This paper aims at reporting about a five years program for preschool teachers development, with the author as a teacher educator, on appointment of the city council of Modena. The project has involved every year about 25 teachers. In this paper the political background and the structure of the program are reported together with some outcomes concerning the materials for teacher development, the activities realized in schools by the teachers and the construction of a community of inquiry involving teachers, teacher educators, pedagogists and policy makers.


Abstract Central America's Northern Triangle is infamous for high levels of violent crime and human rights abuses, producing "impunity states" in which violence typically goes unpunished. That violence reflects the broader impunity or "transitional injustice" that has persisted since the peace accords and transitions to democracy of the 1980s and 1990s. Several "posttransitional" trials for past human rights violations in recent years in Guatemala were made possible by institutional strengthening efforts in the prosecutorial agency, led by a unique United Nations commission. Significant progress away from broad impunity may also be seen in the 2015 "Guatemalan Spring," in which a sitting president was forced to resign and submit to prosecution in connection with a corruption scandal. Comparisons of Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras suggest that institutional strengthening is necessary before "posttransitional justice," or an end to impunity more generally, can be possible.


For the extraction of seabucthorn fruit oil,pectinase and pepsin were used to simultaneously hydrolyze seabucthorn fruit pulp,and the enzymatic extraction process was optimized by single factor experiments in combination with orthogonal array design method.Pectinase dose of 0.50%,pepsin dose of 0.15%,extraction time of 6 h,hydrolysis temperature of 55℃ were found optimum,and a maximum oil yield of 4.946%was achieved under these conditions,and the recovery of the optimized extraction process was calculated to be 82.16%-97.17%based on 5.09%-6.02%theoretical oil content of seabucthorn fruit.In addition,the fatty acid composition of seabucthorn fruit oil was analyzed by GC-MS.Eleven fatty acids were identified in seabucthorn fruit oil,mainly including 35.07%palmitoleic acid,35.61%palmitic acid,12.77%linoleic acid,6.19%cis-11-octadecenoic acid,and 7.26%(12E)-12-octadecenoic acid,and unsaturated fatty acids occupied 61.56%of the total fatty acids.In conclusion,the extraction process has the benefits of mild conditions,safe,nontoxic and thorough reaction,high extraction efficiency,and ease of clarification of fruit juice after oil extraction.


In the present letter, Mg-doped GaN thin films grown by metalorganic vapor-phase epitaxy were studied using parallel electron energy-loss spectroscopy in a transmission electron microscope. A microstructural characterization of such thin films showed the presence of pyramidal defects (PDs) with a density of about 1018 cm−3. Comparison of energy-loss spectra recorded outside a PD and from the PD showed a significant change in the energy-loss near-edge structure strongly reflecting the presence of inclusions (Mg-based), the electronic properties of which differ from those of GaN. Considering, however, their relatively high density (∼1018 cm−3), one can expect that the optical properties of such inclusions may interfere with those of GaN and, therefore, be at the origin of the frequently obtained blue emission at 2.8–2.9 eV in heavily doped samples.


Abstract Moderate invariantism is the orthodox semantics for knowledge attributions (i.e., sentences of the form ⌜S knows/doesn't know that Φ⌝). In recent years it has fallen out of favour, in large part because it fails to explain why ordinary speakers have the intuition that some utterances of knowledge attributions are felicitous and others infelicitous (felicity intuitions) in several types of cases. To address this issue moderate invariantists have developed a variety of what I call non-semantic theories (aka error theories) which they claim account for the relevant felicity intuitions independently of moderate invariantist semantics. Some critics have responded by arguing that these non-semantic theories are implausible for one or more of the following reasons: (i) they do not have a basis in empirical data or established theory; (ii) they do not account for all of the relevant felicity intuitions; (iii) they are ad hoc; or (iv) they in fact explain too many felicity intuitions and thus undermine the case for moderate invariantism. I develop a new non-semantic theory––projective adaptivism––that I argue escapes issues (i) to (iv) above.


Anclyostomiasis is a disease caused by infection with the parasitic worms Anclyostoma duodenale or Necator americanus. Infection with these worms can occur through contact with soil contaminated with worm eggs or through consumption of contaminated food. The disease can cause serious health problems in humans, especially in the elderly population who have more vulnerable immune systems. One of the serious complications that can arise from anclyostomiasis infection is heart failure. The aim of this study was to investigate whether anclyostomiasis infection can lead to heart failure in elderly patients. This research used a case study approach. The data obtained was analyzed using a qualitative analysis approach. The results showed that based on case studies ancylostomiosis in the elderly can cause severe anemia accompanied by iron deficiency anemia and heart failure. Overall, ancylostomiosis cases have a good prognosis if they get fast and proper treatment. Ancylostomiosis can be prevented by implementing a clean and healthy lifestyle.


Case feature weights are the keys to affecting the retrieving in case-base reasoning. To solve the problems of the existing algorithms such as poor objectivity and high complexity, a method based on coverage for determining the case feature weights is proposed, which calculates the case feature weights by the affecting of each attribute to the case average coverage. This algorithm has been applied to the CBR system for optimization of blending process in production of alumina. The experimental result shows that it is effective, objective and easy to do. In addition, the proposed algorithm can be used to guide the establishment and maintenance of the case base, and extended in other CBR systems.


Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide comparative data from a two‐country study; specifically, into the internationalisation strategies of Canadian and UK high‐tech small and medium‐sized enterprises.Design/methodology/approach – The methodology employed involves 24 in‐depth interviews, 12 in each country.Findings – These suggest that the differences between the firms in the two countries were limited; more similarities were identifiable. Specifically, strategy formation is not as systematic as some previous studies, notably those that focus on the "stage" models, suggest. Entrepreneurs and management teams recognise and exploit opportunities in different ways, ranging from planned strategy formation through to opportunistic behaviour; as such, no single theory could fully explain international entrepreneurial decisions.Research limitations/implications – The implication of the findings is to offer support to the literature that has suggested a more holistic view should be undertaken in intern...


OBJECTIVES
We report on a chronic stroke patient who showed motor recovery by improvement of limb-kinetic apraxia (LKA) after undergoing intensive rehabilitation for a period of one month, which was demonstrated by diffusion tensor tractography (DTT) and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS).

METHODS
A 50-year-old male patient presented with severe paralysis of the left extremities at the onset of thalamic hemorrhage. At thirty months after onset, the patient exhibited moderate weakness of his left upper and lower extremities. In addition, he exhibited a slow, clumsy, and mutilated movement pattern during grasp-release movements of his left hand. During a one-month period of intensive rehabilitation, which was started at thrity months after onset, the patient showed 22% motor recovery of the left extremities. The slow, clumsy, and mutilated movement pattern of the left hand almost disappeared.

RESULTS
DTTs of the corticospinal tract (CST) in both hemispheres originated from the cerebral cortex, including the primary motor cortex, and passed along the known CST pathway. The DTT of the right CST was located anterior to the old hemorrhagic lesion. TMS study performed at thirty and thirty-one months after onset showed normal and similar findings for motor evoked potential in terms of latency and amplitude of the left hand muscle.

CONCLUSIONS
We think that the motor weakness of the left extremities in this patient was mainly ascribed to LKA and that most of the motor recovery during a one-month period of rehabilitation was attributed to improvement of LKA.


J. Berman [2] initiated the study of a variety k of bounded distributive lattices endowed with a dual homomorphic operation paying particular attention to certain subvarieties km, n. Subsequently, A. Urquhart [8] named the algebras in k distributive Ockham algebras, and developed a duality theory, based on H. A. Priestley's order-topological duality for bounded distributive lattices [6], [7]. Amongst other things, Urquhart described the ordered spaces dual to the subdirectly irreducible algebras in Sif. This work was developed further still by M. S. Goldberg in his thesis and the paper [5]. Recently, T. S. Blyth and J. C. Varlet [3], in abstracting de Morgan and Stone algebras, studied a subvariety MS of the variety k1.1. The main result in [3]is that there are, up to isomorphism, nine subdirectly irreducible algebras in MS and their Hasse diagrams are exhibited. The methods employed in [3] are purely algebraic and can be generalized to show that, up to isomorphism, there are twenty subdirectly irreducible algebras in k1.1. In section 3 of this paper, we take a short cut to this result by utilizing the results of Urquhart and Goldberg. Our basic method is simple: the results of Goldberg [5] are applied to k1,1 to produce a certain eight-element algebra B1 in k1,1, whose lattice reduct is Boolean and whose subalgebras are, up to isomorphism, precisely the subdirectly irreducibles in k1.1. We then pick out of the list of twenty such algebras those belonging to the variety MS. In section 4, we sketch a purely algebraic proof along the lines followed by Blyth and Varlet in [3].


Aiming at the problems in the reforestation irrigation system of Shanshan basement in Kazak oil field in Xinjiang,the paper explores the application of sand removal and suspended matter elimination technique in reforestation irrigation system,and introduces the purification of the primary filter layer and the working principle of the reforestation irrigation first controlling system and its operation maintenance points,so as to direct similar irrigation system in future.


Objective To explore the trends of incidence and mortality rates of stroke in rural area in Hanzhong. Methods According to WHO MONICA plan to inspect stroke. Results The incidence rate of stroke was 152.9/100 000 during the 18 years and was decreasing. The mortality of stroke was 115.9/100 000 and was no significant decreasing during 18 years. The incidence and mortality rates of stroke of males was higher than that of females. The incidence and mortality was increased with age. Conclusions It must stick to the long term prevention measures to decrease incidence rate, and improve the condition of medical treatment to reduce the mortality in rural area.


(57) Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing surface coatings, as well as to the use of surface coatings to increase the surface tension of the object, surface coating, by at least one element or water that can be oxidized by water depositing a layer of an alloy that can be oxidized, characterized in that is obtained by the action of boiling water or water vapor subsequently deposited layer.


