Objective:This study measured the prevalence of lipodystrophy and the metabolic effects of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in HIV-infected African subjects. Methods:Prevalence was measured in 571 Rwandans receiving HAART for ≥6 months. Metabolic variables were measured in 100 HIV-positive adults with lipodystrophy, 50 HIV-positive nonlipodystrophic adults, and 50 HIV-negative controls. Results:A HAART regimen of stavudine, lamivudine, and nevirapine was used by 81.6% of subjects; none received protease inhibitors. Lipodystrophy was observed in 34% (48.5% in urban groups and 17.3% in rural groups) of subjects, with a prevalence of 69.6% in those receiving HAART for >72 weeks. Peripheral lipoatrophy combined with abdominal lipohypertrophy was observed in 72% of lipodystrophic subjects. HIV-positive adults with lipodystrophy had a significantly higher waist-to-hip ratio (WHR; 0.99 ± 0.05 vs. 0.84 ± 0.03: P < 0.0005) than HIV-positive nonlipodystrophic adults. Total cholesterol concentrations (median [interquartile range], mmol/L) were significantly higher in the HIV-positive adults with lipodystrophy (3.60 [1.38]) than in HIV-positive nonlipodystrophic adults (3.19 [0.65]; P < 0.005) and control (3.13 [0.70]; P < 0.0005) groups. Impaired fasting glucose was observed in 18% of HIV-positive adults with lipodystrophy, 16% of HIV-positive nonlipodystrophic adults, and 2% of controls, but insulin levels did not differ. Conclusions:African subjects with lipodystrophy have increased WHR, glucose, and cholesterol levels. Glucose concentrations are also elevated in nonlipodystrophic HIV-positive subjects. Therefore, factors other than body fat redistribution contribute to the glucose intolerance.


Iwould like to comment on Drs. Mohammed A. Sultan and William M. Feldman's article "Smoke alarms in the home: what every physician should know" (Can Med Assoc J 1985; 133: 1207-1210) as it relates to people with hearing impairment. Considering that 10% of the Canadian population has some degree of hearing loss and that many people have profound or total loss of hearing, physicians should be aware that besides conventional smoke alarms, various environmental alerting devices exist for people who cannot hear a smoke alarm. These devices, such as flashing lights or bed vibrators, can be set to operate when a smoke alarm is activated, thus alerting people with a hearing impairment.


A neural network combined to a neural classifier is used in a real time forecasting of hourly maximum ozone in the centre of France, in an urban atmosphere. This neural model is based on the MLP structure. The inputs of the statistical network are model output statistics of the weather predictions from the French National Weather Service. These predicted meteorological parameters are very easily available through an air quality network. The lead time used in this forecasting is (t + 24) hours. Efforts are related: to a regularisation method which is based on a BIC-like criterion – and to the determination of a confidence interval of forecasting. We offer a statistical validation between various statistical models and a deterministic chemistry-transport model. In this experiment, with the final neural network, the ozone peaks are fairly well predicted (in terms of global fit), with an Agreement Index = 92%, MAE = RMSE = 15 μg m and MBE = 5 μg m, where the European threshold of the hourly ozone is 180 μg m. To improve the performance of this exceedance forecasting, instead of the previous model, we use a neural classifier with a sigmoid function in the output layer. The output of the network range from [0,1] and can be interpreted as the probability of exceedance of the threshold. This model is compared to a classical logistic regression. With this neural classifier, the Success Index of forecasting is 78% whereas it is from 65% to 72% with the


Shortly before his inauguration as mayor in January 1934, Fiorello La Guardia asked Pearl Bernstein, a young woman then working for the New York City League of Women Voters, to come see him. She had voted for him but never met him before. Wasting no time, he asked her straight out: "How would you like to be Secretary of the Board of Estimate and Apportionment and Director of the Budget?" This was a new position he hoped would rationalize the board's chaotic budget procedures. "What they did," Bernstein recalled later, "was to put some figures together and then every week they would add or subtract or multiply or divide—and nobody knew in the middle of the year how much had been spent." The mayor chaired the board, but the borough presidents also submitted budgetary proposals, "and so it was a very unsatisfactory situation." The League of Women Voters, where Bernstein had worked for the previous seven years monitoring municipal affairs, had advocated the city's adoption of an executive budget prepared solely by the mayor. In the end she persuaded La Guardia to separate the two jobs he offered her, and because she knew nothing about accounting or budgets, she took the post of secretary. In January, the new board of estimate confirmed her appointment....


Aim at over-pressure leakage in poor design and improper selection for the constant pressure mode in ground source heat pump system,set pressurization mode for ground-coupled heat exchanger to be open expansion water tank pressurization,that is,static water pressurization.When hot and cold conversion valves leak,ground source heat exchanger is protected by overflow discharge of open expansion water tank so as to avoid overpressure leak accident.Because pressure is constant,automatic fill water,and over-pressure drainage overflow,it is safe and reliable,especially for ground source heat exchanger in design and construction of tall building.


The invention discloses a multiphase non-overlapping clock circuit which comprises a delay module, a recurrent pulse generation module, a plurality of inverters and a plurality of RS triggers. The input end of the delay module is connected with one input end of the recurrent pulse generation module to serve as an input port of a mater clock. The output end of the delay module is connected to the other input end of the recurrent pulse generation module. The output end of the recurrent pulse generation module is connected to the setting ends of the RS triggers. The input ends of the inverters respectively serve as the input ports of a multiphase clock. The output ends of the inverters are respectively connected to the other input ends of the corresponding RS triggers. The output ends of the RS triggers respectively serve as the output ends of the multiphase non-overlapping clock. The multiphase non-overlapping clock circuit is simple in structure, small in occupied area of a chip, and high in reliability. By means of the circuit, processing can be carried out on the multiphase clock synchronous with the master clock.


A compound containing boron and carbon was produced via a standard CVD process. BCl3 and C6H6 gasses were reacted at temperatures between 700 and 900 °C to produce films 0.5 to 1.0 microns thick on SiO2 slides and T-300 carbon fibers. It is proposed that this material has a hexagonal, graphite-like structure. XRD has shown the interlayer spacing of this novel compound to be similar to that of graphite (d002 = 0.335 nm). Electron diffraction supports a hexagonal structure as well. Raman spectroscopy indicates a shift in the graphite 1575 cm-1 band to 1590 cm-1 and an increase in the ratio of the intensities of the 1360 cm-1 to the 1590 cm-1 as compared to perfect graphite. These changes in the Raman spectra imply a change in the graphite structure as a result of the presence of boron in the lattice. T-300 carbon fibers coated with BCX have superior oxidation resistance as compared to uncoated fibers.


We present an experimental study of gain and noise bandwidths in superconducting MgB2 hot-electron bolometer (HEB) terahertz mixers in a 0.1–20 GHz intermediate frequency (IF) range. At an elevated temperature and with a 90-GHz local oscillator (LO), we measure a gain bandwidth of 13–14 GHz, which is the first accurate data for ultrathin MgB2 films. The output noise spectrum has its maximum in the 100–200 K range, depending on the temperature (or the LO power) and the bias point, and its spectrum also confirms the gain bandwidth data obtained with the mixing experiment. Using both the gain and the output noise spectra, we obtain the mixer input noise temperature, which is nearly constant up to 20 GHz. Using the measured data and the HEB mixer theory, we argue that noise bandwidth in the current MgB2 HEB mixers is ∼30 GHz.


of water and other molecules into bilayers. [28,29] In bilayers, amine-rich lipids such as phosphatidylethanolamines are capable of forming complex hydrogen bonding networks involving other lipids and water. In this work, we examined an amine-modified version of HPPH-lipid, referred to as N-HPPH-lipid. Based on the propensity for amines to undergo hydrogen bonding with water, we hypothesized that intrabilayer water content could be enhanced, thereby improving relaxivity for MR contrast generation in Mn-PoP bilayers. Molecular dynamic (MD) simulations were used to initially test this hypothesis. Simulations were based on our previously developed PoP force fields. The chemical structures of HPPH-lipid and amine-modified N-HPPH-lipid, as well as their Mn-chelated analogs are shown in Figure 1. Synthetic details and analytical information are provided in Figures S1–S3 in the Supporting Information. Both the N-HPPH-lipid and Mn-N-HPPH-lipid were capable of forming nanoparticles. The absorbance spectra of the liposomes in aqueous solution and the lipids themselves in organic solvent are shown in Figure S4 in the Supporting Information. MD simulations were used to predict the bilayer behavior of N-HPPH-lipid bilayers. Relative to HPPH-lipid, the Porphyrin-phospholipid (PoP) conjugates have been developed for a range of multimodal imaging and therapeutic applications. [1–6] 2-[1-hexyloxyethyl]-2-devinyl pyropheophor-bide-a (HPPH) is a porphyrin derivative being assessed in clinical trials for photodynamic therapy. [7] Liposomes formed from HPPH-lipid PoP have been reported for chemophoto-therapy. [8,9] Manganese (Mn) is a paramagnetic contrast agent used for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). [10–13] Mn has been chelated within PoP bilayers of liposome-like porphysome nan-ovesicles for MRI. [14,15] There is a caveat with this approach however: Mn chelated in PoP is located inside the hydrophobic bilayer, where only a small number of water molecules are accessible, thereby reducing longitudinal MR contrast. Bilayer water permeability depends on numerous factors including the type of lipid head groups and fatty acyl chains, membrane thickness, and surface density. [16–21] Neutron and X-ray scattering, magic-angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance , and femtosecond infrared spectroscopy have been used to study bilayer structures and intrabilayer distribution of water, which decreases rapidly as a function of distance from the aqueous interface toward the central hydrophobic core of the bilayer. Hydrogen bonding is critical in determining the properties of water [27]


