Causes of sensorineural hearing loss can be congenital or acquired. Congenital: . Premature birth: 5% . Lack of development of the ear . Infection: syphilis, chlamydia . Chromosomal syndromes: dominant and recessive . Delayed familial progressive Acquired: . Inflammatory: Meningitis, measles, mumps, viral, syphilis . Ototoxic drugs: Aminoglycosides, loop diuretics, salicylates, antimetabolites . Physical trauma: Fracture of the temporal bone, shearing injury of the eighth cranial nerve . Noise induced: Prolonged exposure (greater than 85 dB for 8 hours) – starts at 4000 Hz . Age-related: Presbyacusis (4000–8000 Hz loss) . Sudden hearing loss: Idiopathic, autoimmune, perilymph fistula, ischaemia . Cerebellopontine angle tumours: Acoustic neuroma, meningioma . Meniere's disease: 125–1000 Hz loss InnovAiT article: Deafness. DOI: 10.1177/1755738017732364. InnovAiT


West Bengal holds an important position in fisheries development as the state has all types of captive, culture freshwater and brackish water fisheries. A survey of forest areas of Sundarbans indicates the total annual catch to be 2500 metric tonnes. On average 4,000 persons are engaged in daily fishing with 1.5 kilogrammes of fish catch per fisherman per day and during the 6 months from September to February on an average 6,000 persons are engaged in fishing. About 70% of total catch of fish is collected during this period. Statistical analysis of the data collected for the study has clearly indicated that a rational and scientific exploitation of fish species inhabiting the rivers and creeks of Sundarbans estuary has immense economic potentialities.


The aim of this paper is to find out subjective well-being of personnel of Ukrainian educational organizations as a psychological factor of quality of higher education. Key contradictions of the position of Ukrainian university teachers which can bring about negative effects in context subjective well-being are analyzed. The levels of subjective well-being of Ukrainian university teachers are shown. Peculiarities of the well-being of teachers, based on gender-age and organizational-professional factors, are defined. The correlation between the well-being of university teachers, the psychological safety of the educational environment and the rating of the universities in which they work is determined. Conclusion on the advisability of improving the subjective well-being of university teachers in special training in post-graduate education is done.


A parallel plate viscometer with adjustable plate separations is described which enables measurements to be made of viscosity in the presence of electric fields. The instrument is operated with a wide range of torque transducers so that measurements can be made from about 50*10-3 Pa s up, with an accuracy of the order of 1%.


Chemical weed control with effective and highly active herbicides has been very useful and convenient means. It has contributed to stable crop production and is labor saving. Recent herbicides have had characteristics such as high effectiveness without causing environmental pollution or harmful effects, and appropriate herbicides having high activity, low toxicity, high selectivity and being non-persistent have been developed. The metabolism of rice herbicides used mainly in Japan, such as sulfonylurea, chloroacetamide, acylamide, urea, thiocarbamate, pyrazole, triazine, diphenyl ether, phthalimide, phenoxy, aryloxyphenoxypropionate, etc., is reviewed, and its involvement in selectivity is also discussed. The metabolism of herbicides is closely related to their activity and selectivity. Differential herbicide metabolism in plants is a contributing factor of selectivity between crops and weeds. Chemicals that are more detoxified in crops and/or more activated or less detoxified in weeds are considered as being effective and selective herbicides. The metabolism of various types of rice herbicides includes: oxidative reaction (ring and chain hydroxylation, O- and N-dealkylation), hydrolysis and subsequent glucose conjugation, and glutathione conjugation in rice. These detoxicative activities are much higher in rice than weeds in paddies, and this leads to the selectivity of herbicides. Enzymes, oxidase, P-450 mono-oxygenase, esterase, acylamidase, glucosyl transferase, glutathione transferase, etc., play important roles in herbicide metabolism and selectivity.


In recent years, there is rapid increase of age in developing countries like India. The census report of 2011 reported 5.3% percent of people are above 65 years and is projected to rise above 11.1% by 2025. They suffer from high rate of morbidity and mortality as they are more prone to infections and chronic noncommunicable diseases. Diabetes and its complications take a major toll on the quality of life of the elderly population and the healthcare cost of the society. According to IDF, the global prevalence is estimated to be 387 million adults of 20-79 years and 8.8% of these are from India.


