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Anomalies of the mesonephric duct are associated with a combination of renal agenesis/dysgenesis, ejaculatory duct obstruction, and seminal vesical cyst, called Zinner syndrome. We present a case of this rare syndrome in a young male patient, who initially presented with urinary symptoms. The relevant embryology and diagnostic modalities are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The severely atrophic maxilla can present with some challenges during treatment planning with communication between those performing the surgical and prosthetic aspects of the treatment as well as communication with the patient as to what is being suggested for treatment. This article simplifies the communication and understanding of treating the severely atrophic maxilla and based on the Bedrossian classification gives a guideline for the surgical approach to be adapted based on the patient residual anatomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A negative correlation between constitutive and inducible resistance across plant populations is expected for a variety of reasons; however, empirical evidence for such trade-offs remain ambiguous, particularly for crop plants. The current study investigated the relationship between constitutive and inducible resistance in vegetative-stage soybeans (V5-V6) against larvae of the generalist defoliator, Spodoptera frugiperda. Eighteen soybean genotypes differing in their constitutive resistance to coleopteran or lepidopteran defoliators were used over four experiments. Exogenous jasmonic acid (JA, 2 mM) was used to induce plants. Constitutive resistance of each genotype was estimated by measuring weight gains, foliar consumption, and foliar conversion efficiency in short-term feeding assays on excised leaf disks of terminal trifoliate leaves of plants not treated with JA. JA was applied to plants immediately after removing leaf material for assays of constitutive resistance, and induced resistance was estimated 48 h after application of JA using leaf disks from the remaining leaf tissue of the same trifoliate used for measuring constitutive resistance. Larval weight gains before JA treatments revealed genotypic variability in constitutive resistance.. Overall, reductions in weight gain (28.7% to 76.7%), foliar consumption (3.7% - 65%) and conversion efficiency (10.9% - 42.2%) were found in JA treatments. Significant (P < 0.05) or marginally significant (P < 0.10) negative correlations between constitutive resistance (larval weight gains on non-induced plants) and induced resistance (differences in weight gains before and after induction) were found in all four experiments, suggesting tradeoff between the two modes of resistance does exist in soybean for this herbivore. Additional evidence for tradeoffs between constitutive and inducible resitance was also found in the analysis of consumption data. Comparisons of consumption and conversion efficiencies suggest that similar antibiotic and antixenotic factors are involved in constitutive and inducible resistance to fall armyworm in soybean. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• ICVT constitutes a small fraction of cerebral venous thrombosis. • Exaggerated sulcal blooming on SWI due to thrombosed vein represents SWI-cord sign. • SWI-cord sign adjacent haemorrhagic infarction may suggest ICVT. Isolated cortical venous thrombosis (ICVT) is a relatively rare clinical entity with non-specific clinical presentations. Anatomical variations in cortical veins and the lack of a gold standard imaging feature make the diagnosis of ICVT challenging. Headache and seizures were the most common presentations. The Vein of Trolard followed by superficial middle cerebral vein (SMCV) were the most commonly involved. Susceptibility Weighted Imaging (SWI) cord sign was observed in 100% of the cases. CT cord sign and filling defects on contrast enhanced CT were evident in 46.7% and 10% of the cases, respectively. Notably, in the absence of filling defect visualized on contrast CT, MRI, replacement of flow void was the surrogate marker for the ICVT. A high index of clinical suspicion, a thorough understanding of neurovascular anatomy, multiparametric, multiplanar MRI protocol is required to diagnose this rare entity. A serpiginous blooming structure within the subarachnoid space identifiable in less than two contiguous sections on SWI in the vicinity of haemorrhagic infarction should alert the clinician to the imaging possibility of ICVT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To observe clinically and radiographically (CBCT), the extent of bone resorption in extraction socket without the use of bone graft substitutes and delayed implant placement. 