Considering the need to historically document local newspapers, this study examined the existence and lifespan of local newspapers in Rivers and Bayelsa States between 1996 and 2016. The circulation spiral theory provided the theoretical framework for the study. Three research questions were formulated to guide the study. The population of the study was drawn from 214 production crew members of local newspapers in Rivers and Bayelsa States. The researchers used the census technique to study the entire population. Data for the study were generated using documents and the questionnaire. The data obtained from questionnaire were analysed using simple percentages. The study found out that 82 local newspapers existed in the two states within the period of study. The local newspapers with the longest lifespan published for upward of eleven to fifteen years, while the ones with the shortest lifespan existed less than five years. The study also found out that the lifespan of local newspapers in Bayelsa State was longer than the ones in Rivers. The study recommended that publishers and prospective local newspaper proprietors should strive towards quality production in content and design to improve circulation. They should put in place requisite requirements for the publication of newspapers to remain afloat. Keywords: Lifespan, local newspapers, survival, extinction DOI : 10.7176/NMMC/84-05 Publication date :October 31 st 2019


With the help of the PCI, this paper presents the procedures for quick-collecting the training signatures from the Landsat TM by combining the visual interpretation and current land use map; prc-classifying these signatures by making some necessary adjustments; and making the computer-based supervised-classification of the signatures; and processing them at a proper way in order to improve the quality at a maximum level after the classification.


The paper uses potassium permanganate as oxidation and coagulation cooperating with ultrasonic and air to treat micro-polluted water of low temperature.There are 4 methods,including potassium permanganate cooperating with ultrasonic and air(PCUA),ultrasonic,potassium permanganate and permanganate cooperating with ultrasonic.The test indicates that oxidizing and coagulating result of PCUA is best,which can remove organic matter in water,COD_(Mn),by 16.9% by oxidation,and by 48.82% by oxidation and coagulation.Assist-coagulating result of PCUA for turbid and color is a little bit lower than potassium permanganate alone.The former rate for the turbid is 74.57%,for the color is 64.1%;the latter rate for the turbid is 86.67%,for the color is 76.19%.So PCUA can treat COD_(Mn),the organic matter,from water.


Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) has conducted a long-term single-pass continuous-flow (SPCF) leaching test of the glass waste form PNL 76-68. Leaching rates of Np, Pu, and various stable elements were measured at 25/sup 0/ and 75/sup 0/C with three different solutions and three different flow rates. The purposes of the study were: (1) to compare SPCF leaching results with the results of a modified IAEA leach test performed by Pacific Northwest Laboratories (PNL); (2) to establish elemental leach rates and their variation with temperature, flow rate and solution composition; and (3) to gain insight into the leaching mechanisms. The LLNL and PNL leach tests yielded results which appear to agree within experimental uncertainties. The magnitude of the leach rates determined for Np and the glass matrix elements is 10/sup -5/ grams of glass/cm/sup 2/ geometric solid surface area/day. The rates increase with temperature and with solution flow rate, and are similar in brine and distilled water but higher in a bicarbonate solution. Other cations exhibit somewhat different behavior, and Pu in particular yields a much lower apparent leach rate, probably because of sorption or precipitation effects after release from the glass matrix. After the initial few days, most elementsmore » are leached at a constant rate. Matrix dissolution appears to be the most probable rate controlling step for the leaching of most elements.« less


The status of hospital administrator professionalism and its training effectiveness were discussed. The content, mode, effectiveness and problems in hospital middle-level administrator professionalism training were analyzed. Suggestions well presented to find more appropriate and effective ways to promote professionalism for middle-level supervisor in hospital and help health system reform.


......................................... Received: 23-10-17 Accepted: 04-12-17 Abstract Reports of incarcerated rectal prolapse are rare and pose a challenge to the surgeon. For a incarcerated prolapse that is not strangulated, patients should be treated with analgesics and placed in the Trendelenburg position. Conservative measures should be applied to the prolapse with simultaneous manual pressure. If successful reduction is not achieved, then the patient usually requires rectosigmoidectomy with a perineal approach (Altemeier's procedure). Case: The patient was a 57-year-old man with no previous history of symptoms or comorbidities that would predispose him to this pathology. He came to the emergency department with an incarcerated rectal prolapse after attempting to have a bowel movement five hours earlier. Conservative measures of placing the patient in the Trendelenburg placement and topical application of granulated sugar were used. These measures were unsuccessful, so the patient required a rectosigmoidectomy with a perineal approach and protective ileostomy. The patient's postoperative recovery was without complications and had excellent results after the ileostomy was closed. There has been no recurrence. Discussion: Incarceration leads to strangulation over time, so surgery is usually indicated if conservative therapy fails. Although traditionally recommended for elderly patients and patients with comorbidities, perineal procedures are an option for all patients, and this is the best option for incarcerated rectal prolapse.


Conductive composition is disclosed. In one embodiment, the composition has a mean particle size in the range of 10~450Nm, and 3 to 1: and 40 to 90 wt% silver particles having an aspect ratio of the weight of 4,000~200,000 comprising 2-20% by weight alkylcarbonyl polymer resin having an average molar mass, and a diluent from 10 to 58 wt% for the resin. In one embodiment, the resin is ethyl cellulose.


The floods that Algeria has experienced in recent years are among the most significant natural disasters recorded by the country. These disasters, whose amplitude and frequency have tended to become increasingly irregular in space and time, in the current context of global climate change, encourage us to improve our flood management and forecasting strategies, notably through the re-evaluation of protection structure capacities, designed on the basis of hydrological data analyzed by statistical adjustment of past rainfall hazards. The objective of this study is to develop a minimalist conceptual numerical model for flood forecasting and management under GIS environment for the north-east region of Algeria. This model was developed by analyzing hydrographic data that can be adapted to climate data collected in real time, to predict short-term flood hydrographs in all segments of the hydrographic network, based on the Sokolovsky model for construction of synthetic hydrographs, combined with the Horton architecture for basin discretization. We obtained accuracy on past rainfall hazard simulations around 65.2% for peak flow amplitudes and 88.3% for surface runoff base times. This low-cost simple model opens the way to more possibilities in flood management, and can be improved through better spatialization and calibration with more field data. doi: 10.2166/wcc.2020.265 ://iwaponline.com/jwcc/article-pdf/11/S1/359/816965/jwc0110359.pdf Mustapha Rabie Boudani (corresponding author) Mohamed Mazour Omar Djoukbala LHYDENV Laboratory, Belhadj Bouchaib University Center of Ain Temouchent, Ain Temouchent, Algeria E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com Hichem Mazighi Laboratoire Mobilisation et Valorisation des Ressources en Eau (MVRE), École Nationale Supérieure d'Hydraulique (ENSH), Blida, Algeria


When companies try to use traditional print or TV advertising methods to market in cyberspace, they invariably fail. Traditional marketing does not address the radically different dynamics of the cyberworld, but cybermarketing does. Cybermarketing Essentials for Success provides a supplement to traditional marketing by outlining a multi-dimensional marketing strategy that includes generating sales, selling to existing customers, and providing customer service and support. To succeed in the cyber age, cybermarketing is a must.


The Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is characterized by impairments in the areas of social interaction, communication, behavior and sensory processing. Aspects related to difficulties in social interaction repertoire, as well as strategies to help them behave more adequately have been widely studied. Among these strategies, those using music have received attention. The present study aims to investigate the benefits of music education to the social interaction of children with ASD, with their peers, focusing on both the quality and frequency of these behaviors. Two ASD children, aged 5 and 6 years respectively, who attended a percussion class group, participated in the study. The Demographics and Development information enabled the children´s profiles to be drawn. The social interaction behaviors were coded using a Behavioral Observation Protocol during 8 sessions (240 minutes). The results suggest that both tended to increase initiatives and spontaneous responses and to decrease non-functional behaviors as the sessions progressed. It was found that stereotypies were used by the ASD children when attempting to interact with others, albeit sporadically. The role of context, of the children's profile and of adult behavioral management of children in promoting interactions was highlighted.


Avo is based on principle of amplitude change versus offset configured by geophone and sources point (offset). AVO analysis that is based on the theory of reflection coefficient as a function of offset has been introduced by Zoeppritzs in 1919 and further development in algorithms for simplification in computation modeling of amplitude, and amplitude show reflection coefficient change. So that, relation between amplitude and offset has been got. In general amplitudes decreases as offset increases. AVO anomaly accurs when gas fills reservoir, which amplitude increases as offset increases. In this research, result of AVO analysis in 3D seismic data can identify gas in reservoirs at A and B area, it can be identified from relation between normal reflection coefficient (intercept) and gradient of amplitude change versus offset. Gas in reservoir is identified negative intercept and negative gradient, it show amplitude increases as offset increases. Result AVO analysis from this research has been supported by result of wells analysis. In X area, reservoir is gas sand in lower pematang formation, this result has been supported by result of log analysis from A-1 and A-2 wells. In Y area, reservoir is gas sand in Upper Menggala Formation, this result has been supported by result of log analysis from B-1, B-2 and B-3 welss.


We have developed 3D, compressible, non-linear radiative MHD simulations to study the influence of the magnetic field of various strength and geometry on the turbulent convective cells and on the excitation mechanisms of the acoustic oscillations. The results reveal substantial changes of the granulation structure with increased magnetic field, and a frequency-dependent reduction in the oscillation power. These simulation results reproduce the enhanced high-frequency acoustic emission observed at the boundaries of active region ("acoustic halo" phenomenon). In the presence of inclined magnetic field the solar convection develops filamentary structure with flows concentrated along magnetic filaments, and also exhibits behavior of running magnetoconvective waves, resembling recent observations of the sunspot penumbra dynamics from Hinode/SOT.


The total estimated cost, including the full market value of the land, is under £70,000. Before the area was cleared, under the Artisans' and Labourers' Dwellings Act of' 1875, a population of 1,310 lived in the low streets by which it was covered. The number of people living here, under the worst possible sanitary conditions, was at the rate of 282 per acre. Last week, Dr. Hill was unanimously elected Mayor of Bootle. He has been a member of the council for some years. The Hospital Sunday collections were made in Bootle last Sunday. The proceeds go to the Borough Hospital, which this year shows a deficiency of £500 on its working expenses. This deficit appears to be mainly due to increased expenditure resulting from a marked increase in the number of patients.


