Effect of hyperglycemic condition on observed surface area to volume ratio of human cancerous cells

The human blood basal glucose level is a completely controlled range. Information on the relationship between culture glucose concentration and changes in the cell's surface area, volume and surface area to volume (S/V) ratio are lacking. Cancerous epithelial-like cell lines SW480, SW742 and T-47D were cultured in mediums nourished with 4.7 mM per liter of glucose as the control group and three other groups with glucose concentrations of  9.4, 14.1 and 18.8 mM at 37 °C for 48hr. Digital images of cells were analyzed using the ImageJ software. Observed changes in surface area, volume, and surface area to volume (S/V) ratio were significantly (P<0.05) different between the control group and the X4 group (18.8 mM glucose) in the three cell lines tested. Cultured cells responded delicately but sharply to glucose elevation. The goal of this research is to show the dictating of changes via pathologic conditions in cellular levels that could be a good answer to changing the body metabolic parameters. Besides the S/V ratio could be studied as a variant parameter in other metabolic challenges

Impact of computerization on Internal Control over Cash in Municipal Councils in Tanzania: A Case of Iringa Municipal Council

Computerization of accounting systems is a relatively recent innovation. However, due to its advantage of processing a large volume of data at a high speed such as sorting, rearranging and performing arithmetic calculations with high accuracy, computerization or automated accounting has considerably replaced manual systems in many municipal councils in Tanzania. Nevertheless, despite the existence of the information system controls, computerization equally increases the chance of manipulation and computer fraud and errors taking place without detection. The purpose of this study was to find out how computerized of accounting systems has impacted the internal control over cash in municipal council. The sample size consisted of 37 respondents drawn from a population of 152 employees of the above mentioned organization. The sampling unit consisted of computer administrators, computer technicians, computer operators, accountants, cashiers, and the municipal Treasurer. To analyze data, the researcher used the frequency counts, percentages, and the Pattern Matching method. The findings indicated that the computerisation of the accounting system enhanced the control over cash. However, it was found that the accountant’s incompetence in computerised accounting environment was still a challenge. Keywords: Computerisation, Internal Control, Cash.

Dispersion and Thickness Control in Evaporation-induced Self-Assembly of Opal Photonic Crystals

Opals are naturally occurring photonic crystals which can be formed easily using low-cost self-assembly methods. While the optical behaviour of opals has received significant attention over the last number of decades, there is limited information on the effect of crystal thickness on the optical properties they display. Here, the relationship between volume fraction and crystal thickness is established with an evaporation-induced self-assembly (EISA) method of formation. The extent to which thickness can be used to manipulate the optical properties of the crystals is explored, focusing on the change in the photonic band gap (PBG). Microscopical structural characterization and angle-resolved transmission spectroscopy are used to examine the quality of the photonic crystals formed using different volume fractions of polystyrene spheres, with thicknesses up to 37 layers grown from volume fractions of 0.125%. This work provides a direct correlation between sphere solution volume fraction and crystal thickness, and the associated optical fingerprint of opal photonic crystals. Maximum thickness is examined, which is shown to converge to a narrow range over several evaporation rates. We identify the criteria required to achieve thickness control in relatively fast evaporation induced self-assembly while maintaining structural quality, and the change to the spectroscopic signature to the (111) stopband and higher order (220) reflections, under conditions where a less ordered photonic crystals are formed.Comment: 29 pages with Supplementary materials, 9 figures and 1 tabl

On Acquisition and Analysis of a Dataset Comprising of Gait, Ear and Semantic data

