Growth factors are known to favor both proliferation and survival of hepatocytes. In the present study, we investigated if c-FLIP(L) (cellular FLICE-inhibitory protein, long isoform) could be involved in epidermal growth factor (EGF)-stimulated proliferation of rat hepatocytes since c-FLIP(L) regulates both cell proliferation and procaspase-8 maturation. Treatment with MEK inhibitors prevented induction of c-FLIP(L) by EGF along with total inhibition of DNA replication. However, EGF failed to inhibit processing of procaspase-8 in the presence of EGF suggesting that c-FLIP(L) does not play its canonical anti-apoptotic role in this model. Downregulation of c-FLIP expression using siRNA oligonucleotides strongly reduced DNA replication but did not result in enhanced apoptosis. Moreover, intermediate cleavage products of c-FLIP(L) and caspase-8 were found in EGF-treated hepatocytes in the absence of caspase-3 maturation and cell death. To determine whether the Fas/FADD/caspase-8/c-FLIP(L) complex was required for this activity, Fas, procaspase-8 and Fas-associated death domain protein (FADD) expression or function was inhibited using siRNA or constructs encoding dominant negative mutant proteins. Inhibition of any of these components of the Fas/FADD/caspase-8 pathway decreased DNA replication suggesting a function of these proteins in cell-cycle arrest. Similar results were obtained when the IETD-like caspase activity detectable in EGF-treated hepatocytes was inhibited by the pan-caspase inhibitor, z-ASP. Finally, we demonstrated co-immunoprecipitation between EGFR and Fas within 15 min following EGF stimulation. In conclusion, our results indicate that the Fas/FADD/c-FLIP(L)/caspase-8 pathway positively controls the G(1)/S transition in EGF-stimulated hepatocytes. Our data provide new insights into the mechanisms by which apoptotic proteins participate to mitogenic signals during the G(1) phase.


The purpose of this paper is to examine how abstract vs concrete mindsets impact consumers' post-purchase affective states. Drawing on construal level theory, the study examines when consumers experience "pleasure" or "guilt" after impulse buying.,The basic premises of this research was tested using multiple studies. Study 1 was conducted in the field, the second study engaged an online survey, while the third study used a laboratory experiment.,After impulse buying, consumers with abstract mindsets reported strong feelings of pleasure, whereas those with concrete mindsets experienced profound guilt.,Research on affective responses (i.e. pleasure and guilt) following impulse purchase is limited. However, the present study helps understand an important research question: when do consumers feel pleasure (or guilt) after impulse buying?,Marketers can frame messages that align with abstract mindsets to enhance pleasure and reduce guilt after impulse buying.,Policymakers can persuade consumers to refrain from making impulsive decisions through communication that reminds them of past impulse purchase behaviour, by triggering a concrete mindset.,This research extends the literature on post-purchase effects by demonstrating that consumers' mindsets determine the intensity of their affective state after impulse buying.


This is the subject guide for anything Psychology related. Here you will find access to full-text databases, Internet research resources, print resources, electronic journals, and video tutorials.


This book gives readers an inside look at associations and the techniques they can use to reach their members. This premier guide thoroughly examines the association market - including motivation, decision making, and "hot buttons." Readers will also find: case studies and examples from actual companies and associations in addition to key association personnel; resource appendixes that include associations able to assist in marketing; information on how to develop a marketing proposal specifically for associations - including a sample proposal; and all the aspects of an association that makes it the ideal partner.


In this paper we propose a perceptual approach to content analysis based on region segmentation. Content adaptation has become one of the most important problems in recent years due to fast growing of multimedia based services. The process of content analysis and extraction represents one step in solving the problem of content adaptation. Adaptation means the preparation and delivery of content that matches the resources of the connected terminal or network in an optimal way. The proposed content extraction method it can be classified as perceptual because it uses HVS to detect salient regions in images. The main idea of this approach is to adapt the content to the user resources without loss of salient information. Region segmentation is used for object detection and combined with the bottom-up visual attention model can lead to salient object detection.


A descriptive study was undertaken to investigate the differences in pain reported by 17 primiparous and 33 multiparous parturients. Subjects responded to the McGill pain questionnaire during the early, active, and transitional phases of the first stage of labor, and immediately after delivery for the second stage of labor. Although no significant main effect for parity on pain was identified by repeated measures analyses of variance, significant interaction effects suggested that primiparas may experience greater pain during early labor and less pain during second stage than multiparas.


The development of guidelines on research ethics for social science and humanities (SSH) takes place in the scientific field, marked by disputes aimed at the establishment of hegemonic scientific standard. In Brazil, the National Health Council is responsible for approving these guidelines, which involve certain specificities. Based on the authors' experience in the SSH Working Group of the National Commission on Research Ethics (GT CHS / CONEP), this article presents the process of development of guidelines for SSH, and some its challenges: the distance between the statutory guarantee and the effective execution of guidelines; the biomedical hegemony and the marginal position of the SSH in the CEP / CONEP system; the inadequacy of the current resolution facing the research features in CHS; the use of the concept of risk in guidelines aimed at SSH in the health area. Some interfaces and tensions in the debate between scientific merit and ethical evaluation are also discussed. The analysis highlights important impasses and difficulties regarding inter-paradigmatic dialogue in health research, considered the characteristics of the different traditions, the CONEP's heavily relying on the positivist perspective and the defense of that paradigm hegemony.


This article discusses finding which are part of the "WHOs Multi-Country Study on Gender Sexuality and Vaginal Practices" carried out in Asia and Africa. A total of 103 people mainly women more than eighteen years of age (38 individual interviewees 15 focus groups) were interviewed in Mozambique. The most common practices may be classified and described as follows in order from highest to lowest frequency: elongation of the labia insertion and use of vaginal products daily vaginal washing with a range of products cutting of the pubic hair ingestion of sexual stimulants and ingestion of potions in order to stimulate dilation of the cervix of the uterus prior to birth. These practices have an influence on peoples preference for having sex without use of a condom. The practices may both create lesions as such and may through alteration of the vaginal flora create favourable conditions for transmission of sexual infections. (authors)


Short-term (timescale of hours, days and weeks) earthquake (EQ) prediction is of essential importance to mitigate EQ disasters. Short-term EQ prediction has so far been based on seismic measurements (i.e. mechanical observation of crustal movements), but it was concluded in Japan about 10 years ago that EQ prediction is impossible by means of the mechanical method. Hence, there has been an increased interest and a lot of progress in non-seismic measurement during the last decade. A new approach was developed where electromagnetic measurements provide microscopic information on the lithosphere. The present paper is intended to give a history of short-term EQ prediction, and also we hope that this paper reviews the current status of a new science field, 'seismo-electromagnetics'. We make a general review of different phenomena taking place in the lithosphere, atmosphere and the ionosphere, but we pay more attention to the subjects of our preference including lithospheric ultra low frequency (ULF) electromagnetic emissions, and seismo-ionospheric perturbations.


Approximately 500 fatty acid profiles were prepared for 340 strains of plant-pathogenic and other bacteria currently or recently classified in the genus Pseudomonas Migula 1984. Strains representing some infraspecific taxa were included. The fatty acid profiles were stable and reproducible provided that cultural and chemical techniques were standardized. The 2- and 3-hydroxy fatty acids were found to be useful in grouping strains into six major groups, several of which were further differentiated into subgroups. Group 1 contained strains of the following species and subspecies: Pseudomonas aeruginosa, P. agarici, P. asplenii, P. aureofaciens, P. caricapapayae, P. chlororaphis, P. cichorii, P. ficuserectae, P. fluorescens, P. fuscovaginae, "P. gingeri," P. marginalis, P. meliae, P. putida, "P. reactans," P. syringae, P. tolaasii, and P. viridiflava (subgroup 1a); P. corrugata (subgroup 1b); P. rubrisubalbicans (subgroup 1c); P. alcaligenes, P. pseudoalcaligenes subsp. Pseudoalcaligenes, and P. stutzeri (subgroup 1d); P. amygdali (subgroup le); and P. cattleyae NCPPB 1874 (subgroup 1f). All group 1 strains contained 10:0 3-OH and 12:0 3-OH, and most group 1 strains also contained 12:0 2-OH. Group 2 contained strains belonging to the following taxa: P. andropogonis, P. caryophylli, P. cepacia, P. gladioli, P. plantarii, and P. glumae (in part) (subgroup 2a); P. glumae (in part) (subgroup 2b); and P. solanacearum, P. syzygii, and the banana blood disease bacterium (subgroup 2c). All of the group 2 strains contained 14:0 3-OH, 16:0 3-OH, and 18:1 2-OH; most also contained 16:1 2-OH and 16:0 2-OH. Group 3 contained strains belonging to the following taxa: Comamonas acidovorans, P. avenae, P. cattleyae NCPPB 961, P. pseudoalcaligenes subsp. citrulli, P. pseudoalcaligenes subsp. konjaci, P. rubrilineans (subgroup 3a); and Comamonas testosteroni (subgroup 3b). All of the group 3 strains contained 10:0 3-OH. The group 4 strains were members of Sphingomonas paucimobilis, and all contained only 14:0 2-OH. The group 5 strains were members of P. ftectens and contained 12:0 2-OH, 14:0 2-OH, and 14:0 3-OH. The group 6 strains were P. betle, P. cissicola, P. hibiscicola, Xanthomonas maltophilia, and Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris strains, and all contained 12:0 3-OH, 11:0 iso 3-OH, and 13:0 iso 3-OH. Within each group or subgroup, qualitative and quantitative differences in profiles occurred for most species. Differences were also found at the infraspecific level for some taxa. My results support genomic and other data which show that the plant-pathogenic and other pseudomonads tested should be placed in at least six genera.