In this paper, by introducing the ground elastic-plastic constitutional relationship, three vehicle terramechanics models in ATV(ADAMS Tracked Vehicle),are studied, the effect of the parameters in the models on the driving performance is analyzed and the practical roads that adapt to the models are found. In final, tracked vehicle model in ATV is built, the driving experiments in three different vehicle terramechanics models are simulated and analyzed, and the terramechanics models for the later vehicle marching simulation experiment are offered.


This paper analyzes the existing problems in database backing and reducing such asmeans single, datum exchange effectively each other, etc. The scheme of database backing up and reducing based on XML is brought forward.To prove and realize the scheme through SQL SERVER 2000database, the paper offers a kind of feasible new method for the database backed up and reduced.


This study describes an improved method used to determine the dynamic shear failure of materials under blast loading conditions. The proposed method is a convenient and effective and generates material failure along the controlled fracture trajectories under uniform uniaxial stress conditions at a strain rate of 104s−1 to 105s−1. The method was developed by performing experiments on AISI 1045 steel with heat treatment. Specimens were filled with composition B explosives and detonated, and fragments were recovered. Most of the macroscopic shear cracks originated at the notch tips and connected adjacent internal and external notches. The phenomena of multipath and bifurcate shear fracture trajectories were also observed. Fractography analysis of the fragments provided data on damage and failure mechanism and revealed that dynamic shear fracture was characterized by microvoids and microcracks. The adiabatic shear band of AISI 1045 steel was detected on the fracture surface boundary. This finding indicates that adiabatic shear localization is the underlying failure mechanism of the studied material.


Acquiring "Information Superiority" has become the focus of joint operations.For the advantage of the space,controlling and utilizing space is becoming one of the key means to acquire information superiority.It is necessary for us to develop space information equipments.Equipments demonstration and evaluation plays a very important role in supporting equipments development.The paper discusses the simulation-based space information equipments demonstration and evaluation method and brings forwards the frame of this method and capability-based simulation pattern.Finally,to illustrate the characteristics of capability-based space information equipments demonstration and evaluation method,related works are analyzed.


In today's world many are faced with issues relating to security in Mobile Adhoc networks and areas of its application like wireless internet information system deployed in international borders, collection of sensor data for, Air pollution monitoring or for emergency response system in indoor environment. The present study deals with a novel approach of authentication technique in emergency response system, wherein the mobile user is authenticated making use of his/her biometric traits. This paper presents a design for such a system which uses both physiological and behavioral biometrics traits of a person for authentication. Here gesture with Finger photo biometrics recognition is made use of. An Algorithm is designed using Right Shift method to match the biometric traits of input with preloaded biometric traits.


The intension meaning feature of noun can be divided into definitional feature and situational distinctive feature.This paper explores the influence of hierarchy and orientation on the semantic composition of noun groups in Mandarin Chinese,and tries to explain the principle of semantic composition and the rule of word-order.


The Doctoral Symposium of ESCE/FSE aims at creating a forum for PhD students working in the area of software engineering to present and discuss their research goals, methods, and preliminary results with senior researchers from the software engineering community, in a constructive and friendly atmosphere. Besides providing a setting whereby students receive feedback on their research and guidance on future directions from the doctoral symposium panel, the creation of a supportive community of scholars and a spirit of collaborative research, also through interaction of the participants with other researchers at the main conference.


A highly sensitive extractive spectrophotometric method has been developed for the determination of copper(II) using 2-acetylpyridine-4-phenyl-3-thiosemicarbazone as an analytical reagent. The APPT forms reddish brown complex of copper(II) at a pH range of 3.0-5.5, and the complex was extracted into n-butanol. The Cu(II)-APPT complex shows maximum absorbance at 440 nm, with molar absorptivity and Sandell's sensitivity being 2.16 x 10 4 L mol -1 cm -1 and 2.94 x 10 -3 µg cm -2 , respectively. The system obeys Beer's law in the range of 0.2-5.0 mg/L. The regression coefficient of the Beer's law straight line is 0.338, and the correlation coefficient is 0.96. The detection limit of the method is 0.0065 μg mL -1 . Most of the common metal ions generally found associated with copper do not interfere. The repeatability of the method was checked by finding the relative standard deviation. The developed method has been successfully employed for the determination of copper (II) in leafy vegetable and pharmaceutical samples. The method is evaluated by analyzing samples from the Bureau of Analyzed Samples (BCS 233, 266, 216/1, 207, and 179) and by inter-comparison of experimental values using AAS. Keywords : Cu (II), leafy vegetables, Pharmaceuticals,Extractive spectrophotometric method, 2-acetylpyridine-4-phenyl-3-thiosemicarbazone (APPT)


Preface Acknowledgments Biography Works and Performances Stage Works and Film Music Orchestral Music Choral Solo Vocal Chamber and Instrumental Discography Bibliography by Carter Bibliography about Carter Appendix I: Archival Sources Appendix II: Alphabetical List of Compositions Appendix III: Chronology of Compositions Appendix IV: Publisher's List Index


Sharon Block's short book makes two important contributions to early American studies. First, it provides an important illustration of the possibilities of digital humanities. Second, Colonial Complexions, a title in Penn Press's Early American Studies series (disclosure: I am on the McNeil Center's Advisory Council), offers an important corrective to "historians' deployment of skin color categorizations as stable identities" (1). Colonial Complexions rests on more than 4000 missing persons advertisements, originally published between 1750 and 1775 in more than two dozen newspapers from eight colonies, available through searchable online databases. Uniquely, these advertisements for runaway slaves and servants, and smaller numbers of escapees from jail, deserters from the military, and those placed in workhouses, allow scholars "to aggregate thousands of parallel descriptions of physical appearance of enslaved and free people" (145). From this base, Block has written "a cultural history that relied on quantitative analysis" (149). As such, she distinguishes her approach from intellectual history and, readers of this journal should know, social history. Block faults the latter for a tendency to treat physical descriptions "as objective representations rather than symbolically powerful choices" (146). Block convincingly argues that skin color was not equivalent to race in this period and that the central categories for describing it were not "red" or "black" or "white." The eighteenth-century colonial eye recognized many hues, and complexions, moreover, indicated far more than race. Yet, Block concludes, "Descriptions that interpreted a runaway's internal world were more commonly applied to European-descended runaways, using broad humoral understandings of bodily appearance to connect behavior to physical features. In contrast, the external marks others had left on bodies more often filled African-descended runaways' descriptions. Such selective interpretations, not innate and essential corporeal differences, made race into a physical reality" (136). A synchronic analysis, proceeding in five chapters, demonstrates the varied, raceand gender-specific ways that eighteenth-century advertisers described the bodies of those they sought. Chapter one focuses on the non-racial meanings that eighteenth-century British colonists would have seen in complexion, particularly within the framework of humoral medicine, arguing, "Rather than being a


The tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus, is commercially the most important fish in Ethiopia. In this study, an attempt was made to study the composition, nutrient content and digestibility of the diet of Oreochromis niloticus in Lakes Chamo and Langeno based on stomach and rectal samples. Samples were collected monthly from December 1995 to December 1996. The diet of O. niloticus in Lake Chamo was dominated by phytoplankton in contrast to Langeno fish whose diet was mainly composed of detritus and silt. The levels of rota! organic matter (56.4 mg l 00 mgDW), carbohydrate (23.3 mg 100 mgDW), protein (22.3 mg 100 mgDW) and lipids (8.3 mg 100 mgDW) were higher in Chamo fish than in Langeno fish in which levels were 42.1, 13.9, 18.5 and 5.7 mg 100 mg· DW, respectively. Significant seasonal variations (ANOVA, P < 0.0001) were observed in the levels of all chemical components of the diet in both lakes. Low nutrient contents coincided with the onset of the rainy period in both lakes. The low content of nutrients in the diet of Langeno fish could be du e to the dominance o f inorganic silt and detritus in the food. Thus, the relatively better condition of Chamo fish compared to fish in Lake Langeno could partly be explained by the abundance and better quality of the food in Lake Chamo. In addition, the high water temperature of Lake Chamo favours greater digestibility and a higher conversion efficiency.


I work as a part-time school nurse in a special needs school. Last summer provided a few days respite care for a student who has a tracheostomy, so I was pleased to find the article on tracheostomy care.


The invention discloses a method for obtaining needed video streams in a video conference and corresponding devices. The method is applied to a system which includes a video stream control module, a conference terminal and two cameras. The two cameras are located in the same conference place. The method includes the following steps: in the two cameras, video streams acquired by a camera which is currently used for outputting are output to the conference terminal; the video stream control module outputs a control instruction to a camera which is currently used for positioning in the two cameras after receiving a conference control policy sent by the conference terminal; the camera which is currently used for positioning carries out corresponding operations according to the received control instruction sent by the video stream control module and feeds back an operation result to the video stream control module; and if the video stream control module judges that the operation result shows an successful operation, the video streams acquired by the camera which is currently used for positioning are output to the conference terminal.


Based on analysis of the current congesting algorithm,a new congesting control mechanism is proposed,which employs SELA (stochastic estimator learning algorithm) and fuzzy logic controller.We analyze the cell loss probability of the mechanism.At last we make simulation program with VB.The effectiveness of proposed mechanism is demonstrated by simulation results.


Recently, there is notable development in usage of online learning resources by the learners. Increasing offerings of online materials to student creates complexity to locate particular data from data pools. Likewise, overloaded information in online makes the learner feel difficult to access needed information. The complexity is reduced with help of e-learning Recommendation System (RS). E-learning based RS try to suggest perfect learning resources to the learner depending on previous tasks done by him. High usage of internet by the learner includes more complexity to current E-Learning system. Nowadays, e-learning RS depends on Deep learning technique for their progression. But still issues and challenges remains in form of accuracy, time consumption, and scalability, cold-start and data scarcity. So, in this survey, e-learning RS based on various DL approaches are reviewed. A taxonomy is created in which accounted for components needed to create efficient RS. Survey creates prominent contribution to filed e-learning RS by performing overview on current research and existing challenges.


