Diversity and genetic relationship in forty landraces of Cucurbita spp. collected at small farms in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, were analyzed by RAPD and ISSR markers, using 20 and 15 primers, respectively. Both markers were efficient to cluster the acces- sions separating among species, but not so much to the detection of intra-specific variability, considering the event of different pairs of accessions comprising null genetic distances observed for both markers in C. moschata. Low values observed for genetic distance among the C. moschata landraces showed that most likely genetic losses is in progress in that region of cultivation due to anthropic and market pressure, which are stimulating the small farmers to abandon their local varieties in order to use commercial seeds, including hybrids, which is causing risk of genetic erosion.


This paper presents an interface used to control a lightweight industrial robot via speech. Many examples of speech control can be found in everyday life, and there may also be a useful application in industrial automation devices, e.g., robots. Because of their intuitive teach-in concept for hand guidance, lightweight robots are particularly convenient. Furthermore, they include special safety functions in the form of speed and force limitations, which makes the combination of speech recognition and industrial robots in the first instance uncritically. In this study, speech control was firstly compared with other approaches to intuitive and novel robot programming. Here, it is important to distinguish between experts and non-experts. A suitable speech-recognition system was chosen for implementation of a robot speech-control interface. For this purpose, we compared various aspects of currently available speech software. Speech-recognition functionality was then fitted to the robot, and program flow-charts for speech control were developed. Speechcontrolled teach-in and speech-controlled robot motion were both integrated into the robot system, and the algorithms were successfully verified by practical experiments. Finally, speech teach-in was compared to teach-in using the teach pendant, and to teach-in of a conventional industrial robot, in terms of duration and usability.


Hypothalamic adrenal insufficiency (AI) is a rare but distinct type of AI. The leading cause of hypothalamic AI is a secondary side-effect of exogenous steroid intake, particularly in large amounts and/or long-term periods. The next cause would be the effect of the tumor in the hypothalamic lesions. We show here 9 cases of hypothalamic AI without any disorder on imagings and a history of steroid administration. All patients had general fatigue; 7 patients (77.8%) had a history of hypoglycemia; 5 patients (55.6%) had a history of hypotension. None of the patients had hyponatremia, hyperkalemia, or eosinophilia. Their morning plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) value was low at 8.5 ± 4.2 pg/mL, and serum cortisol value was low at 4.5 ± 1.3 µg/dL. All patients demonstrated normal responses during the corticotropin-releasing hormone loading (CRH) test but inadequate responses during the insulin tolerance test (ITT). After hydrocortisone replacement therapy, their morning plasma ACTH and serum cortisol values were significantly recovered (P < .05). Moreover, more than half of the patients were fine after discontinuing hydrocortisone replacement therapy. These results indicate that this unique type of hypothalamic AI has a curable clinical course making hydrocortisone replacement therapy a novel therapeutic option.


On the basis of the characteristics of the oasis hydrological recycling processes in the lower reaches of the Tarim River, the impacts of surface water and groundwater on soil salt content were analyzed to determine how these processes affect soil salinization. The results showed that the relationship between surface water quality and soil salt content in the 0–50 cm layer of soil was significantly positive, with soil salt content declining as groundwater depths increased. However, there was no clear correlation between surface water and salt content in the 50–100 cm layer of soil. When the groundwater depth was <6 m, the soil salt content showed a high‐surface concentration, exhibiting a 'T' distribution and decreased with increasing soil depth in the order of 0–20 cm > 20–50 cm > 50–100 cm. However, with increasing groundwater depth (>6 m), soil salt loads were reduced and showed a 'rhombus' distribution, mainly accumulating in the middle layer in the order of 20–50 cm > 0–20 cm > 50–100 cm. When groundwater depth was greater than 6 m, the hardness, total dissolved solids (TDS), and conductance of the groundwater underwent a radical change. Thus, the critical threshold groundwater depth for condensing salt content in groundwater and changing soil salt load distributions was deemed to be 6 m. Salt accumulation in the 0–50 cm layer of soil was determined by the TDS volume in the groundwater when groundwater depth was shallow, which accounted for more than 90% of salt accumulation. However, salt accumulation was determined by the volume of TDS in irrigation water when groundwater depth increased. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


THE following case is reported by Mr. Blenkarne. Mary Ann J., aged 23, was admitted under Dr. Wilks on February 8th, I870. She was a married woman, and had always enjoyed good health until six weeks ago, when, in crossing the street, she was nearly run over by a cab. She was much frightened, and never completely recovered the shock. Four or five days afterwards, she observed her skin becoming yellow. She at the same time had headache, nausea, and slight diarrhcea. She noticed that her urine was of very deep colour, and her motions pale. She had had no pain. On admission, the patient was deeply jaundiced. She made no complaint, except of being weaker than in health. There was no pain or tenderness over the liver; nor, on percussion, was there any perceptible difference in size of the liver. The tongue was clean; pulse Ioo. The urine was in good quantity, of specific gravity I023, full of bile, showing abundance of colouring matter by addition of nitric acid, but none of the biliary acids by Pettenkofer's test. The motions were like pipe-clay. She was ordered ten minims of dilute nitric acid in compound infusion of gentian three times a day, and five grains of pill of mercury and rhubarb every night. On February 14th, she was no better. The medicine was changed to three grains of benzoic acid and two grains of extract of conium in a pill every six hours. On the 23rd, she seemed better, and expressed herself as not feeling so ill. The skin was less yellow, and the motions somewhat darker. Hippuric acid was found in the urine. After this, she gradually improved. On March 9th, the yellowness had almost disappeared; and on March 26th she went out well.


Abstract High quality probiotic powder can lay the foundation for the commercial production of functional dairy products. The freeze-drying method was used for the preservation of microorganisms, having a deleterious effect on the microorganisms viability. In order to reduce the damage to probiotics and to improve the survival rate of probiotics during freeze-drying, the Response Surface Methodology (RSM) was adopted in this research to optimize lyoprotectant composed of amino acids (glycine, arginine) and salts (NaHCO3 and ascorbic acid). Probiotic used was Bifidobacterium bifidum BB01. The regression model (p<0.05) was obtained by Box–Behnken experiment design, indicating this model can evaluate the freeze-drying survival rate of B. bifidum BB01 under different lyoprotectants. The results indicated these concentrations as optimal (in W/V): glycine 4.5%, arginine 5.5%, NaHCO3 0.8% and ascorbic acid 2.3%, respectively. Under these optimal conditions, the survival rate of lyophilized powder of B. bifidum BB01 was significantly increased by 80.9% compared to the control group (6.9±0.62%), the results were agreement with the model prediction value (88.7%).


Working in the best interest of children in abuse and neglect cases is a daunting task for both lawyers and social workers. The legal system is inadequate to meet the myriad needs of children and families in crisis. Yet only under the authority of the legal system can social work and other mental health professions intervene in families on behalf of children. The juvenile court system has been buffeted historically by the competing values and methods of social work and law. The institution and its rules are still evolving today. This dynamic environment means that even if competition for "ownership" of the system can be set aside; collaboration will be challenged by ever-changing expectations.The adversarial system's focus on "winning and losing" fails to adequately take into account the relationships that are at the heart of most child abuse and neglect matters. The American legal system often focuses on individual rights and responsibilities and does no accommodate a more inclusive view of a collective "family" right. The adversarial system's focus on the individual neglects the relationships among many individuals. In the area of child welfare, "rights" must be viewed within the context of child protection. The adversarial system distorts the focus by pitting one party's rights against another's. Observers of the juvenile court system have long noted that the stakeholders in the system misunderstand or confuse their own roles and the roles of others. The source of these misunderstandings has been less thoroughly explored. This article will highlight some of the problems encountered by professionals working in this truly interdisciplinary field and will suggest methods for improving collaboration. Social workers and attorneys often lack a shared basis in language, ethical precepts and world view which leads to an inability to resolve those misunderstandings. This article examines the background, structure and history of the juvenile and family courts, emphasizing the tensions between social work and legal visions of the court. It examines the roles and conceptions held by both social workers and attorneys within the system and describe the difficulties both groups have in reconciling their competing views of the goals and methods for child protection. The article concludes by suggesting a variety of reforms that could facilitate more effective interdisciplinary cooperation between social workers and lawyers within the child protection system, including cross-training.


ABSTRACT Li, Y.; Huang, S.; Ma, L.; Huang, Q.; Wu, L.; Hou, B., and Leng, G., 2018. Spatiotemporal changes in extreme wet and dry conditions and linkages with planetary oscillations. In: Wang, D. and Guido-Aldana, P.A. (eds.), Select Proceedings from the 3rd International Conference on Water Resource and Environment (WRE2017). Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue No. 84, pp. 134–143. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208. Exploration of the spatiotemporal changes in extreme wet and dry events and their linkages with planetary oscillations is highly necessary for regional hazards mitigation. In this study, a standardized Surface Humid Index was applied for characterizing extreme dry and wet conditions (hereafter referred to as EDWC) in the Wei River Basin (WRB), China. Then, the heuristic segmentation method was adopted to determine the stationarity of extreme dry and wet frequency. The cross wavelet transform and coherence were used to reveal the linkages between EDWC and planetary oscillations. Results indicated that: (1) the standardized Surface Humid Index in the WRB has a striking trend towards wetter condition in summer and winter, whilst that in spring and autumn has a marked trend towards drier condition; (2) the northern basin has the highest extreme wet frequency, while the western basin has the lowest extreme dry and wet frequency; (3) the stationarity of the extreme dry and wet frequency series in the WRB is valid; (4) the planetary oscillations strongly affect the EDWC in the WRB. El Niño Southern Oscillation exhibits the strongest impacts on its EDWC, while Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation shows the weakest impacts on its EDWC.


remains to be done in order that perfect certainty may be attained, nevertheless the outcome must be regarded as promising in pointing toward an adequate and convenient method of separating gallium from other metals. Three fractional samples of the chloride discussed in the previous section were analyzed, using the usual methods employed in Harvard University in order to make a preliminary determination of the atomic weight. The samples were small and for various reasons the results cannot be considered as anything more than preliminary, but the outcome is, nevertheless, worth recounting. In the last and best determination 0.43947 gram of gallium chloride (weighed in vacuo in a sealed glass tube) yielded 1.07087 grams of silver chloride having required 0.80587 gram of silver for complete precipitation. The atomic weight of gallium computed from these two sets of data are respectively 70.09 and 70.11-concordant results indicating a value somewhat higher than that usually accepted for gallium, but near enough to show that the chloride was at least not far from being pure, and that the whole proceeding is capable, when employed with larger quantities of material and with the experience already gained, of affording an accurate evaluation of this atomic weight. Of. course such meagre data as those thus far secured furnish no worthy evidence concerning it; they are as merely preliminary as the data of Lecoq de Boisbandrau. At the conclusion of the war it is hoped that the joint investigation (which was stopped by the departure of W. M. Craig into War Service) may be continued and completed.


