Content-Based Image Retrieval Systems (CBIR) aims at searching in large collections of images, retricving those whose contents are similar to an image given as part of the search predicate. Similarity is a relationship between a pair of images that enables t.heir comparison, whieh is expressed by a distance (dissimilarity) function. Distance functions usnally rely on a set of features extracted from eacli image by a set of image processing algorithms called featurc extractors. To speed up the search process, selected features are extractcd from each image when cach one is stored in a image database crcating a feature vector for each image. Further image searching operations are performed using the featurc vectors in place of the images. Before extracting features, other image processing algorithms are usually employed to pre-process each image, preparing it for the extractors. Moreover, usually there are several criteria that can be considered wlicn measuring how mueh two images are similar. In currcnt CBIR, cnvironments, to compare images, one must define (1) the criteria, (2) the pre-processing needed before the extractors can be executed, (3) whic:h are those extractors, (4) which features must be considered, (5) and which distance function must be used. Ali of these definitions must have been set before a comparison can be performed. The eomplexity of defining how to comparei images has lead to the development, of systems aiming CBIR that allow relativelv few options to configure the image comparison operations. Moreover, no formal representation of the entire CBIR process exists. This work presents a formal representation of the complete set. of operations composing the CBIR process, aiming to search images in large relational databases, using similarity queries. It is also reported a system developed using this formalism that enables the content-based retrieval of medicai images from a hospital database, thus showing results of applying the presented formalism in a praetieal way.


Regarded as artisans and craftsmen in the early 15th century, painters and sculptors acquired new status as "artists" within little more than a hundred years. Francis Ames-Lewis explores how Mantegna, da Vinci, Raphael, Durer and others gained intellectual respect and artistic autonomy from enlightened patrons by promoting the idea of the artist as a creative genius with a distinct identity and individuality.


In view of the multi-classification problems,we built the SVM multiclass model based on granular computing and Huffman-tree.After applying granular computing to grain classification problem,we could calculate the granularity and build the Huffman tree based on granularity weight set,which solves the uneven distribution of samples in the class and lows classification efficiency.We also designed SVM classifier for coarse grain nodes,and selected the low temperature storage tanks material multi-classification problem as the research background to simulate our model.Meanwhile,we compared our model with other methods.The result shows that the new model improves the efficiency of classification.It provides a new idea and a perfect method for multi-classification problem.


The fleeting development in automation technology has led to an increase in industries evolving needs. Steering is a major problem faced in the field of artificial intelligence. There are several techniques for navigation of robot. In this paper, to reach the predetermined target sensor information is used which increases the efficiency of work in the industry. Announcement of a system which surmises the most suited task to be performed as well as continuous monitoring on the server side based on SCADA system is shown. A SCADA system to visualize and monitor the status of a CI system has been presented. This potential has gave rise to the concept of a web-based controlling to allow end users to access and color recognition is used. The proposed system is using Arduino microcontroller board. The user interface of the system is to be developed in embedded system and data will be uploaded to server using database connectivity. This paper presents best solution to reduce manpower load and speed up the industrial work.


While many questions still surround the creation and deployment of the smart grid, the need for a reliable communications infrastructure is indisputable. Developers of the IEEE 1901.2 standard identified difficult channel conditions characteristic of low-frequency powerline communications and implemented an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) architecture using advanced modulation and channel-coding techniques. This strategy helped to ensure a robust communications network for the smart grid. A similar version of this article appeared in the July 2011 issue of Embedded Computing Design. In Fall 2009, the idea for a new smart grid communications standard, IEEE P1901.2, began taking shape. The concept for IEEE P1901.2 came as the result of collaborative efforts between numerous Tier 1 semiconductor manufacturers and global energy suppliers who sought to develop a standards-backed utility communication solution that was 100% reliable in all mediums, in all countries. A bold and complex undertaking, the effort to make IEEE P1901.2 a reality continues to require deft maneuvering by all involved. The standard's developers faced a daunting task—address both existing and newly added current requirements, as well as forward-looking requirements in the 10to 20-year horizon. Furthermore, the standard needed to compensate for critical challenges and obstacles such as the harsh low-voltage, medium-voltage, and transformer-channel conditions that have traditionally hampered high data rate, robust, through-transformer powerline communications (PLCs). Reliable, efficient communications solutions were essential to successfully realize the smart grid. PLC Problems The obstacles involved in updating utility grid communications have roots that stretch back many years. Well before "smart grid," "smart meter," "eMeter," "EV" (electric vehicle), and "PEV" (plug-in electric vehicle) became familiar terms, utility companies began investigating potential solutions to one of their most fundamental operating challenges: reliably maintaining efficient communications in rugged environments. For low-frequency (LF) PLCs, negative signal-to-noise (SNR) conditions are a recognized and expected problem in addition to varying impedance on the line; for PLCs through transformers, signal attenuation of 50dB or more is also common. Generally for PLCs, channel characteristics and parameters vary with frequency, location, time, and the type of equipment connected to it. Furthermore, the power line is a very frequency-selective channel, with channel noise, background noise, and impulsive noise often occurring at 50Hz/60Hz and group delays lasting up to several hundred microseconds. These conditions on which LF PLC must operate can be best understood from measurements taken on the line, starting with channel noise on the low-voltage line, as illustrated in Figure 1.


HSPA2, a poorly characterized member of the HSPA (HSP70) chaperone family, is a testis‐enriched protein involved in male germ cell differentiation. Previously, we revealed that HSPA2 is present in human stratified epithelia, including epidermis, however the contribution of this protein to epithelial biology remained unknown. Here, we show for the first time that HSPA2 is expressed in basal epidermal keratinocytes, albeit not in keratinocytes exhibiting features attributed to primitive undifferentiated progenitors, and participates in the keratinocyte differentiation process. We found that HSPA2 is dispensable for protection of HaCaT keratinocytes against heat shock‐induced cytotoxicity. We also shown that lentiviral‐mediated shRNA silencing of HSPA2 expression in HaCaT cells caused a set of phenotypic changes characteristic for keratinocytes committed to terminal differentiation such as reduced clonogenic potential, impaired adhesiveness and increased basal and confluency‐induced expression of differentiation markers. Moreover, the fraction of undifferentiated cells that rapidly adhered to collagen IV was less numerous in HSPA2‐deficient cells than in the control. In a 3D reconstructed human epidermis model, HSPA2 deficiency resulted in accelerated development of a filaggrin‐positive layer. Collectively, our results clearly show a link between HSPA2 expression and maintenance of keratinocytes in an undifferentiated state in the basal layer of the epidermis. It seems that HSPA2 could retain keratinocytes from premature entry into the terminal differentiation process. Overall, HSPA2 appears to be necessary for controlling development of properly stratified epidermis and thus for maintenance of skin homeostasis.


Population survey was carried out on few medicinal and aromatic plant species (MAPs) in their natural habitats in western Himalaya, India. Vegetation sampling was conducted through vertical belt transect method in the areas of occurrence of the selected species using quadrat method. Anthropogenic factors e.g. grazing and destructive harvesting are major threat for population reduction in most of the selected species in study sites. Factors responsible for population reduction and methods for their conservation were discussed. Such rare, endangered and threatened MAPs should be conserved through both in situ and ex situ methods.


Urine is a very useful clinical sample and can be collected in a non-invasive form. Information
on specific diseases or physiological variables can be taken from the appearance,
smell, and taste of urine. Especially, the urinary metabolites are correlated with many
levels of metabolic activity. Therefore, in metabolomics, study urine will play a very important
role. Unfortunately, because of so many polar metabolites included in urine, its
comprehensive analysis is not so easy. In this study, we coupled liquid chromatography to
LTQ-Orbitrap MS as a metabolic profiling platform. To get as much metabolite information
as possible in a single run, a Waters HSS T3 column was used to increase the retention
of polar compounds.
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is known as one of the most common malignancy for
its high mortality rate. The exploration of early diagnostic biomarker for HCC is very
important for a better surgery outcome. To find the potential early metabolic markers,
paired urine samples from the same HCC patient at the diagnosis time and two years
before diagnosis (TYBD) were collected. Urine samples from healthy volunteers were used
as the control.
After peak alignment from metabolic profiling, 550 and 1220 ions, respectively in the
positive and negative modes, were imported to SIMCA-P 11.0 for multivariate analysis.
Some metabolites were found to be potential early diagnostic biomarkers of HCC.
In conclusion, this coupling HSS T3 LC/ LTQ-Orbitrap system is proved effective for
metabolic profiling of urine samples and is especially helpful to identify potential biomarkers.


In investigating the nature of original Buddhism a consideration of its position as one among a number of contemporary historical systems, and of the way in which it may have arisen in opposition to the others, may be more illuminating than attempts to trace back the original doctrine through the history of the schools of Buddhism itself. The most important among these systems appear to have been those of the Ājīvakas, the Nirgranthas or Jainas, and the Lokayatas. Many other systems existed, and are occasionally discussed in the extant literature, but the majority failed to attract a substantial following and to persist as organized schools. We may mention the doctrines attributed to the Buddha's teachers, and perhaps the Iśvaravāda, if this was not simply a part of the older Brahmanical tradition (Iśvara = Prajapāti or Brahmā). The cults of Baladeva and Vāsudeva, which with the Kṛṣṇa and other legends were later integrated into Vaisnavism, and which probably were non-Brahmanical in origin, seem from Jaina references to have existed already in eastern India. A heterodox proto- may date back to the period of the origin of Buddhism.