Within the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), the new project entitled Long Term Evolution (LTE) is going to be a new standard. LTE is characterized by a broadband optimized radio access ...


Assessing and evaluating socio-economic perceptions of fire risk and impact can help in the design and development of proper fire risk management and planning. This work aimed at assessing public perception of socio-economic impact of wildfires at the level of a fireshed in Lebanon. The specific objectives were to 1) map fire risk at the fireshed level, and 2) investigate the socio-economic perceptions of key local players involved in fire risk management. The methodology of work comprised 1) delineation of the fireshed of Nahr El Kelb, 2) assessment of fire risk and identification of priority villages/towns for intervention, and 3) development of a targeted socio-economic survey. The delineation of the fireshed started by an initial delineation of the watershed using a Digital Elevation Model. Fire risk was assessed as a product of fire hazard and fire vulnerability. A total of three maps were produced, namely fire hazard, fire vulnerability and fire risk. Identification of priority sites included first the calculation of relative area of high fire risk within each cadastral unit. Consequently, a survey on public socio-economic perception of wildfires was implemented by sampling population in the high risk fire areas. The survey results included answers from 80 respondents on public perception of fire risk, fire damage to constructions and infrastructures, and estimation of fire suppression costs. Other results reflected the public perceptions in relation to direct and indirect effects of fire events in the targeted fireshed. Additional analytical work of questionnaire data will allow for the extraction of specific conclusions and the identification of future steps.


Power conversion system interfaces and utility operation with a superconductive magnetic energy storage (SMES) system have been studied as part of a 18-year research program on SMES for utility applications. The small laboratory SMES system has been used for research on power electronics circuits for about six years. This paper summarizes the experience in on-line operation of the laboratory SMES system in studies of power conversion systems and operations typical of the manner an electric utility would use a full-size SMES unit.


Abstract The radiosonde data collected prior to the development of a well-documented mid-tropospheric cyclone (MTC) over the west coast of India is used to determine the actual basic state. Such observed basic state is in turn used as the basis of a general quasi-geostrophic instability eigenvalue analysis, whereby one can check whether or not the hypothesis suggested in Mak's (1975) analysis is relevant in a real setting. We will discuss the degree of similarities and differences between the observed basic state and the idealized basic state. The incompleteness of Mak's analysis is noted and a supplementary analysis is given. The results using the observed state show that there does exist a dominantly most unstable mode which in its overall structure and characteristics resembles that of the observed MTC. This lends further support to the idea that MTC initially arises from a baroclinic instability of the broad southwest monsoonal flow, of which the direction as well as the magnitude vary significantly w...


Intermittent gas injection is a method to help oil production process. Gas is injected through choke in surface and then gas into tubing. Gas forms three areas in tubing: gas column area, film area and slug area. Gas column is used to propel slug area until surface. A mathematical model of intermittent gas injection is developed in gas column area, film area and slug area. Model is expanding based on mass and momentum conservation. Using assume film thickness constant in tubing, model has been developed by Tasmi et. al. [14]. Model consists of 10 ordinary differential equations. In this paper, assumption of pressure in gas column is uniform. Model consist of 9 ordinary differential equations. Connection of several variables can be obtained from this model. Therefore, dynamics of all variables that affect to intermittent gas lift process can be seen from four equations. To study the behavior of variables can be analyzed numerically and mathematically. In this paper, simple mathematically analysis approach ...


Abstract We evaluate the real character sum ∑ m  ∑ n  ( m / n ) where the two sums are of approximately the same length. The answer is surprising.


The immunocompromised model mice was preparated with 80 mg/kg dexamethasone using peritoneal injection,three doses of TCDCA were intragastriced to the immunosuppression mice,including 0.05(low-dose group),0.1(middle-dose group),0.2(high-dose group)g/kg;the weight of the immune organs were measured,the phagocytosis of the mononuclear phagocyte system was determined using carbon particle clearance test,the percentage of CD4+ and CD8+ and CD4+/CD8+ ratio in the blood cell were measured using flow cytometry and the content of IgG in serum was assayed using ELISA.The results showed that spleen index,mononuclear macrophage phagocytic function,CD4+ and CD8+ subpopulations percentage and the serum IgG content were significantly decreased(P0.01) comparing model mice with normal mice;it illustrated that immune function is significantly low in the model mice.Compared with model group,three doses of TCDCA no significant impact to the index spleen(P0.05);low-dose group and middle-dose group could significantly improve the phagocytic function of the mononuclear phagocyte system(P0.01);three doses of TCDCA could enhanced the percentage of CD4+ lymphocytes(P0.05) and middle-dose group could increase CD4+/CD8+ ratio in peripheral blood(P0.05);the content of serum IgG in mice was enhanced in low-dose group and middle-dose group(P0.05).These results suggested that TCDCA can significantly enhance the nonspecific immunity,cellular and humoral immunity function of the immunosuppression mice with glucocorticoid.But for splenic atrophy without recovery function.


In this paper, we present our submission to the sentence-level MQM benchmark at Quality Estimation Shared Task, named UniTE (Unified Translation Evaluation). Specifically, our systems employ the framework of UniTE, which combined three types of input formats during training with a pre-trained language model. First, we apply the pseudo-labeled data examples for the continuously pre-training phase. Notably, to reduce the gap between pre-training and fine-tuning, we use data cropping and a ranking-based score normalization strategy. For the fine-tuning phase, we use both Direct Assessment (DA) and Multidimensional Quality Metrics (MQM) data from past years' WMT competitions. Finally, we collect the source-only evaluation results, and ensemble the predictions generated by two UniTE models, whose backbones are XLM-R and~{textsc{infoXLM}, respectively. Results show that our models reach 1st overall ranking in the Multilingual and English-Russian settings, and 2nd overall ranking in English-German and Chinese-English settings, showing relatively strong performances in this year's quality estimation competition.


Comparing with the search function focusing on massive unstructured process data in current civil aircraft system, the improved search algorithm proposed in this paper mainly makes the following optimization:At first, the data is preprocessed before segmentation to enhance the precision and speed;Secondly, considering that keywords in different places weight differently, a concept of key coefficient is introduced based on the traditional TF-IDF algorithm, and for a better representativeness of the extracted words, threshold in the weight of keywords is set as extracted words filters; Then, the improved TF-IDF algorithm is based on the big data programming model MapReduce to improve the computational efficiency. Final, including the feedback of individual query, the improved sorting algorithm can provide a better query result to meet users' demand.


A new modeling technique to accurately represent the mask and wafer process behavior is presented. The lithography simulation can be done in three steps: i) mask simulation, ii) latent image calculations and iii) resist process simulation. The leading edge designs, such as 32 nm and beyond, require higher-fidelity models to adequately represent each of these actual processes. Effects previously considered secondary, have become more pronounced with each new technology node. In this approach, we utilized separate physical models for both mask and wafer processes. We demonstrate that the residual errors can be further reduced when nonlinear mappers are used in addition. The advantage of the presented approach compared to standard curve-fitting or statistics-based models is its predictive power and adaptive nature. The physical model parameters were calibrated by a genetic algorithm whose details were outlined in [1]. The nonlinear mapper model parameters were identified by a gradient descent method. Given the computational requirements for a practical solution, our approach uses graphics processors as well as CPUs as computation hardware.


The author is a mechanical engineer and, as an elderly patient, he has been ill for 5 years with continuous and terrible crises of unstable angina. This type of angina, according to the majority of the texts, has an unknown origin and is uncurable. The author then attempted to address the problem from a fluid dynamic/informatic and not a medical point of view; this new approach has allowed not only to find a hydraulic answer of the origin of this disease (take a look on page 2 "establishment of an "adrenaline loop") but also made it possible to identify the cure by taking a single and very common beta-blocker drug. The result obtained was, in the particular case here examined, definitive, immediate and total and it would therefore be convenient to extend a wider (but free) experiment to a statistically more significant number of patients.

This fluid dynamic analysis has led also to another interesting result that could have further developments: the study of the pressure regulation mechanisms has shown that some (still almost unknown) pressure sensors must exist inside our organs even if they are not yet well identified by the physiologists. The possible malfunction of these mysterious, but indispensable, sensors can cause nutritional hypertrophy of the organ with possible bad consequences, including tumors. (see paragraph 12 - page 8). If this hypothesis were plausible, it might be worthwhile that this second line of research (which is not at no cost, however) was developed by the competent bodies


