- Background
Vaccination is one of the most successful and effective tools for preventing infectious diseases. However, despite the well-established benefits of vaccinations many children in different regions of the world remain unvaccinated.
- Objectives
The aim of this dissertation was to describe a vaccination process in a transitional country, using the example of Kyrgyzstan. Among the specific aims of this dissertation was an analysis of factors associated with children's vaccination status. The study also aimed to assess parental attitudes towards childhood vaccinations and to analyze factors associated with them. An important aim of this study was an assessment of up-to-date and age-appropriate vaccination. Based on the results of the dissertation recommendations should be given to vaccination policy makers.
- Methods
Three sources of data were used in this work to answer different aims of the study. For the assessment of up-to-date vaccination, all three data sets were used, namely, the Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) (1997), the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) (2005) and data from an own cross-sectional study, conducted in the capital of Kyrgyzstan, Bishkek, in September 2006.
- Results
Up-to-date vaccination coverage
The up-to-date vaccination coverage based on all three data sources was at relatively high levels but lower than reported by the local Ministry of Health. According to the DHS data, up-to-date vaccination coverage among children of 12 to 35 months of age ranged between 90 percent (measles vaccine) and 99 percent (first dose of polio vaccine).
According to the MICS data, up-to-date coverage among children of 12 to 59 months of age was highest for vaccine against tuberculosis (99 percent) and lowest for vaccine against measles (95 percent). At least one dose of DTP- and polio vaccines received 99 percent and 97 percent of children, respectively. However, a lower proportion of children was completely immunized with all three doses (52 percent with DTP-vaccine and 60 percent with polio vaccine). About 24 percent and 15 percent of children received only one dose of DTP- and polio vaccines.
According to the study conducted in the capital Bishkek, 96 percent of first-year pupils (6-7 years of age) were vaccinated against tuberculosis and 89 percent against measles. At least one dose of hepatitis B, DTP- and polio vaccines was administered to 81 percent, 94 percent and 96 percent of children, respectively. However, only 83 percent of those children were vaccinated completely with all three doses of DTP- and polio vaccines and 77 percent with all three doses of hepatitis B vaccine.
Age-appropriate vaccination
The age-appropriate vaccination was much lower compared to up-to-date vaccination. A substantial proportion of children was vaccinated with a considerable delay. About 85 percent (95 percent CI: 82.6-87.8) of children were vaccinated with a first dose of DTP-vaccine without any delay, 74 percent (70.1-79.2) with a second dose and 62.9 percent (59.3-66.6) with a third dose. Although polio vaccine should be administered at the same schedule as DTP-vaccine, there were some differences in age-appropriate vaccination. About 85 percent of children were vaccinated with a first dose of polio vaccine, but only about 65 percent and 59 percent with second and third doses, respectively. Only 75 percent of children received vaccine against measles without any delay.
Parental attitudes towards vaccination
The perceived importance of childhood vaccinations among parents was at very high level; about 96 percent of parents believed that vaccinations were important (about 40 percent very important). The overwhelming majority of parents had positive attitudes towards vaccination. However, a small proportion of parents expressed some concerns regarding vaccine safety. Moreover, about 15 percent of parents were opposed to mandatory vaccinations and about 5 percent had strong anti-mandatory attitudes. Lower education of both parents was associated with higher vaccine safety concerns and higher anti-mandatory attitudes. Parents whose children had allergies, were also more likely to have higher vaccine safety concerns and higher anti-mandatory attitudes. Internal migration was also associated with anti-mandatory attitudes; parents, who migrated to the capital from other urban regions, were more likely to have anti-mandatory attitudes. About 11 percent of parents would refuse childhood vaccinations if they had another child in the future.
Factors associated with incomplete or missing vaccination
Multilevel logistic regression analyses of the MICS data showed that the only variable significantly associated with the incomplete vaccination status of children was the wealth index. The risk of not being completely vaccinated with DTP and polio vaccine was higher among children from poorer families compared to those from richest families.
Results of the study conducted in the capital Bishkek showed that children who were not born in the capital, with parents with no sources of vaccinations and with a poor access to health care were more likely not to be vaccinated with the measles vaccine. The same pattern of association was observed for vaccine against hepatitis B. Furthermore, children whose parents had concerns about vaccine safety were also more likely not to be vaccinated against hepatitis B.
- Conclusions
Up-to-date vaccination coverage was at high levels according to all data sources and was higher compared to other developing and even developed countries. Considerable proportion of children was vaccinated with delay. Factors associated with no vaccination were a mixture of patterns observed both in developing and developed countries. Some parents had concerns about vaccine safety and a small proportion of parents had anti-mandatory attitudes. Policy makers should take these findings into consideration in order to adequately plan vaccination programmes.


The problem of parallel segmentation of halftone images by brightness for implementation on the basis of programmable logic integrated circuits is considered. Segmentation divides an image into regions formed from pixels with approximately the same brightness, and is a computationally complex operation due to multiple checks of the value of each pixel for the possibility of joining an adjacent region. To speed up segmentation, parallel algorithms for growing areas have been developed, in which processing begins from the neighborhoods of preselected initial growth pixels. The condition of joining an adjacent pixel to an area takes into account the average brightness of the area to limit the variance of its pixel values. Therefore, when each new pixel is added to the area, its average brightness is recalculated. This leads to high time complexity. In some parallel algorithms, the sample mean is calculated in a small window, which makes it possible to slightly reduce the time complexity when matching the window size with the segment sizes. To significantly reduce the temporal complexity, the article proposes a model for the parallel growth of image regions based on a simplified condition for joining adjacent pixels to a region, taking into account the sample average value of the region's brightness along the growth route connecting the boundary pixel of the region and the initial growth pixel through a sequence of pixels used to attach the considered boundary pixel to area. A significant decrease in the temporal complexity of the proposed model of parallel growing of image regions in comparison with the known models is achieved due to a slight increase in the spatial complexity.


The trend toward use of the longitudinal design in research on aging, especially in long-term studies, has brought to the fore the problem of the geographic stability of subjects. This is because longitudinal studies require that subjects do not move away but remain geographically accessible. The present paper communicates a technique in sample selection which is designed to contribute significantly to the maintenance of sample size over long periods of time. The technique was developed in the Normative Aging Study, located in the Veterans Administration Outpatient Clinic, Boston, Massachusetts. The VA Study, currently in its beginning stages, aims to delineate selected anatomic, biochemical, physiologic, and psychosocial aspects of aging in 1500 initially healthy males ranging in age from 25 to 65 years. The subjects volunteer to return for periodic examinations for the rest of their lives. This "population laboratory" will enable description of normal aging processes, prediction of later outcomes, and correlation of variables both cross-sectionally and longitudinally. The 1500 subjects are being recruited from three occupational levels: executive and white-collar; protective or service; and manual or blue-collar. These men are rigidly screened for clinical, biochemical and radiographic 'Ln~rmality," and thereafter are seen in 3-year to 5-year cycles, with each cycle comprising about fifteen clock-hours of examination (1). Before describing the special technique in sample selection and its outcome, the background of the relationship between geographic stability of subjects and longitudinal study of aging will be sketched.


Institutional entrepreneurship is an important mechanism for creating institutional change. While institutional change occurs over long time periods and in diverse socio-political contexts, institutional entrepreneurship research has largely been unpacking episodic activities in Western democratic countries. Extant approaches have resulted in a general treatment of contexts as given and exogenous to institutional entrepreneurship. In this paper, we explore the interplay between context and the institutional entrepreneur through a historical investigation of the efforts by the Ford Foundation (1975 to 2008) to promote Western concepts of human rights in an authoritarian China. We demonstrate how the Foundation's roles and actions were constrained by structures of China, and how it enacted a process of "symbiotic transformation": in each of its three strategic phases, the Ford Foundation transformed into a context-congruent role and adopted rolecongruent actions; each role and related actions helped revise the China society, generating new opportunities and constraints that would fuel the next transformation of the Foundation. Through the unfolding of three continuous episodes, we show how the context is endogenous to the institutional entrepreneurship process. An additional insight of our inductive study is that institutional entrepreneurs can sequentially manage its paradoxical needs of pursuing actor legitimacy within the institutional context while also attempting to revise the context.


This paper aims to discuss - by expanding the uses and meanings of historical knowledge as proposed from the new history perspective and by Michel Foucault's genealogy - approaches of more conventional organizational studies which take as research object the great deeds of great men in the management history. In this sense, one has: (1) as the main focus of analysis a re-reading of the legitimate version of Taylorism as a historical event directly responsible for a set of precepts and techniques of work rationalization; and (2) as the central argument the premise that epistemological "subversions" of renewed history and genealogy allow us to read this event through other lenses and identify the work of F. W. Taylor as included into a larger set of disciplinary social practices. In order to achieve this purpose, the text is organized in three parts. In the first part, one exposes the meaning of history for Michel Foucault, then, one analyzes the new history movement and its convergences with the historical knowledge proposal of genealogy. Finally, in the third part, Taylorism is rethought and analyzed under the light of disciplinary society.


Introduces the working-case and the controlling-process of the mine lift,analyses the principle of variable frequency adjust speed and energy saving in terms of theory.It introduces the methods of using the converter to transform mine lift in energy by way of example,and the experience when the converter of the mine lift is choosen.


Objective
To summarize the early experience of thymectomy by robot-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (RATS) with the da Vinci S Surgical System.

Methods
A total of 16 patients was underwent thymectomy from October 2016 to May 2017 by RATS. Among them, there were 10 cases of thymic hyperplasia, 5 cases of thymoma and 1 case of thymic small cell carcinoma, including 11 cases of myasthenia gravis (MG). The Osserman types were as follows: type Ⅰ (5), type ⅡA (3), type ⅡB (2), and type Ⅲ (1). Clinical data were collected and analyzed.

