The remote Waziristan region of northwestern Pakistan includes outcrops of the India-Asia suture zone. The excellent exposure of the Waziristan ophiolite and associated sedimentary lithosomes and their inaccessibility made the use of Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) data desirable in this study. Landsat TM data were used to create a spectral ratio image of bands 3/4, 5/4, and 7/5, displayed as red, green, and blue, respectively, and a principal component analysis image of bands 4, 5, and 7 (RGB). These images were interpreted in the context of available geologic maps, limited field work, and biostratigraphic, lithostratigraphic, and radiometric data. They were used to create a coherent geologic map of Waziristan and cross section of the area that document five tectonic units in the region and provide a new and more detailed tectonic history for the region. The lowest unit is comprised of Indian shelf sediments that were thrust under the Waziristan ophiolite. The ophiolite has been tectonically shuffled and consists of two separate tectonic units. The top thrust sheet is a nappe comprised of distal Triassic to Lower Cretaceous Neotethyan sediments that were underthrust during the Late Cretaceous by the ophiolite riding on Indian shelf strata. The uppermost unit contains unconformable Tertiary and younger strata. The thrust sheets show that the Waziristan ophiolite was obducted during Late Cretaceous time and imply that the Paleocene and Eocene deformation represents collision of India with the Kabul block and/or Asia.


This paper develops a basic dynamic economic model that can be used for theoretical and numerical analysis of optimal soil management practices. A dynamic biophysical/economic optimal control model is developed in a multi-disciplinary framework, treating soil as a multi-pool portfolio of a particular limiting mobile nutrient (e.g. nitrogen). This specification allows for fertilizer to directly enter the active pool, while tillage initially affects the decadal pool, reflecting the realities of agricultural production. We examine the properties of the steady-state and the time paths of the optimal solutions. In addition, alternative sustainability criteria of farm-level agricultural practices are presented, and the optimal solution of the problem is evaluated to determine if it meets any or all of the definitions of sustainability.


Background and Purpose— Although cerebral small vessel disease, including white matter lesions (WML) and lacunar infarcts, is associated with gait disturbances, not all individuals with small vessel disease have these disturbances. Identical-appearing WML on MRI could reflect different degrees of microstructural integrity. Moreover, conventional MRI does not assess the integrity of normal-appearing white matter (NAWM). We therefore investigated the relation between white matter integrity assessed by diffusion tensor imaging in WML, NAWM, several regions of interest, and gait. Methods— A total of 484 nondemented elderly persons between 50 and 85 years old with cerebral small vessel disease were included in this analysis and underwent MRI and diffusion tensor imaging scanning. Mean diffusivity and fractional anisotropy within WML, NAWM, and regions of interest were related to quantitative and semiquantitative gait parameters. Results— Mean diffusivity in the WML was inversely related with gait (velocity &bgr;=−0.15; P=0.002). For the fractional anisotropy, this relation was less evident. The same was found in the NAWM (velocity &bgr;=−0.21; P<0.001) and for some parameters also after additional adjustment for WML and lacunar infarcts. Conclusion— This study indicates that integrity of both WML and NAWM, beyond the detection limit of conventional MRI, is associated with gait disturbances.


We prove several cases of Zimmer's conjecture for actions of higher-rank cocompact lattices on low dimensional manifolds. For example, if $\Gamma$ is a cocompact lattice in $\mathrm{Sl}(n, \mathbb R)$, $M$ is a compact manifold, and $\omega$ a volume form on $M$ we show that any homomorphism $\rho\colon \Gamma \rightarrow \mathrm{Diff}(M)$ has finite image if the dimension of $M$ is less than $n-1$ and that any homomorphism $\rho\colon \Gamma \rightarrow \mathrm{Diff}(M,\omega)$ has finite image if the dimension of $M$ is less than $n$. The key step in the proof is to show any such action has uniform subexponential growth of derivatives. This is established using ideas from the smooth ergodic theory of higher-rank abelian groups, structure theory of semisimple groups and results from homogeneous dynamics. Having established uniform subexponential growth of derivatives, we apply Lafforgue's strong property (T) to establish the existence of an invariant Riemannian metric.


African catfish, Clarias gariepinus , is one of economically important farmed species in Indonesia. To support the development of aquaculture industry, high genetic quality of both broodstock and seeds is required and breeding program is considered as viable option. Information on genetic variation of the populations being considered to form a base population may give insight toward the appropriate strategy to be implemented in breeding program. This study was aimed to assess genetic variation in farmed populations of catfish in Indonesia using microsatellite markers with special emphasis on their use to develop breeding program. Three populations of farmed catfish, namely Dumbo, Paiton, and Sangkuriang were collected. Fifteen individuals representing each population were screened for microsatellite variability using seven primer sets (cga01, cga02, cga03, cga05, cga06, cga09, cga10). Results found that with exception of two loci (cga01 and cg02) which had a slight increase, the other four loci showed reduction in the number of alleles ranging from 35% to 80% depending on loci. Farmed populations also showed heterozygote deficient and inbreeding level, being the highest was found in Sangkuriang and the least was observed in Dumbo population. Individuals within populations contributed most (95%) while interpopulation variation accounted for only 5% of the total genetic variation. Populations of Dumbo and Sangkuriang were genetically similar while populations of Paiton were genetically different from both Dumbo and Sangkuriang. Viewed from genetic perspective, by combining all information emerging from this study, the best possible strategy to establish a base population with broad genetic base and less inbreeding would be to combine all the populations into a synthetic base population.


The RNA3 of alfalfa mosaic virus (AIMV) encodes the P3 protein and the viral coat protein (CP). RNA3 molecules transcribed in vitro replicated in protoplasts and plants when inoculated in mixtures with AIMV RNA1, RNA2 and CP. Transcripts with a deletion or inversion in the P3 gene replicated well in protoplasts but not in transgenic plants transformed with the P3 gene. Transgenic plants expressing the CP gene became infected after inoculation with a mixture of RNA1, RNA2 and wild-type RNA3 transcripts without addition of CP to the inoculum. Transcripts with a deletion in the CP gene replicated at a reduced level in protoplasts but not in CP-transformed plants. This suggests that P3 and CP are both required for cell-to-cell spread of AIMV and that mutations in the inoculum RNA could not be complemented in trans by the wild-type chimeric nuclear genes.


Four experiments which investigated the ability of rats to associate the flavour of a food with the later release of calories are reported. In Experiments 1 and 2, which involved immediate reinforcement, rats were trained to discriminate between two flavours (e.g. cinnamon and wintergreen), one of which was mixed with a solution of glucose which provided many calories on some days and the other with a solution of saccharin which did not yield any calories on other days. In subsequent two-bottle tests between the two flavours mixed with the same type of substrate, all rats displayed large shifts in preferences for the flavour previously paired with glucose compared to the second flavour previously paired with saccharin. Experiment 2 further showed that the conditioned effects extinguished very easily. In Experiments 3 and 4, which involved delayed reinforcement, rats were trained to discriminate between the two flavour cues, both dissolved in saccharin, one of which was reinforced with food after a long delay on some days and the other with nothing on other days. In Experiment 3 glucose was delivered after a 30 min. delay whereas in Experiment 4 various kinds of food were used and the delay was reduced to 20 min. In subsequent preference tests between the flavour cues in Experiment 3, only a small, but significant, increase in preference for the paired flavour was detected. Similarly in Experiment 4 some evidence for discrimination learning was again found with glucose, but there was no evidence that rats could associate a flavour with starch solution or solid chow over the 20 min. delay. Overall these results show that rats can easily form flavour-calorie associations under immediate reinforcement conditions but they do so with great difficulty when long delays are involved.


BACKGROUND
The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) Trial provides critical data on the impact of a specific diet pattern (low in salt, fat, and processed foods and high in fruit and vegetables) on blood pressure (BP). The effect of compliance with a DASH-type diet on BP in a general population sample is less well defined. We studied associations between a DASH style diet and BP.

METHODS
We used cross-sectional data from a study of men and women aged 47-73 years (n = 2,047). Participants completed a physical examination that included 3 standardized clinical BP recordings. A subsample (n = 1,187) had ambulatory BP measurements (ABPM) taken. Diet was assessed using a DASH dietary score constructed from a standard Food Frequency Questionnaire. Lower scores indicated less healthy diets. Hypertension was defined as clinic BP ≥ 140/90 mm Hg on medication or as 24-hour ABPM ≥ 130/80 mmHg.

RESULTS
Inverse associations were evident between DASH and systolic BP (SBP). There was a difference in clinic SBP of 7.5 mm Hg and 5.1 mm Hg and a difference in ABPM SBP of 6.3mm Hg and 5.4mm Hg in men and women, respectively, between the highest and lowest DASH quintiles. In fully adjusted multivariable regression analysis, DASH score was inversely associated with SBP. Clear population differences in SBP were evident across DASH quintiles.

CONCLUSIONS
The observed associations indicate that the findings are consistent with the hypothesis that adherence to DASH-equivalent diet can reduce BP at the population level. Public policy promoting a DASH-style healthy diet could have a significant impact on population health by reducing average BP in the population.


Freud's lifelong involvement with the Russian national character and culture is examined in James Rice's imaginative combination of history, literary analysis, and psychoanalysis. Freud's Russia opens up the neglected "Eastern Front" of Freud's world--the Russian roots of his parents, colleagues, and patients. He reveals that the psychoanalyst was vitally concerned with the events in Russian history and its nineteenth-century cultural greats. Rice explores how this intense interest contributed to the evolution of psychoanalysis at every critical stage. Freud's mentor Charcot was a physician to the Tsar; his best friends in Paris were gifted Russian doctors; and some of his most valued colleagues (Max Eitingon, Moshe Wulff, Sabina Spielrein, and Lou Andreas-Salome) were also from Russia. These acquaintances intrigued Freud and precipitated his inquiry into the Russian psyche. Rice shows how Freud's major works incorporate elements, overtly and covertly, from his Russia. He describes Freud's most famous case, the Wolf-Man (Sergei Pankeev), and traces how his personality fused, in Freud's imagination, with that of Feodor Dostoevsky. Beyond this, Rice reveals the remarkable influence Dostoevsky had on Freud, surveying Freud's extensive library holdings and sources of biographical information on the Russian novelist. Initially inspired by the Freud-Jung letters that appeared in 1974, Freud's Russia breaks new ground. Its fresh perspective will be of significant interest to psychoanalysts, historians of European culture, biographers of Freud, and students of Dostoevsky in comparative literature. It is a major work in fusing European intellectual history with the founding father of psychoanalysis.


