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Purpose Advanced developments in the medical field have gradually increased the public demand for surgical skill evaluation. However, this assessment always depends on the direct observation of experienced surgeons, which is time-consuming and variable. The introduction of robot-assisted surgery provides a new possibility for this evaluation paradigm. This paper aims at evaluating surgeon performance automatically with novel evaluation metrics based on different surgical data. Methods Urologists ($$n=10$$ n = 10 ) from a hospital were requested to perform a simplified neobladder reconstruction on an ex vivo setup twice with different camera modalities ($$n=2$$ n = 2 ) randomly. They were divided into novices and experts ($$n=5$$ n = 5 , respectively) according to their experience in robot-assisted surgeries. Different performance metrics ($$n=2$$ n = 2 ) are proposed to achieve the surgical skill evaluation, considering both instruments and endoscope. Also, nonparametric tests are adopted to check if there are significant differences when evaluating surgeons performance. Results When grouping according to four stages of neobladder reconstruction, statistically significant differences can be appreciated in phase 1 ($$p=0.0284$$ p = 0.0284 ) and phase 2 ($$p=0.01953$$ p = 0.01953 ) with normalized time-related metrics and camera movement-related metrics, respectively. On the other hand, considering experience grouping shows that both metrics are able to highlight statistically significant differences between novice and expert performances in the control protocol. It also shows that the camera-related performance of experts is significantly different ($$p=0.003153$$ p = 0.003153 ) when handling the endoscope manually and when it is automatic. Conclusion Surgical skill evaluation, using the approach in this paper, can effectively measure surgical procedures of surgeons with different experience. Preliminary results demonstrate that different surgical data can be fully utilized to improve the reliability of surgical evaluation. It also demonstrates its versatility and potential in the quantitative assessment of various surgical operations.

Building on historical traditions, customs, the economic and legislative environment, accounting regulation in different countries takes place in different forms and by different bodies. Currently, the main accounting standards in the world are International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and US Accounting Standards (US GAAP). This thesis deals with the definition of main elements of financial statements as well as with the methodology of their compilation, both from the perspective of these standards and further according to the Czech accounting legislation (CAL). The practical part of this thesis is aimed at identifying significant differences in the financial statements of a selected sample of companies, whose sectoral activity is related to the concept of the circular economy, taking into account the use of different reporting standards, namely in comparison between IFRS and CAL.

The bachelor thesis focuses on the dynamics of the soil condition of the land during growing season. The object of the study was a cambium in the cadastral area of Šeborov (district Žďár nad Sázavou). In this work we assessed selected soil properties. The stability of soil aggregates, bulk density, porosity, maximum capillary water capacity, minimum air capacity, soil moisture, soil reactions and organic carbon content were evaluated. The stability of soil aggregates showed statistically significant differences, as did moisture. The agroecological limits were not exceeded for bulk density or porosity during the entire vegetation period. Maximum capillary capacity values ranged from 20 % to 30 % during the growing season. The values of the minimum air capacity exceeded a satisfactory value of 15–20 % for almost the entire vegetation period. The active soil reaction was evaluated in the range for weakly acidic soil and the exchange soil reaction for acidic soil.

This paper explores the relationship between pro-environmental behaviour (PEB) and environmental awareness, knowledge, attitudes, risk perceptions and activism in South Africa. To achieve this goal, the 2010–2012 data from the International Social Survey Program “Environmental III” was analysed by means of descriptive and inferential statistics, including the employment of the structural equation model. Significant differences were found between pro-environmental behaviour and other environmental variables such as environmental concern, awareness, willingness to sacrifice, and others in terms of the educational background, place of living, ethnic identity and provinces where respondents lived. Thus, to increase PEB amongst citizens would require the introduction and support of development programmes that enhance access to more education and environmental awareness across all population groups.

