Abstract Except for shell hash lags found along minor portions of fjord walls and on current swept sills, organic carbon dominates over inorganic carbon, accounting for between 95 and 1000f the total carbon composition within the fjords. The deposition of terrestrial organic carbon is of minor significance except proximal to river mouths; i.e. the atomic carbon/nitrogen ratio, both within the water column and within the fjord sediments, fluctuates around 6.4. Organic carbon is an important constituent of the suspended particulate matter throughout most of the year when the suspended sediment concentration is < 2 g m−3. During the summer meltwater season, the organic fraction of the suspended sediment is overwhelmed by inorganic mineral matter. In the autumn season, the organic carbon content of the suspended particulate matter can exceed 30%, especially in the seasonal layer where productivity is highest. Bacterial biomass accounts for more than 500f the total biomass found at the sediment-water interface. Microbial respiration of organic carbon is highly effective, consuming > 900f the annual deposition of carbon to the sea floor. The remaining and mostly refractory carbon preserved within the sediment column is < 20y weight of the sediment and, in high sedimentation environments, such as proximal to tidewater glaciers, organic carbon is < 0.1%. The organic carbon content of sea floor samples is found inversely proportional to the modern suspended load delivered to these fjords. Anoxic degradation of this buried carbon appears to be a slow and ineffective process over the time period of 10 000 years. The abundance of organic carbon buried within Arctic fjord sediments is therefore considered as an inverse indicator of deglacial and post-glacial sedimentation rates. A consistent organic carbon stratigraphy relating to the deglacial and Hypsithermal period, the Neoglacial period culminating in the Little Ice Age, and the present-day warm conditions has been identified in all ten Baffin Island fjords investigated. A simple technique is presented to convert the content of organic carbon observed down core to relative or absolute sedimentation rates, depending on the availability of 14C dates. Instantaneous deposition of sediment from slides or gravity flows remains problematic.


In self-organizing ad hoc networks, all the networking functions rely on the contribution of the participants. As a basic example, nodes have to forward packets for each other in order to enable multihop communication. In recent years, incentive mechanisms have been proposed to give nodes incentive to cooperate, especially in packet forwarding. However, the need for these mechanisms was not formally justified. In this paper, we address the problem of whether cooperation can exist without incentive mechanisms. We propose a model,based on game theory and graph theory to investigate equilibrium conditions of packet forwarding strategies. We prove theorems about the equilibrium conditions for both cooperative and noncooperative strategies. We perform simulations to estimate the probability that the conditions for a cooperative equilibrium hold in randomly generated network scenarios.. As the problem is involved, we deliberately restrict ourselves to a static configuration. We conclude that in static ad hoc networks where the relationships between the nodes are likely to be stab le-cooperation needs to be encouraged.


Introduction:
 The stated 30-day mortality rate for the original ICH score is 0%, 13%, 26%, 72%, 97%, and 99% for scores of 0-5, respectively. Although the score has been externally validated and widely used, recently proposed updates to the model have failed to improve its mortality prognostication. We hypothesized that precise quantification of ICH and IVH volumes more accurately reflect the severity of the disease and enhance its prognostic value.

 Materials and Methods:
 A modified ICH score was developed to quantify ICH volume, IVH volume (with the modified Graeb score), GCS at admission, and hemorrhage location. The modified score was as follows: GCS 11-15: 0 points, 6-10: 1 point, 3-5: 2 points; ICH volume <20 cm3: 0 points, 20-34 cm3: 1 point, 35-44 cm3: 2 points, >45 cm3: 3 points; mGraeb score 0: 0 points, 1-9: 1 point, >10: 2 points; cerebellar hemorrhage: 1 point; brainstem hemorrhage: 1 point. Possible scores ranged from 0-9 and were designed to provide a more accurate stratified prognostic reflection for 30-day mortality.

 Results:
 The modified score was tested in 362 patients previously evaluated with the original ICH score. Thirty -day mortality rates per group were 0%, 5%, 33%, 61%, 70%, and 91%, for ICH scores of 0-5, respectively. Median time to death in those that died within 30 days was 15.5, 3, 4, 1.5, and 1 day(s) for ICH scores of 1-5, respectively. Application of the proposed modified ICH score resulted in 30-day mortality rates of 0: 0%, 1: 5%, 2: 11%, 3: 4%, 4: 51%, 5: 73%, 6: 74%, 7: 90%, 8/9: 100%. Median time to death was 6, 13, 4, 4, 2, 2, 1, and 0 day(s), in scores of 1-8, respectively. In our patient population, 99% of patients who died within a 30-day period did so within 18 days. Furthermore, 75% died within the first week and 50% within the first 72 hours. Predicted 30-day mortality in the original ICH score had an area under the receiver-operating curve (AUROC) of 0.88, while the proposed new model showed a higher AUROC of 0.91.

 Conclusions:
 Improved outcomes in ICH therapy require better assessment and prognostic tools. By accurately determining hemorrhage volumes and increasing anatomical localization, stratification of ICH patients can result in better predictors of 30-day mortality. Further validation of this model is needed in larger patient populations.


We propose a supersymmetric gradient flow in ${\cal N}=1$ SQCD in four dimensions. The flow equation is derived in the superfield formalism and is also given for component fields of the Wess-Zumino gauge in a gauge covariant manner. We find that the flow for the component fields is supersymmetric in a sense that the flow time derivative and any supersymmetry transformation commute with each other up to a gauge transformation.


This poster presents preliminary findings from a proof of concept trial for satellite tracking of Baudin's cockatoos. The study follows the work by Christine Groom, which is successfully demonstrating that Carnaby's cockatoos can be tracked using satellite transmitters, and a trial which involved attaching transmitter devices to captive black cockatoos of all three species (Le Souef et al. 2013, in press).

Two rehabilitated adult female Baudin's cockatoos were anaesthetised and fitted with tail-mounted satellite trackers and released in Kelmscott in September 2012. Prior to release, both birds were health checked and flight tested to demonstrate fitness for release. The movements of the cockatoos were monitored according to Argos satellite transmissions, as well as ground truthing using flock sightings and reception of VHF signals from the satellite units using a radio telemetry antenna.

According to their transmissions, the birds initially stayed in the Kelmscott area in close proximity to one another and other groups of Baudin's cockatoos in the area. However, after several days, one of the cockatoos flew south and joined a flock of Baudin's cockatoos migrating further south. Interestingly, during this migration, this bird returned to the Serpentine area from which she was originally found injured. This bird currently remains in the Beela area, 140km southeast of Perth, with other Baudin's cockatoos. The second cockatoo remained in the release area for several weeks before also moving south to Cardup, 33km southeast of Perth, where her transmitter was found two months later, still attached to the tail feathers which had possibly moulted out.


Context: Software evolution ensures that software systems in use stay up to date and provide value for end-users. However, it is challenging for requirements engineers to continuously elicit needs for systems used by heterogeneous end-users who are out of organisational reach. Objective: We aim at supporting continuous requirements elicitation by combining user feedback and usage monitoring. Online feedback mechanisms enable end-users to remotely communicate problems, experiences, and opinions, while monitoring provides valuable information about runtime events. It is argued that bringing both information sources together can help requirements engineers to understand end-user needs better. Method/Tool: We present FAME, a framework for the combined and simultaneous collection of feedback and monitoring data in web and mobile contexts to support continuous requirements elicitation. In addition to a detailed discussion of our technical solution, we present the first evidence that FAME can be successfully introduced in real-world contexts. Therefore, we deployed FAME in a web application of a German small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) to collect user feedback and usage data. Results/Conclusion: Our results suggest that FAME not only can be successfully used in industrial environments but that bringing feedback and monitoring data together helps the SME to improve their understanding of end-user needs, ultimately supporting continuous requirements elicitation.


The need for high‐precision calculations with 64‐bit or 32‐bit floating‐point arithmetic for weather and climate models is questioned. Lower‐precision numbers can accelerate simulations and are increasingly supported by modern computing hardware. This paper investigates the potential of 16‐bit arithmetic when applied within a shallow water model that serves as a medium complexity weather or climate application. There are several 16‐bit number formats that can potentially be used (IEEE half precision, BFloat16, posits, integer, and fixed‐point). It is evident that a simple change to 16‐bit arithmetic will not be possible for complex weather and climate applications as it will degrade model results by intolerable rounding errors that cause a stalling of model dynamics or model instabilities. However, if the posit number format is used as an alternative to the standard floating‐point numbers, the model degradation can be significantly reduced. Furthermore, mitigation methods, such as rescaling, reordering, and mixed precision, are available to make model simulations resilient against a precision reduction. If mitigation methods are applied, 16‐bit floating‐point arithmetic can be used successfully within the shallow water model. The results show the potential of 16‐bit formats for at least parts of complex weather and climate models where rounding errors would be entirely masked by initial condition, model, or discretization error.


Tests useful for the identification of Enterococcus strains were applied to a collection of isolates from animal intestines and to reference strains, all of which were capable of growth on 40% bile and in 6.5% NaCI. Most strains could be identified as known species, and their characteristics corresponded, with a few exceptions of minor importance, with those described for Enterococcus hirae, Enterococcus durans, Enterococcus mundtii, Enterococcus gallinarum, Enterococcus avium, and Enterococcus casseliflavus. However, some diagnostically important carbohydrate reactions of Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium strains differed from those given in the species descriptions and in recent reports. Production of acid from d-raffinose andd-xylose by E. faecium varied with the host species from which the strains were isolated. E. durans and E. gallinarum were isolated only from poultry, whereas E. avium was found only in mammals.