The random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) method allows the detection of DNA sequence polymorphisms using single primers of arbitrary sequence in the polymerase chain reaction (1). We have attempted to use this technique to assess paternity in a troop of chacma baboons {Papio cynocephalus ursinus). We have also examined individuals from known pedigrees of this species and humans. Our results demonstrate that this technique leads to an unacceptable number of non-parental bands within a pedigree, thus raising a serious concern regarding its use in paternity analysis. Twenty different RAPD oligomers obtained from Operon Ltd were used in the initial screening with the five most variable chosen for further analysis: A16, A17, A18, A19, and A20. A total of 18 field-collected baboon samples and 24 pedigree individuals, including 10 baboons and 14 humans from CEPH pedigree 1468 were examined. PCR was carried out as described by (1) with 0.4 mM MgCl2 using 5—10 ng of genomic DNA and the PCR products separated on agarose gels. Controls were run with either no Taq Polymerase or with no template DNA and produced no visible bands (Figure 1). Each RAPD primer produced a distinct pattern of amplification products consisting of 3 1 8 bands ranging in size between 0.25 kb and 6 kb in both humans and baboons (Figure 1). All primers reproducibly amplified products in some offspring which were not found in either parent (i.e., non-parental bands). We examined two nuclear families of olive baboons {Papio cynocephalus anubis) each of which included both parents and three offspring (two females, one male). The sires and dams for each family were unrelated. In the two baboon pedigrees, the average number of novel bands per parent-offspring combination was 4.4 and ranged from 1 —9 for the five primers. Similarly, a high frequency of non-parental bands was found in the CEPH pedigree for which there is no question of parentage. The average number of novel bands per parent—offspring combination in the human pedigree was 2.7 with a range of 2—4. Explanations for these results include PCR artifact and genomic mutation. Contamination of samples or reagents is unlikely given our control results and repeatability of novel bands. Polymerase slippage during replication, non-template directed addition of nucleotides by Taq polymerase and the amplification of in vitro recombinants may also generate artifactual product bands (4). Genomic mutation could also produce novel bands, but a very high rate of mutation (7—9% per band per generation) would be necessary to generate the number of non-parental fragments we observed. A mutation rate as high as 5 % per locus per gamete generation has been reported for the human minisatellite locus D1S7 (5) but most loci show mutation rates at least an order of magnitude lower. The high average band-sharing probabilities we observed for both presumably unrelated humans and baboons (62.8% and 75.9%, respectively) are not consistent with mutation being the sole source of novel bands. The RAPD technique has proven to be useful in constructing linkage maps and detecting genetic markers in a variety of organisms (1 -3 ) . Our results, however, raise serious concerns about the use of the current RAPD technique for paternity assessment. Whether due to mutation or PCR artifact, the high frequency of occurrence of non-parental bands make these genetic markers unsuitable for paternity analysis as they will lead to false exclusions. It is possible that modifications to this method may be forthcoming that will eliminate the problems we have encountered.


The legalization of physician-assisted suicide sends the message that it is better to be dead than disabled. Do I lack dignity because I lack physical independence?


Aiming to reduce wasteful medical care, the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) Foundation's Choosing Wisely initiative asks leading physician specialty societies to create a "Top 5" list of medical services that provide no overall benefit to patients in most situations.1,2 As of August 2013, 25 participating specialty societies had produced 1 or more Top 5 lists containing a total of 135 services.

The goal of this study was to evaluate the role that evidence on benefits, risks, and costs plays in selecting a service for the Top 5 lists. As Choosing Wisely continues to grow, clarity on the evidentiary justifications for the lists will be crucial for the overall credibility of the campaign.


CdS thin films were prepared by chemical bath deposition technique (CBD) onto the glass substrates at different conditions of preparation. The obtained samples are studied by X-Ray diffraction (XRD). The XRD patterns of CdS samples revealed the formation with a hexagonal crystal structure P36mc, and the clear effect of the concentration of thiourea, cadmium sulfide, NaOH, time and temperature deposition, and annealing temperature, on the structure of the prepared thin films. through the study, we found that the samples have preferred orientation along [002], also the thickness of thin films decrease with deposition time after certain value, with the appearance of free cadmium. It has been found that the 200°C is the best temperature for annealing to improve the other structural and physical properties of films.


A teaching and learning maths project funded by LTSN Maths, Stats & OR Network A recent events attest, student assessment is a tricky business! In Quality Assessment and Subject Review of HE across the UK it has emerged as one of the most problematic areas [1] in MSOR provision. This article is a preliminary outline of the practitioners' views of good practice and areas for improvement in assessment, as revealed by the survey of subject review reports as part of the LTSN Maths, Stats & OR Network funded 'Where are we now?' project. We also mention some relevant material from mathematical education and staff and educational development, and suggest some areas that might benefit from further research and development. In effect this article forms a contents list for further material to come. The Network has recognised the importance of assessment and the need to disseminate good practice through its CAA series [2] and through the recent establishment of a project Supporting good practice in assessment in MSOR [3].


SWOT analysis results showed that Beijing's chestnut had the advantages of product quality,industrial-scale,production conditions and the disadvantages of self-employed,grafted varieties,cultivation management,cost and processing.The chestnut industry in Beijing was faced with favorable external opportunities of the urban modernistic agriculture construction,safe and special food demand growth,a larger market space,a strong science and technology and social service system,and external challenges of resource shortage,other industries impact,imperfect market system,trade barriers and imperfect policy.Thus,the optimal SWOT strategy combination for the future development of chestnut industry in Beijing should be market expansion strategy and management reverse strategy.To ensure strategic tasks complete,it is necessary to centralize chestnut forest,increase financial support and attach importance to industrialization development.


In this paper we are concerned with the family of PDE ∆u+ f(u) = 0 on the the ball in R with zero Dirichlet boundary condition. We specifically consider this family of equations when given in spherical coordinates, and are only concerned with radially symmetric solutions. We are especially interested in the critical exponent case where f(u) = su + u. Our numerical methods are variational in nature, i.e., they rely on finding the critical points of an associated action functional. Our principal algorithm makes use of Newton's method to find critical points of our functional. We use a discrete set of normalized eigenfunctions of the Laplacian to serve as a basis for the Galerkin expansion of our approximate solutions. In our research we use and improve numerical techniques that were developed for solving the PDE on other regions and with different functions f . We address the spurious solutions that result from discretization for the critical exponent case. We then approximate the values of the bifurcation parameter s which mark the boundary between true and spurious solutions found by our algorithm for different branches of our bifurcation diagram.


Antimonide-based p-channel HFETs with a 0.25 mum gate length have been fabricated with an InAlSb/AlGaSb barrier and a strained In 0.41 Ga 0.59 Sb quantum well channel. The modulation-doped material exhibits a Hall mobility of 1020 cm 2 /Vs and a sheet density of 1.6 x 10 12 cm -2 . The devices have a maximum DC transconductance of 133 mS/mm and an f T and f max of 15 and 27 GHz, respectively. These values are the highest reported to date for this material system.


ABSTRACT Ozone concentrations in the urban air of Santiago de Chile frequently surpass the air quality standard in summertime, particularly in the eastern part of the city (Las Condes). The main parameter that determines ozone episodes is the ground level daily maximum temperature. In the present work we propose that this single parameter can be employed as a simple predictor of the expected ozone levels. In particular, it is found that high ozone episodes takes place in Las Condes when the maximum daily temperature is higher than 30 oC. This single criterion applies during all the summer period (from December to March) and for weekdays and weekends. On the other hand, ozone episodes in downtown take place only when the maximum daily temperature reaches values higher than 32.5 oC. These simple relationships imply that weather forecast could be employed by the citizens to estimate the risk associated to carry out outdoors activities. Keywords : tropospheric ozone; ozone forecast; air temperature; weekends; ozone episodes; Santiago de Chile.


Abstract Thirty-six male college students served as subjects in a study to determine the reliability of isometric strength assessment of the right elbow flexor muscles by means of an intraclass correlation technique and to estimate reliability one might obtain under similar conditions with different combinations of days and trials. An analysis of variance treatment by subjects design was used to obtain the estimates of error necessary for calculation of the estimate of reliability. Some consideration was given to the effect of degrees of freedom on negative estimates of variance.


The WannaCry and related ransomware attacks, which disproportionately affected much of the NHS, signals that urgent work needs to be done in that sector. There are also wider lessons for the UK universities – given the dependency of institutions on IT systems, the large numbers of users and devices that connect to those systems and the requirement for 'always on' capability. This blog post will address five key observations that are aimed at stimulating planning and thinking in the HE community especially, but not solely, for those that operate virtual learning environment-heavy, cross-timezone and electronic submission offerings.


The special environmental protection area,,, covering 266 km area on Umd and 23 km. areaon sea in and around Fethiye, includes Fethiye., Göcek, İnlice and Kayaköy plains: Surface and graundwaters in the area have been investigated andkydrochemical characteristics of waters were determined using pH, TDK, EC, Na, Kg Ca» Mg, HCOs., CO?, SO4, Cl, NOs ve NH4 parameters in a project supported by the Special Environmental Protection Agency of Turkey. These parameters and the quality classes of waters» which were calculated using both irrigation water limits and spring water limits, were evaluated in GIS environment through TNT-MIPS software. Geological Engineering 25 (I) 2001 56 Fethiye ÖÇK Alant .Sulan Groundwaters in the area are Mg/Ca/Mixed-HCOs type that reflects the chemical interactions between groundwaters and litological units., According io spring' water TDS, Cl, N-NO* and SO4 limits, groundwaters are high quality or little contaminated, according to irrigation water SAR, %Na, Ci and SO4 limits groundwaters are high or good quality' and according to irrigation water EC and Nos limits groundwaters are good or mediumquality,. Two water quality maps were prepared for the area using ail spring water and all irrigation water parameters, separately, assigning' the*,same weight. The quality map of spring water classification suggests that the area includes quality indexes of 4, 5, and 6 in the range of 4 to 16. The quality map of irrigation water classification suggests that the area includes quality indexes of 7, 8, 9, 1ft and 1.2 in the range of 6 to 30. As a result of these applications, it has been concluded that groundwaters in the area are of good quality in terms of the measured parameters.. Koca Göl lake water in on the other hand, is contaminatedby Cl, SO* ve Na ions. Natural sources of contamination are the sea water that mixes with the lake water and the mineral waters rich in SO* present in vicinity of the lake. Although no pollution has been detected in the groundwaters, there are potential point contamination sources in the area.. These are waste disposal sites of the munidpitalities, Eti Holding chromium processing plant, a fertilizer warehouse., and chromium and manganeze mineralizations in the region.. Keywords; Environmental Protection Area,,, Fethiye, water quality


The aim of this paper is to introduce and describe worldwide used videoconferencing and collaboration system called "Virtual Rooms Videoconferencing System" (VRVS). VRVS is being developed by Caltech (California Institute of Technology) in order to provide a low cost, bandwidth-efficient, extensible means for videoconferencing and remote collaboration over networks within the High Energy and Nuclear Physics community and with extensions also to other research communities. New features of recent version 3.3 (released in August 2004) will be presented. Key improvements concern among others: web navigation system, Pocket PC platform support, VIC and RAT end clients and services (based on the MonALISA project) to monitor real-time activity, oversee and manage the whole distributed system in a dynamic way. VRVS continues to expand and implement new digital video technologies and this paper provides a brief look at the future of VRVS next milestone version 4, which will present brand new quality of VRVS system.


