5'-Aminothymidine represents a novel class of compounds capable of antagonizing the feedback inhibition which normally regulates thymidine kinase. As a consequence, the uptake of iododeoxyuridine, a substrate of thymidine kinase, can be substantially increased by 5'-aminothymidine. in this study the phosphorylation, uptake, and cytotoxicity of iododeoxyuridine was markedly enhanced by 5'-aminothymidine in three human bladder cancer cell lines, T24, HT1197 and 647V. In contrast, neither the uptake nor the toxicity of iododeoxyuridine was increased by 5'-aminothymidine in normal human urothelial cells propagated in vitro. Although 30 microM 5'-aminothymidine increased the uptake of 3 microM iododeoxyuridine 4- to 5-fold in the HT1197 and 647V cells and 2.5-fold in the T24 cells, no stimulation was produced in the normal urothelial cells. The modulation of iododeoxyuridine uptake was associated with parallel changes in the inhibition of cellular replication. The cytotoxicity of iododeoxyuridine was strongly augmented by 5'-aminothymidine in the HT1197 and 647V cells, modestly increased in the T24 cells, and unchanged in the normal urothelial cells. The degree to which iododeoxyuridine phosphorylation was stimulated did not correlate with cellular replication rates or with intracellular thymidine triphosphate concentrations. Iododeoxyuridine uptake was markedly increased in the HT1197 (doubling time = 52 h) and 647V (doubling time = 24 h) cells, moderately in the rapidly growing cells T24 (doubling time = 20 h), and minimally in the normal urothelial cells which doubled every 32 h. In exponentially growing cells the thymidine triphosphate pools were approximately 18 microM in the normal cells and about 21, 24, and 35 microM in the HT1197, T24, and 647V cells, respectively. The use of 5'-aminothymidine and other compounds capable of antagonizing feedback inhibition may provide a new means of increasing the efficacy of cytotoxic nucleosides.


Materials on plant leaf surfaces that attract water impact penetration of foliar-applied agrochemicals, foliar water uptake, gas exchange, and stomatal density. Few studies are available on the nature of these substances, and we quantify the hygroscopicity of these materials. Water vapor sorption experiments on twelve leaf washes of sample leaves were conducted and analyzed with inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) and X-ray diffraction. All leaf surface materials studied were hygroscopic. Oils were found on the surface of the Eucalyptus studied. For mangroves that excrete salt to the leaf surfaces, significant sorption occurred at high humidity of a total of 316 mg (~0.3 ml) over 6–10 leaves and fitted a Guggenheim, Anderson, and de Böer sorption isotherm. Materials on the plant leaf surface can deliquesce and form an aqueous solution in a variety of environments where plants grow, including glasshouses and by the ocean, which is an important factor when considering plant-atmosphere relations.


Religion is impoverished when it fails to reveal and develop the humerous aspect of itself. Humor is a part of the tough tissue of religion that binds our hearts together in love, worship, or fellowship/community. Often, however, humor is negatively affected by religion, or religious people are allergic to humor. Capps, who is dean of studies in religion and psychology in the United States, tries in this book to show the ways in which humor can be recovered for religion. He argues that religion is diminished when it fails to understand and embrace its own historical connection - much of it dating to biblical days - to humor itself. His chapters deal with topics ranging from humor as an expression of intimacy to humor as the maintenance of the soul. "This is an exceptionally good-natured book, likely to persuade you that religion and humor have more affinity for one another than you'd imagined. The author's affable style carries a formidable learning which is never intrusive." -Ted Cohen, Professor of Philosophy, University of Chicago, and author of Jokes: Philosophical Thoughts on Joking Matters


The article deals with the problem-based learning (PBL) that combines theoretical knowledge and practice in the educational process. PBL is an effective learning method through which the students become responsible and initiative. PBL main goals, principles and steps of implementation are observed in the article. PBL is a constructive, self-directed, collaborative and contextual process and has the potential to prepare students more effectively for future learning and profession. The main objectives of PBL are described in the article: constructing an extensive and flexible knowledge base; developing effective problem-solving abilities; becoming effective collaborators; being motivated to learn, work and research. It is cleared up that PBL focuses on practical learning where students solve real life badly structured problems. It is shown that the educational process is organized around the interdisciplinary problems and it can help students to learn integrally. The participants of problem-based learning process have to plan, monitor and evaluate the learning process actively, interpret prior knowledge and experience and after their self-study and mutual interaction within the group, they are able to construct and reconstruct their knowledge networks. The author states that implementation of PBL in the educational process gives students a sense of ownership over their learning and empowers participants with valuable skills that motivate students to learn and ability to achieve good results.The main ways of implementation of PBL in Ukrainian higher educational institutions and some recommendations are given in the article.


Aims: This study aims to explore the criteria used by graduate students while selecting a career as orthodontists and their future aspirations. Materials and Methods: A list of Saudi Board of Orthodontics (SB-Ortho) residents was obtained from the Central and Western regions of the Kingdom and all orthodontic residents (excluding the 1st year residents) were invited to participate in this survey. Permission to contact the orthodontic residents was obtained from the respective program directors. The final study sample composed of 36 orthodontic residents. Results: About 39% of residents chose orthodontic specialty after graduation, nearly 33% selected the career during the undergraduate education while the rest chose the specialty at other stages. Approximately, 67% of the residents chose orthodontic specialty because it is intellectual challenging. Around 25% of residents choose orthodontic to improve their earning and 39% join orthodontic for job prestige. Around 50% of orthodontic Saudi residents planned to use self-ligating brackets; 63.9% planned to use invisalign; 86.1% plan to use temporary anchorage devices. About 72% of residents plan to use a cone-beam computerized tomography; 89% plan to use a digital imaging program; 39% plan to use indirect bonding; and 28% plan to use lingual orthodontics. More than half of the residents showed interest to participate in the research and about a quarter of them were willing to work in small cities. Conclusions: Most of the orthodontic residents in Saudi Arabia take up this specialty as they felt that it was intellectually challenging. The SB-Ortho program adequately prepares the residents in all the modern aspects of the specialty.


Objectives: In this paper, a novel algorithm based on Transform Domain Least Mean Square (TDLMS) is proposed for Blind Source Separation (BSS). The proposed algorithm is compared with several other BSS algorithms in detail and the results are discussed extensively. Methods/Statistical Analysis: To solve the problem of BSS employing the present approach, the ordinary gradient used in conventional LMS algorithm is replaced by natural gradient on the Stiefel manifold. The natural gradient is computed from a cost function based on Bussgang criterion. The proposed algorithm is compared with previously reported LMS type and Recursive Least Square (RLS) type algorithms for four different performance criteria – cross–talk error convergence, harmonic distortion in recovered signals, average deviation from orthogonality of demixing matrix and time complexity. Findings: Using simulations it is found that the proposed algorithm has best cross-talk error-convergence and least harmonic distortion as compared to other algorithms. However, the average deviation from orthogonality for demixing matrix and average simulation time for the proposed algorithm are comparable to LMS-type algorithms and estimates 35% as compared to RLS-type algorithms. Application/Improvements: The use of natural gradient and the pre-whitening process improves the performance of the algorithm. This algorithm is applied to separate signals from its mixture.


Background : A child's optimal growth can be indicated by many factors, among them is body height, therefore stunting is one of the evidences of undergrowth. Nutrition, on the other hand, is one of variables affecting growth. This study aimed to examine the nutrition intake, in the form of energy, carbohydrate, protein, and fat in stunted children aged 3–5 years in Jatinangor. Methods : This cross sectional study was carried out in September to October 2014 using the random sampling method. Dietary data from 70 stunted children aged 3–5 years in pre–school and kindegarten located in 9 urban areas in Jatinangor were collected through 3x24 Recall and Food Frequency Questionaire and analyzed. Results : Mean energy intake was 1113.6 kcal and mean carbohydrate intake was 137.4 grams. Mean protein intake was 38.4 gram and mean fat intake was 38.2 gram. Types of food highly consumed as the source of carbohydrate were white rice and biscuit, and as the source of protein were meatball, sausage, and egg. Highest consumed vegetables, fruits and snack were water spinach, cabbage, watermelon, banana, and milk respectively. Conclusions : Mean energy intake, mean carbohydrate intake, and mean fat intake are all below the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) 2013 with individual value of mean energy intake is below RDA 2013 for all subjects. Mean protein intake is slightly above RDA 2013. [ AMJ .2016;3(3):364– 70] DOI: 10.15850/amj.v3n3.907


Understanding the evolution and maintenance of sexual reproduction remains a long-standing challenge in evolutionary biology. Stress often induces sexual reproduction in facultatively sexual species (those species capable of both sexual and asexual reproduction). The abandon-ship hypothesis predicts higher allocation to sex under stress to allow low-fitness individuals to recombine their genotype, potentially increasing offspring fitness. However, effective tests of the abandon-ship hypothesis, particularly in multicellular organisms, are lacking. Here we test the abandon-ship hypothesis, using cyanogenic and acyanogenic defense phenotypes of the short-lived perennial herb Trifolium repens. Cyanogenesis provides an effective defense against herbivores and is under relatively simple genetic control (plants dominant for cyanogenesis at two alleles express the defended phenotype). Thus, maladapted individuals can acquire adaptive defense alleles for their offspring in a single episode of sexual reproduction. Plants were grown under high- and low-herbivory treatments (plants were exposed to herbivorous snails) and a control treatment (no herbivory). Herbivores reduced growth and fitness in all treated plants, but herbivory induced higher sexual allocation only in maladapted (acyanogenic) individuals. Overall, our results support the abandon-ship hypothesis.


