Nutrition is an integral part of the formation of fat and muscle and affects anthropometric parameters. Measurement of growth and weight gain can be used to characterise the physical development of human beings. Weight-to-height parameters can be used to determine body types (somatotypes). Somatotypes have recently been studied due to their link to various diseases, including diet-related ones. The study involved 154 female students of a university in of Warsaw, aged 21-25 years. The study was based on a questionnaire composed of two parts. The first contained information on weight, height, place of residence, supplementation, self-health assessment, and physical activity. The second part was based on three-day dietary food records. The subjects were divided into three groups according to somatotypes: ectomorphic, mesomorphic and endomorphic. The women of the ectomorphic somatotype consumed the greatest amount of energy, protein, fats, vitamins B1, B6, copper, and retinol. The women of the mesomorphic somatotype consumed more carbohydrates than women of other body types did. Endomorphic women had great difficulty in maintaining ideal body weight, even though the food they consumed supplied the least amount of energy, macronutrients, and selected vitamins and minerals. Somatotype, that is the type of human physique, affects the consumption of energy and some nutrients (protein, fat, vitamins B1 and B6, copper and retinol).


This country needs toxicologists in a variety of institutions, and needs toxicologists with different backgrounds. All programs in toxicology can't satisfy every specific need. Certification and accreditation will continue as solvable issues among the various organizations in toxicology.


To investigate the mechanism(s) whereby T cells protect against a lethal outcome of systemic infection with vesicular stomatitis virus, mice with targeted defects in genes central to T cell function were tested for resistance to i.v. infection with this virus. Our results show that mice lacking the capacity to secrete both IFN-gamma and perforin completely resisted disease. Similar results were obtained using IL-4 knockout mice, indicating that neither cell-mediated nor T(h)2-dependent effector systems were required. In contrast, mice deficient in expression of CD40 ligand were more susceptible than wild-type mice, and residual resistance in these mice was almost completely abrogated by depletion of CD8(+) T cells. In keeping with this, mice lacking both MHC class I and class II expression succumbed to the infection, whereas most class II-deficient mice normally survive. Adoptive transfer experiments using B cell- and T cell-deficient recipients revealed that no protection could be obtained in the absence of B cells, whereas treatment with virus-specific immune (IgG) serum controlled viral spreading to the central nervous system (CNS), but did not necessarily accomplish virus elimination. Taken together, these results underscore that B cells are essential in preventing early infection of the CNS, but T cells are required for long-term survival. CD4(+) T cells are most efficient in this context and the key function is to provide cognate help to B cells. However, if CD4(+) cell function is compromised, CD8(+) T cells become critical and may suffice for survival.


The use of anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha (anti-TNF-α) agents has increased during the past decade in rheumatology practice. Opportunistic infections have been reported with anti-TNF-α agents in clinical trials and post-marketing usage. Aspergillus infection is a rare opportunistic infection that is associated with immunosuppression, and there are reported cases of pulmonary aspergillosis in various rheumatic diseases treated with anti-TNF-α agents. Here, we present the first case of pulmonary aspergillosis associated with infliximab treatment in a patient with Still's disease.


Ways and possibilities for design, implementation and application of microcom-puter-based embedded systems using open source hardware and software platforms are considered, proposed and described. It is proposed to use open source hardware and software microcomputer-based technologies for design and implementation of embedded systems in many practical needs and applications. Main advantages and possibilities of application and implementation of such embedded systems are considered and described. Two practically designed and implemented systems performing needed data acquisition and control are presented and described. Used technologies for realization of the systems and embedded applications of the solutions are described. Open source microcomputer boards, appropriate sensors, actuators and additional electronics are used for implementation of the systems hardware. Open source tools and programs and LINUX operating system are used for implementation of the systems software. Modular approach is applied in the systems design and realization. Easy system expandability, simplifying maintenance and adaptation of the system to user requirements and needs are enabled with such approach. Balance between functionality and cost of the systems was also achieved. Optimization according to user requirements and needs, low consumption of electrical energy and low cost of the system are main advantages of such systems compared with standard embedded systems. These systems are optimized and specialized systems for specific needs and requirements of users.


The environment of the Tibetan Plateau (TP) is regarded as one of the most sensitive ecosystems of the world. However, investigations on effects caused by global climate change or anthropogenic activities are rare due to its quite remote location. This thesis deals with various aspects of the carbon and water cycle within ecological and hydrological studies that can be assessed by measurements of turbulent fluxes with the eddy-covariance (EC) method. This includes flux measurements over the most common two vegetation types on the TP, Kobresia pygmaea pasture and alpine steppe. In particular these in situ measurements were used to investigate differences in the fluxes of grazed and ungrazed Kobresia pygmaea pasture at Kema in Naqu province and moist and dry alpine steppe within the Nam Co basin. Additionally for the first time on the TP direct flux measurements were conducted over a lake surface in the same basin. Furthermore, these flux measurements were used to adapt and validate land-surface models to be applied on the TP. Within the experiments a special focus were measurements of latent heat flux during winter conditions on the TP, involving side-by-side measurements with a LI-COR 7500 (LI-COR Biosciences) and a Krypton Hygrometer KH20 (Campbell Sci. Ltd.). This comparison revealed that in general an application of both sensors for an estimation of turbulent fluxes is possible but they can not be used for measurements of absolute humidity concentrations. Furthermore, this study showed the need for a thoroughly planned calibration procedure for gas analyzers at long-term stations. Carbon fluxes measured over the Kobresia pygmaea pastures were used for the estimation of short term effects of grazing cessation and to gain a detailed look into the carbon cycle of this unique ecosystem. For this purpose the EC derived fluxes were coupled with the results of a 13CO2 pulse labeling experiment. With this quite novel approach it is possible to on the one hand estimate a more suitable timing for the pulse labeling experiment and on the other hand to estimate absolute C turnover in different compartments of the soil-plant-atmosphere continuum. These results identified the unique root layer of Kobresia pygmaea as the most important part of the pasture ecosystem. This is of great importance for the further conducted study which estimated the effect of degradation on the carbon and water cycle within these pastures with an interdisciplinary approach, which combined plot- and ecosystem scale in situ measurements with land-surface-atmosphere models. A simulation of different stages of degradation of the Kobresia pygmaea pastures and also a vegetation shift to alpine steppe, showed that only an intact Kobresia pygmaea pastures acts as C sink for the observation period within the main vegetation growing season. Although evapotranspiration in general is not affected as strong as carbon exchange, a shift in the ratio between evaporation and transpiration has a feedback on convection development and precipitation which could be also shown with an atmospheric model. (Less)


This thesis presents a study of early type, emission line objects on small angular scales.

Spectroastrometry is used to separate the spectra of unresolved Herbig Ae/Be binary systems. The separated spectra allow the mass ratio of the systems to be established. The separation and mass ratio distribution of the systems suggest that they form via disk fragmentation. To test this conclusion, disk and binary position angles are compared to a model in which the circumstellar disk and binary orbits are co-planar. The data are consistent with the coplanar model and thus with the scenario of disk fragmentation.

A search for optical outflows associated with Herbig Ae/Be stars is conducted using integral field unit spectroscopy. No outflows are detected. Therefore, the data cannot
constrain the location of the proposed transition from collimated to un-collimated outflows, if such a transition exists. Spectroastrometry is used to probe the origin of the
Brackett line emission in the data with sub-milli-arcsecond precision.

To explore the potential of spectroastrometry to detect circumstellar disks, spectroastrometric observations of Be stars are presented. It is shown that spectroastrometric
data with an angular precision of 0.1 milli-arcseconds can detect milli-arcsecond sized disks. Comparing the spectroastrometric signatures to models of disks with different kinematics demonstrates that Be star disks rotate in a Keplerian fashion, which constrains their formation mechanism.

Finally, spectroastrometry over CO bandhead emission is employed to search for disks around massive young stellar objects. Fitting the observed overtone profiles with
a model of a circumstellar disk allows the spatial distribution of the CO to be predicted. No signatures of disks are detected. This is entirely consistent with the best fitting models of the emission, and thus with the presence of small-scale disks around massive young stellar objects.


Cash maintained in nonprofit organizations is not a source of any interests and although the close to cash assesses together with credit lines available for enterprise are connected with resigning from realization of the part of incomes or costs, firms decide to maintain some liquidity reserves. And not only this resulting from transactional needs, but also from precautional and speculative reasons. Investment in liquid reserves resulting from speculative demand for money may be assessed by usage of capital budgeting methods like: NPV or IRR or as a call option. In the article, each of these aspects of liquidity was taken into consideration and presented from nonprofit perspective. Nonprofit liquidity value determination may often significantly contribute to the solution of working capital management problems in these organizations.


A multi-block copolymer based on main-chain fullerene repeating units is used in organic photovoltaic devices for the first time. A poly(fullerene) (PFDP) is linked at the chain-ends to poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) to give poly[poly(3-hexylthiophene)-block-poly{([1,4]-fullerene)-alt-[1,4-dimethylene-2,5-bis(cyclohexylmethyl ether)phenylene]}] (P3HT-b-PFDP). While normal devices give poor results, inverted architectures result in near 50-fold improvements in performances to a block copolymer efficiency of 2.8% for this novel system. PFDP-b-P3HT is also employed as an additive to P3HT:PCBM bulk heterojunction devices and demonstrates increases from 3.6% to 4.2%, and remarkably gives a stable flat-line efficiency over the time studied.


Moving from a new reading of the myth of immortality told in the Homeric story dedicated to the goddess Eos and the human Tithonus, this article investigates the shift in the conception of human life, a phenomenon that has been so deeply marking the present. We consider here the arising of a social configuration more and more characterized in a biotechnological meaning and the predominant role that biomedical power has been playing therein. In this light the article highlights an epistemological change in the way the relation with the finitude of existence is interpreted. This shift refers to the process of economic valorisation of biological life and bioeconomic redefinition of contemporary neo-liberalist capitalism.


