Reconstitution of telomerase activity is proposed as a potential gene therapy to prevent, or rescue, age‐related diseases produced by critical telomere shortening. However, it is not known whether or not short telomeres are irreversibly damaged. We addressed this by re‐introducing telomerase in late generation telomerase‐deficient mice, Terc −/− , which have short telomeres and show severe proliferative defects. For this, we have crossed these mice with Terc +/− mice and analyzed telomere length, chromosomal instability and premature aging of the progeny. The Terc −/− progeny had one set of chromosomes with normal telomeres, whereas the other set remained with critically short telomeres; these mice presented chromosomal instability and premat...

To analyze the long-term outcome of patients included in the Lymphome Non Hodgkinien study 98-5 (LNH98-5) comparing cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (CHOP) to rituximab plus CHOP (R-CHOP) in elderly patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.LNH98-5 was a randomized study that included 399 previously untreated patients, age 60 to 80 years, with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Patients received eight cycles of classical CHOP (cyclophosphamide 750 mg/m(2), doxorubicin 50 mg/m(2), vincristine 1.4 mg/m(2), and prednisone 40 mg/m(2) for 5 days) every 3 weeks. In R-CHOP, rituximab 375 mg/m(2) was administered the same day as CHOP. Survivals were analyzed using the intent-to-treat principle.Median follow-up is 5 years at present. Event-fre...

The emerging technique of micro electro mechanical systems throws a lot of challenging in the micro and nanoscale of machining. The present research explores the development of hybrid aluminium composite with hard particles boron carbide and silicon carbide in 10% volume fraction, and drilling of micro-holes using micro Electro Chemical Machining (µECM) process. The experiments were conducted based on Taguchi's design of experiments. The chief drilling parameters considered for electrochemical drilling were frequency, voltage, current, and electrolyte concentration. The machining duration and electrode wear were observed as the machining responses. After the experimental trials, the observed machining responses were transformed into equivalent Multi Respons...

Abstract Background Filamentous basidiomycetes are mainly considered to be respiratory tract colonizers but the clinical significance of their isolation in a specimen is debatable. Hormographiella aspergillata was first reported as a human pathogen in 1971. We discuss the role of this mold as a pathogen or colonizer and give an update on diagnostic tools and in vitro antifungal susceptibility. Case presentation We identified three cases of H. aspergillata with respiratory symptoms in a short period of time. One invasive infection and two colonizations were diagnosed. Culture supernatants showed that H. aspergillata can produce galactomannan and β-D-glucan but not glucuronoxylomannan. For the first time, isavuconazole susceptibility was determined and high m...

To characterize handwashing behaviors of children and assess the efficacy of a waiting room-based hand hygiene intervention at improving handwashing ability.Prospective randomized pilot study.Emergency department waiting room at a freestanding urban pediatric hospital.Children (8-18 years) and their parent.Participants were randomized to glow gel hand washing without hand hygiene education or glow gel hand washing with hand hygiene education. After participants washed with glow gel, "dirty areas" were illuminated using a black light, and hands were scored. A questionnaire about handwashing behavior was administered. All subjects returned 2-4 weeks after intervention to repeat glow gel hand washing and the questionnaire.Sixty pediatric patients and 57 parents...

Behavioral management and patient cooperation are very important in pediatric dentistry. Some studies have indicated that individual behavior can vary in terms of fingerprint patterns (loop, whorl, and arch). Therefore, fingerprint patterns might help to predict the extent of cooperation by children during dental procedures. The present study aimed to investigate the possible relationship between fingerprint patterns and cooperation by children. In this pilot investigation, 51 children aged 3–6 years were examined. The children meeting the inclusion criteria in the first visit were scheduled for a dental procedure in the second visit. Another examiner assessed children’s behavior during the dental procedure according to the designed questionnaire and bas...

The urotoxicity is a common complication associated with patients receiving cyclophosphamide (CYP). This study was designed to investigate the uroprotective mechanism of quercetin (Quer) flavonoid against CYP induced urotoxicity via determination of oxidative stress markers as well as inflammatory mediators in bladder tissue. Forty male Wistar rats were divided into four groups; Normal group: received saline for 10 days. Quer control group: received quercetin 50 mg/kg/day for 10 days. CYP group: received saline for 10 days and injected with a single dose of 150 mg/kg CYP intraperitoneal (i.p) at day 8. The Quer + CYP group: received Quer 50 mg/kg/day for 10 days plus CYP 150 mg/kg i.p. injection at day 8. The CYP injection produced a significant elevation in...

Background/methods: In 1979 death rate registration for primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) became available in The Netherlands. In the 14-year period 1979–92, 417 persons died of and 179 with PBC. We investigated secondary causes of death using standardized mortality ratios (SMR) (1.0 as reference, P 85) years. Secondary causes of death originated from the circulatory, digestive, and respiratory tracts and malignancies. Younger persons (< 60 years), dying of PBC, more often died with ‘toxicity related to immunosuppression’ than older persons (P < 0.01). Younger persons (< 60) dying with PBC, more often died of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) than older ones (P < 0.05). In patients wi...

This objectives of this study were evaluated nutritive values of Bang Chang’s Cayenne pepper (Capsicum annuum var. acuminatum) and investigates its biological characteristics on health promotion, such as, antioxidant activities. The research was conducted by collecting sample, separating dried edible parts, which were determined nutritive values, including proximal analysis of water content, crude protein, crude fat, dietary fiber, total ash content, carbohydrate, total calories, β-carotene, vitamins E and C. The nutritive data show higher nutritive values of Bang Chang’s Cayenne pepper than other Cayenne pepper. Moreover, β-carotene and vitamin E contents of Bang Chang’s Cayenne pepper were higher than other Cayenne pepper. In co...

In solid organ transplantation (SOT), the clinical relevance of donor-specific antibodies (DSA) directed at anti-HLA-A, -B, -DR and -DQ antigens is largely recognized while it is still a matter of debate for DSA directed at HLA-C. In this review, we summarize the peculiarities of HLA-C among class I HLA antigens as well as their immunogenicity, which underlie the clinical relevance of HLA-C locus and anti-HLA-C DSA in SOT. Many factors, both intrinsic and extrinsic to the HLA-C gene and HLA-C protein, explain its lower expression in comparison with HLA-A and -B. This lower expression can explain the apparent lower immunogenicity of HLA-C leading to a lower prevalence and strength of anti-HLA-C antibodies. Nevertheless, HLA-C antigens are truly immunogenic an...

