Background Stroke and transient ischemic attack (TIA) are the most common neurologic manifestation of antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). The international consensus criteria for APS classification require persistent antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) positivity (at least 12 weeks apart) and medium or high titer for anticardiolipin antibody (aCL) associated with clinical manifestations [1]. To confirm the diagnosis of a patient who comes with stroke/TIA and positive aPL as definite APS, we serially check the positivity of aPL in addition to titer of aCL. However, significance of persistence and moderate or high titer of aPL on the clinical relevance is not identified. Objectives To evaluate the effect of persistent and medium or high titer of aPL positivity on recurrence in patients with ischemic stroke/TIA. Methods We reviewed medical records of 99 patients with ischemic stroke/TIA who had at least one or more positive aPL (ie, positivity for anticardiolipin antibodies [aCL], β2-glycoprotein I antibodies [β2-GPI], lupus anticoagulant antibodies [LA]). We divided these patients into two groups according to the most recent revised classification (Sydney consensus conference), and designated as "definite APS" who fulfilled the laboratory criteria, and "aPL carriers" who had transient or low titer aPL. We compared the subsequent ischemic stroke/TIA events between the two groups. Results Of the 99 patients, 46 (46%) were classified as definite APS and 53 (54%) as aPL carriers. There was no increased risk of subsequent ischemic/TIA events in definite APS group compared with aPL carriers group. The overall event was 14 (30.4%) in APS group and 16 (30.2%) in aPL carriers group during 60.4 months and 43.8 months follow up period respectively. 38 patients were having anticoagulation for treatment and 60 patients were on anti-platelet treatment without anticoagulation, but there was no difference on recurrence events regarding the treatment. Among definite APS group, there was no difference in recurrence events according anticoagulation vs anti-platelet agent. aPL carriers (n=53) Definite APS (n=46) Total (n=99) p-value 1st attack age (years) 43.2±13.8 44.0±13.0 43.6±13.4 0.758 Female sex (%) 19 (35.8% 28 (60.9% 47 (47.5%) 0.013 F/U duration (months) 43.8±39.2 60.4±53.3 51.6±46.8 0.078 HTN 18 (34.0%) 12 (26.1%) 30 (30.3%) 0.511 DM 11 (20.8%) 2 (4.3%) 13 (13.1%) 0.016 Smoking 23 (43.4%) 15 (32.6%) 38 (38.4%) 0.271 (pack-years) 9.9±16.1 7.7±13.2 8.9±14.8 0.458 Prior CVD 1 (1.9%) 0 (0%) 1 (1.0%) 0.349 Cardiac diseases 13 (24.5%) 6 (13.0%) 19 (19.2%) 0.148 Abortion Hx. 4 (7.5%) 4 (8.78%) 8 (8.1%) 0.834 T.chole 183.1±45.1 175.5±43.8 179.6±44.5 0.400 TG 152.7±142.3 121.6±100.2 138.0±124.5 0.231 HDL 43.5±10.4 42.8±14.2 43.2±12.3 0.764 LDL 105.2±33.2 105.8±28.8 105.5±31.1 0.923 Recurrence 16 (30.2%) 14 (30.4%) 30 (30.3%) 0.979 Duration to recurrence (months) 35.2±48.3 33.7±43.5 34.5±45.3 0.931 Conclusions The persistence and medium or high titer of aPL enables to diagnose APS in ischemic stroke/TIA patients, but does not predict increased risk for subsequent ischemic stroke/TIA. References Rand JH. The antiphospholipid syndrome. Hematology Am Soc Hematol Educ Program 2007:136–142 Disclosure of Interest None declared


name of the dataset: full name of the dataset: Biological and environmental database of the Ruhr catchment (Germany) type of dataset (more information): species (taxonomic group) per site database including environmental information data type: point data/observation data short description of the dataset/summary: The database of the EU project MARS contains point data of macroinvertebrates, fish and macrophytes including hydromorphological, physico-chemical and land use information. Most biotic and physico-chemical data have been collected as part of an extensive national monitoring survey. Land use infromation (ATKIS land cover data) was GIS-based generated for fixed buffer strips with different widths and lengths. science keywords according to GCMD: topic: Biosphere, Biological Classification keywords: macroinvertebrates, macrophytes, fish, freshwater, river, hydromorphology, land use, physico-chemical parameters ISO topic category according to ISO 19115: Biota, Environment, Inland Waters


A record of Phaneroptera falcata is made from the northeastern Poland, extending the known distribution in this country for about 300 km to the north and linking it with a newly discovered occurrence in southern Lithuania. The northern margin of the species' range in eastern Central Europe and in East Europe is briefly reviewed. Fig. 1. The voucher specimen of Phaneroptera falcata from E of Wigierski National Park, Northeast Poland. Photograph: P. Geissler. Bonn zoological Bulletin Volume 60 Issue 1 pp. 109–111 Bonn, May 2011


A mathematical model has been developed that predicts the fuel plate temperature behavior of the Scottish Universities Research Reactor following a 'scram' shutdown in which the core water is 'dumped' immediately on shutdown. This model predicts the maximum fuel plate temperature variation with time after shutdown from a given set of steady state reactor operating conditions.


A telescope and a monochrometer are combined to form the spectrophotometer. Near UV and visible absorption spectrum can be obtained during the daytime with a sun tracker and at night with a star finder. Skylight intensity and polarization are measured through azimuthal scanning of the spectrophotometer. The signal to noise ratio of the system is greatly improved by using LIA technique. Data sampling and collecting are conducted by a computer. The received spectrum are treated statistically by least square method to get the total column aboundance of 03, NO�, NO� Optical characteristics of the aerosols, such as size distribution and complex refractive index, can be simultaneously obtained through library method. Preliminary results of 0 measurements are given. (instrument, ozone, aerosol, measurement) In recent years more and more concern has been paid to the impact of atmospheric trace gas and aerosol on environment, climate and ecosystem. We are developing a solar' and skylight spectroPhotometer for monitoring and modeling study of those atmospheric constituents and aerosols in China.


The present study investigates the use of gamification to foster commitment and engagement among users with disabilities. Two case studies demonstrating the application of gamification are provided. The first is the development of an application to teach a blind person Mexican currency, and the second one is the creation of an application to aid individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in navigating their environment. The study reveals that universal design for learning principles can be used indirectly to adjust apps for users to utilize the software consistently. This study provides preliminary evaluations for both case studies, which were undertaken with relatively small samples. The first case study revealed that three blind individuals who took part in the review scored an average of 91.7 on the system usability scale. At the same time, the second case study involving the observation of a single individual with ASD also revealed that utilizing the designed app improved performance. Despite the limited sample size, the findings suggest that gamification may effectively encourage and generate commitment among the users with disabilities.


Reflective teachers are always searching for ways to improve their teaching. When this reflection becomes intentional and systematic, they are engaging in teacher research. This type of research, sometimes called action research, can help bridge the gap between theory and practice by addressing topics that are relevant to practicing teachers. This article synthesizes literature within music education and general education to address (a) the conceptual underpinnings of action research, (b) characteristics of action research and teacher research, (c) action research critiques, and (d) implications for teacher research as a form of professional development.


Since the cloning of the green fluorescent protein nearly 20 years ago, microscopy has returned firmly as a cornerstone of cell biology. A variety of approaches using autofluorescent proteins (FPs) now exists that permits not only the study of the spatiotemporal distribution of specific proteins in living cells but also analysis of their functions, for example, protein–protein interactions. However, the last decade has increasingly seen cell and molecular biology refocus on RNA. No longer viewed as just a passive "messenger" between the information stored in DNA and the proteins carrying out the encoded tasks, RNA has emerged as an important cellular regulator in its own right. A variety of non-protein-coding RNAs fulfil regulatory functions in the nucleus and the cytoplasm, and these RNA-based processes are often carried out by large ribonucleoprotein complexes that are assembled at specific sites and thus highly compartmentalised. Additionally, mRNA localisation and localised translation is slowly emerging as a widespread mechanism that complements targeting of the translated proteins to achieve a high specificity of cellular processes through precise compartmentalisation. Lastly, RNA viruses, which cause many important diseases, also compartmentalise their replication, translation and virion assembly at specific sites in the cell. Studying this emerging complexity of RNA localisations within cells requires new fluorescence microscopy tools that can achieve for RNA what FPs did for protein-based cell biology: detection of specific RNA species with subcellular resolution, and preferably in vivo. A number of such RNAimaging techniques have been developed, each with certain advantages and drawbacks. In a recent publication, Kummer et al. now demonstrate the suitability of a new type of probe, a FIT-PNA (forced intercalation peptide nucleic acid), for RNA in vivo imaging that holds the potential for improved sensitivity and specificity. Briefly, RNA-imaging techniques can be divided into three general approaches (Figure 1): 1) genetic expression of a sequence-specific RNA binding protein (RBP) coupled to a FP, 2) direct labelling of the RNA of interest in vitro, and 3) in vivo hybridisation. The last two approaches require the invasive delivery of fluorescent probes by cell-permeabilising agents or microinjection, which is not possible in all experimental systems. By contrast, the benefit of RBP-FP fusions is that they are expressed from a transgene, to which most biological model systems are amenable. However, RBP-FP reporters often require the RNA of interest to be tagged with multiple tandem copies of the RBP target sequence and thus, that it is also expressed from a transgene. This can compromise RNA structure and localisation and lead to unnatural RNA levels. Additionally, RNA-bound and -unbound RBP reporters need to be distinguished. For this, subcellular localisation shifts or fluorescent protein fragment complementation have been used (Figure 1 B), both of which can lead to nonspecific background fluorescence and are thus limited in the achievable signal-tonoise ratio. By contrast, direct labelling of RNA can yield almost noisefree signals if the fluorescent RNA is sufficiently purified. It is also particularly suitable for studying small, noncoding RNAs, which are difficult to tag, and to investigate the effects of RNA modifications that cannot be introduced in vivo. However, invasive delivery of directly labelled RNA might overload cellular systems and introduce the RNA outside of its native context. Moreover, the delivery method of choice is often microinjection, which is very laborious and has a low throughput. Figure 1. RNA in vivo imaging techniques: A), B) RNA binding protein–fluorescent protein fusion strategies; C) direct RNA labelling; D), E) labelling strategies based on hybridisation of molecular beacons (adapted from ref. [5b]).


