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Earth’s biodiversity and human societies face pollution, overconsumption of natural resources, urbanization, demographic shifts, social and economic inequalities, and habitat loss, many of which are exacerbated by climate change. Here, we review links among climate, biodiversity, and society and develop a roadmap toward sustainability. These include limiting warming to 1.5°C and effectively conserving and restoring functional ecosystems on 30 to 50% of land, freshwater, and ocean “scapes.” We envision a mosaic of interconnected protected and shared spaces, including intensively used spaces, to strengthen self-sustaining biodiversity, the capacity of people and nature to adapt to and mitigate climate change, and nature’s contributions to people. Fostering interlinked human, ecosystem, and planetary health for a livable future urgently requires bold implementation of transformative policy interventions through interconnected institutions, governance, and social systems from local to global levels.

The association between oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and periodontitis in large hospital cases with cohort controls has yet to be evaluated. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of periodontitis with OSCC across tumor location and tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) stage among Koreans ( N = 424). OSCC cases ( n = 146) were recruited from Seoul National University Dental Hospital and matched by age, sex, and smoking to controls ( n = 278) from the Yangpyeong health and periodontal cohort in Korea. OSCC was diagnosed through biopsy and radiographs, including computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. Tumor location and TNM stage were classified after the surgery. Periodontitis was defined by alveolar bone loss with panoramic radiographs following the guidelines of the Fifth European Workshop in Periodontology. Alcohol intake, education, physical activity, obesity by body mass index, hypertension by blood pressure, diabetes by plasma glucose, and hypercholesterolemia by plasma cholesterol were considered as confounders. Information about age, sex, smoking, alcohol intake, education, and physical activity was obtained through interview; body mass index and blood pressure, through physical examination; and preoperative glucose and cholesterol, through laboratory tests. Bivariate analysis was applied with Fisher’s exact chi-square test. Multivariable conditional logistic regression models were applied to evaluate the adjusted association of periodontitis with OSCC after controlling for confounders. Subgroup analyses were explored by OSCC and periodontitis. Participants with periodontitis were 3.7 times more likely to have OSCC (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 3.66, 95% CI = 1.46 to 9.23) than participants without periodontitis. The differences in periodontitis were not statistically significant across TNM stages of OSCC ( P > 0.05) and its location ( P > 0.05). The link was highlighted among males (aOR = 6.55), elders aged >60 y (aOR = 4.98), and those with more tooth loss (aOR = 9.99). Our data showed that periodontitis was independently associated with OSCC. Thus, the risk of OSCC could be modulated by reducing periodontitis.

Aim To investigate the clinical characteristics and computed tomography (CT) findings of post-polypectomy coagulation syndrome (PPCS) and colonic perforation in patients who have undergone colonoscopic polypectomy. Materials and methods Through a hospital database search, 5542 adult patients (age >40 years) who had undergone colonoscopic polypectomy from January 2011 to November 2014 were identified. After identification of patients with PPCS and colonic perforation, two abdominal radiologists reviewed the CT images of the patients in consensus. Results Eight patients (0.14%) with PPCS and six patients (0.11%) with perforation were identified. Five patients were excluded for absence of CT examination, leaving four patients with PPCS and five patients with perforation included in the study. Three of the patients with perforation eventually underwent surgery, while all the patients with PPCS completely recovered with conservative management. On CT images, the involved colonic wall was longer and thicker in the PPCS group than in the perforation group. All four patients with PPCS showed a mural defect filled with fluid and stratified enhancement with surrounding infiltration. Two patients, who did not undergo surgery for perforation, did not show surrounding infiltration and fluid collection. Conclusion On CT images, PPCS shows severe mural thickening with a stratified enhancement pattern, a mural defect filled with fluid and surrounding infiltration in addition to absence of extraluminal air. In patients with perforation, absence of CT findings suggestive of surrounding inflammation or peritonitis would help in choosing non-surgical management.

