With efficient papermaking, the objective is to produce a product that meets a sufficiently high performance standard at the lowest possible cost for production. Production costs tend to centre around the use of energy, raw fibre materials, and fresh water. Poor control of unit papermaking processes can create unwanted variability in product qualities. This forces producers to use excessive amounts of resource, including fibre raw material and energy in order to meet minimum product requirements. Control of unit processes is therefore an essential ingredient to efficient papermaking. One of the key challenges with process control is the ability to monitor accurately specific processes with a high spatial and temporal resolution in order to capture unwanted variability. New measurement methods have, within recent years, revealed surprisingly high levels of variability in many unit process, in product properties, and in the underlying structure of paper sheets. In particular, variability on the centimetre (or millisecond) scale is now understood to be significant. This work presents an overview of three novel measurement tools and their application for monitoring different stages of the paper production process. Specifically, the tools discussed here include, Electrical Impedance Tomography (EFT), STFI Online Forming Analyser (SOFA), and Infrared Thermography (IR) techniques. Potential implementations of each tool within different unit processes on a papermachine are supported by practical examples. When used together, it is shown that it could be possible to monitor the entire production line with enough accuracy for online control.


During inflammation, accumulation of immune cells in activated lymph nodes (LNs), coupled with a transient shutdown in lymphocyte exit, results in dramatic cellular expansion. Counter-regulatory measures to restrain LN expansion must exist and may include re-establishment of lymphocyte egress to steady-state levels. Indeed, we show in a murine model that egress of lymphocytes from LNs was returned to steady-state levels during prolonged inflammation following initial retention. This restoration in lymphocyte egress was supported by a preferential expansion of cortical and medullary sinuses during late inflammation. Cortical and medullary sinus remodeling during late inflammation was dependent on temporal and spatial changes in vascular endothelial growth factor-A distribution. Specifically, its expression was restricted to the subcapsular space of the LN during early inflammation, whereas its expression was concentrated in the paracortical and medullary regions of the LN at later stages. We next showed that this process was mostly driven by the synergistic cross-talk between fibroblastic reticular cells and interstitial flow. Our data shed new light on the biological significance of LN lymphangiogenesis during prolonged inflammation and further underscore the collaborative roles of stromal cells, immune cells, and interstitial flow in modulating LN plasticity and function.


Background Intravenous silibinin (ivSIL) is a potent antiviral agent against HCV. In vitro silibinin (SIL) inhibits viral replication, possibly by inhibiting HCV RNA polymerase. In this proof-of-concept study, ivSIL was tested in on-treatment non-responders to full-dose of pegylated interferon-α2a/ribavirin (standard of care [SOC]). Methods A total of 27 treatment-naive patients with <2 log drop in viral load after 12 weeks or still detectable HCV RNA after 24 weeks of SOC treatment (mean age 54.4 ±6.8 years, male/female 19/8, HCV genotype 1 n=19, 3a n=4 and 4 n=4, liver fibrosis F4 n=14, F3 n=5 and F2 n=3, and interleukin 28B polymorphism C/C n=1, T/C n=22 and T/T n=4) received additionally 20 mg/kg/day SIL (Legalon-SIL®; Rottapharm-Madaus, Monza, Italy) intravenously for 14 or 21 days. Thereafter, pegylated interferon/ribavirin was continued. HCV RNA was quantified by TaqMan® (Roche Diagnostics, Pleasanton, CA, USA). Results At the end of ivSIL treatment, 23/27 (85.1%) patients had undetectable HCV RNA. In one of the four remaining patients HCV RNA became undetectable 8 weeks after ivSIL on SOC. Five patients relapsed after ivSIL, three of them responded to repeated administration of ivSIL, but relapsed again. The best predictor of response was a low pre-ivSIL HCV RNA level. A total of 19 patients reached one treatment end point (end of SOC treatment HCV RNA undetectable n=11 and non-response n=8); 8 patients were still on SOC (all HCV-RNA-negative). All 11 patients with end-of-treatment response completed 24 weeks of follow-up; 7 patients remained HCV-RNA-negative and 4 relapsed. Except for a slight increase in bilirubin (mean ±sd 0.98 ±0.35 to 2.12 ±0.99 mg/dl), treatment was well-tolerated. Conclusions ivSIL is an effective 'rescue treatment' for on-treatment non-responders to full-dose of SOC.


In a visual world where messages are often carried by visual means, our attitude towards photography is changing to accepting the potential of the beyond its factuality. The challenge facing photography instruction today, is teaching photographers to be visually literate. The goal is to introduce a theoretical element within practical photography instruction which will enable students to gain the skills of visual literacy - 'reading' photographs in addition to 'writing' them. This research present a mechanism in which the online reference and instruction is not aimed to replace the traditional on campus activities but to enhance toward the effectiveness for teaching photography, that would not have been possible to achieve because of the class time limitations and the nature of the courses. The online reference model is aimed incorporate theoretical layer which would develop student's digest and understanding for better learning situations, further on to increse compentencies becoming professional photographic practitioners. Using a case study design, I gathered data using written questionnaire, oral questionnaire (interview) and in-class observation. Students were study in 'History of Photography' subject from two universities at Klang Valley and Malacca has been selected. The research examines the process of teaching and learning while using an online reference in photography education. Additionally, I interviewed the lecturer about experience in using online reference and observe the class when her teaching the history subject. The result of data collection shows that student groups at two selected universities using online reference to seek information about History of photography.Based on student's feedback; internet helped them to increase their understanding, more knowledgeable and be motivated. The lecturers agreed that this medium was helpful in prepare teaching content and save their time. Finally, Blended teaching approach of the combination between the traditional face-to-face teaching, library research and online reference is very effectual in ensuring effective teaching and learning process. Face-to-face teaching and its library research contemporary is deemed to be the traditional approach in education circle, and some educators may have viewed it as passe or out of date. Through this study it is conclude that this approach is still a very relevant approach in institutions of higher learning because of its strength in interpersonal relationship and knowledge


We propose a model for a continuously pumped single-pass amplifier for continuous and pulsed laser beams. The model takes into account Gaussian shape and focusing geometry of pump and seed beam. As the full-wave simulation is complex we have developed a largely simplified numerical method that can be applied to rotationally symmetric geometries. With the tapered-shell model we treat (focused) propagation and amplification of an initially Gaussian beam in a gain crystal. The implementation can be done with a few lines of code that are given in this paper. With this code, a numerical parameter optimization is straightforward and example results are shown. We compare the results of our simple model with those of a full-wave simulation and show that they agree well. A comparison of model and experimental data also shows good agreement. We investigate in detail different regimes of amplification, namely the unsaturated, the fully saturated, and the intermediate regime. Because the amplification process is affected by spatially varying saturation and exhibits a nonlinear response against pump and seed power, no analytical expression for the expected output is available. For modeling of the amplification we employ a four-level system and show that if the fluorescence lifetime of themore » gain medium is larger than the inverse repetition rate of the seed beam, continuous-wave amplification can be employed to describe the amplification process of ultrashort pulse trains. We limit ourselves to this regime, which implies that if titanium:sapphire is chosen as gain medium the laser repetition rate has to be larger than a few megahertz. We show detailed simulation results for titanium:sapphire for a large parameter set.« less


CVDs are a leading cause of death globally. In CVDs, the heart is unable to deliver enough blood to other body regions. Since effective and accurate diagnosis of CVDs is essential for CVD prevention and treatment, machine learning (ML) techniques can be effectively and reliably used to discern patients suffering from a CVD from those who do not suffer from any heart condition. Namely, machine learning algorithms (MLAs) play a key role in the diagnosis of CVDs through predictive models that allow us to identify the main risks factors influencing CVD development. In this study, we analyze the performance of ten MLAs on two datasets for CVD prediction and two for CVD diagnosis. Algorithm performance is analyzed on top-two and top-four dataset attributes/features with respect to five performance metrics –accuracy, precision, recall, f1-score, and roc-auc – using the train-test split technique and k-fold cross-validation. Our study identifies the top two and four attributes from each CVD diagnosis/prediction dataset. As our main findings, the ten MLAs exhibited appropriate diagnosis and predictive performance; hence, they can be successfully implemented for improving current CVD diagnosis efforts and help patients around the world, especially in regions where medical staff is lacking.


Inequality within and between societies has been a neglected issue in the contemporary theory of international law. The concept of sovereignty makes this neglect possible in traditional international law, as analysis of Oppenheim's 1905 textbook demonstrates. Globalization and democratization are placing state sovereignty under strain, as international rules and institutions appear to become more intrusive, transnational civil society more active, and unitary state control less pronounced. State sovereignty as a normative concept is increasingly challenged, especially by a functional view in which the state loses its normative priority and competes with supranational, private, and local actors in the optimal allocation of regulatory authority. But discarding sovereignty in favour of a functional approach will intensify inequality, weakening restraints on coercive intervention, diminishing critical roles of the state as a locus of identity and an autonomous zone of politics, and redividing the world into zones. The traditional normative concept of sovereignty is strained and flawed, but in the absence of better means to manage inequality it remains preferable to any of the alternatives on offer.


