The neurotoxin kainate activates a particular class of ionophoric glutamate receptor, the kainate receptor. Kainate also inhibits neurotransmitter release through a pathway that involves a pertussis toxin-sensitive G protein (heterotrimeric guanine nucleotide-binding protein) and protein kinase C (PKC). Rozas et al. investigated the relation between these effects in cultured rat dorsal root ganglion cells (DRGs) and discovered that kainate's activation of the G protein-coupled pathway depended on expression of GluR5, an ion channel-forming subunit of the kainate receptor, but was independent of functional ion channel activity. The authors used calcium imaging to show that kainate stimulated a rise in intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i); a fraction that was sensitive to pertussis toxin persisted in the absence of extracellular calcium, which suggests that it represented release from intracellular stores. Calcium imaging in combination with electrophysiological analysis indicated that pretreatment with kainate inhibited Ca2+ influx in response to depolarization with potassium; this was sensitive to pertussis toxin and inhibitors of PKC. There was no correlation between kainate-stimulated Ca2+ influx (a marker of ionophoric activity) and kainate inhibition of depolarization-dependent Ca2+ influx. Moreover, inhibition of depolarization-dependent Ca2+ influx occurred at kainate concentrations that were too low to affect [Ca2+]i directly and in the absence of extracellular sodium (which affects receptor gating). Both kainate-stimulated Ca2+ influx and kainate's inhibition of depolarization-dependent Ca2+ influx were abolished in DRGs from mice lacking GluR5. Pharmacological analysis suggested that kainate-dependent release of glutamate from primary sensory afferents involved a G protein-mediated pathway. Thus GluR5 appears to mediate distinct kainate signaling pathways; one involves formation of an ionophoric receptor and one involves G protein activation. J. L. Rozas, A. V. Paternain, J. Lerma, Noncanonical signaling by ionotropic kainate receptors. Neuron 39, 543-553 (2003). [Online Journal]


Reciprocity of inflammation and oxidative stress is now significantly considered as an important mechanism underlying numerous diseases and cancers. As a mechanistic link connecting them, we have shown that one of the end products of lipid oxidation, 2-(ω-carboxyethyl)pyrrole (CEP) is generated during inflammation and wound healing and recognized by Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) on endothelial cells. It leads to angiogenesis, which is independent of vascular endothelial growth factor. Importantly, the levels of CEP are reduced back to normal when the wound is healed, but remain constitutively high in pathological conditions, including aging and cancers. Thus, for most tissue repair processes, it appears critical not only to generate CEP, but also to provide its timely removal. Accordingly, our hypothesis is that in order to avoid tissue damage by inflammation-induced oxidative products, CEP needs to be cleared from injured tissues when its role is complete. We have sought to determine a cellular and molecular mechanism of CEP clearance from injured tissues. At first, through CEP binding and internalization assay, comparing with other cell types, we verified that macrophage is the responsible cell type of CEP clearance. Specifically, resident, F4/80
 hi
 , and M2 macrophages are much more efficient for CEP clearance rather than thioglycolate-elicited, F4/80
 lo
 , and M1 macrophages, respectively. Secondly, by using several knockout mouse lines, we identified that both TLR2 and CD36 are largely involved in CEP clearance. To examine the
 in vivo
 relevance of CEP clearance besides skin injury model, we used ApoE deficient mice as an atherosclerotic model because atherosclerosis is known to be intimately associated with inflammation and oxidative stress. Using a CEP-specific antibody, we have been screening the CEP appearance and disappearance in early-to-late stages of atherosclerosis. Recently, we examined that CEP is strongly stained only in and adjacent to the atherosclerotic lesion of ApoE deficient mice fed with western diet for 20 weeks, but barely stained in 30 weeks. Moreover, in the plaque, macrophage-enriched region exhibits weak signals of CEP staining. Therefore, we suggest that timely removal of CEP is mediated by macrophages
 ex vivo
 and
 in vivo
 .


Deep clustering is a fundamental yet challenging task for data analysis. Recently we witness a strong tendency of combining autoencoder and graph neural networks to exploit structure information for clustering performance enhancement. However, we observe that existing literature 1) lacks a dynamic fusion mechanism to selectively integrate and refine the information of graph structure and node attributes for consensus representation learning; 2) fails to extract information from both sides for robust target distribution (i.e., "groundtruth" soft labels) generation. To tackle the above issues, we propose a Deep Fusion Clustering Network (DFCN). Specifically, in our network, an interdependency learning-based Structure and Attribute Information Fusion (SAIF) module is proposed to explicitly merge the representations learned by an autoencoder and a graph autoencoder for consensus representation learning. Also, a reliable target distribution generation measure and a triplet self-supervision strategy, which facilitate cross-modality information exploitation, are designed for network training. Extensive experiments on six benchmark datasets have demonstrated that the proposed DFCN consistently outperforms the state-of-the-art deep clustering methods.


A large amount of different data is currently collected in the mobility sector. However, due to technical, legal, and economic hurdles, it cannot be made usable. The "TreuMoDa" project, in which a Mobility Data Trustee (MDT) is being designed and tested as a prototype in the autonomous driving test area in Baden-Württemberg, provides a solution to this problem. Data trustees are a pioneering option to enable cross-sectoral data exchange between different actors from industry, science, and society. We provide an insight into the concept of the MDT. Specifically, the requirements of various stakeholders from the automotive industry, software developers, infrastructure, cities, and transport companies are analyzed with regard to the expected organizational, legal, and technical functions of such an MDT. The concept of a data trustee is particularly relevant to research data infrastructures, as it can enable the flow of data from research to industry and vice versa. Our work therefore also will look at the MDT as part of a larger research data management scheme.


This paper provides an analysis of the BADA aircraft performance model capabilities and addresses the BADA model ability to provide accurate modeling of aircraft performances over the complete flight envelope for a number of aircraft types and different ways in which an aircraft can be operated during the flight. The focus of the paper is the support of complex aircraft operations by BADA. A short description of the two existing BADA families and their main characteristics is given. The complex flight instructions and operating regimes — economy climb, cruise and descent based on cost index, maximum range cruise, long range cruise, optimum altitude and maximum endurance cruise — identified as key features in support to optimized flight execution are discussed. The optimization procedures and equations in which they derive are presented and the ability of the BADA model to support these flight operations is demonstrated. It is shown that BADA 4 can be successfully used with complex instructions and operating regimes, whereas the use of BADA 3 is limited. Finally, the results of a validation experiment dedicated to BADA thrust models are presented.


Vitamin B6 is essential in all organisms, due to its requirement as a cofactor in the form of pyridoxal 5′-phosphate (PLP) for key metabolic enzymes. It can be synthesized de novo by either of two pathways known as deoxyxylulose 5-phosphate (DXP)-dependent and DXP-independent. The DXP-independent pathway is the predominant pathway and is found in most microorganisms and plants. A glutamine amidotransferase consisting of the synthase Pdx1 and its glutaminase partner, Pdx2, form a complex that directly synthesizes PLP from ribose 5-phosphate, glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate, and glutamine. The protein complex displays an ornate architecture consisting of 24 subunits, two hexameric rings of 12 Pdx1 subunits to which 12 Pdx2 subunits attach, with the glutaminase and synthase active sites remote from each other. The multiple catalytic ability of Pdx1, the remote glutaminase and synthase active sites, and the elaborate structure suggest regulation of activity on several levels. A missing piece in deciphering this intricate puzzle has been information on the Pdx1 C-terminal region that has thus far eluded structural characterization. Here we use fluorescence spectrophotometry and protein chemistry to demonstrate that the Pdx1 C terminus is indispensable for PLP synthase activity and mediates intersubunit cross-talk within the enzyme complex. We provide evidence that the C terminus can act as a flexible lid, bridging as well as shielding the active site of an adjacent protomer in Pdx1. We show that ribose 5-phosphate binding triggers strong cooperativity in Pdx1, and the affinity for this substrate is substantially enhanced upon interaction with the Michaelis complex of Pdx2 and glutamine.


ABSTRACT A 1:6250 map of the foreland of Fláajökull's north lobe as it appeared in 1989, together with a 1:350 scale map of a sample area of recently exposed glacial landforms from 2014, enables an assessment of the spatial and temporal evolution of glacial landform assemblages at the margin of an active temperate piedmont lobe terminating at ice-marginal thickening till wedges. The pattern of landform development captured in these maps indicates that the glacier margin developed strong longitudinal crevassing and well-developed ice-marginal pecten (three-dimensional crenulations) during its historical recession. This is recorded by early recessional phase linear push moraines on well-drained distal slopes of the foreland and the later development of interrelated sawtooth moraines, crevasse squeeze ridges and till eskers, indicative of extending ice flow and poorly drained submarginal conditions. This landform record is a palaeoglaciological signature of a changing process–form regime inherent within the active temperate piedmont lobe landsystem model.


BACKGROUND
Asymptomatic skin sensitization (AS) is a risk factor for the development of allergic symptoms. A meticulous definition of this condition requires a systematic assessment of clinical symptoms before inclusion.

OBJECTIVE
To examine the concordance between retrospective assessment of seasonal allergic symptoms and prospective seasonal symptom registration among subjects with AS.

METHODS
On the basis of a population survey, autumn 2002, including skin prick tests (positive if > or =3 mm) and a screening questionnaire, 87 subjects with AS to birch and/or grass pollen, birch and/or grass pollen allergic symptomatic subjects (n = 63) and healthy controls (n = 40) were included in January to March 2003, completed diary cards on symptom and medication use during the relevant seasons 2003, and were examined at follow up in autumn 2003. Allergy: positive SPT and symptoms > or = seven diary days.

RESULTS
Eleven AS subjects (birch: n = 10) subsequently developed allergic symptoms, yet nine admitted, at follow up, to have had symptoms before inclusion, or even denied pollen-related symptoms despite a significant diary. Compared with AS subjects sensitized to grass pollen, AS subjects sensitized to birch pollen had significantly larger skin prick reactions and more often and severe pollen symptoms.

