Successful language learning depends crucially on a strong vocabulary. It is estimated that a vocabulary of 8000 word families is the necessary goal for English language learners who have to deal with unsimplified spoken and written texts. This study examined the English vocabulary size and vocabulary learning strategies of Mengubah Destini Anak Bangsa (MDAB) pre-diploma students at the Segamat Campus of Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Johor. While some of these students had intermediate English language proficiency, the majority of them had low language proficiency. Data for the study were collected in three stages. Firstly, a Vocabulary Size Test was conducted to determine the students' vocabulary size. Secondly, a Vocabulary Learning Strategies Questionnaire was used to investigate the vocabulary learning strategies employed by the students. Finally, a semi-structured interview was carried out with eight students as a form of triangulation that supplements the findings gleaned from the Vocabulary Learning Strategies Questionnaire. The quantitative data from the first two instruments were analysed using descriptive statistics, while interview analysis was performed to analyse the qualitative data from the semi-structured interview. The findings revealed that only a very small number of the MDAB students had the desired vocabulary size of 8000 word families or more, and that they were medium users of vocabulary learning strategies. The findings on their vocabulary size suggest that many of them may not be lexically well equipped to successfully undertake a diploma programme of their choice at UiTM which uses English as its medium of instruction. In addition, the results of this study imply that some systematic vocabulary instructions and vocabulary learning strategies training should be introduced to help them improve their English vocabulary size.


: High mortality rate of Melanoma is due to poor response to radiotherapy and chemotherapy. A phospholipase A 2 (PLA 2 ) of Daboia siamensis venom has been reported to inhibit melanoma cells. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of dssPLA 2 on gene and protein expression of MAPKs (Mitrogen-activated protien kinases) in melanoma cells. The mRNA and protein were determined by quantitative real-time PCR and western blotting to detect the expression levels of MEK1, MEK2, BRAF V600E and ERK1 / 2. Results indicated that 0.25 µ g / ml of dssPLA 2 reduced the mRNA expression level of these genes in a time dependent manner. Interestingly, at 48 h, the mRNA expression level of all genes was extremely decreased compared with untreated cells in the same condition. Whereas, the protein level of MEK1, MEK2, BRAF V600E and ERK1 / 2 were clearly reduced after dssPLA 2 incubation. Our results show that dssPLA 2 is a strong inhibitor to MAPK genes at 48 h.


A 75-year-old woman presented with intermittent episodes of anal pain of 5 months duration. During an episode, she felt excruciating pain in the anus, lasting several minutes. On admission, a physical examination, laboratory examinations, and colonoscopy were unremarkable. She had a history of constipation that had progressed recently and responded poorly to laxatives. She had been treated with acupuncture for lower back pain 5 months earlier.

She was diagnosed clinically with proctalgia fugax and then underwent extracorporeal magnetic stimulation therapy (EMST). Interestingly, whenever she underwent EMST, she complained of more severe pain. We performed computed tomography to evaluate possible organic causes of the anal pain. This revealed a metallic-density foreign body in the distal rectal posterior wall (Fig. 1A). Endoscopic ultrasonography revealed a 6-mm hyperechoic linear lesion (Fig. 1B). Thus, an acupuncture needle was thought to be the cause of the obscure anal pain.

Figure 1

(A) Computed tomography revealed a metallic-density foreign body (arrow) in the distal posterior wall of the rectum. (B) Endoscopic ultrasonography revealed a 6-mm hyperechoic linear lesion (arrow) at the same lesion, suggesting retained acupuncture needle. ...

A group of general surgeons was invited to consult on the case and they concluded that surgery was not clearly indicated because there was no evidence of a complication, such as an abscess. Given the potential complications of surgical removal, we tried medical treatment, and her anal pain improved somewhat with reassurance and gabapentin treatment.

The practice of acupuncture is widely performed in Korea. The acupuncture needle is typically placed in the thicker parts of the body, such as the back or hip, along defined meridians. In most cases, any needle fragments remain in situ forever without problems but sometimes various complications result. The migration of steel needle fragments is possible in response to the magnetic field of a magnetic resonance scanner or EMST.


An execution of a message-passing program is nondeterministic if message races exist. In this paper, a formal definition of a message race for asynchronous communication is presented. The trace of an execution of a message-passing program is a sequence of send and receive events. For a receive event r in a trace T, its race set is the set of messages in T that have a race with the message received at r and can be received at r during some possible executions of the same program with the same input. A race analysis algorithm analyzes a trace to determine the race set for each receive event in the trace. Three race analysis algorithms are given for three different types of sequences of send and receive events. It is shown that these race analysis algorithms can be used to solve a number of problems in testing and debugging message-passing programs.


In this study, we use the Swift/BAT AGN sample, which has received extensive multiwavelength follow-up analysis as a result of the BAT AGN Spectroscopic Survey, to develop a diagnostic for nuclear obscuration by examining the relationship between the line-of-sight column densities (N H), the 2–10 keV to 12 μm luminosity ratio, and WISE mid-infrared colors. We demonstrate that heavily obscured AGNs tend to exhibit both preferentially "redder" mid-infrared colors and lower values of L X,Obs./L 12 μm than less obscured AGNs, and we derive expressions relating N H to the L X,Obs./L 12 μm and L 22 μm/L 4.6 μm luminosity ratios, as well as develop diagnostic criteria using these ratios. Our diagnostic regions yield samples that are ≳80% complete and ≳60% pure for AGNs with log(N H/cm−2) ≥ 24, as well as ≳85% pure for AGNs with log(NH/cm−2)≳23.5 . We find that these diagnostics cannot be used to differentiate between optically star-forming galaxies and active galaxies. Further, mid-IR contributions from host galaxies that dominate the observed 12 μm emission can lead to larger apparent X-ray deficits and redder mid-IR colors than the AGNs would intrinsically exhibit, though this effect helps to better separate less and more obscured AGNs. Finally, we test our diagnostics on two catalogs of AGNs and infrared galaxies, including the XMM-Newton XXL-N field, and we identify several known Compton-thick AGNs, as well as a handful of candidate heavily obscured AGNs based upon our proposed obscuration diagnostics.


Artist Ori Gersht (b.1967, Israel) has been engaged consistently with themes of displacement and forced migration in recent history, and ensuing issues of memory and identity. Working with photography and film, Gersht's strategy is to address these themes obliquely, mostly without depicting human action, but focusing instead on its aftermath and emotional residues. The places in Gersht's images are simultaneously palpably real and haunted with indeterminacy and the weight of human suffering.

Sarajevo in AferWars (1999), a train journey from Krakow to Auschwitz in White Noise (2001), Gaza/Israel in Ghost (2003), the Ukraine in The Clearing (2006) are some of the sites where Gersht seeks loss as a presence, and wrestles with the paradoxical quest for identity at the sites of its uprooting. Expanding on his earlier work, Gersht has more recently included people in two of his films addressing similar issues: a fictionalised Walter Benjamin on his fatal journey on the Lister Route in Evaders (2009), and a real-life survivor of Auschwitz in Will You Dance For Me? (2011), maintaining, however, the investment in abstraction and ellipsis, which have characterised his work from the beginning.

Gersht's images have a dream like quality, which is haunting and engaging even as it distances the reality of the subject. This indirect reference to events, embedded in the horizon of unpopulated landscapes, occasionally juxtaposed by close-ups of unsituated figures, is resonant with metaphor and metaphysical allusion. The device of distancing is a crucial hinge in a body of work that eschews rhetoric and invests, instead, in the power of poetry to carry the weight of meaning and affect. This paper proposes to discuss the work of Ori Gersht drawing from phenomenology and hermeneutics in order to address the inherent ambiguity in the idea of displaced identity, the dialectic between imagination and memory, and the role of art in the (re)construction of place.


Improving traceability in food supply chains has been a big part of ongoing effort to reduce contamination risks and food waste. Recent technology advancement such as blockchain technology has propelled innovative retailers to promote food traceability system adoption in their supply chains. We develop a three-tier supply chain model with multiple upstream (tier 2) suppliers to investigate how traceability technology adoption affects incentives of supply chain members and whether and how its anticipated benefits can be realized. We find that full traceability brings direct revenue benefit to every supply chain member by saving uncontaminated food from disposal (pure traceability effect) but also leaves each tier of the supply chain vulnerable to its immediate downstream buyer's exploitation through strategically lowering the purchasing price (strategic pricing effect). The interplay of the two effects may result in some of the supply chain members (even the retailer) being worse off with traceability adoption and the system being exposed to higher contamination risk; the latter is because of the weakened upstream supplier's incentive to exert contamination risk-reduction effort. Moreover, we find that the supply chain network structure also influences the benefit distribution of traceability adoption: The retailer always benefits from traceability adoption in network structures where the tier 1 supplier's strategic pricing power is eliminated or weakened; all supply chain members benefit from traceability adoption in a network with a large number of tier 2 suppliers. Finally, we show that alternative risk-mitigation schemes such as tier 2 coordination can diminish the value of traceability adoption, and partial traceability enabled by tier 1 product inspection can be more beneficial to the retailer than full traceability. This paper was accepted by Victor Martínez-de-Albéniz, operations management.


Decision Making in Nursing enables students to be reflective, critical, flexible, and comfortable with the many decisions they will make as a nurse on a daily basis. This text offers models that nurses may integrate into practice and explores how decisions are affected by health policy, politics, ethics, legal issues, religion, culture and other influences. Each chapter includes a case study using a nursing scenario to illustrate the use of a particular framework in an actual practice setting.


