Optimal Capital Requirement with Noisy Signals on Banking Risk

Abstract: In this paper we analyze the optimal capital requirement in a model of banks with heterogeneous investment risks and asymmetric information. Asymmetric information prevents depositors from charging an actuarially-fair interest rate based on banking risk, and leads to cross-subsidization across banks. A capital requirement in the form of a leverage constraint reduces the investment of riskier banks and partially mitigates the pecuniary externality on deposit rates. When depositors and the policymaker have no information about banking risk, only a uniform leverage constraint is possible. In this case, the optimal leverage constraint is tighter than the first-best leverage ratio and strictly improves social welfare. When depositors and the policymaker observe a noisy signal of banking risk, a signal-based leverage constraint is possible. We demonstrate that the optimal signal-based leverage constraint is tighter when the signal has worse precision, rather than a larger level of expected risk.


Nuclear double-fluorescent reporter for in vivo and ex vivo analyses of biological transitions in mouse nuclei

Abstract: Cre-responsive dual-fluorescent alleles allow in situ marking of cell lineages or genetically modified cells. Here we report a dual-fluorescent allele, ROSA nT-nG , which directs nuclear accumulation of tdTomato in Cre-naïve lineages. Cre converts the allele to ROSA nG , which drives nuclear EGFP accumulation. Conditions were established for analyzing marked nuclei by flow cytometry on the basis of red-green fluorescence and ploidy, with a particular focus on liver nuclei. Hydrodynamic delivery of a Cre-expression plasmid was used to time-stamp arbitrary hepatocytes for lineage tracing. The distinct green fluorescence of nuclei from Cre-exposed lineages facilitated analyses of ploidy transitions within clones. To assess developmental transitions in liver nuclei, ROSA nT-nG was combined with the hepatocyte-specific AlbCre transgene, facilitating discrimination between hepatocyte and nonhepatocyte nuclei. Nuclei extracted from postnatal day 2 (P2) livers were 41 % green and 59 % red and reached a stable level of 84 % green by P22. Until P20, green nuclei were >98 % diploid (2N); at P40 they were ~56 % 2N, 43 % 4N, and <1 % 8N; and by P70 they reached a stable distribution of ~46 % 2N, 45 % 4N, and 9 % 8N. In conclusion, ROSA nT-nG will facilitate in vivo and ex vivo studies on liver and will likely be valuable for studies on tissues like muscle, kidney, or brain in which cells are refractory to whole-cell flow cytometry, or like trophectoderm derivatives or cancers in which cells undergo ploidy transitions.


Comparison of growth performance and nutrient retention of weaner pigs given diets based on casein, free amino acids or conventional proteins

Abstract: In two experiments the potential value of diets based on casein or free amino acids (FAA) for amino acid utilization experiments were examined. In Expt 1 the optimum dietary electrolyte balance (dEB) for a casein-based diet was estimated by supplemention with 10 or 20 g NaHCO3/kg, to produce diets containing 64, 183 or 302 mmol/kg. In addition, piglet growth performance and efficiency of nutrient deposition of piglets given the casein diets were compared with two multiple protein source diets; Supercreep, a commercial multiple protein source diet or CFS (casein-fish-soyabean-sugar) or a FAA-based diet. Expt 2 was designed to compare piglet response to FAA diet stored at -15 degrees with twice daily feeding, with FAA diet stored at ambient temperature (13-30 degrees) and offered ad libitum. A CFS diet was used as a positive control and the experiment was conducted over the 10-20 kg growth phase. Expt 1 used forty-eight piglets weaned at 20-22 d of age and allocated to one of six treatments formulated to contain at least 0.84 g lysine/MJ digestible energy in a randomized block design. Piglets given the CFS and Supercreep diets produced superior growth rates (518, 491 g/d) to those given a FAA diet (353 g/d) or casein diet containing 0, 10 or 20 g NaHCO3/kg respectively (365, 417, 390 g/d) between 5 and 20 kg live weight. Piglets given the casein and FAA diets had higher amino acid digestibilities than those given the Supercreep and CFS diets. The increase in the dEB of the casein diet from 64 to 183 mmol/kg improved piglet growth performance between 5 and 20 kg by 14%. All piglets given casein diets had similar ileal and faecal digestibilities, empty-body compositions, nutrient deposition rates and retention ratios. The results of Expt 2 showed that there was no beneficial effect on piglet performance of storing the FAA diet at -15 degrees and feeding twice daily. Based on the results of these two experiments, neither the casein (0, 10, 20 g NaHCO3/kg) nor FAA diets were suitable for estimating amino acid utilization by the piglet. There remain unidentified factors which limit the growth performance of piglets given the casein and FAA diets.


Special Feature: Fourth-generation Wireless Access Overview of the Fourth-generation Mobile Communication System


MOBILE HANDLING OF ENVIRONMENTAL SENSITIVITY INDEX (ESI) DATASET


Lowering effects of aspirin eugenol ester on blood lipids in rats with high fat diet

Abstract: BackgroundAspirin and eugenol were esterified to synthesize aspirin eugenol ester (AEE). As a pale yellow and odourless crystal, AEE reduced the gastrointestinal damage of aspirin and vulnerability of eugenol. The study was conducted to evaluate the preventive effects of AEE on blood lipids in rats with high fat diet (HFD).MethodsSuspensions of AEE and simvastatin were prepared in 5% carboxymethyl cellulose sodium (CMC-Na). In order to observe the intervention effects, the drugs and HFD were administrated at the same time. Based on individual weekly body weight (BW), AEE was intragastrically administrated at the dosage of 18, 36 and 54 mg/kg. Simvastatin (10 mg/kg) and CMC-Na (20 mg/kg) were used as control drug. After 6 weeks of administration, the changes of BW and blood lipid indices including triglyceride (TG), low density lipoprotein (LDL), high density lipoprotein (HDL) and total cholesterol (TCH) were determined in the experiment.ResultsThe rat blood lipids profile in model group was remarkably different after feeding 6-weeks HFD. TG, TCH and LDL indexes in model group were increased significantly compared with those in control group (p < 0.01). AEE at the dosage of 54 mg/kg significantly decreased levels of TG, TCH and LDL (p < 0.01), and slowed the rate of BW gain in comparison with model group (p < 0.05). Moreover, high dose AEE showed better effects than simvastatin on reducing TCH level and similar effects on TG, HDL and LDL.ConclusionAEE could remarkably reduce levels of TG, TCH and LDL in rats with high fat diet, and slow the rate of body weight gain. It was conducted that AEE was a potential candidate on reducing blood lipids level. The mechanism of action of AEE should be investigated in further studies.


Neural Networks with Manifold Learning for Diabetic Retinopathy Detection

Abstract: Widespread outreach programs using remote retinal imaging have proven to decrease the risk from diabetic retinopathy, the leading cause of blindness in the US. However, this process still requires manual verification of image quality and grading of images for level of disease by a trained human grader and will continue to be limited by the lack of such scarce resources. Computer-aided diagnosis of retinal images have recently gained increasing attention in the machine learning community. In this paper, we introduce a set of neural networks for diabetic retinopathy classification of fundus retinal images. We evaluate the efficiency of the proposed classifiers in combination with preprocessing and augmentation steps on a sample dataset. Our experimental results show that neural networks in combination with preprocessing on the images can boost the classification accuracy on this dataset. Moreover the proposed models are scalable and can be used in large scale datasets for diabetic retinopathy detection. The models introduced in this paper can be used to facilitate the diagnosis and speed up the detection process.


A Method Using Morphology and Histogram for Object-based Retrieval in Image and Video Databases

Abstract: Summary We propose a method for object-based retrieval in image and video databases. In doing so, both color and shape information is taken into account to enrich the querying capabilities for object-based retrieval. The morphological operations are performed on each uniform color region. We use three kinds of histograms: color histogram, distance histogram, and angle histogram. It is shown that the proposed approach is invariant to scaling, rotation, and translation. Finally, performance experiments are carried out by the evaluation of the effectiveness and the robustness of the proposed method.


The Optimized Balance Design of the Gating System for the Combined Cavity Mold of a Toy Assembly

Abstract: The molded plastic product is a toy assembly. The submarine gate and the side gate are used in the gating system of a combined cavity mold of the toy assembly according to the use requirements of products and the flowing properties of raw material. The gating system is optimized based on the filling analysis using CAE technology so as to ensure the equilibrium of filling the combined cavity mold. The optimized sizes of the runners and the gates can ensure the equilibrium of filling and the uniform distribution of pressure in the combined cavities. If the optimized results are employed in the parameter design of the mold, one-time success rate of test will be enhanced. And also the data is reliable.

2010 International Conference on Measuring Technology and Mechatronics Automation


SINGLE-PUSHOUT TRANSFORMATION OF TOTAL ALGEBRAS

Abstract: We characterize the pairs of partial homomorphisms of total Σ-algebras that have a pushout in the corresponding category, for an arbitrary signature Σ. This characterization provides the application condition for the single-pushout approach to the transformation of total algebras.


High-fidelity CZ gate for resonator-based superconducting quantum computers

Abstract: A possible building block for a scalable quantum computer has recently been demonstrated [M. Mariantoni et al., Science 334, 61 (2011)]. This architecture consists of superconducting qubits capacitively coupled both to individual memory resonators as well as a common bus. In this work we study a natural primitive entangling gate for this and related resonator-based architectures, which consists of a CZ operation between a qubit and the bus. The CZ gate is implemented with the aid of the non-computational qubit |2>state [F. W. Strauch et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 91, 167005 (2003)]. Assuming phase or transmon qubits with 300 MHz anharmonicity, we show that by using only low frequency qubit-bias control it is possible to implement the qubit-bus CZ gate with 99.9% (99.99%) fidelity in about 17ns (23ns) with a realistic two-parameter pulse profile, plus two auxiliary z rotations. The fidelity measure we refer to here is a state-averaged intrinsic process fidelity, which does not include any effects of noise or decoherence. These results apply to a multi-qubit device that includes strongly coupled memory resonators. We investigate the performance of the qubit-bus CZ gate as a function of qubit anharmonicity, indentify the dominant intrinsic error mechanism and derive an associated fidelity estimator, quantify the pulse shape sensitivity and precision requirements, simulate qubit-qubit CZ gates that are mediated by the bus resonator, and also attempt a global optimization of system parameters including resonator frequencies and couplings. Our results are relevant for a wide range of superconducting hardware designs that incorporate resonators and suggest that it should be possible to demonstrate a 99.9% CZ gate with existing transmon qubits, which would constitute an important step towards the development of an error-corrected superconducting quantum computer.