This paper proposes a novel blocking artifacts reduction method which is based on the notion that the blocking artifacts are present in images due to heavy accuracy loss of transform coefficients in the quantization process. We define the block boundary discontinuity measure as the sum of the squared differences of pixel values along the block boundary. The proposed method makes correction of the selected transform coefficients so that the resultant image has minimum block boundary discontinuity. It does not specify a transform domain where the correction should take place, therefore an appropriate transform domain can be selected at user's discretion. In the experiments, the scheme is applied to DCT- based compressed images to show its performance.


In this paper, a displacement-based unified shear deformation theory is developed for the analysis of shear deformable advanced composite beams and plates. The theory is developed with the inclusio...


Our study was to assess sunscreen protection against UVA effects in human skin by adding butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane (Parsol 1789®, supplier Givaudan-Roure) at various levels to existing sunscreen products. In contrast to benzophenone-3, which absorbs only in the short UVA range, Parsol 1789® absorbs over the whole UVA range with a maximum absorption at 357 nm. We used biological markers to asses the efficacy of the various formulations


Field trials conducted during wet seasons of 2010 and 2011 at Regional Research and Technology Transfer Station, Chiplima, Sambalpur to evaluate the efficacy of a new molecule cyazypyr (HGW 86 10%OD) against yellow stem borer and gall midge infesting rice revealed that the test compound at 100 and 120 g a.i. ha−1 was highly effective in reducing stem borer incidence (71.01 to 88.80 per cent reduction over control during the period of study), whereas, the compound exercised a moderate effect on gall midge (57.7 to 58.01 per cent reduction over control). The check insecticides like monocrotophos and triazophos were observed to be less effective than the test compound.


The implosion dynamics of wire array loads of complex geometry, such as nested cylindrical and planar wire arrays, is significantly affected by the uneven current distribution between the array wires, which was considered previously in the Wire Dynamics Model (WDM) simulations. The novel Wire Ablation Dynamics Model (WADM) extends the formalism of the original WDM by including the dynamics of wire ablation. The WADM simulations demonstrate that the implosions of the arrays with higher masses are more ablation dominated. The WADM simulations of the implosions dynamics of nested wire arrays have been performed for the short pulse (100 ns) and long pulse (220 ns) regimes at COBRA generator. Another factor that affects the result of the trade between the ablation and implosion time scales is the form of the current pulse, which can be very different from the classical sine‐square shape. The predictions of the array implosion times by the WADM are in very good agreement with the recent experiments at the COBRA...


Around 1,000 lives are tragically lost each year in the UK with the victim in need of an organ transplant. Yet only 31 per cent of the population have joined the NHS donor register.


The Covid 19 Pandemic has had an impact on many aspects of our daily lives such as Restricting contact through touch, wearing masks, practicing social distancing, staying indoors which has led to change in our behaviors and prioritized the importance of safety hygiene. We travel to different places such as Schools, Colleges, Restaurants, offices, and Hospitals. How do we adapt to these changes and refrain from getting the virus? Luckily, we have the technology to aid us. We are all used to biometric systems for marking our Presence/ Attendance in places like colleges, Offices, and Schools with fingerprint sensors, fingerprint sensors use our Fingerprint to mark our presence however Covid 19 has restricted the use of touch causing problems in marking attendance. One way to resolve the problem is using Artificial Intelligence by using a Recognizer to identify people with their face and iris features. We implement the Face Recognition and the Iris Recognition using two models which run concurrently, one to Recognize the Face by extracting the features of the face and passing the 128-d points to the Neural Network (Mobile net and Resnet Architecture). which gives the identity of the person whose image was matched with the trained database and the other by extracting iris features to recognize people. For extracting iris features we use the Gabor filter to extract features from the eyes which are then matched in the database for recognition using 3 distance-based matching algorithms city block distance, Euclidean distance, and cosine distance which gives an accuracy of 88.19%, 84.95%, and 85.42% respectively. The face Recognizer model yields an Accuracy of 98%, while Iris Recognizer yields an accuracy of 88%. When these models run concurrently it yields an accuracy of 92.4%.


Concrete is the most important engineering material and the addition or replacement of some of the materials may change the properties of the concrete. In recent years a lot of research work has been carried out in order to obtain more durable and long term performance of concrete structures in the dynamic environment. In this experimental study, concrete mixes of different proportions with Fly ash, micro silica and recycled concrete aggregate are prepared and tested after different days of moisture curing and what is the effect of these materials on the strength of concrete is studied We are replacing the cement by Fly ash and Micro silica with 0%, 5%, 10% and 15% and the coarse aggregate with Recycled Concrete Aggregate with 0%, 5%, 10% and 15%. Here the grade of concrete is M 25. The experimental investigation is carried out and finally the strength of each mix is calculated and the results are produced.


This paper presents the concepts of isomorphism and homomorphism of fuzzy sets (fuzzy relation), gives sufficient and necessary conditions of isomorphism and homomorphism of fuzzy sets (fuzzy relation). Fortunately, we point that the essence of fuzzy sets (fuzzy relations) in X ,which give the order relation of elements in X(XtimesX).As long as the corresponding order relations are consistent, conclusions from any fuzzy membership function(fuzzy relation) defined by the order relation are certainly same. We propose the concept of classified isomorphism of the fuzzy relation and prove that if two fuzzy similarity relation are isomorphic, then they must be isomorphic classified by the concept of isomorphic classification of fuzzy relation.


Objective To analyze the a risk factors and intervention strategy of deep venous thrombosis(DVT)after replacement of total hip(RTH).Methods 302cases of patients treated by RTH in this hospital during Oct.2007and Oct.2012were divided into DVT group(40cases)and non-DVT group(262cases).Risk factors were identified and analyzed by single factor and multiple factors analysis of clinical data.Results Single factor analysis indicated that age,women,triglyceride(TG)level higher or equal with 1.7mmol/L,usage of bone cement and operation for a long time were independent risk factors of DVT(P0.05).Multiple factors analysis indicated the risk factors,ranged by odds ratio(OR),were usage of bone cement(OR=9.247),age(OR=6.781),gender(OR= 6.374),TG level(OR=5.647)and operation time(OR=4.247).Conclusion DVT after RTH might be closely correlated with many factors,and perioperative intervention should be strengthened to ensure the therapeutic effect of RTH.


T hough i am a writer by trade, I am an attorney by training, one with a near fanatic devotion to the ideals of the United States Constitution, as revised and expanded beyond its slaverytarnished origins. What I love most about America is its asyetunfulfilled promise of egalitarianism and equality, of one person/one vote, of the ability of a multicultural nation to live in fractious harmony. And yet, until recently, I had never allowed myself to question the wisdom of the classically framed twostate solution—Israelis here, Palestinians there, separation begetting peace. Then, in April of 2016, on a trip to IsraelPalestine as part of a group of writers working on the forthcoming anthology Kingdom of Olives and Ash: Writers Confront the Occupation, I met the Hebrew University professor Bashir Bashir. Dr. Bashir views the question of whether the governing system of IsraelPalestine is one of a single state or of two states as all but irrelevant. The important question, rather, is whether the governing system in PalestineIsrael will continue to be one of segregation and zerosumgames, or whether we can build a future based on the acknowledgement that this land is shared. Dr. Bashir argues that we must strive for "an inclusive, humanistic form of politics that allows us [Palestinians] to accommodate Israeli Jews in a democratic venture of togetherness." This he calls "binationalism." For some, the idealized version of this binationalism might be a single state, where laws mandate the separation of church and state, protect against discrimination and uphold the rights of both collectives, as well as those of all of the individuals who live there. For other people, the ideal could be reconciled with a twostate formula: one Israeli and Hebrewspeaking, the other Palestinian and Arabicspeaking, but each with sizable and protected minorities, and with meaningful and consistent cooperation between the two states. Yet another version of binationalism might be a confederation, with overlapping systems of government. Common to all of these solutions and the many others expressed in these pages and elsewhere is the ideal of togetherness, of democracy. But of course, last spring when I sat in a conference room of the Ambassador Hotel in East Jerusalem, being encouraged by Dr. Bashir and his colleague Dr. Hillel Cohen, also a Hebrew University professor, to envision ever more imaginative possibilities of mutuality, Donald Trump had not yet been elected president of the United States. There were not avowed white supremacists in positions of power in the White House. Togetherness seemed possible, the best—the only— way forward. In this new, previously unimaginable world, is it too fantastical to dream and aspire toward a politics of togetherness in PalestineIsrael? Or is that dream all that we have left? ■