CONCLUSION
In the context of double-sensitization, retrospective symptom assessment is not a reliable method for ensuring that subjects classified, as asymptomatically skin sensitized, are truly, asymptomatic. This matter should be considered in studies on allergy development.


Endochondral ossification is the process of cell proliferation and differentiation leading to bone formation. It requires temporal and spatial coordination of the actions of various cell types and is mediated by many signaling molecules amongst which Ihh and PTHrP are included. A novel gene product identified recently as SAP (Small Acidic Protein) has also been proposed to play a major role in endochondral ossification. The main aim of this study is to characterize the functional roles of SAP that are potentially associated with new bone formation. The embryonic chick sternum has been rarely used in the previous studies of the development of cartilage. Thus, both tissues (tibia and sternum) from 17 days old embryonic chicks are included in this project. The areas of investigation are as follows: (1) Localising the expression of SAP, Ihh and type X collagen using an in situ hybridisation technique. (2) To investigate whether the expression of SAP is associated with the Ihh/PTHrP loop. (3) Studying the over expression of SAP in chick sternal chondrocytes using Replication-Competent Retrovirus. Tibia and sternum show a close similarity in terms of their cell growth structure as confirmed by histological investigation. The tissues are composed of three characteristic zones (caudal, middle and cephalic) distinguishable by their respective chondrocyte phenotypes: proliferative, prehypertrophic, and hypertrophic. As revealed by in situ hybridisation, SAP is predominantly localised in the proliferative chondrocytes of both, tibia and sternum, although low intensity of expression is also observed in the prehypertrophic and hypertrophic cells. Ihh is highly expressed in the prehypertrophic chondrocytes in both tissues and its expression continues throughout this transitional zone where the majority of cells are stained strongly, but the reactivity becomes less pronounced throughout the hypertrophic part of the tissues. Unlike SAP and Ihh, type X collagen is found to accumulate exclusively in the hypertrophic zone. Under normal culture conditions where the samples are not treated with cyclopamine, the proliferative chondrocytes show high levels of SAP, PTHrP and Patched expression, but do not express Ihh and type X collagen. When treated with cyclopamine, the proliferative chondrocytes no longer express SAP and PTHrP but unexpectedly show the expression of Ihh and type X collagen. The initiation of the expression of Ihh and type X collagen by the proliferative chondrocytes following cyclopamine treatment is also accompanied by a decline in the production of GAG and hydroxyproline, suggesting the onset of cell differentiation. Cyclopamine is a naturally-occurring chemical that belong to the group of steroidal jerveratrum alkaloids. It has been shown that cyclopamine blocks the hedgehog signalling pathway by influencing the balance between active and inactive forms of the Smoothened protein (Taipale et al, 2002) Cyclopamine inhibits SAP and PTHrP expression in the prehypertrophic and hypertrophic chondrocytes where Ihh and type X collagen remains unaffected. As SAP expression is predominantly found in the proliferative zone and downregulated in prehypertrophic and hypertrophic chondrocytes, this may indicate its involvement in endochondral ossification as a promoter of cell proliferation and as a transcription regulator preventing the cells from reaching hypertrophy or maturation. An attempt to investigate the biological role of SAP by over expressing the SAP gene in cell cultures has not been successful and it remains to be confirmed whether SAP is an integral part of the Ihh/PTHrP feedback control loop.


The purpose of research - determine the clinical efficacy of peritoneal dialysis (PD) in children with acute renal failure after correction of complex congenital heart disease (CHD).

Methods:

Examined 52 patients aged 1 month. up to 4 years on the background with ARF after cardiac surgical correction of CHD, who were selected in 2 groups: group 1 - 30 children without PD, 2nd group - 28 children with PD. Children with oligoanuria in both groups conducted diagnostic tests of blood levels of urea and creatinine determination of creatinine clearance and urea clearance, echocardiography-control study to determine the hemodynamic status, determining the gas composition, and acid-base balance of blood electrolytes before and after intensive therapy (group 1), using PD (group 2).

Results:

In group 1, the level of azotemia (creatinine clearance and urea clearance) persisted for more than 7 days, while in group 2, normalization of urea and creatinine clearance was observed even on the 4th day. Improvement of hemodynamic parameters (heart preload reduction by 22%) was observed in group 2. Improved gas exchange in lung function observed in the 2nd group.

Findings:

1. Peritoneal dialysis can be used as a method of continuous renal replacement therapy makes it possible to control the level of azotemia in the postoperative period in patients with oligoanuria.

2. Indications for use of PD in patients with CHD are low weight patients (less than 10 kg), long IR (120 min) and the development of postoperative ARF.

3. Application PD in complex intensive therapy of children with ARF after surgical correction of complex CHD reduces cardi-ac preload level of 22%, which reduces the amount cardiotonical support.

4. Peritoneal dialysis improves gas exchange (R02/K02> 300) function (compliance, increase in lung tissue by 20%) in children after heart operations through continuous slow ultrafiltration.

5. Correction of electrolyte metabolism and acid-base status in children with ARF after surgical correction of congenital heart disease is significantly improved when using PD.


Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Science, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Japan Purpose: To classify microaneurysms (MAs) and investigate the relationships with retinal edema in eyes with branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO). Study Design: Retrospective, observational, consecutive case series. Methods: Eyes with MAs due to BRVO that underwent optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) were enrolled. MAs on OCTA images were morphologically classified into six types: focal bulge, saccular, fusiform, mixed (saccular/fusiform), pedunculated, and irregular. The frequency, size, location, and relationships with retinal edema also were investigated. Results: Twenty-four eyes of 23 patients (12 men, 11 women; mean age, 68.0 years) were enrolled. A total of 244 MAs were detected on the OCTA images. The focal bulge and saccular types accounted for over 70% of all MAs. Smaller MAs such as the focal bulge or saccular type also were detected both at the edge of the nonperfused areas (NPAs) and in collateral vessels. In contrast, larger MAs such as the pedunculated or irregular types tended to form at the edges of the NPAs. Older age, the presence of MAs in the collateral vessels, and the absence of pedunculated type were independent predictive factors for retinal edema but not the MA size, or presence in the retinal deep capillary plexus. After treatment, the mean retinal thickness decreased significantly, but the mean MA size remained unchanged. Conclusion: OCTA enables morphologic classification, three-dimensional analysis, and investigation of the longitudinal changes of MAs with noninvasive volumetric quantification, leading to a better understanding of the pathology of MAs in eyes with BRVO.


Abstract. The aim of the presented study was to investigate the impact on the radiation
budget of a biomass-burning plume, transported from Alaska to the High Arctic
region of Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard, in early July 2015. Since the mean
aerosol optical depth increased by the factor of 10 above the average summer
background values, this large aerosol load event is considered particularly
exceptional in the last 25 years. In situ data with hygroscopic growth
equations, as well as remote sensing measurements as inputs to radiative
transfer models, were used, in order to estimate biases associated with
(i) hygroscopicity, (ii) variability of single-scattering albedo profiles,
and (iii) plane-parallel closure of the modelled atmosphere. A chemical
weather model with satellite-derived biomass-burning emissions was applied to
interpret the transport and transformation pathways. The provided MODTRAN radiative transfer model (RTM) simulations for the smoke event
(14:00 9 July–11:30 11 July) resulted in a mean aerosol
direct radiative forcing at the levels of −78.9 and −47.0 W m−2 at
the surface and at the top of the atmosphere, respectively,
for the mean value of aerosol optical depth equal to 0.64 at 550 nm. This
corresponded to the average clear-sky direct radiative forcing of −43.3 W m−2, estimated by radiometer and model simulations at the surface.
Ultimately, uncertainty associated with the plane-parallel atmosphere
approximation altered results by about 2 W m−2. Furthermore,
model-derived aerosol direct radiative forcing efficiency reached on average
−126 W m-2/τ550 and −71 W m-2/τ550 at the
surface and at the top of the atmosphere, respectively. The heating rate, estimated at up
to 1.8 K day−1 inside the biomass-burning plume, implied vertical
mixing with turbulent kinetic energy of 0.3 m2 s−2.


Knowledge of stability during sample transportation and changes in biomarker concentrations within person over time are paramount for proper design and interpretation of epidemiologic studies based on a single measurement of biomarker status. Therefore, we investigated stability and intraindividual vs. interindividual variation in blood concentrations of biomarkers related to vitamin status, one-carbon metabolism, and the kynurenine pathway. Whole blood (EDTA and heparin, n = 12) was stored with an icepack for 24 or 48 h, and plasma concentrations of 38 biomarkers were determined. Stability was calculated as change per hour, intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), and simple Spearman correlation. Within-person reproducibility of biomarkers was expressed as ICC in samples collected 1-2 y apart from 40 postmenopausal women and in samples collected up to 3 y apart from 551 patients with stable angina pectoris. Biomarker stability was similar in EDTA and heparin blood. Most biomarkers were essentially stable, except for choline and total homocysteine (tHcy), which increased markedly. Within-person reproducibility in postmenopausal women was excellent (ICC > 0.75) for cotinine, all-trans retinol, cobalamin, riboflavin, α-tocopherol, Gly, pyridoxal, methylmalonic acid, creatinine, pyridoxal 5'-phosphate, and Ser; was good to fair (ICC of 0.74-0.40) for pyridoxic acid, kynurenine, tHcy, cholecalciferol, flavin mononucleotide, kynurenic acid, xanthurenic acid, 3-hydroxykynurenine, sarcosine, anthranilic acid, cystathionine, homoarginine, 3-hydroxyanthranilic acid, betaine, Arg, folate, total cysteine, dimethylglycine, asymmetric dimethylarginine, neopterin, symmetric dimethylarginine, and Trp; and poor (ICC of 0.39-0.15) for methionine sulfoxide, Met, choline, and trimethyllysine. Similar reproducibilities were observed in patients with coronary heart disease. Thus, most biomarkers investigated were essentially stable in cooled whole blood for up to 48 h and had a sufficient within-person reproducibility to allow one-exposure assessment of biomarker status in epidemiologic studies. The Western Norway B Vitamin Intervention Trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NTC00354081.


