Mechanisms giving rise to cross-polarization by substrate-supported metal strip antennas are investigated, and a method for reducing cross-polarized radiation is presented. It is shown that cross-polarized radiation from substrate-supported metal strip antennas can be kept more than 30dB below the copolarized radiation level throughout the entire angular range that would be useful in phased array applications. This is achieved by careful design of the feed line for a specific substrate thickness.<<ETX>>


This paper presents a hybrid Radial Basis Function Network (RBFN) based machine learning approach for encrypted data traffic classification. We concentrate on classifying the SSH-based encrypted traffic from the non SSH traffic. The hybrid RBFN network is employed with k-means clustering and gradient descent learning technique for the binary classification. The suggested technique is experimented on standard datasets including AMP, MAWI, DARPAA99, and NIMS with k-fold cross-validation. Simulation results show that RBFN network is able to provide flow accuracy of more than 99% for all the datasets. Comparative analysis is made to show the efficacy of the proposed scheme with other competent techniques.


One of UWB proposal in IEEE P802.15 WPAN project is to use OFDM system and punctured convolutional codes for UWB channels supporting data rate up to 480 Mb/s. We apply a TTCM encoder to examine the possible improvement for UWB/OFDM. We construct punctured parity-concatenated trellis codes in which a TCM code is used as the inner code and a simple parity-check code is used as the outer code. The bit MAP algorithm is used in iterative decoding. The code performance is examined when applied to OFDM systems in UWB channel environments. The study shows that the system can offer much higher spectral efficiency up to 1 Gbps over UWB channel


Water quality can be characterized by means of the main chemical, biological physical or aesthetic (for example appearance and smell) features. The quality of waters, traceable components and features can be affected by many different factors: bacteria, algae, temperature, turbidity, suspended and dissolved solids, salinity, pH, dissolved oxygen, phosphorus and other nutrients such as nitrogen and also organic and inorganic compounds [1]. Abstract


Andreoni, Erard, and Feinstein (1998) suggest that imposing very high penalties for tax evasion is not possible under bankruptcy or limited liability constraints. In this paper, we complement their suggestion by showing that, in the presence of these constraints, imposing very high penalties can make an economy Pareto worse-off. This result helps provide a further insight into why governments typically do not set very high penalties for tax evasion in practice. Implications for optimal deterrence policies in the context of tax evasion are also explored. Copyright 2006 Blackwell Publishing, Inc..


This patent describes a process for purifying TiO{sub 2} ore containing impurities of iron, alkali metal, alkaline earth metal, rare earth metal, aluminum, phosphorus, thorium, uranium, chromium, manganese, silicon, vanadium, and yttrium, the process consisting essentially of subjecting the ore to two or more leaching treatments. It comprises: alternating between use of an aqueous solution of a mineral acid and an aqueous solution of an alkali metal compound selected from the group consisting essentially of alkali metal carbonates, hydroxides or mixtures thereof, and where in the treatment with a mineral acid occurs first, and being conducted at a temperature, pressure, and time, and with an amount, and concentration of an aqueous solution of a mineral acid and an aqueous solution of an alkali metal compound, which are sufficient to solubilize substantially and iron, alkali metal, alkaline earth metal, rare earth metal, aluminum, phosphorus, thorium uranium, chromium, manganese, silicon, vanadium, and yttrium impurities present to form a leachate, and wherein the leachate formed is removed prior to the next leaching treatment.


The overall objective of the Harmonization of Price Statistics National Accounts in LAC Countries and Supporting the Estimation of PPP Time Series Project is to build the capacity of pilot countries in the areas of price statistics and national accounts. This is a recipient-executed grant which is being implemented by a United Nations (UN) Agency. ECLAC has successfully managed related activities in the 2005 and 2011 ICP rounds (TFICP Grants No TF099205, TF011535, and TF12995) through its Unit of Economic and Environmental Statistics. In a letter dated February 5, 2018, ECLAC requested an amendment that would allow them to expand the grant agreement's scope to as many countries in the Latin America and the Caribbean region as possible in response to the large demand from countries to participate in the 2017 International Comparison Program (ICP) and related capacity-building activities covered by this grant. Restructuring will allow ECLAC to support additional countries as requested, by reducing the number of activities and condensing the activities so that the grant finishes by the end of 2018 as planned. Both TFSCB Trust Fund Administrator and this project's financial management specialist were informed of the amendment request and provided their approval to proceed with the amendment.


Culture can be approached from an existential semiotic point of view in many ways. The following results can be then obtained: The new notion which the Existential semiotic theory of culture (ESC) tries to launch is transcendence. The ESC theory is an attempt to see and analyse issues from the inside, using a model called Zemic which refers to four modes of Being. It deals with agency like any cultural theory, but now behind the theory is the idea of a subject as a transcendental ego, who is capable of pursuing acts, making choices and enjoying freedom. The theory of ESC can be tested by empirical cases of cultural life and history such as studies in cultural heritage. The theory is non deterministic. There is "linguistic turn" in the sense that a new metalanguage is elaborated to deal with transcultural, supra-rational and metacultural issues. Formal language is used to some extent, stemming from the semiotic square, deontic logic and the grammar of modalities. The proper philosophical style is that of the continental and speculative theory, yet the ESC theory is not any regress in the history of philosophy. ESC theory is non-reductionist, i.e. it emphasizes the phenomena as such.


We present a proof-of-concept Bayesian hierarchical modelling approach to reconstruct the initial cosmic matter density field constrained by peculiar velocity observations. Using a model for the gravitational evolution of dark matter to connect the initial conditions to late-time observations, it reconstructs the late-time density and velocity fields as natural byproducts. We implement this field-based physical inference approach by adapting the Bayesian Origin Reconstruction from Galaxies ($\small {BORG}$) algorithm, which explores the high-dimensional posterior through the use of Hamiltonian Monte Carlo sampling. We test the self-consistency of the method using random sets of tracers, and assess its accuracy in a more complex scenario where peculiar velocity tracers are mock haloes drawn from $\small {GADGET2}$ N-body simulations. We find that our framework self-consistently infers the initial conditions, density and velocity fields, and shows some robustness to model mis-specification. Compared with the approach of constrained Gaussian random fields/Wiener filtering, the hierarchical model produces more accurate final density and velocity field reconstructions. It also allows us to constrain the initial conditions by peculiar velocity observations, complementing in this aspect other field-based approaches based on alternative cosmological observables such as galaxy clustering or weak lensing.


The present work shows how an empirical study of language ontogeny can be accommodated within biological theory. Several analyses of linguistic corpora of first language acquisition have been represented by means of networks. The results show in each corpus a combination of linear and non-linear growth of both words and syntactic links. Four languages (five children) were analyzed. All children follow the same developmental pattern. This is characterized by transitions from one type of network to another more complex: from tree-like networks to scale-free networks, and then from this stage to scale-free networks with the feature known as "small-world". These three stages can be thought as developmental phenotypes. As such, they accommodate perfectly to Pere Alberch's theory of developmental morphospace. Our proposal is valid both typical and atypical linguistic development.


The present invention provides an algorithm that uses a flow reference data which mathematically determined depending on various pump and motor parameters such as speed, torque or power or calibrated flow curves which are stored in an evaluation device, or from an external flow reference unit as a flow meter can be. Once the valve with PID control has reached its static condition, a calculated flow value is detected and is obtained with the current flow value after the decrease of the frequency (speed) of the Frequenzumrichterantriebs compared. The valve position is just before the speed threshold at which the flow condition of the algorithm is no longer true, optimized.


For collaborative environments to be successful, a fundamental requirement is that they provide support for inter-referential awareness - or the ability for one participant to refer to a set of objects, and for that reference to be understood by others. Participants in co-located collaboration benefit from the availability of non-verbal communication, including gestures, eye gaze and body movements. However, when geographically separated, they can experience difficulty in communicating - as computer-mediated cues are often compromised. Given the heterogeneity of media and myriad of interaction techniques that exist in groupware, supporting inter-referential awareness can be difficult. We present a unified and systematic way of encapsulating the numerous factors related to this form of awareness through the creation of process-driven ontology. Our framework provides a formal method for describing inter-referential awareness, and serves as approach that interface designers can use to better comprehend the relevant factors involved. This research stems from our previous investigations in inter-referential awareness in collaborative augmented reality environments


In the context of current societal challenges, such as climate neutrality, industry digitization, and circular economy, this paper addresses the importance of improving recycling practices for electric vehicle (EV) battery packs, with a specific focus on lithium–ion batteries (LIBs). To achieve this, the paper conducts a systematic review (using Google Scholar, Scopus, and Web of Science as search engines), considering the last 10 years, to examine existing recycling methods, robotic/collaborative disassembly cells, and associated control techniques. The aim is to provide a comprehensive and detailed review that can serve as a valuable resource for future research in the industrial domain. By analyzing the current state of the field, this review identifies emerging needs and challenges that need to be addressed for the successful implementation of automatic robotic disassembly cells for end-of-life (EOL) electronic products, such as EV LIBs. The findings presented in this paper enhance our understanding of recycling practices and lay the groundwork for more precise research directions in this important area.


Stevenson's principle (1981) of minimal sensitivity is applied directly to configuration space wavefunctions calculated in first-order perturbation theory. The redundant parameters, which comprise the essential elements of minimal sensitivity calculations, actually become functions of configuration space, giving the method considerable flexibility and potential accuracy. It is shown that the method is exact in an illustrative class of simple cases and, for the more realistic case of the ground state wavefunction of the quartic oscillator, it is considerably more accurate than the closely related perturbative variational approach, particularly in the asymptotic region.


Because the problem on the capital construction cost of the thermal power generating units presents the non-linear features, a new method which applies the gray forecast approach to the cost prddiction and the optimization procedure are proposed in this work. The GM (l, l) models for the direct cost and the indirect cost with the project sequence as variable are obtained. Making use of the relations among the direct cost, the indirect cost and the total cost, we get the best time limit for the project with results of the optimal T-C decision-making.