50 compliant patients were selected for study. All the patients who were advised extraction were followed up for entire duration of the treatment, at 5th week CBCT showed horizontal and vertical bone loss. To prevent further bone resorption, after 5 weeks implant was placed along with bone graft. Bone resorption after extraction is an unavoidable phenomenon. Clinical and radiographic (CBCT) analysis showed massive bone resorption by 5th week. At 5 month CBCT, all patients showed stable implant integration. There was no implant failure at the end of the study. Alveolar preservation is proven to slow down socket wall collapse with the use of a bone substitute material without which larger procedures maybe needed to restore alveolar integrity and harmony. Immediate implant placement is effective when bone graft is placed in the jumping distance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditional buffalo curd is a rich source of wild-type lactic acid bacteria (LAB) having a broad range of probiotic characteristics. However, its application in the dairy industry is minimal. The current study aims to 1) determine probiotic properties (i.e., resistance to pH, bile, phenol, antibiotics, cell surface hydrophobicity, antibacterial activity, antifungal susceptibility, haemolytic and DNase activity) of Lactobacillus strains inhabiting back-slopped buffalo curd, 2) evaluate the characteristics of fermented milk produced using these isolated bacterial monocultures, by testing for the viability of LAB in fermented milk, changes in pH value, measurement of syneresis, texture profile analysis, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis. Results indicated that, five bacterial strains belonging to L. delbrueckii subsp. indicus with substantial genotypic diversity within the strains, showed the best probiotic and milk fermentation properties. Furthermore, out of the isolates, L. delbrueckii subsp. indicus SUR_IN-55 showed a significantly (p < 0.05) higher survival rate at pH 3, 0.3% bile, 0.6% phenol, and high cell surface hydrophobicity. In addition, all five L. delbrueckii subsp. indicus strains demonstrated good antibacterial activity and antibiotic resistivity, with minimal differences across the strains. HPLC and FTIR analysis results showed 2.6% ± 0.02% of lactic acid production during the lactic acid fermentation of strain SUR_IN-55 with significantly (p < 0.05) lower syneresis, and higher viability with acceptable texture parameters compared to other monocultures. Overall findings verify that L. delbrueckii subsp. indicus strains SUR_IN-55, ANU_IN-91, and THS_IN-36 can be used as starter culture bacteria in the production of value-added fermented dairy products with probiotic characteristics. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A technique for tripoding a definitive cast by using a reproducible 3-point contact device is proposed and compared with the conventional technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Farmers in developing countries are among the most vulnerable to climate change effects, particularly drought. However, little research has focused on the psychological mechanisms that facilitate or constrain agricultural adaptation behavior. Drawing on the protection motivation theory from health promotion research, we propose a risk, coping, and social appraisal (RCSA) model of adaptation decisions. To test the model, we assessed drought risk perceptions, efficacy beliefs, village identification, and perceived descriptive norms among a sample of 192 paddy farmers from five villages in the dry zone of Sri Lanka. Results revealed that the RCSA model was a better predictor of agricultural adaptation intention than a strictly demographic model. Efficacy beliefs were the strongest predictor of behavioral intentions, with descriptive norms also consistently relating to intentions. Drought risk perceptions related only to intention to adopt one of the behaviors, while village identification related only to a very communal behavior. The results have implications for agricultural extension officers, irrigation officers, and water management officials in their efforts to assist farmers in adapting to limited water resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Supply chain strategies are used to show the companies competitiveness and the position in the market against their competitors. Companies that focus on a specific supply chain strategy are more likely to build shareholder value than those do not. This idea will call for a company in a supply chain to exercise specific strategies. Not all products need the same supply chain strategy. These supply chain strategies for any product or service industries depends on supply and demand uncertainty, product life cycle and manufacturing strategies. Hence, setting the right SC strategy is compulsory for companies competing in the market. In this paper different types of supply chain strategies are identified from existing literatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The rice water weevil (RWW), Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus (Kuschel) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), is the most destructive insect pest of rice in the United States. Water-seeded rice, which is flooded at an earlier stage of crop development than drill-seeded