The opioid epidemic in the United States continues to escalate, with heroin (1) abuse significantly contributing to this crisis (Figure 1(a)). From 2005 to 2015, the number of individuals who had used heroin doubled from 379,000 to 828,000 [1]. Moreover, heroin-related fatal overdoses increased by 400% between 2010 to 2017 [2], which was due in part to the clandestine presence of synthetic designer drugs like fentanyl and its analogues [3]. The COVID-19 pandemic has only exacerbated the opioid epidemic, as evidenced by the 81,000 fatal drug overdoses reported in May 2020, the highest number ever recorded in a 12-month period, with opioids being the primary contributor [4]. Social isolation, anxiety and depression caused by uncertainty, lack of access to services, and disrupted treatments due to stay-at-home orders have likely contributed to increased rates of relapse and opioid abuse [5]. Given this epidemic within a pandemic, there is a dire need for effective treatments for opioid use disorder, especially for heroin abuse. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved medications to treat heroin abuse (e.g. methadone (2), buprenorphine (3), and naltrexone (4), Figure 1(b)) work by interacting with opioid receptors in the brain, but are often underutilized clinically and have several limitations (e.g. abuse liability, patient compliance) [6–8]. Vaccines targeting opioids or immunopharmacotherapies are promising treatment options because they offer long-term protection, lack abuse liability, are generally free from drug-drug interactions, and are largely compatible with other opioid therapies [9]. Immunopharmacotherapies meet ideal criteria as new treatments, since they would not require detoxification from heroin, unlike 4, and would also not interfere with endogenous opioids and neuropeptides or their receptors in the central nervous system (CNS) [8,9]. In addition, vaccine development should extend beyond heroin to target the rise of fentanyl use and contamination through dual or multivalent vaccines [3]. The first proof-of-concept anti-heroin vaccine was developed in 1974 and produced a modest decrease in heroin selfadministration in monkeys [10]. A heroin vaccine is comprised of three primary components: a hapten, an immunogenic carrier protein, and adjuvants. Haptens are structurally similar to heroin and are chemically linked to an immunogenic carrier protein to stimulate an immune response. This immunoconjugate is then paired with various adjuvants (i.e. additives that function as delivery vehicles or further stimulate the adaptive immune response) to enhance the vaccine profile [1]. During vaccination, the immune system generates polyclonal antibodies with specificity to heroin. If a subject uses heroin, these antibodies bind to the drug and form an antibody-drug complex which cannot pass through the blood-brain barrier (BBB), thus preventing a psychoactive high [11]. Given the vaccine's inherent high-affinity and selectivity for heroin and the fact that antibodies do not directly interact with opioid receptors, a heroin vaccine could be administered with opioid medications. Significant advances have been made in preclinical heroin vaccine development, involving multiple iterations of haptens, carrier proteins, and adjuvants. These studies have conducted testing in both sexes of mice, rats, and monkeys on a manifold of characterization and behavioral experiments including: antibody titers, binding, concentration, antinociception, selfadministration, lethality, blood-brain distribution, and drug discrimination [1,8,9,12]. Comprehensive reviews assessing vaccine effectiveness and preclinical behavioral metrics are available [8,9]. One challenge unique to heroin (relative to other opioids) is that heroin rapidly metabolizes to 6-monoacetylmorphine (6-AM (5)), the primary mediator of heroin reinforcement, which is then further metabolized to morphine (6, Figure 1(a)). To address this issue, researchers designed a 'dynamic' heroin hapten (8, Figure 2) [13][1,12], which stimulates antibodies for all three psychoactive metabolites. Other approaches include modifying the hydrolysable acetyl groups of 1 with amides (10) [14,15] or sulfonates (9) [16] to closely mimic 1 or 5 directly, or use a morphine-based hapten (11) to mimic 6 (Figure 2) [17,18]. These haptens can be further differentiated by conjugation method and linker attachment. Another notable trend with heroin vaccines is increasing investigations of bivalent and multivalent vaccines for structurally different opioids. The efficacy of the vaccine could potentially be undermined if an individual is using multiple opioids concurrently or if heroin is contaminated, most commonly with fentanyl [8]. A bivalent or multivalent vaccine would provide protection against the multiple drugs, thus, reducing the risk of overdose from different opioids.


Objective: To explore the influence of component of denervated muscle tissue on the features of myoblast cultured in vitro.Methods: Gastrocnemius collected from model rat suffering from long-term denervation was homogenated under sterile condition.Supernatant fluid of denervated muscle was added into C2C12 myoblasts cultured in vitro.After 24 and 48 hours,the morphologic features,the expression of MyoD and Myogenin in myoblasts were detected by inverted microscope and immunofluorescence technique respectively.Meanwhile,normal cultured cells and those treated with medium of Schwann cell were taken as negative and positive control respectively.Results: Cultured cells grew well in vitro and there were no morphologic difference between negative control and denervation group.The C2C12 myoblast of positive control showed thin shape and formed tiny myotubes.After 24 hours of cultures,MyoD positive cells appeared in every group,however,the number of positive cells in denervation group was more than another two groups.Myogenin positive cells also were found in every group at 72 hours,with the most number of positive cells in positive group,and the least number in denervation group.Conclusions: component of long-term denervated skeletal muscle will promote the proliferation and activation of myoblast cultured in vitro,as well inhibit differentiation of activated cells.


In the series of articles describing the aerodynamic phenomena caused by the passage of a train, the effects of a train running at high speed on itself, on other trains, on objects on the track and on people are characterized. This impact can be of two types – generated pressure and slipstream. Apart from the literature analysis, the author's research is also taken into account. The third part presents the characteristic features of the slipstream and its impact on the environment (in the form of forces acting on objects) and railway infrastructure. Keywords: rolling stock, high speed railways, aerodynamic phenomena


Critical Congenital Heart Defect screen in newborns, a review of its use and importance Major structural or genetic birth defects affect approximately 3% of births in the United States. They are a major contributor to infant mortality & morbidity and result in billions of dollars in costs for care[1]. Congenital Heart Defects (CHD) occur in approximately 1% of births in the United States each year[2] and of these neonates with a CHD, 1 in 4 can have a critical congenital heart defect (CCHD). This is defined as the need for intervention by catheterization or surgery in the first year of life[3]. In the first few days to weeks of life, undiagnosed neonates with a CCDH are at significant risk for clinical decompensation and death. Though prenatal ultrasounds are an excellent tool to identify various structural fetal anomalies, studies have pointed to its limitations especially based on the timing of the ultrasound[4,5]. Clinical physical exams in the newborn period have a 50% sensitivity to diagnose CHD's[5] and even physical exams by expert providers may not safely distinguish neonates with CHD[6,7]. Echocardiograms are effective in identifying CCHD with high sensitivity and specificity ranges[8] of 99.3% to 100% and 90.9% to 100%, respectively, and a negative predictive value ranged from 97.9% to 100%. Though an echocardiogram is a useful diagnostic tool, it is an expensive screening test. In September 2011, the United States Secretary of Health and Human Services endorsed the addition of CCHD screening using pulse oximetry to the uniform routine screening panel for newborns prior to discharge from the hospital. Since then, at least 43 states have legislation in place to screen infants at 24 hours of life with pre and post-ductal oxygen saturations. The remaining seven states support testing with regulations in place. CCHD screening in the newborn period is critical to identify babies at risk and is designed to detect the following defects: hypoplastic left heart syndrome, pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum, transposition of the great arteries, truncus arteriosus, tricuspid atresia, tetralogy of Fallot, and total anomalous pulmonary venous return. Coarctation of the aorta is not always associated with hypoxemia; therefore, the CCHD screen may not identify this defect. CCHD screening is performed by placing a pulse oximeter on the right hand of the infant (pre-ductal limb) and either foot (post ductal limb). It is important to do the test when the infant is quiet and preferably awake as crying, eating or sleep may interfere with the results. A neonate passes the screen if the pulse oximeter reading on the right hand is greater than or equal to 95% and there is no greater than 3% difference between the pre and post-ductal readings[9]. Please see (Figure 1)[9] algorithm describing each step of the screening procedure in detail. A systematic review by Thangaratinam, S.[10] found that pulse oximetry screening for CCHD has a sensitivity of 76.5% and specificity of 99.9%. It is recommended to perform the test after the first 24 hours of life as the study found a low false positive rate of 0.05%. When a neonate fails their CCHD screen, it is important to consult pediatric cardiology and obtain an echocardiogram. If an institution is not equipped with such facilities, it is important to transfer the infant to an institution with proper equipment or provide care via telemedicine. Critical Congenital Heart Defect Screen in Newborns, A Review of Its Use and Importance


There is a widespread assumption that women who identify as lesbians are attracted exclusively to women, have sexual relationships with women only, live in lesbian towns (such as Northampton or Berkeley), and participate in lesbian events. Research in the past 20 years has shown that this is not the case for the majority of women, however, and Lisa Diamond's recent scholarship is an important addition to this body of evidence. She has found that few women consider themselves to be authentic representations of their own sexual identities, and she draws effectively upon this research to complicate the traditional conception of women's sexuality as a static entity. Diamond's study is the first to follow young women's sexual transitions through an extended period of time. Over the course of 10 years she conducted multiple interviews with 89 female participants between the ages of 16 and 23; of these, 43% identified as lesbian and 30% as bisexual at the outset of the study. Her findings directly contradict the traditional model of sexual-identity development, which posits a straightforward process with a clear and definitive sexuality as the outcome. While a few of the women retained their original identities, they constituted the smallest and most atypical subset; the majority of participants changed their sexual identity repeatedly over the duration of the study. To explain these results Diamond developed a new theory of female sexual fluidity, which she defines as "situation-dependent flexibility in women's sexual responsiveness" (p. 2). She identifies three interrelated components to this model. The first is sexual desire, consisting of both libido/lust and the capacity for arousability. The second is romantic love, which is independent of sexual desire and does not imply a sexual orientation. The final component is the linkage between romantic love and sexual desire, whereby women who start out with platonic feelings of love for a person may end up experiencing unexpected sexual desires. To date, most studies on sexuality have focused primarily on men, making Diamond's research particularly groundbreaking. She also notes that "many psychologists have called for the exploration of sex-specific models of sexual orientation that account for women's unique development and socialization experiences, rather than viewing them as variants of gay men"


In article consider the parity of concepts "educated class", "intelligentsia" and "intellectuals". It is affirmed that the educated class of the society is internally inconsistent whole, includes two groups of the educated people intelligentsia and the intellectuals opposite directed in the spiritual development.