AIM
To present a case of pseudoangiomatous stromal hyperplasia (PASH) and its findings under 1. mammography - MG, 2. ultrasonography - USG and 3. magnetic resonance imaging - MRI.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
A woman 39 years of age with a history of mass in her right breast of 3 months duration was subjected to a routine examination of the mass using MG & USG. According to the modality findings a core cut biopsy was done following which the samples were send for histological analysis. Later, MRI was done as advocated by the surgeon to get a better picture of the extent of the lesion prior to surgery.

RESULTS
Bilateral mammogram views revealed in the patient's right breast a huge well-bordered tumour of lobulated contour without halo sign. Sonography revealed a big well-demarcated tumour in the central part of the right breast which was cystic and lobulated in shape. Histological analysis of the sample confirmed pseudoangiomatous stromal hyperplasia (PASH). MRI under a breast array coil revealed a mass of 85 x 75 x 35mm in the right breast. Finally, based on the clinical, radiological and histological report the mass was diagnosed as benign and despite the massive size of the mass, tumour excision alone was done and not mastectomy. The right breast after the huge tumour excision was almost normal in size compared to the left.

CONCLUSION
PASH should be included in the differential diagnosis of a circumscribed or partially circumscribed mass, especially in the pre-menopausal female population. These benign masses often grow over time and can recur locally. Radiological diagnosis of PASH is usually done by MG and USG followed by core cut biopsy for histological analysis. However great the mass is, excision only of the tumor mass is recommended and not mastectomy.


The classification and diagnosis of mood disorders have been the subject of much debate over the last 150 years and remain extremely important for Contemporary psychiatric practice. Although the dsm (diagnostic and statistical manual) and icd (international classification of diseases) Classifications of major depression and bipolar disorder have been very helpful for research and practice, recent work suggests that it may be appropriate to consider a return to a broader view of the bipolar spectrum. Here we review the evolving concept of bipolar spectrum disorders with particular reference To dimensional aspects of symptoms and the interfaces between unipolar depression and bipolar disorder and between bipolar disorder and psychosis.


THERE ARE MANY WAYS to analyze a joke, each of which is tied to the perspective of the person making the analysis. To demonstrate this, I will offer a joke and then present eight different interpretations of the joke, each one derived from a particular discipline or perspective. A man walks into a bar. "I'm Jim," he says to the bartender. "I'm gay. Will you serve me?" "Sure," says the bartender. "What will you have?" "A beer," says Jim The next day Jim walks into the bar with another man. "This is my brother Bob," he says to the bartender. "He's gay. Will you serve us?" "Of course," says the bartender. "What'll you guys have?" "Two beers," says Jim. The next day Jim and Bob walk into the bar accompanied by another man. "This is my brother Sam," say Jim. "He's gay. Will you serve us?" "Yes," says the bartender. "What do you guy want?" "Three beers," says Jim. After the bartender serves the men the beers he asks, "Does anyone in your family like women?" "Of course," says Jim. "Our sister Sally does, but she doesn't drink." Let's see, now, how each of our scholars analyzes this joke. These analyses wil be brief and are meant to suggest the kinds of things people with different perspectives concern themselves with when dealing with a joke or any text (the term conventionally used in literary studies for any work, such as a story, novel, poem, television program, and so on). The Rhetorician For our purposes, the rhetorician will focus on the techniques used to generate the humor in this text. The most important technique, I would suggest, is one I call "Disappointment and Defeated Expectations." The punch line in this joke, "Of course," suggests that at least one member of the family is heterosexual, but it turns out not to be the case, for the member of the family that likes women is a woman, and thus the family remains firmly homosexual. In this respect, it is most unusual and thus we find the technique of eccentricity, comic types, and that kind of thing, at work, also. In addition, there is the repetition, in which we are introduced to the first, second, and third brother, thus heightening the significance of the question by the bartender ("Doesn't anyone like women?") and of the punch line ("Of course...our sister Sally does..."). Semiotic Analysis One of the important techniques semioticians use, when they deal with texts, is to consider their paradigmatic structure -- the set of oppositions found in the (some would say read into them) that give them meaning. Concepts have meaning, Saussure argued, due to their relationships with other concepts; nothing has meaning in itself. Thus, a paradigmatic analysis of this joke would yield the following set of oppositions: NORMAL DEVIANT Heterosexuality Homosexuality Bartender Brothers and Sister Males like Women Females like Women The joke is based on this set of linked notions that are found under each main concept. Listeners to the joke don't necessarily bring this set of oppositions to mind, but they must recognize it if the joke is to make any sense and the punch line is to be effective. When the bartender asks whether anyone in the family likes women, the question assumes the polarity between normal and devian (we cannot use negations in making our oppositions because they don't tell us enough). The bartender assumed he was asking about males in the family who like women, about people who were "normal." The punch line only makes sense in that context, and its humor comes from the way it defeats our expectation of normalcy. Communications Theory Communications theory is a very broad field. Roman Jakobson's model involves an addresser, an addressee, coding and decoding of a message, etc. According to some communications theorists, a message has information to the extent that it has a surprise. Thus, jokes, since they have punch lines, contain information. …


Social media sites derive their value by providing a popular and dependable community for participants to engage, share, and interact. This community value and related services like search and advertising are threatened by spammers, content polluters, and malware disseminators. In an effort to preserve community value and ensure long-term success, we present a prototype system for automatically detecting and profiling destructive users in social media. We described the architecture of the system - inspired by the "broken windows" theory embraced by law enforcement - the results and insights gained from a preliminary study conducted to determine the efficacy of our approach, and a discussion of our ongoing research.


Esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) has a 20% five-year survival rate, and the standard of care esophagectomy has a 20% mortality and 50% morbidity. EAC pathogenesis involves dysplastic and metaplastic changes within the mucosa in response to dysregulated microenvironmental cues, i.e., gastric reflux and chronic inflammation. Extracellular matrix (ECM) is a primary component of the microenvironment that influences cell phenotype through dynamic reciprocity.

ECM bioscaffolds have been used to treat 14 EAC patients after mucosal resection resulting in preservation of esophageal function, restoration of a near normal mucosa, and no recurrence of cancer for 1-8 years. The implanted ECM bioscaffolds completely degraded within 2 weeks, suggesting that the ECM degradation products normalized cell phenotype in the post-cancer resection niche. ECM bioscaffolds can be digested by pepsin in vitro to simulate ECM degradation products, and furthermore these degradation products can be formulated as a hydrogel for clinical therapy.

The objectives of the present dissertation were to determine the effects of solubilized non-malignant, metaplastic, and neoplastic esophageal ECM upon macrophage activation and epithelial cell function, to further understand the role of ECM-cell crosstalk in EAC progression. Solubilized, non-malignant ECM hydrogel was evaluated for its potential to mitigate diseased esophageal epithelial cells in vitro and in vivo.

Metaplastic and neoplastic ECM contained distinctive matrix-bound nanovesicle (MBV) miRNA cargo and ECM protein signatures that activated macrophages toward a pro-inflammatory, TNFalpha+ state, and increased epithelial cell migration. Non-malignant esophageal ECM (eECM) hydrogel downregulated cancer cell proliferation and signaling pathways (e.g., PI3K-Akt, cell cycle/DNA replication), with a minimal effect on normal esophageal epithelial cells. eECM hydrogel treatment mitigated macroscopic esophagitis, regressed Barrett's epithelium toward normal squamous epithelium, and downregulated the pro-inflammatory TNFalpha+ cell infiltrate in a pre-clinical, large animal model of Barrett's esophagus. Similar results were seen with eECM hydrogel treatment in an in vivo rodent model of EAC. Finally, practical aspects of the clinical translation of eECM hydrogels were determined. eECM hydrogel mechanical properties can be tailored to facilitate oral, endoscopic, or submucosal injection delivery.

Taken together, we conclude that eECM hydrogel is a suitable therapy for esophageal disease based upon the accepted concepts of cell-matrix interactions.


Abstract According to DiPerna and Elliott (2002), academic competence comprises both academic skills and academic enablers. Academic enablers, which are within student variables, are essential for understanding student achievement; however, missing from this picture is the influence of context on the development and application of students' academic enabler skills. In this article, a theoretical framework for considering the direct and indirect effects of important contexts (e.g., child, school, family, and peers) on student performance and how these contexts change over time is described. Also, the literature regarding social and emotional influences on student performance is reviewed. Finally, the implications for assessment and intervention practices and directions for future research are discussed.


On the margins of 'patriotism' and 'popery', Edmund Burke's essential Irishness remains poorly understood, not least in Ireland. But Burke was himself twice lord rector of Glasgow - he preceded Adam Smith - and there are few aspects of his life so neglected and so potentially rewarding as his relationships - personal,professional, and philosophical - to Scots jurists and the 'Scottish enlightenment'. Between them, Burke and the Scots exemplified the most pressing debates and developments of the century.


The coupling of electromagnetic fields inside shielded cables is an important issue in EMC applications, in which the transfer impedance represents one of the main parameters. The paper discusses the last analytical expressions which have been developed for the transfer impedance of braided cables. A general approach for the determination of the internal response of a shielded cable to an external electromagnetic excitation is presented in the frequency domain using the BLT equations. Then, an equivalent time domain form of the BLT equations is presented for the case of a lossless line. An example of calculation of the internal response of a braided cable illuminated by a plane wave in an EMP simulator, using measured and calculated values of the transfer impedance is presented. Calculations are compared with experimental measurements and a reasonable agreement is found


scientific production of 117 countries. It was found that OECD and Eastern European countries produce 93.99 per cent of the mainstream scientific literature, while Third World countries produce only 4.57 per cent of this literature. The publication ranking of the world's top publication producers corresponds well with the ranking of the world's top national recipients of the Nobel Prize in scientific areas. A principal components analysis of the publication data for the world's science producers for eight scientific fields suggests that there are five basic patterns for the production of national science.


