Functional symmetries provide significant benefits for multiple tasks in synthesis and verification. Many applications require the manual specification of symmetries using special language features such as symmetric data types. Methods for automatically detecting symmetries are based on functional analysis, e.g. using BDDs, or structural methods. The latter search for circuit graph automorphisms which imply functional symmetry. We present a method for finding symmetries of Boolean functions based on a two-step approach. First, the circuit structure is modified to maximize its structural regularity and thus the number of inherent automorphisms. The next step implements a fast algorithm for detecting the automorphism generators of the circuit graph. The generators provide a compact representation of all automorphisms, which in turn encode a subset of the functional symmetries. Because of its pure structural nature, our approach avoids the complexity issues inherent to methods using BDDs, yet it still works automatically and independently from the input specification format. However, the described method may not detect all functional symmetries, however, our experiments demonstrate that it can find the majority of the symmetries present in practical circuits.


Molecular imprinting technology is becoming a versatile tool for the preparation of tailor-made molecular recognition elements. An innovative electrochemical sensor which enables the recognition of a small pesticide target molecule atrazine based on molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) is developed. The MIP has been synthesised by using bulk polymerisation method. Further attachment of the polymer onto the graphite felt activated the MIP-electrode for electrochemical sensor. The obtained sensing MIP is highly specific towards newly added atrazine and the recognition can be quantitatively analysed by the variation of the cyclic voltammogram of hybrid MIP-electrode. The developed sensor shows remarkable properties with 1.2 of imprinting factor with binding capacity of 4.06 ± 0.8 mg g−1 of polymer.


The problem of learning logic programs has been researched extensively, but other knowledge representations formalisms like Description Logics are also an interesting target language. The importance of inductive reasoning in Description Logics has increased with the rise of the Semantic Web, because the learning algorithms can be used as a means for the computer aided building of ontologies. Ontology construction is a burdensome task and powerful tools are needed to support knowledge engineers. The thesis focuses on learning ALC concept definitions, although many ideas apply to concept learning in general. It deeply researches the properties of ALC refinement operators, which are an efficient way to traverse the space of concepts ordered by subsumption. We give a full theoretical analysis of interesting properties of such operators. Based on this analysis, we propose a suitable concrete refinement operator and research its properties. We show that it is not possible to define better operators with respect to the properties we are investigating and establish a complete learning algorithm by adding an intelligent search heuristic. As a second approach we investigate the use of Genetic Programming to solve the learning problem in Description Logics. We discuss the characteristics of Genetic Programming in this context and show a way to incorporate refinement operators in the Genetic Programming framework. Again, we define a suitable operator and analyse it. Some further extensions like learning from uncertain data and concept invention are also proposed. Besides the analysis of the two learning approaches mentioned above, we will also briefly investigate current problems in evaluating concepts and describe possible solutions.


A novel approach to the measurement of microwave signal frequency is studied and demonstrated. The approach is based on a monolithically integrated echelle diffractive grating (EDG). The microwave signal is converted to an optical signal of two sidebands using an optical carrier and a Mach-Zehnder modulator. One of the sidebands is then filtered out by a fiber Bragg grating, while the other sideband is characterized by an EDG-based interrogator. Due to the better than 1-pm interrogation resolution of this interrogator, the center wavelength of the sideband tested is capable of being accurately measured. Combining this data with the wavelength of the optical carrier used, the frequency of the microwave signal can be calculated. The results obtained are found to be in good agreement with those of the microwave signals.


This paper proposes a novel deep learning-based video object matting method that can achieve temporally coherent matting results. Its key component is an attention-based temporal aggregation module that maximizes image matting networks' strength for video matting networks. This module computes temporal correlations for pixels adjacent to each other along the time axis in feature space, which is robust against motion noises. We also design a novel loss term to train the attention weights, which drastically boosts the video matting performance. Besides, we show how to effectively solve the trimap generation problem by fine-tuning a state-of-the-art video object segmentation network with a sparse set of user-annotated keyframes. To facilitate video matting and trimap generation networks' training, we construct a large-scale video matting dataset with 80 training and 28 validation foreground video clips with ground-truth alpha mattes. Experimental results show that our method can generate high-quality alpha mattes for various videos featuring appearance change, occlusion, and fast motion. Our code and dataset can be found at: https://github.com/yunkezhang/TCVOM


This chapter highlights the challenges presented by international politics. Much of what happens in British politics occurs because of Britain's relationship to the international stage. Relationships to other states, international bodies, and the international economy need to be managed by the UK's political leaders and foreign and defence bureaucracies, to manage how to deploy Britain's voice in international matters. Then there is the delegation of powers to international organizations and the making of treaties. The chapter specifically examines foreign policy and focuses on how functions are delegated to international organizations. It tells the story of the European Union (EU) as one of the most important international delegations culminating in the story of Brexit. This leads to a discussion of the UK's defence and security role. One key theme of the chapter is how success and failure in international politics feed back into domestic politics.


The present study was conducted on a sample of 400 respondents from the states of haryana, panjab, and delhi. A suvey questionnaire of 65 items was used to know the people opinions about the casuses of honor killing in north mdia. It has been observed in the findings that irrationale and negative attitude towards females, attaching prestigious tags to females, community pressures, attitude towards youth and intercaste marriage are some of the observations indicating their role in honor killing.The study reveals the role of cognitions and cultural influences in commiting the crime in the name of honour.


In a setting where two AI agents embodied as animated humanoid avatars are engaged in a conversation with one human and each other, we see two challenges. One, determination by the AI agents about which one of them is being addressed. Two, determination by the AI agents if they may/could/should speak at the end of a turn. In this work we bring these two challenges together and explore the participation of AI agents in multi-party conversations. Particularly, we show two embodied AI shopkeeper agents who sell similar items aiming to get the business of a user by competing with each other on the price. In this scenario, we solve the first challenge by using headpose (estimated by deep learning techniques) to determine who the user is talking to. For the second challenge we use deontic logic to model rules of a negotiation conversation.


496 pages #Penguin Books Limited, 2012 #2012 #Mark Mazower #071819294X, 9780718192945 #Governing the World: The History of an Idea #The compelling and provocative history of world government, from acclaimed author Mark MazowerShortlisted for the RUSI 2013 Duke of Wellington Medal for Military LiteratureIn 1815 the shocked and exhausted victors of the decades of fighting that had engulfed Europe for a generation agreed to a new system for keeping the peace. Instead of independent states changing sides, doing deals and betraying one another, a new, collegial 'Concert of Europe' would ensure that the brutal chaos of the Napoleonic Wars never happened again.Mark Mazower's remarkable new book recreates two centuries of international government the struggle to spread values and build institutions to bring order to an anarchic and dangerous state system. file download napo.pdf


In this work, we aim at an extensive study of the diffusion phenomenon of oil-droplets dispersed in water onto which are strongly adsorbed charged point-like particles (Pickering emulsions). This diffusion that originates from multiple collisions with the molecules of water, is anomalous, due to the presence of relatively strong correlations between the moving oil-droplets. Using Molecular Dynamic simulation, with a pair-potential of Sogami-Ise type, we first observe that the random walkers execute a normal diffusion, at intermediate time, followed by a slow diffusion (subdiffusion) we attribute to the presence of cages, formed by the nearest neighbors (traps). In the cage-regime, we find that the mean-square-displacement increases according to a time-power law, with an anomalous diffusion exponent between 0 and 1. The existence of a cage effect is shown also by computing the velocity auto-correlation function of the random walker. It is found that, in a cage, this function is governed by an underdamped (oscillatory) behavior, for strong densities and surface charges, and low-salt concentration. In the inverse situation, however, we observe that this correlation-function is rather overdamped (non-oscillatory). In the two cases, at large-time, this function fails according to a time-power law.


— We analyse the effects of the Dutch Act on Extraordinary Measures for Urban Problems . This allows local governments to prohibit non-employed households from entering into public housing in targeted neighbourhoods to improve social mixing. We show that the Act is largely ineffective in changing the demographic composition of neighbourhoods. At the same time, due to prominent advertis-ing of targeted deprived neighbourhoods, a stigma may have been created. We adopt a hedonic price approach and use a boundary-discontinuity (within 100 m of neighbourhood borders) to quantify the overall effect of the policy. We thus exploit spatio-temporal differences in house prices and find a sizeable price reduction of about 3 - 5% . The magnitude of this effect is confirmed for two other national place-based policy programmes, adding to the external validity of these findings. Our results suggest that neighbourhood stigma is important, which implies that individuals living in deprived neighbourhoods experience dis-utility from living in a place with a low status.