A novel method for measuring sea ice motion using upward-looking Acoustic Doppler Current Profilers is presented. The method overcomes some of the drawbacks inherent in other methods such as lack of temporal resolution or restriction to nearshore areas. Two ADCP's of different sampling configuration were deployed in areas of differing ice climate in the Gulf of St. Lawrence during the winter of 1987/88. Both units proved that they can successfully measure ice velocities while mounted on the ocean bottom. Acoustically measured ice velocities and those measured by radar compare to within 10% in most cases. The variance of the “error” in the acoustically measured surface vertical velocity increases by almost three orders of magnitude when the surface reflec...

The failure mode limitations presented in the International Society for Rock Mechanics (ISRM) were recognised as an obvious issue by invalidating most of the failure modes along the bedding plane. In this study, the anisotropic behaviour of index strength and failure mode of weathered shale are evaluated by utilising the point load test (PLT) and the block punch index (BPI). The outcomes elaborate that the degree of anisotropy of PLT is four times the BPI degree of anisotropy. The failure mode of weathered shale is observed to be controlled by the bedding plane orientation (β). Particularly, when the point loading is not perpendicular to the bedding plane orientation, it is necessary to consider the inclined failure mode along bedding since eliminating thes...

The photophysical tuning is reported for a series of tetraphenylphosphonium (TPP) metal halide hybrids containing distinct metal halides, TPP2MXn (MXn=SbCl5, MnCl4, ZnCl4, ZnCl2Br2, ZnBr4), from efficient phosphorescence to ultralong afterglow. The afterglow properties of TPP+ cations could be suspended for the hybrids containing low band gap emissive metal halide species, such as SbCl52− and MnCl42−, but significantly enhanced for the hybrids containing wide band gap non-emissive ZnCl42−. Structural and photophysical studies reveal that the enhanced afterglow is attributed to stronger π–π stacking and intermolecular electronic coupling between TPP+ cations in TPP2ZnCl4 than in the pristine organic ionic compound TPPCl. Moreover, the afterglow in T...

Deep learning has achieved impressive prediction accuracies in a variety of scientific and industrial domains. However, the nested nonlinear feature of deep learning makes the learning highly nontransparent, i.e., it is still unknown how the learning coordinates a huge number of parameters to achieve decision-making. To explain this hierarchical credit assignment, we propose a mean-field learning model by assuming that an ensemble of subnetworks, rather than a single network, is trained for a classification task. Surprisingly, our model reveals that apart from some deterministic synaptic weights connecting two neurons at neighboring layers, there exists a large number of connections that can be absent, and other connections can allow for a broad distribution...

Managing the disruptions in projects is a challenging task for project managers. In this respect, critical chain project management (CCPM) has been considered as a promising methodology in expediting projects. However, the effectiveness of this methodology is often lost in search of optimal use of project buffers to hedge against delays occurring in the critical chain. The more critical chain activity gets delayed, the greater is the likelihood of penetration of project buffer time. The resource constraints of critical chains have been considered as a major determinant of project buffer penetration. Although a project buffer is provided to protect the critical chain, to keep the CCPM project schedule competitive, it is the priority of the project manager to ...

Liquid–vapor flows exhibiting phase transition, including phase creation in single-phase flows, are of high interest in mathematics, as well as in the engineering sciences. In two preceding articles the authors showed on the one hand the capability of the isothermal Euler equations to describe such phenomena (Hantke and Thein, arXiv, 2017, arXiv:1703.09431). On the other hand they proved the nonexistence of certain phase creation phenomena in flows governed by the full system of Euler equations, see Hantke and Thein, Quart. Appl. Math. 2015, 73, 575–591. In this note, the authors close the gap for two-phase flows by showing that the two-phase flows considered are not possible when the flow is governed by the full Euler equations, together with the regula...

This is a descriptive study of cervical cancer screening knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and practices among ethnically diverse black women. We conducted 6 focus groups with Haitian, African, English-speaking Caribbean, and African American women recruited from a federally qualified health center. Overall, there was limited knowledge and confusion across ethnic groups about cervical cancer and its risk factors, the Pap test, and the human papilloma virus (HPV) and its association with cervical cancer. At the same time, there were distinct differences between ethnic groups in knowledge, practices, and cultural beliefs about cervical cancer. African women knew the least among all the groups, while African American participants had the greatest knowledge of HPV....

Several species of Nepeta genus are utilized in folk medicine for treatment of contusions, rheumatic pains, fever, cutaneous eruptions. Some species are employed for their anti-inflammatory properties. In this paper, we report the results of phytochemical studies on aerial parts of Nepeta sibthorpii Bentham (Lamiaceae), an endemic plant of Greece. The bioassay-guided fractionation of methanol extract led to the isolation of ursolic acid and polyphenol fraction. By HPLC, we determined some phenolics: chlorogenic acid (0.315 mg/g) and the flavonoids rutin (0.091 mg/g), luteolin-7-O-glucoside (0.387 mg/g) and a luteolin derivative. We assayed the radical scavenging activity of Nepeta sibthorpii methanol extract by the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) method...

Following the Labour victory at the 1997 General Election which ended 18 years of Conservative political domination of the UK, the precise future of the competitive contracting state is uncertain.' The question of how public services should be provided specifically, whether the role of the state should be that of direct provider, purchaser, or market regulator remains pressing in respect of a wide range of health care, ancillary, social and community services.2 Against this background, the present paper considers the usefulness of the concepts of responsive and reflexive law and governance in the evaluation of contractual as distinct from bureaucratic arrangements for service delivery. Particular reference will be made to local public services such as social...

Rectal indomethacin reduces the risk of pancreatitis after endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). Most studies of its efficacy included high-risk cohorts and excluded low-risk patients, including those with malignant biliary obstruction. We investigated the potential of rectal indomethacin to prevent post-ERCP pancreatitis (PEP) in a variety of patients.We performed a retrospective cohort study of 4017 patients who underwent ERCP at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, from 2009 and 2015, including 823 patients with malignant biliary obstruction. After June 2012, with a few exceptions, patients received indomethacin after their procedure. We collected data from patients' records on demographic and clinical features, procedures, and...

Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) is one of the most potent neurotrophic factors and promotes survival in many populations of cells. We examined the neuroprotective effect of an adenoviral vector encoding glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (AxCAhGDNF) on the transient global ischemia [Brain Res. 885 (2000) 273-282]. Gerbils received AxCAhGDNF or an adenoviral vector encoding bacterial beta-galactosidase gene (AxCALacZ) through administration into the lateral ventricle. Two days later, occlusion of the common carotid arteries for 5 min bilaterally using aneurysm clips produced transient global forebrain ischemia. Animals showed intense immunolabeling for GDNF in ependymal cells on 2, 4 and 7 days after the operation. The exogenous ge...

