Polo-like kinases (PLKs) play an important role in cell cycle progression, checkpoint control and mitosis. The high mitotic index and chromosomal instability of advanced cancers suggest that PLK inhibitors may be an attractive therapeutic option for presently incurable advanced neoplasias with systemic involvement, such as multiple myeloma (MM). We studied the PLK 1, 2, 3 inhibitor BI 2536 and observed potent (IC50<40 nM) and rapid (commitment to cell death <24 hrs) in vitro activity against MM cells in isolation, as well as in vivo activity against a traditional subcutaneous xenograft mouse model. Tumor cells in MM patients, however, don't exist in isolation, but reside in and interact with the bone microenvironment. Therefore conventional in vitro and in vivo preclinical assays don't take into account how interactions between MM cells and the bone microenvironment can potentially confer drug resistance. To probe this question, we performed tumor cell compartment-specific bioluminescence imaging assays to compare the preclinical anti-MM activity of BI 2536 in vitro in the presence vs. absence of stromal cells or osteoclasts. We observed that the presence of these bone marrow non-malignant cells led to decreased anti-MM activity of BI 2536. We further validated these results in an orthotopic in vivo mouse model of diffuse MM bone lesions where tumor cells interact with non-malignant cells of the bone microenvironment. We again observed that BI 2536 had decreased activity in this in vivo model of tumor-bone microenvironment interactions highlighting that, despite BI 2536's promising activity in conventional assays, its lack of activity in microenvironmental models raises concerns for its clinical development for MM. More broadly, preclinical drug testing in the absence of relevant tumor microenvironment interactions may overestimate potential clinical activity, thus explaining at least in part the gap between preclinical vs. clinical efficacy in MM and other cancers.


The necessity for mobile communication devices is increased rapidly. Users expect to get very fast information access and data access without delay. The fifth-generation (5G) development in wireless mobile telecommunication technology promises capacity enhancement, ease connectivity, high efficiency, and high data rate transmission. The appropriate device should support this improvement of the technology. The antenna is one of the main devices to support the high data rate transmission. This paper proposed designing a dual-band rectangular patch antenna in 29 GHz and 38 GHz that supports 5G technology. This microstrip antenna is composed of 4 patch array elements to obtain higher gain. The material used for this microstrip antenna is RT Duroid 5880 with a dielectric constant of 2.2 and a thickness of 1.575 mm. Both measurement and simulation are confirmed that the 2×2 array microstrip antenna in 29 GHz and 38 GHz frequency have a return loss value of -12.5 dB and -16 dB, respectively. The bandwidth for both frequencies has a value of 4.5 GHz and 3.75 GHz.


Increasing uncertainty about economic and social developments is a definitive feature of globalization in advanced economies. However, the degree to which youth are impacted by rising uncertainty is filtered by historically grown and country-specific institutional settings. This paper summarizes the main empirical results of the impact of increased uncertainty on the transition to adulthood (entry into labor market, partnership, parenthood) in a 14 country comparative study. Results show that generally all youth are exposed to more uncertainty at labor market entry, yet that it is unequal, with risk accumulating in certain groups. Job uncertainty translates into a higher likelihood to postpone or forgo partnership and parenthood. Youth also develop rational responses, which we identified in the form of diverse behavioral strategies: postponement, multiple roles, flexible partnerships and genderspecific strategies, particularly in the male-breadwinner societies. We illustrate how nation-specific institutions serve to shield or funnel uncertainty in unique ways and to particular groups of youth. Paper presented in session "Transitions to Adulthood in International Context," Friday April 2, 8:30-10:20, PAA 2004 Meeting, April 1-3, 2004, Boston, MA.


This paper estimates national economic parameters to be used for project appraisal in Namibia. The shadow prices of capital, labour and foreign exchange are derived. The results suggest that the economic opportunity cost of capital is 7.2%. The economic costs of Namibian labour as a share of financial costs are 32% for urban semi- and unskilled labour, and are 54% for rural semi- and unskilled labour. The economic costs of foreign labour as a share of financial costs are 59%. The shadow exchange rate factor is estimated to be 4% for the Namibian economy.


The continuous development of wireless networks and mobile devices has motivated an intense research in mobile data services. Some of these services provide the user with context-aware information. Specifically, location-based services and location-dependent queries have attracted a lot of interest. In this article, the existing literature in the field of location-dependent query processing is reviewed. The technological context (mobile computing) and support middleware (such as moving object databases and data stream technology) are described, location-based services and location-dependent queries are defined and classified, and different query processing approaches are reviewed and compared.


A thiol-modified version of the porous metal organic framework MIL-53 is synthesised in a single step using the functionalised linker precursor 2,5-dithiol-1,4-benzenedicarboxylic acid and aluminium as the framework metal. Careful washing is needed to remove unreacted and dimerised linker from the material after synthesis, but once performed profile fitting of powder X-ray diffraction shows that thiol-modified MIL-53(Al) presents a closed, narrow-pore, structure with unit cell volume ∼1103 A3 (space group C2/c). The presence of intact thiol groups is confirmed using sulfur K-edge XANES spectroscopy and IR spectroscopy, while nitrogen BET surface area analysis and krypton and xenon adsorption isotherms reveal the porosity of the material. The thiol-modified solid is capable of iodine adsorption from the vapour phase and from solution and an equilibrium uptake of ∼325 mg per g is reached, which is higher than other reported modified forms of MIL-53. Infrared spectroscopy shows the disappearance of the S–H stretch after iodine adsorption, while sulfur K-edge XANES shows a complex spectrum, consistent with the formation of sulfenyl iodide but also oxidation of some sulfur to disulfide having occurred. We therefore propose that formation of covalent S–I bonds allows the sequestration of iodine by the porous solid, but that a proportion of the thiol groups are also in close enough proximity for the formation of disulfide links.


A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of science in applied field epidemiology


Pancreatic islet transplantation is an alternative treatment of insulin replacement therapy in diabetes mellitus, but the islets are exposed to many chemical, mechanical damages, and oxidative stress before transplantation. Carvacrol is a well-known essential oil for its antioxidant, antimicrobial, antifungal and antiinflammatory properties. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible protective effects of carvacrol against H2O2 induced cellular injury on isolated pancreas islets. After carvacrol (20, 40 and 80 mg/kg/day) treatment, the pancreas islets were isolated by enzyme digestion. The isolated islets were incubated within 0, 150 and 300 µM H2O2 containing medium at +4°C for 15 min. Then, the islets were examined with fluorescein diacetate and propidium iodide mixture stains for viability. A number of islets were stored for lipid peroxidation, protein oxidation and DNA fragmentation analysis. The cell viability ratio of Carvacrol 20 mg/kg/day group was increased in comparison to control and vehicle (DMSO) groups. Additionally, carvacrol application protected the cells from lipid peroxidation and protein oxidation induced by H2O2. H2O2 caused tissue injury and DNA fragmentation. There was only one DNA fragmentation band from islet cells of 20 mg/kg/day carvacrol treated group, however there were more than one bands from control and DMSO groups. In conclusion, carvacrol treatment ameliorates islet cell injury induced by H2O2. However, the dose of carvacrol is important and our results suggest that 20 mg/kg/day dose is more effective than doses of 40 or 80 mg/kg/day.


The purpose of this research is stability estimation of plant structure through classification and recognition about welding flaw in SWP(Spiral Welding Pipe). And, In this research, we used nondestructive test based on ultrasonic test as inspection method, and made up inspection robot in order to control of ultrasonic probe on the SWP surface, and programmed to signal processing code and pattern classifying code by user made programming code. Inspection robot is simply constructed as 2-axes because of welding bead with fixed pitch. So, inspection of welding part can be possible as composition of inspection part for tracking on welding line. For evaluation of flaw signal is reflected on welding flaw, user-made program codes are composed of signal processing and Bayesian classifier and perceptron neural network and back-propagation neural network. And then, we confirmed to superiority of neural network method compared with Bayesian classifier for classification and recognition rate. According to this result, we selected back-propagation neural network as classification and recognition method about the system of SWP stability Estimation[2]. Through this process, we proved efficiency on the system of SWP stability Estimation, and constructed on the base of the system of SWP stability Estimation for the application in industrial fields.


Abstract This paper takes the discussion on the concept of Hanseatic material culture from the Baltic and moves it west towards the North Atlantic islands and Norway, focusing on the contact zones between Hanse traders and societies at the fringes of northern Europe. The peoples of this area conducted considerable exchange with the Germans during the 14th through the 17th centuries, a process which could have led to significant impacts on the native cultures. This study describes artifacts produced in northern Germany and imported to the north as a medium transporting culture, and points out the many complex problems in tracing artifact distribution in northern Europe that are caused by multilateral and illegal trade, piracy, and the involvement of third parties. With the help of archaeological methods, the second part of the paper attempts to address some of those issues by suggesting a classification of Hanseatic artifacts.


More cuttings producing in higher penetration rate of gas drilling are usually in the larger non-uniform size at the bottom and in the smaller uniform size back to the wellhead. It is indicating that cuttings in the well should be appeared in the successive breaking in the process of upward migration. According to the particle broken theories, the successive breaking phenomenon were analyzed, and given the calculating method for the probability of secondary impact crushing, and applied the breaking process matrix and the particle size distribution function to the cuttings migration crushing in the whole wellbore. The calculating results show that the cuttings in the wellbore are broken by the uneven size volumetric fracture progressively turned into the surface fracture of the uniform process, and ultimately stabilized the small size distribution.


Based on the analysis of fuzzy control, combined with the form of PID control, the S plane control has been applied. For the default that particle swarm optimization (PSO) presents the phenomenon of precocity and getting in local minima, the basic PSO algorithm is improved. Based on the self-adaptive idea, a concept of dynamic learning factor is introduced. This method could improve the coordination between global and local searching ability and apt to search out global optimum quickly. Another concept of chasten factor is also introduced, the optimizing ability in PSO algorithm which applied in the S plane algorithm in parameter optimization. Finally, the improved PSO algorithm is applied to the S curve motion control of underwater vehicle. The feasibility and advantages of this method are demonstrated by simulation test results.