artificial unity with the Supreme. It is a living sense of unity born of the full realization of the world's metaphysical dependence on the Brahman. This concept harmonizes the reality of the universe, and of the souls, with the transcendence and immanence of the Brahman. It is a practical solution of recognizing the absolute majesty and independence of the Supreme and bringing the world of matter and souls to a realization of its metaphysical dependence on the Supreme. The Sutrakara uses the ideas of amsa and abhasa to define the relation between the jiva and the Brahman. He is said to define amsa 'in such a way as to make room for both difference and identity'. It is certainly not in the sense of difference and identity, being both equally true, in the literal sense, and in an equal measure. Madhva states that difference and identity cannot both be accepted in their primary sense equally. Difference must be accepted as essential, and identity as figurative, based on intimacy of relation due to resemblance, primacy and independence. An equal and literal emphasis on both difference and identity could never be laid, without logical inconsistency, between two distinct reals such as the Brahman and the jiva. The concept advocated by Madhva involves no logical interdependence and other defects. Madhva accepts 'difference' as a natural and primary fact of experience of the saksi and not merely of the senses, and interprets the 'identity' in conformity with the scriptural texts that teach the difference between God and the souls. He also defines saksi-pratyaksa of difference, which is inviolable as a siddhanta. He insists that 'the Samhitas are as important to his doctrine as the Upanisads'. It is certainly not because 'it is very difficult for him to find in the Upanisads, a support for his doctrine'. The Upanisadic texts cited by Madhva clearly show that he has not ruled out the Upanisads from being treated as Vedanta. Madhva interprets the Brahmasutras as laying down that the Brahman is the one Independent Cause in creation and all the other factors like prakrti, purusa, kala, etc being metaphysically dependent accessories. The proposition is purposely put in a double negative form, tad-ananyatvam. The Independent Cause is not different from or other than the Brahman, because of the word arambhana and other grounds. This emphasizes the point that the Brahman alone is the Independent Cause and that the rest are, by implication, metaphysically dependent on It. There is no specific affirmation of the Brahman being the only Independent Cause, earlier. This affirmation is necessary to dispose of an objection which presupposes and involves the existence of other pre-existing or co-existent causes, independent of the producer, on the analogy of production in general. The affirmation through negation of the contrary that the Brahman alone is the Independent Cause clinches the matter beyond doubt. Madhva visualizes the sublime heights of unity in the Supreme for the entire world of matter and souls in virtue of its deriving its very existence, know-ability, activity, etc from the One Supreme, the source of all existence, knowledge and activity. This concept has the merit of not doing any violence with the pramanas which establish and ratify the validity and reality of


It is known that choice of occupation is influenced by family cultural resources, including social networks. Most work in this area has concentrated on paternal occupation and inheritance. This paper explores the effects of father's labour market sector (i.e. managerial or professional) and the educational attainment of both parents, using the National Child Development Study. It was found 1) that the children of professional fathers are found to a greater extent in the occupational than in the organisational sector of the labour market than the male children of managerial fathers; 2) that female children of managers are more likely to enter the occupational labour market than male children; 3) that educational and occupational attainment are mediated by both maternal and paternal education; and 4) that aspects of professional family culture could be identified which are associated with entry into professional occupations. Occupational Inheritance: The role of education and gender


The magnetic behavior of the perpendicular exchange-spring bilayer and multilayer, constituted of a hard and a soft phase that are exchange-coupled on a nanometric scale, is analyzed by a one-dimensional micromagnetic model leading to a complete magnetic phase diagram in terms of layer thicknesses. The validity of the one-dimensional assumption for the perpendicular situation is demonstrated. The phase diagram provides information on the type of demagnetization processes and the critical fields at which nucleation and reversal take place, depending on the intrinsic properties of the chosen soft and hard materials. An analytical expression of the reversal field is deduced for relatively large thicknesses. Moreover, the effect of a reduced interlayer coupling is also taken into account, leading to slight modifications of both the magnetic phase diagram and the hysteresis loops. A series of $\mathrm{Fe}∕\mathrm{Fe}\mathrm{Pt}$ bilayers, prepared by sputtering, has been used to evaluate the predictions of the model, which has also been tested with the available literature data on $\mathrm{Fe}\mathrm{Rh}∕\mathrm{Fe}\mathrm{Pt}$ bilayers. Both systems have a particular relevance for potential applications in magnetic recording as well as magnetic microelectromechanical systems.


Abstract The crystal interaction density is generally assumed to be a suitable measure of the polarization of a low‐molecular weight ligand inside an enzyme, but this approximation has seldomly been tested and has never been quantified before. In this study, we compare the crystal interaction density and the interaction electrostatic potential for a model compound of loxistatin acid (E64c) with those inside cathepsin B, in solution, and in vacuum. We apply QM/MM calculations and experimental quantum crystallography to show that the crystal interaction density is indeed very similar to the enzyme interaction density. Less than 0.1 e are shifted between these two environments in total. However, this difference has non‐negligible consequences for derived properties.


In this paper, we study the generalized Johnson distributions' class and its applications in finance and risk theory. The recent literature on Johnson distributions displays a better gooodness of fitting for data coming from financial markets, such as portfolio returns. However, a gereral question in risk theory and finance is the following: Which class of distributions is more appropriate in order to determine the behaviour of data coming from financial markets and insurance claims? Another question is the following one: Is ther any class of distributions that is appropriate for calculations related to any kind of risk faced by financial isntitutions and insurance companies? The answer proposed to these questions is the use of generalized Johnson's distributions. The parameters of such distributions are estimated by the order statistics of a single or more samples. Risk functionals represent a unified approach comprising every kind of risk metric. Risk functionals include value-at-risk and expected shortfall, coherent risk measures, and endpoints and thresholds. We deduce that the risk functionals sastisfy convexity—like properties with respect to finitely-mixed distributions. We also prove in detail that the empirical distribution is a reasonable way for the estimation of the above risk functionals. In the Appendix, we provide two numerical examples for fitting samples of portfolio returns under the Johnson's transformation.


Climate change is an important problem in agriculture, and it is necessary to take actions in different aspects in order to reduce its negative effects such as high temperatures, solar brightness and evaporation. Because of climate change, agricultural production will be affected in a high percentage, specifically in the reduction of available area and lower productivity. In the last years, water related stress has been one of the factors that has negatively influenced agricultural activities in the Churimal Roldanillo farm, Valle del Cauca department in Colombia.The methodology consisted on: i) georeferencing the located points in planted area 1, ii) physical analysis of soil samples in laboratory and, iii) the systematization of field work data using the ArcGIS tools. Spatial interpolation methods were used in this study, supported by the ArcGIS (Armap) software and its IDW interpolation tool, which is practical and flexible. It shows spatial distribution and quantification of each analyzed variable in both top-soil and sub-soil layers. In addition, annual precipitation historical evolution (2011 to 2016) was analyzed with physical soil properties in the study area. Based on water requirement of sugarcane crop, a theoretical approach of irrigation application in the cultivation of sugarcane was developed. Results showed relations between plant, climate and soil characteristics. Thus, a serie of maps was presented characterizing soil physical properties distribution in the planted area. Historical precipitation data between the years 2011 to 2016 were analyzed and graphed and finally sugar cane cultivation water requirement was analyzed in relation to existing water from precipitation. Therefore, it was concluded that there is a water deficit for sugar cane cultivation in high period of its phenology.


Male factor infertility contributes to nearly half of the failed conception and pregnancy attempts. The primary reason attributed in adult males is constant decline in semen quality and sperm count during the past 50 years due to various known and unknown causes [1]. Adult patients producing mature gametes (fertilization competent spermatozoa) have the option to cryopreserve semen for future ART treatments.


We consider the adjoint double layer potential (Neumann–Poincaré (NP)) operator appearing in 3-dimensional elasticity. We show that the recent result about the polynomial compactness of this operator for the case of a homogeneous media follows without additional calculations from previous considerations by Agranovich et al., based upon pseudodifferential operators. Further on, we define the NP operator for the case of a nonhomogeneous isotropic media and show that its properties depend crucially on the character of nonhomogeneity. If the Lamé parameters are constant along the boundary, the NP operator is still polynomially compact. On the other hand, if these parameters are not constant, two or more intervals of continuous spectrum may appear, so the NP operator ceases to be polynomially compact. However, after a certain modification, it becomes polynomially compact again. Finally, we evaluate the rate of convergence of discrete eigenvalues of the NP operator to the tips of the essential spectrum.