Results of 3 studies support the notion that anchoring is a special case of semantic priming; specifically, information that is activated to solve a comparative anchoring task will subsequently be more accessible when participants make absolute judgments. By using the logic of priming research, in Study 1 the authors showed that the strength of the anchor effect depends on the applicability of activated information. Study 2 revealed a contrast effect when the activated information was not representative for the absolute judgment and the targets of the 2 judgment tasks were sufficiently different. Study 3 demonstrated that generating absolute judgments requires more time when comparative judgments include an implausible anchor and can therefore be made withou...

Based on a sample of 300 million $K_S$ mesons produced in $\phi \to K_L K_S$ decays recorded by the KLOE experiment at the DA$\Phi$NE $e^+e^-$ collider we have measured the branching fraction for the decay $K_S \to \pi \mu \nu$. The $K_S$ mesons are identified by the interaction of $K_L$ mesons in the detector. The $K_S \to \pi \mu \nu$ decays are selected by a boosted decision tree built with kinematic variables and by a time-of-flight measurement. Signal efficiencies are evaluated with data control samples of $K_L \to \pi \mu \nu$ decays. A fit to the reconstructed muon mass distribution finds $7223 \pm 180$ signal events. Normalising to the $K_S \to \pi^+ \pi^-$ decay events the result for the branching fraction is $\mathcal{B}(K_S \to \pi \mu \nu) = (4.5...

Rotator cuff tears (RCT) with concomitant frozen shoulder is a challenging clinical scenario that I, along with many other shoulder surgeons, commonly encounter. Some controversy exists regarding the optimal treatment. Does one address the shoulder stiffness first and regain range of motion (ROM) via nonoperative or operative means, then treat the rotator cuff tear later, or should it all be done at the same time surgically via a concomitant arthroscopic capsular release with or without manipulation under anesthesia (MUA) followed by a rotator cuff repair (RCR) in the same setting? I believe there is overwhelming evidence in the literature to support the latter. Address both pathologies concomitantly through a single stage surgery! In the setting of the RCT ...

To investigate the electrochemical reduction mechanism of Ta(V) in ethylene carbonate and aluminum chloride (EC−AlCl3) solvate ionic liquid, cyclic voltammetry experiments were conducted on a tungsten working electrode. Four reduction peaks were observed in the cyclic voltammogram of the EC−AlCl3−TaCl5 ionic liquid. The reduction peaks at −0.55, −0.72, and −1.12 V (vs Al) were related to the reduction of Ta(V) to tantalum metal by three stages including the formation of Ta(IV) and Ta(III) complex ions. The reduction of Ta(III) to tantalum metal was an irreversible diffusion-controlled reaction with a diffusion coefficient of 3.7×10−7 cm2/s at 323 K, and the diffusion activation energy was 77 kJ/mol. Moreover, the cathode products at 323 K were...

A movement disorder, orofacial dyskinesia, is characterized by severe, involuntary, dystonic movements of the facial, oral, and cervical musculature. This condition has been associated with extrapyramidal disorders, including reactions to phenothiazine andl-Dopa therapy. However, certain edentulous dental patients also were observed to have involuntary dystonic movements similar to, but less severe than, those of OFD. The symptoms of these dental patients responded favorably to prosthetic dental therapy. This suggested that similar dental therapy might be effective in the control of symptoms of OFD. Eight patients with confirmed diagnoses of orofacial dyskinesia wore dentures which had incorrect occlusions. Modifications to correct the denture occlusions eff...

Many bisphenol A (BPA) analogs have been commercially used recently, such as 2,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)butane (BPB), 4,4′-ethylidenebisphenol, 4,4′-methylenediphenol (BPF), 4,4′-(1,4-phenylenediisopropylidene)bisphenol (BPP), 4,4′-dihydroxydiphenyl sulfone (BPS), 4,4′-cyclohexylidenebisphenol (BPZ), 4,4′-(hexafluoroisopropylidene)diphenol (BPAF), 4,4′-(1-phenylethylidene)bisphenol (BPAP), and 2,2-bis(4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethylphenyl)propane (TMBPA), to circumvent adverse effects of BPA. However, their increasing use is also contaminating the environment, which is a potential cause of concern for human health. Thyroid hormone transport and signaling are potential targets for endocrine-disrupting activity of BPA analogs. Thyroxine-binding globulin (TBG...

Significance The present-day industrial ammonia synthesis is overreliance on the Haber–Bosch process, yet consumes more than 1% of the global energy supply along with gigatonne greenhouse-gas emission per year. Electrochemical nitrogen reduction reaction (ENRR) offers a sustainable path to produce ammonia under mild conditions, while its efficiency achieved by far is fairly low, which requires the development of both catalysts and electrolyzers. Here, by the cooperation of densely populated metal single atoms on graphdiyne substrate with the pressurized electrocatalytic system, the kinetics and the thermodynamic driving force of ENRR are effectively regulated, leading to a record-high ammonia yield rate. This work motivates the technological and material c...

Superhydrophobic surfaces have promised tremendous applications in living and industrial areas for the past two decades. Real applications, however, meet challenges, with the central concern being the robustness to resist mechanical abrasions and impacts. Here, a revolutionary strategy is proposed to create a microskeleton-nanofiller (MSNF) film with exceptionally mechanical superstable superhydrophobicity. The strategy is conceptually different from the traditional superhydrophobic 3D microskeleton, because a 3D microskeleton is used to completely fill in the infused superhydrophobic medium. The resulting MSNF film can reserve superhydrophobicity under not only continuous abrasion before the complete wearing off the film, but also Taber abrasion, knife-scra...

This work presents both an experimental and a numerical study on the effect of solid loading and inlet aspect ratio on cyclone performances in a circulating fluidized bed process (CFB). The unit operates at ambient temperature, atmospheric pressure with air and Geldart Group A glass bead particles of median diameter of 42.2 μm. The experimental study investigates the effect of solid loading (i.e. normalized solid loading C/Cmax from 0.014 to 0.41) and inlet aspect ratio (from 3 to 7, keeping the inlet area constant) on both gas separation and solid collection efficiencies (fractional and global) and pressure drop. Experimental results showed that cyclone pressure drop is primarily affected by solid loading. This parameter first decreases for normalized load...