Introduction: CD4 T cells secreting IL-10 have been predominantly described as immunosuppressive and include both Tr1 cells and FOXP3+ Treg. In contrast, CD4 T cells secreting IL-17 have been mostly described as helper/effectors (TH17). Recent evidence indicates that some CD4 T cells secreting IL-17 can be of regulatory type, as human FOXP3+ Treg that secrete IL-17 ex vivo while concomitantly exerting suppressive activity have been described. CD4 T cells secreting IL-10 or IL-17 are frequent at mucosal sites where their equilibrium is important for simultaneously maintaining tolerance and immunity to the resident microbiota. Although TH17 and IL-10-secreting CD4 T cells have mostly been considered as distinct populations, the generation of which involves distinct factor, Staphylococcus Aureus specific TH17 clones that co-secrete the two cytokines have been identified (Zielinski,C.E; Nature 2012.484:514-518) underlining the close relationship between the two populations, along with their relevance in host immunity. Their mode of action, however, is as yet incompletely understood. To get insight into these questions, in this study, we addressed the prevalence, characteristics, mode of action and potential role of this type of populations. Methods: We combined ex vivo analysis of CD4 T cells producing IL-10 or/and IL-17 isolated from PBMC of healthy donors with assessment of clonal populations isolated ex vivo using a cytokine catch assay. Results: We found that, in average, 0.9 ± 0.3% and 3 ± 0.9% of memory CD4 T cells secreted IL-10 or IL-17, respectively. The majority of cells secreting IL-10 or IL-17 ex vivo appeared as distinct. However, a subpopulation, representing about 0.1% of the cells, co-secreted the two cytokines. The proportion of FOXP3+ cells was significantly higher among IL-10 single secreting (39 ± 8%) than IL-17 single secreting (13 ± 5%) cells and represented 58 ± 9%, in average, of the cells co-secreting the two cytokines ex vivo. The majority of FOXP3+ Treg within each of the cytokine secreting populations failed to express the transcription factor Helios, suggesting that these cells are peripherally induced (pTreg) rather than Tregs derived from thymus (tTreg). To further assess, we generated IL-10 or IL-17 single secreting and IL-10/IL-17 double secreting populations using the Miltenyi secretion/detection assay and flow cytometry cell sorting. We found that IL-10 secretion is prevalent at early time points after TCR stimulation, independent of co-stimulation and is increased in the presence of the microbial fermentation product butyrate. In contrast, IL-17 secretion is higher at distance from TCR stimulation and in the presence of co-stimulatory signals. Conclusion: These results suggest that the capacity of modulate cytokine secretion depending on conditions might allow IL-10 and IL-17 producing CD4 T cells to maintain tolerance to microbes locally, while retaining the ability to participate in protective immune responses at distant sites. Citation Format: Kanako Saito, Pascale Pignon, Maha Ayyoub, Danila Valmori. Modulation of cytokine secretion allows CD4 T cells secreting IL-10 and IL-17 to simultaneously participate in maintaining tolerance and immunity. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the CRI-CIMT-EATI-AACR Inaugural International Cancer Immunotherapy Conference: Translating Science into Survival; September 16-19, 2015; New York, NY. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Immunol Res 2016;4(1 Suppl):Abstract nr B056.


This study demonstrates the fabrication of ambient light enabled antimicrobial functional fabrics by coating flower-like bismuth oxyhalide i.e. BiOCl0.875Br0.125, with the use of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) as binders for improved coating robustness and durability. The uniformity of the microparticles was ensured with simultaneous probe sonication during the stages of crystal nucleation and growth. The polymeric binders not only strongly anchor the particle on the fabric, but also serve as an ultra-thin protective layer on the BiOClBr that mitigates bismuth leaching. The efficacy of inhibiting bacteria was investigated over the BiOClBr-coated fabrics i.e. cotton and polyester, and the results showed that the coated fabrics could effectively inhibit both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, i.e. S. aureus and E. coli. In comparison with fabrics coated with other photocatalytic materials including bismuth oxide (Bi2O3) and zinc oxide (ZnO), an exceptionally better antimicrobial efficacy was observed for BiOClBr-coated fabrics. The BiOClBr-coated cotton showed ∼5.0 and ∼6.8 times higher disinfection efficacy towards E. coli compared to that of ZnO and Bi2O3-coated cotton with the same particle weight percentage, respectively. Further elucidation of the probable mechanism by BiOClBr-coated fabrics is related to the excess amount of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Overall, BiOClBr has been shown to be a promising material to fabricate cost-effective antimicrobial functional surfaces for both environmental and biomedical applications e.g. protective laboratory and factory clothing.


of the acanthocephalan Paratenuisentis ambjguus and the nematode Anguillicola
crassus were collected from eels from the river Weser, Germany, and examined for lead levels. In addition
to these parasites, different fish tissues (liver, bile and intestine) were also analysed for lead, using
electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry. P ambiguus was found to contain the highest amounts
of lead. The mean lead level in A. crassus was much lower, resembling the values obtained from eel
tissues. The accumulation capacity of P. ambiguus was about 100 times higher than that of A. crassus.
Thus, P. ambiguus can be considered a rather sensitive indicator of lead in aquatic ecosystems.


The present study examines the semantic structure of a specific class of Japanese verbs within the framework of Cognitive Linguistics. The verbs in question are highly polysemous and assumed to be centered around a particular spatial or force-dynamic schema – hence the name image schema verbs. Further, they partake in verb-verb compounding as grammatical "auxiliaries" (V2s) which functionally resemble the particles of English and German verb particle constructions (VPCs). Over the course of five case studies it is shown that the respective V2s are inherently meaningful and that their senses are motivated by the same image schematic structures that motivate the senses of the simplex. Thus, simplex and V2 are entangled in a complex network of family resemblences. Mechanisms of meaning extension such as metaphor, metonymy, and image schema transformation are examined in some detail and often from a cross-linguistic point of view. Rejecting a principled division between lexicon and grammar in favor of the symbolic continuum hypothesis, argument structure phenomena are then reexamined and reframed as issues of cognitive prominence. In the same spirit, the traditional dichotomy of "lexical" vs "grammatical" V-V compounds, a staple of Japanese linguistics, is challenged from a usage-based perspective. Based on the results of the case studies, the thesis closes with a brief cross-cultural inquiry into embodied cognition, showing that directly embodied source domains tend to have similar metaphorical scope in Japanese and German.


We measure infrared absorption spectra of 18 hydrochlorofluorocarbons and hydrofluorocarbons, seven of which do not yet appear in the literature. The spectra are used in a narrowband model of the terrestrial infrared radiation to calculate radiative forcing and global warming potentials. We investigate the sensitivity of the radiative forcing to the absorption spectrum temperature dependence, halocarbon vertical profile, stratospheric adjustment, cloudiness, spectral overlap, and latitude, and we make some recommendations for the reporting of radiative forcings that would help to resolve discrepancies between assessments. We investigate simple methods of estimating instantaneous radiative forcing directly from a molecule's absorption spectrum and we present a new method that agrees to within 0.3% with our narrowband model results.


Postcolonial Perspectives on Sara Lidman's Writings from South Africa 1960–1961
The Swedish writer Sara Lidman (1923–2004) wrote Jag och min son (I and My Son) after a brief stint in apartheid's South Africa in 1960–1961, from where she was expelled for a violation of the Immorality Act. Based on a close, interrelated study of her diary, her letters and the two manuscripts (first published in 1961 and revised and re-published in 1963), this essay (»'To outlive the slave in me': Postcolonial Perspectives on Sara Lidman in Apartheid's South Africa 1960–1961«) examines the colonial boundary crisis of the Self. The major protagonists in the novel(s) embody variously aspects of the writer's angst as it developed in the Johannesburg colonial setting of persecuted ANC members, the elite of the local Swedish community, and the pressure of her anticolonial frustrations. Sexuality is a major element in the »nervous condition« that characterizes the fragmented and confusing conceptualization of the novel. Its extensive rewriting was an attempt at strengthening its ideological, anti-imperial modus, pushing the novel into the environs of the postcolonial allegory such as in such texts as Jean Rhys' Wide Sargasso Sea (1966), Tsitsi Dangarembga's Nervous Conditions (1988) and Bessie Head's A Question of Power (1974). A second self-castigating theme, this essay claims, is the impact of the religious  background of the author as born into – but never at peace with – strong evangelical and paternal practices. »Outliving the slave« (a quote from one of her letters) in the title of the essay proposes a Fanonian reading of the circulatory and traumatizing notion of rebellion (against Apartheid) and submission (to it). The third theme involves the idealization of the child that also involves a colonial cul-desac of self-positioning expressed both in the novel and the writer's attempts at adopting an African child (never realized).


To date, the proximal molecular targets through which dietary n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) suppress the inflammatory process have not been elucidated. Because cholesterol and sphingolipid-enriched rafts have been proposed as platforms for compartmentalizing dynamically regulated signaling assemblies at the plasma membrane, we determined the in vivo effects of fish oil and highly purified docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; 22:6n-3) on T cell microdomain lipid composition and the membrane subdomain distribution of signal-transducing molecules (protein kinase C (PKC)θ, linker for activation of T cells, and Fas/CD95), before and after stimulation. Mice were fed diets containing 5 g/100 g corn oil (control), 4 g/100 g fish oil (contains a mixture of n-3 PUFA) plus 1 g/100 g corn oil, or 4 g/100 g corn oil plus 1 g/100 g DHA ethyl ester for 14 days. Dietary n-3 PUFA were incorporated into splenic T cell lipid raft and soluble membrane phospholipids, resulting in a 30% reduction in raft sphingomyelin content. In addition, polyclonal activation-induced colocalization of PKCθ with lipid rafts was reduced by n-3 PUFA feeding. With respect to PKCθ effector pathway signaling, both AP-1 and NF-κB activation, IL-2 secretion, and lymphoproliferation were inhibited by fish oil feeding. Similar results were obtained when purified DHA was fed. These data demonstrate for the first time that dietary DHA alters T cell membrane microdomain composition and suppresses the PKCθ signaling axis.


CONTEXT
One of the important sources of Staphylococci which causes nosocomial infections, is the nasal carriage of Staphylococci among Health Care Workers (HCWs). The commonest antibiotic which is preferred for the treatment of the methicillin and multi drug resistant Staphylococcal infections is clindamycin. The inducible clindamycin resistance in Staphylococci is not detected by the routine antibiotic susceptibility testing and it results in treatment failures.

AIM
The present study was undertaken to know the prevalence of constitutive and inducible clindamycin resistance and its correlation with the methicillin resistance among the nasal isolates of Staphylococci which were obtained from different HCWs.

