AI-aided drug discovery (AIDD) is gaining increasing popularity due to its promise of making the search for new pharmaceuticals quicker, cheaper and more efficient. In spite of its extensive use in many fields, such as ADMET prediction, virtual screening, protein folding and generative chemistry, little has been explored in terms of the out-of-distribution (OOD) learning problem with \emph{noise}, which is inevitable in real world AIDD applications. In this work, we present DrugOOD, a systematic OOD dataset curator and benchmark for AI-aided drug discovery, which comes with an open-source Python package that fully automates the data curation and OOD benchmarking processes. We focus on one of the most crucial problems in AIDD: drug target binding affinity prediction, which involves both macromolecule (protein target) and small-molecule (drug compound). In contrast to only providing fixed datasets, DrugOOD offers automated dataset curator with user-friendly customization scripts, rich domain annotations aligned with biochemistry knowledge, realistic noise annotations and rigorous benchmarking of state-of-the-art OOD algorithms. Since the molecular data is often modeled as irregular graphs using graph neural network (GNN) backbones, DrugOOD also serves as a valuable testbed for \emph{graph OOD learning} problems. Extensive empirical studies have shown a significant performance gap between in-distribution and out-of-distribution experiments, which highlights the need to develop better schemes that can allow for OOD generalization under noise for AIDD.


Relevance: Surgical removal of locally advanced forms of
skin cancer and multiple cutaneous and subcutaneous metastases of melanoma does not always provide satisfactory aesthetic,
functional, and long-term results. The treatment outcomes depend on the size, shape, location, and some other characteristics
of the tumor. The relapse rate after surgical removal of locally
advanced skin cancer is 12.5-34%, and the long-term survival of
patients with cutaneous and subcutaneous metastases of melanoma does not exceed 30%. Cutaneous and subcutaneous metastases of melanoma and some superficial tumors are usually
initially inoperable. Their complications such as bleeding, infection, pain, and pitting cause serious clinical problems and often
require local therapy even at the 4th stage of the disease.
Electrochemotherapy (ECT) is one of the modern treatment
methods for skin cancer, soft tissue sarcoma, and metastatic melanoma. ECT is a treatment of choice in the presence of
contraindications to surgical and radiation therapy. ECT combines the physical properties of current-induced electroporation with the chemical properties of chemotherapeutic drugs.
In this method, an electric current affecting the tissue causes
a temporary increase in cell membrane permeability, thereby
providing free access to the cell of large molecules, including
cytostatics, which are not initially transferred to the cytosol.
This significantly increases the potential toxicity of cytostatics.
The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the immediate results of ECT in patients with malignant tumors of the
skin, soft tissue, cutaneous, and subcutaneous melanoma metastases.
Results: Since 2017, 27 patients were treated by ECT at
the Centre for bone and soft tissue tumors and melanomas
of Kazakh Institute of Oncology and Radiology (Almaty, Kazakhstan). After two months, 67% of patients had a complete
response (CR), 26% – a partial response (PR), and 7% had progression of the tumor. Side effects included local edema (n=13,
40%) which independently disappeared within several days
to 2 weeks, local pains (12%) which disappeared within six
months after treatment in 3% and within a month in 11% of
patients, and hyperthermia in the early postoperative period in
6% of patients which was stopped within 10-15 min after the
procedure


Graph machine learning models have been successfully deployed in a variety of application areas. One of the most prominent types of models - Graph Neural Networks (GNNs) - provides an elegant way of extracting expressive node-level representation vectors, which can be used to solve node-related problems, such as classifying users in a social network. However, many tasks require representations at the level of the whole graph, e.g., molecular applications. In order to convert node-level representations into a graph-level vector, a so-called readout function must be applied. In this work, we study existing readout methods, including simple non-trainable ones, as well as complex, parametrized models. We introduce a concept of ensemble-based readout functions that combine either representations or predictions. Our experiments show that such ensembles allow for better performance than simple single readouts or similar performance as the complex, parametrized ones, but at a fraction of the model complexity.


. The Electric Utility Industry all around the world is facing numerous challenges, which include amongst others, the optimal use of expensive assets and resources and the maintenance of electric grid and customer quality service levels. The optimal placement of switches in electrical distribution networks will allow the control over service quality levels and the maximization of investments in equipments. This work proposes a genetic evolutionary algorithm NSGA-II for the optimization between the maximal return of investments on existing assets, while maintaining the quality of service provided. The trade off between total cost of investments and service quality levels SAIDI (System Average Interruption Duration Index) and SAIFI (System Average Interruption Frequency Index) is analyzed, to choose the optimal placement of switches in the distribution electrical networks. The proposed method was tested with a Portuguese real distribution network. The obtained results allowed to verify the performance of the adopted approach.


Enzastaurin is a selective inhibitor of protein kinase C β and a potent inhibitor of tumor angiogenesis. In addition, enzastaurin shows direct cytotoxic activity toward a subset of tumor cells including colorectal cancer cells (CRC). In spite of promising results in animal models, the clinical activity of enzastaurin in CRC patients has been disappointing although a subset of patients seems to derive benefit. In the present study we investigated the biological and cytotoxic activities of enzastaurin toward a panel of well-characterized CRC cell lines in order to clarify the mechanistic basis for the cytotoxic activity. Our results show that enzastaurin is significantly more cytotoxic toward CRC cells with chromosome instability (CIN) compared to cells with microsatellite instability (MSI). Since CIN is usually attributed to mitotic dysfunction, the influence of enzastaurin on cell cycle progression and mitotic transit was characterized for representative CIN and MSI cell lines. Enzastaurin exposure was accompanied by prolonged metaphase arrest in CIN cells followed by the appearance of tetraploid and micronuclei-containing cells as well as by increased apoptosis, whereas no detectable mitotic dysfunctions were observed in MSI cells exposed to isotoxic doses of enzastaurin. Our study identifies enzastaurin as a new, context dependent member of a heterogeneous group of anticancer compounds that induce "mitotic catastrophe," that is mitotic dysfunction accompanied by cell death. These data provide novel insight into the mechanism of action of enzastaurin and may allow the identification of biomarkers useful to identify CRC patients particularly likely, or not, to benefit from treatment with enzastaurin.


Salt deposits in the Powder River basin of Wyoming occur in the Late Permian Ervay Member of the Goose Egg Formation which was deposited in a redbed-evaporite trend extending from the Williston basin of North Dakota to the Alliance basin of Nebraska and Wyoming. However, only remnants of the once extensive Ervay salt remain in the Powder River basin, with major salt dissolution events occurring during Late Jurassic and Early Cretaceous. Subsidence and deposition at the surface were contemporaneous with subsurface salt dissolution except in areas where uplift and erosion were occurring. The presence or absence of Ervay salt and the relationship to overlying syndepositional strata can be seen readily and mapped using borehole logs or seismic data. Earliest dissolution of the Ervay salt occurred in the Jurassic, during regional uplift and erosion of the overlying Triassic Chugwater Formation in the present Hartville uplift and southeastern Powder River basin areas. Thickness variations of the Canyon Springs and Stockade Beaver members of the early Late Jurassic Sundance Formation, which unconformably overlie the deeply eroded Chugwater Formation, may be related in part to dissolution of the Ervay salt. Extensive salt dissolution, synsubsidence, and syndeposition occurred throughout most of the Powder River basin during latest Jurassic and Early Cretaceous. Evidence of this is seen in thick trends of the Morrison, Lakota, Dakota, or Muddy formations overlying areas of Ervay salt collapse. One area escaping extensive dissolution i the Early Cretaceous was the eastern Belle Fourche arch, which trends northeast across the middle of the Power River basin. Here the Lakota, Dakota, and Muddy formations are thin over areas with underlying Ervay salt, but thicken rapidly in areas of salt collapse. Many producing fields from the Mowry, Muddy, and Dakota formations exhibit either rapid stratigraphic changes syndepositional to salt collapse or fracture-enhanced reservoir quality due to postdepositional salt collapse. Major Muddy accumulations occurring in areas of local Ervay salt collapse include Kitty, Hilight, Fiddler Creek, and Clareton which have produced jointly over 172 million bbl of oil. The relationship of Ervay salt dissolution to Lower Cretaceous deposition can be exploited as an effective exploration tool. End_of_Article - Last_Page 1352------------


The effectiveness of the use of Web-based modelling systems in classroom teaching to enhance student learning is difficult to evaluate.The traditional `control group' (e.g. students not using computer models and their interfaces) is not feasible due to the intrinsiccomplexity of environmental issues and the many processes simulated by the computer models, which would be almost impossible toreplicate without model use and relying solely on hand calculations.. The evaluation procedure described here was applied to an honoursfirst-year class having students with excellent academic histories. Web interfaces for two environmental computer simulation models(GRASIM and L-THIA) were used. The subject matter focused on key environmental topics including water management andpollution control. Pre- and post-tests were administered for each modelling exercise to test students' learning in three categories: quantitative, qualitative and idea-eliciting. Significant improvements in test scores were observed for both quantitative and qualitative learning categories. An evaluation triangle was designed to visualize the changes in the three learning categories for the pre- and posttest scores. The exercises were deemed helpful by participating students in enhancing their understanding of the subject matter. The proposed outcome-based procedure showed great potential in objectively testing the effectiveness of Web-based modelling tools in undergraduate education, albeit that more testing on larger class size is needed to further substantiate the observed improvement. Designs of the pre- and post-test questions are also important for accurate evaluation and must take into account students' academic demography as well as the topics being taught.