As defined by the World Health Organization (WHO):2 Palliative medicine is the study and management of patients with active progressive far advanced disease for whom the prognosis is limited and the focus of care is the quality of life. [It is] the active total care of patients whose disease is not responsive to curative treatment. Control of pain of other symptoms and of psychological social and spiritual problems is paramount. The goal of palliative care is achievement of the best quality of life for patients and their families. Many aspects of palliative care are applicable earlier in the course of the illness in conjunction with treatment. Palliative care: Affirms life and regards dying as a normal process; Neither hastens nor postpones death; Provides relief from pain and other distressing symptoms; Integrates the psychological and spiritual aspects of patient care; Offers a support system to help patients live as actively as possible until death; and Offers a support system to help families cope during a patients illness and with their own bereavement. In short palliative care comprehensively addresses the physical emotional and spiritual impact a life-threatening illness has on a person no matter the stage of the illness. It places the sick person and his/her family however defined at the center of care and aggressively addresses all of the symptoms and problems experienced by them. Many healthcare providers apply certain elements of the palliative care treatment approach-- such as comprehensive care and aggressive symptom management-- to the care of all of their patients not only those who are terminally ill offering the type of care we would all like to receive when we are sick. (excerpt)


A vertical flow constructed wetland was combined with a biological aerated filter to develop an ecological filter, and to obtain the optimal operating parameters: The hydraulic loading was 1.55 m3/(m2·d), carbon-nitrogen ratio was 10, and gas-water ratio was 6. The experimental results demonstrated considerable removal efficiency of chemical oxygen demand (COD), ammonia nitrogen (NH4+-N), total nitrogen (TN), and total phosphorus (TP) in wastewater by the ecological filter, with average removal rates of 83.79%, 93.10%, 52.90%, and 79.07%, respectively. Concentration of NH4+-N after treatment met the level-A discharge standard of GB18918-2002. Compared with non-plant filter, the ecological filter improved average removal efficiency of COD, NH4+-N, TN, and TP by 13.03%, 25.30%, 14.80%, and 2.32%, respectively: thus, plants significantly contribute to the removal of organic pollutants and nitrogen. Through microporous aeration and O2 secretion of plants, the ecological filter formed an aerobic-anaerobic-aerobic alternating environment; thus aerobic and anaerobic microbes were active and effectively removed organic pollutants. Meanwhile, nitrogen and phosphorus were directly assimilated by plants and as nutrients of microorganisms. Meanwhile, pollutants were removed through nitrification, denitrification, filtration, adsorption, and interception by the filler. High removal rates of pollutants on the ecological filter proved that it is an effective wastewater-treatment technology for decentralized wastewater of mountainous towns.


This paper describes a theoretical and experimental analysis on full-filed stress distribution from thermoelastic measurements and its application to determination of stress concentration. The sum of the principle stress can be measured by Thermal Stress Analysis (TSA). Lock-in Thermography is very effective tool to measure the structure stress distribution by its high thermal resolving. In this study, the thermoelastic effect theory is described and the relationship between the temperature and the applied stress is developed in an elastic material. Experiments were carried out with 2A12 aluminium alloys plate and ones with hole structure under cyclic load. The thermoelastic effect coefficient is obtained for 2A12 aluminium alloys materials, and the effect law is analyzed that the stress value measured was affected by load frequencies. The optional load frequency is obtained, and that is, the load frequency is selected greater than 3.5Hz for 2Al12 materilas, and it was found that the structure stress can be evaluated with good accuracies by the lock in thermography. The experiment was carried out for aircraft components stress distribution measurement and structure stress analysis. The experimental results show the stress concentration position is easy found from stress distribution by lock-in thermography.


In 1963, Howard S. Becker gave a lecture about deviance, challenging the then-conventional definition that deviance was inherently criminal and abnormal and arguing that instead, deviance was better understood as a function of labeling. At the end of his lecture, a distinguished colleague standing at the back of the room, puffing a cigar, looked at Becker quizzically and asked, "What about murder? Isn't that really deviant?" It sounded like Becker had been backed into a corner. Becker, however, wasn't defeated! Reasonable people, he countered, differ over whether certain killings are murder or justified homicide, and these differences vary depending on what kinds of people did the killing. In What About Mozart? What About Murder?, Becker uses this example, along with many others, to demonstrate the different ways to study society, one that uses carefully investigated, specific cases and another that relies on speculation and on what he calls "killer questions," aimed at taking down an opponent by citing invented cases. Becker draws on a lifetime of sociological research and wisdom to show, in helpful detail, how to use a variety of kinds of cases to build sociological knowledge. With his trademark conversational flair and informal, personal perspective Becker provides a guide that researchers can use to produce general sociological knowledge through case studies. He champions research that has enough data to go beyond guesswork and urges researchers to avoid what he calls "skeleton cases," which use fictional stories that pose as scientific evidence. Using his long career as a backdrop, Becker delivers a winning book that will surely change the way scholars in many fields approach their research.


The contribution summarises the results of oxygen activity determinations, which were measured and registered continuously in castings from cast irons with various types of graphite. The results were used to find the relationship between two variables: natural logarithm of oxygen activities and reverse value of thermodynamic temperature 1 /T. Obtained regression lines were used to calculate oxygen activity at different temperatures, to calculate Gibbs free energy ΔG at the different temperatures and to calculate the single ΔG value for significant temperature of the graphite solidification. The results were processed by a statistical analysis of data files for the different types of graphite with flake, vermicular and spheroidal graphite. Each material has its proper typical oxygen activities range and individual temperature function of Gibbs free energy for analysing and governing casting quality.


Based on identity-based cryptography, this paper proposes a remote authentication protocol featured with client anonymity, nonrepudiation, and improved efficiency for value-added services in a mobile environment. First, an identity-based signature scheme is proposed, and the verification result of the signature is a constant with respect to the signer's identifier. Then, a remote authentication protocol is constructed by combining the proposed signature scheme with a new concept called the client account index, which helps to realize client anonymity with no encryption operations. A formal proof and a theoretical analysis are provided to show the security strength of the proposals. Performance evaluation shows that compared with previous identity-based remote authentication schemes, the new protocol reduces at least 21.7% of the overall running time with stronger security; the reductions in the overall running time and signaling traffic reach 31.9% and 82.0%, respectively, compared with previous Rivest-Shamir-Adleman-based schemes.


Neutrophil accumulation in the lung plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of acute lung injury during sepsis. Directed movement of neutrophils is mediated by a group of chemoattractants, especially CXC chemokines. Local lung production of CXC chemokines is intensified during experimental sepsis induced by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP), as reflected by rising levels of MIP-2 and cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant-1 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluids. Alveolar macrophages are primed and blood neutrophils are down-regulated for production of MIP-2 and cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant production in response to LPS and C5a. Under these conditions of stimulation, activation of MAPKs (p38, p42/p44) occurs in sham neutrophils but not in CLP neutrophils, while under the same conditions phosphorylation of p38 and p42/p44 occurs in both sham and CLP alveolar macrophages. These data indicate that, under septic conditions, there is impaired signaling in neutrophils and enhanced signaling in alveolar macrophages, resulting in CXC chemokine production, and C5a appears to play a pivotal role in this process. As a result, CXC chemokines increase in lung, setting the stage for neutrophil accumulation in lung during sepsis.


This paper estimates demand for housing and its attributes in urban Bangladesh using a survey of 4400 owner, renter and squatter households. The results revealed that housing demand is inelastic with respect to income and price; and price elasticity is less than income elasticity in absolute terms. Estimates of demand for housing attributes showed that owner and renter households value structural quality, sanitation and electricity, as well as a living room and dining room/kitchen. Squatter households value living space, pit latrine, water supply and electricity, but place less emphasis on structural quality. Irrespective of these submarkets, income improvement strategies are likely to be the most effective means of enhancing housing consumption. The rental submarket might be improved by rent liberalisation, while slum improvement strategies should focus on tenure security and incremental improvement. However, contrary to current practice, the emphasis should be on the size of squatter dwellings rather than on their structural quality.


Patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) is a common condition presenting to physiotherapy and sports medicine practices. Despite its prevalence, the aetiology, pathogenesis, and recommended treatment remain unclear. One component of treatment for PFPS that has been subjected to scrutiny is patellar taping. This taping was designed to realign the patella within the femoral trochlea, thus reducing pain from PFPS and improving both quadriceps and patellofemoral joint function. Clinical and research findings confirm that the pain associated with PFPS is significantly reduced with patellar taping. Therefore, research has aimed at determining the mechanisms of this pain relief. The means by which patellar tape can relieve pain may provide insight into the aetiology and risk factors for PFPS, thus allowing more appropriately designed treatment regimes and preventative strategies. There is evidence to suggest that patellar tape improves patella alignment (measured radiographically) and quadriceps function (torque production and extensor moments). Evidence that patellar tape enhances the activation of individual vastii (magnitude or timing) is limited in quality and quantity, which probably reflects the difficulties inherent in measuring this complex question. There is preliminary evidence for improved knee control during gait in association with patellar tape. This paper critically reviews the studies that have examined the effects of patellar taping and makes informed recommendations for further research and clinical practice.


BACKGROUND
Sonography is a useful technique for the study of the Achilles tendon, and specially in the detection of tendon xantomas. Normal sonographic size is not well established, and is essential in the clinical diagnosis of monogenic familial hypercholesterolemia (FH). Possible relationship between Achilles tendon size and plasma lipid concentrations in normolipidemic population is not known.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS
The antero-posterior Achilles tendon diameter (ATD) was measured with high resolution sonography in 100 healthy subjects, 50 males and 50 females, 20-70 years old, 10 subjects for each decade of age and sex. ATD was correlated with age, gender, body mass index, physical activity and lipid and apolipoprotein B plasma concentrations.

RESULTS
The ATD was significantly higher in males than in females, 5.32 (standard desviation [SD] 0.48) mm versus 4.91 (SD 0.47) mm (p < 0.01). In the multivariate analysis, ATD of males was positively associated with total plasma cholesterol (TC) level (p < 0.01). The ATD in females was positively associated with weight (p < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS
Normal ATD has been defined. Its range is relatively narrow and different in both sexes. Similarities in the histology between vascular and tendinous intersticium probably explain the relationship found between Achilles tendon and TC. Achilles tendon size could be a simple marker of lipid deposition in tissues.


