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HIGH-OCCUPANCY VEHICLE LANES AND TRADABLE CREDITS SCHEME FOR TRAFFIC CONGESTION MANAGEMENT A BILEVEL PROGRAMMING APPROACH. High-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes, which are designed so as to encourage more people to use high-capacity travel modes and thus move more people in a single roadway lane, have been implemented as a lane management measure to deal with the growing traffic congestion in practice. However, the implementation has shown that some HOV lanes are not able to achieve the expected effects without proper HOV lane settings. In this study, the tradable credits scheme (TCS) is introduced to improve the HOV lane management and an optimal capacity of HOV lanes in a multilane highway is investigated to match TCSs. To approach the investigation, a bilevel programming model is proposed. The upper-level represents the decision of the highway authority and the lower-level follows the commuters' user equilibrium with deterministic demand. The potential influence of TCSs is further investigated within the proposed framework. A modified genetic algorithm is proposed to solve the bilevel programming model. Numerical examples demonstrate that combining TCSs with the HOV lane management can obviously mitigate traffic congestion. | [
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Evaluating the Performance of Three Popular Web Mapping Libraries: A Case Study Using Argentina's Life Quality Index. Recent Web technologies such as HTML5, JavaScript, and WebGL have enabled powerful and highly dynamic Web mapping applications executing on standard Web browsers. Despite the complexity for developing such applications has been greatly reduced by Web mapping libraries, developers face many choices to achieve optimal performance and network usage. This scenario is even more complex when considering different representations of geographical data (raster, raw data or vector) and variety of devices (tablets, smartphones, and personal computers). This paper compares the performance and network usage of three popular JavaScript Web mapping libraries for implementing a Web map using different representations for geodata, and executing on different devices. In the experiments, Mapbox GL JS achieved the best overall performance on mid and high end devices for displaying raster or vector maps, while OpenLayers was the best for raster maps on all devices. Vector-based maps are a safe bet for new Web maps, since performance is on par with raster maps on mid-end smartphones, with significant less network bandwidth requirements. | [
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Carrier Ambiguity Resolution Algorithm under Multipath Condition. In radio navigation system working on medium-short wave band, serious multipath interference and atmosphere noise make the precision of code tracking loop decrease. In order to improve the positioning precision, carrier phase measurement is generally adopted, but carrier ambiguity resolution is a key problem. Based on the analysis of multipath error of code and carrier tracking loops, a carrier ambiguity resolution algorithm is proposed in this paper, which uses narrow code correlation space to improve the precision of code tracking loop and uses the changing trend of different correlation spaces to test and restore the carrier ambiguity. Theoretical analysis and experiment results show that the method can eliminate the carrier ambiguity effectively. | [
7,
162
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Serum Immunoglobulin Free Light Chains in Severe Forms of Atopic Dermatitis. An increase in immunoglobulin free light chains (FLC) was recently described in several pathological conditions, including asthma. FLC pathology is classically associated with monoclonal gammopathies. Its association with allergic disorders is surprising and unexplained. We therefore tested a cohort of children with severe atopic dermatitis (SCORAD 50-80) to determine the serum levels of free kappa and lambda chains, and correlated the results with clinical status and relevant laboratory markers. Seventy-three patients with severe forms of AD, all children from 3 months to 3 years of age and ninety healthy age-matched controls were included in the study. Light chains in sera were tested using the Freelite assay (Binding Site, Birmingham, UK). There were highly significant differences in both kappa (mean: 7.05 and 3.22 mg/l) and lambda (mean: 10.99 and 9.8 mg/l) serum levels between patients and controls, respectively (P < 0.0001). The kappa/lambda ratio in patients with allergy (mean: 0.64) was significantly higher than in controls (0.33) (P < 0.0001). We further observed significantly increased levels of FLC and their ratio in the group of patients with severe forms of AD in comparison to the group of patients with a resting stage of the disease or healthy controls (P < 0.05 and P < 0.0001, respectively). On the other hand, we could not confirm any association of FLC levels with age or total IgE levels. In conclusion, an increase in FLC reflects disease activity in children with severe atopic dermatitis. FLC might thus represent an additional diagnostic marker independent of total IgE levels. | [
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Mechanism of effects of warm prestressing on apparent toughness of precracked specimens of HSLA steels. In this work, based on the results for: (1) variation of apparent toughness measured at low temperature in precracked HSLA steel specimens which had experienced various cycles of warm prestressing (WPS), (2) detailed observations and measurements of microscopic parameters on fracture surfaces. (3) comprehensive finite element method calculations, the mechanisms for the effects of WPS are analyzed. The effects of blunting of the precrack tip on reducing normal tensile stress by decreasing the stress triaxiality and strain developing in front of the tip are identified as the main factors improving the apparent toughness. The effects of residual compressive stress are separated from that of crack tip blunting and play a secondary role in the improvement of the apparent toughness of steel showing Bauschinger effect. The residual tensile stress is proved to be deleterious to the apparent toughness. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved. | [
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Asparagus racemosus ameliorates cisplatin induced toxicities and augments its antileishmanial activity by immunomodulation in vivo. Current drugs for the treatment of visceral leishmaniasis are inadequate and their efficacies are also compromised due to suppression of immune function associated during the course of infection. To overcome this problem, efforts are needed to develop therapies with effective immunomodulatory agents where decrease of parasitic burden and simultaneous enhancement of adaptive immunity can be achieved. In this study we have evaluated a new therapeutic approach based on combination of Asparagus racemosus, an immunomodulatory drug, in combination with cisplatin against Leishmania donovani infected BALB/c mice. We demonstrate that A. racemosus (650 mg/kg b.wt./day for 15 days, orally) in combination with cisplatin (5 mg/kg b.wt./day for 5 days, intraperitoneally) enhanced the clearance of parasites as determined by Giemsa-stained liver impression smears. Besides having better killing activity, this combination group achieved increased production of disease resolving Th-1 response (IFN-gamma, IL-2), heightened DTH (delayed type hypersensitivity) response and augmented levels of IgG2a. Moreover, A. racemosus in combination with cisplatin not only provided enhanced protective immune response but also resulted in remarkable improved kidney and liver function tests as manifested by normal levels of SGOT, SGPT, alkaline phosphatase, creatinine and urea in blood plasma with normal histological observations as compared to only cisplatin treated L. donovani infected BALB/c mice. Through this study we have ascertained that A. racemosus in combination with cisplatin in L. donovani infected BALB/c mice boosted as well as restored both cellular and humoral immunity. Thus in view of severe immunosuppression in visceral leishmaniasis, a better and effective strategy for optimum efficacy of future antileishmanial drugs would direct not only killing of parasite by the drug, but also simultaneous generation of immunity against the disease. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. | [
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Interferon-alpha in combination with chemotherapy has potent antiangiogenic properties in an orthotopic mouse model for pancreatic adenocarcinoma. There are clinical data showing encouraging results for combining chemoradiotherapy with interferon (IFN)-alpha (CapRI scheme) for the treatment of pancreatic carcinoma. Here, it was tried to evaluate the antiangiogenic effect of IFN-alpha in combination with chemotherapy. Mice were inoculated with syngeneic pancreatic carcinoma cells in the pancreas. After 5 days, the animals were treated with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) +/- IFN-alpha. Tumor growth, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) serum levels and VEGF-R expression, real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction of mRNA coding for RGS-5. an angiogenic pericyte marker at sites of physiologic and pathologic angiogenesis and impact of IFN-alpha treatment on vessel density by CD31 stain and intravital microscopy were analyzed. The addition of IFN-alpha. to 5-FU-treatment decreased tumor volume, reduced serum level of VEGF, and down-regulated the expression of VEGF-receptor significantly. Furthermore, the combination therapy revealed a decrease in vessel density and a down-regulation of RGS-5, which is a protein involved in angiogenic tumor vasculature. IFN-alpha significantly improves the outcome of 5-FU-therapy in treating pancreatic carcinoma. This is at least partly mediated by IFN-alpha antiangiogenic properties, which acts along with 5-FU on the VEGF system, vessel density, and RGS-5 expression in pericytes. | [
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Genome insights into the pharmaceutical and plant growth promoting features of the novel species Nocardia alni sp. nov. Background Recent studies highlighted the biosynthetic potential of nocardiae to produce diverse novel natural products comparable to that of Streptomyces, thereby making them an attractive source of new drug leads. Many of the 119 Nocardia validly named species were isolated from natural habitats but little is known about the diversity and the potential of the endophytic nocardiae of root nodule of actinorhizal plants. Results The taxonomic status of an actinobacterium strain, designated ncl2(T), was established in a genome-based polyphasic study. The strain was Gram-stain-positive, produced substrate and aerial hyphae that fragmented into coccoid and rod-like elements and showed chemotaxonomic properties that were also typical of the genus Nocardia. It formed a distinct branch in the Nocardia 16S rRNA gene tree and was most closely related to the type strains of Nocardia nova (98.6%), Nocardia jiangxiensis (98.4%), Nocardia miyuensis (97.8%) and Nocardia vaccinii (97.7%). A comparison of the draft genome sequence generated for the isolate with the whole genome sequences of its closest phylogenetic neighbours showed that it was most closely related to the N. jiangxiensis, N. miyuensis and N. vaccinii strains, a result underpinned by average nucleotide identity and digital DNA-DNA hybridization data. Corresponding taxogenomic data, including those from a pan-genome sequence analysis showed that strain ncl2(T) was most closely related to N. vaccinii DSM 43285(T). A combination of genomic, genotypic and phenotypic data distinguished these strains from one another. Consequently, it is proposed that strain ncl2(T) (= DSM 110931(T) = CECT 30122(T)) represents a new species within the genus Nocardia, namely Nocardia alni sp. nov. The genomes of the N. alni and N. vaccinii strains contained 36 and 29 natural product-biosynthetic gene clusters, respectively, many of which were predicted to encode for a broad range of novel specialised products, notably antibiotics. Genome mining of the N. alni strain and the type strains of its closest phylogenetic neighbours revealed the presence of genes associated with direct and indirect mechanisms that promote plant growth. The core genomes of these strains mainly consisted of genes involved in amino acid transport and metabolism, energy production and conversion and transcription. Conclusions Our genome-based taxonomic study showed that isolate ncl2(T) formed a new centre of evolutionary variation within the genus Nocardia. This novel endophytic strain contained natural product biosynthetic gene clusters predicted to synthesize novel specialised products, notably antibiotics and genes associated with the expression of plant growth promoting compounds. | [
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41
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Papyrus Amherst 63: Shifting between the Heavenly and Earthly Spheres. Van der Toorn's 2018 edition of Papyrus Amherst 63 paved the way for a fresh examination of this difficult Demotic-Aramaic text. This article first examines the literary structure of the text and suggests a revised internal arrangement of its constituents, in particular those of Section IV. The revised arrangement serves as the basis for the ensuing discussion. The article discusses the designation 'Rash', a term that is key for an understanding of the many episodes related in the papyrus, and suggests that it designated the heavenly abode of the gods, from where they operated in heaven and earth. It then examines the few references to the earthly seats of the gods, and in particular passage viii 1-7a, which relates the heavenly or earthly realms of the gods and their seats in the sanctuaries. The final part of the article examines the way the author of Section II tried to resolve the theological problem of the impotence of god in the face of defeats, destructions and deportations. The author explains god's silence by his slumber in his heavenly abode. Surprisingly, the theological solution of sin and punishment is absent from the papyrus, in contrast to its frequent appearance in many ancient Near Eastern texts and, above all, in the biblical literature. | [
0,
17
] |
Tropical parasitic diseases and women. Tropical parasitic diseases constitute the greatest threat to the health and socio-economic status of women as a gender and social group. There are some gender specific ways in which parasitic diseases affect women in contrast to men due to differences in exposure, occupational risk, sociocultural behavior, gender roles and practices. These parasitic diseases confer some social stigma, which affects the health seeking behavior of women. Women are therefore important in the control of these parasitic diseases and they are key agents of change, if they are included in community control programs. Women need more attention in endemic areas as a group that had been neglected. This deprived and excluded group have got vital role to play, as discussed in this review. | [
2,
231
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Study of hereditary cerebellar degeneration in cats. Animals-Seven diseased cats spanning 3 generations and 11 neurologically normal cats.Objective-To elucidate the nature of ataxia observed in 3 cats spanning 2 generations.Design-Experimental breeding was attempted to confirm heritability of the disease and establish the mode of inheritance; the original 3 cats and their offspring were studied.Procedure-Cats were examined by use of the following methods: clinical observation, hematologic and serum biochemical examinations, neurologic examination, electrodiagnostics, magnetic resonance imaging, lysosomal enzyme activity assay, horizontal transmission test, and virologic and pathologic examinations.Results-All kittens (1 male and 3 females) obtained by backcrosses developed pure cerebellar dysfunction from the age of 7 to 8 weeks onward. It became progressively worse, but not fatal, between 1 and 2.5 months. Prenatal or perinatal infection with feline panleukopenia virus, inherited lysosomal storage diseases, including gangliosidosis and mannosidosis, and feline hereditary neuroaxonal dystrophy were excluded. Magnetic resonance imaging indicated that size of the cerebellum of diseased cats was markedly reduced. Cerebellar cortical degeneration, especially with extensive destruction of Purkinje cells, was observed microscopically.Conclusion-The disease was concluded to be cerebellar degeneration of anew clinical form in cats having an autosomal recessive mode of inheritance.Clinical Relevance-When cerebellar dysfunction is diagnosed in a cat, hereditary cerebellar degeneration of this type should be considered in ?he differential diagnosis. | [
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Audiological and vestibular evaluations in vitiligo patients. The aim of this paper was to investigate audiological abnormalities and potential vestibular injury in a sample of vitiligo subjects. Thirty-five patients with non-segmental vitiligo (NSV) were enrolled in the study. They underwent pure tonal audiometry (PTA), vestibular FitzgeraldHallpike caloric test, C-VEM, and ocular VEMP (O-VEMP) testing. The chi(2) test and multiple regression analysis were performed. At PTA, 69% of patients presented with bilateral hearing loss, 8% monaural hearing loss, and 23% normal values. Bilateral caloric stimulations were performed and demonstrated that 14% of patients had a monolateral and 9% had a bilateral pathological response. VEMPs analysis showed that 20% of patients had no O-VEMPs response and 3% had no cervical VEMPS (C-VEMPs) response. Comparison between the normal values of healthy subjects and NSV patients showed an alteration of VEMPs in 44%. Multiple regressions showed no statistical differences. We propose a specific diagnostic protocol employing PTA, bithermal caloric tests, C-VEMP, and O-VEMP testing to evaluate audio-vestibular damage. Our data were concordant with the anatomic-physiological melanocytic distribution and their possible degeneration linked with NSV. | [