Polymer and biomolecule processing for medical and electronics applications, i.e. the fabri- cation of sensors and biosensors, microarrays, or lab on chip devices is a cornerstone field which shows great promise. Laser based thin film deposition techniques such as pulsed laser deposition or matrix-assisted pulsed laser evaporation (MAPLE) are competing with conventional methods for integrating new materials with tailored properties for novel tech- nological developments. Successful polymer and protein thin film deposition requires sev eral key elements for depositing viable and functional thin films, i.e. the characteristics of the laser depositing system, the choice of targets and receiver substrates, etc. This chapter reviews the following topics: brief presentation of the MAPLE process including several examples of polymer materials deposited by MAPLE, thus illustrating the potential of the technique as a gentle laser-assisted deposition method. In particular, the "synthesis" of new materials, their analysis and correlation of the bulk and interface properties to its bioenvironment shall be discussed as a method to tackle some bioengineering issues. We will also focus on recent breakthroughs of the MAPLE technique for the fabrication of functional devices, i.e. sensor devices based either on chemoresponsive polymers or on proteins. polyepichlorohydrin, lactoferrin, odorant-binding hydroxyapatite polyethylene glycol-co-polycaprolactone PEG-PCL-me


A global existence and uniqueness result of the solution for multidimensional, time dependent, stochastic differential equations driven by a fractional Brownian motion with Hurst parameter H > 1/2 is proved. It is shown, also, that the solution has finite moments. The result is based on a deterministic existence and uniqueness theorem whose proof uses a contraction principle and a priori estimates.


Representational art - painting, cartoon film, etc. - makes myths appear real, with mythological creatures and objects often placed within familiar and naturalistic scenes. We are then witnesses to events that may be described only in literature, or in verbal folklore, yet the images created become believable. In this way the myths are reinforced and we assimilate these fantastic forms into our thinking. One of the myths is that of flying beings. Angels, putti, fairies and dragons are all shown as having wings, an otherwise naturalistic form that we recognise readily. Yet, are they able to fly? If not, why do we wish to suggest they have the same powers of flight as real flying animals?


Background/Objective: Till now most of the research works of wireless body area network have focused on only the function and services of the tire-1 and tier-2 nodes and very less amount of focus given to the message communication and data exchange of the psychological values of human body. As there is always an increase of population and so growing demand of people, after some extent the server will become overloaded. So, to reduce the server load, our paper is focusing on the processing of huge amount of data by the server cluster instead of a single server. The two most important requirements for extremely sensitive Wireless Body Area Network (WBAN) data transmission are fault tolerance and consistency. In this paper, we have also proposed a cluster head based fault tolerance mechanism for WBAN. Methods/ Analysis: In this approach multiple sensor nodes in a single WBAN are connected to their individual Cluster Head (CH). Each cluster head can communicate with other cluster heads of other WBANs. Each cluster head is connected to a Local Area Network Gateway (LANG) and finally it is connected to Healthcare Server (HS). Each local sensor collects the fault related information and each node is assigned with priority to measure the fault tolerant level of individual nodes. Nodes with high priority are processed first. Applications/Improvements: The proposed feature can be adopted by the proposed central mediator system model that sits between the personal terminal/client and information center/server. As per the architecture of the multithreaded wireless body area network, the central mediator system should be designed to have a good transparency level, high performance and reliability to make a greater platform for the remote medical monitoring


I provide a novel approach to computing the mean and variance of the proportion of genetic material shared identical by descent (IBD) by sibling pairs in a specified chromosomal region, conditional on observed marker data. I first show that each chromosome in an offspring can be represented by a two-state Markov chain, with the time parameter being the map distance along the chromosome. On this basis, I show that IBD proportion can be written as a stochastic integral and that the computation of its mean and variance can be reduced to evaluation of an integral of some elementary functions. In addition, I show how Goldgar's model can be extended to include dominance effects. Several examples are provided to illustrate the calculation.


Several "high throughput methods" have been introduced into research and routine laboratories during the past decade. Providing a new approach to the analysis of genomic alterations and RNA or protein expression patterns, these new techniques generate a plethora of new data in a relatively short time, and promise to deliver clues to the diagnosis and treatment of human cancer. Along with these revolutionary developments, new tools for the interpretation of these large sets of data became necessary and are now widely available. Tissue microarray (TMA) technology is one of these new tools. It is based on the idea of applying miniaturisation and a high throughput approach to the analysis of intact tissues. The potential and the scientific value of TMAs in modern research have been demonstrated in a logarithmically increasing number of studies. The spectrum for additional applications is widening rapidly, and comprises quality control in histotechnology, longterm tissue banking, and the continuing education of pathologists. This review covers the basic technical aspects of TMA production and discusses the current and potential future applications of TMA technology.


For a large class of random matrices $A$ with i.i.d. entries we show that the $\ell_1$-quotient property holds with probability exponentially close to 1. In contrast to previous results, our analysis does not require concentration of the entrywise distributions. We provide a unified proof that recovers corresponding previous results for (sub-)Gaussian and Weibull distributions. Our findings generalize known results on the geometry of random polytopes, providing lower bounds on the size of the largest Euclidean ball contained in the centrally symmetric polytope spanned by the columns of $A$. At the same time, our results establish robustness of noise-blind $\ell_1$-decoders for recovering sparse vectors $x$ from underdetermined, noisy linear measurements $y = Ax + w$ under the weakest possible assumptions on the entrywise distributions that allow for recovery with optimal sample complexity even in the noiseless case. Our analysis predicts superior robustness behavior for measurement matrices with super-Gaussian entries, which we confirm by numerical experiments.


Canadian prosperity critically depends on the maintenance of an open and secure border between Canada and the United States. Even though the border was reopened quickly following the September 11th attacks, it was not the same as it had been. The new mantra became "security trumps trade" because of US concerns to prevent another terrorist attack. And Canadian exports to the United States have stagnated since September 11. The Canadian Government definitely needs to tackle the problems created by the thickening of the border head on by preparing an ambitious and far-sighted proposal for an open and secure border that addresses legitimate US security concerns, but eliminates all the unnecessary red tape that has been bottlenecking the border. This paper offers concrete suggestions for improving the flow of goods,services, people and investment without sacrificing security.


A taxonomic study was carried out on strain B142(T), which was isolated from a crude-oil-degrading microbial consortium via enrichment with deep water from the Indian Ocean. Cells of the isolate were Gram-negative, oxidase-negative, catalase-positive, helical in shape, motile by means of polar flagella (three per cell) and moderately halophilic. Growth was observed at salinities of 0.5-12 % and at temperatures of 10-41 degrees C. The micro-organism was capable of denitrification, but was unable to degrade Tween 80 or gelatin. The predominant fatty acids were C(16 : 1)omega7c and/or iso-C(15 :0 )2-OH (6.4 %), C(16 : 0) (15.7 %), C(18 : 1)omega7c (45 %), C(18 : 0) (6.8 %) and C(19 : 0)omega8c cyclo (6.7 %). The G+C content of the chromosomal DNA was 67.3 mol%. Comparisons of 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain B142(T) was most closely related to the type strains of two Insolitispirillum peregrinum subspecies (93.0-93.1 % sequence similarity), two Novispirillum itersonii subspecies (92.8-92.9 %) and Caenispirillum bisanense (91.7 %); sequence similarities with respect to other taxa were below 90.5 %. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain B142(T) formed a distinct evolutionary lineage within the family Rhodospirillaceae. Strain B142(T) was distinguishable from phylogenetically related genera with regard to several phenotypic properties. On the basis of phenotypic and phylogenetic data, therefore, strain B142(T) represents a novel genus and species, for which the name Marispirillum indicum gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is B142(T) (=CCTCC AB 208225(T)=LMG 24627(T)=MCCC 1A01235(T)).


Agricultural pursuits in post‐mining environments are becoming increasingly important globally as many regions are challenged with food insecurity and post‐mining land‐use legacies. Although there are many advantages for agricultural production at post‐mining sites, these substrates have abiotic and biotic challenges for plant growth, including poor fertility, heavy metals, and lack of beneficial soil microbes. We investigated whether increased potassium (K) levels in a post‐phosphate mining substrate on Christmas Island, Australia, could improve plant productivity and reduce heavy metal concentrations. Addition of K (80 and 160 kg ha−1) significantly increased plant biomass and enhanced root growth and mycorrhizal fungal colonisation rates. Potassium amendment was also strongly correlated with lower heavy metal concentrations in leaf material. Clearly, K is the critical limiting nutrient for legumes in post‐phosphate mining sites on Christmas Island for enhancing biomass and health. We hypothesise that heavy metals were either being diluted in a larger biomass and/or healthy plants could also select against heavy metal uptake; however, this requires further investigation of the mechanisms involved. These results have significant global ramifications for sites transitioning from mining to agriculture.


We explore theoretically the aerodynamics of a recently fabricated jellyfish-like flying machine (Ristroph & Childress, J. R. Soc. Interface, vol. 11 (92), 2014, 20130992). This experimental device achieves flight and hovering by opening and closing opposing sets of wings. It displays orientational or postural flight stability without additional control surfaces or feedback control. Our model 'machine' consists of two mirror-symmetric massless flapping wings connected to a volumeless body with mass and moment of inertia. A vortex sheet shedding and wake model is used for the flow simulation. Use of the fast multipole method allows us to simulate for long times and resolve complex wakes. We use our model to explore the design parameters that maintain body hovering and ascent, and investigate the performance of steady ascent states. We find that ascent speed and efficiency increase as the wings are brought closer, due to a mirror-image 'ground-effect' between the wings. Steady ascent is approached exponentially in time, which suggests a linear relationship between the aerodynamic force and ascent speed. We investigate the orientational stability of hovering and ascent states by examining the flyer's free response to perturbation from a transitory external torque. Our results show that bottom-heavy flyers (centre of mass below the geometric centre) are capable of recovering from large tilts, whereas the orientation of the top-heavy flyers diverges. These results are consistent with the experimental observations in Ristroph & Childress (J. R. Soc. Interface, vol. 11 (92), 2014, 20130992), and shed light upon future designs of flapping-wing micro aerial vehicles that use jet-based mechanisms.


