that LH heating is able to occur. The altitude dependence of the LH perpendicular heating is then analyzed by modeling the transport of the injected magnetospheric ions along magnetic field lines. It is shown that LH heating acts as an additional process from ∼2000 up to 10,000 km in altitude. In addition, trajectory calculations show that the low-energy outflowing H+ and O+ ions observed along Interball AP orbit in the polar cap are heated inside the cusp at altitudes extending up to 15,000 km. These results are then assembled to construct a possible heating scenario inside the cusp for this data set. The contribution of the different energization mechanisms to the ion heating as a function of altitude is then discussed.


Renaissance humanism As a topic worthy of sustained and systematic scrutiny, human dignity first appeared on the philosophical agenda in the Renaissance. An indication of this is the appearance, from the middle of the fifteenth century onwards, of several tracts about the dignity and excellence of man. Yet, in spite of this apparently straightforward state of affairs, the Renaissance treatment of human dignity has also given rise to confusion. The reason for this is that we tend to read our own conceptions of human dignity into Renaissance discussions of it. Moreover, the new interest in human dignity in the fifteenth century is related to the revival of classical culture known as 'Renaissance humanism'. The tendency to conflate this movement with later systems that have been labelled 'humanism', too, has been pervasive since the middle of the nineteenth century. In order to clear the ground, I must first disentangle the different meanings of the elastic notion of humanism. The word 'Humanismus' was coined in 1808 by the German theologian and pedagogue, Friedrich Niethammer, to denote the educational current that laid much store by the study of the classical languages and literature (Niethammer 1808). In the course of the nineteenth century, however, the word came to be applied to a variety of currents, positions and worldviews. Particularly influential was Georg Voigt's use of the term to label the Renaissance programme of restoring ancient learning (Voigt 1859). Though the Renaissance scholars and thinkers who brought this movement about did not call themselves 'humanists', the label caught on. Since that time, 'Renaissance humanism' refers to the educational and cultural project to re-establish the liberal arts or studia humanitatis of antiquity, the pursuit of which was considered to be the privilege of free persons (as distinct from slaves). But, apart from this well-defined acceptation, 'humanism' acquired a wide range of other (sometimes conflicting) meanings. Here is a suitably loose description that attempts to cover some of their common features: 'Humanism is also [i.e. in addition to being the designation for the cultural movement of the Renaissance] any philosophy which recognizes the value or dignity of man and makes him the measure of all things or somehow takes human nature, its limits, or its interests as its theme.' Since such features have also been perceived in the culture of the Renaissance, the different meanings have blurred.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effectiveness of Tuina in relieving the pain, negative emotions, and disability of patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA).

DESIGN
Single-centre, parallel, randomized controlled trial.

SETTING
Shanghai Guanghua Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine Hospital, Shanghai, China.

SUBJECTS
Adult patients with KOA who were able to speak Chinese and self-report symptoms were eligible.

METHODS
A total of 104 patients were randomly allocated to receive the 6-week treatment of Tuina (Tuina group) or celecoxib (celecoxib group). Data on pain, negative emotions, and disability were collected at baseline, at week 2, 4 and 6, and follow-up (one month after the last treatment). The primary outcomes were the pressure pain thresholds. The secondary outcomes were: (1) numerical rating scale at rest and with movement; (2) Hamilton Anxiety Scale; (3) Hamilton Depression Scale; (4) Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index; and (5) clinical effective rate. The adverse events of the trial were evaluated.

RESULTS
In total, 99 patients completed the follow-up. Generalized linear mixed models were constructed to analyse the between-group differences. Statistically significant differences were found in the interaction effects (p < 0.05). In evaluating the group effect, statistical differences were found at week 6 and follow-up (p < 0.05). Further, all variables showed a time effect (p < 0.05). A statistical difference in the clinical effective rate was found between the Tuina and celecoxib groups (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS
Tuina produced superior effects for pain, negative emotions, and disability over time, as compared to celecoxib in patients with KOA.


This work provides a comparative study of the dielectric and piezoelectric properties of randomly oriented and textured 0.88Na 0.5 Bi 0.5 TiO 3 -0.08K 0.5 Bi 0.5 TiO 3 -0.04BaTiO 3 (88NBT) ceramics. Textured ceramics were fabricated by template grain growth (TGG) method using NaNbO 3 (NN) for templates. For textured ceramics with 4 wt% NN templates, a Lotgering factor of 96% and piezoelectric coefficient d 33 of 185 pC/N were obtained. Compared to the randomly oriented ceramics, textured ceramics show lower strain hysteresis (H = 7.6%), higher unipolar strain of 0.041% with corresponding large signal piezoelectric coefficient d 33* of 200 pm/V at applied field of 2 kV/mm. This enhancement can be explained by the grain orientation along direction by texturing, where an engineered domain configuration is formed after polarization, leading to decreased hysteresis and increased piezoelectric property.


A scheme for low voltage rail-to-rail operation with improved common mode rejection ratio is introduced. It can operate with single supply voltages close to a transistor's threshold voltage and it is very compact and power efficient. It is based on a differential amplifier with floating gate input transistors featuring dynamical adjustment of a floating gate biasing voltage. This reduces significantly common mode voltage variations at the input terminals of the differential pair. The implementation of single ended two stage class AB operational amplifiers based on this scheme is discussed. Experimental results of a test chip in 0.5 mum CMOS technology that validates the proposed scheme are presented.


Robert Kennedy has been viewed as hero and villain -- as the "Good Bobby" who, as his brother Ted eulogized him, "saw wrong and tried to right it, ...saw suffering and tried to heal it" -- or as the "Bad Bobby" of countless conspiracy theories, the ruthless and manipulative bully who plotted with the Mafia to kill Castro and lusted after Marilyn Monroe. Evan Thomas's achievement is to realize RFK as a human being, to bring to life an extraordinarily complex man who was at once kind and cruel, devious and honest, fearful and brave. Thomas had unusual access to his subject's life. He is the first biographer since Arthur Schlesinger to see RFK's private papers, and he interviewed all of Kennedy's closest aides and advisers, many of whom were forthcoming in ways that they had not been before. The portrait that emerges is unvarnished but sympathetic, fair-minded and always readable. It is packed with new detail about Kennedy's early life and his behind-the-scenes machinations: his involvement in a cheating incident in prep school; his first attempt at romance; and his many back-channel political operations -- with new revelations about the 1960 and 1968 presidential campaigns, the Cuban Missile Crisis, and his long struggles with J. Edgar Hoover and Lyndon Johnson, both of whom were subtly and not-so-subtly trying to blackmail the Kennedys. In a clear and fast-paced narrative, Thomas cuts through the mythology to reveal a character who, though he died young just as he was reaching for ultimate power, remains one of the century's most fascinating men.


Jasmina Grkovic-Major and Milorad Radovanovic, eds. Teorija dijahronijske lingvistike i proucavanje slovenskih jezika / Theory of Diachronie Linguistics and the Study of Slavic Languages. The Serbian Language in the Light of Current Linguistic Theory, 4. Belgrade: Srpska Akademija nauka i umetnosti, 2010. 278 pp. Abstracts. Individual summaries. Paper.This work is the fourth volume in the series The Serbian Language in the Light of Current Linguistic Theory published by the Serbian Academy of Arts and Sciences, the most prestigious publisher of linguistic works in Serbia. Whereas the first three volumes addressed cognitive linguistics, semantics, and ethnolinguistics, respectively, the present collection of papers focuses on diachronic linguistics. Unlike the first two volumes in the series, which are confined to Serbian, this and the previous volume have a broader perspective and encompass other Slavic languages.The collection reviewed here consists of sixteen papers written in English, German, and various Slavic languages by Austrian, Belgian, Czech, German, Macedonian, Norwegian, Polish, Russian, and Serbian Slavists. The decision to organize the papers alphabetically by author (rather than thematically) was appropriate in view of their great diversity. Each paper includes an abstract in the language in which it is written and a summary in another language. The volume contains a short foreword with basic information about its contents.The first paper, by Jan Ivar Bjornflaten, is titled "Grammaticalization and Typological Change: The Plural Paradigm of Russian Substantives." The next paper takes us to a completely different area, as Radoslav Vecerk, a prominent Paleoslavist, discusses the origin of the Glagolitic script. The third paper, in which Jasmina Grkovic-Major addresses cognitive aspects of the development of transitivity, is an exemplary contribution to what this collection was envisaged to be, i.e., she investigates a concrete Slavic diachronic phenomenon using a major contemporary theoretical approach. Many other contributions to this volume deviate from this exemplar mainly by being insufficiently informed by contemporary theories of linguistics. The next paper is an analysis of Slavic historical phraseology by Rainer Eckert. The following contribution by liona Janyskova presents the methodology of eminent Czech etymologist Vaclav Machek. The next paper is an analysis of the interplay between diachronic etymology and dialectology drawn from experience with the ongoing Serbian etymological dictionary project undertaken by Aleksandar Loma. …


