A patient had the clinical and neuropathologic signs of Lafora's disease. Skin biopsy specimens from the midcalf area confirmed earlier findings by showing numerous periodic acid-Schiff-positive inclusion bodies in eccrine sweat gland duct cells. In our patient, however, inclusion bodies were more abundantly present in the apocrine sweat gland duct cells of the axilla skin. In brain biopsy specimens and autopsy material the same periodic acid-Schiff-positive inclusion bodies were found. From these data it can be stated that skin biopsy of the axilla is the method of first choice in confirming the diagnosis.


160 woman patients in whom the course of pregnancy was uneventful or pathological (intrauterine growth retardation, percentile less than 5) were investigated at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of the University of Homburg/Saar between the 28th and 42nd week of pregnancy, using a newly developed cardiotocograph (HP M1350A Hewlett-Packard, Boblingen, FRG). By means of the kinetocardiotocogram (KCTG), fetal mobility (fetal movements of the whole body or of the extremities) was recorded simultaneously with the conventional recording of the fetal heart rate and uterine contractions. One of the aims in developing the KCTG was to record as far as possible all fetal movements synchronous to the recordings of heart rate and uterine contractions. To this end, the recording algorithm of the KCTG was adapted to the examination results obtained by two simultaneously operating ultrasound investigators. After the 28th week of pregnancy it was possible to record by the KCTG fetal "movement clusters" (combined body and limb movements) independent of the weight of the fetus and of amniotic fluid volume or positional anomalies, reliably and with good correlation with the results of the sonographic control investigations (r = 0.88-0.97). In cases of intrauterine growth retardation (percentile less than 5) a significantly reduced motility was observed on average as early as 13 days before delivery (p less than 0.005). It must be emphasized that, at this stage, most of the antenatal CTGs were normal. These findings indicate that KCTG can contribute to improved monitoring in high-risk pregnancies.


BACKGROUND The effects of fat emulsions containing omega-3 and omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) on fatty acid profile, cytokine production, and delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) in burned rats receiving total parenteral nutrition (TPN) were investigated. METHODS A fat emulsion containing only eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) was prepared (omega-3 fat emulsion). Sprague-Dawley rats were fed fat-free chow for 2 weeks and were divided into three groups according to the contents of TPN. Groups C (n = 11) and C' (n = 14) received fat-free TPN. Group omega6 received safflower oil emulsion containing linoleic acid (omega-6 PUFA) (n = 11). Group omega3 (n = 11) received safflower oil emulsion (19% of total caloric intake) and fat emulsion containing only EPA and DHA (1% of total calories). On day 5, all rats except for those in group C' were subjected to a 20% full-thickness burn. Group C' did not receive burns. After 48 hours, the rats were killed. RESULTS The interleukin (IL)-8 concentration was significantly 45% lower in group omega3 than in group C (p < .05). The IL-10 concentration was significantly 15% lower in group omega3 than in group omega6 (p < .05). The IL-6 concentration was increased in group omega6 but not in group omega3 when compared with group C. The IL-6 and IL-8 were not detected in group C'. Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and thromboxane B2 (TXB2) concentrations were increased by burn injury, but there were no significant differences among the burned groups. Cell-mediated immunity was thus significantly decreased in burned groups (groups C, omega6, and omega3; p < .01). However, the decrease of DTH was smaller in group omega3 and significantly greater when compared with groups C and omega6 (p < .05). CONCLUSIONS omega-6 PUFAs increased serum inflammatory cytokine levels in a stressed state. omega-3 fat emulsion reduced IL-8 and IL-10 levels and prevented immunosuppression in burned rats that were receiving TPN.


Biomedicine is a pillar of the collective, scientific effort of human self-discovery, as well as a major source of humanistic data codified primarily in biomedical documents. Despite their rigid structure, maintaining and updating a considerably-sized collection of such documents is a task of overwhelming complexity mandating efficient information retrieval for the purpose of the integration of clustering schemes. The latter should work natively with inherently multidimensional data and higher order interdependencies. Additionally, past experience indicates that clustering should be semantically enhanced. Tensor algebra is the key to extending the current term-document model to more dimensions. In this article, an alternative keyword-term-document strategy, based on scientometric observations that keywords typically possess more expressive power than ordinary text terms, whose algorithmic cornerstones are third order tensors and MeSH ontological functions, is proposed. This strategy has been compared against a baseline using two different biomedical datasets, the TREC (Text REtrieval Conference) genomics benchmark and a large custom set of cognitive science articles from PubMed.


Magnetoencephalography (MEG) is a promising technology, which could be used in a variety of biomedical applications. However, MEG electromagnetic measurement is usually degraded by noise. Noise suppression in MEG measurement is particularly challenging because it is difficult to remove the noise and preserve the information components in the MEG data. In this study, a novel noise suppression method, based on robust principal component analysis (RPCA) technique, is presented and applied to the estimation of bio-electromagnetic field in source space for the first time. The proposed method gives a constrained optimization of MEG electromagnetic domain transformations such that the matrix of transformed MEG measurement can be decomposed as the sum of a sparse matrix of noise and a low-rank matrix of denoised data. Applying the proposed method to a number of simulations showed significant improvement of the result accuracy.


Purpose: Colon cancer is a major cause of cancer deaths. Dietary factors contribute substantially to the risk of this malignancy. Western-style diets promote development of azoxymethane-induced colon cancer. Although we showed that epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFR) controlled azoxymethane tumorigenesis in standard fat conditions, the role of EGFR in tumor promotion by high dietary fat has not been examined. Experimental Design: A/J C57BL6/J mice with wild-type Egfr (Egfrwt) or loss-of-function waved-2 Egfr (Egfrwa2) received azoxymethane followed by standard (5 fat) or western-style (20 fat) diet. As F1 mice were resistant to azoxymethane, we treated mice with azoxymethane followed by one cycle of inflammation-inducing dextran sulfate sodium to induce tumorigenesis. Mice were sacrificed 12 weeks after dextran sulfate sodium. Tumors were graded for histology and assessed for EGFR ligands and proto-oncogenes by immunostaining, Western blotting, and real-time PCR. Results:Egfrwt mice gained significantly more weight and had exaggerated insulin resistance compared with Egfrwa2 mice on high-fat diet. Dietary fat promoted tumor incidence (71.2 versus 36.7; P < 0.05) and cancer incidence (43.9 versus 16.7; P < 0.05) only in Egfrwt mice. The lipid-rich diet also significantly increased tumor and cancer multiplicity only in Egfrwt mice. In tumors, dietary fat and Egfrwt upregulated transforming growth factor-, amphiregulin, CTNNB1, MYC, and CCND1, whereas PTGS2 was only increased in Egfrwt mice and further upregulated by dietary fat. Notably, dietary fat increased transforming growth factor- in normal colon. Conclusions: EGFR is required for dietary fat-induced weight gain and tumor promotion. EGFR-dependent increases in receptor ligands and PTGS2 likely drive diet-related tumor promotion. (Clin Cancer Res 2009;15(22):67809)


Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a small enveloped virus with a positive-sense single stranded RNA genome. Based on its molecular genetic characteristics, the virus has been classified into the Hepacivirus genus of the family Flaviviridae. HCV is one of the major causes of chronic hepatitis which can lead to liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. According to the recent WHO published data, 123 million individuals are infected with HCV (approximately 3% of the world's population) throughout the world. Due to its highly variable nature, HCV is classified into six major genotypes. The HCV genome encodes a single polyprotein that is cleaved to yield at least 10 mature proteins (C, E1, E2, p7, NS2, NS3, NS4A, NS4B, NS5A and NS5B). The recently developed HCV cell culture system, based on the JFH1 strain of HCV, has provided an opportunity to study the role of the viral proteins in the complete HCV replication cycle in human hepatoma cells. How the viral proteins functionally interact during replication of HCV in cell culture is not completely understood. Passage of cell cultures transfected with HCV genomic RNA containing attenuating mutations allows for the selection of genomes with second site compensatory mutations that restore replication to wild type levels. Using this approach, the functional interactions of p7 and E2 with other viral proteins during HCV replication was investigated.
A small protein of 63 amino acids, p7 is encoded at the junction of the structural and non-strucutural region. p7 is a highly hydrophobic, integral membrane protein and is classified in the viroporin family. In this thesis, it is shown that p7 is critical for production of viral particles and is implicated in a late step of particle assembly. Since the protein plays a critical role in the virus life cycle, chemical compounds that block p7 function are potential candidates for anti-viral therapy. In this thesis, a chimeric JFH1 genome that encodes the p7 protein of genotype (GT) 1b strain J4 was generated. The intergenotypic chimeric genome was nonviable in human hepatoma cells and infectious chimeric virions were only produced after cells harboring the chimeric genomes were passaged several times.
To investigate the emergence of compensatory mutations in the viral proteins during cell passaging, the consensus sequences of the entire polyprotein coding regions of the wild type JFH1 and three chimeric viruses were determined. Sequence analysis revealed mutations in core, NS2, NS5A and NS5B. Reverse genetic analysis demonstrated that any one of the single mutations restored the infectivity of the defective chimeric genomes. These data suggest that there are critical genetic interactions between p7 with core, NS2, NS5A and NS5B. In addition, a stable physical interaction between p7 and NS2 is shown in a transient expression system.
The HCV glycoproteins E1 and E2 are present on the surface of virions as a heterodimer that attach virions to host cell receptors and facilitate virus fusion and entry. HCV entry proceeds via attachment to glycosaminoglycans followed by binding to scavenger receptor type B class I, and the tetraspanin CD81. Recently, claudin-1 and occludin have emerged as additional receptors required for entry. E2 has a receptor binding domain (E2661RBD) that conatins three variable regions, hypervariable regions 1 (HVR1), HVR2 and the intergenotypic variable region (igVR). In this thesis, HVR1 of E2 was deleted in the context of full-length replication comptetent HCV. Deletion of HVR1 increases CD81-binding ability of the mutant and also increases its susceptibility to neutralizing antibody MAb 24. The infectivity of the HVR1 deleted virions was attenuated approximately 10-fold prior to accumulation of compensatory mutations. Sequencing of cDNA obtained from reverted virions revealed mutations in E1 (I262L) and E2 (N415D). Reverse genetic studies revealed that I262L improved the infectivity of HVR1 deleted virions 2.5 fold while N415D restored infectivity to wild type levels. These data suggest that mutations within E1 or E2 can compensate for the reduction in infectivity observed for HVR1 deleted viruses.
In summary, this thesis demonstrates the importance of functional interactions between HCV proteins during virus morphogenesis and infectivity.