In outdoor scenarios such as surveillance where there is very little control over the environments, complex computer vision algorithms are often required for analysis. However constrained environments, such as walkways in airports where the surroundings and the path taken by individuals can be controlled, provide an ideal application for such systems. Figure 1.1 depicts an idealised constrained environment. The path taken by the subject is restricted to a narrow path and once inside is in a volume where lighting and other conditions are controlled to facilitate biometric analysis. The ability to control the surroundings and the flow of people greatly simplifes the computer vision task, compared to typical unconstrained environments. Even though biometric datasets with greater than one hundred people are increasingly common, there is still very little known about the inter and intra-subject variation in many biometrics. This information is essential to estimate the recognition capability and limits of automatic recognition systems. In order to accurately estimate the inter- and the intra- class variance, substantially larger datasets are required [40]. Covariates such as facial expression, headwear, footwear type, surface type and carried items are attracting increasing attention; although considering the potentially large impact on an individuals biometrics, large trials need to be conducted to establish how much variance results. This chapter is the first description of the multibiometric data acquired using the University of Southampton's Multi-Biometric Tunnel [26, 37]; a biometric portal using automatic gait, face and ear recognition for identification purposes. The tunnel provides a constrained environment and is ideal for use in high throughput security scenarios and for the collection of large datasets. We describe the current state of data acquisition of face, gait, ear, and semantic data and present early results showing the quality and range of data that has been collected. The main novelties of this dataset in comparison with other multi-biometric datasets are: 1. gait data exists for multiple views and is synchronised, allowing 3D reconstruction and analysis; 2. the face data is a sequence of images allowing for face recognition in video; 3. the ear data is acquired in a relatively unconstrained environment, as a subject walks past; and 4. the semantic data is considerably more extensive than has been available previously. We shall aim to show the advantages of this new data in biometric analysis, though the scope for such analysis is considerably greater than time and space allows for here

Foreword: Control and Conservation of Lampreys Beyond 2020 – Proceedings from the 3rd Sea Lamprey International Symposium (SLIS III)

This special issue summarizes outcomes from the 3rd Sea Lamprey International Symposium (SLIS III; Fig. 1) held 28 July – 2 August 2019 at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan, U.S.A. The first two symposia (SLIS I and SLIS II) were held 30 July – 8 August 1979 at Northern Michigan University in Marquette, Michigan and 14–18 August 2000 at Lake Superior State University in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, respectively. The published volumes from these symposia in 1980 (Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, Volume 37, Issue 11) and 2003 (Journal of Great Lakes Research Volume 29, Supplement 1) have been invaluable references for the broader scientific community and for management agencies around the Laurentian Great Lakes; cited over 4800 and 3300 times, respectively. SLIS III was attended by over 150 scientists, biologists, resource managers, graduate students, and Commission advisors, including participants from Australia, Canada, China, Japan, New Zealand, Portugal, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States (Fig. 2). Similar to SLIS I and SLIS II, the goals of SLIS III were to provide a forum to (i) update and publish information on sea lamprey control and research on lampreys since SLIS II, (ii) exchange knowledge and ideas to bring practitioners to a common plateau of understanding, and (iii) develop innovative initiatives and stimulate new vigor in efforts to control sea lamprey in the Great Lakes and to conserve lampreys in their native ranges. The emphasis on conservation of lampreys is unique to SLIS III and reflects a heightened international recognition that scientific and management advances supporting sea lamprey control in the Great Lakes can benefit the global effort to conserve native lampreys and vice versa

[(18)F]FDG-PET/CT metabolic parameters as useful prognostic factors in cervical cancer patients treated with chemo-radiotherapy.

