We study generic features of open quantum systems embedded into a continuum of scattering wavefunctions and compare them with results discussed in optics. A dynamical phase transition may appear at high level density in a many-level system and also in a two-level system if the coupling W to the environment is sufficiently large. W contains both the selfenergy Wii of the state i and the coupling Wij between the two states i and j 6= i of the system via the environment. It is complex. In the case of two neighboring states with equal widths, two singular (exceptional) points exist when Wij is imaginary. In the parameter range between these two points, the widths bifurcate as a function of a certain external parameter. Time reversal symmetry breaking and its violation in the neighborhood of exceptional points is discussed. Using a unitary representation of the S matrix, the cross section is calculated for a two-level system and for different W , including at the exceptional point (double pole of the S matrix). The results obtained for the transition of level repulsion at small (real) Wij to width bifurcation at large (imaginary) Wij show qualitatively the same features that are observed experimentally in the transition from Autler-Townes splitting to electromagnetically induced transparency in optics. Fermi's golden rule holds only below the dynamical phase transition. It is violated beyond the dynamical phase transition. ∗ email: firstname.lastname@example.com † email: email@example.com


Results: The bladder weights of the PBOO group were significantly increased compared with the control group (p<0.05). Significant increases in the voiding frequency and PP, but a significant decrease in the ICI was observed in the PBOO group compared to the control group on the CMG (p<0.05). The voiding frequency of the PBOO group was significantly decreased after Rho kinase inhibitor treatment (p<0.05). The Rho kinase inhibitor treated group showed a decrease in the PP and an increase in the ICI compared to the PBOO group. The IHC showed a higher RhoA protein expression in the bladder tissues of the PBOO group. Conclusions: H-1152, a specific inhibitor of Rho kinase, attenuates the PBOO-related detrusor overactivity in a rat model. The Rho kinase inhibitor appears to be a novel strategy for the management of bladder


An efficient two-step protocol for the asymmetric synthesis of 1H-pyrrol-3(2H)-one derivatives in 99% ee from conveniently accessed 2,3-diketoesters has been developed.


Background — Junctional adhesion molecule (JAM)-A expressed in endothelial, epithelial and blood cells can regulate permeability and leukocyte extravasation. Atherosclerosis develops at sites of disturbed flow in large arteries but the mechanisms guiding inflammatory cells into these predilection sites remain unknown. Methods and Results — To characterize cell-specific functions of JAM-A in atherosclerosis, we employed apolipoprotein E-deficient mice with a somatic or endothelium-specific deficiency in JAM-A and bone marrow chimeras with JAM-A-deficient leukocytes. We show that impaired JAM-A expression in endothelial cells reduced mononuclear cell recruitment into the arterial wall and limited atherosclerotic lesion formation in hyperlipidemic mice. In contrast, JAM-A deficiency in bone marrow cells impeded monocyte de-adhesion, thereby increasing vascular permeability and lesion formation, whereas somatic JAM-A deletion revealed no significant effects. Regions with disturbed flow displayed a focal enrichment and luminal redistribution of endothelial JAM-A and were preferentially protected by its deficiency. The functional expression and redistribution of endothelial JAM-A was increased by oxidized low-density lipoprotein, but confined by atheroprotective laminar flow through an up-regulation of miR-145, which repressed JAM-A. Conclusions — Our data identify endothelial JAM-A as an important effector molecule integrating atherogenic conditions to direct inflammatory cell entry at predilection sites of atherosclerosis. ff up-eegugugulalalatititiononn aaandndn expressiiionono l ceclllss ofofof attheeerorgenic coondndnditttioonnss ooofff hyhyhypepeperlrlipippididdememmiiaa. TTheee incccreeaseeeddd lulummiinanall JJAAMM-M-AAA avavvaiaiailalabibiilililtytyty ccouuulldld memeedididiatatatee enennhahahancnceeded rrececruruititimemntntn aaandndnd hhhigigheheherr r cococontnttenenett t ooff mmmacaccrororophphphagagaeeses aaandndn TT-c-celelllslsl iiin n aatathhheroroosccclelerorrotitiic c plaques of hypypyperereliliipipipidededemimmc mimimicecee.. InInI vvvitirororo eeexpxpxperererimimimenenntststs conononfififirmrmrmededed tthahaat tt oxoxoxidididizizzeded LLLDLDLDL iiincnnreased eecrrruuitment inn rreesppoponsnsse tototo mmmodododififieieedd d lilppipiddds andndnd at prprpreediilleecectitiononon ssititess wwititihhh ddidiststturururbebedd d flfllowowo. InInIncrcreaeaeased exxprprpresesessisisonon aaandnnd fffococcalal rrrededdisistrtibibbututtioioion nn oofof JJJAMAMAM--A-A cccononntrrololleled dd bybyby mechanisms tttoo o exexexplplplaiaan nn thtte e e hihihighghghererer ssususuceceeptptptibibibililiititity y y tototo aaththterrrosososclclcerererosososisisi iiin nn rereregigigiononons s s wiwiwiththth dddisisstutrbed ooff jujuuncntitiiononnaaalll adadadheheesisiiononon mmmolololececcululle e aananddd plplplattteleleeett/eeendndndootothheheliliaalal cccelell l adaddheeessioonon moolelecuculle-1-1 atat hummann vvasasccular endndototheheliliala jununctctioionsns bbyy cyyttokokinines ttumumorr necrorosiss fafactctorr-a-plus interferoon-n-ng g g dododoesese nnnoto rrredededucucce


<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\beta $ </tex-math></inline-formula>-phase gallium oxide (<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\beta $ </tex-math></inline-formula>-Ga2O3) has drawn significant attention due to its large critical electric field strength and the availability of low-cost high-quality melt-grown substrates. Both aspects are advantages over gallium nitride (GaN) and silicon carbide (SiC) based power switching devices. However, because of the poor thermal conductivity of <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\beta $ </tex-math></inline-formula>-Ga2O3, device-level thermal management is critical to avoid performance degradation and component failure due to overheating. In addition, for high-frequency operation, the low thermal diffusivity of <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\beta $ </tex-math></inline-formula>-Ga2O3 results in a long thermal time constant, which hinders the use of previously developed thermal solutions for devices based on relatively high thermal conductivity materials (e.g., GaN transistors). This work investigates a double-side diamond-cooled <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\beta $ </tex-math></inline-formula>-Ga2O3 device architecture and provides guidelines to maximize the device's thermal performance under both direct current (dc) and high-frequency switching operation. Under high-frequency operation, the use of a <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\beta $ </tex-math></inline-formula>-Ga2O3 composite substrate (bottom-side cooling) must be augmented by a diamond passivation overlayer (top-side cooling) because of the low thermal diffusivity of <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\beta $ </tex-math></inline-formula>-Ga2O3.