Lithium Prevents Acrolein-Induced Neurotoxicity in HT22 Mouse Hippocampal Cells

Abstract: Acrolein is a highly electrophilic alpha, beta-unsaturated aldehyde to which humans are exposed in many situations and has been implicated in neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease. Lithium is demonstrated to have neuroprotective and neurotrophic effects in brain ischemia, trauma, neurodegenerative disorders, and psychiatric disorders. Previously we have found that acrolein induced neuronal death in HT22 mouse hippocampal cells. In this study, the effects of lithium on the acrolein-induced neurotoxicity in HT22 cells as well as its mechanism(s) were investigated. We found that lithium protected HT22 cells against acrolein-induced damage by the attenuation of reactive oxygen species and the enhancement of the glutathione level. Lithium also attenuated the mitochondrial dysfunction caused by acrolein. Furthermore, lithium significantly increased the level of phospho-glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta (GSK-3β), the non-activated GSK-3β. Taken together, our findings suggest that lithium is a protective agent for acrolein-related neurotoxicity.


Similarities and Differences between Relativistic Electron-Photon Cascades Developed in Matter, Photon Gas and Magnetic Field

Abstract: Abstract We investigate the properties of astrophysical electromagnetic cascades in matter, photon gas and magnetic fields, and discuss similarities and differences between characteristics of electron–photon showers developed in these three substances. We apply the same computational technique based on solution of the adjoint cascade equations to all three types of cascades, and present precise numerical calculations of cascade curves and broad-band energy spectra of secondary electrons and photons at different penetration lengths.


Anti-tumour activity in vitro and in vivo of selective differentiating agents containing hydroxamate

Abstract: SummaryA series of hydroxamates, which are not metalloprotease inhibitors, have been found to be selectively toxic to a range of transformed and human tumour cells without killing normal cells (fibroblasts, melanocytes) at the same concentrations. Within 24 h of treatment, drug action is characterized by morphological reversion of tumour cells to a more normal phenotype (dendritic morphology), and rapid and reversible acetylation of histone H4 in both tumour and normal cells. Two hydroxamates inhibited growth of xenografts of human melanoma cells in nude mice; resistance did not develop in vivo or in vitro. A third hydroxamate, trichostatin A, was active in vitro but became inactivated and had no anti-tumour activity in vivo. Development of dendritic morphology was found to be dependent upon phosphatase activity, RNA and protein synthesis. Proliferating hybrid clones of sensitive and resistant cells remained sensitive to ABHA, indicating a dominant-negative mechanism of sensitivity. Histone H4 hyperacetylation suggests that these agents act at the chromatin level. This work may lead to new drugs that are potent, and selective anti-tumour agents with low toxicity to normal cells.


Effect of different assumptions for brain water content on absolute measures of cerebral oxygenation determined by frequency-domain near-infrared spectroscopy in preterm infants: an observational study

Abstract: Brain-water content (BWC) decreases with maturation of the brain and potentially affects parameters of cerebral oxygenation determined by near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). Most commercially available devices do not take these maturational changes into account. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of different assumptions for BWC on parameters of cerebral oxygenation in preterm infants. Concentrations of oxy-, deoxy- and total hemoglobin and regional cerebral oxygen saturation (rcStO2) were calculated based on absolute coefficients of absorption and scattering determined by multi-distance Frequency-Domain-NIRS assuming BWCs of 75-95%, which may be encountered in newborn infants depending on gestational and postnatal age. This range of BWC gave rise to a linear modification of the assessed NIRS parameters with a maximum change of 10%. This may result in an absolute overestimation of rcStO2 by (median (range)) 4 (1–8)%, if the calculation is based on the lowest BWC (75%) in an extremely preterm infant with an anticipated BWC of 95%. Clinicians wishing to rely on parameters of cerebral oxygenation determined by NIRS should consider that maturational changes in BWC not taken into account by most devices may result in a deviation of cerebral oxygenation readings by up to 8% from the correct value.


Inferring perfect phylogenies with restrictions on character state transitions

Abstract: One of the important problems in evolutionary biology is inferring phylogenetic trees for sets of related species. We introduce a new model for inferring phylogenies which is a generalization of the widely studied perfect phylogeny model. The perfect phylogeny model assumes that a feature shared by a set of species cannot have evolved independently in any two of the species in the set, i.e. the species with this feature form a subtree in the correct phylogenetic tree. We briefly review earlier similar results on this subject and describe the difference between our model and the ones previously investigated. It turns out that the problem of finding a perfect phylogeny with restrictions is NP-complete even if the number of characters is 2. This contrasts with the complexity of finding unrestricted perfect phylogenies. On the other hand, the new model shows similar properties to the classical perfect phylogeny model in case where the number of cycles in each state transition graph is bounded by a small constant.

2008 1st International Conference on Information Technology


A Multi-Agent Environment for software testing


A Novel Method of Breadth-first Searches with AI-Properties of VCN

Abstract: This paper makes an analyzing and discussing of Breadth-first Search technology of both FCN and VCN in searching without information, and points out that, merits and demerits of two Numbers on searching without information. And then, it gives a novel realization method of Breadth-first Search in problem-solving which sometimes we should think simultaneously over the intelligent properties of VCN, and gives out an example of the problem-solving method, i.e. the problem-solving such as catching fish with casting a net or boy-herder picks peaches by climbing up a tree.

2009 International Conference on Networks Security, Wireless Communications and Trusted Computing


A MAC Protocol for QoS Support in MI-UWB based Wireless Network

Abstract: In this paper we propose a MAC (Medium Access Control) protocol (named MACQUE) that provides QoS support for multimedia applications in the MIUWB (Multiband Impulse-based Ultra Wideband) based wireless networks. The proposed MAC protocol utilizes the advantages provides by the MI-UWB including multiple non-overlapping frequency channels, simultaneous transmissions in same channel as well as dynamical reconfiguration of transmission parameters. The resource allocation algorithm of the proposed MAC protocol uses a two-phase procedure to provide explicit QoS support and optimize resource utilization in a dense medium-size MI-UWB network. The performance of the proposed MAC protocol is evaluated by extensive simulation study.

2006 3rd International Conference on Broadband Communications, Networks and Systems


SecLooCI: A comprehensive security middleware architecture for shared wireless sensor networks

Abstract: Abstract WSNs are trending towards dynamic environments that enable multiple parties to concurrently deploy and exploit multiple applications on shared nodes. The node owners want to share their nodes’ capabilities in order to increase return on investment, provide value added services, and easily share sensor node services. These concepts drive an evolving view on the software support that is required to service all stakeholders. For example, trust establishment, access control and security policy enforcement must be addressed. The node middleware must be extended to enable such shared usage of nodes while ensuring security. This paper presents the SecLooCI WSN middleware, which enables secure multi-party interactions on top of resource constrained sensor nodes. A prototype implementation for AVR Ravens running the Contiki OS shows the feasibility of the model for this low power micro-controller class of devices. This demonstrates that resource constrained sensor nodes are able to support secure node sharing.


POWER OPTIMIZATION METHODS IN HETEROGENEOUS MULTICORE PROCESSORS PREPARED FOR: SHARON AHLERS


Four Scientific Approaches to Pattern Recognition


Atmospheric structure and acoustic cut-off frequency of roAp stars

Abstract: Some of the rapidly oscillating (CP2) stars, have frequencies which are larger than the theoretical acoustic cut-off frequency. As the cut-off frequency depends on the T(tau) relation in the atmosphere, we have computed models and adiabatic frequencies for pulsating Ap stars with T(tau) laws based on Kurucz model atmospheres and on Hopf's purely radiative relation. The frequency-dependent treatment of radiative transfer as well as an improved calculation of the radiative pressure in Kurucz model atmospheres increase the theoretical acoustic cut-off frequency by about 200 microHz, which is closer to the observations. For alpha Cir we find models with Kurucz atmospheres which have indeed a cut-off frequency beyond the largest observed frequency and which are well within the Teff - L error box. For HD 24712 only models which are hotter by about 100 K and less luminous by nearly 10% than what is actually the most probable value would have an acoustic cut-off frequency large enough. One may thus speculate that the old controversy about a mismatch between observed largest frequencies and theoretical cut-off frequencies of roAp star models is resolved. However, the observational errors for the astrophysical fundamental parameters have to be reduced further and the model atmospheres refined. Further details can be found in Audard et al. (1997)