Uterine sarcomas have rarely been diagnosed after uterine artery embolization. It remains unclear whether the diagnostic work-up is required prior to such embolization to prevent a missed diagnosis of sarcomas and a delay in providing definitive treatment. Because of the rarity and heterogeneity of endometrial stromal neoplasms, little is known about their epidemiology, pathogenesis, and molecular pathology. The authors report a case of low-grade endometrial stromal sarcoma (ESS) diagnosed after uterine fibroid embolization. Although they performed laparoscopic biopsy of the rapidly growing uterine mass, they could not detect the ESS. Although rare, ESS should be considered in the differential diagnosis of uterine fibroid enlargement. It is essential to assess the risk of malignancy by taking into account the patient's clinical symptoms, results of the physical exam, and imaging findings prior to uterine artery embolization. Pathologic diagnosis should include an adequate biopsy sample and the use of molecular genetic testing.

Supplementary_material for Identification of aldo-keto reductase (AKR7A1) and glutathione S-transferase pi (GSTP1) as novel renal damage biomarkers following exposure to mercury by Y-J Shin, K-A Kim, E-S Kim, J-H Kim, H-S Kim, M Ha, and O-N Bae in Human & Experimental Toxicology

Korean Ginseng plants grow can only be cultivated once annually due to the temperate climate regions. However, it may be possible to grow Korean Ginseng plants twice or more in a year in artificially controlled environments like fully closed factories. In this study, growth of Korean Ginseng plants and 7 kinds of ginsenoside, categorized by their growth periods, were investigated after planting them in fully closed factories. Shoots appeared 3~5 days after planting and the normal growth period was 3~4 months. Leaves changed to brown in the latter period and then dormancy was promoted. Growth rate above and under ground increased from the second month to the third month after planting and then showed slight growth until the fourth month while transitioning into a dormant period. The length of roots increased during the three months after planting, but their width increased very little. Ginseng plants were harvested at every month during their growth after they were planted and their contents of ginsenoside were analyzed with HPLC. Five kinds of ginsenoside drastically increased between the second and third months after planting: Rg1, Rf, Rb1, Rb2, and Rc. In particular, Rg1 showed a large increase (260%) from the seedling period to the latter period of growth. The contents of other kinds of ginsenoside showed a tendency to increase in time during growth although their increased rates were different.

Ecosystem-based management of marine fisheries requires the use of simulation modelling to investigate the system-level impact of candidate fisheries management strategies. However, testing of fundamental assumptions such as system structure or process formulations is rarely done. In this study, we compare the output of three different ecosystem models (Atlantis, Ecopath with Ecosim, and OSMOSE) applied to the same ecosystem (the southern Benguela), to explore which ecosystem effects of fishing are most sensitive to model uncertainty. We subjected the models to two contrasting fishing pressure scenarios, applying high fishing pressure to either small pelagic fish or to adult hake. We compared the resulting model behaviour at a system level, and also at the level of model groups. We analysed the outputs in terms of various commonly used ecosystem indicators, and found some similarities in the overall behaviour of the models, despite major differences in model formulation and assumptions. Direction of change in system-level indicators was consistent for all models under the hake pressure scenario, although discrepancies emerged under the small-pelagic-fish scenario. Studying biomass response of individual model groups was key to understanding more integrated system-level metrics. All three models are based on existing knowledge of the system, and the convergence of model results increases confidence in the robustness of the model outputs. Points of divergence in the model results suggest important areas of future study. The use of feeding guilds to provide indicators for fish species at an aggregated level was explored, and proved to be an interesting alternative to aggregation by trophic level.Keywords: ecosystem-based fisheries management, indicators, model comparison

The three countries of the Benguela Current Large Marine Ecosystem (BCLME), namely Angola, Namibia and South Africa, have committed to implementing ecosystem-based management (EBM) including an ecosystem approach to fisheries (EAF) in the region, to put in practice the principles of sustainable development in ocean-related matters. There is also recognition of the need for marine spatial planning (MSP) as a process for informing EBM with regard to the allocation and siting of ocean uses so that ecosystem health is ensured and trade-offs between ecosystem services are appropriately dealt with. Marine spatial planning is both an integrated and an area-based process, and this paper produces a spatial characterisation of the BCLME for achieving a common basis for MSP in the region, focusing on the oceanography, biology and fisheries. Recognising spatial variation in physical driving forces, primary and secondary production, trophic structures and species richness, four different subsystems are characterised: (1) north of the Angola–Benguela Front, (2) from the Angola–Benguela Front to Lüderitz, (3) from Lüderitz to Cape Agulhas, and (4) from Cape Agulhas to Port Alfred on the south-east coast of South Africa. Research and monitoring requirements of relevance for MSP and EBM in the region are identified, focusing on understanding variability and change, including with regard to the boundary areas identified for the system. To this end, 14 cross-shelf monitoring transects are proposed (including seven that are already being monitored) to estimate fluxes of biota, energy and materials within and between the subsystems. The usefulness of models for understanding ecosystem variability and changes is recognised and the need for fine-scale resolution of both sampling and modelling for adequate MSP as input to EBM for the often-conflicting interests of conserving biodiversity, and managing fisheries, recreation, offshore oil and gas exploration and exploitation, offshore mining and shipping routes, is emphasised.Keywords: biology, drivers, ecosystem approach to fisheries, large marine ecosystem, marine spatial planning, models, monitoring, physical oceanography, variability