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Early Childhood Co-Sleeping Predicts Behavior Problems in Preadolescence: A Prospective Cohort Study. Objective/Background Co-sleeping is common practice around the globe. The relationship between early childhood co-sleeping and adolescent behavior problems remains uncertain. We aim to identify whether early childhood co-sleeping can predict behavior problems in preadolescence. Participants A cohort of 1,656 Chinese preschool children were followed up in adolescence. Methods Prospective cohort study design involving two waves of data collection from the China Jintan Cohort (1,656 children aged 3-5 years). Co-sleeping history was collected at 3-5-years-old via parent-reported questionnaire at wave ROMAN NUMERAL ONE data collection. Behavior problems were measured twice in childhood and preadolescence, respectively. Adolescent behavior problems were measured by integrating data from self-report, parent-report and teacher-report using the Achenbach System of Empirically Based Assessment. Predictions were assessed using the general linear model with mixed effects on the inverse probability weight propensity-matched sample. Results 1,656 children comprising 55.6% boys aged 4.9 +/- 0.6 were initially enrolled in the first wave of data collection. In the second wave of data collection, 1,274 children were 10.99 +/- 0.74 (76.9%) aged 10-13 years were retained. Early childhood co-sleeping is significantly associated with increased behavior problems in childhood (Odds Ratio [OR] 1.22-2.06, ps<0.03) and preadolescence (OR 1.40-2.27, ps<0.02). Moreover, co-sleeping history significantly predicted multiscale increase in internal (OR 1.63-2.61, ps<0.02) and external behavior problems in adolescence. Conclusions Early childhood co-sleeping is associated with multiple behavioral problems reported by parents, teachers, and children themselves. Early childhood co-sleeping predicts preadolescent internalizing and externalizing behavior after controlling for baseline behavior problems. | [
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Characterization of the effect of the insulating material of covered cables on the impulse breakdown behavior of single- and three-phase compact distribution lines. This paper aims to characterize the influence of the insulating material of covered cables on the impulse breakdown behavior of typical single- and three-phase compact distribution line configurations. Based on high voltage tests with standard lightning impulse voltages, three main features are investigated: (i) minimal values of breakdown voltage, (ii) time for disruption, and (iii) pinhole location. The results indicate larger withstand levels for the single- and three-phase structures when high-density polyethylene (HDPE) is used instead of crosslinked polyethylene (XLPE) in the insulating layer of the cables. Differences up to 60% are reported. Also, HDPE-covered cable presents a shorter time for disruption. Typically, voltage breakdown was observed in the wavefront for HDPE-covered cables and in the wavetail for XLPE-covered cables. Finally, tests with punctured samples showed that the value of the disruptive voltage is influenced by the pinhole location along the cable cover. | [
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LOCALIZATION AND SURGICAL-MANAGEMENT OF INSULINOMA. Over a 14-year period 34 patients were referred for surgical treatment of insulinoma. The diagnosis was confirmed by demonstrating hypoglycaemia with inappropriate hyperinsulinaemia during prolonged fasting. Selective visceral angiography localized 30 solitary benign insulinomas and two carcinomas. In two patients with islet cell hyperplasia, angiography demonstrated a single lesion only. Ultrasonography had a sensitivity of 15 per cent and computed tomography a sensitivity of 24 per cent in the localization of tumours. All patients but one were treated by operation. Eighteen tumours were enucleated and 13 (including both patients with islet cell hyperplasia) were treated by distal pancreatectomy. Two patients underwent negative primary exploration; both had single adenomas removed at reexploration. There were no operative deaths but nine patients (predominantly those undergoing pancreatic resection) had complications. Thirty-one patients were symptom-free following operation at a mean follow-up of 16 months. | [
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The knowledge and attitudes of Palestinian women towards different childbirth delivery options. Purpose: To evaluate the knowledge and attitudes of Palestinian women toward cesarean and vaginal deliveries in public, private and charitable hospitals. Methods: A cross-sectional survey using face-to-face interviews with a sample of 372 pregnant women at 20 and above weeks of pregnancy selected randomly and in proportion to the monthly average antenatal visits to each hospital. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, analysis of variance tests and chi-square tests. Results: The majority of participants 250 (67%) were younger than 29 years old. Most participants 325 (87%) interviewed were aware that pain and muscle weakness are greater after cesarean delivery and as much as 341 (91%) of them knew that a cesarean section (CS) is required if a baby is in the breech position. The results also showed a significant association between women's knowledge scores and educational level, occupation and income across all 3 types of hospital. Furthermore, most women indicated that they thought it was not a women's right to request a cesarean and that the decision to deliver by cesarean should rest with the doctors. Conclusion: Approximately 1 in every 4 births was delivered by cesarean among primiparous women (26%). Despite the high cesarean section rates seen in Palestinian hospitals, women in Ramallah predominantly prefer vaginal delivery. | [
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Interaction of 12.7 GeV He-4 ions with U, Pb, Au and Ag targets. The processes of production of fragments Z greater than or equal to 8 in the interactions of 12.7 GeV He-4 with U, Pb, Au and Ag have been analyzed using the polycarbonate track detector Makrofol. A sandwich technique was used which enables direct evidence for multiple fragment emission by a single nucleus. The decay channels ending with one, two or more (three, four) fragments were detected. A classification scheme based on the multiplicity of heavy fragments M-H (Z > 20) was used in order to identify events belonging to the different reaction channels. Cross sections, excitation energies and multiplicities of intermediate mass fragments (8 less than or equal to Z less than or equal to 20) have been evaluated for various reaction mechanisms. The experimental features of the fragmentation process have been analyzed as a function of the target mass. | [
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Dopamine Agonists for Pituitary Adenomas. Dopamine agonists (DA) are well established as first-line therapy for prolactinomas. These tumors express high levels of dopamine 2 receptors (D2R), leading to the strong efficacy of DA in reducing tumor size and hormonal secretion. Other pituitary tumor subtypes express D2R to varying degrees, leading to an extensive body of research into potential off-label use of DA in non-prolactinoma pituitary tumors. Preclinical models of Cushing's disease, acromegaly, and nonfunctioning pituitary tumors (NFPT) demonstrate D2R expression in cell lines and cultured tumors as well as effectiveness of DA in reducing hormonal secretion in functioning tumors and arresting tumor proliferation. Clinical studies have shown some efficacy of DA in treatment of these tumors. In Cushing's disease, DA therapy results in normalization of urinary cortisol levels in approximately 25% of patients, but reported rates of tumor shrinkage are very low; in acromegaly, DA therapy leads to normalization of insulin-like growth factor I and tumor shrinkage in approximately one-third of patients, and improved responses when used in combination with somatostatin receptor ligands. Among patients with NFPT, pooled results show 30% experience reduction of tumor size and 58% show stabilization of disease. DA therapy appears to have some clinical benefit in patients with non-prolactinoma pituitary tumors, and may be an option for medical therapy in some clinical scenarios. | [
2,
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Synthesis and antimicrobial studies of silver N-heterocyclic carbene complexes bearing a methyl benzoate substituent. Due to the properties of silver as an antimicrobial, our research group has synthesized many different silver carbene complexes. Two new silver N-heterocyclic carbene complexes derived from 4,5-dichloroimidazole and theobromine bearing methyl benzoate substituents were synthesized by in situ carbene formation using silver acetate as the base in the reaction. The new compounds were fully characterized by several methods including NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography. Preliminary antimicrobial efficacy studies against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and Escherichia coli were conducted. The results of this study demonstrated antimicrobial efficacy of the two complexes comparable to silver nitrate, showing their potential for use in the treatment of bacterial infections. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. | [
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Equation-based triangle orientation discrimination sensor performance model based on sampling effects. An equation-based triangle orientation discrimination (TOD) performance model was first developed to focus on staring thermal imagers. Specifically, the spatial spectra distribution of a standard triangle pattern is determined. The modulation effects of the overall components of the system on a nonperiodic standard triangle pattern are analyzed and modeled. The matched filter idea is used to characterize quantitatively the spatiotemporal integration of the eye and brain to signal, aliasing, and various noise components over a triangle pattern area, and the perceived signal-to-noise ratio of the staring thermal imager is derived. Further, the TOD performance theoretical model is established. Comparison with the experimental results shows that this theoretical model gives a reasonable prediction of the TOD performance curve for staring thermal imagers. Although more tests and modifications are required, these preliminary results suggest that this model can be developed into a model that predicts the TOD for a wide range of sensors. (C) Optical Society of America. | [
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Investigation research of gasoline direct injection on spray performance and combustion process for free piston linear generator with dual cylinder configuration. Gasoline direct injection (GDI) properties, including injection pressure (IP), injection timing (IT) and injection angle (IA), have critical impacts on the cycle to cycle combustion variation that directly determines the long term stable operation for free piston linear generator (FPLG) with dual cylinder configuration. Therefore, in this present paper, the spray characteristics and combustion process of FPLG were explored through 9 cases that were designed by adopting orthogonal experimental method at different IP, IT and IA. Furthermore, the spray numerical model at different IP were validated with the spray experiment rig. The results displayed that, when at IT130 degrees CA BTDC, the maximum cylinder pressure is 4.1 MPa and the mixture concentration is 0.98. However, at IT120 degrees CA BTDC, the maximum cylinder pressure is 3.6 MPa and the mixture concentration is 0.94. Meanwhile, at IT100 degrees CA BTDC, the maximum cylinder pressure only reaches 3 MPa and the mixture concentration is 0.86. The results indicated that the increase of IT can make the fuel take advantage of strong airflow movement, so as to improve the mixture uniformity. Thus, the combustion quality and power performance are enhanced. Moreover, at IP12MPa, when we define the maximum mixing uniformity as 1, the mixture uniformity reaches 0.98, 0.94 and 0.86 with IT130 degrees CA BTDC, 120 degrees CA BTDC, 100 degrees CA BTDC, correspondingly. It is much higher than IP15MPa and IP7MPa, individually. It is can be explained by the interaction of high IP that can make fuel evaporation to form a mixture, thus reducing the fuel evaporation with the increase of penetration distance. In addition, IA has no obvious influence on the mixture uniformity, but reasonable IA could improve combustion quality within a certain range. | [
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A prospective follow-up study on completion thyroidectomy for well-differentiated thyroid cancer. A single-center report. RESULTS: Or cohort included 55 (87.3%) women and 8 men (12.7%), with a mean age of 48.3 on whom were primary performed 34 lobectomies with isthumusectomies (LwI=53.96%) and 29 subtotal thyroidectomies or hemithyroidectomies (STT=46.03%). Histopathological examination after reintervention detected malignancy in 30.15% of excised thyroid remnants (19 patients), in the majority of these cases microcarcinoma. We found statistically significant correlations between the risk of malignancy in the thyroid remnant and both the primary thyroid tumor multicentricity (p=0,001) and its extracapsular and/or vascular invasion (p=0, 006) respectively. The time span between the two interventions ranged from 3 days to 12 months (mean 63 days). No 30-day mortality occurred in our group of patients. We noted 3 cases of RLN palsy (4.76%) of which one permanent (1.58%) and 12 cases (19.04%) of postoperative hypoparathyroidism, of which two (3.17%) permanent.CONCLUSIONS: Multicentricity and capsular and/ or vascular invasion of the initial tumor are factors predictive of malignancy in the remnant thyroid. The rate of postoperative hypoparathyroidism is higher after initial subtotal thyroidectomy.MATERIAL AND METHOD: Sixty-three patients on whom cT was performed were finally included with 61 surgeries performed in our department.BACKGROUND: Completion thyroidectomy (cT) becomes a choice after any type of less than total thyroid surgery, when a \\'total\\' would have been indicated on primary intervention if malignancy diagnosis had been available. The study main aim is to define predictive factors of malignancy in the thyroid remnant and to assess the morbidity risk after cT according to the type of initial intervention. | [
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Haematological, clinical-chemical and immunological consequences of feeding Fusarium toxin contaminated diets to early lactating dairy cows. Dairy cows experience a negative energy balance at the onset of lactation which results in an enhanced vulnerability for infectious diseases. Any dietary imbalances, including Fusarium toxin contamination, might therefore exacerbate this situation. The aim of the present investigations was to study the effects of increasing dietary concentrations of deoxynivalenol (DON) and zearalenone (ZEN) on clinical-chemical, haematological and immunological traits up to week 14 of lactation. For this purpose, ten cows each were assigned to a control group (CON; 0.02 mg ZEN and 0.06 mg DON per kg diet at 88 % DM), toxin level 1 (TOX-1; 0.29 mg ZEN and 2.31 mg DON per kg diet at 88 % DM) and toxin level 2 (TOX-2; 0.58 mg ZEN and 4.61 mg DON per kg diet at 88 % DM). The measured values of most parameters were affected by parturition but only a few of them were further modified by dietary treatment. For example, the time-dependent decrease in haemoglobin concentration, haematocrit and erythrocyte counts occurred at a significantly higher level for group TOX-2 while a serum glucose increase was missing in this group. Proportions of CD4+ and CD8+ cells decreased significantly over time solely in group TOX-2 while the CD4+/CD8+ ratio remained uninfluenced. Ability of granulocytes to mount an oxidative burst tended to increase at the end of the study in groups TOX-1 and TOX-2 while the opposite was observed in group CON. The results of this time-limited study indicate that feeding of Fusarium-toxin contaminated diets in early lactation affects health related parameters without compromising milking performance. However, long-term consequences of the observed effects on health need to be addressed in further studies. | [
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Improving the accuracy of airport emissions inventories using disparate datasets. Environmental regulations require airports to report air quality emissions inventories (i.e., tons emitted) for aircraft emissions such as carbon oxides (COx) and nitrogen oxides (NOx). Traditional methods for emission inventory calculations yield over-estimated inventories due an assumption of the use of maximum takeoff thrust settings for all departures. To reduce costs, airlines use \\'reduced\\' thrust settings (such as derated or flex temperature thrust settings) that can be up to 25% lower than the maximum takeoff thrust setting. Thrust data for each flight operation are not readily available to those responsible for the emission inventory. This article describes an approach to estimate the actual takeoff thrust for each flight operation using algorithms that combine radar surveillance track data, weather data, and standardized aircraft performance models. A case study for flights from Chicago's O'Hare airport exhibited an average takeoff thrust of 86% of maximum takeoff thrust (within 4% of the average for actual takeoff thrust settings). The implications and limitations of this method are discussed. | [