Results
The operations were successfully accomplished by RATS in all the 16 patients without any conversion to open surgery and major complication. The docking time was 2-45(11.69±11.03)min. The operation time was 47-152(84.06±25.67) min. The blood loss was 0-150(57.50±37.32)ml. The diameter of thymus or tumor was 4-19.5 cm and (8.22±3.64)cm. Fourteen cases were removed tracheal intubation in the operation day, and the other 2 cases taked off in 6th and 8th days. One case occurred myasthenia gravis crisis after surgery. All patients were followed up for 2-7 months after discharge without MG recurrence.

Conclusions
The da Vinci S Surgical System can be safely, accurately and stably used for thymectomy.

Key words:
Robotics; Thymectomy


Grounded in Self‐Determination Theory, this study examines the role of parental expectations and communication style (ie, in an autonomy‐supportive vs controlling way) in the prediction of adolescent motivation (ie, internalization or defiance) to adhere to self‐management for type 1 diabetes.


Abstract The author demonstrates that book and library history deserves a central place in library and information science programmes, but also that in order to obtain or keep this central place it needs to orient itself in a direction that is closer to the heart of what library and information science is about – the organization of knowledge and information-seeking behaviour. Book and library history can illustrate these processes and explain how they have developed in the past. Early phenomena of knowledge organization have to be studied in their broader contexts, and these contexts to a large extent cover the production, dissemination and consumption of books in the past. The main return that book history will get out of this process is that it will be more strongly integrated into academic teaching and research.


POMPEY'S emergence among the,principes is a remarkable achievement when the comparative 'newness' of his family is considered, together with the fact that at the age of 36 he was so ignorant of the traditions associated with the consulship that when he first gained this office he had to get his friend Varro to write a commentary on procedure for his guidance. Unaccepted by the inner ring oinobiles and at times uncertain of himself, in peace if not in war, Pompey often appears as a somewhat aloof figure. How much of his success did he owe to his own abilities, how much to the advice of others ? Any Roman who entered the political arena did so with all the support he could muster from his family, his gens, and from the families to which he was linked by intermarriage or patronage. Pompey knew this well enough: he married five wives, his union with Julia being a classic example of political amicitia (that it happened to be a domestic success was incidental). But a man also needed advice from non-political friends: Cicero needed Atticus. To whom did Pompey turn ? Some of his intimate friends had literary talents: what was Pompey's attitude to literature and did he seek to engage the talents of these friends for his political advancement? These are some of the questions which Mr. Anderson seeks to answer in this interesting inquiry.


The main purpose of this article is to stress the social nature of economic rationality in the works of Adam Smith and John Stuart Mill. As it will be suggested through some textual evidence, both thinkers believed that individuals and their actions depend on the social, cultural and moral frame inside which they operate. In the light of this, it is proposed to evaluate the potential impact of their ideas in the latest theoretical developments of economic rationality.


A partition ? = { S 1 ,...,S k } of the vertex set of a connected graph G is a metric-locating partition of G if for every pair of vertices u,v belonging to the same part S i , d ( u,S j ) 6 = d ( v,S j ), for some other part S j . The partition dimension s p ( G ) is the minimum cardinality of a metric- locating partition of G . A metric-locating partition ? is called metric-locating-dominanting if for every vertex v of G , d ( v,S j ) = 1, for some part S j of ?. The partition metric-location-domination number ? p ( G ) is the minimum cardinality of a metric-locating-dominating partition of G . In this paper we show, among other results, that s p ( G ) = ? p ( G ) = s p ( G ) + 1. We also charac- terize all connected graphs of order n = 7 satisfying any of the following conditions: ? p ( G ) = n - 1, ? p ( G ) = n - 2 and s p ( G ) = n - 2. Finally, we present some tight Nordhaus-Gaddum bounds for both the partition dimension s ( G ) and the partition metric-location-domination number ? ( G ). Keywords: dominating partition, locating partition, location, domination, metric location


The applicability of existing single aging indicator-based lifespan prediction methods needs further improvement during different aging stages. Considering the aforementioned challenges, this work proposes a two-stage residual lifespan prediction model based on both methanol and furfural. Firstly, the changes in methanol and furfural contents in oil are examined concurrently with the aging duration. The paper insulation's life is divided into different aging stages by using identified two demarcation points according to the indicator's content. By virtue of this, the two-stage residual lifespan model of the insulating paper is obtained by coupling with the second-order aging kinetic equation. Finally, the validity of the proposed model is proved through a comparison to the conventional method of utilizing a single indicator, with a mean absolute percentage error for insulating paper's residual lifespan of 5.6%. In that regard, the research's contribution is to propose an integrated model for predicting the residual lifespan of insulating paper by using methanol and furfural indicators.


Aim To investigate the differentiation of marrow stromal cells induced by low density lipoprotein(LDL) into smooth muscle-like cells and the role of myocardin in it. Methods Bone marrow stromal cells(BMSC) of mouse were purified by disparation adherence technique.The cultured BMSC were divided into 4 groups: regular culture group,regular culture+LDL group(LDL 25 mg/L),20% fetal bovine serum(FBS) culture group,20% FBS culture+LDL group.The expression of myocardin,α-SMA and SM-MHC were detected by immunocytochemistry technique.RT-PCR was used to detect the mRNA expression of myocardin,α-SMA and SM-22α. Results It is showed by immunocytochemistry that the expression of myocardin,α-SMA and SM-MHC expressed in regular culture+LDL group(LDL 25 mg/L),20% fetal bovine serum(FBS) culture group,20% FBS culture+LDL groups were signifcnatly higher than that in regular culture group(P0.05).The expression of the three proteins in 20% FBS culture+LDL group were significantly higher than that in 20% fetal bovine serum(FBS)group(P0.05).The proteins expression of α-SMA(r=0.9018,P0.05) and SM-MHC(r=0.7969,P0.05) were positively related with myocardin.It is approved by RT-PCR that the mRNA expression of myocardin,α-SMA and SM-22α in regular culture+LDL group(LDL 25 mg/L) 20% fetal bovine serum(FBS),20% FBS culture+LDL group.groups were significantly higher than that in regular culture group(P0.05).The mRNA expression of the three genes in 20% FBS culture+LDL group were significantly higher than that in 20% fetal bovine serum(FBS) group(P0.05).The mRNA expression of α-SMA(r=0.9295, P0.05) and SM-22α(r=0.8940,P0.05) were positively related with myocardin. Conclusion Both 20% FBS and LDL could induce the differentiation of BMSC into smooth muscle-like cells.The role of LDL with 20% FBS inducing the differentiation of BMSC into smooth muscle-like cells was the strongest.And myocardin may play an important role in this differentiated process.


During the long-term service of asphalt pavement, under the combined action of repeated loads and environmental factors, asphalt pavement will gradually appear small damage. When the damage accumulates to a certain extent, the asphalt pavement will have serious rutting deformation, resulting in poor highway flatness and greatly reducing the service life of the asphalt pavement. The traditional monitoring methods of pavement rutting deformation need high environmental detection conditions. At the same time, there are some problems, such as subjective judgment standard and unable to monitor in real time. The commonly used road surface coring detection methods will destroy the original continuous structure of the pavement and easily cause internal damage of the pavement under the action of rain and snow environment. In this study, based on the intelligent aggregate (IA) equipped with high-precision attitude sensor, a new pavement rutting deformation monitoring method was proposed. Combined with the indoor rutting experiment, the relationship model between intelligent aggregate attitude change and rutting deformation was established, and the relationship model between real pavement rutting deformation and intelligent aggregate attitude change was established by finite element method, so as to realize the rutting deformation monitoring method based on Intelligent aggregate.


This paper considers the nonparametric estimation of a failure time distribution function when only doubly censored data are available, which occurs in many situations such as epidemiological studies. In these situations, the failure time of interest is defined as the elapsed time between an initial event and a subsequent event, and the observations on both events can suffer censoring. As a consequence, the estimation is much more complicated than that for right- or interval-censored failure time data both theoretically and practically. For the problem, although several procedures have been proposed, they are only ad hoc approaches as the asymptotic properties of the resulting estimates are basically unknown. We investigate both the consistency and the convergence rate of a commonly used nonparametric estimate and show that as expected, the estimate is slower than that with right-censored or interval-censored data. Furthermore, we establish the asymptotic normality of the smooth functionals of the estimate and present a nonparametric test procedure for treatment comparison.


Liquid and foam formulations useful for removing iron oxide deposits, for example from heat transfer equip ment, comprising an organic solution or foam of N hydroxylethyl ethylenediamine triacetic acid and an organic acid (for example, formic acid); and a method of removing iron oxide deposits from encrusted equipment surfaces by injecting the liquid or foam formulation, preferably also containing a corrosion inhibitor, into equipment to be cleaned, and circulating the liquid or foam formulation.


The embodiment of the invention discloses a power supply device, belonging to the technical field of electronics, which solves the technical problem of complex circuit existing in the traditional power supply method. The power supply device comprises a first component, a second component, a feedback resistance and a voltage conversion module, wherein, the voltage conversion module is provided witha voltage input end and a voltage output end; the voltage input end is connected with the power source output end of the power supply device; the voltage output end is connected with an electrical element; the second component is connected with the first component in a detachable manner; when the second component is installed on the first component, the feedback resistance is respectively connected with the voltage conversion module and the voltage output end; and the voltage conversion module is used for receiving feedback voltage of the feedback resistance and controlling the size of outputvoltage by the voltage output end according to the feedback voltage. The power supply device is applicable to supplying power for electric equipment.


