In this paper, laminar flow through and over models of porous media is studied to characterize the flow at the onset of inertia. Horizontal, vertical or mesh arrays of circular rods are used to model the porous medium. The rods are arranged to cover solid volume fraction ranging from 0.03 to 0.49, and to fill approximately three-quarters of the depth of the test section. Each of the porous media models is tested in a refractive-index matched viscous fluid flow driven by pressure. The Reynolds number is also varied over an order of magnitude to cover the regime at which the porous medium flow just transitions from a Darcy to an inertia laminar flow regime. Velocity measurements are then obtained by a planar particle image velocimetry technique. The experiment...

In Greece, text, melody and movement have had a long creative history and a close relationship with the people. This trilogy has often been used as an important element in the struggle for freedom, or resistance, whether in the songs of the Klepfts, or in the various step combinations of the refugees from Asia Minor. The Metaxas dictatorship, for instance, in the late 1930s, banned many singers and texts of songs of the so-called rebetika, yet also reinforced the idea of folk tradition. From April 1967 until November 1974, the colonels' junta also banned performances of certain ancient and other plays because of their political content. The songs of Theodorakis, of Loizos landed the composers in exile, which was also the fate of other artists who opposed the...

Metabolism is a fundamental cellular process that can become harmful for cells by leading to DNA damage, for instance by an increase in oxidative stress or through the generation of toxic byproducts. To deal with such insults, cells have evolved sophisticated DNA damage response (DDR) pathways that allow for the maintenance of genome integrity. Recent years have seen remarkable progress in our understanding of the diverse DDR mechanisms, and, through such work, it has emerged that cellular metabolic regulation not only generates DNA damage but also impacts on DNA repair. Cancer cells show an alteration of the DDR coupled with modifications in cellular metabolism, further emphasizing links between these two fundamental processes. Taken together, these compell...

BackgroundRecent studies have elucidated the vascular protective effects of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors. However, to date, no large-scale studies have been carried out to determine the impact of DPP-4 inhibitors on the occurrence of peripheral arterial disease, and lower extremity amputation risk in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective registry analysis using Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database to investigate the correlation between the use of DPP-4 inhibitors and risk of peripheral arterial disease in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. A total of 82,169 propensity score-matched pairs of DPP-4 inhibitor users and nonusers with type 2 diabetes mellitus were examined for the period 2009 ...

We report a case of acute contralateral subdural hygroma (SDG) following decompressive craniectomy and discuss the potential aetiologies of the SDG. A 63-year-old man experienced drowsiness (Glasgow coma scale score 13) after a fall that resulted in head trauma. Brain CT revealed a subdural haematoma at the right fronto-temporo-parietal region with a midline shift to the left. Craniectomy for evacuation of the subdural haematoma was performed immediately. A delayed intracerebral haematoma with mass effect in the right frontotemporal region developed later, and was removed in a second operation. Although the patient's neurological status improved postoperatively, gradual deterioration was observed during the follow-up period. Contralateral SDG with a midline ...

Thiophenols are a class of highly toxic environmental pollutant, hence it is very necessary to monitor thiophenols in environment and living cells with an efficient and reliable method. Herein, a novel fluorescent probe for thiophenols has been developed, which exhibited a colorimetric and fluorescence turn-on dual response towards thiophenols with good selectivity and fast response. The sensing mechanism for thiophenols was attributed to nucleophilic substitution reaction, which was confirmed by HPLC. The probe exhibited good recovery (from 90% to 107%) and low limit of detection for thiophenols (37 nM) in industrial wastewater. Moreover, the probe has been successfully employed to visualize thiophenol in living cells. Therefore, the fluorescent probe has g...

Phagocytes are activated by several extracellular signals, including formyl-peptides derived from bacterial proteins or disrupted cells. The most intensely studied member of the formylpeptide family is the synthetic tripeptide N-formyl-L-methionyl-L-leucyl-L-phenylalanine (fMLP), whose specific receptors have been identified on neutrophil plasma membrane and subsequently cloned. The fMLP-receptor interaction activates multiple transduction pathways responsible for various neutrophil functions such as adhesion, chemotaxis, exocytosis of secretory granules and superoxide anion production, which represent the physiological response to bacterial infection and tissue damage. An unresolved question is whether signaling requirements are identical or specific for ea...

Sewage sludge is treated by means of cold plasma and stabilization in terms of biological load deactivation is achieved. The plasma is produced by floating electrode dielectric barrier discharge operating with air under atmospheric pressure conditions. The process is presented in detail and the discharge is characterized electrically. Additionally, simulation of the thermal flow inside the process chamber is implemented, using computational fluid dynamics. Deactivation of the serotypes S. Paratyphi B., S. Livingstone, S. Mbandaka and S. Typhimurium, and Escherichia coli and Coliforms, is hereby claimed. The process involves mean electrical power in the range of tens of watts, treatment time in the scale of minutes, and maximum instantaneous temperature

Cognitive impairment is difficult to improve after shunt operation in patients with idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH). This study aims to identify cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers predictive of improvement in cognitive function.This study was conducted between January 2008 and December 2010 on consecutive, unselected admissions to our program for the treatment of patients with clinically suspected iNPH. Lumbar CSF concentrations of total tau (Tau), tau phosphorylated at threonine 181 (p-tau), soluble amyloid precursor protein (sAPP), sAPPα, sAPPβ, and β-amyloid(1-42) (Aβ42) were analyzed by ELISA.Concentrations of p-tau, sAPP, sAPPα, and sAPPβ were strong diagnostic biomarkers for distinguishing between iNPH and Alzheimer's disease (A...

Abstract The topics of language and subaltern social groups appear throughout Antonio Gramsci's Prison Notebooks. Although Gramsci often associates the problem of political fragmentation among subaltern groups with issues concerning language and common sense, there are only a few notes where he explicitly connects his overlapping analyses of language and subalternity. We build on the few places in the literature on Gramsci that focus on how he relates common sense to the questions of language or subalternity. By explicitly tracing out these relations, we hope to bring into relief the direct connections between subalternity and language by showing how the concepts overlap with respect to Gramsci's analyses of common sense, intellectuals, philosophy, folklore,...

We measured the thermal expansion coefficient and Debye temperature of nanoporous gold (NPG) using the extended x-ray absorption fine structure technique. Reduction of the nearest-neighbor distances in NPG by ca. 0.01 $\AA{}$ compared to the bulk gold was attributed to the surface tension caused, in turn, by the finite-size effect of the NPG ligaments. We also demonstrated that the Debye temperature in NPG is 5$%$ lower than in bulk gold. We interpreted these observations in the framework of a bimodal distribution of surface and bulk bonds with different values of Debye temperature. The surface bonds with low Debye temperature extend within ca. four layers of Au atoms located on the pore surface, in a good agreement with prior resistivity measurements and th...

