NF-kappaB comprises a family of transcription factors that regulate key immune processes. In this study, the effects of orthopoxvirus infection upon the activation of NF-kappaB were examined. During the early phase of infection, cowpox virus can inhibit the induction of NF-kappaB-regulated gene expression by interfering with the process of IkappaBalpha degradation. Although either okadaic acid or tumor necrosis factor (TNF) treatment of infected cells can induce IkappaBalpha phosphorylation, further processing of IkappaBalpha is inhibited. These results suggest that cowpox virus is capable of inhibiting the activation of NF-kappaB at a point where multiple signal transduction pathways converge. Other orthopoxviruses affect NF-kappaB activity, but in a type-specific manner. Raccoonpox virus and vaccinia virus (Copenhagen strain) negatively affect NF-kappaB induction by TNF. In contrast, the modified vaccinia virus Ankara strain induces NF-kappaB activation, even in the absence of other stimuli. These findings suggest that orthopoxviruses may affect a broad range of virus-host interactions through their effects upon NF-kappaB activation. Moreover, because of the central role for NF-kappaB in immune processes and disease, these type-specific effects may contribute significantly to the immunogenic and pathogenic properties of poxviruses.


The computational analysis was performed of self-sustained oscillatory flow over the open cavity driven by a shear layer at flight Mach 5.0 condition with the solution of the Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes equations with a two-equation turbulence model. The self-sustained oscillation cycle of the open ramp cavity was got by simulation. It is found that the self-sustained oscillation feature of the cavity was complex flow. The shear layer rolls up and forms a vortex that grows in strength as the fluid enters the cavity. The amplitude of the pressure oscillation on the aft wall is much higher than that at the other wall due to the mass entrainment and ejection mechanism along the aft wall. This periodic mass addition and expulsion could be critical to the fuel and air mixing and flame-holding in the scramjet engine applications.


Biometric systems confirm a person's identity by extracting and comparing patterns in their physical characteristics against computer records of those patterns. Examples include scans of the face, iris, or retina; measurements of hand geometry, palm or finger vein patterns; fingerprints, ear structure, voice patterns, or any other characteristic of the physical person that represents a unique attribute. The extracted patterns are matched against previously registered patterns, and, within certain tolerances, a confirmed match can be used to authenticate an individual's identity. In most practical systems, there is a need for a large, centralized data repository for storing the registered patterns, and substantial computing power is often required to process new patterns and compare these to the stored data set.


Research fails to provide an overview of the challenges involved in caring for older patients with multimorbidity. Multimorbidity is defined as the presence of two or more chronic conditions in the same person, leading to a high risk of care dependency. The aim of this review was to illuminate the challenges faced by the healthcare services in managing the needs of older patients with multimorbidity. A systematic review was performed, a total of 1,965 abstracts were read and nine quantitative studies included. Data were analysed by thematic synthesis, revealing six themes: A frequent problem in older female patients; High healthcare expenditure and costs, Medication management problems, Social inequities, Complex healthcare and consultation needs and High mortality. The study highlights that healthcare professionals struggle to obtain suitable guidelines for the care of patients with multimorbidity while trying to respond to their needs. Patient-centred integration across settings and coordination in clinical practice are necessary. The healthcare system today does not seem to focus on patient safety and preventing harm. Older patients should be reviewed by a healthcare professional responsible for coordinating their care. To ensure safe and effective care for elderly persons with multimorbidity, the healthcare services should abandon the current focus on managing innumerable individual diseases and conditions.


The importance of unconscious autonomic activity vs. knowledge in influencing behavior on the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT) has been the subject of debate. The task's developers, Bechara and colleagues, have claimed that behavior on the IGT is influenced by somatic activity and that this activity precedes the emergence of knowledge about the task contingencies sufficient to guide behavior. Since then others have claimed that this knowledge emerges much earlier on the task. However, it has yet to be established whether somatic activity which differentiates between advantageous and disadvantageous choices on the IGT is found before this point. This study describes an experiment to determine whether knowledge sufficient to guide behavior precedes differential autonomic activity or vice versa. This experiment used a computerized version of the IGT, knowledge probes after every 10 trials and skin conductance recording to measure somatic activity. Whereas in previous reports the majority of participants end the task with full conceptual knowledge of the IGT contingencies we found little evidence in support of this conclusion. However, full conceptual knowledge was not critical for advantageous deck selection to occur and most participants had knowledge sufficient to guide behavior after approximately 40 trials. We did not find anticipatory physiological activity sufficient to differentiate between deck types in the period prior to acquiring this knowledge. However, post-punishment physiological activity was found to be larger for the disadvantageous decks in the pre-knowledge period, but only for participants who displayed knowledge. Post-reward physiological activity distinguished between the advantageous and disadvantageous decks across the whole experiment but, again, only in participants who displayed knowledge and then only in later trials following their display of knowledge.


This project focuses on developing a mobile application that includes the major functionalities of the UTP E-Learning website which are used by students, into a stand-alone mobile application(M-Learning). UTP E-Learning is a website created for students to ease the usage of the website, it is also a platform for the students to upload and download any education related notes or files. Despite the importance of UTP E-Learning website to all students, the effectiveness and efficiency of this website are still not up to its maximum potential. Students are not really utilizing this website to its maximum potential simply because they are not surfing this site very often when they are mobile or away from a pc. Hence any important announcements made by lecturers or by UTP itself, sometimes do not reach the students in time. The role of UTP E-Learning website in helping the students in their studies could be a failure if it is not fully utilized in the best possible manner. Hence, the main objective of this project is to develop a platform for the students to use the UTP E-Learning website through a mobile device(Android). Besides that, this project revolves around the study of the primary usage of E-learning website to find out the key features that will be included in the application. The interaction process will be easier as the M-Learning will be installed into their mobile phone as a android application. The added advantages of my project are it allows lecturers and staffs to post important announcements wherever they are using their smart phones. Moreover, it also allow students to access the E-learning system at any time using only their smart phone, view important announcements, download lecture notes as well as modifying their profile. The methodology used to develop this project is Rapid Application Development. In a nutshell, M-Learning is a mobile application that will help students to utilize the E-Learning website in an easy and portable platform.


Studies of the influence of microbial communities on calcium carbonate deposits mostly rely on classical or molecular microbiology, isotopic analyses, and microscopy. Using these techniques, it is difficult to infer microbial activities in such deposits. In this context, we used isothermal microcalorimetry, a sensitive and non- destructive tool, to measure microbial activities associated with moonmilk ex-situ. Upon the addition of diluted LB medium and other carbon sources to fresh moonmilk samples, we estimated the number of colony forming units per gram of moonmilk to be 4.8 3 10 5 6 0.2 3 10 5 . This number was close to the classical plate counts, but one cannot assume that all active cells producing metabolic heat were culturable. Using a similar approach, we estimated the overall growth rate and generation time of the microbial community associated with the moonmilk upon addition of various carbon sources. The range of apparent growth rates of the chemoheterotrophic microbial community observed was between 0.025 and 0.067 h 21 and generation times were between 10 and 27 hours. The highest growth rates were observed for citrate and diluted LB medium, while the highest carbon-source consumption rates were observed for low molecular weight organic acids (oxalate and acetate) and glycerol. Considering the rapid degradation of organic acids, glucose, and other carbon sources observed in the moonmilk, it is obvious that upon addition of nutrients during snow melting or rainfall these communities can have high overall activities comparable to those observed in some soils. Such communities can influence the physico-chemical conditions and participate directly or indirectly to the formation of moonmilk.


Unmanned aerial vehicle(UAV) often flies in close proximity to terrain. The expansion in the number of low-altitude flight operations, along with increased operator workload, have made controlled flight into terrain the number one cause of loss of UAV. This paper is to give an overview of the Automatic Ground Collision Avoidance System (Auto-GCAS) program attempt to provide a system to eliminate that cause of UAV loss. The Auto-GCAS utilizes a digital terrain system with a terrain referenced navigation algorithm to locate the aircraft spatially with respect to the terrain. The terrain database around the aircraft is scanned, and a terrain profile is created. This paper presents a new compression algorithm called bubble terrain compression algorithm for Auto-GCAS of UAV. In this paper, optimal trajectory is considered as a minimax optimal control problem, which is solved using direct transcription of the continuous optimal control problem. Within a very general framework for solving such problems, we transform the non-smooth cost function into a constrained nonlinear programming problem. In the formulation, we solve for optimal collision avoidance manoeuvres. To ensure smooth derivatives of general two dimensional terrain, it is approximated using the optimal trajectories with disturbances in the initial conditions. Simulation results show that the UAV with the proposed methodology successfully achieves autonomous recovery maneuvers in MATLAB environment.


—Although protein kinase C (PKC) activation is required for endothelial cell (EC) growth, migration, adhesion, and vessel formation, the role of individual PKC isoenzymes in these events is not defined. Because PKC (cid:1) has been previously linked with enhanced EC migration and response to angiogenic growth factors, we characterized a specific phosphorothioate-modified 21-mer antisense PKC (cid:1) (AS-PKC (cid:1) ). AS-PKC (cid:1) (500 nmol/L) prevented the expression of PKC (cid:1) protein by 90% in human ECs and did not reduce the expression of any other PKC isoenzyme. AS-PKC (cid:1) reduced human EC migration by 64% compared with its control oligonucleotide in a "scratch" wounding assay, and AS-PKC (cid:1) reduced human EC adhesion to the extracellular matrix protein vitronectin by 18%. Phosphorylation of mitogen-acti-vated protein kinase (extracellular signal–regulated kinase 1/2) induced by vascular endothelial growth factor was inhibited by 30% in human ECs transfected with AS-PKC (cid:1) . Compared with control, AS-PKC (cid:1) also reduced the number of EC tubes formed in a 3D type I collagen gel assay by 37.5%. Finally, using an osmotic minipump, we infused AS-PKC (cid:1) into mice in which myocardial infarction was induced by coronary ligation and found that the oligonucleotide was primarily taken up by intramyocardial blood vessels. Compared with the results with control oligonucleotide, AS-PKC (cid:1) oligonucleotide inhibited the number of anti-PKC (cid:1) –stained blood vessels by of PECAM-1, as detailed above. The results were viewed with the use of a Nikon microscope and were photographed by a Nikon digital camera. The numbers of vessels in the counted, and and probability using the Student t test. visual quantified in sites of active angiogenesis in three different areas. For each group of mice, the ratios of the number of anti-PKC (cid:1) –staining vessels to the total number of vessels were also calculated.