Body size has a strong influence on the ecology and evolution of organisms' life history. Turtle species can exhibit variation in body size and shape between populations of conspecifics through usually broad geographical scales. This prediction is timely to be tested in this study with the species Hydromedusa tectifera. We aimed to evaluate the variation in body size between and sexual dimorphism within populations of H. tectifera in two areas in Brazil. Sampling occurred in Minas Gerais and Rio Grande do Sul states in order to obtain morphometric measures of carapace and plastron of the individuals. We observed sexual dimorphism within populations. In Rio Grande do Sul state, females were larger than males in most of the carapace and plastron measures. In Minas Gerais state, males were larger than females regarding maximum carapace width. Overall, individuals from Rio Grande do Sul state were larger than those from Minas Gerais state. We discuss possible factors that might cause variation in morphology within and between populations of conspecifics. Research on morphology is encouraged to facilitate comparisons among populations in geographically broad areas.


We present a design methodology for hybrid lasers to realise mode-hop free operation by controlling the cavity mode spacing. In this study, a compact hybrid photonic crystal laser (H-PhCL) was employed which allowed a reduction of the Fabry–Perot length of the laser cavity and eliminated the need for an active mode stabilisation mechanism in order to realise mode-hop free operation. The H-PhCL was formed by butt-coupling a reflective semiconductor optical amplifier (RSOA) with a two-dimensional silicon (Si) photonic crystal (PhC) cavity. Continuous stable single frequency operation with >40 dB side-mode suppression ratio (SMSR) of the laser was achieved for gain currents of up to 100 mA, i.e., up to four times the threshold current. The shorter length of the laser cavity enabled single frequency operation due to the selection of a single longitudinal mode by the PhC narrowband reflector. Various longitudinal mode spacing regimes were studied to explain the mode-hop free characteristics of the H-PhCL. The proposed hybrid laser design methodologies can be adapted to eliminate mode-hopping in laser wavelength.


This book examines relationships between contemporary women artists' work and concepts and explorations of 'landscape'. It will investigate how understandings of landscape art have been transformed by the diversities of the practices of contemporary art made by women. It will probe attempts to conceptualise and theorise 'landscape' as a key categorisation in contemporary art (eg: Elkins 2008) and ask how concepts of landscape have been developed and challenged by a range of 20th and 21st century women artists.
Drawing on feminist spatial theory (eg: Rose, 2010; Massey, 2005; Freuh, 1999), the book will consider how feminist theory can be applied to contemporary art outside the constituencies of the body as a trope for explorations of difference and as a visual and theoretical environment in which to examine 'landscape' as an increasingly relevant concern. In a precarious world where issues of climate change, urbanization and displacement are internationally relevant (and visible), the research asks what role contemporary art plays in addressing understandings of and debate on the significance of 'landscape'; and how contemporary art by women artists is not only potentially relevant to a range of disciplines but can contribute insights and provoke debate on issues of globalization, place, identity and belonging.


We present the first hydrodynamical simulations of structure formation using the new moving mesh code arepo and compare the results with gadget simulations based on a traditional smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) technique. The two codes share the same Tree-PM gravity solver and include identical subresolution physics for the treatment of star formation, but employ different methods to solve the equations of hydrodynamics. This allows us to assess the impact of hydro-solver uncertainties on the results of cosmological studies of galaxy formation. In this paper, we focus on predictions for global baryon statistics, such as the cosmic star formation rate density, after we introduce our simulation suite and numerical methods. Properties of individual galaxies and haloes are examined by Keres et al., while a third paper by Sijacki et al. uses idealized simulations to analyse in more detail the differences between the hydrodynamical schemes. We find that the global baryon statistics differ significantly between the two simulation approaches. arepo shows systematically higher star formation rates at late times, lower mean temperatures averaged over the simulation volume and different gas mass fractions in characteristic phases of the intergalactic medium, in particular a reduced amount of hot gas. Although both hydrodynamical codes use the same implementation of cooling and yield an identical dark matter halo mass function, more gas cools out of haloes in arepo compared with gadget towards low redshifts, which results in corresponding differences in the late-time star formation rates of galaxies. We show that this difference is caused by a higher heating rate with SPH in the outer parts of haloes, owing to viscous dissipation of SPH's inherent sonic velocity noise and SPH's efficient damping of subsonic turbulence injected in the halo infall region, and because of a higher efficiency of gas stripping in arepo. As a result of such differences, arepo leads also to more disc-like morphologies in the moving mesh calculation compared to gadget. Our results hence indicate that inaccuracies in hydrodynamic solvers can lead to comparatively large systematic differences even at the level of predictions for the global state of baryons in the universe.


: Obstetrical hemorrhage accounts for about 16% of all maternal deaths. The most common cause of hemorrhage is uterine atony. General anesthesia is considered a predisposing cause of uterine atony. This article briefly reviews the hemodynamic changes occurring during pregnancy and uterine atony. Aspects of predisposing factors and management related to the use of drugs and halogenated anesthetics are discussed.


ABSTRACT The lantibiotic nisin has previously been reported to inhibit the outgrowth of spores from several Bacillus species. However, the mode of action of nisin responsible for outgrowth inhibition is poorly understood. By using B. anthracis Sterne 7702 as a model, nisin acted against spores with a 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) and an IC90 of 0.57 μM and 0.90 μM, respectively. Viable B. anthracis organisms were not recoverable from cultures containing concentrations of nisin greater than the IC90. These studies demonstrated that spores lose heat resistance and become hydrated in the presence of nisin, thereby ruling out a possible mechanism of inhibition in which nisin acts to block germination initiation. Rather, germination initiation is requisite for the action of nisin. This study also revealed that nisin rapidly and irreversibly inhibits growth by preventing the establishment of oxidative metabolism and the membrane potential in germinating spores. On the other hand, nisin had no detectable effects on the typical changes associated with the dissolution of the outer spore structures (e.g., the spore coats, cortex, and exosporium). Thus, the action of nisin results in the uncoupling of two critical sequences of events necessary for the outgrowth of spores: the establishment of metabolism and the shedding of the external spore structures.


Ultra High Frequency (UHF) remains the most used frequency band for two-way radio communication in military telecommunications. The output power on the military radio which measured in Watts will determine the effective range of the UHF signal. The transmission and reception of the UHF signals could also be easily degraded by many variables such as atmospheric moisture, solar wind, physical obstructions such as mountains and buildings. All the obstructions cause the signal degradation which will limit the operational distance of the UHF signals. The main objective of this study is to eliminate the signal degradation solely by using an amplifier circuit that will act as a device to increase the power of the signal. The purpose of designing circuits in this study is to increase the output power of a transmitter which later on can replace unnecessary antenna.


Аn air pollutant is defined as a substance that is present in the atmosphere at a concentration that is sufficient to cause harm to humans, other animals, vegetation, or materials. Each day humans inhale approximately 20 000 l of air. If harmful gases or fine toxic particles are present in the air, they are also drawn into the lungs, where they may cause serious respiratory diseases and other health problems. Approximately 90% of all air pollution is caused by five primary air pollutants: carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), volatile organic compounds (VOCs; mostly hydrocarbons [HCs]), and suspended particles. The transportation industry is responsible for nearly 50% of all air pollution from anthropogenic sources. In addition to CO, automobiles emit NOx and HCs. The burning of fossil fuels by stationary sources (power plants and industrial plants) accounts for approximately one-third of air pollutants, mainly in the form of sulfur oxides. Other industrial activities, along with variety of processes, including incineration of solid wastes, contribute smaller amounts.
If pollutants were distributed evenly over the entire country, their harmful effects would be greatly reduced. Because the pollutants tend to be concentrated in urban areas, where industry is more common and automobile traffic is congested, large segments of the population are exposed to their harmful effects, particularly during daily rush hours. In addition to the five primary air pollutants, the atmosphere is contaminated with secondary air pollutants, which are harmful substances produced by chemical reactions between primary pollutants and other constituents of the atmosphere. Secondary pollutants include sulfuric acid, nitric acid, sulfates and nitrites (which contribute to acid deposition), and ozone and other photochemical oxidants (which contribute to photochemical smog).
 Biomass is material from vegetation and it can be used as a fuel in various boilers and combustors. The main components of biomass are carbon, oxygen and hydrogen but it also contains nitrogen, sulphur and, normally, small amounts of chlorides. The main part of the ash comprises Ca, K, Si, Mg, Mn, Al, Fe, P, Na and Zn. During combustion, various kinds of impurities are generated and some of them there are in the flue gas. Most of them are related to the composition of the biomass: particles from ash, NOx from nitrogen, SO2 from sulphur, etc. There is impurities related to incomplete or bad combustion e.g. particles such as soot and unburned matter, carbon monoxide and other gaseous organic compounds (TOC) such as dioxin. The impurities in the flue gas are harmful if they are emitted to the atmosphere. Flue gas cleaning must be installed to eliminate or at least reduce this problem.


The level of cancer biomarkers in cells, tissues or body fluids can be used for the prediction of the presence of cancer or can even indicate the stage of the disease. Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is the most commonly used biomarker for early screening and diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Here, a combination of three techniques (click chemistry, the biotin–streptavidin–biotin sandwich strategy and the use of antigen–antibody interactions) were combined to implement a sensitive fluorescent immunosensor for AFP detection. Three types of functionalized glasses (dibenzocyclooctyne- (DBCO-), thiol- and epoxy-terminated surfaces) were biotinylated by employing the respective adequate click chemistry counterparts (biotin–thiol or biotin–azide for the first class, biotin–maleimide or biotin–DBCO for the second class and biotin–amine or biotin–thiol for the third class). The anti-AFP antibody was immobilized on the surfaces via a biotin–streptavidin–biotin sandwich technique. To evaluate the sensing performance of the differently prepared surfaces, fluorescently labeled AFP was spotted onto them via microchannel cantilever spotting (µCS). Based on the fluorescence measurements, the optimal microarray design was found and its sensitivity was determined.


