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THE ELECTROCHEMICAL ETCHING OF FISSION FRAGMENT TRACKS IN TUFFAK POLYCARBONATE. A detailed and systematic study on the electrochemical etching (ECE) characteristics of fission fragment tracks in the new Tuffak polycarbonate has been made, These studies have enabled us to determine optimum conditions for the unambiguous detection and identification of fission tracks without any interference from background tracks due to surface defects, neutron-induced recoils and alpha-particle tracks, emitted by radon and its decay products. The optimum conditions were found to be 20 min pre-chemical etching (PCE) with 6 M NaOH at 60-degrees-C; followed by 30 min of electrochemical etching at 20 kV cm-1, 2 kHz, in a solution of 15% KOH, 40% ethyl alcohol, 45% water, at a temperature of 25-degrees-C. Under these conditions, the fission tracks develop into ''trees'' of size 25-30 mum, with a clearly visible tail. In some tracks a ''double tree'' was observed.

Landlord Perceptions on Homelessness in Northern Utah. Homeless programs often rely on landlord engagement for successful implementation. However, there is very little research that examines landlord perspectives related to homelessness. Better understanding landlords' opinions and attitudes regarding those experiencing homelessness can inform program development and policy in the efforts to prevent and mitigate homelessness in the U.S. A 49-question survey was created and administered by social work faculty and students to landlords and property managers throughout the Bear River Region of northern Utah (N = 134). The survey contained a variety of questions that assessed landlord attitudes and knowledge toward those experiencing homelessness as well as their comfortability in renting to these individuals. Results revealed that landlords would like to help solve homelessness in their community, but they do not know where to start. Additionally, results showed that landlords' willingness to rent to individuals experiencing homelessness is dependent on contextual factors, such as having more information regarding the individual, their income, past rental history, and other factors. Finally, results showed that landlords had biases toward specific groups of individuals experiencing homelessness (e.g., landlords felt more comfortable renting to those with physical disabilities than those with substance misuse histories). Results are discussed in context of program, policy, and research implications.

Origin of artificial radionuclides in soil and sediment from North Wales. During the operations at the Sellafield nuclear fuel reprocessing complex, artificial radionuclides are discharged to the Irish Sea under authorisation, where they are dispersed. In this study, the southern distribution and transport of Sellafield derived radionuclides have been investigated. Both natural and artificial radionuclides have been studied in a soil core from the riverbank of the Afon Goch in Anglesey, North Wales. Particulate input is dominant for all artificial radionuclides (including the more soluble Cs-137 and U-236) with an estimated lag time of about a decade. The preferential northward seawater movement in the NE Irish Sea limits solution input of Cs-137 and U-236 to the areas south of Sellafield. The relatively long lag time reflects both the water circulation pattern and distance between the study site in north Wales and the source point in Cumbria. Two redox active zones are observed in the top and the bottom of this core, although there is no evidence for any redistribution of Pu and natural uranium by these redox processes. However, U-236, derived from irradiated uranium, showed variable distribution in the core. This could be a potential response to the geochemical conditions, showing that U-236 may be a promising tracer for the environmental processes and a signature of the Sellafield historical discharges of irradiated uranium. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis: success through dormancy. Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major health threat, killing nearly 2 million individuals around this globe, annually. The only vaccine, developed almost a century ago, provides limited protection only during childhood. After decades without the introduction of new antibiotics, several candidates are currently undergoing clinical investigation. Curing TB requires prolonged combination of chemotherapy with several drugs. Moreover, monitoring the success of therapy is questionable owing to the lack of reliable biomarkers. To substantially improve the situation, a detailed understanding of the cross-talk between human host and the pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) is vital. Principally, the enormous success of Mtb is based on three capacities: first, reprogramming of macrophages after primary infection/phagocytosis to prevent its own destruction; second, initiating the formation of well-organized granulomas, comprising different immune cells to create a confined environment for the hostpathogen standoff; third, the capability to shut down its own central metabolism, terminate replication, and thereby transit into a stage of dormancy rendering itself extremely resistant to host defense and drug treatment. Here, we review the molecular mechanisms underlying these processes, draw conclusions in a working model of mycobacterial dormancy, and highlight gaps in our understanding to be addressed in future research.

Effects of scripting on dialogues, motivation and learning outcomes in serious games. Practitioner NotesThe effectiveness of learning from a serious game was investigated for a conflict script that stimulated players to adopt opposing roles.What this paper addsResearch on serious games shows that complementary design measures are often needed to increase effectiveness. The present study investigated the role of scripted collaboration. In such a collaboration, players are assigned roles or given specific tasks to stimulate them to communicate more about essential game aspects (eg, arguing why a move should be made versus merely suggesting a move), and thereby raise learning. A risk of scripted collaboration is that it can constrain communication so much that motivation drops. An experiment with eighth-grade students is reported in which a scripted and non-scripted condition were compared for their effects on the level of dialogic acts, motivation and learning outcomes. In the scripted condition, players were assigned opposing roles in a game that revolved around making smart choices by considering each perspective. The findings supported the prediction that scripting would raise the level of the dialogues. Scripting led to significantly more dialogic acts about deeper level game features. In addition, players in the scripted condition achieved a significantly higher mean score on a knowledge posttest. An exploratory analysis showed that higher level dialogic acts correlated with higher posttest scores. Motivation was the same in both conditions.The conflict script did not affect the amount of talking.Gaming-the-game expressions predominantly coincided with relevant observations about game content.Scripted collaboration increased the level of the dialogic acts, and raised learning. Higher levels of dialogic acts were also positively related with higher learning outcomes.Implications for practice and/or policyCollaborative game-play helps raise the effectiveness only moderately.Without complementary support, serious games may yield low learning effects.Collaboration scripts can contribute substantially to game-based learning. They have the advantage that they can be constructed by educators.What is already known about this topicThe design of a collaboration script requires careful balancing the need to stimulate certain kinds of game communications and avoiding imposing too much constraints on these communications.

Fluctuation-based reverse dispersion entropy and its applications to signal classification. The recently proposed fluctuation-based dispersion entropy (FDE) can distinguish various physiological states of biomedical time series, and is usually used in the field of biomedicine. Inspired by the theory of FDE, we redefine FDE and reverse dispersion entropy (RDE), and propose fluctuation-based reverse dispersion entropy (FRDE), which is an improved method of FDE and RDE. As a complexity feature, FRDE is first applied to signal classification combined with K-Nearest Neighbor (KNN), and then a novel signal classification method is proposed based on FRDE and KNN, called FRDE-KNN. We combine dispersion entropy (DE), permutation entropy (PE) and FDE with KNN to get three classification methods of DE-KNN, PE-KNN and FDE-KNN respectively, and then comparative experiments based on these four classification methods are carried out, the experimental results show that FRDE can represent the complexity of signals and have the better separability; and FRDE-KNN has higher classification recognition rate than DE-KNN, PE-KNN and FDE-KNN, which can better classify the ship signals and gear fault signals. (C) 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Visible Past: Urban Space in Flemish Book of Hours of Isabella the Catholic. In this article, images of urban space in the Flemish illuminated books of hours of the 15th century are discussed. The main source is the miniatures of lavishly illuminated Flemish Book of Hours of Isabella the Catholic (The Cleveland Museum of Art, Ohio, the United States). With two special tables author highlights, typologizes, and analyzes the major markers of medieval and renaissance urban space (such as stone bridges, city walls, cathedrals, multi-story houses, etc.) as well as the social structure of miniatures, representing urbanscapes in Flemish Book of Hours of Isabella the Catholic.

Diet, Gut Microbiota, and Colorectal Cancer Prevention: a Review of Potential Mechanisms and Promising Targets for Future Research. Diet plays an important role in the development of colorectal cancer. Emerging data have implicated the gut microbiota in colorectal cancer. Diet is a major determinant for the gut microbial structure and function. Therefore, it has been hypothesized that alterations in gut microbes and their metabolites may contribute to the influence of diet on the development of colorectal cancer. We review several major dietary factors that have been linked to gut microbiota and colorectal cancer, including major dietary patterns, fiber, red meat and sulfur, and obesity. Most of the epidemiologic evidence derives from cross-sectional or short-term, highly controlled feeding studies that are limited in size. Therefore, high-quality large-scale prospective studies with dietary data collected over the life course and comprehensive gut microbial composition and function assessed well prior to neoplastic occurrence are critically needed to identify microbiome-based interventions that may complement or optimize current diet-based strategies for colorectal cancer prevention and management.

Walkers between two worlds: The indigenous representatives in Bolivia (19th century). The object of this article is to comprehend the fight undertaken by the legal indigenous attorney (apoderado indigena) for the defence of the lands wrested from the indians through the application of liberal policies in the 19(th) Century. These apoderados entered into political alliances with those elite faction that agreed to support their demands of land recovery. The success of the first alliance in 1871 was the landmark that opened the way to a later alliance with the Liberal Party in the 1899 civil war. It is also analyzed the mediation of the local powers that facilitated the encounter.

Are mechanical microvascular anastomoses easier to learn than suture anastomoses?. Sutured anastomoses of small vessels are considered difficult to learn. Mechanical anastomosis systems allow a more rapidly performed In order to compare the process of learning to perform sutured and mechanical microvascular anastomoses, two surgeons, with limited microvascular experience, performed 30 aortic and 30 femoral vein anastomoses in 30 Wistar rats. The methods compared were conventional suture, vascular closure system (VCS), and microvascular anastomotic coupler system (MAC). There were no intersurgeon differences regarding patency or time to perform anastomoses. The average time to perform a suture anastomosis was 39 min (patency 80%). Anastomoses with the VCS system took 24 min (patency 25%), whereas the MAC couplers took 13 min to perform (patency 95%). There was a significant learning effect with sutures, but no obvious reduction in time to perform MAC coupler or VCS clip anastomoses was seen. MAC couplers were easiest to use, and allowed us to perform rapid anastomoses with high patency. (c) 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Down-regulated expression of microRNA-338-5p contributes to neuropathology in Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a leading cause of dementia. However, the mechanisms responsible for development of AD, especially for the sporadic variant, are still not clear. In our previous study, we discovered that a small noncoding RNA (miR-188-3p) targeting -site amyloid precursor protein cleaving enzyme (BACE)-1, a key enzyme responsible for A formation, plays an important role in the development of neuropathology in AD. In the present study, we identified that miR-338-5p, a new miRNA that also targets BACE1, contributes to AD neuropathology. We observed that expression of miR-338-5p was significantly down-regulated in the hippocampus of patients with AD and 5XFAD transgenic (TG) mice, an animal model of AD. Overexpression of miR-338-5p in the hippocampus of TG mice reduced BACE1 expression, A formation, and neuroinflammation. Overexpression of miR-338-5p functionally prevented impairments in long-term synaptic plasticity, learning ability, and memory retention in TG mice. In addition, we provide evidence that down-regulated expression of miR-338-5p in AD is regulated through the NF-B signaling pathway. Our results suggest that down-regulated expression of miR-338-5p plays an important role in the development of AD.Qian, Q., Zhang, J., He, F.-P., Bao, W.-X., Zheng, T.-T., Zhou, D.-M., Pan, H.-Y., Zhang, H., Zhang, X.-Q., He, X., Sun, B.-G., Luo, B.-Y., Chen, C., Peng, G.-P. Down-regulated expression of microRNA-338-5p contributes to neuropathology in Alzheimer's disease.

Mycobacterium ulcerans in wild animals. Although culture of M. ulcerans from a patient was first reported in 1948, attempts to culture the mycobacterium from many specimens of flora and fauna have been unsuccessful. Failure to cultivate this organism from nature may be attributable to inadequate sampling, conditions of transport, decontamination and culture of this fastidious heat-sensitive organism, and to a long generation time relative to that of other environmental mycobacteria. Nevertheless, recent molecular studies using specific primers have revealed M. ulcerans in water, mud, fish and insects. Although no natural reservoir has been found, the possibility that M. ulcerans may colonise microfauna such as free-living amoebae has not been investigated.The host range of experimental infection by M. ulcerans includes lizards, amphibians, chick embryos, possums, armadillos, rats, mice and cattle. Natural infections have been observed only in Australia, in koalas, ringtail possums and a captive alpaca. The lesions were clinically identical to those observed in humans. Mycobacterium ulcerans infection is a rapidly re-emerging disease in some developing tropical countries. The re-emergence may be related to environmental and socioeconomic factors, for example, deforestation leading to increased flooding, and population expansion without improved agricultural techniques, th us putting more people at risk. Eradication of diseases related to these factors is difficult. Whether wild animals have a role in transmission is an important question that, to date, has been virtually unexplored. To address this question, surveys of wild animals are urgently required in those areas in which Buruli ulcer is endemic.Mycobacterium ulcerans infection, or Buruli ulcer, is the third most frequent mycobacterial disease in humans, often causing serious deformities and disability. The disease is most closely associated with tropical wetlands, especially in west and central Africa. Most investigators believe that the aetiological agent proliferates in mud beneath stagnant waters. Modes of transmission may involve direct contact with the contaminated environment, aerosols from water surfaces, and water-dwelling fauna (e.g. insects). Person-to-person transmission is rare. Trauma at the site of skin contamination by M. ulcerans appears to play an important role in initiating disease. Once introduced into the skin or subcutaneous tissue, M. ulcerans multiplies and produces a toxin that causes necrosis. However, the type of disease induced varies from a localised nodule or ulcer,to widespread ulcerative or non-ulcerative disease and osteomyelitis.

Non-convex second-order Moreau's sweeping processes in Hilbert spaces. In this paper, we study a differential inclusion known as second-order sweeping process for a class of prox-regular non-convex sets. Assuming that such sets depend continuously on time and state, we give a new proof of the existence of solutions via Schauder's fixed point theorem and the well-posedness for the perturbed first-order sweeping process in Hilbert spaces.

