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Acciones y omisiones del Estado costarricense en la expansión piñera: El caso de la Zona Norte-Norte de Costa Rica The expansion of pineapple monoculture has translated not only into increased economic income for the country, but also into social and environmental transformations and impacts for the producing cantons, as is the case of Upala, Guatuso, and Los Chiles. From the theoretical focus of the anthropology of the State of authors such as Abrams (2014), Trouillot (2001), Jessop (2014) and Osorio (2014), the role of the Costa Rican State is analyzed through its policies, practices, omissions and institutional gaps. ALEXA OBANDO; ACCIONES Y OMISIONES DEL ESTADO COSTARRICENSE
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History of the American Museum of Natural History meteorite collection Abstract The core meteorite collection of the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH), New York, including the massive Cape York and Willamette irons, dates from the three decades ending in 1905. Acquisition of new meteorites was steady into the 1970s, and accelerated in the latter 20th century. Institutional and philanthropic support, coupled with the focus, energy and vision of a succession of curators, have been central to building the collection, exhibiting meteorites, educating the public and participating at the cutting edge of meteoritical science. Efforts to describe and classify, characteristic of the pre-war period, evolved into detailed chemical investigations. Recent science seeks to find underlying processes unifying disparate meteorite groups in a coherent story of the early solar system and planet formation.
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Effect of corrosivity on environment on the residual corrosion rate of steel in the specified range of protective potentials Studies’ results of the effect of environment’s corrosivity on residual corrosion of carbon steel in specified by DSTU 4219 range of protective potentials is presented. It is shown that this index depends on a number of factors – the polarization potential, the duration of the test and pH. It was demonstrated the decreasing of residual corrosion rate with increasing (in absolute value) of protection potential for environments with pH in the range from 5.6 to 9.6. It is shown that under the same protective potential for 8 hours in these environments, the residual corrosion rate of steel is different. At a minimum potential of -0.75 V in the environment with low acidic and strongly alkaline pH (5.6 and 9.6, respectively) the protective effect (i.e. a decrease of the corrosion rate to the values less than 0.01 mm/year) not achieved. The minimum values of corrosion rates, which are setting are 0,021 0,040 mm/year, and the conditions for the flying of local corrosion can create. In slightly alkaline environment (pH of 8.2) the protective effect achieved at the potential -0,72 V, and minimum protective potential the cathodic protection is effective. With the increase of the duration of investigations up to 1 month in all environments the protective effect achieved at the minimum protection potential, and under it increasing (in absolute value) decomposition of an aqueous solution, accompanied by hydrogen recovery. The rate of residual corrosion in solutions with different
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pH varies with time: through a short test time (near 8 hours) decreases nonlinearly with increasing the test time (up to 1 month) – a complex dependence on the potential with the minimum values in the area of alkaline pH is observed.
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Noradrenaline, by activation of alpha-1-adrenoceptors in the region of the supraoptic nucleus, causes secretion of vasopressin in the unanaesthetized rat. In unanaesthetized rats chronically prepared with venous and intracerebral cannulae, noradrenaline injected into the region of the supraoptic nuclei caused a dose-dependent increase in plasma vasopressin, measured by radioimmunoassay. A similar response was obtained with phenylephrine, but not with either clonidine or isoprenaline. The secretion of vasopressin was not secondary to change in arterial pressure, since similar injections of noradrenaline resulted in a small increase in arterial pressure, measured in the anaesthetized rat. These results suggest that noradrenaline stimulates alpha-1-adrenoceptors, presumably located on vasopressin-secreting neurones, thereby causing these cells to secrete vasopressin into the circulation. Tyramine injections also resulted in a prompt elevation in plasma vasopressin, indicating that endogenous noradrenaline is capable of releasing vasopressin.
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Statistical Analysis of Discrete Dynamical System Models for Biological Networks Very few data-driven methods for dynamic biological networks reconstruction from gene expression data evaluate the statistical significance of a model. A hypothesis testing procedure examining the goodness of fit of trajectory-based modeling is designed, in contrast to transition-based model fitting. The former has substantially reduced the modeling error. Simulation studies on the residual between noisy observations and true system dynamics suggest the use of the statistical hypothesis testing, so that one can evaluate how significantly a model is supported by the observed data under certain noise distribution. This method can also evaluate the dynamic model for each individual gene. Through a biochemical reaction model in the yeast pheromone pathway the effectiveness of the proposed evaluation procedure is demonstrated.
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Evolutionary optimization of non-periodic coupled-cavity semiconductor laser diodes The analysis of different types of non-periodic multi-cavity laser structures will be presented. Deterministic non-periodic cavity concepts such as self-similar Cantoror quasi-periodic Fibonacci sequences offer a distinct mode selectivity whilst having a signi®cantly lower number of coupled cavities compared to an equivalent periodic solution. A heuristic numerical optimization procedure based on a breeder genetic algorithm scheme is favoured, also to give a sort of general information as to which kind of structures are well suited in terms of our requirements. By investigating the evolutionary optimized laser topologies according to the evolution of characteristic patterns, we propose a sort of superior meta-optimization strategy which relies on a population based information gathering.
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The Design of Personal Privacy and Security Risk Scores for Minimizing Consumers’ Cognitive Gaps in IoT Settings The advent of Internet of Things (IoT) technology exponentially increases the collection of new information types in consumers’ lives from various sensors. However, many consumers do not fully recognize the potential privacy and security risks (PSR) associated with IoT. Those who are aware rarely take action to protect their personal information because of a cognitive gap between PSR and its impact. To address this problem, we propose a design framework for evaluating and quantifying IoT PSRs related to IoT adoption. Grounded in the cognitive dissonance theory (CDT) and information processing theory (IPT), the proposed framework defines IoT PSR scores and proposes a visual representation for improving consumers’ awareness of PSRs. Furthermore, we suggest a PSR control balance theory (PSR-CBT) to explicate the consumers’ two internal power conflicts. The proposed PSR scores can reduce consumers’ cognitive gaps, and thus, help them make informed purchase decisions toward IoT devices and services.
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Antioxidant properties of enzymatic hydrolysates from royal jelly. Enzymatic hydrolysates were prepared from royal jelly using three enzymes (pepsin, trypsin, and papain), and their antioxidative properties were evaluated. The yield of these hydrolysates was very high, about 20-26% on a raw weight basis. In comparison with the antioxidative activities of water extract and alkaline extract of royal jelly, the antioxidative activities and scavenging activities against active oxygen species such as superoxide anion radical and hydroxyl radical of each hydrolysate were high in the sample with a low protein concentration. These results suggest that once royal jelly is hydrolyzed using enzyme, the hydrolysate possesses much higher antioxidative activity and scavenging activity against active oxygen species. Royal jelly will act as a medicinal food in the human body.
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In-Core Computation of Geometric Centralities with HyperBall: A Hundred Billion Nodes and Beyond Given a social network, which of its nodes are more central? This question has been asked many times in sociology, psychology and computer science, and a whole plethora of centrality measures (a.k.a. centrality indices, or rankings) were proposed to account for the importance of the nodes of a network. In this paper, we approach the problem of computing geometric centralities, such as closeness [1] and harmonic centrality [2], on very large graphs; traditionally this task requires an all-pairs shortest-path computation in the exact case, or a number of breadth-first traversals for approximated computations, but these techniques yield very weak statistical guarantees on highly disconnected graphs. We rather assume that the graph is accessed in a semi-streaming fashion, that is, that adjacency lists are scanned almost sequentially, and that a very small amount of memory (in the order of a dozen bytes) per node is available in core memory. We leverage the newly discovered algorithms based on HyperLogLog counters [3], making it possible to approximate a number of geometric centralities at a very high speed and with high accuracy. While the application of similar algorithms for the approximation of closeness was attempted in the MapReduce [4] framework [5], our exploitation of HyperLogLog counters reduces exponentially the memory footprint, paving the way for in-core processing of networks with a hundred billion nodes using "just" 2TiB of RAM. Moreover, the computations we describe are inherently parallelizable, and scale linearly with the number of available cores.
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Application of capillary electrophoresis in anion binding studies: Complexation and separation of nitrate and nitrite by an azacryptand. Capillary electrophoresis (CE) was employed for studying the complexation of an azacryptand with nitrate and nitrite in aqueous solution. CE separation of a mixture of nitrate and nitrite with 10 mM acetate buffer (pH 3.3) showed two peaks at the retention times of 2.8 and 3.1 min for nitrate and nitrite, respectively. However, when the ligand (2 mM) was added to the running buffer, the peaks emerged in the reverse order and at shorter retention times of 2.7 and 2.5 min for nitrate and nitrite, respectively. The longer retention time for nitrate compared with nitrite indicates a stronger complex formation between the ligand and nitrate, that reduces the migration speed of nitrate as compared with the less strongly bound nitrite. The (1)H NMR titrations of L with these two anions at the pH 3.3, gave the binding constants (log K), 3.75 and 4.23, for nitrite and nitrate, respectively which were in consistence with the results obtained from the CE method.
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High-Energy Ball-Milling of FeAl2 and Fe2Al5 Intermetallic Systems In this study, FeAl2 and Fe2Al5 intermetallic alloys were prepared by conventional casting technique. In order to study their structural stability the alloys were subjected to high-energy ball milling process for 1, 2.5, 5 and 10 h. The structural and chemical characterizations were conducted by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. After 10 h of milling, the experimental results indicated a phase transformation from FeAl2-triclinic phase to Fe2Al5-ortorrombic structure. This phase transformation is characterized by a change from low to high symmetry systems.
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2004 Transmission through a short interacting wire We investigate electron transmission through a short wire with electron-electron interactions which is coupled to noninteracting metallic leads by tunneling matrix elements. We identify two temperature regimes (a) T Kondo < T ≤ T wire = ¯ hv F /k B d ( d is the length of the interacting wire) and (b) T < T Kondo ≪ T wire . In the first regime the effective (renormalized) electron-electron interaction is smaller than the tunneling matrix element. In this situation the single particle spectrum of the wire is characterized by a multilevel “quantum dot” system with magnetic quantum number S = 0 which is higher in energy than the SU (2) spin doublet S = ± 1 / 2. In this regime the single particle energy is controlled by the length of the wire and the backward spin dependent interaction. The value of the conductance is dominated by the transmitting electrons which have an opposite spin polarization to the electrons in the short wire. Since the electrons in the short wire have equal probability for spin up and spin down we find G = G ↑ + G ↓ , e 2 /h ≤ G < 2 e 2 /h . In the second regime, when T → 0 the effective (renormalized) electron-electron interaction is larger than the tunneling matrix element. This case is equivalent to a Kondo problem. We find for T < T Kondo the conductance is given by G = 2 e 2 /h . These
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results are in agreement with recent experiments where for T Kondo < T < T wire the conductance G obeys e 2 /h ≤ G < 2 e 2 /h , and for T < T Kondo , G = 2 e 2 /h . In both regimes the current is not spin polarized and the SU (2) symmetry is not broken. Our model represents a good description of the experimental situation for an interacting wire with varying confining potential in the transverse direction.