To compare the prognostic value of different anatomical and functional metabolic parameters determined using [(18)F]FDG-PET/CT with other clinical and pathological prognostic parameters in cervical cancer (CC). Thirty-eight patients treated with standard curative doses of chemo-radiotherapy (CRT) underwent pre- and post-therapy [(18)F]FDG-PET/CT. [(18)F]FDG-PET/CT parameters including mean tumor standardized uptake values (SUV), metabolic tumor volume (MTV) and tumor glycolytic volume (TGV) were measured before the start of CRT. The post-treatment tumor metabolic response was evaluated. These parameters were compared to other clinical prognostic factors. Survival curves were estimated by using the Kaplan-Meier method. Cox regression analysis was performed to determine the independent contribution of each prognostic factor. After 37 months of median follow-up (range, 12-106), overall survival (OS) was 71 % [95 % confidence interval (CI), 54-88], disease-free survival (DFS) 61 % [95 % CI, 44-78] and loco-regional control (LRC) 76 % [95 % CI, 62-90]. In univariate analyses the [(18)F]FDG-PET/CT parameters unfavorably influencing OS, DFS and LRC were pre-treatment TGV-cutoff ≥562 (37 vs. 76 %, p = 0.01; 33 vs. 70 %, p = 0.002; and 55 vs. 83 %, p = 0.005, respectively), mean pre-treatment tumor SUV cutoff ≥5 (57 vs. 86 %, p = 0.03; 36 vs. 88 %, p = 0.004; 65 vs. 88 %, p = 0.04, respectively) and a partial tumor metabolic response after treatment (9 vs. 29 %, p = 0.0008; 0 vs. 83 %, p < 0.0001; 22 vs. 96 %, p < 0.0001, respectively). After multivariate analyses a partial tumor metabolic response after treatment remained as an independent prognostic factor unfavorably influencing DFS and LRC (RR 1:7.7, p < 0.0001, and RR 1:22.6, p = 0.0003, respectively) while the pre-treatment TGV-cutoff ≥562 negatively influenced OS and DFS (RR 1:2, p = 0.03, and RR 1:2.75, p = 0.05). Parameters capturing the pre-treatment glycolytic volume and metabolic activity of [(18)F]FDG-positive disease provide important prognostic information in patients with CC treated with CRT. The post-therapy [(18)F]FDG-PET/CT uptake (partial tumor metabolic response) is predictive of disease outcome

Determinants of burnout in special education teachers.

This study examined whether school climate, attitudes toward mainstreaming, locus of control, personality variables, and demographic variables were related to teacher burnout in special education teachers. Two studies were conducted. The initial study examined stress in special education and regular education teachers (n = 115). The stress levels appeared to be similar in the two groups. The second study was a more focused attempt to obtain additional relevant information which may predict stress and burnout (n = 40). The results indicated that role conflict, attitudes toward mainstreaming, personality variables, and demographics were in part predictive of teacher burnout. The finding also indicated that teachers with higher career aspirations in special education or specialist qualifications had more positive attitudes toward mainstreaming, but suffered from higher stress due to emotional exhaustion. The findings are consistent with results of previous studies dealing with commitment, job satisfaction and teachers\u27 attitudes toward mainstreaming. Paper copy at Leddy Library: Theses & Major Papers - Basement, West Bldg. / Call Number: Thesis1997 .S555. Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 37-01, page: 0022. Adviser: Larry Morton. Thesis (M.Ed.)--University of Windsor (Canada), 1997

Direct replacement of oral sodium benzoate with glycerol phenylbutyrate in children with urea cycle disorders

Long-term management of urea cycle disorders (UCDs) often involves unlicensed oral sodium benzoate (NaBz) which has a high volume and unpleasant taste. A more palatable treatment is licenced and available (glycerol phenylbutyrate [GPB], Ravicti) but guidance on how to transition patients from NaBz is lacking. A retrospective analysis of clinical and biochemical data was performed for eight children who transitioned from treatment with a single ammonia scavenger, NaBz, to GPB at a single metabolic centre; UCDs included arginosuccinic aciduria (ASA) (n = 5), citrullinaemia type 1 (n = 2) and carbamoyl phosphate synthetase I deficiency (CPS1) (n = 1). Patients transitioned either by gradual transition over 1–2 weeks (n = 3) or direct replacement of NaBz with GPB (n = 5). Median initial dose of GPB was 8.5 mL/m2/day based on published product information; doses were revisited subsequently in clinic and titrated individually (range 4.5–11 mL/m2/day). Pre-transition and post-transition mean ammonia levels were 37 μmol/L (SD 28 μmol/L) and 29 μmol/L (SD 22 μmol/L), respectively (p = 0.09), and mean glutamine levels were 664 μmol/L (SD 225 μmol/L) and 598 μmol/L (SD 185 μmol/L), respectively (p = 0.24). There were no reductions in levels of branched chain amino acids. No related adverse drug reactions were reported. Patients preferred GPB because of its lower volume and greater palatability. Direct replacement of NaBz with GPB maintained metabolic control and was simple for the health service and patients to manage. A more cautious approach with additional monitoring would be warranted in brittle patients and patients whose ammonia levels are difficult to control