Kale yoghurt melts are proposed as a novel snack that can melt in the mouth. However, such melts with thin fresh pulp were difficult to shape when drying at elevated temperature. In order to obtain a desirable shape and high-quality snack, freeze drying (FD), infrared freeze drying (IRFD), and combination of infrared freeze drying and microwave vacuum drying (IRFD-MVD) were attempted. The effects of these drying techniques on the drying time, energy consumption, bulk density, rehydration time, texture, color, chlorophylls, carotenoids and total phenolics contents as well as antioxidant activity and sensory characteristics of the differently dried products were compared. Nuclear magnetic resonance and magnetic resonance image analyses were also conducted to i...

The editors have recently dealt with the issue of potential plagiarism in a case where the intent was innocent but the appearance was that of claiming another colleague's work. We believe that scientific progress and evolution like many human endeavors, requires taking from what is known and then improving upon that understanding. So many great ideas, patents and works have been subtle but with brilliant twists or enlightenments of a basic idea. However, the ethical issue arises when that work is claimed by another in print, without due recognition of the source. We believe that there is no place for this problem in our journal and will use measures at our disposal in the electronic publishing realm to identify a discrepancy. This places the onus upon the au...

Census studies are important in establishing fertility differentials but explanations require intensive investigations which examine motivations and attitudes as well as demographic behaviour; hence the Melbourne Family Formation Survey carried out by the Demography Department of the Australian National University in 1971. In interviews averaging two hours women were led through a full discussion of family size ideals contraceptive practice aspirations for children life-cycle histories the effect of female employment upon fertility and a range of special questions to be used in constructing psycho-social indices for fertility behaviour. The fully self-weighting sample designed by the ten Commonwealth Bureau of Census and Statistics was a three-stage a really...

Abstract The nano-SiCp/A356 Al-matrix composites containing 2 wt.% nano-SiCp were synthesized with solid-liquid mixed casting method. The effects of ultrasonic vibration (UV) treatment and squeeze casting on refinement were studied and the role of nano-SiCp distribution on refinement was focused. Results show that both of the secondary dendritic arm spacing (SDAS) of α-Al grains and the size of eutectic Si phase decrease with the increase of the UV time and the applied pressure of squeeze casting. When UV is applied for 3 min, the SDAS of α-Al in composites is 8.1 μm, which is reduced by 49% than that of A356 matrix alloy. The mean diameter and aspect ratio of eutectic Si phase in composites are 0.92 μm and 2.33, and they are reduced by 42% and 3...

The paper revisits the way transient trapping is introduced in the literature based on the Sofronis and McMeeking model (Sofronis and McMeeking, 1989) [1] of hydrogen transport. It is shown that the direct use of the improved formulation made by Krom et al. (1999) [2] for transient trapping may lead to non-physical results of hydrogen concentration in case of an insulated system. The use of McNabb and Foster trapping kinetic equation is more relevant, and its ability to model both trap creation and kinetic trapping is investigated on a Small Scale Yielding configuration for the sake of comparison with a reference case from the literature. A parametric study is conducted, exhibiting differences with literature, and emphasizes on the significant effect of trap...

For technology nodes beyond 14nm silicon nitride spacer etching has become a major challenge. Conventional plasma etching techniques based on CHF 3 /O 2 cannot achieve thorough nitride removal on horizontal surfaces without inducing either CD loss or Si/SiGe source/drain recess. This leads to either gate leakage increase or poor raised source/drain epitaxy. To overcome atomic scale control issues faced with continuous plasma processes, several techniques aiming at achieving atomic layer etching or thin layer etching were recently described [1]. An original etching approach has been reported which consists in modifying the silicon nitride through H 2 ion implantation by plasma (ICP or CCP) and then selectively removing the modified fraction of the layer thank...

Abstract The Quanzhen Daoist order stands as the most dynamic religious element in north China of the tumultuous thirteenth century. Drawing on funeral epitaphs and abbey commemorations, this article illustrates how famous and obscure Confucian scholar-officials interpreted the order’s remarkable success in various ways. Some credited Quanzhen with pruning Daoism of its post-Han dynasty excrescences and reviving the heritage’s basic teachings. For others, Quanzhen marked simply the latest chapter in Daoism’s undimmed heroic history. A third group pointed to the order’s ascetic discipline, which as a matter of course attracted elite and mass devotion. Significantly, epitaphs and commemorations composed by Quanzhen writers sounded similar themes, sugge...

The free-electron laser of the TEU-FEL project of the University of Twente will be driven by a photoinjector followed by a racetrack microtron. The injector, which is now under construction, will provide a very high-brightness electron beam with an energy of about 6 MeV. In phase I of the project, experiments are being planned in which this low energy beam from the injector will pass through an undulator and will generate radiation at a wavelength of about 200 ?m via the process of self-amplified spontaneous emission (SASE). Numerical simulations of the performance of this source indicate that power levels of about 15 MW (averaged over a micropulse) can be obtained with a 1-m undulator. We present additional results derived from simulation studies of the per...

Brush border membrane vesicles isolated from rabbit small intestine were used to measure the interactions between sodium and glucose transport with a rapid uptake technique. A plot of glucose uptake rate vs. increasing sodium concentration yielded a sigmoid curve. Hill analysis revealed a coefficient of 1.9 +/- 0.02 (+/- SEM), consistent with at least two sodium ions involved in glucose transport. Transport coupling was then measured directly with double-label experiments in which the uptakes of D-glucose and sodium were determined in the presence and absence of cotransported solute. At the earliest time point, the ratio of cosubstrate-dependent sodium transport to glucose transport was 3.2 +2- 0.7 (+/- SEM). We conclude that two or more sodium ions are coup...

We have investigated the effect of vibrations on the stability of gas-fluidized beds of fine powders (particle size approximately 10 microm). The powder is uniformly fluidized by an adjustable gas flow that enables us to control the average solid volume fraction straight phi(0). The fluidized bed is then subjected to a vertical oscillatory motion of controlled amplitude and frequency. The response of the fluidized bed depends essentially on the value of straight phi(0). For straight phi(0)>0.28 the fluidized bed is in a weak solidlike regime, it has a mechanical strength, and particles are static. In this regime vibration causes compaction of the loosely packed bed. For straight phi(0)

To compare markers of semen quality and related reproductive indicators in middle-aged males in relation to serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels.A total of 384 voluntary middle-aged men who underwent screening for prostate health were recruited. Reproductive function, semen quality, hormonal parameters, prostate-related pathologies, and PSA levels were measured.Total sperm count and sperm concentration were decreased in men with elevated serum PSA compared with age-matched controls. Serum FSH levels differed significantly in subjects with non-malignant, pre-malignant, and malignant prostate conditions. PSA levels in men with three normal semen variables (semen volume ≥ 1.5 mL, sperm density ≥ 15 × 10(6)/mL, and A + B motility ≥ 40%) were signi...