The influence of water-immersing on the magnetic behavior of Rb 2 Ni 3 S 4 single crystals grown by the flux method was studied, where the intrinsic substance is non-magnetic because of the low spin state of Ni 2+ in a Kagome lattice. The influence of Co-doping to Rb 2 Ni 3 S 4 was also studied in terms of the local spin density approximation (LSDA) band structure calculation. Residual ferromagnetic moments appeared in specimens immersed into water, as their magnitudes increase depending on the immersion time. The LSDA band structure calculation suggested that Co substitution for Ni allows deriving a novel ferromagnetic behavior.


Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) was a chronic metabolic disorder in which prevalence has been increasing progressively all over the world. The innovate therapeutic approaches against T2DM are required in order to inhibit and treat T2DM. On the other hand, previous research has proven that activation of SIRT1 might prevent T2DM, demonstrating the SIRT1 may consider as a novel curative target for T2DM treatment. So, in this study, SIRT1 aptamer as activator of SIRT1enzyme was used as a pharmacological model to prevent T2DM by management the expression of SIRT1, FOXO3a and PGC-1α, genes in INS-1 832/13 rat insulinoma high fat cell lines (a type of model that used in order to study the pancreatic islet beta-cell role and for insulin excretion organization). The outcomes of RT-PCR showed that 10 μM of SIRT1 aptamer can up regulates PGC-1α, SIRT1 and FOXO3a expression in rat insulinoma cell lines. Moreover, the outcomes of western blot showed that palmitic acid (PA) modified the expression of lipid metabolism-related genes and mitochondrial biogenesis-related, while SIRT1 aptamer treatment improvement the PA that prompted alterations in the expression of previous genes through SIRT1. To sum up, this study provides important information regarding the effect of SIRT1 aptamer on modifiable the expression of mitochondrial genes related with biogenesis. So, SIRT1 aptamer may be considered as a prospective future therapy for mitigates T2DM.


Abstract : The ROCETS (ROCket Engine Transient Simulation) computer program is a very powerful tool for state-of-the-art modeling and simulation of liquid rocket engines. The versatility and adaptability of this tool make it ideal for the analysis of any type of liquid rocket engine cycle at any level of modeling detail desired by the user. While these features make ROCETS a very powerful tool, they also make it a very difficult tool for casual users to apply to problems effectively. This problem exists both for the actual development of the computer model as well as the operation of a working model. This paper describes a novel Graphical User Interface (GUI) developed specifically to address the problem of simplifying the use of working ROCETS models. The GUIs described provide an interface to two specific ROCETS liquid engine models, both using variations of an oxidizer-rich, staged combustion cycle. The GUIs translate inputs familiar to rocket engineers into inputs suitable for the ROCETS models, freeing the user from performing the numerous tedious calculations required to obtain the hundreds of input parameters needed. The GUI permits users to input top-level parameters such as thrust, chamber pressure, nozzle expansion ratio, inlet pressures, etc. These inputs are then used to resize all of the engine components. In this way, the user is able to resize the engine being considered over a thrust range of 10 Klbf to 2Mlbf. The GUI permits the user to perform trade studies rapidly and to assess the feasibility of specific design parameters and operating conditions. The interface also has the capability to vary input parameters automatically over a selected range and output the results graphically.


A survey of analytic techniques for solving the two-electron atomic Schrodinger equation is presented. The hyperspherical formalism is introduced and specialised to the case of two electrons and zero total angular momentum. Following Fock, the Schrodinger equation is then converted to an infinite set of coupled second-order differential equations by proposing an expansion including logarithmic functions of the interparticle coordinates. The equivalence of the techniques of Pluvinage and Hylleraas (1985) to the Fock expansion is demonstrated and the method for solution is illustrated. The extension to states of arbitrary angular momentum and excited states is indicated. Methods for simplifying the recurrence relation generated by the Fock expansion are used to determine the highest power logarithmic terms to sixth order. Finally, the wavefunction for S states is given to second order as a singly infinite sum of Legendre polynomials.


A simulation method for the thermal analysis of InAlAs/InGaAs/InP mid-infrared quantum cascade lasers (QCLs) based on finite-element method (FEM) is presented. The thermal distribution of the QCLs on substrate-side or epilayer-side mounting forms is simulated and the results are compared. Results show that the epilayer-side mounting form has much better heat dissipation capability than the substrate-side mounting.


Purpose Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a malignant high-grade glioma with a poor clinical outcome. Temozolomide (TMZ) is the first-line GBM chemotherapy; however, patients commonly develop resistance to its effects. Materials and methods We investigated the antitumor activity of CAT3 in TMZ-resistant glioblastoma cell lines U251/TMZ and T98G. Orthotopic and subcutaneous mice tumor models were used to investigate the effects of various treatment regimes. Results We found that PF403, the active metabolite of CAT3, inhibited proliferation of both cell lines. PF403 repressed the Hedgehog signaling pathway in the U251/TMZ cell line, reduced O6-methylguanine DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) expression, and abolished the effects of the Shh pathway. Moreover, PF403 blocked the Hedgehog signaling pathway in T98G MGMT-expressing cells and downregulated the expression of MGMT. CAT3 suppressed growth in the U251/TMZ orthotopic and T98G subcutaneous xenograft tumor models in vivo. We also demonstrated that inhibition of the Hedgehog pathway by PF403 counteracted TMZ resistance and enhanced the antitumor activity of TMZ in vitro and in vivo. Conclusion These results indicate that CAT3 is a potential therapeutic agent for TMZ-resistant GBM.


Ever since a-party Diffie-Hellman key exchange was first proposed in 1976, there have been efforts to extend its simplicity and elegance to a group setting. Notable solutions have been proposed by Ingemarsson et al. (in 1982) and Burmester/Desmedt (in 1994). In this paper, we consider a class of protocols that we call natural extensions of DiffieHellman to the n-party case. After demonstrating the security of the entire class based on the intractability of the Diffie-Hellman problem we introduce two novel and practical protocols and compare them to the previous results. We argue that our protocols are optimal with respect to certain aspects of protocol complexity.


Abstract The creep resistance of light metals is of utmost relevance for application at elevated temperatures. This includes automotive components in power trains, engines, battery casings and transmission housings. The alloy design of temperature resistant light alloys for these applications depends heavily on the timely determination of the creep behavior. However, specialized facilities and testing equipment are required to perform creep experiments, which are not available in all labs. In contrast, deformation dilatometers are state-of-the-art at most research facilities with a metal forming department. These instruments can apply a constant force at high temperatures and are therefore, in principle, able to conduct creep experiments. To validate the applicability of such a deformation dilatometer for the development of magnesium alloys, short time creep experiments were conducted and compared with results from a standardized creep stand. Good agreement between the dilatometer and conventional constant force creep experiments was found. In this work, both methods are described in detail and possible limitations are discussed.


A polyol consists of silicone chains and epoxy acrylate structures, referred to as silicon polyether (PES), was used to prepare crosslinked Si/PU dispersions. Both PES and propylene oxide glycol (PPG) were mixed as soft segments. The effects weight ratios of PES to PPG on properties of the resultant polyurethane dispersions were studied. Morphology and properties of the Si/PU dispersions were characterized by particle size, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and viscometer. It is shown that the Si/PU dispersions possessed wider particle size distribution and higher average particles diameter because of the use of PES, which contains crosslinked silicone side chains. The Si/PU dispersions have higher solid content as compared to the conventional water-based polyurethane, because of the volume fraction ratio of bigger particle to small particle from the Si/PU dispersions. As increasing weight ratio of PES to PPG, the solid content of the Si/PU dispersions increased firstly, and then decreased. When the ratio ranges from 4 : 10 to 5 : 10, solid content of the Si/PU dispersions is up to 55%. It was also noticed that apparent viscosity of the Si/PU dispersions decreased with increasing PES to PPG ratio. In the Si/PU dispersions, solid content was increased and viscosity was decreased by the use of PES. Therefore, PES is a potential compound for the application of PU dispersions. In addition, stability of the crosslinked Si/PU dispersions decreases slightly at high- and low-temperature; however, which can meet the basical requirements. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013


Finding tradeoffs in design space is naturally formulated as a multicriteria optimization problem. In this paper, we model tradeoffs between communication cost and the balance of processor workloads for the problem of mapping applications to processors in a multicore environment. We formulate several query strategies for finding Pareto optimal and approximately Pareto optimal solutions to the mapping problem using a constraint solver as a time-bounded oracle. Each of the strategies directs the oracle through the search space in a different manner. We evaluate the efficiency of these strategies on a series of synthetic benchmarks, and on two industrial applications, a video noise reduction, and an image demosaic color filtering. The results indicate a significant tradeoff between precision and computation time, and a corresponding benefit to time-bounded queries.


Proceedings: AACR Annual Meeting 2014; April 5-9, 2014; San Diego, CA

Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) represents a heterogeneous group of breast cancers that do not respond to either HER2 or hormonally targeted therapy and for which, chemotherapy is the only proven therapeutic option. However, certain biological pathways are known to be activated to a greater extent in TNBC.