Prolactin (PRL) is an anterior pituitary hormone which plays a large part in the reproductive function of mammals. Its only well-documented effect in humans is that of initiating and maintaining lactation. Among hypothalamic neurotransmitters regulating the anterior pituitary function, dopamine (DA) is currently considered to correspond to the PRL-inhibiting factor. The central control mechanisms which induce high PRL levels in puerperal women are not well understood. To study DA tonus in puerperium we tested plasma PRL levels in different groups of puerperal subjects (6 per group) after acute administration of direct or indirect DA agonists or placebo: DA, L-dopa (a DA precursor), L-dopa plus carbidopa (a peripheral dopa-decarboxylase inhibitor), nomifensine (a DA-releasing and blocking or reuptake agent) and amphetamine (a DA releaser). The same tests with the same drug doses were performed on groups of healthy volunteers. A consistent reduction in plasma PRL levels after both direct and indirect DA agonist drugs compared to placebo was evident in puerperal and in control women. A different trend was only observed with the use of DA and amphetamine in puerperal subjects, who, unlike controls, failed to show a rebound in plasma PRL levels after the termination of drug infusion. These findings support the view that the inhibitory control of tuberoinfundibular neurons over PRL secretion is maintained in puerperium and changes in the affinity of DA receptors are related to the endocrine milieu which occurs during gestation.


This study aims to further investigate the Unconscious Thought Theory (UTT, Dijksterhuis & Nordgren, 2006), namely whether individual differences account for differences in choice made after either deliberation (conscious thought, CT) or distraction (unconscious thought, UT). Also, subjective weighting was considered and choice options were constructed following individual preferences, hence avoiding choices biased by differences in preferences. The main effect was replicated with a big sample (N=120, CT: 50.8%, UT: 70.5% chose the best alternative), using four different dependent measures. The results show further that the main effect is driven by underperformance of women in the CT condition. Stereotype threat is discussed as a possible explanation.


There are many discussions about the concept of a livable city and this has lead to the existence of  the ranking system. Economic Intelligence Unit (EIU) is one of the organizations which promotes the liveability criteria. Despite all criteria chosen, walkable environment is one of the elements that could promote a city to be liveable. This paper will discuss the role of walkable environment in making Kuala Lumpur a liveable city and how the citizens this concept is applied in their daily lives.
Keywords: Liveable city; walkable; Sustainable transportation.
eISSN 2514-7528 © 2018. The Authors. Published for AMER ABRA cE-Bs by e-International Publishing House, Ltd., UK. This is an open-access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Peer–review under responsibility of AMER (Association of Malaysian Environment-Behaviour Researchers), ABRA (Association of Behavioural Researchers on Asians) and cE-Bs (Centre for Environment-Behaviour Studies), Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia.


The aim of this paper is to improve the skills of robotic systems in their interaction with nearby objects. The basic idea is to enhance visual estimation of objects in the world through the merging of different visual estimators of the same stimuli. A neuroscience-inspired model of stereoptic and perspective orientation estimators, merged according to different criteria, is implemented on a robotic setup and tested in different conditions. Experimental results suggest that the integration of multiple monocular and binocular cues can make robot sensory systems more reliable and versatile. The same results, compared with simulations and data from human studies, show that the model is able to reproduce some well-recognized neuropsychological effects.


Abstract
This article proposes a new approach to detecting the presence of common cyclical features when several time series are sampled at different frequencies. We generalize the common-frequency approach introduced by Engle and Kozicki (1993) and Vahid and Engle (1993). We start with the mixed-frequency VAR representation investigated in Ghysels (2012) for stationary time series. For non-stationary time series in levels, we show that one has to account for the presence of two sets of long-run relationships. The first set is implied by identities stemming from the fact that the differences of the high-frequency I (1) regressors are stationary. The second set comes from possible additional long-run relationships between one of the high-frequency series and the low-frequency variables. Our transformed vector error-correction model (VECM) representations extend the results of Ghysels (2012) and are important for determining the correct set of variables to be used in a subsequent common cycle investigation. This fact has implications for the distribution of test statistics and for forecasting. Empirical analyses with quarterly real gross national product (GNP) and monthly industrial production indices for, respectively, the United States and Germany illustrate our new approach. We also conduct a Monte Carlo study which compares our proposed mixed-frequency models with models stemming from classical temporal aggregation methods.


Different neural network architectures are presented for short-term load forecasting. The fully connected recurrent neural network (FRNN), where all neurons are coupled to one another, is difficult to train and to converge in a short time. The diagonal recurrent neural network (DRNN) is a modified model of FRNN. It requires fewer weights than FRNN and rapid convergence has been demonstrated. A dynamic backpropagation algorithm coupled with adaptive learning rate guarantees even faster convergence. Many experiments are conducted to provide the one-day ahead load forecast, and the results are compared. The effect of temperatures and functional-link net mapping are also studied by including them as the network's inputs. The forecasting accuracy for weekend load can be improved by using a separate weekend load model.<<ETX>>


Fracture behaviour transitions due to change in the strain rate in steels with various Si content ranging from 2% to 5 wt% were studied. Room-temperature tensile tests were conducted over wide range of strain rates ranging from 10-3 s-1 to 103 s-1. Concerning of the steels with low Si content (no more than 3%), the nominal stress - nominal strain curves represented both uniform and local elongations at all strain rates. On the other hand, in 4% Si steel at a strain rate higher than 101 s-1, the tensile sample broke down without local elongation (necking). The stress at breaking was found to be nearly equal to its work hardening rate. The strain rate at which fracture behaviour transition took place in 5% Si steel (10-1s-1) was lower than that in 4% Si steel. TEM observations clarified the existence of deformation twins in the sample that fractured without necking. These results indicated that Si addition is subject to the brittle fractures and that the fracture mechanism transition is closely related with the deformation twinning behaviour.


Our study reported entanglement among single spins in diamond. Lovett and Benjamin argue that three of six described entangled states were not achieved. Here, we explain our choice of entangled states and discuss their importance for quantum information processing. We also show that the eigenstates discussed by Lovett and Benjamin, although formally entangled and routinely generated in our experiments, cannot be used to detect nonlocal correlations.


A significant coupling of the Asian summer monsoon and ENSO was examined using the NCEP/NCAR reanalysis for the period 1973-1995. Results show that a monsoon index, which is defined as meridional gradient of summertime upper-tropospheric thickness (200-500 hPa) anomalies across 20°N over the Indian subcontinent, is highly correlated with Nino-3 SST anomalies in the preceding spring. This is strongly suggestive of the presence of the indirect impact of anomalous SST forcing associated with ENSO on the Asian summer monsoon. Due to attenuated Walker circulation in response to a warm episode, convection is suppressed over the northern tropical Indian Ocean and the maritime continent from the preceding winter to spring. The suppressed tropical convection in the preceding spring generates anomalous cyclonic circulation to the west of the Tibetan Plateau as a result of the Rossby-type response to convective heating off the equator. The convection-induced anomalous cyclonic circulation accompanied by large-scale ascending atmospheric motion contributes substantially to increased rainfall and greater soil moisture, thus resulting in decreased land-surface temperature over central Asia to the northwest of the Indian subcontinent. On the other hand, warm SST anomalies are initially introduced over the tropical Indian Ocean in late spring prior to the onset of the monsoon due to the changes in the surface heat flux and/or dynamic response of the ocean to wind forcing, in intimately association with pronounced in situ low-level northeasterly wind anomalies and less cloud cover. Both these different physical processes in the land and ocean areas are crucially responsible for reduced land-ocean thermal contrast (or reduced meridional tropospheric temperature gradient), eventually bringing about the weakening of the Asian summer monsoon. The reverse situation is quite true for strong monsoon years. Once the summer monsoon becomes weak (strong) at its early stage due to these processes, the initially induced warm (cool) SST anomalies over the tropical Indian Ocean are further intensified. The mechanism proposed here is valid during the period from the late 1970s to the early 1990s when weak and strong monsoon years are categorized. During that period, the unusual Nino-3 SST anomalies tend to persist from the preceding winter until summer, hence serving as a bridge between the ENSO prevailing in the preceding winter and anomalous summer monsoon. However, regardless of when the monsoon-ENSO coupling is prominent, both the springtime outgoing longwave radiation and low-level wind anomalies dominating over the tropical Indian Ocean, associated with anomalous Walker circulation, are still crucial factors in terms of the potential predictability of the Asian summer monsoon.


Mobile devices are evolving as the dominant computing platform and consequently application repositories and app markets are becoming the prevalent paradigm for deploying software. Due to their central and trusted position in the software ecosystem, coerced, hacked or malicious app markets pose a serious threat to user security. Currently, there is little that hinders a nation state adversary (NSA) or other powerful attackers from using such central and trusted points of software distribution to deploy customized (malicious) versions of apps to specific users. Due to intransparencies in the current app installation paradigm, this kind of attack is extremely hard to detect. In this paper, we evaluate the risks and drawbacks of current app deployment in the face of powerful attackers. We assess the app signing practices of 97% of all free Google Play apps and find that the current practices make targeted attacks unnecessarily easy and almost impossible to detect for users and app developers alike. We show that high profile Android apps employ intransparent and unaccountable strategies when they publish apps to (multiple) alternative markets. We then present and evaluate Application Transparency (AT), a new framework that can defend against ``targeted-and-stealthy'' attacks, mount by malicious markets. We deployed AT in the wild and conducted an extensive field study in which we analyzed app installations on 253,819 real world Android devices that participate in a popular anti-virus app's telemetry program. We find that AT can effectively protect users against malicious targeted attack apps and furthermore adds transparency and accountability to the current intransparent signing and packaging strategies employed by many app developers.