The purpose of the present thesis is to improve the theoretical-methodological and organizational aspects of the insurers' accounting and capital management models and to set them in line with the contemporary analysis requirements and with the processes of integration and globalization of insurance worldwide, taking into account the national and foreign expertise in the theory and practice of insurance and accounting. The methods of the study have been presented from the positions of the systematic approach by investigating, analyzing and evaluating the existing models and proposing new ones of insurers' capital accounting for. Insurance product cost formation accounting models and regression income and reinsurance fees & commission accounting ones have been developed. A model for determining the insurers' capital needs have been proposed. Insurers' solvency zone has been formulated investigating its components and boundaries. Specific instructions for improvement of the forms of investing capital have been defined for the purpose of improving its profitability and a model for the investment risk management through diversification of the insurers' investment portfolio has been presented.


【Objective : The Angelica gigas Nakai ethanol extract (AGE) was investigated to compare nitric oxide (NO) production and $NF-{\kappa}B$ activity from RAW 264.7 cells, since NO and nuclear $factor-{\kappa}B$ $(NF-{\kappa}B)$ have been shown to be factors implicated in inflammatory disease. Method : AGE was prepared by extracting medicinal herb with 70% (v/v) ethanol solution. We investigated production of nitric oxide (NO) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) gene expression by ARE in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophage cells. We also investigated inhibition of LPS-induced activation of $NF-{\kappa}B$ on western blot. Result : LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells increased NO production and iNOS expression. Upon treatment with AGE, nitrite production was significantly inhibited in a concentration-dependent manner compared to the untreated control. AGE inhibited this LPS-induced iNOS mRNA and protein in a dose-dependent manner. AGE markedly inhibited the expression of iNOS mRNA and protein at a concentration of 100 ${\mu}g/ml$ . LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells with AGE blocked inhibitory $factor-{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ degradation. Conclusion :This study shows that AGE seems to attenuate inflammation through inhibition of NO production and iNOS expression by blockade of $NF-{\kappa}B$ activation in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells.】


R ECENT DEVELOPMENTS in the world Communist movement have had important effects on the policies of the Communist Party of India (CPI), exacerbating differences which have persisted since the Party's Third Congress held in Madura (December 27, 1953, to January 4, 1954). At that Congress it became apparent that the Party was divided on four fundamental issues.' In the period since the Third Congress, party controversy has been focused primarily on one of these-the attitude the Party should take toward Prime Minister Nehru's Government in view of its growing friendliness with the USSR. In his review of the work of the Third Congress, General Secretary Ajoy Ghosh said early in 1954 that there were two possible courses of action to be taken toward the Nehru Government: "cooperate with the Government but criticize specific acts; or, oppose the Government but support specific acts."2 At the Madura Congress the Party chose the latter alternative, but since then it has been moving steadily toward the former. The major cause for the shift has been the deteriorating relations between India and the United States, touched off by the American announcement early in 1954 that it would extend military assistance to Pakistan. Interpreted by Indian public opinion as an unfriendly act, this American move forced Prime Minister Nehru during the spring of 1954 to make a number of statements so critical of American foreign policy as to bring Indo-American relations to their lowest point since India's independence. President Eisenhower's attempt to assure the Indian Government that the United States meant no harm by arming Pakistan and that the United States was also prepared to supply arms to India evoked no sympathetic response from New Delhi. "President Eisenhower has done less than justice to himself or to us," said the Indian Prime Minister. "If we are objecting to military aid being given to Pakistan we will be unprincipled opportunists to accept such aid


Objective To study the validity, reliability and utility of the chronic unpredictable mild stress model of depression (CUMS). Methods Male Sprague Dawley rats were exposed to an unpredictable sequence of mild stressors. Body weight, daily food intake, open field test and fluid consumption were investigated during the whole procedure. Results Rats exposed to CUMS showed decreased body weight and food intake; reduced squares crossed, and rears and grooming and an increased central time stopped in open field test; a significant reduction of consumption of and preference for sucrose solutions and an increased pure water consumption. Conclusions The decreased locomotion, loss of interest and anhedonia founded in the CUMS animal model are similar to the feature of human depression. Furthermore, the behavioral changes produced by CUMS can maintain a long time. Thus, this animal model of depression seems indeed meet the three validity criteria necessary to validate an animal model of depression (construct validity, face validity, predictive validity).


Wireless Sensor and Actor Networks (WSAN) are commonly used to monitor physical parameters and execute opportune actions in response to specific events. In order to achieve this goal it is necessary to implement efficient coordination and cooperation among the network nodes (i.e. sensors and actors) with the aim of reducing the energy consumption and improving the response time of the system. This work propose a clustering mechanism that organizes the sensor nodes to form clusters where the mobile actors nodes in the WSAN perform the cluster head role. The proposal considers the mobility aspect of the actor nodes and implements a mechanism to dynamically change the geographical location of the actors while trying to reduce the load in terms of the number of sensors within each cluster, all this with the aim of extending the network lifetime.


Heart transplantation is the «gold standard» of treatment severe heart failure. Immunosuppressive therapy aimed at the prevention of acute allograft rejection is the cornerstone of post-transplant management. In addition to its direct effects, immunosuppressive therapy is also involved in the generation of a number of post-transplant morbidities that limit the long-term outcome of heart transplant recipients. Given these data it appears that the individual tailoring of immunosuppressive therapy is of paramount importance in determining the outcome of heart transplantation. The goal of immunosuppressive therapy is to prevent rejection of the transplanted heart, while minimizing drug-related effects, such as infection, malignancy, diabetes, hypertension, and renal insuffi ciency. This review aimed is to analyze the protocols for the appointment of immunosuppressive therapy in various groups of recipients after heart transplantation.


This article explores the biblical, theological and philosophical themes in the cult science fiction TV series Prey (ABC, 1998). After a brief introduction to Prey and Prey fandom, the following biblical-theological themes which pervade the series are identified and analyzed: creation, faith, the Christ figure, the Satanic figure, and eschatology. The paper also comments upon the broader ethical and philosophical issues raised in the series, especially the state of the environment and animal rights.


X-ray methods were used to determine the structures of native ramie-ethylenediamine complex, Fortisan-hydrazine complex, and Fortisan hydrate. Of the three structures, native ramie-ethylenediamine complex is the most crystalline, and it was able to define the positions of the chains and the complexing molecules. The quarter-staggered chains of cellulose I are rearranged into unstaggered stacks, with the ethylenediamine molecules hydrogen bonded between the stacks. The Fortisan hydrate structure is less well ordered, and the hydrazine positions cannot be fully defined, probably because of some variability within the structure. Nevertheless, the chains are shown to have rearranged into unstaggered stacks (like those in native ramie-ethylenediamine complex) with the hydrazines hydrogen bonded in channels between the stacks. The Fortisan hydrate structure is even less well ordered and appears to consist of stacks of chains with irregular water intercalated between them. However, the chains in the stacks are quarter staggered, and the structure is similar to that of cellulose II, except that the intermolecular hydrogen bonds are broken by the intercalated water. These results are discussed in terms of the interaction of cellulose with solvent molecules. 28 references, 4 figures, 1 table.


The invention discloses a food full-automatic vacuum bag packing machine which comprises a packing film emptying mechanism, a filling mechanism, a side sealing mechanism, a bag cutting mechanism and a vacuum cavity rotary table mechanism in sequence. The packing film conveying lines of the packing film emptying mechanism, the filling mechanism, the side sealing mechanism and the bag cutting mechanism are located on the same straight line. The vacuum cavity rotary table mechanism comprises a disc-shaped rotary table, the edge of the rotary table is tangent with the position of the bag cutting mechanism, and a material bag blanking mechanism is arranged below the vacuum cavity rotary table mechanism. The side sealing mechanism can perform automatic feeding and heating packing. A rotary table device is arranged at the position of the filling mechanism, raw materials are filled into material bags after being quantitatively measured by a raw material conversion device (namely a measuring cup), the raw materials in the material bags are approximately rectangular or oval, and the weight and the shape of each bag of products keep the same. For the last sealing ports of the material bags, the material bags directly enter a vacuum cavity to be vacuumized and sealed, and meanwhile the material bags can slide off automatically by rotating a base plate.


A new ocean mixed layer model (OMLM) was embedded into an ocean general circulation model (OGCM) with the aim of providing an OGCM that is ideal for application to a climate model by predicting the sea surface temperature (SST) more accurately. The results from the new OMLM showed a significant improvement in the prediction of SST compared to the cases of constant vertical mixing and the vertical mixing scheme by Pacanowski and Philander. More accurate prediction of the SST from the new OMLM reduces the magnitude of the restoring term in the surface heat flux and thus provides a simulated ocean that can be coupled to the atmospheric general circulation model more naturally. The new OMLM was also shown to improve various other features of the OGCM such as the mixed layer depth and the equatorial circulation.


Since the reform and opening of China, there arise some irrational phenomenon in the differentiation of social structure of China, such as extreme disparity between the rich and the poor, the lack of the mechanism of social integration. The social structure basically is pyramid in the pre-modern society. A robust civil society can effectively overcome irrational social structure. Meanwhile the characteristics of the history and reality of China mean that there is great difference between the construction of civil society of China and the Western society. It should be conscious, government-dominant and cooperative in China.