Neutrophil adherence to and emigration across endothelium are in large part dependent upon the neutrophil membrane CD11/CD18 glycoprotein complex. Recently, however, we have demonstrated that some stimuli can elicit neutrophil emigration in the lung by a CD18-independent pathway. We examined further the mechanism involved in CD18-independent emigration in a rabbit model of inflamed peritoneum. Neutrophil emigration in the peritoneum induced by instillation of E. coli and S. pneumoniae was studied under four experimental conditions: Group 1--normal peritoneum, Group 2--peritoneum primed with protease peptone to increase the number of macrophages, Group 3--peritoneum treated by protease peptone instillation and then depleted of the increased macrophage population, and Group 4--peritoneum with macrophages transplanted from animals enriched as in Group 2. Experiments were run in pairs with animals in each group assigned to receive either saline (control) or monoclonal antibody (MAb) 60.3 prior to bacterial instillation in the peritoneum. Neutrophil emigration in response to E. coli was greater than 86% inhibited by MAb 60.3 in both the normal and the macrophage-enriched peritoneum. Neutrophil emigration in response to S. pneumoniae was inhibited greater than 85% in the normal peritoneum and the macrophage-enriched and the transplanted macrophage peritoneum. These data indicate that macrophages can augment PMN emigration by a non-CD18 mechanism, and may explain the increased sensitivity of organs with large resident macrophage populations, liver and lung, to injury following shock and sepsis.


Behavioral parent training (BPT) and attachment interventions have demonstrated efficacy in improving outcomes for young children. Despite theoretical overlap in these approaches, the literature has evolved separately, particularly with respect to outcome measurement in BPT. We examined the impact of the Infant Behavior Program (IBP), a brief home-based adaptation of Parent–Child Interaction Therapy, on changes in attachment-based caregiving behaviors (sensitivity, warmth, and intrusiveness) at postintervention and 3- and 6-month follow-ups during a videotaped infant-led play. Sixty mother–infant dyads were randomly assigned to receive the IBP (n = 28) or standard care (n = 30). Infants were an average age of 13.52 months and predominately from ethnic or racial minority backgrounds (98%). We used bivariate correlations to examine the association between attachment-based caregiving behaviors and behaviorally based parenting do and don't skills and structural equation modeling to examine the direct effect of the IBP on attachment-based caregiving behaviors and the indirect effect of behaviorally based parenting skills on the relation between intervention group and attachment-based caregiving behaviors. Behaviorally based parenting do and don't skills were moderately correlated with attachment-based caregiving behaviors. Results demonstrated a direct effect of the IBP on warmth and sensitivity at postintervention and 3- and 6-month follow-ups. The direct effect of the IBP on warmth and sensitivity at the 3- and 6-month follow-ups was mediated by increases in parenting do skills at postintervention. Findings suggest that behaviorally based parenting skills targeted in BPT programs have a broader impact on important attachment-based caregiving behaviors during the critical developmental transition from infancy to toddlerhood.


Background Errors with cytotoxic drugs in oncology can have serious consequences because of their narrow therapeutic index. Purpose To compare the safety mechanisms available in all hospital pharmacies preparing cytotoxic drugs in our country. The main focus was on patient safety as well as the staff involved in the preparation. Material and methods The survey was based on an anonymous online questionnaire, which contained 29 questions focusing on the organisation of work, amount, frequency and the type of preparation, prescription and preparation method and the safety of the pharmaceutical staff. The questionnaire was sent to all 37 hospital pharmacies with cytotoxic preparation units. All responses were evaluated and presented graphically, in absolute numbers and percentages. Results 35/37 (94.6%) questionnaires were completed. 33 (94%) pharmacies prepare cytotoxic drugs for all hospital departments. 19 hospitals (54%) use a computerised physician order entry (CPOE) system. 77.2% of the pharmacists can see and check the protocol, patients' body surface and the dose. 24 pharmacies (69%) also prepare monoclonal antibodies. Gravimetric control of the prepared dose is used in 3 (9%) pharmacies. 3 (9%) pharmacies use a robotic system for preparation. 4 (12%) pharmacies use barcodes to identify the material and the final product. 43% of the cytotoxic preparation units periodically record errors. Conclusion Our questionnaire identified 38 critical points of the prescription and preparation process, each of them represents a contribution to safety of the chemotherapy process. The overall level of safety in the prescription and preparation of cytotoxic drugs is rather unbalanced in our country and varies from 6.3% to 87.5% (compared to the ideal state). We have proved that CPOE plays one of the key roles in eliminating chemotherapy errors. The data from this study will help when sharing experience among hospital pharmacies. References and/or acknowledgements No conflict of interest.


Multiple sclerosis is chronic progressive degeneration of myelin sheath of nerve cells due to autoimmune pathology; having no medicine in modern science. This condition is comparable with Sarvang Vata due to occlusion of Prana by Udan; Ama (unmetabolished substrates) is responsible for such occlusion. A patient from Morbi near Rajkot, India aged about 24 years was treated with herbal and herbomineral ayurvedic medicines—Ashwagandha, Yastimadhu, Vata Vidhvansha, Agnitundi, etc., and has shown marked improvement in clinical signs and symptoms. MRI reports showed a decline in lesion and reduction in size of some lesions which is very good recovery within a period of six months. Keywords: multiple sclerosis, Avarana, Pranavruta Udana, Ama, free radicals Cite this Article Shukla N. Ayurvedic management of multiple sclerosis with polyherbal formulation: a case study. Trends in Drug Delivery. 2015; 2(3): 18–21p.


On the basis of the reanalysis data with high spatial resolution and 36 years temporal coverage the spatial structure of wind speed and temperature fields in the Black Sea region for bora events in winter months was assessed. It is shown that bora development is followed by a formation of large-scale cyclonic circulation in the southeast part of the Black Sea. The airflow of the northwest edge of high Caucasus Mountains leads to the wind speed cyclonic vorticity over the sea; high Anatolian mountains block propagation of the air flows to the south and, thus, they jointly form a large-scale closed circulation cell. Regression dependences between the wind speed and temperature in Novorossiysk region are studied; they show that in winter strong northeast winds correspond to frontal-type bora activity which is accompanied by the air temperature decrease. The important feature of the temperature field during bora is revealed at that: temperature in the sea coastal area exceeds the one in the mainland foothill part of the region. For studying the physical mechanism of this phenomenon the atmospheric circulation computation (using WRF-ARW model) for specific Novorossiysk region bora event, which provided a detailed consideration of vertical structure components of wind speed and potential temperature in the coastal zone, above the sea, above the mountains and in the foothill mainland of the region, was carried out. It is shown that the mechanism of higher temperature formation in the sea coastal area is related to the air blocking above the windward slope of the mountain ridge and its replacement with warmer air from the upper layers of the atmosphere at the leeward slope.


In this study, a metal-complexing imprinted polymer has been prepared using the complex of Quercetin and Co(II) (Qu-Co(II)) as template (Quercetin is a kind of flavonoid, which is a class of important active ingredients of Chinese herbs.). The polymers were synthesized in the mixed solution of methanol and tetrahydrofuran by photo- and thermal-initiated polymerization, respectively. The complex ratio between Qu and Co(II), as well as the ternary complexation of Qu, Co(II), and acrylamide, was assessed in differential UV absorption spectrometry. Fourier transform infrared spectra (FTIR) were useful to verify whether the polymers prepared in two ways had the same molecular structure. The effect of initiation mode was studied by the transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and equilibrium binding experiments. Isothermal adsorption and selectivity experiments showed that molecularly imprinted polymers exhibited high affinity and specific recognition for Qu by introducing cobalt ion. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012


Biological materials achieve directional reinforcement with oriented assemblies of anisotropic building blocks. One such example is the nanocomposite structure of keratinized epithelium on the toe pad of tree frogs, in which hexagonal arrays of (soft) epithelial cells are crossed by densely packed and oriented (hard) keratin nanofibrils. Here, a method is established to fabricate arrays of tree-frog-inspired composite micropatterns composed of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) micropillars embedded with polystyrene (PS) nanopillars. Adhesive and frictional studies of these synthetic materials reveal a benefit of the hierarchical and anisotropic design for both adhesion and friction, in particular, at high matrix–fiber interfacial strengths. The presence of PS nanopillars alters the stress distribution at the contact interface of micropillars and therefore enhances the adhesion and friction of the composite micropattern. The results suggest a design principle for bioinspired structural adhesives, especially for wet environments.


Fund managers as well as banks have been affected by the current financial crisis. This article focuses on the strategies they are adopting and concerns over the complexity of the investment instruments they are using. This article examines how the fund flows, returns, and reputations of investment managers have been impacted by the economic conditions of the past year. Funds are increasingly using derivatives as part of their investment strategies. The credit crisis has highlighted the importance of fully understanding the pricing and risk of such investments. Key findings in the article include the following: 1) Investors do not have the same enthusiasm for complex instruments as fund managers. 2) Trust in fund managers has fallen as a result of the credit crisis; lack of skills and experience is a key concern. 3) Risk management, valuation methods, and governance structures are all being reevaluated. 4) Making fund management successful in the future requires a renewed focus on the client proposition. In conclusion, the article suggests fund management firms would be better served sticking to core competencies and innovating only where the appropriate infrastructure exists.