From covering the massacre of students at Tlatelolco in 1968 and the 1985 earthquake to the Zapatista rebellion in 1994 and the disappearance of forty-three students in 2014, Elena Poniatowska has been one of the most important chroniclers of Mexican social, cultural, and political life. In Stories That Make History, Lynn Stephen examines Poniatowska's writing, activism, and political participation, using them as a lens through which to understand critical moments in contemporary Mexican history. In her crónicas—narrative journalism written in a literary style featuring firsthand testimonies—Poniatowska told the stories of Mexico's most marginalized people. Throughout, Stephen shows how Poniatowska helped shape Mexican politics and forge a multigenerational political community committed to social justice. In so doing, she presents a biographical and intellectual history of one of Mexico's most cherished writers and a unique history of modern Mexico.


It is widely believed that classical gravity breaks down and quantum gravity is needed to deal with a singularity. We show that there is a class of spacetime curvature singularities which can be resolved with metric and matter field transformations. As an example, we consider an anisotropic power-law inflation model with scalar and gauge fields in which a space-like curvature singularity exists at the beginning of time. First, we provide a transformation of the metric to the flat geometry, i.e. the Minkowski metric. The transformation removes the curvature singularity located at the origin of time. An essential difference from previous work in the literature is that the origin of time is not sent to past infinity by the transformation but it remains at a finite time in the past. Thus the geometry becomes extensible beyond the singularity. In general, matter fields are still singular in their original form after such a metric transformation. However, we explicitly show that there is a case in which the singular behavior of the matter fields can be completely removed by a redefinition of matter fields. Thus, for the first time, we have resolved a class of initial cosmic singularities and successfully extended the spacetime beyond the singularity in the framework of classical gravity.


Educational effectiveness research (EER) has accumulated much knowledge in the areas of school effectiveness research (SER), teacher effectiveness research (TER) and school/system improvement research (SSIR). Yet many schools and educational systems are not making enough use of the material and their insights. The article reviews evidence of practitioner engagement and finds it limited in the areas of SER, greater in the area of TER and most prevalent in SSIR. Policy-maker engagement has been notable in some countries, but more limited in others. The article concludes by arguing for a new paradigm of EER that studies multiple levels of the educational system simultaneously utilising multiple methods and involves practitioners and policy-makers in a true EER community of expertise, in order to increase the reach and take-up of the discipline.


ABSTRACT Tumor associated macrophages (TAMs) promote angiogenesis, tumor invasion and metastasis, and suppression of anti-tumor immunity. These myeloid cells originate from monocytes, which differentiate into TAMs upon exposure to the local tumor microenvironment. We previously reported that Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpes virus (KSHV) infection of endothelial cells induces the cytokine angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) to promote migration of monocytes into tumors. Here we report that KSHV infection of endothelial cells induces additional cytokines including interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-10 (IL-10), and interleukin-13 (IL-13) that drive monocytes to differentiate and polarize into TAMs. The KSHV-induced TAMs not only express TAM-specific markers such as CD-163 and legumain (LGMN) but also display a gene expression profile with characteristic features of viral infection. More importantly, KSHV-induced TAMs enhance tumor growth in nude mice. These results are consistent with the strong presence of TAMs in Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) tumors. Therefore, KSHV infection of endothelial cells generates a local microenvironment that not only promotes the recruitment of monocytes but also induces their differentiation and polarization into TAMs. These findings reveal a new mechanism of KSHV contribution to KS tumor development.


"Atlanta 1864" brings to life this crucial campaign of the Civil War, as federal armies under William T. Sherman contended with Joseph E. Johnston and his successor, John Bell Hood, and moved steadily through Georgia to occupy the rail and commercial center of Atlanta. Sherman's efforts were undertaken as his former commander, Ulysses S. Grant, set out on a similar mission to destroy Robert E. Lee or drive him back to Richmond. These struggles were the millstones that Grant intended to use to grind the Confederacy's strength into dust. By fall, Sherman's success in Georgia had assured the re-election of Abraham Lincoln and determined that the federal government would never acquiesce in the independence of the Confederacy. Richard M. McMurry examines the Atlanta campaign as a political and military unity in the context of the greater struggle of the war itself. Richard M. McMurry is an independent scholar and the author of "John Bell Hood" and the "War for Southern Independence (Nebraska 1992)" and "Two Great Rebel Armies: An Essay in Confederate Military History".


Abstract The taxonomy and distribution of Chitinozoa from Silurian (Llandovery) and Lower Devonian strata are reported from the Paraná Basin in southern Brazil and eastern Paraguay. The pre‐Carboniferous sequences of the Paraná Basin in this area are present in three sub‐basins viz., the Alto Garças (north) and Apucarana (south) sub‐basins in Brazil, and the "East Paraguay Sub‐basin"; in east Paraguay. There is more similarity in the lithology between the Alto Garças and "East Paraguay"; sub‐basins, than between the former and the Apucarana sub‐basin. Llandoverian and Lochkovian to Pragian beds are present in all sub‐basins. So far, no Emsian beds have been found in outcrops from the north‐northwest margin of the Alto Garças Sub‐basin, and no early Emsian beds in the outcrops on the northeast margin. Furthermore, Emsian beds could not be identified from the "East Paraguay Sub‐basin"; in the present study. The Early Devonian sequence is more complete in the Apucarana Sub‐basin. It seems that the Apucarana Sub‐basin endured a different evolution compared to the two other sub‐basins during the Ordovician, Silurian and lower Devonian. Of the 39 chitinozoan species encountered, 24 species are left in open nomenclature, and the following five species are newly described: Ancyrochitina paranaensis, Angochitina daemoni, Sphaerochitina silurica, Spinachitina harringtoni, and Spinachitina wolfarti. A chitinozoan biozonation, with five zones and three subzones, is proposed for the investigated interval, and compared with the spore zonation. In addition we infer that the Furnas Formation could correspond to two chitinozoan zones found in Bolivia and Argentina (zones of Urochitina loboi and Angochitina aff. A. comosa), ranging in age from late Lochkovian to earliest Pragian. The zones are, from oldest to youngest: total range zone of Belonechitina postrobusta (upper Rhuddanian); total range zone of Conochitina elongate (Aeronian); concurrent range subzone of Spinachitina wolfarti n. sp. and Plectochitina sp. A (lower Aeronian); concurrent range subzone of Conochitina proboscifera and Spinachitina harringtoni n. sp. (upper Aeronian s.l.); concurrent range subzone of Conochitina proboscifera and Desmochitina cf. D. densa (lower Telychian s.l.); concurrent range zone of Salopochitina monterrosae and Conochitina proboscifera (upper Telychian‐lower Sheinwoodian); total range zone of Urochitina loboi (upper Lochkovian); total range zone of Angochitina aff. A. comosa (lowermost Pragian); total range zone of Ramochitina magnifica (Pragian s.l.), and total range zone of Ancyrochitina parisi (upper Emsian).


Objectives & Background High quality leadership is associated with improved outcomes for patients and increased staff satisfaction. A combined team of clinicians from UHCW and HEFT felt that during this time of particular pressure, shop floor leadership qualities, as stated by other staff, would be of use to guide behaviours. Aims We aimed to identify the qualities staff valued in shop floor medical leadership. We also aimed to identify behaviours that were felt to be unhelpful as well as identifying Senior tier doctors (Consultant/Middle Grade) who were most felt to run a good floor. Methods We conducted a qualitative survey across 3 departments in the West Midlands over one month in early 2015. We used an anonymous questionnaire which first collected demographics then responses to the following questions 1) What characteristics do you associate with effective shop floor leadership? 2) What characteristics do you associate with ineffective shop floor leadership 3) Are any staff particularly good? Please tell us why. The responses were assessed to spot themes and agreed upon by the authors. Answers were codified by a group of 4 of the authors with disputes settled by discussion. Results A total of 101 responses were received with a broad spectrum of staff answering. All codified results were assessed and it was deemed the best way to represent the data was in the form of word clouds. Each word present in the cloud has a larger presence in relation to the frequency of it being mentioned as a response. Interestingly the attributes most highly regarded by staff were that the senior shop floor doctor was approachable and supportive. With less of a need for good communication skills or their enthusiasm at work. This would imply that staff see the senior doctor as being somebody to be able to turn to in need without fear of rebuke. This is reinforced by a high number of the negative attributes being aspects of interpersonal interactions and areas that would represent a barrier to being a supportive and approachable member of staff. The ability to aid decision making when turned to for advice is clearly relied upon as a key with both a lack of availability and then being unable to make decisions seen as negatives. Communication is not seen as positive attribute to be good at as much as it is seen to be a negative if its done poorly. Conclusion Being approachable is viewed as a good characteristic in a leader with unavialability and bad interpersonal skills as a negative attribute. Figure 1 Positive Attributes. Figure 2 Negative Attributes.


This work presents a control system design for coupled control of pH and level with fluctuation in influent pH by manipulating influent and acid flow rates. A mathematical model based on the difference between proton and hydroxide ions estimated by the measured pH is introduced and applied in a formulation of the model-based control system. A feedback controller and estimated state disturbance are obtained by solving a minimization problem of squared errors between requesting input-output linearizing output responses and the reference setpoints. To eliminate the offset response, the estimated disturbance is applied in the calculation of the closed-loop compensator. The performance of the developed control system is evaluated in a bench-scale pH neutralization process of HCl-NaOH system, and it is also compared to that of a proportional-integral controller. The results show that the developed controllers could enforce a system with fluctuation in influent pH to the desired setpoints effectively, while the PI controller gave oscillation in outputs around the setpoints and cannot achieve the desired targets.