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Comparison of Urine Cotinine and the Tobacco-Specific Nitrosamine Metabolite 4-(Methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-Pyridyl)-1-Butanol (NNAL) and Their Ratio to Discriminate Active From Passive Smoking. Cotinine and NNAL were measured in urine of 373 active smokers and 228 passive smokers.Geometric mean cotinine levels were 2.03 ng/ml (interquartile interval: 0.43-8.60) and 1,043 ng/ml (658-2,251) and NNAL levels were 5.80 pg/ml (2.28-15.4) and 165 pg/ml (90.8-360) pg/ml in passive and active smokers, respectively. NNAL/cotinine ratio in urine was significantly higher for passive smokers when compared with active smokers (2.85 vs. 0.16, p < .01). The receiver operating characteristics analysis determined optimal cutoff points to discriminate passive versus active smokers: 31.5 ng/ml for cotinine (sensitivity: 97.1% and specificity: 93.9%), 47.3 pg/ml for NNAL (87.4% and 96.5%), and 0.74 x 10(-3) for NNAL/cotinine ratio (97.3% and 87.3%).Both urine cotinine and NNAL are sensitive and specific biomarkers for discriminating the source of tobacco smoke exposure. Cotinine is the best overall discriminator when biomarkers are measured while a person has ongoing exposure to tobacco smoke. NNAL because of its long half-life would be particularly useful when there is a delay between exposure and biomarker measurement. The NNAL/cotinine ratio provides similar sensitivity but poorer specificity at discriminating passive versus active smokers when compared with NNAL alone.Cotinine is the most widely used biomarker to distinguish active versus passive smoking. However, there is an overlap in cotinine levels when comparing light or occasional smokers versus heavily exposed passive smokers. 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol (NNAL) is a tobacco-specific nitrosamine measurable in urine with a much longer half-life than cotinine. The aim of the study was to determine optimal cutoff points to discriminate active versus passive smokers and to compare sensitivity and specificity for the use of cotinine, NNAL, and the ratio of the NNAL/cotinine in urine. | [
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Is CFTR 621+3 A > G a cystic fibrosis causing mutation?. The 621+3 A>G variant of the CFTR gene was initially detected in four Greek patients with a severe form of cystic fibrosis, and it is reported to impair CFTR mRNA splicing. We present three lines of evidence that argue against the pathogenicity of this variant. First, its allelic frequency in the Italian population was 0.4%. Even considering the lowest value in the confidence interval we would expect 10% of Italian CF patients to be heterozygotes for this variant, whereas it has been reported only in one patient (0.04% of Italian CF patients). Second, expression of the 621+3 A>G variant in HeLa cells using a hybrid minigene showed that 39.5 +/- 1.1% of transcripts were correctly spliced, indicating that its effects on mRNA splicing are similar to those of the CFTR intron 8 5T variant, associated with congenital bilateral absence of vas deferens (CBAVD), but not with CF. Third, we have identified an asymptomatic individual who harbored the 621+3 A>G variant in trans with the Q552X mutation. Because 621+3 A>G is often included in population-screening programs, this information is critical to provide adequate counseling to patients. Further work should be aimed at investigating whether this variant may have a role in CBAVD or atypical CF. Journal of Human Genetics (2010) 55, 23-26; doi: 10.1038/jhg.2009.115; published online 6 November 2009 | [
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Modeling high-pressure vapor-liquid equilibrium of limonene, linalool and carbon dioxide systems. The research reported in this study is focused on modeling high-pressure phase behavior for CO2-limonene and CO2-linalool. A modified Peng-Robinson equation of state was applied to calculate vapor-liquid equilibrium using five different mixing rules obtained by incorporating activity coefficient models. The methodologies proposed by Heidemann-Kokal, Wong-Sandler and LCVM were used coupled with NRTL, UNIQUAC and UNIFAC models. A comparative analysis of the generated models was done for the binary systems and the best model was chosen to describe phase behavior of the system CO2-limonene-linalool. An isothermal flash calculation was applied to investigate selectivity and yield simultaneously for this ternary system in order to understand better the process parameters governing supercritical CO2 deterpenation of citrus peel oil. The results showed that to obtain good separation between limonene and linalool at 50 degrees C and pressures from 80 to 90 bar a high CO2/oil ratio is needed. As this ratio decreases, the process can be operated at 60 and 70 degrees C over the same pressure range with equivalent performance. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved. | [
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A new cave-dwelling genus and species of Nerillidae (Annelida) from the Ryukyu Islands, Japan. A new genus and species of Nerillidae, Nipponerilla irabuensis gen. nov., sp. nov., is described from an anchialine cave in Shimoji Island, west of Irabu Island (Miyako Islands, Southwestern Japan). Its morphology was examined with light, scanning electron, and confocal laser scanning microscopy. This new species, along with two putative new cave species from the Turks and Caicos Islands and several closely related nerillids, was included in a phylogenetic analysis employing five concatenated gene markers (16S rRNA, 18S rRNA, 28S rRNA, H3, and COI). Nipponerilla irabuensis gen. nov., sp. nov. was found to be sister taxon to the cave-exclusive genus Speleonerilla Worsaae, Sterrer & Iliffe, in Worsaae et al., 2019, but shows morphological resemblance to both Speleonerilla and Mesonerilla Remane, 1949. Thus, Nipponerilla gen. nov. constitutes a new monotypic genus in Nerillidae diagnosed by a combination of the following characters: nine segments, compound chaetae, high palp and antennae to body length ratios, and gonochoristic reproduction with two pairs of spermioducts opening in segments VII and VIII. Its placement among Nerillidae is discussed, along with its putative adaptations to an anchialine environment. | [
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19
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A link between input-output stability and Lyapunov stability. It is shown that incremental boundedness of an input-output operator ensures global asymptotic stability of any motion. A reciprocal statement is set. | [
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35
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The semantic value of historical monuments as cultural heritage in urban texture: cases of Ankara Castle and Anitkabir. Historical monuments as cultural heritage is a prominent source of sociocultural values and have semantic values for city residents. Determining the importance level of the historical monuments for the residents will cause the right decisions to be taken in the strategic policy-making process related to recognizing and conserving them. This study aimed to provide empirical evidence of the semantic value of cultural heritage in the urban design project and policy-making process. Since cultural heritage is non-market products, the Hedonic Pricing Model was used to determine its semantic values in the study. The study determined the semantic value of Ankara Castle and Anitkabir in Ankara, with the help of the Hedonic Pricing Model, over the prices of houses located in a radius of 1200 meters of these monuments. A total of 364 houses around Ankara Castle and 496 houses around Anitkabir were examined. As a result, as the houses get closer to the Ankara Castle, their prices increase by 5% per 100 meters, and the house prices rise by 3% per 100 meters as the house gets closer to the Anitkabir. | [
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A Bayesian Robust IRT Outlier-Detection Model. In psychometric practice, the parameter estimates of a standard item-response theory (IRT) model can become biased when item-response data, of persons' individual responses to test items, contain outliers relative to the model. Also, the manual removal of outliers can be a time-consuming and difficult task. Besides, removing outliers leads to data information loss in parameter estimation. To address these concerns, a Bayesian IRT model that includes person and latent item-response outlier parameters, in addition to person ability and item parameters, is proposed and illustrated, and is defined by item characteristic curves (ICCs) that are each specified by a robust, Student's t-distribution function. The outlier parameters and the robust ICCs enable the model to automatically identify item-response outliers, and to make estimates of the person ability and item parameters more robust to outliers. Hence, under this IRT model, it is unnecessary to remove outliers from the data analysis. Our IRT model is illustrated through the analysis two data sets, involving dichotomous- and polytomous-response items, respectively. | [
3,
284
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Enabling portable multiple-line refreshable Braille displays with electroactive elastomers. Full-page (multiple-lines), electrically refreshable, portable and affordable Braille displays do not currently exist. There is a need for such an assistive technology, which could be used as the Braille-coded tactile analogue for blind people of the digital tablets used by sighted people. Turning those highly desirable systems into reality requires a radically new technology for Braille dot actuation. Here, we describe standard-sized refreshable Braille dots based on an innovative actuation technology that uses electro-responsive smart materials known as dielectric elastomers. Owing to a significantly reduced lateral size with respect to conventional Braille dot drives, the proposed solution is suitable to array multiple dots in multiple lines, so as to form full-page Braille displays. Furthermore, a significant reduction also of the vertical size makes the design suitable for the development of thin and lightweight displays, thus enabling portability. We present the first prototype samples of these new refreshable Braille dots, showing that the achievable active displacements are adequately close to the standard Braille requirements, although the force has to be further improved. The paper discusses the remaining challenges and describes promising strategies to address them. (C) 2018 IPEM. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. | [
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STABILITY IN AQUEOUS-MEDIA OF 316L STAINLESS-STEEL FILMS DEPOSITED ON INTERNAL-REFLECTION ELEMENTS. Thin films of 316L stainless steel were sputter-deposited on cylindrical internal reflection elements (IREs) made of germanium. These films are intended for use in Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy studies on the stability of stainless steel in aqueous media. In these deposits the films tend to peel off the substrate when immersed in water, probably due to galvanic corrosion at the metal/substrate interface. Deposition of a 2-nm-thick layer of chromium oxide on the substrate prior to the deposition of the steel was beneficial on three counts. It provided an electrically insulating layer, it enhanced adhesion, and it solved the steel/germanium incompatibility problem. It was also found that annealing the substrate prior to deposition remarkably enhances the film adhesion and improves the optical properties of the substrate. The microstructure, the topography, and the chemical composition of the films were characterized by scanning and transmission electron microscopy, Auger electron spectroscopy, and atomic force microscopy. The only significant difference between the austenitic stainless steel target material and the film is that the crystalline structure of the film is body-centered cubic. The optical properties of the system germanium/metallic film/water were studied and calculated with the help of a computer program. The absorbance of the water bands in the IR range was measured in coated Ge-IRE. | [
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A qualitative study into how guidelines facilitate general practitioners to empower women to make decisions regarding antidepressant use in pregnancy. It is estimated that 14.5% of women suffer depression in pregnancy [Sit, D.K.Y., Flint, C., Svidergol, D., White, J., Wimer, M., Bish, B., & Wisner, K.L. (2009). An emerging best practice model for perinatal depression care. Psychiatric Services, 60, 1429-1431. Retrieved from http://ps.psychiatryonline.org/journal.aspx?journalid=18], which has been linked to a number of negative outcomes such as higher levels of preterm delivery, reduced cognitive development and poor mother-baby connection [Judd, F., Stafford, L., Gibson, P., & Ahrens, J. (2011). The early motherhood service: An acceptable and accessible perinatal mental health service. Australasian Psychiatry, 19, 240-246. doi:10.3109/10398562.2011.562294]. The lack of clarity surrounding safety information has impacted treatment decisions with general practitioners (GPs) reportedly feeling hesitant to prescribe antidepressants [Bilszta, J.L., Tsuchiya, S., Han, K., Buist, A.E., & Einarson, A. (2011). Primary care physicians attitudes and practices regarding antidepressant use during pregnancy: A survey of two countries. Archive of Women's Mental Health, 14, 71-75. doi:10.1007/s00737-010-0197-8], yet the usage of perinatal depression guidelines among GPs is reportedly low [Kean, L.J., Hamilton, J., & Shah, P. (2011). Antidepressants for mothers: What are we prescribing? Scottish Medical Journal, 56, 94-97. doi:10.1258/smj.2011.011034]. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the opinions of GPs on how clinical guidelines for perinatal depression facilitated them to empower pregnant women to make an informed decision about the use of antidepressants in pregnancy. Using qualitative methodology, semi-structured interviews were conducted with one GP from eight practices in Derry City, Northern Ireland. The main areas explored in the interview schedule were guidelines on perinatal depression, GP understanding of 'patient empowerment', GP practice policy on patient decision making, constraints of treatment decisions and a discussion on which health promotion model was most reflective of their views on the provision of healthcare. Only some of the GPs were aware of the National Institute National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence Clinical Excellence [NICE (2007). Antenatal and postnatal mental health: Clinical management and service guidance (Clinical Guideline No. CG45). Retrieved from http://www.nice.org.uk/nicemedia/live/11004/30433/30433.pdf] perinatal depression guidelines but acknowledged that they were generic and lacked utility, instead they relied on their own professional experience and patient knowledge to make decisions. Involving patients in treatment decision making was viewed as central to patient empowerment; however, its application in routine practice was often limited by complex clinical scenarios. Findings from this study suggested an identified need for a local specialist perinatal service to provide evidence-based information and timely support. An empowerment model for the improvement of perinatal depression has been developed from the study findings as a framework for women, their community and their GPs. | [
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3 WD meets GTVH: Breaking the ground for interdisciplinary humor research. The present paper describes an interdisciplinary effort, in which results based on the same material, but analyzed with tools from two different disciplines are brought together for mutual evaluation. The set of 70 jokes and cartoons from the 3 WD (Ruch 1995), which has been extensively studied psychologically for its affective properties, is analyzed linguistically for its internal morphology based on the General Theory of Verbal Humor-GTVH (Attardo and Raskin 1991). The correlations between the stimulus properties and their effects are discussed, as well as the relevance of these results for the respective theories and the disciplines that use them. Additional emphasis is placed on highlighting the problems and considerable benefits of such interdisciplinary research as the most apt approach to complex phenomena like humor. The results show that there is indeed significant overlap between stimulus properties as they can be distinguished linguistically and affective responses as they can be identified psychologically. Of the six GTVH categories, it is primarily script opposition, narrative structure, target, and logical mechanism that contribute to the separation of the three humor types with respect to effects on recipients. The results also suggest that initial and residual incongruity, as operationalized with the GTVH, are central cognitive aspects of humor with an impact on affective factors and, consequently, their distinction. While this may appear to be commonsensical results, their scientific reproduction is a major step forward, in this case for humor research. | [
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Increasing Efficiency and Quality in PLC Programming by Object Orientation and UML. Software-Engineering methods, which enhance reusability of PLC software and thereby potentially improve code quality and shorten programming cycles are of vital importance for competitiveness in today's plant and machinery engineering. In software application development object oriented techniques are already established and worldwide state-of-the-art. In the domain of PLC programming CoDeSys V3 extends the IEC 61131-3 standard towards object oriented constructs for the first time. Within a research project graphical UML Editors are being integrated into CoDeSys V3 for supporting object oriented software engineering. This article shows how these new features and approaches can be applied to construct better control software. | [