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Distance-adaptive routing, modulation, and spectrum assignment (DA-RMSA) algorithm based on signal overlap in elastic optical networks (EONs) In Elastic Optical Networks (EONs), elastic operations have been constrained by the assumption that an optical signal has to occupy a dedicated frequency range, with no sharing of spectrum resources with other independent optical signals. Recently, the emergence of signal overlap techniques can break this traditional constraint in theory. In this study, we fully combine the characteristics of the application signal overlap technology, summarize two factors that affect the ultimate transmission distance of an optical signal as the modulation format of the optical signal and the interval between the center frequencies of the two optical signals, and make a reasonable assumption about their correspondence. On this basis, we propose a Routing, Modulation level and Spectrum Assignment (RMSA) algorithm based on Signal overlap for EONs. The paper simulates the two strategies of the algorithm and compares them with the basic algorithm without signal overlap. The results show that it can significantly reduce the bandwidth blocking probability, especially under heavy traffic load scenario.
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2D Ising-Like Ferromagnetic Behaviour for the Lamellar Cr2Si2Te6 Compound: A Neutron Scattering Investigation As far as we know, Cr2Si2Te6 is the first compound exhibiting a quasi-2D Ising ferromagnetic behaviour (Tc = 32 K): elastic-neutron-scattering experiments on a single crystal and close examination of the thermal evolution of the order parameter led to the critical exponent β ≈ 0.17, comparable to the expected one for a 2D Ising model (β = 0.125); inelastic-neutron-scattering experiments allowed to determine two magnons dispersion curves with 2D Ising-like character. A third magnetic excitation branch has also been measured, for which a tentative explanation is given.
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The Mental Health Needs of Looked after Children in a Local Authority Permanent Placement Team and the Value of the Goodman SDQ Lin Richards, Nola Wood and Luisa Ruiz-Calzada investigated the current level of emotional and behavioural need and pre- and post-care experiences for children placed in one local authority social care department permanent placement team. A cohort of 41 looked after children was assessed by foster carers, teachers and young people aged 11–16 years themselves, using the Goodman Strengths & Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). The results were related to a number of factors taken from each child's individual historical experiences as understood from their social work files. The results supported the growing body of research indicating that the mental health needs of looked after children are significantly higher than those of the general population. A range of factors was found to reach statistical significance in relation to increased mental health difficulties. The research highlighted the complex and multi-factorial nature of the experiences of the looked after cohort that contribute to overall emotional well-being and positive mental health. The study also sought to identify a suitable screening tool for the early identification of mental health need and Goodman's SDQ is discussed in this light.
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[Compliance problems and behavioral medicine implications in the drug therapy of pain]. Many patients, even cancer patients do not take their medication at all or at the prescribed dose showing thus a form of noncompliance. Reasons for this are manyfold and differ from patient to patient. They may undergo dynamic changes in the course of disease. Experience shows, that compliance is mainly improved when patients have the impression to be responsible for their comportment. This is an important goal in therapy of patients with chronic pain. Of particular importance is therefore the doctor-patient relation, i.e. non-compliance thus always indicates a disturbed doctor-patient relation.
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Forward electrocardiography based on measured data A simulation study on the ECG is performed using the measured thorax geometry of a healthy subject and a measured ventricular activation sequence, known from the literature. Resulting QRS waveforms are compared with those actually measured on the subject. An adapted activation sequence is derived which, while differing only a small amount from the measured data, produces ECGs more closely resembling the ones measured on the subject. Measurements of the QRS complexes of the healthy subject have been performed using a 64-channel body-surface mapping system.<<ETX>>
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Eigen Value Analysis of HIV-1 Integrase Inhibitors A three-dimensional quantitative structure activity relationship using the eigen value analysis (EVA) paradigm applied to 41 HIV-1 integrase inhibitors that inhibit integrase mediated cleavage (3'-processing step) and integration (3'-strand transfer step) in vitro was performed. The training set consisted of 35 molecules from five structurally diverse classes: salicylhydrazines, lichen acids, coumarins, quinones, and thiazolothiazepines. Models derived using semiempirical (MOPAC AM1 and PM3) calculated normal-mode frequencies were compared. The predictive ability of each resultant model was evaluated using a test set comprised of six molecules belonging to a different structural class: hydrazides. Models derived using AM1 method showed considerable internal as well as external predictivity (r(2)(cv) = 0.806, r(2)(pred) = 0.761 for 3'-processing and r(2)(cv) = 0.677, r(2)(pred) = 0.591 for 3'-strand transfer).
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Algorithms ror Designing Fault-Detection Experiments ror Sequential Machines In this paper we present algorithms for designing fault-detection experiments for sequential machines with special emphasis on the case in which the machine does not possess a distinguishing sequence. The length of an experiment is reduced through: 1) identifying each state with its own unique input/output set rather than using a common set for all states; 2) utilizing overlapping of the required input/output sequences so that a portion of the experiment serves more than one purpose; and 3) verifying the reference condition in which the machine is placed at many points in the experiment by as short a locating sequence as possible. Important distinctions are made between locating sequences of the type introduced in previous work and those defined and used here.
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In Vivo Uranium Decorporation by a Tailor-Made Hexadentate Ligand. The sequestration of uranium, particularly from the deposited bones, has been an incomplete task in chelation therapy for actinide decorporation. Part of the reason is that all previous decorporation ligands are not delicately designed to meet the coordination requirement of uranyl cations. Herein, guided by DFT calculation, we elaborately design a hexadentate ligand (TAM-2LI-MAM2), whose preorganized planar oxo-donor configuration perfectly matches the typical coordination geometry of the uranyl cation. This leads to an ultrahigh binding affinity to uranyl supported by an in vitro desorption experiment of uranyl phosphate. Administration of this ligand by prompt intraperitoneal injection demonstrates its uranyl removal efficiencies from the kidneys and bones are up to 95.4% and 81.2%, respectively, which notably exceeds all the tested chelating agents as well as the clinical drug ZnNa3-DTPA, setting a new record in uranyl decorporation efficacy.
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HelioSwarm: Leveraging Multi-Point, Multi-Scale Spacecraft Observations to Characterize Turbulence <p>There are many fundamental questions about the temporal and spatial structure of turbulence in space plasmas. Answering these questions is complicated by the multi-scale nature of the turbulent transfer of mass, momentum, and energy, with characteristic scales spanning many orders of magnitude. The solar wind is an ideal environment in which to measure turbulence, but multi-point observations with spacecraft separations spanning these scales are needed to simultaneously characterize structure and cross-scale couplings. In this work, we use synthetic multi-point spacecraft data extracted from numerical simulations to demonstrate the utility of multi-point, multi-scale measurements, in preparation for data from future multi-spacecraft observatories. We use the baseline orbit design for the HelioSwarm mission concept to explore the effects of different inter-spacecraft separations and geometries on the accuracy of reconstructed magnetic fields, cascade rates, and correlation functions using well-established analysis techniques.</p>
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BRI1 Signaling in the Root is Mediated through the SERK1 and SERK3 Co-receptors Brassinosteroid (BR) is a class of polyhydroxysteroids plant hormones known to regulate shoot and root growth. Genetic and molecular analyses demonstrate that receptor kinase BRI1 protein acts as a perceiver for BR. One of the characteristics of bri1 mutant’s phenotypes is the complete BR insensitivity in the root. Biochemical evidences of the BRI1 protein complex indicates that somatic embryogenesis receptor kinase 1 (SERK1) and SERK3 participate in the BR pathway in Arabidopsis root. While only serk3 mutants show partial reduction to BR sensitivity, serk1 presents a normal BR penetration phenotype compared to the wild type. Interestingly, the double mutant serk1serk3 displays more, but not full resistance to BR in root length assay. In this study, we aimed to enhance the BR insensitivity of the double mutant serk1serk3 by crossing serk1 mutant allele with a strong serk3 and bri1 mutant alleles. In our study, by generating serk1-3serk3-2 double mutants, a complete insensitivity to BR that phenocopied bri1-301 mutant was recorded. However, we were unable to increase BR resistance in the root of serk1-3serk3-2 double mutant by crossing with bri1 mutant allele in the triple mutant serk1-3serk3-2bri1. As a result, all the BRI1 signaling in the root was mediated through the SERK1 and SERK3 co-receptors. Additionally, we established that based on conventional BR assays, the At1g27190 protein was also involved in BR signaling. Preliminary data indicated that the triple mutant serk1serk3-2At1g27190 showed a dwarfed phenotype. Whether or not this dwarfed phenotype is linked to BRI1
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signaling impairment needs to be further investigated. K e y w o rd s : A t 1 g 2 7 1 9 0 , b r a s s i n o s t e r o i d , brassinosteroid insensitive, somatic embryogenesis receptor kinase
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Privatisation of Housing in Post-Soviet Russia: A New Understanding of Home? Abstract This article is concerned with the attitudes of the nascent Russian ‘middle class’ towards the privatisation of housing. It focuses on the questions of whether private ownership had an impact on these people's understanding of ‘home’, whether it resulted in greater satisfaction with their housing, and whether it gave them the sense of being ‘stakeholders’ in Russian society. The principal research method was a questionnaire emailed to people in Moscow, St Petersburg and three provincial cities. A history of housing in Soviet Russia is also provided, along with an overview of research on housing and the home in other industrialised countries.
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2 CuFeO ubstituted S oron B tudy of the S tructure S lectronic E tudy on the XAFS S n A CuFeO 2 is a well known antiferromagnetic material with its geometrically frustrated antiferromagnetic (AFM) [T N =11K] crystal. Besides, delafossite CuFeO 2 oxide crystal is known to be nonstoichiometric under the influence of oxygen as a result of the change in cation valence bands. In this study, boron atoms were substituted in the Fe coordination and the electronic response on irons valence band is probed. Due to the high difference in the ionic radii of the host and substituted atoms, different crystal structure formation was expected. However, calculations showed that boron atoms tend to locate in Fe coordination and preferred to be part of the host crystal by bonding with the oxygen atoms. In addition, the presence of the light boron atoms was determined to weaken the scattering intensities which cause a longer mean free path for the photoelectrons which means better conductivity of the material.