Large catches of bowhead whales, Balaena mysticetus , were made in the Eastern Arctic of North America, principally in Davis Strait, Baffin Bay, the Lancaster Sound region, Hudson Bay, and southern Foxe Basin, between 1719 and 1915. Initial stock sizes have been estimated as 11 000 in 1825 for the "Davis Strait stock" and 680 in 1859 for the "Hudson Bay stock." The separate identity of these two putative stocks needs confirmation through direct evidence. Three sets of data were used to evaluate historic and present-day trends in the distribution of bowheads in the Eastern Arctic and to test hypotheses concerning the nature, timing, and routes of their migration. Published records from commercial whale fisheries prior to 1915, unpublished and some published records from the post-commercial whaling period 1915-1974, and reported sightings made mainly by environmental assessment personnel between 1975 and 1979, were tabulated and plotted on charts. Comments made by whalers and nineteenth-century naturalists concerning bowhead distribution and movements were summarized and critically evaluated. The major whaling grounds were: (1) the west coast of Greenland between ca. 60°N and 73°N, the spring and early summer "east side " grounds of the British whalers; (2) the spring "south-west fishing" grounds, including the northeast coast of Labrador, the mouth of Hudson Strait, southeast Baffin Island, and the pack ice edge extending east from Resolution Island; (3) the summer "west water" grounds, including Pond Inlet, the Lancaster Sound region, and Prince Regent Inlet; (4) the autumn "rock-nosing" grounds along the entire east coast of Baffin Island; (5) Cumberland Sound, a spring and fall ground; and (6) northwest Hudson Bay/southwest Foxe Basin. The belief of whalers that some segregation occurs within the "Davis Strait stock" cannot be refuted or confirmed on the above evidence. However, the evident predominance of young whales and females with calves in early season catches at the Pond Inlet floe edge and in summer catches well inside Lancaster Sound and Prince Regent Inlet suggests that the route and timing of their migration differs from that of adult males. Apparently most of the whales taken on the autumn "rock-nosing" grounds were large males. The possibility that females and calves circumnavigate Baffin Island, returning south by way of Fury and Hecla Strait, is neither proven nor unproven. Evaluation of harpoon recoveries did not yield irrefutable evidence of interchange between any presently recognized bowhead stocks; however, this evidence along with recognition of distinctive morphological features does indicate that bowheads exhibit site fidelity to some degree. The conclusion is that the bowhead population in the Eastern Arctic, severely reduced by whaling activities, continues to occupy much of its former range and follows the same migratory schedule. There is no reliable and consistent evidence of appreciable recovery in absolute abundance of any Eastern Arctic stock. Key words: bowhead whale, Balaena mysticetus , distribution, migration, population identity, whaling history, Davis Strait, Baffin Bay, Lancaster Sound, West Greenland, Hudson Bay, Foxe Basin


AbstractIn this study, the uses of alum sludge (AS) as hydraulic barrier (HB) layer and daily cover (DC) material were investigated using two-dimensional finite element analysis. In the analyses, typical landfill geometries were carried out for two different side-slope steepness (2H:1V and 3H:1V), two different HB materials (compacted clay (CC) and AS) and four different DC scenarios (no DC, sand (S), compost, and AS), two landfill heights (20 m and 30 m) and two different municipal solid waste decomposition conditions (freshly disposed waste and old waste), and the effects of these variables on the displacements, and factor of safety (FS) values were investigated. For all the cases studied, FS values higher than 1.5 were obtained which indicated that the landfills were stable against sliding, and the displacement values were within the limits reported in the literature. The results of the finite element analysis also showed that AS used as HB and DC material yielded compatible results with the ones for t...


The invention discloses an oil pump assembly. The oil pump assembly comprises a first end cover, a second end cover, a piston and elastic components. The first end cover is connected with the second end cover to form a cavity. The piston is placed inside the first end cover, the piston divides the cavity into a first cavity and a second cavity, and each end of the piston is provided with one elastic component. The first end cover or the second end cover is provided with an oil inlet hole and an oil outlet hole, an oil inlet valve block or a first one-way valve is arranged on the oil inlet hole, and an oil outlet valve block or a second one-way valve is arranged on the oil outlet hole. A through hole is formed in the end face of the second end cover or the end face of the first end cover. The piston vibrates inside the first end cover to make reciprocating movement with the help of a pump body of a compressor and a straight line with the motion direction parallel to that of the pump body, so that the intensity of pressure in the first cavity or the intensity of pressure in the second cavity is changed. Hence, the oil inlet valve block or the first one-way valve, and the oil outlet valve block or the second one-way valve can be opened or closed. Reciprocating mechanical vibration energy is converted into oil supply power, and mechanical vibration and radiation noise are reduced.


The management of teacher training in education subjects (MGMP) physical and sports (PJOK) teachers still have difficulty in carrying out their functions and duties as a staff member. Educated professionals and competence. These difficulties include developing a syllabus, preparing learning plans and evaluating learning outcomes. This study aims to obtain a direct picture of the planning, organization, implementation, and evaluation of teacher training in physical education and sports in improving the professionalism of senior high school teachers in Aceh Jaya. This research approach is a qualitative, research approach with a descriptive method. The subjects of this study were the chairperson of MGMP and MGMP members of the Aceh Jaya PJOK teacher, totaling 7 people. Data collection techniques using interviews and documentation. Data analysis techniques in this study used data reduction, data presentation, and conclusion drawing. The results of this research indicate that: (1) PJOK MGMP planning is compiling program plans namely general, core (routine and development) programs and supporting programs, (2) organizing work programs and distributing authority and responsibilities and resources among members of the organization to achieve planned program objectives, (3) implementation of the MGMP program is an effort to run programs that have been planned namely the general program is to provide insight to teachers about educational policies, routine programs namely learning problems, preparation, and development of syllabus, semester programs, and program plans learning, group work discussion. As for the development program, which is a seminar, training related to learning, material profoundly by the resource persons, and (4) evaluation of the development and support program is carried out after the program is completed by making an accountability report. The obstacles in MGMP are time constraints, limited funds and lack of self-motivation of MGMP members.


Children with Cleft Lip and Palate (CLP) may experience difficulties in oral communication, leading to other developmental problems such as delayed language acquisition and poor social skills; thus, early treatment is essential for successful speech rehabilitation. In this paper, we propose a methodology for automatically assessing the phonological precision of children with CLP. We propose to use the probabilities obtained from a phonological class recognizer to measure phonological precision during connected speech. Furthermore, we compute the nasal-to-sound ratio to improve the automatic detection of the nasality level. For this, we considered speech recordings of 88 children with CLP, assessed by a clinician according to four nasality levels: normal , mild , moderate , and severe . We obtained an F1-score of up to 0.54 for detecting the nasality level automatically. The results suggest that phonological analysis can be used for individualized speech rehabilitation.


In this paper, we explore using Parsons problems to scaffold novice programmers who are struggling while solving write-code problems. Parsons problems, in which students put mixed-up code blocks in order, can be created quickly and already serve thousands of students while other types of programming support methods are expensive to develop or do not scale. We conducted two studies in which novices were given equivalent Parsons problems as optional scaffolding while solving write-code problems. We investigated when, why, and how students used the Parsons problems as well as their perceptions of the benefits and challenges. A think-aloud observational study with 11 undergraduate students showed that students utilized the Parsons problem before writing a solution to get ideas about where to start; during writing a solution when they were stuck; and after writing a solution to debug errors and look for better strategies. Semi-structured interviews with the same 11 undergraduate students provided evidence that using Parsons problems to scaffold write-code problems helped students to reduce the difficulty, reduce the problem completion time, learn problem-solving strategies, and refine their programming knowledge. However, some students found them less useful if the Parsons solution did not match their approach or if they did not understand the solution. We then conducted a between-subjects classroom study with 81 undergraduate students to investigate the effects on learning. We found that students who received Parsons problems as scaffolding during write-code problems spent significantly less time solving those problems. However, there was no significant learning gain in either condition from pretest to posttest. We also discuss the design implications of our findings.


The algebraic loop is widely existed in the SimPowerSystem-based simulation of Active Power Filter(APF),which is extremely time-consuming and needs many memory resources. An efficient simulation method of APF was proposed based on analyzing the dynamic behavior of the switched subsystems of parallel three-phase three-line APF. The simulation model of each subsystem was built via Simulink. A unified simulation model of the main circuit of APF was then obtained by integrating all the subsystems. Because APF could be regarded as discrete event dynamic system,based on the unified simulation model and Finite State Machine theory,the dynamic simulation of APF was completed using the Stateflow module. Simulation results show that the simulation method can effectively present the dynamic performances of APF and avoid the algebraic loop problem. So the simulation efficiency can be improved significantly. The proposed method provides a new approach to the performance analysis and controller verification of APF.


