BACKGROUND: Statins have many beneficial effects and may attenuate the proinflammatory and metabolic stress response to surgery and consequently reduce postoperative morbidity. OBJECTIVE: This study investigated whether perioperative use of statins improved short-term outcomes after elective colectomy. DESIGN: This study is a retrospective review of prospectively collected data. SETTINGS AND PATIENTS: This study was conducted in consecutive patients undergoing elective colonic resection within an enhanced recovery program at a tertiary hospital (Manukau Surgery Centre, Middlemore Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand) from January 2005 to December 2010. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Complications, hospital stay, and readmissions were recorded for 30 days postoperatively. Postoperative functional recovery was measured by the use of the validated Surgical Recovery Score. Serum proinflammatory cytokines were measured on postoperative day 1. RESULTS: There were 269 patients; 86 patients were on a statin perioperatively, whereas 183 patients had no statin. Members of the statin group were older (median age, 72 vs 69 years; p = 0.021), included more men (53% vs 40%; p = 0.049), and included a higher number of patients with an ASA score of 3 (55% vs 22%; p < 0.001). Patients on statin therapy had a significantly lower number of anastomotic leaks (1% vs 7%; p = 0.031). However, there was no significant difference in total complications or median hospital stay. The 2 groups had comparable functional recovery, and there was no significant difference in serum cytokine levels. LIMITATIONS: This retrospective study did not analyze type, duration, or dose of statins given perioperatively. CONCLUSION: Patients on perioperative statins had greater baseline perioperative risks compared with nonusers, but they achieved equivalent outcomes overall. Statin use was associated with reduced anastomotic leaks. Thus, perioperative statin use may reduce morbidity after elective colectomy, and this finding warrants further investigation.


Backscatter value was a key to determine seabed characteristic. Level of intensity or backscatter informed through seabed type. One approach was use to analyze seabed type based on the value of backscatter was Angular Range Analysis (ARA). ARA utilize influence of angle backscattering intensities . The aim of this research was to determine value of backscatter from the bottom and used to initial prediction of seabed. Extraction processes of raw data obtained by acoustic signal processing techniques. Analysis of backscatter data was conducted by using K-means method to look the proximity of the centroid backscatter value against other values. Backscatter intensity from this sites ranged from -41,93 dB to -27 dB. The range value divided into three major classes based on Wenworth scale classification. Substrate type in the study site consists of sand, silt, and clay. Grain size diameter of each type include: sand 0.122713 mm (phi = 3.02), silt 0.018171 mm (phi = 5.78) and clay 0.002690 mm (phi= 8.53). Based on this result, signal processing multibeam echosounder able to classify seabed backscatter values to determine the seabed type Keywords: Angular Range Analysis, multibeam echosounder, K-Means


One-way quantum secure communication protocol based on single photon sequence and the XOR operation have been proposed, one-way communication can confuse the eavesdroppers and there is not visible to eavesdropping and delayed photon attack Trojan horse attack. The new agreement the use of single photon sequence and no regularity not only to achieve unconditional security, and semantics confuse eavesdroppers and has a high transmission efficiency, easy implementation, especially suitable for use in noisy channels.


It is desirable to have more experimental data concerning the acoustical properties of liquids not only because such data will lead to a better understanding of the liquid state but also because of the immediate application of such results to the development of acoustical devices. Acoustical velocities were measured at 500 kc in a number of organic liquids and binary solutions prepared therefrom. A precision ultrasonic interferometer was employed. For the most part sound velocities were found to vary linearly with temperature. Densities were determined at 20°C. Adiabatic compressibilities at 20°C were calculated and some conclusions drawn concerning the cohesive properties of certain of the solutions. The molecular sound velocity in a binary liquid solution is the sum of the products of the respective molecular sound velocities in the pure liquids by their corresponding mole fractions all at the same temperature. Where practicable, effective molecular radii were calculated from the data. The usefulness of...


We present a rare case of histologically proven neurofibromatosis of the liver, hepatic hilum, retroperitoneum, and mesentery. An adult male who had been diagnosed with neurofibromatosis (NF) type 1 underwent a computed tomography (CT) scan for abdominal pain and vomiting. The CT scan showed a large low-attenuating lesion in the region of porta hepatis which was infiltrating along portal tracts into the liver, encasing the major vessels, and extending into the retroperitoneum and mesentery. Based on the radiological findings, a differential diagnosis of plexiform neurofibroma was given, although sarcomatous transformation could not have been entirely excluded from imaging alone. The tumor was subsequently biopsied, and the histopathological analysis confirmed the diagnosis of neurofibroma. This case highlights the importance and diagnostic dilemmas in the presence of this tumor at atypical locations in this disease spectrum.


A study was made of the development of sensory pathways in the mutant rat mutilated foot (mf) which is affected by a sensory neuropathy with autosomal recessive inheritance. Microscopic abnormalities are well recognizable at the fifteenth embryonic day. By day 16, dorsal root ganglia are smaller than normal and show more numerous foci of cell necrosis which continue throughout the remainder of gestation and during the first and second postnatal days. During this period the number of ganglion cells decreases sharply. Reconstruction of cell volumes shows that the larger cells are more severely affected. The secondary sensory nuclei (gracile nuclei) are normal at birth but during the first two postnatal weeks become progressively smaller than in normal rats. The results suggest that the mutant gene acts primarily on the dorsal root ganglia causing excessive neuronal cell death. Qualitatively, the events in this mutant are closely similar to 'programmed cell death' in the normal. It is likely that neurons of second order nuclei, which are not contacted by afferent fibres, undergo a process of transneuronal degeneration as a secondary effect of excessive ganglion cell loss.


The rhodium(III)-catalyzed kinetic resolution of racemic nonactivated terminal alkene-tethered cyclohexadienones (1,6-dienes) has been developed with high to excellent selectivities (s up to 458) via asymmetric borylative cyclization, providing recovered cyclohexadienones and cis-hydrobenzofuranones with good to excellent yields and enantioselectivities (up to 99% ee). This reaction shows broad functional group tolerance and allows the further conversions of these two-type products to many optically active derivatives bearing multiple functionalities via Rh, Cu, Pd, and Ag catalysis.


Ependymomas have rarely been described to contain pigment other than melanin, neuromelanin, lipofuscin or a combination. In this case report, we present a pigmented ependymoma in the fourth ventricle of an adult patient and review 16 additional cases of pigmented ependymoma from the literature. A 46-year-old female showed up with hearing loss, headaches, and nausea. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a 2.5 cm contrast-enhancing cystic mass in the fourth ventricle, which was resected. Intraoperatively, the tumor appeared grey-brown, cystic, and was adherent to the brainstem. Routine histology revealed a tumor with true rosettes, perivascular pseudorosettes and ependymal canals consistent with ependymoma, but also showed chronic inflammation and abundant distended pigmented tumor cells that mimicked macrophages in frozen and permanent sections. The pigmented cells were positive for GFAP and negative for CD163 consonant with glial tumor cells. The pigment was negative for Fontana-Masson, positive for Periodic-acid Schiff and autofluorescent, which coincide with characteristics of lipofuscin. Proliferation indices were low and H3K27me3 showed partial loss. H3K27me 3 is an epigenetic modification to the DNA packaging protein Histone H3 that indicates the tri-methylation of lysine 27 on histone H3 protein. This methylation classification was compatible with a posterior fossa group B ependymoma (EPN_PFB). The patient was clinically well without recurrence at three-month post-operative follow-up appointment. Our analysis of all 17 cases, including the one presented, shows that pigmented ependymomas are most common in the middle-aged with a median age of 42 years and most have a favorable outcome. However, one patient that also developed secondary leptomeningeal melanin accumulations died. Most (58.8%) arise in the 4th ventricle, while spinal cord (17.6%) and supratentorial locations (17.6%) were less common. The age of presentation and generally good prognosis raise the question of whether most other posterior fossa pigmented ependymomas may also fall into the EPN_PFB group, but additional study is required to address that question.


Sport management as an area of business management has gained ascendancy in the past decade with more people becoming interested in how sport incorporates social benefits in a society. Sport integrates social initiatives by enhancing an organization's competitiveness by improving its public image. Social responsibility and philanthropy in sport has become a mainstream business issue and the entrepreneurial ways that sport-related organizations do this is becoming more important. This paper interviews a well-known international sport academic and practitioner on the future directions sport management will take. As social responsibility, philanthropy and entrepreneurship in the sport sector are becoming more integrated, it is important to consider how sport management will change in the future. This paper focuses on sport management as an inspiring field of business management that has an accessible audience towards social responsibility. Sport management also offers a rationale for promoting social responsibility and philanthropy to organizations and business leaders that have an opportunity to model socially responsible practices in the sport context.


Background: Machine learning (ML) methods have shown promise in a wide range of applications including the development of patient-specific predictive models before surgical interventions. The purpose of this study was to develop, test, and compare four distinct ML models to predict postoperative parameters after primary total hip arthroplasty. Methods: Data from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample were used to identify patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty from 2016 to 2017. Linear support vector machine (LSVM), random forest (RF), neural network (NN), and extreme gradient boost trees (XGBoost) predictive of mortality, length of stay, and discharge disposition were developed and validated using 15 predictive patient-specific and hospital-specific factors. Area under the curve of the receiver operating characteristic (AUCROC) curve and accuracy were used as validity metrics, and the strongest predictive variables under each model were assessed. Results: A total of 177,442 patients were included in this analysis. For mortality, the XGBoost, NN, and LSVM models all had excellent responsiveness during validation while RF had fair responsiveness. LSVM had the highest responsiveness with an AUCROC of 0.973 during validation. For the length of stay, the LSVM and NN models had fair responsiveness while the XGBoost and random forest models had poor responsiveness. LSVM had the highest responsiveness with an AUCROC of 0.744 during validation. For the discharge disposition outcome, LSVM had good responsiveness while the XGBoost, NN, and RF models all had fair responsiveness. LSVM had the highest responsiveness with an AUCROC of 0.801. Discussion: The ML methods tested demonstrated a range of poor-to-excellent responsiveness and accuracy in the prediction of the assessed metrics, with LSVM being the best performer. Such models should be further developed, with eventual integration into clinical practice to inform patient discussions and management decision making, with the potential for integration into tiered bundled payment models.