The aim of the project was to gain a better understanding of the factors that affect
adhesion of fluoropolymers. This was achieved by employing various analytical
techniques to the treated and untreated polymers. The effects of novel
pretreatments, and established treatments, on Polytetrafluoroethylene, PTFE, Poly
(vinyl fluoride), PVF, and poly (vinylidene fluoride) PVdF, were characterised
using: adhesion tests, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), including
derivatisation reactions, Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR), contact angles and
scanning electron microscopy (SEM)
For untreated PVF and PTFE it was found that a certain degree of adhesion
improvement was achievable without any chemical modification of the surfaces.
This was observed when the substrates were repeatedly bonded. It is proposed that
weakly cohesive material was present in the polymers and these acted as weak
boundary layers when bonded.
Removal of weak boundary layers alone was found to be insufficient to obtain high
adhesion with PTFE. Surface functionality, increased wettabiIity and favourable
topography all contributed to the high bond strengths observed with 'Tetra-Etch'
treated PTFE. 'Tetra-Etch' treatment is used commercially on PTFE but prior to this
programme was unreported on PVF and PVdF. The treatment was effective at
promoting adhesion for PVF though at a· much slower rate than for PTFE.
Additional mechanisms to that for PTFE (Le. electron transfer) are proposed for the
action of 'Tetra-Etch' on PVF. These are dehydrohalogenation through electron
transfer and an elimination reaction. The same mechanisms are proposed for PV dF.
Flame and Iow pressure plasma treatments·,w7re carried out on PVF and PTFE.
Flame was found to be ineffective for PTFE but with PVF chemical modification
(oxidation) occurred at the carbon/hydrogen sites. No defluorination was observed;
this was in contrast to the mechanism of oxidation via plasmas on PVF, where
defluorination, oxidation, ablation, and crosslinking may have all contributed to the
high bond strength obtained. Certain plasma treatments were effective at improving
the adhesion of PTFE but were slower and caused less modification. Removal of
weak boundary layers was proposed as the major factor since oxidation was often
slight.
Reaction with solutions of potassium hydroxide (KOH), sodium hydroxide (NaOH)
and lithium hydroxide (LiOH) were effective as adhesion pretreatments for PVF and
PVdF but not for PTFE. For PVF and PVdF rates of reaction and chemical
modification varied with time, temperature, molarity of solution and the nature of
the solution i.e. aqueous or alcoholic. The greatest improvement in rate and
effectiveness of the treatment for adhesion improvement was on the addition of a
phase transfer catalyst to the aqueous solution. It was found for PVF that
substantial surface oxidation could be achieved without improving the adhesion. It
was suggested that oxidation occurred at sites present in a weakly cohesive layer.
Mechanisms of the reactions were considered in terms of neucloephilic substitution
and elimination; for PVF and PV dF both are likely. The mechanism of the phase
transfer catalyst was investigated and found to be complex. It was found not to be
simply a wetting agent but had inherent reactivity on its own. A combination of
mechanisms was proposed.


The early events in coronary artery atherosclerosis in White Carneau pigeons were studied by combined scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Endothelial cells throughout the right coronary artery were elongate in shape, having an axial ratio (width + length) of 0.48 +/- 0.03, and were oriented with the long axis parallel to the direction of blood flow. Deviation in both orientation and morphology were found in control birds in zones of high probability for disease. Endothelial cells in the high predilection zones were less elongate in shape, having an axial ratio of 0.69 +/- 0.04, and had poorly defined margins and a paucity of microvilli. These less elongate cells were on the average 50 per cent larger (surface area of 147.9 +/- 13.3 versus 93.4 +/- 5.5 sq. microns for the typical cell) than the normal endothelial cell. Upon cholesterol challenge, the percentage of elongate cells decreased in the high propensity zones within the first few weeks, and following 8 weeks of cholesterol challenge the less elongate cells were associated with nascent atherosclerotic lesions. In addition to these large irregularly shaped endothelial cells, the early lesions characteristically were encircled by small cells having prominant nuclei and a large number of microvilli clustered over the nuclear area. Continuation of the cholesterol diet beyond 36 weeks resulted in progressive lesion enlargement and the selective binding of blood cells to the lesion periphery. This margination of blood cells was maximal at 36 weeks when the process was evident in 60 per cent of the cholesterol-fed animals. With further prolongation of cholesterol challenge, adherent cells were found in only 25 per cent of the birds. The surface events observed by scanning electron microscopy were correlated with ultrastructural changes in the endothelial glycocalyx. Cholesterol challenge resulted in a significant reduction in both the amount of ruthenium red stain and the number of cationized ferritin particles which were bound to luminal surfaces. In control diet animals, the glycocalyx thickness was in the range of 700 to 1000 A, with the thinnest areas being those in zones of high disease predilection and numerous nonelongate endothelial cells. When analyzed on an individual cell basis, the villus portions of the endothelial surface (glycocalyx thickness, 436 A) averaged 64 per cent thinner than the nonvillus portions of the cell. Upon cholesterol challenge, the glycocalyx was reduced in all arterial zones to 450 A, which approximated the thickness found for microvilli. Our results clearly document changes in endothelial morphology during the early stages of coronary atherosclerosis. These morphologic features are discussed with respect to the role the altered cells may play in disease progression.


A well designed and implemented working capital management is expected to contribute positively to the creation of shareholders' wealth The purpose of this study was to determine the empirical relationship between working capital management and firm's profitability The study used secondary data obtained from annual reports and financial statements of companies listed on the Nairobi Stock Exchange (NSE). A sample of 24 companies listed on the (NSE) for a period of six (6) years from 2001 2006, were studied to determine the effect of different variables of working capital management including average collection period, Inventory turnover in days average payment period and cash conversion cycle on the gross operating profitability Current ratio, size of the firm (measured in terms of natural logarithm of sales), fixed financial assets to total assets ratio and debt ratio were used as control variables Pearson's correlation and regression analysis (pooled least squares) were used for analysis The results show that there is a statistical significant negative relationship between variables of working capital management and the profitability of firms except for the average payment period which showed a positive relationship This means that managers can create profits for their companies by handling correctly the cash conversion cycle and keeping each different component of working capital management (accounts receivables accounts payables and inventory) at an optimal level


Device authentication in ad hoc networks is becoming more and more important. Nowadays, there are many interesting applications which communicate via the short-rang wireless communication channel (such as Bluetooth or WiFi). In the communication, a great deal of sensitive information is required to be transmitted. Therefore, device authentication is significant. In order to build a secure authentication mechanism, protocols are proposed using human control visual channels. However, this method brings many challenges, the main one being the burden placed on humans. Therefore, in this thesis, these protocols are optimized using visible light communication techniques, which significantly reduce the work faced by humans.


ObjectiveTo study the efficacy of lamotrigine in relieving the pain associated with diabetic neuropathy. MethodsThe authors randomly assigned 59 patients to receive either lamotrigine (titrated from 25 to 400 mg/day) or placebo over a 6-week period. Primary outcome measure was self-recording of pain intensity twice daily with a 0 to 10 numerical pain scale (NPS). Secondary efficacy measures included daily consumption of rescue analgesics, the McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), the Pain Disability Index (PDI), and global assessment of efficacy and tolerability. ResultsTwenty-four of 29 patients (83%) receiving lamotrigine and 22 of 30 (73%) patients receiving placebo completed the study. Daily NPS in the lamotrigine-treated group was reduced from 6.4 ± 0.1 to 4.2 ± 0.1 and in the control group from 6.5 ± 0.1 to 5.3 ± 0.1 (p < 0.001 for lamotrigine doses of 200, 300, and 400 mg). The results of the MPQ, PDI, and BDI remained unchanged in both groups. The global assessment of efficacy favored lamotrigine treatment over placebo, and the adverse events profile was similar in both groups. ConclusionsLamotrigine is effective and safe in relieving the pain associated with diabetic neuropathy.


Introduction In 2007, the National Patient Safety Agency recommended that healthcare staff need to have full technical information about compatibility of commonly used mixtures used in specialist areas only (National Patient Safety Agency 2007). In 2008, the Commission on Human Medicine (CHM) recommended that research should be commissioned to develop authoritative national advice on mixing of medicines to encompass compatibility and stability data (Commission on Human Medicines, 2008). In the UK, a continuous subcutaneous infusion (CSCI) is considered to be the preferred method of drug administration to maintain symptom management at the end of life. Despite this common practice, compatibility data are lacking. Analysis of national practice identified commonly used drug combinations administered by CSCI that were included in this study. Aims/objectives To determine the chemical compatibility/stability of a total of 40 commonly encountered drug combinations. A CME T34 syringe pump was used to simulate infusion of the syringe preparation over a 24 hour period. The combinations were analysed by High Performance Liquid Chromatography-Diode Array Detection (HPLC-DAD). Results Thirty combinations were identified as compatible by HPLC-DAD. These combinations also remained clear and free from visible particulate matter and the pH remained constant over the monitored period. Four combinations will require additional analysis as variances were detected during the testing procedure. Conclusion This research is the first step towards providing technical information required by healthcare staff for the mixing of injectable medicines in the same syringe. References Commission on Human Medicines. Outcome of the consultation exercise on proposals for regularising the position of those mixing and administering medicines in palliative care. London: MHRA; 2008. http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20141205150130/ http://mhra.gov.uk/publications/consultations/medicinesconsultations/mlxs/con033523. Accessed June 3, 2016. National Patient Safety Agency. Promoting safer use of injectable medicines; 2007. http://www.nrls.npsa.nhs.uk/resources/?entryid45=59812. Accessed June 3, 2016.


OF DISSERTATION THE AGRICORPS EXPERIENCE: A PHENOMENOLOGY OF INTERNATIONAL AGRICULTURAL EDUCATORS With the growing world population, agricultural education may play a role in increasing the production of agricultural products and services in developing nations by improving knowledge and participation in the agricultural field, specifically with regard to the nations' youth. Few researchers have sought to understand how the experience of teaching agriculture abroad impacts the agricultural educator. The purpose of this dissertation was to understand the essence of an international agricultural educator experience. In this phenomenological study, I interviewed past AgriCorps fellows to examine the lived experiences of fellows, how the fellows were impacted personally and professionally, and the transformative learning process that occurred within fellows. The perceived identity and isolation of fellows, combined with the importance of relationships with host country nationals and the fellow cohort shaped the daily experiences of the international agricultural educators. These experiences led to perspective changes on agricultural education, international development, career paths, and personal and professional growth. The importance of cohorts in international agricultural education was discussed. The findings of this dissertation are discussed relative to transformative learning theory and recommendations for international agricultural education programs, American agricultural education, and future research are offered.


A simple and sensitive high performance liquid chromatographic method for simultaneous determination of sulfachloropyridazine and sulfapyridine has been developed. This method was developed by using self-prepared molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) as the stationary phase. The polymers were prepared by a noncovalent method with sulfachloropyridazine as the template, methacrylic acid as the functional monomer and ethylene glycoldimethacrylate as the cross-linker in the presence of chloroform as the solvent. In order to compare the chromatographic data from the stationary phase, the retention time of sulfachloropyridazine and sulfapyridine was given. The separation factors (α) were 1.79–1.89 that showed that the MIPs were able to recognize sulfachloropyridazine and sulfapyridine.


Migrants' remittances to developing countries have significantly increased and turn out to be the second largest source of finance for developing countries after foreign direct investment. Besides, the composition of international migration flows has also changed being characterized by a growing feminization and brain drain. In reviewing the literature on remittances, this survey shows that to fully estimate the role of remittances as a lifeline for developing countries the two above recent phenomena cannot be ignored. Indeed, using an original dataset on bilateral remittances and estimating a gravity model in which the gender and the skill dimensions of the migrants are taken into account, we find that both are positively associated with annual remittances received by origin countries. In particular, the main effect seems to be driven by skilled female migrants which presumably represent an important loss in terms of human capital in the perspective of a developing country.


In order to scientifically evaluate the ecological civilization construction situations in reclamation area, this paper builds a frame system covering three links of pressure - status - response and containing 21 indexes on the basis of PSR model. Meanwhile, an empirical analysis is made for the ecological civilization construction situations and coordination degree in 14 divisions of Xinjiang Corps in 2013. The evaluation results present the following conclusions. (1) Ecological civilization construction presents regional difference in Xinjiang Corps and ecological civilization construction is a progressive course from north Xinjiang to south Xinjiang. The coordination degree of ecological civilization construction in north Xinjiang is higher than that in south Xinjiang, which almost reflects the regional situations of ecological civilization construction in Xinjiang Corps. According to various subsystems, the ecological system pressure in south Xinjiang is smaller than that in north Xinjiang, the health status of ecological system in north Xinjiang is better than that in south Xinjiang, and the management level of ecological environment in north Xinjiang is higher than that in south Xinjiang. (2) North Xinjiang is the population and economic center of Xinjiang Corps and it bears the main area of social & economic construction and resident gathering. Therefore, a great effort should be made to realize a healthy ecological system and enhance resource and energy utilization efficiency in north Xinjiang. At the same time, the ecological environment must be protected and ecological civilization system construction should be strengthened. South Xinjiang should aim to protect the vulnerable ecological environment, preserve its original ecological environment, and improve its resource and energy utilization efficiency and environmental pollution control ability.


To the Editor.— The article entitled "Benzodiazepine Prescribing in a Family Medicine Center" by Jeffrey D. Hasday, MD, and Fred E. Karch, MD (1981;246:1321), is helpful in elucidating some of the factors influencing the prescription of benzodiazepines and other minor tranquilizers to patients. I wish to emphasize, however, that the benzodiazepines are a diverse group of compounds. Thus, while it is important to maintain a patient on the lowest dose and a limited daily regimen for a number of reasons, the statement by the authors that it is a "good practice considering the altered pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of benzodiazepines in the elderly" is not necessarily true. This statement is true with respect to chlordiazepoxide and the clinically important metabolite common to diazepam, prazepam and clorazepate, or nordiazepam.1,2However, oxazepam and lorazepam do not appear to have appreciably altered pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics in the elderly.3,4Therefore, when an antianxiety


INTRODUCTION: Adolescents have a tendency to engage in high risk sexual and drug-use behaviour; and with a poor health-seeking behaviour, they continue to present the highest
number of new cases of HIV reported in Africa.
OBJECTIVE: To assess the knowledge, attitude and practise of
adolescent secondary school students towards AIDS.
METHOD: A cross sectional study was carried out on 358 senior secondary students selected by multistage sampling. A researcher administered semi-structured questionnaire was used for data collection.
RESULTS: All had heard of AIDS, of which 40% cited the media as source of information. Seventy four percent knew the cause to be a virus, 63% could differentiate between AIDS and HIV, over 85% knew of transmission through sex, mother to child,
contaminated blood, and contaminated needles; 59% cited kissing. Weight loss was the most common symptom (85%) mentioned. Over 76% knew AIDS to be untreatable. Over 75%
knew methods to prevent spread of which 23% cited sex with a virgin, 61% did not know anyone infected with the virus, 58% felt infected persons should not be allowed to stay in the
community, 61 % agreed to continue a relationship with an infected friend, 83% agreed to care for an infected relative. Of 22% who agreed they were sexually active, 66% and 12% had one and multiple partners respectively. Regarding protection, 30% used condom always, 48 % sometimes and 23 % never. Twenty-one percent had ever had sex under influence of alcohol or marijuana. 55% were willing to be tested, however none had been tested.
CONCLUSION: Senior secondary school students in Uvwie have a fairly good knowledge of AIDS, and poor attitude towards people living with AIDS. Few are sexually active and are engaged in unsafe sex.

 KEYWORDS: AIDS, secondary school students, condom use, knowledge, HIV risk behaviour, sexual practices.


Solenogastres (Aplacophora) is a small clade of marine, shell-less worm-molluscs with close to 300 valid species. Their distribution ranges across all oceans, and whereas the vast majority of species has been collected and described from the continental shelf and slope, only few species are known from depths below 4000 m. Following traditional taxonomy, identification of specimens to species level is complex and time-consuming and requires detailed investigations of morphology and anatomy – often resulting in the exclusion of the clade in biodiversity or biogeographic studies. During the KuramBio expedition (Kuril-Kamchatka Biodiversity Studies) to the abyssal plain of the Northwest Pacific and the Kuril-Kamchatka trench, 33 solenogaster specimens were sampled from 4830 m to 5397m. Within this study we present an efficient workflow to address solenogaster diversity, even when confronted with a high degree of singletons and minute body sizes, hampering the use of single individuals for multiple morphological and molecular approaches. We combine analyses of external characters and scleritome with molecular barcoding based on a self-designed solenogaster specific set of mitochondrial primers. Overall we were able to delineate at least 19 solenogaster lineages and identify 15 species to family level and beyond. Based on our approach we identified three key lineages from the two regionally most species-rich families (Acanthomeniidae and Pruvotinidae) for deeper taxonomic investigations and describe the novel abyssal species Amboherpia abyssokurilensis sp. nov. (Cavibelonia, Acanthomeniidae) using microanatomical 3D-reconstructions. Our study more than doubles the previous records of solenogaster species from the Northwest Pacific and its marginal seas. Almost all lineages are reported for the first time from the region of the (Northwest) Pacific, vastly expanding distribution ranges of the respective clades. Moreover it doubles the number of Solenogastres collected from abyssal depths on a global scale and underlines the lack of exploratory α-diversity work in the abyssal zone for reliable species estimates in marine biodiversity.


Ab s t r Ac t Aim: To assess the usefulness of endoscopy in the initial visit for nasal obstruction in the outpatient department. Background: Rhinolith as the name suggests is stone formation in the nose. They are formed by gradual deposition of calcium and magnesium salts in a manner to encrust an endogenous (thick mucus, blood clot, and ectopic teeth) or exogenous (seed and cotton fiber) nidus of origin. The first documented case of the pathology was reported by Barthdinin in 1654. Since it is a slow-growing entity, it remains asymptomatic for a long period and often comes to light with presentation of unilateral nasal obstruction, foul smelling nasal discharge, cacosmia, and epistaxis. With its ability to cause rhinosinusitis and bony erosions of septum, lateral nasal wall, and hard palate, they are typically misdiagnosed. Case description: A young patient came with the history of nasal obstruction on the left side for the past 1 year. There was an intermittent history of a yellow, thick, foul-smelling, blood-stained nasal discharge. Nasal endoscopic examination revealed an irregular, dark, stony mass covered with secretions confirming a rhinolith, which was removed piecemeal. Conclusion: Considered as the cause of nasal obstruction and cacosmia, and many a times present in patients who have nasal complaints, delay in the diagnosis and treatment should be avoided. Rigid nasal endoscopy is the most important method to be used in diagnosis and treatment of rhinolith. Clinical significance: Presentation of rhinolith and diagnostic dilemma are discussed in this article so as to enable the attending clinician to be aware of this still prevailing condition and to prevent complications, such as oroantral and oronasal fistulas, septal perforation, palatal perforation, bony destruction of the maxillary sinus, frontal osteomyelitis, and epidural abscess.


Combinatory Categorial Grammar (CCG) is a lexicalized grammar formalism in which words are associated with categories that, in combination with a small universal set of rules, specify the syntactic configurations in which they may occur. Categories are selected from a large, recursively-defined set; this leads to high word-to-category ambiguity, which is one of the primary factors that make learning CCG parsers difficult, especially in the face of little data. Previous work has shown that learning sequence models for CCG tagging can be improved by using linguistically-motivated prior probability distributions over potential categories. We extend this approach to the task of learning a CCG parser from weak supervision. We present a Bayesian formulation for CCG parser induction that assumes only supervision in the form of an incomplete tag dictionary mapping some word types to sets of potential categories. Our approach outperforms a baseline model trained with uniform priors by exploiting universal, intrinsic properties of the CCG formalism to bias the model toward simpler, more cross-linguistically common categories.


ABSTRACT Fucus vesiculosus and F. radicans (Phaeophyceae) are important habitat-formers on rocky shores in the Bothnian Sea. While both species occur sympatrically along the entire western Bothnian Sea coast, F. radicans has been found only in the northern part of the eastern coast. According to previous studies, the two species can be distinguished based on morphology, F. radicans having narrower thalli and a bushier appearance. However, marine mapping in the eastern Bothnian Sea has revealed that high morphological variation in Fucus, partly caused by gradients in salinity and exposure, makes differentiation between the two species difficult. We studied morphological and genetic variation to find out whether the two Fucus species can be differentiated in the south-eastern Bothnian Sea, and if F. radicans occurs in the area. The study was carried out in six subareas including 350 km of coast, with a salinity gradient of 3.5–6.5 PSU, and varying wave exposure. We found a gradual change towards smaller and narrower thalli and a higher number of holdfasts in Fucus populations when moving northwards to lower salinities. Distinct Fucus morphs were often found within the study sites but the morphs were genetically differentiated only at one study site in the Skaftung subarea, suggesting the occurrence of both species. However, in the Vasa subarea the sample size for analysing genetic differentiation was low due to high clonality. In the Luvia subarea south of Skaftung, Fucus morphology corresponded to that of F. radicans in earlier studies but the population was genetically more similar to F. vesiculosus in the southern subareas. We conclude that by using only morphological characteristics it is not possible to differentiate between the two species in central and northern parts of the eastern Bothnian Sea. Based on genetic analyses, the southernmost known occurrence of F. radicans in the eastern Bothnian Sea is in Skaftung.


Whole otoliths, sectioned otoliths, scales and vertebrae were used to select the most suitable for age determination of redfin perch, Percafluviatilis. Redfin perch were sampled from Trevallyn Lake and Brushy Lagoon using fyke nets, gillnets, electrofishing and rod and line angling. Age estimates were assessed for comparison between readings and among structures. One-wayANOVA of readability scores highlighted that sectioned otolith was the most obvious compare to other hard parts. Sectioned otoliths also showed the highest (93.9%) agreement between readings, followed by vertebrae (68.7), scales (38.8) and whole otoliths (29.9). Furthermore, there were no significantly different (p>0.05) between first and second readings from sectioned otolith and vertebrae but significantly different (p <0.05) to those from scales and whole otoliths. When sectioned otoliths' ages were compared with other structures, vertebrae showed the highest (47.6%) agreement to those followed by scales (25.2%) and whole otoliths (20.4%). Age estimates from sectioned otoliths were significantly different (p<0.05) to the values obtained from vertebrae, scales and whole otoliths.This finding demonstrated that sectioned otoliths are the best hard part for age determination for redfin perch in Tasmania.


Since leiomyosarcoma of the duodenum was first reported by Von Salis 1 in 1920, there have been 61 cases recorded. Weinstein and Roberts, 2 in reviewing the literature to 1953, summarized 28 cases known at that time. They noted that 21 patients were reported as having died. Weinstein and Roberts did not attribute this high mortality to the malignant nature of the tumor, but rather to its location in the duodenum which made resection difficult. Leiomyosarcoma is an uncommon tumor found in the duodenum. As Iovine and Tsangaris 3 have noted, 602 cases of adenocarcinoma of the duodenum had been reported through 1960, and only 61 cases of leiomyosarcoma were mentioned. Therefore carcinoma of the duodenum occurs approximately ten times more frequently than leiomyosarcoma. Starr and Dockerty, 4 in reporting on 76 leiomyosarcomas and leiomyomas of the small bowel, found that 41 of these lesions were malignant. Of the 16


Umpolung chemistry has been the focus of research on organic synthesis due to its usefulness and unusual reactivity. Above all, umpolung of enamine property enables the formation of highly substituted carbon-carbon bonds and installation of aryl groups on sp3 carbon atoms, which are difficult to realize by normal enolate chemistry. This short review describes recent reports of the carbon-carbon bond formation by umpolung reactions of enamine derivatives.


Abstract Between-orchard variation in average fruit size and yield at commercial harvest of 341 conventionally managed commercial 'Hayward' kiwifruit orchards within the Te Puke growing region of New Zealand was spatially modelled over consecutive growing seasons (2003–08). The magnitude of between-orchard variation in average yield was three-fold higher than that of between-orchard variation in average fruit size, both within and across seasons. Within seasons there were spatial patterns to the distribution of average fruit size and yields between orchards. The temporal consistency of the spatial variation enabled segregation of the Te Puke growing region into geographic zones containing orchards that produced statistically distinct fruit size and yield outcomes at harvest in five out of the six seasons studied. Although the location of an orchard within the Te Puke growing region had an effect on the yield and average size of the fruit produced, orchard location was only weakly predictive of average fruit size and yield outcomes. Therefore we conclude that, in this situation, zonation between orchards should not be where the effort in managing variation in 'Hayward' kiwifruit orchard productivity is concentrated.


Historically, donor insemination (DI) has been characterised by secrecy - and anonymity between donor and recipient and between donor and offspring. Only recently has this dominant orthodoxy been challenged by professional practice and, in some instances legislative reform, enabling the emergence of DI services that facilitate disclosure, information-sharing and the ability of donor-conceived individuals to learn about their donor, including his identity ("donor linking"). Notwithstanding the inherent practical difficulties, anecdotal accounts exist of individuals conceived following anonymous DI who have discovered the identity of their donor and/or located other individuals to whom they are genetically related as a result of DI, although this process has not previously been the focus of in-depth social science inquiry. This presentation reports findings from the first such study with a group of DI-conceived adults who had discovered both the identity of their shared donor and their relatedness to each other (a group that referred to itself as "Clan P", after the name of their donor).


OBJECTIVE
To determine if the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) growth curves (including 867 white infants, born between 1929 and 1975, in the Yellow Springs, Ohio, area) reflect contemporary infant growth in pediatric practices.

DESIGN
Observational cohort study of healthy term infants. Office personnel obtained standardized measurements at health maintenance visits.

SETTING
Ten pediatric community practices that were members of the Chicago, III, area Pediatric Practice Research Group (PPRG).

METHODS
Measurements of 1574 PPRG infants, seen on at least 5 occasions between 2 and 54 weeks of age, generated sex-specific growth curves using a 3-parameter mathematical model fitted to the serial data for each infant. Values from the computed curves were compared with NCHS growth references at 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months. The birth weights of PPRG and NCHS cohorts were compared.

RESULTS
Mean birth weight of PPRG infants was significantly greater than a similar NCHS measure. Compared with the NCHS reference curve, PPRG infants were heavier at 1, 3, and 6 months, longer on all comparisons, and had greater head circumferences, particularly in the early months of age.

CONCLUSIONS
The NCHS growth curves do not accurately reflect infant growth in this cohort. Nationally representative data are needed to revise the NCHS growth curves.


This paper addresses the problem of face recognition under varying poses. To recognize a face under different poses, one approach is to use a human face 3D model. This approach is flexible but the equipment for acquiring the 3D face image is very expensive. The second approach is view-based. However, the complexity of the system is very high, as it requires constructing a representation for each view. For a 3D rotation, construction of dozens of representations may be required. This paper proposes a new idea to transform the face with unknown pose into frontal view for recognition. To construct the virtual frontal view image, we have developed an algorithm for detecting facial landmarks, which are then used to estimate the orientation of the face. A generic 3D spring-based face model is developed to transform the unknown face image into virtual frontal-view image. Finally, a spectroface method, which is based on wavelet transform and Fourier transform, is developed to recognize the virtual frontal face image. The proposed method has been tested by 1145 face images from 85 persons with different poses, facial expressions and small occlusions. The recognition accuracy for the best match is 84.7%. If we consider the top three matches, the accuracy increases to 92.9%.


This paper presents the comparison of existing low voltage distribution system with proposed high voltage distribution system. The study is based on a real low voltage feeder in J&K state. The investigation is carried out to determine the losses in the existing low voltage (LT) distribution system and then converting this low voltage distribution system to proposed high voltage distribution system (HVDS) including bifurcation of load and replacing the one large transformer with various transformers of small rating. Since loss reduction in distribution system is of keen importance and main reason behind these losses is the use of low voltage for distribution in existing system. As for the low voltage in existing distribution system, current is high which leads to high power losses and also allow the hooking and hence power theft. This paper aims at reducing losses by using LT less or less LT 'HVDS' system and then determining the reduction in losses in terms of units and annual savings in terms of rupees due to proposed method. To check the feasibility of the proposed work, the annual saving and payback period of the proposed method is also determined.


In the evolution process, moving from the marine environment challenged organisms to adapt to terrestrial conditions. This increased the requirement of the kidney regarding urine concentration abilities and tubular reabsorption of solutes, while coping with day/night cycles (1). In this sense, glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and tubular function were proved to be strongly related to a circadian rhythm (2).


It is axiomatic that the poetry of high modernist was composed by the educated for the educated. This book explores American educational history as a context of this commonplace: what Ezra Pound and T. S. Eliot learnt in universities, how they needed universities, and how universities needed them. Gail McDonald examines unpublished essays as well as Pound's and Eliot's more familiar works on educational topics. She also reveals the vast amount of time they devoted to pedagogical concerns, emulating and assisting the American academy's evolution from 19th-century religious college to 20th-century research university. This process demanded a continuous calibration of the relationship between tradition and innovation which resulted in a curious doubleness within high-modernist aesthetics and American educational philosophy, a doubleness which is echoed in the contradictions of Pound's and Eliot's poetry. In addition to the readings of Pound and Eliot, this book looks at high-modernist literature at large and, in its examination of turn-of-the-century debates on educational progressivism provides an historical context for current debates about the function of universities and the shape of the literary canon. This book should be of use to intellectual historians and to scholars, graduates, and advanced undergraduates studying modernist literature, particularly Eliot and Pound.


This Conference Paper is brought to you for free and open access by SocialResearch in Transport (SORT) Clearinghouse. It has been accepted forinclusion in Social Research in Transport (SORT) Clearinghouse by anauthorized administrator of Social Research in Transport (SORT)Clearinghouse. For more information, please email@example.com.


Dementia in community settings is often diagnosed by computerized algorithms. This study examines the extent to which independent diagnosticians agreed among themselves in diagnosing dementia, severity and type when presented with data obtained during a population‐based incidence study of cognitive decline and dementia. Secondly, it examines how judgements, based initially on respondents' self‐reports and cognitive performance, were affected first by informants' reports and then by short case‐vignettes written by trained lay interviewers. Thirdly, it compares diagnosticians' diagnosis of dementia with the algorithmic diagnosis (AGECAT). The items presented were selected from two screening interviews at wave 1 and wave 2 separated by an interval of 2 years and from wave 2 assessment and informant interviews, and included medical, psychiatric and ADL items and interviewers' own observations. The sample (N=42) was derived from the first year of the wave 2 assessments, potential dementia cases entering consecutively while presumed normals were selected randomly. Informants were available in 30. Agreement on diagnosis and type of dementia improved with increasing information, particularly from informants, but remained poor regarding severity. The number of cases of dementia, defined operationally, increased from 10 to 12 and uncertain cases fell from eight to six, but no respondent initially diagnosed as a dementia case was rediagnosed as a non‐case, or vice versa. Dementia type changed from agreement about Alzheimer's disease to agreement about vascular dementia in one case. Operational and algorithmic diagnoses showed good agreement. Causes of disagreement, the role of vignettes and the relevance of the results for population surveys are discussed. Copyright © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


Background and Objectives Balloon sizing remains the main technique for determining occluder device size for atrial septal defects (ASDs). New evidence has proposed that accurate estimation of device size could be possible without using the balloon technique. Operators have predicted the amount of possible enlargement depending on their experiences. Thus, selection criteria have mostly relied on personal observations and experiences. The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between age, sex, defect size, and deployed device size based on the balloon technique. Subjects and Methods Sixty-six patients who underwent percutaneous ASD closure with a Cardi-O-Fix occluder between 2011 and 2012 were retrospectively evaluated. Patients whose maximum defect size and device size were available were included. Enlargement amount (EA) (device size−defect size) and enlargement ratio (ER) (EA/defect size) were calculated. The relationship between these 2 calculations and age, sex, and defect size were analyzed. Results EA and ER were 5.2±3.6 mm (min: 0, max: 15, median: 5) and 39.3%±31.5% (min: 0, max: 125, median: 32), respectively. EA and ER did not differ between genders (p=0.800; p=0.430). EA and ER were not correlated with maximum defect size (p=0.310; p=0.050). EA and ER showed no correlation with age (p=0.970; p=0.640). However when patients were dichomotized based on age 40, ER was significantly lower in older group (p=0.030). Unexpectedly, no difference was observed between the 2 groups in terms of EA (p=0.110). Size of deployed device had a strong correlation with defect size measured with two-dimensional (2D) transesophageal echocardiography (TEE; device size=1.1177×TEE defect size+3.5297; R=0.84; p<0.010). Conclusion EA and ER did not show a significant correlation with sex and defect size in our study. Patients older than 40 had a significantly lower ER compared to younger patients. Device size was strongly correlated with defect size measured with TEE.


Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) activates the VEGF-VEGF receptor (VEGFR) signaling pathway in angiogenesis. Some cancer cell lines show decreased expression of the two VEGFRs, Flt-1 and KDR, even though VEGF is uniformly expressed in cancer cell lines. Promoter methylation is a well-known cause of epigenetic gene silencing in cancer cells. Although VEGF, Flt-1 and KDR have typical CpG islands in their promoter regions, the epigenetic transcriptional alterations of these genes have not yet been described. The present study evaluated the epigenetic gene silencing of VEGF and VEGFR genes in cancer tissues. We also analyzed whether the epigenetic alterations of VEGFR genes influence VEGFR expression concurrently with VEGF activation in cancer tissues. All cancer tissues we tested showed no methylation of VEGF, and variable promoter hypermethylation of Flt-1 and KDR. The promoter hypermethylation of Flt-1 and KDR was correlated with decreasing expression of the respective genes. In contrast, an increase in VEGF expression was positively correlated with Flt-1 and KDR expression in primary cancer tissues. The opposing influences of promoter methylation of VEGFR and increased VEGF expression concurrently influence Flt-1 and KDR expression in stomach cancer, colon cancer and hepatocellular carcinoma. The findings we observed showed that the epigenetic alteration developing in VEGFR genes might be an important factor to concurrently modulate expressions of the genes in addition to VEGF stimulation in cancer tissues. The epigenetic silencing of VEGFR genes should be considered in the activation of VEGF-VEGFR signaling pathway in the cancer cells.


An integrated numerical model is applied to simulate the mold filling and solidification phenomena as well as to predict the occurrence of the related casting defects for a brake disc casting. The goal is to conduct numerical experimentation to improve the running and gating system of the brake disc casting to obtain better casting quality. A computer-aided engineering software based on the finite element method is employed in this study. Numerical simulations are conducted for the brake disc casting with a preliminary running and gating system. The mold filling and solidification phenomena are examined to predict the occurrence and extent of the casting defects. They are found to be consistent with the defects observed in the actual casting. Based on the findings of the simulated results, a modified running and gating system is then proposed. The mold filling and solidification phenomena for the modified design are simulated. The results show that the problem of casting defects is alleviated with use of present results.


Over the past decade, there has been increasing scientific interest in the occurrence, fate and effects of pharmaceuticals in the environment. To date, the majority of this research has focussed on the aquatic environment whilst the terrestrial environment has remained relatively unexplored. Research carried out in the terrestrial environment has primarily focussed on the fate of pharmaceuticals in soils as well as the uptake of pharmaceuticals into plants. Less information is available on the uptake of pharmaceuticals into other soil dwelling species.

The studies presented in the thesis were therefore performed to investigate the uptake of pharmaceuticals into earthworm species (Eisenia fetida and Lumbricus terrestris) and plant species (radish and ryegrass). Experiments were designed to explore the effect of pharmaceutical physico-chemical properties, soil parameters and species traits on the uptake of pharmaceuticals from soils into terrestrial species. Understanding the factors and processes involved in the uptake of these compounds from soils, is vital to adequately assess the risks of pharmaceuticals in the environment.
Initial experimental studies evaluated the uptake of four pharmaceuticals, namely carbamazepine, diclofenac, fluoxetine and orlistat into the earthworm, Eisenia fetida. Pore water based bioconcentration factors (BCFs) increased in the order of carbamazepine < diclofenac < fluoxetine and orlistat.

As well as experimental research, a desk based investigation was perfomed to assess the applicability of a minimised design approach to estimate bioconcentration factors (BCFs) in terrestrial and aquatic species. A significant regression between BCFminimised and BCFtraditional was found and this approach was therefore adopted to calculate earthworm BCFs in the soil parameters and species traits studies described below.

The uptake of the four study pharmaceuticals by E. fetida was therefore further evaluated in different soil types. The uptake and accumulation of pharmaceuticals into E. fetida changed depending on soil type. Orlistat exhibited the highest pore water based bioconcentration factors (BCFs) and displayed the largest differences in uptake between soil types as BCFs ranged between 30.51 – 115.92. For carbamazepine, diclofenac and fluoxetine BCFs ranged between 1.05 – 1.61, 7.02 – 69.57 and 16.78 – 20.42 respectively.
Supplementary studies compared the uptake of the study pharmaceuticals in two earthworms (Lumbricus terrestris and E. fetida). All four pharmaceuticals were taken up by both L. terrestris and E. fetida tissue after 21 d exposure to spiked soil. Pore water based bioconcentration factors (BCFs) ranged between 6.69 and 83.79 for L. terrestris and 1.14 and 63.03 for E. fetida.

The effect of species type on the uptake of pharmaceuticals (carbamazepine, diclofenac, fluoxetine, propranolol, sulfamethazine) and a personal care product (triclosan) was also investigated in plant species (radish, Raphanus sativus and ryegrass, Lolium perenne). Five of the six chemicals were taken up into plant tissue, carbamazepine to the greatest extent in both the radish (52 µg/g) and ryegrass (33 µg/g) whereas sulfamethazine uptake was below the limit of quantitation (LOQ).

The results demonstrate the ability of plant species and earthworms to accumulate pharmaceuticals from soils with uptake apparently specific to both species, chemical and soil type. However the influence of these individual parameters does not affect BCFs to a significant amount. The research also highlights that a combination of factors and processes appear to be driving the uptake into soil dwelling species as further analysis was unable to find a single parameter to adequately explain pharmaceutical uptake into terrestrial species. For example, for plant uptake, results could only be partly explained by the hydrophobicity and extent of ionisation of each chemical in the soil.

Even though these chemicals are taken up by earthworms and plants, further analysis showed that the risk to predatory birds is minimal based on the current environmental scenarios as thousands of worms would have to be consumed by a bird to receive a single dose. Similarly, the potential risk to humans consuming crops contaminated with pharmaceutical residues is also minimal. However with increasing loadings of pharmaceuticals to soils this may result in potential problems for human health and predatory birds in the future.


If trade tensions between the United States and certain trading partners escalate into a full-blown trade war, what should developing countries do? Using a global, general-equilibrium model, this paper first simulates the effects of an increase in U.S. tariffs on imports from all regions to about 30 percent (the average non-Most Favored Nation tariff currently applied to imports from Cuba and the Democratic Republic of Korea) and retaliation in kind by major trading partners—the European Union, China, Mexico, Canada, and Japan. The paper then considers four possible responses by developing countries to this trade war: (i) join the trade war; (ii) do nothing; (iii) pursue regional trade agreements (RTAs) with all regions outside the United States; and (iv) option (iii) and unilaterally liberalize tariffs on imports from the United States. The results show that joining the trade war is the worst option for developing countries (twice as bad as doing nothing), while forming RTAs with non-U.S. regions and liberalizing tariffs on U.S. imports ("turning the other cheek") is the best. The reason is that a trade war between the United States and its major trading partners creates opportunities for developing countries to increase their exports to these markets. Liberalizing tariffs increases developing countries' competitiveness, enabling them to capitalize on these opportunities.


Considering the increasingly tense relationship between construction land supply and demand, we study the inherent rules and the spatial evolution in construction land use. In order to solve the problem of parameter optimization effectively, we analysis the fundamental theory of Support Vector Machine and finally accomplish the combination of genetic algorithm and support vector machine. Meanwhile we apply this model to analysis the construction land use and propose a new model, which is based on the support vector machines with genetic algorithm, for construction land evolution. Taking Guandu district in Kunming, Yunnan as a case, we find out that the new model is far superior to recent models in terms of predicting accuracy, algorithm complexity and computational efficiency. And therefore, we believe that this is highly precise, practical and efficient model for forecasting construction land use and evolution.


Numerous building fires occurred in Taiwan over the past thirty years, which caused considerable loss in human life and damage to property. Actual fires provide valuable information for fire protection research. Computer simulations can be used to effectively model the fire and obtain useful and quantitative information to study the crucial fire dynamic characteristics. The FDS (Fire Dynamic Simulator) software was used to develop a computer simulation model to investigate the fire incident that occurred in a townhouse of An-Kon Village, Longtan, Taoyuan, Taiwan. The histories of the various crucial parameters, such as temperature, CO concentration, and smoke layer height during the fire time domain were obtained. Results were consistent with the post accident reports. The information calculated may be useful for future fire safety assessment and fire protection engineering evaluation of similar buildings.


: Morphology of the lymphoid system was studied in 69 fatal cases due to sepsis, 25 due to massive local inflammatory processes and 18 sudden deaths (norm). In contrast to local inflammatory processes, the main feature of sepsis is a generalized reaction of the lymphoid system with signs of immunogenesis decompensation. Decompensation of the afferent part of immunogenesis manifested in glycogenolysis disorders, degenerative and necrotic changes of macrophages, inhibition of phagocytosis is important in the pathogenesis of sepsis. Decompensation of the central and efferent parts in most severe cases of sepsis is manifested in depletion of the lymph nodes and spleen and inhibition of immunoglobulin synthesis. The main issue in the pathogenesis of fulminating meningococcal sepsis is the formation of antigen-antibody immune complexes leading to the involvement of the microcirculatory channel vessels and disseminated intravascular blood coagulation.


In dynamic dislocation-defect analysis, the thermodynamic deformation-mode signatures are examined as the ageing proceeds. In this method, the activation volume (ν) and the mean slip distance (λ) is simultaneously determined with the flow stress (τ) such that the inverse workhardening slope (1/θ) can be plotted versus b2λ/ν where b is the Burgers vector. The slope of this almost linear locus is directly proportional to the activation distance (d). Calibration with a model alumina-dispersed high conductivity copper reveals that punched-out loops are produced up to failure and is represented by a linear locus from 0.1 to 11 % strain. Artificial ageing of AA6111 at 180°C follows this pattern but the naturally-aged specimen manifest a distinctly different signature which shows a transition as the GP zone-type precipitates are sheared. Furthermore by selecting a suitable tensile-test temperature below 250K, the particle size and volume fraction can be determined if particle shearing does not take place. The optimum size and volume fraction necessary for sufficient strength and ductility can be assessed using this method.


Abstract. The access to digital information from remote sensing; geological mapping; and public databases give an opportunity to express the surface of the bedrock as a mathematical estimation problem. We modelled the bedrock topography as a stochastic function in space. The function is given with high precision in areas where the bedrock is exposed to the surface, but unknown in areas covered by sediments except for a limited number of point information (viz boreholes; wells; geotechnical surveys). Two different approaches were evaluated to reveal the local trend of the bedrock surface: Firstly, we applied the statistical relation between the horizontal distance (L) to the nearest bedrock outcrop and the observed sediment depth (D) in boreholes. The relation between D and L was applied in ordinary kriging and cokriging to include the local trend in the estimation. Secondly, we applied inverse modelling of the Poisson's equation to model the local trend. After minimizing the difference between the point observations and the parabolic surface from the Poisson's equation, we did ordinary kriging of the residuals between the optimal parabolic function and the observations. These approaches were tested against observations from a test site. Estimates derived from the Poisson's equation gave a lowest mean absolute error for cross-validation by leaving one observation out. Ordinary kriging gave a least mean absolute error when an independent dataset was used for cross-validation. The results show that the extreme large soil depths were better reproduced if the local trend was included in the estimation procedure.


Financial Asset Accumulation by Poor Adolescents Participating in Child Savings Accounts in Low Resource Communities in Uganda Leyla Karimli This dissertation examined savings attitudes and financial asset accumulation of poor and vulnerable school-going AIDS-orphaned adolescents involved in a subsidized matched child savings program in Uganda and being cared for by a living parent (adolescents who have lost one parent) or by an adult guardian within an extended family (for adolescents who have lost both parents). More specifically, the study tested (1) whether participation in a subsidized matched savings program had an independent effect above and beyond the effect of individual and family characteristics on adolescents' saving attitudes and self-reported financial asset accumulation; (2) whether family characteristics (i.e. family relations, family financial socialization, and household demographics) moderated the effect of participation in a subsidized matched child savings program on adolescents' saving attitudes and self-reported financial asset accumulation; and (3) whether the adolescents' future orientation and family financial socialization served as mechanisms to transmit the effect of the participation in a subsidized matched child savings program on adolescents' self-reported financial asset accumulation. Grounded in an integrated theoretical framework of classical and behavioral economics, family financial socialization theory, and the institutional theory of saving, this study used longitudinal analyses of data on 346 dyads (adolescents and their guardians) collected in a experimental cluster-randomized controlled trial. The study found that adolescents' saving attitudes (both reported willingness to save and reported confidence in saving), although not affected by participation in a subsidized matched child savings program, were significantly associated with family relations, family financial socialization, caregiver's gender, and adolescent's gender and educational aspirations. Adolescents' self-reported saving was significantly affected by participation in a subsidized matched child savings program; this effect was direct, and neither moderated nor mediated by any of the family characteristics, nor by adolescent's future orientation. The adolescents' self-reported amount saved is significantly affected by participation in a subsidized matched child savings program. This effect is weakened by the number of children in the household: the more children in the household, the weaker the effect. In addition, the effect is potentially mediated by the guardian saving for the adolescent. The findings contribute to the institutional perspective on saving arguing that saving is not only a function of individual characteristics, but also institutional opportunities. Findings may help inform programs and policies facilitating assetbuilding initiatives for youth in developing countries, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa.


Abstract Background In Latin America, the prevalence of end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) has risen tremendously during the last decade. Previous studies have suggested that receiving dialysis at high altitude confers mortality benefits; however, this effect has not been demonstrated at >2000 m above sea level (masl) or in developing countries. Methods This historical cohort study analyzed medical records from six Peruvian hemodialysis (HD) centers located at altitudes ranging from 44 to 3827 masl. Adult ESKD patients who started maintenance HD between 2000 and 2010 were included. Patients were classified into two strata based on the elevation above sea level of their city of residence: low altitude (<2000 masl) and high altitude (≥2000 masl). Death from any cause was collected from national registries and Cox proportional hazards models were built. Results A total of 720 patients were enrolled and 163 (22.6%) resided at high altitude. The low-altitude group was significantly younger, more likely to have diabetes or glomerulonephritis as the cause of ESKD and higher hemoglobin. The all-cause mortality rate was 84.3 per 1000 person-years. In the unadjusted Cox model, no mortality difference was found between the high- and low-altitude groups {hazard ratio [HR] 1.20 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.89–1.62]}. After multivariable adjustment, receiving HD at high altitude was not significantly associated with higher mortality, but those with diabetes as the cause of ESKD had significantly higher mortality [HR 2.50 (95% CI 1.36–4.59)]. Conclusions In Peru, patients receiving HD at high altitudes do not have mortality benefits.


The experimental study of an automotive microchannel condenser with separation circuiting was presented in the past by the same authors demonstrating the potential for performance improvement (lower refrigerant exit temperature or higher condensate flow rate). The condenser has an inlet in the middle of the height and vapor is expected to separate from liquid in the second header after de-superheating in the first pass. Upper path (for vapor) and lower path (for liquid) recombine upstream the exit of the condenser. This paper presents a mechanistic model developed to predict the phase separation efficiency in the second header that is incorporated into the condenser model. At the outlet of the second header refrigerant flows to the upper (vapor) exit and to the lower (liquid) exit. These are the inlets for its downstream passes in the condenser. Thus, other than the in-header mechanisms for two phase interactions, the downstream flow resistance (a function of cross-sectional area and heat flux) also influences the separation results in the second header by setting up the boundary pressures, based on equal pressure drop in the upper path and lower path. The condenser model is validated by condenser test results in which R-134a is used as the refrigerant. Its mass flux through the first pass is in the range of 145 330 kg/(ms). The difference between measurement and modeling results is ±5% for capacity and ±20% for pressure drop. The model could work as a guidance for the design of phase separation condenser.


Mobile computing offers the possibility of dramatically expanding the versatility of computers, by bringing them off the desktop and into new and unique contexts. However, this new found versatility poses difficult challenges for user interface (UI) designers. We propose three model-based techniques that should aid UI designers who are working in the domain of mobile computing. These techniques allow designers to build UIs across several platforms, while respecting the unique constraints posed by each platform. In addition, these techniques should help designers to recognize and accommodate the unique contexts in which mobile computing occurs. All three techniques depend on the development of a UI model which serves to isolate those features that are common to the various contexts of use, and to specify how the UI should adjust when the context changes. UI models allow automatic and automated tool support that enables UI designers to overcome the challenges posed by mobile computing.


The overall fraction of the power produced by renewable sources in the energy market has significantly increased in recent years. The power output of most of these clean sources is intrinsically variable. At present day and most likely in the upcoming future, due to the lack of inexpensive and reliable large energy storage systems, conventional power plants burning fossil fuels will still be part of the energy horizon. In particular, power generators able to promptly support the grid stability, such as gas turbines, will retain a strategic role. This new energy scenario is pushing gas turbine producers to improve the flexibility of their turbomachines, increasing the need for reliable numerical tools adopted to design and validate the new products also in operating conditions far from the nominal one.
 Especially when dealing with axial compressors, i.e. machines experiencing intense adverse pressure gradients, complex flow structures and severe secondary flows, CFD modelling of offdesign operation can be a real challenge.
 In this work, a state-of-the art CFD framework for RANS analysis of axial compressors is presented. The various aspects involved in the whole setup are discussed, including boundary conditions, meshing strategies, mixing planes modelling, tip clearance treatment, shroud leakages and turbulence modelling. Some experiences about the choice of these aspects are provided, derived from a long-date practice on this kind of turbomachines. Numerical results are reported for different full-scale compressors of the Ansaldo Energia fleet, covering a wide range of operating conditions. Furthermore, details about the capability of the setup to predict compressor performance and surge-margin have been added to the work.
 In particular, the setup surge-margin prediction has been evaluated in an operating condition in which the turbomachine experiences experimental stall. Finally, thanks to several on-field data available at different corrected speeds for operating conditions ranging from minimum to full load, a comprehensive validation of the presented numerical framework is also included in the paper.


The objective of this report is to present the model of future health care system revenues and expenditures in Poland, and to discuss assumptions for the projection and projection results. Expenditure analysis is based on ILO social budget model, part of which is health budget model. The model takes into account the revenue side of health care system as well, which is consistent with the above-mentioned discussion on health care system funding and its sustainability. The first part of the Report is dedicated to social, and especially health-related, expenditure models and projections applied in Poland. Following, detailed description of data and information used in the current projection is presented. Baseline projections of main demographic and macro-economic variables and indicators used in the model are shown, and the assumptions for the development of these indicators and their inter-relations are discussed. Three scenarios are presented: the baseline scenario, death-related costs scenario, and the scenario with different longevity improvements. Projection results cover both the revenue and the expenditure side of health care system. Finally, conclusions are made and policy recommendations are formulated, based on projection results.


Abstract Thymus daenensis subsp. daenensis is an aromatic medicinal plant endemic to Iran and generally grows in high altitudes in Zagros Mountains range. Molecular markers provide valuable information about relative genetic relationships for facilitate breeding programs. Here, we used SRAP markers to estimate the genetic diversity of 79 T. daenensis accessions from 16 regions in Iran, located at extremes and the central regions of the Zagros range. Fourteen SRAP primer combinations (PCs) amplified 240 stable and reproducible fragments, of which 198 (82.5%) were polymorphic for all accessions. The PIC value for PCs ranged from 0.195 to 0.333 with an average of 0.284. Neighbor-joining tree constructed from Dice's similarity matrix of SRAP data revealed two major groups and verified with the results of AMOVA (P < 0.001; genetic distance = 0.98). The Tc and Te groups included the accessions collected from the center and the extremes of the Zagros Mountains, respectively. The results showed that the current scattered distribution area of Iranian thyme is probably recent due mainly to anthropic pressures and limited gene flow via seed and/or pollen dispersal.


We present an ensemble of numerical simulations of the Cordilleran ice sheet during the Last Glacial Maximum performed with the Parallel Ice Sheet Model (PISM), applying temperature offsets to the present-day climatologies from five different data sets. Monthly mean surface air temperature and precipitation from WorldClim, the NCEP/NCAR reanalysis, the ERA-Interim reanalysis, the Climate Forecast System Reanalysis and the North American Regional Reanalysis are used to compute surface mass balance in a positive degree-day model. Modelled ice sheet outlines and volumes appear highly sensitive to the choice of climate forcing. For three of the four reanalysis data sets used, differences in precipitation are the major source for discrepancies between model results. We assess model performance against a geomorphological reconstruction of the ice margin at the Last Glacial Maximum, and suggest that part of the mismatch is due to unresolved orographic precipitation effects caused by the coarse resolution of reanalysis data. The best match between model output and the reconstructed ice margin is obtained using the high-resolution North American Regional Reanalysis, which we retain for simulations of the Cordilleran ice sheet in the future.


Combatting the modification of automotive control systems is a current and future challenge for OEMs and suppliers. 'Chiptuning' is a manifestation of manipulation of a vehicle's original setup and calibration. With the increase in automotive functions implemented in software and corresponding business models, chip tuning will become a major concern. Recognizing tuned control units in a vehicle is required to report that circumstance for technical as well as legal reasons. This work approaches the problem by capturing the behavior of relevant control units within a machine learning system called a recognition module. The recognition module continuously monitors vehicle's sensor data. It comprises a set of classifiers that have been trained on the intended behavior of a control unit before the vehicle is delivered. When the vehicle is on the road, the recognition module uses the classifier together with current data to ascertain that the behavior of the vehicle is as intended. A proof-of-concept implementation uses the TORCS racing simulator to generate traces of the engine's behavior. The recognition module extracts features from these traces and feeds them to an artificial neural network (ANN). After training on different tracks, the ANN successfully distinguishes traces originating from the original racing car as well as traces taken from modified racing cars. The results show that assessing a vehicle's behavior is feasible and contributes to protect its integrity against modifications. Additionally, the availability of a vehicle's behavioral model can trigger even more interesting applications.


Phenolic acid decarboxylase ( PADC ) gene, encoding phenolic acid decarboxylase, was cloned from Bacillus subtilis and ligated with a shuttle vector YEp352 to generate a novel plasmid YPADC. By analysis of sequencing and the restriction endonuclease digestion, the validity of construction was proved. Subsequently, the new vector was successfully transformed into wild-type top-fermenting yeast strain W303-1A; the mutant yeast strain W303+padc was obtained, which was tested on the laboratoryscale mashing and fermentation experiments. At the end of fermentation, the results showed an obvious increase of 4-vinylguaiacol content in top-fermented beers brewed with mutant yeasts. The final 4-vinylguaiacol concentration obtained with wild-type and mutant yeasts was 1.20 and 1.70mg/l, respectively. Additionally, the level of esters produced by the mutant strain was higher than that of the wild-type; there were therefore a marked clove-like and ester aroma in top-fermented beers brewed with the former. However, no evident differences were found in brewing characteristic between wild-type and mutant strains, especially the ability of utilizing fermentable sugar and reducing diacetyl. Taken together, these approaches indicated the possibility of cloning PADC gene and enhancing the concentration of 4-vinylguaiacol in top-fermented beers.size. Keywords : Clone, phenolic acid decarboxylase, top-fermenting yeast, 4-vinylguaiacol African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 9(33), pp. 5284-5291, 16 August, 2010


Securing the supply chain of integrated circuits is of utmost importance to computer security. In addition to counterfeit microelectronics, the theft or malicious modification of designs in the foundry can result in catastrophic damage to critical systems and large projects. In this letter, we describe a 3-D architecture that splits a design into two separate tiers: one tier that contains critical security functions is manufactured in a trusted foundry; another tier is manufactured in an unsecured foundry. We argue that a split manufacturing approach to hardware trust based on 3-D integration is viable and provides several advantages over other approaches.


Condition monitoring can greatly reduce the maintenance cost for a wind turbine. In this paper, a new condition-monitoring method based on the nonlinear state estimate technique for a wind turbine generator is proposed. The technique is used to construct the normal behavior model of the electrical generator temperature. A new and improved memory matrix construction method is adopted to achieve better coverage of the generator's normal operational space. Generator incipient failure is indicated when the residuals between model estimates and the measured generator temperature become significant. Moving window averaging is used to detect statistically significant changes of the residual mean value and standard deviation in an effective manner; when these parameters exceed predefined thresholds, an incipient failure is flagged. Examples based on data from the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition system at a wind farm located at Zhangjiakou in northern China have been used to validate the approach and examine its sensitivity to key factors that influence the performance of the approach. It is demonstrated that the technique can identify dangerous generator over temperature before damage has occurred that results in complete shutdown of the turbine.


This paper outlines the development in Western Australia of integrated education and mental health services. A Process Model of Social Systems Design was employed to design new services to respond to the rising numbers of students with mental health problems. The significant changes that have taken place in Western Australia since 2004 to redesign systems, to bring together fragmented services and overcome interagency debates, are examined.