Kekäläinen, Tiia Leisure activities and well-being in midlife and older age with special reference to physical activity and resistance training Jyväskylä: University of Jyväskylä, 2019, 97 p. (JYU Dissertations ISSN 2489-9003; 56) ISBN 978-951-39-7677-4 (PDF) Finnish summary Diss. Participation in leisure activities is related to better well-being. Participation in leisure time physical activity also has several positive effects on functional capacity and health. Notwithstanding, only a minor proportion of adults, including older adults, participate in physical activity at a sufficient level for maintaining or improving their health. This study investigated both crosssectional and longitudinal associations between different types of leisure and physical activities and well-being. This dissertation is based on data from three research projects: the Finland 2014 – Consumption and Lifestyle postal survey, conducted with a random sample representative of the Finnish adult population (n=1354); data collected at ages 42 and 50 (n=303) as part of the Jyväskylä Longitudinal Study of Personality and Social Development; and the Minimum Resistance Training Frequency study, which was a randomized controlled trial including a ninemonth supervised resistance training program for older adults aged 65-75 (n=104). Leisure activities and well-being were measured by self-report questionnaires. The cross-sectional results showed that, in general, leisure activities and leisure time physical activity were related to better current well-being in midlife and older age. The longitudinal results, in turn, showed that higher mental well-being predicted later participation in leisure time physical activity in midlife, not vice versa. The resistance training intervention improved some components of well-being and some exercise-related motivational and volitional characteristics among older adults. Moreover, improvements in these motivational and volitional characteristics predicted later participation in resistance training. This research indicates that the associations between leisure activities including leisure time physical activity and well-being are complex. More attention should be paid to well-being and motivational characteristics as predictors of physical activity.


Problem in DC nonlinear circuits and steady state solutions demonstrate slow convergence using Newton-Raphson (NR) methods. This paper presents a technique for dealing with the convergence problems that the NR methods encounter. This technique is simple and practical for finding the solution of nonlinear circuits. It is based on a trust region concept and a hyperplane as used in the predictor-corrector algorithm. The proposed algorithm can avoid the "reversion" phenomenon of the curve-tracing problem. Issues related to the implementation of the algorithm are analyzed and discussed. This algorithm is then compared to the NR based solver currently used in some circuit simulators. Using various examples, the comparisons show that this method can find the global solution of equations and avoid the divergence behavior encounter in the NR methods.


Cholerae is a grave and acute bacterial intestine infection which is caused by a bacilo, V. cholerae 01, that produces toxic products. Its clinical symptoms range from abundant liquid diarrhoea combined with vomiting and rapid dehydration. It is highly lethal when right treatment is not applied. There are also cases of cholera where victims do not show any symptoms of it, that is asymptomatic carriers. Any clinical suspicion of cholerae has to be corroborated by epidemiological data and its diagnostic confirmation should be done by isolating the bacteria, V. cholerae. When beginning the treatment, it is not necessary to confirm the diagnostic and this is based on the restitution of the liquids lost through vomiting and facing using any methods that are recommended for any other type of diarrhoea. The antimicrobial treatment is used only for grave cases. This present revision includes recent knowledge about cholerae emphasising on the effective management of cases through an adequate use of right treatment methods and also using the principal prevention measures against dissemination of this disease.


Favorable global economic conditions supported a turnaround in economic activity in Sub-Saharan Africa in 2017, easing pressure on weak policy frameworks. Output growth rebounded to an estimated 2.6 percent after decelerating to 1.5 percent in 2016 amid challenging external and domestic conditions. Notwithstanding the recent upturn in economic activity, growth remained well below its pre–financial crisis average of around 5 percent; moreover, per capita growth was negative for a second consecutive year. Important near and longer term vulnerabilities remain in many of the region's economies: eroded policy buffers constrain the scope for countries to formulate an adequate policy response to adverse shocks; public debt relative to gross domestic product (GDP) is rising, with implications for debt sustainability; employment opportunities severely lag the growing labor force, and livelihoods and economic fortunes are still tied to commodity price shocks and production disruptions, underscoring the limited economic diversification in the region; and poverty is widespread.


Mutual information is a popular and widely used metric in retrospective image registration. This metric excels especially with multimodal data due to the minimal assumptions about the correspondence between the image intensities. In certain situations, the mutual-information metric is known to produce artifacts that rule out subsample registration accuracy. Various methods have been developed to mitigate these artifacts, including higher order kernels for smoother sampling of the metric. This study introduces a novel concept of continuous sampling to provide new insight into the mutual-information methods currently in use. In particular, the connection between the partial volume interpolation and the recently introduced higher order partial-volume-type kernels is revealed.


Clinical trials of imetelstat therapy have indicated that this telomerase inhibitor might have disease-modifying effects in a subset of patients with myelofibrosis (MF). The mechanism by which imetelstat induces such clinical responses has not been clearly elucidated. Using in vitro hematopoietic progenitor cell (HPC) assays and in vivo hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) assays, we examined the effects of imetelstat on primary normal and MF HSCs/HPCs. Treatment of CD34+ cells with imetelstat reduced the numbers of MF but not cord blood HPCs (colony-forming unit-granulocyte/macrophage, burst-forming unit-erythroid, and colony-forming unit-granulocyte/erythroid/macrophage/megakaryocyte) as well as MF but not normal CD34+ALDH+ cells irrespective of the patient's mutational status. Moreover, imetelstat treatment resulted in depletion of mutated HPCs from JAK2V617F+ MF patients. Furthermore, treatment of immunodeficient mice that had been previously transplanted with MF splenic CD34+ cells with imetelstat at a dose of 15 mg/kg, 3 times per week for 4 weeks had a limited effect on the degree of chimerism achieved by normal severe combined immunodeficiency repopulating cells but resulted in a significant reduction in the degree of human MF cell chimerism as well as the proportion of mutated donor cells. These effects were sustained for at least 3 months after drug treatment was discontinued. These actions of imetelstat on MF HSCs/HPCs were associated with inhibition of telomerase activity and the induction of apoptosis. Our findings indicate that the effects of imetelstat therapy observed in MF patients are likely attributable to the greater sensitivity of imetelstat against MF as compared with normal HSCs/HPCs as well as the intensity of the imetelstat dose schedule.


This work focuses on studying the effect of cutter width on the surface roughness and cutter run out during horizontal milling operation, since the contact width in milling operations depends on the cutter geometry, especially (cutter diameter and width). So, three types of helical plain cutters with different widths are taken, (40,63,80mm), used in horizontal milling , when other cutter geometry parameters are constant. As for workpiece material, it was from (structural steel (1.0402)) according to (DIN:C22) specifications, with different cutting conditions (spindle speed, feed rate, and depth of cut) for each cutter, results show that milling cutter, which has larger width (80mm), gives large surface roughness and cutter runout compared with other two types. The results show that the surface roughness and cutter runout decrease with the increase of spindle speed under constant feed rate and depth of cut. While surface roughness and cutter runout increase with increase of feed rate for constant spindle speed and depth of cut .Both the results of fixing spindle speed and feed rate with changing depth of cut show that surface roughness and cutter runout increase with the increase of depth of cut .In addition, cutter runout has a large effect on the surface roughness because it causes an increase in surface roughness of workpiece. Also surface roughness decreases at cutter (80mm width) which causes larger surface roughness than cutters (63mm and 40mm width),. For certain machining parameter as the spindle speed increases from (100 to 210 rpm), feed rate (35 mm/min) and depth of cut (0.1mm), the surface roughness value decreases from (1.61333 to 1.418333) μm at cutter (80mm width.) .When the cutter (63mm width) is used, the surface roughness decreases from (1.5222 to 1.3182) μm , and at cutter (40mm width) the surface roughness decreases from (1.4111 to 1.212) μm. Also in this study, multiple linear regression model is used within (SPSS) software to predict the experimental data for each surface roughness and cutter runout for different three cutters and results show from comparing between predicted and measured values that (SPSS) software gives high prediction accurate .


SDN is another NW topology that gives more encourage to the overseer for dealing with the entire NW (administrations and resources) by decoupling the control plane from the information arrange and concentrate the control coherently .in this papers we presented. A comprehensive view of the SDN begins with definition then primary standards of SDN. Next, we illuminated the fundamental segments of the SDN architecture and how these segments communicate with each either. Next, we introduced ideas about the energy conservation in SDN environment and we discussed the virtualization and its significance from the perspective of the SDN.


The extent of skin thickness in scleroderma has been reported to correlate with the degree of internal organ involvement. An objective method for the clinical evaluation of skin involvement (skin score) in scleroderma is described. In this preliminary study, the method was tested in twenty scleroderma patients. An acceptable degree of inter-observer reproducibility was noted. This method is proposed as a means of monitoring the degree of skin involvement and the overall disease activity.


We show that the thermodynamic behavior of relativistic ideal Bose gas, recently studied numerically by Grether et al., can be obtained analytically. Using the analytical results, we obtain the critical behavior of the relativistic Bose gas exactly for all the regimes. We show that these analytical results reduce to those of Grether et al. in different regimes of the Bose gas. Furthermore, we also obtain an analytically closed-form expression for the energy density for the Bose gas that is valid in all regimes.