MATERIAL AND METHODS
Nasal swabs were collected from 206 HCWs and they were processed. The Staphylococci which were isolated were tested for methicillin resistance by using cefoxitin (30 μg) discs. The inducible clindamycin resistance was tested by using erythromycin (15 μg) and clindamycin (2μg) discs and the D test according to the CLSI guidelines.

RESULTS
Inducible clindamycin resistance was seen in 21(16.40%) of the S.aureus and 14 (7.56%) of the coagulase negative Staphylococcal isolates. Constitutive clindamycin resistance was seen in 23(17.96%) of the S.aureus and 43(23.24%) of the coagulase negative Staphylococcal isolates. The inducible and constitutive clindamycin resistance was more common among the methicillin resistant Staphylococcal isolates.

CONCLUSION
The prevalence of inducible and constitutive clindamycin resistance in the nasal Staphylococcal isolates which were obtained from the HCWs was high, especially among the methicillin resistant Staphylococci. The D test which is recommended by the CLSI should be routinely done to detect inducible clindamycin resistance, to prevent treatment failures.


Premise of research. Phenotypic traits that consistently mediate species' responses to environmental variation (functional traits) provide a promising approach toward generalizing ecological and evolutionary patterns and thereby gaining insights into the processes generating them. In the plant functional ecology literature, most trait-based studies have focused on traits mediating either resource competition or responses to variation in the abiotic environment, while traits mediating reproductive interactions have often been neglected. Methodology. Here, I discuss the value of herkogamy, the spatial separation of male and female functions in flowers, as a functional trait in plant reproductive biology and review the evidence relevant to the hypothesis that taxa exhibiting greater herkogamy have historically experienced more reliable pollination and more outcrossed mating systems. Pivotal results. A large body of work in the field of plant reproductive biology has identified a set of nearly ubiquitous correlations between average herkogamy and features of plant mating systems, notably, autofertility (seed set in the absence of pollinators) and outcrossing rate. Herkogamy often varies extensively among populations and species, and the adaptive interpretation is that herkogamy exhibits local adaptation to the reliability of the pollination environment. Conclusions. These results underline the value of herkogamy as a functional trait representing variation in mating histories. Many important insights are likely to emerge from studies leveraging herkogamy as an easily measured proxy of plant mating systems, as already demonstrated in comparative studies and studies of reproductive interactions. Greater consideration of herkogamy and other reproductive-function traits in studies of species coexistence may provide a more complete understanding of community assembly processes.


Background The National Chlamydia Screening Programme (NCSP) seeks to increase rates of chlamydia diagnosis amongst young people aged 15–24 across the 326 English Local Authorities (LA). 68% of screens and 79% of diagnoses are made in the community sexual health, general practise, pharmacy, termination of pregnancy (TOP) and genitourinary medicine (GUM) services that take part in the NCSP. These 'Core Services' are central to the delivery of the programme but not all clinics screen for chlamydia. This study was undertaken as part of a project to inform optimum services configuration to increase diagnostic rates to improve chlamydia detection and infection control. Methods Diagnoses of genital chlamydia recorded in data from sexually transmitted disease clinics and NCSP surveillance datasets for 2011 were aggregated to LA level. Overall diagnostic rates (outcome) were calculated using Office of National Statistics (ONS) population estimates for the 15–24 year age group. This information was analysed together with the total testing at each Core Service and ONS area classification. Data were analysed using multivariable negative binomial poisson regression and spatial mapping techniques. Results Overall chlamydia diagnostic rates were associated with increased rates of testing in community health services (RR = 1.02; p < 0.0001), general practise (RR = 1.01; p = 0.0176) and GUM (RR = 1.03; p < 0.0001) but not pharmacy or TOP. Diagnostic rates varied by geographic location (p < 0.0001), lower rates being seen in 'Central London' (RR = 0.63; 95% CI = 0.50–0.80), 'London Suburbs' (RR = 0.77; 95% CI = 0.61–0.96) 'Southern England' (RR = 0.63; 95% CI = 0.51–0.78) and 'Outer London' (RR = 0.64; 95% CI = 0.50–081). Diagnostic rates also increased as the range of service types contributing to testing increased (p = 0.0427). Conclusions The analysis highlights the importance of community based testing and the provision of a range of services to achieving high rates of chlamydia detection. The study is being extended to investigate patient flow and service attendances within and between LAs in relation to gender, age group, ethnicity and service type.


It has been reported that tumour necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors have adverse side-effects including infections, malignancies, demyelinating disease, and induction of autoimmune conditions. Dermatological complications of anti-TNF therapy include injection site reactions, cutaneous infections, allergic rashes, psoriasis, non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC), and rare reports of lupus-like syndrome, erythema multiforme (EM), Steven's Johnson syndrome (SJS), and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN).

Currently, there are four TNF inhibitors approved by the US Federal Drug Administration (FDA): etanercept (Enbrel; Amgen, Thousand Oaks, California, USA, and Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, Philadelphia, USA), infliximab (Remicade; Centacor, Horsham, Philadelphia, USA), adalimumab (Humira; Abbott Laboratories, Abbott Park, Illinois, USA), and certolizumab pegol (Cimzia; UCB, Smyrna, Georgia, USA). They are prescribed for and have revolutionised the treatment of various immune-mediated inflammatory disorders, most notably Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Almost 2 million patients worldwide have been treated with them since their introduction.1

Although TNF inhibitors exhibit impressive efficacy, a number of dermatological complications exist: injection site reactions, allergic rashes, cutaneous manifestations of infusion reactions, cutaneous infections, psoriasis, NMSCs, and rare lesions including lupus-like syndrome, EM, SJS, TEN, and cutaneous vasculitis. Indeed, two recent prospective studies of 289 and 150 rheumatological patients started on TNF inhibitors found that 23–25% had a dermatological complication.2 3

The following is a review of safety data based upon reports from the FDA, review articles, company data, and reports from the German Register and from the British Society for Rheumatology Biologics Register (BSRBR). Management of these reactions is presented extensively elsewhere and briefly discussed in each section, the final table, and the conclusion.

Injection site reactions occur with the use of etanercept, adalimumab and certolizumab pegol. Signs and symptoms include redness, itching, bruising, pain, swelling and/or irritation at the site of injection. These occurred more often …


Abstract Cerro de los Batallones fossil sites are distinguished by large and diverse accumulations of Miocene vertebrate fauna. Little taphonomic research has been conducted on these assemblages so far, however. Results of Rare Earth Element (REE) analyses constrain diverse aspects of the taphonomic history undergone by the bones and constitute a starting point for subsequent taphonomic studies. Cerro de los Batallones localities were formed as cavities and seem to be composed of two types of assemblages that differ in their stratigraphic position, internal stratigraphic architecture, taxonomic composition and several taphonomic features. Despite these differences, chemically analyzed bones from the Batallones-1 upper and lower level assemblages exhibit undistinguishable REE patterns both within and between them. This, together with other taphonomic features, indicates that bones are autochthonous and that the depositional context remained constant during the sedimentation of the cavity filling. In addition, REE analyses are a key tool in unveiling the provenance of those fossil bones that could be regarded as allochthonous considering their peculiar macroscopic modifications. Negative Ce anomalies exhibited by isolated fossil bones lead to the proposal that the ponds that existed in the lower level of Batallones-1 were oxic. This inference clarifies the mode of accumulation of individuals in this assemblage: the carcasses did not accumulate massively over a brief period of time but rather they concentrated and, therefore, decayed over a relatively prolonged time span.


Apple cultivation has evolved tremendously in past decades. Both apple productivity, and aesthetic and quality of the fruit, have been strongly improved resulting from genetic improvement, optimization of tree training and pruning, and orchard design and management. However, these improvements were also done at the expense of an increasing dependence on external inputs such as water, fertilizers and synthetic pesticides. This dependence is now questioned because of the generated environmental pollutions and health issues. In the last decades, an increasing amount of initiatives have been developed that open the way towards more sustainable apple production systems. Concepts as well as on-station and onfarm works are developed in various contexts such as 'Integrated Fruit Production', 'Organic Farming' and 'Agroecology' with the objectives to increase biological regulations of pests and diseases and/or to improve soil fertility. All together results point out the importance of diversifying resources and habitats for beneficial arthropods in the orchard and its vicinity to foster ecosystem services related to pest suppression and to adopt cultural practices enhancing soil fertility. They also indicate some practical guidelines consisting in a better management of grass alleys and lining hedgerows within and around the orchard, respectively. From a more prospective view and taking inspiration from tropical fruit-tree based agroforestry, these works suggest that combining apple trees with other herbaceous and woody plants with various uses (soft fruit, aromatic plants, etc.) opens to more resilient agroecosystems, possibly mitigating climate change. They also enlarge our vision of the current apple orchard towards a multiproduction system including apple among other productions. From the 'plant science' point of view this emerging paradigm challenges current knowledge of the plasticity of the apple tree physiology and architecture, and agronomic performance, in response to interactions with neighboring plants. It also stimulates necessary collaborations with other research fields such as socio-economics, for example on how the grower may handle those complex agroecosystems, optimize labor and valorize production.