This work presents an open-loop, fully differential capacitive MEMS accelerometer implemented in CMOS technology. The mathematical model of this open-loop system is derived, which considers non-ideal factors in circuits such as nonlinear distortion and noises. These non-ideal factors have been discussed through system level simulation using MATLAB. Simulation results show that the system has good capacitive sensitivity and is robust to noises. The detailed design of interface circuit in the proposed MEMS accelerometer is presented, using sigma-delta (Σ-Δ) modulation. Finally, the chip-level physical layout of interface circuit is implemented and tested, using silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substrate with 1µm CMOS process. Results have shown the chip with area of 1.32mm2 and power consumption of about 5mW. The proposed MEMS accelerometer is designed for acceleration of less than 5G, and its resolution is 1.923mG.


This paper explores variation in the events or activities Education doctoral students describe as contributing to their feeling of being an academic or belonging to an academic community as well as difficulties they experience. The results (drawing principally on students in a Canadian research‐intensive university though with some in a UK university) demonstrate a rich variation in multiple formative activities that are experienced as contributing to a developing identity as an academic, with many lying outside formal and semi‐formal aspects of the doctorate. Yet, at the same time students report tensions in the very sorts of activities they often find significant and positive in the development of their identity. We see this analysis as offering much‐needed insights into the formative role of cumulative day‐to‐day activities in the development of academic identity.


Controlling endogenous angiogenesis, or the formation of new capillaries, is a potential therapeutic strategy for numerous diseases including cancer, stroke and cardiovascular disease (1–4). These efforts have been met with mixed success in the clinic, partly due to an inadequate understanding, and thus control, of the mechanisms that influence the endothelial cells that form capillaries (1, 3). In order to control angiogenesis in an effort to improve treatment responses, quantitative information about endothelial cell behavior must be used to build accurate models of vascular network formation.In this paper, we introduce a method to identify and classify endothelial cell responses to angiogenic stimuli through sophisticated image analysis. The presented automated image processing tools and classification framework allow for rapid quantitative investigations of cellular images. Results of our analysis demonstrate that endothelial cells can be grouped into distinct morphological phenotypes as a function of their responses to combinations of angiogenic growth factor stimuli. Information on phenotypic behavior and responses will be applied towards predicting and guiding cell behavior for therapeutic design.Copyright © 2013 by ASME


Environmental fluctuations have been proposed to enhance the coexistence of competing phenotypes. Evaluations are here presented on the effects of prey density and short-term temporal clumping of prey availability on the relative foraging success of unequal interferers in social forager groups of juvenile brown trout Salmo trutta feeding on drifting invertebrate prey (frozen chironomids). Groups of three trout with established linear dominance hierarchies (dominant, intermediate and subordinate) were subjected to three different total numbers of prey, combined with three different levels of temporal clumping of prey arrival, resulting in nine treatment combinations. Higher total number of prey increased the consumption for all dominance ranks, while higher temporal clumping decreased the consumption for the dominant individuals and increased the consumption for the subordinate individuals. The proportion of prey eaten was smaller at high prey numbers. Similarly, there was a trend that increased temporal clumping also decreased the proportion of prey eaten. We conclude that density and temporal clumping of prey contribute to the coexistence of unequal interferers, and that there is a potential positive feedback between prey behaviour and phenotypic coexistence through decreased per capita predation risk for prey that drift synchronously in high densities.


This study aims to describe and analyse two cases in Swedish upper primary school, of subjectintegrated theme works in social studies subjects, specifically on key global issues. This research was conducted in the context of subject-integrated teaching in social studies subjects being currently quite rare, and that social studies subjects are sometimes neglected in early school years. However, based on previous research, subject-integrated teaching in these subjects may promote students' learning on key societal and global issues. Working with two student groups in two schools, this study was based on classroom observations, interviews with teachers and students, and students' written reflections. In the study, it is concluded that in subject-integrated theme work, it is important to permit the subjects to integrate in a rewarding way, with careful and well-thought-out teacher planning. However, there is also a need for openness and flexibility in ongoing teaching, especially when it may be conducive for students' learning to link to other subjects' content. In this manner, a comprehensive view of the social studies subjects can promote students' interest in and commitment to learning on key global issues and on the social subjects overall, particularly regarding their common core. Thus, subject-integrated teaching can develop students' global citizenship skills and their will to engage in solving key global problems, at present and in the future.


abstract:Catharine Ely, daughter of a French father and Ojibwe mother, moved to the Ojibwe Village of Fond du Lac (currently Duluth, Minnesota) with her Anglo-American missionary husband, Edmund, in 1835. Having spent ten of her eighteen years boarding at a mission school, Catharine had adopted the domestic ideals and parental principles of American evangelical Protestantism; her approach to mothering, captured by her diary, was quite different from that of the local Ojibwe women. By exploring the contrasting cultural understandings of motherhood present in each community, we glimpse a new facet of the resistance Ojibwe people offered to Edmund and Catharine's plans for their conversion, and to the United States' larger colonial venture in the Upper Midwest.


PURPOSE OF REVIEW
Emergency presentations in patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are a clinical challenge. Clinicians need to be vigilant in diagnosing and treating immune-mediated toxicities. In this review, we consider the approach to managing an acutely unwell patient being treated with ICIs presenting as an emergency.

RECENT FINDINGS
A minority of acutely unwell patients treated with ICIs will have an immune-mediated toxicity. Early recognition and intervention in those with immune-mediated toxicity can reduce the duration and severity of the complications. The use of early immunosuppressive agents along corticosteroid therapy may improve outcomes in patients with life-threatening immune-mediated toxicity.

SUMMARY
Individualized management of immune-mediated toxicities is a key challenge for emergency oncology services; this has become part of routine cancer care.


In Japan there are traditional Japanese crafting such as fittings, furniture, textile, etc., which are closely related to Japanese culture and life. The design of Japanese houses and their rooms is a very important problem to attract people. However, this design is not easy because people have different feelings. In order to deal with this problem, we have developed a digital traditional Japanese crafting system(DTJCS) which provides a presentation space for traditional Japanese crafting. We analyze the effect of room change of fittings to people's feelings using the presentation system.


Background: To examine racial and ethnic differences in wealth and other economic, exposure and baseline health-related risks of COVID-19 among older adults in the U.S. Methods: Using rich data on wealth and long-term care use among older Americans unique to the 2016 Health and Retirement Study, we quantify differences in COVID-19 vulnerability among non-Hispanic white, non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic respondents aged 50+. We measure wealth, other economic (insurance, income); exposure (long-term care, employment, telework, household size); and health (chronic conditions, smoking) risk stratified by age (50-64, 65+). Results: Blacks and Hispanics face dramatically greater financial risk that potentially increases exposure to COVID-19, relative to whites; Blacks and Hispanics are four to five times more likely to have no financial wealth. Blacks are also more likely than whites to use long-term care. Blacks and Hispanics also are less likely to have health insurance and face greater risk of exposure to COVID-19 because they are less likely to telework, and Hispanic older adults reside in larger households. Black and Hispanic older adults are also more likely to have a chronic condition associated with worse COVID-19 outcomes. Conclusions: Our results suggest that wealth differences may play a substantial role in contributing to the very large racial and ethnic disparities in the health burden of COVID-19. Racial disparities in long-term care, where COVID-19 risks are higher, contribute to make older Black Americans even more vulnerable to COVID-19.


Abstract In the transition to Suharto's New Order regime in the province of East Java, fugitives from the political Left, members and sympathizers of the Indonesian Communist Party (Partai Komunis Indonesia, PKI), came to the south of the province to set up a rural base from 1967 to regroup and resist the military-dominated regime. The military responded by mounting a counterinsurgency operation, the Trisula Operation, in 1968, against what they alleged were underground guerrillas in the area. Using food as a lens, this article traces the effects of counterin-surgency operations on food cultivation and consumption patterns in South Blitar, East Java. Changes to food cultivation and land use as a result of the operation coincided with shifts in thinking under the New Order regime in relation to food and local economy, despite both sides of the conflict agreeing on the desirability of modernization and development for the area. Food consumption and production therefore became a site of struggle for legitimacy and a mirror showing the shifts in power in East Java during the early New Order period.


An interval-based two-stage risk analysis (ITRA) method is developed for planning water resource systems associated with uncertainties presented in terms of probability distributions and interval values. Risk measures are employed to assess the impacts of degrees of the preference of decision makers on the tradeoff between system benefits and expected economic losses. ITRA is applied to a case study of the Kaidu-kongque watershed located in an arid region of northwestern China. A series of scenarios are examined based on different risk measures, results of which reflect decision makers" attitudes toward risk aversion and options for water-resource allocation under system-reliability levels. Results disclose that both uncertainties of system components and risk attitudes of decision makers have significant effects on water-allocation patterns and economic benefits. Model outputs link the pre-regulated water-allocation targets in decision making with various scales of regionalization policies (due to existence of uncertainties of meeting target flows). Results reveal that the competitiveness can exacerbate the ecological water shortage when limited water resources are available for multiple users in the arid region. The methodology and findings can help managers to gain scientific understanding of the consequences of water allocation decisions when planning in a fast-growing economic development and extremely arid region.