Roger E. Sanders, a leading DB2 author and an active participant in the development of DB2 certification exams, covers everything a reader needs to know to take and pass the DB2 10.5 DBA for LUW Upgrade from DB2 10.1 certification exam. This set of study notes takes the reader through each of the topics: DB2 server management; physical design; monitoring DB2 activity; high availability; and utilities. In addition, this book contains a complete practice exam with 60 questions, which closely models the actual 311 exam, along with a detailed answer key.


This paper explores how advanced liberal democracies respond to climate migrants in ways that reflect colonial logics and practices. With a focus on the Pacific, it reflects on three constructions of climate crisis victims. First, as savages—those incapable of adapting or thriving under catastrophic environmental threats and who need to be saved by 'the West'. Secondly, as threats—the hordes who will threaten white civilization and who must be sorted, excluded, detained and deported. Thirdly, as 'non-ideal' victims—those undeserving of full legal protections but who may survive under hostile conditions in receiving states. These political and policy responses create systemic harms and injustice for those who struggle under or must flee environmental degradation, and they function to ensure that those most to blame for climate crises are prioritized as having least responsibility to take action. The paper concludes with consideration of socially just responses to those most affected from climate harms.


Similarity law is tested over a forest in a complex terrain. For the wind from the valley zero-plane displacement showed reasonable value, about *.1 of the canopy height. However, for the wind from the ridge, it sometimes became negative. The non-dimensional profiles of wind speed and temperature for the wind from the valley indicated a similar shape as observed over flat terrains ; however, for the wind from the ridge it did not obey the law. Wind profiles inside the canopy showed a secondary peak near the forest floor for the wind from the ridge, but this peak was not clear when wind was from the valley. These characteristics including the variance of the turbulence are examined by using the ,nd-order turbulence closure model for the horizontally homogeneous field. The results indicate that the flow from the valley in this terrain is similar to that for homogenous flat forests.


The discovery of graphene and other two-dimensional (2D) materials has set the foundation for exploring and designing novel single layered sheets. The family of 2D materials encompasses a wide selection of compositions including almost all the elements of the periodic table and they have the potential to play a fundamental role in the future of electronics, composite materials and energy technology. Therefore, searching for new 2D materials is a big challenge in materials science. In this work, we theoretically designed a monolayer of Ti3BN following the strategy of "atomic transmutation". The Ti3BN monolayer can be considered as three Ti-atomic layers being interleaved with one N-atomic layer and one B-atomic layer, in the sequence of Ti1–N–Ti2–B–Ti3. The moderate cohesive energy, positive phonon frequencies and high melting point are the best guarantees for good stability of Ti3BN. Based on a global minimum structures search using the particle-swarm optimization (PSO) method, Ti3BN is the lowest energy structure in 2D space, which holds great promise for the realization of layered Ti3BN in experiment. Based on density functional theory (DFT) calculations, Ti3BN is intrinsically metallic and its electronic properties can be modulated by varying the surface groups, such as OH or F-termination. If realized in experiment, it may find applications in many aspects.


In this paper, we present a novel method for learning complex concepts/hypotheses directly from raw training data. The task addressed here concerns data-driven synthesis of recognition procedures for real-world object recognition. The method uses linear genetic programming to encode potential solutions expressed in terms of elementary operations, and handles the complexity of the learning task by applying cooperative coevolution to decompose the problem automatically at the genotype level. The training coevolves feature extraction procedures, each being a sequence of elementary image processing and computer vision operations applied to input images. Extensive experimental results show that the approach attains competitive performance for three-dimensional object recognition in real synthetic aperture radar imagery.


Background: Social media like WhatsApp is known to affect relationships of an individual, and busy professionals like doctors appear no bar. The objectives of this study were to analyze the pattern of WhatsApp use in specialist-doctors and to study its effect on their relationships. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional pilot study. Consecutively selected hundred married specialist doctors were assessed using self-reported validated questionnaire including questions related to demographics, WhatsApp use, and effects on relationships in a tertiary care center. Statistical analysis was performed using mean, standard deviation, t-test, and Chi-square test. A value of P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Participants of various specialties, with a mean age of 41.5 years reported regular WhatsApp-use (89%) of mean duration 2.5 years with 19% spending >2 h/day. About 62% reported using WhatsApp during personal time, leading to reduction in time spent with spouse (37%), impairment in household responsibilities (24%), disturbances in social-activities (26%) and craving. About 36% reported negative effects on married life. 21% reported inability to spend quality-time with spouse, 24% had concern about spouse's WhatsApp-use, 25% reported reduced cohesion between them and 22% felt that excessive use can create doubts in spouse's mind. Those aged <40 years had significantly higher total duration and time spent/day on WhatsApp and reported more conflicts with spouse and reduced expression of love. Conclusion: Inappropriate WhatsApp use can affect many aspects of life of doctors including relationships though exact causal relation is not demonstrated and it should be used judiciously.


The direct expression of the pig testicular 3 alpha/beta(20 beta)- hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (HSD) cDNA using a baculovirus expression system was investigated. A minimum essential cDNA containing the coding region of 3 alpha/beta(20 beta)-HSD was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to extend the DNA linker including the Bam HI restriction site in the both ends of the cDNA. As the template, 3 alpha/beta(20 beta)-HSD cDNA, pBS 52, which was subcloned to Bluescript II was used. The PCR fragment was ligated to Bam HI-cut transfer plasmid (pBlueBac III). Recombinant transfer plasmid (pBlueBac-20 beta) constructed was cotransfected into Spodoptera frugiperda Sf-9 cells with the baculovirus. After transfection, the recombinant virus was detected by the plaque assay with color selection. The expression of 3 alpha/beta(20 beta)-HSD cDNA was detected by Western blotting and enzyme assay. The expressed protein showed the same molecular weight and immunochemical cross-reaction to the native enzyme. Furthermore, it had 3-keto reductase activity of 3 alpha/beta(20 beta)-HSD for 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone and 20-keto reductase activity for 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone in the presence of NADPH.


William Thomson was among the first scientists to try to understand thermogeology: the flow and storage of heat in the Earth. His interest in the field can be regarded as one of the fruits of a life-long love affair with the 'mathematical poem' of Joseph Fourier, which Thomson applied to a wide range of physical problems. For his inaugural lecture at Glasgow University, Thomson somewhat randomly selected terrestrial heat flow as an example to illustrate Fourier's mathematics. Nevertheless, Thomson became 'hooked' on thermogeology: he spent a substantial proportion of his career trying to parameterize his thermogeological conceptual model, one of his goals being to establish the age of the Earth.


For nearly three decades, English has been the lingua franca of cross-border business, yet studies on global language strategies have been scarce. Providing a rare behind-the-scenes look at the high-tech giant Rakuten in the five years following its English mandate, this book explores how language shapes the ways in which employees in global organizations communicate and negotiate linguistic and cultural differences. Drawing on 650 interviews conducted across Rakuten's locations around the world, the book argues that an organization's lingua franca is the catalyst by which all employees become some kind of "expat"—detached from their native tongue or culture. Demonstrating that language can serve as the conduit for an unfamiliar culture, often in unexpected ways, the book uncovers how all organizations might integrate language effectively to tap into the promise of globalization.


To explore glycemic control, and adverse events of Iranian people with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes after initiation of long-acting basal insulin, glargine. People with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes that was on at least two oral anti-diabetic drugs (OAD) were enrolled in this observational prospective study. Insulin glargine was prescribed by physicians in the course of routine clinical practice. Patients were followed for 24 weeks. Insulin doses were titrated to reach fasting blood sugar (FBS) target between 90 mg/dl and 130 mg/dl. HbA1c and adverse events were recorded at baseline, week 12, and week 24. Form a total of 292 participants, 243 patients completed the study. HbA1c, FBS, postprandial glucose, total cholesterol, triglycerides, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, but not body mass index decreased during the study. The proportion of poorly controlled patients (HbA1C>9) decreased from 172 (58.9) to 39(13.4), and 21(7.2) during follow up. Controlled glycemia (HbA1C<7) was detected in 7(2.4), 48 (16.4) and 56 (19.2) of patients at baseline, week 12 and week 24. Hypoglycemia was reported in 5.1 and 3.4 of the participants in the week at 12 and 24, respectively. Patients felt more satisfied with their blood glucose control, timing and choices of meals, and hypo/hyperglycemic experiences. Insulin glargine initiation in people with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes on 2 OADs is associated with significant improvement in metabolic control. Insulin glargine has good safety profile and well tolerated by the patients. © 2018 Tehran University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved.


Demeule, Michel, Mathieu Brossard, and Richard Béliveau. Cisplatin induces renal expression of P-glycoprotein and canalicular multispecific organic anion transporter. Am. J. Physiol. 277 (Renal Physiol. 46): F832–F840, 1999.— The expression of two members of the ATP-binding cassette family of transport proteins, P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and the canalicular multispecific organic anion transporter (cMOAT or Mrp2), was evaluated in renal brush-border membranes (BBM) and various rat tissues after cisplatin treatment. One administration of cisplatin (5 mg/kg) increased P-gp expression by .200–300% in renal BBM and in crude membranes from liver and intestine. The increase in P-gp expression in the kidney was also detected in photolabeling experiments, suggesting the induction of functional P-gp. cMOAT expression was increased by .10-fold in renal BBM after cisplatin administration, although it had no effect on liver cMOAT expression. The increase in the levels of both proteins was maximal at 2 days after cisplatin treatment and lasted for at least 8 days. These results indicate that a single administration of cisplatin induces overexpression of P-gp and cMOAT in specific tissues. This may be of significant relevance to the design of clinical trials using cisplatin as a single chemotherapeutic agent or in combination with other drugs.