This study was conducted to determine the impact that series books have on developing reading skills and motivation. Data was collected through interviews with three teachers, observations of three second-graders" book choices, and analysis of three different book series. The data showed that book series are widely read across grade levels and are useful in developing comprehension and fluency skills. The study implies that book series can provide many benefits to developing readers, but that it is important to use the appropriate level of book with each reader to prevent higher-level readers from holding themselves back. The research also shows that book series that expand beyond printed text into popular culture can provide further motivation for students to read. Series Books and their Effect on Reader Development One of the biggest problems facing teachers and schools today is motivating students to read (Pitcher et al., 2007). Often times, the students least interested in reading are those who need the most help with reading skills. Do these students need more help because they are not interested in reading and do not have much experience with it, or are they less interested in reading because they struggle with it? Many reluctant readers are drawn into reading when they are interested in the material (Pitcher et al, 2007). Teachers need to find a way to cater to students" interests and incorporate these interests into reading time, while still working on skills involving fluency and comprehension. Some of the most popular reading material available comes in the form of book series. These series start with beginning readers, such as the Curious George books, and continue all the way into adult reading material. Series are readily available in a variety of genres, from science-fiction to mystery. This selection gives students an even broader spectrum to choose from based on their interests. By reading a series, students become familiar with characters, the setting, and the general framework of the story with the details of the plot changing from book to book. They will also be motivated to continue reading other books in the series by their desire to find out, "What happens next?" A familiarity or bond may be drawn with relatable characters, making readers more invested in what other events will take place. By introducing students to a book series, a teacher or literacy specialist cannot only increase the students" desire to read, but can utilize the elements of a series to teach fluency (the ability to read smoothly and accurately) and comprehension (understanding what is read). Through my study of the use of series in cultivating capable readers, I hope to give educators, families, and students a place to look when searching for reading material for reluctant readers. The purpose of this research was to determine if and how the reading of book series impacted the development of reading skills and motivation. The research was conducted through teacher interviews, student observation of book series choices, and analysis of the features of various series. Through a review of the available literature on the topic and my own research, I found that series books have varying impacts, depending on the structure of the series and the type of reader engaging with them. Theoretical Framework In order to fully understand the effects of reading book series on the literacy development of readers, it is necessary to first define what literacy is. Freebody and Luke (1990) define literacy as "a multifaceted set of social practices with a material technology, entailing code breaking, participation with the knowledge of the text, social uses of text, and analysis/critique of the text" (p. 15). They break literacy down into the different roles that the user will play. Code breaking is the "basics": understanding the "relationship between spoken sounds and written symbols" (Freebody & Luke, 1990, p. 8). This concept is the groundwork on which the rest of literacy is based; without being able to understand the basic properties, one cannot be literate. The text participant"s role involves taking meaning out of the text, not simply decoding basic letter-sound relationships. In order to find this meaning, text participants must use context clues and their background knowledge in conjunction with the words. The next role, the text user, involves understanding the purpose of text and how it can be used in social interactions. This skill goes beyond the classroom, as people are expected to know how to use and interact with different kinds of texts in different social settings. The final role, the text analyst, involves the task of critical literacy. One must be able to critically analyze texts and to understand the point of view from which it was written. People need to be aware of the different functions that texts serve and who the text favors or silences. These four roles work together to create a literate person; they all play very different parts but each is necessary and works with the others in order for a person to be considered literate. In reading a series of books, the reader participates in each of these roles. Like with any reading material, the student plays the role of code breaker by interpreting the letters and symbols on the page. At the next level, that of text participant, the student begins to use not only their personal background knowledge, but also their understanding of the format of the series to begin comprehending. As a text user, they begin to interact with the text in a sociocultural manner. Perhaps they find other readers of the series and engage in discussions, or link what they have become familiar with to other happenings in their world. Finally, all of these components combine to make the reader a critical thinker about literacy. They become able to see events in the series from different points of view, and gain a feel for how true to life the events or characters are and how different readers might interpret things differently. Beyond understanding what literacy is, it is also necessary to understand how literacy is acquired. Goodman (2001) believes that there are three guiding principles that explain literacy acquisition in children. One of these principles, the relational principle, refers to the construction of meaning found in language (Goodman, 2001). Even at a young age, children learn to use contextual cues and pictures to find meaning in what they are reading or hearing. Tone of voice and body language give the listener an idea of what meaning is trying to be conveyed to them (Kucer, 2005). In reading a series, with its familiarity of plot and characters among other features, reluctant readers are able to take what they have learned from reading previous books in the series and applying it to what they are currently reading to better comprehend. Another principle that is developed, the functional principle, helps children gain an appreciation for literacy taking place around them and is strongly influenced by sociocultural factors. How the society or household that a child is raised in feels about literacy will have a direct impact on how the child feels about literacy (Goodman, 2001). This correlation can be found in the amount of and type of literacy exposure children are getting at a young age, but also in how they hear adults around them talking about literacy. Parents and other adults in a child"s life can make or break a child"s literacy future. If a parent models a positive outlook on literacy and school in general, children will see reading, writing, and speaking as positive parts of their lives. Adults serve a dual role, both "demonstrating the dimensions of language to and for the child as well as mediating and supporting the child"s attempts to use language" (Kucer, 2005, p. 267). Children will not only be affected by what they hear adults saying about literacy but by how much literacy they see the adults in their lives practicing. Parents also play the role of providing a scaffold, or structure, of literacy in the child"s life to support literacy (Kucer, 2005). What the adult provides combined with what the child provides based on their exposure to literacy, helps the child become more adept at learning the skills needed to become literate. Many popular adult books come in the form of series, and are enjoyed for much the same reasons as they are by children and adolescents. Adults also benefit from the features of a series that aid in comprehension and fluency, and parents can not only encourage their children to read a series but can demonstrate the benefits by participating in it themselves. Open lines of communication should exist and discussions could be held where the parent discusses with the student why they enjoy reading a series. A third principle is the linguistic principle, which looks at how language is organized and how that organization changes in certain situations (Goodman, 2001). At a young age, children begin forming hypotheses about how language works. They develop a set of rules about spelling and punctuation based on what they have seen so far in their lives relating to these things. Bruner (1990) believes that children come "prewired" for language; however, if this is the case, children still need all other factors such as adult mediation and instruction to bring out their ability to learn language. This capability will not just appear; the role of adults, and society, must not be overlooked. It is this influence that will allow the child to grow as a literate learner. Beyond spelling and punctuation, children also form an idea of how written language works in the form of stories. They have an idea of how a traditional story is organized (beginning, middle, and end), and need to adapt this idea in certain situations when a story structure differs. In the case of a series of books, the organization often stays the same, with details changing within a gen


Lateral inhibition mediated by horizontal cells in the outer plexiform layer of the retina has a large impact on perceived visual contrast. Much past work suggests that negative feedback from horizontal cells to photoreceptor synaptic terminals is important in generating this lateral inhibition, but the molecular mechanisms mediating this feedback remain unclear. This thesis will survey work focusing on the hypothesis that proton release from horizontal cells is the key molecular player in generating negative feedback from horizontal cells to photoreceptors. According to this hypothesis, protons released from horizontal cells bind to calcium channels on photoreceptor synaptic terminals, leading to a decrease in calcium influx and a decrease in the release of neurotransmitter from photoreceptors. There is much evidence that changes in extracellular acidity significantly affect neuronal signaling in the retina, and this data has been taken as support for the proton hypothesis of lateral inhibition. Recent experiments using optogenetic techniques to measure changes in extracellular acidity during light and chemical stimulation also strongly support the proton hypothesis. However, data measuring proton release from isolated horizontal cells using self-referencing H+-selective electrodes and fluorescent H+ sensors argue strongly against proton release from horizontal cells when stimulated. This thesis will summarize the current status of the proton hypothesis of lateral inhibition and suggest potential alternatives for the functional role that alterations in changes in extracellular acidity may play in retinal function.


In this chapter we investigate different approaches to art as research (arts-based) in relation to applied theatre practice and research from a cultural democratic perspective. In particular, we discuss theatre as "inclusive" practice and research and how this relates to different traditions of arts-based research. Based on literature analyses and experiences from Centres of Applied Theatre Research in South Africa and Norway, we unveil some different and dominant traditions of arts-based research that are currently voiced and familiar in Norway and South Africa. We explore four notions of exclusiveness within European notions of "artistic research": The alternative epistemology, Knowing for the sake of the arts only, The limited artistic context, and Only qualified artists do artistic research. Seen from a different cultural angle, the South African, we find that tendencies of exclusiveness are challenged by different notions of inclusiveness: The role of the arts and its embeddedness in social life, Inter disciplinarity, The extended political and historical context, Embracing intersectionality. As answers to potential accusations of applied theatre art running errands for the liberalist post-democracy, this chapter discusses inclusive arts-based research as a form of cultural praxis that may negotiate paradoxes of post-democracy


Polar transport of auxin has been identified as a central element of pattern formation. The polarity of auxin transport is linked to the cycling of pin-formed (PIN) proteins, a process that is related to actomyosin-dependent vesicle traffic. To get insight into the role of actin for auxin transport we used patterned cell division to monitor the polarity of auxin fluxes. We show that cell division in the tobacco ( Nicotiana tabacum L. cv. Bright Yellow 2) cell line BY-2 is partially synchronized, and that this synchrony can be perturbed by inhibition of auxin transport by 1- N -naphthylphthalamic acid (NPA). To address the role of actin in this synchrony, we induced a bundled configuration of actin by overexpressing mouse talin (mT). The bundling of actin impairs the synchrony of cell division and increases the sensitivity to NPA. Addition of the polarly transported auxins indole-3-acetic acid and 1-naphthyl acetic acid (but not 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid) restored both the normal organization of actin and the synchrony of cell division. This study suggests that auxin controls its own transport by changing the state of actin filaments.


This paper reviews innovation activity in a key service industry - road and bridge construction. Based on a large-scale Australian survey and descriptive statistics, the paper finds that there is little difference in innovation levels between different types of industry participants and that innovation is difficult to implement. The survey gathered responses from suppliers, consultants, contractors and clients and compared results across these four industry sectors. The absorptive capacity and relationship capacities of respondents were also investigated. One in five respondents had poor absorptive capacity. Suppliers were found to be the most effective learners and were the best adopters of ideas from outside their organisations; clients were found to be the least effective. Australian construction organisations have relatively good relationship skills because relationship-based contracts are common compared to other countries. Indeed, the survey found that nearly 60% of respondents had experience with such contracts, with clients having more experience than the other three sectors. The results have implications for the measurement of innovation in project-based industries, and the relative roles of clients and suppliers in driving innovation in the construction industry. Further research will examine the extent to which particular governance mechanisms within relationship contracts lead to improved innovation and project performance.


The impact of finite intermediate frequency (IF) on the sensitivity of heterodyne ASK lightwave receivers is examined and quantified. It is shown that certain choices of IF (f IF =0.5R b , R b , 1.5R b , etc.) yield ideal envelope detection results. For proper heterodyne detection, the worst-case sensitivity penalty is 1.72dB which occurs when f IF =0.75R b


Emission and evaporation characteristics of a porous tungsten cathode impregnated with the composition 5BaO·2Al2O3 are presented and are interpreted in terms of the cathode mechanism. Barium necessary for activation is generated by the reaction, 23 Ba3Al2O6+13 W=13 BaWO4+23 BaAl2O4+Ba, and is transported through partially clogged pores, the length of which increases with time, predominantly via Knudsen flow. During transport, oxygen is acquired from the tungsten, leading to a substantial content of BaO in the evaporant. The BaAl2O4 component of the impregnant is inert. Emission is substantially lower than that of an L cathode, presumably because of release of a poisoning agent accompanying the activator.


IN SEPTEMBER 1958 Danbury State Teachers College introduced the freshman part of a radical new four-year course sequence designed to fill most of the general education needs of teacher education students. The course sequence is a version of the familiar humanities program, extended throughout four years of classes divided between lecture and discussion, five hours a week. The radical aspect of this new sequence is that it includes all areas of knowledge: the physical sciences become an integral part of this single, all-encompassing course, in contradistinction to the traditional humanities course which includes only the fine arts or, on occasion, the fine arts and some of the social sciences


This study highlights the perception of women entrepreneurs in Romania regarding specific drivers for a sustainable business model. This study uses a SWOT–AHP method to assess the importance of different factors that enforce or create barriers for the success in women entrepreneurial activities. SWOT analysis was conducted based on an extended literature review. An external expert in risk analysis assessed the importance of the SWOT analysis' four dimensions—criteria. An AHP survey of 10 women entrepreneurs was conducted to evaluate the impact of each identified factor in sustaining or discouraging the success of their sustainable business model (SBM). The main results of the study present practical implications useful for designing a gender-balanced business environment. In the final part, the paper discusses women's preference for the sustainable business model, the perceived importance of gender-related stereotypes for the development of sustainable business models, and the relevance of the new digital economy trend to Romanian women entrepreneurship.