The experimental characterization of an innovative optical system for detection of carbon monoxide (CO) is reported. In this system a photodetector based on gallium nitride (GaN) and an UV light source are integrated. The gas flows between the light source and the GaN photodetector. The UV light source consists of a spark produced by an arc discharge which induced transitions in the gas, causing a modification of the light intensity as a function of gas composition. These transitions modify the fraction of light in the UV spectral region which is detected by the GaN-photodetector, as a function of the species concentration. By virtue of its structural properties, gallium nitride (GaN) allows to operate at high temperature and high speed and to work in-situ in the exhaust manifold of combustion engines at temperatures as high as 600degC, at which the deposited organic residuals on the detector can be oxidized. This assures the clear surface needed for a real time optical measurement of the species concentration to be used for a closed loop control of the fuel injection process. The system was applied to the detection of CO with concentration between 0-2.4% in a buffer of pure nitrogen gas, showing an increase in the measured photocurrent as a function of the above gases


Statement of the Problem: Classical chemotherapy, based on the use of small molecules or bioactive natural products, is still the mainstay for cancer treatment that aims at major cellular targets such as DNA, tubulin or protein kinases. Even though chemotherapy remains the standard cancer therapy option, the use of available chemotherapeutics is rather limited due to severe side effects or a limited choice of available anticancer drugs. This clearly underscores the need for development of more effective cancer treatments and new class of chemotherapeutics. Methodology & Theoretical Orientation: Benzothiazoles and their derivatives have shown a wide range of biological activities such as anticancer, antimicrobial, antiviral and antioxidant. In continuation of our recent studies in the synthesis and evaluation of antiproliferative activities of amidino-substituted 2-aryl(heteroaryl)bisbenzothiazole derivatives, we present here the design, synthesis and structure-activity relationships of a series of dicationic 6-amidino-2-alkyl-bisbenzothiazole derivatives. The synthesis of diamidino-substituted bisbenzothiazole derivatives was performed by condensation reactions of the corresponding 5-amidino-2-aminothiophenole with dicarboxylic acid. The antiproliferative, properties of the newly prepared compounds were evaluated in vitro against four human tumor cell lines: colorectal metastatic adenocarcinoma (SW620), HepG2 (hepatocellular carcinoma), CFPAC-1 (pancreatic adenocarcinoma), HeLa (cervical carcinoma) using MTT assay. As a positive control, 5-fluorouracil was used. Findings: In vitro anti�proliferative screening of novel diamidino�bisbenzothiazolyl derivatives revealed moderate to strong activity on tested cell lines, depending on the type of amidinic substituent, as well as the length of the alkyl chain. Conclusion & Significance: Based on these results, some compounds were chosen as the leading compounds for further rationalized design of the benzothiazole skeleton.


In this paper we consider practical dissemination algorithms exploiting network coding for data broadcasting in ad hoc wireless networks. For an efficient design, we analyze issues related to the use of network coding in realistic network scenarios. In detail, we quantify the impact of random access schemes, as used by IEEE 802.11, on the performance of network coding. In such scenarios, deadlock situations may occur where the delivery process stops and some of the nodes never gather the required packets. To tackle this problem, we propose a proactive mechanism (called proactive network coding) which adapts its transmission schedule according to the decoding status of neighboring nodes. This scheme can detect when nodes need additional packets in order to decode and acts accordingly. We finally investigate the behavior of network coding schemes in multi-rate environments, where we propose a distributed heuristic approach for the selection of data rates.


This online appendix provides results omitted in the paper with the same title. Appendix A explains all the definitions and equations necessary for practical computations of an option pricing formula in Theorem 4.3: Section A.1 gives a summary with Corollary A.1, which shows our pricing formula with complete expressions of constants Ci,k (i = 1, 2, 3), Cj (j = 4, 5, 6) appearing in the theorem. Section A.2. provides the details of the derivation. Appendix B lists up the conditional expectation formulas used in the derivation of the theorem.


: Mallory's body filament assembly includes polypeptides of the cytokeratin class of intermediate filaments and also higher molecular weight polypeptides normally found only in the cytokeratins of mature keratinocytes of the epidermis. These additional polypeptides may alter both the morphologic characteristics and increase the resistance to dissolution of the filaments by Ca++-activated protease activity. Thus, it is likely that the kinetics of Mallory's body filament assembly and dissolution favor growth of the filaments. In rodents fed certain carcinogens, Mallory's body formation has been accompanied by the induction of the oncofetoenzyme gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), suggesting that Mallory's body formation, like GGT induction, is a phenotypic change related to the process of neoplastic transformation in rodents.


ABSTRCT An investigation was recently conducted into the delivery of an Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Processes module which was presented to a sub-group of the final year engineering students at Dublin City University (DCU). Results from the class which has just completed their final year studies were examined in relation to the method of delivery. This cohort consisted of 25 students, 13 which studied for the Computer Aided Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering (CAM) degree and 12 which studied for the Business and Manufacturing Engineering (BME) degree. This paper presents an examination of some of the factors affecting the overall results of these students. Factors evaluated include attendance of the student, as well as individual performance in continuous assessment and examination. Overall attendance at the lecture, the organised seminar series, and practical work were recorded. Results indicate a direct link between attendance and marks awarded. Students with higher attendance achieved better grades. Good continuous assessment performance did not automatically indicate good exam performance. Contrary evidence to this is discussed in relation to student learning styles where students may show better ability in exams with poorer ability in continuous assessment and vice versa.


Protocol analysis is very important for engineers for developing a complicate communication system, or for network administrators for supervision and fault diagnosis. Although several commercial protocol analyzers are available in the markets, they are too expensive or difficult to be altered to fit in with the needs of new protocols. In this paper, we present a protocol analysis platform based on open source software, which provides a general, extensible, and easy-to-use framework. We have implemented and tested fully functional prototype for TETRA trunking system, which can provide bit-level packet inspection, performance statistics, message flow analysis, and application information extraction. We demonstrate the utility and flexibility of our platform by three application examples.


In this examination of the web presence of OFBJP.org, I show first how Overseas Friends of BJP fit into expanded definitions and conceptions of nationalism. The modern nation-state is reaching out beyond its territorial boundaries, bringing in migrants in the diaspora and reorienting their gaze back towards India. It is part of a larger strategy built around dominating cyberspace and exercising power over minds instead of bodies. A critical discourse analysis of OFBJP.org shows the priorities of the organization. It is built around recreating the hierarchy of the BJP and playing on migrants' emotional attachment to India to compel them to donate money and invest in the country in exchange for cultural capital. In doing so, it helps (re)produce a particular vision of India. Meanwhile, its Facebook and Twitter pages seem to be built around communicating the BJP ideology to its own members. It is not necessarily expansionist in the way that other social media projects are, and operates under a philosophy of control that polices what its members write. OFBJP rarely posts about life for Indian-Americans in the United States, and when it does, it is under the rubric of culture, specifically Hindu. The migrants engagement with the political life of India seems to be prized above all else, even as there are indications that there is a willingness to engage with issues in the US. I conclude with a few thoughts on how the Indian state's use of the internet forces us to reconsider previous notions of both cultural and political nationalism.


With the increase in internet technology as well as the electronic content the web-based learning has become the desirable medium in the field of education. In medical, dental and allied health science education, the conventional method involves the use of textbooks, lectures, and images. But trends suggest that a change is poised in this field. Objective: the systematic review aims to evaluate the literature of studies about the application of the e-Learning methods in radiology education at the undergraduate level in comparison to conventional teaching-learning methods. Material and Methods: prominent scientific databases were searched for literature related to the application of e-Learning in undergraduate radiology education. The search keywords used for the search were- E-learning, dental radiology, oral radiology, undergraduate. English language full text of eligible article was systematically reviewed. Results: seven full text articles were obtained after scrutiny of the available literature. Most of the research work was carried out in the past decade and dental schools in different parts of the world. Almost all the studies showed that e-learning was as either equally effective or more effective when compared to conventional teaching in dental radiology. Conclusion: e-learning could be a suitable alternative to conventional teaching-learning method with significant improvement in student attitude and knowledge however, the influence of e-learning in improving the practical or clinical skills of dental radiography is still debatable.


Objectives: Although one third or more of critically ill patients in the United States are obese, obesity is not incorporated as a contributing factor in any of the commonly used severity of illness scores. We hypothesize that selected severity of illness scores would perform differently if body mass index categorization was incorporated and that the performance of these score models would improve after consideration of body mass index as an additional model feature. Design: Retrospective cohort analysis from a multicenter ICU database which contains deidentified data for more than 200,000 ICU admissions from 208 distinct ICUs across the United States between 2014 and 2015. Setting: First ICU admission of patients with documented height and weight. Patients: One-hundred eight-thousand four-hundred two patients from 189 different ICUs across United States were included in the analyses, of whom 4,661 (4%) were classified as underweight, 32,134 (30%) as normal weight, 32,278 (30%) as overweight, 30,259 (28%) as obese, and 9,070 (8%) as morbidly obese. Interventions: None. Measurements and Main Results: To assess the effect of adding body mass index as a risk adjustment element to the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation IV and Oxford Acute Severity of Illness scoring systems, we examined the impact of this addition on both discrimination and calibration. We performed three assessments based upon 1) the original scoring systems, 2) a recalibrated version of the systems, and 3) a recalibrated version incorporating body mass index as a covariate. We also performed a subgroup analysis in groups defined using World Health Organization guidelines for obesity. Incorporating body mass index into the models provided a minor improvement in both discrimination and calibration. In a subgroup analysis, model discrimination was higher in groups with higher body mass index, but calibration worsened. Conclusions: The performance of ICU prognostic models utilizing body mass index category as a scoring element was inconsistent across body mass index categories. Overall, adding body mass index as a risk adjustment variable led only to a minor improvement in scoring system performance.