Contributions of The Astronomical Observatory Skalnate Pleso


Abstract: The Role of Explanation Coherence of Two Premises on Property Induction Kyung Soo Do (ksdo@skku.edu) Ju Hwa Park (jhpark@skku.edu) Department of Psychology, Sungkyunkwan University Seoul 110-745, KOREA Abstract Three experiments on property induction were conducted to explore whether an incoherent premise discounted the believability of the conclusion when there were two premises. In all three experiments, a single premise increased or decreased the likelihood of the conclusion depending on the nature of explanatory coherence of a premise and a conclusion. However, when there were two premises, one that shared the reason with the conclusion (coherent premise), and one that does not (incoherent premise), the believability of the conclusion was affected differently in three experiments. When two premises and the conclusion were presented simultaneously in Experiment 1, the believability of the conclusion was increased. That is, an incoherent premise did not seem to affect the believability of the conclusion as much as the coherent premise. The incoherent premise seemed to decrease the believability of the conclusion a little bit when the two premises and the conclusion were presented sequentially so that each premise was not ignored in Experiment 2. The incoherent premise decreased the believability of the conclusion below the baseline condition in Experiment 3, where participants were asked to write down reasons for each premise being true. Results of three experiments suggested that only the confirming evidences were processed under natural conditions. A few possible theoretical implications were considered. Introduction When someone asks a question whether a target object has a certain property (target property), such as “Does an ostrich lay eggs?”, and you do not know the answer, you might induce the answer by checking whether some object (source object), usually objects that are similar to the target object, has the target property. In the ostrich example, you would answer “yes” if you think ostriches are similar to geese and know that geese lay eggs. As this example shows, what conclusion you make depends on what objects are used as source objects. What object is an effective source object in property induction depends on a number of factors: The nature of the target property, the level of knowledge of the person, and the cultural background of the person, to name a few. People used different source objects depending on their knowledge and occupation (Proffitt, Coley, & Medin, 2000). Also there seems to be a culture difference in property induction (Choi, Nisbett, & Smith, 1997). Even though the level of knowledge and the cultural background of the person affect the property induction, the effect of the nature of the target property on property induction has been the focus of most research. More specifically, what objects are effective as source objects in inducing two types of properties, and how the information of the source objects are used for property induction have been more widely investigated. There are two types of target properties, blank properties and nonblank properties, and the effectiveness of source objects seems to differ between the two types. The effectiveness of a source object seems to depend on the similarity between the target object and the source object for blank properties for which we do not have any other information to rely on (e.g., 'have BCC in blood') (Osherson, Smith, Wilkie, Lopez, & Shafir, 1990; Rips, 1975; Sloman, 1993). However, the similarity between the target object and the source object does not seem to work for nonblank properties for which we have other information to infer about the target object having the target property (e.g., 'can cut the wire') (Smith, Shafir, & Osherson, 1993). As the relationship between objects and the target property are diverse (Murphy & Medin, 1985), there are many ways of inducing nonblank properties: People seem to use other relevant information, such as body size or strength, in inducing nonblank properties (Smith et al., 1993). People rated the believability of the conclusion differently when the target property is about shape from when the target property is about behavior (Heit & Rubinstein, 1994). One way of inducing nonblank properties is comparing the reason for the target object having the target property with the reason for the source object having the target property. Sloman (1994, 1997) proposed that the explanation coherence between the premise and the conclusion affect the plausibility of the conclusion. If the target object and the source object share the same explanation, informing the participants that the source object has the target property increases the believability of the conclusion that the target object has the target property. For instance, computer programmers and secretaries have bad backs because they sit all day long. Therefore, informing the participants that “Computer programmers have bad backs” would make the conclusion “Secretaries have bad backs” more plausible than when the participants are not informed about the computer programmers having bad backs. However, if the target object and the source object do not share the same reason, informing the participants that the source object has the target property decreases the believability of the conclusion that the target object has the target property. In the bad back example, for instance, furniture movers had bad backs because they lift heavy things. Therefore, informing that “Furniture movers had bad backs” would make the conclusion “Secretaries


Analysis of the Late Steps of Exocytosis: Biochemical and Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence Microscopy (TIRFM) Studies

Abstract: 1. Time with Julie in his laboratory at the NIH in the early 1970s is remembered. The experience led to a life-long interest in the regulation of catecholamine secretion. Here are summarized aspects of this work.


TR-9501 : A Comparison of Tr ansient Period Detection Algorith ms Applied to Mark ovian Queueing Systems


Curcumin Attenuates Gastric Cancer Induced by N-Methyl-N-Nitrosourea and Saturated Sodium Chloride in Rats

Abstract: To determine effects of curcumin on N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU) and saturated sodium chloride (s-NaCl)-induced gastric cancer in rats. Male Wistar rats were divided into 5 groups: control (CO), control supplemented with 200 mg/kg curcumin (CC), MNU

Journal of Biomedicine and Biotechnology


Instructions to Authors


Adressing CML by Using Line Detection Techniques for More Reliable Sonar Information.


The Impact Of International Public Sector Account-ing Standard (IPSAS) On Reliability, Credibility And Integrity Of Financial Reporting In State Gov-ernment Administration In Nigeria

International Journal of Technology Enhancements and Emerging Engineering Research


Data Mining: An Overview

Abstract: Data mining is the process of extracting patterns from data. Basically Data mining is the analysis of observational data sets to find unsuspected associations and to sum up the data in new ways that are both clear and useful to the data owner .It is seen as an increasingly important tool by modern business to transform data into business intelligence giving an informational advantage. The automated, prospective analyses offered by data mining move beyond the analyses of past events provided by retrospective tools typical of decision support systems. Data mining tools can answer business questions that traditionally were too time consuming to resolve..Data mining is becoming increasingly common in both the private and public sectors. Industries such as banking, insurance, medicine, and retailing commonly use data mining to reduce costs, enhance research, and increase sales. While data mining represents a significant advance in the type of analytical tools currently available, there are limitations to its capability. One limitation is that although data mining can help reveal patterns and relationships, it does not tell the user the value or significance of these patterns. These types of determinations must be made by the user. A second limitation is that while data mining can identify connections between behaviors and/or variables, it does not necessarily identify a causal relationship. To be successful, data mining still requires skilled technical and analytical specialists who can structure the analysis and interpret the output that is created.

Journal of Knowledge & Communication Management


Transforming security for healthcare providers


Transcranial magnetic stimulation in migraine : a review of facts and controversies

Abstract: There is compelling evidence that cortical excitability is modified in migraine patients between attacks. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a non-invasive tool to investigate this abnormality. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) activates the underlying cortex at high, but inhibits it at low stimulation frequencies. This is a review of published results obtained in migraineurs with TMS and rTMS over motor or visual cortices. Prevalence and/or threshold data of phosphenes induced by single pulse TMS of the visual cortex are contradictory, some favouring increased, others decreased interictal excitability. The discrepancies may be due to differences in methodology and poor reliability of phosphene reporting. In a recent rTMS study of the occipital cortex we have found evidence in favour of an interictal decrease of the preactivation excitability level by using amplitude of visual evoked potentials and its habituation during sustained stimulation as indices of cortical excitability. The hypothesis of increased cortical excitability, taken in its strict physiological sense of a decreased response threshold and/or an increased response to a single suprathreshold stimulus, may thus not be any longer tenable. The long lasting effects of rTMS allow in future studies to assess metabolic changes of the cortex and subcortical structures with functional imaging methods and to explore novel therapeutic strategies for migraine.


Clathrin-Mediated Endocytosis and Adaptor Proteins

Abstract: Macromolecules gain access to the cytoplasm of eukaryotic cells using one of several ways of which clathrin-dependent endocytosis is the most researched. Although the mechanism of clathrin-mediated endocy- tosis is well understood in general, novel adaptor proteins that play various roles in ensuring specific regulation of the mentioned process are being discovered all the time. This review provides a detailed account of the mecha- nism of clathrin-mediated internalization of activated G protein-coupled receptors, as well as a description of the major proteins involved in this process. KEYWORDS adaptor proteins, clathrin, endocytosis. ABBREVIATIONS EEA1 - Early Endosome Antigen 1; GPCR - G-Protein-Coupled Receptor; GRK - G-protein- coupled Receptor Kinase; LDLR - Low-Density Lipoprotein Receptor; PtdIns(4,5)P2 - phosphatidylinositol-4,5- bisphosphate.


Poster Abstract : Sensor Modeling and Sensor Data for UnderWater Acoustic Sensor Networks ( UW-ASN ) Applications


Double-Metal-Ion/Single-Metal-Ion Mechanisms of the Cleavage Reaction of Ribozymes: First-Principles Molecular Dynamics Simulations of a Fully Hydrated Model System

Abstract: The role of metal cations (Mg(2+)) in the cleavage reaction of fully hydrated RNA enzymes is investigated via Car-Parrinello calculations. We find that the action of two metal catalysts is the most efficient way to promote, on one hand, the proton abstraction from O(2)(')-H that triggers the nucleophilic attack and, on the other hand, the weakening and subsequent cleavage of the P-O(5)(') bond. The elimination of one of the two metal cations is shown to lead to an increase in the activation energy. Furthermore, we also find that an OH(-) included in the coordination shell of the Mg(2+) close to O(2)(') promotes the initial proton abstraction and prevents its transfer to the ribozyme in both single- and double-metal-ion pathways, consistently with the experiment. This suggests that in real ribozyme systems, the double-metal-ion reaction mechanism in the presence of an OH(-) anion is favored with respect to single-metal-ion mechanisms.

Journal of chemical theory and computation


The Lie algebra of the sl(2, ℂ)-valued automorphic functions on a torus

Abstract: It is shown that the Lie algebra of the automorphic, meromorphic sl(2, ℂ)-valued functions on a torus is a geometric realization of a certain infinite-dimensional finitely generated Lie algebra. In the trigonometric limit, when the modular parameter of the torus goes to zero, the former Lie algebra goes over into the sl(2, ℂ)-valued loop algebra, while the latter goes into the Lie algebra (A 1 (1) )′/(centre).


An Externalist Process-Oriented Framework for Artificial Consciousness.

AAAI Fall Symposium: AI and Consciousness


On the role of bounds in stochastic linear programming

Abstract: Stochastic linear programming (SLP) models involve multivariate integrals. Although in the discretely distributed case these integrals become sums they typically contain a large amount of terms. The purpose of this paper is twofold:On the one hand we discuss the usage of bounds concerning integrals for constructing SLP algorithms and secondly we point out the role of bounds-based algorithms for solving SLP problems. The conceptual considerations are demonstrated in the last section by computational results. The tests have been carried out by utilizing SLP-IOR, our model management system for SLP


Exploring strategies for adsorption of azo dye Congo Red using free and immobilized biomasses of Trametes pubescens

Abstract: Immobilized biomass of white rot fungus Trametes pubescens was explored for adsorption of azo dye Congo Red. The biomass immobilized by sodium alginate enhanced the sorption capacity for Congo Red approximately 4-fold of the free biomass, which competed well with other reported sorbents. Dye uptake was favored by acidic conditions at pH 2.0 with increasing initial dye concentration up to 100 mg/L using less biomass at room temperature and agitation speed. Adsorption of dyes onto the biomass was weakly dependent on ionic strength. Additionally, the adsorption process followed the pseudo-second-order kinetic and Freundlich isotherm models. During this process, the morphological changes on the biomass surface occurred; the amine functional groups present on the cell surface were mainly responsible for this process, and reduction in crystallinity of the biomass was observed, as confirmed by SEM, FT-IR, and X-ray diffraction, respectively. Desorption experiments were performed to regenerate the sorbent, making the process more economic and environmentally friendly. These demonstrated that the immobilized T. pubescens biomass is a promising sorbent for Congo Red removal.