An efficient DBU-promoted [4 + 4] domino annulation reactions of ynones and benzylidenepyrazolones has been developed. This process resulted finally in the formation of eight-membered cyclic ethers in moderate to good yields. The easy availability of starting materials and the simple cyclization procedure make this approach suitable for the preparation of a wide range of useful oxocino [2,3- c] pyrazoles.


As a result of the Kyrgyz Republic becoming a full-fledged member of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe on the 30th of January, 1992 and signing up all fundamental documents of the Helsinki Final Act on the 8th of June, 1992 and the Charter of Paris for a New Europe on the 3rd of June, 1994, the Kyrgyz Republic administration has been showing commitment to fulfill all accepted obligations of the Organization and illustrating it with cooperation at military-political, social, economical and ecological fields as well as providing a space for organizing the OSCE events at the country. The OSCE' consultancy and expert assistance is heavily practiced in many fields. At the current moment, there is a high level of cooperation between Kyrgyzstan' government and OSCE's institutions that focuses on main aspects of the country's security. According to the mandate of the OSCE Head Office in Bishkek, any political or military cooperation should focus on three key points: development of political institutes, conflict prevention and anti-terror. At the current stage, the Kyrgyz Republic is focused on specifying cooperation plans in military-political field and security policy with the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. The political leadership of the country insists on accelerating the Organization engagement in the military-political field and multifaceted security problems, even after disagreement with the Organization's senior management and downgrading the status of the OSCE in Kyrgyzstan from the Head Office to a Program Office. After becoming a Program Office, the OSCE senior management has intensified the cooperation in the military-political field. Apart from supporting military institute, the Organization started to provide consultancy and technical support to the law enforcement in terms of new law enforcement reforms. The necessity to shape new cooperation plans between the Kyrgyz Republic and the OSCE were, first of all, focused on improving cooperation in military-political field and security policy, and Проблемы постсоветского пространства / Post-Soviet Issues 61 Рината А. Валеева, «Проблемы и перспективы сотрудничества Кыргызской Республики с ОБСЕ (военно-политические аспекты)»


In metagenome analysis, DNA sequences are transformed into amino acid sequences before homology search. However, next generation sequencers became to produce larger data than previous sequencers. And then it takes more time to analyze data from next generation sequencers. Thus, we have made clusters of subsequences from database before homology search and search queries from the representations in clusters to search efficiently.


The problem is that of adjusting estimates of effective area surveyed in line transect or variable circular plot wildlife surveys for covariates that are known to influence delectability. We present a model where this can be accomplished within a general linear models framework (Nelder and Wedderburn, 1982, Journal of the Royal Statistical Society, Series A 135, 370-384). The model treats effective area as a scale parameter for detection areas, and uses the logarithm of effective area as a link to the covariates. Maximum likelihood results are presented along with least squares estimates that provide good starting values for iterative searches. We apply the methodology to a situation arising in an avian survey of Saipan Island.


Rev Soc Bras Fonoaudiol. 2011;16(3):362-9Study carried out at the Department of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology of the Universidade Federal de Santa Maria – UFSM – Santa Maria (RS), Brazil. (1)Department of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria – UFSM – Santa Maria (RS), Brazil. (2) Undergraduate Program in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, Universidade FEEVALE – Novo Hamburgo (RS), Brazil. (3)Undergraduate Program in Physical Therapy, Universidade Federal do Pampa – UNIPAMPA – Uruguaiana (RS), Brazil.


In the field of soft robotics, harnessing the nonlinear dynamics of soft and compliant bodies as a computational resource to enable embodied intelligence and control is known as morphological computation. Physical reservoir computing (PRC) is a true instance of morphological computation wherein; a physical nonlinear dynamic system is used as a fixed reservoir to perform complex computational tasks. These dynamic reservoirs can be used to approximate nonlinear dynamical systems and even perform machine learning tasks. By numerical simulation, this study illustrates that an origami meta-material can also be used as a dynamic reservoir for pattern generation, output modulation, and input sensing. These results could pave the way for intelligently designed origami-based robots that interact with the environment through a distributed network of sensors and actuators. This embodied intelligence will enable the next generations of soft robots to autonomously coordinate and modulate their activities, such as locomotion gait generation and limb manipulation while resisting external disturbances.


In recent years, the expansion of Information and Communication Technologies has led to the diversification of new forms of content production through so-called virtual platforms. Multiple categories and denominations pertaining to scientific processes and knowledge have emerged in cyberspace, and one of the leading topics in this field is Ehealth, as an interdisciplinary dialogue between the health sciences and the field of social communication. However, a review of relevant academic journals and specialized platforms shows there has been little research into this subject in Latin America and the Caribbean. The present study was aimed at discussing past and current E-health practices in Ecuador. The research was qualitative and based on the method of content analysis, supported by a literature review of relevant documentary and virtual sources. The results highlight several web platforms pertaining to health institutions, bodies, hospitals, associations or charitable foundations, the contents of which prioritize the promotion and prevention of public health, and provide tools which encourage and streamline the health processes used both by medical professionals and the general public. The study concluded by setting out the key areas of E-health in which Ecuador lags behind, beginning with the need to design more up-to-date strategies and programs adapted to the social and cultural realities of the country. The referenced sources consulted were 19 specialized platforms, organizations, bodies and health centers in Ecuador, in addition to 6 digital sites carrying academic articles related to the object of study.


Saliva sampling has the advantage of being noninvasive and stress free. Based on a recent study, salivary ultraweak chemiluminescence (UCL) is a new biomarker of psychologic stress. However, it is not clear what causes changes in the UCL level and whether the change is biologically significant. We investigated the candidates for salivary UCL induced by psychological stressors and discuss the physiologic function of these candidates. Vol unteers completed a questionnaire and then performed the Kraepelin test. Saliva was sampled just before, immediately after, and 30 min after the stress exposure. The UCL of saliva significantly increased just after stress exposure (1.56-fold) and returned to prestress levels after 30 min. The concentration of secretory immunoglobulin Aa lso increased significantly and the change in both biomarkers was rapid. Similar significant changes were observed in salivary peroxidase activity an dt he concentration of thiocyanate (SCN − ). On the other hand, the levels of amylase activity did not significantly increase and the concentration of cortisol increased slowly. Moreover, in the reconstitution experiment, UCL was generated at the same level by a mixture of peroxidase and SCN − at physiologic concentrations. In conclusion, we determined that the Kraepelin test as a mental arithmetic task elicited a significant response in the body and this response can be calculated using salivary UCL. Furthermore, SCN − and peroxidase in the saliva play a key role in salivary UCL.


This paper presents an overview of the key economic results associated with the use of non-renewable resources. The basic Hotelling model of resource depletion is discussed, followed by several extensions. The fundamental result is that scarcity rent rises at the discount rate, and that, at equilibrium, marginal benefits from extraction must equal the marginal economic cost. If marginal extraction cost is determined by the remaining stock of the resource, then the result is that the scarcity rent rises at the discount rate less the percentage increase in marginal cost caused by the marginal reduction in remaining reserves. The versatility of the Hotelling model is clearly brought out in the various qualitatively distinct outcomes possible for the equilibrium production and price trajectories. Production may be monotonically increasing, decreasing, or inverted ushaped.


A thermal control architecture design study is conducted for a novel robotic planetary and lunar surface exploration concept. The concept is based on the deployment of a large number of small spherical mobile robots over large areas, which employ hopping, bouncing and rolling as means of locomotion. The aim of the research is to prevent freezing and overheating of the robots, without compromising their mechanical and thermal reliability and stability. The proposed thermal control architecture relies on a low emissive silver surface coating and a low conductive silica aerogel insulation layer. This enables a single design to be used for several important potential explorations. The effects of a thermal control heat rejection mechanism, composed of a variable emittance coating and heat switch, are also studied in order to increase mission flexibility.


The community of occupational therapists working in secure hospitals, both nationally and internationally has consistently called for an evidence-base and guidance to facilitate and articulate the valuable contribution and difference occupational therapy makes to service users in these settings. In response to this challenge, the Forensic Forum of College of Occupational Therapists Specialist Section in Mental Health formed a working group to ensure practice guidance was published in 2012.
The College of Occupational Therapists (2017) has now published its second edition of the practice guidance 'Occupational therapists use of occupation-focused practice in secure hospitals'. It is accredited by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). The impact that this publication has had on occupational therapy practice and the changes implemented in a private medium secure hospital will be presented during this paper. The focus will be on how occupational therapists in the hospital have been able to consider the forensic aspect of a service user's occupational profile; and how the guidelines have provided a distinct and auditable framework for practice. For the final part of the presentation we will consider how the occupational therapists have been able to articulate to the rest of the multi-disciplinary team and service users in a more informed was using the critiqued evidence-base and the recommendations highlighted in the guidelines.

College of Occupational Therapists (2017). Occupational therapists use of occupation-focused practice in secure hospitals (Second edition). College of Occupational Therapists: London.


The effect of Al2O3 inclusions with a greater average size (0.6 μm) than the average particle size of the major phase powder (<0.1 μm) on grain gowth was examined by sintering ZrO2/Al2O3 composites (0,3,5,10, and 20 vol%) at 1400°C and then heat-treating at temperatures up to 1700°C. Normal grain growth was observed for all conditions. The inclusions appeared to have no effect on grain growth until the ZrO2 grain size was ∼1.5 times the average inclusion size. Grain growth inhibition increased with volume fraction of the Al2O3 inclusion phase. At temperatures 1600°C, the inclusions were relatively immobile and most were located within the ZrO2 grains for volume fractions <0.20; at higher temperatures, the inclusions could move with the grain boundary to coalesce. Grain growth was less inhilited when the inclusions could move with the boundaries, resulting in a larger increase in grain size than observed at lower temperatures. Analogies between mobile voids, entrapped within grain at lower temperature due to abnormal grain growth during the last state of sintering, and the observations concerning the mobile inclusions are made suggesting that grain-boundary movement can "sweep" voids to grain boundaries and eventually of four-grain junctions, where they are more likely to disappear by mass transport.


