In this paper we investigate channel state information (CSI) feedback strategy for a basestation (BS) scheduling multiple users for data transmissions in the downlink. For the purpose of fair provisioning of service among users with possibly heterogeneous channel statistics, we adopt scheduling algorithms based on scores: specifically the maximum quantile (MQ) scheduling is used as one of such schedulers where the score corresponds to the quantile of instantaneous SINR. Our feedback scheme is based on contention where we would like to guarantee a set of arbitrary long-term average scores to users and study feedback methods which enable such assignment. We show how the scores are assigned in a maximal manner leveraging the framework of maximum weight schedulers. The problem turns out to be nonconvex, however for two users case we present an explicit formula of feedback for the optimal score assignment. We derive the expression for the optimal feedback parameters which turn out to be asymmetric among users. We analytically show that, even for contention based feedback, by optimally tuning the feedback parameters one can perform very close to feedback scheme without contention. A numerical result is provided in support of the analysis.


Aims: To determine differences in stroke severity and outcomes in women using hormone therapy (HT) versus nonusers at baseline, and to investigate whether there is a 'healthy-user effect' of HT in women with stroke. Materials and methods: A total of 133 women over the age of 18 years with acute ischemic stroke were enrolled and categorized based on their use of HT at the time of stroke. Initial stroke severity was assessed at admission, and disability and activities of daily living were assessed at 6-month intervals for 2 years. Results: A total of 30% of the cohort were HT users. HT users were less likely to have hypertension and were leaner than nonusers. There were no differences in initial stroke severity, mortality or any of the functional status outcomes based on HT use at baseline. Conclusion: There did appear to be a healthy-user effect for HT users at baseline, but following stroke, there were no significant differences in long-term outcomes.


The hydrogenation of cyclohexene on the metal hydride forming alloys LaNi,_,Al,,,, ~WL,Al,. 1 and LaNi5, all suspended in cyctohexane and LaNi5 suspended in ethanol, has been investigated. Two sources for hydrogen are recognized: hydrogen supplied by the gas phase and hydrogen which is available inside the metal hydfide particles. For hydrogen which is supplied by the gas phase, the kinetic can be described with a two-site Langmuir-Hinshelwood relation, assuming a fast dissociative adsorption of hydrogen. The values of the rate constant, k,, and adsorption Mcient for cyclohexene, K cbzI,o~ are lower if the hydrogenation is carried out on the metal (m) phase of the metal alloys instead of on the hydride (8) phase. Also, increasing the aluminum content results in a decrease of kr and KCaHro. In ethanol, a; higher reaction rate constant and a lower adsorption coefficient were observedThe hydrogenation of cyclohexene with hydrogen provided by the metal hydride particles has been described with a combination of th,e rate equation for the hydrogenation and the relation,for the hydrogen desorption from the hydride. It was found that the reaction rate decreases during the cyclobexene c&version, .because the nature of hydride particles changes from the /3 into the a phase 01s the reaction proceeds. Initially, the hydrogenation is partly limited by the transport of hydrogen from the centre of the particle to the surface.


The association between stress, humoral and cellular immune response and intestinal parasites was evaluated in 102 patients in a randomized double-blind study. Sixty-four (62.7 per cent) presented respiratory allergic disease (RAD) at the time of the clinical and laboratory tests; the other 38 (37.3 per cent) were normal individuals. Higher levels of IgE associated with RAD were observed in patients with family dysfunction (p < 0.05). All the other immunological parameters that were measured — total B and T lymphocytes, helper (CD4) and suppressor/cytotoxic (CD8) T lymphocytes as well as IgG and IgA levels — were similar in both the allergic and the control groups. Twenty-two patients (22.5 per cent) were positive for Giardia lamblia, 86.3 per cent of them suffering RAD (p < 0.03). Regression analysis showed that patients with high levels of IgE and eosinophilia were associated with G. lamblia infection. This study indicates a higher frequency of lambliasis in RAD and shows that family stress was significantly associated with this allergic condition.


The adherence of stable L-form of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) to ECa109 cells was observed in order to explore its mechanism on pathogenesis,in which the epithelial cells of esophagus cancer (ECa109) were infected with stable L-form of M.tuberculosis and its adherence to ECa109 cells was observed by fluorescence microscopy. Meanwhile,the adherence inhibition test was carried out by using the treatment with trypsin,HCl(0.1 mol/L),NaOH(0.1 mol/L,sodium peroxidate and PPD. It was found that stable form of MTB could adhere to ECa109 cells and induce cellular lesions,but this kind of adherence could be reduced or even disappeared after treatment with boiling,trypsin,HCl ,NaOH or peroxidate. However,no significant influence could be detected when the stable L-form was treated with PPD. From these observations,it is apparent that the adherence of L-form of MTB may be related to the exposure of the cellular membrane of L-forms and the specific binding to the surface glycoprotein receptors.


We identify the canonical basis of the quantum adjoint representation of a quantized enveloping algebra with a basis that we defined before the theory of canonical bases was available.


The aim of the paper is mountain forest landuse/cover changes analysis due to anthropogenic and climatic stressors. Our analysis indicates a potentially application of threshold techniques to land-cover classification and changes analysis due to climatic effects for Romanian Carpathian mountain forest ecosystem. The climate of the Carpathians is moderately cool and humid, with both temperature and precipitation strongly correlated with elevation. Extreme climatic events and anthropogenic effects have a strong impact on forest ecosystem. Specific aim of this paper is to assess, forecast, and mitigate the risks of air pollution and climatic changes and extreme events on mountain forest ecosystem in Prahova Valley, Romanian Carpathians test area and to provide early warning strategies on the basis of spectral information derived from Landsat TM, ETM and MODIS satellite data over 1987- 2007 period. The paper aims to describe observed trends and potential impacts based on scenarios from simulations with regional climate models and other downscaling procedures.


Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis is widely used in engineering. Although CFD calculations are accurate, the computational cost associated with complex systems makes it difficult to obtain empirical equations between system variables. Here we combine active learning (AL) and symbolic regression (SR) to get a symbolic equation for system variables from CFD simulations. Gaussian process regression-based AL allows for automated selection of variables by selecting the most instructive points from the available range of possible parameters. The results from these experiments are then passed to SR to find empirical symbolic equations for CFD models. This approach is scalable and applicable for any desired number of CFD design parameters. To demonstrate the effectiveness, we use this method with two model systems. We recover an empirical equation for the pressure drop in a bent pipe and a new equation for predicting backflow in a heart valve under arotic insufficiency.


Objective: To study the clinical application of spiral CT guided puncture in the treatment of intracranial hematoma. Methods: In 72 patients with intracranial hematoma confirmed by CT scanning, intracranial hematoma was accurately located under spiral CT scanning, followed by catheter drainage with urokinase. Regular CT follow up was done. Results: All cases have revealed intracranial hematoma apparently decreased in volume. The follow up results indicated that this procedure had the following advantages: (1) Simple, safe and accurate; (2) Less damage; (3) Quick recovery. Conclusion: Spiral CT guided puncture is simple, safe and very effective for intracranial hematoma.


The paper postulated that the Human Resource Management in Total Quality Management in nationalist Banks in Cuddalore District". The area covered is Cuddalore district only and the study is restricted to the nationalist banks. Primary data were collected from bank employees. Convenient sample technique has been used to interview and question the employees. It is found that the Organizational structure, Career Development, Training and Development and Performance Appraisal are having positively influenced the Total Quality Management. But Job satisfaction are having negatively influenced the Total Quality Management. This is done through a nationalist bank. Stratified sampling encompassing the views of identified groups in the total population was used, with interviewees randomly selected. Primary data was collected through a self administered questionnaire, with secondary data coming from memoirs, management minutes, reports and archival records. The findings were that nationalist bank quality management system was founded on the basis of Local Quality Plans which were developed by their own staff and agreed to by management. Staffs were motivated through involvement, autonomy and rewards. Education and training were key ingredients. Ultimately team work and better communication enhanced the T.Q.M. system


Dear editor We are writing to bring to your attention a noteworthy observation we made while examining the results of the Randomised Controlled Trials (RCTs) that evaluated the efficacy of anti-inflammatory or immune-targeted treatments in Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). We read the meta-review on this topic by Simon et al with great interest and found it to be a valuable summary of the current evidence. The meta-analytic evidence, particularly regarding to Minocycline (MCO) and Celecoxib (CXB) being the most effective compounds, holds promising prospects for future antidepressant treatment guidelines. Upon review of the results of the individual RCTs, we however noticed that the use of the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) versus the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD) as the outcome measure seemed to have an impact on the results. Table 1 and Table 2 illustrate these observations by presenting the findings from RCTs that used the MADRS and HAMD as primary outcome measures to assess the antidepressant effect of either MCO or CXB. We also incorporated recently published RCTs not included in the previous meta-analyses. The RCTs using the MADRS as primary outcome measure resulted in negative outcomes, while the trials using the HAMD produced positive results. This difference was statistically significant in a random-effects meta-analytic subgroup analysis we performed in CMA v.3.3.070 (total between-groups MCO Q=8780; df=1; p=0.003; CXB Q=17,0; df=1; p<0.001; forest plots shown in Figures 1 and 2). This difference is likely due to the design of the two measurement scales. The HAMD was not designed to measure the severity of depression but rather to assess different depression symptoms, while the MADRS was designed to measure the severity of depression and does not capture the somatic or neurovegetative symptoms. As a subtype of depression, immune-mediated depression is associated with these somatic or neurovegetative symptoms, sparking the hypothesis that immunomodulatory treatments may be more effective in treating these symptoms. This matter becomes even more pertinent given the choice of Simon et al not to include studies using the MADRS in their analysis for CXB. Our results indicate that adding these studies renders the overall effect of adjunctive CXB non-significant (Table 2). In light of these findings, it is crucial to consider the suitability of the outcome measure when evaluating the efficacy of immunomodulatory treatments for MDD. The use of the HAMD, which captures a wider range of


youths in the deprived French neighbourhoods studied here do not organize on the basis of race. In the banlieues, youth identities are constructed from the territories (namely large housing projects) where they live, fight for their turf and sometimes thrive. These youths do not form an homogeneous block. A vast majority are eager to move up. Numerous assertions are made but sometimes without supporting evidence. Is it universally acknowledged that 'privileged groups may indirectly encourage police killings by demanding that restraints be removed so the police can maintain order?' (quote Jacobs, Brian, 6). Are interactions between police and minority populations in Paris and those of New York 'strikingly similar' (8)? Since the death of student Malik Oussekine, the police institution has carefully avoided hurting youths during protests, keeping them at a distance and avoiding close contact. No youth was killed by the police during the three weeks of social disturbances in France in 2005. Despite these few reservations, readers will be rewarded with subtle remarks, a vast knowledge of historical trends helping to better grasp the current situations and a stimulating ethnographic work.