The electronic structures of AgNi1-xCoxO2 (0 les x les 1) delafossite oxides have been investigated by employing photoemission spectroscopy (PES) and X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) in the soft X-ray regime of synchrotron radiation. The Ag 3d core-level PES spectra shift toward the higher binding energy with increasing x, in agreement with the metallic nature for low values of x and the insulating nature for high values of x in AgNi1-xCoxO2 . Further, the Ag 3d core-level PES spectra become more asymmetric with decreasing x, which reflects the larger number of electron-hole pairs in the Ni-rich regime. Valence-band PES spectra reveal that the band width of the occupied Ni 3d states is broader than that of the Co 3d states, implying the larger Ni 3d-O 2p hybridization than the Co 3d-O 2p hybridization. The Co and Ni 2p XAS spectra show that Co ions are in the low-spin Co3+ states for all x, while Ni ions are in the Ni2+-Ni3+ mixed-valent states. The Ni3+ component increases with x.

Objective To develop a rapid and sensitive method for the detection of canine distemper virus (CDV) by nested PCR using clinical specimens. Design A nested PCR was developed, compared to a one-step RT-PCR and validated. ProcedureTwo sets of specific primers for a one-step RT-PCR and a nested PCR, targeting a 640 bp fragment and a 297 bp fragment, respectively, were selected from the highly conserved region of the nucleocapsid protein (NP) gene of CDV. The nested PCR and the one-step RT-PCR were used to amplify a part of the CDV NP gene of a CDV vaccinal strain and samples of urine, blood, nasal discharge and saliva from 29 dogs suspected of suffering CD. Results Both the one-step RT-PCR and the nested PCR reacted with the CDV vaccinal strain, but not with canine parvovirus. The expected 640 bp fragment of the NP gene was detected in 11/22 (50.0%) blood, 10/20 (50.0%) urine, 5/25 (20.0%) saliva and 6/27 (22.2%) nasal swab samples by one-step RT-PCR, whereas the nested PCR amplified an expected 297 bp fragment of the NP gene in 18/22 (81.8%) blood, 15/20 (75.0%) urine, 14/25 (56%) saliva and 19/27 (70.3%) nasal swab samples. Conclusion The nested PCR detected CDV in blood, urine, nasal swab and saliva more frequently than did the one-step RT-PCR. Therefore, this assay should be a useful aid to ante-mortem diagnosis of CDV infections in dogs.

We study n-dimensional QR-submanifolds of QR-dimension (p − 1) immersed in a quaternionic space form QP (n+p)/4(c), c ≥ 0, and, in particular, determine such submanifolds with the induced normal almost contact 3-structure.

The electronic structures of the AgTO2 delafossites ( T 5 Fe, Co, Ni! have been investigated using photoemission spectroscopy. T 2p spectra exhibit satellite structures around 6 eV below main peaks, reflecting the strong on-site 3 d Coulomb interaction. T 2p spectra of AgTO2 (T5Fe, Co, Ni! are similar to those of aFe2O3, CoO, and NiO, respectively, suggesting the strong covalent bonding in AgTO2. The valence-band spectrum of Ag0.75CoO2 shows negligible spectral weight near EF , consistent with its semiconducting behavior. The extracted Ag 4d and Co 3d partial spectral weight ~PSW! distributions of Ag0.75CoO2 reveal a small overlap between these two states, while the O 2 p PSW shows a significant overlap with the Co 3d PSW. Such trends in the PSWs are consistent with those in the calculated partial densities of states of AgCoO 2.