The EphB4 receptor and its ligand EphrinB2 are expressed aberrantly in several types of cancer to promote angiogenesis and cell survival. In breast cancer, including TNBC, EphB4 expression is associated with a worse prognosis. An EphB4/Ephrin B2 inhibitor, sEphB4-HAS or SB4 (soluble protein EphB4 peptide stabilized with human serum albumin), developed at our institution, has shown inhibitory effects on cancer cell growth in both cell and animal models. Our goal here is to test the feasibility of EphB4 targeting in triple negative breast cancer cells, study the synergistic effects of SB4 and cisplatin, a common chemotherapy drug used for triple negative breast cancers, and to determine optimal combination doses of SB4 and cisplatin for eventual clinical trials.

Using two representative triple negative breast cancer cell lines MDA-MB-231 and HCC 1937, we show that SB4 inhibits cell growth in a dose dependent manner (IC50: 216.5μg/ml and 207.1 μg/ml, respectively). When SB4 is used in combination with cisplatin, synergy is observed. HCC 1937 cells treated with 200 μg/ml of sEphB4-HSA or 50 nM cisplatin for 7days, viability is decreased by 57 % and 8 %, and by 71% when given in combination. Similar results are seen in MDA-MB-231 cells, at 55%, 11%, and 63 % viability reduction. Mouse MDA-MB-231 xenografts are inhibited by SB4 treatment, with 20% reduction compared to control.

In addition, cell proliferation marker Ki67 assessed by immunohistochemical staining and pS6 (phosphorylated ribosomal protein S6) expression studied by immunoblotting demonstrate that SB4 in combination with cisplatin generates greater growth inhibitory effects on cell proliferation and pS6 expression than either alone.

In conclusion, EphB4 signaling in TNBC provides a niche to apply targeted therapy in combination with chemotherapy. The growth inhibitory effect of SB4 on TNBC cells and mouse xenografts supports the feasibility of EphB4 targeting. The effects of SB4 and cisplatin using xenograft models will be analyzed for synergy to provide a rationale to combine SB4 and chemotherapy in the clinic.

Citation Format: Gloria W. Yang-Kolodji, Ren Liu, Arjun Mehta, Parkash Gill, Debu Tripathy. EphB4/EphrinB2 targeting increases the efficacy of cisplatin in triple negative breast cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 2601. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-2601


Introduction: The Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19), caused by the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is a global public health crisis. Pregnant women are known to be disproportionately affected by respiratory illnesses, which are associated with increased infectious morbidity and high maternal mortality rates. Aim: To study the management of COVID-19 in pregnancy and its perinatal outcome. Materials and Methods: This prospective observational study was conducted in the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department from March 2020 to September 2020. To evaluate the effects of COVID-19 in pregnancy and to determine the maternal and fetal outcomes in COVID-19 positive patients. In order to evaluate the pattern of caesarean and vaginal deliveries in COVID-19 and non COVID-19 patients, chi-square test was done. Results: A total of 150 COVID-19 positive patients were admitted to the COVID-19 labour room and out of them 142 (94.67%) were antenatal and 8 (5.33%) were postnatal. Total number of the deliveries in this period was 80 (53.33%) and out of them vaginal deliveries were 35 (23.33%) and caesarean section were 45 (30%). A 6 (7.50%) babies with poor Appearance, Pulse, Grimace, Activity, Respiration (APGAR) score were admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and 70 (87.50%) had good APGAR after delivery, four had Intrauterine Death (IUD). Conclusion: The pregnant women with suspected COVID-19 who need medical care should be transferred to a hospital equipped with sufficient health facilities and fully trained clinicians to take proper care of critically ill obstetric patients for effective management.


A promising new class of wireless networks has recently emerged, the so-called Wireless Mesh Networks (WMNs). WMNs inherit many advantages from both wired infrastructure and also ad-hoc networks. However, in spite of their distinct characteristics, they also face many technical problems that were present in older classes of wireless networks, such as wireless LANs or pure ad-hoc networks. The much discussed hidden terminal problem is one of them. We argue that an accurate analysis of the effect of hidden nodes in the performance of a random access protocol is still an open issue. In this paper we show the problems and the limitations stemming from common assumptions used in the literature and propose a novel method of modeling time that uses a fixed size channel slot as the unit of time in order to take into account the desynchronisation of nodes. Finally we apply our general method to the classic hidden terminal problem incorporating an iterative step. The proposed analytical model is shown to have a very good match to simulation results for an IEEE 802.11 MAC protocol.


The synthesis of solvent-adoptable monometallic Ni and NiCo alloy nanochains by a one-pot solution phase reduction method in the presence of poly(4-vinylphenol) (PVPh) is demonstrated. The elemental compositions of the as-prepared alloys are determined by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), which are matching well with the target compositions. The morphology analysis by TEM and FESEM confirms that the nanochains are made up of organized spherical monometallic Ni or bimetallic NiCo alloy nanoparticles (NPs). However, there is no nanochain formation when the alloy is prepared without the polymer PVPh. A possible mechanism for the formation of such NiCo alloy nanochains is discussed. The X-ray diffraction and selected area electron diffraction patterns reveal that the Ni/NiCo alloys are polycrystalline with fcc structure. The obtained Ni or NiCo alloy nanostructures are ferromagnetic with very high coercivity. The polymer Ni/NiCo alloy nanochains are dispersible in both water and organic media that makes them versatile enough to use as catalysts in the reactions carried out in both types of media. The catalytic activities of these Ni/NiCo alloy nanochains are extremely high in the borohydride reduction of p-nitrophenol in water. In organic solvents, these nanochains can act as efficient catalysts, under ligand-free condition, for the C-S cross-coupling reactions of various aryl iodides and aryl thiols for obtaining the corresponding cross-coupled products in good to excellent yield up to 96%. The NiCo nanochain also successfully catalyzes the C-O cross-coupling reaction in organic medium. A possible mechanism for NiCo alloy nanochain-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction is proposed.


Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have been recently utilized in solar water evaporation due to their favorable photothermal conversion efficiency resulting from localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR). However, the exorbitant price of Au severely hinders its extensive application for water purification in practice. This work reports a simple interfacial reaction for in situ engineering a trace amount of AuNPs on carbonized organosilica (c-silica) microspheres toward water desalination and decontamination. With the deposition of AuNPs@c-silica hybrids onto filter fiber paper (FFP), the as-prepared AuNP@c-silica/FFP (GSP) membrane can achieve a superior solar thermal conversion efficiency up to 94.6% under only one sun irradiation with Au usage of only 25 μg cm−2. The high solar thermal conversion efficiency of the GSP membrane can be attributed to the synergistic photothermal effect between AuNPs and c-silica, which is verified by the COMSOL simulation. The GSP membrane also possesses a high elimination capability that allows it to produce drinkable water from seawater and wastewater. Additionally, the reliability evaluation indicates that the microstructures and performance of AuNPs@c-silica hybrids are invariant before and after reclamation. This technically easy route offers a low-cost, reusable, and highly efficient membrane for solar water purification that can be envisaged for practical use.


The summer trimester system provides students with greater flexibility to plan their study around work or lifestyle commitments, create options for students to commence a degree sooner or at a more convenient time of the year and enable students to fast track their study. There is increasing number of students enrolled in summer trimester. However, it was found that student engagement during summer is less than when those same subjects are delivered during other trimesters. This research investigates the using the "Sandwiches" delivery approach to improve the learning relationship with students. This innovative approach includes the first three weeks intensive oncampus delivery with a range of lectures and tutorials. This is followed by six weeks of on-line discussions, quizzes and self-assessment activities to strengthen the students' knowledge and reinforce learning. The last week of summer trimester is revision to confirm theory prior to an examination. Positive responses from student reflected that this approach can be used for other subjects not only in summer trimester but also applicable in other trimesters. In fact, In order to improve course delivery, higher education providers always collect feedback and comment from students and previous research studies have used various methodologies. This paper demonstrates how to use survey plus case study to analysis student satisfaction.


We compared the performance of normal and growth hormone-transgenic coho salmon feeding on surface drifting edible and inedible novel prey items in various social environments. With an inherently higher appetite, we predicted that transgenic fish would be more willing to feed on novel prey, and that visual company with another fish would enhance this difference further. Transgenic and normal fish, of similar size and age, were equally willing to attack both the edible (live insects) and inedible (artificial angling lure flies) prey, but transgenic fish did so faster and were more likely to make repeated attacks. Transgenic fish managed to seize and consume the edible prey after fewer attacks than did normal fish. However, swallowing of prey took longer than for normal fish. More transgenic individuals interacted with the inedible prey compared with normal salmon, and initially, transgenic fish in visual company with another fish also interacted more with the prey than single transgenic or any constellation of normal focal fish. With repeated exposures, the number of individuals attacking and the number of interactions with the prey decreased. These responses were stronger in transgenic fish, partly explained by the initially low response in normal fish. The observed differences are most likely the consequences of elevated levels of growth hormone in transgenic fish generating enhanced feeding motivation and reinforcement capacity. In a natural environment, the performance of a growth hormone-transgenic fish may therefore depend on the relative abundance of profitable vs. unprofitable prey, as well as the presence of other transgenic individuals.