Effects of contraction duration on low-frequency fatigue in voluntary and electrically induced exercise of quadriceps muscle in humans. The aims of this study were to investigate if low-frequency fatigue (LFF) dependent on the duration of repeated muscle contractions and to compare LFF in voluntary and electrically induced exercise, Male subjects performed three 9-min periods of repeated isometric knee extensions at 40% maximal voluntary contraction with contraction plus relaxation periods of 30 plus 60 s, 15 plus 30 s and 5 plus 10 s in protocols 1, 2 and 3, respectively, The same exercise protocols were repeated using feedback-controlled electrical stimulation at 40% maximal tetanic torque. Before and 15 mill after each exercise period, knee extension torque at 1, 7, 10, 15, 20, 50 and 100 Hz was assessed, During voluntary exercise, electromyogram root mean square (EMG(rms)) of the vastus lateralis muscle was evaluated. The 20-Hz torque:100-Hz torque (20:100 Hz torque) ratio was reduced more after electrically induced than after voluntary exercise (P < 0.05). During electrically induced exercise, the decrease in 20:100 Hz torque ratio was gradually (P < 0.05) reduced as the individual contractions shortened, During voluntary exercise, the decrease in 30:100 Hz torque ratio and the increase in EMG(rms) were greater in protocol 1 (P < 0.01) than in protocols 2 and 3, which did not differ from each other. In conclusion, our results showed that LFF is dependent on the duration of individual muscle contractions during repetitive isometric exercise and that the electrically induced exercise produced a more pronounced LFF compared to voluntary exercise of submaximal intensity. It is suggested that compensatory recruitment of faster-contracting motor units is an additional factor affecting the severity of LFF during voluntary exercise.

General Newell Model and Related Second-Order Expressions. A general Newell model that considers the anticipation behaviors of drivers is presented. The model contains a new parameter called the anticipation factor. Three types of car-following models are derived from the general Newell model as second-order expressions. Two types of derived models are consistent with the full velocity difference model. All three types of derived models can be transformed to the optimal velocity model when the anticipation factor equals zero. It is found that the speed difference term in the full velocity difference model reflects the anticipation behaviors of drivers. The vehicle trajectory data of the Dutch A2 motorway are used to calibrate the models. The results of model calibrations are the basis for investigation of the distributions of the time lag and the anticipation factor among the driver population. The parameters of the three proposed models present good correlations between each other. A numerical simulation is conducted to explore the properties of the proposed models when applied in the adaptive cruise control system. Both the proposed Type I model (the full velocity difference model) and the proposed Type III model present good performance in controlling vehicles moving along the optimal trajectory, especially when the anticipation factors of the models are set to one.

A Scalable 79-GHz Radar Platform Based on Single-Channel Transceivers. This paper presents a scalable E-band radar platform based on single-channel fully integrated transceivers (TRX) manufactured using 130-nm silicon-germanium (SiGe) BiCMOS technology. The TRX is suitable for flexible radar systems exploiting massive multiple-input-multipleoutput (MIMO) techniques for multidimensional sensing. A fully integrated fractional-N phase-locked loop (PLL) comprising a 39.5-GHz voltage-controlled oscillator is used to generate wideband frequency-modulated continuous-wave (FMCW) chirp for E-band radar front ends. The TRX is equipped with a vector modulator (VM) for high-speed carrier modulation and beam-forming techniques. A single TRX achieves 19.2-dBm maximum output power and 27.5-dB total conversion gain with input-referred 1-dB compression point of -10 dBm. It consumes 220 mA from 3.3-V supply and occupies 3.96 mm(2) silicon area. A two-channel radar platform based on full-custom TRXs and PLL was fabricated to demonstrate high-precision and high-resolution FMCW sensing. The radar enables up to 10-GHz frequency ramp generation in 74-84-GHz range, which results in 1.5-cm spatial resolution. Due to high output power, thus high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), a ranging precision of 7.5 mu m for a target at 2 m was achieved. The proposed architecture supports scalable multichannel applications for automotive FMCW using a single local oscillator (LO).

Evaluation of spatial variability of the integral energy of plant available water and its influential properties in paddy soil. Plant Available Water is the main concept for describing the existing water content in a soil profile. Along with this concept, Integral Energy shows the energy required for plants to obtain a unit mass of soil water at a specific water content (such as PAW). The spatial variability of E-I in paddy soils and the factors affecting it have not been studied yet. To determine the spatial variability of Energy Integral and its influential properties, the number of 104 surface soil samples was collected from paddy fields located in different irrigation districts in Guilan Province. The physical and hydraulic properties were analyzed using Principal Component Analysis to derive the patterns of similarity within the variables, and then the spatial variability was mapped by implementation of a well-known geostatistical approach. The variogram and ordinary kriging estimator were used as function describing the degree of spatial dependence and interpolation, respectively. The results showed that the first four main components including (PC1, PC2, PC3, and PC4) describe about 83% of the variability of soil conditions. Stepwise analysis indicated that among the properties affecting the regional variability, bulk density and mean pore diameter have more effect on the spatial variability of Integral Energy. The structural properties such as pore-size distribution and bulk density had direct and significant effects on the variability of Integral Energy. The aforementioned findings emphasized the importance of effects of puddling on the conversion of macro-structural pores to micro-texture pores, more water retention in paddy soils, and the ability of rice plants to absorb soil water.

THE BEAUVILLE-NARASIMHAN-RAMANAN CORRESPONDENCE FOR TWISTED HIGGS V-BUNDLES AND COMPONENTS OF PARABOLIC Sp(2n, R)-HIGGS MODULI SPACES. We generalize the classical Beauville-Narasimhan-Ramanan correspondence to the case of parabolic Higgs bundles with regular singularities and Higgs V-bundles. Using this correspondence along with Bott-Morse theoretic techniques we provide an exact component count for moduli spaces of maximal parabolic Sp (2n, R)-Higgs bundles with fixed parabolic structure.

The medieval Mongolian roots of Y-chromosomal lineages from South Kazakhstan. Background The majority of the Kazakhs from South Kazakhstan belongs to the 12 clans of the Senior Zhuz. According to traditional genealogy, nine of these clans have a common ancestor and constitute the Uissun tribe. There are three main hypotheses of the clans' origin, namely, origin from early Wusuns, from Niru'un Mongols, or from Darligin Mongols. We genotyped 490 samples of South Kazakhs by 35 Y-chromosomal SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphism) and 17 STRs (short tandem repeat). Additionally, 133 samples from citizen science projects were included into the study. Results We found that three Uissun clans have unique Y-chromosomal profiles, but the remaining six Uissun clans and one non-Uissun clan share a common paternal gene pool. They share a high frequency (> 40%) of the C2*-ST haplogroup (marked by the SNP F3796), which is associated with the early Niru'un Mongols. Phylogenetic analysis of this haplogroup carried out on 743 individuals from 25 populations of Eurasia has revealed a set of haplotype clusters, three of which contain the Uissun haplotypes. The demographic expansion of these clusters dates back to the 13-fourteenth century, coinciding with the time of the Uissun's ancestor Maiky-biy known from historical sources. In addition, it coincides with the expansion period of the Mongol Empire in the Late Middle Ages. A comparison of the results with published aDNA (ancient deoxyribonucleic acid) data and modern Y haplogroups frequencies suggest an origin of Uissuns from Niru'un Mongols rather than from Wusuns or Darligin Mongols. Conclusions The Y-chromosomal variation in South Kazakh clans indicates their common origin in 13th-14th centuries AD, in agreement with the traditional genealogy. Though genetically there were at least three ancestral lineages instead of the traditional single ancestor. The majority of the Y-chromosomal lineages of South Kazakhstan was brought by the migration of the population related to the medieval Niru'un Mongols.

Peculiarities of adsorption of organic compounds and water on silicas with bonded polyfluoroalkyl groups. The adsorption isotherms of benzene revealed the low adsorption potential of polyfluoroalkyl silicas compared with both initial silica and hexadecyl silica. Hydrophobicity of all modified silicas, measured by water adsorption, was rather close at p/p(s) = 1 and was significantly different in the initial p/p(s) region: polyfluoroalkyl silicas did not nearly adsorb water but alkyl silica did it gradually. Thermodynamic,parameters of adsorption of organic compounds of different nature were studied at a zero surface coverage by gas chromatography (GC). The high enough contributions of specific interactions as well as polar molecular group increments to the Gibbs adsorption energy were found to be characteristic of polyfluoroalkyl silica. The selectivity of polyfluoroalkyl silicas and the commonly used fluorinecontaining liquid stationary phase for GC (OV-210) toward homologous ethers, esters, and alcohols was comparable in most cases. GC data, IR spectra, and adsorption measurements were in good agreement with each other. It was shown that residual SiOH-groups of silica do not nearly take part in the adsorption process because they are effectively screened by the attached organic groups. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science (USA).

Less conservative stabilization conditions for Markovian jump systems with incomplete knowledge of transition probabilities and input saturation. This paper proposes less conservative stabilization conditions for Markovian jump systems with incomplete knowledge of transition probabilities and input saturation. The transition rates associated with the transition probabilities are expressed in terms of three properties, which do not require the lower and upper bounds of the transition rates, differently from other approaches in the literature. The resulting conditions are converted into the second-order matrix polynomial of the unknown transition rates. The polynomial can be represented as quadratic form of vectorized identity matrices scaled by one and the unknown transition rates. And then, the LMI conditions are obtained from the quadratic form. Also, an optimization problem is formulated to find the largest estimate of the domain of attraction in mean square sense of the closed-loop systems. Finally, two numerical examples are provided to illustrate the effectiveness of the derived stabilization conditions. Copyright (c) 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Warning Time-Based Framework for Bridge Scour Monitoring. To date, various monitoring techniques have been developed to alert authorities of potentially precarious scour depths at bridge foundations. The adoption of such techniques, however, is worthwhile only if sufficient warning time is offered to allow for preventative actions. This is true for any structural health monitoring system. The framework presented in this study is a simple and practical tool for predicting warning times given detected scour depths. The framework incorporates a probabilistic analysis of scour progression such that the uncertainty in warning times can also be determined and used for risk-based decision making. A detailed example was considered for demonstration. The resulting framework is useful in three stages of scour monitoring and management: first, in selecting optimum sensor configurations; second, in encoding the actions required at any detected level of scour depth; and third, in selecting appropriate countermeasures based on warning time.

Gas phase analysis of CO interactions with solid surfaces at high temperatures. An in situ method including mass spectrometry and labeled gases is presented and used to gain information on adsorption of molecules at high temperatures (>300 degreesC). Isotopic exchange rate in H-2 upon exposure to an oxidized zicaloy-2 sample and exchange rate in CO upon exposure to various materials have been measured. From these measurements, molecular dissociation rates in respective system have been calculated. The influence of CO and N-2 on the uptake rate of H-2 in zirconium and oxidized zicaloy-2 is discussed in terms of tendency for adsorption at high temperatures. In the case of oxidized Cr exposed to CO gas With C-12, C-13, O-16 and O-18, the influence of H2O is investigated with respect to dissociation of CO molecules. The presented data supports a view of different tendencies for molecular adsorption of H2O, CO, N-2, and H-2 molecules on surfaces at high temperatures. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Co-ordination action for autonomous desalination units based on renewable energy systems - ADU-RES. Many arid regions in Mediterranean countries have a great potential to cover their water needs with autonomous desalination units powered from renewable energy systems. The Coordination Action ADU-RES develops further integrated designs of renewable energy based desalination units and formulates political strategies for boosting the implementation of such units in the Mediterranean. The highly experienced consortium comprising institutes and organisations from 5 EU and 8 Mediterranean Partner Countries (MPC) will develop guidelines for overcoming remaining technical barriers and will elaborate policy recommendations for improving the framework conditions for sustainable and decentralised water supply. The dissemination strategy will enhance the public awareness with comprehensive documents and Internet portals. Finally, the action outcomes will be compiled in a specific exploitation plan, based on the dialogue between the industry, policy and research community on the scheduled workshops.

Recent progress in sustainable energy-efficient technologies and environmental impacts on energy systems. Energy sectors of all the countries around the world are faced with a big challenge: the energy transition under the imperative of continuous reduction of carbon dioxide emissions. The energy transition and the sustainability constraints pose a significant challenge for engineers, researcher and scientists developing new and clean energy-efficient technologies. Energy production and transformations, along with its storage, distribution and consumption, are achieved by utilising new and clean energy technologies, with the goal of the continuous increase of energy efficiency, the growth of renewable energy sources utilisation, the uninterrupted switch from fossil fuels to alternative energy sources, and the continued reduction of CO2 emissions. This editorial paper addresses the latest progress and the findings in research and developments in the sustainable energy technologies, energy and environment systems from selected papers of the conference on Sustainable Development of Energy, Water and Environment Systems held in 2019.

Stress wave propagation in different number of fissured rock mass based on nonlinear analysis. The fissures are ubiquitous in deep rock masses, and they are prone to instability and failure under dynamic loads. In order to study the propagation attenuation of dynamic stress waves in rock mass with different number of fractures under confining pressure, nonlinear theoretical analysis, laboratory model test and numerical simulation are used respectively. The theoretical derivation is based on displacement discontinuity method and nonlinear fissure mechanics model named BB model. Using ABAQUS software to establish a numerical model to verify theoretical accuracy, and laboratory model tests were carried out too. The research shows that the stress attenuation coefficient decreases with the increase of the number of fissures. The numerical simulation results and experimental results are basically consistent with the theoretical values, which verifies the rationality of the propagation equation.

Digital games and digital play in early childhood: a cultural-historical approach. A body of research that investigates the social, cognitive and emotional effects of digital technologies on the development of children reports that digital technologies are limiting activities that connect children with people. On the other hand, there is a great amount of research on the positive role of digital play. However, digital games per se and their influence on young children's development remain less researched. The role of digital play and digital games in the development of young children is discussed within the framework of Vygotsky's cultural-historical conception. This article proposes a distinction between digital play (DP) and digital game (DG) as a cultural tool connected to the main components of play - imaginary situations, play rules and play actions. A 'normative situation', an important component of play that links play rules, roles and play actions, is introduced as a reliable criterion for assessing the developing potential of DGs.

