Introduction: Measles elimination interventions in South Sudan have relied on mass campaigns due to reoccurring humanitarian crisis over decades. This paper examines the effects of targeted measles vaccinations on efforts at eliminating measles in the country. Methods: Time trend and an analytical cross-sectional design were applied on South Sudan Measles case-based surveillance dataset 2011-2015. Logistic regression of IgM positive cases against vaccination status and adjusted for age and unknown vaccination status were used to determine the likelihood of reduced risk of measles at 95% CI. Results: Routine immunization, follow-up and outbreak response coverage for measles vaccination over the period were sub-optimal. Even though the proportion of confirmed measles cases among vaccinated population was irregular ranging 14.2% to 61.9% within the period reviewed, measles vaccination generally reduced the risk of the disease in the population by 30% (odds 0.7, 95% CI 0.4, 1.0) from 2011-2015. A trend analysis showed that the likelihood of reduction of measles burden varied per year, but a higher reduction of risk was observed in 2015 (odds 0.05 (95% CI <0.01, 0.35) preceded by follow-up campaigns. Adjusting for age and unknown vaccination status, there were no statistically significant difference for the trends of odds, however the significant decrease in odds in 2015 (OR 0.01 (95% CI [0.01, 0.35]) R2 0.45) is due to a unit change in age. Conclusions: Targeted measles outbreak vaccinations generally reduce the burden of measles however the extent of reduction is more reflected in a year following a mass measles campaign as compared to outbreak response vaccination. Thus measles follow-up campaigns are necessary for sustained measles control and elimination.


the spatial variation of vector vortex beams with arbitrary polarization states and orbital angular momentum (oAM) values along the beam propagation is demonstrated by using plasmonic metasurfaces with the initial geometric phase profiles determined from the caustic theory. The vector vortex beam is produced by the superposition of deflected right- and left-handed circularly polarized component vortices with different helical phase charges, which are simultaneously generated off-axially by the single metasurface. Besides, the detailed evolution processes of intensity profile, polarization distribution and OAM value along the beam propagation distance is analyzed. The demonstrated arbitrary space-variant vector vortex beam will pave the way to many promising applications related to spin-to-orbital angular momentum conversion, spin-orbit hybrid entanglement, particle manipulation and transportation, and optical communication. Optical vector vortex beams have polarization singularities and also possess phase singularities in both their right- and left-handed circularly polarized (RCP and LCP) component vortices. With particular characteris-tics in polarization and phase structures, vector vortex beams have made a wide variety of applications in the fields of optical tight focus 1–3 , optical tweezing 4–6 , spin-to-orbital angular momentum conversion 7–10 , confocal microscopy 11,12 , and metrology 13,14 . An optical vortex beam with homogeneous polarization state has a helical phase front with azimuthal phase dependency of exp( il ϕ ), where ϕ is the azimuthal angle, l is the topological charge (TC) of helical phase with lħ representing the OAM carried by each photon. A vector vortex beam with space-variant polarization state has the singularity of polarization which is coincident with the corresponding singularity of helical phase. As the most common vector vortex beam, radially or azimuthally polarized beam is produced by the equally-weighted superposition of two component vortices


Backgrounds :
 Bojungikgitang is one of the most common herbal prescriptions in Oriental Medicine, and it is highly recommended prescription for...


We study fluctuation properties of strength function phenomena by employing a quantum mechanical model where a single parent state couples with a large number of background states. The background system is devised in such a way that the classical dynamics of the system may show a regular, an irregular, or a chaotic character as a function of a single parameter. The coupling of the parent state to the background states produces a fragmentation of the parent state, giving rise to a strength function phenomenon. We study various measures of the strength function that characterize its bulk structure or fluctuation properties. They include energy moments, strength distribution, fractal dimensions of the strength function, and Fourier transform of the autocorrelation function. Some of these measures, such as strength distribution or Fourier transform of the autocorrelation function, reflect characteristic aspects of the dynamics of the background system, i.e., if they have a regular or a chaotic character, while measures such as energy moments or fractal dimensions are rather insensitive to the dynamics. {copyright} {ital 1997} {ital The American Physical Society}


The Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation is providing more than $1.17 million in funding for hepatitis C prevention, education, and mitigation in China, India, and Taiwan. The funding is part of Delivering Hope, a BMS umbrella program in the areas of hepatitis awareness, prevention, and care. Several organizations have received funds to initiate this effort. The Liver Disease Prevention and Treatment Research Foundation in Taiwan will create a training program for patients and community-based health care providers in the detection, care, and management of patients. It will also provide access to treatment in remote areas. Also in Taiwan, the Hepatobiliary Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital will initiate a comprehensive intervention program focusing on prevention, early diagnosis, and medical management. In India, The Liver Foundation=West Bengal will use the funds to conduct a survey of the impact of liver disease and hepatitis C. After the survey, they will utilize the findings to inform public health policy and foster prevention and awareness activities in at risk populations. Joining the effort will be the National Liver Foundation, which will focus on improving hepatitis C screening, including the addition of more sensitive tests. It also plans to create education and awareness programs for local communities. Finally, in China, the Shanghai Charity Foundation will focus on improving education, screening rate and accuracy, and disease therapy. All of the funded programs are anticipated to produce key learning ideas and outcomes, which can then be applied to other countries. Funding recipients will prepare a comprehensive final report at the completion of their projects. These reports will then be shared with the hepatitis C community to enhance the body of knowledge on hepatitis prevention, care, and support. Already, Delivering Hope organizations, experts and national policy makers from Asia, the United States, and Southern Africa initiated the reporting process by meeting in a workshop to discuss community-based education and outreach interventions. At the two-day workshop, attendees shared best practices from their home countries and learned new skills to apply in their home countries.


In recent years, the issue of the transformation of digital trade has occupied a leading position among scientists who study the issues of the digital economy, digitization and digital trade. The profound impact of digital transformation has led to a change in consumer behavior, leading to a significant increase in online shopping and the adoption of digital commerce. This has resulted in businesses quickly investing in digital infrastructure and capabilities. The digital transformation of commerce is currently a necessity for business in the world. In the work, a study of the transformation of digital trade was carried out by creating an additional department for the development of digital trade. In recent years, the issue of the transformation of digital trade has occupied a leading position among scientists who study the issues of the digital economy, digitization and digital trade. In order to achieve the goal of the research, the author revealed the most significant obstacles that arise and need to be dealt with in the conditions of digitalization of trade. The author identifies five obstacles: silos in organizations, a culture of caution, insufficient resources, gaps in digital skills, and insufficient business and IT resources. The main challenges included in the obstacles are also revealed in the study. In today's conditions, it is necessary to be aware of the potential benefits and necessity of digital transformations and the feasibility of implementation as a result of such implementation. The author suggested introducing a digital trade development department into the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine. It is a subsidiary structure of the government to promote and coordinate the promotion and coordination of government actions to ensure the development of digital trade by promoting digital transformation and modernization of the country through digital technologies. In the direction of further research, it is worth indicating the disclosure of the functioning of the digital trade development department.


We consider a generic Iwahori–Hecke algebra H associated with a finite Weyl group. Any specialization of H gives rise to a corresponding decomposition matrix, and we show that the problem of computing that matrix can be interpreted in terms of Lusztig's map from H to the asymptotic algebra J . This interpretation allows us to prove that the decomposition matrices always have a lower uni-triangular shape; moreover, we determine these matrices explicitly in the so-called defect 1 case.


This paper presents a reflection on the subject of entrepreneurship, defining what an entrepreneur is and what is not, the theoretical and political positions to be assumed according to dignify and promote the development of an entrepreneurial culture oriented towards a permanent search for opportunities for growth. Likewise, it presents the results of field research with entrepreneurs of the Parish "Luz de America" in Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas, which shows how an attitude and individual perception of entrepreneurial nature involve different business results which are developed.


Circulated cooling systems were used in turbine units of a typical hydropower station and the coolers were equipped in the 8 tailrace branch caves.The effect of the coolers on the flow in the tailrace branch caves needed to be demonstrated.Because of the large amount of coolers,the workload of model-making was too much.To simplify the model-making,1 cave was selected to do the monomer model test.On the basis of quantitative analysis of the coolers resistance's characteristics,and based on the principle of resistance equivalence,the simplified model's material and its layout scheme were confirmed through resistance similarity test on the roughness of the simplified model.The coolers in the rest 7 branch caves were made with the simplified model and the process of the test were ensured.The result shows that adopting the simplified model in the tailrace tunnel can meet the similarity of the flow movement.


AIMS
To examine recent trends in incidence rates for cancer types most strongly associated with alcohol use, using data from US cancer registries.

METHODS
Age-standardized annual incidence rates (ASIRs) for squamous cell carcinomas of the oral cavity and pharynx, esophagus and larynx diagnosed in the most recent 10-year period (1992-2001) were examined for geographic areas included in the US National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) program of high-quality cancer registries.

RESULTS
For all geographic areas combined, ASIRs for these cancers declined over time, with no evidence for a recent plateau or upturn. This also held true for ASIRs in younger adults (age 20-54 years at diagnosis). For white males, declines in ASIRs occurred in each of the 11 geographic areas, and were statistically significant in nine areas. The declines in ASIRs were consistent with temporal declines in apparent alcohol consumption by state, although the prevalence of binge and heavy drinking in adults increased in some states.

CONCLUSIONS
Although there was no evidence for a recent plateau in ASIRs, continued surveillance is needed, in view of recent increases in the prevalence of binge and heavy drinking among US adults.


