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Polarity dependence of Mn incorporation in (Ga,Mn)N superlattices. In the context of recent efforts to combine high Mn concentrations in (Ga,Mn)N with a pronounced p-type carrier density, (Ga,Mn)N/GaN:Mg-superlattices have been fabricated using plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy. Profiles of the dopant atomic densities in the heterostructures are obtained by secondary ion mass spectroscopy. They show an abrupt drop of two to three orders of magnitude in both Mn and Mg concentrations after the first GaN:Mg layer above a critical Mg-flux. Scanning electron microscopy before and after selective etching reveals a polarity inversion from originally Ga-face to N-face GaN in samples in which high Mg fluxes were applied. From our observations, we are able to draw an analogy between the impurity incorporation laws of Mg and Mn. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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The hungarian comedies of Lope de Vega: a chain of intertextuality and rewriting. In between the group of plays about the Hungarian history, Lope de Vega has three comedies with some similarities: The Melancholic Prince, The Sane Insane and The Ring of Oblivion. This work aims to examine the relationships of intertextuality and rewriting between the three plays, and also some characteristics of the development of Lope de Vega's palatial comedy.
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169
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Reduction of concanavalin A-induced expression of interferon-gamma by bovine lactoferrin in feline peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Lactofenin (LF), a glycoprotein present in milk, mucosal secretions and neutrophils, contributes to host defense and immunomodulation. In the present study, we investigated the effect of bovine LF (bLF) on cytokine messenger RNA (mRNA) expression in concanavalin A (ConA)-stimulated feline peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). Semi-quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and real-time PCR showed a ConA-induced increase of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) mRNA expression but not of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and IL-12 p40 mRNA in feline PBMC. This ConA-induced increase of IFN-gamma mRNA expression was inhibited by addition of bLF not only 30 min before ConA stimulation but also 10, 20 and 40 min after ConA stimulation. Western blotting showed that protein tyrosine kinase (PTK) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) in feline PBMC were activated within 10 min after the ConA stimulation and that the activation of both kinases had almost disappeared by 40 min after stimulation. Moreover, the ConA-induced IFN-gamma mRNA expression was partly prevented by genistein, a global PTK inhibitor, and PD-98059, an ERK inhibitor, respectively. These results suggest that bLF is able to inhibit the ConA-induced IFN-gamma mRNA expression by abrogation of intracellular signaling activated after interaction between ConA and its receptor. (c) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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Human prorenin has 'gate and handle' regions for its non-proteolytic activation. We investigated the mechanism for non-proteolytic activation of human prorenin using five kinds of antibodies. Each of the antigens, (LPTDTTTFKRI11P)-P-1P, (TFKRIFLKRMP17P)-F-7P, (IFLKRMPSIRESLKER26P)-F-11P, (MPSIRESLKER26P)-P-16P, and G(27P)VDMARLGPEWSQP-M-41P, was designed from the tertiary structure of predicted prorenin. These antibodies were labeled anti-01/ 06, anti-07/10, anti-11/26, anti-16/26, and anti-27/41, respectively, for their binding specificities. Inactive recombinant human prorenin (0.1 nM) bound to various concentrations of anti-01/ 06, anti-11/26, and anti-27/41 antibodies at 4 degreesC with equilibrium dissociation constants of 138, 41, and 22 nM, respectively. However, intact prorenin ( 0.1 nM) did not show significant binding to 200 nM anti-07/10 and anti-16/26 antibodies for 20 h. Ninety percent of prorenin ( 0.1 nM) was found to be non-proteolytically activated by incubation with anti-11/26 antibodies ( 200 nM) at 4 degreesC for 20 h. Prorenin was not active even under complex with either anti-01/ 06 or anti-27/41 antibodies. Prorenin was also reversibly activated at pH 3.3 and 4 degreesC for 25 h. The acid-activated prorenin bound to anti-07/10 and anti-16/26 antibodies as well as to anti-01/ 06, anti-11/15, and anti-27/41 antibodies at neutral pH and 4 degreesC in 2 h. Their dissociation constants were 13, 40, 8.6, 3.6, and 14 nM, respectively. The acid-activated prorenin was re-inactivated by incubation at pH 7.4 and 4 degreesC in 50 h. Anti-07/10 and anti-11/26 antibodies inhibited such re-inactivation at 25 degreesC by more than 90% and 50%, respectively, whereas other kinds of antibodies did not prevent the re-inactivation at 25 degreesC. These results indicate that prorenin has \\'gate\\' ((TFKR10P)-F-7P) and \\'handle\\' ((IFLKR15P)-F-11P) regions critical for its nonproteolytic activation.
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321
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Non-linear model of cancer growth and metastasis: a limiting nutrient as a major determinant of tumor shape and diffusion. A new approach for modelling the spatio-temporal evolution of tumors is presented. To test its validity, a very basic model is considered, which, in spite of its simplicity, is capable of generating a multiplicity of morphologies and growth and migration rates. From an in-vivo scenario of basic life processes, cancer cell proliferation is described as a competition for basic nutrients. The chosen mathematical treatment and simulation techniques permit a direct implementation of the local nonlinear couplings existing between the various cell populations and the free and bound nutrient concentration. A discussion of the results and proposed improvements and applications of the model is also presented. (C) 1999 Harcourt Publishers Ltd.
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Credit risk in the microfinance industry: The role of gender affinity. This study explores the role played by gender in lending transactions and specifically its effects on the loan portfolio credit risk of microfinance institutions (MFIs). Using a multicountry data set of developing countries, where MFIs mainly operate, the analysis shows that a higher proportion of female loan officers increases the loan portfolio at risk. Nonetheless, we also find that this positive relationship is negatively mediated by the gender affinity between female loan officers and female borrowers. Gender affinity suggests that female loan officers are more likely to lend to female borrowers, and this reduces the default rate of loans offered by MFIs.
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115
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The Distinguishing Index of Infinite Graphs. The distinguishing index D '(G) of a graph G is the least cardinal d such that G has an edge colouring with d colours that is only preserved by the trivial automorphism. This is similar to the notion of the distinguishing number D(G) of a graph G, which is defined with respect to vertex colourings.We also investigate the concept of the motion of edges and its relationship with the Infinite Motion Lemma.We derive several bounds for infinite graphs, in particular, we prove the general bound D '(G) <= Delta(G) for an arbitrary infinite graph. Nonetheless, the distinguishing index is at most two for many countable graphs, also for the infinite random graph and for uncountable tree-like graphs.
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76
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Multicentre open-label randomised controlled trial to compare colistin alone with colistin plus meropenem for the treatment of severe infections caused by carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative infections (AIDA): a study protocol. Methods and analysis: This is a multicentre, investigator-initiated, open-label, randomised controlled superiority 1:1 study comparing colistin monotherapy with colistin-meropenem combination therapy for infections caused by carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative bacteria. The study is being conducted in 6 centres in 3 countries (Italy, Greece and Israel). We include patients with hospital-associated and ventilator-associated pneumonia, bloodstream infections and urosepsis. The primary outcome is treatment success at day 14, defined as survival, haemodynamic stability, stable or improved respiratory status for patients with pneumonia, microbiological cure for patients with bacteraemia and stability or improvement of the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score. Secondary outcomes include 14-day and 28-day mortality as well as other clinical end points and safety outcomes. A sample size of 360 patients was calculated on the basis of an absolute improvement in clinical success of 15% with combination therapy. Outcomes will be assessed by intention to treat. Serum colistin samples are obtained from all patients to obtain population pharmacokinetic models. Microbiological sampling includes weekly surveillance samples with analysis of resistance mechanisms and synergy. An observational trial is evaluating patients who met eligibility requirements but were not randomised in order to assess generalisability of findings.Ethics and dissemination: The study was approved by ethics committees at each centre and informed consent will be obtained for all patients. The trial is being performed under the auspices of an independent data and safety monitoring committee and is included in a broad dissemination strategy regarding revival of old antibiotics.Introduction: The emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria has driven renewed interest in older antibacterials, including colistin. Previous studies have shown that colistin is less effective and more toxic than modern antibiotics. In vitro synergy studies and clinical observational studies suggest a benefit of combining colistin with a carbapenem. A randomised controlled study is necessary for clarification.
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21
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Comparative Effect of Ammonia Addition on the Laminar Burning Velocities of Methane, n-Heptane, and Iso-octane. Adiabatic laminar burning velocities for methane, n-heptane, and iso-octane blended with ammonia were experimentally determined using the heat flux method. The flames were stabilized at atmospheric pressure and at an initial temperature of 338 K, over equivalence ratios ranging from 0.7 to 1.4 and ammonia blending fractions in the binary fuel mixtures from 0 to 90%. These experiments are essential for the development, validation, and optimization of chemical kinetic models, e.g., for the combustion of gasoline-ammonia fuel mixtures. It was observed that the addition of ammonia to methane, n-heptane, and isooctane leads to a decrease in the laminar burning velocity that is not proportional to the ammonia mole fraction. In addition, ammonia has the same impact on the burning velocities of n-heptane and iso-octane but a slightly higher effect on those of methane. Such a burning velocity reduction is due to synergistic thermal, kinetic, and indirect transport effects. New experimental results were compared to predictions of the POLIMI detailed chemical kinetic mechanism. An overall good agreement between the measurements and simulated results was observed for the laminar burning velocities over the equivalence ratio and ammonia fraction ranges investigated.
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Off-Line Evaluation of Indoor Positioning Systems in Different Scenarios: The Experiences From IPIN 2020 Competition. Every year, for ten years now, the IPIN competition has aimed at evaluating real-world indoor localisation systems by testing them in a realistic environment, with realistic movement, using the EvAAL framework. The competition provided a unique overview of the state-of-the-art of systems, technologies, and methods for indoor positioning and navigation purposes. Through fair comparison of the performance achieved by each system, the competition was able to identify the most promising approaches and to pinpoint the most critical working conditions. In 2020, the competition included 5 diverse off-site off-site Tracks, each resembling real use cases and challenges for indoor positioning. The results in terms of participation and accuracy of the proposed systems have been encouraging. The best performing competitors obtained a third quartile of error of 1 m for the Smartphone Track and 0.5 m for the Foot-mounted IMU Track. While not running on physical systems, but only as algorithms, these results represent impressive achievements.
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305
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Four altars from La Vera, Caceres. This paper describes four Roman altars recently found in La Vera, which is the name given to the country lying between Tietar river and Sierra de Gredos, in the Spanish province of Caceres. Of the nine inscriptions, three epigraphs are dedications to local deities: Band(-) Vortiacius, a new divine couple, Ulisus and Ulisona; and Quangeius, this one being placed in fano, which is the second occurrence of that word in Spanish epigraphy. The last piece is a tombstone so dilapidated that it is difficult to tell apart even the normal features of an ancient epitaph.
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17
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Investigation of a new methodology for the prediction of drawing force in deep drawing process with respect to dimensionless analysis. In this research, geometric parameters were given in dimensionless form by the Buckingham pi dimensional analysis method, and a series of dimensionless groups were found for deep drawing of the round cup. To find the best group of dimensionless geometric parameters, three scales are evaluated by commercial FE software. After analyzing all effective geometric parameters, a fittest relational model of dimensionless parameters is found. St12 sheet metals were used for experimental validation, which were formed at room temperature. In addition, results and response parameters were compared in the simulation process, experimental tests, and proposed dimensionless models. By looking at the results, it very well may be inferred that geometric qualities of a large scale can be predicted with a small scale by utilizing the proposed dimensionless model. Comparison of the outcomes for dimensionless models and experimental tests shows that the proposed dimensionless models have fine precision in determining geometrical parameters and drawing force estimation. Moreover, generalizing proposed dimensionless model was applied to ensure the estimating precision of geometric values in larger scales by smaller scales.
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141
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Reduced-Rank DOA Estimation Algorithms Based on Alternating Low-Rank Decomposition. In this work, we propose an alternating low-rank decomposition (ALRD) approach and novel subspace algorithms for direction-of-arrival (DOA) estimation. In the ALRD scheme, the decomposition matrix for rank reduction consists of a set of basis vectors. A low-rank auxiliary parameter vector is then employed to compute the output power spectrum. Alternating optimization strategies based on recursive least squares (RLS), denoted as ALRD-RLS and modified ALRD-RLS (MARLD-RLS), are devised to compute the basis vectors and the auxiliary parameter vector. Simulations for large sensor arrays with both uncorrelated and correlated sources are presented, showing that the proposed algorithms are superior to existing techniques.
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A survey of the double-fetch vulnerabilities. Race conditions widely exist in concurrent programs, and concurrency errors caused by harmful races could lead to severe system failures. A double fetch is a typical situation when the system kernel inevitably accesses user space data multiple times, and it turns into a vulnerability when the data consistency is violated under a special race condition between kernel and user space. In this survey, we present the first (to the best of our knowledge) comprehensive study on double-fetch vulnerabilities in the real world. Our study is based on the investigation of 91 real-world double-fetch vulnerabilities collected from the CVE database and other relevant reports, which covers a period of recent 12 years. Our work reveals some interesting findings on the double-fetch vulnerabilities, ranging from the various occurrences across different kernels and system levels to the involvement of specific patterns. We also divide the consequences that are usually caused by the double-fetch vulnerabilities into four categories and discuss each, summarize viable exploitation techniques from existing works, provide useful guidances to detect and practical strategies to prevent double-fetch vulnerabilities.
