*These authors contributed equally to this work Purpose: Pinocembrin is a dihydroflavonoid, which is widely found in several plant species. Although pinocembrin has good pharmacological activity, it has poor water solubility and low bioavailability. Therefore, we have modified the structure of pinocembrin with a combination of different amino acids to solve this problem. Moreover, the effect of the antiaging activity of them has not been explored. We aim to investigate the effect of pinocembrin and its amino acid derivatives on the aging of Caenorhabditis elegans. Methods: Pinocembrin was spliced with different amino acids in order to obtain their corresponding derivatives. The preliminary research of pinocembrin and its amino acid derivatives on antiaging effect was studied by using the C. elegans model. Among all the compounds, the one shows the best antiaging effect was then studied on antiaging mechanism. The protective effect on nematodes under emergency conditions was explained by detecting the ROS content and sod-3p::GFP fusion protein expression in nematodes; the possible anti-aging mechanism of nematodes was determined by DAF-16 nuclear localization experiment and the survival curve of transgenic nematodes model under stress conditions. Results: Pb-3 showed the best effect on increasing tolerance to thermal and oxidative stress and reduce the accumulation of lipofuscin. In the assay of C. elegans, pb-3 reduced intracellular ROS accumulation. Application of pb-3 to the transgenic mutant TJ356 induced the translocation of the transcription factor DAF-16 from the cytosol to the nucleus, and modulated the expression of SOD-3 (downstream genes of daf-16), which regulates longevity in C. elegans. Moreover, pb-3 did not prolong the lifespan of daf-16, age-1, daf-2 and hsp16.2 mutants, suggesting that these genetic pathways are involved in mediating the antiaging effects of pb-3. Conclusion: The antioxidant and antiaging properties of pb-3 may involve in the DAF-16/ FOXO transcription process. Pinocembrin amino acid derivatives might be a novel agent for antiaging therapy.


In this and a companion paper a dynamic programming (DP) approach to solve a smart home appliances scheduling problem is considered. The challenge with solving the scheduling problem is the coupling of decision variables due to some time precedence constraints. In general, the system of precedence constraints may contain redundant constraints that offer opportunities for simplification. This simplification is desirable for reducing the computation effort of the nonserial DP procedure presented in the companion paper (i.e., Part II). The current paper establishes the uniqueness of the maximum set of redundant constraints and its polynomial-time solvability with optimality guarantee, under the sufficient and necessary condition that the precedence graph (a graph representation of the precedence constraints system) does not contain any cycle with nonnegative weight. A numerical case study indicates the efficiency of the proposed simplification algorithm versus the brute-force enumerative search. Besides helping to reduce the computation effort in the DP procedure described in the companion paper, the algorithm in the current paper solves a generalization of a precedence graph simplification problem arising from application areas such as parallel computing.


In this paper, a model reduction procedure for a network of interconnected identical passive subsystems is presented. Here, rather than performing model reduction on the subsystems, adjacent subsystems are clustered, leading to a reduced-order networked system that allows for a convenient physical interpretation. The identification of the subsystems to be clustered is performed through controllability and observability analysis of an associated edge system and it is shown that the property of synchronization (i.e., the convergence of trajectories of the subsystems to each other) is preserved during reduction. The results are illustrated by means of an example.


Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate the basic demographic and clinical features of systemic sclerosis in our patient group and to determine the relationship between the duration of disease and the development of hypertension in scleroderma patients. Settings and Design: Systemic sclerosis is a rare, autoimmune disease with a limited or widespread involvement of connective tissue of different organs. In the literature, it is recommended that each center following the scleroderma population remove their patient data. Methods and Material: Patients who were followed up with the diagnosis of systemic sclerosis were included in our study. The duration of the disease, the accompanying diseases, basic demographic characteristics, inflammation markers and echocardiographic characteristics of the patients were evaluated. A total of 150 patients were included in the study (87.3% female, mean age 47.7). The duration of the disease was 5.41 years. Results: 37% of the patients had hypertension. There was a positive correlation between disease duration and hypertension (r: 0.278, p: 0.001). Echocardiographic evaluation revealed pulmonary hypertension in 10 patients. Hypertension was more prevalent in this disease group than the population with the same characteristics. As the disease duration increased, the incidence of systemic hypertension increased. Conclusions: The first of the striking findings in our study was that the rate of pulmonary hypertension due to scleroderma was found to be similar to that in other Middle Eastern societies. In the second important finding, peripheral connective tissue involvement of scleroderma was found to be important in the development of systemic hypertension.


Our understanding of microbial biogeography has been governed by the dictum "Everything is everywhere, but the environment selects." In other words, the distribution of microbes is thought to occur in a regime of extensive dispersal and strong selection, generating local adaptation. However, direct tests of these assumptions are rare. Here, we investigate the extent of local adaptation in space and time of a collection of soil-derived microbial isolates, most belonging to the genus Pseudomonas, across a growing season from a deciduous forest in western Quebec, Canada, using a reciprocal transplant design. Average performance of all clones varied substantially in both space and time, in line with the expectation of strong selection in both dimensions. The behavior of genotype-by-environment variance in fitness and its components, responsiveness and inconsistency, in space and through time suggests that the strength of divergent selection increases as sites become more distant from each other in both dimensions. However, divergent selection was not strong enough to maintain different specialized types across the environments studied, which suggests that Pseudomonas and their close relatives are not locally adapted to the prevailing conditions of growth.


The ECG signal contains a lot of interference in the mobile ECG monitoring system. Reasonable selection of signal filtering and QRS wave detection method are the key to ECG signal analysis. According to the characteristics of ECG signals, the design of low-pass filtering and the improved median filter that can filter the interference has been conducted in the paper. Meanwhile, addressing to the limitation generated by selecting and fixing the median threshold using the traditional differential slope method, the paper has proposed the adaptive dynamic threshold and used quadratic difference algorithm to process signal in order to obtain R wave, and then locate Q and S wave based on R wave location. In addition, combining the characteristics of the QRS wave group, judgments on the missing and over detection are conducted, so that the algorithm is robust and has good fault-tolerant ability. The experimental results show that, this algorithm can not only satisfies the need of the real-time QRS wave detection, but is also more suitable for the transmission and processing of ECG signals in mobile ECG monitoring.


The pattern of secretion of many hormones, including prolactin, is dependent on the circadian rhythm. Night shift work involves exposure to artificial light at night and sleep deficiency, which in turn can affect prolactin synthesis. The aim of this study was to evaluate a possible association between night shift work characteristics, sleep quality, lifestyle factors and prolactin concentration, using data from a cross-sectional study of nurses and midwives. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 327 nurses and midwives currently working on rotating night shifts, and 330 nurses and midwives working during the day (aged 40–60 years) (388 premenopausal and 269 postmenopausal). Information about night shift work characteristics, lifestyle, reproductive factors, sleep pattern and other covariates was collected through a face-to-face interview, and from a one-week work and sleep diary completed by the subjects. Weight and height were measured. Prolactin concentration was measured in the morning blood sample using the electrochemiluminesence immunoassay method. Associations were analyzed using linear regression models adjusted for important confounders. Analyses were carried out separately in pre- and postmenopausal women. None of the night shift work or sleep characteristics was significantly associated with prolactin concentration. Prolactin concentration was significantly (p < 0.05) inversely associated with smoking and time of blood sample collection. These results were consistent among both pre- and postmenopausal women. Nulliparity was significantly positively associated with prolactin among premenopausal women, but inversely among postmenopausal. Age was related to prolactin among postmenopausal women only. Our study indicates that rotating night shift work is not associated with prolactin concentration. Smoking, parity, time of blood collection and age among postmenopausal women were significant determinants of prolactin.


This prospective, randomized investigation evaluated the efficacy of cryotherapy on subjective responses after both open and arthroscopic procedures on the shoulder. Seventy patients were randomly assigned to one of two study groups: (1) continuous cryotherapy group and (2) age-matched control group. Visual analog scales were used to assess subjective responses on postoperative days 1, 7, 14, and 21. On day 1, patients receiving cryotherapy reported significantly less pain during sleep and significantly more comfort in bed and rated their sleep as more restful than the control subjects. During days 7 through 21, cryotherapy subjects reported a significant reduction in frequency and intensity of pain, as well as less pain during shoulder rehabilitation, than the control subjects. These results indicate that cryotherapy is an effective method for postoperative pain control because it decreases the severity and frequency of pain and allows a return to normal sleep patterns while increasing overall postoperative comfort and satisfaction.


The years around the middle of the nineteenth century were a time of change in Swedish politics, commerce and industry. The press became very influential in the debate, including the issue of the theatre and its role in society.With the theories on public opinion and a public sphere, formulated by Jurgen Habermas, as a starting point, three different aspects of the operations of the Mindre Teatern (the Minor Theatre) are discussed in this thesis.The first part deals with the theater and its role in society. Liberal demands for freedom of trade, also in the case of the theatre, caused strong criticism against the prevailing royal theatre monopoly. After several years of struggle the monopoly was broken by the establishment of the Mindre Teatern in 1842.The second part focuses on the musicians who were active at the theatre, and on the audience. The role of the professional musician in the middle of the nineteenth-century is discussed, and it is pointed out that most of the musicians at this time had to have several jobs of different kinds to earn their living. The relation between the audiences at the Mindre Teatern and the Kungliga Teatern (the Royal Theatre/Royal Opera House) is discussed, and it is noted that there were great similarities between the two audiences.Part three deals with the repertoire. Most of the almost 500 performed plays were of foreign origin, above all French. The majority of plays were comedies. The serious plays often had historical plots, and were set in national surroundings. The foreign plays were adapted to suit a Swedish audience. The interest in recognizable settings is noticeable in connection with the productions. The repertoire can be said to have contributed to defining the new middle class identity, an identity which also contained an element of national feeling. Even the music could be used for this purpose. The main part of the music pieces were arrangements, but new compositions, especially instrumental ones, occured to a lesser degree. What kind of play music could be used, was decided according to the customs of different genres. Instrumental pieces, for example, were mostly used in serious plays, whereas songs were much more commonly used in comic ones. The music is analysed with respect to both structural function and its role in creating atmosphere and character.