Tool use was once considered the sole domain of humans. Over the last 40 years, however, it has become apparent that tool use may be widespread across the animal kingdom. Pioneering studies in primates have shaped the way we think about tool use in animals, but have also lead to a bias both in terms of our expectations about which animals should be capable of using tools and the working definition of tool use. Here I briefly examine tool use in terrestrial animals and consider the constraints of the current working definition of tool use in fishes. Fishes lack grasping limbs and operate underwater where there are clear constraints with respect to the physics of tool use that differ dramatically from the terrestrial environment. I then examine all of the docu...

Abstract In this work, we study hydrogen isotopes (HI) inventory inside tungsten plasma-facing materials during high confinement mode discharges with repetitive edge localized modes (ELMy H-mode) based on the operating parameters of the EAST device, since tungsten is considered as the primary plasma-facing material and the ELMy H-mode is an important operation regime for EAST and future devices. The upgraded Hydrogen Isotope Inventory Processes Code (HIIPC) is applied with the incident depth profile provided by SRIM-2013 to make the study. The code is first verified by comparison with experimental measurements. The effects of the incident ion energy and ion flux on the retention are then studied. Finally, using the parameters obtained from EAST diagnostics, ...

ADVERTISEMENT RETURN TO ISSUEPREVReviewNEXTSurface Processes on Interstellar Amorphous Solid Water: Adsorption, Diffusion, Tunneling Reactions, and Nuclear-Spin ConversionTetsuya Hama and Naoki Watanabe*View Author Information Institute of Low Temperature Science, Hokkaido University, N19W8 Kita-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-0819, Japan*E-mail: [email protected]Cite this: Chem. Rev. 2013, 113, 12, 8783–8839Publication Date (Web):October 24, 2013Publication History Received13 February 2013Published online24 October 2013Published inissue 11 December 2013https://doi.org/10.1021/cr4000978Copyright © 2013 American Chemical SocietyRIGHTS & PERMISSIONSArticle Views4249Altmetric-Citations206LEARN ABOUT THESE METRICSArticle Views are the COUNTER-compliant sum of full ...

Abstract This paper presents a synthesis of results from various models that have assessed the impact of the Uruguay Round on global agriculture. The results, on the whole, show that the Uruguay Round is not expected to cause large price and income effects at the global level. The effects are likely to be more significant for individual regions and countries. The paper identifies a number of factors, explaining the differences in the impact assessed using various models. These include partial or non-incorporation of the specific reduction commitments under the Uruguay Round, different practices followed in modelling tariff reductions, differences in transmission elasticities, use of different base periods to apply Uruguay Round reduction commitments, model s...

The present research paper deals with the oxidation process of molybdenum ore. The main target of the present study is the up-gradation of MoO3 from roasted molybdenum ore by a leaching process without waste generation. The most important application of hydrometallurgical processing is the leaching process of the ore and it is the primary process to make pure metal from ore. The present investigations optimize the following experimental parameters to improve the concentration of MoO3 as well as the separation of copper, iron and zinc in roasted molybdenum ore: effect of acid concentration, temperature, pulp density and leaching time were studied systematically. The temperature study was carried out at 550-595 ºC for the oxidation process. The XRD result sho...

1. Diamondback terrapins (Malaclemys terrapin) were caught in the wild at salinities between 11·3 and 31·8%. 2. Acclimation of terrapins to sea water caused a 2·4-fold increasein the Na concentration of orbital fluid. Two species of crocodiles (Crocodylus acutus, C. porosus) showed only a 1·4-fold increase. 3. Sea water acclimation in terrapins caused a rise in plasma Na concentration. The increase was relatively small over a 6-week period of acclimation. Wild-caught terrapins had a higher plasma Na concentration. 4. Maximum rates of salt gland secretion in sea water-acclimated terrapins measured by a head rinse technique varied from 16·8 to 26·6 μmoles Na/100 g hr. In fresh-water-acclimated animals secretion was less than 1 μmole Na/100 g hr. The es...

In construction mediation, there is a spectrum of mediating approaches and various schools of thought for mediation strategies. Among which, it is controversial whether the mediator should adopt a proactive approach, such as evaluating the case or proposing solutions. Furthermore, it is contentious whether the success rate of the mediation will be higher when the mediator has a construction background. In this paper, the authors attempt to summarise the points of view of various stakeholders, from mediators to industry representatives. The authors conducted 31 interviews with experienced construction mediators, top management of contractors and advocates of various mediating approaches. According to the results, both the process and outcome of the constructi...

Experimental and theoretical studies of elastohydrodynamically lubricated contacts normally assume static or quasi-static conditions. Non-steady conditions are, however, common. In this paper the case of a ball impacting a flat lubricated surface is investigated theoretically. This case implies transient conditions and the lubricating effect is due to pure squeeze action. Pressure and film thickness distributions are computed during impact and rebound. The results of the analysis show the effects of ball mass, initial impact velocity, lubricant properties and the thickness of the applied lubricant layer on the minimum film thickness. Increased impact velocity increases the minimum value of film thickness achieved during the bounce. The damping capacity of th...

The treatment of psoriasis involves difficult decisions and time-consuming explanations to maximize therapeutic benefits. Practical Psoriasis Therapy has been written to guide the dermatologist through the wide variety of treatments and help in the selection of therapy for the patient. Additionally, numerous practical details of most therapies are presented. Dr Lowe has completely updated this handbook from the original 1986 version. Practical Psoriasis Therapy is organized according to type of therapy followed by chapters on special problems in therapy, such as scalp psoriasis or pustular psoriasis. The breadth of Dr Lowe's experience is evident throughout the book, and he is one of the authors of 17 of the 24 chapters. He is an enthusiastic advocate of man...

Abstract The variation of the selenium status of leukocytes was used as a tool to investigate the influence of selenium-containing glutathione peroxidases on the formation of 5-lipoxygenase metabolites in vitro and ex vivo. Selenium-deficient rat basophilic leukemia cells had < 1% of control glutathione peroxidase activity and 35% of control phospholipid hydroperoxide-glutathione peroxidase activity. Upon stimulation, these cells released an 8-fold amount of lipoxygenase metabolites compared to controls. No (5S)-hydroperoxyeicosatetraenoic acid was detectable in whole cells; however, it was found in homogenates of selenium-deficient cells. Addition of 0.25 microgram/ml selenium to selenium-deficient cells restored control phospholipid hydroperoxide-glutathio...