The present contribution proposes a new approach for joining sheet metal and fiber reinforced composites. The joining process draws upon a Friction Stir Forming (FSF) process, which is performed on the metal sheet to produce slender pins. These pins are used to pierce through the composite. Joining is complete by forming a locking head out of the part if the pin sticks out of the composite. Pins of different diameters and lengths were produced from EN AW-1050 material, which were joined to glass fiber reinforced polyamide-6. The strength of the joint has been experimentally tested in order to understand the effect of the process temperature on the pins strength and therefore on the joining. The results demonstrate the feasibility of this new technique, which uses no excess material.The present contribution proposes a new approach for joining sheet metal and fiber reinforced composites. The joining process draws upon a Friction Stir Forming (FSF) process, which is performed on the metal sheet to produce slender pins. These pins are used to pierce through the composite. Joining is complete by forming a locking head out of the part if the pin sticks out of the composite. Pins of different diameters and lengths were produced from EN AW-1050 material, which were joined to glass fiber reinforced polyamide-6. The strength of the joint has been experimentally tested in order to understand the effect of the process temperature on the pins strength and therefore on the joining. The results demonstrate the feasibility of this new technique, which uses no excess material.


The Terri Schiavo case shows how the internet is becoming a battleground over ethical issues

T here was a revolution in Central Asia, an upheaval in Lebanon, deadly shootings at a high school in Minnesota, and a disastrous explosion at a Texas oil refinery. But day after day the lead story in the august New York Times and the distinguished Washington Post was about one 41 year old woman in Florida who had been in a persistent vegetative state for 15 years—Terri Schiavo.

Should US president George W Bush, a born again Christian who advocates "a culture of life," decide that she should live, or die after removal of a percutaneous gastrostomy tube providing water and nutrition? Or should Congress, the federal courts, the president's devout Catholic brother, Jeb Bush (who is governor of Florida), the Florida state courts, …


Using the Granger definition in a bivariate context, this paper investigates the relation between speculation and real estate prices in Hong Kong. Based on monthly data, the paper shows that in the mass residential property market, speculation and property prices are each integrated of order one, and hence cointegrated. A vector error correction model is then estimated for speculation. The error correction term is found to be statistically significant, implying Granger causality running from property prices to speculation in the mass residential property market. The empirical findings provide evidence that fluctuations in residential property prices cause fluctuations in housing speculation. A long-term solution to curb speculative activities and stabilize property prices is to increase the supply of housing land, and in turn the supply of private residential property. Steady property supply of will reduce acceleration of property prices and thus restrict speculation.


Nineteen patients bearing focal defects on the liver scans with radiocolloid were studied with /sup 67/Ga-citrate. Images of the liver were obtained 48 to 72 hrs after injection of 1 to 2 mCi of /sup 67/Gacitrate intravenously. A scintillation camera (Pho/Gamma III) was used, and all images were recorded on Polaroid films. In addition to the conventional Polaroid photographs, the data were also fed into a computer sysiem and stored in the memory cores. Definite tumor accumulation of the /sup 67/Ga-citrate was noted in 14 of 15 patients with malignant tumors---4 of 5 with hepatocellular carcinomas, 3 of 9 with metastatic liver tumors. The tracers were poorly accumulated by a hepatocellular carcinoma, a cholangiohepatic carcinoma, and five metastatic liver tumors. The gallium study was found to be helpful in the differential diagnosis of focal liver abnormalities detected by /sup 99m/Tc-sulfur colloid scans. A focal liver abnormality that accumulated more gallium than surrounding normal tissue was more likely to be malignant tumor than benign condition such as cirrhosis. The combination of /sup 67/Gacitrate and /sup 99m/Tc-sulfur colloid was found to be helpful to distinguish the patients with hepatic malignancies to those with cirrhotic scarring. After the /sup 67/Ga siudy was performedmore » with leaving the patient in the same position under the detector, we gave 1 mCi of / sup 99m/Tc-suliur colloid intravenously and again obtain a san image of the liver. All data were stored in the tape recorder to provide it for computer scintigraphy and for subtraction scintigram. Gallium-67 citrate distributes also within the normal liver tissue. This made it difficult to deliniate the tumor image of the liver. The computer subtraction scintigraphy with the use of /sup 67/Ga-citrate and /sup 198/Au-colloid or /sup 99m/Tc-sulfur colloid allow to overcome the disadvantage of /sup 67/Ga-citrate. (auth)« less


The integration with Spring and Hibernate makes the J2EE web application more reusable.The theory of the framework technology and the competitive framework structure is emphasized.An implementation of the agricultural information system for the integrated framework is presented.The system gives an example for the similar application.


The invention relates to public works. An earth structure 1 has a facing 2 formed by a set of support pieces 3, with each support piece connected at the top and bottom a pair of elongate stabilizing elements 4 extending rearwardly into an earth mass 5. a mesh cover 6 structure extends on the intervals between the support parts. Each supporting part consists of a C-shaped flange having a front part 7 and the lower rear and upper extensions 8, 9. Applications temporary embankments or low height.


Growing concerns about the integrity of the revenue per available room index—the lodging industry de facto performance measure—stem from previously published empirical evidence concerning the competitive set's venerability and from management's financial incentives to outperform the hotel's competitive set. This study demonstrates the potential of the decision to include or exclude a hotel in, or from, competitive set averages to bias its performance index. The analysis shows that the bias potential is nonlinear and asymmetric in relation to the subject hotel's revenues, and uses this revealed asymmetry to prove that when future relative performance levels are uncertain, exclusion tactics is preferred. Finally, the study demonstrates how the relative nature of the performance indicator, coupled with management potential opportunistic inclusion/exclusion competitive set tactics, are detrimental to the perceived desirability of co-opetition strategies.


A typical feature of transport infrastructure projects is that they are expensive and take a long time to construct. Transport infrastructure financing has traditionally lain in the public domain. A tightening of many countries' budgets in recent times has led to an exploration of alternative resources for financing transport infrastructures. A variety of models and methods can be used in transport infrastructure project financing. The selection of the appropriate model should be done taking into account not only financial resources but also the distribution of construction and operating risks and the contractual relations between the stakeholders.


Students of the welfare state have long speculated about the sequence in which welfare programs were adopted. Worker's compensation, for example, has generally been adopted early by the various countries, while family allowances have come later. The order of these programs is important both for its inherent interest and for its bearing on theories of the welfare state.


In this work, we demonstrate a new laser method of nanoantenna fabrication with an additional focusing diffractive element. This method is based on intense femtosecond pulse irradiation of thin aurum films, inducing different thermal (melting, ablation and ultrafast cooling), hydrodynamic (capillary and Rayleigh-Plateau instabilities) and electrodynamic (excitation and interference of surface plasmon waves) processes. In particular, thermal and hydrodynamic processes are the most important for nanoantenna formation during the first femtosecond laser pulse, while during irradiation by spatially shifted second laser pulse the electrodynamic processes result in formation of focusing element near the nanoantenna. It is shown that at the cost of conversion of incident irradiation into propagating surface plasmons, such additional element makes possible to increase nanoantenna efficiency at the cost of localization of larger energy amount.


Copyright c 2018, the Korean Thyroid Association. All rights reserved. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Infection of Thyroid Cyst Occurring 1 Month after Fine-Needle Aspiration in an Immunocompetent Patient


The terrorist attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001 (9/11)resulted in the costliest and deadliest disaster in the nation's history. These attacks manifested the nation's vulnerability to these types of disasters and demonstrated that the country was not prepared to confront an event of this magnitude and complexity. However, social science research has shown that the organizational resilience of emergency maangement organizations enhanced their capacity to respond to this devastating event (Kendra and Wachtendorf, 2003a). This terrorist attack reinforced what the social science disaster literature has shown for other types of disasters and emergencies: that planning, coordination, and communication are critical elements in preparing, responding, and recovering from a disaster.


CONTEXT
Although diabetes affects 40-50% of adults with cystic fibrosis, remarkably little is known regarding the underlying mechanisms leading to impaired pancreatic β-cell insulin secretion. Efforts towards improving the functional β-cell deficit in cystic fibrosis related diabetes (CFRD) have been hampered by an incomplete understanding of whether β-cell function is intrinsically regulated by CFTR. Definitively excluding meaningful CFTR expression in human β-cells in situ would contribute significantly to the understanding of CFRD pathogenesis.

OBJECTIVE
To determine CFTR mRNA and protein expression within β-cells in situ in the unmanipulated human pancreas of donors without any known pancreatic pathology.

DESIGN
In situ hybridisation for CFTR mRNA expression in parallel with insulin immunohistochemical staining; and immunofluorescence co-localisation of CFTR with insulin and the ductal marker, Keratin-7, were undertaken in pancreatic tissue blocks from 10 normal adult, non-obese deceased organ donors over a wide age range (23-71 years) with quantitative image analysis.

RESULTS
CFTR mRNA was detectable in 0.45 (0.17-0.83)% (mean(range)) of insulin-positive cells. CFTR protein expression was co-localised with Keratin-7. 100% of insulin-positive cells were immunonegative for CFTR.