Modern computer vision applications rely on learning-based perception modules parameterized with neural networks for tasks like object detection. These modules frequently have low expected error overall but high error on atypical groups of data due to biases inherent in the training process. In building autonomous vehicles (AV), this problem is an especially important challenge because their perception modules are crucial to the overall system performance. After identifying failures in AV, a human team will comb through the associated data to group perception failures that share common causes. More data from these groups is then collected and annotated before retraining the model to fix the issue. In other words, error groups are found and addressed in hindsight. Our main contribution is a pseudo-automatic method to discover such groups in foresight by performing causal interventions on simulated scenes. To keep our interventions on the data manifold, we utilize masked language models. We verify that the prioritized groups found via intervention are challenging for the object detector and show that retraining with data collected from these groups helps inordinately compared to adding more IID data. We also plan to release software to run interventions in simulated scenes, which we hope will benefit the causality community.


In viral infections and cancer tumours, negative health outcomes often correlate with increasing genetic diversity. Possible evolutionary processes for such relationships include mutant lineages escaping host control or diversity, per se, creating too many immune system targets. Another possibility is social heterosis where mutations and replicative errors create clonal lineages varying in intrinsic capability for successful dispersal; improved environmental buffering; resource extraction or effective defence against immune systems. Rather than these capabilities existing in one genome, social heterosis proposes complementary synergies occur across lineages in close proximity. Diverse groups overcome host defences as interacting 'social genomes' with group genetic tool kits exceeding limited individual plasticity. To assess the possibility of social heterosis in viral infections and cancer progression, we conducted extensive literature searches for examples consistent with general and specific predictions from the social heterosis hypothesis. Numerous studies found supportive patterns in cancers across multiple tissues and in several families of RNA viruses. In viruses, social heterosis mechanisms probably result from long coevolutionary histories of competition between pathogen and host. Conversely, in cancers, social heterosis is a by-product of recent mutations. Investigating how social genomes arise and function in viral quasi-species swarms and cancer tumours may lead to new therapeutic approaches.


In order to support process construction in wireless migrating workflow system, this paper presents an approach based on task components for resource-limited executing environment. First, we propose a business process construction model based on the idea that the process logic is separated from the process instances, and then abstract the process generation as a resource-constrained combinatorial optimization problem whose objective is to maximize the QoS of the whole process. For the problem solving, a novel discrete differential evolution (DDE) algorithm is detailed and the simulation experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of the algorithm.


Supplemental digital content is available in the text. ABSTRACT Introduction Achilles tendon rupture (ATR) patients have persistent functional deficits in the triceps surae muscle–tendon unit (MTU). The complex remodeling of the MTU accompanying these deficits remains poorly understood. The purpose of the present study was to associate in vivo and in silico data to investigate the relations between changes in MTU properties and strength deficits in ATR patients. Methods Eleven male subjects who had undergone surgical repair of complete unilateral ATR were examined 4.6 ± 2.0 (mean ± SD) yr after rupture. Gastrocnemius medialis (GM) tendon stiffness, morphology, and muscle architecture were determined using ultrasonography. The force–length relation of the plantar flexor muscles was assessed at five ankle joint angles. In addition, simulations (OpenSim) of the GM MTU force–length properties were performed with various iterations of MTU properties found between the unaffected and the affected side. Results The affected side of the patients displayed a longer, larger, and stiffer GM tendon (13% ± 10%, 105% ± 28%, and 54% ± 24%, respectively) compared with the unaffected side. The GM muscle fascicles of the affected side were shorter (32% ± 12%) and with greater pennation angles (31% ± 26%). A mean deficit in plantarflexion moment of 31% ± 10% was measured. Simulations indicate that pairing an intact muscle with a longer tendon shifts the optimal angular range of peak force outside physiological angular ranges, whereas the shorter muscle fascicles and tendon stiffening seen in the affected side decrease this shift, albeit incompletely. Conclusions These results suggest that the substantial changes in MTU properties found in ATR patients may partly result from compensatory remodeling, although this process appears insufficient to fully restore muscle function.


In this paper, cyclic plasticity in a single crystal nickel-based superalloy CMSX4 at elevated temperature was modelled using crystal plasticity (CP) and discrete dislocation dynamics (DDD). The CP modelling was carried out at the continuum level based on shear deformation along the octahedral slip systems. The DDD approach was implemented for a representative volume element with periodical boundary conditions. The DDD model parameters were calibrated using the predicted response by the CP model. The obtained numerical results by the two models compared with each other under strain-controlled monotonic and cyclic loading conditions in both and orientations. The CP model was further applied to study crack-tip deformation under fatigue loading. Stress-strain responses, as well as stress and strain distributions, near the crack tip were particularly monitored to assess the role of cyclic plasticity in controlling fatigue-crack propagation. The work has applications in life assessment of nickel-based superalloy components for high-temperature applications


Wireless services are at high demand all over the world, leading to increased bandwidth requirement and exhausted spectrum. In response, efforts are on-going to find ways to allow secondary access to spectrum without causing unacceptable interference issues to the Primary Users. In the fore-front of these efforts is the attempt to allow for secondary access on the TV spectrum, hence this analysis on spectrum usage measured outdoors in three locations namely Calabar in Cross River State representing an urban environment, Eket and Asong in Akwa Ibom State representing semi-urban and rural communities in Nigeria respectively. The UHF band percentage utilizations for the three locations were 98%, 76% and 33% with available cumulative bandwidths of 8MHz, 96MHz, and 264MHz respectively. Further validation of urban spectrum condition was done at Uyo in Akwa Ibom State. Findings showed that the spectrums are relatively busy in the urban and semi-urban areas whereas the economically challenging rural areas have free spectrum that can be deployed to enhance cellular broadband services at affordable rates to uplift the living standard of the dwellers.


ABSTRACT This paper examines non-traditional students' perceived benefits and challenges toward online collaborative learning (OCL) in general and how those perceptions are presented differently in two different course delivery modalities (asynchronous and synchronous). A content analysis of student surveys demonstrates some positive and negative aspects of OCL employed in two event management courses. This study further compares the similarities and differences between the two courses that adopted the two distinct delivery methods. Implications are expected to specifically resonate with non-traditional/working students who have other demands upon their time such as working full or part-time and/or parenting.


[Objective] To study the effects of inhaling SO2 on protein oxidative damage and protein-DNA crosslink reaction mechanism in lung and heart of mice.[Methods] The mice were treated with SO2 of different concentrations(14,28,56 mg/m3)for 6 h/d and the control group was treated with fresh air under the same conditions.The protein carbony(lPCO)contents were measured by spectrophotometric DNPH assay,and the DNA-protein crosslink(DPC)coefficients were measured by KCl-SDS assay.[Results] The results showed that PCO and DPC contents in lung and heart of female and male mice increased in the group of 14-56 mg/m3 in a dose(SO2)-dependent manner.The PCO dose-effect curves could be fitted well with the equations y= 0.174 4x+ 4.192(R2=0.999 8),y=0.155 3x+4.488(R2=0.988 3)and y=0.044 1x+4.204(R2=0.994 5),y=0.042 0x+3.896(R2=0.976 3)for female and male mice,respectively.The DPC dose-effect curves could be fitted well with the equations y=0.039 5x+1.404(R2=0.991 3),y=0.0329x+1.45(R2=0.992 2)and y=0.013 2x+1.616(R2=0.982 1),y=0.012 1x+1.614(R2=0.990 2)for female and male mice,respectively.These results indicated that the protein oxidative damage and the formation of DPC induced by SO2 depended on the concentration of SO2.[Conclusion] As the concentration of SO2 rises,the protein oxidative damage becomes more serious,and the DPC levels also rise.In comparison with heart of mice,the damage of SO2 to lung is much more serious.


The control of the formation of rabbit oviduct fluid and its relationship to the secretion of chloride ions has been studied using an in vitro vascularly perfused preparation. Fluid was produced at a rate of 43.41 microliters h-1 in oviducts from rabbits in oestrus. The rate was increased by isoprenaline and tetraethylammonium, decreased by dibutyryl cAMP, dihydro4,4'diisothiocyanatostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid (H2DIDS), and propranolol, while amiloride had no effect. H2DIDS induced a small decrease and isoprenaline a small increase in vascular to lumen Cl- flux but propranolol and dibutyryl cAMP had no effect. Oviducts from pseudopregnant animals treated with hCG three days before the experiment produced significantly less fluid than did those from rabbits in oestrus, but there was no difference in vascular to lumen Cl- flux. The concentration of K+ in oviduct fluid formed in vitro was more than three times higher than in the vascular perfusate. The ability of adrenergic agents to influence the formation of rabbit oviduct fluid could have clinical implications in the prevention or treatment of female infertility due to blockage of the Fallopian tubes and might also be useful in enhancing the secretory activity of oviduct cells maintained in co-culture with early embryos.


There has been considerable speculation regarding the effects of the growing prevalence of institutional investors in the equity markets on investee company behaviour. It has been posited that the growth of institutional investors may lead to the pursuit of what is generally referred to in the human resource literature as 'high commitment' employment practices in investee companies. This may be because institutional investors are using 'voice' mechanisms to pressure investee companies to adopt 'high commitment' human resource practices. These labour management practices typically involve managerial attempts to motivate and manage workers through a series of workplace practices that incorporate the interests of employees rather than through strict command and control structures. These might include investment in staff training and development, employment security, flexible workplace practices and self-directed work teams, investment in occupational health and safety, incentive pay, and 'partnerships' and consultation with employees and/or their representatives. The purpose of this study is to discover whether it is the intention of institutional investors to encourage investee companies to adopt 'high commitment' employment practices through case studies of twelve prominent institutional investors with funds invested in the Australian equities market and the Australian Council of Superannuation Investors (an industry body representing 39 superannuation funds). In the event that the institutional investor did seek to influence investee companies, we asked (i) why they seek to influence the companies, and (ii) what mechanisms they use to exert this influence. In the event that they did not seek to influence investee companies in this way, we asked (iii) why they did not and what barriers exist to taking into account companies' employment practices. We also sought to discover (iv) whether institutional investors take into account the employment practices of companies when making investment decisions, and if so, (v) what kinds of practices they take into account. In addition, we enquired into (vi) whether there are any differences between institutional investors, based on type, in relation to whether or not they have an intention to influence investee company employment practices, or the ability to do so. We are particularly interested in the difference between industry superannuation funds and other types of institutional investors. This difference is significant, first, because under the relevant legislation, industry superannuation funds are required to have equal representation of employers and members on their boards. In the case of industry superannuation funds, which are operated by parties to industrial awards, these representatives are usually employer associations and unions. Second, industry superannuation funds often manage their funds via external fund managers, whereas other institutional investors generally manage their funds internally. It is possible that these two characteristics of industry superannuation funds might result in different attitudes and responses concerning the human resource practices of investee companies compared with other types of institutional investors.