BackgroundPatient reported outcome measures (PROMs) are increasingly valued in orthopaedics. There are already many site specific or pathology specific scores. These scores are usually validated for specific pathologies and can be complicated and time consuming to use. The aim of the present pilot study is to develop a new orthopaedic score for elective operations, which measures patient satisfaction simply and quickly, and is not limited to a single site or pathology.Materials & methodsThe UnEOS questionnaire has 16 questions. Eleven questions relate to the three main dimensions (Symptoms, Function, Mental Status) and can be used both preoperatively and postoperatively. Five questions are added to the questionnaire at the postoperative mode, which form the ...

1. The binding of [3H]-imipramine to brain membrane preparations of the insects, Periplaneta americana, Locusta migratoria and the mollusc, Helix pomatia was investigated. 2. [3H]-Imipramine binding is similar in invertebrates and vertebrates although, in insects, the binding is independent of sodium. 3. In the three invertebrate systems studied, [3H]-imipramine binding was inhibited by 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) only at high concentrations (100 μM 5-HT caused 20–30% inhibition in insects and 10% inhibition in snail). 4. Studies on binding and incorporation of [3H]-imipramine and [3H]-5-hydroxytryptamine indicate that the imipramine binding site differs from the 5-hydroxytryptamine recognition site of uptake. 5. The [3H]-imipramine binding sites are not s...

Contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI) occurs in more than 30% of patients after intravenous iodinated contrast media and causes serious complications, including renal failure and mortality. Recent research has demonstrated that routine antioxidant and alkaline therapy failed to show benefits in CI-AKI patients with high risk for renal complications. Mitophagy is a mechanism of selective autophagy, which controls mitochondrial quality and mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) through degradation of damaged mitochondria. The role of mitophagy and its regulation of apoptosis in CI-AKI are poorly understood. In this study, we demonstrated that mitophagy was induced in renal tubular epithelial cells (RTECs) during CI-AKI, both in vivo and in vitro. ...

We reviewed studies involving the treatment of bruxism (i.e., teeth clenching or teeth grinding) in individuals with developmental disabilities. Systematic searches of electronic databases, journals, and reference lists identified 11 studies meeting the inclusion criteria. These studies were evaluated in terms of: (a) participants, (b) procedures used to assess bruxism, (c) intervention procedures, (d) results of the intervention, and (e) certainty of evidence. Across the 11 studies, intervention was provided to a total of 19 participants aged 4-43 years. Assessment procedures included dental screening under sedation and interviews with caregivers. Intervention approaches included prosthodontics, dental surgery, injection of botulinum toxin-a, behavior modif...

Ethanol dehydration was investigated over commercial H-FER, H-MFI, H-MOR, H-BEA, H-Y and H-USY zeolite samples, and alumina and silica alumina for comparison. The catalysts were characterized using FT-IR spectroscopy of the surface OH groups and of adsorbed CO and pyridine. UV–vis, Raman and TG-DTA were applied to characterize coke, formed more on H-MOR and H-BEA. H-zeolites are definitely more active than silica alumina and alumina on catalyst weight base. The H-MOR sample is the most active but the H-MFI samples with Si/Al2 ratios 280 and 50 show higher reaction rates per Al ion, H-FER and faujasites show highest ethylene yield (99.9% at 573 K). At lower temperature and higher space velocities, diethyl ether is formed with high yield (>70% at 453–473 K...

Invariant chain (Ii) associates with MHC class I molecules in cross-presentation pathway in mouse, but the association of Ii with MHC class I molecules in chicken was not clear. In this study we selected five typical alleles from about 100 B-FA and some B-FB sequences and tested. Confocal microscopy revealed that only two alleles of α chain (CD type) rather than β chain showed incomplete co-localization with Ii own, or as a combined cytosolic and transmembrane domains in the co-transfected 293T cells, while other allele types, CK and CL, had no this ability. Co-immunoprecipitation (IP) indicated that one of both alleles bound only full-length Ii. Interestingly, further analysis of five sequences showed that the types CK had a tail and the most variable sit...

English grammar reference books present a wide range of categorizations of linking adverbials according to semantic meaning. Different from this traditional semantic-only approach in previous grammar books, this study develops a new categorization system based on both semantic and pragmatic approaches. The proposed new meaning categorization system represents five registers: written academic prose, written news, academic lectures, broadcast news and conversation. Bearing in mind pedagogical implications in EAP/ESP contexts, this paper also presents a possible substitution test, types of linking adverbials and frequency of each of the types of each meaning category in each register. This study confirms that register-specific corpus studies based on manual ana...

The mammalian beta-like globin gene family has served as an important model system for analysis of tissue- and developmental state-specific gene regulation. Although the activities of a number of regulatory proteins have been implicated in the erythroid cell-specific transcription of globin genes, the mechanisms that restrict their expression to discrete stages of development are less well understood. We have previously identified a novel regulatory element (PRE II) upstream from the human embryonic beta-like globin gene (epsilon) that synergizes with other sequences to confer tissue- and stage-specific expression on a minimal epsilon-globin gene promoter in cultured embryonic erythroid cells. Binding of an erythroid nuclear protein (PRE II-binding factor [P...

Diabetes self-management education (DSME) is generally considered as an integral part of diabetes care. The availability of different types of self-management in the European Union Member States (EUMS) remains uncertain. The aim of this study is to perform a comparative analysis of existing DSME programs (DSMEP) implemented in EUMS. Unpublished data regarding DSME in the EUMS was assessed with Diabetes Literacy Survey using wiki tool (WT) targeting patients and different stakeholders. An additional literature review (LR) was performed in PubMed to identify published studies regarding DSMEP in the EUMS from 2004 to 2014. A total of 102 DSMEP implemented in EUMS were reported in the WT and 154 programs were identified from the LR. Comparative analysis of the d...

Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) has been used extensively for bone mineral density and body composition assessments. Surprisingly, the role of DXA in monitoring changes in children’s body composition, using direct imaging methods such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as reference, is still yet to be validated. We aimed at validating the use of DXA in monitoring change in the thigh lean soft tissue mass (LSTM) and fat mass (FM) when compared with thigh skeletal muscle mass (SM) and FM, measured using MRI as the reference standard, from childhood to midadolescence. At baseline, 22 healthy children (16 boys and 6 girls) aged 8–11 yr were included, and then recalled at pubertal stage Tanner2–Tanner4. LSTM-DXA and FM-DXA of the mid-third femur and...

This paper is concerned with the construction of multiscale wavelet-based elements using lifting scheme. In deriving the computational formulation of multiscale elements of B-spline wavelet on the interval (BSWI), the element displacement field represented by the coefficients of wavelets expansion in wavelet space is transformed into the physical degree of freedoms (DOFs) in finite element space via the corresponding transformation matrix. Then 2D C0 type multiscale BSWI elements are derived to fulfill the nesting approximation of wavelet finite element method (WFEM). The wavelet-based adaptive algorithm shares the approaches involved in adaptive classical finite element methods. Numerical results indicate that the present multiscale wavelet-based elements a...