Generic software components that can be procured off-the-shelf (COTS) are now available to perform most of the functions that in the past required bespoke development. The use of commercial software products in organizations is being driven by its potential for reducing the cost and time to develop software systems. A number of COTS-based development methods and standards have been proposed in the literature, however, many organizations struggle in their attempts to select appropriate software products for use in systems. This paper examines procurement activities carried out in three organizations with the aim of identifying their risks and potentials. The outcome of the work highlighted areas of improvement, e.g. business requirements analysis, risk assessment, and documentation of procurement projects. The authors argue that availability of products because of language, cost, embargo add a further set of complexities to procurement in developing countries. The paper concludes by making recommendations to foster the informal networks of information exchange on products that exist among IT staff in similar (also across) organizations, as a possible medium for wider participation in the development of national standards, as well as outlining final thoughts on some of the imperative tasks and challenges that remain to be addressed in country efforts on software procurement and development. INTRODUCTION Generic software components that can be procured offthe-shelf (COTS) are now available to perform most of the functions that in the past required bespoke development. The use of commercial software products (or COTS) in organizations is being driven by its potential for reducing the cost and time to develop software systems. A number of COTS-based development methods and standards have been proposed in the literature, however, many organizations struggle in their attempts to select appropriate software products for use in systems. Given the complexities of today's software systems, the cost and risk of procuring/purchasing wrong package due to inadequate requirements acquisition and product selection is large. Central to COTS evaluation for suitability is the process of establishing the context of procurement such as functional, technical, business, etc. that determine the criteria for evaluation criteria to assess the product. [1] While some of the challenges come from limited access to internal design of products and scope for evaluation of fitness [10], other challenges come from the dynamic nature of COTS market and rapid change in technology. Software products procurement in developing countries have additional sets of challenges that come from being at our infancy as software consumers, and hence have little effect on its market and the development of standards. As part of local efforts by government to regulate and develop standards for software procurement, this paper compares and evaluates processes *** Author for correspondence. 267 employed at three local organizations with the aim of identifying their risks and potentials, and propose a set of guidelines that can support organizations in making carefully reasoned and sound product decisions, as well as improve their process models. The paper is structured to give in section 2 an overview of the concepts that are knitted in the procurement process and common procurement activities and steps proposed in the literature. Section 3 presents procurement processes from the case study which is followed by comparative and critical analyses in section 4. Section 5 concludes with highlighting some of the questions and thoughts on product evaluation, process improvement, and challenges in procurement processes that arose from the study. Software Procurement Concepts and Processes The development of systems using COTS products bring fundamental changes to the way organizations do their work [4]. The central cause of change is that the organization becomes a consumer with less or no control over the product implementation and adopts standard interfaces based on COTS market. Some familiar software engineering activities are altered. Requirements analysis may have to consider standard implementations, architecture design must be performed together with package evaluation; and new activities will become significant parts of development process, for example product adaptation and integration. These changes require organizations to have an understanding of the capabilities and limitations of COTS products and standards in their domain, conduct market research and product evaluation to select products, and involve different kinds of expertise such as business analysts and legal consultants in the procurement process. There are two types of standards that an organization must deal with. The first are the standards used in implementations to be able to balance requirements with available product features. The second are standards and recommended practice for conducting procurement processes. For example, IEEE 1062 suggests a number of major phases, steps and milestones for acquiring COTS products, and its variant MOTS (Modified-off-the-shelf), as well as provides checklists to assist organizations in developing their own processes [6]. Another standard that is not specifically geared for COTS but offer related guidelines is the ISO 9126 for software quality. A number of COTS-based development methods have also been proposed, for example OTSO (Off-the-Shelf Option) and PORE (Procurement-Oriented Requirements Engineering). The OTSO method starts with a specified set of requirements and provides techniques to define evaluation criteria and to compare the costs and benefits of alternative products [7], while PORE [13] integrates the process of requirement specification and product evaluation using techniques from requirements acquisition and engineering such as card sorting and laddering, and provides guidelines to design evaluation test cases. 268 Investigating current procurement practice in Sudanese Organizations This section will consider how three very different organizations deal with the problem of procuring an appropriate COTS product. One organization, ("A") is a major telecommunication company that is privately owned. The second organization, ("B") is a government owned bank and the last organization ("C"), is a large industrial corporation that is a public/private partnership. While the three use very different approaches to COTS evaluation, still it was observed that the abstract process ideas underlying are similar. The procurement project consists of three major steps to initiate, select, install and integrate of the COTS product in the system. And the authors also learn that differences in approaches support the notion that whatever the actual process used, it is driven by context. The subsections below highlight the main features of the organizations and their COTS software procurement processes (depicted in Figures 1, 2 and 3 – in the Appendix). Organization "A" This is an international telecommunication company that bought a public owned company and has more than 20 branches worldwide. Software is fundamental to the operation of the organization which procures from different ranges of COTS products, e.g. Antivirus, Billing System. The company is frequently engaged in multiple procurement projects and technology upgrades. Procurement projects are initiated at middle management level and the decision to procure is taken in consultation and approval of higher management. Selection of products considers vendors of existing running components of the system, for example the Reporting system solution used the same vendor of the Billing system. A main feature of the procurement process is the existence of end-of-project evaluation. Organization "B" This organization is a large government owned bank with 35 national branches, and one branch outside Sudan. Although software is an integral part of the bank system and improves its performance, failure of the computer system is not as catastrophic as for "A", because the bank can revert to its established manual system. The current core system the bank uses is a Jordanian COTS product that is implemented in COBOL and runs under DOS on Novell system. The rate of change of computer systems is slow in this organization and undergoes various government regularity measures on spending and on procedures followed from the Central Bank. The organization uses a tender system to select products and involves representatives from different stakeholder groups in the organization in the procurement team. Organization "C" This is an industrial corporation that is owned by government, and private national and international investors. The company's sites of management and production are located in Sudan, with one office abroad. The main type of COTS the company deals with is CRM (Customer-Relationship Management) systems. A continuous business and needs analysis (using external consultants for large projects) is conducted in the organization that can initiate a procurement project, and yield a list of requirements as well as possible solutions. The procurement process in this organization is characterized by an early identification of a suitable product and that it performs initial testing before signing the contract. This is followed by customization and a second round of testing before the system is launched. Analysis and Discussion The information obtained from organizations is organized according to the software acquisition life-cycle process model proposed in the IEEE 1062 which includes planning, contracting, implementation, acceptance and follow-on activities. The activities considered during information gathering are based on acquisition management and technical activities associated with the use of COTS products and standards proposed in [11] and on other 269 generic processes of the PORE method that are specifically proposed fo


Background and Objectives: It is well realized that cervical cancer is one of the most critical diseases in the world. This study has been laid down for molecular detection (qualitatively and quantitatively) and genotyping of high and intermediate risk HPV genotypes in patients with high suspicion of cervical cancer. Patients and Methods: A total of 120 females were included in this study. DNA has been extracted automatically using Samaga DNA extraction unit. Real time-PCR technique for detection and genotyping of high and intermediate risk genotypes was performed. Results: The genes amplification revealed that only 9(11.3%) out of 80 were positive for high-risk HPV. The genotyping study yielded that the most prevalent genotypes were HPV 16, 18, 39, 33 and 35. Among the result of high-risk genotypes of HPV, the viral load was 6.42 ± 0.71 for clinical status CIN III. Only 11 out of 20(55 %) of FFPE were positive for high-risk HPV. On the other hand, The clinical status of high-risk HPV genotypes from FFPE samples were 4(20%), and 5(25%) for A7 and A9 with clinical status CIN II and viral load was 5.57 ± 0.75 for A7 and 6.28 ± 0.75 for A9. Conclusion: The study concluded that the use of Real-Time PCR as a diagnostic and genotyping tool for HPV has the advantage for women who currently have high-grade cervical lesions and at high risk of developing cervical cancer in the future. INTRODUCTION: Recently, the World Health Organization documented that cervical cancer is the fourth most frequent cancer in women with an estimated 570,000 new cases in 2018 representing 6.6% of all female cancers. The increase of death rate due to cervical cancer in the world could be sharply reduced through a complete approach that includes prevention, early diagnosis, effective screening, and treatment programmes 1 .


Balakrishnan offers the perfect balance of the decision modeling process and the use of spreadsheets to set up and solve decision models. The third edition has been updated to reflect the latest version of Excel.


Extracts in organic solvents viz. Methanol, Dichloromethane, Petroleum ether and Acetone and Aqueous extract of a herbal medicinal weed plant Parthenium hysterophorus was evaluated for its antibacterial activities against Escherichia coli, Bacillus cereus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Micrococcus luteus and Citrobacter freundii and antifungal activities against Microsporum gypseum, Penicillium chrysogenum, Rhizopus stolonifer, Aspergillus niger, Mucor. These were carried out by taking the organic and aqueous extracts of inflorescence of the plant at a concentration of 1000μg, 500 μg, 250 μg, 125 μg/ml and their activities were recorded by estimating zones of inhibition as produced by agar solid-diffusion method on Mueller-Hinton agar media for bacteria and on Sabouraud Dextrose agar media for fungus. All of the extracts exhibited different antibacterial and antifungal activities and the activities varied from solvent to solvent and the concentrations of solvent. All types of organic extracts and aqueous extract exhibited greater antibacterial activity but surprisingly all the extracts except methanol were inactive against Klebsiella pneumoniae. The methanolic extract of inflorescence of tested plant showed highest antibacterial activity against all the bacterial strains .P.aeruginosa and C.ferudii were inhibited by all types of extracts whether organic or aqueous. None organic extracts showed antifungal activity, the aqueous extract of inflorescence exhibited antifungal activity at concentrations of 1000 μg/ml and 500 μg/ml .The antibacterial and antifungal activities were compared with positive control chloremphenicol and nystatin


The purpose of the PSX project is to develop a computer program that can autonomously carry out qualitative analysis of systems of ordinary differential equations. The central issue in analysis automation is the development of a computational theory for dynamical systems analysis. In this paper, I focus on integrating qualitative and quantitative methods so that a computer program can automatically make high-level decisions and derive abstract information by intelligently controlling numerical and symbolic computation. I survey technical results obtained in the PSX project and describe the current status, highlighting intelligent techniques for controlling numerical computation.


In recent years, the need to reduce CO2 emissions has developed a change in transports. For this reason, E-mobility has been increasingly adopted, causing the need to simulate the behaviour of new vehicles. This paper proposes the assembly of an electric vehicle prototype and the validation of the proposed electric powertrain model. An inverter was used to control a Brushless SPM Motor and the battery pack was designed and assembled to be compatible with the other powertrain elements. Once the components were defined, a powertrain model was developed to simulate the behaviour of the entire vehicle. The global model was validated using the results of properly made experimental tests. A real driving cycle in real-time experiment was performed and subsequently the same driving cycle was simulated on MATLAB/Simulink to validate the model.