ABSTRACT Human gut Bacteroides species produce different types of toxins that antagonize closely related members of the gut microbiota. Some are toxic effectors delivered by type VI secretion systems, and others are non-contact-dependent secreted antimicrobial proteins. Many strains of Bacteroides fragilis secrete antimicrobial molecules, but only one of these toxins has been described to date (Bacteroidales secreted antimicrobial protein 1 [BSAP-1]). In this study, we describe a novel secreted protein produced by B. fragilis strain 638R that mediated intraspecies antagonism. Using transposon mutagenesis and deletion mutation, we identified a gene encoding a eukaryotic-like ubiquitin protein (BfUbb) necessary for toxin activity against a subset of B. fragilis strains. The addition of ubb into a heterologous background strain conferred toxic activity on that strain. We found this gene to be one of the most highly expressed in the B. fragilis genome. The mature protein is 84% similar to human ubiquitin but has an N-terminal signal peptidase I (SpI) signal sequence and is secreted extracellularly. We found that the mature 76-amino-acid synthetic protein has very potent activity, confirming that BfUbb mediates the activity. Analyses of human gut metagenomic data sets revealed that ubb is present in 12% of the metagenomes that have evidence of B. fragilis. As 638R produces both BSAP-1 and BfUbb, we performed a comprehensive analysis of the toxin activity of BSAP-1 and BfUbb against a set of 40 B. fragilis strains, revealing that 75% of B. fragilis strains are targeted by one or the other of these two secreted proteins of strain 638R. IMPORTANCE We are just beginning to understand some of the important interactions that occur between microbes of the human gut microbiota that dictate the composition and abundance of its constituent members. The ability of one member to produce molecules that directly kill a coresident member has been shown among minor gut species and is just starting to be studied in the abundant Bacteroides species. Here, we show that some strains of Bacteroides fragilis have acquired a gene encoding a secreted eukaryotic-like ubiquitin protein with potent inhibitory activity against other B. fragilis stains. This is the first bacterially encoded ubiquitin-like molecule shown to function like a bacterial toxin. This molecule is an example of a gut symbiont acquiring and adapting a eukaryotic molecule likely to increase its competitiveness in the mammalian gut. Understanding antagonistic factors produced by abundant gut symbionts is an important prerequisite to properly engineer strains to colonize the gut for health benefits. We are just beginning to understand some of the important interactions that occur between microbes of the human gut microbiota that dictate the composition and abundance of its constituent members. The ability of one member to produce molecules that directly kill a coresident member has been shown among minor gut species and is just starting to be studied in the abundant Bacteroides species. Here, we show that some strains of Bacteroides fragilis have acquired a gene encoding a secreted eukaryotic-like ubiquitin protein with potent inhibitory activity against other B. fragilis stains. This is the first bacterially encoded ubiquitin-like molecule shown to function like a bacterial toxin. This molecule is an example of a gut symbiont acquiring and adapting a eukaryotic molecule likely to increase its competitiveness in the mammalian gut. Understanding antagonistic factors produced by abundant gut symbionts is an important prerequisite to properly engineer strains to colonize the gut for health benefits.


The cluster approach, i.e., forming basic innovative and industrial clusters has gained wide circulation in modern Russian conditions for the development of the economy. These actions are considered by federal and regional authorities as effective measures for implementing the economic policy stimulating regional development. The analysis we carried out showed that the quantitative approach for assessing the efficiency of cluster creation and performance is still insufficiently used. In this paper we establish and quantitatively estimate the influence cluster have on the regional economy using regression analysis with an example of a number of Russian regional clusters. It is offered to expand the practice of creation and the state support of clusters taking into account the revealed quantitative dependences estimating their efficiency. We have advanced the hypothesis that clustering has a positive influence on regional economy, and confirmed this influence by means of quantitative methods using representative datasets. Our study of course had a selective character as it is not possible to carry out calculations for all existing clusters and cluster initiatives of Russia and discuss the results within a single article. At the same time, following the analysis we performed, we concluded that it is effective to initiate cluster creation in Russian regions. It is shown that cluster activity is capable to have of having a positive impact on GRP growth and the budgetary income in the region. Along with that, we note the dissimilarities in the multiplying influence of clusters on the regional development, its dependence on territorial and branch specifics that will be the direction for a further in-depth study. CLUSTER POLICY; CLUSTER; EFFICIENCY ASSESSMENT; REGIONAL ECONOMY; REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT.


This paper presents a novel and efficient approach to error resilient video coding, targeted at audio visual archiving applications, where video files need to be kept in digital storage systems for extended periods of time. In the face of the inevitable data corruptions occurring silently in the storage media, the proposed method enables graceful degradation while also minimising the total cost of storage. Rather than keeping the video stream as a single continuous file within the storage system, it is proposed to split it intelligently into multiple sub files, with selective replication, based on a significance index defined for the various components of the encoded bit stream, and the characteristics of the storage system itself. The sub files are stored in different tiers of a multi-tier digital storage system with "graded" protection. A sliding scale is defined to vary the mapping of the significance index to the coding parameters. The parameters could be optimised for the application specific circumstances, including the desired quality and the longevity of the content.


The dynamic response, stability, and noise characteristics of fluid components and systems can be strongly influenced by the inertance of the fluid in passageways, which are often of complex geometry. The inertance is a parameter that has often proved to be very difficult to accurately quantify, either theoretically or experimentally. This paper presents a method of numerical calculation of the inertance in a passageway, assuming inviscid, incompressible flow and zero mean flow. The method is simple to apply and can be applied to geometries of arbitrary complexity. Two simple but unorthodox ways of calculating inertance using a computational fluid dynamics and a finite element solid-modeling package are also demonstrated. Results are presented for a simple cylindrical orifice, a simple spool valve, and a conical poppet valve. The effect of the inertance on the response of a poppet valve is demonstrated.


The study of translation norms is presently developed
within the framework that relates translation to
social, power and ideological aspects. Linked to both
Linguistics and Sociolinguistics, norms are understood
as the formulation of the values shared by a community
in a certain situation. Thus they are psychological and
social entities that have a social control function. From
this point of view, translation norms are recurrent rules
of behaviour that govern, identify and individualize the
social order of the cultural system where translation
takes place. The translation behaviour is then considered
a communicative and a social practice.
In this article, a brief review of the current state of
the art of the theoretical reflection on translation norms
is offered, followed by a practical study of the Spanish
translations of John Keats's odes and sonnets included
in isolated editions published in Spain in the 20th century.
Normative translator behaviours find a definition,
which allows a classification of translations according
to the natural evolution of the socio-cultural context
where translations are produced and received. Conclusions
can be extrapolated to the study of the most common
practices followed nowadays in the translation of
poetry in Spain.


Support vector machine (SVM) is one of the widely used machine learning algorithms because of its salient features such as margin maximization and kernel substitution for classification and regression of data in a high dimensional feature space. But SVMs still face difficulties in handling large datasets. This difficulty is because of solving quadratic programming problems in SVMs which is costly, especially when dealing with large sets of training data. The proposed algorithm extracts data points lying close to the cluster boundaries of large data set, which form a much reduced but critical set for classification and regression. Inspired by the difficulties associated with SVM while handling large data sets with nonlinear kernels, the presented algorithm preselects a subset of data points and solves a smaller optimization problem to obtain the support vectors. The method presented reduces the data vectors by a recursive and segmented data structure analysis on the data vectors used to train the SVM. As this method is independent of SVM and precedes the training stage of SVM, it reduces the problem suffered by most data reduction methods that choose data based on repeated training of SVMs. Experiments using line spectral frequency (LSF) data vectors for voice conversion application show that the presented algorithm is capable of reducing the number of data vectors as well as the training time of SVMs, while maintaining good accuracy in terms of objective evaluation. The subjective evaluation result of the proposed voice conversion system is compared with the state of the art method like neural networks (NNs). The results show that the proposed method may be used as an alternative to the existing method for voice conversion.


Two precursors of soluble tetraazaporphrins, trans-1,2-dicyano-(p-ethylphenyl)alkene and cis-1, 2-dicyano-(p-ethylphenyl)alkene, were synthesized. Their structures were confirmed by elemental analysis, FTIR, UV-Vis, GC/MS and H NMR. The differences in isomer structures of the trans and cis-1,2-dicyano-(p-ethylphenyl)alkenes were represented by the obvious differences in the spectra of UV-Vis, FTIR and 1H NMR In addition, the reasons for the differences were also analyzed.


Novel experimental characterization method and circuit modeling for frequency-variant transmission lines are presented. Experimental test patterns are designed and fabricated by using a BGA package process. They are characterized and modeled by using time-domain TDR/TDT wave measurements and frequency-domain s-parameter measurements. Then taking the frequency-variant effects into account, a transmission line circuit model is developed, followed by the s-parameter-based model verification. Thereby, it is shown that the conventional constant-model-parameter-based circuit model may not be accurate enough to verify the signal integrity of high-performance integrated circuits


Optically detected magnetic resonance and photoluminescence spectroscopy are employed to study grown-in defects in GaAs0.985Bi0.015 epilayers grown by molecular beam epitaxy. The dominant paramagnetic defect is identified as an isolated arsenic antisite, AsGa, with an electron g-factor of 2.03 ± 0.01 and an isotropic hyperfine interaction constant A = (900 ± 20) × 10−4 cm−1. The defect is found to be preferably incorporated during the growth at the lowest growth temperature of 270 °C, but its formation can be suppressed upon increasing growth temperature to 315 °C. The AsGa concentration is also reduced after post-growth rapid thermal annealing at 600 °C.


Video quality assessment (VQA) is very important for many video processing applications, e.g., compression, archiving, restoration, and enhancement. An ideal video quality metric should achieve consistency between video distortion prediction and psychological perception of human visual system. Different from the quality assessment of single images, motion information and temporal distortion should be carefully considered for VQA. Most of previous VQA algorithms deal with the motion information through two ways: either incorporating motion characteristics into a temporal weighting scheme to account for their affects on the spatial distortion, or modeling the temporal distortion and spatial distortion independently. Optical flows need to be estimated in the two ways. In this paper, we propose a different methodology to deal with the motion information. Instead of explicitly calculating the optical flow and independently modeling the temporal distortion, both the spatial edge features and temporal motion characteristics are accounted for by some structural features in the localized spacetime regions. We propose to represent the structural information by two descriptors extracted from the 3-D structure tensors, which are the largest eigenvalue as well as its corresponding eigenvector. Experimental results on LIVE database and VQEG FR-TV Phase-I database show that the proposed VQA metric is competitive with state-of-the-art VQA metrics, while keeping relatively low computing complexity.