Using the method of quantum-defect theory, we calculate the ultra-long-range molecular vibrational states near the dissociation threshold of a diatomic molecular potential which asymptotically varies as $\ensuremath{-}{1/R}^{3}.$ The properties of these states are of considerable interest as they can be formed by photoassociation (PA) of two ground-state atoms. The Franck-Condon overlap integrals between the harmonically trapped atom-pair states and the ultra-long-range molecular vibrational states are estimated and compared with their values for a pair of untrapped free atoms in the low-energy scattering state. We find that the binding between a pair of ground-state atoms by a harmonic trap has significant effect on the Franck-Condon integrals and thus can ...

At unsignalized intersections, both on the major street and on the minor street, there may be short turning lanes alongside the through lanes following downstream from one single lane. This combined system is termed a shared-short lane (SSL). Up to now it has only been possible to calculate the capacity of these lanes at the stop line and the capacity of the diverging point, where the turning lane diverges from the through lane. For the total average delay of the involved individual movements, there is no applicable estimation procedure. As a special case, the shared lane (SL), which is used by several movements without a separate turning lane, must also be reconsidered. This paper presents a new model for the estimation of average delays of SSL with SL as a...

Altered bone microarchitecture and higher marrow adipose tissue (MAT) may reduce bone strength. High resolution pQCT (HRpQCT) allows assessment of volumetric BMD (vBMD), and size and microarchitecture parameters of bone, while 1H–magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H–MRS) allows MAT evaluation. We have reported impaired microarchitecture at the non-weight bearing radius in adolescents with anorexia nervosa (AN) and that these changes may precede aBMD deficits. Data are lacking regarding effects of AN on microarchitecture and strength at the weight-bearing tibia in adolescents and young adults, and the impact of changes in microarchitecture and MAT on strength estimates.To compare strength estimates at the distal tibia in adolescents/young adults with AN an...

In future fusion devices such as ITER tritium retention due to tritium co-deposition in mixed material layers can be a serious safety problem. Laser induced desorption spectroscopy (LIDS) can measure the hydrogen content of hydrogenic carbon layers locally on plasma-facing components, while hydrogen is used as a tritium substitute. For several years, this method has been applied in the TEXTOR tokamak in situ during plasma operation to monitor the hydrogen content in space and time. This work shows the LIDS signal reproducibility and studies the effects of different plasma conditions, desorption distances from the plasma and different laser energies using a dedicated sample with constant hydrogen amount. Also the LIDS signal evaluation procedure is described ...

Simultaneous thermogravimetry (TG) and differential thermal analysis (DTA) of different lake aquatic humic-solute fractions were investigated under atmospheric temperature and pressure. The samples were subjected for the destruction of organic matter within the 105–600°C range at a rate of 5°C/min. For each different humic-solute fraction, four-to-five partially overlapping thermal degradation stages were obtained from the shapes of the TG curves. A first-order approximation was applied to estimate the energy of activation for different multi-step degradation stages. A powerful reaction took place at 370–500°C for every acidic humic-solute fraction which indicated the decomposition of a very stable structural `nucleus' with relatively strong bond ener...

Colombia is one of the Latin American countries with the most human rights violations directed toward journalists. This article presents a brief review that identifies the main characteristics of Colombian journalism, among others its connections with powerful corporate and political sectors that have facilitated the development of an official kind of journalism that is comfortable with those in power. We also identified another facet, represented by critical journalists, not aligned with official institutions and that have suffered various kinds of violations to their rights, censorship and have even been murdered. Finally, we highlight initiatives that have strived to protect Colombian journalists and we present a proposal for linking science, the academia...

The genetic organization of the 21-OHase (P450c21) complex in CAH is well characterized, but the literature studies vary depending on the population. This study was carried out to determine the genic alterations of the P450c21 complex in brazilian families. During 6 months, 12 families were analyzed with 15 affected individuals with classic 21-OHase deficiency. Blood samples of all family members were tested for hibridization on conventional Southern blot with TaqI digests of DNA with gene probes for P450c21 and C4. Among the 15 affected individuals (9F:6M, with positive family history and consanguinity in 5/12), 8 had the simple virilizing and 7 had the salt-wasting form. The most frequent genic alteration was the point mutation of the 21B gene with normal ...

Understanding the interaction between atomic hydrogen and solid tungsten is important for the development of fusion reactors in which proposed tungsten walls would be bombarded with high energy particles including hydrogen isotopes. Here, we report results from periodic density-functional theory calculations for three crucial aspects of this interaction: surface-to-subsurface diffusion of H into W, trapping of H at vacancies, and H-enhanced decohesion, with a view to assess the likely extent of hydrogen isotope incorporation into tungsten reactor walls. We find energy barriers of (at least) 2.08 eV and 1.77 eV for H uptake (inward diffusion) into W(001) and W(110) surfaces, respectively, along with very small barriers for the reverse process (outward...

To identify the cognitive characteristics predictive of incident dementia in Parkinson's disease (PD), we examined the baseline neuropsychological profiles of 18 initially non-demented patients with PD who met diagnostic criteria for dementia (PDD) at one-year follow-up. PDD participants' baseline neuropsychological test scores were compared to the baseline performance of 18 patients with PD who did not meet criteria for dementia at one-year follow-up (PDND) and 18 normal controls (NC). The three groups were matched on baseline demographic and disease variables. Relative to the PDND group, the incident PDD participants demonstrated significantly poorer performance on digits backward (Wechsler Memory Scale–Revised), word list learning and recognition (Calif...

Abstract Thermal responses and fatigue behaviors of the tungsten armor of monoblock divertor under steady-state and transient high heat flux (HHF) loads as well as the coupling of the two were simulated and analyzed by the finite element method. It was found that, under the action of thermal cycle loads, the earliest fatigue failure area of tungsten armor is on the surface, and with the increasing of HHF load, the damage area of the armor extends also, while the transient load only causes damage on surface of the armor. The fatigue lifetime of tungsten armor decreases rapidly with the increase of load, whether under steady-state load or transient load. Different transient load under the same steady-state load is researched. When two loads are coupled, the fa...

To identify the effects of balance and strength training on function, ankle instability and dynamic balance in people with chronic ankle instability.The search was conducted on randomized controlled trials that investigated the effects of balance training or strength training in people with chronic ankle instability compared to a control group. Therefore, a systematic electronic search was performed until April 2021 in Pubmed/MEDLINE, Cochrane, and Embase databases. Moreover, an additional search was further performed checking the reference lists of the selected articles. The main outcomes were ankle instability, functionality, and dynamic balance. Finally, a qualitative and quantitative synthesis was performed.Fifteen randomized controlled trials with 457 v...