In 1971 I presented data on delayed afterdepolarizations and their relationship to cardiac arrhythmias at a meeting of the American Heart Association.^ At the time, the study of afterdepolarizations was "new"; that is, it was undergoing a renaissance at several laboratories following the work of Scherf,^ of Segers,^ and of Bozler* that had been reported decades earlier. Moreover, that afterdepolarizations might contribute to some clinical arrhythmias was not generally accepted. Fred Pick and Ken Rosen both were present at the meeting. At the end of my presentation, both of them conversed with me and each was enthusiastic about the possibility afterdepolarizations offered in the generation of clinical arrhythmias. As a very junior investigator at the time, I was much inneedof the kind of advice and encouragement these two individuals gave me, and in subsequent years sought out their opinions on many occasions. The following summarizes what we have learned to date about delayed afterdepolarizations and resultant triggered activity. This work is reviewed here as an expression of sincere appreciation to Drs. Pick and Rosen.


the jobs. As Ruskin stated: "There is no furniture of a man's mind which he has a right to exalt in, but that he has hewn and fashioned for himself." Animal technicians, laboratory technologists, radiographers, photographers, chemists, physicists, therapists, midwives, nurses, dietitians, and a score of others, are being trained to do the work which formerly doctors did for themselves, and as these aids are all provided free in the Welfare State, together with abundant elaborate equipment, the doctor is concomitantly losing his ability to do these things, and, more important still, the ability to assess their value or accuracy, and has to trust to the words and works of others who have not had a basic medical training and do not have the personal responsibility to the patient. Such doctors still seek to be judged for recognition on the works of others by demands for greater elaboration, more ostentatious buildings and furniture, expensive spectacular apparatus, abundant white-coated staff and secretaries. How long can they hope to keep their highly paid, jargon supplying, supervisory posts, when they themselves appear to be losing their power of writing even their signature to reports ? Even the Welfare State may think it is paying a great deal for the use of a rubber stamp when all these workers demand equal status to the doctor. The discipline of the. pre-N.H.S. days, which forced men to do their own jobs, was good for medicine; but when the demands for the total abolition of private practice are acceded to, and the doctors are left at the mercy of administrators and planners, God help the patients, medicine-yes, and the doctors.-I am, etc., ]zirminuhs.m 1 rr JAmEs F. B!LAELSFORD.


A pyrazole–based ligand substituted with terpyridine groups at the 3 and 5positions has been synthesized to form the dinuclear cobalt complex 1, that electrocatalytically reduces carbon dioxide (CO2) to carbon monoxide (CO) in the presence of Brønsted acids in DMF. Chemical, electrochemical and UV–vis spectro–electrochemical studies under inert atmosphere indicate a single 2 electron reduction process of complex 1 at first, followed by a 1 electron reduction at the ligand. Infrared spectro–electrochemical studies under CO2 and CO atmosphere allowed us to identify a reduced CO–containing dicobalt complex which results from the electroreduction of CO2. In the presence of trifluoroethanol (TFE), electrocatalytic studies revealed single–site mechanism with up to 94 % selectivity towards CO formation when 1.47 M TFE were present, at –1.35 V vs Saturated Calomel Electrode in DMF (0.39 V overpotential). The low faradaic efficiencies obtained (<50%) are attributed to the generation of CO–containing species formed during the electrocatalytic process, which inhibit the reduction of CO2.


The market model of Sharpe when applied to European, U.S.A. and Japan stock markets usually results with heteroscedastic error structure. Since heteroscedasticity in error terms cause inefficient parameter estimation, it should be tested before data analysis. The objective of this paper is to present five widely used likelihood based constructive heteroscedasticity tests which are  the ordinary likelihood ratio test, the conditional likelihood ratio test, the corrected modified likelihood ratio test, the modified likelihood ratio test, the profile likelihood ratio test and the residual likelihood ratio test. Also simulation study is performed to compare these tests.


User mobility can cause severe degradation of QoS, which can be counteracted by performing handovers at the right moment. However, to perform a robust handover is a challenging task. In this paper, we study the handover problem for mobile wireless networks in the office environment, where the users' mobility is predictable. We propose a new mechanism using the Hidden Markov Model (HMM) to predict the Received Signal Strength (RSS) values. Based on the predicted values, each mobile user can perform the handover decision on his own using his preferred decision making algorithm. Extensive simulations were carried out for an office environment to evaluate the performance of the prediction handover scheme. The results showed that our HMM model can predict the RSS values accurately. The knowledge obtained from prediction is considered in the handover decision making algorithm, which can result in a seamless handover. Moreover, with the knowledge about the future RSS, mobile users can avoid multiple handovers in a short time known as "Ping-Pong" effect, which in turn reduces the signaling overheads on the network.