The influence of isoquinolinesulfonamides (H‐7 and H‐8), phenothiazines(trifluoperazine and fluphenazine), and a naphthalenesulfonamide (N‐(6‐aminohexyl)‐5‐chloro‐1‐naphthalenesulfonamide (W‐7)) on stimulated superoxide anion production and phosphatidyl inositol (PI) cycle activity was investigated in the guinea pig alveolar macrophage. All five drugs were able to inhibit superoxide anion production stimulated by n‐formyl‐nel‐leu‐phe (FNLP), leukotriene B4 (LTB4), and phorbol‐12,13‐dibutyrate (PDB). The order of potency was trifluoperazine ≥ fluphenzine > H‐7 = W‐7 > H‐8. The dose response curves could be shifted to less efficacy by increasing extracellular calcium. By itself, W‐7 markedly stimulated 45Ca+2 efflux, efflux, fluphenazine and trifluoperazine slightly stimulated 45Ca+2 efflux from macrophages preloaded with 45Ca+2. Consistent with these results, W‐7 markedly stimulated PI cycle activity, fluphenazine and trifluoperazine slightly stimulated PI cycle activity, while H‐7 and H‐8 had no significant effects on PI cycle activity. In addition, W‐7 by itself was able to stimulate a weak and short‐lived "burst" of superoxide anion production. In order to evaluate whether a site of action of the inhibitors was at protein kinase C and whether protein kinase C was involved in terminating the normally short‐lived FNLP‐ and LTB4‐stimulated macrophage activation, fluphenazine and H‐7 were used to evaluate the duration of FNLP‐ and LTB4‐stimulated PI cycle activity, at concentrations of the inhibitors that significantly blocked stimulated superoxide anion production. In all cases, FNLP and LTB4 still stimulated PI cycle activity, which still terminated even though protein kinase C was inhibited. These results suggest that all five drugs block protein kinase C, but H‐7 was the most specific in its action at protein kinase C, while the phenothiazines and W‐7 have multiple sites of action. In addition, these results suggest that protein kinase C may not function to cause the termination of FNLP‐ and LTB4‐stimulated PI cycle activity and subsequent superoxide anion production.


We present a theoretical investigation of space separated electron and hole distributions, which consists in the self-consistent solving of the Schrodinger equations for electrons and holes and the Poisson equation. The results are illustrated for the GaN/Al0.3Ga0.7N quantum well. The optical gain spectrum in a [0001]-oriented GaN/Al0.3Ga0.7N quantum well in the ultraviolet region is calculated. It is found that both the matrix elements of optical transitions from the heavy hole band and the optical gain spectrum have only the strict x (or y) light polarization. We present studies of the influence of the confinement of wave functions on the optical gain which implicitly depends on the built-in electric field calculated to be 2.3 MV/cm. Whereas the structures with narrow well widths exhibit the usual development of the light gain maximum almost without shifting the spectral region, a significant blueshift of the gain maximum is found with increase in the plasma density for wider quantum wells. This blueshift is ascribed to the interplay between the screening of a strain-induced piezoelectric field and the bandstructure. A large Sommerfeld or Coulomb enhancement is present in the quantum well.


The explorations of parity-time ($\mathcal{PT}$)-symmetric acoustics have resided at the frontier in physics, and the pre-existing accessing of exceptional points typically depends on Fabry-Perot resonances of the coupling interlayer sandwiched between balanced gain and loss components. Nevertheless, the concise $\mathcal{PT}$-symmetric acoustic heterostructure, eliminating extra interactions caused by the interlayer, has not been researched in depth. Here we derive the generalized unitary relation for one-dimensional $\mathcal{PT}$-symmetric heterostructure of arbitrary complexity, and demonstrate four disparate patterns of anisotropic transmission resonances (ATRs) accompanied by corresponding spontaneous phase transitions. As a special case of ATR, the occasional bidirectional transmission resonance reconsolidates the ATR frequencies that split when waves incident from opposite directions, whose spatial profiles distinguish from a unitary structure. The derived theoretical relation can serve as a predominant signature for the presence of $\mathcal{PT}$ symmetry and $\mathcal{PT}$-symmetry-breaking transition, which may provide substantial support for the development of prototype devices with asymmetric acoustic responses.


The wavelengths of the 1s2s2p-1s22s and 1s2p2-1s22p transitions in Ar15+ have been measured using a crystal spectrometer and an electron beam ion trap. These spectral lines are satellites to the n = 2 resonance lines of He-like Ar16+ and play an important diagnostic role in high-temperature plasmas directed toward fusion research. The results of these measurements are compared with a number of different theoretical results, demonstrating the relative accuracy of these theoretical approaches.


This thesis describes a method that allows the production in parallel of nano-reactor systems whose function is controlled by a remote stimulus. The reactors comprise a nested system of lipid vesicles part of which release their content during a thermotropic phase transition. The integration of all components (substrate and enzyme for instance) in a single element eliminates the need for external manipulation/intervention and therefore renders this nanoscopic system entirely autonomous. The smallest attainable size for vesicles (diameter 20 nm, volume 10-21 L) puts a lower limit to the total volume of the device of about 10-18 L making it ideally suited for manipulating interacting partners at the single molecule level. The proof of principle of individual reactors immobilized on glass is first characterized using confocal microscopy and a fluorescent dye that reports dilution during the release. In a further step, enzymatic reactions were performed and recorded by fluorescence microscopy down to single vesicle level. Initial reaction rates were evaluated and compared between several containers showing a dependency with encapsulated substrate concentration. Using vesicles of several different lipid phase transition temperatures, the process was extended to perform 2 consecutive enzymatic reactions. In addition to confined enzymatic reactions, the system was characterized by fluorescence correlation spectroscopy providing the determination of the concentration of fluorophores and small vesicles incorporated inside individual larger containers. Combination of this method with vesicle microarray technology will permit the simultaneous observation and quantitative analysis of confined (bio)chemical reactions in millions of separated reactors and may find applications as high-throughput screening of single enzyme reaction system. The possibility to perform multiple consecutive biochemical reactions may permit to use this system as artificial cells.


This paper is focused on the problems of feature selection and classification when classes are modeled by statistically independent features. We show that, under the assumption of class-conditional independence, the class separability measure of divergence is greatly simplified, becoming a sum of unidimensional divergences, providing a feature selection criterion where no exhaustive search is required. Since the hypothesis of independence is infrequently met in practice, we also provide a framework making use of class-conditional Independent Component Analyzers where this assumption can be held on stronger grounds. Divergence and the Bayes decision scheme are adapted to this class-conditional representation. An algorithm that integrates the proposed representation, feature selection technique, and classifier is presented. Experiments on artificial, benchmark, and real-world data illustrate our technique and evaluate its performance.


Published in 2014 by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB), applying IFRS 9 (International Financial Reporting Standard) to financial instruments will be mandatory beginning January 1, 2021, in accordance with the Central Bank of Brazil. As the impairment model for IFRS 9 is forward-looking, banks in Brazil are required to consider future economic scenarios to calculate ECL, which brings new challenges to modeling teams. In particular, we have identified a set of conditions that make monetary and fiscal policy mutually influence each other in a perverse way. One of these conditions is what we call fiscal dominance: an increase in the interest rate makes public debt dynamics unsustainable, which leads to a rise in the inflation rate rather than a reduction. If this hypothesis is confirmed, the entire IFRS 9 modeling structure should be based on these assumptions, since the forward-looking PDs or the expected credit loss (ECL) calculation would not only include macroeconomic variables related to the respective sector, but also asset prices that affect the whole system. In that case, there was a scenario in which the individual PDs suffer from systematic influence of a widespread increase of risk caused by an increased likelihood of default of sovereign debt in relation to the monetary policy tightness. We have developed a set of models, VAR/VECM, and related tests using SAS/ETS® and SAS Studio® to evaluate that theory.


The ANKS1A gene product, also known as Odin, was first identified as a tyrosine-phosphorylated component of the epidermal growth factor receptor network. Here we show that Odin functions as an effector of EGFR recycling. In EGF-stimulated HEK293 cells tyrosine phosphorylation of Odin was induced prior to EGFR internalization and independent of EGFR-to-ERK signaling. Over-expression of Odin increased EGF-induced EGFR trafficking to recycling endosomes and recycling back to the cell surface, and decreased trafficking to lysosomes and degradation. Conversely, Odin knockdown in both HEK293 and the non-small cell lung carcinoma line RVH6849, which expresses roughly 10-fold more EGF receptors than HEK293, caused decreased EGFR recycling and accelerated trafficking to the lysosome and degradation. By governing the endocytic fate of internalized receptors, Odin may provide a layer of regulation that enables cells to contend with receptor cell densities and ligand concentration gradients that are physiologically and pathologically highly variable.


Writing systems are usually studied in terms of the level of language that they represent, with little attention to the shapes that are used to do so. Those shapes are not random or accidental, however. They tend to be similar to one another within a script. Many of the Latin letters have a roughly vertical stem or hasta with an appendage or coda to the right. This arrangement is more common than one with the coda on the left of the hasta. We present data to show that young children are generally better at copying and writing from memory shapes such as and , which have the typical arrangement with the coda on the right, than those such as and , which do not. The results suggest that children start to learn about the statistics of the letter shapes before they know how or that these shapes represent language.


Purpose: In this retrospective study, CT findings of 289 patients with tuberculous meningitis (TBM) are presented and diagnostic criteria are discussed. Material and methods: The medical records of patients who were diagnosed as having central nervous system tuberculosis were investigated. Cranial CT investigations of 289 patients with TBM were reviewed. Of these 289 patients, 214 were children and 75 adults; 157 patients were male and 132 were female. CT images were obtained with and without i.v. contrast administration. Results: CT findings were normal in 35 patients and abnormal in 254. The abnormalities were hydrocephalus (172 children, 32 adults), parenchymal enhancement (56 children, 6 adults), contrast enhancement of basal cisterns (32 children, 17 adults), cerebral infarct and focal or diffuse brain edema (29 children, 10 adults), and tuberculoma (9 children, 5 adults). Conclusion: CT is pathologic in the great majority of patients with TBM and is helpful in assessing the complications associated with the disease.


We study how the import of older and more polluting technologies alters the relationship between output and environmental quality in developing countries within a vintage capital framework. Our results show that old technologies prolong the period until which pollution may eventually decrease and cause this turning point to be reached at a higher level of pollution. An empirical analysis using export data of vintage technologies from the US and Europe to developing countries supports our theoretical findings.