Object-location memory is particularly fragile and specifically impaired in Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients. Electroencephalogram (EEG) was utilized to objectively measure memory impairment for memory formation correlates of EEG oscillatory activities. We aimed to construct an object-location memory paradigm and explore EEG signs of it. Two groups of 20 probable mild AD patients and 19 healthy older adults were included in a cross-sectional analysis. All subjects took an object-location memory task. EEG recordings performed during object-location memory tasks were compared between the two groups in the two EEG parameters (spectral parameters and phase synchronization). The memory performance of AD patients was worse than that of healthy elderly adults The ...

Electric quadrupole transition probabilities and line strengths have been calculated using the weakest bound electron potential model for sodium-like titanium, considering many transition arrays. We employed numerical Coulomb approximation and non-relativistic Hartree–Fock wavefunctions for the expectation values of radii in determination of parameters of the model. The necessary energy values have been taken from experimental data in the literature. The calculated electric quadrupole line strengths have been compared with available data in the literature and good agreement has been obtained. Moreover, some electric quadrupole transition probability and line strength values not existing in the literature for some highly excited levels have been obtained us...

The rate dependent thermomechanical behaviors of OFHC copper, vanadium, and α-titanium have been examined using a recently developed experimental technique for the performance of high temperature, high-strain-rate experiments in the compression Kolsky bar. These three materials represent the three most common lattice structures for metals: FCC, BCC and HCP (respectively). Stress–strain curves are obtained for each material at strain rates of 4×103 s−1 and at temperatures ranging from 300 to 1100 K. Quasistatic thermal softening behavior is extracted from the literature for these specific materials and is compared with the new high strain rate data. It is observed that the rate of thermal softening is a function of the strain rate, with the strongest ef...

A unique combination of high response and fast response-recovery is still a challenge in the development of room-temperature gas sensors. Herein, we demonstrated the on-chip growth of nanojunction-networked SnO2 NW sensors to work under UV-radiation at room temperature. The morphological, compositional, and structural properties of synthesized SnO2 nanowires were examined using field emission electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, respectively. The results presented the SnO2 NWs with smooth surfaces were entangled between the Pt electrode. Besides, the internal properties showed the SnO2 NWs were crystallized as the tetragonal rutile structure of SnO2. The use of UV-radiat...

Abstract Background This article discusses the importance of high frequency ultrasonography in detection of different types of thyroid nodules considering only the histopathological examination of the surgical specimens as the final diagnosis. We studied 50 patients referred to ENT clinic with a thyroid nodule. Ultrasonography and ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy were done to all the patients. Thyroid surgery was done according to FNAB results. Result From 50 thyroid specimens, the US could predict the malignancy in 18 specimens. By histopathology, only 16 specimens were malignant, and 34 were benign thyroid disease. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of US were 100%, 94.12%, and 96% respectively. The most suspicious ultrasongraphic fe...

Vertebrate muscle differentiation is coordinated by an intricate network of transcription factors requiring proliferating myogenic precursors to withdraw irreversibly from the cell cycle. Recent studies have implicated a large number of microRNAs exerting another layer of control in many aspects of muscle differentiation. By annealing to short recognition sequences in the 3'-untranslated region, microRNAs attenuate target gene expression through translation repression or mRNA degradation. Here, we show that miR-214 promotes myogenic differentiation in mouse C2C12 myoblasts at a step preceding the induction of p21 and myogenin. Blocking miR-214 function with a 2'-O-methylated double-stranded inhibitor maintained C2C12 cells in the active cell cycle, thereby i...

4-Nitrophenyl alpha-D-galactopyranosyl-(1-->3)-6-O-acetyl-alpha-D-galactopyranoside was prepared in a transglycosylation reaction catalyzed by alpha-D-galactosidase from Talaromyces flavus using 4-nitrophenyl alpha-D-galactopyranoside as a glycosyl donor and 4-nitrophenyl 6-O-acetyl-alpha-D-galactopyranoside as an acceptor. 4-Nitrophenyl 6-O-acetyl-alpha-D-galactopyranoside and 4-nitrophenyl 6-O-acetyl-beta-D-galactopyranoside were prepared in a regioselective enzymic transesterification in pyridine-acetone catalyzed by the lipase PS from Burkholderia cepacia. A series of water-miscible organic solvents (acetone, acetonitrile, dimethylformamide, dimethyl sulfoxide, 1,4-dioxane, 2-methoxyethanol, pyridine, 2-methylpropan-2-ol, tetrahydrofuran, propargyl alcoh...

AbstractThis paper describes two years’ intensive psychotherapy with an 11 year old boy I shall call Lou, who as a result of traumatic experiences in his early life, struggled to integrate a robust sense of self and in particular to find accord with a sense of himself as male. The impact of maternal depression, paternal gender dysphoria and domestic violence are discussed in relation to this young boy’s capacity to resolve the ordinary Oedipal challenge and find narcissistic value in a male body image to consolidate his gender identity. Concomitant difficulties with separation from his mother and aggression towards himself and others significantly impacted his ability to manage in a mainstream school environment and he was excluded at the time the thera...

Protein phosphorylation is an important post-translational modification (PTM) involved in embryonic development, adult homeostasis, and disease. Over the past decade, several advances have been made in liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)-based technologies to identify thousands of phosphorylation sites. However, in-depth phosphoproteomics often require off-line enrichment and fractionation techniques. In this study, we provide a detailed analysis of the physicochemical characteristics of phosphopeptides, which have been fractionated by off-line high-pH chromatography (HpH) before subsequent titanium dioxide (TiO2) enrichment and LC-MS/MS analysis. Our results demonstrate that HpH is superior to standard strong-cation exchange (SCX) frac...

The subterranean economy, by its very nature, tends to be hidden from official view. Economists, who are under the comforting illusion that the statistics they peruse are an accurate reflection of reality, have taken practically no notice of it. But it is ubiquitous. The reader is advised to conduct a small experiment, to ask his circle of acquaintances for examples of income received without intercession of the tax collector. He is likely to find that his friends can cite plenty of cases. When first published my estimate of U.S. subterranean income, those few who cared to comment thought, for the most part, that my estimate was too high. But, in this field, the more you look, the more you find. am reasonably certain that when my estimate is judged by histor...

Compare the estimated Achilles tendon (AT) loading using a musculoskeletal model during commonly performed weight bearing therapeutic exercises. Controlled laboratory study. University biomechanics laboratory. Eighteen healthy males (Age:22.1 ± 1.8 years, height:177.7 ± 8.4 cm, weight = 74.29 ± 11.3 kg). AT loading was estimated during eleven exercises: tandem, Romberg, and unilateral standing, unilateral and bilateral heel raising, unilateral and bilateral jump landing, squat, lunge, walking, and running. Kinematic and kinetic data were recorded at 180 Hz and 1800 Hz respectively. These data were then used in a musculoskeletal model to estimate force in the triceps surae. AT cross-sectional images were measured by ultrasound to determine AT stress. A rep...