Introduction. The discovery in commercial quantities of natural gas and oil in the Trenton limestones of Ohio and Indiana led to the drilling of numerous test-wells in other states that were underlain by this formation. The attention of prospectors was early directed to New York state as a promising field, and in the spring of 1887 a test-well was drilled in central New York, near Morrisville, Madison county. At that time the writer, who was an instructor in the geological department of Cornell university, recognized the value of the data that might be obtained from these well records in giving the thickness and dip of the various terranes composing the series of New York rocks. During the remainder of 1887 and the years of 1888—'89, when test-wells were being drilled at numerous localities in New York, various wells were visited personally and arrangements made with the owners and drillers . . .


There is a long history presuming smell is not expressible in language, but numerous studies in recent years challenge this presupposition. Large smell lexica have been reported around the world thereby showing high lexical codability in this domain. Psycholinguistic studies likewise find smell can be described with relatively high agreement, demonstrating high efficient codability. Often the two go hand-in-hand: languages with high lexical codability also display high efficient codability. This study compares two Austroasiatic (Aslian) languages – Semaq Beri and Semelai – previously shown to diverge in their efficient codability for smell: Semaq Beri showed relatively high efficient codability, whereas Semelai did not. Despite this, we demonstrate that both languages have high lexical codability, i.e., large lexica of basic smell terms. This seems to be a feature of the Aslian language family, suggesting a long-standing preoccupation with odours. More generally, the dissociation between lexical and efficient codability suggests a more nuanced approach towards linguistic expressibility is necessary.


In 1930 Anatoly Lunacharsky, Soviet Commissar of Enlightenment from 1917 to 1929, set up a government commission to study satirical genres in the visual arts, literature, music, theatre, and film. At the same time, he was working on the manuscript for a book entitled The Social Role of Laughter , which he never completed. Throughout his career as Commissar, Lunacharsky was instrumental in producing much satirical work through government contracts and commissions allocated to artists. During those years he also wrote art criticism and theoretical texts that encouraged Soviet artists to use humour and satire as a tool for social criticism and change in the context of the emerging Soviet Union. These writings were inspired by the prevalent theories of laughter (mainly those of Freud, Bergson, Spencer, Sully, and Lipps), revisiting them through the lens of Marxism, and translating them into a very specific Soviet language and worldview. Although they were published in Soviet journals, they remain virtually unknown. This essay examines Lunacharsky's theoretical contribution to the study of laughter and its influence on the production of visual satire in the first decades of the Soviet Union.


We study the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the pension policy response on the private and public pension systems of Peru. We find that the policies allowing early withdrawals from the private pension balances imply a significant reduction in expected pension wealth by about 40 people, yet there are important heterogeneous effects: the losses are larger for males, for affiliates at the bottom of the distribution of income or pension wealth, and for older people as they have less time to rebuild their pension pots. We detect that the excess of mortality due to the pandemic will reduce the actuarial net liability of the public pension system by about 2.4 percent, even after accounting for new survival pensions and a drop in contributions. The effect is largely driven by savings due to the anticipated deaths of pensioners. Moreover, a new set of reduced pension benefits implemented in the public pension system during the pandemic could cost about 4 percent of the actuarial net reserve.


Concentration and composition of monoterpenoids in plant tissue affects a variety of environmental and ecological issues such as plant defenses, plant classification, and phytotoxicity. Developing the techniques for extracting and estimating the concentration and composition of monoterpenoids must be speciesspecific because monoterpenoid storage location varies between species. Ashe juniper f,Juniperus ashei Buchholz) and redberry juniper t,J. pinchotii Sudw) are 2 co-occurring species which differ in palatability and preference. The objective of this study was to determine which of 2 common extraction techniques provided the best estimate of the concentration and composition of monoterpenoids in mature plant tissue. Two extraction techniques were tested by soaking crushed juniper needles in hexane solvent for 6, 12, 18 and 24 hours or by steam distilling samples for 2,4,6, or 8 hours. The extracts were analyzed by using 2 different analytical columns in separate gas chromatographs. The hexane solvent soak, regardless of time in the solvent, yielded a lower total concentration and a decreased compositional diversity of monoterpenoids compared to the steam distillation technique. An g-hour steam distillation yielded the greatest concentration and composition of monoterpenoids. Both types of analytical columns resulted in similar estimates of monoterpenoid concentrations and composition.


In a split sample design, we examine the impact of federal funding availability on Willingness to Pay (WTP) for watershed management program attributes and tradeoffs in a choice experiment. We also evaluate how presenting respondents with different sets of choice attributes, in alternative survey designs, affects the estimation of preference functions. We also compared preferences for watershed management attributes across sub-watersheds. These issues were evaluated using the Blackstone River Watershed Public Preference Survey, in Rhode Island, USA. Our results indicate that neither federal support nor geographically distinct sub-watersheds had significant impact on tradeoffs elicited among management attributes. However, survey design may induce respondents to show distinct preferences for watershed management. We examined these issues using a multinomial logit model in comparison with a Latent Class Model (LCM) to account for heterogeneity in preferences.


In 21 patients, 28 maxillary teeth were extracted because of periapical or periodontal infection, root fracture, or untreatable caries. A rotated palatal flap procedure was used to achieve primary soft tissue closure over extraction sites. At 5 to 7 weeks postextraction, 28 implants were placed. Buccal dehiscence-type defects were treated with guided bone regeneration procedures using bovine bone mineral and resorbable collagen membranes. Mean defect area at the time of implant placement (23.7 mm2, SD 11.49) was significantly reduced at uncovering (0.7 mm2, SD 0.99). The mean percentage of defect reduction (clinical bone fill) was 97% (SD 4.26). Implants placed in compromised sites shortly postextraction according to the presented 2-stage protocol gave good short-term clinical results.


International commodity Organizations can play a role in reducing transaction costs between producer and consumer. The current organisations do this partly through statistics and collecting and disseminating market information, undertaking projects and convening meetings. Of a traditional focus on the international part of the trade chain they must extend to the whole chain, until the natural resources on the producer side and treatment of waste on the consumer side. This requires more capacity, stronger mandate and more intensive cooperation for the organisations mutually and with UNCTAD, FAO and the World Bank. The representatives of the governments now play the role of administrators and representatives of the industry. They should be customers, guard the public goods and lend a voice to those not yet represented. Lowering of the operation costs brings advantages for consumer and producer. This last group profits especially if she has few alternatives and this justifies the existence of intergovernmental organisations aimed at crops of the poor.


In this study, in the region of Artvin, distribution of trees by diameter classes investigated in the evenaged and pure Oriental Spruce (Picea orientalis (L.) Link.) stands by site index and age classes. In the EasyFit®program, 60 different probability density functions are used to study of the distribution of diameter classes of trees in stands. For checking compliance of these models, Artvin, Ardanuc and Şavsat Forest Management Directorates, 388sample plots were taken from the data were used normally closed stands. Diameter distributions have been fitted as Weibull (3P) in III, IV, V and IV. age classes, as Johnson SB in II, VI and VIII. age classes, and as Beta inVII. age class. Also diameter distributions have been fitted as Beta in I and II. site classes, as Johnson SB in III. site class, and as Weibull (3P) in IV and V. site classes


In recent years, supervised hashing has been validated to greatly boost the performance of image retrieval. However, the label-hungry property requires massive label collection, making it intractable in practical scenarios. To liberate the model training procedure from laborious manual annotations, some unsupervised methods are proposed. However, the following two factors make unsupervised algorithms inferior to their supervised counterparts: (1) Without manually-defined labels, it is difficult to capture the semantic information across data, which is of crucial importance to guide robust binary code learning. (2) The widely adopted relaxation on binary constraints results in quantization error accumulation in the optimization procedure. To address the above-mentioned problems, in this paper, we propose a novel Unsupervised Discrete Hashing method (UDH). Specifically, to capture the semantic information, we propose a balanced graph-based semantic loss which explores the affinity priors in the original feature space. Then, we propose a novel self-supervised loss, termed orthogonal consistent loss, which can leverage semantic loss of instance and impose independence of codes. Moreover, by integrating the discrete optimization into the proposed unsupervised framework, the binary constraints are consistently preserved, alleviating the influence of quantization errors. Extensive experiments demonstrate that UDH outperforms state-of-the-art unsupervised methods for image retrieval.


Background: This paper attempts to capture the institutional factors of regulatory incentive policies and the nature of industry structure on healthcare insurance premium rate-making, through isolating them from fixed effects to price determination, by using mixed model analysis techniques. The properties of Mixed Model techniques provide facilities for fitting the variance of outcome variables of economic activity such as healthcare premiums, against the behavior of explicit deterministic variables, relative to, the behavior of implicit random variables. Materials: The data in this case study is that of the population of registered medical schemes and their members in South Africa. The study design was a cross-sectional comparison analysis between 2009 and 2013 data. The inclusion criteria were schemes that submitted complete data on the variables of interests. A multi-level model was employed to assess the effect of independent variables of the dependent variables such as the average age of enrollees and their claiming patterns. Results: The results revealed a pattern between average age, claims ratio, and the level of health insurance paid by families enrolled to health insurance carriers. This is enriched when the prevalence of benefit option is brought into the analysis. The current research showed that market dominance by few players and that's smaller schemes, particularly in the open sector continue to be swallowed by big schemes. Lastly two biggest medical schemes combined with over four million beneficiaries accounted for half of all beneficiaries in 2013. Conclusion: The average age of beneficiaries was shown to be an important variable that informs how health insurance carriers manage the pure risks related to covered risk pools. The study also revealed that claims pattern can also be used to determine the predictive nature of health claims over a period of time. Both these variables are thus central to the operational performance of health insurance carriers and, are also assumed to be controllable by internal management.