The 3-dimensional, non-linear, baroclinic, GHER mathematical model for the study of mesoscale motions (time scale of several hours to several days: tides, storm surges, …) is described. Particular attention is paid to the turbulent closure based on an evolution equation for the turbulent kinetic energy and a parametric expression of the mixing length ( k –model). Appropriate boundary conditions and numerical techniques (mode-splitting, implicity, σ-coordinate system, advection scheme) are described. The model is applied to the simulation of the M 2 tide on the North-Western European Continental Shelf not only without wind but also in typical winter and summer conditions. Large spatial variations of the turbulent kinetic energy appear as a result of the variations of depth and tidal activity around the shelf. These variations are clearly related to the different turbulence regimes observed in summer, with frontal structures separating well-mixed waters from stratified ones. The structure and evolution of the vertical profiles of turbulence variables are described and explained in barotropic and baroclinic conditions, under different wind forcings. The evolution of these profiles at the M 2 tide frequency largely depends on the eccentricity of the tidal ellipse. DOI: 10.1034/j.1600-0870.1994.t01-1-00002.x


Physical therapy has become the important means with the development of biomedical engineering,therefore electromagnetic treatment and biological electromagnetic research currently become hot topic.Especially in related fields of bone disease research found that the electromagnetic fields that can effectively to prevent and treat osteoporosis.This paper will electromagnetic field therapy and mechanism research aspects were reviewed.


The farmers have been facing problems. They are maintaining to mostly food grains and also fiber. And other hand, this increased production will depend on natural resources. Mostly land is converted to fertile land to non-agricultural purposes. The land degradation from erosion, water logging, mining and Stalinization etc. The increasing agricultural production is most difficult in Asia where cropping intensity is already highest in the developing world. The yield increase is limited by poor agricultural practices that result in unsustainable family systems. The adoption of modern farming system is forwarded. The millions of the poor people need access to updated new modern technology. The rural people are being depended on multi-traditional innovative ideas.


Objective: To observe the efficacy and adverse effects of Total Glucosides of Peony(TGP) in the of treatment of chronic urticaria.Methods: A randomized controlled clinical trial was used in this study,60 patients met the inclusion criteria were randomly divided into three groups.They are total glucosides of peony capsule 1.8 g/d plus epinastine 10 mg/d group(group A),in accordance with the horses Siting Jia compound glycyrrhizin 150mg / d group(group B),and single epinastine 10 mg / d group(group C),respectively.The course of treatment was 12 weeks.We test the patient's blood,urine,stool,and liver function,renal function before and after treatment,while observe and record the patients' adverse reactions.Results: The effective rate is 90.0%,85.0 %,55.0% in group A,group B and Group C,respectively.Differences of effective rate between group A and group B was not statistically significant(P 0.05);A,B group efficacy higher than that in the control group,the difference was statistically significant(P 0.05).There were less adverse reactions in all of the three groups.Conclusion: Total glucosides of peony joint epinastine is a effective method of treat chronic urticaria and fewer adverse reactions,and it is a chronic urticaria effective alternative treatment method.


The utility model discloses a bearing ring corrugation measuring apparatus, which comprises a sensor, a mandrel and a main shaft, wherein one side of the sensor is provided with a sensor contact which contacts the surfaces of the channels of the inner ring and the outer ring of a measured bearing; the mandrel is inserted into a taper hole of the main shaft; moreover, the inner ring and the outer ring of the measured bearing are inlaid on the rotary mandrel; and the sensor contact contacts the detection parts of the channels of the inner ring and the outer ring of the measured bearing through a lifting hand wheel, an axial sliding plate displacement knob and a radial sliding plate displacement knob. The bearing ring corrugation measuring apparatus has high sensitivity and accurate and stable instrument measurement, and is free from environmental restriction; moreover, the measuring apparatus has simple adjustment and convenient operation, and increases detection efficiency.


To understand and modify the secondary cell walls of plants the project group Enzyme Discovery in Hybrid Aspen for Fiber Engineering (EDEN) was founded composed of nine laboratories with funding from the European Commission. The main target of EDEN´s research is to genetically engineer fiber structure in order to produce transgenic trees with modified properties for the pulp and paper industries. In this target framework, the Populus tremula x tremuloides xyloglucan endotransglycosylase (PttXET16A) was selected for in-depth study of its transglycosylase activity catalyzing cleavage and reconnection of xyloglucan molecules, which is proposed to be involved in secondary cell wall morphogenesis. The creation of a family 16 carbohydrate active enzyme -glucanase/XET hybrids were attempted in order to design a chimeric enzyme with one or more of the following altered properties: specificity, activity, and or stability. The two enzymes, Bacillus licheniformis 1,3-1,4--glucanase and Populus tremula x tremuloides xyloglucan endotransglycosylase, are members of the same enzymatic family and have highly homologous 3-dimensional structures. However, the enzymes exhibit different activities, one a hydrolase the other a transferase; different specificities, one accepts only linear glcosydic substrates while the other branched substrates; and different stabilities. Hybrid enzyme construction represented an investigational challenge in order to understand what physical characteristics of both enzymes attribute to the specific pattern of activity and specificity observed.Removal of the 1,3-1,4--glucanase major loop resulted in a folded protein which still maintained some β-glucan hydrolase activity. However, no xyloglucan endotransglycosylase-like activity or specificity was observed. Next, point mutations of the β-sheets forming the enzymatic binding site cleft were mutated to resemble PttXET16A residues. The final chimeric protein neither exhibited XET nor β-glucanase activities. Structural analysis by X-ray crystallography revealed a major unexpected structural rearrangement providing a clear insight for further enzyme engineering.


OBJECTIVES
To explore patients' thoughts and perceptions of information provision regarding dental implant treatment.

METHODS
This generic qualitative study involved 38 semi-structured face-to-face and telephone interviews with 34 participants, who were at different stages of dental implant treatment. The interviews were transcribed verbatim. The data collection and coding process followed the principles of qualitative thematic analysis.

RESULTS
Clinical sources of information were generally trusted by patients; however, patients clearly lacked information relative to their own specific situation, concerns and preferences, and this may lead to patients' reliance on other general sources of information. Crucial information on the long-term prosthesis needs was requested by patients at all treatment stages. Issues concerning the longevity and functional capability of the implant restoration and the long-term maintenance including optimisation of hygiene practice were questioned by patients and required greater explanation.

CONCLUSION
With growing patient interest in implants for replacement of missing teeth, complete and accurate knowledge and understanding of implants should be established with patients. This should be undertaken with more reliance on reliable clinically based sources of implant information.


Because in the component analysis method, the number and relativity of indexes belonging to a certain aspect has a remarkable disadvantageous impact on the result, when the comprehensive evaluation for urban traffic management planning is made, firstly all the indexes are divided into different index subset, and using the principal component analysis method, the value of each index subset is gained. And then, the corresponding power coefficient is allotted to each index subset. At last, the comprehensive evaluative value of urban traffic management planning is gained by means of the linear power adding. In an example, the impact of power to the result is discussed. The method effectively combines the virtue of subjective and objective methods to determine power, and overcomes the defects in the common methods.


In the recent paper [J.\ Phys.\ A 44 (2011) 065203], we have arrived at the closed-form expression for the Green's function for the partial differential operator describing propagation of a scalar wave in an $N$-dimensional ($N\geqslant2$) Maxwell fish-eye medium. The derivation has been based on unique transformation properties of the fish-eye wave equation under the hyperspherical inversion. In this communication, we arrive at the same expression for the fish-eye Green's function following a different route. The alternative derivation we present here exploits the fact that there is a close mathematical relationship, through the stereographic projection, between the wavized fish-eye problem in $\mathbb{R}^{N}$ and the problem of propagation of scalar waves over the surface of the $N$-dimensional hypersphere.


In this article, butyl rubber (IIR) was blended with ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA) through a molten method. The crystal structure, morphology, crystallization and segmental dynamics were characterized. The crystal structure test indicated that IIR had no influence on the crystal form of EVA. Furthermore, the morphology showed that the blends changed from sea-island to a co-continuous structure. Moreover, the non-isothermal crystallization kinetics given by Mo's model showed that the rate of crystallization became fast as the content of EVA increased. In addition, the segmental dynamics characterization illustrated that EVA suppressed the molecular motions of IIR to a different degree. Longer units were more influenced than shorter units. It was also found that both crystallization and molecular dynamics had a close relationship with the morphology.


To investigate the effect of meteorological factors, seasonal factors and Air Pollutions on the formation of particulate matter (PM2.5) in Jinan, China. Nonlinear dynamic inversion model was established to analyze the effect of meteorological factors, seasonal factors and CO, PM10, SO2, NO2, O3 on PM2.5 formations in different seasons. Temperature has a great influence on PM2.5 concentration variation. Precipitation exacerbate the formation of PM2.5 in Winter. Wind speed make a little contribution to PM2.5 formation in Jinan during different season. The formation of PM2.5 was influenced by confounding factors.


Hepatic inflammatory pseudotumor (IPT) is a rare benign lesion that is not easy to be differentiated from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) without liver biopsy. In Taiwan, HCC is one of the most common cancers, and up to 80% of cases are related to liver cirrhosis; besides, most cases of HCC in Taiwan have chronic hepatitis B or C. We describe a 55-year-old man with chronic hepatitis C and liver cirrhosis who was diagnosed as having hepatic and probable pulmonary IPTs concomitantly. The imaging appearances were clinically indistinguishable from HCC with lung metastasis. The extremely high alpha-fetoprotein level (305, 620ng/mL) in this cirrhotic patient suggested the hepatic lesions were HCC but this was not the case. The hepatic tumors regressed and the pulmonary nodules vanished subsequently without specific treatment except the use of corticosteroid and antibiotics during hospitalization. Alpha-fetoprotein level decreased with the size of these multiple hepatic IPTs in regression. Percutaneous coaxial multiple liver biopsies from the regressing hepatic tumors confirmed the diagnosis of hepatic IPTs. Special attention should be paid to this unusual condition, particularly in regions where HCC is prevalent.