The effects of enflurane with and without nitrous oxide on coronary haemodynamics and myocardial oxygenation were investigated in 11 patients with generalised atherosclerotic disease. Enflurane decreased systemic blood pressure (‐50%) mainly by systemic vasodilation (SVR ‐41%) and to a lesser degree by impairment of cardiac performance (CO —27%). A change from 1MAC enflurane‐nitrogen‐oxygen (70/30) to 1MAC enflurane‐mtrous oxide‐oxygen (70/30) decreased blood pressure and cardiac output further (‐16% and ‐14%). Enflurane‐nitrogen‐oxygen decreased coronary blood flow (‐29%) and perfusion pressure (‐47%). Coronary vascular resistance fell (‐20%) along with decreases in myocardial oxygen consumption and extraction (— 40% and — 16%). Regional coronary blood flow measurements in four of the patients revealed maldistribution of blood flow. During enflurane‐nitrous oxide‐oxygen, myocardial oxygen consumption and extraction decreased further (‐29% and ‐12%) without change in coronary blood flow or resistance. Myocardial ischaemia was observed in four patients during enflurane‐nitrogen. During enflurane‐nitrous oxide, ischaemia disappeared in two of the previously ischaemic patients and appeared in two not previously ischaemic. The regional blood flow maldistribution was abolished with nitrous oxide. It is concluded that enflurane is a powerful coronary vasodilator and in this respect slightly less potent than isoflurane. Enflurane may induce myocardial ischaemia by redistributing coronary blood flow and/or by producing hypotension. Nitrous oxide added to enflurane depresses cardiac function and augments the coronary vasodilatory effect of enflurane to a level at which coronary blood flow becomes totally pressure dependent.


As a method to estimate the frequency spectrum, the discrete Fourier transform is employed widely, since a high-speed algorithm is available. However, the discrete Fourier transform has the following problems. the presence of noise is not considered, and the resolution of the frequency spectrum is determined uniquely by the sample duration. Other problems are that the sampling interval must be kept constant and the decay of the signal is not considered. This paper proposes a high-resolution frequency spectrum estimation where the complex Kalman filter is applied to the observed signal represented by the complex stochastic system, effectively utilizing the a priori knowledge of the signal source. the method is applied to the measured data and to the simulation, and it is demonstrated that a high-resolution frequency spectrum is obtained by suppressing the effect of the discrete approximation of the frequency component, and, when the frequency spectrum is concentrated, the resolution can be improved approximately by a factor of two, without iterating the measurement. It is shown also that the sampling interval can be set arbitrarily in the proposed method, and the noise and the decay can be considered. A theoretical discussion is made on the relation between the special case of the proposed method and the discrete Fourier transform.


Abstract KF/Al2O3 was first used to catalyze the synthesis of 2-alkylthio-4- amino-5-cyano-6-methylthiopyrimidines 3a–f via the reaction of the ketene dithioacetals 1 (prepared from malononitrile) with isothiuronium salts 2a–f. Six pyrimidine compounds were prepared and all of their structures were confirmed by elemental analysis, 1H NMR, and IR. The reaction conditions (solvents, catalyst amounts, and temperature) were investigated for the first time. The separation yield reached 89%.


There is a general upsurge of gender based violence cases at national level in Zimbabwe albeit the existence of measures and structures to reduce them. Against this background, this study examined public and police's perceptions of gender based violence (GBV) in Bindura town, Mashonaland Central Province, Zimbabwe. The study sought to improve knowledge on (GBV) through identifying the meaning, forms, prevalence and possible solutions to end GBV in Bindura. A survey was conducted where 76 questionnaires were completed by 32 police officers and 44 members of the public selected through purposive sampling. Results indicate that the public and police are well versed with GBV issues. Nonetheless, cultural and religious beliefs perpetuate the existing beliefs and skewed power relations which justify, enhance and conceal GBV cases. The prevalent forms of violence are physical and sexual. There is need to reshape cultural scripts of assertive masculinity and permissive femininity to end GBV.


With increasing interest in describing the arthropod fauna of rainforest canopies, there is also a need for different trapping techniques which, in combination, will allow a greater proportion of the fauna to be sampled. We describe the design of a flight intercept trap which can be suspended in the rainforest canopy for long periods of time. the flying invertebrate fauna was sampled over 5 months at differing heights in rainforest of northern Queensland using this trap. Invertebrate abundance and higher taxon richness was greatest at the ground level compared to 5 and 10 m above the ground. Similar results were obtained for dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) which were sorted to species. These results contrast with those of other studies using light traps for which insect diversity and abundance was greatest in the rainforest canopy.


Introduction: e role of banking is significant in growth of an economy (sheida & Dutta, 26 octomber 2016). Many studies have been proved that there is long run stable relationship between banking sector and economy. Matter of fact development of the economy has been invariably depends on the multi-dimensional growth of banking sector. At the same time, the meaning of development has changed from mere increasing national income to sustainable development (Tonzer, 2015). e millennium development goals (MDGs) have replaced by sustainable development goals (SDGs). Since, the banking sector has high degree of relationship with economy; it has significant influence on sustainable development.


Background: PMR is a common inflammatory rheumatological disorder, frequently managed in primary care. As such, patients may be more likely to search for extra sources of health information via the internet. Studies suggest that patients struggle to understand much of the written health information provided and the readability of health information could be improved to make it more useful for patients. Evaluating online health information is therefore increasingly important. The aim of this project was to evaluate the quality, content and readability of PMR websites. Methods: A search was undertaken of Medline, Embase, Cinahl and Psychinfo to identify potential instruments for evaluating the quality of on-line health information. From this review, a proforma was designed for data extraction incorporating published quality and readability (Flesch Reading Ease and SMOG Readability) indicators. PMR was then searched in the three leading UK search engines (Google, Bing and Yahoo). The first 50 eligible websites from each search engines were evaluated. Websites were excluded if they were videos, chat forums or product advertisements. Websites were evaluated only once if they were identified by more than one search engine. Each website was then assessed for readability, credibility, design and content using the proforma. Results: The search identified 75 unique, eligible websites. 52 (69%) websites were aimed at patients and 23 (30%) were aimed at clinicians. In terms of readability, the mean Flesch Reading Ease score was 39 and SMOG Readability score was 10.5, suggesting that the necessary reading age to understand the websites was at least 16 years (recommended reading age for patient information is 10–12 years). The majority (92%) of websites were accurate and included data on signs and symptoms (90%), investigations and management (96%), but only 26 (34%) included any


The essay is some of my thoughts when working on The Chinese Ancient Books And Records and also a summary of the work.The work involves a lot of collecting the information for the Chinese ancient books,punctuation and classifying.It also includes some new theory and knlowege on the acadimic.


A field study was carried out between June 2006 to July 2008, in order to determine the incidences of the pathogenic bacteria with its rule in conjunctivitis in cattle and the effective antibiotics for ocular administration. Three hundredfifty cattle of different breeds, ages and sexes showing clinical signs of conjunctivitis were examined; 287 cattle were suffered from unilateral conjunctivitis (82%) and 63 cattle were suffered from bilateral conjunctivitis (18%). Conjunctival swabs from both eyes of 350 cattle were sampled; a total of 169 were bacteriologically positive (48%).Young cattle below 1 year old were significantly more susceptible to bacterial conjunctivitis than older (p value 0.002). Bacteria were isolated from 217 of total 700 conjunctival swabs (31%). Streptococcus sp. were the predominant bacteria isolated, 98 (31.3%); then Staphylococcus sp., 73 (23.3%), while Moraxella sp., Escherichia coli were the predominant gram negative bacteria isolated (12.1, 10% respectively). Isolated Staphylococcus sp. was highly resistant to antibiotics. Danofloxacin, lincomycin, enrofloxacin, gentamicin, erythromycin and kanamycin were effective whereas amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, ampicillin/sulbactam and oxytetracycline were moderately effective on most of the isolates. Most isolated bacteria were resistant to sulpha/Trimethoprim, chloramphenicol and Cefuroxime.


This paper addresses the design and discrete time implementation of nonlinear observers for the estimation of position and attitude with application to Unmanned Air Vehicles. A continuous time nonlinear observer on SE(3) is derived, that uses inertial and ranges measurements. The estimation errors are shown to converge exponentially fast to the desired equilibrium points in the presence of bias in the rate gyros. An observer discrete time implementation is proposed that resorts to recent geometric numeric integration results suitable for solving ODEs on SO(3). Simulation results are presented to assess the performance of the continuous time observer and of the discrete time implementation. The estimation results in the presence of noise in the inertial and range measurements are also analyzed.


Nanomagnet Logic (NML) accomplishes computation through magnetic dipole-dipole interactions. It has the potential for low-power dissipation, radiation hardness and non-volatility. NML circuits have been designed to process and move information via nearest neighbor, device-to-device coupling. However, the resultant layouts often fail to function correctly. This paper reveals an important cause of such failures showing that a robust NML layout must take into account not only nearest neighbor, but also the next nearest neighbor couplings. A new design method is then introduced to address this issue that leverages the minimum-energy states of an NML circuit to guide the layout process. Case studies show that the new method is efficient and effective in arriving at correct NML layouts.


Molecular biomarkers due to their sensitivities in early warning to indicate biological damages following the long-term exposure with low concentrations of the pollutants,have been widely used in ecological risk assess-ment of water system,and are becoming one of the hotspots in ecotoxicological studies.In this paper,the most advancing developments in antioxidant enzyme,antioxidant substances and other enzymes which were used as the molecular biomarkers in early diagnosis and ecological risk assessment in water environment were reviewed.Finally,perspective trends of molecular biomarkers in early diagnosis and ecological risk assessment were discussed.