This article presents the attitudinal response of rural villagers in Papua New Guinea to mobile telephony, based on a threshold study made during the early stages of its adoption. The research indicates that the introduction of mobile telecommunications has generally been viewed positively, with mobile phones affording social interaction with loved ones. Nonetheless, negative concerns have been strongly felt, notably financial costs and anxiety about mobile phones aiding in the coordination of extramarital liaisons and criminal activities. The communities investigated previously had scant access to modern communication technologies, some still using traditional means such as wooden slit drums, known locally as garamuts. The expansion of mobile network coverage has introduced into communal village life the capability to communicate dyadically and privately at a distance. Investigation into the adoption of mobile phones thus promotes understanding about traditional means of communication and notions of public and private interactions.


A shortage of sand and water for play can cause squabbles. Anne O'Connor advises on creative ways of providing this popular resource.


Disclosed herein is an electrostatic capacitance type input apparatus, including, a first substrate, a flexible second substrate disposed so as to face the first substrate, a first electrode for detection of a depressed position, the first electrode being provided either on a surface side, in the first substrate, facing the flexible second substrate or on a side opposite to the flexible second substrate with respect to the first substrate, a second electrode for detection of a depressed position, the second electrode being provided on the flexible second substrate, and an elastic member having an insulating property and provided between the first substrate and the flexible second substrate.


Invariably, when I access to perform a search or task, I soon forget what I was there for. The issues on that site go back to C&EN's very beginning, in 1923, and the wealth of information, knowledg...


This paper presents the global modification of magnetic domains and magnetic properties in amorphous Gd19Fe81 thin films with rapid thermal processing at two distinct temperatures (250oC and 450oC), and with different time intervals viz., 2, 5, 10 and 20 minutes. 100 nm thick as-prepared films display nano-scale meandering stripe domains with high magnetic phase contrast which is the signature of perpendicular magnetic anisotropy. The films processed at 250oC for various time intervals show successive reduction in magnetic phase contrast and domain size. The domain pattern completely disappeared, and topography dominated mixed magnetic phase has been obtained for the films processed at 450oC for time intervals greater than 2 minutes. The magnetization measurements indicate the reduction in perpendicular magnetic anisotropy with increase in saturation magnetization for all the rapid thermal processed films. The experimental outputs have been used to simulate the domain pattern. Reduction in uniaxial anisot...


A boundary integral equation technique is presented which is defined on a spherical surface. This technique can be used in electromagnetics to determine the singular behaviour of the fields at the common tip of a number of bi-isotropic cones with arbitrary cross-section. The technique is also applicable for electromagnetic conical waveguides and acoustical horns with hard walls with arbitrary cross-section. The Green's function in the integral equation is an associated Legendre function. The integral equation is solved with the method of moments combined with the method of Galerkin.


This work demonstrates the Non-linear Time-frequency distribution of Discrete Time Energy Operator DTEO based on AM-FM demodulation techniques, assuming that the individual component signals are spectrally isolated by each other and can be modeled as discrete-time mono-component AM-FM signals. This is proposed to be use with its entropy as an input to a Duration Distribution Based Hidden Markov Module (DDBHMM) in Speaker Independent (SI) Large Vocabulary Mandarin Speech Recognition (SI-LVMSR) system, by combining the feature vectors as output of the front-end detection stage. The goal is to improve the performance of the existing system by combining new features in the baseline feature vector. Using the pre-emphasized filter in the front end of the present recognizer causes an increase in the noise energy at high frequencies above 4 kHz, which in some cases degrades the recognition accuracy. This paper also involves dealing with this problem by eliminating pre-emphasis filters with entropy of NLDTEO combined with MFCC instead of the traditional techniques. The experiment results show significant reduction (24.96%) in relative error rate, by using the new technique with eliminating the pre-emphasized filter from pre-processing stage.


A motivational questionnaire was developed from an exploratory survey and was administered to 385 learners of English in Shanxi University,a typical FLL environment,with the aim of defining the relevance and characteristics of integrativeness and instrumentality in FLL,as well as locating other motivational factors.In addition to this,the other aim was to probe the relationship between type and importance of orientations.The data revealed that four types of orientations contribute to motivation in FLL situations:(1)Instrumental oriemtation,(2)Integrative orientation,(3)Requirement orientation,and (4)Instrumental orientation and Requirement orientation play a significant role in contributing to motivation in English learning.


The polymerization characteristics of (octylamino)benzoic acid dimer phenyl esters with para-meta (2), meta-para (3), and meta-meta (4) orientation of the amino and carbonyl groups were investigated. While treatment of 2 or 3 with a base gave the cyclic dimer 6 as the main product, condensation of 4 with an initiator in the presence of a base afforded polymers with narrow molecular weight distributions.


With the increasing of raw material price,more and more paper mills try to decrease the manufacturing cost.In the white paper making,many paper mills are considering replacing dyes with pigments.Bright shades can be obtained and at the same time,the manufacturing cost can be decreased.Tinting test of the core layer of the ivory board with direct dyes/FWA and organic pigments/FWA separately was carried out.The results showed that both methods can reach the same target;however the dosage of FWA with the method of organic pigments/ FWA is obviously lower compared with the method of direct dyes/FWA,which decreases the manufacturing cost and obtains much brighter shade.


To overcome the disadvantages of current application development technology of .NET. This paper firstly introduces the concept of the MVC design pattern and three-tie structure technology, secondly ,an application model of MVC in .net with three tie structure is put forward and realizing of the model in.NET environment are discussed; finally, the characteristics and disadvantages of the application about MVC in.NET are analyzed.


* One of man's indomitable idiosyncrasies is his energetic struggle to overcome his limitations. Man has always sought tools to extend his capabilities-to see further, clearer, and more aesthetically; to hear with greater perception, control, and enjoyment; to understand beyond what he already comprehends. In his quest to enlarge his senses, he has sought communication's "extenders"-tools to reach out beyond his own self-boundaries, to explode, in effect, his self-sphere. The range and variety of electronic media that man has created in the twentieth century attest to their special position of importance in his life. In liberating human potential, they claim an almost excessive focus of man's attention and fascination-what constitutes a kind of media-mania. Seemingly, the farther a particular medium enables man to reach, the more command it has over him. Television, recordings, and movie films are familiar examples of such manias; there are many others. Even though the potential of these tools has only begun to be realized, their compelling influence on the human psyche is a generally accepted fact. Marshall McLuhan is probably more responsible than anyone for making people aware of the awesome power of the new communications media. These media, he points out, create environments that shape people. They represent processes that can alter human behaviors. For the teacher, the message is clear: the electronic environment has created a new student who must be dealt with on those terms. Awareness of print as a medium must now be supplemented by knowledge of the newer technologies of communication, so that the best of both can be exploited educationally. Paul E. Eickmann is Assistant Director of Professional Programs, MENC, and Charles B. Fowler is MENC's Director of Publications and Editor of Music Educators Journal. According to McLuhan, each particular medium of communication not only favors certain kinds of messages, but also alters the content. If, as is the case with television, music must be accompanied by a visual stimulus, then music on television will favor that dimension, developing it to its limits. In other words, content exists in a certain media-form and is subject to alteration to suit that form. "The medium," McLuhan says, "is the


In this letter, an ultrabroadband D-band wireless front-end receiver (RX) in 45-nm CMOS SOI is proposed. It achieves a noise figure of 8 dB, a gain of 16 dB, a 3-dB bandwidth of 25 GHz, and occupies a compact area of 2 mm2. To the best of our knowledge, for the first time, the required millimeter-wave local oscillator signal is generated on-chip. Furthermore, 108-Gb/s data-rate is demonstrated by receiving and demodulating a signal composed of <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$10\times 2.16$ </tex-math></inline-formula> GHz channels with −40-dBm average power and 64-QAM modulation. With a consumption of 200 mW from a 1-V voltage supply, the proposed RX achieves an energy efficiency of 1.8 pJ/bit.


This study was initiated to investigate the effects of exposing imbibed seeds to low temperatures on the growth and characteristics of Eustoma grandiflorum. Two cultivars with different rosette characteristics were used in this experiment, 'Rococo Marine' and 'King of Snow'. Imbibed seeds of both cultivars were stored at a low temperature (10°C) for 5 weeks after sowing or before sowing under dark conditions. After the low-temperature treatment, the seedlings were grown at the natural temperature in the greenhouse for about 1 month. In this period, the daily minimum temperatures ranged from 21.0°C to 25.5°C and the average value was 23.0°C. Moreover, the daily maximum temperature remained in the range of 26.0°C to 43.5°C, within an average temperature of 37.2°C. Irrespective of the rosette characteristics, both cultivars had bolting rates of 100% when the lowtemperature treatment was applied. The flower budding and flowering rates were higher than those without the low-temperature treatment in both cultivars. In 'Rococo Marine', which has a strong tendency toward rosette formation, the days to bolting, flower budding, and flowering decreased compared with those without the low-temperature treatment. The characteristic forms of the cut flowers were the same irrespective of the low-temperature treatment method. These results demonstrate that it is impor tant to carry out low-temperature treatment of imbibed seeds in the high-temperature season, and that the different lowtemperature treatment methods do not affect the growth and characteristics of Eustoma grandiflorum.