Contact zones between marine ecotypes are of interest for understanding how key pelagic predators may react to climate change. We analysed the fine scale genetic structure and morphological variation in harbour porpoises around the UK, at the proposed northern limit of a contact zone between southern and northern ecotypes in the Bay of Biscay. Using a sample of 591 stranded animals spanning a decade and microsatellite profiling at 9 loci, clustering and spatial analyses revealed that animals stranded around UK are composed of mixed genetic ancestries from two genetic pools. Porpoises from SW England displayed a distinct genetic ancestry, had larger body-sizes and inhabit an environment differentiated from other UK costal areas. Genetic ancestry blends from one group to the other along a SW-NE axis along the UK coastline, and showed a significant association with body size, consistent with morphological differences between the two ecotypes and their mixing around the SW coast. We also found significant isolation-by-distance among juveniles, suggesting that stranded juveniles display reduced intergenerational dispersal, while adults show larger variance. The fine scale structure of this admixture zone raises the question of how it will respond to future climate change and provides a reference point for further study.


PURPOSE OF REVIEW
To review the latest in penile cancer treatment focusing on neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with regional lymph node involvement.

RECENT FINDINGS
Patients with regional lymph node involvement from penile cancer still suffer from a poor prognosis, and the chances to achieve cure are primarily dependent on the extent of the disease. Despite multiple lines of research are indicating the need for a multimodal management of the disease upfront, the search for newer effective systemic therapies is ongoing. The available guidelines currently suggest the use of combination chemotherapy regimens including taxanes and cisplatin as induction therapy before lymphadenectomy in patients with locally advanced disease (i.e., fixed or bulky inguinal lymph nodes or pelvic lymph node involvement). Research in the field will aim to provide more effective systemic therapies also in patients with a more limited disease spread to further improve the outcomes. Data from the literature also indicate the possibility to effectively administer postoperative chemotherapy in selected high-risk patients.

SUMMARY
We aimed to provide the evidence from the literature and the new avenues that would help delineating the optimal therapeutic pathway for these complex patients, commenting on the new opportunities that may come from the ongoing research.


Stretchable interconnects play an important role towards the realization of the realm of systems that include large-area sensor skins and wearable electronics. These interconnects must be reliable and robust for viability, and must be flexible, stretchable, and conformable to nonplanar surfaces for diverse applicability. This research describes the design, modeling, fabrication, and testing of stretchable interconnects on polymer substrates using metal patterns both as functional interconnect layers and as in situ masks for excimer laser photoablation. The fluences for photoablation of polymers are generally much lower than the threshold fluence for removal or damage of metals; thus, metal thin films that are designed as structural layers in the sensor skin can be used as in situ masks for polymers if the proper fluence is used. Self-aligned single-layer and multilayer interconnects of various designs (rectilinear and "meandering") have been fabricated, and certain "meandering" interconnect designs can be stretched up to 50% uniaxially while maintaining good electrical conductivity and structural integrity. Furthermore, redundant interconnect meshes have been modeled and fabricated that increase the viability of the interconnect mesh while stretching up to 30% uniaxially and a prototype redundant interconnect mesh has been fabricated using seamless-scanning large-area fabrication techniques.


In the arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) symbiosis, plant roots accommodate Glomeromycota fungi within an intracellular compartment, the arbuscule. At this symbiotic interface, fungal hyphae are surrounded by a plant membrane, which creates an apoplastic compartment, the periarbuscular space (PAS) between fungal and plant cell. Despite the importance of the PAS for symbiotic signal and metabolite exchange, only few of its components have been identified. Here we show that two apoplastic plant proteases of the subtilase family are required for AM development. SbtM1 is the founder member of a family of arbuscular mycorrhiza-induced subtilase genes that occur in at least two clusters in the genome of the legume Lotus japonicus. A detailed expression analysis by RT-PCR revealed that SbtM1, SbtM3, SbtM4 and the more distantly related SbtS are all rapidly induced during development of arbuscular mycorrhiza, but only SbtS and SbtM4 are also up-regulated during root nodule symbiosis. Promoter-reporter fusions indicated specific activation in cells that are adjacent to intra-radical fungal hyphae or in cells that harbour them. Venus fluorescent protein was observed in the apoplast and the PAS when expressed from a fusion construct with the SbtM1 signal peptide or the full-length subtilase. Suppression of SbtM1 or SbtM3 by RNAi caused a decrease in intra-radical hyphae and arbuscule colonization, but had no effect on nodule formation. Our data indicate a role for these subtilases during the fungal infection process in particular arbuscule development.


Hyperthermia has been suggested as a novel, minimally invasive cancer treatment method. After implantation of magnetic nano- or microparticles around a tumour through blood vessels, irradiation with alternating magnetic fields facilitates the efficient in situ hyperthermia even for deep-seated tumours. On the basis of this idea, if the microspheres are capable of delivering drugs, they could be promising multifunctional biomaterials effective for chemotherapy as well as hyperthermia. In the present study, magnetite microspheres were prepared by aggregation of the iron oxide colloid in water-in-oil (W/O) emulsion. The release behaviour of alendronate, a typical bisphosphonate, from the microspheres was examined in vitro as a model of the bone tumour prevention and treatment system. The alendronate was successfully incorporated onto the porous magnetite microspheres in vacuum conditions. The drug-loaded microspheres maintained their original spherical shapes even after shaking in ultrapure water for 3 days, suggesting that they have sufficient mechanical integrity for clinical use. It was attributed to high aggregation capability of the magnetite nanoparticles through van der Waals and weak magnetic attractions. The microspheres showed slow release of the alendronate in vitro, resulting from tight covalent or ionic interaction between the magnetite and the alendronate. The release rate was diffusion-controlled type and well controlled by the alendronate concentration in drug incorporation to the microspheres.


Peroxynitrite (ONOO− or PON for short) and its associated radical products are clinically important reactive nitrogen oxide species that play key roles in several devastating diseases. Some PON-induced disease processes involve lipid oxidation or nitration. Peroxidation of phospholipids can compromise a biomembrane's integrity and alter its fluidity and electrochemical resistance. The inherent complexity of intact biomembranes makes investigation of PON-induced damage challenging. The use of biomimetic interfaces consisting of synthetic bilayer lipid membranes (BLM) that have a known composition enables controlled studies to be performed and hypotheses to be tested. A variety of characterization tools are available to study the effect of PON on such biomimetic interfaces. Traditional electrophysiology approaches can be used to study transient pore formation in unsupported, planar BLM. Application of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy to BLM that are tethered to electrodes can be used to measure biomembrane capacitance and ion permeability. Optical methods based on hydrophobic fluorescent probes that partition into biomembranes can provide parallel measurements. Simultaneous use of multiple characterization tools could provide real-time, label-free measurements of PON concentration and its effect on biomembrane properties. This chapter summarizes mechanisms by which PON damages membrane lipids, describes common biomimetic interface platforms and electrochemical and optical techniques used to characterize them, and demonstrates a novel application of a biomimetic interface to measure the effect of PON exposure on a biomembrane's electrochemical resistance.


Large labeled quantities and diversities of training data are often needed for supervised, data-based modelling. Data distribution should cover a rich representation to support the generalizability of the trained end-to-end inference model. However, this is often hindered by limited labeled data and the expensive data collection process, especially for human activity recognition tasks. Extensive manual labeling is required. Data augmentation is thus a widely used regularization method for deep learning, especially applied on image data to increase the classification accuracy. But it is less researched for time series. In this paper, we investigate the data augmentation task on continuous capacitive time series with the example on exercise recognition. We show that the traditional data augmentation can enrich the source distribution and thus make the trained inference model more generalized. This further increases the recognition performance for unseen target data around 21.4 percentage points compared to inference model without data augmentation. The generative models such as variational autoencoder or conditional variational autoencoder can further reduce the variance on the target data.


Background. The Rucker 2-stage randomized trial (RCT) design and method allows treatment, preference, and selection effects to be estimated separately in clinical trials. Objective. To understand the effect of patient choice on patient outcomes, the authors applied the Rucker design and analysis method. Design. They used data from a trial of management strategies for women with atypical cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS) detected at routine cervical screening, in which informed choice using a decision aid was compared to no choice. Setting. Women's health clinics across Australia. Patients. Women aged 18 to 70 years (n = 314) with ASCUS. Intervention. Women were randomized to either an informed choice of human papillomavirus (HPV) triage testing or repeat Pap testing or to no choice with random allocation to management by either option. Measurements. Health-related quality of life (SF36) and satisfaction were measured over the course of management and up to 1 year after triage. Results. Using the Rucker analysis, patients who received their choice had higher quality of life scores than those who did not choose (SF36 MCS, 6% higher, 6.0; 95% confidence interval: −0.6 to 12.9; P = 0.07; effect size 0.61 [moderate]). In contrast, the traditional RCT analysis suggested there was little difference in quality of life between the choice and no-choice trial arms. Limitations. The Rucker method assumes that the declared preferences for treatment in the choice arm are representative of the preferences that would have been observed in the no-choice arms if choice was available. Conclusions. The Rucker method should be used to estimate treatment, preference, and selection effects in randomized trials, as it adds to our understanding of the effect of choice on patient outcomes.


AIM
The aim of this paper was to review the published scientific literature to quantify the prevalence and mean score of dental fear/anxiety (DFA) in children/adolescents and its variation according to several variables.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
Cross- sectional and cohort studies published from 2000 to 2014, that measured DFA in children /adolescents (aged 0-19 years), in the general population, or visiting private or public dental services (general or pediatric) or attending school and kindergarten, were searched, with specific terms, in 3 electronic databases (Medline, Embase, Web Of Science). Primary data, collected with specific questionnaires of demonstrated reliability and/or validity, were extracted.