A self-trapped filament of ultrashort laser pulses can induce a several-hundred-micron-long region of refractive-index change in silica glass. The maximum refractive-index change and the diameter of refractive-index change are approximately 0.01 and 2 μm, respectively. The filament is 10 - 500 μm long along the pulse propagation axis and its length depends mainly on the numerical aperture of the focusing lens. In this paper, we present the fabrication experiment of volume gratings induced in silica glass by a self-trapped filament of ultrashort pulses. When the 150-μm-long filament was translated perpendicular to the optical axis by 300 μm, a layer of refractive-index change with the thickness of 2 μm was induced. We stacked the layers with a period of several microns and fabricated volume gratings. We entered a He-Ne laser beam at the wavelength of 632.8 nm to the grating with the Bragg angle to measure the diffraction efficiency. The maximum diffraction efficiency was 74.8% with the grating that had the period of 3 μm, and the thickness of 150 μm.


The purpose of this study was to examine the design of a digital competency training program to improve the digital competence of teachers at the elementary school level. This study used a quasi-experimental method with a pretest and posttest design. The participants in this study were elementary school teachers from Yogyakarta. There were 800 teachers involved with the composition of 400 experimental class teachers and 400 control class teachers. This digital literacy program is carried out through several stages, namely the pre-test, intervention, and post-test stages. This digital literacy program lasts for one semester or 6 months with the main objective of improving the digital competence of teachers from three aspects, namely conceptual, procedural, and attitudes towards digital competence of teachers. The results showed that the intervention of this program was able to significantly improve the digital skills of teachers. The increase in digital skills of teachers in the experimental group is marked by increasing digital skills in three aspects, namely conceptual, procedural, and attitudinal digital competencies. The implication of this research is that digital competency training programs can be an alternative for stakeholders in order to improve teacher competencies while improving school quality.
Keywords: Digital competence of teachers, digital competence training program, Internet, digital literacy.


The following lines are dedicated to a scholar of extraordinarily wide interests, interpersonal and linguistic abilities. I thank him for his sustained support of our Ẓafār (Yemen) field research. This project would not have been possible without his personal commitment. The Jebel Akhḍar is noted for the quantity and unusualness of its rock art (CLARK 1975). At the southern end of the Wadi Saḥtan above 500m altitude a few experts have long been aware of a concentration of rock art images. C. CLARK describes his Wadi Sahtan-14 site as, "the richest concentration of different styles in the gallery at the end of the upper gorge. There are large skirted human figures, seated figures with breasts, ostriches, a modern panel of vehicles, and a number of Old South Arabian inscriptions" (1975, 113 map, 114). The petroglyph sites here contain zoomorphic images, inscriptions in Arabic letters which literate Arabs cannot read as well as pre-Arabic writing (Fig 1 and 2). With the expansion of road building in recent years into remote areas, rock art sites are far more endangered than previously as the result of vandalism. On 4 March 2012 M. TOSI had a look at the rock art and inscriptions of the Wadi Saḥtan with the idea of gathering information preparatory to their preservation. In the Ministry prior to this discussion regarding future research had taken place. In the face of damage to the petroglyphs also owing to road building and other forms of encroachment, D. INSALL has mapped dozens of rock art sites around the Wadi Saḥtan, which for years had escaped the attention of others. These he has entered into Google Earth so that numerous sites have geographic coordinates. Unfortunately, these identifications are not publicly accessible.


Species of the chalcidoid genus Eurytoma associated with stone fruits are studied for the Palaearctic region. The eight species known to have such an association are: E. amygdali Enderlein, E. maslovskii Nikol'skaya, E. padi Veresh-chagin, E. samsonowi Vasiljev, E. schreineri Schreiner, E. turkestanica sp. n., E. paramygdali sp. n. and E. armenica sp. n. The first six species are phytophagous, developing in the stones, and the last two are entomophytophages, starting their development as parasitoids of a phytophagous species and completing development feeding on plant tissue. Four species, E. amygdali, E. schreineri, E. samsonowi , and E. maslovskii are of economic importance. Information is given on the economic importance, biology, distribution and taxonomy of these species, and includes several new records for hosts and distribution. A key is given to distinguish the species.