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Explaining Self-Declared Social Tolerance for Human Diversity in Latin America and the Caribbean Abstract Social tolerance enables heterogeneous persons to find harmony in their differences. This has been shown to reduce the likelihood of inter- and intra-group conflicts, thereby creating an environment conducive for economic and social development. This paper examines socio-economic factors that influence individual differences in social tolerance in Latin America and the Caribbean. Being mindful of the fact that there are socio-cultural differences between Latin America and the Caribbean, five dimensions of social tolerance are investigated: tolerance for racial and religious dissimilarity, homosexuals, AIDS victims and immigrants. Using the 2005 World Values Survey data, we simultaneously estimate tolerance towards these groups using multivariate probit models. Education is found to positively and significantly enhance all five dimensions of social tolerance, suggesting that policies meant to enhance social tolerance should be directed towards improving educational systems. Overall, the analysis underscores heterogeneity of factors affecting self-declared tolerance of the selected social groups. Thus, analyses of social tolerance and ensuing policies should be developed specific to a particular dimension of tolerance.
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IR drop and ground bounce awareness timing model As the IC technology scales down, the effect of IR drop/ground bounce becomes increasingly significant. IR drop and ground bounce can compromise the gate driving capability and degrade the IC performance, and even can make IC functional failures. Hence, it is crucial to capture this effect efficiently and accurately in order to improve circuit reliability. In this paper, we proposed a timing model with consideration of IR drop and ground bounce. Our model can be derived directly from the existing timing tables (e.g. Synopsys.db or CLF tables), which are used in normal timing analysis. Compared with the traditional k-factor approach, our method does not require SPICE netlist and SPICE simulations. Moreover, the accuracy of our model is better than k-factor approach.
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Salinity Gradient Power: Utilizing Vapor Pressure Differences By utilizing the vapor pressure difference between high-salinity and lowsalinity wvater, one can obtain power from the gradients of salinity. This scheme eliminates the major problems associated with conversion methods in which membranes are used. The method we tested gave higher conversion efficiencies than membrane methods. Furthermore, hardware and techniques being developed for ocean thermal energy conversion may be applied to this approach to salinity gradient energy conversion.
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Anti-Ganglioside Antibodies Induce Nodal and Axonal Injury via Fcγ Receptor-Mediated Inflammation Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is a postinfectious autoimmune neuropathy and anti-ganglioside antibodies (Abs) are strongly associated with this disorder. Several studies have implied that specific anti-ganglioside Abs induce neuropathy in patients with axonal forms of GBS. To study the mechanisms of anti-ganglioside Abs-induced neuropathy, we established a new passive transfer mouse model by L5 spinal nerve transection (L5SNT; modified Chung's model) and systemic administration of anti-ganglioside Abs. L5SNT causes degeneration of a small proportion of fibers that constitute sciatic nerve and its branches, but importantly breaks the blood–nerve barrier, which allows access to circulating Abs and inflammatory cells. Our studies indicate that, in this mouse model, anti-ganglioside Abs induce sequential nodal and axonal injury of intact myelinated nerve fibers, recapitulating pathologic features of human disease. Notably, our results showed that immune complex formation and the activating Fc gamma receptors (FcγRs) were involved in the anti-ganglioside Abs-mediated nodal and axonal injury in this model. These studies provide new evidence that the activating FcγRs-mediated inflammation plays a critical role in anti-ganglioside Abs-induced neuropathy (injury to intact nerve fibers) in GBS.
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Reactive Force-Field Molecular Dynamics Study of the Silicon-Germanium Deposition Processes by Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition In order to form a SiGe thin film by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) with a suitable quality for advanced devices, the relationships between materials/process and structure/composition are needed to be clarified at the atomic level. We simulated SiGe CVD by using reactive force-field (ReaxFF) molecular dynamics simulations, especially on binary systems of SiHx + GeHx, and derived the influence of the substrate temperature and these ratios of gaseous species on the crystallinity and compositions in the thin films. The crystallinity increases as the substrate temperature increases, and the lowest crystallinity is obtained at the ratios of gaseous species 0.5 and 0.7 for the SiH3 and SiH2, respectively. As the substrate temperature increases, the hydrogen content decreases while Si and Ge content tend to increase. These trends can be seen in relevant studies. Through this simulation we successfully observe that the reactivity of gaseous species greatly affects the crystallinity and compositions in the thin films.
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Practical Outsourcing of Linear Programming in Secured Cloud Computing Lochan Cloud Computing enables customers with limited computational resources to outsource their large computation workloads to cloud, and economically enjoy the massive computational power, bandwidth, storage, and even appropriate software that can be shared in a pay-per-use manner. Security is the primary obstacle that prevents the wide adoption of this promising computing model, especially for customers when their confidential data are consumed and produced during the computation. Treating the cloud as an intrinsically insecure computing platform from the viewpoint of the cloud customers, we must design mechanisms that not only protect sensitive information by enabling computations with encrypted data, but also protect customers from malicious behaviors by enabling the validation of the computation result. In order to achieve practical efficiency, our mechanism design explicitly decomposes the Linear Programming(LP) computation outsourcing into public LP solvers running on the cloud and private LP parameters owned by the customer. The resulting flexibility allows us to explore appropriate security tradeoff via higher-level abstraction LP computations than the general circuit representation. In particular, by formulating private data owned by the customer for LP problem as a set of matrices and vectors, we are able to develop a set of efficient privacy-preserving problem transformation techniques, which allow customers to transform original LP problem into some arbitrary one while protecting sensitive input/output information. To validate the result further explore the fundamental duality theorem of LP computation and derive the necessary and sufficient conditions that correct result must satisfy. Such result verification mechanism is extremely
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efficient and incurs closeto-zero additional cost on both cloud server and customers.
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Current challenges and implications for dengue, chikungunya and Zika seroprevalence studies worldwide: A scoping review Background Arboviral infections are a public health concern and an escalating problem worldwide. Estimating the burden of these diseases represents a major challenge that is complicated by the large number of unapparent infections, especially those of dengue fever. Serological surveys are thus required to identify the distribution of these diseases and measure their impact. Therefore, we undertook a scoping review of the literature to describe and summarize epidemiological practices, findings and insights related to seroprevalence studies of dengue, chikungunya and Zika virus, which have rapidly expanded across the globe in recent years. Methodology/Principal findings Relevant studies were retrieved through a literature search of MEDLINE, WHOLIS, Lilacs, SciELO and Scopus (2000 to 2018). In total, 1389 publications were identified. Studies addressing the seroprevalence of dengue, chikungunya and/or Zika written in English or French and meeting the inclusion and exclusion criteria were included. In total, 147 studies were included, from which 185 data points were retrieved, as some studies used several different samples. Most of the studies were exclusively conducted on dengue (66.5%), but 16% were exclusively conducted on chikungunya, and 7 were exclusively conducted on Zika; the remainder were conducted on multiple arboviruses. A wide range of designs were applied, but most studies were conducted in the general population (39%) and in households (41%). Although several assays were used, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) were the predominant test used (77%). The temporal distribution of chikungunya studies followed the virus during its rapid expansion
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since 2004. The results revealed heterogeneity of arboviruses seroprevalence between continents and within a given country for dengue, chikungunya and Zika viruses, ranging from 0 to 100%, 76% and 73% respectively. Conclusions/Significance Serological surveys provide the most direct measurement for defining the immunity landscape for infectious diseases, but the methodology remains difficult to implement. Overall, dengue, chikungunya and Zika serosurveys followed the expansion of these arboviruses, but there remain gaps in their geographic distribution. This review addresses the challenges for researchers regarding study design biases. Moreover, the development of reliable, rapid and affordable diagnosis tools represents a significant issue concerning the ability of seroprevalence surveys to differentiate infections when multiple viruses co-circulate.
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Upper bound for the thermal emission of a hot nanoemitter assisted by a cold nanoantenna In the last decades, designs of most incandescent sources have been realized by heating the whole device. Here we propose a novel approach consisting in taking advantage of hot nanoemitters that can be cooled in a few tens of nanoseconds. It offers a new opportunity for high speed modulation and for enhanced agility in the active control of polarization, direction and wavelength of emission. To compensate the weak thermal emission of isolated nanoemitters, we propose to insert them in some complex environments, such as e.g. the gap of cold nanoantenna, which allow a significant thermal emission enhancement of the hot nanovolume. In order to optimize this kind of device, a fully vectorial upper bound for the thermal emission of a hot nanoparticle in a cold environment is derived. This criterion is very general since it is equivalent to an absorption cross-section upper bound for the nanoparticle. Moreover, it is an intrinsic characteristic of the environment regardless of the nanoparticle, so it allows to decouple the design of the environment from the one of the hot nanovolume. It thus provides a good figure of merit to compare the ability of different systems to enhance thermal emission of hot nanoemitters.
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Effect of Eurotium cristatum fermentation on the α-glucosidase inhibitory activity of mulberry leaves flavonoid extract Diabetes has become a global chronic disease and alpha-glucosidase inhibitors is an effective ways of treating it. Flavonoids are a group of substances in mulberry leaves that have α-glucosidase inhibitory properties and can reduce blood glucose concentrations effectively. In this paper, flavonoids from mulberry leaves fermented by Eurotium cristatum CY-1 will be used to investigate their inhibitory properties on α-glucosidase. The results indicated that the fermentation would increase the total flavonoid content of mulberry leaves by 196.7%. Meanwhile, the α-glucosidase inhibition efficiency of flavonoids extracted from the fermented mulberry leaves was also enhanced under the same concentration. The IC50 values of the flavonoids extracted from 8 d fermented mulberry leaves and the unfermented mulberry leaf was 4.14 μg/mL and 10.26 μg/mL, respectively. This article will provide a reference for using microbial fermentation to enrich active ingredients of functional Chinese medicine herbs.
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Atrial appendage angiotensin-converting enzyme-2, aging and cardiac surgical patients: a platform for understanding aging-related coronavirus disease-2019 vulnerabilities Purpose of review Hospitalizations for COVID-19 dramatically increase with age. This is likely because of increases in fragility across biological repair systems and a weakened immune system, including loss of the cardiorenal protective arm of the renin--angiotensin system (RAS), composed of angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE2)/angiotensin-(1--7) [Ang-(1--7)] and its actions through the Mas receptor. The purpose of this review is to explore how cardiac ACE2 changes with age, cardiac diseases, comorbid conditions and pharmaceutical regimens in order to shed light on a potential hormonal unbalance facilitating SARs-CoV-2 vulnerabilities in older adults. Recent findings Increased ACE2 gene expression has been reported in human hearts with myocardial infarction, cardiac remodeling and heart failure. We also found ACE2 mRNA in atrial appendage tissue from cardiac surgical patients to be positively associated with age, elevated by certain comorbid conditions (e.g. COPD and previous stroke) and increased in conjunction with patients’ chronic use of antithrombotic agents and thiazide diuretics but not drugs that block the renin--angiotensin system. Summary Cardiac ACE2 may have bifunctional roles in COVID-19 as ACE2 not only mediates cellular susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection but also protects the heart via the ACE2/Ang-(1--7) pathway. Linking tissue ACE2 from cardiac surgery patients to their comorbid conditions and medical regimens provides a unique latform to address the influence that altered expression of the ACE2/Ang-(1–7)/Mas receptor axis might have on SARs-CoV-2 vulnerability in older adults.
