Laparoscopic nephrectomy is both operatively and oncologically safe in T-1 and T-2 disease, and although technically more demanding, it is also safe in selected T-3 disease.”
“Recently, aqueous solutions polluted

by BPA have been bioremediated by us using laccase immobilized on hydrophobic membranes in non-isothermal bioreactors. BPA degradation was checked using analytical methods. To assess in vitro the occurred bioremediation, the proliferation and viability indexes of MCF-7 cells incubated in the presence of aqueous solutions of BPA, or of enzyme-treated BPA solutions, have been measured as a function of the initial BPA concentration. The results demonstrated that:

i) at each initial BPA concentration used, both the proliferation and viability indexes are a function of the duration of enzyme treatment:

ii) proliferation and Selleck Rigosertib viability are uncoupled biological processes with respect to BPA enzyme treatment.

Non-isothermal bioreactors are a useful tool for the bioremediation of aqueous solutions polluted by BPA, which is an example of an endocrine disruptor that belongs to the alkyl phenol family. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Clinical symptoms in lumbar degenerative spondylolisthesis (LDS) vary from predominantly radiating pain to severe mechanical low back pain. We examined whether the outcome of surgery

for LDS varied depending on the predominant baseline symptom and the treatment administered [decompression with fusion (D&F) or decompression BIIB057 clinical trial alone (D)].

213 consecutive patients (69 +/- A 9 years; 155f, 58 m) participated. Inclusion criteria were LDS, maximum three affected levels, no previous surgery at the affected level, and D (N = 56) or D&F (N = 157) as the operative procedure. Pre-op and at 12 months’ follow-up Selleckchem Rigosertib (FU), patients completed the multidimensional Core Outcome Measures Index (COMI) including 0-10 leg-pain (LP)

and LBP scales. At 12 months’ FU, patients rated global outcome which was then dichotomised into “”good”" and “”poor”".

Pre-operatively, LBP and COMI scores were significantly worse (p < 0.05) in the D&F group than in the D group. The improvement in COMI at 12 months’ FU was significantly greater for D&F than for D (p < 0.001) and was not influenced by the patient’s declared “”main problem”" at baseline (back pain, leg pain, or neurological disturbances) (p > 0.05). There was a higher proportion (p = 0.01) of “”good”" outcomes at 12 months’ FU in D&F (86%) than in D (70%). Multiple regression analysis, controlling for possible confounders, revealed treatment group to be the only significant predictor of outcome (adding fusion = better outcome).

Our study indicated that LDS patients showed better patient-based outcome with instrumented fusion and decompression than with decompression alone, regardless of baseline symptoms.

Clinical practice guideline. Objective. To develop evidence-based recommendations on use of interventional selleck chemicals diagnostic tests and therapies, surgeries, and interdisciplinary rehabilitation for low back pain of any duration, with or without leg pain.

Summary of Background Data. Management of patients with persistent and disabling low back pain remains a clinical challenge. A number of interventional diagnostic tests and therapies and surgery are available and their use is increasing, but in some cases their utility remains uncertain or controversial. Interdisciplinary rehabilitation has also been proposed as a potentially effective noninvasive intervention for persistent

and disabling low back pain.

Methods. A multidisciplinary panel was convened by the American Pain Society. Its recommendations were based on a systematic review that focused on evidence from randomized controlled trials. Recommendations were graded using methods adapted from the US Preventive Services Task Force and the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation Working Group.

Results. Investigators reviewed 3348 abstracts. A total of 161 randomized trials were deemed relevant to the recommendations in this guideline. The panel developed a total of 8 recommendations.