The influence of the work of Dr. Guillermo Contreras Da Silva and his colaborators on the evolution of microbiology in Chile is briefly analyzed. Dr. Contreras was trained in modern virology at Yale University with Dr. J. Melnick under the sponsorhip of the Rockefeller Foundation. During this training, he used serological methods to classify Cocksakie viruses. After his return to Chile, he studied the epidemiology of enteroviruses, including poliovirus. His laboratory, the country's first in modern virology, took an active role in Chile's first Sabin polio vaccination in 1961. Dr. Contreras and his group transformed the teaching and the character of microbiology in Chile from a descriptive medically oriented discipline into an autonomous, quantitative and experimental science. They modernized microbiology with the introduction of molecular biology and microbial genetics and fostered collaborations with allied biological sciences. Dr. Contreras was a Guggenheim Fellow, and until his retirement, was the Chief of the Viral Products Division, Bureau of Biologies, Ottawa, Canada.


Established in Guangzhou in 1925 and re-organized at the end of the 1940s as a «transmission belt» between the Party-State and the workers, the All-China Federation of Trade Unions (Acftu) remains the only trade union whose existence is allowed in the People's Republic of China (Prc). Although the existing literature generally focuses on the structural limits of the Acftu, often describing it as a puppet of the Chinese Communist Party (Ccp), the history of the relations between the union and the Party in China since 1949 has been marred by disagreements and confrontations. In particular, this paper will delve into three conflicts that took place in 1951, 1957 and 1989. Resorting to the concept of «institutional conversion», it will be argued that even a relationship of substantial subservience as the one that binds the Acftu to the Ccp hides tensions that explode in periods of political or economic crisis


The Ru-catalysed C2–H arylation of indoles and pyrroles by using boronic acids under oxidative conditions is reported. This reaction can be applied to tryptophan derivatives and tolerates a wide range of functional groups on both coupling partners, including bromides and iodides, which can be further derivatised selectively. New indole-based ruthenacyclic complexes are described and investigated as possible intermediates in the reaction. Mechanistic studies suggest the on-cycle intermediates do not possess a para-cymene ligand and that the on-cycle metalation occurs through an electrophilic attack by the Ru centre.


We present a study of preparation for and celebration of an English Christmas, with particular stress on temporal aspects, including duration, anticipation and repetition. We asked nine households to document their countdown to Christmas using media and diaries, and interviewed them before and after. We detail how time appears in the accounts, from the staging of collaborative preparations to the gift of attention, and consider what the collected insights offer for supporting the design of technology, given that one of our findings on media and ICT use was how it dwindles as focus concentrates on the present, and those present, for the days of the festivities. In doing so, we challenge the dominant efficiency paradigm in HCI.


This research explores the concept of placemaking in the context of sports events tourism, using the case study of the 2019 Rugby World Cup hosted in Japan. The study investigates how host cities used liminoid spaces between transport hubs and stadiums to create a festive atmosphere and articulate the identity of the place itself. Employing a novel ethnographic methodology centred around walking and participatory methods, the researcher occupied a dual tourist-researcher role, immersing himself in the liminoid space. Findings suggest that the use of such spaces was innovative and successful in creating a sense of place and developing a festive atmosphere through which visitors moved. However, the study acknowledges that these strategies may not be applicable to all sports events and that the direct experiences of visitors through ethnographic methods do not allow for empirical claims about the success of strategies or their longitudinal effects. Nevertheless, the study highlights the potential of placemaking in the periphery of sports events to enhance the visitor experience and promote the identity of the host destination.


Quantitative and computational skills are required of 21st-century biologists. While biology student abilities and attitudes toward math have been studied extensively, less is known about corresponding attitudes toward computer science (CS). It is important to understand how students perceive math and CS subjects and whether those perceptions are linked or operate contradictorily to determine instructional best practices. This study 1) determined biology students' perceptions of math and CS in biological contexts, 2) measured the linkage of those perceptions, and 3) examined additional factors affecting attitudes. Students (N = 272) were surveyed using the original and a CS-adapted version of the Math-Biology Values Instrument to determine interest, perceived utility, and perceived costs toward math and CS in biological contexts. Mixed-effects models were used to determine correlations between task values and investigate effects of exposure to topics and demographic factors. Math and CS values exhibited positive correlations, but utility and cost were more negative for CS, possibly due to less exposure to CS before college, and overall attitudes were influenced by CS background and gender. Given these findings, we make educational recommendations for CS and math exposure early, often, and embedded in the biology curriculum.


The startle potentiated startle (SPS) paradigm has been reported to be an effective procedure for studying the conditioned enhancement of acoustic startle in the absence of electric shocks or extinction. This study examines the effects of two anxiolytic treatments, buspirone and alprazolam, on this SPS effect. Subjects were tested in the SPS paradigm 2 days a week (Monday and Thursday) for 10 weeks. Each startle test session consisted of 10 Noise Alone trials (115 dB acoustic noise burst presented for 40 ms) and 10 Light+Noise trials (115 dB acoustic stimuli presented during the latter 40 ms of a 3,540 ms period in which a 15‐watt light was illuminated). Although there was no difference in startle amplitude on Noise Alone trials when compared to Light+Noise trials initially, by the end of the first test session and continuing throughout the duration of the experiment, startle amplitude on Light+Noise trials was significantly (approximately 50–75%) greater than on Noise Alone trials. After five control (i.e., no injection) SPS test sessions, once‐weekly drug challenges were conducted over the course of 7 weeks. In these weekly drug challenges, subjects received acute treatment with various doses of the benzodiazepine anxiolytic alprazolam (0.25, 0.5, 1.0 mg/kg) or the novel anxiolytic buspirone (1.0, 2.0, 4.0 mg/kg); subjects also received vehicle treatment (0.5% methylcellulose) on one treatment day. All treatments were administered intraperitoneally (IP), 15 min before the start of startle testing. Consistent with previous reports, buspirone increased and alprazolam decreased startle amplitude on the Noise Alone trials; these effects were dose‐related. Both agents reduced the magnitude of the SPS effect when it was expressed as the Light+Noise startle amplitude minus the Noise Alone startle amplitude. These findings are similar to the effects of these treatments in the traditional shock‐based fear‐potentiated startle paradigm. Depression and Anxiety 19:146–151, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.


The bacterial cell wall is made of peptidoglycan (PG), a polymer that is essential for maintenance of cell shape and survival. Many bacteria alter their PG chemistry as a strategy to adapt their cell wall to environmental challenges. Therefore, identifying these factors is important to better understand the interplay between microbes and their habitat. Here we used the soil bacterium Pseudomonas putida to uncover cell wall modulators from plant extracts and found canavanine (CAN), a non-proteinogenic amino acid. We demonstrated that cell wall chemical editing by CAN is licensed by P. putida BsrP, a broad-spectrum racemase which catalyzes production of D-CAN. Remarkably, D-CAN alters dramatically the PG structure of Rhizobiales (e.g. Agrobacterium tumefaciens, Sinorhizobium meliloti), impairing PG synthesis, crosslinkage and cell division. Using A. tumefaciens we demonstrated that the detrimental effect of D-CAN is suppressed by a single amino acid substitution in the cell division PG transpeptidase penicillin binding protein 3a. Collectively, this work provides a fascinating example of how interspecies metabolic crosstalk can be a source of novel cell wall regulatory molecules to govern microbial biodiversity.


Task scheduling in real-time systems is a concept by which we can schedule the tasks according to their priorities. In hard real-time systems, the task scheduling is more important due to the chance of system failure. We discuss EDF task scheduling which is an optimal technique for the uniprocessor systems. The existing result of the QPA algorithm was applied on the uniprocessor system to check the schedulability of the tasks in uniprocessor system. We have extended the QPA algorithm to check the schedulability of the task sets in multiprocessor systems. Our algorithm is based on QPA algorithm and the utilization balanced algorithm. The proposed algorithm checks the absolute deadlines much faster than the existing QPA algorithm for uniprocessor real-time systems.


This work investigated survival and growth performance of male and female Potamon ebonyicum, at different Stocking Densities (SD) with 38% crude protein fish feed, in intensive culture system for six weeks. Experimental treatments were three in number viz., TI, TII and TIII. The TI contained only female, TII contained equal number of male and female, and TIII contained more females than male. The SD ranged from 1 crabT-1 to 3 CrabsT-1. All the male and female crabs survived first half (3 weeks) of the experimental period. Survival period of more than four weeks was recorded in the treatments with more than one female. Growth rates were insignificant and unevenly distributed. Yield was higher in the treatment with equal number of male and female than in the other ones. There was insignificant change in the growth rates as compared to records of previous investigations with the crab species. The narrow gap in the size of small ones, weight differential and their growth rates might assist aqua culturists to adapt SD and forecast yield in the freshwater crab. It could be suggested however that increment in the number of females during high density culture might enhance yield.


Artocarpus altilis (Parkinson) Moraceae family and it is well known in Indonesia popular as breadfruit. The plant is estimated as a native plant of Southeast Asia between Moluccas and Philippines Herein we conducted and combined morphological character of breadfruit from Ternate Island and Maitara Moluccas archipelago. The most important objective is to make relationship among the population (in breadfruit between both islands. Five population and two in Maitara were taken as material source morphological was done for scoring in binary data i.e. 1 for present character and 0 for absent. It was continued with similarity index analysis and building a dendogram with UPGMA method using NTsys 2.0 2i software similar population are between A kebay and Kaulupa, with SI is 0.75, and it was predictable because both one Island, Maitara. In the other hand, the lowest SI is i.e. between Kaulupa (Maitara) and Sasa dendrogram from UPGMA method had divided seven populations into two groups that is Maitara group and Ternate group.