The report aims to clarify the rights and obligations of the investment intermediary, as well as to identify good practices and current issues in the field of commercial investment interme-diation. The report addresses issues of how to invest and the legal aspects of this, as well as the possibility of risks and those available to compensate investors.


In the paper, polynomial regression technique is proposed to evaluate the patterns of interest for knowledge generation. The data sets are initially clustered from which the training and test sets are generated by random selection method. For each training set, a best-fitted curve is obtained based on polynomial regression technique. Each curve is validated by its corresponding test data set and error associated to each curve is computed. Ultimately, the target model of the overall system has been framed using the probabilistic approach. The synergism of clustering and probabilistic technique is used together to increase the correctness and efficiency of the overall system. Analysis of the proposed system has been presented in comparison with the existing systems.


Based on the design experience of existed AC drive electric locomotive, this paper put forward the main items, general principles, which should be taken into consideration during EMC design of AC drive electric locomotive. The practical applications of EMC in existed AC drive electric locomotives are also introduced.


In the title complex, [CuLu(C19H20N2O4)(NO3)3]·CH3COCH3, the CuII ion is four-coordinated in a square-planar geometry by two O atoms and two N atoms from the deprotonated Schiff base. The LuIII ion is ten-coordinate, chelated by three nitrate groups and linked to the four O atoms of the deprotonated Schiff base. A molecule of acetone is present as a solvate.


On 17 August 2000, the somber first anniversary of the Marmara earthquake, the mainstream Turkish media found a sole reason for celebration. Alongside lengthy reports of vigils in remembrance of the dead and protests of the state's anemic relief efforts, the media celebrated its partnership with civil society and all but declared an end to a state that was at once heavy-handed and ineffectual. Amplifying this theme, an article that compiled a list of the earthquake's "winners" and "losers" placed the media and civil society in the former category and a host of state agencies charged with disaster response in the latter one. Hürriyet, a high-circulation mainstream newspaper, described this praise as well deserved, stating that journalists had effectively "exposed all the naked truths" of the state's inability to provide for its population.


This article studies the Latin west's liturgical tradition for the consecration of cemeteries and burial places, using traditional textual analysis combined with selective use of anthropological theory of ritual. The earliest texts of consecration are simple prayers found in insular sources, which later Frankish and Roman authors borrowed to create increasingly complex rituals found in the major pontificals composed from the tenth to the late thirteenth century. These benedictions transformed the space of the cemetery into a nexus where the divine, the living and the dead could commune. By means of prayers, songs, gestures and objects, such rituals established a sacred, separate space wherein the Christian community could access the power of the divine, ground its existence within the context of the sacred stories which defined its history and identity, and provide a safe place of rest for the departed members of the community.


Was this just another incendiary sound bite, headline news banner attacking the airwaves? Getting it wrong? Overstating some small technicality for the sake of getting attention? No, to all of the above: the most incendiary aspect of the blurb was that it was accurate. And it did get attention.


A nonmagnetic and nonmetallic pulse-tube cyrocooler(PTC) is fabricated and tested. The lowest no-load temperature of the cold head is 73.4 K by air-cooling with 44 Hz and 70 W input electric power.For an input electric power of 60 W,the cold finger can reach a no-load temperature of 74.0 K and provide an output power of 0.1 W at 80 K.


Background: Report on the changes of diagnostic criteria since 1970 and correspondence due to the development of new therapeutic drugs during long term clinical period. Patients and method: The subjects were Fifty-five ET patients who were 21-95years old who newly diagnosed Sendai Blood Disease Center (renaming Sendai Tomita Hospital from March 2013) between 1991 year and 2010 year. As a substitute for bone biopsy for convenient diagnostic tool, we diagnosed essential thrombocythemia (ET) by the smear sample of bone marrow aspiration focusing on platelet production of megakaryocyte cytoplasm. Result: We classified megakaryocytes into 7 types (0 to 5 and U) with platelet counts in the cytoplasm. We named Type U which was filled and spilling out platelets from megakaryocyte. Type U was not observed in our experienced 25 chronic myeloid leukemia cases, 10 polycythemia vera cases and another hematologic malignancies. The proportion of seven types was Type 0 was 35.9%, type I 4.7%, type II 6.0%, type III 3.0%, type IV 0.8%, type NK 4.4% and type U was 45.2% respectively. 30 males and 25 females, the age at the time of diagnosis was the median 64 years and range 21 to 95 with 61.8% above the age 60 years. The observation periods was from 17 months to 303 months and the median was 94 months. The main goal in ET is to prevent thrombohemorrhagic complications and the same for older patients. The frailty of elderly people, 15 of the 19 patients who stopped receiving medical examination was brought about by falls and aspiration pneumonia which caused the physical condition to decrease, not accompanied by ET treatment. The cause of frailty in older ET patients was irrespective ET treatment, and so on based on risk-adapted therapy was necessary for older ET patients. Conclusion: Megakaryocytes of ET patients showed platelet-free production and overproduction of platelets in cytoplasm. Based on risk-adapted therapy was necessary for frail older ET patients. Correspondence to: Yoshiko Saito, Aoikai Sendai Hospital, Sendai city, Miyagi Prefecture Japan, Tel: (81)-22-380-1000, Fax: (81)22-244-5755, E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com / firstname.lastname@example.com


We would like to thank Eva Dobler, Marc Garellek, Michelle St-Amour and Eva Sokol for their help in conducting the experiments. We also thank the children, administrators and parents at Children's Corner, CPE McGill, Playskool, SSMU and YMCA Westmount daycares in Montreal and at the Scuola Materna S.Benedetto in Siena, where the experiments have been conducted. The research reported in this paper was partially funded by a McGill VP-Internal research grant and a grant from McGill's Arts Undergraduate Society. Andrea Gualmini is currently supported by a VIDI fellowship from the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO) and Utrecht University.


It's been nothing like a normal summer, but I think a few of us have found a way to get some time off in between the chaos. I always managed to get away for a week or two to a small island off the New England coast for a vacation with my family and friends. I've been doing it for 30+ years and it instantly gives me the grounding I need.


Let $f(z)=\sum _{n=0}^{\infty }a_n z^n$ be a formal power series with complex coefficients. Let $({\mathcal{R}} f)(z)= \sum _{n=0}^{\infty }\pm a_n z^n$ be the randomization of $f$ by choosing independently a random sign for each coefficient. Let $H^p({\mathbb{D}})$ and $L^p_a({\mathbb{D}})$  $(p>0)$ denote the Hardy space and the Bergman space, respectively, over the unit disk in the complex plane. In 1930, Littlewood proved that if $f \in H^2({\mathbb{D}})$, then ${\mathcal{R}} f \in H^p({\mathbb{D}})$ for any $p \in (0, \infty )$ almost surely, and if $f \notin H^2({\mathbb{D}})$, then ${\mathcal{R}} f \notin H^p({\mathbb{D}})$ for any $p \in (0, \infty )$ almost surely. In this paper, we obtain a characterization of the pairs $(p, q) \in (0, \infty )^2$ such that ${\mathcal{R}} f$ is almost surely in $L^q_a({\mathbb{D}})$ whenever $f \in L^p_a({\mathbb{D}})$, including counterexamples to show the optimality of the embedding. In contrast to Littlewood's theorem, random Bergman functions exhibit no improvement of regularity for any $p>0$, but the loss of regularity for $p<2$ is not as drastic as the Hardy case; there is indeed a nontrivial boundary curve given by $\frac{1}{q}-\frac{2}{p}+\frac{1}{2}=0$. Several other results about random Bergman functions are established along the way. The technical difficulties, especially when $p<1$, are different from the Hardy space and we devise a different route of proof. The Dirichlet space follows as a corollary. An improvement of the original Littlewood theorem is obtained.


This issue contains articles that focus on the potential adverse effects of fetal and infant drug exposure, which result from maternal drug use during pregnancy and lactation. The issues discussed are part of what could be considered a "rebirth" of interest in the potential adverse effects of maternal drug use. In fact, major observed adverse effects of drugs on the fetus and children have been responsible for much, if not most, of the current legislation regarding drug development and use. Examples include the Biologics Control Act of 1902, which was the result of the deaths from contaminated vaccines1; the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act of 1938 was driven by the sulfanilamide disaster which killed almost 100 children2; and, of special relevance to the theme of this issue, the 1962 Kefauver-Harris Drug Amendments were the first to require proof of efficacy for a drug to be marketed3 as a response to the thalidomide disaster. Additional legislation directed at infants and children includes the Infant Formula Act of 1980, the Orphan Drug Act of 1983, the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, the FDA Modernization Act of 1997, the 1998 Pediatric Rule, the 2002 Best Pharmaceuticals for Children Act, and finally, the 2012 Food and Drug Administration Safety and Innovation Act, otherwise known as PDUFA.4 Minimal legislation related to mammography standards exists, and the 2014 Pregnancy and Lactation Labeling (Drugs) Rule requires specific information to be included on drug labels.5 Despite these historical examples and the fact that women take an average of 3 medications for acute and chronic conditions during pregnancy and 4 medications during lactation,6 little has been performed legislatively to encourage the study of drugs used in pregnant and lactating women. As documented by the articles in this issue, clinically useful data concerning the effects of prescription and recreational drug use on pregnant or lactating mothers and their unborn or breastfeeding infants are sparse. Much is needed to allow for informed risk/benefit decisions concerning drug use in pregnant or lactating mothers. It appears unlikely that more or better data for prescription drugs will be forthcoming given that drug manufacturers are unwilling to comply with the FDA's Pregnancy and Lactation labeling law combined with recent attempts to limit pharmaceutical industry regulation. This issue will attempt to summarize some of the available data as well as to stimulate interest and further studies. Carlier et al7 present the results of their literature review on the effects of perinatal exposure to cannabis and synthetic cannabinoids. The topic is especially relevant because of the rapidly changing availability and increasing use of these products. Inclusion of only English language articles and the somewhat limited search criteria used are potential limitations of the data presented, as are the confounding and unreliable reports of breastfeeding practices and drug exposure, even for prescription drugs. In addition, the authors present data on relative exposure, but there are many differences between fetal and maternal brain development that are likely responsible for the expected neurodevelopmental effects reported. The authors discuss some interesting epidemiological data that suggest that patient perceptions related to the relative risks of cannabinoids and vaccines are inverted. Perhaps, if pharmaceutical companies begin to manufacture cannabinoid products, the public skepticism surrounding the pharmaceutical industry may be harvested to decrease exposure to recreational drug use. To more accurately evaluate the risks of such exposure, more studies are needed surrounding the timing, duration, and amount of exposure, as opposed to the existing binomial, yes/no or heavy versus light, exposure data. Data are also needed which examine the possible confounders, including mixed use of plant sources, synthetics, nicotine, alcohol, as well as other illicit, prescription, herbal, and over the counter products, as well as product contamination.