We examine the historical phenomenon of truces, as these occurred during a period of intense warfare during World War I, around Christmas 1914. These were processes of resistance that could not have been planned (otherwise they would obviously have been thwarted by authority) and that occurred in a setting with continuously changing conditions. Our purpose in making this analysis is to identify the micro-foundations and behaviours of enacting resistance and forming a truce under conditions where planning and executing cannot be assumed to be orderly and linear. We discuss the battlefield context of intense competition and mutual suffering as an organizational setting in order to provide a more precise explanation of how rules and structures can be (at least)...

To assess the usefulness of intravoxel incoherent motion diffusion weighted imaging (IVIM-DWI) for predicting lipiodol uptake in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE).The institutional review board approved this study. 44 HCC patients underwent IVIM-DWI and Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI prior to TACE. Using post-TACE CT as a reference standard, each HCC was classified into either lipiodol good uptake (LGU) or poor uptake (LPU) group. Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), true diffusion coefficient (D), perfusion coefficient (D*), and perfusion fraction (f) in HCC were calculated. Arterial enhancement ratio (AER) and IVIM parameters were compared between those two groups using the Mann-Whitney U test.Of ...

Abstract In order to survive in the competitive world economy, the effective implementation of projects and programs will ultimately determine the success or failure of organizations. More and more it is necessary to ensure that every project and program gets aligned with strategies, goals, priorities and resources of the overall organization. Projects evolve as a result of a decision chain and a pivotal reason for flawed decisions is that many project leaders think about decisions as events and not processes. Decisions are a long social process involving a series of interactions carried out by different people, unfolding over time and across multiple organizational layers. Many project managers focus too much on deciding the right solution for a problem rat...

Abstract Plant-associated Burkholderia spp. have been shown to offer a promising alternative method that may address concerns with ecological issue associated with pesticide overuse in agriculture. However to date, little work has studied the role of Burkholderia species as biocontrol agents for grapevine pathogens. To this end, two Burkholderia strains, BE17 and BE24 isolated from the maize rhizosphere in France, were investigated to determine their biocontrol potential and their ability to induce systemic resistance against grey mould disease in grapevine. Results showed the capacity of both strains to inhibit spore germination and mycelium growth of Botrytis cinerea . Experimental inoculation with BE17 and BE24 showed a significant protection of bacterize...

In this Letter, a passive phase noise compensation-based fiber-optic frequency transfer scheme with frequency dividing and filtering is proposed. The probe signal is divided at the remote site and effectively discriminated from the backscattering noises by electrical bandpass filtering at the local site. By combining the bidirectional transmission with the same wavelength on a single fiber, the scheme can reach the maximum bidirectional propagation symmetry and effectively suppress the effect of backscattering at the same time. The proposed scheme is experimentally demonstrated and compared with the scheme with backscattering. The relative frequency stabilities of 3.9×10−14/s and 1.2×10−16/104  s are reached for 40 k...

Mouse L-cells were transfected by electropermeabilization using the selectable plasmid pSV2-neo which confers resistance to G-418 (Geneticin). The DNA concentration used was 1 microgram/ml, the field strength was 10 kV/cm, the duration of the pulse was 5 microseconds. Transfection yield was optimal at a temperature of 4 degrees C when using a time in between consecutive pulses of 1 minute compared to shorter (of the order of seconds) or longer (3 minutes) time intervals. A more detailed study of the relationship between the number of pulses applied (up to 10) and transfection yield showed it to be almost linear in this range at 4 degrees C. The yield of transfectants in response to 10 pulses was up to 1000 per 10(6) cells (using 3.3 pg DNA per cell). The inf...

Abstract There has been a general increase in poverty over the last decade in Italy, which has mainly affected the younger generations, with children and youth experiencing the worst economic conditions. This is primarily not due to a lack of available economic resources but to the way in which these resources are allocated: mainly in the form of cash transfers rather than services. The provision of adequate services based on professional work needs to be implemented by overcoming two main obstacles which are highlighted by the results of two studies presented here. The first study concerns the quality of professional care and the systematic use of outcome evaluation, the second concerns the vision of professionals and their ability to integrate the provisio...

Abstract Crystal nucleation and growth rates in glasses of molar batch composition xNa2O · (1 − x)Li2O · 2SiO2 are determined by optical microscopy techniques and correlated to X-ray diffraction and parallel plate rheometry results. It is observed that glasses with x⩽0.3 have internal nucleation of lithium disilicate solid solution (LS2-ss) while glasses with x>0.3 have only surface crystallization. The steady state nucleation rate (I0), the induction time (tind) and also the crystal growth rate (U0) of LS2-ss in the volume are determined as a function of temperature and glass composition. An exchange of 30% of the total lithium ions by sodium results in a decrease of I0 by eight orders of magnitude, while only changes in tind and U0 within one logar...

Experimental static and dynamic electro-optical characteristics of 905 nm high power mesa-stripe semiconductor laser diodes based on an AlGaAs/GaAs asymmetric heterostructure operating under Fabry–Perot cavity mode quenching have been investigated. We have shown that Fabry–Perot cavity mode reversible turn-off is due to the fulfillment of a high-Q closed mode threshold condition. The mode is propagating along both gain and passive areas of the laser diode and characterized by nearly zero output optical losses. We have demonstrated that fundamental reasons of closed mode threshold condition fulfillment are (i) gain spectra shift in the long wavelength region due to band gap shrinkage and thermal heating effects and (ii) the band gap absorption decrease in...

Hepatic ischemia and reperfusion injury (I/R) is accompanied by excessive reactive oxygen species and resultant sterile inflammation. Chlorogenic acid (CGA), one of the most abundant polyphenols in the human diet, has been shown to exert potent anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antioxidant activities. Thus, the purpose of the present study was to investigate protective effects of CGA and its molecular mechanisms against hepatic I/R injury. Rats were subjected to 60 min of partial hepatic ischemia followed by 5 h of reperfusion. CGA (2.5, 5 and 10 mg/kg, ip) was administered twice: 10 min prior to ischemia and 10 min before reperfusion. CGA treatment resulted in marked improvement of hepatic function and histology, and suppressed oxidative stress, as indic...