application/pdf, 紀要論文, 本研究では、日本語母語話者とタイ語母語話者の比較を通して、タイ語を母語とする日本語学習者による不同意表明における語用論的特徴を明らかにした。談話完成テストを用い、決定木分析手法によって不同意表明の切り出しと終結部に現われた意味公式の出現傾向及びそれに対する文脈的な要因（相手との上下関係、親疎関係、負担度の度合いの大きさ）との関係を分析した。その結果、不同意表明の切り出しに見られた「相手の発話の受け入れ」の出現率が非常に高いという点などで学習者は日本語母語話者及びタイ語母語話者と異なることが分かった。不同意表明を終結する際に、日本語母語話者は「代替案」で終結する傾向があった。学習者は両言語母語話者の中間位置で「代替案」を使用する傾向があった。\ 学習者の切り出しに「相手の発話の受け入れ」の選択には負担度の大きさの違いとの関係が見られなかったという点などでタイ語母語話者と共通して日本語母語話者と異なることが分かった。全体的にはタイ語を母語とする日本語学習者は日本語母語話者とタイ語母語話者の中間的な傾向にあり、目標言語である日本語の表現に近づきつつあることが示唆された。, This study examines the act of disagreement expressed by Thai learners of the Japanese language, by exploring the frequency of semantic formulas appearing in the opening and closing of disagreement act with regards to contextual variations (status of interlocutors, intimacy, ranking of imposition). Data was collected by Discourse Completion Test and analyzed by means of Decision Tree Analysis. The results showed that learners displayed a high frequency of statements of positive opinions that initiated disagreements, which is in contrast to both Japanese and Thai native groups. Statements of positive opinions in the opening of disagreements by learners were also different from Japanese in terms of the ranking of imposition effect.\ Japanese tended to give alternative choices in the closing of disagreements. The use rate of alternative choices by learners was between that of both groups of native speakers.

This paper studies welfare dynamics, especially changes associated with middle-class status in countries in the Middle East and North Africa, before and after the Arab Spring transitions, using objective and subjective welfare measures. Absent panel data, the analysis employs state-of-the-art synthetic panel techniques using repeated cross sections of expenditure data from household surveys and subjective well-being data from value surveys, which were conducted during the 2000s and the Arab Spring period. The objective welfare dynamics indicate mixed trends. About half the poor in the 2000s moved out of poverty by the end of the decade, but chronic poverty remained high; upward mobility was strong in Syria and Tunisia, but downward mobility was pronounced in Yemen and Egypt. Subjective well-being dynamics suggest negative developments in most countries during the Arab Spring transitions. Low education achievement, informal worker status, and rural residency are positively associated with lower than average chances for upward mobility, and greater than average chances for downward mobility according to both types of welfare measures.

This paper is the first to systematically test the robustness of shared prosperity estimates to different methodological choices using a sample of countries from all regions in the world. The tests that are conducted include grouped versus microdata, nominal welfare aggregate versus adjustment for spatial price variation, and different treatment of income with negative and zero values. The empirical results reveal an only minimal impact of the proposed tests on shared prosperity estimates. Nevertheless, there are important caveats. First, spatial adjustment can change the ranking of households, affecting the distribution of the population in the bottom 40 percent. Second, the negligible impact of spatial deflation holds only if price adjustments are carried out consistently over time. Finally, the treatment of negative and zero income numbers can potentially lead to substantial differences in shared prosperity, depending on the magnitude of negative income and the share of households with negative and zero numbers across years.

Polymer nanocomposite has received great research interest in design of engineering components owing to its remarkable improvement in tribological characteristics. Rolling contact fatigue is a predominant failure mode of the many functional components like gears, bearings, cams, ball screw rods and rail wheels. Nanosize clay fillers were dispersed into the polymer using melt intercalation method to produce polymer nanocomposite material. Injection-molded disc-type specimens were made to run against each other on twin-disc test rig designed in-house. To understand the behaviour of the materials, rolling contact fatigue behaviour against different contact loads under constant speed were studied. Rolling contact fatigue testing of polymer nanocomposite has revealed significant difference from the pristine PA6 behaviour in failure modality and temperature rise. Addition of nanoclay to polymer although improved the modulus and strength of the nanocomposite, deteriorated the rolling contact behaviour. Rolling contact fatigue performance of PA6 was better than that of the clay-reinforced polymer nanocomposite under all tested conditions. Polymer nanocomposite materials have shown poor wear resistance as the specific wear rate was calculated to be higher for PNC materials under rolling contact fatigue conditions. Difference in surface temperature rise in PA6 and polymer nanocomposite has led to the different failure mechanism and reduction in rolling contact fatigue life of polymer nanocomposite materials.