CONCLUSIONS
For the first time, in situ CFTR mRNA expression in the unmanipulated pancreas has been shown to be present in only a very small minority (<1%) of normal adult β-cells. These data signal a need to move away from studying endocrine-intrinsic mechanisms and focus on elucidation of exocrine-endocrine interactions in human cystic fibrosis.


A new study points to the need to revise the current standard of care for patients with bleeding ulcers. Intermittent proton pump therapy is an equally safe, less costly, more comfortable alternative for patients than standard care.


A severity of hot carrier injection (HCI) in PFET becomes worse than NFET at elevated temperatures. This new observation is further found to be due to the coupled self-heating effects (SHE) during DC HCI stress (also a higher Ea in PFET HCI), rather than the negative bias temperature instability (NBTI) effect during HCI stress. Furthermore, in order to guarantee the precise estimation of HCI under circuit level AC condition, a new empirical HCI lifetime model decoupled from the SHE is proposed, which is further verified by the Si data from nanosecond pulsed waveform HCI stress and Ring Oscillator stress results.


Simple Summary Our study investigated clinical features of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) bounce in patients undergoing brachytherapy. PSA bounce is common and discriminating between large bounces and biochemical failures is very difficult. Therefore, we suggest important points to discriminate between large bounces and biochemical failures. In addition, we aimed to examine the clinical features and details of PSA bounce in patients receiving brachytherapy. Abstract Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) bounce is common in patients undergoing 125I brachytherapy (BT), and our study investigated its clinical features. A total of 100 patients who underwent BT were analyzed. PSA bounce and large bounce were defined as an increase of ≥0.2 and ≥2.0 ng/mL above the initial PSA nadir, respectively, with a subsequent decline without treatment. Biochemical failure was defined using the Phoenix definition (nadir +2 ng/mL), except for a large bounce. With a median follow-up of 49 months, 45% and 7% of the patients experienced bounce and large bounce, respectively. The median time to bounce was 24 months, and the median PSA value at the bounce spike was 1.62 ng/mL, a median raise of 0.44 ng/mL compared to the pre-bounce nadir. The median time to bounce recovery was 4 months. The post-bounce nadir was obtained at a median of 36 months after low-dose-rate BT. On univariate analysis, age, the PSA nadir value at 2 years, and prostate volume were significant factors for PSA bounce. The PSA nadir value at 2 years remained significant in multivariate analysis. We should carefully monitor young patients with high prostate volume having a >0.5 PSA nadir value at 2 years for PSA bounce.


Anemia of CKD is common and managed with oral or intravenous iron, erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) and, when necessary, red blood cell transfusions (RBCT). Reducing RBCT use is a goal in the management of anemia of CKD due to known short term (e.g., hyperkalaemia, heart failure) and longer term risks (e.g., allosensitization), but there is limited collated data on their use in Europe. A systematic literature review was conducted to evaluate the frequency of RBCT use among dialysis dependent (DD) and non-dialysis (ND) patients, and associated data reported for predictors of RBCT receipt, complications, healthcare resource use (HCRU), and costs.

 A comprehensive search strategy was used to retrieve real-world (RW) studies and randomized controlled trials (RCTs) conducted in DD and ND CKD patients with anemia using Embase and Medline (1980 to June 2022). Searches of conference abstracts, bibliographies and grey literature were also conducted. Studies which included European patients' data are described here.

 Of the 3495 citations retrieved, 182 relevant studies were identified including 54 studies with European patients. Thirteen were RW studies including 12 quantifying the frequency of RBCT use (Table). In RW studies, the overall frequency of RBCT use ranged from 4.3–35.0% across studies and for key subgroups (n=10 studies: DD only studies, 8.4–33.9%; ND only studies, 4.3–35.0%). The number of RBCT units per patient-year (PY) ranged from 1.4–2.7 among DD patients (n=2 studies; no ND studies found). RBCT use appeared to vary by patient factors (iron/ESA use, CKD stage), by study design (e.g., length of follow-up) and across countries (but with no clear patterns in geographic variation). For the 41 RCTs including European patients (single country, n=3 studies, multi-country, n=38 studies), the overall frequency of RBCT use ranged from 0–21.6% (DD only studies, 0.4–21.6%; ND only studies, 0–14.8%), which was lower than those recorded in the RW studies. The rate of RBCT use in trials ranged from 3.5–66.0 events per 100 PY overall (DD only studies, 3.5–66.0; ND only study, 8.0); the number of RBCT units per PY ranged from 0.20–1.65 among DD patients (n=2 studies; no ND studies found). No studies used statistical modelling to quantify predictors of RBCT use while adjusting for potential differences between groups. One RW study from 1986 reported detection of human T-lymphotropic virus type III (HTLV-III; subsequently known as HIV) antibodies in 4 patients who had received RBCT (in a sample of 276 screened chronic HD patients). Of three RW studies reporting data on costs, two were >30 years old and one provided costs relating to receipt of inpatient RBCT in ND patients stratified by oral iron, low dose, or high dose intravenous iron use from 2013–2015 (n=111).

 RBCT use forms part of the management of anemia of CKD in Europe and its use is variable but not infrequent. RBCT risk in RW studies appeared elevated compared to RCTs. There were no consistent patterns in geographic variation, but risk varied by patient factors and study design. There is currently limited European data reporting on frequency of associated complications, predictors of RBCT use, associated HCRU and costs. Funding: GSK (Study 218929).


To investigate the physicochemical analysis, preliminary phytochemicals screening, along with TLC analysis and antibacterial activities of mangrove plants leaves of Aviccinia alba and Laguncularia racemosa. A. alba crude drug were showed the Physicochemical characteristic such as; extractive value (5.00%), water soluble extractive value (7.20%), loss on drying weight (12.43%), total ash value (14.00%), acid insoluble ash value (3.10%) and water soluble extractive value (3.90%). Similarly, physicochemical values in L. racemosa 8.50% extractive value, 6.45 % water soluble extractive value, 8.45 % of loss on drying weight, 16.22% total ash value, 3.40 % acid insoluble ash value and 3.40 % water soluble extractive values. Phytochemical analysis of methanol extracts of A. alba (AME) and L. racemosa (LME) revealed the presence high amount of tannins and phenolic compounds. TLC analysis revealed five clear distinct bands or spots by AME showed with their Rf values range from 0.2 to 0.75. Whereas LME showed seven unclear compound spots with varying Rf values range from 0.2 to 0.80. Methanol extracts of both plants were strongly inhibited against with Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes as gram negative bacteria and a much broader spectrum of action than Pseudomonas aeruginosa and E. coli as gram positive bacteria. These studies will help in setting down Pharmacopoeia standardisation and determining the quality and purity of bioactive compounds. Further investigation is being advocated for the identification of lead molecule with pharmacological significance.


Zinc concentrate is directly leached with Fe~(3+) orFe~(2+)solution without roasting. It studies concentration of sulfate acid, contact time, particle size and oxygen pressure to deternine their influence on the leaching of zinc con- centrate and the residues from the neutral leaching process. "Jnder the proper conditions, the leaching efficiency of zinc could reach above 96%.


The application of knowledge based systems to the design of VLSI circuits will have the greatest impact in assisting the engineer with aspects of the design which are not amenable to automation using algorithmic techniques. Test pattern generation and design for testability fall into this category. A further advantage offered by knowledge based systems is that they can 'acquire' knowledge for future use and hence improve their capabilities and the 'quality' of the solutions provided. Although expert systems offer many potential benefits a major barrier to their use is the high develop ments costs. These start-up costs can be offset to some extent by using expert system shells or by using logic programming languages e.g. Prolog, so that prototype systems can be produced relatively quickly and the required knowledge bases built up incrementally. In retrospect start-up costs were considered to be an obstacle to the development of conven tional CAD programs. These are now widely used and development costs, although still considerable, are accepted primarily because these tools have been shown to provide tangible benefits to the designer. Consequent ly, if development costs of expert systems are to be accepted these tools must demonstrate that they can also provided tangible benefits to the designer.


BACKGROUND : Nalluri Nursing Home has over two decades of experience in the healthcare sector, providing quality healthcare and valuable expertise, supported by a team of compassionate and dedicated medical professionals offering state of the art in-patient and out-patient facilities, focusing on the comfort and safety of our patients and their loved ones. Nalluri Nursing Home is located in the town of Ongole, Prakasam District, Andhra Pradesh.This project reports on the development and psychometric properties of the patients receiving health care service. METHODS AND OBJECTIVES : The prospective study was designed to examine the influence of specific characteristics of providers, patients, and health systems on outcomes of care. The main objectives wereto know the level of satisfaction of the patients regarding the medical care provided and to know the effectiveness of medical care provided. Briefly, data were obtained from patients visiting physicians in Nalluri Nursing Home in Ongole. Samples of 60 patients consisting of adults (ages 18 and over) were taken.The sampling method involved is convenience sampling method.To collect primary data a survey was conducted on Patient Satisfaction through a questionnaire, which was filled by the patients and their attendees in Nalluri nursing Home.  Various questions were asked to gain maximum information from the respondents. Scaling techniques were used in this survey, for understanding the relation between patient satisfaction with care provided in the hospital and its effects.The instrument used contained 18 items tapping each of the seven dimensions of satisfaction with medical care like general satisfaction, technical quality, interpersonal manner, communication, financial aspects, time spent with doctor, and accessibility and convenience. Answers of the respondents were elucidated by asking them to indicate their level of agreement on a given five point Likert scale with values ranging from "1" (strongly disagree) to "5" (strongly agree). RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS : 60 samples were taken to conduct study of which 47 were males and 13 were female.The instrument used contains 18 items tapping each of the seven dimensions of satisfaction with medical care like general satisfaction, technical quality, interpersonal manner, communication, financial aspects, time spent with doctor, and accessibility and convenience From the survey, 40 percent of the patients were uncertain if they are receiving perfect medical care or not. 28 percent agreed with this and felt that the medical care provided is good.Most of the patients disagreed that the physician's office has everything that is required for providing complete medical care.50 percent of the patient disagreed with the statement that their doctor acts too businesslike and impersonal with them.The patients agreed that doctors explain them the reason for undergoing medical diagnosis.The hospital is producing the medical services at affordable prices which is denoted by 50 percent patients agreed it.From the survey in Nalluri Nursing Home, the medical care provided by the hospital is satisfactory. But being a multi-specialty hospital, there are areas that should be improved to provide the patients a well satisfied feel from the hospital. By implementing the recommendations the most important factor time loss can be minimized.