Thirty-one strains of Neisseria meningitidis strains coming from CSF, collected at the National Reference Center for Meningococci between January 2007-March 2008 were serogrouped and analysed for the susceptibility to 7 antibiotics: penicillin (Pc), erythromycin (Em), ceftriaxone (Cro), cefotaxime (Ctx), ciprofloxacin (Cip), rifampin (Rif), sulfonamides (Sm). Results revealed that serogroup B accounted to the highest number of strains (51.7%), followed by serogroup C (35.5%), serogroup W 135 (6.4%) and serogroup X (6.4%). The data analysed according to EMGM revealed the following aspects: 100% susceptibility to Cro and Ctx., 96.7% susceptibility to Rif (MIC 50 and MIC 90 =0.03 mg/l) and 96.7% susceptibility to Cip (MIC 50 and MIC 90=0.0015 mg/l). Concerning Pc, it was revealed 58% susceptible strains, 38.7% intermediate and 3.3% resistant strains with MIC 50=0.06 mg/l and MIC 90=0.12 mg/l. A high proportion (100%) of isolates were fully resistant to Sm, while 22.6% of strains were resistant to Em. In conclusion, this study showed that Cro, Ctx, Cip and Rif were the most efficient drugs. Sulfonamides must be used neither for treatment nor for prophylaxis, as they would be ineffective. Serogroups B and C were predominant in this period in Romania. The need for new antimicrobial agents and vaccines is being felt in today's society.


Nowadays, the study of factors that may interfere with the psychological health of practicing nurses is considered very important in their performance. It is also well accepted that the physical and mental health of nurses, their strategies for coping with stress, and their psychological states directly influence the quality of their performance in patient care. These variables can be expected to show high levels of correlation based on the review of the literature. The main objective of this study was to check the predictability of mental health based on attachment style and coping in nursing. The design of the study was based on descriptive survey methods. The research population included all of the nurses in a Hospital known as Shahreza Amiralmomenin Hospital. Using Cochran formula, 122 nurses were sampled to take part in the study. Data collection instruments included three standard questionnaires known as a) mental health questionnaire (GHQ-28), b) attachment styles questionnaire (AAI) developed by Hazenand Shower (1987), and coping with stress questionnaire (CISS) developed by Endlerand Parker (1990). After collecting data using these instruments, quantitative analyses (ANOVA, t-test and Pearson correlation coefficient) were performed in order to test his predictability of mental health based on attachment style and coping. The results of the data analyses revealed that from among different styles of coping, problem-based and anxiety-based styles were significantly related to mental health and that mental health predictability based on this variable is multifaceted. The results of the data analyses also indicated that from among different styles of attachment; only secure attachment style showed significant positive correlation with mental health. The insecure avoiding style showed non-significant negative relationship with metal health. Also, the correlation coefficient between social anxiety symptoms and physical signs were significant.


A field test is described for the determination in air of those ketones most commonly use industrially, in concentrations up to twice their current threshold limit values. The vapour, the nature of which must be known, is collected in water and the solution allowed to react with acidic 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine solution. The addition of methanolic potassium hydroxide results in the formation of a red coloration, which is compared visually with standards after 10 minutes. A common series of standards is used for all the ketones, the volume of absorbent used and the size of sample taken being dependent on the identity of the ketone present in the atmosphere. Both the apparatus and method used are simple and the time required for a complete determination is between 25 and 50 minutes.


Advances in IC fabrication technology, coupled with aggressive circuit design, have led to exponential growth of IC speed and integration levels. For these improvements to benefit overall system performance, the communication bandwidth between systems and ICs must scale accordingly. Currently, communication links in various applications approach Gbps data rates. These applications include computer-to-peripheral connections, local area networks, memory buses, and multiprocessor interconnection networks. Designers are concerned that these links will soon reach the fundamental limits of electrical signaling. In this article, we examine the limitations of CMOS implementations of highspeed links and show that the links' performance should continue to scale with technology. To handle the interconnects' finite bandwidth, however requires more sophisticated signaling methods. CMOS circuits, typically slower than circuits implemented in nonmainstream technologies, are particularly attractive for common applications because of their lower cost. The overall system cost is further reduced when signaling components are implemented as macro cells, integrated on the same die with a microprocessor or signal processing block.


BACKGROUND: Axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) with or without postmastectomy radiation therapy (PMRT) was traditionally the standard of care for patients with a positive sentinel node following mastectomy. However, recent clinical trial data has led to an interest in de-escalating therapy and a debate over optimal axillary management. We sought to assess current practice patterns and the impact of different approaches to managing positive sentinel nodes following mastectomy. METHODS: Using the National Cancer Database (NCDB), patients with clinical T1-2 N0 M0 breast cancer from 2012-2015 treated with a mastectomy who were found to have a single positive sentinel node were analyzed. A logistic regression model stratified by patients' characteristics in association to the type of axillary treatment received was performed.RESULTS: We identified 12,137 women with a positive sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) at the time of mastectomy. Of these, 4,221 had an ALND; 1,609 received PMRT; 1,565 underwent combination therapy, and 4,742 had no further treatment following SLNB (NFT). Factors associated with an increased likelihood of further axillary treatment included younger age (<40), Midwest location, larger primary tumor size (T2), and high grade. There was no difference in short-term overall survival among these approaches. CONCLUSION: Our study indicates significant practice variation in the axillary management of patients with metastasis limited to a single sentinel node undergoing mastectomy. The clinical variation observed raises the possibility of unnecessary or overtreatment of the axilla. These findings suggest a need to expand the adoption of evidenced-based clinical protocols to improve quality of care.


The management of IT services is increasingly driven by the necessity of cost reduction and quality improvement. As a result, new organizational models have been created and implemented aiming at achieving economies of scale, while improving customer satisfaction and experience has been one of the main focuses of recent research in Service Science. In this context, translating business elements and necessities of customers into IT components of service operations is a challenging and key task that can affect the long-term relationship between customers and IT provider. Further, market fluctuations and peaks that affect the business of customers of IT outsourcing shall, carefully, be taken into account by support teams in charge of managing customers' infrastructures. Thus, to incorporate it to the dynamics of IT support activities, service delivery teams of IT providers must develop abilities to understand and mechanisms to retain and use the knowledge of the core business of each customer. This paper addresses relevant aspects of service delivery affected by the peaks that impose variations on demands and levels of service expected by customers of IT outsourcing. Also, it proposes some insights to transform customer (business driven) needs into elements already existing inside IT support organizations and argue that this transformation may reduce substantially the overhead of translating customer business to support operations. In order to corroborate the argument and instantiate the discussion, incident data collected by an IT service delivery provider are presented and analyzed graphically in details.


This work is part of a larger project on the study of algal biodiversity of a lotic system in La Pampa province. In this first stage we analyze the algal flora of samples collected during the summer season and autumn of 2010. The study area is located in the floodplain of the Colorado River, the natural boundary between the provinces of La Pampa and Rio Negro at its intersection with Provincial Route 11 (Department Lihuel Calel). The methodology used in the collection followed the standard parameters for lotic environments. The samples were fixed with 4% formaldehyde and deposited in the herbarium of the Faculty of Agronomy (UNLPam) under the symbol SRFA. The preliminary results of the algal flora of summer and autumn shows 64 taxa, of which 26.5% corresponds to Cyanophyceae, 36% to Chlorophyceae and Bacillariophyceae, and 1.5% to Dinophyceae. During the summer the class Chlorophyceae species contributed 40% and fall did the Bacillariophyceae with 43.7%. The 37.5% of the registered species were common to both seasons.


The purpose of this research is to evaluate the quality of the modified and classical TWINSPAN classification based on the environmental factors to identify the plant communities of Taxus baccata L. forests of Golestan Province. Fifty 400-m2 plots were systematically selected along an elevation gradient in the Taxus baccata forests. In each plot, soil was sampled using a composite sample taken to a depth of 20 cm. All vascular species were recorded on each plot according to the Braun-Blanquet's method. In total, 56 plant species belonging to 48 genera and 34 families were recorded in spring 2018. The comparison of the results of modified and classical TWINSPAN showed that the modified TWINSPAN did not change the classification logic, but introduced more flexibility in the hierarchy of the division. It was also found that the compliance rate of the results provided by the classical TWINSPAN method was lower than the modified method. Using modified TWINSPAN, Detrended correspondence analysis (DCA), and Redundancy analysis (RDA), we determined four floristic groups in the Taxus baccata habitat. The first (Carpinus betulus) and second (Taxus baccata) groups were located at low altitudes and soil contents in silt and clay were higher than in the other groups. In contrast, the third (Quercus castaneifolia) and the fourth (Juniperus communis) groups were located next to each other at higher altitudes and southwestern aspects, on steeper slopes and soils exhibited a high pH and a high sand content. We found close relationships between the distribution of vegetation groups of Taxus baccata habitat with edaphic and physiographic factors using RDA method. To conclude, the modified TWINSPAN offers a more efficient and flexible method to identify vegetation communities. This is a first step to implement future management and ecological restoration measures in habitats of high ecological value such as yew forests.


This paper investigates the influence of different factors (such as load and capacitive compensation levels, load and turbine dynamic behaviors, machine parameters) on induction generator self-excitation phenomena and related overvoltages, resulting from a fault and/or an unwanted network disconnection. Simulations are performed on a 25 kV distribution network related to an actual project of integration of a nonutility induction generator to the Hydro-Quebec power system. The paper presents the analysis of the results, as well as the derived guidelines for the determination of new relay settings and integration criteria for the Hydro-Quebec distribution network. >


This study was aimed to investigate the expression of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor receptor IV(G-CSFR IV) in adult acute leukemia patients and its clinical significance. The bone marrow hematopoietic stem cells from healthy persons were used as controls. The real-time RT-PCR was used to determine the expression level of G-CSFR I-IV in 99 AML, 34 ALL patients and 19 healthy persons. The results showed that the relative expression level of G-CSFR IV/G-CSFR I in AML patients was obviously elevated, as compared with that in ALL patients and controls, while the relative expression level of G-CSFR IV/G-CSFR I in ALL patients showed no statistical difference from controls. The analysis of clinical features and chemotherapeutic efficacy demonstrated that the clinical remission rate in patients with high expression of G-CSFR IV/G-CSFR I was lower than that in patients with low expression. The relative expression level of G-CSFR IV/G-CSFR I was not related with risk stratification from sex, age, blast ratio, FAB typing, chromosome and fusion gene. It is concluded that the abnormal high expression of G-CSFR IV relates with poor prognosis of AML.


