The Influence of Regional Differences on the Reliability of the AO Spine Sacral Injury Classification System

Study Design Global cross-sectional survey. Objective To explore the influence of geographic region on the AO Spine Sacral Classification System. Methods A total of 158 AO Spine and AO Trauma members from 6 AO world regions (Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin and South America, Middle East, and North America) participated in a live webinar to assess the reliability, reproducibility, and accuracy of classifying sacral fractures using the AO Spine Sacral Classification System. This evaluation was performed with 26 cases presented in randomized order on 2 occasions 3 weeks apart. Results A total of 8320 case assessments were performed. All regions demonstrated excellent intraobserver reproducibility for fracture morphology. Respondents from Europe (k = .80) and North America (k = .86) achieved excellent reproducibility for fracture subtype while respondents from all other regions displayed substantial reproducibility. All regions demonstrated at minimum substantial interobserver reliability for fracture morphology and subtype. Each region demonstrated >90% accuracy in classifying fracture morphology and >80% accuracy in fracture subtype compared to the gold standard. Type C morphology (p2 = .0000) and A3 (p1 = .0280), B2 (p1 = .0015), C0 (p1 = .0085), and C2 (p1 =.0016, p2 =.0000) subtypes showed significant regional disparity in classification accuracy (p1 = Assessment 1, p2 = Assessment 2). Respondents from Asia (except in A3) and the combined group of North, Latin, and South America had accuracy percentages below the combined mean, whereas respondents from Europe consistently scored above the mean. Conclusions In a global validation study of the AO Spine Sacral Classification System, substantial reliability of both fracture morphology and subtype classification was found across all geographic regions.

Implication of miR-155-5p and miR-143-3p in the Vascular Insulin Resistance and Instability of Human and Experimental Atherosclerotic Plaque

Background: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the main cause of death in first world countries, being atherosclerosis, a recurring process underlying their apparition. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that modulate the expression of their target proteins. Therefore, they have emerged as key players in diseases like cancer, diabetes, or CVDs.Methods: Apolipoprotein E-deficient (ApoE-/-) mice fed a standard type diet (STD) or high fat diet (HFD) for 8 and 18 weeks was compared to wild type (WT) STD-fed groups for the same time. 18 miRNAs were selected (from pubmed and GEO database) for their possible role in promoting atherosclerosis and were analysed by RT-qPCR in the aorta from the experimental model. Afterwards, the altered miRNAs in the aorta from 18 weeks-ApoE-/- mice were studied in human healthy aortic samples, human early aortic atherosclerotic plaques, and human advanced carotid atherosclerotic plaques. Results: From the 18 miRNAs analyzed, miR-155-5p was overexpressed and miR-143-3p was downregulated in mouse and human atherosclerotic lesions. In addition, a significant decrease of protein kinase B (AKT), target of miR-155-5p, and an increase of insulin-like growth factor type II receptor (IGF-IIR), target of miR-143-3p, were noted in aortic roots from ApoE-/- mice and in carotid plaques from ACA patients. Finally, both miRNAs were studied on vascular endothelial and smooth muscle cell lines. The overexpression of miR-155-5p reduced AKT levels and its phosphorylation in vascular smooth muscle cells. MiR-143-3p overexpression decreased IGF-IIR reducing apoptosis in vascular cells. Conclusions: Our results suggest that miR-155-5p and miR-143-3p may be implicated in insulin resistance and plaque instability by the modulation of their targets AKT and IGF-IIR, contributing to the progression of experimental and human atherosclerosis.Trial Registration: authorization numbers PFS09-007 and PI1442016.