With the increasing computational power, areas such as machine learning, image processing, deep learning, etc. have been extensively applied in agriculture. This chapter investigates the applications of the said areas and various prediction models in plant pathology for accurate classification, identification, and quantification of plant diseases. The authors aim to automate the plant disease identification process. To accomplish this objective, CNN has been utilized for image classification. Research shows that deep learning architectures outperform other machine learning tools significantly. To this effect, the authors have implemented and trained five CNN models, namely Inception ResNet v2, VGG16, VGG19, ResNet50, and Xception, on PlantVillage dataset for tomato leaf images. The authors analyzed 18,160 tomato leaf images spread across 10 class labels. After comparing their performance measures, ResNet50 proved to be the most accurate prediction tool. It was employed to create a mobile application to classify and identify tomato plant diseases successfully.


In order to elucidate the mechanism of the hypoglycemic action of tolbutamide, it is important to understand the metabolism of this compound. It is known that tolbutamide is largely excreted into the urine as a carboxylic derivative, and that the half-life averages 4 or 4.7 ±0.6 hours in normal subjects and diabetic patients.' However, it remains unknown what influence hepatic and renal impairment have on the metabolism of tolbutamide. In the present studies the disappearance rate of this compound from the blood after its intravenous injection was observed in normal subjects and in patients with diabetes mellitus, liver cirrhosis, and renal disease in relation to changes in arterial blood glucose.


In allusion to the situation that in present distribution networks containing distributed generation(DG) the coordinated dispatching of the compensating capacity of capacitors with reactive output of DG is not taken into account, a reactive power optimization method considering the coordination of capacitor banks with DG is researched. Taking the highest satisfaction degree of both network loss and voltage deviation as the objective, an optimal day-ahead dynamic reactive power scheduling model for distribution network containing DG is constructed. Based on the reactive power output of DG and the features of capacitor compensation, a day-ahead reactive power scheduling that coordinates the DG with capacitor banks is proposed. Firstly, the limits of various DG's reactive power output are analyzed and taken as constraints, the overall static state optimization of DG and capacitor banks is performed to attain the switching on/off capacity curve of capacitor banks; then fuzzy clustering is adapted to segment the capacity curve and subsection integration is used to formulate the day ahead schedule of capacitors; finally, after the determination of the compensating capacity of capacitor banks, the day-ahead scheduling of DG is drafted. Simulation results show that the proposed method is effective.


W. E. Gladstone resigned twice as leader of the Liberal Party. His final retirement of 1894 has received much attention, but his resignation two decades earlier is not well known. At age sixty-five, the recent loser in a surprise general election, the former prime minister stepped down from the Liberal leadership in January, 1875. Some observers doubted the permanence of his retirement, but previous speculation about the Liberal succession had assumed that Gladstone could hope at most for one further premiership. After he regained the leadership in 1880 and soldiered on as the Grand Old Man at the head of three further governments, Liberal sympathizers dismissed his 1875 resignation in retrospect as an unrevealing mistake, a temporary meandering from the true path of his career. Recent studies have pointed to the decisive importance of Gladstone's course in the 1870s, especially to the implications of his return to public life. R. T. Shannon ties Gladstone's resignation to his loss of rapport with the popular forces that had once rallied to the banners of Reform and Irish disestablishment. His government's rejection at the polls in 1874 seemed to end "his great romance with the people of England." Bitter, disillusioned, and mystified about the popular verdict, he resigned his post as Liberal leader. Freed from parliamentary responsibilities, Gladstone went on, almost in spite of his conscious intentions, to capture the soul of popular Liberalism, beginning with his hesitant but inspiring participation in the 1876 agitation against the Bulgarian atrocities, a campaign which held few attractions for the official Liberal hierarchy.


2. "Troupers of the Coral Strand," Willard Wilson, Univ. of Hawaii. 3. "Whitman's War Poems in the 1871 Leaves of Grass," Irving C. Story, Pacific Univ. 4. "Emily Dickinson, Spinster," H. E. Childs, Oregon State Coll. 5. "Early and Late Revisions in Henry James' A Passionate Pilgrim," Albert F. Gegenheimer, Univ. of Arizona. 6. "The Uncollected Stories of Henry James," B. R. McElderry, Jr., Univ. of Southern California. CLASSICAL SECTION Hermann F. Frankel , Chairman


Editor's Note: We have four new books in hand deserving of mention, dealing with a range of interesting and distinct areas of science communication. Craig Cormick has produced a guide to The Science of Communicating Science. Maria Gigante has written a volume on Introducing Science Through Images. Todd Newman's edited collection is about Theory and Best Practices in Science Communication Training. And Léonie J. Rennie, Susan Stocklmayer, and John Gilbert have published a book on Supporting Self-Directed Learning in Science and Technology Beyond the School Years. Each one of these volumes has rich information about a specific dimension of our field. Taken together, they nicely illustrate our contemporary breadth and depth—and how we've grown in so many important and interesting directions. If you have suggestions for other books to be considered for this space, please feel free to email me directly at firstname.lastname@example.com.


Wireless Sensor Networks are nowadays employed in several applications. Cyber-physical systems, health-care instruments and Internet of Things are using hundreds of smart sensors, which include also processing capability together with sophisticated communication protocols. The presence of faults in these critical applications must be checked during runtime, to detect transient and permanent faults that could seriously affect the entire system dependability and endanger human users. Continuous checking has been proven as inefficient in many cases, due to the low degrees of observability and controllability and to the limited life time of batteries. Even, on-line testing is often unable to report the presence of internal errors, which can remain latent during long times. In this paper, a proposal is presented for improving the on-line testability of the different type of nodes in a WSN, saving energy and tracking error from their origin.


Civica Rx, a nonprofit formed in 2018 by health systems and philanthropies to stabilize the supply of generic drugs, continues its rapid growth. Days after announcing a manufacturing partnership with Thermo Fisher Scientific, Civica has teamed with Blue Cross Blue Shield Association to create a subsidiary dedicated to lowering the cost of certain generic drugs. Blue Cross has committed $55 million to the subsidiary, which will acquire abbreviated new-drug applications for select high-cost products that it aims to make available by early 2022.


In order to improve the detection accuracy of image corners and reduce the noise influence for detection performance,a multi-scale fuzzy weighted corner detection algorithm is proposed after building the membership function which determines whether pixel belongs to corner in this paper.The corner detection algorithm combines the idea of multi-scale and fuzzy theory.Firstly,the original image is transformed by using Gauss kernel function and a group of responsive images are got.The responsive images are superposed and weighed and the average corner responsive datas are got.Then the final corners are got after correlative processed by using selected appropriate threshold value.Experimental results show that the proposed method can not only resist noise effectively,but also detect corners successfully.


The concept of agency has become widely used in education, social sciences, psychology, and more. This article explores the concept of agency and provides a critical review from two main bodies of work: The social cognitive theory and the structure agency theory. The two are not the same. Structure agency theory was used to illuminate agency from an organizational perspective. Social-cognitive theory was used to better understand leader agency from a social perspective. In order to understand the relationship between structure agency and leader agency, both of these theories are reviewed through the same lens: agency within the workplace, mainly in school structure and school leadership. Conclusions are drawn to a better understanding of how to develop a school leadership agency. We can summarize that the implications of agency in school are the key to effective school leadership.


In processing the medical data, choosing the optimal subset of features is important, not only to reduce the processing cost but also to improve the classification performance of the model built from the selected data. Rough Set method has been recognized to be one of the powerful tools in the medical feature selection. However, the high storage space and the time-consuming computation restrict its application. In this paper, we propose two new concepts: discernibility string and feature forest, and an efficient algorithm, the Feature Forest Based (FF-Based) algorithm, for generation of all reducts of a medical dataset. The algorithm consists of two phases: feature forest construction phase and disjunctive normal form computation phase. In the first phase, the discernibility strings that are the concatenation of some of features between two different cases construct the feature forest. In the second phase, the disjunctive normal form is computed to reduct features based on feature forest. The experimental results on the medical datasets of UCI machine learning repository and a real liver cirrhosis dataset show that the algorithms of this paper can efficiently reduce storage cost and improve the classification performance.


Last spring, 95 civil (CE) and environmental (EV) engineering majors in the ABET-accredited CE and EV programs at the U.S. Military Academy (USMA) worked on a multidisciplinary capstone project to design a regionalized drinking water treatment facility for West Point and surrounding communities. This paper assesses the project through student comments and instructor evaluations. The one-semester project responded to a real community need. The environmental engineers determined the treatment process type, treatment basin size, and treatment stream layout in plan and elevation. The civil engineers performed structural design of the treatment tanks, layout and design of the structure surrounding the treatment stream, and overall site analysis and design. The students quickly realized that their counterpart group (CE or EV), not the instructor, was the primary contact for key information beyond the client's concerns and needs. Students in both groups often found themselves waiting on the other group to complete work before they could proceed. While frustrating, they experienced the intricacies of multidisciplinary problem solving. In a typical class design project, students are provided a floor plan, a primary construction material, and specifications that allow them to focus on the technical aspects of the design. In this capstone project, students were responsible for defining the problem themselves (i.e., construction materials and building layouts) before they could complete the design. A significant challenge was that the CE and EV students were in two different courses meeting at different times with different instructors. Accordingly, due dates were coordinated and class schedules adjusted such that both groups were learning the required skills and submitting assignments to support each others' design efforts. Some of the many insightful comments were that the final design revolves around the customer's desires, not the designers, and that the groups must be fully integrated with the CE/EV students working on the same team, submitting the same report, and receiving the same grade.