This study examines English for Specific Purposes (ESP) through the highly popular format used in Jack C. Richard and T.S. Rodger's Approaches and Methods in Language Teaching (Third Edition), which is the major reference book in methodology courses of the ELT departments throughout the world. The format involves the examination of each approach and method in terms of its theory of language and language learning, goals, syllabus, teaching activities, teacher and learner roles, materials, and classroom techniques (procedures). The study also involves suggestions on how the principles of Competency-Based Language Teaching and modular programming can be used for the syllabus design and implementation phases of ESP instruction.


A marketing-mix setting model is presented. The all four P's are integrated and identified. The model makes strong utilization of relevant experts' knowledge and expertise through a fuzzy-decision-making system tailored to dynamically set the marketing-mix periodically in response to changing business environment. Quantitative, qualitative, uncertain, and vague variables are handled necessary to provide a realistic solution. The proposed model is particularly applicable to changing business environments that are full of such qualitative, stochastic, uncertain, and vague variables as in the case of agricultural business (e.g., agro-food companies, fertilizers and agro-chemical producers), and generally applicable to any other business sector. The method can be considered as the fuzzy-expert system for determining values of the marketing decision variables.


The arrest of the Chilean general Augusto Pinochet Ugarte in London in 1998, and decisions in UK, Spanish, Belgian, and other European courts supporting his extradition, opened new hope that prosecutions of international crimes in national courts under universal jurisdiction laws might prove a viable strategy for combating impunity. Complainants brought cases in a number of European countries, most notably Spain and Belgium. In Spain, the Supreme Court eventually cut back on the reach of the universal jurisdiction law by superimposing the requirement of a nationality tie to the forum, as well as modifying other prior jurisprudence. In Belgium, the courts grappled with issues of immunity and the ability to initiate proceedings in the absence of the defendant. Under US pressure the Belgian legislature eventually narrowed and weakened the law. The article traces these developments, and concludes that advocates need to be more strategic in choosing both the number and type of cases they present under theories of extraterritorial jurisdiction. The primary criterion, the author argues, should be the potential for the extraterritorial case to catalyze anti-impunity efforts in the territorial state.


For the simultaneous determination of zearalenone (ZEA), deoxynivalenol (DON) and their metabolites α-zearalenol (α-ZOL), β-zearalenol (β-ZOL), zearalanone (ZAN), α-zearalanol (α-ZAL), β-zearalanol (β-ZAL) and de-epoxydeoxynivalenol (DOM) in bile of piglets, a liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry method including sample preparation with combined immunoaffinity columns (DZT MS-Prep®) has been developed. The analyte concentrations were determined by the use of isotopically labelled internal standards. The mean recoveries for all analytes ranged between 80 and 99%. The determined limits of detection and quantification ranged from 0.01-0.60 and 0.04-2.0 ng/ml, respectively. ZEA, DON and their metabolites were analysed in bile of female piglets fed diets containing 0.01/0.03, 0.05/0.59, 0.08/1.27, 0.17/2.01 and 0.29/4.52 mg ZEA/DON per kg during 29 days of treatment. After 1, 3, 8, 15, 22 and 29 days four piglets per group were slaughtered. ZEA, α-ZOL, β-ZOL, DON and DOM were quantified in almost all bile samples, whereas ZAN, α-ZAL and β-ZAL could only be quantified sporadically. Moreover, dose- and time-dependent effects were observed for most analytes. The toxin residues in bile correlated well with the respective mycotoxin intake per kg body weight and day and the mother toxin concentration in the diets. Due to these high correlations the exposure to dietary ZEA and DON could be predicted by the use of the corresponding regression equations. Strictly speaking these relationships are only valid for the experimental conditions of the underlying experiment. Furthermore, for practical application the individual variation need to be additionally considered.


Hyperprolactinemia is a major cause of infertility, and herbal remedies have been employed locally for treatment. This study was therefore designed to investigate the effects of a poly herbal mixture consisting of Bambusa vulgaris, Momordica charantia, Rauwolfia vomitoria, Ficus sur, and Clerodendrum capitatum on the reproductive hormones and metabolic parameters of haloperidolinduced hyperprolactinemic rats. Forty two female albino rats were divided into 7 groups of 6 in each group. Groups 2, 4, 5, 6 and 7 were given increasing doses (2, 3 and 4 mg/kg body weight in five-daily increments) of haldol by intramuscular injection for 15 days after which they were treated for another 15 days with either 2.5 mg/kg body weight of bromocriptine (group 4 only) or 25, 50 or 100 mg/kg body weight of the extract (groups 5, 6 and 7, respectively). Group 1 was given distilled water only while group 3 was given 25 mg/kg body weight extract only. After treatment, the animals were sacrificed and blood was taken from each group for plasma analysis of the reproductive hormones and metabolic parameters. Prolactin, follicle stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone and estrogen were assayed. The fasting blood glucose, total protein and the lipid profile (total cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol) were also determined. The result showed a dose-dependent significant reduction in the prolactin level by the extract with increase in the levels of the follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), lieutenizing hormone (LH) and estrogen. There was also a decrease in the levels of the triglycerides, LDL and total cholesterol while HDL was increased. In conclusion, the polyherbal preparation was able to reverse the hyperprolactinemia with its associated endocrine and metabolic changes in a manner comparable to that of bromocriptine.


Swallowtail butterflies (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae) have been instrumental in understanding many foundational concepts in biology; despite this, a resolved and robust phylogeny of the group has been a major impediment to elucidating patterns and processes of their ecological and evolutionary history. This study presents a mitogenomic, time‐calibrated phylogeny for all swallowtail genera. A shotgun sequencing approach was performed to obtain 32 complete mitogenomes that were added to available butterfly mitogenomes, resulting in a dataset including 142 butterfly taxa (and four outgroups) representing all butterfly families. Phylogenetic analyses were carried out under maximum likelihood (ML) and Bayesian inferences (BIs) with alternative partitioning strategies and the mixture (CAT) model. To test competing hypotheses about the systematics of Papilionidae, such as the enigmatic position of Baronia brevicornis or the status of the tribe Teinopalpini, we estimated the marginal likelihood of alternative topologies and computed Bayes factors. Estimates of divergence times were assessed using a Bayesian relaxed‐clock approach calibrated with six fossils while testing for the number of clocks. The results recovered a well‐resolved and supported phylogeny confirming that Baroniinae is sister to Parnassiinae + Papilioninae, both recovered as monophyletic. It also laid the foundations for classification at tribe and genus level, suggesting that the tribe Teinopalpini only contains the genus Teinopalpus (Meandrusa being sister to Papilio). The number of molecular clocks in dating analyses had a significant impact on divergence times. A single clock recovered an origin of butterflies in the Cretaceous (98, 66–188 Ma) and also for swallowtails (85, 55–163 Ma), while partitioning the clocks yielded an origin of Papilionoidea in the very Late Cretaceous (71, 64–86 Ma), and all butterfly families originated in the aftermath of the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction. These results challenge previous studies suggesting that butterflies appeared in the Early Cretaceous, 110 Ma, concurrently with the rise of angiosperms.


Background:  Obesity is most common nutritional disorder in developed countries and is assuming significant dimensions in developing countries. Objectives:  To find out the prevalence of overweight and obesity in adults aged 18 years and above and socio-demographic factors affecting overweight and obesity in rural population of Meerut. To suggest measures for prevention of overweight and obesity in adults population of rural Meerut. Material and Methods:  In present community based cross sectional study 1382 individuals aged 18 years and above were covered from 400 families spread over 5 villages with the help of systemic random sampling in rural area of Meerut District. The Individuals were interviewed and examined personally using Pre-designed and Pre-tested Questionnaire. Results:  Out of 1382 individuals 244 (17.7%) were having BMI ≥ 25. Prevalence of obesity in females (22%) was found more than males (13.8%). Prevalence of Overweight and Obesity increased with advancing age, maximum being in age group 50-59 years (22.2%). Maximum numbers of males (19.9%) were overweight in their most productive life (30 -39 years) whereas maximum females were overweight in their menopausal decade i.e. 40-49 years (32.8%). Overweight was more in persons who were married (18.9%), professional/Technical person (33.3%), Savarna upper caste (23.1%), belonging to high standard of living index (21.0%), person living in joint families (18.2%), and Alcoholics (18.6%) while smokers were having lower prevalence of overweight (10.6%). Conclusion: The prevalence of Overweight and Obesity is increasing in adult population of rural area. Various socio-demographic correlates are affecting the prevalence of Overweight and Obesity in Rural population.


The effects of surface roughness on the electrohydrodynamic lubrication with thin EDL are considered for the sliding of one charged body past another in an electrolyte solution. The apparent viscosity of the lubricating film with thin EDL and the average flow model are incorporated to derive the averaged Reynolds type equation as well as the related flow factors. The coupled effects of surface roughness and EDL on flow factors are discussed. The hydrodynamic pressure generated by the viscous force and electrokinetic force are discussed for an 1-D slider bearing. The results show that the existence of EDL resists the flow. The flow factors with EDL effects depart from those with no EDL effect significantly. As the EDL effect increases, the ''enhanced flow'' due to roughness is retarded, the ''restricted flow'' due to roughness is increased, and the load carrying capacities increase significantly.


significantly delayed tumour growth and prolonged survival, in association with enhanced infiltration of T cells with an activated phenotype. Approximately 50% of mice achieved partial response with relapse at day 35–45 post tumor injection. To characterize immune evolution prior to relapse, we analysed stable, partially responding tumors and paired draining lymph nodes (DLNs). Over time, activated PD-1 +ICOS+TCF7T cells with an effector memory (CD44 +CD62L-) phenotype fell from 30% to 10% whilst resting, TCF7+ early differentiated cells rose in abundance towards levels seen in untreated tumors. Abundance of Ki67-, resting Tregs also recovered. Similar results were obtained in analysis of DLNs. Conclusions Combined Treg depletion/whole tumor vaccination therapy is effective in a poorly infiltrated B16 melanoma model. Combined treatment promotes T cell infiltration and activation. In mice achieving a partial response, treatment effects on the immune landscape were observed to decay over time suggesting a return to immune equilibrium. Further studies to explore the mechanistic basis of this observation are underway. Disclosure Information C. Qing: None. E. Ghorani: None. I. Solomon: None. F. Gálvez-Cancino: None. F. Vargas: None. K. Peggs: None. S. Quezada: B. Research Grant (principal investigator, collaborator or consultant and pending grants as well as grants already received); Significant; F. HOFFMANNLA ROCHE LTD.