The effects of pile spacing, number of piles, and configuration on displacement and bending response of pile groups in clay under dynamic lateral loading were investigated. The displacement response of pile group in clay is strongly nonlinear. Pile-soil-pile interaction is predominant for the groups with closer spacing and with greater number of piles. Group interaction causes reduction in the group stiffness and increase in damping of the pile group. Strong group interaction leads to significant differences in bending profiles of different row piles of the groups. Dynamic lateral loading increases the maximum bending moment and active pile length. Copyright � A. S. Elnashai and N. N. Ambraseys.

A mixed substrate named FS-G-CD-S-SS, consisting of fine sand, gravels, coal dust, slag and sewage sluge in a proportion of 20% each in size, was made in order to test effect of purification on pollutants. Multiple comparisons and correlation analysis were used to analyze physical and chemical properties and the absorption capacity of phosphorus. The test results show that the phosphorus purification capacity and the substrate of FS-G-CD-S-SS model has no linear relationship when the concentration of wastewater with phosphorus ranges 100 mg/L∼500 mg/L, but that the maximum phosphorus purification capacity reached when the concentration was 200 mg/L. Moreover, there is no linear relationship between FS-G-CD-S-SS and purification capacity of phosphorus when drainage time is 0.25h∼48 h, but the best purification results reached when the drainage time is 24 h. There are no significant differences between the removal rate and the substrate of FS-G-CD-S-SS at different water concentrations and time of watering and drainage.

Las plantas Quassia amara y Maytenus ilicifolia son conocidas por sus propiedades terapéuticas sobre el aparato digestivo. En el presente trabajo ambas plantas se investigaron unidas, mediante la mezcla de las tinturas obtenidas, con el objetivo de potenciar su acción como fitofármaco. Este estudio resumió las propiedades físico-químicas de las tinturas obtenidas por percolación, con el empleo de una solución hidroalcóholica al 60 % y un tiempo de extracción de 48 h en 2 variantes: 1) mezclas de las tinturas obtenidas de cada planta, al 20 % en una proporción de 10-90 % (QA-MI), la cual se denominó tintura C. 2) Mezcla del material vegetal de ambas plantas en las mismas proporciones anteriores, en el equipo, para obtener la tintura D. Los parámetros evaluados en ambas tinturas (pH, densidad relativa, índice de refracción, sólidos totales), se compararon estadísticamente. Se comprobó que solo los sólidos totales ofrecen diferencias significativas, con valores superiores en la tintura D, la cual fue seleccionada para el estudio de estabilidad. El extracto D se estudió durante 3 meses a 3 temperaturas diferentes: refrigeración, ambiente y 40 °C. Se comprobó que en refrigeración no ocurren cambios en los parámetros evaluados y en las otras temperaturas aparecen ligeros cambios en pH y contenido alcohólico.The Quassia amara and Maytenus ilicifolia plants are known by its therapeutical properties on digestive tract. In present paper both plants were researched together by means of mixing of tinctures obtained to potentiate its phytopharmacologic action. Present study summarizes the physical-chemical properties of tinctures obtained by percolation using a 60 %-hydroalcoholic solution and a extraction time of 48 hrs in two variants: 1) mixtures of tinctures obtained from each plant to 20 % at a 10-90 % ratio (QA-MI), which was called C-tincture, the mixture of vegetal material in both plants in the same prior ratios in equipment, to obtain D-tincture. Parameters assessed in both tinctures (pH, relative density, refraction rate, total solids) were statistically compared. It was proved that total solids have significant differences with higher values present in D-tincture, which was selected for stability study. D-extract was studied during three months at different temperatures: refrigeration, room-temperature and at 40 ºC. In refrigeration temperature there are not changes in parameters assessed and in the other temperatures there appear slight changes in pH and alcoholic content.