Objective: evaluate the bond strength of resin cements to new materials for application in intraradicular posts. Material and Methods: Five materials were evaluated: fiberglass, PET, polyethylene, polyacetal and PTFE. Two commercial resin cements (Rely X U200 and Rely X Arc) were applied on the test specimens of the materials (9x3mm) and the bonding was evaluated through the shear bond strength test, where the chisel operated with a load of 1kN and a velocity of 0.5mm/min at the cement/material interface. The data were analyzed by the Shapiro-Wilk test, followed by the two-way analysis of variance, performed with the Bonferroni post-test (α=0.05). Results: The glass fiber was statistically different from all evaluated materials (p<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference between the other materials (p>0.05). Comparing the two cements, a statistical difference was found between Rely X U200 and Arc only for the glass fiber (p=0). Conclusion: PET, polyethylene, polyacetal and PTFE exhibited reduced bond strength compared to the glass fiber.KeywordsResin cement; PET polymer; Polytetrafluoroethylene.


Abstract Quantitative seismic geomorphology (QSG) is a new direction in the analysis of seismic data that will create a step-change in our knowledge, characterization, and understanding of older clastic environments. QSG is defined as a quantitative analysis of landforms, imaged in 3-D seismic data, for the purposes of understanding the history, processes, and fill architecture of a basin. Built upon a foundation of seismic stratigraphy and sequence stratigraphy, QSG uses 3-D seismic data integrated with core and logs to investigate the nature and architecture of reservoirs through quantitative data collection on the morphometrics, and through analyses of the spatial and temporal variability of reservoirs. In the northern Gulf of Mexico (Vermillion Island and South Marsh Island) shelf study area, 902 km2 of 3D seismic and 156 well-logging suites were analyzed to examine environments that included fluvial, deltaic, and shallow marine, as well as deeper-water shelf-edge, slope, and fan systems. Parameters measured include element sinuosity, meander wavelength and arc height, channel, and valley width:thickness, meander-belt width, and rates and directions of meander migration. Lithologic data from well logs and core, as well as relationships derived through experimental and modern-systems study of similar deposits, have been used not only to ascertain relationships between morphic and petrophysical character but also to predict spatial distribution of reservoir elements. Three specific fluvial-incision classes—aggradational fluvial systems (Class 1), bypass fluvial systems (Class 2), and creeks and distributaries (Class 3)—were examined through QSG methods and were found to show their own unique sinuosity, channel widths, meander lengths and meander-belt widths. Volume of shale calculated from well data shows Classes 1 and 2 to each be unique in their fill type and show the width:depth ratios to have some correspondence to net sand. These results suggest an ability to utilize seismic facies morphometrics to identify fill type within fluvial incisions, similar to techniques employed in the classification modern fluvial systems.


The Nakdong River, the longest in Korea, has received numerous pollutants from heavily industrialized and densely populated areas while being used as a drinking water source. A number of research have reported occurrences of emerging pollutants (EPs) in the river. The results requested efficient monitoring and systematic management strategies such as EU watch list under Water Framework Directive. The aim of this study is to propose a watch list through preliminary monitoring of the river and risk-based prioritization approach. As candidates for monitoring target, 632 substances were selected based on literature and database searches. Among them, 175 substances were subjected to target screening method whereas 457 were evaluated via suspect screening. A risk-based prioritization was applied to substances quantified through target screening based on concentrations, and a scoring-based prioritization was applied to substances tentatively identified through suspect screening. Sampling campaigns (n = 12) were conducted from October 2020 to September 2021, at 8 sampling sites along the river. As a result, 130 target substances were quantified above the LOQ. Among the 21 substances whose priority score was assigned through risk-based prioritization, telmisartan and iprobenfos were identified with very high environmental risk while candesartan, TBEP, imidacloprid, azithromycin and clotrimazole were classified with high or intermediate risk. As result of the scoring system for 39 tentatively identified substances, 6 substances (benzophenone, caprolactam, metolachlor oxanilic acid, heptaethylene glycol, octaethylene glycol and pentaethylene glycol), which were then confirmed with reference standards, showed a potential environmental risk. Those substances prioritized through target and suspect screening followed by scoring systems can be a subset for the watch list and potential targets for nationwide water quality monitoring program in the future.


original suggestion that reagins might be ,82A-globulins. I question the correctness of Frankland's statement that we have a lot of evidence that the precipitating antigens do not represent the allergens responsible for sensitivity; surely it should be " some of the precipitating antigens " ? I think that the implication in Humphrey and White (p. 108) that there is a lower threshold for the amounts of antigen that will induce antibody formation is dangerous. One of the worst traps in immunology results from the formation of large amounts of antibody against trace impurities in the antigen used for immunization. There is the classical instance of the formation of large amounts of anti-conalbumin antibody after inoculation with crystalline ovalbumin. The blunderbuss methods, complementfixation and tanned-cell-agglutination, are beset with these traps. The paper of Borduas and Grabar (Ann. Inst. Pasteur, 1959) should be compulsory reading for all those who propose to use these methods. Humphrey and White is just the book to make good the deficiencies of the usual teaching of students and is an excellent book for those who want a general knowledge of the subject. Gell and Coombs is more a book for the specialist. When established and precise nomenclature is changed it inevitably leads to confusion. This occurs in Gell and Coombs, where on page 9 antibodies are said to be " broadly speaking y-globulins "-that is, y-globulins include 832A and 82M-whereas in Chapter 12 Soothill and Squire write of y-, 8,2Aand /32M-globulins as three different species. I wish that both books had come down firmly in favour of the original nomenclature used in the two standard works-those of Grabar and Burtin and of Heremans. But when nomenclature is already confused a logical classification is desirable, even if it cuts across some current usages; so I hope that the classification in Gell and Coombs, of allergic reactions underlying disease, will be generally adopted. J. R. MARRACK.


To savour these stories fully we must imagine ourselves in a slower, quieter world, lit by gas and tallow. Sitting by a crackling fire after a good dinner, we are disposed to be frightened a little. We may read of familiar settings: of railway stations, city streets, or country houses, but these are inhabited by fictional ghosts who often pursue their prey with deadly persistence, displaying both cunning and indiscriminate hostility. Our expectations of what a good ghost story should be, as well as how a ghost should behave, derive largely from the Victorian period. The presence here of tales by Amelia Edwards, Rhoda Broughton, and Margaret Oliphant reflect the important contributions made by women writers to the development of the genre, and with stories by J. S. Le Fanu, Henry James, and Vincent O'Sullivan, this is an anthology to attract both the newcomer and addict of the genre. This book is intended for lovers of ghost stories, Victorian literature, and short stories in general. Balance of classic and more recherche stories will appeal to both the newcomer and aficianado of the genre.


The work describes reliability and security growth models for modifiable software systems as a result of revisions and tests performed for specified input data areas. The work shows that the known reliability growth models are of monotonically increasing type, which is not in line with current multi-version team technologies of software development that are primarily based on the open-source code. The authors suggest new nonmonotonically increasing models of software reliability evaluation and planning that allow taking into account the effect of decreased reliability resulting from updates or wavefront errors. The work describes the elaborated bigeminal and generic reliability evaluation model as well as the models and test planning procedures. The work includes calculated expressions for the evaluation of the model accuracy and shows that the developed models are adequate to real data. An example is given of transition from probability models to fuzzy models in case of incomplete basic data. The work provides general recommendations for selection of software tool testing models.


This paper puts forward some reflections on the fundamental issues of Saint-Simon's vision of future society and on the event of Credit Mobilier, a case of actual application of the theory, judged by Marx as a new industrial feudalism; this in order to try to answer the question on how Saint-Simonism and socialism relate. The dialectical scheme of history and the rejection of free competitive market as the only institution to coordinate the economic agents can explain the admiration of Engels and the respect of Marx. On the other hand, Saint-Simon never claims for the real emancipation of the working class: in his theory economic and political hierarchy would be dominated by the top management, as a big private enterprise. His utopian society, which would become the real society about one hundred years later, is managerial capitalism.


Two new BINOL-based chiral crown ether/ammonium complexes are studied by travelling-wave ion-mobility spectrometry. Homo- and heterochiral crown ether/ammonium complexes differ in their collision cross sections, and these differences go along with changes in hydrogen bonding as revealed by gas phase H/D-exchange experiments. Applications for the determination of enantiomeric excess are discussed.


In rural areas where life is slower but social problems tend to be deeper there is a need for urgent, pro-active and professional area-orientated development decisions. Due to challenges posed to agriculture by economic globalisation and sustainable development, both theoretical and applied scientific research is necessary for improving agricultural and rural development policies as well as their management. It should be highlighted that the demand for professional and innovative activities is significantly higher in rural development compared to the other sectors. The aim of this research is to explore the role and the functions of rural development administrators in rural institutions. The methodology of this research is based on the positive research paradigm, analysis of content and descriptive analysis, empirical study methods, logical and systematical reasoning, abstract and other methods. In order to assess the role of rural development administrators, three groups of experts (professionals, NGO and leaders of government organisations) were selected. Their opinions enabled the comparison of assumptions regarding the behaviour of rural development administrators as well as their participation in the process of rural development. The findings are expected to be useful for local, regional and national rural development policy makers and other actors inter-ested in management of rural development innovations in public sector.


BACKGROUND Blood pressure (BP) dysregulation is frequently observed in patients after surgical management of brainstem lesions; however, there has been no standard rehabilitation. Considering the conflicting risks for hypoperfusion and disuse syndrome in these patients, a safe and effective rehabilitative strategy is warranted. OBSERVATIONS A 50-year-old man who had undergone craniotomy for resection of a recurrent dorsal medullary epidermoid cyst developed persistent orthostatic hypotension. It was resistant to physical exercise, pharmacological therapy, abdominal binders, and compression stockings; therefore, it inhibited postoperative rehabilitation. Although the responsible lesion was not clearly visible on the postoperative image, accompanying symptoms, including segmental sensory impairment, implied an improvement in BP control. Although there was a trade-off between the risk of developing disuse syndrome and a delay in functional recovery, the authors decided to continue a conservative rehabilitation strategy rather than increasing the workload. The patient's BP control was gradually restored by the seventh postoperative week, and the authors proceeded with basic activity training. LESSONS A conservative prognostic prediction-based rehabilitation strategy was applied in this case. The precise evaluation of the accompanying neurological symptoms was helpful in deciding the treatment regimen. The conflicting risks for hypoperfusion and disuse syndrome in such cases must be considered.