The present invention is a method of producing clean cyclopropylamine, said production method comprising the steps of: cold-cyclopropyl carboxamide solution to below 0 ℃, was added dropwise aqueous sodium hypochlorite solution was added dropwise while controlling the reaction temperature 0-5 deg.] C, was added after incubation, the incubation after addition of lime and caustic soda, the reaction warmed and distillation residue was distilled to give cyclopropylamine, to the bottom steam temperature, evaporated and a solution of cyclopropylamine is the water mixture, aqueous cyclopropylamine after distillation derived products cyclopropylamine. After completion of the reaction an aqueous solution of the whole system is a cyclic amine, sodium carbonate, sodium hydroxide, sodium chloride and small amounts of by-products consisting of, by distillation, filtration, decolorization, concentrated, filtration, etc. The above ingredients were recycled, thus to achieve the goal to make the best use, cleaner production.


Circuit breaker is one of important equipment,which ensures the reliability and security of power system.On the basis of theory analysis,this paper discusses the reliability design for the connecting rod in the operation mechanism of circuit breaker,and provides a reliability design method for general spare parts.The design method agrees completely with the requirement of engineering through simulation and prototype examination.


Findings of a continuing in situ flue gas desulfurization (FGD) scrubber exposure test program used to assess the performance of specific titanium alloys in corrosive inlet quench and outlet duct areas of FGD systems are reported and discussed. Spool rack exposures of four to nine months in power plant FGD and particulate scrubbers provided corrosion data for titanium alloys relative to the corrosion resistant alloys commonly considered for this service. Overall, Titanium Grade 2 and Grade 12 equalled or exceeded the corrosion resistance of the stainless steel and nickel base alloys tested. Titanium Grade 7 exhibited the best corrosion resistance in the wet/dry zone of the inlet quench of a closed-loop FGD scrubber. This performance is correlated with laboratory studies in the literature, and a mechanism is proposed to explain titanium's corrosion resistance.


Aim Species richness and endemic richness vary along elevation gradients, but not necessarily in the same way. This study tests if the maxima in gamma diversity for flowering plants and the endemic subset of these plants are coherent or not. Location The study was conducted in Nepal, between 1000 and 5000 m a.s.l. Methods We used published data on distribution and elevational ranges of the Nepalese flora to interpolate presence between maximum and minimum elevations. Correlation, regression and graphical analyses were used to evaluate the diversity pattern between 1000 and 5000 m a.s.l. Results The interval of maximum species endemic to Nepal or the Himalayas (3800‐4200 m) is above the interval of maximum richness (1500‐2500 m). The exact location of maximum species density is uncertain and its accuracy depends on ecologically sound estimates of area in the elevation zones. There is no positive statistically significant correlation between log-area and richness (total or endemic). Total richness is positively correlated with log-area-adjusted, i.e. estimated area adjusted for the degree of topographic heterogeneity. The proportion of endemic species increases steadily from low to high elevations. The peak in endemism (c. 4000 m) corresponds to the start of a rapid decrease in species richness above 4000 m. This may relate to the last glacial maximum (equilibrium line at c. 4000 m) that penetrated down to 2500‐3000 m. This dynamic hard boundary may have caused an increase in the extinction rate above 4000 m, and enhanced the probability of isolation and facilitated speciation of neoendemics, especially among genera with a high proportion of polyploids. Main conclusions The results reject the idea of corresponding maxima in endemic species and species richness in the lowlands tentatively deduced from Stevens' elevational Rapoport effect. They confirm predictions based on hard boundary theory, but hard-boundaries should be viewed as dynamic rather than static when broad-scale biogeographical patterns with a historical component are being interpreted.


Manzanar encountered many forms of protest but none was as volatile and menacing as the riot which occurred on December 6 of 1942. Though blame for the tensions were for the most part, fingered at the Manzanar Relocation Center administration for their closed-door policy on the non-English speaking residents, much of the friction can also be attributed to leaders of the factions whose reactionary behavior strongly influenced both administration officials and internees. This paper looks closely at factors which sparked the divisiveness and concludes that the lack of appropriate communication channels was the cause for the miscommunication which precipitated the riot.


Some silicate minerals such as amphiboles, biotites, cordierites and garnets were examined magnetically. Magnetic susceptibility at the room temperature of garnets is in good agreement with the theoretical value estimated by using the effective Bohr magneton number derived empirically from salts bearing above magnetic ions, while in the case of amphiboles, biotites and cordierites, which contain water in their crystal structure, magnetic susceptibility at the room temperature shows fairly larger value than expected.


Federal agencies have a duty to seek the maximum social return from their investments in research (efficiency) and to confer research awards solely on the basis of merit (fairness). Consequently, the process of awarding grants relies on peer review to evaluate research proposals for merit. Peer review, however, also injects chance and bias into the process. Agencies could pass by good projects because of reviewer disagreement. Thus, any good project could use a little luck in being assigned to concurring reviewers. Formally internalizing chance may thus improve the system. I build on the Fang-Casadevall modified lottery proposal that consists of first screening projects for quality using peer review and then awarding funding via lottery to projects from that pool of preselected finalists. I argue that a modified lottery will encourage, in a few cases, a break from risk-averse projects, thus promoting the advancement of science. Researchers will also benefit because all preselected finalists will be recognized as equals in their profession, not only the lucky awardees. Agencies' cost savings from streamlining the process could be plugged back into research. Furthermore, I suggest tweaks to the modified lottery to better align it with agencies' missions and to discourage researchers from shirking in the performance of their projects.


One of the factors influencing the focus size in diffractive-refractive optics is the quality of diffracting surface. If the surface is uneven, then the diffraction at each point of the surface is a combination of an asymmetric and inclined diffraction (general asymmetric diffraction). This somewhat deviates and spreads the diffracted beam. The integration over the surface hit by an incident beam gives the angular spread of the diffracted beam. It is shown that in some cases (highly asymmetric, highly inclined cut) the etched surface may create the spread of the diffracted beam, such that it causes a significant broadening of the focus. In this case a mechanical-chemical polishing is necessary.


OBJECTIVE—Mitochondrial superoxide levels are elevated in the retina in diabetes, and manganese superoxide dismutase overexpression prevents the development of retinopathy. Superoxide inhibits glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), which activates major pathways implicated in diabetic complications, including advanced glycation end products (AGEs), protein kinase C, and hexosamine pathway. Our aim is to investigate the role of GAPDH in the development and progression of diabetic retinopathy and to elucidate the mechanism. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—Rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes were in a state of poor control (GHb >11%) for 12 months, good control (GHb <7) soon after induction of diabetes, or poor control for 6 months with 6 months' good control. Retinal GAPDH, its ribosylation and nitration, AGEs, and PKC activation were determined and correlated with microvascular histopathology. RESULTS—In rats with poor control, retinal GAPDH activity and expressions were subnormal with increased ribosylation and nitration (25–30%). GAPDH activity was subnormal in both cytosol and nuclear fractions, but its protein expression and nitration were significantly elevated in nuclear fraction. Reinstitution of good control failed to protect inactivation of GAPDH, its covalent modification, and translocation to the nucleus. PKC, AGEs, and hexosamine pathways remained activated, and microvascular histopathology was unchanged. However, GAPDH and its translocation in good control rats were similar to those in normal rats. CONCLUSIONS—GAPDH plays a significant role in the development of diabetic retinopathy and its progression after cessation of hyperglycemia. Thus, therapies targeted toward preventing its inhibition may inhibit development of diabetic retinopathy and arrest its progression.


The different community and their growth features of both before and after closing hillsides to facilitate afforestation were studied by the locative plots. The results showed that community coerage,height and diametre after 3~4 years to close hills were increased, the diversity index,evenness ecological dominance,richness were changed.The changes of community coverage and growth could be used as the estimated index of closing hillsides and planting trees.


Here we report the syntheses of low bandgap polymers based on benzobisthiadiazole (BBT), thiadiazoloquinoxaline (TQ) and pyrazinoquinoxaline (PQ) core structures with different aromatic substituents. The effects of changing core structures from BBT to PQ and also substituents from biphenyl and bithienyl on the photophysical, electrochemical and morphology of the polymers were studied. These polymers were incorporated into solar cell devices as donors, with PC[71]BM as acceptors, and their device performances were correlated with their properties. It was found that the effect of these structural changes has significant consequences on the overall device performances.


Broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica) is an excellent source of bioactive compounds. Frequently, it is commercialized frozen, though it has to be thawed before consumption. However, defrosting methods can affect the nutritional and sensory properties of broccoli. Therefore, the effect of defrosting (microwaving and boiling) for serving broccoli either cold or hot on the content of bioactive compounds (vitamin C, carotenoids, phenolic compounds, and glucosinolates) and sensory acceptability of frozen broccoli was studied. Marked losses of hydrosoluble compounds were observed after boiling. Carotenoids increased after short-time boiling (~20%) but dramatically decreased after microwave-defrosting (between 30% and 40% less). Nevertheless, short defrosting using microwave showed the less overall losses. Moreover, microwave-based methods were preferred by consumers. Microwave-defrosting of broccoli for a short period of time may be the method of choice for better retention of bioactive compounds and organoleptic properties.