We present Where Are You? (WAY), a dataset of ~6k dialogs in which two humans -- an Observer and a Locator -- complete a cooperative localization task. The Observer is spawned at random in a 3D environment and can navigate from first-person views while answering questions from the Locator. The Locator must localize the Observer in a detailed top-down map by asking questions and giving instructions. Based on this dataset, we define three challenging tasks: Localization from Embodied Dialog or LED (localizing the Observer from dialog history), Embodied Visual Dialog (modeling the Observer), and Cooperative Localization (modeling both agents). In this paper, we focus on the LED task -- providing a strong baseline model with detailed ablations characterizing both dataset biases and the importance of various modeling choices. Our best model achieves 32.7% success at identifying the Observer's location within 3m in unseen buildings, vs. 70.4% for human Locators.


Excessive connective tissue deposition in the skin and other organs is the pathologic hallmark of systemic sclerosis (SSc), and fibrosis accounts for much of the chronic morbidity of this disease. Unregulated production of collagen in SSc skin fibroblasts has been demonstrated both in vivo and in vitro, and is considered to be a critical process in the development of fibrosis. In addition to collagen, other components of the extracellular matrix are also overexpressed in SSc fibroblasts, and may be important in the functional alterations of connective tissue. The transcriptional activity of several genes coding for matrix macromolecules is upregulated in SSc fibroblasts. The pleiotropic signaling molecule transforming growth factor-beta (TGF beta) is likely to be intimately involved in initiating and perhaps perpetuating the fibrotic response in SSc. TGF beta, a potent profibrotic cytokine, is highly expressed in endothelial cells, in fibroblasts near blood vessels, and in perivascular inflammatory cells in involved tissues in SSc. The apparent failure of SSc fibroblasts to down-regulate their collagen synthesis when cultured in a three-dimensional matrix suggest an additional mechanism for the maintenance of unregulated collagen production in these cells. Finally, subpopulations of fibroblasts with an activated biosynthetic phenotype may become dominant in SSc. Therefore, persistent elevation of extracellular matrix gene expression in SSc tissues may be the result of a series of events representing the interaction of genetic and hormonal factors. A precise delineation of the mechanisms of fibroblast activation is needed for understanding the pathogenesis of SSc, and for the rational design of therapeutic interventions aimed at interfering with the fibrotic process.


Background and Aims Past research has shown that cannabis use is common among adults in the U.S. In addition, physical activity (PA), such as exercise, is often a component of many American's daily routines. Anecdotal information suggests that a subset of individuals use cannabis in conjunction with PA, but the evidence base is lacking. The purpose of this study was to assess the frequency, methods of ingestion, strain types, and timing (before, during or after) of cannabis use in combination with PA. We also sought to better understand the types of PA that cannabis is being used with and reasons why individuals may use cannabis with PA. Methods and Results A brief survey was developed and was administered online to community residents (N = 105) who reported use of cannabis with PA. Analysis of survey responses revealed that participants were using cannabis in combination with a wide range of physical activities. While cannabis use was reported before, during, and after PA, the majority of participants (92%) reported use of cannabis before PA. Most participants (77%) believed that the use of cannabis products with their PA had a positive effect on their performance. The strain of cannabis used with PA was dependent on timing of cannabis use before, during, or after PA. Although participants reported a range of reasons for using cannabis before, during, or after PA, pain management was the only reason reported across all time periods. Conclusions Findings from this study suggest that there is a sub-community of physically active individuals using cannabis with their PA, many who believe that cannabis use has a positive effect on their performance.


: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a varied condition when examined from a number of different perspectives including factors which influence disease development, pathological process and clinical features. There may be a complex interaction between the degree by which each of these processes influences the development of COPD and the subsequent clinical phenotype with which the patient presents. The varied host response and subsequent clinical phenotype has generated much interest in recent years. It is possible that failure of treatment to impact on mortality and reverse the disease process is because of the heterogeneous nature of the condition. Identification and targeted treatment of clinical and pathological phenotypes within the broad spectrum of COPD may therefore improve outcome. This article will review previous work which has attempted to phenotype COPD and identify if specific treatment for these phenotypes has been shown to be of benefit. It will examine the work on pathological processes and clinical manifestations, both pulmonary and systemic, and will focus on pharmacological therapies.


Previous experiments have shown (2) that regeneration 1 of urea-denatured horse serum albumin yielded a material which, in comparison with the native protein, exhibited a significantly lower ability to stimulate precipitins in the rabbit. The regenerated protein, however, was capable of precipitating to full titer the precipitins produced by immunization of rabbits with the native material. Similar experiments have now been carried out on whole bovine albumin, a protein of recognized lower antigenic activity than horse albumin. The preparation and properties of the native and regenerated proteins have been described in the preceding paper of this series (3).


The work deals with coal combustion in a pilot-plant fluidised bed (7 cm i.d.) under atmospheric conditions. The aims are to capture and analyse qualitatively as well as quantitatively the volatile polycyclic hydrocarbons emitted by using coal as energy source under various combustion conditions. After establishing the sampling procedure, the emissions are caught in five different traps (two cyclones, nylon and teflon filters, and XAD-2). The contribution of each of the sixteen polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) listed by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as priority pollutants is analysed, and their emissions as a function of the combustion variables (combustion temperature, percentage of excess oxygen, air flow and fluidising agent) are reported. Synchronous Fluorescence Spectroscopy is the analytical tool used for identification and quantification of the PAH emissions.


Motivation Comparative genomic studies indicate that extant genomes are more properly considered to be a fusion product of random mutations over generations (vertical evolution) and genomic material transfers between individuals of different lineages (reticulate transfer). This has motivated biologists to use phylogenetic networks and other general models to study genome evolution. Two fundamental algorithmic problems arising from verification of phylogenetic networks and from computing Robinson‐Foulds distance in the space of phylogenetic networks are the tree and cluster containment problems. The former asks how to decide whether or not a phylogenetic tree is displayed in a phylogenetic network. The latter is to decide whether a subset of taxa appears as a cluster in some tree displayed in a phylogenetic network. The cluster containment problem (CCP) is also closely related to testing the infinite site model on a recombination network. Both the tree containment and CCP are NP‐complete. Although the CCP was introduced a decade ago, there has been little progress in developing fast algorithms for it on arbitrary phylogenetic networks. Results In this work, we present a fast computer program for the CCP. This program is developed on the basis of a linear‐time transformation from the small version of the CCP to the SAT problem. Availability and implementation The program package is available for download on http://www.math.nus.edu.sg/˜matzlx/ccp.


This article studies propagating traveling waves in a class of reaction-diffusion systems which model isothermal autocatalytic chemical reactions as well as microbial growth and competition in a flow reactor. In the context of isothermal autocatalytic systems, two different cases will be studied. The first is autocatalytic chemical reaction of order m without decay. The second is chemical reaction of order m with a decay of order n, where m and n are positive integers and m>n≥1. A typical system in autocatalysis is A+2B→3B and B→C involving two chemical species, a reactant A and an auto-catalyst B and C an inert chemical species. The numerical computation gives more accurate estimates on minimum speed of traveling waves for autocatalytic reaction without decay, providing useful insight in the study of stability of traveling waves. For autocatalytic reaction of order m=2 with linear decay n=1, which has a particular important role in chemical waves, it is shown numerically that there exist multiple traveling waves with 1, 2 and 3 peaks with certain choices of parameters. AMS subject classifications: 34C20, 34C25, 92E20


Background: Previous studies have confirmed that artemisinin can prevent arrhythmia by inhibiting K+ currents. Recent findings have shown that artemisinin attenuates sodium current in nodose ganglion and endocrine cells of rats. This study investigated the effects of artemisinin on peak sodium current in ventricular myocytes.

Methods: Rat ventricular myocytes were isolated by Langendorff reverse aortic perfusion method. Peak sodium current was recorded using the whole-cell patch clamp technique.

Results: The INa was reduced by 50 μM artemisinin, and the steady-state activation and inactivation curves were shifted toward the left. The time constant τ of the steady-state recovery curve increased from 2.89 ms to 7.13 ms.

Conclusions: Artemisinin attenuates INa by modulating the voltage dependence of the Na+ channel similar to the class I anti-arrhythmia agents.


Both human activity and climate change can influence erosion rates and initiate rapid landscape change. Understanding the relative impact of these factors is critical to managing the risks of extreme erosion related to flooding and landslide occurrence. Here we present a 2100 year record of sediment mass accumulation and inferred erosion based on lacustrine sediment cores from Amherst Lake, Vermont, USA. Using deposition from August 2011 Tropical Storm Irene as a modern analogue, we identified distinct event deposits indicative of destructive erosion events. These deposits record a prolonged (multidecadal) interval of enhanced erosion following the initial storm‐induced landscape disturbance. The direct impact of human land cover alteration is minimal in comparison to the more recent twentieth century increase in the occurrence of catastrophic erosion linked to overall wetter conditions that favor high erosion rates and more easily trigger landslides during periods of extreme precipitation.


"When the author was nine years old, his father, an experienced climber, tackled one of the world's most treacherous mountains, the Eiger, in the Swiss Alps. It was the first attempt to reach the summit via the "direct" route (Harlin senior had already climbed the North Face), and it ended in tragedy, with a 4,000-foot fall. Forty years after his father's death, at the age of 49, the author succeeded where his father failed: beating the mountain. Published to coincide with the release of the Imax film chronicling the climb, the book combines biography (memories of Harlin's father) with a you-are-there account of the climb ("The cold Eiger rock feels good against my bare hands"). Thankfully, Harlin avoids most of the climbing-as-life-metaphor cliches that mar so many mountaineering books. At once a tribute to a legendary climber and a celebration of a very personal triumph, this book will captivate the imagination of anyone who reads it." - from Booklist


The Nigerian banking reform precipitated the adoption of Islamic banking and finance in 2009 as additional door to banking mechanism in the country. However, the implementation of the Islamic banking or non-interest banking has generated a lot of debate, specifically because its foundations are based on Islamic religion. This paper briefly reviews the concept, the challenges and prospects of Islamic banking in Nigeria. The paper relies on the secondary sources by reviewing and analysing various works on the subject. A reflection on the size of its population and the developmental opportunities indicates that Nigeria has the prospect of becoming the hub centre of Islamic finance in Africa. Yet there are numerous challenges to the development of the Islamic banking system in the country, including misrepresentation of the system, lack of linkages and investment institutions, lack of adequate knowledge, as well as shroud business ethos and corruption, which is endemic in the country. The paper recommends the need for greater public awareness about Islamic banking and creation of enabling environment (i.e. the legal, accounting and taxation systems) for the working of Islamic financial system.