The article is a study based on the E-Learning from Nature project (2015-1-IT02-KA201-015133), which is funded by the European Commission with a view to promoting a proactive students' approach to scientific subjects learning by encouraging science teachers' use of innovative online teaching methodologies in their everyday practice. The objectives, activities and outputs of the project draw on the present challenging European context characterised by the unprecedented advance of technology and, paradoxically, students' underachievement in basic skills as far as scientific issues are concerned. The article examines the project's main objectives focusing mainly on improving students' low performance in scientific subjects, motivating them to learn science and, therefore, consolidating student knowledge of science subjects. The project supports teaching methodologies based on real life case scenarios and makes use of new technologies to promote scientific knowledge, which will definitely enhance students' involvement in the learning process. The underlying principle of the project is to promote solid cooperation among educational agents across European countries in order to create a comprehensive data base for teaching science in schools. The article also looks into the main outputs of the project: Online data base: a collection of information sheets, direct sources (photos, videos, drawings etc. available in digital format) about the flora, the fauna, the natural elements and any other human intervention of scientific interest in a specific environmental area; E-lessons: small video lessons aimed at identifying the connection between the above mentioned natural elements and school scientific curricular activities as well as the related basic skills to be acquired.


The annual wear rate in polyethylene articulations should be 0.1 mm or less to avoid future osteolysis. Highly cross-linked polyethylene shows an 80 to 90% wear reduction in hip simulator testing, but the clinical documentation of this new polyethylene is still inadequate. We evaluated the highly cross-linked polyethylene in two prospective randomized clinical studies. Thirty-two patients (12 men, 20 women; 64 hips) with a median age of 48 years (range, 29-70 years) with bilateral primary or secondary arthrosis of the hip had hybrid total hip arthroplasty with liners made of highly cross-linked polyethylene on one side and conventional polyethylene on the other. Twenty-seven patients in this study have passed 2 years followup. A further group, comprised of 60 patients (61 hips) with a median age of 55 years (range, 35-70 years), was randomized to receive either highly cross-linked polyethylene or conventional cemented all-polyethylene of the same design. Forty-nine of these 60 patients have been observed for 3 years. In both studies all patients received Spectron stems with 28-mm Co-Cr heads. Radiostereometric examinations with the patient supine or standing were done at regular intervals. Wear was measured in the supine position from the first postoperative week, whereas standing examinations were initiated 3 months after the operation. The penetration rate almost was identical in the study and control groups at 6 months after the operation. Thereafter, the penetration rate leveled out in the two groups with highly cross-linked polyethylene. At 2 years the highly cross-linked polyethylene liner showed 62% lower proximal penetration and 31% lower total (three-dimensional) penetration when the patients were examined in supine position. The highly crosslinked all-polyethylene cemented cups showed lower proximal penetration in both positions. The better wear performance of highly cross-linked polyethylene could increase the implant longevity. Longer followup is needed to evaluate if this new material is associated with less occurrence of osteolysis.


To investigate the anti-inflammatory effect of Ephedrae Herba in vivo and in vitro acute inflammation was induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) shock in rats fed Ephedrae Herba extracts and inflammatory cytokine concentrations were examined. In addition, the effect of Ephedrae Herba extracts on the production of inflammatory cytokines wasexamined in LPS-stimulated Raw 264.7 cells. In an in vivo experiment, plasma interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-10 (IL-10) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) concentrations were increased at 2 h and reached to maximal levels at 5 h after LPS treatment in all groups. Compared with control group, plasma IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α levels were lowered at 5 h after LPS treatment, but plasma IL-10 level was higher in at 2 and 5 h after LPS treatment in Ephedrae Herba extract group. In an in vitro experiment using Raw 264.7 macrophages, IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α concentrations in the Ephedrae Herba extract group were lower than those in control group. Compared with control group, IL-10 concentration appeared to be higher in the Ephedrae Herba extract group, but this trend was not significant. In conclusion, these results suggested that functional compound (s) in Ephedrae Herba extract may play a role in alleviating inflammatory response.


Neutron diffraction has been used by the nuclear industry for measuring residual stresses in structures for which integrity safety cases must be made. However measurement of stresses in materials containing large grains, or in anisotropic weld metal, or approaching air-metal interfaces, or metal-metal interfaces using neutron diffraction is particularly challenging. These types of measurements can give rise to errors (often termed "pseudo-strains") that can be significantly larger than the residual stress actually present. Such errors arise when the gauge volume is partially filled (e.g. air to metal interface for measuring near-surface stresses), or when the gauge volume composition is inhomogeneous (metal to metal interface), or the gauge volume material is anisotropic (welds with bundles of elongated grains). To mitigate such errors several approaches have been proposed using numerical and analytical methods to calculate the magnitude of pseudo-strain. Whether these methods can be applied depends on the instrument used and the type of sample being measured. In this context a different approach based on the Monte-Carlo method, as embedded in the neutron ray tracing software package McStas is proposed.

The aim is to validate by neutron measurements the ability of McStas to simulate pseudo strains associated with a gauge volume that is partially filled, or a gauge volume that samples inhomogeneous and anisotropic material. The instrument modelled for this research project is ENGINX a time-of-flight instrument located at ISIS (RAL). To understand and isolate the effects of traversing an interface made up of different materials a stepwise approach was taken. The initial phase involved building a new model of ENGINX in McStas and to validate its correctness by analysing the characteristics of the beam and gauge volume by simulating a steel pin scan. The subsequent phase focussed on virtual experiments to study the pseudo strain arising when measuring strain in an air-to-material interface, a material-to-material interface and when large grains or pores are present as in the vicinity of welds. The results presented are not intended to be used as a quantitative prediction of pseudo strain but to demonstrate how McStas can be used to model virtual experiments to study the pseudo strains occurring. Several virtual sample models have been built to demonstrate how this could be useful/interesting for beamline scientists and users of neutron diffraction. One such virtual sample model is used to demonstrate that the mitigation technique of rotating the sample 180° works when the detector is in transmission but not in reflection, and that it is strongly dependent on the attenuation of the investigated material. Another virtual sample model is used to demonstrate that when the ratio of a cavity (hole, pore, etc) to the gauge volume is more than 2%, then significant pseudo strains can arise. Moreover, this work delivers a new model for ENGINX.


This paper describes the partnership process and the final results of an untraditional joint innovation project between municipalities, public utility companies, and regional authorities in the Capital Region of Denmark. The project, which was concluded at the end of 2014 were organised as a cross municipal partnership, aiming at finding innovative climate adaptation solutions in response to increasing and more intense rain events in Denmark. Based on a comprehensive partnership approach the project has addressed legal issues, internal as well as external communication, decision support systems, and training and competence development. The final results, which concern partnership processes, cooperation mechanisms as well as pure technical results are presented in this paper. Some of the main findings are that this kind of partnership processes are difficult to run and establish and should be carefully designed. Especially the anchoring is important but difficult. Further that it is advisable to separate project wise the needs for hereand-now operational results from the long term innovation needs. Based on the tangible results and especially the strong network and partnership established the project will continue in a version two in 2015 with emphasis on supporting the implementation of the municipal climate change adaptation plans. This new project is organised as two separate project activities, the outline of which is presented in this paper.