Objective:Use of complementary alternative medicine (CAM) is widespread among patients with chronic diseases including cancer. The purpose of our study was to examine the pattern of alternative medicine use in patients undergoing radiation treatment of cancer. Methods and Materials:A cross-sectional study was conducted among cancer patients treated with radiation therapy from July 2003 through July 2005 at the University of Cincinnati. We defined CAM as the use of dietary supplements, massage therapy, prayer, acupuncture, chiropractic, and other novel therapies undertaken after their diagnosis with cancer. Results:There were 152 patients that participated in the study. Their median age was 59 (range, 21–85), 82 (54%) were males, 108 (69%) were Caucasian. Out of 152 patients, 104 (68%) patients were users of CAM. The most common CAM modality reported was prayer 85 (82%) and use of dietary supplements 84 (80%). The majority of users were female and well-educated. Among CAM users 60 (58%) had discussed its use with their physician. Level of education, employment status and income showed a significant correlation with the use of CAM. Conclusion:This study demonstrates that the use of complementary alternative medicine among cancer patients receiving radiation therapy is frequent. Given the potential risks with some CAM therapies, physicians should actively ask patients whether they use CAM and provide appropriate counseling.


Lean Sprague-Dawley rats underwent surgery in which 10 or 20 cm of the lower ileum was transposed to the middle of the duodenum. After the surgery, food passed through the stomach and upper duodenum before moving into the transposed ileal segment. Unabsorbed food moved on into the lower duodenum and continued down the rest of the digestive tract. Control rats had either 20 cm of ileum removed from normal continuity or had 20 cm of jejunum transposed to mid-duodenum. Ileal transposition led to a reduction in food intake and a loss of body weight that depended on the length of the transposed segment. These changes were most striking in the second 10-day post-surgical period. At sacrifice, the stomach and small intestines were significantly enlarged even though the transposed rats had lost about 10% of their body weight. The pancreas increased significantly in relative weight. These behavioural and physiological changes are interpreted as an integrated response that prevents undigested food from reaching the terminal ileum in an animal with normal intestinal continuity. A second experiment with Lewis parabiotic rats confirmed that stimulation of the lower small intestines, cecum and colon is involved in the normal control of food intake. Rats that had an unstimulated lower gut increased food intake while those that had their lower gut doubly stimulated with undigested chyme, reduced their intake.


In the recent decades it has become apparent that the human race can lead to a polluting and energy- wasting lifestyle and the depletion of natural resources and an ecological disaster as well.
Energy efficiency is the realization of the chance to see a wider use of renewable energy. Renewable energy sources can be found in large quantities in Europe. A proper exploitation of these would be important because of the "traditional" energy sources's sate is very critical in many ways.
The utilization of renewable energy sources depends on many factors. The local natural conditions significantly determine each country's different renewable energy potentials. I find to be important the natural conditions, such as, solar radiation intensity , the number of sunny days per year, the wind conditions , the volume and their energy characteristics of the geothermal power resources , land features , soil and rock quality, the supply of fossil fuels or the nuclear possibilities of energy production. The economic environment is also a major influencing factor for the utilization of renewables. The conditions of price of fossil fuels (natural gas, oil and coal), the price of nuclear fuel production and other energy costs significantly influence the demand for renewables, as well as the level of subsidy and government tax policy. In addition, the international and national programs, objectives, strategies, subsidies and regulatory measures as well as technological factors can have a significant impact.
In my paper I point out the opportunities of renewable energy should be given to live. Nowadays the positive effects of their use is undisputed. In addition to the environmentally friendly produced energy, we should strive for energy conservation and energy efficiency as well. These expectations appear in practice, which can be directly perceived by citizens, in fact we should live accordingly. Furthermore, the environmentally relevant regulations of living conditions should appear as environmental demands.


There is considerable difference of opinion in the
Netherlands about the success or otherwise of the integration of migrants in
Dutch society. Many argue that integration has failed, while others believe it
is progressing well. This booklet shows that neither view is correct. It
presents ten trends in integration, which reveal enormous diversity in the
outcomes of the integration process. This makes it impossible to say whether
integration is a success or failure. Progress is being made, but there is also
stubborn disadvantage and considerable problems. For an accurate assessment of
the integration of non-Western ethnic minority groups, both sides need to be
taken into account.


BACKGROUND Extraocular sebaceous carcinomas are rare cutaneous malignancies that account for only about 25% of all sebaceous carcinomas. The most common site of occurrence is the head/neck region. They are aggressive neoplasms that possess metastatic potential to regional or distant sites. Wide local excision of the lesion with removal of regional lymph nodes is the usual mode of therapy. METHODS We present a series of three cases of sebaceous carcinomas occurring in extraocular sites outside the head and neck areas, like the axilla, chest wall, arm and thigh. One of these cases had an associated colonic carcinoma and constituted Muir-Torre syndrome (MTS). Another case presented with a skin nodule and regional nodal metastasis. The third case had a history of recurrent similar lesions at the same site. CONCLUSION Although rare, extraocular sebaceous carcinomas are seen at varied sites and frequently pose problems in diagnosis. A longterm follow-up of these cases is warranted due to their aggressive behaviour, risks of recurrence, metastasis and the possibility of development of visceral malignancies.


BACKGROUND Airways inflammation is a feature of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), but the role of corticosteroids in the management of clinically stable patients has yet to be established. A randomised controlled study was carried out to investigate the effect of high dose inhaled beclomethasone dipropionate (BDP) administered for two months to patients with stable, smoking related COPD. Sputum induction was used to evaluate bronchial inflammation response. METHODS 34 patients (20 men and 14 women) were examined on three separate occasions. At the initial clinical assessment (visit 0), spirometry and blood gas analysis were performed. On visit 1 (within one week of visit 0) sputum induction was performed and each patient was randomised to receive either BDP 500 μg three times daily (treated group) or nothing (control group). After two months (visit 2), all patients underwent repeat clinical assessment, spirometry, and sputum induction. RESULTS There were no differences in sputum cell counts between the groups at baseline. After two months of treatment, induced sputum samples from patients in the treated group showed a reduction in both neutrophils (−27%) and total cells (−42%) with respect to baseline, while the control group did not (neutrophils +9%, total cells +7%). Macrophages increased in the treated group but not in the control group. The mean final value of sputum neutrophils was 52% in the treated group and 73.3% in the control group (95% confidence interval (CI) −27.2 to −15.4). The mean final value of sputum macrophages was 35.8% in treated group and 19.3% in control group (95% CI 10.3 to 22.8). The differences between the treated and control groups for neutrophils (−21.3%), macrophages (+16.5%), and total cells (−65%) were significant. Spirometry and blood gas data did not change from baseline in either patient group. CONCLUSIONS A two month course of treatment with high dose inhaled BDP reduces significantly neutrophil cell counts in patients with clinically stable, smoking related COPD. Further studies on the effectiveness of inhaled steroids in COPD are needed to confirm the clinical importance of this observation.


Computer Integrated Manufacturing System is an advanced manufacturing management mode widely used in manufacturing enterprise. It is a computer integrated manufacturing system which integrate operating, sales, designing, developing, production management, process controling and so on of enterprise by computer and automation technology. Integrated logistics can reduce period of designing, production, production, manufacturing and management of product and improve competitive ability of manufacturing enterprise.


Background: There are 842 million people in the world suffering from undernourishment. Mozambique is one of the countries in the world with a high prevalence of different kinds of malnutrition, stunting being one of these.Aim: To investigate the prevalence of stunting among children below three years of age and determinants for stunting on a national level in Mozambique comparing data from 1997 and 2003 in order to find out what possibly could have contributed to an eventual change.Methods: Two cross-sectional studies, conducted by the DHS, in 1997 (n=3773) and in 2003 (n=5502) in Mozambique were compared. Numerous Pearson's chi-squared tests, independent t-tests and descriptive calculations were made in order to achieve the results.Results: No significant difference was found in the prevalence of stunting between the years. Determinants such as residential area, wealth index, educational levels, time required to get to a source of drinking water, birth weight, having a health card, antenatal visits, prevalence of diarrhea and fever all showed a significant difference.Discussion: Only the mother's height and duration of breastfeeding showed no significant differences out of the chosen determinants. An improvement was found for most of the determinants and as poverty decreased during the studied time period, naturally a decreased prevalence of stunting should have occurred.Conclusion: No significant difference in stunting among children below three years of age in Mozambique on a national level in 1997 and 2003 was found.Keywords: Mozambique, malnutrition, undernourishment, stunting, child health


Abstract Aims . The CopenHeartVR trial found positive effects of cardiac rehabilitation (CR) on physical capacity at 4 months. The long-term effects of CR following valve surgery remains unclear, especially regarding readmission and mortality. Using data from he CopenHeartVR Trial we investigated long-term effects on physical capacity, mental and physical health and effect on mortality and readmission rates as prespecified in the original protocol. Methods. A total of 147 participants were included after heart valve surgery and randomly allocated 1:1 to 12-weeks exercise-based CR including a psycho-educational programme (intervention group) or control. Physical capacity was assessed as peak oxygen uptake (VO2 peak) measured by cardiopulmonary exercise testing, mental and physical health by Short Form-36 questionnaire, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and HeartQol. Mortality and readmission were obtained from hospital records and registers. Groups were compared using mixed regression model analysis and log rank test. Results. No differences in VO2 peak at 12 months or in self-assessed mental and physical health at 24 months (68% vs 75%, p = .120) was found. However, our data demonstrated reduction in readmissions in the intervention group at intermediate time points; after 3, 6 (43% vs 59%, p = .03), and 12 (53% vs 67%, p = .04) months, respectively, but no significant effect at 24 months. Conclusions . Exercise-based CR after heart valve surgery reduces combined readmissions and mortality up to 12 months despite lack of improvement in exercise capacity, physical and mental health long-term. Exercise-based CR can ensure short-term benefits in terms of physical capacity, and lower readmission within a year, but more research is needed to sustain these effects over a longer time period. These considerations should be included in the management of patients after heart valve surgery.