Geometrical structure, stability and cooperativity, and contribution of hydrogen bonds to the stability of complexes between chalcogenoaldehydes and water were thoroughly investigated using quantum chemical methods. The stability of the complexes increases significantly when one or more H2O molecules are added to the binary system, whereas it decreases sharply going from O to S, Se, or Te substitution. The O–H⋯O H-bond is twice as stable as Csp2–H⋯O and O–H⋯S/Se/Te H-bonds. It is found that a considerable blue-shift of Csp2–H stretching frequency in the Csp2–H⋯O H-bond is mainly determined by an addition of water into the complexes along with the low polarity of the Csp2–H covalent bond in formaldehyde and acetaldehyde. The Csp2–H stretching frequency shift as a function of net second hyperconjugative energy for the σ*(Csp2–H) antibonding orbital is observed. Remarkably, a considerable Csp2–H blue shift of 109 cm−1 has been reported for the first time. Upon the addition of H2O into the binary systems, halogenated complexes witness a decreasing magnitude of the Csp2–H stretching frequency blue-shift in the Csp2–H⋯O H-bond, whereas CH3-substituted complexes experience the opposite trend.


CAN intelligence tests, or mental tests in general, be made more effective by the application of certain relatively objective methods of choosing test items and of scoring item responses? The techniques referred to are modifications of those used by McCall in the construction of his MultiMental Scale.2 McCall has been able to show that these methods operate successfully with the peculiar type of test elements contained in the Multi-Mental Scale and under certain experimental conditions. The tests employed in the present study are of the more usual character, as are the circumstances accompanying the application of the devices for improvement. The essential problem, then, becomes the discovery of evidences to show under what conditions these techniques will operate satisfactorily. A host of relatively minor problems must be omitted from this summary because of limitations of space.


Several studies have investigated how abstract and concrete concepts are processed in the brain, but data are controversial, in particular neuroimaging data contrast with clinical neuropsychological observations. A possible explanation could be that previous meta-analyses considered different types of stimuli (nouns, verbs, literal and figurative sentences). Using the ALE method, we meta-analyzed 32 brain-activation imaging studies that considered only words (nouns and verbs). Five clusters were associated with concrete words (the left superior occipital, middle temporal, parahippocampal and bilateral posterior cingulate, angular, and precuneus gyri); four clusters were associated with abstract words (left IFG, superior, and middle temporal gyri). When only nouns were considered three left activation clusters were associated with concrete stimuli and only one with abstract nouns (left IFG). These results confirm that concrete and abstract word processing involves at least partially segregated brain areas, the IFG being relevant for abstract nouns and verbs while more posterior temporo-parieto-occipital regions seem to be crucial for concrete words.


Abstract The study of the reinforcement of rubber by carbon black has made it possible to establish the radical nature of the interaction, thus explaining why, in the latex phase and in the absence of sources of radicals, the reinforcing effect of carbon black does not exist and why it has been possible up to the present to obtain it only by mastication of the solid rubber in the presence of black. Irradiation, an excellent source of radicals, should in latex systems lead to a reinforcement of rubber by black. The experiments carried out appear to prove this. Irradiation of the latex and the black in aqueous dispersion, followed by a mixture of the two constituents which is then poured out on a plate, dried and subjected to moderate thermal treatment, makes it possible to obtain mechanical properties which are definitely superior to those of films prepared without irradiation and of films vulcanized with sulfur.


Parthenium hysterophorus (L.) being a declared invasive weed is threatening the biodiversity of Pakistan. A laboratory based study was undertaken during January 2007 in Weed Research Laboratory, Department of Weed Science, NWFP Agricultural University Peshawar, Pakistan to investigate the allelopathic potential of aqueous extracts of P. hysterophorus (L.) against wheat (Triticum aestivum), Avena fatua and Lepidium sp. The whole plants of P. hysterophorus were dried in shade and ground to a fine powder, which was dissolved at 10, 20 and 30 g l. Ten seed of each test species were placed in Petri dishes and extracts were applied when needed. A control was also included for comparison. Increasing the concentration of P. hysterophorus reduced the germination percentage, seedling length and seedling weight of all the three species tested significantly. The tolerance order of the species against the extract concentration of P. hysterophorus were Triticum aestivum > Avena fatua > Lepidium sp. The present study suggests that P. hysterophorus (L.) affects the agro ecosystem and needs careful attention. However, these extracts can be used as a viable weed management technique, but further studies are needed to explore the full potential of Parthenium as a bioherbicide.


Psychology has become connected to the "memory boom" in research, that highlights the concept of social representations, defined as a shared system of knowledge and belief that facilitates communication about social objects where culture is conceptualized as a meta-system of social representations mediated by language, symbols, and their institutional carriers. Six articles on collective remembering, including survey results, text analysis, and experiments, are summarized in this introduction. All rely on content-rich meanings, embedded in sociocultural contexts that influence the results of the surveys and experiments. In the cases of Germany and China, the "historical charter" of the states in the late 19th century was ruptured, resulting in substantially different expressions of nationalism and national identity (in Germany) and filial piety and nationalism (in China) today. Surveys on the organization of living historical memory in Hungary and Finland found that the European Union formed an enduring social context for the formation of memory groups regarding recent history. Finally, in experiments, historical reminders are likely to be anchored in existing networks of meaning, and prime people about what they already believe, rather than exert independent causal effects. This anchoring of historical memory in communicating societies explains why the experimental results in this area are so inconsistent.


Technological advances in computing, communications, andcontrol, have set the stage for a next generation of engineered systems,called cyber-physical systems (CPS). These systems can potentially beimportant in overcoming many challenges in energy, environment, transportation,and health care. In this paper, we discuss some of these grandchallenges that necessitate further advances in CPS. We also provide apartial survey of some important research issues, and an overview of severalresearch efforts that have been undertaken toward the developmentof CPS.


One of the brain diseases is Alzheimer's disease (AD). It is also known as a degenerative disease, and over time becomes worse. One of the most common risk factors of genetic is Apolipoprotein E (APOE) for AD, whose significant association with AD is observed in different genome-wide association studies (GWAS). Among individuals, the most common genetic variation type is known as Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). For this disease, SNPs are recognized as significant biomarkers. In the early stages of the disease, SNPs support in understanding and detecting the disease. This paper's primary goal is an early prediction and diagnosis with high classification accuracy that can perform by identifying SNPs biomarkers associated with AD. In this paper, we concentrate on using Machine learning (ML) techniques to identify the AD biomarkers. Naïve Bayes (NB), Random Forest (RF), Logistic Regression(LR), and Support Vector Machine (SVM) learning algorithm have been performed on all AD genetic data of neuroimaging initiative phase 1 (ADNI-1)/Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) datasets. In the whole-genome approach ADNI-1, results revealed that NB, RF, SVM, and LR learning algorithms, overall accuracy is scored 98.1%, 97.97%, 95.88%, and 83%, respectively. The results show that the classification techniques are favorable for the early detection of AD.


Eucalyptus, one of the fast growing tree species extracts water from a depth of up to 15 meters (Peck and Williamson, 1987). As a prolific producer of biomass/ wood (Calder et al., 1997), eucalyptus has been included as commercially important tree species under various afforestation programmes in many parts of the world although there is a controversy regarding the reported reduction of stream flow associated with this species. Therefore in this scenario, it is necessary to make an attempt to use selections with reduced water use or to select and develop high water use efficient clones to cultivate under water limited environments.


There has been a study that demonstrates the ability to analyze and solve the problem of kinematics material in prospective physics teachers. This research uses the qualitative method. There are three techniques of data collection namely; questionnaires from students, interviews from faculty, and observation of campus environmental conditions. The results of this study produce gaps, and it can be concluded that the need for improvement and improvement of the learning model. Learning using the Video analysis program can solve the problem


Surface‐energy‐driven grain growth in 70‐nm‐thick phosphorus‐doped Si films is reported for anneals of less than 10 s over a temperature range of ∼1100 to 1225 °C. Secondary grains grow to sizes of 1 μm or larger and have (111) crystallographic texture, indicating surface energy minimization. A kinetic analysis of grain growth suggests that while the rate of grain boundary motion is limited by P diffusion, the initial growth rate can be high, 72 nm/s at 1100 °C.


This study aims to explain the influence of anti-corruption values in honesty, awareness, and independence on the implementation of principles of Islamic financial system. Sampling technique using proportional random sampling obtained by 45 respondents from all employees of Sharia Commercial Bank in East Java. The data analysis technique using multiple linear regression because there are four variables in this research. The results showed that the value of anticorruption values in the value of honesty, caring values, and the value of independence partially or simultaneously able to give a positive influence on the application of principles of Islamic financial system. However it should be noted on the value of independence because the results showed not in line with the implementation of Islamic financial system principles.


By using the methods of investigation, the author makes the study on teacher condition, sports apparatus, financial investment, organizing management in promising engineering schools in minority region of western Hunan. The result shows that physical education in most of the village schools of this area lags far behind the national average level. There has been considerably improvement in schools hardware such as schools building through the promising engineering. It suggests that education authorities at various levels should pay special attention to solve the problem in schools building.


Although the importance of working with people within their natural settingshas been advocated since the 1965 conference at Swampscott, communitypsychologists have had relatively little discourse about religious settings whencompared to the vast number of studies undertaken in other settings—schools, family environments, workplaces, and hospitals, to name a few.Only in recent years have some community psychologists begun to explore the potential benefits of working within religious and spiritual settings. Weassert that this omission has resulted in little work centered in the context ofreligious settings, and consequently may limit the scope of our theories andthe effectiveness of our interventions. In this article we argue that there issufficient evidence to conclude that locating research and interventionprojects in religious contexts can enrich the study and practice in the field.We consider first the history of the relationship between religion andpsychology in research and practice, and review community psychology'sdiscussion of religious settings over the past 25 years. We then discuss therelevance of these settings for community psychology by reviewing empiricalfindings within a conceptual framework of key constructs of communitypsychology. We argue that work in many religious settings is consistent withthe priorities associated with these constructs. Furthermore, collaborationwith religious organizations which share priorities with communitypsychology can help both community psychologists and participants of thesereligious settings achieve their goals. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.


An analysis of the effect of length and curvature on the load deformation characteristics of palatal bars that can be represented by arcuate beams is presented. The width and thickness required to produce palatal bars of equal rigidity for different lengths are deduced and presented as a nomogram.