As machine learning and data mining techniques continue to grow in popularity, it has become ever more important to develop methods that preserve user security. One important problem in the field of machine learning is recommendation, which seeks to predict user ratings for unrated items using previous rating information. We focus specifically on the approach of similarity based collaborative filtering (CF) for recommendation, which involves computing similarity coefficients between items in order to extrapolate ratings for unrated items. We analyze an existing protocol for accomplishing privacy preserving collaborative filtering and identify potential vulnerabilities caused by a malicious server. We propose a modified protocol for privacy preserving collaborative filtering which eliminates the identified vulnerabilities. We implement the proposed system and evaluate the tradeoffs between the two systems in terms of performance and security.


This Video Atlas of Cosmetic Blepharoplasty Volume 11 is a continuation of the original Video Atlas of Cosmetic Blepharoplasty authored by Stephen L. Bosniak (1993) and has expanded the original volume with illustrations of new technology and approaches that have been developed. Volume II includes brow elevation, botulinum toxin injections, and malar festoon correction as well as innovations in eyelid surgery. Tape I is 28 minutes in length, and describes new anatomic insights with emphasis on new and emerging procedures. The following procedures are illustrated: UltraPulse CO 2 laser upper lid blepharoplasty with brow fat pocket contouring; UltraPulse CO2 laser upper lid blepharoplasty with ptosis correction; radiosurgery for levator aponeurotic repair; radiosurgery for external levator advancement with lipocontouring and myocutaneous resections; and occidentalization of the Asian upper lid. Tape II runs 34 minutes, and illustrates the following surgicalprocedures: radiosurgical ablation of benign eyelid lesions; high-frequency radiosurgical vaporization of benign eyelid lesions and periocular lesions; cosmetic radiosurgery with resection of giant anterior lamellar tumor of the upper lid; UltraPulse CO2 laser transconjunctivallower lid blepharoplasty; UltraPulse CO 2 laser transconjunctival lower lid blepharoplasty with malar resurfacing and minimal incision tendon plication; and lower lid resurfacing with UltraPulse CPG. Tape III is 30 minutes in length, and illustrates radiosurgery transconjunctival blepharoplasty; upper lid blepharoplasty with sculpting of suborbicularis fat and internal brow stabilization; UltraPulse CO2 laser rhytid ablation of crow's feet and resurfacing; and endoscopic approach for brow elevation. Tape IV is 36 minutes in length and covers Botox injections for correction of hyperkinetic facial lines; correction of malar festoons with suborbicularis fat fixation, lateral orbicularis suspension, and CO2 laser resurfacing; lymphatic drainage massage with preparation for cosmetic eyelid surgery and laser resurfacing; and alpha hydroxy acid peels in preparation for laser resurfacing. Accompanying the video is a printed text which describes the procedures with preoperative considerations, steps in surgery, postoperative regimen, complications, and pearls for success. The text expands on the videos to allow better understanding and easier viewing. As in Volume I, the surgical procedures are well illustrated and described. The newer techniques are easy to follow and give the surgeon an insight into obtaining better results with blepharoplasty and other facial pro401


An approximate method of predicting the post-elastic behavior of clamped, uniformly loaded, rectangular mild-steel plates is presented. The solution is based on the assumption that an initially deflected stress-free plate has the same load-deflection properties as a plate which has had a permanent set equal in magnitude to the initial deflection induced by loading beyond the elastic limit. Solutions for the initially deflected plate obtained by Nylander's method are used to develop the post-elastic solutions which are presented in graphical form suitable for design purposes. Comparisons with existing theories and experimental data show that the method accurately predicts the post-elastic deflections of long plates and that as the plate approaches a square in shape the deflections are increasingly overestimated.


A knot [Formula: see text] is a parent of a knot [Formula: see text] if there exists a minimal crossing diagram [Formula: see text] of [Formula: see text] such that a subset of the crossings of [Formula: see text] can be changed to produce a diagram of [Formula: see text]. A knot [Formula: see text] with crossing number [Formula: see text] is fertile if for any prime knot [Formula: see text] with crossing number less than [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] is a parent of [Formula: see text]. It is known that only [Formula: see text] are fertile for knots up to 10 crossings. However it is unknown whether there exist other fertile knots. A knot shadow is a diagram without over/under information at all crossings. In this paper, we introduce a definition of fertility for knot shadows. We show that if an alternating knot [Formula: see text] is fertile then the crossing number of [Formula: see text] is less than eight.


BACKGROUND : s -estradiol is a steroid sex hormone that plays important role in oral physiology. The aim of this study was to determin the association of the menstrual cycle and salivary s-estradiol with the production of volatile sulfur compounds (VSC). METHODS : In this cross-sectional study, twenty female dental students in good oral and general health were recruited for evaluation of VSC, salivary flow, s-estradiol concentration, oral dryness feeling and dysmenorrhea. Data were analyzed by marginal homogeneity test and xtgee model. RESULTS : The only covariates that significantly related to VSC were being at the follicular phase (B = -0.21, P = 0.02), being at the pre-menstrual phase (B = -0.25, P = 0.01), stressfulness (B = 0.02, P = 0.01) and oral dryness feeling (B = 0.34, P = 0.02). Salivary s-estradiol was at the level of 59.7 ± 31.2 in those having halitosis (VSC ≥ 75) while in the others (VSC < 75) it was about 40.8 ± 18.0 (P < 0.009). This difference was not statistically significant in multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS : The menstrual cycle, stress and oral dryness were the most important determinants of halitosis. The salivary s-estradiol level could not explain such relationship as its effect was eliminated considering the other factors.


Every two years the village of Candelo on the far south coast of NSW celebrates its musical community and rural lifestyle. The place seems to be dripping with musicians, just call into the cafe and at most times you could put a band together. The Candelo Village Festival celebrates its own and also brings in a range of artists from around Australia and the world.


THE NEED for ready access to chemical information is by now generally recognized as common to many different agencies within government as well as to industrial, academic, and other private organizations. A review of techniques available for finding chemical information and of work in progress toward improving and augmenting those techniques will not here be attempted1. This paper concentrates on our work at the National Bureau of Standards and our approach to developing the techniques required for a major chemical information system. Our group seeks to develop the necessary techniques but has no desire to establish or operate a chemical information center. We instead make the results of our work available to those organizations with responsibility for such an operation.


We investigated the species richness of ectomycorrhizal fungi based on epigeous sporocarps in an Interior Cedar-Hemlock forest in northwestern British Columbia in gap sizes of 49-4526 m2, 3-4 years following harvest. We also determined ectomycorrhizal diversity on Pinus contorta var. latifolia Engelm. and Tsuga heterophylla (Raf.) Sarg. seedlings 2 years after outplanting. Ectomycorrhizal fungal richness, based on epigeous sporocarps, decreased exponentially as gap size increased. There were sporocarps of 15 species along 475 m of transect in gaps larger than 900 m2, which was approximately 13% of the number of species present in neighboring forests (115 species along 300 m of transect). These data have implications for foresters who would be interested in managing forests for both timber and edible mushroom harvesting. Ectomycorrhizal richness on seedlings decreased slightly at increasing distances from the edge of the intact forest. The maximum richness was found at 7 m or less from the forest edge for ...


The effect of varied concentrations of deuterium-krypton (D2–Kr) admixture on the neutron emission of a fast miniature plasma focus device was investigated. It was found that a judicious concentration of Kr in D2 can significantly enhance the neutron yield. The maximum average neutron yield of (1±0.27)×104 n/shot for pure D2 filling at 3 mbars was enhanced to (3.14±0.4)×105 n/shot with D2+2% Kr admixture operation, which represents a >30-fold increase. More than an order of magnitude enhancement in the average neutron yield was observed over the broader operating range of 1–4 mbars for D2+2% Kr and D2+5% Kr admixtures.


This paper examines various models for maintenance of a machine operating subject to stochastic deterioration. Three alternative models are presented for the deterioration process. For each model, in addition to the replacement decision, the option exists of performing preventive maintenance. The effect of this maintenance is to "slow" the deterioration process. With an appropriate reward structure imposed on the processes, the models are formulated as continuous time Markov decision processes. the optimality criterion being the maximization of expected discounted reward earned over an infinite time horizon. For each model conditions are presented under which the optimal maintenance policy exhibits the following monotonic structure. First, there exists a control limit rule for replacement. That is, there exists a number i* such that if the state of machine deterioration exceeds i* the optimal policy replaces the machine by a new machine. Secondly, prior to replacement the optimal level of preventive maintenance is a nonincreasing function of the state of machine deterioration. The conditions which guarantee this result have a cost/benefit interpretation.


Population mobility patterns are important for understanding a city's rhythms. With the widespread use of mobile phones, population‐based trajectories can be utilized to explore such mobility patterns. However, to protect personal privacy, mobile phone data must be de‐identified by data aggregation within each spatiotemporal unit. In data acquired from mobile phones, population mobility features are still implicit in the spatiotemporally aggregated grid data. In this study, based on image‐processing techniques, a two‐step 3D gradient method is adopted to extract the movement features. The first step is to estimate the initial movement pattern in each spatiotemporal grid, and then to estimate the accumulated movement pattern within a time period around a geographical grid. This method can be applied adaptively to multi‐scale spatiotemporal grid data. Using geospatial visualization methods, estimated motion characteristics such as velocity and flow direction can be made intuitive and integrated with other multiscale geospatial data. Furthermore, the correlation between the population mobility pattern and demographic characteristics, such as gender and age groups, can be analyzed with intuitive visualization. The implication of the visualization results can be used for understanding the human dynamics in a city, which can be beneficial for urban planning, transportation management, and socioeconomic development.