A spatial price equilibrium model of the international cotton sector was used to analyze the impacts of the Port of Salvador improvements on the Brazilian cotton industry and world cotton trade. The port of Salvador is undergoing relevant improvements in its facilities and physical structure. As a result of these improvements, the port of Salvador is expected to become more competitive and attract ocean shipping companies which are willing to export products directly to Asian importing markets. Scenarios with different reduction in export cost for the port of Salvador were examined. For all scenarios, the new direct ocean shipping lines were found to be important for the cotton exporters in Brazil, especially for the producers in the state of Bahia. In addition, results suggested that the state of Bahia would have the potential of becoming the largest cotton exporting state in Brazil.


Two experiments were conducted to determine the toxicity, pathology, and histopathology of purified gossypol in broiler chicks. Gossypol was added to broiler feed at 0, 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg of feed in Experiment 1 and at 0, 800, and 1600 mg/kg of feed in Experiment 2. Day-old broiler chicks were fed these diets from 1 to 21 days in Experiment 1 and from 1 to 23 days in Experiment 2. In Experiment 1, body weight and feed intake at 21 days were not significantly affected by dietary gossypol. However, chicks fed gossypol at 400 mg/kg of feed had poor feed conversion ratio compared with the other treatment. Feed conversion ratios were 1.493, 1.564, 1.471, and 1.60 for chicks fed gossypol at 0, 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg of feed, respectively (Experiment 1). Chicks fed 400 mg/kg gossypol also had mild perivascular lymphoid aggregate formations and bilary hyperplasia in the liver. In Experiment 2, gossypol at 1600 mg/kg resulted in 28.1% mortality. Gossypol at 800 and 1600 mg/kg feed resulted in significant decreases in body weight and feed intake of chicks. The average body weights of 23-day-old chicks in Experiment 2 were 676, 224, and 111 g for 0, 800, and 1600 mg/kg gossypol, respectively. Feed conversion ratios of chicks fed 800 and 1600 mg/kg gossypol were significantly higher than those of chicks fed control diets (1.383 vs. 1.564 vs. 1.745 for 0, 800, and 1600 mg/kg gossypol, respectively). Plasma iron and hematocrit values were significantly reduced by gossypol at 800 and 1600 mg/kg of feed. Enlarged gallbladder was the only gross pathology symptom associated with gossypol levels. Severe cases of perivascular lymphoid aggregate formation, biliary hyperplasia, and hepatic cholestasis were observed in chicks fed 800 and 1600 mg/kg of gossypol in feed. No gossypol-related changes were observed in kidney tissues of chicks. These results show that gossypol is toxic to broiler chicks at high levels. This study also shows that histopathologic changes in liver due to gossypol also occur at levels lower than the levels that affect body weight.


In order to measure the individual flow rate of gas and liquid of wet gas two-phase flow without separation on line in situ.a computer system for metering wet gas based on labview has been developed. In this system, a high-performance embedded computer as the core unit has been used. Meanwhile, it consists of an industrial hard disk with wide temperature,a high precision data acquisition module, an industrial 12 inch LCD with wide temperature range, a group of rechargeable lithium battery and so on. The software platform is based on labview, which can achieve signal acquisition, calculate the gas and liquid transient flowrates, display and store data, etc. The application in industrial field shows that computer system developed here has good man-machine interaction interface, high reliability and other advantages.


: Designing an innovative, ribbon-like wind turbine, a devices to convert wind energy into electricity, requires analysis, simulations and calculations of strength and usefulness characteristics. Such analysis may be carried out on the basis of existing numerical methods. Developed models of the pressure, forces, power and torqu, when converting wind energy with variable speed, for the fundamental innovation. A conceptual design was realized and fundamental numerical strength tests and power of a wind power plant with a turbine which has ribbon blades. Wind turbine with ribbon blades was subjected to safety analysis: strength and efficiency. The obtained results allow to determine the theoretical strength of individual arms of rotor with their maximum displacement. All the results allowed to determine the distribution of the safety factor on the rotor structure, which in theory allows predicting durability during use. The theoretical analysis determined the powers depending from the wind speed, efficiency of the working rotor. Also carried out the elementary analysis of the effectiveness of the existing, new idea, construction of wind power plant with a turbine which has ribbon blades


Conditional social behaviours such as partner choice and reciprocity are held to be key mechanisms facilitating the evolution of cooperation, particularly in humans. Although how these mechanisms select for cooperation has been explored extensively, their potential to select simultaneously for complex cheating strategies has been largely overlooked. Tactical deception, the misrepresentation of the state of the world to another individual, may allow cheaters to exploit conditional cooperation by tactically misrepresenting their past actions and/or current intentions. Here we first use a simple game-theoretic model to show that the evolution of cooperation can create selection pressures favouring the evolution of tactical deception. This effect is driven by deception weakening cheater detection in conditional cooperators, allowing tactical deceivers to elicit cooperation at lower costs, while simple cheats are recognized and discriminated against. We then provide support for our theoretical predictions using a comparative analysis of deception across primate species. Our results suggest that the evolution of conditional strategies may, in addition to promoting cooperation, select for astute cheating and associated psychological abilities. Ultimately, our ability to convincingly lie to each other may have evolved as a direct result of our cooperative nature.


The tumbling dynamics of individual polymers in semidilute solution is studied by large-scale non-equilibrium mesoscale hydrodynamic simulations. We find that the tumbling time is equal to the non-equilibrium relaxation time of the polymer end-to-end distance along the flow direction and strongly depends on concentration. In addition, the normalized tumbling frequency as well as the widths of the alignment distribution functions for a given concentration-dependent Weissenberg number exhibit a weak concentration dependence in the cross-over regime from a dilute to a semidilute solution. For semidilute solutions a universal behavior is obtained. This is a consequence of screening of hydrodynamic interactions at polymer concentrations exceeding the overlap concentration.


Previous research on multiplicative reasoning has shown that for whole numbers, understanding of division is intimately linked to multiplication, as retrieval of division facts is often accomplished through reverse multiplication. We recently extended this research to rational numbers, and found that inverse multiplication problems can serve as primes for one another (e.g., a × b/a = a primes b × a/b = b) when the second multiplier is expressed as a fraction, but not when it is expressed as a decimal. In the current paper we propose a process model of how such relational priming takes place, and report two experiments that test the limits of this priming effect. The first varies the format of the equations as fractions or a total division equation, and shows that priming is only observed using the fraction format; the second varies the multiplicative complexity of the factors in the equations, and shows that priming requires a common factor linking the successive problems.


In the 1960s, György Lukács—under the slogan Back to Marx!—called for a "renaissance" of Marxism within Eastern Europe. To understand the nature of this renaissance, we have to understand the many important questions that the Hungarian uprising of 1956 raised for the anti-Stalinist left inside Hungary and Eastern Europe more broadly. This interview goes into the attempts to rethink the future of socialism from the Eastern European situation in the second half of the twentieth century, including the political lessons of 1968, the internal fight within the Hungarian Socialist Party, and the continued relevance of V. I. Lenin's Marxism.


SUMMARY: Fimbriae were found in 125 of 154 non-motile Klebsiella strains examined by electron-microscope in serial aerobic broth cultures. Fimbriate strains occurred in each of the capsule serotypes 1–72 and mostly showed the biochemical reactions of saprophytic Klebsiella aerogenes. The fimbriae were clearly distinguishable from the capsules and occurred also in non-capsulate mutants. Most fimbriate strains showed evidence of varying reversibly between a fimbriate and a non-fimbriate phase. The proportion of bacilli with fimbriae was greatest in broth cultures and was decreased, though never eliminated, by serial cultivation on nutrient agar. All 29 permanently non-fimbriate strains belonged to serotypes 1–6 and showed biochemical reactions common in pathogenic K. pneumoniae, K. ozaenae and K. rhino-scleromatis strains (anaerogenic, methyl-red positive, non-citrate utilizing or non-lactose fermenting). They differed from the fimbriate strains in growing less abundantly and usually in failing to form a pellicle on broth.
All the fimbriate strains, but none of the non-fimbriate, showed one or other or both of two kinds of adhesive property: one attributed to an 'MS adhesin', susceptible to inhibition by D-mannose and associated with a thick variety of fimbriae; the other due to an 'MR adhesin', resistant to mannose and associated with thinner fimbriae. Bacilli with MS adhesin rapidly adhered to red blood cells of the guinea-pig and other animals, except the ox, to leucocytes and to intestinal epithelial cells, including those of ox, to Candida albicans cells, to the mycelium of Aspergillus niger and other moulds, and to plant root-hairs. Bacilli with only the MR adhesin did not adhere to untreated red cells, leucocytes or 'smooth' yeasts, but adhered rapidly to ox and other red cells treated with tannic acid, red-cell stromata heated at 70° or 100°, fungus mycelium and plant root-hairs. Bacilli of many fimbriate strains and one non-capsulate non-fimbriate strain adhered to glass and cellulose.


This book analyzes institutional and structural aspects of the effects of trade liberalization on agriculture in China. The study stresses the analysis of trade-related policies, physical infrastructure, institutions and performance in international trade. It discusses such commodities as rice, maize, soybean, peanuts, frozen pork, canned food, raw silk, wheat, vegetable oils, sugar and raw wool. This book gives readers a general view of trade liberalization in China.