Proteolytic activity in a batch culture of Bacteroides ruminicola R8/4 was maximal and largely (greater than 90%) cell-associated during the mid-exponential phase of growth. The cell-bound protease was not inactivated during storage at --70% C, was not significantly affected by pH over the range 5.9 to 8.2, but was subject to substrate inhibition by Fraction 1 protein (ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase; EC 184.108.40.206) and was most active in the presence of thiol reagents. Radioactive Fraction 1 protein was hydrolysed by non-growing and growing cells of B. ruminicola R8/4 with the production of peptides and free amino acids. Deaminase activity was absent. Radioactive amino acids were incorporated into bacterial proteins from [14C]Fraction 1 protein without substantial change in specific radioactivity.


This study seeks to better understand the phylogenetic relationships of SE Asian woody bamboos belonging to the Paleotropical alliance of the Bambuseae tribe because, apart from a clearly circumscribed Melocanninae, other subtribes (Bambusinae, Racemobambosinae) are not yet clearly demarcated and a number of genera are of uncertain affiliation. The definition of key Bambusinae genera, such as Bambusa (itself with a contentious scheme of subgenera), Dendrocalamus and Gigantochloa is problematic because of morphological overlaps and it is unclear how these mainly erect-suberect bamboos are related to a suite of SE Asian climbing genera, including Dinochloa, Holttumochloa, Kinabaluchloa, Maclurochloa, Mullerochloa, Neololeba, Racemobambos, Soejatmia, Sphaerobambos and Temburongia, many of which have been contentiously placed in Bambusa sensu lato in the past. This study utilized DNA sequence data for a nuclear gene region (Granule Bound Starch Synthase, GBSSI) and 3 chloroplast regions (rps16-trnQ, trnC-rpoB and trnD-T intergenic spacers) for 35 species (representing 5 genera) of erect-suberect Bambusinae, 13 species (10 genera) of climbing bamboos, and 3 Melocanninae species. The phylogenetic analyses recovered six major lineages within the ingroup: (1) the BDG complex (Bambusa, Dendrocalamus, Gigantochloa, Maclurochloa, Phuphanochloa, Thyrsostachys and Soejatmia), (2) the Holttumochloa-Kinabaluchloa clade, which is sister to the BDG complex, (3) the Dinochloa-Mullerochloa-Neololeba-Sphaerobambos (DMNS) clade, (4) the Racemobambos clade, (5) Temburongia simplex, and (6) the Melocanninae clade. Significant incongruence between cpDNA and GBSSI topologies indicates widespread reticulate evolution within the BDG complex in the past, which could account for its taxonomic complexities. This is corroborated by demonstration of an existing natural hybridization between Dendrocalamus pendulus and Gigantochloa scortechinii, where GBSSI haplotypes of the hybrid were highly similar to the species-specific GBSSI sequences of the parental species. The extensive introgressive hybridization in the BDG complex was not detected among the other climbing bamboo lineages, suggesting that the BDG complex and the climbing bamboo lineages are of different subtribes. Overall, this study suggests that the Bambusinae should be delimited by only the BDG complex and the climbing bamboo lineages are distinct from the Bambusinae. Equivocal relationships among the DMNS clade, the Racemobambos clade and T. simplex do not permit clear subtribal recognition for these three clades. The Bambusinae is centred in mainland SE Asia, with decreasing representation towards, and a solitary representative in, Australia. In contrast, the present-day geographical distribution of the DMNS clade suggests that this clade could be of Australasian origin, and the subsequent diversification within this clade could have occurred with dispersal towards SE Asia. Other details of the phylogenetic results variously indicate vicariance across the S China Sea (Kinabaluchloa spp.) and the New Guinea–Sulawesi–Borneo–S Philippines pathway as a dispersal corridor between Australia and SE Asia (DMNS clade). These results, together with findings from other published studies, contribute important indications that past introgression, reticulate evolution and ploidy increases could have been a significant feature in the development of the several woody bamboo lineages.


The young stellar object MWC 297 is an embedded B1.5Ve star exhibiting strong hydrogen emission lines and a strong near-infrared continuum excess. This object has been observed with the VLT interferometer equipped with the AMBER instrument during its first commissioning run. VLTI/AMBER is currently the only near infrared interferometer which can observe spectrally dispersed visibilities. MWC 297 has been spatially resolved in the continuum with a visibility of $0.50^{+0.08}_{-0.10}$ as well as in the Brgamma emission line where the visibility decrease to a lower value of $0.33\pm0.06$. This change in the visibility with the wavelength can be interpreted by the presence of an optically thick disk responsible for the visibility in the continuum and of a stellar wind traced by the Brgamma emission line and whose apparent size is 40% larger. We validate this interpretation by building a model of the stellar environment that combines a geometrically thin, optically thick accretion disk model consisting of gas and dust, and a latitude-dependent stellar wind outflowing above the disk surface. The continuum emission and visibilities obtained from this model are fully consistent with the interferometric AMBER data. They agree also with existing optical, near-infrared spectra and other broad-band near-infrared interferometric visibilities. We also reproduce the shape of the visibilities in the Brgamma line as well as the profile of this line obtained at an higher spectral resolution with the VLT/ISAAC spectrograph, and those of the Halpha and Hbeta lines. The disk and wind models yield a consistent inclination of the system of approximately 20 degrees. A picture emerges in which MWC 297 is surrounded by an equatorial flat disk that is possibly still accreting and an outflowing wind which has a much higher velocity in the polar region than at the equator. The VLTI/AMBER unique capability to measure spectral visibilities therefore allows us for the first time to compare the apparent geometry of a wind with the disk structure in a young stellar system.


In this study, commercially available epoxidized and maleated olefinic copolymers, EMA-GMA (ethylene-methyl acrylate-glycidyl methacrylate) and EnBACO-MAH (ethylene-n butyl acrylate-carbon monoxide-maleic anhydride), were used at 0, 5, and 10% by weight to compatibilize the blend composed of ABS (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene) terpolymer and PA6 (polyamide 6). Compatibilizing performance of these two olefinic polymers was investigated from blend morphologies, thermal and mechanical properties as a function of blend composition, and compatibilizer loading level. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) studies showed that incorporation of compatibilizer resulted in a fine morphology with reduced dispersed particle diameter at the presence of 5% compatibilizer. The crystallization behavior of PA6 phase in the blends was explored for selected blend compositions by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). At high compatibilizer level a decrease in the degree of crystallization was observed. In 10% compatibilizer containing blends, formation of γ-crystals was observed contrary to other compatibilizer compositions. The behavior of the compatibilized blend system in tensile testing showed the negative effect of using excess compatibilizer. Different trends in yield strengths and strain at break values were observed depending on compatibilizer type, loading level, and blend composition. With 5% EnBACO-MAH, the blend toughness was observed to be the highest at room temperature. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 104: 926–935, 2007


OBJECTIVE To estimate rates of non-adherence to telemedicine strategies aimed at treating drug addiction. METHODS A systematic review was conducted of randomized controlled trials investigating different telemedicine treatment methods for drug addiction. The following databases were consulted between May 18, 2012 and June 21, 2012: PubMed, PsycINFO, SciELO, Wiley (The Cochrane Library), Embase, Clinical trials and Google Scholar. The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation was used to evaluate the quality of the studies. The criteria evaluated were: appropriate sequence of data generation, allocation concealment, blinding, description of losses and exclusions and analysis by intention to treat. There were 274 studies selected, of which 20 were analyzed. RESULTS Non-adherence rates varied between 15.0% and 70.0%. The interventions evaluated were of at least three months duration and, although they all used telemedicine as support, treatment methods differed. Regarding the quality of the studies, the values also varied from very poor to high quality. High quality studies showed better adherence rates, as did those using more than one technique of intervention and a limited treatment time. Mono-user studies showed better adherence rates than poly-user studies. CONCLUSIONS Rates of non-adherence to treatment involving telemedicine on the part of users of psycho-active substances differed considerably, depending on the country, the intervention method, follow-up time and substances used. Using more than one technique of intervention, short duration of treatment and the type of substance used by patients appear to facilitate adherence.


Patients with rheumatic diseases will want to take as few medications as possible while they are conceiving, pregnant, or breast feeding. The guidelines above can be used to balance the risk of a drug effect on the fetus or neonate with the effect of provoking a flare in disease activity by ceasing the drug. Where no information on drug concentration in pregnancy or lactation exists, guidelines can be developed from knowledge of the drug's inherent metabolism. In most of the rheumatic diseases, disease activity can be reduced to a minimum using the smallest possible dose of drugs with known behaviors in pregnancy and lactation and thus providing minimal risk to mother and fetus.


AIM
To study current treatment options for pediatric hepatitis C infection and their associated success rates.

METHODS
We retrospectively reviewed charts of thirty children who had been treated with combination therapy of pegylated interferon alfa plus ribavirin for chronic hepatitis C infection. Patients had been treated with ribavirin (15 mg/kg per day) and either pegylated interferon alfa 2a (180 mg/m(2) once weekly) or pegylated interferon alfa 2b (1.5 mg/kg once weekly). Patients' follow-up included subjective assessment of complaints, physical examination including weight and height, as well as laboratory evaluations for viral load [before treatment, at 12 wk, and 6 mo following treatment completion, as determined by sustained viral response (SVR)], complete blood count, liver enzymes, alkaline phosphatase, bilirubin, renal function tests, and thyroid function tests. For patients not achieving a two log decrease in viral load at treatment week 12, treatment was discontinued and the patient was considered a treatment non-responder.

RESULTS
Thirty children aged 3-18 years were included in the study. Twenty patients (11 males, 9 females) received pegylated interferon alfa 2b and ten patients (6 males, 4 females) received pegylated interferon alfa 2a. Twenty-three patients were infected with genotype 1, six patients were infected with genotype 3, and one patient was infected with genotype 2. Twenty patients (67%) achieved SVR. Treatment success rates were 90% with pegylated interferon alfa 2a vs 55% with pegylated interferon alfa 2b. Although a trend was noted for improved outcomes in the group receiving pegylated interferon alfa 2a, there were no statistically significant outcome differences between the two treatment groups (P = 0.1). Treatment success was 56.5% for patients infected with genotype 1 virus, compared to 100% for patients infected with other genotypes (P = 0.064). There was no difference in treatment response between males and females. A cut-off age of twelve years was used to dichotomize younger vs older participants; however, no difference in treatment response was observed between these groups. Using multivariate regression analysis, we could not determine predictors for achieving SVR from among the variables we examined (age, sex, and viral genotype). Although we noted a trend toward SVR with peginterferon alfa-2a, there was no statistical difference between the two peginterferons. A high incidence of adverse reactions to treatment was noted. Twenty-five patients (83%) suffered from at least one adverse reaction, but most experienced more than one adverse reaction. All patients except one became leukopenic (white blood cell count less than 5500 leukocytes/μL), six (20%) became anemic (hemoglobin less than 110 g/L), and one (3.3%) became thrombocytopenic (platelets less than 100 000/μL).

CONCLUSION
Combination therapy to treat hepatitis C in children is as effective as in adults. There may be a benefit for treatment with pegylated interferon alfa 2a.


Abstract Background The study aimed to investigate the changes in nosocomial infection density after patients were transferred to the intensive care unit (ICU) of a new-build hospital. Methods The types and rates of nosocomial infections were obtained for a one-year period retrospectively before leaving the old hospital premises and for a one-year periods after moving into the new hospital. The intensive care unit in the "old" premises was comprised of a 17-bedded hall, and thirty-three nurses shifted to work forty-eight hours a week, with each nurse assigned to provide care for two patients. The intensive care unit in the "new" premises consisted of single rooms, each with twenty-eight beds. Results The median nosocomial infection density decreased from 23 to 15 per 1000 in-patient days. The catheter-related urinary tract infection rate decreased from 7.5 to 2.6 per100 catheter days. Conclusions Treatment of patients in the new hospital resulted in a decrease in nosocomial infection density.


The database for powder metallurgy (P/M) alloys, ``Database for Mechanical Properties of P/M Alloys,`` is under construction by the task force of the New Materials Center of Osaka Science and Technology Center. The first issue of this database contains strength data for a variety of structural P/M alloys, and the data for Fe- and Al-base alloys occupy the majority of the database. In order to demonstrate the engineering utility of the database, some analyses were tried based on the data compiled in the database. The authors picked up the data for Fe- and Al-base alloys and analyzed distribution characteristics of their static and fatigue strengths. The main analytical result is an estimate method of the fatigue strength of pure Fe compacts proposed from the statistical evaluation of the fatigue life distribution. This estimation method gives P-S-N characteristics of pure Fe compacts when the densities of the compacts are given.


This essay aims to emphasize and clarify the positions that exist within the current globalization debate. The positions are the neo-liberal, the opponents, the pragmatists and the skeptics. The text presents and explains their ideological, moral and political positions and beliefs about the world, the nation state, the society and the individual; in light of Steven Lukes' and Antonio Gramsci's theories regarding the interaction and the relationship between power and hegemony. The methodological starting point is the ideology-critical analysis; in which their arguments in the current globalization debate is highlighted and categorized. The neo-liberals consider globalization as a tool to legitimize the notion of the free, rational and autonomous individual – who in a free market chooses to contract, interact and relate to each other without facing any government intervention. Opponents see that globalization does not necessarily have to mean the spread of neoliberal economic doctrines – or government deregulation or privatization – but instead may represent a path towards a more just, democratic and inclusive world. Between these two diametrically opposed positions are the pragmatists; who argue that there must be a balance between political and economic freedom and government regulation and their institutional powers. Only then will globalization have the desired effects needed to be able to lift nations out of poverty, bring well being and evoke a greater temporal coherence at the global level. Finally, the skeptics' viewpoint is that the concept of globalization is misleading and is used mainly as a diversion to hide the real interests – namely the U.S. ambitions to maintain its hegemonic position to continue to spread their neo-liberal ideology through the principles of free trade and democratization through the abolition of the welfare state. The analysis shows that the globalization debate is not primarily about what arguments are discussed at the present time, but instead deals with the political and ideological beliefs concerning how society should be designed and how the world should be comprehended and understood. The globalization debate is really about the individual and collective consciousness created by the liberal hegemonic exercise of power, and how this influence is manifested through the intellectual and moral leadership of the ruling class in the world today.


The reason for the failure of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) to exhibit plasma flow dependency during pharmacologic vasodilation remains unclear although it has been suggested on the basis of experiments in rats that vasodilators may lead to a reduction in the glomerular filtration coefficient (Kf). To evaluate the applicability of this hypothesis to the dog, the effects of vasodilation with acetylcholine on glomerular dynamics and Kf were evaluated in two groups of dogs. One group (n = 19) was studied at spontaneous arterial pressures to allow maximum vasodilation to occur. In the other group (n = 5), renal arterial pressure was reduced and maintained at approximately 89 mmHg. Glomerular filtration rate and single nephron glomerular filtration rate were not altered significantly during acetylcholine infusion in either of the two groups. Both whole kidney and superficial filtration fractions decreased significantly. At spontaneous arterial pressures, transglomerular hydrostatic pressure was not altered significantly because of equivalent increases in proximal tubule pressure and in glomerular pressure. In the dogs studied at reduced renal perfusion pressure, glomerular capillary pressure did not change, but proximal tubule pressure increased slightly. Average effective filtration pressures and Kf were not significantly altered during the infusion of acetylcholine either at spontaneous or reduced renal perfusion pressures. These observations indicate that Kf in the dog is not significantly decreased by acetylcholine and that GFR is not affected during infusion of this agent because the effective filtration pressure is not significantly altered.


The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of capitation grants and its contribution to the improvement of primary education output in Kisarawe District Council, Tanzania. Specifically, the study sought to analyze key stakeholders' perceptions on their involvement in the management of capitation grants as well as to examine the effect of capitation grants on improving pupils' attendance rates, academic achievement and completion rates. The sample involved 121 respondents. The researcher employed the survey design; while both qualitative and quantitative approaches were used. Data were collected through questionnaires, interviews, focus group discussions and documentary analysis. Qualitative data were analysed through content analysis while quantitative data were analysed through frequencies and percentages. The study findings revealed that school committee members were passively involved in the management of the capitation grants in their schools. It was also revealed that proper utilization of capitation grants had helped to improve pupils' attendance rates, academic achievement and completion rates. However, factors other than proper utilization of capitation grants had also influenced pupils' attendance rates, academic achievement and completion rates. The study recommends that involvement of school committee members in decisions regarding school resources including capitation grants should be strengthened. Also, the government should ensure that the disbursement of adequate capitation grants are made available to primary schools and are consistently disbursed. Lastly, but not least, discipline in the utilization of school funds should be enhanced.