This paper analyzes the status of continuous annealing products LSt12 and LSt13 of Pangang.The results show that the controlling condition of continuous annealing products is good in the chemical composition and the structure property aspects.The main surface defects of products are crosswise stripe and indentation,therefore proposes some effective measures that can eliminate the surface defects.Finally,this paper analyzes the merits and the feasibilities of the CQ-level continuous annealing products that are manufactured by using the Ti-IF steel,as well as discusses some technical essentials during developing the DDQ-level continuous annealing products.


The European Commission, although still mainly portrayed as a technocratic, nonmajoritarian institution, or as an agent of EU member governments, has become increasingly linked to the European Parliament (EP) through a range of semi-parliamentary measures in order to increase the executive's legitimacy and accountability. In this article we argue that in addition to several highly visible and often treaty-based control instruments, an almost symbiotic, less visible, everyday relationship is observed between the two institutions. Based on an on-line questionnaire survey among EP staff as well as on minutes from EP committee meetings, this article examines the daily interaction taking place between the Commission and the EP, not least at the level of officials within the two institutions. Mutual interdependence in the legislative process may trigger daily interaction, however, the theoretical argument suggested by this article is that the everyday interaction is facilitated and reinforced under two particular conditions: (i) if the two institutions share similar organisational patterns, and (ii) if the two institutions share similar behavioural patterns. Three such patterns are emphasised: a sectoral, an ideological and a supranational pattern. Paper to be presented at the 7 ECPR General Conference, Bordeaux, 4-7 September 2013 Section 03, Assessing the Responsiveness of European Union Institutions, Panel 325, The European Commission


Medical management of recurrent WHO grade 2-3 (rGII/III) gliomas is not well established. Bevacizumab (BEV) is an option at malignant recurrence. Yet, very few data are available in this indication. The aim of this study is to describe clinical outcomes in patients treated with BEV.

 A retrospective study was conducted including patients treated by BEV for a rGII/III glioma at our institution (2011 - 2019). Data were collected from medical records. Tumor samples were reviewed according to the WHO 2016 classification. Efficacy was assessed according RANO criteria. Progression Free Survival (PFS) and Overall Survival (OS) from BEV initiation were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. A Cox proportional hazards model was performed to estimate Hazard Ratios with 95% Confident Intervals (CI).

 A total of 81 patients was included (sex ratio: 1.6 M/W, median age at diagnosis: 38). Among them, 46 patients (56.8%) had a grade 2 and 35 (43.2%) a grade 3 glioma. The histological forms were astrocytoma (grade 2 -3) IDH mutated in 27 patients (33.3%), IDHwt in 15 patients (18.5%) and oligodendroglioma (grade 2 - 3) in 13 patients (16%). Twenty-six patients were not reclassified. Previous treatment included tumor resection for all patients (second intervention in 22.2%). First-line medical treatment consisted of chemotherapy in 60.5% patients before any radiotherapy. Chemotherapy was rechallenged in 52 patients (64.2%). All patients but one received radiation therapy and 19 patients (23.5%) received a reirradiation. BEV was administered at 10 or 15mg/kilogram every 2 or 3 weeks. All patients had a contrast enhancement on MRI at baseline. Median number of BEV cycles was 7 [1-79], in association with chemotherapy in 45.7%. Partial response, stable disease and progressive disease was observed in 27.2%, 22.2% and 50.6% respectively. Median OS from BEV introduction was 7.6 months (95% CI [5.5;9.9]). Median PFS was 4.9 months (95% CI [3.7;6.1]). In univariate analysis, grade 2 (Odd Ratio (OR)=0.41, 95% CI [0.17;1.02], p=0.054), Ki67<7% (OR=0.41, 95% CI [0.15;1.21], p=0.079) and initial total surgical resection (OR=2.75, 95% CI [0.68;11.11], p=0.097) showed a trend for delayed progression. BEV was stopped for progression in 70.4%, for toxicity in 8.6% and for others reasons in 21% patients. Twenty-four patients (29.6%) discontinued BEV without progression (medical decision, BEV toxicity or patient decision). Presence of 1p19q codeletion (OR=0.24, 95% CI [0.07;0.84], p=0.023) and age ≥ 38 (OR=0.36, 95% CI [0.13;0.99], p=0.042) at diagnosis were more frequent in this sub-population. Out these of 24 patients, 8 showed survival from 3 months to 5 years without any other treatment.

 BEV can be a good option for patients with rGII/III glioma. One third of them stopped treatment without progression, reaching a survival of several years for some of them.


It is currently debated whether the meanings of words and objects are represented, in whole or in part, in a modality-specific format – the embodied cognition hypothesis. I argue that the embodied/disembodied cognition debate is either largely resolved in favour of the view that concepts are represented in an amodal format, or at a point where the embodied and disembodied approaches are no longer coherently distinct theories. This merits reconsideration of what the available evidence can tell us about the structure of the conceptual system. We know that the conceptual system engages, online, with sensory and motor content. This frames a new question: How is it that the human conceptual system is able to disengage from the sensorimotor system? Answering this question would say something about how the human mind is able to detach from the present and extrapolate from finite experience to hypothetical states of how the world could be. It is the independence of thought from perception and action that makes human cognition special – and that independence is guaranteed by the representational distinction between concepts and sensorimotor representations.


Underserved students (low-income, underrepresented minority, or first generation to attend college) do not attend college at the same rate as their white, middle-, or upper-income peers, and research suggests that this discrepancy is due in large part to the lack of opportunity for underserved students beginning in middle school. This briefing paper is intended to help middle grades principals and teachers close the opportunity gap for underserved students. The paper first explores the critical relationship between middle school and postsecondary success, noting that the challenge for parents and school personnel is to help students see the connection between thinking they want to go to college and learning how to prepare for college entrance. Next, the paper details school characteristics contributing to the opportunity gap for undererved students: lower teacher expectations, less effective instructional strategies, less counseling contact, and fewer college preparatory classes after transition to high school. The paper then presents effective middle school practices that benefit underserved students: support for all students, including interdisciplinary teaching, small group advisory programs, and varied instructional techniques that incorporate active engagement and exploration; interventions for underserved students, which include changing instructional structures and strategies, incorporating linguistic and cultural materials into existing curricula, expanding support programs, and helping parents of underserved students. Finally, the paper looks at the prospect of building school capacity for personalizing instruction, increasing student support and student achievement, and eliminating biases in relation to underserved studen-E.s. (Contains 41 references.) (HTH) Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Office of Educational Research and Improvement EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) This document has been reproduced as received from the person or organization originating it. Minor changes have been made to improve reproduction quality. Points of view or opinions stated in this document do not necessarily represent official OERI position or policy. R


A novel heterojunction symmetric U-shaped gate tunnel FET (SUTFET) is proposed and investigated by Silvaco Atlas simulation. The U-shaped gate in the SUTFET can enlarge the area of the tunneling junction and facilitate the implementation of a smaller device area. Benefit from the line band-to-band tunneling process and symmetric structure design, bidirectional current flows (<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${I}_{\mathrm{ON}} = 13.5 \mu \text{A}/\mu \text{m}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>, <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${I}_{\mathrm{OFF}} = 3.1$ </tex-math></inline-formula> pA/<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${\mu}\text{m}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> at <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${V}_{\mathsf {GS}} ={V}_{\mathsf {DS}} = 0.5$ </tex-math></inline-formula> V) with the steep-switching feature of subthreshold slope (SS <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$=15.2$ </tex-math></inline-formula> mV/decade at <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\text{V}_{\mathsf {GS}} = 0.05$ </tex-math></inline-formula> V and average SS <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$=37.2$ </tex-math></inline-formula> mV/decade from 0 V < VGS < 0.05 V) are implemented. The effects of doping concentration and geometric dimensions on the device performance are investigated in order to create the SUTFET design guideline. The considerable good performance of the SUTFET makes it very attractive for ultralow-power applications.


Elemental Minerals Ltd appears to have found the strategic partner it has been seeking to provide financial and technical assistance for the company's potash projects in the Republic of Congo.


Abstract
This study aims to introducing the solidarity economy, which is considered as a modern alternative to achieve economic and social development. Heretofore, No developed or developing country can carry out all the developmental tasks in society. The research also targets at questioning the purposes of the Shari'a in the waqf and the mechanism of its application in promoting the solidarity economy, and declaring that the Waqf Foundation is considered a fertile resource for activating social solidarity projects provided by the Islamic economy to cure the imbalance in the distribution of wealth and income of human societies from the institutions


See related article, pp 1111–1117

The renin–angiotensin system (RAS) is one of the key players in volume and sodium homeostasis. Activation of the RAS leads to vasoconstriction, sodium retention, and volume expansion via the action of angiotensin II and the effector hormone of the RAS, aldosterone. The RAS can also respond to changes in plasma volume; activation of the RAS is seen in states of volume contraction and will lead to restoration of plasma volume. Normal pregnancy is characterized by an increase in maternal plasma volume that is considered necessary for optimal perfusion of the placenta to meet the demands of the developing fetus. This volume expansion is mediated, at least in part, by activation of the maternal RAS with increased levels of renin, angiotensin II, and aldosterone in normotensive pregnant women.1

This view of the RAS in pregnancy is challenged by a number of observations. First, aldosterone levels are higher than expected from the levels of renin or angiotensin II.2 Additional stimulation of aldosterone secretion by factors other than angiotensin II has therefore been proposed. Second, activity of the RAS is not limited to the maternal kidneys and vasculature. Components of the RAS can be synthesized in the placenta, and local RAS activity can be found both in the maternal deciduas and in fetal tissues, including the spiral arteries.3 Third, the effects of an activated RAS in pregnancy are different from those in nongravid women. Most strikingly, normotensive pregnant women are refractory to the vasoconstrictor effect of angiotensin II,4 which may be one of the factors that explain a lower blood pressure than expected from the relatively high levels of angiotensin II. Through these adaptations of the RAS, the pregnant woman can benefit from its positive effects, in particular from volume expansion, regulation of trophoblast …


Despite high energy density, low‐cost, and ecofriendly, rechargeable Zinc‐air batteries (ZABs) suffer from sluggish kinetics stability during oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) at the cathode. Herein, we demonstrate CoO nanoparticles anchored on N‐doped reduced graphene oxide (CoO/N‐rGO) with an excellent bifunctional catalytic activity and stability and facile redox kinetics of ORR and OER for high‐performance rechargeable ZABs. The CoO/N‐rGO catalysts are featured with the abundant active sites, a large accessible area, and high electrochemical conductivity, which are associated with increased oxygen vacancy surface, reduced valence, and mesoporous architecture. The half‐wave potential (E1/2) and electron transfer number for ORR are 0.79 V and 3.72 at 0.40 V (vs RHE), respectively, while OER potential at 10 mA cm−2 (Ej = 10) is 1.61 V (vs RHE). Remarkably, the ZAB cell with CoO/N‐rGO achieves high specific capacity of 545 mAh gzn−1, power density of 41 mW cm−2, and cyclic stabilities with high energy efficiency of 64.44% at 2 mA cm−2. In addition, postmortem analysis validates that the oxidation and aggregation of CoO/N‐rGO catalyst is mitigated while the inactivation of Zn anode is inhibited.