Evaluation of whole blood, mean platelet volume (MPV) and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratios (NLR) in people with B12 vitamin deficiency

Introduction: It was aimed to investigate the effects of vitamin B12 deficiency on blood tests, mean platelet volume (MPV), and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), which is one of the inflammation markers.Methods: Our study is a case-control study of 375 patients. 170 patients with low B12 ( lt;130 pg/dL) were accepted as the experimental group, and 205 individuals with normal B12 levels were accepted as the control group. Between these two groups, white blood cells (WBC), platelet count (Plt), hemoglobin (Hgb), mean erythrocyte volume (Mean Corpuscular Volume-MCV), mean platelet volume (Mean Platelet Volume-MPV), neutrophil, lymphocyte counts, and neutrophil -lymphocyte ratios (NLR) were examined.Results: The mean age was 48.45 ±17.497 years in the B12 deficient group and 51.93 ±16.175 years in the control group. The mean of vitamin B12 in the deficient group was 101.41 ± 20.50 pg/mL (min-max 37-130), while it was 257.24 ± 88.13 pg/mL (131–498) in the control group. It was observed that there was no statistically significant difference between WBC, Hgb, Plt, neutrophil, lymphocyte, MVC, MPV and NLR values.Conclusion: In our study, we could not find a significant relationship between B12 deficiency and blood tests. In previous studies, there has been information that MPV values are affected by B12 deficiency. In our study, we found that there was no significant relationship between B12 deficiency and MPV or NLR (p gt; 0.05). There is a need for new studies on how B12 deficiency will change as the degree and duration of B12 deficiency increases, especially its effect on atherogenic events

Aerial sonic anemometry - preleminary results

ASA (Aerial Sonic Anemometry) project intends to use sonic anemometers in airborne platforms, complementing meteorological masts measurements over mountainous terrain. The additional information will be inputted into CFD models to assess complex mean and turbulent flow fields over mountainous terrain for wind energy purposes. The kind of platform and its distortion over the sonic measuring volume was considered: sonic anemometer structure over the platform and its behavior, and sonic transducers location relatively to platform. These limitations conditioned the choice of model planes to units with central or rear plan propulsion. Due to the lack of commercial offer, this type of configuration combined with payload capacity, led our choice to the Hobbyking FPV 168 with a wingspan of 1660 mm, fuselage of 1190 mm and a payload capacity of 2.3 kg. To prevent the distortion on the measurement volume, the minimal distance from the sonic head to the plane model was set to be equal to the distance from the front to the wing’s leading edge. The concept of flying a model plane with a sonic anemometer installed on it was validated, and it was possible to fly the model hauling a proxy of a Young 81000 sonic anemometer with perfect flying control. Flying tests were made in order to establish the best configuration of the center of mass of whole setup: airframe, batteries and sonic proxy structure. An electrical engine was used for commodity. The plane equipped with a 10”x7” 3 bladed pusher propeller, and at maximum engine rotation and local atmospheric conditions the batteries yielded a maximum of 37 Ah for the whole electric system. The flight autonomy is estimated to be between 8 to 10 minutes depending on local winds (1 battery of 4 elements of 4.2 V and 3700mAh). Future steps of this project are the use of the present setup to explore GPS, autopilot and data acquisition features. The increase of flight autonomy with the sonic platform will require larger aircrafts that are undergoing a process of selection