Successful transition from school to university is essential for the academic success of any student. Gifted students might encounter unique challenges due to their characteristics, and there is an evidence that a failure to adjust to the demands of university environment has a negative effect on gifted students' academic performance, leading to underachievement. This qualitative study aimed at exploration of gifted students' adjustment to university and issues they face within this process. We use the lenses provided by self-determination theory to further interpret the role of both internal and external motivation forces contributing to gifted students' adjustment and achievement in higher education settings. It was identified that the gifted school and university learning environments, as well as the influence of key people (parents, peers, and teachers) played a crucial role in facilitating or impeding gifted school graduates' sense of self-determination and consequently their adjustment and achievement. This study offers interesting insights for the understanding of gifted (under)achievement in a context where giftedness is predominantly conceived as high intelligence and academic achievement, gifted students are identified via performance-based measures, specialized schools are the preferred means for gifted education, and young people's talents are considered invaluable for the development of the national economy and the society.


Bio-enhancers are the compounds that enhance the bioavailability of active pharmaceutical ingredients without itself having any pharmacological action. Most of them are of natural origin and do not have any side effects. They enhance the bioavailability by influencing variety of mechanisms involved in the drug action like penetration enhancement, improving metabolism, enzyme inhibition, drug targeting etc. Use of these compounds help to reduce the dose frequency which in turn reduces drug retention in turn causing the toxicity and it also helps in developing cost-effective products. Present days these are widely used to enhance the bioavailability of anti-bacterial, anti-viral, antibiotic, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, cardiovascular drugs etc and effective drug targeting. The present review is designed to emphasize the importance of certain phytoconstituents working as bio-enhancers, their classification and different mechanisms of their activity.


The concept of "smart city" is one of the most popular in the practice of urban management around the world. It has been adopted at the federal management level as one of the leading ones for Russian cities. The problem lies in the objectification of the concept in the strategies of socio-economic development of cities. In addition, each concept, including the "smart city" has a variety of implementation models. There are technocratic (rating), triple, quarter spiral, etc. The purpose of the work is to determine the types of models for the implementation of the "smart city" concept in the strategies of socio-economic development of large Russian cities. The focus of the research is the model of the quarter spiral, which received its author's continuation and refinement as a subject through the strengthening of the nature of its sociality. To achieve this goal, a content analysis of the strategies of socio-economic development of cities in 20 major cities of the Russian Federation was carried out. As a result, it can be argued that the concept of a "smart city" is not represented in all strategies of large cities. Where it is stated, the prevailing type of model for the implementation of the concept is the triple helix model (consumer model). The presence of elements of the subject model in strategic documents seems promising.


During the last years, the integration of computational CFD tools in the internal combustion (IC) engine design process has continuously been increased, allowing to save time and cost as the need of experimental prototypes has diminished. Numerical analyses of IC engine flows are rather complex from both the conceptual and operational sides. In fact, such flows involve a variety of unsteady phenomena, and the right balance between numerical solution accuracy and computational cost should be always reached. The present paper is focused on computational modeling of natural gas (NG) direct injection (DI) processes from a poppet-valve injector into a bowl-shaped combustion chamber. At high injection pressures, the efflux of gas from the injector and the mixture formation processes include compressible and turbulent flow features, such as rarefaction waves and shock formation, which are difficult to be accurately captured by the numerical simulation, particularly when combustion chamber geometry is complex and piston and intake/exhaust valve grids are moving. A three-dimensional moving grid model of the combustion engine chamber, originally developed by the authors, was enhanced by increasing the accuracy in the sonic section proximity of the critical valve seat nozzle, in order to precisely capture the expansion dynamics the methane undergoes inside the injector and immediately downstream from it. The enhanced numerical model was validated by comparing numerical results to Schlieren experimental images for nitrogen injection into a constant-volume bomb. Then, numerical studies were carried out in order to characterize the fuel jet properties and the evolution of mixture-formation for a centrally-mounted injector configuration in both cases of a pancake test chamber and the real-shaped engine chamber. Finally, the fluid properties computed by the model in the throat-section of the critical nozzle were taken as reference data for developing a new effective 'virtual injector' model, which allows the designer to remove the whole computational domain upstream from the sonic section of the nozzle, keeping the flow properties practically unchanged. The outcomes of such a virtual injector model were shown to be in very good agreement with the results of the enhanced complete injector model, confirming the reliability of the proposed novel approach.Copyright © 2009 by ASME


The legibility of traffic signs has been considered from the beginning of design, and traffic signs are easy to identify for humans. For computer systems, however, identifying traffic signs still poses a challenging problem. Both image-processing and machine-learning algorithms are constantly improving, aimed at better solving this problem. However, with a dramatic increase in the number of traffic signs, labelling a large amount of training data means high cost. Therefore, how to use a small number of labelled traffic sign data reasonably to build an efficient and high-quality traffic sign recognition (TSR) model in the Internet-of-things–based (IOT-based) transport system has been an urgent research goal. Here, the authors propose a novel semi-supervised learning approach combining global and local features for TSR in an IOT-based transport system. In their approach, histograms of oriented gradient, colour histograms (CH), and edge features (EF) are used to build different feature spaces. Meanwhile, on the unlabelled samples, a fusion feature space is found to alleviate the differences between different feature spaces. Extensive evaluations on a collection of signs from the German Traffic Sign Recognition Benchmark (GTSRB) dataset shows that the proposed approach outperforms the others and provides a potential solution for practical applications.


We numerically demonstrate high-degree spectral compression of chirp-free optical pulses in fibers with exponentially increasing dispersion. The spectral compression factor and brightness-enhanced factor can exceed 10, and the suggested fiber is a 0.8 km dispersion exponentially increasing fiber. We find that the input pulses finally evolve into the self-similar soliton as they propagate in the fiber. The pulse chirp is generated, although the input pulse is chirp-free, and the detailed evolution of the chirp parameter is discussed. The exponentially increasing dispersion has enabled the efficient spectral compression, and some key parameters such as the initial pulse width, initial dispersion value, and dispersion exponentially increasing rate also affect the spectral compression process for the hyperbolic secant and Gaussian input pulses. Wavelength tunability and effect of third-order dispersion also are discussed. We further provide a comparison between the numerical results from the generalized nonlinear Schrodinger equation and pulse parameter equations.


We provide sufficient conditions for a mapping acting between two Banach spaces to be a diffeomorphism. We get local diffeomorhism by standard method while in making it global we employ a critical point theory and a duality mapping. We provide application to integro-differential initial value problem for which we get differentiable dependence on parameters.


Objective: The objective of this study was to examine measurement invariance and discriminant validity of the French Lausanne version (FLV) of the Conners' Parent Rating Scale–Revised, Short Form (CPRS-R:S) and assess its convergent validity against the ADHD Symptoms Rating Scale (ADHD-SRS) and the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL). Method: A confirmatory factor analysis and Tobit models were used in 108 ADHD children (aged 6-17) vs. 794 controls (aged 9-15) and score correlations were examined between FLV and ADHD-SRS then CBCL. Results: The factorial structure and reliability of the FLV is confirmed in ADHD children. The FLV showed configural invariance, metric invariance, and scalar invariance. FLV scores were significantly higher in ADHD than in control children in all three dimensions (p < .001). There were strong correlations between FLV Hyperactivity and Cognitive problems/Inattention scores and ADHD-SRS scores of Impulsivity/Hyperactivity (r = .90) and Inattention (r = .68) and also strong correlations between FLV Opposition score and the CBCL scores of Aggressive behavior (r = .84) and Rule-breaking behavior (r = .66). Conclusion: The study brings support for validation of the FLV regarding invariance in ADHD children, discriminant validity, and convergent validity.


The Single Resolution Board (SRB) is a European agency entrusted with a varied pouvoir by the EU-Regulation establishing the Single Resolution Mechanism (SRM). The SRM-Regulation also establishes a Single Resolution Fund from which bank resolutions in the Eurozone can (exceptionally) be financially supported. The Fund is fed by contributions from banks which are collected by the Euro-MS. In order to regulate the transfer of these contributions to the Fund and the gradual mutualisation of the initially ear-marked 'national compartments' of each Euro-MS to a homogenous, a Single Resolution Fund, 26 MS have concluded an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) – an international treaty – among themselves, which is applicable only to the Euro-MS, claiming that the EU lacked an according competence. Against this background, this paper addresses the character and the main content of the IGA and the way it empowers the SRB. Subsequently, the legality under EU law of this empowerment by means of public international law is examined. This involves an analysis of Treaty provisions which could potentially have served as a legal basis for this empowerment under EU law. Eventually, the relationship between the SRB's tasks/powers under the SRM-Regulation and those under the IGA is fleshed out, in particular with a view to the question how conflicts between these two sets of tasks/powers are to be solved. The MS' decision in favour of public international law will, for lack of a compelling legal basis to regulate the underlying issues in the form of EU law, turn out to be in accordance with EU law, and so will the exceptional empowerment of a European agency, the SRB, by the MS. This is mainly because the EU's institutional balance is not thereby negatively affected and because the IGA as such ranks below EU law and is declared authoritative for the application of the SRM-Regulation only by this piece of EU law itself.