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Configurations of lead(II)-benzohydroxamic acid complexes in colloid and interface: A new perspective. Lead(II)-benzohydroxamic acid (Pb-BHA) complex collectors perform well with respect to scheelite flotation, and, due to their structure, they are widely used for industrial purposes. This paper examines the controversial issue of whether \\'O, O\\' five-membered ring or \\'N, O\\' four-membered ring complexes are formed when BHA coordinates with Pb ions, with their structure being comprehensively studied from the aspect of colloid and interface science. The configurations of Pb-BHA complexes are examined in a solution and on a mineral surface with experimental and computational methods. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and density functional theory (DFT) revealed that the five-membered ring is the dominant form of Pb-BHA complexes in a solution, whereas four-membered ring complexes are the stronger electron acceptor of the two. Moreover, XPS and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS) confirmed that the four-membered ring complexes are stable with respect to being adsorbed on the scheelite surface. Therefore, although the four-membered ring is not as stable as the five-membered ring in a solution, it offers advantages with respect to adsorption on an electron-rich mineral surface during short-flotation processes. (C) 2019 Published by Elsevier Inc.
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The EUTOS long-term survival (ELTS) score is superior to the Sokal score for predicting survival in chronic myeloid leukemia. Prognostic scores support clinicians in selecting risk-adjusted treatments and in comparatively assessing different results. For patients with chronic-phase chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), four baseline prognostic scores are commonly used. Our aim was to compare the prognostic performance of the scores and to arrive at an evidence-based score recommendation. In 2949 patients not involved in any score development, higher hazard ratios and concordance indices in any comparison demonstrated the best discrimination of long-term survival with the ELTS score. In a second step, of 5154 patients analyzed to investigate risk group classification differences, 23% (n = 1197) were allocated to high-risk by the Sokal score. Of the 1197 Sokal high-risk patients, 56% were non-high-risk according to the ELTS score and had a significantly more favorable long-term survival prognosis than the 526 high-risk patients according to both scores. The Sokal score identified too many patients as high-risk and relatively few (40%) as low-risk (versus 60% with the ELTS score). Inappropriate risk classification jeopardizes optimal treatment selection. The ELTS score outperformed the Sokal score, the Euro, and the EUTOS score regarding risk group discrimination. The recent recommendation of the European LeukemiaNet for preferred use of the ELTS score was supported with significant statistical evidence.
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47
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Pursuing a uniform effect: Pathways linking exposure to normatively-focused scientific consensus messages (NFSCMs) to behavioral intention to adopt science. This study tested the effect of normatively-focused scientific consensus messages (NFSCMs) on receivers' intention to consume GE-foods. In Study 1, the efficacy of a NFSCM was examined, relative to a standard descriptive norm message (SDNM), a scientific consensus message (SCM), and two control messages, issue-relevant and issue-irrelevant messages, using an experiment. In Study 2, the effect of the NFSCM with discrete descriptive norm formats was tested, relative to a standard message used in the real world, using an experiment. Results indicated that the effect of exposure to the NFSCM on intention was mediated via attentional focus on the norm information and perceptions about the norm, which is consistent with those in prior literature. The re-specified model was not contingent on participants' education level, gender and political stance indicating a uniform effect. Exposure to the messages also changed receivers' feeling of disgust and un/certainty about the scientific issue in desirable ways.
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61
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Two-Dimensional Direction of Arrival Estimation Using Generalized ESPRIT Algorithm with Non-uniform L-Shaped Array. The aim of this study is to solve the problem of two-dimensional direction of arrival (2D-DOA) estimation for non-uniform L-shaped array by employing generalized ESPRIT (GESPRIT) algorithm. GESPRIT algorithm can be seen as an extension of conventional ESPRIT algorithm, which doesn't require any particular array geometry. Our work is to extend this method to the 2D-DOA estimation case. The 2D-GESPRIT algorithm, which is referred to as the direct extension of GESPRIT algorithm, performs poorly in actual implementation. We make improvement by exploiting the 2D-NGESPRIT algorithm with reference to the NGESPRIT algorithm. To reduce the computational complexity, we propose a successive GESPRIT (S-GESPRIT) algorithm which needs only one-dimensional searches. The S-GESPRIT algorithm has comparable performance to the 2D-NGESPRIT algorithm and needs no additional pair-matching procedure. Furthermore, it imposes no constraints on the sensor spacing. We also derive the Cramer-Rao bound of 2D-DOA estimation for a non-uniform L-shaped array and conduct the computational complexity analysis. The simulation results verify the effectiveness and improvement of the proposed algorithms.
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Voltage Clamp Errors During Estimation of Concurrent Excitatory and Inhibitory Synaptic Input to Neurons with Dendrites. The whole-cell voltage clamp technique is commonly used to estimate synaptic conductances. While previous work has shown how these estimates are affected by series resistance and space clamp errors during isolated synaptic events, how voltage clamp errors impact on synaptic conductance estimates during concurrent excitation and inhibition is less clear. This issue is particularly relevant given that many studies now use the whole-cell voltage clamp technique to estimate synaptic conductances in vivo, where both excitation and inhibition are intact. Using both simplistic and morphologically realistic models, we investigate how imperfect voltage clamp conditions distort estimates of excitatory and inhibitory synaptic conductance estimated using the BorgGraham method during concurrent synaptic input onto dendrites. These simulations demonstrate that dendritically located conductances are underestimated even when dynamic clamp reinjection faithfully reproduces the voltage response at the soma to the actual conductances. Inhibitory conductances are underestimated more than excitatory conductances, leading to errors in the excitatory to inhibitory conductance ratio and negative inhibitory conductance estimates during distal inhibition. Interactions between unclamped dendritic excitatory and inhibitory conductances also introduce correlations when the actual conductances are uncorrelated, as well as distortions in the time course of estimated excitatory and inhibitory conductances. Finally, we show that space clamp errors are exacerbated by the inclusion of dendritic voltage-activated conductances. In summary, we highlight issues with the interpretation of synaptic conductance estimates obtained using somatic whole-cell voltage clamp during concurrent excitatory and inhibitory input to neurons with dendrites. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: SI: Dendritic contributions to biological and artificial computations. (C) 2022 IBRO. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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Social, economic, and political events affect gender equity in China, Nepal, and Nicaragua: a matched, interrupted time-series study. Background: Progress in gender equity can improve health at the individual and country levels. Objectives: This study's objective was to analyze recent trends in gender equity and identify historical and contextual factors that contributed to changes in gender equity in three countries: China, Nepal, and Nicaragua. Methods: To assess gender equity trends, we used the Gender Gap Index (GGI) from the World Economic Forum's Global Gender Gap Report (2006-2017). The GGI incorporated data on economic participation, educational attainment, health, and political empowerment for almost 150 countries. We selected China, Nepal, and Nicaragua because of their major changes in GGI and diversity in geographical location and economic status. We reviewed major social, economic, and political events during 2006-2017, and identified key events in each country. We compared countries' GGI with matched controls average using interrupted time-series analysis. Results: Nepal and Nicaragua both had dramatic increases in GGI (improvement in equity), Nepal (beta = 0.029; 95% CI: 0.003, 0.056) and Nicaragua (beta = 0.035; 95% CI: 0.005, 0.065). This was strongly influenced by political empowerment, which likely impacted access to education and employment opportunities. Despite major economic growth and new policies to address gender inequities (e.g. the One-Child Policy), China saw a significant decline in GGI between 2010 and 2017 (beta = -0.014; 95% CI: -0.024, -0.004), largely resulting from decreased gender equity in educational attainment, economic participation, and health/survival sub-indices. Conclusions: Key social, economic, and political events helped explain trends in countries' gender equity. Our study suggested that supportive social and political environments would play important roles in empowering women, which would advance human rights and promote health and well-being of individuals, households, communities, and countries.
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Nano-Ferroelectric for High Efficiency Overall Water Splitting under Ultrasonic Vibration. Piezocatalysis, converting mechanical vibration into chemical energy, has emerged as a promising candidate for water-splitting technology. However, the efficiency of the hydrogen production is quite limited. We herein report well-defined 10 nm BaTiO3 nanoparticles (NPs) characterized by a large electro-mechanical coefficient which induces a high piezoelectric effect. Atomic-resolution high angle annular dark field scanning transmission electron microscopy (HAADF-STEM) and scanning probe microscopy (SPM) suggests that piezoelectric BaTiO3 NPs display a coexistence of multiple phases with low energy barriers and polarization anisotropy which results in a high electro-mechanical coefficient. Landau free energy modeling also confirms that the greatly reduced polarization anisotropy facilitates polarization rotation. Employing the high piezoelectric properties of BaTiO3 NPs, we demonstrate an overall water-splitting process with the highest hydrogen production efficiency hitherto reported, with a H-2 production rate of 655 mu mol g(-1) h(-1), which could rival excellent photocatalysis system. This study highlights the potential of piezoelectric catalysis for overall water splitting.
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BRICS money talks: Comparative socio-cultural communicative taxonomy of the New Development Bank. The article is focused on financial communication. The communicative aspect makes it possible to penetrate deep into political and financial domains of modern reality. On the example of BRICS financial architecture the author makes an attempt to understand social communicative frames, shaping the present and the future of BRICS states. The concept of BRICS is universally perceived as a big political issue. What is more important while discussing this international collaborative system is the financial institutions and methodology it brings. The author has developed three-point taxonomy for the analysis of the New Development Bank communicative strategy. The article is concentrated on social representations of financial issues within BRICS framework. How do Chinese describe financial highlights of BRICS? What are the agendas of Indian monetary policies? How do the Russian financial tycoons zoom on money guidelines? Are money issues culturally specific and is it possible to outline a set of sociable variables to measure communicative values of money representations in BRICS cultures? The answer to these and many more questions has driven the author to the conclusion that financial communication has become a new policy tool, enabling BRICS members to indicate power positions within the infrastructure of BRICS. (C) 2016 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.
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Probing the intrinsic electronic structure of the cubane [4Fe-4S] cluster: Nature's favorite cluster for electron transfer and storage. The cubane [4Fe-4S] is the most common multinuclear metal center in nature for electron transfer and storage. Using electrospray, we produced a series of gaseous doubly charged cubane-type complexes, [Fe4S4L4](2-) (L = -SC2H5, -SH, -Cl, -Br, -l) and the Se-analogues [Fe4Se4L4](2-) (L = -SC2H5, -Cl), and probed their electronic structures with photoelectron spectroscopy and density functional calculations. The photoelectron spectral features are similar among all the seven species investigated, revealing a weak threshold feature due to the minority spins on the Fe centers and confirming the low-spin two-layer model for the [4Fe-4S](2+) core and its \\'inverted level scheme\\'. The measured adiabatic detachment energies, which are sensitive to the terminal ligand substitution, provide the intrinsic oxidation potentials of the [Fe4S4L4](2-) complexes. The calculations revealed a simple correlation between the electron donor property of the terminal thiolate as well as the bridging sulfide with the variation of the intrinsic redox potentials. Our data provide intrinsic electronic structure information of the [4Fe-4S] cluster and the molecular basis for understanding the protein and solvent effects on the redox properties of the [4Fe-4S] active sites.
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Effect of microstructure on the mechanical properties of Ti-5Al-5Mo-5V-1Cr-1Fe alloy. Systematic investigation of microstructure on the dynamic behavior of titanium alloys are seldom reported in the literature. In order to further understand this topic, four types of heat treatment and hot processing are designed, resulting in the following microstructures: e.g., bimodal structure, equiaxed structure, basketweave structure and Widmanstatten structure. The mechanical response of Ti-5Al-5Mo-5V-1Cr-1Fe (Ti-55511) is characterized over a wide range of strain rates and temperatures. The findings of this experimental demonstrate that Ti-55511 alloy is a strain rate and temperature sensitive material. The results also show that the Johnson-Cook constitutive equation can be utilized to predict the dynamic behavior of Ti-55511 alloy. Moreover, adiabatic shear susceptibility is affected by microstructure type and tested temperature. Microstructural observation of the samples deformed at high strain rates indicate that the formation of the adiabatic shear band is highly influenced by the microstructure type, and shear failure is the main failure mechanism. To fully utilize the potential of the material, engineers can choose the optimal microstructure to fabricate components according to the service requirements.
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Technology readiness level of gas hydrate technologies. Gas or clathrate hydrates are non-stoichiometric crystalline materials known primarily for the operational and safety problems they pose during hydrocarbon processing as well as a potential source of unconventional natural gas. Gas hydrates also have a variety of other applications, mostly representing opportunities for technology development such as gas separations and seawater desalination. This dual nature of gas hydrates is best represented by the two faces of a Janus particle. Although the research on the various gas hydrate-based technologies has been reviewed, the focus has been on the phase equilibrium and kinetic data needed for process design. On the other hand, the status of the technologies in terms of their commercialization has not been methodically assessed. In this work, we employ the nine-level technology readiness level (TRL) tool to classify the various technologies that are based on gas hydrate crystallization. A brief review of the current status of the technologies is presented first, followed by the status of each one on the TRL scale.
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A modified light transmission visualization method for DNAPL saturation measurements in 2-D models. In this research, a light transmission visualization (LTV) method was used to quantify dense non-aqueous phase liquids (DNAPL) saturation in two-dimensional (2-D), two fluid phase systems. The method is an expansion of earlier LTV methods and takes into account both absorption and refraction light theories. Based on this method, DNAPL and water saturations can rapidly be obtained point wise across sand-packed 2-D flow chambers without the need to develop a calibration curve. A single point calibration step is, however, needed when dyed DNAPL is used to account for the change in the transmission factor at the dyed DNAPL-water interface. The method was applied to measure, for the first time, undyed DNAPL saturation in small 2-D chambers. Known amounts of DNAPL, modeled by tetrachloroethylene (PCE), were added to the chamber and these amounts were compared to results obtained by this LTV method. Strong correlation existed between results obtained based on this method and the known PCE amounts with an R-2 value of 0.993. Similar experiments conducted using dyed PCE showed a stronger correlation between results obtained by this LTV method and the known amounts of dyed PCE added to the chamber with an R-2 value of 0.999. The method was also used to measure dyed PCE saturation in a large 2-D model following sparging experiments. Results obtained from image analyses following each sparging event were compared to results obtained by two independent techniques, namely gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analyses and carbon column extraction. There was a good agreement between the results obtained by this LTV method and those obtained by the two independent techniques when experiments were carried out under stable light source conditions and errors in mass balance were minor. The method presented here can be expanded to measure fluid contents in three fluid phase systems and provide a non-destructive, non-intrusive tool to investigate changes in DNAPL architecture and flow characteristics in laboratory experiments. Published by Elsevier Ltd.