Creation of new tomato forms with fungal disease resistance genes based on marker selection

Relevance. The presented studies are aimed at obtaining new forms of tomato with a complex of genes for resistance to fungal diseases in combination with a standard type of bush and dark coloring of fruits based on marker-mediated selection.Methodology. The biological objects of the study are varieties and hybrid forms of tomato from the collection of the Michurinsky SAU. Molecular genetic analysis was performed using the following methods. DNA extraction was carried out from young leaves using a kit for isolation of NC Sample NC manufactured by Agrodiagnostika LLC according to the manufacturer's protocol. Fermentas production kits were used for PCR. Identification of the cladosporosis resistance gene was Cf-19 performed using the DNA marker R7. The presence of a fusarious wilting resistance gene was determined by a I-2/5 marker. The amplification results were visualized by agarose gel electrophoresis.Results. During the research, a collection of varieties and hybrid forms of tomato of the Michurinsky GAU was analyzed in order to identify genes for resistance to cladosporiosis Cf-19 and fusarium wilt I-2. A total of 52 genotypes were analyzed. It was found that most samples (41 samples) are characterized by a heterozygous state of the Cf-19 gene. All indeterminant and semi-determinant forms had both alleles. Of the 23 determinant forms presented in the collection, 10 had only one allele corresponding to recessive homozygote. Among all analyzed tomato genotypes, no dominant homozygous forms were noted. The study of the collection revealed several alleles of the I-2 gene. In total, four fragments corresponding to various alleles were amplified. A total of 50 resistant genotypes have been identified in the collection. Two alleys of the I-2 gene (633/693 bp) were identified in 42 tomato samples. Four varieties are homozygous in one allele (633 bp), which determines resistance. Three varieties have a second resistance allele (566 bp). One genotype has only an allele defining susceptibility (693 bp). On the basis of molecular analysis, as well as an assessment of the type of bush and fetal color, initial forms were selected with subsequent hybridization. 67 hybrid tomato plants were obtained. Evaluation of the presence of resistance genes showed that most of the resulting hybrids are resistant to cladosporiosis and fuzariosis. This is due to the presence of dominant alleles of Cf-19 and I-2 genes in a heterozygous state. Among the resulting hybrids, plants with a bark type of bush were identified. A total of 13 such plants were obtained.Conclusion. Thus, the work carried out allowed to obtain hybrid forms of tomato combine the signs of resistance to two pathogens of fungal diseases and the stem type of the bush. These forms are planned to be used in further selection work.

XỬ LÝ NƯỚC THẢI SINH HOẠT BẰNG ĐẤT NGẬP NƯỚC NHÂN TẠO NỀN XỈ THAN TỔ ONG KẾT HỢP TRỒNG CỎ VOI

Nghiên cứu này nhằm đánh giá hiệu suất của đất ngập nước (ĐNN) nhân tạo dòng chảy ngầm theo phương ngang (HSSF) và phương đứng (VF) có vật liệu nền là xỉ than tổ ong và trồng cỏ voi. Thí nghiệm được tiến hành trên mô hình phòng thí nghiệm với lưu lượng nạp của nước thải sinh họat là 85 lít/ngày. Tải lượng nạp BOD5, COD, TN, TP vào mô hình lần lượt là 7,47 g/m2.ngày, 3,17 g/m2.ngày, 1,43 g/m2.ngày, 0,12 g/m2.ngày. Kết quả nghiên cứu cho thấy nồng độ các chỉ tiêu ô nhiễm sau xử lý giảm đáng kể và đạt loại A theo QCVN 14:2008/BTNMT trong cả hai mô hình HSSFCW và VFCW. Hiệu suất xử lý của HSSFCW và VFCW đối với các chỉ tiêu lần lượt là SS: 88,7% và 92,4%; BOD5: 95,3% và 92,6%; COD: 94,3% và 92,6%; TN: 54,1% và 47,5%; N-NO3-: 38,4% và 33,6%; TP: 73,5% và 63,2%; P-PO43-: 87,6% và 59,7%. Nhìn chung, mô hình HSSFCW có hiệu suất loại bỏ các chất ô nhiễm tương đối cao hơn mô hình VFCW, ngoại trừ chỉ tiêu SS. Cỏ voi phát triển tốt và cho sinh khối cao trong thí nghiệm. Từ kết quả nghiên cứu cho thấy xỉ than tổ ong có thể tái sử dụng làm chất nền trong ĐNN nhân tạo dòng chảy ngầm. Bên cạnh đó, cỏ voi có thể trồng trong hệ thống ĐNN dòng chảy ngầm xử lý nước thải sinh hoạt. ABSTRACT This study aimed to evaluate the performances of horizontal subsurface flow (HSSF) and vertical flow (VF) constructed wetlands (CW) using combusted beehive charcoal residues as filtration bed media and planted with Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum). The experimental systems were fed with a flow rate of 85 m3/day. The loading rates of BOD5, COD, TN, TP into the system were 7.47 g/m2.day, 3.17 g/m2.day, 1.43 g/m2.day, 0.12 g/m2.day, respectively. The results showed that the concentration of pollutants in effluents is significantly reduced and meet the national standard type A of QCVN 14:2008/BTNMT in both HSSFCW and VFCW models. The removal efficiencies in HSSFCW and SVFCW for SS: 88.7% and 92.4%; BOD5: 95.3% and 92.6%; COD: 94.3% and 92.6%; TN: 54.1% and 47.5%; N-NO3-: 38.4% and 33.6%; TP: 73.5% and 63.2%; P-PO43-: 87.6% and 59.7%, respectively. In general, the HSSFCW model has a relatively higher pollutant removal efficiency than the VFCW model, except for the SS. good growth and high biomass yield of Napier grass had been observed in the experimental systems. This study suggested that combusted beehive charcoal residues could be reused as bed substrate in constructed wetlands. Besides, Napier grass might also be a potential plant associated with subsurface flow constructed wetlands to treat domestic wastewater.