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The Thylacine on the Central Plateau James Malley, a local dairy farmer-come-naturalist, and I, have been looking for the thylacine for the past 6 years or so. In that time we have spent about two years each on field trips, mostly in the northern half of Tasmania and on the south-west coast. Our major sponsors have been the Australian Conservation Foundation, the "Australian" newspaper, the Science and Industry Endowment Fund and the British Tobacco Company. Since June this year, with the assistance of Dr. Robert Brown, we have been conducting what we intend to be an exhaustive investigation of northeastern Tasmania while investigating any leads that may come from elsewhere in the State.
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Inhibition of cyclin-dependent kinase phosphorylation of FOXO1 and prostate cancer cell growth by a peptide derived from FOXO1. Increasing evidence suggests that FOXO1 possesses a tumor suppressor function. Inactivation of FOXO1 has been documented in many types of human cancer, and restoring the activity of FOXO1 holds promise for cancer treatment. In this study, we identified a FOXO1-derived peptide termed FO1-6nls that inhibits cyclin-dependent kinases 1 and 2 (CDK1/2)-mediated phosphorylation of FOXO1 at the serine 249 residue in vitro and in vivo. Overexpression of FO1-6nls in prostate cancer (PCa) cells not only blocked CDK1-induced cytoplasmic localization of FOXO1 but also augmented FOXO1's transcriptional activity. This effect of FO1-6nls requires its binding to CDK1 and CDK2. Moreover, the ectopic expression of FO1-6nls inhibited the growth of PTEN-positive DU145 PCa cells. Importantly, the growth-inhibitory function of FO1-6nls is dependent on FOXO1. Finally, the ectopic expression of FO1-6nls overcame CDK1-mediated inhibition of FOXO1-induced apoptosis of PCa cells. These results indicate that the FOXO1-derived peptide FO1-6nls can restore FOXO1's tumor suppressor function by specifically opposing CDK1/2-mediated phosphorylation and inhibition of FOXO1 and hence may have a therapeutic potential for the treatment of PCa.
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Depression in Parkinson’s Disease: Conceptual Issues and Clinical Challenges Background: Depression frequently accompanies Parkinson’s disease (PD) and may have a negative impact on activities of daily living, cognitive performance, and quality of life. Because of the symptom overlap between the 2 disorders, it may be difficult to recognize depression in PD. Moreover, the partially shared pathophysiology may make it difficult to treat depressive symptoms without influencing motor or cognitive function. Objective: To review the current knowledge of the epidemiology, etiology, pathophysiology, and treatment of depression in patients with Parkinson’s disease. Method: Discussion of recent studies and relevant literature. Conclusion: Not only conceptually but also in terms of etiology, pathophysiology, and treatment, the relationship between PD and depression remains a challenge. There are still many questions to be answered. In the therapeutic domain, large, placebo-controlled trials are necessary to evaluate the efficacy of antidepressant treatment and allow the development of evidence-based guidelines. (J Geriatr Psychiatry Neurol 2004; 17:120-126)
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Key challenges for patient registries – A report from the 1st workshop of the EHC Think Tank Workstream on Registries Abstract Introduction Patient registries are an invaluable resource for furthering the understanding of rare diseases such as bleeding disorders, providing large, pooled datasets not achievable by other means of data collection. As well as supporting clinical care and research, registries must also be able to answer questions that are important to the wider bleeding disorders community. However, there are challenges associated with the need for secure access, exchange of health data, quality and interoperability, and data delivery. Identifying key challenges As part of the EHC Think Tank Patient Registries Workstream, 17 stakeholders representing health care providers, patient groups, research and industry met in October 2021 to identify challenges to managing and utilising patient registries, from each of their stakeholder perspectives. This is a first step in a longer term process aiming to identify or co-create solutions that could improve access and interpretation of patient data. The challenges identified relate to five key categories which are interlinked in various ways: 1. The multiplicity of registries and datasets; 2. Data quality; 3. Data sharing; 4. Expanding the scope of registries; 5. The role of the patient in registries. Summary The heterogeneity in the way that registries are designed, funded and owned, the type of data collected, and the way data is collected are issues that must be addressed. Good, quality data is needed at all levels to ensure the provision and funding of effective care. Data quality will
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increase overall if it is possible to merge data from different registries. The value of patient participation in registries must also be acknowledged and built on to help ensure their quality, that they remain fit for purpose, and that data input is sustained over time.
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Production of VEGF165 by Ewing's sarcoma cells induces vasculogenesis and the incorporation of CD34+ stem cells into the expanding tumor vasculature The Ewing's sarcoma cell line TC71 overexpresses vascular endothelial growth factor isoform 165 (VEGF165), a potent proangiogenic molecule that induces endothelial cell proliferation, migration, and chemotaxis. CD34+ bone marrow stem cells can differentiate into endothelial and hematopoietic cells. We used a transplant model to determine whether CD34+ cells migrate from the bone marrow to Ewing's sarcoma tumors and participate in the neovascularization process that supports tumor growth. We also examined the role of VEGF165 in CD34+ cell migration. Human umbilical cord CD34+ cells were transplanted into sublethally irradiated severe combined immunodeficient mice. Seven days later, the mice were injected subcutaneously with TC71 tumor cells. Tumors were excised 2 weeks later and analyzed by immunohistochemistry. The tumor sections expressed both human VE‐cadherin and mouse CD31, indicating involvement of donor‐derived human cells in the tumor vessels. To determine the role of VEGF165 in the chemoattraction of CD34+ cells, we generated two VEGF165‐deficient TC71 clones, a stable anti‐sense VEGF165 cell line (Clone 17) and a VEGF165 siRNA‐inhibited clone (TC/siVEGF7‐1). The resulting VEGF165‐deficient tumor cells had normal growth rates in vitro, but had delayed growth when implanted into mice. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed decreased infiltration of CD34+ cells into both VEGF165‐deficient tumors. These data show that bone marrow stem cells contribute to the growing tumor vasculature in Ewing's sarcoma and that VEGF165 is critical for the migration of CD34+ cells from the bone marrow into the tumor. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss,
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Heavy trace elements in ancient Norwegian teeth. The present work was undertaken in order to determine the content of lead, cadmium, copper and zinc in 26 teeth retrieved from burial-grounds in various parts of Norway, dated from A.D. 200 up to 1850. The analyses were made by differential pulse stripping voltammetry on hydrochloric acid digests of the teeth. High levels of lead were found in teeth dated from ca A.D. 1500 from Gimsøy Kloster and Tønsberg. Teeth originating from A.D. 200 showed a high content of Cd, Cu and Zn.
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Metal-oxide-semiconductor AlGaN/GaN heterostructure field-effect transistors using TiN/AlO stack gate layer deposited by reactive sputtering In this paper, the influence of deposition conditions and post annealing upon the device performance of sputtering-deposited TiN/AlO/AlGaN/GaN metal-oxide-semiconductor heterostructure field-effect transistors is reported. The metal-oxide-semiconductor structure on GaN with AlO deposited in a medium O2/Ar ratio possessed the smallest interfacial state density and reverse leakage current. Metal-oxide-semiconductor heterostructure field-effect transistors with a small hysteresis and a low leakage current were obtained by depositing AlO with a medium O2/Ar ratio and post-annealing at 600 °C for 1 min. After annealing, the maximum transconductance shows some decrease, resulting in a decrease of saturation drain current.
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Epigenetic regulation of adult stem cell function Understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms that specify cell lineages throughout development, and that maintain tissue homeostasis during adulthood, is paramount towards our understanding of why we age or develop pathologies such as cancer. Epigenetic mechanisms ensure that genetically identical cells acquire different fates during embryonic development and are therefore essential for the proper progression of development. How they do so is still a matter of intense investigation, but there is sufficient evidence indicating that they act in a concerted manner with inductive signals and tissue‐specific transcription factors to promote and stabilize fate changes along the three germ layers during development. In consequence, it is generally hypothesized that epigenetic mechanisms are also required for the continuous maintenance of cell fate during adulthood. However, in vivo models in which different epigenetic factors have been depleted in different tissues do not show overt changes in cell lineage, thus not strongly supporting this view. Instead, the function of some of these factors appears to be primarily associated with tissue functionality, and a strong causal relationship has been established between their misregulation and a diseased state. In this review, we summarize our current knowledge of the role of epigenetic factors in adult stem cell function and tissue homeostasis.
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Engineering biosynthetic enzymes for industrial natural product synthesis. Covering: 2000 to 2020Natural products and their derivatives are commercially important medicines, agrochemicals, flavors, fragrances, and food ingredients. Industrial strategies to produce these structurally complex molecules encompass varied combinations of chemical synthesis, biocatalysis, and extraction from natural sources. Interest in engineering natural product biosynthesis began with the advent of genetic tools for pathway discovery. Genes and strains can now readily be synthesized, mutated, recombined, and sequenced. Enzyme engineering has succeeded commercially due to the development of genetic methods, analytical technologies, and machine learning algorithms. Today, engineered biosynthetic enzymes from organisms spanning the tree of life are used industrially to produce diverse molecules. These biocatalytic processes include single enzymatic steps, multienzyme cascades, and engineered native and heterologous microbial strains. This review will describe how biosynthetic enzymes have been engineered to enable commercial and near-commercial syntheses of natural products and their analogs.