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Self-assembly of ferria-nanocellulose composite fibres. An environmentally benign synthesis of a magnetically responsive carboxymethylated cellulose nanofibril-based material is reported. Applied experimental conditions lead to the in-situ formation of magnetite nanoparticles with primary particle sizes of 2.0-4.0 nm or secondary particles of 3.6-16.4 nm depending on whether nucleation occurred between individual carboxymethylated cellulose nanofibrils, or on exposed fibril surfaces. The increase in magnetite particle size on the cellulose fibril surfaces was attributed to Ostwald ripening, while the small particles formed within the carboxymethyl cellulose aggregates were presumably due to steric interactions. The magnetite nanoparticles were capable of coordinating to carboxymethylated cellulose nanofibrils to form large \\'fibre-like\\' assemblies. The confinement of small particles within aggregates of reductive cellulose molecules was most likely responsible for excellent conservation of magnetic characteristics on storage of this material. The possibility for using the material in drug delivery applications with release rate controlled by daylight illumination is presented.
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Optimization of folic acid, vitamin B-12, and vitamin B-6 supplements in pediatric patients with sickle cell disease. Using homocysteine as a functional marker, we determined optimal folic acid, vitamin B-12, and vitamin B-6 dosages in 21 pediatric sickle cell disease (SCD) patients (11 HbSS, 10 HbSC; 7-16 years). Daily supplements of folic acid (400, 700, or 1,000 mug), vitamin B-12 (1, 3, or 5 U.S. 1989 RDA), and vitamin B-6 (1 or 3 U.S. 1989 RDA) were gradually increased in an 82-week dose-escalation study. Blood was taken at 9 occasions for measurements of erythrocyte (RBC) and serum folate, plasma vitamin B-12, whole-blood vitamin B-6, and plasma homocysteine. Augmentation of folic acid from 700 to 1,000 mug and vitamin B-12 from 3 to 5 RDA did not further decrease homocysteine. Percentages of patients exhibiting significant individual homocysteine decreases amounted to 43% (folic acid from 0 to 400 mug, vitamins B-12 and B-6 from 0 to 1 RDA), 14% (folic acid from 400 to 700 mug), 24% (vitamin B-12 from 1 to 3 RDA), and 18% (vitamin B-6 from 1 to 3 RDA). The lowest plasma homocysteine at 82 weeks was 5.9 +/- 2.2 mumol/L. Patients with HbSS had higher RBC folate than HbSC. The entire group exhibited an inverse relation between RBC folate and hemoglobin. We conclude that RBC folate is less valuable for folate status assessment in SCD patients. Optimal dosages are as follows: 700 mug folic acid (3.5-7 U.S. 1989 RDA), 3 U.S. 1989 RDA vitamin B-12 (4.2-6.0 mug), and 3 U.S. 1989 RDA vitamin B-6 (4.2-6.0 mg). A practical daily combination is 1 mg folic acid (4.3-8.5 U.S. 1998 RDA when taken with meals), 6 mug vitamin B-12 (2.5-5 U.S. 1998 RDA), and 6 mg vitamin B-6 (4.6-10 U.S. 1998 RDA). This combination may by simple and relatively inexpensive means reduce these patients' inherently high risk of endothelial damage.
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The Role of Prostate-Specific Antigen in Prostate Cancer Screening. Prostate cancer is, after lung cancer, the most common malignant disease diagnosed in the male population. The introduction into the practice used during the 80's and 90's of the determination of serum Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) levels, as a component of screening for prostate cancer, was a turning point in the medical practice. Due to this enzyme produced exclusively by the prostate gland, the prostate cancer detection rate (in curative, intracapsular stages) improved significantly. Serum PSA is a better predictive factor for prostate cancer (PC) than digital rectal examination or transrectal prostatic ultrasound.
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The Critical Importance of Molecular Biomarkers and Imaging in the Study of Electrohypersensitivity. A Scientific Consensus International Report. Clinical research aiming at objectively identifying and characterizing diseases via clinical observations and biological and radiological findings is a critical initial research step when establishing objective diagnostic criteria and treatments. Failure to first define such diagnostic criteria may lead research on pathogenesis and etiology to serious confounding biases and erroneous medical interpretations. This is particularly the case for electrohypersensitivity (EHS) and more particularly for the so-called \\'provocation tests\\', which do not investigate the causal origin of EHS but rather the EHS-associated particular environmental intolerance state with hypersensitivity to man-made electromagnetic fields (EMF). However, because those tests depend on multiple EMF-associated physical and biological parameters and have been conducted in patients without having first defined EHS objectively and/or endpoints adequately, they cannot presently be considered to be valid pathogenesis research methodologies. Consequently, the negative results obtained by these tests do not preclude a role of EMF exposure as a symptomatic trigger in EHS patients. Moreover, there is no proof that EHS symptoms or EHS itself are caused by psychosomatic or nocebo effects. This international consensus report pleads for the acknowledgement of EHS as a distinct neuropathological disorder and for its inclusion in the WHO International Classification of Diseases.
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Quality of life in cadaver and living-related renal transplant recipients in Kuala Lumpur Hospital. Conclusion. This study shows that the quality of life between LRRT and CAD recipients was not significantly different. Increased age was associated with poorer physical capacity.Objective. To examine the quality of life in cadaver (CAD) and living-related (LRRT) renal transplant recipients.Methods. A cross-sectional study was done on patients followed in renal transplant clinic from 1/4/03 to 1/7/03 using the SF-36 questionnaire. Inclusion criteria were age >16 years, minimum of 3 months' posttransplant, and informed consent. Exclusion criteria were current treatment for rejection or infection or any life-threatening conditions. Information on duration of transplant, duration of dialysis prior to transplant, number of comorbidities, and sociodemodraphic data were collected.Results. Sixty-four among 110 patients (58.1%) completed the SF36 questionnaire. The LRRT recipients were younger, had a longer duration of transplant, and had spent significantly less time on dialysis prior to transplant compared to CAD transplant patients. Overall, the physical composite and the mental composite scores were not significantly different between the two transplant groups. Age was negatively associated with the physical composite score (Spearman's rho -0.251, P < .05) and bodily pain (Spearman's rho -0.266, P < .05). Duration of dialysis prior to transplant was negatively correlated with social functioning (Spearman's rho -0.28, P < .05) and mental health (Spearman's rho -0.39, P < .005). In multiple regression analysis, age was a significant predictor of the SF36 physical composite score (P < .05).
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IDENTIFICATION OF XANTHINE-OXIDASE ACTIVITY FOLLOWING REPERFUSION IN HUMAN TISSUE. In this series of experiments, we surveyed xanthine oxidase activity after microvascular transfer in the venous effluent after reperfusion of human rectus abdominis muscle (n = 8) and jejunum (n = 4). Enzyme activity was correlated with duration of ischemia and biochemical markers of cellular injury. Xanthine oxidase (XO) activity was measured spectrofluorometrically using a pterin assay, whereas cellular injury was measured with commercial creatinine phosphokinase activity assay and lipid peroxidation products using a spectrophotometer. The data demonstrated that XO activity was statistically significantly increased in muscle flaps kept at room temperature during ischemia compared with muscle flaps that were cooled (p < 0.05). Creatinine phosphokinase activity was also increased after 15 minutes of reperfusion in muscle flaps that were not cooled (p < 0.05). Two of the jejunal free flaps had ischemia times of >1 hour and had elevated XO activity after reperfusion despite cooling (p < 0.05). Two other jejunal flaps had ischemia times of <1 hour, but in one case, the XO activity was increased before harvest. The other case had no increase in XO activity.
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3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-2-deoxy-2-[F-18]fluoroglucopyranosyl phenylthiosulfonate: A thiol-reactive agent for the chemoselective F-18-glycosylation of peptides. 3,4,5-Tri-O-acetyl-2-[F-18]fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucopyranosyl 1-phenylthiosulfonate (Ac-3-[F-18]FGlc-PTS) was developed as a thiol-reactive labeling reagent for the site-specific F-18-glycosylation of peptides. Taking advantage of highly accessible 1,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-2-deoxy-2-[F-18]fluoroglucopyranose, a three-step radiochemical pathway was investigated and optimized, providing Ac-3-[F-18]FGlc-PTS in a radiochemical yield of about 33% in 90 min (decay-corrected and based on starting [F-18]fluoride). Ac-3-[F-18]FGlc-PTS was reacted with the model pentapeptide CAKAY, confirming chemoselectivity and excellent conjugation yields of > 90% under mild reaction conditions. The optimized method was adopted to the F-18-glycosylation of the alpha(v)beta(3)-affine peptide c(RGDfC), achieving high conjugation yields (95%, decay-corrected). The alpha(v)beta(3) binding affinity of the glycosylated c(RGDfC) remained uninfluenced as determined by competition binding studies versus I-125-echistatin using both isolated alpha(v)beta(3) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (K-i = 68 +/- 10 nM (alpha(v)beta(3)) versus K-i = 77 +/- 4 nM (HUVEC)). The whole radiosynthetic procedure, including the preparation of the F-18-glycosylating reagent Ac-3-[F-18]FGlc-PTS, peptide ligation, and final HPLC purification, provided a decay-uncorrected radiochemical yield of 13% after a total synthesis time of 130 min. Ac-3-[F-18]FGlc-PTS represents a novel F-18-labeling reagent for the mild chemoselective F-18-glycosylation of peptides indicating its potential for the design and development of F-18-labeled bioactive S-glycopeptides suitable to study their pharmacokinetics in vivo by positron emission tomography (PET).
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A Novel WDR45 Mutation in a Patient With Static Encephalopathy of Childhood With Neurodegeneration in Adulthood (SENDA). Static encephalopathy of childhood with neurodegeneration in adulthood (SENDA) is an X-linked dominant neurodegenerative disorder, and is classified as a subtype of neurodegeneration with brain iron accumulation. Recently, de novo heterozygous mutations in WDR45 at Xp11.23 have been reported in patients with SENDA. We report the clinical and neuroradiological findings of a patient with SENDAwith a novel c.322del mutation in WDR45. In this patient, characteristic MRI findings were useful for diagnosis. (C) 2014 The Authors.
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Tc-99m-Pyrophosphate Scintigraphy for Differentiating Light-Chain Cardiac Amyloidosis From the Transthyretin-Related Familial and Senile Cardiac Amyloidoses. Conclusions-Tc-99m-PYP cardiac imaging distinguishes AL from ATTR cardiac amyloidosis and may be a simple, widely available method for identifying subjects with ATTR cardiac amyloidosis, which should be studied in a larger prospective manner.Background-Differentiating amyloid light-chain (AL) from transthyretin-related cardiac amyloidoses (ATTR) is imperative given implications for prognosis, therapy, and genetic counseling. We validated the discriminatory ability of Tc-99m-pyrophosphate (Tc-99m-PYP) scintigraphy in AL versus ATTR.Methods and Results-Forty-five subjects (12 AL, 16 ATTR wild type, and 17 ATTR mutants) underwent Tc-99m-PYP planar and single-photon positive emission computed tomography cardiac imaging. Scans were performed by experienced nuclear cardiologists blinded to the subjects' cohort assignment. Cardiac retention was assessed with both a semiquantitative visual score (range, 0; no uptake to 3, diffuse uptake) and by quantitative analysis by drawing a region of interest over the heart corrected for contralateral counts and calculating a heart-to-contralateral ratio. Subjects with ATTR cardiac amyloid had a significantly higher semiquantitative cardiac visual score than the AL cohort (2.9 +/- 0.06 versus 0.8 +/- 0.27; P<0.0001) as well as a higher quantitative score (1.80 +/- 0.04 versus 1.21 +/- 0.04; P<0.0001). Using a heart-to-contralateral ratio >1.5 consistent with intensely diffuse myocardial tracer retention had a 97% sensitivity and 100% specificity with area under the curve 0.992, P<0.0001 for identifying ATTR cardiac amyloidosis.
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14 & 6 Hz positive spikes coinciding with PLEDs. Methods: Digital video-EEG recordings were performed using 32-channel EEG equipment (XLTEK, Canada) with all electrodes of the international 10-20 system and additional anterior temporal electrodes in a patient during clonic status epilepticus and 2 months later after cessation of status.Significance: The generator of 14 & 6 Hz positive spikes may still persist despite the presence of severe structural and epileptogenic lesions in the same hemisphere. (C) 2009 International Federation of Clinical Neurophysiology. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.Objective: We describe the coincidence of 14 & 6 Hz positive spikes with PLEDs in a patient with clonic status epilepticus of the left upper extremity and the persistence of 14 & 6 Hz positive spikes after cessation of status.Conclusions: This case demonstrates that a hemisphere which is in a status epilepticus as clinically reflected by clonic status of the left hand and PLEDs in the EEG is still capable to produce a benign variant pattern like 14 & 6 Hz positive spikes.Results: The initial EEG during clonic status epilepticus showed right hemispheric PLEDs and right lateral temporal 14 & 6 Hz positive spikes in between the PLEDs. Follow up EEG recording 2 months later after cessation of status revealed an absence of PLEDs, a continuous slowing over the right hemisphere and the occipital background of 7 Hz. Right lateral temporal 14 & 6 Hz positive spikes were recorded in the same frequency and the same localization as in the previous status EEG.