Recent philosophical and neuroscientific theories converge on the assumption that the basic foundations of self-consciousness lie in those brain systems that represent the body. Neurological cases in which this basic bodily self-consciousness is disturbed such as out-of-body experiences can inform us about underlying functional brain mechanisms and suggest the importance of multisensory integration of different bodily inputs into a coherent body- and self-representation. Using simple virtual reality techniques we conducted a number of behavioural and brain imaging studies in healthy participants that were inspired by these clinical findings. The results demonstrate that experimental generation of multisensory conflicts can induce measurable changes in bodily self-consciousness, in particular in relation to self-location (where the consciously experienced "I" is localized). These changes were further associated with a change in tactile representation as well as modified pain-thresholds. The brain imagine studies suggest that a broad network of the sensorimotor and medial-frontal cortex, the temoporo-parietal-junction and the precuneus is involved in normal and abnormal self-location.


It was an honour to accept Dr Demosthenes Katritsis' invitation to supply the foreword to the August 2014 edition of Arrhythmia & Electrophysiology Review (AER), following my appointment as Section Editor – Clinical Electrophysiology and Ablation for the journal.

AER, with its editorial mission of providing concise, practical reviews on heart rhythm disorders for the education of both arrhythmologists and general cardiologists, continues to grow as an invaluable resource of quality review articles for the cardiology community, which is testament to the editorship of Dr Katritsis, the editorial board, and the contributing authors and reviewers.

This issue covers a range of topics of real interest with a number of articles focused on inherited arrhythmias and genetics, ablation techniques and implantable cardiac device issues, written by a panel of experienced and respected cardiologists.

I trust that you will find this edition of AER an enjoyable contribution to your continued educational development on heart rhythm disorders.

Professor Karl-Heinz Kuck, Section Editor – Clinical Electrophysiology and Ablation


Abstract Cambrian limestone clasts containing a rich, well-preserved archaeocyathan fauna have been recovered from the late Carboniferous Fitzroy Tillite Formation of the Falkland Islands. Since neither Cambrian strata nor limestone are present anywhere in the indigenous rock succession, the clasts are regarded as exotic erratics introduced during the Permo-Carboniferous Gondwana-wide glaciation. Most recent reconstructions of Gondwana rotate the Falklands into proximity with the Eastern Cape, South Africa and the Ellsworth Mountains, Antarctica. In both of these areas, Permo-Carboniferous diamictites correlated with the Fitzroy Tillite Formation also contain rare, exotic clasts of archaeocyathan limestone. The Transantarctic Mountains seem the most likely source for all of these unusual erratics. This interpretation sustains the requirement for substantial rotation of the Falklands microplate into Gondwana reconstructions and illustrates the extent of the late Carboniferous ice sheet. Apparent differences in the tillite clast assemblages between East and West Falkland suggest variable provenance within the regional ice-flow regime.


Machine learning technology is currently a new frontier for higher education globally, and the African higher education system needs to change in tandem with this technological trend in order to combat challenges faced by the system. These challenges include lack of institutional research to discover new knowledge, unfavorable methods of instruction, especially the language conflict, access to education for marginalized and isolated communities, high dropout rates, depleted infrastructure and unavailability of resources, overpopulated classrooms, and a biased grading system. This paper discusses alternative machine learning solutions to these challenges faced by the African higher education system, in order to ensure that students develop the skills needed to thrive in this digital era. Findings reveal three key technological solutions that can provide alternative solutions to these challenges, and they include customized/personalized learning, predictive analytics and digital administrative management, and virtual assistance. This paper concludes that for Africa, Catching up with the world goes beyond adopting these new innovations to facilitate learning. Recommendations include rethinking the content of the African curriculum, developing an unbiased education system, and adopting a suitable medium of instruction.


Time series generated from remotely sensed data are important for regional to global monitoring, estimating long-term trends, and analysis of variations due to droughts or other extreme events such as El Nintildeo. Temporal vegetation patterns including phenological states, photosynthetic activity, or biomass estimations are an essential input for climate modeling or the analysis of the carbon cycle. However, long-term analysis requires accurate calibration and error estimation, i.e., the quality of the time series determines its usefulness. Although previous attempts of quality assessment have been made with NOAA-AVHRR data, a first rigorous concept of data quality and validation was introduced with the MODIS sensors. This paper presents the time-series generator (TiSeG), which analyzes the pixel-level quality-assurance science data sets of all gridded MODIS land (MODLand) products suitable for time-series generation. According to user-defined settings, the tool visualizes the spatial and temporal data availability by generating two indices, the number of invalid pixels and the maximum gap length. Quality settings can be modified spatially and temporally to account for regional and seasonal variations of data quality. The user compares several quality settings and masks or interpolates the data gaps. This paper describes the functionality of TiSeG and shows an example of enhanced vegetation index time-series generation with numerous settings for Germany. The example indicates the improvements of time series when the quality information is employed with a critical weighting between data quality and the necessary quantity for meaningful interpolation.


Complaints associated with nuisance activity by Louisiana black bears (Ursus americanus luteolus) in south Louisiana have steadily increased since 2000, demanding intervention by state and federal agencies. As a federally threatened species, Louisiana black bears that are a nuisance require nonlethal management, referred to as aversive conditioning. We used rubber buckshot and dogs to test the effectiveness of management techniques used by the state of Louisiana to deter nuisance bear activity. We captured 11 bears in residential and industrial areas where nuisance bear activity was reported. We fitted bears with radiotransmitting collars and released them within 2 km of the capture site. We conditioned 5 bears using only rubber buckshot and 6 bears with rubber buckshot and dogs. Bears were monitored using telemetry to estimate movements and space use. All bears remained within 2 km of capture sites 2 weeks following release. Ten bears (91%) returned to nuisance behavior within 5 months, regardless of treatment. Mean distance from capture sites did not differ between treatments. Our results suggest that aversive conditioning techniques used in Louisiana to deter bears from nuisance activity have limited short-term effectiveness, independent of practices addressing food source.


With the rise in obesity levels across the nation, policy makers and public interest groups are taking more interest in advertising of unhealthful foods. The Better Business Bureau has formed the Children's Food and Beverage Advertising Initiative (CFBAI), which has recruited carbonated soft drink (CSD) manufactures to voluntarily restrict their advertising directed at children less than 12 years of age. This research explores the effects of the CFBAI on firm level advertising to children and adults using nonlinear time series processes. Estimated ARCH processes are significant in all models and capture varying pulse-advertising strategies by all major firms. We find that the market leader does in fact reduce its advertising to both adults and children and the second largest firm reduces advertising to adults. Advertising for the non-participating firm, however, increased for adults following the ban. The results emphasize the potential benefits and difficulty of coordinating cooperative behavior in this type of industry. It appears that policy strategies of this nature may be more effective if directed at industries as a whole and not at individual firms.


The authors have been engaging in the development of an nanometer positioning actuator (Hereinafter referred to as "Nano-Motion Actuator or N.M.A.".) which is used for a spin-stand. The spin-stand is a testing apparatus for the hard disk drive (H.D.D.) system in computer hardware [1]. The N.M.A. needs a large working displacement range over 10 micrometers and its primary resonance frequency should be kept at as high a frequency domain as possible. Moreover, positioning resolution of the N.M.A. is required to be less than 0.5 nanometers (10-9 meters). A new damping mechanism which consists of visco-elastic material has recently been developed for the N.M.A. to improve vibration response characteristics [2]. However, the damping mechanism causes a new vibration problem and the characteristic of the visco-elastic material needs to be clarified. A response spectrum of the N.M.A. is examined by applying a sinusoidal sweep test. Fractional Calculus Differential Equation is introduced for curve fitting of the response spectrum of the N.M.A. Finally, the calculated results are compared with the experimental results, and both agree.


One of the scientific anomalies of the AIDS epidemic is the large difference in infection rates across populations. Given limited resources and segregated epidemics, prevention funding should be directed to population segments with high HIV prevalence and incidence. However, recent surveys of U.S. populations indicate that the allocation of prevention dollars is not consistent with the distribution of HIV in the population.


Background:
 Varicella zoster vasculopathy of the central nervous system (CNS-VZV) is rare. This topic has not been systemically analyzed in HIV patients.

 Method:
 We reviewed case reports/series in the literature from Pubmed using search term: varicella zoster, vasculopathy, stroke and HIV.

 Results:
 Forty-eight patients were identified. Eight patients (17%) had VZV vasculopathy after started on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) consistent with central nervous system immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (CNS-IRIS). The average time from starting HAART to a neurological deficit was approximately 3 weeks. Rash occurred in ∼67%, with a mean 12 month interval from rash to CNS symptom onset though in 18 (64%) it occurred just prior to symptom onset. Patients had CNS lesions in the following distributions: posterior circulation, n=22 (46%); anterior circulation, n=13 (27%); and spinal, n=10 (21%). Specific abnormalities included stenosis/occlusion in 15 (83%), saccular aneurysm in 4 (22%), fusiform aneurysm in 2 (18%), and arterial wall enhancement in 2 (11%). The vasculopathy involved large vessels in 21/47 patients (45%), small arteries in 19 (40%), and both large and small arteries in 7 (15%). CSF pleocytosis was found in 30/36 patients (83%) (mean: 101), and CSF protein was elevated in 25/34 patients (74%). CSF immunological analysis was available in 29 patients. Twenty-five patient (89%) had either CSF positive for VZV DNA by PCR or anti-VZV IgG. 17/23 (74%) patients had VZV DNA positive in their CSF, and 13/21 (62%) had anti-VZV IgG antibody. Of the 35 patients with available treatment data, acyclovir was used as initial treatment in 27 (77%) with good recovery in 23 (85%). Thirteen cases received acyclovir with corticosteroids, and 11 had a good recovery (84%). Fourteen cases received acyclovir alone; 8 had a good recovery (57%). The mortality rate was 49%. VZV vasculopathy secondary from CNS-IRIS had better prognosis with a mortality rate 13%.