In order to determine the operating conditions of an electrolyzer to recover lithium metal from molten salt wastes composed of LiCl, Li2O, Cs2O, and SrO, electrolytic reduction experiments have been carried out in a single compartment electrochemical reactor with a mono-polar connection. All the combinative experiments were conducted in an argon atmospheric glove box, and each applied potential-current value was synchronously measured and analyzed in aspects of the preferentially recovering probability of lithium in mixed phases. The effect of the electrode surface area on the current was also observed. Based on our experimental results compared with electrochemical thermodynamic evaluation, it is revealed that Li2O can be preferentially reduced to lithium by controlled LiCl concentration and applied potential.

In order to determine the operating conditions of an uranium reduction process with U3O8-Li-LiCl system, the operating conditions have been evaluated in thermodynamic aspects and the results were experimentally confirmed in this study. All the reduction experiments were conducted in an argon atmospheric glove box, and the resultant degree of reduction was determined by analyzing the product using XRD and TGA. In the results of this study, a reduction yield greater than 95% is achieved within about 3 hours of reaction. The effects of the added quantity of Li and LiCl to the reduction yield of U3O8 and the preferential removal of several metal oxides accompanying U3O8 in the course of reduction were discussed. For a greater reduction of U3O8, an additional 20% of Li is required when compared to the stoichiometric composition. The proper composition of LiCl is about 75% based on the weight of U3O8 charged.

Electronic structures of AgNi 1 - x Co x O 2 ( 0 ⩽ x ⩽ 1 ) delafossite oxides have been investigated by using photoemission spectroscopy (PES) and soft X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS). T 2p XAS ( T = Co , Ni) spectra of AgNi 1 - x Co x O 2 show that the valence states of Co ions are trivalent and do not change with x . In contrast, Ni ions are in the Ni 2 + – Ni 3 + mixed-valent states and the trivalent component increases with increasing x . This finding suggests that the metallic nature of AgNi 1 - x Co x O 2 for low values of x arises from the divalent Ni ions. The valence-band PES study of AgNi 1 - x Co x O 2 reveals that the Ni 3d states are more metallic like than the Co 3d states.

In order to determine the operating condition of an uranium chlorination process with U3O8-C-Cl2 system, the experimental conditions have been evaluated preliminarily by the thermochemical analysis and experimentally confirmed in this study. The dry-type chlorination of U3O8 occurs as irreversible and exothermic reaction and produces many kinds of chloride compounds such as UCl3, UCl4, UCl5 and UCl6 in the air and humidity controlled argon environment. Taking account of Gibbs free energy and vapor pressure for various chloride compounds, the proper temperature range of chlorination appears to be 863 to 953 K in aspects of increasing reaction rate and the yield of nonvolatile product. In the course of the experimental confirmation the powder of U3O8 is perfectly converted into uranium chlorides within 4 hours above 863K, and then the maximum fraction of uranium chloride remaining in the reactor is about 30% of total conversion mass.

In order to better understand ecosystem functioning under simultaneous pressures (e.g. both climate change and fishing pressures), integrated modelling approaches are advocated. We developed an end-to-end model of the southern Benguela ecosystem by coupling the high trophic level model OSMOSE with a biophysical model (ROMS-N2P2Z2D2). OSMOSE is a spatial, multispecies, individual-based model simulating the whole life cycle of fish with fish schools interacting through opportunistic and size-based predation. It is linked to the biogeochemical model through the predation process; plankton groups are food for fish and fish apply a predation mortality on plankton. Here we describe the two-way coupling between the models and follow a pattern-oriented modelling approach to validate the simulations. At the individual level, model outputs are consistent with observed diets for several species from small pelagic fish to top predatory fish, although biases emerge from underestimation of macrozooplankton and lack of vertical structure. At the population level, the seasonality of the size structure is similar between the model and data. At the community level, the modelled trophic structure is consistent with the knowledge available for this ecosystem. The structure of the foodweb is an emergent property of the model, showing trophic links between species, their strength and the strong connectivity observed. We also highlight the capacity of this model for tracking indicators at various hierarchical levels.Keywords: individual-based model, model validation, pattern-oriented modelling, trophic interactions, two-way couplingAfrican Journal of Marine Science 2014, 36(1): 11–29