Many living organisms transform inorganic atoms into highly ordered crystalline materials. An elegant example of such biomineralization processes is the production of nano-scale magnetic crystals in magnetotactic bacteria. Previous studies implicated the involvement of two putative serine proteases, MamE and MamO, during the early stages of magnetite formation in Magnetospirillum magneticum AMB-1. Here, using genetic analysis and X-ray crystallography, we show that MamO has a degenerate active site, rendering it incapable of protease activity. Instead, MamO promotes magnetosome formation through two genetically distinct, noncatalytic activities: activation of MamE-dependent proteolysis of biomineralization factors and direct binding to transition metal ions. By solving the structure of the protease domain bound to a metal ion, we identify a surface-exposed di-histidine motif in MamO that contributes to metal binding and show that it is required to initiate biomineralization in vivo. Finally, we find that pseudoproteases are widespread in magnetotactic bacteria and that they have evolved independently in three separate taxa. Our results highlight the versatility of protein scaffolds in accommodating new biochemical activities and provide unprecedented insight into the earliest stages of biomineralization.


Summary
Viscosities of two fruit (lemon and tangerine) juices have been measured with a capillary flow technique. Measurements were made in the temperature range from 303 to 393 K. The range of concentration was between 15 and 40 °Brix for tangerine juice and between 17 and 45 °Brix for the lemon juice. The total uncertainty of viscosity and temperature measurements was estimated to be <0.5% at low concentrations and up to 1.5% at high concentrations and 0.025 K, respectively. The effect of temperature and concentration on viscosity of tangerine and lemon juices was study. The measured values of the viscosity were used to calculate the temperature, (∂ ln η/∂T)x, and concentration, (∂ ln η/∂x)T, coefficients for each juice. The Arrhenius type correlation equations for viscosity were used to represent the temperature dependence of viscosity. The values of the Arrhenius equation parameters (flow activation energy, Ea, and η∞) were calculated for the measured viscosities of tangerine and lemon juices as a function of concentration. Different theoretical models for the viscosity of fruit juices were stringently tested with new accurate measurements on tangerine and lemon juices. The predictive capability of the various models was studied. The concentration and temperature dependence behavior of the viscosity of tangerine and lemon juices are discussed in light of the various theoretical models for viscosity of fruit juices. The applicability and predictive capability of the models used previously for aqueous solutions to represent the effect of temperature and concentration on viscosity of fruit juices was also studied. New model was developed to represent the combined effect of temperature and concentration on the viscosity of the juices. The average absolute deviation between measured and calculated values from this correlation equation for the viscosity was 0.8% and 2.1% for tangerine and lemon juices, respectively.


This 5-year long prospective cohort study of124young and middle-aged patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) initially without signs of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) aimed at estimating the risk and predictors of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular complications. The patients remained under observation till the following end-points were reached: coronary heart disease, chronic heart failure, disturbed cerebral circulation, cardiovascular death. The following predictors of unfavourable outcome were analysed: CVD risk factors, RA inflammatory activity, and markers of preclinical CVD. Ultrasonic scanning, dopplerography of common and internal carotid arteries, echocardiography, and determination of ankle-brachial index were used. 15 patients reached the end-points; specifically, 6 cases of CVD, 4 cerebrovascular complications, and 5 deaths were documented. The total proportion of those survived without CVD was 0.88 (an equivalent to 15 (12%) of the observed events). Survival time till the end-points was 2.41+-1.54 years. CRP level 24 mg/l or higher (odd ratio 3.09, 95% CI 1.03-9.29), smoking (odd ratio 6.6, 95% CI 2.05-21.21), presence of atherosclerotic plaques (odd ratio 6.6, 95% CI 2.05-21.21) and calcinated plaques (odd ratio 8.95, 95% CI 1.36-47.03) in carotid arteries, SCORE risk >5% (odd ratio 19.82, 95% CI 3.2541.75) were predictors of unfavourable prognosis in RA patients for the nearest 5 years. These data emphasize the necessity of thorough examination of RA patients for asymptotic atherosclerosis taking account of inflammatory activity and CVD risk factors for the optimization of early diagnostics and prediction of CVD.


A miniaturized elliptically tapered slot antenna fed by a novel balun is proposed for directional ultrawideband (UWB) applications. The feeding configuration consists of a stepped microstrip line and a folded slotline connected with a circular slot. An arc-shaped parasitic strip is printed inside the circular slot. This design achieves the minimization of the physical size and the capability of signal rejection at 5-6 GHz with significant gain suppression of 15 dB. Both simulated and measured results confirm the advantage of the design in reducing the size of the antenna while maintaining the UWB performance with band-notched function.


An elevated activity of erythrocyte Na+/Li+ countertransport (SLC) is an intermediate phenotype of human essential hypertension, but cells other than erythrocytes have not been studied. Therefore, we have examined several transport modes of Na+/Li+ exchange in human skin fibroblasts. External Na+-stimulated Li+ efflux was 152 +/- 31 (SE) nmol x mg protein(-1) x min(-1) (n = 8). At intracellular pH 7.3, intracellular Na+-stimulated Li+ influx, intracellular Li+-stimulated Na+ influx, and external Li+-stimulated Na+ efflux were very similar, indicating the presence of a tightly coupled 1:1 SLC. This pathway was not affected by 5-(N,N-dimethyl)-amiloride and changes in the membrane potential, but phloretin and intracellular acidification (intracellular pH 6.8) were markedly inhibitory. Kinetic analyses of the external Na+ site also compared with SLC, although the internal site appeared to show a low affinity for Li+. We conclude that an SLC pathway similar to that in human erythrocytes is expressed in human skin fibroblasts.


The determination of favorable light habitat conditions per species and life stage is transcendental, for both ex situ and in situ conservation strategies of endangered forest tree species, and for their utilization as plantation trees. This becomes especially important when planting material is scarce. We studied the multivariate responses in biomass allocation and in gas exchange to light and to CO2 in Cedrela salvadorensis seedlings, grown under similar light conditions as those this species faces in nature. During a period of 135 days, groups of ten seedlings were put under 75, 45, 15 and 3.5 % of full sun exposure obtained with neutral shade cloth, under nursery conditions. A series of biomass allocation variables and detailed gas exchange parameters (photosynthesis response curves to light and to internal carbon concentration) were measured at the end of the growth period in plants of the four treatments. According to the principal component analyses, highest values of gas exchange response were associated with the lower values of biomass allocation traits. These changes can be associated with resource-conservative and resource-acquisitive strategies, where the C. salvadorensis seedlings acclimatize their traits for the exploration and exploitation of light, to high or to dim light environment, respectively. The multivariate analyses also showed that the plants had a high performance at 45 % of light environment. These results suggest that 45 % of light environment was the optimal light habitat of this species at the tested developing stage. Our results have important implications to choose the best natural habitat for a successful establishment of C. salvadorensis. We propose practical considerations for programs of reforestation or reintroduction where this species be involved.


Abstract Continental successions of the North American Western Interior retroarc foreland basin provide an excellent opportunity to evaluate the tectonic controls on nonmarine sequence stratigraphy. The transition between the Upper Jurassic Brushy Basin Member anastomosed fluvial system of the Morrison Formation and the gravelly braided-river deposits of the Buckhorn Conglomerate has been studied to assess the dispersal of coarse clastics and the development of associated basin-wide unconformities in a sequence stratigraphic framework. The sharp contact between the two members is interpreted to be conformable based on stratigraphic, sedimentologic, and petrologic data collected at and near Cedar Mountain in central Utah, while a regional, mature paleosol at the top of the Buckhorn Conglomerate indicates the presence of a major sequence boundary. These interpretations are combined with paleoflow data and fluvial architectural analysis to reconstruct the evolution of the alluvial equilibrium profiles that controlled deposition of the succession. The Buckhorn Conglomerate is interpreted as an example of a post-orogenic deposit on the basis of (1) its tabular geometry, (2) distance from the contemporaneous thrust belt, (3) shift to transverse paleoflow direction from the preceding Brushy Basin axial drainage, (4) conformable lower contact, and (5) presence of an overlying sequence boundary with a westward-expanding hiatus eroding the coeval foredeep. The onset of a protracted period of low rate of orthogonal convergence between the Farallon and North American Plates resulted in tectonic quiescence and consequent isostatic rebound of the Middle to Late Jurassic thrust belt and the contiguous contemporaneous foredeep, as well as dynamic uplift. The ensuing basin-wide decrease in subsidence rate induced the progradation of the Buckhorn alluvial plain into the Morrison back-bulge depozone, and the subsequent generation of the overlying pedogenic unconformity, which separates the deposits of the Jurassic flexural event from the overlying Sevier tectonostratigraphic unit.


The nano-composite of a ceria-stabilized tetragonal zirconia polycrystals (Ce-TZP) and alumina (Al2O3) polycrystals (Ce-TZP/Al2O3) is attractive as a load-bearing bone substitute because of its mechanical properties and phase stability. We have developed a new method of hydrofluoric acid and heat treatment (HFT) to give a microporous structure to the surface of this Ce-TZP/Al2O3 nanocomposite ceramic. Bone-bonding ability of a microporous surface and calcium phosphate coating on Ce-TZP/Al2O3 composite has been investigated through in vivo detaching model. Thin calcium phosphate coating layer was added by alternate soaking process, and thick CaP layer was produced by soaking in simulated body fluid for 5 days. HFT treated Ce-TZP/Al2O3 composite showed high bone-bonding ability compared with the control group. Thick and thin CaP coating accelerated bone-bonding ability in early post-implantation period. The submicron microporous surface was beneficial for achieving mechanical interlocking between the ceramic and surrounding bone. These results suggest the possibility of using a Ce-TZP/Al2O3 nanocomposite ceramic with microporous surface and calcium phosphate coating as the bearing material for uncemented total joint replacements.