Diffusion of e-learning has been accelerated according as the convenience and effectiveness have been increased rapidly due to the advancement of information technology. However, there has been few studies on systematic evaluation of its performance. SERVQUAL model was applied to evaluate the service quality of a 100% on-line lecture opened in a major Korean university. Two classes, one for 71 undergraduate students, the other for 79 graduate students, were opened for the lecture. The gaps between the expected service and the perceived service scores were compared with respect to sex, age, and e-learning experience. Although the gap score of male and female students were not different significantly, the gap scores among the other comparative groups were different. The perceived score of the older group with more than thirty ages was lower than that of the younger group. It seems that the older group evaluated the score based on the practical use of the subject since they are part-time students with jobs. Also, the perceived score of the group with previous e-learning experience was higher than that of the group with no e-learning experience. It seems that the experienced group evaluated it compared with the previous e-learning satisfaction. As it might be expected, the groups with higher perceived scores had stronger intention to recommend the e-learning lecture to other students.


Purpose

Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) are common strategies of firms to increase its performance. Although the motives of M&A are different, the determinants are discreet. The purpose of this paper is to determine the factors affecting M&A activities in the Indian pharmaceutical sector.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a balanced panel data of the pharmaceuticals sector in India, this study arrives at the determinants of M&A. The authors use regression techniques such as panel probit models, ordered probit models and matching techniques for a comparable and robust estimates for the factors related to M&A activities at firm level.

Findings

The empirical findings suggest that export intensity, import intensity, firm size and R&D intensity as the major determinants of M&A in the Indian pharmaceutical sector. In the context of acquisition, there is a riskiness associated with the any business strategy, for to which a firm may choose to finance the deal either via cash, stock or assets. This study further looks at the firm's decision on the types of acquisitions and arrives at the determinants of such decisions. The factors such as capital intensity were found more important when acquisition by share was undertaken compared to others. The success of the M&A is observed by considering the financial performance of the firm measured in terms of the profit margin at firm level. Using the propensity score matching technique, this study concludes that M&A have a positive effect on the profit margin in the post-M&A scenario.

Research limitations/implications

The study seeks to add to the existing literature and empirical work done in the field of M&A, by not only looking at determinants that motivate a firm to merge and/or acquire but also if the decision of the firm is reflected positively in the firm's performance. The study concludes that export intensity is an important factor for the pharmaceutical firms in India since exports are a major proportion of firm's total sales. Technology transfers as technology imports and R&D conducted by the firm are both very important for the drug manufacturers. Any gap in the flow of drugs to the market would hamper the growth of the firm. The growth of the pharmaceutical industry depends on the close collaboration between small R&D units that lack resources to sell their work and large business houses, both domestic and foreign affiliated that will provide them the required market. However, all comprehensive work has been done in this study to cover all aspects of M&A including the financial pathway taken by the firm yet, the study has certain limitations as it does not take into account the entry and exit of firms from the industry.

Practical implications

Policies related to small and large firms should aim at making them export oriented and multinational affiliated to compete at the international market with corporate restructuring through M&A. This will help in firm's growth and sharing of knowledge capital.

Originality/value

No such study is conducted that differentiate type of M&A and their determinants for the Indian pharma sector.


In the wireless sensor networks with multiple mobile sinks, the movement of sinks or failure of sensor nodes may leads to the breakage of existing routes. In order to repair broken path with lower communication overhead in terms of both energy and delay, we propose an efficient routing recovery protocol with endocrine cooperative particle swarm optimization algorithm to establish and optimize the alternative path. With this method, the alternative path from source nodes to the sink with the optimal QoS parameters can be selected. Simulation results demonstrate that ECPSOA can adapt to rapid topological changes with multiple mobile sinks, while decreasing communication overhead and efficiently reducing the energy consumption.


The angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors represent the gold standard of vasodilator therapy for congestive heart failure through blunting of the endocrinologic manifestations of heart failure. The future role of these agents may be in the asymptomatic and mild stages of heart failure. ACE inhibitors have been shown to decrease morbidity and mortality with the natural history of this disease being altered. The future will bring many new ACE inhibitors to market, with the challenge for physicians and pharmacists to understand the important distinctions of each specific agent. © 1990 by W.B. Saunders Company.


S i an infectiou disease which ha ' been prominent in both medical and nonmedical literature for centuries. The advances of the pa t half century culminating in dramatic penicillin cure of thi ' infection is a fa. cinating tory. Xe\'ertheles ', syphilis has not vani hed and there is rea 'on to be concerned about an inc-reased incidence of the disease. The epidemiologic patterns may be changing. Early therapy of the primary infect ion preve n ts d e\'e lopmen t of acquired immuni ty t hus allo\ying reinfection. Such reinfection may present a' atypical clinical patterns. However, new serologic procedures are now availab le for more specific diagnosi of such 'ub t l syndromes. These modern features of yphi li ' will be briefly surveyed in thi· paper.


We assess the validity of macroscopic electrodynamics at the nanoscale by study-ing the IR properties of MgO nanoparticles. The absorption spectrum is computed using a numerical solution of Maxwell equations with a local macroscopic dielectric constant. The result is compared with an absorption spectrum obtained using molecular dynamics simulation. Significant differences are reported and we find evidence of the presence of non-local effects. This indicates that a local macroscopic model is not valid at the nanoscale.


Objectives: It has recently been found that detrusor smooth muscle cells and myofibroblasts are coupled via gap junctions. However, gap junctions cannot account for strong physical interaction between cells, which has prompted the search for intercellular adhesion molecules. Cadherin-11 is a candidate for such a molecule, since it mediates the interaction of dermal myofibroblasts in contractile wound granulation tissue. We therefore hypothesised that the physical adhesion between detrusor smooth muscle cells and myofibroblasts is mediated by cadherin-11. The aim of this study was to test this hypothesis. Methods: Bladder biopsies from eight radical cystectomy specimens were snap-frozen, sectioned, and stained for E-cadherin; cadherin-11; a-catenin; b-catenin; g-catenin and smooth muscle cell/myofibroblast markers connexin-43, vimentin, desmin, smooth muscle actin, and smoothelin. Specimens were analysed by using binocular epifluorescent and confocal laser–scanning microscopy. Results: Specific positive membranous expression of all adhesion complex molecules except E-cadherin was detected in detrusor suburothelial tissue. All biopsies showed a similar punctate pattern of expression for cadherin-11 within bundles of smooth muscle cells and a suburothelial layer of cells. Cadherin-11 was specifically located at the cell membrane, in distinct linear domains. Conclusions: To our knowledge this is the first time evidence has been provided for cadherin-mediated smooth muscle and suburothelial myofibroblast cell-cell interaction in the human bladder. Cadherin-11 most probably plays an important role in the intercellular physical coupling of detrusor smooth muscle cells and also of myofibroblasts. Boek 17.indb 52 12-5-2014 21:37:27 53 Cadherin-11 in smooth muscle cells and myofibroblasts of normal human bladder


[Problem] The present invention is excellent in the fiber properties and the home, and providing the fibers with water-dispersion for textile treatment to enhance the adhesion to the matrix resin. [MEANS FOR SOLVING PROBLEMS] Textile treatment water dispersion of the present invention, the particular (A) a first propylene-based resin, a specific (B) a second propylene-based resin, (C) anionic and / or nonionic surfactant, and ( D) contains water in a range of a specific amount ratio, wherein the (a) and the weight average molecular weight of said (a) a resin solids derived from the (B) as the aqueous dispersion for carbon fiber processed dispersed in water Mw (a ) and weight average molecular weight Mw (b) is different from the above (b), also characterized in that the side Mw (a) Mw greater than (b), an average particle diameter of the resin solid content of 0.03 to 3μm.


528Background: IO can cause pseudoprogression (PP): apparent tumor growth followed by stability or favorable response. We assess PP in aHCC treated with pembro (KEYNOTE-224 [ph 2], NCT02702414; KEY...


A writer's decision to localize a news article and the valence of the frame the writer employs can affect readers' perceptions of credibility and bias as well as readers' factual recall and the likelihood that readers would want to read the newspaper further. A 2 (proximity: local, non-local) × 3 (frame valence: positive, neutral, negative) factorial experiment (N = 136) tested the effects of proximity and frame valence on credibility, perceived bias, recall, and reading intentions. Articles that localized enjoyed greater perceptions of credibility but not recall, while articles with either a positive or negative frame yielded greater recall than articles with a neutral frame. Neither factor exhibited a main effect in predicting perceived bias, but their interaction was a significant predictor. In addition, localization and frame valence also influence the likelihood that participants would want to read the source newspaper again. Implications for theory and media practice are discussed.


A surgeon who failed to mention his suspension in the United Kingdom on his application for an American licence to practise has been struck off for dishonesty.

Mahesh Goel received a one year suspension from the General Medical Council 12 months ago for inadvertently removing the only healthy kidney of a patient who later died. He would have been eligible to resume work this month, but a GMC review hearing heard that Mr Goel had falsely answered a question about previous suspensions on a licence application form sent to the West Virginia Board of Medicine.

Mr Goel's original suspension arose from the death of …


Abstract. Groundwater recharge is one of the important factors determining the
groundwater development potential of an area. Even though recharge plays a
key role in controlling groundwater system dynamics, much uncertainty remains
regarding the relationships between groundwater recharge and its governing
factors at a large scale. Therefore, this study aims to identify the most
influential factors of groundwater recharge, and to develop an empirical
model to estimate diffuse rainfall recharge at a global scale. Recharge
estimates reported in the literature from various parts of the world
(715 sites) were compiled and used in model building and testing exercises.
Unlike conventional recharge estimates from water balance, this study used a
multimodel inference approach and information theory to explain the
relationship between groundwater recharge and influential factors, and to predict
groundwater recharge at 0.5 ∘ resolution. The results show that
meteorological factors (precipitation and potential evapotranspiration) and
vegetation factors (land use and land cover) had the most predictive power
for recharge. According to the model, long-term global average annual
recharge (1981–2014) was 134 mm yr −1 with a prediction error ranging
from − 8 to 10 mm yr −1 for 97.2 % of cases. The recharge estimates
presented in this study are unique and more reliable than the existing global
groundwater recharge estimates because of the extensive validation carried
out using both independent local estimates collated from the literature and
national statistics from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). In a water-scarce future driven by increased anthropogenic development, the results from
this study will aid in making informed decisions about groundwater potential
at a large scale.


Experiments were conducted to study the effect of application rate, growth stage, and tank-mixing azimsulfuron or bentazon on the activity of cyhalofop, clefoxydim, and penoxsulam against two morphologically distinct Echinochloa species from rice fields in Greece. Mixtures of penoxsulam with MCPA were also evaluated. Cyhalofop (300 to 600 g ai/ha) applied at the three- to four-leaf growth stage provided 62 to 85% control of early watergrass but 41 to 83% control of late watergrass averaged over mixture treatments. Control ranged from 37 to 80% for early watergrass and from 35 to 78% for late watergrass when cyhalofop was applied at the five- to six-leaf growth stage averaged over mixture treatments. Mixtures of cyhalofop with azimsulfuron or bentazon reduced efficacy on both species irrespective of growth stage or cyhalofop application rate compared with cyhalofop alone. Clefoxydim (100 to 250 g ai/ha) applied alone at the three- to four-leaf growth stage provided 98 to 100% control of early watergrass and 91 to 100% control of late watergrass; when clefoxydim was applied alone at the five- to six-leaf growth stage the control obtained was 91 to 100% for early watergrass and 79 to 100% for late watergrass. Mixtures of clefoxydim with azimsulfuron or bentazon reduced efficacy on late watergrass at the early growth stage and on both species at the late growth stage. Penoxsulam (20 to 40 g ai/ha) applied alone provided 94 to 100% control of both species at both growth stages. Mixtures of MCPA with penoxsulam reduced efficacy on late watergrass at the early growth stage and on both species at the late growth stage. Mixtures of penoxsulam with azimsulfuron or bentazon reduced efficacy only on late watergrass at the late growth stage. Nomenclature: Azimsulfuron, bentazon, clefoxydim (BAS 625H), cyhalofop, penoxsulam (DE-638), early watergrass, Echinochloa oryzoides (Ard.) Fritsch. #3 ECHOR, late watergrass, Echinochloa phyllopogon (Stapf.) Koss. # ECHPH. Additional index words: Antagonism, herbicide interactions, mixtures. Abbreviations: DAT, days after treatment.


In the introductory chapter of this volume, the editor, Vishnu Padayachee, states, rightly so, that during the first five years of South African democracy, a great deal of energy went into getting the development model right. He refers to the francophone experience of development economics ranging from orthodox policies and alternative development models, as well as the South African decade of liberation from 1985 to 1995. He contends that these traditions played an important role in shaping South African development policy today, but admits that the African National Congress (ANC) and its alliance partners are now all pushing their own agendas.


Central banks are not there to 'put the brake on innovation just for the sake of it', but to ensure that implications of major changes are well understood so that 'innovations set the right course for the economy, for business, for citizens, for society as whole.

This sentiment from the European Central Bank's Director of General Market Infrastructures and Payments, Ulrich Bindseil, is in reference to the challenges faced by central banks in responding to the emergence of digital currencies. Bindseil's commentary partially references a 2019 speech from the Bank of International Settlements General Manager Agustin Cartens. Bindsel, however, noticeably omits a portion of Cartens initial quote. Cartens original quote reads, "central banks do not put a brake on innovations just for the sake of it. But neither should they speed ahead disregarding all traffic conditions."

This distinction highlights the question that economists across the world are asking themselves: How should central banks respond to the emergence of digital currency? Borrowing on Cartens' traffic metaphor, should central banks pull over and let the private sector continue on the digital currency highway alone? Or should they speed ahead through the "traffic conditions" and develop their own central bank issued digital currency (commonly known as "CBDC"). A third option has also emerged, one that has been adopted by the Bank of Canada, which is to drive parallel to the highway waiting for the right time to merge.

The appropriate response depends on each central bank's perspective on the potential impact of digital currency on their domestic financial system. At risk of overusing the traffic metaphor, the question becomes, are digital currencies an innovative means of filling the potholes in the current payments system? Or are they a paradigm shift that will lead cars to a new highway?


Abstract: Kant's distinction between duties of right and of virtue remains controversial, for a number of reasons. A close look at the distinctions he draws and the claims that he makes suggests that a distinction between the requirements of enforceable duties of right and of unenforceable duties of virtue is neither exclusive nor exhaustive. It is not exclusive because it is possible to fulfil duties of right as a matter of principle, in which case what is done is both right and virtuous. It is not exhaustive because certain duties, among them the duty to enter a civil condition and duties of equity, are not in principle enforceable, yet are duties of right.


In the political transition from Friedrich the Pious to Friedrich Franz in 1785 there was a renewal and reconfiguration of the medical household of Schwerin and Ludwigslust. This refinement of the medical care at court has been prepared and accompanied by the reinforcement of literary activity of court physicians. The academic commitment of Butzow University teachers was characterized by gaining more discursive competence und focused the formation of midwifes, epidemic control, public health (food hygiene), and personal hygiene and was in a special way enhanced and challenged by the existence of the second residence in Ludwigslust whereby first the discursive competence figured, less the pragmatic question to translate the new medical requirements into specific administration or public institutions.


In the modern mine boring machine running, the contactor has become the main supply line component. However, due to improper operation, environmental impact, low quality, and unfavorable factors, often resulting in various types of contactor failures. First outlines the application of the underground tunneling electrical control box contactor, analyzes common faults and treatment methods of the electrical control box contactor in underground tunneling designs the underground tunneling electrical control box contacts based on faults treatment, concludes the related maintenance measures.


Bounded-impulse trajectory models are an important component of many spacecraft trajectory preliminary design workflows. This paper includes discussions on practical implementation considerations f...


In the processing of TC4 titanium alloy profile, the "peeling" defect appeared at the punching position, which led to the product being scrapped. For the reason of positioning quality problem, the failure analysis was carried out on the punching area of titanium alloy profile. Through metallographic observation and microstructure analysis, it was found that the "peeling" phenomenon in the punching area was finally located in the internal delamination defect of titanium alloy profile, which was caused by the folding during the hot deformation of profile and the extension during the further extrusion deformation. When the hole is punched, the defect is deformed by the machining force, forming a macroscopic "peeling" phenomenon.


This paper surveys the global health economy, with special emphasis on the allocation of resources, the measurement of medical outcomes and the determinants of international variation. The paper also discusses policy reforms in the major industrialized countries and assesses recent and current developments in the German, British and US health systems.


Plant condensed tannins are widely distributed in the plant kingdom,and have capabilities of chemical defense for ingestion of herbivores. Recent years,many studies have focused on the antiparasitic capabilities of plant condensed tannins w hich provide a new solution for prevention of parasites infection in herbivores. It is hopeful that condensed tannins become a substitute for anthelmintic in the future. Based on the summarization of research progress,in this paper,the mechanisms of prevention of parasites infection of plant condensed tannins for herbivores w ere generalized to tw o hypothesizes,w hich w ere nutrition immunology hypothesis and metabolic block hypothesis,and the variable factors influencing the capabilities of parasite prevention were reviewed.


Abstract 2252 Introduction: High dose chemotherapy and stem cell transplant remains an integral part of the therapy for Multiple Myeloma patients under age of 70. The collection of sufficient number of stem cells for one or more transplant is however sometimes a challenge. Moreover, the optimal timing for stem cell collection after induction chemotherapies is controversial. The standard recommendation is for stem cell collection after 4–6 cycles of non-alkylator regimen, however studies to support this practice are limited. Material and Method: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 366 patients who were diagnosed with multiple myeloma and mobilized at the Hospital of University of Pennsylvania between January 2002 and December 2008. Patients who did not meet the initial inclusion criteria were those who had induction regimens containing an alkalytor agent or whose regimens were not well documented and were excluded from futher analysis (85). Every 4 cycles of any non-alkalytor agent was considered to be one treatment session for the purpose of this analysis. 245 patients received 1 or 2 treatment sessions and 36 received > 2. All patients were mobilized with either Cyclophosphamide/G-CSF (CY/G-CSF), Plerixafor/G-CSF (AMD/G-CSF), or G-CSF alone. Result: The mean number of collected CD 34+ cells (CD 34+) was 9.22 × 106 CD34+/Kg in the patients who received 1 or 2 sessions and 6.87 × 1106 CD34+/Kg in the patients who received > 2 sessions (P= 0.005). The number of the patients who collected > 6 × 106 CD34+/Kg was 63%(153/246), 53%(19/36) respectively, (p= 0.005). The patients who mobilized with either CY/G-CSF or AMD/G-CSF collected higher number of CD34+ than the patients mobilized with G-CSF alone in both groups. (Table 1, 2.) The mean number of collected stem cells was 7.14 × 106 CD34+/Kg in the patients who received more than 2 sessions of different regimens and 6.26 × 106 CD34+/Kg in the patients who received > 2 sessions of the same regimen. Conclusion: The patients who mobilized after fewer than 8 cycles of non-alkylator agents (2 sessions) collected a higher number of CD 34+ than those with greater than 8 cycles. CY/G-CSF or AMD/G-CSF are similar and superior to G-CSF alone in the more heavily treated patients. The patients who received multiple sessions of the same regimen have similar outcome compared to those who received multiple different regimens suggesting that the duration of the treatment may impact stem cell collection more than the content of the regimen. Prospective studies in this regards are warranted. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


The present study was employed qualitative descriptive methods to examine ethnography of communication using Dell Hymes' SPEAKING mnemonic in the communication between husband and in wife who has no children for a long time in their family. the findings showed a connection between a childless couple with Hymes' SPEAKING terms. The results were communication among husband and wife who get infertility took place in the couple's house particularly in the living room (Setting) in which the scenes were a debate between husband and wife (Participants) who sat opposite in the night (Scene) to seek a corporate solution and maintain the relationship (Ends). The Act was started by awkward conversations which trigger argument and lead to quarrel (A). There were several tones such as serious, tense, sad, promised, regret, apologize, anger, mocking, rude, and pleading in which the communication was conducted in verbal and non-verbal speech (Key) by including code-mixing (Instrumentalities). The husband and wife communicated alternately as speaker and hearer who asking and questioning to respect each other and understanding each situation (Norms of interaction and interpretation). The genre was quarrel as the dialogues were about the debate (Genre).


A comprehensive and correct explanation of the historical formation of the capitalist mode of production and recurrence logic of ideological history is the prerequisite for the formation of the scientific theory of Marxism. Giddens also attempts to find the theoretical source for the historical formation of capitalism from the perspective of historical materialism. His interpretation of historical materialism, freed of many historically hidden issues, has again placed historical issues back into the real historical scenes, thus activating rich social connotations hidden deeply in history. But he rejects the universality of history and deduces history through empirical elements. This results from Giddens' misinterpretation of Marx's theory of production mode and his fetishism of diversified breakthroughs in modern predicament.


The federal shariat court of Pakistan recently upheld the country's 2007 Transplantation of human organs and tissue ordinance.1 A courageous campaign had originally established this legislation in Pakistan,2 a country in which poor people once received a pittance for selling their organs, while some organ brokers, doctors and hospitals became rich. The ordinance prohibits commercial organ donation, legalizes deceased donation, excludes donations to foreigners from unrelated Pakistani donors and establishes a human organ transplant authority to monitor transplantation activities and ensure transparency.

The transplant authority – at the Ministry of Health – must implement and enforce ethical practices and combat the resurgence of clandestine organ trafficking. Advocates of commercial transplantation and transplant tourism have openly sought to challenge the law. A society of transplant professionals interested in the sale of kidneys and the provision of transplantation services to tourists from abroad petitioned the federal shariat court on various grounds, including a claim that the prohibition against payment constituted a hurdle to the saving of human lives.

This petition exemplifies the persistent threats to ethical transplantation practice globally, highlighting the commercial appeal of paying vulnerable organ vendors to provide organs for distant elites. For example, patients from Saudi Arabia were regularly reported as clients of kidney transplantation clinics in Pakistan before the introduction of the 2007 ordinance. Saudi Arabia has since mirrored the Pakistani response to this threat, with both governments demonstrating that the pursuit of national self-sufficiency in human organs is the only way to progress towards equitable transplantation practice on a global level. The number of Saudi patients transplanted abroad has steadily decreased and donations from deceased donors increased to unprecedented levels in 2008.3 The Saudi authorities are clearly taking responsibility for meeting transplantation needs in the Kingdom, thereby minimizing the harmful effects of transplant tourism.

Other countries once recognized as transplant tourism destinations – such as Egypt and the Philippines – have recently adopted or are now considering draft laws banning commercial transplants.4,5 Countries that have previously resorted to transplant tourism have established – or are pursuing – self-sufficiency at the national or sub-regional level, for example in Israel, Japan and the Republic of Korea.6–8 Meeting transplantation needs at the national level avoids predatory behaviour at the expense of underprivileged populations in other countries. However, this goal can only be achieved by increasing deceased donations through efficient organ procurement organizations, as well as safely developing live-related kidney donation. The Member States of the World Health Organization were urged to do so in Resolution 57.18 of the 2004 World Health Assembly.9

Advocates of payment for living donation claim that altruism has been shown to be inefficient and insufficient, yet some countries, provinces and states have shown that self-sufficiency is within reach. Some countries have achieved success in the absence of paid donation, thus avoiding exploitative practices that shift the burden of organ donation to the poor.

The pursuit of national self-sufficiency in human material for transplantation is the collective responsibility of all citizens, inasmuch as they are necessary participants in the prevention and management of all diseases leading to the need for transplantation.

The shariat court judgment was a victory for the federal government and dedicated medical professionals in Pakistan seeking to establish and maintain ethical standards in organ procurement and transplantation. It was also a powerful affirmation of Islamic bioethics in harmony with the universal values expressed in the WHO guiding principles on human cell, tissue and organ transplantation and the Declaration of Istanbul.10,11

By putting a stop to the exploitation of vulnerable human beings and equipping the country with the legislation necessary to establish donation and transplantation services using organs from deceased donors, Pakistan has adopted the path to national self-sufficiency by which the health authorities invite citizens to donate organs after death. Potential donors are also reminded that they themselves may be potential beneficiaries of organs from deceased donors. In the pursuit of self-sufficiency, altruism, reciprocity and civic consciousness are the main motivations for donation. ■


The author presents a general method for determining the three-dimensional position and orientation of an object relative to a camera based on a two-dimensional image of known feature points located on the object. In contrast to the conventional approach, the method does not make use of the collinearity condition. Instead, the algebraic structure of the problem is fully exploited in arriving at a solution which is independent of the configuration of the feature points. Although the method is applicable to any number or distribution of feature points, no more than five points are needed from a numerical standpoint; three or four points will typically suffice. A necessary condition for the existence of the solution is obtained for the first time, and a rigorous proof of uniqueness is presented for the case of four coplanar points. Simulation results have shown that, in the case of four feature points, nonplanar configurations generally outperform coplanar point sets in both accuracy and robustness in the presence of image noise. >


Communication features in many engineering activities within an engineering project. It is the main form by which information & knowledge is shared, and facilitates the generation of a shared understanding between engineers. While there exists a significant body of literature relating to communication, much of the research has been through qualitative studies using techniques such as surveys, interviews and observation. Given the prevalence of computer-mediated communication and the development of techniques to analyse such datasets, there is now the opportunity to provide quantitative metrics that can characterise communication. Therefore, this paper examines this opportunity through the co-word analysis of the subject line terms of an engineering project e-mail corpus comprising of 10,628 e-mails, featuring 1,045 individuals and spanning over a 4 year period. More specifically, the analysis has focused on the evolution, use/re-use and centrality of terms across the various project stages. The results provide interesting insights in the evolution of engineering terminology, which leads onto a discussion on how these metrics may provide indicators of project 'normality'.


Free space optical (FSO) networking has emerged as a promising technology for bridging the last mile gap in current high-rate fibre networks as well as for high-rate next-generation broadband wireless communication networks. This paper theoretically investigates the performance of the Free Space Optic system under rainy weather conditions using Optisystem software. Quality factor and eye-diagram analysis are used to analyse the FSO performance for several rain intensity and precipitation, following the Carbonneau model for rain attenuation. The results show that the link is completely lost when the distances are at 1.5 km, 1.2 km, and 0.8 km for light rain, moderate rain, and heavy rain, respectively. An optical amplifier is then introduced to improve the system performances and increase the signal intensity, which helps to mitigate the atmospheric effects easily. As a result, data transmission is sustained without interruptions, and overall connectivity is enhanced. Results show that the transmission range improves up to several meters, specifically under moderate rain weather condition when using the optical amplifier gain is applied.


Background. Little is known as to whether negative experiences associated with infertility and IVF treatment persist after successful treatment. The aim of the study was to compare couples who have conceived after IVF and couples who have conceived naturally regarding personality factors and emotional responses to pregnancy.


Abstract The electron impact mass spectra of fifteen 4-substituted PBN's and PBN itself have been obtained using the probe method. Strong molecular ion peaks were observed in most cases. Fragmentation follows two major pathways depending on the polarity of the substitutent: the tert-butyl bond breaks to produce either the tert-butyl cation or isobutylene. The latter route is analogous to the well known McLafferty rearrangement. Fragmentation to produce the tert-butyl radical is a minor route. Electron-donating polar substituents appear to enhance fragmentation to isobutylene.


Voltage-gated sodium channels are responsible for excitable cell action potential initiation. In cardiomyocytes, SCN5A -encoded Nav1.5 is the primary voltage-gated sodium channel α subunit, although other Nav channel α subunits may secondarily modulate specific I Na properties. In addition to the pore-forming Nav1.5 α subunits, four accessory Nav β subunits (β1–β4) are expressed in the human heart. These β subunits have been hypothesized to affect anterograde membrane trafficking of Nav channel α subunits. The critical role of Nav1.5 for normal cardiac function is clearly demonstrated by cardiac defects in mice lacking Nav1.51 as well as by severe ventricular, atrial, and sinoatrial node arrhythmia phenotypes in patients harbouring gain- or loss-of-function mutations in SCN5A or in Nav channel β subunits (β1–β4).2

Over the past decade, work from a number of laboratories has defined the fundamental biophysical properties of Nav1.5 both in heterologous cells and in vivo .3 Additionally, high-resolution analyses of key Nav1.5 structural domains have provided exciting new insights into the mechanisms underlying Nav1.5 regulation.4 However, only recently has the field focused on investigating the cellular pathways required for the local expression and regulation …

*Corresponding author. Tel: +1 319 335 9691; fax +1 319 353 5552, Email: peter-mohler{at}uiowa.edu


The article compares and analyses the two schemes of open cycle cooling water system,finally decides to use shell and tube heat exchanger in the open cycle cooling water system and abrogate open cycle cooling water pump in Jiangsu Guohua Chenjiagang power plant as an optimum scheme,to consequently lessen the initial investment,reduces the auxiliary power ratio and improve the operation stability.


The interaction site formalism for molecular fluids is used to develop a microscopic theory for the dielectric constant e. A rigorous correlation function expression for e is obtained from an elementary application of linear response theory. The formula is applicable to mixtures and fluids composed of polarizable and deformable molecules. The derivation shows that the correlation functions which determine e are short ranged so that e can be expected to be independent of sample shape or any other macroscopic boundary conditions. The theories for e developed by Nienhuis and Deutch and by Ho/ye and Stell are shown to be special cases of the formalism given herein. A cluster diagramatic analysis is presented to examine the origin and significance of the large distance behavior of the correlations between neutral polar molecules. The diagramatic analysis is also used to show that the large distance form for the potential of mean force between two microscopic ions at infinite dilution in a dielectric liquid sol...


Libraries are essential parts of educational institutes that provide teaching resources and information. There is a loss of library resources due to the inefficiency of manual library systems which are not updating the information regularly. This paper aims to improve the existing library management systems at the university level using radio frequency identification technology (RFID) and the internet of things (IoT). RFID is a fast emerging technology as it enhances authenticity and reliability. The proposed smart library system uses RFID tag, RFID tag reader, ESP8266, and back-end database that store the required content. It automates the issue and return of books with minimum human intervention. The designed library portal gives the availability of a variety of library resources, book transaction information, and fine details for both students and staff. The data analysis of book transaction details is done and data visualisation is also made available to both user and admin.


Cell phones are dominating in the social life of university students as this becomes the essential part of our daily lives. In society, cell phones have significant impact as youth consider it a tool for social identity. This study is undertaken on the students of BZU-Bahadur campus Layyah to check the impact of cell phones on social capital of students. For this purpose 150 students are selected from different departments. A major results of this study indicate that social capital of students increases because through cell phones interaction of students increases. The study finding reveals that students are socially satisfied with the employ of mobile phones. The study also explored that social activities of female students are less affected than male students.


Toll-like receptor–mediated responses to pathogens can be modulated by targeting the TLR co-receptor CD14. Influencing Immunity Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are a type of pattern recognition receptor; they respond to conserved motifs on pathogens or produced during cellular stress and affect the downstream immune response. However, TLRs do not stand alone: One co-receptor that contributes to TLR activation is CD14. Now, Raby et al. show that targeting CD14 can modulate TLR-mediated immune responses to pathogens. TLRs are attractive therapeutic targets because of their contributions to inflammation. The authors hypothesized that one way to target TLR activity was through CD14. They used peptide screening and mutagenesis to identify regions in TLR2 that could be involved in the TLR2-CD14 interaction. Peptides derived from these putative interacting regions enhanced the proinflammatory response of TLR2 and TLR4 to bacterial pathogens both in vitro and in vivo in a mouse model of peritonitis. Raby et al. then further identified the mechanism of this enhancement—their peptides accelerated microbial ligand transfer from CD14 to TLR2, resulting in prolonged activation. What's more, these CD14-targeting peptides could overcome sepsis-induced immunosuppression in patient cells ex vivo. Thus, targeting CD14 may provide a therapeutic strategy for targeting TLRs. Dysregulation of Toll-like receptor (TLR) responses to pathogens can lead to pathological inflammation or to immune hyporesponsiveness and susceptibility to infections, and may affect adaptive immune responses. TLRs are therefore attractive therapeutic targets. We assessed the potential of the TLR co-receptor CD14 as a target for therapeutics by investigating the magnitude of its influence on TLR responses. We studied the interaction of CD14 with TLR2 by conducting peptide screening and site-directed mutagenesis analysis and found TLR2 leucine-rich repeats 5, 9, 15, and 20 involved in interaction with CD14. Peptides representing these regions interacted with CD14 and enhanced TLR2- and TLR4-mediated proinflammatory responses to bacterial pathogens in vitro. Notably, the peptides' immune boosting capacity helped to rescue proinflammatory responses of immunosuppressed sepsis patients ex vivo. In vivo, peptide treatment increased phagocyte recruitment and accelerated bacterial clearance in murine models of Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacterial peritonitis. Up-modulating CD14's co-receptor activity with TLR2-derived peptides also enhanced antigen-induced dendritic cell (DC) maturation and interleukin-2 production and, most notably, differentially affected DC cytokine profile upon antigen stimulation, promoting a T helper 1–skewed adaptive immune response. Biochemical, cell imaging, and molecular docking studies showed that peptide binding to CD14 accelerates microbial ligand transfer from CD14 to TLR2, resulting in increased and sustained ligand occupancy of TLR2 and receptor clustering for signaling. These findings reveal the influence that CD14 exerts on TLR activities and describe a potential therapeutic strategy to amplify responses to different pathogens mediated by different TLRs by targeting the common TLR co-receptor, CD14.


(57) Abstract: a device for field weakening in the double-salient pole variable reluctance motor having a permanent magnet on the stator. The field weakening increases the constant power range of the motor, the direction away from the direction and toward the side of the stator in proximity to the permanent magnet exercised by controlling the steel inset controllable around It is achieved by providing a bypass magnetic flux path. Also, Me this field weakening, the bypass magnetic flux path alternates around the permanent magnet in addition to the magnetic flux path of the main air gap by bridging the permanent magnet of the motor arranged discrete magnetic portions around the stator It may be achieved by providing a. Third means for maintaining a constant power range is achieved by into and out to the stator is slid in the axial direction which is controlling a permanent magnet itself.


Here we conduct a macroeconomic estimation of the trends regarding the income tax base by making use of the 93SNA while overcoming some of the problems detected in estimations in preceding research. If we take a look at the post-1997 trend, Morinobu and Maekawa (2001), although the tax base increased around the middle of the 2000s following the income deduction reforms, it basically showed a declining tendency after that period due to the increase in social security costs associated with the aging of the population. The widening of the tax base will be one of our big policy challenges in future tax system reforms in order to enhance the function of redistribution of income tax. In particular, we should facilitate the shift from income deduction to tax deduction with or without benefits, which is a main trend in tax reforms in other advanced countries, and should revise the spousal deduction system that lacks neutrality regarding, and is in disfavor of, women advancing in society, and also should revise the deductions for public pensions as well as for the medical expenses.


Objective: To monitor and biological behavior of transforming growth factor-α levels in gastric cancer patients serum and tissues.Methods: The expression of transforming growth factor-α protein detection in patients with gastric cancer by immunohistochemical method,ELISA was used to detect the serum of patients with gastric cancer interleukin-2,interleukin-6,interleukin-8,interleukin-18 protein concentration.Results: The patients with gastric cancer serum interleukin-6,interleukin-8,interleukin-18 and transforming growth factor-α levels were higher than those in healthy people,the serum levels of interleukin-2 levels were significantly lower than that of the healthy people,the difference was statistically significant(P0.05).Conclusion: The serum levels of interleukin-2,interleukin-6,interleukin-8,interleukin-18 and transforming growth factor alpha in gastric carcinogenesis,development,related to the biological behavior of gastric carcinoma.


A benzoquinone compound was unintentionally synthesized by photocyclization and subsequent oxidation in air while attempting to transform the E isomer of a nicotinamide derivative to its Z isomer. The chemical and molecular structures of the product was established crystallographically. The surprising synthesis, chromatographic purification and comprehensive characterization of this compound including single crystal structural analysis are reported and its structure including crystal packing is discussed in detail.


The crystal structures of several polyamides made from ω-aminocarboxylic acids have been studied at room temperature by x-ray diffraction. Previous workers have reported structures for only two members of the series, polycaproamide (nylon 6) and polyundecamide (nylon 11). It is found that the amino acid polymers fall into two main groups. Those which are made from monomers containing an odd number of carbon atoms are reminiscent of the triclinic structures found with the even-even diamine-dioic acid polyamides. Those which are made from amino acids having an even number of carbon atoms recall the hexagonal structures of the odd-odd diamine-dioic acid polymers. Evidently the preference for one crystal form over the other depends largely upon details of the coupling between amide groups on neighboring chains. The molecular arrays found in crystallites apparently occur to an important degree in the melt. Models for the molecular arrangements are discussed. Polycaproamide, hitherto the most widely studied member of the series, appears to be anomalous in its crystal structure.


Digital media make it possible to move from a conventional storytelling medium to other avenues that allow open stories to be told, maintaining the traditional basis of narratives while also adding other elements that enrich and deepen storytelling innovation. Therefore, it is important to analyze how the characteristics of digital storytelling work together in order to create meaning through new narratives. Recent documentary projects show how new ways of telling stories involve new ways of relating meaning and form, multiple platforms, and strong interaction and engagement from the side of the viewer. Interactivity and participation change the way in which a story is told and received, thus changing its nature as a narrative. To delve deeper into this field, I will analyze Highrise. The Towers in the World. World in the Towers, (http://highrise.nfb.ca) by Katerina Cizek. This is a complex project produced by the National Film Board of Canada, a multiyear, many-media collaborative documentary experiment that has generated many projects, including mixed media, interactive documentaries, mobile productions, live presentations, installations and films. I will develop a textual analysis on part of the project, the interactive documentary Out My Window, by focusing on its ways of meaning-making and the specific narrative implications of the relationship between meaning and form. The project is ambitious: Cizek's vision is "to see how the documentary process can drive and participate in social innovation rather than just to document it, and to help reinvent what it means to be an urban species in the 21st".


Gypsum is a relatively low-cost building material much abounding in our country. When it is put in contact with steel, it may produce high corrosion rates due to its pH value (close to 7). This work reports the results obtained in studying the corrosion rates of bare and galvanized steel in contact with gypsum and plaster, as well as the influence curing thermal treatment applied to gypsum, enviromental relative humidity and addition of compounds with different natures and purposes may have in such process.
In-situ observations, as well as the measurement of the Polarization Resistance and the weight loss have been used as measurement technics. From the results obtained it has been possible to deduce that galvanized steel has better behaviour in dry enviroments than bare steel in the same conditions and moist atmosphere induces proportionally more corrosion in galvanized steel than in bare one. Additions to gypsum do not modified these conclusions, though it may be pointed out that addition of nitrites or lime improves the behaviour of bare steel, while galvanized behaviour is not modified. The addition of lime is not recommended because phenomena of dilated along time expansion may take place.


Production of pure molecular hydrogen is essential to the realization of the proposed "hydrogen economy" that could ultimately provide hydrogen as a clean, renewable source of energy; eliminate the industrialized world's dependence on petroleum; and reduce the generation of greenhouse gases linked to global warming. A crucial step in obtaining pure hydrogen is separating it from other gaseous compounds—mainly CO_2—that often accompany hydrogen in industrial chemical reactions. Advanced membrane technology may prove to be the key to the successful, economical production of molecular hydrogen. Size-sieving glassy polymer membranes can separate H_2 on the basis of its small size. Alternatively, reverse-selective rubbery polymers can expedite the passage and, hence, removal of CO_2 due to its relatively high solubility in such membranes alone or in conjunction with dissociative chemical reactions. Transition-metal membranes and their alloys can adsorb H_2 molecules, dissociate the molecules into H atoms for transport through interstitial sites, and subsequently recombine the H atoms to form molecular H_2 again on the opposite membrane side. Microporous amorphous silica and zeolite membranes comprising thin films on a multilayer porous support exhibit good sorption selectivity and high diffusion mobilities for H_2, leading to high H_2 fluxes. Finally, carbon-based membranes, including carbon nanotubes, may be viable for H_2 separation on the basis of selective surface flow and molecular sieving. A wide variety of materials challenges exist in hydrogen purification, and the objective of this issue of MRS Bulletin is to address those challenges and their potential solutions from basic principles.


Journal: Canadian Journal of Civil Engineering Manuscript ID cjce-2016-0570.R1 Manuscript Type: Article Date Submitted by the Author: 21-Feb-2017 Complete List of Authors: ElKashef, Mohamed; The American University In Cairo, Department of Construction Engineering Abou-Zeid, Mohamed Nagib; The American University in Cairo, Department of Construction Engineering Is the invited manuscript for consideration in a Special Issue? : N/A


Sunspot cycle (SC) 24, the present ongoing SC, is now in its 9th year, having had a minimum in annual sunspot number (SSN) in 2008, measuring 4.2, and a minimum in 'smoothed' SSN in December 2008, measuring 2.2. Its maximum annual SSN occurred in 2014, measuring 113.3, and its maximum smoothed SSN occurred in April 2014, measuring 116.4. Following smoothed SSN maximum (SSN max), the first spotless day (FSD) during the decline of SC24 was reported in July 2014, a mere 3 months following SC24's maximum SSN amplitude, an interval shorter than the 13 months found for SC12 and the 8 months for SC14. Through December 2016, some 27 spotless days (1 in 2014 and 26 in 2016) have been seen, with more to come as SC25's epoch of minimum approaches. Examined in this study are the following three factors: (1) the variation in number of spotless days (NSD) relative to the epochs of sunspot minimum (SSN min) and SSN max, (2) the association between the maximum NSD and the SSN min, and (3) cyclic variations of selected spotless day-associated parameters. It is suggested that SC25's epoch of SSN min likely will occur sometime in 2020 or later and that SC24's NSD behavior represents a return to that experienced during SC12 and SC14. Hence, another prolonged minimum, like that experienced for SC23/24, might well occur for SC24/25. For comparison, SC24's interval of spotless days from first to last spotless day bounding SSN min extended 84 months and totaled 816 spotless days, with 265 spotless days reported during the year of annual SSN min.


We compare Carnap's and Kuhn's views on science. Although there are important differences between them, the similarities are striking. The basis for the latter is a pragmatically oriented semantic conventionalist picture of science, which suggests that the view that post-positivist philosophy of science constitutes a radical revolution which has no interesting affinities with logical positivism must be seriously mistaken.


THE INVENTION CONCERNS A METHOD AND DEVICE FOR CALCINING LIME, DOLOMITE AND OF SIMILAR MATERIALS, THE DEVICE IS THE TYPE THAT INCLUDES PREHEATER FOR RAW MATERIAL, AND COOLER FOR CALCINED PRODUCT BETWEEN WHICH ONE IS MONTE cALCINING DEVICE. DEVICE IS CHARACTERIZED BY THE DEVICE IS MADE OF cALCINING THE FORM OF DUCT RISING 1 HAVING AT LEAST TWO DEVICES FOR THE INTRODUCTION OF FUEL 2, 2. APPLICATION TO cALCINING LIME.


This article compares labor laws in China, Russia, and the US. It demonstrates how mimetic isomorphic tendencies and general principles of fairness such as equality, equity, and need may have resulted in similarities in the labor laws across all 3 countries. However, it is also shown that unique cultural, social, and historical factors have created significant differences in these labor laws. Understanding these differences will inform policy makers and business leaders.


A guide for students in MH360 researching topics related to folk and folk rock music of the 1960s. How to find primary sources about the 1960s folk movement


Objective To investigate effects and influences of the new subsidiary chemotherapy of advanced stage ovarian cancer and surgical treatment.Methods The patients with advanced stage the ovarian cancer for new subsidiary chemotherapy and surgical treatment were retrospectively analyzed.Results Radical resection and tumor cells destroy was 38(73.1%),and 14 cases were palliative resection,postoperative complications occurred in 22 cases(42.3%) and perioperative death occurred in 2 cases(3.8%).Conclusion Surgical treatment of ovarian cancer patients is primary treatment,and the new subsidiary chemotherapy is conducing to the treatment of ovarian cancer after the operation and improves living quality.


ABSTRACTResults are presented from an experimental export of frozen Tsigai sheep embryos from Sofia to Zagreb in 1988. Nine embryos at blastocyst or hatched blastocyst stage were recovered and frozen by conventional methods and stored at -196° C for 40 days. The embryos were then transported in a small container by plane and transferred to 4 local breed ewes. Three recipients were diagnosed as pregnant on the basis of the high level of blood plasma progesterone on day 17 (> 1.20 ng/ml) but only one of them delivered a live lamb. This was the first lamb in Yugoslavia produced by transfer of frozen-thawed embryo.


Food safety security and food risk prevention measures in Germany were reviewed,including objectives and principles of food safety security,sound security policy and system,strict preventive systems and measures,and the mass,science,and transparency character of effective monitor.


This work introduces an antenna added with a frequency selective surface (FSS) for breast tumor identification. The put forwared device is made on an FR4 substrate with relative permittivity 4.4 and thickness 1.6 mm. The developed antenna has a wide operating band from 2.9 - 13 GHz. An apex gain of 8.71 dBi is also achieved with the developed device. The impact of the antenna radiation on a developed breast phantom is also determined in this work, by calculating the Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) readings.


The aim of the research. Investigate the effect of crayfish planting density of different species on their weight growth and population survival.
Materials and methods of research. The research was conducted in the Aquaculture Laboratory of the Polissya National University. To conduct the experiment, 3 groups of 12-month-old crayfish of Australian red claw, Cuban marble, red swamp and noble crayfish species were formed, numbering 10, 20 and 30 individuals of each species. 50% of males and 50% of females were selected from the group.
Hydrobionts of each group were kept separately in tanks with an area of 0.65 m2. There were a total of 12 aquariums, the water temperature in which, according to the method of T. Abeel et al., was 25ºC, pH of water – 7ºT, oxygen content – 7 mg/l. The water quality was acceptable and the same for all test species, it was filtered using mechanical and biological filters.
Research results. It was established that the density of planting in the broodstock significantly influenced the weight growth of crayfish. Thus, the live mass of Australian redclaw crayfish species at stocking densities of 20 and 30 heads/m2 was lower compared to individuals whose stocking density was 10 heads/m2, respectively by 0.8 (P < 0.001) and 3.4 (P < 0.001), Cuban marble – by 0.9 (P < 0.01) and 1.7 (P < 0.001), red swamp – by 2.2 (P < 0.001) and 3.2 (P < 0.001) and noble crayfish – by 2.0 (P < 0.01) and 5.5 g (P < 0.001).
Variability of live mass, depending on crayfish species and stocking density, ranged from 1.7 to 6.4%, with the highest variation in red swamp species and the lowest in Australian redclaw crayfish. Average daily increases were characterized by much greater variability - from 20.7 to 32.1%.
Crayfish stocking density also had a significant impact on the level of cannibalism and stock preservation. It should be noted that the largest number of lost limbs was noted in individuals of the noble species. At the maximum planting density (30 heads/m2), the loss of limbs was 76.7%, and at a planting density of 20 heads/m2 – 55.0%, which is 46.7 and 35% more than that of the crayfish of the first group. 0% respectively. The smallest number of lost limbs was observed in individuals of the marble species at a planting density of 10 heads/m2. According to this indicator, they were inferior to hydrobionts of the second and third groups by 20.0 and 33.3% (P < 0.01). The crayfish of the first group of the Australian redclaw species were inferior to individuals of the second and third groups by 20.0 and 33.3%, and the red swamp species – by 15.0 and 26.7%, respectively.
Regarding the preservation of the crayfish population at different planting densities, it should be noted that with an increase in the number of individuals per 1 m2, their survival rate decreased. In the first group, the highest death rate was observed in crayfish of the Australian redclaw and noble species – 2 heads each. Among individuals of the red swamp and marble species, 1 individual died each.
At a stocking density of 20 heads/m2, survival of the crayfish population decreased significantly: in individuals of the Australian redclaw by 15.0, marble and red swamp by 5.0, and noble crayfish by 20%.
At the maximum stocking density, marble crayfish were characterized by the highest population preservation – 76.7%, and noble crayfish – the lowest (43.3%). At the same time, the difference in this indicator between the hydrobionts of all species of the third and first groups (with the exception of the marble species) was significant and amounted to 24.3 (P < 0.05) for the Australian redclaw crayfish, 13.3 for the marble crayfish, and 13.3 for the red swamp crayfish – 16.7 (P < 0.05) and noble – 37.7% (P < 0.01).
Conclusions. The density of their landing has a significant effect on the live weight and preservation of the crayfish population of various species. At the maximum planting density of hydrobionts, a significant decrease in the survival of individuals was observed, while their live weight and average daily growth probably increased, which is obviously explained by the crayfish eating dead individuals in addition to the given feed.


So far, there have been three important theories explaining the nature and extent of grammatical deficit in agrammatic aphasia. In this respect, while the two mainly performance-based theories of agrammatics, trade-off hypothesis (TOH) and mapping hypothesis (MH) hold a very broad account of this deficit, the trace deletion hypothesis (TDH) enjoys a much narrower stance on the nature of the deficit as well as on the question of modularity. This research being the first one in the Persian context tries to testify this theory in 4 age, education and gender matched Persian-speaking agrammatics and the same matched controls via executing grammatical judgment test. For the purpose of evaluating subjects' performance, 90 pairs of sentences, composed of well-formed and ill-formed ones, were presented to the subjects in the randomized manner, based on which participants were supposed to express their opinions regarding their grammaticality in a grammatical judgment task. The types of sentences being testified included active agentive, object cleft, subject cleft, agentive passive, psychological passive and object wh-constructions. Our findings, in pro with the predictions of TDH, indicated that agrammatics had lots of challenges with constructions in which constituent movements are involved. In contrast, in agentive constructions, their comprehension remained intact. The theoretical and psychological implications of the findings were discussed.


1 Department of Clinical Psychology, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran. 2 Department of Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Hamadan Branch, Iran. 3 Research Center for Behavioral Disorders and Substances Abuse, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran. Iranian National Center for Addiction Studies (INCAS), Iranian Institute for Reduction of High-Risk Behaviors, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. ASEAN Institute for Health Development, Mahidol University, Nakhonpathom, Thailand. 6 Psychiatric Clinics, University of Basel, Center for Affective, Stress and Sleep Disorders, Basel, Switzerland. Department of Sport, Exercise and Health Science, Sport Science Section, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.


This article uses the research methods of investigation and comparative and other research methods to analyse objective environment of college sport industrialization development.


sults can be seen as a valuable reference, which could be helpful in related research works to screen plant species for vegetation restoration in karst areas of China. As for the study itself, this paper is worthy to be published in the journal "Biogeosciences". However, this manuscript needs a major revision before publication, especially revisions in paper structure and writing quality. Re.1 Thanks for the positive comments.


BACKGROUND
The increased incidence of bee-sting allergy among beekeepers is well known, whereas Hymenoptera hypersensitivity among forestry workers, who are frequently stung by Hymenoptera, is not well understood.

OBJECTIVE
To elucidate the nature of Hymenoptera hypersensitivity among forestry workers and analyze the mechanism involved in Hymenoptera-induced systemic reactions.

METHODS
A questionnaire was administered and yellow jacket venom-specific IgE antibody titers measured in 323 forestry workers and 100 age-matched office workers with little occupational exposure to Hymenoptera stings as a control group.

RESULTS
From the questionnaire it was found that the percentage of systemic reactions to Hymenoptera stings was significantly greater in the forestry workers than in the control subjects (P < .01). The number of sting exposures was significantly higher in the forestry workers than in the control subjects (P < .01) and was closely correlated with episodes of systemic reaction. Yellow jacket venom-specific IgE antibody titers were significantly higher in forestry workers with episodes of systemic reaction compared with those with only local or large local reactions to Hymenoptera (P < .05), although more than half of these subjects had undetectable IgE antibody titers to yellow jacket venom. IgE antibody titers against yellow jacket venom were closely correlated with those of paper wasp (rs = .802, P < .001), which is another frequent source of Hymenoptera stings. In workers with episodes of sting exposure within the most recent 3 years, the period from the last sting was not correlated with yellow jacket venom-specific IgE antibody titers.

CONCLUSIONS
The number of sting exposures may contribute to systemic reactions to Hymenoptera sting, and some mechanism other than IgE mediated hypersensitivity may also be involved in Hymenoptera-induced systemic reactions.


A case of otogenic extradural abscess due to cholesteatoma is reported. A 9-year-old boy was diagnosed with chronic otitis media and underwent medical treatment. He complained of left otalgia, ear discharge and headache. CT scan provided the most reliable information for diagnosis, and revealed the presence of an extradural abscess. He was treated by mastoidectomy and craniotomy. He was subsequently treated by staged tympanoplasty and good auditory acuity was secured.


A second-order linear differential equation with two irregular singular points, of which one has unit rank, is investigated. A simple limit formula is obtained for the characteristic exponent of the multiplicative solutions as well as a more detailed asymptotic formula which is suitable for getting accurate numerical values. Only the recursively known coefficients of the formal power series solutions at the irregular singular point of unit rank enter our formulas


Given image data from two distinct populations and a family of functions, we find the scalar discriminant function which best discriminates between the populations. The goals are two-fold: first, to construct a discriminant function which can accurately and reliably classify subjects via the image data. Second, the best discriminant allows us to see which features in the images distinguish between the populations; these features can guide us to finding characteristic differences between the two groups even if these differences are not sufficient to perform classification. We apply our method to mid-sagittal MRI sections of the corpus callosum from 34 males and 52 females. While we are not certain of the ability of the derived discriminant function to perform sex classification, we find that regions in the anterior of the corpus callosum do appear to be more important for the discriminant function than other regions. This indicates there may be significant differences in the relative size of the splenium in males and females, as has been reported elsewhere. More notably, we applied previous methods which support this view on our larger data set, but found that these methods no longer show statistically significant differences between the male and female splenium.


Statistical consulting is a growing field but its relevance has not been fully appreciated, especially in many Nigerian Universities and Higher Institutions. This paper posits that acquisition of statistical consulting/collaboration skills among higher education students is highly instrumental to educational and research development in Nigeria. We survey the awareness, practice and teaching of statistical consulting in one of Nigeria's foremost universities. We also offer some suggestions for improvement and conclude by proposing a way forward for Universities in Sub-Saharan Africa to adopt.


The photoconductivity and electron mobility of ZnS and Cdl2 crystals have been studied (Chapter II and III respectively) using N2 -laser, fundamental and frequency doubled Nd:YAG laser. Extremely low values -3 of the electron mobility (~10 cm2/V sec), are however, found to be varying with the order of absorption, in both the cases, when different lasers are used. It is found to be low in case of one-photon absorption and increases with the order of absorption.


The Forms and Functions of Aggression Questionnaire is widely used to measure the aggressive behavior in the peer context by many researchers. This scale was developed by Little, Jones, Henrich, and Hawley in 2003. It consists of four principle dimensions of aggressive behavior: overt and relational aggression, instrumental and reactive aggression. The objectives of this study were (i) to evaluate the revised and translated version of this scale by CFA, (ii) to know the reliability of the model, and (iii) to prove the validity of the model. The Chinese version appears to be a valid and reliable instrument for the assessment of relational aggression against sibling. The resulting model will help future researchers, especially related to aggression in the sibling context.


The invention provides an in-the-ear hearing aid having a first end and a second end, includings: a microphone configured to receive an audio signal; a printed circuit board comprising a processing unit configured to process the audio signal for compensating a hearing loss of a user; a receiver configured to transmit the processed audio signal; a battery having a first side and a second side, where the battery is located at the second end; one or more wireless communication units for wireless communication; a first antenna for emission and/or reception of an electromagnetic field being interconnected with one of the one or more wireless communication units, wherein the first antenna is located at the second end of the hearing aid; and a second antenna for emission and/or reception of an electromagnetic field being interconnected with one of the one or more wireless communication units, located at the second side of the battery. The printed circuit board is provided at the first side of the battery. The first antenna is fed from the printed circuit board at the first side of the battery and extends to the second side of the battery.


The year 1968 saw a major shift from univariate to multivariate methodological approaches to ratio-based modelling of corporate collapse. This was facilitated by the introduction of a new statistical tool called Multiple Discriminant Analysis (MDA). However, it did not take long before other statistical tools were developed. The primary objective for developing these tools was to enable deriving models that would at least do as good a job asMDA, but rely on fewer assumptions. With the introduction of new statistical tools, researchers became pre-occupied with testing them in signalling collapse. lLTUong the ratio-based approaches were Logit analysis, Neural Network analysis, Probit analysis, ID3, Recursive Partitioning Algorithm, Rough Sets analysis, Decomposition analysis, Going Concern Advisor, Koundinya and Purl judgmental approach, Tabu Search and Mixed Logit analysis. Regardless of which methodological approach was chosen, most were compared to MDA. This paper reviews these various approaches. Emphasis is placed on how they fared against MDA in signalling corporate collapse.


Abstract This article asks historians of education to think about the influences that we bring to bear on our work. It uses, as an example, Carolyn Steedman's book The Tidy House: Little Girls Writing (1982). The Tidy House set out to interpret a short story written by three primary school girls in Britain in 1976. Steedman contextualised this source against the backdrop of modern children's writing and childhood experience in nineteenth- and twentieth-century Britain. Viewing the book itself as a source, this article explores the intellectual background (the 'theoretical field') that gave its ideas meaning. This involves looking at the historiographical surroundings of the author, such as Marxism and feminism, in a wider lens. It also entails a consideration of how The Tidy House relates to educational thought today – as well as to key issues tackled by some of the most celebrated historians of education in the last 40 years.