In order to obtain the exact information of atomic number density in UO2(NO3)2 · 6H2O−HNO3−H2O ternary mixture, the theoretical estimation of excess volume which is one of excess properties of non-ideal solution is discussed in this study. The calculation model based on the Stokes-Robinson application of the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) adsorption isotherm and activity equations of water nitric acid, and uranyl nitrate hexahydrate (UNH) which were used to calculate distribution coefficients in a solvent extraction system has one adjustable parameter and two BET constants. The BET constants have been determined by asymptotic method on the BET adsorption isotherm as a function of water activity in the ternary system. As results of the study, the observed volume of mixture agrees with the volume predicted by the simulation within a maximum relative deviation of 0.78% and the excess volume is also estimated as a function of total molality.

A study on the precipitation of uranium by oxalic acid was carried out in a multicomponent solution. The precipitation method is usually applied to the treatment of radioactive waste and the recovery of uranium from a uranium-scrap contaminated with impurities. In these cases, the problem is how to increase the precipitation yield of target element and to prevent impurities from coprecipitation. The multicomponent solution in the present experiment was prepared by dissolving U, Nd, Cs and Sr in nitric acid. The effects of concentrations of oxalic acid and ascorbic acid on the precipitation yield and purity of uranium were observed. As results of the study, the maximum precipitation yield of uranium is revealed to be about 96.5% and the relative precipitation ratio of Nd, Cs and Sr versus uranium are discussed at the condition of the maximum precipitation yield of uranium, respectively.

We report a study of the magnetic properties of transition-metal doped Zn1−xTMxO (TM=Mn, Co, Fe). Polycrystalline powder samples were synthesized by both solid-state and liquid-phase reactions. From the Curie–Weiss behavior of susceptibility at high temperatures, it was found that the TM–TM interaction is dominated by antiferromagnetic coupling with effective nearest-neighbor exchange constants J=−90 to −30 K. The magnetization data measured at low temperature as a function field H are fit to a parameterized Brillouin function to obtain the effective concentration xeff of magnetically active TM2+ ions. As x increases, the fraction of magnetically active ions, xeff/x, decreases. This is ascribed to an increase in average AF interaction between doped magnetic spins as the average distance between them decreases with an increase in x.

Three new mixed delafossite-type oxides of formula Ag 2 M′M″O 4 (M′M″ = NiTi, CoTi, CoSn) have been obtained by exchange reaction using three new compounds of α-NaFeO 2 structure and of Na 2 M′M″O 4 formula as precursors. They have all been characterized by X-ray diffraction and magnetic measurements.

Mixed-valence copper(II/III) oxide solid solutions Sr2−xNaxCuO3 (0 ≤ x ≤ 1) have been prepared by solid-state reactions in oxygen atmosphere. All solid solutions exhibit the structure of Sr2CuO3 (S.G. Immm). Electrical conductivity and thermoelectric power measurements show a semiconducting behavior in the whole composition range. The electronic structure of Sr2CuO3 is compared with that of La2CuO4 on the basis of an iono-covalent model. Interpretation of transport properties suggests the formation of small polarons. Magnetic susceptibility and EPR measurements show that the antiferromagnetic ordering of Sr2CuO3 tends to vanish as x increases, however magnetic interactions are still strong for a concentration of Cu2+ ions corresponding to x = 0.8. Praparation sowie elektrische und magnetische Eigenschaften der festen Losungen Sr2−xNaxCuO3 (0 ≤ x ≤ 1) Die festen Losungen Sr2−xNaxCuO3 (0 ≤ x ≤ 1) mit Kupfer(II,III)-oxid wurden durch Feststoffreaktionen in Sauerstoffatmosphare dargestellt. Alle diese festen Losungen haben die Struktur von Sr2CuO3 (Raumgruppe Immm). Elektrische Leitfahigkeits- und EMK-Messungen zeigen Halbleiterverhalten im gesamten Bereich der Zusammensetzung. Die Elektronenstruktur des Sr2CuO3 wird mit der des La2CuO4 auf Basis eines ionisch-kovalenten Modells verglichen. Die Interpretation des Transportverhaltens deutet auf kleine Polaronen. Magnetische Suszeptibilitats- und EPR-Messungen zeigen, das die antiferromagnetische Ordnung des Sr2CuO3 abnimmt mit zunehmendem x. Die magnetischen Wechselwirkungen sind jedoch noch stark bei einer Kupferionen- Konzentration von x = 0,8.