Conclusion. Recommendations on use of interventional diagnostic tests and therapies, surgery,

and interdisciplinary rehabilitation are presented. Due to important trade-offs between potential benefits, harms, costs, and burdens

of alternative therapies, shared decision-making is an important component of a number R406 of the recommendations.”
“A new technology for obtaining ethanol through the fermentation of synthesis gas, which is produced from lignocellulose by special bacteria-acidogenes is discussed in the review. The technology has a set of fundamental advantages compared to traditional methods of fermentation of sugars: versatility and high yield of alcohol. In 2012-2013, in the United States and China, industrial plants using this JNK-IN-8 MAPK inhibitor technology will be commissioned.”
“In recent foot and mouth disease outbreaks, many healthy animals have been culled to prevent disease transmission. Emergency vaccination is discussed as an alternative to culling of unaffected animals. A spatial and temporal Monte-Carlo simulation model was used to compare preventive culling and emergency vaccination. Different outbreaks are described using additional influence factors such as airborne spread, farm density, type of index-case farm and delay until establishment of the control strategies. The fewest farms were infected establishing a combined strategy including a 1 km preventive culling and 1-10 km emergency vaccination zone around each outbreak farm. Taking the number of culled and vaccinated farms into account, vaccination around the first diagnosed farm combined with the baseline strategy (culling of outbreak farms, protection and surveillance zone, contact tracing) is to be preferred.

01). The time to first rescue analgesic and the amount of analgesics used in 24h were similar in the two groups. Fewer children suffered from dysphagia in Group K (52%) than in Group B (88%; P<0.01). More children in Group B had disturbed sleep than in Group K at 6 (88% vs 56%; P=0.012) and 12h (60% vs 24%; P=0.01) postoperatively. None of the children had deep sedation, desaturation or respiratory depression. Lapatinib purchase Conclusion Surgical site infiltration with either bupivacaine or ketamine provides adequate analgesia and is devoid of major side effects. Ketamine is superior to bupivacaine in terms of requirement of rescue analgesic, peaceful sleep

pattern and early resumption of feeding.”
“Ovarian carcinoma is a common gynecological malignancy. Distant metastases usually involve the liver and lung while neurological complications are rare. We describe the case of a 63-year-old woman diagnosed from an ovarian carcinoma with peritoneal seed, which was treated surgically and with chemotherapy. After 4 years she was admitted to our Department for the development of subacute right deafness, vertigo and imbalance. MRI revealed the presence

of leptomeningeal carcinomatosis and an expansive formation in the right pontocerebellar angle, suggesting involvement of the right VIII cranial nerve. Examination of the cerebrospinal Selleckchem Danusertib fluid disclosed the presence of neoplastic cells. Subsequently the patient rapidly deteriorated and eventually died. Involvement of VIII cranial nerve as the presentation of leptomeningeal carcinomatosis in ovarian carcinoma is rare. In the literature at least two other cases presented with deafness, suggesting that leptomeningeal carcinomatosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis when deafness appears in a cancer patient.”
“The pharmacokinetics and the local toxicity of commercial and liposome-encapsulated mepivacaine formulations injected intra-orally in rats were studied. Animals were divided in groups (n=4-6) and treated with Selleck BMS-777607 0.1 mL of the formulations: 2% mepivacaine with 1:100,000 epinephrine (MVC(2%EPI)),

3% mepivacaine (MVC(3%)), and 2% liposome-encapsulated mepivacaine (MVC(LUV)). The results showed that the 2% liposome-encapsulated mepivacaine reduced C(max), prolonged AUC(0-infinity) and t(1/2) compared with 3% plain and 2% vasoconstritor-associated mepivacaine, after intraoral injection. In addition, it was also observed that liposomal mepivacaine might protect the tissue against local inflammation evoked by plain or vasoconstrictors-associated mepivacaine, giving supporting evidence for its safety and possible clinical use in dentistry.”
“We developed a panel of 40 multiplexed short insertion-deletion (indel) polymorphic loci with widespread chromosomal locations and allele frequencies close to 0.50 in the European population. We genotyped these markers in 360 unrelated self-classified White Brazilians and 50 mother-child-probable father trios with proven paternity.