Modelling Social-Technical Attacks with Timed Automata

Abstract: Attacks on a system often exploit vulnerabilities that arise from human behaviour or other human activity. Attacks of this type, so-called socio-technical attacks, cover everything from social engineering to insider attacks, and they can have a devastating impact on an unprepared organisation. In this paper we develop an approach towards modelling socio-technical systems in general and socio-technical attacks in particular, using timed automata and illustrate its application by a complex case study. Thanks to automated model checking and automata theory, we can automatically generate possible attacks in our model and perform analysis and simulation of both model and attack, revealing details about the specific interaction between attacker and victim. Using timed automata also allows for intuitive modelling of systems, in which quantities like time and cost can be easily added and analysed.


Does Branched-Chain Amino Acids Supplementation Modulate Skeletal Muscle Remodeling through Inflammation Modulation? Possible Mechanisms of Action

Abstract: Skeletal muscle protein turnover is modulated by intracellular signaling pathways involved in protein synthesis, degradation, and inflammation. The proinflammatory status of muscle cells, observed in pathological conditions such as cancer, aging, and sepsis, can directly modulate protein translation initiation and muscle proteolysis, contributing to negative protein turnover. In this context, branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs), especially leucine, have been described as a strong nutritional stimulus able to enhance protein translation initiation and attenuate proteolysis. Furthermore, under inflammatory conditions, BCAA can be transaminated to glutamate in order to increase glutamine synthesis, which is a substrate highly consumed by inflammatory cells such as macrophages. The present paper describes the role of inflammation on muscle remodeling and the possible metabolic and cellular effects of BCAA supplementation in the modulation of inflammatory status of skeletal muscle and the consequences on protein synthesis and degradation.


Self-Dual Yang-Mills Fields in Eight Dimensions

Abstract: Strongly self-dual Yang-Mills fields in even-dimensional spaces are characterised by a set of constraints on the eigenvalues of the Yang-Mills fieldsFμν. We derive a topological bound on R8,\(\int_M {\left( {F, F} \right)} ^2 \geqslant k \int_M {p_{\text{1}}^{\text{2}} } \), wherep1 is the first Pontryagin class of the SO(n) Yang-Mills bundle, andk is a constant. Strongly self-dual Yang-Mills fields realise the lower bound.


Reachability-Based Fault-Tolerant Routing †


Mitochondrial DNA control region diversity in a population from Espirito Santo state, Brazil

Abstract: Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) analysis has proved to be useful for forensic identification, especially in cases which nuclear DNA markers fail, as in degraded samples or in cases where the biological material has few traces or no nuclear DNA. Moreover, it can be applied in population genetics, inferring the origin of a population. In this work, the entire mtDNA control region of 97 individuals from the state of Espirito Santo, Brazil, was analyzed. We have found 94 different haplotypes yielding a high haplotype diversity of 0.9994 ± 0.0016. The probability of a random match calculated was 1.09. Haplogroup distribution analysis confirmed a highly admixed Latin American population: African lineages (43.3 %), European lineages (32.0 %), Native American lineages (23.7 %) and Asian lineages (1.0 %). We have concluded that this type of tool can be used both in forensic genetics to the study of different human populations, such as highly admixed populations, and in the study of migration's history and colonization of different states and countries of the world.


D2RQ/update: updating relational data via virtual RDF

Abstract: D2RQ is a popular RDB-to-RDF mapping platform that supports mapping relational databases to RDF and posing SPARQL queries to these relational databases. However, D2RQ merely provides a read-only RDF view on relational databases. Thus, we introduce D2RQ/Update---an extension of D2RQ to enable executing SPARQL/Update statements on the mapped data, and to facilitate the creation of a read-write Semantic Web.


Stability analysis for stochastic programs

Abstract: For stochastic programs with recourse and with (several joint) probabilistic constraints, respectively, we derive quantitative continuity properties of the relevant expectation functionals and constraint set mappings. This leads to qualitative and quantitative stability results for optimal values and optimal solutions with respect to perturbations of the underlying probability distributions. Earlier stability results for stochastic programs with recourse and for those with probabilistic constraints are refined and extended, respectively. Emphasis is placed on equipping sets of probability measures with metrics that one can handle in specific situations. To illustrate the general stability results we present possible consequences when estimating the original probability measure via empirical ones.


Hierarchical Node Clustering Approach for Energy Savings in WSNs

Abstract: This paper proposes an energy efficient clustering algorithm for self-organizing and self-managing WSNs, called SNOW cluster. It introduces region node selection as well as cluster head election based on the residual battery capacity of nodes to reduce the costs of managing sensor nodes and of the communication among them. SNOW cluster clusters periodically to select cluster heads that are richer in residual energy level, compared to the other nodes to achieve load balancing and extend the lifetime of every individual sensor nodes. After the cluster heads are selected, SNOW cluster selects the region nodes in the cluster heads based on the energy level of them and chooses gateway nodes between clusters based on their location information. The effectiveness of the proposed SNOW cluster algorithm is validated through actual implementation and simulation using ns-2. The simulation results reveal that the proposed framework allows smaller energy consumption for network management and longer network lifetime than the existing schemes such as LEACH and LEACH-C for practical size networks.

5th ACIS International Conference on Software Engineering Research, Management & Applications (SERA 2007)


Quantum initial condition sampling for linearized density matrix dynamics: Vibrational pure dephasing of iodine in krypton matrices

Abstract: This paper reviews the linearized path integral approach for computing time dependent properties of systems that can be approximated using a mixed quantum-classical description. This approach is applied to studying vibrational pure dephasing of ground state molecular iodine in a rare gas matrix. The Feynman–Kleinert optimized harmonic approximation for the full system density operator is used to sample initial conditions for the bath degrees of freedom. This extremely efficient approach is compared to alternative initial condition sampling techniques at low temperatures where classical initial condition sampling yields dephasing rates that are nearly an order of magnitude too slow compared to quantum initial condition sampling and experimental results.


Evaluation of acute toxicity and gastroprotective activity of curcuma purpurascens BI. rhizome against ethanol-induced gastric mucosal injury in rats

Abstract: Curcuma purpurascens BI. is a medicinal plant from the Zingiberaceae family, which is widely used as a spice and as folk medicine. The aim of the present study is to investigate the gastroprotective activity of C. purpurascens rhizome hexane extract (CPRHE) against ethanol- induced gastric ulcers in rats. Acute toxicity test was carried out on 36 rats (18 males and 18 females) with low dose of CPRHE (1 g/kg), high dose of CPRHE (2 g/kg) and vehicle (5% Tween 20). To determine the gastroprotective effect of CPRHE, gastric juice acidity, gross and histological gastric lesions, mucus content and ulcer index were evaluated in ethanol-induced ulcer in rats. In addition, superoxide dismutase activity, nitric oxide level and immunohistochemical evaluation of Bax and HSP70 proteins were examined. The CPRHE acute toxicity test on rats did not reveal any signs of mortality and toxicity up to 2 g/kg. The oral administration of CPRHE at doses of 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg and omeprazole (positive control) at a dose of 20 mg/kg to rats remarkably attenuated gastric lesions induced by ethanol. Pre-treatment of rats with CPRHE significantly replenished the depletion of mucus content caused by ethanol administration and decreased the acidity of gastric walls. Further examination of gastric mucosal homogenate revealed significant elevation of superoxide dismutase and nitric oxide activities and reduction in malondialdehyde level in CPRHE-treated group, compared to the lesion control group. Histological assessment of gastric walls obtained from rats pre-treated with CPRHE demonstrated a noteworthy decrease in hemorrhagic mucosal lesions. Immunohistochemical staining showed down-regulation of Bax protein and up-regulation of Hsp70 protein. Taken together, these findings confirmed the gastroprotective effect of Curcuma purpurascens rhizome against gastric damage.

BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine


A Comparative Study for Email Classification

Abstract: Email has become one of the fastest and most economical forms of communication. However, the increase of email users have resulted in the dramatic increase of spam emails during the past few years. In this paper, email data was classified using four different classifiers (Neural Network, SVM classifier, Naive Bayesian Classifier, and J48 classifier). The experiment was performed based on different data size and different feature size. The final classification result should be ‘1’ if it is finally spam, otherwise, it should be ‘0’. This paper shows that simple J48 classifier which make a binary tree, could be efficient for the dataset which could be classified as binary tree.


Methods Shifted Transversal Design smart-pooling for high coverage interactome mapping


Accelerated pubertal development inpatients with shunted hydrocephalus

Abstract: Objective-To evaluate pubertal development and peripheral concentrations of gonadotrophins andsexhormonesinchildrenwithshuntedhydrocephalus comparedwithhealthy controls. Studydesign-I 14patients (52females, 62 males)and 73healthycontrols (35females,38males)aged5to20years were analysedforstageof puberty, age at menarche, testicular volume,basal serum follicle stimulating hormone(FSH),luteinising hormone(LH), sex hormonebindingglobulin (SHBG),testosteroneand oestradiol concentrations, andfreeandrogen index. Results-Malegonadaland male and femalepubichairdevelopment occurred significantly earlier inthepatients thanin thecontrols. The mean age atmenarche was significantly lowerin thefemale patients thanintheircontrols (11.7 v 13.2 years; p < 0.001), andlowerthanithad been fortheirmothers(v 13.1years; p < 0.001). Relative testicular volumewas higherinthemalepatients thanintheir controls(1.2standarddeviation score (SDS)v 0.2SDS;p < 0.001). The prepubertal patients hadhigherbasalLH (0.13 UnI v 0.08Unl; p < 0.001) andSHBG (132.3 nmoMlv 109.1nmol/l; p < 0.01)thanthe controls. Boththeprepubertal andpubertalfemaleshadsignificantly higherbasal FSH thantheircontrols (1.57 UIl v 1.03 UI;p < 0.05, and4.0U/Iv2.9 UIl;p< 0.01, respectively). Conclusions-Hydrocephalic children experienceaccelerated pubertal maturation,reflected ina younger age at menarchein femalesand an increased testicular volumeinmales.Thismay be becauseofenhancedgonadotrophin secretion, possibly resulting fromunphysiological variations inintracranial pressure. (Arch DisChild1996;74:490-496)


FORENSIC AUTHOR IDENTIFICATION AS AN INTERDISCIPLINARY FIELD OF KNOWLEDGE

Courier of the Kutafin Moscow State Law University


Applying a Systemic Model of Accident within a System for Treatment of Contaminated Materials

Advances in Safety, Reliability and Risk Management


Towers of MU-Algebras and the Generalized Hopkins–Miller theorem

Abstract: Our results are of three types. First, we describe a general procedure of adjoining polynomial variables to $A_\infty$-ring spectra whose coefficient rings satisfy certain restrictions. A host of examples of such spectra is provided by killing a regular ideal in the coefficient ring of $MU$, the complex cobordism spectrum. Second, we show that the algebraic procedure of adjoining roots of unity carries over in the topological context for such spectra. Third, we use the developed technology to compute the homotopy types of spaces of strictly multiplicative maps between suitable $K(n)$-localizations of such spectra. This generalizes the famous Hopkins?Miller theorem and gives strengthened versions of various splitting theorems.