In the present
investigation, antioxidant activity of the crude extracts from nuts and leaves of S. anacardium was carried out. The antioxidant potential of various extracts (ethanol,
acetone and aqueous) of S. anacardium was determined by using DPPH assay,
ABTS assay and metal chelating activity assay. Among the extracts the ethanol extract
of nut showed significant scavenging activity (DPPH-88.73 ± 2.26; ABTS assay-81.65 ± 1.57 and metal
chelating activity-72.37 ± 2.26) compared with antioxidant
controls, ascorbic acid and BHA respectively. The findings of the present investigation
suggest that the S. anacardium extracts can prove to be a potent source of biologically
active compounds that can be further subjected to isolation of therapeutic antioxidant
agents.


The orientation relationship and interface plane of eutectoid FeAl and FeAl2 lamellae are investigated in detail and a crystallographic model is proposed.


Four efficient pectinase producing thermophiles were isolated from Unhala hot water spring (16°35' N, 73°30' E) of Rajapur located in Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra. The isolates were identified as Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus cereus, Bacillus Firmus, and Bacillus brevis using morphological and biochemical techniques. Being an efficient pectinase producer, Bacillus licheniformis was selected for pectinase production and further identified using 16s rRNA molecular analysis and sequence was deposited to GenBank nucleotide repository under accession number KT373817. Pectinase produced by Bacillus licheniformis using optimized condition was partially purified and molecular weight was determined as 66kda. Characterization of partially purified pectinase was carried out where it showed remarkable pectinolytic activity at 80oC temperature and pH 10.0. The extracted pectinase showed stability in presence of solvents and surfactants such as chloroform, ethanol, butanol, acetone, Tween-80 and Triton X-100 at 1% (v/v) concentration. Enhanced pectinolytic activity was observed in presence of Fe3+ ions (10 mM). Increase in antimicrobial activity of amla (Emblica Officinalis) was recorded after treatment with partially purified pectinase as a novel application for the first time.


Henceforth please disregard those glossy New Yorker ads touting Atlanta's cosmopolitanism, Nashville's culture, Dallas's night life. According to this reanalysis of 1938-1968 survey data from Gallup and the National Opinion Research Center (first published in 1972 and now issued in paperback), the South is still as particularistic, pistol-happy, and puritanical as ever. After ingeniously employing surveys to demarcate the South from the rest of the U.S., sociologist John Shelton Reed compares opinion in the two regions on three broad topics: regional loyalties and kinship ties, violence, and religion. Interstate highways, condominiums, and New York-produced TV programs have apparently had little impact on Southern localism. Corporal punishment and permit-free gun ownership still command considerably more support to the south than to the north of the "Smith and Wesson line." Fundamentalist Protestantism, with its corollaries of prohibitionism and antipathy to Catholics, Jews, and atheists remains much more pervasive in Dixie than outside it. Nor are these contrasts much reduced when statistically controlled for the survey respondents' education, urbanization, and occupations. Southern values, according to Reed, are more than products of the region's obvious demographic traits; there really is something different about the South.


The 100200 nm-thick ZnO : M (M=Ga2O3, In2O3, Al2O3, Ag2O, CuO and SnO2) films in which droplet formation was suppressed have been deposited on glass substrates at room temperature by a pulsed laser deposition technique using SHG of Nd : YAG laser (λ= 532 nm). Transmittance in the as-deposited state of ZnO : Ga2O3 (2 wt%) film was the smallest among all the ZnO : M films : the film was colored with dark brown. When the films were annealed at 390°C for 50 min, the transmittance of the films increased markedly. The difference in the transmittance between the as-deposited state and the annealed state ΔT was 76% at the wavelength of 400 nm. It was found that maximal transmittance difference ΔTmax was 91% at the wavelength of 472 nm. From XRD spectra, the coloring phenomenon was explained from the fact that the Zn (100) and Zn (101) peaks were present in the as-deposited state and absent in the annealed state, and ZnO peaks such as (200), (101) and (100) were present in the annealed state and absent in the as-deposited state. It is thought that the ZnO doped with Ga2O3 films are useful as a high density optical memory due to the short wavelength (400 nm) of the next generation.


The influence of pore structure on waterflooding recovery efficiency is important both for the analysis of the reservoir performance and the selection of optimum territory recovery techniques. In this work, based on a study of the effect of pore structure of sandstone on water displacement efficiency, 28 reservoirs are classified into 5 grades: better, good, moderate, poor and very poor, with special feature according to the following factors: micro- homogeneity coefficient gamma, relative sorting coefficient of throat radius CCR, and pore-geometry factor G. Most of the pore structure of sandstone will become better with increasing permeability, but some others will remain unchanged, and others will become worse. Therefore, with increasing of permeability, the displacement efficiency in lab test may increase, decrease, or remain unchanged depending on their different pore-structure. Displacement efficiency increase with increasing porosity and better pore structure. 14 references.


The fractional aircraft market is the fastest growing segment of the business aircraft industry. A fractional aircraft operation is complex--essentially an unscheduled airline in a constantly changing environment. Bombardier Flexjet implemented a comprehensive three-module optimization system to simultaneously maximize its use of aircraft, crews, and facilities. AD OPT Technologies designed the modules, using the GENCOL optimizer developed at GERAD, which employs a column-generation approach to decompose large-scale mixed-integer nonlinear programming problems. Since inception, the project has generated savings in excess of $54 million with projected additional savings of $27 million annually, primarily by lowering crew levels (20 percent), aircraft inventory (40 percent), and supplemental charter aircraft usage (five percent) while increasing aircraft utilization (10 percent). The quality of customer service has remained consistently high, with significant reduction in supply.


In this work, a time-of-arrival/time-difference-of-arrival (TOA/TDOA) hybrid relative positioning system based on UWB-IR technology is developed. The system reduces both the complexity of system configuration and the number of wireless transmissions in a positioning sequence. The system performance over various distances between access points is verified by computer simulations and experiments under the assumption that the distance between the access points is less than that between the access point and the target node. For the experiments, the proposed system is implemented with in-house developed UWB transceivers. The experiments confirm that the developed TOA/TDOA hybrid system can detect the relative positions of target nodes (under the condition of two access points 4 m apart) with a measured-angle accuracy of 8.6 degrees.


The basic functions of the fast cut back(FCB) for two 600 MW supercritical units in Huaneng Shang hai Shidongkou Power Plant No.2 have been presented,as well as analysis and summation of the FCB situation over the years being carried out,putting forward the essentials for successfully realizing FCB.


Abstract To meet the verification requirements of the Enforcement Principle, every training organization may verify the results of the conducted training. Our research hypothesis is that by implementation of the proper self-assessment methods the final results of the military advisors mission training could be more objective, than by using the "classical" assessment methodology containing only the marks of the combat training instructors. Some research results of the military advisors teams' mission readiness level are presented in the following paper.


The thermodynamics of irreversible processes is based on the expression of the entropy source density derived in the previous chapter. From it, phenomenological laws of transport can be presented in a unified way. Heat transport is given by Fourier's law that leads to a heat equation in which Joule and Thomson effects can be included. It can explain thermal dephasing, heat exchangers and effusivity. Matter transport leads to the Dufour and Soret effects, which imply Fick's law and the diffusion equation, which can be used to discuss Turing patterns and ultramicroelectrode. Transport of two types of charge carrier leads to the notion of diffusion length, giant magnetoresistance and planar Ettingshausen effect. Transport can be perpendicular to the generalised force, as in the Hall, Righi-Leduc and Nernst effects. The formalism accounts also for thermoelectric effects such as the Seebeck and Peltier effects, with which to analyse thermocouples, a Seebeck loop, adiabatic thermoelectric junctions, the Harman method of determing the ZT coefficient of a thermoelectric material and the principle of a Peltier generator.


The immature embryos of Pinus massonian were cultured as explants on 1/2MS medium containing various combinations of BA and NAA at 25±2 ℃.The results showed that the best medium for inducting callus is 1/2MS+BA1 mg/L+NAA0.1mg/L+ agar 0.6% + sucrose 30 g/L,and NAA is necessary factor for inducting callus of the immature embryo.1fig.,2tabs.,24refs.


This paper proposes three new types of proxy signature schemes that deal with multiple signers from bilinear pairings. The first type is called a proxy multi-signature scheme and it allows a group of original signers to authorize a proxy signer on behalf of the original signer group. The second type called a multi-proxy signature scheme, means an original signer can authorize a group of proxy signers to sign on behalf of him/her. The third type is called multi-proxy multi-signature scheme because in this scheme multiple original signers delegate their signing capability to a group of proxy signers. As preparation, authors present the multisignature based on Hess's ID-based signature scheme which the latter two types of proxy signature schemes will use. This is the first identity-based multisignature scheme from bilinear pairings. The most important point about the new schemes is that the sizes of the proxy signatures in all these three types are independent of the number of original signers or proxy signers. The verification of them is similar to that of ordinary proxy signatures.