Careful measurements for an engineering grade 2K2 2.5μm cut-off VIRGO detector in a sealed, cold enclosure have yielded dark current twenty five times less than previously reported for these devices, putting Raytheon detectors in contention for low background applications. Global reset followed by Sample Up the Ramp readout was used to allow zero point drifts at the exposure start to be separated from true dark current and mux glow. In a sub-array selected to be far from two photo-emitting defects, mean dark current stabilized 10 hours after power-on, at 0.025 e-/s/pix at 79K (-0.1K, +0.8K). Dark current showed no evidence of the onset of a floor in the 79-104K range, but the temperature dependence was softer than expected, implying a band gap that is 20% below nominal. Shot noise from the dark current will not dominate the 18 e- read noise, unless a substantial noise reduction is achieved through multiple sampling. Hundreds of non-destructive samples will be possible without impact from multiplexor glow, which contributes only 0.04e-/pix/read for a 6μs pixel. Reset Anomaly is dependent on exposure time, settling to -60e- for long exposures, and dominating dark current in exposures less than 2400s. Reference pixels do compensate for these effects, but imperfectly, requiring further study. Attempts to explain Reset Anomaly in terms of self heating were inconclusive.


Xiang, Xia and Chen in 2013 [12] introduced an abstract convexity structure via an upper semicontinuous multi-valued map and established some generalized versions of the KKM lemma. By employing these general KKM lemmas, they derived some generalizations of minimax inequalities. Our aim in the present article is, as in our previous one [4], to show that most results in [12] are either consequences of known ones or can be stated in more general forms in the frame of abstract convex spaces in the sense of Park.


Of late, the process of development of software has become very tiresome and time consuming. In order to make the development fast and easy, developers tend to use a pre-existing code with or without altering few lines of the code. This reuse of code with or without some modification is termed as code clone. Cloning of code has become common problem in development of software which makes software maintenance really difficult and expensive. The presence of code clones in a source code leads to inconsistency. In order to stay ahead of these problems, it is very important to detect the presence of code clones in software. Code cloning reduces the time and effort of the software developer but it also decreases the quality of the software and increases maintainability. Keeping in mind the importance of code clone detection, various techniques has been proposed for detection of code clones such as detection based on textual approach, detection based on tokens, detection based on abstract syntax tree, detection based on program dependency graph and detection based on metrics. In this paper, I purpose detection based on generic approach.


Energetic winds and radiation from massive star clusters push the surrounding gas and blow superbubbles in the interstellarmedium (ISM). Using 1D hydrodynamic simulations, we study the role of radiation in the dynamics of superbubbles driven by a young star cluster of mass 10(6) M-circle dot. We have considered a realistic time evolution of the mechanical power as well as radiation power of the star cluster, and detailed heating and cooling processes. We find that the ratio of the radiation pressure on the shell (shocked ISM) to the thermal pressure (similar to 10(7) K) of the shocked- wind region is almost independent of the ambient density, and it is greater than unity before less than or similar to 1 Myr. We explore the parameter space of density and dust opacity of the ambient medium, and find that the size of the hot gas (similar to 10(7) K) cavity is insensitive to the dust opacity sigma(d) approximate to (0.1- 1.5) x 10(-21) cm(2)], but the structure of the photoionized (similar to 10(4) K) gas depends on it. Most of the radiative losses occur at similar to 10(4) K, with sub- dominant losses at less than or similar to 10(3) K and similar to 10(6)-10(8) K. The superbubbles can retain as high as similar to 10 per cent of its input energy, for an ambient density of 10(3) m(H) cm(-3). We discuss the role of ionization parameter and recombination- averaged density in understanding the dominant feedback mechanism. Finally, we compare our results with the observations of 30 Doradus.


HPLC(high performance liquid chromatography) was used to analyze 10 batches of Plumbago zeylanica L.samples from Guangxi and Yunnan provinces.The HPLC fingerprint separation was performed on a Krosmasil C_(18) analytical column gradient eluted with methanol-water at a flow rate of 1 mL/min.The temperature of the column was set at 30℃ and the UV detection wavelength was 270 nm.The deviant samples were removed with principal component analysis and the standard HPLC fingerprints for P.zeylanica were set up.


Abstract The extraordinary life of Andre Malraux (1901–76), novelist, soldier, statesman, and art essayist, continues to inspire critical re-evaluations and new biographies from scholars in various disciplines.1 What arouses all this attention is perhaps Malraux's seemingly contradictory nature, a nature that spilled over into his novels and art books, not to mention into his status as a charismatic politician and committed intellectual.2 Malraux as contradiction seems to be the point of one review of several biographies: 'In the end [Malraux was], as someone once said of the Mexican general Santa Anna, "faithless to men, women, and causes"'.3 Indeed, even the most cursory reading of some of the highlights of Malraux's life makes it difficult to believe that this is the story of just one person.4


Magnetic field generating device for a magnetic resonance imaging device, with a) a pair of mutually gegenuber angeordneter magnetic pole units (30, 40) for generating a magnetic field, each magnetic pole unit comprises: a1) a coil receiving container (31, 41) and a2) a plurality of field generating coils (12a to 12d, 32a to 32d, 42a to 42d) disposed around a common axis (Z) formed around and (in the coil receiving container 31, 41 are added), a3) of an outside of the coil receiving container (31, designated 41) gradient magnetic field generating unit (34, 44), a4) a respective outside of the coil receiving container (31, 41 provided) RF transmission coil unit (35, 45) and the RF receiver coil unit (36, 46), in which b) the coil (12a, 32a, 42a) with the largest diameter of a magnetic pole unit and the corresponding coil (32a, 42a) (with the largest diameter of the other magnetic pole unit in a smaller distance along the Z axis) are arranged to each other than the other field generating coils (32b to 32d, 42b to 42d) of the two magnetic pole; c) in the opposite ...


A solar thermoelectric cooling automobile cover can effectively reduce heat generated by solar radiation and effectively integrate thermoelectric cooling, and has the advantage that heat in the automobile cover can be transferred secondarily by utilizing a thermal couple, so that temperature in the automobile cover can be greatly lowered, and the comfort level in an automobile can be improved.


Objective Men who have sex with men (MSM) are at increased risk for Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection compared to women and heterosexual men. We aimed to assess the incidence, clearance and duration of anal human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in HIV-negative MSM and the influencing factors in a 5-year prospective cohort study. Methods From April 2016 to April 2021, HIV-negative MSM were recruited and followed every 6 months in Urumqi, Xinjiang, China. Questionnaires and anal swabs were collected at baseline and every 6 months. We detected 37 anal HPV genotypes using the HPV Geno Array Diagnostic Kit Test. Incidence and clearance rates of anal HPV infection and the influencing factors were estimated using a two-state Markov model. Results A total of 585 MSM were included with a median age of 37 years [interquartile range (IQR): 31–43 years] and were followed for a median 2.8 years (IQR: 1.8–3.6 years). Incidence rates for any HPV and high-risk HPV (Hr-HPV) were 53.4 [95% confidence interval (CI): 49.1–58.0] and 39.0 (95% CI: 35.7–42.5)/1,000 person-months. Median duration of infection was 9.67 (95% CI: 8.67–10.86) and 8.51 (95% CI: 7.57–9.50) months, respectively. Clearance rates for any HPV and Hr-HPV were 50.9 (95% CI: 46.7–55.3) and 62.1 (95% CI: 56.8–66.7)/1,000 person-months, respectively. HPV16 and HPV6 had the highest incidence, lowest clearance rate and longest duration of infection among Hr-HPV and low-risk HPV (Lr-HPV) types, respectively. Receptive anal sex is a risk factor for any HPV [hazard ratio (HR) = 1.66, 95% CI: 1.16–2.38] and Hr-HPV infection (HR = 1.99, 95% CI:1.39–2.85). Recent anal sex without condom use was significantly associated with any HPV (HR = 1.80, 95% CI: 1.10–2.94) and Hr-HPV infection (HR = 2.60, 95% CI: 1.42–4.77). Age ≥35 years was significantly associated with Lr-HPV HPV infection only (HR = 1.40, 95% CI: 1.02–1.93). Both inserted and receptive anal sex (HR = 0.60, 95% CI: 0.40–0.89) and anal sex ≥2 times per week (HR = 0.61, 95% CI: 0.43–0.87) were associated with reduced Hr-HPV clearance. Six of the nine-valent vaccine types (HPV6, 11, 16, 18, 52 and 58) occurred most frequently, which indicates the need for high vaccination coverage in MSM. Conclusions In this cohort study, high incidence and low clearance of any HPV, Hr-HPV and individual HPV infections emphasize the importance of MSM vaccination. Modifiable behavioral factors such as condoms and drug use should be incorporated into HPV prevention strategies.


The trend towards greater globalisation of the academic landscape is closely linked to the establishment of English as the strongest academic language. As a result, more and more university courses are taught in English, with students of diverse subjects being required to write their academic texts in English. Through this development, even successful students and experienced foreign language learners frequently face new challenges, but the level of support offered by the universities varies widely. Research in this area has only quite recently begun to take account of the extent of this phenomenon. The present paper offers, in a first step, a concise overview of current research in the field of academic L2 writing in English. The second part consists of a presentation of empirical study results involving Austrian students of English, and a discussion of the implications of these findings for pedagogy in Higher Education, with a special focus on three subject areas: attitudes and perceptions of student writers, challenges and difficulties involved in academic writing, and writing practices.


The invention relates to an implant, preferably for the treatment and / or reconstructing, in particular lining and / or sealing and / or lower feed and / or at least partial filling, a Azetabulumdefekts, comprising at least one fabric which an at least partially degradable in vivo or absorbable material comprises , The invention further relates to a surgical kit as well as the use of an unassembled sheet for producing an implant.