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Influence of Gradient Residual Stress and Tip Shape on Stress Fields Inside Indented TiN Hard Coating. Nanoindentation of treated surfaces, thin films, and coatings is often used as a simple method to measure their hardness and stiffness. These quantities are technologically highly relevant and allow to qualitatively compare different material and surface treatments but fail to capture the entire extent of the highly complex mechanical interaction between indenter tip and the tested surface. Many studies have addressed this question by analytical or numerical modeling, but they must rely on verification by recalculating indentation curves or ex situ microscopy of surface deformation postexperiment. Herein, results from in situ measurements of the multiaxial stress distributions forming beneath an indenter tip while the tested sample is still under load are presented. A 9 mu m-thick TiN hard coating is tested in 1) as-deposited state and 2) shot-peened by Al2O3 particles, using two diamond wedges as indenter tips, with 60 degrees and 143 degrees opening angle, respectively. The results reveal a strong influence of the tip shape on the deformation behavior and the main stress component developing inside the sample while under load. In addition, a crack-closing effect can be attributed to the exponentially declining near-surface compressive residual stress gradient that is present in the shot-peened sample.
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Earth fissure hazard prediction using machine learning models. Earth fissures are the cracks on the surface of the earth mainly formed in the arid and the semi-arid basins. The excessive withdrawal of groundwater, as well as the other underground natural resources, has been introduced as the significant causing of land subsidence and potentially, the earth fissuring. Fissuring is rapidly turning into the nations' major disasters which are responsible for significant economic, social, and environmental damages with devastating consequences. Modeling the earth fissure hazard is particularly important for identifying the vulnerable groundwater areas for the informed water management, and effectively enforce the groundwater recharge policies toward the sustainable conservation plans to preserve existing groundwater resources. Modeling the formation of earth fissures and ultimately prediction of the hazardous areas has been greatly challenged due to the complexity, and the multidisciplinary involved to predict the earth fissures. This paper aims at proposing novel machine learning models for prediction of earth fissuring hazards. The Simulated annealing feature selection (SAFS) method was applied to identify key features, and the generalized linear model (GLM), multivariate adaptive regression splines (MARS), classification and regression tree (CART), random forest (RF), and support vector machine (SVM) have been used for the first time to build the prediction models. Results indicated that all the models had good accuracy ( > 86%) and precision ( > 81%) in the prediction of the earth fissure hazard. The GLM model (as a linear model) had the lowest performance, while the RF model was the best model in the modeling process. Sensitivity analysis indicated that the hazardous class in the study area was mainly related to low elevations with characteristics of high groundwater withdrawal, drop in groundwater level, high well density, high road density, low precipitation, and Quaternary sediments distribution.
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QoL guaranteed adaptation and personalization in E-learning systems. This paper investigates the problem of adaptation and personalization in e-learning systems. A new metric-QoL (Quality of Learning)-is recommended for e-learning systems to evaluate the learning process. This paper proposes the Adaptive & Personalized E-Learning System (APeLS) that provides dynamic learning content and an adaptive learning process for learners to enhance the quality of learning. According to feedback from the learner, the proposed APeLS is capable of self-adjusting and self-reorganizing the learning components and paths to adapt to each user's learning interests, abilities, and behavior. This adaptation and reconfiguration is produced according to the user's QoL and a dynamic referred ideal learning curve. To ensure QoL, the proposed APeLS revises each user's learning curve to match with the referred ideal learning curve. A prototype system is implemented, and the collected results are excellent.
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The muscular system of Dactylopodola baltica and other macrodasyidan gastrotrichs in a functional and phylogenetic perspective. The gastrotrich muscular system is characterized by band-like muscles arranged in orientations that reflect both function and phylogeny. To better understand the evolution of the Dactylopodolidae, a putative primitive lineage and potential sister group to other extant macrodasyidans, we have used a fluorescent phalloidin stain to visualize muscle patterns in the marine gastrotrich Dactylopodola baltica and eight other species of Macrodasyida from four families. The musculature of D. baltica is arranged as a series of circular, helicoidal and longitudinal bands around the digestive tract. Circular muscles and longitudinal muscles were found in splanchnic and somatic positions. Helicoidal muscles, in 50-60degrees angles with respect to the longitudinal body axis, surrounded circular and longitudinal splanchnic muscles in a spiralling orientation. The largest longitudinal muscles were the ventrolateral bands composed of numerous cross-striated myocytes arranged in parallel arrays. The overall arrangement of the muscular system of D. baltica showed several similarities to other macrodasyidan gastrotrichs, including the presence and location of circular, helicoidal and longitudinal muscles, their orientation with respect to the longitudinal body axis and their points of insertion. Unique to D. baltica is the anterior and posterior arrangement of the ventrolateral muscles and the orientation of muscle branches that supply the ventral and dorsal aspects of the pharynx. Muscle data from observations of D. baltica and eight additional species were coded as phylogenetic characters, mapped onto a cladogram and compared to an existing phylogeny of the order. The direction of evolutionary change in specific muscle groups was inferred, as was the ground pattern of muscles for the Macrodasyida.
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Pod shattering in canola reduced by mitigating drought stress through silicon application and molecular approaches-A review. Climate change has become a serious threat all over the world, which creates a negative impact on the growth, physiology and yield attributes of the crops. Drought stress is one of the major causes of climate change that contributes more to the reduction of yield of crops and its physiological aspects (i.e., stomatal conductance, leaf temperature, plant canopy temperature, membrane thermal stability index, total chlorophyll content, chlorophyll fluorescence). Pod shattering negatively affects the yield of canola under drought stress conditions. The control of shattering, caused by drought, has been difficult due to the lack of resistant cultivars. Drought at any stage of canola, either vegetative or reproductive, badly affects the canola crops in terms of growth, physiology, pod development and its shattering, which results in the reduction of yield. To overcome the pod shattering and its development, the Si plays an important role, which provides the strength to the pod when it was applied with their proper amount and proper time. Si is the beneficial element which helps in improving the growth and physiology of crop under drought stress conditions. Si helps for reducing the pod shattering in canola and improving its yield by mitigating the adverse effect of drought on canola. Molecular approaches also help to provide resistance in canola against pod shattering and improve its yield under drought stress conditions. Current review highlights the role of Si and current molecular developments to deal with constraints in pod development and it's shattering under drought stress.
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Evidence on the Effects of Mandatory Disclaimers in Advertising. The authors find no evidence that consumers benefit from government-mandated disclaimers in advertising. Experiments and common experience show that admonishments to change or avoid behaviors often have effects opposite to those intended. The authors examine 18 experimental studies that provide evidence relevant to mandatory disclaimers. Mandated messages increased confusion for consumers and were ineffective or harmful in the 15 studies that examined perceptions, attitudes, or decisions. The authors conduct an experiment on the effects of a government-mandated disclaimer for a Florida court case, showing two advertisements for dentists offering implant dentistry to 317 participants. Only one advertiser had implant dentistry credentials. Participants exposed to the disclaimer recommended the advertiser who lacked credentials more often, and women and less-educated participants were particularly prone to this error. In addition, participants drew false and damaging inferences about the credentialed dentist.
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Trastuzumab Emtansine-Induced Nodular Regenerative Hyperplasia: Is Dose Reduction Enough as a Preventable Measure?. Introduction: Trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1) is a novel antibody-drug conjugate targeting the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2, used in some recurrent metastatic cancers. It was linked to modest increases in serum aminotransferase elevations and bilirubin. More recently, some cases of noncirrhotic portal hypertension have been described in patients on long-term T-DM1. The underlying liver condition is usually nodular regenerative hyperplasia (NRH) with elements of sinusoidal obstruction. Case Report: We report the case of a 52-year-old woman who started T-DM1 therapy for recurrent metastatic lung adenocarcinoma. Although a progressive reduction in lung nodules was noticed, there was a new-onset cytocholestasis and elevation in bilirubin. A reduction in platelet count was also apparent over several months during the T-DM1 therapy. Liver biopsy revealed NRH and so the dose of T-DM1 was reduced. Thereafter, the patient had normalization of liver tests and platelet count. T-DM1 was continued for more than 9 months with no signs of portal hypertension or cancer progression. Conclusions: We presented a rare case of NRH induced by T-DM1 in a patient with lung adenocarcinoma. A high index of suspicion for liver injury and NRH must be maintained for patients who develop liver test abnormalities and/or signs of portal hypertension during treatment with T-DM1. This is the first report of a successful dose reduction in a patient with NRH induced by T-DM1, suggesting that it is possible to maintain the drug while it is being effective for lung cancer treatment.
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Development and application of a master-slave parallel hybrid multi-objective evolutionary algorithm for groundwater remediation design. Two primary goals of a multi-objective evolutionary algorithm (MOEA) for solving multi-objective optimization problems are to find as many nondominated solutions as possible toward the true Pareto front and to maintain diversity of Pareto-optimal solutions along the tradeoff curves. However, few MOEAs can achieve these two goals concurrently. This study presents a new hybrid MOEA, the niched Pareto tabu search combined with a genetic algorithm (NPTSGA), in which the global search ability of niched Pareto tabu search (NPTS) is improved by the diversification of candidate solutions that arose from the evolving population of nondominated sorting genetic algorithm-II (NSGA-II). The NPTSGA coupled with a flow and transport model is developed for multi-objective optimal design of groundwater remediation systems. The proposed methodology is then applied to a large field-scale groundwater remediation system for cleanup of large trichloroethylene plume at the Massachusetts Military Reservation in Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Furthermore, a master-slave (MS) parallelization scheme based on the Message Passing Interface is incorporated into the NPTSGA to implement objective function evaluations in a distributed processor environment, which can greatly improve the efficiency of the NPTSGA in finding Pareto-optimal solutions to the real-world applications. This study shows that the MS parallel NPTSGA in comparison with the original NPTS and NSGA-II can balance the tradeoff between the diversity and optimality of solutions during the search process and is an efficient and effective tool for optimizing the multi-objective design of groundwater remediation systems under complicated hydrogeologic conditions.
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Bilateral Torsion of Testes with Purpura Fulminans. Background: Purpura fulminans and bilateral perinatal testicular torsion are rare and may co-exist. Case characteristics: A 3-day-old neonate with bilateral swelling of scrotum; torsion and gangrenous changes were observed on exploration. Interventions: Left orchidectomy with preservation of right testis was done. Outcome: At 2-month follow-up, right testis showed signs of atrophy. Child developed full thickness skin lesions and died of sepsis. Message: Perinatal testicular torsion can be bilateral, and requires urgent surgical exploration.
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Tify: A quality-based frame selection tool for improving the output of unstable biomedical imaging. The ability to image biological tissues is critical to our understanding of a range of systems and processes. In the case of in situ living tissue, such imaging is hampered by the innate mechanical properties of the tissue. In many cases, this provides challenges in how to process large amounts of image data which may contain aberrations from movement. Generally, current tools require the provision of reference images and are unable to maintain temporal correlations within an image set. Here, we describe a tool-Tify-which can accurately predict a numerical quality score versus human scoring and can analyse image sets in a manner that allows the maintenance of temporal relationships. The tool uses regression-based techniques to link image statistics to image quality based on user provided scores from a sample of images. Scores calculated by the software correlate strongly with the scores provided by human users. We identified that, in most cases, the software requires users to score between 20-30 frames in order to be able to accurately calculate the remaining images. Importantly, our results suggest that the software can use coefficients generated from consolidated image sets to process images without the need for additional manual scoring. Finally, the tool is able to use a frame windowing technique to identify the highest quality frame from a moving window, thus retaining macro-chronological connections between frames. In summary, Tify is able to successfully predict the quality of images in an image set based on a small number of sample scores provided by end-users. This software has the potential to improve the effectiveness of biological imaging techniques where motion artefacts, even in the presence of stabilisation, pose a significant problem.
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The Causes and Prevention of Commercial Contract Cheating in the Era of Digital Education: A Systematic & Critical Review. This paper provides a systematic and critical review of the existing literature on the phenomenon of 'commercial contract cheating' (CCC). Unlike some existing systematic reviews generally on CCC, this paper focuses on the potential causes and suggested preventative measures specifically, intending to develop effective interventions on the basis of empirical insights. We reviewed primary studies with empirical data and systematic reviews focusing on higher education published between 2012 and 2020. A logic model is developed to graphically indicate the complex and dynamic interplay between a variety of factors identified. Our inquiry reveals a highly specified, uncoordinated and fragmented research landscape that urgently needs integrated, holistic and critical reflection. It shows that the current research is still far from establishing causal relationships as the scholarship opts to reveal an abundance of contextual factors identified only, without probing the relational dynamics or striving for causality. A range of broad and tentative recommendations are proposed on that basis but are barely empirically examined. We also attend to lack of conceptual clarity and work towards a more inclusive and future-proof definition of CCC beyond assignment-based conceptualisation. It is argued that CCC should never be reduced to plagiarism (a natural inclination inspired by the plagiarism research tradition) nor neutralised as a legitimate business (a potential risk revealed mostly by the supply side research). As an interdisciplinary field, CCC should move beyond student perceptions of education cheating and affordability, while including more inquiries into the exploitative, predatory nature of the industry.