Moving beyond the simple comparisons of averages typical of most analyses of household income shocks, this article employs quantile analysis to generate a complete distribution of such shocks by type of household during the 1995 crisis in Mexico. It compares the distributions across normal and crisis periods to see whether observed differences were due to the crisis or are intrinsic to the household types. Alternatively, it asks whether the distribution of shocks during normal periods was a reasonable predictor of vulnerability to income shocks during crises. It finds large differences in the distribution of shocks by household types both before and during the crisis but little change in their relative positions during the crisis. The impact appears to have been spread fairly evenly. Households headed by people with less education (poor), single mothers, or people working in the informal sector do not appear to experience disproportionate income drops either in normal times or during crises.

It is known that statistically significant (positive) results are more likely to be published than non-significant (negative) results. However, it has been unclear whether any increasing prevalence of positive results is stronger in the "softer" disciplines (social sciences) than in the "harder" disciplines (physical sciences), and whether the prevalence of negative results is decreasing over time. Using Scopus, we searched the abstracts of papers published between 1990 and 2013, and measured longitudinal trends of multiple expressions of positive versus negative results, including p-values between 0.041 and 0.049 versus p-values between 0.051 and 0.059, textual reporting of "significant difference" versus "no significant difference," and the reporting of p < 0.05 versus p > 0.05. We found no support for a "hierarchy of sciences" with physical sciences at the top and social sciences at the bottom. However, we found large differences in reporting practices between disciplines, with p-values between 0.041 and 0.049 over 1990-2013 being 65.7 times more prevalent in the biological sciences than in the physical sciences. The p-values near the significance threshold of 0.05 on either side have both increased but with those p-values between 0.041 and 0.049 having increased to a greater extent (2013-to-1990 ratio of the percentage of papers = 10.3) than those between 0.051 and 0.059 (ratio = 3.6). Contradictorily, p < 0.05 has increased more slowly than p > 0.05 (ratios = 1.4 and 4.8, respectively), while the use of "significant difference" has shown only a modest increase compared to "no significant difference" (ratios = 1.5 and 1.1, respectively). We also compared reporting of significance in the United States, Asia, and Europe and found that the results are too inconsistent to draw conclusions on cross-cultural differences in significance reporting. We argue that the observed longitudinal trends are caused by negative factors, such as an increase of questionable research practices, but also by positive factors, such as an increase of quantitative research and structured reporting.