Sustainable support solutions for community-based rehabilitation workers in refugee camps: piloting telehealth acceptability and implementation. Background The lack of training and education of Community-Based Rehabilitation (CBR) workers poses one of the most significant barriers to receiving effective occupational, physical and speech therapy for individuals with disabilities in Low-to-Middle Income Countries (LMIC), especially in countries with significant refugee populations. The aim of this study was to successfully implement a telehealth support system for CBR workers, evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of this intervention's implementation among CBR workers in the CBR setting, and further identify strategies to address the deficit of skilled rehabilitation workers in LMIC through technological intervention. Methods This pilot study included CBR workers and CBR managers to inform feasibility, acceptability, and sustainable implementation. The RE-AIM and Dynamic Sustainability Framework were incorporated to guide procedural design, survey development, data collection, data evaluation, and increase success of telehealth implementation. CBR workers participate in trainings, telehealth sessions, surveys and focus groups to inform feasibility and acceptability. CBR Managers participated in focus groups to inform feasibility and sustainable implementation. NVIVO 12 Software was utilized to develop themes from CBR worker and CBR manager responses. Results Findings from this study demonstrate the need for additional training support for CBR workers in CBR settings throughout the entire treatment process. The telehealth system demonstrated successful short-term implementation across several domains of feasibility. Telehealth utilization was also proven acceptable, appropriate and necessary. Cultural beliefs, CBR worker training, and CBR Center infrastructure pose the most significant barriers to implementation of telehealth technologies in CBR Centers. CBR workers and managers confirmed the demand for future telehealth-based support systems, strengthening effort towards sustainability and scale-up. Conclusions Telehealth can be utilized to support CBR workers that serve vulnerable and marginalized populations, and in turn improve the global health status among refugee populations by reducing inequitable access to quality health care. The results support the need for further research to rigorously evaluate effectiveness of telehealth interventions to support CBR workers.

An unusual genetic variant in the MOCS1 gene leads to complete missplicing of an alternatively spliced exon in a patient with molybdenum cofactor deficiency. Molybdenum cofactor deficiency (MOCOD) is a rare inherited metabolic disorder resulting in the combined deficiency of aldehyde oxidase (AO, EC 1.2.3.1), xanthine dehydrogenase (XDH, EC 1.1.1.204), and sulfite oxidase (SUOX, EC 1.8.3.1). The majority of patients typically present soon after birth with intractable seizures, developmental delay and lens dislocation and do not survive early childhood. Milder cases have been reported. We report an unusual mutation in the MOCS1 gene associated with a relatively mild clinical phenotype, in a patient who presented with normal uric acid (UA) levels in plasma. We also report a new MOCS1 mRNA splice variant in the 5' region of the gene. MOCS1 genomic DNA and cDNA from peripheral blood leukocytes were sequenced. MOCS1 mRNA splice variants were amplified with fluorescently labelled primers and quantitated. A novel homozygous mutation MOCS1c.1165+6T > C in intron 9 resulting in miss-splicing of exon 9 was found. Multiple alternatively spliced MOCS1 transcripts have been previously reported. A new MOCS1 transcript in the 5' - exon 1 region was identified in both patient and controls. This new transcript derived from the Larin variant and lacked exon 1 d.

Nonlinearity of Boolean functions and hyperelliptic curves. We give a novel relationship between the nonlinearity of rational functions over F-2n and the number of points of the associated hyperelliptic curve. Using this, we obtain a lower bound on the nonlinearity for rational functions over F-2n. Compared to previous work that provides a lower bound on the nonlinearity only for monomials of special types, our result gives a general bound applicable to all rational functions defined over F-2n. By applying this result, we get a lower bound on the nonlinearity for various n x kn S-boxes.

Longitudinal Associations Between Changes in Physical Activity and Onset of Type 2 Diabetes in Older British Men. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS-Men (4,252) from a U.K. population-based cohort self-reported usual PA (regular walking and cycling, recreational activity, and sport) in 1996 and in 1998-2000, alongside other health behaviors and medical history. Fasting blood lipids were measured. Median follow-up was 7.1 years, during which 135 cases of type 2 diabetes (validated self-report) occurred.OBJECTIVE-To determine how much physical activity (PA) is needed to protect against diabetes onset in older adults, whether protection is greater among overweight individuals, and whether taking up moderate activity in later life is beneficial.CONCLUSIONS-Even light PA markedly reduced diabetes risk in older men, especially among the overweight or obese. Taking up or maintaining at least moderate PA in older adulthood strongly protected against diabetes.RESULTS-Among 3,012 men free from cardiovascular disease and diabetes in 1998-2000, 9% reported no usual leisure-time PA, 23% occasional PA, and 15% vigorous PA. Compared with men reporting no activity, men reporting occasional, light, moderate, moderately vigorous, and vigorous PA had lower diabetes risks: hazard ratio (HR) 0.58 (95% CI 0.33-1.02), 0.39 (0.20-0.74), 0.38 (0.19-0.73), 0.39 (0.20-0.77), and 0.33 (0.16-0.70), respectively; P (trend) = 0.002, adjusted for age, social class, tobacco, alcohol, diet, and blood lipids. Adjustment for BMI, waist circumference, or fasting insulin attenuated HRs. HRs were stronger in men with BMI >= 28 vs. <28 kg/m(2) (interaction P = 0.02). Compared with men reporting light activity or less in 1996 and 2000, men who became at least moderately active by 2000 or remained at least moderately active at both times had adjusted HRs of 0.62 (0.34-1.12) and 0.51 (0.31-0.82), respectively.

United Kingdom myeloma forum position statement on the use of lenalidomide in multiple myeloma. Lenalidomide is an immunomodulatory drug, which has anti-myeloma activity in vitro. Phase II clinical trials have demonstrated lenalidomide in combination with dexamethasone is effective for the treatment of both relapsed refractory myeloma and newly diagnosed patients. Two large phase III studies comparing lenalidomide and dexamethasone to dexamethasone alone in relapsed patients showed superiority in response, progression free and overall survival. It is administered orally for 21 days in a 28 day cycle. Side effects are manageable and include neutropenia and venous thrombotic events. It is currently approved, in combination with dexamethasone, for the treatment of multiple myeloma patients who have received at least one prior therapy. Studies in front line patients and with other drug combinations are ongoing. Given the strength of this data the UK Myeloma Forum believe that lenalidomide in combination with dexamethasone should be available for prescription by UK haematologists according to its licensed indication in patients with relapsed myeloma.

Some unique properties of gas chromatography coupled with atomic-emission detection. The atomic-emission detector in gas chromatography is enormously versatile in applications in analytical chemistry. Its unique properties of high selectivity for most elements and low limits of detection combine to make it the preferred detector for many analytical problems. In this review the stress is laid on the possibility of using it for compound-independent calibration, for determination of the empirical formula of an unknown analyte, for isotope-selective detection, and on derivatization to give AED-active derivatives with advantageous detection properties. Both metals and non-metals are considered and examples of the use of atomic emission detection in real-world analysis are discussed.

YBX1 Enhances Metastasis and Stemness by Transcriptionally Regulating MUC1 in Lung Adenocarcinoma. Abnormal expression of the transcription factor Y-box-binding protein-1 (YBX1) is associated with the proliferation, migration, aggressiveness, and stem-like properties of various cancers. These characteristics contribute to the tumorigenesis and metastasis of cancer. We found that the expression levels of Mucin-1 (MUC1) and YBX1 were positively correlated in lung adenocarcinoma cells and lung adenocarcinoma tissue. Our retrospective cohort study of 176 lung adenocarcinoma patients after surgery showed that low expression of both YBX1 and MUC1 was an independent predictor of the prognosis and recurrence of lung adenocarcinoma. In lung adenocarcinoma cells, the silencing/overexpression of YBX1 caused a simultaneous change in MUC1, and MUC1 overexpression partially reversed the decreased tumor cell migration, aggressiveness, and stemness caused by YBX1 silencing. Moreover, chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) and dual-luciferase reporter assays proved that MUC1 was the downstream target of YBX1 and that YBX1 bound to the -1480~-1476 position in the promoter region of MUC1 to regulate its transcription. Furthermore, in mouse xenograft models and a lung cancer metastasis model, MUC1, which is downstream of YBX1, partially reversed the decreased number and size of tumors caused by YBX1 silencing. In conclusion, our findings indicated a novel mechanism by which YBX1 promotes the stemness and metastasis of lung adenocarcinoma by targeting MUC1 and provided a combination approach for diagnosis different from traditional single tumor biomarkers to predict patient prognosis and provide clinical treatment targets.

Four-year follow-up on endovascular radiofrequency obliteration of great saphenous reflux. RESULTS. Among 1,078 limbs treated, 858 were available for follow-up within 1 week, 446 at 6 months, 384 at 1 year, 210 at 2 years, 114 at 3 years, and 98 at 4 years. The vein occlusion rates were 91.0%, 88.8%, 86.2%, 84.2%, and 88.8%, respectively; the reflux-free rates were 91.0%, 89.3%, 86.2%, 86.0%, and 85.7%, respectively; and the varicose vein recurrence rates were 7.2%, 13.5%, 17.1%, 14.0%, and 21.4%, respectively, at each follow-up time point at 6 months, and 1, 2, 3, and 4 years. Patient symptom improvement persisted over 4 years.OBJECTIVE. To demonstrate the long-term efficacy of this treatment modality.BACKGROUND. Endovascular radiofrequency obliteration has been used since 1998 as an alternative to conventional vein stripping surgery for elimination of saphenous vein insufficiency.METHODS. Data were prospectively collected in a multicenter ongoing registry. Only great saphenous vein above knee treatments were included in this study. Eight hundred ninety patients (1,078 limbs) were treated prior to November 2003 at 32 centers. Clinical and duplex ultrasound follow-up was performed at 1 week, 6 months, and 1, 2, 3, and 4 years.CONCLUSIONS. Endovascular temperature-controlled radiofrequency obliteration of saphenous vein reflux exhibits an enduring treatment efficacy clinically, anatomically, and hemodynamically up to 4 years following treatment.

Videophone Technology and Students with Deaf-Blindness: A Method for Increasing Access and Communication. Introduction: Seeing the Possibilities with Videophone Technology began as research project funded by the National Center for Technology Innovation. The project implemented a face-to-face social networking program for students with deaf-blindness to investigate the potential for increasing access and communication using videophone technology. Methods: Ten students with deaf-blindness aged 16 to 20 in four southeastern states were recruited through the network of Deaf-Blind Project offices throughout the United States. Criteria for selection to participate in the study were that the participants needed to have enough functional visual acuity to access a 22-inch videophone monitor and use manual sign language as a mode of communication. After a videophone was installed in each participant's home and school, data were collected over six months, using three primary methods of collection. The data were analyzed through a qualitative design method. Results: The primary outcomes were increased accessibility for interpersonal communication among the students with deaf-blindness, seen notably in subscales of the Intrinsic Motivation Inventory (IMI) and through the development of themes involving the cultivation and maintenance of friendships with peers through interaction using videophone technology. Discussion: With the role of interactive technologies in our ever-increasing digital landscapes, timing is ripe for research that aids the advancement of accessibility to information and social interaction, particularly among populations that have historically been marginalized in traditional educational systems. Implications for practitioners: Dissemination of the results of the project through the National Consortium on Deaf-Blindness and the American Association of the Deaf-Blind will encourage practitioners in the field to replicate the project's activities with videophone technology to benefit youths who are deaf-blind.

Control of the n-type doping in AlxGa1-xSb: DX-center behavior of the Te impurity. Hall and photo-Hall data have been taken in Te-doped AlxGa1-xSb epitaxial layers of different AlSb molar fractions and doping densities in the 10(17)-10(18) cm(-3) range. The evidence of the persistent photoconductivity effect at low temperatures reveals the presence of the DX center, whose occupancy level is as deep as the AlSb molar fraction increases. The temperature dependences of the Hall carrier density and mobility, n(H)(T) and mu(H)(T), have been carefully investigated by varying the density of the photoionized DX centers between the dark value and the saturation one. At low temperatures the electrical data are dominated by the occupancy of a Te-donor level in thermal equilibrium with the conduction band states, responsible of a semiconductor-to-metal transition when the density of the photoexcited electrons becomes sufficiently high. The isothermal mu(H)(n) curve is a single valued function, independent of the experimental procedure. Possible explanations of this result have been briefly discussed. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science S.A.

The Influence of the Variety, Vineyard, and Vintage on the Romanian White Wines Quality. The wine is one of the most consumed drinks over the world, being subjected to falsification or adulteration regarding the variety, vintage, and geographical region. In this study, the influence of different characteristics of wines (type, production year, and origin) on the total phenolic content, total flavonoids content, antioxidant activity, total sugars content, pH, and O-18/O-16 isotopic ratio was investigated. The differentiation of selected wines on the basis of tested parameters was investigated using chemometric techniques, such as analysis of variance, cluster analysis, and principal component analysis. The experimental results are in agreement with other outcomes and allow concluding that variety and vineyard have the major influence on the studied parameters, but, also, statistical interaction effect between year and vineyard and year and variety is observed in some cases. The obtained results have demonstrated that these parameters together with chemometric techniques show a significant potential to be used for discrimination of white wines.

Coil-stretch-like transition of elastic sheets in extensional flows. The conformation of a long linear polymer dissolved in fluid and exposed to an extensional flow is well-known to exhibit a \\'coil-stretch\\' transition, which for sufficiently long chains can lead to bistability. The present work reports computations indicating that an analogous \\'compact-stretched\\' transition arises in the dynamics of a thin elastic sheet. Sheets of nominally circular, square or rectangular shape are simulated in planar and biaxial flows using a finite element method for the sheet conformations and a regularized Stokeslet method for the fluid flow. If a neo-Hookean constitutive model is used for the sheet elasticity, the sheets will stretch without bound once a critical extension rate, as characterized nondimensionally by a capillary number, is exceeded. Nonlinear elasticity, represented with the Yeoh model, arrests the stretching, leading to a highly-stretched steady state once the critical capillary number is exceeded. For all shapes and in both planar and biaxial extension, a parameter regime exists in which both weakly stretched (compact) and strongly stretched states can be found, depending on initial conditions. I.e. this parameter regime displays bistability. As in the long-chain polymer case, the bistable behavior arises from the hydrodynamic interaction between distant elements of the sheet, and vanishes if these interactions are artificially screened by use of a Brinkman model for the fluid motion. While the sheets can transiently display wrinkled shapes, all final shapes in planar and biaxial extension are planar.