This paper empirically investigates the effects of differential income taxation on households' portfolio choice and asset allocation applying a two-stage budgeting model of asset demand to German survey data. The model is structured into the discrete asset choice and the continuous asset choice, and the marginal income tax rate is simulated in a module of income taxation. Households that face relatively higher tax rates are found to have relatively greater demand for tax-privileged assets than households in the lower tax brackets. The higher the marginal tax rate the greater demand is for non-owner-occupied housing, for mortgage repayments, for building society deposits, for stocks, for insurances, and for consumer credits, whereas demand is lower for owner-occupied housing, bank deposits, and bonds.


This paper investigates the transmission characteristics of an optical signal which is modulated by a RF signal using a zero biasing electro-absorption modulator (EAM). A passive picocell for high capacity and short range wireless networks has been investigated based on an unbiased EAM that acts as a passive transceiver at the remote site of the radio-over-fiber (ROF) link. Bias voltages of the EAM and bias currents of a distributed feedback (DFB) laser diode (LD) were varied for the evaluation of the optical power measurements


Whilst the show and tricks of Parkour are often attributed to a theatrical event, Parkour enthusiasts fiercely dismiss the idea that what they do is performance. For the Parkour participant, often known as the Traceur, Parkour is a personal journey created by efficient and effective movement from point A to point B. However, in spite of the self-contained nature of Parkour, the Traceur will frequently attract an accidental audience and is now extending its reach into other fields. It is therefore relevant to question how Traceurs create and develop their performance, and how other performance training practices that share similar conditions and objectives could benefit from this understanding. To investigate the training practices used by the Traceur, this paper refers to Higgins, who applies a performance-based vocabulary to discuss and describe contemporary Parkour practice. Using a drawing as a research approach, the article examines Higgins' application of dance as a means to better understand the Traceur's process and uses this comparison to break the training process down further. Doing so reveals how the space in which they perform becomes a creative and pedagogical partner with a value that extends beyond Parkour and into other creative disciplines.


Although equal pay for equal work has been clearly incorporated in the law in China for several decades, its implementation faces considerable impediments. This article investigates how labour market transformation and state sector reform in China have led to new forms of labour market segmentation that have undermined gender equality and created barriers to upholding the equal pay for equal work principle. Using the dual-track employment and remuneration system in the public sector as an example, the analysis illustrates the absence of implementation mechanisms or a remedial channel to support this principle in the Chinese context. It shows how the values and norms used in wage-setting in China impede the implementation of equal pay for equal work and in turn its extension to the notion of work of equal value mandated by the International Labour Organization in its Equal Remuneration Convention. It concludes that unless fundamental changes take place at the institutional level with strong state intervention, the International Labour Organization principle will remain a high-level inspiration rather than an enforceable law that could benefit those who are disadvantaged in the labour market.


Russian language, with regard to its grammar, is a language with its own special complexities, hardly found in other languages. Although languages are different from each other, they have some similarities as well. The Iranian learner, while learning Russian, analyzes the sentences using patterns similar to his/ her native language patterns. Occasionally, such native patterns cause the learner to make glaring mistakes. Verb, in Russian language, is a word that grammatically conducts a noun and its modifiers (падеж). The difficulty, which the learners encounter is the lack of a complete agreement of verb conduction. That is to say, it is possible for a verb in Persian language to conduct its dependent word in a particular manner, which the very same verb, in Russian language, might conduct its defendant word in a different manner. It is even possible that the verb conduction by the same verb in the two languages might occur by means of two totally different prepositions. In other to avoid such errors, it seems necessary to make the learners aware of their occurrences at the very initial steps of language learning.


Public institutions such as universities and hospitals are being increasingly encouraged by social movements to direct their substantial foodservice budgets toward supporting local farmers and producers. This paper examines a key obstacle to the buy local challenge: the transnational corporations who are contracted by many public institutions in North America to provide foodservices. The institutional food sector is dominated by three large transnational foodservice corporations: Compass Group, ARAMARK, and Sodexo. It is their centralized supply chains and management structures, along with a dependence on prepared and "ready to eat" food, that are barriers to local food procurement. Up to this point, there has been little scholarly attention to the origin and organization of these corporations. This paper's examination of the history and political economy of the institutional foodservice industry illustrates a long association between these companies and public-sector goals over the last 70 years. Comparing past public-sector goals to contemporary campaigns directed at institutional foodservice is therefore instructive. We examine three different political economies that have fostered the development of these corporations: the Second World War, the post-war era from 1945 to the 1970s, and the neoliberal era beginning in the 1970s through today. While recognizing that the barriers to local procurement are real, we also argue that the structure and competitive dynamics of these corporations offer opportunities to make positive changes.


Cumulative scientific and technological advances over the past two centuries have transformed drug discovery from a largely serendipitous process into the high tech pipelines of today. For thousands of years, medicines were sourced directly from nature, through observing the phenotypic effects of substances on humans or animals. Following the molecular biology revolution and initiation of the human genome project in the 1990s, target-based screening gained popularity and soon came to dominate the pharmaceutical industry. Two decades later, the phenotypic approach began to make a strong comeback, benefiting from the scalability and speed afforded by massive technological advances. This has ignited a debate over the relative productivities of phenotypic and target-based screening. However, as more integrative technologies become available, the focus of the discussion should shift from prioritizing the different approaches to finding strategies that can combine their complementary strengths. This review chronicles major trends and transformative events in the evolution of drug discovery, and underscores the importance of phenotypic approaches for past, and likely future, successes.


: Analyzes the results of extracorporeal connection of donor spleen in 9 patients with purulent diseases of the face and neck, complicated with sepsis. Presents the indications for the use of this treatment modality and its technique. Describes the changes in the clinical picture and time course of the basic homeostasis parameters over the course of therapy. Reduction of mortality rates to make them as low as 12.5% demonstrates a high efficacy of the suggested treatment as part of multiple-modality complex used in the treatment of odontogenic and surgical sepsis.


After a rapid description of five gynogenetic unisexual species, this paper reviews the methods used for inducing gynogenesis in bisexual species. 1) The frequency of male genome extrusion, very low after intraspecific mating, can be appreciably increased in some particular interspecific combinations; cold-shocking the eggs at the time of fertilization can also result in gynogenetic development. In the case, of mammals, the male pronucleus can be microsurgically removed, but in most cases (amphibians, fish), haploid gynogenesis is induced by mutagenic treatment of the sperm (gamma, X, UV irradiation; chemicals) before fertilization. 2) Viable gynogenesis depends on the possibility of diploidizing the female genetic set; several factors (oocyte aging, genetic factors, induction of ovulation) may be responsible for the high frequency of "spontaneous" diploidization reported in some studies. But diploid gynogenesis is generally obtained by induced retention of the second polar body or by induced suppression of the first cleavage, achieved by heat or pressure treatment of eggs (fish and amphibians) or by the use of antimitotic chemicals (mammals). Diploid gynegenesis results in high inbreeding levels and original sex ratios. In the discussion, we have tried to show that the objectives which stimulated its induction in amphibians have been frequently unattained or reached in other ways. In commercial fish species, gynogenesis may in the future contribute to the solution of major problems such as genetic improvement and control of reproduction.


Formulas for AVO (Amplitude Variation with Offset) inversion are briefly reviewed and two new expressions are presented. AVO inversion of P-wave, converted-wave, and joint data is carried out using experimental parameters and three theoretical techniques. It is shown that inversion of converted-wave data is more accurate than other sources. The accuracy of multicomponent inversion can be further improved using the pseudo-linear approximation presented here.


Accidental lead misplacement in the left ventricle is a rare complication, which should be diagnosed early and treated with lead removal. In case of late diagnosis, chronic anticoagulant therapy or, if the patient needs cardiac surgery for other reasons, surgical lead removal are recommended. In the present case, lead misplacement occurred at the time of a traditional pacemaker implantation due to bradycardia.


High resolution squint synthetic aperture radar (SAR) requires the compensation of range-dependent range cell migration (RCM) and second range compression (SRC). The chirp z transform can correct RCM efficiently. Using the chirp z transform, the paper proposes an approach to solve SRC by dividing range dimensions into blocks. Simulation results demonstrate the validity of the approach.


The effect of varying cellular oxygenation on L6 muscle cell 2-deoxy-D-glucose transport, glucose utilization, lactate production, and expression of GLUT1 and GLUT4 transport proteins was investigated. Incubation of L6 myotubes in 3% O2 (mimicking a state of hypoxia) elevated glucose uptake by 6.5-fold over 48 h relative to cells incubated in 21% O2 (normoxia). Incubation of L6 cells in hyperoxic conditions (50% O2) significantly depressed glucose uptake by 0.4-fold. These effects were fully reversible. Incubation in 3% O2 also caused lactate accumulation and enhanced glucose consumption from the medium. Hypoxia elevated 2-deoxy-D-glucose transport even when the concentration of glucose in the medium was kept constant, suggesting that glucose deprivation alone was not responsible for increased cellular glucose uptake. Incubation in 3% O2 also elevated 3-O-methylglucose uptake but not amino acid uptake. Cycloheximide prevented the hypoxia-induced increase in glucose uptake, indicating that de novo synthesis of glucose transport-related proteins was the major means by which cells increased glucose uptake. The content of GLUT1 glucose transporter was significantly elevated in total membranes of cells incubated in 3% O2 and depressed in membranes from cells incubated in hyperoxic conditions, whereas GLUT4 expression was not affected. These results indicate that hypoxia induces an adaptive response of increasing cellular glucose uptake through elevated expression of GLUT1 in an attempt to maintain supply of glucose for utilization by nonoxidative pathways.