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ADAPTING TO DISASTER? A COMMENTARY ON HAMAMATSU ET AL. (2014) – A BRIEF REPLY We thank Hamamatsu et al . (2014) for their thoughtful and prompt response, as well as the additional analysis that they have provided. We agree that secondary sex ratio (SSR) declines are widely reported following periods of parental stress, with the role of both maternal uterine conditions and paternal sperm motility appearing relevant. For example, Fukuda et al. (1996) reported that, following the Kobe earthquake, sperm motility in previously healthy men declined, probably due to stress. Fukuda et al . (1998) suggested that this lowered motility might have resulted in the observed declines in both SSR and birth rate. Thus we agree with Hamamatsu et al . (2014) that the decline following the 3/11 disaster accords with this trend and, further, with theories of male fragility and the benefits of bearing female offspring in stochastic environments. However, we suggest that both Fukuda et al. (1998) and Hamamatsu et al. ’s (2014) findings may relate to an underlying trend in the fetal death sex ratio, which indicates that a greater loss of male fetuses, rather than changes to the primary sex ratio, might be the cause of the decline in the SSR. The fetal death sex ratio appears to be experi-encing disruption, with the sex ratio of fetal deaths rising substantially in recent decades. This increase accords with growing earthquake frequency. Potentially, the relationship between a rising fetal death sex ratio and a falling SSR suggests that earthquake stress may alter fetal loss,
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rather than the primary sex ratio. Such an effect would accord with the work of Catalano & Brucker (2006), who suggested that altered SSRs might arise from a ‘culled cohort’ of male fetuses, rather than changes in conception ratios. We
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[The clinico-prognostic assessment of DNA antibodies and antinuclear factors in rheumatoid arthritis patients]. As many as 195 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were examined for the clinical characteristics of the disease course depending on the presence or lack of antibodies to DNA or of antinuclear factor (ANF). Provided the patients' blood serum contained antibodies to DNA and ANF, RA was noted to run a graver course associated with a high-active process, marked erosive and destructive lesions of the joints, and the development of systemic manifestations. Excess production of the antibodies in question was accompanied by an increase of circulating immune complexes and rheumatoid factor, and a decrease of serum IgG. Glucocorticoids were demonstrated to be effective in suppression of autoimmune disorders. The presence of antibodies to DNA and of ANF is a prognostically unfavourable sign, indicating the development of systemic manifestations.
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Second International Workshop On the Evaluation of Collaborative Information Seeking and Retrieval (Ecol'17) The workshop on the evaluation of collaborative information retrieval and seeking (ECol) is held in conjunction with the ACM SIGIR Conference on Human Information Interaction & Retrieval (CHIIR) in Oslo, Norway. To make the workshop active and the participant pro-active, we released datasets and tools so as to help researchers contributing to the formalization of evaluation frameworks for challenging collaborative tasks. The workshop is split into two parts. First, a presentation session. Then, the afternoon is devoted to group discussion addressing challenges of evaluating and designing models for social and collaborative search.
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Activity-related energy expenditure in older adults: a call for more research. The purposes of this article were to 1) provide an overview of the science of physical activity-related energy expenditure in older adults (≥65 yr), 2) offer suggestions for future research and guidelines for how scientists should be reporting their results in this area, and 3) present strategies for making these data more accessible to the layperson. This article was meant to serve as a preliminary blueprint for future empirical work in the area of energy expenditure in older adults and translational efforts to make these data useful and accurate for older adults. This document was based upon deliberations of experts involved in the Strategic Health Initiative on Aging Committee of the American College of Sports Medicine. The article was designed to reach a broad audience who might not be familiar with the complexities of assessing energy expenditure, especially in older adults.
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Expression of neuropeptides B and W and their receptors in endocrine glands of the rat. Neuropeptides B and W (NPB and NPW) have been identified as endogenous ligands of the G protein-coupled receptors (GPR) 7 and 8, which in humans are expressed in the hypothalamus and probably involved in the regulation of energy homeostasis and feeding behavior. GPR8 is absent in the rat, where the GPR8-like receptor (GPR8-LR) has been described. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction detected the expression of NPB, NPW, GPR7 and GPR8-LR mRNAs in the hypothalamus, anterior pituitary, thyroid and parathyroid glands, pancreatic islets, adrenal glands, ovary and testis of the rat. Immunocytochemistry demonstrated the presence of NPB and NPW immunoreactivities in these same glands. Radioimmune assay showed that the bolus intraperitoneal injection of 2 nmol/100 g NPB or NPW raised the plasma levels of parathyroid hormone, corticosterone and testosterone. NPB also increased the blood concentration of thyroxine, and NPW that of ACTH and estradiol. Taken together, these findings allow us to suggest that NPB and NPW play a role in the autocrine-paracrine functional regulation of the endocrine system in the rat.
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Feasibility of OFDMA / TDD / MIMO System with Spatial Scheduling In this paper, we propose OFDMA/TDD/MIMO system with spatial scheduling, showing frame structure and control procedures to achieve the proposed system. The frame structure includes all functions required for spatial scheduling in a subband of 200kHz and in a frame time of 2.5ms. We show that the frame structure can be a realistic solution to achieve spatial scheduling on subband basis. From the presented frame structure, about 60% of total radio resources are expected to be available for data symbol transmission. Furthermore, we estimate that data rate up to 570Mbps can be supported on MAC layer for both uplink and downlink, under total bandwidth of 100MHz.
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[The information system and tuberculosis control on prioritary cities of Paraiba - Brazil]. This article had the purpose to understand the perception of the coordinators of the Tuberculosis Control Program regarding the use of the Notification Aggravation Information System - Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notificação (SINAN) as an instrument of the DOTS (Directly Observed Treatment) Strategy. This qualitative study used semi-structured interviews, with eight coordinators of the Tuberculosis Control Program in six cities of the state of Paraiba. The results showed that the cities use the SINAN to evaluate actions to control tuberculosis, pointing to difficulties such as failure to fill out the tuberculosis notification sheets, precarious computer infrastructure, insufficient qualification of human resources, lack of integration between professionals from different sectors and deficiencies in the information flow between healthcare units and cities. Considering that the quality of the information can jeopardize the monitoring of the results of treatments for patients, and consequently the efficiency of the DOTS strategy, it is concluded that the political commitment of the administration is fundamental to overcome the identified weaknesses.
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[Characteristics of cerebral glucose metabolism in patients with cognitive impairment in Parkinson's disease]. AIM To study the relationship between early cognitive impairment symptoms and cerebral glucose metabolism in different brain regions (according to the positron emission tomography (PET) data) in Parkinson's disease (PD) in order to increase the diagnostic and treatment efficacy. MATERIAL AND METHODS Two groups of patients with PD (stage I-III), including 11 patients without cognitive disorders and 13 with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), were examined. The control group included 10 age-matched people with normal cognition. To evaluate cognitive state, the Mini mental state examination (MMSE), the Frontal assessment battery (FAB) and the 'clock drawing test' were used. The regional cerebral glucose metabolism rate (CMRglu) was assessed using PET with 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG). RESULTS AND CONCLUSION In PD patients, CMRglu were decreased in the frontal (Brodmann areas (BA) 9, 10, 11, 46, 47), occipital (BA 19) and parietal (BA 39), temporal (BA 20, 37), and cingulate cortex (BA 32) compared to the control group. Cerebral glucose metabolism was decreased in the frontal (BA 8, 9, 10, 45, 46, 47), parietal (BA 7, 39, 40) and cingulate cortex (BA 23, 24, 31, 32) in the group of PD patients with MCI compared to PD patients with normal cognition. Hypometabolism in BA 7, 8, 23, 24, 31, 40 was revealed only in comparison of PD and PD-MCI groups, and did not appear in case of comparison of cognitively normal PD patients with the control group. It is possible to suggest that the mentioned above brain areas were
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associated with cognitive impairment. The revealed glucose hypometabolism pattern possibly has the diagnostic value for the early and preclinical diagnosis of MCI in PD and control of treatment efficacy.
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Robust guaranteed cost time-varying formation tracking control for high-order multi-agent systems with external disturbances Robust guaranteed cost time-varying formation tracking problems for high-order multi-agent systems under directed interaction topology are investigated. The external disturbances and unknown control input of the leader are considered simultaneously. A guaranteed cost function is constructed by considering the control input constraint and the formation tracking error constraint. A distributed robust guaranteed cost time-varying formation tracking protocol is proposed. Under the protocol, the robust $H_{\infty}$ disturbance attenuation performance and the guaranteed cost formation tracking performance can be achieved simultaneously. A design approach to designing the protocol is presented. Besides, the stability of the closed-loop multi-agent system is proved by using the Lyapunov theories. Finally, the effectiveness of the theoretical results are verified by a third-order simulation example.
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Shorter telomeres correlate with an increase in the number of uniparental disomies in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia Abstract This study investigated the correlation of the extent of chromosomal aberrations including uniparental disomies (UPDs) by SNP-chip analysis and FISH to telomere length in 46 patients with CLL. CLL harboring high risk aberrations, i.e. deletions of 11q22-23 or 17p13, had significantly shorter telomeres (higher ΔTL) compared to patients with CLL without such abnormalities. Patients with high chromosomal aberration rates had a worse overall survival compared to cases with lower aberration rates. Interestingly, however, an increase was found in the number of UPDs with shorter telomeres. These findings support the idea that telomeres in CLL cells play a role in the overall chromosome stability and could be involved in the occurrence of UPDs.
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On the Velocity of Enzymatic Reactions in Michaelis–Menten-Like Schemes (Ensemble and Single-Molecule Versions) In searching non-standard ways of conformational regulation, various Michaelis–Menten-like schemes attract relentless attention, resulting in sometimes too sophisticated considerations. With the example of monomeric enzymes possessing an only binding site, we define the minimal schemes capable of bearing peculiar regulatory properties like “cooperativity” or substrate inhibition. The simplest ways of calculating the enzymatic reaction velocity are exemplified, either in the ensemble or single-molecule case.
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Leukocyte chemotaxis to the dermal-epidermal junction of human skin mediated by pemphigoid antibody and complement: mechanism of cell attachment in the in vitro leukocyte attachment method. In a previous study a functional interaction between pemphigoid antibodies, pemphigoid antigen, serum complement, and leukocytes was shown using the leukocyte attachment method for detecting immune complexes in skin. In the method, leukocytes suspended in fresh serum attached in a specific linear pattern to the dermal-epidermal junction of skin sections pretreated with pemphigoid sera containing complement-binding anti-basement membrane zone antibodies. In this study, the mechanism of the attachment reaction has been investigated using a modification of the method as a visual assay of leukocyte migration on skin. Using the visual assay it was shown that leukocyte attachment is dependent on directed migration of cells to the dermal-epidermal junction. Chemotaxis mediated by pemphigoid antibodies and fresh serum was confirmed by continuous observation, analysis of time-sequence photomicrographs of cell migration and cinematography. A requirement for leukocyte migration in the standard leukocyte attachment assay was supported by showing that attachment could be inhibited by leukocyte "deactivation" and by treatment of cells with the inhibitors of migration, cytochalasin B and colchicine. Using decomplemented sera, C2-deficient serum and skin-antibody-complement intermediates, leukocyte chemotaxis and attachment to the junction was shown to require complement and functional evidence for activation via the classical pathway and a role for C5 demonstrated. These studies show that leukocyte attachment is dependent on chemotaxis and that pemphigoid antibody-mediated complement activation can support one (chemotaxis) and probably 2 (immune adherence) inflammatory cell functions.