Survey of Magnetosheath Plasma Properties at Saturn and Inference of Upstream Flow Conditions. A new Cassini magnetosheath data set is introduced that is based on a comprehensive survey of intervals in which the observed magnetosheath flow was encompassed within the plasma analyzer field of view and for which the computed numerical moments are therefore expected to be accurate. The data extend from 2004 day 299 to 2012 day 151 and comprise 19,155 416s measurements. In addition to the plasma ion moments (density, temperature, and flow velocity), merged values of the plasma electron density and temperature, the energetic particle pressure, and the magnetic field vector are included in the data set. Statistical properties of various magnetosheath parameters, including dependence on local time, are presented. The magnetosheath field and flow are found to be only weakly aligned, primarily because of a relatively large z component of the magnetic field, attributable to the field being pulled out of the equatorial orientation by flows at higher latitudes. A new procedure for using magnetosheath properties to estimate the upstream solar wind speed is proposed and used to determine that the amount of electron heating at Saturn's high Mach-number bow shock is similar to 4% of the dissipated flow energy. The data set is available as supporting information to this paper.

Current views on the function of the violaxanthin cycle (development of ideas put forward by DI Sapozhnikov). David Iosifovich Sapozhnikov (17.06.1911-23.11.1983), a well-known plant physiologist and evolutionist would have been 100 this year. Sapozhnikov investigated the role of carotenoids in plant life and acquired worldwide recognition for his discovery of the violaxanthin cycle. This review considers the most important Sapozhnikov's results and hypotheses elaborated by subsequent research, as well as the modern concepts in this area of investigation.

Rationale and First Results of Developing At-Risk (Prodromal) Criteria for Bipolar Disorder. Bipolar affective disorder (BD) is a severe, recurrent and disabling disorder with devastating consequences for individuals, families and society. Although these hazards and costs provide a compelling rationale for development of early detection and early intervention strategies in BD, the development of at-risk criteria for first episode mania is still in an early stage of development. In this paper we review the literature with respect to the clinical, neuroantomical and neuropsychological data, which support this goal. We also describe our recently developed bipolar at-risk criteria (BAR). This criteria comprises the peak age range of the first onset of bipolar disorder, genetic risk, presenting with sub-threshold mania, cyclothymic features or depressive symptoms. An initial pilot evaluation of the BAR criteria in 22 subjects indicated conversion rates to proxies of first-episode mania of 23% within 265 days on average, and high specificity and sensitivity of the criteria. If prospective studies confirm the validity of the BAR criteria, then the criteria would have the potential to open up new avenues of research for indicated prevention in BD and might therefore offer opportunities to ameliorate the severity of, or even prevent BD.

Training nurses and social workers in smoking cessation counseling: a population needs assessment in Hong Kong. Background. To achieve greater coverage of elderly smokers and to shift entire populations toward cessation, the provider-client interface could be broadened beyond physicians to include nurses and social workers, who can be formally trained to provide such services. We carried out a population-based training needs assessment of the latter two groups in Hong Kong.Methods. Three thousand seven hundred eligible hospital-based nurses and 2,258 social workers who had elderly clients in Hong Kong were recruited in a knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) cross-sectional survey. We used multivariable logistic regression to identify predictors for two key outcomes-\\'initiation and advice\\' (ask and advise) and \\'follow-through\\' (assess, assist and arrange), based on the U.S. Agency for Health Care Policy Research framework.Conclusion. Our findings highlight a large degree of unmet need in Hong Kong's hospital-based nurses and social workers who work with the elderly regarding smoking cessation service provision and training. Future research should focus on developing and evaluating programs that encourage nurses and social workers to provide cessation interventions to exert a much greater collective impact than doctors can alone. (C) 2004 The Institute For Cancer Prevention and Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Results. One thousand eight hundred forty-three (49.8%) nurses and 1,499 (66.4%) social workers responded. Nurses reported a much higher level of engagement in smoking cessation activities than social workers in all five steps of the AHCPR framework (P < 0.001). Nurses (mean score = 2.99 +/- 0.40 on a 4-point Likert scale) had more positive attitudes to tobacco control and smoking cessation counseling compared to social workers (mean score = 2.79 +/- 0.41; P < 0.001), whereas the latter group perceived themselves as more competent in handling such practice (mean score(nurses) = 2.36 +/- 0.52, mean score(social) (workers) = 2.51 +/- 0.39; P < 0.001). Both attitudinal and self-perceived competence scores predicted incremental gains in the likelihood of offering \\'follow-through\\' interventions in addition to those observed for \\'initiation and advice\\' actions.

The Contemporary Dystopian Reality of Slavery and Modern Capitalism in Octavia Butler's Parable Novels. Critical dystopia as an analytic category for historical enquiry explores contemporary reality and its specificities in time and space. It functions as anagnorisis or recognition of the dystopian realities in the present through its generic mode of familiarising the heightened dystopian elements of the text as possible evolutions of current oppressions. This paper suggests that this anagnorisis through comparison and extrapolation is limited and needs to consider how the text ironically reveals the absence of historical specificity through its comparison of the contemporary present and the imagined future. Instead, specificity is replaced with a linear historical trajectory where dystopia occurs cyclically in metamorphosed forms within a fixed, yet evolving power-structure. This projects the nature of the dystopia in the text part of an evolutionary process, not a product of its historically specific period. Through the interrogation of how the legally abolished system of slavery is historically shifted into the future hyper-capitalist market system in Octavia Butler's Parable novels, this paper will reveal how the anagnorisis of the novels functions to locate dystopia as present and evolving in a historical trajectory of cyclical structural repetition. This familiarisation of the historical event of slavery in the novels posits the dystopian text's anagnorisis as not simply the recognition of dystopian elements specifically in the present but broadens it to the recognition of the historical evolution of those same human atrocities that appear to 'resurge' in dystopia.

Ultra-Sensitive Cholesterol Sensor Using Gold and Zinc-Oxide Nanoparticles Immobilized Core Mismatch MPM/SPS Probe. A newly developed localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) phenomenon-based cholesterol (Cho) sensor is reported in this article. Functional test of the proposed sensor over an ultra-wide-range of Cho concentration (0.1-10 mM) which covers the Cho concentration in human serum (similar to 5.17 mM), revealing great performance is executed. Further, different structures such as multimode-photosensitive-multimode (MPM) and single-photosensitive-single (SPS), also called core mismatch fiber structure are presented here for the effective detection of Cho. The proposed sensors are immobilized with different sizes of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) (similar to 10 nm and similar to 30 nm) followed by zinc oxide NPs (ZnO-NPs). The characterization and functional test of nanomaterials (NMs) and immobilized probes are observed using a UV-Vis spectrophotometer, HR-TEM, AFM, SEM, and EDS. A noticeable improvement is recorded in the all-important sensing parameters of proposed sensors, such as i) sensitivity (0.6898 nm/mM), ii) linearity (0.1-10 mM), iii) limit of detection (LoD) (0.6161 mM), and iv) correlation coefficient (0.9754) on the course of the immune binding of Cho to a specific cholesterol-oxidase (ChOx) functionalized probe, exhibiting great potential for future practical applications.

Combined NMR and DFT Studies for the Absolute Configuration Elucidation of the Spore Photoproduct, a UV-Induced DNA Lesion. By irradiation of bacterial spores under UV radiation, a photoproduct (SP) bearing a covalent methylene link between two adjacent thymines is formed in DNA. Because of the presence of an asymmetric carbon on the aglycone and of two possible orientations for the formation of the cross-link, four isomers could in principle be obtained. Currently, no conclusive structural information of this photoproduct is available. The structure of the isolated SPTpT dinucleotide was revisited in order to determine the type of cross-link and the absolute configuration of the C-5a carbon. For this purpose, a study combining NMR spectroscopy and DFT calculations was pursued on the spore photoproduct of the dinucleoside TpT since its structure was previously shown to be identical to the one produced in DNA. A full characterization of SPTpT by NMR analyses was performed in D2O and DMSO. 2D NMR measurements (H-1-C-13, H-1-P-31, COSY, NOESY, and ROESY) and DFT calculations (geometries optimization of R and S isomers and theoretical chemical shifts) lead us to conclude without ambiguity that the absolute configuration of the C-5a. carbon is Rand that the methylene bridge of the photoproduct corresponds to the methyl group of the thymine located on the T-end of the dinucleoside monophosphate.

Annelids Segmented Worms. Annelida, or segmented worms, is a morphologically diverse group of animals, with a large number of species (around 22,000) that inhabit practically all marine habitats, as well as many terrestrial and freshwater environments. The placement of annelids in the tree of life is still unclear, although most recent hypotheses relate them to molluscs, nemerteans, phoronids, and brachiopods. The phylogeny within this group also presents major challenges. Annelida has traditionally been split into three classes: \\'Polychaeta\\' (bristleworms), \\'Oligochaeta\\' (earthworms), and Hirudinea (leeches); however, recent phylogenetic analyses have shown that Hirudinea is nested within a paraphyletic \\'Oligochaeta\\' forming a clade now referred to as Clitellata. Furthermore, Clitellata also appears to be nested within a paraphyletic \\'Polychaeta.\\' Additionally, other groups displaying a morphology far from the typical annelid and considered as separate phyla in the past, such as Echiura (spoon worms), Sipuncula (peanut worms), Siboglinidae (pogonophores and vestimentiferans), and Myzostomida are now also considered to be annelids, though there have been some controversies about their specific position. This chapter offers an updated synthesis of the evolution of segmented worms and particular characteristics that were key to their evolution since the Cambrian.

The Spatial Heterogeneity between Japanese Encephalitis Incidence Distribution and Environmental Variables in Nepal. Background: To identify potential environmental drivers of Japanese Encephalitis virus (JE) transmission in Nepal, we conducted an ecological study to determine the spatial association between 2005 Nepal JE incidence, and climate, agricultural, and land-cover variables at district level.Results: Prior to 2006, there was a single large cluster of JE cases located in the Far-West and Mid-West terai regions of Nepal. After 2005, the distribution of JE cases in Nepal shifted with clusters found in the central hill areas. JE incidence during the 2005 epidemic had a stronger association with May mean monthly temperature and April mean monthly total precipitation compared to mean annual temperature and precipitation. A parsimonious spatial lag regression model revealed, 1) a significant negative relationship between JE incidence and April precipitation, 2) a significant positive relationship between JE incidence and percentage of irrigated land 3) a non-significant negative relationship between JE incidence and percentage of grassland cover, and 4) a unimodal non-significant relationship between JE Incidence and pig-to-human ratio.Methods: District-level data on JE cases were examined using Local Indicators of Spatial Association (LISA) analysis to identify spatial clusters from 2004 to 2008 and 2005 data was used to fit a spatial lag regression model with climate, agriculture and land-cover variables.Conclusion: JE cases clustered in the terai prior to 2006 where it seemed to shift to the Kathmandu region in subsequent years. The spatial pattern of JE cases during the 2005 epidemic in Nepal was significantly associated with low precipitation and the percentage of irrigated land. Despite the availability of an effective vaccine, it is still important to understand environmental drivers of JEV transmission since the enzootic cycle of JEV transmission is not likely to be totally interrupted. Understanding the spatial dynamics of JE risk factors may be useful in providing important information to the Nepal immunization program.

Inhibition effects of activated carbon particles on gas hydrate formation at oil-water interfaces. This study presents the inhibition effects of activated carbon particles on the formation of cyclopentane and propane mixed hydrates in the presence of non-hydrate formers and a surfactant. Activated carbon particles gather around the interface between water and oil phases due to their hydrophobicity and this particle layer prevents water molecules from contacting any hydrate guests. The coexistence of cyclopentane and propane mixed hydrates was clearly observed through Raman spectroscopy. The Raman spectra showed that the propane and cyclopentane were enclathrated in the large cages of structure II hydrate. The inhibition efficiency of the activated carbon particles was quantified using high pressure micro differential scanning calorimetry (HP Micro-DSC). The dissociation enthalpies of the mixed hydrates were significantly reduced at 0.5 wt% of activated carbon particles based on the weight of the oil phase. At 1.0 wt% of activated carbon particles, the particle layer completely covered the interface and the seeding hydrate slurry could not penetrate into the water phase and thus hydrate growth was not observed over a 6 hour period. These results show that carbon particles may have good potential as kinetic hydrate inhibitors in offshore gas-oil pipelines.

THE EFFECT OF PROCESS FACTORS ON THE REACTION RATE OF CATALYTIC COMBUSTION: DETERMINATION BY A NEW METHOD AND A NEW REACTOR CONFIGURATION. A new method and new combustor configuration for the determination of the effect of process factors on the reaction rate of catalytic combustion have been proposed. The method is based on the dependence of axial location of combustion energy release in the combustor on reaction rate, i.e. faster reactions are completed closer to the combustor inlet. Due to the internal recirculation of energy, various axial locations of release of combustion energy lead to various temperatures attained in the combustor. The impact of such process factors as pressure and inhibition of gaseous species on the reaction rate have been analysed in the case studies.

Solving the inverse problem of determining the optical characteristics of light-scattering materials in the visible and IR regions on the basis of two-parameter, two-flux scattering theory. Using chalcogenide glasses as an example, it is shown that a two-parameter, two-flux theory of light scattering can be used to describe the optical properties of a light-scattering medium in the IR region when the absorption coefficients are moderate (no greater than 0.2-0.3). The characteristics of an elementary volume of chalcogenide glass are calculated in the region of its short-wave length transmission limit, and the variations of the reflection and transmission coefficients as the thickness of a plane-parallel polished sample varies are predicted. (C) 1999 The Optical Society of America.