Amyloid‐beta‐protein (Aβ) is a protein that clusters into amyloid plaques on the blood vessels and on the outside surface of neurons and ultimately leads to neuronal death. Such mechanisms have been postulated to be critical involved in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Evidences suggest that Aβ heighten free radical production in nerve cells which trigger cell death due to macromolecular oxidations and associated DNA fragmentation. Recently, considerable attention has been focused on a broad range of dietary antioxidants that have been implicated in scavenging free radicals, a process that is likely to be essential for mitigating oxidative stress that are thought to be strongly associated into the development of AD. In consonant with such view, we preliminary data indicate that date palm fruits grown in Oman promote solubility and inhibit in vitro fibrillation of Aβ peptides. The current study aims to analyze the effects of Omani date palm (Fardh variety) on Aβ‐induced cytotoxicity in rat pheochromocytoma (PC 12) cells. The present data suggest that Omani date palm fruits have potential to offer protection against Aβ‐induced cytotoxicity in a dose‐dependent manner, possibly by enhancing the endogenous antioxidant mechanism. The underlying biological process for such benefit has yet to be charted and therefore further research are warranted. This was funded by TRC Oman (RC/AGR/FOOD/11/01). COI:None


Charles Dickens wrote the novel, Great Expectations, the semiautobiographical genre following the journey of the life of a child into adulthood and maturity. In that context, expectations may refer to the degree or probability that something will occur as well as a prospect of future good or benefit. For those with an interest in hypertension, ''great expectations'' also referred to the belief held by some that the geometric increase in cardiovascular risk associated with increases in blood pressure (BP) above optimal values, due to hypertension, could be reversed to a similar degree by lowering BP in persons in whom BP was already increased. Data are now available that permit assessment of these expectations. Recently, Law and colleagues used Medline (1966–2007) to conduct a meta-analysis to determine the quantitative efficacy of different classes of BP-lowering drugs in preventing coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke and determine which patients with high BP should receive treatment. They selected randomized trials of BP-lowering drugs recording CHD events and strokes. Differences in BP between study drug and placebo (or control group not receiving the study drug) (''BP difference trials'') were studied in 108 trials while 46 trials compared drugs (''drug comparison trials''). Seven trials with 3 randomized groups fell into both categories. The results were interpreted in the context of those expected from the largest published meta-analysis of cohort studies, totaling 958,000 people. Law and his coinvestigators identified a population of 464,000 people and placed them into 3 mutually exclusive categories: participants with no history of cardiovascular disease, those with a history of CHD, and those with a history of stroke. In the BP difference trials, b-blockers had a special effect over and above that due to BP reduction in preventing recurrent CHD events in persons with a history of CHD: 29% risk reduction (95% confidence interval [CI], 22%–34%) compared with 15% (95% CI, 11%–19%) in trials of other drugs. The extra effect was limited to the first few years after myocardial infarction, with a risk reduction of 31% compared with 13% in people with CHD with no recent infarct (P=.04). In the other BP difference trials (excluding CHD events in trials of bblockers in persons with CHD), there was a 22% reduction in CHD events (95% CI, 17%–27%) and a 41% (95% CI, 33%–48%) reduction in stroke, for a BP reduction of 10 mm Hg systolic or 5 mm Hg diastolic, similar to the reductions of 25% (CHD) and 36% (stroke) expected for the same difference in BP from the cohort study metaanalysis—thus, indicating that the benefit is explained by BP reduction itself. The 5 main classes of BP-lowering drugs (thiazides, b-blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers, and calcium channel blockers) were similarly effective (within a few percentage points) in preventing CHD events and strokes, with the exception that calcium channel blockers had a greater preventive effect on stroke (relative risk, 0.92; 95% CI, 0.85–0.98). The percentage From the Tulane University School of Medicine, 109 Holly Drive, Metairie, LA 70005 Address for correspondence: Thomas D. Giles, MD, Tulane University School of Medicine, 109 Holly Drive Metairie, LA 70005 E-mail: email@example.com


At the era of digital transformation, fraud has dramatically increased, notably in the banking industry. Annually, it now costs the world's economies billions of dollars. Daily, news of financial fraud has a negative influence on the world economy. According to the harsh loss caused by fraud, effective strategies and methods for avoiding income statement fraud have to be implemented. Also, the procedure of identification should be applied. This is regarded as a result of the development of modern technology, modern invention, and the rapidity of global communications. Actually, deterrent technologies are most effective to reduce fraud and overcome cons. So, it is necessary to find ways to overcome such deterrence by depending on developed methods to identify fraud. Data mining techniques are currently the most widely used methods for the prevention and detection of financial fraud. The use of datasets for fraud detection complies with the norms of data mining, which include feature selection, representation, data gathering and management, pre-processing, comment, and summative evaluation. Methodologies for identifying fraud are essential if we want to catch criminals after fraud prevention has failed. The greatest fraud detection strategies for locating loan banking and financial fraud are compared in this article.


It has been shown in [Pa1] that on a simple, compact Riemannian 2-manifold the attenuated geodesic ray transform, with attenuation given by a connection and Higgs field, is injective on functions and 1-forms modulo the natural obstruction. Furthermore, the scattering relation determines the connection and Higgs field modulo a gauge transformation. We extend the results obtained therein to the case of magnetic geodesics. In addition, we provide an application to tensor tomography in the magnetic setting, along the lines of [Pa2].


In this paper we report the first application of the Steady State Probe Topography (SSPT) neuroimaging technique (Silberstein, 1992) to the design of configural displays for continuous monitoring tasks. Two studies replicated and extended the performance results of Buttigieg and Sanderson (1991) in which high-level system constraints that subjects had to monitor were either well-mapped or poorly mapped to visual emergent features of digital, bargraph, or shape displays. SSPT results for poorly-mapped displays all showed prefrontal excitation indicative of high mental workload and lateralization of excitation, regardless of the kind of display. However, SSPT results for well-mapped displays showed less prefrontal involvement the more directly the constraint being monitored was represented in the display. The display supporting best performance showed no prefrontal involvement at all, but instead involvement of areas associated with form perception and visual attention, indicating a low-workload perceptual strategy. We interpret these results in the context of recent work on ecological display design and indicate future directions for neuroimaging studies of human interaction with dynamic systems.


Using a modified version of the tetrahedron equations we construct a new family of $N$-state three-dimensional integrable models with commuting two-layer transfer-matrices. We investigate a particular class of solutions to these equations and parameterize them in terms of elliptic functions. The corresponding models contain one free parameter $k$ -- an elliptic modulus.


PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve yield and to reduce leaching cost by continuously or intermittently injecting chlorine to control the redox potential in a specific potential range when Ni and Co are pressure-leached from sulfidic precipitates. SOLUTION: An aqueous slurry 22 comprising sulfidic precipitates containing NiS and CoS, as main components, and a Cu-catalyst are added to a pressure vessel. Then, Ni and Co are leached with chlorine at a redox potential of 400-550 mV (Ag/AgCl) at 120-160°C and at 25-90 psi. It has been found by the previous experiment that, at a predetermined redox potential and temp., at least 80% Co is dissolved and an amount less than 10% sulfur is oxidized to sulfate during pressure-leaching. This method for leaching Ni and Co comprises immersing an appropriate probe 33 for measuring the redox potential into a slurry 22 in the pressure vessel 20 and continuously or intermittently injecting gaseous chlorine through a pipe 40 in order to always maintain the predetermined potential. The leaching process is completed when the redox potential becomes stable and requires no further addition of chlorine to maintain it at the predetermined value. COPYRIGHT: (C)1996,JPO


Abstract The aim of this study was to evaluate which variables of emotional labor dimensions have a significant effect in explaining the levels of burnout of employees in the service sector. The study participants ranged in age from 23 years to 56 years, approximately 61% were female, 52% were married and the mean duration of their work was tically significant difference was found in the emotional labor and burnout variables from the results of the analysis according to gender. The highest relationship obtained in the emotional labor scale subdimensions was between faking emotions and hiding emotions ( r =0.44; p<0.01). In the explanation of emotional exhaustion and depersonalization levels of the employees, the hiding emotions variable of the emotional labor variable was found to be statistically significant. Keywords: Emotional labor, faking emotions, deep acting, hiding emotions, burnout 1. Introduction Hochschild (1993:7) defined emotional labor observable facial labor Morris and Feldman (1996) defined emotional labor as 12). These are primarily professions such as doctors, nurses, teachers, airline staff, social service experts, call centre employees and salespeople. In other words, occupations which have direct interaction with


For effective design recovery of an engineered component, the component's form and features must be reconstructed to fit within the product architecture. Understanding the context of the design, the functions that the component and the individual feature must perform, and analysing the subcomponents and superstructure are necessary in order to have confidence with the reconstructed geometry, nominal values, and tolerances. There must be a methodology for recognising design intent. The feature shapes are not arbitrary, nor is their pattern of arrangement. A design recovery framework, which provides a multi-level roadmap to capture the functional and physical information at different levels of resolution, is presented in this paper. From the essential form and functional specifications contained in the framework, an ideal computer-aided design model should be constructed with the desirable feature characteristics. A case study is presented that highlights the design recovery methodology.


Un uncommon case of aneurysm located in an aberrant hepatic artery is described. It was the cause of massive hemoperitoneum. It was treated by ligation and excision without post-operative complications. In spite of the complex vascular malformation, there was no hepatic insufficiency. We have not been able to find a similar case in the literature.


A coordinated study of physical, bio-optical, and sedimentary processes and acoustic transmission was conducted on the New England shelf about 110 km south of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, from September 1995 to August 1997. The experiment utilized several different observing platforms enabling measurements over space scales from centimeters in the vertical to tens of kilometers in the horizontal and timescales from minutes to the annual cycle. The present report provides information concerning previous work in the region and objectives, sampling methods, locations, and timelines for the experiment. Many of the results focus on the understanding of interrelationships and couplings among physical, bio-optical, sedimentary, and acoustical properties and processes. Two hurricanes passed near the study site, enabling novel research concerning the effects of intense atmospheric forcing.


Abstract The mid-Cretaceous dinoflagellate cyst Angustidinium acribes Davey & Verdier gen. et comb. nov. displays several morphological features unique among fossil dinoflagellates. On the basis of specimens from northern California, the species is redescribed and is shown to have a paratabulation expressed by the formula 2pr, 5′, 3a, 7″, Xc, 5″′, 2″″; a seven-sided intercalary archeopyle (2a only); an unusually narrow, essentially four-sided first apical paraplate; and typically a small opening or an area of periphragm thickening on each of the antapical paraplates. The distinctive features of the paratabulation are hypothesized to derive from a conventional peridiniacean pattern by subdivision of the mid-dorsal apical paraplate and by ventral shift in the right lateral limit of the first apical paraplate. The pattern is closely similar to the tabulation in living species of Heterocapsa, notably H. niei (Loeblich). suggesting affinity with that genus of the Peridiniaceae, rather than to Peridinium or Pro...