Polyaniline has attracted much interest among researchers because of its reasonably good conductivity, stability, ease of preparation, affordability and redox properties compared to other organic compounds. In this work, Polyaniline (PANI) thin films were synthesized by chemical oxidative polymerization of aniline in the presence of Hydrochloric acidusing Ammonium peroxydisulfate as an oxidizing agent. The synthesised PANI thin films, doped with Tetraoxosulphate VI acid ( H 2 SO 4 ) and Citric acid, were characterised using UV - Vis spectroscopy to investigate the variations in the optical properties. The thin films were found to be of the same thickness (0.2 µm) and their absorption spectra revealed two absorption peaks at around 300nm and 650nm for the pure PANI and the sample doped with Citric acid while that doped with H 2 SO 4 had its peaks at 300 nm and 880nm. Doping reduced the direct band gap of the PANI from 2.75eV to 2.4eV. Keywords : polyaniline thin film,organic compounds, chemical oxidant polymerization synthesized polyaniline, optical properties


The solutions of temperature and solute fields around a spherical crystal growing from a binary melt under the far-field flow are obtained. Based on the results, a linear stability analysis on the spherical interface growing from the binary melt under the far-field flow is performed. It is found that the constitutional supercooling effect ahead of the spherical crystal interface under the far-field flow is enhanced compared with that without the flow. The growth rate of the perturbation amplitude at the up-wind side of the spherical crystal interface is larger than that at the down-wind side. The critical stability radius of the crystal interface decreases with the increasing far-field flow velocity. Under the far-field flow, the whole spherical interface becomes more unstable compared with that without the flow.


The objectives of this study are to know how is DRAW strategy applied in
teaching reading comprehension of narrative text and in what ways are students"
achievement improved after being taught by this strategy. The writer collected the
data by using classroom action research. The action research was carried out in
some steps. Those steps were pre-elimination test, spiraling the cycle of planning,
acting, observing and reflecting. The instruments that were used are tests,
observation sheets and questionnaires. DRAW strategy is one of strategies that
can be applied in teaching reading. D represents draw as in pull questions out of
the box. R is for read to find the answer. A stands for attend as in listen to what
classmates say as they discuss answers to drawn questions. And W represents
write; students write answers to a selected few questions based on their notes from
the class discussion. With DRAW, students work in small groups to discuss a text
and respond to questions that involve critical thinking. In short, DRAW strategy
encourages higher order thinking, motivates students in gaining information,
promotes discussion, encourages listening, and promotes participation. The pre-
elimination test in this classroom action research was used to know the students"
achievement on reading comprehension of narrative text before conducting the
research. In the pre-elimination test, the class" mean score was 45.17. In the cycle
1 test, the class" mean score was 62.17. And in the cycle 2 test, the class" mean
score was 74.17. It can be concluded that the class" mean score from pre-
elimination test to cycle 1 test improved 37.6% and 64.2% from pre-elimination
test to cycle 2 test. In short, the result of each cycle prove that students"
achievement of reading comprehension was getting better after this strategy was
conducted in teaching and learning process. It can be concluded that by using
DRAW strategy in reading class, students" reading comprehension can be
improved. This strategy is a good technique to help students in comprehending
English reading texts.


von Willebrand factor-cleaving protease/ADAMTS13 is a plasma metalloproteinase that degrades unusually large von Willebrand factor multimers (UL-vWF) derived from endothelial cells (ECs) and megakaryocytes (MCs) into small peptides circulating in blood. It is documented that transcript mRNAs of the protease are present in many human tissues; however, the protein expression of ADAMTS13 remains to be elucidated. In the present work, the gene of metalloproteinase domain of human ADAMTS13 was cloned into the multiclone site of pET28a(+). After induced by IPTG, the recombinant protein was purified using a Ni-NTA column and the Bal b/c mice were immunized with the protein. Screened with ELISA, three monoclonal antibodies against the metalloproteinase domain of ADAMTS13 were obtained and two of them, SZ-112 and SZ-113, were further evaluated. Both of them belonged to IgG 1 subclass. The quantity of them in ascites were 4 mg/ml, and their titers were as high as 1×10 −5 . The data of competitive ELISA showed that SZ-112 and SZ-113 recognized different epitopes of the recombinant protein. Western blot results demonstrated that SZ-112 not only reacted against the recombinant protein, but also recognized the full-length recombinant ADAMTS13 protein that expressed in CHO cell line (the vectors containing the ADAMTS13 cDNA sequences were provided by Prof. Sadler JE). The immunoprecipitation results showed that the two antibodies could react to an approximately 200 KDa protein in platelet lysate. Then, the expression panels of ADAMTS13 in human normal tissues were investigated using immunohistochemistry with the monoclonal antibodies. And the protease was found to be present in many kinds of tissues such as liver, spleen, ovary, prostate, bladder, small intestine, thyroid and thymus with significantly positive staining. The protease was also present in lung, uterus, large intestine and heart but stained weakly. We did not found the protease in brain. In most of these organs, the protease was expressed in epithelium of the tissues. While in liver, spleen and thymus, it was mainly presented in a subgroup of the solid tissue cells. Moreover, the preliminary results showed that the expression of ADAMTS13 slightly decreased in liver tissues of patients suffering form hepatitis type B and cirrhosis. In conclusion, our data indicated that two novel monoclonal antibodies against the metalloproteinase domain of human ADAMTS13 were successfully prepared, and the expression of ADAMTS13 in different tissue and specific locality might be associated with the regulation and function of the protease, which would contribute to the further research of the deficiency mechanism of the proteases in some disorders.


ABSTRACT
Aim: This study is designed to evaluate the biochemical effects of ethanolic extract from root bark of Salacia nitida in Plasmodium berghei-malaria infected mice.
Methods: Fresh roots of S. nitida were collected in April, 2016. Thirty P. berghei-infected mice divided into five groups of six mice per group were used for the study against six uninfected mice as control. 280, 430 and 580 mg/kg body weight/day of the ethanolic extract from root bark of Salacia nitida were given to P. berghei-malaria infected mice in groups B, C and D; 4 mg/kg body weight/day of artesunate given to P. berghei-malaria infected mice in group E, while P. berghei-malaria infected mice in group A and the normal mice in group F were given 4 ml/kg body weight/day of physiological saline for eight days. Levels of various biochemical indices in the malaria infected mice and percentage body weights were evaluated.
Results: Results obtained show significant increase (P < 0.05) in total protein, albumin, globulin, and decrease in the levels bilirubin, cholesterol, triglyceride, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase and lactate dehydrogenase were recorded in the malaria infected treated mice. Percentage change in body weights of malaria infected treated mice were also increased.
Conclusion: Results obtained from this study suggest that ethanolic extract from S. nitida root bark is effective in treatment of malaria.


Abstract In this study, I explore whether the public spending provided in response to a natural disaster is affected by upcoming elections. The theory on retrospective voting argues that politicians are kept responsible by the electorate for the damage caused by a natural catastrophe. At the same time, voters reward government officials when they react promptly by taking actions that limit the negative consequences. Thus, disaster support in the aftermath might not always only be provided to improve the economic situation after a disaster, but also for political purposes. My estimates seem to confirm this idea since roughly 10 per cent of the disaster related public spending provided in an election year is attributed to rent seeking rather than need. It turns out that the existence of these election cycles can partly be explained by cross-country differences. For instance, elections have a stronger effect in countries that are characterised by fewer checks and balances, presidential system and majority elections. One interesting result is that the role of media in electoral manipulation changes when a disaster has happened in the year before.


According to Peter Galison, the coordination of different "subcultures" within a scientific field happens through local exchanges within "trading zones". In his view, the workability of such trading zones is not guaranteed, and science is not necessarily driven towards further integration. In this paper, we develop and apply quantitative methods (using semantic, authorship, and citation data from scientific literature), inspired by Galison's framework, to the case of the disunity of high-energy physics. We give prominence to supersymmetry, a concept that has given rise to several major but distinct research programs in the field, such as the formulation of a consistent theory of quantum gravity or the search for new particles. We show that "theory" and "phenomenology" in high-energy physics should be regarded as distinct theoretical subcultures, between which supersymmetry has helped sustain scientific "trades". However, as we demonstrate using a topic model, the phenomenological component of supersymmetry research has lost traction and the ability of supersymmetry to tie these subcultures together is now compromised. Our work supports that even fields with an initially strong commitment to unity may eventually generate diverging research programs and demonstrates the fruitfulness of the notion of trading zones for informing quantitative approaches to scientific pluralism.

 https://www.webofscience.com/api/gateway/wos/peer-review/10.1162/qss_a_00262


We consider the optimal sensor scheduling problem formulated as a partially observed Markov decision process (POMDP). Due to operational constraints, at each time instant, the scheduler can dynamically select one out of a finite number of sensors and record a noisy measurement of an underlying Markov chain. The aim is to compute the optimal measurement scheduling policy, so as to minimize a cost function comprising of estimation errors and measurement costs. The formulation results in a nonstandard POMDP that is nonlinear in the information state. We give sufficient conditions on the cost function, dynamics of the Markov chain and observation probabilities so that the optimal scheduling policy has a threshold structure with respect to a monotone likelihood ratio (MLR) ordering. As a result, the computational complexity of implementing the optimal scheduling policy is inexpensive. We then present stochastic approximation algorithms for estimating the best linear MLR order threshold policy.