Abstract. We report measurements of dust currents obtained with a small probe and a larger probe during the flight of the ECOMA-4 rocket through the summer polar mesosphere. The payload included two small dust probes behind a larger dust probe located centrally at the front. For certain phases of the payload rotation, the current registered by one of the small dust probes was up to 2 times the current measured with the larger probe, even though the effective collection area of the larger probe was 4 times that of the small one. We analyze the phase dependence of the currents and their difference with a model based on the assumption that the small probe was hit by charged dust fragments produced in collisions of mesospheric dust with the payload body. Our results confirm earlier findings that secondary charge production in the collision of a noctilucent cloud/Polar Summer Mesospheric Echo (NLC/PMSE) dust particle with the payload body must be several orders of magnitude larger than might be expected from laboratory studies of collisions of pure ice particles with a variety of clean surfaces. An important consequence is that for some payload configurations, one should not assume that the current measured with a detector used to study mesospheric dust is simply proportional to the number density of ambient dust particles. The higher secondary charge production may be due to the NLC/PMSE particles containing multiple meteoric smoke particles.


In order to improve the operation of the elevator comfort, this paper uses the frequency conversion technology, PLC technology and field bus control technology. They can be used for both the single elevator control and elevator group control management. The system has good application flexibility. The control system can solve the problem of insufficient teaching devices in elevator group control system and forms a group control elevator simulation teaching system.


This study was an examination of the effect of interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1 alpha) on prostaglandin (PG) production and cyclooxygenase (COX) activity in endometrial stromal cells isolated from uteri of ovariectomized rats sensitized for the decidual cell reaction. Treatment with IL-1 alpha (20 ng/ml) for 24 h caused approximately 13-, 2-, and 2-fold increases in PGE2, PGF2 alpha, and 13, 14-dihydro-15-keto-PGF2 alpha (PGFM) accumulation, respectively, in the medium. The IL-1 alpha-induced increase in PG accumulation was accompanied by a significant (6-fold) increase in COX activity in the cells. IL-1 alpha-induced increases in PGE2 accumulation and COX activity were greatly reduced or prevented by cycloheximide (CHX), actinomycin D, and dexamethasone (DEX). In addition to IL-1 alpha, epidermal growth factor (EGF, 40 ng/ml) also caused a significant increase in PGE2 accumulation in the medium and COX activity in the cells. The combined effects of IL-1 alpha and EGF on PGE2 accumulation and COX activity were additive. The results of this study provide evidence that IL-1 alpha stimulates PG production in endometrial stromal cells from uteri sensitized for the decidual cell reaction through a mechanism that involves an increase in COX activity.


This is the penultimate Volume of a series that began in 1996 as a modernized, English language version of a classic German language compendium, Georg Brauer's "Handbuch der Präparativen Anorganischen Chemie". The objective is to collect a broad range of detailed synthetic procedures of general interest and utility for the entire community that makes use of inorganic and organometallic compounds. Volumes 1-8 systematically treated each segment of the periodic table, and were reviewed earlier, normally with high enthusiasm [p 1402, 1996; p 372, 736, 981, and 1352, 1997, and p 1838, 1999]. Volume 9 is the third to focus on transition metals. The previous two covered the traditional starting materials, and selected newer developments. The new Volume highlights very recent developments, reflecting the Editor's insightful predictions for the classic educts of the future. As such, it is the most engrossing in the series to date.


The Covid-19 pandemic is continuing, but companies have been allowed to continue their business with the obligation strictly to apply health protocol. A cross-sectional study aimed to examine the perception of Covid-19 and its prevention behavior based on the health belief model was conducted on 285 industrial workers from eight company types sampled by online survey. The results show that most workers have poor Covid-19 perceptions (54.7%). However, the workers showing good behavior (61.1%) in preventing Covid-19 transmission. Gender (p=0.009), education background (p=0.017) and company types (p=0.001) were related to the Covid-19 perception. In addition, the perceptions related to the behavior in preventing Covid-19 transmission (p=0.000). Except cues to action, all perception components, i.e., perceived susceptibility (p=0.000), seriousness (p=0.005), benefits (p=0.000), barriers (p=0.000), and self-efficacy (p=0.000) related to behavior to prevent Covid-19 transmission. However, the perception components show a weak correlation with preventing behavior (r=0.167-0.234). The information types were related to perceived barriers (p=0.046) and cues to action (p=0.007). Maintain a safe distance (p=0.029), using a face mask (p=0.039), and eat nutritious food (p=0.019) related to information types. The increase of Covid-19 perception is the key to improve industrial workers' behavior to prevent the Covid-19 transmission.


We present sufficient conditions for stabilizing a scalar discrete-time LTI plant in the mean squared sense when a sensor transmits the plant state information to a remotely placed controller across a Gaussian product channel. The Gaussian product channel models a continuous-time waveform Gaussian channel, where the encoder transmits information to the receiver across multiple noisy paths. It is known that linear coding schemes may lead to overly restrictive stabilizability conditions in such scenarios. We present a non-linear coding scheme and present the resulting stablizability conditions. When these conditions are satisfied with equality, the proposed coding scheme transmits data across the product channel at a rate equal to the capacity of the channel; thus, the conditions are conjectured to be necessary as well.


Introduction: The aim of this research is centered on phytochemical analysis and anti-inflammatory activity of Cladophora aegagropila extract. Methods: Total flavonoid content in the appropriate ethanol extract of C. aegagropila was determined using the spectrometric method. Anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated by the models of carrageenan-induced and allyl isothiocyanate-induced (AITC-induced) inflammation of hind limb in rats. Experimental animals were divided into 3 groups, 5 animals each: 1st group – control; the animals without therapy of induced inflammation, 2nd group – animals were treated with application of 5% ointment containing C. aegagropila; 3rd group – animals were treated with application of 5% ibuprofen. Evaluation of anti-inflammatory activity was performed by determination of dynamic change of thickness and volume of affected animal limb for carrageenan-induced inflammation for 8 days (with daily registration of records), and for AITC induced inflammation for 24 h (with registration of records after 30 min, 1 h, 2 h, 3 h, 6 h and 24 h since phlogogen was introduced). Results: Flavonoids content in C. aegagropila extract varied depending on ethanol concentration: usage of 40% ethanol led to 18.2 mg of flavonoid recovery on 1.0 g of dry raw material; 70% ethanol – 39.5 mg and 96% ethanol – 35.5 mg. Therapy of 5% ointment based on C. aegagropila extract decreased inflammatory response caused by the subplantar introduction of the corresponding phlogogen. Conclusion: The ointment from C. aegagropila extract shows anti-inflammatory activity by inhibiting inflammation caused by AITC and carrageenan.


Summary: There is a devastating lack of access to surgical care, including orthopaedic surgery, in low- and middle-income countries. Similar to other low- and middle-income countries, Tanzania has a severe shortage of trained orthopaedic surgeons. The surgeons available are inundated with acute trauma care and musculoskeletal infections; elective procedures are infrequently performed and the burden of neglected care continues to rise annually. Over the past several years, our interdisciplinary team of both American and Tanzanian members has worked to understand the current local cultural and economic barriers to increasing surgical capacity, ensuring surgical safety, delivering affordable care, providing adequate patient follow-up, and improving surgical education. We propose a new paradigm for the delivery of musculoskeletal care and creation of sustained surgical capacity in this setting by building an Orthopaedic Center of Excellence in Moshi, Tanzania, augmented by international partner institutions year-round. This initiative is a public–private partnership led by the University of Pennsylvania in conjunction with Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Center. A growing number of contributors, including the Tanzanian Health Ministry, several universities, and industry partners, including general electric (GE) Health Care Africa, are currently helping to advance this concept into reality. Through our model, we aim to increase surgical capacity and quality, as well as enhance local surgical education, with the ultimate objective of training the next generation of African surgeons in the latest surgical techniques and equipment.


It has been suggested that visual language skills come 'naturally,' that they do not need to be learned or taught. But a closer look shows this not to be true at all. The ability to see and not merely look at the forms of art significantly influences an individual's ability to produce visual art. When the visual sensibilities are developed so that individuals are responsive to visual form, it is then possible to use the data acquired through such perception as resources for one's own creative work (Eisner, 2002). Creation and appreciation are complex cognitive-perceptual activities that do not simply emerge full blown on their own, they are influenced by experience and learning. The visual does act as a system of communication and so has to be learned (Anning & Ring, 2004). This is crucial because the more one knows about speaking the language of art the better s/he will be at communicating through it. Stewig (1988: 79) asks "where in the curriculum do children learn to 'compose' or 'read' visual input – to examine it carefully part by part, extracting meaning and interacting with what is extracted?" Such processes are central to visual literacy and literature programs, but few children learn to compose or read visual texts effectively. This paper proposes to examine examples of painted narrative images and the accompanying verbal accounts of these narratives produced by a group of Year 3 children who partook in a Narrative Painting Programme. The intent of the programme was twofold: to demonstrate (1) that in order to develop a rich and subtle consciousness of the special characteristics of the visual such knowledge must be learned, and (2) the significance of this knowledge to effective visual communication.