Proceedings of The London Mathematical Society


Towards a free electron laser based on laser plasma accelerators

Abstract: The recent advances in developing compact laser plasma accelerators that deliver high quality electron beams in a more reliable way offer the possibility to consider their use in designing a compact free electron laser (FEL). Because of the particularity of these beams (especially concerning the divergence and the energy spread), specific electron beam handling is proposed in order to achieve FEL amplification.


Experimental summary of ISMD10

Abstract: This paper summarizes the main experimental results presented at the XL International Symposium on Multiparticle Dynamics (ISMD10, 21-25 September 2010 University of Antwerp,Belgium).

arXiv: High Energy Physics - Phenomenology


Identifying and Classifying Human-Centered Design Methods for Product Development

Abstract: There are many human-centered design methods with different purposes and applications, but there is a lack of clarity that makes most people apply only traditional methods. The objective of this article is to map existing methods, identifying the appropriate moments and purposes for each application, in order to assist in choosing the appropriate technique. The survey of the methods was carried out through bibliographical research and the proposal is a table of methods categorized by tipe, with possible results indication, authors and product development process phase application.


Secure Visualization When Using Mobile Applications for Dementia Scenarios

Abstract: Wandering is a common behavior during all stages of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), but it can be distressing to both people with dementia and their caregivers. Ambient Assisted Living (AAL) solutions have been increasingly relevant to promote ageing in place, targeting both autonomous and dependent older adults. Despite the potentials of AAL solutions, their pervasiveness can raise several security and privacy challenges. With mobile mockups, this work presents a use-case with SoTRAACE - Socio-Technical Risk-Adaptable Access Control model, applied to the prevention of getting lost in AD. SoTRAACE functionalities are illustrated as embedded in an alarm navigation system aimed at monitoring the person’s geolocation and alerting when a predefined safety perimeter is crossed. The model, applied to a healthcare scenario, assesses security and privacy risks at each moment of interaction and provides an innovative way for improved adaptable security visualization in AAL environments.


Guiding the Functional Change Decisions in Agile Project: An Empirical Evaluation

Abstract: Agile methods are becoming increasingly used in software industry as a response to the challenges of managing the frequent changes during the software life-cycle. However, an important number of agile projects yield unsatisfactory results and end up with failure. This is due mainly to a lack of structured change control process. A well-defined change control process gives software industry a significant competitive advantage. This paper describes an evaluation of functional changes affecting either an ongoing sprint or an implemented sprint. This evaluation can greatly assist the development teams in making appropriate decisions. We quantitatively and qualitatively evaluate 15 software development projects using agile (scrum) method. We also investigate the use of COSMIC Functional Size Measurement method for a rapid quantification and evaluation of a change request.


Information Psychological Theory of the Spiritual Development of a Personality in the Digital Culture Era (to the 95th anniversary of the birth of Yu.S. Zubov)

Abstract: Abstract—This paper substantiates the prognostic role and heuristic value of the information-psychological theory of the development of the spiritual personality, which was worked out by Yu.S. Zubov in the late 1970s for the information branch of the digital culture era. The humanistic imperatives of this branch for the modern digital environment are implemented: the unity of consumer, reproductive and creative components of information activities; implementation of the principles of information management of intellectual personality development; the possibility of modeling information self-education programs in the modern digital environment, etc.

Scientific and Technical Information Processing


Rickettsia conorii O antigen is the target of bactericidal Weil–Felix antibodies

Abstract: Rickettsial diseases have long been diagnosed with serum antibodies cross-reactive against Proteus vulgaris (Weil–Felix reaction). Although Weil–Felix antibodies are associated with the development of immunity, their rickettsial target and contribution to disease pathogenesis are not established. Here, we developed a transposon for insertional mutagenesis of Rickettsia conorii, isolating variants defective for replication in cultured cells and in spotted fever pathogenesis. Mutations in the polysaccharide synthesis operon (pso) abolish lipopolysaccharide O-antigen synthesis and Weil–Felix serology and alter outer-membrane protein assembly. Unlike wild-type R. conorii, pso mutants cannot elicit bactericidal antibodies that bind O antigen. The pso operon is conserved among rickettsial pathogens, suggesting that bactericidal antibodies targeting O antigen may generate universal immunity that could be exploited to develop vaccines against rickettsial diseases.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America


Transcatheter Aortic-Valve Replacement in Low-Risk Patients. Reply.


Evidence of a purely electronic two-dimensional lattice at the interface of TMD/Bi2Se3 heterostructures

Abstract: When 2D materials are vertically stacked, new physics emerges from interlayer orbital interactions and charge transfer modulated by the additional periodicity of interlayer atomic registry (moire superlattice). Surprisingly, relatively little is known regarding the real-space distribution of the transferred charges within this framework. Here we provide the first experimental indications of a real-space, non-atomic lattice formed by interlayer coupling induced charge redistribution in vertically stacked Bi2Se3/transition metal dichalcogenide (TMD) 2D heterostructures. Robust enough to scatter 200 keV electron beams, this non-atomic lattice generates selected area diffraction patterns that correspond excellently with simulated patterns from moire superlattices of the parent crystals suggesting their location at sites of high interlayer atomic registry. Density functional theory (DFT) predicts concentrated charge pools reside in the interlayer region, located at sites of high nearest-neighbor atomic registry, suggesting the non-atomic lattices are standalone, reside in the interlayer region, and are purely electronic.


Metabolic activity and intracellular pH in induced pluripotent stem cells differentiating in dermal and epidermal directions

Abstract: Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) are a promising tool for personalized cell therapy, in particular, in the field of dermatology. Metabolic plasticity of iPSC are not completely understood due to the fact that iPSC have a mixed mitochondrial phenotype, which still resembles that of somatic cells. In this study we investigated the metabolic changes in iPSC undergoing differentiation in two directions, dermal and epidermal, using two-photon fluorescence microscopy combined with FLIM. Directed differentiation of iPSC into dermal fibroblasts and keratinocyte progenitor cells was induced. Cellular metabolism was examined on the basis of the fluorescence of the metabolic cofactors NAD(P)H and FAD. The optical redox ratio (FAD/NAD(P)H) and the fluorescence lifetimes of NAD(P)H and FAD were traced using two-photon fluorescence microscopy combined with FLIM. Evaluation of the intracellular pH was carried out with the fluorescent рН sensor SypHer-2 and fluorescence microscopy. In this study, evaluation of the metabolic status of iPSC during dermal and epidermal differentiation was accomplished for the first time with the use of optical metabolic imaging. Based on the data on the FAD/NAD(P)H redox ratio and on the fluorescence lifetimes of protein-bound form of NAD(P)H and closed form of FAD, we registered a metabolic shift toward a more oxidative status in the process of iPSC differentiation into dermal fibroblasts and keratinocyte progenitor cells. Biosynthetic processes occurring in dermal fibroblasts associated with the synthesis of fibronectin and versican, that stimulate increased energy metabolism and lower the intracellular pH. No intracellular pH shift is observed in the culture of keratinocyte progenitor cells, which reflects the incomplete process of differentiation in this type of cells. Presented results provide the basis for further understanding the metabolic features of iPSC during differentiation process, which is essential for developing new treatment strategies in cell therapy and tissue engineering. .

Methods and applications in fluorescence


[A specialized university outpatient clinic of the department of Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery].

Abstract: University outpatient clinics are essential for medical research, teaching and treatment of complex and special diseases based on current knowledge and guidelines. Furthermore new therapeutic approaches are developed for complicated and rare diseases. The diversity of disease entities and treatment decisions provided by a specialized university outpatient clinic for plastic and aesthetic surgery is so far unknown and subject to our research. The study results highlight the value of the specialized university outpatient clinic for plastic and aesthetic surgery for medical training purposes, research and advanced health care. ::: ::: ::: METHOD ::: In a retrospective study, outpatients consulting the clinic of the Department of Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery of Hannover Medical School university hospital between 2013 and 2014 were analyzed. The epidemiology and distribution of disease entities previously treated in the different medical specialties such as surgery, internal medicine, dermatology, neurology and psychiatry, dentistry and ophthalmology were investigated. ::: ::: ::: RESULTS ::: During a two-year period (2013/2014) 9272 patients with 821 different ICD-coded diagnoses were seen. 57 % of the primary and secondary diagnoses were related to surgery and 36 % to internal medicine. 7 % of the diagnoses were derived from other clinical specialties such as dermatology, neurology, psychiatry, dentistry and ophthalmology. Geriatric surgery comprised 22 %, post oncological 7 %, postoperative complication management 6 %, sequelae of conservative (non-surgical) treatment 3 % and congenital malformations 3 %. In 29 % of patients, surgical treatment was recommended. ::: ::: ::: CONCLUSION ::: The analysis shows that patients with complex and a wide range of disease entities presented at our outpatient clinic of plastic- and aesthetic surgery. The variety of diagnoses requires not only extensive specialized expertise, but also broad medical knowledge in order to reach adequate treatment strategies. The setting of complex as well as a broad spectrum of diseases of the university outpatient clinic is thus particularly suitable for teaching of differential diagnoses, diagnostic algorithms and development of treatment strategies during medical training and student education.