RESULTS
After screening 743 abstracts and evaluating 164 full-text publications, 36 articles were selected. Dental fear/anxiety prevalence rates were 12.2%, 10.0%, 12.2%,11.0% and 20.0% for the CFSS-DS, DAS, MDAS, DFS, and DFSS-SF scores, respectively. In the studies that used MCDAS Dental fear/prevalence rates varied from 13.3% to 29.3%. In the studies that used CFSS-DS ratings, the prevalence and the mean score of dental fear/anxiety was lower in Northern Europe than the remaining countries, the prevalence decreased with increasing age and the frequency was higher in females than males.

CONCLUSIONS
Dental fear/anxiety is a common problem in children/adolescents worldwide, therefore, new strategies to overcome this relevant children/adolescent condition should be encouraged.


This paper describes the Rhythmotron: a percussion-centered robotic orchestrion, commissioned for the CoLABS festival in Sydney in 2017. The authors describe how they electronically reimagined the mechanical components of a cylinder piano by using a variant of the XronoMorph software, and they consider the synergy between algorithmically generated rhythms in a digital environment alongside its analogous mechanical counterpart. The authors detail the idiosyncratic behaviors of linear actuators when used to power drumming robots, and they discuss the aesthetic implications of the Rhythmotron.


The legal system is an expensive social institution, raising the question of whether the amount of litigation is socially appropriate. The thesis developed here is that it is not—because of fundamental differences between private and social incentives to use the legal system. These differences permeate litigation, affecting decisions about the bringing of suits, settlement versus trial, and trial expenditures. The private‐social divergence is attributable to two externalities: when a party makes a litigation decision, he does not take into account the legal costs that he induces others to incur (a negative externality), nor does he recognize associated effects on deterrence and certain other social benefits (a positive externality). Consequently, the privately determined level of litigation can either be socially excessive or inadequate and may call for corrective social policies. A variety of policies are discussed, including taxation versus subsidy of suit, fee‐shifting, and promotion versus discouragement of settlement.


Research has yet to pinpoint the role of geography teachers' subject expertise and the influence that it can have on practice. This article is based on research conducted with 'expert' or experienced geography teachers to explore how they use their subject expertise in their practice. The results from two teachers are presented here and illustrate how teachers can develop a personalised view of the subject which can then become important to them. The geography teachers described their geographical expertise as a guiding principle which influenced their practice and their decision making. The article argues that nurturing such a relationship with the subject is important for new teachers of geography. Introduction In discussions about subject content and the curriculum, the emphasis is often placed on lesson content as though it is separate from the teachers themselves. Kelly (2009) argues that because teachers are central to what happens in classrooms, they can 'make or break' curriculum policy. This means that understanding how teachers view their subject is crucial to understanding what happens in geography classrooms. Research on teachers' subject knowledge in geography education has focused mainly on newly qualified teachers (NQTs) and their understandings of geography. However, it has not been able to explain why teachers' subject expertise matters. The research upon which this article is based adopts a different approach. First, the emphasis is on the practice of experienced or 'expert' teachers, focusing on those who have had time to reflect on and refine their practice. This is not to suggest that their practice has stopped developing (on the contrary), but that their current practice is based on a variety of past experiences. Second, the research seeks to understand how teachers view and value geography, paying attention to their experiences as both students of geography and as teachers in schools. The emphasis is on their descriptions of the subject, rather than the way that geography is traditionally understood and categorised. Geography teachers' subject knowledge Teachers' experience of academic geography depends on where and when they studied. Academic geography, as a discipline, is a human creation, defined and maintained by people (Johnston, 1985; 1991). This means that there is no single, commonly-agreed definition of geography. As Goodson notes: 'Subjects are not monolithic entities, but shifting amalgamations of subgroups and traditions that through contestation and compromise influence the direction of change' (1987, p. 64). Johnston (1991) argues that such rivalry of ideas and influences can come from both inside and outside the discipline. Therefore, how 'geography' has been understood changes overtime (Johnston, 1991; Unwin, 1992; Livingstone, 1993). Indeed, Unwin (1992) identifies distinctive phases in geography's history which he labels: Regional, The Quantitative Revolution, Humanistic, Behavioural, Radical and Post-modern approaches. There is significant debate on how these phases have affected different aspects of the discipline in different ways (see e.g. Matthews and Herbert, 2004; Maude, 2006; Jackson, 1993), but broadly these changes have influenced how geography was studied and what content was considered valuable, as well as different methods for studying the subject. School geography is similarly dynamic: its relationship with the academic subject (see Kent, 2000; Chalmers et al., 2002; Brown and Smith, 2000; Morgan and Lambert, 2005; Bonnett, 2003a, b; Stannard, 2003) has remained a significant, but not the sole, influence on how the subject is taught in schools. For instance, Walford Why geography teachers' subject expertise matters


This review focuses on methodological concepts in the evaluation of skeletal muscle function and on adaptation. It is now thought that the critical property of bone is strength rather than weight, and that control of bone strength is mainly exercised through the effect of the mechanical loads brought to bear on bone. Muscle contraction places the greatest physiological load on bone, and so the stability of bone must be adapted to muscle strength (the functional muscle-bone unit). The described suggestions and recommendations outline a new concept: bone mass and strength should not be related to age. There is now more and more evidence that bone mass and strength should be related to muscle function. Thus analyzed, there is no such entity as 'peak bone mass'. Many studies are presently under way to evaluate whether these novel approaches increase the sensitivity and specificity of fracture prediction in an individual. Furthermore, the focus of many bone researchers is shifting away from bone mass to bone geometry or bone strength and their relationship with the driving muscle system.


The number of vehicle accidents in the world each year is considerable which yield to an approximately 1.2 million deaths. Besides, the car manufacturers are now investing significantly on autonomous vehicles, which highlights the need for communication between vehicles and the surrounding environment. Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) enables the vehicles to realize this need. In ITS, vehicles and infrastructure can communicated directly without the need of cellular networks. Currently, the developed technology for ITS is based on radio frequency (RF) under the name of dedicated short-ranged communication (DSRC), which shares the frequency spectrum with other RF applications such as fixed satellite and wireless services, mobile services, radiolocation, etc. Therefore, DSRC can be a potential interfering source for other communication services. Besides, the licence to use this spectrum makes this service costly in the frequency range of 5.855-5.925 GHz and in heavy traffics may cause severe packet collision. Alternatively, visible light communication (VLC) can be used to release the pressure on RF. The equipment required for VLC, such as light emitting diodes (LEDs), camera, and computer, is already available on most of the vehicles nowadays. Therefore, VLC can be considered as a less expensive option for ITS. Most of the works done in camera-based VLC, also known as optical camera communication (OCC), consider a line-of-sight (LOS) link from the transmitter (Tx) to the receiver (Rx). However, in some scenarios, the LOS link might not be available. In this thesis, a non-LOS (NLOS) link is considered to decrease the probability of outage. Accordingly, this thesis highlights another advantage of using camera compared to photodiodes, i.e., the Rx can extract the data information from the off-axis projection of the Tx on the road surface when the LOS link is blocked or is not available. An end-to-end NLOS OCC system is proposed which employs differential signalling and frame subtraction. Throughout the thesis, different detection techniques are proposed based on spatial division multiplexing (SDM) and time division multiplexing (TDM), hybrid selection/equal gain combining (HS/EGC), hybrid selection/maximal ratio combining (HS/MRC), and zero forcing (ZF) equalization, respectively. The thesis deals with different types of the road in terms of the density of the light sources. An experimental investigation of the proposed system shows that, using HS/EGC and simple detection zero forcing equalization (SDZFE), the system can achieve the 7% overhead forward error correction limit of 3.8×10-3 at a very low transmit power of 9 dBm over a link span of 5 m at a data rate of 30 bps, when the Tx is 2 m above the floor surface. It is also shown that by doubling the ISO level, exposure time and aperture size, the performance of the system improves by ~3 dB. In addition, by increasing the link span from 5 to 10 m, the power penalty is ~3 dB. This is because at very low light environment, the intensity of received light is close to the nonlinear region of the camera and since the footprint shrinks as the link span increases, the nonlinearity affects the signal less in longer link spans. The thesis states that the focal length and focusing distance of the camera does not make a significant impact on the performance of the system. Therefore, the camera can have a large field of view with a wide-open aperture. In addition, the thesis demonstrates that the ZF-based detection schemes outperform the HS/EGC schemes under severe level of interference. It is shown that, in ZF-based cases the normalized height of the eye diagram in is 70% higher compared to HS/EGC when the spacing between Txs is double the height of them.


The World Health Organization, ministries, doctors, the media: it's hardly surprising that all these actors produce and communicate data on the coronavirus (COVID-19). But that hackers and biohackers take up the subject is far more astonishing. This article discusses hackathons (both face-to-face and online) that have been organized to tackle the coronavirus. These hackathons have pursued various aims: understanding the genome of the coronavirus and how it spreads; doing data analysis, modeling and simulation; creating new prototypes, etc. In general, the hackathons aim to democratize the coronavirus by imagining and sharing tools, software, data, and models. Current discussions revolve around the possibility and the dangers of developing DIY tests to diagnose the virus. The proliferation of biohackers' ideas will now face the biological complexity and geopolitical reality of the coronavirus.