ObjectiveTo describe HIV-related media events in the context of first-time HIV-1-antibody testing trends at a London genitourinary medicine clinic. DesignDemographic and behavioural data were collected prospectively for individuals tested for HIV-1 antibodies between September 1985 and September 1993, at the genitourinary medicine clinic of St Mary's Hospital, London. ResultsA total of 19242 individuals were tested of whom 37% were women. Of the men tested 60% were heterosexual. The women at first time of testing were significantly younger [29.3 years; 95% confidence interval (CI), 28.8–29.7] than the men (32.5 years; 95% CI, 29.2–35.8); mean ages for both sexes did not change significantly over time. Overall, 199 women and 1539 men tested HIV-antibody-positive. The proportions of women testing positive increased significantly over time (χ2 = 21.7, degrees of freedom = 1; P < 0.001), whereas the proportion of HIV-positive men remained constant for all sexual orientation groups. The proportion of heterosexual women testing positive (2.8%) was similar to the proportion of HIV-positive heterosexual men (2.9%). HIV-positive individuals were significantly older for both sexes. Throughout the study period numerous education campaigns were run using a variety of media complemented by a number of other HIV-related media events. ConclusionsPeak periods of attendance for HIV testing generally corresponded with increased HIV-related media activity and the greatest testing rates were observed when various HIV media events occurred concurrently. The increase in the number of heterosexuals tested suggests that the risk of heterosexual transmission of HIV has been recognized, at least among older individuals. The exact role of HIV-related media events, including celebrities disclosing their HIV-positive status, remains to be elucidated. Whether the relative under-representation of younger people is due to a lack of awareness, increased use of safer sex practices or reluctance to use the service also remains to be addressed. Given the increasing number of HIV-positive women and the relatively constant rate of HIV-positive tests in the male attendees an urgent need exists to assess the impact and effectiveness of specific HIV media campaigns.


In Shannon theory literature, nuances of closely related, yet formally dissimilar, vanishing criteria have not been widely studied. For example, the distinctions between the vanishing-distortion and the vanishing-error criteria, and between the vanishing-rate and the zero-rate coding are still not well understood. In this paper, with the help of our recently proposed canonical theory, we show that each pair gives rise to two related geometries, obtained by interchanging the order of section and closure operations on an underlying set. For amenable problems, that set is closed, and hence the rival geometries are indistinguishable. However, we believe that there exists an (intransigent) problem with an underlying open set for which those geometries are distinct. Our belief is buttressed by the fact that the vanishing-error and the zero-error coding problems, involving similarly interchanged section and closure operations, are known to sometimes differ


This paper aims to argue that the United States has instrumentalized the right to asylum by converting Mexico into a "third 'safe' country" to divert Central American asylum seekers to Mexican territory and evade its international protection obligations. The methodological design is deductive, that is, such theorization was reached through documentary sources. Even with the limitations of the method, the paper is innovative because it analyzes migration management from critical legal studies and legal biopolitics by approaching securitization of migration through a genealogy of the discourses used by the United States to externalize its borders to Mexico, which have as their most recent strategy the "third 'safe' country" agreement. The consequences are the distortion of the right to asylum by removing its main protection: the non-refoulement principle and, in consequence, to let die Central American people fleeing from persecution and death geographies.


A 43-kDa peripheral membrane protein is known to copurify with acetylcholine receptor (AcChoR)-rich membranes isolated from the electric organ of Torpedo californica. Immunoelectron microscopy and crosslinking studies have demonstrated that this 43-kDa protein is closely associated with the cytoplasmic domain(s) of the AcChoR and suggest that the 43-kDa protein could regulate the distribution of the AcChoR in the postsynaptic membrane. This paper demonstrates that this postsynaptic protein appears at developing neuromuscular synapses in Xenopus nerve/muscle cocultures as early as AcChoRs become clustered at synaptic sites. Moreover, this protein is concentrated at AcChoR clusters that occur on noninnervated muscle cells. The close spatial and temporal relationship of this subsynaptic protein and AcChoR clusters is consistent with a role for the 43-kDa protein in the formation and/or stabilization of AcChoR clusters.


Although it is gratifying to be regarded as the 'best of the staff' by someone as esteemed as Professor Peter Tyrer, I take issue with the suggestion that early intervention teams (EITs) should be broken up and their functions incorporated within a flexible community mental health team (CMHT).1 Following the principle of 'Let Wisdom Guide', one would like to see the evidence before taking such a step. For while it may be true that assertive outreach teams and other innovations in Britain proved disappointing for some of the reasons outlined in the article, this is not the case for early intervention. For example, there is evidence that EITs reduce hospital admission compared with CMHTs2 and that once patients are transferred back to CMHTs, the admission rate goes up again.3

If we have a service model of proven effectiveness, particularly in reducing demand on the most expensive elements of mental healthcare (in-patient beds), such as EITs, why switch to an unproven service model? One can make a tentative case that the superior outcomes are due to 'better skilled' EITstaff or to the extra resources these teams have – which the McCrone paper shows pays for itself by reducing demand3 – but a wise approach suggests waiting for evidence of effectiveness of these CMHTs with EIT functionality before ploughing ahead and dismantling an evidence-based superior service.


The article critically examines domestic political concerns about the competitive disadvantages and possible carbon leakage arising from the introduction of domestic emission trading legislation and the fairness of applying carbon equalization measures at the border as a response to these concerns. I argue that the border adjustment measures proposed in the emissions trading bills that have been presented to Congress amount to an evasion of the U.S.'s leadership responsibilities under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). I also show how the "level commercial playing field" justification for border measures that has dominated U.S. domestic debates is narrow and lopsided because it focuses only on the competitive disadvantages and direct carbon leakage that may flow from climate regulation while ignoring general shifts in the production and consumption of emissions in the global economy, which have enabled the outsourcing of emission to developing countries. The UNFCC production-based method of emissions accounting enables Northern consumers to enjoy the benefit of cheaper imports from Southern producers and to attribute the emissions associated with this consumption to the South. I argue that it is possible to design fair border measures that address carbon leakage, are consistent with the leadership responsibilities of developed countries, do not penalize developing countries, and ensure that consumers take some responsibility for the emissions outsourced to developing countries.


Map software programs can be different in a number of ways. This paper reports on the classification of interactivity produced as a result of surveying forty map applications. Specific examples from the survey are referenced as we describe different navigation styles, different levels of collaboration support, and various data options. Unique combinations within the classification are also discussed as we explore ideas for new interaction technqiues.


AzTEC is a new 144 element bolometer receiver destined as a first-generation instrument for the Large Millimeter Telescope. >From November 2005 and through January 2006, AzTEC made science observations at the 15m James Clerk Maxwell Telescope (JCMT). Approximately 1/2 of the available time was spent mapping the submillimeter galaxy population in blank and biased fields. Overall, over 1 square degree of sky was mapped with uniform coverage in each of five primary fields making this the largest set of surveys of the submillimeter galaxy population ever performed. Hundreds of new submillimeter galaxies have been detected. Here we discuss the instrument, our mapping technique, and a brief summary of the data reduction process. We conclude with a brief summary of the overall impact of these surveys on our understanding of the submillimeter galaxy population.


Manipur is one of the most economically backward states of North-Eastern region of India bordering with Myanmar. Women constitute about  half of the total  population and  about 40% of the workforce in the state .Unlike other parts of India, Manipuri women  face less discrimination .Women are playing multiple role in the economy and society besides their role as mother,  wife ,home maker ,and care giver in the household. But their participation in the organised sector as worker is low as majority of them are engaged in the informal or unorganised sector characterized by low productivity, insecurity and vulnerability. Keeping this in view , the present paper tries to examine the determinants of  the women's participation of such informal work by using National Sample  Survey Organisation's Unit level data on employment and unemployment for two  different rounds i.e., 61 st and 66 th round  respectively. The study employed the Logistic Regression model for the analysis. Eight Independent variables have been selected viz. Age, education, marital status, location, household type, household headship, social group, religion respectively. The overall result indicate that ,among the explanatory variables ,age and education have significant contribution in predicting the  dependent variable that is women's  entry into informal work.


We studied the effects of human plasma lipoproteins on the synthesis of prostaglandin (PG) E2 in Swiss 3T3 mouse fibroblasts. Quiescent cells, maintained in medium deficient in both platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and lipoproteins, synthesized less than 8 ng ofPGE2 per 106 cells per 22 hr, and this rate did not change in response to the addition of lipoproteins. In contrast, PDGF-stimulated cells, incubated in medium deficient in lipoproteins, synthesized 45-110 ng of PGE2 per 106 cells during the same period of time, and this rate increased 2to 5-fold in the presence of added low density lipoproteins (LDL). This stimulatory effect of LDL seemed to depend on LDL receptor-mediated binding, uptake, and degradation of the lipoproteins because: (s) both LDL and very low density lipoproteins were active, whereas high density lipoproteins were not; (il) low concentrations of LDL were effective; (iii) the effect of native LDL was blocked by acetylation of the LDL; (iv) PDGF increased both the expression of LDL receptors and the cellular uptake ofLDL; (v) chloroquine blocked the effect ofLDL but not that ofexogenous arachidonic acid. These results provide evidence that the LDL pathway is critically linked to PG synthesis in PDGF-stimulated cells. In recent studies we observed stimulatory effects of human platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) on the metabolism of arachidonic acid and prostaglandins (PGs) in Swiss 3T3 mouse fibroblasts (1-3). Early PDGF-dependent activation of the phospholipase C/diacylglycerol lipase pathway caused liberation of arachidonic acid from cellular phospholipids (1). Concomitantly the growth factor activated cyclooxygenase, the key enzyme of PG synthesis (3). Both arachidonic acid liberation (1) and activation of cyclooxygenase (3) appeared to be required for PG synthesis. In our earlier studies (3) we also noticed that PDGF had stimulatory effects on PG synthesis from exogenous unesterified arachidonic acid. We therefore decided to determine whether Swiss 3T3 cells utilize physiological carriers of arachidonic acid such as plasma lipoproteins for PG synthesis. Our approach was to maintain Swiss 3T3 cells in culture medium deficient in both PDGF and lipoproteins and then study the synthesis ofPGE2 as a function of added PDGF and plasma lipoproteins. In the study described below we addressed the following questions: Do plasma lipoproteins affect PG synthesis in Swiss 3T3 cells? Does PDGF affect lipoprotein-dependent PG synthesis? Does the effect of lipoproteins require action of the low density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor? MATERIALS AND METHODS Materials. [3H]PGE2 (165 Ci/mmol; 1 Ci = 37 GBq) was obtained from New England Nuclear; Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium and calf serum, from GIBCO; standard PGs, from Seragen (Boston, MA); antibodies, from the Institute Pasteur (Paris, France); and all other materials, from Sigma Chemie (Munich, Federal Republic of Germany). Plasma Proteins and PDGF. Calf plasma-derived lipoprotein-deficient serum (PDLDS) was prepared as described (4). PDGF was prepared as reported (5), plasma lipoproteins were prepared according to Havel et al. (6), and acetylated LDL was prepared according to Basu et al. (7). LDL was labeled with the fluorophore 1,1'-dioctadecyl-3,3,3',3'tetramethylindocarbocyanine perchlorate (DiI) as described by Pitas et al. (8). Cell Culture. Cells were plated at a density of 1.25 x 10W cells in 35-mm Costar plates (Costar, Cambridge, MA) containing 1.5 ml of culture medium supplemented with PDLDS protein at 1.25 mg/ml. On days 2 and 4 the cells were fed with the same medium. On day 4, experimental solutions were added as described in the figure texts. PDGF was dissolved in 50 a.l of 10 mM acetic acid (carrier) before addition to quiescent cells (1-3). LDL was dissolved in 50 A.l of Dulbecco's phosphate-buffered saline (carrier). Assays, Flow Cytometry, and Ligand Blotting of LDL Receptor. The concentration of PGE2 was determined by radioimmunoassay as described (3). Protein was determined by the method of Lowry et al. (9). Flow cytometry analyses were performed on a cytofluorograph 30 L (Ortho Instruments) equipped with a low-power argon laser (10). Samples containing 106 cells per ml were analyzed at a flow rate of200 cells per sec. The results are displayed as two-parameter frequency distributions. To visualize the LDL receptor, Swiss 3T3 cells were maintained in PDLDS at a density of 1 x 106 cells per 100-mm dish as described in Cell Culture. On day 5, PDGF was added. Twenty-two hours later the cell monolayer was washed with phosphate-buffered saline; 21.6 x 106 cells of each group were disrupted by sonification in 1.2 ml of buffer (50 mM Tris/150 mM NaCl/1 mM CaCl2, pH 6.8) and centrifuged at 107 gamin. The pellet was suspended in buffer containing 40 mM n-octyl 6-D-glucopyranoside to solubilize the LDL receptor (11). After separation of 125 ;kg protein by 0.1% sodium dodecyl sulfate/9o polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, the proteins were electroblotted onto nitrocellulose Abbreviations: PDGF, platelet-derived growth factor; PG, prostaglandin; VLDL, very low density lipoprotein(s); LDL, low density lipoprotein(s); HDL, high density lipoprotein(s); PDLDS, plasma-derived lipoprotein-deficient serum; DiI, 1,1'-dioctadecyl3,3,3',3'-tetramethylindocarbocyanine perchlorate. 1344 The publication costs of this article were defrayed in part by page charge payment. This article must therefore be hereby marked "advertisement" in accordance with 18 U.S.C. §1734 solely to indicate this fact. D ow nl oa de d by g ue st o n Ju ly 1 0, 2 02 0 Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 83 (1986) 1345 paper, incubated with LDL at 40 ,.g of protein per ml, and then processed, using a horseradish peroxidase-linked antibody to LDL to identify the receptor-bound lipoprotein (12).


Fifth AACR International Conference on Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research, Nov 12-15, 2006

A93

The consumption of tea has been linked to a lower incidence of cancer for some time. Green tea, one of the world's most popular beverages, has recently been the focus of much research; however the mechanisms of its anti-cancer effects are unknown. Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) is the major polyphenol found in green tea and has been shown to alter the activity of DNA methyltransferases I, which is important in maintaining expression levels of methylation controlled genes. Telomerase is an important enzyme, adding telomeres to the ends of chromosomes allowing for cellular immortality. Its catalytic subunit (hTERT) is hypermethylated in MCF-7 breast cancer cells causing increased expression. In this study we have shown that EGCG causes de-methylation of the hTERT promoter leading to a decrease in expression and eventual apoptosis. In addition to the changes in methylation we have shown a decrease in histone acetylation which also leads to the gene's down-regulation. These data indicate that EGCG may work through an epigenetic mechanism in MCF-7 breast cancer cells. These results may help lead to an elucidation of the anti-cancer effects of polyphenols and facilitate their use in chemoprevention and therapeutics.


The effect of fetal neural tissue (FNT) grafting on regeneration of hippocampus structure has been investigated in postischemic rats. Transient global cerebral ischemia was induced by 20-min four-vessel occlusion in 13.2 +/- 2.4-month-old rats. FNT suspension was prepared from hippocampal CA1 area and primordial dentate gyrus of E18-E19 rat fetuses. 30 days after TGI, FNT was stereotactically transplanted into CA1 area of ischemic animals. Linear density of CA1 pyramidal neurons, stratum radiatum width, CA4 and dentate gyrus morphology were studied in hippocampal slices by light microscopy 2, 4 and 7 months after TGI and 1, 3 and 6 months after FNT grafting. It has been shown, that late FNT grafting provides significant and prolonged potentiation of a hippocampal cytoarchitecture recovery after TGI in rats.


The Hospital Suite is a landmark work by celebrated cartoonist and small-press legend John Porcellino-an autobiographical collection detailing his struggles with illness in the 1990s and 2000s. In 1997, John began to have severe stomach pain. He soon found out he needed emergency surgery to remove a benign tumour from his small intestine. In the wake of the surgery, John had numerous health complications that led to a flare-up of his pre-existing tendencies toward anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder. The Hospital Suite is Porcellino's response to these expe--riences, simply told stories drawn in the honest, heart-wrenching style of his much-loved King-Cat mini-comics. Porcellino's gift for spare yet eloquent candour makes The Hospital Suite an intimate portrayal of one person's experiences that is also intensely relatable. Porcellino's work is lauded for its universality and quiet, clear-eyed contemplation of everyday life. The Hospital Suite is a testimony to this subtle strength, making his struggles with the medical system and its consequences on his mental health accessible and engaging.


Dolichoectasia of the internal carotid artery (ICA) is a rare condition that may be associated with neuro-ophthalmic manifestations, such as loss of visual acuity and visual field resulting from compression of the optic nerve (ON). The aim is to report a 67-year-old male patient with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) with atypical evolution, asymmetry of cupping and increased pallor of the rim of the left ON, due to compressive optic neuropathy by the dolichoectatic segment. The diagnosis was based on clinical history, appearance of the ON and neuroimaging.


We investigated a deep learning strategy to analyze optical coherence tomography image for accurate tissue characterization based on a single fiber OCT probe. We obtained OCT data from human breast tissue specimens. Using OCT data obtained from adipose breast tissue (normal tissue) and diseased tissue as confirmed in histology, we trained and validated a convolutional neural network (CNN) for accurate breast tissue classification. We demonstrated tumor margin identification based CNN classification of tissue at different spatial locations. We further demonstrated CNN tissue classification in OCT imaging based on a manually scanned single fiber probe. Our results demonstrated that OCT imaging capability integrated into a low-cost, disposable single fiber probe, along with sophisticated deep learning algorithms for tissue classification, allows minimally invasive tissue characterization, and can be used for cancer diagnosis or surgical margin assessment.


International Journal of Advances in Electrical and Electronics Engineering is a leading Engineering Journal Publisher publishes International Journal in the field of Electrical and Electronics Engineering. It is an open-access quality Research paper publication in the areas of the subject such as engineering especially electronics and electrical engineering including Systems science and Engineering, Information Technology & Processing and diversified Science streams. We are specialized in publishing International Journal, Papers reporting original research or comprehensive versions of previously published research/journal papers. Our research paper publications is selected and published only after review by experienced researchers to ensure quality, relevance, and readability.


Recruitment and selection, general seen as a human resource management function, plays a great role in impacting critically on the performance of an organization in terms of achieving its ultimate goal (Costello, 2006). The purpose of this study is to have an understanding of employee recruitment and selection practices and also the organization performance in some private sectors companies in Erbil (North of Iraq). The selected companies that were used to represent the other companies include; two telecommunication companies; Korek and Asiacell Telekom and Darin Group Company. The aim of this research study was to measures the level of effectiveness and efficiency of the recruitment and selection process and organizational performance. This is because the research wants to investigate if the recruitment and selection process is adequate to increase organizational performance of the private sector in Erbil in best possible manner without waste of valuable time and effort. The study also reviews literature on recruitment and selection and equally organizational performance. A total of 363 employees shared their opinions in questionnaires; the data obtained from the survey was analyzed with the use of SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences).


The classical course of subacute thyroiditis was described by Volpe et al 1 : following a viral prodrome, patients experience thyroidal pain and swelling, and large amounts of thyroxine and triiodothyronine are released from the gland, resulting in thyrotoxicosis that lasts for several months. The high levels of thyroid hormone, which suppress thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), and the inability of the damaged gland to trap iodine lead to a decreased (1% to 2%) radioactive iodine uptake (RAIU). Following the thyrotoxicosis, euthyroidism ensues, in which the levels of triiodothyronine and thyroxine return to normal and the tender goiter resolves. During euthyroidism, the levels of TSH and the RAIU return to normal or may even become transiently elevated. Most patients do not progress beyond this phase, but 25% have transient hypothyroidism lasting two to six months. Almost all of these patients later recover, and indexes of thyroid function gradually return to normal. Papapetrou and


The present paper reports, to the best of our knowledge for the first time, the efficacy and tolerability of the combination of interferon (IFN)α-2a in pegylated formulation and rituximab after a "priming" phase with IFN in the frontline treatment of hairy cell leukemia (HCL) in a profoundly immunosuppressed patient with a Mycobacterium abscessus infection at onset. This immunotherapy combination may represent a potential therapeutic option in patients with active severe infection and for whom the use of purine nucleoside analogues (PNA) is contraindicated. The benefits and drawbacks of remarkably rapid immune reconstitution in the context of opportunistic infections are highlighted as well, as the potentially paradoxical effects of immune recovery as a result of effective immunotherapy strategies, known as immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS), have to be taken into account when dealing with patients with opportunistic infections.