The invention provides ion injection and plasma deposition equipment, which comprises an ion source and a vacuum chamber, wherein the wall of the vacuum chamber is provided with a vacuumizing port and at least one opening for communicating with the ion source; the vacuum chamber is internally provided with an unreeling roller, a cooling part and a reeling roller; the cooling part comprises at least one cooling roller; the cooling roller, the unreeling roller and the reeling roller are mutually parallel, and the axial direction of the cooling roller is perpendicular to the direction in which the plasmas enter the vacuum chamber; the cooling roller is in one-to-one correspondence to the opening in a horizontal height, or the opening is in one-to-one correspondence to the cooling roller in the left to right direction or in the front to back direction; or the cooling roller is positioned just below or just above the opening correspondingly. The invention also provides a method for processing films by using the plasmas. The equipment provided by the invention can be used for carrying out a continuous plasma deposition and/or ion injection operation to the films.


The Missionaries of God's Love (MGL) was erected by the Archbishop of Canberra and Goulburn as a clerical religious institute of diocesan right on 8 February 2014. As we increase in numbers and spread further internationally, we aim to eventually become an institute of pontifical right. We also have MGL sisters, who have the same charism. They are applying to be recognised as a public association of Christ's faithful, with a view towards, somewhere in the future, becoming a religious institute also.


Human resources are the only resources that have a sense of mind, desire, skills, knowledge, encouragement, power, and work (ratio, taste, and intention). All potential human resources affect the organization's efforts to achieve goals. The organization is a collection of people who have different competencies, which are interdependent with one another who try to realize their common interests by utilizing various resources. Basically the shared goal that the organization wants to realize is to seek profits. Therefore, it is needed employees who have high work performance through motivation, competence and job satisfaction are expected to be able to realize a successful organization.


Population‐based epidemiological studies on epilepsy are available mainly from the UK and the Nordic, Baltic and western Mediterranean countries. No studies were identified from large areas of Europe, especially from the former eastern Europe (except the Baltic countries) and the eastern Mediterranean countries. Based on the prevalence of epilepsy in different studies and accounting for incomplete case identification the estimated number of children and adolescents in Europe with active epilepsy is 0.9 million (prevalence 4.5–5.0 per 1000), 1.9 million in ages 20–64 years (prevalence six per 1000) and 0.6 million in ages 65 years and older (prevalence seven per 1000). Approximately 20–30% of the epilepsy population have more than one seizure per month. Based on the age‐specific incidence rates in European studies, the estimated number of new cases per year amongst European children and adolescents is 130 000 (incidence rate 70 per 100 000), 96 000 in adults 20–64 years (incidence rate 30 per 100 000) and 85 000 in the elderly 65 years and older (incidence 100 per 100 000). The proportion of both new and established cases with epilepsy in the young, adults and elderly in individual countries may differ substantially from total European distribution because of differences in age structure.


Characterizations of positive definiteness, positive semidefiniteness, and Hurwitz and Schur stability of interval matrices are given. First it is shown that an interval matrix has some of the four properties if and only if this is true for a finite subset of explicitly described matrices, and some previous results of this type are improved. Second it is proved that a symmetric interval matrix is positive definite (Hurwitz stable, Schur stable) if and only if it contains at least one symmetric matrix with the respective property and is nonsingular (for Schur stability, two interval matrices are to be nonsingular). As a consequence, verifiable sufficient conditions are obtained for positive definiteness and Hurwitz and Schur stability of symmetric interval matrices.


ZhangAiling was skilled in showing desolate life and anomolous human nature in her works. Her classic works, Notes of JinSuo, was the representative of this character. ZhangAiling portrayed a figure, CaoQiqiao, who was an extremely abnormal mother of personality. Two causes made her act crazily. First, She was short of her sense of security. Second, she had no sex for a long time. In the end of the story, she killed her son's wife and destroyed her son's happiness with the money shackles under the force of Sexual tension. CaoQiQiao was an mother's image who was different from the chinese traditional figures of mother.


This study conceptualizes rape trauma as embedded in the cultural construction of rape and consequently manifested in the psychological process of individual rape survivors. The author conducted indepth interviews with 35 female rape survivors in Taiwan to examine their self-reported traumatic experiences in relation to the cultural meaning of rape in Chinese society. In analyzing the interview accounts, this study identified several kinds of trauma predominantly experienced among the interviewed rape survivors. This study found that the psychological trauma among individual rape survivors in Taiwan, although similar to rape trauma symptoms documented in Western literature, seems to manifest a relatively distinct cultural construction of rape in Chinese society. Study implications for rape-related educational and treatment programs in Taiwan are suggested in the context of Chinese cultural construction of rape.


From the point of asymmetric information, the purpose for quality accreditation of agricultural products is to give a real reflection of the information of producers and transfer the information to consumers.The objectivity,indepedence,authority,standardization and publicity should be taken into consideration in the process of accreditating.The problems to be solved in the accreditation in our country exist in accreditation standard system,quality standard accreditation,quality accreditation marker,quality standardization approach,and so on.


This paper presents an object oriented approach to modeling in circuit simulation. The device is an object. The device type is a class. The generic branch is its base class, which provides most of the functions needed to implement a model. The approach results in a significant advantage by reducing the programming effort required to install new models and new simulation algorithms in the simulator.


In September 1991 the Special Hospitals Service Authority set up an inquiry, under the chairman ship of Professor Herschel Prins, to investigate the death of a Broadmoor patient, Orville Blackwood, and to review in the light of this case two other deaths at Broadmoor of AfroCaribbean patients, Michael Martin and Joseph Watts (SHSA, 1993). From the outset the ap proach of this inquiry was fundamentally differ ent from other recent investigations of the special hospitals; most notably it followed a less formal pattern than the Ashworth Inquiry (HMSO, 1992) which was going on at the same time. The focus was not on individual complaints or upon blame for them, but instead on the patterns of practice within Broadmoor which contributed to the tragic deaths of three patients. This report is no less hard-hitting in its recommendations than the Ashworth Inquiry, but it nevertheless man aged its investigation in a way which sought to encourage staff to contribute and made recom mendations which aimed to avoid scapegoating. Like Ashworth, the Blackwood Inquiry is not only important to forensic psychiatry but is relevant to all aspects of psychiatric work.


We study the realization of conformal symmetry in the quantum Hall effect (QHE) as part of the W∞ algebra. Conformal symmetry can be realized already at the classical level and implies the complexification of coordinate space. Its quantum version is not unitary. Nevertheless, it can be rendered unitary by a suitable modification of its definition which amounts to taking proper care of the quantum measure. The consequences of unitarity for the Chern-Simons theory of the QHE are also studied, showing the connection of nonunitarity with anomalies. Finally, we discuss the geometrical paradox of realizing conformal transformations as area-preserving diffeomorphisms.


Evidence for significant but sporadic magnetosheath energy flows in the antisolar direction is presented, using observations of 50 to 220-keV ions made by the NOAA/Applied Physics Laboratory energetic particle experiment on the Imp 7 satellite. The observations have been made in the dawn and dusk magnetosheath at distances of approx.35R/sub E/ from the earth and cover a wide range of Z/sub S/M. Direct observations of 50-to 220-keV ions yield an energy flow for the case studied of 2(10)/sup 3/-2(10)/sup 2/ erg/cm/sup 2/ s. By using a somewhat arbitrary but reasonable magnetosheath area based on 1 year of synoptic survey of such flows a total magnetosheath > or =50-keV ion energy flow of > or approx. =10/sup 18/ ergs/s is obtained. Reasonable spectral extrapolations yield somewhat larger total flows. These values indicate that ions carry at least an equal portion of the energetic particle magnetosheath energy flow as the extrapolated >1-keV electron flow obtained by Baker and Stone (1977). Possible sources of this energy flow include dissipation processes due to a magnetopause electric field, leakage of magnetospheric particles through the magnetopause into the magnetosheath, bow shock acceleration, and magnetosheath acceleration.


The traveling wave potential wells, associated with a surface acoustic wave (SAW) generated in a multilayer epitaxial GaAs structure, are used to transport electrons at the velocity of sound in the buried channel formed by a Schottky‐N‐P layer configuration. A monolithic delay line based on the SAW transport concept is constructed and the time domain response of the delay line is presented. The SAW charge transport concept in GaAs is expected to be useful for the implementation of high‐speed monolithic signal processors.


Combating corruption requires synergy and coordination between law enforcement agencies with other agencies, including the Financial Audit Board (BPK). This study discusses the role of the Financial Audit Board in the prevention and prosecution of corruption in the province of Bengkulu. The objective to be achieved is to explain and describe the role of the Financial Audit Board in the prevention and prosecution of corruption. The method used is empirical legal research, with purposive sampling to the officials of state audit board and investigators of corruption. The results generally showed that the Financial Audit Board has a role in the prevention and eradication of corruption, it was seen in the investigation results and recommendations which were able to prevent the loss of state / regional area and there was an implementation of the calculation of state losses and provision of expert testimony in judicial proceedings. Keywords: Financial Audit Board, prevention, prosecution, combating corruption.


This investigation was conducted within the context of the practice of postmodernist fashion in China, and in particular the development of the fashion design studio. It was found that the practice consisted of five types of subject matter, including the material content of design studio, the craft which constituted the essence of design, the artisan who established the aesthetic value of fashion, the tool which developed the reliable solution, and the environment in which the business developed. The output of the design studio, which was constructed on the bases of these factors, evolved in accordance with the development of China.


Metal films are deposited on polyimide by pulsed cathode arc. Metal film wrinkles are found by SEM. These wrinkles are caused by film stress which is from inherent defect of film materials. The soft substrate will deform with metal films because there is shear force between metal films and soft substrate surface. The film stress with soft substrate together is discussed in detail.


We discuss an approach to constructing a weak n-category of cobordisms. First we present a generalisation of Trimble's definition of n-category which seems most appropriate for this construction; in this definition composition is parametrised by a contractible operad. Then we show how to use this definition to define the n-category nCob, whose k-cells are k-cobordisms, possibly with corners. We follow Baez and Langford in using "manifolds embedded in cubes" rather than general manifolds. We make the construction for 1-manifolds embedded in 2- and 3-cubes. For general dimensions k and n we indicate what the construction should be.