A lyzimeter experiment was carried out to asses the most suitable form, rate and time of nitrogen fertilizer application and to follow up the potential pollution impact caused by excessive nitrogen fertilization. Corn (zeamaiz) (var. Giza 2) was cultivated and fertilized with ammonium sulfate (AS), urea (U), ammonium nitrate (AN) or ureaformaldehyde (UF)) at three rates of each (100,200,& 300 kg N/fed.), added either pre-planting or post-emergency . Higher application rate of N fertilizer induced an increase in NO3-N concentration in the drainage water during the first 5 weeks which exceeds the permissible limits (>10mgN/L), where it was more pronounced by using fast release N fertilizers particularly at preplanting addition. Increasing N fertilization rate for all nitrogen forms used and application time increased foliage dry matter yield. However, delaying fertilization was most effective in increasing grain yield. The efficiency of applied nitrogen was higher at the lowest application rate, however, efficiency of urea is less than that of other N sources. The efficiency of N was greater when it was applied post-emergency. Increasing N application rate raised protein content, and soluble N (nitrate) which was higher than the permissible limit for human and animal consumption (>2mg NO3-N/ g dry weight) as well as decreased carbohydrate in the grain. Nitrogen budget values were negative at post emergency application of the lowest N rate whatever its forms. Increasing N application rate raised N budget. The calculated N balance revealed that at the lowest rate of N fertilizer the highest proportion of N was taken up by corn crop, however, an increase in the application rate of N reduced its quantity utilized by the plants, and raised the amount remained in the soil to reach about 60% of N- inputs at the highest rate of application. concluded that the proper time of N fertilization was post-emergency and N rate must not exceed 200 kg N/fed for corn crop, where the higher rate can adversely reduce ground water quality and increase the risk of nitrate accumulation in plant tissue. The use of slow release N fertilizer could reduce the adverse effect of higher N application rates of other N- sources.


To the Editor.— I enjoyed the anecdote about "Mr Cohen and the Headache" 1 and managed to grasp the valid points that were made by Susan Adelman, MD. But I believe she has told us even more than she intended. Wittily she has reminded us that treatment may legitimately begin before a diagnosis is made. Unwittingly, I believe, Dr Adelman has told us much about her diagnostic workup. I take issue with much that was said and done. I wonder if Dr Adelman's physical examination detected that the vision was not lost in the left eye, but in half the visual field of each eye.


This study assessed feasibility of making granular fertilizer with fly ash from a sewage sludge incinerator in Korea. Composition, characteristics, strength, and heavy metal contents of the granular fertilizers were investigated. Due to its high contents of phosphorus, fly ash from a sewage sludge incinerator could be used to make fertilizers. Granulation rates (2-4 mm granules) over 80% could be achieved as the fly ash contents were 15% or less of the fertilizer. Leaching tests of the fertilizers, based upon the Korean Standard Methods for Solid Wastes, showed the concentrations of heavy metals less than the risk limits. However, contents analysis of the fertilizers, based upon the Korean Standard Methods for Soils, experienced higher levels of heavy metals than the risk limits as the fly ash content exceeded 7% of the fertilizer. Thus, the fly ash needs to be added less than 7% of the fertilizer if there is no pretreatment to remove heavy metals.


We have implemented a non-iterative multitaper sensing hardware core. The multitaper core computes the spectrum as the average of M eigenspectra calculated using Slepian sequences. While more computationally complex than traditional Fourier methods, the multitaper estimation method offers enhanced performance. The working multitaper hardware core was validated on FPGA using over the air RF measurements in the UHF T-Band. The multitaper core has been incorporated into a prototype frequency agile spectrum sensing platform.


Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) has aggressive clinical features strongly associated with poorer overall prognosis and higher mortality rates relative to other molecular subtypes. FDA-approved drugs, such as paclitaxel, are effective in treating TNBC. Yet, treatment failure is commonly observed due to the development of acquired chemoresistance, which remains a clinical challenge for TNBC therapy. We have shown that orally administered VERU-111 inhibits MDA-MB-231 xenograft growth with similar efficacy to paclitaxel, but without acute toxicity, and represses metastases originating from the mammary fat pad. To better understand the effect of VERU-111 on taxane-resistant TNBC, we generated a panel of paclitaxel-resistant TNBC sublines (MDA-MB-231/TxR, MDA-MB-468/TxR, SUM159/TxR and Hs578T/TxR) by gradually exposing paclitaxel to parental lines. MTS assays were used to confirm the chemoresistance of each subline to paclitaxel. VERU-111 maintained its potency against all four taxane-resistant sublines. We further investigated the underlying mechanisms of VERU-111 action and found that it inhibited taxane-resistant TNBC cell proliferation by inducing mitotic arrest and apoptosis via disruption of microtubule stability. In vivo, relative to paclitaxel, VERU-111 significantly inhibited tumor growth in an orthotopic MDA-MB-231/TxR model and reduced lung metastases originating from the mammary fat pad. VERU-111 induced tumor necrosis, anti-angiogenesis and apoptosis in both taxane-sensitive and taxane-resistant TNBC models in vivo. In addition to the MDA-MB-231/TxR model, we also tested the efficacy of VERU-111 in a multidrug-resistant PDX model, HCI-10. VERU-111 significantly inhibited HCI-10 primary tumor growth and suppressed the growth of lymph node metastases present prior to therapy and suppressed lung, liver and kidney metastases at the endpoint. In contrast, paclitaxel had no efficacy to repress tumor growth or metastasis in this model, and in fact, stimulated liver metastasis. Taken together, our data demonstrate that VERU-111 is a new generation of oral tubulin inhibitor that potently inhibits the growth of taxane-sensitive and taxane-resistant TNBC. Therefore, VERU-111 therapy is a promising strategy for the treatment of metastatic TNBC patients, including those patients who progress on taxanes. Citation Format: Shanshan Deng, Raisa I. Krutilina, Deanna N. Parke, Hao Chen, Duane D. Miller, Tiffany N. Seagroves, Wei Li. VERU-111, a novel orally bioavailable tubulin inhibitor, overcomes taxane resistance in metastatic triple-negative breast cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research 2020; 2020 Apr 27-28 and Jun 22-24. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(16 Suppl):Abstract nr 3071.


Selenium is an essential trace element for human body.The biological functions of the essential trace element Se in human body such as scavenging the free radicals in human body,stimulating the immune response and playing the antagonism to heavy metals were summarized.The research progresses on the Se-enriched products were expounded.


Takes the prediction of coal seam strike at +710 m level fault zone in Shuhexing coal mine as an engineering example, the measuring points in exposing seam of roadway floor are selected,connecting the same elevation measuring points and taking average values of coal seam strike as predictive value, then other measuring points are used to verify. This method only uses a coal seam drilling for construction and to prove the coal seam strike, the prediction results are accurate.


In the recent years the number of photovoltaic systems which are connected to the distribution net works is increasing all over the world. It is to expect furt her increase in the future. This work focuses on analysis of a phot ov ltaic system with three single-phase inverters connected to the electric grid. Photovoltaic systems often use singl e-phase inverters. The disadvantage of such systems is asym metrical unbalanced delivery of electricity to the distribut ion network. This means that the currents in individual lines ar e unbalanced which leads to the unbalanced three-phase power gen ration.


Summary Newborn mice of the ZBC strain injected intravenously with living spleen cells taken from donors of the same strain in which tolerance to Ce tissues was previously induced, became tolerant to this strain and accepted homologous skin grafts from Ce donors. This would indicate that acquired tolerance can be transferred to an isologous individual at birth by the intravenous injection of spleen cells taken from a tolerant donor.


the jurisdictional status it should otherwise possess. It is more than a state's mere objections to the Court's jurisdiction; or arguments against it; or disagreement with the Court's opinion. It is an outright refusal to acknowledge the validity of that jurisdiction, logically founded on an inarticulated major premise that the Court's writ is unenforceable. Nonappearance—and a fortiori disappearance—thus opens the door irretrievably to outright repudiation of a binding judgment of the Court, a situation that has not ever exactly occurred, save in the Nicaragua case. With liberty to absent themselves from proceedings, and liberty to disregard adverse rulings of the Court, states will create an environment where, in 5 or 10 years, the International Court will have become a purely occasional court—one used primarily in instances where the parties have agreed on a compromis or special agreement. This presents more of the aspects of a mere arbitration tribunal than of a real, statutory court—in particular, one intended to be the principal judicial organ of the United Nations. An important component of world order will then have been irrevocably destroyed, and the intentions and principles of 1921 and 1945 will have been buried until the next time around—if there is one.