Abstract Concern over the declines of pollinator populations during the last decade has resulted in calls from governments and international agencies to better monitor these organisms. Recent studies of bee diversity in urban environments suggest that cities may contain significant amounts of bee species, even greater than surrounding agricultural areas, and in some occasions comparable to natural habitats. We conducted a three-year survey of bees in the city of St. Louis, MO. Like many other post-industrial cities in the United States, St. Louis is considered a shrinking city, with many vacant lots and unoccupied structures, mostly in the urban core. We sampled a broad range of habitats throughout the growing seasons of 2013 to 2016, e.g., vacant lots, city parks, community gardens, and urban farms, using aerial netting. This resulted in over 7,700 specimens. Data from other surveys, e.g., BioBlitz, and personal collections was also utilized in developing the species list. These data were supplemented with inspections of entomological collections from institutions in the state and the scientific literature. We identified a total of 198 species of bees from five different families that occur in the city. Only nine of the bee species present in the city are non-natives. The city of St. Louis currently hosts nearly 45% of the bee diversity of the state, likely making it one of most species-rich cities relative to its state's total bee fauna in the country. This represents a great natural resource that must be better understood, and has potential conservation implications.


Toxoplasma gondii infects approximately 30% of the world's population, causing disease primarily during pregnancy and in individuals with weakened immune systems. Toxoplasma secretes and exports effector proteins that modulate the host during infection and several of these proteins are processed by the Golgi-associated Aspartyl Protease 5 (ASP5). Here, we identify ASP5 substrates by selectively enriching N-terminally-derived peptides from wildtype and Δasp5 parasites. We reveal over two thousand unique Toxoplasma N-terminal peptides, mapping to both natural N-termini and protease cleavage sites. Several of these peptides mapped directly downstream of the characterised ASP5-cleavage site, arginine-arginine-leucine (RRL). We validate candidates as true ASP5 substrates, revealing they are not processed in parasites lacking ASP5, nor in wild type parasites following mutation of the motif from RRL⟶ARL. All new ASP5 substrates are dense granule proteins, and interestingly none appear to be exported, thus differing from the analogous system in related Plasmodium spp., instead revealing that the majority of substrates reside within the parasitophorous vacuole (PV), and its membrane (the PVM), including two kinases and one phosphatase. Furthermore, we show that several of these ASP5-substrates are virulence factors, with their removal leading to attenuation in a mouse model, suggesting that phosphorylation at the host-parasite interface is important for virulence. Collectively, these data constitute the first in-depth analyses of the total list of ASP5 substrates, and shed new light on the role of ASP5 as a maturase of dense granule proteins during the Toxoplasma lytic cycle.


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It is known that the aerosol distribution in Asia is complicated due to the increasing emissions of anthropogenic aerosols in association with economic growth and natural dust significantly varied with the seasons. Therefore it is clear that local spatially and temporally resolved measurements of atmospheric aerosols in Asian urban city are necessary. Since Osaka, Kobe, Kyoto, and Nara are located in very close each others (all cities are included in around 70×70 km2 area). The population of the region is around 13 millions including neighbor prefectures, accordingly air quality in this region is slightly bad in comparison with the remote area. Furthermore, in recent years, Asian dusts and anthropogenic small particles some times transported from China and cover these cities throughout year. DRAGON (Distributed Regional Aerosol Gridded Observation Network) is a project of dense sun/sky radiometer network in the urban area. The DRAGON-West Japan field campaign was performed over Osaka and neighbor cities with 7 AERONET instruments from March to end of May in 2012. As results, DRAGON measurements indicate small differences among the values of AOT over Osaka region.


Reports of two spontaneously occurring sets of quadruplets arc presented. The principal medical and social problems inherent in these large sets are reviewed. The most important of the medical complications are premature labor, difficulty in delivery of some infants due to malposition, and intra- and postpartum hemorrhage. The offspring are consequently often premature and depressed at birth. Optimal outcome in these multiple pregnancies involving several fetuses is dependent upon good planning following accurate diagnosis so as to provide adequate personnel, equipment, and supplies at the time of delivery for any adverse eventuality. Solutions to social-psychic-economic problems associated with these large sets are often difficult to find.


In order to analyze the polarization properties of biological tissues, we constructed a high-speed three-dimensional swept -source polarization sensitive optical coherence tomography (PS-OCT) imaging system with the axial scanning rate up to 200KHz. For automatically detecting and analyzing the polarization properties of peristaltic living tissues in real-time, an advanced measurement and control system is designed using laboratory virtual instrument technology. Based on the producer-consumer pattern, the system mainly includes the sample arm scanning galvanometer module, the interference data acquisition module, the interference data real-time processing and display module, the interference data storage module. Each module not only independently completes specific sub-functions but also interacts with others. In-vivo human finger and in-vitro pork tissue were imaged using the system. The experimental results show that the home-made system obtains 78 cross sectional B-scans per second, and can display two-dimensional OCT images and acquire threedimensional OCT data all in real-time. This robust measurement and control system has the characteristics of short design cycle, high flexibility and real-time monitoring, will significantly promote the development of PS-OCT in clinical applications.


This paper presents a selective harmonic detecting method and a new close-loop control algorithm for selective-harmonic-compensation active power filters (SHC-APF). The SHC-APF consists of a selective detection unit, DC voltage control and current control loops. Selective harmonic detection unit detects precisely the selected harmonic currents instead of all harmonics produced by distorting loads. At the same time, the unit adds a preceding compensatory angle in order to compensate the infection of delays caused by the digital controller and voltage-source inverter (VSI). The algorithms for the closed-loop control are discussed. Simulations for the harmonic detection and control loop response are implemented and the results confirm the theoretical analysis


Terfenol-D and Reservoir Stimulation Texas Firm Acquires Exclusive Rights to Petroleum Industry Terfenol-D is a magnetostrictive smart metal alloy, a metal that changes shape with a powerful force in the presence of magnetic fields. It is now being used as an alternative material in oil fields and environmental control applications, replacing traditional mechanical devices. For example, it can act as a pump with no moving parts. It is patented for use in hundreds of industry applications. Charles Knobloch Holdings, a division of Omnilaw International of Houston-Katy, Texas has acquired exclusive rights in the petroleum and petrochemical industries to market and license Terfenol-D and other technologies held by Edge Technologies, Inc of Ames, Iowa. Terfenol-D material has been successfully implemented in downhole applications ranging from wireline seismic sources to downhole communication devices. These technologies include patented acoustic stimulation sources, which can be used for a variety of oil field production, seismic exploration, and environmental protection applications. These rights compliment proprietary and patent-pending magnetostrictive pumping, sounding, and in situ stimulation technologies currently held by Charles Knobloch Holdings. For a unique product review sample that uses Terfenol-D and for additional information on any of these products or technology licenses, contact Charles Knobloch, J.D., P.G., President Omnilaw International, 713-202-9898 or email@example.com.


The nature of the chip formation process during precision diamond turning has been studied via scanning electron microscopy of the chips turned from a polycrystalline copper workpiece. The chip geometry indicates that the material flow is non-uniform and made up of lamellae whose spacing is related to the chip thickness.


THE FUNDAMENTAL importance of repair, in general, and of fibrogenesis, in particular, in a wide variety of pathological processes is generally conceded. While analysis of repair of cutaneous injuries is intrinsically interesting and of practical importance, study of the healing of such wounds has been and will no doubt continue to be widely used as a model of repair processes in general. Yet despite the notable increase in the literature on wound healing during the last decade, certain basic problems concerning repair in general, first noted during the 19th century, still remain unresolved. It is maintained here, that failure to resolve certain of these theoretical and practical problems is in large measure due to the fact that 19th century descriptions of the healing of cutaneous wounds seem to persist unquestioned in the literature. Even the temporal order of events in healing cutaneous incisions is presently stated by many authorities to


For future generation mobile networks, we expect that the mobile devices like PDAs, note PCs or any VoIP-enabled communicators will have the feature of being always switched on, ready for service, constantly reachable by the wireless Internet. In addition to high access speed, attractive real-time contents or other expected spectacular features of the future wireless Internet environment, the mobile terminals has to be very much energy-aware to enable literal untethered movement of the user. Mechanisms for network activities like maintaining location information and wireless system discovery, which require regular network access, should be energy-efficient and resource-efficient in general. Cellular systems employ the notion of passive connectivity to reduce the power consumption of idle mobile hosts. In IP based Multi-service User Terminal (MUT) that may have multiple wireless interfaces for receiving various classes of services from the network, there should be an efficient addressing of the energy consumption issue. To devise an energy-efficient scheme for simultaneous or single operation of the wireless interfaces attached to such terminals we should have comprehensive understanding of the power consumption of the devices/modules in various operational states. This paper investigates the power consumption pattern or behavior of some selected wireless interfaces that are good candidates for being part of the future of the multi-service user terminals. We propose a simple model for predicting energy consumption in a terminal attributed to the wireless network interfaces. We measured the actual consumption pattern to estimate the parameters of the model.


[Objective]The reference for the development of the resource of microbial species with the tolerance to high temperature was provided through research on the ecological characteristics of one Thermophilies strain isolated in the Gaoligongshan Mountain Spring and its nutrient need.[Method]A set of Thermophilies strains was collected in the water sample from the Baihualing Spring in Gaolingongshan Mountain after they were isolated by means of the method of enrichment culture and plate streaking.[Results]The GLGS3 that was big colony with rapid growth was chosen for its future research.It was found that GLGS3 grew well in the range of temperature from 45 ℃ to 65 ℃ and the best temperature for its growth was 50 ℃;and the pH value ranges from 7.7 to 8.5 and the best pH value for its growth is 8.0.The indole test of the strain was negative and had the ability in the glucose-decomposing for acid and gas production.Meanwhile,it could use the fructose,lactose,maltose,starch and other sugars as a carbon source and the organic nitrogen,nitrate and others as nitrogen sources for its growth.[Conclusion]This work can help us learn the culturable microbiology's style of this area.