The innovation of DNA analysis techniques has enabled arevolution in the field of molecular biology. In the 70's,first technologies for sequence determination of DNA wereinvented and these techniques enormously increased thepossibilities of genetic research. A large proportion ofmethods for DNA sequencing is based on enzymatic DNA synthesiswith chain termination followed by electrophoretic separationand detection. However, alternative approaches have beendeveloped and one example of this is the pyrosequencingtechnology, which a four-enzyme DNA sequencing method based onreal-time monitoring of DNA synthesis.Currently, the method is limited to analysis of short DNAsequences and therefore it has primarily been used for mutationdetection and single-nucleotide polymorphism analysis. In orderto expand the use of the pyrosequencing technology, the readlength obtained in the methods needs to be improved. However,it was previously shown that the data quality in pyrosequencingtechnology could be significantly increased by addition ofEscherichia coli single-stranded DNAbinding protein, SSB, tothe sequencing reaction. Since little was known about themechanism of this enhancement, we performed a systematic effortto analyse the effect of SSB on 103 clones randomly selectedfrom a cDNA library. We investigated the effect of SSB on theobtained read length in pyrosequencing and identified thecauses of low quality sequences. Moreover, the effciency ofprimer annealing and SSB binding for individual cDNA clones wasinvestigated by use of real-time biosensor analysis. Resultsfrom these experiments show that templates with highperformance in pyrosequencing without SSB possess effcientprimer annealing and low SSB affnity.To minimise the cost of the pyrosequencing system, effcientand scaleable procedures for production and isolation of theprotein components are required. Therefore, protocol foreffcient expression in E.coliand rapid isolation of native SSB was developed.Moreover, by use of a gene fusion strategy, Klenow polymerasewas produced in fusion with the Zbasic domain at high levels inE. coli. This highly charged protein handle enables selectiveand effcient ion exchange purification at physiological pH.Furthermore, active Apyrase was expressed in Methyltropic yeastPichia pastoris and purified by two chromatographic steps.Since pyrosequencing analysis mainly is performed in a96-sample plate format, an increase in sample capacity would bevery beneficial. One approach to achieve this would be to usemicromachined filter chamber arrays where nano-liter samplescan be monitored in real-time. However, to enable accuratepyrosequencing analysis of parallel samples, the produced lightshould preferable be docked to the correct DNA template.Therefore, two different gene fusion strategies were utilisedbased on directed immobilisation of the light-harvesting enzymeLuciferase on the DNA molecules. The thermostable variant ofthe enzyme was genetically fused to a DNA binding protein(either SSB or Klenow) and the Zbasic purification handle, which could beselectively removed by protease cleavage. A protocol wasdeveloped for effcient expression in E.coliand purification by Ion Exchange Chromatography.The proteins were analysed by complete extension of DNAtemplates immobilised on magnetic beadspyrosequencing monitoredby pyrosequencing chemistry. Results from these experimentsshow that the proteins bound selectively to the immobilised DNAand that their enzymatic domains were active.In summary, the work presented in this thesis pinpointsfeatures in the pyrosequencing technology that needs to befurther developed. Moreover, various protein-based strategiesare presented in order to overcome these limitations.Keywords:pyrosequencing, SSB, Zbasic, Klenow, Apyrase, expression, purification,Biacore, DNA template length, Luciferase, affnity, gene fusion,immobilisation.


This study investigated the effect of the change of diet and feeding regimen at weaning on myoelectrical activity of the intestine of piglets. For this purpose the electromyographic recordings of duodenal myoelectrical activity were carried out in relation to the different weaning status of piglets. Six piglets, in two experimental trials were surgically modified with two serosal, bipolar electrodes on the duodenum. The myoelectrical activity was recorded in the same piglets before weaning when they were sucking their sow and after weaning when the diet was changed to solid dry food (standard commercial concentrate for weaned pigs). In sucking piglets the intestinal myoelectrical activity pattern exhibited triple-phased migrating myoelectric complex (MMC), undisturbed by sow nursing. After weaning, feeding with solid food induced a long-term post-prandial pattern with higher frequency of electrical response activity (ERA) when compared with phase II of the MMC. The duration of the MMC cycles increased with time over the experiment by proportionately 0•11 and 0•14 in the periods before and after weaning. However, weaning significantly shortened MMC cycle duration by proportionately 0•21. The duration of phase II was significantly prolonged with time over the experiment by 0•07 to 0•10 and it was not affected by weaning. Phase III of MMC were of constant duration over the whole experimental period. In summary, changes in the diet and feeding regimen have an influence on the characteristics of intestinal myoelectrical activity in piglets around weaning.


Abstract Few would question such doggerel as "no two snow crystals are alike and in infinite variety they fall." Conversely, many might challenge the statement that individual crystals are relatively scarce by comparison with snowflake aggregates, rimed crystals, and irregular forms; but they are. The types of snow occurring in a storm are a function of many variables including updraft strength, temperature, cloud moisture, liquid water content, cloud thickness, and ice nuclei and crystal concentrations. Some of the relationships are obvious, others more obscure, still others unknown. This paper describes ground observations and calculations that attempt to clarify certain snowfall forms in terms of the cloud conditions likely to produce them.


: The leukocyte count, leukocyte activation, lipoperoxidant (Lpo) of leukocytes and C3 in the peripheral blood were determined in 44 patients with acute ischemic stroke and the results were compared with those in age-matched healthy controls. No significant difference in mean leukocyte counts was observed between the patients and controls. The levels of leukocyte activation in the patients were significantly higher than those in the controls (137.94 +/- 38.86 U/L vs 92.22 +/- 20.29 U/L, P < 0.01), while the levels of Lpo of leukocytes and C3 were significantly lower than those in the controls (0.90 +/- 0.87 mumol/L and 0.96 +/- 0.72 g/L vs 1.57 +/- 1.29 mumol/L and 1.69 +/- 0.70 g/L, P < 0.01). The changes of these levels were in correlation with the extent of cerebral infarction. It is suggested that leukocytes might be involved in the pathophysiological process of acute ischemic brain damage. Its mechanisms and route of activation were discussed briefly.


This paper describes how traffic regulation systems of metro lines equipped with Automatic Train Operation (ATO) use a set of pre-programmed speed commands selecting coasting points and brake deceleration. Different speed commands provides different travel times between stations and the regulation system on-line selects and sends to the train one of these commands. Nowadays, speed commands are designed based on time and comfort criteria. In this paper a new approach of speed commands design, which takes into account not only present operational criteria but also energetic ones, is proposed in order to obtain energy efficient ATO commands. Firstly, the travel time and energy consumption of every command is calculated using a simulator that combines all the possible discrete values of the ATO configuration parameters. A set of systematic rules has been defined to include the consumption, operative and comfort criteria in the selection of the speed commands applying decision theory techniques. A software tool has been implemented for a computer-aided design of the speed commands. This tool includes a thorough simulation module of the train movement (ATO, motor and train dynamics), an automatic generator of every possible command and a graphical assistant for the speed commands selection according to the mentioned rules. The methodology described in this paper has been used to redesign the current ATO commands (4 for each station) of Line 1 of Madrid Underground. The results are presented in this paper. According to the simulation results, about 10% of energy savings are expected to be achieved with these new speed commands.


This paper looks at a particularly puzzling historical example of delay in the use of the law, the under-use by Victorian Britain of the general incorporation statutes passed between 1844 and 1862. Comparison of the rhetoric of company prospectuses of 1824-1862 and 1898 suggests that uncertainty about the meaning of "incorporation with limited liability" among those who might have benefited from it may have persisted for decades following the statute's passage. Continuing uncertainty meant continuing interpretation costs, and continuing interpretation costs meant insufficient interpretation: until each law user involved with an enterprise interpreted and came to understand the rule's meaning, less than fully realized.


This paper studies the collaborative optimization of multi-generation co-existence supply chain network of single manufacturer, multi-distribution centre and market. Firstly, we considered the effects of prices, time and substitutability on the market demand of both new and old products and the whole production and marketing decision, and then subdivide the products demand of each generation. Secondly, considering that as the lifecycle stage of each generation differs, there exist differences in demand characteristics, which make the structure of supply chain network obviously different, we built WCVaR risk optimization model of production-distribution network under co-existence, which subjects to scattering distribution constraints and solve the model by Lingo11.0 and then made simulation analysis. Lastly, we verified the validity of the model with the optimization results of numerical simulation.


How do dairy farms manage their human resources and how can the farms achieve competitive advantage through the human resource management (HRM) function? This inductive study of six dairy farms in Michigan explores those two questions using the resource-based theory (RBT) framework. Onsite interviews were conducted with 7 managers, 6 herdsmen and 7 non-supervisory employees. An interpretive research paradigm was used for both within case and between case analyses. Drawing insights from the RBT which postulates that valuable, rare, inimitable, and non-substitutable resources confer competitive advantage, results from this study indicate that dairy farms have the potential to achieve competitive advantage through their HRM function. While there are similar HRM practices across cases like recruiting and selection, the integration of specific HRM practices with the organizational culture (values of farm managers, relationships based on kinship and friendship ties) and resource endowment leads to different organizational outcomes (costly mistakes by employees, voluntary turnover and termination) Finally, based on propositions developed from this study and RBT literature, a conceptual framework is proposed to guide future research on how to empirically test the relationship between the HRM function and performance of farm enterprises to ascertain whether human resources are a potential source of sustained competitive advantage.


Let $\mathfrak{g}$ be a root-reductive Lie algebra over an algebraically closed field $\mathbb{K}$ of characteristic $0$ with a splitting Borel subalgebra $\mathfrak{b}$ containing a splitting maximal toral subalgebra $\mathfrak{h}$. We study the category $\bar{\mathcal{O}}$ consisting of all $\mathfrak{h}$-weight $\mathfrak{g}$-modules which are locally $\mathfrak{b}$-finite and have finite-dimensional $\mathfrak{h}$-weight spaces. The focus is on very special Borel subalgebras called the Dynkin Borel subalgebras. This paper serves as an initial passage to the understanding of categories $\mathcal{O}$ for infinite-dimensional root-reductive Lie algebras.