Using a relative rate technique, rate constants for the gas phase reactions of the OH radical with n-butane, n-hexane, and a series of alkenes and dialkenes, relative to that for propene, have been determined in one atmosphere of air at 295 ± 1 K. The rate constant ratios obtained were (propene = 1.00): ethene, 0.323 ± 0.014; 1-butene, 1.19 ± 0.06; 1-pentene, 1.19 ± 0.05; 1-hexene, 1.40 ± 0.04; 1-heptene, 1.51 ± 0.06; 3-methyl-1-butene, 1.21 ± 0.04; isobutene, 1.95 ± 0.09; cis-2-butene, 2.13 ± 0.05; trans-2-butene, 2.43 ± 0.05; 2-methyl-2-butene, 3.30 ± 0.13; 2,3-dimethyl-2-butene, 4.17 ± 0.18; propadiene, 0.367 ± 0.036; 1,3-butadiene, 2.53 ± 0.08; 2-methyl-1,3-butadiene, 3.81 ± 0.15; n-butane, 0.101 ± 0.012; and n-hexane, 0.198 ± 0.017. From a least-squares fit of these relative rate data to the most reliable literature absolute flash photolysis rate constants, these relative rate constants can be placed on an absolute basis using a rate constant for the reaction of OH radicals with propene of 2.63 × 10−11 cm3 molecule−1 s−1. The resulting rate constant data, together with previous relative rate data from these and other laboratories, lead to a self-consistent data set for the reactions of OH radicals with a large number of organics at room temperature.


This paper is concerned with a global H infinity control problem for a class of interconnected non-linear systems. We first consider a fairly general clas of large-scale non-linear systems with strong non-linear interconnections. It is shown that the decentralized H infinity control problem for the system can be converted into the centralized control problems associated with a set of auxiliary systems. The solutions to the latter problems in general rely on solutions of their associated Hamilton-Jacobi-Isaacs (HJI) inequalities. Realizing that finding a global solution of the HJI inequality is usually impossible, we then consider a global decentralized almost disturbance decoupling problem (DADDP) and a global decentralized inverse H infinity control problem (DIHCP) for a class of interconnected systems with lower triangular structure. The DADDP is concerned with the design of decentralized control laws that achieve an arbitrarily small disturbance input to the controlled output. The DIHCP involves seeking not only control laws but also state-dependent weights of the control inputs such that the associated global decentralized control problem is solvable. It is shown that the solutions to both the DADDP and DIHCP can be obtained via a recursive design technique. L2-gain from the