In studying the area surrounding the copper anode of a stabilised arc burning in an argon atmosphere, it was found that the presence of metal vapours in the plasma leads to: a temperature decrease; a significant reduction of the electric field; a large increase in electrical conductivity. These results show that an important part of the conduction could take place at the discharge circumference.


Objectives: The first objective was to describe some health outcomes of a small cohort of elderly people in the Australian Capital as they returned home from an acute hospital admission. The second objective was to develop, implement and evaluate the effect of an Allied Health Assistant (AHA) in assisting older people after they return home from hospital. Design: The study was conducted in three phases. Phase one followed 17 elderly people as they returned home after an acute admission to hospital. Functional, participatory and quality of life measurements were administered. Phase two introduced the role of an AHA as a potential solution to the difficulties faced by elderly people. Phase three followed a new cohort of 14 elderly people and reapplied the measurements used in phase one to identify any notable effects of the AHA on their wellbeing. Setting: A large teaching hospital and in the homes of elderly people who were recently discharged from hospital. Main Outcome Measures: Centre for Allied Health Excellence (CAHE) patient post questionnaires (patient, carer, community agency and general practitioner). Results: The first cohort experienced similar difficulties in the immediate post-discharge period consistent with the literature. The inclusion of an AHA effectively assisted in meeting some of the needs of older people as they moved from an acute care episode into their homes. Conclusion: The use of an AHA is a potentially useful workforce strategy in meeting some of the needs of elderly people as they move from an acute care hospital episode back home.


24 patients with muscle invasive carcinoma of the bladder were treated in a pilot study of twice daily fractionation at radiation doses of 1.8-2.0 Gy per fraction to total doses of 54-64 Gy to the bladder and 39.6-44 Gy to the whole pelvis. The treatment aim was to give 32 fractions in 22 days. The interfraction interval was a minimum of 6 h. The principle objective was to record acute and late tolerance, but local control and survival data is also presented. Acute radiation morbidity was scored according to the RTOG system. Grade 2 large bowel effects were seen in 52% of patients, Grade 3 effects in 26% and there was one Grade 4 and one Grade 5 effect. The mean duration of effect was 4.5 weeks although the more severe reactions were also more protracted. Grade 2 urinary effects occurred in 30% and Grade 3 in 17% of patients. The mean duration of effect was 7.2 weeks. There were no Grade 4 or 5 acute urinary effects. Late radiation morbidity was scored according to the EORTC/RTOG system and was assessable in 16 cases who survived more than 6 months. There were two cases (12%) of Grade 1 bowel toxicity, two cases of Grade 1 and three of Grade 2 urinary toxicity. There were no cases of late skin effects. Actuarial analysis at 2 years shows a local control probability of 56% and survival probability of 35%.


PalCom is a pervasive middleware that can be used to assemble services provided by networked devices into configurations, called assemblies, for specific use cases by the user. In this dissertation, we present the development of a networking media abstraction framework for PalCom that abstracts different network interfaces in a PalCom device to upper layers of PalCom. The media abstraction framework is documented in paper I. Over the media abstraction layer, we define a device discovery mechanism that enables a PalCom device to discover other devices on its local networks, where it has network interfaces, as well as across interconnected networks. The device discovery mechanism is documented in paper II. On top of the device discovery layer, we implemented support for distance vector routing that enables routing data among discovered devices via the least cost routes. The routing layer is documented in paper III. In the last phase of our work, we refined our device discovery mechanism for PalCom to include a distributed synchronization algorithm that two PalCom nodes can utilize to re-sync their exchanged views of the network to overcome possible loss of device discovery and undiscovery notifications over unreliable channels. The synchronization algorithm is documented in paper IV. (Less)


The depletion of natural sand resources occurs due to excessive consumption of aggregate for concrete production. Continuous extraction of sand from riverbeds permanently depletes fine aggregate resources. At the same time, a major ecological challenge is the disposal of agricultural waste ash from biomass burning. In this study, an environmental friendly solution is proposed to investigate the incorporation of wheat straw ash (WSA) by replacing 0, 5, 10, 15, and 20% of sand in concrete. Characterization results of WSA revealed that it was well-graded, free from organic impurities, and characterized by perforated and highly porous tubules attributed to its porous morphology. A decrease in fresh concrete density and an increase in slump values were attained by an increase in WSA replacement percentage. An increasing trend in compressive strength, hardened concrete density, and ultrasonic pulse velocity was observed, while a decrease was noticed in the values of water absorption with the increase in WSA replacement percentages and the curing age. The WSA incorporation at all replacement percentages yielded concrete compressive strength values over 21 MPa, which complies with the minimum strength requirement of structural concrete as specified in ACI 318-19. Acid resistance of WSA incorporated concrete improved due to the formation of pozzolanic hydrates as evident in Chappelle activity and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) results of WSA modified composites. Thus, the incorporation of WSA provides an environmentally friendly solution for its disposal. It helps in conserving natural aggregate resources by providing a suitable alternative to fine aggregate for the construction industry.


There are several key ingredients common to the various forms of model-based reasoning considered in this book. The term model comprises both internal and external representations. The models are intended as interpretations of target physical systems, processes, phenomena, or situations and are retrieved or constructed on the basis of potentially satisfying salient constraints of the target domain. The books contributors are researchers active in the area of creative reasoning in science and technology.


This paper deals with the transmission of group-oriented services, considered as the main value-added for the future 4G broadband wireless systems. In this scenario, the design of proper resource allocation strategies is a key issue in order to offer high quality services to involved users and to efficiently exploit the available radio resources. In this paper we extend the works existing in literature by evaluating the impact of frequency selectivity on the performance in terms of spectral efficiency achieved when group-oriented services are provided in Long Term Evolution (LTE) and LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) systems. We conducted exhaustive simulation campaigns in order to define the scenarios that could benefit of the exploitation of frequency selectivity in multicast resource allocation. We investigated single- and multi-group scenarios with different application profiles, such as real time video flows, and we considered several deployment cases addressing different channel bandwidth and user configurations.


In a series of papers, we present detailed chemo-dynamical simulations of tidal dwarf galaxies (TDGs). After the first paper, where we focused on the very early evolution, we present in this work simulations on the long-term evolution of TDGs, ranging from their formation to an age of 3 Gyr. Dark-matter free TDGs may constitute a significant component of the dwarf galaxy (DG) population. But it remains to be demonstrated that TDGs can survive their formation phase given stellar feedback processes, the time-variable tidal field of the post-encounter host galaxy and its dark matter halo and ram-pressure wind from the gaseous halo of the host. For robust results the maximally damaging feedback by a fully populated invariant stellar IMF in each star cluster is assumed, such that fractions of massive stars contribute during phases of low star-formation rates. The model galaxies are studied in terms of their star-formation history, chemical enrichment and rotational curves. All models evolve into a self-regulated long-term equilibrium star-formation phase lasting for the full simulation time, whereby the TDGs become significantly more compact and sustain significantly higher SFRs through compressive tides than the isolated model. None of the models is disrupted despite the unphysical extreme feedback, and none of the rotation curves achieves the high values observed in real TDGs, despite non-virial gas accretion phases.


Abstract This study was conducted to identify suggestions to improve PD programmes held by government-based training agencies to help enhance Indonesian EYL teachers' instructional practice. For the purpose of the study, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 51 participants. The findings suggest the theorisation of a PD model that involves complex and dynamic interactions between actors including teacher educators, school principals, educational administrators and teachers' groups. This paper argues for the need to separate the expertise and facilitative roles between PD actors as it relates to PD accountability in terms of design, development and implementation. The implications drawn from the study may inform teacher educators and policy-makers in countries facing a shortage of properly trained EYL teachers.


We present a genome assembly from an individual Nematostella vectensis (the starlet sea anemone; Cnidaria; Anthozoa; Actiniaria; Edwardsiidae). The genome sequence is 269.4 megabases in span. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 15 chromosomal pseudomolecules. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 16.4 kilobases in length.


Follow‐up, rehabilitation and palliative/supportive care are essential parts of the care and treatment of skin cancer patients. This review provides an overview on the state of knowledge and recent developments in these three disciplines, hereby providing standard operating procedures for the dermatologist in the care of skin cancer patients. Especially in follow‐up and supportive care, the results of recent clinical trials have led to significant changes in the standard of care. These new insights and their consequences are the special focus of this article.


The existence of a spermine oxidizing enzyme was established in human pregnancy serum by a radiochemical method, and a cross‐sectional study of its quantitative profile between 10 and 40 weeks gestation was undertaken. Though there was a wide scatter of values, the rise in the average activity was continuous and highly significant. The flavoprotein inhibitor, quinacrin, inhibited the enzyme activity, while the pyridoxal phosphate inhibitor, isoniazid, had no significant inhibitory effect suggesting that the enzyme is of tissue origin. The possible role of polyamines and their oxidation in physiological immunoregulation is discussed.