Мета: визначити особливості системи цінностей студентів Харківських вишів. Матеріал і методи: дослідження проводилось у вересні – жовтні 2013 р. у Харківському національному економічному університеті (ХНЕУ) ім. Семена Кузнеця, Харківському національному університеті будівництва та архітектури (ХНУБА) та Харківському національному педагогічному університеті (ХНПУ) ім. Г. Сковороди. У дослідженні прийняли участь 523 студента. Для аналізу ціннісних орієнтацій особистості студентів був використаний морфологічний тест життєвих цінностей В. Ф. Сопова та Л. В. Карпушиної. Результати: проведено аналіз наукової літератури за проблемою дослідження; порівняльний аналіз термінальних життєвих цінностей студентів першого та другого курсів, юнаків та дівчат, студентів та викладачів, студентів Харківських вузів різних за профілем навчання; порівняльний аналіз спрямованості особистості груп студентів ХНЕУ, ХНУБА і ХНПУ до певних життєвих цінностей; аналіз термінальних життєвих цінностей студентів ХНЕУ ім. Семена Кузнеця, які заявили про високе значення сфери фізичної активності. Висновки: різні контингенти студентів мають різне відношення до певних життєвих цінностей. Деякі відмінності спостерігаються за віковою ознакою, як у хлопців, так і у дівчат, а також між викладачами та студентами ХНЕУ ім. Семена Кузнеця. Але між хлопцями та дівчатами достовірних відмінностей у відношенні до певних життєвих цінностей не виявлено; у спрямованості груп студентів Харківських вузів до певних життєвих цінностей майже немає відмінностей серед студентів різного профілю навчання; більшість студентів, які активні в сфері фізичного виховання, прагнуть реалізувати духовно-моральні цінності, а не егоїстично-престижні (прагматичні)., Цель: определить особенности системы ценностей студентов Харьковских вузов. Материал и методы: исследование проводилось в сентябре – октябре 2013 г. в Харьковском национальном экономическом университете (ХНЭУ) им. Семена Кузнеца, Харьковском национальном университете строительства и архитектуры (ХНУСА) и Харьковском национальном педагогическом университете (ХНПУ) им. Г. Сковороды. В исследовании приняли участие 523 студента. Для анализа ценностных ориентаций личности студентов был использован морфологический тест жизненных ценностей В. Ф. Сопова и Л. В. Карпушиной. Результаты: проведены анализ научной литературы по проблеме исследования; сравнительный анализ терминальных жизненных ценностей студентов первого и второго курсов, юношей и девушек, студентов и преподавателей, студентов Харьковских вузов разных по профилю обучения; сравнительный анализ направленности личности групп студентов ХНЭУ, ХНУСА и ХНПУ к определенным жизненным ценностям; анализ терминальных жизненных ценностей студентов ХНЭУ им. С. Кузнеца, которые заявили про высокое значение сферы физической активности. Выводы: различные контингенты студентов имеют разное отношение к определенным жизненным ценностям. Некоторые различия наблюдаются по возрастному признаку, как у юношей, так и у девушек, а также между преподавателями и студентами ХНЭУ им. С. Кузнеца. Но между юношами и девушками достоверных различий в отношении к определенным жизненным ценностям не обнаружено; в направленности групп студентов Харьковских вузов к определенным жизненным ценностям почти нет различий среди студентов различного профиля обучения; большинство студентов, которые активны в сфере физического воспитания, стремятся реализовать духовно-нравственные ценности, а не эгоистично-престижные (прагматические)., Purpose: to determine the values of the features of the Kharkiv university students. Material and Methods: the study was conducted in September and October 2013 in S. Kuznets Kharkiv National Economic University (KNEU), Kharkiv National University of Construction and Architecture (KNUBA) and H. Skovoroda Kharkiv National Pedagogical University (KNPU). In study involved 523 students. For the analysis of value orientations of individual students was used morphological test of values V. Sopova and L. V. Karpushina. Results: analysis of scientific literature on the problem of the study; conducted comparative analysis of terminal values in life students of the first and second courses, boys and girls, students and teachers and students from different faculties, the analysis of terminal values in life of them students of KNEU, who said the high value of the sphere of physical activity, and Kharkiv university students of different learning profiles; Comparative analysis of the orientation of the individual groups of students KNUE HNUBA and KNPU certain values in life. Conclusions: different students have different kontenhenty relation to certain values in life. Some of the differences observed by age in both boys and girls, and between teachers and students of S. Kuznets KNEU. But between boys and girls significant differences with respect to certain life values were found; in focus groups of students to universities in Kharkiv certain values in life, almost no differences between students from different education profile; Most students who are active in the field of physical education, seeking to realize spiritual and moral values than selfish – prestigious (pragmatic).