Given the high priority granted innovative topics in the school psychology literature, one might question the degree to which practitioners implement these innovations. This paper examines this question regarding innovation, change, and service delivery. Data were drawn from a nationwide longitudinal survey, in which a random sampling of 1000 school psychologists, beginning in 1992, responded to surveys. The surveys included measures of attitudes and trends in the movement toward professional reform. Implementation of reform was compared by geographic location. Results revealed a slow transition toward more innovative practices. Psychological assessment remained the most frequent professional activity despite respondents' stated ideal to increase consultation and direct intervention. The persistent emphasis on innovation was not reflected in service delivery. Concerning regional differences, respondents from the West and West Central regions of the areas surveyed reported significantly more actual time in intervention than did those from the Southeast and North Central regions. The time spent in intervention by those in the Northeast ranked between the two extremes. Furthermore, four areas currently receiving attention in the literature--consultation, individual counseling, classroom observation, and behavior analysis--were ranked high among the professional activities in which school psychologists engaged most frequently. (RJM) *********************************************************************** * Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made * * from the original document. * *********************************************************************** Perspective on School Psychology 1 Ch kr) Running Head: CHANGES IN SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGY IN THE NINETIES A Nineties Perspective on School Psychology: Changes in Service Delivery Terry Bontrager, Felicia L. Wilczenski, Arlene F. Bosco, and J. Erin Barry Rhode Island College U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Office of Educational Research and Improvement EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) 0 This document has been reproduced as recruited from the person or organization *nonvoting It CI Minor changes have been made to improve reOrOduction quality. Points of view or opinions stated on thus (Scow mem do not necessarily represent official OERI positron or policy "PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE THIS MATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED BY T TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC)." Terry Bontrager, Department of Counseling and Educational Psychology; Felicia L. Wilczenski, Department of Counseling and Educational Psychology; Arlene F. Bosco, Department of Counseling and Educational Psychology; and J. Erin Barry Department of Counseling and Educational Psychology. This report is one of several based on the database from a five-year longitudinal study. This paper accompanied a poster session at the 1996 meeting of the American Psychological Association, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Terry Bontrager, who is now at Pupil Personnel Services, New Bedford Public Schools, 455 County Street, New Bedford, \S) Massachusetts 02740. 2 BEST COPY AVAILABLE Perspective on School Psychology 2 Abstract This paper addresses practitioners' implementation of innovation and change in service delivery, a common topic in recent school psychology literature. Data were drawn from a nationwide longitudinal survey, a random sampling of 1000 school psychologists whose responses have been solicited annually since 1992. Those surveys included measures of attitudes and trends in the movement toward professional reform. Results reveal a slow transition toward more innovative practices. Assessment remains the most frequent professional activity despite respondents' stated ideal to increase consultation and direct intervention. Implementation of reform was compared by geographic location. Respondents from the West and West Central regions reported significantly more actual time in intervention than did those from the Southeast and North Central regions; Northeastern respondents ranked time in intervention between the two extremes. 3 BEST COPY AVAILABLE Perspective on School Psychology School Psychology Practice in an Era of Educational Reform In contrast to the traditional role that school psychologists have taken as testers and gatekeepers for special education, the profession, as reflected in its literature (e.g., Lidz, 1991; Reschly, 1988; Reschly & Wilson, 1990; Shinn, 1989; Ysseldyke & Marston, 1990), has had an increasing emphasis on innovation and change. In the 1995 calendar year School Psychology Review (National Association of School Psychologists) and School Psychology Quarterly (Division of School Psychology, American Psychological Association), journals of two national professional organizations for school psychologists, each published articles on school reform, early interventions, alternative assessment, home/school collaboration, preventive programs, technology, and diverse student populations. Reasons for the increased interest in innovation and change are probably varied. These may include the nationally recognized need for reform within the entire field of education as well as the increased diversity within the populations served by school psychologists--populations whose needs have not been adequately addressed by traditional psychology practice. Interest in innovation may also be the result of maturation of the profession with an accompanying desire to carve out a larger role for itself. Given the high priority currently granted innovative topics in the school psychology literature, one might reasonably 4 BEST COPY AVAILABLE Perspective on School Psychology 4 question the degree of practitioners' implementation of those same ideas. This paper addresses that question. It is based on a nationwide survey of school psychologists whose responses have been solicited annually over a four-year period. Method In 1992, the survey was mailed to a random sampling of 1000 school psychologists who were regular members of the National Association of School Psychologists. Seven hundred twenty usable surveys were returned that year. Follow-up surveys have been conducted each year since then. There were 438 usable surveys in 1993, 298 in 1994, and 193 in 1995. Table 1 illustrates the fact that, despite attrition over the four-year period, the sample has consistently conformed to NASP membership characteristics from April 1992 in terms of gender, regional distribution, degree status, and national certification. The first survey focused on the personal, educational, and professional backgrounds of school psychologists as well as their present job satisfaction, professional practice, and career paths. While continuing to focus on many of those areas, more recent surveys have also examined attitudes and trends in the movement toward reform in the profession--areas such as the roles and functions of school psychologists as change agents, attitudes toward inclusion, and preparation for working with diverse student populations. From the 1993 survey, data relating to amounts of time devoted to assessment, consultation, and intervention were


When we asked readers to tell us how they would make the case for a fair pay rise this year we expected some hard-hitting responses. Nursing Standard readers know they have a good case on pay. But in addition to the genuine financial hardship and Jean Gray the sense of injustice, what is evident here is that most nurses love the work they do. Certainly no one would be in it for the money and many of you were quick to point this out. Nurses are committed to what they do - they enjoy their work with patients and that is what keeps them in the health service. But this same dedication and job satisfaction may be holding them back when it comes to pay - those in power know that nurses are motivated by more than the bottom line and that knowledge is exploited.


A wideband transition from coplanar waveguide (CPW) to substrate integrated waveguide (SIW) is proposed and presented in the 50 GHz frequency range. Electrically thick alumina was used in this case, representative for other high-permittivity substrates such as semiconductors. Simulations predict less than -15 dB return loss within a 35 % bandwidth. CPW probe measurements were carried out and 40 % bandwidth were achieved at -0.5 dB insertion loss for a single transition. Modified SIW via configurations being suitable for simplified fabrication on electrically thick substrates in the upper millimeter-wave spectrum are discussed in the second part.


OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to investigate oculomotor differences between adults with and without attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) during a computerized response inhibition task, utilizing eye-tracking technology.

METHOD
Twenty-nine adults with ADHD and 35 controls (ages 18-32) were recruited from Sona Systems and the Learning Center at a university. Participants completed 120 randomized trials of the flanker task while their eye movements were monitored. Saccadic eye movement was investigated, while reaction time and performance errors were recorded from the flanker task. Participants with ADHD were required to refrain from taking stimulant medication the day of the experiment.