Objective:To analyze stereologically the data of the malignant and benign lesions of gallbladder.Methods:22 specimens of gallbladder cancer and 22 specimens of benign lesion of gallbladder were measured with squard net detective system under microscope. The data for the steredogical analysis include volumn density of nuclei,surface area density of nuclei(Svn), ratio of surface area and volumn of nuclei(Rsvn), ratio of nuclei and plasma(Rnp), nuclei long axis. Short axis and ratio of axis.Results:Those stereological data of Vvn?Svn?Rnp?aAnd b of cells with malignant were significantly greater than those with benign lesion(P0.05). There were no obvious differences of Rsvn and a/b between cells with malignant lesion and cells with benign lesion(P0.05). The Vvn and Rnp of grade Ⅰ were significantly different from those of grade Ⅲ and the Vvn and Rnp of no metastasis were also significantly different from those of metastasis in gland cancer(P0.05). The results also showed that the Vvn and Rnp were significantly different between adenoma and cholesterin polyps and between adenoma and simply hyperplasia(P0.05).Conclusion:The analysis of stereology make the discerning of the malignant and benign lesions of gallbladder more objective and comparable. The Vvn and Rnp were important indexes of cellular abnormity,which provides support for clinical morphological diagnosis.


also exhibit limit cycle behavior for some values of Flight dynamic behavior of unguided system parameters and initial conditions. A case missiles at yaw-pitch-rol l resonance has been the study is presented, subject of a large number of investigation s. Special emphasis has been given to accurate modeling and prediction of persistent resonance and catastrophic yaw phenomena which are caused by nonlinear induced aerodynamic moments and configurational asymmetries. Recently, rigorous analyses of persistent resonance problem was performed by American and Indian researchers who used a fifth order autonomous dynamic system model with linear transverse and nonlinear roll aerodynamics. A simple graphical method was proposed to locate equilibrium points of the model. Stability of equilibrium points were determined by linearization. In this study, it is shown that the same model can G:


A fault diagnosis system for power distribution system using rule-based approach and machine learning of fault pattern through network state capturing mechanism is described. Special KBS record format is proposed for knowledge representation. By linking to a distribution system simulator, the diagnostic system has been trained and verified. Two model distribution systems have also been tested and the developed system can be integrated to an existing SCADA system. The test networks were: the Changi network is a 22 kV distribution system for an international airport which has 3 incoming 31.25 MVA sources, 21 buses, 8 bus couplers and 17 feeders; and the Western network which is abstracted from part of an urban distribution system consisting of 35 buses, 4 incoming 75 MVA sources, 36 feeders and 4 bus-couplers.


Because of opportunistic spectrum access, cognitive radio networks is a promising solution for spectrum scarcity problem. In cognitive radio networks, users need to communicate through control channels in order to cooperate for sharing sensing information, channel sharing and spectrum management. As a result control channels security is of a great importance. If control channels get jammed, network's performance degrades dramatically; therefore, the jammers primary target in cognitive radio networks is to demolish control channels in order to disturb the network's performance. Traditionally hopping sequences were used to battle this problem but considering cognitive radio networks intelligence, dynamic spectrum access and learning algorithms all can be hired to confront jammer. In this paper, by using game theoretic concepts, stochastic games and by defining states, actions and players' reward, we introduce a stochastic game with multiple users to make control channels resilient against sweep attacks. Win or Learn Fast (WoLF) Q learning algorithm has been used to solve the designed game and variable learning rate are used to make sure that the designed game converges. By simulation we show that in the presence of dynamic channel variations and imperfect sensing the proposed algorithm outperforms the existing ones in terms of jammer resistivity.


PurposeOil price shocks greatly impact the global economy, but the effects vary among countries. While higher oil prices benefit oil-exporting countries, they harm the economic performance of oil-importing nations, and vice versa for lower oil prices. However, economic relations, such as trade, can mitigate the impacts of oil price shocks on both groups. In this paper, the authors aim at estimating the effects of oil price shocks on the major net oil-exporting and net oil-importing countries while accounting for international trade.Design/methodology/approachThe authors derive a reduced form of a macro model and set up a Panel VAR model to estimate the direct and indirect impacts of oil price shocks on economic growth. The sample includes data on macroeconomic variables from 30 oil-exporting and oil-importing countries that comprise more than 73 percent of the world's economy. The authors construct the spillover variables using bilateral trade matrix. To control for institutional and structural variations across the countries, they are divided into four groups of developed and developing oil-exporting and oil-importing countries.FindingsThe results reveal that all oil-exporting countries have significantly benefited from oil price shocks, although trade has dampened the effect. The positive growth effect has been more pronounced in oil-exporting developing countries. The impact of oil price shocks on oil-importing countries has been negative with a one-year delay, but not statistically significant, and trade has only had a small effect. The effect has been more substantial in oil-importing developing countries.Research limitations/implicationsOne of the limitations of this study is the focus on trade as the main spillover channel. Given the data availability, other channels such as foreign investment and financial markets can also be included in future studies.Practical implicationsRemoving trade restrictions would help both oil-exporting and oil-importing countries to mitigate the negative impacts of the oil price shocks. However, the asymmetric oil-macroeconomy relationship across oil-exporting and oil-importing countries puts oil-exporting countries in a more vulnerable position as they cannot rely on trade with oil-importing countries to reduce the negative impacts of lower oil prices on their growth. Therefore, it is crucial for oil-exporting countries to reassess their oil-dependent development plans and invest their oil revenues in non-oil sectors to diversity their economies and prepare for a future with reduced dependence on oil.Social implicationsThe recent technological advances, structural changes, and increasing energy efficiency suggest that major oil-importing countries will become less dependent on oil in near future. As a result, oil-exporting countries will also need to undergo structural changes in order to sustain their income level. These significant changes will have important social implications, particularly in the labor market, during the transition, for which preparation will be necessary.Originality/valueWhile the literature on the total impact of oil price shocks on either oil-exporting or oil-importing countries is rich, studies on their spillover impacts are limited. Recent research has shown that trade and migration can affect the impact of oil price shock on the economy in federated countries such as Canada. However, the trade effect on oil price shocks in the international level, where countries are subject to different regulations/restrictions and institutional variations, remains scarce. By considering the trade relationship between different groups of oil-exporting and oil-importing countries, the authors aim to contribute to the literature of the global impacts of oil price shocks on the world economy.


Background: β-l-Arabinofuranosyl linkages are found in many plant biopolymers, but the degradation enzyme has never been found. Results: A novel β-l-arabinofuranosidase was found in Bifidobacterium longum. Conclusion: β-l-Arabinofuranosidase plays a key role in Bifidobacterium longum for β-l-arabinooligosaccharides usage. Significance: The members of DUF1680 family might be used for the degradation of plant biopolymers. Pfam DUF1680 (PF07944) is an uncharacterized protein family conserved in many species of bacteria, actinomycetes, fungi, and plants. In a previous article, we cloned and characterized the hypBA2 gene as a β-l-arabinobiosidase in Bifidobacterium longum JCM 1217. In this study, we cloned a DUF1680 family member, the hypBA1 gene, which constitutes a gene cluster with hypBA2. HypBA1 is a novel β-l-arabinofuranosidase that liberates l-arabinose from the l-arabinofuranose (Araf)-β1,2-Araf disaccharide. HypBA1 also transglycosylates 1-alkanols with retention of the anomeric configuration. Mutagenesis and azide rescue experiments indicated that Glu-366 is a critical residue for catalytic activity. This report provides the first characterization of a DUF1680 family member, which defines a new family of glycoside hydrolases, the GH family 127.


Our aim was to discuss rhino-orbital mucormycosis developing after coronavirus disease-2019 pneumonia treatment. A 45-year-old man presented with visual loss, headache, and numbness in the palate and the left mid-face. The patient had been administered methylprednisolone for coronavirus disease-2019 disease at another hospital. The head and neck examination revealed ophthalmoplegia and chemosis in the left eye and hypoesthesia in the site under the left orbit. Endoscopic nasal examination revealed a black eschar tissue on the left inferior turbinate and the middle meatus. Liposomal amphotericin B was promptly administered with a dose of 5 mg/kg with a preliminary diagnosis of mucormycosis. Urgent endoscopic medial maxillectomy and orbital decompression were performed. Once total visual loss was seen in the patient in the follow-up period, orbital exenteration was performed. The diagnosis of mucormycosis was made based on the histopathological examination, which revealed non-septate hyphae causing invasion in the tissues and the blood vessels. There was no growth of specific fungal microorganisms in the tissue cultures. The patient has been alive during the 2 months follow-up periods and no complications were observed. Patients with coronavirus disease-2019 should be closely monitored in terms of the underlying disease and mucormycosis. Corticosteroids should be administered carefully in coronavirus disease-2019 patients. Copyright@Author(s).


Acquiring communication technologies for traffic operations and intelligent transportation systems (ITS) applications can be an overwhelming task due to rapid technological advancements and various uncertain cost and risk factors. This paper discusses an effective decision model that copes with this issue from life-cycle cost and decision makers' perceived uncertainty and risk perspectives.


Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide academics, practitioners, and students with an opportunity to understand the dynamics of growing an entrepreneurial business in the emerging markets of the high‐tech industry in Poland. Limited academic studies have analyzed the evolution of high‐tech entrepreneurial businesses in the emerging markets of Central and Eastern Europe (CEE).Design/methodology/approach – A case study format is used to illustrate some of the operational problems related to developing a business in the high‐tech sector.Findings – The case study offers some implications for academics and practitioners. For academics, the paper points out two areas of possible investigation. For practitioners, it highlights five problem areas specific to developing start‐up high‐tech businesses in the CEE region, with the most challenging problem being access to finance.Originality/value – The case study provides at least three benefits for academics and practitioners focusing on the CEE region. Fi...


Abstract Friction stir welding behavior and friction stir spot welding behavior of thermoplastics were studied. Thermoplastics were polyethylene, PA66 and PPS etc. Results were as follows: 1. Friction stir welding behavior of thermoplastics was quite different from those of metals. Material flow area was very small compared with that of metal. 2. Appropriate friction stir welding condition for polyethylene was obtained at room temperature; however heating of joint was required to get appropriate condition for PA66 or PPS. 3. Large shrinkage was occurred after friction stir welding which sometimes caused fracture of joint because of large thermal expansion coefficient. Friction stir spot welding might be suitable compared with friction stir welding for thermoplastics.