Rationale—Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are popular drugs for gastroesophageal reflux, which are now available for long-term use without medical supervision. Recent reports suggest that PPI use is associated with cardiovascular, renal, and neurological morbidity. Objective—To study the long-term effect of PPIs on endothelial dysfunction and senescence and investigate the mechanism involved in PPI-induced vascular dysfunction. Methods and Results—Chronic exposure to PPIs impaired endothelial function and accelerated human endothelial senescence by reducing telomere length. Conclusions—Our data may provide a unifying mechanism for the association of PPI use with increased risk of cardiovascular, renal, and neurological morbidity and mortality. From the August 19, 2016 issue: Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Metformin Irrespective of Diabetes Status Amy R. Cameron, Vicky L. Morrison, Daniel Levin, Mohapradeep Mohan, Calum Forteath, Craig Beall, Alison D. McNeilly, David J.K. Balfour, Terhi Savinko, Aaron K.F. Wong, Benoit Viollet, Kei Sakamoto, Susanna C. Fagerholm, Marc Foretz, Chim C. Lang, Graham Rena Abstract Rationale—The diabetes mellitus drug metformin is under investigation in cardiovascular disease, but the molecular mechanisms underlying possible benefits are poorly understood. Objective—Here, we have studied anti-inflammatory effects of the drug and their relationship to antihyperglycemic properties. Methods and Results—In primary hepatocytes from healthy animals, metformin and the IKKβ (inhibitor of kappa B kinase) inhibitor BI605906 both inhibited tumor necrosis factor-α–dependent IκB degradation and expression of proinflammatory mediators interleukin-6, interleukin-1β, and CXCL1/2 (C-X-C motif ligand 1/2). Metformin suppressed IKKα/β activation, an effect that could be separated from some metabolic actions, in that BI605906 did not mimic effects of metformin on lipogenic gene expression, glucose production, and AMP-activated protein kinase activation. Equally AMPactivated protein kinase was not required either for mitochondrial suppression of IκB degradation. Consistent with discrete anti-inflammatory actions, in macrophages, metformin specifically blunted secretion of proinflammatory cytokines, without inhibiting M1/M2 differentiation or activation. In a large treatment naive diabetes mellitus population cohort, we observed differences in the systemic inflammation marker, neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio, after incident treatment with either metformin or sulfonylurea monotherapy. Compared with sulfonylurea exposure, metformin reduced the mean log-transformed neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio after 8 to 16 months by 0.09 U (95% confidence interval, 0.02–0.17; P=0.013) and increased the likelihood that neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio would be lower than baseline after 8 to 16 months (odds ratio, 1.83; 95% confidence interval, 1.22–2.75; P=0.00364). Following up these findings in a double-blind placebo controlled trial in nondiabetic heart failure (trial registration: NCT00473876), metformin suppressed plasma cytokines including the agingassociated cytokine CCL11 (C-C motif chemokine ligand 11). Conclusion—We conclude that anti-inflammatory properties of metformin are exerted irrespective of diabetes mellitus status. This may accelerate investigation of drug utility in nondiabetic cardiovascular disease groups. Clinical Trial Registration—Name of the trial registry: TAYSIDE trial (Metformin in Insulin Resistant Left Ventricular [LV] Dysfunction). URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT00473876. From the September 16, 2016 issue: Proliferation and Recruitment Contribute to Myocardial Macrophage Expansion in Chronic Heart Failure Hendrik B. Sager, Maarten Hulsmans, Kory J. Lavine, Marina B. Moreira, Timo Heidt, Gabriel Courties, Yuan Sun, Yoshiko Iwamoto, Benoit Tricot, Omar F. Khan, James E. Dahlman, Anna Borodovsky, Kevin Fitzgerald, Daniel G. Anderson, Ralph Weissleder, Peter Libby, Filip K. Swirski, Matthias Nahrendorf Abstract Rationale—Macrophages reside in the healthy myocardium, participate in ischemic heart disease, and modulate myocardial infarction (MI) healing. Their origin and roles in post-MI remodeling of nonischemic remote myocardium, however, remain unclear. Objective—This study investigated the number, origin, phenotype, and function of remote cardiac macrophages residing in the nonischemic myocardium in mice with chronic heart failure after coronary ligation. Methods and Results—Eight weeks post MI, fate mapping and flow cytometry revealed that a 2.9-fold increase in remote macrophages results from both increased local macrophage proliferation and monocyte recruitment. Heart failure produced by extensive MI, through activation of the sympathetic nervous system, expanded medullary and extramedullary hematopoiesis. Circulating Ly6Chigh monocytes rose from 64±5 to 108±9 per microliter of blood (P<0.05). Cardiac monocyte recruitment declined in Ccr2−/− mice, reducing macrophage numbers in the failing myocardium. Mechanical strain of primary murine and human macrophage cultures promoted cell cycle entry, suggesting that the increased wall tension in post-MI heart failure stimulates local macrophage proliferation. Strained cells activated the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway, whereas specific inhibitors of this pathway reduced macrophage proliferation in strained cell cultures and in the failing myocardium (P<0.05). Steady-state cardiac macrophages, monocyte-derived macrophages, and locally sourced macrophages isolated from failing myocardium expressed different genes in a pattern distinct from the M1/ M2 macrophage polarization paradigm. In vivo silencing of endothelial cell adhesion molecules curbed post-MI monocyte by gest on M arch 4, 2017 http://circhajournals.org/ D ow nladed from 770 Circulation Research March 3, 2017 recruitment to the remote myocardium and preserved ejection fraction (27.4±2.4 versus 19.1±2%; P<0.05). Conclusions—Myocardial failure is influenced by an altered myeloid cell repertoire. From the September 30, 2016 issue: A Simplified, Langendorff-Free Method for Concomitant Isolation of Viable Cardiac Myocytes and Nonmyocytes From the Adult Mouse Heart Matthew Ackers-Johnson, Peter Yiqing Li, Andrew P. Holmes, Sian-Marie O'Brien, Davor Pavlovic, Roger S. Foo Abstract Rationale—Cardiovascular disease represents a global pandemic. The advent of and recent advances in mouse genomics, epigenomics, and transgenics offer ever-greater potential for powerful avenues of research. However, progress is often constrained by unique complexities associated with the isolation of viable myocytes from the adult mouse heart. Current protocols rely on retrograde aortic perfusion using specialized Langendorff apparatus, which poses considerable logistical and technical barriers to researchers and demands extensive training investment. Objective—To identify and optimize a convenient, alternative approach, allowing the robust isolation and culture of adult mouse cardiac myocytes using only common surgical and laboratory equipment. Methods and Results—Cardiac myocytes were isolated with yields comparable to those in published Langendorffbased methods, using direct needle perfusion of the LV ex vivo and without requirement for heparin injection. Isolated myocytes can be cultured antibiotic free, with retained organized contractile and mitochondrial morphology, transcriptional signatures, calcium handling, responses to hypoxia, neurohormonal stimulation, and electric pacing, and are amenable to patch clamp and adenoviral gene transfer techniques. Furthermore, the methodology permits concurrent isolation, separation, and coculture of myocyte and nonmyocyte cardiac populations. Conclusions—We present a novel, simplified method, demonstrating concomitant isolation of viable cardiac myocytes and nonmyocytes from the same adult mouse heart. We anticipate that this new approach will expand and accelerate innovative research in the field of cardiac biology.8 From the October 14, 2016 issue: RBM20 Regulates Circular RNA Production From the Titin Gene Mohsin A.F. Khan, Yolan J. Reckman, Simona Aufiero, Maarten M.G. van den Hoogenhof, Ingeborg van der Made, Abdelaziz Beqqali, Dave R. Koolbergen, Torsten B. Rasmussen, Jolanda van der Velden, Esther E. Creemers, Yigal M. Pinto Abstract Rationale—RNA-binding motif protein 20 (RBM20) is essential for normal splicing of many cardiac genes, and loss of RBM20 causes dilated cardiomyopathy. Given its role in splicing, we hypothesized an important role for RBM20 in forming circular RNAs (circRNAs), a novel class of noncoding RNA molecules. Objective—To establish the role of RBM20 in the formation of circRNAs in the heart. Methods and Results—Here, we performed circRNA profiling on ribosomal depleted RNA from human hearts and identified the expression of thousands of circRNAs, with some of them regulated in disease. Interestingly, we identified 80 circRNAs to be expressed from the titin gene, a gene that is known to undergo highly complex alternative splicing. We show that some of these circRNAs are dynamically regulated in dilated cardiomyopathy but not in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. We generated RBM20-null mice and show that they completely lack these titin circRNAs. In addition, in a cardiac sample from an RBM20 mutation carrier, titin circRNA production was severely altered. Interestingly, the loss of RBM20 caused only a specific subset of titin circRNAs to be lost. These circRNAs originated from the RBM20-regulated I-band region of the titin transcript. Conclusions—We show that RBM20 is crucial for the formation of a subset of circRNAs that originate from the I-band of the titin gene. We propose that RBM20, by excluding specific exons from the pre-mRNA, provides the substrate to form this class of RBM20-dependent circRNAs. From the October 28, 2016 issue: Cardiac Fibroblast GRK2 Deletion Enhances Contractility and Remodeling Following Is


Converting wind kinetic energy into electrical energy by using wind turbine is one of the interested approaches to get rid of fossil fuels as a source of energy. Wi n d turbine behavior's simulation is a common way to design a high performance turbine. On of the important parameters in wind turbine's design is the value of it's geometrical angles. In this study we simulated the behavior of wind turbines by applying unsteady blade element method in order to calculate the appropriate values for these angles . Also we presented the effect of choosing appropriate value sonthe turbine's performance. Calculation of Wind Turbine Geometrical Angles Using Unsteady Blade Element Momentum (BEM) Adel Heydarabadipour M. Sc. Student School of Mechanical Engineering Sharif University of Technology Email: email@example.com Farschad Torabi Assistant Professor Faculty of Mechanical Engineering K. N. Toosi University of Technology Email: firstname.lastname@example.com Telephone: (+98) 21– 84063245 Abstract—Converting wind kinetic energy into electrical energy by using wind turbine is one of the interested approaches to get rid of fossil fuels as a source of energy. Wind turbine behavior's simulation is a common way to design a high performance turbine. On of the important parameters in wind turbine's design is the value of it's geometrical angles. In this study we simulated the behavior of wind turbines by applying unsteady blade element method method in order to calculate the appropriate values for these angles. Also we presented the effect of choosing appropriate values on the turbine's performance.Converting wind kinetic energy into electrical energy by using wind turbine is one of the interested approaches to get rid of fossil fuels as a source of energy. Wind turbine behavior's simulation is a common way to design a high performance turbine. On of the important parameters in wind turbine's design is the value of it's geometrical angles. In this study we simulated the behavior of wind turbines by applying unsteady blade element method method in order to calculate the appropriate values for these angles. Also we presented the effect of choosing appropriate values on the turbine's performance.