We study a type of Riemannian gradient descent (RGD) algorithm, designed through Riemannian preconditioning, for optimization on $\mathcal{M}_k^{m\times n}$ -- the set of $m\times n$ real matrices with a fixed rank $k$. Our analysis is based on a quotient geometric view of $\mathcal{M}_k^{m\times n}$: by identifying this set with the quotient manifold of a two-term product space $\mathbb{R}_*^{m\times k}\times \mathbb{R}_*^{n\times k}$ of matrices with full column rank via matrix factorization, we find an explicit form for the update rule of the RGD algorithm, which leads to a novel approach to analysing their convergence behavior in rank-constrained optimization. We then deduce some interesting properties that reflect how RGD distinguishes from other matrix factorization algorithms such as those based on the Euclidean geometry. In particular, we show that the RGD algorithm are not only faster than Euclidean gradient descent but also do not rely on the balancing technique to ensure its efficiency while the latter does. Starting from the novel results, we further show that this RGD algorithm is guaranteed to solve matrix sensing and matrix completion problems with linear convergence rate, under mild conditions related to the restricted positive definiteness property. Numerical experiments on matrix sensing and completion are provided to demonstrate these properties.


Very-low weight preterm infants are more vulnerable to health conditions. This study aimed at describing some characteristics of very-low weight preterm infants in a university hospital of Sao Paulo, Brazil. Data were obtained from the records of 60 preterm infants admitted to the hospital between 1999 and 2000. birth weight, pregnancy age, and hospital-stay length averages were:1,084 kg, 30 weeks, and 59.3 days, respectively. These infants were submitted to invasive procedures, such as venous puncture, orogastric tube insertion, mechanical ventilation, central venous catheter placement, etc., and 75.0% were followed-up in the neonatal out-patient unit. These infants required specialized care, long hospital stay, and out-patient follow-up by a multidisciplinary team.


This paper presents the mechanical and microstructural characteristics of a lightweight aggregate geopolymer concrete (LWAGC) synthesized by the alkali-activation of a fly ash source (FA) before and after being exposed to elevated temperatures, ranging from 100 to 800 °C. The results show that the LWAGC unexposed to the elevated temperatures possesses a good strength-to-weight ratio compared with other LWAGCs available in the published literature. The unexposed LWAGC also shows an excellent strength development versus aging times, up to 365 days. For the exposed LWAGC to the elevated temperatures of 100 to 800 °C, the results illustrate that the concretes gain compressive strength after being exposed to elevated temperatures of 100, 200 and 300 °C. Afterward, the strength of the LWAGC started to deteriorate and decrease after being exposed to elevated temperatures of 400 °C, and up to 800 °C. Based on the mechanical strength results of the exposed LWAGCs to elevated temperatures of 100 °C to 800 °C, the relationship between the exposure temperature and the obtained residual compressive strength is statistically analyzed and achieved. In addition, the microstructure investigation of the unexposed LWAGC shows a good bonding between aggregate and mortar at the interface transition zone (ITZ). However, this bonding is subjected to deterioration as the LWAGC is exposed to elevated temperatures of 400, 600 and 800 °C by increasing the microcrack content and swelling of the unreacted silicates.


This study applies the finite element method (FEM) in conjunction with an abductive network to predict the surface parameters for strain hardening material of asperity flattening in metal forming process. To verify the prediction of FEM simulation for surface parameters, the experimental data are compared with the results of current simulation. Contact area ratio, surface roughness, skewness and kurtosis are investigated for different process and material parameters, such as normal pressure, bulk strain rate, yielding stress, strength coefficient and strain hardening exponent of surface asperity flattening in metal forming, by finite element analysis. The abductive network is then utilized to synthesize the data sets obtained from numerical simulations, and the prediction model is established for predicting surface parameters. The predicted results of the surface parameters from the prediction model are in good agreement with the results obtained from the FEM simulation.


This paper defines urban open greenspace as an urban commons and empirically explores the possibility of its collective management, using Volos city, one of the major urban areas in Greece, as a case study. A survey of about two thousand people was conducted for this purpose, which examined, inter alia, people's perception of the condition and qualities of urban greenspace, their views on a possible reconfiguration of property rights on the resource, and their willingness to collaborate on the self-governance of urban greenspace. Moreover, using ordered logit models, we explore the conditions, values, opinions and characteristics that affect the likelihood of people getting involved in collective management arrangements. The results indicate that users have reservations about such arrangements, which may be attributed to a lack of trust both in each other and in public authorities and institutions. This reveals a considerable deficit in social capital, which is regarded as essential for fostering cooperation in collective-action situations.


Competition is a cornerstone of economic life. Some environments are, however, more competitive than others and individuals are often confronted with the decision whether to self-select into a competitive environment. An important example is occupational choice: a self-employed lawyer is in constant competition for clients, whereas a lawyer working as a civil servant in a public authority is not. Likewise, some people vigorously compete for promotion to better paid jobs associated with a high prestige while others don't. Understanding who self-selects into competitive environments and who shies away from them is thus important. In this paper, we test the hypothesis that individuals with a preference for egalitarian outcomes are more reluctant to self-select into competitive environments. Our hypothesis is based on (i) the observation that payoff inequalities among winners and losers arise as a natural by-product of competition; and (ii) the empirical literature showing that a nonnegligible share of children and adults is willing to incur costs to reduce earnings inequalities (see, e.g., Christopher Dawes et al. 2007; Ernst Fehr, Helen Bernhard, and Bettina Rockenbach 2008). We analyze data from several economic experiments implemented in a household survey study with mothers of preschool children. We Egalitarianism and Competitiveness


Increased levels of suspended sediment in the water column are important factors contributing to the degradation of marine ecosystems worldwide. In coastal waters, temporal variation in suspended sediment concentrations (SSCs) occurs naturally due to seasonal and oceanographic processes. However, there is evidence that anthropogenic activities are increasing sediment concentrations. The volume of sediment moving from land-based sources into coastal ecosystems and human activities in the ocean disturbing the seafloor, such as dredging and bottom-contact fisheries, have been increasing over the last century. In addition, offshore activities, particularly bottom-contact fishing and potential deep-sea mining, can create sediment plumes in the deep-sea that may extend over long distances. Elevated suspended sediment concentrations have detrimental effects on benthic communities, particularly for suspension feeders like sponges and corals.
The aim of this thesis was to investigate the effects of increased SSCs that might arise from heavy anthropogenic disturbance on common shallow water and deep-sea sponges and a deep-sea coral in New Zealand, as these groups contribute to habitat structure in some benthic environments, including the deep sea.