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Furthermore, they provide additional functional evidence that pemphigoid antibodies may be important in the pathogenesis of cutaneous inflammation in bullous pemphigoid.
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Plant carbon balance, evolutionary innovation and extinction in land plants The plant fossil record was reviewed to highlight how consideration of plant carbon balance strengthens our understanding of various evolutionary innovation and extinction events. Following a brief physiological primer to carbon acquisition and allocation in C3‐plants, specific evolutionary events are discussed in connection with postulated carbon‐based mechanisms. Primary topics include: (i) the evolution of plants with the C4‐photosynthetic pathway; (ii) the surprising lack of plant extinctions during the Pleistocene (1.6 million years ago, Ma); (iii) the trend toward declining plant diversity and increasing rates of herbivory across the Palaeocene/Eocene transition (57–52 Ma); and (iv) megaherbivore extinctions at the end of the Pleistocene (10 thousand years ago, Ka). A framework is presented for testing hypotheses on the cause–effect relationships between global carbon cycling, plant carbon dynamics and the evolution of terrestrial ecosystems.
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Time-Domain Analysis of Carbon Nanotubes Time-domain behavior of carbon nanotubes as the future candidates for interconnects is of great importance. In order to analyze an entire circuit containing carbon nanotube interconnects, we need to have an electrical circuit model for carbon nanotubes as well as the rest of the system. Several studies have demonstrated the extracted electrical elements of carbon nanotubes. At this paper, we're going to perform a comprehensive transient analysis on carbon nanotubes to achieve time-domain parameters like delay, rise time and overshoot. An overall transfer function of carbon nanotubes is obtained analytically. Besides, the time-domain quality metrics as well as relative stability based on the variation of the geometry of carbon nanotubes would be analyzed through simulations.
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A low-area and high-throughput intra prediction architecture for a multi-standard HEVC and H.264/AVC video encoder This paper describes a low-area and high-throughput hardware architecture for the intra prediction coding of today's most important video coding standards - the state of the art HEVC and its predecessor H.264/AVC. In order to reduce control complexity, memory accesses and total area, our design works with a subset of the prediction modes and possible block sizes. The multi-standard strategy is desirable because most devices produced prior the HEVC release may only have H.264/AVC accelerators (most of handheld devices, digital TVs, and set-top-boxes). The architecture was fully described in VHDL and synthesized targeting an Altera Stratix V FPGA device. The architecture is capable of processing 2560×1600 videos at 33 frames per second when operating in HEVC mode, and 3840×2160 videos at 45 frames per second in H.264/AVC mode. The cost and performance results achieved are very satisfactory when compared to related works in the literature.
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Research on Routing Protocol for Wireless Sensor Network With the rapid development of computer technology,wireless sensor network (WSN) is widely used in many fields of society, This paper introduces the characteristics of wireless sensor network and its routing protocol. Based on the hierarchical model, a dynamic selection of the sink node and the hierarchical model of multipath routing protocol is proposed which can balance the energy consumption of nodes, and it also can prolong the network lifetime, improve the data transfer rate.
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Current management of varicoceles. In spite of all that has been written about the varicocele, it is still not clear who will benefit from occlusion of the spermatic vein or why improvement in semen takes place in some patients but not in others. Because fertility is usually assessed in the framework of a couple who are trying to establish a pregnancy, it is important to evaluate both partners before making any recommendations regarding therapy. If the man is found to have a varicocele and semen analyses that indicate deficits in either the quantity or quality of the sperm, surgical ligation or transvenous occlusion should be considered as one appropriate form of therapy. Varicocele ligation and embolotherapy both can be performed as an outpatient procedure with minimal morbidity and equal effectiveness regarding pregnancy outcome. The cost, if the procedures are done in an outpatient facility, should be approximately equal. The obvious benefits of the percutaneous technique are a slightly lower recurrence rate and a more rapid return to full physical activity. The surgical procedure described by Marmar and associates appears to have a similar rate of recurrence and short postoperative period of recovery. Greater experience by more urologists using this technique needs to be gained to compare it adequately with the other methods described. Varicocele ligation by the inguinal or retroperitoneal routes is familiar to most urologists and does not require the operating microscope or other special instruments. With greater understanding of the venous anatomy and with careful dissection, the persistence and recurrence rate can be acceptably
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low and the postoperative recovery relatively rapid and smooth.
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A critique of Samuel Shearn's moral critique of theodicies Abstract In ‘Moral critique and defence of theodicy’ (2013) Samuel Shearn argues that ambitious theodicies trivialize horrendous suffering in an unacceptable way by reinterpreting evils in a way sufferers do not accept. Against Shearn, the authors of this article will argue that sufferer acceptance should not be used as a criterion for the moral acceptability of what theodicies say about horrendous evils. Also, since theodicy is done in the public square, Shearn does not find it relevant to distinguish between contexts in which it is morally improper to communicate theodicies and those in which it is not. We disagree, and present some arguments as to why making such distinctions is morally relevant. Furthermore Shearn argues that theodicy is self-defeating if it aims to comfort sufferers of horrendous evils. We will critically re-examine the examples used to support his conclusion, and suggest that theodicies do have a comforting function. Finally, Shearn describes the difference between theodicy and anti-theodicy as an aesthetic impasse, rather than a moral issue. Against this, we find good reasons to affirm its predominant moral character.
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Adaptive CMAC model reference control system for linear piezoelectric ceramic motor In this study, we present a design method for a model reference control structure using a cerebellar model articulation controller (CMAC). Since the dynamic characteristics and motor parameters of the linear piezoelectric ceramic motor (LPCM) are highly nonlinear and time-varying. An adaptive CMAC model reference control system is proposed to control the position of the moving table of the LPCM to achieve high-precision position control with robustness. In order to guarantee the convergence of tracking error for periodic commands tracking, analytical methods based on a discrete-type Lyapunov function are proposed to determine the varied learning-rate parameters of the CMAC. Accurate tracking response and superior dynamic performance can be obtained because of the powerful on-line learning capability of the CMAC. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed adaptive CMAC model reference control system is verified by experimental results in the presence of uncertainties.
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Learning Monocular Visual Odometry through Geometry-Aware Curriculum Learning Inspired by the cognitive process of humans and animals, Curriculum Learning (CL) trains a model by gradually increasing the difficulty of the training data. In this paper, we study whether CL can be applied to complex geometry problems like estimating monocular Visual Odometry (VO). Unlike existing CL approaches, we present a novel CL strategy for learning the geometry of monocular VO by gradually making the learning objective more difficult during training. To this end, we propose a novel geometry-aware objective function by jointly optimizing relative and composite transformations over small windows via bounded pose regression loss. A cascade optical flow network followed by recurrent network with a differentiable windowed composition layer, termed CL-VO, is devised to learn the proposed objective. Evaluation on three real-world datasets shows superior performance of CL-VO over state-of-the-art feature-based and learning-based VO.
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An Efficient Algorithm for Solving Variational Problems Using Hermite Polynomials An algorithm for solving variational problems with fixed and free boundary conditions using Hermite polynomials is proposed. The properties of Hermite polynomials with the operational matrix of integration are used to reduce a variational problem to the solution of algebraic equations. The method verifies an accurate approximate solution with using small numbers of polynomials comparing to other methods. Several examples have been applied to the proposed method.
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Structural features of a six-nucleotide RNA hairpin loop found in ribosomal RNA. The hairpin loop GUAAUA occurs frequently in ribosomal RNA. Optical melting studies show that r(GGCGUAAUAGCC) folds into a hairpin containing this loop. The structural features of the r(GGCGUAAUAGCC) hairpin have been determined by NMR and molecular modeling. NOEs from G4-H1' to A9-H2 and from A9-H2 to G10-H1' show that G4 and A9 form a sheared base pair with two hydrogen bonds: A-N7 to G-NH2 and A-NH6 to G-N3. One-dimensional NOE data show no NOEs between the imino protons of U5 and U8, but NOEs are observed between the U5-H1' and the U8-H6 and U8-H5, thus orienting the U8 imino proton away from U5. Thus U5 and U8 do not form an imino hydrogen-bonded U.U pair. The U5-H2' exhibits NOEs to both the A6-H8 and A7-H8, and the 3' phosphorus resonances of U5 and A6 are shifted downfield. This suggests that the helix turn is between the U5 and A6 nucleotides. The JH1'-H2 and JH3'-H4' coupling constants indicate that the loop is dynamic, particularly at 35 degrees C, well below the melting temperature of 63 degrees C. Structures were generated using 75 distance and 46 dihedral angle restraints. In these structures, the U5 base is stacked on the sheared base pair formed by G4 and A9 and can initiate a uridine turn similar to that observed in the anticodon loop of tRNA. The A6, A7, and U8 bases can stack on one another with their hydrogen-bonding surfaces exposed to the solvent, suggesting that they are
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available for tertiary interactions or protein recognition in rRNA. A range of loop structures are consistent with the data, however. The lack of formation of a U.U mismatch is consistent with a recent model that predicts the stability of hairpin loops of six nucleotides on the basis of the closing base pair and first mismatch in the loop [Serra, M. J., Axenson, T. J., & Turner, D. H. (1994) Biochemistry 33, 14289-14296].
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Randomized Controlled Trial: Perioperative Dexamethasone Reduces Excessive Postoperative Inflammatory Response and Ileus After Surgery for Inflammatory Bowel Disease. BACKGROUND An excessive postoperative inflammatory response is common after surgery for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and may be associated with an increased incidence of postoperative ileus. This study assessed the role of perioperative dexamethasone in postoperative ileus after IBD surgery. METHOD Patients undergoing elective IBD surgery were randomized to either an intravenous 8-mg dose of dexamethasone (n = 151) or placebo (n = 151) upon induction of anesthesia. The primary outcome was the incidence of prolonged postoperative ileus. Secondary outcomes included incidence of reported nausea or vomiting, time to first passage of flatus and stool, GI-2 recovery, postoperative pain, length of stay, and surgical complications. RESULTS An intention-to-treat analysis revealed that patients who received dexamethasone exhibited a lower incidence of prolonged postoperative ileus (22.5% vs 38.4%; P = 0.003), shorter time to first passage of stool (28 vs 48 h, P < 0.001), GI-2 recovery (72 vs 120 h; P < 0.001), reduced postoperative length of stay (9.0 vs 10.0 d; P = 0.002), and less postoperative pain (P < 0.05) compared with controls. Moreover, there were no significant differences in postoperative nausea or vomiting (P = 0.531), major postoperative complications (P = 0.165), or surgical site infections (P = 0.337) between the groups. A benefit was only observed in patients with Crohn's disease, restored bowel continuity, colon/rectal resections, and those who underwent open operations. CONCLUSION A single, intravenous 8-mg dose of dexamethasone upon induction of anesthesia reduced
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the incidence of prolonged postoperative ileus, the intensity of postoperative pain, and shortened the postoperative length of stay for IBD patients undergoing elective surgery. ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03456752.