Main pathogenic characteristics (toxin production, tox-gene detection, adhesiveness) of 59 strains of C. diphtheriae circulating in Rostov-on-Don city and Rostov region in 2004-2005 were studied. Study of toxigenicity of 15 tox+ C.di phtheriae strains showed full coincidence of Elek immunoprecipitation test and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Presence of part of A-fragment of tox-gene was detected in 5 (11.4%) of 44 C. diphtheriae strains that were negative in Elek test. Hemagglutinating activity of toxin producing strains was intermediate (40%) or high (60%). Among non-toxigenic strains those with intermediate adhesiveness were predominated (45,5%), the intermediate or high adhesiveness was detected in strains positive in PCR. Obtained characteristics of C. diphtheriae can be useful for surveillance for diphtheria infection during interepidemic period.


We analyze the effect of competition on price dispersion in the airline industry and show that the outcome hinges on redefining the extent of a market. Using panel data from 1993 to 2013, an increase in competition has a positive effect on price dispersion in one-way markets but a negative effect in round-trip markets. This is driven by a bigger (smaller) decrease in the 10th percentile of the price distribution in the one-way (round-trip) markets. We provide suggestive evidence that airlines compete more aggressively in the lower tail of the price distribution in one-way markets due to higher markups.


Crusting and erosion of cultivated soils result from aggregate breakdown and the detachment of soil fragments by rain, and the susceptibility of soil to these processes is often inferred from measurements of aggregate stability. Here, theories of aggregate breakdown are reviewed and four main mechanisms (i.e. slaking, breakdown by differential swelling, mechanical breakdown by raindrop impact and physico‐chemical dispersion) are defined. Their relative importance depends on the nature of the rain, as well as on the soil's physical and chemical properties. The relations between aggregate breakdown, crusting and water erosion are analysed, and existing methods for the assessment of aggregate stability are reviewed. A unified framework for the measurement of aggregate stability is proposed to assess a soil's susceptibility to crusting and erosion. It combines three treatments having various wetting conditions and energies (fast wetting, slow wetting, and stirring after pre‐wetting) and measures the resulting fragment size distribution after each treatment. It is designed to compare different soils, or different climatic conditions for a given soil, not to compare time‐dependent changes in that soil.


An embedded RISC microprocessor core fabricated in a six-layer metal 0.18-/spl mu/m CMOS process implementing the ARM/sup TM/ V.5TE instruction set is described. The core described is the first implementation of the Intel XScale Microarchitecture/sup TM/. The microprocessor core, which includes caches, memory management units, and a bus controller, comprises a hard-embedded block 16.77 mm/sup 2/ in size. The implementation is primarily custom logic in a variety of circuit styles. The processor dissipates 450 mW at 1.3 V, 600 MHz, and scales between 55 mW at 0.7 V, 200 MHz, and 900 mW at 1.65 V 800 MHz. Architectural performance is 1000 MIPS at 800 MHz with efficiency ranging from over 850 MIPS/W at 1.65 V to over 4500 MIPS/W at 0.75 V. Architectural and circuit design approaches for low power and high performance are described and measured results from the initial implementation are shown. The first implementation VLSI chip has a 3.3-V pin interface and supports a 0.75-1.65-V core voltage range.


Over-parameterized deep neural networks trained by simple first-order methods are known to be able to fit any labeling of data. Such over-fitting ability hinders generalization when mislabeled training examples are present. On the other hand, simple regularization methods like early-stopping can often achieve highly nontrivial performance on clean test data in these scenarios, a phenomenon not theoretically understood. This paper proposes and analyzes two simple and intuitive regularization methods: (i) regularization by the distance between the network parameters to initialization, and (ii) adding a trainable auxiliary variable to the network output for each training example. Theoretically, we prove that gradient descent training with either of these two methods leads to a generalization guarantee on the clean data distribution despite being trained using noisy labels. Our generalization analysis relies on the connection between wide neural network and neural tangent kernel (NTK). The generalization bound is independent of the network size, and is comparable to the bound one can get when there is no label noise. Experimental results verify the effectiveness of these methods on noisily labeled datasets.


: The purpose of this study was to estimate the economic burden of violence against children in South Africa. We assembled summative estimates of lifetime prevalence, calculated the magnitude of associations with negative outcomes, and thereby estimated the economic burden of violence against children. According to our calculations, 2.3 million and 84,287 disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) lost in South Africa in 2015 were attributable to nonfatal and fatal violence against children, respectively. The estimated economic value of DALYs lost to violence against children (including both fatal and nonfatal) in South Africa in 2015 totalled ZAR173 billion (US $13.5 billion)—or 4.3% of South Africa's gross domestic product (GDP) in 2015. In addition, the reduced earnings attributable to childhood physical violence and emotional violence in South Africa in 2015 were ZAR25.2 billion (US $2.0 billion) and ZAR9.6 billion (US $750 million), respectively. In addition, South Africa spent ZAR1.6 billion (US $124 million) on child care and protection in fiscal year 2015/2016, many of which costs are directly related to violence against children. This study confirms the importance of prioritising violence against children as a key social and economic concern for South Africa's future.


Alpha-fetoprotein producing tumors other than hepatoma and germ cell tumors have been widely reported, especially in carcinoma with hepatoid differentiation (hepatoid carcinoma). Hepatoid carcinoma has mostly been found in the stomach, but also occurs in many other organs. A rare case of hepatoid carcinoma of the ovary is presented. A 57-year-old Taiwanese woman was admitted because of lower abdominal pain. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a 10 cm right adnexal mass. She underwent a total hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy with omentectomy. A right ovarian mass measuring 13 x 9 x 8 cm was found. Microscopic examination showed characteristic features for hepatoid carcinoma. Immunohistochemical staining was performed on the tumor using a panel of eight markers (AFP, p-CEA, CD10, Hep Par 1, thyroid transcription factor-1, CK7, CK19 and CK20). This study contradicts the theory that hepatoid carcinoma derives from the surface epithelium of the ovary. Hepatoid carcinoma of the ovary commonly contains a population of clear cells, which may lead to the misdiagnosis of yolk sac tumor or clear cell adenocarcinoma that may arise in many anatomic sites. Histologically, it is also difficult to distinguish hepatoid carcinoma from hepatoid yolk sac tumor. In such cases, demonstration of CD 10, Hep Par 1, membraneous patterns of p-CEA and CK7 would be invaluable for characterizing the tumor as hepatoid carcinoma. More studies are needed to confirm this observation.


The optical properties and the molecular orientation in thin films of 3,4,9,10perylenetetracarboxylic dianhydride (PTCDA) and N,N � -dimethyl-3,4,9,10perylenetetracarboxylic diimide (DiMePTCDI) were studied by means of variable angle spectroscopic ellipsometry (VASE), atomic force microscopy (AFM), near edge x-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) spectroscopy, and infrared (IR) and Raman spectroscopy. VASE reveals that both kinds of film exhibit a strong optical anisotropy. For PTCDA, the optical constants are found to have much higher values in the substrate plane than perpendicular to it. While th ea nisotropy measured in the substrate plane on passivated GaAs(100) is very small for PTCDA a giant anisotropy is observed for DiMePTCDI. This difference in the optical properties is attributed to the different orientation of molecules in the thin organic films. While the PTCDA molecules lie flat on the substrate with their molecular plane parallel to the substrate surface, the DiMePTCDI molecules are tilted with respect to the substrate surface and are predominantly oriented with their long axis parallel to the [011] direction of the substrate as confirmed by VASE, NEXAFS, and Raman and IR results.


Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), to observe the changes of cerebral functional cortex in prelingual deaf singers for Chinese sign language(CSL). Results : During observing and imitating CSL, the activated areas in all groups include bilateral middle frontal gyrus, middle temporal gyrus, superior parietal lobule, cuneate lobe, fusiform gyrus and lingual gurus. The activation of bilateral inferior frontal gyrus were found in group I, III and IV, but no activation in group II. The activation of bilateral superior temporal gyrus and inferior parietal lobule were found in group I and III, but no activation in others. The volumes of bilateral inferior frontal gyrus in group I were greater than those in group III and IV. The volumes of bilateral superior temporal gyrus in group I were greater than those in group III. Conclusion:The cortex in PDS had occurred reorganization, after losing their auditory and learning the CSL. The activation of linguistic cortex can be found during oberserving and imitating CSL in PDS. The secondary auditory cortex and association area turn to take part in processing visual language when no auditory afference, whereas the primary auditory cortex do not participate the reorganization. Additionally, the visual cortex of PDS is more sensitive than that of normal heaing individuals.


Short study abroad programs can facilitate students' developing their intercultural sensitivity. The host country's language may, however, affect the extent of students' openness to diversity. This study empirically examines the impact of a host country's language on openness to diversity attitudes of students participating in short summer study abroad courses. More specifically, this study compares and contrasts the students' openness to diversity in non-English and English-speaking host countries both before and after the completion of such courses. The findings of this study suggest that students in an English-speaking host country are more open to diversity than those in a non-English-speaking host country.