An experiment was carried out with 7-day-old broiler birds to assess the effect of ochratoxin A on their health. A standard feed mixture, containing 4 mg/kg ochratoxin A in pure substance, was offered to the birds in the course of 21 days. No severe clinical symptoms and death cases were observed during the experimental period. However, both the growth and the development of the birds were arrested along with an increase in the relative weight of the kidneys and changes in their morphology--vascular disturbances and dystrophy more strongly manifested in the kidneys and to a weaker extent seen in the bursa of Fabricius, the thymus, and other organs.


Over the past several years, crowdsourcing has entered software engineering practice. While most work is still done through traditional development, contract development, and outsourcing, software projects today increasingly use crowdsourcing for a variety of purposes, including fixing defects, testing their software, or gathering alternative designs for a new user interface. Through mechanisms such as competition sites, expertise sharing sites, bug bounties, and online labor markets, crowdsourcing has begun to reshape the ways in which developers contribute to software projects. This talk explores the models of crowdsourcing that have been applied to software development to date and outlines some of the opportunities that exist for the future.


Purpose: Previous reports have shown that IL-1α–MyD88–IL-6 signaling is essential in promoting hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development in a diethylnitrosamine (DEN)-induced mouse model. We aimed to determine whether interleukin (IL)-1α regulates HCC development in humans. Methods: HBV-associated HCC tissue, corresponding adjacent tissue, and normal tissue samples were obtained from 80 male and 36 female patients. IL-1α, ERα, IL-6, and MyD88 were quantified by using real-time PCR and Western blot. Stem-loop PCR was used to quantify miR-22 expression. Luciferase reporter assays were used to study transcriptional regulation. Results: IL-1α was highly expressed in male tumor adjacent tissue compared with normal tissue (P = 0.025); however, this was not the case for female subjects. A linear relationship was observed between increased IL-1α and decreased ERα expression in male tumor adjacent tissue (r = −0.616, P = 0.004). Our results also indicated that estrogen (E2) was suppressed upon IL-1α secretion in ERα-overexpressed HCC cells. We detected high expression of miR-22 in male tumor adjacent tissue compared with controls (P = 0.027); furthermore, we showed that miR-22 downregulates ERα transcription by targeting the 3′-untranslated region. In the DEN-induced model, IL-1α was highly expressed in sprouting tumors and gradually decreased in conjunction with HCC development. Conclusion: Overexpression of miR-22 in male tumor adjacent tissue was associated with downregulated ERα expression, potentially by attenuating the protective effect of estrogen and causing increased IL-1α expression. These results may explain the high incidence of HBV-associated HCC in the male population. Clin Cancer Res; 17(17); 5593–603. ©2011 AACR.


Numercal methods are applied in the analysis of coaxial structures used as sensors for in vivo permittivity studies of biological substances. The methods used for the solution of the resulting static conductor-dielectric problems are the Finite Element Method (FEM) and the Method of Moments (MOM) applied to a pair of coupled integral equations. A linear model which relates the sample permittivity to the fringing field capacitance of the sensor is discussed and values of the model parameters are calculated for different types of sensors.


Introduction: Vascular dementia is a common condition for which there is no effective approved pharmacological treatment available. Absence of effective treatment creates a difficult situation for those suffering from the disease, their caregivers, and healthcare providers. The objective of this study is todetermine the Efficacy of Memantine on cognitive functions in patients with Moderate vascular dementia. Material and methods: This Case series study was carried out inthe Neurology Section of department of Medicine Ziauddin University and Hospitals North Nazimabad campus, Karachifrom 12th March 2010 to 11th March 2011.90 patients were included, who fulfilled the inclusion criteria after taking an informed consent. The SPSS version 11 was applied to the data. Results: There were 55 (59.1%) males and 38 (40.9%) females. Mean ± standard deviation age 69.7 ± 6.6 years, mean duration of symptoms was 1.76 ± 1.1 years. Baseline minimental examination score was 15.14 ± 3.1. Minimental score after 24 weeks of drug therapy was 17.14 ± 4.1. Efficiency was found in 62 (66.7%) patients. Conclusion: Memantine produced only a small benefit in cognition (of uncertain clinical significance) in patients with moderate vascular dementia. Data is insufficient to support widespread use of this drug in vascular dementia. Individual patient analysis is needed to identify subgroups of patients with vascular dementia who might benefit.


This article highlights some of the discursive implications of framing the question of Islamic dress as one of religious rights. It is argued that the very construction of hijab issues as those of religious identity , sustained by the use of Article 9 of the ECHR as the primary legal basis for their resolution, has shaped a number of counterproductive trends. These are: avoiding difficult questions through a judicial technique of deference to local knowledge; using a language of choice to produce an obscure and unsatisfactory account of Muslim women's agency; false dichotomising of culture and gender; and producing an ever more docile and exposed subject through the subtle mechanisms of public scrutiny and moralising. Each trend is considered in turn. The article's arguments draw on the critical thought of Wendy Brown and post-colonial feminism.


In this contribution, we study companies engaging in B2C-ecommerce and their ability to manage the relationship with their customers. We refer to this as companies' ECCRM-capability and examine its determinants and the impact that all of these factors have on corporate success in e-business. We construct a covariance structure- (or LISREL-) model for testing our research hypotheses on a subset of 224 cases from a representative survey of 1,308 general companies. We find that companies' ECCRM-capability largely relies on data collection and - aggregation as well as managerial competence in planning and implementing these measures. We obtain no evidence that companies' ECCRM-capability increases their success. While collecting customer data proves to be a strong driver for success, aggregating and condensing this data appears to degrade corporate performance.


Forecasting traffic flow is an important task in urban areas, and a large number of methods have been proposed for traffic flow prediction. However, most of the existing methods follow a general technical route to aggregate historical information spatially and temporally. In this paper, we propose a different approach for traffic flow prediction. Our major motivation is to more effectively incorporate various intrinsic patterns in real-world traffic flows, such as fixed spatial distributions, topological correlations, and temporal periodicity. Along this line, we propose a novel autoencoder-based traffic flow prediction method, named Spatio-Temporal AutoEncoder (ST-AE). The core of our method is an autoencoder specially designed to learn the intrinsic patterns from traffic flow data, and encode the current traffic flow information into a low-dimensional representation. The prediction is made by simply projecting the current hidden states to the future hidden states, and then reconstructing the future traffic flows with the trained autoencoder. We have conducted extensive experiments on four real-world data sets. Our method outperforms existing methods in several settings, particularly for long-term traffic flow prediction.


In the quarter century after the end of World War II, a new generation of painters, sculptors, and photographers transformed the face of America art and shifted the centre of the art world from Paris to New York. This revolution generated an exuberant and contentious body of writing without parallel in our cultural history. Jed Perl has gathered the best of this writing together for the first time, interwoven with fascinating headnotes that establish the nature of the aesthetic battles that defined the era.


The present study investigated the effects of jasmonic acid (JA), chitosan, and salicylic acid (SA) on the accumulation of phenolic compounds in germinated buckwheat. A total of six phenolics were detected in the buckwheat treated with different concentrations of SA (50, 100, and 150 mg/L), JA (50, 100, and 150 μM), and chitosan (0.01, 0.1, and 0.5%) using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The treatment with 0.1% chitosan resulted in an accumulation of the highest levels of phenolic compounds as compared with the control and the 0.01 and 0.5% chitosan treatments. The treatment with 150 μM JA enhanced the levels of phenolics in buckwheat sprouts as compared with those observed in the control and the 50 and 100 μM JA-treated sprouts. However, the SA treatment did not affect the production of phenolic compounds. After optimizing the treatment concentrations of elicitors (chitosan and JA), a time-course analysis of the phenolic compounds detected in the germinated buckwheat treated with 0.1% chitosan and 150 μM JA was performed. Buckwheat treated with 0.1% chitosan for 72 h showed higher levels of phenolic compounds than all control samples. Similarly, the germinated buckwheat treated with JA for 48 and 72 h produced higher amounts of phenolic compounds than all control samples. This study elucidates the influence of SA, JA, and chitosan on the production of phenolic compounds and suggests that the treatment with optimal concentrations of chitosan and JA for an optimal time period improved the production of phenolic compounds in germinated buckwheat.


The relation between risk of colorectal adenoma and serum concentrations of vitamins A, C, E and carotene was examined in a population-based case-control study of 105 cases of colorectal adenoma and a similar number of hospital controls showing no polyps at colonoscopy and a second control group of population controls. There were no significant associations with serum concentrations of vitamins C and E and carotene. Serum concentrations of vitamin A were significantly inversely related to the risk of colorectal adenoma when cases were compared with both control groups. After adjustment for energy intake, smoking, alcohol, estrogen therapy, body-mass-index and social class the inverse association between vitamin A and colorectal adenoma was even more marked. For the highest versus the lowest quartile of serum levels the adjusted RR was 0.23 (0.07–0.73) in relation to hospital controls and 0.08 (0.02–0.25) in relation to population controls. These findings suggest that the risk of developing colorectal adenomas is reduced in those with high vitamin A levels.