The progress of the company was not the eye of the eye located on how much profit they were by, but it is also in human resources to form in a company to be established to be paranoid to be well eployess well based on justice or company policy considering humanity values, work achievement, education, and work experience.This research is aiming to know the Individual Characteristics and Work Environment to Employee Performance. Research that located at PT. Multi Nabati Sulawesi Bitung. The sample taken was 112 people from a total 450 employees in the company. In this study are using simple statistics with a simple regression with the SPSS version 23.00 to test the significant connection between variables and to measure the glory of the influence that occurs on variation of Individual Characteristics and Work Environment to Employee Performance. Based on the calculations of using the SPSS 23.00 software device that's a variable Individual Characteristics of affects the employee performance variables which show that Work Environment received is not in accordance with the expectation and desires of employees, so that there is a coplaint for every employee in the company


Although it was introduced at the beginning of the twentieth century, litchi really only spread in Mexico in recent years with encouragement for diversification. The domestic market is already profitable and Mexico has now decided to export the fruit. (Resume d'auteur)


Ian Shapiro and Kahreen Tebeau (Eds), After Apartheid: Reinventing South Africa?, University of Virginia Press, Charlottesville and London, 2011, pp. 376, ISBN-978-0-8139-3097-8.


'polypharmacy', 'loneliness', 'autonomy', to 'healthy ageing', were discussed. The workshop offered a unique space within MBBS curriculum for students to reflect upon their prior exposure to topics of ageing in the medical school. For instance, students contemplated how clinical lectures on osteopenia and osteoporosis might have instilled in them an assumption that ageing be a journey of loss. A limitation was that older adults participating in this teaching initiative were all well-educated, healthy, financially independent and with no functional disability. Students could mentally compartmentalise these healthy older persons and frail older patients in the wards. Of the photo prompts submitted by students, many (>10%) were photos of sunset depicting the gloominess of ageing, hinting the prevalence of a 'decline ideology' still among students.


The power of courts to engage in constitutional politics and to apply judicial review is based, in most cases, on a grant of formal authority to do so and on an expansion of that capacity by the courts. Is it possible then, that a formal grant of judicial review may lead to a consequent reduction in the judiciary power to engage in constitutional politics? Since 1945, many states in Western Europe, Asia and Latin America have established or reestablished constitutional courts with review powers. This power of review enables the courts to determine the acceptability of a given law or other official action on grounds of incompatibility with constitutional norms.1 These court powers are used today more frequently than before to strike down laws and administrative actions. European governments, parliaments, and administrators interact differently as a result of this judicial activity. In their comparative study, Shapiro and Stone show how the language, the style, and the outcomes of European policy processes are now different from what they would have been in the absence of constitutional review.2 Shapiro and Stone identify several main characteristics of the new constitutional politics:3


Human observers are apparently well able to judge properties of 'three-dimensional objects' on the basis of flat pictures such as photographs of physical objects. They obtain this 'pictorial relief' without much conscious effort and with little interference from the (flat) picture surface. Methods for 'magnifying' pictorial relief from single pictures include viewing instructions as well as a variety of monocular and binocular 'viewboxes'. Such devices are reputed to yield highly increased pictorial depth, though no methodologies for the objective verification of such claims exist. A binocular viewbox has been reconstructed and pictorial relief under monocular, 'synoptic', and natural binocular viewing is described. The results corroborate and go beyond early introspective reports and turn out to pose intriguing problems for modern research.


Intelligent power utilization community is an important method to realize real-time interactive response,enhance power grid comprehensive service ability and improve service level.The paper makes introduction on technology of passive optical network,as well as introduces Haihu intelligent community adopting passive optical network technology and optical fiber composite low voltage cables technology.


Global population is growing rapidly. As a result, increasingly large areas are being settled andfarmed. This devastates soils and causes pollution by heavy metals and other components. Heavy metals inthe environment originate from both natural and anthropogenic sources. Natural sources generally includerock weathering and the propagation of heavy metals, such as Cr and Ni, from ultrabasic rocks. These are natural processes that generally do not threaten human health. Anthropogenic sources include industry and inappropriate disposal of waste in the environment. In such cases concentrations of heavy metals can be harmful to people and other living beings. Al Zintan is a city located in northwestern Libya, on a plateau mainly built up of Cretaceous sediments. Since the 1980's, nomadic population has rapidly been settling this area. As aresult, a former part of the desert was transformed and is used for farming. Soil sampling at Al Zintan wasconducted in 2017, across a 2×2 km grid. A total of 143 samples were collected from depths of about 30 cm.The samples weighed 2 to 2.5 kg and generally comprised sand with a clay component. A Niton Xl3t goldd+instrument was used for chemical analyses, based on which GIS heavy-metal distribution maps were generated.The distribution of Cr, Ni, Cu and Zn is discussed on the paper.


A new total variation based approach was developed by Rudin, Osher and Fatemi (see Physica D., vol.60, p.259, 1992) to overcome the basic limitations of all smooth regularization algorithms. The TV-based technique use the L/sup 1/ norm of the magnitude of a gradient, thus making discontinuous and nonsmooth solutions possible. In TV image restoration, the solution is obtained by solving a time-dependent, nonlinear PDE on a manifold that satisfies the degradation constraints. In practical applications, one assumes a space-varying blurring kernel and signal-dependent (e.g. multiplicative) noise. The evolution part of the TV-based PDE turned out to be related to the curve shortening equation, but scaled by an inverse.<<ETX>>


Background: In addition of the socio-economics costs, trauma is the 4th cause of death at all age groups, In 2000, Trauma was caused more than 6 Million deaths in the world. Despite promising trend in improving many aspects of health care and treatment in the last decade in our country, little attention has been paid to the subject of registering trauma on an international standard. Effective practical research specially in quality improvement of treatment, causes of trauma, control, prevention and evaluation of effectiveness programs, would materialize when the national trauma Registry system is established and it's data are collected and completed on time. Considering the absence of an appropriate national trauma registry system in Iran, and the necessary that to create an appropriate model, conducting this research was urgently felt. Methods: This comparative cross- sectional study was conducted to evaluate the developed national trauma registry systems in the world and suggested an appropriate model for Iran national trauma registry system in the year 2003-4. In this study, national trauma registry system in the world countries evaluated by library resources, Web sites and E-mail communication with internal and external specialists. Suggested for Iran national trauma registry system axes presented based on economical, cultural and geographical situations. This model evaluated by Delphi techniques at 3 stages. At first and second stages, semi structured interviews used. The validity of the questionnaires and data collection was evaluated. At third stage, specialists have invited to discuss about suggested model completely. After analytical finding, the final model was presented. Results: In this paper, developed trauma registry systems in the world evaluated. Also a model suggested for Iran national trauma registry system in seven main axes. The results show that in order to optimize the infrastructure of Iran trauma registry system, structure, data elements, information gathering process, main goals, registration criteria, classification system and quality control mechanism of the current national trauma registry system should be reevaluated. Conclusion: Matching with the suggestion of international trauma research institutes, Decrease lack of registry, increase quality control mechanism, could be considered as advantages of the suggested model in comparison with the present system in country.


Outdated and inaccurate original descriptions of species nominal for genera or species complexes give birth to notorious difficulties in species identification and often translate into erroneous classifications of multiple species as one. This, in turn, results in severe overestimations of specific geographic ranges and ultimately in underestimations of the diversity of organisms living on our planet. Tardigrades, ubiquitous microscopic metazoans exhibiting relatively few taxonomically useful traits, bear many such problematic species. In this paper, we investigated, morphologically and molecularly, 10 European populations of Ramazzottius cf. oberhaeuseri (Doyère, 1840), a putatively cosmopolitan nominal species for the family Ramazzottiidae. The analysis of COI sequences revealed eight potential species, including one from Paris, the type locality of R. oberhaeuseri, which we used to integratively redescribe the nominal taxon. The identification of seven further species in a handful of samples collected from a single continent explicitly shows the considerable undescribed species diversity within this group and puts in question the cosmopolitan distribution of R. oberhaeuseri. The integrative redescription of R. oberhaeuseri opens the opportunity for descriptions of other species in the complex. http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:50B99B53-C317-4DBD-8CF1-16297B85C4F3


Hydrophobically associating polyacrylamides (HAPAMs) were synthesized via inverse suspension polymerization using ammonium persulphate (APS)/tertramethylethylenediamine (TEMED) as the redox initiators, 2-methacryloyloxyethyl n-alkyl dimethyl ammonium bromide (DM-n, n = 8, 12, 16) as the hydrophobic comonomers. The structures of the copolymers were elucidated by FT-IR and ionic chromatographic analysis, respectively. The morphology and particle size of the resultant HAPAMs were characterized by scanning electronic microscope (SEM) and laser particle size analyzer, which revealed that spherical particles were formed and the particle size exhibited Gaussian distribution centered from 25 μ m to 162 μ m. Furthermore, the solution properties of the copolymers were studied with viscometry and the results showed that HAPAMs synthesized under optimal conditions exhibited an obvious viscosity enhancement in aqueous solution and excellent salt-tolerant capability in brine.