Grooved-gate Si MOSFET's with tungsten gates are fabricated using conventional manufacturing technologies, and their short-channel-effect-free characteristics are verified down to a source and drain separation of around 0.1 /spl mu/m. Phase shift lithography followed by a side-wall oxide film formation technique achieves a spacing of less than 0.2 /spl mu/m between adjacent elevated polysilicons, subsequently resulting in a sub-0.1-/spl mu/m source and drain separation in the substrate. Short-channel effects, such as threshold voltage roll-off and punchthrough, are found to be completely suppressed. From device simulations, the potential barrier formed at each grooved-gate corner is considered to be responsible for the suppression of the short-channel effects. >


into two suborders, (microbats) and Bats belong to the order and are divided into two suborders, (microbats) and (megabats). In Australia, there are species of megachiropterans in the genus of which are flying foxes. Four species of the flying foxes, grey-headed ( ), black ( ), little red ( ) and spectacled ( ), seem to play an important role as reservoir hosts for important zoonotic viruses in spreading and establishing infection in some species of animals including humans. A few of the several novel viruses isolated from flying foxes in Australia in the s, such as Hendra virus, Menangle virus and Australian bat lyssavirus, are important as zoonotic pathogens. Hendra and Menangle viruses are characterised as . Hendra virus causes respiratory and neurological signs and often fatal illness in both horses and humans. Menangle virus which caused fetal deaths in a piggery may cause a febrile, influenza-like illness in humans. The Australian bat lyssavirus is considered to be a new species within the genus Lyssavirus and is most closely related to serotype (classical rabies) and serotype (European bat lyssavirus ). This virus causes neurological signs in bats and can cause a fatal human illness.


Kinetics of the B1-B2 phase transition in KCl has been investigated under various compression rates (0.03–13.5 GPa/s) in a dynamic diamond anvil cell using time-resolved x-ray diffraction and fast imaging. Our experimental data show that the volume fraction across the transition generally gives sigmoidal curves as a function of pressure during rapid compression. Based upon classical nucleation and growth theories (Johnson-Mehl-Avrami-Kolmogorov theories), we propose a model that is applicable for studying kinetics for the compression rates studied. The fit of the experimental volume fraction as a function of pressure provides information on effective activation energy and average activation volume at a given compression rate. The resulting parameters are successfully used for interpreting several experimental observables that are compression-rate dependent, such as the transition time, grain size, and over-pressurization. The effective activation energy (Qeff) is found to decrease linearly with the logari...


Limiting sets were developed to allow the use of nonhomogeneous Markov chains in studying the long run behavior of a finite state system. Except for small systems, previous limiting sets were difficult tocompute. In this paper, a limiting set is developed which can be computed for much larger systems.


6047 Background: Investigational cancer therapies being tested in clinical trials may be available outside of trials, or "off-protocol" (OPRx). There are no published data on either the frequency of OPRx or the attitudes of physicians towards OPRx.

METHODS
In spring 2005, we surveyed a random sample of American medical oncologists chosen from the ASCO directory regarding their attitudes and practices surrounding OPRx. We evaluated the correlation between demographic factors, attitudes, use of OPRx, and response to hypothetical cases. All statistical tests were two-sided.

RESULTS
146 of 471 (31%) oncologists responded. 93% reported ever discussing OPRx and 81% ever prescribing OPRx. 66% reported prescribing OPRx ≥ once/year and 12% ≥ once/month. 68% reported denying requests for OPRx ≥ once/year and 6% ≥ once/month. Academic oncologists were simultaneously more likely than community oncologists to have ever provided OPRx (89% v. 75%, p = 0.06 by Fisher's exact test), to discuss OPRx ≥ 1 month (45% v. 12%, p = .003), and to deny requests for OPRx ≥ 1 month (15% v. 2%, p = 0.02). While 61% of oncologists believe that patients should be discouraged from OPRx, only 31% felt it should not be available. 53% felt that patients considering trial enrollment should be informed if OPRx is available, whereas 34% disagreed. 26% felt that patients considering enrollment have a right to OPRx, whereas 56% disagreed. Neither practice setting nor other demographic factors predicted attitudes towards OPRx. For hypothetical cases, there was little consensus regarding when to prescribe OPRx. For example, prior to the release of data from recent trials, 41% reported that they would prescribe adjuvant trastuzumab OPRx at a patient's request. Factors correlating with willingness to provide OPRx included non-academic practice setting (p = 0.04), > 15 years in practice (p = 0.08), belief that non-trial care and trial care are equivalent (p = 0.01) and belief that patients have a right to OPRx (p = 0.004).

CONCLUSION
American oncologists commonly discuss and provide OPRx. Attitudes towards and utilization of OPRx vary substantially in the oncology community. Further discussion of OPRx and guideline development appear warranted. No significant financial relationships to disclose.


Moso bamboo(Phyllostachys pubescens) is a fast growing bamboo species with important economic and ecological value.The objective is to grasp of the spatio-temporal dynamics of photosynthesis in moso bamboo leaf.In autumn 2006,a Li-6400 portable photosynthesis system was set up in natural field conditions to determine diurnal variation of gas exchange and response of photosynthesis to light intensities in different layers of the bamboo canopy(1st-7th branches from low to up was upper layer,8th-14th was middle layer,and≥15th was upper layer).Results showed that for diurnal changes in autumn,the net photosynthetic rate(Pn) had a double-peaked curve with peaks at about 09:00(am) and about 15:00(pm) and a "midday depression" from 11:00-14:00,which was due to the absence of irradiance and closure of some stomata.Also,the diurnal transpiration rate was a single-peaked curve,while the diurnal water use efficiency(WUE) was a double-peaked curve.Additionally,light response in the upper and lower layers of the bamboo stand showed that with the same photosynthetic photon flux density,Pn was greater in the upper layer.Adaptations of leaves in the two layers may have caused the difference light intensities with leaves in the upper layer better adapted to the stronger light.


Optimization of antibiotic production by a marine fungus Penicillium citrinum S36 through solid state fermentation employing Response Surface Methodology was done. The candidate organism tested was Vibrio harveyi and 1 Unit activity was defined as 1 mm of clearing zone around the colony. The optimum condition for antibiotic production was temperature - 25.42 0 C, pH - 4.98 and salinity - 37.54 and the maximum antibiotic production observed was 7492.05 U/gdfs in terms of inhibition against Vibrio harveyi. Time course experiments showed that antibiotic production was in phase with the growth of the organism i.e. maximum production during log phase and reached its peak on 7 th day of incubation.


Abstract Advances in virtual reality technology have had an increasing impact on tourism, changing the way tourists experience a destination or attraction, allowing them to have a more interactive and diverse experience. This study aims to examine the relationships between the virtual reality experiences dimensions, the experiential relationship quality dimensions and experiential advocacy. A convenience sample of 344 tourists who visited at one virtual reality park in Mashhad City of Iran was surveyed. The results indicate that among virtual reality experiences of immersion, interaction and illusion have a positive effect on experiential satisfaction and experiential satisfaction has a direct and indirect effect on experiential advocacy through experiential loyalty. Ultimately, experiential trust does not directly, but through experiential loyalty, lead to the formation of experiential advocacy. The results will assist virtual reality park management in developing and implementing market-orientated service strategies to increase perceptions of the dimensions of virtual reality experiences, the experiential relationship quality dimensions and create experiential advocacy.


The purpose of the srudy are; (1) to describe the application of the Teams Games Tournament (TGT) learning model, and (2) to determine the improvement in the quality of learning through TGT Model. This research method is qualitative. It was found that 1) student test results in cycle I meeting 1 obtained an average student test result of 55.42 with a completeness percentage of 25%, cycle I meeting 2 obtained an average student test result of 63.33 with a completeness percentage of 38%, cycle II meeting 1 obtained an average student test result of 72.50 with a completeness percentage of 54%, cycle II meeting 2 obtained an average student test result of 85.83 with a completeness percentage of 100%,  shows a significant increase in achievement. 2) The application of cooperative learning through TGT can improve the quality of student civic education learning outcomes. The average score of students' test results each cycle has increased. In cycle I meeting 1 obtained an average student test result of 55.42 with a completeness percentage of 25%, cycle I meeting 2 obtained an average student test result of 63.33 with a completeness percentage of 38%, cycle II meeting 1 obtained an average student test result of 72.50 with a completeness percentage of 54%, cycle II meeting 2 obtained an average student test result of 85.83 with a completeness percentage of 100%,  shows a significant increase in achievement.


This study presents a structural reliability analysis of a microwave tower subject to wind and freezing-rain hazards. The tower (name code CEBJ, owned by Hydro-Quebec) is a 66 m tall, three-legged, steel lattice structure located in the James Bay area. The reliability analysis is performed conditionally with respect to wind speed and ice thickness accretion, and the results are integrated over the domain of wind and ice values using their joint probability distribution. This approach makes it possible to perform sensitivity analyses with respect to various assumptions on the joint probability distribution function of the climatological variable, without having to repeat the detailed coupled reliability - structural analysis of the tower. The probability distribution functions assumed for the wind speed and the ice thickness accretion on the tower members are both extreme-value type I (Gumbel) distributions. Adopting a weakest link model, the failure of the tower is assumed to occur when any of the members...


Annotation. Compound Nb3Al with critical temperature Tc ≈ 18.5 K has the upper critical magnetic field Hc2 of 30 T, which is significantly higher than that of the wellknown Nb3Sn. Besides, aluminum is lighter and cheaper than tin and is widely abundant in nature. With such properties, Nb3Al is a good alternative to Nb3Sn. The next chapter proposed steps for the development of manufacturing technology of superconductor Nb3Al tapes from its approbation on a three-layer composite Nb/Al/Nb tape to obtain experienced semi-finished pieces of multilayer Nb3Al-tape with length of about 100 m. This is despite the fact that in order to achieve the above values, Tc and Hc2 needed exposure for 1‒2 seconds at a temperature of 1850°C. Laboratory technology allowed the investigation of such unknown during the time of obtaining the compound Nb3Al as: a joint deformation of niobium and aluminum; reactive diffusion in semi-infinite pair niobium/aluminum; the dependence of the superconducting parameters from regimes of high-temperature heating and lowtemperature annealing; fastening of superconducting vortices at the grain boundaries of compound Nb3AlGe. Usage of duralumin (alloy Al‒Cu) in a multilayer tape, instead of pure aluminum, has caused the need to investigate the effect of copper on superconductivity Nb3Al. Its positive impact at that time was quite not obvious.


There are no more fundamental attributes of childhood than growth and happiness. A major sector of our food industry specializes in products for the young designed to promote their physical growth;...