This article is devoted to preventive detention law in Zambia, an African member of the Commonwealth. It attempts to examine the nature and scope of the executive discretion vested in the detaining authority, viz, the President, and the scope of its control - both judicial and extra-judicial.


A distributed hydrological model coupled with a coarse grid land surface model is set up to simulate hydrological processes in the Huaihe River Basin, China. Parameters of the land surface model are interpolated from global soil and vegetation data sets. The characteristics of the basin, including topography, river networks and aquifer geology, are derived from a digital elevation model (DEM) and a national geological survey atlas. The NCEP/NCAR re-analysis data set and observed precipitation data are used as meteorological inputs. The coupled model is firstly calibrated and validated by using observed streamfiow over the period 1980-1987. A long-term continuous simulation is then carried out for 1980-2003 forced with observed rainfall data. Results indicate that streamfiow is over-estimated for dry years since the 1990s when water withdrawal increased substantially due to the growing industrial activities and the development of water projects. Two methods are proposed to study the human dimension in the hydrological cycle. One is to reconstruct the natural streamfiow series using local volumes of withdrawals. The simulated results are consistent with the reconstructed hydrographs. The other method is to integrate a designed modular into the coupled model to represent the impact of human activities. This method can significantly improve the models performance in streamflow simulation. This study shows that the coupling of hydrological and atmospheric models is a powerful tool for studying the human impact on the hydrological cycle.


Small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (SCNEC) primary to the head and neck region, especially from oropharynx, is very rare. Published data have shown that Human papillomavirus (HPV) positivity may be associated with a better overall survival in these tumors. Here we report a case of p16 positive SCNEC arising from the tonsil.

 A 51-year-old man with former smoking history was evaluated for sore throat and difficulty swallowing. Nasopharyngolaryngoscopy showed a left tonsillar mass and imaging revealed left jugular chain lymphadenopathy with no other evidence of a primary tumor elsewhere, including the lung. Biopsy of the mass was performed which revealed nested proliferation of uniform, hyperchromatic tumor cells with scant cytoplasm, indistinct nucleoli, areas of nuclear molding, and brisk mitotic activity. No keratinization was present, but a vague peripheral palisade was seen in some of the nests. The major differential diagnostic considerations included HPV-related nonkeratinizing squamous cell carcinoma, basaloid squamous cell carcinoma, and SCNEC. Immunohistochemistry revealed tumor cells were positive for AE1/AE3 with partial dot-like perinuclear pattern, cytokeratin 8/18, synaptophysin, and strong p16; negative for P40, P63, cytokeratin 5/6, cytokeratin 7, chromogranin, and CD56. Because SCNEC at any site may be positive for p16, testing for HPV RNA by in-situ hybridization was performed and showed negative for HPV subtypes 6, 11, 16, and 18.

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 This case highlights the differential diagnosis of a "basaloid" appearing carcinoma in the oropharynx. It also reinforces the fact that although p16 is considered a reliable surrogate marker for HPV infection in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma, the same does not hold true for SCNEC.


This paper considers specializations in mouthpart structure among parasitoid wasps. I commence with a brief survey of mouthpart specializations (mostly involving the mandibles only) that serve functions other than feeding: facilitating emergence of the parasitoid adult from its place of pupation; facilitating grasping of the partner in mating (phoretic copulation); facilitating excavation and/or protecting vulnerable mouthpart components during host searching; facilitating handling of the host; and facilitating nest excavation and construction. I then consider in detail mouthpart specializations for feeding (mostly involving the labiomaxillary complex), and place them in an evolutionary context. Whereas the digitate labrum of Perilampidae and Eucharitidae and the stoutly setose labrum of chrysolampine Pteromalidae are purported to be devices for filtering pollen grains from nectar, I conclude that they are not a feeding-related specialization whatsoever. I recognize seven functional types of mouthpart specialization relating to the extraction of floral nectar from long, narrow, tubular corollas ('concealed nectar extraction apparatus' [CNEA]) (Braconidae, Ichneumonidae, Leucospidae, Chrysididae), and postulate a transformation series for them. An eighth type of CNEA possibly occurs in Scoliidae. No such specializations occur in either Orussoidea, Trigonalyoidea, Megalyroidea, parasitoid Evanioidea, Stephanoidea, Cynipoidea, Proctotrupoidea, Ceraphonoidea or parasitoid Aculeata other than Chrysididae and Pompilidae. From examination of published cladograms I conclude that the evolution of CNEA has occurred several times independently within the parasitoid Hymenoptera. So far as Ichneumonoidea are concerned, possession of CNEA is an autapomorphy for taxa at least below subfamily level. Possession of CNEA appears to be a synapomorphy for the family Leucospidae (Chalcidoidea) as a whole, and the same applies to the subfamily Parnopinae (Chrysididae). Hitherto not noted in the literature is the strong degree of evolutionary parallelism, with respect to CNEAs, between the Ichneumonoidea (Ichneumonidae, Braconidae) and the Aculeata (Chrysididae, Pompilidae, Vespidae [Vespinae, Masarinae, Eumeminae], Apidae, non-parasitoid Sphecidae). Also, Apocrita and Symphyta have two types of CNEA in common. Functional comparisons are made between the CNEAs of the parasitoids and those of other Hymenoptera. Compared to parasitoid flies, very few parasitoid wasps possess CNEA. Mouthpart specialization for conveying a nuptial gift of nectar or honeydew to the female occurs in the males of thynnine Tiphidae, while in the females of regurgitation feeders there is a trend towards reduction in labiomaxillary components, constituting a specialization for receiving and processing the gift. Mouthpart specialization for pollen feeding occurs in Mutillidae and Scoliidae. No mouthpart specialization for host feeding occurs in any parasitoid wasps, in contrast to parasitoid flies, despite host feeding being more common among the former. Sexual dimorphism in feeding-related mouthpart specializations is rare among parasitoid wasps; where it occurs, both sexes share the same type of CNEA, and the dimorphism is attributable to allometry.


The influence of aerosils with a hydroxylated (A-175) and methylated (MAS-200m) surface on the kinetics of the reaction of an epoxy oligomer with diamine was studied by the DTA technique. It was shown that the introduction of aerosils increases the initial rate of cure of the epoxy-amine system. It was found that the reaction of epoxy with amino groups at the initial curing step (α < 0.30) in filled systems is a kinetically controlled process. At deeper steps of curing of filled systems (a = 0.30-0.60), the kinetics of epoxy-amine condensation is described in terms of the cage model, and the effective rate constant depends on the viscosity of the reaction medium.


In replicated two-dimensional collaborative design environments,address space transformation strategy can be used to reach consistency maintenance of shared documents.However,during the execution process of the reference operations,they are first be decomposed into primitive operations and during the decomposition process,the relationships between the referencing objects and referenced objects are lost,thus resulting into inconsistency between these objects if remote sites release operations targeted at the referenced objects concurrently.The paper introduces to append two history buffers(original op HB and local-exe op HB) to maintain the relationships between the original operations and the decomposed ones,modifies the generation and reception process of the operations and introduces "Retrace-Undo-VT-Redo-Retrace" process to realize the distributed consistency maintenance of reference operations.Finally,the paper demonstrates the work flow of the strategy with a case analysis.


Very short term (0~3 hours) radar based quantitative precipitation forecasting (QPF), also known as nowcasting, plays an important role in flood warning and other hydrological applications. Three major categories of techniques have been developed during the past half century: conceptual models of convection initiation and dissipation, explicit numerical prediction of thunderstorms, or the extrapolation of the most recent observations (Wilson et al. 1998, Wilson 2003).


(Mag. Martin POSSET, University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences, Vienna, Department of Economics and Social Sciences, Institute of Production and Logistics, Feistmantelstraße 4, 1180 Vienna, Austria, firstname.lastname@example.com) (Univ. Prof. Dr. Manfred GRONALT, University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences, Vienna, Department of Economics and Social Sciences, Institute of Production and Logistics, Feistmantelstraße 4, 1180 Vienna, Austria, firstname.lastname@example.com) (Mag. Thouraya BENNA, University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences, Vienna, Department of Economics and Social Sciences, Institute of Production and Logistics, Feistmantelstraße 4, 1180 Vienna, Austria, email@example.com)


Introduction: The magnitude and drivers of excess cerebrovascular-specific mortality during the coronavirus-19 (COVID-19) pandemic are unknown. We aim to quantify excess stroke-related death and ch...


The report reviews the effectiveness of rehabilitation efforts of ASAP in Salt Lake County. General practices involving court incentives are described and arrest recidivism of those individuals referred to selected programs are reviewed. Profiles of individuals in various treatment categories are compared.