 Conclusion:
 Prompt treatment with acyclovir while waiting for CSF immunology is critical when CNS-VZV vasculopathy is a possibility. Rash, abnormal angiography or CSF pleocytosis give clues for diagnosis but not rule it out if negative. Steroid seems to improve the outcome of these patients.


Objective. To evaluate the role of glucose transporter-l (GLUT1) in the glucose uptake of glomerular mesangial cells. Methods. Cultured C57/SJL mouse mesangial cells were used in the study. The expression of GLUT1 mRNA was detected by RT-PCR. The expression of GLUT1 protein was detected by immunofluorescence and flow cytometry. The uptake of glucose and its kinetics were determined by 2-deoxy-[3H] -D-glucose uptake. Results. Both GLUT1 mRNA and protein were found in mouse glomerular mesangial cells. 2-deoxy-D-glucose uptake and kinetics assay showed that this glucose transporter had high affinity for glucose and the glucose uptake specificity was further confirmed by phloretin. Conclusion. Functional GLUT1 did present in mouse mesangial cells cultured in vitro and it might be the predominant transporter mediated the uptake of glucose into mesangial cells.


Abstract Peer-to-Peer (P2P) networks have been widely applied in file sharing, streaming media, instant messaging and other fields, which have attracted large attention. At the same time P2P networks traffic worsens the congestion of a network significantly. In order to better manage and control P2P traffic, it is important to identify P2P traffic accurately. In this paper we propose a novel P2P identification scheme, based on the host and flow behaviour characteristics of P2P traffic. First we determine if a host takes part in a P2P application by matching its behaviour with some predefined host level behaviour rules. Subsequently, we refine the identification by comparing the statistical features of each flow in the host with several flow feature profiles. The experiments on real world network data prove that this method is quite efficient to identify P2P traffic. The classification accuracy achieves 93.9 % and 96.3 % in terms of flows and bytes respectively.


Dataflow graphs are a generalized model of computation. Uninterpreted dataflow graphs with nondeterminism resolved via probabilities are shown to be isomorphic to a class of Petri nets known as free choice nets. Petri net analysis methods are readily available in the literature and this result makes those methods accessible to dataflow research. Nevertheless, combinatorial explosion can render Petri net analysis inoperative. Using a previously known technique for decomposing free choice nets into smaller components, it is demonstrated that, in principle, it is possible to determine aspects of the overall behavior from the particular behavior of components.


Abstract More and more town centres in Western Europe are in decline, as indicated by growing shop vacancy rates in shopping streets. To turn the tide, decision makers look for revitalisation strategies. Are there any solutions? Making use of theoretical insights, empirical findings and anecdotal evidence from the Netherlands, we suggest that town centre revitalisation is a matter of connecting people, place and partnership. First, strategies should be based on an understanding of how customers (people) behave. Secondly, redesign of the physical environment (place) might be needed, since visitors prefer compact centres that are built on a human scale and known for a unique profile. Finally, close collaboration between a wide range of local stakeholders (partnership) is essential. We conclude that town centre revitalisation is possible, but takes a lot of energy and patience from the actors involved.


Purpose This study primarily aimed at observing the possible tissue mobilization on facial, neck, and chest tissues caused by different double source of vibration semioccluded vocal tract exercises (DSV-SOVTEs). Another goal was to inspect the degree of self-perceived sensation of a massage-like sensation. Method Fifty-five participants engaged in a set of several DSV-SOVTEs: (a) phonation with a silicone tube submerged 2 and 8 cm below water surface, (b) Acapella Choice device, (c) lip trills, and (d) tongue trills. A self-perceived massage-like sensation was also assessed. All exercises were performed at three loudness levels. Tissue mobilization signal was captured by four accelerometers placed in four different body regions: (a) over the cheek, (b) over the neck, (c) over the thyroid cartilage, and (d) over the suprasternal notch. Results There is a differential effect of all DSV-SOVTEs on tissue mobilization. All four observed dependent variables from tissue oscillation modulation (frequency, amplitude, jitter, and shimmer) showed significant three-way interactions. In general, amplitude and frequency of tissue oscillation modulation increases with loudness. A self-perceived massage-like sensation showed highly significant differences between DSV-SOVTEs. Conclusions All DSV-SOVTEs do mobilize tissues. Type of exercise, loudness level, and body region produce an effect on all tissue oscillation variables. Acapella device produces the largest amplitude of vibration, lowest frequency, and more regular oscillation of tissue. Water resistance therapy showed the most irregular tissue oscillation. Control of these variables is likely to be relevant to obtain the best outcomes in patients.


Abstract Siberian chromite included in diamond, kimberlite, and spinel peridotite as well as Cr-spinel from garnet-spinel peridotite have been studied by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and electron microprobe analysis. Cell edges and oxygen positional parameters, u, of chromite in diamond and in kimberlite are comparable (cell edge, 8.3249-8.3390 Å; u, 0.26175-0.26213). The structural parameters of chromite in the spinel peridotite are similar to those of chromite grains from ophiolitic complexes, and those of Cr-spinel from garnet-spinel peridotite are comparable to those of Cr-spinel in lherzolitic mantle xenoliths. With the exception of the chromite in garnet-spinel peridotite, all analyzed spinels have a high Cr content. Recasting the chemical analyses according to spinel stoichiometry reveals negligible or no Fe3+. Chrome spinel may be present in heavy concentrates derived from serpentinized mafic and ultramafic rocks as the sole surviving primary mineral and, as such, their particular structural and chemical parameters may represent a new prospecting tool for discriminating the ultramafic source.


Received Apr 7, 2018 Revised Jul 23, 2018 Accepted Aug 2, 2018 This Paper is to enable the Siemens (Programmable Logic Control) CPU 313-5A to communicate with the Lab VIEW and to control the process accuracy by image processing. The communication between CPU 313-5A and Lab VIEW is via OPC (OLE for Process Control). Process Accuracy is achieved with the use of Labview Image Processing and Gray Scale matching Pattern. Accuracy in the gray scale matching will purely depend on the calibration of the camera with respect to the corresponding image. The digital output from the labview is communicated to PLC via Ethernet Protocol for the industrial process control. With the use of Labview the dead time while using the normal image vision module in PLC can be minimized. Labview uses the gray scale matching technique which is more accurate than the normal image vision module used in PLC. Keyword:


The present paper aims to reflect on the development of research in LL, to analyze its role and aims, and in particular to offer a critical discussion of the methods and tools used to collect and interpret data. Our analysis intends to highlight that LL studies have expanded since the flagship study by Landry and Bourhis (1997). The objects, methods, and tools of analysis in LL have changed in order to satisfy different research goals, to describe specific aspects of LL, and to interpret and understand the public space with different and often interdisciplinary approaches — semiotic, sociological, political, geographical, economic. Starting from our research on immigrant languages in Italy and from the existing literature, our objective here is to describe how both methodologies and objects of analysis have developed over the years.


Near-infrared spectroscopy can characterize wood surfaces fast and without significant surface preparation. It is based on molecular overtone and combination vibrations which are typically very broad, leading to complex spectra. Multivariate calibration techniques are often employed to extract the desired chemical information. This study focused on the potential of near-infrared spectroscopy combined with partial least squares for identifying and sorting wood with respect to species and physical properties and on the effects of wood preparation and weathering on the precision of analysis. It was shown that a range of moisture content values and artificial weathering periods could be well predicted indepenedently of wood species analyzed. Species within the spruce-pine-fir species group could be predicted reasonably well when tested under similar conditions. When different moisture contents and weathering exposure periods were introduced, species prediction was still possible, but, with decreased prediciton ability.


This study examines the influence of age and type of over-the-counter (OTC) medications on decision-making processes leading to the selection of OTC medications. Manipulating type of OTC medication served as a way of examining subjects' familiarity with the decision domain. Thirty six younger and thirty-six older adults answered questions regarding their OTC medication purchases, and completed a decision task in which they searched four computerized displays of product label information in order to select an antacid, a cold medication, a laxative, and a pain reliever. In general, older adults were slower to review information, more likely to have used OTC medications, and more organized in their searches for information. Specific to pair relievers, older and younger adults demonstrated similar information use and time to decision, and older adults specifically tailored the organization of their information searches when choosing pain relievers. Clearly, older adults selectively use product information on OTC medication packages, given adequate time to process information. Manufacturers' efforts directed at improving information availability should benefit older adults' decision processes.


Core samples taken from a zero‐valent iron permeable reactive barrier (ZVI PRB) at Cornhusker Army Ammunition Plant, Nebraska, were analyzed for physical and chemical characteristics. Precipitates containing iron and sulfide were present at much higher concentrations in native aquifer materials just upgradient of the PRB than in the PRB itself. Sulfur mass balance on core solids coupled with trends in ground water sulfate concentrations indicates that the average ground water flow after 20 months of PRB operation was approximately twenty fold less than the regional ground water velocity. Transport and reaction modeling of the aquifer PRB interface suggests that, at the calculated velocity, both iron and hydrogen could diffuse upgradient against ground water flow and thereby contribute to precipitation in the native aquifer materials. The initial hydraulic conductivity (K) of the native materials is less than that of the PRB and, given the observed precipitation in the upgradient native materials, it is likely that K reduction occurred upgradient to rather than within the PRB. Although not directly implicated, guar gum used during installation of the PRB is believed to have played a role in the precipitation and flow reduction processes by enhancing microbial activity.