rice, is at heightened risk of loss from root-feeding RWW larvae. Pyrethroids, the most widely used group of foliar insecticides for RWW control, have inherent limitations such as limited residual activity, narrow window of activity and extreme toxicity to non-target aquatic organisms. An array of field, lab and greenhouse experiments was conducted to compare the activity of two neonicotinoids with that of λ-cyhalothrin, a widely used pyrethroid, against the RWW. Small-plot efficacy trials were conducted during 2009, 2010 and 2011. Foliar clothianidin (Belay 2.13 SC) and a granular formulation (3%) of dinotefuran applied to plots were as effective as, and showed greater residual activity than, foliar applications of λ-cyhalothrin. Topical bioassays on adult weevils revealed that clothianidin possessed lower contact toxicity than λ-cyhalothrin. Residual assays using weevils placed on foliage of sprayed plots revealed that the toxic and sublethal behavioral effects of clothianidian on adult weevils were more persistent for clothianidin than for λ-cyhalothrin. Granular dinotefuran applied to greenhouse-grown plants previously infested with weevil larvae showed excellent larvicidal activity. Overall, these studies showed that neonicotinoids have potential as pyrethroid replacements against the RWW in water-seeded rice culture. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: During the last decades, the evolution of wireless technologies has allowed researches to design communication systems where vehicles participate in the communication networks. Vehicular Ad-Hoc Network is an important component of Intelligent Transportation System, which has a future potential in terms of a rich set of applications that it can provide to its commuters. Various approaches has been proposed in recent years for the design of intelligent VANET but most of the proposed works are limited to provide a complete road information to vehicles. For this reason, to develop a sophisticated framework which should disseminate up-to-the minute information about existing or impending traffic-related events has gained recent attention. The proposed framework exploit concepts data mining, machine learning and agent technology to model intelligent vehicular system contributes safer and more efficient roads by providing timely information and decision making capability to vehicle driver. Our work shows the techniques and methods resulting from the field of agent mining applied to many aspects including intelligent traffic control, dynamic routing, congestion management, decision support, modeling and simulation. The current research related to design a shell to control and monitor vehicles by sending intelligent traffic report and warning messages. Simulation results shows communication among agents in a collaborative environment. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Osseointegration is the most studied and most investigated area in implantology. A thorough and complete understanding of what happens at the bone–implant interface is important for the implantologist, thereby enabling a treatment plan which conforms to the standards and gives better clinical predictability. This article serves to be a comprehensive review of the literature on the various aspects of osseointegration. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The objective of this paper is to design, model, simulate and synthesis of Spatial Filtering Techniques, in which the operation is performed within neighborhood of a pixel. Recent increases in Filed Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) performance and size offer a new hardware acceleration opportunity. The convolution filtering operations are implemented using Xilinx System Generator (XSG) which is the industry''s leading high-level tool for designing high-performance DSP systems using FPGAs. The designs are modeled using XSG Block set and synthesized onto Virtex 6 xc6vs315t-3ff156 FPGA device. The algorithms are validated using hardware co-simulation method. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A novel approach for solving fuzzy model-based stability problems via evolutionary computation (EC) is presented. Gain scheduling problem of a multi-model fuzzy system that satisfies the Lyapunov stability criteria is solved. The generalized eigenvalue problem (GEVP) can be directly introduced to EC in searching positive definite (PD) or positive semi-definite (PSD) matrices, by making a penalty for an individual that violates the inequality condition in order to solve the nonlinear constraints or linear matrix inequalities (LMIs). Four examples for illustrating the proposed methodology are included and the results show the effectiveness. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

We show that random 3-SAT formulas with poly(log n).n3/2 = n3/2 + o(1) clauses can be efficiently certified as unsatisfiable. This improves a previous bound of n3/2 + epsilon clauses. There epsilon > 0 is a constant. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]