Abstract The efficiency of biological hydrolysis at 80℃ on municipal solid waste mixed with anaerobic digestion sludge was investigatedin 100L batch reactors. The hydrolysis effect was observed within a day, when the hydrolysis reactor used for a pre-treatmentreactor for methanogenesis, and the effect was observed during two days, When the reactor used for post-treatment reactor. For both configurations, methane production rate decreased, when hydrolysis was carried out more than a day. Gaseous ammoniain the hydrolysis reactors was successtully removed by the ammonia stripping system. Microbial diversity analysis on the hydrol ysisreactors indicated dependency of microbial diversity on the configuration of the hydrolysis reactors. Carbohydrate and lactate degrading microbes dominated in the hydrolysis reactor, when the hydrolysis reactor used for a pre-treatment reactor for methanogenesis, while protein degrading microbes dominated in the post-treatment reactor.Key words : Hydrolysis, Dry-type Anaerobic Methane Digestion, Municipal Solid Waste, Ammonia Stripping, Microbial Diversity주제어 : 가용화, 건식 메탄발효, 도시쓰레기, 암모니아 스트리핑, 군집분석


The results of a thorough structural study of crystalline intermetallic compounds within the Al-Li-(Cu,Mg,Zn) system are given. Characteristic morphologies of these ternary or quaternary phases are exhibited by concentrated alloys or large single crystals. Typical X-ray powder diffraction data, selected area electron diffraction patterns and high resolution electron microscopy images are shown, allowing unambiguous structure identification of two new intermetallic compounds designated Z and z stable respectively in the Al-Li-Cu-Mg and Al-Li-Zn-(Cu) systems. The latter are found to have common structural features with the R-AJsCuLi3 and T-(AI,Zn)2Li isomorphous phases.


For calibration of solidification and heat transfer model of billet,a parameter identification method based on adaptive ant colony optimization(AACO) algorithm was developed.Firstly,solidification shell thickness of billet was measured by nail shooting at different positions under different conditions.Following that,according to measured data set and numerical solution of solidification heat transfer model,parameter identification was carried out through adaptive ant colony optimization algorithm and heat transfer coefficient at any cooling segment of secondary cooling zone was determined.Finally,measuring temperature at exit of secondary cooling zone and shell thickness of billet were compared with calculation results of solidification heat transfer model with identified parameters.The results show that determined parameters are correct.The calibrated model has been used in several casters for optimization of distribution of secondary cooling water.


The Feynman–Kac integral and its associated stochastic differential equations are generalized to incorporate the analog of arbitrary boundary conditions in the equivalent differential equation formulation of diffusion problems. The influence of additional singular potentials is considered, especially the interplay between the boundary conditions and various regularizations of the singular potential. The basic results are translated into d‐dimensional processes and compared with standard results known for differential operators.


The purpose of the immune system is to protect our bodies from infection. The system works by recognizing the molecular signature of microbes or viruses that attack our bodies, and once identified, eliminating the foreign molecules in a variety of ways. As in previous evolutionary computation models of the vertebrate immune system , our model is limited to the interaction between B-lymphocytes and antigens. To represent these molecules using a genetic algorithm, one possibility is to make no distinction between their genotype and their phenotype, that is, simply to represent both antigens and antibodies as binary strings. Key-Words: Markov ́s chains, Boltzmann tournament selection, immune system, antigen, antibody, simulated annealing.


With a single bold stroke, the FCC has forwarded the concept of wireless consumer services and simultaneously intensified competition among service providers. That stroke was the licensing of spectrum for personal communication services (PCS). New entrants and incumbent cellular providers face the challenge of reinventing wireless services and the infrastructure to deliver them widely and inexpensively. The paper explores the power of intelligent network concepts to meet that challenge.<<ETX>>


The uniqueness of the b m c h of two-tori in the Dd-equivariant Hopf bifurcation problem is proved in a neighbourhood of a particular limiting case where, after reduction, the Euler equations for the rotation of a free rigid body apply. AMS classification scheme numben: 34C05, 34C25, 34C29


In this article are considered the results of statistical modeling of random walk of Brownian particle in a bounded scattering region using Monte Carlo method. We consider the model of statistical distribution of random sequence based on papers of A. Einstein and M Smoluhovsky. We review virtual source-based analytical formulas for probability density function and the general solution for problem of fi tting of cumulative distribution function of random sequence. This article also considers properties of random walk in an unbounded scattering region. We show the computer modeling algorithm of random walk in a bounded scattering region and demonstrate its output. These results show that time dependences of mean displacement and square displacement in case of large random walk time are tending asymptotically to some fi nite value that depends on a size of a bounded scattering region. In this article is received dependence of square displacement of Brownian particle as a function of a scattering region size. As a result we have stated the recommendations for defi nition of initial vector of parameters when using numerical methods for fi nding parameters of distribution.


The authors of this book are Australians discussing the situation of so-called 'community' languages in their homeland. Nevertheless, they would like their work to stand as a contribution to the general understanding of multiculturalism in industrial societies. To that end, they cast a critical eye on language programs and policies in other industrialized nations-specifically Canada, the United States and Sweden-pointing out the failings in each case. Along the way, the authors make several assertions that are certain to stimulate discussion among researchers and policy-makers involved with similar issues around the world. Teaching minority languages in the interestof maintaining culture diversity in a community is doomed to failure because it is motivated by a simplistic sociology of pluralism that trivializes culture. What is needed, instead, is a holistic model of culture in which minority languages are recognized as functioning on three distinct levels: 1) as a communicative tool, 2) as a means to achieve dominance in power, and 3) as an object to be enjoyed by those who speak them. At present, the government of Australia sees the languages of immigrants as operating only on the third level. This narrow view leads to tokenism in educational policies toward minority languages and exclusion from use in significant areas of the society such as the workplace. There is much that is fresh and provocative in this book. The authors are to be praised for the depth of their analyses. While sympathetic to the cause of pluralism, they ferret out the shortcomings of policies currently in vogue regarding language maintenance. The fifth chapter is the longest of the six in the book. It contains a report on the authors' case study of Macedonian and German language use in the highly industrialized region ofWollongong-Shellharbour. The goals ofthe study were to determine how mother tongue maintenance relates to proficiency in English and to attitudes toward other languages, as well as to the creation ofa feeling ofcommunal well-being. The basic instruments of data collection were a questionnaire administered to groups of Macedonians and Germans and a series of interviews conducted with both groups. As might be expected, maintenance of the home language decreased for both groups in proportion to the length of their presence in Anglo-dominanted Australia. Furthermore, proficiency in English was lower for both Germans and Macedonians than it was for a control group of monolingual English speakers. The authors are quick to suggest, however, that this lower level of proficiency might be due to factors other than maintenance of home language, such as the quality of education received in the neighborhood public school. This book is worth reading for the objective way it analyzes significant issues in multiculturalism andlanguage maintenance, as well as for its incisive criticism of current governmental policies. It does not give an explicit answer to the question of how the situation might be corrected and cultural diversity kept alive in industrialized societies. That answer may well continue to elude us for some time to come.


T-PM-Pol USE OF THE DYE HOECHST 33258 IN A MODIFICATION OF THE BROMODEOXYURIDINE PHOTOLYSIS TECHNIQUE FOR THE ANALYSIS OF DNA REPAIR. B. S. Rosenstein* and R. B. Setlow (Intr. by M. Simon), Biology Dept., Brookhaven Nation¶l Laboratory, Upton, N.Y. 11973. A modification of the BrdU photolysis technique used in the measurement of the repair of damage in DNA has been developed employing the bisbenzimidazole dye Hoechst 33258. In the original technique 313 nm light is used to photolyze BrdU incorporated into parental DNA during repair. In the modified procedure cells are treated with 10 Ag/ml of the dye in PBS for 10 minutes and due to the broad absorption band (maximum at 356 nm) exhibited by chromatin bound dye, 365 nm light may then be used for the photolysis. The number of breaks in BrdU substituted DNA fre proportional to the extenf of substitution and to the dose. Approximately 2.1 X 10 breaks/BrdU residue per J/m are produced in fully substituted DNA from V79 cells by both 313 nm and 365 nm light with dye. The doses used to produce BrdU photolysis are therefore about the same for the two procedures but the modification has several advantages. 1) 365 nm light is not as strongly absorbed as 313 nm light by many chemical carcinogens and therefore some of the effects produced in unsubstituted, unrepaired DNA by 313 nm light may be avoided. 2) Irradiation times may be reduced because the output at 365 nm of a high pressure mercury arc lamp is about double that at 313 nm. 3) It is possible to use a low pressure "black light" as a source for photolysis because of the similarity of its emission spectrum and the absorption spectrum of the Hoechst dye when bound to chromatin. The latter advantage greatly simplifies the equipment necessary to carry out the BrdU photolysis procedure. (This work was supported by the Department of Energy and BSR is a Fellow in Cancer Research supported by Grant DRG-215-F of the Damon Runyon Walter Winchell Cancer Fund.) 1. Regan, J. D., R. B. Setlow and R. D. Ley. P. N. A. S. 68: 708, 1971.


An apparatus, system and method for improving the strength of a thin glass member of an electronic device are disclosed. In one embodiment, the strength properties of the glass member are improved according to a predetermined stress profile. The predetermined stress profile is formed by multiple stages of chemical strengthening. These stages include, for example, a first ion exchange stage in which large ions are introduced into the glass member and a second ion exchange stage in which some of the large ions are released from the glass member. In one embodiment, the glass member is associated with a glass cover of the housing of the electronic device. The glass cover is provided to cover the display or is formed integrally with the display.


The power graph of a group is the graph whose vertex set is the set of nontrivial elements of group, two elements being adjacent if one is a power of the other. We prove some beautiful results in power graphs of finite groups. Then we conclude two finite groups with isomorphic power graphs have the same number of elements of each order from the different way of [P. J. Cameron, The power graph of a finite group II, J. Group Theory 13 (2010) 779–783].