We present a new set of isochrones in which the effect of the α-element enhancement is fully incorporated. These isochrones are an extension of the already published set of Y2 Isochrones (our Paper I), constructed for the scaled-solar mixture. As in Paper I, helium diffusion and convective core overshoot have been taken into account. The range of chemical compositions covered is 0.00001 ≤ Z ≤ 0.08. The models were evolved from the pre-main-sequence stellar birthline to the onset of helium burning in the core. The age range of the full isochrone set is 0.1-20 Gyr, while younger isochrones of age 1-80 Myr are also presented up to the main-sequence turn-off. Combining this set with that of Paper I for scaled-solar mixture isochrones, we provide a consistent set of isochrones that can be used to investigate populations of any value of α-enhancement. We confirm the earlier results of Paper I that inclusion of α-enhancement effects further reduces the age estimates of globular clusters by approximately 8% if [α/Fe]= +0.3. It is important to note the metallicity dependence of the change in age estimates (larger age reductions in lower metallicities). This reduces the age gap between the oldest metal-rich and metal-poor Galactic stellar populations and between the halo and the disk populations. We also investigate whether the effects of α-enhancement can be mimicked by increasing the total metal abundance in the manner proposed by Salaris and collaborators. We find such simple scaling formulae are valid at low metallicities but not at all at high metallicities near and above solar. Thus, it is essential to use the isochrones rigorously computed for α-enhancement when modeling metal-rich populations, such as bright galaxies. The isochrone tables, together with interpolation routines have been made available via internet.


Total midgut volvulus and gangrene due to a congenitally elongated mesentery in a 27-year-old primipara occurred 3 days after cesarean section. All of the small bowel distal to the duodenum except for 12 inches of jejunum was resected, and the patient survived. This case and the literature concerning volvulus in pregnancy are reviewed here, and suggestions for prevention and treatment are made.


Studies of bent-core liquid crystals have provided a fascinating insight into these systems, not only for their potential use in applications but also for fundamental research. It is known that the elastic behaviour in bent-core liquid crystals is different than in calamitic liquid crystals; the splay elastic constant K11 < K33 (bend elastic constant) in bent-cores, compared to K33 < K11 in calamitics. This thesis will investigate
the elastic behaviour in oxadiazole based bent-core liquid crystals and in their mixtures, aiming to gain an insight into the phase behaviour that is exhibited in these systems.

An oxadiazole based bent-core liquid crystal was found to exhibit anomalously low twist (K22) and bend elastic constants. Computational and theoretical calculations were carried out on this material; the elastic behaviour was explained by considering the contributions of spontaneous chirality and polarity. Fluctuations of the chiral conformers of the molecule cause a negative correction to K22 which was found to be large in this material. In a similar fashion, fluctuations in the local polar order cause a negative correction to K33 which was
also found to be large in this material.

Binary mixtures of two bent-core liquid crystals were created and the elastic constants measured. It was found that the values measured for the mixtures lie in between those measured for the two pure materials, as expected when considering simple mixing rules. Mixtures of calamitic liquid crystals doped with 10% of bent-core mesogens were also investigated. In all of these mixtures the splay constant was unaffected by the bent-core dopant, with the bend constant reducing by 10-20% and the twist constant reducing by up to 40%. The splay results are explained by considering that the bent-core dopants have no scope to exhibit any wedge-shaped conformers, thus having no significant impact on K11. The bend results are in line with simple mixing rules and existing literature. The twist results suggest that the fluctuations in chiral conformers of the bent-core molecules enhance fluctuations of chirality in the conformers in the calamitic host, thus providing a large negative correction to K22.

Investigating the phase behaviour of the binary mixtures of two bent-core liquid crystals showed that two different underlying phases were exhibited, dependent on the concentrations of the bent-core materials. It was found that the elastic behaviour in the nematic phases of
the mixtures had no discernible influence on the formation of the underlying phases, and thus the elastic constants are not the sole driving factor in the formation of the underlying phases. In mixtures of calamitic liquid crystals doped with bent-core mesogens, it was found that some of the mixtures exhibited self-assembling �filament structures that grow in phases below the isotropic phase. Results showed that the �lament growth is dependent on the director, and exhibited time-dependent behaviour that is analogous to that observed
in certain lyotropic systems.

This thesis forms part of a project funded by the EPSRC CASE award with Merck Chemicals Ltd., aiming to investigate the potential of bent-core liquid crystals for both display and non-display applications. The results described here aid in understanding the novel elastic and phase behaviour in bent-core liquid crystals and their mixtures.


The goal of the thesis is to develop theory, methods and tools for the compositional and incremental verification for component-based systems. We propose a compositional verification method for proving safety properties. The method is based on the use of two kinds of invariants: component invariants which express local aspects of systems and interaction invariants which characterize global constraints induced by synchronizations between components. We provide efficient methods for computing these invariants. We also propose a new technique that takes the incremental design of the system into account. The integration of verification into design process allows to detect an error as soon as it appears. Moreover, the technique helps to avoid redoing all the verification process by reusing intermediate verification results. It takes advantage of the system structure for coping with complexity of the global verification and therefore, reduces significantly the cost of verification in both time and memory usage. The methods have been implemented in D-Finder tool-set. The experimental results obtained on non trivial examples and case studies show the efficiency of our methods as well as the capacity of D-Finder.


This thesis addresses the viability of automatic speech recognition for control room systems; with careful system design, automatic speech recognition (ASR) devices can be useful means for human computer interaction in specific types of task. These tasks can be defined as complex verbal activities, such as command and control, and can be paired with spatial tasks, such as monitoring, without detriment. It is suggested that ASR use be confined to routine plant operation, as opposed the critical incidents, due to possible problems of stress on the operators' speech.  It is proposed that using ASR will require operators to adapt a commonly used skill to cater for a novel use of speech. Before using the ASR device, new operators will require some form of training. It is shown that a demonstration by an experienced user of the device can lead to superior performance than instructions. Thus, a relatively cheap and very efficient form of operator training can be supplied by demonstration by experienced ASR operators. From a series of studies into speech based interaction with computers, it is concluded that the interaction be designed to capitalise upon the tendency of operators to use short, succinct, task specific styles of speech. From studies comparing different types of feedback, it is concluded that operators be given screen based feedback, rather than auditory feedback, for control room operation. Feedback will take two forms: the use of the ASR device will require recognition feedback, which will be best supplied using text; the performance of a process control task will require task feedback integrated into the mimic display. This latter feedback can be either textual or symbolic, but it is suggested that symbolic feedback will be more beneficial. Related to both interaction style and feedback is the issue of handling recognition errors. These should be corrected by simple command repetition practices, rather than use error handling dialogues. This method of error correction is held to be non intrusive to primary command and control operations. This thesis also addresses some of the problems of user error in ASR use, and provides a number of recommendations for its reduction.


Written by leading experts in the field, International Human Rights Law explores the essentials of international human rights law, from foundational issues to substantive rights and systems of protection. It also addresses contemporary challenges, such as terrorism and poverty, ensuring students are aware of the current and future importance of these issues. A variety of perspectives bring this multifaceted and sometimes contentious subject to life, making the book the ideal companion for students and practitioners of human rights. Breadth and depth of coverage provide a thorough and complete guide for students of international human rights law. Each chapter is written by an expert in their respective field. The book includes useful features such as chapter summaries, charts, and suggestions for further reading. New to this third edition are chapters on children's rights and the regional protection of human rights.


Cultured mouse (C3H 10T1/2) cells in contact-inhibited state were subjected to protracted exposure at 4 degrees C or 37 degrees C to either beta-rays from HTO or 60Co gamma-rays. The duration of exposure was 20 h and the total dose was varied by changing the dose-rate. The dose-survival and dose-transformation curves for gamma-irradiation at 4 degrees C were close to those obtained after a single acute X-ray dose (0.5 Gy/min). When gamma-irradiation was administered at 37 degrees C, both the lethality and transformation induction were lower than those after the corresponding doses at 4 degrees C, presumably owing to repair of lethal and transformational damage during gamma-irradiation at 37 degrees C. The same effect of temperature was observed in the case of HTO exposure, indicating again the existence of repair of damage during beta-irradiation at 37 degrees C but not at 4 degrees C. These facts strongly suggest that when irradiated at a low temperature such as 4 degrees C, both the dose-lethality and dose-transformation induction relationships were independent of the dose-rate for either gamma- or beta-exposure, at least the dose-rates used in this experiment. Thus, the comparison of radiation effectiveness between beta- and gamma-exposures at 4 degrees C gave reliable values of relative biological effectiveness (RBE) of tritium beta-rays which were ca. 1.4 at the D0 for lethality and 1.6 for cell transformation within the dose range examined (1 to 6 Gy of beta-rays). The comparison between exposures at 37 degrees C resulted in RBE values (1.4 and 1.7, respectively) very close to those at 4 degrees C.


The purpose of this study was to analyze infrastructural support and trainer attributes in TIVET institutions in Kenya. Technical, Industrial, Vocational and Entrepreneurship Training (TIVET) is acknowledged as a means of transforming and empowering the youth with skills, knowledge and attitudes to enable them become productive members of the society. The objective of the study were: 1) to establish the qualification of staff in selected institutions offering clothing and textile courses, 2) to determine training needs of staff in the selected TIVET institutions offering clothing and textile courses, 3) to establish the status of equipment and physical facilities used for training in clothing and textile courses and 4) to establish methods used in teaching clothing and textile courses in TIVET institutions. Descriptive survey design was used for the study. The samples included 8 technical institutes and 10 institutes of technology in Kenya offering courses in clothing and textile and were examined by Kenya National Examination Council. The respondents were the principals, deputy principals, lecturers, technicians and students in 18 TIVET institutions. A total of 452 respondents participated in the study (consisting of 250 second year students taking a diploma course in clothing and textile, 18 technicians, 148 lecturers and 36 principals and deputy principals). Questionnaires were 250 for second years, 166 for Lectures and Technicians. Interview schedules were 36 for principal and their deputies and observation check-lists were 250 for students which were used as instruments for the study. The researcher used Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) tool to analyse the data. Both the qualitative and quantitative data analysis techniques were used. Descriptive statistics such as percentages and frequencies were used to report data. Data were presented in form of frequency tables, bar graphs, and pie charts. The results showed that the academic staff members were academically qualified; however, there was need for them to upgrade their technical skills. The study also found that there was further training need for the academic staff in the institutions studied as indicated by all the staff. The trainings required was in: entrepreneurship, bachelor degree in Clothing and textiles, use of IT in clothing and textile, machine maintenance, Diploma in clothing technology, technical skills upgrading and masters" degree in fashion design. On the status of equipment and physical facilities, the study found that 172 (86%) of the respondents indicated that the facilities were inadequate. On training methods used, the study established that practical work, lecture and teachers" notes, demonstration, questions and answers and class discussion were used often. It was recommended that the Government should provide additional learning and training equipment to replace the out-dated ones. Teachers should go for additional training to upgrade their skills. It was suggested that a study needs to be done to establish the relevance of the curriculum used in TIVET institutions.