Despite its rarity, TT should be considered in the differential diagnosis of neck mass. FNAC is a useful procedure and thyroid function should learn more be monitored.”
“For the restoration of an anterior missing tooth, implant-supported single crowns (ISCs) or fixed dental prostheses (FDPs) are indicated, but it is not clear which type of restoration is more cost-effective. A self-selected trial was performed with 15 patients with ISCs and 11 with FDPs. Patient preferences were recorded with visual analog scales before treatment, 1 month following restoration, and

then annually. Quality-adjusted tooth years (QATYs) were estimated by considering the type of reconstruction for replacing the missing tooth and its effect on the adjacent teeth. A stochastic cost-effectiveness model was developed using Monte Carlo simulation. The expected costs and QATYs were summarized in cost-effectiveness acceptability curves. ISC was the dominant strategy, with a QATY increase of 0.01 over 3 years and 0.04 over 10 years with a higher probability of being cost-effective. While both treatment options provided satisfactory long-term results from the patient’s perspective, the lower initial costs, particularly laboratory fees, were responsible

for the dominance of ISCs over FDPs.”
“Purpose of review

To review what is understood about the pathophysiology of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), the diagnostic challenges of PCOS in adolescent women, Pevonedistat supplier associated risk factors, as well as the best evidence-based treatment options for adolescence.

Recent SB273005 ic50 findings

Diagnosing PCOS in adolescents requires a unique set of criteria for which no single marker currently exists. Adolescents at high risk for developing the syndrome are congenital virilization, low birth weight, premature pubarche, central precocious puberty, large for gestational age girls born to overweight mothers, obesity syndromes, insulin-resistant features, and girls born to parents with PCOS, central obesity, or diabetes in whom PCOS ought to be suspected when associated with

irregular menses. Insulin, hyperandrogenemia, and adipocytokines are integral players in the pathophysiology of PCOS. PCOS may be an inheritable trait; however, no gene has yet been identified. Quality of life remains a concern for young women with PCOS. Lifestyle modifications geared to prevent long-term sequelae remain the first-line treatment in conjunction with oral contraceptive pills.

Summary

Identifying PCOS in adolescents remains a diagnostic dilemma, but early intervention and treatment can improve long-term health.”
“OBJECTIVES: To describe the frequency, patterns, and associations of Obstetrics & Gynecology author conflict of interest disclosures over a 2-year period.

METHODS: All original research articles published in Obstetrics & Gynecology between July 2008 and June 2010 were individually reviewed to record conflict of interest disclosures.

A simple model based on p-n junction with shunt has been used to obtain information on the change of the junction on voltage cycling. It has been shown that the observation can be explained if the voltage

cycling leads to lowering of the barrier at the interface and also reduction in series resistance. It is suggested that this lowering can be related to the migration of oxygen ions, which causes the vacancies at the junction region. Cross-sectional imaging CBL0137 mouse of the junction shows formation of permanent filamentary bridges across the thickness of the PCMO after the virgin p-n junction is first taken through a voltage cycle, which would explain the appearance of a finite shunt across the p-n junction. (C) 2011 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3580507]“
“The

cyanoethylation of cotton fabric was carried out using aqueous sodium hydroxide with acrylonitrile in presence of solvents like 3 MA acetone and ethanol in different concentrations. The modified cellulose was investigated with vertical wicking test, X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetry-differential thermal analysis (TG/DTA), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The wicking height was increased for the modified cellulose. Modified cellulose had increase in crystallinity index with reduction of crystallite size. The thermal stability of the modified cellulose was also increased. The images produced using AFM technique revealed that there is appreciable difference in the surface roughness between scoured, mercerized,

cyanoethylated and solvent treated samples. (C) 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 122: 1622-1627, 2011″
“There is now grade 1 evidence that male circumcision (MC) reduces the risk of a man acquiring HIV. Modelling studies indicate MC could in the next 10 years save up to 2 million lives in those African countries with high HIV Lazertinib research buy prevalence. Several African countries are now scaling up public health MC programmes. The most effective immediate public health MC programmes in Africa will need to target 18-20 years old men. In the longer term there is a need for infant circumcision programmes. In order to implement more widespread MC there is a need to make the surgical procedures as simple as possible so that safe operations can be performed by paramedical staff. The WHO Manual of Male Circumcision under local anaesthetic was written with these objectives in mind. Included in the manual are three adult techniques and four paediatric procedures. The adult procedures are the dorsal slit, the forceps guided and the sleeve resection methods. Paediatric methods included are the plastibell technique, the Mogen and Gomco shield method and a standard surgical dorsal slit procedure. Each method is described in a step by step manner with photographic and line drawing illustrations.

(Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod 2010; 109: e20-e25)”
“ZnO nanotubes (ZNTs) have been successfully evolved from ZnO nanorods (ZNRs) by a simple chemical etching process. Two peaks located at 382 and 384 nm in the UV emission region has been observed in the room temperature photoluminescence

(PL) spectrum of ZNTs since the surface band bending in ZNTs induces the coexistence of indirect and direct transitions in their emission process. In addition, a strong enhancement of total luminescence intensity at room temperature in ZNTs has also be observed in comparison with that of ZNRs. Both temperature-dependent PL and time-resolved ACY-738 chemical structure PL results not only further testify the coexistence of indirect and direct transitions due to the surface band bending but also reveal that less nonradiative contribution to the

emission process in ZNTs finally causes their stronger luminescence intensity. (C) 2010 American Institute of Physics. GDC-0973 [doi:10.1063/1.3511345]“
“This article deals with the crystallization behaviors of original (prepared in a torque rheometer), DSC crystallization and mold crystallization (quenching and slow nonisothermal crystallization) of isotactic polypropylene (iPP) mixed with beta-form nucleating agent. The microstructure and thermal stability of these samples were investigated. The wide angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD) results indicate that fast cooling

is favorable for beta-form iPP formation. With slower cooling rate and higher concentration of nucleating agent, the lamellar thickness and stability of crystal0s were enhanced. Polarized optical microscopy (POM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) both showed that rapid crystallized samples gave rise to tiny spherulites, whereas under slow crystallization condition, nucleated BV-6 order samples could be fully developed in the form of dendritic or transcrystalline structures, depending on the nucleating agent concentration. (C) 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 119: 1374-1382, 2011″
“Teeth with traumatic crown-root fractures extending subgingivally and involving the entire width of the tooth may have problems in endodontic isolation, periodontal maintenance, and restoration. A number of techniques, such as crown lengthening, and orthodontic or surgical extrusion, have been described for treatment of crown-root fractures. However, all of these techniques have limitations in terms of the extended time required for treatment, cost, and esthetic considerations. Intra-alveolar transplantation is an alternative treatment option in the management of complicated crown-root fractures. We describe a case of intra-alveolar transplantation with 180 rotation and suture fixation.

“
“Novel flexible polyurethane foams were successfully prepared from a renewable source, hydroxytelechelic ABT-263 chemical structure natural rubber (HTNR) having different molecular weights (1000-3400 g mol(-1)) and variation of epoxide contents (EHTNR, 0-35% epoxidation) by a one-shot technique. The chemical and cell structures as well as physico-mechanical, thermal, and acoustic properties were characterized and compared with commercial polyol analogs. The obtained HTNR based foams are open cell structures with cell dimensions between 0.38 and 0.47 mm. The

HTNR1000 based foam exhibits better mechanical properties but lower elongation at break than those of commercial polyol analog. However, the HTNR3400 based foam shows the best elastic properties. In a series of EHTNR based foams, the tensile and compressive strengths show a tendency to increase with increasing epoxide content and amount of 1,4-butanediol SCH 900776 (BD). The HTNR based foams demonstrate better low temperature flexibility than that of the foam based on commercial polyol. Moreover, the HTNR based polyurethane foams was found to be an excellent absorber of acoustics. (C) 2010 Wiley

Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 117: 828-837, 2010″
“PURPOSE: To evaluate the influence of spherical aberration on contrast sensitivity using adaptive optics.

SETTING: Vision Science and Advanced Retinal Imaging Laboratory, Department of Ophthalmology & Vision Science, University of California, Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, STI571 mw California, USA.

METHODS: Contrast sensitivity at 8 cycles per degree was evaluated using an adaptive optics system that permitted aberrations to be measured with a Hartmann-Shack wavefront sensor and controlled by a 109 actuator continuous-surface deformable mirror that was at a plane conjugate to the observer’s pupil. Vertical Gabor patches were viewed through a 6.3 mm diameter pupil conjugate aperture. Contrast sensitivity was measured

with the deformable mirror set to produce 1 of 5 spherical aberration profiles (-0.2 to +0.2 mu m). Contrast sensitivity over the range of spherical aberration was fitted with a polynomial function.