To investigate both independent and combined effects of insulin resistance and β‐cell dysfunction on cardio‐metabolic abnormalities in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).


Author(s): Ettinger, Boris | Advisor(s): Tataru, Daniel | Abstract: This dissertation deals with the question of well-posedness for the three-form field equation in eleven dimensional supergravity and the minimal time-like hypersurface equation in Minkowski space. Both of these equations are nonlinear wave equations. The three-form field equation arises in the classical field theory formulation that underlies string theory. After making simplifying assumptions, it becomes a system for a differential three-form on $\R^{3+1}\times K^7$, where $K$ is a compact Riemannian manifold. A suitable gauge choice turns the the equation into a semilinear wave equation. We show that the three-form field equation is globally in time well posed for small, smooth, compactly supported initial data. The minimal surface equation in Minkowski space $\R^{(n+1)+1}$ describes a submanifold, which has a vanishing mean curvature. If the submanifold is time-like, the equation is a quasilinear wave equation. We prove that for $n=2,3$ and under some further geometrical assumptions, the equation is locally well posed for initial data in $H^\frac{n+3}{2}(\R^n)\times H^\frac{n+1}{2}(\R^n)$. The nonlinearities in the equations above belong to a restricted class of nonlinearities that are said to satisfy the null condition. The goal of the null condition is to select the nonlinearities that limit the amount of interactions between waves that have a small angle of incidence. The precise formulation of the null condition depends on the context of the Cauchy problem and it is not yet clear in all cases. In particular, our investigation of the minimal surface equation falls in the context of questions regarding large data quasilinear equations for which there is still only a conjectured formulation of the condition. We hope that our treatment of the particular example can shed some light on the general case.


The skin surface varies topographically owing to regional differences in skin anatomy and, according to culture-based studies, these regions are known to support distinct sets of microorganisms [1]. Regions with higher temperature and humidity encourage growth of Gram-negative bacilli, coryneforms and Staphylococcus aureus, whereas areas with high density of sebaceous glands encourage growth of lipophilic microorganisms such as Malassezia spp or facultative anaerobes such as Propionibacterium acnes. Because humans sebum contain much more quantities of triglyceride than other mammals to support skin protection, Propionibacterium acnes is particularly present in greater abundance in human skin. When skin homeostasis is disturbed, commensal bacteria could become pathogens and could contribute to tissue damage as for acne and also rosacea [2], dandruff [3], atopic dermatitis [4] or wound healing [5].


The 'raison d'être' of nationalization of enterprises is usually the achievement of national and collective goals. Adherence to such goals by the executives of the publicly owned enterprises is a key to their achievement. Yet, in many cases, the executive's adherence to public sector goals is taken for granted. This study examines the existence of expected differences in goal perceptions and attitudes among top executives of industrial enterprises affiliated with the public and private sectors in Israel. Almost no differences were found between the perceptions of these two groups of executives. The lack of differences indicates that mere affiliation with nationalized enterprises does not secure 'nationalization' of the executives' goal commitments and goal pursuit, and that the achievement of the nationalization objectives may be hindered.


Knowledge has always been one of the most important assets of any business, not least in civil engineering. Effective management of knowledge can thus be vital to an organisation's development, performance and competitiveness—but how formal does the process need to be? This paper looks at how two major North American engineering, procurement and construction businesses manage their technical knowledge and then examines the merits of the different approaches for UK civil engineering organisations, from strategy and implementation to people aspects and performance metrics.


According to previous research on runoff generation mechanisms,the concept of grid-based storage capacity is proposed: runoff is generated when the soil moisture is larger than the grid-based storage capacity.A method of calculating the grid-based storage capacity in a river basin,which uses the grid-based vegetation root depth and field capacity,is also put forward.After full consideration of the effects of vegetation types,soil types and soil moisture parameters on the distribution of storage capacity in the river basin upstream of the Dianzi hydrological station,the grid-based vertically-mixed runoff generation mechanism was employed to describe the change in soil water storage in the vegetation root layer so as to avoid a direct description of the complex soil water motion.The results show that the efficiency factor of the grid-based vertically-mixed runoff distributed hydrological model for simulating the perennial continuous sequences is 0.744,the mean annual error of runoff depth is 1.18 mm,and the relative error is 2.18%.The results are reasonable and acceptable for the simulation of hydrological processes in cold and arid regions.


PurposeFinancial professionals are increasingly important in the Indian financial system. Our study examines the association between the Big Five personality traits and Indian financial professionals' behavioral biases when making investment decisions.Design/methodology/approachAfter testing our questionnaire's reliability and validity, we used it to obtain the sample responses. We used multiple regression analysis and other statistical tools to identify the relationships between the Big Five personality traits and behavioral biases.FindingsOur findings reveal a high level of extraversion and conscientiousness, a moderate level of agreeableness and openness and a low neuroticism level among financial professionals. The results show a significant association between neuroticism, extraversion, openness and all behavioral biases except anchoring bias. The neuroticism trait has a statistically significant relationship with all behavioral biases examined, whereas agreeableness and conscientiousness traits lack a significant association with behavioral biases. The openness trait is associated with many emotional biases and cognitive heuristics, while the extraversion trait has a significantly positive relationship with availability bias.Research limitations/implicationsFuture researchers could analyze primary (survey) and secondary investor data from brokerage houses. Using a larger sample could provide more generalizable findings. Researchers could also consider other aspects of investment decision-making using various asset classes. Understanding financial professionals' personality traits and behavioral biases could help them develop strategies to suit client needs.Originality/valueThis study provides the first comprehensive examination of the association between personality traits and behavioral biases of Indian financial professionals.


This work gives a detailed view of the intent, process and products of community psychological research. At the same time, it offers a balanced look at integrating the tender interests in bettering social welfare with the tough value of developing a reliable scientific body of knowledge.


Graphene:silver nanowire composite transparent electrode based flexible OSCs yield efficiency of 13.44% and unique mechanical flexibility. It retains 84.6% of initial PCE after bending one thousand times concavely at harsh bending radius (r = 2 mm).


This paper is written as part of the project «Norwegian central government administration in a 30 years perspective», funded by the Meltzer Foundation. A previous version of the paper was presented at the workshop «Administrative Reform, Democratic Governance and the Quality of Government». ECPR Joint Sessions of Workshops, Rennes April 11.–16., 2008.


Committee on survey and research in Japanese Association of Groundwater Hydrology (JAGH) comprehensively reviewed the articles in the journal of groundwater hydrology, and developed a geographic database on areas of interest appeared in articles which mention the information on local groundwater. In this database, these articles were sorted by groundwater basins or districts so that the list of articles and links to J-STAGE could be extracted by choosing an area of interest from a graphical map. As a result of database development, some bias was found in distribution of investigated areas and it was visualized both in time and space. It might come from the background of researches such as scientific trends and changes of social interests on development or environment problems related to groundwater. This database is published on the official website of JAGH and expected to contribute to future community activities, researches and practices related to the local groundwater. 地下水学会誌 第 58 巻第 4号 431 ~ 442(2016)


The tumor suppressor role of tissue factor pathway inhibitor 2 (TFPI‐2) has been reported in various tumors. The present study aimed to improve the understanding of the oncogenic properties of TFPI‐2 in gastric cancer.


The pregnancy process involves many physiological changes, including weight gain, hormonal, metabolic and immune changes. One of the effective factors in this process is infection caused by microorganisms. Originally, before the advent of antibiotics, pregnancy was known as a risk factor for severe complications of pneumococcal pneumonia. Among viral infections, the 2009 flu pandemic issued a newer warning that some infections may disproportionately affect pregnant women and cause miscarriage and its complications during pregnancy. Generalization of pregnancy as a condition of suppression of the general immune system or increased risk is misleading and prevents the establishment of adequate guidelines for the treatment of pregnant women during epidemics. Viral infection has also become an important factor in pregnancy conditions. The recent outbreak of Ebola and other viral outbreaks and epidemics shows how pregnant women show worse outcomes (such as preterm delivery and fetal adverse outcomes) than the general population and non-pregnant women. The purpose of this article is studying pathogenesis of microorganisms and the risks which pose to the mother and the fetus. In order to investigate these factors, from 120 article prepared from google scholar and Pub med, Elsevier Review Article Ghandali et al.; AJMAH, 19(5): 22-38, 2021; Article no.AJMAH.69049 23 database. Knowing these factors can increase the ability to treat the infections in a timely manner and prevent their effects on the fetus and the patient.


Glu298Asp polymorphism of the endothelial nitric oxide synthase eNOS gene (NOS3) has previously been identified as a risk factor for hypertension and coronary artery disease. Studies suggest that the higher risk observed in thymine (T) allele carriers is due to endothelial dysfunction associated with lower eNOS activity. It has been proposed that acute consumption of nitrate ameliorates postprandial endothelial dysfunction possibly by the donation of nitric oxide by a mechanism that does not rely on eNOS. Nevertheless, how these factors interact has yet to be determined. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate whether the presence of NOS3 Glu298Asp polymorphism interacts with the nitrate content of beetroot-enriched bread to influence postprandial blood pressure.


The present invention is a worker from entering the three hip through the inlet conveyor to sejeol by the frozen meat in sejeol roller, and sejeol meat is moved from the first conveyor and the second conveyor of mesh, wherein the meat flakes are naturally It falls to the lower side, to screening the first conveyor and the second meat to be when the meat sejeol a screening zone formed between the conveyor drops, and determined that the size is below, goes beyond the screening zone commercialized as judged by a suitable meat .