. This article presents a fuzzy system for determining the level of infection of four viral diseases: dengue, zika, chikungunya, and yellow fever. Medical diagnosis is a complicated task because it is full of uncertainty and imprecision, which many times causes a misdiagnosis. However, this problem can be treated through a fuzzy system with the ability to work with uncertainty by providing the opportunity to model conditions that are imprecisely defined. Dengue, yellow fever, zika, and chikungunya are diseases that in their early stages are difficult to distinguish since they have great similarities in their symptoms, making diagnosis even more difficult. Based on research, the six most relevant symptoms that allow a better diagnosis have been selected. The six input fields are pain, temperature, bleeding, poor appetite, muscle weakness, and shortness of breath. The four output fields refer to diseases and each one is made up of several fuzzy sets that make it possible to identify the level of infection in each disease. The fuzzy system implementation has been done in MATLAB, using fuzzy rules developed with the help of a human expert. The system is not a substitute for expert medical practitioners, but rather an aid in the diagnosis, which is based on the symptoms experienced by the patient. The tests were carried out in 15 cases with viral diseases and the results show that the diagnosis using the fuzzy system has an accuracy of 86.6%, displaying its helpfulness in the early diagnosis of the disease. 0; 2; 4; 93] describe the parameters pain = 2.5, temperature = 37.4 °, hemorrhage = 0, appetite = 2, muscle weakness = 4 and difficulty breathing = 93. The prototype concludes that the level of infection for dengue = 5.5, for zika = 8.76, for yellow fever = 0.997 and for chikungunya = 5. Based on these results, the patient has a greater probability of suffering from Zika.


It is shown how a carefully devised quantum defect function can be used to unify direct dissociation of the lowest member of a Rydberg series, with predissociation of the higher vibronic states. Results, for a one-dimensional model, obtained by the techniques of multichannel quantum defect theory (MQDT) are compared with those of a simpler Fano golden rule approximation. A simplified model calculation for the ns1B1 series of H2O and D2O yields results in good accord with experiment, and a dramatic isotope effect is explained. A similar application to the elusive np1A2 series leads to the prediction of sharp rotational structure for the np1A2(000) bands with n≥4, despite the evidence of a very broad Franck–Condon profile for the dissociative 3p1A2 state. A band at 90 051 cm−1 in the 2+1 REMPI spectrum is tentatively assigned to the 4p member of this 1A2 series.


The Eastern Taihu Lake(ETL) is a part of aquatic ecological system of the Taihu Lake, a key source of urban water supply,a main drainage byway of flood from the Lake and an important base of aquaculture.At present, its aquatic ecological environment is degenerating and the water quality is declining because of over-pen-culture,excessive reproduction of macroaquatic plants and uncontrolled discharge of domestic wastewater without treatment.The morass problem has begun to appear.The comprehensive rehabilitation of ETL is urgent.The water conservancy sector should formulate plans in cooperation with environment protection and fishery sectors according to the overall requirements of the Chinese government. The current emergent steps are as follows:clearing barriers,filth and silt;establishing a leadership group of water environment protection of ETL;formulating necessary management mathods so as to restore the limpid landscape of ETL.


Families of conversation protocols can be expressed formally as partially ordered landmarks where the landmarks represent the state of affairs that must be brought about during the goal-directed execution of a protocol. Then, concrete protocols represented as joint action expressions can be derived from the partially ordered landmarks and executed directly by joint intention interpreters, thus nearly eliminating the need to implement a separate protocol handling system. This approach also supports (1) flexibility in the actions used to achieve landmarks, (2) shortcutting protocol execution, and (3) application of the joint intention theory to provide automatic exception handling along with a correctness criterion for protocols.


At present, there is a search for natural sources that contain substances with biological activity to incorporate them into the diet and contribute to the decrease of illnesses like diabetes or hypertension; among them, there is Neem (Azadirachta indica) and Stevia (Stevia rebaudiana). Therefore, the objective of this study was to elaborate a sweet bread of "concha" type with acceptable organoleptic characteristics, to which Neem (NM) and Stevia (SV) leaves were added. An experimental design was used to vary the amount of sugar, SV and NM, the responses were obtained through the sensory evaluation of the product with a panel of trained judges. The results showed that the optimal formulation uses 8.99 g of sugar, 0.05g of NM and 0.946g of SV; it is important to highlight that the bitter taste of the NM is not masked with the intensity of flavor of the SV.


Population pharmacokinetics(PPK) is a new topic in drug research.Pediatric PPK mainly focuses on the therapeutic drug monitoring and personalized medication of children.This review describes the basic concepts,fundamental requirements,treatment approach and application progress in pediatrics of PPK.


We characterize sets of scores with property that each score has prescribed position in the tournament score sequence 1 . A tournament Tn is a graph with vertices 1;2;:::;n such that each pair of distinct vertices i and j is joined by one and only one of the oriented edges ij and ji. We say that vertex i dominates vertex j if Tn contains an oriented edge ij. The score (outdegree) of vertex i is the number si of vertices that i dominates. Let vertices of Tn be labeled in such way that s1 • s2 • ::: • sn. The sequence (s1;s2;:::;sn) is called the score sequence of Tn. A transitive tournament has the simplest structure 0• 1 • ::: • ni1; while regular tournaments have scores as nearly equal as possible bec = ::: = bec | {z } bn=2c


Many different measures of association are used by medical literature, the relative risk is one of these measures. However, to judge whether results of studies are reliable, it is essential to use among other measures of association which are logically consistent. In this paper, we will present how to deal with one of the most commonly used measures of association, the relative risk. The conclusion is inescapable that the relative risk is logically inconsistent and should not be used any longer.


Dr. H. G. ADAMSON: This case appears to be a typical example of the earlier stage of acne keloid. The intensely hard dome-shaped papules present in this case were described by Kaposi as the earliest lesions. Kaposi pointed out that the early lesions are papules of uniform consistence, and not pustules. The appearances here are exactly those of an early case of acne keloid of which I published a photograph in an article on " Dermatitis Papillaris Capillitii (Kaposi), or Acne Keloid." 1 The conclusions at which I arrived in that paper supported the early view of Kaposi that this disease is a plasmacell infiltration, and probably due to a microbic infection, which is neither that of the acne bacillus nor of ordinary pus cocci-that the disease is neither related to acne vulgaris nor to sycosis, nor is it a true keloid.


The invention relates to a nanoparticulate phosphorus-containing flame retardant, characterized in that it comprises a phosphinic salt of the formula (I) and / or a diphosphinic salt of the formula (II) and / or polymers, wherein R R M is Mg, Ca, Al, Sb, Sn, Ge, Ti, Fe, Zr, Zn, Ce, Bi, Sr, Mn, Li, Na, K and / or a protonated nitrogen base; m is 1 to 4; n is 1 to 4; x is 1 to 4; a process for the preparation of these flame retardants and their use.


Before 1945, two main types of migratory flows from China can be distinguished. First, many Chinese came to Europe as contract labourers, much like the Chinese coolies in South-East Asia, South Africa and the Americas half a century earlier. Cantonese seamen waiting for recruitment in western Europe's main harbour cities (London, Liverpool, Rotterdam, Amsterdam, Hamburg, Antwerp) helped European shipping companies break the power of the unions of European sailors (Bowles, 1992; Eberstein, 1988; Knodel, 1995; Pang, 1993; Parker, 1998; Pieke and Benton, 1998). Chinese contract labour also played an important role in opening up Russia's Far East before the Revolution of 1917 (Larin, 1998). The Allied forces in the First World War recruited well over one hundred thousand labourers from Shandong, Shanghai and Zhejiang. Contract workers who had stayed in Russia after 1917 helped the Bolsheviks in their war against the Whites (Larin, 1998).


Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a complex and heterogeneous disease in which different pathological substrates, including inflammation, demyelination, remyelination, gliosis, and axonal loss, all contribute, simultaneously or consecutively, to its clinical manifestations and accumulation of irreversible disability. At present, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the most sensitive and accurate tool to monitor disease evolution, either natural or modified by treatment. There is large amount of evidence that measuring focal T2 lesions that form during the course of the disease and their volume changes over time is not enough to properly profile MS clinical heterogeneity and monitor its progression. Likewise, suppressing inflammation with available disease modifying treatments does not seem to affect the neurodegenerative aspects of the disease.1,2 During the past few years, a considerable effort has been spent to develop new therapeutic avenues for neuroprotection and repair, and to identify MRI outcomes to be included in clinical trials of such agents. Among the different MRI measures considered,3 the one that is seen as the most promising by many investigators, is the quantification of brain atrophy. The most probable reasons for this are: 1) brain atrophy is a sort of "summary measure" of the most destructive pathologic processes of MS, including irreversible demyelination and axonal/neuronal loss; 2) it is highly reproducible and sensitive to disease-related changes over time; and 3) it correlates with MS locomotor disability and cognitive impairment.3 Based on these considerations, brain atrophy has already been included as a secondary or exploratory MRI outcome in several MS clinical trials.4 Despite the afore-mentioned advantages, there are at least two aspects that need to be considered carefully if one wishes to use brain atrophy as the "gold standard" of effective therapy in MS. The first one is that in patients with active disease (i.e., presence of multiple gadolinium enhancing lesions), who are usually those included in clinical trials or under consideration for treatment decisions, the presence of inflammation and edema can cause a paradoxical increase of brain volume. Thus, the loss of brain volume frequently observed in the early phase of treatment institution in these patients may simply reflect decreased inflammation and edema (pseudoatrophy).4 This would suggest that quantification of bran atrophy is likely not to be the ideal outcome measure of treatment response in short duration (one year or less) studies. The second, and even more critical, aspect is that atrophy is an end-stage phenomenon, which can take several years before being objectively quantifiable and clinically meaningful. As a consequence, the exclusive use of this measure might limit our ability to grade neurodegeneration properly and early enough. Indeed, natural history longitudinal studies in patients at presentation with clinically isolated syndromes or early relapsing-remitting MS (who are the target populations of the majority of nowadays clinical trials) gave conflicting results when the development of brain atrophy was assessed: some studies found significantly decreased brain volume over time, while others did not.4 This suggests that a follow up of several years may be required to be able to capture adequately brain volume modifications, and clearly this clashes with the typical trial durations, usually ranging from 4-6 months for phase II to 1-2 years for phase III trials. Since atrophy quantifies an end-stage phenomenon, there are other pathological abnormalities occurring in the MS brains, which might be better detected by advanced MR techniques, such as magnetization transfer (MT) MRI, diffusion tensor (DT) MRI, and proton MR spectroscopy (1H-MRS). Indeed, these techniques are characterized by a higher pathological specificity than atrophy quantification3 Preventing brain atrophy should be the gold standard of effective theraphy in MS (after the first year of treatment): No


Method of repairing a turbomachine component (1) (1), - step 50 to set the laser cladding machine; - a step of preparing, by the portion of the turbomachine component is repaired, removing damaged parts by volume of the component (11); - rotating about a turbomachinery component in the laser cladding machine; - reconstructing the damaged volume portion by laser cladding in order to obtain parts of the reconstructed volume from the damaged component (12); - applying a heat treatment to restore the volume portion of the turbomachine component (13); Comprising the steps of finishing the surface of the recovered volume (14); - includes the step of non-destructive testing parts of the recovered volume, and step 50 to set the laser cladding machine includes some sub-step for defining a parameter for operating said restoring step.