This poster introduces the implementation of the ARCADE 3Daudio codec for web browsers. ARCADE can embed a full 3D audio scene in a simple stereocompatible audio stream that can be further compressed with standard lossy compression schemes, aired to analog or digital radio receivers or even stored on analog supports. An ARCADEencoded stream can be decoded to any 2D or 3D-audio rendering format, for instance using Vector-Based Amplitude Panning (VBAP), Higher Order Ambisonics (HOA), or personalized binaural with headtracking. ARCADE adapts seamlessly to the audio industry needs, from storage to production, distribution/delivery, and rendering. It finds uses in Virtual or Augmented Reality (VR/AR), movies, gaming, music, telepresence & teleconferencing. We present a JavaScript (JS) and Web Audio API implementation of the ARCADE decoder, which was originally written in C++11, along with technical details of the porting operations. Live demos of 3D-audio content transmission, decoding and dynamic binaural rendering will be given during the poster session.


super-twisting sliding mode controller pinion The article presents several benchmarks of automated transit network (ATN) systems and their characteristics being the subject of research on ATN operation, especially on fleet management algorithms. The authors show that general measures are rarely used to assess network size, its regu-larity, demand structure and traffic parameters. Therefore, the research can be unreliable or incomparable. They propose a set of measures for several of the most important features of ATN systems. They are generally based on scalars elaborated using square measures and entropy. Such a set of measures concerning network structure and operation can be used to compare various benchmarks and their performance. This article investigates the lane-keeping control of autonomous ground vehicles (AGVs) considering the rollover prevention and input saturation. An enhanced state observer-based sliding mode control (SMC) strategy is proposed to achieve the control objective, which incorporating three 1) a


Aversion to homosexuals for many in the American society comes close to a true phobia, as a persistent and irrational fear. National surveys investigating attitudes toward homosexual relations between adults reported a majority of those responding believed that such relations were wrong. Taken to an extreme, homophobia and antigay discrimination result in the verbal and physical abuse of gays. This study considers the social inequality of homosexuals based on homophobia and antigay discrimination on the college campus. More specifically, have adjustment problems that many members of the gay community experience because of the prejudice against homosexuality increased or decreased in their daily lives. A description of signs of social and cultural change in Human Sexuality classes between 1976 and 2006 is offered for consideration. ********** It has been maintained that the freedom to engage in consensual heterosexual and homosexual relations is taken as a basic human right which should be protected by law (Wintemute, 1995). SIECUS, the Sex Information and Education Council of the U.S., affirms sexual orientation of all people. Persons have a right to accept, acknowledge, and live in accordance with their sexual orientation, be they heterosexual, bisexual, or gay (SIECUS, 2000). While the freedom to be engaged in heterosexual relations has been more acceptable than the freedom to participate in homosexual relations, there has been a gradual rise in social acceptability of homosexual men and women in the United States (Green, 1997). Since 1990, the percentage of adults in the American society who disapprove of homosexual relations has been declining and now stands at approximately 57 percent (NORC, 2003). This is based on the survey question: "What about sexual relations between two adults of the same sex--do you think it is always wrong, almost always wrong, wrong only sometimes, or not wrong at all?" Back in 1973, about 75% of American adults claimed homosexual relations were "always wrong" or "almost always wrong." Among college students, who are generally more tolerant of homosexuality than adults in general, there is a similar trend. In 1980, almost half of the college students supported laws prohibiting homosexual relations; by 2004, only 33% felt this way (Astin et. al., 2002; Sax et. al., 2004). By and large, this change was influenced by the gay rights movement, which started in the middle of the twentieth century. Up to that time, most adults in the American society did not discuss homosexuality, and it was common for companies, including the federal government and the armed forces, to fire anyone who was accused of being gay. Mental health professionals also took a firm position, describing homosexuality as "sick," sometimes placing them in mental hospitals where, it was hoped, they might be "cured." It is not surprising that most lesbians and gay men remained "in the closet," closely guarding the secret of their sexual orientation. But the gay rights movement gained strength during the 1960s. One early milestone took place in 1973, when the American Psychiatric Association declared that homosexuality was not an illness but simply "a form of sexual behavior." In addition, the gay rights movement started using the term homophobia to describe discomfort over close personal interactions with people thought to be gay, lesbian, or bisexual (Weinberg, 1973). The concept of homophobia, "fear of sameness," presented a new perspective. Rather than asking, "What's wrong with people who are gay?" the question was turned around to ask, "What is wrong with people who can't accept a different sexual orientation?" Nevertheless, in contemporary American society people remain predominantly heterosexual, believing that heterosexuality is superior morally, socially, emotionally, and behaviorally to homosexuality (Roffman, 2000). This position maintains the degradation of any non-heterosexual form or behavior, identity, or relationship. …


In these lectures we review the Morita (i.e. representation) theory of tensor and braided tensor categories, and discuss applications to topological field theory. [These are the drafts as I go, they have not been proof-read or finalized. Most notably, the bibliography will be filled in later. Some of the more technical/standard exposition is lifted directly from various of my joint papers.]


This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (Intervention). The objectives are as follows: To evaluate the eJects of exercise interventions for preventing dementia in people with mild cognitive impairment. We refer to Forbes 2015b and Forbes 2015c for the review protocols on exercise interventions for maintaining cognitive function in cognitively healthy people in mid and late life. Exercise interventions for preventing dementia or delaying cognitive decline in people with mild cognitive impairment (Protocol) Copyright © 2015 The Cochrane Collaboration. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. 1 Cochrane Library Trusted evidence. Informed decisions. Better health. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews


Purpose of doing of this study to know giving impact of educator certificate to teacher in each education ladder of madrasah public/private ( Ml, MTS, and MA). Solution is more focussed at performance to teach teacher madrasah which has owned educator certificate, achievement of student at madrasah which has owned teacher is certified, and construction program of teacher madrasah post certificated. Study about impact certificated to this madrasah teacher performance methodologically is done by using evaluation research method through step (1) formulation phase; ( 2) exploration and confirmation; ( 3) input and data processing; and (4) reporting. All the research phases done in range of time five months. Study stages;steps done that is: (1) specifies and defines study focus, ( 2) determines study focus indicator, ( 3) compilation of instalment, ( 4) data source stipulating, ( 5) data collecting, ( 6} data analysis, ( 7) validation result of data processing, and ( 8) compilation of report Kesimpulan result of study has not fully depicts comprehensive and hilly condition about impact of certificate to performance teachs teacher in area madrasah because location of study and number of responders still very limited.However, result of study has can give image of public which able to be made input to all policy taker in the management of certificate programe teacher in coming, and studies furthermore about impact to improvement of performance teachs teacher madrasah.


The purpose of this study is to examine local wisdom-based lesson designs of batik learning in lesson study activity at vocational schools. Lesson designs examined are important signs that need to be considered in designing local wisdom-based batik learning. Research method used is Focus Group Discussion (FGD), with a panel team of expert consisting of Batik teachers at vocational schools, practitioners in batik industry, and researchers in the field of local wisdom-based learning and curriculum. The results showed that the main components in local-wisdom lesson designs developed consist of objectives, materials, methods, and evaluation and are summarized in the frame of cultural setting and wisdom values of the Indonesian nation. Local wisdom-based Batik Learning contains three main elements, namely artefacts, mentifacts, and sociofacts. Local wisdom-based learning implementation through lesson study activity is based on the similarities of the characteristics of these two things, which develop the aspects of reflective and critical thinking. Local wisdom-based Batik learning through lesson study activity is also expected to give a new atmosphere for teachers and learners at vocational schools. Keywords— lesson design, lesson study, local wisdom, batik learning


In the Information System of the Ministry of National Education (SNIES) there are 194 programs of Systems Engineering and other related careers renewed, 35 of them are accredited with high quality; these programs have a structure in accordance to the INCOSE guidelines. In recent times, the career has presented problems for its demand, especially in private universities and those located in the province. This research is based on the analysis of the problem causes, which implies lack of identity and positioning of its graduates. From this study, the ontological representation strategy of Systems Engineering is projected, where the most representative characteristics of the program are incorporated. The investigation problem shall be analyze with a qualitative approach, and a support method for the development of the ontology backed by methontology.


The ultra wide band technology has gained a rapid development in recent years since the FCC (Federal Communication Commission) unlicensed its use in the range 3.1 to 10.6 GHz. Due to its several advantages the UWB technology is very suitable for short range high speed data communication systems. Design of antennas for ultra wide band technology is challenging because of its wide operating range. Planar antennas especially planar monopole antennas are suitable for these systems due to their different advantages. But one of the major problems associated with the ultra wide band is its coexistence with narrow band technologies such as WLAN and WiMAX. Our UWB antenna should be able to avoid the interference between these systems. In this study we present a planar monopole ultra wide band antenna which can notch the wireless LAN (WLAN) which operates in the range 5.15 to 5.85 GHz. The antenna is modeled and simulated in HFSS. AS a reference antenna an existing UWB antenna is also simulated and it was then modified to achieve band notch properties. Simulation results shows that the proposed antenna gives better WLAN band notching characteristics.


Objectives: With decreasing volumes in most cytology practices, laboratories are tasked to best utilize cytotechnologists' skillsets and time. We investigated the impact of having a second screener on gynecologic and non-gynecologic cases on utilization and screening outcomes.

Methods: Included in our study were 1,200 cases (650 gynecologic and 550 non-gynecologic cases); 421 cases were screened by …


The implementation of autonomously controlled processes is a new approach to cope with nowadays demands on competitive companies due to increasing complexity. In order to proof whether autonomous logistic processes enable a better logistic performance compared to conventionally managed processes an appropriate evaluation system is necessary. Within this evaluation system the logistic objective achievement in relation to the level of autonomous control is determined. For this purpose a feedback loop in combination with a vectorial approach to measure the logistic performance and a catalogue of criteria to identify the level of autonomous control is developed.