A benchmark analysis method was developed using Falling Weight Deflectometer (FWD) data for comparative evaluation of the structural condition of flexible pavement structures. This is established as a preliminary design and analysis tool, and aspects of it are incorporated in TRH 12. Experiences with benchmark analyses on roads and airports are reviewed and adjusted criteria are recommended with a colour coded three tiered condition assessment method. Exploratory studies on additional deflection bowl parameters are conducted to gauge their potential for inclusion in benchmark analyses. Deflection bowl parameter benchmarking has found application at network level analysis in a number of road authorities worldwide. Modified Structural Number (SNP) and Pavement Number (PN) have recently also been illustrated as being able to accurately calculate from the full deflection bowl and can be used in such enhanced benchmark analyses of flexible pavement structures.


ABSTRACT Multiple in vivo studies have characterized the pharmacodynamics of drugs from the triazole and polyene antifungal drug classes. Fewer studies have investigated these pharmacodynamic relationships for the echinocandin drug class. We used a neutropenic murine model of disseminated Candida albicans, Candida tropicalis, and Candida glabrata infection to characterize the time course of activity of the new echinocandin anidulafungin. The pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic (PK-PD) indices (the percentage of time that the drug concentration was above the MIC, the ratio of the area under the concentration-time curve from 0 to 24 h [AUC0-24] to the MIC, and the ratio of the maximum serum drug concentration [Cmax] to the MIC) were correlated with in vivo efficacy, as measured by organism numbers in kidney cultures after 96 h of therapy. The kinetics following intraperitoneal anidulafungin dosing in neutropenic infected mice were monitored. Peak levels and AUCs were linear over the 16-fold dose range studied. The drug elimination half-life in serum ranged from 14 to 24 h. Single-dose postantifungal-effect studies demonstrated prolonged suppression of organism regrowth after serum anidulafungin levels had fallen below the MIC. Of the four dosing intervals studied, treatment with the more widely spaced dosing regimens was most efficacious, suggesting the Cmax/MIC ratio as the PK-PD index most predictive of efficacy. Nonlinear regression analysis suggested that both the Cmax/MIC and AUC/MIC ratios were strongly predictive of treatment success. Studies were then conducted with 13 additional C. albicans, C. tropicalis, and C. glabrata isolates with various anidulafungin susceptibilities (MICs of anidulafungin for these strains, 0.015 to 2.0 μg/ml) to determine if similar Cmax/MIC and AUC0-24/MIC ratios for these isolates were associated with efficacy. The anidulafungin exposures associated with efficacy were similar among Candida species.


Superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs) are commonly operated in a flux-locked loop (FLL). The SQUID electronics amplifies the small SQUID signal to an acceptable level without adding noise, and it linearizes the transfer function of the SQUID in order to provide sufficient dynamic range. In this paper, the fundamentals of SQUID readout are reviewed including a discussion of preamplifier noise. The basic FLL concepts, direct readout and flux modulation readout, are discussed both with dc bias and bias reversal. Alternative readout concepts such as additional positive feedback (APF), two-stage SQUIDs, SQUID series arrays, relaxation oscillation SQUIDs and digital SQUIDs are briefly described. The FLL dynamics are discussed on the basis of a simple model with finite loop delay. It is shown that with optimized SQUID electronics a system bandwidth of ≈18 MHz and a corresponding slew rate of ≈8 Φ0 µs−1 are possible. A novel FLL scheme involving a Smith predictor is presented which allows one to increase the FLL bandwidth to about 100 MHz. The theoretical predictions are experimentally checked using a high-speed SQUID electronics prototype with a small-signal bandwidth of 300 MHz. Methods for increasing the dynamic range of SQUID systems are described: flux-quanta counting and dynamic field compensation (DFC). With DFC, the residual magnetic field at the SQUID can be kept close to zero even if the device is moved in the Earth's field. Therefore, the noise level of a high-Tc magnetometer measured inside a magnetically shielded room (60 fT Hz−1/2 with a 1/f corner at 2 Hz) remained unchanged after moving the device in the magnetic field outside the room (60 µT dc plus 0.8 µT peak-to-peak power line interference).


Abstract Background Osteoarthritis of the thumb carpometacarpal joint (CMC-1 OA) is increasingly common with age. Conservative treatment with anti-inflammatory medication, thumb spica splinting, and steroid injection is recommended for early-stage OA, but some patients will continue to have refractory symptoms and surgery may be considered. We found it interesting to study outcomes of surgical treatment of cases with mild radiographic changes and yet symptoms severe enough to indicate surgery. The specific research question is, if there is a limit of radiographic changes, below which a poor patient-reported outcome (PRO) can be expected. Purpose In a retrospective cohort of patients with prospectively collected PROs, we intend to study the effect of the radiographic CMC-1 OA severity on the PRO improvement and satisfaction after interposition arthroplasty. Patients and Methods Radiographs of 347 patients, who had CMC-1 surgery, were retrospectively analyzed. Each rater independently assessed all radiographs classifying each according to the Eaton classification. All patients had surgery with CMC-1 interposition arthroplasty using three well-known techniques that all include a complete trapeziectomy. Comparison between stage 1 and stage 2–4 was done using Chi-square test and t-test. Results Patients with Eaton stage 1 had a mean improvement in Quick-DASH (Quick-Disability of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand questionnaire) scores of 14.6 points. Patients with Eaton stage 2 to 4 had a mean improvement of 25.3 points. The difference between these two groups was 10.6 points (p = 0.009). Only 52% of patients with Eaton stage 1 OA were satisfied. However, 76% of patients with Eaton stage 2 to 4 were satisfied (p = 0.008, chi-square between stage 1 and stage 2–4). Conclusion Patients with Eaton stage 1 CMC-1 OA had poorer PROs, as compared with more advanced stages of OA, 6 months following surgical treatment with interposition arthroplasty. Based on our results, we advise against surgical treatment with interposition arthroplasty of the very mildest CMC-1 OA, regardless of the preoperative PROs.


Russian-thistle (Salsola sp.), a troublesome weed in the arid and semiarid regions of the United States, has been successfully harvested and used as a forage when cultivated forages were limited or unavailable. Over the years, the few published reports of studies of water use efficiency and nutritive value of Russian-thistle have been sufficiently encouraging to suggest its potential as a forage crop in areas where water resources are limited. Therefore, this study was undertaken to determine the effect of nitrogen fertilization on some of the nutritional qualities of Russian-thistle. Russian-thistle plants were grown in a greenhouse in 15-liter pots; urea levels corresponding to 0, 28, 56, 84, and 112 kg of N/ha were applied, and all plants were watered uniformly. Under these conditions, no correlations were found between nitrogen application and total crude protein, acid detergent fiber, or acid detergent lignin; nevertheless, average values of 19.8, 34.4, and 6.4 (percent dry weight) were measured for each of these, respectively. In addition, the amino acid composition of the total protein was well balanced nutritionally. Only at the highest nitrogen applications was nitrate observed to approach potentially dangerous levels. Values obtained are comparable to many commonly used forages. Studies to determine the effect of nitrogen and water application on the nutritional qualities of Russian.thistle under field conditions are underway.


Proceedings: AACR 103rd Annual Meeting 2012‐‐ Mar 31‐Apr 4, 2012; Chicago, IL

Introduction: DNA double-strand breaks (dsb) are caused by exposure to radiotherapy and various anticancer drugs and are very deleterious. Upon dsb formation, histone H2AX is phosphorylated to form γH2AX foci at the break site. We have reported the development of a non-invasive in vivo DNA dsb imaging agent, based on anti-γH2AX IgG, modified by addition of the cell penetrating and nuclear localizing peptide, TAT. It was demonstrated that fluorescent and radiolabelled anti-γH2AX-TAT was internalized into cancer cells, and retained specifically in cells expressing γH2AX foci, through binding to γH2AX. Using in vivo fluorescence and SPECT imaging, we showed tumour uptake correlates with the extent of DNA dsb damage after radiation therapy (Cornelissen et al. Cancer Res 2011 71:4539). Ideally, imaging γH2AX in this way should not alter the physiology/ biology of the imaged organism. Therefore, we investigated the influence of anti-γH2AX-Tat on DNA dsb repair kinetics using comet assays and γH2AX and 53BP1 foci kinetics. These data were applied using a published mathematical model of non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) by Cucinotta et al. (Rad Res 2008 169, 214-222). Methods: A panel of four carcinoma cells (MCF7, MDA-MB-231/H2N, MDA-MB-468, MCF7) was exposed to a range of concentrations of anti-γH2AX-Tat (0 - 0.5 μg/mL) and irradiated 1 h later (IR; 137Cs, 0.95 Gy/min, 0-4 Gy). At selected time points, cells were analysed using γH2AX and 53BP1 foci staining and counting and comet assays. Foci counting was performed automatically using an InCell analyser. Comet assay results were analysed using software developed in house and expressed as Olive Tail Moment. γH2AX foci kinetics data were modelled in silico using a concatenary model or an extended version of the NHEJ model, allowing for anti-γH2AX-Tat binding to γH2AX. The kinetics of dsb formation and resolution were calculated from the model (dsbcal), and validated using comet assay data. Results: The number of γH2AX foci/cell was maximal at 0.5-1 h post IR. The affinity (KD) of anti-γH2AX-Tat for γH2AX was 25 nM. There was a trend towards a dose-dependent increase of the maximum number of foci. The concatenary model revealed no significant differences between treated and non-treated cells. However, using the NHEJ model, a dose-dependent decrease in the rate of phosphorylation of γH2AX was demonstrated (in MCF7 cells exposed to 0-0.5 μg/mL anti-γH2AX-Tat, κPγ = 2507-1462 copy−1 h−1; p 0.05). This was confirmed by comet assays. Conclusion: Anti-γH2AX-TAT binding to γH2AX reduces the rate of formation of new γH2AX foci, but has no significant influence on DNA dsb repair. Therefore, the use of γH2AX-Tat for imaging DNA dsbs does not alter DNA dsb status.

Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 365. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-365


Based on the 2013 curriculum 2016's revision, there are subject materials that demand about local content in English subjects at the level of SMP Class VII. Teachers need many researches and practices integrating and implementating these subjects. Basically,  it needs to be done in-depth study in the form of content analysis. This research was conducted on content and learning English in SMP Negeri 5 Sigi. This study aims to find out 1) how many percentage of local content in English lesson material Class VII SMP in the curriculum 2013 revision 2016; 2) how to integrate local content in English subject matter in SMP Negeri 5 Sigi; 3) how the implementation of material with local content in English learning in SMP Negeri 5 Sigi, and; 4) how to integrate local content in effective and efficient English lessons in SMP Negeri 5 Sigi. The study used a qualitative descriptive approach with the method of collecting document studies, interviews, and observation. The research results are 1) the proportion of local content that can be integrated into English language learning material SMP is 95%; 2) the integrity of local content in English learning materials in SMP Negeri 5 Sigi can be found in the lesson plan; 3) implementation of materials with local content in English learning attached to KTSP, Syllabus, lesson plan and learning resources enrichment book.


We test the consistency of the cosmic growth of structure predicted by General Relativity (GR) and the cosmic expansion history predicted by the cosmological constant plus cold dark matter paradigm (ΛCDM) by combining galaxy cluster data from ROSAT and Chandra, cosmic microwave background (CMB) data from WMAP, and galaxy clustering data from WiggleZ, 6dFGS and SDSS-III BOSS. The combination of these three independent, well studied measurements of the evolution of the mean energy density and its fluctuations is able to break strong degeneracies between growth parameters. To further tighten the constraints on the expansion parameters, we also include supernova, Cepheid variable and baryon acoustic oscillation data. For a spatially flat geometry, accounting for systematic uncertainties, and allowing for convenient departures from the expansion and growth histories of GR+ΛCDM, we obtain results that are in excellent agreement with this model and represent the tightest and most robust simultaneous constraint on cosmic growth and expansion to date.


We demonstrate liquid‐liquid partition chromatography in aqueous two‐phase systems (LLPC) as a simple method for examining the surface properties of immunoglobulins and antigen antibody complexes in solution. LLPC separates molecules with respect to the properties of the exposed surfaces. As an example, the method may be used to detect changes in the conformation of IgG following chemical modification like acylation or iodination. We have studied the partitioning of antibodies and antigen antibody complexes, modelled by rabbit antibodies against three human serum proteins, in aqueous polyethylene glycol/dextran two‐phase systems at pH 7. Analysis of both polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies against various antigens suggested that the partition properties of immunoglobulins are related mainly to their antigen specificity and not to subclass‐specific structures. Furthermore, experiments indicated that changes in the surface properties of antigen and/or antibody following complexation may be detected. Thus, LLPC may prove to be a new way of studying the relation between antibody structure and function in solution.


Salt tolerance of halophytes relies on several strategies, among them, the production of species-specific secondary metabolites. Chemically, a broad variety of secondary compounds of economic interest is present in halophytes. Several of these secondary compounds are restricted to halophytic species or are found in higher concentrations than in glycophytes. For their exploitation, optimal plant cultivation conditions and extraction, fractionation and isolation processes need to be identified. On the one hand, the function of single compounds can be more precisely determined and controlled; on the other hand the mixture of compounds in crude extracts might have synergistic effects. Also, different plant organs and plants in different developmental stages contain highly varying amounts and compositions of secondary compounds. Secondary compounds from halophytes have potential uses in various fields such as pharmacognosy, functional foods, nutraceuticals and technical implementations. Many of the potential applications are still in the research and development phase; some products are already on the market. We describe and evaluate the economic potential of several halophytes such as Salicornia spp. and Crithmum maritimum containing valuable compounds used in different applications.


Marsh ecosystems are some of our most important, serving many crucial ecological functions. They are also rapidly changing, and it is vital for scientists to track these changes. This includes monitoring the health of marshes via estimating ground coverage by various grass species, a task that requires human labor to look at marsh images and manually estimate the coverage. Clearly, this task can be quite formidable. To automate this standard yet laborsome process, we developa web-based system, called MarshCover, that automates the process of estimating vegetation density in marsh images using convolutional neural networks (CNNs). MarshCover, to the best of our knowledge, is the first such tool available to biologists that uses CNNs for marsh vegetation estimations. In order to select effective CNN models for our MarshCover server, we conduct extensive empirical analyses of three distinct CNNs, i.e., LeNet-5, AlexNet and VGG-16, to compare their performances on a public marsh image dataset. To this end, we address two classification problems for this paper: a binary classification problem classifying points as vegetated and unvegetated, and a multiclass classification problem that classifies points into either an unvegetated class or one of five different species classes. Our experiments identify the VGG16 model as the best classifier to embed in MarshCover for both the binary classification problem and the full classification problem with a two model classifier (called two-shot). These two classifiers had accuracies on test data of 90.76% and 84% respectively. MarshCover is publicly available online.


In many countries, including the UK, the majority of domestic sows are housed in farrowing crates during the farrowing and lactation periods. Such systems raise welfare problems due to the close confinement of the sow. Despite the fact that many alternative housing systems have been developed, no commercially viable/feasible option has emerged for large scale units. Current scientific and practical knowledge of farrowing systems were reviewed in this study to identify alternative systems, their welfare and production potential. The aim was to establish acceptable trade-offs between profit and welfare within alternative farrowing systems. Linear programming (LP) was used to examine possible trade-offs and to support the design of welfare-friendly yet commercially viable alternatives. The objective of the LP was to optimise the economic performance of conventional crates, simple pens and designed pens subject to both managerial and animal welfare constraints. Quantitative values for constraints were derived from the literature. The potential effects of each welfare component on productivity were assessed by a group of animal welfare scientists and used in the model. The modelled welfare components (inputs) were extra space, substrate and temperature. Results showed that, when using piglet survival rate in the LP based on data drawn from the literature and incorporating costs of extra inputs in the model, the crates obtained the highest annual net margin and the designed pens and the pens were in second and third place, respectively. The designed pens and the pens were able to improve their annual net margin once alternative reference points, following expert-derived production functions, were used to adjust piglet survival rates in response to extra space, extra substrate and modified pen heating. The non-crate systems then provided higher welfare and higher net margin for sows and piglets than crates, implying the possibility of a win-win situation.


The author considers the integration of the motion equations of a Newtonian fluid (Navier-Stokes equations) in vector form, taking into consideration a separation of vector Navier-Stokes equation on the two equations containing separately linear and quadratic terms. On this basis, the paper demonstrates the possibility of integration of separated motion equations of an incompressible viscous fluid, which is determined in a greater extent by the characteristics of flow: boundary conditions, axisymmetric, nonaxisymmetric flow and others.


Objective: To investigate whether prior testis magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) predicts the success or failure of micro-dissection testicular sperm extraction (micro-TESE) in patients with non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA). Materials and Method: Nine men with NOA who were scheduled for micro-TESE for the first time, 9 NOA men with a history of previous micro-TESE and 5 fertile men were enrolled. All NOA patients and fertile controls underwent testis spectroscopy. A multi-voxel spectroscopy sequence was used. Testicular signals of choline (Cho), creatine (Cr), myo-inositol (MI), lactate, and lipids were analyzed quantitatively and compared with the results of the micro-TESEs. Results: The most prominent peaks were Cho and Cr in the fertile controls and NOA subjects with positive sperm retrieval in the micro-TESE. A high Cho peak was detected in 87% of the NOA men with positive sperm retrieval. NOA men without sperm at the previous micro-TESE showed a marked decrease in Cho and Cr signals. For positive sperm retrieval in micro-TESE, the cut-off value of Cho was 1.46 ppm, the cut-off value of Cr was 1.43 ppm, and the cut-off value of MI was 0.79 ppm. Conclusions: Testis spectroscopy can be used as a non-invasive screening method to predict the success or failure of micro-TESE.


In the past 2½ decades there has occurred a very considerable expansion of medical school faculties in the United States. In the main this has reflected a commitment on the part of the federal government to support biomedical research, and has amounted to a quintupling of the number of those physicians holding full-time positions as faculty members. What this has meant, of course, is that large numbers of young physicians in training have elected to build and maintain their professional lives in close and continuing relation to university medical centers; that is, they have, in the parlance of the day, opted for "Academic Medicine." This term has come to mean, from a pragmatic point of view, activities carried out, usually on a full-time basis, in a university hospital setting, and characterized by a combination of research and teaching, together with some clinical responsibilities; the latter, more often than not, have


We investigated the folding of the 70 kDa human cytosolic inducible protein (Hsp70) in vitro using high hydrostatic pressure as a denaturing agent. We followed the structural changes in Hsp70 induced by high hydrostatic pressure using tryptophan fluorescence, molecular dynamics, circular dichroism, high-performance liquid chromatography gel filtration, dynamic light scattering, ATPase activity, and chaperone activity. Although monomeric, Hsp70 is very sensitive to hydrostatic pressure; after pressure had been removed, the protein did not return to its native sate but instead formed oligomeric species that lost chaperone activity but retained ATPase activity.


The stability of the shell of wrapped D6-branes on K3 is investigated from the point of view of supergravity. We first construct an effective energy-momentum tensor for the shell under the reasonable conditions and show that supersymmetric solutions satisfy Israel's junction conditions at arbitrary radius of the shell. Next we study the perturbation of the whole system including the self-gravity of the shell. It is found that in spite of the existence of wrapped D6-branes with negative tension, there is no eigenmode whose frequencies of the shell and the fields are imaginary numbers, at any radius of the shell. Furthermore, when the radius of the shell is less than the enhancon radius, resonances are produced, and this indicates a kind of "instability" of the system. This can even classically explain why the shell is constructed at the enhancon radius.