This paper summarizes the behaviors of some important statistical parameters, viz., the mean, variance, skewness, and excess, for hard-limited signals transmitted through the additive Gaussian channel. Computable dosed form expression of all moments is also given and numerical values of practical interest are provided.


INTRODUCTION
To comparatively assess the treatment outcomes of endoscopic dilatation in Barrett's neoplasia and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) post- endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) strictures and to determine the risk or factors associated to refractory strictures Methods: Observational study. All consecutive patients presenting with a post-ESD stricture in 2007-2016 who underwent dilation therapy were included. Clinical, morphological and technical features were assessed to determine the risk factors of refractory strictures.

RESULTS
Of 414 consecutive patients treated by ESD, 83 (mean age: 65±10 years, 76% men) with 254 dilations (median: 3, range: 1-27) were considered. Barrett's neoplasia and SCC were the indications in 58 (69.9%) in 25 (30.1%) cases. Clinical success was achieved in 84.3% with a median of 3 sessions (range: 1-22). Circumferential resection in one-single procedure (13.2%) was associated to the need for a higher number of dilation sessions. By multivariable analysis, upper-esophageal location (OR: 11.479 [95%CI: 2.058-64.043], p=0.005), recurrent strictures (OR: 17.252 [95%CI: 2.833-105.069], p=0.002), and dilation-related complications (OR: 26.420 [95%CI: 1.736-401.966], p=0.018) were risk factors of refractory stenosis.

CONCLUSION
Preventive strategies, concomitant treatment, and careful dilatation protocols should be considered and undertaken in patients presenting with SCC located in the upper superior esophagus, intra-procedural perforation, and recurrent strictures.


The impact of extreme events is in reality the interaction among three systems; the natural environment, the human community, and the built environment the infrastructure that supports human activities. The sustainability of our infrastructure depends upon knowledge of the natural environment – for example, the research on global warming and its impact on meteorological events such as storms, droughts and floods. Sustainability also depends upon the demographic composition and distribution of population. Shifts in population require expanded infrastructures; people moving into hazardous regions like coastal areas may require new infrastructure. The events of September 11, 2001 show once again the vulnerability of our civil infrastructure systems. However, the on-going attention may provide the opportunity to increase the sustainability of civil infrastructures while reducing their vulnerabilitythe focus of this paper. The paper first presents background related to sustainability and vulnerability of infrastructure systems. A systematic procedure including an optimization algorithm is presented to incorporate sustainability concerns into the vulnerability analysis. An illustrative example is given, followed by concluding remarks on its integration with past research on vulnerability of civil infrastructure systems.


The aim of this research was to develop methods for the automatic person-independent estimation of experienced emotions from facial expressions. Ten subjects watched series of emotionally arousing pictures and videos, while the electromyographic (EMG) activity of two facial muscles: zygomaticus major (activated in smiling) and corrugator supercilii (activated in frowning) was registered. Based on the changes in the activity of these two facial muscles, it was possible to distinguish between ratings of positive and negative emotional experiences at a rate of almost 70% for pictures and over 80% for videos. Using these methods, the computer could adapt its behavior according to the user's emotions during human-computer interaction.


In a loss of cooling accident caused by a loss of off-site power, similar to the Fukushima accident, water inside a spent fuel storage pool heats up and evaporates by decay heat. That leads to uncovery and failure of spent fuels and subsequent release of radioactive materials. To avoid such severe consequence, it is important to identify the thermalhydraulic behavior of spent fuels under the accident. We are planning to conduct experiments with the ATHER facility. Prior to the experiments, for a loss of cooling accident, peak temperature of fuel claddings as well as water level is calculated using the best estimate code, MARS, under different decay powers and discussions have been made.


The isolated perfused caudal artery of the rat develops tachyphyllaxis rapidly to the direct constrictor action of angiotensin but not towards the potentiation of responses to submaximally effective periarterial stimulation or to noradrenaline. These potentiations persist in the presence of maximally effective concentrations of cocaine, are unaffected by increased sodium concentration and are enhanced by raised concentrations of calcium. Thus, angiotensin potentiates the effects of sympathetic nervous activity by an influence on the role of calcium in the contractile process. Hydrochlorothiazide did not affect arterial tone, the responses of the artery, or the potentiation to noradrenaline caused by angiotensin.


BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE
As clinical measurements of corneal thickness have become widely available, several studies found a positive correlation between central corneal thickness and applanation tonometry measurements. This study evaluated central corneal thickness in different types of glaucoma.

PATIENTS AND METHODS
An observational cross-sectional study assessed central corneal thickness using a specular microscope in the following groups of patients: 60 eyes with primary open-angle glaucoma, 50 eyes with pseudoexfoliation glaucoma, 50 eyes with ocular hypertension, and 60 eyes without glaucoma or ocular hypertension (control group).

RESULTS
Central corneal thickness was significantly thinner in cases with pseudoexfoliation glaucoma (P < .0001) and significantly thicker in cases with ocular hypertension (P< .0001).

CONCLUSIONS
These results agree with the literature, strengthening the position that central corneal thickness varies in different types of glaucoma and, therefore, is a parameter that should be taken under consideration, especially when evaluating cases of pseudoexfoliative glaucoma and ocular hypertension.


Objectives. The ILB Project (Information Literacy in Biomedicine) funded a survey of the main information skills needs in Regione Emilia Romagna Hospitals; an e-learning course was devised in order to meet these needs. The purpose of this paper is twofold: 1) to explain the blended learning choice and its implications for the course 2) to show how these medical librarians could enhance their professional role in teaching through the use of the e-learning platform.
Methods. The ILB Project team decided to use the e-learning methodology to change the way in which Doctors are trained; this choice was done to improve compliance with the course, as the delivery is much more flexible in term of time and space. In addition, these medical librarians were extensively trained to interact with the course participants through the e-learning platform (Moodle), to answer questions and provide further teaching and guidance in person and online. Consequently, right from the start, the focus of the Project was on the co-operative use of new communication technologies.
Results. The Project achieved its two main objectives: to develop a new learning methodology for strategic information skills and to heighten awareness of the medical librarians' professional knowledge, supporting the Doctors' searching skills.
Conclusions. New learning technologies can be used to promote changes in a collaborative to teaching and support. ILB has brought about this important and successful development.


This article investigates the degree of progression of dystrophic lesions of the spine, which are characterized as osteochondrosis, in the presence of Schmorl's hernia in one or more vertebrae. The vertebral-motor segments with free and restricted motor activity arising in the frontally oriented functional blocks of the spine were studied.


T HE huge success of deep-learning–based approaches in computer vision has inspired research in learned solutions to classic image/video processing problems, such as denoising, deblurring, dehazing, deraining, super-resolution (SR), and compression. Hence, learning-based methods have emerged as a promising nonlinear signal-processing framework for image/video restoration and compression. Recent works have shown that learned models can achieve significant performance gains, especially in terms of perceptual quality measures, over traditional methods. Hence, the state of the art in image restoration and compression is getting redefined. This special issue covers the state of the art in learned image/video restoration and compression to promote further progress in innovative architectures and training methods for effective and efficient networks for image/video restoration and compression. In the following, we provide a short overview of the state of the art in learned image and video processing Section II. Section III introduces the articles in this issue. Finally, we provide the outlook for future directions in Section IV.


Abstract : The document discusses the conversion of transverse acoustic waves into longitudinal plasma waves at the interface of a dielectric and an electron plasma.


Objective To investigate the antibiotic resistance in clinical isolates of Stapylococcus collected from hospitals in several regions of China.Methods Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was conducted in 14 general hospitals of China according to a unified protocol.Results Of the 7 530 clinical isolates of Stapylococcus,S.aureus and coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (CNS) accounted for 59.1%and 40.9%,respectively.The major CNS species were S.epidermidis(21.6%),S.hominis (7.3%) and S.haemolyticus(4.5%),mainly isolated from blood and sterile body fluids.The prevalence of methicillin-resistant strains was 51.7%(11.5%to 77.6%) in S.aureus and 74.8%(62.7%to 95.5%) in CNS.About 60%of the MRSA strains were susceptible to fosfomycin and sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim.About 68.7%and 87.8%of the MRCNS strains were still susceptible to fosfomycin and rifampin,respectively.The prevalence of MRSA and MRCNS in ICU was the highest.No glycopeptides- or linezolidresistant strains were identified.Conclusions MRSA and MRCNS was relatively prevalent in the hospital setting of China,espicially in the special units of some hospitals.The resistance rate of Staphylococcus varied widely with geographical regions and hospitals.More attention should be paid to the detection of hVISA and VRSA.