As ElectroActive Polymers (EAPs) attract keen attentions from various engineering fields, they have been proven more beneficial over the traditional electromagnetic transducers. In the present paper, a new polymeric material that could be adopted for a dielectric elastomer actuator is introduced. The proposed synthetic rubber produces larger deformation at higher energy efficiency compared to previously known dielectric elastomers. A method for the material synthesis and a set of comparative testing of the material to the existing material are to be mentioned in the present work. In addition, benefits of actuators made with the proposed material are discussed.


A method is presented for designing linear phase FIR digital filters with absolute upper and lower bounds on the filter frequency response. The design is by iteration based on polynomial interpolation. A proof of convergence of the algorithm is given. A user-oriented standard FORTRAN computer program, CONRIP, has been written to do the design. Copies of CONRIP are available from the authors.


Glycine (Gly)-extended gastrin has been described as the inactive precursor form of the biologically active amidated gastrin. The ratio of Gly-extended to amidated gastrin is higher in the circulation than in tissue, suggesting either differential secretion and/or metabolism. Although the distribution of the precursor form is similar in tissue and circulation to its amidated product, the significance of measurable levels of precursor peptide in the circulation is unknown. In this study, we have examined the pharmacokinetic properties and organ-specific metabolism of both the Gly-extended and the amidated forms of gastrin-17 (G-17-Gly and G-17-amide) in the conscious sheep. The metabolic clearance rate, half disappearance time, and production rates were similar for both G-17-Gly and G-17-amide. G-17-Gly was extracted across the head, kidney, and lung but not across the gut and liver. Similarly, G-17-amide was extracted across the head, gut, lung, and kidney but not across the liver. G-17-Gly had no biological activity as evidenced by its failure to stimulate somatostatin secretion nor was there any measurable conversion to amidated gastrin in the circulation. We conclude that the presence of G-17-Gly in the circulation is not the result of a slower clearance and that circulating G-17-Gly is not a precursor for circulating gastrin-amide. The results of this study provide important baseline data for understanding the dynamics of the precursor product relationship between G-Gly and G-amide.


Evaluating an Educational Initiative for Postsurgical Vascular Patients by Cynthia A. Gillespie MS, Walden University, 2012 BS, Alderson-Broaddus College, 1979 Project Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Nursing Practice Walden University February 2019 Abstract The educational medium GetWellNetWork (GWNW) in a large magnet teaching facility offered few educational videos specific to vascular patients with a focus on leg elevation after lower extremity bypass surgery. Supplying patient-specific education has the potential for providing cost-effective nursing care to vascular patients and improvingThe educational medium GetWellNetWork (GWNW) in a large magnet teaching facility offered few educational videos specific to vascular patients with a focus on leg elevation after lower extremity bypass surgery. Supplying patient-specific education has the potential for providing cost-effective nursing care to vascular patients and improving hospital reimbursement. Guided by the interactive care model, a storyboard was developed using best-practice evidence for vascular postoperative patients that could lead to the development of a video to address the educational needs of vascular patients upon discharge. The practice focused question asked if a video addressing the importance of leg elevation would improve patients' use of in-house educational videos and stakeholder satisfaction. A vascular physician (n = 1) and nursing staff (n = 9) provided feedback on the appropriateness of the evidence-based educational content for the storyboard by completing a 9-item, open-ended survey. Survey results supported development of the video and revealed positive feedback on storyboard content and that staff with 1–3 years' experience or 15+ years' experience had an increased understanding of the importance of evidence-based guidelines for leg elevation for vascular patients. The feedback will be used to develop a vascular-patient-specific educational video. Encouraging patients to view the video on leg elevation has the potential to improve cost effectiveness of patient care and hospital reimbursement, prevent hospital readmission that could lead to patient and caregiver hardships associated with readmission, and improve the health outcomes for postoperative vascular patients. Evaluating an Educational Initiative for Postsurgical Vascular Patients by Cynthia A. Gillespie MS, Walden University, 2012 BS, Alderson-Broaddus College, 1979 Project Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Nursing Practice


The Al-B4C metal matrix composite (MMC) is characterized by its ability to absorb neutrons which makes it the most suitable shielding material for nuclear reactors. The present work was performed on two series of Al-B4C metal matrix composites made using a powder injection apparatus. In one series, commercially pure aluminum (A5) served as the matrix. For the second set, 6063 alloy was used. In all cases the volume fraction of B4C reinforcement particles (grit size 400 mesh, purity 99.5%) was approximately 15%. The volume fraction of the injected B4C particles was determined using a computer driven image analyzer. Measured amounts of Ti, Zr, and Ti + Zr, were added to the molten composites of both series. Microstructural characterization was carried out employing a field emission scanning electron microscope operating at 20 kV and equipped with an electron dispersive x-ray spectroscopic system (EDS). The same technique was applied to characterize the fracture behavior of the tested composites. Mechanical properties of these composites were investigated using impact testing, and ambient and high temperature tensile testing methods. Almost 1000 impact and tensile samples were tested following different heat treatments. The obtained results from these investigations are reported in this Chapter.


Aim of the article The main purpose of this article was to investigate the impact of the determinants of profitability on the commercial banks in Asian countries. An Asian country like Bangladesh and India was selected as the research field. The present study also pursues to examine the impact of specific factors and macroeconomic factors on the profitability in the Bangladeshi and Indian private commercial banking sectors. Methods applied and analysis tools The data were retrieved from the Annual Reports of Indian and Bangladeshi private commercial banks covering the period of 2010–2021. As sample, 40 private commercial banks were considered randomly, of which 20 were from India and 20 were from Bangladesh. The panel data research methodology was used as an estimation technique to analyze the data. Also, the ordinary least squares (OLS) regression model was used to scrutinize data. To check whether the models were appropriate, the Breusch–Pagan Lagrange Multiplier (LM) Test was employed. Banks' specific factors and microeconomic factors showed almost the same variations for both Bangladesh's and India's private banks. All models and tests were evaluated using E-views econometric software. The major findings The present study finds that the Return on Asset (ROA) from the banks' specific variables, strength of the Bank size (BS), and Debt to Asset Ratio (DAR) are found to be positive and significant. For banks, the Deposit to Asset Ratio (DTAR) and the Loan to Deposit Ratio (LDR) are found to be negative and significant. The Equity to Asset Ratio (EAR) and Debt to Equity Ratio (DER) do not have any positive/negative impact. Contribution, originality, and implications As macroeconomic variables, the inflation rate (IR) and the GDP growth rate (GDPGR) are measured and found to be positive and significant for ROA. As macroeconomic variables, the Inflation Rate (IR) and the GDP Growth Rate (GDPGR) are found to be positive and significant in the case of ROA. The concerned authorities responsible for regulating the financial performance of the banking sector can use the results of this study to take various fruitful decisions on bank profitability.


Seed enhancements such as seed priming can be used to improve germination uniformity and accelerate the rate of germination. The study focused on evaluating the interaction between light and temperature effects on germination percentages of osmoprimed tobacco seeds (Nicotiana tabacum L.) of eight flue-cured varieties namely K RK26, K RK28, T29, T64, T65, T66, T71 and T72. Seeds were osmoprimed for a maximum period of five days in different solutions of phytohormones (6Benzylaminopurine (BA) and Gibberellic Acid (GA3) and a salt (KNO3). The lower water potential of these solutions was achieved by adding an osmoticum (Polyethylene Glycol 8000). The influence of osmotic priming was evaluated by incubating the treated seeds under light and dark conditions at optimal (20/30°C) and supra-optimal (33±2°C) temperatures. The experiment revealed that the eight tobacco varieties, gave lower germination percentages in total darkness at high temperatures (33±2°C) than when imbibed under light at 20/30°C. The non-primed seeds exhibited the least germination performance throughout the entire experiment. Osmopriming T64 and T29, in KNO3+ PEG 8000 was superior in enhancing their germination percentages under dark conditions at 33±2°C. Response of the different varieties was different. K RK26, T65, T71 and K RK28 treated with BA+PEG 8000 recorded the highest germination performance for all the germination attributes used in this study whereas, T66 and T72 had a positive response to GA+KNO3+PEG 8000 and BA+ KNO3+PEG 8000 respectively. Osmotic priming resulted in increased germination percentages, rate of germination and improved germination uniformity of the different tobacco cultivars under supra-optimal conditions. Whereas under these conditions, the non-primed seeds of all the varieties exhibited poor germination performances. Therefore, osmotic priming can be used as a method of enhancing tobacco seed germination under stressful environmental conditions.


The Measuring instrument of carbon dioxide concentration in seawater (pCO(2)) is developed. The instrument consists of an equilibrator, a non-dispersive infrared gas analyzer (NDIR), a carrier gas generator and a processing signal generator. The equilibrator has a cross section of 3 c㎡ and is 15 cm tall. The principle of pCO(2) measurement is based on the equilibration of a carrier gas phase with a seawater sample and subsequent determination of the carbon dioxide concentration in the carrier gas. The carrier gas circuit of the NDIR is opened to the atmosphere to maintain the carrier gas line at a barometric pressure. The present instrument can measure pCO(2) within the measuring error of about 2 ppm with sample water of about 180ml every 20 min.


Programming of fetal development is considered to be an important risk factor for noncommunicable diseases of adulthood, including coronary heart disease (CHD). Aiming to investigate the association between maternal nutrition and the development of the coronary arteries (CAs) in staged mice embryos, C57BL/6 mice embryos from Stages 16 to 23 were taken from mothers fed a normal protein (NP) or low protein (LP) diet, and the CA were studied. Although the LP embryos had lower masses, they had faster heart growth rates when compared with the NP embryos. The subepicardial plexuses were observed earlier in the NP embryos (Stage 20) than in the LP ones (Stage 22; P < 0.01). Apoptotic nuclei were seen around the aortic peritruncal ring beginning at Stage 18 in the NP and LP embryos. FLK1+ (fetal liver kinase 1 = VEGF‐r2 or vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2) cells had a homogeneous distribution in the NP embryos as early as Stage 18, whereas a similar distribution in the LP embryos was only seen at Stages 22 and 23. Maternal protein restriction in mice leads to a delay in the growth of the heart in the embryonic period modifying the development of the subepicardial peritruncal plexus and the apoptosis in the future coronary orifice region. Anat Rec, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.