The chapter deals with problems of small family-owned companies in the Czech Republic. The main aim of the chapter is to describe a family business in the Czech Republic. The partial aims of the chapter are as follows: presentation of family business definition used in investigation of Czech family businesses and model of successful transfer of power to the next generation called "relay." This chapter uses a research methodology of the secondary as well as primary data collection. In the frame of secondary data collection, the data were obtained from the company's websites as well as from the official Amadeus database and those by the Czech Statistical Office. The collection method of primary data was based on interviews with the company's founder and his children and on the questionnaire survey. So gained interview results were transformed into the paper form and then transcribed. The research case study was analysed and focused on the case. This chapter states the results of qualitative research regarding a small family-owned company, called Kaláb—Building Company, Ltd. The concerning research part has the form of a case study. Two models are given in discussion of research results: (1) strategy of small family-owned enterprise and (2) power delegation in a family-owned enterprise.


Tonsillectomy continues to be a commonly performed operation in the pediatric age group. The postoperative period is often protracted and characterized by throat and ear pain, intermittent fever, foul odor from the oral cavity, and poor oral intake. Consequently, antibiotics are frequently prescribed in an effort to minimize these symptoms and/or avoid complications such as dehydration or secondary infection of the operative site. However, to our knowledge, no study to date has been performed to demonstrate the efficacy of antibiotic therapy in this setting. At the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, a prospective, randomized, double-blind study was undertaken in which ampicillin (or placebo) was administered intravenously at the time of surgery and for 12 to 24 hours postoperatively. The children then continued to receive oral amoxicillin therapy (or placebo) for an additional seven days. The patients were then evaluated for the incidence and severity of postoperative symptoms and complications. Intraoperative cultures of the oropharynx and tonsillar tissue, as well as cultures of the tonsillar fossa, were obtained following completion of one week of therapy. Our results indicate that ampicillin sodium/amoxicillin trihydrate therapy is well tolerated and safe in the nonallergic child and is effective in minimizing fever and other troublesome postoperative symptoms, such as pain, lassitude, mouth odor, and poor oral intake after tonsillectomy.


The study summarises the most significant observations about trading behaviour and price dynamics in financial markets. Against this background, the main objections to a general financial transactions tax (FTT) as put forward by the International Monetary Fund and the European Commission are evaluated. The main part of the study deals with the two different ways of how an FTT could be implemented. With the centralised approach, the tax is collected at point of settlement, either from the electronic settlement systems at exchanges, or from Central Counterparty Platforms (CCPs) in the case of over-the-counter (OTC) transactions, respectively. With the decentralised approach, the tax is deducted by the banks which transmit an order to an exchange or which carry out an OTC transaction. The centralised tax deduction would be optimal but requires a broad consensus among countries within the same trading time zone. By contrast, the decentralised approach could be implemented by a group of (EU or euro) countries without doing much harm to their own markets.


Breed, sex and age effects on haematological and biochemical variables were investigated in 24 labrador retriever and 25 miniature schnauzer dogs during the first year of life. Blood samples were taken regularly between weeks 8 and 52. White blood cell and red blood cell counts, haemoglobin concentration, haematocrit, mean cell volume, mean cell haemoglobin, mean cell haemoglobin concentration, platelet count as well as total protein, albumin, calcium, phosphate, alkaline phosphatase, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, glutamate dehydrogenase, total cholesterol, triglycerides, creatine and urea were evaluated. For all haematological and biochemical parameters, there were significant effects of age on test results. Statistically significant effects for breed and the breed×age interaction on test results were observed for most of the parameters with the exception of haemoglobin. Variations in test results illustrate growth related alterations in body tissue and metabolism leading to dynamic and marked changes in haematological and biochemical parameters, which have to be considered for the interpretation of clinical data obtained from dogs in the first year of life.


ABSTRACT Narrative story stem measures are increasingly popular for the assessment of attachment representations among early school-age children. Given their clinical and theoretical importance, disorganized representations are typically a focus of assessment procedures. The Manchester Child Attachment Story Task (MCAST) is one such measure. A systematic literature review and meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate the documented reliability and validity of the MCAST with a focus on assessing disorganized representations. Twenty-five studies were included in the review encompassing 1,876 children from nine countries. Results suggest that inter-rater reliability for the MCAST is acceptable and the prevalence of disorganization identified on the MCAST among various subgroups (e.g. community, clinical, adopted/maltreated) is comparable to prevalence estimates from other developmental periods using other assessment methods. In addition, prevalence of disorganization on the MCAST differed in hypothesized ways between the various subgroups. However, MCAST disorganization did not correlate in predictable ways with many constructs when relationships were examined within samples. Few studies examined the relationship of disorganization on the MCAST with parenting variables, aspects of adoption and maltreatment, and emotion regulation skills. Recommendations for further study of the MCAST and for how the tool might be integrated into clinical and developmental research are provided.


We present calculations of the elastic and inelastic conductance through three different hydrocarbon molecules connected to gold electrodes. Our method is based on a combination of the nonequilibrium Green's function method with density functional theory. Vibrational effects in these molecular junctions were previously investigated experimentally by Kushmerick et al. (Nano Lett. 2004, 4, 639). Our results are in good agreement with the measurements and provide insights into (i) which vibrational modes are responsible for inelastic scattering, (ii) the width of the inelastic electron tunneling signals, and (iii) the mechanisms of heating and cooling of the vibrational modes induced by the coupling to the charge carriers.


Background: Though many studies have described the association of COVID-19 and different kinds of noncommunicable chronic diseases, information with the combine effects of comorbidities to COVID-19 patients have not been well characterized yet. The aim of this study was to examine the associations of numbers of comorbidities with critical type and death of COVID-19.Methods: This was a single-centered retrospective study among patients with COVID-19. All patients with COVID-19 enrolled in this study were diagnosed according to World Health Organization interim guidance. Six different kinds of noncommunicable chronic diseases were included in this study. The logistic regression model was used to estimate the fixed effect of numbers of comorbidities on critical type or death, adjusting for potential confounders.Results: In total, 475 COVID-19 patients were enrolled in our study, included 234 females and 241 males. Hypertension was the most frequent type (162 [34.1%] of 475 patients). Patients with two or more comorbidities have higher risk of critical type (OR 3.072, 95% CI [1.581, 5.970], p=0.001) and death (OR 5.538, 95% CI [1.577, 19.451], p=0.008) compared to patients without comorbidities. And the results were similar after adjusting for age and gender in critical type (OR 2.021, 95% CI [1.002–4.077], p=0.049) and death (OR 3.653, 95% CI [0.989, 13.494], p=0.052).Conclusions: The number of comorbidities was an independent risk factor for critical type and death in COVID-19 patients.


Article examines changes in consumer behaviour occurred due to economic crisis. The article explores the changes that have occurred between late 2008 and early 2010 compared with the period from 2003 to 2008 and try to show new patterns developed by consumers arising from the crisis and developing in this context of ways of adapting for the Romanian retailers. The article also brings into attention strategies developed by shoppers for adapting to the crisis and opportunities for growing within the crisis context for the retail sector.


GalNAc-type O-glycosylation, initially catalyzed by polypeptide N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferases (ppGalNAc-Ts), is one of the most abundant and complex posttranslational modifications of proteins. Emerging evidence has proven that aberrant ppGalNAc-Ts are involved in malignant tumor transformation. However, the exact molecular functions of ppGalNAc-Ts are still unclear. Here, the role of one isoform, ppGalNAc-T4, in breast cancer cell lines was investigated. The expression of ppGalNAc-T4 was found to be negatively associated with migration of breast cancer cells. Loss-of-function studies revealed that ppGalNAc-T4 attenuated the migration and invasion of breast cancer cells by inhibiting the epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) process. Correspondingly, transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) signaling, which is the upstream pathway of EMT, was impaired by ppGalNAc-T4 expression. ppGalNAc-T4 knockout decreased O-GalNAc modification of TGF-β type Ⅰ and Ⅱ receptor (TβR Ⅰ and Ⅱ) and led to the elevation of TGF-β receptor dimerization and activity. Importantly, a peptide from TβR Ⅱ was identified as a naked peptide substrate of ppGalNAc-T4 with a higher affinity than ppGalNAc-T2. Further, Ser31, corresponding to the extracellular domain of TβR Ⅱ, was identified as the O-GalNAcylation site upon in vitro glycosylation by ppGalNAc-T4. The O-GalNAc-deficient S31 A mutation enhanced TGF-β signaling activity and EMT in breast cancer cells. Together, these results identified a novel mechanism of ppGalNAc-T4-catalyzed TGF-β receptors O-GalNAcylation that suppresses breast cancer cell migration and invasion via the EMT process. Targeting ppGalNAc-T4 may be a potential therapeutic strategy for breast cancer treatment.


The experiments performed in this work made it possible to collect positive indications concerning
the possibilities of the thermal transformation of natural zeolitized materials and powder-like
industrial wastes into ceramics. The structural evolution at temperatures higher than 1000 °C results
in the thermal collapse of the structure of the zeolitic components which gives rise to prevailingly
amorphous products. Scant crystals of phases exhibiting high thermal stability, such as feldspar,
augite and quartz, are dispersed in such amorphous matrix which is mostly composed of silica,
alumina and iron oxide. The thermal treatment brings to final products similar to traditional
ceramics characterised by good densification and good mechanical properties but also evidenced
some difficulties and problems which require further reflections.
Nevertheless the high values of linear shrinkages recorded in this work seem to strongly hinder the
thermal transformation of this powder-like waste into ceramics. However, an attempt of obtaining
lower linear shrinkages was performed by preventive thermal treatment aimed at evolving part of
zeolitic water; Ba- and K-exchange of starting materials resulting in celsian and leucite
crystallization; mixing of this by-product with powder-like waste exhibiting higher dimensional
stability, such as those deriving from quartz-feldspar-kaolinite sands for glass production.


Summary.  We introduce the directionally dispersed class of multivariate distributions, a generalization of the elliptical class. By allowing dispersion of multivariate random variables to vary with direction it is possible to generate a very wide and flexible class of distributions. Directionally dispersed distributions have a simple form for their density, which extends a spherically symmetric density function by including a function D modelling directional dispersion. Under a mild condition, the class of distributions is shown to preserve both unimodality and moment existence. By adequately defining D, it is possible to generate skewed distributions. Using spline models on hyperspheres, we suggest a very flexible, yet practical, implementation for modelling directional dispersion in any dimension. Finally, we use the new class of distributions in a Bayesian regression set‐up and analyse the distributions of a set of biomedical measurements and a sample of US manufacturing firms.