To meet with the rapid development of glasses,the paper briefly outlines the modern glasses technology and inspecting technology of assembling glasses.Combined with international inspecting standards and the actual situation,some opinions about improving the glasses standards of our country are recommended


We studied the effect of rockwool matrix on the conventional physical and chemical properties of soil and analyzed its toxicological effect on Eisenia fetida. The physical and chemical properties of rockwool were studied with characterization tests. By measuring earthworm enzymes and earthworm intestinal microorganisms, the effects of different rockwool particle sizes and additive amount on Eisenia fetida were analyzed. The results indicate that a low concentration of rockwool (<30 g/kg) had little effect on the soil physicochemical properties and the activity of Eisenia fetida, and played a positive role in improving the soil porosity. A high concentration of rockwool (>100 g/kg) reduced the exchangeable Ca and Mg content in the soil, and had a significant impact on the enzyme activity of Eisenia fetida. Mechanism studies have shown that high concentrations of rockwool (>200 g/kg) can have a significant impact on the nervous system of earthworm tissue. In addition, small particle size and low concentration of rockwool is conducive to the increase in intestinal microbial species of Eisenia fetida. This study clarifies the effects of emerging rockwool substrates on soil and soil organisms and provides theoretical support for the safe and reliable application of rockwool substrates in agricultural production.


Results of experiments (in 123 immature male rats) and clinical investigations (in 22 children) have shown that changes in a testicle resulting from torsions of the spermatic cord are dependent not only on the time from the moment of torsion and its degree, but also on a disturbance of the hemato-testicular barrier and a developing auto-immune process in the operated testicle.


This review describes the recent progress of 3D porous carbon materials and their composites as electrodes for electrochemical energy storage systems.


LDPC codes of column weight of two are constructed from minimal distance graphs or cages. Distance graphs are used to represent LDPC code matrices such that graph vertices that represent rows and edges are columns. The conversion of a distance graph into matrix form produces an adjacency matrix with column weight of two and girth double that of the graph. The number of 1's in each row (row weight) is equal to the degree of the corresponding vertex. By constructing graphs with different vertex degrees, we can vary the rate of corresponding LDPC code matrices. Cage graphs are used as examples of distance graphs to design codes with different girths and rates. Performance of obtained codes depends on girth and structure of the corresponding distance graphs.


Melanoma brain metastasis (MBM) is linked to poor prognosis and low overall survival. We hypothesized that melanoma circulating tumor cells (CTC) possess a gene signature significantly expressed and associated with MBM. Employing a multipronged approach, we provide first-time evidence identifying a common CTC gene signature for ribosomal protein large/small subunits (RPL/RPS) which associate with MBM onset and progression. Experimental strategies involved capturing, transcriptional profiling, and interrogating CTCs, either directly isolated from blood of patients with melanoma at distinct stages of MBM progression or from CTC-driven MBM in experimental animals. Second, we developed the first MRI CTC-derived MBM xenograft model (MRI-MBM CDX) to discriminate MBM spatial and temporal growth, recreating MBM clinical presentation and progression. Third, we performed the comprehensive transcriptional profiling of MRI-MBM CDXs, along with longitudinal monitoring of CTCs from CDXs possessing and/or not possessing MBM. Our findings suggest that enhanced ribosomal protein content/ribogenesis may contribute to MBM onset. Because ribosome modifications drive tumor progression and metastatic development by remodeling CTC translational events, overexpression of the CTC RPL/RPS gene signature could be implicated in MBM development. Collectively, this study provides important insights for relevance of the CTC RPL/RPS gene signature in MBM, and identify potential targets for therapeutic intervention to improve patient care for patients with melanoma diagnosed with or at high risk of developing MBM. Significance: This study reports first evidence of RPL/RPS gene signature driving melanoma brain metastasis. Complex multilevel approach was performed to identify MBM signature and confirm its relevance to clinical settings. Novel MRI CTC-derived MBM mouse xenograft was established to monitor MBM spatial and temporal development and progression.


The emulational substation training system based on PC has been designed and devoloped. The main technologies realized such as scene modeling, scene simplifing, interactive with scene and viewpoint control are discussed. The training functions of emulational leading, circuit inspection, alternation demostrations, switch operation,circuit graph training, regulations searching are achieved. With the intorduciton of vitual reality, the truth and immersion into the scene are strengthened, as the same time, training effect is improved.


A plane free air jets impinging normally are visualizied by Schlieren method and photographed by a high speed camera.These pictures show the generation, coalescence and break down of vortices in the mixing region of the plane jet. The distance of the nearest vortex from the jet nozzle and the generating frequency of the vortex are obtained by analysing the jet pictures with a motion analyser.


The transparency principle of the WTO is closely related to the disclosure of ac counting information. After China's accession to the WTO, we should, in the dis closure of accounting information, properly handle the relations between differe nt interest groups, and give expression to the transparency principle the WTO wh ile conforming to China's actual conditions in terms of the formulation of acco unting standard and the disclosure of accounting information.


Diabetic Kidney Disease (DKD) is the leading cause of kidney disease world-wide, for which albuminuria is the currently accepted biomarker. Despite the increased use of glucose-lowering medications and renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) inhibitors, prevalence of DKD continues to rise in proportion to the prevalence of diabetes 1 . Development of chronic kidney disease in patients with diabetes is associated with a significant increase in morbidity and mortality as well as health care costs, even before the development of end stage renal failure (ESRF), and its onset can be clinically silent. Microalbuminuria (MA) was established as the primary predictor of risk for the advanced stages of DKD based on three follow-up studies published in the 1980's which showed that over a follow-up period of seven to fourteen years, 60-90% of patients with MA developed advanced diabetic nephropathy (DN) 2-4 . This led to the conventional model of diabetic nephropathy comprising three sequential stages; microalbuminuria leading to proteinuria and eventually end stage renal failure, along with the adaptation of MA as a proxy for development of renal function decline. However, over the subsequent two decades, this paradigm of DN has been refuted and the natural history of DN has been reformed. Rather than a rigid process as described above, the onset of microalbuminuria is now seen as a dynamic process with the likelihood of remission to normal urinary albumin levels far outweighing the risk of progression to proteinuria. In an evaluation of participants in the DCCT/EDIC Study with incident persistent microalbuminuria (defined as albumin excretion rate e30 mg/24 h at two consecutive study visits), the ten year cumulative incidence of progression to macroalbuminuria was 28%, impaired GFR was 15%, ESRF was 4%, and regression to normoalbuminuria was 40% 5 . A greater risk of remission compared with that of progression to proteinuria has been replicated in epidemiological studies and clinical trials 6 . Thus while MA increases the relative risk of developing DN at epidemiologic scales, its predictive value in an individual patient is less certain over the longterm. Moreover, with the use of serum cystatin-C based estimates of glomerular filtration rate (cC-GFR), researchers have shown that the process of renal function loss can begin prior to the onset of proteinuria, supporting the concept of early renal function decline in DKD 7 . Renal function and albuminuria status are not completely coupled, suggesting that separate mechanisms might account for loss of renal function and development of albuminuria. While microalbuminuria reliably reflects DKD across the disease population this does not necessarily hold true at the level of the individual patient, a fact that should be considered in day to day clinical practice. T1DM patients, despite long-standing normal urinary albumin excretion, have well established pathological changes of DKD shown by renal biopsy. They may also have a reduced GFR, and this can be associated with more advanced glomerular lesions 8 . Despite the universal use of microalbuminuria for screening, diagnostic and prognostic purposes, there remain many inconsistencies in how microalbuminuria is tested and reported. Measurement of the ratio of the albumin to creatinine concentration (uACR) in a spot urine sample has superseded the largely cumbersome error-prone 24 hour urine collection. First morning void is preferred because it is less influenced by factors such as hydration status and physical activity, reducing the biological variability that is caused by these factors. In clinical practice however, for convenience, many of these samples are collected later in the day at outpatient visits. At present, there are no reference materials for albumin or creatinine in urine and no reference method for albumin in urine. The accuracy of currently used methods is therefore unknown. In order to achieve the required sensitivity, immunoassays are routinely used and may be subject to 'hook' effects'. Additional procedures to detect antigen excess such as qualitiative measurement of urinary albumin by reagent strip or specimen dilution are therefore required. International recommendations vary regarding the reporting units to use and the criteria for interpretation of results. This has implications for consistency across clinical practice and research. Albumin and creatinine excretion rates have been shown to vary with time of day, gender, age, ethnicity, exercise and other factors. Despite this, only gender-specific cut-offs for ACR exist, and even these are not universally applied. Moreover, the use of a single decision threshold negates the predictive power of ACR as a continuous variable. It is important to be aware of the limitations of using uACR in predicting development and progression of DN, particularly as our understanding of the natural history of microalbuminuria has evolved. Since the risk of remission of MA outweighs the risk of progression, MA can no longer be seen as the independent predictive marker for DN. This new model of DN demands that emphasis be placed on research into better biomarkers that could identify those at risk of DKD prior to its development. Such biomarkers could enhance the prediction of the conventional markers for early nephropathy (MA, serum creatinine) by inclusion in a multi-variate assessment tool, or replace them. Biomarkers should be detected using an accurate, comparable and precise test with a standardised approach, which is currently not the case for uACR. Current research areas include urinary proteomics, measurements of tubular function and identification of genes associated with increased or decreased risk of development of DN. Although research is rapidly evolving, current progress suggests that at a clinical level we will be using uACR for some time yet and therefore efforts are required to ensure consistency in sample collection, analytical materials and methods, and units and cut-offs for reporting. A Garrahy 1 , WP Tormey 2 1 Diabetes Day Centre, Galway University Hospital, Newcastle Rd, Galway 2 Department of Chemical Pathology, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9 Email: firstname.lastname@example.com


Gymnema khandalense Santapau (Apocynaceae - Asclepiadoideae), an endemic and critically endangered species, is reported here for the first time from Goa State. A detailed description, phenology, distribution and ecology along with a photo plate are provided for its easy identification.