The National Health Services (NHS) within inner Northwest London implemented a transformational change pilot program for integrated care from 2011-13. This pilot focused on two populations within the inner northwest quadrant of London: diagnosed diabetics and the elderly over 75 years of age. An information technology (IT) tool was used to pool data across primary, secondary, community, social, and mental health care sectors in order to assess an integrated approach to care coordination. The network of service providers included: 5 social care services; 3 community care services; 106 primary care practices; 2 mental health facilities; 2 hospitals; and 2 non-profit organizations. Some of the main goals of the pilot were to: improve health outcomes among diabetics and the elderly; improve patient experience; reduce service outcomes such as emergency hospital admissions; create care plans for the targeted populations; and establish multidisciplinary case reviews of high-risk patients with the most complex needs. A mixed methods evaluation was essential for assessing the care process and health outcomes of the pilot. Results of the evaluation will be presented, particularly as they relate to clinical outcomes and quality of care, as well as patient and professional experience throughout the integrated care process.


This study was conducted to analyze SWOT (Strength, Weakness Opportunity, and Threat) Open Banking in Islamic banking in Indonesia. The analytical method used is descriptive literature research, namely by providing a description or description of the problems that have been identified and carried out intensively and in detail on a problem from the available literature. The results of this study indicate that there are several strategies that can be taken by Islamic Banking in dealing with Open Banking, including the S-O strategy: cooperation with fintech and e-commerce; and expand the network of cooperation nationally and internationally; W-O strategy: socializing open banking, improving technology and security, and increasing service complaints; S-T strategy: cooperate with other financial institutions, implement standardization prepared by the regulator; and W-O Strategy: multiple security enhancements, sorting out cooperation to third parties, and upgrading Islamic banking internal servers.


In the present study novel biological compounds conjugates of xantine derivatives with new alkylating agents (oxiranes) were synthesized. The synthesized compounds exhibit a moderate and low toxicity (III-IV class), show a spasmolytic and broncholytic action.


In order to obtain grouts with reduced leaching, desirable fluidity and sufficient penetrability for the filling of sand voids or microcracks, a microfine-cement-based grout (MCG) with microfine fly ash (MFA) was prepared and the maximum grain size (dmax) was controlled at 20 μm. The viscosity, hydration temperature, spreading ability, fluidity, flexural strength and unconfined compressive strength of MCGs with MFA and naphthalene-based superplasticiser (SP) were investigated. The relatively new concept of 'static viscosity' was considered. The ranges of water/MCG (w/MCG) ratios, MFA contents and SP contents were 0·8–3·0, 0–50% and 0·5–3·0%, respectively. The viscosity, hydration temperature and flow time were found to decrease with increasing w/MCG ratios, MFA and SP contents, but mini-slump diameter, bleed capacity and setting time increased. The effects of MFA were not as obvious as those of SP. The addition of 2·0% SP decreased the flexural strength and the compressive strength, while 40% MFA increase...


The relationship between hypoxemia and ICH was studied in 25 infants weighing <1500 grams. Twenty-three infants required assisted ventilation. TcpO2 data was monitored continuously for 3 days and stored using the Oxygram, a microprocessor based tcpO2 data system. The number of events with a tcpO2 <40 torr and the total time with tcpO2 <40 torr were determined. Cranial ultrasounds were done after birth and daily for 3 days. ICH was graded on the scale 0 to 4.Infants had a mean of 15.75 events with a tcpO2 <40 torr each day. These events had a mean cumulative daily duration of 48.4 mins. The number of hypoxemic events and the cumulative duration of these events over the 3 days were not different in the 14 infants with ICH and the 11 without ICH.Progression in ICH grade was noted in 12 infants. For the total study group there was a significant association between the cumulative time spent with a tcpO2 <40 torr and the degree of progression in severity of ICH (r=0.54, p=0.01). ICH progression was not associated with either the number of events with low tcpO2, pneumothorax, or hypotension.We conclude that infants weighing <1500 grains experience multiple episodes of low tcpO2, and that the cumulative duration of these episodes correlates with increases in ICH severity.Aided by Clinical Research Grant #6-333 from the March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation.


The design, fabrication and performance characteristics of Kapton-based planar mini and semimicro potentiometric sensors with an Ag/AgCl or a quinhydrone-based redox internal reference electrode are described. The ion-selective membranes cast from conventional and various modified PVC matrices and containing different pH-sensitive ionophores are ranked on the basis of their performances in hostile environments. The adhesive bonding strength of the different PVC membranes to the polyimide-coated Kapton substrate was quantitatively evaluated as a function of fabrication procedure and sample solution contact. The long-term stability of the electrodes was characterized by the alterations of the analytical parameters of the sensors over a period of time, as well as by determining the resistance changes of their sensing membranes.


ABSTRACT. Fourteen patients with stage III–IV neuroblastoma were treated with alternating combination chemotherapy consisting of (a) VP16/cisplatin and (b) doxorubicin/vincristine/cyclophosphamide. The initial response to induction chemotherapy, especially to VP16/cisplatin was evaluated by determining t 1/2 for urinary vanillylmandelic acid (VMA), homovanillic acid and serum neuron specific enolase (NSE). The period prior to normalization of these parameters was also determined. The patients could be classified as 7 rapid responders, with less than 3 weeks oft 1/2 VMA, or t 1/2 NSE, and 7 slow responders longer than 4 weeks of t 1/2 VMA. An analysis of the data indicates that an initial rapid response correlated with subsequent high complete response rate, but did not necessarily predict better prognosis in these patients.


The Dictionary of the Clothing Terminology of the Zilja Dialect in Canale Valley (Kanalska dolina – Val Canale – Kanaltal – Valcjanâl) is the result of dialectological research team-work, conducted between 2003–2014. It was designed as a pilot project for the documentation of endangered variety of Gailtal dialect in the linguistically mixed area of Canale Valley. Considering the importance of preservation of the words for culturally relevant terms and concepts, the topic was chosen by the members of a speech community themselves. The sound material was gathered with various fieldwork techniques, from workshops on the old clothing dialect terms, classic dialect elicitations and guided conversations to monitoring spontaneous speech. As an additional source we used spoken texts, prepared for Slovenian Broadcasting Radio Trst (Trieste) A and the cultural heritage project Zborzbirk.
The dictionary contains 594 entries and is based on approximately 1,400 sound clips from around 16 hours of recordings. It is formatted as a trilingual (Slovene-German-Italian) concordance-based dictionary and of which the most common collocations are presented alongside clothing terminology. Each entry is equipped with sound clips for dialect lemma and examples of dialect use (http://hdl.handle.net/11356/1220). The encyclopaedic information is contained in illustrative photographs of traditional clothing items (http://hdl.handle.net/11356/1221) or added as occasional commentary subsection.
The documentary section presents the relations between the dialect and standard lexicon and documents the potential geographical area of the word. The multimedia lexical database is organised as a source for grammatical description of the local dialect varieties, especially phonology and morphology.
The morphological section of the dictionary thus contains all word forms, confirmed in the speech corpus, with special attention to individual phonetic and inflectional variation. For that purpose, the narrow phonetic transcription (Slovene dialectological transcription) was used for transcribing dialect material.
The previous editions were published as printed book: Kenda-Jež, Karmen, Shranli smo jih v bancah: slovarski prispevek k poznavanju oblacilne kulture v Kanalski dolini = contributo lessicale alla conoscenza dell'abbigliamento in Val Canale, Ukve: S.K.S. Planika Kanalska dolina; [s. l.]: Slori, ATS Od me-je; Ljubljana: Institut za slovenski jezik Frana Ramovsa ZRC SAZU = Istituto per la lingua slovena "Fran Ramovs" CRS ASSA, ¹2007; Ljubljana: Založba ZRC, ZRC SAZU = Casa editrice CRS, CRS ASSA, ²2015.


Abstract : Flow curves of triple, double, and single base propellant doughs were determined with an extrusion rheometer. In most cases the curves displayed an inflection which was associated with a critical stress in the dough. The critical stress caused the flow to separate into a high stress layer near the boundary of the flow, and a low stress region in the centre of the flow. The critical stress was also associated with flow instabilities. An explanation of the flow behaviour based on the Doi-Edwards theory is presented. Keywords: Australia, Rheology, Viscosity Index.


Internet users are growing rapidly around the world. The main concern regarding the online content is that who is providing reliable information on the Internet. To know the credibility of Internet information among Indian readers, an online survey was conducted, and 3183 respondents took part in the study. The questionnaires were distributed using social media platforms. Male news consumers were higher than female news consumers. The findings of the study show that most of the online readers believe that the websites of news organizations provide credible information. Interestingly female readers have more faith in Government websites, private companies and personal blogs as compared to males. Text content is the most favorite content for the online news consumers.


TO THE EDITOR: The study by Koretz [1] is controversial and the conclusions are based on historical data and the premise that colonic adenomas represent a homogeneous group. Rather, one can divide colonic adenomas into two groups: those that do not become malignant (uncommitted to malignant transformation [>95% of all sporadic colonic adenomas]) and those that transform into adenocarcinomas (committed to malignant transformation [<5% of all sporadic colonic adenomas]). Evidence suggests that several histologic subtypes differ in risk for malignant transformation. Analyses of so-called flat adenomas [2] and serrated adenomas [3] suggest that these lesions transform into carcinoma (not degenerate into carcinomas as Koretz states) more frequently than ordinary colonic adenomas and do so when relatively small. It is not known if all colonic adenomas have the same growth rate or growth potential, or if flat and serrated adenomas require less time to become malignant than ordinary adenomas. In short, Koretz is analyzing several different adenoma subgroups that have not been adequately characterized. More importantly, it is difficult to study a small subpopulation using data obtained from entire populations at risk. Analyses of malignant polyps resected through colonoscopy indicate that up to 15% of these will be 1.0 cm or less in diameter [4, 5]. This indicates that the data available from the analysis of all the existing colonic adenomas cannot successfully be used to study the subpopulation of committed adenomas. To draw a parallel: Little information would be gained about lung carcinomas by analyzing multiple variables in the entire U.S. population. More meaningful information becomes available by studying only the affected group.