In 2011, then-Public Safety Minister Vic Toews issued "ministerial directions" to Canada's key security and intelligence agencies on "information sharing with foreign entities". These directions permit information sharing in exigent circumstances, even "when doing so may give rise to a substantial risk of mistreatment of an individual". The directions prompted a brief chorus of condemnation. They have since sunk into relative obscurity, remaining part of the Canada's national security policy framework. And yet, in trying to walk the fine line between principle and realism in the administration of Canada's approach to torture, they continue to raise pressing moral and legal questions.This Article aims to reignite discussion of these policies and their controversial content, relying in large measure on documents obtained by this author directly or through journalistic researchers under access to information law. It examines dilemmas raised when information is shared between human rights-observing and abusing states and then focuses on the legal parameters and policy context in which both "in-bound" and "out-bound" information-sharing takes place. It then analyzes the 2011 instruments and considers their legality under both international and domestic law. The Article concludes that legality of the measures is doubtful in international law – at least in so far as "out-bound" information sharing is concerned – and domestic criminal culpability and constitutional validity are very close questions.


Reports on turtle-based tourism at Mon Repos in southern Queensland, pointing out that tourism can have either positive or negative effects ecotourism depending on the way it is conducted or developed. However, turtle-based tourism at Mon Repos satisfies the conditions for ecotourism, and in fact has positive consequences for the conservation of marine turtles. Ecotourism based on the turtle rookery at Mon Repos is managed by the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service and associated with Mon Repos Conservation Park and the abutting Woongarra Marine Park. The evolution of turtle conservation at Mon Repos is outlined, and the nature of a survey of turtle-watching visitors, conducted by the authors, is outlined. Some information is provided on the characteristics of respondents and about the type of information which led them to visit Mon Repos. The ex post willingness of respondents to pay for their turtle experience is estimated along with their considerable consumers' surplus and this is magnified to take account of all visitors. The significant local (regional) economic impact of turtle-based ecotourism at Mon Repos is also estimated, as well as the educational and conservation impact on visitors of their turtle experience at Mon Repos. It is found that the turtle-based ecotourism facility at Mon Repos is very effective in its educational and conservational impact on visitors, and in fostering social, economic and political support for the conservation of marine turtles.


Proceedings: AACR 102nd Annual Meeting 2011‐‐ Apr 2‐6, 2011; Orlando, FL

Recent rapid advances in analytical tools, especially NMR and mass spectrometry, allow an unprecedented range of metabolites and their transformation pathways to be determined, which transcends classical targeted metabolic studies. We have coupled these tools with stable isotopic tracers [1-3] to investigate the anticancer efficacy and mechanism(s) of different selenium forms using lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells as a model. Selenite (SeO3), methylseleninic acid (MSA) and selenomethionine (SeM) induced distinct changes in steady-state concentrations and 13C labeling patterns of various metabolites including amino & organic acids, nucleotides, antioxidants, as well as phospholipids (PL) and PL metabolites. These changes were determined using a combination of multi-nuclear 2-D NMR, GC-MS, and FT-ICR-MS techniques, which enabled perturbations in multiple metabolic pathways to be simultaneously reconstructed for relating to phenotypic changes. At low µM levels, both SeO3 and MSA inhibited growth, caused cytoskeleton disintegration, and reduced the mitochondrial redox potential in A549 cells. SeM was growth-stimulatory at ≤ 10 µM and inhibited growth but only at 40-fold higher concentration and the extent was much less than MSA or SeO3. These phenotypic differences were related to the early inhibition of glutaminolysis, Krebs cycle, and protein biosynthesis by SeO3, rapid inhibition of pyruvate carboxylation by MSA. SeM had few comparable metabolic effects. Subsequent inhibition of PL biosynthesis was also more substantial in MSA and SeO3 than in SeM-treated cells. The protein and gene expression for key enzymes in these pathways were probed to discern altered metabolic regulations. Thus, the anti-cancer action of MSA differed from that of SeO3 while SeM was not effective against lung cancer cells. The SIRM approach facilitated the resolution of the complex, form-specific anticancer mechanism of Se compounds and is generally applicable to other cancer research problems.

1. Fan, T., et al., Metabolomics-edited transcriptomics analysis of Se anticancer action in human lung cancer cells. Metabolomics Journal, 2005. 1(4): p. 325-339

2. Lane, A.N. and T.W.-M. Fan, Quantification and identification of isotopomer distributions of metabolites in crude cell extracts using 1H TOCSY. Metabolomics, 2007. 3: p. 79-86.

3. Lane, A.N., et al., Isotopomer analysis of lipid biosynthesis by high resolution mass spectrometry and NMR. Analytica Chimica Acta, 2009. 651: p. 201-208.

Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1251. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-1251


Industrial and domestic activities produce large quantities of residual sludge.
Nowadays a wide reduction of these waste volumes is necessary. Drying of the sludge
which reduces its volume and mass is an important aspect for sludge management. The
mechanical dewatering by pressure filters or centrifuges is not always sufficient to
satisfy new environmental regulations and a thermal drying step is often needed.
Microwaves are electromagnetic waves whose frequency ranges lie between that of
radio waves and infrared radiation. Microwave is of rapid, volumetric and selective
heating source. This study describes the evaluation of the possible use of microwave
heating as a new sludge thermal treatment technology and faster sludge drying and
dewatering technique.In this study, a domestic microwave oven was modified and converted into batch
microwave oven with continuous weight an temperature measurement. Four different
types of sludge were microwave dried under different operating condition to investigate
the microwave potential in drying domestic, agriculture, and chemical sludge.
The study shows that microwave drying is more efficient than convective drying up to
about 20 to 36 times and ohmic heating up to 2.5 times depends on the sludge type. .
Microwave still slow and not efficient at final stage of drying or at low residual
moisture content. Agriculture sludge (Palm Oil sludge) was dried faster than other types
under microwave energy
Volume of sewage and palm oil sludge reduces up to five times by the conventional
drying process, eight times by the microwave drying process and eleven times by the
incineration process.
Microwave treatment show more stable end product than dried sludge but less than
incinerated ash in terms of the leaching properties, and it is less than the maximum
limits stated by US EPA for disposal of waste to landfill.
Finally, the effect of the sludge type on the gas emissions during microwave drying
was investigated. Gas Emissions fluctuates during microwave treatment of sludge. CO2
and SO2 emissions increase at the end of the microwave drying process due to the
increase in the temperature and the burning of the dry sludge powder.


The idea that a simple unilateral promise, until it is accepted, is not binding according to natural law is defended by Grotius in his major work with an argumentation drawn directly from Lessius, an important source of inspiration for the Dutch jurist, who in turn solves the dispute rooted in the tradition of ius commune. This article aims to reconstruct, in its essential stages, an itinerary through the main positions of medieval and early modern civil and canon lawyers about this controversial issue. These sources constitute the background of early modern scholastics and Grotius as well. The paper analyses some of the principal texts of both bodies of law, highlighting arguments and adding new findings. Notably it is shown that Lessius's and Grotius's statements represent a turning point, as far as they react against the resumption of the theory of the binding force of simple unilateral promises in the sixteenth century. With Lessius and Grotius, on the other hand, acceptance became a necessary requirement for every transfer of rights and duties to be enforceable.


Several epithelial tumors display epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) overexpression (with or without EGFR gene amplification) that is often associated with increased production of EGFR ligands. This permits the activation of endogenous tumor EGFR via autocrine mechanisms, resulting in cellular proliferation and tumor growth. Interruption of receptor signaling with bivalent EGFR antibodies or with small molecule inhibitors of the EGFR tyrosine kinase results in inhibition of tumor cell proliferation or viability in vitro and in vivo. One small molecule currently undergoing preclinical and clinical investigation is ZD1839 (Iressa), a synthetic anilinoquinazoline capable of inhibiting EGFR tyrosine kinase in vitro. The early results of clinical trials indicate this drug possesses antitumor activity in certain malignancies of the upper aerodigestive tract.


The erection of Christian sacred shrines and places of worship is a historically complex phenomenon. It goes back to the very early beginning of Christianity. These concrete manifestations despite substantial differences due to time and place share common elements. As an object of research it cannot, of course, be isolated from its cultural context. Especially in early modern times the revival or erection and installation of a place of worship and devotion was always a product of various factors: intellectual activity, topographic and administrative organization, and pastoral, theological, and often political endeavors.1 This essay tries to outline aspects of this phenomenon vis-a-vis an important shrine neglected by international research: the Grotto of St. Paul at Rabat in Malta, the center of the Pauline cult in the island. Since it can be claimed that there has been cultural continuity in the Christian Mediterranean from the period of late Antiquity, the time of the Fathers of the Church, up to the beginning of the nineteenth century (with the possible exception of the Arab period), where does the sacred Pauline shrine in Malta fit in this picture? I Traveling to visit Christian cult centers is a phenomenon known since the fourth and fifth century when Christianity finally established itself as the dominant religion in the Mediterranean. Those self-imposed exiles, those peregrinations and often dangerous voyages were undertaken for the sake of purification of the soul and spiritual salvation. In many cases also material ends and the desire to break away from the dependence on the ruling class mattered. Places of miracles, martyrdom, death, and resurrection and burial sites of holy men and women of Christianity caused Jerusalem, Rome,2 and Santiago de Compostela3 to become the most important pilgrimage centers of the Christians. This pilgrim traveling continued into the early medieval period and grew considerably in extent in high and late medieval times.4 However, during the time of the Reformation, especially in the third and fourth decades of the sixteenth century, pilgrimages fell into disrepute in Protestant countries although they retained their popularity in the Roman Catholic countries of southern Europe, in spite of the attacks by Luther, Melanchthon, and Erasmus. Nevertheless, the Roman Catholic Church was becoming highly aware that the people were not rallying behind a mere theological formula any more. As an answer, they made efforts to renovate and re-establish concrete objects of veneration and cult. The initial revival of places of devotion in the late sixteenth and early seventeenth century was far from random but part of a carefully planned program of Catholic policy. Although it had existed before the specific revival in the first decades of the seventeenth century, the movement of the Pauline cult in the Mediterranean island of Malta had a direct connection with the Counter-Reformation program of the Catholic Church, with its roots in the Council of Trent. Architecture, art, and literature had to state the 'grandeur' and importance of the Catholic Church in order to attest the truth of the Faith. Art had to visualize this spiritual program and helped to develop a baroque style which was now highly visual. A most significant part of this ecclesiastical program was the revival of the holy traditions of the pilgrimages and their aims by rebuilding or extending old monuments in a baroque style, thereby practically creating new ones. However, not in every case of the revival or new installation of centers of Christian devotion in the late sixteenth century or the beginning of the seventeenth century can the main and only motive be traced back to the concept of the Counter-Reformation. This paper tries to single out the special case of the increase of the Pauline devotion in the sixteenth century in the island of Malta. The example presented by the shrines of St. Paul in Malta and the "Grotta di S. …