Public art and cultural activities often face many difficulties in funding, venues, facilities and etc. for the lack of government investment. Japanese Association for Corporate Support of the Arts will be committed to organize public art and culture staff in enterprise circles and strongly support the Japanese public art and cultural activities by donations, which fully embodies the effective integration between economy and culture. This form of organization, operation mode has certain enlightenment to China's reform of the cultural system of public art and cultural sponsorship mechanism.


In the present study involving 30 patients presenting with acute catarrhal gingivitis and chronic periodontitis, we measured the levels of immunoglobulins (IgM, IgA, IgE, total IgG and its subclasses) and cytokines (IL-1-beta, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-alpha); in addition, the absorption capacity and phagocytic activity of intact neutrophils were determined after their incubation with the gingival fluid. The latter 's coagulative and fibrinolytic properties were studied. It was shown that exacerbation of gingivitis is associated with enhanced activity of the gingival fluid that in its turn leads to the increase of the phagocytic number and phagocytic index, the levels of IgM, IgA, and IgG subclasses, IL-6 and TNF-alpha concentration. The gigngival fluid obtained from the patients presenting with acute gingivitis suppressed phagocytosis. It is concluded that the elevated proinflammatory cytokine levels, increased coagulative capacity and decreased fibrinolytic activity of the gigngival fluid are the common characteristics of acute gingivitis and chronic periodontitis.


Down-doped solid core in honeycomb fibers can guide light by PBG effects,and its leakage losses have been analyzed by multipole method.It is confirmed that its leakage loss can be reduced to a level of 10-5 dB/m by only eighty-four air holes,with the hole diameter to pitch ratio of 0.8.These simulations pave the way for the practicality of solid-core PBG fibers.


Modules designed for long life, light weight, reliability, and low cost. Stack of alkaline fuel cells based on modules, consisting of three fuel cells and cooler. Each cell includes following components: ribbed carbon fine-pore anode electrolyte-reservoir plate; platinum-on-carbon catalyst anode; potassium titanate matrix bonded with butyl rubber; gold-plated nickel-foil electrode substrates; and silver plated, gold-flashed molded polyphenylene sulfide cell holder. Each cell has active area of 1ft to the 2nd power (0.09 m to the 2nd power). Materials and configurations of parts chosen to extend life expectancy, reduce weight and manufacturing cost, and increase reliability.


Abstract Research continues to be actively devoted to determination of the degree of independence of two main dimensions of affect, positive and negative. Some research suggests a two-factor model, with independent positive and negative factors, while other studies support a unidimensional or bipolar model. Two studies reported here support both approaches, with cognitive simplicity/complexity as the central determiner of the relationship. Study 1 assessed a sample of 67 college students and Study 2 assessed an older sample of 120 diagnosed chronically-ill patients. Both studies found that cognitively more complex participants reported independent domains of affect, while those who were cognitively simpler reported more highly inversely correlated domains. The chronically-ill patients scored cognitively simpler on the measure of cognitive structure than the college students, suggesting that the stressful effects of chronic pain may lead to greater cognitive simplicity. The data also indicate that it is no...


Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the dropout rates from treatment and associated factors among elderly patients attending a tertiary care psychiatry outpatient facility. Materials and Methods: Data of 1422 patients aged ≥60 years, attending the walk-in clinic were evaluated. Results: Out of 1422 patients, 406 (28.55%) belonged to the "dropout" group. In the dropout group, the age of patients was significantly higher than the followed-up group, and a higher proportion of patients were >70 years old. Significantly lower proportion of patients with diagnosis of depressive disorders belonged to the "dropout" group and significantly higher proportion of patients with "other" diagnoses belonged to the "dropped out" group. In patients with depressive disorders, a higher proportion of the patients in the "dropout" group were Hindu by religion (68.7% vs. 58.7%; χ2 = 4.26; P = 0.03). In patients with bipolar disorder, patients in the "dropout" group had significantly higher income (Rs. 13,323 [standard deviation [SD] = 16,769] vs. 5681 [SD = 9422]; t-test value: 2–25; P = 0.028) and lesser proportion of patients were of the male gender (63.15 vs. 86.95%; Mann–Whitney U value = 257.5; P = 0.039). In the group of other diagnoses, a higher proportion of patients in the "dropout" group were currently single (32.3% vs. 18.7%; χ2 = 4.12; P = 0.042), from rural locality (63.1% vs. 46.72%; χ2 = 4.33; P = 0.037) and were not prescribed medications (40% vs. 22.4%; χ2 = 6.05; P = 0.04). Conclusion: Dropout from treatment among elderly patients is associated with higher age, not being prescribed medications, and diagnosis other than the affective disorders, psychotic disorders, and the cognitive disorders.


Urinary tract infection (UTI) is a very common infection among women of all ages. However, the incidence increases with older age and account for the substantial raise in morbidity, mortality and health economic costs in elderly people. Almost half of all women have suffered from at least one episode during their reproduct ive age, a percentage that increases to at least 60% in the postmenopausal period. UTI in elderly women can be a complex problem in terms of approach to diagnosis, treatment and prevention, because these patients often present nonspecific symptoms, resulti ng in the increase of morbidity and mortality in this group. It is very important to increase the epidemiological and clinical knowledge about UTI in order to help the general practitioner or specialist to make early diagnosis to prevent serious clinical c omplications secondary to UTI in elderly women.


In view of practical needs of the active power filter,the traditional ip-iq detection algorithm was improved,getting rid of the phase-locked loop(PLL) circuit and coordinate transformation from three-phase to two-phase and reducing the amount of cal-culation. Also the detection algorithm can be directly applied to the fundamental and arbitrary harmonic currents detection of three-phase three-wire,three-phase four-wire and single-phase system. The results of simulation show that this new detection method,which asymmetrical three-phase voltages have little influence on,well adapts to the needs of network harmonic and fundamental cur-rents detection and can gain higher detection accuracy and faster dynamic response speed.


Recent studies suggest that the Rio Grande rift in southern New Mexico is a zone of very high reduced flux (greater than or equal to 1.8HFU), which contrasts strongly with lower values (1.2-1.5HFU) in adjacent portions of the Basin and Range high heat flow province. A +30 mgal Bouguer gravity anomaly also occurs in this portion of the rift, and the Bouguer gravity relief to the east and west is small. The gravity high can be explained by an upwarping of high temperature and low density upper mantle and/or shallow sills and dikes of mafic rocks in the crust in the rift. Interpreted in terms of steady heat sources, the reduced heat flow anomaly implies massive amounts of melting in the lower crust. Transient heat flow interpretations imply less crustal anatexis than do steady-state models of the thermal anomaly. The transient models also refine interpretations from gravity by requiring that the combined heat flow and gravity highs be explained by high temperature and low density masses in the upper mantle. Related discussion focuses on the relations between geophysical interpretations and the late Cenozoic volcanism and regional geology in the rift.


The crosspoint (or crossbar) switch allows direct connection between arbitrary pairs of processors, minimizing the communication time overhead, but is considered impractical for large numbers of processors because the number of required connections is proportional to the square of the number of processors. However, crosspoint switches are very useful for small configurations (tens vs. hundreds of processors). In this paper, the authors explore the use of a crosspoint switch as the backbone of a general parallel arithmetic processor. This approach is appealing because it permits a compact, simple and easily producible chip set that could perform a variety of signal processing functions at high speed. The design can also provide the reconfigurability critical for improving the fault tolerance of the architecture. The basic configuration of the Crosspoint Arithmetic Processor (CAP) system consists of three principal components: a 32*32 crosspoint switch, an array of 32 computational nodes (CN), and a system controller.<<ETX>>


Prony algorithm is an effective method to derive characteristics of power system low frequency oscillations. However,the traditional Prony algorithms are very sensitive to noises and can only be applied to part of signal every time. This paper proposes the moving-window Prony algorithm to the identification of low frequency oscillation of power system. With the moving-window technique,the objective function of the proposed Prony method is changed into the least square error by windows,which is different from the partial least square error corresponding to the traditional algorithms. Thus,the moving window Prony algorithm has stronger adaptability to noise and could be applied to long time range signals. The simulation results based on DSA Tools demonstrate that the moving window Prony algorithm has good and effective performance for identification of power system low frequency oscillation,even in cases when the PMU's data contains noises.


In the AdS/CFT correspondence, wrapped D3-branes (such as ``giant gravitons'') on the string theory side of the correspondence have been identified with pfaffian, determinant and subdeterminant operators on the field theory side. We substantiate this identification by showing that the presence of pairs of such operators in a correlation function of a large-N gauge theory naturally leads to a modified 't Hooft expansion including also worldsheets with boundaries. This happens independently of supersymmetry or conformal invariance.


broken promises a history of conscription in canada is available in our book collection an online access to it is set as public so you can get it instantly. Our books collection spans in multiple countries, allowing you to get the most less latency time to download any of our books like this one. Merely said, the broken promises a history of conscription in canada is universally compatible with any devices to read.


Objectives: Assess the effect of risk factors changes on risk for cardiovascular disease and mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes selected from the Swedish National Diabetes Register. Methods: Observational study of 13,477 females and males aged 30–75 years, with baseline HbA1c 41–67 mmol/mol, systolic blood pressure 122–154 mmHg and ratio non-HDL:HDL 1.7–4.1, followed for mean 6.5 years until 2012. Four groups were created: a reference group (n = 6757) with increasing final versus baseline HbA1c, systolic blood pressure and non-HDL:HDL cholesterol during the study period, and three groups with decreasing HbA1c (n = 1925), HbA1c and systolic blood pressure (n = 2050) or HbA1c and systolic blood pressure and non-HDL:HDL (n = 2745). Results: Relative risk reduction for fatal/nonfatal cardiovascular disease was 35% with decrease in HbA1c only (mean 6 to final 49 mmol/mol), 56% with decrease in HbA1c and systolic blood pressure (mean 12 to final 128 mmHg) and 75% with combined decreases in HbA1c, systolic blood pressure and non-HDL:HDL (mean 0.8 to final 2.1), all p < 0.001 adjusting for clinical characteristics, other risk factors, treatments and previous cardiovascular disease. Similar risk reductions were found for fatal/nonfatal coronary heart disease, fatal cardiovascular disease, all-cause mortality and also in a subgroup of 3038 patients with albuminuria. Conclusion: Considerable risk reductions for cardiovascular disease and mortality were seen with combined long-term risk factor improvement.