Bisphosphonate use has been associated with atypical pathologic fracture and slowed bone turnover. We present a case of a bisphosphonate-associated peri-implant atypical femur fracture following use of a recon nail for treatment of a prior bisphosphonate-associated atypical femur fracture.


ABSTRACT During October and November 1995, a bird deterrent device (the Marine Phoenix Wailer) was tested in Miramichi Bay, New Brunswick, Canada, for effectiveness in keeping scoter ducks away from juvenile mussel collector lines. Test results indicated that the Wailer was effective in excluding scoters from a circular open-water area within a 500-meter radius. The scenario tested provided a worst case situation for bird deterrent operations: if birds can be repelled from a strong attractant (i.e., food), it is believed that they may be repelled from less attractive areas such as oil-contaminated sites.


Lava planets have non-global, condensible atmospheres similar to icy bodies within the solar system. Because they depend on interior dynamics, studying the atmospheres of lava planets can lead to understanding unique geological processes driven by their extreme environment. Models of lava planet atmospheres have thus far focused on either radiative transfer or hydrodynamics. In this study, we couple the two processes by introducing ultraviolet and infrared radiation to a turbulent boundary layer model. We also test the effect of different vertical temperature profiles on atmospheric dynamics. Results from the model show that UV radiation affects the atmosphere much more than IR. UV heating and cooling work together to produce a horizontally isothermal atmosphere away from the sub-stellar point regardless of the vertical temperature profile. We also find that stronger temperature inversions induce stronger winds and hence cool the atmosphere. Our simulated transmission spectra of the bound atmosphere show a strong SiO feature in the UV that would be challenging to observe in the planet's transit spectrum due to the precision required. Our simulated emission spectra are more promising, with significant SiO spectral features at 4.5 and 9 μm that can be observed with the James Webb Space Telescope. Different vertical temperature profiles produce discernible dayside emission spectra, but not in the way one would expect.


A precise navigation method for high altitude unmanned aerial vehicle was researched. Strapdown inertial navigation system (SINS), star sensor and Bei Dou receiver were adopted in this method. Errors of SINS and misalignments of star sensor were chosen as system states of integrated navigation. A specified attitude matrix was constructed by outputs of SINS, then measurements of integrated navigation were constructed by the attitude matrix output of star sensor, position outputs of Bei Dou receiver and outputs of SINS. Thus the measurement equation of integrated navigation was constructed cleverly, and the Kalman filtering algorithm of integrated navigation was designed. Simulation results showed that, this precise navigation method had high locating accuracy and attitude determining accuracy, which had good application prospect of engineering.


Understanding woody vegetation composition and structure is important for leading management decisions in the Sahelian vulnerable zones. The objective of the study was to better knowledge woody vegetation structure and richness in natural vegetation and cropland. The study area is Kekenene village located in Soum province, surroundings Djibo in northern Burkina Faso. In total 54 sample plots were surveyed by means of a botanical inventory of woody vegetation species. All trees ≥ 10 cm dbh were measured. The vegetation structure pattern analyzed were diameter at breast height (dbh), basal area, relative dominance, and relative density, Importance Value Index (IVI) and Family Importance Value (FIV). In total 658 trees recorded was belonging to 21 species, 9 families in natural vegetation and 11 species, 5 families in cropland. Tree density was 15.7 stems/ha and 3.7/ha respectively in natural vegetation and cropland. Tree basal area was 0.54 m² ha -1 for cropland and 0.35 m² ha -1 in natural vegetation with a mean dbh of 3.5 cm for the two occupation types. The most importance family according to FIV was Balanitaceae in cropland and Combretaceae in natural vegetation. The Sorensen' similarity coefficient of family in the two landscapes is lowest than 0.5 which means that the similarities in species family are low between the two occupation types. In natural vegetation, Anogeisus leiocarpus and Balanites aegyptiaca were the most important species in relation to IVI, while in cropland Balanites aegyptiaca, Acacia senegal and Acacia seyal were the most important species. Results reveal an abundance of Balanites aegyptiaca in both cropland and natural vegetation in the study site. Given its high socio-economic value in this region, this tree deserves to be more valued in a perspective of management and sustainable use in Kekenene village. Keywords : Composition and structure, woody species, management, Sahel ecosystems, Burkina Faso.


High-image-density particle image velocimetry allows characterization of the instantaneous patterns of streamwise vorticity ωx over the cross-section of the near wake of a circular cylinder, and the manner in which they evolve with streamwise distance. Emphasis is on the Reynolds number Re = 10 × 103, for which the Kelvin–Helmholtz (K–H) mode in the separating shear layers has a streamwise wavelength much smaller than that of the Kármán mode. Consequently, the corresponding spanwise wavelength between ωx concentrations increases substantially from its value in the separating shear layer to a larger one in the near wake. This streamwise evolution is defined by spatial correlations of patterns of instantaneous ωx and interpreted with the aid of the quasi-two-dimensional topology of the wake in the base region of the cylinder. The principal features of the phase-averaged topology are foci of the initially formed Kármán vortices and a saddle point between them. Immediately downstream of this saddle, remarkably coherent patterns of ωx concentrations are evident; they have a wavelength approximately equal to the cylinder diameter. Moreover, larger-scale spanwise distortion eventually occurs. This distortion exhibits several modes; the most severe is a nearly discontinuous variation of patterns of ωx.


This thesis presents the author's experience with diagnostic intraocular fine needle aspiration biopsy in 18 patients with a suspected metastatic choroidal or ciliary body tumor. The author has reviewed the literature on biopsy of intraocular tumors and has specified what he believes to be valid indications for diagnostic biopsy of posterior uveal tumors. He has evaluated the accuracy, limitations, and complications of diagnostic fine needle aspiration biopsy in this series and others, and he has suggested methods for improving the recovery of sufficient cells for cytologic diagnosis and lessening the risks of tumor cell seeding during the biopsy. The author has concluded that fine needle aspiration biopsy appears to be a relatively safe, generally reliable means of establishing the pathologic diagnosis of a choroidal or ciliary body tumor in highly selected patients suspected of having metastatic cancer. In spite of its apparent safety and reliability, however, the author has cautioned against the routine use of fine needle aspiration biopsy in patients with posterior uveal tumors since its long-term safety has not been established. The author has suggested that diagnostic fine needle aspiration biopsy of posterior uveal tumors be performed only in medical centers where there can be input from and cooperation among ophthalmologists, ophthalmic pathologists, and cytopathologists who are experienced in the diagnosis of intraocular malignancies.


Abstract This article demonstrates how Cognitive Grammar and Construction Grammar can prevent Chinese students learning Spanish from fossilizing mistakes in restrictive relative clauses at the A2-B1 level of the European Framework of Reference for Languages. To address this issue, first, relative clauses in Spanish and Chinese were contrasted and, second, tailored solutions based on Cognitive Grammar were proposed. Among the cognitive based tailored solutions, certain geometry forms, colours and basic mathematics metaphors were compared with syntactic characteristics such as noun order, subordination hierarchy or resumption. To elucidate the impact of such teaching methods, an experiment with 74 Chinese students was performed. The results indicate that the efficacy of the proposed materials is statistically significant and as such, the Chinese students avoid fossilized mistakes while producing subject, object and locative relative clauses in Spanish.


In this paper, a detailed study of the influence of Mn2+ ions on quartz and hematite flotation (at pH 10.5 with starch/amine as depressor/collector) in the absence and presence of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) is presented. By using zeta potential measurement and a careful analysis of manganese species present in water for dosages in which manganese hydroxide precipitated, we confirmed that the depression of both minerals by Mn2+ ions is due to the following: (i) the adsorption of Mn hydroxy complexes (Mn2(OH) 3+ and Mn(OH)+); (ii) Mn2+ and mainly (iii) the precipitation of Mn(OH)2 on mineral surfaces. These effects hindered the adsorption of amine species on the surfaces of the minerals (quartz and hematite). EDTA was used to complex Mn2+ to restore the recoveries of both minerals. This was confirmed by the species distribution diagrams of Mn and EDTA–Mn in water. Conditioning with starch followed by amine at pH 10.5 enabled a selective separation of these minerals.


The people of far-flung rural areas still depend to a large extent upon plants and household remedies for curing veterinary ailments. The folk knowledge of ethno-veterinary medicine and its significance has been identified by the traditional communities through a process of experience over hundreds of years. The present paper documented ethno-veterinary practices of tribals related to different medicinal problems in their livestock. The study was conducted in purposively selected Banswara district of Rajasthan. A total of 120 tribal families were selected from 8 selected villages of 2 tehsils. Data were collected through interview and detailed discussion with traditional healers and family members, known about indigenous traditional knowledge. A total of 31 practices were documented in 12 different ailments.


In this study we set out to investigate the photodynamic efficacy of hypericin (Hyp), three other photosensitizers and 5-aminolevulinic acid-induced protoporphyrin IX in their ability to block the growth of rather aggressive tumor - Ehrlich ascites tumor in mice. Hypericin was found to exhibit the highest tumor growth inhibiting activity in treating Ehrlich ascites tumor by photodynamic therapy. The different photosensitizers were ranked as follows: Hypericin > hematoporphyrin dimethyl ether > Photofrin II > meso-tetra-(para-sulfophenyl) porphin > 5-aminolevulinic acid. Of importance, just after Hyp-based photodynamic therapy 75% of mice survived a 4-month period, and no recurrence of tumor within this period was detected in 25% of the treated mice. The clear cut correlation observed between tumor dye concentration in the tumor cells and efficiency of photodynamic therapy, supports the idea that the intracellular accumulation of the photosensitizer is one of the most important factors in determining the benefit of photodynamic therapy. Hence, the accumulation of the photosensitizer in the tumor cells should be considered as one of the prognostic factors for the determination of the therapeutic outcome.