Future tactical aircraft avionics processing systems development will be significantly different than in the past. Requirements growth will plateau. Processing device performance parameters will grow exponentially. Processing systems will continue to decrease in size. System complexity and bandwidth will increasingly reside within the processing devices themselves. All this will have significant implications for avionics system architectures and interconnect structures. And, as a consequence, the system architecture can be implemented in a relatively simple network based on COTS serial interconnects.


Classification is to generate a rule of classifying objects into several categories based on the learning sample. Good classification model should classify new objects with low misclassification error. Many types of classification methods have been developed including logistic regression, discriminant analysis and tree. This paper presents a new classification method using penalized partial least squares. Penalized partial least squares can make the model more robust and remedy multicollinearity problem. This paper compares the proposed method with logistic regression and PCA based discriminant analysis by some real and artificial data. It is concluded that the new method has better power as compared with other methods.


Rural residential land consolidation is the most important content in the new countryside construction. To build rural residential land consolidation orderly,it is of great practical significance to develop a deep regionalization research to rural residential land consolidation.Takeing Yitong Manchu Autonomous County for example,it takes a total of 10 indicators including economic factors the urgency prority as well as its feasibility of selecting rural residential land consolidation to construct the evaluation index system,using AHP( analytic hierarchy process) and entropy method to comprehensively determine the index weight,and the comprehensive evaluation method is employed to calculate the comprehensive scores. According to the comprehensive scores,the consolidation schedule is divided into three periods. The results indicated rural residential land area and consolidation potential are large in Yitong Manchu Autonomous County and the rural residential land consolidation shows differences of each township. The townships,which are divided into the short term( the scores between 60 and 100),have the largest consolidation potential; the townships,which are divided into the middleterm( the scores between 50 and 60),have general consolidation potential; the townships,which are divided into the long term( the scores between 0 and 50),have poor consolidation potential.


PURPOSE: A brake disc using various materials is provided to ensure the strength of the disc for enduring the maximum braking torque by strongly combining through the strap and the ring-shaped rivet. CONSTITUTION: A brake disc using various materials comprises a disc plate(100), a hat part(200), a strap(400), a rivet(600). The disc plate comprises a rivet hole(162) which is formed on the protrusion between coupling grooves. The disc plate includes a plurality of coupling grooves along the inner circumferential surface of the inserting hole. The hat part is combined on the inserting hole of the disc plate and formed with aluminum alloy. Multiple protrusions for coupling on the outer circumferential surface on the hat part are corresponded to the coupling grooves. The strap is positioned to straddle the rivet holes of the disc plate and the hat part. The rivet fixes and passes through the strap and rivet hole.


Tapered polymer optical waveguides with graded-index (GI) circular core are designed and fabricated using the Mosquito method. We show an ideal index profile design for the tapered polymer waveguide allowing a low-loss optical coupling between a VCSEL source and a multimode fiber/waveguide with a large misalignment tolerance.


The use of the composite pile, in the course of the soft ground treatment of airport Expressway, which is composed of CFG pile and crushed stone pile , is introduced in this paper. By means of analysing the mechanism, the design and the construction of the composite pile, and examining it on the building side, it is testified that this type of composite pile is a new and effective method to dealing with soft ground of highway , because it can overcome the weak points of the two types of traditional simple pile , CFG pile and crushed stone pile, and achieve the objective of mutual complement of their strong points .


Phillips et al. [ 11 describe chronic granulocytic leukemia in a patient with sickle cell anemia and cite two other previously reported patients. We followed a 19-year-old black woman with hemoglobin SC disease who presented with a painful vasoocclusive crisis at age 18 years with a peripheral blood leukocyte count of 46,90O/dl and a platelet count of 793,00O/dl. She had the typical findings of chronic granulocytic leukemia (CGL). The Philadelphia chromosome was easily demonstrated in her bone marrow aspirate. The leukocyte alkaline phosphatase score was 9. Her hematocrit was 26%, and reticulocyte count was 7%. The patient's painful crisis was treated with hydration and analgesia. The leukemia was treated with hydroxyurea (500-1,000 mg daily) and allopurinol (300 mg daily) with reduction of the leukocyte count to approximately 20,00O/dl. Over the next year the patient had a marked increase in the number of painful crises. She was tissue-typed for a possible bone marrow transplant but disappeared shortly thereafter and was lost to follow-up. We attempted to explain our patient's increase in painful crises after the onset of CGL as being due to oxygen consumption by leukocytes and platelets, thereby depriving erythrocytes of oxygen and causing them to sickle more readily. However, the patient suffered painful crises even when her leukocyte count was below 15,00O/dl. Nevertheless, it is likely that even at that time she had an increased granulocyte turnover related to her CGL. We did not use busulfan because of its immediate and longterm toxicities and because we were considering our patient for a possible bone marrow transplant, a procedure that might have cured both her diseases. We were intrigued in the patient of Phillips et al. at the marked symptomatic improvement of sickle cell disease and absence of painful crises after the initiation of busulfan therapy. In vitro alkylating agents such as nitrogen mustard modify hemoglobin S so that it fails to gel at any attainable concentration [2]; in addition, sickling of erythrocytes is strongly inhibited [3]. Perhaps Phillips et al. inhibited in vivo sickling in their busulfan-treated patient. Fred Rosner Hans W. Grunwald Queens Hospital Center Affihation of the Long Island Jewish Medical Center Jamaica, New York State University of New York at Stony Brook


SUMMARY

Approximations to the distributions of order statistics based on x2t are obtained. These are easy to compute and provide reasonably accurate values for the percentage points and probability integrals of the distributions.


ABSTRACT The article uses police and city administration files to explore the local level management of commercial sex in Cologne between the years 1956 and 1972, which was increasingly determined by processes of concealment, displacement and segregation. Of particular interest is the Sperrbezirk or 'restricted area' intended to banish women selling sex from public view, which is viewed historically in combination with the tolerance of so-called 'prostitute residences' and the opening of an Eros-Center in 1972. These local measures are analysed in their implementation, with a focus on the impact of city administrators, residents and women who sold sex in determining the moral geographies of the city's sex industry.


Objective To understand the effect of training and application of two health appropriate technologies(The standardized prevention and treatment technologies of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and bronchial asthma) in Chongqing so as to provide reference for further spread of training on the related health appropriate technologies.Methods A questionnaire survey was conducted among all the respiratory physicians form county and town medical organizations in 4 project counties(Zhongxian,Rongchang,Tongliang,Bishan) who participated the training on health appropriate technologies in Chongqing.Results The doctors trained had lower professional title and education background,or primary professional title and junior college education.In centralizing training,more than 80% of them thought the technologies were applicable,and more than 95% could understand the lecture given by the exprts,and more than 70% were able to apply the techniques.After the following up training,the doctors′ satisfaction was significantly improved about the appropriate degree of the techniques,understanding degree of the experts′teaching,mastering degree of the techniques,and demand for further training(P0.05).Conclusion Following-up-training is better than centralizing training.The standardized prevention and treatment technologies of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and bronchial asthma have a good applicability,and the doctors and patients at the basic unit are willing to accept the two health appropriate technologies in Chongqing.


Affected by COVID-19, college students had to study at home in China. Therefore, a great significance is to investigate learners' emotions and interactions in online discussion. Many researchers have studied the emotions and interactions among students. However, most of them have overlooked how students' emotions and interactions vary over time, which is a dynamic process in online asynchronous discussion. Using emotion analysis and temporal network analysis, this paper investigates learners' positive, negative and confused states during learning, and uses a methodological approach to build, visualize, and quantitatively analyze temporal network in each week of the course. Results revealed that the ratio of students' positive states was extremely large at the beginning of the semester, and then decreases while the confused or negative ratios increased. The interactions in each week varied with time and could be divided into three patterns according the characteristics of temporal networks. Finally, the relationships among emotions, interactions, and academic performances were analyzed based on temporal networks, and the data revealed that middle-achieving learners were the major contributors while learning emotional states have a slight effect on learning outcomes. This study might assist teachers to provide timely and effective assistance during early warning, so to achieve the ultimate goal of improving the effect of online learning.


In the field wind tunnel, the physiological status—gas exchange characteristics and water relationship of three kinds of sand fixing plants (including crust and bryophyte)—were studied under wind blowing and wind sand current condition, respectively. The effects of wind and wind sand current were different. Wind caused erosion and desiccation of crust and bryophyte.The effects of wind on grass and shrub included:inhibited photosynthesis by expanded stomata; decreased leaf temperature and intercellular CO 2 concentrations;enhanced transpiration and decreased water use efficiency;aggravated desiccation by lowered leaf water potential and water capacity of soil. But the effects of wind sand current on crust and bryophyte were denudation and cumulation, on grass and shrub were mainly mechanical injury and more did on photosynthesis and water usage. The result that different plants responsed differently in adaptation to wind and wind sand current stress may provide scientific basis for selecting sand fixing plants.


The paper presents results of investigations pertaining to developed technological scheme on combined production of chemically desalted and softened water without usage of soda ash for deposition of hardness salt. Scheme application limits in its two operational modes have been determined and mathematical expressions for determination of the main operating conditions have been derived in the paper.


In some instances, pile foundations are subjected to lateral loading caused by lateral movement of the surrounding soil. This paper describes an analytical method for evaluating pile foundation response to lateral ground movement. A model using beam on linear and nonlinear elastic foundations has been analyzed using the finite difference method. Dimensionless plots are developed to evaluate pile behavior for different soil and geometric conditions. These plots can be used for estimating pile displacements and moments caused by lateral soil movement. Failure mechanisms are examined, and are related to relative soil -pile stiffness and soil yielding. A design example has been presented to demonstrate the use of dimensionless plots and to illustrate fail ure mechanisms.