A MULTIVARIATE-ANALYSIS OF SOCIODEMOGRAPHIC FACTORS, WATER CONTACT PATTERNS AND SCHISTOSOMA-MANSONI INFECTION IN AN ENDEMIC AREA IN BRAZIL. Associations between socio-demographic factors, water contact patterns and Schistosoma mansoni infection were investigated in 506 individuals (87% of inhabitants over 1 year of age) in an endemic area in Brazil (Divino), aiming at determining priorities for public health measures to prevent the infection. Those who eliminated S. mansoni eggs (n = 198) were compared to those without eggs in the stools (n = 308). The following explanatory variables were considered: age, sex, color, previous treatment with schistosomicide, place of birth, quality of the houses, water supply for the household, distance from houses to stream, and frequency and reasons for water contact. Factors found to be independently associated with the infection were age (10-19 and greater-than-or-equal-to 20 yrs old), and water contact for agricultural activities, fishing, and swimming or bathing (Adjusted relative odds = 5.0, 2.4, 3.2, 2.1 and 2.0, respectively). This suggests the need for public health measures to prevent the infection, emphasizing water contact for leisure and agricultural activities in this endemic area.

Application of improved iodine-azide procedure for the detection of thiouracils in blood serum and urine with planar chromatography. The application of iodine-azide reaction for the determination of thiouracils in thin-layer chromatography and high-performance thin-layer chromatography is described. The developed plates were sprayed with a freshly prepared mixture of sodium azide, adjusted to a proper pH, and starch solution, and exposed to iodine vapour for 5 s. The detection limits were established at pmol level. The factors depending on the detection limits were described. A comparison of iodine-azide tests reaction with other procedures is presented. The developed method was applied to detection of thiouracils in blood serum and urine. The possibility of detection of a thiouracils mixture was demonstrated. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

A three-dimensional pattern recognition localization system based on a Bayesian graphical model. Access points in wireless local area networks are deployed in many indoor environments. Device-free wireless localization systems based on available received signal strength indicators have gained considerable attention recently because they can localize the people using commercial off-the-shelf equipment. Majority of localization algorithms consider two-dimensional models that cause low positioning accuracy. Although three-dimensional localization models are available, they possess high computational and localization errors, given their use of numerous reference points. In this work, we propose a three-dimensional indoor localization system based on a Bayesian graphical model. The proposed model has been tested through experiments based on fingerprinting technique which collects received signal strength indicators from each access point in an offline training phase and then estimates the user location in an online localization phase. Results indicate that the proposed model achieves a high localization accuracy of more than 25% using reference points fewer than that of benchmarked algorithms.

Volatilomics as an Emerging Strategy to Determine Potential Biomarkers of Female Infertility: A Pilot Study. Due to its high prevalence, infertility has become a prominent public health issue, posing a significant challenge to modern reproductive medicine. Some clinical conditions that lead to female infertility include polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), endometriosis, and premature ovarian failure (POF). Follicular fluid (FF) is the biological matrix that has the most contact with the oocyte and can, therefore, be used as a predictor of its quality. Volatilomics has emerged as a non-invasive, straightforward, affordable, and simple method for characterizing various diseases and determining the effectiveness of their current therapies. In order to find potential biomarkers of infertility, this study set out to determine the volatomic pattern of the follicular fluid from patients with PCOS, endometriosis, and POF. The chromatographic data integration was performed through solid-phase microextraction (SPME), followed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The findings pointed to specific metabolite patterns as potential biomarkers for the studied diseases. These open the door for further research into the relevant metabolomic pathways to enhance infertility knowledge and diagnostic tools. An extended investigation may, however, produce a new mechanistic understanding of the pathophysiology of the diseases.

Epidemiology of childhood ependymal tumours in France. Methods. All children aged 0-14 years, who were registered with a primary ependymal tumour in the French National Registry of Childhood Solid Tumours between 2000 and 2008, were included. An ependymal tumour is defined by a 9383/9391-9394 morphological code according to the third edition of the International Classification of Disease for Oncology.Conclusion. Our study underlines differences in distribution of ependymal tumours characteristics by age and by gender in paediatric series. Insights from population-based incidence and survival analyses affords an opportunity to better understand the impact of site and histology patterns on outcomes associated with childhood ependymal tumours and inform future research. (C)2014 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.Results. Approximately 51% of the 251 childhood ependymal tumours were classic ependymomas, localised in infratentorial sites predominating. Distribution of subtypes by age showed that infratentorial tumour sites and anaplastic ependymomas mainly occurred in children aged < 5 years. The mean annual incidence rate of ependymal tumours was 2.6 per million, stable in the 2000-2008 period. Overall survival was 88.5% (95% CI, 83.8%-91.8%) at 1 year, 75.6% (95% CI, 69.8%-80.4%) at 3 years, and 67.1% (95% CI, 60.7%-72.7%) at 5 years. Time trends analysis showed an improvement in 5-year overall survival from 63.5% (95% CI, 51.9%-73.0%) in the 2000-2002 period to 79.0% (95% CI, 67.4%-86.9%) in the 2006-2008 period.Purpose. Ependymoma is a rare tumour representing 6.5% of childhood central nervous system tumours. The World Health Organization classification for ependymal tumours identifies 4 distinct entities: classic ependymoma, anaplastic ependymoma, myxopapillary ependymoma and subependymoma. Few populational-based studies analyse incidence and survival among children with ependymal tumours.

Efficient discovery of frequent continuities by projected window list technology. Mining frequent patterns is a fundamental problem in data mining research. A continuity is a kind of causal relationship which describes a definite temporal factor with exact position between the records. Since continuities break the boundaries of records, the number of potential patterns will increase drastically. An alternative approach is to mine compressed or closed frequent continuities (CFC). Mining CFCs has the same power as mining the complete set of frequent patterns, while substantially reducing redundant rules to be generated and increasing the effectiveness of mining. In this paper, we propose a method called projected window list (PWL) technology for the mining of frequent continuities. We present a series of frequent continuity mining algorithms, including PROWL+, COCOA and ClosedPROWL. Experimental evaluation shows that our algorithm is more efficient than previously works.

Through Silicon Vias With Invar Metal Conductor for High-Temperature Applications. Through silicon vias (TSVs) are key enablers of 3-D integration technologies which, by vertically stacking and interconnecting multiple chips, achieve higher performances, lower power, and a smaller footprint. Copper is the most commonly used conductor to fill TSVs; however, copper has a high thermal expansion mismatch in relation to the silicon substrate. This mismatch results in a large accumulation of thermomechanical stress when TSVs are exposed to high temperatures and/ or temperature cycles, potentially resulting in device failure. In this paper, we demonstrate 300 mu m long, 7:1 aspect ratio TSVs with Invar as a conductive material. The entire TSV structure can withstand at least 100 thermal cycles from -50 degrees C to 190 degrees C and at least 1 h at 365 degrees C, limited by the experimental setup. This is possible thanks to matching coefficients of thermal expansion of the Invar via conductor and of silicon substrate. This results in thermomechanical stresses that are one order of magnitude smaller compared to copper TSV structures with identical geometries, according to finite element modeling. Our TSV structures are thus a promising approach enabling 2.5-D and 3-D integration platforms for hightemperature and harsh-environment applications.

The role of customer brand engagement in the use of Instagram as a 'shop window' for fashion-industry social commerce. Design/methodology/approach - In this paper, social commerce-adoption is modeled, using three variables: customer engagement, SBC and fashion-consumer brand-involvement. Using a personal online survey, data on social media users classified as millennials and Generation Z were collected. The model is analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM).Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to analyze how fashion consumers behave when they make purchases using social media platforms - specifically, Instagram. In particular, the work examines the role played by consumer-brand involvement and self-brand connection (SBC) as predictors of customer brand engagement (CBE).Originality/value - The present study contributes to addressing the scarcity of studies dealing with CBE and social commerce in the fashion sector and, in particular, fashion-consumer behavior on social media (specifically, Instagram).Practical implications - Some of the results of this study can directly inform the social media strategies of fashion companies that use Instagram as a channel of communication with their customers. They can also contribute to incentivizing co-created content and increasing consumption among both men and women.Research limitations/implications - The research was conducted during the lockdown imposed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which may have influenced the responses. Other limitations and potential lines of research for the future are presented at the end of the paper.Findings - Consumer involvement in fashion has a positive effect on cognitive processing and activation, but not on affection. SBC has a positive effect on all three analyzed dimensions. Finally, gender is found to exert a moderating effect on the relationship between the \\'CBE activation\\' dimension and brand loyalty.

Cyclopentasiloxane (D5) as a Non-Polar Masking Agent for Water-Sensitive Substrates During Polar Solvent Treatment. D5 (decamethylcyclopentasiloxane), a non-polar solvent that evaporates slowly, was tested for its suitability as a temporary masking agent for water-sensitive media on paper objects undergoing aqueous treatment. Three different treatment-related settings were tested on five different paper types, some prepared with water-soluble inks. In 10-min water immersion treatments, D5 proved largely ineffectual in protecting the water-soluble inks. In conjunction with melt-applications of cyclododecane, the addition of D5 enhanced its barrier function only in one case. To test the ability of D5 to prevent tideline formation, the test samples received applications of water, acetone, and a water-ethanol-mixture, creating an interface with freshly D5-impregnated areas. The papers were evaluated visually (VIS, UVA), some after artificial aging. D5 diminished the formation of visible tidelines in the two internally sized papers with low water absorbency in contact with acetone and the ethanol-water mixture, but did not prevent tidelines in contact with water. It also did not protect water-absorbent paper. The results indicate that D5, which is miscible with ethanol and acetone, may disperse tidelines caused by these solvents, but it proved largely insufficient for protecting media during water immersion.

Column experiments to assess the effects of electron donors on the efficiency of in situ precipitation of Zn, Cd, Co and Ni in contaminated groundwater applying the biological sulfate removal technology. Conclusions. In the case of an intentional disruption of substrate supply, the. ISMP process failed most likely because the growth and activity of the indigenous SRB community stopped due to a lack of a carbon and electron donor. On the other hand, the cause of the sudden temporal shortcomings of the ISMP process in the presence of different substrates was not immediately clear. It was first thought to be the result of competition between methanogenic prokaryotes (MP) and sulfate reducers, since the formation of small amounts of CH4 (0.01-0.03 ppm ml(-1)) was detected. However, the results of molecular analyzes indicate that methanogens do not constitute a major fraction of the microbial communities that were enriched in the column experiments. Therefore, we postulate that the SRB population becomes inhibited by the formed metal sulfides.Recommendation and Perspective. Our results indicate that the ISMP process is highly dependent on SRB-stimulation by substrate amendments and suggest that this remedial approach might not be viable for long-term application unless substrate amendments are continued and environmental conditions are strictly controlled. This will include the removal of affected aquifer material from the metal precipitation zone at the end of the remediation process, or removal of metal precipitates when the microbial activity decreases. Additional tests are necessary to investigate what will happen when clear groundwater passes through the reactive zone while no more C-sources are amended and all indigenous carbon is consumed. Also, the effects of dramatic increases in sulfate- or HM-concentrations on the SRB-community and the concomitant ISMP process need to be studied in more detail.']Background, Aims and Scope. In a previous study, we explored the use of acetate, lactate, molasses, Hydrogen Release Compound (HRC (R), which is based on a biodegradable poly-lactate ester), methanol and ethanol as carbon source and electron donor to promote bacterial sulfate reduction in batch experiments, this with regards to applying an in situ metal precipitation (ISMP) process as a remediation tool to treat heavy metal contaminated groundwater at the site of a nonferrous metal work company. Based on the results of these batch tests, column experiments were conducted with lactate, molasses and HRC (R) as the next step in our preliminary study for a go-no go decision for dimensioning an on site application of the ISMP process that applies the activity of the endogenous population of sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB). Special attention was given to the sustainability of the metal precipitation process under circumstances of changing chemical oxygen demand (COD) to [SO42-] ratios or disrupted substrate supply.Results and Discussion. All carbon sources tested promoted SRB activity, which resulted within 8 weeks in a drastic reduction of the sulfate and heavy metal contents in the column effluents. However, unexpected temporal decreases in the efficiency of the ISMP process, accompanied by the release of precipitated metals, were observed for most conditions tested. The most dramatic observation of the failing ISMP process was observed within 12 weeks for the molasses amended column. Subsequent lowering the COD/SO42- ratio from 1.9 to 0.4 did not alter the outcome of sulfate reduction and metal precipitation efficiency in this set-up. Remarkably, after 6 months of inactivity, bacterial sulfate reduction was recovered in the molasses set up when the original COD/SO42- ratio of 1.9 was applied again. Intentional disruption of the lactate and HRC (R) supplies resulted in an immediate stagnation of the ISMP processes and in a rapid release of precipitated metals into the column effluents. However, the ISMP process could be restored after substrate amendment. 16S rDNA-based DGGE analysis revealed that the SRB population, in accordance with the results of the previously performed batch experiments, consisted exclusively of members of the genus Desulfosporosinus. The community of Archaea was characterized by sequencing amplicons of archaeal and methanogen-specific PCR reactions. This approach only revealed the presence of non-thermophilic Crenarchaeota, a novel group of organisms which is only distantly related to methane producing Euryarchaeota. DGGE on the dsrB genes was successfully used to link the results of the ISMP process to the community composition of the sulfate reducing bacteria.Methods. To optimize the ISMP process, an insight is needed in the composition and activity of the indigenous SRB community, as well as information on the way its composition and activity are affected by process conditions such as the added type of C-source/electron donor, or the presence of other prokaryotes (e.g. fermenting bacteria, methane producing Archaea, acetogens). Therefore, the biological sulfate reduction process in the column experiments was evaluated by combining classical analytical methods [measuring heavy metal concentration, SO42- -concentration, pH, dissolved organic carbon (DOC) with molecular methods [denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) fingerprinting and phylogenetic sequence analysis] based on either the 16S rRNA-gene or the dsr (dissimilatory sulfite reductase) gene, the latter being a specific biomarker for SRB.

An algorithm for solving the Cauchy problem for a finite Langmuir lattice. For the Cauchy problem for a Langmuir lattice with fixed ends, an algorithm based on the inverse scattering method is designed and substantiated.