Handchirurgie, Mikrochirurgie, plastische Chirurgie : Organ der Deutschsprachigen Arbeitsgemeinschaft fur Handchirurgie : Organ der Deutschsprachigen Arbeitsgemeinschaft fur Mikrochirurgie der Peripheren Nerven und Gefasse : Organ der V...


Risk preference: How decision maker’s goal, current value state, and choice set work together.

Abstract: When and why do people choose a more or a less risky option? To answer this question, we propose that it is essential to examine the dynamic interrelations among three factors-the decision maker's goal (e.g., promotion vs. prevention goal), the current value state (e.g., the domain of gains vs. losses), and the choice set (i.e., perceived available options). We review previous theories that highlight the significance of each of these three factors. We then propose a motivational framework of risk preference that describes how these three factors work together motivationally to impact risk preference, illustrated by evidence from regulatory focus research. We then draw on this new motivational framework to examine the ways in which achievement motivation, need for power, and need for relational security are related to decision under risk, and discuss the broader implications of this motivational framework of risk preference. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).


Putative mechanisms for spread and transformation of cutaneous T‐cell lymphoma to neurolymphomatosis


Saccharomyces boulardii as an adjuvant therapy for Helicobacter pylori eradication: A systematic review and meta-analysis with trial sequential analysis.

Abstract: BACKGROUND AND AIMS ::: Whether Saccharomyces boulardii (S boulardii) as an adjuvant therapy are beneficial to H pylori eradication remains controversial. The aim of the study was to update and determine the effects of S boulardii as an adjuvant therapy on H pylori eradication rates and adverse effects. ::: ::: ::: METHODS ::: We searched PubMed, Embase, CENTRAL, and Web of Science to collect all randomized controlled trials assessing the effects of S boulardii as an adjuvant therapy for H pylori eradication from inception to February 2019. Quality of evidence was appraised using Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation system. Trial sequential analysis was performed to control the risk of type I and type II errors. ::: ::: ::: RESULTS ::: Eighteen trials with 3592 patients were eligible for meta-analysis. Compared with standard eradication regimen, the S boulardii supplementation could significantly improve eradication rates [risk ratio (RR) = 1.09, 95% confidence interval (CI):1.05-1.13; moderate quality evidence] and reduce the incidence of total side effects (RR = 0.47, 95%CI:0.36-0.61; low quality evidence), as well as some gastrointestinal adverse effects, especially diarrhea (RR = 0.33, 95%CI:0.23-0.47; low quality evidence) and constipation (RR = 0.37, 95%CI:0.23-0.57; moderate quality evidence). In addition, the need for discontinuation rate in S boulardii supplementation group was significantly lower than in the control group (RR = 0.33, 95%CI:0.16-0.69, P = .003; moderate quality evidence). The TSA results for overall eradication rates and total side effects indicated that the effects were conclusive. ::: ::: ::: CONCLUSIONS ::: Our meta-analysis shows that S boulardii supplementation on standard eradication therapy significantly increased H pylori eradication rates and reduced the incidence of total side effects and some gastrointestinal adverse effects during eradication therapy.


Evo-Devo Algorithms: Gene-Regulation for Digital Architecture

Abstract: The majority of current visual-algorithmic architecture is constricted to specific parameters that are gradient related, keeping their parts’ relation fixed within the algorithm, far away from a truly parametric modeling with a flexible topology. Recent findings around genetics and certain genes capable of shape conditioning (development) have succeeded in recovering the science of embryology as a valid field that connects and affects the evolutionary ecosystem, showing the existence of universal mechanisms that are present in living species, thus describing powerful strategies for generation and emergence. Therefore, a new dual discipline is justified: Evolutionary developmental biology science. Authors propose the convergence of genetics algorithms and simulated features from evolutionary developmental biology into a single data-flow that will prove itself capable of generating great diversity through a simple and flexible structure of data, commands, and polygonal geometry. For that matter, a case study through visual-algorithmic software deals with the hypothesis that for obtaining a greater emergence and design space, a simpler and more flexible approach might only be required, prioritizing hierarchical levels over complex and detailed operations.


Advanced illness home care.

Abstract: Palliative care has moved from historically focusing on dying patients to focusing on palliation any time in illness, suggesting palliative care can be appropriate for almost everyone entering their last years.[1][1],[2][2] In 2017, the Framework on Palliative Care in Canada Act was passed, which

Canadian family physician Medecin de famille canadien


Correction: Prevalence and predictors for sustained remission in rheumatoid arthritis


A REVIEW OF BREAST DEVELOPMENT IN CISGENDER WOMEN AND IMPLICATIONS FOR TRANSGENDER WOMEN

Abstract: ABSTRACT Objective: The objective of this article is to describe the hormonal pathways required for breast development in cisgender women and to review the current available literature describing b...

Endocrine practice : official journal of the American College of Endocrinology and the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists


Synthesis of Silver Nanowires by Using Tetrabutyl Ammonium Dibromochloride as the Auxiliary for Low-Haze Flexible Transparent Conductive Films.

Abstract: Silver nanowires (AgNWs) with the diameter down to 16 nm have been synthesized by using tetrabutyl ammonium dibromochloride (TBADBC) as the organic auxiliary. Moderate dosage of TBADBC was proven to be favorable for the in situ growth of Ag pentahedral seeds on the surface of small AgClBr2 particles and have a passivation effect on the Ag{100} crystal facet during the growth of AgNWs, eventually resulting in the formation of thin AgNWs. Furthermore, the transparent conductive film fabricated by using the obtained AgNWs exhibited excellent photoelectric properties, which has a transmittance of 90.60%, a haze of 0.95%, and a sheet resistance of 110.8 Ω/sq, indicating large potential for application in flexible transparent conductors.

Langmuir : the ACS journal of surfaces and colloids


Discovery of a New Isoxazole-3-hydroxamate-Based Histone Deacetylase 6 Inhibitor SS-208 with Antitumor Activity in Syngeneic Melanoma Mouse Models.

Abstract: Isoxazole is a five-membered heterocycle that is widely used in drug discovery endeavors. Here, we report the design, synthesis, and structural and biological characterization of SS-208, a novel HDAC6-selective inhibitor containing the isoxazole-3-hydroxamate moiety as a zinc-binding group as well as a hydrophobic linker. A crystal structure of the Danio rerio HDAC6/SS-208 complex reveals a bidentate coordination of the active-site zinc ion that differs from the preferred monodentate coordination observed for HDAC6 complexes with phenylhydroxamate-based inhibitors. While SS-208 has minimal effects on the viability of murine SM1 melanoma cells in vitro, it significantly reduced in vivo tumor growth in a murine SM1 syngeneic melanoma mouse model. These findings suggest that the antitumor activity of SS-208 is mainly mediated by immune-related antitumor activity as evidenced by the increased infiltration of CD8+ and NK+ T cells and the enhanced ratio of M1 and M2 macrophages in the tumor microenvironment.


[Changes on Ward Atmosphere and Job Satisfaction after Implementation of the Safewards Model in Two Locked Acute Psychiatric Wards - A Multi-Perspective Evaluation].

Abstract: OBJECTIVE ::: Evaluation of the changes of ward atmosphere and job satisfaction after the implementation of the Safewards model in acute psychiatry in Germany. ::: ::: ::: METHOD ::: A multi-perspective pre-post study design was conducted in two locked wards among patients (n = 80) and staff (n = 88) before and after the implementation of the Safewards model over a period of 12 months. ::: ::: ::: RESULTS ::: After the implementation of the Safewards model, ward atmosphere and job satisfaction improved. Both correlated positively amongst staff. Furthermore, job satisfaction correlated positively with a high degree of implementation of two interventions. Fidelity to the Safewards model was high. ::: ::: ::: CONCLUSIONS ::: Implementing the Safewards model in acute psychiatry with high fidelity can have positive effects on positive ward atmosphere and job satisfaction. Thus, patients as well as staff benefit from this model. With regards to high fluctuation in acute psychiatry, the implementation of the Safewards model can additionally facilitate retention management.


Successful Full-term Pregnancies After High-dose Pelvic Radiotherapy for Ewing Sarcoma: A Case Report.

Abstract: Survivors of childhood cancer are at risk of long-term sequelae that arise as a consequence of cancer treatment. Radiation and chemotherapy treatment in pediatric female patients can have detrimental impacts on fertility, particularly in those with pelvic tumor involvement. We report 2 successful natural full-term pregnancies with vaginal delivery in a woman 12 years after biopsy, irradiation (55.5 Gy), and multi-agent chemotherapy for treatment of pelvic Ewing sarcoma. Both children were born healthy, with no complications in pregnancy or delivery. Fertility preservation and risk assessment following chemotherapy/radiation therapy is evolving, providing new data to effectively counsel and treat young women.

Journal of pediatric hematology/oncology


Use of poetry in medical teaching


Transferable Mechanisms of Quinolone Resistance from 1998 Onward

Abstract: SUMMARY While the description of resistance to quinolones is almost as old as these antimicrobial agents themselves, transferable mechanisms of quinolone resistance (TMQR) remained absent from the scenario for more than 36 years, appearing first as sporadic events and afterward as epidemics. In 1998, the first TMQR was soundly described, that is, QnrA. The presence of QnrA was almost anecdotal for years, but in the middle of the first decade of the 21st century, there was an explosion of TMQR descriptions, which definitively changed the epidemiology of quinolone resistance. Currently, 3 different clinically relevant mechanisms of quinolone resistance are encoded within mobile elements: (i) target protection, which is mediated by 7 different families of Qnr (QnrA, QnrB, QnrC, QnrD, QnrE, QnrS, and QnrVC), which overall account for more than 100 recognized alleles; (ii) antibiotic efflux, which is mediated by 2 main transferable efflux pumps (QepA and OqxAB), which together account for more than 30 alleles, and a series of other efflux pumps (e.g., QacBIII), which at present have been sporadically described; and (iii) antibiotic modification, which is mediated by the enzymes AAC(6′)Ib-cr, from which different alleles have been claimed, as well as CrpP, a newly described phosphorylase.