Experimental ultrasonic cranial trepanation was performed on 60 albino rats by means of a semi-automatic device, Y3T-1. The trepanation is altraumatic and does not need any considerable physical effort. A histological examination showed that the zone of bone necrosis along the edge of the cut surface was one third to one half that developing with the use of electric and pneumatic surgical instruments. The Y3T-1 device was used in operations on the skull in 78 patients. Resection trepanation of the skull was carried out in 55 patients, osteoplastic in 23. With the use of the ultrasonic device the time of the operation is shorter, a good hemostatic effect is produced, and no considerable physical effort is required on the part of the surgeon. A special catch incorporated in the device ensures safety of the operation. In reimplantation of an osteoperiosteal flap or in primary-delayed cranioplasty the use of an ultrasonic chisel for punctate osteosynthesis creates good conditions for bone tissue regeneration.


There are 97 remedies listed, including 11 veterinary ones. These numbers include several that are duplicates. The commonest types of medicament are salves or ointments, of which there are ten, but these ten do not include ointments for specific complaints such as haemorrhoids or scurvy. The most frequently found cures are for the itch (10), rheumatism (5), gravel (4), pain (4), and piles (3), all the others having only one or two entries. They were intended to treat 39 human complaints and 9 animal ones. In addition there were formulae for killing lice, making rat poison, and preparing damson wine! The number of different medicaments that were used in the recipes was relatively small, but more than were to be found in the smaller sizes of domestic medicine cabinet. In 1820 Reece's Traveller's Dispensary that was flat and would fit in the pocket of a carriage, only contained ten drugs plus court plaster, lint, scales and weights with a book of directions and cost L3.10s.0d. (L3.50). The Lady's Dispensary which contained twenty medicines, including two pills, with some dispensing equipment and a book of directions cost L5.10s.0d. (L5.50). In all, he listed twenty different cabinets and a sea medicine chest ranging in price from L3.10s.0d. to L32.10s.0d. They included ones suitable for the family, country clergymen, and travellers on the continent and in the tropics. In 1862 Savory and Moore stocked a range of sixty-seven different medicine chests and cases in rosewood, mahogany, walnut, boxwood and leather that were fitted with 'modern appliances and conveniences adapted for the requirements of families, clergymen, officers, owners of yachts, and travellers.' Unfortunately no prices are quoted. I think that we can safely assume that the treatment received at the hands of Evan Jones was likely to be rather rough and ready when compared to the ministrations of a physician, surgeon, clergyman or local 'Lady Bountiful', but, nevertheless, must have been of great value to those who could not afford professional treatment.


Liriomyza chinensis is a major pest of Welsh onion Allium fistulosum in Asia but little is known about the abundance of its natural enemies. A field survey was made to explore the major parasitoids of L. chinensis leaf miner in central Vietnam. An eulophid parasitoid, Neochrysocharis okazakii, comprised more than 95% of parasitoids reared from leaf miner larvae collected in the onion field and 98.3% of leaf miner parasitoids found during searches of onion plants. The mean number of female N. okazakii on plants was greater in onion fields with a higher density of L. chinensis, and, during searches, a greater proportion of N. okazakii was found on onion with more L. chinensis mines, suggesting density-dependent parasitoid aggregation. Melanized dead larvae of L. chinensis were more frequently found in onion fields with more parasitoids, demonstrating that melanized leaf miners are a good indicator of parasitoid activity. Mean instant rate of host encounter by N. okazakii in the field was estimated at 0.077, and the likelihood of a parasitoid finding a host increased with host density. Taken together, these results show that N. okazakii is the major parasitoid of L. chinensis. Usefulness of this parasitoid in stone leek leaf miner management is discussed.


The Gifford Lectures have challenged our greatest thinkers to relate the worlds of religion, philosophy, and science. Now Ian Barbour has joined ranks with such Gifford lecturers as William James, Carl Jung, and Reinhold Neibuhr. In 1989 Barbour presented his first series of Gifford Lectures, published as Religion in an Age of Science. In 1990 he returned to Scotland to present his second series, dealing with ethical issues arising from technology and exploring the relationship of human and environmental values to science, philosophy, and religion and showing why these values are relevant to technological policy decisions.


Linoleic acid-derived radicals, which are formed in the reaction of linoleic acid with soybean lipoxygenase, were trapped with nitrosobenzene and the resulting radical adducts were analysed by h.p.l.c.-e.p.r. and liquid chromatography-thermospray-m.s. Three nitrosobenzene radical adducts (peaks I, II and III) were detected; these gave the following parent ion masses: 402 for peak I, 402 for peak II, and 386 for peak III. The masses of peaks I and II correspond to the linoleic acid radicals with one more oxygen atom [L(O).]. The radicals are probably carbon-centred, because the use of 17O2 did not result in an additional hyperfine splitting. Computer simulation of the peak I radical adduct e.p.r. spectrum also suggested that the radical is carbon-centred. The peak I radical was also detected in the reaction of 13-hydroperoxylinoleic acid with FeSO4. From the above results, peak I is probably the 12,13-epoxylinoleic acid radical. An h.p.l.c.-e.p.r. experiment using [9,10,12,13-2H4]linoleic acid suggested that the 12,13-epoxylinoleic acid radical is a C-9-centred radical. Peak II is possibly an isomer of peak I. Peak III, which was observed in the reaction mixture without soybean lipoxygenase, corresponds to a linoleic acid radical (L.). The 12,13-epoxylinoleic acid radical, 12,13-epoxylinolenic acid radical and 14,15-epoxyarachidonic acid radical were also detected in the reactions of linoleic acid, linolenic acid and arachidonic acid respectively, with soybean lipoxygenase using nitrosobenzene and 2-methyl-2-nitrosopropane as spin-trapping agents.


The discovery of the huge Groningen gas field with its unique flexibility characteristics had major consequences for the Dutch society. All houses became connected to the gas network and dependent on the L-gas from the Groningen gas field. The replacement of coal and oil by natural gas for heating raised the comfort of living as it was a cleaner carrier of energy. The capacity to produce in a highly flexible way made it possible to maximize the revenues by selling most of the gas at relatively high prices during (cold) winter times. Consequently, the sales of natural gas to domestic and foreign consumers generated significant revenues for the shareholders and, in particular, the Dutch government. Until a few years ago, however, there was not much attention for the downsides of the gas depletion of the Groningen field. The Huizinge earthquake of 2012, however, changed this completely. It became increasingly evident that the inhabitants of the Groningen region pay a high price for the gas production. In this paper, researchers of the University of Groningen reflect on the economic and social consequences of both the gas production and the resulting earthquakes. Attention is paid to the historical role of the Groningen gas field in the European gas market, the importance of the gas revenues for the Dutch economy, the impact of the earthquakes on the regional housing market as well as the social and psychological impact of the earthquakes and how the public authorities dealt with the concerns of the inhabitants of Groningen.


Production yield in semiconductor wafer fabrication is directly affected by low levels of molecular contamination of the silicon wafer surface. Wafers are often carried in specialized plastic enclosures, called front opening unified pods, that are continuously purged with a nitrogen flow to minimize wafer surface contamination. To improve this purge process, it is necessary to better understand the effect of mass transfer transport and kinetic processes on the silicon wafer surfaces. The experimental surface kinetics data available in the literature for diethyl phthalate were utilized, along with a validated computational fluid dynamics model to predict the relative magnitude of the time scales associated with transport and kinetics. The transport time was found to be considerably shorter than the characteristic adsorption time, and the desorption characteristic time was longer than the adsorption time. In general, surface kinetics parameters are not always known. Among other techniques, optimization techniques can be employed to calibrate the kinetic rate parameters. A multi-hierarchical model optimization technique can then be used to infer surface kinetics rates using experimentally measured concentration data for amine contamination of a wafer surface.


An important design problem for dense WDM optical networks is the placement of optical amplifiers along the transmission lines connecting optical add-drop multiplexers. We present a dynamic programming algorithm that chooses the minimum-cost amplifier placement subject to bounds on introduced nonlinear phase shift and noise. The algorithm is in current use and is effective over a wide range of design scenarios.


A 55-year-old woman had a right orbital cyst detected incidentally on radiographic imaging. The patient's symptoms were mild and included intermittent pain and vertical diplopia; the patient was not aware of any visual decline. There was a palpable mass beneath the superior orbital rim. Radiographic imaging revealed a well-demarcated cystic lesion in the right superior orbit between the levator palpebrae superioris and superior rectus muscles. The mass was completely excised via a transconjunctival approach. Histopathologic evaluation disclosed a conjunctival cyst lined by nonkeratinized squamous epithelium with scattered, rare goblet cells. This case combined with 5 other similar reported cases suggests that an intermuscular cyst located in the superior rectus-levator complex is most likely of congenital embryonic conjunctival origin.