OXIDATION OF NUCLEAR-FUEL (UO2) BY THE PRODUCTS OF WATER RADIOLYSIS - DEVELOPMENT OF A KINETIC-MODEL. Radiolysis of groundwater will produce oxidants and reductants which can affect the oxidation and dissolution of used fuel (UO2) placed in a geological disposal vault. A kinetic model to describe the oxidation of UO2 by the products of radiolysis of water is described. This model assumes that a monomolecular surface layer of UO2 reacts as if it were dissolved in a thin layer of water of a thickness corresponding to the diffusion range of the radicals formed during radiolysis. In this manner we can use the rate constants for the reactions of radiolytic species with dissolved uranium as an analog of the heterogeneous system for which rate constants are unknown. The refinement of this model, based on a series of electrochemical and open-circuit corrosion experiments, is described. Model predictions are compared with dissolution rates measured in these experiments.

SCORTEN: A severity-of-illness score for toxic epidermal necrolysis. The mortality of toxic epidermal necrolysis is about 30%. Our purpose was to develop and validate a specific severity-of-illness score for cases of toxic epidermal necrolysis admitted to a specialized unit and to compare it with the Simplified Acute Physiology Score and a burn scoring system. A sample of 165 patients was used to develop the toxic epidermal necrolysis-specific severity-of-illness score and evaluate the other scores, a sample of 75 for validation. Model development used logistic regression equations that were translated into probability of hospital mortality; validation used measures of calibration and discrimination. We identified seven independent risk factors for death and constituted the toxic epidermal necrolysis-specific severity-of-illness score: age above 40 y, malignancy, tachycardia above 120 per min, initial percentage of epidermal detachment above 10%, serum urea above 10 mmol per liter, serum glucose above 14 mmol per liter, and bicarbonate below 20 mmol per liter. For each toxic epidermal necrolysis-specific severity-of-illness score point the odds ratio was 3.45 (confidence interval 2.26-5.25). Probability of death was: P(death) = e(logit)/1 + e(logit) with logit = -4.448 + 1.237 (toxic epidermal nec-rolysis-specific severity-of-illness score). Calibration demonstrated excellent agreement between expected (19.6%) and actual (20%) mortality; discrimination was also excellent with a receiver operating characteristic area of 82%. The Simplified Acute Physiology Score and the burn score were also associated with mortality. The discriminatory powers were poorer (receiver operating characteristic area: 72 and 75%) and calibration of the Simplified Acute Physiology Score indicated a poor agreement between expected (9.1%) and actual (26.7%) mortality. This study demonstrates that the risk of death of toxic epidermal necrolysis patients can be accurately predicted by the toxic epidermal necrolysis-specific severity-of-illness score. The Simplified Acute Physiology Score and burn score appear to be less adequate.

Heat transfer analysis of intermittent grinding processes. An analytical solution for a two-dimensional boundary-value problem that models the transfer of heat to the workpiece during an intermittent grinding process has been previously constructed. In this solution, two variable functions in the boundary condition of the problem described the interrelation between the grinding wheel, the workpiece and the grinding fluid. In this paper, a numerical algorithm is developed. This algorithm allows one to study the effect on the workpiece temperature of varying either the velocity of the workpiece and/or the cycle-times related parameters. Our objective is to determine the values of the appropriate parameters so that the amount of material removed is maximized and the amount of coolant required is minimized. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Spin-resolved density response of the warm dense electron gas. We present extensive ab initio path integral Monte Carlo (PIMC) results for the spin-resolved density response of the uniform electron gas at warm dense matter conditions. This allows us to unambiguously assess the accuracy of previous theoretical approximations, thereby providing valuable insights for the future development of dielectric schemes. From a physical perspective, we observe a nontrivial manifestation of an effective electron-electron attraction that emerges in the spin-offdiagonal static density response function at strong coupling, r(s) greater than or similar to 5. All PIMC results are freely available online and can be used to benchmark approximations and simulation schemes.

Tissue viability imaging: mapping skin erythema. To demonstrate how TiVi maps spatial and temporal variations in normal skin RBCconc at the dorsal side of the hand at rest and during post-occlusive hyperemia.A lower skin RBCconc (179-184 TiVi units) was observed at the back of the hand and base of the thumb compared with areas adjacent to the nailfoldfold region of the fingers (190-213 TiVi units). The short-term variation (within 70 s) was < 2% in all areas of the dorsal side of the hand, while day-to-day variations were in the range 5-7% in the back of the hand and up to 10% in areas adjacent to the nailfold region. In the post-occlusive hyperemia phase, up to a 60% increase in skin RBCconc was observed in the early part of the reactive hyperemia phase. This increase in skin RBCconc successively decreased but remained about 18% above the pre-occlusion level after 30 min.Tissue Viability Imaging (TiVi) is an emerging bioengineering technology intended for two-dimensional mapping of skin erythema and blanching. Before TiVi can be effectively used in studies of diseased or damaged skin, the variability in normal skin red blood cell concentration (RBCconc) requires evaluation.Short-term and day-to-day variations in skin RBCconc were quantified at the dorsal side of the hand in four healthy volunteers at rest. In a separate study, the increase in skin RBCconc was recorded during post-occlusive hyperemia.Establishment of healthy skin RBCconc reference values is important for the design of versatile test procedures for assessment of skin damage caused by vibration tools, chemical exposure or peripheral vascular disease.

A role for calcium-calmodulin in regulating nitric oxide production during skeletal muscle satellite cell activation. Tatsumi R, Wuollet AL, Tabata K, Nishimura S, Tabata S, Mizunoya W, Ikeuchi Y, Allen RE. A role for calcium-calmodulin in regulating nitric oxide production during skeletal muscle satellite cell activation. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 296: C922-C929, 2009. First published January 21, 2009; doi:10.1152/ajpcell.00471.2008.-When skeletal muscle is stretched or injured, myogenic satellite cells are activated to enter the cell cycle. This process depends on nitric oxide (NO) production by NO synthase (NOS), matrix metalloproteinase activation, release of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) from the extracellular matrix, and presentation of HGF to the c-met receptor as demonstrated by a primary culture and in vivo assays. We now add evidence that calcium-calmodulin is involved in the satellite cell activation cascade in vitro. Conditioned medium from cultures that were treated with a calcium ionophore (A23187, ionomycin) for 2 h activated cultured satellite cells and contained active HGF, similar to the effect of mechanical stretch or NO donor treatments. The response was abolished by addition of calmodulin inhibitors (calmidazolium, W-13, W-12) or a NOS inhibitor N-G-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride but not by its less inactive enantiomer N-G-nitro-Darginine methyl ester hydrochloride. Satellite cells were also shown to express functional calmodulin protein having a calcium-binding activity at 12 h postplating, which is the time at which the calcium ionophore was added in this study and the stretch treatment was applied in our previous experiments. Therefore, results from these experiments provide an additional insight that calcium-calmodulin mediates HGF release from the matrix and that this step in the activation pathway is upstream from NO synthesis.

Influence of charge density on bilayer bending rigidity in lipid vesicles: A combined dynamic light scattering and neutron spin-echo study. We report a combined dynamic light scattering and neutron spin-echo study on vesicles composed of the uncharged stabilizing lipid 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylcholine (DMPC) and the cationic lipid 1,2-dioleoyl-3-trimethylammonium-propane (DOTAP). Mechanical properties of a model membrane and thus the corresponding bilayer undulation dynamics can be specifically tuned by changing its composition through lipid headgroup or acyl chain properties. We compare the undulation dynamics in lipid vesicles composed of DMPC/DOTAP to vesicles composed of a mixture of the uncharged helper lipid DMPC with the also uncharged reference lipid 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DOPC). We have performed dynamic light scattering on the lipid mixtures to investigate changes in lipid vesicle size and the corresponding center-of-mass diffusion. We study lipid translational diffusion in the membrane plane and local bilayer undulations using neutron spin-echo spectroscopy, on two distinct time scales, namely around 25 ns and around 150 ns. Finally, we calculate the respective bilayer bending rigidities k for both types of lipid vesicles. We find that on the local length scale inserting lipid headgroup charge into the membrane influences the bilayer undulation dynamics and bilayer bending rigidity k less than inserting lipid acyl chain unsaturation: We observe a bilayer softening with increasing inhomogenity of the lipid mixture, which could be caused by a hydrophobic mismatch between the acyl chains of the respective lipid components, causing a lateral phase segregation (domain formation) in the membrane plane.

High resistance to rice yellow mottle virus in two cultivated rice cultivars is correlated with failure of cell to cell movement. ;Rice yellow Mottle virus (RYMV) accumulation in protoplasts and whole plants was investigated in two highly resistant cultivars, Tog5681 (Oryza glaberrima) and Gigante (Oryza saliva). Three susceptible cultivars, i.e. one O. glaberrina Tog5673 and two O. sativa (IR64, Ac. 2428), and a partially resistant cultivar (Azucena) were used as control. After inoculation, accumulation of coat protein (CP) and viral RNA were monitored on protoplasts, inoculated leaves, sheaths of inoculated leaves and newly infected leaves by serological and Northern blot analysis. Viral RNA accumulated to a similar extent in protoplasts from all cultivars studied. In contrast, three distinct in planta behaviors were noted. In susceptible plants, (IR64, Tog5673 and Ac. 2428), there was high CP and RNA accumulation at 5 d.p.i. in whole plants, Suggesting that cell to cell and vascular movements occurred before 5 d.p.i. in inoculated leaves. The second behavior concerned Azucena, which showed a delay (around 7 d.p.i.) of viral accumulation in inoculated leaves. The third behavior involved the highly resistant cultivars Tog5681 and Gigante. CP and viral RNA were not detected in these cultivars, The comparison of viral accumulation in protoplasts and plant,., suggested that resistance of the highly resistant cultivars Tog5681 (O. glaberrima) and Gigante (O. saliva) was not due to the inhibition of virus replication but rather to the failure of cell to cell movement. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Limited.

Threshold behavior of the Einstein oscillator, electron-phonon interaction, band-edge absorption, and small hole polarons in LiNbO3:Mg crystals. Based on the Einstein oscillator model and the Urbach rule, we study the electron-phonon interaction and the band-edge structure of LiNbO3:Mg. We report on the concentration threshold behavior of the Einstein oscillator, the electron-phonon interaction, the band-edge absorption, and the light-induced small hole polarons O in LiNbO3:Mg crystals with increasing Mg-doping concentration. The result gives a fundamental microscopic mechanism of the concentration threshold behavior related to the band-edge optical properties and the light-induced charge transport of LiNbO3:Mg crystals, and is helpful to optimize LiNbO3 for applications such as nonlinear optics.

Decorated floor tiles from the 19th-century Akko Tower shipwreck (Israel): Analysis of pigments and glaze. The Akko Tower shipwreck lies at the entrance to Akko harbour, Israel. It is apparently the remains of a 25-m-long merchant brig, dated to the first half of the 19th century. In four underwater excavation seasons dozens of fragments of decorated floor tiles were found in the shipwreck and retrieved. The tiles were originally about 20 cm square, covered with a white glaze decorated with blue, yellow, orange, green and brown coloured motifs. The tiles were characterized by visual testing, XRF examination, multi-focus light microscopy, SEM-EDS microscopy, EPMA-WDS chemical analysis and lead isotope analysis, in order to study their composition and determine their manufacturing process and dating. The results reveal that the tiles were made of clay with a lead-based glaze coating with decorations of cobalt blue and antimony yellow pigments. Typological evaluation and the use of commercial cobalt blue and antimony yellow pigments, show that the tiles were most probably manufactured in Sicily after 1802 and possibly before 1850. The dating suggests that the ship operated well into the second half of the century. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Local Leadership and Local Self-Government: Avoiding the Abyss. A series of trends have emerged across Europe which have stimulated change in local government, local democracy and local leadership particularly where local government and local leaders have had to respond to crisis, economic downturn and the pressures of public engagement in times of restraint and public service decline. The special issue of Lex Localis (14:4, 2016) explored those factors in countries as diverse as Iceland, Germany, Greece, Italy, Spain, the Czech and Slovak Republics and Poland, to provide valuable insights into the turbulent times within which local self-government is located. That issue of Lex Localis was drawn from two related sources: the ECPR joint sessions work shop in Warsaw on local political leadership in times of austerity and from papers produced for the LocRef Cost Action democratic renewal workgroup. The paper here presents a review of, and retrospective introduction to that special issue. But by also drawing on other sources it offers an exploration of the broad trends shaping the development of local government and also develops a commentary on the factors which stimulate or hinder the success of local leadership, local government and local democracy in challenging times.

Echinoid facilitates Notch pathway signalling during Drosophila neurogenesis through functional interaction with Delta. The Notch intercellular signalling pathway is important throughout development, and its components are modulated by a variety of cellular and molecular mechanisms. Ligand and receptor trafficking are tightly controlled, although context-specific regulation of this is incompletely understood. We show that during sense organ precursor specification in Drosophila, the cell adhesion molecule Echinoid colocalises extensively with the Notch ligand, Delta, at the cell membrane and in early endosomes. Echinoid facilitates efficient Notch pathway signalling. Cultured cell experiments suggest that Echinoid is associated with the cis-endocytosis of Delta, and is therefore linked to the signalling events that have been shown to require such Delta trafficking. Consistent with this, overexpression of Echinoid protein causes a reduction in Delta level at the membrane and in endosomes. In vivo and cell culture studies suggest that homophilic interaction of Echinoid on adjacent cells is necessary for its function.

OVEREXPRESSION OF GS-ALPHA SUBUNIT IN THYROID-TUMORS BEARING A MUTATED GS-ALPHA GENE. Point mutations occurring at codon 201 of the gene coding for the a subunit of the stimulatory G protein impair intrinsic GTPase activity and lead to a constitutive activation of adenylate cyclase. We have examined thyroid follicular and papillary carcinomas and follicular adenomas and found samples that bear this mutation at codon 201 of the Gsa gene. Both mutation-positive and mutation-negative tissue samples were investigated for the level of Gsa expression relative to a pool of normal thyroid tissue, using immunoblotting against two (mid-region-specific and C-end-specific) antipeptide antibodies. Using 8000 g and 100 000 g membrane fractions of homogenized tissues we have demonstrated that the Gsa proteins in normal ad neoplastic thyroid tissues are represented by three isoforms: 43 kDa, 45 kDa and 52 kDa. We have quantified and compared the amount of Gs alpha protein and find it is overexpressed in mutation-bearing tissue samples.