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Overexpression of plasminogen activators in the nucleus accumbens enhances cocaine-, amphetamine- and morphine-induced reward and behavioral sensitization. Urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) and tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) are extracellular proteases that play a role in synaptic plasticity and remodeling. Psychostimulants induce both tPA and uPA in acute and chronic drug delivery, but cocaine induces preferentially uPA, whereas morphine and amphetamine induce preferentially tPA. Specific doxycline-regulatable lentiviruses expressing these extracellular proteases have been prepared and stereotaxically injected into the nucleus accumbens. We show that tPA-overexpressing animals show greater locomotor activity and behavioral sensitization upon morphine and amphetamine treatments. These effects could be fully suppressed by doxycycline or when tPA had been silenced using small interfering RNAs (siRNAs)-expressing lentiviruses. Furthermore, animals infected with lentiviruses expressing uPA show enhanced conditional place preference for cocaine compared with tPA-overexpressing animals. In contrast, tPA-overexpressing animals when administered amphetamine or morphine showed greater place preference compared with uPA-overexpressing animals. The effects are suppressed when tPA has been silenced using specific siRNAs-expressing vectors. Tissue-type plasminogen activator and uPA possibly induce distinct behaviors, which may be interpreted according to their differential pattern of activation and downstream targets. Taken together, these data add further evidence for a significant function of extracellular proteases tPA and uPA in addiction and suggest a differential role of plasminogen activators in this context. | [
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46
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Tc-99m-Labeled Dimeric Octreotide Peptide: A Radiotracer with High Tumor Uptake for Single-Photon Emission Computed Tomography Imaging of Somatostatin Receptor Subtype 2-Positive Tumors. There is growing interest in the development of radiolabeled multivalent ligands because of their higher tumor uptake versus that of the corresponding monomer. This report presents the synthesis of a [Tyr(3)]octreotide dimer conjugate, HYNIC-E([Tyr(3)]octreotide)(2) {HYNIC-TOC2, HYNIC = 6-[2-(2-sulfonatobenzaldehyde)hydrazono]nicotiny1}, and its biological evaluation in the AR42J tumor model. The binding affinity of HYNIC-TOC2 for somatostatin receptor subtype 2 (SSTR2) was determined in AR42J rat pancreatic cancer cells, using I-125-[Tyr(3)]octreotide as the radiotracer. Tc-99m-HYNIC-TOC2 was prepared by using tricine and EDDA as coligands (EDDA =- ethylenediamine-N,N' -diacetic acid). Biodistribution and gamma imaging were performed in nude mice bearing AR42J tumors. Tc-99m-HYNIC-TOC2 was obtained in >95% labeling yield with favorable stability. Compared with those of HYNIC-TOC (IC50 = 3.74 +/- 0.82 nM), HYNIC-TOC2 showed significantly increased SSTR2 binding affinity (IC50 = 0.74 +/- 0.19 nM), and Tc-99m-HYNIC-TOC2 showed significantly increased tumor uptake [13.31 +/- 3.14%ID/g vs 5.32 +/- 0.94%ID/g 1 h postinjection (p.i.) and 12.05 +/- 2.92%ID/g vs 5.87 +/- 1.96%ID/g 4 h p.i.] Although the level of accumulation of (TcHYNIC)-Tc-99m-TOC2 in kidneys was significantly increased (94.40 +/- 6.51%ID/g vs 32.27 +/- 4.51%ID/g 1 h p.i.), this high uptake was inhibited by the injection of 1.-lysine before the administration of Tc-99m-HYNIC-TOC2 (30.99 +/- 5.05%ID/g 1 h p.i.) while tumor uptake decreased only slightly. Consistent with biodistribution data, in vivo planar y imaging showed that the tumors were clearly visualized, while the background signal was much weaker except for that of the kidneys and bladder. The new radiotracer Tc-99m-HYNIC-TOC2 with a higher binding affinity and good stability was designed and evaluated. The higher tumor uptake of Tc-99m-HYNIC-TOC2 suggests that Y-90/Lu-177-labeled TOC2 might have an advantage for the radiotherapy of SSTR2-positive tumors. These data merit the translation of Tc-99m-HYNIC-TOC2 to a clinical setting. | [
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201
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Infrared spectroscopy of human cells and tissue. Part VI: A comparative study of histopathology and infrared microspectroscopy of normal, cirrhotic, and cancerous liver tissue. Infrared spectra of selected regions of normal, cirrhotic, and neoplastic liver tissue samples are reported. Spectra of these tissues may vary for a number of reasons that may or may not be related to the state of health or disease, With the use of histochemical and immunohistochemical methods, the spectral variations are interpreted in terms of the biochemical and pathological processes involved. This paper lays the groundwork for correlation of infrared spectroscopic and pathological/histochemical results for other tissues, to be reported in subsequent communications. | [
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58
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Modeling of Moisture Diffusion in Permeable Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Composites Using Heterogeneous Hybrid Moisture Element Method. The HHMEM approach proposed in this study provides a straightforward and efficient means of modeling transient moisture diffusion in composite materials containing multiple permeable fibers. This is because only one HHME moisture characteristic matrix of fibers requires calculation for all HHMEs sharing the same characteristics. Furthermore, varying volume fractions can be modeled without modifying the original model simply by controlling the size of the inter-phase region within the HHME domain.The HHMEM scheme is based on a heterogeneous hybrid moisture element (HHME), with properties determined through an equivalent hybrid moisture capacitance/conductance matrix. This matrix was calculated using the conventional finite element formulation in space discretization as well as the theta-method in time discretization with similar mass/stiffness properties and matrix condensing operations. A coupled HHME-FE scheme was developed and implemented in computer code MATLAB in order to analyze the transient moisture diffusion characteristics of composite materials containing multiple permeable fibers. The analysis commenced by comparing the performance of the proposed scheme with that of conventional FEM to model the moisture diffusion process. Both hexagonal and square fiber arrangements were studied. Having validated its performance, the scheme was then employed to investigate the relationship between the volume fraction of the permeable fibers in the resin composite and the rate of moisture diffusion. It was found that the moisture diffusion was significantly retarded as the volume fraction of the fibers increased.This study proposes a two-dimensional heterogeneous hybrid moisture element method (HHMEM) for modeling transient moisture diffusion in permeable fiber-reinforced polymer composites. | [
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Properties of solutions to semilinear elliptic problem with Hardy potential. We consider the following nonlinear Neumann problemwhere gamma < <(gamma)over bar> := (N-2)(2)/4, 0 < s < 2, 2(s)* = 2(N-s)/N-2 and B-R is the ball centered at the origin with radius R. Firstly, we establish the existence of infinitely many positive radial solutions which are singular at the origin. Secondly, we investigate the existence and regularity of a least-energy solution. Lastly, we study the symmetric properties of a regular least-energy solution. (C) 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.{-Delta u - gamma u/vertical bar x vertical bar(2) + mu u = vertical bar u vertical bar(2s)*(-2)u/vertical bar x vertical bar(s) in B-R subset of R-N, N >= 3 partial derivative u/partial derivative v = 0 on partial derivative B-R | [
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23
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Regularities of formation regional cluster intsiativ. In the article on the basis of the carried-out categorical analysis distinctive features, the contents, participants, the directions and methods of realization of cluster policy are marked out. It is shown that potentially high efficiency the cluster policy formed on the basis of the program and design approach possesses. Such approach allows to make active available internal reserves of self-development of a cluster, and also to attract and complementary to use resources of the territory of its dislocation. World and domestic experience of formation and realization of cluster initiatives is analyzed. Types of cluster policy that expands ideas of scales, intensity, target orientation, a state role, measures and mechanisms of realization of cluster policy in the various countries are systematized. The general regularities of formation of cluster policy of foreign countries and Russia are marked out. On the basis of synthesis of available positive foreign and domestic experience of development of effective cluster policy, the principles of its formation are revealed. Realization of these principles will allow to keep an active role of the state in regulation of rates and qualities of economic development of clusters, and also to provide formation of the centers of competences of economic and innovative development of the region, competitiveness of the domestic industry in the conditions of globalization. | [
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Spliced XBP1 Levels Determine Sensitivity of Multiple Myeloma Cells to Proteasome Inhibitor Bortezomib Independent of the Unfolded Protein Response Mediator GRP78. Results: BTZ-sensitive cells displayed lower basal proteasomal activities. Similar activities of all three major ABC transporter proteins were detected in BTZ-sensitive and resistant cells. Sensitive cells showed deficiencies in triggering canonical prosurvival UPR provoked by endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress induction. BTZ treatment did not increase unfolded protein levels or induced GRP78-mediated UPR. BTZ-resistant cells and BTZ-refractory patients exhibited lower sXBP1 levels. Apoptosis of BTZ-sensitive cells was correlating with induction of p53 and NOXA. Tumor cytogenetics and NGS analysis revealed more frequent TP53 deletions and mutations in BTZ-refractory MM patients.Conclusions: We identified low sXBP1 levels and TP53 abnormalities as factors correlating with bortezomib resistance in MM. Therefore, determination of sXBP1 levels and TP53 status prior to BTZ treatment in MM may be beneficial to predict BTZ resistance.Methods: Proteasomal and ABC transporter activities were measured in sensitive and resistant cell lines by the use of the respective substrates. TP53 gene loss and mutations were determined by cytogenetics and targeted NGS. UPR pathways, proteasome subunit levels and protein secretion were studied by Western Blot analysis, and apoptosis was determined by flow cytometry. MM cell lines were stably transfected with inducible GRP78 expression to study unfolded protein expression. Transient knock-down of GRP78 was done by RNA interference. Splicing of XBP1 and expression of GRP78 was studied by real-time PCR in CD138-enriched MM primary cells of BTZ-refractory and -sensitive patients.Background: Mechanisms mediating resistance against the proteasome inhibition by bortezomib (BTZ) in multiple myeloma (MM) cells are still unclear. We analyzed the activation of the unfolded protein response (UPR), induction of prosurvival, and apoptotic pathways after proteasome inhibition in BTZ-sensitive and -resistant cells. Thereafter, these findings from tissue culture were proofed on MM cells of BTZ-sensitive and BTZ-refractory patients. | [
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Correlation of personal and professional development of students of psychological departments. There were studied the peculiarities of enrollees of psychological departments and the main results are presented. Specificity of the first year students' notions of their professional activity (including goals of psychology, professional abilities of a psychologist-researcher and of a practical psychologist) was established. Longitude research allowed to trace the dynamics of personal characteristics of the first to third year students of psychological departments. | [
3,
285
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Multi-arm RNA junctions encoding molecular logic unconstrained by input sequence for versatile cell-free diagnostics. Applications of RNA-based molecular logic have been hampered by sequence constraints imposed on the input and output of the circuits. Here we show that the sequence constraints can be substantially reduced by appropriately encoded multi-arm junctions of single-stranded RNA structures. To conditionally activate RNA translation, we integrated multi-arm junctions, self-assembled upstream of a regulated gene and designed to unfold sequentially in response to different RNA inputs, with motifs of loop-initiated RNA activators that function independently of the sequence of the input RNAs and that reduce interference with the output gene. We used the integrated RNA system and sequence-independent input RNAs to execute two-input and three-input OR and AND logic in Escherichia coli, and designed paper-based cell-free colourimetric assays that accurately identified two human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) subtypes (by executing OR logic) in amplified synthetic HIV RNA as well as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (via two-input AND logic) in amplified RNA from saliva samples. The sequence-independent molecular logic enabled by the integration of multi-arm junction RNAs with motifs for loop-initiated RNA activators may be broadly applicable in biotechnology.Multi-arm junction RNAs integrating motifs for loop-initiated RNA activators enable the execution of molecular logic independent of RNA-input sequence, thus facilitating the design of cell-free diagnostics. | [
1,
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Entropy squeezing of a moving atom and control of noise of the quantum mechanical channel via the two-photon process. Based on the quantum information theory, we have investigated the entropy squeezing of a moving two-level atom interacting with the coherent field via the quantum mechanical channel of the two-photon process. The results are compared with those of atomic squeezing based on the Heisenberg uncertainty relation. The influences of the atomic motion and field-mode structure parameter on the atomic entropy squeezing and on the control of noise of the quantum mechanical channel via the two-photon process are examined. Our results show that the squeezed period, duration of optimal entropy squeezing of a two-level atom and the noise of the quantum mechanical channel can be controlled by appropriately choosing the atomic motion and the field-mode structure parameter, respectively. The quantum mechanical channel of two-photon process is an ideal channel for quantum information (atomic quantum state) transmission. Quantum information entropy is a remarkably accurate measure of the atomic squeezing. | [
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Cognitive flexibility mediates the association between early life stress and habitual behavior. Accumulating evidence suggests that exposure to high levels of early life stress (ELS) may lead to a lasting shift between goal-directed and habitual behavioral tendencies. Cognitive flexibility has been shown to be impaired following early life stress and represents a protective factor for the formation of rigid maladaptive behavior, however, whether cognitive flexibility mediates their association is not clear. Against this background we employed a mediation approach in a sample of n = 560 young healthy Chinese to determine whether cognitive flexibility mediates the association between ELS and habitual behavioral tendencies as assessed by the Creature of Habits Scale (COHS). We present and validate a Chinese version of the COHS (COHS-C) and replicate the two factor solution of the original version. Higher ELS exposure was associated with higher habitual behavioral tendencies and lower cognitive flexibility. Importantly, the association between ELS and habitual behavior was fully mediated by cognitive flexibility, suggesting that ELS-associated deficient cognitive flexibility promotes habitual behavioral tendencies in everyday life. Early intervention approaches that aim at promoting cognitive flexibility may increase resilience for dysregulated habit formation following ELS in adulthood. | [
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Investigation of the efficacy of the short regimen for rifampicin-resistant TB from the STREAM trial. BackgroundThe STREAM trial demonstrated that a 9-11-month \\'short\\' regimen had non-inferior efficacy and comparable safety to a 20+ month \\'long\\' regimen for the treatment of rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis. Imbalance in the components of the composite primary outcome merited further investigation.MethodsFirstly, the STREAM primary outcomes were mapped to alternatives in current use, including WHO programmatic outcome definitions and other recently proposed modifications for programmatic or research purposes. Secondly, the outcomes were re-classified according to the likelihood that it was a Failure or Relapse (FoR) event on a 5-point Likert scale: Definite, Probable, Possible, Unlikely, and Highly Unlikely. Sensitivity analyses were employed to explore the impact of informative censoring. The protocol-defined modified intention-to-treat (MITT) analysis population was used for all analyses.ResultsCure on the short regimen ranged from 75.1 to 84.2% across five alternative outcomes. However, between-regimens results did not exceed 1.3% in favor of the long regimen (95% CI upper bound 10.1%), similar to the primary efficacy results from the trial. Considering only Definite or Probable FoR events, there was weak evidence of a higher risk of FoR in the short regimen, HR 2.19 (95%CI 0.90, 5.35), p=0.076; considering only Definite FoR events, the evidence was stronger, HR 3.53 (95%CI 1.05, 11.87), p=0.030.Cumulative number of grade 3-4 AEs was the strongest predictor of censoring. Considering a larger effect of informative censoring attenuated treatment differences, although 95% CI were very wide.ConclusionFive alternative outcome definitions gave similar overall results. The risk of failure or relapse (FoR) may be higher in the short regimen than in the long regimen, highlighting the importance of how loss to follow-up and other censoring is accounted for in analyses. The outcome of time to FoR should be considered as a primary outcome for future drug-sensitive and drug-resistant TB treatment trials, provided sensitivity analyses exploring the impact of departures from independent censoring are also included. | [