An over-expression of COX-2 isoenzyme belonging to the Cyclooxygenase Enzyme Family triggers the overproduction of pro-inflammatory prostaglandins that instigate the development of chronic inflammation and related disorders. Hence, the rationally designed drugs for mitigating over-activity of COX-2 isoenzyme play a regulatory role toward the alleviation of the progression of these disorders. However, a selective COX-2 inhibition chemotherapy prompts several side effects that necessitate the identification of novel molecular scaffolds for deliberating state-of-the-art drug designing strategies. The heterocyclic "azole" scaffold, being polar and hydrophilic, possesses remarkable physicochemical advantages for designing physiologically active molecules capable ...

Polymeric materials are susceptible to the chain re-conformation, reorientation, slippage, and bond cleavage upon mechanical stimuli, which are likely to further grow into macro-damages and eventually lead to the compromise or loss of materials performance. Therefore, it is of great academic importance and practical significance to sensitively detect the local mechanical states in polymers and monitor the dynamic variations in polymer structures and properties under external forces. Mechanochromic fluorescent polymers (MFP) are a class of smart materials by utilizing sensitive fluorescent motifs to detect polymer chain events upon mechanical stimuli. Taking advantage of the unique aggregation-induced emission (AIE) effect, a variety of MFP systems that can s...

At the time of the Millennium, Nottingham, a former manufacturing city in the English Midlands, faced serious challenges as a consequence of de-industrialisation. This was the context from which a new development path based on life sciences emerged. This paper explores the role of policy interventions and the agency of local actors in this path creation process. Kingdon’s [1995. Agendas, Alternatives, and Public Policy. 2nd ed. New York: Longman] multiple streams framework (MSF) is used as an analytical framework through which to assess the interaction and local implementation of three related strands of national policy: regional policy, industrial policy (with an emphasis on clusters) and innovation policy and their role in the emergence of a life science...

The CD40–CD40 ligand (CD40L) dyad represents a scientific and clinical field that has raised many controversies in the past and cannot be clearly defined as being an either beneficial or harmful pathway. Being crucially involved in physiological immunological processes as well as pathological inflammatory reactions, the signaling pathway has been recognized as a key player in the development of both autoimmune and cardiovascular disease. Even though the possibilities of a therapeutic approach to the dyad were recognized decades ago, due to unfortunate events, detailed in this review, pharmacological treatment targeting the dyad, especially in patients suffering from atherosclerosis, is not available. Despite the recent advances in the treatment of classica...

In this study we investigated the regulatory role of cell-migration-inducing and hyaluronan-binding protein (CEMIP) in the proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). The mRNA and protein levels of CEMIP were upregulated in the plasma samples from patients with atherosclerosis, and in VSMCs stimulated with platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB), compared with plasma from healthy subjects and untreated VSMCs. Silencing CEMIP suppressed PDGF-BB-induced cell migration and proliferation in VSMCs, as determined using a Cell Counting Kit-8 assays, 5-ethynyl-2′-deocyuridine (EDU) assays, flow cytometry, wound healing assays, and Transwell assays. Overexpression of CEMIP promoted the proliferation and migration of VSMCs via activation...

Abstract Enhancer RNAs (eRNA) are unstable non-coding RNAs, transcribed bidirectionally from active regulatory sequences, whose expression levels correlate with enhancer activity. We use capped-nascent-RNA sequencing to efficiently capture bidirectional transcription initiation across several human lymphoblastoid cell lines (Yoruba population) and detect ~75,000 eRNA transcription sites with high sensitivity and specificity. The use of nascent-RNA sequencing sidesteps the confounding effect of eRNA instability. We identify quantitative trait loci (QTLs) associated with the level and directionality of eRNA expression. High-resolution analyses of these two types of QTLs reveal distinct positions of enrichment at the central transcription factor (TF) binding re...

This study evaluates whether serum phospholipids fatty acids (PL-FAs) and markers of their endogenous metabolism are associated with breast cancer (BC) subtypes. EpiGEICAM is a Spanish multicenter matched case-control study. A lifestyle and food frequency questionnaire was completed by 1017 BC cases and healthy women pairs. Serum PL-FA percentages were measured by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Conditional and multinomial logistic regression models were used to quantify the association of PL-FA tertiles with BC risk, overall and by pathological subtype (luminal, HER2+ and triple negative). Stratified analyses by body mass index and menopausal status were also performed. Serum PL-FAs were measured in 795 (78%) pairs. Women with high serum levels of ste...

Deep learning has achieved impressive prediction accuracies in a variety of scientific and industrial domains. However, the nested nonlinear feature of deep learning makes the learning highly nontransparent, i.e., it is still unknown how the learning coordinates a huge number of parameters to achieve decision-making. To explain this hierarchical credit assignment, we propose a mean-field learning model by assuming that an ensemble of subnetworks, rather than a single network, is trained for a classification task. Surprisingly, our model reveals that apart from some deterministic synaptic weights connecting two neurons at neighboring layers, there exists a large number of connections that can be absent, and other connections can allow for a broad distribution...

We consider a minimalist model for the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT), assuming that residual fertility can occur in the sterile male population. Taking into account that we are able to get regular measurements from the biological system along the control duration, such as the size of the wild insect population, we study different control strategies that involve either continuous or periodic impulsive releases. We show that a combination of open-loop control with constant large releases and closed-loop nonlinear control, i.e., when releases are adjusted according to the wild population size estimates, leads to the best strategy in terms of both number of releases and total quantity of sterile males to be released. Last but not least, we show that SIT can be ...

Elastic fibres are essential components of all mammalian elastic tissues such as blood vessels, lung and skin, and are critically important for the mechanical properties they endow. The main components of elastic fibres are elastin and fibrillin, where correct formation of elastic fibres requires a fibrillin microfibril scaffold for the deposition of elastin. It has been demonstrated previously that the interaction between fibrillin and tropoelastin, the elastin precursor, increases the rate of assembly of tropoelastin. Furthermore, tropoelastin and fibrillin can be cross-linked by transglutaminase-2, but the function of cross-linking on their elastic properties is yet to be elucidated. Here we show that transglutaminase cross-linking supports formation of a...

This study was undertaken to determine to what extent body-composition measurements by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) differed between two analysis modes (standard vs extended). Whole-body bone mineral density (BMD), bone mineral content (BMC), bone area (BA), fat mass (FM), lean mass (LM), and percentage of fat (%fat) of 263 women, aged 20-74 yr, were measured by DXA, with each scan analyzed by both the standard and extended analysis modes. The standard mode had significantly higher values for BMD, BMC, BA, and %fat, and significantly lower values for LM than extended mode (p < 0.05). The measurement error of BMC was highly correlated with the measurement error of BA (r = 0.93), thereby indicating the possibility of bone-edge instability by differen...