In-patient charge remains a bottleneck in the practice of healthcare charges for its numerous items, complex procedures, high amount, numerous persons involved, and long duration. In terms of healthcare charge information system, in-patient charge items pricing and input, and in-patient charge review, this study probes into the standardization of the information system for healtheare charges. In addition, it summarizes standardized paths for in-patient charges management, in order to provide worthy experiences for standardization management of in-patient charges.

Key words:
In-patient; Charges; Charges management; Standardization


The present invention provides synchronous SQN processing method, especially relating to MSC /VLR processing HLR/AUC returned synchronous processing result message method. Said method includes MSC/VLR receiving HLR/AUC sent synchronous processing result message, according to synchronous processing result message contained different content information executing relevant processing operation. Said method can convenient realize terminal transmitting information to HLR/AUC, and HLR /AUC processing said information and making different feed-back to MSC/VLR, specially, before terminal establishing connection with network, for example in authentication process.


BH3-only proteins BIM and PUMA in the regulation of survival and neuronal differentiation of newly generated cells in the adult mouse hippocampus.only proteins BIM and PUMA in the regulation of survival and neuronal differentiation of newly generated cells in the adult mouse hippocampus. Cell Death & Disease. 2010;1:e15.


SUMMARY Asthma affects an estimated 5.4 million people in the UK. 1 Many patients remain symptomatic despite regular inhaled therapies. Given the burden of asthma and the heterogeneity of patients, the role of new therapeutic options requires evaluation. Tiotropium bromide has a well-established role in the management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This is the first comprehensive study to evaluate its use in asthma. The study recruited 210 adult patients with suboptimal asthma control despite British Thoracic Society (BTS) step 2 therapies (beclomethasone 80 µg, twice daily). The triple-blind, placebo-controlled, three-way crossover design compared 14-week periods of step-up treatment of a long-acting anti-muscarinic (tiotropium 18 µg, once daily) versus a long-acting beta-agonist (salmeterol 50 µg, twice daily) versus increased inhaled glucocorticoids (beclomethasone 160 µg, twice daily). The primary outcome measure was the morning peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR). Secondary outcome measures included forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV 1) (pre-and post-bronchodilator using the short-acting beta-agonist albuterol), asthma control days, rescue bronchodilator use, exacerbations and validated asthma questionnaires. Tiotropium was shown to be superior to increased inhaled glucocorticoid with respect to the primary outcome measure (mean difference of 25.8 l/min, p<0.001) and most secondary outcome measures, including the proportion of asthma-control days and the score on the Asthma Control Questionnaire. Tiotropium was also shown to be non-inferior to salmeterol for all assessed outcome measures and superior with regard to the bronchodilator response to albuterol (FEV1 mean difference of 0.07 l, p<0.001). The authors conclude that tiotropium, when added to a regular inhaled glucocorticoid in patients with poorly controlled asthma, has an efficacy equivalent to salmeterol in improving lung function and symptoms. OPINION In adults with asthma who remain symptomatic despite low-dose inhaled glucocorticoid, options for step-up therapy include the addition of an inhaled long-acting beta-agonist (LABA) and increasing the dose of inhaled glucocorticoid. 2 Additional options in selected patients include a trial of a leukotriene modifier and theophylline. 2 Short-acting anti-muscarinics have been available for the treatment of bronchospasm for years. It is surprising that the role of long-acting anti-muscarinics (LAMA) in asthma has not been comprehensively evaluated before now. While the study's primary outcome variable will be criticised, its secondary outcome variables are mostly patient-centred. A genuine clinically applicable evaluation of exacerbation rates was not possible given the short duration of the study. The finding that tiotropium resulted in a greater improvement in PEFR and symptom control compared …


This study presents full transient, three-dimensional numerical models of a PV–TEG hybrid module coupled with single-phase inverter by co-simulation. The influence of factors, such as wind speed, solar radiation intensity, or ambient temperature on the PV–TEG system, was also examined. The numerical model was implemented using Ansys software which accounted the phenomena of Thomson, Seebeck, and Joule's heat place on the TEG system. Furthermore, its impact on total electrical efficiency was studied. The heat transfer surface of the passive heat sink and forced air circulation positively affected the total heat transfer, and therefore helped to maintain the electrical efficiency at a higher level. Simulation of the single-phase inverter with a PV–TEG system allows the determination of the power characteristics of the system in real time. The results of the study presented may provide a basis for performance optimization of a practical PV–TEG-inverter hybrid system co-design.


AbstractAccurately simulating hydrological processes such as streamflow is important in land surface modeling because they can influence other land surface processes, such as carbon cycle dynamics, through various interaction pathways. This study aims to evaluate the global application of a recently developed Model for Scale Adaptive River Transport (MOSART) coupled with the Community Land Model, version 4 (CLM4). To support the global implementation of MOSART, a comprehensive global hydrography dataset has been derived at multiple resolutions from different sources. The simulated runoff fields are first evaluated against the composite runoff map from the Global Runoff Data Centre (GRDC). The simulated streamflow is then shown to reproduce reasonably well the observed daily and monthly streamflow at over 1600 of the world's major river stations in terms of annual, seasonal, and daily flow statistics. The impacts of model structure complexity are evaluated, and results show that the spatial and temporal va...


Messiah, the Healer of the Sick: A Study of Jesus as the Son of David in the Gospel of Matthew, by Lidija Novakovic. WUNT 2.170. Tubingen: Mohr Siebeck, 2003. Pp. xii + 231. euro49 (paper). ISBN 3161481658. Novakovic's monograph sets out to address a paradox: How is it that, although the Messiah was not generally expected to perform miracles or healings, Matthew's portrayal of the messianic Son of David shows him doing both? And why-and how-should it have made sense to Matthew's readers? Since Novakovic's focus is on the transformation and reformulation of the Davidic traditions, she approaches these questions employing a tradition-historical method. Her approach also displays a certain indebtedness to the work of the late Donald Juel, who directed Novakovic's doctoral dissertation at Princeton Theological Seminary (2001), of which this monograph is a revision. In particular, she takes as a working hypothesis the assumption originally advanced by Nils Dahl and further developed by Juel that "the confession of Jesus as the Messiah is the presupposition of New Testament Christology, not its content" (p. 5). Given this presupposition, therefore, which early Jewish interpretations of Scripture helped to give rise to Matthew's therapeutic Davidid? Novakovic begins with 2 Sam 7:12-16 and related texts. After a brief discussion of the promises made to David and the expectations associated with the Davidic Messiah, Novakovic examines their interpretation in later Second Temple period writings, particularly the Psalms of Solomon, the Dead Sea Scrolls, and the NT. She establishes that these documents display an awareness of different forms of the promise, one that is unconditional, where the fulfillment of the promise is contingent on the obedience of Israel or the Davidic line, and another that is unconditional, where God will fulfill his promise regardless of human fallibility. These writings, moreover, demonstrate that in the Second Temple period such issues became the subject of increasingly intense scrutiny and speculation and even underwent a certain development. Novakovic's next step is to consider all the occurrences of this title in Matthew's Gospel apart from those with therapeutic associations. Matthew's genealogy is of particular importance, given the frequency with which David is mentioned, and demonstrates that because "Jesus is a son of David and God's son, he completely fulfills the first two elements of Nathan's promise to David and therefore possesses both attributes expected of the Davidic Messiah" (p. 62). In a further suggestive apercu, Novakovic establishes that the distinctive feature of Matthew's portrayal is that he does not show how a human Son of David was divinely adopted, but the reverse-how the Son of God was adopted into the Davidic line. The question regarding David's son (Matt 22:41-46) admits of a similar explanation: its solution is predicated on the recognition that both divine and Davidic sonship are uniquely linked in the person of Jesus. Novakovic then turns to the therapeutic Son of David. She interprets Matt 1:21 as having a programmatic function within the Gospel, where Jesus' saving of his people from their sins encompasses both his atoning death and also his healing ministry. Yet, why Matthew should associate the Son of David with a healing ministry is far from apparent. Novakovic rightly abjures the claims made for an association between Jesus and Solomon, son of David, championed most recently by James Charlesworth ("Solomon and Jesus: The Son of David in Ante-Markan Traditions" in Biblical and Humane: A Festschrift for John F. Priest [ed. L. Bennett Elder et al.; Atlanta: Scholars Press, 1996], 125-51; Novakovic does not mention Charlesworth's companion piece "The Son of David: Solomon and Jesus" in The New Testament and Hellenistic Judaism [ed. P. Borgen and S. Giverson; Aarhus: Aarhus University Press, 1995], 72-87). She observes that the correspondences typically adduced between Jesus and Solomon are far from convincing, especially for the Gospel of Matthew, not least because the evangelist "deliberately wished to dissociate Jesus' miraculous healings from the exorcistic connotations" (p. …


The formula for design of stepped impedance transformers was derived, obtaining a relationship among the characteristic impedance of transmission line; Z0 , the loading impedance RL, and the characteristic impedance of the matching section; Zi . And experiments were designed to validate the relationship. This relationship provides an effective way for assessing the design validity and precision of quarter-wave stepped impedance transformers.