Although the Canadian Corps was one of the finest fighting formations on the Western Front during the First World War and earned a reputation as the shock troops of the British Expeditionary Force, the Corps had an active propaganda campaign that publicized Canadian uniqueness throughout the war. The organization behind this promotion was the Canadian War Records Office, headed by Sir Max Aitken, who nurtured a relentless campaign extolling the heroic deeds of Canadians in France. With an eye on the future, Aitken ensured that the image constructed of the Canadian soldier was not only based in battlefield accomplishments but also articulated through the legacy of war records and a barrage of media productions.


Opsonization of clinical isolates of B. fragilis and B. thetaiotaomicron with the six isolated proteins of the alternative complement pathway under physiological conditions resulted in considerable C3 deposition on the bacterial surfaces. The time course of C3 deposition was similar to that observed in EGTA-serum; however, the magnitude of C3 deposition was twofold greater in EGTA-serum. Opsonization of the bacteria with the isolated alternative pathway proteins failed to promote adherence, uptake, or killing by polymorphonuclear leukocytes, whereas opsonization of the bacteria with EGTA-serum facilitated these events. The difference in opsonic capacity of isolated proteins and EGTA-serum was not related to the quantitative difference in C3 deposition, because repeated opsonization of the bacteria with isolated proteins resulting in C3 deposition comparable to that observed in EGTA-serum only minimally increased adherence of the bacteria to polymorphonuclear leukocytes. SDS-PAGE and autoradiographic analysis of C3 extracted from bacteria opsonized with isolated proteins or EGTA-serum using methylamine and SDS demonstrated that the predominant form of C3 bound by ester bonds under both sets of conditions was iC3b. A low molecular weight C3 cleavage fragment was detected in extracts from bacteria opsonized with isolated proteins, but it accounted for only a minor fraction of the bound C3. The results of our study demonstrate that the early phase of opsonization involving activation of the alternative pathway by B. fragilis and B. thetaiotaomicron and resultant C3 deposition on the bacterial surfaces does not require auxiliary serum factors, but the effector phase of opsonization of these bacteria involving recognition of bacteria-bound C3 by polymorphonuclear leukocytes and the induction of phagocytosis and intracellular killing is dependent on such factors. Natural IgM antibodies serve as auxiliary factors is opsonization of B. thetaiotaomicron by the alternative pathway, whereas additional serum factors are required for alternative pathway-mediated opsonization of B. fragilis.


Purpose To synthesize qualitative studies on the phenomenon of adolescent motherhood. Methods Databases were searched for qualitative studies regarding the experience of adolescent motherhood (years 1990–2001). Noblit and Hare's (1988) meta-ethnographic comparative method was used for synthesizing the research. A total of 251 citations were found, with a subgroup of 50 studies on "adolescent motherhood" and "qualitative studies." Twenty-five studies conducted in the United States, Canada, China, England, and Australia met the sample inclusion criteria. The combined sample of participants across studies was 257 adolescent mothers. Results Certain characteristics are common to the studies of adolescent motherhood. Five overarching metaphors were found: (1) the reality of motherhood brings hardship; (2) living in the two worlds of adolescence and motherhood; (3) motherhood as positively transforming; (4) baby as stabilizing influence; and (5) supportive context as turning point for the future. Clinical Implications Nurses working in hospital, home care, community, and school settings can use the results of this metasynthesis to obtain a clearer picture of how adolescents feel during pregnancy, and the types of nursing interventions that can be developed to help them.


Until the associations between seizures and hormones are better understood, finding appropriate therapies for hormone-sensitive seizures remains problematic. Most importantly, women with epilepsy need information about the complex interactions of brain function, hormones, seizures, and medications. Nurses can educate women concerning the hormonal aspects of epilepsy and methods of assessing seizures in relation to menstrual patterns. Nurses can also serve as patient advocates, ensuring that their patients are heard, and that they have access to appropriate care and are informed about therapeutic options that can improve seizure control and quality of life.


Stereogrammetric measurement of the shape of Eros using images obtained by NEAR's Multispectral Imager provides a survey of the major topographic features and slope processes on this asteroid. This curved asteroid has radii ranging from 3.1 to 17.7 km and a volume of 2535±20 km3. The center of figure is within 52 m of the center of mass provided by the Navigation team; this minimal difference suggests that there are only modest variations in density or porosity within the asteroid. Three large depressions 10, 8, and 5.3 km across represent different stages of degradation of large impact craters. Slopes on horizontal scales of ∼300 m are nearly all less than 35°, although locally scarps are much steeper. The area distribution of slopes is similar to those on Ida, Phobos, and Deimos. Regions that have slopes greater than 25° have distinct brighter markings and have fewer large ejecta blocks than do flatter areas. The albedo patterns that suggest downslope transport of regolith have sharper boundaries than those on Phobos, Deimos, and Gaspra. The morphology of the albedo patterns, their lack of discrete sources, and their concentration on steeper slopes suggest transport mechanisms different from those on the previously well-observed small bodies, perhaps due to a reduced relative effectiveness of impact gardening on Eros. Regolith is also transported in talus cones and in connected, sinuous paths extending as much as 2 km, with some evident as relatively darker material. Talus material in at least one area is a discrete superposed unit, a feature not resolved on other small bodies. Flat-floored craters that apparently contain ponded material also suggest discrete units that are not well mixed by impacts.


The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) is a highly polymorphic genomic region that encodes the transplantation and immune regulatory molecules. It receives special attention for genetic investigation because of its important role in the regulation of innate and adaptive immune responses and its strong association with numerous infectious and/or autoimmune diseases. Recently, genotyping of the polymorphisms of MHC genes using targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies was developed for humans and some nonhuman species. Most species have numerous highly homologous MHC loci so the NGS technologies are likely to replace traditional genotyping methods in the near future for the investigation of human and animal MHC genes in evolutionary biology, ecology, population genetics, and disease and transplantation studies. In this chapter, we provide a short review of the use of targeted NGS for MHC genotyping in humans and nonhuman species, particularly for the class I and class II regions of the Crab-eating Macaque MHC (Mafa).


The organic milk pay price is more stable year round and increases every year. However, the conventional milk price varies within the year and from year to year. As an emerging segment of the milk industry, consumer demand for organic milk is increasing rapidly. The growth in demand relative to supply provides organic milk producers and processors large premiums over the conventional milk price. Many conventional dairy farms have converted to organic operations for the more stable price. The objective of this study is to understand the stability of organic milk price relative to conventional milk price, differences in pricing mechanisms between organic milk and conventional milk, and shed light on the policy implications for organic milk and conventional milk markets. Farm price and retail price of organic milk and conventional milk are compared and analyzed. The comparative stability and volatility of the farm and retail price of organic milk and conventional milk are investigated. Seasonality and volatility of milk price are examined. The supply and demand patterns and profit margins are compared between conventional and organic milk. Additionally, we explore the market structures of the organic milk industry. Our analysis develops hypothesis for future work on the organic milk pay price phenomenon.


We estimate the technical potential of rooftop solar photovoltaics (PV) for select US cities by combining light detection and ranging (lidar) data, a validated analytical method for determining rooftop PV suitability employing geographic information systems, and modeling of PV electricity generation. We find that rooftop PV's ability to meet estimated city electricity consumption varies widely—from meeting 16% of annual consumption (in Washington, DC) to meeting 88% (in Mission Viejo, CA). Important drivers include average rooftop suitability, household footprint/per-capita roof space, the quality of the solar resource, and the city's estimated electricity consumption. In addition to city-wide results, we also estimate the ability of aggregations of households to offset their electricity consumption with PV. In a companion article, we will use statistical modeling to extend our results and estimate national rooftop PV technical potential. In addition, our publically available data and methods may help policy makers, utilities, researchers, and others perform customized analyses to meet their specific needs.


Context: The risk of thyroid cancer and multinodular goiter (MNG) in DICER1 syndrome, a rare tumor-predisposition disorder, is unknown. Objective: To quantify the risk of thyroid cancer and MNG in individuals with DICER1 syndrome. Design: Family-based cohort study. Setting: National Institutes of Health (NIH) Clinical Center (CC). Participants: The National Cancer Institute DICER1 syndrome cohort included 145 individuals with a DICER1 germline mutation and 135 family controls from 48 families. Interventions: Each individual completed a detailed medical history questionnaire. A subset underwent a 3-day evaluation at the NIH CC. Main Outcome Measures: The cumulative incidence of MNG (or thyroidectomy) was quantified using the complement of the Kaplan-Meier product limit estimator. We compared the observed number of thyroid cancers in the NCI DICER1 cohort with matched data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program. We performed germline and somatic (thyroid cancer, MNG) DICER1 sequencing. Results: By the age of 40 years, the cumulative incidence of MNG or thyroidectomy was 75% in women and 17% in men with DICER1 syndrome compared with 8% of control women (P < 0.001) and 0% of control men (P = 0.0096). During 3937 person-years of observation, individuals with DICER1 syndrome had a 16-fold increased risk of thyroid cancer (95% confidence interval, 4.3 to 41; P < 0.05) compared with the SEER rates. Of 19 MNG nodules and 3 thyroid cancers, 16 (84%) and 3 (100%), respectively, harbored germline and somatic pathogenic DICER1 mutations. Conclusions: We propose a model of thyroid carcinogenesis in DICER1 syndrome. Early-onset, familial, or male MNG should prompt consideration of the presence of DICER1 syndrome.