There is not enough evidence regarding the effects of trunk control on respiratory muscle strength and activities of daily living (ADL) in children with cerebral palsy (CP). This study was planned to investigate the effects of trunk control on respiratory muscle strength and ADL in children with spastic CP. A total of 34 children with spastic CP (M ± SD age, 9.3 ± 2.4 years) and 30 typical peers (M± SD age, 9.7± 2.1 years) were included in the study. Trunk control was evaluated by the Trunk Control Measurement Scale (TCMS), ADL was evaluated by Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory (PEDI), and respiratory muscle strength was evaluated by mouth pressure meter. The trunk control, respiratory muscle strength, and ADL of the children with spastic CP were significantly lower than their typically peers (P < 0.001, respectively). There were statistically significant correlations between the trunk control and maximum inspiratory pressure (MIP) (r = 0.503, P < 0.05), maximum expiratory pressure (MEP) (r = 0.465, P < 0.05), mobility subscale of Functional Skills Scale of PEDI (FSS-MS) (r = 0.570, P < 0.001), self-care subscale of Caregiver Assistance Scale of PEDI (CAS-SS) (r = 0.431, P < 0.05), mobility subscale of Caregiver Assistance Scale of PEDI (CAS-MS) (r = .607, P < 0.001), and Gross Motor Functional Classification System (GMFCS) (r = -0.522, P < 0.05) in children with spastic CP. In addition, MIP, MEP, PEDI FSS-MS, CAS-SS, and CAS-MS were independently predictors of trunk control in children with spastic CP. The results of this study demonstrate that trunk control in children with spastic CP is correlated positively to MIP, MEP values and their daily living activities and we suggest this should be taken into account when planning an intervention to improve the ability of daily living function for children with spastic CP.


Background In ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), acute kidney injury (AKI) may increase subsequent morbidity and mortality. Still, it remains difficult to predict AKI risk in these patients. We sought to 1) determine the frequency and clinical outcomes of AKI and, 2) develop, validate and compare a web-based tool for predicting AKI. Methods & findings In a racially diverse series of 1144 consecutive STEMI patients, Stage 1 or greater AKI occurred in 12.9% and was severe (Stage 2–3) in 2.9%. AKI was associated with increased mortality (5.7-fold, unadjusted) and hospital stay (2.5-fold). AKI was associated with systolic dysfunction, increased left ventricular end-diastolic pressures, hypotension and intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation. A computational algorithm (UT-AKI) was derived and internally validated. It showed higher sensitivity and improved overall prediction for AKI (area under the curve 0.76) vs. other published indices. Higher UT-AKI scores were associated with more severe AKI, longer hospital stay and greater hospital mortality. Conclusions In a large, racially diverse cohort of STEMI patients, Stage 1 or greater AKI was relatively common and was associated with significant morbidity and mortality. A web-accessible, internally validated tool was developed with improved overall value for predicting AKI. By identifying patients at increased risk, this tool may help physicians tailor post-procedural diagnostic and therapeutic strategies after STEMI to reduce AKI and its associated morbidity and mortality.


Scholars from across the social and media sciences have issued a clarion call to address a recent resurgence in criminalized characterizations of immigrants. Do these characterizations meaningfully impact individuals' beliefs about immigrants and immigration? Across two online convenience samples (N = 1,054 adult U.S. residents), we applied a novel analytic technique to test how different narratives—criminal, achievement, struggle-oriented—impact cognitive representations of German, Russian, Syrian, and Mexican immigrants and the concept of "immigrants" in general. All stories featured male targets. Achievement stories homogenized individual immigrant representations whereas both criminal and struggle-oriented stories racialized them along a white/non-white axis: Germany clustered with Russia, Syria with Mexico. However, criminal stories were unique in making our most egalitarian participants' representations as differentiated as our least egalitarian participants'. Narratives about individual immigrants also generalized to update representations of nationality groups. Most important, narrative-induced representations correlated with immigration policy preferences: achievement narratives and corresponding homogenized representations promoted preferences for less restriction, criminal narratives for more.


Fused quartz granule (d50=0.019 mm) was used as raw material, nano-ZnO (size<0.08 μm) was used as additive with dosages of 1% (in mass, similarly hereinafter), 2% and 3%. Fused quartz ceramic materials were fabricated in reduction atmosphere at 1300 °C, 1350 °C and 1400 °C for 1 h. Properties of samples were researched by measurements of apparent porosity, bending strength and thermal expansion rate, and analyzed by XRD and SEM. The results showed that additive nano-ZnO had excellent inhibiting effect on crystallization of fused quartz sintered at 1300 °C and 1350 °C. As dosages of nano-ZnO increased, thermal expansion rate, diffraction peak intensity and bending strength were improved, and microstructure of the samples became more compact. It can be deduced that for fused quartz ceramic materials, with add dosage of nano-ZnO increasing, the inhibiting effect on crystallization decline, but the facilitating effect on sintering enhance.


In petroleum and petrochemical industries, offshore and onshore systems have to
function in an aggressive environment that exposes the production equipment
components to thermal cycling, wear and corrosion. Although maintenance of material
degradation in oil and gas is costly, internal and external parts of the equipment and
pipelines must be well inspected and continually maintained. For this reason highly
advanced corrosion and wear-monitoring systems must be installed in the critical areas
of the plant to protect pipes and equipment from seawater and crude oil. Therefore,
researchers are in search of advanced material and methods that could be applied in oil
and gas pipelines and accessories for increasing their working time.
The common manufacturing processing method for improving the surface of piping and
accessories is overlay welding or cladding. This method has some limitations, such as
its limitation for choosing materials. In addition, the high temperature of welding causes
the final surface has some defects such as, thermal residual stress, cracking and
distortion in the substrate. The method is also time-consuming and costly. However, the
coating method provides a blend of unique properties with low cost. Thermal spray
methods are cold spraying techniques that have a considerably less thermal stress,
residual stress and other defects. Among different thermal spray coating techniques,
high velocity oxygen fuel (HVOF) and plasma is the most commonly thermal spraying
coating process to produce anti-wear and corrosion coatings with different types of
materials such as metal, alloys, ceramic composite, etc. Furthermore, HVOF and
plasma thermally sprayed coating process induces microstructure heterogeneities,
which increase the corrosion and wear resistance. In this research, five different
chemical compositions such as alloys and ceramic composite were chosen for
increasing corrosion and wear resistivity of carbon steel piping. The chemical compositions are Inconel 625, NiCrCoAlY, Al8Si20BN, Cr3C2-25NiCr and Al2O3-
13%TiO2.
For investigating properties of these chemical compositions, potentiodynamic
polarization testing, open circuit polarization and electrochemical impedance
spectroscopy (EIS) were used in 3.5% NaCl solution (seawater) at 30°C for 30 days.
Corrosion was also measured by suspending the samples inside the crude oil at 60°C for
30 days. Measuring corrosion potential and corrosion current density from polarization
curves and Tefal slope respectively established the general corrosion ranking of
different materials. In addition, the correlation between individual microstructure
features and their electrochemical response was established by EIS including equivalent
circuit modeling.
A wear property of each group of materials was investigated by pin-on-disk machine
over a 9048.96 m sliding distance under different loads. The wear rate and weight loss
results of each group materials had a different behavior. Some samples were more
durable during applying different loads and the rate of weight loss in these samples was
very limited.
Comparing all the corrosion and wearing results illustrate that the ceramic composite
samples have the highest to resistance corrosion and wear behavior. Significantly less
effective than the ceramic composite samples, the alloy coated samples showed
considerable anti-corrosion and wear behavior.


Learning Objectives: The Society of Critical Care Medicine promotes a collaborative multidisciplinary practice, with a team consisting of professionals in different fields. Participation in social media activities, such as live-tweeting a meeting provides a unique opportunity for members of all professions to participate, and may allow for inclusion of a more diverse group in discussions. We assessed participation using social media metrics by physicians and non-physicians in conversations at the annual Critical Care Congress (CCC).
Methods: Symplur Analytics were used to compare the characteristics of those who tweeted using the 2015 and 2016 CCC hashtag (#CCC44 and #CCC45, respectively). Characteristics of the top 50 participants during the conference were compared. Allied health professionals (AHP) were defined as non-physician healthcare providers.
Results: There was an increase in tweets and participants from 2015 (4,374 tweets, 625 participants) to 2016 (14,358 tweets, 1,693 participants). In 2015, 27 of the top 50 tweeters were physicians, 7 were AHP (2 nurses, 2 advanced practitioners, and 1 pharmacist), 10 were organizations, and 6 were other non-healthcare individuals. In 2016, 22 of the top 50 tweeters were physicians, 17 were AHP (2 nurses, 5 advanced practitioners, 5 pharmacists, 2 dietitians, and 3 other providers), 8 were organizations, and 3 were other non-healthcare individuals. There were significantly more AHP participating in social media during 2016 CCC compared to 2015 (34% vs 14% of the top 50 accounts; p=0.047). The number of followers of AHP accounts were significantly fewer than the number of followers of the physician accounts (800 ± 626 followers vs 1,608 ± 2,282 followers; p=0.02), but there was no significant difference in number of tweets (7,403 ± 8,993 vs 16,764 ± 36,230 tweets; p=0.1) or duration of time on Twitter (4.8 ± 2.3 vs 5.1 ± 2.1 yrs; p=0.6).
Conclusions: Social media is another way to engage all heath care professionals in academic conversations that occur during CCC. More effort should be made to increase inclusion in this important venue for multidisciplinary conversation.