The ongoing from 1995 to 2007 housing boom had an impact on the policy of banks for lending. Banks increased lending and reduced the reserve ratio. Have become more willing to lend mortgage (UK House Prices). It was a very dangerous situation, because in the event of a crisis, could seriously jeopardize the financial liquidity of the financial market institutions on the English market.


This review aims to provide an overview of nanoparticles for diabetes mellitus therapy. It explores the properties, synthesis and/or functionalization, mechanistic aspects, and therapeutics for diabetes and its complications.


The scaled boundary finite element method(SBFEM) is applied to the solution of short-crested wave interaction with arc-shaped bottom-mounted porous breakwater.The fluid domain is divided into two sub-domains by introducing an imaginary circular interface.The outer one is an unbounded sub-domain and the inner one is a bounded sub-domain.Various porous coefficients for the arc and the imaginary arc are considered.A new variational principle formulation to derive the SBFEM equations for the two sub-domains is developed.Hankel function and Bessel function are chosen as the basis functions for the solution of the unbounded and bounded domains,respectively and matched at public circle boundary.Numerical examples show that the presented method yields excellent results with quite few nodes discretized on the imaginary circle.The effects of the wave parameters and structure configuration including porosity of the arc,the relative wave number and the annular spacing on the wave forces,wave run-up are examined.The experimental results provide valuable reference for the hydrodynamic analyses and structure design of arc-shaped bottom-mounted porous breakwater.


In the erratum for Fig. 5D (2), the "cleaved Caspase 3" panel (lanes 7 and 8 in the original blots and lanes 4 & 5 in the corrected version) closely resembles the "cleaved Casp3" panel in Fig. 3D in the original version of the article (3). Likewise, in the original article (3), Fig. 5D (lanes 4 and 5) resembles the "cleaved Casp3" panel in Fig. 3D. In the erratum (2), the "cleaved Caspase 3" panel, lanes 1 and 2, closely resembles a horizontal mirror image of Fig. 2F, TCF7L2 panel, lanes 3 and 4, from a 2009 article by the same author group in Human Molecular Genetics (4). In addition, lanes 4 and 5 of the corrected Fig. 5D in the erratum closely resemble a horizontal mirror image of Fig. 2F, TCF7L2 panel, lanes 1 and 2, of the Human Molecular Genetics article.


The paper presents a method of computing the extremal index for a discrete-time stationary Markov chain in continuous state space. The method is based on the assumption that bivariate margins of the process are in the domain of attraction of a bivariate extreme value distribution. Scaling properties of bivariate extremes then lead to a random walk representation for the tail behaviour of the process, and hence to computation of the extremal index in terms of the fluctuation properties of that random walk. The result may then be used to determine the asymptotic distribution of extreme values from the Markov chain.


The Fe,Zn,Mn and Pb concentrations in the seawater dissolved phase were investigated in the sea-surface microlayer(SML),subsurface water(SSW) and bottom water(BW) samples collected at of three mariculture areas of the Nanao Island ocean zone.The results showed that the SML and the BW were important compartments for these heavy metals in the mariculture areas and the concentrations varied from 23.0 μg/L to 268.0 μg/L(Fe),11.0 μg/L to 82.2 μg/L(Zn),1.5 μg/L to 11.0 μg/L(Mn) and 6.0 μg/L to 40.5 μg/L(Pb) in SSW,while a clear enrichment is observed in the SML,where these ranged from 27.5 μg/L to 286.5 μg/L(Fe),13.5 μg/L to 89.0 μg/L(Zn),3.0 μg/L to 12.0 μg/L(Mn) and 7.0 μg/L to 46.0 μg/L(Pb).The enrichment factors were in the range of 1.07-1.39 which showed a slight enrichment.The average enrichment factors of Fe,Zn,Pb and Mn were 1.18,1.13,1.12 and 1.30,respectively.The average enrichment factors in shellfish,fish and gracilaria lemaneaformis farming areas were 1.26,1.19 and 1.11,respectively,which showed that the surface activity was highest in the shellfish farming area.Furthermore,the heavy metals concentrations were lowest in the gracilaria lemaneaformis farming area.The results of single factor contamination index showed that the investigated areas were slightly contaminated with Zn,while the partial farming areas were seriously contaminated with Pd during a certain period of time.


The invention relates to a cutting tool for machining processes, in essence composed of a clamping holder (3) with a recess (4) for accepting a support plate (5) and with a cutting plate (6) secured on the support plate (5) by way of a clamping claw (22). It is proposed, for secure fastening of the cutting plate (6) on the clamping holder (3), that an interlocking tongue-and-groove connection is used for positioning of the cutting plate (6) on the support plate (5).


This paper proposes a protection scheme for transmission lines based on nature frequency of fault-generated travelling wave. The fault component of current signals are first computed and decoupled into their modal components, and then the mode spectrums are computed by FFT to extra the fundamental frequency of nature frequencies, through comparing the fundamental frequency at both ends of lines to identify internal and external faults. The scheme operates rapidly, reliably and is immune to CT saturation, operation mode and transient resistance; it can endure the influences of various fault inception angles, fault location, The performance of scheme is investigated for various faults on a typical Electro-Magnetic Transient Program/Alternative Transients Program (EMTP/ATP) simulated transmission feeder.


In order to control microphase separation of polystyrene-silica nanocomposites, perhydropolysilazane (PHPS), which is a preceramic of silica, and epoxidized poly(styrene-block-butadiene-block-styrene) triblock copolymer [E-SBS, Mw = 8.0 × 104, styrene: 40 mol%, degree of epoxidization of butadiene: 20 mol%] or poly(styrene-block-butadiene-block-styrene) triblock copolymer [SBS, Mw = 1.40 × 105, styrene: 30 mol%] as templates of microphase separation were blended, following the calcination of composites in steam at 60°C. Well-arranged microphase separation was formed with E-SBS, though the macrophase separation was formed with SBS. The morphology of the microphase separation of the composites with E-SBS and PHPS was widely controlled by varying the PHPS content based on Molau's law. Silica domains were formed in polybutadiene domains. NMR analysis indicated the interaction between silanyl group of PHPS and epoxy group in E-SBS. The composites on the substrate were highly transparent and the surface of the composite with 73.5 vol% of silica was harder than 4H.


Abstract The initiation of early oral motor assessments by neonatal occupational therapists (OT) and the implementation of an NTrainer system to help facilitate feeding progression in the premature infant population was incorporated into practice by the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center (OSUWMC) who partnered with Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio. OSUWMC did not have a set protocol to use with infants prior to beginning oral feeds and studies have found that providing oral motor stimulation in a consistent manner accelerates transition time to oral feeds. Anecdotally, through observation, repeated experience and data recorded by the NTrainer, the NICU team as a whole noted that infants who received early oral motor assessments by the neonatal OT and NTrainer therapy demonstrated a more mature NNS pattern, improved suck strength, and a decreased hypersensitivity to oral motor intervention, overall positively affecting the neurodevelopment of the preterm infant. These combined therapies also resulted in the development of a standard feeding guideline that begins at 29 weeks gestational age (GA).


Many chemical industry watchers are still scratching their heads over the proposed acquisition of Stauffer Chemical by Chesebrough-Pond's. Just why either of these companies would want to tie up with the other is an intriguing question. In announcing the acquisition, Chesebrough chairman Ralph E. Ward said, "We see the combined Chesebrough-Stauffer organizations as being truly unique in terms of meeting today's market needs, but, more important, those same needs for the future. For consumer products companies to make a difference for the future, they're going to have to provide products that are truly breakthroughs—that really do fill important unfilled needs. This can only come about by organizations that do both basic research the way Stauffer does—and couple it with applied R&D and marketing the way Chesebrough does." For his part, Stauffer chairman H. Barclay Morley says, "Stauffer can benefit from Chesebrough's marketing skills and organization to capitalize on new products Stauffer may develop outsi...


An 8 month-old female Pomeranian dog was presented with major complaints of heart murmur and cardiomegaly. Diagnostic study found the left-to-right patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) with moderate heart failure (ISACHC II). The PDA occlusion was successfully accomplished using a 5 mm × 3 loops embolic coil through right femoral artery. Two months later, the dog came back to clinic with marked hypotension, severe diarrhea and pleural effusion. Diagnostic study found severe pulmonary hypertension and tricuspid regurgitation. The clinical condition was controlled by the administration of sildenafil (3 mg/kg, PO, TID). However, the dog was expired by dislodged embolic coil and inconsistent medication by the owner. Postmortem study found the pulmonary hypertension was occurred by the abnormally dislodged embolic coil. Although the embolic coil is widely used for PDA occlusion in toy dogs with PDA, the more careful evaluation for the size and shape of PDA is necessary to minimize the risk of dislodgement of pre-placed coil.


TEPPNER H. 1995. The correct name of Asteriscus hierichunticus (AsteraceaeInuleae), a 'False Rose of Jericho'. Phyton (Horn, Austria) 35 (1): 79-82. English with German summary. The correct name for one of the 'False Roses of Jericho' is Asteriscus hierichunticus (MICHON) WIKLUND, Nordic J. Bot. 5: 307 (1985). The correct basionym is Saulcya hierichuntica MICHON, Solution nouv. Quest. Lieux saints p. 100 (1852). The "True Rose of Jericho' as a symbol for the resurrection is Anastatica hierochuntica L. (Brassicaceae); two sources for this proposition, an Aegyptian mummy from the 4th century A.D. and the book of CORDUS 1534 are discussed.


Based on the idea of a spring‐loaded microscope objective, a boring attachment has been designed and constructed to fit a standard revolving multi‐objective holder. It enables many small specific areas of a slide embedded specimen to be selected, ringed and bored out without removing the slide from the microscope stage.