The continued integration of technology into all
aspects of society stresses the need to identify and
understand the risk associated with assimilating new
technologies. This necessity is heightened when
technology is used for medical purposes like
ambulatory devices that monitor a patient's vital signs.
This integration creates environments that are
conducive to malicious activities. The potential impact
presents new challenges for the medical community.
Hence, this research presents attack graph
modeling as a viable solution to identifying
vulnerabilities, assessing risk, and forming mitigation
strategies to defend ambulatory medical devices from
attackers. Common and frequent vulnerabilities and
attack strategies related to the various aspects of
ambulatory devices, including Bluetooth enabled
sensors and Android applications are identified in the
literature. Based on this analysis, this research
presents an attack graph modeling example on a
theoretical device that highlights vulnerabilities and
mitigation strategies to consider when designing
ambulatory devices with similar components


Summary Antisera to synthetic peptides corresponding to the C-termini of two non-structural proteins (NSP) of alfalfa mosaic virus (AIMV), P1 (126K) and P3 (32K), were prepared and characterized. These antisera, together with one which had previously been made against the C-terminus of P2 (90K), enabled us to detect the three NSPs in a crude membrane fraction from AlMV-infected tobacco leaves. The accumulation of these proteins at 25 °C and at 10 °C was followed as a function of time after inoculation, and their amounts were compared with viral replicase activity. All three proteins accumulated at the beginning of the infection period and then disappeared, P3 more rapidly than the other two. There was a good correlation between replicase activity and the amounts of P1 and P2, but not the amount of P3. These results are consistent with the notion that P1 and P2 are part of the replication complex. Although much less coat protein was made in inoculated leaves at 10 °C than at 25 °C, the maximum amounts of the three NSPs and the maximum replicase activity were at least as high at 10 °C as at 25 °C. Thus, 10 °C is not a restrictive temperature for the assembly of a functional replication complex.


Pharmacogenetics represents the study of variability in drug response due to genetic variations. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD, i.e. primarily Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis) is characterized by a chronic or relapsing inflammation of the digestive tract. The thiopurines 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP) and azathioprine (AZA), an imidazol derivative and pro-drug of 6-MP, are widely used in IBD, particularly in Crohn's disease. The metabolism of thiopurines is complex and individually variable. Thiopurine methyltransferase (TPMT) is a key enzyme in this metabolism and exhibits a genetic variability due to a number of variant alleles coding for a defective enzyme. The formation of biologically active thioguanine nucleotides (TGN) and methylated metabolites may vary considerably due to the TPMT activity. Patients with decreased TPMT activity are at increased risk of developing severe side effects if treated with conventional thiopurine doses, due to the accumulation of toxic metabolites. Determination of the TPMT phenotype or genotype is often used to identify individuals with increased risk for adverse events. Twenty-one variant TPMT alleles have been described, of which three are more common than the others. An association between inosine triphosphate pyrophosphatase polymorphisms and adverse events during thiopurine treatment has also been proposed. In this review, the clinical value of TPMT status determination and pharmacological monitoring of thiopurine metabolites are discussed as well as the increased interest in the use of 6-thioguanine, a thiopurine with a less complex metabolism, as an alternative for patients who do not tolerate AZA or 6-MP. It can be concluded that TPMT determination before start of thiopurine therapy is of value to identify individuals with increased risk for adverse reactions due to genetic enzyme deficiency. However, large prospective studies are still needed to evaluate the true benefit of monitoring thiopurine metabolites during thiopurine treatment. © 2006 Bentham Science Publishers Ltd.


Background Antenatal detection rate of transposition of the great arteries (TGA) has remained very low around 25% in the UK. This may have improved with the addition of outflow tract view to the routine 20 week foetal anomaly screening protocols with better overall outcomes. Patients and methods All children who were diagnosed with simple TGA at our centre for Paediatric Cardiology over a 15 year period were included in this study. Clinical case notes were retrospectively reviewed and outcome data was evaluated. Results There were 74 patients; 54 diagnosed postnatally, 20 antenatally. All 8 preterm deliveries were in postnatally diagnosed group. 32 had simple TGA and 42 had additional defects. Male: female ratio was 3.5:1. Antenatal detection rate improved from 0–20% to 75% in the recent years. 40% of cases diagnosed postnatally were unwell at presentation and most of them needed ventilatory support. Majority of the patients in our cohort needed prostin infusion following delivery and 60% of them underwent balloon septostomy before arterial switch operation was performed. Only one out of 74 patients had Mustard's operation in our series. Postoperative complications were more common in postnatally diagnosed patients (26% vs 10%). There were no deaths in the antenatally detected group. Early mortality rate was 6.8% and operative mortality was 1.4% with no postoperative deaths being recorded after 2007. Echo abnormalities were seen in 83% at 2 years and 91% at 10 years follow up with neo aortic regurgitation being the commonest. Intervention free survival was 96%. 7% were on medications mainly due to impaired LV function. Growth and development issues, exercise intolerance and arrhythmias were uncommon in our series. Survival rate at 5 years was 88.1%. Conclusion Inclusion of outflow tract view has led to substantial improvement in antenatal detection of TGA. This, in turn, has made a major impact on the clinical outcomes owing to better cardiovascular status at presentation, lower postoperative complications and reduced mortality rates.


The IEC 61499 standard has become one of the key approaches to building distributed component-based control systems in industrial automation. The problem of adoption of this standard in industrial practice is often associated with incompletely defined semantics of functional blocks (FB), which are main design artifacts of the standard. In this paper we propose formal (operational) semantics of IEC 61499 FB using transition systems (by example of FB systems operating in accordance with the cyclic execution model). The proposed FB operational semantics is most convenient for the formal verification of FB systems on the basis of model checking as it describes the direct transitions between states. A limitation of this approach is the need to map hierarchical FB systems to flat models. The technique of code generation used for transforming FB transition systems to SMV models is briefly discussed followed by a simple case study.


Questions remain from practitioners, payers, and administrators regarding the economic impact of coronary CT angiography on established diagnostic modalities and the effects on reimbursement within imaging. To address these concerns, we have developed the CCTA Data Registry, which now consists of more than 20,000 cases. Preliminary results indicate that coronary CTA is being utilized appropriately and affects savings for the healthcare system.


To shorten the design period of a hydraulic system and achieve distributed cooperative design by experts, this paper proposes a model of the network collaborative design of a hydraulic system based on multi-agent technology. This model consists of three layers: the management agent layer, the middle agent layer and the resource agent layer. Its agent of the same layer adopts distributed structure, and each autonomous agent is constituted of a group of lower subordinate agents. This structure meets the need of distributed control of the cooperative design. By dynamic data exchange of agents, it carries out their communication, coordination and conflict resolution, and finally gets the global target. From the developed example, a multi-agent system can easily integrate existing engineering design tools with analysis tools. Its concurrent design process can improve design efficiency.


Statecharts are frequently used as a modeling formalism in the design of state-based systems. Formal verification techniques are also often applied to prove certain properties about the behavior of the system. One of the most efficient techniques for formal verification is Counterexample-Guided Abstraction Refinement (CEGAR), which reduces the complexity of systems by automatically building and refining abstractions. In our paper we present a novel adaptation of the CEGAR approach to hierarchical statechart models. First we introduce an encoding of the statechart to logical formulas that preserves information about the state hierarchy. Based on this encoding we propose abstraction and refinement techniques that utilize the hierarchical structure of statecharts and also handle variables in the model. The encoding allows us to use SMT solvers for the systematic exploration and verification of the abstract model, including also bounded model checking. We demonstrate the applicability and efficiency of our abstraction techniques with measurements on an industry-motivated example.


AIMS
Implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) are well accepted by most patients, but 25-33% of patients are anxious and report device-related concerns. Previous studies focused on prevalence rates and mean scores, whereas the course of anxiety over time is unknown in individual patients. We examined the trajectory of anxiety in ICD patients during a 1-year period and determinants of these trajectories.

METHODS AND RESULTS
Consecutive patients (N = 348) implanted with an ICD completed standardized measures of general anxiety and device-related concerns at five assessment occasions and the Type D Scale at baseline. Type D personality is defined by increased negative emotions and the inhibition of these emotions in social interactions. Seven trajectories were identified for state and trait anxiety and eight for device-related concerns. The course of the trajectories for general anxiety was stable over time, whereas device-related concerns showed more fluctuation, with a decrease in concerns generally spread out during the 1 year. Type D personality and social support were determinants of trajectory membership for general anxiety (all P <or= 0.002), whereas Type D (P = 0.001), social support (P = 0.02), and ICD shock (P < 0.001) determined trajectory membership for device-related concerns.

CONCLUSION
The course of general anxiety in ICD patients was stable the first year post implantation, whereas device-related concerns fluctuated more. Type D personality and social support were determinants of trajectory membership for all outcomes, whereas ICD shock was related to device-related concerns only. A simple pre-implant screening may help identify patients at risk for high-distress trajectory membership.


In primary headaches, there is a clear association between the headache and the release of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) but not with any of the other neuronal messengers. The purpose of this review is to describe the role of CGRP in the intracranial circulation and to elucidate a possible role for a specific CGRP receptor antagonist in the treatment of primary headaches. Acute treatment with a 5-HT1B/1D agonist (triptan) results in alleviation of the headache and normalization of the cranial venous CGRP levels, in part due to a presynaptic inhibitory effect on sensory nerves. The central role of CGRP in migraine and cluster headache pathophysiology has led to the search for small molecule CGRP antagonists with few cardiovascular side-effects. The initial pharmacological profile of such a group of compounds has recently been disclosed. One of these compounds has been found to be efficacious in the relief of acute attacks of migraine.


Throughout the past decades, the graphics community has spent major resources on the research and development of physics simulators on the mission to computer‐generate behaviors achieving outstanding visual effects or to make the virtual world indistinguishable from reality. The variety and impact of recent research based on Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) demonstrates the concept's importance as one of the most versatile tools for the simulation of fluids and solids. With this survey, we offer an overview of the developments and still‐active research on physics simulation methodologies based on SPH that has not been addressed in previous SPH surveys. Following an introduction about typical SPH discretization techniques, we provide an overview over the most used incompressibility solvers and present novel insights regarding their relation and conditional equivalence. The survey further covers recent advances in implicit and particle‐based boundary handling and sampling techniques. While SPH is best known in the context of fluid simulation we discuss modern concepts to augment the range of simulatable physical characteristics including turbulence, highly viscous matter, deformable solids, as well as rigid body contact handling. Besides the purely numerical approaches, simulation techniques aided by machine learning are on the rise. Thus, the survey discusses recent data‐driven approaches and the impact of differentiable solvers on artist control. Finally, we provide context for discussion by outlining existing problems and opportunities to open up new research directions.