The possibility of a new ammonia synthesis process has been investigated by utilizing V-based alloy membrane under moderate temperature and pressure conditions. Three membrane samples with different coating conditions of Pd-Ag alloy on the outlet side surface have been tested. It is found that the deposition of Pd-Ag alloy on the outlet side surface is needed for V-based alloy membrane for hydrogen permeation at 623K. While keeping the hydrogen permeation condition, nitrogen gas is flowed to the outlet side surface of the membrane samples, and the reaction gas is bubbled into distilled water to detect ammonia formation by using Nessler's reagent. Ammonia is not synthesized for the membrane sample coated thickly with Pd-Ag alloy on the outlet side surface, indicating that Pd-Ag alloy does not have a dissociation ability of nitrogen molecule. In contrast, ammonia is formed for the membrane sample coated in a grid pattern with Pd-Ag alloy on the outlet side surface. In this case, both V-based alloy and Pd-Ag alloy coexist on the outlet surface, and hydrogen atoms permeating through the membrane and nitrogen atoms dissociated on the surface of V-based alloy probably react with each other to form ammonia. [doi:10.2320/matertrans.MBW201507]


The analysis of friction in brake systems shows a complex dynamic dependence of friction and wear. Friction produces wear but wear affects the surface topography and by that the friction power itself. The wear in technical brake systems causes a dynamic equilibrium of growth and destruction of surface structures on the brake pad, carrying the friction power. This interaction between friction and wear generates a new dynamic friction law, which describes the effects on friction, wear and temperature on different time scales. For very slow processes the friction law reduces to the classical form, describing only the velocity and heat dependence of friction. For unsteady processes the dynamic friction law is able to describe and explain even complex measured friction events in brake systems.


: An infant with short stature and progressive skin lesions of cheeks and dorsum of the hands is described. Further problems such as recurrent diarrhoea and respiratory infections suggested zinc-deficiency, malabsorption-syndrome, Bloom syndrome and early Lupus Erythematosus respectively. Finally Rothmund-Thomson syndrome was diagnosed. This rare genetic disorder is characterized by variable expression of typical cutaneous changes, cataracts, skeletal anomalies, short stature, abnormal hair growth and defective nails and teeth, mental retardation, hypogonadism and a typical facial appearance.


Some anticytoplasmic protein monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) from mice immunized by infection with Brucella ovis cells have been obtained. One of these MAbs, BI24, was used to purify by immunoaffinity a protein with a pI of 5.6 and a molecular mass of 18 kDa. This protein was present in all of the rough and smooth Brucella species studied, but it could not be detected in Yersinia enterocolitica 09. Three internal peptides of this protein were partially sequenced; no homology with other bacterial proteins was found. The immunogenicity of the 18-kDa protein was studied with both human and bovine sera by a capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay system with MAb BI24.


That aluminum is fatally toxic is beyond doubt, demonstrated by mass human poisoning at Camelford in Cornwall in Britain in 1988 (chapter 18) and by occasional fish kills (p. 49). Aluminum may also be a contributing factor in a number of human diseases, in particular those involving brain and nerves (p. 124) — autism, Alzheimer's disease (AD) (chapter 14), Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis. Aluminum salts used in kidney dialysis may be responsible for dialysis-related encephalopathy (pp. 38, 79).
Aluminum adjuvants in vaccine can cause macrophagic myofasciitis (MMF: inflammation and associated microscopic muscle necrosis at the injection site) as well as such whole-body ailments as chronic fatigue syndrome and marked cognitive deficits (Rigolet et al. 2014); one middle-aged individual injected with five aluminum-adjuvanted vaccines within 4 weeks became work-disabled (pp. 72-73).
Studying the possible dangers associated with aluminum adjuvants in vaccines is complicated by the fact that aluminum acts as an antigen as well as an adjuvant — the immune system generates antibodies against aluminum itself, so that later exposures to aluminum might produce an antibody cascade capable of damaging any of the tissues in which aluminum had accumulated (pp. 73-76).
Christopher Exley has studied aluminum in relation to human health for some 35 years. This book summarizes his work and cites the pertinent primary publications (some 200) in appropriate peer-reviewed journals. The book also offers quite convincing evidence of the determined efforts by a variety of vested interests to disparage and suppress Exley's work and findings.
In my opinion, the published work summarized in this book makes a plausible case based on empirical evidence that aluminum may be a contributing causative factor in neurological and nerve diseases. Further, Exley suggests fully detailed mechanisms and quite plausible for how that comes about. Beyond that, he points to a quite fundamental a priori reason why aluminum, among all the other elements and metals, might be so uniquely dangerous. It is the third most abundant element in the Earth's crust (after oxygen and silicon), yet there are no known biological uses of aluminum. By contrast, several other metals and non-metals are essential components of some biological systems, for example, iron in hemoglobin in blood (pp. 5-6, 11). Those two facts make it far from implausible that absorption of aluminum could be biologically harmful, by competing with or replacing other metals, or perhaps just because of its chemically oxidative properties.
But if all that is so, how has the Earth's biosphere flourished for billions of years without succumbing to the toxicity of the super-abundant aluminum?


BACKGROUND: Antidepressant drugs act as potent inhibitors of norepinephrine and/or serotonin reuptake and are widely used with opioids for the treatment of chronic pain. The mechanism of this increased analgesic action is unclear. We compared the antinociceptive effects of the intrathecal administration of morphine with that of a nonselective (amitriptyline) or selective (maprotiline or citalopram) antidepressant drug using the thermal withdrawal test in rats. We also investigated the possible mechanisms involved in the interactions of these drugs. METHODS: Male Wistar rats were anesthetized with sevoflurane and administered morphine and antidepressant drugs, or saline, through intrathecal injection. The antinociceptive effect was evaluated using the thermal withdrawal test before and after drug administration. The time for the withdrawal reaction was expressed as percentage of maximum possible effect (MPE). Animals were also pretreated with yohimbine (a nonselective alpha2-adrenergic antagonist) and naloxone (a nonselective opioid antagonist) for mechanism of action studies. Pharmacologic interaction was evaluated using isobolographic analysis of simultaneous administration of fixed proportions of maprotiline and morphine. RESULTS: Single intrathecal administration of morphine (2 &mgr;g), amitriptiline (125 &mgr;g), citalopram (144 &mgr;g), and maprotiline (1.25 &mgr;g) produced 51.6% ± 8.9%, 10.3% ± 3.2%, 33.8% ± 5.2%, and 48.5% ± 9.2% MPE, respectively. The antinociceptive effect of morphine was increased when combined with amitriptyline (91.3% ± 4.6% MPE) and maprotiline (86.9% ± 9.2% MPE) but not with citalopram (40.6% ± 4.6% MPE). Coadministration of maprotiline increased the antinociceptive duration of morphine by 4-fold (from 120 to 480 min), which was reversed by pretreatment with the α-2 adrenoceptor inhibitor, yohimbine, and the mu-type opioid receptor antagonist, naloxone. Isobolographic analysis demonstrated a synergistic interaction between morphine and maprotiline. CONCLUSIONS: Selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors can significantly increase the intensity and duration of morphine antinociceptive activity via both α2-adrenergic and opioid receptors. This interaction was not observed with the selective serotonin inhibitor, citalopram.


The Mg65Cu25Gd10-xNdx (x=0 ~ 10) amorphous alloy rods with 3~6 mm in diameter were prepared by Cu-mold injection method. The thermal properties and mechanical properties of these amorphous alloys have been investigated by DSC, SEM with EDS capability, X-ray diffractometry (XRD) and Vickers hardness test. The XRD revealed that these entire as-quenched Mg65Cu25Gd10-xNdx alloy rods exhibit a broaden diffraction pattern of amorphous phase. A clear Tg (glass transition temperature) and supercooled region (about 30~60 K) were revealed for all of those Mg65Cu25Gd10-xNdx alloys. In addition, the single stage crystallization of the Mg65Cu25Gd10 alloy was found to change into two stages crystallization when the Nd element was added into this alloy. In parallel, the crystallization temperature (Tx) and supercooled region (Tx) presents a decreasing trend with increasing Nd content. The lowest liquidus temperature (Tl, about 721 K) occurs at the Mg65Cu25Gd8Nd2 alloy. In addition, The Mg65Cu25Gd8Nd2 alloy exhibits the high γ value (0.416, defined as γ= Tx/Tg+Tl), a relatively high Trg (0.59, defined as Trg = Tg/Tl) and the highest hardness in these alloys.


Keratoacanthoma is a rapidly growing cutaneous neoplasia of adult persons that may regress spontaneously. It is believed to arise from the hair follicles. It is sometimes difficult to distinguish keratoacantoma from squamous cell carcinoma either clinically or histologically. During ten years period (1992-2001) we were treating 18 patients with keratoacanthoma of the skin. We discuss here our experience with this tumor, and we conclude that early, complete excision is the treatment of choice for it.