Biotransformation is one of the key elements of chemically induced toxicity. Although organisms have an intrinsic tendency to diminish the harm posed by chemical exposure with or without structural modification and excretion of the agents (detoxification), this is not always the case; toxification may also occur. The liver has evolved to be the center of biotransformation from the anatomical, physiological and biochemical points of view; it is located alongside the stomach and intestine, it receives more than 25% of the cardiac output and it contains, in general, the richest quantity but also variety of drug metabolizing enzymes. That is why many orally taken drug-induced toxic effects are seen in the liver. Nevertheless, non-hepatic tissues in the organism are also subjected to toxic insult. Although several instances have suggested transport of liver-bioactivated reactive metabolites to the target tissue is responsible, such as monocrotaline-associated lung toxicity, tetraethyl lead- and n-hexane-associated nervous system toxicity and 2-methoxyethanol-associated testis toxicity, etc. [1], the vast majority of data show local bioactivation in the target tissue is responsible for the extrahepatic toxic outcome. The impact of extrahepatic bioactivation and toxicity of drugs can also be seen in cases of drug attrition due to unacceptable toxicity; adverse cardiovascular effects were the foremost reason for drug withdrawals between 1993 and 2006 [2]. On the other hand, the parent drug and/or its stable metabolite( s) may also cause adverse effects such as inhibition of transporters, occlusion of bile secretion (cholestasis) and accumulation in organelles such as mitochondria, causing steatosis in liver and possibly in other organs. However, this review attempts to summarize only extrahepatic bioactivation of drugs/chemicals and their effects at the cellular and tissue level. Specifically, it focuses on the two most perfused organs, lung and heart tissue, as well as thyroid, blood, brain, and skin. Clozapine, a still-in-use drug with severe off-target toxicities (agranulocytosis and cardiovascular toxicity), is investigated in depth and various drugs are reviewed with a special emphasize on the other mentioned organs.


The present work attempted to study the importance of vision in Centroscymnuscoelolepis , the most abundant shark in the Mediterranean beyond a depthof 1000 m, by using anatomical and histological data. C.coelolepis exhibited large lateral eyes with a large pupil, spherical lens and a tapetum lucidum that gave the eye a strong greenish-golden "eye shine". In the outer retinal layer, a uniform population of rod-like photoreceptors was observed while in the vitreal retina a thick inner plexiform layer comprised up to 30% of the whole retinal thickness. The cell distribution of the ganglion cell layer formed a thin elongated visual streak in the central plane of the eye that provided a horizontal panoramic field of view. A specialised area of higher visual acuity was located caudally at 32-44o from the geometric centre of the retina and 5-10o above the horizontal plane of the eye. This position indicated that the visual axis pointed in a slightly outward-forward direction with respect to the fish body axis. A non-uniform distribution of large ganglion cells was also found in the horizontal plane of the retina that practically coincided with the distribution of the total cell population in the ganglion cell layer. This is the first time that this type of retinal specialisation has been observed in the elasmobranchs. These characteristics indicate that the retina of C.coelolepis is designed not only to increase sensitivity in the horizontal field of view, as was also observed in other sharks, but also to improve motion detection in the same plane. The visual capacities evolved by C.coelolepis make this species adapted for discriminating the horizontal gradation of light that exists in the mesopelagic environment. Similarly, the large ganglion cell distribution observed in its retina seems to be related to its predatory behaviour, since it allows this shark to perceive the movement of bioluminescent prey against a totally dark background.


Migrastatin is a biologically active natural product isolated from Streptomyces that has been shown to inhibit tumor cell migration. Upon completion of the first total synthesis of migrastatin, a number of structurally simplified analogs were prepared. Following extensive in vitro screening, a new generation of analogs was identified that demonstrates substantially higher levels of in vitro inhibitory activity, stability and synthetic accessibility when compared to the parent natural product. Herein, we describe two promising ether-derivative analogs, the migrastatin core ether (ME) and the carboxymethyl-ME (CME), which exhibit high efficacy in blocking tumor cell migration and metastasis in lung cancer. These compounds show an in vitro migration inhibition in the micromolar range (IC50: ME 1.5 to 8.2 μM, CME 0.5 to 5 μM). In a human small-cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) primary xenograft model, ME and CME compounds were found to be highly potent in inhibiting overall metastasis even at the lowest dosage used (degree of inhibition: 96.2% and 99.3%, respectively). Together these very encouraging findings suggest that these analogs have promise as potent antimetastatic agents in lung cancer.


The present study evaluated a total of 350 patients who underwent placement of double-J catheters as a result of their lithiasic condition. The work includes a review of the patients' urological background, indication for the double-J placement, tolerance to catheter, time of permanence, reason for withdrawal, presence of encrustations in the catheter and relationship between all these parameters. A significant increase of adverse symptoms was observed when permanence of the double-J catheter lasted longer than 6 weeks. Likewise, there was a significant increase in the number of encrustations in catheters retained longer than 6 weeks, as well as when the lithiasic mass was meaningful and urine cultures were positive. The authors consider that double-J catheters effectively prevent the complications of the lithiasic condition but an excessively long permanence, more than 6 weeks, increases occurrence of side-effects significantly.


Countries may utilize a long coastline in relation to their landmass as a resource to develop their maritime economy. This paper argues that ASEAN countries differ in utilizing their maritime potential. As a basis for further comparative studies the Center for Policy Research and International Studies (CenPRIS) in Penang developed a set of indicators to measure the maritime potential of nations, the state of their maritime industries, and the degree to which the maritime potential has actually been utilized. Using the CenPRIS Ocean Index (COI) shows that Brunei and the Philippines have underutilized their maritime potentials, whereas Singapore and Thailand have made full use of it. Malaysia still has the potential to further develop its maritime economy.


Adolescence is a time for rapid growth that represents an opportunity to influence peak bone mass. Prebiotic agents, such as galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS), increase Ca absorption in animal models and postmenopausal women. The objectives of the present study were to investigate the dose-response relationship of GOS supplementation on Ca absorption during growth and to assess changes in colonic microbiota to better understand the mechanism by which GOS is acting. A total of thirty-one healthy adolescent girls aged 10-13 years consumed smoothie drinks twice daily with 0, 2·5 or 5 g GOS for three 3-week periods in a random order. Fractional Ca absorption was determined from urinary Ca excretion over 48 h at the end of each 3-week period using a dual stable isotope method. Faecal microbiota and bifidobacteria were assessed by PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis and quantitative PCR. Fractional Ca absorption after the 48 h treatment with control, 5 and 10 g GOS/d was 0·393 (SD 0·092), 0·444 (SD 0·086) and 0·419 (SD 0·099), respectively. Significant improvements in Ca absorption were seen with both low and high doses of GOS compared with the control (P,0·02), but itwas not a dose-response relationship. The increase in absorption was greatest in the urine collected after 24 h, which is consistent with lower gut absorption. Faecal bifidobacteria increased (control 10·89 (SD 13·86), 5 g GOS 22·80 (SD 15·74) and 10 g GOS 11·54 (SD 14·20)) with the GOS treatment (P,0·03). The results suggest that daily consumption of 5 g GOS increases Ca absorption, which may be mediated by the gut microbiota, specifically bifidobacteria.


: Among 2400 malignant tumors of the gastrointestinal tract, in 12 tumors (11 gastric and 1 jejunal) having the structure of solid cancer, argyrophil cells constituted the basis of the tumor tissue. Argyrophil cell carcinomas were frequently of the saucer-like shape, their microscopic picture combined the features of intestinal carcinoids and oat-cell carcinomas of the lungs. In addition to cytoplasmic secretory granules best detectable by the method of Grimelius, 7 tumors showed signs of mucus formation. Argyrophil cell carcinomas appear to be poorly differentiated variants of the gastrointestinal tract apudomas.


This paper reports the development of a compact, portable prototype for the determination of gaseous oxygen in breath. This system is fully wearable, it can be worn by the user as an armband where the electronics are placed, i.e., connected to a mouthpiece where the breath is sensed. The prototype is based on an optical luminescent sensor consisting of a stabilized porphyrin dye directly deposited onto a color detector. The sensor response, when it is optically excited, is quenched by the surrounding oxygen. The intensity of the generated luminescence is registered by means of a digital color detector whose output data correspond to the coordinates of the RGB color space. For this particular optical sensor, the red coordinate is directly related to the concentration of O2, and it is sent to a remote device such as a smartphone or tablet by a Bluetooth link. An application for Android operative system has also been developed for data visualization and analysis. Employing this novel system, a high resolution in the range of few parts per billion in the determination of oxygen can be achieved.


The productivity of soils in smallholder agriculture can be improved by the introduction of short-duration (2-5 years) improved fallows. The availability of land is a constraint, so these improved fallows should be designed so that farmers can derive other benefits over the duration of the fallow phase. The introduction of improved fallow species of Sesbania sesban, Cajanus cajan and a 50:50 mixture of the two species under a maize stand in the first year of fallow establishment had no effect on maize grain yield, neither was the growth of the tree species curtailed. The grain yields of pigeon peas grown alone or under maize were similar but the tree species affected the weight of maize stover. Establishing these tree fallows under annual crops during the first year of fallow establishment may induce farmers to use this approach since they can harvest some grain in one of the years during the fallow phase.
 Transactions of the Zimbabwe Scientific Association Volume 72 (Supplement) 1998, pp. 84-87


Behavioral evidence for the link between numerical and spatial representations comes from the spatial-numerical association of response codes (SNARC) effect, consisting in faster reaction times to small/large numbers with the left/right hand respectively. The SNARC effect is, however, characterized by considerable intra- and inter-individual variability. It depends not only on the explicit or implicit nature of the numerical task, but also relates to interference control. To determine whether the prevalence of the latter relation in the elderly could be ascribed to younger individuals' ceiling performances on executive control tasks, we determined whether the SNARC effect related to Stroop and/or Flanker effects in 26 young adults with ADHD. We observed a divergent pattern of correlation depending on the type of numerical task used to assess the SNARC effect and the type of interference control measure involved in number-space associations. Namely, stronger number-space associations during parity judgments involving implicit magnitude processing related to weaker interference control in the Stroop but not Flanker task. Conversely, stronger number-space associations during explicit magnitude classifications tended to be associated with better interference control in the Flanker but not Stroop paradigm. The association of stronger parity and magnitude SNARC effects with weaker and better interference control respectively indicates that different mechanisms underlie these relations. Activation of the magnitude-associated spatial code is irrelevant and potentially interferes with parity judgments, but in contrast assists explicit magnitude classifications. Altogether, the present study confirms the contribution of interference control to number-space associations also in young adults. It suggests that magnitude-associated spatial codes in implicit and explicit tasks are monitored by different interference control mechanisms, thereby explaining task-related intra-individual differences in number-space associations.