A method for turning the ends of rectifier blades includes the following steps that first, gaps between the adjacent blades of rectifiers of different levels are filled with first rubber blocks and second rubber blocks, wooden wedge blocks are inserted between the first rubber blocks and the second rubber blocks, the blades are positioned to form an overall structure, the faces, making contact with the side faces of the blades, of the first rubber blocks and the second rubber blocks are matched with the side faces, making contact with the first rubber blocks and the second rubber blocks, of the blades in shape, the radial size of the first rubber blocks and the radial size of the second rubber blocks are equal, the radial size of the first rubber blocks and the radial size of the second rubber blocks are smaller than the radial size of the blades, and the radial size of the wooden wedge blocks is smaller than or equal to the radial size of the first rubber blocks or the radial size of the second rubber blocks; second, the rectifiers of different levels are sequentially assembled into a whole; third, the rectifiers, of different levels, assembled in the second step are installed on a numerical control vertical lathe, and the ends of the blades of the rectifiers of different levels are turned through a machine-clamped turning tool.


Introduction Implementation of low-dose chest computed tomography (CT) lung cancer screening and the ever-increasing use of cross-sectional imaging are resulting in the identification of many screen- and incidentally detected indeterminate pulmonary nodules. While the management of nodules with low or high pre-test probability of malignancy is relatively straightforward, those with intermediate pre-test probability commonly require advanced imaging or biopsy. Noninvasive risk stratification tools are highly desirable. Methods We previously developed the BRODERS classifier (Benign versus aggRessive nODule Evaluation using Radiomic Stratification), a conventional predictive radiomic model based on eight imaging features capturing nodule location, shape, size, texture and surface characteristics. Herein we report its external validation using a dataset of incidentally identified lung nodules (Vanderbilt University Lung Nodule Registry) in comparison to the Brock model. Area under the curve (AUC), as well as sensitivity, specificity, negative and positive predictive values were calculated. Results For the entire Vanderbilt validation set (n=170, 54% malignant), the AUC was 0.87 (95% CI 0.81–0.92) for the Brock model and 0.90 (95% CI 0.85–0.94) for the BRODERS model. Using the optimal cut-off determined by Youden's index, the sensitivity was 92.3%, the specificity was 62.0%, the positive (PPV) and negative predictive values (NPV) were 73.7% and 87.5%, respectively. For nodules with intermediate pre-test probability of malignancy, Brock score of 5–65% (n=97), the sensitivity and specificity were 94% and 46%, respectively, the PPV was 78.4% and the NPV was 79.2%. Conclusions The BRODERS radiomic predictive model performs well on an independent dataset and may facilitate the management of indeterminate pulmonary nodules. This study reports the independent external validation of the Mayo Clinic BRODERS (Benign versus aggRessive nODule Evaluation using Radiomic Stratification) classifier, radiomics model, for the classification into benign and malignant lung nodules. https://bit.ly/2GNUPSL


The translators constitute facing a challenge in the translation of Arabic verbal emphasis structure. Therefore, this study investigates the translation of Arabic verbal emphasis category and its subcategories into English from semantic and pragmatic perspectives. It draws upon an examination of several translations of these emphatic devices and structures into English. Specifically, it draws upon the translations of Naguib Mahfouz's novels The Thief and the Dogs (1961), Children of Gebalawi (1988) and the Harafish (2013) and Ghassan Kanafani's short stories Palestine's Children (2000). The study highlights the erroneous strategies adopted by the translators of these literary works and suggests more suitable alternative translations. As a result of several mismatches between Arabic and English leads to such errors. This study attempts to handle a gape in literature and help translators to overcome the obstacles they may face in rendering such Arabic structures in English. The article concludes that translating Arabic verbal emphatic structure into English would be affected by the syntactic, semantic and pragmatic symmetries and asymmetries between the two languages.


It is known that cardiovascular disease risk is increased in chronic inflammatory diseases. Additionally, regular exercise is one of the main components of the management of patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA). However, it was reported that axSpA patients do not meet recommended physical activity levels. It is still unknown, whether the disease subgroups of axSpA play a role in participating in physical activity.To compare the physical activity levels among radiographic, non-radiographic axSpA patients, and healthy controls.Thirty-three patients with radiographic axSpA (23 [70%] male), 33 patients with non-radiographic axSpA (23 [70%] male) and 33 age and sex matched healthy controls (23 male [70%]) were included in the study. axSpA patients were assessed regarding to disease activity (Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index; BASDAI), functional status (Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index; BASFI), spinal mobility (Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index; BASMI). Physical activity level of all subjects was measured by using an accelerometer (Actigraph wGT3X-BT) which was worn on the waist for seven consecutive days.The groups were similar in terms of physical characteristics (age and body mass index) (p>0.05). Disease related characteristics (BASMI, BASFI, BASDAI) were comparable between radiographic and non-radiographic axSpA patients (p>0.05). Radiographic axSpA patients showed lesser physical activity compared to non-radiographic axSpA patients and healthy controls (p<0.05, Table 1). There is no difference between non-radiographic axSpA patients and healthy controls regarding the physical activity levels (p>0.05).Table 1.Comparison of GroupsRadiographic axSpA (n: 33)Median (IQR 25/75)Non-radiographic axSpA (n: 33)Median (IQR 25/75)Healthy Controls (n:33)Median (IQR 25/75)pPhysical CharacteristicsAge (years)41.0 (32.0/46.0)37.0 (32.0/40.0)33.0 (28.0/41.0)0.093*BMI (kg/m2)26.0 (22.9/29.6)26.3 (25.4/28.7)24.8 (22.3/26.9)0.064*Disease Related CharacteristicsBASMI (score)2.1 (1.5/3.9)1.5 (1.1/2.0)NA0.051**BASFI (score)2.4 (0.7/3.9)1.2 (0.6/2.9)NA0.267**BASDAI (score)3.6 (1.6/5.8)2.4 (1.4/5.4)NA0.519**Physical Activity LevelLight Physical Activity(min)2198.0 (1377.0/2658.0)2576.0#(1858.0/3690,0)2200.0 (1846.0/2762.0)0.015*Medium Physical Activity (min)188.0(109.0/304.0)264.0(216.0/446.0)363.0(267.0/491.0)##p<0.001*Vigorous Physical Activity (min)0.0(0.0/0.1)2.0(0.0/12.0)4.0(0.0/19.0)##0.009*Total Step Count (n)42481.0 (33651.0/57047.0)62872.0(53075.0/80160.0)#69710.0 (59943.0/85894.0)##p<0.001**Kruskal-Wallis Test, **Mann-Whitney U Test,#: difference between radiographic axSpA and non-radiographic axSpA,##: difference between radiographic axSpA and healthy controls, IQR 25/75: Interquartile range 25/75, BMI: Body Mass Index, BASMI: Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index, BASFI: Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index, BASDAI: Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index, NA: Not Applicable, p<0.05.The results of the present study suggest that radiographic damage in axSpA may alter the physical activity levels. Every effort should be taken to increase physical activity levels in axSpA patients, especially in radiographic cases.This project was supported by Izmir Katip Celebi University Scientific Research Projects Coordinatorship.None declared


The capability of PIXE (Proton Induced X-ray Emission) method for the precision measurement of coating thickness has been tested by measuring several gold coated copper plates. Two different experimental methods are applied and compared. The results are compared with those by the weight measurement and proton RBS (Rutherford Backscattering Spectrometry). The advantage of the method is that it can be also used for the nondestructive thickness measurement of this layers on large-scaled samples or archeological samples which cannot be placed in a vacuum chamber.


The fly ash foamed glass was primarily made from fly ash and waste glass through powder sintering by adding proper addition agents such as foaming agent,flux agent and stabilizing agent.The cost was sharply reduced by utilizing waste glass and fly ash letting out from the power factory as the primary raw materials and with the peculiarity of heat preservation and heat insulation,the foamed glass can be used as wall material(non-bearing wall),thus it has a wide developing prospect.


In this work, a highly efficient pesticide residue screening and quantification method was established using UPLC-QTOF based on in-source fragmentation. Over 400 pesticides were tested, among which, 96 pesticides displayed in-source fragmentation. A novel concept of in-source fragment fraction (i-SFF) was proposed to evaluate the extent of in-source fragmentation, which was found to be chemical structure and source parameter dependent. A high-resolution MS/MS library containing 403 pesticides and 126 fragments was created and was applied for library searching of pesticide residues in vegetables and fruits. The introduction of in-source fragments effectively circumvented misannotation and occurrence of false negatives. The quantification ability for the fragments was validated in terms of recovery, linearity, and LOQ and its superiority to the parent pesticides was established. Finally, the proposed method was applied for analysis of real samples and proficiency test samples and false negative results were successfully avoid in the analysis.