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Severe unilateral congenital ptosis with poor levator function: tarsoconjunctival mullerectomy plus levator resection vs frontalis sling procedure. CONCLUSION: Complete success rate of TCMLR is higher in long-term follow-up in contrast with the frontalis sling in the short-term. Transient complications are more detected in mid-term follow-ups in both groups.AIM: To compare frontalis sling and tarsoconjunctival mullerectomy plus levator resection (TCMLR) in subjects with severe unilateral congenital ptosis with poor levator function (LF).RESULTS: Frontalis sling and TCMLR procedures were performed on 26 and 24 patients respectively. The mean age was 10.97 +/- 10.67y. LF was significantly better in the TCMLR group at months 1, 3, and 6 (P=0.002). Lagophthalmos was more common in the TCMLR group (no significant difference). At month 3, mild punctate epithelial erosions were observed more in the frontalis sling group (P=0.002). Significant complete success rate of 1(st) and 6(th) month for the frontalis sling vs TCMLR groups were 50% vs 20.8% (P=0.02), and 38.4% vs 50% (P=0.03) respectively.METHODS: A prospective non-randomized non-blinded single center clinical trial. Fifty patients with severe unilateral congenital ptosis with poor LF were recruited. The frontalis sling and TCMLR were performed and the functional, cosmetic outcomes, complications, and success rate were evaluated at 1, 3, and 6mo postoperatively. The t-test, Chi-square, Fishers exact, and nonparametric Mann-Whitney tests were used by SPSS software. | [
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Application of the Optimal Parameter Geographic Detector Model in the Identification of Influencing Factors of Ecological Quality in Guangzhou, China. The ecological environment is important for the survival and development of human beings, and objective and accurate monitoring of changes in the ecological environment has received extensive attention. Based on the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), wetness (WET), normalized differential build-up and bare soil index (NDBSI), and land surface temperature (LST), the principal component analysis method is used to construct a comprehensive index to evaluate the ecological environment's quality. The R package \\'Relainpo\\' is used to estimate the relative importance and contribution rate of NDVI, WET, NDBSI, and LST to the remote sensing ecological index (RSEI). The optimal parameter geographic detector (OPGD) model is used to quantitatively analyze the influencing factors, degree of influence, and interaction of the RSEI. The results show that from 2001 to 2020, the area with a poor grade quality of the RSEI in Guangzhou decreased from 719.2413 km(2) to 660.4146 km(2), while the area with an excellent quality grade of the RSEI increased from 1778.8311 km(2) to 1978.9390 km(2). The NDVI (40%) and WET (35%) contributed significantly to the RSEI, while LST and NDBSI contributed less to the RSEI. The results of single factor analysis revealed that soil type have the greatest impact on the RSEI with a coefficient (Q) of 0.1360, followed by a temperature with a coefficient (Q) of 0.1341. The interaction effect of two factors is greater than that of a single factor on the RSEI, and the interaction effect of different factors on the RSEI is significant, but the degree of influence is not consistent. This research may provide new clues for the stabilization and improvement of ecological environmental quality. | [
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Taking over somebody's life': Experiences of surrogate decision-makers in the surgical intensive care unit. Results. A major theme that emerged from interviews (N = 19) centered on how participants perceived the surrogate role, which is best characterized by 2 archetypes: (I) Preferences Advocates, who focused on patients' values; and (2) Clinical Facilitators, who focused on patients' medical conditions. The primary archetype of each surrogate influenced how they defined their role and approached decisions. Preferences Advocates framed decisions in the context of patients' values, whereas Clinical Facilitators emphasized the importance of clinical information.Background. Impaired capacity of patients necessitates the use of surrogates to make decisions on behalf of patients. Little is known about surrogate decision-making in the surgical intensive care unit, where the decline to critical illness is often unexpected. We sought to explore surrogate experiences with decision making in the surgical intensive care unit.Conclusion. The experiences of surrogates in the surgical intensive care unit are related to their understanding of what it means to be a surrogate and how they fulfill this role. Future work is needed to identify and manage the informational needs of surrogate decision-makers.Methods. This qualitative study was performed at 2 surgical intensive care units at a single, tertiary, academic hospital Surrogate decision-makers who had made a major medical decision for a patient in the surgical intensive care unit were identified and enrolled prospectively. Semistructured telephone interviews following an interview guide were conducted within 90 days after hospitalization until thematic saturation. Recordings were transcribed, coded inductively, and analyzed utilizing an interpretive phenomenologic approach. | [
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Truncation of IFT80 causes early embryonic loss in Holstein cattle associated with Holstein haplotype 2. Recessive alleles represent genetic risk in populations that have undergone bottleneck events. We present a comprehensive framework for identification and valida-tion of these genetic defects, including haplotype-based detection, variant selection from sequence data, and validation using knockout embryos. Holstein haplotype 2 (HH2), which causes embryonic death, was used to demonstrate the approach. Holstein haplotype 2 was identified using a deficiency-of-homozygotes approach and confirmed to negatively affect conception rate and stillbirths. Five carriers were present in a group of 183 sequenced Holstein bulls selected to maximize the cov-erage of unique haplotypes. Three variants concordant with haplotype calls were found in HH2: a high-priority frameshift mutation resulting, and 2 low-priority vari-ants (1 synonymous variant, 1 premature stop codon). The frameshift in intraflagellar 80 (IFT80) was con-firmed in a separate group of Holsteins from the 1000 Bull Genomes Project that shared no animals with the discovery set. IFT80-null embryos were generated by truncating the IFT80 transcript at exon 2 or 11 us-ing a CRISPR-Cas9 system. Abattoir-derived oocytes were fertilized in vitro, and zygotes were injected at the one-cell stage either with a guide RNA and CAS9 mRNA complex (n = 100) or Cas9 mRNA (control, n = 100) before return to culture, and replicated 3 times. IFT80 is activated at the 8-cell stage, and IFT80-null embryos arrested at this stage of development, which is consistent with data from mouse hypomorphs and HH2 carrier-to-carrier matings. This frameshift in IFT80 on chromosome 1 at 107,172,615 bp (p.Leu381fs) disrupts WNT and hedgehog signaling, and is responsible for the death of homozygous embryos. | [
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Moisture Damage in Ancient Masonry: A Multidisciplinary Approach for In Situ Diagnostics. San Nicola in Carcere, one of the minor basilicas in the historical center of Rome, was the location of a wide investigation campaign of the water-related deterioration causes, present in the lower sector of the apse and adjacent pillars, affected by water infiltrations, mould and salt efflorescence. The results obtained identify the presence of water content and related effects mainly on the sides of the apsidal wall. This work focuses on the use of five Non-Destructive Techniques (NDT) and intends to show the gains obtained by integrating widely interdisciplinary methods, namely the Infrared Thermography (IRT), the Unilateral Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (Unilateral NMR), the Acoustic Tomography (AT), the Acoustic Imaging (AI) and the Laser-Induced Fluorescence (LIF). All the techniques contribute to the rapid, non-invasive and early identification of the moisture distribution, while some of them (LIF and AI) also address the determination of some moisture effects. The integrated use of different techniques helps to take the multidisciplinary point of view necessary to formulate an effective restoration intervention based on a sound scientific rationale; nonetheless, it allows to experiment a holistic approach, verifying the potential of a wide range of NDTs available within the context of a restoration yard. | [
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The Misregulation of Cell Adhesion Components during Tumorigenesis: Overview and Commentary. Cell adhesion complexes facilitate attachment between cells or the binding of cells to the extracellular matrix. The regulation of cell adhesion is an important step in embryonic development and contributes to tissue homeostasis allowing processes such as differentiation and cell migration. Many mechanisms of cancer progression are reminiscent of embryonic development, for example, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, and involve the disruption of cell adhesion and expression changes in components of cell adhesion structures. Tight junctions, adherens junctions, desmosomes, and focal adhesion besides their roles in cell-cell or cell-matrix interaction also possess cell signaling function. Perturbations of such signaling pathways can lead to cancer. This article gives an overview of the common structures of cell adhesion and summarizes the impact of their loss on cancer development and progression with articles highlighted from the present issue. | [
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Incomplete antitrust laws and private actions for damages. Our purpose in this paper is to identify some of the implications that derive from the incompleteness of antitrust laws. Since with regard to certain anticompetitive conduct, the law remains substantially incomplete up to the first relevant court judgment, in terms of policy it is worth concentrating on stand-alone claimants who, not relying on earlier judgments, face very high evidentiary requirements, while generating large positive (information) externalities for potential follow-on claimants. The paper is structured as follows. In Sect. 2, we introduce the notion of incompleteness of the laws and address the process of production of evidence in antitrust lawsuits. Sect. 3 provides a survey of EU national case law and our summary of the results puts emphasis on incomplete laws, evidentiary requirements and stand-alone lawsuits. Sect. 4 presents a framework model to distinguish the decision-making processes for stand-alone and follow-on claimants in the presence of incomplete antitrust laws. In Sect. 5 we introduce a vector autoregressive model that we test with reference to the US antitrust law enforcement regime. Sect. 6 discusses some policy options and concludes the paper. | [
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Rural-Urban Disparities in Otolaryngology: The State of Illinois. Objectives/Hypothesis To highlight rural-urban disparities in otolaryngology, and to quantify the disparities in access to otolaryngology specialist care across Illinois. Several studies across disciplines have shown increased prevalence and severity of disease in rural communities, relative to their urban counterparts. There is very little published quantifying a disparity in rural access to otolaryngologists. Study Design Population study. Methods Counties in Illinois were classified based on urbanization level on a scale from I (most urban) to VI (least urban) using the 2013 National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) Urban-Rural Classification scheme. The six urbanization levels include four metropolitan (I-IV) and two nonmetropolitan levels (V and VI). The name and practice location of all registered otolaryngologists in Illinois were collected using the American Academy of Otolaryngology website (). Population data were recorded from the most recent US Census (2010). Results Two hundred seventy-eight academy-registered otolaryngologists were identified in Illinois. One hundred fifty-one of these providers were located in a single county categorized as a level I by the NCHS scheme. There are over 18,000 square miles and 600,000 persons living in NCHS level VI counties in Illinois with zero registered otolaryngologists. Overall, metropolitan counties (I-IV) averaged 1.32 otolaryngologists per 100,000 population, whereas nonmetropolitan counties (V and VI) averaged 0.46 otolaryngologists per 100,000 (P < .01). Conclusions There is a paucity of academy-certified otolaryngologists with primary practice locations in rural counties of Illinois. There is a significant rural population and massive land area with limited spatial access to otolaryngologic specialist care. Level of Evidence NALaryngoscope, 2020 | [
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Microcin C and Albomycin Analogues with Aryl-tetrazole Substituents as Nucleobase Isosters Are Selective Inhibitors of Bacterial Aminoacyl tRNA Synthetases but Lack Efficient Uptake. In 1998, Cubist Pharmaceuticals patented a series of aminoacyl tRNA synthetase (aaRS) inhibitors based on aminoacyl sulfamoyladenosines (aaSAs), in which the adenine was substituted by aryl-tetrazole moieties linked to the ribose fragment by a two-carbon spacer. Although potent and specific inhibitors of bacterial IleRS, these compounds did not prove successful in vivo due to low cell permeability and strong binding to serum albumin. In this work, we attempted to improve these compounds by combining them with microcin C (McC) or albomycin (i.e., siderophoredrug conjugate (SDC)) transport modules. We found that aryl-tetrazole variants of McC and albomycin still lacked antibacterial activity. However, these compounds were readily processed by E. coli aminopeptidases with the release of toxic aaRS inhibitors. Hence, the lack of activity in whole-cell assays was due to an inability of the new compounds to be taken up by the cells, thus indicating that the nucleotide moieties of McC and albomycin strongly contribute to facilitated transport of these compounds inside the cell. | [
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Rural tourism and the Sierra de Aracena y Picos de Aroche Natural Park in the province of Huelva (Spain): a vision for the future. The rural sector, in recognized declivity from second half of century XX, has experienced lately and in certain zones a transformation of the traditional monofunctional tendency, welcoming diverse economic activities as much of transformation as of benefit of services very closely bound to such factors that marginalized it, thanks to the conservation of its natural surroundings and its patrimony. This fact has given to capacity to the birth of a new modality of tourism, born under protection of a new demand where the recreation in conserved natural surroundings is considered like a true privilege within reach of all. | [
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Alumina-platinum catalyst in the reductive dehydration of ethanol and diethyl ether to alkanes. The reductive dehydration of ethanol and diethyl ether selectively occurs with the formation of alkanes to C10+ on an AP-64 alumina-platinum catalyst (0.6 wt % Pt/gamma-Al2O3) after its reduction with hydrogen at 450A degrees C for 12 h in Ar. It was found that one of the main reaction paths is the insertion of ethylene into substrate intermediates with the predominant formation of normal alkanes. It was found by XAFS spectroscopy that Pt2Al intermetallide particles were formed along with platinum metal clusters after long reduction. The ammonia TPD data indicated a change in the acid properties of the surface after the long reduction of the catalyst: the concentration of medium-strength surface aprotic acid sites increased by a factor of 2. It was found that the interaction of aprotic sites with water vapor resulted in the formation of strong proton acid sites. It is likely that these latter are responsible for the growth of a carbon skeleton in the course of alkane formation from ethanol. | [
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THE FEATURES OF PERCEPTUAL PROCESSES DURING QUALITATIVE BIOMECHANICAL ANALYSIS. Aim. The paper aims to identify the features of perceptual processes during qualitative biomechanical analysis. Materials and methods. The following methods were used: the study of literature on the psychology of perception and sports biomechanics; methods of experimental psychology; high-speed video recording; authors' methods for assessing the perception of sports technique and eidos; mathematical and statistical analysis. Results. The study consisted of 3 sequential stages. The first stage of the study showed that experts' assessments did not correlate well; each expert had his individual opinion. The second stage made it possible to identify two main types of movement perception: 1) the first type is based on an analytical approach, when experts sought to decompose the movement into a set of angles to obtain as much numerical information as possible; 2) the second type is based on gestalt-perception, when experts concentrated on a holistic movement image, i. e. without dividing the movement into details. The gestalt type was more effective, accurate and quick. The third stage revealed a different level of movement perception and its correlation with special memory. The clearer and more accurate the movement was, the longer it stored in the memory of experts. Conclusion. Gestalt-perception, eidolon technique and special memory form a triad of perceptual processes during evaluation of sports movements. The effectiveness of qualitative biomechanical analysis depends on maturity of each triad component. | [