Using Nd:YAG laser (with a wavelength of 1 064 nm and a pulse width of 10 ns) to ablate Cu target to get plasma spectra with different intensities of laser energy, we observe the different changes of CuⅠ and CuⅡ spectra as follows: the intensities of the atomic and ions lines of Cu plasma spectra have different changes with the increase of laser energy. The intensities of all lines get to maximum when laser energy is 330 mJ/pulse, then there is a small flat between 330 and 370 mJ/pulse of laser energy, and subsequently, the intensities of all lines gradually decrease with further increase of laser energy. Meanwhile, under the model of local thermodynamic equilibrium (LTE), we measure the electronic temperatures of Cu plasma at different intensities of laser energy according to the relative intensities of five lines. Our results show that the temperature ascends monotonously from 1.02×10 4 K to 1.46×10 4 K with the increase of laser energy, then it decreases along the further increment of laser energy.


This document describes best practices associated with achieving a
variety of security use cases with the set of DTN-related standards.


Folktales serve as a source for creative inspiration that leads to the emergence of several works in modern literature. However, despite these sterling qualities of folktales, it is endangered with extinction. The project aims to preserve the cultural and heritage of the indigenous Semai folktales through the English language teaching and learning in fun, interactive and creative ways. Thus, the ESL virtual learning package developed includes a fascinating virtual puppet shows with an E book entitled The Legend of Cen Cemana accompanied with English language activities that cater for the highflyers, intermediate and beginner's level students. The innovation was developed as a means to preserve the cultural heritage of the Semai and most importantly is to integrate the interesting folktale into ESL teaching and learning to engage learners. Legend of Cen Cemana was chosen because the folktale explains about the Semai beliefs and the universal values the elderly Semai used to pass down to the younger generation through oral tradition. The product is commercialized through collaboration projects with schools and ESL teachers. A short survey pertaining to student's experience and opinion using the English Language Learning package was conducted. The finding shows students received positive effects while using the virtual language learning package (the virtual puppet show, the e book of Semai and ESL language activities). Thus, preservation of Indigenous folktales through the innovation initiatives is the best way to preserve the Semai cultural heritage and the effort should be well received and supported by the government and the Ministry of Education.


Abstract Nineteen adolescents with a childhood history of Attention Deficit Disorder received tests of memory scanning and vigilance after 3 weeks each of placebo and methylphenidate therapy. Cognitive processing and event-related potentials were enhanced by the stimulant. A detailed examination of these measures disclosed that methylphenidate speeded up evaluation as well as response processes. Thus, as previously found among preadolescent ADD patients, methylphenidate yielded clinical benefits and improved information processing among adolescent ADD patients.


From the soaring peaks of the Himalayas to Baltic algae blooms, Earth-observing satellites showcase the breathtaking and seemingly tactile beauty of our planet.


AIM:To compare the use of vildagliptin and sulfonylurea with or without metformin in Indian Muslim patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus,fasting during Ramadan.METHODS:This was a 4-wk,multicenter,non-interventional,open-label,observational study.Incidence of hypoglycemic events(HEs),adverse events,and changes in glycosylated hemoglobin A1c(HbA1c),fasting plasma glucose,postprandial plasma glucose and body weight were measured pre-and post-Ramadan.RESULTS:Totally,97 patients were recruited and all completed the study(vildagliptin group,n=55;sulfonylurea group,n=42).HEs were reported in low frequencies in both the vildagliptin and the sulfonylurea groups[0 vs 2(4.8%)patients,respectively].Interestingly,HbA1c reduced by-0.43%(-4.71 mmol/mol)in the vildagliptin group[8.75%(72.10 mmol/mol)to8.32%(67.38 mmol/mol),P=0.009]while in the sulfonylurea group there was a small increase by 0.01%[0.08 mmol/mol;8.64%(70.92 mmol/mol)to 8.65%(71.00 mmol/mol),P=0.958].Higher percentage of vildagliptin-treated patients achieved HbA1c<7.0%(<53 mmol/mol)compared with sulfonylurea(16.4%vs4.8%).Mean decrease in the body weight was 1.2 kg and 0.03 kg,respectively(P<0.001).Both treatment groups were well tolerated during Ramadan.CONCLUSION:Vildagliptin is an attractive treatment option for Indian patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus who are fasting during Ramadan.


To design the cam-follower mechanism it must be taken into consideration the different conditions imposed by the task design. In order to the mechanism function according to the imposed conditions and in the same time to occupy a minimum space, it must proceed to optimize the size of the mechanism. The minimum dimension of the disk cam with translating flat-face follower mechanism * is determined so that the radius of curvature of directrix (directory curve) of active surface of the cam doesn't change the sign, in terms of design requirements.


The accuracy of a plasma impact force sensor was compared with that of the more commonly used inverted pendulum thrust stand using a 5 kW Xe Hall effect thruster. An improved plasma momentum flux sensor was designed and constructed based on a previous design. Real-time force measurements were made with both the plasma momentum flux sensor and the inverted pendulum thrust stand. The plasma momentum flux sensor measured the force exerted onto it by the Hall effect thruster exhaust plume with a resolution of 0.1 mN and an average discrepancy of 2 % compared with thrust stand measurements. Experiments were completed using a 9 m by 6 m cylindrical vacuum chamber. The total force from the Hall effect thruster was modulated from 34 to 356 mN by varying both the anode voltage, from 150 to 500 V, and the neutral Xe gas flow rate, from 5 to 15 mg/s.


The hot arid regions in India is spread in an area of 31.7 m ha, majority area being in Rajasthan (61%). The great Indian Thar desert is also located in this region. This region receives vary low rain fall with erratic distribution. Presence of harsh climatic condition such as high evapotranspiration, low relative humidity, with high aridity index and high wind velocity are other disadvantages. The soils are also light textured, less fertile, and prone to wind erosion. About 90 per cent of the area is dependent on monsoon rain for growing of annual crops which often fails due to insufficient rain or improper distribution. Despite these limitations, the region has good floral and faunal diversity that supports high human and livestock population. Many drought hardy perennial fruits and vegetables are grown with annual crops to complement farm income. Certain fruit crops like pomegranate (Punica granatum), Indian jujube (Ziziphus mauritiana Lam.), aonla (Emblica officinalis), date palm (Phoenix dactylifera) and Citrus species are grown commercially in irrigated areas. Many underutilized fruit crops also grow naturally or are cultivated. These include kair (Capparis decidua), lasora (Cordia myxa) jhar ber (Ziziphus nummularia), bordi (Ziziphus rotundifolia) pilu (Salvadora oleoides), khejri (Prosopis cineraria), phalsa (Grewia subinaequalis), Bengal quince (Aegle marmelos), karonda (Carissa carandas), prickly pear (Opuntia ficus-indica), kachri (Cucumis melo var. callosus) and snap melon (Cucumis melo var. momordica) etc. Most of these species are drought hardy with less incidence of pests and diseases yet give good yield despite environmental constraints. They serve as a source of nutrition for rural people being rich in vitamins, minerals, dietary fibres and other bioactive compounds. Germplasm collection, evaluation, conservation, ethnomedicinal values, improvement, propagation, agrotechniques, post-harvest management, value addition and future prospects of some of these crops are discussed in the paper.


A novel pillar[5]arene-based thioacetohydrazone functionalized fluorescent polymer was designed and synthesized. This polymer not only contains pillar[5]arene units as the fluorophore (signal transducer) but also embedded the thioacetohydrazone group as the ionophore (cation receptor). Therefore, it displays specificity response for mercury ion over other common cations (Mg2+, Ca2+, Zn2+, Co2+, Fe3+, Pb2+, Cd2+, Ni2+, Tb3+, Cu2+, Eu3+, Fe2+, Cr3+, Ag+ and La3+) in DMSO/H2O (1 : 1, v/v). Competitive cations did not show any significant changes in emission intensity and the fluorescence spectra detection limit was 8.12 × 10−7 M, indicating the high selectivity and sensitivity of the polymer towards Hg2+. Meanwhile, this polymer can efficiently remove Hg2+ from water.


In Saudi Arabia, the country is making strides to improve its educational sector, specifically in coeducation. While the concept of female students in leadership positions is novel in this country, the government is endeavoring to reduce gender segregation and same-sex education in schools, to empower women. There are already existing coeducation opportunities for females pursuing undergraduate levels in medical majors, including for scholarship pursuits outside the nation. Many universities aim to enroll thousands of students in Saudi Arabia's first coeducational higher-education programs. Furthermore, studies show that education can be even more reinforced through enhancing ESL methods in this higher education, enabling both male and female graduates to compete with peers worldwide. Therefore, this study examined three Saudi ESL students who took English classes at Root Hall, Union University (pseudo name), exploring their viewpoints about mixed-gender classrooms and their influence on English language development. The results determined that their confidence significantly improved through coeducational programs and English language proficiency.


A man with an exceptionally large muscle mass and a tentative diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction was found to have an elevated creatine phosphokinase (CPK) level. Subsequent diagnostic and clinical course was consistent with the conclusion that elevation of CPK level was due to his large muscle mass. Additional evidence for this conclusion was obtained by studying ten additional subjects with a similar body habitus. ( JAMA 228:1395-1396, 1974)


John McNeill was a warm and gracious man who was bound to friends, relatives, students in human ways which cannot be easily summarized. We do well to remember thankfully what he meant and means for us and the scholarly world in his achievement as a church historian.