Introduction The technique of ureterorenoscopy has a significant learning curve. Cadavers embalmed by the Thiel method have been successfully used for simulation training in a number of surgical specialties. Here we present our experience of the first use of Thiel cadavers in a formal ureteroscopy training course. Material and methods The inaugural 'Masterclass in Flexible Ureterorenoscopy' was run with participants performing ureterorenoscopy on three Thiel cadavers under expert supervision. A qualitative questionnaire was delivered to the participants and faculty. Assessed domains were tissue characteristics of the cadaveric urinary tract, anatomical features and procedural aspects. A five-point Likert score was used to assess responses. Data regarding participant experience in endourology were also collected. Results 8 questionnaires were collected. All participants completed cadaveric ureterorenoscopy. Three-quarters reported the overall quality of tissue in the cadaveric bladder, ureters and pelvicalyceal system as high or excellent. Half reported the cadaveric bladder as being softer than in a live patient, whilst five out of eight thought that the cadaveric ureter was softer and more prone to trauma. Seven out of eight were satisfied with the overall quality of the cadaveric model. The quality of vision and irrigation in the upper urinary tracts was reported as high. Conclusions Thiel cadavers have been shown to have excellent tissue characteristics, as well as being durable and reusable. We have described the first use of Thiel cadavers in a designated ureterorenoscopy course, with high levels of delegate satisfaction. Further work is required to develop the role of Thiel cadavers as part of an integrated, modular urology training.


It has been shown recently that under certain conditions there exist dualities between different multiterminal (MT) source and channel coding problems. Following these results, we study lossless MT source coding and deterministic MT channel coding problems and point out different dualities between them. In particular, we show that there exists a functional duality between a Slepian-Wolf (SW) coding problem and a deterministic broadcast channel (DBC) coding problem and between a lossless multiple-description (MD) coding problem and a deterministic multiple-access channel (DMAC) coding problem. In analogy to the duality established between DBC and DMAC coding problems, we further propose a similar duality between SW and lossless MD coding problems; in this way, we form a closed "duality loop" of four MT coding problems, which imposes the existence of a single common rate point in the achievable rate regions of all four dual problems. We also consider duality in zero-error MT coding and shed light on practical code design with an example. Finally, extension to the case with only one lossless/deterministic component in the source/channel coding problem is provided.


After the 1997 Asian financial crisis, South Korea (Korea) and Thailand implemented financial restructuring in a similarly successful manner and regained the healthiness of their banking sectors. However, when the Lehman shock hit their financial markets in 2008, its impact on the two countries was quite different. Korea, which had performed better in the financial restructuring than Thailand, was driven to the brink of a second financial crisis in 2008 while Thailand weathered the shock easily. This paper addresses this paradoxical contrast from the path dependence perspective, focusing on different historical paths of formation and change of the respective financial systems. It concludes that the successful state-led financial restructuring in Korea fostered banks' propensity of active lending while the private sector-led reform in Thailand only reinforced banks' conservative lending behavior. Furthermore, betraying the critical juncture theory, the severe economic crises helped reinforce the institutional legacies in the two countries, resulting in aggressive foreign borrowing by Korean banks and timid borrowing by Thai banks. These differences explain their contrasting vulnerability to the Lehman shock.


The purpose of this study is to identify the factors that affect the secondary school students' attitudes in science. This study was conducted using survey method. The sample of the study was 503 students from four different secondary schools in Bartın and Düzce. Data were obtained using the Survey of Factors Affecting Students' Science Attitudes (SFASSA) and the Survey to Determine the Degree of Importance of Categories Affecting Students' Science Attitudes (SDDICASSA). Qualitative data were subjected to a content analysis. For the analysis of the quantitative data, descriptive analysis was used. According to the results of the study, teacher is the most important category affecting the students' science attitudes


A potential-pulse interference method has been developed for detailed studies of the nucleation at a single nucleus. Following a potential step from a positive overpotential to a sufficiently negative overpotential at which nucleation takes place, a single reverse pulse or repetitive potential-pulse train is then applied at certain stage before a critical nucleus is formed to interfere with the nucleation process. Nucleation is then allowed to continue at a stable overpotential until a critical nucleus is formed. By comparing the arrival-time distributions of the critical nuclei with and without the pulse interference, information about the mechanism of the nucleation can be obtained. In particular, it is found that a termination process is involved in the formation of a single silver nucleus at medium and low potentials, and that the structures of the critical nuclei may be different at different overpotentials.


Structural strength and stiffness were previously investigated to sufficiently improve the lateral load resistance against major events. Many buildings require appropriate design to effectively withstand the lateral seismic loads and reduce the corresponding damages. Design methodologies and structural elements were recently introduced to improve the energy dissipation capability and limit the high force demands under seismic loadings. The new systems are designed to protect the structural integrity and concentrate the inelasticity in a specific area, while the remaining parts are kept undamaged and intact. This study introduces a new structural system with dampers having strategic cutouts, leaving butterfly-shaped shear dampers for dominating the yielding mechanism over other brittle limit states. The new system is designed for re-establishing the conventional eccentrically braced frame system with simple linking beams. The system with strategic cutouts is subsequently used and compared with the eccentrically braced frames (EBF) system for seismic performance investigation and incremental dynamic analysis (IDA), using the OpenSees program, which is used to indicate the collapse behavior under forty-four selected ground motions. Results show that the butterfly-shaped multi-story buildings, compared to the corresponding conventional systems, are capable of enhancing the system resistance against lateral seismic loads by postponing the collapse state to the larger drift ratio values.


Key points Diagnosis of exacerbations of COPD is based largely on key symptoms (increasing sputum purulence and volume, and breathlessness) and the severity depends on the level of healthcare resource utilisation. Aetiology is varied, although infection is the major causative factor. Neutrophilic inflammation is a major pathological event, but eosinophils are also implicated, suggesting an "asthmatic" aetiology. Airflow limitation and dynamic hyperinflation are the physiological changes, which can result in deterioration in gas exchange and respiratory failure. Antibiotics are reserved for purulent exacerbations, with the exception of the presence of pneumonia and prophylaxis during ventilation. Steroids are recommended for all hospitalised patients and outpatients with a significant increase in breathlessness. Controlled oxygen therapy is central to management and is guided by arterial blood gas measurements. Noninvasive ventilation is the preferred management for patients with acidotic respiratory failure when the arterial pH is 7.25–7.35 despite the standard initial therapy. Prevention of exacerbations is aided by influenza vaccination and the institution of regular inhaled long-acting bronchodilators and inhaled corticosteroids. Educational aims To understand the definition and burden of exacerbations. To understand the aetiology and varied pathophysiology. To understand the treatment and prevention of exacerbations. Summary Exacerbation of COPD is a common problem, which causes a considerable burden to the patient and the healthcare system. This article aims to give a structured overview of the different aspects of COPD exacerbations, including their classification, aetiology, pathophysiology, differential diagnosis, management and prevention.


This is a book of theoretical essays by architect Stan Allen, which examine the ways in which the modes of representation and techniques of realization available to the architect affect the practice of architecture. Allen shows how these models of representation are put into play in specific buildings by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Frank Lloyd Wright, and Le Corbusier. While the practice of architecture is circumscribed by a function, the many practices that contribute to the realization of this task affect the look of our cities and the spaces we live in.Allen's essays, organized into three sections: RepresentationsBuildingsMedia The final essays analyze the role of media in architecture, specifically the reproduction of buildings in photographic form, and the impact of computer-aided design techniques.


We introduce a notion of generalized Willmore functionals motivated by the Hawking energy of General Relativity and bending energies of membranes. An example of a bending energy is discussed in detail. Using results of Y. Chen and J. Li, we present a compactness result for branched, immersed, haunted, stratified surface with bounded area and Willmore energy. This allows us to prove the existence of area constrained minimizers for generalized Willmore functionals in the class of haunted, branched, immersed bubble trees by direct minimization. Here a haunted, stratified surfaces are introduced, in order to account for bubbling and vanishing components along the minimization process. Similarly, we obtain the existence of area and volume constrained, minimal, closed membranes for the discussed bending energy. Moreover, we argue that the regularity results of A. Mondino and T. Riviere for Willmore surfaces can be carried over to the setting of generalized Willmore surfaces. In particular, this means that critical points of a generalized Willmore functional are smooth away from finitely many points.


When designing for e-learning the objective is to design for learning i.e. the technology supporting the learning activity should aid and support the learning process and be an arena where learning is likely to occur. To obtain this when designing e-learning for the workplace the author argue that it is important to have knowledge on how users actually access and use e-learning systems. In order to gain this knowledge web logs from a web lecture developed for a Scandinavian public body has been analyzed. During a period of two and a half months 15 learners visited the web lecture 74 times. The web lecture consisted of streaming video with exercises and additional links to resources on the WWW to provide an opportunity to investigate the topic from multiple perspectives. The web lecture took approximately one hour to finish. Using web usage mining for the analysis seven groups or interaction patterns emerged: peaking, one go, partial order, partial unordered, single module, mixed modules, non-video modules. Furthermore the web logs paint a picture of the learning activities being interrupted. This suggests that modules needs to be fine-grained (e.g. less than 8 minutes per video clip) so learnersâ?? do not need to waste time having to watch parts of a video clip while waiting for the part of interest to appear or having to fast forward. A clear and logical structure is also important to help the learner find their way back accurately and fast.