Efficient acclimation to different growth light intensities is essential for plant fitness. So far, most studies on light acclimation have been conducted with plants grown under different constant light regimes, but more recent work indicated that acclimation to fluctuating light or field conditions may result in different physiological properties of plants. Thale cress (Arabidopsis thaliana) was grown under three different constant light intensities (LL: 25 μmol photons m−2 s−1; NL: 100 μmol photons m−2 s−1; HL: 500 μmol photons m−2 s−1) and under natural fluctuating light (NatL) conditions. We performed a thorough characterization of the morphological, physiological, and biochemical properties focusing on photo-protective mechanisms. Our analyses corroborated the known properties of LL, NL, and HL plants. NatL plants, however, were found to combine characteristics of both LL and HL grown plants, leading to efficient and unique light utilization capacities. Strikingly, the high energy dissipation capacity of NatL plants correlated with increased dynamics of thylakoid membrane reorganization upon short-term acclimation to excess light. We conclude that the thylakoid membrane organization and particularly the light-dependent and reversible unstacking of grana membranes likely represent key factors that provide the basis for the high acclimation capacity of NatL grown plants to rapidly changing light intensities.


Tropical forest management with selective logging and an intensive line planting system are expected to change the hydrological cycle. This study was conducted in a natural tropical rainforest of Central Kalimantan, Indonesia. Direct runoff and soil erosion were studied at three small catchment plots, a virgin forest catchment, a 1-year-old line plantation (2008 catchment) and a 10-year-old line plantation (1999 catchment). Direct runoff in the virgin forest catchment was 13.5% of precipitation. In the 1999 catchment and 2008 catchment, direct runoff was 31.1% and 19.7% of precipitation, respectively. The direct runoff rate in the 1999 catchment and 2008 catchment was 2.3 and 1.46 of the virgin forest catchment, respectively. Average soil erosion in the virgin forest catchment, the 1999 catchment and the 2008 catchment was 10.01 kg ha -1 , 19.51 kg ha -1 and 25.83 kg ha -1 , respectively. The 2008 catchment had the highest soil erosion rate at 2.58 of the virgin forest catchment. The 1999 catchment had a rate of 1.95 of the virgin forest catchment. The implementation of a forest management system should consider the impact of runoff and soil erosion. Controlling human erosional activities and finding ways to combine ecologically based vegetation structure design and soil erosion control techniques would be an effective way to control runoff and soil erosion.


The aim of the study is to investigate the anti-inflammatory property of the different parts of Adansonia digitata (Malvaceae) extracts. A. digitata is an important medicinal plant to West Africa including Ghana. The plant is used effectively in folk medicine to treat inflammatory diseases such as joint disorders, asthma, toothache and painful swelling. Carrageenan-induced pedal oedema in 7-day old chicks was was the model used to determine the anti-inflammatory property of the extracts obtained from six different parts of A. digitata. The extracts were also assessed for their acute toxicity. The results from the acute toxicity test showed there were no behavioural changes, toxic signs, or death in the rats when given the highest dose (3000 mg/kg) of the extracts orally. The six extracts demonstrated varying degrees of anti-inflammatory effects, in a dose-dependent manner; with the stem extract giving the most potent activity with an ED50 of 145.3 ± 7.6 mg/kg, followed by the flower (167.5 ± 10.42 mg/kg), leaves (169.7 ± 8.76 mg/kg), root bark (187.8 ± 11.2 mg/kg), fruit pulp (218.8 ± 6.86 mg/kg), and the seed (267.1 ± 12.3 mg/kg) as compared to the positive control (diclofenac, ED50 = 55.08±6.11 mg/kg) (p < 0.0001).

 Key words: Adansonia digitata, carrageenan-induced pedal oedema, anti-inflammatory activity, traditional medicine, acute toxicity.


Background: As a type of high-frequency electrotherapy, a Short-Wave can promote the fracture healing process; yet, its underlying therapeutic mechanisms still remain unclear.Purpose: To observe the effect of Short-Wave therapy on mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) homing and relative mechanisms associated with fracture healing. Materials and Methods: For in vivo study, the effect of Short-Wave therapy in relation to fracture healing was examined in stabilized femur fractures model of 40 SD rats. Radiography was used to analyze the morphology and micro-architecture of the callus. Additionally, fluorescence assays were used to analyze the GFP-labeled MSC homing after treatment in 20 nude mice with a femoral fracture. For in vitro study, osteoblast from newborn rats simulated fracture site was first irradiated by the Short-Wave; siRNA targeting HIF-1 was used to investigate the role of HIF-1. Osteoblast culture medium was then collected as chemotaxis content of MSC, and the migration of MSC from rats was evaluated using wound healing assay and trans-well chamber test. The expression of HIF-1 and its related factors were quantified by q RT-PCR, ELISA, and Western blot.Results: Our in vivo experiment indicated that Short-Wave therapy could promote MSC migration, increase local and serum HIF-1 and SDF-1 levels, induce changes in callus formation, and improve callus microarchitecture and mechanical properties, thus speeding up the healing process of the fracture site. Moreover, the in vitro results further indicated that Short-Waves therapy upregulated HIF-1 and SDF-1 expression in osteoblast and in the medium, as well as the expression of CXCR-4, β-catenin, F-actin and phosphorylation levels of FAK in MSC. On the other hand, the inhibition of HIF-1α was significantly restrained by the inhibition of HIF-1α in osteoblast, and it partially inhibited the migration of MSC.Conclusions: These results suggested that Short-Wave therapy could increase HIF-1 in callus, which is one of the crucial mechanisms of chemotaxis MSC homing in fracture healing.


The complexity of the damage evolution in structures requires redundant measurements from different sensing methods in order to increase the reliability of the Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) outcome for real time damage detection. MicroElectro- Mechanical Systems (MEMS) allow designing multiple sensors on the same device due to the diversity in the materials and manufacturing methods. In this study, acoustic emission (AE) and strain sensors are combined on the same device. The passive nature of the AE method is ideal for real time damage detection and location triangulation for inaccessible areas on large scale structures. Unfortunately the AE method is highly influenced by background noise. The presence of the strain sensor on the same device can be utilized as trigger for AE sensing when the structure is loaded higher level, which is the expected initiation condition of damage. The MEMS AE sensors rely on the capacitance change of two electrodes made of doped polysilicon and nickel, and are manufactured using MetalMUMPs. The sensitivities of the MEMS AE sensors operating in the range of 50 kHz to 200 kHz are comparable with the similar frequency piezoelectric sensors. The MEMS strain sensors are based on the piezoresistive property of polysilicon, which nominally may lead to more than 70 times higher gauge factor (sensitivity) than conventional metal strain sensors. However, the substrate and insulation layers as well as any packaging and adhesive material reduce the strain level transferred to the sensing element which is compensated by the higher gauge factor. In this paper, the modeling, design and characterization of two sensor types are presented. The sensors are tested on an aluminum plate when the substrate is directly attached to the plate using an adhesive layer. The sensor responses to the simulated acoustic emission signals and the static strain through introducing deflection to the plate are compared with the conventional piezoelectric AE sensors and metal gauges. The obtained results illustrate the advantages of MEMS sensors over the conventional sensors.


The Kolhapur district was producing good amount of cashewnut. The annual cashew production of district was 12,420 metric tons. Due to 'National Horticulture Mission' and 'Cashew Development Program' number of cashew processing units has been increased. There are about 70 cashewnut processing units in Kolhapur district. From this 20 per cent of the cashew processing units were selected randomly for the study. The number of units grouped under small, medium and large processing units based on the per day processing capacity. The capacity utilization in cashewnut processing units was to the extent of 66.73 per cent of the installed capacity. The solvency ratios were better in medium and large processing units because of high net profit and equity participation. Similarly liquidity ratios were higher in medium and large processing units employing satisfactory position with good velocity of conversion of current assets into cash particularly in case of large processing units. Turnover ratios indicate higher efficiency in large processing units as compared to medium and small units. break-even point in cashew-nut processing units was worked out to be 1459.89 quintal, which was found to be 491.63 quintal in small processing units, 1421.56 quintals in medium processing units and 4944.59 quintals in large processing units. At overall level NPW was worked out to be 60.39 Rs. lakh at 15 per cent rate, However BCR is1.05 and IRR was 31.24.


ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to help educators and clinicians better identify and understand the various participation levels of Taiwanese children with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) in two different classroom settings. Greater participation is linked to positive health, developmental outcomes and improved physical and mental health. It is also considered a critical indicator of quality of life. However, general limitations are identified among the population of children with ASDs. One hundred four Taiwanese parents/caregivers of children with ASDs having a disability certificate with a moderate degree of severity completed the Chinese version of the Participation and Environment Measure for Children and Youth. Participation frequency and the extent of involvement were outcome variables to compare Taiwanese children with ASDs in inclusive versus segregated settings based on the perspectives of their parents/caregivers. The children with ASDs in inclusive settings demonstrated a greater involvement in community activities than those in segregated settings. Also, the findings of this study indicate that age, gender and extracurricular activities should be taken into consideration when developing intervention plans for improving participation levels for children with ASDs. The knowledge gained from this study has the potential to benefit children, parents, educators, and clinicians.


SLATER, L. ]., Confluent Hypergeometric Functions (Cambridge University Press, 1960), 247 pp., 65s. Many problems in mathematical physics can be solved in terms of confluent hypergeometric functions, and for that reason it is useful to have collected together the basic formulae relating to these functions and an extensive set of numerical tables of Kummer's function iFt(o; b; x), computed by the author on EDSAC I. The book, which is most beautifully produced and pleasant to handle, is written rather concisely and will be of value as a work of reference only. Despite its usefulness as such, it is difficult to support the claim made on the dust cover that" This book does for confluent hypergeometric functions what G. N. Watson's Treatise on the Theory of Bessel Functions did for Bessel functions." That claim could surely be made more strongly for Tricomi's Funzioni Ipergeometriche Confluenti (Cremonese, Roma, 1954).