Multi-touch interfaces are becoming popular with tablet PCs and other multi-touch surfaces increasingly used in classrooms. Several studies have focused on the development of learning and collaboration potentials of these tools. However, assessment and feedback processes are yet to leverage on the new technologies to capture problem solving steps and strategies. This paper describes a computer aided assessment prototype tool that uses an innovative approach of multi-touch gestures to capture solution steps and strategies. It presents a preliminary effort to investigate the capturing of solution steps involving a two- step arithmetic word problem using the approach. The results suggest that it is possible to perform two step arithmetic work with multi-touch gestures and simultaneously capture solution processes. The steps captured provided detailed information on the students' work which was used to study possible strategies adopted in solving the problems. This research suggests some practical implications for development of automated feedback and assessment systems and could serve as a base for future studies on effective strategies in arithmetic problem solving.


ABSTRACT Literature has shown that participation in physical activity is associated with a reduction in the incidence of certain cancers. Physical activity levels across the life course are low. Since cellular damage from an inactive lifestyle accumulates over time, promoting physical activity from childhood is fundamental for cancer prevention. To date, interventions to promote physical activity in children have been unsuccessful over the long term. Physical activity can be accrued through several domains including sport and active play. Research suggests that sport participation and not active play tracks from childhood to adulthood. Active play may be easier to promote because it does not necessitate a certain level of skill or competency, and is enjoyable. The purpose of the present paper is to encourage more research into all areas of active play to increase population physical activity levels across the life course and thus aid in the prevention of specific cancers.


Of the threats faced by current and future generations, man-made climate change is perhaps the greatest. In order to combat climate change, chemists must contribute to reducing the environmental impact of synthetic chemistry. Biocatalysis could be a useful tool with which to combat climate change, since environmentally benign syntheses of complex molecules can be achieved through its use. Benzoate dioxygenase (BZDO) enzymes allow access to arene ipso,ortho-diols through the dearomatisation of sodium benzoate (scheme A-01). This enantiopure building block has previously shown utility in the synthesis of natural products and cyclitols. This thesis sought to expand on the known chemistry of arene ipso,ortho-diol A-01 through the synthesis of arene diol derived heterocycles and asymmetric epoxidation organocatalysts (scheme A01). In addition to these themes, the microbial oxidation of sodium 4-fluorobenzoate has been achieved, providing fluoro-arene ipso,ortho-diol A-02. The reactivity of fluoro-arene diol A-02 has been probed through a number of oxidative transformations. Scheme A-01: Examples of synthesised molecules reported within. Table of


We investigated whether licochalcone E (LicE), a phenolic constituent of licorice, inhibits mammary tumor growth and metastasis using animal and cell culture models. 4T1 mammary carcinoma cells were injected into the mammary fat pads of syngeneic BALB/c mice. Starting 7 days after the injection, the mice received LicE (7 or 14 mg/kg body weight/day) via oral gavage for 25 days. LicE suppressed solid tumor growth and lung metastasis, but did not exhibit kidney or liver toxicity. In tumor tissues, LicE treatment induced a reduction in the expression of Ki67, cyclins, and cyclin-dependent kinases and stimulated apoptosis with increased expression of Bax and cleaved caspase-3 but decreased expression of Bcl-2. In addition, LicE decreased expression of CD31, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A and C, VEGF-receptor 2, lymphatic vessel endothelial receptor-1, CD45, cyclooxygenase-2, inducible nitric oxide synthase, and hypoxia inducible factor-1α in tumor tissues. In lung tissues, LicE reduced the levels of proinflammatory cytokines and angiogenesis/metastasis-related proteins. In mammary cancer cell cultures, LicE (5–20 μmol/L) dose dependently inhibited cell migration and invasion. LicE inhibited secretion of matrix metalloproteinase-9, urokinase-type plasminogen activator and VEGF-A, and stimulated secretion of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2 in MDA-MB-231 cells. In addition, LicE inhibited tube formation of vascular endothelial cells. We show that LicE administration suppressed tumor growth and lung metastasis in the mouse model in conjunction with LicE inhibition of cell migration, invasion, and tube formation in vitro. Reduced tumor growth and metastasis in LicE-treated mice may be, at least in part, attributed to reduced inflammation and tumor angiogenesis. Cancer Prev Res; 6(6); 603–13. ©2013 AACR.


Purpose Physical activity (PA) programs for prostate cancer survivors have positive effects on many aspects of health-related quality of life. Translating this research into sustainable community-based settings is necessary to ensure access to programs for survivors. This study examines patient perspectives in the community-based TrueNTH Lifestyle Management (TrueNTH LM) program in Calgary, Canada. Methods Eleven men from programs at civic wellness centers participated in 2 small semistructured focus groups (n = 5 and 6) at the University of Calgary. Motivation for program initiation and adherence, benefits and barriers to participation, and individual satisfaction and feedback on program improvement were discussed. Audio recordings were transcribed and analyzed using thematic methodology guided by a pragmatic philosophy on the patient experience in the program. Results Themes identified included perceived benefits of participating (physical, psychological, and social), facilitators for involvement in the PA program (program design, initial free access, tailored to prostate cancer specific needs, psychosocial environment), and opportunities for improvement and sustainability (exercise as a part of standard care, cost structure, home-based options). Conclusions These findings provide valuable insight into patient perspectives on effective characteristics of prostate cancer and exercise programs. TrueNTH LM has implemented findings, and ensuring needs (benefits and barriers) are addressed for prostate cancer survivors when entering community-based PA programs.


Current undergraduate medical school curricular trends focus on both vertical integration of clinical knowledge into the traditionally basic science‐dedicated curricula and increasing basic science education in the clinical years. This latter type of integration is more difficult and less reported on than the former. Here, we present an outline of a course wherein the primary learning and teaching objective is to integrate basic science anatomy knowledge with clinical education. The course was developed through collaboration by a multi‐specialist course development team (composed of both basic scientists and physicians) and was founded in current adult learning theories. The course was designed to be widely applicable to multiple future specialties, using current published reports regarding the topics and clinical care areas relying heavily on anatomical knowledge regardless of specialist focus. To this end, the course focuses on the role of anatomy in the diagnosis and treatment of frequently encountered musculoskeletal conditions. Our iterative implementation and action research approach to this course development has yielded a curricular template for anatomy integration into clinical years. Key components for successful implementation of these types of courses, including content topic sequence, the faculty development team, learning approaches, and hidden curricula, were developed. We also report preliminary feedback from course stakeholders and lessons learned through the process. The purpose of this report is to enhance the current literature regarding basic science integration in the clinical years of medical school. Anat Sci Educ 7: 379–388. © 2014 American Association of Anatomists.


Antigen stimulation of cultured bone-marrow-derived mast cells sensitized with specific monoclonal IgE induced cell degranulation and paf-acether (paf; 1-O-alkyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine) biosynthesis via the deacylation/acetylation (remodelling) pathway. Phorbol myristate acetate (PMA; 20-100 ng/ml) triggered only acetyltransferase activation, without concomitant lyso-paf (1-O-alkyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine) and paf formation. A low concentration of PMA (5 ng/ml) potentiated antigen-induced degranulation, acetyltransferase activation and paf formation by about 30% but did not change the level of lyso-paf formation. Stimulation of mast cells with antigen increased intracellular Ca2+ from 61 to 269 nM, whereas no modification of Ca2+ influx was observed when cells were pretreated with PMA (5 ng/ml) before antigen challenge. Gas chromatography coupled to electron capture detection revealed that the composition of paf formed by cells stimulated by antigen alone was similar to that of paf formed by PMA-primed antigen-stimulated cells; 84 +/- 8% and 79 +/- 2% (means +/- S.E.M., n = 3) of molecules respectively bore the C16:0 alkyl chain moiety, with the remainder bearing essentially C18:0 molecules. Overnight treatment of mast cells with PMA (200 ng/ml) caused disappearance of protein kinase C (PKC) from both cytosol and membranes. When such cells were stimulated further with antigen, they failed to degranulate, and acetyltransferase activation, paf production and lyso-paf production were decreased by 33 +/- 11%, 57 +/- 4% and 96 +/- 3% respectively (n = 3 or 5). The PKC inhibitors chlorpromazine and staurosporine inhibited to a significant extent both cell degranulation and all steps leading to paf biosynthesis. Our data suggest that PKC-dependent mechanisms are operational during cell degranulation and contribute only in part to paf biosynthesis. The PKC-dependent signal directly generated by PMA or diacylglycerol is not sufficient to trigger the full cell response, which is obtained only through receptor-operated antigen challenge.