A uranium metal rod 13.5 mm in diameter and 1,150 mm long was produced from simulated metallic spent fuels with advanced casting equipment using the directional-solidification method. A vacuum casting furnace equipped with a four-zone heater to prevent surface oxidation and the formation of surface shrinkage holes was designed. By controlling the axial temperature gradient of the casting furnace, deformation by the surface shrinkage phenomena was diminished, and a sound rod was manufactured. The cooling behavior of the molten uranium was analyzed using the computer software package MAGMAsoft.

Due to recent advances in treatment, nearly 80% of childhood cancer patients become long-term survivors. Studies on the late effects of survivors are under way worldwide. However, data on Asian survivors remain limited.Data on 241 survivors at the Long-term Follow-up Clinic in Severance Hospital, South Korea, were collected and late effects were confirmed by oncologists.The median follow-up from diagnosis was 7.8 years. Late effects were identified in 59.8% of survivors and 23.2% had two or more late effects. Grade 3 or higher late effects were present in 10.8%. The most common late effects involved endocrine system (29.0%). Late effects were present in 95.7% of brain tumor survivors and 36.0% of Wilms' tumor survivors. Chemotherapy, hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation and radiotherapy were significant factors associated with the number and severity of late effects (P0.05). Brain tumor survivors had more severe late effects (P0.001), whereas Wilms' tumor survivors had fewer and milder late effects (P0.05).The observation that over 50% of cancer survivors suffered from late effects during the short follow-up period and that a high frequency of endocrine late effects was present indicates the need for early and well-timed intervention of the survivors.

Tunnelling below the groundwater table influences the hydraulic regime in the surrounding ground. This will, in turn, cause seepage into the tunnel through the pores and discontinuities and often produces a long-term interaction between the tunnel and the ground. In this paper an attempt is made to identify the behavior of surrounding ground due to seepage, and ground reaction curves (GRC) considering seepage forces are presented for a tunnel under drainage conditions using an analytical method. It is found that the flow of groundwater has a significant effect on the radial displacement of a tunnel wall. While the effective overburden pressure is reduced by the arching effect during tunnel excavation, seepage forces still remain. Therefore, the presence of groundwater induces large radial displacement of the tunnel wall compared to dry conditions.

Electronic structures of delafossite oxides $\mathrm{Ag}{\mathrm{Ni}}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}{\mathrm{Co}}_{x}{\mathrm{O}}_{2}$ and the frustrated Jahn-Teller (JT) system $A\mathrm{Ni}{\mathrm{O}}_{2}$ $(A=\mathrm{Li},\mathrm{Na})$ have been investigated by employing soft x-ray absorption spectroscopy and photoemission spectroscopy (PES). It is found that Ni ions are in the ${\mathrm{Ni}}^{2+}\text{\ensuremath{-}}{\mathrm{Ni}}^{3+}$ mixed-valent states and that the low-spin (LS) ${\mathrm{Ni}}^{3+}$ component increases from $\mathrm{Li}\mathrm{Ni}{\mathrm{O}}_{2}$ to $\mathrm{Ag}\mathrm{Ni}{\mathrm{O}}_{2}$ and $\mathrm{Na}\mathrm{Ni}{\mathrm{O}}_{2}$, in agreement with the presence of the JT transition in $\mathrm{Na}\mathrm{Ni}{\mathrm{O}}_{2}$ and the absence of the JT transition in $\mathrm{Li}\mathrm{Ni}{\mathrm{O}}_{2}$ and $\mathrm{Ag}\mathrm{Ni}{\mathrm{O}}_{2}$. In $\mathrm{Ag}{\mathrm{Ni}}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}{\mathrm{Co}}_{x}{\mathrm{O}}_{2}$, the ${\mathrm{Ni}}^{3+}$ component increases with $x$, while Co ions are in the LS ${\mathrm{Co}}^{3+}$ states for all $x$, which is consistent with the metallic nature for low values of $x$. A good agreement is found between the measured PES spectra and the calculated local spin density approximation (LSDA) electronic structures of $\mathrm{Ag}\mathrm{Ni}{\mathrm{O}}_{2}$ and $\mathrm{Ag}\mathrm{Co}{\mathrm{O}}_{2}$, but the pseudogap feature in PES of $\mathrm{Ag}\mathrm{Ni}{\mathrm{O}}_{2}$ is not described by the LSDA.