In this paper, we calculate a self-contained theoretical analysis of the dynamical response of the electron system in the fractional dimensional space within the random phase approximation. We find the static response function in several integer and non-integer dimensions. The plasma frequencies except in the quasi-one-dimensional system are damped into particle–hole excitation. In the long-wavelength limit the plasma frequency is finite at zero wave vector in three-dimensional system while these vanish at the same wave vector in the lower-dimensional systems.


Objective:To observe the effect of medicine combined with the rehabilitation treatment in earlier period on the motor function of 158 patients with acute Stroke.Methods:158 patients with acute stroke were randomly divided into treatment group and control group.Two groups were accepted the normal regular treatment of nervous medicine.The patients in treatment group accepted rehabilitation treatment at the same time.The nerve function was assessed with NFI,the exercise function with FMA,ADL with MBI.Results: After treatment group accepted rehabilitation treatment,the patients ' harmful degree of nervous function was alleviated.The function of sport and activities of daily living were increased obviously.Medicine combined with the rehabilitation treatment in earlier period had advantage over singgle regular treatment.Conclusion: When the patients' life sign with acute stroke is steady,the right rehabilitation treatment should be performed early,which may improve the nerve function,sport function,activities of daily living.


This study investigates the child abuse suffered by the protagonist, Saul, in Richard Wagamese's novel "Indian Horse." The study explores the different forms of abuse Saul faced and examines how these experiences influenced his life, as portrayed in the novel. This study adopts literary criticism and employs a psychological approach and McCabe and Murphy's theory of child abuse. The data used in this study consists of words, phrases, and sentences extracted from Richard Wagamese's novel "Indian Horse," published by Douglas & McIntyre in 2012. The findings reveal that while residing in St. Jerome, Saul suffered abuse from both his teacher and caregiver. The forms of abuse encompass physical, emotional, sexual, and neglectful mistreatment. Physical abuse involved the act of rough objects being scratched against Saul's body. Emotional abuse included instances of rejection, terrorization, and isolation. Additionally, Saul endured sexual abuse from his teacher. Neglect also played a part, encompassing physical, educational, and emotional neglect. The significant impact of these childhood traumas on Saul's adult life is evident in the results. Saul's coping mechanisms led to alcoholism and aggressive behavior. He withdrew from his surroundings, experiencing profound trauma, depression, and low self-esteem due to the abuse he suffered during his formative years.


THERE IS great variation in number of stomata as reported by Zalenski (1902), Yapp (1912), Loftfield (1921), Rea (1921), and Salisbury (1927) between parts of the same leaf and between leaves of the same plant. The " analysis of variance " method (Fisher, 1936) is well adapted for gaining a comprehensive view of such variation. This method is illustrated in some detail by Snedecor (1934) and tables for determining F and P are presented by Trelor (1935). A conception of the variation in number of stomata per unit area of leaf surface as determined by this method should aid materially in appraising the role of stomata in controlling transpiration. There is a difference of opinion as to whether stomata have a controlling influence upon transpiration. Maximov (1999) and MIiller (1931) present reviews of the literature dealing with this question. It is noticed that usually comparisons are made between species. Instead it would seein preferable to compare vaTieties or selections within the same species, for, as stated by Miller (1931), it should not be overlooked that different species possess structural differences other than number of stomata which may greatly influence transpirational rate. In this connection data by Muenscher (1915) are of interest. His data show a difference in transpiration rates between two selections of Pelargoniuzm zonale differing in stoma number; the selection which has the more stomata has also the higher rate 'of transpiration. Experiments designed to discover a difference in transpiration rate associated definitely with a difference in some particular leaf character and to discover if there is a correlation between transpiration rate and leaf characters in the segregates of a cross between the two selections are of interest. After an extended search to obtain material for such an experiment, two selections in Phaseolus vulgaris L. which differed significantly from each other in stoma number were located. These two selections are designated selection 5 and selection 7, respectively. Various methods of preserving and staining leaves in toto were tried. A procedure that proved satisfactory was to kill, preserve, dehydrate, and stain simultaneously in a mixture of 1 gram of methylene blue in 500 cc. of 95 per cent alcohol. The material could remain indefinitely in the fluid without overstaining. Observations were made by using a 1oX objective and a 25X eyepiece. The size of the field of vision was reduced, as the occasion demanded, by placing on the eyepiece diaphragm a metal disk having in its center a hole of convenient size. It wa.s desirable to use a field of vision as small as practicable to facilitate counting and also to avoid veins.


The article study the theory of ultrasonic elasticity pattern meterage.The elastic modulus of the concrete is detected by using ultrasonic method,the relationship between the health of the concrete and the elastic modulus is established to describe the health condition of the structure,and it gives the experience result.This method is applied in practical engineering to extract the health information of the concrete.


The author critically reviews the content and specific chapters of the Handbook of Embodied Cognition and Sport Psychology, focusing on the importance of imagination and creativity within the cognitive science of sport. Emphasis is placed on the concept of motor imagery, which plays a central role in enhancing athlete performance. In addition, the following section explores the topic of measuring creativity in a way that is appropriate to the specific discipline, while also taking into account its enactive and embodied nature. This understanding allows for a more comprehensive exploration and cultivation of creativity.


The cause of parotid gland swelling in children is often elusive when a mumps viral infection has been excluded. We treated a child with parotid gland swelling secondary to autoinsufflation of the ductal system, a condition previously unreported in the English literature to the best of our knowledge. Although a congenital abnormality of the parotid duct may have been present, psychogenic factors played a major role in the cause of the patient's pneumoparotiditis.


Objective:To evaluate the influence of extended nursing intervention on rehabilitation of fracture discharged patients.Method:A total of 120 fracture patients was selected from January 2013 to June 2013 and randomly divided into observation group and control group,each of 60 cases.The control group received routine discharge guidance,the observation group received both routine discharge guidance and extended nursing intervention for six months.Result:The cognition of the disease knowledge in patients and the families of patients,the rehabilitation conditions of limb function,the degree of fracture healing and satisfaction in the observation group were better than those of the control group(P0.01).Conclusion:The extended nursing intervention on rehabilitation of fracture discharged patients can effectively improve the health knowledge mastery for patients,promote patient compliance with rehabilitation guidance,reduce complications,promote fracture healing,improve the quality of life,reduce the burden of family and society.


Madrasah Ibtidaiyah, as an educational institution at the basic level, needs to manage its educational administration to create education that follows the direction of educational goals. Educational administration is necessary to achieve the quality of education; this case must be connected to the role of the madrasah ibtidaiyah principal as a leader in managing the educational administration. Islamic leadership model must be applied so that the implementation of educational administration in madrasah can run as it is supposed to. This study aimed to describe the implementation of the Islamic leadership model as educational administration can increase madrasah ibtidaiyah administration based on Islamic principles, which can establish Islamic education administration well. This research was conducted in descriptive qualitative approaches with research techniques by interviewing school principals and teacher boards to explore the management of Islamic leadership in the madrasah. Observation and documentation were also carried out at Madrasah Ibtidaiyah Al-Ma'arif 02 Jombang, Jember Regency. The results of this study show that the characteristics of the Islamic leadership model in education administration at Madrasah Ibtidaiyah of Al-Ma'arif 02 Jombang-Jember, including justice, amanah, fathonah, tabligh, shiddiq, qona'ah, siasah, and patience. Implementing the Islamic leadership model through educational administration can shape Islamic leadership characters for educators in madrasah ibtidaiyah and harmonize teachers and administrators in school to achieve educational goals.


Networks often require a copy of a message to be delivered to every network node. The network-layer can provide this service, referred to as network-wide broadcast routing, or simply "broadcasting". Broadcasting has many applications, including its role as a building block in many routing protocols. In a MANET, simplistic broadcast schemes (such as flooding) inundate the network with redundancy, contention, collision, and energy-inefficiency. This can prevent broadcasts from achieving the objectives of optimal delivery ratio, energy balancing, and latency. As a solution, we propose multiple-criteria broadcasting (MCB). In MCB, the source of each broadcast specifies the importance assigned to broadcast objectives. Network nodes use this policy, along with local and neighbor knowledge, to broadcast in accordance with the objective priorities attributed to the message. Using ns2, the performance of MCB is evaluated and compared to other broadcast protocols. To present knowledge, MCB constitutes the first reconfigurable, multi-objective approach to broadcasting


Anomalies are subsequences that exhibit departures from normal state of operation. In this paper, to solve the problems of unknown data distribution, control limit determination, multiple parameters, training data and fuzziness of 'anomaly', a self-adaptive and unsupervised model is developed for finding anomalies in data streams. A salient feature is a synergistic combination of both statistical and fuzzy set-based techniques. Anomaly detection problem is viewed as a certain statistical hypothesis testing which is realized in an unsupervised mode. At the same time, 'anomaly' is a much more complex concept and as such can be described with fuzzy set theory. Fuzzy sets bring a facet of robustness to the overall scheme and play an important role in the successive step of hypothesis testing. Because of the fuzzification, parameters determination is self-adaptive and no parameter needs to be specified by the user, what's more, there is no need to consider the data distribution in statistical hypothesis testing in this paper. The approach is validated with a number of experiments, which help to quantify the performance of constructed algorithm.


This paper presents a JavaScript Foreign Function Interface for a Scheme implementation hosted on JavaScript and supporting threads. In order to be as convenient as possible the foreign code is expressed using infix syntax, the type conversions between Scheme and JavaScript are mostly implicit, and calls can both be done from Scheme to JavaScript and the other way around. Our approach takes advantage of JavaScript's dynamic nature and its support for asynchronous functions. This allows concurrent activities to be expressed in a direct style in Scheme using threads. The paper goes over the design and implementation of our approach in the Gambit Scheme system. Examples are given to illustrate its use.