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Collectivism, Political Control, and Gating in Chinese Cities This paper provides a conceptual framework emphasizing the role of culture and the state in understanding gating in different countries, and applies it to examine the long-existing and widespread neighborhood enclosure and gating in Chinese cities. It is argued that the collectivist culture deeply embedded in Chinese society and tight political control actively pursued by the government contribute to the widespread character of gating in China, whereas dominant Western-based theories such as the discourse of fear and private provision of public services are less applicable, even though they are becoming increasingly important in the new gated private housing. Gating and neighborhood enclosure in China help to define a sense of collectivism and foster social solidarity. Thus gating per se does not necessarily lead to residential segregation, although it begins to reinforce segregation in the reform era. Gating also facilitates political control through neighborhood-level governments whose jurisdiction often corresponds to enclosed neighborhoods but forms change between different political-historical periods. Thus, while the physical form of gating is similar between China and the United States, the underlying sociopolitical constructs and implications are quite different.
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Bacterial overgrowth by indigenous microflora in the phytohemagglutinin-fed rat. Phytohemagglutinin lectin (PHA) derived from red kidney bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) causes bacterial and protozoal colonization of the rat small intestine. To provide additional insights into this phenomenon we have studied the time course and population dynamics of microbial colonization of the major aerobe--facultative anaerobe groups which characterize this microflora. Compared with controls, PHA caused proliferation of a consistent adherent microbial flora in the jejunum (P less than 0.01). The predominant bacteria identified were Escherichia coli. a Streptococcal sp., and Lactobacillus. Escherichia coli isolates expressed no predominant serotype or fimbriae; none elaborated heat-labile or heat-stable toxin. Both E. coli and Streptococcal sp. populations increased within 24 h of PHA feeding and were sustained during further exposure to PHA (P less than 0.05). On reversion to a control diet, coliform counts fell progressively within 24-48 h and continued to decline, whereas gram-positive rod and coccus flora became the more prominent colonizers through days 1 to 4 of the reversion.
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Cognitive Effect of Standardized Group Education Programme in Diabetics Population. Background: The prevalence of diabetes in India has reached alarming levels with 8.7% of population affected as of 2015, which is expected to double in the future. The reasons for the rapid increase in prevalence of diabetes include genetic predilection of Indian population, economic boom, sedentary lifestyle, inadequate follow up and lack of disease awareness. The aim of the study was to overcome the self care deficit which would help patients to be more compliant and better in managing their illness.Methods: The study was conducted at weekly diabetes clinic at AIIMS, Rishikesh in which 2oo patients participated. Two sessions, each of 60 minutes were conducted fortnightly. The patients were educated by trained personnel using specially designed module in patients’ own language. Each group consisted of 10- 15 participants. Participants were tested at the beginning and after the educational programme using a 10 item questionnaire. Data was analysed using MS Excel 2010. Paired t test was used to find any significant difference between pre and post test score.Results: A significant improvement in test scores after education session was noted. Average learning gain was 77.98 % ± 23.27 % after the group education. Sixty four percent participants demonstrated more than 75% learning gain.Conclusion: A dedicated group session programme implemented in an environment conducive to learning with specially designed module has a significant impact on patients’ knowledge (64% participants demonstrated more than 75% learning gain) about the cause and treatment of their disease. The study can be extended to
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see if it impacts behaviour by tracing changes in glycaemic control.Jour of Diab and Endo Assoc of Nepal 2017; 1(1): 8-11
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Evaluating the impact of government energy R&D investments through a multi-attribute utility-based decision tool Government agencies characteristically face dynamic policy and investment environments yet frequently rely on ad-hoc decision-making methods in response to complexities inherent in their operating landscape. Additionally, standard decision making methods typically undervalue projects by ignoring difficult to value, non-monetary benefits. This presents a problem for public institutions, such as the Department of Energy (DOE), where goals relating to the environment and national security are difficult to quantify. As a result, it is especially challenging to accurately optimize the use of public funds. The Department of Energy (DOE) is responsible for making significant investment decisions under extreme uncertainty with respect to the nation’s public energy portfolio. Recently, leaders internal and external to the government have called for a comprehensive and structured approach to assess the DOE’s portfolio of programs and initiatives (PCAST, 2010), (American Energy Innovation Council, 2011). Given the broad spectrum of the DOE’s current portfolio, from basic R&D to demonstration and across every major energy technology, evaluating the impacts of its potential investments is complex. Within the Department of Energy’s Planning Analysis and Evaluation (PA&E) team, a proposal was made to develop a first-of-a-kind decision tool that would provide rigorous analysis of cost and benefit trade-offs associated with the DOE’s investments. The decision tool was designed to couple a state-of-the-art climate and energy model with sophisticated multi-attribute-based decision methods. The research described in this thesis illuminates the advantages and shortcomings of the initial decision tool structure, and
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An efficient code for Adversarial Wiretap channel In the (ρ<sub>r</sub>, ρ<sub>w</sub>)-adversarial wiretap (AWTP) channel model of [13], a codeword sent over the communication channel is corrupted by an adversary who observes a fraction ρ<sub>r</sub> of the codeword, and adds noise to a fraction ρ<sub>w</sub> of the codeword. The adversary is adaptive and chooses the subsets of observed and corrupted components, arbitrarily. In this paper we give the first efficient construction of a code family that provides perfect secrecy in this model, and achieves the secrecy capacity.
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Stratospheric ozone, global warming, and the principle of unintended consequences--an ongoing science and policy success story. One of the important technical achievements to protect human health and wellbeing in the 20th century was the widespread development and application of refrigeration for food preservation and building and vehicle cooling using chlorofluorocarbon refrigerants. These compounds are nontoxic at low atmospheric concentrations and nonreactive in the lower atmosphere. In the mid-1970s, as an outgrowth of international concerns for the photochemistry of aircraft engine effluents emitted at high altitude, workers discovered that the coupling of the nitrogen oxide cycle and the halogen (chlorine) cycle could deplete the stratospheric ozone layer (Farman et al., 1985; Molina and Rowland, 1974; Rowland and Molina, 1975). The stratospheric ozone layer is important to human and ecosystem health because it protects the lower atmosphere from ultraviolet radiation that can cause skin cancer and vegetation damage (Slaper et al., 1998; Solomon, 2008). By the 1980s, stratospheric ozone depletion was observed directly (Norman, 1981) and the deterioration was increasing year by year (Anton et al., 2011; Stolarski et al., 1992). Later in the 1980s, halocarbons were identified as strong radiation absorbers in the solar spectrum—climate-forcing greenhouse gases analogous to carbon dioxide (MacCracken, 1987, 2008). This recognition added a second environmental risk of halocarbon accumulation in the atmosphere. Active scientific communication of the environmental issues associated with halocarbon emissions took place in the 1980s and resulted in a series of international regulatory agreements among stakeholders intended to reduce key halocarbon emissions across the world (Jain and Bach, 1994;
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Kuijpers, 1990, 1993). The nexus of science, technology, and government policy development to address the stratospheric ozone issue illustrates the chain from risk recognition to risk management through regulation of a series of pollutants. The development of international policy to manage halocarbon emissions culminated in the Montreal Protocol of 1987 (Benedick, 1991). The 2013 critical review (Anderson et al., 2013) tells the story of the science underlying the interaction of halogen chemistry with ozone under stratospheric conditions, then discusses the evolution of refrigerant manufacturing and use from their early 19th century beginnings to today’s use of halocarbons in many applications. The review documents the ongoing technological changes brought about by evolving regulation meant to protect the stratospheric ozone layer and mitigate undesired climate change. The review authors include Steven Anderson, a leader of U.S. regulatory policy for halocarbons, Marcel Halberstadt, prior director of the Motor Vehicle Manufacturers Association, and Nathan Borgford-Parnell, an expert on international environmental policy and its application to the refrigeration industry. Their comprehensive and thorough summary of the science, technology, and policy, as well as the industrial response to the issue, provides a unique perspective to this international environmental issue for Air & Waste Management Association (A&WMA) members and other readers of Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association. The lessons learned from the work underlying this public policy and collaborative technological response provide an important roadmap for international environmental risk management. A&WMAmembers and guests are invited to read, attend, and comment on the 43rd Annual Critical Review at A&WMA’s 106th Annual
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Conference & Exhibition to be held in Chicago, A. Gwen Eklund
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Ascorbate-dependent impact on cell-derived matrix in modulation of stiffness and rejuvenation of infrapatellar fat derived stem cells toward chondrogenesis Developing an in vitro microenvironment using cell-derived decellularized extracellular matrix (dECM) is a promising approach to efficiently expand adult stem cells for cartilage engineering and regeneration. Ascorbic acid serves as a critical stimulus for cells to synthesize collagens, which constitute the major component of dECM. In this study, we hypothesized that optimization of ascorbate treatment would maximize the rejuvenation effect of dECM on expanded stem cells from human infrapatellar fat pad in both proliferation and chondrogenic differentiation. In the duration regimen study, we found that dECM without L-ascorbic acid phosphate (AA) treatment, exhibiting lower stiffness measured by atomic force microscopy, yielded expanded cells with higher proliferation capacity but lower chondrogenic potential when compared to those with varied durations of AA treatment. dECM with 250 µM of AA treatment for 10 d had better rejuvenation in chondrogenic capacity if the deposited cells were from passage 2 rather than passage 5, despite no significant difference in matrix stiffness. In the dose regimen study, we found that dECMs deposited by varied concentrations of AA yielded expanded cells with higher proliferation capacity despite lower expression levels of stem cell related surface markers. Compared to cells expanded on tissue culture polystyrene, those on dECM exhibited greater chondrogenic potential, particularly for the dECMs with 50 µM and 250 µM of AA treatment. With the supplementation of ethyl-3,4-dihydroxybenzoate (EDHB), an inhibitor targeting procollagen synthesis, the dECM with 50 µM of AA treatment exhibited a
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dramatic decrease in the rejuvenation effect of expanded cell chondrogenic potential at both mRNA and protein levels despite no significant difference in matrix stiffness. Defined AA treatments during matrix preparation will benefit dECM-mediated stem cell engineering and future treatments for cartilage defects.