Objective. To develop and retrospectively analyze an instrument that rapidly characterizes pretreatment stroke severity for use in prehospital acute stroke clinical trials. Methods. The Los Angeles Motor Scale (LAMS) was constructed by assigning point values to Los Angeles Prehospital Stroke Screen (LAPSS) items of facial weakness, arm strength, and grip to yield a total 0–5 scale. The concurrent, discriminant, and predictive validities of the LAMS were probed using data from 90 patients enrolled in acute stroke clinical trials. Predictive performance of the LAMS was compared with that of the initial full National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) and the five-item shortened NIHSS (sNIHSS) in projecting long-term outcomes on standard functional end points. Results. LAMS score at entry averaged mean 2.6, median 2. Entry LAMS scores correlated closely with entry NIHSS scores (r = 0.75). LAMS score correlations with three-month functional outcome measures were robust. Receiver operator curve analyses (c statistic) for performance in predicting three-month outcomes were: three-month modified Rankin—LAMS 0.75, sNIHSS 0.69, NIHSS 0.74; three-month Barthel Index—LAMS 0.77, sNIHSS 0.76, NIHSS 0.82; three-month NIHSS—LAMS 0.76, sNIHSS 0.62, NIHSS 0.70; and three-month GOS—LAMS 0.55, sNIHSS 0.67, NIHSS 0.76. Considering dichotomized three-month measures, entry LAMS scores were markedly lower in patients destined for excellent outcome, e.g., three-month modified Rankin score ≤ 1, mean entry LAMS score 2.2 versus 3.7, p = 0002. Conclusions. A motor score derived from the LAPSS rapidly quantifies stroke severity in the field and predicts functional outcomes with accuracy comparable to that of the full NIHSS and the sNIHSS.


Epidermolysis bullosa is a rare group of inherited disorders that manifests as blistering or erosion of the skin in response to little or no apparent trauma. Patients suffer from long-term physical, social and economic consequences. Despite the fact that quality of life assessment has rapidly become a significant outcome variable in dermatology research, only a few studies regarding epidermolysis bullosa patients are available. This paper reviews studies evaluating the effect of epidermolysis bullosa on quality of life in patients and caregivers in order to assess which factors can best describe their health-related quality of life. Currently, considerable deficits prevail in both the diagnosis and treatment of rare skin diseases. Moreover, the psychological and social morbidities very easily evade the eyes of clinicians. Comparison of the impact of epidermolysis bullosa with that of other conditions is clearly valuable for making public policy decisions. This review indicates the need for more rigorous exploration of the impact of such diseases to further guide treatment and to monitor quality of care.


Over the stretch of years, the Philippines has been facing numerous medical problems since the public outcry against a 'dengue' vaccine. As a result, parents refused their children from having an anti-measles vaccine which created a medical outbreak in the country. Product warnings are found to be in their optimal position in safeguarding the life of consumerpatients. This paper anatomizes the lexical features of medicine product warnings in the Philippines which are crucial in the response discourses. A range of linguistic frameworks were applied and significant findings were drawn. Lapses on the use of noun abstractness, synthetic personalization, field continuum, adjectives, and adverbs were identified. Such an investigation brought up the transparency of communicative features of medicine safety texts. In the end, linguistic components create a vital impact on the legal content adequacy of medicine product warnings, unfolding the vitalities of these messages in facilitating informed decisionmaking among consumer-patients.


Five doctoral nursing students and their faculty traveled to St. Kitts and Nevis for a study abroad experience to apply research skills outside of a classroom setting as part of a disaster preparedness elective course. Nursing students reflected on their perspectives of conducting a mixed-methods research study in another country. Each student reported positive benefits from the experience, particularly emphasizing the importance of face-to-face mentorship in doing actual research as a part of doctoral studies to supplement research methods learned in online courses. Students also acknowledged challenges and learning opportunities within their experience. International mentored research projects can assist graduate nursing students through the transition from student to independent researcher. The authors believe these types of intensive research experiences should be encouraged and supported within nursing education.


The purpose of this book is to gather in a single narrative the rather disparate stories of Dominican friars in Southern Africa over the past four centuries. It is a social history of the Dominicans in Southern Africa, that is, a history that deals specifically with the social and cultural factors of historical development.


The XYY syndrome presents with a wide variation in the clinical features, both of the physical and behavioral nature. We report two new cases which illustrate this statement. The first case presented with aggressive behaviour and cryptorchidism. The second case was associated with pathological short height, pubertal delay and cardiac features (extrasystoles and short PR interval). We revise some of the aspects of XYY syndrome. Language: es


The chemical elements are created in nuclear fusion processes in the hot and dense cores of stars. The energy generated through nucleosynthesis allows stars to shine for billions of years. When these stars explode as massive supernovae, the newly made elements are expelled, chemically enriching the surrounding regions. Subsequent generations of stars are formed from gas that is slightly more element-enriched than that from which previous stars formed. This chemical evolution can be traced back to its beginning soon after the Big Bang by studying the oldest and most metal-poor stars still observable in the Milky Way today. Through chemical analysis, they provide the only available tool for gaining information about the nature of the short-lived first stars and their supernova explosions more than thirteen billion years ago. These events set in motion the transformation of the pristine universe into a rich cosmos of chemically diverse planets, stars, and galaxies.


President Joe Biden recognized atrocities committed against Armenians as the Armenian Genocide in his statement on Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day  (24 April 2021). The statement represents a watershed moment in US-Turkey relations. President Tayyip Erdogan can address US and international concerns prior to the Biden-Erdogan summit on the margin of June's NATO meeting, or he can double down and intensify repression against Turkey's ethnic and religious minorities. Erdogan's course will define international relations prior to the centennial of the founding of the Turkish republic in 2023.


In species of great conservation concern, special attention must be paid to their phylogeography, in particular the origin of animals for captive breeding and reintroduction. The endangered European mink lives now in at least three well‐separated populations in northeast, southeast and west Europe. Our aim is to assess the genetic structure of these populations to identify 'distinct population segments' (DPS) and advise captive breeding programmes. First, the mtDNA control region was completely sequenced in 176 minks and 10 polecats. The analysis revealed that the western population is characterized by a single mtDNA haplotype that is closely related to those in eastern regions but nevertheless, not found there to date. The northeast European animals are much more variable (π = 0.012, h = 0.939), with the southeast samples intermediate (π = 0.0012, h = 0.469). Second, 155 European mink were genotyped using six microsatellites. The latter display the same trends of genetic diversity among regions as mtDNA [gene diversity and allelic richness highest in northeast Europe (HE = 0.539, RS = 3.76), lowest in west Europe (HE = 0.379, RS = 2.12)], and provide evidences that the southeast and possibly the west populations have undergone a recent bottleneck. Our results indicate that the western population derives from a few animals which recently colonized this region, possibly after a human introduction. Microsatellite data also reveal that isolation by distance occurs in the western population, causing some inbreeding because related individuals mate. As genetic data indicate that the three populations have not undergone independent evolutionary histories for long (no phylogeographical structure), they should not be considered as distinct DPS. In conclusion, the captive breeding programme should use animals from different parts of the species' present distribution area.


The last few years have seen a paradigm shift in European security. NATO and Russia are once again stepping up their military activities and building their military arsenals, as deep mistrust and the fear of unintended military escalation seem to have returned. Over the last few decades, such concerns could be mitigated by an interlocking web of arms control and confidenceand security-building measures (CSBM). Now, these regimes are significantly outdated and no longer reflect the political, military and technological developments of today. Concentrating on the Vienna Document, this article discusses three possible scenarios and presents concrete ideas for the future of CSBM in Europe.


Two patients with corpus callosum resection, one complete and the other sparing the genu and the rostrum, were tested for discrimination of three basic taste stimuli (sour, bitter, salty) applied to the right or left sides of the tongue. Responses were made by pointing with either hand to written words or images of visual objects corresponding to the stimuli, a language‐based discrimination. In both patients, response accuracy was significantly above chance for both hemitongues but there was a significant advantage for the left side. Reaction time was shorter for left stimuli than for right stimuli but the difference was not significant. Eight normal controls matched for age with the patients performed equally well with right and left hemitongue stimuli and so did a third callosotomy patient with sparing of the posterior callosum, including the splenium. Tactile and visual tests showed that the left hemisphere was responsible for language‐based responses in the first two patients. The results confirm and extend previous findings in another callosotomy patient, indicating that: (i) taste information from either side of the tongue can reach the left hemisphere in the absence of the corpus callosum; (ii) the ipsilateral input from the tongue to the left hemisphere is more potent functionally than the contralateral input and (iii) in the normal brain, the corpus callosum, specifically its posterior part including the splenium, appears to equalize the effects of the ipsilateral and contralateral gustatory inputs on the left hemisphere. Taken together with evidence about lateralized taste deficits following unilateral cortical lesions, the results also suggest that the gustatory pathways from tongue to cortex are bilaterally‐distributed with an ipsilateral predominance that may be subject to individual variations.