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Basics of Thermal Design for LEDs. This chapter addresses the key thermal mechanisms active in light-emitting diode (LED) packaging and describes a big-picture approach to thermal design of the LED package. It also highlights differences in thermal phenomena between LED chips and integrated circuit (IC) semiconductor chips. Best-practice thermal design activities are identified. | [
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Direct Determination of Copper, Lead and Cadmium in The Whole Bovine Blood Using Thick Film Modified Graphite Electrodes.. The thick film modified graphite electrodes (TMGE) as working sensors re used for determination of heavy metals such as copper, lead and cadmium in the whole bovine blood. Due to the use of TMGE, a quick scan rate and registration of the voltammograms in the first derivative mode it is possible to analyze whole blood very quick and easily without deaeration of the solution, without the use of toxic mercury and its salts and without prior mineralization of the biological samples that contain the organic components. The accuracy of the developed technique is proved by recovery tests and by comparison with the results of analysis obtained by the independent method of ICP-AES (atomic emission spectrometry with excitation in inductively coupled plasma) and by comparison with the results of the anodic stripping voltammetric analysis of mineralized samples. The relative standard deviation (RSD) values obtained by the proposed technique of direct determination of heavy metals in whole bovine blood do not exceed 12 %. | [
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Multiple micronutrient deficiencies in a child fed an elemental formula. Children with developmental disabilities are at risk for malnutrition as a result of oropharyngeal dysphagia, interactions between nutrients and medications, altered energy and nutrient requirements, and their reliance on others to feed them. Several studies have documented alterations in weight and height parameters in these children (1). Recently, technologic advances such as percutaneous gastrostomy tube placement have significantly improved the nutritional status of many of these patients. In addition, a variety of proprietary formulas are being increasingly used to provide these patients with nutritional support. We describe a patient with developmental delay who received an elemental formula through a gastrostomy tube and who, despite normal energy balance and macronutrient status, developed signs and symptoms consistent with scurvy. He had severe vitamin C deficiency and deficiencies of vitamin A and zinc. | [
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Thermodynamic properties of 1-ethyl-4-nitro-1,2,3-triazole. Temperature dependence of the heat capacity and the parameters of phase transitions of 1-ethyl-4-nitro-1,2,3-triazole (1ET) were studied between 5 and 370 K in a vacuum adiabatic calorimeter. Thermodynamic properties of the 1ET in the condensed state were obtained over the range of 0-370 K. Saturated vapor pressure for crystalline 1ET in the temperature ranges from 313 to 344 K and its enthalpy of sublimation were measured by the Knudsen effusion method. The standard enthalpy of formation for crystalline 1ET at 298.15 K was determined in a static bomb combustion calorimeter. From these data, the standard enthalpy of formation for gaseous 1ET was evaluated. The enthalpy of formation calculated using quantum chemical methods is in excellent agreement with the experimental value. (c) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. | [
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The Political Economy of China's Dramatically Improved Coal Safety Record. China's coal safety has improved dramatically since 2003. This article will present the official data and conclude that it is almost impossible that the figures conceal a situation where there has not been remarkable improvement. Structural factors including China's level of economic development, changes in the labour market and the economic health of the industry have played an important role, but state commitment and policies have been central at least to the speed and magnitude of the improvement. | [
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Boosting low-temperature de/re-hydrogenation performances of MgH2 with Pd-Ni bimetallic nanoparticles supported by mesoporous carbon. Bimetallic Pd-Ni nano-particles supported by a mesoporous carbon material CMK-3 (denoted as Pd30Ni70/CMK-3) were synthesized through solution impregnation and hydrogen reduction methods. Among those hierarchical Ni-Pd nano-particles, majorly large ones (>10 nm) are dispersed over the surface of CMK-3, while a litter small ones (<10 nm) are embedded into the pores. It significantly improves the de/re-hydrogenation performances of MgH2 at low temperature. The onset desorption temperature of MgH2-Pd30Ni70/CMK-3 is lowered by 150 K from that of pristine MgH2 (above 593 K). About 6 wt% hydrogen could be released during its decomposition below 561 K. Noticeably, MgH2-Pd30Ni70/CMK-3 is capable of releasing 1.3 wt% H-2 even at 373 K. 4 wt% hydrogen can be absorbed at 343 K under a hydrogen pressure of 3 MPa within 18000 s. Activation energy values of both hydrogen decomposition (65.9 kJ mol(-1)) and absorption (78.9 kJ mol(-1)) for MgH2-Pd30Ni70/CMK-3 are greatly improved from those of as-milled MgH2. Thermal stability of the composite system is remarkably destabilized by 4.3 kJ mol H-2(-1) from pristine MgH2 according to pressure-composition isotherm curves and van't Hoff plots. The enhanced performances can be ascribed to the synergistic effects of both destabilization and catalysis from nano-dispersed Pd and Ni particles, respectively. (C) 2019 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. | [
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Comparing the estimation properties of different statistics for measuring sexual isolation from mating frequencies. Sexual isolation is a key component of reproductive isolation, involving mate choice among mature adults. While there are various statistics for estimating sexual isolation from mating frequencies, their ability to produce unbiased estimates varies considerably, depending on the particular situation. We investigated, under different biological scenarios, the estimation properties (statistical bias, efficiency, root mean square, statistical test) of 12 statistics commonly used in the literature for measuring sexual isolation. Yule's Q, V, YA (and related indices) and I-PSI are revealed to be the most efficient, with the smallest biases and root mean square deviations. Yule's Q, YA and I-PSI show better estimation properties when using infinite sample sizes, while I-PSI is preferable using smaller sample sizes. Other statistics investigated should be avoided, at least within the range of conditions considered. Regarding the parametric test of hypothesis, the best alternative is YA. We discuss the advantages and drawbacks of the various estimators, and propose I-PSI as the safest for biological sample sizes. (c) 2005 The Linnean Society of London. | [
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Impact of a highly detailed emission inventory on modeling accuracy. During Experience sur Site pour COntraindre les Modeles de Pollution atmospherique et de Transport d'Emissions (ESCOMPTE) campaign (June 10 to July 14, 2001), two pollution events observed during an intensive measurement period (IOP2a and IOP2b) have been simulated. The comprehensive Regional Atmospheric Modeling Systems (RAMS) model, version 4.3, coupled online with a chemical module including 29 species is used to follow the chemistry of a polluted zone over Southern France. This online method takes advantage of a parallel code and use of the powerful computer SGI 3800. Runs are performed with two emission inventories: the Emission Pre Inventory (EPI) and the Main Emission Inventory (MET). The latter is more recent and has a high resolution. The redistribution of simulated chemical species (ozone and nitrogen oxides) is compared with aircraft and surface station measurements for both runs at regional scale. We show that the MEI inventory is more efficient than the EPI in retrieving the redistribution of chemical species in space (three-dimensional) and time. In surface stations, MET is superior especially for primary species, like nitrogen oxides. The ozone pollution peaks obtained from an inventory, such as EPI, have a large uncertainty. To understand the realistic geographical distribution of pollutants and to obtain a good order of magnitude in ozone concentration (in space and time), a high-resolution inventory like MET is necessary. Coupling RAMS-Chemistry with MET provides a very efficient tool able to simulate pollution plumes even in a region with complex circulations, such as the ESCOMPTE zone. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. | [
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MEASUREMENT OF VASCULAR VOLUME FRACTION AND BLOOD-TISSUE PERMEABILITY CONSTANTS WITH A PHARMACOKINETIC MODEL - STUDIES IN RAT MUSCLE TUMORS WITH DYNAMIC GD-DTPA ENHANCED MRI. We propose a compartmental model to explain the signal enhancement curves following the bolus injection of GdDTPA. The model incorporates vascular volume fraction contribution, and the possibility of having different transport constants between the plasma and extravascular components. A Walker 256 carcinoma grown in rat muscle was used to demonstrate the capability of this model. Several different types of tissues were included in the measurements: normal, quickly enhanced, slowly enhanced, and necrotic tissues. Blood volume and blood-tissue permeability information can be derived from the dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI study employing the proposed model. In the tissue contrast enhancement curve, the initial rising slope after injection is related to the blood volume (or, vascular volume fraction), the maximum enhancement ratio is related to the uptake of tissue, and the decay rate is related to the clearance of tracer from tissue. The measured permeability constant is not the conventional permeability; instead they are contrast agents uptake and clearance rates, which are limited by the blood perfusion. These parameters can be used to characterize different enhancement patterns. | [
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Enzymatic Thiol-Ene Click Reaction: An Eco-Friendly Approach for MPEGMA-Grafted Modification of Wool Fibers. The thiol-ene click reaction has been commonly used for the modification of many materials due to its high efficiency, high selectivity, and reliability. To further promote the sustainable technology for the modification of keratin-based materials, enzymatic biotechnology and thiol-ene click chemistry was integrated for the first time for grafting modification of wool fibers with methoxy polyethylene glycol methacrylate (MPEGMA). Wool fibers were reduced to create thiol groups and then grafted with MPEGMA through a horseradish peroxidase (HRP)-mediated thiol-ene click reaction. In order to understand the grafting mechanism of MPEGMA on wool, L-cysteine was used as a model compound for the thiol group of the reduced wool in the current research. The structures of MPEGMA reacted with L-cysteine and grafted on wool fabrics were investigated by FTIR, MALDI-TOF, Raman spectra, and XPS. The surface morphology, wettability, moisture penetrability, and regain of modified wool fibers were also assessed. The results showed that L-cysteine reacted with MPEGMA through the thiol-ene click reaction. The MPEGMA-grafted wool fabric had good surface wettability, and its moisture penetrability and regain were also improved when compared with untreated wool fabric. The HRP-initiated thiol-ene grafting reaction not only encouraged green and sustainable click chemistry but also provide an alternative eco-friendly approach for modification and functionalization of keratin and keratin-containing materials. | [
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Transcriptomic changes in pancreatic islets, adipose and liver after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass in a diet-induced obese rat model. Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) is the most efficient intervention in morbid obesity and promotes metabolic improvements in several peripheral tissues. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms are still poorly understood. To further understand the effects of RYGB on peripheral tissues transcriptomes, we determined transcriptome signatures in pancreatic islets, adipose and liver tissue from diet-induced obese (DIO) rats model following RYGB. Whereas RYGB led to discrete gene expression changes in pancreatic islets, substantial transcriptome changes were observed in metabolic and immune signaling pathways in adipose tissue and the liver, indicating major gene adaptive responses in fat-storing tissues. Compared to RYGB DIO rats, peripheral tissue transcriptome signatures were markedly different in caloric restricted weight matching DIO rats, implying that caloric restriction paradigms do not reflect transcriptomic regulations of RYGB induced weight loss. The present gene expression study may serve as a basis for further investigations into molecular regulatory effects in peripheral tissues following RYGB-induced weight loss. | [
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The family Rhabdoviridae: mono- and bipartite negative-sense RNA viruses with diverse genome organization and common evolutionary origins. The family Rhabdoviridae consists of mostly enveloped, bullet-shaped or bacilliform viruses with a negative-sense, single-stranded RNA genome that infect vertebrates, invertebrates or plants. This ecological diversity is reflected by the diversity and complexity of their genomes. Five canonical structural protein genes are conserved in all rhabdoviruses, but may be overprinted, overlapped or interspersed with several novel and diverse accessory genes. This review gives an overview of the characteristics and diversity of rhabdoviruses, their taxonomic classification, replication mechanism, properties of classical rhabdoviruses such as rabies virus and rhabdoviruses with complex genomes, rhabdoviruses infecting aquatic species, and plant rhabdoviruses with both mono- and bipartite genomes. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. | [
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Enacting futures in postnormal times. This article describes FoAM's transdisciplinary, participatory approach to experiential futures. We introduce several practices with a primary focus on \\'prehearsals\\' and \\'pre-enactments\\', interactive, immersive situations where participants can experience futures in the present at human scale. We explore aptitudes and techniques that are inclusive of multiple ways of knowing and learning, in order to probe futures from different perspectives, as well as foster engagement and commitment amongst diverse groups of people. We discuss why working with futures is particularly relevant in times of social and environmental turbulence and suggest that a more widespread futures literacy can increase agency in uncertain conditions. We focus on \\'future preparedness\\' and \\'inhabiting uncertainty\\' as mindsets to be developed alongside a futures practice through experiential learning, using techniques from improvisation, play and meditation. We investigate how experiential futures can extend the field by looking at embodied, multi-modal, holistic explorations of futures. We provide examples of FoAM's recent works to illustrate our experimental approach to futures, aiming to bridge the gap between future visions and the uncertainty of everyday life. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. | [
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Electrodeposited Polyaniline in a Nanoporous WO3 Matrix: An Organic/Inorganic Hybrid Exhibiting Both p- and n-Type Photoelectrochemical Activity. This study focuses on the electrodeposition of a conducting polymer such as polyaniline (PANT) into a tungsten trioxide nanoporous host framework. Nanoporous WO3 films were initially electrosynthesized on tungsten foil by anodization at different voltages in a fluoride-containing medium. The PANI layer was electrografted onto the entire surface of the WO3 using potentiodynamic electrodeposition in sulfuric acid electrolyte. The morphological features of oligomer/polymer formed in the nanoporous oxide template were monitored by field-emission scanning electron microscopy. Systematic changes in the morphology afforded insights into the evolution of the WO3/PANI hybrid assembly. This assembly was subsequently characterized by Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, and photoelectrochemical measurements. Photovoltammetric data indicated the complex behavior of the hybrid, featuring the properties of both of its components: namely, p-type behavior in the cathodic polarization regime and n-type behavior at the anodic end. Moreover, much higher cathodic photocurrents were observed for PANT in the hybrid configuration (compared to neat PANT itself), in which effective charge separation manifested in the shape of the photocurrent transients. | [
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Resonant terahertz detection using graphene plasmons. Plasmons, collective oscillations of electron systems, can efficiently couple light and electric current, and thus can be used to create sub-wavelength photodetectors, radiation mixers, and on-chip spectrometers. Despite considerable effort, it has proven challenging to implement plasmonic devices operating at terahertz frequencies. The material capable to meet this challenge is graphene as it supports long-lived electrically tunable plasmons. Here we demonstrate plasmon-assisted resonant detection of terahertz radiation by antenna-coupled graphene transistors that act as both plasmonic Fabry-Perot cavities and rectifying elements. By varying the plasmon velocity using gate voltage, we tune our detectors between multiple resonant modes and exploit this functionality to measure plasmon wavelength and lifetime in bilayer graphene as well as to probe collective modes in its moire minibands. Our devices offer a convenient tool for further plasmonic research that is often exceedingly difficult under non-ambient conditions (e.g. cryogenic temperatures) and promise a viable route for various photonic applications. | [