Flower meristems comprise several distinct cell layers. To understand the role of cell interactions between and within these layers, we have generated plants chimeric for a key floral homeotic gene, floricaula (flo). These chimeras arose in Antirrhinum by excision of a transposon, restoring flo gene function. Activity of flo in a subset of cell layers gives fertile flowers with an abnormal morphology. This shows that flo can act non-autonomously between layers, although some aspects of its function are impaired. In addition, we show that flo exhibits some cell-autonomy within layers.


A major focus of investigation and drug screening efforts started with the discovery of JAK2V617F as a major driver of the BCR-ABL-negative myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs). An acquired somatic mutation, JAK2V617F, drives 65% of MPNs. Further studies established that these diseases almost always exhibit mutations leading to persistent JAK2-STAT5 activation. Sequencing of the four mammalian JAKs (Janus kinases) (JAK1, JAK2, JAK3 and TYK2) and of the seven STATs (signal transducers and activators of transcriptions) in a variety of cancers identified the pathologic activation of these JAKs and STATs, by mutations in the genes themselves or in upstream or downstream regulators as significant contributors to several haematological and solid malignancies. The development of JAK2, JAK1, JAK3 and TYK2 kinase inhibitors is unfolding with JAK2, JAK1 and JAK3 inhibitors being approved in certain conditions. Altogether, the JAK/STAT pathway became a new gold mine for discovery and therapy in haematological cancers.

Key Concepts

The JAK/STAT pathway has a central role in cytokine signalling in normal haematopoiesis.
The JAK/STAT pathway is frequently pathologically activated by several mechanisms in many types of haematological malignancies.
The JAK/STAT pathway can be targeted by small molecules.
The JAK/STAT pathway can be pathologically activated by down-modulation of negative regulators such as phosphatases.
Constitutive STAT activation in blood cancers can be the result of several activated kinases, not only JAKs.
JAK2 activation is the main mechanismresponsible of the poorprognosis of mostpediatric B-cell acute lymphoblasticleukemia.

Keywords:

JAK/STAT;
signalling;
leukaemia;
lymphoma;
myeloproliferative neoplasms;
myelodysplastic syndromes;
JAK inhibitors;
STAT inhibitors


Author(s): Delgado Coelho, Maria Jose | Advisor(s): Auerbach, Alan J. | Abstract: The increasing degree of financial-macro linkages in advanced economies as demonstrated by the recent Great Recession in the United States and Europe raises new challenges for fiscal policy making, in that it expands the potential impact of both tax and expenditure reforms through uncharted channels. In addition, we are faced with an increasingly globalized world, with substantial spillovers of economic policy between states and countries being driven not only by shifts in the demand for goods and services (as understood in the classic international trade literature), but also by movement of labor and highly mobile capital flows. This interdependence conditions the efficiency of domestic fiscal policy in unprecedented ways not captured by most standard closed economy macroeconomic models or traditional optimal tax theory. This dissertation is motivated by the combination of these two forces and investigates the reform of the financial sector and countercyclical new Keynesian fiscal stimuli as policy responses in the aftermath of the latest financial crisis and recession. The first chapter analyzes the effect of the introduction of financial transaction taxes in equity markets in France and Italy in 2012 and 2013, respectively, on asset returns, trading volume and market volatility. Using two natural experiments in a difference-in-differences design, I identify bounds on elasticity estimates for three categories of avoidance channels: real substitution away from taxed assets, retiming (anticipation of transaction realizations and portfolio lock-in), and tax arbitrage (cross-platform and financial instrument shifting). I find large responses on all margins, that account for significantly lower revenues than projected. By far the strongest behavioral response comes from high-frequency trading lock-in on regulated exchanges, with a high tax elasticity of this type of turnover in the order of -9. The results shed light on features of optimal FTT design, suggesting they may be poor instruments for both revenue-raising and Pigouvian objectives. The second chapter complements the empirical analysis of the first chapter by analyzing the welfare implications of a linear financial transactions tax in a multi-period portfolio selection model with heterogeneous agents. Under certain conditions over the redistribution of government revenues, with no Pigouvian motives, I find such a tax may induce first-order losses due to the distortion of idiosyncratic risk-sharing (an implication which differs importantly from other literature on the role of taxation under uncertainty). A transaction tax induces both a contemporaneous inaction region and intertemporal shifting of transaction realizations. Given a segmented market over multiple trading platforms and the choice of at least two different tax instruments, I develop sufficient statistic formulas that differ from standard optimal commodity tax theory in that they account for untaxed capital accumulation, market structure rents, and uncertain returns. Furthermore, I explicitly consider retiming responses in transaction realizations and tax arbitrage in the form of shifting across trading platforms by allowing investors to choose trading in two different markets, and am able to match such parameters to empirically measured elasticities from my the first chapter, thus informing optimal FTT policy rates. In the case of a linear tax with a single market, the simplest model in this chapter suggests a cash equity transaction tax of 0.67% on the notional value of transactions purely to maximize revenue. A transaction tax induces both a contemporaneous inaction region and intertemporal shifting of transaction realizations. The third and final chapter deals with more aggregate effects of fiscal policy. It primarily contributes to the open economy local fiscal multiplier literature by estimating regional output and employment responses to federal expenditure shocks in the European Union. Specifically, I use a novel methodology and dataset on fiscal transfers from the European Commission to subnational regions. Mimicking the literature on foreign aid and growth, I use shocks to the supply of federal transfers (European Commission commitments) of structural fund spending by subnational region as instruments for annual realized expenditure in a panel from 2000-2013. By correctly isolating these fiscal shocks, I find significantly larger fiscal multipliers than the existing literature - a large, contemporaneous multiplier of 1.7, which translates into a cumulative multiplier of 4 three years after the shock. Furthermore, using a novel dataset on bilateral trade between EU regions, I find evidence of demand-driven spillovers up to three years after a shock. In addition to direct implications for federal public finance management globally, these results represent an important step in our understanding of the effect of fiscal stimulus and austerity measures in countries undergoing financial and sovereign debt crises.Overall, this dissertation aims at answering key questions brought about by the increasing complexity and dynamism of financial and economic interdependence of agents across states and countries. The implications of the results presented here are broad, including the development of comprehensive global financial regulation, the characterization of banking and fiscal unions in the Eurozone, and the incorporation of financial markets into new macroeconomic policy making.


With the proliferation of digital communication in healthcare, the reuse of laboratory test data entails valuable insights into clinical and scientific issues, basically enabled by semantic standardization using the LOINC coding system. In order to extend the currently limited potential for analysis, which is mainly caused by structural peculiarities of LOINC, an algorithmic transformation of relevant content into an OWL ontology was performed, which includes LOINC Terms, Parts and Hierarchies. For extending analysis capabilities, the comprehensive SNOMED CT ontology is added by transferring its contents and the recently published LOINC-related mapping data into OWL ontologies. These formalizations offer rich, computer-processable content and allow to infer additional structures and relationships, especially when used together. Consequently, various reutilizations are facilitated; an application demonstrating the dynamic visualization of fractional hierarchy structures for user-supplied laboratory data was already implemented. By providing element-wise aggregation via superclasses, an adaptable, graph representation is obtained for studying categorizations.


The binding to purified calmodulin of five spin-labelled derivatives of chlorophenothiazine was investigated by e.s.r. spectrometry and by the antagonizing potency on the calmodulin-dependent activation of myosin light chain kinase. The results of a comparative study and the influence of pH and ionic strength on the binding support the occurrence of an electrostatic binding involving the terminal amino group of the side-chain of the chlorophenothiazine. These results are discussed in relation to the specificity of the interaction that holds the antipsychotic drug-calmodulin complex together.


Division of the lateral thyroid ligament is essential for total thyroid lobectomy. The exact extent of this ligament, first described by Berry in 1888, was studied in a series of 25 cadaveric and post-mortem subjects. The ligament was attached to the inferior margin of the cornu of the cricoid cartilage, near its pole, and extended infero-medially onto the tracheal wall, reaching the midline in 4 of the 50 lobes examined. At the level of the cricoid cartilage, the mean distance between the attachment of the ligament to the cricoid cartilage and the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) entry point into the larynx was 1.9 mm. This region corresponds to the area where RLNs are mostly injured during thyroid surgery. Awareness of the extent of this ligament and the proximity of the RLN to it should lessen the risk of injury to the RLN during thyroid lobectomy and total thyroidectomy.


This study examines the determinants of adolescent sexual behavior and fertility in Nigeria, with a special focus on knowledge, attitudes and behaviors of adolescents aged 10-19 years old in Karu Local Government Authority (LGA), a peri-urban area near the capital city of Abuja. Using the last three waves of Demographic and Health Surveys (2003, 2008, 2013), focus group discussions, stakeholder interviews, and a specialized survey of 643 girls and boys aged 10-19 years old in Karu LGA, the study narrows in on key challenges to and opportunities for improving adolescent sexual and reproductive health outcomes. The national median age at sexual debut for adolescent girls and boys is between 15 and 16 years of age. This is closely emulated in Karu LGA with a median age of 14.8 years for girls and 15.3 years for boys. While data on pregnancies was limited in the Karu sample, DHS data show that for girls, sexual debut is closely associated with marriage or cohabitation, which in turn is a strong predictor of adolescent fertility. Poverty is another strong predictor, with the odds of becoming pregnant being twice as high for adolescents in the lower wealth quintiles compared to their counterparts in the richest quintile in the country. While adolescents' knowledge of contraception has increased from under 10 percent to over 30 percent, use of health services among adolescents for SRH (and contraception) is limited due to factors such as fear of stigma, embarrassment, and poor access to services, something also emphasized in focus group discussions. Challenges for improving adolescent SRH outcomes relate to: (i) the paucity of data, especially on the 10-14 year olds; (ii) availability and access to youth-friendly services and the Family Life and HIV Education (FLHE); (iii) reaching out-of-school adolescents with SRH information; and (iv) addressing ambiguities and gaps in Federal law and customs on age at marriage, and generating support for the legal age at marriage of at least 18 years old. Addressing these barriers at the State and sub-regional levels is going to be critical in improving adolescent well-being.