Average mass transfer coefficients of an inert compound (LiCl) within denitrifying biofilms were monitored during biofilm growth in a membrane flow cell under different flow conditions, until the biofilm reached (pseudo-) steady state. Average effective diffusivities were found to increase with the decrease in tortuosity factors of the biofilm matrix. The lowest tortuosity factor corresponded to the biofilm formed under the highest liquid velocity.


In the actual project, ECO-ECC can be used in repairing bridge deck overlay, prefabricated lightweight partitions, structural coupling beams and slab reinforcement[1][2]. The use of fiber-reinforced composite materials ECO-ECC can implement outside paste reinforcement in damaged components [3][4], supplemented by appropriate construction methods (such as jet ECC process). The high liquidity of ECO-ECC, coupled with high decentralization of micro-fiber can solve the problem of old and new concrete interface bonding and restore the using functionality and security of the structure, and extend the use life. The maximum principal stress of PC, E70, E80 and E90 is 130με, 501με, 257με and 168με. The area of maximum principal stress decreases with the thickness of strengthening layer reduces. That explains that strengthening layer provide better ductility to prevent brittle failure.


Due to the effect of deterioration and corrosion, large amounts of oil and gas pipeline segments need to be replaced in offshore platforms every year. By using traditional reconstruct method, it needs to stop production in offshore platform firstly, then follows insulation, backout, baiting, jointing, installation, pressure test for tightness, etc. This process will take a long time and much work, and it will greatly influence the regular manufacture of oil and gas. In this work, a new method is introduced that oil and gas pipeline segments are replaced without stopping production. The technology includes precisely measuring geometry dimension of the oil and gas pipeline segments to be replaced, making prefabricate replacement segments exactly offline, and replacing the pipeline segments on site in a speedy and safety way. Last, an engineering applications case is given to show the whole detail process. It proves that the technology not only makes great progress in pipeline reconstruction, but also results in good social and economic benefits.


Background: The present systematic review and meta-analysis of diagnostic test accuracy summarizes the last three decades in advances on diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) in developed and developing countries. Objective: To determine the accuracy of biomarkers in diagnostic tools in AD, for example, cerebrospinal fluid, positron emission tomography (PET), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), etc. Methods: The authors searched PubMed for published studies from 1990 to April 2020 on AD diagnostic biomarkers. 84 published studies were pooled and analyzed in this meta-analysis and diagnostic accuracy was compared by summary receiver operating characteristic statistics. Results: Overall, 84 studies met the criteria and were included in a meta-analysis. For EEG, the sensitivity ranged from 67 to 98%, with a median of 80%, 95% CI [75, 91], tau-PET diagnosis sensitivity ranged from 76 to 97%, with a median of 94%, 95% CI [76, 97]; and MRI sensitivity ranged from 41 to 99%, with a median of 84%, 95% CI [81, 87]. Our results showed that tau-PET diagnosis had higher performance as compared to other diagnostic methods in this meta-analysis. Conclusion: Our findings showed an important discrepancy in diagnostic data for AD between developed and developing countries, which can impact global prevalence estimation and management of AD. Also, our analysis found a better performance for the tau-PET diagnostic over other methods to diagnose AD patients, but the expense of tau-PET scan seems to be the limiting factor in the diagnosis of AD in developing countries such as those found in Asia, Africa, and Latin America.


Native yeasts are of increasing interest to researchers, grape growers, and vintners because of their potential for biocontrol activity and their contributions to the aroma, flavor, and mouthfeel qualities of wines. To assess biocontrol activity, we tested 11 yeasts from Washington vineyards, representing isolates of Candida saitoana, Curvibasidium pallidicorallinum, Metschnikowia chrysoperlae, M. pulcherrima, Meyerozyma guilliermondii, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and Wickerhamomyces anomalus, for ability to colonize Thompson Seedless grape berries, inhibit the growth of Botrytis cinerea in vitro, and suppress disease symptoms on isolated berries. The yeast-like fungus Aureobasidium pullulans was also included based on its known biocontrol activity against B. cinerea in studies on apple and grape. All yeast strains multiplied rapidly in grape berries and reached densities of over log 6 cells per wound as early as 2 days after inoculation with 200 cells. One of the Botrytis isolates used in this study was much less virulent than the others and was provisionally identified as B. prunorum based on multilocus sequence analysis. Suppression of the growth of B. cinerea isolates 111bb, 207a, 207cb, and 407cb occurred on berries treated with A. pullulans P01A006, Metschnikowia chrysoperlae P34A004 and P40A002, M. pulcherrima P01A016 and P01C004, Meyerozyma guilliermondii P34D003, and S. cerevisiae HNN11516. Inhibition of Botrytis isolates by the yeast strains was more common on berries than in vitro, suggesting the possibility that niche competition was a more likely biocontrol mechanism than antibiosis in planta. Metabolic profiling of yeast strains and B. cinerea isolates using Biolog YT plates revealed seven distinct metabolic groups. Furthermore, the yeast strains showed partial to complete tolerance to the commonly used fungicides fluopyram, triflumizole, metrafenone, pyraclostrobin, and boscalid. Implications of these findings for field deployment of native Washington yeasts as biocontrol agents against B. cinerea are discussed.


Block copolymers containing stimuli-responsive segments provide important new opportunities for controlling the activity and aggregation properties of protein-polymer conjugates. We have prepared a RAFT block copolymer of a biotin-terminated poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm)-b-poly(acrylic acid) (PAA). The number-average molecular weight (M(n)) of the (PNIPAAm)-b-(PAA) copolymer was determined to be 17.4 kDa (M(w)/M(n) = 1.09). The PNIPAAm block had an M(n) of 9.5 kDa and the poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) block had an M(n) of 7.9 kDa. We conjugated this block copolymer to streptavidin (SA) via the terminal biotin on the PNIPAAm block. We found that the usual aggregation and phase separation of PNIPAAm-SA conjugates that follow the thermally induced collapse and dehydration of PNIPAAm (the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of PNIPAAm is 32 degrees C in water) is prevented through the shielding action of the PAA block. In addition, we show that the cloud point and aggregation properties (as measured by loss in light transmission) of the [(PNIPAAm)-b-(PAA)]-SA conjugate also depended on pH. At pH 7.0 and at temperatures above the LCST, the block copolymer alone was found to form particles of ca. 60 nm in diameter, while the bioconjugate exhibited very little aggregation. At pH 5.5 and 20 degrees C, the copolymer alone was found to form large aggregates (ca. 218 nm), presumably driven by hydrogen bonding between the -COOH groups of PAA with other -COOH groups and also with the -CONH- groups of PNIPAAm. In comparison, the conjugate formed much smaller particles (ca. 27 nm) at these conditions. At pH 4.0, however, large particles were formed from the conjugate both above and below the LCST (ca. 700 and 540 nm, respectively). These results demonstrate that the aggregation properties of the block copolymer-SA conjugate are very different from those of the free block copolymer, and that the outer-oriented hydrophilic block of PAA shields the intermolecular aggregation of the block copolymer-SA bioconjugate at pH values where the -COOH groups of PAA are significantly ionized.


Introduction: Cancer survivors who continue to smoke are at increased risk for primary cancer recurrences or development of new malignancies. Risks may be even higher among Tobacco Related Cancer Survivors (TRCS). We provide a national report on smoking behavior among TRCS. Methods: Tobacco-related cancers (lung/bronchial, pharyngeal, esophageal, stomach, pancreatic, kidney/renal, urinary bladder, cervical and leukemia) are defined according to the 2004 report of the Surgeon General on The Health Consequences of Smoking. Data from the 2009 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) were used to describe demographic characteristics and tobacco use behaviors reported by TRCS, other cancer survivors and the non cancer BRFSS cohort. Self reported prevalence percentages and confidence intervals were calculated using SAS version 9.2 (SAS Institute, Inc, Cary, North Carolina). Results: Overall, 10% of BRFSS respondents reported being diagnosed with cancer. Approximately 17% of all cancer survivors were diagnosed with a tobacco related cancer. Survivors in this group were primarily white (85.4%) and female (71.9%). Approximately 8.8% of TRCS were Hispanic. TRCS report a substantially higher proportion of current and past tobacco use. Among TRCS, 68% (95%CI 66.0-69.0) reported a history of smoking and 27.1% (95%CI 25.4-28.9) reported currently smoking; among other cancer survivors, 45.7% (95%CI 45.4-45.9) reported a history of smoking and 27.6% (95%CI 27.3-27.9) reported currently smoking. Conclusion: When compared to other cancer survivors, persons diagnosed with tobacco related cancers have higher past and current smoking rates. Smoking cessation interventions should target TRCS, and increased surveillance of smoking behaviors is needed in this population. Citation Information: Cancer Prev Res 2010;3(12 Suppl):B90.


Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to explore the various ways users of synthetic cannabinoids (SCs) managed the dangers associated with the consumption of this substance.

Design/methodology/approach
This paper is based on a parent study of the use and market of synthetic cathinones (also known as "bath salts") in New York City, Houston, Galveston and New Orleans. Focus groups were conducted in all four cities with a total of 20 individuals who identified as users of SCs. Grounded theory was used to analyse focus group transcripts.

Findings
Participants were aware of drug-related risks and implemented strategies to reduce harm to health. Protective measures fell into two broad categories: marketing and consumption. They noted the instability of SC products and consumer manipulation through packaging. Harm reduction (HR) strategies included: carefully selecting SC sources; sticking to one brand; handling their own SC; managing amount of K2 consumed in one sitting; controlling the pace.