Jasmonic acid (JA) and its volatile methyl ester (MJ) are regarded as endogenous regulators that play important roles in regulating stress responses, plant growth and development. Salicylic acid (SA) has been identified as an important signaling element involved in establishing the local and systemic disease resistance response of plants after pathogen attack. Growth, oil yield and chemical components of Satureja hortensis L. grown in greenhouse conditions were investigated. Experimental treatments, included (i) water foliar application, (ii) water + ethanol foliar application, (iii–v) 50, 100, and 200 μL JA and (vi–ix) 50, 100, and 200 M SA. The hydro-distilled oil yields of studied treatments ranged between 0.74 and 0.91 mL/100 g dry matter. The major components of the oil were carvacrol, γ-terpinene, (Z)-β-ocimene, α-pinene, and α-terpinene. The result indicated that different levels of JA and SA had significant impacts on chemical components of S. hortensis oils, whereas they had no significant effects on oil yield and dry herbage. Foliar application of 50 μL SA increased monoterpene hydrocarbons in S. hortensis oil, whereas oxygenated monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes decreased. Finally, some of secondary metabolites in S. hortensis could be partially changed by supplementation of different elicitors.


Law and economics has developed for nearly half a century. And the development of law and economics is not only embodied by successful inter-discipline integration of law and economics and the great impact & integration of the research paradigm of economics on the traditional law, but also has the important effect on judicial practice. By a literature review of this research field, this paper sorts out the theoretical context and evolution logic of subject development and provides domestic researchers with clues to the theoretical exploration of normalization and localization of law and economics. Firstly, it simply states and summarizes the nature, basic theories and research methods of law and economics on the basis of the review and summary of theories and practice of law and economics. Then it sorts out and comments on the localization research of law and economics by domestic scholars in detail, by selecting domestic and foreign research statuses in four fields, the most important and the most concerned, namely property, contract, tort and crime, especially after 1980s. Finally, based on the summary and criticism of the achievements and deficiencies of law and economics, it raises the basic judgment of future development trend of law and economics by combining the evolution trend of law and economics after 1990s.


Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is the major risk for hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC). HBV X protein (HBx) and p53 tumor suppressor family interactions may be crucial for HCC induction. We compared p53 and p73 interactions with HBx in normal and HCC tumor cell lines differing in their p53 status. In the latter, HBx was pro-apoptotic but exhibited opposite effects in non-tumor cells. In these normal cells, p53 and p73 were retained in the cytoplasm. In hepatoma cells, however, HBx led to nuclear translocation of p53 and p73, followed by enhanced transactivation of p53-dependent promoters. The nuclear transfer of p53, but not of p73, was abrogated by protein kinase C inhibitor Gö6976. HBx overexpression in HCC cells led to strong p53 phosphorylation at Ser15, but not in non-tumor cells. Our results define ATM kinase as mediator for HBx-induced p53 phosphorylation. While HBx promotes cell death in p53/p73-positive hepatoma cells also in presence of increased levels of the oncogenic ΔTAp73 isoform, it significantly potentiates ΔTAp73-mediated proliferation and malignant transformation of fibroblasts. Our data suggest that prevention of apoptosis in normal cells by HBx through inhibition of pro-apoptotic p53 family members via direct interaction and coaction with anti-apoptotic ΔTAp73 seems to be the key element in the decision in favor of cell survival. The complex cell context-dependent interactions between p53 family members and HBx in the regulation of apoptosis may be essential in HBV-induced HCC and anticancer therapy.


ABSTRACT Why do ethnoculturally defined states pursue favourable policies to integrate some returnees from their historical diasporas while neglecting or excluding others? We study this question by looking at members of two historical diasporas that, in the 1990s, returned to their respective ethnic homelands, Greece and Serbia, but were not treated uniformly by their respective governments. Utilising a wide range of primary sources, we consider evidence for a number of plausible explanations for such policy variation, including the economic profile of an ethnic returnee group, its status in internal ethnic hierarchies, its lobbying power, and dynamics of party politics. We find, instead, that the observed variation is best explained by the role that each particular group played in the ruling elites' ex ante foreign policy objectives. Elites discouraged the repatriation of co-ethnics from parts of the world they still had claims over, by pursuing unfavourable repatriation policies. Conversely, absent a revisionist claim, states adopted favourable repatriation policies to encourage their repatriation and facilitate their integration upon return. Methodologically, the article illustrates the importance of focused comparisons across dyads of states and particular sub-diaspora groups.


A key component of nonhuman primate vocal communication is the production and recognition of clear cues to social identity that function in the management of these species' individualistic social relationships. However, it remains unclear how ubiquitous such identity cues are across call types and age-sex classes and what the underlying vocal production mechanisms responsible might be. This study focused on two structurally distinct call types produced by infant baboons in contexts that place a similar functional premium on communicating clear cues to caller identity: (1) contact calls produced when physically separated from, and attempting to relocate, mothers and (2) distress screams produced when aggressively attacked by other group members. Acoustic analyses and field experiments were conducted to examine individual differentiation in single vocalizations of each type and to test mothers' ability to recognize infant calls. Both call types showed statistically significant individual differentiation, but the magnitude of the differentiation was substantially higher in contact calls. Mothers readily discriminated own-offspring contact calls from those of familiar but unrelated infants, but did not do so when it came to distress screams. Several possible explanations for these asymmetries in call differentiation and recognition are considered.


In this paper we aim to describe and explain current spatial distribution of creative industries in Czechia. We ask to what extent are localisation patterns of creative industries influenced by specific local contexts. Therefore, we employed a typology of regions (close to local labour areas) that may explain spatial distribution of creative industries: metropolitan cores, metropolitan hinterlands, old industrial regions, urban and rural regions. We use general linear models combining the regional typology as a fixed factor and four covariates – employment density, density of cultural industries, mean firm size in creative industries and diversity of economic activities. We employed horizontal localisation quotient of regional employment in creative industries for the year 2014 as a dependent variable. Our main finding is that the regional typology explains a higher share of variability of the dependent variable (relative specialisation in creative industries) than any other explanatory variable. However, after exclusion of metropolitan cores, the model lost a significant amount of its explanatory power. Urban size/density and position in urban hierarchy are the key explanatory variables. We found only limited empirical evidence that regional contexts affect localisation of CI – regions of similar population/economic size do not differ significantly in spatial concentration of CI.


Propose – Most of the training evaluations are based on trainees' reaction but rare research has been done on training reaction as a training outcome. In addition, Insurance companies' employees have also shared the similar anecdotes. Based on the evidence and phenomenology, the aim of this study is to examine the training reaction via. training needs analysis and motivation to learn.
Design/ Methodology/ Approach - The philosophical perspective of this study are single reality (ontology) and positivist epistemology. Descriptive research design was used to know the current status and casual research design was used for examining the impact among exogenous, intervening and endogenous constructs. In this study, reliability, exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis were checked by using 203 questionnaires and confirmed for acceptable reliability, validity and model fit of the constructs. For robust analysis, structural equation modeling was employed and to validate the finding, PROCESS macro and Sobel test were employed and found the similar results.
Finding - The study found positive relationship among training needs analysis and motivation to learn; motivation to learn and training reaction; and training needs analysis and training reaction. Moreover, the study confirmed that motivation to learn mediates the relationship between training needs analysis and training reaction which concludes that the positive training reaction and motivation to learn are the expected outcomes from well-designed training program.
Practical Implication – Practicle implication for insurance companies have been presented in this study, thereby the insurance companies could increase the performance and the motivation level of employees.
Original Value – This research paper validate the proposed training needs analysis, motivation to learn, and training reaction construct that provide the empirical evidence for building a strong theory.


The development, validation and application of a simple and reliable gradient high-performance liquid chromatography–diode array detection (HPLC–DAD) procedure for the analysis of a complex mixture containing phenylephrine (PHE), paracetamol (PAR), ambroxol (AMB) and Levocetirizine (LEV) has been carried out . Chromatographic separation of PHE, PAR, AMB and LEV is achieved using a Phenomenex Ultracarb ODS-C18 (4.6×150 mm, 5 µ) column with gradient elution of the mobile phase composed of 10 mM phosphate buffer p H 3.3 and acetonitrile. A three step gradient program has been developed with step-1 elution starting with 2% (by volume) acetonitrile which ramped up linearly to 50% in 10 min, in step-2 reverting back to 20% in 5 min and in step-3 ended to achieve initial concentration of 2% in next 5 min thus contributing a total run time of 20 min. Flow rate maintained throughout the experiment is 1 mL/min. The Diode array detector (DAD) is set at 220 nm for quantification of the analytes based on measuring their peak areas. The retention times for PHE, PAR, AMB and LEV are approximately 4.4, 10.1, 14.00 and 17.90 min respectively. The proposed HPLC procedure is statistically validated with respect to linearity, ranges, precision, accuracy, selectivity and robustness. Calibration curves are found to be linear in 50 to 150% of target analyte in formulation with correlation coefficients > 0.9996. The validated HPLC method is applied successfully with good recoveries of analytes from tablet dosage; no interfering peaks were encountered from the inactive ingredients.


Gummy smile which is commonly described as excessive gingival display in full smile has become a major esthetic concern for patients and healthcare providers in recent years. Because of the complex etiologic factors and severity of this orofacial deformity including skeletal, dentoalveolar, muscular, and gingival, it is essential that a differential diagnosis be established so that a relevant therapy can be selected from a wide range of treatment options. The complex etiologic factors of this dentofacial deformity necessitates coordina-tion between a team of health care providers, especially between orthodontist and maxil- lofacial surgeon, to improve diagnosis and treatment planning, accurately predict the outcome, and minimize orthosurgical complications. In this chapter, the author will pre- sent several clinical cases and briefly review available treatment modalities for excessive gingival display in full smile. Emphasis will be put on orthosurgical treatment of severe vertical maxillary excess as the optimal solution to restore facial balance and harmony, attractive smile, and patients ' satisfaction.


A novel organic and inorganic hybrid aerogel of RF/SiO2 is synthesized by one-step method of sol-gel polycondensation reaction using resorcinol-formaldehyde and tetramethoxysilane (TMOS) in ethanol solution, followed by supercritical drying with petroleum ether. The influence of the ratio of raw material on the structure and properties of samples was studied by high resolution electron microscope (HREM), nitrogen adsorption-desorption and infrared ray technology (IR). The results showed that the network structures of RF/SiO2 hybrid aerogels were constituted by an intercross framework of RF and SiO2. The hybrid aerogels can be tuned in bulk density from 0.098 g/cm3 to 0.062 g/cm3 according to the ratio of raw materials. The data of nitrogen adsorption-desorption showed that BET specific surface area was changed from 254 cm2/g to 545 cm2/g, and the pore size of aerogels was in the wide range of 2-10 nm. The investigation of IR spectrum analysis exhibited that there were no chemical bonds formed between SiO2 and RF aerogel.