RESULTS: Three subjects (age 21 to 24 years) participated. The measured total mean spherical aberration resulting from the spherical aberration profiles produced by the deformable mirror was between -0.15 mu m and + 0.25 mu m. The peak contrast sensitivity of this function for the 3 subjects combined occurred at +0.06 mu m of spherical aberration. The peak contrast sensitivity was also achieved with positive spherical aberration for each subject’s data fitted individually (mean 0.09).

CONCLUSION: There was intersubject variability in the measurements; however, the mean visual performance was best with the introduction of a small positive spherical aberration.

There are no in vivo studies that define the normal pediatric cervical pedicle morphometrics and its changes with growth and development of the child.

Methods. A total of 376 normal pediatric cervical spine pedicles of 30 children (mean age = 6.7 +/- 3.9 years) were analyzed for pedicle width (PW), pedicle height (PH), pedicle length (PL), pedicle axis length (PAL), transverse pedicle angle (TPA), and sagittal pedicle angle (SPA). The study population was categorized into three age groups (A: <5 years, B: 5-10 years, and C >10 years). The mean values of PLX4032 cost these parameters in the different age groups and the possibility

of application cervical pedicle screws were studied.

Results. The mean PW was lowest in the C3 vertebra and increased distally to be widest at C7. Sixty percent of C3 pedicles had a width less than 4 mm making screw passage risky and unsafe. With growth, the PW increased at all levels but this increase was significant only up to the age of 10 years. More than 75% of adult pedicle dimensions were achieved by 5 years of age. The mean PL at all levels remained the same with no significant increase with growth. However, the PAL showed continuous increase with

growth similar to PW. The PAL also showed an increase from C3 to C7. The PH was always more than the PW at any level. Mild insignificant asymmetry was present between the right and left side C188-9 research buy pedicles in all values.

Conclusion. With growth, there was a gradual increase in PW, PH, and PAL but was mainly before the age of 10 years. Majority of C3 pedicles

were thin making screw fixation unsafe. However, at all other levels, the pedicle morphometrics per se were adequate and do not restrict safe application of 3-mm cervical pedicle screw.”
“Background: Two effective and safe rotavirus see more vaccines became available in 2006 and have been recommended for use in all countries by the World Health Organization. This article provides an update on the use of rotavirus vaccine in Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) countries.

Methods: Data reported by LAC countries to the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) were reviewed.

Results: As of May 2010, 14 LAC countries and 1 territory have introduced the rotavirus vaccine into their national expanded program on immunization (EPI). Reported coverage levels for rotavirus vaccine are lower than those for other EPI vaccines recommended at the same age. A total of 15 LAC countries are part of the PAHO’s LAC rotavirus surveillance network; 12 of them are using the vaccine. LAC countries are conducting several studies on rotavirus vaccine effectiveness, cost-effectiveness, and monitoring safety. Also, LAC countries are generating lessons learned on the public health implications of introducing a new vaccine into the EPI. Nine countries and the Cayman Islands pay for the entire cost of the vaccine using government funds. All but 2 countries purchase their rotavirus vaccine through PAHO’s Revolving Fund.

From the global decays of the Nd3+ F-4(3/2) level in single and codoped samples, the transfer efficiencies were estimated; they increase with Yb3+ content reaching similar to 93% for 1 at. % Nd, 5 at. % Yb: YAG sample. The mechanisms and parameters of the Nd. Yb energy transfer were inferred from the Nd3+ decays in the codoped samples, after the separation of the self-quenching inside the donors

(Nd3+) from the transfer to acceptors (Yb3+). It was proved that the Nd. Yb energy is resonant and dominated by dipole-dipole interactions. Due to the large transfer efficiencies, (Nd,Yb):YAG ceramic could be a promising material for Yb3+ emission under pumping in strong Nd3+ https://www.selleckchem.com/products/iwr-1-endo.html absorption lines. (c) 2010 American Institute of Physics. [doi: 10.1063/1.3525269]“
“In the oral cavity, chronic inflammation has been observed at various stages of oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCC). Such inflammation could result from persistent mucosal or epithelial cell colonization by microorganisms. There is increasing evidence of the involvement of oral bacteria in inflammation, warranting further studies on the association of bacteria with the progression of OSCC. The objective of this study was to evaluate the diversity and relative abundance Cl-amidine of bacteria in the saliva of subjects with OSCC. Using 454 parallel DNA sequencing, similar to 58 000 PCR