As the traditional network defense is built on intrusion detection and passive protection, which is weak at dynamic response. The network deception technology in active protection is analyzed, and a network deception system based on active security model is proposed in this paper. This system implements a visual service of Honeypot as bait, analyses intrusion data and extracts new features and rules to enlarge the intrusion detection system feature library. The defense policies could be delivered real-time by management center. The problems of false alarm and leaking alarm for firewall or IDS are improved. And the limitations of single technology on the cooperation are overcome by linkage of Honeypot, firewall, IDS and router. The efficiency of unknown intru...

Deep learning bears promise for drug discovery, including advanced image analysis, prediction of molecular structure and function, and automated generation of innovative chemical entities with bespoke properties. Despite the growing number of successful prospective applications, the underlying mathematical models often remain elusive to interpretation by the human mind. There is a demand for ‘explainable’ deep learning methods to address the need for a new narrative of the machine language of the molecular sciences. This Review summarizes the most prominent algorithmic concepts of explainable artificial intelligence, and forecasts future opportunities, potential applications as well as several remaining challenges. We also hope it encourages additional e...

Public procurement scholars have been striving to identify technical and behavioral competencies to drive toward professionalization. However, there is no vetted body of knowledge that practitioners and scholars can use to establish roles and responsibilities. This empirical study outlines a logical process to identify the foundational elements of the body of knowledge, specifically technical competencies, serving as the building blocks for advancement toward a recognized profession. Findings suggest that 87 job tasks can be classified under 6 job domains that contain many of the components and conceptual constructs for the field of public procurement. These domains can improve understanding of the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary in public adminis...

Plasma bombardment was applied to remove the surface oxide film of 7075 alloy and the deposited Cu layer with thickness of ∼20 μm was attached closely to the surface of 7075 alloy by magnetron sputtering process. The brazing of 7075 alloy using Cu foil was carried out at 580 °C as the contrast test. The results showed that the brazed joints using deposited Cu layer have better microstructure and higher mechanical properties than that of using Cu foil. As brazing temperature increased to 570 °C, the deposited Cu layer was dissolved into the substrate gradually and formed intermetallic compounds. Further increasing brazing temperature, the intermetallic compounds were reduced and the homogenization of microstructure of brazed joints was enhanced. The shea...

Recently published case reports, coupled with a large observational study of 1017 deployed servicemen to Iraq (January 2009), has highlighted the issue and potential concerns regarding the unregulated use of dietary and exercise supplements within the British military. Consequently, an exploratory pilot study was undertaken to assess whether the findings of the previous Iraq study were applicable to current deployed British servicemen in Afghanistan.This was a voluntary questionnaire-based study targeted at individuals attending a health promotion fair in Camp Bastion, Afghanistan in June 2010.From 150 questionnaires handed out there were 87 completed questionnaires (58% return). The mean age was 28.0 (SD 7.1; range of 18-50 years) with 89.7% being male. Fro...

High levels of serum free fatty acids (FFAs) are associated with lipotoxicity and type 2 diabetes. Palmitic acid (PA) is the predominant circulating saturated FFA. PA induces mitochondrial superoxide and hydrogen peroxide (H2O 2) generation in cultured podocytes. To elucidate the role of PA in antioxidant defense systems in diabetic nephropathy (DN), cultured podocytes were exposed to 250 μM PA for 1–24 hr, and protein expressions of catalase, peroxiredoxins (Prxs), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were examined by western blot analysis. PA induced an early transient increase in the Prx1, Prx2, and GPx1 levels in podocytes, but not catalase. Long-term exposure of PA to podocytes significantly decreased the protein levels of Prx1, Prx2, GPx1, and catalase....

Controlled experiments were conducted to examine the effect of fog on signal propagation in wireless communication and radar links operating in millimeter wavelengths. The experiments were carried out in a fog laboratory to verify theoretical results obtained from Liebe’s model. Attenuation and phase shifts of millimeter wave (mmW) radiation were measured, at different fog density characterized by the visibility distance and its water vapor content. Utilizing a vector network analyzer (VNA) enabled us to examine the actual atmospheric attenuation and the phase shift caused by the fog retardation. The experimental results demonstrate good agreement with the simulations even for very low visibility in highly dense fog. The study can be used to estimate link ...

Isolation and identification of Taylorella equigenitalis, the causative agent of contagious equine metritis, by bacteriology is laborious and does not permit differentiation from the other member of the genus, Taylorella asinigenitalis. Moreover, other organisms such as Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa can also cause endometritis in mares and warrant diagnostic detection. Our objectives were to develop a rapid preparation method for field swab samples and to validate this protocol using new multiplex real-time polymerase chain reaction (rtPCR) detection tools for identification of these four pathogens. The complete analytical process from sample preparation to PCR analysis was then evaluated against bacteriology, the World Organisation for He...

PD-L1 is an immune checkpoint molecule that regulates immune and inflammatory responses. While cells of periodontal tissues express PD-L1, its presence in GCF is not known. The purpose of this study was to measure the PD-L1 values in GCF and correlate values with the presence of chemokine and cytokine values from periodontally diseased subjects and periodontally healthy subjects.PD-L1 values (pg/30 s), determined in triplicate using a fluorescent microparticle-based immunoassay ranged from 0.04-31.65 pg/30 s. PD-L1 correlated with 15 out of 22 chemokine and cytokine responses. In 85 healthy sites in 31 subjects, PD-L1 values were negatively correlated with IL6, CXCL8, IL10, and CCL3 values. In 53 diseased sites in 20 subjects, PD-L1 values were positively co...

Equations using serum creatinine level, age, sex, and other patient characteristics often are used to estimate glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in both clinical practice and research studies. However, the critical dependence of these equations on serum creatinine assay calibration often is overlooked, and the reproducibility of estimated GFR is rarely discussed. We address these issues in frozen samples from 212 Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) study participants and 342 Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III) participants assayed for serum creatinine level a second time during November 2000. Variation in serum creatinine level was assessed in 1,919 NHANES III participants who had serum creatinine measured on two visit...