OBJECTIVE
To describe our experience with therapeutic sialendoscopy for radioiodine (iodine 131 [(131)I]) sialadenitis.

DESIGN
Retrospective medical chart review.

SETTING
Academic tertiary referral center.

PATIENTS
The study included 11 patients who underwent therapeutic sialendoscopy for the treatment of (131)I sialadenitis after failing medical management.

INTERVENTIONS
Therapeutic sialendoscopy with dilation and irrigation of the ductal system was performed in all patients.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES
Patient-reported frequency and severity of symptoms.

RESULTS
Our series included 9 women and 2 men (mean age, 51 years; age range, 35-65 years). A total of 23 parotid glands and 5 submandibular glands were treated. Sialendoscopy was possible in all patients, except one in whom the Stensen duct could not be cannulated. Typical endoscopic findings included pale ductal mucosa, thick mucous plugs, ductal debris, and stenosis of the duct. Most patients (91%) reported improvement of symptoms after a single procedure. Complete resolution of symptoms, with sustained benefit, was reported by 6 patients (54%) at a mean follow-up of 18 months. Partial improvement of symptoms, with some persistent intermittent episodes of pain or swelling, was reported by 4 patients (36%). One patient reported no subjective symptomatic improvement after 2 procedures and subsequently underwent a parotidectomy.

CONCLUSIONS
Sialendoscopy is useful for the improvement of symptoms due to radioiodine-induced sialadenitis in patients who are refractory to conservative medical therapy. Therapeutic sialendoscopy appears to provide effective and sustained symptom improvement in most patients in our experience.


Age-structural transition is a process a population undergoes as its age structure changes from a youthful one to an ageing population. Fiji has been, and is still undergoing age-structural changes. The current and future demographic scenario for the Fiji Islands raises many critical issues and challenges. Fiji faces a period of changes in its age structure with implications on everyone and all aspects of life. The challenge is that Fiji will face changing demographic condition at a lower level of economic development.
This paper attempts to study the nature and process of age-structural transition and its implications in Fiji. It also examines the age-structural changes of the two major ethnic groups. Changing age structure for Fiji presents a complex of challenges for policymakers and at the same time present potential opportunities. Many countries have benefited from the shift in balance of the broad age groups particularly the increase in working-age group, sometimes termed the demographic window of opportunity. The question of whether the ''demographic bonus'' or ''window of opportunity'' is realized in Fiji will depend on policies facilitating economic growth.
This paper uses census data from as early as 1946 through to 1996 and uses data from population projections from 1996-2046. Fiji's working age-group increased from 1946 to 2006 for the total population where it peaked then projected to level off in the years 2016-2036. It will decline in 2046. It appears that the ''demographic window of opportunity'' will be between 2006 and 2036. It is a flat and long window of demographic opportunity but with a rather high level of dependency,a ratio hovering at around 60. This is linked to the relatively moderate fertility. It seems that avoiding further fertility decline will be important for sustainability in Fiji. This would not require investment in primary school education as the number of children at primary school level should stabilize but resources should be channeled to secondary and tertiary levels especially in the area of improving the quality of education. This should ensure avoidance of demographic turbulence and the path and problems faced by many developed and ageing countries.
However, age-structural change of the Fijian component of the population is different from that of Indians in Fiji. For Fijians the proportion of the working-age group started to increase in 1976 and continues to increase in the entire projected period. The demographic window of opportunity will be long but at a higher level of dependency ratio than that of the total population. The proportion of the working-age group of Indians began began to increase in 1966, earlier than the Fijians. It increases up to 2036 and descends in 2046 and at a lower level of dependency. The timing of the window of opportunity is different for the two ethnic groups. It is earlier and ends earlier for the Indians and at a lower level of dependency. For the Fijians, it starts later in 1976 and continues throughout the projected period.
To take advance of the window of opportunity Fiji has to improve economic performance and develop quality human resource. Increasing the proportion in formal employment would assist the country develop sustainably. In addition avoiding further fertility decline would also assist the country develop sustainably.


Background: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is an extremely common condition affecting approximately 10-15% of the population. Lower abdominal pain is a common feature and, if the patient also has gynaecological symptoms such as heavy periods, they may be referred to a gynaecologist especially when the bowel symptoms are relatively mild. In this setting a laparoscopy is often undertaken and endometriosis commonly identified as this condition affects up to 10% of women. Consequently pain is frequently attributed to the endometriosis even when it is relatively mild. However it is a common observation amongst gynaecologists that women with mild endometriosis often have severe symptoms which do not seem to respond well to treatment. This raises the possibility that their pain may not actually be due to endometriosis or is being amplified by the visceral hypersensitivity which is a characteristic feature of irritable bowel syndrome.Methods: 20 patients with minimal-mild endometriosis, 20 with moderate-severe endometriosis, 20 healthy volunteers (HV) who have had laparoscopy for sterilisation, 20 IBS patients and 20 patients with pain who were found to have a normal pelvis (on laparoscopy) were studied. Gastrointestinal, gynaecological, and noncolonic symptoms were recorded as well as demography, quality of life and psychological status. Visceral sensitivity was assessed in all patients and abdominal distension was studied in a sub group of 26 endometriosis patients and 20 IBS patients.Results: 20 (100%) of IBS patients, 13 (65%) of minimal-mild endometriosis patients, 11 (55%) of moderate-severe endometriosis patients, 17 (85%) of laparoscopic negative pain patients and no healthy volunteers fulfilled ROME III criteria for IBS. Patients with endometriosis and IBS had similar levels of visceral sensitivity which were significantly lower than that observed in controls (p=0�002, p<0�001).In particular, both minimal-mild and moderate-severe endometriosis patients had significantly lower (mean-95% CI) pain thresholds in mmHg 28.1(24.5, 31.6) and 28.8(24.9, 32.6) respectively compared with controls 39�5 (36�0, 43�0) p=0.001and p=0.002. However, with few exceptions, there were no distinguishing features between patients in terms of demography, symptomatology and distension.Conclusion: Clinically, it is very difficult to distinguish between endometriosis and IBS. However, visceral hypersensitivity appears to be a major component of endometriosis and may explain the problem of excessive pain especially in patients with mild disease offering a potential new target for treatment


MOTIVATION
Given the complexity of genome regions, prioritize the functional effects of non-coding variants remains a challenge. Although several frameworks have been proposed for the evaluation of the functionality of non-coding variants, most of them used 'black boxes' methods that simplify the task as the pathogenicity/benign classification problem, which ignores the distinct regulatory mechanisms of variants and leads to less desirable performance. In this study, we developed DVAR, an unsupervised framework that leverage various biochemical and evolutionary evidence to distinguish the gene regulatory categories of variants and assess their comprehensive functional impact simultaneously.

RESULTS
DVAR performed de novo pattern discovery in high-dimensional data and identified five regulatory clusters of non-coding variants. Leveraging the new insights into the multiple functional patterns, it measures both the between-class and the within-class functional implication of the variants to achieve accurate prioritization. Compared to other two-class learning methods, it showed improved performance in identification of clinically significant variants, fine-mapped GWAS variants, eQTLs and expression-modulating variants. Moreover, it has superior performance on disease causal variants verified by genome-editing (like CRISPR-Cas9), which could provide a pre-selection strategy for genome-editing technologies across the whole genome. Finally, evaluated in BioVU and UK Biobank, two large-scale DNA biobanks linked to complete electronic health records, DVAR demonstrated its effectiveness in prioritizing non-coding variants associated with medical phenotypes.

AVAILABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION
The C++ and Python source codes, the pre-computed DVAR-cluster labels and DVAR-scores across the whole genome are available at https://www.vumc.org/cgg/dvar.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.


Sand‐filled geotextile bags (geobags) are commonly used for riverbank protection, however, despite their deployment in a significant number of locations, the failure modes of such structures are not well understood. This paper describes a series of 1:10 physical model tests designed to improve our understanding of the basic failure modes of geobag revetments used as river bank protection. In particular, the aim of the experimental programme is to quantify the relationship between hydraulic shear stress on the revetment surface and geobag displacement. The aspect of the work reported is the use of two analytical techniques, the Conveyance Estimation System (CES) and the membrane analogy method developed by Chow to predict hydraulic shear stress on the geobag surface. It is concluded that both methods produce acceptable shear stress predictions for the initially washed away bags, although the CES is recommended for future use because of its better prediction and ease of application.