Retained Essure Implants After Salpingectomy and Essure Removal Procedure

Journal of minimally invasive gynecology


Association of valproic acid and 2-propyl-4-pentenoic acid concentrations with adverse reaction in 254 Chinese patients with epilepsy.

Abstract: OBJECTIVE ::: To investigate the correlation of the concentrations of valproic acid (VPA) and 2-propyl-4-pentenoic acid (4-ene-VPA) with their adverse reactions, and to guide the clinical safety and rational use of VPA. Methods: We collected 254 epilepsy outpatients who took long-term use of sodium valproate oral solution single or combined with other antiepileptic drugs from Xiangya Hospital. The plasma concentrations of VPA and 4-ene-VPA in patients were determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The double variable correlation analysis was performed to analyze the effect of plasma 4-ene-VPA and VPA concentrations on adverse reactions. Results: The correlations between the PLT level and the dosage of VPA (P<0.01 and P<0.05, respectively), and the RBC level and the concentration of VPA (All P<0.01) were significant negatively. The concentrations of 4-ene-VPA, VPA, ALT, and AST in the polytherapy group were much higher than those in the monotherapy group (All P<0.05). In the monotherapy group, the ALT and AST levels in patients younger than or equal to 2 years old were significantly higher than those over 2 years old (P<0.001). In the polytherapy group, the levels of AST, WBC, and PLT in patients younger than or equal to 2 years old were higher than those over 2 years old (P<0.05). The levels of AST did not show positive correlation with the concentrations of 4-ene-VPA and VPA (r=0.031, r=0.035, all P>0.05), and the levels of ALT also did not show positive correlation with the concentrations of 4-ene-VPA and VPA (r=-0.064, r=-0.089, all P>0.05). Conclusion: VPA may affect blood routine indexes. Age and combination therapy with the non-enzyme-induced anti-epileptic drugs are risk factors for VPA-related liver dysfunctions and renal impairment. The determination of VPA and 4-ene VPA is not a suitable tool for early warning of the VPA-induced liver dysfunction.

Zhong nan da xue xue bao. Yi xue ban = Journal of Central South University. Medical sciences


Maternal Antibodies Inhibit Neonatal and Infant Responses to Vaccination by Shaping the Early-Life B Cell Repertoire within Germinal Centers

Abstract: Summary Maternal antibodies (MatAbs) protect offspring from infections but limit their responses to vaccination. The mechanisms of this inhibition are still debated. Using murine early-life immunization models mimicking the condition prevailing in humans, we observed the induction of CD4-T, T follicular helper, and germinal center (GC) B cell responses even when early-life antibody responses were abrogated by MatAbs. GC B cells induced in the presence of MatAbs form GC structures and exhibit canonical GC changes in gene expression but fail to differentiate into plasma cells and/or memory B cells in a MatAb titer-dependent manner. Furthermore, GC B cells elicited in the presence or absence of MatAbs use different VH and Vk genes and show differences in genes associated with B cell differentiation and isotype switching. Thus, MatAbs do not prevent B cell activation but control the output of the GC reaction both quantitatively and qualitatively, shaping the antigen-specific B cell repertoire.


A Note on Teaching the Yuan-Dollar Market vis-a-vis China's Dollar Holdings

Abstract: The economic relationship between China and the U.S. is sufficiently ubiquitous in the media that few students will be unacquainted with the issue. Connecting the dots between China’s export-led growth, current account surpluses, currency peg, and its reserves (whether held by the central bank or in a sovereign wealth fund) is a key task in any undergraduate course that touches on the global economy. The present note proposes a method for understanding the relationship between two items in this list, the currency peg and reserves. Maintaining exchange rates different from equilibrium (as China has done) has consequences for the quantities of currencies that have to be bought and sold. The dollars accumulated have to be held in some form – a fact which also has had far reaching consequences for the global economy. The paper proposes using currency offer curves to facilitate teaching fixed exchange rates to undergraduates. Our method helps students “see” the process of pegging the yuan and the resulting accumulation of dollars.


Bibliography on birds of prey and owls in Slovakia. Part 5. General references and supplements to previous parts

Abstract: Abstract The aim of the bibliography is to provide a list of publications on the raptors and owls of Slovakia and of Slovak authors including articles dealing with various organisational issues. The previous parts, which focused on genera from the orders Accipitrifromes, Falconiformes and Strigiformes, are now followed by a fifth part focusing on the raptor and owl species mentioned in various wider associations in the individualarticles. The species, objective and author indexes and the list of periodicals enable better overview Abstrakt Cielom bibliografie je poskytnút zoznam publikácií o dravcoch a sovách Slovenska ako aj prác od slovenských autorov vrátane rôznych organizacných správ. Na prvé casti zamerané na rody radov Accipitriformes, Falconiformes a Strigiformes nadväzuje piata cast zameraná na dravce a sovy spomínané v jednotlivých publikáciách v rôznych širších súvislostiach. Zoznam citácií sprehladnujú druhový, vecný a autorský register a zoznam periodík.


Competitive Effects of Mass Customization

Abstract: Abstract The existing theoretical literature on mass customization maintains that customization reduces product differentiation and intensifies price competition. In contrast, operations management studies argue that customization serves primarily to differentiate a company from its competitors. Interactive involvement of the customer in product design creates an affective relationship with the firm, relaxing price competition. This paper provides a model that incorporates consumer involvement to explain the phenomena described in the operations management literature.Two firms on the Hotelling line compete for a continuum of consumers with heterogeneous brand preferences. An exogenously given fraction of consumers is potentially interested in customization. Consumer benefits from customization are the rewards from a special shopping experience and the value of product customization (a better fitting product); these benefits are higher for consumers located closer to the customizing brand. When a consumer purchases a customized product, he/she incurs waiting costs. Each firm simultaneously decides whether to offer standard products, customized products, or both, and then engage in price competition. I show that customization increases product differentiation, leading to less intense price competition. Depending on the parameter values, in equilibrium either both firms offer customized products, one firm offers customized products and the other standard and customized products, or one firm offers customized products and the other standard products. I perform comparative statics analysis with respect to the fraction of consumers interested in customization, the waiting costs, and the fixed cost of customization.


A PEGylation Technology of L-Asparaginase with Monomethoxy Polyethylene Glycol-Propionaldehyde

Abstract: Polyethylene glycol (PEG) conjugation technology has been successfully applied to improve the performance of protein drugs. In this study, L-asparaginase was N-terminal sitespecifically modified by alkylating PEG with monomethoxy polyethylene glycol-propionaldehyde (mPEG-ALD20000). The optimum reaction parameters were determined as pH 5.0, a molar ratio of mPEG-ALD20000 to L-asparaginase of 10:1, a reaction time of 16 h and temperature of 25 °C. PEG-L-asparaginase (PEG-L-ASNase) was isolated and purified with consecutive anion-exchange (XK, 16 × 20 cm, Q Sepharose FF) and gel-filtration (Tricorn, 10 × 600 cm, Sephacryl S-300 HR) chromatography, respectively. PEG-L-ASNase retained 43.5% of its activity and the N-terminal amino groups were modified to an extent of 3.67%


Introduction: Economics and Occupy Wall Street

Abstract: This issue of the The Economists’ Voice is showcasing views around the issues Occupy Wall Street has raised.


Elizabeth Archibald and David F. Johnson (eds.). Arthurian Literature XXIX


Influence of Processing Route and Section Size on Elevated Temperature Tensile Properties of 9Cr-1Mo Ferritic Steel

Abstract: Abstract Tensile tests were performed on specimens obtained from 20 mm plate in normalised and tempered condition and quenched and tempered thick section tubeplate forging to assess the influence of processing route and section size on room and elevated temperatures (300–873 K) tensile properties of 9Cr-1Mo ferritic steel. Yield and ultimate tensile strength values of plate and tubeplate forging exhibited a gradual decrease up to intermediate temperatures followed by a rapid decrease at high temperatures. Ductility values displayed a gradual decrease to a minimum at intermediate temperatures followed by an increase at high temperatures. The fracture mode remained transgranular. At intermediate temperatures, 9Cr-1Mo steel in both the product forms exhibited similar serrated flow, an important manifestation of dynamic strain ageing. At all temperatures, thick section tubeplate forging exhibited lower strength and higher ductility values compared to normalised and tempered steel. The inferior strength values were attributed to coarse microstructure of the forging.

High Temperature Materials and Processes


Online Assessment of Voltage Stability in Power Systems with PMUs

Abstract: Abstract: For the assessment of voltage instability which comprises the detection of voltage instability and identification of critical buses, two indices namely, system wide Qtax, and bus-specific qtax, are proposed. The Qtax, based on the sensitivity of the reactive power injections to the loading in the system provides early detection of impending voltage instability. The computed qtax indices identify the critcal buses among the load buses in the system. The identified critical buses provided optimal lacations for the corrective control actions for averting voltage instability. Additionally, for voltage stability monitoring, determining the poing of exhaustion of the reactive reserves in system is also crucial. This is addressed by proposed Q-Monitoring Index (QMI), which is the ratio of the reactive component of the source current to the sink current that flows through the adjacent transmission line. These proposed indices together can provide early indication to impending voltage instability. This has been illustrated on IEEE-39 bus system. The reactive support on identified critical buses results in maximum increase in the loadability of the system.

International Journal of Emerging Electric Power Systems


Influence of Speed Governors of Hydropower Stations on Frequency Stabilization of Fixed-Speed Wind Farm

Abstract: Abstract This paper uses a small power system, consisting of two hydropower stations and a fixed-speed wind farm as sources of power, to study the influence of type of speed governor of hydropower stations on the frequency stabilization of the fixed-speed wind farm. As an example, two types of speed governors are selected which are (1) mechanical-hydraulic speed governor and (2) electrical-hydraulic speed governor. Rest of the speed governors can be also examined following the same methodology presented in the research. Two transfer functions, which correspond to the two speed governors, are developed for each hydropower station. The overall transfer function of the test power system is developed, and different study cases are presented. The frequency response analysis of the different transfer functions is used to compare the two speed governors based on their ability to stabilize the frequency deviation of the fixed-speed wind resulting from electrical or mechanical disturbances in the power systems. Time-domain simulations under a mechanical disturbance, represented by a wind gust, and an electrical disturbance, represented by three-phase to ground fault, are performed to validate the results of the frequency response analysis.