Health status, and clinical- and sociodemographic factors influence the type of follow-up care for patients after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). However, patients' perceived need for follow-up and how this is associated with health status, sociodemographic and clinical variables in countries with different follow-up after PCI is scarcely examined. Norway and Denmark have similar healthcare systems, yet, only Danish patients are routinely referred to cardiac rehabilitation (CR).

 To determine how patients' perceived need for follow-up is associated with health status, and clinical and sociodemographic factors in two Nordic countries with different CR referral practices.

 Real-world data from 3417 patients at seven Norwegian and Danish university hospitals were collected in the prospective multicentre CONCARDPCI study. Patients' perceived need for follow-up were obtained two months post-discharge (index event). Sociodemographic characteristics were obtained by self-report during the index hospitalization. Clinical data were collected from patients' medical records and the Norwegian Registry on Invasive Cardiology. Mental and physical health were measured using the disease-specific Myocardial Infarction Dimensional Assessment Scale (MIDAS) and the generic RAND-12 questionnaire. We used t-tests and chi-square tests to test the differences between patients that want and do not want follow-up. Logistic regression further scrutinized the aims, reported as odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

 Most patients were men (78%) with a mean age of 66 years (SD 11). Those not wanting follow-up were older (mean 4.8 years, p<0.001), more often men (82% vs 78%, p=0.043), had lower education level (primary school 33% vs 16%, p<0.001), and had more often three or more comorbidities (54% vs 43%, p=0.003). They reported, however, to be healthier on both mental component scores (MIDAS emotional 16.4 vs 25.1, p<0.001, RAND-12 Mental 53.3 vs 48.4, p<0.001) and physical component scores (MIDAS Physical 19.8 vs 27.9, p<0.001, RAND-12 Physical 50.3 vs. 46.6, p<0.001). Stratified by country, for Norwegian patients, not wanting follow-up was almost twice as likely if living alone (OR 1.93, CI 1.22; 3.06), half as likely if being a woman (OR 0.48, CI 0.26; 0.85), increasingly likely with age (OR 1.06, CI 1.04; 1.08] and decreasingly likely with educational level (e.g. university >4 years: OR 0.30, CI 0.16; 0.55). In contrast, age, sex and cohabitation status was not significantly associated with perceived need of follow-up for Danish patients.

 Our findings suggest that sociodemographic factors are more important for patients' perceived need for follow-up than both health status and patient clinical characteristics. Country differences further suggest that there is not an easy way to classify patients' needs, and a one-size-fits-all follow-up programme may not exist in either CR pathways.

 Type of funding sources: Public hospital(s). Main funding source(s): The Western Norway Health Authority,The Norwegian Nurses Association


Fast pulsed kicker magnets will be used in the Advanced Light Source (ALS) Booster to accept injected 50-MeV electrons from the source linac and then eject the full energy 1.5-GeV beam into the storage ring. Their design has incorporated a number of unique elements to achieve the tight requirements for efficient beam transfer. The booster orbit time of 250 ns and a maximum of 12 electron bunches, spaced 8 ns apart, define the maximum required injection and extraction kicker magnet flat top time. A 100-ns injection falltime and extraction risetime were selected, with the 50-ns balance left for pulse setting and timing errors. The injected beam is deflected 59 mrad and the extracted beam 4 mrad. This can be accomplished with a 0.5-m 200-G magnet for injection and a 1-m 200-G magnet for extraction. A uniformity of +or-0.5% temporally and spatially is required of the nominal 200-G flat top field to maintain a low loss/dispersion system.<<ETX>>


Cabbage seeds, aged at 15.8% moisture content and 35°C for 20d, were monitored for germination and swelling during imbibition by combining a standard germination and a salt stress integrated germination test with a computer-aided image analysis system. Exposure of seeds to -2MPa NaCl treatment from 16-24h, 8-24h and 0-24h during imbibition led to an increasing reduction in germination compared with that in a standard germination test. Both the reduction of final germination percentage and an increase of mean germination time were greater in seeds that had been aged for increasing period of time. Image analysis technique was applied to monitor both seed imbibition up to 36h, by measuring variations in seed area and the timing of germination onset under stress conditions. When seeds were transferred to NaCI at 16h or at 8h, the increase in area slowed down slightly up to 24h; upon stress removal, at 24h, a remarkable increase in seed area was detected during the first hour of water imbibition. This increase was less in deteriorated seeds, which also showed an increase in seed leachate conductivity during 24-25h imbibition. Highly significant correlations were established between germination parameters, leachate electrical conductivity and the change in seed area observed between 24 and 25h imbibition. These findings suggest that rapid image processing and recording of seed germination and size may represent an innovative technique for an accurate determination of any variation of seed hydration status. In addition, the measure of seed area may be taken as a good marker of seed vigour and tolerance to both advancing deterioration and salt stress.


The paper reports on a literacy pilot project conducted in St. Croix, United States Virgin Islands (USVI) from 2006 to 2007. The project was undertaken to introduce the ideals of a learning community to a group of students, while teaching survival skills such as basic literacy and information literacy (IL). A novel method was adopted by linking literacy instruction to engagement in culture and the arts. Personnel with a wide range of skills and talents were selected for this non-traditional approach. The project results indicated that the venture was a success, as it offered a model that demonstrated how the intellectual and creative potential of young people could be channelled towards personal and national development.


Cyclohexene hydration was investigated in a fixed-bed reactor with a micromixer. The results showed that the use of the micromixer increased the solubility of cyclohexene in the aqueous phase and thus promoted the reaction. The conversion of cyclohexene and selectivity for cyclohexanol reached 9% and 99%, respectively. The reaction time was shortened to 0.3 h.


Electrochemical processes at irregular interfaces often yield unconventional results, e.g. constant phase elements appear in the electrochemical impedance spectra. Some of these are caused by the inhomogeneous current distribution due to irregular, possibly fractal geometry. Several attempts on generalization of certain electrochemical laws and concepts for fractal electrode geometries are shown


This book is a compilation of four studies carried out in three major maize producing agroecological zones in Uganda to assess the safety of maize with regard to Fusarium infection and fumonisin contamination. The first study involved a field survey to document the agronomic and postharvest practices that predispose maize to Fusarium infection and fumonisin contamination. The second study involved isolation and identification of Fusarium species associated with maize produced in Uganda. The high intraspecific variability amongst the Fusarium species isolated from freshly harvested maize formed the basis of the third study that established the fumonisin production potential of 25 Fusarium strains. The fourth study investigated the dynamics of Fusarium incidence and fumonisin levels in maize stored in the most commonly used traditional storage structures. The major findings indicated that maize obtained from three major maize producing agroecological zones was highly infected with Fusarium. The average fumonisin content of the samples analysed was above the current limit of 5 mg/kg recommended by Uganda National Bureau of Standards.


A closed degloving injury, or Morel-Lavallee lesion, is the result of a severe, traumatic, shearing injury, causing separation of the skin and subcutaneous tissue from the underlying deep fascia. Though well described in the orthopedic trauma literature, this lesion is not well recognized by the general surgeon in the poly-trauma setting. We present a case of a 41 year old man who was referred to the general surgery service for a "back abscess". Upon patient interview, history of a recent motor vehicle collision (MVC) was obtained, including a pelvic fracture. Imaging demonstrated a large Morel-Lavellee lesion extending from the pelvis into the lower back. Knowledge of this entity is crucial to avoid unnecessary procedures in the management of these patients.


Aquatic-aerial multimodal vehicle is a new concept aircraft that can freely shuttle between water and air. Some of the natural organisms provide the inspiration to realize this multi-locomotion. Most of current prototypes use rigid link mechanisms or hinges to morph the structure thus to adapt to the aquatic-aerial environment, which is commonly complicated and bulky. In this paper, we present a novel prototype with pneumatically-driven soft fins and arms that can fold and spread just like the flying squid. The fins and arms can augment the lift force during flying by spreading and reduce drag force during swimming by folding. The performance of the morphable structures was investigated in wind and water tunnel. The results explain the tradeoff strategies of multimodal-locomotion between water and air, and verify the feasibility of the novel aquatic-aerial vehicle with soft morphable structures.


This paper proposed a magnetic deviation calibration strategy suitable to implementing on spot for an unmanned airship without high-accuracy heading references. Based on the magnetic deviation characteristics, it adopts three approaches to calibrate hard iron strength and soft iron coefficient. The hard iron strength is coarsely estimated by multi-position magnetic flux densities, then the remaining deviation is considered as small order. The least-square estimation at multi-position test and Kalman filter for real-time estimation are respectively applied to acquire the remaining hard iron strength and soft iron coefficients. Its calibration results for HMR3300 digital magnetic compass show that the coarse calibration step and accurate calibration step can improve the heading accuracy under carrier magnetic disturbance. The heading accuracy of 1° can be achieved when the carrier tilt angle is less than 5°, while the original deviation is 6.2°.


Background: Despite the rapid spread of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) producing-Enterobacterales (ESBL-E) and carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPE), little is known about the extent of their prevalence in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS). In this systematic review, we aimed to determine the epidemiology of ESBL-E and CPE in clinically significant Enterobacterales: Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae from the GMS (comprising of Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam and Yunnan province and Guangxi Zhuang region of China). Methods: Following a list of search terms adapted to subject headings, we systematically searched databases: Medline, EMBASE, Scopus and Web of Science for articles published on and before October 20th, 2020. The search string consisted of the bacterial names, methods involved in detecting drug-resistance phenotype and genotype, GMS countries, and ESBL and carbapenemase detection as the outcomes. Meta-analyses of the association between the isolation of ESBL from human clinical and non-clinical specimens were performed using the "METAN" function in STATA 14. Results: One hundred and thirty-nine studies were included from a total of 1,513 identified studies. Despite the heterogeneity in study methods, analyzing the prevalence proportions on log-linear model scale for ESBL producing-E. coli showed a trend that increased by 13.2% (95%CI: 6.1–20.2) in clinical blood specimens, 8.1% (95%CI: 1.7–14.4) in all clinical specimens and 17.7% (95%CI: 4.9–30.4) increase in carriage specimens. Under the log-linear model assumption, no significant trend over time was found for ESBL producing K. pneumoniae and ESBL-E specimens. CPE was reported in clinical studies and carriage studies past 2010, however a trend could not be determined because of the small dataset. Twelve studies were included in the meta-analysis of risk factors associated with isolation of ESBL. Recent antibiotic exposure was the most studied variable and showed a significant positive association with ESBL-E isolation (pooled OR: 2.9, 95%CI: 2.3–3.8) followed by chronic kidney disease (pooled OR: 4.7, 95%CI: 1.8–11.9), and other co-morbidities (pooled OR: 1.6, 95%CI: 1.2–2.9). Conclusion: Data from GMS is heterogeneous with significant data-gaps, especially in community settings from Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia and Yunnan and Guangxi provinces of China. Collaborative work standardizing the methodology of studies will aid in better monitoring, surveillance and evaluation of interventions across the GMS.