Originality/value
Given the small amount of data on user experience with SCs and its risk to health, it is important to learn from users themselves how they create methods to keep themselves safe. This is one of the first studies recording HR practices of SC users and can contribute to intervention programs and organisations serving substance users.


The objective of this study was to evaluate phentolamine as radial artery spasmolytic in transradial catheterization procedures. Radial artery spasm is a relatively frequent complication during transradial approach, causing patient discomfort or even making it impossible to continue the procedure. As radial artery spasm is mediated by the stimulation of α‐adrenoreceptors, the use of the α‐blocker phentolamine could make sense as spasmolytic. We designed a randomized double‐blind study to compare phentolamine vs. verapamil, the standard spasmolytic agent. Five hundred patients (250 in each arm) submitted to a transradial cardiac catheterization were consecutively included and randomly assigned to receive 2.5 mg of verapamil or 2.5 mg of phentolamine after sheath insertion. Both vasodilator agents induced a significant radial artery diameter increase (from 2.22 ± 0.53 to 2.48 ± 0.57 mm, P < 0.001 for verapamil, and from 2.20 ± 0.53 to 2.45 ± 0.53 mm, P < 0.001 for phentolamine). However, verapamil was more efficacious to prevent radial artery spasm (13.2% compared with 23.2% in phentolamine‐treated patients; P = 0.004). Follow‐up (20 ± 18 days) evaluation of the radial artery patency by plestismography and pulse oximetry showed no differences between the two groups in the rate of radial occlusion (3.0% vs. 3.2% in verapamil and phentolamine treated patients, respectively). Phentolamine was an effective radial vasodilator agent, although it showed less ability to prevent radial artery spasm than verapamil. Radial artery occlusion rate was almost identical for both vasodilators. Thus, phentolamine could be a valid alternative to verapamil as a radial artery spasmolytic agent. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.


In recent years, endothelial dysfunction and arterial remodelling in various cardiovascular diseases have emerged as two key concepts, with numerous interrelationships. Both endothelial dysfunction and arterial remodelling occur in various pathologies including heart failure, atherosclerosis, restenosis after angioplasty, and pulmonary hypertension, and have modified the therapeutic approach by offering new pharmacological targets: specific receptors not only at the site of the vascular smooth muscle cells but also on the endothelial cells, growth factors that stimulate proliferation of smooth muscle, and receptors and enzymes of the extracellular matrix. Among the various substances under research, the present review will discuss angiotensin II receptor antagonists, endothelin receptor antagonists, nitrates-NO donors, potassium channel activators, and substances interfering with proteoglycans and other components of the extracellular matrix.


In attempting to explain the degree of cooperation in the leader~ follower dyad, leadership style and situational outcome, in a mixedmotive game, were controlled. 1?0 business employees, both male and female, were paired with a leader who was projected as a Prisoner's Dilemma game expert. The subject, with the help of the leader who was either democratic or autocratic, then played a round of the game against a confederate subject. The win/lose outcome of the first game was controlled. The subject was then given the opportunity to play a second game against the leader, and the number of competitive choices made by the subject was recorded. After the second game, the subject completed an attribution questionnaire. The results indicated that neither leadership style nor first game outcome effected the amount of cooperation in the second game, however, women were significantly more cooperative than men. Analysis of the attribution scale showed that women rated the leader as more pleasant than did the men, and the experimental groups rated the leader as more pleasant than did the control subjects. The short interaction utilized in this study was viewed as a major factor which may have had a strong influence on the results. Interaction Predictors


While object-relational database servers can be extended with user-defined functions (UDFs), the security of the server may be compromised by these extensions. The use of Java to implement the UDFs is promising because it addresses some security concerns. However, it still permits interference between different users through the uncontrolled consumption of resources. In this paper, we explore the use of a Java resource management mechanism (JRes) to monitor resource consumption and enforce usage constraints. JRes enhances the security of the database server in the presence of extensions allowing for (i) detection and neutralization of denial-of-service attacks aimed at resource monopolization, (ii) monitoring resource consumption which enables precise billing of users relying on UDFs, and (iii) obtaining feedback that can be used for adaptive query optimization. The feedback can be utilized either by the UDFs themselves or by the database system to dynamically modify the query execution plan. Both models have been prototyped in the Cornell Predator database system. We describe the implementation techniques, and present experiments that demonstrate the effects of the adaptive behavior facilitated by JRes. We conclude that, minimally, a database system supporting extensions should have a built-in resource monitoring and controlling mechanism. Moreover, in order to fully exploit information provided by the resource control mechanisms, both the query optimizer and the UDFs themselves should have access to this information.


In many modern manufacturing industries, data that characterize the manufacturing process are electronically collected and stored in databases. Due to advances in data collection systems and analysis tools, data mining (DM) has widely been applied for quality assessment (QA) in manufacturing industries. In DM, the choice of technique to be used in analyzing a dataset and assessing the quality depend on the understanding of the analyst. On the other hand, with the advent of improved and efficient prediction techniques, there is a need for an analyst to know which tool performs better for a particular type of dataset. Although a few review papers have recently been published to discuss DM applications in manufacturing for QA, this paper provides an extensive review to investigate the application of a special DM technique, namely support vector machine (SVM) to deal with QA problems. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the literature from various points of view as DM concepts, data preprocessing, DM applications for each quality task, SVM preliminaries, and application results. Summary tables and figures are also provided besides to the analyses. Finally, conclusions and future research directions are provided.


: The success and the quality of hemodialysis therapy are mainly related to both clearance and biocompatibility properties of the artificial membrane packed in the hemodialyzer. Performance of a membrane is strongly influenced by its interaction with the plasma protein repertoire during the extracorporeal procedure. Recognition that a number of medium–high molecular weight solutes, including proteins and protein-bound molecules, are potentially toxic has prompted the development of more permeable membranes. Such membrane engineering, however, may cause loss of vital proteins, with membrane removal being nonspecific. In addition, plasma proteins can be adsorbed onto the membrane surface upon blood contact during dialysis. can contribute to the removal of toxic compounds and governs the biocompatibility of a membrane, since surface-adsorbed proteins may trigger a variety of biologic blood pathways with pathophysiologic consequences. Over the last years, use of proteomic approaches has allowed polypeptide spectrum involved in the process of hemodialysis, a key issue previ-ously hampered by lack of suitable technology, to be assessed in an unbiased manner and in its full complexity. Proteomics has been successfully applied to identify and quantify proteins in complex mixtures such as dialysis outflow fluid and fluid desorbed from dialysis membrane containing adsorbed proteins. The identified proteins can also be characterized by their involvement in metabolic and signaling pathways, molecular networks, and biologic processes through application of bioinformatics tools. Proteomics may thus provide an actual functional definition as to the effect of a membrane material on plasma proteins during hemodialysis. Here, we review the results of proteomic studies on the performance of hemodialysis membranes, as evaluated in terms of solute removal efficiency and blood–membrane interactions. The evidence collected indicates that the information provided by proteomic investigations yields improved molecular and functional knowledge and may lead to the development of more efficient membranes for the potential benefit of the patient.


A mathematical model of perceptual symbol system is developed. This development requires new mathematical methods of dynamic logic (DL), which have overcome limitations of classical artificial intelligence and connectionist approaches. The paper discusses these past limitations, relates them to combinatorial complexity (exponential explosion) of algorithms in the past, and relates it further to the static nature of classical logic. DL is a process-logic; its salient property is evolution of vague representations into crisp. We first consider one aspect of PSS: situation learning from object perceptions. Next DL is related to PSS mechanisms of concepts, simulators, grounding, embodiment, productiveity, binding, recursion, and to the mechanisms relating embodied-grounded and amodal symbols. We discuss DL capability for modeling cognition on multiple levels of abstraction. PSS is extended toward interaction between cognition and language. Experimental predictions of the theory are discussed. They might influence experimental psychology and impact future theoretical developments in cognitive science, including knowledge representation, and mechanisms of interaction between perception, cognition, and language. All mathematical equations are also discussed conceptually, so mathematical understanding is not required. Experimental evidence for DL and PSS in brain imaging is discussed as well as future research directions.


Smoking topography parameters differ substantially between individual smokers and may lead to significant variation in tobacco smoke exposure and risk for tobacco-caused diseases. However, to date, little is known regarding the impact of individual puff parameters on the delivery of many harmful smoke constituents including carbonyls. To examine this, we determined the effect of altering individual puff parameters on mainstream smoke carbonyl levels in machine-smoked reference cigarettes. Carbonyls including formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, crotonaldehyde, propionaldehyde, methyl ethyl ketone (MEK), acrolein, and acetone were determined in cigarette smoke by HPLC after derivatization with 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine (DNPH). Deliveries of all carbonyls were nearly two-fold greater when cigarettes were smoked according to the more intense Health Canada Intense (HCI) protocol compared to the International Organization of Standardization (ISO) method, consistent with the two-fold difference in total puff volume between methods (ISO: 280-315 mL; CI: 495-605 mL). When individual topography parameters were assessed, changes in puff volume alone had the greatest effect on carbonyl delivery as predicted with total carbonyls being strongly correlated with overall puff volume (r2: 0.52-0.99) regardless of how the differences in volume were achieved. All seven of the carbonyls examined showed a similar relationship with puff volume. Minor effects on carbonyl levels were observed from vent blocking and changing the interpuff interval, while effects of changing puff duration and peak flow rate were minimal. Overall, these results highlight the importance of considering topography, especially puff volume, when the toxicant delivery and potential exposure smokers receive are assessed. The lack of an impact of other behaviors, including puff intensity and duration independent of volume, indicate that factors such as temperature and peak flow rate may have minimal overall effects on carbonyl production and delivery.


Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the commonest causes of death in the world and poses a substantial burden on healthcare systems and patients' quality of life. The largest component of the related healthcare costs is attributable to admissions due to acute exacerbation (AECOPD). The evidence that might support the effectiveness of the telemonitoring interventions in COPD is limited partially due to the lack of useful predictors for the early detection of AECOPD. Electronic stethoscopes and computerised analyses of respiratory sounds (CARS) techniques provide an opportunity for substantial improvement in the management of respiratory diseases. This exploratory study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of using: (a) a respiratory sensor embedded in a self-tailored housing for ageing users; (b) a telehealth framework; (c) CARS and (d) machine learning techniques for the remote early detection of the AECOPD. In a 6-month pilot study, 16 patients with COPD were equipped with a home base-station and a sensor to daily record their respiratory sounds. Principal component analysis (PCA) and a support vector machine (SVM) classifier was designed to predict AECOPD. 75.8% exacerbations were early detected with an average of 5 ± 1.9 days in advance at medical attention. The proposed method could provide support to patients, physicians and healthcare systems. OPEN ACCESS Sensors 2015, 15 26979


Optimal numbers of CD34+ cells to be reinfused in patients undergoing peripheral blood progenitor cell (PBPC) transplantation after high-dose chemotherapy are still unknown. Hematologic reconstitution of 168 transplantations performed in patients with lymphoproliferative diseases was analyzed according to the number of CD34+ cells reinfused. The number of days from PBPC reinfusion until neutrophil recovery (>1.0 × 109/L) and unsustained platelet recovery (>50 × 109/L) were analyzed in three groups defined by the number of CD34+ cells reinfused: a low group with less than or equal to 2.5 × 106 CD34+ cells/kg, a high group with greater than 15 × 106 CD34+cells/kg, and an intermediate group to which the former two groups were compared. The 22 low-group patients had a significantly delayed neutrophil ( P < .0001) and platelet recovery ( P < .0001). The 41 high-group patients experienced significantly shorter engraftment compared with the intermediate group with a median of 11 (range, 8 to 16) versus 12 (range, 7 to 17) days for neutrophil recovery (P = .003), and a median of 11 (range, 7 to 24) versus 14 (range, 8 to 180+) days for platelet recovery ( P < .0001). These patients required significantly less platelet transfusions (P = .002). In a multivariate analysis, the amount of CD34+ cells reinfused was the only variable showing significance for neutrophil and platelet recovery. High-group patients had a shorter hospital stay (P = .01) and tended to need fewer days of antibotic administration ( P = .12). In conclusion, these results suggest that reinfusion of greater than 15 × 106 CD34+ cells/kg after high-dose chemotherapy for lymphoproliferative diseases further shortens hematopoietic reconstitution, reduces platelet requirements, and may improve patients' quality of life.


This paper reports the facile synthesis of a unique interleaved expanded graphite-embedded sulphur nanocomposite (S-EG) by melt-diffusion strategy. The SEM images of the S-EG materials indicate the nanocomposites consist of nanosheets with a layer-by-layer structure. Electrochemical tests reveal that the nanocomposite with a sulphur content of 60% (0.6S-EG) can deliver the highest discharge capacity of 1210.4 mAh g−1 at a charge–discharge rate of 280 mA g−1 in the first cycle, the discharge capacity of the 0.6S-EG remains as high as 957.9 mAh g−1 after 50 cycles of charge–discharge. Furthermore, at a much higher charge–discharge rate of 28 A g−1, the 0.6S-EG cathode can still deliver a high reversible capacity of 337.5 mAh g−1. The high sulphur utilization, excellent rate capability and reduced over-discharge phenomenon of the 0.6S-EG material are exclusively attributed to the particular microstructure and composition of the cathode.


Orbital rhabdomyosarcoma accounts for one‐fourth of the primary tumors in the head and neck region. Modern treatment modalities have led to a 2‐year survival rate of about 90% in these patients. However, new therapeutic trials are designed to reduce complications and salvage more than 90% of orbital cases. Between 1979 and 1990, 12 children affected by primary orbital rhabdomyosarcoma have been diagnosed and treated at the University of Naples. Ten of them have been uniformly treated by biopsy, followed by immediate radiation and combined chemotherapy. All 12 patients are alive and free of detectable disease, from a minimum of 7 months to a maximum of 123 months after diagnosis. In all children, ocular structures have been spared and the complications observed until now have been few. The above results suggest that the association of immediate radiation therapy and chemotherapy might represent an optimal tool for treatment of orbital rhabdomyosarcoma.


In this study the elastic properties of a fcc Fe0.87Mn0.13 random alloy are studied by ab initio calculations. Ground state lattice parameters and elastic properties are calculated with Density Functional Theory using the Exact Muffin-Tin Orbital method and the Coherent Potential Approximation. Several magnetic models, approximations and distortion techniques are evaluated for optimized results, which are obtained by a Disordered Local Moment model with the Frozen Core and Generalized Gradient approximations using volume-conserving distortions. Conclusively the longitudinal sound velocities are calculated from second order elastic stiffness constants and visualized by two different codes.The importance of magnetism for elastic properties is confirmed, as is the usefulness of the optimized computational scheme; all quantities obtained via the scheme is in accord with earlier theoretical and experimental results. Volume-conserving distortions are found to be more precise than volume-altering for calculation of elastic constants but also to be highly dependent on the precision of bulk modulus determination. The two sound-velocity codes are in complete agreement.


In Switzerland, most of the information available on the energy bills corresponds to the minimum legal requirements imposed by national regulations. Such a scarcely understandable information does not motivate consumers to reflect on their level of energy consumption. A more user-friendly information presentation on the energy bill may induce increased awareness, laying the grounds for behaviour changes required to achieve the goals of the Energy Strategy 2050 of the Swiss Federal Council. The aim of the IMPROVE project was to explore how both consumers and energy utilities evaluate and perceive the importance of introducing enriched information on the energy bill to encourage households to reconsider their energy consumption levels.


Pit vipers (Crotalinae) have a specific sensory system that detects infrared radiation with bilateral pit organs in the upper jaw. Each pit organ consists of a thin membrane, innervated by three trigeminal nerve branches that project to a specific nucleus in the dorsal hindbrain. The known topographic organization of infrared signals in the optic tectum prompted us to test the implementation of spatiotopically aligned sensory maps through hierarchical neuronal levels from the peripheral epithelium to the first central site in the hindbrain, the nucleus of the lateral descending trigeminal tract (LTTD). The spatial organization of the anatomical connections was revealed in a novel in vitro whole‐brain preparation of the western diamondback rattlesnake (Crotalus atrox) that allowed specific application of multiple neuronal tracers to identified pit‐organ‐supplying trigeminal nerve branches. After adequate survival times, the entire peripheral and central projections of fibers within the pit membrane and the LTTD became visible. This approach revealed a morphological partition of the pit membrane into three well‐defined sensory areas with largely separated innervations by the three main branches. The peripheral segregation of infrared afferents in the sensory epithelium was matched by a differential termination of the afferents within different areas of the LTTD, with little overlap. This result demonstrates a topographic organizational principle of the snake infrared system that is implemented by maintaining spatially aligned representations of environmental infrared cues on the sensory epithelium through specific neuronal projections at the level of the first central processing stage, comparable to the visual system. J. Comp. Neurol. 522:3943–3959, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.


This work presents the results obtained with a therapeutic social skills group for adults living with intellectual disabilities and psychiatric co-morbidities. The concept of social skill is used in cognitive behavioral therapy approaches. For the last four years in the community psychiatry unit within the department of psychiatry of mental development, we have organized social skills groups. These groups are meant for ambulatory patients with intellectual impairments and psychiatric co-morbidities in conjunction with a lack of social skills. Each patient is under individual cognitive behavioral therapy treatment, which makes it possible to precisely evaluate the issues and the patient's expectations. In addition to the individual sessions, the patients participate in a monthly semi-open selfaffirmation group. Each patient completes a variety of questionnaires and scales which serve as a baseline, as well as questionnaires at the end of each session to provide information about the dynamic of the group and its progression.


Water pollution has become a severe global problem due to its direct and indirect consequences. The aquatic environment is continuously contaminated by a massive volume of hazardous and toxic substances generated by anthropogenic activities. Among several techniques, bioremediation is an eco-friendly, simple and cost effective technique to reclaim polluted water. The present study was conducted to investigate the water reclamation efficiency of commercially available bioballs and ceramic rings in terms of removing nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus and organic substances. The study was conducted in two parallel aerated reactors with the two different models of carrier media. The analysis was carried out to measure some physical (pH, Temperature) and chemical (BOD5, COD, TN, TP) parameters. Under Total Nitrogen, Nitrate-N and Nitrite-N, Ammonia-N and Kjeldhal-N were measured. Results of the study have revealed that the removal efficiencies of BOD5, COD, TN and TP for ceramic rings were 87.94% , 80.10%, 75.21% and 73.84% respectively, for bioballs it was 86.76%, 72.31%, 71.92% and 68.06% respectively. The study showed that the both carriers were able to remove Ammonia-N content almost completely and simultaneously, the removal of organic matter (expressed as BOD5 and COD) was also sufficiently achieved. Keywords: Bioballs, Ceramic rings, Bioremediation


Numerical simulations of outflows formed during the collapse of 100-M⊙ cloud cores are presented. We derive a generalized criterion from magnetohydrodynamical wind theory to analyse the launching mechanism of these outflows. The criterion is successfully applied to the whole outflow structure and cases with sub-Keplerian disc rotation. It allows us to decide whether an outflow is driven centrifugally or by the toroidal magnetic pressure. We show that quantities such as the magnetic field line inclination or the ratio of the toroidal to poloidal magnetic field alone are insufficient to determine the driving mechanism of outflows. By performing 12 simulations with variable initial rotational and magnetic energies, we are able to study the influence of the initial conditions on the properties of outflows and jets around massive protostars in detail. Our simulations reveal a strong effect of the magnetic field strength on the morphology of outflows. In runs with weak fields or high rotational energies, well-collimated, fast jets are observed, whereas for strong fields poorly collimated, low-velocity outflows are found. We show that the occurrence of a fast jet is coupled to the existence of a Keplerian protostellar disc. Despite the very different morphologies, all outflows are launched from the discs by centrifugal acceleration with the toroidal magnetic field increasingly contributing to the gas acceleration further away from the discs. The poor collimation of the outflows in runs with strong magnetic fields is a consequence of the weak hoop stresses. This in turn is caused by the slow build-up of a toroidal magnetic field due to strongly sub-Keplerian disc rotation. The mass and momentum outflow rates are of the order of 10−4 M⊙ yr−1 and 10−4 M⊙ km s−1 yr−1, respectively. The mass ejection/accretion ratios scatter around a mean of 0.3 in accordance with observational and analytical results. Based on our results, we suggest an evolutionary scenario for the earliest stage of massive star formation in which initially poorly collimated outflows develop, which successively get better collimated during their evolution due to the generation of fast jets.