The three transition-metal complexes, (meso-5,7,7,12,14,14- hexamethyl-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane-4N)bis(perchlorato- O)copper(II), [Cu(ClO4)2(C18H40N4)], (I), (meso- 5,7,7,12,14,14-hexamethyl-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane- 4N)bis(nitrato-O)zinc(II), [Zn(NO3)2(C18H40N4)], (II), and aquachlorido(meso-5,7,7,12,14,14-hexamethyl-1,4,8,11- tetraazacyclotetradecane-4N)copper(II) chloride, [CuCl- (C18H40N4)(H2O)]Cl, (III), are described. The molecules display a very similarly distorted 4+2 octahedral environment for the cation [located at an inversion centre in (I) and (II)], defined by the macrocycle N4 group in the equatorial sites and two further ligands in trans-axial positions [two O? ClO3 ligands in (I), two O?NO2 ligands in (II) and one chloride and one aqua ligand in (III)]. The most significant difference in molecular shape resides in these axial ligands, the effect of which on the intra- and intermolecular hydrogen bonding is discussed. In the case of (I), all strong hydrogenbond donors are saturated in intramolecular interactions, while weak intermolecular C?H O contacts result in a three-dimensional network. In (II) and (III), instead, there are N?H and O?H donors left over for intermolecular interactions, giving rise to the formation of strongly linked but weakly interacting chains. Fil: Yasmin, Sabina. University of Chittagong; Bangladesh Fil: Suarez, Sebastian. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Química, Física de los Materiales, Medioambiente y Energía. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Química, Física de los Materiales, Medioambiente y Energía; Argentina Fil: Doctorovich, Fabio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Química, Física de los Materiales, Medioambiente y Energía. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Química, Física de los Materiales, Medioambiente y Energía; Argentina Fil: Roy, Tapashi G.. University of Chittagong; Bangladesh Fil: Baggio, Ricardo Fortunato. Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica; Argentina

Significant evidence has indicated that poly(L-lactide)-co-(epsilon-caprolactone) [(poly(LLA-co-CL)] scaffolds could be one of the suitable candidates for bone tissue engineering. Oxygen-terminated nanodiamond particles (n-DP) were combined with poly(LLA-co-CL) and revealed to be positive for cell growth. In this study, we evaluated the influence of poly(LLA-co-CL) scaffolds modified by n-DP on attachment, proliferation, differentiation of bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) in vitro, and on bone formation using a sheep calvarial defect model. BMSCs were seeded on either poly(LLA-co-CL)-or n-DP-coated scaffolds and incubated for 1 h. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and fluorescence microscopy were used in addition to protein and DNA measurements to evaluate cellular attachment on the scaffolds. To determine the effect of n-DP on proliferation of BMSCs, cell/scaffold constructs were harvested after 3 days and evaluated by Bicinchoninic Acid (BCA) protein assay and SEM. In addition, the osteogenic differentiation of cells grown for 2 weeks on the various scaffolds and in a dynamic culture condition was evaluated by real-time RT-PCR. Unmodified and modified scaffolds were implanted into the calvaria of six-year-old sheep. The expression of collagen type I (COL I) and bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) after 4 weeks as well as the formation of new bone after 12 and 24 weeks were analyzed by immunohistochemistry and histology. Scaffolds modified with n-DP supported increased cell attachment and the mRNA expression of osteopontin (OPN), bone sialoprotein (BSP), and BMP-2 were significantly increased after 2 weeks of culture. The BMSCs had spread well on the various scaffolds investigated after 3 days in the study with no significant difference in cell proliferation. Furthermore, the in vivo data revealed more positive staining of COLI and BMP-2 in relation to the n-DP-coated scaffolds after 4 weeks and presented more bone formation after 12 and 24 weeks. n-DP modification significantly increased cell attachment and differentiation of BMSCs on poly(LLA-co-CL) scaffolds in vitro and enhanced bone formation in vivo. QC 20130812

Since the elucidation of the myoglobin (Mb) structure, a histidine residue on the E helix (His-E7) has been proposed to act as a gate with an open or closed conformation controlling access to the active site. Although it is believed that at low pH, the His-E7 gate is in its open conformation, the full relationship between the His-E7 protonation state, its conformation, and ligand migration in Mb is hotly debated. We used molecular dynamics simulations to first address the effect of His-E7 protonation on its conformation. We observed the expected shift from the closed to the open conformation upon protonation, but more importantly, noted a significant difference between the conformations of the two neutral histidine tautomers. We further computed free energy profiles for oxygen migration in each of the possible His-E7 states as well as in two instructive Mb mutants: Ala-E7 and Trp-E7. Our results show that even in the closed conformation, the His-E7 gate does not create a large barrier to oxygen migration and permits oxygen entry with only a small rotation of the imidazole side chain and movement of the E helix. We identify, instead, a hydrophobic site in the E7 channel that can accommodate an apolar diatomic ligand and enhances ligand uptake particularly in the open His-E7 conformation. This rate enhancement is diminished in the closed conformation. Taken together, our results provide a new conceptual framework for the histidine gate hypothesis. © 2013 by The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc. Fil:Boechi, L. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentina. Fil:Martí, M.A. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentina. Fil:Estrin, D.A. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentina.