The evolution in public, military and emergency communication is growing at an explosive rate. This reality necessitates the essential need for transmitting equipment to function at its full potential. Confidence in the equipment means knowing that on the operating frequency, the power specified by the transmitter manufacturer, is being achieved, delivered to the antenna and being broadcasted. A Bird THRULINE Wattmeter was the best selection in the past for measuring RF power and is still a trusted selection today.


Hypertension is an important global health issue invariably affecting all the races of people. It is a leading cause of cardiovascular disease and premature death world-wide. High BP usually has no symptoms, but it can cause serious problem such as stroke, heart failure, heart attack and kidney failure. Individual with hypertension use long term medications to keep their BP under control. Recent studies have reported that 60 percent of patients using antihypertensive drugs end up with one or many adverse reactions. Like, Increased frequency of micturition, headache, insomnia, fatigue, swollen ankles/oedema, muscular cramp/myalgia, dizziness upon standing up, palpitation and reduced sexual urge. Unhealthy diet, poor physical activity and personal habits also increase the prevalence of hypertension. Since there is an urge to find an alternate therapy to reduce the adverse effects of medication and to improve the life style of hypertensive patients, this study intended to examine the effects of Aerobic exercise and Jacobson's progressive muscular relaxation on blood pressure. 60 hypertensive subjects aged between 40 60 years participated in this study. One half of the individuals performed aerobic exercise and the other half performed Jacobson's progressive muscular relaxation exercise for a period of 4 weeks. Sphygmomanometer was used to assess the blood pressure in pre and post intervention period. We found that both Aerobic exercises and Jacobson's progressive muscular relaxation significantly reduced the blood pressure among the individuals who participated in the study.


According to the U.S. Department of Energy, 40% of the energy consumed in the U.S. is used in buildings and almost half of that amount is used for heating or cooling. Current technologies allow for efficient thermal management, but most utilize energy harvested from fossil fuels or convert electricity directly into thermal energy. Alternative heating technologies such as heat pumps and solar thermal collectors can greatly reduce the energy used for heating while producing reliable heating performance. This paper documents how an off-the-shelf residential heat pump water heater was integrated with a solar thermal system to improve overall heating performance. Solar thermal is the primary source of heat and the heat pump is used as a back-up when the sun is not shining with enough intensity. A primary/secondary pumping system is used to allow multiple modes of operation, including both hot water and hydronic heating. Since the heat pump water heater is located entirely inside the conditioned space, a secondary benefit/detriment for space cooling is noted based on the weather conditions. An energy dashboard that evaluates the heating performance of this hybrid solar heat pump system in real time was developed. The primary efficiency metric is the Energy Factor (EF), which is the ratio of thermal energy delivered to electrical energy consumed. As a point of reference, heat pump water heaters earn an "Energy Star" rating for an Energy Factor of 2.2 under test conditions. During two-weeks of rigorous 24 hours a day testing in March of 2016, the instantaneous EF for the solar heat pump system varied from 1 to greater than 40 depending on the weather conditions. The overall average EF for the two weeks of continuous testing was 2.29, indicating an efficiency significantly higher than traditional direct electrical heating systems.


The aim of this study is to evaluate the results of esophageal balloon dilatation (BD) for strictures after esophageal atresia (EA) surgery.

 Flexible endoscopic BD was done under fluoroscopic and manometric control. The balloon placed in the stricture was inflated by contrast. The target pressure and the diameter were decided in compliance with the manufacturer's directions as well as fluoroscopic guidance. The balloon was kept inflated for 3 minutes. Prospectively collected data over 10 years were retrospectively evaluated. Cure was defined as no need for dilatation during the last 12 months.

 A total of 79 patients with variable diagnoses underwent 481 BD. Forty (51%) had strictures which developed after EA surgery. They underwent 175 (36%) BD (P < 0.05). There were 21 males and 19 females. The atresia was distal fistula type in 31 (77.5%) patients and isolated EA in nine (22.5%). The BD was done for primary esophago-esophageal anastomosis site in 37 patients. The remaining three patients with long gap EA had undergone previous replacement surgery and the BD was done for the proximal esophago-colonic anastomosis. The median age at the time of the first BD was 14 months with 17 (43%) patients below the age of 1 year. The maximal inflation diameter varied between 5–20 mm. Esophageal BD catheters were used in all except two occasions where 5 mm ureteral balloons were used. The median number of BD was four (n = 1–15). Thirty-four (85%) patients underwent more than one BD. A transmural perforation was encountered in one occasion (0.6%) and the patient eventually underwent esophageal replacement surgery with an uneventful outcome. There was no mortality. Fundoplication was done in nine patients. Thirty-three patients (82.5%) were regarded as 'cure'.

 Esophageal BD is employed for strictures caused by a variety of reasons. Patients with EA comprise a substantial number of cases needing BD and have strictures less resistant to dilatation. The technique employed in this study is advantageous because it enables direct endoscopic visualization of the stricture and both gradual and controlled increase of the dilatation pressure. BD is safe and efficient yet there is a risk of esophageal perforation as in the other dilatation techniques.


AbstractCircular overflow structures are used in irrigation and drainage networks as water measuring structures. Different approaches can be found in the literature to formulate the stage-discharge...


This essay document a theoretical and empirical study in how comic books can be transfered into the computer medium. In the essay we make comparison between ordinary comic books and today's digital ...


A compact WiFi SiP module using IPD (Integrated Passive Device) Rx Balun is proposed. This WiFi SiP module integrates active chip, RF front end circuit, EEPROM and IPD chip as a full system module that can be easily used for 802.11g WLAN application, especially in handheld products like note book or cell phone. The IPD Rx Balun is designed on a silicon substrate, and soldered on substrate with WiFi chip. The IPD Rx Balun is fabricated on a silicon substrate using thin film process to build up low cost, high performance, and high quality passive component of capacitors, and inductors. Two designs of IPD Rx Balun to meet the WiFi module requirement are presented. Their dimensions are all 1.0×0.895×0.5 mm3 (LxWxH). The simulation results show that the baluns achieves 1.0 dB insertion loss and -15 dB return loss between the 2.4-2.5 GHz operation bandwidth. The phase and amplitude imbalances are less than 10° and 2 dB, respectively. Eventually, this SiP module receiving sensitivity is about -73 dBm at 54Mbps data rate, and meet 802.11g spec.


The majority of patients with decompensated cirrhosis suffer from malnutrition, a potentially modifiable contributor to frailty and sarcopenia. The present study investigated the impact of a 6‐month dietician‐supported home‐based intensive nutrition therapy (HINT) intervention on objective frailty and sarcopenia metrics in patients with decompensated cirrhosis.


Nicky longs to be one of the beautiful crowd at school, so when Bella invites her into her inner circle she is overjoyed. But the truth is, Bella is only interested in Nicky's gorgeous brother, Luke. When Bella and her gang tire of Nicky, she hatches a plan to gang up on the wierd new girl and convince the others that she's a witch ...but how far will they go?


Research aims: This study aims to test and analyze whether there is an effect of government openness, government financing, economic growth, audit opinion, and prior experience with IFRS in the public sector on the level of local government accounting disclosure based on IPSAS.Design/Methodology/Approach: The population in this study was all local governments in Indonesia in 2016-2020. The samples selected for use in this study were 64 local governments, following the sample criteria. The data type was secondary, which was then analyzed using multiple regression analysis.Research Findings: The results of this study exposed that government openness, prior experience with IFRS in the public sector, and audit opinion affected the level of local government accounting disclosure based on international public sector accounting standards (IPSAS). In contrast, government financing and economic growth did not support disclosing financial statements based on IPSAS.Implication: This research can potentially be relevant to the Government Accounting Standards Committee, the central government, local governments, and the community. By assessing the factors influencing the disclosure of local government accounting based on IPSAS, this research can be used as a consideration for Government Accounting Standards Committee in improving related standard regulations and encouraging local governments to implement an accrual-based IPSAS Public Accountant Standard Implementation Strategy.Originality/Value: Research on analyzing factors affecting local government accounting disclosure based on IPSAS, in particular, has not been widely studied in Indonesia, especially using local government objects. Hence, this research in Indonesia is an interesting thing to study further.


Maev O'Collins (7)has rightly pointed out the dearth of reliable information on adoption in Australia and indeed her paper, "Some Aspects of Research in the Field of Adoption", establishes a significant landmark in this field. But although in some other countries, including the United States, Canada and Britain, some research material has been published, this has been for the most part uneven in quality, fragmentary and of relatively little value in establishing valid generalisations about adoption principles and practice.


A first-principles study of native point defects in monoclinic, cubic, two different tetragonal, and five different orthorhombic phases of hafnia (HfO2) is presented. They include vacancy of tri-coordinated and tetra-coordinated oxygen, metal vacancy, interstitial metal, and interstitial oxygen. Defect formation energy, trap depth, and relaxation energy upon optical excitation of defects are listed. The trap depth of oxygen vacancies shows little variation among different phases compared to other defects. Results of the trap depth are compared against measurements and found to have reasonable agreement.


The objectives of this research were to determine the optimal values of the dipping temperature, the length of dipping time, and the dipping tilt angle in the hot-dip galvanizing process, which influence the thickness of the galvanized angle bar steel product, in accordance with the thickness standard of ISO 1461. This research used the Taguchi technique with an experimental design. The testing and validation stages were carried out based on the average temperature value, S/N ratio, and ANOVA test. The response factor is the galvanic thickness. Control factors consist of dipping temperature, length of dipping time, and dipping tilt angle of the steel during the galvanizing process. The results showed that the main factors that influence the galvanized thickness are the length of dipping time factor (B), which contributes to the difference in the S/N ratio of 85.94118%, and the dipping tilt angle factor (C), which contributes to changes in the S/N ratio of 13.60962%. The optimal value of the dipping temperature is 448°C, the length of the dipping time is 8 minutes, and the dipping tilt angle is 45°.