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Artificial neural networks-based backcalculation of the structural properties of a typical flexible pavement. Pavement evaluation is one of the foremost phases in all pavement engineering activities. In the backcalculation process, the researcher or the engineer varies the structural properties of the layers until the theoretical (calculated) deflections and the obtained (measured) deflections from FWD tests are closely matched to each other within a tolerable limit. However, this process is substantially time-consuming and poses some difficulties due to inherent inaccuracies in the results. In this study, synthetically derived deflections from a typical flexible pavement are used to estimate asphaltic concrete layer's elastic modulus, Poisson's ratio and thickness. Furthermore, artificial neural network (ANN) is utilized to determine the structural parameters, and it can be clearly seen that satisfactory results are obtained. ANN estimation of the three pavement layer characteristic parameters, that is, layer elastic modulus, Poisson's ratio and layer thickness, was carried out for the first time in the study.
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Crystal structure of new U(IV) and U(V) complexes. Synthesis, spectral investigation, and X-ray diffraction study of the (Cl3C2N2S2)(+)(UCl6)(-) and [UCl2(OPCl3)(6)](2+)(UCl6)(2)(-) complexes were conducted. Two types of uranium coordination polyhedra were found in the complexes studied: an octahedron (six chlorine atoms in the coordination sphere) and a two-cap trigonal prism (six oxygen atoms of OPCl3 groups at the prism vertices and two chlorine atoms centering the tetragonal faces).
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Effect of 830-nm laser light on the repair of bone defects grafted with inorganic bovine bone and decalcified cortical osseus membrane. Materials and Methods: Five randomized groups were studied: group I (control); group IIA (Gen-ox(R)); group IIB (Gen-ox(R) + LLLT); group IIIA (Gen-ox(R) + Gen-derm(R)); and group IIIB (Gen-ox(R) + Gen-derm(R) + LLLT). Bone defects were created at the femur and were treated according to the group. The animals of irradiated groups were irradiated every 48 h for 15 days; the first irradiation was performed immediately after the procedure. The animals were irradiated transcutaneuosly at four points around the defect. At each point, a dose of 4 J/cm(2) was given (phisimilar to0.6 mm, 40 mW), and the total dose per session was 16 J/cm(2). The animals were humanely killed at 15, 21, and 30 days after surgery. The specimens were routinely processed to wax, serially cut, stained with H&E and Picrosirius stains, and analyzed under light microscopy.Conclusion: It is concluded that LLLT had a positive effect on the repair of bone defect by graft associated or not with the use of biological membrane.Results: The results showed more advanced repair of the irradiated groups when compared to the non-irradiated ones. The repair of the irradiated group was characterized by both increased bone formation and on the amount of collagen fibers around the graft within the cavity, as early as the 15th day after surgery, considering the osteoconductive capacity of the Gen-ox(R) and the increment of the cortical repair in specimens with Gen-derm(R) membrane.Objective: The aim of this study was to histologically assess the effect of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) (lambda830 nm) on the repair of standardized bone defects of the femur of Wistar albinus rats grafted with inorganic bovine bone and associated (or not) with decalcified bovine cortical bone membrane.Background Data: Bone loss may be a result of pathology, trauma, or surgical procedure. Extensive studies on the process of bone repair have been undertaken, and several techniques for the correction of bone defects have been proposed. Amongst them is the use of several types of grafts, the use of membranes, and the combination of both techniques. There is evidence in the literature of the positive effect of LLLT on the healing of soft tissue wounds. However, its effect on bone healing is not completely understood.
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SUBGEOMETRIC RATES OF CONVERGENCE OF THE GI/G/1 QUEUEING SYSTEM. The article deals with the waiting time process of the GI/G/1 queueing system. We shall give that the rate of convergence to the stationary distribution and the decay of the stationary tail only depend on the tail of the service distribution, but not on the interarrival distribution. We shall also give explicit criteria for the rate of convergence and decay of stationary tail for three specific types of subgeometric cases (Case 1 : the rate function r(n) = exp(sn(1/1+alpha)), alpha > 0, s > 0; Case 2: polynomial rate function r(n) = n(alpha), alpha > 0; Case 3: logarithmic rate function r(n) = log(alpha) n, alpha > 0).
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POLYNOMIAL INEQUALITIES IN LAVRENTIEV REGIONS WITH INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR ZERO ANGLES IN THE WEIGHTED LEBESGUE SPACE. We study estimation of the modulus of algebraic polynomials in the bounded and unbounded regions with piecewise-quasismooth boundary, having interior and exterior zero angles, in the weighted Lebesgue space.
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Effect of Caffeinated Versus Noncaffeinated Energy Drinks on Central Blood Pressures. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Subjects were randomized to receive either a caffeinated or noncaffeinated energy shot; after a minimum 6 days washout period, subjects were given the alternate energy shot. Peripheral blood pressures, and central hemodynamic parameters, were assessed and recorded for each subject at baseline and at 1 and 3 hours after consumption of the energy shots. Peripheral systolic blood pressure (SBP) increased significantly with the caffeinated energy shot compared with noncaffeinated (8.30 +/- 4.19 mm Hg and -0.20 +/- 5.55, respectively, p=0.009) at 3 hours. Central SBP increased significantly with the caffeinated energy shot compared with noncaffeinated (8.00 +/- 4.03 mm Hg and 1.50 +/- 6.57, respectively, p=0.045) at 3 hours. Peripheral and central diastolic blood pressure were nonsignificantly higher with the caffeinated energy shot at 3 hours. Peripheral and central pulse pressure were consistently higher with consumption of the caffeinated beverage. Heart rate, augmentation index, pulse pressure amplification ratio, ejection duration and Subendocardial Viability Ratio were not different between the two interventions over time. P1 height was significantly higher with the caffeinated shot compared with the noncaffeinated shot at both 1 and 3 hours (p=0.035 and 0.013, respectively). Three and one subjects experienced an adverse effect with the caffeinated and noncaffeinated shot, respectively.PATIENTS Ten healthy volunteers.SETTING University campus.CONCLUSION A caffeinated energy shot acutely increases peripheral and central SBPs compared with a noncaffeinated energy shot. Larger studies with a placebo comparator are needed to assess the significance of peripheral and central hemodynamic changes with noncaffeinated energy drinks.STUDY OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effects of caffeinated energy shots compared with noncaffeinated energy shots as assessed by changes in peripheral and central hemodynamic parameters in healthy subjects.DESIGN Randomized, double-blind, controlled crossover study.
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Deleuze, Politics and Subjectivity. The Parkour or the ludic-political subjectivist of post-urban bodies. This paper aims to establish a connection between the practice of Parkour and aesthetic- political effects in the formation of subjectivity fun to put in place another form of transit in social spaces. Methodological and conceptual framework chosen for this study to develop positions in the order of thought 's Deleuze and the International Situationist. This is intended to make a possible image of the subjectivity involved in politics and everyday practices aesthetically under experiencing new forms of corporeality in the social and community life. That is, a new form of political subjectivity from the playful-aesthetic.
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Slow relaxations in deeply undercooled metallic liquids. Temperature-modulated calorimetry measurements on bulk glass forming Pd-rich alloys are reported that are unaffected by the structural glass transition or by irreversible relaxation phenomena, and that measure the relaxation time spectrum near the glass transition directly. The comparison of the temperature dependencies of the average relaxation times for two Pd-rich alloys with different thermal stability shows that the more stable alloy is more fragile, indicating that vitrification for these alloys is strictly governed by nucleation control. The comparison of the present data with results from static equilibrium measurements indicates further that near the caloric glass transition the description of equilibrium thermodynamic properties, theological quantities and relaxation times can be based on a common divergence limit. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
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Bhio' tu direach ga ithe, bha e cho math = You would just eat it, it was so good' Music, metaphor and food for thought on Scottish Gaelic aesthetics. This paper intends to examine metaphors and other tropes in Scottish Gaelic that are capable of shedding light on local aesthetic attitudes concerning various forms of verbal art and music among Gaelic speakers at the communal level. Special attention will be given to lexemes that are associated with the gustatory and employed by speakers to denote quality and acceptability in a performance or during more general forms of discourse, including blas (taste), brigh (essence), and ith (eat). The symbolic use of these words reveals a blurring in the distinctions of genre boundaries as well as relationships between language and other forms of performance culture, including music, and provides a unique view on the semantic realm of 'taste' in a way that is arguably distinct from its application in dominant Western aesthetic circles. It will also be shown how such concepts of 'taste' and 'essence' are central to the transmission of various forms of intangible culture within Gaelic-speaking communities, revealing the role of such idioms in the maintenance of communal tradition. By exploring the semiotic range of these terms among Scottish Gaelic speakers both synchronically through ethnographic fieldwork and diachronically through corpora of printed texts in the language, it is hoped that deeper insights will be given into the inner mechanics of a Scottish Gaelic aesthetic ethos.
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On the classical analysis of spin-orbit coupling in hydrogenlike atoms. We reanalyze the usual classical derivation of spin-orbit coupling in hydrogenlike atoms. We point out the presence of an additional force exerted on a spinning electron due to the appearance of its electric dipole moment in the rest frame of the nucleus. This force has been ignored, although its inclusion in the electron's equation of motion influences the energy level of an orbiting electron on an equal footing with other effects in the usual analysis of spin-orbit coupling. A fortuitous cancellation between two terms leaves the overall energy level unaffected, which explains in part why this effect has been overlooked. An account of this effect in the Bohr model produces the usual expression for the spin-orbit coupling but with different radii of the electron's orbit for different spatial orientations of the electron's spin. This result is in qualitative agreement with the solution of the Dirac-Coulomb equation for hydrogenlike atoms.
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Frontier Orbital Engineering of Metal-Organic Frameworks with Extended Inorganic Connectivity: Porous Alkaline-Earth Oxides. The development of conductive metal-organic frameworks is challenging owing to poor electronic communication between metal clusters and the organic ligands that bridge them. One route to overcoming this bottleneck is to extend the inorganic dimensionality, while using the organic components to provide chemical functionality. Using density functional theory methods, we demonstrate how the properties of the alkaline-earth oxides SrO and BaO are ttansformed upon formation of porous solids with organic oxygen sources (acetate and trifluorocetate). The electron affinity is significantly enhanced in the hybrid materials, while the ionization potential can be tuned over a large range with the polarity of the organic moiety. Furthermore, because of their high-vacuum fraction, these materials have dielectric, properties suitable for low-kappa applications.
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Dissolved inorganic nitrogen fluxes from common Florida Bay (USA) sponges. Sponge biomass represents the largest heterotrophic component of benthic biota in the Florida Bay ecosystem. These organisms can significantly alter the water quality of their surrounding environment through biogeochemical transformations of nutrient elements resulting from their dynamic pumping, water filtration, and respiration processes. Ammonium (NH4+) and nitrate plus nitrite (NO3- + NO2-; NOx-) fluxes were obtained for 11 ecologically important species at three sites within Florida Bay, Florida (U.S.A.) utilizing chamber incubations on undisturbed individual sponges. Significant dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) effluxes ranging between 9.0 +/- 2.2 mu mol N h(-1) L-sponge(-1) and 141 +/- 26 mu mol N h(-1) L-sponge(-1) were observed for eight of the 11 tested sponges; specifically, from six of eight tested high-microbial abundance (HMA) sponges, and from two of three tested low-microbial abundance (LMA) sponges. The abundant HMA species Chondrilla nucula showed the highest, volume-normalized rate of DIN release. These fluxes represent a continuation of the previously observed dichotomy in the chemical speciation of DIN in exhalent waters of LMA and HMA sponges, with NH4+ and NOx- dominating their respective exhalent jets. Surprisingly, we found that dissolved organic matter (DOM) appeared to make a negligible contribution to the total released N, but we hypothesize that the lack of DOM utilization or production was due to methodological limitations. Our flux data combined with sponge biomass estimates indicate that sponges, particularly HMA species, are a large, and potentially dominant, source of inorganic nitrogen to Florida Bay waters.
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Numerical analysis of four wave mixing in photonic crystal semiconductor optical amplifier. In this paper, we present a theoretical analysis of four-wave mixing (FWM) between short optical pulses in a photonic crystal semiconductor optical amplifier (PC-SOA). The proposed model is based on a nonlinear propagation equation by taking into account self-phase modulation (SPM), carrier density pulsations (CDP), carrier healing (CH), and spectral-hole burning (SHB). To analyse the FWM in a PC-SOA, pulse evolution in a temporal and spectral domain are investigated. Also, the optical fluid method is used in the photonic structure for design and engineering an appropriate bandwidth with constant group index to analyse the FWM mechanism. The bandwidth is designed in the L-Band region of telecommunication optical networks. Based on calculated results, it is depicted that for low energy short pulses, the conversion efficiency (CE) of PC-SOA is higher than conventional SOA. Furthermore, it is shown that, by increasing the injection current the CE is increased.
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Effects of hormone replacement therapy on plaque stability, inflammation, and fibrinolysis in hypertensive or overweight postmenopausal women. Observational studies of the long-term effects of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) have generally demonstrated favorable cardiovascular effects.(1) The beneficial effects of HRT may involve nonlipid mechanisms that affect endothelial function: Plaque stability, inflammatory responses, and fibrinolysis. Hypertension and obesity are associated with \\'insulin resistance syndrome\\' and a prothrombic state.(2,3) Accordingly, HRT may not have comparable benefit in hypertensive or overweight postmenopausal women.