Lung diseases are amongst the most common medical conditions in the world. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pulmonary fibrosis and asthma are the result of ongoing inflammatory process. Over three decades the prevalence of chronic inflammatory lung diseases (asthma, COPD, fibrosis) are increasing worldwide. Asthma as a common chronic disorder of the airways, is characterized by variable and recurring symptoms pertaining to airflow obstruction, bronchial hyper-responsiveness, and an underlying inflammation. Clinical manifestations and response to treatment are determined by the interactions of these features of asthma. The symptoms can be controlled by muscle relaxing and anti-inflammatory drugs, however, there is yet no cure available for asthma. An imbalance of cytokines released from T helper cells cause asthma pathogenesis. T lymphocytes (especially T helper lymphocytes) are important in the pathogenesis of asthma and can be divided into two subsets: Th1 and Th2. Histamines inhibit the production of Th1 such as IL2, IL12, and IFN Y. Th1 is known to mediate autoimmune diseases such as type 1 diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease, and multiple sclerosis while Th2 mediates allergic diseases. Th2 cytokines (Interleukins) IL4, IL5, IL9, and IL13 are implicated in the expression and development of airways inflammation and hyperactivity (AHR). This review evaluates the mechanisms and roles of cytokines and histamines in chronic inflammatory conditions of asthma. Knowledge of these factors can lead to identification and enhancement of hidden problems in the management of asthma conditions or lead to other new therapeutic targets in chronic inflammatory processes. Keywords: Cytokine, Inflammation, Chronic disorder, Histamines, Interleukins


Legal protection for transgender employees, where it exists at all, varies widely. A single federal circuit interprets Title VII as protecting transgender employees, but only when the employee is able to prove workplace stereotyping. Some state and local governments offer varying degrees of protection to transgender employees, but these statutes and ordinances are inconsistent, and often inappropriately attempt to graft transgender protection onto statutes and ordinances forbidding sexual orientation discrimination. One state protects transgender employees via its disability statute, but the federal disability statute explicitly excludes transgender employees, and in any event many transgender employees do not have (or want) a formal diagnosis of disability. This article argues that the definition of "sex" in federal, state, and local antidiscrimination laws should be expanded to include transgender. This approach is consistent with the sex-stereotyping theory of discrimination announced by the Supreme Court in Price Waterhouse v. Hopkins. If a woman is discriminated against because she does not adhere to social stereotypes about what it means "to be a woman," then a transgender individual is discriminated against when he or she does not adhere to the social stereotypes about what it means to be a member of her or his biological sex. The proposed approach has four advantages. First, it would create consistency among the federal, state, and local governments concerning the meaning of "sex" and the protection extended to transgender employees. Second, it would extend coverage to the entire transgender community rather than the piecemeal protection currently in effect. Third, it would provide protection to transgender employees immediately. Fourth, courts would easily be able to fit transgender discrimination into an existing legal framework.


Current PPI databases do not offer sophisticated querying interfaces and especially do not integrate existing information about proteins. Current algorithms for PIN analysis use only topological information, while emerging approaches attempt to exploit the biological knowledge related to proteins and kinds of interaction, e.g. protein function, localization, structure, described in Gene Ontology or PDB. The book discusses technologies, standards and databases for, respectively, generating, representing and storing PPI data. It also describes main algorithms and tools for the analysis, comparison and knowledge extraction from PINs. Moreover, some case studies and applications of PINs are also discussed.


'Big Data' has become a major topic of interest and discussion for both academics and professionals in the IT and business disciplines, and case evidence suggests that companies engaging in Big Data outperform others. It has to be noted though that 'Bigger' Data as such does not provide any benefits, but it is rather how organisations make sense of data and gain insights from analysing the data. Analytic capabilities and practices are required to convert Big Data (BD) into insights which arguably improve decision-making and thereby organisational performance. While protagonists of such Big Data Analytics (BDA) imply that those effects exist, so far they have not been confirmed by rigorous empirical research. Data was obtained using a cross-sectional online survey which targeted Chief Information Officers and senior IT managers of medium-to-large Australian for-profit organisations and yielded 163 complete responses, which met the standard criteria for measurement reliability and validity. PLSSEM and multiple bootstrapping methods were used to test the hypotheses, while controlling for firm size. The present study empirically confirms claims made in the literature that BD and related analytics lead to better performance. It also reveals that such benefits are achieved primarily because BDA creates additional incentives for managers to base their decisions on analytics, and that more analytic-based decision making actually leads to superior performance. Finally, the results of our study suggest that managers in organisations which engage in BD are generally more analyticsminded in their decision making, even if the analytic tools and methods used in support of their decisions are not particularly sophisticated. The results provide evidence that neither Big Data nor Big Data Analytics are just 'hypes', but they do actually lead to superior performance, partly directly and partly indirectly by creating an incentive for managers to rely on analytics when making strategic or operational decisions. Interestingly, managers in smaller firms are more likely to base their decisions on analytics than larger firms, which suggests that they use analytics to compete against larger firms.


Dissemination of the Modeling Method of physics instruction to high school teachers has been considerably more successful than typical dissemination efforts in science education. In order to learn from this success, we interviewed five leaders of the Modeling Project. Based on these interviews, along with other information about the project, our preliminary findings suggest that the Modeling Project differed from standard dissemination efforts in several key ways that are likely related to its success. Specifically, the Modeling Project placed primary importance on the building of community. This emphasis on building community manifested itself in nonstandard community‐based curriculum development and dissemination activities.


Going underground has been proven an effective defense strategy. However, defense structures below the ground need to be designed for ground shock loading. In Singapore, two thirds of the land area is covered by residual soils which are mostly unsaturated. But soil moisture condition in a tropical country like Singapore can alternate between dry and wet conditions. This paper summarizes the findings of a series of small-scale field tests to investigate the effects of degree of saturation on ground shock. A new perspective is presented which will help in developing technologies to mitigate ground shock effects on underground structures in future.


This paper presents a review on the modeling of ablation and plasma expansion processes in the pulsed laser deposition of metals. The ablation of a target is the key process that determines the amount of material to be deposited; while, the plasma expansion governs the characteristics of the deposited material. The modeling of ablation process involves a study of two complex phenomena: (i) laser-target interaction and (ii) plasma formation and subsequent shielding of the incoming radiation. The laser-target interaction is a function of pulse duration, which is captured by various models that are described in this paper. The plasma produced as a result of laser–target interaction, further interacts with the incoming radiation, causing the shielding of the target. The shielding process has been modeled by considering the various photon absorption mechanisms operative inside the plasma, namely: inverse Bremsstrahlung, photoionization, and Mie absorption. Concurrently, the plasma expands freely until the ablated material gets deposited on the substrate. Various models describing the plasma expansion process have been presented. The ability of the theoretical models in predicting various ablation and plasma characteristics has also been compared with the relevant experimental data from the literature. The paper concludes with identification of critical issues and recommendations for future modeling endeavors.This paper presents a review on the modeling of ablation and plasma expansion processes in the pulsed laser deposition of metals. The ablation of a target is the key process that determines the amount of material to be deposited; while, the plasma expansion governs the characteristics of the deposited material. The modeling of ablation process involves a study of two complex phenomena: (i) laser-target interaction and (ii) plasma formation and subsequent shielding of the incoming radiation. The laser-target interaction is a function of pulse duration, which is captured by various models that are described in this paper. The plasma produced as a result of laser–target interaction, further interacts with the incoming radiation, causing the shielding of the target. The shielding process has been modeled by considering the various photon absorption mechanisms operative inside the plasma, namely: inverse Bremsstrahlung, photoionization, and Mie absorption. Concurrently, the plasma expands freely until the abla...


Introduction: Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is a well-known enzyme that promotes tumor growth and metastasis. Cyclooxygenase-2 is upregulated in a number of human epithelial tumors, but data about the significance of COX-2 in mesenchymal tumors are lacking. The purpose of this study was to determine COX-2 expression in uterine sarcomas and whether a relationship exists between COX-2 expression and clinicopathologic outcomes. Methods: Immunohistochemical staining for COX-2 was performed on paraffin-embedded tissue blocks of 49 uterine sarcomas (30 leiomyosarcomas, 14 endometrial stromal sarcomas, and 5 carcinosarcomas). Positive staining was defined as moderate or strong staining in 5% or more of tumor cells. Results: Four of 30 leiomyosarcomas, 1 of 14 endometrial stromal sarcomas, and 2 of 5 carcinosarcomas were positive for COX-2 expression. In leiomyosarcomas, COX-2 expression correlated with tumor stage with marginal significance (P = 0.058). Patients with leiomyosarcoma positive for COX-2 expression had a lower overall survival rate than those without COX-2 expression (P = 0.025). In the multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression model, COX-2 expression, tumor stage, and mitotic count were independently associated with overall survival in leiomyosarcomas. Conclusions: Our data suggest that immunohistochemically determined COX-2 expression is an independent prognostic factor in uterine leiomyosarcomas. Assessment of COX-2 status might be useful for determining the prognosis in patients with uterine leiomyosarcomas.


A three-layered neural network is described for transforming two-dimensional discrete signals into generalized nonorthogonal 2-D Gabor representations for image analysis, segmentation, and compression. These transforms are conjoint spatial/spectral representations, which provide a complete image description in terms of locally windowed 2-D spectral coordinates embedded within global 2-D spatial coordinates. In the present neural network approach, based on interlaminar interactions involving two layers with fixed weights and one layer with adjustable weights, the network finds coefficients for complete conjoint 2-D Gabor transforms without restrictive conditions. In wavelet expansions based on a biologically inspired log-polar ensemble of dilations, rotations, and translations of a single underlying 2-D Gabor wavelet template, image compression is illustrated with ratios up to 20:1. Also demonstrated is image segmentation based on the clustering of coefficients in the complete 2-D Gabor transform. >


Design guidelines for roadside slopes in Washington State follow generalized methods and require cost-benefit analysis. Prior to this research project, the effects of current methodology had not previously been evaluated. This report outlines the results of research on the effectiveness of slope flattening in reducing the number and severity of collisions on Washington State highways in rural areas. A before and after study was performed by analyzing 3R and 2R projects in Washington State which included side slope flattening that were accomplished from 1986 through 1991. The study shows that side slope flattening reduces both the number and severity of collisions when compared to highway sections without side slope flattening. Even when including the effects of various nonstructural initiatives which have helped reduce collisions, slope flattened sections exhibited lower collision rates. The research lends credence to current design practice which utilizes benefit-cost analysis when prioritizing roadside safety improvement projects.