The article discusses a new mechanism which evaluates middle-level cadres by using the achievement assessment method from the aspects of establishing the middle-level cadre's assessment system with university characteristics,as well as establishing and perfecting the assessment mechanism.The new mechanism is used to improve the accuracy and conviction of university middle-level cadre's assessment.


The research aims to examine the effects of the application of contextual teaching and learning (CTL) approach to increase critical thinking skills and student learning outcomes in primary school. This research used Quasi-Experimental Research using nonequivalent group design. The data were obtained from several instruments, i.e. a test of social studies learning outcomes in form of multiple choice as many as 20 questions and critical thinking study question in a form of essay as many as 6 questions. The data was analyzed by using t-test. The results showed: (1) learning result of social studies using CTL learning approach is higher than that of social studies using conventional learning approach with average score of CTL approach 82.00, and the average conventional approach 72.50 (2) the result of social studies with high critical thinking score is 80.00 and low critical thinking score is 70.67. Based on the data analysis it can be concluded that the CTL approach can increase critical


The welding process can join two similar materials with a bond that has mechanical properties comparable to the original material. Unfortunately, this process induces residual stresses in the weldment, which, if left untreated, can cause distortion of the part, premature fatigue failure or cracking along the weld. Some cases of cracking in steel bridge structural members were attributed to metal fatigue. The majority of these fatigue cracks are initiated adjacent to a weld. A post-weld heat treatment is the traditional method of relieving these stresses, but is costly and a time consuming process. Heat treatment is required for weldments, which have heavy fatigue loading since the post-weld heat treatment reduces the residual stresses in the weldment and generates more uniform mechanical properties. Vibratory stress relief techniques could be used to substitute the heat treatment for these types of weldments and save time and money. The purpose of this paper is to provide a brief overview of the generation, measurement, and reduction of residual stresses. Residual stresses in the weld bead were measured by means of X-ray diffraction, neutron diffraction, ultrasonic technique, hole drilling and numerical methods. In addition, welded specimens were subjected to mechanical testing with purpose of determination of VSR effect on weld and heat-affected zone metal.


734 www.anesthesia-analgesia.org September 2020 • Volume 131 • Number 3 DOI: 10.1213/ANE.0000000000004529 GLOSSARY ADHD = attention deficit hyperactivity disorder; FDA = Food and Drug Administration; GABAA = γ-aminobutyric acidA; GAS = General Anaesthesia and Awake-regional Anaesthesia in Infancy; IARS = International Anesthesia Research Society; IQ = intelligence quotient; MASK = Mayo Anesthesia Safety in Kids; NHP = nonhuman primate; NMDA = N-methyl-d-aspartate; PANDA = Pediatric Anesthesia Neurodevelopment Assessment; TGA = Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration


To resolve the problem,that is the balance between easy to learn and fast to input and the switch between input methods,a new coding technology of the Chinese character was proposed.That is the code of the ShuangMaSanBi input method.The design idea is as follows.Sound and shape of the Chinese character have been combined together.The sound adopts the pronunciation of its first letters.The shape adopts five universal strokes of Chinese characters(HengShuPieDianZhe).The coding re-rate is reduced in the coding design and its key mapping.The flip frequency of the selected Chinese character is reduced by the frequency index.Finally,the user can input easily and quickly.


This paper presents a review of research on turbine rim sealing with emphasis placed on the underlying flow physics and modelling capability. Rim seal flows play a crucial role in controlling engine disc temperatures but represent a loss from the main engine power cycle and are associated with spoiling losses in the turbine. Elementary models that rely on empirical validation and are currently used in design do not account for some of the known flow mechanisms, and prediction of sealing performance with computational fluid dynamics has proved challenging. Computational fluid dynamics and experimental studies have indicated important unsteady flow effects that explain some of the differences identified in comparing predicted and measure sealing effectiveness. This review reveals some consistency of investigations across a range of configurations, with inertial waves in the rotating flow apparently interacting with other flow mechanisms which include vane, blade and seal flow interactions; disc pumping and cavity flows; shear layer and other instabilities; and turbulent mixing.


A stable RNA helix requires at least three base pairs. Surprisingly, a tertiary kissing complex formed between two GACG hairpin loops contains only two GC pairs. In the NMR structure of this complex, the two flanking adenosines stack on the kissing GC pair. This observation raised a possibility that the 5'-dangling adenines contribute to the formation and stability of the kissing interaction. To test this hypothesis, we took a two-pronged approach to examine the effects of various mutational and chemical modifications of the flanking adenosines on the folding of the kissing complex. Using mass spectrometry, we studied formation of kissing dimers formed by different hairpins. Using optical tweezers, we monitored mechanical unfolding of intramolecular kissing complex at single-molecule level. In both experiments, replacing adenine with uridine abolished the kissing interaction, suggesting that a minimal kissing complex must contain two GC pairs flanked by inter-strand stacking adenines. The stabilizing effect by the adenines can be explained by the fact that the stacking purine nucleobases shield the hydrogen bonds of the adjacent GC pairs, preventing them from fraying. Unlike in the context of secondary structure, the 5'-unpaired adenines in the tertiary structure are structurally constrained in a way that allows for effective stacking onto the adjacent base pairs.


In September, 1932, and again in 1933, mature and green fruits of pepper (Capsicum annuum) in a garden in Columbia, Missouri, were attacked by a fungus which causes a black, leathery type of rot extending more rapidly longitudinally than laterally in the tissue, and producing long, rather narrow lesions. In old lesions the dead tissue becomes dry and bleached (fig. 1). Infection fre? quently appears to have originated at the calyx end. The lesions resemble, slightly, those resulting from infection by the anthracnose fungus, Glomerella cingulata, but difTer in the shape and color of the infected areas and in the pliable, leathery condition of in? vaded tissue.


The renewed commitment among humanitarian and development actors to strengthening resilience of populations and regions experiencing recurrent crisis is much welcomed. However, the evidence base for informing resilience programming remains woefully thin. Of the multiple frameworks that have been developed to clarify the concept of resilience1, few provide insights into what needs to be done differently to enhance it. As a result of the conceptual ambiguity and lack of evidence, nearly any intervention can currently be re-labeled as "resilience building"2. If the major investments to strengthen resilience are to be most effective, they must be informed by more rigorous and critical analysis of what contributes to resilience, for whom, and to what?


The Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) are the combination of many complex engineering components, and they need the application of multidisciplinary investigations. An adequate background for professionals to come means implying the knowledge acquisition in various adjacent sciences and the skills in close teamworking. One of possible variants of learning methodology to attain these ends is the creation of a virtual proving ground (VPG) to study the diverse functional problems of ITS elements. The paper discusses the VPG concept based on the integrated software environment, which addresses the in-depth training of undergraduates and postgraduates in automotive engineering.


Received: April 23, 2010. Revised: 1st, May 3, 2010; 2nd, May 31, 2010. Accepted: June 3, 2010. Corresponding author: Soo-Hwan Kim, M.D., Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Kangnam Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, 948-1, Daerim 1-dong, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul 150-950, Korea. Tel: 82-2-829-5230, Fax: 82-2-845-1571, E-mail: anekim @hallym.or.kr Acute low back pain revealed as pyogenic spondylitis −A report of 2 cases−


This paper proposes a data mining classification algorithm named SRmix (the mixture of SVM and RBF network) which can enhance the generalization ability of classical RBF network. The model is based on the idea of complementarity and cooperation. The novelty lies in using support vector machine (SVM) to determine the relevant key parameters of Radial Basis Function Neural Network (RBFNN) and elaborating the relationship between these two models in different aspects. The experimental results also show that SRmix performs satisfactory in algorithm stability and accuracy.


The temperature-dependent thermal conductivity ~(T) of amorphous silicon has been calculated from equilibrium molecular-dynamics simulations using the time correlations of the heat flux operator in which anharmonicity is explicitly incorporated. The Stillinger-Weber two- and three-body Si potential and the Wooten-Weaire-Winer a-Si model were utilized. The calculations correctly predict an increasing thermal conductivity at low temperatures (below 400 K). The ~(T), for T) 400 K, is affected by the thermally generated coordination-defect states. Comparisons to both experiment and previous calculations will be described. I. INTRODUCTION In spite of extensive studies, a number of outstanding problems do remain in understanding the lowtemperature properties of amorphous materials. Among the intriguing features have been the linear specific heat of glasses, which is generally believed to be due to the presence of localized two-level states. The nature of the vibrational modes in glasses and the excess vibrational density of states at low frequencies is also an interesting aspect. In this paper we study the thermal conductivity of amorphous materials, using amorphous silicon as a prototype. The temperature-dependent behavior of the thermal conductivity is amorphous materials has the following three characteristic regimes. (1) At low temperatures (T( 1 K), tc( T) is proportional to T', which was explained by Anderson, Halperin, and Varma' as being due to the scattering from localized two-level states; (2) at intermediate temperature (1 ( T ( 30 K), a plateau was seen, which has attracted many theoretical investigations; (3) at high temperature (T ~ 30 K), where tc(T) increases smoothly to a limiting value, in contrast to the crystalline insulators where it decreases with 1/T. Birch and Clark and Kittel gave qualitative explanations of regime (3) using the kinetic formula tc=Cvl/3 that is applicable only in the Boltzmann regime where one can assign velocities U to propagating modes. Allen and Feldman (AF) have examined the validity of the kinetic formula in their recent calculation of the thermal conductivity in amorphous silicon. Cahill and Pohl argued, based on Einstein model, that regime (3) can be explained by locally uncorrelated harmonic oscillators with relaxation times of the order of the period of vibration. However, this model is only valid in the limit of highly disordered crystals. In this study we will study regime (3) with a different approach from previous works. There exist many theoretical models for the structure of amorphous Si. A convenient theoretical model is the four-coordinated Wooten-Winer-Weaire (WWW) a-Si model. Biswas et al. obtained a vibrational density of states for the WWW model that agreed well with experiment. They have also obtained amorphous silicon configurations with molecular-dynamics (MD) simulations by cooling the molten silicon configuration. It is also known that Stillinger-Weber (SW) potential is valid for a wide range of properties of a-Si. Since the WWW model has only four-coordinated silicon atoms, this will be a more convenient starting point for the thermal-conductivity calculations than molecular dynamics models of a-Si (Ref. 8) that have coordination defects. In addition, the use of the WWW model together with the SW Si potential allows a direct comparison with the recent calculation of Allen and Feldman. Allen and Feldman have used the novel procedure of using the Kubo formula for calculating thermal conductivity in a-Si. Matrix elements of the heat-current operator were calculated between harmonic vibrational states. Although the zero-temperature WWW structure was used, the temperature entered through the quantum occupation of the vibrational states. AF obtained a tc(T) that increases in temperature up to 300 K and then saturates at a value close to experiment. Low-temperature values (T (300 K) for tc(T) were significantly smaller than experiment. We present in this paper an alternate approach that explicitly incorporates anharmonicities and accounts for temperature-dependent structural changes. Theoretical techniques developed by AF have served as a useful guide in the present work.