Acknowledgments Introduction: Approaching Home 1 Accidental Immigrants: From Roots to Routes 2 Transitions: Negotiating Identity in a New Culture 3 Turning Points: Realization, Transformation, and Commitment 4 Lejania Cercana: Living "Closely Far" from Home Notes References Index


In this paper, the effectivene stacking (or supply-gating) to reduce the leakag mode of operation of sub-10nm double-ga investigated. For that purpose, device para symmetric/asymmetric gate-to-source/drain un thickness are optimized to improve the ON-sta OFF-state current ratio. The optimized devices circuit simulation to analyze the dependence leakage source (direct source-to-drain tunneling gate oxide leakage currents) on the device g symmetry in LUN) and input vectors for twoa transistors. The analysis shows that supply-gat reducing direct source-to-drain current as w leakage in the stand-by mode of operatio


Despite well-documented maladaptive neuroinflammation in Alzheimer's disease (AD), the principal signal that drives memory and cognitive impairment remains elusive. Here, we reveal robust, age-dependent cellular reactions to type I interferon (IFN), an innate immune cytokine aberrantly elicited by β amyloid plaques, and examine their role in cognition and neuropathology relevant to AD in a murine amyloidosis model. Long-term blockade of IFN receptor rescued both memory and synaptic deficits, and also resulted in reduced microgliosis, inflammation, and neuritic pathology. Interestingly, microglia-specific IFN receptor ablation attenuated the loss of post-synaptic terminals, whereas IFN signaling in neural cells contributed to pre-synaptic alteration and plaque accumulation. Intriguingly, IFN pathway activation displayed a strong inverse correlation with cognitive performance, promoting selective synapse engulfment by microglia rather than amyloid plaques. Overall, IFN signaling represents a critical module within the neuroinflammatory network of AD and prompts a concerted cellular state that is detrimental to memory and cognition.


Nuclear delivery of viral genomes is an essential step for nuclear replicating DNA viruses such asAdenovirus (AdV). AdV particles reach the nuclear pore complex (NPC) in the form of genomecontaining, partially disassembled capsids, through a poorly understood CRM1-dependent mechanism.These capsids exceed the NPC size limit and therefore, they must disassemble at the NPC to releasethe viral genome. Nuclear import of DNA cargos is not a physiological process. Consequently, AdVneed to divert the cellular transport machinery for nuclear genome delivery. The NPC is a multiproteincomplex consisting of nucleoporins (Nups). The Nup358/RanBP2 is the major component ofthe cytoplasmic filaments of the NPC and serves as binding platform for factors includingkaryopherins (i.e Importin-β, CRM1) and the small GTPase Ran. Selective transport of cargo throughthe NPC is mediated by karyopherins, which recognize specific signals within the cargos and facilitatetheir transport in a RanGTP-dependent regulated manner. We identified that Nup358-depleted cellsreduce nuclear import efficiency of the AdV genome. Indeed, we observed that karyopherins are ratelimitingfor AdV genome import under these conditions and we mapped the minimal region ofNup358 necessary to compensate the import defect. On the other hand, we could confirm therequirement of CRM1 in nuclear targeting of AdV capsids and identified and additional role inmediating AdV capsid disassembly. This work helps to understand the strategy used by AdV todeliver their genome and gives insight about how viruses hijack the cellular transport machinery fortheir own benefit.


Multilayer ultrathin films composed of exfoliated nanosheets of manganese oxide and poly(diallyldimethylammonium) (PDDA) ions have been fabricated onto various substrates via electrostatic self-assembly technique. Dense monolayer coverage of the substrate surface by the nanosheets was confirmed by atomic force microscopy. UV−vis absorption spectroscopy provided evidence for subsequent growth of multilayer film, exhibiting progressive enhancement of optical absorption due to manganese oxide nanosheets. Evolution of a Bragg peak in the layer-by-layer deposition process also supported the growth of a nanostructured film of PDDA/MnO2 nanosheets with a repeating periodicity of ca. 0.9 nm. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy revealed the inorganic−organic hybrid nature of the obtained multilayer assemblies. Calcination of the films at temperatures above 500 °C removed the polycations, yielding an ultrathin film of manganese oxide Mn2O3. Cyclic voltammogram measurements r...


The dissolved organic matter(DOM) in natural waters consists of a large number of organic compounds.This paper review the characteristic and measurements of DOM firstly,shows the laser induced fluorescence measurements at monitoring of DOM in water,and discusses in detail the spectral fluorescent signature technique and using Raman scattering as an internal standard to normalize the fluorescence intensity of DOM.Finally,the calibration method of DOM with fumic acid is showed,and many influence factors like temperature,salinity,pH value,fluorescence saturation and fluorescence quenching are discussed.


Purpose and Rationale Na/H exchange was first described by Murer et al. (1976) in a study of intestinal and renal brush-border vesicles. The plasma membrane Na/H exchanger is an ubiquitous pH-regulating cellular ion transport system. It is driven by the Na gradient and extrudes protons from the cytosol in exchange for extracellular Na ions (Aronson 1985; Frelin et al. 1988; Fliegel and Dyck 1995; Orlowski and Grinstein 1997; Wakabayshi et al. 1997; Dibrov and Fliegel 1998). Six mammalian Na/H exchangers, NHE1, NHE2, NHE3, NHE4, NHE5 (Attaphitaya et al. 1999; Szabo et al. 2000), and NHE6, have been described (Tse et al. 1994; Orlowski 1999; Counillon and Pouyssegur 2000). In cardiac tissue the exchanger has a major role in the control of intracellular pH. At the onset of cardiac ischemia and during reperfusion, Na/H exchange is excessively activated by low intracellular pH. Since the deleterious Na influx in this condition was found to originate mainly from Na/H exchange (Frelin et al. 1984; Schomig et al. 1988), the exchanger seems to be responsible for an increase of cytosolic sodium in ischemic cells. The accumulation of intracellular Na causes an activation of Na/K ATPase (Frelin et al. 1984; Rasmussen et al. 1989) which in turn increases ATP consumption. During ischemia the aerobic metabolism of glucose terminates in lactic acid. Avicious circle leads to a further decrease of intracellular pH and to a further activation of Na/H exchange, resulting in energy depletion, cellular Na overload, and, finally due to the coupling of Na and Ca transport via Na/Ca exchange, cellular Ca overload (Lazdunski et al. 1985; Tani and Neely 1990; Scholz and Albus 1993). Especially in ischemic cardiac tissue, where Na/H exchange is the predominant pH-regulating ion transport system (Weissberg et al. 1989), these pathological events can lead to increased excitability and precipitation of cellular death. Therefore, it is desirable to find potent and well-tolerated inhibitors of Na/H exchange which should be able to interrupt this vicious cycle, to conserve cellular energy stores and to diminish cellular excitability and necrosis during cardiac ischemia. Such effects have been found with relatively weak inhibitors of Na/H exchange at high toxic doses, such as amiloride and ethyl isopropyl amiloride (Scholz et al. 1992). The myocardial Na/H exchanger is regarded as a therapeutic target for the prevention of myocardial ischemic and reperfusion injury and attenuation of postinfarction heart failure (Karmazyn et al. 2001). More potent Na/H exchange inhibitors showed beneficial effects on ischemia/reperfusion injury (see sections "Coronary Artery Ligation, Reperfusion Arrhythmia and Infarct Size in Rats" and "Ventricular Arrhythmia After Coronary Occlusion," chapter "▶Cardiovascular Analysis") in rats (Aye et al. 1997; Myers et al. 1998; Aihara et al. 2000), dogs (Gumina et al. 1998, 2000), and pigs (Portman et al. 2001). Heart hypertrophy and heart failure after myocardial infarction are reduced (Yoshida and Karmazyn 2000; Kusumoto et al. 2001). Ischemia-induced apoptosis in isolated rat hearts is attenuated by sodium–hydrogen exchange inhibitors (Chakrabarti et al. 1997). Linz and Busch (2003) demonstrated the effects of NHE1 inhibition from protection during acute ischemia/reperfusion to prevention of myocardial remodeling.


Abstract : Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld outlined the military's media policy for Operation Iraqi Freedom by stating that "We need to tell the factual story -- good or bad -- before others seed the media with disinformation and distortion, as they most certainly will continue to do." He saw the important role the media would play in impending operations and challenged his commanders to make certain that reporters were right up front with the troops. The policy was a resounding success. Once the first phase of the operation ended, however, the media/military relationship soured. The Stabilization and Security phase of the operation has been marked by constant, negative news features concerning the war. The dominant themes have been insurgent successes and the military's heavy-handedness. These themes have helped the cause of the insurgents, who are engaging in what is known as Fourth Generation Warfare. The United States is losing the media battle. To reverse this trend and counter the insurgents' advantages within the constructs of the Fourth Generation Warfare in which it is currently engaged, the military must discard its inherent distrust of the media, fully embrace the media by re-implementing the embedded media program of Operation Iraqi Freedom, and take full advantage of the alternative media outlets that have taken on an increasing role in shaping societal opinions.


ZnO and Sn doped nanoparticles with irregular cubic morphology were successfully synthesized in the presence of CTAB by simple coprecipitation method. The crystal structure of the products has been confirmed by X-Ray diffractometer and found that all synthesized samples belong to hexagonal wurtzite structure which has been further confirmed by FTIR studies. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) studies were used to determine the morphology and size of the nanocrystallites. UV-VIS measurement shows a red shift in absorption edge indicating the reduction in optical band gap. Photoluminescence analysis shows a strong orangered luminescence sug gesting that the synthesized samples may be promising candidates for Optoelectronic app lications. Keywords: CoPrecipitation, XRay Diffraction, Tauc plots, P hotoluminescence, Opto� electronics.


The article is devoted to the study of the political component of the development strategy of the European Union at the beginning of the XXI century. The author proposes the concept of cognition of the processes of European integration through the prism of philosophical understanding (merism and holism) combined with the use of a synergetic approach. The main provisions of the concept of the "third way" as a component of the political imperative of the development of the EU are analyzed. Considering the tendencies of the development of the European Union in the last 10 years, one can note the existence of a systemic crisis, which consists in slowing down the institutional processes, the impossibility of further integration. One of the key components of the development strategy of the Communities at the present stage is the development of "human capital" as the basis for the functioning of the integration system.


Nanosized YAG:Eu3+ powder samples were synthesized by using co-precipitation method and combining stoichiometric ratios of Y(NO3)3 · 6H2O, Eu(NO3)3 · 5H2O, Al(OR)3. After sintering at the temperature of 900°C for 3 h, YAG:Eu3+ nanoparticles with single phase were obtained. In comparison with the conventional solid-state reaction process, this sol–gel process not only decreased the temperature required for synthesizing YAG:Eu3+ powder, but also reduced their particle size to the nanometer range. The crystallinity, surface morphology and photoluminescent characteristics of phosphors were investigated by using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and luminescence spectrophotometer, respectively. The size of the nanocrystalline materials was found to increase from 33.66 to 51.70 nm with the annealing temperature increasing from 900° to 1100°C. The photoluminescence spectra shows the emissions radiated by the transitions from 5D0 excited states to 7FJ (J = 1, 2) states of Eu3+ ions. The crystallinity, surface morphology and photoluminescence spectra of phosphors were highly dependent on the sintering temperature.


A new species of Crepidium Bl. (Orchidaceae, Malaxidinae), C. christinae, is described from West Java and its affinity is briefly discussed. Additionally, seven new combinations at the species level in this genus are proposed.


Interrelation between Thom's catastrophes and differential equations revisited. It is shown that versal deformations of critical points for singularities of A,D,E type are described by the systems of Hamilton-Jacobi type equations. For particular nonversal unfoldings the corresponding equations are equivalent to the integrable two-component hydrodynamic type systems like classical shallow water equation and dispersionless Toda system and others. Pecularity of such integrable systems is that the generating functions for corresponding hierarchies, which obey Euler-Poisson-Darboux equation, contain information about normal forms of higher order and higher corank singularities.


ROTECTIONIST pm-essures have been mounting won-idwide during the 1980s. These pn-essmmres are due to various economic problems incltnding the lam-ge and persistent balance of tn'ade deficits in the United States; the har'd times expenienced by seven-al industries; and tire show growth of many foreign countn-ies.' Pn-oponents of protectionist trade policies amgue that international trade has contributed substantially to these problems and that protectionist tmade policies will head to improved n'esults. Professional economists in the United States, however-, generally agree that tmade restn-ictions such as tariffs and quotas substantially reduce a nation's economic well~being.2


The Manix Basin Area of the Mojave Desert has been used extensively for the cultivation of alfalfa with
center-pivot sprinkler irrigation systems. Since 1972,
a series of these fields has been abandoned. Data were
collected using the Airborne Synthetic Aperture Radar
and Airborne Visible/Infrared Imaging Spectrometer instruments in the summer of 1990. Polarimetric
analysis of the AIRSAR data reveal changes in the morphology of the surfaces of the abandoned fields from cultivation patterns to patterns resulting from wind erosion. Calculation of a normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) based on the AVIRIS data suggests that
the abandoned fields support more vegetation than the
undisturbed areas for the first few years of abandonment,
but that the vegetation density on fields which have
been abandoned for six or more years is lower than the undisturbed desert. Field observations confirm the remote sensing results.


Objective: To determine whether pregnancy alters the response of small mesenteric arteries to increased pressure (myogenic reactivity) and flow. Methods: Mesenteric arteries (300 μm) from cycling nonpregnant (NP, n = 6) and late pregnant (20 days, LP, n = 6) Sprague-Dawley rats were dissected and mounted on an arteriograph system designed for the precise measurement of pressure and flow. Myogenic reactivity was measured as the percentage constriction after a pressure increase to 75 mmHg in the absence and presence of flow (60 μL/minute). Results: In the absence of flow, there was no difference in myogenic reactivity in arteries from NP versus LP animals (NP, 8.4 ± 1.4%; LP, 11.0 ± 1.6%; not significant). In the presence of flow, myogenic reactivity was decreased in arteries from LP rats, but was unchanged in arteries from NP rats (NP, 13.2 ± 1.1%; LP, 2.5 ± 2.9%; P < .05). The differential group effect appeared to result not from differences in arterial response to changes in pressure or flow alone, but rather from the interaction between pressure and flow. Conclusion: These results suggest that pregnancy alters the interaction of the physical forces of pressure and flow on the arterial wall in a manner consistent with decreased vascular resistance.


The performance of coherent polarization- multiplexed optical systems is evaluated in the presence of polarization-dependent loss (PDL) for linear and maximum- likelihood receivers and lumped noise at the receiver. The boundaries of PDL mitigation methods are discussed.


The escape clause requires that if the case is more closely connected with a state,the law of that state will be applied rather than the law conflict rules referred to,thus exercising the rectification function of the closest connection principle.The escape clause proves that the flexibility triumphs over certainty in choice of law,incorporating and innovating "approach" and "rules",and balancing between discretion of the common law system and legalism of the civil law system.The popular application of the escape clause interprets the old debate over justice and security of law,witnesses that legal realism has once prospered in conflict of laws.It is a shame that the escape clause is not adopted in the Law of the Application of Law for Foreign-related Civil Relations,even if such clause has been legislated in our country and other countries.


Some acute physiological effects of inhaling fine particulate matter on respiration have been previously described (1-11). In those studies, comparisons were made between some respiratory responses to dust particles and carbachol aerosol. The response-preventive effect of sympathomimetic aerosols was pointed out. However, an analysis of the effect of these agents on pulmonary mechanics was not possible because suitable methods were not available at that time. The present study is an attempt to characterize, using a limited number of subjects, the nature of the response of the lungs to inhalation of fine inert particles by using methods of measurement which have been recently developed, some in this laboratory. The effects upon the mechanical characteristics of the lungs, in man, of inhaling dust particles and carbachol aerosol, and the effects after sympathomimetic aerosols, have been investigated during the present study. Wedid not have an opportunity to use an electron microscope for study of particle size, and did not expose large numbers of subjects to inhalation of particulate matter. Because some of the methods are quite new, information regarding spontaneous variation, or response to a pharmacologically inactive aerosol, such as distilled water, has not yet been published. The current status of these control measurements will be mentioned in the section on results.


Objective:To evaluate the effect of Pingfei Oral Liquid(PFOL) in improving the quality of life upon NonSmall Cell Lung Cancer(NSCLC) patients during thoracic radiotherapy.Methods:98 patients of NSCLC were divided randomly into two groups:treatment group(50 cases) and control group(48 cases).Treatment group was treated with conventional thoracic radiotherapy combined with PFOL oral administration,and control group was treated with conventional thoracic radiotherapy only.The PFOL therapy lasted 3 courses of treatment,with 10ml once,twice a day,5 days a week,30 days per course.Results:Both groups decreased in the quality of life in the first two weeks of radiotherapy,with no significant difference(P0.05).The quality of life kept on decreasing in the continued three weeks,but treatment group showed better life quality than that of control group(P0.05).During the followed sixth till twelfth weeks,the quality of life in both groups increased gradually,with better life quality in treatment group(P0.05).Conclusion:PFOL could improve the quality of life in NSCLC patients that received thoracic radiotherapy.


the flat object, i.e. the earth, remains equally unclarified. In a well-known instance1 Osiris is shown making a circle round the underworld (d1t), and his action is denoted in writing by the verb lni. Does this imply that the shape of the underworld was regarded as circular? I think not, for there is no suggestion of that elsewhere. Sethe in his Altiigyptische Vorstellungen vom Lauf der Sonne (Sitzungsb., Berlin, 1928), 3 finds in P.Harris, 44, 4-5 an idea of the earth floating 'als eine Scheibe'2 on the waters of Nun. The relevant expression concerns the action of Ptal:i, who is said to have 'surrounded (p!Jr) it (the earth) with Nun (and) the sea'. Whether p!Jr here can be pressed to give this picture of the shape of the earth is extremely doubtful. On this as on other matters Mercer does not claim to present detailed evidence; and if he possesses it, the reader will be piqued to have to go without it. When it is stated (on p. 64) that 'as the ancients regarded the earth on which they lived, it looked round and flat but not a globe', the assumption seems reasonable since the contour of the horizon suggests roundness. Yet when the Egyptians represented the horizon, or parts of it, in hieroglyphs, they did not suggest this contour at all; for some reason it was only sections of a hilly or mountainous horizon that were selected for depiction in hieroglyphic form. 3 J. GWYN GRIFFITHS


The relationship between the university and the state is one of crucial importance and abiding interest, not least to those in universities. It is, of course, by no means a new preoccupation. As early as 1798, the philosopher Kant sought to provide a suitable model to balance, on the one hand, the necessary independence from bureaucratic intervention that constitutes the sine qua non of scholarship, and on the other, the requirement that the state have some measure of control over those professions that an American political scientist, David Easton, has termed the "value-allocating bodies in society"-in effect, law, theology and medicine [1]. These three professions, Kant argued, were the legitimate area for state regulation, since they affected its well-being and influenced the thinking of its citizens. Philosophy, by contrast, did not fall into this category. Concerned with the pursuit of scholarship and truth, not only was it free to judge the teaching of other faculties, but because Man is by nature free and thus not under any constraint but the one of that pursuit, state regulation in such an area was inappropriate [2]. In short, the Kantian model was one in which the relationship between the state and the university was based on a fundamental dualism, expressed not so much in the field of teaching and learning as in the distinction between those areas where the state might intervene and those where it might not. The counterpoint to this model was provided by the Humboltian concept of the university. In theory, it did not distinguish between areas of state intervention, but rather sought to develop a totality of non-intervention expressed in the form of freedom for teaching and research. As many writers have pointed out, this ideal did not easily adjust to the growing requirements for the professional training of business and administration that emerged in the course of the 19th century. The establishment of research organisations, generally under state supervision in 19th century Prussia, organisations usually outside or on the periphery of the university [3], in fact, gave rise to a situation nearer to the one suggested by Kant than that incorporated in the early days of the University of Berlin. In short, the development of professional schools and research institutes in 19th century Germany, and the growth of similar bodies in the form of the Grandes Ecoles in France, underlined the fact that the notional independence of the university was possible only at the price of setting up either a parallel sector, legally distinct from the university, or a series of affiliated organisations attached to it, in regard to which state intervention was seen as reasonable.


Cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases catalyze the hydrolysis of 3′,5′ cyclic nucleotides to the corresponding nucleoside 5′ monophosphates. Multiple forms of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase have been identified in both the cardiac muscle and vascular smooth muscle from various species. These isozymes differ in apparent molecular mass, chromatographic properties, substrate specificity, immunologic reactivity, sensitivity to inhibitors, and mode of regulation. The phosphodiesterases play important roles in the regulation of cyclic nucleotide concentrations, which in turn mediate cellular responses to a variety of biological stimuli. The development of phosphodiesterase inhibitors to increase intracellular cyclic nucleotide levels represents an important pharmacological approach to the treatment of various cardiovascular diseases.


The 13th Cosmoderm meeting, a joint meeting of the European Society of Cosmetic and Aesthetic Dermatology and the Hellenic Society of Dermatology and Venereology, convened in Athens, Greece just before Christmas. Despite clashes of youth protesters with the police in the city streets, the meeting boasted an unprecedented attendance of 800 participants. The scientific program covered the hottest topics of cosmetic dermatology, achieving a fair balance, not only between basic and clinical science but also between preventive and therapeutic approaches. In addition, the contribution of distinguished invited speakers and experts guaranteed a state-of-the-art update in all topics through a number of lectures, sessions and, most importantly, hands-on workshops.


Nitric oxide (NO·) is a versatile molecular mediator that plays many important roles during infection. The reaction of NO· with metal centers and thiols inhibits bacterial respiration, DNA replication and specific metabolic pathways including the tricarboxylic acid cycle. This lecture will compare the antimicrobial actions of host-derived NO· and mechanisms of NO· resistance in Salmonella enterica and Staphylococcus aureus. The function of bacterial-derived NO· in S. aureus will also be discussed. Clifford Stephan, PhD Institute of Biosciences and Technology, Texas A&M Health Science Center Development of a High Throughput Assay to Measure Neutralizing Antibody to C. difficile Toxins About Dr. Stephan: Dr. Clifford Stephan is an Assistant Professor in the Center for Translational Cancer Research, Institute of Biosciences and Technology, Texas A&M University, Houston, TX. He serves as the scientific director of the John S Dunn High Throughput Screening Core Laboratory of the Gulf Coast Consortium for Chemical Genomics (GCC-CG). Dr. Stephan received both his B.A. in Chemistry and Molecular Biology and Ph.D. in Pharmacology from Vanderbilt University. He has 14 years of biotechnology and pharmaceutical experience with Texas Biotechnology Corporation and Encysive Pharmaceuticals were he rose from Principle Scientist to Director of High Throughput Screening and New Drug Discovery. After leaving industry he assumed the scientific director role for the GCC-CG Screening Core Laboratory. Dr. Stephan has more than 18 years of combined experience running a high throughput screening laboratory providing assay development, primary and secondary screening, data analysis and consultation. Dr. Stephan's primary research interest is in using approved drugs and investigational agents and mechanistically profiled molecules alone or in combination to discover new therapeutic vulnerabilities in both in vitro biochemical and cell-based Antimicrobial Resistance & Gut Health Symposium Speaker Abstracts model systems. The focus on repurposing approved drugs is to facilitate the rapid translation of validated hits to early preclinical models and early clinical trials. Abstract: The Gulf Coast Consortium for Chemical Genomics (GCC-CG) is a component of the Gulf Coast Consortia, a multi-institutional organization that promotes collaboration through the development of interinstitutional agreements that lower the barriers to collaborative research. The John S. Dunn Gulf Coast Consortium for Chemical Genomics, organized by a team of scientists, promotes academic drug discovery research in Texas. The goal has been, and continues to be, to develop the infrastructure necessary to support the translation of basic research discoveries into therapeutic applications. The resources available through the GCC-CG high throughput screening core, located within Texas Medical Center at the Texas A&M Institute for Bioscience and Technology, can be applied to both in vitro and cell-based model systems. Recently, in collaboration with investigators from the Baylor College of Medicine, the GCC-CG Screening Core began development of a high throughput method of screening test agents for their ability to inhibit Clostridium difficile toxin A or B intoxication of cells in culture. The assay is an imaging-based phenotypic screen of morphometric features obtained from single cells to identify and titer patient sera that protect Vero cells from C. difficile toxin (TcdA and TcdB) induced cell rounding. The assay is being developed to facilitate the testing of large numbers of patient-derived samples while requiring less than 10uL total from each sample. Components of the assay (human serum, toxin, and cells) are delivered to assay plates using automated platforms and single cell imaging of all cells in the wells is performed with an IN Cell 6000 Analyzer with a 10x objective. A random forest model was developed using known control and toxin-treated cells then applied to a single-blind screen of known human serum samples. The model proved precise and robust based on receiver operator characteristic curves (ROC): AUC of 0.96. By quantifying the percentage of rounded cells per well, the model was able to correctly identify samples of both known high and low neutralizing antibody titer. Currently, we are performing final optimization. We plan to test longitudinal serum neutralizing antibody responses from a cohort of adult and pediatric patients confirmed as CDI and that respond or fail antibiotic treatment. As a control, we will also test sera from cases of antibiotic associated diarrhea, but non-CDI patients. We also plan to apply the method to the testing of collections of approved drugs, investigational agents and small molecules alone or in combination to identify toxin inhibitors. The Gulf Coast Consortium for Chemical Genomics (GCC-CG) is a component of the Gulf Coast Consortia, a multi-institutional organization that promotes collaboration through the development of interinstitutional agreements that lower the barriers to collaborative research. The John S. Dunn Gulf Coast Consortium for Chemical Genomics, organized by a team of scientists, promotes academic drug discovery research in Texas. The goal has been, and continues to be, to develop the infrastructure necessary to support the translation of basic research discoveries into therapeutic applications. The resources available through the GCC-CG high throughput screening core, located within Texas Medical Center at the Texas A&M Institute for Bioscience and Technology, can be applied to both in vitro and cell-based model systems. Recently, in collaboration with investigators from the Baylor College of Medicine, the GCC-CG Screening Core began development of a high throughput method of screening test agents for their ability to inhibit Clostridium difficile toxin A or B intoxication of cells in culture. The assay is an imaging-based phenotypic screen of morphometric features obtained from single cells to identify and titer patient sera that protect Vero cells from C. difficile toxin (TcdA and TcdB) induced cell rounding. The assay is being developed to facilitate the testing of large numbers of patient-derived samples while requiring less than 10uL total from each sample. Components of the assay (human serum, toxin, and cells) are delivered to assay plates using automated platforms and single cell imaging of all cells in the wells is performed with an IN Cell 6000 Analyzer with a 10x objective. A random forest model was developed using known control and toxin-treated cells then applied to a single-blind screen of known human serum samples. The model proved precise and robust based on receiver operator characteristic curves (ROC): AUC of 0.96. By quantifying the percentage of rounded cells per well, the model was able to correctly identify samples of both known high and low neutralizing antibody titer. Currently, we are performing final optimization. We plan to test longitudinal serum neutralizing antibody responses from a cohort of adult and pediatric patients confirmed as CDI and that respond or fail antibiotic treatment. As a control, we will also test sera from cases of antibiotic associated diarrhea, but non-CDI patients. We also plan to apply the method to the testing of collections of approved drugs, investigational agents and small molecules alone or in combination to identify toxin inhibitors. Jourdan Andersson UT Medical Branch at Galveston Combating Multi-Drug Resistant Pathogens with Alternatives to Antibiotics About Ms. Andersson: Jourdan Andersson is a fifth year Ph.D. student at the University of Texas Medical Branch in the Human Pathophysiology and Translational Medicine program. She received her B.S degree in 2012 from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. She is currently conducting her thesis research under the advisement of Dr. Ashok Chopra. Her project involves evaluating the potential of live-attenuated Y. pestis vaccine candidates as well as identifying alternative host-mediated therapeutics for plague. Specifically in regard to alternative therapeutics, her research has focused on using a drug repurposing approach to identify non-antibiotic FDA-approved drugs to combat various pathogens including Y. pestis, Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium, Clostridium difficile, Acinetobacter baumannii, and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Abstract: Antimicrobial resistance in bacterial pathogens represents a pressing global crisis further complicated with the current paucity in discovery and/or development of novel classes of anti-microbial agents. Worldwide, it is estimated that antimicrobial resistant pathogens lead to 700,000 deaths every year, however Antimicrobial resistance in bacterial pathogens represents a pressing global crisis further complicated with the current paucity in discovery and/or development of novel classes of anti-microbial agents. Worldwide, it is estimated that antimicrobial resistant pathogens lead to 700,000 deaths every year, however Antimicrobial Resistance & Gut Health Symposium Speaker Abstracts the death toll is predicted to reach 10 million by the year 2050. Traditional drug discovery is a complex process known to be extremely costly and inefficient. Recently, however, systematic screening of Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved drugs for other indications in humans has offered a potential rapid alternative approach to traditional drug discovery. Thus, the overall objective and long term goal of this project is to identify and develop alternative therapeutic treatment options for a diverse array of bacterial pathogens using drug repurposing techniques. Previously, using a library of 780 FDA-approved drugs, we identified 94 non-antibiotic molecules that rendered RAW 264.7 murine macrophages resistant to cytotoxicity induced by the highly virulent Y. pestis CO92 strain. To determine if in vitro efficacy could be translated in vivo, 17 "down-selected" drugs were chosen f


The paper summarizes the articles included in the special issues called "the legal status of language" that focus on linguistic integration, protection of linguistic minorities, linguistic interaction.
Tag: language, integration, unity, linguistic diversity, linguistic interaction


Vision-based applications deal with the degraded quality of images due to bad environment. During the bad environment, particles such as haze, fog, and mist, etc. diminish the clarity of the scene. Therefore, the information can be lost from such images. The haze removal algorithms play a vital role to improve the quality as well as remove the haze from the image. The objective of this paper is to present a comprehensive study and implementation of various existing dehazing algorithms and their evaluation using realistic single image dehazing dataset exploited in many vision-based applications. Further, the quantitative and qualitative comparisons of the bench-marked dehazing algorithms are also presented in this paper. For evaluation, various performance measuring criteria including subjective comparison, quantitative comparison, full reference metrics such as peak signal-to-noise ratio and the structural similarity index, no-reference metrics such as spatial-spectral entropy-based quality, and blind image integrity notator using discrete cosine transform statistic has been used. The experimental results highlight the divergence in the various performance metrics used. Furthermore, the comparison among various existing image dehazing and their limitation is highlighted and suggested for future work in this direction.