Background Epilepsy ranks among the commonest chronic neurological diseases, with a global estimate of 5 million people diagnosed annually. It is broadly defined as having two or more unprovoked seizures linked to a spectrum of behavioral, psychiatric, and cognitive disorders resulting from birth injuries, endemic conditions, or traumatic brain injuries. Worldwide, up to 50 million people are affected, of whom 10.5 million are children below 15 years of age. Despite its high burden, up to 70% of epileptic patients could live seizure-free with accurate and timely diagnosis and appropriate long-term treatment with relatively cheap and effective anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs). The main obstacle in achieving this goal is the medication non-compliance more frequently reported in middle-income (44.4%) and low-income countries (74.8%). Adherence relates to using the prescribed treatment appropriately with regards to time, quantity, period, and manner. Objectives We aim to understand the behaviors underlying non-compliance to AEDs in children from marginalized communities to formulate specific interventions to improve the treatment gap. Methods The target population was children diagnosed with epilepsy under 15 years from lower- and middle-income communities (LMIC), and non-adherence to AEDs was identified as the target behavior. A literature review with keywords 'Pediatric Epilepsy,' 'LMIC,' 'Non-Compliance,' 'Medication Adherence,' and 'Behaviors' was conducted via Google Scholar and PubMed. Based on the abstract review, 22 articles were shortlisted for full article review, out of which 7 articles were finalized for analysis. The primary factors identified were fear, stigma, concerns about the medication's safety, and insufficient knowledge of the disease. These behaviors were analyzed in detail via the COM-B Model of Capability, Opportunity, and Motivation proposed by Miche et al. This analysis provides a framework to link targeted interventions to the specified behaviors and policy domains to the outlined interventions via the Behavior Change Wheel (BCW) Methodology. Results A wide range of physical, psychological, and social factors underpinning the non-compliance to the AEDs were identified and mapped to the COM-B Model (table 1) of psychological or physical capabilities, social and physical opportunities, and automatic and reflective motivation. Forgetfulness was the primary issue at around 54.25%, followed by disapproved perceptions about epilepsy such as denial, self-pity, social exclusion, and fear of societal exclusion (20.55%); and mistrusting their physician leading to increased concerns about medication safety and side-effects (8.87%). Conclusions This study's main application lies in formulating interventions related to acknowledging misconceptions and stigmas related to Epilepsy and improving health-care systems by creating a team-based approach to patient care in meeting the required demands. These interventions may also be linked to devise applicable policies to impact reforming target behavior significantly.


Alterations in antioxidant status and oxidative stress have been documented in dogs with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). The purpose of this study was to more broadly assess this relationship in dogs with congestive heart failure (CHF). Malondialdehyde (MDA), 8-F(2alpha)-isoprostane, protein carbonyls, reduced (GSH) and oxidized (GSSG) glutathione, vitamins A, C, and E, and oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) were measured from a single venous blood sample from dogs with CHF secondary to DCM or chronic valvular disease (CVD) and in healthy controls. Nineteen dogs with CHF (14 CVD and 5 DCM) and 12 healthy controls were enrolled in the study. Concentrations of 8-F(2alpha)-isoprostane (CHF: 44.6 pg/mL [range, 27.1-98.0 pg/mL], controls: 25.3 pg/ mL [range, 11.1-80.4 pg/mL]) but not MDA (CHF: 4.11 microM [range, 1.89-6.39 microM], controls: 3.88 microM [range, 2.14-4.72 microM]) or protein carbonyls (0.69 nmol/mg protein [range, 0.37-1.67 nmol/mg protein], controls: 0.80 nmol/mg protein [range, 0.40-1.14 nmol/mg protein]) were significantly higher in the dogs with CHF than in the controls. Vitamin E concentration (CHF: 2,215 microg/ dL [range, 916-3,499 microg/dL], controls: 2,820 microg/dL [range, 1,738-3,775 microg/dL]) and GSH:GSSG (CHF: 12.0 [range, 3.69-30.1], controls: 22.7 [range, 12.5-227]) were significantly lower, whereas ORAC (CHF: 824 micromol Trolox equivalent/L [range, 304-984], controls: 497 micromol Trolox equivalent/L [range, 258-759]) and vitamin C (CHF: 0.90 mg/dL [range, 0.55-2.02 mg/dL], controls: 0.72 mg/dL [range, 0.43-0.85 mg/dL]) concentrations were higher in dogs with CHF than in controls. Vitamin A concentrations were not different between dogs with CHF and controls. No differences in any of the parameters were detected between dogs with DCM versus those with CVD. Some antioxidant defenses are decreased in dogs with CHF, and some biomarkers of oxidative stress are increased in dogs with CHF. The effect of dietary interventions to correct this imbalance in antioxidant defenses warrants further study.


In the presence of symmetry, entanglement measures of quantum many-body states can be decomposed into contributions arising from distinct symmetry sectors. Here we investigate the decomposability of negativity, a measure of entanglement between two parts of a generally open system in a mixed state. While the entanglement entropy of a subsystem within a closed system can be resolved according to its total preserved charge, we find that negativity of two subsystems may be decomposed into contributions associated with their charge imbalance. We show that this charge-imbalance decomposition of the negativity may be measured by employing existing techniques based on creation and manipulation of many-body twin or triple states in cold atomic setups. Next, using a geometrical construction in terms of an Aharonov-Bohm-like flux inserted in a Riemann geometry, we compute this decomposed negativity in critical one-dimensional systems described by conformal field theory. We show that it shares the same distribution as the charge-imbalance between the two subsystems. We numerically confirm our field theory results via an exact calculations for non-interacting particles based on a double-gaussian representation of the partially transposed density matrix.


In this paper, two-layer ONIOM combinations of high-level quantum mechanics (QM) and inexpensive molecular mechanics (MM) are successfully used to investigate the structural characters of metal (M, all the transition metals in the fourth period)-H2O-Lewis base (A(-)) complexes. Global and local descriptors of chemical reactivity and selectivity from conceptual density functional theory are employed to show the properties of the active complexes of M(H2O)2A2 and to study the effect of the Lewis base for the separation of transition metal ions. It is shown that chemical potential, hardness, electrophilicity, as well as the dual and multiphilic descriptors are adequate for characterizing the global and local reactivity trends of the M(H2O)2A2 complex. It is found that the reactivity is well localized at the metallic center in M(H2O)2A2 and the dual descriptor (ΔfM(r)) can also be used to characterize the directional attack of the electrophile and nucleophile except for the selectivity of the reaction. On the basis of the values of ωM and Δsk, and the sign of ΔfM(r), the selectivity of the nucleophilic reagent (R(-)) for M(II) in M(H2O)2A2 (from high to low) follows this order: Cu(II) > Ni(II) > Co(II) > Fe(II) ≫ Mn(II) > Zn(II) > Cr(II). The Lewis base (A(-)) improves chemical reactivity and selectivity because of changing the reaction path and forming an intermediate, which possesses the higher antibonding character and the larger HOMO/LUMO gap. NBO or AIMALL analysis and Frontier orbital theory results presented here provided more theoretical support for the above reactivity and selectivity studies.


Electrical stimulation is an indispensible tool in studying electrically excitable tissues in neurobiology and neuroendocrinology. In this work, the consequences of high-intensity electrical stimulation on the release of catecholamines from adrenal gland slices were examined with fast-scan cyclic voltammetry at carbon fiber microelectrodes. A biphasic signal, consisting of a fast and slow phase, was observed when electrical stimulations typically used in tissue slices (10 Hz, 350 μA biphasic, 2.0 ms/phase pulse width) were applied to bipolar tungsten-stimulating electrodes. This signal was found to be stimulation dependent, and the slow phase of the signal was abolished when smaller (≤250 μA) and shorter (1 ms/phase) stimulations were used. The slow phase of the biphasic signal was found to be tetrodotoxin and hexamethonium independent, while the fast phase was greatly reduced using these pharmacological agents. Two different types of calcium responses were observed, where the fast phase was abolished by perfusion with a low-calcium buffer while both the fast and slow phases could be modulated when Ca²(+) was completely excluded from the solution using EGTA. Perfusion with nifedipine resulted in the reduction of the slow catecholamine release to 29% of the original signal, while the fast phase was only decreased to 74% of predrug values. From these results, it was determined that high-intensity stimulations of the adrenal medulla result in depolarizing not only the splanchnic nerves, but also the chromaffin cells themselves resulting in a biphasic catecholamine release.


Hyperbranched polyglycerol-block-polystyrene copolymers, denoted HPG-b-PS, are synthesized and employed as a new and effective unimolecular template for synthesizing colloidal gold (Au) nanoparticles. The coordination of noble metal precursors with polyether within the inner HPG core and subsequent in situ reduction enables the formation of well-dispersed and stable PS-capped Au nanoparticles. The inner HPG core is produced via ring opening multibranching polymerization (ROMBP) and subsequently converted into atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) macroinitiators for the controlled growth of polystyrene (PS) arms possessing low polydispersity (PDI < 1.31). An initial investigation into the templating parameters of HPG-b-PS was undertaken by producing templates with different arm numbers (98 and 117) and different PS chain lengths (i.e., molecular weight = 3500-13400 g/mol). It was found that the PS chain length and solvent conditions affect the quality of the resulting PS-capped colloidal Au nanoparticles. This work demonstrates, for the first time, a simple, lower-cost approach for templating nonpolar solvent-soluble PS-capped Au nanoparticles on the order of 10-30 nm in diameter.


With the ambition of solving the challenges of the shortage of fossil fuels and their associated environmental pollution, visible‐light‐driven splitting of water into hydrogen and oxygen using semiconductor photocatalysts has emerged as a promising technology to provide environmentally friendly energy vectors. Among the current library of developed photocatalysts, organic conjugated polymers present unique advantages of sufficient light‐absorption efficiency, excellent stability, tunable electronic properties, and economic applicability. As a class of rising photocatalysts, organic conjugated polymers offer high flexibility in tuning the framework of the backbone and porosity to fulfill the requirements for photocatalytic applications. In the past decade, significant progress has been made in visible‐light‐driven water splitting employing organic conjugated polymers. The recent development of the structural design principles of organic conjugated polymers (including linear, crosslinked, and supramolecular self‐assembled polymers) toward efficient photocatalytic hydrogen evolution, oxygen evolution, and overall water splitting is described, thus providing a comprehensive reference for the field. Finally, current challenges and perspectives are also discussed.


A number of works have reported on the calculation of the parity non-conservation E1 matrix for Cs and Tl atoms. However little has been done on other more complex atoms. The authors give a MQDT wavefunction for an alkaline-earth atom at the origin, and upon this base a semi-empirical calculation of Im E1pn c of atomic barium. The results show that the Im E1pnc of the 0 to 32480 cm-1 transition is 8.9 *10-11 ea0, which implies that the barium atom might be a possible candidate for PNC investigation in atomic spectroscopy.