AN EVALUATION OF CONSTRAINTS TO TREELINE ADVANCE ACROSS MULTIPLE SCALES IN THE CANADIAN ROCKY MOUNTAINS Emma L. Davis Advisor: University of Guelph, 2018 Dr. Ze'ev Gedalof Plant distributions are changing on a global scale as a result of climate change, with many species shifting to higher latitudes and elevations in response to warming temperatures. Variability exists, however, in how individual species are impacted by climate change, and unexpected responses are commonly observed due to the influence of other biotic and abiotic drivers on species distributions. Understanding factors that influence plant distributions is important given their role in regulating biogeochemical cycles and ecosystem functions, as well as their cultural and aesthetic value. Accurate predictions of species ranges are contingent on knowledge of the full suite of environmental processes that determine the spatial and temporal dynamics of plant distributions. Mountain environments, where plants can be growing at their environmental limits, are expected to be particularly sensitive to climate change. I applied a mixedmethods approach to study various factors influencing the distributions of alpine treeline systems in the Canadian Rocky Mountains (CRMs), where treeline advance has been observed over the past century. Tree-ring analysis was first used to gain insight into the climatic determinants of treeline establishment and advance by analyzing samples collected from nine treeline ecotones in the CRMs. A greenhouse and growth chamber study was then conducted to determine if differences in the properties of soils collected across four treeline ecotones impacted the viability of subalpine tree seedlings. Finally, a seed addition study was implemented at the same study locations to assess how seed availability, herbivory, microsite limitations, and microclimate influence seedling establishment within and beyond the current treeline. Both climatic and non-climatic factors are expected to constrain future treeline advance in the Rocky Mountain region. Tree-ring analyses revealed that substantial advance occurred at all sites throughout the 20-century, but that the rate of climate warming exceeded the pace of treeline movement. The field and greenhouse experiments suggest that a combination of unsuitable soil and microclimate conditions for seedling establishment are currently the main limitations to treeline advance. Finally, variability in treeline dynamics was observed between study locations, indicating that the responses of individual treelines to future climate change are likely to vary at the site level.


The Dayside Ionospheric Super-fountain modified SAMI2 code predicts the uplift, given storm-time electric fields, of the dayside near-equatorial ionosphere to heights of over 800 kilometers during magnetic storm intervals. This software is a simple 2D code developed over many years at the Naval Research Laboratory, and has importance relating to accuracy of GPS positioning, and for satellite drag.


A fundamental question in monopolistic competition theory is whether the market allocates resources efficiently. This paper generalizes the Spence-Dixit-Stiglitz framework to heterogeneous firms, addressing when the market provides optimal quantities, variety and productivity. Under constant elasticity of demand, each firm prices above its average cost, yet we show market allocations are efficient. When demand elasticities vary, market allocations are not efficient and reflect the distortions of imperfect competition. After determining the nature of market distortions, we investigate how integration may serve as a remedy to imperfect competition. Both market distortions and the impact of integration depend on two demand side elasticities, and we suggest richer demand structures to pin down these elasticities. We also show that integration eliminates distortions, provided the post-integration market is sufficiently large.


TCR gene rearrangement generates diversity of T lymphocytes by V(D)J recombination. Ig genes are rearranged in B cells using the same enzyme machinery. Physiologically, TCR gene is postulated to rearrange exclusively in T lineage, but malignant B precursor lymphoblasts contain rearranged TCR genes in most patients. Several mechanisms by which malignant cells break the regulation of V(D)J recombination have been proposed. In this study we show that incomplete TCR delta rearrangements V2-D3 and D2-D3 occur each in up to 16% alleles in B lymphocytes of all healthy donors studied, but complete VDJ rearrangement was negative at the sensitivity limit of 1%. Data are based on real-time quantitative PCR validated by PAGE and sequencing of the cloned products. Therefore, TCR genes rearrange not exclusively in T lineage. This study opens up further questions regarding the exact extent of the "cross-lineage" TCR or Ig rearrangements in normal lymphocytes, specific subsets in which the cross-lineage rearrangements occur, and the physiological importance of these rearrangements.


Immunicom, Inc. has developed a novel subtractive immunotherapeutic apheresis method (Immunopheresis®) to selectively remove soluble tumor necrosis factor receptors, sTNF-R1 and sTNF-R2 (sTNF-Rs) generated by tumors. sTNF-Rs block the tumoricidal activities, hence their removal restores the anticancer immunotherapeutic activity of native TNF-α. Past use of systemic administration of TNF-α to treat solid tumors resulted in unacceptable toxicities. Immunicom's LW-02 Column contains a bead matrix covalently bonded to a single-chain, TNF-α capture ligand (scTNF) with high affinity and selectivity to remove sTNF-Rs from plasma. Three clinical trials (NCT04004910, NCT04142931, NCT04690686) have been conducted in patients with various advanced-stage breast cancers (BC), melanoma (M), renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC). Patients were assigned to receive LW-02 Column Immunopheresis® monotherapy or combined with various chemo- or immunotherapies. Immunopheresis® was administered 3x/week for each trial's 12 or 16-week Primary Treatment period with each procedure processing 2 plasma volumes (2PV). Patients with (at least) clinical stability and/or tumor responses could receive additional treatment. Compared to healthy persons, patients in all 3 trials were noted as having significantly elevated baseline blood concentrations of sTNF-R1 and sTNF-R2. For instance, sTNF-R1 plasma levels were 3.5 ng/mL, 3.5 ng/mL, 2.2 ng/mL and 2.1 ng/mL for BC, M, RCC and NSCLC, respectively, which were 5-8-fold higher than normal values. Likewise, sTNF-R2 plasma concentrations (which can be 4-fold, or more, greater than sTNF-R1) were 4-9-fold higher for BC (16.5 ng/mL), M (19.1), RCC (22.7) or NSCLC (11.1 ng/mL) than normal values. Through the data cutoff, >1,600 LW-02 Column Immunopheresis® procedures were performed. On average, 95% of sTNF-R1 and 80% of sTNF-R2 are removed from plasma at the 30-minute procedure timepoint. At the 2PV timepoint, overall mean reductions of sTNF-R1 and sTNF-R2 in whole blood were 51 and 52%. Further, minimal leaching (mean of 113 ng per procedure), of the scTNF capture ligand was detected, a quantity that is insufficient to cause any meaningful clinical effects. In vitro testing determined that the LW-02 Column has no discernable evidence of unintended or "off-target" removal of other cytokines or blood constituents or any non-specific binding. Moreover, the trial results demonstrate Immunopheresis® is safe with minimal side effects determined to be related to treatment with the column. Results from 3 trials indicate that cancer patients with advanced solid tumors present with significantly upregulated levels of immune inhibitory sTNF-Rs. LW-02 Column Immunopheresis® can safely and selectively remove sTNF-Rs thus allowing endogenous TNF-α to instigate its multiple anticancer pathways.
 Citation Format: Piotr J. Wysocki, Piotr Tomczak, Tomasz Jankowski, Tomasz Nowikiewicz, Gal Markel, Ronnie Shapira, Gokhan Demir, Mustafa Bozkurt, Sameera Bilgrami, Annette Marleau, Adam Ostrowski, Lawrence Florin, Victoria Manax, Robert Segal. Removal of soluble TNF receptors as a novel form of immunotherapy for patients with advanced solid tumors. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2023; Part 1 (Regular and Invited Abstracts); 2023 Apr 14-19; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2023;83(7_Suppl):Abstract nr 4426.


Blockchain is a digital ledger that records transactions conducted between different parties in a network. This technology has the potential to be very beneficial but is not currently in the place to apply practically to the accounting field. In today's environment, blockchain is being used in many different areas of business, namely supply chain management and logistics. It is in the process of being translated into the accounting field and potentially replacing the traditional enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems the majority of companies use for accounting today. However, with certain advancements in the technology, it could significantly change accounting in the fields of tax, audit, and financial reporting. Potential applications for tax include simplifying payroll tax, transfer tax, and value added tax (VAT). However, there are no current applications of blockchain with tax as this would require significant changes in governmental regulations. There are numerous potential changes that may impact the audit field with some scholars even suggesting fully automated audits in the future. While this may not be fully realizable, the possibility of realtime auditing is not unrealistic. Blockchain will change financial reporting in many ways but primarily by creating one version of the truth for enterprises to use. This makes the creation and reliability of financial data and statements much more straightforward for all involved parties. Overall, as blockchain continues to evolve, it will never completely take away the need for accountants, but it will certainly change the way accountants do their jobs. CPAs in particular will have new roles such as blockchain auditors, arbitrators, and moderators.


Antibody‐dependent cell‐mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) is an immunologic cytotoxic effector mechanism that is dependent on the cooperative interaction of humoral and cellular effector elements. This unit describes an assay of ADCC activity that can be used as a test for immunocompetence in effector cells or to test the activity of a monoclonal antibody to mediate ADCC. In this form of cytotoxicity, effector cells with receptors for the Fc portion of immunoglobulin produce target cell lysis by attachment to the Fc portion of antibodies that are bound to target cells via their antigen‐combining sites. Therefore, an ADCC assay involves three essential components: labeled target cells, antibodies with specificity for target‐cell surface antigens, and effector‐cell populations. The basic protocol describes a method of measuring ADCC effector activity in lymphoid cells (peripheral blood mononuclear cells, or PBMC) that employs 51Cr‐labeled target cells. The three components are mixed in microtiter‐plate wells and lysis of the target cells is detected by measuring the release of radioactivity into the cell supernatant. Support protocols describe procedures for preparing anti‐target cell antiserum and 51Cr‐labeled target cells.


One of the outstanding benefits that resulted from Flax's work on the scattering from simple shapes was the impetus given to isolating and understanding basic scattering mechanisms. For example, his pioneering work on the development of acoustic resonance theory described methods for the separation of elastic and geometric contributions to the scattered field, and for differentiating between elastic methods. As the targets considered become more complicated, isolation of generally overlapping mechanisms becomes increasingly more difficult. Standard time/frequency approaches and newer techniques such as wave packet analysis can be applied to these problems, with confidence obtained from their applications to the well understood canonical shapes. Examples of the isolation of scattering mechanisms derived from targets of increasing complexity are presented.


In this work we investigate various aspects of the finishing process in ancient bronze sculptures by means of active infrared thermography (IRT). Active IRT provides information on surface and sub-surface features of the investigated artefact, by analysing the heat diffusion process induced within the sample by appropriate thermal stimulations usually produced by absorption of light emitted by different sources. The aim of this research is, in particular, to investigate the processing of bronze surfaces, revealing repairs like plugs, fillings, local castings and concealed marks.


BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
A significant proportion of patients with lacunar infarctions experience neurologic deterioration after onset. However, no clinical examination has been established for prediction of the progress of symptoms. To determine the hemodynamic predictors of such progression, we performed perfusion CT to quantitatively assess cerebral blood flow (CBF), cerebral blood volume (CBV), and mean transit time (MTT) of patients with lacunar infarctions in the territory of the lenticulostriate artery.

METHODS
We performed MR imaging and perfusion CT of 26 patients with lacunar infarction within 24 hr after onset. On the CBF map on perfusion CT scans, a round small region of interest was set at the region, with decreased CBF in the territory of the lenticulostriate artery (region of interest 1). Another region of interest was set in the mirror position to region of interest 1 in the contralateral hemisphere (region of interest 2). Using these two regions of interest, CBF, CBV, and MTT were measured. All patients underwent neurologic and MR imaging follow-up while receiving equivalent medical treatment.

RESULTS
Neurologic deterioration after onset was shown in 13 patients (progress group), whereas no neurologic deterioration was shown in the other 13 patients (control group). In the progress group, lacunar infarctions were enlarged on follow-up MR images. The ratio of region of interest 1/region of interest 2 showed significantly lower CBF and higher MTT in the progress group than in the control group.

CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that progressive lacunar infarction in the territory of the lenticulostriate artery could be predicted with a higher MTT ratio (>1.26) and a lower CBF ratio (<0.76) on perfusion CT scans obtained within 24 hr after onset.


calculi are usually first identified by postoperative T tube cholangiography) the first attempt to remove the calculi should be through the T tube track.'`4 This method not only is preferred to endoscopy by most patients (from information volunteered by patients who have experienced both procedures) but is successful in most cases (success rates exceed 95% in experienced hands)4 and is considerably safer than endoscopic sphincterotomy, which has a small but definite mortality. Why use a long tube and cut a sphincter when you can use a short tube and take a short cut?


In a large distributed system spanning many administrative domains such as a Grid, it is desirable to maintain and query dynamic and timely information about active participants such as services, resources and user communities. However, in such a database system, the set of information tuples in the universe is partitioned over one or more distributed nodes, for reasons including autonomy, scalability, availability, performance and security. This suggests the use of Peer-to-Peer (P2P) query technology. A variety of query response modes can be used to return matching query results from P2P nodes to an originator. Although from the functional perspective all response modes are equivalent, no mode is optimal under all circumstances. Which query response modes allow to express suitable trade-offs for a wide range of P2P applications? In this paper, we answer this question by systematically describing and characterizing four query response modes for the Unified Peer-to-Peer Database Framework (UPDF) proposed in our prior studies, namely Routed Response, Direct Response, Routed Metadata Response, and Direct Metadata Response. The response models are compared with respect to distribution and location transparency, efficiency of query support, economics, number of TCP connections at originator and agent, latency, caching and trust delegation to unknown parties. We discuss to what extent a given P2P network must mandate the use of any particular response mode throughout the system. As a result, we propose that response modes can be mixed by switches and shifts, in arbitrary permutations.


OBJECTIVE
We aimed to compare the clinical efficacy of three different internal fixation methods, i.e. proximal femoral locking compress plate (PF-LCP), proximal femoral nail antirotation (PFNA) and dynamic hip screw (DHS) system in intertrochanteric femur fracture.

PATIENTS AND METHODS
We selected a total of 150 patients with Intertrochanteric femur fracture who were admitted to this hospital between January 2015 and December 2016 for treatment, and those patients were divided into three groups according to the difference in treatment methods, i.e., Group A (n=50), Group B (n=50) and Group C (n=50). For patients in Group A, they received the PF-LCP treatment, patients in Group B received PFNA treatment while those in Group C received DHS treatment; ultimately, clinical efficacy was compared among three groups.

RESULTS
In Group B, the efficacy was superior to those in Group A and C in terms of comparison of surgical duration, bleeding amount, time point of callus formation, healing time of fracture and length of stay (LOS) in hospital (p<0.05); after operation, the prevalence rate of complication in Group B was significantly lower than those in Group A and Group C (p<0.05); in comparison of preoperative Harris score among three groups, the different had no statistical significance (p>0.05). The Harris scores in Group B at the 1st, 3rd, and 6th month after operation were all significantly higher than those in Group A and C (p<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS
Compared with PF-LCP and DHS, PFDA can better fix the intertrochanteric femur fracture with little effect on blood circulation at the fracture end and slight damage to sclerotin, thereby accelerating the recovery of hip joint function without any increase in prevalence of complications. Therefore, PFDA has a promising clinical efficacy and safety, which is worthy of being promoted in clinical practice.


Herbs have intense components and ought to be treated with the same care and regard as pharmaceutical medications. Natural prescription is the utilization of plants (herbs) to treat illness and improve health. Home grown solution is utilized to treat a scope of clutters including tension, joint pain, despondency, hypertension, a sleeping disorder, hormonal irregular characteristics, headaches, skin issues, for example, dermatitis and different issue. Herbs have been the source of proficient medicines since ancient times. They are the foundation of modern medicines and are used for treatment and cure of various diseases and skin problems. Ancient doctors methodically collected information about herbs and developed welldefined pharmacopoeias to treat a variety of disorders. More than a section of all drugs used today contain active ingredients derived from those same ancient plants. Many herbal plants have shown the potential to cure most dreaded diseases like cancer and are under research for more applications.


Oleo-gum resin of Boswellia serrata Roxb ex Colebr. (Burseraceae) called Kundur in Unani system of Medicine is a prime ingredient in modern quality perfumes. The gum is popularly used in Indian Systems of Medicine (Unani, Ayurvedic & Sidha) for the last several centuries in curing various aliment especially rheumatism and skin diseases. Kundur is one of the popular drugs for various ailments such as dysentery, dyspepsia, lung diseases, haemorrhoids, rheumatism, urinary disorders and corneal ulcer in Unani system of medicine for the last several years. It is also an ingredient in certain compound formulations viz: Majoon Kundur, Majoon Murawwah-ul-Arwah, Dawa-ul-Kibrit and Habbe Suzak of Unani medicine used in renal disorders. The studies carried out on Kundur (Boswellia serrata Roxb) reveal that Oleo-gum resin exhibits potent Anti-fungal, Anti-complementary, Juvenomimetic and Anti-carcinogenic properties. Investigations on Kundur also revealed its beneficial effects in Immunomodulation, Bronchial asthma, Polyarthritis, Hepatitis C-virus, Colitis and Crohn's disease. Phytochemistry and pharmacology on Kundur (Oleo-gum resin) of Boswellia serrata Roxb has been reviewed in this paper with the view to justify its recorded uses in Unani System of Medicine on scientific lines.


Aim: this study was carried out to assess the knowledge and compliance of contact lens wear and care among female medical students at King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Method: The knowledge and practice related to contact lenses wear and care among female medical students of King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, was assessed through a pre-tested structured questionnaire. A total of 254 contact lens wearers participated in this study. All were female medical students who were aged between 19-25 years.
Results: we found that 33% of female medical students are contact lens wearers, 36.6% of them were using contact lenses for cosmetic purposes and 34.6% for refractive purposes. There was a significant number (72%) of students were not informed about contact lenses complications by their contact lens prescribers. A large number of them had experienced some complications at some point during their usage such as dry eye 68.1% and red eye 45.3% also some experienced corneal ulcer 12.2%.
Conclusion: Improper practice of contact lens wear and care even in educated users such as medical students could increase the risk of complications. Thus, a need for more education regarding proper practice of contact lens care to contact lens wearers is needed.


Data caching strategy for ad hoc networks whose nodes exchange information items in a peer-to-peer fashion. Data caching is a fully distributed scheme where each node, upon receiving requested information, determines the cache drop time of the information or which content to replace to make room for the newly arrived information. These decisions are made depending on the perceived "presence" of the content in the nodes proximity, whose estimation does not cause any additional overhead to the information sharing system. We devise a strategy where nodes, independent of each other, decide whether to cache some content and for how long. In the case of smallsized caches, we aim to design a content replacement strategy that allows nodes to successfully store newly received information while maintaining the good performance of the content distribution system. Under both conditions, each node takes decisions according to its perception of what nearby users may store in their caches and with the aim of differentiating its own cache content from the other nodes'. The result is the creation of content diversity within the nodes neighborhood so that a requesting user likely finds the desired information nearby. We simulate our caching algorithms in different ad hoc network scenarios and compare them with other caching schemes, showing that our solution succeeds in creating the desired content diversity, thus leading to a resource-efficient information access. Key Terms: Data Caching, Self-Organizing, MANET, Integrated Cache-Routing, Localized Caching Policy, Distributed Caching Algorithm.


Acyl-CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT) plays important roles in cellular cholesterol homeostasis. Two ACAT genes exist in mammals. We report here the genomic organization of human ACAT-2 gene and analysis of its promoter activity in various cell lines. The human ACAT-2 gene spans over 18 kb and contains 15 exons. Three transcription start sites and one poly(A) site are identified by the 5'/3'-RACE. In addition, the human ACAT-2 gene is linked to the insulin-like growth factor binding protein 6 (IGFBP-6) gene in a head-to-tail manner with a small intergenic region of about 1.2 kb. The 5'-flanking region of human ACAT-2 gene contains many potential cis-acting elements for multiple transcriptional regulatory factors but lacks TATA and CCAAT boxes. Using promoter-luciferase reporter assays, we demonstrate the transcriptional activity of ACAT-2 gene promoter is high in Caco-2 cells, especially after these cells become postconfluent and behave as intestinal enterocytes.