In recent decades, it has been found useful to partition the pelagic environment using the concept of biogeochemical provinces, or BGCPs, within each of which it is assumed that environmental conditions are distinguishable and unique at global scale. The boundaries between provinces respond to features of physical oceanography and, ideally, should follow seasonal and interannual changes in ocean dynamics. But this ideal has not been fulfilled except for small regions of the oceans. Moreover, BGCPs have been used only as static entities having boundaries that were originally established to compute global primary production. In the present study, a new statistical methodology based on non‐parametric procedures is implemented to capture the environmental characteristics within 56 BGCPs. Four main environmental parameters (bathymetry, chlorophyll a concentration, surface temperature, and salinity) are used to infer the spatial distribution of each BGCP over 1997–2007. The resulting dynamic partition allows us to integrate changes in the distribution of BGCPs at seasonal and interannual timescales, and so introduces the possibility of detecting spatial shifts in environmental conditions.


Importance
Biologic mesh is widely used for reinforcing contaminated ventral hernia repairs; however, it is expensive and has been associated with high rates of long-term hernia recurrence. Synthetic mesh is a lower-cost alternative but its efficacy has not been rigorously studied in individuals with contaminated hernias.

Objective
To determine whether synthetic mesh results in superior reduction in risk of hernia recurrence compared with biologic mesh during the single-stage repair of clean-contaminated and contaminated ventral hernias.

Design, Setting, and Participants
This multicenter, single-blinded randomized clinical trial was conducted from December 2012 to April 2019 with a follow-up duration of 2 years. The trial was completed at 5 academic medical centers in the US with specialized units for abdominal wall reconstruction. A total of 253 adult patients with clean-contaminated or contaminated ventral hernias were enrolled in this trial. Follow-up was completed in April 2021.

Interventions
Retromuscular synthetic or biologic mesh at the time of fascial closure.

Main Outcomes and Measures
The primary outcome was the superiority of synthetic mesh vs biologic mesh at reducing risk of hernia recurrence at 2 years based on intent-to-treat analysis. Secondary outcomes included mesh safety, defined as the rate of surgical site occurrence requiring a procedural intervention, and 30-day hospital direct costs and prosthetic costs.

Results
A total of 253 patients (median [IQR] age, 64 [55-70] years; 117 [46%] male) were randomized (126 to synthetic mesh and 127 to biologic mesh) and the follow-up rate was 92% at 2 years. Compared with biologic mesh, synthetic mesh significantly reduced the risk of hernia recurrence (hazard ratio, 0.31; 95% CI, 0.23-0.42; P < .001). The overall intent-to-treat hernia recurrence risk at 2 years was 13% (33 of 253 patients). Recurrence risk with biologic mesh was 20.5% (26 of 127 patients) and with synthetic mesh was 5.6% (7 of 126 patients), with an absolute risk reduction of 14.9% with the use of synthetic mesh (95% CI, -23.8% to -6.1%; P = .001). There was no significant difference in overall 2-year risk of surgical site occurrence requiring a procedural intervention between the groups (odds ratio, 1.22; 95% CI, 0.60-2.44; P = .58). Median (IQR) 30-day hospital direct costs were significantly greater in the biologic group vs the synthetic group ($44 936 [$35 877-$52 656] vs $17 289 [$14 643-$22 901], respectively; P < .001). There was also a significant difference in the price of the prosthetic device between the 2 groups (median [IQR] cost biologic, $21 539 [$20 285-$23 332] vs synthetic, $105 [$105-$118]; P < .001).

Conclusions and Relevance
Synthetic mesh demonstrated superior 2-year hernia recurrence risk compared with biologic mesh in patients undergoing single-stage repair of contaminated ventral hernias, and both meshes demonstrated similar safety profiles. The price of biologic mesh was over 200 times that of synthetic mesh for these outcomes.

Trial Registration
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02451176.


The evaluation of salinity tolerance of rice germplasms based on phenotype and genotype of 100 rice germplasm was identified at the seedling stage at the High Agricultural Technology Research Institute for Mekong Delta, Vietnam. Screening of the phenotype was done with 30 day old seedlings using salinized concentrations (EC = 8 and 15 dS/m). Results show that the growth of the varieties, the higher the salt concentration, the lower the survival date, the lower the tree height, the higher the root length, and the weight of the stem and roots were all significant positive correlations in this study. These indicators are also closely correlated with each other. This shows that saline conditions greatly affect the survival, growth, and development of rice. Genotypic analysis on the RM223 and RM3252 molecular markers recorded polymorphism on both indicators. Among rice germplasms, the proposed varieties including Pokkali, OM4900, HATRI144, HATRI60, OM5704, HATR162, HATRI131 and HATRI132 were found to have salt tolerance for evaluation future of the breeding program. Thus, the RM233 and RM3252 used in this study are proved available to identify salt tolerance for rice breeding.

 Key words: Phenotype, genotype, simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers, salt stress, seedling stage, rice.


The radiation element method by ray emission method, REM 2 , has been formulated to predict radiative heat transfer in three-dimensional arbitrary participating media with nongray and anisotropically scattering properties surrounded by opaque surfaces. To validate the method, benchmark comparisons were conducted against the existing several radiation methods in a rectangular three-dimensional media composed of a gas mixture of carbon dioxide and nitrogen and suspended carbon particles. Good agreements between the present method and the Monte Carlo method were found with several particle density variations, in which participating media of optical thin, medium, and thick were included. As a numerical example, the present method is applied to predict radiative heat transfer in a boiler model with nonisothermal combustion gas and carbon particles and diffuse surface wall. Elsasser narrow-band model as well as exponential wide-band model is adopted to consider the spectral character of CO 2 and H 2 O gases. The distributions of heat flux and heat flux divergence in the boiler furnace are obtained. The difference of results between narrow-band and wide-band models is discussed. The effects of gas model, particle density, and anisotropic scattering are scrutinized.


In this paper, the large-amplitude oscillation of a triple-well non-natural system, covering both qualitative and quantitative analysis, is investigated. The nonlinear system is governed by a quadratic velocity term and an odd-parity restoring force having cubic and quintic nonlinearities. Many mathematical models in mechanical and structural engineering applications can give rise to this nonlinear problem. In terms of qualitative analysis, the equilibrium points and its trajectories due to the change of the governing parameters are studied. It is interesting that there exist heteroclinic and homoclinic orbits under different equilibrium states. By adjusting the parameter values, the dynamic behavior of this conservative system is shifted accordingly. As exact solutions for this problem expressed in terms of an integral form must be solved numerically, an analytical approximation method can be used to construct accurate solutions to the oscillation around the stable equilibrium points of this system. This method is based on the harmonic balance method incorporated with Newton's method, in which a series of linear algebraic equations can be derived to replace coupled and complicated nonlinear algebraic equations. According to this harmonic balance-based approach, only the use of Fourier series expansions of known functions is required. Accurate analytical approximate solutions can be derived using lower order harmonic balance procedures. The proposed analytical method can offer good agreement with the corresponding numerical results for the whole range of oscillation amplitudes.


Biopsy is the standard for assessment of bone marrow involvement in mantle cell lymphoma (MCL). We investigated whether [18F]FDG-PET radiomic texture features can improve prediction of bone marrow involvement in MCL, compared to standardized uptake values (SUV), and whether combination with laboratory data improves results. Ninety-seven MCL patients were retrospectively included. SUVmax, SUVmean, SUVpeak and 16 co-occurrence matrix texture features were extracted from pelvic bones on [18F]FDG-PET/CT. A multi-layer perceptron neural network was used to compare three combinations for prediction of bone marrow involvement—the SUVs, a radiomic signature based on SUVs and texture features, and the radiomic signature combined with laboratory parameters. This step was repeated using two cut-off values for relative bone marrow involvement: REL > 5% (>5% of red/cellular bone marrow); and REL > 10%. Biopsy demonstrated bone marrow involvement in 67/97 patients (69.1%). SUVs, the radiomic signature, and the radiomic signature with laboratory data showed AUCs of up to 0.66, 0.73, and 0.81 for involved vs. uninvolved bone marrow; 0.68, 0.84, and 0.84 for REL ≤ 5% vs. REL > 5%; and 0.69, 0.85, and 0.87 for REL ≤ 10% vs. REL > 10%. In conclusion, [18F]FDG-PET texture features improve SUV-based prediction of bone marrow involvement in MCL. The results may be further improved by combination with laboratory parameters.


Background: Adipose tissue is now recognized as an accessible, abundant, and reliable site for the isolation of adult stem cells suitable for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine applications. Methods: Oral ulcers were induced by topical application of formocresol in the oral cavity of dogs. Transplantation of undifferentiated Green fluorescent protein (GFP)labeled Autologous Bone Marrow Stem Cell (BMSCs), Adipose Derived Stem Cell (ADSCs) or vehicle (saline) was injected around the ulcer in each group. The healing process of the ulcer was monitored clinically and histopathologically. Gene expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was detected in MSCs by Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR). Expression of VEGF and collagen genes was detected in biopsies from all ulcers. Results: MSCs expressed mRNA for VEGF MSCs transplantation significantly accelerated oral ulcer healing compared with controls. There was increased expression of both collagen and VEGF genes in MSCs -treated ulcers compared to controls. Conclusion: MSCs transplantation may help to accelerate oral ulcer healing, possibly through the induction of angiogenesis by VEGF together with increased intracellular matrix formation as detected by increased collagen gene expression. This body of work has provided evidence supporting clinical applications of adipose-derived cells in safety and efficacy trials as an alternative for bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells in oral ulcer healing.