Abstract —Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in westernized populations. Low levels of α-tocopherol (AT) are associated with increased incidence of atherosclerosis and increased intakes appear to be protective. Recently, we showed that supplementation with AT resulted in significant decreases in monocyte superoxide anion release, lipid oxidation, interleukin-1β (IL-1β) release, and adhesion to endothelium. The reduction in superoxide and lipid oxidation by AT seemed to be mediated by inhibition of protein kinase C. The aim of this study was to investigate the mechanism(s) by which AT inhibits IL-1β release. Potential mechanisms examined included its effect as an antioxidant and its inhibitory effects on protein kinase C and the cyclooxygenase-lipoxygenase pathways. Although AT decreased superoxide release from activated monocytes, superoxide dismutase and catalase had no effect on IL-1β release. Also, a similar antioxidant, β-tocopherol, had no effect on IL-1β release. The protein kinase C inhibitor, bisindolylmaleimide, did not inhibit IL-1β release from activated monocytes, in spite of AT decreasing protein kinase C activity. Leukotriene B4, a major product of 5-lipoxygenase, has been shown to augment IL-1β release. In the presence of AT, a significant reduction in leukotriene B4 and IL-1β levels was observed, which was reversed by the addition of leukotriene B4. Similar observations were seen with specific inhibitors of 5-lipoxygenase. The product of cyclooxygenase, prostaglandin E2, has been shown to inhibit IL-1β activity in some systems. However, AT had no significant effect on prostaglandin E2 levels in activated monocytes. In the presence of indomethacin, a cyclooxygenase inhibitor, AT inhibited IL-1β activity. Also, AT had no effect on IL-1β mRNA levels or stability, suggesting a posttranscriptional effect. Thus, in activated human monocytes, AT exerts a novel biological effect of inhibiting the release of the proinflammatory cytokine, IL-1β, via inhibition of the 5-lipoxygenase pathway.


Improved genetic algorithm for solving the transmission network expansion planning is presented in the paper. The module which considered the investment costs of new transmission facilities. It is a large integer linear optimization problem. In this work we present improved genetic algorithm to find the solution of excellent quality. This method adopts integer parameter encoded style and has nonlinear crossover and mutation operators, owns strong global search capability. Tests are carried out using a Brazilian Southern System and the results show the good performance.


This letter investigates the performance of beam-tilting technique when applied to improve matching of linearly polarized radial-line slot-array antennas. The application of a full-wave analysis reveals a severe deterioration of radiation patterns even for small tilt angles. An iterative optimization procedure is proposed in order to restore the radiation performance in conjunction with the desired matching enhancement. Performance and limitations of the correction procedure are discussed in terms of the beam pointing direction. One prototype is fabricated, and measurements are reported to validate the conclusions of this letter.


The present study is concerned with geographical interpretation of the foundation, growth and character of Kanpur, illustrated with relevent maps and diagrams. The study commences with the discussion of the site and situation of this centre against the background of the physical setting and local weather conditions. In the II Chapter, the evolution and growth of the townscape have been discussed with special reference to the changes and developments after the Mutiny of 1857. Chapter III deals with the process of growth and the demographic structure as influenced by the geographical, economic, political and social factors. A discussion on the expansion of principle services and social amenities forms the Chapter IV. It is followed by the Chapter on the growth of industries in the city with special reference to the expansion and development of large scale industries. Finally in Chapter VI, important land use features have been analysed and distinguished to indicate the present character of the functional structure and organization of the city.


The possible role of white blood cells in tissue ischaemia has attracted recent interest. White blood cells can block narrow vessels, particularly if perfusion pressure is reduced or if the cells become activated. To investigate the role of white blood cells in ischaemia microfiltration techniques were used to measure the flow properties of these cells in patients with severe leg ischaemia before and after amputation. Compared with controls white blood cells from patients showed impaired ability to flow through 8 μm and 5 μm pore filters. This applied to fractionated granulocytes and mononuclear cells as well as to unfractionated mixed white blood cells. White blood cells from blood draining the ischaemic leg had worse filterability than those from arm blood of the same patients. After amputation of the ischaemic leg there was definite improvement, the flow properties of the cells being no longer significantly different from controls. These abnormalities detected in white blood cells probably reflect activation of the cells by factors released in the ischaemic tissue. As activation alters the mechanical and adhesive properties of white blood cells, a vicious cycle of microcirculatory trapping at low perfusion pressure, activation, tissue damage, and further activation and trapping might contribute to the progressive worsening of tissue ischaemia.


Gibbons often accompany their morning song bouts by spectacular locomotor displays that may include branch shaking and branch braking. These displays typically occur at the climax of the great-call, the most conspicuous and stereotyped song phrase of the female. Here I report on a captive female white-handed gibbon slamming the sliding door of her wooden sleeping box during the climax of her great-call. This special addition to her display produced a single, loud bang which acoustically accentuated the climax of the female's great-call, made her great-call sound unique, and possibly enhanced the call's effect on potential receivers (presumably female conspecifics). The female's use of a door to modify her duet contributions represents a novel behavioural variant, and one of the few cases of tool use in gibbons or small apes. Furthermore, behavioural innovations like this one may have played a role in the evolution of human music.


This paper describes an automated pixel classification method using surface expansion. The originality of this work resides in the definition and use of small pictures (called "imagelet") of increasing size centered on the pixel of interest. This allows for the extraction of a set of local and global parameters associated to the pixel investigated. This set of parameters then permits body tissue separation. Classification was obtained using a multilayer artificial neural network. The new approach proposed was applied to main lower limb tissue classification in MRI image sequences. Four kinds of body tissue were taken into consideration in this study (muscle, adipose tissue, cortical bone and spongy bone). A database consisting of 1400 prototypes was created in order to evaluate this method's performances. The classification success rate was found to be 87%. This method therefore proved to be reliable and robust to analyze MRI image sequences in 20 lower limbs, representing about 2000 pictures


SIR,-I was fascinated by your leading articles before and after the Apollo 13 flight (11 April, p.67 and 2 May, p.249). In these you drew attention to physiological matters, but did not refer to the effects of the psychological stresses to which the astronauts were exposed. As symptoms were experienced on this flight, and have occurred on previous flights, and as these symptoms are known to occur in hyperaroused states, it is pertinent to consider the role of arousal in their aetiology. Staggering of rest periods, unusual sleeping positions, and cold could indeed have produced insomnia; but a contribution from hyperarousal, and perhaps the major one, should not be ignored. It is noteworthy that sleep deprivation was greatest in the flight commander. Sleep deprivation is unlikely to affect life or death decisions made in a short period on a primary task-it is on vigilance tasks that mistakes (and these would be of omission) are more likely, such as in transit flight. Weight reduction occurs when energy expenditure and water loss exceed food and water intake. You reported that fluid intake was reduced but shortage of drinking water was not emphasized as a serious problem. Anorexia is an early and marked symptem of hyperarousal, and can produce considerable weight loss rapidly. Reduced calorie intake is accompanied by increased water excretion so producing a fall in body weight of several kilogrammnes. Sweating, tachypnoea, diarrhoea, and polyuria occur in hyperarousal and also lead to increased water loss. The energy expenditure of these astronauts was likely to be more than on previous similar flights, as muscle activity would have been greater in response to the more prolonged need for high alertness. Hyperarousal produces hypertension, increased cardiac output, and a considerable shift from skin to muscle blood flow. These changes in haemodynamics will reverse on attaining normal arousal, such as is likely to occur after successful re-entry and splashdown. It is just as relevant to consider such factors in the aetiology of some momentary unsteadiness of gait as it is to consider cardiovascular adaptation to changes in gravitational forces. Hyperarousal may also lead to changes in feelings and behaviour such as irritability, altered threshold to somatic sensations, liability to perceptual abnormality, impairment of concentration, tunnelling of attention, depersonalization, hypocapnia, muscular incoordination, and deterioration of performance. Information has been released that on some previous flights disorders of behaviour occurred which jeopardized their safety; and indeed there were reasons to suspect that at least one cosmonaut was landed prematurely on account of unexpected inefficiency as a controlsystem operator. From my experience of working with others whose lives are exposed to danger, such symptoms occur more often when the task load is low-and that was rare on the flight of Apollo 13. When symptoms of hyperarousal occur, they do so quite beyond an individual's control. It is a tribute to the selection and training of these astronauts that on this flight so few symptoms occurred. Only someone inexperienced in the clinical practice of medicine could dismiss the possibility that the explanations which I have put forward are contributory to the aetiology of symptoms occurring in space flight.-I am, etc., R. C. B. AITKEN. Department of Psychiatry, University of Edinburgh.


The latency of the P-300 event related potential is affected by various factors, the most important of which is the ease of interpreting information conveyed by the stimulus. Using an oddball paradigm in which 20% women's names and 80% men's names were presented sequentially on a video monitor, P-300's were obtained from 15 normal subjects. Names were presented under four different viewing conditions: habitual, horizontal phoria neutralized, and with maximum base-in and base-out prism values which still allowed clear, single vision. Results showed that mean P-300 amplitudes did not differ significantly across viewing conditions. There was, however, a significant increase in the mean latencies for the phoria neutralized and base-in and base-out viewing conditions as compared to the habitual viewing condition. Using the P-300 as a measure of cognitive processing speed, this experiment indicates that there is a significant slowing of information processing when normal binocular function is disrupted with prisms.


A range of methods is available for the synthesize nanoparticles. However, these methods are associated with the production of undesirable byproducts which are quite hazardous and high costs. Thus, a number of efforts are being made to develop novel cost-effective safe & reliable "green" procedures which caned produce desired nanoparticles. In this study, we caned successfully develop a green synthesis method for preparation of silver nanoparticles using Desmodium gangeticum leaf extract as reducing & capping agents. The methodwas found a quite effective inversion of silver ions to silver nanoparticles in a short interval of time. The developed nanoparticles exhibited Surface plasmon resonance at around 500 nm. The particles are nearly spherical, and the size rangedbetween16-64nm. The average sizewasnoted tobe around40 nm. The nanoparticles were characterized for their morphology using UV-vis, TEM, FTIR analysis and FESEM. The developed method carries the advantage of the completion of the reaction in a short time. The crystalline nature of the synthesize nanoparticleswas assessed& con irmbyXRD&EDXStudies. From FTIR studies, it can be understood that the lavonoids could be adsorbed on the metal surface by interaction with carbonyl groups. The process was carried out in the environment-friendly condition.