The architecture of artificial neural network (ANN) laid the foundation as a powerful technique in handling problems such as pattern recognition and data analysis. It's data-driven, self-adaptive, and non-linear capabilities channel it for use in processing at high speed and ability to learn the solution to a problem from a set of examples. It has been adequately applied in areas such as medical, financial, economy, and engineering. Neural network training has been a dynamic area of research, with the Multi-Layer Perceptron (MLP) trained with back propagation (BP) mostly worked on by various researchers. However, this algorithm is prone to have difficulties such as local minimum which are caused by neuron saturation in the hidden layer. Most existing approaches modify the learning model in order to add a random factor to the model which can help to overcome the tendency to sink into local minima. However, the random perturbations of the search direction and various kinds of stochastic adjustment to the current set of weights are not effective in enabling a network to escape from local minimum within a reasonable number of iterations. In this research, a performance analysis based on different activation functions; gradient descent and gradient descent with momentum, for training the BP algorithm with pre-processing techniques was executed. The Min-Max, Z-Score, and Decimal Scaling Normalization pre-processing techniques were analyzed. Results generated from the simulations reveal that the pre-processing techniques greatly increased the ANN convergence with Z-Score producing the best performance on all datasets by reaching up to 97.99%, 95.41% and 96.36% accuracy.


Abstract. Improving the performance of feature matching plays a key role in computers vision and photogrammetry applications, such as fast image recognition, Structure from Motion (SFM), aerial triangulation, Visual Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (VSLAM), etc., where the RANSAC algorithm is frequently used for outlier detection; note that RANSAC is the most widely used robust approach in photogrammetry and computer vision for outlier detection. It is known that the outlier ratio used in RANSAC primarily determines the number of trial runs needed, which eventually, determines the computation time. Over time, different methods have been proposed to reject the false-positive correspondences and improve RANSAC, such as GR_RANSAC, SuperGlue, and LPRANSAC. The specific objective of this study is to propose a filtering algorithm based on Graph Neural Networks (GNN), as a pre-processing step before RANSAC, which can result in improvements for rejecting the outliers. The research is based on the idea that descriptors of corresponding points, as well as their spatial relationship, should be similar in image sequences. In graph representation, built by the adjacency matrix of data (nodes features), there should be similarity for corresponding points that are close to each other in the image domain. From the many GNNs techniques, Graph Attention Networks (GATs) were selected for this study as they assign different importance to each neighbour's contribution as anisotropic operations, so the features of neighbour nodes are not considered in the same way, unlike other GNNs techniques. In our approach, we build a graph in each image, because the similarity of the two-dimensional spatial relationships between points in the image domain of consecutive images should be similar. Then during processing, points with any significantly different neighbours are considered as outliers. Next, the points can be updated in the GNN layer. GNN-RANSAC is tested experimentally on real image pairs. Clearly, the proposed pre-filtering increases the inlier ratio and results in faster convergence compared to ordinary RANSAC, making it attractive for real-time applications. Furthermore, there is no need to learn the features.


Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are key innate immune receptors that recognize non-self pathogens and trigger host responses. Activation of these receptors results in the release of antimicrobial peptides, inflammatory cytokines, and co stimulatory molecules that initiate adaptive immunity for infections with gram-negative bacteria, lipopolysaccharide is the main source of inflammation, and toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) is crucial in mediating its effects. TLR4 is expressed on cardiomyocytes, macrophages, airway epithelia, endothelial, smooth-muscle cells and in small amounts in most other tissue. But, uncontrolled activation of TLR signaling molecules may cause auto immune diseases, sepsis, and tissue damage so the activation of TLR4 should be under control. Ubiquitin¨Cdependent receptor degradation as well as stabilization was recently suggested as a novel regulatory mechanism in controlling several TLR activations. We have recently found that an ubiquitin-like protein named protein linking integrin associated protein to cytoskeleton 1 (PLIC-1) interacts with the cytoplasmic domain of TLR4. The interaction between TLR4 and PLIC-1 was verified by western blot and immunoprecipitation. Further mapping of the interacting domain was done and we observed that the N terminal fragment of PLIC-1 is interacting with TLR4. PLIC-1 has been reported to stabilize proteins by interfering with proteosomal degradation. Consistent with this finding, we observed that over expression of PLIC-1 accumulated ubiquitinated TLR4. By flow cytometric analysis we observed that over expression of PLIC-1 is stabilizing TLR4. Reporter studies show that PLIC-1 inhibits the TRIF-dependent IFN-¦Â pathway. When endogenous PLIC-1 was knocked down by RNAi, the activation of TRIF-dependent IFN-¦Â luc was further increased. The same effect was observed in J774 mouse macrophages. Taken together our results suggest that PLIC-1 is a negative regulator of TLR pathway. This knowledge may be applied in immunotherapy as a means to modulate TLR activation in diseases such as septic shock, thus provides benefit for public health.


A set of polypeptides detected in transformed cells of M(r) values 90,000 (a doublet) 40,000 and 32,000 that are recognised by immunoprecipitation of L-[35S]methionine-labelled tumour cell lysates, with sera from tumour-bearing rats and with antisera raised against herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2)-infected cells, were previously reported (Macnab et al., 1985, 1992; Hewitt et al., 1991). These proteins are cell-coded and cannot be precipitated from similarly radiolabelled control cells. Two of these polypeptides are significantly induced by HSV-2 infection (Hewitt et al., 1991; Macnab et al., 1992). This paper further characterises one of these polypeptides, U90, and addresses which properties distinguish the behaviour of U90 in tumour cells, whether there is an equivalent in control cells and whether U90 can be induced without HSV replication. U90 can be immunoprecipitated from radiolabelled human cells which are capable of extended passage in culture, as well as from human tumour cells, rodent tumour cells and cells of different lineages, e.g. epithelial, fibroblastic and lymphoid. Purification of U90 and the subsequent production of monospecific antibodies revealed, by western blotting, a homologue of 90 kDa in control cells. Western blotting shows that HSV can increase the amount of the U90 homologue in these normal cells. The absence of an immunoprecipitate of the U90 homologue from control cells is a result of the very short half-life (i.e. high turnover) of the protein in these cells (32.9 minutes) as opposed to tumour cells (about 13 hours).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


Torsion of appendix testis, appendix epididymis and the testicle itself are urological emergencies. the cause of torsion remains unclear. trauma, spasm and contractions of the dartos and cremasteric muscle are potential contributing factors. testicular torsion can occur either intravaginal or extravaginal.
Testicular and appendiceal torsion are vascular emergencies that need immediate and appropriate treatment. prognosis depends on duration of vascular disturbances. testicular and appendiceal torsion have many similarities with other cases of acute scrotum. wrong diagnosis could lead to delay in treatment and patient morbidity.
 We report case series of testicular and appendiceal torsion. the purpose of this case series report to be aware in early diagnosis and prompt treatment.


Apache Hive could be a wide used information reposition and analysis tool. Developers write SQL like HIVE queries that are regenerate into MapReduce programs to runs on a cluster. Despite its quality, there's very little analysis on performance comparison and diagnose. Part of the explanation is that instrumentation techniques accustomed monitor execution cannot be applied to intermediate MapReduce code generated from Hive question. as a result of the generated MapReduce code is hidden from developers, run time logs are the sole places a developer will get a glimpse of the particular execution. Having an automatic tool to extract info and to come up with report from logs is crucial to know the query execution behavior. The designed a tool to make the execution profile of individual Hive queries by extracting info from HIVE and Hadoop logs. The profile consists of elaborated info regarding MapReduce jobs, tasks and tries happiness to a question. it's keep as a JSON document in MongoDB and might be retrieved to come up with reports in charts or tables. I have run many experiments on AWS with TPC-H knowledge sets and queries to demonstrate that our identification tool is ready to help developers in examination HIVE queries written in numerous formats, running on completely different knowledge sets and organized with different parameters. it's additionally ready to compare tasks/attempts inside constant job to diagnose performance problems.


In this article, we review the appropriateness of "mindfulness" as an educational goal and explore what it means to cultivate mindfulness as a disposition, that is, as an enduring trait, rather than a temporary state. We identify three high-leverage instructional practices for enculturating mindfulness: looking closely, exploring possibilities and perspectives, and introducing ambiguity. We conclude by exploring what it might look like to cultivate the trait of mindfulness within individual classrooms. This report includes a review of an experimental study of "conditional instruction," which explores mindfulness as a state, and then draws on a series of qualitative case studies of "thoughtful" classrooms to provide an example of conditional instruction as it might serve to develop a disposition of mindfulness.


BACKGROUND
Peripheral neuropathy symptoms (PNS) are commonly manifested in HIV-infected (HIV+) individuals, although data are limited on the prevalence and predictors of PNS in HIV+ patients from sub-Saharan Africa.

OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence and predictors of PNS in HIV+ and HIV-uninfected (HIV-) Rwandan women.

METHODS
Data were analysed from 936 (710 HIV+ and 226 HIV-) women from the Rwanda Women Interassociation Study and Assessment (RWISA), an observational prospective cohort study investigating the effectiveness and toxicity of ART in HIV+ women.

RESULTS
Of 936 enrolled, 920 (98.3%) were included in this analysis with 44% of HIV- and 52% of the HIV+ women reporting PNS (p=0.06). CD4+ count was not associated with PNS, although there was a non-significant trend towards higher prevalence in those with lower CD4+ counts. For the HIV- women, only alcohol and co-trimoxazole use were independently associated with PNS. WHO HIV stage IV illness and albumin ≤ 3.5 were associated with PNS in HIV+ women.

CONCLUSIONS
The rate of peripheral neuropathy symptoms reported in this cohort of HIV-infected African women seems implausible, and rather suggests that the screening tool for peripheral neuropathy in culturally diverse African settings be locally validated.


1.Habitat degradation leads to biodiversity loss and concomitant changes in ecosystem processes. Tropical river floodplains are highly threatened by land cover changes and support high biodiversity and important ecosystems services, but the extent to which changes in floodplain land cover affect fish biodiversity remains unknown.

2.We combined fish and environmental data collected in situ and satellite-mapped landscape features to evaluate how fish species with different ecological strategies and assemblage structures respond to deforestation in floodplains of the Amazon River. We surveyed 462 floodplain habitats distributed along a gradient of land cover, from largely forested to severely deforested. Rather than analyze only taxonomic metrics, we employed an integrative approach that simultaneously considers different aspects of fish biodiversity (i.e., beta diversity and taxonomic and functional assemblage structure) to facilitate mechanistic interpretations of the influence of land cover.