BRCA1/2 pathogenic variants are widely known as major risk factors mainly for breast and ovarian cancer, while their role in gastrointestinal (GI) malignancies such as colorectal cancer (CRC), gastric cancer and oesophageal cancer (OeC) is still not well established. The main objective of this review is to summarise the available evidence on this matter. The studies included in the review were selected from PubMed/GoogleScholar/ScienceDirect databases to identify published articles where BRCA1/2 pathogenic variants were assessed either as a risk factor or a prognostic/predictive factor in these malignancies. Our review suggests that BRCA1/2 might have a role as a risk factor for colorectal, gastric and OeC, albeit with differences among these diseases: In particular BRCA1 seems to be much more frequently mutated in CRC whereas BRCA2 appears to be much more closely associated with gastric and OeC. Early-onset cancer seems to be also associated with BRCA1/2 mutations and a few studies suggest a positive prognostic role of these mutations. The assessment of a potentially predictive role of these mutations is hampered by the fact that most patients with these diseases have been treated with platinum compounds, where it is expected that a higher probability of response should be seen. A few clinical trials focused on poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors use in GI cancers are currently ongoing.


Remote diagnosis is a typical application of telemedicine services, which studies the effective organization techniques for multimedia data management, refer to the network architecture of telemedicine diagnosis system in telemedicine diagnosis system based on computer and information security technology. The technology contains data organization, automatic archiving of medical information, technical design and implementation of fast indexing and data secure transmission based on XML digital signature. The proposed scheme provides a reliable technology platform for telemedicine diagnosis.


Single-cell algae (microalgae) are among the most promising resources for the production of biofuels and bioactive compounds, as well as for CO2 biomitigation and bioremediation. Improvement of microalgal photobiotechnologies for the production of valueadded products such as long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, storage triacylglycerols and carotenoids, requires fast and reliable, and preferably non-destructive techniques for on-line monitoring of the target product's content and the physiological condition of the algal culture. These techniques can provide essential information for timely and informed decisions on adjusting illumination conditions and medium composition, and on the optimal time for biomass harvesting. Often, such decisions must be taken within hours, and mistakes can lead to a significant reduction in productivity or a total loss of the culture. A promising approach for realtime non-destructive monitoring of laboratory and upscaled microalgal cultures is based on measuring the optical properties of algal suspensions, such as absorption, scattering and 41 reflection of light by microalgal cells in certain spectral regions. To this aim, the following criteria should be met: i) reliable spectral measurements, ii) efficient algorithms for the processing of spectral data, and iii) a thorough understanding of the relationships between changes in physiological condition and/or biochemical composition of the algal culture and accompanying changes in its optical properties. This chapter presents a review of recent experimental work in this area, with an emphasis on investigations conducted by the authors and their colleagues in the fields of physiology, biochemistry and spectroscopy which have implications for the cultivation of biotechnologically important microalgal species.


Aim: The objective of this research was to study the guidelines for innovation development for increasing logistics efficiency of manufacturing industrial in Thailand. Methodology: This research was an inductive research with mixed-methodology research including the qualitative research through in-depth interview and the quantitative research by collecting the quantitative data of 500 workplaces which received the rewards or standard organizations on the supply chain system management, production and manufacturing, transportation, warehouse or inventory of the logistics divided into large enterprises, small and medium enterprises to analyze and improve the structural equation model (SEM). And finally, the structural equation model was fit an in accordance with empirical data. Finding: The results of the research revealed that the guidelines for innovation development for enhancing the logistics efficiency of manufacturing industrial with the highest means consisted of (1) logistics knowledge management i.e., providing the employees a chance to further study logistics to enhance their knowledge and skills, (2) contemporary technology i.e., exchanging the technology, data, information both in the internal and external organizations through the internet system, (3) management i.e., appointing the executives with keen vision, foresight, and creativity to lead the organization for the sustainable success, and (4) cooperation network i.e., setting the updated and easily accessible customer's database system. For the result of hypothesis test, it was found that large enterprises, small and medium enterprises weighed the guidelines for innovation development for increasing logistics efficiency of manufacturing industrial in Thailand with the difference at the statistically significant level of 0.05. Conclusion: This research could be concluded that the innovation development of logistics helped the organization reduce the operation costs to create the basis of enhancing the logistics capacity and entrepreneurs' international competitiveness. The results of the structural equation model analysis were proved through the evaluation criteria with the empirical data with the Chi-square probability of 0.172, the relative Chi-square of 1.104, the correlation index of 0.964, and the root index of the mean square of the error estimate of 0.014.


OBJECTIVE
Ovarian, fallopian tube, and peritoneal carcinomas are the most common hereditary gynecological cancers associated with the BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations. It is recommended to radicalize management, using RRSO. Personality traits are regarded as significant contributors to human QoL and adaptability to the changed conditions of functioning. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the effect of personality on the QoL of women with the BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations before and after RRSO.

PATIENTS AND METHODS
The study involved 62 patients with the BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations referred to hospital for RRSO. The research instruments were the WHQ, NEO-FFI, and self-developed sociodemographic data collection tool.

RESULTS
Highly neurotic patients with the BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations had lower QoL, especially in the domains of depressed mood, anxiety/fears, and sleep problems. At the same time, higher levels of conscientiousness, openness to experience, extroversion, and agreeableness were associated with better QoL outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS
(1) Personality traits can contribute to the QoL of women with the BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations before and after RRSO. (2) Identification of personality traits may be an important prognostic factor indicating potential changes in the QoL of patients after RRSO.


In his latest book, "Missile Design and Systems Engineering", Eugene Fleeman presents a comprehensive review of the missile design and systems engineering process pulling from his decades of experience in the development of missiles and their technologies. Aimed toward the needs of aerospace engineering students and professors, systems analysts and engineers, program managers, and others working in the areas of missile systems and missile technology development, the book provides readers with an understanding of missile design, missile technologies, launch platform integration, missile system measures of merit and the missile system development process. This book has been adapted from Fleeman's earlier title, "Tactical Missile Design, Second Edition" to include a greater emphasis on systems engineering. Topics discussed include: top components in the missile design and system engineering process; critical tradeoffs, methods and technologies in aerodynamic, propulsion, structure, seeker, warhead, fuzing, and subsystems sizing to meet flight performance and other requirements; launch platform - missile integration; robustness, lethality, guidance, navigation & control, accuracy, observables, survivability, reliability, and cost considerations; missile sizing examples for missile systems and missile technologies; and, missile system and missile technology development process.


Date Presented 4/20/2018 This study analyzed the knowledge, skills, and dispositions considered necessary by occupational therapy practitioners who own a private practice. A total of 162 U.S. private practitioners responded. Study results have implications for occupational therapy curricula, fieldwork placement, and continuing education. Primary Author and Speaker: Brenda Coppard Additional Authors and Speakers: Maureen Turner, Samantha Preuss, Sarah Fisher, Samuel Troia, Abigail Murphy Contributing Authors: Christine Apodaca; Yongyue Qi


Since Antiquity, men have used chemicals to protect their goods against fire. Effective and easy to use, brominated flame retardants are used since decades massively in plastic industry. Such like other organohalogenated compounds, brominated flame retardants are very persistent in the environment and able to accumulate along the food chain. Many authors highlight their presence in the environment, in many animal species and in the human serum. Worryingly, man is exposed as soon as the pregnancy and then by the breastfeeding. This exposition may have consequence on our health. Many studies (in vitro, in vivo or epidemiologic) highlight brominated flame retardant negative effects on the endocrine system, mainly on the thyroid function but also on the reproduction, the neurodevelopment in the children and on the metabolism with increasing diabetes risk. If authorities and some big enterprises are aware about the problematic, new studies are needed to confirm previous results, elucidate endocrine disrupting mechanisms and highlight hypothetical synergies with other pollutants such like PCBs.


Summary The studies were carried out in Osiny, the Research Station of the Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation of the State Research Institute in Pulawy. The biomass of soil algae was evaluated in three systems of winter wheat cultivation: organic, conventional and integrated. The goal of the studies was to identify the reaction of soil algae to an implementation of the integrated winter wheat cultivation system. Despite the usage of higher doses of mineral fertilizers in conventional wheat cultivation system than in other systems, the highest algal biomass was recorded in the integrated system. The main reason of the decrease of algal biomass in the conventional system was a second application of a herbicide Chwastox D in spring. Based on the results of the studies of the formation of algal biomass in the soil in integrated system of wheat cultivation and evaluation of the integrated production (IP), it can be stated that soil algae indicate advantages of an application of the integrated system for people's health.


Background Epidemics of COVID-19 in student populations at universities were a key concern for the 2020–2021 school year. The University of California (UC) System developed a set of recommendations to reduce campus infection rates. SARS-CoV-2 test results are summarized for the ten UC campuses during the Fall 2020 term. Methods UC mitigation efforts included protocols for the arrival of students living on-campus students, non-pharmaceutical interventions, daily symptom monitoring, symptomatic testing, asymptomatic surveillance testing, isolation and quarantine protocols, student ambassador programs for health education, campus health and safety pledges, and lowered density of on-campus student housing. We used data from UC campuses, the UC Health–California Department of Public Health Data Modeling Consortium, and the U.S. Census to estimate the proportion of each campus' student populations that tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 and compared it to the fraction individuals aged 20–29 years who tested positive in their respective counties. Results SARS-CoV-2 cases in campus populations were generally low in September and October 2020, but increased in November and especially December, and were highest in early to mid-January 2021, mirroring case trajectories in their respective counties. Many students were infected during the Thanksgiving and winter holiday recesses and were detected as cases upon returning to campus. The proportion of students who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 during Fall 2020 ranged from 1.2% to 5.2% for students living on campus and was similar to students living off campus. For most UC campuses the proportion of students testing positive was lower than that for the 20–29-year-old population in which campuses were located. Conclusions The layered mitigation approach used on UC campuses, informed by public health science and augmented perhaps by a more compliant population, likely minimized campus transmission and outbreaks and limited transmission to surrounding communities. University policies that include these mitigation efforts in Fall 2020 along with SARS-CoV-2 vaccination, may alleviate some local concerns about college students returning to communities and facilitate resumption of normal campus operations and in-person instruction.