Potassium and Thorium Abundances at the South Pole-Aitken Basin Obtained by the Kaguya Gamma-Ray Spectrometer. In this study, we present detailed K and Th distribution maps of the South Pole-Aitken (SPA) basin with a (100-km)(2) resolution for the compositional and evolutional studies. These maps have been constructed for the first time from the Kaguya gamma-ray spectrometer (KGRS) data sets acquired during SELENE (Kaguya) low-altitude observations at 50 km. The K and Th distribution maps are compared with those obtained by KGRS high-altitude observation and Lunar Prospector GRS high- and low-altitude observations. The use of KGRS low-altitude data sets with high energy resolution enable to obtain unambiguous counts of individual gamma-ray lines, leading precise elemental maps of K and Th comparing to previous studies. K and Th abundances at the areas of some large impact craters infilled with mare deposits are lower than that in surrounding regions. Geologic maps of the SPA region obtained by the Kaguya Multiband Imager are assimilated and confirmed based on the K and Th distributions. The evolution hypothesis of the SPA region based on the SPA giant impact event suggested by some previous model studies is also confirmed.

Mechanisms for the control of matriptase activity in the absence of sufficient HAI-1. Xu H, Xu Z, Tseng IC, Chou FP, Chen YW, Wang JK, Johnson MD, Kataoka H, Lin CY. Mechanisms for the control of matriptase activity in the absence of sufficient HAI-1. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 302: C453-C462, 2012. First published October 26, 2011; doi:10.1152/ajpcell.00344.2011.-Matriptase proteolytic activity must be tightly controlled for normal placental development, epidermal function, and epithelial integrity. Although hepatocyte growth factor activator inhibitor-1 (HAI-1) represents the predominant endogenous inhibitor for matriptase and the protein molar ratio of HAI-1 to matriptase is determined to be >10 in epithelial cells and the majority of carcinoma cells, an inverse HAI-1-to-matriptase ratio is seen in some ovarian and hematopoietic cancer cells. In the current study, cells with insufficient HAI-1 are investigated for the mechanisms through which the activity of matriptase is regulated. When matriptase activation is robustly induced in these cells, activated matriptase rapidly forms two complexes of 100- and 140-kDa in addition to the canonical 120-kDa matriptase-HAI-1 complex already described. Both 100- and 140-kDa complexes contain two-chain, cleaved matriptase but are devoid of gelatinolytic activity. Further biochemical characterization shows that the 140-kDa complex is a matriptase homodimer and that the 100-kDa complexes appear to contain reversible, tight binding serine protease inhibitor(s). The formation of the 140-kDa matriptase dimer is strongly associated with matriptase activation, and its levels are inversely correlated with the ratio of HAI-1 to matriptase. Given these observations and the likelihood that autoactivation requires the interaction of two matriptase molecules, it seems plausible that this activated matriptase homodimer may represent a matriptase autoactivation intermediate and that its accumulation may serve as a mechanism to control matriptase activity when protease inhibitor levels are limiting. These data suggest that matriptase activity can be rapidly inhibited by HAI-1 and other HAI-1-like protease inhibitors and \\'locked\\' in an inactive autoactivation intermediate, all of which places matriptase under very tight control.

Human olfactory neuroepithelial cells: Tyrosine phosphorylation and process extension are increased by the combination of IL-1 beta, IL-6, NGF, and bFGF. Olfactory neuroepithelial cells (ONC) grown from biopsies of human donors are a novel cell culture system that may facilitate studies into normal and disease-related human neurobiology. We further characterized the expression of cell surface markers and intermediate filaments, and responses to neurotrophic factors by ONC. ONC are positive for cell surface markers N-CAM, PSA-N-CAM, neutral endopeptidase, N-aminopeptidase, NGF low-affinity receptor homologue (CD40), and transferrin receptor by flow cytometry for the intermediate filament proteins peripherin, vimentin, and NF-H by immunocytochemistry. Responses to neurotrophic factors measured were process outgrowth, cytoskeletal protein expression, and protein phosphorylation. Process outgrowth was increased by interleukin-1 beta(164-171) (IL-1 beta) or by the combination of IL-1 beta, interleukin-6 (IL-6), nerve growth factor (NGF), and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF). This combination of IL-1 beta, IL-6, NGF, and bFGF (16NF) increased expression of two cytoskeletal proteins, NF-H protein and microtubule-associated protein tau. Application of the individual neurotrophic factors IL-1 beta, IL-6, NGF, and bFGF increased protein phosphorylation, while 16NF produced an immediate increase in tyrosine phosphorylation of several proteins (MW of 40-80, 120, 150, and 190 kDa). The 16NF combination appears to act through a tyrosine-kinase-mediated pathway to induce process extension and increase NF-H expression. The ONC culture has the potential to be further explored to examine the relationship among process outgrowth, protein phosphorylation, and synergy between neurotrophin and cytokine receptor systems. (C) 1996 Academic Press, Inc.

Spaces of quasi-exponentials and representations of gl(N). We consider the action of the Bethe algebra B-K on (circle times(k)(s= 1) L-gimel(s))(gimel), the weight subspace of weight gimel of the tensor product of k polynomial irreducible gl N- modules with highest weights gimel((1)), ... ,gimel((k)), respectively. The Bethe algebra depends on N complex numbers K = ( K-1, ... ,K-N). Under the assumption that K-1, ... ,K-N are distinct, we prove that the image of BK in End ((circle times(k)(s= 1) L-gimel(s))(gimel)) is isomorphic to the algebra of functions on the intersection of suitable Schubert cycles in the Grassmannian of N-dimensional spaces of quasi- exponentials with exponents K. We also prove that the BK-module (circle times(k)(s= 1) L-gimel(s))(gimel) is isomorphic to the coregular representation of that algebra of functions. We present a Bethe ansatz construction identifying the eigenvectors of the Bethe algebra with points of that intersection of Schubert cycles.

Medium-pressure clathrate hydrate/membrane hybrid process for postcombustion capture of carbon dioxide. This study presents a medium-pressure CO2 capture process based on hydrate crystallization in the presence of tetrahydrofuran (THF). THF reduces the incipient equilibrium hydrate formation conditions from a CO2/N-2 gas mixture. Relevant thermodynamic data at 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 mol % THF were obtained and reported. In addition, the kinetics of hydrate formation from the CO2/N-2/THF system as well as the CO2 recovery and separation efficiency were also determined experimentally at 273.75 K. The above data were utilized to develop the block flow diagram of the proposed process. The process involves three hydrate stages coupled with a membrane-based gas separation process. The there hydrate stages operate at 2.5 MPa and 273.75 K. This operating pressure is substantially less than the pressure required in the absence of THF and hence the compression costs are reduced from 75 to 53% of the power produced for a typical 500 MW power plant.

Sequence analysis of tyrosine recombinases allows annotation of mobile genetic elements in prokaryotic genomes. Mobile genetic elements (MGEs) sequester and mobilize antibiotic resistance genes across bacterial genomes. Efficient and reliable identification of such elements is necessary to follow resistance spreading. However, automated tools for MGE identification are missing. Tyrosine recombinase (YR) proteins drive MGE mobilization and could provide markers for MGE detection, but they constitute a diverse family also involved in housekeeping functions. Here, we conducted a comprehensive survey of YRs from bacterial, archaeal, and phage genomes and developed a sequence-based classification system that dissects the characteristics of MGE-borne YRs. We revealed that MGE-related YRs evolved from non-mobile YRs by acquisition of a regulatory arm-binding domain that is essential for their mobility function. Based on these results, we further identified numerous unknown MGEs. This work provides a resource for comparative analysis and functional annotation of YRs and aids the development of computational tools for MGE annotation. Additionally, we reveal how YRs adapted to drive gene transfer across species and provide a tool to better characterize antibiotic resistance dissemination.

Wash water addition on protein foam for removal of soluble impurities in foam fractionation process. This work evaluates the addition of wash water to a foam fractionation cell in order to remove the soluble impurities from a protein foam. Due to the irreversible adsorption of the proteins at the air interface, the addition of wash water to the foam can displace the entrained substances downward together with the liquid, while the adsorbed proteins are not desorbed from the foam surface. Here, we performed experiments on bovine serum albumin (BSA), as a model protein and NaCl salt, as a model of soluble impurities. The experiments were con-ducted in a glass foam fractionation cell, where the liquid level was kept constant. The wash water was added on the foam top with different flow rates and BSA and NaCl concentrations were measured at the outlets for further analysis. The influence of initial bubble size and the wash water rate on purification efficiency were investigated. The results show that wash water displaces the entrained liquid in foam and reduces the salt content of the foam. The process shows higher salt removal for higher wash water rates as well as for foams with larger bubble sizes, where up to 93 % of the salt was removed from the main solution. A lower air flow rate can further enhance the washing efficiency. However, it intensifies the foam collapse and hence diminishes the foam outflow.

Embedding the atom: Pro-neoliberal activism, Polanyi, and sites of acceptance in American uranium communities. In North America, uranium workers are fighting for their right to participate in a free-market system that provides them with small personal benefits. These workers experience powerlessness, instability, and unpredictability - or social dislocation - by living amidst capitalism's polluted ecosystems, unstable economies, and disintegrating communities. However, they feel reliant on uranium for their livelihoods and strongly support the industry's renewal and form sites of acceptance to support industry renewal. Here, we explore the phenomenon of pro-neoliberal activism emerging in communities that identify with uranium markets and that trust in corporate self-regulation, private transparency, and the perceived benefits of potential economic development. Polanyian theory helps us analyze these curious socio-environmental outcomes. While social movements might be 'progressive,' 'regressive,' or otherwise diverge, Polanyi consistently characterized double movement activists as protecting communities and ecosystems from unstable, self-regulating market systems. But here we see something different and ask: First, how does pro-neoliberal activism contribute to the embedding and institutionalization of neoliberal regimes in uranium mining communities? Second, what structural mechanisms precede and help to facilitate socio-cultural support for free markets and corporate self-regulation, as opposed to support for re-embedding markets in local, public social protections for the US uranium industry?

Antisense delivery and protein knockdown within the intact central nervous system. The ability to down regulate the expression of a specific protein within the intact central nervous system (CNS) is highly desirable from both a research and therapeutic perspective. Antisense has the potential to do this. However, problems of invasive antisense delivery methods and short half life of remain problematic. We overcome this by using Pluronic gel to provide a sustained delivery antisense oligodeoxynucleotides (ODN's) to the intact central nervous system and achieving rapid penetration throughout the spinal cord in 2-3 hours and significant knockdown of our target protein connexin 43 (Cx43) in 4-8 hours ( recovering at 48-72 hours). Interestingly CY3-siRNA probes could not be detected penetrating the intact CNS and no knockdown the Cx43 was found. This approach with conventional ODNs could provide a faster and cheaper alternative to knockout mice in the investigation of the functions of specific proteins within the CNS and may also have therapeutic implications for drug discovery and development.

Tumor suppressor activity of ODC antizyme in MEK-driven skin tumorigenesis. To test the hypothesis that suppression of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity blocks the promotion of target cells in the outer root sheath of the hair follicle initiated by Raf/MEK/ERK activation, we crossed mice overexpressing an activated MEK mutant in the skin (K14-MEK mice) with two transgenic lines overexpressing antizyme (AZ), which binds to ODC and targets it for degradation. K14-MEK mice develop spontaneous skin tumors without initiation or promotion. These mice on the ICR background were crossed with K5-AZ and K6-AZ mice on both the carcinogenesis-resistant C57BL/6 background and the sensitive DBA/2 background. Expression of AZ driven by either the K5 or K6 promoter along with K14-MEK dramatically delayed tumor incidence and reduced tumor multiplicity on both backgrounds compared with littermates expressing the MEK transgene alone. The effect was most remarkable in the MEK/K6-AZ mice from the ICR/D2 F1 cross, where double transgenic mice averaged less than one tumor per mouse for more than 8 weeks, while K14-MEK mice averaged over 13 tumors per mouse at this age. Putrescine was decreased in MEK/AZ tumors, while spermidine and spermine levels were unaffected, suggesting that the primary role played by AZ in this system is to inhibit putrescine accumulation. MEK/AZ tumors did not show evidence of apoptosis, but there was a 15-20% decrease in S-phase cells and a 40-60% decrease in mitotic cells in MEK/AZ tumors. These results indicate that the principal effect of AZ may be to slow cell growth primarily by increasing G(2)/M transit time.

Higher egg consumption associated with increased risk of diabetes in Chinese adults - China Health and Nutrition Survey. The association between egg consumption and diabetes is inconclusive. We aimed to examine the association between long-term egg consumption and its trajectory with diabetes in Chinese adults. A total of 8545 adults aged >= 18 years old who attended the China Health and Nutrition Survey from 1991 to 2009 were included in this analysis. Egg consumption at each survey was assessed by a 3-d 24-h recall and weighed food record methods. The consumption trajectories of eggs were modelled with the latent class group approach. Diabetes was diagnosed based on fasting blood glucose in 2009. Logistic regression was used to examine the association. The mean age of the study population was 50 center dot 9 (sd 15 center dot 1) years. About 11 center dot 1 % had diabetes in 2009. Egg consumption nearly doubled in 2009 from 16 g/d in 1991. Compared with the first quartile of egg consumption (0-9 center dot 0 g/d), the adjusted OR of diabetes for the second (9 center dot 1-20 center dot 6 g/d), third (20 center dot 7-37 center dot 5 g/d) and fourth (>= 37 center dot 6 g/d) quartiles were 1 center dot 29 (95 % CI 1 center dot 03, 1 center dot 62), 1 center dot 37 (95 % CI 1 center dot 09, 1 center dot 72) and 1 center dot 25 (95 % CI 1 center dot 04, 1 center dot 64), respectively (P-for trend = 0 center dot 029). Three trajectory groups of egg consumption were identified. Compared with group 1 (30 center dot 7 %, low baseline intake and slight increase), both group 2 (62 center dot 2 %, medium baseline intake and increase) and group 3 (7 center dot 1 %, high baseline intake and decrease) were associated with an increased OR for diabetes. The results suggested that higher egg consumption was positively associated with the risk of diabetes in Chinese adults.