The role of families could be the foundation to build civilization that contributes to the quality of human resource, especially the family members. Through children literature, parents are expected to provide education on gender awareness and also to improve literacy. Family literacy aims to minimalize the stigma that limits the interconnection and knowledge between men and women. A literacy training is designed as an effort to improve family literacy and a gender awareness effort using children literature as the medium. The training involves several experts including literacy experts, children literature experts, and literacy activists. Using Zoom meeting, the training is held in 3 series to achieve maximum results. According to the results, the training participants state that the family literacy training has proceeded well and they expect a follow-up program related to family literacy.


This paper observed the histogenesis of the larynx of Alligator sinensis based upon 20 embryos. The laryngotracheal diverticulum was first seen on the 6th day of incubation. The anlage of larynx appeared on the 8th day of incubation. During the 10~20th days of incubation, the larynx cavity enlarged gradually because of rapid epithelial cell proliferation and epithelial evagination at the central part of lateral wall. The dorsal diverticulum, right and left ventral diverticula of larynx cavity became more and more evident during the 30~48th days. The muscle and cartilage of larynx began to differentiate on the 34th day. on the 48th day, the muscle of larynx became mature skeleton muscle and the cartilage turned mature. The lamina propria and submucosa appeared on the 40th day. During the 48th~62nd days of incubation, the blood vessels in lamina propria and submucosa increased gradually. The cell death in the superficial layer of larynx epithelium began on the 40th day. During the 48th~62nd days, the larynx epithelium was composed of two layers of cells, from which basal, ciliated and goblet cells differentiated gradually. Some characteristics of the formation of larynx cavity and the differentiation of epithelium cells were discussed.


The overall aim of the present thesis is to gain an understanding of the working life of social workers working in public social services in Crete. It is a three-phase study, consisting of three di ...


Bayer CropScience AG owns U.S. Patent No. 6,153,401, which claims a genetically modified plant that incorporates a tfdA gene.1 Because of the product of this gene, the plant can resist a weed herbicide, 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D).2 The biological action associated with the tfdA gene is degradation of 2,4-D into 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP) by an enzyme encoded by the tfdA gene.3 This enzyme was mistakenly known as a "monooxygenase" among the scientific community when Bayer was developing the invention.4


57 ABSTRACT Glycerol oxidase II is an oxidizing enzyme of glycerol characterized by its ability to oxidize glycerol in the presence of oxygen to form hydrogen peroxide and glyceraldehyde. This action of the present enzyme is the same as that of the enzyme glycerol oxidase I dis closed in U.S. application Ser. No. 897,695 filed on Apr. 19, 1978. However, this enzyme has characteristic prop erties in substrate specificity, optimum and stable pH, optimum temperature for action, substrate affinity (Mi chaelis constant glycerol). This enzyme is produced by culturing a microorganism belonging to the genus Peni cillium.


DEAR EDITOR: We found the article in the January 2007 issue of your journal informative [Trend Watch: Prescribing for buprenorphine in the treatment of opioid addiction. Psychiatry 2007;4(1):15–16]. In the past year, there have been published studies that have shed light on buprenorphine's efficacy and also studies that would signify its eventual cost effectiveness. A recent study looking at early buprenorphine adoption in a community-based treatment reported that the likelihood of buprenorphine adoption was seen to be positively associated with the center's size, it's accreditation status, availability of detoxification services, the current use of naltrexone in a facility, and the percentage of primary opiate clients in the community. The availability of detoxification services was particularly strong and not surprising, because buprenorphine already has US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for opiate detoxification treatment. A study by Sullivan, et al., had looked at its integration into HIV care, and the main advantage of buprenorphine was seen to be its lack of concerning medication interactions with antiretroviral medications compared to methadone. This is quite appealing as buprenorphine is already office based, and the fact that there is an increasing number of waivered primary care physicians is advantageous. It has been postulated that the pharmacological characteristics of buprenorphine, especially its wide safety margin, long duration of action, and milder withdrawal profile, may render it particularly beneficial in pregnant women, especially with respect to less occurrences of neonatal abstinence syndrome when used as maintenance treatment during pregnancy. One of the reasons for buprenorphine's cost effectiveness could be the recent development of a novel formulation using biodegradable polymer microcapsule depot technology. It is likely to offer advantages compared to the sublingual forms of buprenorphine, and more so in comparison to other alternative medications. Based on its property of gradual onset and sustained release of buprenorphine, a recent article stated that it holds promise in detoxification, which would be cost effective and increase adherence. Two studies in humans have already been carried out that had positive outcomes, with effectiveness lasting over a six-week period. Despite the above positive points, one concerning recent report had to do with a publication in Pediatrics late last year that reported that pediatric buprenorphine exposure was not as safe as previously thought. The article mentioned that pediatric buprenorphine exposure produced the classic opioid toxidrome of apnea, mental status depression, and miosis. It was felt that this raises public health concerns for the pediatric population, as buprenorphine is increasingly used as a home-based treatment.


In autumn 2017, autumn daffodil plants with yellow-green stripes on the leaves were observed at a botanical garden in Budapest, Hungary. Indicator plants were inoculated, but symptoms did not develop. RT-PCR tests of the indicator plants were also negative for the viruses. Potyvirus specific ACP-ELISA and RT-PCR were carried out on the symptomatic S. lutea leaf samples. RT-PCR with universal potyvirus primers resulted in one, approx. 1700 base pair PCR product. Phylogenetic analysis of the nucleotide sequence of the coat protein demonstrated 98.78-99.51% identity with three Japanese isolates of Narcissus late season yellows virus. While unidentified potyvirus infection of autumn daffodil has been previously reported, sequence data have not been published. Therefore, this is the first report of Sternbergia lutea as a host of Narcissus late season yellows virus.


The paper aims to investigate the value co-creation emergence within business models (BMs) of B2B industrial organizations that have undertaken a digital servitization strategy. A survey is conducted on a sample of 350 Italian industrial firms, whose offering comprises services. Sample companies are grouped by digital servitization BMs, classified in three archetypes (product-, process-, and outcome-oriented). Value co-creation is then assessed for each digital servitization BM by adopting the DARTT (dialogue, access, risk assessment, transparency, and technology) model. The research findings support the close link between value co-creation and digital servitization, also suggesting that the potential for value co-creation increases in moving away from product-oriented digital servitization BMs. Despite value co-creation is encapsulated in all different archetypes of digital servitization BMs, the latter differ in the management of the DARTT dimensions. Finally, the paper proposes a practitioner-oriented tool which supports management to design and redesign the BMs of industrial firms to better respond to the strategic imperative of digital servitization, simultaneously exploiting the value co-creation in B2B setting.


Heterogeneous network (HetNet) which contains different transmission power NodeBs has been researched extensively earlier in LTE system. Owing to the great improvement achieved by HetNet, HSPA HetNet is currently being standardized by 3GPP working group. In co-channel HSPA HetNet (CHH), Uplink-Downlink (UL-DL) imbalance caused by the hugely different power from different types of transmission nodes is a key problem leading to many undesirable conditions such as unbalanced load and severe interference. The main contribution of this paper is to propose an adaptive range expansion (ARE) mechanism to mitigate the UL-DL imbalance in CHH. Our scheme tries to adaptively calibrate the parameter of range expansion (RE) by means of introducing an Imb value and using it as a reference to reflect the imbalance condition in the system. Simulation results will show the advantages of our proposed scheme.


Since the 1980s, victims' voices have been increasingly heard and have been influential in policy debates. Since that time, the nature and presence of those voices has changed shape and form from the influence and presence of victim centred organizations to the rise of the high profile individual victim. The purpose of this article is to explore the presence of one victim's story, Rosie Batty, and to examine her influence on the rise of the policy agenda on family violence in Australia. This article considers the ways in which this story gained traction and influenced the reform of family violence policy in Australia, and considers the extent to which an understanding of this process contributes to an (emergent) narrative victimology.


Thank you very much for downloading i have in my arms both ways stories by ten immigrant women. As you may know, people have search numerous times for their chosen readings like this i have in my arms both ways stories by ten immigrant women, but end up in malicious downloads. Rather than reading a good book with a cup of tea in the afternoon, instead they juggled with some malicious virus inside their desktop computer.


The article shows a general view of a slip-type ship-lifting complex; the principle of operation is described. The article presents the modeling of a slip-type ship-lifting complex with possible correction of static and dynamic errors arising during the operation of the complex in real operating conditions. Also included graphs of transient processes with enabled and disabled correction circuits.


In this work it was made the redescription of male of Polichnodes americana including new traits as internal genitalia and morphology of stridulatory files. Also it was recorded for the first time the distribution of this species to Brazil, in Amazonas, and notes on habitat.


The term "sophomore slump" originated with Feldman and Newcomb (1969) to describe the relative dissatisfaction students experience with the institution and themselves during their second year of college. Though this familiar expression has been used in higher education for decades, there has been little research conducted on the often 'invisible' sophomore student. While an increased understanding of sophomore-related issues exists, institutions continue to fail to address these issues and to allocate their resources to other issues and groups. An obvious example of this national trend can be seen within the extensive development of comprehensive first-year experience programs with little attention paid to students after the freshman year. Nonetheless, the publication of this monograph is timely in that much progress has been made in sophomore programs and issues since the National Resource Center for The First-Year Experience & Students in Transition produced their first sophomore monograph 7 years ago (Schreiner & Pattengale, 2000).