During years a number of satellites have been developed to remotely sense Earth geophysical parameters for weather forecasting and other climate studies. In recent years the use of reflected Global Navigation Satellite System Signals (GNSS-R) has shown its potential to retrieve geophysical parameters over the ocean, mainly altimetry and sea state, and over land, mainly soil moisture. It is known that sea roughness has an impact on L-band radiometric measurements, and therefore on the retrieved sea surface salinity (SSS). GNSS-R is an interesting tool to help improving the sea state effect correction to reduce the final SSS retrieval error. To demonstrate this idea the Passive Advanced Unit (PAU) project was proposed to the European Scienc Foundation (ESF) under the EURYI 2004 call. The main objective was the study of the direct relationship between the radiometric brightness temperatures and some GNSS-R observables to perform the state correction without using emission/scattering models. Once this goal was successfully addressed, the PAU objectives were broaden including the development of new GNSS-R instruments and techniques, and the study of retrieving geophysical parameters from different surfaces. The present Ph.D. dissertation describes one of the research lines of the the PAU project, undertaken between February 2007 and December 2011, within the Passive Remote Sensing Group of the Remote Sensing Lab, at the Department of Signal Theory and Communications of the Universitat Politènica de Catalunya.
The present Ph.D. dissertation focuses on GNSS-R techniques applied to the observation of different types of scattering surfaces (land surfaces: bare soils, vegetation-covered soils, snow-covered soils; inland-water surfaces and ocean surfaces) and the retrieval of different geophysical parameters. Two main GNSS-R techniques have been studied and applied to real data obtained during seven field experiments, the Delay-Doppler Map (DDM) processing technique and the Interference-Pattern Technique (IPT), selecting the one most appropriate to the observed surface. Furthermore, in the context of this Ph.D dissertation a new type of GNSS-R instrument has been developed, being the main tool for the application of the IPT and the retrieval of several geophysical parameters over land and inland-water surfaces.
After an introduction on GNSS-R and the PAU-project, the methodology, the instruments and the techniques used to retrieve soil moisture, vegetation height and topography in agricultural areas, snow thickness, water level in reservoirs, and wind speed in ocean surfaces, are described. These retrievals show the potential that these opportunity signals have for monitoring a broad kind of effects. After that, some studies related to space-borne GNSS-R techniques are summarized. Finally a summary of the work performed in this Ph. D. dissertation, the main conclusions and the future work lines are presented.
The presented results contribute to promote the use of the GNSS opportunity signals for monitoring geophysical parameters to increase the understanding of the Earth¿s water cycle, and position these techniques as suitable tools that enhance water resources management.


Rapid passive device modeling is discussed in this work based on test structures fabricated in a 65nm CMOS process with M1-M9 copper metal layers and one aluminum metal layer AP. Capacitance extraction for overlapping microstrips and shielded microstrip structures is investigated. Individual capacitances are modeled in terms of area and fringe components, either between microstrips or between microstrips and silicon substrate. Good correlation to silicon data is achieved for the fabricated test structures. The validity of the proposed model is also investigated for complex passive devices such as inductors and interdigitated capacitors. Device metrics for both types of passive devices are investigated and compared to measured silicon data. Good agreement is achieved in all cases proving the accuracy of the proposed modeling approach.


This is a commentary to Expanding horizons in the study of World Englishes with the 1.9 billion word Global Web-based English Corpus (GloWbE) by Mark Davies and Robert Fuchs (this issue).


Abstract. The atmospheric wind stress forcing and the oceanic response are examined for the period between 15 September 2008 and 6 October 2008, during which two typhoons – Hagupit and Jangmi – passed through the same region of the western Pacific at Saffir–Simpson intensity categories one and three, respectively. A three-dimensional oceanic mixed layer model is compared against the remote sensing observations as well as high-repetition Argo float data. Numerical model simulations suggested that magnitude of the cooling caused by the second typhoon, Jangmi, would have been significantly larger if the ocean had not already been influenced by the first typhoon, Hagupit. It is estimated that the temperature anomaly behind Jangmi would have been about 0.4 °C larger in both cold wake and left side of the track. The numerical simulations suggest that the magnitude and position of Jangmi's cold wake depends on the precursor state of the ocean as well as lag between typhoons. Based on sensitivity experiments we show that temperature anomaly difference between "single typhoon" and "two typhoons" as well as magnitude of the cooling strongly depends on the distance between them. The amount of kinetic energy and coupling with inertial oscillations are important factors for determining magnitude of the temperature anomaly behind moving typhoons. This paper indicates that studies of ocean–atmosphere tropical cyclone interaction will benefit from denser, high-repetition Argo float measurements.


The Na(+)-H+ antiporter of renal brush-border membranes has been well characterized and plays a role in adaptation to acidosis. Na(+)-H+ antiporter activity has been described in other renal regions, but its kinetics as well as its role in adaptation to acidosis are unclear. Thus we measured Na(+)-H+ antiporter activity in membrane vesicles of outer and inner stripes of outer medulla (OSOM and ISOM, respectively) and in plasma membranes from papilla and compared it to Na(+)-H+ antiporter activity of the cortex in control and hypercapnic rabbits. Chronic hypercapnia (induced by exposure to CO2 for 48 h) was associated with significantly higher PCO2 and plasma HCO3- and lower urine pH than controls. In control animals, magnitude of Vmax of amiloride-sensitive component of Na(+)-H+ antiporter (expressed as fluorescence units.300 micrograms protein-1.min-1) was 392.2 +/- 32 in cortex, 115 +/- 9.7 in OSOM, 66.1 +/- 9.4 in 15-25% (F1) fraction and 118.7 +/- 16.8 in 25-40% (F2) fraction of ISOM, respectively, and 79.3 +/- 5.2 in papilla. These values were significantly different from each other except between F1 and papilla and F2 and OSOM. The Km for Na, however, was not different, suggesting that the renal Na(+)-H+ antiporter is basically the same in different renal regions but displays different activity. Hypercapnia for 48 h increased significantly the amiloride-sensitive component of Na(+)-H+ antiporter by 60% in cortex, 43% in F1, and 29% in papilla but failed to alter Vmax in OSOM.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


Only a small number of patients with epilepsy undergo a neurosurgical operation in which the area from which epileptic neurons generate seizures is removed. From a neuropsychological perspective several different assessments and outcomes are being looked at.
Chapter 2 deals with research on the Wada test. In this test, the language-dominant hemisphere can be assessed and can be predicted which individuals are at risk for post-surgical global amnesia. The Wada test is thought to be sensitive to bilateral dysfunction of the critical memory function in the temporomesial area. We tried to do the reverse. If the Wada test showed a lower memory score in one hemisphere, could this be related to the side of focus? We applied logistic regression in which we included four variables: both memory scores after injection, memory of a story told before injection, and an attention score. With this set of variables the side of a focus can be classified in 85% of the patients. Additionally, false prediction results in a slightly lowered chance of becoming seizure free.
The neurosurgeon has the option of operating under local anaesthesia in which the operation can be carried out without damaging the language areas. In chapter 3 we looked at cognitive differences between both procedures six months after surgery. We found a relationship between the extent of the removed brain tissue in the superior temporal gyrus under general anaesthesia and a lowered verbal IQ and verbal comprehension.
In chapter 4 we described a study on differences in auditory rhythm perception in both cerebral hemispheres. It is known that longer visual rhythms are better (holistically) processed by the right hemisphere. We used a rhythm test which consisted of 30 pairs of rhythms varying in length. We expected that the removal of brain tissue in right-sided resections should lead to a diminished recognition of longer rhythms. This appeared to be the case.
Chapter 5 deals with the effects of an operation on intelligence. It is known from literature that half a year after left temporal lobe surgery verbal intelligence shows a slight decrease and performal intelligence shows less increase after right surgery than after left temporal lobe surgery. We followed now patients 6 years after surgery (with assessments after six months, two years and six years). This study showed that the decrease of verbal IQ after left temporal lobe surgeries is undone after two years. From two to up to six years this IQ shows an increase of up to normal values.
Chapter 6 is devoted to long term follow-up of verbal memory. This function is purported to be a risk function in left temporal lobe surgery. The study revealed a specific group at risk. This group consists of patients with mesiotemporal sclerosis with an atrophic hippocampus. Verbal acquisition and consolidation in general shows an ongoing decrease up to two years after surgery, but the verbal memory of patients with a diagnosis of mesiotemporal sclerosis shows an ongoing decrease up to six years after surgery.


This paper studies a very pure form of "vote purchasing". We consider whether it may be in the interest of a party to discriminate between groups that, possibly except for size, are identical in all welfare relevant spects, i.e. the groups are assumed to have the same income, needs, etc. To emphasise this aspect we label the groups brown-heads and redheads. The interpretation is that they differ only in some characteristic that is entirely irrelevant from a welfare perspective. There are no systematic differences between people with the same income. Taking two samples of people from an income class their political support will be identically distributed. We will show that even with these uniformity assumptions there can be strong incentives for political parties to undertake vote purchasing by favouring one of the identical groups at the expense of the other.