The effect of selected d -amino acids ( d -AAs) on collagen with 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylamino propyl)carbodiimide (EDC)/N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS) initiated crosslinking is evaluated by using experimental and modelling tools. The experimental results suggest that d -Lysine ( d -Lys) plays a pivotal role in the self-assembly and conformation of collagen fibrils than d -Alanine ( d -Ala) and d -Glutamic acid ( d -Glu). The SDS-PAGE, absorption spectrum and viscosity measurements indicate significant differences in the d -Lys crosslinked collagen when compared to other systems. The CD spectra show an increase in the peak intensity at 220 nm in the presence of d -Lys, which could be due to increase in propensity of the structure to form a triple helix. Modelling studies indicated that d -Lys bind with collagen-like peptide (CLP) through multiple H-bonding and hydrophobic interactions. d -Lys has the lowest binding energy (−4.2 kcal/mol, indicating strongest interactions) when compared to d -Ala and d -Glu (−3.6 and −3.7 kcal/mol, respectively). Orientational changes in the collagenase on CLP- d -Lys are observed which may decrease its accessibility to degradation and stabilise CLP against the action of the former. d -Lys has the lowest binding energy and improved fibrillar-assembly and staggered alignment without the undesired structural stiffness and aggregations. The information derived from the present study could help in designing heterochiral collagen-based biomaterial.

Concentrations of selected heavy metals and a metalloid were measured by ICP-MS in crayfish (Astacus leptodactylus) collected from Lake Hirfanli, Turkey. Aluminum (Al), chromium (52Cr, 53Cr), copper ( 63Cu, 65Cu), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni) and arsenic (As) were measured in the exoskeleton, gills, hepatopancreas and abdominal muscle tissues of 60 crayfish of both genders. With the exception of Al, differences were determined between male and female cohorts for the accumulation trends of the above-mentioned elements in the four tissues. It was also noted that the accumulation rates of Ni and As were significantly lower in gill tissue of females compared to males and no significant difference was observed for Cu isotopes in female crayfish. Cluster Analysis (CA) recovered similar results for both genders, with links between accumulations of Ni and As being notable. Accumulation models were described separately for male and female crayfish using regression analysis, and are presented for models where R2 > 0.85. © 2013 Springer Science+Business Media New York.

Fe73.5-xCrxSi13.5B9Nb 3Cu1 (x = 1, 2, and 3) amorphous ribbons were prepared by single roller rapid quenching technique. Both conventional and stress annealing at 520 C for 2 h at the value of the specific load of 150 MPa resulted in the formation of a nanocrystalline structure with average grain size about 13 nm. No significant differences in crystallite size were observed for all samples under consideration. The crystallite orientations were practically isotropic indicating no texture in the samples of all types. For all conventionally annealed ribbons a longitudinal effective magnetic anisotropy with an easy magnetization axis parallel to the ribbon axis was observed. For all stress annealed ribbons a transverse induced magnetic anisotropy with the anisotropy constant value of about 1800 ± 50 J/m3 was evident. Induced magnetic anisotropy features in FeCrSiBNbCu nanocrystalline alloy, namely an importance of the stress distribution was proven by direct X-ray measurements. A very good correlation between the induced magnetic anisotropy constant values and anisotropic stress distribution was observed. © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