Schistosoma mansoni is a blood-dwelling parasite with the ability to cause schistosomiasis, a neglected tropical disease that is second in prevalence to malaria. This study focussed on the potential presence of lipid rafts in S. mansoni schistosomules (somules) and adult worms. Lipid rafts are characterised by a high content of cholesterol and sphingolipids and have been identified in many organisms with a critical role in cell signalling. Using a lipid raft staining kit, lipid rafts were found to be present at the surface of one-day old somules and adult worms when imaged using confocal laser scanning microscopy. Western blotting with antibodies against a number of proteins known to be present in lipid rafts revealed that the GTPase switch protein Ras (21 kDa), the Gqa subunit (45 kDa) and, most importantly, flotillin (48k Da) were present and detectable in S. mansoni worms and somules. Exposure of somules to 15 ng/ml human EGF resulted in the increased phosphorylation (activation) of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) after five minutes of EGF incubation. A similar result was observed for protein kinase C (PKC). A detergent-resistant membrane separation was next performed on adult worms which identified the presence of flotillin in the Triton X-100 insoluble fraction only, indicating the association of rafts with flotillin in schistosomes; this result was further confirmed when beta-tubulin, a cytosolic marker, was identified only in the cytosolic fraction. Immunohistochemistry identified the expression of flotillin, Ras and Gq in the tegument of the somules as well as the sub-tegumental musculature and other structures to varying degrees. Moreover phosphorylated ERK was also localised to these regions. Cholesterol depletion assays on EGF 15 ng/ml-treated somules using 1 mM methyl-beta-cyclodextrin identified loss of ERK signalling after 10 or 20 minute methyl-beta-cyclodextrin treatment. Collectively, the results of this study indicate the presence of lipid rafts at the surface of S. mansoni and highlight the potential importance that these domains play in this parasite.


As a number of aged fossil power plants recently increased, the precise life assessment of critical equipments gets to be important more than ever. Despite of infrequent likelihood of failure, the equipments in high pressure and temperature operation condition have traditionally been considered as critical because of huge consequence of the equipments and hence life assessment of fossil power plant has been focused on all of the severe operated equipments for past decades. Nowadays, with Risk-Based Inspection technology being developed rapidly, most of the power plant utilities get a chance to reduce the scope of the inspection and test and to extend the interval for the life assessment. This paper provides methodology based on Risk-Based Inspection technology to optimize the life assessment work scope and interval and also demonstrates the enhanced life assessment procedure including risk assessment of equipments.


Mass school closures have become commonplace in urban school districts. To explain their actions, school system leaders often rely on a dominant frame that presents closures as an inevitable, data-driven, and politically neutral phenomenon in an educational landscape defined by shrinking budgets, demographic changes, and increased school choice. In response, research has typically focused on how communities tell counternarratives that seek to interrupt official accounts of school closures. Using a critical frame analysis of qualitative data from the 2013 school closure process in Washington, DC, I discuss another grassroots approach to disrupting school closures: counterframes. Drawing on Critical Race Theory and social movement theory, I discuss counterframes as discursive arguments that allow communities to directly challenge official rhetoric and offer alternatives. Findings show that communities in DC crafted counterframes that pushed back on the notion that the closures were inevitable, questioned the data guiding the process, and attempted to expose hidden agendas and interests behind shuttering schools. The article concludes with the relevance of counterframes to broader educational mobilizations as well as their limitations.


Approximately 10% of the 10 billion bushels of corn harvested in the U.S. is used for fuel ethanol production (2003; Renewable Fuel Association), more than half of which is prepared for fermentation by dry grinding the whole kernel. University of Illinois has developed a modified dry grind process that allows for recovery of the germ and pericarp fractions prior to fermentation. The process could potentially generate an additional 5-7 cents of income per gallon ethanol produced from enhanced fermentation efficiency and from recovering the corn oil. This process also allows for the possibility of converting the fractionated pericarp, termed quick fiber, to ethanol. This review summarizes results reported earlier (1) on the feasibility of using Quick Fiber (QF) as an ethanol feedstock. QF was converted to ethanol using an industrial Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain and ethanologenic Escherichia coli strain FBR5. For the S. cerevisiae fermentation, the ethanol yield was 0.096 gal/bu of processed corn assuming a QF yield of 3.04 lb/bu. For the bacterial fermentation, the final ethanol concentration was 30 g/l or 85% of the theoretical yield. The residuals from the fermentations were also evaluated as a source of corn fiber oil. Corn fiber oil, which is extracted from the pericarp fiber fraction, is a nutraceutical being developed by the ARS that has cholesterol lowering properties. Corn fiber oil yields were 1.12% w/w for the residual material from the SSF process. For the FBR5 fermentations, the residual fiber was recovered after hydrolysis and prior to fermentation. The corn fiber oil yield in this case was 8.28% w/w.


the excellent propaganda in preventive medicine initiated by my predecessor and the founder of the scheme, the late Dr. Harry Hastings. Incidentally, this illustrates how the effective control of one prevalent endemic disease may assist in dealing with others. The point of interest following the correspondence above referred to concerns the absence of Kaposi's varicelliform eruption. Drs. A. Girdwood Fergusson and W. A. Dewar (Jouirnal, February 5, p. 352) define this condition as " a virus infection . . . arising in patients with a damaged skin," and it is therefore worthy of speculation in this instance whether the covering of the vaccination site was adequate and of sufficient duration (a doubtful point in African patients in that area) to prevent virus contamination of leprosy lesions, or is the skin of the leprosy sufferer an unfavourable soil for the growth of the vaccinia virus ? The experience of other workers in this field might be of interest.-I am, etc.,


Linear spectropolarimetry of spectral lines is a neglected field in astronomy, largely because of the lack of instrumentation. Techniques that have been applied, but rarely, include investigation of the dynamics of scattering envelopes through the polarization of electron- or dust-scattered nebular light. Untried techniques include promising new magnetic diagnostics like the Hanle Effect in the far-ultraviolet and magnetic realignment in the visible. The University of Wisconsin Space Astronomy Lab is developing instrumentation for such investigations. In the visible, the Prime Focus Imaging Spectrograph (PFIS) is a first light instrument for the Southern African Large Telescope (SALT), which at an aperture of 11m will be the largest single telescope in the Southern Hemisphere. Scheduled for commissioning in late 2004, PFIS is a versatile high-throughput imaging spectrograph using volume-phase holographic gratings for spectroscopic programs from 320nm to 900nm at resolutions of R=500 to R=6000. A dual-etalon Fabry-Perot subsystem enables imaging spectroscopy at R=500 and R=3000 or 12,500. The polarization subsystem, consisting of a very large calcite polarizing beam-splitter used in conjunction with half- and quarter-wave Pancharatnam superachromatic plates, allow linear or circular polarimetric measurements in any of the spectroscopic modes. In the FUV, the Far-Ultraviolet SpectroPolarimeter (FUSP) is a sounding rocket payload, scheduled for its first flight in 2003, that will obtain the first high-precision spectropolarimetry from 105 - 150 nm, and the first astronomical polarimetry of any kind below 130 nm. The 50 cm primary mirror of the telescope is F/2.5. At the prime focus are the polarimetric optics, a stressed lithium fluoride rotating waveplate, followed by a synthetic diamond Brewster-angle mirror. The spectrometer uses an aberration-corrected spherical holographic grating and a UV-sensitized CCD detector, for a spectral resolution of R=1800.


It had been established that the sexual structure of a person was determined by the type of hormonal production, what gave biological specificity of the estrogens to women and androgens to men, but recently this functional specificity has lost base due to the biological activity described in different tissues of men and women, today known as endocrine paradox. There are hormonal events that show the need of estrogens to correct development in men and androgens to women. In men the absence of effect of the estrogens produces deficient ossification of skeleton, persistence of the growth cartilage and osteoporosis in adult men. In women the production of androgens by suprarenal glandules is required to obtain the complete feminization. In women with chirurgic-induced menopause, the relation between androgens and the stimulation of sexual response has been established. It has been described a hormone called kisspeptin, that it is attributed the potential to initiate the puberty because stimulates the hypothalamus; in absence of this hormone the women do not present their secondary sex characters, remaining immature sexually. The understanding of individuals needs of androgens and estrogens contribute to improve the control and care of the patient with hormonal deficiencies in any phase of the life.


This paper exploits five waves of the Vietnam Access to Resources Household Survey (VARHS) to investigate issues of social and political capital in rural Viet Nam. I analyse membership of the Communist Party, .mass organizations. (Farmers. Union, Women.s Union, etc.) and other voluntary organizations, trust, and the significance of family ties in economic transactions (e.g. the share of land tenants who are relatives of their landlord). The paper also presents fixed effects regressions exploring the effects of social and political capital on household income. Results indicate positive returns to Communist Party membership, trust and access to informal insurance.


The calculation of electrical conductance from the transmissive behavior of the sample has become a widely accepted procedure. This discussion visits a number of points where, despite this acceptance, the increasing use of formal techniques has obscured elementary physical considerations. For a simple planar tunneling barrier the exact applicable formula depends on the geometry of the leads. We stress the role of inelastic transitions in the leads for samples where transmission depends sensitively on energy. The difficulties in extending the approach, which calculates conductance from transmission, to high frequencies, are explained. We also emphasize that the single electron transmission probability, and the occupation probability in the emitting reservoirs, without further regard to the exclusion principle, define the conductance even in the presence of a time-dependent scattering potential. Spatial variations of current and field, due to localized scatterers, are revisited only briefly, to point to further needed calculations.


This paper reports on an in-depth case study of a large and strategic IT development project facing business user disengagement and potential system rejection. Somewhat belatedly senior management recognised the threat and appointed a new project manager with a brief to rescue the project whilst keeping to the original implementation deadline. Much to almost everyone's surprise the new project manager, and his radical approach, produced the required significant results. The paper examines the changes instigated by the new project manager and a group of newly appointed Business Analysts (BAs). The approach, based on participation ideas, utilized an adapted state modelling technique, and was framed within the agile informed management approach, succeeded in achieving an emergence of business users' belief and the feeling that they could not just influence the system but design it in a way that was needed by the business and that would support the current required workflows as well as for the future, which was somewhat uncertain. The detail of the approach is described and the way in which the disengagement and turnaround was achieved is provided. The paper concludes by outlining the contributions of the case and the approach and suggesting a relevance not only to the systems development and participation literature but potentially to the concept of systems ownership and Psychological Ownership (PO) which it could be argued were invoked in the case.