Mammalian female reproduction requires preovulatory surges of gonadotropin-releasinghormone (GnRH) from neurons in the preoptic area (POA) of the hypothalamus, initiated by elevated estradiol (E2). Rising E2 activates a subset ofsexually dimorphic Kisspeptin neurons in the female, located in the anteroventralperiventricular nuclei (AVPV). Conversely, E2 negative feedback is mediated by aneuroanatomically separate population of Kisspeptin neurons in the arcuate (Arc) nuclei. Kisspeptin is a regulator of GnRH neuronal activity invivo, and the development of the Kisspeptin system is critical for the initiation of puberty.To elucidate how phenotypically similar neuronal populations react in adramatically different fashion to the same E2 exposure, we have begun generating twokisspeptin-expressing cell lines from kiss1-GFP postpubertal female mice. AVPV and Arc explants were removed from 9-wk old females using a vibratome, and dissociatedenzymatically, with neurite process extension occurring within four to five daysafter harvest. Cells were re-suspended, sorted for GFP fluorescence, and re-plated inDMEM with 20%FBS. We found that AVPV neuronsretain differential expression patterns when exposed to E2, but interestingly weobserved that E2-stimulated increased in GFP occurred within 20 minutes ofexposure, suggesting a rapid time course of kiss1 stimulation. In contrast, Arc-derived primary neurons exhibited a slightly higher baselinelevel of GFP fluorescence, which diminished within 4h of E2 exposure, recapitulatingdecreases in kiss1 expression observed previously. We are using a thirdgenerationlentiviral packaging system to infect both AVPV and Arc kisspeptin neuronswith SV40-large T antigen, to immortalize both populations via suppression of tumor-suppressinggene p53. Four weeks post-infection, AVPV neurons began proliferating,retaining their unique expression pattern when treated with E2. These cell lines will be useful tools to probe the molecular mechanismsunderlying this differential regulation of kiss1 expression in response to sex steroids. Introduction Mammalian reproductive function hinges on successful transduction of signals through the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis. General characteristics of this central axis and the neuronal modulators of its physiology are relatively conserved among mammalian species. The HPG axis is strictly regulated by neighboring populations of neuronal and non-neuronal glial and astrocytic cell types (Sharif et al., 2013). The complex intercommunication among hypothalamic cells allows for rigorous control of neuropeptiderelease within the preoptic area (POA) of the hypothalamus. Axonal terminals extending from cell bodies within the hypothalamus terminate at the median eminence located at the base of the brain to release signals to the hypothalamichypophyseal portal vein system connecting the hypothalamus to the hypophysis (Sharif et al., 2013). This portal vein system allows direct communication between the hypothalamus and hypophysis, allowing regulated secretions of key POA neurons to modulate adenohypophysial hormone response efficiently. In a reproductive context, the adenohypophysis is stimulated to secrete specific gonadotropins to the circulatory system that facilitate gonadal development and reproductive physiology (Gojska et al., 2014). These sex steroids, at high levels, suppress hypothalamic secretions to the hypophysis to auto regulate the HPG axis (Oakley et al., 2009). Sex steroids act to ultimately influence specific hypothalamic neuronal cell types in the POA: gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons that terminate in the hypothalamichypophyseal portal system through the median eminence (Oakley et al., 2009). GnRH neurons and HPG regulation GnRH neurons are paramount regulators of HPG axis function, as GnRH release stimulates the adenohypophysis to secrete gonadotropins: luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) (Oakley et al., 2009). In males, LH stimulates Leydig cells in the testes to secrete testosterone and acts synergistically with FSH to allow spermatocytes to undergo meiosis to generate viable gametes (Clarkson et al., 2008). In females, LH induces estrogen secretion from follicular granulosa cells, while FSH recruits immature ovarian follicles within the ovary (Clarkson et al., 2008). Typically, elevated blood concentration of testosterone or estrogen provides negative feedback to GnRH neurons (Clarkson et al., 2008). In females, GnRH neurons express estrogen receptor beta (ERβ) that responds to rising estrogen levels by down regulating GnRH secretions, preventing further adenohypophysial gonadotropin-releasing activity (Smith et al., 2005). However, GnRH neuron activity requires complex regulation to ellicit specific secretion profiles to direct reproductive behavior. This is regulation is attained by neighboring neuronal populations within the hypothalamus. Kisspeptin-releasing neurons and GnRH secretion modulation GnRH neuronal perikarya areinfluenced by two neuroanatomically distinct kisspeptin-releasing nuclei: the anteroventral periventricular (AVPV) and arcuate (Arc) nuclei (Smith et al., 2005). These nuclei provide regulatory signals to GnRH neurons by kisspeptin, a neuropeptide encoded by the kiss1gene expressed highly within the AVPV and arcuate nuclei to modulate reproduction(Smith et al., 2005). Kiss1 is transcribed and translated to kisspeptin in the perikaryon of the neuron and released into extracellular space by vesicular axon transport. Kisspeptin binds to GnRH neuron soma receptors and axon terminals using a kisspeptin receptor, KISS1R (Clarkson et al., 2008). GnRH neurons increase secretion activity upon kisspeptin binding (Clarkson et al., 2008). Much like GnRH neurons, AVPV and arcuate neurons are sensitive to rising estrogen levels in the blood (Smith et al., 2005). Estrogen effects the transcription activity of kiss1 in AVPV/Arc neuronal populations in females, while male rodents lack a sizable AVPV population as they are incapable of generating this surge in gonadotropins. Estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) is expressed in the soma of these kisspeptin-expressing neurons, but between the two populations of AVPV and Arc kisspeptin-expressing neurons, the transcript level modification of kiss1 is completely different in several female mammalian species (Smith et al., 2005). Exposure to elevated estrogen causes an increase in kiss1 expression in the AVPV, whereas estrogen causes a decrease in kiss1 expression in arcuate nuclei (Smith et al., 2005). This differential expression response is only observed in female rodents; male rodents do not express appreciable levels of kisspeptin in the sexually dimorphic AVPV. However, arcuate kiss1-expressing neurons in male rodents exhibit negative feedback from estrogen acting on arcuate neurons, also seen in female rodents (Oakley et al., 2009). The sexually dimorphic nature of both physiology and anatomy of AVPV kisspeptin neurons is of considerable interest,considering female rodents require GnRH/LH surges to elicit ovulation and AVPV kisspeptin neurons provide positive feedback to GnRH neurons.(Oakley et al., 2009). Arcuate kisspeptin neurons colocalize neurokinin B (NKB) and dynorphin neurotransmitters, therefore mammalian arcuate cells have been termed KNDy neurons (Navarro et al., 2009). This unique colocalization of three neuropeptides to a single neuronal population is restricted to mammalian species, as there are no orthologous neuropeptides expressed by kiss2 populations in zebrafish (Navarro et al., 2009). The characteristic kisspeptin system in mammals is absolutely required for proper reproductive function in adults and pre-pubertal mammalian species. An increase in kisspeptin drives the onset of puberty, though the mechanism responsible for this initiation is still unknown (Clarkson et al., 2008). Kisspeptin and puberty Pubertal onset is initiated by pulsesof GnRH secretion from the hypothalamus to direct the pituitary to secrete LH/FSH to begin the development of secondary sexual characteristics (Clarkson et al., 2008). However, in pre-pubertal rodents this pulsatile secretion of GnRH is quiescent until sexual maturation. A complete mechanism that explains this pulse generation has yet to be developed, but it is clear that kisspeptin plays a pivotal role. Pre-pubertal rodent models that lack a functional kiss1/kiss1r system either by mutated kiss1 or KISS1Rantagonists, fail to initiate puberty as characterized by insufficient blood gonadotropin concentrations (Clarkson et al., 2008). Sexually mature rodents that lack kisspeptin or its receptor on GnRH neurons do not have an appropriately regulated HPG axis. Therefore, in the context of pubertal onset and GnRH/LH secretions, it is clear that kisspeptin is critical for reproduction. In vivomodel limitations andneed for in vitro approach The prevailing method of investigating kisspeptin expression and regulation utilizes tissue fixation and in situ hybridization that makes cellular manipulation in vivo difficult. An in vitro model would yield rigorous research opportunities to investigate kiss1 mRNA expression under specific physiological conditions, thereby illustrating the neuroanatomically distinct peptidyl releases that have not yet been elucidated between AVPV/Arc nuclei. Engineering an in vitro model system derived from differentiated quiescent neurons renders typical immortalization methods difficult. Post-mitotic cells present a particular challenge when attempting to introduce exogenous nuclei acid constructs. The challenge associated with stably transfecting neurons is compounded by extreme sensitivity to physical stress and low efficiencies in terms of plasmid uptake. Considering these limitations, a stable transfection approach cannot be reliably used to generate AVPV/Arc nucleus cell lines, instead a virus-based transfection method will be used. The utility of viral vectors is evidenced