This paper presents a novel light balancing technique to compensate uneven illumination based on adaptive gain control, which is specially designed for text images. A segmentation technique is used to remove contents from a sampling image with block-based processing. To achieve high performance, the block size is adaptively selected for different character size according to image features. Then the linear interpolation is employed to generate new values instead of text pixels to obtain a background image. Referring to this image, an adaptive technique is presented to process the sampling image to achieve light balancing. Simulations demonstrate that our light balance processing can achieve better quality than the conventional methods for camera systems.


In modern times, the study of the problems of educating secondary school students in culture of speech under dialectical conditions is one of the most important tasks of the Buryat language teaching methodology. This problem in the Buryat language has not been studied. In the methodology, only some aspects of work on the norms of the literary language were considered. The norms of the Buryat literary language are defined in general terms. They are not fully established and are not fixed in special dictionaries and reference books. In this article, the problem of educating students in culture of speech under dialectical conditions is described and ways to improve the literary speech of students under dialectical conditions are given.


To improve the stability and reliability of the ETL workflow engine, in this paper, we put forward a new MAS-based and fault-tolerant distributed ELT workflow engine which is used to study the log management and exception handling mechanism in the distributed computing environment. In the new engine, the ETL jobs will be split into several job domains firstly. Secondly, when an error happens in a job domain, the engine will catch the exception from the error logs and then invoke our new recovery algorithm, Batch, to recover the job domain. The experiment result shows that our engine is not only much more stabile and reliable but also more efficiency in the execution of ETL workflow.


Social network sites have become an important medium for people to receive information anytime anywhere. Users of social network sites share information by posting updates. The updates shared by friends form social update streams that provide people with up-to-date information. To receive novel information, users of social network sites are encouraged to establish social relations. However, having too many friends can lead to an information overload problem causing users to be overwhelmed by the huge number of updates shared continuously by numerous friends. The information overload problem can result in bad user experiences. It may also affect user intentions to join social network sites and thereby possibly reduce the sites' advertising earnings which are based on the number of users. To resolve this problem, there is an urgent need of effective friend recommendation methods. A user is considered as a valuable friend if people like the updates the user posts. In this paper, we propose a model-based recommendation method which suggests valuable friends to users. Techniques of matrix factorization and learning to rank are designed to model the latent preferences of users and updates. At the same time, social influence is incorporated into the proposed method to enhance the learned preferences. Valuable friends are recommended if the preferences of the updates that they share are highly associated with the preferences of a target user. Our experiment findings that are based on a huge real-world dataset demonstrate the effectiveness of the social influence and learning to rank on a friend recommendation task. The results show that the proposed method is effective and it outperforms many well-known friend recommendation methods in terms of the coverage rate and ranking performance.


This paper examines the Papuan languages of Island Melanesia, with a view to considering their typological similarities and differences. The East Papuan languages are thought to be the descendants of the languages spoken by the original inhabitants of Island Melanesia, who arrived in the area up to 50,000 years ago. The Oceanic Austronesian languages are thought to have come into the area with the Lapita peoples 3,500 years ago. With this historical backdrop in view, our paper seeks to investigate the linguistic relationships between the scattered Papuan languages of Island Melanesia. To do this, we survey various structural features, including syntactic patterns such as constituent order in clauses and noun phrases and other features of clause structure, paradigmatic structures of pronouns, and the structure of verbal morphology. In particular, we seek to discern similarities between the languages that might call for closer investigation, with a view to establishing genetic relatedness between some or all of the languages. In addition, in examining structural relationships between languages, we aim to discover whether it is possible to distinguish between original Papuan elements and diffused Austronesian elements of these languages. As this is a vast task, our paper aims merely to lay the groundwork for investigation into these and related questions.


Experimentally on 52 dogs and clinically in 46 patients it was found that extensive enterectomy of the distal small intestine, in particular, would induce alterations in the renal function and grave disorders in kalium metabolism. In treatment of patients subjected to extensive enterectomy, it is recommended to use the therapeutic complex contributing not only to rehabilitation of the digestive function but also to normalization of the renal activity and blood water-electrolyte content, special attention being attached to a correction of kalium metabolism.


Negotiators from developed countries pushed hard for the inclusion of the TRIPS Agreement in the WTO set of agreements because it was viewed as a potentially effective method of coercing developing countries to strengthen their protection of intellectual property rights (IPR). We investigate whether the threat of cross-agreement retaliation, which could be authorized in disputes regarding the TRIPS Agreement, is effective in changing countries' IPR protection regimes. The results from a panel empirical model suggest that both the TRIPS Agreement and the strength of trade ties with developed countries are important determinants of IPR protection, but that the vulnerability to potential trade losses through cross-agreement retaliation is not a uniformly significant determinant across geo-economic regions. We conclude that the threat of trade retaliation is just one important determinant of countries' institutional protection of IPR.


Distributed Ledger Technologies (DLT) and Decentralized File Storages (DFS) are becoming increasingly used to create common, decentralized and trustless infrastructures where participants interact and collaborate in Peer-to-Peer interactions. A prominent use case is represented by decentralized data marketplaces, where users are consumers and providers at the same time, and trustless interactions are required. However, data in DLTs and DFS are usually unstructured and there are no efficient mechanisms to query a certain type of data for the search in the market. In this paper, we propose the use of a Distributed Hash Table (DHT) as a layer on top of DLTs where, once the data are acquired and stored in the ledger, these can be searched through multiple keyword based queries, thanks to the lookup functionalities offered by the DHT. The DHT network is a hypercube overlay structure, organized for an efficient processing of multiple keyword-based queries. We provide the architecture of such solution for a decentralized data marketplace and an analysis based on a simulation that proves the viability of the proposed approach.


Recent research developments have indicated that asphalt mixture durability and pavement life can be increased by modifying the Superpave asphalt mixture design method to achieve an in-place density of 95%, approximately 2% higher than the density requirements of conventionally designed Superpave mixtures. Doing so requires increasing the design air voids content to 5% and making changes to the mixture aggregate gradation so that effective binder content is not lowered. After successful laboratory testing of this modified mixture design method, known as Superpave 5, two controlled field trials and one full scale demonstration project, the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) let 12 trial projects across the six INDOT districts based on the design method. The Purdue University research team was tasked with observing the implementation of the Superpave 5 mixture design method, documenting the construction and completing an in-depth analysis of the quality control and quality assurance (QC/QA) data obtained from the projects. QC and QA data for each construction project were examined using various statistical metrics to determine construction performance with respect to INDOT Superpave 5 specifications. The data indicate that, on average, the contractors achieved 5% laboratory air voids, which coincides with the Superpave 5 recommendation of 5%. However, on average, the as-constructed mat density of 93.8% is roughly 1% less than the INDOT Superpave 5 specification. It is recommended that INDOT monitor performance of the Superpave 5 mixtures and implement some type of additional training for contractor personnel, in order to help them increase their understanding of Superpave 5 concepts and how best to implement the design method in their operation.


This study examines staff development and the output of academic staff in the state universities in South-South Nigeria. An ex-post-facto survey design was used to conduct the research in three state universities in the area. Three research hypotheses were formulated to guide the study. Data were collected from a sample of 402 academic staff. This was done using a questionnaire entitled "Academic Staff Development and Academic Staff Output Questionnaire". One way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was used to analyse the data. The findings were that significant relationship exists between staff development and the productivity of academic staff in terms of research, teaching and community service. Therefore, the study concluded that in-service training and attendance of conferences and workshops influence the output of academic staff. Accordingly, it is recommended that adequate funding towards staff development and policies that support staff development are imperative for improved performance. Keywords: Academic staff development; Performance management; Nigeria


ABSTRACT Limited attention has been given to what motivates and informs children and young people's decision to participate (or not) in social research, especially about sensitive issues. This paper reports the findings from focus group interviews with children and young people aged 9–16 years, undertaken as part of a larger study that explored what constitutes a sensitive issue in social research and the factors considered when deciding to participate. Participants articulated a range of intrinsic and extrinsic motivations: benefiting others, getting something out of it, getting things 'off your chest' and the role of incentives and trusted adults. While similar to findings about medical research, the data from this study provides deeper insight into how children and young people make decisions to participate in social research. The critical role that accessible information plays in supporting children's considered decision-making is highlighted, along with rich insights into why research might matter for themselves and others.


Two dogs, one 4 months old and the other 1 year old, had histories of progressive posterior weakness. In both cases, there was severe asymmetric proprioceptive loss but appreciable preservation of strength. Benign, cystic expansile lesions involving the facets and lamina of the thoracic spine were observed radiographically; a single lesioons was demonstrated in the other. Examination of biopsy speciments taken at the time of laminectomy revealed the lesions to be osteocartilaginous exostoses (osteochondromas, ecchondromas, exostoses). The progress of dogs 1 and 2 has been monitored for 1 1/2 years and 9 months, respectively. Dog 1 has no weakness or proprioceptive loss; dog 2 has a mild proprioceptive loss in the right hindlimb.


There were examined 53 patients aged from 1 to 14 years. The galvanization of an abdomen method with the help of current while preliminary intravenous and intraperitoneal antibiotics injection was used in the treatment of 21 patient. It permitted to avoid the relaparotomy conduction, to reduce the postoperative complications appearance frequency, and also to shorten the duration of hospital stay.


BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
Pediatric procedural pain management (PPPM) is best practice but was inconsistent in our large multisite general academic medical center. We hypothesized that quality improvement (QI) methods would improve and standardize PPPM in our health system within inpatient pediatric units. We aimed to increase topical anesthetic use from 10% to 40%, improve nursing pediatric pain knowledge, and increase parent satisfaction around procedures for children admitted to a general tertiary academic medical center.

METHODS
We used QI methods including needs assessment, self-identified champions, small tests of change, leadership accountability, data transparency, and a train-the-peer-trainer approach to implement PPPM. We measured inpatient use of topical anesthetic (goal of 40% of admissions), nursing pain knowledge, and parent satisfaction with child comfort during procedures. We used statistical process control and basic statistics to analyze data in this interrupted time series design.

RESULTS
Over 18 months, use of topical lidocaine rose from 10% to 36.5% for all inpatient admissions, resulting in a centerline shift. Nursing pain knowledge scores increased 7%. Mean parent satisfaction around procedural comfort increased from 83% to 88%.

CONCLUSIONS
A child-focused QI initiative around PPPM can succeed in a multisite general academic medical center. Key success factors for this effort included accountability, multidisciplinary core leadership, housewide training in a novel educational evidence-based framework, and use of data and champions to promote nurse and physician engagement. Future work will focus on sustaining and monitoring change.


Purpose – Traditionally some public services have been provided at a reduced cost for greater access opportunities among disadvantaged citizens, but is this the case under service externalisation? And if service accessibility is no longer prioritised by external agents in delivery, does this impact the participation of disadvantaged citizens?These are the research questions addressed by this exploratory study in the context of a public sector sport and leisure service. Design/methodology/approach –Secondary objective data is used to capture different ownership types that coexist in service delivery, the cost of access (£) to sport and leisure opportunities provided by these ownership types, and the level of inclusion of specific citizen segments between these ownership types. Multivariate analysis of variance with a post hoc test is used to examine if significant differences exist between ownership types. Findings – Policy-makers should not attach normative values to ownership types for perceived greater access to sport and leisure opportunities. Contrary to common assumption, private ownership reports the highest levels of inclusion across most citizen segments, including the recreationally disadvantaged, despite their pricing being significantly higher than public ownership. Originality/value – The move to increased service externalisation and away from traditional public ownership is expected to result in certain service priorities such as social welfare being degraded in search of revenue. Yet whether an instrumental or normative driven pricing strategy is implemented, the inclusion of disadvantaged citizens does not appear to be significantly impacted.


Exercise testing may yield important information in the clinical assessment of patients with a wide variety of conditions. An objective measure of exercise capacity is obtained; limiting factors are identified; the adaptive capacity of the heart and lungs is measured; diagnoses are confirmed or excluded. This paper argues the case for a series of exercise testing procedures which vary from simple ("stages I and II") to complex ("stages III and IV"), which allows exercise testing to be widely applied to clinical investigation and which reserves complex and invasive procedures for the clinical situations in which the information is necessary. Examples are presented to illustrate the relative value of the procedures and the information obtained from each.


We show that secondary electrons in a scanning electron microscope can provide important information about spatial dopant distribution in p-i-n GaN structures, with the highest contrast observed for a primary electron beam accelerating voltage in the range of 1 to 2 kV. The current through the specimen is used to determine the total backscattered and secondary electron yield. We establish a correlation between the secondary electron emission intensity and the doping characteristics of the material. The secondary electron emission intensity was found to be highest for p-type GaN, intermediate for n-type GaN, and lowest for undoped GaN. Specimen currents are found to have a strong correlation with the Mg concentration in p-GaN films. The contrast associated with dopants is shown to depend on experimental parameters such as primary electron beam voltage, total electron beam exposure, and specimen surface history. This technique can serve as a powerful tool for the development and characterization of thin films for GaN power electronics.We show that secondary electrons in a scanning electron microscope can provide important information about spatial dopant distribution in p-i-n GaN structures, with the highest contrast observed for a primary electron beam accelerating voltage in the range of 1 to 2 kV. The current through the specimen is used to determine the total backscattered and secondary electron yield. We establish a correlation between the secondary electron emission intensity and the doping characteristics of the material. The secondary electron emission intensity was found to be highest for p-type GaN, intermediate for n-type GaN, and lowest for undoped GaN. Specimen currents are found to have a strong correlation with the Mg concentration in p-GaN films. The contrast associated with dopants is shown to depend on experimental parameters such as primary electron beam voltage, total electron beam exposure, and specimen surface history. This technique can serve as a powerful tool for the development and characterization of thin fil...


The main aim of the paper is to create a model of the key elements affecting the use of innovation in marketing management on base of detailed analysis of literature and conducted research. This model should be supported by designed system how to work with innovations and knowledge of the business. The paper contains recommendations for the successful exploitation of innovation in marketing management as well as the proposed system. These recommendations should serve mainly to marketing managers like a valuable tool in the use of innovation in marketing management. The paper also identified areas of potential problems to those the managers have to focus on achieving a seamless work with innovations and knowledge of the business enterprise. The research used the following methods: comparative method, a method of qualitative evaluation, the structured and unstructured interviews, observation methods, analysis of documents (method of content analysis) and the questionnaire method.


ABSTRACT Milk has become one of the most volatile agricultural commodities in the international market. High volatility of commodity prices and their implications for food security are clearly among the most important issues facing policy makers today. Thus, a deeper understanding of the magnitude, speed, and symmetry to which global milk prices are being transmitted to domestic prices at the farm gate level is a fundamental factor in the design of appropriate policy measures oriented to reduce not only the level of milk price volatility, but also poverty and food insecurity. The purpose of this article is therefore to assess the dynamics of the relationship between global and domestic milk prices. [Econ Lit Classifications: Q11, Q13, Q17].


: In the case of sales and marketing organization reform discussed in this paper, organizational routines with excellent results were created. Despite visibility and standardization in a form usable for other organizations, the routines were not transferred between sales offices due to the rules of the sales organization, where "autonomy is maintained if an organization achieves KPIs." In other words, in organizations where each sales office achieves KPIs and has good performance, the high level of autonomy in each office is preserved, and the offices (a) may make their own improvements to organizational routines and (b) will not have the organizational routines of other organizations forced on them. In organizations with good performance, it was observed that organizational routines (a) evolve uniquely in each sales office and (b) undergo an adaptive radiation where they are not rolled out to other sales offices.


We assess the performance of the CTD (conductivity-temperature-depth profiler) system equipped with a microstructure profiler called MicroRider (MR, manufactured by Rockland Scientific Inc.) in measuring microstructure in the deep ocean through the field observation carried out in 2017. Temperature overturns were detected by the fast response thermistor (FPO-7). The overturning scales (the Thorpe scale LT) are converted into energy dissipation rates, which are then compared with those directly measured by Vertical Microstructure Profiler (VMP) in the same region in 2016. We find that, although the difference between the eddy diffusivities obtained by MR and VMP is large in the upper layer, it diminishes as the measuring depth increases. This motivates us to introduce the ratio ROT of the Ozmidov scale LO to the Thorpe scale LT which depends on the density stratification. We define the value of ROT as αN/Nave (N is the buoyancy frequency, and Nave is the average value of N) and estimate suitable α. It is found that, compared to the case using constant ratio ROT = 0.8, the root mean square (rms) between the eddy diffusivities obtained by MR and VMP is decreased by an order. Thus, using the corrected factor ROT obtained in this study, the eddy diffusivities estimated by MR become comparable to those directly measured by VMP, except for the layers affected by the background temperature inversions and double diffusion.


Submitted to the Faculty of Arts in fulfillment of the requirements of the Master of Arts in the Department of African Languages at the University of Zululand, South Africa, 2010.


In orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) based cellular systems, co-channel interference (CCI) from adjacent interfering base stations (BSs) would greatly degrade the bit error rate (BER) performance of cell-border users. In the previous work, a blind single antenna interference cancellation (SAIC) algorithm named least mean square-blind joint maximum likelihood sequence estimation (LMS-BJMLSE) has been proposed. The proposed LMS-BJMLSE algorithm is blind with respect to interfering signals and neither the training sequence (TS) nor pilot signal from interferers is needed. However, the conventional LMS-BJMLSE requires a long training sequence (TS) for channel estimation. In this paper, we propose a TS reduction scheme in which the subcarriers are divided into small groups based on the coherence bandwidth, and the slowest converging subcarrier in each group is identified by exploiting the correlation between the mean-square error (MSE) produced by LMS and the mean-square deviation (MSD) of the desired signal. The identified subcarrier's channel estimate is replaced by the interpolation result using the adjacent subcarriers' channel estimates. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm could reduce the required TS length by 80%.


Background Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) induces a systemic inflammatory response (SIRS) and affects the organ vascular bed. Experimentally, the lack of pulsatility alters myogenic tone of resistance arteries and increases the parietal inflammatory response. The purpose of this study was to compare the vascular reactivity of the internal thoracic arteries (ITAs) due to the inflammatory response between patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) under CPB with a roller pump or with a centrifugal pump. Methods Eighty elective male patients undergoing CABG were selected using one or two internal thoracic arteries under CPB with a roller pump (RP group) or centrifugal pump (CFP group). ITA samples were collected before starting CPB (Time 1) and before the last coronary anastomosis during aortic cross clamping (Time 2). The primary endpoint was the endothelium-dependent relaxation of ITAs investigated using wire-myography. The secondary endpoint was the parietal inflammatory response of arteries defined by the measurements of superoxide levels, leukocytes and lymphocytes rate and gene expression of inflammatory proteins using. Terminal complement complex activation (SC5b-9) and neutrophil activation (elastase) analysis were performed on arterial blood at the same times. Results Exposure time of ITAs to the pump flow was respectively 43.3 minutes in the RP group and 45.7 minutes in the CFP group. Acetylcholine-dependent relaxation was conserved in the two groups whatever the time. Gene expression of C3 and C4a in the artery wall decreased from Time 1 to Time 2. No oxidative stress was observed in the graft. There was no difference between the groups concerning the leukocytes and lymphocytes rate. SC5b-9 and elastase increased between Time 1 and Time 2. Conclusion Endothelium-dependent relaxation of the internal thoracic arteries was preserved during CPB whatever the type of pump used. The inflammatory response observed in the blood was not found in the graft wall within this time frame. Trial registration Name of trial study protocol: IPITA Registration number (ClinicalTrials.gov): NCT04168853.