Smartphones have become near ubiquitous on the global stage placing the power of both computational analytics and communication into the hands of users in both high and low-resource regions alike. The potential to leverage these devices to address inequities in healthcare are enormous. Our development team theorizes that we can create a medical device blending a traditional pediatric phototherapy irradiance meter for the treatment of neonatal jaundice with a mobile smartphone to create a reasonably priced irradiance meter with improved performance specifically for low-resource regions. The result of our work is a minimum viable prototype based on an Android operating system tethered wirelessly to a remote sensor that incorporates a clinical training feature. Based on laboratory tests simulating a clinical environment and field testing in Northern Nigeria, the results were equivalent to standard phototherapy meters with additional expected benefits of cost, mobility, access and clinical training.


La série des Etudes et Documents du CERDI est consultable sur le site : Les commentaires et analyses développés n'engagent que leurs auteurs qui restent seuls responsables des erreurs et insuffisances. Abstract This paper examines empirically one of the most popular views in international economics, yet barely tested: undervaluation of the currency is a " beggar-thy-neighbor " policy. It assesses simultaneously the two closely related implications of the beggar-thy-neighbor view: (i) undervaluation of the domestic currency improves the domestic trade balance; and most importantly, (ii) undervaluation of the domestic currency negatively impacts the other countries' trade balances. Starting from the traditional imperfect substitutes model, we propose an empirical framework allowing the estimation of both the internal and external impacts of currency undervaluation. This framework is then applied to a panel of 62 advanced and emerging markets over the period 1990-2007. The results give strong support to the beggar-thy-neighbor hypothesis. We find that currency undervaluation is robustly and significantly associated with an improvement of the domestic trade balance. We also find that countries that keep their currencies undervalued tend to negatively impact the other countries' trade balances. Finally, our estimates suggest that the external effect of China's renminbi, which has been the focus of the profession thus far, might be " the tip of the iceberg " : the latter two results carry over when China's trade data are excluded from the analysis.


This paper discusses the role of ethics in the Food and Drug Administration's approval process. The fundamental reasons for having a regulatory agency for food and medical products are ethical: concern for the safety and welfare of consumers. These basic ethical principles require a substantial number of regulations, guidances, procedures, and policies. If consumers of medical products are to be protected, every step of the process by which medical products are developed, tested, and marketed must be regulated


Nutrients accumulated in dry crop residues and released in the decomposition process return to the soil and may become available to subsequent crops. The objective of this study was to evaluate the decomposition and nutrient release of plant residues of different no-tillage crop sequences in the second growing season. A field experiment was carried out on a Rhodic Eutrudox in Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil (48°18'W and 21°15'S), arranged in a randomized split-block design with three replications. The treatments consisted of combinations of three summer crops sequences (soybean-corn rotation, corn monoculture and soybean monoculture) with seven crops in the second growing season (maize, grain sorghum, sunflower, sunn hemp, pigeon pea, oilseed radish, and pearl millet). The experiment was initiated in 2002 and this study assessed the 2007/2008 and 2008/2009 growing seasons. The decomposition of plant residues was evaluated 15, 30, 60, 120, and 180 days after management, using litter bags. The soil cover was evaluated immediately after chopping the residues and at the end of the growing season. The release rates from sunn hemp, maize, grain sorghum, and sunflower residues were lowest. Sunn hemp, pigeon pea, oilseed radish, and pearl millet released the highest amounts of nutrients during the decomposition period. Sunn hemp and pearl millet were most suitable as second season crops. The soil cover was poorest in the crop sequences with sunflower in the second growing season.


This article emphasizes the value of qualitative research using phenomenological research with a staged multidesign to provide quantitative insight, creating a mixed method research design. The original study this article is based on investigated the effects of recession in the community bank environment. The literature review includes a discussion of the banking environment to provide readers an understanding of the background for the article and for the specific methodological design.


This thesis attempts to highlight the Islamic position on man and society, particularly with respect to human efforts to construct a healthy and balanced society , by examining the Islamic approach to the problem of disability. It consists of four chapters. The first explores the Islamic view of man, both as an individual and as a member of human society, and of the ideal interaction of human beings in bringing this into existence and maintaining it. The second considers the nature of disability in general and Islamic approach to it in particular. The third is concerned particularly with pouerty, as the aspect of disability potentially damaging to society. The various Islamic methods of alleviating it, by means of voluntary aid and by means of what has been laid down as a religious duty for the Muslim are presented, together with the role played by the state. The fourth examines the other Islamic resouces for alleviating poverty and presenting an example for the implementation of these methods in a modern Islamic state, Saudi Arabia. People are encouraged to give for the cause of Allah; they are at the same time, encouraged to work, in order to be self-dependent . In addition to voluntary donations, certain charitable payments are also obligatory in Islam. This thesis explores the various resources that Islam offers in combating the social evils of disability and disadvantage. The methods adopted in Saudi Arabia for the implementation of Islamic teaching on this subject constitutes an example of Islamic practice at the present time.


The human platelet alpha 2-adrenergic receptor is an integral membrane protein which binds epinephrine. The gene for this receptor has been cloned, and the primary structure is thus known [Kobilka et al. (1987) Science 238, 650-656]. A model of its secondary structure predicts that the receptor has seven transmembrane spanning domains. By covalent labeling and peptide mapping, we have identified a region of the receptor that is directly involved with ligand binding. Partially purified preparations of the receptor were covalently radiolabeled with either of two specific photoaffinity ligands: [3H]SKF 102229 (an antagonist) or p-azido[3H]clonidine (an agonist). The radiolabeled receptors were then digested with specific endopeptidases, and peptides containing the covalently bound radioligands were identified. Lysylendopeptidase treatment of [3H]SKF 102229 labeled receptor yielded one peptide of Mr 2400 as the product of a complete digest. Endopeptidase Arg-C gave a labeled peptide of Mr 4000, which was further digested to the Mr 2400 peptide by additional treatment with lysylendopeptidase. Using p-azido[3H]clonidine-labeled receptor, a similar Mr 2400 peptide was obtained by lysylendopeptidase cleavage. This Mr 2400 peptide corresponds to the fourth transmembrane spanning domain of the receptor. These data suggest that this region forms part of the ligand binding domain of the human platelet alpha 2-adrenergic receptor.


Initiated by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) more than a decade ago in North Kivu, single-species plantations of Eucalyptus saligna and Grevillea robusta constitute, with other village plantations, the current legal source of wood-energy for the communities bordering the Virunga National Park (PNVi). This study assesses the growth and productivity of these plantations in two sites with different soil and climatic conditions to predict their production over time. The study also assesses the carbon stock and long-term CO2 fixation in the biomass of the studied plantations to deduce their contribution to climate change mitigation. Non-destructive inventories were carried out during three consecutive years in 20 E. saligna and 12 G. robusta plantations in Sake and Kirumba. Analysis of the data revealed that both species have similar diametric growth while height growth and productivity were significantly higher in the E. saligna plantations. The productivity of E. saligna was also higher in Kirumba than in Sake, while that of G. robusta was higher in Sake than in Kirumba. The differences observed were mainly related to species, silviculture, altitude and concentration of bioavailable elements in the soils. The analysis of productivity evolution over time allowed us to determine optimal rotations at 8 and 12 years, respectively, for E. saligna and G. robusta plantations. The relationships between biomass or carbon stock and tree diameter were not different between the studied species but were significantly different at the stand level. If silviculture was standardized and plantations carefully monitored, carbon stock and long-term CO2 fixation would be higher in G. robusta plantations than in E. saligna plantations. These results indicate that while for productivity reasons E. saligna is the favoured species in wood-energy plantations to quickly meet the demand of the growing and disadvantaged population living in the vicinity of PNVi, carefully monitored G. robusta plantations could be more interesting in terms of carbon credits. To simultaneously optimise wood-energy production and carbon storage in the plantations initiated in North Kivu, E. saligna and G. robusta should be planted in mixture. In addition, species and site characteristics adapted silvicultural management practices must be applied to these plantations, which are very important for the region, its population and its park. Finally, the economic profitability as well as the sustainability of the plantations should be assessed in the longer term in North Kivu.


Background: Cooperation between transcription factors and myogenic regulatory factors is important for skeletal muscle differentiation. Results: sLZIP inhibits expression of muscle-specific genes during myogenesis via disruption of an association between α-actinin-4 and MEF2. Conclusion: A novel myogenesis regulatory mechanism of sLZIP is characterized. Significance: sLZIP can be used as a therapeutic target for treatment of muscle diseases. The small leucine zipper protein (sLZIP) plays a role in transcriptional regulation in various types of cells. However, the role of sLZIP in myogenesis is unknown. We identified α-actinin-4 (ACTN4) as a sLZIP-binding protein. ACTN4 functions as a transcriptional regulator of myocyte enhancer factor (MEF)2, which plays a critical role in expression of muscle-specific genes during skeletal muscle differentiation. We found that ACTN4 translocates to the nucleus, induces myogenic gene expression, and promotes myotube formation during myogenesis. The myogenic process is controlled by an association between myogenic factors and MEF2 transcription factors. ACTN4 increased expression of muscle-specific proteins via interaction with MEF2. However, sLZIP decreased myogenic gene expression and myotube formation during myogenesis via disruption of the association between ACTN4 and MEF2. ACTN4 increased the promoter activities of myogenic genes, whereas sLZIP abrogated the effect of ACTN4 on transcriptional activation of myogenic genes in myoblasts. The C terminus of sLZIP is required for interaction with the C terminus of ACTN4, based on deletion mutant analysis, and sLZIP plays a role in regulation of MEF2 transactivation via interaction with ACTN4. Our results indicate that sLZIP negatively regulates skeletal muscle differentiation via interaction with ACTN4 and that sLZIP can be used as a therapeutic target molecule for treatment of muscle hypertrophy and associated diseases.