Objective: The purpose of this systematic literature review is to appraise contemporary research literature examining the effects of mentoring on graduate registered nurses' transition to practice objectively and systematically.  These areas, specifically examined, are competence, job satisfaction, and retention. Three themes emerged from the research in this area. The themes are informal mentoring effectiveness, the extent of mentoring, and mentoring efficacy.
Methods: The PRISMA method was implemented. Articles reviewed were written in English and published between December 2015 and December 2020 and obtained from the Griffith University Library electronic catalogue. A quality assessment of each record not excluded in the title and abstract analysis was undertaken using the method described by Kmet.[1] Those with a quality rating of 16 as a minimum are included in this systematic literature review.
Results: Three quantitative, two qualitative and two - method research studies emerged after applying inclusion criteria, selection, and quality assessment. The analysis demonstrated the positive effects of mentoring on all three avenues with one mixed-method study that documented a downward trend in job satisfaction at six months.
Conclusions: Mentoring is an effective transition to practice strategy for novice nurses. It affects competence, job satisfaction and retention positively. Retention and resignation rates worsen following 12 months of employment. Robust and rigorous studies are essential to justify long-term mentoring programs' cost-effectiveness.


The control of food browning and growth of disease-causing microorganisms is critical to maintaining the quality and safety of food. Tyrosinase is the key enzyme in food browning. The inhibitory effect of methyl trans-cinnamate on the activity of tyrosinase has been investigated. Methyl trans-cinnamate can strongly inhibit both monophenolase and diphenolase activity of mushroom tyrosinase. When the concentration of methyl trans-cinnamate reached 2.5 mM, the lag time was lengthened from 32 to 160 s and the steady-state activity was lost about 65%. The IC(50) value was 1.25 mM. For the diphenolase activity, the inhibition of methyl trans-cinnamate displayed a reversible and noncompetitive mechanism. The IC(50) value was 1.62 mM, and the inhibition constant (K(I)) was determined to be 1.60 mM. Moreover, the antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis and Staphyloccocus aureus and antifungal activity against Candida albicans were tested. The results showed that methyl trans-cinnamate possessed an antimicrobial ability.


Panoramic photograph of a large group of people posing in front of the Sharyland train station on the Missouri Pacific Railroad; the train station later burned down. John Shary is labeled (third from the right). Also shows a dog with 10 legs - a product of the panoramic photo processing. Text at the bottom of the image says, "Excursion Party of the John H. Shary Land Co., Feb. 10, 1920." A label on the back of the photo says "Sharyland Mo Pac RR Station (later burned)"


Macrophages regulate lymphatic vasculature development; however, the molecular mechanisms regulating their recruitment to developing, and adult, lymphatic vascular sites are not known. Here, we report that resting mice deficient for the inflammatory chemokine-scavenging receptor, ACKR2, display increased lymphatic vessel density in a range of tissues under resting and regenerating conditions. This appears not to alter dendritic cell migration to draining lymph nodes but is associated with enhanced fluid drainage from peripheral tissues and thus with a hypotensive phenotype. Examination of embryonic skin revealed that this lymphatic vessel density phenotype is developmentally established. Further studies indicated that macrophages and the inflammatory CC-chemokine CCL2, which is scavenged by ACKR2, are associated with this phenotype. Accordingly, mice deficient for the CCL2 signalling receptor, CCR2, displayed a reciprocal phenotype of reduced lymphatic vessel density. Further examination revealed that proximity of pro-lymphangiogenic macrophages to developing lymphatic vessel surfaces is increased in ACKR2deficient mice and reduced in CCR2-deficient mice. Therefore, these receptors regulate vessel density by reciprocally modulating pro-lymphangiogenic macrophage recruitment, and proximity, to developing, resting and regenerating lymphatic vessels.


A long standing area of debate in Western countries is that of the appropriate philosophy for facilitating large scale immigration; should immigrants preserve their traditions and culture while living in the host country (integration/multiculturalism) or should they assimilate themselves into the ways and manners of their hosts? The ways that nations go about resolving this issue goes to the heart of internal policy formulation on immigration but is also influential to the image that the country projects overseas. Countries are often labeled according to the official views of their Governments. For example, France might be classed as essentially assimilationist and Britain as multi-cultural, whereas the Netherlands and Germany might be seen as somewhere between the two, but how did these policy differences come about and do they accurately reflect the views of the majority of residents of the various countries? This paper addresses part of this issue by seeking to identify and analyse the characteristics of those people in Western countries who think that immigrants should assimilate culturally and how they differ from those who think that immigrants should preserve a separate cultural existence? By doing so, it seeks to explain why these inter-country differences in views exist and whether they are caused primarily by attribute effects (the composition of the population) or by coefficient effects (the strength of the views they hold). This study exploits a unique set of data provided by The Human Beliefs and Values Survey to identify and to estimate the strength of those factors which lead people to favour cultural integration over multiculturalism for immigrants. In doing so, it provides Governments with a snapshot of contemporary views on this increasingly important issue and how these views may shift as demographic characteristics alter.


A random walk on a lattice is one of the most fun- damental models in probability theory. When the random walk is inhomogenous and its inhomogeniety comes from an ergodic sta- tionary process, the walk is called a random walk in a random environment (RWRE). The basic questions such as the law of large numbers (LLN), the central limit theorem (CLT), and the large de- viation principle (LDP) are not fully understood for RWRE. Some known results in the case of LLN and LDP are reviewed. These results are closely related to the homogenization phenomenon for Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman equations when both space and time are discretized.


Decay of honeycomb-generated turbulence in a duct with a static transverse magnetic field is studied via high-resolution direct numerical simulations. The simulations follow the revealing experimental study [1], in particular the paradoxical observation of high-amplitude velocity fluctuations, which exist in the downstream portion of the flow when the strong transverse magnetic field is imposed in the entire duct including the honeycomb exit, but not in other configurations. It is shown that the fluctuations are caused by the large-scale quasi-two-dimensional structures forming in the flow at the initial stages of the decay and surviving the magnetic suppression. Statistical turbulence properties, such as the energy decay curves, two-point correlations and typical length scales are computed. The study demonstrates that turbulence decay in the presence of a magnetic field is a complex phenomenon critically depending on the state of the flow at the moment the field is introduced.


Security is indispensable concern part of the WSN. The reliable mechanisms and routing schemes are facing different set of encounters in the era of authentic status quo and it is also very knotty. Problem is identified in the recognition of untrusted nodes and routes followed from source to destination along with the restraint of battery status in WSN. No effective technique is there to avert the vindictive node attack. The current research article provides an algorithm of the nodes by employing the blockchain technology as far as solution to the other persisting drawbacks like identification of untrusted nodes and untrusted routes were tackled out by the help of secure AODV using blockchain. The outcomes of this research article by performing the simulation and experimental validation of the existing systems denotes the successful identification and occurrence of malicious nodes, end-to-end delay, packet delivery ratio and through put performance evaluation. The registration of the nodes in blockchain database and behaviour of black hole attack in AODV protocol was also simulated using NS2 blockchain algorithm.


Virus-associated hemophagocytic syndrome (HPS) is a rare but life threatening disease in renal transplant recipients that is mostly caused by cytomegalovirus and Epstein-Barr virus. However, to date, no description of CMV-associated hemophagocytic syndrome accompanied by CMV hepatitis and pneumonia exists in renal transplant recipients. Here, we report a 40-year-old male kidney recipient, who presented with epigastric discomfort, fever, and mild dyspnea two months following transplantation. Laboratory findings revealed bicytopenia, hyperferritinemia, elevated hepatic enzymes, elevated serum lactate dehydrogenase, low level of soluble IL2 receptor, and low NK cell activity. Lung HRCT showed bilateral lower lung ground glass opacity with peribronchiolar consolidation and interlobular septal thickening. Liver biopsy disclosed cytomegalovirus inclusions along with lymphocyte infiltration and erythrophagocytosis. The presence of CMV antigen and viral DNA in the recipient's serum confirmed acute CMV infection. Following ganciclovir antiviral therapy without discontinuation of immunosuppressive therapy, symptoms gradually resolved and laboratory findings were normalized. As far as we know, this is the first case report CMV-associated hemophagocytic syndrome accompanied by CMV hepatitis and pneumonia in a renal transplant recipient. References: 1. Ardalan MR, Shoja MM, Tubbs RS, Esmaili H, Keyvani H. Postrenal transplant hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis and thrombotic microangiopathy associated with parvovirus B19 infection. American Journal of Transplantation 2018;8:1340-1344. 2. Karras A, Thervet E, Legendre C. Hemophagocytic syndrome in renal transplant recipients: Report of 17 cases and review of literature. Transplantation 2004;77:238-243. 3. Meyrier A, Anand S, Yabu JM, Melcher ML, Kambham N. Cytomegalovirus in the tranplant kidney: a report of two cases and review of prophylaxis. NDT Plus. 2011;4(5):342-345. 4. Nanmoku K, Yamamoto T, Jsujita M, Hiramitsu T, Goto N, et al. Virusassociated hemophagocytic syndrome in renal transplant recipients: Report of 2 cases from a single center. Case Reports in Hematology 2015; 2015: 876301. 5. Nusshag C, Morath C, Zeier M, Weigand MA, Merle U, et al. Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis in an adult kidney tranplnat recipient successfully treated by plasmapheresis. Medicine 2017; 96(50): 9283. 6. Ponticelli C, Alberighi ODC. Haemophagocytic syndrome--a lifethreatening complication of renal transplantation. Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation. 2019;24(9):2623-2627.