3.Spatial patterns of fish biodiversity in tropical floodplain rivers were strongly associated with forest cover as well as local environmental conditions linked to landscape gradients. Several species and functional groups defined by life history, feeding, swimming/microhabitat-use strategies were positively associated with forest cover. Other species, including some that would usually be considered habitat generalists and species directly dependent on autochthonous resources (e.g., planktivores), were most common in areas dominated by herbaceous vegetation or open-water habitats associated with the opposite extreme of the forest cover gradient. Beta-diversity and the degree of uniqueness of species combinations within habitats were also positively associated with forest cover.

4.Synthesis and applications. Our results, demonstrating that spatial patterns of fish biodiversity are associated with forest cover, indicate that deforestation of floodplains of the Amazon River results in spatial homogenization of fish assemblages and reduced functional diversity at both local and regional scales. Floodplains worldwide have undergone major land cover changes, with forest loss projected to increase during the next decades. Conserving fish diversity in these ecosystems requires protecting mosaics of both aquatic habitats and floodplain vegetation, with sufficient forest cover being critically important.

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Author(s): Alavi, Arash | Advisor(s): Gupta, Rajiv; Qian, Zhiyun | Abstract: With the increasing complexity of application software there is an acute need for software analysis approaches that are capable of identifying bugs, failures, and most importantly vulnerabilities on a large scale. In this dissertation, first we stress the necessity of having automated software analysis approaches and then propose analysis approaches for detecting vulnerabilities in software via analysis and testing in general, and security assessment in particular. We show the efficiency and effectiveness of these analysis techniques in detecting vulnerabilities. First, we study security issues in smartphone applications by studying the security discrepancies between Android apps and their website counterparts, depicting the essential need of efficient software analysis techniques to fully automate the mobile app analysis process. By a comprehensive study on 100 popular app-web pairs, we find that, with respect to various security policies, the mobile apps often have weaker or non-existent security measures compared to their website counterparts. Second, as a consequence of the former, we develop AndroidSlicer, the first novel, efficient, and effective dynamic program slicing tool for Android apps that is useful for a variety of tasks, from testing to debugging to security assessment. Our work in this domain focuses on making large scale applications of slicing practical in order to detect bugs and vulnerabilities in real-world apps. We present two new applications of the dynamic slicing technique in mobile apps: (1) detecting the "stuck'' states (missing progress indicators) in mobile apps. We present, implement, and evaluate ProgressDroid, a tool for discovering missing progress indicator bugs based on program dependencies; and (2) detecting security vulnerabilities in unique device ID generators. Finally, in the same vein of deploying analysis tools for detecting vulnerabilities, we present GAGA, an efficient genetic algorithm for graph anonymization that simultaneously delivers high anonymization and utility preservation. Experiments show that GAGA improves the defense against DA techniques by reducing the rate of successfully de-anonymized users by at least a factor of 2.7 in comparison to the baseline and at the same time, under 16 graph and application utility metrics, GAGA is overall the best at preserving utilities.


Over the past few decades, the prevalence of HPVassociated oral cancers has steadily risen. Such a trend can be attributed to changing sexual behaviors, specifically oral sexual activity among adolescents. The HPV vaccine has been a key component in the battle against cervical cancer. It is therefore imperative we similarly emphasize adherence to the HPV vaccine among adolescents for greater prevention of HPV-associated oral cancers.


Background: Studies showed that hormonal fluctuations that occur over the human menstrual cycle affect energy intake and expenditure. However, little is known about the possible effects on body weight regulation that may arise when these cyclic changes are suppressed with hormonal contraceptives. Objective: The aim of this study was to examine how a progestational contraceptive drug (depot medroxyprogesterone acetate) affects food intake, resting energy expenditure (REE), and body weight in young women. Design: Twenty normal-weight women were tested in a singleblind, placebo-controlled experiment. Body weight, REE, and 3-d food intake (food provided) were measured in the follicular and luteal phases of 2 menstrual cycles before a single injection of depot medroxyprogesterone or saline solution was administered. Measurements were also taken 4 times after injection: in the luteal and follicular phases of 2 cycles in the placebo group and 2 wk apart (to mimic timing of the menstrual phases) in the drug group. Results: Before injection, the phase of the menstrual cycle affected both energy intake and REE. The study participants consumed more energy (4.3%; P = 0.02) and expended more energy at rest (4.3%; P = 0.0002) in the luteal phase than in the follicular phase. Comparison of preand postinjection means showed that treatment with the contraceptive drug had no significant effects on energy intake, REE, or body weight. Conclusions: This study showed that, although phases of the menstrual cycle affected energy intake and REE, depot medroxyprogesterone acetate did not alter energy intake or expenditure or cause weight gain in young women. Am J Clin Nutr 2001;73:19–26.


Majority of dentists working in public and private health sector lack the adequate knowledge about recognition and reporting issues of suspected cases of child abuse presented clinically as sexual abuse. As mandated reporters, dental surgeons play a key role in recognizing child abuse (1). Sexual abuse cases may be presented as either erythematous, ulcerative, vesiculopustular, pseudo membranous or condylomatous lesions on lips, tongue, palate, face or pharynx (2). Sexual abuse cases in children may be due to fellatio (a sexual act in which the penis is placed into the mouth of another person) and irrumation (the active penetration or forceful thrusting of penis into the mouth with negative pressure) (3). In suspected fellatio associated sexual abuse cases, the dental surgeon should clinically inspect the palate preferably soft palate, junction of soft and hard palate for erythema, petechiae, purpura and ecchymosis (4). Ulcerations of the sublingual area should be noted due to sexual abuse due to cunnilingus (Oral stimulation of vagina or vulva and clitoris, by lips and tongue) (5).In suspected cunnilingus associated sexual abuse cases, the dental surgeon should clinically inspect the lingual frenum for horizontal ulcerations and fibrous hyperplasia (6). Acknowledgements


The pharmacology of the spinal and peripheral adrenergic receptor-subtypes controlling the micturition reflex was studied in a chronic unanesthetized rat model by continuous infusion of saline in the bladder and cystometrography after intrathecal (i.t.) and i.p. injections, respectively. Due to the absence of a catheter in the urethra, the bladder contraction-sphincter relaxation coupling could be assessed very precisely. For each agent tested in this study, dose-response curves were established. Norepinephrine (i.p.), methoxamine (i.p.) and ST-91 (i.p. and i.t.) produced an increase in frequency of bladder contraction. A decrease in frequency was observed after i.p. injection of isoproterenol (30 micrograms) and terbutaline (300 micrograms). Phentolamine, yohimbine, propranolol (i.p. and i.t.), isoproterenol (i.t.) and methoxamine (i.t.) had little or no effects on frequency of contraction at the highest doses examined. In addition, norepinephrine (i.p.), isoproterenol (i.p. and i.t.), ST-91 (i.p.), terbutaline (i.p.), phentolamine (i.p.) and yohimbine (i.p.) produced some relaxation of the bladder outlet. Methoxamine (i.p.) produced an increase in tone of the outlet. Propranolol (i.p. and i.t.), methoxamine (i.t.), ST-91 (i.t.), phentolamine (i.t.) and yohimbine (i.t.) had little or no effects on the tone of the bladder outlet at the highest doses examined. Those observations suggest that peripherally, catecholamines modulate the frequency of bladder contraction (increase through alpha-1 and alpha-2 receptors; decrease through beta-2 receptors), and the tonic activity of the bladder outlet (increase in tone through alpha-1 receptors; relaxation through alpha-2 and beta-2 receptors). At the spinal level, noradrenergic systems appear to modulate the frequency of contraction and sphincter tone through alpha-2 receptors. Isoproterenol effects after i.t. injection are thought to be due to systemic distribution. However, absence of effects after i.t. injection of adrenergic antagonists suggests that spinal adrenergic systems might not be active during a normal volume-evoked micturition reflex, but might be activated in special circumstances, such as the voluntary act of retaining urine.


Background and objectives: Cisplatin which is used widely for cancer patients as an effective chemotherapeutic drug was reported to exert many adverse effects on the body. This study aims to investigate the effect of quinoa seeds against cisplatin toxicity in female rats. Materials and methods: Thirty six female Wistar rats were used. Thirty of them were divided into five groups each of six rats and injected daily for 8 weeks intraperitoneally with cisplatin dose of 12 mg/kg b. wt./rat, while the remaining group was considered as the negative control and injected intraperitoneally by saline for the same period. The negative control group and the positive control group (injected with cisplatin) were fed on basal diet, the third, fourth, fifth and sixth groups were fed on basal diet + 10% or 20% or 30% or 40% quinoa seed powder, respectively. Results: The results revealed that rats consumed quinoa seed powder at different levels showed significant increase in concentration of serum testosterone, estrogen, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH), compared to the positive control group. Also, administration of quinoa seed powder at different levels improved, lipid profile and antioxidant parameters in female rats. Conclusion: The quinoa seed powder is a potent polyphenol, mineral and vitamin rich source with great anti-inflammatory and antioxidant power which can be used to prepare a functional food that can counteract the symptoms of cisplatin toxicity and prevent its complications.