In part I of this series, we showed that the observed Universe can be modeled as a local Black Hole of fixed mass M≃6×1022M⊙, without Dark Energy: cosmic acceleration is caused by the Black Hole event horizon rS = 2GM. Here, we propose that such Black Hole Universe (together with smaller primordial Black Holes) could form from the hierarchical free-fall collapse of regular matter. We argue that the singularity could be avoided with a Big Bounce explosion, which results from neutron degeneracy pressure (Pauli exclusion principle). This happens at GeV energies, like in core collapse supernova, well before the collapse reaches Planck energies (1019 GeV). If our Universe formed this way, there is no need for Cosmic Inflation or a singular start (the Big Bang). Nucleosynthesis and recombination follow a hot expansion, as in the standard model, but cosmological measurements (which are free parameters in the standard model) could in principle be predicted from first principles. Part or all of the Dark Matter could be made up of primordial compact objects (Black Holes and Neutron Stars), remnants of the collapse and bounce. This can provide a faster start for galaxy formation. We present a simple prediction to explain the observed value of M≃6×1022M⊙ or equivalently ΩΛ (the fraction of the critical energy density observed today in form of Dark Energy) and the coincidence problem Ωm∼ΩΛ.


When the states of England and Scotland combined in 1707, conditions were created whereby English nationalism could merge into British nationalism. With the expansion of empire, English nationalism was expressed through imperial-national discourses allowing English nationalists to claim non-English space when articulating what might be best understood as an Anglo-British nationalism. Accordingly, such discourses largely 'hid' what one might now understand as 'English nationalism' within a 'British' discourse of empire. The case of England illustrates that imperial discourses can become intimately bound up with the 'national' discourse of the nations at the core of the imperial structures. Accordingly, it is here argued that imperial and national discourse are not necessarily opposed to each other, but are able to feed into each other, affecting the manner in which ideas of the nation and empire are conceived and articulated.


This thesis examines the representations of women via the webzine goop, founded by actress Gwyneth Paltrow. Goop is marketed as a webzine that "provides lifestyle advice to women". Goop very much promotes the idea that women today can "have it all". The notion of "having it all" encompasses having a successful career as well as being a mother/having family. In very general terms our study examines this idea of "having it all" and the messages conveyed by the website and webzine goop. The investigation was three-fold. Firstly we applied a basic content analysis to 15 editorial letters produced by Paltrow herself in order to identify her preoccupations and main ideas. Secondly a visual analysis was carried out on 45 images that accompanied the same webzine from which we extracted the editorial letters. Thirdly we applied a documentary and third-party analysis of articles by journalists about Paltrow and goop at the same period. The findings discuss the fact that the "have it all" messages are indeed present but based more on idealism and aspirational consumerism and Paltrow's role as an entrepreneur. Indeed it seems that Paltrow's advice is not deemed credible and that the website and webzine are more vehicles for self-representation of Paltrow herself that true reflections of non celebrity women. The research highlights therefore that Paltrow and goop promote a carefully managed cosmopolitan lifestyle interpolating the consumer into a position that allows them to "buy-in" to the celebrity status by reading about it. This makes us consider goop more as advertising than a lifestyle and advice magazine. The research highlights the prevalent themes in goop are idealism, status seeking and aspirational consumption which suit wealthy celebrities, but are alienated from the 'have it all' possibilities of ordinary women.


It's very difficult to make a judgment that a classification algorithm is better than another because it may work well in a certain data environment, but worse in others. Evaluation on performance of a classification algorithm is usually on its accuracy. However, other factors, such as computational time or space are also considered to have a full picture of each algorithm. This project will evaluate performance of various classification techniques on three different data environment, which are noisy, un-noisy, and computational-intensive. Classification technique can be classified into five categories, which are based on different mathematical concepts. These categories are statistical-based, distance-based, decision tree-based, neural network-based, and rule-based. Each category consists of several algorithms, but the most popular from each category will be used and compared on 3 different classification tasks. The algorithms are C4.5, Naïve Bayes, K-Nearest Neighbors, and Backpropagation Neural Network. There are three data environments that are being studied in this project. One of them is the Iris dataset, which consists of relatively clear distinction of the three Iris classes. The second dataset is Diabetes, which has a very noisy data environment or unclear distinction of the classes. The last data environment is Spambase, which is a real-world dataset used by many company to classify an email as either Spam or Not Spam. This dataset is used to compare the practical usage of each algorithms being studied. Classification is one of several major tasks in data mining. It is a predictive process where prediction about values of data is made using known results found from different data. In a typical classification task, there are two main steps: generating a data model, and predicting data values using that model. A formal description of a classification task is as below: Given a training data {(t 1 , c), (t 2 , c),…, (t n , c)}, a classifier C T h → : is produced and used to map an instance T t ∈ to its classification label C c ∈. Although the second step actually does the classification, most research has been on step 1, where a data model is being generated using a mathematical-base algorithm. Decision tree and Naïve Bayes are examples of such. Classification algorithms can be categorized into 5 groups: statistical-based, distance-based, decision tree-based, neural network-based, and rule-based. A brief description of each category is below: Statistical-based algorithms create statistical descriptions about data to make predictions. …


A centering technique called "Ayeli," based on Cherokee spiritual traditions, is presented as a way of incorporating spirituality into counseling by helping clients identify where they are in their journey, where they want to be, and how they can get there. Relevant Native cultural traditions and meanings are explored, including the importance of honoring personal truths (values), significance of numbers, looking to the Four Winds, symbolism of circles within circles, Medicine, connect/disconnect, and seeking vision. In addition, practical considerations and implications are discussed.

The center of the universe is everywhere.

—Black Elk, Oglala Lakota Medicine Man (as cited in M. T. Garrett, 1998, p. 185)


During the post model construction,the middle-level cadres as valuable human resources in higher professional colleges,play important roles in the work.Therefore,they are the propagandists and promoters of substantial development,they are the makers and practitioners of institutional innovation,and they are the organizers and completers in all work.This paper focuses on the study of the incentive mechanism for the middle-level cadres during the post model construction in the higher professional colleges,describes the important roles of middle-level cadres,proposes that a performance-oriented appraisal system be built for middle-level cadres,and also evaluation platform be built from the four aspects including the concept,mechanism innovation,etc.


The development of modern medicine is associated with the dynamic translation (transfer) of basic medicine data to clinical research and further on to clinical practice. It is pointed out that research and development in the sphere of genetics and biotechnology, which are of particular significance during the COVID-19 pandemic, are of paramount importance in this regard. The concept of "translational distance" is analyzed as a measure of uncertainty, namely, the number and the size of logical leaps in course of transition from animal model trials to the first stages of human subject research. Translational research ethics has become a revolutionary, diverse, and distinct field of biomedical ethics. When studying the issue, special consideration is given to the critical blocks in translation as well as the characteristic features, types, and phases of translational research. It is emphasized that addressing the issue of minimizing irreducible uncertainty so that research participants could participate in research is a key component of ethical research. In view of the fact that the most important condition for the successful implementation of translational medicine is the adherence to the principles of bioethics when overcoming translational distances is analyzed taking into account the benefit-risk balance. As the development of translational medicine is significantly influenced by the legislation and the practice of its application, the national peculiarities of the attitude of different countries to the issues of ethics and the resolution thereof are studied, including the differences between the continental and the Anglo-Saxon legal families. Along with the formation of a general approach to the choice of a regulatory model in the sphere under consideration, the acceleration of circulation of the information related to science, research and technology, as well as the rapid obsolescence of innovations, should not be overlooked. At the same time, one should pay attention to the existing biological and other risks.


With the increasing of electronic waste and the serious pollution to the environment, more and more attentions are paid to the reverse logistics of electronic waste. Problems in the development of the reverse logistics of electronic waste in China are presented. Development countermeasures of the reverse logistics service chain of electronic waste are proposed based on the theories of modern service science and reverse supply chain.


Projectiles with fixed canard trajectory correction kit use Brushless DC motor (BLDC) with position sensorless to control fixed canard. Through the roll in the process of fixed canard trajectory correction kit flight direction by moment analysis and simulation, then electromagnetic torque values range is determined. Control effect of electromagnetic torque simulation, determine from the electromagnetic torque to meet the requirements in the process of correction.


We apply equivariant elliptic cohomology to the Steinberg variety in Springer theory, and prove that the corresponding convolution algebra is isomorphic to the elliptic affine Hecke algebra constructed by Ginzburg-Kapranov-Vasserot. Under this isomorphism, we describe explicitly the cohomology classes that correspond to the elliptic Demazure-Lusztig operators. As an application, we study the Deligne-Langlands theory in the elliptic setting, and classify irreducible representations of the elliptic affine Hecke algebra. The irreducible representations are in one to one correspondence with certain nilpotent Higgs bundles on the elliptic curve. We also study representations at torsion points in type-$A$.