Background Concerns have been raised about the quality of the diabetes in-patient service. Nurse prescribing creates an opportunity to improve care for these patients. Aim The aim was to compare in-patients with diabetes who received standard care and an intervention group who had their medicines managed by a Diabetes Specialist Nurse prescriber. Methods A quasi-experiment was conducted using six wards in a single hospital trust. In-patient care of a convenience sample of patients was evaluated before (n=187) and after (n=265) a Diabetes Specialist Nurse prescriber provided a medicines management intervention. Prospective data were collected to measure insulin and oral hypoglycaemic medication errors and length of stay. Using a smaller sub-sample of participants, sample 2 (n=56), additional data were collected to evaluate the intervention on self-efficacy, patients information needs, and to determine the types of medicines information important to patients. Data collection methods included documentary evidence, modified retrospective case-record review and questionnaires. Findings Errors were significantly reduced by more than 50% in the intervention group (p<0.05). The median length of stay was reduced by two days. The total number of errors and length of stay were affected by admission category (p<0.001). In sample 2, self-efficacy scores were increased but the extent to which patients information needs were met was inconclusive. Participants rated similar categories of medicines information as important. Conclusion A medicines management intervention provided by a Diabetes Specialist Nurse prescriber can have a positive effect on patient safety and quality of care in-patients with diabetes receive. This model of care has important implications in terms of maximising resource use and providing a more flexible and accessible model of service delivery. In order that the contribution of nurse prescribing can be fully realised further evaluation of the intervention is required.


Methylammonium lead-iodide (MAPbI3, MA: CH3–NH3) interfaced with rutile TiO2 is widely used in photovoltaic devices. These devices utilize the electron transfer from MAPbI3 to TiO2, which may not be explained solely by the band structures of the two bulk materials. To elucidate the interface dynamics and its impact on the electron transfer process, we have studied the interfacial features of a TiO2/MAPbI3 system. First principles calculations and ab initio molecular dynamics simulations show that the rotational freedom of MA present within the bulk is considerably suppressed due to interaction of MA with the TiO2 substrate, highlighting orientationally ordered MA at the interface. The optimized interface structure shows the C–N axis of MA titled towards the TiO2 surface so as to maximize the interaction between N-attached H and underlying O. The very short O⋯H⋯N distance with very large hydrogen bonding energy identifies short strong hydrogen bonding (SSHB) as the origin of structural re-organization at the interface. As for the electronic structure, this proton sharing between MA and TiO2 has a critical impact on the energy level alignment at the interface, thus driving the electron transfer process from MA to TiO2. Indeed, significant reduction in the electron transfer barrier is observed for the energetically optimal interface configuration which promotes the electron transfer across the interface and photovoltaic properties.


American Indian children experience disproportionately high rates of obesity, yet tribal communities often lack capacity to utilize local obesity data to guide prevention efforts. It is estimated the prevalence of childhood obesity in a Wisconsin tribal community and identified local schoolbased obesity prevention initiatives. Height and weight data were collected for children ages 2-19 years through routine screenings at local Head Start centers and schools. Weight status was determined based on BMI percentile according to year 2000 CDC growth charts. Summary statistics and chi-square tests were generated to examine differences in obesity prevalence by age and gender. An environmental scan that included key informant interviews, document reviews, and photo-mapping was conducted to identify local obesity prevention initiatives. A total of 820 children were screened during the 2013-2014 school year. In total, 31% of children were obese and 24% were overweight. Obesity prevalence was lower among children ages 2-5 years (20%) than among children ages 6-11 (34%) and 12-19 years (34%) (p< .01) but did not differ by gender. Local prevention initiatives included adoption of recommended nutrition guidelines for school meals, school-based programs to improve nutrition and increase physical activity, and changes to the physical environment to increase access to healthy foods and promote physical activity. Childhood obesity prevalence was higher in our sample compared to national prevalence estimates. Local schools have made strides in implementing obesity prevention initiatives. Ongoing monitoring of local childhood obesity prevalence may facilitate planning and evaluation of future prevention efforts.


Oral presentations are a commonly assessed task in university classes worldwide, particularly in ESP (English for Specific Purpose) and second language classes. As such, a substantial body of research exists, documenting the various facets of presentations skills and the views and experiences of both presenters and educators in the classroom. However, scant research exists on how such presenters perceive the experience of presenting outside the classroom, in contexts such as English language presentation contests. For motivated university students, presentation contests offer a further opportunity to experience presenting in a second language and a chance to pit themselves against top presenters from other universities. To better support students in preparing for the difficulties of presenting at such contests in a second language, their views and experiences need to be more rigorously investigated. Therefore, this study investigated the experiences of thirteen Japanese university students participating in three different English presentation contests. The primary research objective was to ascertain whether or not the presenters perceived their experiences as positive or negative, and to establish what factors had mitigated these views. A qualitative research design was employed, and data was collected through the administration of an online survey conducted after the contests had concluded. Thematic analysis and triangulation of the participants' responses indicates that most of the participants had positive experiences. Factors leading to this positive experience generally included either realizing specific pre-determined goals at the contest or being able to rationalize the holistic benefits of having competed in the contest.


Reverse micro emulsion method showed some advantages in the preparation of the catalyst MnBaAl11O19-δ with large surface area and high activity, when compared with sol-gel method or co-precipitation method. The influences of water content in reverse micro emulsion on nanostructure catalyst MnBaAl11O19-δ were discussed in this paper. The catalyst MnBaAl11O19-δ was prepared by reverse microemulsion method with a system consisted of 55% of n-heptane, 15% of emulsifier OP-10, 15% of 1-octanol and 15% of water (volume ratio). It resulted in the catalyst a length of 10-30nm plated-like phase and large surface area of 106 m2/g. The catalyst was applied in dimethyl ether combustion and it showed high activity with T10% at 160 °C and T90% at 300 °C. The recycle reverse micro emulsion was reused to prepare the catalyst MnBaAl11O19-δ. The catalyst MnBaAl11O19-δ prepared with that, still showed large surface area of 65m2/g and high activity with T10% at 170 °C and T90% at 320 °C in dimethyl ether catalytic combustion.


The objective of this study was to try to identify, by pretreatment screening, a group of patients at higher risk of developing endometrial carcinoma on tamoxifen. Between January 1993 and January 1997, 360 postmenopausal patients with breast cancer were enrolled in this prospective study. Basal screening included gynaecologic examination with a Papanicolaou smear and endovaginal sonography. In the case of an abnormal ultrasound (endometrial thickness greater than 4 mm), an outpatient hysteroscopy with an endometrial biopsy was carried out. These examinations were repeated annually. By means of this preliminary evaluation, two groups of patients were identified: patients without initial lesions (group I) and patients with initial endometrial lesions (group II). These two groups of patients were followed up separately exactly in the same way. Endometrial lesions taken into account were: adenocarcinomas (in situ and invasive), polyps with or without atypia, myomas and adenomyotic lesions with irregular mucosa. After 3 years and after 4 years of follow-up, the percentage of atypical lesions was significantly higher in the group with initial lesions than in the group without initial lesions. This study suggests that a group of high risk patients more sensitive to the carcinogenic effect of tamoxifen can be identified by pretreatment evaluation.


OBJECT
Laminoplasty has been used to expand the cervical spinal canal, based on the belief that reconstruction of the laminae preserves musculoskeletal function. The true efficacy of laminoplasty for maintaining spinal alignment, stability, and flexibility, however, remains to be proven. The authors have developed a new method, myoarchitectonic spinolaminoplasty (MSLP), which preserves all of the nuchal muscles and reconstitutes all of the musculoskeletal couplings to the posterior elements of the vertebrae. The details of this technique are described, and the efficacy of the technique in conserving muscle volume, alignment, and motion, as well as in preventing postoperative musculoskeletal discomfort, is assessed.

METHODS
The authors' previous midline-splitting laminoplasty procedure, which utilized a hydroxyapatite (HA) implant as a substitute for the spinous process, was improved. Detachment of the muscles is avoided with this new technique by cutting inside the spinous process. The bone-muscle flaps are affixed to the HA spinous process. Radiographs, computed tomography scans, and neurological evaluations obtained at the 1-year follow-up in the groups of consecutive patients assessed immediately prior to and after the modification of the previous technique (the control and the MSLP groups, respectively) were analyzed and compared.

RESULTS
The HA bone constructs became integrated due to osteoconduction. The cross-sectional area of the semispinalis capitis, semispinalis cervicis, and multifidus muscles remained significantly larger in the MSLP group. Slight attenuation in lordosis was observed in the control group, but was prevented in the MSLP group. Range of motion was somewhat restricted in the MSLP group, but the incidence of neck pain and shoulder strain was significantly reduced.

CONCLUSIONS
The new MSLP method was effective in preserving the volume and functions of the nuchal musculature and helping to minimize postoperative musculoskeletal complaints.


Aberrant DNA methylation is a distinguishing feature of cancer. Yet, how methylation affects immune surveillance and tumor metastasis remains ambiguous. We introduce a novel method, Guide Positioning Sequencing (GPS), for precisely detecting whole-genome DNA methylation with cytosine coverage as high as 96% and unbiased coverage of GC-rich and repetitive regions. Systematic comparisons of GPS with whole-genome bisulfite sequencing (WGBS) found that methylation difference between gene body and promoter is an effective predictor of gene expression with a correlation coefficient of 0.67 (GPS) versus 0.33 (WGBS). Moreover, Methylation Boundary Shift (MBS) in promoters or enhancers is capable of modulating expression of genes associated with immunity and tumor metabolism. Furthermore, aberrant DNA methylation results in tissue-specific enhancer switching, which is responsible for altering cell identity during liver cancer development. Altogether, we demonstrate that GPS is a powerful tool with improved accuracy and efficiency over WGBS in simultaneously detecting genome-wide DNA methylation and genomic variation. Using GPS, we show that aberrant DNA methylation is associated with altering cell identity and immune surveillance networks, which may contribute to tumorigenesis and metastasis.