The failure mode limitations presented in the International Society for Rock Mechanics (ISRM) were recognised as an obvious issue by invalidating most of the failure modes along the bedding plane. In this study, the anisotropic behaviour of index strength and failure mode of weathered shale are evaluated by utilising the point load test (PLT) and the block punch index (BPI). The outcomes elaborate that the degree of anisotropy of PLT is four times the BPI degree of anisotropy. The failure mode of weathered shale is observed to be controlled by the bedding plane orientation (β). Particularly, when the point loading is not perpendicular to the bedding plane orientation, it is necessary to consider the inclined failure mode along bedding since eliminating thes...

Abstract Objective We aimed to evaluate the rates of short interpregnancy interval pregnancies and deliveries among women who receive immediate postpartum LARC. Study Design We conducted a retrospective cohort study of all women who delivered at Montefiore Medical Center between January 2015 and June 2016 (N = 9561). In this cohort, we identified all repeat deliveries and pregnancies within 18 months of the initial delivery. Using logistic regression models, we compared rates of short interpregnancy interval delivery and pregnancy among recipients of an immediate postpartum IUD, immediate postpartum implant, and no immediate postpartum LARC, adjusting for covariates including patient age, mode of delivery, socioeconomic status, and race. Results In our co...

Results of a survey recently conducted by Statistics Canada suggest that many National Statistical Offices (NSOs) are in different stages of progress in migrating from a paper-based publishing regime to a web-based publishing regime. The common theme and challenges faced by NSOs today are focused on how to make the World Wide Web an effective medium for the on-line communication of statistics. Like many other NSOs, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) is positioning itself to use the internet as the principal channel for data communication. There are a number of strategies in place to fulfil the ABS goal of efficient and effective web publishing. These strategies are: - improving communication of statistics to facilitate user discovery of information, a...

In the context of megacities in an urban environment, air quality is an important issue, due to the direct correlation to population's health. The biomonitoring of pollutants can indicate subtle environmental alterations, for that, anemophilous fungi can be monitored for changes in atmospheric conditions related to pollution. In the present study, the concentration of fungi and bacteria in the atmosphere was measured during a specific vehicle fleet reduction in the city of São Paulo, Brazil, from May 24 to 30, 2018, using impactor air samplers. The number of isolated developed colonies was related to atmospheric conditions and the concentration of other air pollutants constantly monitored. Aspergillus, Curvularia, Penicillium, Neurospora, Rhizopus and Trich...

We model a coronal loop as a bundle of seven separate strands or filaments. Each of the loop strands used in this model can independently be heated (near their left footpoints) by Alfv\'en/ion-cyclotron waves via wave-particle interactions. The Alfv\'en waves are assumed to penetrate the strands from their footpoints, at which we consider different wave energy inputs. As a result, the loop strands can have different heating profiles, and the differential heating can lead to a varying cross-field temperature in the total coronal loop. The simulation of TRACE observations by means of this loop model implies two uniform temperatures along the loop length, one inferred from the 171:195 filter ratio and the other from the 171:284 ratio. The reproduced flat temper...

Of 44 patients (55 hips) with slipped upper femoral epiphysis treated from 1963 to 1989, 13 (14 hips) developed chondrolysis. Eight hips had chondrolysis at the time of presentation, all in female patients who were either coloured or black and who had moderate or severe slips. The other six hips had persistent pin penetration of the joint; in five of these the pin penetrated the anterosuperior quadrant of the head. Removal of penetrating pins resulted in improvement in pain in all six hips and in the range of movement in four. Chondrolysis did not develop in any of 11 hips with transient intraoperative pin penetration. In hips with chondrolysis maximum joint-space narrowing developed within the first year; improvement in joint space and range of movement con...

In this article, the oil displacement efficiencies of viscoelastic HPAM solution and viscous glycerin solution are studied by flooding at visual microscopic glass models. Also, the effect and mechanisms of the viscoelasticity of HPAM solution and glycerin solution on the displacement of residual oil in dead-ends are studied, and the relationship between the elasticity of HPAM and oil displacement efficiency is given. The results of microscopic oil displacement experiments indicate that the displacement efficiency of HPAM solution flooding and glycerin solution flooding gradually increase with the increase in a viscoelasticity of HPAM solutions and the viscosity of glycerin solution. However, for HPAM solution flooding, the displacement efficiency is always h...

This memoir outlines the experience and observations of Nigel Thorpe, a British diplomat in Poland in the 1970s and 1980s, in a Cold War context. It touches unrest in Gdansk, Szczecin, and Łódz, changes in the leadership and policy of the Communist Party, and unexpected changes in relations with West Germany. After 13 years, Thorpe returned to a Poland changed by martial law and Solidarity and a people at odds with their rulers. He relates his first meeting with Lech Wałęsa and the steady development of contacts with Solidarity, with the role of the BBC, the Catholic Church, and the alternative underground society. Although the Warsaw Diplomatic Corps wondered if Solidarity was finished, the British view differed. He discusses the historic visit of Prime...

For the investigation of protein-ligand interaction patterns, the current accessibility of a wide variety of sampling methods allows quick access to large-scale data. The main example is the intensive use of molecular dynamics simulations applied to crystallographic structures which provide dynamic information on the binding interactions in protein-ligand complexes. Chemical feature interaction based pharmacophore models extracted from these simulations, were recently used with consensus scoring approaches to identify potentially active molecules. While this approach is rapid and can be fully automated for virtual screening, additional relevant information from such simulations is still opaque and so far the full potential has not been entirely exploited. To...

The multistate of species originated by the compound 5-hydroxy-4′-dimethylaminoflavylium was studied in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate micelles 0.1 M. A series of pH jumps obtained by addition of base to the equilibrated solutions of the flavylium cation results in a metastable equilibrium between the flavylium cation and the quinoidal base with pKa = 7.6. In neutral to moderately basic medium, only at 60 °C and after 5 days a new distribution involving the flavylium cation and trans-chalcones is achieved. On the other hand, the anionic trans-chalcone can be formed in few minutes in very basic medium at room temperature and from this, another meta-stable state constituted by protonated, neutral and anionic trans-chalcones, pKCt+/Ct = 2.6 and pKCt/...

Dipyridamole [2,6-bis-diethanolamino-4,8-dipiperidinopyrimido-(5,4-d)pyri midine], a well known platelet aggregation inhibitor, shows powerful hydroxyl radical scavenging activity by inhibiting OH.-dependent salicylate and deoxyribose degradation. Steady-state competition kinetics experiments with deoxyribose were carried out to evaluate the second-order rate constant for the reaction between hydroxyl radical and dipyridamole. OH. radicals were generated either by a Fenton-type reaction or by X-ray irradiation of water solutions. A second-order rate constant k(Dipyridamole + OH.) of 1.72 +/- 0.11 X 10(10) M-1 s-1 and of 1.54 +/- 0.15 X 10(10) M-1 s-1 was measured by Fenton chemistry and by radiation chemistry, respectively. Mannitol was used as an internal s...