A second-order, single loop  $ {\Delta \Sigma }$  time-to-digital converter (TDC) is presented in this letter. The proposed TDC uses two differential current-controlled oscillators as phase domain integrators. The proposed architecture does not require excess loop delay compensation or nonlinearity calibration. Digital differentiation using XOR implements an intrinsic first-order high-pass shaping of static element mismatch in the current steering digital-to-analog converter. A prototype TDC in 65-nm CMOS process has linearity of 8.1 bits, integrated noise of 3.8 ps and energy efficiency of 0.45 pJ/code over a bandwidth of 2.5 MHz.


A card-edge connector support providing electric and thermal connections for cards or boards of the printed circuit type in which removal of thermal energy constitutes an essential requirement. The support comprises a common flat base adapted to carry a plurality of strip connectors placed at right angles to each other, a groove being formed in each strip for receiving one edge of the card. The opposite internal faces of the groove are adapted to carry electrical and thermal contacts respectively, the bearing force for heat transmission being obtained by elastic deformation of the electrical contacts.


OBJECTIVE
Respiratory-gated Auricular Vagal Afferent Nerve stimulation (RAVANS) is a safe nonpharmacological approach to managing chronic pain. The purpose of the current study was to examine (1) the feasibility and acceptability of RAVANS, combined with mindful meditation (MM) for chronic low back pain (CLBP), (2) the potential synergy of MM+RAVANS on improving pain, and (3) possible moderators of the influence of MM+RAVANS on pain.

DESIGN
Pilot feasibility and acceptability study.

SETTING
Pain management center at large academic medical center.

SUBJECTS
Nineteen adults with CLBP and previous MM training.

METHODS
Participants attended two sessions during which they completed quantitative sensory testing (QST), rated pain severity, and completed a MM+stimulation session. Participants received RAVANS during one visit and sham stimulation during the other, randomized in order. Following intervention, participants repeated QST.

RESULTS
MM+RAVANS was well tolerated, acceptable, and feasible to provide relief for CLBP. Both MM+stimulation sessions resulted in improved back pain severity, punctate pain ratings, and pressure pain threshold. Individuals with greater negative affect showed greater back pain improvement from MM+RAVANS while those with greater mindfulness showed greater back pain improvement from MM+sham.

CONCLUSIONS
Results suggest that for CLBP patients with prior MM training, the analgesic effects of MM may have overshadowed effects of RAVANS given the brief single session MM+RAVANS intervention. However, those with greater negative affect may benefit from combined MM+RAVANS.


This book makes an important contribution towards understanding women's status in contemporary Middle East and North African (MENA) countries. It is also significant in the context of current geopolitical scenarios. The MENA region consists of several countries that differ economically and also in terms of key developmental indicators such as maternal mortality or women's education. In spite of these variations, Islam forms the basis of governance in the realms of the economy, social policy and law. Women largely articulate their concerns within prescribed boundaries laid out by the basic tenets of Islam. One of the interesting arguments in the book is that the separation of politics from religion is counterproductive to the cause of women in the MENA region. Several pernicious forms of violence and discrimination against women in this region have roots in religious sanction and acceptance. With the exception of Tunisia and Morocco, women are legally defined as dependents in family laws pertaining to divorce, child custody and inheritance. Social policy in MENA largely reflects mainstream discourses on patriarchy as one of the cornerstones of nation-state building. It is also important to understand that general problems which afflict women across the world, such as fewer employment opportunities, inadequate housing, or restricted political participation due to domestic duties, also affect women in MENA. Chapter One engages with different meanings—both objective and subjective—of the now polemical hijab (a veil covering the hair and neck). The political discourses on hijab to some extent mask the reasons why individual women wear a hijab. Possible explanations could range from reaction to the current geo-political situation or economic conditions set by capitalism to protection from sexual harassment as women seek equal opportunities in the workplace or society. Chapter Two engages with the political use of Islamization and women's agency. One of the key arguments presented is that feminists in this region want to recontextualize their oppression not in terms of Islam but as a product of a highly patriarchal society. Chapter Three engages with the role of literature in shaping national identity and addressing discrimination against women. In Chapter Four there is a focus on Israel, which has one of the most proactive policies on women's inclusion in the workplace (although illegal abortion largely remains unaddressed) that is directly linked to militarization. Chapter Five looks at grassroots movements in Morocco that have created new spaces for non-governmental organizations and social change which try to address inadequacies in democracy and development. In Chapter Six the constraints placed on the Palestinian women's movement due to nationalistic discourses are addressed. Similarly, Chapter Seven


Two immiscible liquids lie between parallel plates and are heated from below. The focus is on the case where the interfacial mode is strongly stabilized by surface tension and a suitable density stratification. A mechanism for a Hopf bifurcation is the competition between the least stable of the bulk modes in each fluid. The well known criterion for balancing the effective Rayleigh numbers in both fluids is augmented with a criterion for non-self-adjointness of the system, yielding a heuristic method for picking suitable fluids when Hopf modes are desired. The pattern formation problem in three dimensions is addressed for the case of doubly periodic solutions on a hexagonal lattice. Of the solutions with maximal symmetry, the travelling rolls are found to be stable. Mathemat ics Subject Classif ication (1991). 76E15, 76E30.


The formation and decay of the warm water with sea surface temperature (SST) higher than 30℃ in the upper South China Sea (SCS) west of the Philippines is investigated using a suite of new satellite measurements and the NCEP/NCAR reanalysis data. It is found that the appearance and rapid expansion of this warm water can be utilized to objectively predict the SCS summer monsoon (SCSSM) onset. Our hypothesis suggests an air-sea feedback scenario that may explain the development of the SCSSM. The warm water exhibits considerable year-to-year variations. There are close relations between the warm water area and its strength and the onset date of the SCSSM.


The Everyday Cognition scale (ECog) is an informant‐rated questionnaire of cognitive and functional abilities. In recent years, it has been shown to be sensitive for the differentiation of older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) (Farias et al, 2008; Russo et al, 2014), and to the diagnosis of neurodegenerative disease such as Alzheimer's disease (Farias et al, 2020). However, little is known about its possible utility to predict MCI‐dementia progression in Alzheimer's clinical syndrome (ACS).


A newly developed 0.78 μm single‐mode laser diode spectrometer tuned by scanning the laser temperature with a resolution of better than 0.005 cm−1 is used to detect weak overtone spectra of water vapor and acetylene. A total of 3.65 nm continuous tuning range can be recovered from mode hops by operating two laser diodes alternately in different temperature regions at different injection current settings. The sensitivity of this spectrometer is demonstrated by its capability of detecting a weaker water vapor spectral line with an absolute intensity of 1.45×10−25 cm2/cm per molecule at 296 K using a 2.8 m single pass absorption cell by means of frequency‐modulation spectroscopy.


An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of dietary replacement of normal maize (NM) with quality protein maize (QPM) on performance, immune response and carcass characteristics of broiler (Krishibro) chickens. Six experimental diets were prepared separately for starter and finisher phases. Diet 1 was a control diet formulated with NM and soybean meal. In diets 2-5, the NM was replaced with QPM at 25, 50, 75 and 100%, respectively. Diet 6 was the same as the control diet, but supplemented with synthetic lysine similar to the industry standard. Each test diet was fed to 8 replicates, each of 5 chicks, reared in stainless steel battery brooders. The AME content of QPM (3382 kcal/kg) was similar to that of NM (3,352 kcal/kg), but protein (9.91 vs. 8.94%), lysine (0.40 vs. 0.26%) and tryptophan (0.09 vs. 0.07%) contents of QPM were higher than NM. Dietary replacement of NM with 50% QPM significantly (p<0.05) improved body weight gain, feed conversion ratio, humoral immune response, relative bursa weight, and breast muscle yield and lowered abdominal fat content. No further improvement in these parameters was recorded by increasing the level of replacement of NM with QPM to either 75% or 100%. Further, the improvement noticed in the 50% QPM group was similar to the group fed the NM diet with lysine supplementation, and thus dietary replacement of NM with QPM at 50% did not need extra synthetic lysine supplementation. It is concluded that dietary replacement of NM with QPM at the 50% level resulted in optimum performance, higher breast muscle yield and higher immune response in broiler chickens.


A new heteropolymolybdate Na5[(CH3)4N]3(H3O)2[Co2(AsVMo9O33)2]·8H2O,constructed from fragment(AsVMo9O33)7-and transition metal,has been synthesized in aqueous solution and characterized by elemental analysis,IR spectroscopy,thermal gravimetric analysis,and single-crystal X-ray diffraction.Crystal data:Triclinic,Pī,a=1.329 43(14) nm,b=1.667 51(18) nm,c= 2.513 2(3) nm,α=70.636 0(10)°,β=123.67(3)°,γ=71.581 0(10)°,V=4.945(9) nm3,Z=2,R1=0.122 4,wR2=0.173 4.The magnetic properties were investigated to indicate antiferromagnetic interactions through the Co(Ⅱ)—O—Co(Ⅱ) bridge unit for the complex.


INTRODUCTION: The prevalence of obesity is increasing in the United States and globally, and impacts many aspects of health. To understand the contribution of body weight to chronic diseases such as diabetes, it is necessary to characterize secular and longitudinal weight trends prior to evaluating the weight effects that may result from medical interventions. The cross-sectional National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) indicates that mean body weight in the adult population increased from 152 lb (69 kg) to 181 lb (82 kg) between 1959 and 2008. However, there are no previously published studies on secular or longitudinal weight trends in a veteran population.


Both the input and link weights of process neural network can be all time-various functions, an aggregation operator on time is added to the process neuron, which provides the neural network with the capability of handling simultaneously two dimension information of time and space. In consideration of the complexity of the aggregation operation of time in process neural networks, a new learning algorithm based on function orthogonal basis expansion is proposed. Firstly a group of proper function orthogonal bases in the input function space of the neural network is selected, and then the input functions and the network weight functions are represented as expansion of the same orthogonal basis. With orthogonality of basis functions, the aggregation operation of process neurons to time is simplified. The application shows that the algorithms simplify the computing complexity of process neural networks, and raise the efficiency of the network learning and the adaptability to real problem resolving. The effectiveness of the algorithm has been proved in the rotation machinery fault diagnosis and the simulation in oil field development process.


The socio-economic heterogeneity of spatial development is reflected in modern agglomeration processes, reflecting, first of all, the concentration and localization of innovative activity of elements of innovation systems of the national, regional and transregional levels associated with the reproduction process of the innovation economy. In the United States of America, a  country  that  occupies  a  leading  position,  both  in  terms  of  innovative  development  and the  process  of  urbanization,  there  is  undoubtedly  a  close  relationship  and  interaction  of innovatively active elements and economic agents with the structures that form the country's metropolitan areas. Within the framework of this interaction, carried out under the influence of agglomeration effects in the space of post-industrial agglomerations of the United States, the urban-oriented development of the national innovation system is actively carried out, which  is  empirically  confirmed  in  the  framework  of  the  study.  The  revealed  correlation and indicative relationship between the noted phenomena made it possible to substantiate a number of specific features of the American metropolitan areas as geospatial conglomerates of innovative activity at the transregional level.


Summary form only given. A series of WGT (wire-guided transport) experiments has been fielded on the Gamble II accelerator at NRL (US Naval Research Laboratory). A pinch reflex ion diode focused a ~100-kA, ~1-MeV proton beam onto the 2.54-cm-diameter entrance aperture of a large-radius, 1-m-long transport tube. A thin copper wire positioned along the axis of the transport tube carried currents ranging up to 28 kA, thereby providing the beam-confining azimuthal magnetic field. The beam diagnostics used were a large-radius witness plate at the downstream end of the transport tube to determine the beam radius. Teflon targets positioned at various locations in the path of the beam to measure transport efficiency and time-of-flight effects using the 19F(p,αγ)16O reaction, and a shadowbox positioned at the downstream end of the transport tube to reconstruct the velocity-space distribution of the beam. The results of the three beam diagnostics were in agreement with ion orbit analyses. In particular, an analytic description of the velocity-space distribution of the beam predicted quite accurately the results of the shadowbox diagnostic


Generation of successful project is the core challenge of the day. Prediction of software project success is therefore one of the vital activities of software engineering community. Data mining techniques enable one to predict the success of the company by estimating the degree of success of their projects. This paper presents an empirical study of several projects developed at various software industries in order to comprehend the effectiveness of data mining technique for efficient project management. The paper provides K-means clustering approach for grouping of projects based on project success as one of the parameters. Subsequently, different classification algorithms are trained on the result set to build the classifier model based on K-fold cross validation. The best accuracy for the given dataset is achieved in Random Forest algorithm compared to other classifiers. This mode of project management using effective data mining techniques on empirical projects ensures accurate prediction of project success rate of the company. It further reflects process maturity leading towards implementation of strategies for improved productivity and sustainability of the company in the industrial market. (8 pages)


Using Raman scattering measurements in suspended semiconductor waveguides coupled with finite-element analysis, we elucidate the properties of the guided-mode phonon-polariton, which plays a critical role in many current terahertz generation approaches.


FDA has approved Invokamet, a fixed-dose therapy combining canagliflozin and metformin HCl in a single tablet, to treat adults with type 2 diabetes, according to the maker of the drug.


In 2016 NICE updated its guidance, extending the age to which early intervention in psychosis (EIP) services treat patients following their first episode of psychosis, to 65 years, from the previous cut‐off of 35 years. The aim of this service evaluation was to identify differences in the demographic details, diagnoses, and treatments between patients below and above 35 years to identify any unmet needs in the latter age category.


Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010: Context, Analysis, and Recommendations evaluates the impact of the 2010 legislation, which aims to improve child nutrition and combat childhood obesity. Particular strengths and weaknesses, as they relate to distributive justice, are emphasized, and ways to address the act's current shortcomings are discussed.


During the 1950s and 1960s, Jack A. Morton was vice president of electronic technology at Bell Telephone Laboratories in Murray Hill, NJ. Morton led the company's effort to transform the transistor from a promising research curiosity into a reliable commercial product that eventually revolutionized electronics. Morton was such a strong, intimidating leader that he could make incorrect decisions and remain unchallenged because of his aggressive style. For failing to recognize the potential of microchips and large-scale integration, Morton cost the parent phone company, AT&T, dearly and may have contributed to its eventual dismemberment. His untimely death in 1971 prevented him from witnessing the consequences of his decisions


The aim of the research is to identify the anxiety of the students of the Faculty of Physical Education and Sports Sciences at the Universities of Babylon and Diyala. And to identify the type of relationship between the concern of teaching and the skills of planning and implementation of the lesson of physical education. And identify the differences between the students applied from the universities of Babylon and Diyala in the concern of teaching and planning and implementation skills of the lesson. The researchers used the descriptive approach in the method of interrelational relations to suit the problem of research and its objectives. The research society included the students of the fourth stage in the Faculty of Physical Education and Sports Sciences at the universities of Babylon and Diyala for the academic year 2016-2017 (285) students distributed as follows (150) students from the University of Diyala and 135 students from the University of Babylon. (60) students at a rate of (30) students from each university, which represents (21.05%) of the research community. The researchers found the following conclusions: The concern of teaching is one of the concerns of the student applied, which is that the teaching profession is difficult and needs a lot of planning and implementation skills must be mastery. It is recommended that students should take a lot of watching lessons for students before going to the practical application in schools by taking advantage of the experiences of physical education teachers in middle and high schools by setting up lessons for watching in their schools. Keywords: Teaching anxiety, planning and implementation skills, applied students.


Due to the radical environmental changes, in terms of sound pollution and global warming that the world is subject to, today's climate (noise, temperature, and humidity) impacts newborns and babies environments making them less secure and stable. In order to achieve better living conditions in a baby room, monitoring and control systems became very important. Existing systems only monitor and control the temperature, humidity, and light in baby rooms. This paper intends to build on the existing related work and suggests the integration of a noise cancelling subsystem for an ergonomic scheme that will be monitoring and controlling the baby room conditions. The proposed system design and implementation are discussed and the corresponding components are detailed with their interactions. Additionally, a draft cost estimation is presented.


The author describes how the rate at which discharge initiatory electrons are produced is just one process which can affect the apparent erratic behaviour of a spark gap. He states in an introduction, that there are numerous other and perhaps more significant factors contributing to these statistical effects in voltage and timing jitter. He argues that often, improved performance in spark gaps or general insulation can be achieved by applying simple design rules based on an understanding of these effects.


Objective To investigate the clinical significance of expression of interleukin- 18( IL- 18) and nuclear factor- kappa B( NF- κB) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of children with steroid- sensitive nephritic syndrome( SSNS). Methods Thirty children with SSNS before and after treatment were divided into active stage group and remission group,while twenty healthy children were enrolled as control group. Peripheral venous blood samples were collected to exam the biochemical indexes,including ALB,TC,TG,BUN and Scr; and 24 h urine were collected to exam the 24 h urinary protein. The peripheral blood mononuclear cells( PBMCs) were extracted to compare the concentration of IL- 18 and NF- κB in PBMCs by ELISA between two groups,and analyze the correlation between IL- 18 / NF- κB and24 h urinary protein. Results There were significant differences in the biochemical indexes and 24 h urinary protein between active stage group and remission group( P 0. 05). Significant reductions both in IL- 18 and NF- κB were observed in active stage group when comparing with those in remitten group or control group( P 0. 05),while there was no significant difference found between remittent group and control group. Linear regression analysis showed that in active stage group,IL- 18 and NF- κB were significantly positively correlated with 24 h urinary protein( P 0. 05). Conclusion The pathogenesis of PNS in children may be related to the PBMC secretion of IL- 18 and increased NF- κB activity,monitoring the changes of IL- 18 and NF- κB concentrations may be used as an important reference for observing the activity of PNS in children.


This study ascertains residential electricity consumers' support and willingness to pay for electricity from renewable sources. Then, willingness to pay for specified renewable energy sources (solar, wind, landfill wastes, bioenergy from fast growing crops, and bioenergy from forest products wastes). Effects of demographics and environmental behaviors are estimated.


Introduction Isolated mediastinal and/or hilar lymphadenopathy (IMHL) is a common indication for EBUS-TBNA. Causes of IHML include granulomatous and malignant disorders or reactive lymphadenopathy due to associated comorbidity (eg emphysema, cardiac failure). A previous study developed a risk stratification model following a negative EBUS-TBNA for IHML to guide future sampling/surveillance0.1 We conducted a prospective validation of this model. Methods Consecutive patients undergoing EBUS-TBNA for IMHL at two large EBUS centres in Greater Manchester underwent prospective risk stratification immediately prior to EBUS. Low risk was defined as the presence of at least one comorbidity known to be associated with IMHL AND largest lymph node diameter less than 20 mm, short axis. EBUS-TBNA pathology, Results of any subsequent lymph node sampling and a minimum of six months clinical-radiological follow-up were used to define the final diagnosis in each case. Results 298 patients (mean age 58.4 years) with IHML underwent EBUS-TBNA between September 2013 and December 2016 (Table 1). Pathological diagnosis of malignancy or granulomatous disease was established by EBUS-TBNA in 98 patients. Of the 200 patients with negative EBUS-TBNA, 143 were ultimately diagnosed with reactive lymphadenopathy, and 57 patients categorised as false negative (46 with sarcoidosis). In the 200 patients with a negative EBUS, all 84 patients prospectively classified as low risk were subsequently diagnosed with reactive lymphadenopathy (NPV 100%). All patients with false negative EBUS were initially classified as high risk (PPV 48%). Only 2/86 patients classified as low risk pre EBUS had a pathological diagnosis at EBUS-TBNA (lung cancer and TB). Conclusions The risk stratification model following negative EBUS in IMHL has been validated across two EBUS centres demonstrating an excellent NPV. It may provide a simple tool to aid decision making following negative EBUS for IMHL, questioning the role of further sampling or surveillance in such cases. The use of this model as a pre-test decision aid to possibly avoid EBUS-TBNA in low risk patients is a topic for debate and further research. Reference Evison M, Crosbie PAJ, Morris J, et al. A study of patients with isolated mediastinal and hilar lymphadenopathy undergoing EBUS-TBNA. BMJ Open Resp Res 2014;1:e00040. doi:10.1136/bmjresp-2014-000040 Abstract P34 Table 1 Low risk High risk All patients Total 86 212 298 Pathological diagnosis achieved 2 96 98 Sarcoidosis 0 46 46 NSCLC 1 16 17 TB 1 14 15 SCLC 0 8 8 Non 1° lung cancer 0 5 5 Lymphoma 0 7 7 Other granulomatous disorder 0 2 2 False negative 0 57 57 Sarcoidosis 0 46 46 NSCLC 0 2 2 TB/NTM 0 3 3 Non 1° lung cancer 0 1 1 Lymphoma 0 4 4 Reactive lymphadenopathy 84 59 143 Negative predictive value 100% 49.1% 71.5%