Methods have been developed in the past to assess spontaneous and induced chromosomal aneuploidy in germ cells and in early pre- and postimplantation mammalian embryos. Some of these methods yield still more information when combined with chromosome banding techniques. Various chemicals and x-rays have been tested in mammalian oogenesis and x-rays in spermatogenesis. The inference may be drawn from these studies that spontaneous nondisjunction is considered to occur only rarely in mouse and hamster oogenesis and spermatogenesis. X-rays induce nondisjunction during male and femlae meiosis, thus giving rise to significantly more aneuploid oocytes and F1 embryos. The alkylating agents trenimone and cyclophosphamide induce chromosomal missegregation in oocytes; ...

Biodegradation of 0.25–7.0 mmol l−1 phenol with a mixed bacterial consortium at a temperature of 25 ± 2 °C and a pH of 7.2 was studied in batch aerobic reactors. Substrate inhibition was calculated from experimental growth parameters using the Haldane equation. Kinetic parameters were derived by non-linear regression with a correlation factor (R2) of 0.987. The values for Haldane constants μmax, Ks and Ki were 0.3095 h−1, 0.7933 mmol l−1 and 6.887 mmol l−1, respectively. The value of Ki is one of the highest values obtained for mixed cultures degrading phenol under batch conditions. The yield factor (units A578 mmol−1 phenol) ranged from 0.10 to 0.16. The biokinetic parameters were used to predict the biodegradation profile, which agreed well ...

In the first part of this paper, a family of Gaussiansmoothed rectangle functions is discussed as an aid to bridging the gap between certain system requirements and approximation programs in the synthesis of linear filters. These functions can be used as desired frequency response magnitudes when low-pass filters having small in-band distortion, sharp frequency cutoff, and rapidly damped transients are desired. They depend upon only two parameters: bandwidth and a shape parameter \omega_0 . Therefore, search-evaluation algorithms are relatively easy to apply. The second part of the paper deals with the role of even numerator polynomials in the rational approx...

To better clarify and understand the ground-state physical properties of Pb–Ba intermetallic compounds, phase stabilities, elastic properties and electronic structures of Pb–Ba intermetallic compounds have been investigated by using first-principles calculations within local density approximation. The formation enthalpies of these compounds indicate that they are thermodynamically stable. The bulk modulus B, shear modulus G, Young’s modulus E and Poisson’s ratio v were evaluated. The brittle and ductile properties were discussed by using B/G and Poisson’s ratio. The hardness was also estimated by using a semi-empirical equation. The mechanical anisotropy was characterized by calculating several different anisotropic indexes and the 3D figures of di...

The history and geography of sports in nineteenth- and twentieth-century France have been studied intensively during the last thirty years but one sport – that of pigeon racing – has received virtually no attention. This paper ventures into a largely unexplored field. After describing briefly the general history of homing pigeons and the specific geography of pigeon racing clubs in France in 1890, it focuses on the département of Pas-de-Calais in northern France. Pas-de-Calais and the adjacent département of Nord together accounted for more than half of the just over 400 pigeon racing clubs identified in France in 1890. Within the context of the rapid development between 1870 and 1914 of its population, society and economy (and especially its coalminin...

Multilayer neural networks trained with the back-propagation algorithm constitute the best example of a successful gradient based learning technique. Given an appropriate network architecture, gradient-based learning algorithms can be used to synthesize a complex decision surface that can classify high-dimensional patterns, such as handwritten characters, with minimal preprocessing. This paper reviews various methods applied to handwritten character recognition and compares them on a standard handwritten digit recognition task. Convolutional neural networks, which are specifically designed to deal with the variability of 2D shapes, are shown to outperform all other techniques. Real-life document recognition systems are composed of multiple modules including ...

ABSTRACT Targeting antigens (Ag) to Fcγ receptors (FcγR) intranasally (i.n.) enhances immunogenicity and protection against intracellular and extracellular pathogens. Specifically, we have demonstrated that targeting fixed (inactivated) Francisella tularensis (iFT) organisms to FcR in mice i.n., with MAb-iFT immune complexes, enhances F. tularensis -specific immune responses and protection against F. tularensis challenge. Furthermore, traditional adjuvant is not required. In addition, we have demonstrated that the increased immunogenicity following the targeting of iFT to FcR is due, in part, to enhanced dendritic cell (DC) maturation, enhanced internalization, and processing and presentation of iFT by DCs, as well as neonatal FcR (FcRn)-enhanced trafficki...

Production of inflammatory cytokines plays important roles in the response against tissue injury and in host defense. Alterations in the production of inflammatory cytokines may cause local or systemic inflammatory imbalance, culminating in organ failure or lethal systemic inflammation. The cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway has been implicated as an important mechanism to regulate inflammation of targeted tissue. In this review, we discuss important advances, conflicting and controversial findings regarding the involvement of parasympathetic vagus and sympathetic splenic nerve through acetylcholine (ACh) release and α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChRα7) activation in the spleen. In addition, we address the involvement of cholinergic control of ...

Sheets of AA2198 alloy with various surface conditions were welded with probeless friction stir spot welding (P-FSSW). Results show that the oxide layer on the original lap-weld surface produces continuously distributed oxide impurities at the interface of the P-FSSWed joint with a large amount of voids. The visual flow at the interface provides a persuasive explanation of local preferential abrasion. Following surface grinding, local abrasion increases with surface roughness and results in the dispersion of voids and oxides, which contributes to the improvement of metallurgical connection. The corresponding mechanical strength of the P-FSSWed joints shows a relatively significant increase, while the fracture mode remains affected by the hook defect regardle...

Purpose: The imposter syndrome creates feelings of self-doubt in individuals, which can result in emotional paralysis preventing them from achieving their fullest potential. Clinical nurse specialists are not immune to this phenomenon. The purpose of this article is to describe an educational program designed to assist healthcare professionals, including clinical nurse specialist students, in identifying, understanding, and addressing imposter syndrome. Description of Program: Interprofessional students from 8 professions came together for a 2-week interprofessional education experience that included a 1-day workshop. After experiential team building and small group encounters with complicated standardized patients, students were introduced to the imposter s...

Four new crystal forms of the anti-T lectin from jackfruit (Artocarpus integrifolia) have been prepared and characterized. Three of them, two monoclinic (P21, a = 59·4 Å, b = 83·3 Å, c = 63·5 Å, β = 107·7°; C2, a = 106·1,Å, b = 53·9 Å, c = 128·0 Å, β = 95·0 Å) and one orthorhombic (C2221, a = 98·1 Å, b = 67·3 Å, c = 95·1 Å) were grown with 2-methylpentan-2,4-diol (MPD) as the precipitant while the fourth, an hexagonal from (P6122, a = b = 129·6 Å, c = 157·9 Å), was obtained in the presence of methyl-ga-d-galactopyranoside with polyethylene glycol 4000 as the precipitant. The reported relative molecular mass (Mr) of the lectin was found to be inconsistent with the solvent content of the crystals estimated using measured...