Mathematical conditions are derived which characterize the asymptotic behaviour of a. class of finite difference equations. The results find application in the theory of optimal control.


Anergic/suppressive CD4+CD25+ T cells exist in animal models but their presence has not yet been demonstrated in humans. We have identified and characterized a human CD4+CD25+ T cell subset, which constitutes 7–10 % of CD4+ T cells in peripheral blood and tonsil. These cells are a CD45RO+CD45RBlow highly differentiated primedT cell population that is anergic to stimulation. Depletion of this small subset from CD4+ T cells significantly enhances proliferation by threefold in the remaining CD4+CD25– T cells, while the addition of isolated CD4+CD25+ T cells to CD4+CD25– T cells significantly inhibits proliferative activity. Blocking experiments suggest that suppression is not mediated via IL‐4, IL‐10 or TGF‐β and is cell‐contact dependent. Isolated CD4+CD25+ T cells are susceptible to apoptosis that is associated with low Bcl‐2 expression, but this death can be prevented by IL‐2 or fibroblast‐secreted IFN‐β. However, the anergic/suppressive state of these cells is maintained after cytokine rescue. These human regulatory cells are therefore a naturally occurring, highly suppressive, apoptosis‐prone population which are at a late stage of differentiation. Further studies into their role in normal and pathological situations in humans are clearly essential.


The "Maritime Silk Road" is a passageway of sea trade contacts and cultural exchange in ancient China. In the history, Chaozhou is an important node of the Maritime Silk Road. Chaozhou embroidery, which is an outstanding craft representative of Chaozhou, played an active role in the "Maritime Silk Road", which has a far-reaching influence on the development of Chaozhou embroidery culture.


Carrier dynamics in InGaAs/GaAs quantum dots is analyzed with highly sensitive femtosecond transmission spectroscopy. In a first step, measurements on a large ensemble of nanoislands reveal the dynamical electronic filling of quantum dots from the surrounding wetting layer. Most interestingly, we find a spin-preserving phonon mediated scattering into fully localized states within a few picoseconds. Then, individual artificial atoms are isolated with metallic shadow masks. For the first time, a single self-assembled quantum dot is addressed in an ultrafast transmission experiment. We find bleaching signals in the order of 10-5 that arise from individual interband transitions of one quantum dot. As a result, we have developed an ultrafast optical tool for both manipulation and read-out of a single self-assembled quantum dot.


The decisions by the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 1997 to revise the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for ozone and particulate matter refocused attention on the criteria and the process by which these decisions are made Tracing the steps of the decision pieces, this report identifies the statutory criteria established by the Congress and summarizes the administrative procedures the Agency follows in setting these standards and in reviewing them every 5 years.


Abstract The article deals with the problem of globalization impact on higher education system in the United Stated of America. It has been concluded that globalization as a phenomenon has been acquiring much significance in all the spheres, especially in higher education. Different views on the essence of globalization, especially in the context of higher education, have been presented. It has been indicated that many scholars have studied the essence of globalization within higher education systems of different countries and identified that globalization encompasses important aspects of HEIs' activities, namely, economic, social and cultural. The concept of globalization has been defined in the article. It has been pointed out that main issues within the changing landscape of higher education still remain: the increasing significance of both knowledge-based economy and society; innovations connected with the latest information and communication technologies (ICTs); the emphasized role of the market and the market economy. Therefore, it has been suggested that educators and higher education institutions should develop different approaches to fulfill all the educational needs of the growing community of students, especially international students. The activities of American organizations promoting the positive impact of globalization in higher education have been analyzed. Сore challenges for higher education institutions in the context of increasing globalization have been outlined and characterized in detail. Critical responses considered as components to the above-mentioned challenges have been clarified. Key principles needed to meet both the challenges and responses have been presented. It has been concluded that the USA has been enhancing the positive influence of globalization on the system of higher education and thus inspired other countries to follow such an example.


Cobalt flowerlike architectures composed of hexagonal nano-platelets have been synthesized by a simple hydrothermal. reduction method. The architectures are fabricated by the reaction Of COCl2 with NaOH at 140-180 degrees C in the presence of sodium dodecyl benzenesulfonate (SDBS), with NaH2PO2 center dot H2O as reducing agent. The diameters of the flowers range from 8 to 10 mu m, and the average thickness of the hexagonal sheets is about 100 nm. Higher reaction temperatures and the proper concentration of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) are key requirements for the fabrication of the flowerlike architectures. A growth mechanism for these architectures is proposed on the basis of the characterization by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The magnetic hysteresis loops at 5 K and 295 K of the cobalt flowerlike architectures show ferromagnetic characteristics with coercivities of 371 Oe and 197 Oe, respectively. Our work may shed light on the designed fabrication of complex 3D architectures of other materials. (C) Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2008.


Introduction: There are several treatment options for follicular lymphoma (FL) ranging from watchful waiting to chemoimmunotherapy using rituximab in combination with cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisolone (R-CHOP). Recently, bendamustine plus rituximab (BR) therapy was shown to be more efficacious and less toxic when compared with R-CHOP. Significantly fewer hematological adverse events were observed in patients treated with BR therapy than in those treated with R-CHOP therapy. However, the development of a drug-associated skin rash was more common in BR-treated patients than in R-CHOP-treated patients. We examined 5 patients who developed skin rash following BR therapy. An interesting relationship between the development of skin rash and eosinophilia was noted using hematological and pathological analyses.

Patients and Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 33 patients with indolent B cell lymphoma who were treated with BR therapy between January 2011 and June 2013 at the Nagasaki Genbaku Hospital. Of these 33 patients, 5 were diagnosed with BR-induced skin rash and required intervention.

Results: Four patients developed skin rash after the first cycle of BR therapy and 1 patient after the third cycle of therapy. One patient had a grade 2 rash and 4 patients had a grade 3 rash. Two patients presented with an insect-bite like reaction and 3 had toxic dermatitis (Table 1). A skin biopsy was conducted in 3 patients, and the pathological diagnoses were erythema multiforme, chronic dermatitis, and superficial perivascular dermatitis with epidermal changes, respectively (Table 1). The 3 diagnoses differed from each other, but the presentation was similar in all 3 cases. Spongiosis, epidermal cell infiltration, and perivascular/accessory organ inflammatory cell infiltration were also observed in all 3 cases. Vesicle formation and eosinophil infiltration were seen in two cases (Table 2). The eosinophil level in the peripheral blood at the time that the skin rash appeared was elevated from 16% to 37%. Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) analysis was carried out for all patients, and it was found that 3 of the 5 patients had an A02:06:01/A24:02 haplotype. A typical clinical course is shown in [Figure 1][1]. The patient (Patient No. 3) had a grade 2 rash mainly on the body trunk following the first cycle of BR therapy. The diagnosis was toxic dermatitis. Elevation of the eosinophil level was observed at the same time as the appearance of the skin rash. Both the toxic dermatitis and eosinophilia gradually improved following treatment with steroid-containing ointment and fexofenadine hydrochloride, an anti-allergy drug. The fexofenadine hydrochloride was continuously administered until the last course of BR therapy without the recurrence of any skin rash and eosinophilia. The clinical course of the other 4 cases was similar to that seen in Patient No. 3.

Conclusions: The findings from this study suggest that the skin rash that may develop after BR therapy can be accompanied by eosinophilia, and that the rash is treatable with steroid-containing ointment and anti-allergy drugs. The findings also suggest that the usage of anti-allergy drugs may prevent the occurrence of skin rashes and that they may be useful in preventing any delay in starting BR therapy. A specific HLA haplotype may correlate with the development of BR-induced skin rash. However, further studies are required to clarify this.

| Patient No. | Dermatological diagnosis | Pathological diagnosis |
| ----------- | ------------------------------------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| 1 | Insect-bite reaction | Erythema multiforme |
| 2 | Insect-bite reaction | Chronic dermatitis |
| 3 | Toxic dermatitis | Superficial perivascular dermatitis with epidermal changes |
| 4 | Toxic dermatitis (Edematous erythema) | |
| 5 | Toxic dermatitis (Edematous erythema) | |

Table 1.
The Diagnosis of the Type of Rash

| Pathologoical findings | Patient No.1 | Patient No.2 | Patient No.3 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------ | ------------ | ------------ |
| Vesicle formation | 2+ | + | - |
| Spongiosis | + | + | + |
| Epidermal inflammatory cell infiltration | + | + | + |
| Peri-vascular/accessory organ inflammatory cell infiltration | 2+ | + | + |
| Eosinophil infiltration | 2+ | + | - |

Table 2.
Summary of Skin Biopsy Results

![Figure 1][2]

Figure 1

Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

 [1]: #F1
 [2]: pending:yes