In this study, we selected two mobile portals, NAVER and Daum, -two of the most popular online news platforms for news consumption in Korea - for the analysis of 19th presidential election news reports. In particular, we tried to identify characteristics of the media coverage of news and issues that...


We performed high-pressure studies and ab initio calculations of titanium hydride (TiH2), an important compound in hydrogen storage research. In situ, synchrotron x-ray diffraction studies were carried out in two separate compression runs: the first up to 19 GPa in quasihydrostatic conditions and the second up to 90 GPa in nonhydrostatic conditions, and followed by the subsequent decompression to ambient conditions. The pressure evolution of the diffraction patterns revealed a cubic [face-centered-cubic (fcc), Fm-3m] to tetragonal (body-centered-tetragonal (bct), I4/mmm) phase transition in TiH2 occurring at or below 0.6 GPa. The high-pressure tetragonal phase persisted up to 90 GPa. Upon decompression to ambient conditions the observed phase transition appeared irreversible. A third order Birch–Murnaghan fit of the unit cell volume as a function of pressure for all experimental points, yielded a zero pressure bulk modulus K0=142(7) GPa, and its pressure derivative K0′=3.3(0.2) for the high-pressure tetra...


Part 1 From "counter-system" to civil society - individuals, social networks and movements: social movements in Eastern Europe, Mirolijub Radojkovic processes of emerging new social identities in the changing post-totalitarian society, Vladimir Yadov entrepreneurial inclinations, Gyorgy Lengyel co-existence of hidden cognitive representations of socialism and capitalism in Hungarian society, Gyorgy Cspeli and Antal Orkeny the sociological "samizkat" as a factor of social change in Czechoslovakia, Miloslav Petrusek Stalin's heritage, Josef Alan old and new masters of Russia, Ovsey Shkaratan Russia after the August 1991 coup d'etat, Vladimir Rukavashnikov problems of change, the growth of civil society and the role of the West, Giovanni Delli Zotti. Part 2 The role of social actors in designing a civil society: social actors during change - an interpretative hypothesis based on the role of the intellectual in the rebirth of life - worlds and the demand for human rights, Achille Ardigo the Christians - new social actors after perestroika, Evgheni Novosselov entrepreneurs, Bruno Tellia ecological movements and fears of environmental disasters, Oleg Yanitsky ethnic groups in Eastern Europe - between political "progression" and "regression", Alberto Gaspirini and Laura Bergnach. Part 3 The new definition of the boundaries between state, economy and society - institutional design and relations between East and West: change in the USSR-Russia social structure, Valery A. Mansurov transformation of political and ethnonational identities in the Balkans, Zdravko Mlinar ethnic mobilization and nationalism in post-communist societies, Victor Zaslavsky institutional transformation in central Europe - comparative approach to the new elites strategies in building a new social order in the post-communist Europe, Antoni Z. Kaminski and Joanna Kurczewska integration of European culture - Eastern Europe regional aspects, Igor Bestuzhev-Lada emerging conflict formations and the new world order, Johan Galtung.


A new type of electromechanical coupling is postulated to explain the polarization signals resulting from the shock loading of nonpiezoelectric materials. The driving force is viewed as being proportional to the gradient of the stress. The electromechanical coupling constant is found for an ionic solid by deriving the effect for a linear ionic chain. A stress gradient of 1011 dyn/cm3 is found to give rise to a voltage gradient of 10 V/cm.


The interaction of millimeter waves with lossy bodies is of interest for applications such as remote sensing, imaging, security screening, and military applications. A new approximate simulation method is proposed for the electromagnetic (EM) scattering of millimeter waves from lossy bodies. This truncated Norton surface wave approximation (TSWA) is based on the application of a generalized transition matrix that describes the excitation of Norton surface waves by point sources, which are placed at the body interface for homogeneous lossy materials. The interface is represented by overlapped square patches, which playing role of supports of spline basis functions. The patch size can be of the order of the incident wavelength or larger, enabling the number of variables to be reduced. The total scattered EM field is defined as a superposition of scattered waves from all patches. Verification was performed by comparing the results of simulations using the TSWA method with those of an exact EM solver. The TSWA method was also applied to simulate the multifrequency scattering from a whole human body using a multistatic array.


DDD and AAI pacemakers are considered physiological, since they preserve atrioventricular (AV) synchrony. Artificial pacing, however, is performed largely from right heart chambers, causing aberrant depolarization pathways. Pacing at the right atrial appendage (RAP) is known to delay left atrial contraction due to interatrial conduction time (IACT), and right ventricular (RV) apical pacing (RVP) delays left ventricular (LV) contraction due to interventricular conduction time (TVCT). These delays may render the left heart AV intervals (LAV) either too short or too Jong, thus affecting LV systolic function. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the actual LAV intervals during conventional, right heart AAI and DDD pacing. Resulting LAV intervals were compared to programmed AV values during all DDD pacing modalities. Ten patients with DDD and six patients with AAI pacemakers were studied. IACT was measured from the atrial spike to the onset of left P wave, as recorded by an esophageal lead. Systolic time intervals were measured using either a carotid pulse tracing or a densitogram (photoplethysmography). LV function was appraised by measuring rate‐corrected LV ejection time (LVETc). IVCT was measured indirectly as the lengthening of LV preelection period (PEPJ caused by RV pacing, as compared to normal depolarization pathway. Intrinsic'ACT and IVCT were considered zero. Right heart AV intervals (RAV) were measured from surface ECG and LAVs were calculated according to the following equations: Sinus Rhythm: LAV = RAV; Atrial Pace 4‐ Ventricular Sense: LAV= RAV − IACT; Atrial Sense + Ventricular Pace: LAV = RAV + IVCT; Sequential AV Pace: LAV = RAV − IACT + IVCT, Results: 1. IACT: mean = 73 msec, range: 35–130; IVCT: mean = 50 msec, range: 44–100. 2. Compared to RAVs, LAVs were either too short or too long (−130 to + 300 msec: P < 0.001 J in RAP 4‐ RVS and RAS + RVP. Conclusions: 1. LAV differed significantly from RAV during AP + VS and AS + VP. 2. "Physiological" RAV intervals in DDD and AAI may cause nonphysiological LAV, possibly affecting LV function. 3. IACT and IVCT should be accounted for when programming DDD PM to provide physiological LAV.


AMSAR is a tri-national programme being undertaken by GEC THOMSON DASA Airborne Radar (GTDAR EEIG, a joint venture set up by the above companies) and supported by the governments of France, UK and Germany. This active array antenna radar demonstrator programme includes the development of X-band transmit/receive modules based on European GaAs MMIC technology, a multiple channel receiver chain and real-time adaptive digital beamforming. These features will allow the demonstration of electronic scanning, multiple jammer cancellation, and environmentally reactive radar operation, all in real airborne conditions. The risks associated with the use of a new technology in an airborne environment are reduced by a progressive approach. In the first stage primary feasibility issues are being addressed in an antenna demonstrator. In the second stage, demonstration of a complete radar system with full real time functionality will be performed on a trials aircraft. Finally, experimental results are compared and integrated with a full system global simulation model to permit reliable prediction of operational characteristics.


Neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (NCL) is a group of progressive and fatal neurodegenerative disorders occurring in infancy and occasionally in adulthood, which was characterized by the accumulation of pathological lipopigments in neurons and other cells. NCL lipopigments showed various morphological features in different subtypes of NCL, in which fingerprint profiles appeared predominantly in juvenile and adult forms of NCL.Objectives To diagnose juvenile NCL by the skin biopsy in China, and to explore morphological characters of the fingerprint pattern in extraneuronal tissues. Methods According to the history, symptoms, signs, radiological and electroencephalographic findings in a boy, NCL was clinically speculated first, and was further confirmed with light and electromicroscopic examinations of muscle and skin biopsies on the left upper arm. Results A 9 year 6 month old boy showed visual impairment at the age of 6 years. One year later he developed seizures and progressive cognitive decline. Electroencephalogram was abnormal with epileptiform discharges. CT examination did not show remarkable change at the early stage of the disease. Two and half years later CT showed general cerebral and cerebellar atrophy and MRI showed diffuse cerebral and cerebellar atrophy with mild high signals in paraventricular area on T 2 weighted scans. Routine light microscopic examination showed unremarkable change in both skin and muscle biopsy specimens. Electromicroscopic study revealed numerous lipopigments with fingerprint profiles in epithelial cells of eccrine sweat gland, but not in duct cells of eccrine sweat gland, epidermal cells, nerve fascicles, fibroblasts, vascular elements and skeletal muscle. Fingerprint profiles showed various forms: (1) combined fingerprint and curvilinear profiles in vacuoles, (2) small fingerprint profiles without vacuolation and (3) membrane bounded fingerprint profiles with granular matrix. Conclusions The radiological features of general brain atrophy and typical clinical symptoms indicated a possibility of NCL. The skin biopsy is a cost effective tool in diagnosis of juvenile NCL. Pathological lipopigments with fingerprint profiles presented with various morphological features and selectively appeared in epithelial cells of eccrine sweat gland, but not in noneccrine sweat gland cells.


gests that the significance of the foreign exchange rate as a determinant of the country's "volume of output as a whole" varies not only with the relative size of a nation, and with the character of its export trade, but also with its internal economic structure as well. This observation of Mr. Lester's seems to me to lead in the proper direction. It is away from the general position that the effects of similar economic policies in different countries may be compared without a specific analysis of each individual setting. The new query then becomes, "What is the relative importance of the behavior of the foreign exchange rate for the economy of Finland as compared with that of Norway or Denmark?"