Positioning techniques based on satellite navigation systems are nowadays standard in most commercial vehicles. But GPS receivers in general are effected by multipath and atmospheric effects and hence their performance may be decreased, especially in challenging environments that directly affects the usage of satellite-based positioning in traffic-relevant and by that safety-critical systems. Therefore, this paper describes, based on an exemplary implementation of an Advanced Software-Defined radio receiver (ASDR) for Global Navigation Satellite Systems, the impact of the direct receiver surrounding. In addition, a so-called Smart Constellation Selection (SCS) as pre-positioning routine will be introduced to increase the accuracy by just using already available data at the receiver side. Next to the implementation of the ASDR itself, the functionality and performance of the SCS will be explained. In addition, this contribution contains the introduction of a freely available database with geo-referenced GPS measurements including web-based analysis functionalities to enable other researches to test and evaluate their ideas for future GNSS enhancements.


This article gives out establishment process and the key link that turns the model of human body parameter base on Pro/e,emphasize to elaborate the model of human body parameter constitute,and build this model the key link,and implement the model embody step,model establishment,gives advice for the establishment that the human body parameter model from the theories and fulfillment.


Cholinergic overdrive has long been theorized to play a role in the pathophysiology of depression (e.g., Psychosom Med 1974; 36:248), and anticholinergic drugs, such as the nonselective muscarinic antagonist scopolamine, have been postulated to have antidepressant properties. These researchers further examined the effect of scopolamine in a series of rat studies.

Both scopolamine …


A 17-year-hold high school cornerback sustained a contusion to his right upper arm while making a tackle during a football game. He completed the game but presented to the emergency room 3 hours after the injury with an exquisitely painful, tensely swollen arm just above the volar crease at the elbow. The arm was held in partial flexion; passive extension intensified the pain. Motor and sensory neural function were intact. The brachial pulse could not be felt because of the swelling, and the radial pulse, although present, was noticeably weaker than the left radial pulse. Roentgenograms of the humerus, radius, and ulna were negative for fracture. An arteriogram was then obtained which showed no arterial injury, but the brachial artery was displaced by the massive amount of swelling (Fig. 1). Surgical exposure was obtained by a 10 cm longitudinal incision on the medial aspect of the upper arm. The biceps


Fractal-shaped wire antennas have been shown to exhibit resonance compression and multi-band behavior that has primarily been attributed to the space-filling properties of the fractal geometry. Exhibiting a lower resonant frequency than a same-sized Euclidean antenna, fractal-shaped antennas can be made smaller than a Euclidean antenna that is resonant at the same frequency. While numerous fractal-shaped antennas - such as Minkowski Island fractal loops and Koch fractal monopoles -have been described in the literature, most discussions regarding these antennas have primarily focused on comparing their resonant behavior to those of simple Euclidean antennas. To understand the significance of any fractal geometry in determining the resonant behavior of the fractal-shaped antenna, it is also necessary to consider the other physical properties of the antenna. For the wire-loop antenna, these physical properties include the loop area, the total wire length, and the wire. diameter. For the wire monopole antenna, these physical properties include the monopole height, the total wire length, and the wire diameter. In the previous discussions of fractal-shaped antennas, there has been little or no comparison of the fractal antenna's performance properties with those of another wire antenna having a different non-Euclidean geometry, but otherwise having the same physical properties. While the antennas would have different geometries, they would have the same physical area or height, the same total wire length, and the same wire diameter. In this paper, the performance properties of the Minkowski Island fractal loop and the Koch fractal monopole are compared with those of other non-Euclidean-geometry antennas. It is demonstrated through numerical modeling and measurement that antennas having other non-Euclidean wire geometries offer similar and, in some cases, improved, performance over their fractal-antenna counterparts. From the analysis presented here, it is also demonstrated that antenna geometry alone - fractal or otherwise - is not the significant factor determining the resonant behavior of wire antennas.


Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the adequacy of timed large amplitude rapid alternating movement patterns (RAMPs) as a measure of motor status following stroke. We were specifically interested in the reliability (internal consistency), responsiveness, and validity of timed large amplitude RAMPs. Design: A retrospective, descriptive, and correlational study. Setting: Inpatient rehabilitation unit of a university hospital. Subjects: The records of 91 patients with a primary diagnosis of stroke were retrieved for this study. Of these records, 32 were complete enough upon admission and discharge for use in this study. Main Outcome Measures: Large amplitude RAMP measures were obtained for each upper and lower extremity using a digital stopwatch. Additionally, the strength of eight muscle actions was assessed bilaterally using hand-held dynamometry. Functional independence of three activities (transfers, gait, and stair climbing) was graded using the Functional Independence Measure (FIM). A sum FIM score was then obtained by adding the score of the three activities together. Results: The timed large amplitude RAMPs were found to have good reliability (alpha>.80) at both admission and discharge. There was a significant difference in RAMP scores between admission and discharge (F=41.824, p<.001), demonstrating that the RAMPs were responsive. Discriminant and convergent construct validity were good. Predictive validity varied depending on the RAMP and outcome measures correlated. Conclusions: Use of large amplitude RAMPs in the examination of patients with stroke is supported by their reliability, responsiveness, and validity.


One of the common tasks required for designing new plasma pulses or shaping scenarios is to design the desired equilibria using an equilibrium (Grad-Shafranov equation) solver. However, standard equilibrium solvers are time-independent and cannot include dynamic effects such as plasma current drive, induced vessel currents, or voltage constraints. In this work we present the Grad-Shafranov Pulse Design (GSPD) algorithm, which solves for sequences of equilibria while simultaneously including time-dependent effects. The computed equilibria satisfy both Grad-Shafranov force balance and axisymmetric conductor circuit dynamics. The code for GSPD is available at github.com/plasmacontrol/GSPD.


Scholars have paid relatively little attention to the participation of African Americans in school politics in the urban South. Some notable incidents have been recounted, and patterns of inequality between Black and White schools have been documented, but the kinds of synthetic historical accounts of growth and change in the educational opportunities available to Black children that have recently been produced for several northern cities are still lacking for most southern cities (Homel, 1990). In an earlier article we presented such an account of Black school politics in Atlanta (GA), in which we identified a pattern of changes in the immediate goals and tactics adopted by African American leaders in their century-long effort to win better schools for their community (Plank & Turner, 1987). In the present article we contrast Black school politics in Atlanta with those in Memphis (TN) and show how the divergent political structures of the two cities produced very different sets of opportunities and constraints for African Americans in the two cities. As in Atlanta, Black leaders in Memphis adapted their goals and tactics to the changing political circumstances of their community; yet, because the political histories of the two cities are very different, the patterns of interaction between Black leaders and the public school system are proven to be dramatically different as well. The crucial difference between Black school politics in Atlanta and in Memphis involves the participation of African Americans in city politics. From the start, White politics in Atlanta were organized around Black exclusion. A Black Republican, William Finch, was elected to the Atlanta city council in 1871, but thereafter no Blacks held public office in that city until the 1960s. Divisions in the White electorate sometimes allowed Blacks to play a role in local elections in the years immediately following the Civil War, but the ensuing competition for Black votes was universally decried among Whites. The institution of a White primary in 1892 brought an effective end to Black political participation in Atlanta, and it was only on the rare occasions when meaningful citywide elections were held (e.g., mayoral recall, bond referenda) that Blacks enjoyed real power (Plank & Turner, 1987; Turner, 1990).


A triply nested HYbrid Coordinate Ocean Model (HYCOM) was used to simulate the climatological Kuroshio in the East China Sea. The model resolution increases from 1°× 1°cosθ to 1/8 °×1/8 °cosθ. The following conclusions can be deduced from the numerical results:(1) The higher-resolution model can improve the simulation results of Kuroshio, which is mostly caused by better representation of topography and baroclinicity; (2) The higher-resolution model results reproduce the water vertical structure of PN section,and generally reflect seasonal variation rule of current velocity and current flux at PN section. In summer,current velocity is the strongest and current flux is the largest, while in autumn,current velocity is the weakest and current flux is the lowest, and the values in winter and spring are between those of summer and autumn;(3) The model successfully simulates the countercurrent in the east of Kuroshio, which is steady and comparatively larger in summer;(4) The model simulates the double core structure of Kuroshio at PN section.


In this paper, the issues associated with the parallel implementation of the boundary element method (BEM) on a hypercube will be addressed. The program for solving the three dimensional Laplace equation is specifically adapted for electro-plating simulations; this application involves nonlinear boundary conditions and a time step iteration to follow the development of the plated surface. As a consequence, the coefficient matrices of the potential and normal derivative values are formed separately and stored. A step of the algorithm is thus required to combine and rearrange the system of equations into the standard form AX = B. The matrix A is dense and non-symmetric and recent advances in the solution of such systems on a hypercube are employed. Estimates of the arithmetic complexity at each step of the algorithm and a model for the communication costs are used to study the parallel performance of the BEM; timing results are presented for an implementation on an Intel iPSC2/d6 hypercube. The authors conclude that the BEM is particularly well suited for parallel solution and can be implemented efficiently on a hypercube.


Objective: To inspect the effect of enzymolysis-assisted extraction technology of alkaloid in Phellodendron amurense,and optimize the best extraction technology of total alkaloid.Methods: Orthogonal test was designed for optimizing the enzymatic-assisted extraction of total alkaloid in Phellodendron amurense.The effect of enzyme dosage,pH,treatment temperature,treatment time to the extraction of total alkaloid in Phellodendron amurense were observed.Results: The optimum cellulose degradation were obtained as follows:The cellulose dosage by 0.9%,pH4.5,the reaction time of 2.5h and the reaction temperature of 35℃,By this method,extraction ratio could be improved 27%.Conclusion: The method of Enzymatic-assisted and Refluence-Cellulose extraction is workable,which should be shorted extraction time and increased extraction rate of total alkaloid.It is suitable for industrialized manufacture.