Adaptive optics is used to abate aberrations with a wavefront correction. It is widely used in astronomy and is starting to expand into applications of laser focusing and imaging with high numerical apertures, e.g. microscopy. The physical background of focusing laser light and imaging is the same, so we can use the same methods. In both cases, light is propagating through a lens; either it becomes focused into a small region or light from a small region becomes imaged on a camera. Modulations applied on the lens to implement wavefront corrections behave similarly in both applications. A powerful simulation tool was created to characterize the impact of those modulations. As an example, we validated a design for a Fresnel lens produced on a glass fibre tip to focus its emitting light. We have developed solutions mainly for three different problems. First, a high depth of focus enables keeping a laser beam focused within a larger length or imaging objects from different positions simultaneously. In photography, this can be attained by stopping down the aperture, which introduces a huge loss of light. State-of-the-art for focusing into a line segment also shows an inefficient performance. We present an elegant lens design, which enables highly efficient elongation of the depth of focus. Preliminary studies have shown that it might be a feasible alternative for current intra-ocular lens implants in ophthalmology or for 3D visualization in imaging and microscopy. A high depth of focus also has a large potential in optical lithography and data storage, because the focal position is enlarged and does not have to be adjusted precisely to obtain a useful spot. Second, specimen-induced aberrations can affect even a perfectly adjusted, diffraction limited lens system. A planar refraction index mismatch introduces spherical aberrations, degrading the optical resolution. As a first step to correct them, we were able to characterize simultaneously the refractive index and the thickness of an unknown medium that is placed between the lens and its focal region. This was done by clever manipulation of the beam angles with the same adaptive optics element in the focusing and in the imaging system. Finally, the medium-induced spherical aberrations were corrected based on the characterization results. The point spread function degradation of a focused laser beam was completely removed, which might be useful in optical tweezers or in laser processing of biological samples. While imaging through the planar refractive index mismatch, the bending of the object field was corrected and the diffraction limited performance restored.


10 premature infants with stage 3 retinopathy of prematurity have had photocoagulation and/or cryocoagulation therapy to one eye and have been followed for a period of 1-6 years. Although the long-term results of this therapy are not known, particularly in the prevention of retinal detachment, early observations suggest that treatment is neither harmful nor particularly beneficial. Macular dragging does not seem to be influenced by treatment. The refractive error, as one would expect, does not appear to be altered by this form of therapy. Marked amelioration of the vascular dilatation and tortuosity at the posterior pole is apparent shortly after treatment. It is stressed that this is a trial project and until more definite beneficial results are obtained, treatment of stage 3 retinopathy should be deferred. Retinal detachments (stage 4) may be quite amenable to a buckling procedure.


Purpose The purpose of this study was to determine whether retinal gap junctions (GJs) via connexin 36 (Cx36, mediating coupling of many retinal cell types) and horizontal cell (HC-HC) coupling, are involved in emmetropization. Methods Guinea pigs (3 weeks old) were monocularly form deprived (FD) or raised without FD (in normal visual [NV] environment) for 2 days or 4 weeks; alternatively, they wore a −4 D lens (hyperopic defocus [HD]) or 0 D lens for 2 days or 1 week. FD and NV eyes received daily subconjunctival injections of a nonspecific GJ-uncoupling agent, 18-β-Glycyrrhetinic Acid (18-β-GA). The amounts of total Cx36 and of phosphorylated Cx36 (P-Cx36; activated state that increases cell-cell coupling), in the inner and outer plexiform layers (IPLs and OPLs), were evaluated by quantitative immunofluorescence (IF), and HC-HC coupling was evaluated by cut-loading with neurobiotin. Results FD per se (excluding effect of light-attenuation) increased HC-HC coupling in OPL, whereas HD did not affect it. HD for 2 days or 1 week had no significant effect on retinal content of Cx36 or P-Cx36. FD for 4 weeks decreased the total amounts of Cx36 and P-Cx36, and the P-Cx36/Cx36 ratio, in the IPL. Subconjunctival 18-β-GA induced myopia in NV eyes and increased the myopic shifts in FD eyes, while reducing the amounts of Cx36 and P-Cx36 in both the IPL and OPL. Conclusions These results suggest that cell-cell coupling via GJs containing Cx36 (particularly those in the IPL) plays a role in emmetropization and form deprivation myopia (FDM) in mammals. Although both FD and 18-β-GA induced myopia, they had opposite effects on HC-HC coupling. These findings suggest that HC-HC coupling in the OPL might not play a significant role in emmetropization and myopia development.


This study builds upon our previous work indicating that impaired hippocampal-dependent forms of memory are core to schizophrenia. Using a virtual-reality courtyard task, we presented participants with schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD; n = 20) and a healthy community comparison group (n = 20) with objects to remember within a town square, followed by a recognition test of the location of objects from either the same viewpoint or a shifted viewpoint relative to initial presentation. The SSD group demonstrated a relative deficit under shifted- compared to same-view conditions. These findings provide further support for deficient hippocampal-dependent cognition in SSD.


In this paper I outline the main types of metaphors involved in the description and communication of affective states in the Smith Journal of 'The Unabridged Journals of Sylvia Plath'. I examine metaphor clusters to see how the interaction of different source domains can be discussed to account for the meanings constructed by the collective. The MIP procedure (Pragglejaz, 2007) is used for initial metaphor vehicle identification, followed by a zooming out to consider individual linguistic metaphors in each other's context.
I show that Plath used metaphor more frequently and more diversely in her description of negative affective states than positive ones. This seems to be consistent with Cameron's (2013) negativity hypothesis that metaphor tends to be used more in negative constructions, scenarios and experiences.
In addition, I discuss the interaction of vehicle terms in extended clusters of metaphor. For example, in to feel his mind soaring, reaching, and mine caged, crying, impotent, self-reviling, Plath describes a negative state of mind. Although this is a small section of a longer cluster of metaphors, I argue that the full meaning of even this example is not easily reconstructed on a vehicle-by-vehicle basis, especially when the topic in question is as complex as affective states. Instead, one should discuss the interaction between and among the vehicle terms: the constructed metaphor scenario involves Plath's mind as participant in a contrastive relationship with his mind as participant: her mind immobile while his moves great distances. This initial contrast frames the entire cluster facilitating a contrastive interpretation of impotent and self-reviling as simultaneously passive and in the process of attack. The combination of impotent with enforced immobility (caged) suggests a sense of helplessness, and crying, although it may have several interpretations, is in this case attracted into this helplessness scenario by its close proximity to impotent. In addition, the potential interpretation crying as representative of anger is also brought to the fore by the proximity to self-reviling, while other meaning, such as sadness, remain backgrounded. The notions of scenarios, in the sense of 'mini-narratives' (Musolff, 2006; Semino 2008), framing and attraction (Cameron and Low, 2004) among others will be discussed as particularly helpful in describing these interactions.

References
Cameron, L. (2013) The dynamics of metaphor and empathy. Plenary Presentation at the RaAM Seminar on Metaphor, Metonymy and Emotions, 2-4 May 2013, Poznan, Poland.
Cameron, L and Low, G. (2004) Figurative Variation in Episodes of Education Talk and Text. European Journal of English Studies, 8, 355-373
Musolff, A. (2006). Metaphor scenarios in public discourse. Metaphor and Symbol, 21 (1), 23-38.
Pragglejaz Group (2007). MIP: A method for identifying metaphorically used words in discourse. Metaphor and Symbol, 22 (1), 1-39.
Semino, E. (2008) Metaphor in Discourse. Cambridge University Press


Growing evidence indicates that aberrant DNA hypermethylation is associated with leukemogenesis, chemotherapy resistance, and relapse. DNA methyltransferase inhibitors such as azacitidine and decitabine have been shown to reverse drug resistance and prime leukemia cells to cytotoxic agents in vitro. Here we report the first pediatric phase 1 study using azacitidine in sequence with chemotherapy in patients with relapsed/refractory leukemia. Fourteen patients were enrolled, twelve with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and two with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). All patients received azacitidine 75mg/m2/day subcutaneously for 5 days, followed by fludarabine 30mg/m2/day and cytarabine 2gm/m2/day intravenously for 5 days. The median number of prior regimens was 2 (range 1-5). Toxicities were typical of intensive chemotherapy. Febrile neutropenia and infection were the most common non-hematologic toxicities. No patients experienced dose-limiting toxicity. Seven of twelve AML patients achieved complete response after the first cycle. Illumina HumanMethylation450 BeadChip arrays identified a single region at gene body of farnesyldiphosphate farnesyl-transferase 1 gene (FDFT1) that showed methylome-wide significant differential methylation between patients who achieved response and those who did not (p = 0.002). The prognostic significance of this region was further analyzed in a separate data set from a phase II study of decitabine with combination chemotherapy in children with de novo AML. Our study indicates azacitidine plus fludarabine and cytarabine is well tolerated and active in children with relapsed leukemia and warrants further testing. The prognostic significance of the methylation biomarker merits further evaluation. This study was registered at http://www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT01861002).