Falling in old age may have a large impact on daily life. Falls can lead to injuries, reduced mobility and reduced quality of life. The risk of falls increases with age and frailty level. Dizziness is a strong risk factor for falls, and preventing falls and dizziness in older people is essential. The overall aim of this thesis was to investigate risk factors for falls or dizziness and to explore older people's experiences of living with chronic dizziness. Furthermore, the aim was to evaluate the effects of a home-based case management intervention on falls in frail older people. The thesis comprised three studies. Study I was a longitudinal cohort study, the Swedish National Study on Aging and Care (SNAC), with 1,402 participants in 10 age cohorts from 60 to 96 years. The study started in 2001 and follow-up was done after 3 and 6 years. The sample was divided into subjects aged 60-78 years and 80-96 years and the prevalence and predictors of falls or dizziness were investigated (Paper I). Study II was a qualitative study exploring the experiences of living with chronic dizziness in old age and included 13 people (7 women and 6 men, aged 73 to 87 years). Interviews were conducted and were analysed by content analysis (Paper II). Study III was a randomized controlled trial (RCT) including 153 participants randomly assigned to a case management intervention (n=80) or a control group (n=73). The study included people aged 65+ years who lived in their ordinary homes with functional dependency and repeated health care contacts. The intervention included home visits by a nurse and a physiotherapist at least once a month during 12 months. Data from this study were used in two papers. Paper III investigated predictive validity for falls and optimal cut-off scores for the Downton Fall Risk Index (DFRI), Timed Up and Go (TUG) and the Romberg Test (RT). Paper IV investigated the effects of the case management intervention on falls, injurious falls and falls resulting in medical care. The results in Paper I show almost doubled prevalences in the older age cohort. In the younger age cohort 16% reported falls and 18% reported dizziness. In the older age cohort 32% reported falls and 31% reported dizziness. The strongest predictors differed between the age cohorts. The strongest predictors for falls were use of neuroleptics and personal activities of daily living (PADL) in the younger age cohort, and history of falling and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) in the older age cohort. The strongest predictors for dizziness were history of dizziness and feeling nervous (younger age cohort) and history of dizziness and history of falling (older age cohort). In Paper II the experiences of the interviewees were interpreted as fighting for control in an unpredictable life. This included fumbling for a cure and improvements, struggling to maintain an ordinary life and a restricted everyday life with constant threats. Health care had not been able to meet the needs of older people with chronic dizziness. The results in Paper III show that no test had high predictive validity for falls. DFRI (cut-off ≥ 3 points) and TUG (cut-off ≥12 seconds) showed about 80% sensitivity and 30% specificity. RT show low sensitivity and is not recommended to be used in frail older people at home. The home-based case management intervention in Paper IV did not show any effect on falls, injurious falls and falls resulting in medical care. Falls and dizziness are common, serious health complaints in frail older people and deserve attention. The complex interaction between falls, dizziness and related factors suggests that fall prevention interventions should be individualized. Older people with chronic dizziness have, in spite of frequent health care contacts, needs that are unmet. Besides identifying and treating the underlying cause of dizziness, managing older people with dizziness may also focus on appropriate coping strategies in daily life and should not end until the individual has regained control of their daily life. DFRI and TUG were not able to correctly identify people with and without a high fall risk. They may be used as screening tools, but a comprehensive assessment of a person's risk factors for falls is needed before a fall prevention intervention is introduced. Preventing falls in frail older people is challenging. The home-based case management intervention did not show any effect on falls, injurious falls and falls resulting in medical care, and further research is needed on how to prevent falls in frail older people living at home. (Less)


Background—Studies have suggested a link between risk factors for atherosclerotic disease and venous thromboembolism (VTE), but results are heterogeneous. We sought to identify risk factors for VTE with a focus on risk factors for atherosclerotic disease. Methods and Results—Data were taken from the Copenhagen City Heart Study, a prospective cohort study of a random, age-stratified sample of people living in a defined area in Copenhagen, Denmark, started in 1976 with follow-up until 2007. First VTE (deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism) diagnosis was retrieved from electronic national registries from study baseline to 2007. Of 18 954 subjects (median follow-up, 19.5 years) representing 360 399 person-years of follow-up, 969 subjects experienced at least 1 VTE, corresponding to a crude incidence rate of 2.69 (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.52 to 2.86) per 1000 person-years. The variables found to be significantly associated with VTE in a multivariable model adjusted for age and calendar time were as follows: body mass index (hazard ratio [HR] for 35 versus 20 2.10 [95% CI, 1.39 to 3.16]); smoking (HR for 25 g tobacco per day versus never smoker 1.52 [95% CI, 1.15 to 2.01]); gender (HR for men versus women 1.24 [95% CI, 1.08 to 1.42]); household income (HR for medium versus low 0.82 [95% CI, 0.70 to 0.95]); and diastolic blood pressure (HR for 100 versus 80 mm Hg 1.34 [95% CI, 1.08 to 1.66]). Other cardiovascular risk factors including total/high-density lipoprotein/lowdensity lipoprotein cholesterol levels, triglyceride levels, and diabetes mellitus were not associated with VTE. Conclusions—Obesity and smoking were both found to be important risk factors for VTE whereas total/high-density lipoprotein/low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, triglyceride levels, and diabetes mellitus were not. (Circulation. 2010;121:1896-1903.)


This article is the third instalment in a trilogy of studies that deal with corpus-driven Bantu lexicography as applied to Lusoga. Having dealt with corpus-building in Part 1, and macrostructural aspects in Part 2, we now focus on the microstructure of a dictionary and in particular on the concept of Mapping Meaning onto Use. The starting point is Patrick Hanks's book chapter by the same title, which we transpose to a study of the high-frequent motion verb - v - in Lusoga. Our detailed analysis is as much practical as it is methodological.


BACKGROUND
Transforming growth factor-β cytokines have various biological effects in female reproductive tissue, including modulation of inflammatory response and induction of immune tolerance to seminal antigens in the reproductive tract. However, no studies have analyzed the presence of growth/differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15/macrophage inhibitory cytokine-1) in seminal fluid or demonstrated the quantity and form of GDF-15, its possible role or the relationship between its concentration and semen quality.

METHODS
The form and the concentration of GDF-15 were determined in 53 seminal plasma samples of both fertile and infertile men by ELISA and western blot. The sperm cells of three volunteers were treated with recombinant GDF-15, and cell viability and apoptosis were assessed by flow cytometry. The effect of GDF-15 on vaginal epithelial cells and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) was analyzed by quantitative RT-PCR.

RESULTS
The GDF-15 concentration in seminal plasma ranged from 0.2 to 6.6 μg/ml as determined by ELISA. Western blot analysis revealed that GDF-15 is present in the active form. In vitro cultivation of sperm cells with GDF-15 did not affect their viability or rates of apoptosis; however, it did inhibit proliferation of PBMCs and induce expression of FOXP3 in CD4+CD25+ cells.

CONCLUSIONS
To the best of our knowledge, this is the first demonstration that GDF-15 is an abundant cytokine in seminal plasma, although its concentration is not associated with semen quality or the fertility/infertility status of the donors. Moreover, our data show that GDF-15 displays immunosuppressive characteristics.


OBJECTIVES
To determine whether women who have ha da pregnancy in which the fetus is affected by a neural tube defect (NTD) know of current folic acid recommendations; whether the recommendations are followed before or during the pregnancy associated with an NTD and subsequent pregnancies; and to insure that women who have had an NTD-affected pregnancy have access to proper information about NTDs and folic acid recommendations.

METHODS
Women living in Colorado who had a pregnancy in 1996 or 1997 in which the fetus had an NTD were interviewed in 1998 about their knowledge and use of folic acid supplementation.

RESULTS
Twenty-one of 42 eligible women were interviewed. All women first learned of the folic acid recommendations either during or after their affected pregnancy. Only 23.8% of the women took vitamins containing folic acid during the 1 to 3 months before becoming pregnant. None who had a subsequent pregnancy followed the recommendation to consume 4.0 mg/d of folic acid, beginning at least 1 month before conception. Women who had subsequent pregnancies became pregnant on average of 9 months after their affected pregnancy ended.

CONCLUSIONS
Most women who have an NTD-affected pregnancy are unaware of the national folic acid recommendations and do not follow these recommendations for subsequent pregnancies. However, such women are receptive to information about folic acid supplementation. Health care providers and public health officials should consider their role in assuring that education is provided in an effective and timely manner to women with NTD-affected pregnancies.