IT was in September, 1927, that the rural extension scheme of the South‐West was launched in Devon, financed by the Carnegie Trustees. The faith and persistence of a few gained recognition for the county, and their optimism has been justified. In six months fifteen new centres have been opened in villages with group meetings of four and eight talks, with a total average attendance of some 550 adults and with some 750 people passing through these groups. From the inception of the scheme, there has been close and reasoned co‐operation with the county library. These notes are based on our experience. They are not intended to be dogmatic generalisations; anyone who realises the social barrier of Dartmoor in the life of Devon, the intimacy of its valleys, the difference between Exmoor and Dartmoor, the different type of valley farmer and the small holder wrestling with the upland for his scant food, will know that any generalisation will be but a half truth, necessarily modified in each village. On the other hand, an intimate study of the varied types of villages, together with a more desultory knowledge of the difficulties over a wider area, may indicate some of the possibilities and the obstacles in the true functioning of a county library.


A numerical model to calculate the process of ground waters protection from pollution with the use of neutralizator has been proposed. The model is based on the 2-D equations of filtration and admixture transfer. Results of numerical experiment are presented.


A brief discussion of an approach to calculating Gröbner bases in the Grassmann (exterior) algebra with emphasis on the ideal membership problem is presented. A new package written for computing Gröbner bases in Grassmann algebras for Maple 11 is introduced.


Dendrimers, which are highly branched, multivalent and monodisperse polymers, have received continuous interest in recent years because of the global demand for new nanomolecules that are useful in advanced technology and medicine. While dendrimers are advantageous for many highly specialised applications, the high polyvalency of higher-generation dendrimers requires, however, well-controlled, target-tailored regioselective chemical engineering. The structural evolution of dendrimers – from simple, monofunctional molecules to the more complex, multifunctional compounds – is inextricably associated with a continuous improvement in traditional synthetic strategies, as well as the development of new synthetic tools. The purpose of this review is to provide insight into currently available synthetic methods that yield dendrimers with various morphologies, placing emphasis on the evaluation of their advantages and limitations. In particular, we will review current efforts that focus on simplifying and optimising the existing methods and the development of new strategies that permit control over the targeted introduction of various functionalities in one or more selected areas of the molecule.


Student success and retention is a primary goal of higher education institutions across the world. The cost of student failure and dropout in higher education is multifaceted including, amongst other things, the loss of revenue, prestige, and stakeholder trust for both institutions and students. Interventions to address this are complex and varied. While the dominant thrust has been to investigate academic and non-academic risk factors thus applying a "risk" lens, equal attention should be given to exploring the characteristics of successful students which expands the focus to include "requirements for success". Based on a socio-critical model for understanding of student success and retention, the University of South Africa (Unisa) initiated a pilot project to benchmark successful students' habits and behaviours using a tool employed in business settings, namely Shadowmatch®. The original focus was on finding a theoretically valid measured for habits and behaviours to examine the critical aspect of student agency in the social critical model. Although this was not the focus of the pilot, concerns regarding using a commercial tool in an academic setting overshadowed the process. This paper provides insights into how academic-business collaboration could allow an institution to be more dynamic and flexible in supporting its student population.


Received February 16, 2007 Abstract Neonatal osteopenia is a well-known condition that predisposes to pathological fractures in newborn infants. Mineral deficiency leading to abnormal bone formation is the commonest cause of neonatal osteopenia and preterm infants are at increased risk of developing this condition. Other risk factors of neonatal osteopenia such as prolonged parenteral nutrition, chronic diseases such as bronchopulmonary dysplasia and short bowel syndrome have also been implicated. Early detection of this condition by monitoring markers of bone metabolism is, therefore, important in these high-risk populations. In this review, we will examine the literature with regard to identification of high-risk infants and methods that will help minimise the development of this condition.


Valley splitting (VS) in strained SiGe∕Si∕SiGe quantum wells grown on (001) and 2° miscut substrates is computed in a magnetic field. Calculations of flat structures significantly overestimate, while calculations of perfectly ordered structures underestimate experimentally observed VS. Step disorder and confinement alloy disorder raise the VS to the experimentally observed levels. Atomistic alloy disorder is identified as the critical physics, which cannot be modeled with analytical effective mass theory. NEMO-3D is used to simulate up to 106 atoms, where strain is computed in the valence-force field and electronic structure in the sp3d5s* model.


Here are proposed methods to evaluate the accuracy of measuring heads (MH) of coordinate measuring machines (CMM). Kinematic touch-trigger, piezoresonant touch-trigger and scanning 3D probes are investigated as the most often being used for the 3D measurements. The dominating errors of kinematic touch-trigger probes are expressed by the polygonal (triangular) characteristics of their kinematics and by random dispersion of the contact forces. These features characterize the piezoresonant touch-trigger probes as well but instability of resonance of the system components are also presented here. Dominating error's characteristics of the scanning probes consist of the instability of pushing the probe stylus out of the measured surface by dynamical forces. Some mathematical models, space error's approximation and results of experimental investigation of the measuring heads are presented. It may be used for the improvement of CMM and other measuring equipment.


Ruskeepaa gives a general introduction to the most recent versions of Mathematica, the symbolic computation software from Wolfram. The book emphasizes graphics, methods of applied mathematics and statistics, and programming. Mathematica Navigator can be used both as a tutorial and as a handbook. While no previous experience with Mathematica is required, most chapters also include advanced material, so that the book will be a valuable resource for both beginners and experienced users. - Covers both Mathematica 6 and Mathematica 7 - The book, fully revised and updated, is based on Mathematica 6 - Comprehensive coverage from basic, introductory information through to more advanced topics - Studies several real data sets and many classical mathematical models


Title: RELIGION, SEX, AND FAMILY: THE ROLE OF FAMILY RELIGIOSITY AND SEX COMMUNICATION IN EMERGING ADULTS' SEXUAL BEHAVIORS Deirdre A. Quinn, Doctor of Philosophy, 2017 Directed by: Amy Lewin, PsyD Assistant Professor, Department of Family Science Religion plays an important role in many people's lives and can impact both physical and mental health. A growing body of research has examined potential links between religiosity and health behaviors and outcomes in adolescents and young adults, in particular adolescents' sexual risk behaviors. Consequences of sexual risk represent a major health concern in the United States, particularly among adolescents and young adults. Risky sexual behavior is common among college students; campus "hook-up" culture promotes casual and unplanned sexual encounters (Burdette, Hill, Ellison, & Glenn, 2009; Grello, Welsh, & Harper, 2006), and students often perceive potentially risky sexual behaviors (including oral sex and anal sex) to be less intimate (and therefore more allowable) than sexual intercourse (Chambers, 2007; Kelly & Kalichman, 2002; H. Lyons, Manning, Giordano, & Longmore, 2013). Parents have consistently been identified as the most important source of religious influence, both in childhood and adolescence, and into adulthood. Research also shows that parents can play an important role in adolescents' sexual health decision making through their parent-teen relationships, parenting practices, and communication about sex and sexual risk. The current study of undergraduate students (n=608) extends the literature in order to improve our understanding of the relationships between multi-dimensional aspects of family religiosity and family sex communication and college students' religiosity, attitudes about sex, sexual activity, and sexual risk and protective behaviors. Based on social learning theory's principles of observation, communication, and social interaction, this study examined the ways in which college students' religiosity and attitudes about sex, and ultimately their sexual risk and protective behaviors, are associated with family modeling of religiosity and family communication about sex. Findings suggest that a higher degree of family religiosity is significantly associated with aspects of students' sexual activity and sexual risk, while more comprehensive family communication about sex is significantly associated with some aspects of students' sexual activity. Potential mediation of parental monitoring during high school and students' current sex attitudes is also explored. RELIGION, SEX, AND FAMILY: THE ROLE OF FAMILY RELIGIOSITY AND SEX COMMUNICATION IN EMERGING ADULTS' SEXUAL BEHAVIORS


HER2 (or ErbB2), a member of ErbB receptor tyrosine kinases, is overexpressed in approximately 20% of human breast cancer, and the ErbB2 signaling pathway is a critical therapeutic target for ErbB2-overexpressing breast cancer. We investigated the inhibitory effects of the Gemini vitamin D analog BXL0124, the synthetic triterpenoid CDDO-Im and the combination on the tumorigenesis of ErbB2-overexpressing breast cancer. MMTV-ErbB2/neu transgenic mice were treated with BXL0124, CDDO-Im, or the combination from three months of age until the end of the experiment. Formation and growth of MMTV-ErbB2/neu mammary tumors were monitored every week, and all three treatments delayed the development of mammary tumors without significant toxicity. Decreased activation of ErbB2 as well as other ErbB receptors, ErbB1 and ErbB3, in MMTV-ErbB2/neu mammary tumors was shown by all treatments. Protein levels of downstream targets of the ErbB2 signaling pathway, including activated-Erk1/2, activated-Akt, c-Myc, CycD1, and Bcl2, were repressed by all three treatments, with the combination treatment exhibiting the strongest effects. To investigate therapeutic efficacy, the combination of BXL0124 and CDDO-Im was given to MMTV-ErbB2/neu mice after mammary tumors were established between 23 and 30 weeks of age. Short-term treatment with the combination did not show effects on tumor growth nor the ErbB2 signaling pathway. The present study shows BXL0124, CDDO-Im, and the combination as potential agents for prevention, but not treatment, against the tumorigenesis of ErbB2-overexpressing breast cancer. Cancer Prev Res; 6(9); 959–70. ©2013 AACR.