amplicons that span the V4-V5 hypervariable region of rRNAs from five subjects were sequenced. Members of eight phyla (divisions) of bacteria were detected. The majority of classified sequences belonged to the phyla Firmicutes (45%) and Bacteroidetes (25%). Further, 52 different genera containing approximately 860 (16.51%) known species were identified and 1077 (67%) sequences belonging to various uncultured bacteria or unclassified groups. The species diversity estimates obtained with abundance-based coverage estimators and Chao1 were greater than published analyses of other

microbial profiles from the oral cavity. Fifteen unique phylotypes were present in all three OSCC subjects.”
“We employ electroless etching to disperse silicon on insulator (SOI) wafers in ionic silver HF into wirelike silicon nanostructures. check details The procedure allows detachment of the nanowires at the oxide interface and enables easy recovery of dispersions for subsequent controlled delivery. Nanowires 10 mu m long and 50-100 nm thick are demonstrated using an SOI substrate of 10 mu m device thickness. Direct material analysis shows no silver contamination after a wet-etch silver clean. Anodization treatment of the wires was conducted. Our measurements and analysis show that the wires are not amenable to anodization resulting from the fact that the nanowire radius is less than the thickness of depletion layer.

There were also no between-group LBH589 concentration differences in the incidences of general symptoms, such as headache, fatigue, gastrointestinal symptoms, and fever, although

Boostrix (R) was associated with a significantly higher incidence of grade 2 or 3 headache than Td vaccine.

Boostrix (R) was generally associated with a lower incidence of local solicited symptoms than Adacel (R) in adults over the 15-day post-vaccination period. Significantly greater percentages of Adacel (R) than Boostrix (R) recipients reported pain, redness or swelling (of any grade), as well as grade 3 (>= 50 mm) redness and swelling, at the injection site. The incidence of general solicited symptoms was broadly similar between the two treatment groups, although Boostrix (R) was associated with a significantly AS1842856 solubility dmso lower incidence of fever (>= 37.5 degrees C) and a significantly higher incidence of grade 3 fatigue.

Boostrix (R) was also generally well tolerated when administered concomitantly with influenza vaccine in adults and with MCV4 vaccine in adolescents.”
“Sudden death is a possible occurrence for newborns younger than 1 year with severe aortic coarctation (CoA) before surgical correction. Basic research and animal experiments have shown electrophysiologic changes during mechanical ventricular

pressure overload. The current study aimed to evaluate the effect of severe CoA on the heterogeneity of ventricular repolarization by examining corrected QT and JT interval dispersion (respectively, QTc-D and JTc-D) and electrocardiographic parameters of spatial heterogeneity of ventricular repolarization in newborns with no associated congenital cardiac malformations. The study enrolled 30 isolated severe CoA neonates (age, 45 +/- A 15 days; 17 males)

with normal size and wall thickness of the left ventricle before surgical correction and 30 age- and sex-matched healthy newborns used XMU-MP-1 in vitro as control subjects. Heart rate, QRS duration, maximum and minimum QT and JT intervals, and QTc-D and JTc-D measurements were performed. The healthy control group did not significantly differ from the CoA group in terms of heart rate, weight, height, and echocardiographic parameters. Compared with the healthy control group, the CoA group presented significantly increased values of QTc-D (109.7 +/- A 43.4 vs. 23 +/- A 15 ms; P = 0.03) and JTc-D (99.1 +/- A 43.3 vs. 65.8 +/- A 24.1 ms; P = 0.04). A statistically significant correlation was found between the Doppler peak pressure gradient across the coarctation site and the values of QTc-D (r = 0.48; P = 0.03) and JTc-D (r = 0.42; P = 0.04). Our study showed significantly increased QTc-D and JTc-D in isolated CoA newborns with normal left ventricular geometry.”
“Purpose: To evaluate the anti-Streptococcus pyogenes activity of selected medicinal plants used in Thai traditional medicine.

Methods: Sixty-nine extracts of 51 selected Thai medicinal plant species were tested for anti-S.