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Soft continuum robots can navigate through narrow and tortuous lumina. However, its interactions with the lumina during steering pose a risk of luminal injuries, especially if it integrates multifunctional units, which increase both the robot's size and local stiffness. Therefore, a continuum robot comprising coaxially assembled Guider and Follower components is designed that utilize phase change materials for noninteractive navigation and versatile manipulation. Navigation occurs through alternating softening‐hardening cycles: First, the Guider softens and advances under magnetic steering while the rigid Follower provides support. Then, the Guider solidifies to form a new backbone as the Follower softens to replicate its path. This process maintains structural integrity while enabling navigation along desired trajectories, thereby greatly reducing interactions with the lumen. To further accomplish complex tasks in large and open spaces, a continuum robot system with a triple‐individual Guider is developed in which the multi‐degree‐of‐freedom movement of the individuals is precisely and sequentially controlled through segmented stiffness regulation. This configuration achieves versatile manipulation, including targeted delivery, precision coating, grasping, and obstacle clearing in complex environments. Combining cooperative movement and diverse functionalities, this continuum robot design offers a new approach to dexterous navigation and intervention in minimally invasive surgical procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the influence of the photobleaching (PB) effect on the dosimetry performances of a phosphosilicate single-mode optical fiber (core diameter of 6.6 µm) operated at 638 nm, within the framework of the LUMINA project. Different irradiation tests were performed under ~40 keV mean energy fluence X-rays at a 530 µ Gy(SiO2)/s dose rate to measure in situ the radiation-induced attenuation (RIA) growth and decay kinetics while injecting a 638 nm laser diode source with powers varying from 500 nW to 1 mW. For injected continuous power values under 1 µW, we did not measure any relevant influence of the photobleaching effect on the fiber radiation sensitivity coefficient of ~140 dB km−1 Gy−1 up to ~30 Gy. Above 1 µW, the fiber radiation sensitivity is significantly reduced due to the PB associated with the signal and can decrease to ~80 dB km−1 Gy−1 at 1 mW, strongly affecting the capability of this fiber to serve as a dosimeter-sensitive element. Higher power values up to 50 µW can still be used by properly choosing a pulsed regime with periodic injection cycles to reduce the PB efficiency and maintain the dosimetry properties. Basing on the acquired data, a simple model of the photobleaching effect on a coil of the investigated fiber is proposed in order to estimate its sensitivity coefficient evolution as a function of the cumulated dose and its fiber length when injecting a certain laser power. Additional studies need to investigate the influence of the temperature and the dose rate on the PB effects since these parameters were fixed during all the reported acquisitions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The term "solstice" comes from the Latin word "solstitium" which means "the sun stands still." It marks the time of year when the day is the longest and the night is the shortest, an astronomical turning point where the length of the day starts to decrease gradually after surpassing the autumnal equinox (when day and night are equal) until the winter solstice when it reaches its minimum and then begins to increase. The period between the two solstices is six months, marked by the two equinoxes (autumn and spring) occurring once every three months. The spring equinox signifies the return of nature to life in many beliefs and traditions, culminating in the celebration of "solstitial bliss" at the end of June with the maidenly and graceful appearance of the Sânziene associated with eroticism, hope, and optimism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper aims to propose a reading of The House of the Seven Gables: A Romance – singled out by T. S. Eliot as “Hawthorne’s best novel” – as a story of initiation and alchemical transmutation, alchemy being understood here as existential poetry, not as the mere conversion of base metals into the gold of the wise. This interpretation is articulated by means of an analysis of the system of the hermetic symbols encoded in the text. Moreover, the heroes and heroines in the story are endowed with attributes which easily lend themselves to an interpretation through the grid of hermetism as they are involved in a mystery drama the significance of which is a mirroring of their progress towards illumination and inner blossoming. Unbeknownst to them, the characters have embarked on a journey of self-realization. The fictional universe unfolds under the sign of an interplay of light and shadows meant to bring