Every palliative care patient should have the expectation that acute and chronic pain management will be an integral part of their overall care. However, in all too many instances, the pain of cancer is often grossly under-treated. This issue is of concern because more than 80% of patients with cancer pain can find adequate relief through the use of simple pharmacological methods. It is even more troubling to note that women and minority groups have their cancer pain under-treated more frequently. Physicians with the basic skills of assessment and treatment will be able to control the symptoms in the majority of cancer pain patients. However, there are still some patients who may require other modalities to control their moderate to severe pain. A thorough understanding of all pain management options will help the gynaecological oncologist to maintain an acceptable quality of life for their patients throughout the therapeutic and palliative phases of care.


Isolation step of vancomycin, a glycopeptide antibiotic, is usually done from fermentation broth filtrate, while its adsorption directly from the whole broth could rationalize the process. The equilibrium and kinetics of vancomycin adsorption from broth supernatant, diluted and whole broth on polymeric adsorbent was studied in this work. Experimental equilibrium data was correlated with Sips, Langmuir, Freundlich, and linear adsorption isotherms. Agreement between measured and regressed data for the first three mentioned models did not vary much and was relatively high. The maximum adsorbed amount for supernatant was higher than for fermentation broths because mycelium particles blocked adsorbent surface. Liquid film mass transfer studies showed that external mass transfer resistance could have been neglected. Diffusion of vancomycin inside adsorbent particles was acknowledged using a nonstructural, homogenous surface diffusion and bidisperse pore models. Model simulations indicated that kinetics of the process could be improved by using smaller adsorbent particles. © 2011 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2012


Global development is a term that is increasingly referred to, yet is often conflated with international development and is used with different implicit meanings. This paper outlines reasons for moving beyond international development, before distinguishing between global development as 'vertical' scale and as 'horizontal' scope. As a strand of development focusing on common issues, the former co-exists in parallel with sovereign (national development) and foreign (international development) issues. The latter involves an overarching paradigm, taking in interconnected as well as shared issues anywhere. It is a successor to international development and goes beyond a focus only on the Global South to encompass development issues anywhere. Global development as scope thus explicitly goes beyond the North-South binary and is argued to represent a greater fit with contemporary development opportunities and challenges.


Last updated 28 March 2006 Books Abrams, Denise Wiles. Restoring American Gardens: An Encyclopedia of Heirloom Ornamental Plants 1640-1940. Portland: Timber Ridge Press, Inc. 2004 Favaretti, Rudy J. and Favaretti, Joy Putnam. Landscapes and Gardens for Historic Buildings. Nashville: American Association for State and Local History. 1995 Watts, May Theilgaard. Reading the Landscape of America. New York: MacMillen Publishing Company. 1975. (Chapter 21. The Stylish House or Fashions as an Ecological Factor) Periodicals Kunst, Scott G., Landscape & Gardens. Old House Journal. V. 14, No. 3. April 1986. Kunst, Scott G. How Not to Remuddle Your Yard. Old House Journal. V. 19, No. 2, March 1991. p. 22-26 Websites Historic Landscape Initiative, National Park Service. http://www.cr.nps.gov/hps/hli/index.htm Cultural Lanscapes Bibliography, University of Maryland http://www.amst.umd.edu/cultland/


Author(s): Rais, Nor Akmaliza | Advisor(s): Cheng, Quan | Abstract: The aim of this thesis is to develop Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) methods that improve biosensing performance, in particular the sensitivity and selectivity of the analysis and their adaptation for biomedical applications to samples with complex background. This is of significant importance in translating the biosensor technologies to deliver the same results as the conventional methods but in a more accessible, efficient, and economical manner. The first study exploited SPR as a DNA biosensor for the detection of Malaria Plasmodium falciparum parasite with the hybridization chain reaction (HCR), which resulted in the formation of self-assembled target DNA nanostructures for signal enhancement. The sensitivity was further improved by using gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) for additional signal amplification. Tests with human blood plasma indicated the results were comparable to analyses in buffer, despite noticeable non-specific binding from the plasma. The concern of non-specific binding was systematically investigated in the second study where an antifouling surface consists of supported lipid bilayer membranes (SLBs) and protein A was developed for detection of trace amount of proteins in undiluted human serum. Specifically, cholera toxin (CT) spiked into the serum was used as the target, and advanced interface was further extended to immunosensing of immunoglobulin G (IgG). In the third study, SPR biosensor was employed in combination of bright field microscopy to characterize cellular apoptosis. HeLa cells undergoing apoptosis induced by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) were monitored by SPR and the signals were compared to microscopic analysis of the morphological changes. SPR study revealed a decreased signal as cell confluency decreases, with the rates increasing as H2O2 concentration increases. An abnormality was found at high concentrations when both apoptosis and necrosis were induced. A mathematical model was proposed to explain SPR response where a non- uniform adsorbed layer was partially responsible. The significance of this thesis is that a number of high performing biosensing approaches have been developed and demonstrated. In addition to the advantages of SPR (e.g. label-free, real-time biomolecules binding, and portability), these methods have paved the way towards realizing effective sensing in biomedical research, especially in the early detection of infectious diseases and in the treatment of cancers.


Background ERCC1, a component of nucleotide excision repair pathway, is known to repair DNA breaks induced by platinum drugs. We sought to ascertain if ERCC1 expression dynamics and a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs11615 are biomarkers of sensitivity to oxaliplatin therapy in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). Methods Western blot and qPCR for ERCC1 expression was performed from PBMCs isolated from patients receiving oxaliplatin-based therapy at specified timepoints. DNA was also isolated from 59 biorepository specimens for SNP analysis. Clinical benefit was determined using progression free survival (PFS) for metastatic CRC. Results ERCC1 was induced in PBMC in response to oxaliplatin in 13/25 patients with mCRC (52%). Median PFS with ERCC1 induction was 190d compared to 237d in non-induced patients (HR 2.35, CI 1.005-5.479; p=0.0182). ERCC1 rs11615 SNP analysis revealed that 43.3% harbored C/C, 41.2%-T/C and 15.5%-T/T genotype. Median PFS was significantly lower with C/C or T/C (211 and 196d) compared to T/T (590d; p=0.0310). Conclusions ERCC1 was induced in a sub-population of patients undergoing oxaliplatin treatment, which was associated with poorer outcome, suggesting this could serve as a marker of oxaliplatin response. C/C or C/T genotype in ERCC1 rs11615 locus decreased benefit from oxaliplatin.


The author advocates for the mediating role of philosophy in the dialogues between science and theology, in particular, the dialogues to clarify that the creation of biblical faith is the same entity as the cosmos of scientific study. He points out that most current scientific concepts, such as \'field,\' have a prior history of usage in philosophical discourse, before
being modified for usage in scientific contexts. This example, together with associated concepts, holds special promise for developing a contemporary theology of divine presence and action.


Fuel cells are devices for energy generation with very high theoretical efficiency. Many researches were been carried out in the last few decades in order to develop reliable fuel cells. Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) and polymeric exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) are those with more potential for commercial use. Specially for SOFC cathodes, many perovskites have been proposed as potential materials for this application. Nevertheless, other components of SOFC, such as the electrolytes, anodes and interconnects, have also been targeted with potential perovskites. More recently, the use of perovskites in PEMFC has also been proposed and studied. As many perovskite compositions can be used in SOFC components, some of the most important are discussed in this chapter and some recent works in perovskites for PEMFC are also referred. As a whole, in this chapter, the reader will find the relationship between the properties of perovskites with their compo‐ sitions and the main effects of dopant agents regarding the utilization of these materials in different components of SOFC and in electrodes of PEMFC.


In this work, an extension of a data-driven approach for estimation of the available Recovery Time (RT) is presented. The improvement is in avoiding the need of resorting to a fault detection module for the identification of the anomalous system behavior: the algorithm proposed jointly detects the onset of the accidental transient and performs the estimation of the available RT. This is achieved by fuzzy similarity analysis of the currently developing scenario and reference multidimensional trajectory patterns of failure scenarios; the RT remaining before the developing trajectory pattern hits a failure threshold is predicted by combining the times of failure of the reference patterns, weighed by their similarity with the developing pattern. For illustration purposes, failure scenarios of the Lead Bismuth Eutectic eXperimental Accelerator Driven System (LBE-XADS) are considered.


Laboratory information systems (LISs) are a rich source of data. LIS data can be used for numerous purposes including operations, quality projects, and research. LIS data can inform decision making, provide value additions, and ultimately be used to improve patient care. However, there are many challenges that come with LIS data re-use. These include security, access to information, the ability to analyze large volumes of data, data quality, and validation. Herein we describe the pros and cons of LIS data re-use and provide a framework for a typical LIS data extraction. Also provided are concrete examples where LIS data was essential and beneficial for a successful project. Collectively, laboratorians need to focus on training initiatives to empower future staff who will require these skills to do their jobs effectively. Laboratorians should also ask more of the LIS vendors in terms of data access and analytical tools.


Postnatal maturation of the heart spurs coronary vessel development from an unanticipated source. [Also see Report by Tian et al.] Named for its crownlike appearance (1), the coronary circulation comprises arteries and veins that transport blood to and from the heart's muscle, respectively. When a large coronary artery becomes obstructed, a downstream segment of cardiac muscle dies from oxygen deprivation in a pathologic condition called acute myocardial infarction (2), or heart attack. Over time, the injured heart replaces damaged muscle with scar tissue (3) that maintains cardiac wall integrity but also adversely affects pump function, which often leads to heart failure (4). Therapeutic interventions that stimulate the growth of new cardiac muscle to supplant scar formation would substantially improve heart attack outcomes (5). The success of any such strategy would also rely on concomitant growth of new coronary blood vessels. Therefore, a comprehensive understanding of how this specialized vascular bed develops is a prerequisite for regenerative strategies designed to reduce the morbidity and mortality caused by heart failure after myocardial infarction. On page 90 in this issue, Tian et al. (6) demonstrate that a large fraction of coronary vessels in the mouse heart form during postnatal life through a unique mechanism.