This paper proposes the concept of parallel macro/micro manipulator from the innovative design of the large radio telescope FAST. The authors build the inverse kinematics model of the flexible macro manipulator system. On the basis of the requirement of the feeds electrical target, the optimal scheme of tensions is designed. This project can make cables undergo a well proportioned tension and not slack. The optimal result shows that this design is effective. This optimal scheme can be used in other parallel flexible cable systems.


Subject of the paper is to analyze the performance of two the most popular nonparametric VaR models of Historical Simulation: standard model of Historical Simulation and Time Weighted Historical Simulation model. The testing was performed in the emerging financial markets of the Balkan countries. The main aim of the paper is to arrive at the answer to the question whether these VaR models can be reliably applied to the emerging markets such as these, in terms of meeting the backtesting rules of the Basel Committee. The research methodology involves the use of appropriate quantitative analysis, Exponential Smoothing Approach and unconditional coverage test. The results of the research show that the HS500 and the TWHS500 with a decay factor of 0.99 can be reliably used for the emerging markets, despite the fact that they are based on the assumption of IID which is not compatible with the characteristics of these markets.


In this paper a novel material (SiO,Crl.,)~NI~, and the process for integrated passive application is discussed. The proposed (SiOxCrl~x)yNl~y material and processes have following advantages when compared to other materials and processes: 1) extremely high resistivity which translates into smaller resistor sizes for similar resistance values, ranging from 5000hdsq to SOOkohdsq, lower power usage, and longer device longevity, 2) adjustable temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR), ranging from -3000 ppdoC to 500ppmi"C, 3) excellent stability, 4) good reproducibility and uniformity, and 5) compatibility with standard Si processing. In this study, Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) are used to study the morphological characteristics of the films. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) are used to measure film composition, and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) is used to determine the crystalline structures of the films. TEM and AFM measurements show that the films consist of dark regions (islands) around IO nm in size surrounded by gaps of lighter medium about 5 nm wide. The diffuseness of the diffraction rings indicates that there is only very short range order in the film and is consistent with the absence of any lattice image observed at high magnification. Stability data from aging tests indicate that changes of resistivity of the (SiOxCr,.x)yNl.y films are less than 0.5% after 180 hours burn-in at ISOOC with bias at IO


The use of the Internet in schools in the UK and elsewhere is at an early stage, with most secondary schools having only modem access to the Internet. However, this will change over the next few years, with almost all schools gaining lower cost, better quality broadband links to the Internet, and government funding on the increase. This book examines the Internet and the World Wide Web as an information resource to be exploited by teachers and school librarians for the benefit of the curriculum. Its practical style includes useful case studies of Internet integration, instructional websites and school intranets to aid the practitioner. The content of the book includes: IT in schools - an overview; the Internet; information skills and the Internet; English, geography, history, science, business studies, modern languages; creating instructional websites; developing an intranet; and future developments. The book can be used both by new and experienced teachers and librarians in secondary schools. It offers guidance, technical knowledge and key working examples of integrating the Internet into learning and teaching in schools.


This talk describes the reasons why η and η′ decays are an interesting topic of study for both theory and experiment. The main part discusses the results of the recent calculation of η → 3π at two-loop order in ChPT. Some puzzling aspects of the results compared to earlier dispersive calculations are highlighted. I also like to remind the reader of the use of η and η′ decays for studying the anomaly.


ABSTRACTLottery tickets bearing a "scratch and win" format were non-destructively examined by a variety of radiographic techniques in order to decipher the hidden prize information underneath the latex layer on the ticket. Tickets bearing prize information under the latex layer printed in an iron oxide ink were found to be decipherable. Radiographs of "scratch and win" lottery tickets are presented. Radiographic equipment and techniques are discussed.


Eighty percent of drug administration in children is for unapproved indication and/or with unapproved dosage and administration, namely "off-label use." In US and EU, in line with the ideas under ICH E11 guideline, developments of drugs for children have been encouraged, bringing about significant changes in environment surrounding pediatric drug products. This document intends to introduce current status of pediatric drug development in Japan and abroad and to introduce examples of efforts, which have been made for the past 15 years to promote pediatric drug development, by the Japan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association composed of pharmaceutical industries in collaboration with academia through Health and Labor Sciences Researches.


This research work examined the effects of formation water, Sea water and Injection water on the rheological properties of
crude oil from an off- shore field in the Niger-Delta area of Nigeria. Flow properties analyses were determined at ambient temperature
(770
F) and reservoir fluid critical Temperature (1770
F). Analysis of the mixture of the crude oil and water samples were carried out at
various ratios of (80/20 and 50/50) % respectively. Test results indicated that the addition of water to crude oil sample increased the
values of most of the flow properties at both ambient and critical temperatures. However some crude oil flow properties like (Viscosity,
pH, Density, Specific gravity and Electrical conductivity) showed the highest incremental values with formation water sample than in
Sea water and Injection water samples at both ambient and formation temperature. At 80/20 ratio the viscosity of crude oil increased
from 3.8 cst to 4.2cst with the addition of formation water, 4.0 cst and 3.9 cst with sea water and injection water samples respectively, the
values for 50/50 ratio gave 4.5 cst, 4.2 cst and 4.0 cst for formation, sea and injection water samples respectively at ambient temperature.
At 80/20 ratio, the pH of the crude oil sample increased from 4.58 to 5.20 on addition of formation water, 4.90 and 4.60 with sea and
injection water samples respectively, the values for 50/50 ratios were 7.9, 6.5 and 5.2 for formation water, seawater and injection water
samples respectively at ambient temperature. The specific gravity at 80/20 ratio increased from 0.788 to 0.816, 0.806 and 0.797 on
dilution with formation, sea and injection water samples respectively, the 50/50 ratio gave 0.993, 0.966 and 0.953 for formation water,
sea water and injection water respectively at ambient temperature. The influx of water samples at 80/20 and 50/50 ratio also increased
the density of crude oil at both temperatures. Therefore in other to minimize the variation in crude oil properties normally experienced
during production, the analysis of the effect of different sources of water on crude oil properties should be employed.


Francis Bacon's paintings of the immediate post-war period in Britain include several works that take as their subject the spaces and experiences of queer intimacy, prior to the partial-decriminalization of homosexuality in 1967. These works inevitably stray across the spheres that queer men occupied at this time, from the domestic interior to public spaces such as bars and hotels. Through an analysis of Two Figures, 1953, and the 'Man in Blue' series, 1954, in their wider social and cultural contexts, this article argues that Bacon's works present visions of a broad, fluid, anxious sense of queer home in post-war London.


The utility model relates to a five roller brushs drum grinds binding books without trimming and puts, including brush drum, brush drum drive arrangement, brush roller drive arrangement and the synchronous rotating device of brush roller, the brush is bulged and is drawn together five brush rollers and five sets of adjusting plate devices, and five brush rollers adopt planet structure equipartition to arrange and erect on the left and right supporting disk of brush drum, and the adjusting plate device is installed between adjacent two brush rollers, it constitutes brush drum drive arrangement to pass through brush drum hold -in range drive brush drum transmission by brush drum motor, brush roller drive arrangement includes brush roller motor, drive belt and hair brush roller transmission device, and brush roller motor passes through the drive belt and drives hair brush roller transmission device, the synchronous rotating device's of brush roller final drive band pulley is passed through the tensioning pulley switching -over and is driven the synchronous rotation of five brush roller drive pulleys by hair brush roller transmission device drive, brush roller double sided synchronous belt. Have energy -conservation, installation and dismantlement convenience, grind the effectual advantage of hair.


Fan Out-Wafer Level Packaging (FO-WLP) has been recognized as the main electronic packaging and integration technology. It is cost effective and has good electrical performance as compared to the Silicon Interposer. Currently, there are many different versions of this FO-WLP technology being developed with the objective to increase the routing density. In order to design integrated circuit or package the electrical chip using the FO-WLP, it is essential to characterize electrical parameters. In this paper, the Redistribution Layers (RDL) first version of the FO-WLP electrical parameters and their test structures are provided.


It has long been recognized that covariate adjustment can increase precision, even when it is not strictly necessary. The phenomenon is particularly emphasized in clinical trials, whether using continuous, categorical, or censored time-to-event outcomes. Adjustment is often straightforward when a discrete covariate partitions the sample into a handful of strata, but becomes more involved when modern studies collect copious amounts of baseline information on each subject. The dilemma helped motivate locally efficient estimation for coarsened data structures, as surveyed in the books of van der Laan and Robins (2003) and Tsiatis (2006). Here one fits a relatively small working model for the full data distribution, often with maximum likelihood, giving a nuisance parameter fit in an estimating equation for the parameter of interest. The usual advertisement is that the estimator is asymptotically efficient if the working model is correct, but otherwise is still consistent and asymptotically Normal. However, the working model will almost always be misspecified in practice. By applying standard likelihood based fits, one can poorly estimate the parameter of interest. We propose a new method, empirical efficiency maximization, to target the element of a working model minimizing asymptotic variance for the resulting parameter estimate, whether or not the working model is correctly specified. Our procedure is illustrated in three examples. It is shown to be a potentially major improvement over existing covariate adjustment methods for estimating disease prevalence in two-phase epidemiological studies, treatment effects in two-arm randomized trials, and marginal survival curves. Numerical asymptotic efficiency calculations demonstrate gains relative to standard locally efficient estimators.