The detection of complex organic molecules (COMs) toward dense, collapsing prestellar cores has sparked interest in the fields of astrochemistry and astrobiology, yet the mechanisms for COM formation are still debated. It was originally believed that COMs first form in ices, only to be irradiated by UV radiation from the surrounding interstellar radiation field as well as forming protostars, and subsequently photodesorbed into the gas phase. However, starless and prestellar cores do not have internal protostars to heat up and sublimate the ices. Alternative models using chemical energy have been developed to explain the desorption of COMs, yet in order to test these models, robust measurements of COM abundances are needed toward representative samples of cores. We have conducted a large sample survey of 31 starless and prestellar cores in the Taurus molecular cloud, detecting methanol (CH3OH) in 100% of the cores targeted and acetaldehyde (CH3CHO) in 70%. At least two transition lines of each molecule were measured, allowing us to place tight constraints on excitation temperature, column density, and abundance. Additional mapping of methanol revealed extended emission detected down to AV as low as ∼3 mag. We find that COMs are detectable in the gas phase and are being formed early, at least hundreds of thousands of years prior to star and planet formation. The precursor molecule, CH3OH, may be chemically linked to the more complex CH3CHO; however, higher spatial resolution maps are needed to further test chemical models.


Many of the most pressing issues in information ethics—informational privacy, surveillance, intellectual property, access to information, and the distribution of information resources—can only be addressed at the level of global politics. This paper develops an approach to theorizing about political questions of concern to information ethics. It begins by situating a political philosophy of information within the broader field of ethics and defending a theoretical approach that is practical, person-centered, and pluralistic. The method of dialogic public reason, as articulated by John Rawls and supplemented with insights from Jürgen Habermas, is described and defended. It is argued that dialogic public reason provides a way to justify political principles in a diverse global context. The paper concludes by relating the idea of dialogic public reason to international human rights. The putative human right to intellectual property is criticized on the grounds that it does not pass the test of public reason.


Abstract : This project focuses on realizing a near-term practical impact on the training environment in USAREUR, through efforts to complement current training assessment procedures. By installing new SIMNET-based tools and integrating performance data from home station/training area, SIMNET, and CMTC arenas, the effort is designed to benefit trainers, researchers, training managers, and training developers. The new tools and data base are intended to provide a more objective basis for assessing unit training performance, which will enable greater standardization within the USAREUR training community. The project's scope encompasses initialization efforts extending into FY96, resulting in a foundation to sustain continuing operations as future resources become available. Ultimately the project's benefits can be expected to result in more effective USAREUR training programs, and consequently enhanced combat readiness of USAREUR forces.


The end-of-life care world cannot complain about a lack of associated reviews and reports—my own database has 48 from the UK since the national End of Life Care Strategy was published 7 years ago (Department of Health 2008). Within these, the concordance of analysis, agreement on the main issues and the lack of subsequent progress are striking. The recurrent lamenting on things going wrong is all the more frustrating against the background of the excellent example set by hospice care, recognised internationally as world class. Additions to the list of reports so far this year include: the House of Commons Health Committee's (2015) report, End of Life Care: Fifth Report of Session 2014–15 , in March; the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman's (PHSO 2015) report, Dying Without Dignity , in May; the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence's (NICE 2015) consultation draft of the clinical guideline, Care of the Dying Adult , in July; and the National Palliative and End of Life Care Partnership's (2015), Ambitions for Palliative and End of Life Care: A National Framework for Local Action 2015–2020 , in September.

In making its report, the House of Commons Health Committee received written advice from 77 organisations and oral evidence from 13 experts. The report's depth of grasp of detail and breadth of understanding of the relevant issues is most encouraging as it comes from a body with the power to call government ministers to account. There are 25 clear recommendations that, in no particular order, include:


Successful delivery of genes to the inner ear has been demonstrated using a variety of vectors and animal models. As our understanding of the molecular pathophysiology of hearing and balance disorders increases, the delivery of genes is becoming central to our ability to manipulate the function of the inner ear. This study evaluates the efficacy of gene transfer and the distribution of three different vector types within the inner ear. Adenovirus vectors, herpes virus vectors and liposomes carrying a plasmid with the green fluorescent protein or beta galactosidase marker genes and a CMV promoter were introduced into the inner ear of 3-month-old mice. The temporal bones and brain were then removed from the animals and examined for transgene expression. Distribution of staining in the treated ear was compared with distribution of staining in the contralateral inner ear. Staining for T cell markers was also carried out to determine inner ear immune response to gene transfer. Herpes virus vectors appear to target neurons most efficiently. Liposome vectors were least efficient in terms of gene transfer. Adenovirus vectors accomplished gene transfer to the widest variety of inner ear cells including auditory and vestibular hair cells. Newer generation adenovirus vectors promise less immune reaction and toxicity than traditional vectors and will be useful for both research and future clinical applications.


In this report, an effect of FFC-ceramic (FFC-Japan Co. Ltd., Tsu) water on the process of infection by a pea fungal pathogen, Mycosphaerella pinodes was investigated. Energy dispersive X-ray analysis showed that both of the FFC-ceramic water and a common ceramic water contained mainly Ca and S elements, of which the relative atomic percentages were 53~56% and 44~45%, respectively. Lesion formation by pycnospores of M. pinodes on pea leaves was inhibited severely by the application with both ceramic waters at the 1/2~1/6 concentration of saturated solution. Cytological observation under microscope showed that germination, germ-tube elongation and penetration were severely inhibited by these ceramic waters. However, such inhibitory effect of FFC-ceramic water was superior to that of the common ceramic water. On ethanol-killed pea epidermal tissues, both FFC-ceramic water and the common ceramic water blocked the germination, germ-tube elongation and penetration by the pathogen, indicating
the direct effect of both ceramic waters on the fungus. In this case, the inhibiting effect of FFC ceramic water was more intensive than the common ceramic water. CaSO(4) at a 1/2~1/4 concentration of saturated solution blocked penetration by the fungus on the killed epidermis of onion bulb but scarcely affected germination and germ-tube elongation. Based on these results, we discussed the role of FFC-ceramic water in disease tolerance of plants and its availability for cultivation.


ABSTRACT Similar to a number of other right-wing populist parties in Europe, Great Britain's United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP) has experienced increased public support in recent years. Using aggregate data from monthly national surveys conducted between April 2004 and April 2014, time series analyses demonstrate that the dynamics of UKIP support were influenced by a combination of spatial and valence issues. A spatial issue, Euroscepticism, was fundamental, with UKIP support moving in dynamic equilibrium with changing public attitudes towards EU membership. In addition, widespread anti-immigration sentiment and dissatisfaction with the performance of the Conservative–Liberal Democrat coalition government combined with the "oxygen of publicity" to propel UKIP's surge. The political context after the 2010 general election helped as well by enabling UKIP to benefit from valence considerations. Many voters continued to doubt the competence of the major opposition party, Labour, while the Liberal Democrats were part of the government and, hence, unavailable as a protest vehicle. Since many of the forces driving UKIP support are beyond its control, the party's prospects are highly uncertain.


Already in the nineteenth century, the Chinese immigrants had built several Chinese temples in Kolkata. These temples, including those dedicated to Tianhou and Guanyin, served not only as religious shrines but also meeting places for the community. This article outlines some of the unique, and hitherto unexamined, religious practices among the Kolkata Chinese. Specifically, it focuses on the venerations of the Atchew, perceived to be the first Chinese immigrant in India, the medium known as Lady Shou and the Indian Goddess Kali. While other religious beliefs among the Kolkata Chinese indicate the preservation of Chinese heritage and identity, these unique practices show the process of acculturation and the creation of a new mixed,Chinese–Indian identity.


Traditionally, the interest of population and evolutionary biologists in infectious diseases has been almost exclusively in their role as agents of natural selection in higher organisms. Recently, this interest has expanded to include the genetic structure and evolution of microparasite populations, the mechanisms of pathogenesis and the immune response, and the population biology, ecology, and evolutionary consequences of medical and public health interventions. This article describes recent work in these areas, emphasizing the ways in which quantitative, population-biological approaches have been contributing to the understanding of infectious disease and the design and evaluation of interventions for their treatment and prevention.


1528 A with drug and alcohol problems smoke tobacco at roughly 1.5 times the rate of their counterparts without such problems (1). However, substance abuse treatment programs often do not target smoking, despite its long-term health risks (2). No systematic analyses have established an association between smoking and recovery from drug and alcohol problems after drug treatment for adolescents. We examined smoking rates by recovery status among youths admitted to one of ten treatment programs participating in the Adolescent Treatment Models evaluation between 1998 and 2001 (3). Youths were followed for 12 months. Smoking behaviors were measured at intake and 12 months. Recovery status was measured at 12 months. We measured the total number of cigarettes smoked in the 90 days before intake and follow-up. We calculated smoking rate per number of days spent free in the community to control for the effects of time spent in institutional settings, where smoking is typically prohibited. We then multiplied this rate by 90 to estimate the expected number of cigarettes smoked had the adolescent been residing in the community for the prior 90 days. We compared these rates between youths who were or were not in recovery at the follow-up, where recovery was defined as having no recent substance use, no history of symptoms related to a substance use disorder in the past month, and no recent stays in jails or detention centers. In univariate analyses, adolescents who recovered had significantly lower median rates of smoking at the followup than youths who did not recover (p<.001) (Figure 1). Median change in smoking rates in 12 months was significantly different for both groups (p<.001) and was significantly less than zero in the recovered group (p<.001). These findings held after we controlled for age, race, baseline smoking rate, and emotional problems at intake and after we removed data of six outliers. Our data suggest that adolescents who recover from substance problems are not at greater risk of smoking escalation, compared with those who did not seem to benefit from treatment. Our cohort on average deSmoking Rates Among Adolescents in Substance Abuse Treatment Programs