to the fore the meaning of the story as one of upward spiritual transformation and advancement towards limpidity and harmony. The lines of the characters’ fictional destinies seem to converge into a climactic point which marks the state of inner fulfillment, the consummation of Magnum Opus, the Great Work of the alchemists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: The LUMINA trial demonstrated a very low local recurrence rate in women ≥55 years with low‐risk luminal A breast cancer (defined as grade I‐II, T1N0, hormone receptor positive, HER2 negative and Ki67 index ≤13.25%) treated with breast‐conserving surgery and endocrine therapy (but no other systemic therapy), supporting the safe omission of radiation in these women. Here we describe the protocol for Ki67 assessment, the companion diagnostic used to guide omission of adjuvant radiotherapy. Methods: Ki67 immunohistochemistry was performed on full‐face sections at one of three regional labs. Pathologists trained in the International Ki67 in Breast Cancer Working Group (IKWG) method demarcated tumour areas on scanned slides and scored 100 nuclei from each of at least five randomly selected 1‐mm fields. For cases with high Ki67 heterogeneity, further virtual cores were selected and scored in order to confidently assign a case as luminal A (≤13.25%) or B (>13.25%). Interlaboratory variability was assessed through an annual quality assurance programme during the study period. Results: From the quality assurance programme, the mean Ki67 index across all cases/labs was 13%. The observed intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and kappa statistics were ≥0.9 and ≥0.7, respectively, indicating a substantial level of agreement. Median scoring time was 4 min per case. The IKWG‐recommended scoring method, performed directly from slides, requiring up to four scored fields, is concordant with the LUMINA scoring method (ICC ≥ 0.9). Conclusion: Ki67 is a practical, reproducible, and inexpensive biomarker that can identify low‐risk luminal A breast cancers as potential candidates for radiation de‐escalation. Clinical trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01791829 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Argument (2067-4252) is the property of Universitatea de Arhitectura si Urbanism "Ion Mincu" Bucuresti and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Stratum Plus Journal is the property of P.P. Stratum plus and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Argument (2067-4252) is the property of Universitatea de Arhitectura si Urbanism "Ion Mincu" Bucuresti and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Church publications from Banat issued before the First World War have had an important contribution in the development of national feeling of Romanians, because there the Church was the most important institution that sustained the cultural and ethical emancipation of its faithful. During the time, Foaia Diecezană, the most important Church publication from Banat, has offered religious, historical and cultural articles with the purpose of crystallisation of the national feeling. In 1918, Foaia Diecezană received also as a supplement Lumina, a newspaper that proposed to help Romanians to get ready for a common future. The event of Great Union has also been illustrated in the publications of Church centres in a very enthusiastic mode, and presented as an accomplishment expected from centuries.

Copyright of Studia Universitatis Babes-Bolyai, Philologia is the property of Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Studii de Ştiintă şi Cultură is the property of Studii de Stiinta si Cultura and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

După o trecere în revistă a terminologiei „luminii" ca mijloc de exprimare a tainei comuniunii Persoanelor Sfintei Treimi la principalii mari Părinți ai Ortodoxiei bizantine, studiul prezintă introspectiv şi rezumativ tema luminii divine în reflecțiile pnevmatologice ale cuviosului Neofit şi ale patriarhului Grigorie al II-lea Cipriotul, personalități ale vieții bisericeşti bizantine din secolele XII-XIII. Exemplele analogice în care este întrebuințată lumina în contexte teologice diferite contribuie la o înțelegere mai apropiată de realitatea pe care Sfinții Părinți au încercat s-o exprime lingvistic, conştienți de limitele traducerii dumnezeiescului prin ele. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Church publications from Banat issued before the First World War have had an important contribution in the development of national feeling of Romanians, because there the Church was the most important institution that sustained the cultural and ethical emancipation of its faithful. During the time, Foaia Diecezană, the most important Church publication from Banat, has offered religious, historical and cultural articles with the purpose of crystallisation of the national feeling. In 1918, Foaia Diecezană received also as a supplement Lumina, a newspaper that proposed to help Romanians to get ready for a common future. The event of Great Union has also been illustrated in the publications of Church centres in a very enthusiastic mode, and presented as an accomplishment expected from centuries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Studii de Ştiintă şi Cultură is the property of Studii de Stiinta si Cultura and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Introduction There is a strong association between migraine and depression. The aim of this study is to identify migraine-specific factors involved in this association. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study in a large, well-defined cohort of migraine patients (n = 2533). We assessed lifetime depression using validated questionnaires, and diagnosed migraine based on the International Classification of Headache Disorders III-beta criteria. Multivariate regression analyses were conducted. Results Of the 2533 migraineurs that were eligible, 1137 (45%) suffered from lifetime depression. The following independent factors were associated with an increased depression prevalence: i) migraine-specific risk factors: high migraine attack frequency and the presence of allodynia, ii) general factors: being a bad sleeper, female gender, high BMI, being single, smoking, and a low alcohol consumption. Conclusion This study identified allodynia, in addition to high migraine attack frequency, as a new migraine-specific factor associated with depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose Our aim was to study not only the prevalence but more importantly the severity and the correlation between sleep quality and restless legs syndrome (RLS) in a large population of well-defined migraine patients as poor sleep presumably triggers migraine attacks. Methods In a large cross-sectional and observational study, data on migraine and RLS were collected from 2385 migraine patients (according to the International Classification of Headache Disorders ICHD-IIIb) and 332 non-headache controls. RLS severity (International RLS Study Group severity scale) and sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index) were assessed. Risk factors for RLS and RLS severity were calculated using multivariable-adjusted regression models. Results Restless legs syndrome prevalence in migraine was higher than in controls (16.9% vs. 8.7%; multivariable-adjusted odds ratio 1.83; 95% confidence interval 1.18-2.86; P = 0.008) and more severe (adjusted severity score 14.5 ± 0.5 vs. 12.0 ± 1.1; P = 0.036). Poor sleepers were overrepresented amongst migraineurs (50.1% vs. 25.6%; P < 0.001). Poorer sleep quality was independently associated with RLS occurrence (odds ratio 1.08; P < 0.001) and RLS severity ( P < 0.001) in migraine patients. Conclusion Restless legs syndrome is not only twice as prevalent but also more severe in migraine patients, and associated with decreased sleep quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of REVART: Specialized Review of Theory & Critique of Arts is the property of EDITURA Eurostampa and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Studia Universitatis Babes-Bolyai, Theologa Orthodoxa is the property of Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Romanian Journal of Forensic Science is the property of Romanian Forensic Association and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Studia Universitatis Babes-Bolyai, Theologia Graeco-Catholica Varadiensis is the property of Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The aim of this study was to characterize the clinical features of familial lupus, and determine its influence on damage accrual and survival using data from LUMINA, a longitudinal multiethnic US cohort. Familial lupus was defined as patients with a first-degree relative with systemic lupus erythematosus. Relative risks were estimated by logistic regression; odds ratios (ORs) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were the measure of association for familial lupus. Hazard ratios were calculated using Cox proportional hazards adjusted for potential confounders for damage and survival. Of 644 patients, 32 had familial and 612 had sporadic lupus; both groups were of comparable age (~36 years). Patients with familial lupus were, in decreasing order of frequency, siblings, parents and children. In multivariable analyses, mucosal ulcers (OR=1.92, 95% CI 0.65-5.70), mitral valve prolapse (OR=1.74, 95% CI 0.50-6.10), cerebrovascular disease (OR=4.18, 95% CI 0.98-17.76) and oral contraceptive use (ever/never; OR=2.51, 95% CI 0.88-7.19) were more likely in familial lupus, but a history of low platelet count (<150,000/mm3; OR=0.31, 95% CI 0.08-1.17) and pulmonary disease activity (OR=0.39, 95% CI 0.14-1.20) were less likely. However, none of these associations reached statistical significance. Familial lupus was not significantly associated with a shorter time to either damage accrual or death (HR=0.77, 95% CI 0.37-1.59, p=0.4746 and HR=0.20, 95% CI 0.03-1.47, p=0.2020, respectively). We