W ITH THE ENORMOUS PUBLICITY that has recently been given the future uses of atomic energy, it may well seem that the projected wonders of the near future are in need of more critical evaluation rather than further emphasis. Yet it is possible that recent accounts of them are defective not in their facts, but in the failure to appreciate the cause of these developments: the fact that our society has reached a point where it may now best be considered as a science-oriented society.


It is known that with restrictions on the type of the constitutive equations, Maxwell's equations in non-uniform media can sometimes be reduced to two 2nd order differential equations for 2 scalar quantities only. These results have previously been obtained in two quite different ways. Either by a ``scalarization of the sources'', where the relevant scalar quantities are essentially vector potential components and where the derivation was limited to isotropic media; or alternatively by using the ``scalar Hertz potentials'', and this method has been applied to more general media. In this paper it is shown that both methods are equivalent for gyrotropic media. We show that the scalarization can be obtained by a combination of transformations between electric and magnetic sources and gauge transformations. It is shown that the method based on the vector potential, which previously used a non-traditional definition of the vector potentials, can also be obtained using the traditional definition provided a proper gauge condition is applied and this method is then extended from isotropic to gyrotropic media. It is shown that the 2 basic scalar Hertz potentials occurring in the second method are invariant under the source scalarization transformations of the first method and therefore are the natural potentials for obtaining scalarization. Finally it is shown that both methods are also equivalent with a much older third method based on Hertz vectors.


Osmotic fragility (OF) test is an important basic hematological test. It is basically used for test for fragility of red blood cell. Its application in tropical medicine is available and acceptable. In this brief review, the author summarizes and addresses important application of OF in tropical medicine.


In industrial control, system failures can be highly dangerous and expensive. To avoid them, much time and money is spent in testing the systems, and this occurs mostly manually. Model-based testing is a forthcoming and promising technique to automate the testing process, as it allows the automatic generation and execution of test-cases. It assumes the system under test to be a blackbox, implying that the system is only accessible via inputs and outputs. Thus, model-based testing can be ideally applied to function blocks. This paper presents our first steps in applying model-based testing in industrial control, and includes a case study on a simple motor controller.


Anastomosis of the colon to the anal canal is now an accepted technique in the surgical management of low and mid rectal cancers. Although significant postoperative bowel disturbance is often seen with straight colo‐anal anastomosis, controversy exists over the benefit of adding a colonic pouch for low anastomoses.


The fiber-optical cable installation on aerial high-voltage power lines is widely spread on the territory of Russia and has a huge perspective for development. Designing aerial fiber-optical communication lines there are some problems at choosing of suspension method and fiber-optical cable type. The calculation of aerial fiber-optical cable mechanical characteristics is most actual problem. The calculation should be made due to mechanical parameters of cable and electrical line towers. During service life aerial fiber-optic cable is subject to external influences under different environment conditions: temperature drops, wind pressure, ice loads. For constructing of reliable aerial fiber-optic communication line all those factors must be taken into account. For optical cable installation on towers should be calculated essential value of cable mounting sag and tension.


The article analyzes the concept of human capital and its characteristics from the perspective of incremental value of human capital.It describes the funding channels and methods of human capital,and puts forward the management concepts of phased measurement for the financing cost of human capital and the whole process and dynamic analysis of financing structure of human capital.


With the development of Capsule Networks and their adaptation to the task of semantic segmentation, it has become important to determine which hyperparameters perform best for this new type of image processing model. One such parameter is the loss function, for which the baseline is usually cross entropy loss. In recent work on other models, Intersection over Union (IoU) loss has been shown to be effective. This work explores the application of IoU loss to segmentational capsule networks. For this purpose experiments are performed on two datasets: a medical dataset, LUNA16, and a dataset of faces (LFW). Results show marginal to significant improvements when using the IoU loss function as compared to the baseline Binary Cross-Entropy. From this can be concluded that the search for optimal loss functions is not finished and new loss functions may further improve performance of existing models.


Epidermolysis bullosa (EB) comprises a heterogeneous group of inherited skin disorders manifesting with various degrees of skin fragility. Classification of EB has evolved over the years based on our increased understanding of its molecular underpinnings and attempts to make it easier for clinicians to recognize, manage and prognosticate affected patients. The last classification, in 2014, eliminated most of the eponyms and attempted, using 'the onion skin approach', to differentiate between EB types and subtypes. In this issue of he BJD, Has et al. improve on the previous classification, incorporating up-to-date clinical and molecular information. One of the changes consists of introduction of the concept of 'genodermatosis with skin fragility'. This is a significant move, because it underscores the difficulties in differentiating EB from entities such as peeling skin disorders, and erosive, hyperkeratotic and connective tissue disorders with skin fragility, and the need to expand the initial differential diagnosis. Moreover, clinical presentation in the neonatal period is not always typical for the underlying diagnosis and not even predictive of the EB subtype. The recommendation that EB panels include these other entities is a beneficial step towards improved diagnostic accuracy. Of note, the expansion of the skin fragility umbrella will allow patients with these rarer entities access to the research and support infrastructure achieved over the years by DEBRA foundations. Another important addition is differentiating between syndromic skin fragility, comprising disorders where mutated proteins are expressed in skin and other organs, leading to primary and predictable (based on the molecular changes) involvement of extracutaneous structures (e.g. cardiomyopathy associated with erosive skin fragility in DSP and JUP mutations), and secondary and potentially modifiable extracutaneous involvement (e.g. dilated cardiomyopathy in EB). This new classification includes detailed, clinically useful descriptions of the classical phenotypes. In addition, newly recognized entities were outlined: the KLHL24 variant of EB simplex presenting with extensive skin defects that heal with atrophy and pigmentation, and risk of developing dilated cardiomyopathy in early adulthood; and pretibial skin blisters, Kindler-like poikiloderma and risk of nephropathy in CD151deficiency EB simplex. Attempts were also made to highlight the emerging ability to perform genotype–phenotype correlations, which are particularly helpful in prognosticating disease severity. This information will become increasingly important as we embark on new disease-modifying interventions. Lastly, this new classification explored some of the known genetic, epigenetic and nongenetic factors that account for deviations from the currently understood genotype–phenotype correlations. For example, milder phenotypes may be encountered with in cis variants or with postzygotic or revertant mosaicism. Cases where two EB-related genes are affected, or co-occurrence of EB with other genodermatoses (in the context of consanguinity), may also lead to unusual clinical phenotypes. The role of these factors may become more obvious over time and should be the subject of further exploration. The argument has been made that while the new genetic information is helpful, molecular characterization is not possible for most of the affected patients worldwide. A clinic matrix has been developed to provide clinicians with a subtype characterization in the absence of access to genetic testing. While this tool has some clinical utility, I think the future should rest on making molecular testing affordable, irrespectively of the country of origin or insurance coverage.


This study investigated the perceptions of secondary school students towards the use of GeoGebra instructional package in learning linear equations. The focus was on ease of use and usefulness of GeoGebra instructional package. Other variables investigated includes students' attitude and behavioural intentions towards the usage of GeoGebra. Four research hypotheses were generated and tested at 0.05 alpha level of significance. The study was a developmental research involving training of a group of senior secondary school one (SS1) students and determining their perceptions about GeoGebra. Questionnaire adapted from technology acceptance model was used to collect data. Cronbachalpha was used to determine the reliability coefficient which yielded 0.92. The data obtained were analysed using Pearson Product Moment Correlation statistics. The study revealed that the relationships between student's perception towards the ease of use and usefulness of instructional package, ease of use of geogebra instructional package and student's attitude, and student's attitude and behavioral intention of student about the use of geogebra instructional package were positively high (β=0.901, 0.811,0.842 &0.871) respectively. Based on the results, it was concluded that the attitude of students towards the use of Geolebra instructional package depend on their perceptions on its usefulness and its ease of use. Finally, it was recommended that GeoGebra package should be integrated into theteaching and learning of mathematics in secondary schools.


Economic theory, taking history on its side, states that free trading brings great benefits to consumers, to society in general and, consequently, it would be the best policy for any country; all tog ether, protectionism has always been present on the international economy stage. For the past two centuries, commercial restrictions (financial and unfinancial) have been one of the intense features of the world's economy. A great paradox of international commerce is that, even if nations want to enjoy the advantages of commercial flows liberalization, they often tend to limit the access to their own markets throughout measures that by their nature vary more and more from the traditional obstructive policies.


Network-level traffic condition forecasting has been intensively studied for decades. Although prediction accuracy has been continuously improved with emerging deep learning models and ever-expanding traffic data, traffic forecasting still faces many challenges in practice. These challenges include the robustness of data-driven models, the inherent unpredictability of traffic dynamics, and whether further improvement of traffic forecasting requires more sensor data. In this paper, we focus on this latter question and particularly on data from loop detectors. To answer this, we propose an uncertainty-aware traffic forecasting framework to explore how many samples of loop data are truly effective for training forecasting models. Firstly, the model design combines traffic flow theory with graph neural networks, ensuring the robustness of prediction and uncertainty quantification. Secondly, evidential learning is employed to quantify different sources of uncertainty in a single pass. The estimated uncertainty is used to"distil"the essence of the dataset that sufficiently covers the information content. Results from a case study of a highway network around Amsterdam show that, from 2018 to 2021, more than 80\% of the data during daytime can be removed. The remaining 20\% samples have equal prediction power for training models. This result suggests that indeed large traffic datasets can be subdivided into significantly smaller but equally informative datasets. From these findings, we conclude that the proposed methodology proves valuable in evaluating large traffic datasets' true information content. Further extensions, such as extracting smaller, spatially non-redundant datasets, are possible with this method.