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Mechanisms of Sb(III) oxidation by pyrite-induced hydroxyl radicals and hydrogen peroxide. Antimony (Sb) is an element of growing interest, and its toxicity and mobility are strongly influenced by redox processes. Sb(III) oxidation mechanisms in pyrite suspensions were comprehensively investigated by kinetic measurements in oxic and anoxic conditions and simulated sunlight. Sb(III) was oxidized to Sb(V) in both solution and on pyrite surfaces in oxic conditions; the oxidation efficiency of Sb(III) was gradually enhanced with the increase of pH. The pyrite-induced hydroxyl radical (·OH) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) are the oxidants for Sb(III) oxidation. ·OH is the oxidant for Sb(III) oxidation in acidic solutions, and H2O2 becomes the main oxidant in neutral and alkaline solutions. ·OH and H2O2 can be generated by the reaction of previously existing FeIII(pyrite) and H2O on pyrite in anoxic conditions. The oxygen molecule is the crucial factor in continuously producing ·OH and H2O2 for Sb(III) oxidation. The efficiency of Sb(III) oxidation was enhanced in surface-oxidized pyrite (SOP) suspension, more ·OH formed through Fenton reaction in acidic solutions, but Fe(IV) and H2O2 were formed in neutral and alkaline solutions. Under the illumination of simulated sunlight, more ·OH and H2O2 were produced in the pyrite suspension, and the oxidation efficiency of Sb(III) was remarkably enhanced. In conclusion, Sb(III) can be oxidized to Sb(V) in the presence of pyrite, which will greatly influence the fate of Sb(III) in the environment.
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Minimizing Average Regret Ratio in Database We propose "average regret ratio" as a metric to measure users' satisfaction after a user sees k selected points of a database, instead of all of the points in the database. We introduce the average regret ratio as another means of multi-criteria decision making. Unlike the original k-regret operator that uses the maximum regret ratio, the average regret ratio takes into account the satisfaction of a general user. While assuming the existence of some utility functions for the users, in contrast to the top-k query, it does not require a user to input his or her utility function but instead depends on the probability distribution of the utility functions. We prove that the average regret ratio is a supermodular function and provide a polynomial-time approximation algorithm to find the average regret ratio minimizing set for a database.
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The effect of importing physicians--return to a pre-Flexnerian standard. Abstract Increasing concern about the control of the quality of medical care raises the question of the dilution of the physical manpower pool with foreign medical graduates, who constituted 46 per cent of new licentiates in medicine in the United States in 1972. The use of the Educational Council for Foreign Medical Graduates examination as a minimal level of educational quality for graduates entering the United States from medical schools in developing countries and the increasing number of such graduates entering the United States each year from those countries have produced a dual standard. Medical schools in the United States established controls over the input and process of medical education after the Flexner Report in 1910. Such controls do not exist in many foreign medical schools. Recommendations are made for control of a minimal educational level for physicians entering the United States health-care system and implications of these recommendations are discussed. (N Engl J Med 290:1453–1458, 1974)
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Multimodal Imaging of Brain Connectivity Using the MIBCA Toolbox: Preliminary Application to Alzheimer’s Disease The Multimodal Imaging Brain Connectivity Analysis (MIBCA) toolbox is a fully automated all-in-one connectivity analysis toolbox that offers both pre-processing, connectivity, and graph theory analysis of multimodal images such as anatomical, diffusion, and functional MRI, and PET. In this work, the MIBCA functionalities were used to study Alzheimer's Disease (AD) in a multimodal MR/PET approach. Materials and Methods: Data from 12 healthy controls, and 36 patients with EMCI, LMCI and AD (12 patients for each group) were obtained from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) database (adni.loni.usc.edu), including T1-weighted (T1-w), Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) data, and 18F-AV-45 (florbetapir) dynamic PET data from 40-60 min post injection (4x5 min). Both MR and PET data were automatically pre-processed for all subjects using MIBCA. T1-w data was parcellated into cortical and subcortical regions-of-interest (ROIs), and the corresponding thicknesses and volumes were calculated. DTI data was used to compute structural connectivity matrices based on fibers connecting pairs of ROIs. Lastly, dynamic PET images were summed, and the relative Standard Uptake Values calculated for each ROI. Results: An overall higher uptake of 18F-AV-45, consistent with an increased deposition of beta-amyloid, was observed for the AD group. Additionally, patients showed significant cortical atrophy (thickness and volume) especially in the entorhinal cortex and temporal areas, and a significant increase in Mean Diffusivity (MD) in the hippocampus, amygdala and temporal areas. Furthermore, patients showed a reduction of fiber connectivity with the progression of the disease, especially for intra-hemispherical connections. Conclusion:
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This work shows the potential of the MIBCA toolbox for the study of AD, as findings were shown to be in agreement with the literature. Here, only structural changes and beta-amyloid accumulation were considered. Yet, MIBCA is further able to process fMRI and different radiotracers, thus leading to integration of functional information, and supporting the research for new multimodal biomarkers for AD and other neurodegenerative diseases.
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In-situ observation of alloy phase formation in nanometre-sized particles in the Sn–Bi system Alloy phase formation in nanometre-sized particles has been studied by in-situ transmission electron microscopy using particles in the Sn–Bi system. Observations have been carried out at a temperature (i.e. 350 K) above the eutectic temperature. For tin-rich compositions, with increasing concentration of bismuth, a particle (approximately 8 nm in size) of the terminal tin solid solution changed directly into a particle of the liquid phase, without going through the stage of solid–liquid coexistence. On the other hand, for bismuth-rich compositions, a particle (approximately 8 nm in size) of the terminal bismuth solid solution changed first to a particle with a crystal–liquid two-phase microstructure and eventually to a particle of the liquid phase, with increasing concentration of tin. Thermodynamic model calculations indicate that the contribution of the solid–liquid interfacial energy to the total Gibbs free energy of an alloy particle with a solid–liquid two-phase microstructure becomes large enough to change the phase equilibrium when the size of the particle is reduced to the nanometre range, and that the difference between the alloy phase formation for the tin-rich and bismuth-rich alloys observed here can be consistently explained in terms of the difference between the relative contributions of the solid–liquid interfacial energy for the two types of alloy.
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Antigen-specific and nonspecific determinants of cytokine production during topical sensitization of mice to chemical allergens. BACKGROUND Topical exposure to chemical allergens such as trimellitic anhydride or 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene results in the accumulation of dendritic cells (DCs) and subsequent rapid up-regulation of CD4 T-cell proliferation and cytokine secretion within draining lymph nodes. OBJECTIVE We investigated the contribution of antigen-specific and CD40 ligand (CD40L)-mediated signals to chemical allergen-induced CD4 T-cell growth and cytokine production. METHODS DCs enriched from lymph nodes of allergen-challenged animals by metrizamide centrifugation were used to stimulate cytokine and proliferative responses by magnetic immunobead-sorted CD4 T cells primed in vivo with the same or unrelated allergen. Cultures of DCs and T cells were supplemented with antibodies that block IL-12 and CD40L activity. RESULTS Proliferation of CD4 T cells was stimulated by DCs primed with the same but not unrelated antigen, whereas IFN-gamma, IL-12, and IL-10 secretion were provoked equally well by DCs primed with either hapten. Blockade of CD40L engagement abrogated production of IFN-gamma (80%) and IL-12 (95%) under antigen-nonspecific stimulatory conditions. In contrast, IL-10 secretion was enhanced after CD40L blockade under both antigen-specific and nonspecific conditions. Primary CD4 T cells activated by mitogen were also influenced by DCs in the same way. CONCLUSION These results show that during the development of chemical sensitization emerging CD4 T-cell growth and cytokine production are regulated by independent mechanisms requiring antigen presentation and CD40 signaling, respectively.
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Predictive genetic testing in minors for late-onset conditions: a chronological and analytical review of the ethical arguments Predictive genetic testing is now routinely offered to asymptomatic adults at risk for genetic disease. However, testing of minors at risk for adult-onset conditions, where no treatment or preventive intervention exists, has evoked greater controversy and inspired a debate spanning two decades. This review aims to provide a detailed longitudinal analysis and concludes by examining the debate's current status and prospects for the future. Fifty-three relevant theoretical papers published between 1990 and December 2010 were identified, and interpretative content analysis was employed to catalogue discrete arguments within these papers. Novel conclusions were drawn from this review. While the debate's first voices were raised in opposition of testing and their arguments have retained currency over many years, arguments in favour of testing, which appeared sporadically at first, have gained momentum more recently. Most arguments on both sides are testable empirical claims, so far untested, rather than abstract ethical or philosophical positions. The dispute, therein, lies not so much in whether minors should be permitted to access predictive genetic testing but whether these empirical claims on the relative benefits or harms of testing should be assessed.
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An Atypical Localized Form of Hidradenitis Suppurativa of the Jawline and Neck Mimicking Severe Cystic Acne on Presentation Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic and debilitating suppurative disease primarily affecting the axillae, perineum, and inframammary regions, where apocrine sweat glands are present. However, HS can occur in atypical locations. We present an interesting case of a 40-year-old man who developed chronic painful subcutaneous nodules, deep sinus tracts, and abscesses involving the jawline and the anterior aspect of the neck as the only parts of the body affected and who responded satisfactorily to adalimumab and laser hair removal treatment. This case is relevant because it helps clinicians to remember that HS may be isolated to atypical locations, such as the anterior aspect of the neck and chin. It also supports another possible HS pathogenesis which consists of the occlusion of terminal hair follicles rather than being essentially a disorder of the apocrine glands.
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The effects of perceived value, environmental concern and attitude on recycled fashion consumption PurposeThis study aims to determine the effects of consumers' perceptions of value and environmental concerns toward recycled content clothing on consumers' attitudes and purchase intentions toward these products.Design/methodology/approachThe research methodology consisted of consumer survey. Female consumers registered in the labor market in the province of Konya in Turkey constituted the sample of the study. A total of 296 female consumers selected by a simple random sampling method, and taking into account time, cost and accessibility criteria, constituted the sample of the study.FindingsPerceived customer values and environmental concerns were found to be much more effective on purchase intentions, although they were weak in positively affecting customers' attitudes toward recycled content clothing. Findings show that emotional, epistemic and conditional values and environmental concerns positively affect purchase intentions.Research limitations/implicationsThe sample in this study consisted of just female consumers with income in the city of Konya, Turkey. The results might be different in different demographic groups and different cities of Turkey.Practical implicationsConsumers have positive attitude toward the idea of using recycled fibers in their clothes.Originality/valueThe literature generally includes research examining consumers' behavior toward sustainable fashion. This research focuses on the value perceptions and attitudes of Turkish consumers toward recycled content clothing – a market and topic that have not been studied much before.
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