The drastic increase of data quantity often brings the severe decrease of data quality, such as incorrect label annotations. It poses a great challenge for robustly training Deep Neural Networks (DNNs). Existing learning methods with label noise either employ ad-hoc heuristics or restrict to specific noise assumptions. However, more general situations, such as instance-dependent label noise, have not been fully explored, as scarce studies focus on their label corruption process. By categorizing instances into confusing and unconfusing instances, this paper proposes a simple yet universal probabilistic model, which explicitly relates noisy labels to their instances. The resultant model can be realized by DNNs, where the training procedure is accomplished by employing a novel alternating optimization algorithm. Experiments on datasets with both synthetic and real-world label noise verify the proposed method yields significant improvements on robustness over state-of-the-art counterparts.


Changes to air traffic control procedures and requirements for on-board automated systems can be investigated by examining the dynamics of collision potential between two proximate aircraft along closely spaced parallel approaches (CSPA). For these aircraft, there exist relative aircraft positions and trajectories that can-and cannot-provide separation assurance and wake avoidance. These relative positions comprise a "safe zone" (an area in which separation assurance and wake is provided), which depends on aircraft dynamics, pilot performance, alerting system performance, wake transport mechanics, and a determination about the blunders for which protection should be afforded. A systematic evaluation of the dynamics of the safe zone was performed, with implications for the design of paired CSPA procedures.


The tad operons encode the machinery required for adhesive Flp (fimbrial low-molecular-weight protein) pili biogenesis. Vibrio vulnificus, an opportunistic pathogen, harbors three distinct tad loci. Among them, only tad1 locus was highly upregulated in in vivo growing bacteria compared to in vitro culture condition. To understand the pathogenic roles of the three tad loci during infection, we constructed single, double and triple tad loci deletion mutants. Interestingly, only the Δtad123 triple mutant cells exhibited significantly decreased lethality in mice. Ultrastructural observations revealed short, thin filamentous projections disappeared on the Δtad123 mutant cells. Since the pilin was paradoxically non-immunogenic, a V5 tag was fused to Flp to visualize the pilin protein by using immunogold EM and immunofluorescence microscopy. The Δtad123 mutant cells showed attenuated host cell adhesion, delayed RtxA1 exotoxin secretion and subsequently impaired translocation across the intestinal epithelium compared to wild type, which could be partially complemented with each wild type operon. The Δtad123 mutant was susceptible to complement-mediated bacteriolysis, predominantly via the alternative pathway, suggesting stealth hiding role of the Tad pili. Taken together, all three tad loci cooperate to confer successful invasion of V. vulnificus into deeper tissue and evasion from host defense mechanisms, ultimately resulting in septicemia. Author Summary To understand the roles of the three Tad operons in the pathogenesis of V. vulnificus infection, we constructed mutant strain with single, double and triple Tad loci deletions. Employing a variety of mouse infection models coupled with molecular genetic analyses, we demonstrate here that all three Tad operons are required for V. vulnificus pathogenicity as the cryptic pili contribute to host cell and tissue invasion, survival in the blood, and resistance to complement activation.


Internet of things grew swiftly and many services, software, sensors-embedded electronic devices and related protocols were developed and still in progress with full swing. Internet of things enabling physically existing things to see, hear, think and perform a notable task by allowing them to talk to each other and share useful information while making decision and caring-on/out their important tasks. Internet of things is greatly promoted by wireless sensor network as it becomes a perpetual layer for it. Wireless sensor network works as a base-stone for most of the Internet of things applications. There are severe general and specific threats and technical challenges to Internet of things–based sensor networks which must overcome to ensure adaptation and diffusion of it. Most of the limitations of wireless sensor networks are due to its resource constraint objects nature. The specified open research challenges in Internet of things–based sensor network are power consumption, network lifespan, network throughput, routing and network security. To overcome aforementioned problems, this work aimed to prolong network lifetime, improve throughput, decrease packet latency/packet loss and further improvise in encountering malicious nodes. To further tune the network lifetime in terms of energy, wireless harvesting energy is suggested in proposed three-layer cluster-based wireless sensor network routing protocol. The proposed mechanism is a three-tier clustering technique with implanted security mechanism to encounter malicious activities of sensor nodes and to slant them into blacklist. It is a centred-based clustering protocol, where selection of cluster head and grid head is carried out by sink node based on the value of its cost function. Moreover, hardware-based link quality estimators are used to check link effectiveness and to further improve routing efficiency. At the end, excessive experiments have been carried out to check efficacy of the proposed protocol. It outperforms most of its counterpart protocols such as fuzzy logic–based unequal clustering and ant colony optimization–based routing hybrid, Artificial Bee Colony-SD, enhanced three-layer hybrid clustering mechanism and energy aware multi-hop routing in terms of network lifetime, network throughput, average energy consumption and packet latency.


Background Endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) involves forming a fluid cushion in the submucosal area with a lifting agent, followed by superficial resection. Orise™ gel is one of the commonly used lifting agents for EMR. We present a case series and literature review that analyzes the characteristic histopathological findings and clinical implications observed where Orise™ gel was used before EMR. Methods Colon resection specimens and prior EMR specimens where Orise™ gel was used were reviewed for patients undergoing EMR between January 2018 and December 2020. The literature review included relevant studies from the Medline and Cochrane databases from January 2018 to December 2020. Results A total of 12 colon polyp EMRs using Orise gel were performed during the study period. Seven patients (58.34%) underwent surgical resection. Histological examination revealed that, after the EMR procedure, the Orise™ gel material changed its morphological characteristics over time from a basophilic (bluish) non-inflamed pattern to an eosinophilic (pink) type pattern, eliciting a foreign body reaction. The endoscopic appearance and examination of the excised specimens weeks after injection gave the impression of a mass in some cases. The material was also present transmurally and in some cases in the peri-intestinal adipose tissue. Conclusions It was observed that Orise™ gel use elicits a foreign body-type granulomatous reaction. This potential side effect may lead to overdiagnosis of a mass/lesion and unnecessary surgical interventions. This case series and review of the literature aims to increase awareness of the changes caused by Orise™ gel in the gastrointestinal tract.


When small fragments of the bones of young dogs are used as autogenous grafts, there is a considerable tendency to form new bone. New bone formation is very much less marked when the experiment is carried out on adult dogs.

The tendency to proliferate and form new bone in these small grafts appears to be dependent upon the presence of living osteogenic cells in the grafts.

Osteogenic cells in small numbers are distributed throughout the cortex of the graft, as well as in the cambium layer of periosteum and endosteum, and they get sufficient nutrition to survive. Boiling for ten minutes kills these cells and prevents osteogenesis.

The general principle is laid down that it is fallacious to fragment a bone graft more than is necessary for the technique of the operation, since minute fragmentation lowers both its supporting and its osteogenic functions.

It is emphasized that the intact blood supply of the bed of the graft and the cambium layer of the periosteum are as important for regeneration as is the density of the graft for supportive purposes. There is no evidence in these experiments that metaplasia of other connective-tissue cells to bone-forming cells plays any part in the new bone formation associated with bone grafting.


A commonly encountered problem in numerous areas of applications is to estimate the unknown coefficients of a dynamical system from direct or indirect observations at discrete times of some of the components of the state vector. A related problem is to estimate unobserved components of the state. An egregious example of such a problem is provided by metabolic models, in which the numerous model parameters and the concentrations of the metabolites in tissue are to be estimated from concentration data in the blood. A popular method for addressing similar questions in stochastic and turbulent dynamics is the ensemble Kalman filter (EnKF), a particle-based filtering method that generalizes classical Kalman filtering. In this work, we adapt the EnKF algorithm for deterministic systems in which the numerical approximation error is interpreted as a stochastic drift with variance based on classical error estimates of numerical integrators. This approach, which is particularly suitable for stiff systems where the stiffness may depend on the parameters, allows us to effectively exploit the parallel nature of particle methods. Moreover, we demonstrate how spatial prior information about the state vector, which helps the stability of the computed solution, can be incorporated into the filter. The viability of the approach is shown by computed examples, including a metabolic system modeling an ischemic episode in skeletal muscle, with a high number of unknown parameters.


Legacy IPv4 networks are strenuous to manage and operate. Network operators are in need to minimize the capital and operational expenditure of running network infrastructure. The implementation of Software-defined networking (SDN) addresses those issues by minimizing the expenditure in the long run. Legacy networks need to integrate with the SDN networks for the smooth migration towards the fully functional SDN environment. In this paper, we compare the network performance of the legacy network with the SDN network for IP routing in order to determine the feasibility of the SDN deployment in the Internet Service provider (ISP) network. The simulation of the network is performed in the Mininet test-bed and the network traffic is generated using Distributed Internet Traffic Generator. Open network operating system is used as a controller for the SDN network in which SDN-IP application is used for IP routing. Round trip time, bandwidth, and packet transmission rate from both SDN and legacy networks are first collected and then the comparison is done. We found that SDN-IP provides better bandwidth and latency compared to legacy routing. The experimental analysis of interoperability between SDN and legacy networks shows that SDN implementation in production level carrier-grade ISP network is viable and progressive.