In nonrecursive models, estimates of simultaneous relationships are often subject to high sampling variability. In this paper, we apply classical procedures for computing statistical power to the issue of sampling variability in estimates of reciprocal causal effects. Using a model of married women's attitudes regarding work and family size as an example, we show how the power to detect nonrecursive relationships depends on the model's parametric structure. Specifically, we show how the power of statistical tests depends on the strength of instrumental variables, the number of overidentifying restrictions, and the covariation among disturbances. We conclude by discussing the implications of our results for applications of nonrecursive models in the social sc...

Introduction Neonatal sepsis outreaches all causes of neonatal mortality worldwide and remains a major societal burden in low and middle income countries. In addition to limited resources, endemic morbidities, such as malaria and prematurity, predispose neonates and infants to invasive infection by altering neonatal immune response to pathogens. Nevertheless, thoughtful epidemiological, diagnostic and immunological evaluation of neonatal sepsis and the impact of gestational malaria have never been performed. Methods and analysis A prospective longitudinal multicentre follow-up of 580 infants from birth to 3 months of age in urban and suburban Benin will be performed. At delivery, and every other week, all children will be examined and clinically evaluated fo...

Maximizing the Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) performance is one of the main challenges in application domains, such as logistics and supply chain management, where the undesired effect of Tag collisions can significantly degrade the speed of the inventory process. The dominating UHF EPC Class-1 Generation2 (EPC Gen2) protocol only specifies collision avoidance algorithms but makes no provision for collision resolution. In this paper, performance enhancement of the EPC Gen2 standard exploiting Tag collision recovery is demonstrated, for the first time, in real time with measurements. Three simple and effective approaches to handle successful Tag acknowledgments of recovered collided packets are proposed and implemented on a software-defined Reader and...

For site-specific drug delivery in inflammatory bowel disease, reducible sodium alginate nanoparticles cross-linked with disulfide linkage were developed. Nanoparticles were synthesized in deionized water through self-assembly of amphiphilic thiolated sodium alginate Alg-Cys and subsequently produced cross-linking of disulfide bonds. TEM image showed a spherical core-shell configuration with a size of about 430 nm for the nanoparticles. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) showed high stability, narrow size distribution, and pH-dependent swelling transition for the nanoparticles. Cytotoxicity study showed that there was no evident cell inhibition among the nanoparticles. Also, the size of the nanoparticles increased in 10 mM glutathione (GSH) solution due to the c...

Abstract Inefficient ketoprofen removal from pharmaceutical wastewater may negatively impact the ecosystem and cause detrimental risks to human health. This study was conducted to determine the cytotoxicity effects of ketoprofen on HEK 293 cell growth and metabolism, including cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) expression, at environmentally relevant concentrations. The cytotoxic effects were evaluated through the trypan blue test, DNS assay, MTT assay, and the expression ratio of the COX-1 gene. The results of this study show insignificant (p > 0.05) cytotoxic effects of ketoprofen on cell viability and cell metabolism. However, high glucose consumption rates among the treated cells cause an imitation of the Warburg effect, which is likely linked to the develop...

Recently, the direct-current (DC) TENG based on triboelectrification and discharge has been reported, which can not only generate a DC power, but also provide a higher charge density compared to traditional TENG. Here, we report a novel coplanar-electrode DC TENG (CDC-TENG) design which can be easily fabricated by two electrodes, and then a theoretical model is built to illustrate its principle and optimize its output performance. Both theoretical and experimental studies show that the designed device can enhance the energy output, and then the output power is optimized. Furthermore, we develop a three-electrode CDC-TENG to output DC during the reciprocating motion. We apply this CDC-TENG design for rotational energy harvesting and produce a stable constant ...

Poly(ADP-ribose) glycohydrolase (PARG) is the primary enzyme responsible for the degradation of poly(ADP-ribose). PARG dysfunction sensitizes cells to alkylating agents and induces cell death; however, the details of this effect have not been fully elucidated. Here, we investigated the mechanism by which PARG deficiency leads to cell death in different cell types using methylmethanesulfonate (MMS), an alkylating agent, and Parg(-/-) mouse ES cells and human cancer cell lines. Parg(-/-) mouse ES cells showed increased levels of γ-H2AX, a marker of DNA double strand breaks (DSBs), accumulation of poly(ADP-ribose), p53 network activation, and S-phase arrest. Early apoptosis was enhanced in Parg(-/-) mouse ES cells. Parg(-/-) ES cells predominantly underwent ca...

Abstract The minimization of dilution represents a major opportunity for quality improvement in Canadian underground metal mining. The characteristics of the principal forms of dilution, planned and unplanned, are reviewed. These are controlled by quality factors relating to exploration, mine design and stoping practice. The scope for quality improvement and the need for technology development is analysed in the context of underground bulk mining. The design principles for a production management system which tightly monitors and controls dilution are proposed. This revolves around the reconciliation of accurate and timely data on ore reserves, stope fragmentation, cavity morphology, rockmass integrity, and production statistics. Particular priority will req...

A reversed-phase ion-pair liquid chromatographic method with UV detection at 210 nm is described for the separation of lincomycin from 7-epilincomycin and lincomycin B. The method utilizes a base-deactivated Supelcosil LC-ABZ, C12–18, 5 μm, 250×4.6 mm I.D. column maintained at 45°C. The mobile phase consists of 2.25% (v/v) acetonitrile, 5% (v/v) phosphate buffer (2.72%, m/v KH2PO4 adjusted to pH 5.0 with 3.48%, m/v K2HPO4), 0.067% (v/v) methanesulfonic acid and water to 100%. The flow-rate is 1.0 ml/min. The separation of lincomycin from 7-epilincomycin is only possible on base-deactivated (BDS) columns. Other octadecylsilyl columns examined showed insufficient selectivity. The method was also tested on other BDS columns (Spherisorb S5-ODS-B, 5 μm, Hyp...