Most of the soil investigations in this country have been conducted at Rothamsted or other parts of South Britain and the soils examined have been chiefly those overlying the stratified rocks of the southern half of England. These, however, are by no means typical of the whole of Britain and research is needed into soils found extensively in Scotland and other parts of Britain which differ greatly in their origin, nature and properties from those which have hitherto been the chief subjects to which British investigators have devoted attention. The various agricultural colleges are taking up the study of the soils of their respective districts, and when the Farm of Craibstone was acquired as an Experiment Station by the North of Scotland College, a series of soil investigations was immediately commenced.


The dietetic interview is defined as the interaction between dietitians and clients w h o seek professional nutrition counselling. Like the medical interview it has certain characteristics which are constructed and reproduced by organisational constraints and the actions of interview participants. In the teaching clinic these constraints are even more defined by the presence of the supervising dietitian, and the task of assessment. This study argues that dietetic education would benefit from an understanding of the social organisation of the professional interview in the context of the teaching clinic. The gains of this added dimension would lie in better prepared students and the development of quality public dietetic services in teaching clinics. These claims are bracketed in a critical social epistemology, which recognises the social construction of 'what counts' as effective practice and in turn, h o w this is construed in the pedagogical environment. The study was conducted in three stages . During 1992-93, thirty two case studies of audio recorded interactions between student dietitians and clients were analysed using methods of conversation analysis. The findings were then developed as teaching concepts which would inform students of the social organisation of talk in the teaching clinic. During 1994 a teaching intervention was introduced whereby communication techniques derived from the study were discussed in class and reviewed by students on listening to audio recordings of their o w n performances. At the end of 1994 another 30 interactions were audio recorded and analysed to examine the effects of the teaching intervention. The results indicated the production of well directed and organised interviews from relatively inexperienced practitioners. This was seen as the effect of vicarious experience which preempted that usually gained by constructing numerous interviews and establishing a 'feel' for attending to the social constraints which the interview works through. From an educational perspective, this was clearly a productivity gain. The form of interview produced, however, raised a number of questions on the nature of the dietetic interview in this context, and the relative problems which the current combination of performance indicators hold for practice. Challenges for dietetic educators include a re-definition of the entry level


CMA(уреазный тест с дуоденобиоптатом) = 1,8-3,3 $.Investigate rapid urease test with the deposit of gastric juice for diagnostics Н.pylori (Hp) in gastric mucous. Randomly blinding selected 222 patients were examined. The modified method used for definition urease activity in deposit of gastric juice. A standard set for rapid urease test Jatrox-H.p.-Test (Rohm Pharma, Germany) used for definition urease activity in gastric and duodenal mucous (n=222). Examination of H.pylori infection in the gastric and duodenal mucous by Giemsa used as comparison method (n=222). Regions of gastric metaplasia of duodenum were confirmed by periodic acid-Schiff and alcian blue (Serva) staining (pH 1,0; 2,5). Results of an estimation of rapid urease test (deposit of gastric juice, gastric and duodenal mucous respectively): sensitivity (Se) 0,97; 0,98; 0,97; specificity (Sp) 0,98; 0,98; 0,99; prevalence (P) 0,54; 0,54; 0,18; test accuracy (TA) 0,97; 0,98; 0,99; negative predictive value (-PV) 0,96; 0,98; 0,99; positive predictive value (+PV) 0,98; 0,98; 0,97; positive likelihood ratio (LR+) 49,5; 49,0; 194,0; negative likelihood ratio (LR-) 0,03; 0,02; 0,03. Identical clinical efficiency of rapid urease test with deposit of gastric juice and gastric mucous biopsy for diagnostics H. pylori in gastric mucous is revealed. Expenses for diagnostics of H. pylori infection in a stomach have decreased in 9 times: CEA(deposit of gastric juice)=1,8 $; CEA(biopsy)=16,3 $. High clinical efficiency of rapid urease test with duodenal mucous biopsy for diagnostics H. pylori in duodenal mucous is established. Expenses for diagnostics of H. pylori infection in duodenum, in comparison with a genetic and morphological method, have decreased in 2-3 times: CMA(urease test with duodenal mucous biopsy) =1,8-3,3 $).


Discuss the basic content of studying the electromagnetic protection with bionics in cyberdomain,and locate them in the section of bionic axis. Define"cyberdomain"and analyze the security problem of spatial electromagnetic environment,establish the representation equivalent model of electromagnetic protection bionic research,and summarize the research strategy and implementation basis. According to the relationship between the structure and function,the corresponding scheme is planning,and combined with the research results of biological robustness,based on hierarchical redundancy,considering the robust tolerance design,describe the characteristics of network degeneracy,functional gradient. Thus,in cyber field,the hypothesis of electromagnetic protection by means of applying bionic technology has become a reality.


An approach is suggested which takes into account the effect of thermal fluctuations on the stability of the magnetic state of two-phase ferrimagnetic particles in the form of a rectangular parallelepiped. It is shown that the effect of thermal fluctuations gives rise to a metastable state whose existence depends on the size and degree of inhomogeneity of the particle. For superparamagnetic-size particles, two different mechanisms of generation of the instability of the ground magnetic state were revealed: constant reversals of the magnetic moment of one of the phases or small fluctuations of the magnetic moments of both phases.


A history of an electronic paper display technologies are reviewed by analyzing the Society for Information Display (SID) Symposium Digests. It is believed that the history starts from 1997, but there was a pioneer earlier than 1997, who reported an electrophoretic display at SID Conference in 1977. About a hundred proceedings of SID conferences are analyzed in total, and are classified into several original technologies applied to electronic papers and development stages. One of conclusions of this paper is, so typical and widely alleged, that there are a lot of unfinished business and we just open the first page of the Last Book.


Objective
To investigate the long-term efficacy of pure transanal total mesorectal excision (PtaTME) for middle-low rectal cancer.

Methods
The retrospective descriptive study was conducted. The clinicopathological data of 18 patients with middle-low rectal cancer who were admitted to the Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University from July 2014 to August 2016 were collected. There were 7 males and 11 females, aged (58±13) years, with a range from 40 to 84 years. The body mass index was (22±3)kg/m2. All the 18 patients underwent PtaTME. Observation indicators: (1) surgical and postoperative conditions; (2) postoperative pathological examination; (3) follow-up and survival. Follow-up using inpatient reexamination, outpatient examination, and telephone interview were performed to detect anastomotic complications, anal function, urinary retention, sexual dysfunction, survival and tumor recurrence and metastasis once every 3 months within postoperative 6 months, once every 6 months from 6 months to 3 years, and once a year after 3 years up to June 2019. The measurement data with normal distribution were represented as Mean±SD, and the measurement data with skewed distribution were represented as M (range). Count data were expressed as percentages. Survival rates were calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method.

Results
(1) Surgical and postoperative conditions: 18 patients successfully underwent PtaTME, without conversion to open surgery. The operation time, volume of intraoperative blood loss, distance between anastomosis and anal verge, time to first flatus, time to urinary catheter removal, and duration of postoperative hospital stay were (202±68)minutes, 50 mL (range, 20-400 mL), (4.5±2.0)cm, 2 days (range, 2-7 days), 3 days (range, 2-5 days), and 7 days (range, 5-10 days) in the 18 patients, respectively. There was no perioperative complication. Among 18 patients, 4 underwent preventive ileostomy. (2) Postoperative pathological examinations: the length of surgical specimens, the number of lymph node dissection, distance from tumor to the distal margin were (11.0±3.0)cm, 12±6, and 1.0 cm (range, 0.8-3.7 cm), respectively. The 18 patients had complete mesorectal membrane excision, with negative proximal margin, distal margin, and circumferential margin. Tumor pathological staging: there were 2 cases in Tis stage, 4 in T1 stage, 7 in T2 stage, and 5 in T3 stage; 16 in N0 stage, 1 in N1 stage, and 1 in N2 stage. Tumor histological classification: 2 patients had carcinoma in situ, 9 had moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma, and 7 had high-differentiated adenocarcinoma. (3) Follow-up and survival: 18 patients were followed up for 34.0-59.0 months, with a median follow-up time of 57.5 months. During the follow-up, 4 patients developed grade B anastomotic leakage and were cured after conservative treatment. One patient developed anastomotic recurrence at 2 years after surgery, and no recurrence was found after surgical resection of the recurrent lesion. Four patients with prophylactic ileostomy had the stoma closured, and the anus function was satisfactory after surgery. There was no urinary retention or sexual dysfunction in the 18 patients. Of the 18 patients, 17 had tumor free survival after surgery. The 3-year disease-free survival rate was 94.4%, and the 3-year overall survival rate was 100.0% in 18 patients.

Conclusion
PtaTME can achieve high quality of specimen, which is safe and feasible for the treatment of rectal cancer.

Key words:
Rectal neoplasms; Rectal cancer; Total mesorectal excision; Pure transanal total mesorectal excision; Long-term efficacy