conclude that although some clinical differences were observed between patients with familial and sporadic lupus, familial lupus was not associated with a significantly greater disease burden (damage, survival) than sporadic lupus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article examines the factors associated with peripheral vascular damage in systemic lupus erythematosus patients and its impact on survival from Lupus in Minorities, Nature versus Nurture (LUMINA), a large multi-ethnic U.S. cohort. It is examined through logistic regression models and a Cox multi-variable regression. Age, the presence of damage in other organs and some medications were found to be associated with the disease. It was also independently associated with a diminished survival

Recently, there has been an awareness of the variable phenotypic expression of numerous disorders between individuals from different ethnicities, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) one of them. These disparities probably arise from the interaction between genetic and non-genetic (environmental, socioeconomic–demographic, cultural and behavioral) factors. To delineate the influence of these factors on SLE outcome, we established a multiethnic (Hispanic, African American and Caucasian) United States (US) early cohort (<5 years disease duration). Ten years later, interesting data have emerged from the LUMINA (Lupus in Minorities: Nature vs. nurture) cohort. For example, African Americans and Hispanics from Texas have a more severe disease than Caucasians and Hispanics from Puerto Rico. Lack of private insurance, acute SLE onset, expression of HLA-DRB1*01 (DR1) and C4A*3 alleles were associated with higher disease activity, whereas age, the number of American College of Rheumatology criteria met, disease activity, corticosteroid use and abnormal illness behaviors were consistent predictors of damage. In turn, damage and poverty were found to predict mortality. We now plan to apply new approaches (genetic admixture) to deconfound the complex interaction between genetic and non-genetic factors influencing SLE outcome. These data may have impact on the development of policies aimed at eliminating health disparities in the US. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The preparation of an AlCl3 catalyst immobilized on γ-Al2O3 and its regeneration after deactivation have been studied. AlCl3, generated by reacting CCl4 with γ-Al2O3, was carried by N2 to a reactor containing the γ-Al2O3 support. The immobilized AlCl3 catalyst with meso- and macro-pore bimodal structure was shown to be suitable for isobutene oligomerization. The amount of AlCl3 immobilized on the support in terms of AlClx (x = 2.2) was 7.5 wt%. The catalyst exhibited excellent catalytic properties for isobutene polymerization under mild conditions. The average molecular weight of the product was 1000–2500, and its distribution was narrow, around 2.0 in the reaction temperature range 10–40 °C. This catalyst showed nearly perfect reactive specificity to isobutene polymerization and remarkable stability. After 2000 h of continuous running, the conversion dropped from 99 to 57%, the selectivity was maintained with little change at about 90%, and the average molecular weight was within the range 1000–1200 under the conditions T = 32 ± 1 °C, LHSV = 2.0 h-1, and P = 1.0 MPa. Reneration of the deactivated catalyst was satisfactorily accomplished by treating the used catalyst with a saturated solution of AlCl3 in CCl4 either in situ or ex situ. The activity recovery can be as high as 96%, and the deactivated catalyst can be regenerated repeatedly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Lupus in Minorities: Nature Vs Nurture (LUMINA) cohort has placed Hispanics on the lupus map in the United States. Texan Hispanic and African American patients experience, overall, worse outcomes than the Caucasian and Puerto Rican Hispanic patients. The genetic component of ethnicity is important early in the disease course whereas socioeconomic factors become more important subsequently. The role of hydroxychloroquine in preventing damage accrual and reducing mortality in lupus patients is a major contribution of LUMINA., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disorder with a worldwide distribution, potentially life-threatening with considerable morbidity. The elimination of pathogenic B cells has emerged as a rational therapeutic option. Many open label studies have reported encouraging results in which clinical and serological remission have invariably been described, often enabling the reduction of steroid and immunosuppressive treatment. However, the results from randomized controlled studies have been disappointing and several questions remain to be answered. In this review we will focus on results of B cell direct depletion in the treatment of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus., (Crown Copyright © 2013. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)