Highly split, visible light emissions at room temperature were observed in the range from 335 to 650 nm in silicon‐rich oxide filmsdeposited in the plasma phase of a mixture of silane and oxygen. The mechanism of the light emissions is classified into two categories. The photoluminescence bands at both 365 and 469 nm are related to the intrinsic defects of the E′ center and the neutral oxygen vacancy, respectively. However, the relatively sharp peaks at 403 and 535 nm are correlated with the development of polycrystalline core of Si‐enriched parts.

To determine the change of expression of Bcl2 in cisplatin-resistant bladder cancer cell lines and the reversibility of chemoresistance to cisplatin with antisense oligonucleotide against Bcl2, as higher expression of Bcl2 is associated with drug resistance in many different cancer cell lines.In the cisplatin-resistant bladder tumour cell lines T24R1 and T24R2, the expression of Bcl2 was determined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and Western blot assay, and antisense oligonucleotide targeting of the Bcl2 coding sequence was administered with lipofectin.The expression of Bcl2 mRNA and protein was greater in T24R1 and T24R2 cells than in the parent T24 cells. Short-term exposure to cisplatin up-regulated Bcl2 mRNA and protein expression in parent T24 cells. Treatment with antisense oligonucleotide down-regulated Bcl2 protein expression and significantly enhanced the cytotoxicity of cisplatin.Up-regulation of Bcl2 protein expression might be one of the mechanisms of cisplatin resistance in bladder cancer cells, and antisense Bcl2 oligonucleotide may be helpful in chemotherapy for bladder cancer by reversing cisplatin resistance.

A retrospective study of 102 selected patients operated for otosclerosis (34 outpatient surgery, 68 hospitalised), having all of them the inclusion criteria of the ambulatory surgery, treated as outpatient in a traditional health sector or hospitalised, depending on their own choice, has been lead. We analysed the results of the pure tone audiometric tests two to six months after surgery. No significative difference was found between the two groups on audiometric results as for the postoperative complications. On the other side, it seems that young patients are more interested by the one-day surgery. The failure of the ambulatory surgery could be explained by the vertigo or dizziness per- or postoperatively. Finally, the evaluation of the cost-benefit shows that the ambulatory surgery in a traditional health sector could lead a budgetary saving policy. A saving way that will grow in a specialized sector devoted to the ambulatory practice.

Three Korean girls with ethylmalonic encephalopathy, the first Asian cases, were identified. In all three cases, we observed slight improvement in motor functions, cognitive behaviours and chronic mucoid diarrhoea after treatment with riboflavin and/or coenzyme Q10 treatment. The precise pathogenesis of ethylmalonic encephalopathy has not been fully elucidated, but riboflavin treatment may be helpful.

Pure sensorineural hearing loss is not a rare finding in otological practice. Numerous aetiologies could be at the origin of such a deficit. However, otosclerosis is very rarely cited as a cause of pure sensorineural hearing loss. We present one such case of pure sensorineural hearing loss linked to otosclerosis in a 30-year old caucasian male and underline the high contribution of computed tomography to confirm such a diagnosis. Pure sensorineural hearing loss due to otosclerosis is a rare event and can be misdiagnosed. The clinical diagnosis of such a disease may be difficult. In these cases, CT-Scan is the exam of choice to confirm the diagnosis.

This study compared a small group of Korean-American adoptees with their adoptive siblings who are biological children of the adoptive parents with respect to their psychosocial adjustment. Eighteen Korean-American adoptees were compared with nine biological children by a structured demographic, medical, clinical survey form and the Child Behavior Checklist-Parent Form (CBCL-P). The parents did not raise any more concerns about the adjustment of adopted children than their biological children. On the CBCL-P, the two groups did not differ significantly in competence T-scores, total behavioral problems, broad and T-scores and the total number of problem behaviors except for lower social competence in adopted children and a higher internalization score in biological children. In conclusion, the international adoptees, the Korean-American children have adjusted well during their early childhood after early adoption. Further studies employing a larger sample are warranted to better understand the international adoption practice.