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XPS STUDY OF IN-SITU OXIDATION OF AN FE-CR ALLOY BY LOW-PRESSURE OXYGEN IN THE PRESENCE OF WATER-VAPOR. The reaction of O2 with a sputter cleaned Fe-25 at% Cr alloy surface has been studied at 300 K at pressures of 10(8)-10(-6) Torr in the presence and absence of water vapor, using XPS, ARXPS and ARAES. Line shape analysis and non-linear least squares fitting routines were employed to model the composition of the oxide films formed. No reaction with water vapor was observed and its presence did not influence the oxidation kinetics and the oxide film composition. The reaction with O2 yields surface oxides with concentration gradients that can be modeled by a multilayer structure. Starting from the outer oxide surface the predominant species are Fe3+, Fe2+, Cr3+, and an iron enriched layer on the alloy substrate.
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Market mechanisms for policy decisions: Tools for the European Union. The success of an enlarged European Union will require transparent and subtle mechanisms for policy coordination. A common policy is a public good, and economists have developed many schemes for the efficient provision of public goods. The European Union offers a promising soil for such schemes, but they must be simple and tailored to its specific needs. The paper discusses two possible examples: A system of tradable deficit permits implementing the fiscal constraints of the Maastricht treaty; and a rule allowing country representatives to shift their own votes intertemporally when deliberations are taken in periodic committee meetings. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B,V. All rights reserved.
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Thermoelectric and electrical transport properties of Mg2Si multi-doped with Sb, Al and Zn. Enhanced thermoelectric and electrical transport properties of Mg2Si-based thermoelectric materials have been achieved by multi-doping with Sb, Al and Zn. Results on the investigation of the electrical transport and thermoelectric properties of multi-doped samples prepared using the spark plasma sintering technique are reported. Synchrotron radiation powder X-ray diffraction was used to characterize the structures of the doped samples. The electrical transport properties were determined from mid-infrared reflectivities, Hall effect and conventional quasi-four probe conductivity measurements. Using the electron concentrations (N) determined from the Hall coefficients, the effective masses (m*) were calculated from the frequency of the plasma edge (omega(P)) of the infrared reflectivities. The thermoelectric performance and thermoelectric figure of merits (ZT) in the temperature range of 300 K to 900 K of the doped Mg2Si compounds were calculated from the measured temperature dependent electrical conductivity (s), Seebeck coefficient (S), and thermal conductivity (k). A maximum ZT of 0.964 was found for Sb0.5% Zn0.5% doped Mg2Si at 880 K. This value is comparable to those of PbTe based thermoelectric materials.
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An update on imaging of tarsal tunnel syndrome. Tarsal tunnel syndrome (TTS) is an entrapment neuropathy of the tibial nerve (TN) within the tarsal tunnel (TT) at the level of the tibio-talar and/or talo-calcaneal joints. Making a diagnosis of TTS can be challenging, especially when symptoms overlap with other conditions and electrophysiological studies lack specificity. Imaging, in particular MRI, can help identify causative factors in individuals with suspected TTS and help aid surgical management. In this article, we review the anatomy of the TT, the diagnosis of TTS, aetiological factors implicated in TTS and imaging findings, with an emphasis on MRI.
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Preparation and Characterization of Ultrasonically Sprayed Zinc Oxide Thin Films Doped with Lithium. Zinc oxide thin films doped with Li were deposited by ultrasonic spray pyrolysis (USP) at 350 +/- A 5A degrees C on glass substrates from solutions of zinc acetate [Zn(CH3COO)(2) center dot A 2H(2)O] and lithium acetate [C2H3LiO2 center dot A 2H(2)O], in which the Li/Li + Zn ratios were 1 at.%, 3 at.%, and 5 at.%. The effects of the doping on the structural, optical, electrical, and morphological properties of the films were examined. X-ray diffraction patterns indicated that the undoped and Li-doped ZnO films had a polycrystalline hexagonal wurtzite structure with a (002) preferred orientation. The films showed optical transmission around 60-80% in the visible region of the spectrum. The films were found to be transparent in the wavelength range of 450-900 nm, with sharp ultraviolet absorption edges in the wavelength range of 350-450 nm. The absorption edge analysis revealed that the optical band gap energies for the films were between 3.24 eV and 3.29 eV, and the electronic transition was of the direct transition type. The width of the band tail states, which is connected to the localized states in the band gap, was estimated to be 82-113 meV by Urbach tail analysis. For study of the electrical properties of the films, Hall effect measurements, electrical conductivities, conductivity activation, and trap energies were investigated. The electrical measurements of the films were obtained in the dark, in vacuum, and in the temperature range of 10-300 K. Morphological studies for the films were carried out by scanning electron microscopy.
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On the explosion length invariance in direct initiation of detonation. In this paper, the critical energies required to initiate a cylindrical or spherical detonation are measured experimentally in ethylene-air mixtures at ambient conditions. These results are used to validate the critical explosion length invariance, linking the critical energies in the different geometries. For the entire range of mixtures investigated, the critical explosion length R-O* was found to be invariant with geometry. The critical explosion length was found to correlate well with the cell size of the mixture, yielding R-O* congruent to 32 lambda. Measurements of the shock wave velocity in the critical regime indicated that for both spherical and cylindrical detonations, the final formation of a self-sustained detonation occurred at a radius on the order of the critical explosion length R-O* suggesting that an important length scale in the direct initiation of detonation is the explosion length. A transitional geometry between spherical and cylindrical was also investigated by using finite lengths of detonating cords for initiation. It was found that when the critical length of cord is smaller than approximately R-O*, it is the total energy of the source that governs whether detonation is initiated, as in spherical initiation. However, when the length of cord is longer than R-O* detonation is governed by the energy per unit length, as in the case of cylindrical initiation. The present results are in accord with the results found by Matsui and Lee in their investigation of direct initiation of acetylene-oxygen mixtures by linear sparks, suggesting that these scaling laws are universal for both fuel-oxygen and fuel-air mixtures.
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Evaluation of meals skin temperature formulas by infrared thermography. To study the reliability of formulas for calculating mean skin temperature (T-sk), values were computed by 18 different techniques and were compared with the mean of 10,841 skin temperatures measured by infrared thermography. One hundred whole-body infrared thermograms were scanned in ten resting males while changing the air temperature from 40 degrees C to 4 degrees C. Local, regional average and mean skin temperatures were obtained using an image processing system. The agreement frequency, defined as the percentage of the calculated T-sk values which agreed with the corresponding infrared thermographic T-sk within +/-0.2 degrees C, ranged for with the various formulas from 7% to 80%. In many sites, the local skin temperature did not coincide with the regional average skin temperature. When the local skin temperatures which showed the highest percentage similarity to the regional average skin temperature within +/-0.4 degrees C were applied to the formula, the agreement frequency was markedly improved for all formulas. However, the agreement frequency was not affected by changing the weighting factors from specific constants to individually measured values of regional surface area. By applying the physiologically reliable accuracy range of +/-0.2 degrees C in the moderate and +/-0.4 degrees C in the cool condition, agreement frequencies of at least 95% were observed in formulas involving seven or more skin temperature measurement sites, including the hand and foot. We conclude that calculation of a reliable mean skin temperature must involve more than seven skin temperature measurement sites regardless of ambient temperature. Optimal sites for skin temperature measurement are proposed for various formulas.
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Informatics Leaders in Radiology: Who They Are and Why You Need Them. IT in health care has evolved rapidly over the past 20 years. The rise of the computer is at the core of these changes. Most agree that although these technologies have revolutionized the practice of medicine, they have additionally fostered a data revolution that is simultaneously useful and disruptive. The effective use and implementation of the right IT tools are critical to the success of the imaging profession. This article serves as a guideline to radiologists on how to build an effective IT division within an imaging enterprise from the perspective of leadership, management, and human resources. We address the process for building an IT team from the ground up and also provide recommendations for modifying an existing IT group to make it more effective. Paramount to this discussion is the concept of the imaging informatics professional and the advantage this type of training brings to a radiology department. In addition, we focus on the critical role of the physician informaticist as a liaison to bridge gaps among the IT, medical, and administrative functions in an organization.
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Comparative cytogenetics of Hoplias malabaricus (Pisces, Erythrinidae): A population analysis in adjacent hydrographic basins. The chromosomes of specimens from four Hoplias malabaricus populations from headwaters of adjacent river basins at Ponta Grossa, southern Brazil, were investigated using differential staining techniques (C-banding, AgNO3, and CMA(3)) and fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) with an 18S rDNA probe. The diploid chromosome number in representatives of all four populations was invariably 2n = 42, with karyotypes composed of 12 pairs of metacentrics and 9 pairs of submetacentrics, without heteromorphic sex chromosomes. This kind of karyotype represents cytotype A in regard to cytotypes identified previously in H. malabaricus, exhibiting however, at the same time, some differences in the distribution of constitutive heterochromatin segments and in the locations of nucleolus organizer regions (NORs). The apparent karyotype similarity strongly suggests a close kinship among the studied populations, but the small differences detected in the examined chromosomal markers indicate some evolutionary divergence due to gene flow restriction among them.
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Rogue wave train generation in a metamaterial induced by cubic-quintic nonlinearities and second-order dispersion. We investigate the behavior of the electromagnetic wave that propagates in a metamaterial for negative index regime. Second-order dispersion and cubic-quintic nonlinearities are taken into account. The behavior obtained for negative index regime is compared to that observed for absorption regime. The collective coordinates technique is used to characterize the light pulse intensity profile at some frequency ranges. Five frequency ranges have been pointed out. The perfect combination of second-order dispersion and cubic nonlinearity leads to a robust soliton at each frequency range for negative index regime. The soliton peak power progressively decreases for absorption regime. Further, this peak power also decreases with frequency. We show that absorption regime can induce rogue wave trains generation at a specific frequency range. However, this rogue wave trains generation is maintained when the quintic nonlinearity comes into play for negative index regime and amplified for absorption regime at a specific frequency range. It clearly appears that rogue wave behavior strongly depends on the frequency and the regime considered. Furthermore, the stability conditions of the electromagnetic wave have also been discussed at frequency ranges considered for both negative index and absorption regimes.
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Synergy between oligosaccharides and probiotics: From metabolic properties to beneficial effects. Synbiotic is defined as the dietary mixture that comprises both probiotic microorganisms and prebiotic substrates. The concept has been steadily gaining attention owing to the rising recognition of probiotic, prebiotics, and gut health. Among prebiotic substances, oligosaccharides demonstrated considerable health beneficial effects in varieties of food products and their combination with probiotics have been subjected to full range of evaluations. This review delineated the landscape of studies using microbial cultures, cell lines, animal model, and human subjects to explore the functional properties and host impacts of these combinations. Overall, the results suggested that these combinations possess respective metabolic properties that could facilitate beneficial activities therefore could be employed as dietary interventions for human health improvement and therapeutic purposes. However, uncertainties, such as applicational practicalities, underutilized analytical tools, contradictory results in studies, unclear mechanisms, and legislation hurdles, still challenges the broad utilization of these combinations. Future studies to address these issues may not only advance current knowledge on probiotic-prebiotic-host interrelationship but also promote respective applications in food and nutrition.
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ESHRE guideline: routine psychosocial care in infertility and medically assisted reproduction-a guide for fertility staff. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS: The evidence presented in this guideline shows that providing routine psychosocial care is associated with or has potential to reduce stress and concerns about medical procedures and improve lifestyle outcomes, fertility-related knowledge, patient well-being and compliance with treatment. As only 45 (36.0%) of the 125 recommendations were based on high-quality evidence, the guideline group formulated recommendations to guide future research with the aim of increasing the body of evidence.WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN: The 2002 ESHRE Guidelines for counselling in infertility has been a reference point for best psychosocial care in infertility for years, but this guideline needed updating and did not focus on routine psychosocial care that can be delivered by all fertility staff.STUDY, DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION: This guideline was produced by a group of experts in the field according to the 12-step process described in the ESHRE Manual for Guideline Development. After scoping the guideline and listing a set of 12 key questions in PICO (Patient, Intervention, Comparison and Outcome) format, thorough systematic searches of the literature were conducted; evidence from papers published until April 2014 was collected, evaluated for quality and analysed. Asummary of evidence was written in a reply to each of the key questions and used as the basis for recommendations, which were defined by consensus within the guideline development group (GDG). Patient and additional clinical input was collected during the scoping and the review phase of the guideline development.SUMMARY ANSWER: Using the structured methodology of the Manual for the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) Guideline Development, 120 recommendations were formulated that answered the 12 key questions on optimal management of routine psychosocial care by all fertility staff.PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS: The guideline group, comprisingpsychologists, two medical doctors, a midwife, a patient representative and a methodological expert, met three times to discuss evidence and reach consensus on the recommendations. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: the guideline provides: 120 recommendations that aim at guiding fertility clinic staff in providing optimal evidence-based routine psychosocial care to patients dealing with infertility and MAR. The guideline is written in two sections. The first section describes patients' preferences regarding the psychosocial care they would like to receive at clinics and how this care is associated with their well-being. The second section of the guideline provides information about the psychosocial needs patients experience across their treatment pathway (before, during and after treatment) and how fertility clinic staff can detect and address these. Needs refer to conditions assumed necessary for patients to have a healthy experience of the fertility treatment. Needs can be behavioural (lifestyle, exercise, nutrition and compliance), relational (relationship with partner if there is one, family friends and larger network, and work), emotional (well-being, e.g. anxiety, depression and quality of life) and cognitive (treatment concerns and knowledge).LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION: We identified many areas in care for which robust evidence was lacking. Gaps in evidence were addressed by formulating good practice points, based on the expert opinion of theGDG, but it is critical for such recommendations to be empirically validated.STUDY QUESTION: Based on the best available evidence in the literature, what is the optimal management of routine psychosocial care at infertility and medically assisted reproduction (MAR) clinics?