In cognitive radio (CR) cooperative networks, the applicable relay scheduling and channel access directly affect the system. However, in practical system, the CR sensor is bound to sensing error. This may lead to low system performance and interfering with primary users. In this paper, we present a learning based centralized scheme for joint relay scheduling and channel access scheme in CR cooperative networks. Specifically, we formulate the joint relay scheduling and channel access problem as a partially observable Markov decision process (POMDP) system, where the most likely channel state is derived by a learning process. The optimal policy is derived by solving the problem. Extensive simulation results show the effectiveness of our proposed scheme.


BACKGROUND
Objective:Arterial hypertension is a medical condition associated with increased risks of of death, cardiovascular mortality and cardiovascular morbidity including stroke, coronary heart disease, atrial fibrillation and renal insufficiency. Regular physical exercise is considered to be an important part of the non-pharmacologictreatment of hypertension.

OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of dance movement therapy (DMT) on selected cardiovascular parameters and estimated maximum oxygen consumption in hypertensive patients.

METHODS
Fifty (50) subjects with hypertension participated in the study. They were randomly assigned to 2 equal groups; A (DMT group) and B (Control group). Group A carried out dance movement therapy 2 times a week for 4 weeks while group B underwent some educational sessions 2 times a week for the same duration. All the subjects were on anti-hypertensive drugs. 38 subjects completed the study with the DMTgroup having a total of 23 subjects (10 males and 13 females) and the control group 15 subjects (6 males and 9 females). Descriptive statistics of mean, standard deviation and inferential statistics of paired and independentt-testwere used for data analysis.

RESULTS
Following four weeks of dance movement therapy, paired t-test analysis showed that there was a statistically significant difference in the Resting systolic blood pressure (RSBP) (p < 0.001*), Resting diastolic blood pressure (RDBP) (p < 0.001*), Resting heart rate (RHR) (p = 0.024*), Maximum heart rate (MHR) (p=0.002*) and Estimated oxygen consumption (VO2max) (p = 0.023*) in subjects in group A (p < 0.05) while there was no significant difference observed in outcome variables of subjects in group B (p > 0.05). Independent t-test analysis between the differences in the pre and post intervention scores of groups A and B also showed statistically significant differences in all the outcome variables (p <0.05).

CONCLUSION
DMT was effective in improving cardiovascular parameters and estimated maximum oxygen consumption in hypertensive patients.


By adopting an Althusserian (2008) outlook onto the highly convoluted relationship between (rock) musicians and the socialist ideology, this study delineates the ideological/ repressive state-apparatuses in the case of Romanian socialism (1965-1989). In addition to investigating such apparatuses of creative control (e.g., the Securitate, the Agitprop branch, but also ideological committees of the party), the present paper explores the role of (sub)cultural agents (such as rock musicians and the countercultural youth) and their efforts in navigating the hegemonic ideology. Drawing on archival sources that comprise nearly 13,000 pages, this delineation throws considerable light on broader sociological debates such as the role of musicians in totalitarian settings (Linz, 2000; Haraszti, 1988). A two-fold relationship ensues in the case of socialist Romania: firstly, one of compromise and duplicity, and, secondly, one of (symbolic) resistance. Ultimately, this study adds to the ongoing literature concerning the dissident configuration of countercultural youth movements in the Eastern bloc (Furlong & Guidikova, 2001; Risch, 2015). In the present case, music leads to the formation of entourages which practice anti-proletarian rituals, such as the ones constituted by csöves and punks. With the overall Romanian music scene failing to form a coherent movement of resistance, most musicians become labourers for the greater, collective good as a result of maintaining a self-sufficient, subservient position toward the state.


Background A possible association between Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection and liver diseases including steatosis is suspected. There is a lack of studies evaluating the association of HP and liver steatosis severity using transient elastography. Aim The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency and risk factors for liver steatosis measured by transient elastography in patients with or without HP. Methods A total of 484 patients tested for liver steatosis and fibrosis using transient elastography from January 2017 to June 2018 were evaluated. Ninety-one patients who were also tested for H. pylori infection were included in the study. Transient elastography findings were compared between HP-positive patients and HP-negative patients. Demographic, clinical, and laboratory variables and the presence and severity of liver fibrosis and steatosis were analyzed. Results Patients with HP had a higher frequency of steatosis on transient elastography (86.8% vs. 60.7%, p =0.009). Patients with HP had increased steatosis severity compared to HP-negative patients (mild steatosis 15.8% vs. 7.1%, p=0.037; moderate to severe steatosis 71.1% vs. 53.6%, p=0.015, respectively). In the stepwise multivariate logistic regression analysis, HP infection remained an independent risk factor for steatosis (odds ratio: 4.36, 95% confidence interval: 1.09-14.78; p=0.037). Conclusion Patients with HP had an increased steatosis frequency, and patients with liver steatosis may warrant HP evaluation and treatment.


This study applies the concentration-index methodology to adult respondents of a unique household survey recently conducted in Shanghai to quantify income-related inequality in self-assessed health status and its avoidable component. Clustered random sampling was used to produce a citywide representative sample. A continuous measure of latent health was generated based on the predicted values from an ordinal probit model with the categorical response of self-assessed health status as the dependent variable. The concentration index is estimated as 0.06 and the percentage of its avoidable component is roughly 72 percent. Hence there is room for social welfare programs to intervene and reduce income-related health inequalities in Shanghai.


The performance of an optical code-division multiple-access (CDMA) network with turbo coding is analyzed and simulated. An intensity-modulated and direct-detected optical system employing binary-pulse-position-modulation is considered. The performance of the network is evaluated in terms of throughput-delay characteristics that depend on the turbo coded bit error rate (BER) performance. To eliminate delay capture effects, time-of-arrival randomization is employed. Simulation results demonstrate that the performance of such an optical CDMA network can be substantially improved by increasing the interleaver length and the number of iterations in the decoding process for a fixed code rate. Also, it is confirmed that turbo coding is very effective in increasing the number of simultaneous users that can be supported by an optical CDMA network for a given BER requirement.


I describe the properties of a fourth-order accurate space, second-order accurate time two-dimensional P-Sk' finite-difference scheme based on the MadariagaVirieux staggered-grid formulation. The numerical scheme is developed from the first-order system of hyperbolic elastic equations of motion and constitutive laws expressed in particle velocities and stresses. The Madariaga-Virieux staggered-grid scheme has the desirable quality that it can correctly model any variation in material properties, including both large and small Poisson's ratio materials, with minimal numerical dispersion and numerical anisotropy. Dispersion analysis indicates that the shortest wavelengths in the model need to be sampled at 5 gridpoints/wavelength. The scheme can be used to accurately simulate wave propagation in mixed acoustic-elastic media, making it ideal for modeling marine problems. Explicitly calculating both velocities and stresses makes it relatively simple to initiate a source at the free-surface or within a layer and to satisfy free-surface boundary conditions. Benchmark comparisons of finite-difference and analytical solutions to Lamb's problem are almost identical, as are comparisons of finite-difference and reflectivity solutions for elastic-elastic and acoustic-elastic layered models.


A series of N-terminal fragments of increasing size covering the complete sequence of chymotrypsin inhibitor-2 were previously produced using a combination of peptide synthesis and chemical cleavage at engineered methionine residues. Circular dichroism (CD) and NMR spectroscopic studies of the fragments are presented, as well as the folding characterization of the methionine mutants. The far-uv circular dichroism spectra of the small fragments correspond to disordered structures with some weak interactions indicated by temperature effects on certain spectral bands. There is evidence of a formation of a beta-turn around residues 24-26 in fragment CI-2(1-28), not observable on the NMR time scale. The intermediate fragment (1-50) is disordered at low temperature but more ordered when the temperature is increased. The 1D NMR spectra of the large fragments show an increased chemical shift dispersion in the amide hydrogen region, which indicates that tertiary interactions appear in fragment (1-53) together with a major secondary structure change, as shown by the concomitant change in the CD spectra. A key structural transition occurs on addition of residues Phe-50 and Val-51 and fragment (1-60) is largely folded. A second important structural transition in the elongation of the polypeptide occurs on addition of residue Val-63, where a compact fully folded fragment (1-63) is formed albeit with largely reduced stability. Near-uv circular dichroism indicates that the environment of the Trp-5 is fully recovered only in (1-63), probing the correct side-chain packing.


The cDNA encoding a novel P2 receptor was isolated from rat aortic smooth muscle cell library and functionally characterized. The cloned P2 receptor exhibits structural features characteristic of the G protein-coupled receptor family and shows 44 and 38% amino acid identity with previously cloned rat P2U and chicken P2Y receptors, respectively. The cloned P2 receptor is functionally coupled to phospholipase C but not to adenylate cyclase in C6 rat glioma cells transfected with the cloned P2 expression vector. The rank order of agonist potency as judged by intracellular Ca2+ mobilization responses is UTP > ADP = 2-methylthioATP > ADPβS > ATP = ATPγS, which is not compatible with any of the previously characterized P2 receptor subtypes. The nonselective P2 antagonists, suramin and reactive blue-2, inhibit nucleotide-induced phospholipase C activation in cells expressing the cloned P2 receptor. The cloned P2 receptor mRNA is abundantly expressed in various rat tissues including lung, stomach, intestine, spleen, mesentery, heart, and, most prominently, aorta. The results indicate that the novel metabotropic P2 receptor has pharmacological characteristics distinct from any of P2 receptor subtypes thus far identified and suggest the existence of a novel regulatory system by extracellular nucleotides of potential significance.