Management of Medical Equipment Reprocessing Procedures: A Human Factors/System Reliability Perspective. Effective reprocessing of reusable medical equipment is essential for patient safety; however current practices rely primarily on complex manufacturers' instructions. This paper describes an information system, the Interactive Visual Navigator(1)(IVN (TM)), designed to manage and present user-friendly reprocessing instructions to the cleaning technician, and to provide support and feedback on cleaning task times. The system provides time tracking throughout the cleaning process. Deviations from normal processing times could indicate deviations from normal processes, thus the system provides technicians with useful feedback. With a more user-centered systems approach to process design and monitoring, overall system reliability will result.

Molecular adaptation to hibernation: the hemoglobin of Dryomys nitedula. The oxygen binding properties of Dryomys nitedula hemoglobin (Hb) were investigated as a function of pH both in the absence and in the presence of its physiological cofactors (i.e. chloride ions and 2,3-biphosphoglyceric acid) and at different temperatures. Moreover, the alpha- and beta-chains of the Dryomys Hb were partially sequenced. The results obtained show that the effects of Bohr protons, chloride ions, organic phosphates and temperature are significantly lower for Dryomys Hb than for human Hb. Thus, the increase in Hb oxygen affinity, resulting from the reduction of red cell organic phosphates and body temperature that occurs during hibernation, is advantageous for loading oxygen at the lung level without compromising oxygen release at the tissues, as could occur if Dryomys Hb had similar functional properties to those of other non-hibernating mammals. Furthermore, it is possible that the reduced Bohr effect may moderate the potential effects of increased CO2 associated with prolonged apnea on the loading and unloading of oxygen. Moreover, the overall heat of oxygenation (DeltaH) for Dryomys Hb is much less exothermic than that of the human Hb and it is completely independent of the 2,3-biphosphoglyceric acid concentration.

Cartilage Regeneration after High Tibial Osteotomy. Results of an Arthroscopic Study. Results: The KOOS at HTO was 49.9 (SD 10.6) points. We observed at follow-up a mean increase from 66.1 (SD 28.8, 95% CI: 61.2-71.1) points. The KOOS at follow-up was 16.1 (SD 29.8) points. There was no delayed union of the HTO space. Before HTO the varus angle Was 10.4 degrees (SD 3.9 range 5 to 20 degrees). The correction angle was 13.6 degrees (SD 4.4, 95% CI: 12.9-14.4 degrees). Finally we determined a valgus angle of-3.2 degrees (SD 1.8 minimum 0 degrees varus, maximum -6 degrees valgus. The clinical outcome (KOOS) significantly (p<0.001) correlated (R = 0.605) with the extension of valgisation. Patients with a valgus angle of 3 degrees and more had the best outcome. Of the grade III lesions 40.4% in the medial femoral condyle and 62.3% in the medial tibial plateau increased to grade II or I lesions. In 13.1% of the medial femoral condyle and 8.5% of medial tibial plateau cases we found complete (grade IV) defects at control arthroscopy. The highest rate of regenerations was detected after temperature-controlled chondroplasty. The worst results were produced after mechanical debridement. Microfracturing of complete defects produced regeneration in about 2/3 in the medial femoral condyle and about 1/3 in the medial tibial plateau. No increase was observed within the lateral or patello-femoral compartment. No correlation was seen between cartilage regeneration and outcome. The extension of valgisation did not influence the cartilage regeneration.Method: A total of 135 patients (72 male and 63 female) had undergone medial-opening high tibial osteotomy and arthroscopy. The mean age at operation was 48.8 (36 to 65) years. All HTO were fixed with an angle-stable, mobile spacer-containing plate (HTO-Platte, Konigsee, Deutschland). All HTO were combined with a simultaneous arthroscopy. Grade III cartilage lesions had undergone either shaving or temperature-controlled chondroplasty (Paragon ArthroW Austin, TX, USA). In some case these cartilage lesions had remained untreated. Control arthroscopy and removal of the implants was performed 1.5 years after HTO. The cartilage lesions were graded accordingly to the ICRS guidelines (International Cartilage Repair Society).Aim: High tibial osteotomy (HTO) has been established as an effective method for the treatment of unicondylar knee osteoarthritis. This study was undertaken to quantify the potential for restoration of cartilage lesions or defects after HTO in relation to different cartilage treatment modalities. Control arthroscopy was undertaken to identify the cartilage lesions within the knee joint 1.5 years after medial opening wedge osteotomy. Material andConclusions: The main effect of the HTO is the shift of the weight-bearing line from the arthritic compartment to the opposite femorotibial healthy one. In addition, HTO also produces a partial restoration of cartilage lesions. Deep cartilage lesions (grade III) restore in about 60% of the cases after HTO. The worst restoration is found after mechanical shaving. This method should be avoided in the future. The best restoration was found in deep lesions after thermochondroplasty. Furthermore, in about half of the patients with complete (grade IV) defects, microfracturing caused the formation of fibrocartilaginous regenerates. This procedure should always be performed if possible.

Gauge-field description of Sagnac frequency shift and mode hybridization in a rotating cavity. Active optical systems can give rise to intriguing phenomena and applications that are not available in conventional passive systems. Structural rotation has been widely employed to achieve non-reciprocity or time-reversal symmetry breaking. Here, we examine the quasi-normal modes and scattering properties of a dielectric disk under rotation. In addition to the familiar phenomenon of Sagnac frequency shift, we observe the the hybridization of the clockwise (CW) and counter-clockwise CCW) chiral modes of the cavity controlled by the rotation. The rotation tends to suppress one chiral mode while amplifying the other, and it leads to the variation of the far field. The phenomenon can be understood as the result of a synthetic gauge field induced by the rotation of the cavity. We explicitly derived this gauge field and the resulting Sagnac frequency shift. The analytical results are corroborated by finite element simulations. Our results can be applied in the measurement of rotating devices by probing the far field. (C) 2019 Optical Society of America under the terms of the OSA Open Access Publishing Agreement

Microwave Planar Lens Antenna Designed With a Three-Layer Frequency-Selective Surface. A multilevel frequency-selective surface (FSS) formed by a nonuniform distribution of circular holes on a metallic sheet is presented. The FSS is aimed at working as a planar lens to increase the gain of the feeding aperture. The unit cell of the FSS acts as a high-pass filter that provides the necessary phase shift to focus the beam on the far-field region. The phase shift is synthesized by suitably configuring the size and position of each unit cell in the FSS. The planar lens is placed next to the feeding aperture to confer the structure a low-profile shape. A prototype has been designed, fabricated, and measured. Results show an increment of 7.32 dB in the gain compared to the feeding aperture within a 7.33% bandwidth around 20.45 GHz, and a sidelobe level below -12 dB, with an aperture efficiency of 65% and a radiation efficiency above 90%.

Glucagon-like peptide 2: A key link between nutrition and intestinal adaptation in neonates?. This paper reviews the evidence from recent studies in young piglets to examine the hypothesis that glucagon-like peptide 2 (GLP-2) is a physiologically relevant hormonal signal linked to the intestinal adaptation associated with enteral nutrition in neonates. Observations that support the hypothesis include, 1) the GLP-2 secretory response to enteral nutrition is functional as early as late gestation, 2) parallel changes in intestinal growth and circulating GLP-2 occur in response to the quantity and composition of enteral nutrition after birth, and 3) the acute temporal changes in intestinal metabolism and circulating GLP-2 concentrations in response to enteral nutrition are generally coincident. In contrast, however, the lack of intestinal trophic responses to both pharmacological GLP-2 concentrations in the fetus and weanling pigs, and to physiological GLP-2 concentrations in neonates raises doubts concerning the physiological relevance of GLP-2 as a enterally mediated trophic signal. A more definitive test of this hypothesis will require further studies that assess the intestinal metabolic response to enteral nutrition using experimental approaches that block GLP-2 action.

Existence results for coupled nonlinear fractional differential equations equipped with nonlocal coupled flux and multi-point boundary conditions. We introduce a new concept of coupled flux conditions and unify it with nonlocal coupled strip and multi-point boundary conditions. Equipped with the unified boundary conditions, a nonlinear coupled system of Liouville-Caputo type fractional differential equations is studied. Existence and uniqueness results for the given boundary value problem are obtained by applying Banach's fixed point theorem and Leray-Schauder alternative, and are well illustrated with the aid of examples. Our work is not only new in the given configuration but also yields several new results as its special cases. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Multi odd-even effects on cell parameters, melting points, and optical properties of chiral crystal solids based on S-naproxen. A set of chiral crystal solids with odd and even numbers of carbon atoms based on S-naproxen, ester S-naproxen-R-1 (R-1 = H, methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, n-butyl, and n-amyl), has been prepared, alternatively crystallizing in the space groups P2(1) and P2(1)2(1)2(1), respectively, which shows the multi odd-even effects on cell parameters, melting points, and optical properties.

The extent of family violence in Europe. This article reviews current victim studies on family violence in Europe and attempts to interpret the variation in the prevalence rates. Methodological shortcomings contribute in part to different rates across countries. The prevalence rates are also linked to preventive and causative factors. Three factors appear to explain the differing prevalence rates in European countries: deprived economic living conditions, traditional attitudes toward women and children, and a general tolerance of violent behavior in a given society. In addition, personal coping may influence whether a family member will act violently against another family member.

Potential roles of insulin and IGF-1 in Alzheimer's disease. Aging is characterized by a significant decline of metabolic and hormonal functions, which often facilitates the onset of severe age-associated pathologies. One outstanding example of this is the reported association of deranged signaling by insulin and insulin-like-growth-factor 1 (IGF-1) with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Recent compelling biological data reveal effects of insulin and IGF-1 on molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying the pathology of AD. This review discusses available biological data that highlight the therapeutic potential of the insulin-IGF-1 signaling pathway in AD.

Humoral response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigens in patients with tuberculosis in the Gambia. OBJECTIVE: To determine and compare the sensitivity and specificity of four common mycobacterial antigens with three RD-1 region antigens in the serological. diagnosis of active pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) in the Gambia.RESULTS: The sensitivity of the RD-1 antigens ranged from 34% to 67%, while specificity ranged from 51% to 71%. The sensitivity of the common antigens ranged from 24% to 75% and specificity from 26% to 75%.CONCLUSION: In countries with high rates of TB, such as the Gambia, the clinical utility of serological testing to diagnose active TB remains limited, even with newer antigens encoded in the RD-1 region of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.DESIGN: Serum from 300 Gambians (100 with active PTB, 100 of their household contacts, and 100 community controls) was tested using an ELISA method to detect antibodies to seven mycobacterial antigens (three encoded in the RD-1 region [ESAT-6, CFP-10 and Rv3871] and four common [38 kDa, GLU-S, 19 kDa and 14 kDa]). Individuals with active TB were recruited from one of the National Leprosy and TB Control Program clinics in the western region of the Gambia, and neighborhood controls were an age-matched individual living within five houses of the case.

TELEVISION VIEWING AND VIOLENCE IN CHILDREN - THE PEDIATRICIAN AS AGENT FOR CHANGE. Three decades of research suggest a causal link between exposure of children to violent images on television and subsequent violent behavior. The epidemic of violence in American society mandates a critical reappraisal of the televised images that children see. To slow the cycle of violence, pediatricians can: (1) Help shape parental attitudes toward children's viewing habits; (2) lobby for school systems to adopt curricula that include critical viewing skills; and (3) work with Congress, Federal regulators, television producers, and broadcasters to reduce the exposure of children to televised violence.

A Case of Histiocytic Sarcoma Diagnosed by Bone Marrow Biopsy in a Patient Suffering from Fever for 8 Months. Histiocytic sarcoma is a malignant proliferation of cells showing morphologic and immunophenotypic features similar to those of mature tissue histiocytes and is known for its rapid progression and poor prognosis. We describe a case of histiocytic sarcoma diagnosed by bone marrow biopsy. A 64-yr-old male was admitted for fever and weight loss that persisted for 8 months. The patient died undiagnosed on the 7th hospitalization day. A bone marrow biopsy performed just before the patient's death revealed diffuse proliferation of large pleomorphic neoplastic cells with large, round to oval nuclei, vesicular chromatin, and abundant foamy cytoplasm. These cells were positive for histiocytic markers, CD68, lysozyme, CD21, and S-100 protein, but negative for B-cell, T/NK-cell, and epithelial cell markers, thus confirming the presence of histiocytic sarcoma. (Korean J Lab Med 2009;29:282-5)

Lack of maturation with anti-leptin receptor antibody in melanoma but not in nevi. We have previously shown thryotropin-releasing hormone expression in nevi and melanoma. Thryotropin-releasing hormone regulation by leptin has been shown in the hypothalamus. The present study was therefore undertaken to evaluate leptin and leptin receptor in nevi and melanoma. Leptin receptor expression as assessed using an anti-leptin receptor antibody showed uniform expression throughout the lesion in 14 of 17 melanomas; 3 melanomas lacked leptin receptor immunoreactivity. In contrast, out of 15 nevi, 10 showed weak to moderate leptin receptor immunoreactivity, with positivity present only in the superficial dermal component. Thus, maturation was present in nevi but not in melanoma with the anti-leptin receptor antibody (P < 0.0001). Anti-leptin antibody, in contrast, did not show a significant difference in maturation between nevi and melanoma. We also compared leptin receptor in Spitz nevi and melanoma, as the two can sometimes be difficult to distinguish. Spitz nevi showed moderate to strong immunopositivity. Of 19 Spitz nevi, 7 showed lack of maturation, a finding statistically significant from both melanoma and nevi. Our results suggest a role for leptin receptor in melanoma, and we show for the first time that melanomas show more intense immunoreactivity as compared to nevi ( but not Spitz nevi) and that maturation with anti-leptin receptor antibody may be a diagnostically useful tool in distinguishing melanomas, especially nevoid ones, from nevi in difficult cases.