The quantitative determination of proteins is an important parameter in biochemistry, biotechnology and immunodiagnostics, and the importance of serum albumin in clinical diagnosis should be highlighted, given that alterations in its concentration are generally associated with certain diseases. As possible probes for this purpose, squaraine dyes have been arousing the interest of many researchers due to their unique properties, such as absorption in the visible spectra, moderate relative fluorescence quantum yields and increased fluorescence intensity after non-covalent binding to specific ligands. In this work, five squaraine dyes, four of which have never been reported in the literature, were characterized and evaluated in vitro and in silico concerning their potential application as fluorescent probes for human serum albumin detection. After interaction with the protein, the fluorescence intensity increased from 12 to 41 times, depending on the dye under study. High sensitivity (1.0 × 105 − 5.4 × 105 nM), low detection limits (168–352 nM) and moderate quantitation limits (560–1172 nM) were obtained, proving the efficiency of the method. In addition, moderate-to-excellent selectivity was observed compared to γ-globulin proteins. Molecular docking suggests that the dyes interact more effectively with the Sudlow site I, and binding energies have been markedly higher than those of warfarin, a molecule known to bind to this site specifically.


This paper addresses the issue of workflow on Grid and P2P, and proposes a layered workflow architecture and its related workflow models that are used for not only distributing workflows' information onto Grid or P2P resources but also scheduling the enactment of workflows. Especially, the most critical rationale of this paper is on the fact that the nature of Grid computing environment is fitted very well into building a platform for the maximally parallel and very large scale workflows that are frequently found in very large scale enterprises. The layered architecture proposed in this paper, which we call Enterprise Workflow Grid Architecture, is targeting on maximizing the usability of computing facilities in the enterprise as well as the scalability of its underlined workflow management system in coping with massively parallel and very large scale workflow applications.


Abstract Reclamation of abandoned mines in Washington and Iron Counties has unearthed a rich mining history related to the settlement of the area by pioneers of European descent in the 1800s. Mining for coal, iron and silver was responsible for development of some present day communities in southwestern Utah. Hazards and environmental degradation left from past mining are not compatible with some current land uses. The reclamation process calls for historical research, documentation and mitigation subject to federal and state laws. At times, unrecorded historical information is discovered. In 1986, the Abandoned Mine Reclamation Program in the Utah Division of Oil, Gas and Mining reclaimed seven abandoned coal mine sites in Cedar Canyon, Iron County, eliminating hazards and returning the acreage to productive wildlife habitat and recreational land use. The Silver Reef Mining District in Washington County has over 250 mine openings within a 500 acre (202 ha) area. The many shafts, adits, slopes and strip pits were mined from the late 1870s to the 1930s. Today, these mine openings create a hazardous surface terrain in juxtaposition with new residential development which is encroaching on the old mining district.


The theme of this conference – focused as it is on lessons from economic history – is indeed quite timely. As some of the more intricate macroeconomic theorizing of the last decades is currently subject to a lot of criticism and even reconsideration, the voice of historians is now listened much more closely than some years ago – and rightly so. History may not repeat itself, but it certainly rhymes, as the saying goes.


The invention discloses an interlayer composite material for a high-speed rail and bullet train floor. The interlayer composite material is characterized in that Glare laminating boards are adopted as an upper face plate and a lower face plate of the interlayer composite material, the interlayer composite material is formed by alternately laminating a superfine glass fiber reinforced composite material and high-strength aluminum alloy sheets and has the outstanding tensile and compressive fatigue performance and the high notch fracture performance, the weight of the structure can be reduced by 25%-30%, and the anti-fatigue life can be prolonged by 10-15 times; glass fiber reinforced melamine foamed plastic is adopted as an interlayer, glass fibers are uniformly distributed in a foamed plastic substrate to achieve the effect of enhancing the mechanical property of the melamine foamed plastic, and therefore the large mechanical load can be borne on the basis that the noise reduction effect is excellent. Compared with an existing rubber floor for the high-speed rail and bullet train floor, the interlayer composite material has the advantages of being low in density, good in sound insulation property, low in heat transfer coefficient, high in bending strength and tensile strength and the like and can be suitable for floors of rail traffic cars such as a high-speed rail unit, a subway, a tramcar, a light rail and a flaw detection car.


A highly miniaturized and low power consumption receiver front-end hybrid IC(HIC) including input matching circuits for 880 MHz bands using on-chip high-dielectric constant (/spl epsi//sub r/) capacitors has been newly developed. The HIC is composed of a GaAs IC chip and a ceramic substrate with spiral inductors on its surface. The HIC showed conversion gain of 20.2 dB and noise figure of 4.2 dB at supply voltage of 2.7 V and dissipation current of 3.7 mA. The HIC measures only 5.0 mm/spl times/5.0 mm/spl times/1.0 mm.<<ETX>>


Objective To investigate the quantitative relationship between the changes of the parameters of Three-Electrode System and the Current following through WE (Farad current and Nonfarad current ). Methods We built a model based on the driving voltage-current system,which could describe the parameters of system and present the influence of current by changing parameters. Results The results of studying two simulational models accord with experiments of electrical chemistry. Conclusion This study provides an estimated value and influence of the electrochemistry noises,which is significant for data accuracy and anti-jamming of electrochemistry products.


OBJECTIVE
To explore how gender and low-income status independently influence general health care access in patients with hearing loss.

STUDY DESIGN
Cross-sectional study.

SETTING
National database.

METHODS
Patients with a diagnosis of sensorineural hearing loss from the National Institutes of Health All of Us database were included. Data entered from May 2018 to November 2022 was analyzed. Patient demographics such as age, gender, educational level, and insurance status were assessed. Multivariate logistic regressions were performed for statistical evaluation.

RESULTS
A subset of 8875 patients (48.3% male, mean age 69) were evaluated. After multivariate analysis, female participants were more likely than male participants to report difficulty affording prescribed medications (odds ratio [OR]: 1.7, p < .0005) and specialists (OR: 1.4, p < 0.005). Female patients were also more likely to delay care due to elder care responsibilities (OR: 2.6, p < .0005), employment obligations (OR: 1.7, p < .0005), and feelings of apprehension in seeing a provider (OR: 1.7, p < .0005). Finally, female participants reported feeling less likely to be involved in their own medical care compared to males (OR: 1.2, p < .005). Low-income (<$25,000) participants reported less likely to feel respected (OR: 3.2, p < .0005) and delivered understandable health information (OR: 2.3, p < .0005) by providers compared to participants of higher income.

CONCLUSION
This work suggests that patients with hearing loss, female gender, and lower socioeconomic status independently introduce barriers to health care access and utilization. These factors should be considered in efforts to promote equity in the care of patients with hearing loss.


Big onion (Allium cepa L.) is one of the economically important spices grown in Sri Lanka. Damping off disease caused by Fusarium sp. during nursery stage of growth poses a major factor that affect the yield significantly. Application of fungicides decrease incidence of damping off disease considerably, but this is neither economical nor environmental friendly. Thus, disease management practices have to be directed towards biological control strategies. Trichoderma spp. have been extensively studied as biological control agents for controlling numerous soil-borne fungal pathogens. In the present study, isolation and identification of fungal pathogens associated with damping off disease of onion and Trichoderma spp. present in soil of the same onion fields was carried out with a view to using the Trichoderma spp. in the management of damping off pathogens. Pathogens associated with damping off were isolated from diseased and healthy seedlings (7-30 days old) collected from the fields in the Matale and Anuradhapura districts. Seedlings were surface sterilized and plated in Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) supplemented with tetracycline. Soil samples collected from the same fields were used for the isolation of Trichoderma spp. using the Warcup method. Based on morphological characteristics and using identification keys, the fungal pathogens isolated from seedlings were identified as Fusarium, Curvularia, Alternaria and Sclerotium spp. and 14 fungal species isolated from soil samples were identified as Trichoderma spp. Although fungi can be identified using morphological features, the use of molecular biological methods tend to be more accurate. Therefore, the identity of isolated fungal species was confirmed by molecular biological methods. Genomic DNA of Fusarium spp., Alternaria spp., Trichoderma spp. were extracted. Molecular characterization of these DNA was carried out using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) where the Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) region of rDNA gene was amplified using ITS-1 and ITS-4 primer pairs. The products were subjected to agarose gel electrophoresis. The procedures were repeated 3 times. Results showed 550 bp size bands characteristic of Fusarium spp. and 570 bp products specific to Alternaria spp. confirming the previous identity using culture based methods. Fungal species isolated from soil showed products of 600 bp which corresponds to Trichoderma sp. Molecular characterization of the potential biocontrol agents i.e. Trichoderma spp. and A.cepa L. pathogens using PCR amplification of ITS region confirmed the preliminary identities carried out using culture based methods.


This paper reports about the development and application of a new test chip for stress analysis in microelectronic packaging processes and reliability tests. Special focus will be on transfer molding with epoxy molding compound (EMC). The CMOS based stress sensor is able to measure in-plane normal stress and shear stress on the chip surfaces with an absolute stress resolution of ± 3MPa. By the use of a multiplexer and an array of measuring cells on the chip surface we are able to sense temperatures and mechanical stresses space-and time resolved. We analyzed 1st and 2nd level encapsulation methods by transfer and injection molding and performed an in-situ relaxation and stress monitoring of the packaged sensor during temperature load and moisture uptake. The experimental results will be compared with numerical simulations. In substitutive application for electronic parts, the test chip implicates a major potential for investigating production processes and lifetime impacts on MEMS. Adjusting material combinations and optimizing packaging processes to achieve reliable products will be the applications on focus in future.


bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic disease affecting millions of patients in the United States and worldwide that can result in complications and disability[1,


In a previous study, we reported water-soluble light-emitting nanoparticles with distinct interchain aggregation states of the constituent conjugated polymers. These interchain states usually result in strong self-quenching, dramatically reducing the quantum efficiency of fluorescence. In the work reported in the present study, we developed new water-soluble fluorescent nanoparticles without distinct aggregation of the conjugated polymer chains, which demonstrated distinctive morphologies and optical properties. 'Strawberry' morphologies of the nanoparticles were directly observed using transmission electron microscopy. The conjugated polymers were dispersed in the individual cores of the nanoparticles and the majority of the core diameters were in the range 8–12 nm. The primary optical properties of the conjugated polymers in tetrahydrofuran still remained in the nanoparticles. The results suggest that the conjugated polymer chains formed a possible unimolecular structure without distinct aggregation in the nanoparticles. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry