CALCRUST is a new consortium of six academic institutions from California engaged in seismic reflection studies of the continental crust. CALCRUST activities are concentrated in the southwestern U.S. where a diversity of geotectonic styles occur which are fundamental to the evolution of continental margins. The good surface geologic control provided by excellent outcrop exposure and more than two decades of intensive mapping adds to the attractiveness of the region for deep-crustal investigation. Current CALCRUST efforts are directed in large part, toward development of a crustal transect from the Colorado Plateau (stable North American craton) to the Salton TrougWGulf of California (continental riftinghansform). The transect crosses a variety of tectonic elements central to the Mesozoic and Cenozoic evolution of the continental margin of western North America (e.g. Coney 1981; Dickinson 1981). The line of transect is shown schematically in Fig. 1A; also shown are the various major tectonic elements to be crossed. Both compressional and extensional structures are involved. CALCRUST is not only addressing the seismic character and geometry of the individual elements or structures, but also relationships between them. The first work on the transect began during CALCRUST's pilot program from 1984 to 1986. It focussed on the detachment fault terrane of the Whipple Mountains in southeastern California (Fig. 1B). The Whipple Mountains are part of the "metamorphic core complex" of the North American Cordillera (Davis et al. 1979, 1980; Crittenden et al. 1980). Well exposed in the Whipple Mountains and common to the core complexes of Arizona and southeastern California is a series of low-angle normal, or detachment faults of mid-Tertiary age, indicating appreciable crustal extension. Also exposed in the range are zones of pronounced mylonitic foliation, which are seen on a regional basis throughout large parts of the southwestern U.S. (Crittenden et al. 1980). Finally, immediately south of the Whipple Mountains, Mesozoic thrusts and nappes (Hamilton 1982) are exposed in the Riverside and Big Maria Mountains (Fig. IB). Two important questions are posed by the presence of these three structural elements (detachments, mylonites, and thrusts) in the vicinity of the Whipple Mountains:


The heat exchanging between the heating or cooling gas flow and the inner surface of iron ore pelletizing pot are analyzed and a method for calculating the "heat inertia" of the pot is put forward and tested through experiments. This method provides a necessary fundament for working out the engineering operation parameters for firing iron ore pellets based on the experiments in laboratory and process mathematical model calculation.


How can one sum up a man's life in a few pages? You really cannot. On one side is Bernie's professional life: the positions he held and the contributions he made. On the other side are the more personal aspects of his life: his relationships to wife and family, to students and colleagues, and to enduring friendships. The selectivity used in this tribute does not denote the breadth and depth of Bernie's professional and personal life experiences; only Alice, his wife and colleague for more than 46 years, can do that. Bernie was born on October 15, 1923 in Washington, D.C., and died on January 30, 2003, within a month after he retired from the University of Missouri at Kansas City. His journey ended there after 26 productive years at that institution. He is survived by his wife, Alice, his brother, Sam, and several nieces and nephews. He received his bachelor's and master's degrees, in 1952 and 1953, respectively, from George Washington University and received his Ph.D. from Pennsylvania State University in 1958. He completed a postdoctoral fellowship in psychotherapy at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine where he met Carl Rogers. He was greatly influenced by Rogers while there:


Abstract:Anne Carson: Ecstatic Lyre collects new and brief essays on Carson's work, beginning with her study of Sappho and ending with her most recent collaborations, translations, and poems. Edited by Joshua Marie Wilkinson, it includes pieces " from a number of dissimilar writers who all recognized the influence and import of Carson's work on their own" (4). After sketching some of the book's most rewarding essays, this review considers the broader value of Ecstatic Lyre: despite some drawbacks in presentation, the book is full of stimulating perspectives on Carson, and it vividly suggests her significance to another generation of writers.


This book review is on E.Koroglu's study on the relationship between Ottoman war propaganda, the emergence of Turkish nationalism and their reflections on Ottoman-Turkish literature.


Simple Preparation of the Binary Metal-Sulfur Clusters [MO3S13]2− and [Mo2SI2]2− from MoO42− in Practically Quantitative Yield

(NH4)2[Mo3S(S2)6] 2 H2O (2) could be isolated by heating an aqueous solution of MoO42− with (NH42− Sx, for several hours. The anions of both compounds are in equilibrium under the stated conditions.


Parasitic protozoan infections of the red blood cell are among the most widespread and devastating pathogens of vertebrates. In humans, two genera of pathogens cause disease: the Plasmodia, which cause malaria, and the Babesia, which cause babesiosis. In this thesis, we apply the tools of whole genome sequencing and evolutionary genetics to study factors contributing to the spread of these pathogens: in P. falciparum, the acquisition of multiple drug resistance, and in B. microti the development of azithromycin resistance and the population genetics of emergence.
In the first part of this work, we test whether an accelerated mutation rate predisposes to acquisition of drug resistance in P. falciparum. Epidemiologically, resistance tends to begin along the Thai-Cambodian border, and from there spreads to other parts of the world. Environmental conditions such as inadequate drug dosing likely facilitate drug resistance, but molecular evidence also suggests that parasites from the Thai-Cambodian border may harbor genetic traits that let them develop resistance to novel antimalarials at an elevated rate. Low-dose drug pressure has also been proposed to be mutagenic, since several antimalarial agents have known DNA binding properties and have been shown to impair DNA damage repair pathways in P. falciparum. To test these hypotheses, we directly assayed substitution rates in a parasite line from the Thai-Cambodian border and a South American isolate, with and without chloroquine pressure. Sampling parasite DNA over a total of 760 generations (~4.2 years), we identified 17 mutations, producing an estimate of the substitution rate at 1.065x10^9 substitutions per site, per generation. We find that chloroquine pressure does not alter the mutation rate. We further find that substitutions accrued at an approximately 3-fold rate in the lines from Southeast Asia, a result which trended toward but did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.056). We argue that this is insucient by itself to account for the rapidly increased rate at which ARMD parasites acquire drug resistance. By sequencing intermediate timepoints, we also characterize the dynamics of allele substitution in vitro.
In the second part of this thesis, we characterize Babesia microti by sequencing clinical isolates and enzootic strains. Since the first case in 1969 [36], human babesiosis due B. microti has emerged as important infection in the Northeast USA [84]. In order to characterize natural selection, recent evolutionary history, and the genetic architec ture of Babesia microti populations, we created a map of genetic diversity from clinical strains. We describe this map, and show that B. microti isolates from the Northeast USA possess a paucity of nucleotide diversity, consistent with very recent common ancestry of circulating strains. We describe how B. microti genomes display a predominance of rare alleles and a number of segregating sites in excess of pairwise nucleotide diversity, suggestive of a recent population expansion. Finally, we identify RPL4 as a candidate gene for azithromycin resistance based on a non-synonymous substitution that occurs in a highly conserved arginine in the azithromycin binding region of the L4 component of the 50S ribosomal subunit in a patient with azithromycin failure.


Data are presented relating family size and birth intervals to prevalence of malnutrition and to subsistence costs in Bulacan Province Philippines. Prevalence of malnutrition among preschool children increased from 35.5% to 48.5% as the number of preschoolers in the family increased from 1 to 3. Prevalence of malnutrition by interval until next sibling in families with 2 children only was 55% for an interval of 18 months or less declining to 28.5% for intervals of 31 months or more. The minimum daily cost of food increased from 41% of the minimum wage for a family of 3 to 101% for a family of 7. The impact of nutrition and family planning programs on births deaths and net population growth also is presented. Family planning alone reduced population growth over the rate of a control population by 12% without major changes in mortality rates. Integrated family planning and nutrition programs reduced population growth by 11% and also achieved significant reductions in infant and child mortality. (authors modified)


In this paper, a mathematical model for handover performance indicators in LTE(long time evolution) wireless networks is proposed with the aim of predicting handover parameters and improving handover reliability and efficiency, considering the impact and interdependency of key handover settings (offset, TTT, UE velocity, distance). The best combination of key parameters can be easily achieved by finding the optimal solution of a nonlinear optimization problem, which results in efficient reduction of target handover (HO) failure rate and ping pong rate. The modification of the model is also presented taking the impact of UE location and speed into account. Simulation results and matching error analysis indicate that the proposed fitting functions have an average match quality of over 90% in terms of HO failure rate and ping pong rate, which is good enough to be used for handover prediction.


Public product is too important to be absent in improving social Welfare. Due to the failure of supplying public product in market, the traditional theory considers that the government is the best supplier of public product. In practice, China's government is assumed as a supplier of course. On the basis of studying the actuality of supplying public product in China, this article analyzes the inefficient reason of supplying public product simply by the government, then, brings forward the countermeasures of solving the problems.


This study examined the use of cooking utensils among Australians and the influence of respondents' socio-economic characteristics on utensil usage. A total of 1,027 Australians completed an online survey and reported frequencies of 23 utensils used and details of their demographics, cooking experiences, and household types. Latent class analysis suggested two types of usage patterns: high and moderate use. Ethnic background, cooking evening meals from scratch, and the number of people in the household associated with high utensil use. The lack of strong relationships between utensil usage and socio-economic and demographic characteristics suggests the unique nature of cooking practices.


Polymer cholesteric-liquid-crystal (PCLC) flakes suspended in a fluid are used as the active medium in a novel particle-based, electro-optic technology. The motion of PCLC flakes is controlled with an electric field so that PCLC flake devices are brightly reflective in their "off" state and appear dark when an electric field is applied, causing the flakes to reorient 90°. Basic devices using a mildly conductive host fluid such as propylene carbonate are not bistable, and flakes relax to their original position within tens of seconds to minutes after the electric field is removed. We seek to control flake orientation by designing waveforms that follow the initial drive voltage. Shaped pulses were investigated to accelerate flake relaxation. The optimal pulse for motion reversal was found to be a 1.5-s sawtooth pulse with a 3-V amplitude. We also examined the use of holding voltages, which follow the driving voltage, but have amplitudes a fraction of the driving-voltage magnitude. The holding voltage prevents flakes from relaxing, while saving on power consumption. Cells driven at several volts were found to retain their brightness with the application of a holding voltage between 0.4 to 0.5 V.


The experiment is to discover the effects of physiological saline and different concentration of ZnSO4 and MgSO4 solution on the rabbit by observing and measuring its blood pressure(BP) and heart rate(HR).The pattern of the anaesthetic rabbit was built by abdominal cavity injection-anaesthesia approach.Then the rabbit was given an injection of physiological saline(5mL) and different concentration of MgSO4 and ZnSO4 solution by the ear side.Changes of HR and BP are shown and recorded by BL-410 intelligence biology signal.The results showed that physiological saline does not have a distinct effect on HR and BP of rabbit,while the different concentration of ZnSO4 and MgSO4 solution have certain pressor effects,and the pressor effects was more evident with the change of concentration.


ON December 7th, 1891, Dr. Sharkey was called into consultation by Dr. Gordon Hogg, of Chiswick, and Dr. Hartzhorne, to see a boy who was suffering from head symptoms and a high temperature with rigors. The case was as follows: A boy, aged 10, was seized on November 27th with acute pain in the head and right ear. On inquiry it was found that in the preceding May he had had influenza followed by pain in the right ear, and a discharge, which had continued in a trivial manner ever since. But on examination at this date (November 27th) Dr. Hogg could not find any pus in the auditory canal, and the pain seemed to be situated rather below the ear. On November 30th Dr. Hogg came to the conclusion that an abscess was probably forming in the tympanum, and ordered the canal to be freely syringed. On December 2nd, five days after the outset of the symptoms, he was sick and had what was thought to be a fit. He became livid and faint but had no definite epileptiform convulsions. It was probable that at this time the internal jugular vein was suddenly obstructed by thrombosis, and caused the slight cerebral disturbance resembling a fit. It may, however, have been due to the inflammatory infiltration around the internal jugular vein compressing the pneumogastric nerve, or in some way interfering with its function. This attack was followed a few hours afterwards by a rigor and a temperature of 1050F. On each of the next four succeeding days there was a rigor with a temperature varying from 103° to 1050, followed always by a sharp fall to a point between 970 and 990, and accompanied by profuse sweating. There was no discharge from the ear, but the pain in the right side of the head and ear continued. A swelling also in the neck on the right side at the angle of the jaw appeared and steadily increased in size. At the consultation held on December 7th, between Dr. Sharkey, Dr. Gordon Hogg, and Dr. Hartzhorne, the boy seemed in a very critical condition. He had had five rigors of the kind usually seen in pyiemia. He complained only of pain in head and ear, the swelling in the neck having come on some time after the onset of these symptoms. There was no other lesion to account for the illness except suppuration in the middle ear, which was previously discharging scarcely a noticeable amount of pus, but had ceased to discharge altogether at the time of the first commencement of the attack on November 27th. There was neither optic neuritis nor any tenderness over the mastoid. But with the history of a slight previous discharge from the right ear, persistent pain on the right side of head, and the inflammatory swelling at the right angle of the jaw, they came to the conclusion that the pyinmic-looking rigors and fever were probably indicative of suppurative thrombosis of the lateral sinus, and that the internal jugular was blocked below. Dr. Sharkey therefore suggested that a surgeon should be asked to see the case with reference to trephining over the lateral sinus and ligaturing the internal jugular in the neck. As the consultation was late in the afternoon, I was unable to reach the house before 9.30 P.M. In the meantime the boy had begun to complain of pain in the left forearm, and on examination a tender red patch was found, with a slight deep-seated swelling over the ulna. The lungs were described as being free from any discoverable lesion. There was no swelling or tenderness o-ver the mastoid, but at the right angle of the jaw there was a large pyriform inflammatory swelling, which terminated abruptly at the upper border of the thyroid cartilage, leaving plenty of room below for a careful dissection of the internal jugular. No cord could be felt in this position, and it was thought that it might possibly be free from septic clot.


A draft of the international treaty on tobacco control, published by the World Health Organization (WHO) in January, has disappointed the antitobacco lobby. While the text proposes new legislation to reduce tobacco distribution and consumption, there is no call for a ban on sponsorship and advertising, which had been the WHO's top priority.

The chairman of the treaty's intergovernmental negotiating body, Celso Amorim, said that the proposed measures were meant to "reduce the prevalence of tobacco use" …


This research aims to design and create a model excavator with a pneumatic system. Besides that, it is described the use of fuzzy logic control (FLC) for the pneumatic system on the excavator models. Stages of research started from the design and manufacture of excavator models. When the work plan which includes the selection of materials, actuators, determine the dimensions, ways of working, mechanism, control method. At this stage of the modeling includes the manufacture of mechanical systems, actuators installation and programming. Before starting a program is preceded by using kinematics formulation excavator models, while the method used is a manipulator with four degrees of freedom and a mobile robot as a base with 2 degrees of freedom. Tracking trajectory selected in the test wheel excavator models. As for the arms, there is a boom, arm and bucket and the base of frame of the excavator that arm can rotate. Tests performed on the rotational motion actuator is a DC electric motors and straight motion of pneumatic cylinders. A microcontroller Arduino mega-actuators are used to control the rotation and rectilinear motion, then modeled using fuzzy logic control type mamdani, mulit input multi output (MIMO), comprising 3 inputs and 2 outputs. In this study, fuzzy control model of excavator with a pneumatic system with membership function as a Gaussian function is simulated. Then, the author chose this system is simulated using Matlab software to test its performance.


Summary: The CombiMouse TM is a new input device for personal computers that combines the functionality of a keyboard and a mouse into one device. Preliminary results of first-time usage indicate the device to be very promising. CombiMouse performance was shown to be just as efficient as the traditional mouse and significantly more efficient than the track ball and another novel input device. Typing performance was not as fast as the traditional keyboard, though users reported they would improve with practice.


Methyl and phenyl isocyanates react with diborane to yield N-methyl- or N-borylformamide cyclic trimer and dimethylaminoborane or N-methylanilinoborane. The analogous isothiocyanates also react with diborane. Whereas the methylisothiocyanate-diborane reaction forms the thio analogue of the cyclic trimer obtained from the methylisocyanate–diborane reaction, the phenylisothiocyanate-diborane reaction forms the monomer PhNCS·BH3 and the dimer (PhNCS·BH3)2. The identification of the compounds in the solid was by precision mass spectroscopy.


The purpose of this study was to determine the condition of physical education facilities and infrastructure in Junior High Schools in Jogorogo District for the 2021/2022 academic year. This research is a quantitative descriptive study, in this study it describes the state of physical education facilities and infrastructure in junior high schools in Jogorogo District, Ngawi Regency. The data was obtained from the process of the researcher's visit to all State Junior High Schools in the Jogorogo District, then with the help of the physical education teacher, the researcher saw directly and filled in the data on the observation sheets both in warehouses and other places according to the observation sheets that had been arranged. The results of the study are based on the number of facilities and infrastructure categorized as good with a percentage of 66.66%, based on their condition categorized as good with a percentage of 66.66%, and ownership status categorized as self-owned by 66.66%.


AIM To stndy on the synthetic method, the synthetic process and the structure of zine norfloxacine. METHODS The synthetic method and the optimal process was studied by orthogonal test. The structure was detected by infrared spectrophotometry, UV spetrophotometry and thermogravimetry. RESULT Zinc Norfloxacine was synthesized from norfloxacine and zine sulphate by two steps.The chemical structnre was confirmed by infrared spectrophotometry,The specific absorb peak of carboxyl was 1 574 cm -1 and 1393 cm -1 in infrared spectrogram of zinc noifloxacime. However the specific absorb peak of carboxyl was 1 731 cm -1 in infrared spectrogram of norfloxacine. It showal that carboxylic saline in the molecule of zine norfloxacine mabes negative electric charge average distribntion as carboxglic saline forms carboxylic radicel. The UV spectrogram showed that maxium absorb wave length of norfloxacine was 277 nm and maxinm absorb wave length of zine norflaxcine was 276 nm. It was proved that using thermogravimetry Zine norfloxacine contained 7 908% association water, the initial temperatnre of decomposition was 261 31. ard the molecule of Zinc norfloxacine contained threc molecules of crystal water. CONDNSION In synthetic process of Znie norfloxacine being avoided the reactian between sodium hydrate and Zinc sulphete by the two steps,the quality of production was raised. The optimal synthetic process of sdium norfoxacine is that molar ratio of norfloxcaine to sodium hydrate is 1∶1 1, the reaetion temperatirre is at 60 and reaction time is for 0 5 hour. The optimai synthetic process of Zinc Norfloxacine is that molar ratio of sodium Norfloxcaine to Zinc sulphate is 1∶1 1, reaction temperature is at 70 and reaction time is for 2 hours.


Abstract : The United States Air Force relies heavily on computer networks for many day-to-day activities. Many of these networks are affected by various types of attacks that can be launched from anywhere on the globe. The rising prominence of organizations such as the AFCERT and the MAJCOM NOSCs is evidence of an increasing realization among the Air Force leadership that protecting our computer networks is vitally important. A critical requirement for protecting our networks is the ability to detect attacks and intrusion attempts. This research is an effort to refine a portion of an AFIT-developed intrusion detection system known as the COmputer Defense Immune System (CDIS). CDIS is based on the human immune system and uses antibodies to attempt to detect network intrusion attempts. The antibodies have various attributes of which a subset is randomly activated at generation time. This research attempts to determine which of the antibody attributes are most useful in helping to build successful antibodies.


Jurassic to Early Cretaceous accretionary complexes were formed by subduction of an old and cold oceanic plate more than 100 m.y. old. Whereas those in the Late Cretaceous and Paleogene periods formed upon a young and warm oceanic plate, which spent less than 30 m.y. from its birth to subduction. The character of the boundary between the oceanic crusts of differing ages is left unknown. Terrigeneous mudstones of the Ganpiyama Comlex (Kawamura et al., 2001) in the Kamuikotan Zone of Hokkaido Yields radiolarian fossils of late Albian to early Cenomanian (Agency for Natural Resources and Energy, 1989). This study aims to clarify the mode of connection between the old and new oceanic plates reconstructing oceanic plate stratigraphy in the Ganpiyama Complex, which might have formed in the turning point from the old to young plate subduction. This presentation will show reconstructed oceanic plate stratigraphy based on observation of fragmented sedimentary successhion and newly obtained radiolarian ages. The Ganpiyama Complex occurs surrounded by serpentinite and underwent very low grade high-pressure metamorphism with occurenses of alkali pyroxene and aragonite (Kawamura et al., 2001). This complex consists mainly of terrigenous clastic rocks such as black mudstone and broken turbidites, with lesser amounts of oceanic rocks such as metabasalt and chert. Fragmental sedimentary successions e.g. from metabasalt to chert, and chert via alternation of chert and siliceous mudstone to terrigenous clastic rocks are observed in many sections. These allows us to complement the original full sequence of metabasalt, red mudstone ( <1 m thick), bedded chert (5-10 m) with limestone intercalations, alternating beds of chert and siliceous mudstone (1-1.5 m), and terrigenous mudstone and sandstone ( >15m) in stratigraphically ascending order. Metabasalts underlying bedded chert comprise volcanic breccia associated with clasts and matrices of chert. Also found are isolated bodies of pillow and massive lava, which do not accompany with chert. In addition, there is variation in sediments overlying the metabasalt there are cases in which one of red mudstone, red chert or alternating beds of chert and siliceous mudstone covered metabasalts. Volcanic breccia with chert clasts suggest existence of high reliefs on the ocean floor and mass wasting on their slopes. Diversity of sediments overlying the breccia may also have reflected rough topography. Radiolarian fossils were newly obtained from pelagic chert and hemipelagic alternation of siliceous mudstone and chert. In spite of extensive recrystallization, early Aptian or earlier Cretaceous fauna from chert, and late Aptian to early Albian fauna from alternation of chert and siliceous mudstone were identified. The oldest limit of the chert sedimentation has not been determined well. However, it feels not so old as Jurassic taking into account the small thickness is of the chert (5-10m). The age of the subducted oceanic plate in the mid-Cretaceous is estimated as 3040m.y, as the age difference of pelagic sediments and terrigenous clastic rocks. The old oceanic plate is thus considered to have been altered by the young one until the time of formation of the Ganpiyama Complex. Early Cretaceous accretionary complexes (Iwashimizu Complex of the Kamuikotan Zone and the Naizawa Complex of the Idonnappu Zone) both formed in ̃130Ma contain Triassic chert and limestone as suggestive of the old plate subduction. Therefore, it is considered that the boundary between the two plates passed Hokkaido during 130-100Ma.


Passive synthetic aperture processing of a towed array is basically the coherent processing of the array data over a given length of time which, based on the speed of tow, translates into an equivalent increase in aperture length, and therefore a concomitant increase in spatial gain. The Kalman filter formalism is particularly suited to this task for four reasons. First, it coherently updates the measurements based on a comparison of their predicted values, based on a signal model, and subsequent measurements taken at a later time, in a recursive manner. Second, it allows in principle any signal model, i.e., not simply plane waves. Third, it generates a minimum variance estimate not only on the desired bearings, but any desired (observable) model parameters. Finally, it avoids the explicit construct of a beamformer, thus permitting the precision of the estimates to have no lower limit (such as the spatial bin size of a beamformer) other than the minimum variance obtainable under the given signal to noise conditions. Samples of multiple bearing estimations based on synthetic data will be shown. Also, a general formalism will be presented that allows direct estimation and update of certain signal model parameters.


Objective To explore the influence of MMP 2 and MMP 9 on invasive microecosystem of human brain glioma. Methods The ultrastructure of blood tumor barrier in gliomas was observed by transmission electronic microscope. The expressions of MMP 2 and MMP 9 were detected immunohistochemicaly in the ultrastructure. Results (1)The wormhole like caverns of irregular size and unequal or the enlarged per vascular space in each case were observed on basement membane (BM)near the side of glio membrane.The endothelial cells of microvessels shawed marked proliferation together with tumoral granulation protruded from the deficiency BM by means of budding with plasma protein out of vessel. (2) Both the endothlial cell and tumor cell in tumor entity were stained positively for MMP 2 and MMP 9, where the endothelial cells of normal brain tissue were only positive for MMP 2.Where the stronger MMP 2 expressed,and the bigger the mote eaten cavities were,and the stronger MMP 9 expressed, the larger per vascular space were.Conclusions The overexpression of MMP 2 and MMP 9 may be correlated with the remodelling of blood tumor barrier in human brain glioma.


A distinction is drawn between two conceptions of the philosophy of religion : while one is neutral the other is part of Christian systematic theology, among whose prime tasks is that of examining faith discourse in the Christian tradition, not least in respect of its possible truth claims. In order to elucidate the role of such claims reference is made to two positions in contemporary philosophy of language : the performative and the deconstructivist approach respectively. It is argued that neither is capable of yielding an appropriate analysis of faith discourse, which is characteristically best exemplified in personal conversational exchanges. In such contexts explicit claims for the truth of assertions are not made. However such conservations may well be implicitly assertive. One important task for the philosophy of religion is the investigation of implicit assertions in the discourse of faith


Currently, transcatheter cryoablation is a well‐established technique for the treatment of atrioventricular nodal reentry tachycardia (AVNRT) in children. In the past decade, many studies have focused on identifying factors that may affect acute and long‐term outcome, but none has been shown to be strongly predictive of treatment success. The aim of our study was to determine whether patient age and cryoablation method correlate with acute and long‐term success.


This paper describes "Second Life" as a novel type of testbed and simulation environment for sensor-based applications. Second Life is a popular virtual online world that provides a free networked multi-user three-dimensional (3D) environment. The overall goal of our work is to support the development, testing, and deployment of sensor-based applications. In particular, pervasive systems like smart environments make heavy use of wireless sensor networks. However, the development of such systems requires much effort and the success of a system relies heavily on good planning and testing. Many different factors have to be taken into consideration and the environment has to be modeled carefully to foresee potential problems or to be able to perform changes before actual implementation. Until now, only custom-made solutions exist whereby technical limitations restrict adequate testing. By contrast, our approach introduces a flexible architecture for an extensible testbed for sensor-based applications. It employs Second Life to model an easily customizable three-dimensional environment with various interaction possibilities.


A method for predicting the Fowler–Nordheim parameters A and B, and the capacitance for a unit cell of a gated field emission array is developed, applied, and integrated into end‐to‐end rf amplifier design. Density modulated rf amplifiers require a high frequency, well characterized electron emission source for efficient operation; a cathode constructed of field emission arrays is a potential candidate for insertion into the next generation of twystode and klystrode amplifiers. The A, B, and C parameterization of the emission from model unit cell geometries is done by a boundary element technique. The behavior of A, B, and C with variation in device material and geometry is illustrated with two sample case sets. Finally, the utility of A, B, and C in predicting rf device performance requirements is illustrated.


Geologic modeling of mudrock reservoirs is complicated by the presence of multiscale heterogeneities and lithofacies lateral discontinuity. The resolution of wireline logs is also too low to capture many small-scale heterogeneities that affect fluid flow. In addition, the large distance between logged wells results in uncertain long-range correlations. Supplementary to wireline log data, high-resolution outcrop images offer a direct representation of detailed heterogeneities and lithofacies connectivity. We used high-resolution panoramic outcrop images to collect data on lithofacies heterogeneity and the role that depositional processes play in this heterogeneity. We then used these data in different classes of reservoir algorithms—two-point-based, object-based, and higher-order statistics—to build a geologic model. To present our methodology, we used data collected from Eagle Ford outcrops in west Texas. We found the higher-orderstatistics method to be especially efficient, capable of reproducing details of heterogeneity and lithofacies connectivity.


Different from the traditional method of solving coupled-mode equations to analyze 0.22 THz gyrotron circular waveguide TE0n-TE01 mode conversion, the scattering matrix method based on the conservation of complex power technique (CCPT) is introduced to give full-wave analysis for optimal design of the converter. The numerical result is in agreement with that of HFSS simulation. The mode converter designed using this method can achieve efficiencies above 98.65%, bandwidth exceeding 7.8 GHz and 14.1 GHz respectively.


We prove a constructive version of the Schwarz reflection principle. Our proof techniques are in line with Bishop's development of constructive analysis. The principle we prove enables us to reflect analytic functions in the real line, given that the imaginary part of the function converges to zero near the real line in a uniform fashion. This form of convergence to zero is classically equivalent to pointwise convergence, but may be a stronger condition from the constructivist point of view.


This is a hands-on practical manual designed for service users to use in planning for local community service system reform, using a community development-planning model (CDPM). The United States and Canada have yet to fully prioritize service users into their community planning, whereas other countries, such as Sweden, England, and Australia, see it as a necessary element for effective community resource planning. The book offers an eight-step field-tested planning model that collaboratively joins service users (SUs) and service providers (SPs) to plan for new resources in their community. This social planning model can be used for many other community needs, and in many other sectors, such as politics, education, and in environmental areas of concern. The authors have written this text primarily directed for micro and macro graduate students in social work, or nonprofit management and leadership programs. It is also crafted to be useful for various community practitioners and other stakeholders involved in effective planning. The well-crafted manual is used to promote SU and SP partnerships, and is based on evidence-informed data. This manual stresses the importance of both of these features in the community planning process. The introduction covers the history of SUs and SPs, and myths that surround them, which, in turn, uncovers the reasons SUs have minimized voices in their communities. This subsection also gives a "birds-eye view" of the CDPM, and the work-plan and evaluation of the planning process. The introduction also provides insight to the external trends that were behind the rationale to create this model. The overarching elements, neoliberalism and globalization, have contributed to our inability to not look beyond the immediate needs of our clients. This has resulted in communities that are under resourced and fragmented. The text is then organized into eight chapters, covering a sequential step in the planning process. Each is comprised of the same stylistic outline: overview and rationale, description of planning activities and action steps, case vignette, summary and evaluation of planning step, references, and activity sheets. This predictable breakdown makes for the text to be easy to digest, and also equips the reader with over 50 supplementing activity sheets necessary, to execute each outlined planning step. While reading through the planning steps and activity sheets, I found the well-written glossary to be particularly helpful. Content-wise, the first two chapters unveil stakeholder participation and how to build a joint mission and purpose. Dunlop and Holosko (2016) describe this process in three sequential action steps:


.Abstract:- The Special Flight Services is a division of Saudi Arabian Airlines – SAUDIA, that operates small private jet aircrafts to serve government top officials and its distinguished guests, as well as charter flights for business companies. The SFS division has experienced lately a serious problem called AOG or Aircraft On Ground, which is the inability of the aircraft to fly due to a technical problem caused by the unavailability of the required spare parts to fix it. This paper summarizes the study that was conducted to resolve this problem. The goals of the study were to minimize the frequency of the AOG occurrences and to reduce the average AOG duration when they occur. The procurement and Stores departments were studied and their processes were analyzed to determine the root causes of the problem. The repair cycle of the spare parts was reengineered to make it shorter and more efficient; the critical spare parts were identified, their demand and their optimal stock quantity were estimated. The existing repair cycle was reduced from a total of 23 activities taking an average total time of 149 days to only 15 activities requiring an average repair time of 30 days; an enhancement of almost 80% in average repair time was achieved by reengineering the repair cycle. Seventeen critical parts were identified and few additional numbers of each part were needed to be on stock. These measures improved the problem and made it within acceptable normal level.


A synthetic route for the preparation of 2-(benzylthio)-5-[1-(4-fluorobenzyl)-3-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl]-1,3,4-oxadiazoles derivatives from ethyl 3-phenyl-1H-pyrazole-5-carboxylate has been developed. The configurations of the intermediate 1,3,4-oxadiazole-2-thione and 3-bromobenzylthio substituted 1,3,4-oxadiazole were determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The in vitro xanthine oxidase inhibitory activity of these compounds was evaluated.


Significance Immune tolerance is crucial to prevent harmful immune reactions against self-antigens and well operated by central thymic tolerance and peripheral tissue tolerance. However, peripheral tolerance had been investigated under influence from thymic tolerance. We successfully decoupled peripheral tolerance from thymic tolerance by utilizing autoantigen-deficient thymus. Experiments revealed that self-antigen presentation in steady state initiated proliferation but subsequent disappearance of autoreactive CD4+ T cells in draining lymph nodes. After screening of representative candidates, including Ctla4, autoimmune regulator, and Pd-1, the mechanism was found to depend on regulatory T cell (Treg) function that constrained OX40 signaling of the T cells. This study presented fundamental, but potent, Treg-mediated tolerance mechanisms of peripheral tissues to prevent autoimmunity as compensatory roles for central tolerance. Antigen-specific peripheral tolerance is crucial to prevent the development of organ-specific autoimmunity. However, its function decoupled from thymic tolerance remains unclear. We used desmoglein 3 (Dsg3), a pemphigus antigen expressed in keratinocytes, to analyze peripheral tolerance under physiological antigen-expression conditions. Dsg3-deficient thymi were transplanted into athymic mice to create a unique condition in which Dsg3 was expressed only in peripheral tissue but not in the thymus. When bone marrow transfer was conducted from high-avidity Dsg3-specific T cell receptor–transgenic mice to thymus-transplanted mice, Dsg3-specific CD4+ T cells developed in the transplanted thymus but subsequently disappeared in the periphery. Additionally, when Dsg3-specific T cells developed in Dsg3−/− mice were adoptively transferred into Dsg3-sufficient recipients, the T cells disappeared in an antigen-specific manner without inducing autoimmune dermatitis. However, Dsg3-specific T cells overcame this disappearance and thus induced autoimmune dermatitis in Treg-ablated recipients but not in Foxp3-mutant recipients with dysfunctional Tregs. The molecules involved in disappearance were sought by screening the transcriptomes of wild-type and Foxp3-mutant Tregs. OX40 of Tregs was suggested to be responsible. Consistently, when OX40 expression of Tregs was constrained, Dsg3-specific T cells did not disappear. Furthermore, Tregs obtained OX40L from dendritic cells in an OX40-dependent manner in vitro and then suppressed OX40L expression in dendritic cells and Birc5 expression in Dsg3-specific T cells in vivo. Lastly, CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockout of OX40 signaling in Dsg3-specific T cells restored their disappearance in Treg-ablated recipients. Thus, Treg-mediated peripheral deletion of autoreactive T cells operates as an OX40-dependent regulatory mechanism to avoid undesired autoimmunity besides thymic tolerance.


The development of diode pumped solid state lasers with high beam quality improves the quality of laser beam removed micro-structures and opens the possibility to use this technology as a new manufacturing method for producing micro-tools. Predestined materials for the 3-dimensional micro-structuring by laser beam removal are hard materials such as ceramics and hard metals, which can be processed only by time and cost expensive technologies. These tools can be used for forming processes of metal parts, like stamping, embossing or cutting.


In this paper, we explore the use of Random Forests (RFs) (Amit and Geman, 1997; Breiman, 2001) in language modeling, the problem of predicting the next word based on words already seen before. The goal in this work is to develop a new language modeling approach based on randomly grown Decision Trees (DTs) and apply it to automatic speech recognition. We study our RF approach in the context of -gram type language modeling. Unlike regular -gram language models, RF language models have the potential to generalize well to unseen data, even when a complicated history is used. We show that our RF language models are superior to regular -gram language models in reducing both the perplexity (PPL) and word error rate (WER) in a large vocabulary speech recognition system.


Southeast Asian countries including Malaysia play a major role in global drug trade and abuse. Use of amphetamine-type stimulants has increased in the past decade in Malaysia. Methamphetamines, known as "shabu," across much of Southeast Asia, have been on the rise for years and addiction specialists are running out of solutions. Therefore, this study intentions to explore the perspective and experience of Meth. clients who is undergoing a rehabilitation program at the Narcotic Addiction Rehabilitation Centre, Tampin, Melaka (Puspen Tampin, Melaka) through an interpretive phenomenological approach. This study was conducted through in-depth interviews with seven male informants in 2022. Clients' perspectives and experiences of their involvement in Meth abuse well documented through the elements of (1) the trend of Meth. abuse, (2) the impact of Meth abuse, and (3) behavioural contradictions of Meth abuse with self-rationalized thinking. As a conclusion, this present study illustrated attention to the urgent need to strengthen existing intervention programs, drug policies, and professional supports, or to devise improved ones, with the aim of reducing Meth. abuse in Malaysia.


The endothelium‐intact and ‐denuded rat aorta is hyperpolarized by racemic and (‐)‐pinacidil, probably by opening ATP‐dependent potassium channels. (+)‐Pinacidil caused depolarization of the endothelium‐intact and ‐denuded rat aorta.


Supplemental Digital Content is Available in the Text. In neovascular age-related macular degeneration patients treated with anti–vascular endothelial growth factor, the strict PRN regimen demonstrates noninferior BCVA improvement to the T&E regimen, achieving this with fewer number of injections, and may benefit in both economic and medical aspects. Both selections should be provided to patients with overall consideration. Purpose: To compare the visual and anatomical outcomes between strict pro re nata (strict PRN) and treat-and-extend (T&E) anti–vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) regimens for neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD). Methods: A meta-analysis of 1-year and 2-year changes between strict PRN and T&E anti-VEGF regimens were conducted in both randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and real-world studies (RWSs). The best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central retinal thickness (CRT), and weighted mean numbers of visits and injections were evaluated. Results: A total of 19 RCTs and 23 RWSs (2,530 eyes in strict PRN and 4,399 eyes in T&E) were included. Mean BCVA change in strict PRN group in both 1-year and 2-year (5.95 and 5.78, respectively) was noninferior to the T&E group (7.85 and 5.96, respectively). Mean CRT changes were also similar in both strict PRN and T&E groups. Mean number of visits were significantly more in the strict PRN group, whereas mean number of injections was significantly more in the T&E group. Conclusion: The strict PRN regimen demonstrates a noninferior BCVA improvement to the T&E regimen, achieving fewer injections, and may be both economically and medically beneficial. Both selections should be provided to patients with an overall consideration.


Metal-N-C is a kind of attractive electrocatalyst for efficient CO 2 reduction to CO. Because of the ambiguity in their atomic structures, the active sites and catalytic mechanisms of the catalysts have remained under debate. Here, we investigate the effects of N and C hybrid coordination on the activity of Ni-N-C catalyst, combining theoretical and experimental methods. The theoretical calculations reveal that N and C hybrid coordination greatly enhances the capability of single atom Ni active site to provide electrons to reactant molecules and strengthens the bonding of Ni to N and C in the Ni-N-C complexes. During the reaction process, the C and N coordination synergistically optimize the reaction energies in the conversion of CO 2 to CO. A good agreement between theoretical calculations and electrochemical experiments has been achieved based on the newly developed Ni-N-C electrocatalysts. The activity of hybrid-coordination NiN 2 C 2 is more than double that of single-coordination NiN 4 .


The present invention relates generally to treatment and prophylactic protocols for cellular diseases or disorders, such as diseases and disorders associated with abnormal cellular proliferation. More particularly, the present invention provides compositions comprising therapeutic antibodies and hyaluronan and their use in the treatment or prophylaxis of cellular diseases and disorders.


STATISTICS WILL show that out of every I,OOO ~;e~n~ncies at least So infants are stillborn d die In the first year of life. Of the neonatal deaths about 30 per cent die during the first I ay and 60 per cent during the first month. n all probability the first hour and, maybe, e~en the first IS minutes are the most critical o all times. Space does not permit an approach to the s~bJect in any great detail, but it is hoped to S ?W the difference between meddlesome ulldWifery and intelligent anticipation on the ~~e hand and masterly inactivity and hopeUS~rocrastination on the other hand. bllbirths and neonatal deaths must be Con id Sl ered together because there are many cases where the neonatal death is only the lllanifestation of a milder degree of the condition causing stillbirth. b' Before deciding whether any of these still~rths and neonatal deaths can be avoided, the musr have a clear idea as to the cause of f \catastrophes. The actual causes of death ~. t e foetus are three in number-anoxaemia, I:r~h trauma and congenital abnormalities. theIS ~ot, however, always simple to place III 10 In one or other category since there c ay be underlying factors which may t. ause any or all of these to become effecIVe.


In this work, we introduce Sen4AgriNet, a Sentinel-2-based time series multicountry benchmark dataset, tailored for agricultural monitoring applications with machine and deep learning. Sen4AgriNet dataset is annotated from farmer declarations collected via the land parcel identification system (LPIS) for harmonizing country-wide labels. These declarations have only recently been made available as open data, allowing for the first time the labeling of satellite imagery from ground truth data. We proceed to propose and standardize a new crop type taxonomy across Europe that addresses common agriculture policy (CAP) needs, based on the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) indicative crop classification scheme. Sen4AgriNet is the only multicountry, multiyear dataset that includes all spectral information. It is constructed to cover the period 2016–2020 for Catalonia and France, while it can be extended to include additional countries. Currently, it contains 42.5 million parcels, which makes it significantly larger than other available archives. We extract two subdatasets to highlight its value for diverse deep learning applications—the object aggregated dataset (OAD) and the patches assembled dataset (PAD). OAD capitalizes zonal statistics of each parcel, thus creating a powerful label-to-features instance for classification algorithms. On the other hand, PAD structure generalizes the classification problem to parcel extraction and semantic segmentation and labeling. The PAD and OAD are examined under three different scenarios to showcase and model the effects of spatial and temporal variability across different years and different countries.1


A novel microfluidic device was developed for on-chip manipulation and monitoring exocytosis of single cells. The microfluidic device consists of a top layer of PDMS containing channels for introducing cells and stimulants and a bottom glass layer into which a cell microchamber was etched. By using hydraulic pressure , single cells were transported and located on the microfluidc chip. After the location of single PC12 cells on the microfluidic chip, the cell was stimulated with nicotine that was also introduced through the microchannels, and the quantum release of dopamine from the cell was detected by ampero-metric determination with our designed carbon fiber microelectrode. The results demonstrate the convenience and efficiency of using the microfluidic chip for monitoring of single cells, and offered a new profile for the analysis of single cells on the microfluidic devices.


During the past decade, presidential election results have fluctuated wildly. This trend has been accounted for by the presence of an increasingly large "floating vote" of independents and sometime-participants, using individual-level evidence. This paper develops electorate- or group-level measures for the impact of partisan blocs and the floating vote in order to present a new way of investigating electoral stability, and to examine its development in American presidential elections. The technique is applied to the 2 × 2 and 4 × 4 cases, and validated with American and British data. It is expected that this technique will enhance our understanding of electoral stability and electoral change.


A comparison between the magnetic properties of iron films deposited by dc sputtering and laser ablation is reported here. Results show that sputtered films generally exhibit isotropic behaviour when deposited on rigid substrates but develop in-plane magnetic anisotropy and greater coercivity when deposited on flexible substrates. Laser ablated films show similar characteristics except for a much weaker induced anisotropy when deposited on flexible substrates.


The research workshop on new performative forms led by Patrice Pavis in November 2019 and organized by the Institute of Theatrical and Multimedia Research of the University of Arts in Târgu-Mureș gave rise to a number of theoretical questionings. The objective was to offer the participants/actors an opportunity for systematized reflections taking as object this type of artistic forms and practices. The sponsorship of this eminent researcher in the performing arts, a specialist in the question of staging and its analysis, brought rigor and methodology to the whole thanks to the use of his reading grids and other conceptual tools. If certain epistemological ruptures and proposed illuminations could be seized on the moment in all clarity, it is afterwards that influences on my own field of research appeared and unquestionably an enrichment in the apprehension of the complexity of the phenomenon could emerge.


. Forest harvesting is one of the anthropogenic activities that most significantly affect the carbon 10 budget of forests. However, the absence of explicit spatial information on harvested carbon poses a huge challenge in assessing forest harvesting impacts, as well as the forest carbon budget. This study utilized provincial-level statistical data on wood harvest, the tree cover loss (TCL) dataset, and a satellite-based vegetation index to develop a Long-term harvEst and Allocation of Forest Biomass (LEAF) dataset. The aim was to provide the spatial location of forest harvesting with a spatial resolution of 30 m and quantify 15 the post-harvest carbon dynamics. The validations against the surveyed forest harvesting at 133 cities and counties indicated a good performance of the LEAF dataset in capturing the spatial variation of harvested carbon, with a coefficient of determination (R 2 ) of 0.83 between the identified and surveyed harvested carbon. The linear regression slope was up to 0.99. Averaged from 2003 to 2018, forest harvesting removed 68.34 Mt C yr -1 , of which more than 80% was from selective logging. Of the 20 harvested carbon, 22%, 45%, 4%, and 29% entered the wood fuel, wood products, paper products, and residual pools, respectively. Direct combustion of wood fuel was the primary source of carbon emissions after wood harvest. However, carbon can be stored in wood products for a long time, and by 2100, almost 90% of the harvested carbon during the study period will still be retained. This dataset is expected to provide a foundation and reference for estimating the forestry and national carbon budgets. The 30 m × 25 30 m harvested carbon dataset


Semiconductor quantum dots have very low thermal conductivities compared with bulk materials or quantum well structures. In this paper, thermal conductivity of InAs quantum dot laser active regions was determined using two different approaches. Measured conductivity is between 0.03 and 0.05 W/(m-K) for both approaches, in reasonable agreement considering the approximations used in the measurement method. This reduced thermal conductivity of the active region in quantum dot lasers has a significant effect on the laser operating characteristics.


Social change and sustainable economic development are mostly dependent on water resources (Dinka et al., 2017). The reason for many problems is the human need and the ecosystem of living life to provide excellent quality water resources (Amangabara and Ejenma, 2012). Therefore, the assessment of water quality is an essential issue by many researchers in the field of hydrology and hydrogeology. Among the water resources, lakes are well known as continuous and reliable water sources for domestic, agricultural (irrigation), and industrial uses (Esakkimuthu et al., 2015). In this regard, identifying the pollution and factors affecting water resources is one of the most critical issues in human health (Shrestha and Kazama, 2007). Jareh Dam Lake is located in the northeast of Ramhormoz city in Khuzestan Province. This lake is an excellent choice to investigate the processes that control water resources' quality using multivariate statistical and graphical methods. Multivariate techniques have been used to classify water quality data effectively to find similarities between samples in many studies (Zhao et al., 2012). In this way, several research types have been conducted where the quality of water resources was the main issue. Rezaei (2015) identified four active factors in the water quality of the Maroon Dam reservoir using the statistical analysis method (Rezaei et al., 2015). Other research using multivariate statistical techniques includes assessing spatial and seasonal changes in the water quality for the Oum Er Rabia River (Barakat et al., 2016) and the Baiyangdian Lake water quality in China (Zaho et al., 2012).


Choosing a profession occupies an important place in an individual's life. Although many factors are effective in choosing a profession, one of them is gender roles. Some professions in Turkey only if some of the men there is a belief that only done by women. The aim of this study is to reveal the effect of gender roles in the choice of profession. The population of the study consists of Samsun Vocational High School students studying in 2019-20 academic year. The sample consisted of 500 randomly selected students. 'The Role of Gender in the Choice of Profession Scale' used in the study was developed by Gökçen and Kavas Büyükgöze (2018). Confirmatory Factor Analysis is performed before the scale was applied to the students and it is found to be valid and reliable in measuring the structure in question. Parametric tests are used to analyze the data. According to the findings of the research, it is seen that students adopt egalitarian gender roles and second grade students have higher egalitarian roles than first grade students. It is found out that the opinions of the students on gender roles differed according to gender, class and department variables. It is recommended to provide information on non-gender discrimination at every education level.


This study aims to examine investment in the business sector and subsidies to encourage consumption and economic growth in Indonesia. This study uses secondary data from world banks and processed regression using the moving average autoregression method. We find that the dominance of investment in the business sector in Indonesia comes from foreign funds, which puts pressure on domestic companies and investors who rely on the informal sector so that increased investment puts pressure on the backbone of the Indonesian economy, namely micro, small and medium scale enterprises


The Web, the largest unstructured database of the world has greatly improved access to the documents. As the number of Internet users and the number of accessible web pages grow, it is becoming increasingly difficult for users to find documents that are relevant to their particular needs. Users must either browse through a hierarchy of concepts to find the information they need or submit a query to a Search Engine and wade through hundreds of results most of them irrelevant. Web Crawlers are one of the most crucial components used by the Search Engines to collect pages from the Web. It is an intelligent means of browsing used by the Search Engine. The requirement of a web crawler that downloads most relevant web pages from such a large web is still a major challenge in the field of Information Retrieval Systems. Most Web Crawlers use


THE Rev. Frederick Smith, the author of a book on the Stone Ages in North Britain and Ireland, has been engaged in archaeological research for more than sixty years. He began to collect from the Cambridge gravels when he was a boy, and he returned to his old hunting-ground in 1924. He has collected many thousands of specimens, and the constnt recurrence of cetain forms has convince4 him that his specimens are implements of various kinds—arrowheads; spear heads, hatchets, knives, and flakers, piercers, and saws-and that certain Af them were fitted with shafts. In addition he has found sculptures-a baboon, eagle's beak, an oyster shell, and so forth. The date attributed to them is pre-Chellean, Chellean, and Acheulean. Mr. Smith argues that though the early arch.Tologists were ridiculed and rejected, their views were afterwards accepted, and by analogy claims indulgence for his own views. The argument is as dangerous as its converse. Mr. Smith figures a number of the specimens which he maintains are implements, showing them with and without hafts, but his illustrations still fail to convince.Prehistoric Man and the Cambridge Gravels.Rev.FrederickSmithBy the. Pp. viii + 121 + 30 plates. (Cambridge: W. Heffer and Sons, Ltd.; London: Simpkin, Marshall and Co., Ltd., 1926.) 7s. 6d. net.


The thermodynamic equilibrium is a state defined by conditions which depend upon some characteristics of the system. It requires thermal, mechanical, chemical and phase equilibrium. Continuum thermodynamics, its radical restriction usually called homogeneous processes thermodynamics, as well as the classical thermodynamic science of reversible processes, each of them defines equilibrium in a differing way. But these definitions lead to the same physical contents.


Three trials were conducted in the 1988/89 season in Canterbury to obtain information on the response of CRD Otane to a range of sowing times, plant populations and plant establishment treatments. Yields were generally higher from late winter-early spring sowings than from October or later. The risk of frost damage at anthesis was considered low from so wings as early as 1 June, even though CRD Otane had previously only been recommended for spring sowing. There was no effect of plant population on grain yield provided there was a minimum of 200 plants/m2 established. Although it often produces lower ear numbers than many other cultivars, CRD Otane seems able to compensate for low plant numbers by producing more ears per plant and grains per ear. Plant establishment was reduced by inadequate cultivation, sowing too deep, seed treatment with fungicide and, especially, poor seed quality. The largest yield reduction occurred with a badly sprouted, low germination seedline. There was no evidence of a plant establishment problem unique to CRD Otane.


Objective: Biphosphonates are well known drugs for their efficacy in reducing fracture incidence, increasing bone density and improving bone micro architecture. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of ibandronate and alendronate used in the treatment of osteoporosis in post-menopausal women over the age of 50 y at a specialized clinic in Tirana and to calculate the annual cost of osteoporosis treatment and perform a cost-effectiveness analysis. Methods: Study design: Retrospective study The patients included were all female, in menopause or post-menopause with T-score-1 to-6, treated with alendronate or ibandronate. The effectiveness of the treatment was calculated as the average percentage of change in bone mineral density (av. % of change in BMD) between 2011 and 2010 (baseline). The annual cost of the osteoporosis treatment according to the protocols and the cost of the DXA (dual x-ray absorptiometry) scan were calculated and the comparison of cost-effectiveness was performed. Results: Patients with osteoporosis treated with ibandronate (n=24) had a statistically significant higher average change from baseline compared to patients treated with alendronate (n=46) (Mann Whitney U = 66.0, p<0.01). The annual cost of treatment with ibandronate was 1.3 times higher than that of alendronate. The cost/efficacy ratio was 13.434 units for ibandronate and 31.677 units for alendronate type A1.


A new naphthalimide derivative containing hexanoic acid and boronate groups was designed and synthesized. The compound displays off/on ratio singles, highly selective and sensitive towards glucose based on a naphthalimide derivative reacting with enzyme generated H2O2 in 100% water. The fluorescence intensity is proportional to the concentration of glucose over a range of 0–120 μM (R2 = 0.9912), with a limit of detection of 0.3 μM (S/N = 3). Moreover, the fluorescent sensor has been used for determination of glucose in serum with satisfactory results, which further demonstrates its value in practical applications.


Both computer simulations and experiments have shown that fluorescent signals recorded in optical mapping experiments originate from a widely distributed three-dimensional volume of tissue located beneath the detection site (1). Scattering of photons from within this volume, which we term the scattering volume, leads to blurring of the optical signal and to a prolongation of the optical action potential upstroke duration (2,3). The duration of the optical action potential upstroke depends sensitively upon the dimensions of the scattering volume, determined by the optical coefficients of the tissue for scattering and absorption at both illumination and emission wavelengths (4). Recent studies have suggested that optical action potential upstroke morphology contains useful information regarding wavefront propagation beneath the surface. Specifically, studies by Hyatt et al. (3) suggest that the potential level at which the rate of rise of the optical upstroke is maximal (Vf*) depends upon the angle φ, the angle of wavefront direction with respect to the imaged tissue surface. Under the particular conditions chosen in the Hyatt et al. (3) simulations, where both wavefront propagation beneath the epicardial site and tissue surface are purely planar, wavefront direction is either perpendicular or parallel to the surface. This is due to the large planar stimulus used, along with the simple slab geometry with uniform fiber orientation over which simulations were performed. The value of Vf* at a particular recording site is directly related to the local orientation of the wavefront with respect to the imaging surface. Since for planar wavefronts local orientation beneath the detection site is the same as global wavefront orientation throughout the tissue volume, the direction of global wavefront propagation can be directly inferred from Vf*. However, as described in Pertsov et al.'s comment in this issue of the journal, when considering nonplanar wavefronts, two propagation patterns with significantly different global wavefront directions could lead to similar local wavefront orientations beneath a recording site, giving similar optical upstrokes and Vf*. What information regarding wavefront direction could then be obtained from the upstroke of the action potential, and Vf* in particular, in optical maps of a whole heart, an organ of complex geometry and fiber orientation?

In our study published in the April 15th issue of Biophysical Journal (4) we show that the use of a physiologically realistic model of electrical excitation produces wavefront propagation with a high degree of complexity. The bidomain representation of the myocardium employed in this study provides an accurate description of the interaction between tissue and surrounding bath, which affects the nature of wavefront propagation in the vicinity of the epi- and endocardial surfaces. The use of anatomically realistic geometry and fiber orientation, combined with realistic stimulation scenarios, produce wavefronts that spread throughout the volume of the ventricles with a highly nonplanar, "jagged" appearance. As shown in Fig. 1 A, after both apical (top) and endocardial (bottom) stimulation protocols, the local angle of wavefront orientation with respect to the epicardium changes dramatically within the scattering volume (indicated by the solid circle), rotating by >90° between different points along the wavefront. Furthermore, the wavefront itself is of intrinsically three-dimensional nature, and thus, variations in local wavefront orientation, such as those shown in Fig. 1, will be even more complex in three dimensions. In our simulations of propagation through the three-dimensional rabbit ventricles, wavefronts of high degree of complexity arise without the inclusion of small-scale tissue heterogeneities (blood vessels, fatty and connective tissue, etc.), which are thought to further increase wavefront "jaggedness". In addition, the dynamic nature of excitation propagation results in a constant change in the shape of the wavefront as it passes through the scattering volume beneath the recording site, and therefore the local orientation of the wavefront within the scattering volume changes over the course of the action potential upstroke.

FIGURE 1

Wavefront propagation after apical (top) and endocardial (bottom) stimulus. Different wavefront propagation directions are shown by black arrows in the insets. The optical detection site on the epicardium is shown by a solid circle, with the approximate ...

Hyatt et al. (5) successfully addressed the problem of a varying local wavefront angle within the scattering volume by the inclusion of the concept of an optically weighted mean angle of wavefront orientation with respect to the tissue surface (). The angle represents a weighted-average of the local angles of wavefront orientation with respect to the surface, with points closest to the detection site having the greatest weight, and weights decreasing with the distance from the site. However, in situations of complex wavefront orientations constantly evolving with time, such as those shown in Fig. 1 A, it is an open question as to what useful information could be derived from the morphology of the experimentally measured optical action potentials. Of particular interest would be the application of the mean optically weighted angle-calculation algorithm to such scenarios. The important issue here is the relationship between the value of and the complex shape of the wavefront beneath the recording site. Would it be possible to infer the complexity of the wavefront shape from a single number, ? In particular, could the same value of result from different wavefront distributions within the scattering volume, and if so, how different could they be? Finally, could optical detectors record at a sufficiently high frame-rate to accurately and reliably determine the value of Vf*, given that the optical action potential upstroke is only ∼10-ms long?

Optical action potentials undoubtedly contain useful information regarding the excitation patterns below the recording surface. We believe, however, that the utility of optical action potential upstroke morphology as a tool for interpreting subsurface wavefront distributions in whole-heart preparations requires further study and validation.


This paper presents an approach to automatic detection of liver tumor in CT images by using region-growing and Support Vector Machine (SVM) which is successfully classifies the liver cancer types such as hepatoma, hemangioma and carcinoma.The method rectifies the problem of manual segmentation and classification which is time consuming due to the variance in the characteristics of CT images.Our proposed method has been tested on a group of CT images obtained from hospitals in Kerala with a promising results both in liver and tumor segmentation. The average error rate and accuracy rate obtained from our proposed method is 0.02 and 0.9. Keywords—Region-growing,preprocessing,feature extraction,Segmentation, SVM Classifier.


If you work in banking and finance and studied at Cambridge, Oxford or Edinburgh University, you are more likely to have a higher salary, according to new research.


The behavior of densely prepared specimens of a crushed dolomite railroad ballast subjected to triaxial compression repeated loading at a constant effective confining stress of 35 kN/m2 (5 psi) is reported. The effects of the magnitude of the applied stresses and stress history are observed in the resulting permanent deformation. It is found that this characteristic was influenced significantly by the magnitude and order of application of the applied stresses. Stresses less that about 50% of the static failure stress are found to have negligible effect in conditioning the ballast for subsequent higher stresses. On the other hand, the application of a high stress prior to a smaller stress (50% of high stress) and progressively increasing stresses up to 82% of the static failure stress are found to result in negligible increases in plastic deformation and reduction in the rate of accumulation of plastic deformation, respectively.


In order to improve the reliability of variable-pitch driver in wind power generation system,the fault prediction method based on the detection of conduction voltage drop UCE of IGBT and with adopting the innovation grey prediction algorithm was proposed.The UCE of IGBT in future time was predicted through constructing the GM(1,1) grey prediction model using the past data of UCE.When the predicted UCE value is over the threshold value,the system will offer the alarm and the turbine will shut down.To ensure the greenness degree of the prediction model,the data sequence was momentarily renewed with adopthing the equal dimension metabolism algorithm and on the basis of the practical situation.The gray prediction method with variational step-length was put forward,and the empirical formula for step-lenth selection was derived based on the experimental data.The UCE detecting circuit with the high anti-interference capability,high response speed,good reliability and simple structure was designed.The experimental result shows that the equal dimension metabolism grey prediction algorithm can effectivly predict the UCE of IGBT and improve the reliability of stopping wind power generator.


Abstract A total of 150 male and female common carps Cyprinus carpio were taken from Al‐Habbaniyah fish cages. Sampling was done monthly during the period from June 1986 until May 1987. Samples were dried and analysed chemically for the determination of protein and lipid contents of muscle (carcase), liver, and gonads of each fish. The study showed increase in the lipid contents of the carcase, liver and gonads during the pre‐spawning period (winter and spring months) of energy reserve accumulation. On the other hand, protein contents of the carcase and liver showed decrease at that time as a result of their utilization for energy production and gonad maturation. The increase in the protein contents of the ripening gonads seemed to be achieved at the expense of body protein.


Curcumin added as a solution in Propylene Glycol (PG)
at 24 ppm on flour basis imparted an acceptable light
yellow colour to fruit bread containing ginger candy. The
visual yellowness was comparable to that of tartrazine
added at 47 ppm on flour basis. After undergoing the
processing stages of dough mixing, fermentation and
baking, retention of curcumin (84%) was comparable to
that of tartrazine (85%). On analysis, the concentration
of curcumin and tartrazine were 12 ppm and 22 ppm
respectively. Addition of curcumin as a fine powder at
the level of 25 ppm on flour basis during the dough mixing
step, resulted in a bread with reduced yellowness
(curcumin retention (73.6%), but the use of PG is
avoided. There was no appreciable loss of colour after
storage for three days at ambient conditions (curcumin
retention 71%). Curcumin is a promising safe natural
yellow colourant for fruit bread.


In China, doctors are not only the core of hospital development, but also the core of medical service system. The decisions and actions of doctors directly affect the quantity, quality, and price of health services. The mood of doctors will affect the work enthusiasm, which will affect the work engagement, and the work enthusiasm will directly affect the work efficiency and external service quality. The Chinese government hopes that every doctor in every hospital especially in public hospitals can have a good work engagement. It has become a very important issue to improve the work engagement of public hospitals in China. At present, many researches on work engagement are carried out under the western cultural background. In China, there are few researches related to the degree of involvement in China. Chinese work values are unique qualities of Chinese people. This conceptual study constructs a basic conceptual conceptual research framework through the JD-R model. By adding Chinese work values into the framework and proposing a new conceptual framework, the relationship between work demand, work resources and work engagement is adjusted. This conceptual study also provides valuable reference significance for future research on work engagement in Chinese public hospitals.


The proposed LCP MMMB Wibro MIMO antenna has a good bandwidth (VSWR 3:1) performance at the band of Wibro1/Bluetooth and GPS/Wibro2. It is also got the average radiation efficiency more than 30% except Wibro1. However, it could be improved by a little antenna matching tuning on the mobile handset. This antenna can be also used switchable because of two signal lines.


The new interlibrary loan codes-the Na tional Interlibrary Loan Code, adopted by the Reference Services Division on behalf of the American Library Association in 1968, and the Model Interlibrary Loan Code, approved by the Reference Services Division on behalf of the American Library Association-were prepared by the Interlibrary Loan Committee during the period when I was chairman. I would like to make it clear that I cannot speak for all points of view-and there are many-represented on the committee. The basic problems with which the various codes have been concerned have been much the same from the very beginning. To simpli fy, these problems have been of two kinds. The most common complaints which have been voiced have centered on procedural prob lems in handling loans. These complaints have come primarily, but not solely, from the lend ing libraries which have continually pointed out that improper procedures and form in placing requests have added unnecessarily to the burden they have carried. Discontent with procedural matters relating to loans has exacerbated the second major area of contention-the differing attitudes on the purpose of interlibrary loan. These differ ences in attitude do not represent a funda mental difference in philosophy. Most li braries of all kinds accept their obligation to share resources. Nor can the situation be sim


New taxonomic status for the Ibero-Mediterranean populations of Alytes obstetricans (Anura: Discoglossidae).- Mediterranean populations of Alytes obstetricans formerly included in the subspecies A. o. boscai are described as a new subspecies, Alytes obstetricans pertinax n. ssp., based on genetic (protein elec- trophoresis, mitochondrial DNA) and morphological evidence. Morphologically they are characterized by more elongated head, less robust body, and uniform coloration patterns when compared with A. o. boscai individuals, including less contrasted dorsal coloration, dark dorsal marks smaller, usually not fused to each other. Larvae differ by their color pattern, similar to the pattern characteristic of Alytes dickhilleni rather than to the typical pattern of A. o. boscai. A preliminary evaluation of the conservation status of this new subspecies is taken. It should be considered in serious risk of extinction at least at the occidental part of their distribution range, parti- cularly in the provinces of Madrid, Toledo and Albacete.


Increased energy prices will direct appliance purchasers away from the appliance that would be used to consume more energy, be it more or less efficient. The long-run decline in energy usage will necessarily exceed the short-run decline that results when the appliance stock is held fixed. That less efficient appliances could become more popular is not troubling to a conservation strategist who accepts the idea that a reduction in energy usage, not a reduction in the ownership of less efficient appliances, is the proper objective of a conservation program. 2 references, 2 figures.


fourth, and sixth cranial nerves. Examination of his oral cavity revealed medial displacement of the left tonsil with suspicion of an underlying parapharyngeal mass. A full blood count and chest radiograph were normal. An emergency CT scan was performed, showing a large, solid mass. The details of this and subsequent imaging are detailed below. Fine-needle aspiration cytology showed a high-grade lymphoblastic non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. In view of the impending danger to his vision, he was immediately commenced on high-dose intravenous dexamethasone sodium phosphate. Within 12hours he was able to open his eye fully, and his pupillary reflex returned. The only residual eye disability was a persistent left sixth nerve palsy. He proceeded to an urgent biopsy of his neck lump, along with a bone marrow aspirate and trephine. The histology showed a lymphoma containing medium-size cells with many mitoses and frequent apoptotic cells. There were interspersed large, pale histiocytes, and in one area there was a focus of residual follicular hyperplasia along with infiltration around residual germinal cenCASE REPORT Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is a heterogeneous group of malignant conditions arising from the diverse cell lines of the immune system. Childhood non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is very different from the adult disease and is subdivided into lymphoblastic (or T cell) and undifferentiated (or B cell) types. The latter type are virtually all Burkitt's lymphoma. In nonendemic Burkitt's lymphoma, head and neck manifestations are uncommon compared to African Burkitt's lymphoma. In the English-language literature there are only 33 cases of extranodal head and neck involvement in nonendemic Burkitt's lymphoma.! Imaging plays a key role in the assessment of the extent of the tumor, clinical staging, and subsequent management, as illustrated by the case reported below.


Human society has been facing the gravest challenge of climate change since the beginning of history because of global warming and environmental pollution,which has made terribly undesirable impact on the sustainable development of socio-economy and the environment of human survival,resulting from enormous emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases brought by industrialization process of developed countries over nearly a century.low-carbon economy based on low energy consumption,less pollution and low emission becomes a new model of economy development,for developing low-carbon economy to reduce emission of carbon dioxide is an effective way of tackling global climate change.Low-carbon economy featuring adjusting industrial structure and optimizing energy configuration ensures the good opportunity for China's realizing fundamental transformation of economy-development mode,which is of great importance to our national sustainable development of socio-economy.


Objective:To observe the efficacy and toxicity of topotecan plus cisplatin in the treatment of brain metastases from lung cancer.Methods:The clinical data of 28 cases with brain metastases from lung cancer treated with 5-day administration schedule or weekly topotecan plus cisplatin were analyzed. 16 cases were treated with topotecan 1.2mg/m~2 daily on days 1~5,combined with PDD 25mg/m~2 daily on days 1~3.12 cases were treated with 2.5mg/m~2 on days 1,8 and 15,combined with PDD 25mg/m~2 daily on days 1~3.The schedule was repeated every 28 days.Results:All 28 patients were available for objective response,in which CR 0(0%),PR 11(39.3%), SD 10(35.7%)and PD 7(25.0%). The median time of disease progression was 5.2 months with median survivals of 8.7 months.Conclusion:Topotecan plus cisplatin is an effective and safe chemotherapeutic protocol in the treatment ofbrain metastases from lung cancer.


To improve the maximum output power of the photovoltaic power generation system, this paper proposes a new photovoltaic maximum power point tracking(MPPT) method after comprehensive consideration of advantages and disadvantages of traditional algorithms. The method is based on genetic algorithm(GA) optimized BP neural network. Through the establishment of the maximum power point prediction model with neural network and the conversion of the model to the module that can be directly used in Simulink, traditional control method using S function is avoided. Simulation results with MATLAB/Simulink show that compared with traditional incremental inductance method, our method can track MPP faster and suppress fluctuations of the system at MPP more efficiently when luminous intensity and temperature change quickly.


Abstract A crew rostering problem in the airline industry is the problem of constructing a crew schedule which consists of flights, pairings, training activities, and days off for each crew member under some certain constraints; cost minimization is also an important concern that must be considered. The size of this problem is usually huge since the number of flights, pairings and crews are large; the constraints are also generally complex. In this paper, we present an approach for solving a crew rostering problem whose objective is to balance the workload and earnings among crew members. The problem is modeled as a set partitioning problem and solved using a column generation technique. Some numerical results are presented and analyzed using the data from Thai Airways International as a case study. Keywords : Column Generation; Crew Rostering; Set Partitioning; Workload Balancing


This paper presents an emergency driving support (EDS) algorithm which supports the driver to avoid collision using motor driven power steering (MDPS) and electronic stability control (ESC). If driver tries to avoid rear-end collision using steering input, the EDS system is activated and supports the driver to have appropriate steering angle and controls the ESC if vehicle needs large yaw rate. The EDS algorithm consists of 4 parts: risk monitoring, driver monitoring, decision and control. In risk monitoring process, risk index is derived using information of preceding vehicle. In driver monitoring process, driver's intention in emergency situation is estimated. In decision process, from the derived indices, the control policies are determined. Finally, in control process, the control inputs of actuators are determined. The performance of proposed algorithm has been investigated via computer simulation conducted to vehicle dynamic software CARSIM and Matlab/Simulink.


Dongxiang wild rice (DXWR) is one of the most valuable germplasm resources of rice. It is important to conserve the genetic diversity and uncover the population differentiation of DXWR. In this study, we analyzed the genetic diversity and population differentiation of DXWR based on whole-genome resequencing of 220 DXWR lines collected from nine natural populations in an ex situ conservation nursery. Almost half of the SNPs and Indels detected in these DXWR lines were absent in cultivated rice or other common wild rice, indicating the potential and importance of DXWR in rice breeding. Based on Structure and PCA analysis, these DXWR lines could be divided into two subpopulations, in which subpopulation G1 had more specific SNPs and Indels and was genetically more genetically diverse than subpopulation G2. The average Fst of regions with low relative genetic diversity between G1 and G2 were significantly lower than whole-genomic Fst, indicating directional selection in these regions. Some functional genes and QTLs were found to locate in highly differentiated regions between G1 and G2. Moreover, the deep root ratios of G2 were significantly higher than G1. Our results would be helpful to the conservation and utilization of DXWR germplasm.


The principle that the degree of ventricular filling at the end of diastole is a determinant of the work done during the succeeding contraction (in the isolated frog heart) stems from Frank (1). Further clarification was achieved by Rohde (2) who noted that ". . . the warm blooded heart is constructed in so complex a manner . . . that it seems hopeless to search for relations between heart volume and length of single muscle fibers. . . . We must [therefore] rearrange the Frank formula . . . so that we can use volume instead of fiber length." Straub (3) was no less explicit when he wrote: "As a specific indication of the length of the muscle elements the volume curve is used as suggested by Frank, and for the representation of tension the pressure curve is used." Patterson, Piper and Starling (4), acknowledging all the above contributions, concluded that "the increased energy of the heart's contraction under conditions of increased pressure or increased inflow must be ascribed to alterations in the length of the muscle fibres at the beginning of and during their state of excitation, and not to changes in the tension on the fibres." They supported their conclusions relative to isolated canine and tortoise hearts by using a cardiometer for measuring change in ventricular volume and, in effect, used volume as an index to fiber length. The British workers were, therefore, basically in agreement with their German predecessors and colleagues. All seem to have agreed, in addition, that ventricular diastolic pressure was an unreliable guide to ventricular diastolic volume and that the latter, not the former, should be used in the study of intrinsic myocardial responses to stress. The lack of a method for following changes in ventricular volume in the intact animal or in


Based the multichannel sensed audio signal on information from noise reference derived by spatially selective processing filter, discloses a system for spectral contrast enhancement of the speech signal, the method and apparatus.


Given the toric (or toral) arrangement defined by a root system Φ, we classify and count its components of each dimension. We show how to reduce to the case of 0-dimensional components, and in this case we give an explicit formula involving the maximal subdiagrams of the affine Dynkin diagram of Φ. Then we compute the Euler characteristic and the Poincaré polynomial of the complement of the arrangement, that is the set of regular points of the torus.


The Portable Automated Rapid Test (PART) platform consists of a consumer electronics tablet and head-phones with software for assessing auditory perception. One goal of PART is to expand our knowledge of the hearing profile of individuals. The standard PART battery includes psychophysical measures that span multiple auditory perceptual domains. To date, most of the psychophysical measures in PART have been validated in quiet laboratory settings. It is unknown whether or how ambient or external noise will impact threshold measures. Subjects completed the PART battery in quiet over headphones (65 dB SPL) and in the presence of external cafeteria noise through loudspeakers (59 dB SPL; consistent with literature on waiting area noise). In separate conditions, we mixed pink noise through the headphones as a means to potentially mitigate the impacts of external noise (50 dB SPL; maximum level that did not impact thresholds). Thresh-old measures were collected from 10 young listeners with normal hearing. Results indicate that neither the pink noise nor the cafeteria noise affected average thresholds on any of the tasks relative to the quiet condition. These data support the use of PART in relatively uncontrolled listening environments like clinic waiting rooms or at home.


We have used observations from CGRO to study the variation in the MeV emission of Cygnus X-1 between its low and high X-ray states. These data provide a measurement of the spectral variability above 1 MeV. The high state MeV spectrum is found to be much harder than that of the low state MeV spectrum. In particular, the power-law emission seen at hard X-ray energies in the high state spectrum (with a photon spectral index of 2.6) is found to extend out to at least 5 MeV, with no evidence for any cutoff. Here we present the data and describe our efforts to model both the low state and high state spectra using a hybrid thermal/nonthermal model in which the emission results from the Comptonization of an electron population that consists of both a thermal and nonthermal component.


Radar observations of wild fire plumes in Oklahoma carried out with the prototype of dual polarization S‐band WSR‐88D weather radar are presented. The observations show that the copolar correlation coefficients between horizontally and vertically polarized returns in the plumes are mostly less than 0.4 and this can be used in identification of plumes.


The education represents an essential priority for every country, a way whereby the society can grow and an important factor of development and progress. But it is very important that some specific criteria exist to check up the quality of education, to see what is wrong and must be improved or modified. Respecting these criteria can lead to a significant growth of the quality of educational system and to a correct and profound reformation of the system.


Patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain are frequent users of healthcare. Whilst evidence suggests that a multidisciplinary pain management programme (PMP) approach is effective in reducing patients' levels of distress and disability, there is little research examining the cost-effectiveness of such an approach. The present study sought to address this by examining the impact a PMP had on patients' pain-related secondary care healthcare use. A 90.5% reduction in healthcare use was found 12 months after the PMP, compared with 12 months before the PMP. The cost of the pain-related healthcare use 12 months before the PMP was £35,700. Twelve months after the PMP, the cost of healthcare use had reduced to £3879. The findings suggest that a PMP approach could reduce pain-related healthcare use.


Introduction: as fatigue and Physical activity (PA) with quiescent ffi cacyandsafetyofPAtorelievepersistentsymptomsoffatigue,jointpain,abdominal pain, stress, anxiety, and depression; and improve health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in individuals with quiescent or mildly active IBD. Methods: We searchedforRCTsandnon-RCTsin eightdatabases,trial registriesandconferenceproceedings. TrialsusingPAas anadjuncttherapyin themanagementof adults( . 18years) withquiescentor mildly active IBD, published in English between 2011 and 2021 were identi fi ed. Risk of bias of RCTs and non-RCTs was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool and Newcastle Ottawa scale respectively. Results: We identi fi ed seven RCTs and one non-RCT that met our inclusion criteria. PA was moderately e ffi cacious in improving HRQoL among trials using similar outcome measures (standardized mean di ff erence (SMD) 0.51, 95% CI 0.22 to 0.79; I2 0%), and reducing anxiety (SMD -0.35, 95% CI -0.65 to -0.05; I2 0%). There was insu ffi cient evidence to make conclusions regarding changes in fatigue and depression. Only one study reported on stress, and only one study reported on joint pain. None was identi fi ed for abdominal pain. All trials deemed PA safe for individuals with quiescent or mildly active IBD who experience persistent symptoms. Average adherence rate in PA programs was 69%. Conclusion: received some of their IBD healthcare virtually and were satis fi ed with the care received. The majority reported having about the same access to their IBD healthcare providers as before the pandemic. Despite needing to improve some virtual services such the rescheduling of missed virtual visits, nearly all survey respondents wanted virtual health care to continue into the future. extra-intestinal ammatory bowel (IBD). show acid in IBD. Gout a hyperuricemia the limit of solubility and causes tissue depositions leading to in fl ammatory This study aims to investigate the association between IBD and gout. Methods: We used a commercial database (Explorys Inc, OH), an aggregate of Electronic Health Record data from 26 US healthcare systems. We identi fi ed adults with the diagnosis of Crohn ' s disease (CD), and ulcerative colitis (UC) from 1999 to 2022. In this cohort, we identi fi ed patients who developed a clinical diagnosis of gout. We collected demographic data including age, gender and race. We also identi fi ed patients with diagnosed IBD-associated arthritis and those who had intestinal resection. factors associated with gout chronic kidney disease (CKD), malignancy, alcohol and smoking are collected. Univariate and multivariate analysis are to the Results:


The aim of the present work is to shed light on the determining factors in the logistics performance of companies operating in the pharmaceutical sector in the Souss-Massa region. In order to maintain harmony between the object of our research and the methodological path taken to apprehend it, we have developed a conceptual model made up of thirteen variables spread over four levels stemming from the company's governance mechanisms, its logistics practices, its logistics tools and the company's structural contingency. Starting from a post-positivist paradigm that we have embedded in a hypothetico-deductive reasoning, the transition from the theoretical base to the empirical side of the study will be made through an investigation by third-order structural modeling with latent variables estimated according to the repeated indicators approach following a type II model (reflective-formative). In future work, this model will be tested on a designed sample of pharmaceutical industry partners (laboratories, dispatchers, pharmacies, etc.).