In addition, a recent study4 of testicular morphology in boys treated for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) with combination chemotherapy found no evidence of a relationship between the degree of tubular damage and the age at which the subject first received cytotoxic therapy. Therefore the prepubertal testis would appear to be just as vulnerable to cytotoxic damage as the pubertal testis. Finally, it is true that we observed5 depressed ovarian function in a proportion of girls previously treated for ALL with combination chemotherapy. However, the evidence indicated direct damage to the ovaries due to the chemotherapy rather than as a consequence of radiation-induced hypothalamic-pituitary damage. S M SHALET C G BEARDWELL P H MORRIS JONES DOROTHY PEARSON


An overview is given of Formula (an abbreviation for Forth Music Language), a language for controlling synthesizers that can model the expressiveness of a human performance. Formula supports algorithmic composition, interactive performance, and programmed interpretation of traditional scores. It uses concurrent processes that share a single address space and are scheduled by the runtime system. Note-playing processes compute sequences of pitches and play these pitches as notes or chords. Auxiliary processes are attached to note-playing processes or groups to supply note parameters such as volume, duration, and articulation. Input-handling processes execute when input arrives from a particular device. Two representative Formula programs are described.<<ETX>>


A new subtype of CD4+ T lymphocytes characterized by the production of interleukin 17, i.e., TH17 cells, has been recently described. This novel T cell subset is distinct from type 1 and type 2 T helper cells. The major feature of this subpopulation is to generate significant amounts of pro-inflammatory cytokines, therefore appearing to be critically involved in protection against infection caused by extracellular microorganisms, and in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases and allergy. The dynamic balance among subsets of T cells is important for the modulation of several steps of the immune response. Disturbances in this balance may cause a shift from normal immunologic physiology to the development of immune-mediated disorders. In autoimmune diseases, the fine balance between the proportion and degree of activation of the various T lymphocyte subsets can contribute to persistent undesirable inflammatory responses and tissue replacement by fibrosis. This review highlights the importance of TH17 cells in this process by providing an update on the biology of these cells and focusing on their biology and differentiation processes in the context of immune-mediated chronic inflammatory diseases.


The USDA Forest Service Forest Products Laboratory has patented a technology that incorporates fiberglass-reinforced wood into the structure of wood doors and other wood building products. The process of reinforcing wood doors with epoxy and fiberglass increases the strength and durability of the product. Also, it allows the use of low-value, small-diameter wood, which conserves mature forests and allows greater utilization of forest material. Since wood and steel are two material options for the construction of residential doors, we compared the potential environmental effects of both products (reinforced wood doors and steel doors) by conducting a partial life-cycle inventory (LCI) to compare the energy use and environmental emissions of the premanufacturing and manufacturing life stages of each product. The partial LCI analysis clearly showed that steel doors resulted in significantly more energy use and environmental emissions in all categories studied, including air and waterborne emissions, solid waste, energy consumption, and greenhouse gas generation.


Single-cell measurement of chromatin states, including histone modifications and non-histone protein binding, remains challenging. We present a low-cost, efficient ChIP-seq (simultaneous indexing and tagmentation-based ChIP-seq, itChIP), compatible to both low-input and single cells for profiling chromatin states. This single-cell itChIP approach combines chromatin opening, simultaneous cellular indexing and chromatin tagmentation in a single tube, processing samples with tens of single cells in rarity or with thousands of single cells per assay, and the entire procedure can be finished in two days. The sc-itChIP data acquire ~9,000 unique reads per cell, sufficiently capturing the earliest epigenetic priming along cell fate transition and the basis for cell-type specific enhancer usage. Our results demonstrate that itChIP is a generalizable technology for single-cell chromatin profiling of epigenetically heterogeneous cell populations in many biological processes. This step-by-step protocol is related to the publication "Profiling chromatin state by single-cell itChIP-seq" in Nature Cell Biology.


This study assesses the economic and environmental effects to hog finishing farms from residual taxes/standards and restrictions on manure application and stocking density. Economic effects are measured in terms of net farm income and land prices, while levels of ammonia and excess nitrogen and phosphorus proxy the environmental effects. Any environmental policy requiring the need for additional land comes at a small cost to farmers who have access to adequate neighboring land. If this is not the case, then manure application and stocking density restrictions are expensive since the producer is basically forced to either purchase land or reduce hog production levels.


The proper alignment of requirements engineering and testing (RET) can be key to software's success. Three practices can provide effective RET alignment: using test cases as requirements, harvesting trace links, and reducing distances between requirements engineers and testers. The Web extra https://youtu.be/M65ZKxfxqME is an audio podcast of author Elizabeth Bjarnason reading the the Requirements column she cowrote with Markus Borg.


Decoupling Linear and Nonlinear Associations of Gene Expression Alan Itakura The FANTOM consortium has generated a large gene expression dataset of different cell lines and tissue cultures using the single-molecule sequencing technology of HeliscopeCAGE. This provides a unique opportunity to investigate novel associations between gene expression over time and different cell types. Here, we create a MatLab wrapper for a powerful and computationally intensive set of statistics known as Maximal Information Coefficient, and then calculate this statistic for a large, comprehensive dataset containing gene expression of a variety of differentiating tissues. We then distinguish between linear and nonlinear associations, and then create gene association networks. Following this analysis, we are then able to identify clusters of linear gene associations that then associate nonlinearly with other clusters of linearity, providing insight to much more complex connections between gene expression patterns than previously anticipated.


Germline mutations in the gene encoding tumor suppressor kinase LKB1 lead to gastrointestinal tumorigenesis in Peutz-Jeghers syndrome (PJS) patients and mouse models; however, the cell types and signaling pathways underlying tumor formation are unknown. Here, we demonstrated that mesenchymal progenitoror stromal fibroblast– specific deletion of Lkb1 results in fully penetrant polyposis in mice. Lineage tracing and immunohistochemical analyses revealed clonal expansion of Lkb1-deficient myofibroblastlike cell foci in the tumor stroma. Loss of Lkb1 in stromal cells was associated with induction of an inflammatory program including IL-11 production and activation of the JAK/STAT3 pathway in tumor epithelia concomitant with proliferation. Importantly, treatment of LKB1defcient mice with the JAK1/2 inhibitor ruxolitinib dramatically decreased polyposis. These data indicate that IL-11–mediated induction of JAK/STAT3 is critical in gastrointestinal tumorigenesis following Lkb1 mutations and suggest that targeting this pathway has therapeutic potential in Peutz-Jeghers syndrome. Research Article Gastroenterology Oncology


1544 Abstract. – OBJECTIVES: The aim is to investigate the use of the ligase detection reaction (LDR) microarray to examine the difference of the single nucleotide between the pregnant woman and the fetus by cell-free DNA in the maternal plasma in congenital deafness. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The proband and the couples' venous blood samples and the amniotic fluid/ chorionic villi collected from seven deafness families for prenatal diagnosis were analyzed. The cell-free DNA from maternal plasma was examined to determine if they carried the mutations of GJB2 235delC. RESULTS: Three samples were found to carry the mutation of GJB2 235delC. It is in agreement with the sequencing results.The affected fetuses were suggested to take invasive procedure for confirmation. CONCLUSIONS: The chip may be a potential method to screen for congenital deafness based on maternal plasma DNA.


To the Editor: In the past decade, hepatitis C virus (HCV) has emerged as a sexually transmitted infection (STI) among HIV-infected men who have sex with men (MSM). The epidemic was originally reported in several northern European countries (England, France, Germany, and the Netherlands) (1) and soon after in Australia (2) and the United States (3). Acute HCV acquisition was associated with group sex, unprotected receptive anal intercourse, and according to some studies, concomitant STI (4). Molecular phylogenetic studies suggested evidence of an international transmission network of MSM within northern Europe (1). However, expansion of the HCV epidemic among MSM to Spain (5) or to other countries of the Mediterranean area had not previously been reported.

We report 4 cases of acute HCV in HIV-infected MSM in Madrid, Spain, 2010. These patients were monitored at a university-affiliated hospital in downtown Madrid, which provides health care to a large MSM community in the Chueca District. Diagnosis of acute HCV was made by using the following criteria of the European AIDS Treatment Network (6): 1) positive HCV RNA; 2) an acute rise in alanine aminotransferase level >5× the normal upper limit, with documented normal alanine aminotransferase level within 12 months; and 3) negative results for anti–hepatitis A virus immunoglobulin M and anti–hepatitis B core immunoglobulin M (when other causes of acute hepatitis were excluded). An HCV RNA load fluctuation of >1 log10 IU/mL, if present, was considered further evidence of acute HCV infection (7).

All 4 patients were MSM with well-controlled HIV infection who were receiving antiretroviral treatment. During routine medical screening, they were found to have newly elevated liver transaminase levels, and further assessment confirmed the diagnosis of acute HCV infection (Table). Three patients had received a diagnosis of STI in the previous 6 months, but only 1 patient acknowledged having unprotected anal intercourse. In addition, only 1 patient acknowledged using any recreational drugs (amyl nitrate); all denied using injection drugs (Table). All patients had lived in Madrid for at least 5 years before receiving a diagnosis of acute HCV. No patients reported having sex during international travel, using sex toys, or fisting.

Table

Description of 4 HIV-infected men with HCV infection, Madrid, Spain, 2010*

The patients described here lived in the Chueca District of Madrid, the largest MSM community in Spain, which is frequented by MSM traveling from smaller cities in Spain and other countries. Two of the 3 patients were infected with HCV genotype 4, which is unusual in patients from outside the Middle East and Africa (8) yet unexpectedly common in northern European HCV outbreaks (1), which suggests that the patients reported here may have been part of the social network originating in the north. Further sequencing of these isolates is under way to address this issue. The third patient with an identifiable HCV genotype was infected with HCV genotype 1, the most common genotype among HIV-infected MSM in northern Europe (1). These findings suggest that a larger, undetected outbreak of HCV infection is taking place in Madrid.

Although the patients reported here described fewer risks for sexual acquisition of HCV than patients from northern Europe or the United States, 3 had recent STI, which suggests that they underreported their risks for HCV acquisition. This temporal association between STI and acute HCV in these patients suggests that the pattern of emergence of sexually transmitted HCV among MSM in Spain might be similar to that seen in northern Europe, following regional epidemics of syphilis (starting in 2000) (9,10). We therefore encourage HIV specialists and general practitioners, when investigating an STI, to perform HCV testing on MSM as well as on persons with newly elevated liver aminotransferase levels.


An unfamiliar concept, the presence of centripetal flow in the subretinal space, is proposed as explaining the maculopathy of Coats's and von Hippel-Lindau's syndromes. If this flow exists, our recognition of it will contribute to understanding the etiology of other posterior-pole disorders, and possibly to their treatment as well. The obvious and important posterior-pole disorder to which this is applicable is macular degeneration, especially diskiform macular degeneration. Laser treatments designed to reduce the amount of peripheral retinal biologic waste production should reduce the work load of the macular disposal system, thereby prolonging its useful life.


With a focus on organizational capacity building, community-university (CU) partnerships have the potential to yield valuable resources for community nonprofits, which increasingly have to accomplish more with fewer resources. Although a growing body of literature documents the success of such arrangements, both community agencies and universities often face challenges in managing such partnerships. With a focus on student involvement, this paper describes a framework for conceptualizing CU partnerships around capacity building, with efforts designed to address particular program needs as related to the organization's capacity goals. These needs can be viewed as involving five levels of capacity building: 1) monitoring and documenting program outcomes or processes, 2) enhancing staff skills, 3) modifying program processes, 4) supporting adaptation, and 5) developing infrastructure. Conceptualizing partnerships along these levels helps frame communication about the agency's capacity building agenda, focuses efforts on addressing organizational needs, and establishes expectations for the scope of student work. Efforts to address these levels can take the form of internal or external models of partnership, varying in their degrees of student involvement and faculty supervision, and can leverage various mechanisms to compensate students for their work. Over time, opportunities for student involvement transform as the needs, goals, and resources of the agency evolve, and the potential of the university to influence the agency grows. Simultaneously, the opportunities open to students for professional development, competency building, and career networking continue to develop as they implement higher-level capacity building within an organization.


Today applying concrete structures is more usual than other structures which are used in buildings as in most of the world's countries the application ratio of concrete to steel has increased from 10 to 1(Ramezanpoor, 2004). Sometimes these structures require strengthening vulnerable members because of deficiency in their loading system in usual and critical conditions. There are different methods for strengthening these members. One of them is developing dimension of section by fresh concrete. In this method, the cohesion extent of fresh concrete to hardened concrete has significant role in force transfer.In this experimental project, the bond stress created between hardened concrete (core) and fresh concrete (screen) in core samples was measured and the effect of changing three factors was investigated that they are the length of sample, screen thickness, and 28 days compressive strength of screen concrete on bond stress. The PUSH-OUT method was applied in this experiment for cracking the samples.


In May 2011 the Cabinet Office published the Government Construction Strategy, announcing the Government's intention to require collaborative 3D BIM (with all project and asset information, documentation and data being digital) on its projects by 2016. Together with industry the UK Government has set out on a four year programme to reduce capital expenditure and the carbon burden from the construction and operation of the built environment by 20% through a modernisation of the sector. Such proposed transformation of the construction sector has significant implications for Built Environment education providers in ensuring they meet the demands required of future professionals. To this end, this study assessed the current position and associated challenges along with perspectives of BIM education in UK HE through surveys targeted at BIM-related Academic networks across the UK. Key areas focused on included:
- The definition of staff resource
- State of BIM in HEI (Higher Education Institutions).
- BIM adoption Strategy
- BIM awareness and associated issues
- Generation implications
Findings from the study indicated a nuanced appraisal of BIM readiness in UK HEIs. There are clear distinctions between the category of top performers and low performers concerning investigated concepts with clear defining parameters. However the disconnect between these two tiers exists in a state of inertia that is counterproductive to the overall strategic role/contributions of HEIs to the ongoing BIM digital revolution.
A BIM assessment matrix was developed from the key investigated issues. This represents an update to the optimum requirements for BIM teaching among HEIs in the UK. This update mapped additional crucial strategic considerations concerning BIM in HEIs.


Background and Objective: Oral cancer is a major public health problem which carries significant morbidity and mortality. A shift from treatment to prevention by screening is the key to reduce oral cancer lesion among population. Searching for an affordable and viable alternative to face-to-face screening that can expedite diagnosis of oral diseases among rural population with good accuracy is mandatory. One of the most realistic solutions to acknowledge this hurdle and the unavailability of dental professionals, is mobile teledentistry. Materials and Methods: Secondary data analysis was conducted, in which the data were derived from the project of "Oral Cancer Screening Program in Rural population" conducted by Thirumalai Mission Hospital, Ranipet. Ninety-six biopsies were taken for the patients who had visible oral lesions which had been provisionally diagnosed on clinical examination. Oral screening was carried out by unaided face-to-face screening method by a trained and calibrated dentist. In a separate subsequent visit, a trained teledental assistant took photographs of each participant's mouth by using a smartphone camera; the charting of the photographs was conducted independently by two dentists. Results: Intra-examiner reliability of Examiner 1 and Examiner 2 was 0.943 and 0.921, respectively. Inter examiner reliability score of 0.879 was obtained between both the examiners by the photographic method of diagnosis. Intraclass correlation coefficient between two methods of examination was 0.812. Agreement between the photographic examination (Examiner 1, Examiner 2) with the gold standard biopsy report was 0.791 and 0.855, respectively. Conclusion: Smartphone camera use offers a valid and reliable means of remote screening for oral lesions. Photographs of the oral lesions taken from the smart-phone camera with an acceptable diagnostic validity and reliability.


Recently, 3D label-free super-resolution profilers based on microsphere-assisted scanning white light interferometry were introduced having vertical resolution of few angstroms (Å) and a lateral resolution approaching 100 nm. However, the use of a single microsphere to generate the photonic nanojet (PNJ) limits their field of view. We overcome this limitation by using polymer microfibers to generate the PNJ. This increases the field of view by order of magnitude in comparison to the previously developed solutions while still resolving sub 100 nm features laterally and keeping the vertical resolution in 1nm range. To validate the capabilities of our system we used a recordable Blu-ray disc as a sample. It features a grooved surface topology with heights in the range of 20 nm and with distinguishable sub 100 nm lateral features that are unresolvable by diffraction limited optics. We achieved agreement between all three measurement devices across lateral and vertical dimensions. The field of view of our instrument was 110 μm by 2 μm and the imaging time was a couple of seconds.


ABSTRACT Here we report the complete, accurate 1.89-Mb genome sequence of Francisella tularensis subsp. holarctica strain FSC200, isolated in 1998 in the Swedish municipality Ljusdal, which is in an area where tularemia is highly endemic. This genome is important because strain FSC200 has been extensively used for functional and genetic studies of Francisella and is well-characterized.


The most common archaeological evidence for weaving in the Aegean is the presence of loom weights, which indicate the use of the warp-weighted loom. A wide variety of loom weight shapes have been recorded. In the past, this diversity has generally been explained in terms of cultural, geographical and chronological factors. In contrast, recent research has considered some aspects of shape as an expression of loom weight function. This new approach, which draws on experimental archaeology, has made it possible to render textile craft visible, even if the textiles themselves are not preserved (Martensson et al. 2009). It is this approach that has been adopted in the following analysis of the loom weights from Quartier Mu. The chapter divided into four parts. The first part gives an outline of general textile techniques and presents the methodology. The second part consists of an overview of the Quartier Mu loom weights, whilst the third part focuses on their contexts. The results of the analysis are discussed in the fourth and final part.


The arrival times of vehicles traveling southbound along a two-Iane, bidirectional highway were recorded at eight neighboring locations upstream of a bottleneck caused by an oversaturated traffic signal. Cumulative curves constructed from these observations describe completely and in great detail the evolution of the resulting long queues. These queues formed directly upstream of the signal when the signal's service rate fell below the southbound arrival rates, and never formed away from the bottleneck. The predictabilify ofbottlenecks like the one studied here can be exploited to manage traffic more effectively. The behavior ofvehicles within the queue, however, was rather interesting. Although the flow oscillations generated by the traffic signal were damped out within 0.8 km (0.5 mi) of the bottleneck, it was found that other oscillations arose within the queue farther upstream, at varied locations, and then grew in amplitude as they propagated in the upstream direction. Thus, the queue appeared to be stable close to the bottleneck and unstable far away. Oscillations never propagated beyond the upstream end of the queue, however; that is, the unusual phenomena always arose after the onset of queueing and remained confined within the queue. Some ofthese findings run contrary to current theories oftraffic flow. Because the data set collected in this study is unprecedented in scope and detail and so that it may be ofuse to other researchers, it has been posted on the Internet and is fully described here.


About the Cover: Although capacity may be a problem for a doghouse, other requirements are usually minimal. Unlike skyscrapers, doghouses are simple units. They do not require plumbing, electricity, fire alarms, elevators, or ventilation systems, and they do not need to be built to code or pass inspections. The range of complexity in software design is similar. Given available software tools and librariesmany of which are freehobbyists can build small or short-lived computer apps. Yet, design for software longevity, security, and efficiency can be intricateas is the design of large-scale systems. How can a software developer prepare to manage such complexity? By understanding the essential building blocks of software design and construction. About the Book: Software Essentials: Design and Construction explicitly defines and illustrates the basic elements of software design and construction, providing a solid understanding of control flow, abstract data types (ADTs), memory, type relationships, and dynamic behavior. This text evaluates the benefits and overhead of object-oriented design (OOD) and analyzes software design options. With a structured but hands-on approach, the book: Delineates malleable and stable characteristics of software design Explains how to evaluate the short- and long-term costs and benefits of design decisions Compares and contrasts design solutions, such as composition versus inheritance Includes supportive appendices and a glossary of over 200 common terms Covers key topics such as polymorphism, overloading, and more While extensive examples are given in C# and/or C++, often demonstrating alternative solutions, designnot syntaxremains the focal point of Software Essentials: Design and Construction.