Citation: Venturelli M, Ruzzante F, Villa F, Rudi D, Tarperi C, Milanese C, Cavedon V, Fonte C, Picelli A, Smania N, Calabria E, Skafidas S, Fochi S, Romanelli MG, Layec G and Schena F (2020) Response: Commentary: Neuromuscular and Muscle Metabolic Functions in MELAS Before and After Resistance Training: A Case Study. Front. Physiol. 11:337. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2020.00337 Response: Commentary: Neuromuscular and Muscle Metabolic Functions in MELAS Before and After Resistance Training: A Case Study


Although bowel cancer is one of the most preventable and curable cancers, diagnosis and survival are poor in the UK. Lynn Faulds Wood, a survivor of advanced bowel cancer and founder of Lynn′s Bowel Cancer Campaign, advocates national screening and better awareness to improve outcomes


Beef cattle is the main employment and income source in all sectors of the regional economy in the town of Rolim de Moura RO Brazil, involving farmers, meat-processing companies and trade. In spite of such promising perspectives, the beef cattle sector is still rife with lack of organization, without any investigation on parameters that may trigger its development. Local conditions on beef cattle by SWOT analysis are provided in search of answers to the above mentioned issues. The most salient factors revealed by this technical instrument are consequently discussed. Bibliography research and the case study method were applied so that results consistent with the treatment of responses to the object investigated could be obtained. Recommendations for the improvement and the development of the beef cattle sector are eventually supplied.


T cell antigen receptor (TCR) is a protein-complex expressed on all T cells of the immune system and is responsible for the activation of T cells when infectious agent is presented by an antigen presenting cell (APC) in the form of peptides bound to the major histocompatibility complex (pMHC). Despite numerous studies it is not clear what biochemical changes upon binding of antigen ligand to the extracellular domains of TCR leads to activation of intracellular signaling (a process known as TCR triggering). This review summarizes possible biochemical mechanisms for TCR triggering and discusses their comparative limitations and advantages in explaining various experimental observations. Keywords: T cell antigen receptor; activation; model DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/njb.v2i1.5684 Nepal Journal of Biotechnology Jan.2012, Vol.2(1): 62-71


Although spiritual care practitioners, also variously known as pastoral care workers or chaplains, have had a foundational presence in most Australian hospitals, the discipline has been poorly regulated and does not have national standards of care. This leads to inconsistencies in the way hospital administrators are able to scrutinize the credentials, supervision processes and capability of the Spiritual Care workforce. This paper is a narrative review of the systems ensuring safe practice for the Spiritual Care workforce, focusing on the relationships between professional associations, clinical workforce capability and education in this field of practice in Australia. Substantial gaps and inconsistencies are revealed in the education and training of clinical practitioners, findings which align with variability of practitioner capability and which provide no assurance of quality or accountability. On the basis of these findings, recommendations are provided for relevant stakeholders with a view to improving safety and quality of care consistent with other health care professions and to assure the Australian public that accountability is core to the services provided in their name and under their jurisdiction.


Aims: The anti‐infectious activity of Bifidobacteria in combination with transgalactosylated oligosaccharides (TOS) against Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium LT‐2 in an opportunistic antibiotic‐induced murine infection model in mice was examined.


In an investigation of the microbiology of plastic dentures, flora was recovered from the tooth sockets of worn dentures. The predominating bacteria (strepto cocci, staphylococci and lactobacilli) found were considered part of the resi dent flora of the oral cavity. Members of the transient flora seldom were recovered. Acrylic and vinyl copolymer plastics used in dentures did not inhibit the growth of bacteria isolated from denture sockets. A bacterium smaller than any of the resi dent microorganisms did not penetrate thin sheets of acrylic or vinyl copolymer plastics. Odors that occur in some den tures may be attributed in part to the resident flora of the tooth sockets of dentures.


Neoproterozoic Jinningian deformed granites were recognized from the formerly_defined Alax Group. The ages of zircons from two deformed granite samples determined by step_evaporation technique are 971 Ma and 845 Ma, respectively, implying that they were formed by Jinningian magmatic event. The deformed granites are mainly augen gneisses, characterized by high content of SiO 2, alkali(Na 2O+K 2O) and REE, low content of MgO, TFeO and CaO, K 2ONa 2O, and intense negative Eu anomaly. Geochemical characteristics and tourmaline_ and muscovite_bearing rock associations suggest that Jinningian deformed granites in Alax area were formed in the syn_collisional setting. The discovery of Jinningia deformed granites demonstrates that magmatic activity of early Neoproterozoic affected the northwest margin of North China platform.


The method of interval estimation (MIE) provides a strategy for mean squared error (MSE) prediction of algorithm performance at low signal-to-noise ratios (SNR) below estimation threshold where asymptotic predictions fail. MIE interval error probabilities for the Capon algorithm are known and depend on the true data covariance and assumed signal array response. Herein estimation of these error probabilities is considered to improve representative measurement errors for parameter estimates obtained in low SNR scenarios, as this may improve overall target tracking performance. A statistical analysis of Capon error probability estimation based on the data sample covariance matrix is explored herein.


The effects of spherical nucleic acid (SNA) gold nanoparticle conjugates on the activation of macrophages in vitro and release of cytokines in vivo were explored. Herein, we show that G-quadruplexes, the formation of which is enhanced on gold nanoparticle surfaces, elicit an increase in cytokine release from mouse and human macrophages and induce the upregulation of activation receptors as well as NO2 production in vitro. Moreover, these G-rich SNAs can induce cytokine release when injected intravenously, though there were no severe, long-term effects observed. These results further reinforce the notion that nucleic acid sequence and structure play an important role in how SNAs interact in biological milieu and highlight a key design parameter.


The temperature is around 1 400 ℃ in the test;the hydrogen reduction rate constant is calculated under the 0.93~1.03 g(Fe)/(cm2·min).Comparing with the solid carbon,the reduction rate of hydrogen is much faster.To avoid excessive foaming slag,raw materials should be pre-reduced ore.Bottom-blowing hydrogen through smelting reduction pilot is researched for understanding the bottom-blowing case,the safety of hydrogen and process operating parameters are useful for future large-scale process-oriented experiments and the theoretical calculations provide the basis of experience.This article focuses on the exploration of hydrogen metallurgy experiments,kinetic analysis of test results.


The availability of multiple images of the same scene acquired with the same radar but with different polarizations, both in transmission and reception, has the potential to enhance the classification, detection, and/or recognition capabilities of a remote sensing system. A way to take advantage of the full-polarimetric data is to extract, for each pixel of the considered scene, the polarimetric covariance matrix, the coherence matrix, and the Muller matrix and to exploit them in order to achieve a specific objective. A framework for detecting covariance symmetries within polarimetric synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images is here proposed. The considered algorithm is based on the exploitation of special structures assumed by the polarimetric coherence matrix under symmetrical properties of the returns associated with the pixels under test. The performance analysis of the technique is evaluated on both simulated and real L-band SAR data, showing a good classification level of the different areas within the image.


Someone who is sick tends to suffer from stress. This type of patient really needs a figure of nurse to reduce their stress level. Beside that's, patient also needs a therapeutic communication. Therefore, a research is done in the Neurology Ward in M Haulussy General Hospital in Ambon with the purpose is to find out the therapeutic communication relationship of the nurses toward the patients' stress level in the Neurology Ward in M Haulussy General Hospital in Ambon. The method used in this study is the correlation quantitative method. The correlation result of the nurses' verbal communication toward the patients' stress level is 0,498 with the significant point of 0,005 (p<0,05). And the result of the correlation nurses' non verbal communication toward the patients' stress level is 0,497 with the significant point of 0,005 (p<0,05). While the correlation result of the correlation test between the nurses' therapeutic communication toward the patients' stress level is 0,581 with the significant point of 0,001 (p<0,05). Therefore, Ho (there is no relation of therapeutic communication to patients stress level) is rejected and Hi (There is relation of therapeutic communication to patients stress level) is accepted . It can be concluded that there is a significant relationship between the nurses' therapeutic communication toward the patients' stress level.


Goat, sheep, and lamb are labels for problem users of a biometric system. These user types are defined in terms of their verification performance when matched against themselves (goats) or when matched against others (lambs and wolves). Four new members of the biometric menagerie are proposed based on a user's relationship between their genuine and imposter match scores. Experiments using a variety of biometrics, algorithms, and data sets have indicated that this relationship can exist with real-world data (face, voice, and fingerprint). An analysis of the results indicates that the presence of these user types tends to reflect a weakness of the underlying system. A new framework for the evaluation of biometric systems based on user groups from the biometric menagerie (as opposed to collective statistics) is proposed.


An inductorless quadrature phase generator is designed and implemented in 0.18 μm CMOS technology. The proposed circuit is composed of two resistors, two capacitors, and four differential amplifiers. The performance of proposed circuit is verified by a single sideband (SSB) mixer and a vector-sum phase shifter. Measurement results show that the image rejection ratio is 42.38 dBc at 2.16 GHz. The measured RMS phase error and RMS magnitude error are below 3.5 degrees and 0.55 dB in 2-2.6 GHz, respectively.


In this paper, an optimal model predictive control (MPC) method is proposed for a class of high order plants which are modeled by the first-order linear systems with time-delay subject to random disturbance. First, the mathematical model of the plant is described by the CARIMA model with colored process noise. An estimation method is used to identify the parameters of noise which is defined as MA Model. Secondly, based on the state space model the optimal MPC is obtained incorporated with Kalman predictor/filter to get the present and future state estimates. A simulation example is given for comparing our method with the previous predictive control method.


This paper describes the importance of 3.5" magneto-optical media as the secure hyper storage technology in an information centric global network.


This study describes the ability to use the melt‐level control for stabilization of the crystallization rate during NaI crystal growth by the VGF technique with a skull layer. It is shown that a conventional linear decrease of the heater temperature leads to a nonuniform crystallization rate and deterioration of crystal quality. A method and algorithm of temperature control for the stabilization of the crystallization rate during crystal growth is proposed. The series of growth experiments with NaI(Tl) crystals proved the efficiency of this approach and ability to obtain scintillators with high registration efficiency, about 6.3% energy resolution for a 137Cs (662 keV) source.