In this work, microwave irradiation was used to extract two dye plants (Quercus ithaburansis Decaisne and Rubia tinctorum L.) and to dye natural cotton. Using microwave (MW) energy, the extraction time for these plants and the dyeing time for organic cotton fabric were optimized. The colouring compounds were analysed in the extractions and dyed fabrics by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic method coupled with a photodiode array detector (RP-HPLC PAD). CIEL*a*b* spectrophotometer measured the colour characteristics of all the dyed fabrics. Scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersion spectroscopy (SEM-EDX) was used to image the dyed organic cotton fabrics. The colouristic and colourfastness properties of the dyed fabrics were investigated. According to the test results, it has been determined that the 5 minutes of extraction and dyeing time using with microwave irradiation method is very eligible. During these processes, energy and timesavings were achieved by eco-friendly MW irradiation and minimized cotton damage.


Cable-stayed bridge with single cable plane has advantages in wide field of view. However, the problem of stability becomes especially important, because it can't provide torsional stiffness. Based on LanQi SongHua River Bridge, a concrete cable-stayed bridge with single cable plane, the dynamic character, wind-resistant stability and flutter instability are analyzed, especially the analysis of the flutter stability at maximum double cantilever stage during construction phase. The paper analyzes the dynamic characters of the finite element model of the whole bridge through response spectrum method to reap the natural frequency, the vibration modes and other parameters, then checking the flutter stability. The results show that the bridge is very safe either at maximum double cantilever stage or finished stage. The analysis method provides a basis and references for the wind-resistant of cable-stayed bridge with single cable plane.


This paper analyses COVID-19 patients' dynamics during the first wave in the region of Castilla y León (Spain) with around 2.4 million inhabitants using multi-state competing risk survival models. From the date registered as the start of the clinical process, it is assumed that a patient can progress through three intermediate states until reaching an absorbing state of recovery or death. Demographic characteristics, epidemiological factors such as the time of infection and previous vaccinations, clinical history, complications during the course of the disease and drug therapy for hospitalised patients are considered as candidate predictors. Regarding risk factors associated with mortality and severity, consistent results with many other studies have been found, such as older age, being male, and chronic diseases. Specifically, the hospitalisation (death) rate for those over 69 is 27.2% (19.8%) versus 5.3% (0.7%) for those under 70, and for males is 14.5%(7%) versus 8.3%(4.6%)for females. Among patients with chronic diseases the highest rates of hospitalisation are 26.1% for diabetes and 26.3% for kidney disease, while the highest death rate is 21.9% for cerebrovascular disease. Moreover, specific predictors for different transitions are given, and estimates of the probability of recovery and death for each patient are provided by the model. Some interesting results obtained are that for patients infected at the end of the period the hazard of transition from hospitalisation to ICU is significatively lower (p < 0.001) and the hazard of transition from hospitalisation to recovery is higher (p < 0.001). For patients previously vaccinated against pneumococcus the hazard of transition to recovery is higher (p < 0.001). Finally, internal validation and calibration of the model are also performed.


Indonesian Islamic banking is not just another banking maneuver from Bank Indonesia (BI) to grasp more customers than before, but it is a never ending source of innovations in economics thoughts in which accounting is undeniable part. Not before the establishment of PSAK No. 59 did Indonesian banking scholars and practitioners realize that currently adopted conventional accounting standards might have been enough for conventional banks, but they would never be enough for Islamic banks. Some flaws are too real to ignore in the conventional accounting theory that could cause improper information presentation in Islamic bank. Of ways to fix things that was done wrong previously, the best is to walk beyond the conventional accounting theory and find what accounting really is for an Islamic bank as it possesses some unique characteristics a con¬ventional bank does not.Â


The results of studies on three important wireless access technology issues in the personal communications services (PCS) arena are described. They are signal duplexing, multiplexing on the downlink, and channel frequency assignment. Each of these issues was addressed through the comparison of two competing technologies. In the area of duplexing, frequency division duplexing (FDD) was compared to time division duplexing (TDD) with the result that FDD is preferred if appropriate spectrum is available. Multiplexing on the downlink examined time division multiplexing (TDM) versus a burst downlink (TDMA). TDM is preferred for the wide-area local-exchange environment, but in certain indoor, office applications, TDMA may prove advantageous. The two methods of frequency channel assignment investigated are quasi-state autonomous frequency assignment (QSAFA) and dynamic channel assignment (DCA). QSFA is generally preferred, although indoor, multitenent environments with low port loading may benefit from the use of DCA. These analyses assume that the system uses time-division multiple access (TDMA). >


Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), such as Heparan Sulfate (HS), are vital components,
of all multicellular organisms, with confirmed roles in development, cell-cell
communication and diseases such as dementia and cancer. As such, the interaction of
this important group of molecules with proteins is an important process to
comprehend and improvements to current techniques are sought. To achieve this HS
and its structural analogue heparin, were investigated in various biological systems to
simultaneously improve our collective knowledge of the biological systems
employed and to improve techniques available to study them. Hen Egg White
Lysozyme (HEWL), a model amyloid forming protein, is found to be destabilised
with a complex of HS in the zinc (HS(Zn)) from 67.7 °C to 57.6 °C compared to
65.3 °C in the presence of HS in the Na form (as measured by differential scanning
fluorimetry). These complexes were studied structurally using synchrotron radiation
circular dichroism (SRCD) and found to contain extremely similar secondary
structure. To differentiate these similar structures principal component analysis
(PCA) of thermal and UV degradations of the complexes using CD were analysed.
The HS and HS(Zn) ligands were hypothesised to interact with the two tryptophan
residues (Trp) in the active site of HEWL. To confirm this, magnetic circular
dichroism (MCD) was also developed as a technique to observe direct Trp:ligand
interactions. MCD demonstrated an interaction between HS/HS(Zn) and Trp in
HEWL using a signal at the novel position of 286 nm. Antithrombin (AT) was
studied in relation to the active pentasaccharide drug and inactive shrimp heparinoids
(SH) that contain the important 3-O-sulfate, thought to be key for AT activity against
factor Xa. These active and inactive complexes were found to be structurally similar
again when studied with SRCD so were subjected to UV degradation. The active and
non-active compounds were finally differentiated via their induced stability in AT to
thermal degradation. This important correlation challenges the current dogma, which
relates activity with a particular pentasaccharide sequence. 2D generalised
correlation techniques were applied to the data obtained in this thesis increasing the
resolution of the data significantly, allowing for <1nm resolution in some examples.
A separate method utilizing the same analysis techniques reveals subtle features
within a spectrum, thereby increasing the information available and will be useful for
future developments of algorithms assuring improved reliability. A new method of
data handling is also proposed for Raman optical activity data, which allows for the
correction of baseline drifts, enabling a series of data to be directly compared.


In September 1997 the Oxford Archaeological Unit (OAU) undertook an excavation on the site of a proposed residential development to the south of Mably Way, Wantage. The excavation was carried out in response to the reults of an evaluation and as a part of the planning conditions set by Oxfordshire County Council. The presence of Romano-British activity to the south of the site and the evidence revealed during the excavation suggested that evidence for agricultural activity and possibly settlement would be encountered during the excavation. In the event several linear features were encountered but the majority related to modern or post-medieval field drainage systems and ploughing. Only two features could be tentatively ineterpreted as Romano-British as the paucity of datable finds recovered makes any dates questionable.


There is considerable current interest in neural modeling of the attentional blink phenomenon. Two prominent models of this task are the Simultaneous Type Serial Token (ST 2) model and the Locus Coeruleus–Norepinephrine (LC–NE) model. The former of these generates a broad spectrum of behavioral data, while the latter provides a neurophysiologically detailed account. This paper explores the relationship between these two approaches. Specifically, we consider the spectrum of empirical phenomena that the two models generate, particularly emphasizing the need to generate a reciprocal relationship between bottom-up trace strength and the blink bottleneck. Then we discuss the implications of using ST 2 token mechanisms in the LC–NE setting.


OBJECTIVE
To study the chemical constituents from the seeds of A. katsumadai, and their inhibition on NF-kappaB activation and antitumor effect.

METHOD
Tweleve compounds were isolated from the seeds of Aplinia katsumadai on repeated column chromatography on silica gel, and Sephadex LH-20, and their structures were determined mainly by means of MS and NMR techniques; and their inhibition on NF-kappaB activation and antitumor effect were also tested by High-Content Screening (image-based) with immunofluorescent probe and MTT method, respectively.

RESULT
From the EtOAC fraction of the seeds of A. katsumadai 12 compounds were isolated and identified as follows: (3S,5S)-trans-3,5-dihydroxy-1 ,7-diphenyl-hept-1-ene (1), (3R,5S)-trans-3,5-dihydroxy-1,7-diphenyl-hept-1-ene (2), 5-hydroxy-1,7-diphenyl-hepta-6-en-3-one (3), cardamonin (4), alpinetin(5), pinocembrin(6), pinostrobin(7), naringenin (8), (+)-catechin(9), chrysin(10), rutin(11) and 2,4- dihydroxy-6-phenethl-benzinic acid methyl ester (12). Compound 14 showed inhibitory effect on NF-kappaB activation with the IC50 values as 14.8, 16.5, 23.2 and 7. 5 micromol x L(-1), respectively. Compound 4 displayed cytotoxicity against leukemia K562 cells and human hepatoma cell line SMMC-7721 with IC50 values as 3.2 and 3.5 mg x L(-1), and compound 6 showed moderate cytotoxicity against SMMC-7721 with the IC50 value as 18.3 mg x L(-1).

CONCLUSION
Compounds 7-12 were isolated from A. katsumadai for the first time and Compound 12 were isolated from the genus Aplinia for the first time; compound 4 has the activity of anti-tumor and NF-kappaB activation inhibition, compounds 1-3 have the activity NF-KB activation inhibition.


ABSTRACT Law enforcement officers across the country are trained in various tactics and techniques intended to increase the overall safety within a police-citizen contact. One common, albeit controversial tactic is referred to as "curb sitting". The curb-sitting tactic is generally associated with officers requiring criminal suspects to sit on a curb with their legs outstretched in front of them. The tactic is believed to provide officers additional reaction time to defend themselves from an attack but is also considered unnecessarily demeaning. The efficacy of the curb-sitting tactic has not previously been determined. The current study is the first to evaluate three common variations of the curb-sitting tactic to determine which, if any seated position allowed officers more time to respond to an attack when compared to a subject standing five feet away. Our results show that a seated subject with their legs extended is associated with a significant increase in time to cross five feet when compared to a standing subject. Based on these results, the curb-sitting tactic appears to be an evidence-based method of increasing an officer's time to respond to an attack. Implications for law enforcement training and tactics, as well as recommendations for future research are discussed.