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11
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Effect of solid-earth-tide on GPS time series. The solid-earth-tide models IERS1992 and IERS2003 are used to analyze some CPS-baseline, vertical-component and zenith-tropospheric-delay data from the Crustal Movement GPS Continuous Observation Network of Shandong and IGS stations. The results show that the differences between the baselines computed with the different models are at sub-millimeter level, and the differences in vertical component is direct proportional to station latitude. Also the amplitude of ZTD differences is about 0.6-1.0 mm, which is 6%. S% of the amplitude of solid-earth-tide differences. Although these effects are quite small, to analyze non-tidal deformation correctly, we should still use a single standard for processing GPS data. | [
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Estimating present day extreme water level exceedance probabilities around the coastline of Australia: tropical cyclone-induced storm surges. The incidence of major storm surges in the last decade have dramatically emphasized the immense destructive capabilities of extreme water level events, particularly when driven by severe tropical cyclones. Given this risk, it is vitally important that the exceedance probabilities of extreme water levels are accurately evaluated to inform risk-based flood and erosion management, engineering and for future land-use planning and to ensure the risk of catastrophic structural failures due to under-design or expensive wastes due to over-design are minimised. Australia has a long history of coastal flooding from tropical cyclones. Using a novel integration of two modeling techniques, this paper provides the first estimates of present day extreme water level exceedance probabilities around the whole coastline of Australia, and the first estimates that combine the influence of astronomical tides, storm surges generated by both extra-tropical and tropical cyclones, and seasonal and inter-annual variations in mean sea level. Initially, an analysis of tide gauge records has been used to assess the characteristics of tropical cyclone-induced surges around Australia. However, given the dearth (temporal and spatial) of information around much of the coastline, and therefore the inability of these gauge records to adequately describe the regional climatology, an observationally based stochastic tropical cyclone model has been developed to synthetically extend the tropical cyclone record to 10,000 years. Wind and pressure fields derived for these synthetically generated events have then been used to drive a hydrodynamic model of the Australian continental shelf region with annual maximum water levels extracted to estimate exceedance probabilities around the coastline. To validate this methodology, selected historic storm surge events have been simulated and resultant storm surges compared with gauge records. Tropical cyclone induced exceedance probabilities have been combined with estimates derived from a 61-year water level hindcast described in a companion paper to give a single estimate of present day extreme water level probabilities around the whole coastline of Australia. Results of this work are freely available to coastal engineers, managers and researchers via a web-based tool (www.sealevelrise.info). The described methodology could be applied to other regions of the world, like the US east coast, that are subject to both extra-tropical and tropical cyclones. | [
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PSMA-PET based radiotherapy: a review of initial experiences, survey on current practice and future perspectives. (68)Gallium prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA) ligand positron emission tomography (PET) is an increasingly used imaging modality in prostate cancer, especially in cases of tumor recurrence after curative intended therapy. Owed to the novelty of the PSMA-targeting tracers, clinical evidence on the value of PSMA-PET is moderate but rapidly increasing. State of the art imaging is pivotal for radiotherapy treatment planning as it may affect dose prescription, target delineation and use of concomitant therapy.This review summarizes the evidence on PSMA-PET imaging from a radiation oncologist's point of view. Additionally a short survey containing twelve examples of patients and 6 additional questions was performed in seven mayor academic centers with experience in PSMA ligand imaging and the findings are reported here. | [
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Activation of bovine somatic cell nuclear transfer embryos by PLCZ cRNA injection. The production of cloned animals by the transfer of a differentiated somatic cell into an enucleated oocyte circumvents fertilization. During fertilization, the sperm delivers a sperm-specific phospholipase C (PLCZ) that is responsible for triggering Ca2+ oscillations and oocyte activation. During bovine somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT), oocyte activation is artificially achieved by combined chemical treatments that induce a monotonic rise in intracellular Ca2+ and inhibit either phosphorylation or protein synthesis. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that activation of bovine nuclear transfer embryos by PLCZ improves nuclear reprogramming. Injection of PLCZ cRNA into bovine SCNT units induced Ca2+ oscillations similar to those observed after fertilization and supported high rates of blastocyst development similar to that seen in embryos produced by IVF. Furthermore, gene expression analysis at the eight-cell and blastocyst stages revealed a similar expression pattern for a number of genes in both groups of embryos. Lastly, levels of trimethylated lysine 27 at histone H3 in blastocysts were higher in bovine nuclear transfer embryos activated using cycloheximide and 6-dimethylaminopurine (DMAP) than in those activated using PLCZ or derived from IVF. These results demonstrate that exogenous PLCZ can be used to activate bovine SCNT-derived embryos and support the hypothesis that a fertilization-like activation response can enhance some aspects of nuclear reprogramming. | [
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Giant Magnetoresistance and Magnetic Properties of CoFe/Cu Multilayer Films: Dependence of Electrolyte pH. The effect of NaOH with different concentrations on CoFe/Cu multilayer films was studied between pH=3.70 and pH=2.70. The effect of different electrolyte pH from 3.7 to 2.7, which was obtained at various NaOH concentrations, on CoFe/Cu multilayer films was studied. The structural studies by x-ray diffraction (XRD) revealed that the multilayers have face-centered cubic structure. The preferential orientation of the multilayer is in the (220), (111), (111), and (222) direction at pH=3.7,3.3,3.0 and 2.7, respectively. It was observed that at pH=3.0, the film composition, by energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDX), contains 3.22 at. Co % and 96.78 at. Cu %, and at low pH (2.7), 10.58 at. Co %, 4.18 at. Fe % and 85.24 at. Cu %. Magnetoresistance measurements made at room temperature showed that all films exhibited giant magnetoresistance (GMR), which was affected by the electrolyte pH. The observed GMR values are 4.0 %, 4.6 %, 4.2 %, and 12 % at the pH values of 3.7, 3.3, 3.0 and 2.7, respectively. Magnetic measurements of the films were made at +/- 20 kOe by using ADE EV 9 model a vibrating sample magnetometer. The magnetic measurements revealed that the coercivity of the films increased from 70 Oe to 93 Oe and stayed there, and the saturation magnetization monotonically increased form 7.40 emu/g to 17.05 emu/g with decreasing electrolyte pH from 3.7 to 2.7. | [
1,
70
] |
Mode of action of acetylesterases associated with endoglucanases towards water-soluble and -insoluble cellulose acetates. A screening of commercial enzyme preparations for the capability of cellulose acetate (CA) deacetylation revealed that such enzyme activity is more common than could be anticipated. Enzyme-aided deacetylation of cellulose acetate was clearly a function of the degree of substitution (DS). Cellulose acetates up to a DS of 1.4 were deacetylated by a large number of enzyme mixes. Interestingly, none of the investigated enzyme preparations had the capability for complete cellulose acetate deacetylation. Definitely most hydrolase preparations investigated in our study deacetylated cellulose acetate with no preference for a certain position, as could be confirmed by NMR spectroscopy. However, one acetyl esterase had a clear preference for the C2- and C3-positions, leaving the acetyl substituents at the C6-position intact. | [
5,
230
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Periconceptional folic acid supplementation and vitamin B-12 status in a cohort of Chinese early pregnancy women with the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes. Maternal folate and vitamin B-12 deficiency predict poor pregnancy outcome. To improve pregnancy outcomes in rural area of China, we investigate rural women's folic acid supplementation (FAS) status and the associations between maternal vitamin B status during the first trimester and subsequent adverse pregnancy outcomes. We collected the questionnaire information and drew 5 ml of blood from 309 early pregnant rural women. The birth outcomes were retrieved from medical records after delivery. Out of the total, 257 had taken FAS, including 50 before conception (group A) and 207 during the first trimester (group B). The concentration of plasma folate and the RBC folate supplementation groups were obviously higher than that of no-supplementation group (group N, p<0.01). The mean vitamin B-12 levels in FAS group were significantly higher than those in groups N and B (p<0.05). Women who delivered SGA or premature infants had reduced plasma folate levels (p<0.05) compared with controls. The multiple linear regression models revealed that RBC folate levels affected the infant birth weight (p<0.01) and birth length (p<0.05). In conclusion, FAS can significantly improve plasma folate and RBC folate levels in childbearing-age women and reduce the risk of subsequent adverse pregnancy outcomes. | [
2,
329
] |
Textual meaning: Media messages of Bangladesh-China relation and its Themes. This study, within the framework of Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA), aims to explore how Bangladesh's news agency BSS (1975-2016) represents Bangladesh-China relations. Following this framework, three methods are employed to collect data: (1) the 41-year media coverage, (2) questionnaires and (3) observations at the newsrooms. By examining 140 news reports and investigating linguistic features, this article shows how the BSS under government control represents China and Bangladesh-China relations. Utilizing Systemic Functional Grammar as a tool for CDA, this study focuses only on the analysis of the news headline, which is considered a 'micro stag. The findings will show how social subjects are historically constructed through the BSS media discourse on the topic. The Theme as a driving force is located at the clause as a message with its own configuration. CDA promoted values and hidden ideologies in the news headlines of the diplomatic ties between Bangladesh and China in 1975. This article clearly explains how the media message reflects social practice, ideology and power relations in social structures at the time of reporting. | [
3,
285
] |
Quantum-Dot-Based Iron Oxide Nanoparticles Activate the NLRP3 Inflammasome in Murine Bone Marrow-Derived Dendritic Cells. Inflammasomes are cytosolic complexes composed of a Nod-like receptor, NLR, the adaptor protein, ASC, and a proteolytic enzyme, caspase-1. Inflammasome activation leads to caspase-1 activation and promotes functional maturation of IL-1 beta and IL-18, two prototypical inflammatory cytokines. Besides, inflammasome activation leads to pyroptosis, an inflammatory type of cell death. Inflammasomes are vital for the host to cope with foreign pathogens or tissue damage. Herein, we show that quantum-dot-based iron oxide nanoparticles, MNP@QD, trigger NLRP3 inflammasome activation and subsequent release of proinflammatory interleukin IL-1 beta by murine bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs). This activation is more pronounced if these cells endocytose the nanoparticles before receiving inflammatory stimulation. MNP@QD was characterized by using imaging techniques like transmission electron microscopy, fluorescence microscopy, and atomic force microscopy, as well as physical and spectroscopical techniques such as fluorescence spectroscopy and powder diffraction. These findings may open the possibility of using the composite MNP@QD as both an imaging and a therapeutic tool. | [
2,
136
] |
Outcome domains reported by patients, caregivers, healthcare professionals and stakeholders for calcium pyrophosphate deposition (CPPD): A content analysis based on semi-structured qualitative interviews from the OMERACT CPPD working group. Results: Thirty-six interviews were conducted in total. Participants comprised of 28 patients (six of which included a caregiver), seven HCPs and one stakeholder. The commonly identified (sub-) domains (d) across the 1) abnormalities/manifestations core area were joint pain (d = 35), joint swelling (d = 27), joint stiffness (d = 25), CPPD flares (d = 25); 2) life-impact core area were overall function (d=35), and specifically the ability to complete daily tasks (d = 25); and 3) societal/resource use core area were use of analgesic medicines (d = 26). Patients more commonly reported joint swelling, stiffness and range of movement, and use of analgesics while HCPs more commonly reported domains relating to presence of CPP crystals, radiologic calcification, joint damage, time to diagnosis and suitability of treatment.Methods: Patients with CPPD and their caregivers, HCPs and stakeholders took part in semi-structured qualitative interviews to explore potential outcome domains for CPPD clinical research relevant to their lived experience and knowledge of CPPD. Interviews were conducted in six countries across three continents. Data was analysed using manifest content analysis to identify outcome domains, which were tabulated and mapped to the core areas as defined by the OMERACT Filter 2.1.Introduction: Although calcium pyrophosphate deposition (CPPD) disease is common, there are no validated outcome measures for clinical research in this condition. The aim of this study was to generate a list of outcome domains as reported by patients, their caregivers, healthcare professionals (HCPs) and stakeholders to inform the development of an Outcome Measures in Rheumatology (OMERACT) Core Domain Set for CPPD.Conclusion: Among a number of potential outcome domains identified, articular manifestations, function and analgesic use were most frequently mentioned by participants. These findings will be used to develop an OMERACT Core Domain Set for CPPD. (C) 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. | [
2,
34
] |
Nocturnal enuresis and its impact on growth. Material & Methods: This is a cross-sectional study carried out on 350 first-grade children (6 to 6.5 yr old) elementary schools in Gonabad through random stratified sampling. All children had primary nocturnal enuresis. A questionnaire containing demographic criteria and various factors that may play a role in bed-wetting was filled out; a digital scale and a non-expanding measuring tape were used to collect data. Diagnosis of enuresis considered nocturnal voiding twice a week for at least three consecutive months.Findings: The prevalence of primary nocturnal enuresis was 21% for boys and 14.9% for girls, and the overall prevalence was 17.5%. The average weight of enuretic children was lower than that of the non-affected ones. In addition, these children were in average shorter compared to those without enuresis.Objective: Nocturnal enuresis is a common developmental-behavioral problem in children. The present study was conducted to estimate the prevalence of primary nocturnal enuresis and to determine its impact on physical growth of the first grade elementary school children.Conclusion. This study demonstrates that growth failure is a coexisting problem in children with primary nocturnal enuresis. Since enuresis and other stressful conditions in family can cause growth failure in children, the treatment of enuresis eliminating a stressful condition could be an effective measure in improving children's physical growth. | [
2,
320
] |
The effects of progesterone on matrix metalloproteinases in cultured human gingival fibroblasts. Methods: Cultured human gingival fibroblasts (GF) were tested in phenol red-free, serum-free medium with or without the progestogen, medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA; 10(-6) M), using interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) to initiate immune responses and MMP production. These MMP responses were examined by macroarrays, reverse transcription - polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), zymograms, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).Background: Although pregnancy gingivitis is widely believed to result from elevated hormone concentrations, the mechanism(s) involved in the etiology of this condition remain unknown. Paradoxically, despite the apparent inflammation for a prolonged period, pregnancy gingivitis rarely progresses to periodontitis and usually resolves postpartum. We used several methods to test in vitro the hypothesis that the elevated progesterone levels of pregnancy might inhibit the production of some of the matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) that are responsible for periodontal destruction.Results: Array analysis showed that pretreatment of GF with MPA reduced mRNA induction for MMPs-1, -3, and -10 in response to 6 to 8 hours incubation with IL-1beta. RT-PCR confirmed, that after 24 hours with IL-1beta, GF pretreated with MPA had undetectable levels of mRNA for MMPs-1, -2, -3, -7, -10, and -13. Zymograms of culture media from this 24-hour period showed reduction in several proteolytic activities. Examination of such 24-hour media using ELISA for MMP-3 and pro-MMP-13 confirmed that secretion of these enzymes was upregulated by IL-1beta and modulated downward by pretreatment with MPA.Conclusions: Production by GF of numerous MMPs in response to IL-1beta was significantly reduced by progesterone. This steroidal modulation of proteolytic enzymes could help to explain why pregnancy gingivitis typically is not characterized by progression to periodontitis. | [