The parameter sweep applications play important roles in the computational grid environment.An adaptive scheduling schema for parameter sweep applications is proposed and implemented in our Wingrid project.The client, master and slave scheduling infrastructure and the leader-node-based communication system can improve the scheduling system efficiently.Also,we compare the adaptive workqueue algorithm with standard heuristics scheduling algorithms.The experiment results show that heuristics scheduling algorithms perform better than workqueue algorithm with larger network latency and the min-min heuristic has the shortest makespan among the heuristic algorithms.


> A remarkably prescient paper published by Robert Williamson in 1970 was the first description and correct interpretation of both the apoptotic origin of cell-free DNA and the subunit structure of chromatin. Thus, the original observation that forms the basis for this powerful precision medicine


Introduction Vitamin B12 defi ciency in infants can result in profound and permanent health consequences. Prevention, early diagnosis and early treatment are crucial to ensure a better outcome for those affected.1 However, the symptoms of vitamin B12 defi ciency in infants can be non-specifi c, leading to delayed or missed diagnosis. Vitamin B12 (cobalamin) is a water-soluble vitamin found naturally only in animal products. It is a cofactor for the reaction that converts methylmalonyl-CoA to succinylCoA. It is also a cofactor for the enzyme methionine synthase which catalyses the methylation of homocysteine to methionine, an essential amino acid. Additionally, cobalamin is involved in the reaction that demethylates methyl-tetrahydrofolate (CH3-THF) to THF, a substrate essential in DNA synthesis. In infants, vitamin B12 defi ciency is associated with a wide spectrum of clinical manifestations. These include macrocytic anaemia, failure to thrive, irritability, lethargy, hypotonia, developmental delay, psychomotor delay, regression, tremor, convulsions and coma.1 Less specifi c manifestations include pallor, vomiting, diarrhoea, oedema and apathy.1,2 Cerebral atrophy is usually also seen on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).1 Biochemically, vitamin B12 deficiency is associated with elevated methylmalonate acid (MMA) blood and urine levels, elevated blood folate (due to the folate trap) and elevated plasma homocysteine level. Unfortunately, the vast array of non-specifi c signs and symptoms pose a challenge for diagnosis of vitamin B12 defi ciency.


Manganese (Mn)- and zinc (Zn)-driven antagonistic interactions with high available phosphorus (P) can result in negative impacts on potato cropping systems. Two chelator-buffered hydroponic experiments were conducted with Russet Burbank potato to elucidate P and Mn relationships and associated interactions with Zn. In both experiments, a P concentration decline in new shoots, old shoots, and roots resulted as solution Mn changed from deficient to sufficient followed by a P concentration rise as solution Mn changed to excessive concentrations. New and old shoot Zn concentrations generally increased with augmented solution Mn in the variable Mn experiment, but no significant changes were found in root Zn contents. Available Mn was observed to control plant P concentrations and to influence Zn uptake and translocation; thus, Mn has considerable impact on uptake and distribution of P and Zn and on P-Zn interactions in potato.


PURPOSE: A manufacturing method of high-refraction nanoparticles is provided to manufacture uniform nanoparticles with a mesoscopic size in one-step by using a polymer stabilizer to control the size and dispersion degree of high-refraction nanoparticles. CONSTITUTION: A manufacturing method of high-refraction nanoparticles comprises the following steps: (a) a step of mixing a polymer stabilizer with a solvent; and (b) a step of forming high-refraction nanoparticles by stirring raw materials of nanoparticles with more than 1.8 of the refractive index in the solvent. A method of controlling the size of the high-refraction nanoparticles comprises the following step: the content of the polymer stabilizer is controlled to control the adhesive extent on the surface of the growing high-refraction nanoparticles. The size control of the nanoparticles is made in one-step process from the raw material addition to the particle formation. The high-refraction nanoparticles are ZnS, TiO2, ZnO, or ZrO2. The polymer stabilizer is polyvinyl pyrrolidone(PVP), polyethylene glycol(PEG), polyacrylic acid, or polyvinyl alcohol(PVA).


An algorithm is presented for extraction of the region of interest (ROI) enclosed by the outer boundary of the imaged object. Although there are many algorithms presently available for solving segmentation tasks, they can be easily misled by the ghost artifacts and blurring in the background of the image. Therefore, a two step background-clearing algorithm is proposed in this paper. The first step involves selection of the least motion-affected views, using an entropy minimization criterion for suppression of motion induced blurs. The second step involves cancellation of the remaining ghost artifacts, using a fuzzy model. Both these steps tend to increase the number of dark pixels in the image. The contour extraction is performed using an improved active contour model (snake). The proposed method has been applied to spin echo MR images affected by rotational motion, producing good results.


Many managers and practitioners who work in the governmental or the private sectors believe that the magical way to increase the job satisfaction is to raise the salaries and financial benefits. The employees also share these ideas, believing that the increase of the salaries will absolutely increase the job satisfaction, which will reflect on the motivation to work and raise the level of human performance or the quality of products or services.


We present a proof of a combinatorial conjecture from the second author's Ph.D. thesis. The proof relies on binomial and multinomial sums identities. We also discuss the relevance of the conjecture in the context of PAC-Bayesian machine learning.


Combined with the disciplinary structure in agricultural forest universities and the authors' teaching experience,this paper systemtically summarizes the preliminary exploration of the construction and the reform of the curriculum from the aspects of teaching goal setting,teaching contents,teaching methods,teaching atmosphere,methods of evaluation,etc.,according to the problems met in many years' teaching practice of molecular ecology. Meanwhile,this paper reflects on the reforms of teaching models in universities concerning the cultivation of college students' innovative thinking ability and practical ability.


A likely candidate for the new de facto standard of short-run flexible packaging printing has emerged in Japan. In an industry that is seeing a battle for dominance between gravure, flexo, electrographic digital, LED UV inkjet, and LED UV offset printing, despite being a manufacturer of gravure cylinder making systems, THINK LABORATORY CO., LTD.'s announcement that it had completed a new waterbased flexible packaging inkjet printer is turning the situation on its head. The FXIJ-1 AQUA water-based flexible packaging inkjet printer uses the world's first volatile organic compound (VOC) free water-based inkjet inks, developed by Kao Corporation. This technology overturns the long-held common belief that pure water-based film printing is difficult, and is thus finding strong interest among and has received inquiries from converters, printers, and existing ink producers. In addition, Kao's VOC-free water-based inkjet inks have been shown through tests on actual printing machines that slight changes allow them to be used for gravure printing as well, which is leading to growing expectations that the inks will stimulate the spread of water-based gravure printing. Kao and THINK LABORATORY will exhibit these Japanese innovations at drupa 2016, the world's largest printing related exhibition, to be held in Dusseldorf, Germany, from May 31 to June 10.


Recently, two types of innovative estimators of the quadratic variation (QV), namely, RVB and RVQ estimators, are established in Yu (2020, doi.org/10.1002/mma.6863) for an asset's log‐price process permitting time‐varying spot volatility. Both estimators utilize either higher order or cross‐terms of log‐return and they hence have been demonstrated having better convergence property than existing ones (e.g., the widely known realized volatility). However, the proof of the convergence property of RVB/RVQ is rather cumbersome and algebraically complicated. Besides, imposing the spot volatility to be deterministic function of time in the log‐price process seems to have deviated from reality. This article devotes attention to (1) relaxing the volatility restriction on the semimartingale process of asset's price and (2) substantially shortening the original proofs by alternatively employing two useful lemmas (called high‐order Itô isometry and adjoint Itô identity) developed in this study.


Disasters can occur in various forms with durations ranging from mere hours to days, weeks, or even months of prolonged damages and losses. Approaches taken to face such situation can build resiliency in a community. Lacking it, important community decisions will be made under the constraints of the crisis or disaster. A community with good disaster preparedness and local leadership engagement will be more capable of responding to, and managing disaster risks, which in turn will reduce damages and losses caused by disasters. This study was conducted to gauge the extent at which community leadership mediates the relationship between community resilience elements (community engagement, community education, and community awareness) and community preparedness. This was done using the results from questionnaires gathered from 318 respondents at Bukit Antarabangsa, Selangor, Malaysia. A structural equation modelling was employed to assess the validity and reliability of the instrument and thus test the research hypotheses. Based on the path model analysis, there are significant correlations to prove that community leadership is a viable partial mediator between community engagement, education and awareness, towards enhancing community preparedness. This also means that the presence of a capable community leader may well be a critical success factor to ensure that the respective community is better prepared and more resilient against disasters.


A breeding vectors approach is used to study the intrinsic predictability of the Martian atmosphere using the Oxford Mars General Circulation Model (MGCM). The approach, described in detail below, is first tested using a terrestrial general circulation model, the United Kingdom Meteorological Office's Unified Model (UM), and results show growing modes of instability at mid to high latitudes on spatial scales of less than ~1,000km, in qualitative agreement with previous studies performed using terrestrial models. For the Martian atmosphere, and in the absence of radiatively active dust transport (so using a typical background dust distribution for each time of year), the technique reveals model states with approximately zero growth factors, and modes of instability on relatively large (up to ~5,000km) spatial scales. The implications of this for the predictability of the Martian atmosphere and for the usage of ensemble forecasting methods on Mars are also discussed.


Specialized English is very indispensable for ESP(English for Specific Purposes) in the university,and also the key to cultivate the complex talents with ability for the 21 century.At present,there are many problems for the Specialized English in the course of teaching.The teaching should definitude the aim of cultivation,optimize the setting of curriculum,advance the diathesis of teacher and innovate the mode of teaching,enhance the effectiveness of teaching.At last,much attention should be paid to cultivate the students for the ability of application.