This paper presents the suite of principles, designs criteria and verification process used in
the knowledge conceptualization process of a consensuated domain ontology in the domain of
chemicals. To achieve agreement between different development teams we propose the use of
a common and shared conceptual model as starting point. To capture domain knowledge of a
given domain and organize it in a shared and consensuated conceptual model, we recommend
an approach that integrates the following intermediate representation techniques: Data
Dictionary, Concepts Classification Trees, Tables of Instance Attributes, Table of Class
Attributes, Table of Constants, Tables of Formulas, Attributes Classification Trees, and
Tables of Instances. We also provide a set of guidelines to verify the knowledge gathered
inside each intermediate representations and between intermediate representations.


Author(s): Park, Eddie Joon | Advisor(s): Mortazavi, Ali | Abstract: RNA editing is a post-transcriptional process in which certain nucleotides in RNA become modified to change the sequence of the RNA. The two types of RNA editing involve the deamination of adenosine to inosine (A-to-I) and the deamination of cytosine to uracil (C-to-U) that are mediated respectively by the ADAR family of enzymes and APOBEC1. Although there are many examples of RNA editing altering the coding sequence of specific genes, the extent of RNA editing within metazoans has remained an open problem. Here, I investigate the extent and function of RNA editing in human cell lines, mice, and flies using RNA-seq as well as a new method called ICE-seq. I first assessed the extent of RNA editing as part of the ENCODE project. RNA-seq datasets from fourteen human cell lines were mined for RNA editing events using a novel method that relies on ENCODE ChIP-seq datasets to filter out genomic SNPs. I separately identified new C-to-U RNA editing targets within mouse livers and intestinal enterocytes by comparing wild-type and Apobec1 knockout mice RNA-seq data. I identified 56 Apobec1 RNA editing targets and found that a subset of the targets have altered mRNA and protein levels. Finally, I used ICE-seq to study RNA editing within two species of Drosophila. ICE-seq is a method that includes an acrylonitrile treatment of RNA prior to reverse-transcription. The acrylonitrile specifically reacts with inosine to block reverse transcription. By comparing ICE-seq and RNA-seq samples, RNA editing events were called from Drosophila melanogaster and Drosophila yakuba. I found that there is a core set of RNA editing targets that are shared between the two species and a set of targets with distinct functional enrichments that are species-specific, which suggests that the biological function of RNA editing in these two Drosophila species is still evolving.


Religious freedom matters but is imperiled. This simple proposition captures a central crucible of our age. Advancing religious freedom must be a priority of democratic-loving people everywhere. But what are the different models of advocacy? How do distinct approaches flow from different disciplines, organizational visions, or religious traditions? What practical challenges do advocates face and what strategies do they employ? What can aspiring advocates of religious freedom learn from seasoned champions? These are among the crucial questions addressed in the Fall 2012 issue of The Review of Faith & International Affairs, a theme issue on "Strategies of Advocacy for International Religious Freedom."


This Policy Brief aims to understand how the EU's endeavours in the fields of culture and scientific research have been received in Egypt and Tunisia, with the aim of developing a sustainable policy direction. After having identified examples of culture and science relations between the EU and MENA countries, the primary question was: What do the EU's partners from the neighbouring countries in the South of the Mediterranean think of its approach to science, innovation and its enhancement of external cultural relations? The results of this study and the first conclusions of its analysis made it possible to make some recommendations to guide future EU policies.


Background and purpose: The medlar (Mespilus germanica L., Rosaceae) is an edible fruit and modern medicine has recognized its healing properties in treatment of some diseases. There is no scientific data in literature about its activity against some bacteria. In this study, antibacterial activity of hydro-acetonic extract of medlars leaf was evaluated against some bacteria. Materials and methods: In this experimental study, the leaves were collected from Sari, Iran. Materials were dried at room temperature and coarsely ground before extraction. The extraction was performed at room temperature by maceration method using acetone (70%) as solvent. Total phenols and tannins were determined by Folin-ciocalteu method and antibacterial effects were studied. Minimal Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimal Bactricidal Concentration (MBC) were calculated by Broth Dilution Test. Results: The yield of extraction was 20%. Total phenolic and tannins contents were 90±10 GAE (based on standard curve) and 10±4 /g extract, respectively. The extract showed best inhibitory and bactericidal activities against Klebsiella pneumoniae (MIC= 3.333 ± 0.0233 and MBC= 5.833 ± 0.065). The lowest MIC was observed against Vibrio Cholera (6.667±0.048) and the lowest MBC was seen against E. coli and Shigella dysentiea (9.167±0.042). Conclusion: M. germanica leaf extract showed good antibacterial activities. So, this plant is potentially effective in controlling dysentery.


The health reform debate in the United States has so far failed to consider the important matter of helping people with care needs stay in their own homes. But this is crucial to precluding or deferring use of much more expensive health services, say campaigners for a voluntary national insurance programme that would cover the cost of home assistance.

The Community Living Assistance Services and Support (CLASS) Act legislation, which was first proposed by the late senator Ted Kennedy, is just such a scheme. It would provide cash payments to disabled beneficiaries to buy assistance that would allow them to remain functional, productive, and independent, explained Connie Garner, senior staff member of the Senate health education, labour, and …


AIM
Aim of the study was to summarize the types and quantities of peripheral hematocytopenia in the patients of hypersplenism caused by cirrhotic portal hypertension and investigate the effect of surgery, including splenectomy on the patient's peripheral blood cells and liver function.

METHODS
The quantities of peripheral blood cells in the 322 patients of hypersplenism, caused by cirrhotic portal hypertension, were retrospectively studied. Then, the preoperative and postoperative values of peripheral blood cells and liver function were compared in 266 patients who were followed up. The liver function was scored and graded according to Child-Pugh scoring system.

RESULTS
The study enrolled 322 patients who showed hematocytopenia, including multi-hemocyte decrease in 206 patients (64%) and simple hemocyte decrease in 116 patients (36%). After surgical treatment in the 226 patients who were followed up, the quantities of peripheral blood cells significantly increased (P<0.01), Child-Pugh grade A increased by 32 patients (14.2%), while Child-Pugh grade C increased only by 2 patients (0.9%), the liver function scores decreased (P<0.05).

CONCLUSION
Hypersplenism caused by cirrhotic portal hypertension mainly manifests as a multi-hemocyte decrease and rarely shows single types of hematocytopenia. Surgical intervention including splenectomy can increase the reduction of hemocytes and promote the recovery of liver function.


Technology is becoming an increasingly important and indispensable tool in human life, making it necessary to develop various forms of renewable energies. However, over time it became necessary to improve this technology that becomes more advanced and efficient. The purpose of the research is to compare the results of three distinct AI algorithms, forecasting in two hours, using the database available by the Instituto Nacional de Meteorologia (INMET). The results indicate that the K-Nearest Neighbors Regression network proved to be more effective for estimating Global Solar Radiation (W/m²) and Multi-LayerPerceptron for forecasting Air Temperature (ºC).


One in 10 men receiving treatment for rectal chlamydia resume condomless receptive anal sex within a week of commencing treatment, potentially facilitating ongoing transmission to sexual partners. Supplemental digital content is available in the text. Background The resumption of sexual activity shortly after commencing treatment for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) is poorly described despite contributing to onward transmission. With azithromycin remaining an option for rectal Chlamydia trachomatis, resuming sex too early after treatment may contribute to antimicrobial resistance because of exposure of newly acquired STIs to subinhibitory concentrations. Methods Clinical and sexual behavioral data were collected from men participating in a trial assessing treatment efficacy for rectal chlamydia. Data were collected at recruitment and weekly for 3 weeks after commencing treatment. Outcome measures were resumption of any sexual activity or condomless receptive anal sex within 1, 2, or 3 weeks after commencing treatment. Generalized linear regression was used to calculate adjusted risk ratios (aRR) to identify associated factors. Results Almost 1 in 10 men (9.5%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 7.2–12.1) resumed condomless receptive anal sex within 1 week of commencing treatment. This was associated with current preexposure prophylaxis use (aRR, 3.4; 95% CI, 2.5–4.8]) and having 9 or more sexual partners in the last 3 months (aRR, 3.2; 95% CI, 1.6–5.0). Most men (75.0%; 95% CI, 71.3–78.5) resumed any sexual activity within 3 weeks; this was associated with a greater number of sexual partners (4–8 partners; aRR, 1.2; 95% CI, 1.1–1.5; ≥9 partners; aRR, 1.5; 95% CI, 1.3–1.7). Conclusions Resuming condomless receptive anal sex early after treatment may facilitate onward transmission and promote antimicrobial resistance for STIs. Although azithromycin remains a treatment option, this analysis highlights the need for new health promotion messages regarding early resumption of sex and continued surveillance for antimicrobial resistance.


We provide a method allowing identification of margins in an oligopoly price competition game when prices may not be freely chosen in some markets, for example due to regulation. We use our identification strategy to study the effects of regulatory constraints in the pharmaceutical industry. We provide the first structural estimation of price-cost margins on a regulated market with price constraints and show how to identify unknown possibly binding constraints thanks to three different markets (US, Germany and France) with varying regulatory constraints. We use the market for anti-ulcer drugs to identify whether regulation in France truly affects margins and prices and relate regulatory reforms to industry pricing equilibrium. Empirical results show that firms were especially constrained in price setting after the different reforms in 2004. Counterfactual simulations show that total spending significantly increased because of the new price regulation by displacing part of the demand from generics to branded drugs.