2,
105
] |
Evaluation of the clinical chemistry tests analytical performance by using different models and specifications. Materials and methods: This study was performed by the data obtained from the internal and external quality control of clinical chemistry tests which were measured by Roche Cobas c501 biochemistry analyzer. TAE calculated with TAE%=1.65 x(CV%) + Bias% formula. Nordtest uncertainty model was used in the calculation of measurement uncertainty (MU). In this context, total analytical error was evaluated with biological variation (By), RCPA, CLIA and Turkish allowable total error (ATE) goals. Measurement uncertainty was evaluated with only permissible measurement uncertainty (pU%) goal.Conclusion: The balance between applicability and analytical assurance of goals should be well ensured when determining goal-setting models. Circular letter (2016/18) creates awareness to the analytical quality management but still open to development. Biological variation dependent total allowable error model never designed to be used as benchmarks for measurement uncertainty and it is not methodologically appropriate for assessing measurement uncertainty which was estimated by the Nordtest method. Also considered that, the use of \\'permissible MU\\' is more methodologically appropriate in the evaluation of measurement uncertainty.Results: In our study, RCPA goals are the most stringent, followed by the BVEuBIVAS, BVRicos, pU%, CLIA and finally the ATE(Turkey) goals coming in last. In cumulatively, BVEuBIVAS goals were 183% lower than BVRicos for evaluated parameters.Background: The importance of managing analytical quality in clinical laboratories is known. Goal-setting models are critical for analytical quality management, along with correctly implemented error models. However, the methods used to determine analytical performance and more importantly, the relevant analytical quality goals are open to discussion. Our aim was to compare the analytical performance characteristics of routine clinical chemistry tests with different goal-setting models which was proposed by various establishments. In addition, to provide a perspective to Turkish total analytical error (TAE) circular letter that compulsory to calculate from 2016. | [
2,
145
] |
Estimating Industry 4.0 impact on job profiles and skills using text mining. Industry 4.0 is introducing rapid and epochal changes and challenges. Among these, the issue of skills and job profiles is assuming a critical role. In fact, the literature highlights not only the necessary integration of existing skills in professional profiles, but also the inevitable creation of new ones to properly manage the digitalisation trends. Although, the state of the art mostly focuses on building models to assess the digital maturity of companies, considering instead the impact on the labor market as a hazy issue. Moreover, the literature tends to offer qualitative approaches to the topic, making the results uncertain; on the other side, quantitative ones tend to be mainly applied on structured databases, while the supply and demand of competences (findable in CVs, vacancies or firm's job profiles) are less treated. The goal of the present research is developing a measure for quantifying the readiness of employees belonging to a big firm with respect to the Industry 4.0 paradigm. To reach the goal, a data-driven approach based on text mining techniques is applied to a case study. In particular the present methodology makes use of a previously developed enriched dictionary of technologies and methods 4.0 (Chiarello et al., 2018). The source is used to analyze job profiles' descriptions belonging to Whirlpool, a multinational company with a structured database of jobs and skills. The process allows the identification of technologies, techniques and related skills contained in job descriptions. Starting from these, the Industry 4.0 impact on each job profile is measured. Finally, the metadata of the job profiles are analyzed to evaluate to which extent the skills of profiles 4.0-ready and non-4.0-ready differ. In the end, the work provides a framework for estimating the Industry 4.0 readiness of enterprises' human capital which demonstrates to be fast, adaptable and reusable. (C) 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. | [
8,
81
] |
Faulty share detection in Shamir's secret sharing. 1 x x(2) ... x(L)where T-l := Sigma(j=1)y(j) x(j)/W'(x(j)); W(x) := Pi(j=1)(x - x(j)).tau(L-1) tau(L) tau(L+1) ... tau(L-1)... ... ... ...H-L(x;{tau}) := vertical bar tau(0) tau(1) tau(2) ... tau(L) tau(1) tau(2) tau(3) ... tau(L+1)For Shamir's secret key sharing algorithm, we develop the procedure for detection of faulty shares. This procedure consists of the error locator polynomial construction for the data set {(x(j), y(j))}(j=1)(N) with y values generated from x ones by a polynomial interpolant of a degree n < N 1 with possible occurrence of some errors. The error locator polynomial is sought out in the form of an appropriate Hankel polynomial | [
4,
67
] |
Controlled synthesis of monodispersed AgGaS2 3D nanoflowers and the shape evolution from nanoflowers to colloids. Monodispersed AgGaS2 three-dimensional (3D) nanoflowers have been successfully synthesized in a \\'soft-chemical\\' system with the mixture of 1-octyl alcohol and cyclohexane as reaction medium and oleylamine as surfactant. The crystal phase, morphology and chemical composition of the as-prepared products were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and high-resolution TEM (HTEM), respectively. Results reveal that the as-synthesized AgGaS2 nanoflowers are in tetragonal structure with 3D flower-like shape. Controlled experiments demonstrated that the shape transformation of AgGaS2 nanocrystals from 3D nanoflowers (50 nm) to nanoparticles (10-20 nm) could be readily realized by tuning the reaction parameters, e.g., the ratio of octanol to cyclohexane, the length of carbon chain of fatty alcohol, the concentration of oleylamine, etc. The UV-vis and PL spectra of the obtained AgGaS2 nanoflowers and colloids were researched. In addition, the photoelectron energy conversion (SPV) of AgGaS2 nanoflowers was further researched by the surface photovoltage spectra. (C) 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. | [
6,
311
] |
Increased carotid plaque burden in men with the fibrillin-1 2/3 genotype. Fibrillin-1 (FBN1) is an important constituent of the vascular wall and earlier studies have indicated an effect of the FBN1 2/3 genotype on blood pressure as well as aortic stiffness in men. The aim of the present study was to determine whether the FBN1 2/3 genotype was associated with the presence of carotid plaque and incident cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in middle-aged subjects. The FBN1 genotype was characterized in 5765 subjects (2424 men, 3341 women; age 45-69years) recruited from the Malmo Diet and Cancer Study Cardiovascular Cohort, Sweden. Plaque occurrence and intima-media thickness (IMT) of the carotid artery were assessed by ultrasound. The incidence of first cardiovascular events (myocardial infarction and stroke) and cause-specific mortality were monitored over a mean follow-up period of 13.2years. The most common FBN1 genotypes were 2/2, 2/3 and 2/4, which accounted for 92.2% (n=5317) of subjects. There were no differences between the three genotypes regarding age, blood pressure, glucose, lipids, smoking habits, common carotid artery diameter and intima-media thickness in men and women. The presence of plaque in the carotid artery was higher in men with the 2/3 genotype compared with the 2/2 and 2/4 genotypes (55% vs 46% and 50%, respectively; P=0.007). No similar differences were observed in women. No significant relationship was observed between FBN1 genotypes and the incidence of cardiovascular disease or all-cause mortality. The increased prevalence of plaque in the carotid artery of middle-aged men with the FBN1 2/3 genotype indicates pathological arterial wall remodelling with a more pronounced atherosclerotic burden. | [
2,
322
] |
ANODIC-OXIDATION OF TITANIUM IN PHOSPHORIC BATHS - ANALYTICAL AND STRUCTURAL STUDY OF THE OXIDE. Titanium samples were anodically oxidized in H3PO4 baths, with several different concentrations. Then, the crystallographic structure of the oxide was studied versus the incorporation rate of phosphorus ions into the anodic films. Experimental measurements were performed by means of Raman spectroscopy, RHEED diffraction and ESCA/XPS spectroscopy. The TiO2 oxide, including rutile and anatase species, predominates for higher bath concentrations and voltage values, but there are also sub-oxides. The laser beam of the Raman probe induces crystallization processes. | [
1,
70
] |
Problems of Coordination in Field Administration in Bangladesh: Does Informal Communication Matter?. The main thrust of the article is to analyze the state of problems of inter-organizational coordination in the upazila (second tier of local government) in Bangladesh. It also explains to what extent informal communication matters for inter-organizational coordination. Based on empirical data collected in 2009, findings of the study suggest that a number of factors have facilitated non-existence of inter-organizational coordination at the upazila. These factors include lack of division of activities, dualism in control over officers, lack of proper functioning of the committees, and dual authority in disbursement of funds and its impact on timely disbursement. Findings also suggest that in the absence of coordination among different departments, informal communication has been observed to be one of the prominent mechanisms of ensuring coordination. However, existence of factors like lack of willingness to be engaged in informal communication and lack of cooperation has hindered the process of building informal communication among different departments. Despite having some problems this research has concluded that informal communication has helped the process of coordination among different departments while they are carrying out their responsibilities. | [
3,
252
] |
Clinical profile of Saudi children with bronchiectasis. Conclusion. Non- CF bronchiectasis is a common problem in Saudi Arabia. Early recognition and institution of treatment with proper vaccination of available anti- bacterial and anti- viral vaccines are encouraged to prevent progression of the disease.Results. A total of 151 cases were diagnosed as Non- CF bronchiectasis. Seventy- five ( 49.7%) were males, 76( 50.3%) were females. One hundred forty- eight ( 98%) are alive and 3( 2%) died. The southwestern regions constituted 72( 50%) of the cases. There is a period ( 5 +/- 3.2) years between the start of symptoms and the diagnosis of bronchiectasis. More than 2/ 3 of the patients had cough, tachypnea, wheezing, sputum production and failure to thrive. Ninety one ( 60%) had associated disease: Pulmonary diseases in 48( 32%), immunodefficiency in 27( 18%), CNS in 18( 12%), cardiac in 12( 8%), and asthma in 103( 68%) of the patients. Left lower lobes were commonly involved in 114( 76%) cases. Sixty- eight ( 67%) were found to have sinusitis. Forty- nine ( 32%) developed gastroesophgeal reflux ( GER). Hemophilus influenza was cultured in 56( 37%), Strept pneumoniae in 25( 17%), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in 24( 16%) of the patients. 80% of the patients who had pulmonary function test had abnormal changes. Disease progression was related to development of symptoms before 5 years of age, persistent atelectasis, and right lower lobe involvement ( p < 0.05).Methods. A retrospective review of all patients with confirmed Non- Cystic Fibrosis ( Non- CF) bronchiectasis by chest X- ray and or CT chest in a pulmonary clinic for the period 1993- 2005 at a tertiary care center in Riyadh.Objective. This study represents the experience of a tertiary care center in Saudi Arabia on non- cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis. | [
2,
74
] |
Corrosion behavior of HVOF sprayed WC-10Co4Cr coatings in the simulated seawater drilling fluid under the high pressure. Two kinds of WC-10Co4Cr composite coatings with conventional (micron-sized WC particles) and bimodal (a mixture of nano-sized and micron-sized WC particles) structures were successfully prepared on 35CrMo steel (ANSI/ASTM 4135) substrate by high velocity oxygen fuel (HVOF) technology. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) equipped with the energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), mechanical testing machine, microhardness tester were used to analyze the characteristics of the coatings. The coatings were immersed in the simulated seawater drilling fluid under the high pressure to simulate the deep-sea environment, and then electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), potentiodynamic polarization were carried out to investigate the electrochemical properties of the coatings and substrate. The results show the WC-10Co4Cr coating has excellent corrosion resistance and can effectively protect the substrate under the high pressure. Besides, compared with the conventional coating (CC), the bimodal coating (BC) has a denser microstructure, superior mechanical properties, lower porosity, and better corrosion resistance. The corrosion mechanism of the coatings in the simulated seawater drilling fluid under high the pressure is as follows: The micro-galvanic corrosion between the WC phase and the CoCr binder phase is the primary corrosion mechanism. Besides, the electrolyte under the high pressure is more penetrable, so the crevice corrosion also exists. | [
9,
57
] |
The cleavage site of C5 from man and animals as a common target for neutralizing human monoclonal antibodies: in vitro and in vivo studies. The isolation of an anti-C5 single-chain fragment variable (scFv) antibody, TS-A12/22, from a human phage display library, is described. This antibody inhibits the activation of C5 and the assembly of the terminal complement complex implicated in cell and tissue damage. Using antibody-sensitized sheep erythrocytes and rabbit red cells as target cells in hemolytic assays, we found that TS-A12/22 inhibited the activation of C5 by the convertases of both classical and alternative pathways. Western blot analysis and competition experiments with synthetic peptides showed that TS-A12/22 reacted with the a chain of C5 and recognized the cleavage site of this complement component by the C5 convertase. As a result, the antibody prevented splitting of C5 and inhibited the generation of C5a and of the terminal complement complex. The identification of the TS-A12/22 recognition site as a conserved sequence in man, mouse, rat and rabbit enabled the demonstration of in vitro inhibition of complement activity in these species. The scFv TS-A12/22 was tested in a rat model of antigen-induced arthritis and proved to be effective in preventing influx of polymorphonuclear cells into the knee joint and C9 deposition on synovial tissue. | [
2,
137
] |
Hardness evaluation from a bilayer coating system of Ni-P deposited on carbon steel plates by multicycle indentation tests. The assessment of mechanical properties of materials by instrumented indentation tests have been widely performed in last years. The objective of this work was to develop a methodology to analyze the mechanical behavior of materials from the data obtained by a continuous multicycle indentation test at the micioscale of loads to limit the problems associated with the heterogeneity of the materials and to increase the amount of data for the study of thick coatings that only nanoscale analysis does not provide in the case of heterogeneous coatings. To validate our approach, the hardness behavior of a two-layers coating material (Ni-P) is studied. To corroborate the values obtained by the proposed methodology, continuous stiffness measurement tests at the nanoscale were also performed. The bilayer system was found to bear satisfactorily the loading/unloading cycles and provide an important composite hardness at the surface of the coating. | [
1,
70
] |
Image Retrieval Based on Structured Local Binary Kirsch Pattern. This Letter presents a new feature named structured local binary Kirsch pattern (SLBKP) for image retrieval. Each input color image is decomposed into Y, Cb and Cr components. For each component image, eight 3 x 3 Kirsch direction templates are first performed pixel by pixel, and thus each pixel is characterized by an 8-dimenional edge-strength vector. Then a binary operation is performed on each edge-strength vector to obtain its integer-valued SLBKP. Finally, three SLBKP histograms are concatenated together as the final feature of each input colour image. Experimental results show that, compared with the existing structured local binary Haar pattern (SLBHP)-based feature, the proposed feature can greatly improve retrieval performance. | [
8,
66
] |
Femtosecond laser micromachined ridge waveguide lasers in Nd:YAG ceramics. We report on the fabrication of ridge waveguides in Nd:YAG ceramic by using femtosecond laser micromachining of the surface of a He ion implanted planar waveguide. Under optical pump of 808 nm light, continuous wave waveguide lasers have been realized at 1.06 mu m at room temperature in the Nd:YAG ceramic ridge waveguide system, reaching a maximum output power of 46 mW. The lasing threshold of similar to 64.9 mW and the slope efficiency of 42.5% are obtained for the ridge waveguide system, which shows superior lasing performance to the Nd:YAG ceramic planar waveguide. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. | [
6,
223
] |
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