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Rapid Photothermal Synthesis of Polyurethane from Blocked Isocyanates. Though it has been shown that the photothermal heating by pulsed lasers can provide localized heat to cure polymers at an enhanced rate without bulk temperature changes, such an approach has been unsuccessful at driving chemical transformations that require large increases in bulk temperature-such as the curing of blocked isocyanates. We show that photothermal heating using 1 W of continuous wave laser power directed toward a mixture of 6 wt % carbon black in a blocked isocyanate is sufficient to reach temperatures near 142 degrees C. Additionally, using both infrared and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopies, we demonstrate that this heat is sufficient to drive the deblocking of a trimer of hexamethylene diisocyanate blocked by methyl ethyl ketoxime. We also show that 1 s of such heating produces the same degree of deblocking as 8 11 in an oven held at 160 \\'C. Finally, we demonstrate that photothermal heating can also drive the formation of a urethane bond that is spectroscopically identical to that produced after oven heating at 160 degrees C for 1 h. This work shows that photothermal heating with carbon black and a CW laser can provide bulk heat necessary for high temperature reactions while maintaining the photothermally induced kinetic advantage of localized heat.
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CADMIUM TRANSPORT THROUGH MOLTEN-SALTS IN THE REPROCESSING OF SPENT FUEL FOR THE INTEGRAL FAST-REACTOR. The reprocessing of spent fuel from the Integral Fast Reactor is to be accomplished with a pyrochemical process employing molten LiCl-KCl salt covering a pool of cadmium. An examination of this system demonstrates that cadmium metal is soluble to a small extent in this salt and that it diffuses through the salt covering and vaporizes at the surface. The cadmium is soluble in the salt because of either chemical or physical solubility, both of which are dependent on the salt's surface tension. Mixing increases the vaporization rate of the cadmium by increasing its transport to the salt surface. The cadmium vapors can therefore be reduced by decreasing the mixing conditions, by choosing a salt with a higher surface tension so that the cadmium is less soluble, or by decreasing the temperature of the system, thereby lowering the vapor pressure of the cadmium.
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Acute lymphocytic leukemia after fulminant varicella associated with severe neutropenia. Acute lymphocytic leukemia developed within 3 weeks after a fulminant case of varicella complicated by pneumococcal sepsis and severe bone marrow suppression in a child treated with filgrastim (human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor).
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Psychometric validation of the authorized Polish version of the Neck Disability Index. Purpose: Psychometric validation of the authorized Polish version of the Neck Disability Index (NDI). Methods: Ninety-five patients with neck pain were enrolled. Reliability was assessed through Cronbach's alpha, split-half reliability, intra-class correlation (ICC) and agreement between measures with limits of agreement using the interval of 48 hours. Validity was determined by the Pearson correlation of the NDI with VAS. Responsiveness included mainly Pearson correlations of score changes on the NDI with the Global rating of change (GRC) scale. Minimal detectable change (MDC) and factor analysis were performed. The cut-point for the change, with its sensitivity and specificity, and the area under the curve were determined with the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Results: Cronbach's alpha and split-half reliability were satisfactory. The ICC was 0.99. Bland and Altman analysis indicated an acceptable agreement between the measures. The correlation between the NDI and VAS was 0.55. Responsiveness estimated by the correlations between change scores of the NDI and GRC was -0.73 and -0.56. The MDC was 5.96. Factor analyses demonstrated a two-factor structure. The cut-point for detecting a change was 6.5. The sensitivity was 90% and specificity was 81%. Conclusions: The Polish version of the NDI showed good psychometric properties. It can be used both in clinical and research practice.
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Characterization of changes in therapeutic ultrasound transducer performance over time using the angular spectrum method. Strongly focused large aperture transducers used in high-intensity focused ultrasound treatments are prone to manufacturing defects and degradation. Current methods for evaluating transducer quality measure only bulk physical changes of transducers. We have determined the pressure distribution at the transducer surface, using the angular spectrum method, to detect defects of the transducer. Three therapeutic transducers were investigated. The pressure distribution at the focal plane of each transducer was measured and input into a back-projection algorithm to calculate the pressure distribution at the transducer surface. A number of scan window sizes were used for the pressure distribution measurement at the focal plane to determine the effect on the resolution of the calculated pressure distribution at the transducer surface. Results showed that one transducer might have suffered manufacturing defects. The second transducer degraded over 1 year of use with one half of the transducer suffering a partial loss of efficiency. The third transducer remained unchanged over 1 year. The scan window of 40 mm x 40 mm at the focal plane was required to identify defects 6 mm in diameter on the transducer surface. The results demonstrate that the angular spectrum method could be a useful tool for evaluating transducer quality.
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Program sustainability post PEPFAR direct service support in the Western Cape, South Africa. Conclusion Sustainability is complex, context dependent, and is reliant on various processes and outcomes. This study suggests additional health facility and community level staff should be employed in the health system to ensure RIC sustainability. Sustainability requires joint donor coordination with experienced local organizations with strong managers before during and after program implementation. If the program is as large as the South African HIV effort some dedicated additional resources in the long term would be required.Background Public health practitioners have little guidance around how to plan for the sustainability of donor sponsored programs after the donor withdraws. The literature is broad and provides no consensus on a definition of sustainability. This study used a mixed-methods methodology to assess program sustainability factors to inform donor-funded programs.Methods This study examined 61 health facilities in the Western Cape, South Africa, supported by four PEPFAR-funded non-governmental organizations from 2007 to 2012. Retention in care (RIC) was used to determine health facility performance. Sustainability was measured by comparing RIC during PEPFAR direct service (20072012), to RIC in the post PEPFAR period (2013 to 2015). Forty-three semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with key informants. The qualitative data were used to examine how predictor variables were operationalized at a health facility and NGO level.Sufficient and stable resources (i.e., financial, human resources, technical expertise, equipment, physical space) Investment in organizations that understand the local context and have strong relationships with local government. Strong leadership at a health facility level Joint planning/coordination and formalized skill transfer Local positive perceived value of the program PartnershipsResults Our qualitative results suggest the following lessons for the sustainability of future programs:
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Dispersive of propagation wave solutions to unidirectional shallow water wave Dullin-Gottwald-Holm system and modulation instability analysis. This article possesses modulation instability (MI) analysis and new exact wave solutions to unidirectionalDullin-Gottwald-Holm (DGH) system that describes the prorogation of waves in shallow water. The exact wave solutions in single and combined form like shock, singular, and shock-singular are extracted by means of an innovative integration norm, namely, (G'/G(2)) -expansion scheme. The periodic and plane wave solutions are also emerged. The constraint conditionswhich ensure the existence of solutions are discussed aswell. Moreover, the choice of suitable parameters gives the three- dimensional and two-dimensional sketches, and furthermore, their contour plots are also drawn.
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PHARMACOKINETICS AND METABOLISM OF CYCLOPHOSPHAMIDE ADMINISTERED AFTER TOTAL-BODY IRRADIATION OF BONE-MARROW TRANSPLANT RECIPIENTS. High-dose cyclophosphamide is used immediately after total body irradiation (TBI) in conditioning for bone marrow transplantation (BMT). Possible interactions of the two treatment modalities were sought by measuring the blood pharmacokinetics of CP and 4-hydroxy-cyclophosphamide (4-HOCP) in patients undergoing BMT.There was a non-significant trend to a shorter half-life of CP compared to reported values. Exposure to 4-HOCP, the major metabolite of CP, did not appear to be altered by prior TBI of the patient.
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Foot Pressure Pattern During Walking in Individuals with Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury. Background: We evaluated foot pressure distribution during walking in individuals with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury.Methods: Our study included 24 ACL-deficient patients and 22 healthy young adults as controls. The former group was divided into the dominant-side ACL-deficient group (n = 17) and the nondominant-side ACL-deficient group (n = 7). The following parameters were calculated from the path of the center of pressure (COP) on a foot pressure distribution system: percentage of COP (% COP; the ratio of anteroposterior COP path length to foot length), percentage of COP locus area (% CLA; the ratio of the area encompassed by the COP path and a line between the start and end points of the COP path to foot area), and the value of maximum amplitude of COP (MACOP; the maximum perpendicular length from the COP path to a line between the start and end points of the COP).Results: In the nondominant-side ACL-deficient group, % COP (P = .026), % CLA (P = .001), and MACOP (P = .012) on the injured side were significantly lower than those in the nondominant leg side of the control group. No significant differences were found between the dominant-side ACL-deficient group and the control group.Conclusions: Shortening of the COP trace in the nondominant-side ACL-deficient group may be associated with knee flexion during walking at heel contact. Because the parameters used herein can be obtained easily, repetitively, and quantitatively, they should be used in evaluating the gait of patients with ACL-deficient knees.
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226
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GLOBAL STABILITY IN A TUBERCULOSIS MODEL INCORPORATING TWO LATENT PERIODS. A tuberculosis (TB) model with two latent periods, short-term latent period (E(1)) and long-term latent period (E(2)), and fast and slow progressions is analyzed. The stability of the unique endemic equilibrium of the model is proved. It turns out that the disease-free equilibrium is globally asymptotically stable if the basic reproduction number R(0) <= 1, and the endemic equilibrium is globally asymptotically stable if R(0) > 1.
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[
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213
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Electron impact ionization cross-sections of n-heptane. Electron impact ionization of n-heptane was studied using mass spectrometry. Cross-sections for the formation of molecular ion and ionic fragments are measured between 10 eV and 86 eV with a total cross-section of 1.5 x 10(-16) cm(2) towards 50 eV. The molecular ion is the most abundant below 16 eV. The present results display good agreement between the measured total ionization cross-sections and the calculated one with the BEB model. Five ions CnH2n+1+ (2 <= n <= 6) result from a simple C-C bond split in the molecular ion. C3H7+, identified as isopropyl cation, is the most abundant of the ionic species above 16 eV. Four ions CnH2n+ (2 <= n <= 5) result from a C-C bond split with H-atom rearrangement. C3H6+, identified as propene cation, is the most abundant of these four cations above 35 eV. Five other ions, CnH2n-1+ (2 <= n <= 4), cyclopropenyl and methyl cations may result from the ionization of C4H9, the major alkyl issued from the fragmentation of the molecular ion. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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Long term instabilities in the defect assembly in irradiated high resistivity silicon detectors. It has been shown that the concentration of the C-i-O-i complex increased at RT (room temperature, 22 degrees C) annealing and obeyed the second order reaction. Successive steps of irradiation and annealing were performed, which stimulated excessive concentration of the C-i-O-i complex; generated additional centers in silicon increased oxygen content from heat treatment applied in the detector manufacturing. The results imply that the instability in the defect assembly in irradiated silicon can arise from the complexes including impurities of carbon and oxygen.Transformation of radiation induced, carbon related defects in high resistivity silicon detectors under multistep irradiation and annealing has been investigated in connection with the problem of reverse annealing of the effective space charge concentration, N-eff, in the space charge region of irradiated detectors. Kinetic behavior of these defects as possible candidates which affect N-eff has been studied using C-DLTS (capacitance deep level transient spectroscopy) technique after room temperature and elevated temperature annealing. Defect transformation has been identified in the form the decay of radiation induced interstitial carbon, which follows the equation of a first order reaction, and the simultaneous generation of C-i-O-i and C-i-C-s complexes.
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Defect-induced optical and electrical property modification in amorphous InGaZnO4 films. We report the physical characteristics of InGaZnO4 films deposited at various temperatures. The films were deposited on Al2O3(0001) substrates using pulsed laser deposition technique. Based on X-ray diffraction and field emission scanning electron microscopy measurements, the crystal structure changed from amorphous to poly-crystalline as deposition temperature increased to 550 degrees C. Furthermore, UV-vis measurements revealed a decrease in tail state i.e. improvement of local ordering, resulting in an increase of optical band-gap energy as deposition temperature increased. The core-level X-ray photoelectron spectra also showed an increase (decrease) in metal-oxide (oxygen deficiency) bond as the deposition temperature increased. The carrier concentration, Hall mobility and conductivity variation with deposition temperature are related to the competition between oxygen deficiency and grain boundary formation. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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[
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280
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Optimization of tumor ablation volume for nanoparticle-mediated thermal therapy. Nanoparticle-assisted thermal therapy for therapeutic tumor specific heating is emerging as a promising, minimally-invasive future cancer treatment. For efficient ablation of a tumor with minimum damage to the healthy tissue, the controlling factors must be optimized a-priori. In this study, a two dimensional tissue domain, comprising tumor diameters from 1 cm to 3 cm, were used to optimize the controlling factors of tumor ablation volume. In particular, irradiance, irradiation duration and particle volume fraction were varied to optimize the thermal damage (i.e. calculated from the Arrhenius equation in combination with Pennes' bioheat model). Taguchi's full factorial approach was used with an L27 orthogonal array for the controlling factors. The 'nominalthe-best' approach was implemented to target the optimal ablation volume for each tumor size. The results show that ablation volume increases from irradiance level of 0.75 W/cm(2) to 1.50 W/cm(2), irradiation duration of 70-80 s to 120-130 s and from a particle volume fraction of 0.00001% to a volume fraction of 0.0001% (i.e. from low to high levels for each parameters) for each tumor size. It was also found that these controlling factors showed the highest gradients for larger tumor diameters. Among the controlling factors, irradiance emerges as the significant factor, with a pronounced effect on tumor ablation volume. Ultimately, the study shows that this approach can be used to define a precise set of controlling factors (specific for each tumor size) to achieve the target ablation volume with minimum variation, resulting in an efficient thermal therapy.