Laryngeal adenoïd cystic carcinoma (ACC) is a rare disease due to the poor distribution of the accessory salivary glands in this area. The authors describe a case of ACC arising from the sus glottic area and underline the difficulty of such a diagnosis, which is in fact an histologic finding. The signs of discovery of a laryngeal ACC are not different from other tumors of the area, except pain frequently evoked in these tumors. Laryngeal ACC arises exceptionally before the age of 20 years and no risk factor is known. The most frequent localization is in the sub-glottic area, but sus glottic and glottic localizations have been reported. Evolution is marked by the onset of cervical lymph adenopathies and systemic metastasis most often located in the lung. The treatment comprises wide surgical exerisis followed by radiotherapy. Other reports seem to indicate that the pronostic of the laryngeal location of this disease is worse than in other areas of the head and neck.

This study aimed to assess the results of hearing restoration with a cochlear or a brainstem implant in posterior fossa tumors.Six patients were selected. Two patients with an acoustic neuroma in the only-hearing ear (cases 1 and 2), one patient with a posterior fossa meningioma (case 3), one patient with bilateral facial neuroma (case 4), and two patients with bilateral acoustic neuroma (cases 5 and 6) participated.In cases 1 and 2, the patients had a cochlear implant inserted on the only-hearing ear opposite the acoustic neuroma. In case 3, the patient presented with total deafness on the left side and a 10-mm meningioma on the right side. A cochlear implantation was performed after removal of the meningioma on the right side. In case 4, the patient was operated on on both sides with bilateral postoperative deafness. A cochlear implantation was performed on the better hearing ear. In cases 5 and 6, patients underwent an auditory brainstem implantation after the exeresis of the second tumor.Promontory test results were positive for patients 1, 2, 3, and 4. After implantation, patients 1, 2, 3, and 4 scored 98%, 13%, 70%, and 30%, respectively, in open-set sentence recognition tests, whereas patients 5 and 6 scored 0% and 20%, respectively.In case of nonfunctional cochlear nerve, in acoustic neuroma, either bilateral and in the only-hearing ear, promontory test should be performed. If positive results, a cochlear implantation should be performed, because successful results could be expected. Overall results of cochlear implantation on speech discrimination are better than those obtained with a brainstem implant.

The authors present a retrospective and multicenter study of 18 elderly patients aged above 60 years-old who underwent a cochlear implantation by comparing them with a population of adult patients. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the utility and benefits of cochlear implantation in the elderly by analyzing the clinical data and the results of a questionnaire assessing the use of the implant and the consequences of implantation on the quality of life. The results of this study indicate that the improvement of quality of life in the elderly is similar compared to a control group of adult patients.

Indications for cochlear implantation have been expanded to include severely hearing impaired adults and may increase the number of patients presenting with preoperative residual hearing. Conservation of residual hearing may allow better performance with an implant. However, conventional thought is that implantation destroys auditory structures involved in residual hearing. This study was undertaken to assess if there are general or surgical factors intervening in the conservation of residual hearing in a sample of multichannel implant recipients. A retrospective study on 50 adult cochlear recipients with preoperative residual hearing has been undertaken. Sixteen of 50 implanted subjects (32%) were found to have conserved their residual hearing. Among them, seven patients have clinically non-significant changes of hearing. Age, side of implantation, gender and etiology did not influence the outcome of residual hearing. Round window ossification, ossification of the cochlea, length of insertion, approach and site of insertion (scala tympani vs.scala vestibuli) were not found to be statistically significant between the population having lost and the population having conserved residual hearing. This study emphasizes the need to undertake a larger multicenter longitudinal study to determine the existence of factors related to the conservation of residual hearing.

Manufacturing data needs to be shared among functional groups of an enterprise and among its part suppliers and partners. Technological data needs to be shared among different hardware platforms, different data storage devices, and variety of network architectures. A standard specification for manufacturing data is needed that can support the entire product development phases and life-cycle. This paper proposes an information system for sharing product data throughout its life-cycle. It describes how textual information of design can be integrated with geometric data based on AP203 of STEP standard, SDAI, HTML, and object-oriented Tcl/Tk. The prototype information system can modify STEP data, and display parts information and BOM using the network browser - Netscape.