The Impermanence of Obsolescence: Performance Practice Challenges in Works Written for Revival Harpsichord

<p>The revival harpsichord leads a double life today—enjoying a small fan base on the edge of obsolescence. Most regard the instrument as a twentieth-century foil to the more historically-oriented harpsichords that replaced them by around the mid-1970s. But they are also valued for the repertoire they inspired during the first seventy or so years of the twentieth century, along with their unique capabilities and signature sound. From mid-century onwards, when historical harpsichords began to gain a wider acceptance, revival harpsichords were derided as representing a false notion of teleological progress. Piano building technologies partially adapted to the construction of revival harpsichords have required compromises that ignore basic laws of the physics of sound—including the differences between plucking a string and striking it with hammer. The ontology of a harpsichord type that is piano-informed has led to a widespread conclusion that revival harpsichords are a mistaken concept and are unsuitable even for many of the compositions written for them. The common practice today is to adapt works written for revival harpsichord to historical harpsichords. Limited attention has been given to revival harpsichords in recent academic literature. While mention is made of their historical significance, a current evaluation of the instruments and treatment of revival repertoire has been lacking. This dissertation seeks to critically assess instruments and repertoire by examining perspectives of authors, builders, performers, composers and critics, addressing current issues in performance practice such as the impact of changing instrumentation from revival to historical models. A case is made for valuing revival harpsichords on their own merits as well as applying first-hand knowledge of revival harpsichords to performances of revival repertoire on historical models. This methodology is supported by interviews conducted specifically for this dissertation, playing different revival models and in presenting information neither widely available nor understood, such as a picture of the current availability of revival instruments and details of their restoration. This dissertation contributes to an understanding of revival harpsichords and their repertoire by, firstly, providing up-to-date information on the nature and history of the instrument, as well as highlighting the existence of many revival models, rather than accepting the notion of one standard type. Secondly, revival harpsichord reception is examined within a context of the changing purposes of harpsichord construction after 1889. Lastly, a selection of relevant repertoire is investigated, including Erik Bergman’s 1970 Energien for solo harpsichord (a critical edition of which also forms part of the Appendices), Darius Milhaud’s 1945 Sonata for Clavecin (or Piano) and Violin, op. 257, and Peter Child’s Concerto for Harpsichord and String Quartet (2005), which was written for an Eric Herz revival harpsichord. A tradition already exists of compromising over and discussing which historical harpsichords to use for early music repertoire that spans centuries and the building practices of different geographic regions. This dissertation explores the extent to which revival harpsichords are indeed easily replaced by historical models for revival repertoire, or whether it is sometimes best practice to consider performing these works on the instruments for which they were originally conceived. Alternatively, the performer of a revival work may choose to take certain features of revival instruments into account in developing a performance interpretation on a historical model. Factors hindering performance on historical harpsichords can include performance practice challenges and controversies that arise when transferring pieces to these instruments. Some works defy straightforward alteration and require extensive editing, whereas others are more easily accommodated. Through an examination of repertoire in performance, interviews, and changes in the reception and use of revival harpsichords, this dissertation considers the position and relevance of revival harpsichords today.</p>