A chemically defined medium containing 21 amino acids and inorganic salts was developed which supported the growth of four isolates of Legionnaires disease bacterium (Legionella pneumophila). Growth in liquid defined medium at 37 degrees C with shaking approximated the generation time and growth kinetics observed for growth in complex media. After a 3-h lag, the culture grew exponentially with a generation time of 6 h and reached a maximum optical density of 230 Klett units (170 Klett units corrected for pigment). A soluble brown pigment was first observed as the culture entered late exponential to early stationary phase of growth. Morphologically, L. pneumophila grew in the liquid defined medium with extensive filamentation and numerous intracellular lipid granuoles. L-Serine, L-methionine, and L-cysteine were required for optimum growth. The latter amino acid could be replaced by L-cystine or reduced glutathione but not by D-cysteine, thiomalate, thioglycollate, or 2-mercaptoethanol. Ferric iron was needed for maximum growth, but supplemental iron was not an essential growth requirement. Carbohydrates (i.e., glucose) or organic acids did not stimulate growth. In fact, pyruvate, acetate, and citrate all gave varying degrees of inhibition (69, 37, and 0% of control growth, respectively).


Chesapeake Bay has been the subject of intensive research on cultural eutrophication and extensive efforts to reduce nutrient inputs. In 1987 a commitment was made to reduce controllable sources of nitrogen (N) and phosphorous (P) by 40% by the year 2000, although the causes and effects of eutrophication were incompletely known. Subsequent research, modeling, and monitoring have shown that: (i) the estuarine ecosystem had been substantially altered by increased loadings of N and P of approximately 7- and 18-fold, respectively; (ii) hypoxia substantially increased since the 1950s; (iii) eutrophication was the major cause of reductions in submerged vegetation; and (iv) reducing nutrient sources by 40% would improve water quality, but less than originally thought. Strong public support and political commitment have allowed the Chesapeake Bay Program to reduce nutrient inputs, particularly from point sources, by 58% for P and 28% for N. However, reductions of nonpoint sources of P and N were projected by models to reach only 19% and 15%, respectively, of controllable loadings. The lack of reductions in nutrient concentrations in some streams and tidal waters and field research suggest that soil conservation-based management strategies are less effective than assumed. In 1997, isolated outbreaks of the toxic dinoflagellate Pfiesteria piscicida brought attention to the land application of poultry manure as a contributing factor to elevated soil P and ground water N concentrations. In addition to developing more effective agricultural practices, emerging issues include linking eutrophication and living resources, reducing atmospheric sources of N, enhancing nutrient sinks, controlling sprawling suburban development, and predicting and preventing harmful algal blooms.


BACKGROUND
the Random Gap Detection Test (RGDT) evaluates temporal resolution threshold. There are doubts as to whether performance in this task remains unchanged with the aging process. At the same time, there is a concern about how much the difficulties of communication experienced by elderly individuals are related to the deterioration of temporal resolution.

AIM
to determine auditory temporal resolution threshold in elderly individuals with normal peripheral hearing or symmetric mild sensorineural hearing loss, and to correlate findings with gender, age, audiometric findings and scores obtained in the Self - Assessment of Communication (SAC) questionnaire.

METHODS
63 elderly individuals, aged between 60 and 80 years (53 women and 10 men), were submitted to the RGDT and the SAC.

RESULTS
statistical analysis of the relationship between gender and the RGDT indicated that the performance of elderly females was statistically poorer when compared to elderly males. Age and audiometric configuration did not correlate to performance in the RDGT and in the SAC. The results indicate that in the SAC both genders presented no significant complaints about communication difficulties regardless of the outcome obtained in the RGDT or audiometric configuration.

CONCLUSION
the average temporal resolution threshold for women was 104.81ms. Considering gender, females did not present correlations between age and audiometric configuration, not only when considering the RGDT results but also when analyzing the SAC results.


The primary aim of this study was to determine mTOR-pathway activity in primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL), which could be a potential target for therapy. After demonstrating that p-S6 positivity largely exceeded mTOR activity, we aimed to identify other pathways that may lead to S6 phosphorylation. We measured mTOR activity with immunohistochemistry for p-mTOR and its downstream effectors p(T389)-p70S6K1, p-S6, and p-4E-BP1 in 31 cases of PCNSL and 51 cases of systemic diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and evaluated alternative S6 phosphorylation pathways with p-RSK, p(T229)-p70S6K1, and PASK antibodies. Finally, we examined the impact of PASK inhibition on S6 phosphorylation on BHD1 cell line. mTOR-pathway activity was significantly less frequent in PCNSL compared with DLBCL. p-S6 positivity was related to mTOR-pathway in DLBCL, but not in PCNSL. Among the other kinases potentially responsible for S6 phosphorylation, PASK proved to be positive in all cases of PCNSL and DLBCL. Inhibition of PASK resulted in reduced expression of p-S6 in BHD1-cells. This is the first study demonstrating an mTOR independent p-S6 activity in PCNSL and that PASK may contribute to the phosphorylation of S6. Our findings also suggest a potential role of PASK in the pathomechanism of PCNSL and in DLBCL.


A 62-year-old male patient with diabetes underwent deceased-donor kidney transplant at our transplant unit. At reperfusion, a small and clinically not significant subcapsular hematoma was noted. The patient's postoperative course was characterized by delayed graft function since the beginning but was further complicated on postoperative day 6 by evidence (shown at daily Doppler ultrasonography) of a wide increase of the hematoma. The hematoma, which was just visible before, was now leading to graft compression because it covered up to two-thirds of the cortical surface. The patient showed no hemo-dynamic instability and showed no significant drop in hemoglobin values. Capsulotomy was not performed because it was deemed too risky. The patient was given strict follow-up with Doppler ultrasonography and high-resolution imaging techniques (magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography scan). In the following days, spontaneous resolution of the hematoma and progressive improvement of Doppler findings were observed, which preceded full recovery of graft function. Conservative management, in hemodynamically stable patients, seems to be a valid approach of this condition. By avoiding surgery or other interventional procedures, a conservative approach allows reduced risk of further complications. Strict monitoring with Doppler ultrasonography is a valid tool for follow-up, along with high-resolution imaging techniques such as magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography to confirm diagnosis.


The subcommissural organ (SCO) of vertebrates is located in the roof of the third brain ventricle, and secretes into this ventricle a glycoproteinaceous, fibre-like structure, the liquor fibre or Reissner's fibre. A method is described for the densitometric measurement by means of computer-controlled scanning cytophotometry of two cellular parameters directly related to the secretory activity of the subcommissural organ in European green frogs. These parameters are: i) the amount of stained secretory material in the SCO, and ii) the amount of secretory material in the SCO labelled by a radioactive precursor. It appears that scanning cytophotometry offers a fairly rapid, accurate, objective and reproducible method to measure these parameters in stained sections and in autoradiographs of the SCO if this histological material fulfils certain conditions.


We examine the edge states of the Dirac electrons in the molecular material \alpha-(BEDT-TTF)2I3 with electron-electron interactions. Based on the analysis of the extended Hubbard model with the Hartree-Fock approximation, we show that the charge-ordered phase has the gapless edge states only in the vicinity of the phase boundary between the zero-gap state and the charge-ordered phase. We also show a peculiar flux phase caused by the long-range Coulomb interaction with the same mechanism as topological Mott insulator phase.


We present a multimodal virtual percussion instrument system on consumer mobile devices that allows users to design and configure customizable virtual percussion instruments and interact with them in real time. Users can create virtual instruments of different materials and shapes interactively, by editing and selecting the desired characteristics. Both the visual and auditory feedback are then computed on the fly to automatically correspond to the instrument properties and user interaction. We utilize efficient 3D input processing algorithms to approximate and represent real-time multi-touch input with key meta properties and adopt fast physical modeling to synthesize sounds. Despite the relatively limited computing resources on mobile devices, we are able to achieve rich and responsive multimodal feedback based on real-time user input. A pilot study is conducted to assess the effectiveness of the system.


Background and Significance The Merci Retriever has been used at US stroke centers for mechanical embolectomy in acute stroke since 2004. Until very recently, however, there were no approved devices in Japan for mechanical embolectomy in acute stroke. The Merci Retriever was the first device to obtain such approval and was introduced into clinical practice in late 2010. Methods A condition of approval in Japan is that every patient treated with the Merci Retriever must be prospectively entered into a post-market study. Key data elements include baseline demographic and medical history, IV rt-PA received or not, procedural details, in-hospital follow-up and 90 days clinical status. Clinical outcomes at discharge and 90 days were obtained prospectively with good outcomes defined as modified Rankin Score ≤2. Recanalization was reported using the TICI classification, with 2a, 2b and 3 considered as success. Results 110 patients submitted from 14 centers between July 2010 and February 2011. Median patient age and NIHSS were 72 and 18, respectively and 68% were male, similar to prior clinical studies of the Merci Retriever (MERCI, Multi MERCI, and Merci Registry). Median time from last seen at baseline to treatment onset was 4 h. IV lytic was used in 42%. Successful recanalization (TICI 2a/2b/3) was achieved in 74% of cases, with 48% achieving TICI 2b or 3. Symptomatic subarachnoid hemorrhage occurred in 3.8% and intracerebral hemorrhage in 2.9% of cases. In-hospital death is 13.5% and 25.8% of patients were discharged from the hospital with a good outcome (mRS=0–2). Data collection and entry is on-going and the latest data will be reported at the time of presentation, including 90 days clinical outcomes. Conclusions Mechanical embolectomy with the Merci Retriever is being rapidly adopted in Japan. This is the first report of procedural and clinical outcomes from mechanical embolectomy in Japan. The preliminary results are similar to those obtained in previous prospective pivotal and post-marketing studies in the USA. Our findings suggest that the rates of revascularization, good clinical outcomes and mortality in initial clinical practice in Japan are comparable to those observed in MERCI, Multi MERCI, and the post-marketing Merci Registry.