This paper grapples with the state's response to contemporary urban movements. In light of recent debates on the changing nature of urban movements, it presents an overview of the responses of states in different modes of regulation, ranging from a Keynesian regime to sequential stages of neoliberalisation. Examples of authoritarianism and the entrepreneurial roles of the state are drawn from the Turkish experience to show how economic liberalism can be combined with increasing social control, restrictions, penalisation and exclusion. Reviewing Turkish urban policies and practice, the urban mobilisations against them, and the varying positions of the state will shed light not only on what is happening in Turkey but also on the transformative nature of neoliberalisation. © 2013 The Author Antipode© 2013 Antipode Foundation Ltd.


The primary objective of this study was to determine household coping mechanisms under COVID-19 pandemics and its implication on food security in the country. Poisson regression model was used to describe the relationship among a set of constructs that influence households meal count per month. The study identified coping strategies, credit listing and job loss as significant factors that determine the number of meals per month by various household. The study notes that the economic impact of COVID-19 has disproportionally impacted various households in the country differently based on their differential in their socio-economic status and their livelihood strategies. Based on this, it is important to understand the impact of this pandemic as well as the coping strategies employed by different household strata as they navigate the shocks of the pandemic. To combat this pandemic, households have shifted into more drastic coping mechanism to smoothen their consumption curve. More importantly, households have proportionally coped with the COVID-19-induced income shocks by changing their dietary patterns, which is also the most used coping strategy among the wage earners and those depending on transfer payments. Increased borrowing has also emerged as a major caution especially from the digital lenders who are less concerned about collateral. While this pandemic seems to continue into the foreseeable future, a raft of measures is recommended to caution the poor households against the pandemic. Protracted blanket lockdowns by the government should be the measures of last resort. Re-focusing on localized measures of 'smart containment' that both respond to the health crisis and limit economic consequences should be the focus.


The study sought to determine the effectiveness of online learning techniques towards the quality of learning in Nyanga North Secondary Schools in Zimbabwe during the COVID-19 era. The researcher was motivated to carry out the study by the alarming fall in pass rates by students in Nyanga North secondary schools in 2020 national examinations. The unexpected COVID 19 outbreak in 2019 led to subsequent national lockdowns which disrupted the normal way of social life. The emergence of the Covid 19 virus meant education across the globe had to take a new trajectory. The functionality of learning institutions was affected as strict measures were put in place to combat the spread of the deadly virus. The traditional leaning methods became less effective as the measures which were put into effect promoted distance learning to reduce physical contact between persons. It was therefore incumbent for schools and other learning institutions to embrace new methods of teaching and learning to bridge the gap created by national shutdowns so that learners would not leg behind with their syllabuses. The purpose of the study was to determine the effectiveness of online learning strategies towards the quality of learning in Nyanga North secondary schools. An exploratory research approach was adopted by the research to have a deep understanding of the problem area. The researchers made use of a qualitative research approach where questionnaires were used as the data collection instrument for the study. The population of the study consisted of students from 13 secondary schools in Nyanga North. The study population was 120 students randomly selected from the thirteen secondary schools. The questionnaire response rate was 80% with 96 out 120 students returning fully completed questionnaires. The findings of the study showed that the adoption of online learning was impeded by a number of factors including geographical location of the school, student backgrounds, nature of information and communication technology infrastructure in schools and the experience and knowledge of teachers towards advancing the online learning initiative. The researchers concluded that online learning techniques being adopted by teachers in Nyanga North are not being effective as the teachers do not have the knowhow on conducting online classes due to known and unknown reasons.


Abstract:Jill Carter has spearheaded the interpretive practice of "red reading," wherein a canonical text is read through an Indigenous perspective, and has proven the validity of approaching traditional texts or problems through a decolonized or non-European method. To date, the red reading methodology has been most noticeably used to decentralize a Eurocentric reading of Indigeneity in North American literature, though as this article illustrates, the concepts of red reading can be expanded to analyze texts from across temporal and cultural periodization, which allows us to approach texts from a new perspective. In red reading a text like The Book of Margery Kempe, with its emphasis on holism and fluid consciousness, we can reach past the orality and textuality at the forefront of the text to interrogate and explore the liminality of a third (ghostly) consciousness.


Tracheoesophageal fistula (TOF) is a congenital communication between the trachea and oesophagus. TOF often leads to severe and fatal pulmonary complications. It is usually combined with esophageal atresia. More than 95 types had been described in the literature up to 1976 (1) . Since then newer subtypes also were described (2-7) . The commonest one is type iii. The latter is diagnosed by suggestive clinical presentation and gaseous abdomen in the X-Ray. Gasless abdomen in this type of oesophageal atresia is an extremely rare condition and makes a diagnostic dilemma.


The computational world is becoming very large and complex. Cloud computing has emerged as a new paradigm of computing and also has gained attention from both academic and business community. Its utility-based usage model allows users to pay per use, similar to other public utility such as electricity, with relatively low investment on the end devices that access the cloud computing resources. Cloud users can request/rent resources as they become necessary, in a much more scalable and elastic way. A provision should be made so that all resources are made available to the users to satisfy their need. This paper reviews various resource allocation strategies in a cloud computing environment.


Interleukin (IL)-22+CD4+T (Th22) cells play crucial roles in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases and infectious diseases, although the role of Th22 cells remains largely unclear in children with hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) caused by enterovirus 71 (EV71). This study aims to explore the role of circulating IL-22+IL-17A−CD4+T (cTh22) cells in children with EV71-associated HFMD. We found that during the acute stage of illness, the frequencies of cTh22 and circulating IL-22+IL-17A+CD4+T (IL-22+cTh17) cells in CD4+T cells infrom affected patients, and especially in severely affected patients, were significantly higher than in healthy controls (HC). The major source of IL-22 production was cTh22 cells, partially from cTh17 cells. Moreover, the protein and mRNA levels of IL-22, IL-17A, IL-23, IL-6, and TNF-α were significantly different among the mild patients, severe patients and HC, as well as AHR and RORγt mRNA levels. A positive correlation was found between plasma IL-22 levels and cTh22 cell frequencies, and cTh17 cell and IL-22+ cTh17 cell frequencies. Furthermore, the frequencies of cTh22 were significantly decreased in the convalescent patients. Our findings indicated that cTh22 cells could play critical roles in the pathogenesis of EV71 infection, and are potential therapeutic targets for patients with EV71-associated HFMD.


"Heck, I'm just going on 15," observes the hero of a Roger Miller song, * preparing for his first "taste of sin." The sin comes in a Mason jar, "homemade and brought to school" by classmates. The effects are startling. After "a big old sip," he does "a double back flip." ... swallowed it with a smile,... I run ten miles. Burns your tummy, don't you know... Makes you want to holler heidy-ho! "First time for everything," the boy concludes, and though his "ears still ring," he's ready for more alcohol. And he has more—behind barns, on 4-H field trips, in taverns with boozy uncles. In Miller's song are themes found in this book: the satisfying surreptitiousness of sin; the influence of adults on youthful drinking behavior; the discovery of alcohol, its burn and antic effects; the reenactment of a ritual as old as the need for adventure, shared pleasure, and warm


Background Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most prevalent arrhythmia worldwide. Although it is not life-threatening, the accompanying rapid and irregular ventricular rate can lead to hemodynamic deterioration and obvious symptoms, especially the risk of cerebrovascular embolism. Our study aimed to identify novel and promising genes that could explain the underlying mechanism of AF development. Material/Methods Expression profiles GSE41177, GSE79768, and GSE14975 were acquired from the Gene Expression Omnibus Database. R software was used for identifying differentially expressed genes (DEGs), and Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analyses were subsequently performed. A protein–protein interaction network was constructed in Cytoscape software. Next, a least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) model was constructed and receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis was conducted to assess the specificity and sensitivity of the key genes. Results We obtained 204 DEGs from the datasets. The DEGs were mostly involved in immune response and cell communication. The primary pathways of the DEGs were related to the course or maintenance of autoimmune and chronic inflammatory diseases. The top 20 hub genes (high scores in cytoHubba) were selected in the PPI network. Finally, we identified 6 key genes (FCGR3B, CLEC10A, FPR2, IGSF6, S100A9, and S100A12) via the LASSO model. Conclusions We present 6 target genes that are potentially involved in the molecular mechanisms of AF development. In addition, these genes are likely to serve as potential therapeutic targets.


During gestation, many different mechanisms act to render the maternal immune system tolerant to semi-allogeneic trophoblast cells of foetal origin, including those mediated via mucins that are expressed during the peri-implantation period in the uterus. Tumour- associated glycoprotein-72 (TAG-72) enhances the already established tolerogenic features of decidual dendritic cells with the inability to progress towards Th1 immune orientation due to lowered interferon (IFN)-γ and interleukin (IL)-15 expression. Mucine 1 (Muc 1) supports alternative activation of decidual macrophages, restricts the proliferation of decidual regulatory CD56+ bright natural killer (NK) cells, and downregulates their cytotoxic potential, including cytotoxic mediator protein expression. Removing TAG-72 and Muc 1 from the eutopic implantation site likely contributes to better control of trophoblast invasion by T cells and NK cells and appears to have important immunologic advantages for successful implantation, in addition to mechanical advantages. However, these processes may lead to uncontrolled trophoblast growth after implantation, inefficient defence against infection or tumours, and elimination of unwanted immunocompetent cells at the maternal-foetal interface. The use of mucins by tumour cells to affect the local microenvironment in order to avoid the host immune response and to promote local tumour growth, invasion, and metastasis confirms this postulation.


Current state-of-the-art methods that predict 3D from single images ignore the fact that the height of objects and their upright orientation is invariant to the camera pose and intrinsic parameters. To account for this, we propose a system that directly regresses 3D world coordinates for each pixel. First, our system predicts the camera position with respect to the ground plane and its intrinsic parameters. Followed by that, it predicts the 3D position for each pixel along the rays spanned by the camera. The predicted 3D coordinates and normals are invariant to a change in the camera position or its model, and we can directly impose a regression loss on these world coordinates. Our approach yields competitive results for depth and camera pose estimation (while not being explicitly trained to predict any of these) and improves across-dataset generalization performance over existing state-of-the-art methods.