Objectives: This research was performed to assess KAP regarding HIV/AIDS transmission and prevention among Bushehr Prison inmates. Patients and Methods: This analytical cross-sectional study was conducted between 2009 and 2010 among 800 inmates in Bushehr Prison. Convenience sampling was utilized, and the inclusion criteria comprised Iranian nationality, ability to speak or read and write in Farsi, and a prison stay for at least 2 months before entering the study. The data collection tool was a self-designed questionnaire, consisting of close-ended questions in 4 sections: demographic information, 36 questions on knowledge (total score ranging from 0 to 36), 20 questions on attitude (total score ranging from 0 to 40), and 7 questions on practice. Content validity was confirmed by using subject matter experts. Reliability was confirmed via a pilot study and Cronbach's α method. The α coefficients were between 0.75 and 0.95 for the different sections. The data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: The mean score of HIV/AIDS knowledge in the male and female inmates was 23.84 ± 4.70 and 21.35 ± 6.28, respectively (P < 0.001). The mean score of HIV/AIDS attitude among the men and women was 26.6 ± 5.4 and 24.48 ± 7.6, correspondingly (P < 0.001). Additionally, 63.3% of the male and 57.3% of the female inmates had read about HIV/AIDS (P = 0.20), 4% of the men and 11.3% of the women had tattooing in prison, and 28.5% of the men and 32.5% of the women had participated in HIV/AIDS prevention classes (P = 0.29). Conclusions: Comprehensive programs on HIV/AIDS education and counseling are needed to improve KAP apropos HIV risk factors and reduce risk behavior among prison inmates, especially women.


FIELD: chemistry. SUBSTANCE: each of the methods involves separate step-by-step addition of vinyl chloride monomer during suspension polymerisation when degree of polymerisation conversion reaches 30-70%. The polymerisation method is a suspension polymerisation method which is carried out in the presence of an auxiliary protective colloid or polymerisation initiator. EFFECT: obtained polyvinyl chloride has excellent processing properties and high packed density. 27 cl, 2 tbl, 15 ex


The National Association of Chain Drug Stores has endorsed a congressional proposal to establish a workgroup to collaborate on solutions to reduce prescription drug abuse and without comprising access to medications.


Cirrhotic cardiomyopathy is one of the complications of liver cirrhosis which can be characterized by diastolic dysfunction,high cardiac output and decreased systemic vascular resistance.Once cardiac load was increased,heart failure will be induced in the patients with cirrhotic cardiomyopathy,so it is necessary to study on its origins and development.This paper expects to provide an overview for clinical treatment of liver cirrhosis by concluding the progression of cirrhotic cardiomyopathy.


Silicon germanium tin alloys were grown directly on Si substrates using a cold-wall ultrahigh-vacuum chemical vapor deposition system at 300 °C, where commercially available precursors of silane, germane, and stannic chloride were used to grow the epitaxial layers. The crystallinity and growth quality of the SiyGe1−x−ySnx films were investigated through material characterization methods including x-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. Rutherford backscattering measurements show that 2%–5% of the Sn and 3%–5% of the Si were successfully incorporated. Investigation of the material growth parameters shows that a flow rate of stannic chloride higher than 1 sccm results in etching of the film, while an increase in the silane flow rate results in amorphous film growth. The photoluminescence study shows clear emission peaks ascribed to direct and indirect bandgap transitions, which are in agreement with theoretical calculations.


A field experiment was conducted during Kharif 2011 to study the effect of weed control methods on growth and yield of groundnut ( Arachis hypogaea L.) at Agronomy Section, SHIATS, Allahabad (U. P.). The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design (RBD). Ten treatment combinations were tested in three replications. The experiment comprised as T 1 control, T 2 -weed free, T 3 -one hoeing at 21 DAS, T 4 -two hoeing at 21 and 45 DAS, T 5 -oxyfluorfen 23.5 EC @ 0.2kg ha ?1 at 2 DAS, T 6 -oxyfluorfen 23.5 EC @ 0.2 kg ha ?1 at 2 DAS + one hoeing at 45 DAS, T 7 -pendimethalin 30 EC @ 1 kg ha ?1 at 2 DAS, T 8 -pendimethalin 30 EC 0@ 1 kg ha ?1 at 2 DAS + one hoeing at 45 DAS, T 9 -imazethapyr 10 per cent SL @ 100 g ha ?1 at 14 DAS and T 10 imazethapyr 10 per cent SL @ 100 g ha ?1 at 14 DAS + one hoeing at 45 DAS. It is evident from the results that, the treatment T 8 -pendimethalin @ 1 kg ha ?1 at 2 DAS + 1 hoeing at 45DAS was proved to be significantly superior than other treatments and control in respect of plant height, plant dry weight accumulation, number of branches per plant ?1 , number of pods per plant, pod yield (t ha ?1 ), number of kernels per pod, kernel yield (t ha ?1 ), weed index, weed control efficiency as well as lowest weed population (No./0.25m 2 ) and weed dry weight (g/0.25m 2 ). Although the values obtained in the treatment T 4 -two control hoeing at 21 and 45 DAS, T 6 -oxyfluorfen 23.5 EC at 2 DAS + 1 hoeing at 45 DAS and T 10 -imazethapyr 10 per cent SL @ 100 g ha ?1 at 14 DAS + 45 DAS were found to bestatistically at par to that obtained in the treatment T 8 and the values were found to be significantly higher than all other weed management treatments.


In October 2007, the Indian branch of the international environmental organization, Greenpeace, came out with a report entitled Hiding Behind the Poor (Ananthapadmanabhan et al., 2007) Based on a survey of 819 individuals divided into seven income classes, the report tried to assess CO2 emission levels amongst different income classes in India. The report was produced just prior to the Bali Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which was expected to be crucial in setting the stage for an agreement to follow the Kyoto Protocol.


In light of the pressures on water resources in Western Australia, there is an increasing demand for independent ecological impact assessments of future supply options. This study examined the fish migration patterns of fishes in the Blackwood River and its tributaries within and outside the surface expression zone of the Yarragadee Aquifer; an identified yet controversial water supply option for Perth. Fish migration patterns, population demographics and community structure were related to a number of key environmental variables. Main channel sites receiving most groundwater discharge had much greater abundances of salt intolerant freshwater native species than those upstream of the discharge. This suggests that groundwater input in summer provides refuge habitat and this enables those populations to continue to be sustainable in the main channel. Many of the spatial migration variations were also attributed to differences in hydrological regimes of these systems. For example, Freshwater Cobbler migration strength was positively correlated with main channel base flows. The perennial Milyeannup Brook provided crucial breeding habitat for the threatened Balston's Pygmy Perch and the species is particularly vulnerable to predicted habitat decline due to aquifer extraction. Other impacts on these fauna by changes in environmental variables are discussed.


Objectives: To study the adverse drug reactions (ADRs) associated with antiretroviral agents (ARVs) in HIV positive patients. Methods: The present study was a prospective observational study conducted at Government General Hospital, Anantapur from JUNE 2014 – JUNE 2015 (for one year period).  Qualified Pharmacologist monitored all the in – patients receiving ARVs during the study period for suspected adverse reactions.   WHO causality assessment scale, Modified Hartwig & Seigel scale and Modified Schumock & Thornton scales were applied to assess the causality, severity and preventability  of the reported ADRs respectively.  All cases and assessments were further reviewed by senior Pharmacologist & Head of the Department of STI. Results: During the study period,  94 ADRs were observed in 71 patients.  As per WHO scale, 80 ADRs were probable and 14 were possible.  Based on the severity assessment, 10 ADRs were mild, 80 ADRs were moderate and 4 ADRs were severe in nature.  Among the reported  ADRs, 70  were definitely preventable and 24 were probably preventable.  Antiretroviral drugs responsible for ADRs were Zidovudine (46), Stavudine (21), Nevirapine (10), Effavirenz (10), Lamivudine (5), Tenofovir (1), and Retonvir (1),.  Among the reported ADRs, major ADRs were Anemia (25), Skin rashes (10), Hepatitis (10), Vomiting (10), Lactic acidosis (9), IRIS (5). Conclusion: Regular monitoring of the HIV patients on ART is essential to identify and resolve ADR related morbidities.


This paper presents a novel adaptive DS-CDMA slotted-ALOHA packet random access scheme for improving the throughput of the conventional DS-CDMA slotted-ALOHA system. For this purpose a mobile-assisted algorithm is envisaged to control the change of the transmission rate according to the traffic load. This algorithm revealed that the optimum behavior may be almost reached at a low complexity cost. Moreover, the proposed algorithm was found to be robust to intercell interference.


Abstract: To develop bucaal mucoadhesive drug delivery system which retains and diffuses drug for prolong period of time. Flurbiprofen due to its use in elderly patients for the symptoms of joint pain as well as in dental issues, Aim is to facilitate patients by prolonging the delivery of drug substance by formulating mucoadhseive system. Mucoadhesive polymers like HPMC, Sodium carboxy methyl cellulose and carbopol were used to formulate the tablets by using direct compression method. Characterization of the tablets was done to confirm their usability. Results indicate that tablets prepared by employing carbopol depict better mucoadhesive as well as better sustained release buccal mucoadhesive tablets.


The authors report a case of severe hypoglycemic encephalopathy in an elderly patient. The magnetic resonance images showed bilateral cortical signal changes and basal ganglia lesions, which spared the thalami. The lesions were bright on fluid‐attenuated inversion recovery and diffusion‐weighted images and dark on the apparent diffusion coefficient map, being more conspicuous on the diffusion‐weighted images than on the fluid‐attenuated inversion recovery images. A literature review of the imaging features and pathophysiological mechanism in comparison with those of hypoxic ischemic injury is discussed.