A new second generation deep-water ocean wave model VAG is presented and several modifications are tested on a one month hindcast. On the same period and with the same windfields a version of the third generation model WAM is also tested. All the results are compared with the data of a pitch-roll-heave buoy moored at the entrance of the English Channel in 110 meters depth. This necessitates a preliminary investigation of existing tools to carry such comparisons. Based on commonly used criteria in model testing VAG and WAM achieve similar results. New tests are defined. For the significant wave heights, the use of the scatter index is criticized and the notion of relative error is introduced. For the mean wave directions, a weighted mean angular gap is define...

Depersonalization disorder (DPD) remains poorly understood and controversial in terms of diagnosis and treatment. Little is known about the cognitive representation of this disorder. In this study, 80 participants with DPD were assessed using the Revised Illness Perception Questionnaire to determine the nature of their perceptions, causal attributions and whether these correlate with levels of depersonalization and affect. Illness perceptions were generally negative; the nature of symptoms was described as mainly psychological but causal attributions were equally divided between psychological and physical. Over half of the sample believed that symptoms were due to ‘physical changes in the brain’. A strong illness identity, psychological illness attributi...

In this study, alumina hollow sphere-based ceramics were successfully prepared using the dimethyl silicone rubber, a kind of preceramic polymer, as the forming binder. A mixture of inorganic fillers, including SnO-SiO2-P2O5 (SSP) glass powder, boron carbide (B4C) powder, silicon (Si) powder and aluminum (Al) powder, were introduced into the silicone rubber to compensate for the weight loss caused by the ceramization of the silicone rubber. The green body exhibited an excellent flexibility and machinability due to the formation of the Si-O-Si polymeric network in the green sample. During the sintering process, the silicone rubber decomposed and transformed into the amorphous silica, occurring a large weight loss, while the oxidization reaction of the introduc...

CRISPR–Cas gene editing and messenger RNA-based protein replacement therapy hold tremendous potential to effectively treat disease-causing mutations with diverse cellular origin. However, it is currently impossible to rationally design nanoparticles that selectively target specific tissues. Here, we report a strategy termed selective organ targeting (SORT) wherein multiple classes of lipid nanoparticles are systematically engineered to exclusively edit extrahepatic tissues via addition of a supplemental SORT molecule. Lung-, spleen- and liver-targeted SORT lipid nanoparticles were designed to selectively edit therapeutically relevant cell types including epithelial cells, endothelial cells, B cells, T cells and hepatocytes. SORT is compatible with multiple...

International Journal of Gynecology & ObstetricsVolume 54, Issue 2 p. 97-100 Editorial The ethical and medical consequences of violence against women J.M. Cain, J.M. Cain Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Milton S. Hershey Medical Center Pennsylvania State University Hershey, PA, USA1 Fax:+1 717 5316752.Search for more papers by this author J.M. Cain, J.M. Cain Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Milton S. Hershey Medical Center Pennsylvania State University Hershey, PA, USA1 Fax:+1 717 5316752.Search for more papers by this author First published: August 1996 https://doi.org/10.1016/0020-7292(96)02704-XCitations: 1 AboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-t...

An original gas chromatographic method has been developed for simultaneous determination of major terpenes and cannabinoids in plant samples and their extracts. The main issues to be addressed were the large differences in polarity and volatility between both groups of analytes, but also the need for an exhaustive decarboxylation of cannabinoid acidic forms. Sample preparation was minimised, also by avoiding any analyte derivatisation. Acetone was found to be the most appropriate extraction solvent. Successful chromatographic separation was achieved by using a medium polarity column. Limits of detection ranged from 120 to 260 ng/mL for terpenes and from 660 to 860 ng/mL for cannabinoids. Parallel testing proved the results for cannabinoids are comparable to ...

Sleep difficulties are commonly reported by patients with epilepsy and can have a detrimental impact on overall quality of life. The purpose of this pilot study was to assess the efficacy of a psychotherapeutic approach, namely Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I), in improving sleep quality in patients with epilepsy. Twenty outpatients with epilepsy who reported poor sleep quality were randomized to either a control or CBT-I treatment group, which involved four group-based CBT-I sessions, delivered on a weekly basis. In addition to completing a range of standardized measures related to sleep quality and quality of life, participants also monitored their sleep with a self-completed sleep diary over a two-week period, on two separate occasions. F...

Abstract The phenomenon of poor environmental sanitation, which is a global challenge, but most so in developing countries, requires that the solution to it be both conceptually and theoretically sound and clear enough for translation into practice. The purpose of this paper was to develop a theory-anchored conceptual framework to guide Environmental Sanitation Management (ESM) in developing countries. Data were obtained from scholarly databases such as Scopus, PubMed, and Google Scholar as well as grey literature through predetermined material selection and screening processes, and analysed qualitatively using the narrative, configurative synthesis approach. The review revealed that, among the key conceptual issues in ESM are environmental sanitation educat...

AbstractThe excavation of a large-sized foundation pit for one skyscraper in Shanghai required installation of a 100-m diameter unpropped circular diaphragm wall at the pit center first, followed by installation of a multipropped rectangular diaphragm wall at the periphery. Due to the limited paper length, this study just focuses on the structural behaviors of the inner circular wall and those of the outer rectangular wall will be presented in a companion paper. The circular diaphragm wall exhibited apparent spatial arching effects during excavation and only slight differences were observed in its maximum lateral movements along the circumference. Like braced struts, waler beams mainly carried the load due to soil removal in the proximity. In contrast, the c...

In this study, an open, double-blind, randomized, two-period, two-group crossover design was conducted in 14 healthy volunteers to study the bioequivalence of a fixed-dose generic product. After administration of test or reference products to each volunteer, both active ingredients were determined simultaneously in plasma samples using a developed and validated HPLC-UV method, and pharmacokinetic parameters, including Cmax, Tmax, AUC0–t, AUC0–∞, terminal elimination rate constant (λz), volume of distribution in steady state (Vd(ss)), mean residence time (MRT), clearance (Cl), terminal elimination rate constant (Kel) were determined in each subject using the standard non-compartmental approach. Statistical comparison showed that the test and reference ...

(−)-Finerenone is a nonsteroidal mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist currently in phase III clinical trials for the treatment of chronic kidney disease in type 2 diabetes. It contains an unusual dihydronaphthyridine core. We report a 6-step synthesis of (−)-finerenone, which features an enantioselective partial transfer hydrogenation of a naphthyridine using a chiral phosphoric acid catalyst with a Hantzsch ester. The process is complicated by the fact that the naphthyridine exists as a mixture of two atropisomers that react at different rates and with different selectivities. The intrinsic kinetic resolution was converted into a kinetic dynamic resolution at elevated temperature, which enabled us to obtain (−)-finerenone in both high yield and high ...