In all but the most trivial optimization problems, the structure of the solutions exhibit complex interdependences between the input parameters. Decades of research with stochastic search techniques has shown the benefit of explicitly modeling the interactions between sets of parameters and the overall quality of the solutions discovered. We demonstrate a novel method, based on learning deep networks, to model the global landscapes of optimization problems. To represent the search space concisely and accurately, the deep networks must encode information about the underlying parameter interactions and their contributions to the quality of the solution. Once the networks are trained, the networks are probed to reveal parameter combinations with high expected performance with respect to the optimization task. These estimates are used to initialize fast, randomized, local-search algorithms, which in turn expose more information about the search space that is subsequently used to refine the models. We demonstrate the technique on multiple problems that have arisen in a variety of real-world domains, including: packing, graphics, job scheduling, layout and compression. Strengths, limitations, and extensions of the approach are extensively discussed and demonstrated.


Objective: An abnormality in auditory evoked responses localised to the inferior colliculus (IC) has been reported in rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behaviour disorder (RBD) patients. The external cortex of the inferior colliculus (ICX) has been demonstrated not only to be involved in auditory processing, but also to participate in the modulation of motor activity. Methods: Rats were surgically implanted with electrodes for electroencephalography (EEG) and electromyography (EMG) recording and guide cannulae aimed at the ICX for drug infusions. Drug infusions were conducted after the animals recovered from surgery. Polysomnographic recordings with video were analysed to detect normal and abnormal sleep states. Results: Baclofen, a gamma-aminobutyric acid B (GABAB) receptor agonist, infused into the ICX increased phasic motor activity in slow wave sleep (SWS) and REM sleep and tonic muscle activity in REM sleep; it also elicited RBD-like activity during the infusion and post-infusion period. In contrast, saclofen, a GABAB receptor antagonist, did not produce significant changes in motor activities in sleep. Baclofen infusions in ICX also significantly increased REM sleep during the post-infusion period, while saclofen infusions did not change the amount of any sleep–waking states. Conclusions: This study suggests that GABAB receptor mechanisms in the ICX may be implicated in the pathology of RBD. 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.


Although traditional fuzzy models have proven to have high capacity of approximating the real-world systems, they have some challenges, such as computational complexity, optimization problems, subjectivity, etc. In order to solve some of these problems, this paper proposes a new fuzzy system modeling approach based on improved fuzzy functions to model systems with continuous output variable. The new modeling approach introduces three features: i) an improved fuzzy clustering (IFC) algorithm, ii) a new structure identification algorithm, and iii) a nonparametric inference engine. The IFC algorithm yields simultaneous estimates of parameters of c-regression models, together with fuzzy c-partitioning of the data, to calculate improved membership values with a new membership function. The structure identification of the new approach utilizes IFC, instead of standard fuzzy c-means clustering algorithm, to fuzzy partition the data, and it uses improved membership values as additional input variables along with the original scalar input variables for two different choices of regression methods: least squares estimation or support vector regression, to determine ldquofuzzy functionsrdquo for each cluster. With novel IFC, one could learn the system behavior more accurately compared to other FSM models. The nonparametric inference engine is a new approach, which uses the alike -nearest neighbor method for reasoning. Empirical comparisons indicate that the proposed approach yields comparable or better accuracy than fuzzy or neuro-fuzzy models based on fuzzy rules bases, as well as other soft computing methods.


To determine the mechanism of smoking on the development of abdominal aortic aneurysms, the authors evaluated the proteolytic activity and quantity of matrix metalloproteinase enzymes in human aortic tissue. Abdominal aortic specimens of normal caliber were harvested from 13 organ donors, eight of whom had a history of smoking. Tissue samples were snap frozen in liquid nitrogen, pulverized, resuspended in a protein isolation buffer, and centrifuged to obtain the protein fraction. Gelatin substrate zymography was performed to determine proteolytic activity. Western immunoblotting using monoclonal antibodies directed against matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) was also performed. A significant increase in proteolytic activity was noted on zymography at 68 kilodaltons (kDa) in samples from smoking patients. Proteolytic activity at 96 kDa was not different between smokers and nonsmokers. No differences in the quantity of MMP-2 or MMP-9 were noted on immunoblots between the smoking and nonsmoking groups. These data establish a link between smoking and increased proteolytic activity in the human aortic wall and implicate smoking in the etiology of aortic aneurysms.


The fight to legalize marijuana in the United States seemed to finally be a success after more than half of the states legalized marijuana for medicinal purposes or for both medicinal and recreational uses. Although marijuana is legal in many states, employees who legally use marijuana off the job and are not high during work hours can still be denied employment or terminated. These employees range from the casual marijuana user to the employee with disabilities who medically relies on marijuana. One problem with states' legalization laws is that they are silent on the effect of legalization in the employment sector. Another problem is that the laws explicitly exclude employment and thus allow employers to decide whether to take adverse action against employees who legally use marijuana. Three employment-based arguments have challenged employers' adverse actions, but all have failed in both state and federal court. This article will explore these three employment-based challenges and explain why they were not successful. This article will also address the laws of ten states that do explicitly provide some employment protection and explain the four problems as to why these state laws are insufficient protection for legal marijuana users.


Antoinette Burton focuses on the experiences of three Victorian travelers in Britain to illustrate how 'Englishness' was made and remade in relation to imperialism. The accounts left by these three sojourners - all prominent, educated Indians - represent complex, critical ethnographies of 'native' metropolitan society and offer revealing glimpses of what it was like to be a colonial subject in fin-de-siecle Britain. Burton's innovative interpretation of the travelers' testimonies shatters the myth of Britain's insularity from its own construction of empire and shows that it was instead a terrain open to continual contest and refiguration. Burton's three subjects felt the influence of imperial power keenly during even the most everyday encounters in Britain. Pandita Ramabai arrived in London in 1883 seeking a medical education and left in 1886, having resisted the Anglican Church's attempts to make her an evangelical missionary. Cornelia Sorabji went to Oxford to study law and became the first Indian woman to be called to the Bar. Behramji Malabari sought help for his Indian reform projects in England, and subjected London to colonial scrutiny in the process. Their experiences form the basis of this wide-ranging, clearly written, and imaginative investigation of diasporic movement in the colonial metropolis.


Data sharing is increasingly recommended as a means of accelerating science by facilitating collaboration, transparency, and reproducibility. While few oppose data sharing philosophically, a range of barriers deter most researchers from implementing it in practice (e.g., workforce and infrastructural demands, sociocultural and privacy concerns, lack of standardization). To justify the significant effort required for sharing data (e.g., organization, curation, distribution), funding agencies, institutions, and investigators need clear evidence of benefit. Here, using the International Neuroimaging Data-sharing Initiative, we present a brain imaging case study that provides direct evidence of the impact of open sharing on data use and resulting publications over a seven-year period (2010-2017). We dispel the myth that scientific findings using shared data cannot be published in high-impact journals and demonstrate rapid growth in the publication of such journal articles, scholarly theses, and conference proceedings. In contrast to commonly used 'pay to play' models, we demonstrate that openly shared data can increase the scale (i.e., sample size) of scientific studies conducted by data contributors, and can recruit scientists from a broader range of disciplines. These findings suggest the transformative power of data sharing for accelerating science and underscore the need for the scientific ecosystem to embrace the challenge of implementing data sharing universally.


An output feedback controller for a commutational ramp load disk drive actuator is investigated. The controller eliminates the necessity of increased material requirements common in ramp load disk drives. Therefore, disk drives with lower cost, higher performance actuators can realize the linear shock protection benefits of ramp loading. While on the ramp, there exists a set in the state space where the actuator dynamics are uncontrollable. An input commutation is required within the uncontrollable region to sustain the direction of actuator motion. Additionally, the motor torque factor, magnetic restoration bias, and friction torque are nonlinear and can be represented by functions that are Lipschitz within the actuator ramp angle. Position and velocity information are not available while the actuator maneuvers along the ramp. An exponentially stable controller, using only current feedback, is designed to track a predetermined reference trajectory and move the actuator through the uncontrollable set for a successful load onto the disk at the desired load velocity. Experiments are performed to verify the efficacy of the output feedback control law


We introduce T-Basis, a novel concept for a compact representation of a set of tensors, each of an arbitrary shape, which is often seen in Neural Networks. Each of the tensors in the set is modeled using Tensor Rings, though the concept applies to other Tensor Networks. Owing its name to the T-shape of nodes in diagram notation of Tensor Rings, T-Basis is simply a list of equally shaped three-dimensional tensors, used to represent Tensor Ring nodes. Such representation allows us to parameterize the tensor set with a small number of parameters (coefficients of the T-Basis tensors), scaling logarithmically with each tensor's size in the set and linearly with the dimensionality of T-Basis. We evaluate the proposed approach on the task of neural network compression and demonstrate that it reaches high compression rates at acceptable performance drops. Finally, we analyze memory and operation requirements of the compressed networks and conclude that T-Basis networks are equally well suited for training and inference in resource-constrained environments and usage on the edge devices.


Deep Neural Networks (DNNs) are applied in a wide range of usecases. There is an increased demand for deploying DNNs on devices that do not have abundant resources such as memory and computation units. Recently, network compression through a variety of techniques such as pruning and quantization have been proposed to reduce the resource requirement. A key parameter that all existing compression techniques are sensitive to is the compression ratio (e.g., pruning sparsity, quantization bitwidth) of each layer. Traditional solutions treat the compression ratios of each layer as hyper-parameters, and tune them using human heuristic. Recent researchers start using black-box hyper-parameter optimizations, but they will introduce new hyper-parameters and have efficiency issue. In this paper, we propose a framework to jointly prune and quantize the DNNs automatically according to a target model size without using any hyper-parameters to manually set the compression ratio for each layer. In the experiments, we show that our framework can compress the weights data of ResNet-50 to be 836x smaller without accuracy loss on CIFAR-10, and compress AlexNet to be 205x smaller without accuracy loss on ImageNet classification.