As an appreciation to their customer, PT Pinjam Indonesia has a Gold product. Gold is a product that allows customer to get 10% discount of total bill every 6 months, and is given to two customers. Until now, PT Pinjam Indonesia has difficulties in deciding which customer from Online mortgage system deserves to be rewarded with the Gold product, this problem occurs because of the many numbers of customer in the system. Therefore, Decision Support System is needed to help speed up and make the deciding process easier. Decision Support System decide the highest alternative value that deserves to receive the Gold product using the Simple Additive Weighting (SAW) method wtih prescribedcriterias. The basic concept of Simple Additive Weighting (SAW) method is to find the weighted additive from performance rating of every alternative's attributes. SAW method needs a normalization process of the decision matrix to a scale that can be compared with every rated alternatives. A calculation process is applied to all the criterias to get the result of which alternative is best to receive the Gold product. This method could help the decision making process to be more objective.


The State of California elects a bicameral legislature through a first-past-the-post electoral system. Beginning in 2012, the election of California state legislators will be through an open primary, two-round system. Neither of these electoral systems provides for proportional representation in the legislature. Accordingly, neither system leads to a truly representative democracy. The author recommends that the state adopt a proportional representation electoral system – specifically, a mixed-member system – as a more democratic alternative plurality/majority systems now in place or projected to be implemented in 2012. In addition, the author explains why the state legislature should be unicameral and increased in size from the current 120 legislators to 320.


Chad Friedrichs, director. The Pruitt-Igoe Myth . Unicorn Stencil Films, 2011, DVD, 83 mins., http://www.pruitt-igoe.com, $295

In collective memory, the former Pruitt-Igoe public housing development in St. Louis remains frozen in the instant of its implosion. A cloud of dust and debris spews from the base, walls dissolve into vertical cascades, and the roofline buckles into jagged peaks and valleys. Such is the agony in which three of the complex's thirty-three eleven-story buildings were photographed in 1972 during a series of highly publicized razings using the novel technique of dynamite. The most widely circulated demolition image—credited to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, and apparently taken on 21 April by the photographer Michael J. Baldridge—in turn became symbolic dynamite. The image has a terrible beauty, typically unacknowledged, that makes it a distant cousin to the ancient ruins painted by romantic artists. Powered by an unseen and unfathomable source, the violence evokes a quasi-natural disaster. As the demolition shot was reprinted next to optimistic images taken at the project's opening a mere sixteen years earlier, the story of Pruitt-Igoe was compressed into a kind of cartoon. Against the backdrop of falling buildings, which today's bloggers might call "demolition porn," Charles Jencks declared "the death of modern architecture."1 Opponents of public housing hailed the image as an emblem of welfare state dysfunction, or the supposed incivility of the poor black inhabitants. But beyond the reified image and floating slogans, what really caused the failure?

This innocent but complex question is the point of departure for the documentary film The Pruitt-Igoe Myth (2011) directed by Chad Freidrichs. Challenging the axiom that Pruitt-Igoe was a place doomed from within, the film's narrator says, "Little was said about the laws that built and maintained it, the economy that deserted it, the segregation that stripped away opportunity, the radically changing city in which it stood." Using archival material and original interviews with former …


Abstract Adhesive capsulitis (AC) is a common and disabling shoulder condition seen in physical therapy, and there is no clear consensus as to the best treatment approach. Recently there has been emerging evidence that manual therapy directed at the thoracic spine may be beneficial for patients with shoulder pain; however, this has not been examined specifically in patients with AC. The purpose of this paper is to present the case of 59-year-old female referred to physical therapy with a diagnosis of AC. The patient presented with complaints of left shoulder pain and significant limitations in range of motion (ROM) and upper extremity function. The initial treatment included exercises and manual therapy directed at the glenohumeral and scapulothoracic joints, and after 10 visits only minimal progress had been made. Further examination revealed mobility and ROM deficits in the thoracic spine, and manual therapy directed at this region was incorporated into her treatment. After the first session of thoracic spine manual therapy (TSMT) a 25 degree improvement was noted in active shoulder flexion. After four total visits of TSMT substantial improvements in pain, ROM, and function were noted compared to those made during the first 10 visits. This case adds to the emerging evidence that manual therapy directed at the thoracic spine should be considered for patients with shoulder pain.


The patient was a 72-year-old woman who was admitted with AMI. On the next day, a systolic murmur of Levine II/VI became audible on the left sternal border of the 5th intercostal space and VSP was diagnosed by the echocardiogram. The hemodynamics was comparatively stable, and so we scheduled the elective operation in the expectation of the healing of the infarction tissue. At the cardiac catheterization just before the operation, L-R shunt ratio was 64.9% and main PA was 41/18 (26) mmHg. Before the operation we marked the VSP position by Swan-Ganz catheter through the left ventricle and VSP closure and 2 CABG was performed. We concluded that this method was useful for the diagnosis and therapy of VSP.


1. In the six years from 1915 to 1920 inclusive, 286 cases of tuberculosis of the spine had 325 fusion operations at the New York Orthopaedic Dispensary and Hospital.

2. Thirty cases were excluded because the period of follow-up was short and the result was doubtful.

3. One hundred and eighty-one patients, or seventy and seven-tenths per cent. of the remainder, are living and cured Ten other patients were cured of tuberculosis of the spine, but died of other causes This makes the total number of cures 191 and the percentage seventy-four and six-tenths.

4. Eight patients, or three and one-tenth per cent., were not cured.

5. Sixty-seven patients, twenty-six and two-tenths per cent., died. Eighty-eight per cent. of the deaths were due to tuberculosis or directly related causes.

6. The operative mortality was only three, or nine-tenths of one per cent., all of whom were poor risks. For the entire number of 534 operations performed from 1911 to 1920 it is only five-tenths of one per cent.

7. These 286 patients represent practically the entire number of cases seen at the Orthopaedic Hospital during this period. The cases were not selected, and, almost without exception, no one was refused operation. These patients in the main were of the poorer class, coming from unfavorable surroundings, and after operation returned to the same environment.


In this paper, we revisit the issue of the impact of demographic change on the Japanese saving investment balance. Using updated government projections, we show that the ageing of the population under way will steadily lower Japan's saving rate from 31 per cent of GDP today to 20 per cent of GDP in 2040. Japan's investment rate will remain close to its current level of 29 per cent. Thus, Japan's saving investment balance, or current account, will steadily decrease from its current level and will turn negative in 2025. In addition, we project the impact of demographic change on the evolution of Japanese consumption per capita, or "living standards". Despite the population ageing, we project that per-capita consumption will grow until 2010. However, under certain scenarios, consumption per capita falls in most years after 2010. Copyright 2000 by Oxford University Press.


Objectives Papilloma frequently develops as a benign tumor of the head and neck area, but its potential for malignant transformation has yet to be studied. This study aims to provide basic information for papillomas using the immunohistochemical staining of matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2) and human papilloma virus (HPV) 16 and 18. Materials and Methods To evaluate the malignant transformation of papillomas, the selected tissue samples were serially diagnosed with pre-cancerous papilloma (with epithelial dysplasia, pseudo-epitheliomatous hyperplasia) or malignant lesion (squamous cell carcinoma, SCC) after the first diagnosis (squamous papilloma, inverted papilloma). The selected tissues were stained with an antibody to MMP-2 and HPV 16-E7, HPV 18-L1. A statistical analysis was performed according to each transformation step. Results The epithelial layer of papilloma and pre-cancerous papilloma lesions had a similar MMP-2 expression, but that of the malignant lesion had a significantly increased MMP-2 expression. HPV 16 and 18 infection rates were 28.6%, 33.3% and 63.6% in papillomas, pre-cancerous papilloma lesions, and SCC. Conclusions A relatively high MMP-2 expression and HPV 16 or 18 infection of papillomas may be associated with early events in the multistep processes of malignant transformation of papillomas.


Our aim in this review paper is to present the applications of Connes' noncommutative geometry to elementary particle physics. Whereas the existing literature is mostly focused on a mathematical audience, in this paper we introduce the ideas and concepts from noncommutative geometry using physicists' terminology, gearing towards the predictions that can be derived from the noncommutative description. Focusing on a light package of noncommutative geometry (so-called "almost-commutative manifolds"), we shall introduce in steps: electrodynamics, the electroweak model, culminating in the full Standard Model. We hope that our approach helps in understanding the role noncommutative geometry could play in describing particle physics models, eventually unifying them with Einstein's (geometrical) theory of gravity.


[1] Models of metastable helium, He(23S), production in the upper thermosphere and lower exosphere show that creation by recombination of He+ may be nonnegligible relative to the photoelectron impact on He(11S) source. Owing to large ground state He abundance in the winter and to photoelectrons from an illuminated conjugate thermosphere, the strongest 1083 nm intensities (arising from He(23S) solar resonance) occur during the winter at Arecibo. During late spring and early fall, however, recombination of the nighttime He+ layer begins to compete as a source of metastable He, and the contribution to the early twilight 1083 nm airglow brightness from recombinant He(23S) reaches more than 10%, regardless of solar activity levels, and becomes increasingly dominant for solar zenith angles greater than 105°. A hot metastable component from recombination potentially renders ambiguous interpretation of the 1083 nm spectral profile in terms of exospheric temperature. The presence of such a population may explain reported observations of 1083 nm line widths that increase with shadow height, implying twilight temperatures much hotter than those expected of a thermalized neutral population.


1. Viable human leucocytes were isolated from venous blood and suspended in artificial media. Intracellular pH measurements were made by the dimethyloxazolidinedione technique in conditions simulating "respiratory" or "metabolic" acid-base disturbances. 2. Normal intracellular pH was 7-11 +/- 0-02 (mean +/- 2 SD) at an extracellular PCO2 of 5-8 kPa and a bicarbonate concentration of 25 mmol/l. 3. "Respiratory" and "metabolic" acidosis caused little change in pHi although increases in PCO2 led to relatively greater falls in pHi than did reduction in external bicarbonate concentration. 4. "Respiratory" and "metabolic" alkalosis caused similar and relatively greater increases in the pHi when compared with the response to an external acidosis.