Oakland, California's history is replete with notable contributions and accomplishments: architectural, political, literary, and economic, among others. From a thriving and bustling city in the 1930s and 1940s when it was the fastest growing industrial city on the west coast, Oakland stumbled into decades of decline, its magnificent architecture towering over abandoned streets, boarded-up shops, and scarce pedestrians. The city has struggled for years to revive and thrive. However, even as residents lament the city's economic decline, the crime rates, and the failure of one plan or another to rejuvenate the city, they point proudly to what they consider Oakland's most enduring asset: its racial and ethnic diversity. "It has been said that Oakland is the most integrated city anywhere," boasts the Oakland Unified School District annual report (1993). "According to the 1990 census, the population of Oakland is composed of at least 82 language and ethnic groups." Many residents hope that this asset, unlike others, will in fact be preserved and that its diversity does not fall victim to the economic vagaries that have ravaged the city. By identifying the factors responsible for promoting or undermining Oakland's diversity, it may be possible to ensure that it will remain an asset rather than become a liability. This article represents a preliminary attempt to identify those factors through an examination of the experience of the city's two most diverse community development districts: San Antonio and Fruitvale.


The current study was set out to establish the efficacy of different mitosis inhibitors (colchicine, amiprophos-methyl, trifluralin and oryzalin) used in the production of red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) and alsike clover (Trifolium hybridum L.) polyploids and to assess the agrobiological traits of tetraploid populations. Four cultivars and five wild populations of T. pratense, one cultivar and three wild populations of T. hybridum were used for polyploidization. The effect of conventional soaking of germinating seeds in a colchicine solution was compared with that of colchicine treatment of embryos in an in vitro culture. Colchicine treatment of T. pratense embryos resulted in 3.3 times higher production of tetraploids (teraploid yield 55.0%) compared with colchicine treatment of seedlings, and the production of chimeric plants was 1.9 times lower. The different mitosis inhibitors were characterised by a diverse polyploidization effect. Tetraploid yield depended not only on the mitosis inhibitor used but also on the plant species. Treatment of T. pratense embryos with colchicine, amiprophosmethyl and oryzalin yielded similar results in terms of tetraploid production (31.3–40.7%) and chimeras (14.3–22.4%). The concentration of trifluralin used for the production of T. pratense tetraploids was ineffective. Colchicine solution was more efficient for the development of T. hybridum tetraploids whose yield was 2.5 times as high as that obtained having treated the embryos with amiprophos-methyl. Induced tetraploid populations were compared to reference cultivars in field trials. The two T. pratense populations 'Radviliai 4n' and 'Arimaičiai 4n' stood out in this respect – their plants accumulated higher dry matter contents, produced more inflorescences than those of the reference cultivar and exhibited prolific seed yield capacity. In relation to the agrobiological traits, the tetraploid populations of T. hybridum did not surpass the reference cultivar.


We present RobustTP, an end-to-end algorithm for predicting future trajectories of road-agents in dense traffic with noisy sensor input trajectories obtained from RGB cameras (either static or moving) through a tracking algorithm. In this case, we consider noise as the deviation from the ground truth trajectory. The amount of noise depends on the accuracy of the tracking algorithm. Our approach is designed for dense heterogeneous traffic, where the road agents corresponding to a mixture of buses, cars, scooters, bicycles, or pedestrians. RobustTP is an approach that first computes trajectories using a combination of a non-linear motion model and a deep learning-based instance segmentation algorithm. Next, these noisy trajectories are trained using an LSTM-CNN neural network architecture that models the interactions between road-agents in dense and heterogeneous traffic. Our trajectory prediction algorithm outperforms state-of-the-art methods for end-to-end trajectory prediction using sensor inputs. We achieve an improvement of upto 18% in average displacement error and an improvement of up to 35.5% in final displacement error at the end of the prediction window (5 seconds) over the next best method. All experiments were set up on an Nvidia TiTan Xp GPU. Additionally, we release a software framework, TrackNPred. The framework consists of implementations of state-of-the-art tracking and trajectory prediction methods and tools to benchmark and evaluate them on real-world dense traffic datasets.


: The cytology of epithelial cells of the mouse epididymis was studied under light and electron microscopy. Four principal areas--the initial segment, the head, the body and the tail--were distinguished according to the morphological features of the main cells. Transitional areas separating these segments have been described also; one of the segments, intermediate between the head and the body, was longer. Five other cell types and their sites were noted: "apical" cells, corresponding to the "narrow" cells of Sun and Flickinger (1980), were located in the initial to the intermediate segment; clear cells were scattered in the epithelium from the intermediate segment to the tail; basal cells were sporadically distributed along the entire duct. Halo and dark cells were observed also.


H-2d-encoded gene products were analyzed as restriction antigens for anti-vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL). Cold target competition experiments revealed that VSV recognition was H- 2D region-restricted; H-2K-end-restricted recognition of VSV could not be demonstrated. That VSV is not recognized in the context of K-region- encoded gene products is also supported by the observation that H-2dm1 and H-2dm2 mice, strains that contain H-2Kd but have an alteration in H- 2L and/or H-2D/L, are nonresponders in the CTL assay. Two different lines of evidence eliminated H-2Dd, H-2Md, and H-2Rd as the restriction antigens: (a) H-2dm2-VSV inhibitors that express H-2Dd and H-2Md did not block the lysis of P815-VSV targets by Balb/c anti-VSV killer cells, and (b) a hybridoma specific for H-2Dd failed to inhibit killer cell activity in this same effector/target combination. However, two monoclonal antibodies specific for H-2Ld but not H-2Rd completely blocked anti-VSV cytotoxic activity. Taken together, in the H-2d haplotype, anti-VSV CTL recognize VSV solely in the context of the H- 2Ld molecule. This is the first demonstration of the exclusive use by a mouse stain of the H-2L molecule only for H-2-restricted recognition, and thus supports the notion that H-2L plays a major role in restricting antigen specific recognition. Finally, the fact that an anti-H-2Ld monoclone completely blocked an H-2dm2 anti-BALB/c CTL response indicates that H-2R, a molecule absent in H-2dm2 anti-BALB/c CTL response indicates that H-2R, a molecule absent in H-2dm2 but not BALB/c, does not sensitize H-2 alloreactive CTL.


Abstract Background Venetoclax is a selective, potent inhibitor of the anti-apoptotic B-cell leukemia/lymphoma-2 protein approved for treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia. We conducted a dose-finding study of venetoclax in combination with bendamustine–rituximab (BR) in patients with relapsed/refractory non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). Patients and methods BR was given for six cycles at standard doses. Intermittent and continuous oral venetoclax administration was explored at 50–1200 mg daily doses. Co-primary objectives included safety, pharmacokinetics (PKs), maximum-tolerated dose (MTD), and recommended phase II dose (RP2D); secondary objective was preliminary efficacy. Results Sixty patients were enrolled: 32 with follicular lymphoma, 22 with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, and 6 with marginal zone lymphoma. Nausea (70%), neutropenia (68%), diarrhea (55%), and thrombocytopenia (52%) were the most frequent adverse events (AEs). Most common grade 3/4 AEs were neutropenia (60%) and lymphopenia (38%). Serious AEs were reported in 24 patients; the most frequent were febrile neutropenia and disease progression (8% each). Five patients died from either disease progression (n = 4) or respiratory failure (n = 1). MTD was not reached; RP2D for venetoclax-BR combination was established as 800 mg daily continuously. Venetoclax PK exposure with and without BR was comparable. For all patients, overall response rate was 65%. Median duration of overall response, overall survival, and progression-free survival was 38.3 months [95% confidence interval (CI) 10.4–NR], not yet reached, and 10.7 months (95% CI 4.3–21.0), respectively. Conclusions This study established the safety profile of venetoclax in combination with BR, and results demonstrated tolerability and preliminary efficacy of the combination. Additional follow-up is needed to better determine the future role of BR plus venetoclax in the treatment of relapsed/refractory B-cell NHL. Trial registered Clinicaltrials.gov, NCT01594229.


On the basis of similarities between known xylanase sequences of the F family, three invariant acidic residues of xylanase A from Streptomyces lividans were investigated. Site-directed-mutagenesis experiments were carried out in Escherichia coli after engineering the xylanase A gene to allow its expression. Replacement of Glu-128 or Glu-236 by their isosteric form (Gln) completely abolished enzyme activity with xylan and p-nitrophenyl beta-D-cellobioside, indicating that the two substrates are hydrolysed at the same site. These two amino acids probably represent the catalytic residues. Immunological studies, which showed that the two mutants retained the same epitopes, indicate that the lack of activity is the result of the mutation rather than misfolding of the protein. Mutation D124E did not affect the kinetic parameters with xylan as substrate, but D124N reduced the Km 16-fold and the Vmax. 14-fold when compared with the wild-type enzyme. The mutations had a more pronounced effect with p-nitrophenyl beta-D-cellobioside as the substrate. Mutation D124E increased the Km and decreased the Vmax. 5-fold each, while D124N reduced the Km 4.5-fold and the Vmax. 75-fold. The mutations had no effect on the cleavage mode of xylopentaose.