The Impermanence of Obsolescence: Performance Practice Challenges in Works Written for Revival Harpsichord

<p>The revival harpsichord leads a double life today—enjoying a small fan base on the edge of obsolescence. Most regard the instrument as a twentieth-century foil to the more historically-oriented harpsichords that replaced them by around the mid-1970s. But they are also valued for the repertoire they inspired during the first seventy or so years of the twentieth century, along with their unique capabilities and signature sound. From mid-century onwards, when historical harpsichords began to gain a wider acceptance, revival harpsichords were derided as representing a false notion of teleological progress. Piano building technologies partially adapted to the construction of revival harpsichords have required compromises that ignore basic laws of the physics of sound—including the differences between plucking a string and striking it with hammer. The ontology of a harpsichord type that is piano-informed has led to a widespread conclusion that revival harpsichords are a mistaken concept and are unsuitable even for many of the compositions written for them. The common practice today is to adapt works written for revival harpsichord to historical harpsichords. Limited attention has been given to revival harpsichords in recent academic literature. While mention is made of their historical significance, a current evaluation of the instruments and treatment of revival repertoire has been lacking. This dissertation seeks to critically assess instruments and repertoire by examining perspectives of authors, builders, performers, composers and critics, addressing current issues in performance practice such as the impact of changing instrumentation from revival to historical models. A case is made for valuing revival harpsichords on their own merits as well as applying first-hand knowledge of revival harpsichords to performances of revival repertoire on historical models. This methodology is supported by interviews conducted specifically for this dissertation, playing different revival models and in presenting information neither widely available nor understood, such as a picture of the current availability of revival instruments and details of their restoration. This dissertation contributes to an understanding of revival harpsichords and their repertoire by, firstly, providing up-to-date information on the nature and history of the instrument, as well as highlighting the existence of many revival models, rather than accepting the notion of one standard type. Secondly, revival harpsichord reception is examined within a context of the changing purposes of harpsichord construction after 1889. Lastly, a selection of relevant repertoire is investigated, including Erik Bergman’s 1970 Energien for solo harpsichord (a critical edition of which also forms part of the Appendices), Darius Milhaud’s 1945 Sonata for Clavecin (or Piano) and Violin, op. 257, and Peter Child’s Concerto for Harpsichord and String Quartet (2005), which was written for an Eric Herz revival harpsichord. A tradition already exists of compromising over and discussing which historical harpsichords to use for early music repertoire that spans centuries and the building practices of different geographic regions. This dissertation explores the extent to which revival harpsichords are indeed easily replaced by historical models for revival repertoire, or whether it is sometimes best practice to consider performing these works on the instruments for which they were originally conceived. Alternatively, the performer of a revival work may choose to take certain features of revival instruments into account in developing a performance interpretation on a historical model. Factors hindering performance on historical harpsichords can include performance practice challenges and controversies that arise when transferring pieces to these instruments. Some works defy straightforward alteration and require extensive editing, whereas others are more easily accommodated. Through an examination of repertoire in performance, interviews, and changes in the reception and use of revival harpsichords, this dissertation considers the position and relevance of revival harpsichords today.</p>

Enzymatic Glycerolysis of Palm Kernel Olein and Palm Kernel Stearin in different Ratios for Monolaurin Synthesis