Because damage to the cerebellum results in characteristic movement incoordination known as "ataxia," it has been hypothesized that it is involved in estimation of limb dynamics that occur during movement. However, cerebellar function may extend beyond movement to force control in general, with or without movement. Here we tested whether the cerebellum is involved in controlling force separate from estimating limb dynamics and whether ataxia could result from a deficit in force control. We studied patients with cerebellar ataxia controlling their arm force isometrically; in this condition arm dynamics are absent and there is no need for (or effect from an impairment in) estimations of limb dynamics. Subjects were required to control their force magnitude, direction, or both. Cerebellar patients were able to match force magnitude or direction similarly to control subjects. Furthermore, when controlling force magnitude, they intuitively chose directions (not specified) that required minimal effort at the joint level--this ability was also similar to control subjects. In contrast, cerebellar patients performed significantly worse than control subjects when asked to match both force magnitude and direction. This was surprising, since they did not exhibit significant impairment in doing either in isolation. These results show that cerebellum-dependent computations are not limited to estimations of body dynamics needed for active movement. Deficits occur even in isometric conditions, but apparently only when multiple degrees of freedom must be controlled simultaneously. Thus a fundamental cerebellar operation may be combining/coordinating degrees of freedom across many kinds of movements and behaviors.


Nanoindenting and nanoscratching were used to investigate removal and fracture characteristics of cemented tungsten carbide (cWC). Nanoindentation results indicated that the elastic modulus and hardness of WC grains were significantly greater than those measured in cobalt binder rich regions, respectively. Few evidences of cracking or fracture were observed on the indented surfaces using both in-situ atomic force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. However, the pop-in events were observed from indenting load-displacement curves and the corresponding acoustic emissions were detected, indicating the occurrences of brittle fracture. Nanoscratch results demonstrated that similar removal characteristics existed, but cracking was observed in both surface and subsurface of the scratched samples.


Recently, work on reinforcement learning (RL) for bipedal robots has successfully learned controllers for a variety of dynamic gaits with robust sim-to-real demonstrations. In order to maintain balance, the learned controllers have full freedom of where to place the feet, resulting in highly robust gaits. In the real world however, the environment will often impose constraints on the feasible footstep locations, typically identified by perception systems. Unfortunately, most demonstrated RL controllers on bipedal robots do not allow for specifying and responding to such constraints. This missing control interface greatly limits the real-world application of current RL controllers. In this paper, we aim to maintain the robust and dynamic nature of learned gaits while also respecting footstep constraints imposed externally. We develop an RL formulation for training dynamic gait controllers that can respond to specified touchdown locations. We then successfully demonstrate simulation and sim-to-real performance on the bipedal robot Cassie. In addition, we use supervised learning to induce a transition model for accurately predicting the next touchdown locations that the controller can achieve given the robot's proprioceptive observations. This model paves the way for integrating the learned controller into a full-order robot locomotion planner that robustly satisfies both balance and environmental constraints.


Host plant resistance is the best long-term strategy for managing soybean rust (Phakopsora pachyrhizi) in endemic areas. Resistance breeding efforts are hampered by the presence of several races of the pathogen that often overcome single resistance genes deployed against them. In Uganda, only two soybean cultivars show moderate resistance to Phakopsora pachyrhizi, but this is likely to break down given the aggressive nature of the pathogen. A total of 25 rust tolerant or resistant accessions were imported from the Asian Vegetable Research and Development Centre and screened at Namulonge, in central Uganda. Only 10 accessions, G 33, G 8527, G8586, G 8587, GC 60020-8-7-7-18, GC 87016-11-B-2, GC 87021-26-B-1, SRE-D-14A, SRE-D-14B, and SS 86045-23-2, showed no rust symptoms at growth stage R6 during the three seasons of testing. Soybean rust resistance genes Rpp1, Rpp3, and Rpp4 did not confer resistance at Namulonge; gene Rpp2 was effective.


Relatively little is known about the in vivo function of individual components of the eukaryotic gamma-tubulin complex (gamma-TuC). We identified three genes, gfh1+, mod21+, and mod22+, in a screen for fission yeast mutants affecting microtubule organization. gfh1+ is a previously characterized gamma-TuC protein weakly similar to human gamma-TuC subunit GCP4, whereas mod21+ is novel and shows weak similarity to human gamma-TuC subunit GCP5. We show that mod21p is a bona fide gamma-TuC protein and that, like gfh1Delta mutants, mod21Delta mutants are viable. We find that gfh1Delta and mod21Delta mutants have qualitatively normal microtubule nucleation from all types of microtubule-organizing centers (MTOCs) in vivo but quantitatively reduced nucleation from interphase MTOCs, and this is exacerbated by mutations in mod22+. Simultaneous deletion of gfh1p, mod21p, and alp16p, a third nonessential gamma-TuC protein, does not lead to additive defects, suggesting that all three proteins contribute to a single function. Coimmunoprecipitation experiments suggest that gfh1p and alp16p are codependent for association with a small "core" gamma-TuC, whereas mod21p is more peripherally associated, and that gfh1p and mod21p may form a subcomplex independently of the small gamma-TuC. Interestingly, sucrose gradient analysis suggests that the major form of the gamma-TuC in fission yeast may be a small complex. We propose that gfh1p, mod21p, and alp16 act as facultative "noncore" components of the fission yeast gamma-TuC and enhance its microtubule-nucleating ability.


Deep blue emission is crucial for achieving high-quality display and lighting, while high-efficiency is required to obtain energy-saving devices. A wet- and dry-process feasible efficient deep-blue emitter is highly desired to realize, respectively, low cost roll-to-roll fabrication of large area and high performance devices with precise deposition of organic layers. We demonstrate here high-efficiency and ultra-deep blue organic light-emitting diodes using a cyanofluorene–acetylene conjugate based emitter, 7,7′ ((9,9-dibutyl-9H-fluorene-2,7-diyl)bis(ethyne-2,1-diyl))bis(9,9-dipropyl-9H-fluorene-2 carbonitrile) (C3FLA-2). By spin coating, C3FLA-2 shows maximum external quantum efficiency (EQE) of 6.1%, and at 100 cd m−2 for example, its color coordinates are (0.156, 0.055) with an EQE of 5.8%, the highest among all reported wet-processed deep-blue devices of fluorescent, phosphorescent, and thermally activated delayed fluorescent types. By vapor deposition, the device shows maximum EQE of 8.0%, and at 100 cd m−2 color coordinates of (0.156, 0.048) with EQE of 6.5%, the highest among all the dry-processed counterparts. The record high efficiency may be attributed to the emitter having a high quantum yield of 86%, low doping concentration preventing concentration quenching, and a suitable host facilitating an effective host-to-guest energy transfer.


We develop a static deadlock analysis for commercial Android Java applications, of sizes in the tens of millions of LoC, under active development at Facebook. The analysis runs primarily at code-review time, on only the modified code and its dependents; we aim at reporting to developers in under 15 minutes.To detect deadlocks in this setting, we first model the real language as an abstract language with balanced re-entrant locks, nondeterministic iteration and branching, and non-recursive procedure calls. We show that the existence of a deadlock in this abstract language is equivalent to a certain condition over the sets of critical pairs of each program thread; these record, for all possible executions of the thread, which locks are currently held at the point when a fresh lock is acquired. Since the critical pairs of any program thread is finite and computable, the deadlock detection problem for our language is decidable, and in NP.We then leverage these results to develop an open-source implementation of our analysis adapted to deal with real Java code. The core of the implementation is an algorithm which computes critical pairs in a compositional, abstract interpretation style, running in quasi-exponential time. Our analyser is built in the Infer verification framework and has been in industrial deployment for over two years; it has seen over two hundred fixed deadlock reports with a report fix rate of ~54%.


Kigelia pinnata D.C. the midsized ornamental tree of the family Bignoniaceae has been studied in tissue culture. The preliminary observation on tissue culture using embryos and cotyledons show that there is a scope for pursuing cloning and callus mediated organogenesis in this species. Kigelia pinnata D.C. is propagated primarily by seed. Vegetative propagation using cutting is possible but success rate is very low. Although kigelia pinnata D.C.is reported to be produced from hardwood cutting under experimental conditions, frequency of plant recovery in both seeds and cuttings are small in magnitude. So that invitro propagation methods are introduced in order to produce more number of seedlings. This paper revealed that the micropropagation and what are the methods followed to get plantlets of kigelia pinnata D.C. through plant tissue culture.


Oscillatory neural networks based on insulator to metal transition of VO2 switches are implemented for image recognition. The VO2 oscillators are fabricated on silicon in a CMOS compatible process. A fully-connected network of coupled oscillators is investigated using programmable resistors as coupling elements. In this approach, input of the image information and data processing is performed in the time domain. In particular, tuning the coupling resistors allows to control the phase-relation between the oscillators. This is used to memorize and recognize patterns in an analog circuit. The concept is demonstrated experimentally on a three-VO2 oscillator network, whereas simulations are performed on a larger 9-oscillators circuit.


With the great development of multimedia applications, providing QoS guarantee for Ad Hoc networks is very important. Based on the analysis of local information such as node congestion, node collision impacting on QoS routing, the QoS-aware Multipath Routing (QAMR) Protocol based on local information was proposed to provide QoS guarantee for Ad Hoc networks. The protocol takes bandwidth as the QoS parameter, and considers handling capacity of effective paths and guaranteeing QoS of service by introducing node utilization factor and path utilization factor. The algorithm of route discovery/maintenance in the protocol is just extension of DSR protocol. Simulation result and analysis show that the QAMR protocol has good performance in either static topology or dynamic topology.


Magnesian calcite overgrowth containing 4 (� 2) mole percent magnesium carbonate forms on calcite exposed to natural seawater near the ocean surface. This magnesian calcite is approximately 30 percent less soluble in seawater than pure calcite. The formation of the magnesian calcite of reduced solubility may have a major influence on calcite accumulation in deep sea sediments.