This paper presents a semiparametric procedure to analyze the effects of institutional and labor market factors on recent changes in the U.S. distribution of wages. The effects of these factors are estimated by applying kernel density methods to appropriately 'reweighted' samples. The procedure provides a visually clear representation of where in the density of wages these various factors exert the greatest impact. Using data from the Current Population Survey, we find, as in previous research, that de-unionization and supply and demand shocks were important factors in explaining the rise in wage inequality from 1979 to 1988. We find also compelling visual and quantitative evidence that the decline in the real value of the minimum wage explains a substantial proportion of this increase in wage inequality, particularly for women. We conclude that labor market institutions are as important as supply and demand considerations in explaining changes in the U.S. distribution of wages from 1979 to 1988.


Preliminary investigations of circular volume conductors suggested that farfield potential magnitude declines progressively slower with increasing radial distance from a current source and follows a cosine function with angular displacement of the recording electrode from the electrical generator's axis. Using circular volumes of 6 differing radii, the mathematical relationship between angle, radii, and far‐field potential amplitude is determined. Previous theoretical relationships of amplitude versus dipolar spacing, current, and distance from a dipole generator in a bounded volume conducting medium are verified for the near‐field. Far field potentials in circular volumes are found to become constant at radii greater than 75% of the bounded volume's radius. Additionally, an adjoining volume conductor acts simply as a passive fluid‐filled electrode (wick electrode) to the circular volume containing the generator until the intercompartmental opening to the circular volume exceeds 20% of its circumference. This finding was clinically supported by recording similar P9 somatosensory‐evoked far‐field potentials generated caudal to the foramen magnum from various portions of the cranium, whose connections to the torso, foramen magnum, and neck, average 6.2% and 17.8%, respectively. Finally, 3 circular volume conductors were connected in series by channels less than 20% of the volume conductor's circumference. Both adjoining circular volumes were equipotential to the far‐field potential present at the boundary of the first circular volume containing the dipole generator. This observation supports the clinical finding of far‐field potential transmission through multiple human bodies in conductive contact. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.


Summary Heparin covalently-linked to polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) is a biomaterial which is of potential value as a non-thrombogenic coating. 125I-labelled thrombin adsorbed to heparin-PVA beads was not dislodged by phosphate-buffered saline, pH 7.4, although radioactivity was progressively displaced from the adsorbent by fibrinogen-free human plasma. Analysis by gel filtration and affinity chromatography showed that the released radioactivity was distributed between (thrombin-antithrombin-III) complex (approx. 70%) and, probably, (thrombin-α-2-macroglobulin) complex (approx. 30%). Less efficient thrombin displacement was obtained by either bovine serum albumin (5% w/v) or antithrombin-III-free human plasma: in the latter case, the dislodged enzyme was presumably associated with α-2-macroglobulin. Purified α-2-macroglobulin did not displace thrombin from heparin-PVA. The quantity of thrombin displaced by an α- 2-macroglobulin-free plasma fraction compared well with fibrinogen-free plasma: The eluted enzyme was largely associated with antithrombin-III. Purified antithrombin-III did not displace thrombin from heparin-PVA despite causing >70% inactivation of the bound enzyme. Subsequent treatment with fibrinogen-free plasma dislodged (thrombin-antithrombin-III) at a similar rate to that of bound thrombin. We conclude that plasma contains a component(s) which displaces (thrombin-antithrombin-III) complex from immobilised heparin: presumably this leaves the heparin sites free for further use in enzyme inactivation.


The study of mucociliary clearance included 68 patients with bronchial asthma of different severity in whom viscoelastic properties of the sputum, motor activity of ciliary epithelium, glycosaminoglycans in peripheral blood and bronchial secretion at the B9-B10 level of the bronchial tree were determined. Simultaneously, morphofunctional state of bronchial mucosa was evaluated using DNA methylation-specific PCR.


The clinical history of patients with heart failure (HF) is complicated by arterial thromboembolism. Platelet activation is reported in this population, but the underlying mechanism has not been clarified. Forty-two patients with HF scored according to New York Heart Association (NYHA) classification had higher levels of collagen-induced platelet aggregation, platelet tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) receptor expression, and serum thromboxane B2 and higher circulating levels of TNF-α than 20 healthy subjects. Coincubation of platelets from HF patients with an inhibitor of TNF-α receptors significantly reduced collagen-induced platelet aggregation. In vitro study demonstrated that TNF-α amplified the platelet response to collagen; this effect was inhibited by TNF-α receptor antagonist and inhibitors of arachidonic acid metabolism. This study showed that TNF-α behaves as a trigger of platelet activation through stimulation of the arachidonic acid pathway.


Murine erythroleukemia (MEL) cells are a useful model for studying the processes that regulate erythroid differentiation because exposure of these cells to a variety of chemical inducing agents results in expression of erythroid-specific genes and the resultant loss of cellular immortality. Previously it has been suggested that the calcium ionophore, A23187, has effects on the early cellular events that lead to the commitment of these cells to differentiation, but was not in itself sufficient to induce differentiation. We demonstrate here that A23187, as well as another calcium ionophore, ionomycin, are capable of inducing commitment to differentiation. Unlike other inducing agents, continual exposure to A23187 inhibits transcription of the erythroid-specific genes, beta-globin and Band 3. This effect is not attributable to an increase in cytosolic calcium concentration, because cells induced by ionomycin produce normal amounts of hemoglobin. These effects of A23187 on MEL cells confirm that commitment to differentiation is a distinct event from the subsequent transcriptional activation of erythroid genes. The ability of both ionophores to induce commitment to differentiation suggests that an increase in cytosolic calcium can trigger commitment to differentiation. These agents should prove useful in investigating the cellular processes that are responsible for commitment to differentiation.


We examined the serum concentrations of delta(5)-3beta-hydroxysteroids, pregnenolone (Preg), 17-hydroxypregnenolone (17-OH-Preg), dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), androstenediol (ADIOL) and their sulfates in 30 well controlled (Group I: HbA1c<7.0%) and 15 poorly controlled (Group II: HbA1c>7.1%) type 2 diabetic patients, and 30 normal controls. These patients were treated with diet therapy or anti-diabetic agent. The distribution of gender and age of the subjects were matched between the groups. The serum levels of sulfo-conjugated and unconjugated steroids described above were measured by GC-MS and enzyme immunoassay (EIA), respectively. The serum levels of the entire sulfo-conjugated steroid measured in this study were significantly lower in Groups I and II than in controls. On the other hand, Preg levels in both Groups I and II were significantly higher than those in controls, whereas the serum levels of the downstream unconjugated steroids were not different from controls. To investigate the effect of sulfonylurea (SU) on the serum levels of steroids, the serum concentrations of steroids between the patients who were treated with diet therapy and SU agent were compared in Group I. No significant differences were observed between both groups. These results suggest that (1) since increased Preg levels did not cause any changes in the downstream delta(5)-3beta-hydroxysteroid levels, the metabolic pathway of delta(4)-3-ketosteroids may be accelerated in type 2 diabetes; (2) serum steroid levels were not affected by SU treatment; (3) sulfo-conjugated steroid catabolism was altered in type 2 diabetes; (4) the decreased sulfo-conjugated steroids especially ADIOLS may contribute to the alteration of sex steroid levels and onset or exacerbate infectious diseases in diabetes.


Supramolecular polymers are increasingly important materials for applications that require the controlled assembly and disassembly of structures having well-defined shapes and properties. Subtle changes in molecular structure and solvent properties can profoundly affect these materials because of the relatively weak noncovalent interactions that govern their formation. We report the discovery that positively charged small molecules that are planar, or have planar elements, can be employed as noncovalent chain stoppers (NCSs) to control the length of supramolecular polymers in aqueous solution. The supramolecular polymers are composed of 2,4,6-triaminopyrimidine and a modified cyanuric acid, monomers that assemble through interactions that mimic the base pairs of DNA. These assemblies are equilibrium polymers, a type of supramolecular polymers that, in the absence of any chain stoppers, are extremely long (e.g., multiple microns in length). The lengths of these assemblies are controlled by a NCS in a concentration-dependent and compound-specific manner, giving rise to supramolecular polymers with low polydispersity. This behavior is attributed to the homogeneity of the NCS distribution within the system, and their "ideal-gas-like" number density fluctuations. These supramolecular polymers form physical hydrogel with viscoelastic properties that can be tuned by the addition of a NCS, thereby demonstrating the potential of this approach for controlling the dimensions of supramolecular polymers in water as well as the macroscopic properties of materials formed by such polymers.


A new method was developed to assess environmental tobacco smoke in air. The method is based on passive sampling and subsequent measurement of the concentration of 3-ethenylpyridine, a vapor-phase compound specific to tobacco smoke. Air samples were collected using a 3M organic vapor monitor. Tests were carried out in a dynamic chamber to determine the sampling rate (25.7 cm3/min). 3-Ethenylpyridine was desorbed from the sampler with 1 mL of pyridine/toluene mixture. 3-Ethenylpyridine was quantified by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The limit of detection was 0.01 microgram/sample, corresponding to a concentration of 0.27 microgram/m3 air calculated for a sampling period of 24 h. Field measurements were carried out to test the performance of the method. Mean concentrations ranging from 1.3 to 5.3 micrograms/m3 were measured for 3-ethenylpyridine in smoking environments, but no 3-ethenylpyridine was detected in nonsmoking environments. Active sampling using charcoal tubes was used as a reference method in the chamber tests and field measurements. Individual exposures can be easily and accurately measured by means of the passive sampler. Because of simple sample treatment, the method is also well-suited for large-scale monitoring of environmental tobacco smoke.