INTRODUCTION: Undifferentiated metastatic pleomorphic sarcoma (Malignant Fibrous Histiocytoma) is a rare entity in the small intestine, especially when the primary tumor is of cardiac origin. CASE REPORT: We report a case of metastatic intestinal undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma in a young patient with a history of primary cardiac tumor in the left atrium and recurrent small bowel intussusception. He was admitted for abdominal pain and constipation. A segmental resection of the small intestine was performed with side-to-side entero-enteroic anastomosis. DISCUSSION: Intussusception of the small bowel is rare in adults and it represents about 1–3% of intesti- nal obstructions. It mainly affects the fifth decade with a male/female ratio of 1:5 More than 60% of patients with intussusception have a tumor with 50% being malignant. This type of intussusception can be diagnosed on the CT abdominalscan. Radiological features include a typical "target" sign with overdistention of the proximal intestine and air-fluid levels, but the diagnosis of certainty is made by exploratory laparotomy. CONCLUSION: The metastatic tumors that cause intussusception represent a rare clinical condition in adult patients, but much more common than primary ones. Metastasis to the small intestine are part of differential diagnosis in patient with a history of tumor who present with intussusception.


We investigate the specific influence of structural disorder on the suppression of antiferromagnetic order and on the emergence of cuprate superconductivity. We single out pure disorder, by focusing on a series of samples at fixed oxygen content y   =  0.35, in the range . The gradual Y/Eu isovalent substitution smoothly drives the system through the Mott-insulator to superconductor transition from a full antiferromagnet with Néel transition K at z  =  0 to a bulk superconductor with superconducting critical temperature K at z  =  1, . The electronic properties are finely tuned by gradual lattice deformations induced by the different cationic radii of the two lanthanides, inducing a continuous change of the basal Cu(1)-O chain length, as well as a controlled amount of disorder in the active Cu(2)O2 bilayers. We check that internal charge transfer from the basal to the active plane is entirely responsible for the doping of the latter and we show that superconductivity emerges with orthorhombicity. By comparing transition temperatures with those of the isoelectronic clean system we determine the influence of pure structural disorder connected with the Y/Eu alloy.


The purpose of this paper is to describe verbal and nonverbal expressions of mutual regulation between patients and therapists through the analysis of relevant episodes of five psychotherapy processes. Microanalyses of discourse, vocal quality and facial expression of emotions were conducted on both patients and therapists in 67 Episodes of Change and 86 Episodes of Rupture of the Therapeutic Alliance. The analyses were carried out using hierarchical regression, showing that both Episodes of Change and Episodes of Rupture correspond to interactional scenarios where patients and therapists use different forms of speech, vocal qualities and facial expressions that account for specific regulation processes which are coherent with such scenarios.


Dr. Wordie Parr Dr. Parr is Chief of the Physical Agents Effects Branch of NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. He is internationally known as an expert in radiation biology. Currently, Dr. Parr's duties involve directing field and research programs in noise and electromagnetic radiation (EMR). As a result of this involvement, one of Dr. Parr's recent activities has been centered around the issue of whether video display terminals (VDTs) pose a radiation health issue to workers in various fields. Dr. Parr and his staff at NIOSH have evaluated over 1000 different VDTs of all types, makes, and models. The results of these evaluations have all been published in the literature and will be reviewed in this session. David Sliney Mr. Sliney has been involved in standards development and in investigating potential hazards associated with lasers and conventional lightsources (including devices using cathode ray tubes and other optical display techniques). He recently co-authored a book on Optical Radiation Safety. R. C. Petersen R. C. Petersen works in the Environmental Health and Safety Department of Bell Laboratories in Murray Hill, NJ, where his responsibilities include non-ionizing radiation protection for the Bell System. This assignment includes characterizing and documenting the accessible levels of electromagnetic energy associated with existing and prototype RF and microwave transmission equipment used by the Bell System. W. M. Zuk Dr. W. M. Zuk is Head of the X-Rays Section, Consumer and Clinical Radiation Hazards Division, Health Protection Branch of Health and Welfare Canada. William H. Cushman Dr. William H. Cushman is a research psychologist and ergonomics consultant for Eastman Kodak Company in Rochester, NY. He has particular interests in visual perception, workplace design, lighting and industrial ergonomics. Optical Radiation Emissions from VDTs David Sliney Several groups of scientists in this country and overseas have measured the ultraviolet, visible and infrared radiations emitted by visual display devices to determine if potential optical radiation hazards exist from such displays. These measurements will be explained and conclusions drawn will be summarized and discussed. Radiofrequency and Microwave Emissions from VDTs R. C. Peterson Questions are continually being raised concerning potential health effects associated with exposure to radio frequency and microwave emissions from optical display devices. Because of these questions, several studies were undertaken by private and governmental organizations to characterize such emissions as a function of frequency and intensity. In particular, the band of frequencies extending from 10kHz to 18GHz was examined by Bell Laboratories for a variety of VDTs under normal conditions of operation. Similar emission measurements were made at a repair facility where a number of malfunctioning devices with their housings removed were operated simultaneously. In all cases, the sweep frequency and numerous harmonics were detected along with emissions at higher frequencies that could be associated with the digital clock or other switching equipment located within the terminal or within peripheral equipment. In no case did individual levels or the sum of all measured emissions even remotely approach exposure guidelines existing or proposed in either the United States or any other nation. The conclusion of this study, which is supported by the results of other similar studies, is that there is absolutely no evidence to indicate, nor is it even a subject of speculation, that the emissions associated with VDTs will or could have deleterious effects on the health of those persons using such devices. Measurements of X-ray Emission from VDTs W. M. Zuk The proliferation of video display terminals in the work environment has given rise to questions about possible adverse health effects associated with their use. In particular, considerable concern has been voiced by the media and labour organizations about the possibility of VDTs posing a radiation hazard to the operators of these devices. In response to this concern, a large number of reputable scientific surveys of radiation emissions from VDTs have been carried out all over the world. Collectively these surveys have encompassed virtually every make and model of VDT and have included emission measurements for x-ray, microwave, radiofrequency, ultraviolet infrared and visible radiations. The Radiation Protection Bureau of Health and Welfare Canada, in common with other health agencies, has made measurements for all of these radiations, however, this presentation will focus on the x-ray measurements only. In the past eleven years the Radiation Protection Bureau has carried out x-ray measurements on over 300 VDTs, comprising over 150 different models. In all cases no x-ray emission above instrumental background levels was detected. To assess the validity that VDTs might be emitting x-rays below levels detectable by the most commonly used field survey instruments (Victoreen 44DRF/C), 38 different models were measured in the Radiation Protection Bureau's low-level counting facility. This facility can detect low energy x-rays at emission levels some 500,000 times lower than the regulatory limit. No x-ray emission was detected. Human Factors Issues in VDT Workplace Design William H. Cushman The design of VDT workplaces has an important effect on the performance and attitude of people working with VDTs. Lighting factors are particularly important in determining the overall ergonomics of VDT workplaces. Some lighting factors that must be considered include illumination and luminance; task lighting; minimizing glare; selection and arrangement of luminaires; indirect lighting; and screens and filters for contrast enhancement. Other important factors include terminal design, furniture design, noise levels and color use.


Since Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is an autosomal recessive disorder due to mutations in the CFTR (Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator) gene, studies towards a gene therapy approach to its treatment followed immediately upon the cloning of the gene. It was demonstrated that the insertion of a single copy of the wild-type gene restored the normal phenotype in CF cells in vitro. Encouraging results were obtained in many in vivo model systems (CF transgenic mice) involving viral as well as non-viral vectors, which demonstrated the recovery of CFTR function in the airways. These results constituted the basis for human studies. Of those with a non-viral approach, a total of seven clinical trials using cationic lipids have reported data on efficiency, efficacy and safety. An effective gene transfer approach for the treatment of CF lung disease is not however imminent: low transfection efficiency and poor maintenance of gene expression are so far the main obstacles on this therapeutic path. On the other hand, no important adverse effects have been documented and repeated administration in humans is possible. The understanding of tissue and cellular barriers is a prerequisite for the development of more efficient non-viral gene therapy protocols for CF patients. While cationic lipids have been shown to be blocked by the mucous airway barrier and not be able to transfect differentiated respiratory epithelial cells, a new class of non-viral vectors, cationic polymers, are endowed with chemical and biological properties that make them more efficient in mediating gene transfer than lipids. Cationic polymers, such as polyethylenimine, are promising vectors for CF lung gene therapy.


In this paper we challenge the traditional view that adjectives do not subcategorise for the grammatical function OBJ. We argue instead that the more general cross-linguistic restriction is against the assignment of accusative case outside the domain of a governing verb or preposition. This may however be violated in particular languages as we show by comparing Old Swedish, in which adjectives may unusually take accusative complements as first noted by Platzack (1982a, b) and Maling (1983), with Latin, where an accusative complement of an adjective is not possible. We then explore the diachronic developments into modern Swedish and more generally the modern Germanic languages and contrast them with the changes that have taken place in the modern Romance languages. We show that there are significant differences between the two language families in the way prepositions compensate for the loss of morphological case. We also suggest an alternative to Maling?s account of the history of English near.


Base on the principle and method of B-P neural network,the prediction model of SO2 concentration in urban atmosphere was established by using the statistical data of a city in southwest China from 1991 to 2009,so as to forecast atmospheric SO2 concentration in a city of southwest China.The results showed that B-P neural network applied in the prediction of SO2 concentration in urban atmosphere was reasonable and efficient with high accuracy and wide adaptability,so it was worthy to be popularized.


A survey of extension administrators, department heads, and extension specialists was conducted to determine the best methods for evaluating the performance of extension economists. The results demonstrate how different groups view the relative importance of the various roles played by extension economists and how important the specific attributes of extension economists are within each role. In general all three groups agree on the most important roles and attributes. However, important differences among the groups do exist about the relative importance of certain activities.