Background: Effects of anti-hypertensive medications on left ventricular dimensions and systolic function in patients with arterio-venous (AV) fistulas have not been well investigated. Material and Methods: Medical charts and echocardiograms of 346 patients with AV fistula were reviewed. Of 346, 149 patients had TTE prior to the AV fistula surgery, 197 had TTE after the AV fistula surgery, and 76 patients had TTE before and after the AV fistula surgery. Data on medication use was available in 314 patients. ANOVA, chi-square, and logistic regression tests were employed. Results: In patients scheduled for AV fistula placement, 20% (31/149) patients had systolic dysfunction and 15% (22/142) had increased LV end-diastolic dimensions (LVEDD). Moderate systolic LV dysfunction was observed in 6% (9/149) and additional 8% (12/149) had severe LV dysfunction. Increased LVEDD with some LV dysfunction was noted in 27% (38/142).Following the AV fistula placement, 18% (36/197) of patients had systolic dysfunction and 12% (22/187) had increased LV end-diastolic dimensions (LVEDD). Moderate or severe systolic LV dysfunction was observed in 6% (5/197). LV systolic dysfunction or dilatation was noted in 23% (43/187). Of 314 patients, 63% were on beta-blockers (BB), 25% were on ACE inhibitor or an ARB , 43% on calcium-channel blocker , and 15% on alpha-antagonist . BB, ACEi-ARB, or AA were not associated with increased LVEDD or systolic dysfunction before or after the AV fistula placement. Prior to AV fistula, CCB treatment was not related to LV dilatation (36% in each group, p=0.981) Post AV fistula, CCB treatment was associated with increased LV dimensions (71% vs. 46%, p=0.029) but not LV systolic dysfunction (49% in LV dysfunction vs. 38% in the rest, p=0.446) . This association persisted after adjustment for co-morbidities and demographic parameters. Conclusions: LV systolic dysfunction and/or dilatation are common in patients undergoing AV fistula surgery. Despite decreased use of Ca-channel blockers in patients with LV dysfunction prior to AV fistula, Ca-channel blockers are associated with increased LV dimensions post AV fistula, and probably should be avoided in this vulnerable patient population.


This paper provides perspectives on recent progress in understanding the physics of devices in which the external magnetic field is applied perpendicular to the discharge current. This configuration generates a strong electric field that acts to accelerate ions. The many applications of this set up include generation of thrust for spacecraft propulsion and separation of species in plasma mass separation devices. These "E  × B" plasmas are subject to plasma–wall interaction effects and to various micro- and macroinstabilities. In many devices we also observe the emergence of anomalous transport. This perspective presents the current understanding of the physics of these phenomena and state-of-the-art computational results, identifies critical questions, and suggests directions for future research.


This study explores students' knowledge construction in an online collaboration via email discussion. The primary focus of this study centres on how participants communicate via email in a collaborative learning environment incorporating process writing approach and pair work activity. The data for this study embraces the email messages and writing assignments. Findings are that participants' knowledge construction process transpired from an interactive process focusing on three main categories: questions, clarification and support. The findings will contribute to the development and testing of the efficacy and flexibility of process approaches to ESL writing instruction through e-mail. The study offers positive views for further study to be explored in order to attain a better understanding of how learners interact and construct knowledge in a collaborative learning environment via email discussions.


Incorporation into construction engineering and management curricula of tasks that improve the abilities of students to manage the complex dynamics, pressures, and demands of construction sites is becoming critical to meet the demands of the construction industry. These goals are, however, difficult to incorporate using traditional educational tools. This paper reviews the role, in construction engineering and management education, of computing and information technology in general and of simulation in particular. The paper provides an overview of a Simulation Based Interactive Construction Management Learning System currently being developed at Western Michigan University (WMU) as part of a three-year project funded by the National Science Foundation and Western Michigan University.


Eclipta Prostrata (L.)L is medicinally important plant species to treat of different diseases such as hepatic diseases. The present work is aimed to screen this medicinal plant for phytochemicals.leaf, stem, flower and root of this plant were extracted in methanol solvents by sox let extraction and screened for secondary metabolites. The plant has been reported to contain alkaloids, steroids, polypeptides, phytosterols, ?-amyrin, triterpenes, phenols, flavones, Luteolin, coumarin and wedelolactone. The study confirmed that Eclipta Prostrata (L.)L has good antihepatotoxic potential effects due to the presence of wedelolactone. Luteolin, coumarin using methanol extract.


Over seventy percent of unexpected infant deaths are registered as SIDS. Over 85,000 infants have been screened at birth and one month of age for risk of unexpected death using the Sheffield Score system. Scores range from below 400 to over 800 points. Infants with scores over 800 are at more than 16 times greater risk than infants with scores below 400. Family doctors and health visitors were alerted to high-risk infants, who were examined at home and weighed naked at home five times in the first six months. Mortality in the high-risk group was reduced by more than 50% (p less than 0.02 in one area and p less than 0.05 in another). It is concluded that with few extra resources unexpected infant mortality can be reduced by 25% by this approach.


The purpose of this study was to identify the language consistency between indexers, authors and taggers in the ERIC and Mendeley databases. This survey was conducted using content analysis methods and techniques to evaluate the language consistency between indexers, authors and taggers in the ERIC and Mendeley databases and also to determine common keywords. The sample for this study was comprised of top twenty journals in the field of Educational Research based on the Journal Citation Reports (JCR) of Web of Science, indexed in the ERIC database in 2014. Finally 499 articles published in the above-mentioned journals in 2014 were chosen as the sample base for the dataset. Note that only articles with author-supported keywords, indexed in the ERIC database and also tagged in the Mendeley database from January 2014 to August 2016 were eligible to be assessed. Descriptors assigned to the articles on the ERIC database and tags associated to the articles on the Mendeley database for the period from January 2014 to August 2016 were extracted. Also author-assigned keywords assigned to all 499 articles were collected. Finally we created a software based on object-oriented programming (OOP) in C++ to analyze the search results. Descriptive statistics and measures, and thesaural term comparison show that there are important differences in the context of keywords from the three groups.
This study demonstrated that there were differences between the tagger, author and professional indexer views of the words used as tags, descriptors, or author-assigned keywords. The results showed that the consistency between the author-supported keywords and user tags of the 499 articles in the Mendeley was 15 percent; while the consistency between descriptors designated to the articles in the ERIC database and user tags associated to the articles on the Mendeley were three percent. On the other hand, the consistency between descriptors assigned to the articles in the ERIC database and the author-assigned keywords were 4 percent. Finally, the language consistency between the three above-mentioned groups was 1.1 percent. Also note that the presence of descriptors in the ERIC thesaurus was 34 percent, which were more than the author-supported keywords and tags.
The findings showed that the consistency between the keywords used by authors and taggers were more than the keywords chosen by indexers and authors, and by indexers and taggers. This means that three sides of the information representation triangle, i.e., indexer, author and tagger are unfamiliar with each other's language. It is worth noting that tags are useful supplements to controlled vocabularies, since the former provide a means for social organization of knowledge outside the framework of the latter. The low consistency between tags and descriptors in this research indicates that Mendeley users do not use the same terminology as subject specialists who maintain descriptors in the ERIC thesaurus. Further research involving semantic analysis of Mendeley tags may reveal an emerging vocabulary suitable for inclusion in the ERIC thesaurus as a controlled vocabulary.


An optimal maintenance strategy for improved cost and machine reliability in food manufacturing was developed in this study. Failure time parameters and cost data were obtained from a food manufacturing firm. The data obtained were applied to the mixed integer non-linear multi-objective optimization algorithm developed in this study, and solved using GANetXL. Overall, the developed optimal maintenance strategy provided better cost savings at N7, 349,397 than the current maintenance cost and machine reliability of the industrial case study at N9, 207,979. In general, the developed optimal strategy would serve as a practical tool for adoption by food manufacturing companies and other manufacturing sectors in order to achieve optimum levels of system reliability while maintaining minimum cost expenditure through an efficient maintenance schedule.


The rising popularity of intelligent mobile devices and the daunting computational cost of deep learning-based models call for efficient and accurate on-device inference schemes. We propose a quantization scheme that allows inference to be carried out using integer-only arithmetic, which can be implemented more efficiently than floating point inference on commonly available integer-only hardware. We also co-design a training procedure to preserve end-to-end model accuracy post quantization. As a result, the proposed quantization scheme improves the tradeoff between accuracy and on-device latency. The improvements are significant even on MobileNets, a model family known for run-time efficiency, and are demonstrated in ImageNet classification and COCO detection on popular CPUs.


The functional role of the cytoskeleton in the control of ion channel activity is unknown. In the present study, immunocolocalization of Na+ channels with specific antibodies and fluorescein isothiocyanate-phalloidin to stain the cortical cytoskeleton indicates that actin is always present in close proximity to apical Na+ channels in A6 cells. The patch-clamp technique was used to assess the effect of cortical actin networks on apical Na+ channels in these A6 epithelial cells. The actin filament disrupter, cytochalasin D (5 micrograms/ml), induced Na+ channel activity in cell-attached patches within 5 min of addition. Cytochalasin D also induced and/or increased Na+ channel activity in 90% of excised patches tested within 2 min. Addition of short actin filaments (greater than 5 microM) to excised patches also induced channel activity. This effect was enhanced by addition of ATP and/or cytochalasin D. The effect of actin on Na+ channel activity was reversed by addition of the G actin-binding protein DNase I or completely prevented by treatment of the excised patches with this enzyme. Addition of the actin-binding protein, filamin, reversibly inhibited both spontaneous and actin-induced Na+ channels. Thus actin filament networks, achieved by either depolymerizing endogenous actin filaments by treatment with cytochalasin D, the addition of exogenous short actin filaments plus ATP, or actin plus cytochalasin D, regulate apical Na+ channel activity. This conclusion was supported by the observation that the addition of short actin filaments in the form of actin-gelsolin complexes in molar ratios less than 8:1 was also effective in activating Na+ channels. We have thus demonstrated a functional role for the cortical actin network in the regulation of epithelial Na+ channels that may complement a structural role for membrane protein targetting and assembly.