Simulating crop yield and yield variability requires long-term, high-quality daily weather data, including solar radiation, maximum (Tmax) and minimum temperature (Tmin), and precipitation. In many regions, however, daily weather data of sufficient quality and duration are not available. To overcome this limitation, we evaluated a new method to create long-term weather series based on a few years of observed daily temperature data (hereafter called propagated data). The propagated data are comprised of uncorrected gridded solar radiation from the Prediction of Worldwide Energy Resource dataset from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA–POWER), rainfall from the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) dataset, and location-specific calibration of NASA–POWER Tmax and Tmin using a limited amount of observed daily temperature data. The distributions of simulated yields of maize, rice, or wheat with propagated data were compared with simulated yields using observed weather data at 18 sites in North and South America, Europe, Africa, and Asia. Other sources of weather data typically used in crop modeling for locations without long-term observed weather data were also included in the comparison: (i) uncorrected NASA–POWER weather data and (ii) generated weather data using the MarkSim weather generator. Results indicated good agreement between yields simulated with propagated weather data and yields simulated using observed weather data. For example, the distribution of simulated yields using propagated data was within 10% of the simulated yields using observed data at 78% of locations and degree of yield stability (quantified by coefficient of variation) was very similar at 89% of locations. In contrast, simulated yields based entirely on uncorrected NASA–POWER data or generated weather data using MarkSim were within 10% of yields simulated using observed data in only 44 and 33% of cases, respectively, and the bias was not consistent across locations and crops. We conclude that, for most locations, 3 years of observed daily Tmax and Tmin data would allow creation of a robust weather data set for simulation of long-term mean yield and yield stability of major cereal crops. © 2015 Z. Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license


CONTEXT
Much of pediatric drug use is off-label because appropriate pediatric studies have not been conducted and the drugs have not been labeled by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in children. In 1997, Congress authorized the FDA to grant extensions of marketing rights known as "pediatric exclusivity" if FDA-requested pediatric trials were conducted. As a result, there have been over 100 product labeling changes. The publication status of studies completed for pediatric exclusivity has not been evaluated.

OBJECTIVE
To quantify the dissemination of results of studies conducted for pediatric exclusivity into the peer-review literature.

DESIGN
Cohort study of all trials conducted for pediatric exclusivity between 1998 and 2004 as determined by MEDLINE and EMBASE searches through 2005, the subsequent labeling changes, and the publication of those studies in peer-reviewed journals. We categorized any labeling changes resulting from the studies as positive or negative for the drug under study. We then evaluated aspects of the studies and product label changes that were associated with subsequent publication in peer-reviewed medical journals.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES
Publication of the trial data in peer-reviewed journals.

RESULTS
Between 1998 and 2004, 253 studies were submitted to the FDA for pediatric exclusivity: 125 (50%) evaluated efficacy, 51 (20%) were multi-dose pharmacokinetic, 34 (13%) were single-dose pharmacokinetic, and 43 (17%) were safety studies. Labeling changes were positive for 127/253 (50%) of studies; only 113/253 (45%) were published. Efficacy studies and those with a positive labeling change were more likely to be published.

CONCLUSIONS
The pediatric exclusivity program has been successful in encouraging drug studies in children. However, the dissemination of these results in the peer-reviewed literature is limited. Mechanisms to more widely disperse this information through publication warrant further evaluation.


A recently discovered endogenous autacoid, C-type natriuretic peptide, was tested in a pheochromocytoma (PC12) cell line for effects on 1) catecholamine release induced by a depolarizing stimulus, 2) guanylyl and adenylyl cyclase activities, and 3) specific 125I-labeled atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) binding. C-type natriuretic peptide suppressed evoked neurotransmitter release in the absence of guanylyl cyclase activation or adenylyl cyclase inhibition; however, both a "clearance" (ANP-C) receptor binding agent, des-[Gln18Ser19Gly20Leu21Gly22]-ANF-(4-23)-NH2 (cANF), and pertussis toxin prevented this neuromodulatory effect. The C-type natriuretic peptide preferentially bound to receptors that also bound cANF. The results suggest that C-type natriuretic peptide suppressed evoked neurotransmitter efflux by binding to ANP-C receptors coupled to a pertussis toxin-sensitive process; furthermore, the neuromodulatory effect of C-type natriuretic peptide occurred independently of guanylyl cyclase activation or adenylyl cyclase inhibition. The novel aspects of these findings are 1) neuromodulatory effects of C-type natriuretic peptide, 2) guanylyl cyclase-independent actions of C-type natriuretic peptide, and 3) ANP-C receptors mediating C-type natriuretic peptide actions.


Literature revealed the prognosis of vulnerability of households headed by females in general is poor. One can imagine the situation in households occupied by orphans and vulnerable children (OVC). Orphan-hood may arise from the death of one or both parents. This study compared the situation in male and female headed households among OVC households in three selected communities in Nigeria. The survey was carried out between May and July 2016, by the Association of Reproductive and Family Health (ARFH), the implementer of Local partners for OVC in Nigeria (LOPIN) Region 1 project. A cross-sectional study of 3,706 OVC households was undertaken prior implementation of ARFH)-LOPIN 1} project in Lagos-1,299 households, Rivers-912 and Akwa-Ibom-1,495 households. The National Vulnerable Assessment Questionnaire developed by Bamgboye et al. was used to identify the vulnerable households. The analysis of data collected showed that the proportion of females heading households was 56%. Also, the females heading households were younger, poorer and their OVC less likely to access health educational services as well as less food secured. The high poverty level in Nigeria demands special attention to the health, education, nutrition and socio-economic needs of OVC (particularly those headed by females), for them to have a meaningful life.

 Key words: Nigeria, orphans and vulnerable children, household, female headship.


Book synopsis: What caused the decline of the Ottoman empire in the Persian Gulf? Why has history credited only London, not Istanbul, with bringing about the birth of the modern Gulf States? Using the Ottoman imperial archives, as well as European and Arab sources, Anscombe explains how the combination of poor communication, scarce resources, and misplaced security concerns undermined Istanbul's control and ultimately drove the Gulf shaikhs to seek independence with ties to the British.


Guinea pigs have been rendered relatively immune against infection with virulent tubercle bacilli by preliminary inoculation with a suitable quantity of avirulent tubercle bacilli. Blood counts on these animals show that associated with the immune reaction there is a definite general leucocytic response characterized by an absolute increase in the total count, with an absolute and relative increase in the lymphocytes. The period of greatest activity coincides with that known to be the period of greatest reaction, based on anatomical evidence during the course of infection following this method of immunization. Moreover, blood counts made on animals inoculated with avirulent tubercle bacilli alone show an increase in the circulating lymphocytes during the period of greatest reaction to the infection, while blood counts on guinea pigs inoculated with virulent bacilli alone show an erratic course in which the polymorphonuclear forms are much increased, though not regularly so. These results indicate a parallelism between lymphoid activity and resistance of the animals to tuberculous infection, and suggest an association of lymphocytes with the factors determining this resistance, a relation which warrants consideration of the blood picture in the clinical study of tuberculous infection.


Background In 2010, the Campania Region joined the Multiregional Pharmacovigilance project called MEREAFaPS (Monitoring epidemiologic reactions and adverse events from medicines in emergencies) assigning one pharmacist to each of Avellino, Benevento and Salerno hospitals to carry out monitoring activities. Purpose The main aim of the project was to increase reports of ADRs/ADEs through the constant and continued presence of the pharmacist in the Emergency Room (ER). His task, among other duties, was to spread the culture of pharmacovigilance among the medical staff. Materials and methods The ADRs/ADEs detected were reported on a paper form, which also contained clinical information related to patient. The data collected were then sent, through a special computer application, to the Niguarda Cà Granda Hospital in Milan, national leader of the project, and then to AIFA (the Italian Medicines Agency). Results The MEREAFaPS Project in Campania produced a total of 656 reports in 2010–2011. Specifically, the reactions involved 6 paediatric patients, 413 adults and 237 people over 65, of whom a majority were women. Approximately 38% of the ADR /ADE were 'Serious' (of which 15 endangered the patient's life and 233 had led to hospitalisation or a prolonged stay in hospital) and the remaining 62% were 'not serious'. In addition, 62 responses were assessed by the monitor-pharmacist as 'Avoidable'. Among the iatrogenic illness revealed, most involved skin and subcutaneous tissue reactions and gastrointestinal reactions, followed by systemic disorders and conditions related to the administration site. The medicines most involved were: amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (72 reports), acetylsalicylic acid (62) and warfarin (43). Conclusions In the two-year period 2010–2011 the Campania MEREAFaPS project has contributed to a considerable increase in the number of reports of suspected ADR /ADE recorded in the AIFA's National Network of Pharmacovigilance from across the region. The Campania region generated the most national reports of the three Italian regions. No conflict of interest.


In contrast to the U.S. Constitution with its unitary, Hamiltonian federal executive, state constitutions fragment executive authority, providing for the direct popular election of several state officials and establishing relatively independent local governments. The significance of this feature of state constitutional structure for executive review - the notion that executive officials, no less than judges, have the power to interpret and enforce constitutional commitments - has been unexplored by commentators but recently became the focus of national public attention. Specifically, the issue whether state executive officials may refuse to enforce laws that they believe to be unconstitutional was a central element of the controversy regarding the issuance of marriage licenses to same-sex couples in San Francisco, California and Multnomah County, Oregon. As the California and Oregon experiences demonstrated, state governors often lack any meaningful ability to control state or local executive officials' exercise of executive review authority because of state constitutional provisions fragmenting executive authority. As a result, intra-executive disputes often find their way into the courts. State courts, in turn, have reacted in different ways in response to these claims of executive interpretive authority. One model, which I label the judicial exclusivity model and which was embraced by the California Supreme Court, rules out executive review en toto on constitutional grounds because, according to this view, the task of enforcing the constitution is exclusively for the courts. Another model, which I call the legislative model and was endorsed by the Oregon Supreme Court, accepts in principle the constitutional propriety of executive review but cedes to the state legislature the power to determine which officials may consider constitutional claims in performing their statutory duties. Still a third model, pressed unsuccessfully by the county officials in San Francisco and Multnomah County, asserts that there is a constitutional right and corresponding obligation for all executive officials to interpret and enforce the constitution. As I show, the legislative model best accords with state constitutional text and structure. In so doing, I challenge the predominant, judicial exclusivity model, which, as I argue, rests upon an outdated and erroneous understanding of the respective roles of the three branches of government in interpreting and enforcing the constitution. At the same time, I also reject the diametrically opposite theory that all executive officials have a constitutional right to engage in executive review. While I acknowledge that constitutional officers, such as the governor, may engage in executive review as part of the discharge of their constitutionally assigned powers and duties, I endorse and defend the legislative model, which leaves it to the legislature to determine whether the myriad non-constitutional officers employed by state and local governments may engage in executive review and, if so, to what extent. I then apply the legislative model to the same-sex marriage controversy, concluding that the county officials in San Francisco and Oregon were not authorized by their respective legislatures to engage in executive review.