This study investigates the application of classification methods for the prognosis of future disability on MRI-detectable brain white matter lesions in subjects diagnosed with clinical isolated syndrome (CIS) of multiple sclerosis (MS). In order to achieve these we had collected MS lesions from 38 subjects, manually segmented by an experienced MS neurologist, on transverse T2-weighted images obtained from serial brain MR imaging scans. The patients have been divided into two groups, those belonging to patients with EDSS ≤ 2 and those belonging to patients with EDSS > 2 (expanded disability status scale (EDSS)) that was measured at 24 months after the onset of the disease). Several image texture analysis features were extracted from the plaques. Using the Mann-Whitey rank sum test at p 2). These models were based on the Support Vector Machines (SVM), the Probabilistic Neural Networks (PNN), and the decision trees algorithm (C4.5). The highest percentage of correct classification's score achieved was 69% when using the SVM classifier. The findings of this study provide evidence that texture features of MRI-detectable brain white matter lesions may have an additional potential role in the clinical evaluation of MR images in MS. © 2013-IOS Press and the authors. All rights reserved. 7 1 3 10 Cited By :4

Two copper complex solvatomorphs, namely (3,10-C-meso-3,5,7,7,10,12,14,14- octamethyl-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane)bis(perchlorato-κO)copper(II) 1.2-hydrate, [Cu(ClO4)2(C18H 40N4)]·1.2H2O, (I), and (3,10-C-meso-3,5,7,7,10,12,14,14-octamethyl-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane) bis(perchlorato-κO)copper(II), [Cu(ClO4)2(C 18H40N4)], (II), are described and compared with each other and with a third, already reported, anhydrous diastereomer, denoted (III). Both compounds present very similar centrosymmetic coordination environments, with the CuII cation lying on an inversion centre in a distorted 4+2 octahedral environment, defined by the macrocyclic N4 group in the equatorial sites and two perchlorate groups in trans-axial positions [one of the perchlorate ligands in (I) is partially disordered]. The most significant difference in molecular shape is seen in the orientation of the perchlorate anions, and the influence of this on the intramolecular hydrogen bonding is discussed. The (partially) hydrated state of (I) favours the formation of chains along [011], while the anhydrous character of (II) and (III) promotes loosely bound structures with low packing indices. © 2013 International Union of Crystallography. Fil:Suarez, S. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentina. Fil:Doctorovich, F. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentina.

Nitrogen compounds like urea and melamine are known to be commonly used for milk adulteration resulting in undesired intoxication; a well-known example is the Chinese episode occurred in 2008. The development of a rapid, reliable and economic test is of relevance in order to improve adulterated milk identification. Cyclic voltammetry studies using an Au working electrode were performed on adulterated and non-adulterated milk samples from different independent manufacturers. Voltammetric data and their first derivative were subjected to functional principal component analysis (f-PCA) and correctly classified by the KNN classifier. The adulterated and non-adulterated milk samples showed significant differences. Best results of prediction were obtained with first derivative data. Detection limits in milk samples adulterated with 1% of its total nitrogen derived from melamine or urea were as low as 85.0 mg·L-1 and 121.4 mg·L-1, respectively. We present this method as a fast and robust screening method for milk adulteration analysis and prevention of food intoxication. © 2012 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. Fil:Fauerbach, J.A. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentina. Fil:Sacco, N.J. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentina. Fil:Bonetto, M.C. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentina. Fil:Cortón, E. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentina.

This bachelor thesis investigates the discourses on violence among pupils in a school environment. The overall aim is to gain knowledge on how it is researched, interpreted and understood. The methods employed are genealogical analysis, discourse analysis and intersectional analysis. The analyzed texts consist of research reports, articles, dissertations and government authority guidelines. The theoretical framework drawn upon is post modernistic theory, social constructivism and intersectional theory. The main finding of the genealogical study may be that the “Olweus-discourse” may be construed as s dominating understanding of violence in school environment. In the Swedish National Agency for Education’s guidelines the violence among pupils in schools is represented by “harassment” and “violations”, whereas the recommended actions are mainly bureaucratic. The main conclusion of the intersectional analysis is that the studies guidelines might reinforce processes of normalization and that the Skolverket does not question the implications of the significant difference it refers to. All three studies suggest that a discourse of “systematic violence” as an understanding of violence between pupils in school is widespread. This bachelor thesis raises further questions about how discourse is further realized and how the performance of power in school environment is reinforced through “systematic violence”.