Near-fault effects are known to produce specific features of earthquake ground motion (such as long-period velocity pulses and directivity) that cannot be predicted by numerical approaches involving vertical plane wave propagation in one-dimensional (1D) soil models that are used as a standard in engineering applica- tions. Coupling near-fault conditions with site effects induced by complex geological structures (such as deep alluvial basins or steep topographic irregularities) further con- tributes to the complexity of earthquake ground motion and to the difficulty to provide reliable predictions without making use of large-size 3D numerical simulations. In this article, we present a parametric study of the seismic response of the Grenoble Valley, France (due to an Mw 6 seismic source at some 10 km epicentral distance from the urban area) that was carried out in the framework of an international benchmark for earthquake ground-motion prediction. The spectral element code GeoELSE for seismic-wave propagation analyses in 3D heterogeneous media, in the linear and non- linear range, was used for this purpose; full advantage was taken of its implementation on parallel computer architectures. After introducing GeoELSE and its parallel per- formance, and after introducing some of its validation benchmarks, the spatial varia- bility of the seismic response of the Grenoble Valley is quantitatively investigated taking into account two effects: (i) the hypocenter location and (ii) the nonlinear soil behavior through a nonlinear viscoelastic soil model. Finally, numerical results are compared with available data and attenuation relationships of peak values of ground motion in the near-fault region. Based on the results of this work, the unfavorable interaction between fault rupture, radiation mechanism, and complex geological con- ditions may give rise to large values of peak ground velocity (exceeding 1 m=sec) even in low-to-moderate seismicity areas; it may therefore considerably increase the level of seismic risk, especially in highly populated and industrially active regions, such as the Alpine valleys.


In 2015, the United States Supreme Court held in Zivotofsky v. Kerry (Zivotofksy II) that the President of the United States possesses the exclusive power under the Constitution to recognize foreign sovereigns. The holding allegedly marked the first time in the nation's history when the Supreme Court "accepted a President's direct defiance of an Act of Congress in the field of foreign affairs." Although the case was (in theory) limited solely to the recognition power, Ziovtofsky II had (and still has) significant implications for the doctrine of separation of powers and executive power generally. For example, the case marked a rare instance where the Court upheld presidential action in a Justice Jackson tier three scenario. In that light, the case serves as an additional stamp of approval on an ever-increasing power grab by executives, particularly in the field of foreign affairs. Whether it be sending troops abroad (without a congressional declaration of war or authorization of the use of force), negotiating and concluding sole executive agreements (instead of treaties), or choosing to recognize a foreign sovereign (against the will of Congress), the scope of the foreign affairs power is incredibly significant to the United States and the international legal order. Two recent events warrant revisiting Zivotofsky II. First, in November 2016, the United States elected Donald J. Trump as president. Without commenting on the legitimacy of Trump's policy stances on issues of foreign affairs, the reality is that many — on both the left and right — believe that one of the greatest dangers to the United States and the world as a whole is those positions. Thus, while the scope of the foreign affairs power is critical regardless of who is President, Zivotofksy II's claim of an exclusive presidential power, and especially one in the field of foreign affairs, becomes even more critical in light of a Trump presidency. This Article discusses some of the direct impacts that Zivotofksy II could have for the Trump administration. Additionally, Justice Gorsuch has replaced Justice Scalia. What makes Justice Scalia's death so critical for the foreign affairs power is that the position he took in his dissent in Zivotofksy II, which was joined by Chief Justice Roberts and Justice Alito, may not be shared by Justice Gorsuch, and it is certainly not shared by Justice Thomas. Thus, conservatives could be divided over the scope of the foreign affairs power on some key issues, including immigration and terminating treaties, for the Trump administration.


The identification and evaluation of down time variables in the management of telecommunication masts sites is a study aimed at evaluating the effects of down times on profit projections. The scope of the research is limited to MTN masts within Port Harcourt and 73 masts sites were sampled out of 812 MTN sites. The data used in this research are secondary data which were obtained from a recognized organization and these data were verified and organized to fit as input for the analysis intended. The methods adopted for this research were discriminant analysis, factor analysis, estimation factor analysis and cost benefit analysis. Results showed that the most occurred down time issue in the management of mast sites are the generator/power related issues and ranking them in order of importance, the power related issues are followed by the technical telecommunication issues and lastly access related issues. These down times identified were capable of causing down time to an average of 90 minutes daily which is 500% above the MTN/Ericsson SLA set minimum allowable (21.6 minutes). The cost benefit analysis from this research showed losses which could yield zero profit annually if the communication industry allows its down time to be greater than the mean calls from users of a base station especially when these calls happen during the down time duration. A control table to aid in the understanding of these down time effects was developed by varying the mean calls from a cell site, cost per minute rate and downtime duration. This distribution is aimed at aiding professionals in the telecommunication industry to see the future effect of down time on worst and best scenario of profit.


This journal suppl. entitled: 18th Medical Research Conference; Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong


This paper presents the results of investigations on gas nitrided austenitic stainless steel. The treatment was conducted at various temperatures (400-515°C), gas compositions of atmospheres used (20-100% NH3) and times (0.5-12h). The layers were investigated by X-ray diffraction, Light and Electron Microscopy and Glow Discharge Optical Spectrometry. The kinetics of layer growth has been analysed in terms of the process parameters and compared with the data presented for plasma treated steel. The specific nitrogen profiles of nitrided layers are discussed in the context of the layers' microstructure and phase composition.


Conventional thought from the Semantic Web community equates the use of ontologies with the representation of the meaning of content. Here, we skew this viewpoint by describing our ontology, Web Authoring for Accessibility (WAfA), which investigates the way ontologies can describe the semantic structure of documents. By understanding the way heterogeneous XHTML (Extensible Hypertext Mark-up Language) documents are structured we can better transform documents, currently inaccessible to visually impaired users. WAfA performs two tasks: (1) it allows us to flexibly model an XHTML document within the context of navigation and orientation through the Web resource; (2) it enables non-expert users to quickly annotate a Web document by providing a `lingua franca' between author and Web Accessibility Domain Experts. Here we describe our ontology, its use, novelty, and importance.


Examinations were done on 1150 scapular bone specimens from museum collections. A localized hypoplasia of the posteroinferior glenoid was found in significant numbers (20%-35%) depending on the population group studied. Criteria were established for the identification of this variant in computed tomography and magnetic resonance studies. Localized hypoplasia of the posteroinferior glenoid was detected as an incidental finding in 54 (18%) of 300 such studies. Using these same imaging criteria in a prospective manner, 9 of 12 patients seen for voluntary multidirectional instability of the shoulder displayed a localized posteroinferior glenoid hypoplasia. This phenomenon also may add to the picture of extreme posterior glenoid wear that sometimes is seen in association with osteoarthritis of the shoulder.


A prerequisite in defining the role of a growth factor in a disease is knowledge of its expression kinetics during the natural course of the disease. We, therefore, used immunohistochemical and immunoblot analyses to examine tissue distribution of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF-A) during the development of destructive arthropathy in the rat adjuvant arthritis model. In normal joints, bFGF was primarily localized in endothelial cells. In inflamed joints, increased staining for bFGF was found in the invading panni, hyperplastic synovium, and thickened periosteum where bFGF was also co-localized with two cell proliferation markers. Staining for bFGF began to increase at the onset of arthritis (days 11 to 13), reached peak level on days 17 to 24, and gradually declined afterward. In contrast, PDGF-A staining did not change until day 17 and the increased staining was restricted to areas of newly formed bone. The district temporal and spatial distribution pattern of these two growth factors during the destructive arthropathy strongly suggests that they play different roles during arthritis. Although PDGF-A seems to be exclusively related to osteogenesis, bFGF may have a more extensive impact on synovial proliferation and bone destruction as well as bone formation.


To the Editor: We feel that Turnidge et all and McCormack2 did not specifically state current preferred empiric treatment for pneumococcal meningitis. We report a case of severe meningitis due to antibioticresistant Streptococcus pneumoniae, and specific recommendations for empiric therapy," which we implemented successfully. A previously well 36-year-old man presented to the Emergency Department of Manly District Hospital, Sydney, NSW, with a two-day history of fever, malaise and headache. He had neck stiffness, Glasgow Coma Score of 6, and required emergency endotracheal intubation. He had taken a course of cephalexin two weeks previously for otitis media. Cerebral computed tomography showed mild cerebral oedema. Cerebrospinal fluid analysis showed: gram-positive diplococci; neutrophils, 1952 x 106/L (reference range [RR], OxI06/L); erythrocytes, IOx106/L (RR, Ox 106/L); mononuclear cells, I x 106/L (RR, 0-5 x 106/L); protein, 4.83 giL (RR, O. 15-Q.40 gIL); glucose, <0.1 mmollL (RR, 2.5-5.6 mmoI/L). Peripheral white cell count was 28.4 x 109/L (RR, 4.0-11.0 x 109/L), with neutrophil count, 27.3x 109/L (RR, 2.0-8.0 x 109/L). The patient was treated with vancomycin (I g) intravenously every 12 hours, and ceftriaxone (2 g) twice daily. Cerebrospinal fluid and blood cultures grew S. pneumoniae. Antibiotic susceptibility testing showed the following minimum inhibitory concentrations: penicillin, 0.75 mg/L (intermediate resistance); cefotaxime, 1.0 mg/L (intermediate resistance); vancomycin, 0.5 mg/L (susceptible); and meropenem, 0.5 mg/L (susceptible). The initial antibiotic treatment was continued for 21 days, and the patient recovered fully. Optimal therapy for all infections caused by antibiotic-resistant S. pneumoniae is not known, but overseas experience has prompted the recommendation that "it seems prudent to treat all paediatric and adult patients with purulent meningitis with


Grid applications can combine the use of computation, storage, network, and other resources. These resources are often geographically distributed, adding to application complexity and thus the difficulty of understanding application performance. We present GridMapper, a tool for monitoring and visualizing the behavior of such distributed systems. GridMapper builds on basic mechanisms for registering, discovering, and accessing performance information sources, as well as for mapping from domain names to physical locations. The visualization system itself then supports the automatic layout of distributed sets of such sources and animation of their activities. We use a set of examples to illustrate how the system can provide valuable insights into the behavior and performance of a range of different applications.