B‐cell novel protein‐1 (BCNP1) or Family member of 129C (FAM129C) was identified as a B‐cell‐specific plasma‐membrane protein. Bioinformatics analysis predicted that BCNP1 might be heavily phosphorylated. The BCNP1 protein contains a pleckstrin homology (PH) domain, two proline‐rich (PR) regions and a Leucine Zipper (LZ) domain suggesting that it may be involved in protein‐protein interactions. Using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) data sets, we investigated the correlation of alteration of the BCNP1 copy‐number changes and mutations in several cancer types. We also investigated the function of BCNP1 in cellular signalling pathways. We found that BCNP1 is highly altered in some types of cancers and that BCNP1 copy‐number changes and mutations co‐occur with other molecular alteration events for TP53 (tumour protein P53), PIK3CA (Phosphatidylinositol‐4,5‐Bisphosphate 3‐Kinase, Catalytic Subunit Alpha), MAPK1 (mitogen‐activated protein kinase‐1; ERK: extracellular signal regulated kinase), KRAS (Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog) and AKT2 (V‐Akt Murine Thymoma Viral Oncogene Homolog 2). We also found that PI3K (Phoshoinositide 3‐kinase) inhibition and p38 MAPK (p38 mitogen‐activated protein kinase) activation leads to reduction in phosphorylation of BCNP1 at serine residues, suggesting that BCNP1 phosphorylation is PI3K and p38MAPK dependent and that it might be involved in cancer. Its degradation depends on a proteasome‐mediated pathway.


This paper introduces three kinds of the quality maps, and describes the two algorithms using the quality maps in 2-D phase unwrapping: quality-guided phase unwrapping algorithm and mask cut phase unwrapping algorithm. We apply the two algorithms in the phase unwrapping for the InSAR data in the two different conditions: the steep terrain and the flat terrain. We analyze and compare two aspects of the results: the visual analysis and the quantitative analysis. The experimental results show that the steep terrain's result is most reliable using the phase derivative variance map as the quality map, but the flat terrain's result is most precise using the pseudo-correlation map as the quality map.


With the development of mining industry,the mining area and depth have been increased in a single open pit.At the same time,deposit occurrence of ore and rock in mining limits become complex and changeable,which makes combined mining system has wider application.This paper put forward to analyzing the concept of combined mining system,and brings up spatial match mode of each single system in the combined one,facade and planar match.Apart from that,the concepts of strict limited system and nonstrict limited system have been established.Basic features of strict and nonstrict limited systems are analyzed based on a case study of combined mining system dominated by dragline stripping system.Stability model of combined mining system including strict limited system has been established.Dynamic adjustment strategy of mining parameters in combined system has been proposed on the basis of strictly limited system service area.


This study aims to describe the use of ego defense mechanisms in the main character as an effort to deal with a problem faced by the main character in the novel Two Lost Souls by Pia Devina. This type of research is qualitative using a description method, so this research will emphasize sentences to describe a situation that occurs in the field more specifically and in depth. The data collection technique used is in the form of a literacy study technique whose activities are in the form of an activity carried out by reading and taking notes on the research object which will later be processed as research material. The data analysis technique is a content analysis technique with reference to Sigmund Freud's Literary Psychology theory, namely self-defense mechanisms. The ego defense mechanism contained in the novel Two Lost Souls through the main character is repression which is a strong basis for ego defense, then with regression which triggers tension or emotional outbursts in a character, but it is different from the defense of apathy which tends to withdraw more from a problem.


Abstract The reactivity of the geminal frustrated Lewis pair (FLP) (F5C2)3SnCH2P(tBu)2 (1) was explored by reacting it with a variety of small molecules (PhOCN, PhNCS, PhCCH, tBuCCH, H3CC(O)CH=CH2, Ph[C(O)]2Ph, PhN=NPh and Me3SiCHN2), featuring polar or non‐polar multiple bonds and/or represent α,β‐unsaturated systems. While most adducts are formed readily, the binding of azobenzene requires UV‐induced photoisomerization, which results in the highly selective complexation of cis‐azobenzene. In the case of benzil, the reaction does not lead to the expected 1,2‐ or 1,4‐addition products, but to the non‐stereoselective (tBu)2PCH2‐transfer to a prochiral keto function of benzil. All adducts of 1 were characterised by means of multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, elemental analyses and X‐ray diffraction experiments.


A major cause of deaths among the elderly relates to accidental falls. Such falls are of particular medical concern to this population because they often result in severe injuries, since senior citizens usually live alone and cannot ask for help when accidents happen. In this paper, we propose a fall detection system with the help of a Gaussian mixture background model to build the background before motion history image (MHI) is applied to analyze the fall behavior. Finally, two extra features, acceleration and angular acceleration, are proposed to more accurately determine whether a fall event has happened.


A portable electric generator that can be operated with a variety of fuels common to many parts of the world, such as wood, coal, charcoal, grain, husks, grass, and animal dung, may be the end result of research now under way at Battelle Memorial Institute, Columbus, Ohio. The research is being conducted for the U.S. Army Electronics Research and Development Laboratory located at Fort Monmouth, N. J. The program is concerned with establishing the feasibility of developing a multifueled heat source capable of being coupled to a thermal energy converter delivering 150 watts of electric power. Such a device is expected to prove valuable to military or Peace Corps personnel in isolated areas.


Objective:To evaluate the clinicopathologic prognostic factors in malignant ovarian germ cell tumors. Methods:We reviewed the medical records of 70 patients treated from 1990 to 2006 at our center. Clinical data including demographics, stage, surgery, chemotherapy, survival, menses status, and fertility were collected from patients' charts. Results:Median age was 22 years (range, 9–68). The histologic subtypes included 36 dysgerminomas, 11 yolk sac tumors, 3 immature teratomas, 1 embryonal carcinomas, and 19 mixed types. The most striking clinicopathologic finding was a history of concomitant immunosuppressant therapy, which was observed in 2 patients. Two patients had contralateral sex-cord tumors at presentation and follow-up. During a median follow-up period of 4.6 years, 11 patients had recurrence. The median time to recurrence was 8 months (6–28 months). Recurrences appeared in the abdominopelvic cavity in 9 out of 11 patients. Only one could be salvaged with second-line chemotherapy. Cumulative survival rate was 97% and 60% in patients with dysgerminoma and nondysgerminoma, respectively. Nondysgerminoma histology and residual tumor after surgery were unfavorable prognostic factors (P < 0.001 and P = 0.015). Fertility-sparing surgery was as effective as radical surgery among all eligible patients. Of patients with known menstrual status, 96% had regular menses. Of the 8 patients who opted for conception among these patients, 7 delivered healthy infants. Conclusions:Nondysgerminomas have an aggressive clinical course. New treatment strategies are needed for eradication of abdominopelvic disease at initial diagnosis and recurrent setting. Occurrence of malignant ovarian germ cell tumors may be associated with immunosuppression in some patients. Sex-cord stromal tumors may present with bilateral involvement. It is possible to maintain fertility after fertility-sparing surgery followed by chemotherapy.


Patients with mid-range ejection fraction heart failure (HFmrEF) are a new category defined in actual guidelines. The aim of this study was to establish the prognostic value of several parameters obtained by Cardiac Magnetic Resonance (CMR) and Transthoracic Echocardiography (TTE) in patients with HFmrEF.

 Thirty patients, defined as HFmrEF by TTE and CMR, were included between 2012-2018. Patients with structural heart disease different from Left Ventricular (LV) dysfunction were excluded. Cine sequences in CMR (SSFP) were used to obtain atrial and ventricular volumes and mass. Myocardial fibrosis was quantified by late gadolinium enhancement. TTE was used to obtain anatomical and functional parameters as LV and Right Ventricular (RV) ejection-fraction, LV and RV global longitudinal strain, and RV free-wall longitudinal strain.
 The primary endpoint was the combination of all-cause death or heart failure admission. The median follow-up was 1.9 (0.5-3.3) years.

 Mean age was 59.3 ± 12.4 years, and 67.9% patients were male. The aetiology of LV dysfunction was mainly ischemic (n = 16, 53.3%). Results are shown in Table1. Patients who presented the primary endpoint had a lower RV ejection-fraction by CMR and a lower absolute value of RV free-wall longitudinal strain by TTE(Figure 1).

 In HFmrEF patients, worse RV function (by CMR and TTE-Speckle Tracking) may be associated with a worse prognosis. Larger studies are needed to confirm this hypothesis.
 Table1 All-cause death or HF admission (n = 5; 16.7%) No all-cause death of HF admission (n = 25; 83.3%) p iRVEDV (ml/m2) by CMR 65.5 ± 13.5 66.2 ± 12.3 0.906 iRVESV (ml/m2) by CMR 30.4 ± 7.5 24.4 ± 6.2 0.065 iLVEDV (ml/m2) by CMR 85.8 ± 23.7 98 ± 19.5 0.225 iLVESV (ml/m2) by CMR 47.8 ± 15.3 54.9 ± 11.7 0.246 Indexed LA Volume (ml/m2) by CMR 42.8 (36.5 - 49) 48.4 (42 - 63.5) 0.386 LVEF (%) by CMR 44.9 ± 3.3 44 ± 2.6 0.506 RVEF (%) by CMR 52.2 ± 7.2 61.7 ± 7.2 0.012 RV-FAC (%) by TTE 43.4 ± 4.4 44.7 ±7.5 0.378 TAPSE by TTE 2.1 ± 0.3 2.5 ± 0.1 0.032 LV Longitudinal Global Strain by TTE -14.3 ± 3.3 -15.5 ± 4.9 0.663 RV Longitudinal Global Strain by TTE -11.3 (-13.2 - -7.0) -19.5 (-23.7 - -10) 0.089 RV Free-Wall Longitudinal Strain by TTE -11.5 (-14.2 - -8.2) -20 (-26 - -13.7) 0.043 HF: Heart Failure; CMR: Cardio Magnetic Resonance; LV: Left Ventricle; RV: Right Ventricle; iRVEDV: Indexed RV End-Diastolic Volume; iRVESV: Indexed RV End-Systolic Volume; iLVEDV: Indexed LV End-Diastolic Volume; iLVESV: Indexed LV End-Systolic Volume; LA: Left Atrium; LVEF: LV Ejection Fraction; RVEF: RV Ejection Fraction; RV-FAC: RV Fractional Area Change; TAPSE: Tricuspid Annular Plane Systolic Excursion
 Abstract P816 Figure 1