FeS-clusters are utilized by numerous proteins within several biological pathways that are essential for life. In eukaryotes, the primary FeS-cluster production pathway is the mitochondrial iron-sulfur cluster (ISC) pathway. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, de novo FeS-cluster formation is accomplished through coordinated assembly with the substrates iron and sulfur by the scaffold assembly protein "Isu1". Sulfur for cluster assembly is provided by cysteine desulfurase "Nfs1", a protein that works in union with its accessory protein "Isd11". Frataxin "Yfh1" helps direct cluster assembly by serving as a modulator of Nfs1 activity, by assisting in the delivery of sulfur and Fe(ii) to Isu1, or more likely through a combination of these and other possible roles. In vitro studies on the yeast ISC machinery have been limited, however, due to the inherent instability of recombinant Isu1. Isu1 is a molecule prone to degradation and aggregation. To circumvent Isu1 instability, we have replaced yeast Isu1 with the fly ortholog to stabilize our in vitro ISC assembly system and assist us in elucidating molecular details of the yeast ISC pathway. Our laboratory previously observed that recombinant frataxin from Drosophila melanogaster has remarkable stability compared to the yeast ortholog. Here we provide the first characterization of D. melanogaster Isu1 (fIscU) and demonstrate its ability to function within the yeast ISC machinery both in vivo and in vitro. Recombinant fIscU has physical properties similar to that of yeast Isu1. It functions as a stable dimer with similar Fe(ii) affinity and ability to form two 2Fe-2S clusters as the yeast dimer. The fIscU and yeast ISC proteins are compatible in vitro; addition of Yfh1 to Nfs1-Isd11 increases the rate of FeS-cluster formation on fIscU to a similar extent observed with Isu1. Finally, fIscU expressed in mitochondria of a yeast strain lacking Isu1 (and its paralog Isu2) is able to completely reverse the deletion phenotypes. These results demonstrate fIscU can functionally replace yeast Isu1 and it can serve as a powerful tool for exploring molecular details within the yeast ISC pathway.


Intraspecific variability in ecological traits is widespread in nature. Recent evidence, mostly from aquatic ecosystems, shows individuals differing at the most fundamental level, that of their chemical composition. Age, sex, or body size may be key drivers of intraspecific variability in the body concentrations of carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P). However, we still have a rudimentary understanding of the patterns and drivers of intraspecific variability in chemical composition of terrestrial consumers, particularly vertebrates. Here, we investigate the whole-body chemical composition of snowshoe hare Lepus americanus, providing one of the few studies of patterns of stoichiometric variability and its potential drivers for a terrestrial vertebrate. Based on snowshoe hare ecology, we expected higher P and N concentrations in females, as well as in larger and older individuals. We obtained whole-body C, N, and P concentrations and C:N, C:P, N:P ratios from a sample of 50 snowshoe hares. We then used general linear models to test for evidence of a relationship between age, sex, or body size and stoichiometric variability in hares. We found considerable variation in the C, N, and P concentrations and elemental ratios within our sample. Contrary to our predictions, we found evidence of N content decreasing with age. As expected, we found evidence of P content increasing with body size. As well, we found no support for a relationship between sex and N or P content, nor for variability in C content and any of our predictor variables. Despite finding considerable stoichiometric variability in our sample, we found no substantial support for age, sex, or body size to relate to this variation. The weak relationship between body N concentration and age may suggest varying nutritional requirements of individuals at different ages. Conversely, P's weak relationship to body size appears in line with recent evidence of the potential importance of P in terrestrial systems. Snowshoe hares are a keystone herbivore in the boreal forest of North America. The substantial stoichiometric variability we find in our sample could have important implications for nutrient dynamics in both boreal and adjacent ecosystems.


In this paper, we present optimized methodology for Intra-task voltage scheduling. Our proposed method gets data flow and control flow of application that represents coloration between different parts of the application at the early stage of design using UML-RT model and decides to schedule processor's voltage. By applying this technique on JPEG encoder system experimental results show reduction in energy consumption by 18-54 % over common Intra-DVS algorithm.


Electrically conductive nanocomposites have incredible potential for integrated structural damage identification when employed as matrices in structural fiberreinforced composites. That is, because nanocomposites could consist of wellconnected nanofiller networks with conductivity, matrix damage that severs the nanofiller network will manifest as a conductivity loss. Locating damage-induced conductivity losses is therefore tantamount to locating damage. In this regard, welldispersed nanofiller networks can be thought of as pervasive and integrated sensor networks. This research explores this approach by utilizing electrical impedance tomography (EIT) to locate impact damage of a glass fiber/epoxy laminate plate manufactured with carbon black (CB) filler. It is found that EIT can successfully locate impact damage thereby demonstrating the potential of conductivity-based damage identification in structural composites with nanocomposite matrices. doi: 10.12783/SHM2015/211


The analysis of digital models requires in-depth knowledge of the semantical, syntactical and technical specification of the model schema and its internal representation in the computer. Taking this huge overhead into account, the preparation steps for conducting an analysis onto a digital model can get more dominant than the analysis itself. Beyond that, people involved in providing the technical infrastructure and people conducting the analysis often do not share the same skill set. Productivity gains could be expected, if one side could concentrate on the conceptual-part of the analysis and the other part could focus into the implementation-part of digital model analysis. The concept shown here enables analysts to express elements and terms of an analysis in their own domain-specific language, while the underlying mapping between the conceptual and the technical view onto the system can be set up in a generalized and extensible fashion using state-of-the-art software concepts.


Abstract Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness of simulation team training for the management of shoulder dystocia. Primary outcome measures were the number of reported cases of shoulder dystocia, as well as fetal injury that occurred from it. Secondary outcome is documentation of manoeuvres used to alleviate shoulder dystocia. Methods: Retrospective cohort study in a teaching hospital in the Netherlands, in a 38 month period before and after implementation of team training. Results: We compared 3492 term vaginal cephalic deliveries with 3496 deliveries before and after team training. Incidence of shoulder dystocia increased from 51 to 90 cases (RR 1.8 (95% CI: 1.3–2.5)). Fetal injury occurred in 16 and eight cases, respectively (RR 0.50 (95% CI: 0.21–1.2)). Before team training started, the all-fours manoeuvre was never used, while after team training it was used in 41 of 90 cases (45%). Proper documentation of all manoeuvres used to alleviate shoulder dystocia significantly increased after team training (RR 1.6 (95% CI: 1.05–2.5)). Conclusions: Simulation team training increased the frequency of shoulder dystocia, facilitated implementation of the all-fours technique, improved documentation of delivery notes and may have a beneficial effect on the number of children injured due to shoulder dystocia.


Reservoir planning without the explicit accommodation of evaporation loss leads to errors in capacity estimates. However, whenever evaporation loss is considered, its quantification uses linear approximations of the intrinsically nonlinear height–area–storage (H–A–S) relationship to estimate the reservoir area, leading to bias in capacity estimates. In this work, biases resulting from using various H–A–S models are evaluated. These models include linear and nonlinear functions, either specifically developed for the case-study sites or available in the Global Reservoir and Dam (GRanD) database. All empirically derived approximations used data for two dams in India: the Bhakra on Sutlej River and the Pong on the Beas River, both tributaries of the Indus River. The results showed that linear H–A–S models underestimate the exposed surface area of the Pong reservoir by up to 11.19%; the bias at Bhakra was much less. The GRanD H–A–S model performed very poorly at both reservoirs, producing overprediction in exposed reservoir area of up to 100% and 415% at the Pong and Bhakra reservoirs, respectively. Analyses also showed that up to 29% increase in reservoir capacity is required to compensate for the effect of net evaporation loss at low demand levels. As demand increases, the required evaporation-correction capacity decreases in proportional terms and is indistinguishable for all H–A–S models. Finally, recommendations are made on using the results for evaporation adjustment at nongauged sites in the region.


Purpose: EML4-ALK is a lung cancer oncogene, and ALK inhibitors show marked therapeutic efficacy for tumors harboring this fusion gene. It remains unsettled, however, how the fusion gene should be detected in specimens other than formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue. We here tested whether reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR)-based detection of EML4-ALK is a sensitive and reliable approach. Experimental Design: We developed a multiplex RT-PCR system to capture ALK fusion transcripts and applied this technique to our prospective, nationwide cohort of non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in Japan. Results: During February to December 2009, we collected 916 specimens from 853 patients, quality filtering of which yielded 808 specimens of primary NSCLC from 754 individuals. Screening for EML4-ALK and KIF5B-ALK with our RT-PCR system identified EML4-ALK transcripts in 36 samples (4.46%) from 32 individuals (4.24%). The RT-PCR products were detected in specimens including bronchial washing fluid (n = 11), tumor biopsy (n = 8), resected tumor (n = 7), pleural effusion (n = 5), sputum (n = 4), and metastatic lymph node (n = 1). The results of RT-PCR were concordant with those of sensitive immunohistochemistry with ALK antibodies. Conclusions: Multiplex RT-PCR was confirmed to be a reliable technique for detection of ALK fusion transcripts. We propose that diagnostic tools for EML4-ALK should be selected in a manner dependent on the available specimen types. FISH and sensitive immunohistochemistry should be applied to formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue, but multiplex RT-PCR is appropriate for other specimen types. Clin Cancer Res; 18(20); 5682–9. ©2012 AACR.


The physical building formed at the end of a building project creates an illusion of completion. The purpose of this research is to study adaptations of a building after it was constructed, and, in doing so, to explicate a novel conception of that building. The adaptations of the University of Reading's 50-year-old library are studied by combining ethnographic and historical methods. Rather than bracketing a building to its physicality, such boundary is doubted. Moving beyond the conception of buildings as fixed physical objects, a praxiographic approach is adopted to conceptualise a building as a series of enactments. Such approach focuses on the practices in which the physical building is involved. Three specific enactments of the library building are studied: issuing a book, using a table and making an exhibition. Enactments involve heterogeneous entities; hence, a building is heterogeneous (not merely a physical object), always in the making, always unfinished. The practices of enacting a building illustrate how overly simplified design speculations are defied. Design strategies for adaptability often assume that adaptability resides in the physicality of the building. Instead, this research suggests that adaptability resides in the relations of the physical building with heterogonous entities. Adaptations of such a building may or may not be due to the change in the physicality of the building. The building is, thus, a fluid object. Moreover, multiple versions of the library co-exist. Adaptations of a building are imbued with the 'politics-of-what' in prioritising one version of the library over other versions. The physicality of the building is manipulated in such politics. This has implications for renewal of building design practices to become sensitive to the ways in which multiple versions of a building may be politicised.


The human metapneumovirus (hMPV) is a recently decribed virus, belonging to the family Paramyxoviridae, isolated from the respiratory tract of patients of all ages, but mostly in young children. Epidemiology, clinical manifestations, diagnosis and therapy of infections from hMPV are briefly discussed.


Abstract The Mississippian (Lower Carboniferous) Alida Beds of the northern Williston Basin, Canada, are carbonate rocks that contain a number of significant hydrocarbon reservoirs. These shallow marine carbonate platform deposits consist of abundant very finely to finely crystalline dolomite that occurs mainly in mud-dominated sediments. Dolomite crystals are ∼ 4 to 30 µm in length, subhedral to anhedral in shape, and typically replace the matrix, but also occur as thin lamellae within ooid cortices. Textural relations indicate that the dolomite predates all other diagenetic phases, including coarse calcite cement, anhydrite, and bitumen. Dolomite δ18O values (−9.3 to −4.5‰ PDB) are depleted relative to that expected for precipitation from Osagean (late Tournaisian) seawater (−0.5 to +1.5‰ PDB), while δ13C values (+2.3 to +3.4‰ PDB) are within the range of Osagean seawater values (+1.8 to +4.8‰ PDB). Dolomite 87Sr/86Sr values (0.70816 to 0.70921) are somewhat elevated with respect to Osagean seawater (0.70768 to 0.70817). A trend of increasing average dolomite crystal size with decreasing δ18O is observed in matrix-replacive dolomite. Based on petrographic relations, δ13C compositions, and the pervasive occurrence of finely crystalline dolomite, initial dolomitization is interpreted to have taken place in the presence of slightly evaporated seawater. The absence of depositional evaporites in dolomitized intervals suggests that dolomitization was driven by reflux of slightly evaporated seawater that had not reached gypsum saturation. Depleted δ18O values, elevated 87Sr/86Sr ratios, and correlation of dolomite crystal sizes and δ18O values suggest that the early-formed dolomite was variably recrystallized during burial.


Abstract The equation of state of four clinopyroxenes was measured at room temperature by single-crystal X-ray diffraction in a diamond anvil cell up to 10 GPa. The bulk modulus of pure diopside is K0 = 106(1) GPa, K′ = 6.1(5). The bulk modulus of a pure diopside containing 600 ppm by weight of water is K0 = 108(1) GPa, K′ = 6.3(4). The effect of water on the elastic properties of pure diopside is therefore small. In addition, we studied two hydrous samples containing 9.6 wt% Al2O3 that were synthesized on the join between diopside and Ca-Tschermak component (CaAlAlSiO6). The sample containing 976 ppm of water yielded K0 = 120(1) GPa and K′ = 4.4(4), while the sample containing 2510 ppm of water yielded K0 = 114(1) GPa and K′ = 5.8(5). Aluminum therefore clearly makes the clinopyroxene stiffer. A direct comparison of the two aluminous samples, however, is difficult, since the sample containing the lower amount of water appears also to contain some M2 vacancies, indicating some solid solution with Ca-Eskola component. This is consistent with a different substitution mechanism for water in the two samples, as indicated by differences in the infrared spectra. Our results suggest that detecting upper mantle water contents from variations in P wave velocities is probably impossible. Increasing water fugacity will increase the Al content in pyroxenes and hence their stiffness. The resulting increase in bulk modulus is opposite to the effect of water on olivine. The different response of olivine and pyroxenes to water is due to a different dissolution mechanism. Under conditions of low silica activity, water in clinopyroxenes is mostly dissolved by the coupled substitution of Al3+ + H+ for Si4+, which does not create any vacancies. This dissolution mechanism is consistent with polarized infrared data (one single band at 3650 cm-1), with an excess of tetrahedral Al in the microprobe analyses of hydrous samples and with the results of structure refinements. Infrared bands at 3450 and 3500 cm-1, which are seen in the Al-rich diopside with lower water content of this study, probably indicate Al on M1 charge compensated by a M2 vacancy and a proton.


The power generation properties of a novel dot matrix fuel cell using an inorganic micro‐proton conductor were evaluated in dry gas mixtures of hydrogen and oxygen during room‐temperature operation. The single dot matrix fuel cell was composed of aggregates of micro‐electrolyte dots filling pores arranged in a matrix form on a Teflon or polyimide substrate with Pt/C and Pt catalytic electrodes. Micro‐electrolyte dots were prepared by the sol–gel method using titanium phosphorus oxides as the proton conductive hybrid materials. The open‐circuit voltage of the single cell became higher when using a small dot diameter and achieved a maximum of 500 mV with an electrolyte dot density of 17 dots/cm2 in the dry gas mixtures during room‐temperature operation. This value corresponds to about one‐half of the theoretical electromotive force. Moreover, the current density of the single cell increased with the dot diameter such that it grew to 8 mA/cm2 at a dot diameter of 500 µm. As a result, dot matrix fuel cells connected in series and parallel were found to achieve the cell performance of high‐energy density such as used by high‐energy microchips. © 2012 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.


We conducted a hospital-based case-control study to evaluate the relationship between the transcription factor 7-like 2 (TCF7L2) rs7903146 polymorphism and type 2 diabetes mellitus risk in a Chinese population. Genotyping of TCF7L2 rs7903146 was carried out using the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method. A chi-square test revealed a statistically significant difference between the distributions of rs7903146 genotypes in type 2 diabetes mellitus patient and control groups (chi-square = 10.49, P = 0.005). Using unconditional logistic regression analysis, we observed that the TT genotype of this polymorphism was significantly correlated with increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus compared to the CC genotype [odds ratio (OR) = 2.31, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.33-4.04]. Furthermore, we found that the rs7903146 sequence variation was also significantly associated with susceptibility to this disease under dominant (OR = 1.58, 95%CI = 1.09-2.28) and recessive models  (OR = 2.11, 95%CI = 1.25-3.62). We conclude that the TCF7L2 rs7903146 genetic polymorphism is independently associated with the risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus under co-dominant, dominant, and recessive models.


Urocortin is a novel neurotransmitter that appears to play a role in eating and drinking behavior. Most urocortin‐positive (urocortin+) neurons in rodents are found in the cytoarchitecturally defined Edinger‐Westphal nucleus (EW). However, the EW is traditionally described as the source of the preganglionic parasympathetic outflow to the ciliary ganglion. We examined the distribution of urocortin+ cells and motoneurons by use of immunohistochemical staining for this peptide and for choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) in macaque monkeys, in which most preganglionic motoneurons inhabit the EW, and in cats, in which most do not. In both species, lack of overt double labeling indicated that the ChAT+ and urocortin+ cells are separate populations. In the monkey, most nonoculomotor ChAT+ neurons were found within the EW. In contrast, urocortin+ cells were distributed mainly between the oculomotor nuclei and in the supraoculomotor area. In the cat, most nonoculomotor ChAT+ cells were located in the supraoculomotor area and anteromedian nucleus. Few were present in the cat EW. Instead, this nucleus was filled with urocortin+ cells. These results highlight the fact the term EW has come to indicate different nuclei in different species. Consequently, we have adopted the identifiers preganglionic (EWPG) and urocortin‐containing (EWU) to designate the cytoarchitecturally defined EW nuclei in monkeys and cats, respectively. Furthermore, we propose a new open‐ended nomenclature for the perioculomotor (pIII) cells groups that have distinctive projections and neurochemical signatures. This will allow more effective scientific discourse on the connections and function of groups such as the periculomotor urocortin (pIIIU) and preganglionic (pIIIPG) populations. J. Comp. Neurol. 507:1300–1316, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.


: The data on toxic element and parasitic contamination of the fish from the Atlantic Ocean have been systematized. Basing on the criteria of safety involving MAC for heavy metals, pesticides, histamine, radionuclides, absence of parasitic contamination, recommendations have been formulated on the conditions under which raw fish is ecologically permissible for production of canned food for children.


It is an established methodology to use crystallographically well-defined standard materials for understanding site geometries in glasses. Here we discuss the benefits and the limitations of this approach for the investigation by Mossbauer and EXAFS of Fe2+ Fe3+ in aluminosilicate glasses. As a case study we specifically consider [5]Fe2+ [5]Fe3+ sites and whether these exist in our glasses; and if so, whether they have defined site geometries or occur simply as a consequence of the site distortions and Fe-O bond length distributions. Results are consistent with the existence of [5]Fe2+ and [5]Fe3+ but do not prove this because site distortion and a mixture of 4- and 6-coordinated sites can produce comparable results. This exemplifies the need for caution when interpreting glass data based on standards.