Using the measured leakage rate of the CARR building,MELCOR code was used to calculate the pressure of the building under the severe accident conditions. The results indicate that the maximum pressure difference in the progress of the accident is less than 5 kPa which is much lower than the structure design limiting value of 10 kPa; the calculated maximum leakage rates are lower than vol.2.5%/d in 8 hours and vol.2.8%/d in 1 day after the initiation of the accident. The dose of the radioactive fission product released to the environment is lower than the safety criteria under the leakage rate.


Ensuring minimum quality-of-service levels to traffic flows and groups of flows is an important challenge for future packet networks. Admission control is an important measure for QoS provision. However, the problem of multicast admission control was much less investigated. In this paper, a reservation-based edge multicast admission control scheme is investigated, which targets high QoS level and scalability. Using a new concept, virtual link, a virtual-link-oriented quota-based resource management mechanism is proposed. Besides, a hierarchical distributed bandwidth broker architecture is also employed. In this scheme, a central bandwidth broker manages the physical link bandwidth, and allocates/reclaims the bandwidth to virtual links; edge bandwidth brokers manage the bandwidth of virtual links, make admission decisions and reserve bandwidth for each flow. Simulation results show that the scheme achieves high scalability. Furthermore, the impact of quota size on the performance and complexity is investigated. A bandwidth adaptive quota size scheme is proposed to further improve the performance and reduce the complexity.


Dynamic and deep socio-economic transformations at the present stage of the development of social and economic life even more accentuate the attention of researchers and practitioners on the concentration of reflected forms that characterize their virtual nature. The superstructure of virtual forms, complementing the real basis of the economic system, transforms it in a similar way. Virtual signs, products, images form many-sided images, reproducing the mental activity of a person endlessly. Rapid flows of information are increasing, financial derivatives and currency transactions are multiplying, specific services are carried out that do not have a subjectobject basis and form virtual reality, reflecting and multiplying. The article shows that behind the movement of reflected forms there is a certain essence containing past and future scenarios of the formation of a new way of organizing economic activity of people, designated in a number of works as "knowledge economy". For effective management of such economy the system quality of communications in all spheres of social and economic processes and the phenomena at the present stage is important. The authors investigate the structural elements of virtual reality and their characteristics; consider synonymous categories denoting the interaction of socio-economic systems in the network space. The article demonstrates theoretical and methodological approaches that reveal the essence, nature and content of the "virtual economy" and "virtual reality" in the conditions of modern socioeconomic transformations. The article uses the resources of knowledge economy, political economy, evolutionary and post-industrial methodology.


Whereas a large body of popular and academic literature explores how containers have reconstituted the spaces they travel through, the space within containers remains largely unexamined. This article leverages the concepts of "pressure" and "earmarking" to open up the inside of containers for analysis. In container freight from South China to African ports, logistics agents apply pressure to goods as they are loaded. The practice manipulates asymmetries between modes of calculating space by disrupting the relationship between the container's measurements and the shipment volumes sold. The materiality of the container, which is defined by exact qualifications and measurements, creates opportunities for such revaluation. However, the pressure renders the relation between containers and goods unstable and shipments vulnerable during customs inspections. In the context of logistics, "earmarking" describes the practice of attaching segments of shipment space to specific sets of social relations, which in turn defines appropriate usage. African traders who export goods from China earmark space as a way to manage their capital in volatile economic environments. Contrary to the image promoted by the state-led Belt and Road Initiative, China's successful logistics integration with Africa has relied heavily on political tolerance for disorder and localized solutions rather than uniformity. Introduction In China's Belt and Road Initiative, the entanglement of logistical and political worlds is clearly evident. Roads, rails, ports, pipelines, and other infrastructure will be built to join China to Central Asia, Europe, and Africa by land and sea. A variety of Chinese banks and credit funds will finance infrastructure investments currently estimated to amount to about $900bn (Financial Times, 2017). The initiative is branded as a revival of the ancient Silk Road and an effort to, in the words of President Xi Jinping, "promote world peace, stability and shared development" DRAFT. Reworked version of paper presented at the 7th European Conference on African Studies. Published online 10 November 2017. Please cite as Haugen, H.Ø. (2017) Creating new pathways: The role of logistics in the emergence of trade from Guangzhou to Africa. Paper presented at the 7th European Conference on African Studies, Basel, Switzerland. Paper retrieved from http://www.sv.uio.no/iss/english/people/aca/heidiha/haugen-logistics.pdf


High switching frequency employed in modern power electronic converters is cause of important common mode electrical quantities, having as consequences the premature motor failure and other unwanted effects in drive systems. A new SVM scheme for cascaded multilevel converter, aimed to the attenuation of these consequences, is proposed.


B S T R A T Objective: Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) species are increasingly being isolated and have become a key factor affecting public health by causing pulmonary diseases. Most NTM species do not respond to conventional tuberculosis (TB) drugs. This study aimed to identify NTM isolated from suspected pulmonary TB patients from the Zhejiang province and analyze their distribution in the region. Methods: A total of 1,113 NTM isolates from patients suspected to be suffering from acid-fast bacilli-positive tuberculosis were identi fi ed at the species level, using the CapitalBio Mycobacterium identi fi cation array and polymerase chain reaction ampli fi cation and sequencing of 16S-23S gene internal transcribed spacer (ITS), 16S rRNA, and hsp65 . Results: Of the 23,138 isolates, we identi fi ed 1,102 NTM (4.8%), mainly including Mycobacterium intracellulare (54.81%, 604/1,102), M. chelonae-M. abscessus (16.52%, 182/1,102), M. avium (13.16%, 145/1,102), M. kansasii (8.17%, 90/1,102), and M. gordonae (3.27%, 36/1,102). Conclusion: The distribution of NTM species observed in patients with suspected pulmonary tuberculosis provides guidance for the diagnosis and treatment of NTM pulmonary diseases.


Self-esteem is an important aspect of an individual's personality and contribute in achieving one's goal. Poor self-esteem has devastating effect and impairs over all mental wellbeing. OBJECTIVES: To see the effectiveness of the Mruk's Self-esteem model in college students. The study engrossed insight in participants about selfesteem quandary and make them learn systematic approaches to thrive the issues of worthiness and competence. METHODS: Present study employs quasi-experiment design using ABA research design and employed Mruk's self-esteem improvement intervention is 5-week standardized group therapy program. In this regard, 11 boys age ranged of 20 to 22 years were approached and participant's Self-esteem was assessed in group setting by using Multidimensional Self- Esteem Inventory MSEI (O'Brien & Epstein, 1988). Whereas 9 participants completed the course of intervention. In the course of intervention participants share their experiences in connection to self-esteem and maintain a journal for enhancing self-esteem. After 5 weeks, participants' self-esteem was reassessed. RESULTS: Significant difference in mean scores of MSEI and its subscales in pre and post intervention. CONCLUSION: Mruk's group intervention is an effective therapy for self-esteem enhancement for male college students.


case scenarIo An 80‐year‐old male was admitted to our hospital for urinary catheter change. The patient stated that he went to other clinic 1 year ago because he had experienced progressive weakness in all extremities and leaky bladder. The neurological examination at that time showed a wheelchair patient with weakness in the upper and lower limbs, fasciculations in the upper limb, left plantar extension, and hyperreflexia in the upper and lower limbs. Laboratory tests and brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were normal. A diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) was made, and riluzole 50 mg twice daily was started. On follow‐up, he reported relative improvement of urinary incontinence and deambulation.


Exhaust plume emission spectroscopy is a technique routinely used to monitor the health of the Space Shuttle Main Engine (SSME) and other rocket engines during ground testing at Stennis Space Center (SSC). The advanced technologies group at SSC has developed a plume diagnostic capability to analyze spectral emission data to provide the identification and quantification of elements and alloys in the SSME exhaust plume. The techniques, currently applied to all open air (ambient pressure, sea level) engine tests at SSC, allow spectral emission measurements to be made at the high temperature region of the exhaust plume. To provide the same capabilities on the A-2 and B-l altitude test stands, where the engine exhausts into a diffuser, experiments were conducted and a system was designed using atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) techniques. To date, the SSC atomic absorption system currently in use on the B-l test stand, has identified the elements Chromium (Cr), Iron (Fe), Nickel (Ni) and Copper (Cu) in the SSME plume.


Over a decade ago, Airbnb disrupted the tourism accommodation industry. Initially, licensed commercial tourism accommodation providers, such as hotels, were not overly concerned. But over time, they saw their market share shrink and realised that Airbnb had the potential to directly compete with them. As the concept of peer-to-peer accommodation was embraced by tourists around the globe, many start-up companies attempted to reproduce Airbnb's success, and established online travel agents added peer-to-peer accommodation to their offerings. This chapter provides an overview of this competitive landscape, discusses how it has been affected by COVID-19, and predicts how it will evolve post-pandemic.