Background: Increased abdominal obesity is related to adverse metabolic markers. Waist circumference (WC) alone has been shown to correlate more strongly to direct measures of abdominal fat accumulation. Waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) are other parameters to estimate abdominal obesity. Increase in total cholesterol (TC), and triglyceride (TG) increases health risks; whereas, decrease in high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) increases future health risk. Aim: The aim of the present study was to find if any correlation exist between central obesity and serum lipid profile in otherwise healthy young adults. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 76 (male = 41, female = 35) apparently healthy young adults. Weight, height, WC, and hip circumference were measured. WHR and WHtR were calculated from measured parameters. Serum lipid profile parameters were obtained from venous blood collected after overnight fasting (i.e., 12 h fasting). Pearson's correlation (with α = 0.05) was used to obtain a correlation between central obesity parameters and lipid profile parameters. Statistical analyses were performed in GraphPad Prism 6.01 windows based software. Results: Mean age of the subjects was 18.83 ± 0.85 years. Correlation of WC with TC (r = 0.08, P = 0.45), TG (r = 0.21, P = 0.05) and HDL-C (r = −0.06, P = 0.56) was insignificant. Correlation of WHR with TC (r = 0.07, P = 0.49), TG (r = 0.26, P = 0.02) and HDL-C (r = 0.07, P = 0.50) and WHtR with TC (r = 0.09, P = 0.41), TG (r = 0.17, P = 0.12) and HDL-C (r = 0.03, P = 0.74) also showed insignificant correlation. Conclusion: Indirectly measured central obesity has an insignificant correlation with serum lipid profile in healthy young adults.


As an assurance company has an overconsolidation which must be settled the question that needs to be solved is how to do it. Which are the legal rules that the assurance company has to look after? What is a settling of overconsolidation in a legal meaning? Does an assurancepolicy have to be decided? Why did not the Swedish competition authority (Konkurrensverket) accept the policy from SPP and what can be the consequenses of that decision? Are there any tax rules that needs to be solved?


Introduction: Studies showed that if mixed populations of annual weeds grow with the sunflower, for every 10% increase in weed biomass, seed yield would decrease by 13% (Van Gessel & Renner, 2000). In addition to control weeds using herbicides multi-stage spraying is required. In organic farming systems mulch is used to control weeds, protection, fertility and improve soil quality (Glab & Kulig, 2008; Kuchaki et al., 2001). Surface mulches from cover crops suppress weed growth by reducing light levels at the soil surface, thereby slowing photosynthesis. In return, these conditions reduce seed germination and act as a physical barrier to seedling emergence and growth (Teasdale et al., 2007).
Materials and Methods: The experiment was carried out in Ardabil Agricultural Research Station, as a factorial experiment based on randomized complete block design with three replications during 1390-1391. The first factor was considered four types of cover crops including winter rye (Secale cereal), spring barley (Hordeum vulgare), winter wheat (Triticum aestivum) and control (no cover crop, no weeding).The second factor was mulch management at two levels (living mulch and dead mulch) and the third factor was two planting dates for cover crops (synchronous with sunflower planting and 45 days after sunflower planting). Sunflower seeding performed manually on 23 May on the ridges with 50 cm row distance and spacing between plants was 25 cm in depth of 5 cm. Cover crops seeds, rye, barley and wheat, were planted between rows of sunflower. Due to the low density of weeds in study field, complete weeding and sampling of weeds in one session was performed (60 days after planting date sunflower). Statistical analysis of data performed using SAS software and mean comparison performed using Duncan's test with probability level of 5% and 1%. Diagrams drawn using Excel (Version 8.2).
Results and Discussion :
Density and dry weight of Field bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis L.): Results of the study indicated that the interaction between cover crop and planting date on density and dry weight of bindweed was significant at probability level of 5% and 1%, respectively. The best condition of reduced density of bindweed was related to the time of using rye cover crop where reduced Field bindweed density to 64% compared to control (without cover crop, no weeding). Date of simultaneous planting of cover crop, reduced bindweed density from mean 15/7% plant.m-2 to 11/62 plant.m-2, compared to 45 days after sunflower planting. Hasannejad and Alizadeh, (2005) reported that rye significantly controlled the weeds of redroot pigweed, common lambsquarters, knotgrass, russian thistle and field bindweed compared to controls with no cover crop. All three cover crops had significant effect on reducing the dry weight of bindweed. Cover crops showed the potential to reduce density and total dry weight of weeds compared to no control weeds and increase the plant yield. In a study, the density and dry weight of field bindweed in treated living rye and dead rye reduced 100% and 85% respectively (Samadani & Montazeri, 2009).
Density and dry weightof Pale bugloss (Anchusa italica Retz): The interaction (cover crop × planting date) on pale bugloss density and dry weight was meaningful in probability level of 1%.All three cover crops with simultaneous planting date showed lowest density of pale bugloss. Rye with proper ground cover in the beginning of season, and due to the long-term preservation of residues in the ground level, inhibited germination and growth of weeds for longer times. Results of the studies by (Abdollahyan Noghaby et al., 2011) on sugar beet showed that the effects of planting cover crops of triticale, wheat, rye and barley, between rows where sugar beet planted, to control weeds population would be the same as when herbicide used to control these weeds.
Density and dry weight ofRussian thistle (Salsola kali L.): Results indicated that the interaction effect (cover crop × planting date) on density and dry weight of russian thistle was meaningful at probability levels of 1% and 5% respectively. The best result on the reduced density and dry weight of russian thistle observed when rye cover crop was used. Elmore, (1980) in a study observed that rye stubble, has more potential in reducing the biomass of wide spectrum of weeds, particularly the annuals.
Density and dry weight ofCommon reed (Phragmites australis L.): Density of common reed on main effect of cover crop and its dry weight on main effect of cover crop and planting date showed meaningful difference with probability level of 1%. Cover crop of rye, due to the increased biomass, initial growth vigor, high tillering and in fact because of high allelopathy showed better performance in reducing density of perennial weeds such as common reed when planted simultaneously with sunflower, compared to wheat and barley. Samedani et al., (2005) reported that rye and wheat can better control the weeds due to high biomass.
Dry yield of sunflower seed: Regarding the results of data analysis, the yield of sunflower seed influenced by cover crop treatments (P≤0.05). Sunflower seed yield in treatments of rye and wheat cover crops with control 1 treatment (no cover crop, complete weeding) showed no meaningful difference. Among cover crops, highest yield of seed related to wheat with 3916/7 kg.ha-1. Cover crop of barley showed poor yield compared to rye and wheat that was likely due to lower growth of barley and the lack of producing sufficient biomass and proper control of weeds. Cover crops can have positive or negative effects on grain crop yields, depending on environment, cover crop species and management (Miguez & Bollero, 2005).
Conclusion: Results showed that cover crops, particularly rye, are very effective in reducing the density and dry weight of weeds so that the application of cover crops even resulted in increased yield of sunflower seed. Therefore, use of cover crops between planting rows of crops can be a good option to replace herbicides and conventional tillage and as a new and proper approach for sustainable management of weeds.


The minimum energy geometries and the electronic structure for noble metals clusters Agn, Aun, Ptn and Cun, with number of atoms n varying from 3 to 10 atoms are obtained employin density functional theory (DFT) with generalized gradient approximation (GGA) performed in the SIESTA method. New lowest energy structures not reported previously are obtained. The lowest energy structures for (n ≤ 5) clusters are planar where the stability showed that the highest value in binding energy is present in platinum. The calculated second–order differences in energies, and the highest occupied orbital-lowest unoccupied orbital (HOMO-LUMO) energy gap, the density of state (DOS) shows peculiar odd-even oscillation behaviours, showing that Ag4,6,8,10, Au4,6,8,10, Cu4,6,8,10 and Pt3,7,9 clusters remain in highly stable in comparison with their neighboring clusters. (VIP) Vertical ionization potential is discussed then compared with other studies.


Firre encodes a lncRNA involved in nuclear organization in mammals. Here we find that Firre RNA is transcribed from the active X chromosome (Xa) and exerts trans-acting effects on the inactive X chromosome (Xi). Allelic deletion of Firre on the Xa in a mouse hybrid fibroblast cell line results in a dramatic loss of the histone modification H3K27me3 and of components of the PRC2 complex on the Xi as well as the disruption of the perinucleolar location of the Xi. These features are measurably rescued by ectopic expression of a mouse or human Firre/FIRRE cDNA transgene, strongly supporting a conserved trans-acting role of the Firre transcript in maintaining the Xi heterochromatin environment. Surprisingly, CTCF occupancy is decreased on the Xi upon loss of Firre RNA, but is partially recovered by ectopic transgene expression, suggesting a functional link between Firre RNA and CTCF in maintenance of epigenetic features and/or location of the Xi. Loss of Firre RNA results in dysregulation of genes implicated in cell division and development, but not in reactivation of genes on the Xi, which retains its bipartite structure despite some changes in chromatin contact distribution. Allelic deletion or inversion of Firre on the Xi causes localized redistribution of chromatin contacts, apparently dependent on the orientation of CTCF binding sites clustered at the locus. Thus, the Firre locus and its RNA have roles in the maintenance of epigenetic features and structure of the Xi.


Women in doctoral programs in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) leave without finishing at higher rates than men and, as with men, turn away from academic and research careers. This qualitative study examines the day-to-day influences on female doctoral students during their third or fourth year in physical science and engineering programs. Ethnographic cognitive interviewing and online incident reports document the specific experiences and reactions of 28 participants over a six-month period. The data were analyzed to identify key incidents, categories and recurring themes. Some incidents contributed to women's growing sense of competence, recognition and identification of oneself as a scientist. Others fit a model of microaggressions and gender barriers in a predominantly masculine culture. Problems of work-life balance were demonstrated for some women. Incidents generated responses by some participants that they would disengage from a research-intensive career trajectory toward alternate career interests outside of academic research. The findings provide information about the lived experiences of women in doctoral programs and suggest that the metaphor of career pathways may be more useful than pipelines in explaining the direction of women who are advanced doctoral students in research-intensive fields.