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[
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319
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Adlayer control for tunable AlGaN self-assembled superlattices. AlGaN self-assembled superlattices (SASLs) and their customization were investigated via metal modulated epitaxy. Using the dynamics of metal accumulation, surface strain, and surface segregation, coherent SASL structures were demonstrated with high repeatability over 910 nm (63 periods) with no growth interrupts at rates as high as 2.8 mu m/h. High customizability was shown with control over period thickness as well as the thickness of the individual layers. Factors effecting the thickness and composition of each layer are discussed and methods of customization are presented. Transmission electron microscopy shows abrupt interfaces between individual layers of the SASL and good coherency throughout the structure and strong wavelength tunable ultraviolet photoluminescence was observed. Such a method of SASL fabrication offers promise for the growth of multi-quantum well structures, distributed Bragg reflectors, strain relaxation buffers, and beyond without the need for growth interrupts, and thus unintentional contaminant incorporation, between layers.
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[
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275
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White blood cell evaluation in haematological malignancies using a web-based digital microscopy platform. Introduction Digital microscopy systems are beginning to replace traditional light microscopes for morphologic analysis of blood films, but these are geographically restricted to individual computers and technically limited by manufacturer's constraints. We explored the use of a scanner-agnostic web-based artificial intelligence (AI) system to assess the accuracy of white blood cell (WBC) differentials and blast identification in haematological malignancies. Methods Digitized images of 20 normal and 124 abnormal peripheral blood films were uploaded to the web-based platform (Techcyte (c)) and WBC differentials performed using the online AI software. Digital images were viewed for accuracy and manual cell reassignment was performed where necessary. Results were correlated to the 'gold standard' of manual microscopy for each WBC class, and sensitivity and specificity of blast identification were calculated. Results The AI digital differential was very strongly correlated to microscopy (r > .8) for most normal cell types and did not require any manual reassignment. The AI digital differential was less reliable for abnormal blood films (r = .50-.87), but could be greatly improved by manual assessment of digital images for most cell types (r > .95) with the exception of immature granulocytes (r = .62). For blast identification, initial AI digital differentials showed 96% sensitivity and 25% specificity, which was improved to 99% and 84%, respectively, after manual digital review. Conclusions The Techcyte platform allowed remote viewing and manual analysis of digitized slides that was comparable to microscopy. The AI software produced adequate WBC differentials for normal films and had high sensitivity for blast identification in malignant films.
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145
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Hume-Rothery stabilization mechanism and e/a determination for RT- and MI-type 1/1-1/1-1/1 approximants studied by FLAPW-Fourier analyses. Full-potential linearized augmented plane wave (FLAPW) electronic band calculations were performed for two RT-(rhombic triacontahedron) and five MI-(Mackay icosahedron) type 1/1-1/1-1/1 approximants plus several complex metallic compounds in Al-TM (TM = transition metal element) binary alloy systems in order to elucidate the origin of a pseudogap from the viewpoint of Fermi surface-Brillouin zone (FsBz) interactions. The square of the Fermi diameter (2k(F))(2) and square of the critical reciprocal lattice vector vertical bar G vertical bar(2) or the critical set of lattice planes, with which electrons at the Fermi level E-F are interfering, can be extracted from the FLAPW-Fourier method. We revealed that a pseudogap in both RT- and MI-type 1/1-1/1-1/1 approximants universally originates from interference phenomenon satisfying the matching condition (2k(F))(2) = vertical bar G vertical bar(2) equal to 50 in units of (2 pi/a)(2), where a is the lattice constant. The multi-zone effect involving not only vertical bar G vertical bar(2) = 50 but also its neighboring ones is also claimed to be responsible for constituting a pseudogap across E-F. The value of e/a for Mn, Fe, Re and Ru elements in the periodic table is deduced to be positive in the neighborhood of unity. All 1/1-1/1-1/1 approximants, regardless of RT- or MI-type atomic cluster involved, are stabilized at around e/a = 2.7, while their counterpart quasicrystals are at around e/a = 2.2. A new Hume-Rothery electron concentration rule linking the number of atoms per unit cell, e/uc, with a critical vertical bar G vertical bar(2) holds well for all complex intermetallic compounds characterized by a pseudogap at E-F.
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In-vitro activity of a new oral streptogramin, RPR 106972, alone and in combination with rifampicin or ciprofloxacin against Legionella spp.. The in-vitro activity of RPR 106972, a new oral streptogramin, was compared with that of erythromycin, ciprofloxacin, and rifampicin against 45 Legionella sop. White rifampicin was the most active of atl agents tested, RPR 106972 demonstrated activity comparable to that of erythromycin and ciprofloxacin. Usually, indifference was seen when RPR 106972 was tested in combination with rifampicin or ciprofloxacin.
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150
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Who is worthy of my generosity?' Recipient characteristics and the development of children's sharing. Previous research has shown that the majority of 8-year-old children share valuable resources equally with others, whereas 4-year-olds are more likely to favor themselves in their sharing allocations. In this study, we examine whether these patterns of sharing behavior are affected by the needs of the recipient or by the recipient's previous moral or immoral actions. One-hundred and sixty 4- and 8-year-old children had the opportunity to share stickers with hypothetical recipients who were assigned varying characteristics. For both age groups, sharing increased when recipients were needy (i.e., feels sad or has few toys) and morally deserving (i.e., shares with other children and does not push). The differentiation of sharing based on recipient characteristics increased between 4 and 8 years of age, with 8-year-olds also demonstrating decreased sharing when recipients were morally undeserving (i.e., pushes other children and does not share). Our findings provide evidence that children show increased sharing with recipients who are morally deserving and those who demonstrate need. This suggests that children indirectly reciprocate others' past moral behavior and behave more altruistically towards those with higher need.
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203
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Mortality Forecasting Using Neural Networks and an Application to Cause-Specific Data for Insurance Purposes. Mortality forecasting is important for life insurance policies, as well as in other areas. Current techniques for forecasting mortality in the USA involve the use of the Lee-Carter model, which is primarily used without regard to Cause. A method for forecasting morality is proposed which involves the use of neural networks. A comparative analysis is done between the Lee-Carter model, linear trend and the proposed method. The results confirm that the use of neural networks performs better than the Lee-Carter and linear trend model within 5% error. Furthermore, mortality rates and life expectancy were formulated for individuals with a specific cause based on prevalence data. The rates are broken down further into respective stages (cancer) based on the individual's diagnosis. Therefore, this approach allows life expectancy to be calculated based on an individual's state of health. Copyright (C) 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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156
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Policy advice in technology assessment: Shifting roles, principles and boundaries. Over past decades, the notion of policy advice in technology assessment (TA) has widened, going beyond traditional advice in the form of expert opinions by adding a broad range of brokerage activities. Concomitantly, the roles of scientific policy advisors have diversified.Based on an empirical study of advisory practices at the Institute of Technology Assessment (ITA) at the Austrian Academy of Sciences, we ask which advisory roles TA practitioners adopt. Our study shows that practitioners take up multiple roles: the decisionist advisor, the deliberative practitioner, the governance facilitator, the engaged academic, and the agenda-setter. These roles vary, inter alia, in the dominant modes of policy advice and the aspired function in politics and society and correlate with specific project and advisory constellations but also with paradigmatic beliefs of TA practitioners. Our analysis further exemplifies how these roles differ in a) the reference to and interpretation of core principles such as scientificity, neutrality and relevance and b) their strategies of managing the boundary between science and politics. Thus, the article goes beyond the mere statement \\'TA has politics\\' by illustrating how the politics of TA manifests in distinct ways in different roles of TA practitioners in policy advice.
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[
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61
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Modified Industrial Three-Dimensional Polylactic Acid Scaffold Cell Chip Promotes the Proliferation and Differentiation of Human Neural Stem Cells. In this study, we fabricated a three-dimensional (3D) scaffold using industrial polylactic acid (PLA), which promoted the proliferation and differentiation of human neural stem cells. An industrial PLA 3D scaffold (IPTS) cell chip with a square-shaped pattern was fabricated via computer-aided design and printed using a fused deposition modeling technique. To improve cell adhesion and cell differentiation, we coated the IPTS cell chip with gold nanoparticles (Au-NPs), nerve growth factor (NGF) protein, an NGF peptide fragment, and sonic hedgehog (SHH) protein. The proliferation of F3.Olig2 neural stem cells was increased in the IPTS cell chips coated with Au-NPs and NGF peptide fragments when compared with that of the cells cultured on non-coated IPTS cell chips. Cells cultured on the IPTS-SHH cell chip also showed high expression of motor neuron cell-specific markers, such as HB9 and TUJ-1. Therefore, we suggest that the newly engineered industrial PLA scaffold is an innovative tool for cell proliferation and motor neuron differentiation.
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197
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Does improvement in education level reduce ecological footprint? A non-linear analysis considering population structure and income. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the non-linear effect of education level on ecological footprint considering changes in population structure and per capita income. The results show an inhibitory effect for the level of education on increases in ecological footprint. In high-income countries, this inhibitory effect is non-linear. The inhibitory effect of education level on ecological footprint increases with increases in education level. In addition, population structure also has an inhibitory effect on the increase in ecological footprint. In both high-income and low-income countries, the inhibitory effect of population structure on the ecological footprint decreases when the population structure exceeds the threshold. However, there is a promotional effect of GDP per capita on the increase in ecological footprint. And the threshold regression results show that this promotional effect is linear in all income groups. Finally, this study suggests that countries should develop environmental sustainability policies according to the threshold range in which their education level, population structure, and per capita income are located.
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[
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303
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Impact of in-plane currents on magnetoresistance properties of an exchange-biased spin valve with an insulating antiferromagnetic layer. The impact of in-plane alternating currents on the exchange bias, resistance, and magnetoresistance of a Co85Fe15/Ni0.85Co0.15O/Co85Fe15/Cu/Co85Fe15 spin valve is studied. With increasing current, the resistance is increased while the maximum magnetoresistance ratio decreases. Noticeably, the reversal field of the pinned layer is systematically suppressed in both field sweeping directions. Since Ni0.85Co0.15O is a good insulator, it is expected that the ac flows only in the Co85Fe15/Cu/Co85Fe15 top layers, thus ruling out any presence of spin-transfer torque acting on the spins in the antiferromagnetic layer. Instead, our measurements show clear evidence of the influence of Joule heating caused by the current. Moreover, results from temperature-dependent measurements very much resemble those of the current dependence, which indicates that the effect of Joule heating plays a major role in the current-in-plane spin-valve configurations. The results also suggest that spin-transfer torques between ferromagnetic layers might still exist and compete with the exchange bias at sufficiently high currents.
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[
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98
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Efficient and Tunable Luminescence in Ga2-xInxO3:Cr3+ for Near-Infrared Imaging. Broadband near-infrared (NIR) emitting materials are in great demand as next-generation smart NIR light sources. In this work, a Cr3+-substituted phosphor capable of efficiently converting visible to NIR light is developed through the solid solution, Ga2-xInxO3:Cr3+ (0 <= x <= 0.5). The compounds were prepared using high-temperature solid-state synthesis, and the crystal and electronic structure, morphology, site preference, and photoluminescence properties are studied. The photoluminescence results demonstrate a high quantum yield (88%) and impressive absorption efficiency (50%) when x = 0.4. The NIR emission is tunable across a wide range (713-820 nm) depending on the value of x. Moreover, fabricating a prototype of a phosphor-converted NIR light-emitting diode (LED) device using 450 nm LED and the [(Ga1.57Cr0.03)In-0.4]O-3 phosphor showed an output power that reached 40.4 mW with a photoelectric conversion efficiency of 25% driven by a current of 60 mA, while the resulting device was able to identify damaged produce that was undetectable using visible light. These results demonstrate the outstanding potential of this phosphor for NIR LED imaging applications.
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[
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239
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Magnetic field induced orientational bistability in a ferronematic cell. The equilibrium states of a suspension of single-domain ferroparticles in a nematic liquid-crystalline homeotropic cell subject to an external magnetic field are studied. We predict the existence of magnetic field induced orientational bistability in such a system in a magnetic field similar to10(2) Oe. The existence of the bistability phenomenon is governed by conditions on the cell thickness and on the director anchoring energy. The effect can be controlled using a small bias magnetic field normal to the unperturbed director. The director reorientation in a magnetic field causes an effective change in refraction index, which enables the orientational bistability to be exploited in optical devices.
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[
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240
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Grey scale enhancement by a new self-made contrast agent in early cirrhotic stage of rabbit liver. Results: Hepatic artery to vein transmit time (HA-HVTT) was significantly shorter at F4 stage ( mean 5.1 seconds) compared with those in other stages ( mean 8.3 s, 7.5 s, 6.9 s, 6.6 s, P < 0.01). The average PSI difference of PV-parenchyma was 13.62 dB in F4 stage, demonstrating significant differences between F4 stage and other early stages ( P < 0.001).Conclusion: These results indicate that the new self-made contrast agent is capable of indicating intrahepatic hemodynamic changes. HA-HVTT and the PSI difference of the microbubble perfusion in liver parenchyma and PV were considered to differentiate the degree of hepatic fibrosis between F4 and other early stages.Methods: We constructed experimental models of hepatic fibrosis involving five stages from F0 to F4 via administration of CCL4 (0.01 ml/kg BW) every 3 days for 3 months. The intrahepatic circulatory time of the contrast agent was analyzed via an image and Cine-loop display. Calculations of the perfusion-related parameters including the peak signal intensity ( PSI) and peak signal intensity time ( PIT) of the portal vein and parenchyma were obtained from an analysis of the time-acoustic intensity curve.Background: The development of new ultrasound contrast agents (UCAs) has become one of the most promising fields in ultrasound medicine. This paper evaluates a new self-made contrast agent enhancement effect developed to study the fibrotic stages of the liver in perfusion models in vivo.
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