The authors seek to subsidize contributions to a discussion regarding the structural specificity of perversion and its relation to desire and jouissance. Circumscribing the field of perversion from its etiology, delimiting the metapsychological processes able to objectify it, and defining their specific features as opposed to neurosis and psychosis since Freud is not an easy task. By studying this controversial theoretical and clinical construct, the authors emphasize how perversion most often appears as a tenuous border concept, with confusing references in regard to its structural specificity. The proposal is to move beyond the Freudian paradigms, with the backdrop of the dialectic of desire in Lacan. Is there a way that would provide a possible link between desire and jouissance?


Mechanisms explaining patterns of biodiversity along elevation gradients in tropical mountain systems remain controversial. We use a set of climatic, topographic, and soil variables encompassing regional, landscape, and local‐level spatial scales to explain the spatial variation of tree species diversity in the Sierra Madre of Chiapas, Mexico. We sampled 128 circular plots (0.1‐ha each) in four elevational bands along four elevation gradients or transects encompassing 100–2200 m. A total of 12,533 trees belonging to 444 species were recorded. Diversity patterns along the elevation gradient and the explanatory power of independent variables were dependent on spatial scale (regional vs transect) and functional group (total vs late‐successional or pioneer species). Diversity of all species and late‐successional species (1 – proportion of pioneer species) showed a constant pattern at the regional and transect scales, with low predictive power of climatic variables and/or elevation. A linear decrease in either number or proportion of pioneer species diversity was observed with increasing elevation, which was correlated with temperature, rainfall, and human disturbance trends. Total species diversity showed an increase with rainfall of the warmest quarter, indicating a regional‐level limiting effect of seasonality (drought duration). Yet the explanatory power of climatic and topographic variables was higher at the individual transect level than at the regional scale, suggesting the parallel but differential influence of evolutionary and geological history factors on diversification not so far studied to explain elevation patterns of species diversity in tropical mountain systems.


The authors present a new concept: value difference, which is the difference of the faulty signal from the normal signal on a line, for fault simulation. Due to its saving of the event number, up to 41% saving of the simulation time is achieved. Both theoretical analysis and experimental result are provided.<<ETX>>


ABSTRACT To the Editor:— In regard to your editorial on changing concepts of suicide (199:752,1967), I am happy to see that psychiatry is returning to medicine and that both Freud's and Menninger's "unconscious" concepts are "fading away."Perhaps in the next few years it will dawn on the rest of the psychiatrists that depressions are but the human parallel evolutionary development of the hibernation phenomenon of bears, for example, and large numbers of all other living things. We have even found brown fat in the human similar to that in the hibernating animal!The human withdraws from all contact as an evolutionary selfpreservation mechanism. It is as simple as that.Now, if in the autonomically determined depths of depression, many environmental stimuli still force themselves on the patient, such as loss of job, desertion by mate, financial distress, etc, then the suicide act itself becomes a sudden catatonic episode in


Industry descriptions often depict science‐driven industries as a single industry class, dominated by explicit knowledge in the form of patents, blueprints, diagrams, etc. This one‐dimensional view limits our ability to effectively manage the activities and routines across various stages of a science life cycle. The life cycle concept refers to the extent of development of the underlying scientific knowledge base. The knowledge in developed science fields (e.g. chemicals) is well codified, whereas in developing fields (e.g. biotechnology), it is less so. This variance creates interesting implications for innovation – product development routines will differ across developed and developing sciences. The purpose of this paper is to compare and contrast the knowledge‐ and resource‐based requirements of developed and developing science industries and the link to competitive advantage.


Abstract The study of marginalized students in higher education has been critiqued for focusing research attention on common areas of struggle rather than examining areas of success. This study attempted to address that gap, particularly at faith-based, predominantly White institutions as represented by the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities. The purpose of this study was to explore the lived experiences of high-achieving students from historically marginalized groups involved in the Act Six program—a rigorous comprehensive urban leadership scholarship program—at four predominantly White CCCU institutions. The 30 participants defined their experience in terms of their sense of belonging, as measured by their perceptions of whether they as a student mattered (individual sense of belonging), and whether diversity mattered to the institution (institutional sense of belonging). Data from interviews indicated that peer support, institutional support, academics and faculty engagement, and campus-climate contributions and challenges all played a role in the student experience. The resulting implications for practice include pragmatic ideas for fostering a sense of belonging through the cadre model and campus community, within the classroom and the academic experience, and through the actions of senior leaders. Although this research documents a high degree of success for Act Six students individually, as well as of this particular program at the sponsoring institutions, the inconsistencies encountered by students in relation to their sense of belonging emphasizes the importance of educational leaders expanding efforts to develop hospitable campus services and a supportive campus climate.


A total of 46.2% of the participants had no particular gender preference for dentists in general, while 28.6% prefered male dentists and 25.2% prefered female dentists. Male and female participants had statistically significant differences in the selection of a dentist's gender in general, with all participants tending to choose a dentist of the same gender as themselves. Previous personal experience and recommendations from friends were among the most influential factors in choosing dentists of a specific gender. In terms of preferences for dentists of a particular nationality, 45.6% had no preferences, while 28.4% preferred Saudi dentists.


Oral Cancer disease is the major reason behind increased no. of death rates. Detecting and preventing Oral cancer at the earliest, can be beneficial in minimizing the death rate and increasing the life span. The research proposes a technique concerning Oral cancer detection and prevention by adopting DL (Deep Learning) approaches. Data analysis relies upon history of addiction, clinical symptoms, co-morbid condition and survivability factor related to the cancer patients. This research work aims to segment and classify the oral cancer and measure the performance metrics using these intelligent computing techniques. The oral cancer detection and Classification Using Deep Learning Approach contribution was based on Fragment Jaya Whale Optimizer with Deep Convolutional Neural Network (FJWO-DCNN) for achieving a good recognition rate using the optimal theoretical features of oral cancer images. Then the extracted theoretical features and the original image were given as the input to different level classification strategy which were performed using Deep Convolution Neural Network (DCNN) classifier, which was trained by the proposed Fragment Jaya Whale Optimization (FJWO) algorithm. Finally, employing this approach, the results were obtained with a higher performance value. This proposed work achieves a higher performance percentage in terms of accuracy.


Hydraulic engine mount is one of the most essential components of the most modern vehicles for transportation since it accounts for the basic comfortable for the drivers. For this reason, predication of applied force for outer pipe through Fluid-Structure Interaction analysis of hydraulic engine mount. Applied force by external conditions is some specific area. Therefore, considering the applied force for the design of optimal shape design and material selection is important.


Three-layered flakeboards were fabricated using long and short flakes of red maple ( Acer rubrum L.) and aspen ( Populus grandidentata Michx). Panels were fabricated using three layers of a single species or face layers of a single species with a core layer of the other species. Static bending, internal bond, and nail withdrawal values indicated that red maple and aspen boards for the most part were comparable. A mixed species board with aspen in the face layers and red maple in the core layer had some of the highest static bending values. Dimensional stability values were acceptable among all boards with the mixed species boards producing some of the lowest values. Red maple 3-layered flakeboards were similar to aspen 3-layered boards and it appeared that red maple and aspen may be mixed to produce quality 3-layered flakeboards.


ural psychiatry by a student currently pursuing graduate studies at a Canadian university. The winning author will receive $1,000 plus travel to the CAMA/ACAM Annual Meeting (Montreal, May 9-12, 1992). Manuscripts (25 pages typed, double-spaced) must be submitted no later than April 1992 to GIRAME, Fondation H.B.M. Murphy, Ddpartement d'andiropologie, Université de Monu£al, C.P. 6128, succ. A, Montreal, Qu6bee, Canada, H3C 3J7.


Physical Chemistry, Department of Chemistr Lund, Sweden. E-mail: Marianna.Yanez@e CSGI and Department of Chemistry Ugo Sch Institut Laue-Langevin, 71 avenue des Martyrs, ISIS Pulsed Neutron and Muon Source, Sc Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell, O Max-Planck-Institute for Solid State Resear 85747 Garching, Germany Jülich Centre for Neutron Science, Outsta Garching, Germany † Electronic supplementary information b-expression, characterization of the Si complementary QCM-D data in other so interfacial wet mass, complementary n isotopic contrasts and solvent conditio parameters obtained from the NR ttings Cite this: Soft Matter, 2015, 11, 1973


Purpose of review First generation erythropoiesis stimulating agents (ESAs) have short duration of action which requires administration once weekly or greater. Second generation ESAs were developed which have longer duration of action and can be administered one to two times monthly. Erythropoietin (EPO) mimetic peptides (EMPs) activate the EPO receptor but have no structural analogy to EPO, offering the potential for lower cost as they are not biologic drugs. The first approved EMP, peginesatide, was withdrawn from the market within a year of its approval because of fatal anaphylactic reactions. In this review, we summarize recent progress regarding the development of newer, possibly less toxic, EMPs. We also summarize the development of EPO fusion proteins which fuse EPO with a portion of an immunoglobulin molecule or another EPO molecule, achieving a longer duration of action and less frequent dosing. Recent findings AGEM400(hydroxyethyl starch) and pegolsihematide are EMPs in phase II clinical trials. Three EPO fusion proteins are under development, two in phase I and one in phase II. Summary The future success of EMPs is limited by the prior experience with peginesatide and EPO fusion proteins do not offer cost savings or longer duration of action than currently available ESAs.