The debilitating pathology of stress fracture accounts for 10% of all athletic injuries[2], with prevalence as high as 20% in modern military basic training cohorts [3]. Increasing concerns surrounding adverse effects of radiology [5], combined with the 12.5% contribution of diagnostic imaging to Australian Medicare benefits paid in 2009–10 [6], have prompted the search for alternative/adjunct electronic decision support systems[7]. Within conducive physioanatomic milieu, thermal infrared imaging (TIRI) may feasibly be used to remotely detect and topographically map diagnostically useful signs of suprathreshold thermodynamic pathophysiology. This paper details a three month clinical pilot study into TIRI-based detection of osseous stress pathology in the lower legs of Australian Army basic trainees. A dataset of over 500 TIRI's was amassed. The apparent 'normal' thermal profile of the anterior aspect of the asymptomatic lower leg is topographically defined and validated against current thermophysiological theory [8] via cadaveric dissection.


Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a syndrome characterized by the rapid loss of kidney function and is typically diagnosed by an increase in blood-urea-nitrogen and serum creatinine, a decrease in the glomerular filtration rate (GFR), and a decrease in urine output. AKI can be brought on by a myriad of events: physical damage to the kidney, cardiac arrest, blood loss, toxicologic effects from pharmacological drug use, and in most cases seen, sepsis. These events introduce global and or local ischemic insult to the kidney, causing a decrease in renal functionality. Originally, global renal hypoperfusion was thought to be the culprit causing AKI. However, evidence is showing that AKI can occur in the absence of this, proved by the normal or even increased blood flow seen in sepsis-induced AKI. In fact, studies are finding similar results that show microcirculatory dysfunction, inflammation, and tubular oxidative stress are the driving physiological factors for sepsis-induced AKI.

The development and use of intravital video microscopy (IVVM) allows \textit{in vivo} studies of biological systems to be conducted. The excitation and emission of Flourophores are used to visualize specific structures and interactions within a system, and provide the means for analysis. Visualization of renal system structure and dynamics have be captured using IVVM, specifically ATP generation activity seen in the tubular epithelial cells and the microvascular dysfunction of blood flow associated with sepsis-induced AKI. The work proposed here focuses on using these images to quantify and explain the heterogeneity seen in the microhemodynamics of the cortical peritubular capillaries as well as mitochondrial energetics of the renal system. The information learned regarding oxygen delivery and energy consumption can be used to further understand the physio/pathophysio-logical interactions of the renal system in states of health and AKI.


Accurate gathering of phenotypic information is a key aspect in several subject matters, including biometrics, biomedical analysis, forensics, and many other. Automatic identification of anatomical structures of biometric interest, such as fingerprints, iris patterns, or facial traits, are extensively used in applications like access control and anthropological research, all having in common the drawback of requiring intrusive means for acquiring the required information. In this regard, the ear structure has multiple advantages. Not only the ear's biometric markers can be easily captured from the distance with non intrusive methods, but also they experiment almost no changes over time, and are not influenced by facial expressions. Here we present a new method based on Geometric Morphometrics and Deep Learning for automatic ear detection and feature extraction in the form of landmarks. A convolutional neural network was trained with a set of manually landmarked examples. The network is able to provide morphometric landmarks on ears' images automatically, with a performance that matches human landmarking. The feasibility of using ear landmarks as feature vectors opens a novel spectrum of biometrics applications.


This paper presents a theoretical study concerning the static and dynamic characteristics of high speed journal floating ring hybrid bearing compensated by interior restrictor under laminar flow and turbulent flow respectively. The turbulent flow fluid film control equations and the pressure boundary conditions of this floating ring bearing together with the restrictor flow equation are solved by using the Finite Element Method. The variation regularity of static and dynamic characteristics such as load capacity, friction power loss, stiffness, damping etc. is analyzed. By comparing the laminar flow results and turbulent flow results, it is found that the characteristics coefficients are adjacent under small Reynolds number (laminar flow is dominant). But the characteristics coefficients are discrepant under big Reynolds number (turbulent flow is dominant). So turbulence lubrication theory is more accurate to high speed floating ring bearing.


The practice of assessing and adjudicating competence for criminal adjudication in the United States developed largely without assistance from the U.S. Supreme Court or other appellate courts for most of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. However, the need for appellate guidance became evident in the 1980s, especially regarding the significance of mental or emotional conditions that can impair capacity for rational decision-making. In a series of articles in the early 1990s, I called attention to emerging issues regarding "decisional competence" and speculated about possible approaches for resolving them. During the past twenty-five years, some governing principles have come into view, but important issues remain unresolved. After a brief review of the historical and conceptual foundations of the competence requirement, the article focuses on two decisions in which the Supreme Court has addressed decisional competence. In Godinez v. Moran (1993), the Court ruled that a pretrial finding that the defendant was competent to stand trial established that he was competent to waive representation by counsel and plead guilty because the test for competence is the same in all three contexts. However, in Edwards v. Indiana (2007), the Court held that a defendant who is competent to stand trial while being represented by counsel may not be competent to represent himself at trial. Although these decisions are not strictly contradictory, they are in deep tension with one another. This article attempts to set the law on a coherent path by highlighting the significance of doubts about decisional competence in both cases. In so doing, it sometimes draws on a personal account of the recent intellectual and scientific history of competence for criminal adjudication.


We have developed a wearable sensor node with a low power and high detection rate by using sequential control of multiple infrared (IR) modules. Conventional sensor nodes are not practical in terms of size, sensing performance, and working hours. Therefore, we devised a name-tag-size (73 × 98 × 9 mm) sensor node, which captures face-to-face interactions within 2 meters and within an angle of 60°. The sensor node weighs 62 grams and works for more than twenty hours with a small 5-gram Li-ion battery. The sensor uses the beam-scan technique, in which four infrared modules, placed horizontally on the node, are controlled to be on and off sequentially, and this operation is done synchronously with other nodes. The beam-scan technique enables low-power operation with a consumption current of 7.2 mA and 21 hours of operation. We had tested the sensor node in a field trial that collected sensor data for six months from 20 people and had demonstrated that this technique is practical. Feedback from sensing data reminded us of the importance of meeting frequency and this improved our work habits.


ABSTRACT We have recently demonstrated that human apolipoprotein E (apoE) is required for the infectivity and assembly of hepatitis C virus (HCV) (K. S. Chang, J. Jiang, Z. Cai, and G. Luo, J. Virol. 81:13783-13793, 2007; J. Jiang and G. Luo, J. Virol. 83:12680-12691, 2009). In the present study, we have determined the molecular basis underlying the importance of apoE in HCV assembly. Results derived from mammalian two-hybrid studies demonstrate a specific interaction between apoE and HCV nonstructural protein 5A (NS5A). The C-terminal third of apoE per se is sufficient for interaction with NS5A. Progressive deletion mutagenesis analysis identified that the C-terminal α-helix domain of apoE is important for NS5A binding. The N-terminal receptor-binding domain and the C-terminal 20 amino acids of apoE are dispensable for the apoE-NS5A interaction. The NS5A-binding domain of apoE was mapped to the middle of the C-terminal α-helix domain between amino acids 205 and 280. Likewise, deletion mutations disrupting the apoE-NS5A interaction resulted in blockade of HCV production. These findings demonstrate that the specific apoE-NS5A interaction is required for assembly of infectious HCV. Additionally, we have determined that using different major isoforms of apoE (E2, E3, and E4) made no significant difference in the apoE-NS5A interaction. Likewise, these three major isoforms of apoE are equally compatible with infectivity and assembly of infectious HCV, suggesting that apoE isoforms do not differentially modulate the infectivity and/or assembly of HCV in cell culture.


Globally, there is an increasing demand from patients for access to effective non-prescription medicine. As a result, the range of over-the-counter (OTC) products, including analgesics, is expanding. A wide variety of OTC analgesics are available to patients, enabling them to effectively self-manage many painful conditions. However, the inappropriate use of analgesics can pose a significant health risk. We need to educate our patients regarding the appropriate selection and use of these products. Pain management guidelines are a useful resource to assist us with analgesic selection. This article provides an overview of current pain management guidelines, reviews, the safety and efficacy of OTC analgesics, and some recommendations for patient counselling on analgesics use.