Monolaurin is known as a monoglyceride of lauric acid, which act as an emulsifier and antimicrobial. One potential of monolaurin raw materials is palm kernel oil (PKO), which can be fractionated into palm kernel olein (PKOo) and palm kernel stearin (PKS). This study aims to determine the enzymatic glycerolysis influence of PKOo and PKS mixture in different ratios and time, on monoacylglycerol (MAG), diacylglycerol (DAG), and triacylglycerol (TAG) profiles. The Glycerolysis process of PKOo-PKS fat blends were carried out in different ratios of (60:40, 40:60, and 20:80 w/w) using commercial lipases (Lypozime RM IM) at 50°C, with an oil:glycerol molar ratio of 1:4, in a tert-butanol solvent system, between 3 to 24 hours. The results showed that the glycerolysis of PKOo and PKS in different ratios yielded varying product reactions with similar compositions (1.8-3.9% MAG, 73.2-76.4% DAG, and 20.7-24.2% TAG). A higher and not significant MAG was observed during the period of 24 hours. Also, the monolaurin was obtained at the ratio of 40:60 PKOo:PKS, within the glycerolysis time of 3 to 24 hours, at approximately 2.18±0.59% and 3.47±0.62%, respectively. The FTIR analysis also showed that the monolaurin sample was identical to the standard type, with the formation of OH group at wave number and cluster C=O ester of 3368.64 cm-1 and 1734.03 cm-1, respectively.

SimTyper: sound type inference for Ruby using type equality prediction

Many researchers have explored type inference for dynamic languages. However, traditional type inference computes most general types which, for complex type systems—which are often needed to type dynamic languages—can be verbose, complex, and difficult to understand. In this paper, we introduce SimTyper, a Ruby type inference system that aims to infer usable types—specifically, nominal and generic types—that match the types programmers write. SimTyper builds on InferDL, a recent Ruby type inference system that soundly combines standard type inference with heuristics. The key novelty of SimTyper is type equality prediction , a new, machine learning-based technique that predicts when method arguments or returns are likely to have the same type. SimTyper finds pairs of positions that are predicted to have the same type yet one has a verbose, overly general solution and the other has a usable solution. It then guesses the two types are equal, keeping the guess if it is consistent with the rest of the program, and discarding it if not. In this way, types inferred by SimTyper are guaranteed to be sound. To perform type equality prediction, we introduce the deep similarity (DeepSim) neural network. DeepSim is a novel machine learning classifier that follows the Siamese network architecture and uses CodeBERT, a pre-trained model, to embed source tokens into vectors that capture tokens and their contexts. DeepSim is trained on 100,000 pairs labeled with type similarity information extracted from 371 Ruby programs with manually documented, but not checked, types. We evaluated SimTyper on eight Ruby programs and found that, compared to standard type inference, SimTyper finds 69% more types that match programmer-written type information. Moreover, DeepSim can predict rare types that appear neither in the Ruby standard library nor in the training data. Our results show that type equality prediction can help type inference systems effectively produce more usable types.

Origin of the Type III Functional Response

In this chapter I review the many ways that functional responses may show a sigmoidal shape rather than the simpler asymptotic shape. I break down the potential for prey dependence of the space clearance rate through effects on each of the component mechanisms. Given the emergent nature of the functional response, type III curves can arise through density dependence of the probability of successful capture, prey detectability, and predator–prey encounter rates. Given the variety of mechanisms, it may be possible that there are really multiple types of type III curve. I also raise some concerns with the standard type III model and offer an alternative model that gets around these problems.

Sustainability in interior space organization of studio flats: Recommendations with examples of Northern Cyprus

The concept of housing began with the existence of people in this world with the need for sanctuary to isolate themselves from the physical environment and from other living creatures, and starting with the most primitive, hand-made places, evolved to the present. Different life cultures and different social needs, in parallel with the process of human development, resulted in various types of housing. Of these types of housing, Studio Houses, which provide the basic living functions within minimum space–mostly in a single space, have become a much-preferred house type by individuals living alone, and by students in the present day living conditions. The aim of this study is to examine the standard type interior organizations of the studio houses constructed in large numbers for students in North Cyprus, which is a university country. The study also aims at presenting design criteria for alternative studio-type houses with different fittings and interior designs meeting the needs of students studying in different branches of universities, thus having different lifestyles. Hence, after a literature review on the concept of housing and the history of housing, interior designs of studio houses of North Cyprus were analyzed, and classification was made according to their interior designs. Interviews were carried out with university students using these studio houses, thus establishing the spatial arrangements and fittings they need and assessing them. Although there are various studies related to the interior design of studio houses, the fact that there is no scientific research towards alternative interior designs for the specific needs of a different group of university students makes this study important.