Efficacy and safety of ethyl-2-cyanoacrylate adhesives for corneal gluing

Abstract: Abstract Background: Ethyl-2-cyanoacrylate adhesive has been widely used for sealing small corneal perforations in Thailand. However, its efficacy has not been reported. Objective: To study the efficacy and safety of ethyl-2-cyanoacrylate adhesive for corneal gluing in impending or perforated corneas. Methods: This is a retrospective study of a case series of patients who had corneal gluing with ethyl-2-cyanoacrylate in a tertiary care center in Thailand from 1992-2010. Data includes demographic data, indications for treatment, visual acuity before and after gluing, number of gluing, definite treatment, success and complications after gluing. Results: Sixty-six eyes were treated with ethyl-2-cyanoacrylate adhesive. There were 39 men (59%) and 27 women (41%). Age ranged from 11 to 87 years (mean age 49.74 years). The most common indications were perforated corneal ulcer (32%) and descemetocele (29%). Overall success rate of gluing was 91% (n = 60). Success rate on the first, second, third, and fifth attempt of gluing was 70% (n = 46), 14% (n = 9), 6% (n = 4), and 2% (n = 1), respectively. Definite treatments were performed on 17 patients after gluing. Six patients had penetrating keratoplasty, 6 had lamellar keratoplasty, 3 had amniotic membrane transplantation, 1 had corneal resuturing, and 1 immunocompromised patient with a severe corneal infection had an evisceration. One patient developed corneal irritation. No serious complications were found. Conclusion: Ethyl-2-cyanoacrylate adhesive is safe and efficacious in gluing both noninfectious and infectious corneal perforations.


A Surprising Result Encountered in Various Extensions of the Traditional Deterrence Game

Abstract: Abstract The purpose of this note is to present a surprising result regarding crisis initiation and termination. The decision problem treated here is distilled from an extension of the two-sided incomplete information version of the traditional deterrence game. We employ a two-stage analysis of the decision problem faced by the Challenger that formally links the onset of a crisis to the decision over whether to escalate the crisis should the Challenger face resistance from the Defender. The two-part result is as follows. A crisis is more likely to be initiated by a Challenger who will ultimately back down if Defender chooses to resist than by a Challenger of the same type who will choose to escalate if Defender chooses to resist. Contrariwise, a crisis is less likely to be initiated by a Challenger who will ultimately escalate if Defender chooses to resist than by a Challenger of the same type who will choose to back down if Defender chooses to resist.

Peace Economics, Peace Science and Public Policy


Introduction to the Special Section for Peircean Semiotics and His Philosophy of Inquiry


An energy residual-based approach to gradient effects within the mechanics of generalized continua

Abstract: Abstract Generalized continua exhibiting gradient effects are addressed through a method grounded on the energy residual (ER)-based gradient theory by the first author and coworkers. A main tool of this theory is the Clausius-Duhem inequality cast in a form differing from the classical one only by a nonstandard extra term, the (nonlocality) ER, required to satisfy the insulation condition (its global value has to vanish or to take a known value). The ER carries in the nonlocality features of the mechanical problem through a strain-like rate field, being the specific nonlocality source, and a concomitant higher-order long-range stress (or microstress) field. The thermodynamic restrictions on the constitutive equations are determined by the latter inequality with no need for microstress equilibrium equations, whereas the principle of virtual power (PVP) is left in a standard format. The derived state equations include a set of partial differential equations involving the nonlocality-source strain-like quantity and the related long-range stress, as well as the associated higher-order boundary conditions determined by the insulation condition. Second-grade materials within gradient elasticity, gradient plasticity and crystal plasticity, as well as materials with microstructure (micromorphic and Cosserat materials) are considered to derive the pertinent constitutive equations. The proposed ER-based approach to gradient effects is shown to constitute a more straightforward and “economic” way to formulate the relevant constitutive equations than the PVP-based one.


The EU Competition Investigation of Internet Search


Neoadjuvant gemcitabine and docetaxel in primary breast angiosarcoma revealed complete pathological remission

Abstract: Abstract Background: Breast angiosarcoma is a rare but aggressive vascular-origin soft tissue tumor. Surgery is the main treatment. However, recent evidence has shown activity of the single agents, paclitaxel or docetaxel, in unresectable or metastasis angiosarcoma. Objective: To report the case of a patient who received systemic chemotherapy as part of multidisciplinary approach to improve clinical outcome. Results: We report the case of a 56-year-old female patient who presented with a locally advanced primary angiosarcoma of the left breast and received a combination gemcitabine and docetaxel as neoadjuvant chemotherapy in addition to standard multidisciplinary treatment. The patient was followed for at least 20 months without evidence of disease recurrence. Conclusion: A perioperative combination chemotherapy consisting of docetaxel and gemcitabine can be considered as a strategy to achieve a pathological complete response and durable remission.


The History of Human Rights: The Big Bang of an Emerging Field or Flash in the Pan?

Abstract: Abstract This article explores the emerging historiography of human rights. After reviewing the current emphasis in the literature on the origins of human rights, the essay inquires into possible futures of this nascent historical field. What might scholarly interest in more unified frames of knowledge that bridge the natural and the cultural realms mean for future historiographies of human rights?


Possessives and grammaticalization in Romance

Abstract: As is well known, the possessive paradigms of French, Italian, Spanish and Romanian contain three types of possessive: adjectives, determiners and pronouns. Comparing with the Latin system, from which all Romance possessive systems derive, two tendencies prevail: possessive pronouns tend to be eliminated, and possessive adjectives change into determiners or become defictive adjectives with a restricted distribution. However, the possessive system of each of these four languages appears to be different. The aim of the article is to examine the extent to which these differences are the result of different degrees of grammaticalization. We show that the possessive system in French is in the lead in terms of grammaticalization in that neither of its two paradigms any longer displays adjectival properties. The least grammaticalized system is the Italian, while Spanish and Romanian occupy intermediate positions: Spanish combines the French system of clitic forms with the Italian system of strong forms. As for Romanian, the dependence of the possessive form on the definite article or its substitute AL shows that it is more grammaticalized than the Italian possessive system.


Book Reviews


Understanding and overcoming pragmatic failure in intercultural communication: From focus on speakers to focus on hearers

Abstract: Abstract For learners to communicate efficiently in the L2, they must avoid pragmatic failure. In many cases, teachers' praxis centres on the learner's performance in the L2 or his role as a speaker, which neglects the importance of his role as interpreter of utterances. Assuming that, as hearers, learners also have a responsibility to avoid pragmatic failure, this paper endorses the relevance-theoretic view of communication, its explanation about why misunderstandings arise, and the belief that the learner's sophistication in understanding is not the same as that of a native. Therefore, it argues that learners must be taught to be cautious optimistic hearers. As a result, learners will be able to reject interpretations of utterances, which, due to the linguistic or cultural incompetence of their native or non-native interlocutors in the L2 system, they are led to regard as relevant enough although their interlocutors may have expected them to arrive at a different interpretation.


Infinitesimal Chow Dilogarithm

Abstract: Let $C_{2}$ be a smooth and projective curve over the ring of dual numbers of a field $k.$ Given non-zero rational functions $f,g,$ and $h$ on $C_{2},$ we define an invariant $\rho(f\wedge g \wedge h) \in k.$ This is an analog of the real analytic Chow dilogarithm and the extension to non-linear cycles of the additive dilogarithm. Using this construction we state and prove an infinitesimal version of the strong reciprocity conjecture. Also using $\rho,$ we define an infinitesimal regulator on algebraic cycles of weight two which generalizes Park's construction in the case of cycles with modulus.


Assembling r-gons Out of n Given Segments


Measuring nanomechanical motion with an imprecision below that at the standard quantum limit

Abstract: In the past decade, impressive efforts have been powered in the field of optomechanics that is the study of the coupling between a light field and a mechanical degree of freedom, with the major aims of detecting the quantum zero-point motion fluctuations of a mechanical object, and studying the fundamental quantum measurement processes. Though having their own specificities, both aims require combining ultra-high sensitivity readout together with ultra-sensitive mechanical response, sharing for example the common condition to involve measurement schemes limited at a level better than that of the Standard Quantum Limit (SQL) [1]. Using optical readout, we demonstrate for the first time sub-SQL imprecision for nanomechanical motion at room temperature. By using a cavity optomechanical near-field coupling scheme with more than one order of magnitude improved optomechanical coupling coefficients [2] combined with homodyne detection we reach a room-temperature imprecision 3 dB below the SQL launching only 1 µW of optical input power (see Fig. 1).


High sensitivity phonon spectroscopy of bose-einstein condensates using matter-wave interference

Abstract: We observe in time-of-flight images a matter-wave fringe pattern for low momentum excitations. The contrast of these fringes is a sensitive spectroscopic probe explained by a Bogoliubov excitation projection and approaches the quantized excitation regime

Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics/International Quantum Electronics Conference and Photonic Applications Systems Technologies


Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic imaging of colon tissues: evaluating the significance of amide I and C–H stretching bands in diagnostic applications with machine learning

Abstract: Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopic imaging of colon biopsy tissues in transmission combined with machine learning for the classification of different stages of colon malignancy was carried out in this study. Two different approaches, an optical and a computational one, were applied for the elimination of the scattering background during the measurements and compared with the results of the machine learning model without correction for the scattering. Several different data processing pathways were implemented in order to obtain a high accuracy of the prediction model. This study demonstrates, for the first time, that C–H stretching and amide I bands are of little to no significance in the classification of the colon malignancy, based on the Gini importance values by random forest (RF). The best prediction outcome is found when supervised RF classification was carried out in the fingerprint region of the spectral data between 1500 and 1000 cm−1 (excluding the contribution of amide I and II bands). An overall prediction accuracy higher than 90% is achieved through the RF. The results also show that dysplastic and hyperplastic tissues are well distinguished. This leads to the insight that the important differences between hyperplastic and dysplastic colon tissues lie within the fingerprint region of FTIR spectra. In this study, computational correction performed better than optical correction, but the findings show that the disease states of colon biopsies can be distinguished effectively without elimination of Mie scattering effect.