The use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with newly diagnosed breast cancer remains controversial. Here we review the current use of breast MRI and the impact of MRI on short‐term surgical outcomes and rates of local recurrence. In addition, we address the use of MRI in specific patient populations, such as those with ductal carcinoma in situ, invasive lobular carcinoma, and occult primary breast cancer, and discuss the potential role of MRI for assessing response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Although MRI has improved sensitivity compared with conventional imaging, this has not translated into improved short‐term surgical outcomes or long‐term patient benefit, such as improved local control or survival, in any patient population. MRI is an important diagnostic test in the evaluation of patients presenting with occult primary breast cancer and has shown promise in monitoring response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy; however, the data do not support the routine use of perioperative MRI in patients with newly diagnosed breast cancer. Cancer 2014;120:120:2080–2089. © 2014 American Cancer Society.


Patient anxiety and poor cooperation are more apt to be socio-psychological in origin rather than mental or physical. Therefore, it is important that the technology curriculum provide sufficient emphasis on behavioral psychology, motivation and control techniques, and communication skills. Studies show that if the patient and his family are adequately informed of what to expect when they go to the radiology department, through interviews, videotapes, etc., their anxieties decrease. Use of anxiety-reducing techniques can decrease uncooperative behavior, examination time, and misunderstandings that cause a poor professional image.


OBJECTIVE
To assess expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) on muscle biopsy specimens from patients with untreated juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM).

METHODS
Histochemical and immunohistochemical tests for ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 were performed on serial frozen sections from 27 JDM muscle biopsy specimens. ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 expression was analyzed on capillaries, perimysial and endomysial large vessels, and muscle fibers. Expression was assessed and graded semiquantitatively.

RESULTS
Increased ICAM-1 expression was observed on capillaries and perimysial large vessels on semiquantitative analysis, and was statistically more evident than on endomysial large vessels. In all cases, only a few muscle vessels showed expression of VCAM-1. Expression of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 was observed on few muscle fibers.

CONCLUSION
The observation of ICAM-1 expression on muscle vessels, mainly on capillaries of patients with untreated JDM compared to controls, and VCAM-1 expression to a lesser extent, mostly on muscle vessels surrounded by inflammatory infiltrate, supports the participation of these adhesion molecules in the pathologic mechanism of vascular injury in JDM.


This letter proposes an antenna array synthesis technique based on simultaneous perturbation stochastic approximation (SPSA) for sparse linear arrays with multiple constraints. The constraints include the number of elements, the array aperture, and the minimum and the maximum distance between two adjacent elements. With a novel vector mapping between the element spacings and the variables of SPSA, the constrained optimization problem is simply transformed to a nonconstrained optimization problem, and the infeasible solutions are naturally avoided. Simulation results confirm the great efficiency and the robustness of the proposed method and show that our method can achieve better results with fewer numbers of elements than other existing methods. Moreover, based on this algorithm, the optimal thinning levels of sparse arrays are studied. The results may be used as a reference to the linear array design.


BACKGROUND
Interprofessional education and practice have been gaining recognition during the past decade. However, little has been written on person-centered care (PCC) within interprofessional practice and how it could be taught to interprofessional learners.

METHOD
A key element of PCC is therapeutic communication. Consequently, a group of interprofessional faculty innovated a graduate-level elective course on advanced therapeutic communication where interprofessional learners together explore PCC within interprofessional care. The course curriculum is underpinned by mindfulness in education, nonviolent communication, and reflective writing. Various teaching- learning strategies, including creative self-expression, are also used.

RESULTS
The created competencies and conceptual framework may be used by other educators in creating a similar interprofessional course. Interprofessional learners gained a deeper and broader understanding of PCC in interprofessional care.

CONCLUSION
On the basis of this undertaking, the faculty gained a deeper appreciation for interprofessional collaboration in the development of innovative educational methodologies that advance interprofessional teamwork in education and professional practice. [J Nurs Educ. 2016;55(10):592-597.].


Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD), was one of the first diseases shown to be caused by an unstable repeat in the early 1990s along with spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA), myotonic dystrophy (DM1), and fragile X mental retardation (FRAXA), where the latter three are caused by genetically expanding trinucleotide repeats [1]. However, FSHD differs considerably from the trinuclotide repeat diseases, as it is caused by a contraction of a macrosatellite (D4Z4 repeat, 3.3 kb/unit). Moreover, far less is understood about the pathogenic mechanism for FSHD, relative to SBMA, DM1, and FRAXA. This is not due to a shortage of experimental efforts, plausible hypotheses, or collaborative efforts towards understanding FSHD [2], [3]. The elucidation of FSHD is hampered by the size of the unstable repeat, its sequence complexity, the number of repeat units, and the presence of the repeat on Chromosomes 4 and 10, making analysis technically difficult. The difficulty is compounded further by the absence of an obvious gene, transcript, or protein in the unstable or proximal region; in fact, the D4Z4 repeats have been referred to as "junk" DNA or are thought to be a pseudogene, at best. As a result, FSHD has proved to be one of the most complex and challenging genetic diseases to even a glimpse an underlying pathogenic cause for FSHD. Several recent papers, including one in this issue of PLoS Genetics [4], have made significant advances that now permit us to expand our understanding of FSHD pathogenesis, a repeat contraction disease.

FSHD presents with weakness of facial muscles, stabilizers of the scapula, or dorsiflexors of the foot. The weakness is progressive with age. Disease severity is highly variable and shows some signs of anticipation, common to other repeat-associated diseases. FSHD is autosomal dominant, characterized by a deletion of D4Z4 repeat units, located in the subtelomere of chromosome 4q35 (Figure 1). Non-affected D4Z4 alleles are polymorphic having 11–100 repeat units; individuals affected with FSHD have 10 or fewer units, but must have at least one unit to show disease, which is now known to be the most telomeric unit. D4Z4 contractions can be inherited or occur as de novo mutations. The contracted D4Z4 repeat arrays show loss of DNA methylation and reduced histone 3 lysine 9 trimethylation, consistent with a more open chromatin structure [5]. The role of the altered chromatin in FSHD pathogenesis is controversial and has been suggested to enhance expression of adjacent genes like FRG1 or ANT1 [6]. More recently, FSHD2-affected individuals that display the altered chromatin but have non-contracted D4Z4 repeats have implicated the derepression of a DUX4 transcript encoded on the D4Z4 repeat units [7], [8]. However, the mechanism through which the altered chromatin at D4Z4 repeats contributes to FSHD remains unclear.

Figure 1

Simplified schematic outlining the genetic requirements for FSHD and the current model for pathogenesis.


simplex virus. Medicolegally it would be difficult to defend a case of neonatal herpes in which antenatal maternal virological screening had not been performed on a woman with a history of genital herpes. Although systemic administration of acyclovir does not produce teratogenic effects in animal studies, experience in humans is limited. Oral acyclovir is offered to women with primary genital herpes during pregnancy with a warning of the possibility of unknown risks. The use of acyclovir in late pregnancy for women with an episode of recurrent herpes virus infection remains controversial.


Peripheries may be delimited by various methodological approaches. The aim of this article is to identify and spatially determine inner and outer peripheries at the municipal level in Czechia. With the help of 15 indicators (reflecting the demographic development, economic activity, and transportation accessibility), the municipalities are divided into five categories according to the level of their peripherality. The results are then confronted with previous research in this field to assess the dynamics of spatial distribution of peripheries in Czechia, particularly in terms of their location and size.


Introduction and historical. Twenty years ago electricity, except for lighting purposes, was virtually unknown to the iron and steel industries, while to-day in all of the steel works in this country it is used as a motive power for most of the auxiliary machinery, from the ore docks to the loading beds. The electric drive is utilized in ore unloaders, ore bridges, car dumpers, bin-filling cars, scale larries, blast-furnace skips, hot-metal mixers, electric cranes of all sizes and descriptions, open-hearth charging machines, ingot buggies, gas producers, roller tables, lifting tables, transfers, hot-bed apparatus — in short, a multitude of machines too numerous to mention here. This development has been such that it would probably be no exaggeration to say that the steel industry in this country would never have reached its present proportions without the use of electric motors. As a further gauge of progress, it is significant that the larger electric manufacturing companies have been forced to establish special departments to look after the business of the steel industries.