Background/Aims: Few studies have examined predictors of reversion from mild cognitive impairment (MCI) to normal cognition. We sought to identify baseline predictors of reversion, using the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center Uniform Data Set, by comparing MCI individuals who reverted to normal cognition to those who progressed to dementia. Methods: Participants (n = 1,208) meeting MCI criteria were evaluated at the baseline visit and 3 subsequent annual visits. Clusters of baseline predictors of MCI reversion included demographic/genetic data, global functioning, neuropsychological functioning, medical health/dementia risk score, and neuropsychiatric symptoms. Stepwise logistic regression models identified predictors of MCI reversion per cluster, which were then entered into a final comprehensive model to find overall predictor(s). Results: At 2 years, 175 (14%) reverted to normal cognition, 612 (51%) remained MCI, and 421 (35%) progressed to dementia, with sustained diagnoses at 3 years. Significant variables associated with MCI reversion were younger age, being unmarried, absence of APOE ε4 allele, lower CDR-SOB score, and higher memory/language test scores. Conclusion: A relatively sizable proportion of MCI individuals reverted to normal cognition, which is associated with multiple factors previously noted. Findings may enhance MCI prognostic accuracy and increase precision of early intervention studies of dementia.


Sophisticated signal analysis methods have been in existence since the 1990s, formalizing the older idea of edge detection and characterization. Amongst the better known of these is one focusing on the portions of continuous wavelet transforms thought to contain mostof the signal's information content—its maxima. While analysis of continuous wavelet transform maxima (CWTMs) has been applied in exploration seismology, processing of these data have not. Simple methods exist to do this, and we discuss and implement one–the model of Mallat and Zhong–in this paper. The approach requires a bit of conceptual explanation, as it has not appeared in the exploration geophysics literature before, and we devote most of this paper to that task; our primary goal is logically develop the implementation, and leave relatively open the many possible applications to the seismic trace it seems to have in potentia. However, we end the paper with a simple example of thresholding of CWTMs, and the resulting reduction in noise. In a companion paper we use such data to produce internal multiple prediction operators.


It is an instrument to explore the psico-social environment that carries out a thorough inventory of the elements in such environment, it groups them in general categories that, from the process of stress (taken as the point of the departure), are the following: stressing situations, psicosocial support and facing conducts. And they are expressed in four levels or spheres of action: society, family, occupation and individual. It was intended to satisfy the need to count on relatively simple material, self-managable, widely applicable, standardized and that describes in an integral way the environment. The validity of contents and concepts was estimated through the Delphos technique. Though the concurrent validity is established by its application with another similar instrument, when this late was not available, some scales that could work as standards were use. The t Student test was used to evaluate the discrimination capacity among subgroups. In this, statistical differences were noticed for the same items with a significant value of 0.01. It was observed that the older they were there was an increasing set of stressing situations in the society and occupation spheres (correlation quotient of 0.80). According to sex, there were more stressing family situations in women. According to income, it was found that the bigger number of stressing situations and fewer psicosocial supports pertained to a higher income (correlation quotient of 0.91). It is deduced that the instrument, though it has some limitations, can be widely used. The only requirement is that it should be applied to individuals over 18 years old, of any sex and socio-economical class, and they should be literate.


Freshwater fishes have been used as indicators of aquatic ecosystem health as many teleosts are sensitive to water quality and habitat decline. Developing field derived thresholds, or tolerance indicator values (TIVs), based on matching distributions with prevailing water quality and habitat variables is a common approach that allows modelling of population viabilities under changing environmental conditions such as declines in water quality or hydrology. The freshwater fish fauna of south-western Australian is depauperate but has the highest rate of endemism of any Australian Drainage Division (82%). It is highly imperilled due to existing anthropogenic stressors such as secondary salinisation and riparian degradation. Secondary salinisation in particular has caused considerable inland range reductions of stenohaline species and the distributions of most are now limited to the western and southern parts of the region. The importance of fresh groundwater in maintaining lentic and lotic refuge habitats during the naturally dry summer and autumn in the region has also recently been recognised. For example, groundwater discharge during baseflow in the NCCARF project study area in the Blackwood River maintains habitat connectivity for the largest freshwater fish of the region, Tandanus bostocki and provides refuge habitat for the nationally endangered Nannatherina balstoni. However, modelling future population viabilities under projected surface and groundwater level reduction scenarios has been limited by the lack of TIVs for most species. Therefore, the current study aimed to analyse an extensive database of fish distributions and water quality variables across south-western Australia (1098 sampling points) to develop TIVs for species that could then be used in a risk assessment and decision making framework for managing groundwater dependent ecosystems (GDEs) subjected to declining water levels in the Blackwood River.

There were significant differences between species in TIVs relating to water temperature and conductivity. For example, some of the species that occupied narrow ranges and are considered to be threatened, such as Galaxiella munda and N.balstoni, occupied the coolest environments, whereas the common and widespread introduced Gambusia holbrooki and native Galaxias occidentalis occupied warmer and more saline environments. The findings from the current supporting document were subsequently incorporated into the Bayesian Belief Networks (Supporting Document 6) that modelled the likelihood of population declines for species following groundwater level reductions in the Blackwood River during baseflow. The BBNs were then mapped (Supporting Document 7) to spatially represent likelihood of population declines in the Blackwood River study area. The TIVs developed here will also be extremely useful for modelling population declines in response to other projected environmental changes in south-western Australia, such as increasing temperature and salinity.


Purpose Phosphatidylinositol-3-phosphate (PI(3)P), and Vps34, the type III phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase primarily responsible for its production, are important for function and survival of sensory neurons, where they have key roles in membrane processing events, such as autophagy, endosome processing, and fusion of membranes bearing ubiquitinated cargos with lysosomes. We examined their roles in the most abundant class of secondary neurons in the vertebrate retina, the ON-bipolar cells (ON-BCs). Methods A conditional Vps34 knockout mouse line was generated by crossing Vps34 floxed mice with transgenic mice expressing Cre recombinase in ON-BCs. Structural changes in the retina were determined by immunofluorescence and electron microscopy, and bipolar cell function was determined by electroretinography. Results Vps34 deletion led to selective death of ON-BCs, a thinning of the inner nuclear layer, and a progressive decline of electroretinogram b-wave amplitudes. There was no evidence for loss of other retinal neurons, or disruption of rod-horizontal cell contacts in the outer plexiform layer. Loss of Vps34 led to aberrant accumulation of membranes positive for autophagy markers LC3, p62, and ubiquitin, accumulation of endosomal membranes positive for Rab7, and accumulation of lysosomes. Similar effects were observed in Purkinje cells of the cerebellum, leading to severe and progressive ataxia. Conclusions These results support an essential role for PI(3)P in fusion of autophagosomes with lysosomes and in late endosome maturation. The cell death resulting from Vps34 knockout suggests that these processes are essential for the health of ON-BCs.


BACKGROUND
Associations between physical health and depression are consistent across cultures among adults up to 65 years of age. In later life, the impact of physical health on depression is much more substantial and may depend on sociocultural factors.

AIMS
To examine cross-national differences in the association between physical health and depressive symptoms in elderly people across western Europe.

METHOD
Fourteen community-based studies on depression in later life in nine western European countries contributed to a total study sample of 22 570 respondents aged 65 years and older. Measures were harmonized for depressive symptoms (EURO-D scale), functional limitations and chronic physical conditions.

RESULTS
In the majority of the participating samples, the association of depressive symptoms with functional disability was stronger than with chronic physical conditions. Associations were slightly more pronounced in the UK and Ireland.

CONCLUSIONS
The association between physical health and depressive symptoms in later life is consistent across western Europe.


Abstract The Archaean granitoid pluton of the Singhbhum craton in E India is overlain by Archaean to Palaeoproterozoic metasediments. These sediments are still poorly known and their stratigraphy is under debate. Several scattered, most probably Meso- to Neoarchaean, conglomerates are present in the state of Jharkhand that differ so much in characteristics that they are probably not related to each other. The sedimentology of a series of conglomerate patches and layers near Bhurkuli has been investigated, including the characteristics of the clasts. It is deduced on the basis of these characteristics and the sedimentological context that the Bhurkuli conglomerates represent the channel facies of a river system that differed from the types of fluvial systems that exist nowadays.


Limited behavioural repertoire impacts quality of life in chronic schizophrenia. We have previously shown that the amount of movement exhibited by patients with schizophrenia is positively correlated with the volume of left anterior cingulate cortex and that this quantity of movement can be increased by modafinil. However, increased movement in itself may be of limited clinical significance. Hence, we sought to analyse the 'structure' of spontaneous movement in patients with schizophrenia and to examine whether the chunking of spontaneous activity has a neuroanatomical basis. 'Actiwatches' were used to record spontaneous motor activity over a 20 hour period in sixteen male patients with schizophrenia. Time-series data were analysed for the number of discrete spontaneous activities, which might indicate a degree of structure to ongoing activity. Subjects underwent a whole-brain structural MRI scan. The 'number of discrete movement epochs' correlated with volumes of regions within bilateral rostro-ventral putamen and temporal poles. These data suggest that in people with schizophrenia the volume of bilateral putamen may influence the complexity of their behaviours, as distinct from the overall amount of behaviour. The results are presented in the context of a large body of previous research examining the role of the basal ganglia in motor and cognitive pattern generation.