In order to maintain the process stability and avoid local defects in laser metal deposition (LMD), it is required to have a greater control over the process parameters such as laser power and speed. For this reason, among the various detectable indicators of the process, one of the most relevant is the optical emission. A small wavelength portion of the light emitted by the process can be correlated to the process temperature being used as a feedback signal to control process parameters. To this purpose firstly, it is preferable to employ a remote sensing strategy to maintain the high flexibility of the motion system so as not to limit the process head movement. Secondly, a coaxial monitoring approach is more advantageous compared to an off-axis one since it allows observing the process directly without the requirement to be reoriented at any head motion which is key point if the objective is observing the molten pool. This paper describes and exploits the advantage of the coaxial and remote sensing of the temperature based on optical signals acquired through the optical combiner (TOC) of the multimode fiber laser. In the work, the adequate optical emission zone is defined and required optical arrangement is studied. The sensing system is applied to monitor temperature in laser metal deposition of 3D free form during the realization of a thin wall structure. The capabilities of the instrument to detect local process variations of the temperature due to speed variation in correspondence of transient positioner settlements are demonstrated. Signal characteristics of process irregularities are defined and compared with one deriving from a lateral placed thermal camera.In order to maintain the process stability and avoid local defects in laser metal deposition (LMD), it is required to have a greater control over the process parameters such as laser power and speed. For this reason, among the various detectable indicators of the process, one of the most relevant is the optical emission. A small wavelength portion of the light emitted by the process can be correlated to the process temperature being used as a feedback signal to control process parameters. To this purpose firstly, it is preferable to employ a remote sensing strategy to maintain the high flexibility of the motion system so as not to limit the process head movement. Secondly, a coaxial monitoring approach is more advantageous compared to an off-axis one since it allows observing the process directly without the requirement to be reoriented at any head motion which is key point if the objective is observing the molten pool. This paper describes and exploits the advantage of the coaxial and remote sensing of t...


A new method of calculation is applied to the frequency of a photon according to the travelled distance. It consists in solving the scalar geodesic equation (equation of energy) of the photon, and manifests gravitation, non-holonomity, and deformation of space as the intrinsic geometric factors affecting the photon's frequency. In the space of Schwarzschild's mass-point metric, the well-known gravitational redshift has been obtained. No frequency shift has been found in the rotating space of Gödel's metric, and in the space of Einstein's metric (a homogeneous distribution of ideal liquid and physical vacuum). The other obtained solutions manifest a cosmological effect: its magnitude increases with distance. The parabolic cosmological blueshift has been found in the space of a sphere of incompressible liquid (Schwarzschild's metric), and in the space of de Sitter's metric, which is a sphere filled with physical vacuum whose density is negative (it is a redshift, if the vacuum density is positive). The exponential cosmological redshift has been found in the expanding space of Friedmann's metric (empty or filled with ideal liquid and physical vacuum). This explains the accelerate expanding Universe. The redshift reaches z= e−1= 22.14 at the event horizon. These results are obtained in a purely geometric way, without the use of the Doppler effect.


In the Grands Causses area, the Bathonian series is subdivided into 4 depositional sequences, Bt 1 to Bt 4, within the Middle Bathonian-Upper Bathonian interval. Their maximum flooling surfaces (Mfs) are marked by brachiopod-bearing levels allowing new datings. The stacking of the 4 sequences is observed along the axis of the Grands Causses Graben (Gorges du Tarn). Towards the S-SE, Bt 3 and Bt 4 overlap Bt 1 and Bt 2 and directly overlie various older Jurassic formations covering the NW steps of the Cevennes Shoal. This transgression is induced by the spatial displacement of subsidence which is restricted in the graben for the first two sequences, then becomes generalized over the whole Grands Causses realm for the latter two.


Security is an important concern for the water industry nowadays. It is particularly important to have tools that are able to determine the source of contamination once an alarm is raised by the sensor detection system. The objective of this paper is the development of such a model to locate potential sources of contamination. The model solution uses a two-step method. Firstly, a linear sourceresponse transport equation is built based on a backtracking algorithm applied to sensor binary answers. It is followed by a minimum relative entropy method or a least squares method coupled with a Tikhonov regularisation that yields the probability density function of the different potential sources found at the first step. The model have been validated on small networks and applied to a large network under single and multiple contamination scenarios. This research is part of the European project on water network security named SecurEau.


In this paper, the control design and the performance evaluation of a novel high step‐up converter with an hourglass‐shaped impedance network (HIN) are performed when used as an interface between a photovoltaic (PV) source and a load in a PV system. For optimum energy extraction from the PV source, the PV voltage controller design and optimization to track the maximum power point of the PV system is addressed. The converter offers the possibility of an optimum regulation of the PV voltage with voltage mode control using a simple Type‐III compensation network resulting in a low overshoot, a relatively short settling time, and negligible energy loss after a change of input reference due to the maximum power point tracking (MPPT) or to irradiance change. To evaluate the performance of the HIN converter when used in a PV system, PSIM©software is used to perform numerical simulations using the switched model under different conditions.


Public transportations are needed for citizen to travel to
some destination. In a city required network public transportation
that can serve citizen so that they can reach all of corners of the
city more easily. Yogyakarta city has eight Trans Jogja bus
routes, six city bus routes, and taxi which operated daily. The lack
of information and the many of alternative transportation modes,
sometimes made citizen confused to decide transportation choices
which suitable as needed. Therefore, then be made a system that
could recommending citizen to decide transportation modes and
integrated modes of transportation which suitable using
collaborative filtering method.
Collaborative Filtering is a method of item filtering by
giving value as comparison among items. The values obtained
from the opinion is rating. So that, this method could give
recommendation for public passengers. This application has been
made android-based with Software Development Life Cycle
(SDLC) method.
This Application has transportation modes search feature
based on origin point and destination point which inputted by
user. The information presented in the form of transportation
modes choices that through the user's route choice by the highest
order is the best recommendation for user. Based on the result
functional testing of system 93% of respondents agreed that the
application is made to function as it should. Based on the result of
interface system testing, shows 30% of respondents strongly
agreed, 66,5% of respondents agreed, 3,5% of respondents
disagreed, and 0% of respondents strongly disagreed.


Abstract Integral equation formulations are used for the modelling of axisymmetric perfectly or imperfectly conducting scattercrs (the Leontovich boundary condition is then assumed to be verified). Our emphasis in this paper is to consider bodies that are large compared to the wavelength. We outline the methods implemented, some of which are original. Particular care has been taken in order to suppress the spurious internal resonances and to minimize the amounts of computer time and memory storage. The numerical examples presented, performed on a wide variety of objects, show that a. high degree of numerical accuracy is achieved in the high frequency domain even in the angular range where the Radar Cross Section is low.


Education is protective against cognitive impairment. We used nationally representative data from Mexico and Brazil to assess the association between education and cognitive function. The sample included adults ≥ 50 years from the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Aging (ELSI) and the Mexican Health and Aging Study (MHAS). Participants were classified as cognitively impaired or not impaired. We used logistic regression models to estimate the association between education and cognitive function. Education level was higher in MHAS than in ELSI. Participants with at least 1 year of education were less likely to have cognitive impairment than those with no formal education in both cohorts. Men in ELSI had higher odds for cognitive impairment compared to men in MHAS. In both cohorts, higher educational level was associated with lower odds of cognitive impairment compared to no formal education. Sex was an effect modifier in MHAS but not in ELSI.


An ultra-wideband (UWB) U type monopole antenna fed by a coplanar waveguide (CPW) is proposed. It has low profile and very compact size (14.48 mm × 28.74 mm × 0.8 mm). It provides an wide impedance bandwidth ranging from 3.08 GHz to about 12.75 GHz adjustable by variation of its parameters, such as the relative permittivity and thickness of the substrate, width, and feed and ground plane dimensions. Parametric study is presented. Details of the proposed ultra-wideband design are described. Simulation results are presented and discussed in this paper.


Dynamic model has broad applications in motion planning, feedforward controller design, and disturbance observer design. Particularly, with the increasing application of model-based control in industrial robots, there has been a resurgence of research interest in accurate identification of dynamic models. However, on the one hand, most existing identification methods directly rely on least squares or weighted least squares (WLS), which suffer from outliers and could lead to physical infeasible solutions. On the other hand, nonlinearity of the friction model is seldom treated in a unified way with linear regression. Moreover, recent researches have shown that proper exciting trajectories are crucial to the identification accuracy, but few of previous works take measurement noise into consideration when optimizing the exciting trajectories. In this article, we propose an iterative approach which integrates WLS, iteratively reweighted least squares with linear matrix inequality constraints, and nonlinear friction models so that the above-mentioned issues can be properly solved altogether. Our research also reveals that performance can be improved by including priori knowledge of measurement noise in the optimization of exciting trajectories. The proposed approach is supported by experimental analysis of four different combinations within the framework on a 6-DoF industrial robot.


Introduction Obesity is a serious health problem generally associated with diseases such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases and various types of cancer. A better understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying obesity is essential. Investigating the development and function of adipose tissue has revealed biomarkers and possible targets for therapeutic strategies. Adipose tissue secretes adipokines and microRNAs which are involved in mechanisms regulating adipose tissue metabolism (1, 2). Obesity leads to hypoxic adipose tissue due to tissue mass expands, with adipocytes becoming distant from the vasculature. Such variation in oxygen pressure has drastic effects on inflammation and modulation of adipokines and miRNA secretion (3, 4). Primary cell culture is the best in vitro model to mimic the physiological state of tissues. Adipocytes with specific Body Mass Index (BMI), have been cultured at 21% or 1% of oxygen. We compared the biomarkers secretion from different adipocytes in hypoxic and normoxic conditions by the analysis of cell supernatants using a Human Obesity Antibody Array and an innovative 3D-structure microarray technology.