RESULTS
A linear mixed-effects regression model was fitted. Having ADHD resulted in significantly slower response times, t(57) = 2.73, p < 0.005, 95% CI [0.04, 0.27], but not significantly more errors than control participants on the flanker task. There were no significant differences in the number of saccades between groups. Further analysis demonstrated that adults with ADHD had a significantly higher number of saccades as the number of trials increased, t(7019) = 3.69, p < 0.001, 95% CI [0.00105, 0.00314].

CONCLUSIONS
Slower reaction time in adults with ADHD during the flanker task indicates slower processing, but this did not affect their accuracy. While no differences were found in the number of saccades between groups, higher saccades as trial number increased in adults with ADHD suggests possible fatigue contributing to oculomotor differences. Further research is necessary to investigate potential gaze differences during a task that necessitates increased saccadic eye movement.


We investigated the property change of a positive type 193 nm chemically amplified resist (CAR) during post exposure bake (PEB) and post exposure delay (PED). Upon PEB the thickness and optical property are changed. These changes depend on the exposure energy and the PEB conditions. The thickness and the imaginary refractive index changes during PEB are determined. The thickness reduction and the refractive index changes are related to the de-protection of the resist. By modeling these relationships the concentration of de-protected site of the resist and the parameters are determined. The PED effect is also considered and included in the model. The de-protection parameters needed for the 193 nm lithography are extracted. The obtained parameters are used with the lithography simulation for profile calculation, and the results are compared with the observed SEM resist profile.


A device for calculating the filter coefficients of the adaptive filter (210) (200) embodiment, the adaptive filter for filtering a microphone signal so as to suppress an echo due to a loudspeaker signal, the apparatus comprising: extracting means (250) for the loudspeaker signal or from the stationary component signal or the extracted stationary component signal from a signal derived from the loudspeaker signal; and a computing means (270), based on the extracted stationary component signal or the extracted the non-stationary component signal to calculate the adaptive filter (210) filter coefficients.


Objectives: To examine the five-year mortality of patients injured in motor vehicle accidents 5 years after presentation and associated factors. Materials and Methods: Patients injured in motor vehicle accidents and treated in the emergency room were recruited. For each subject, the attending nurse filled out a questionnaire on patient characteristics, injury coding, and use of helmets/seat belts and obtained a blood sample for alcohol testing with consent. We investigated the mortality of the subjects during the following five years and their risk factors for mortality. Results: Of the 518 subjects, 64 (12.4%) died from their injuries which was confirmed by chart review. The majority of deaths occurred in males (75%). Of these fatalities, 45.2% were aborigines, 64.1% were motorcyclists and 78.1% were car drivers. Helmets/seat belts were not used in 59.5% of fatal accidents. The crude mortality rates were 10.1% in subjects with negative blood alcohol; 8.4% in subjects with blood alcohol concentrations 100 mg/dL or lower and 16.2% in intoxicated subjects (blood alcohol concentration over 100 mg/dL). Alcohol intoxication had a high risk for mortality but was not statistically significant. A low coma score (Glasgow Coma Score <13) was the most significant factor predicting mortality. Non use of helmets or seat belts was the most significant factor associated with a low Glasgow Coma Score. Conclusions: Intoxicated subjects with injuries did have increased mortality but this was not statistically significant. Further research will be needed to substantiate this finding as well as to determine the long -term effects of alcohol on clinical outcome.


Background: Recent studies have shown a high incidence of early repolarization (J-point elevation) in inferolateral leads in patients with idiopathic ventricular fibrillation (IVF). Brugada syndrome (BS) is also characterized by J-point and ST elevation in right precordial leads and VF. However little is known about similarities and differences between IVF with early repolarization (Early Repolarization Syndrome: ERS) and BS. Methods: Fourteen patients of ERS and twenty-one patients of BS with documented VF were included into this study. Early repolarization was defined as an elevation of the J-point (QRS-ST junction) of at least 0.1mv from baseline in inferior or lateral leads. All patients experienced VF which was confirmed in electrocardiography (ECG) or monitor ECG and follow up data was collected from implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD). To distinguish precisely between ERS and BS, provocative tests with sodium-channel blockers were performed in all ERS and BS patients. Results: In ERS group...


Psyche-nourishing is the essence of Zen. Overall life solicitude is realized by special way of thinking and attitude towards life in Zen culture. And in the meantime,Zen can help us get a harmonious world by promoting psychological balance,harmonizing the relationship between self and other and closing the combination of human and nature. Zen culture plays a positive role in harmonious social construction and harmonious world construction.


This paper examines the role of firms' access to bank finance in mergers and acquisitions. We find robust evidence that greater access to bank finance increases the probability that firms become targets in acquisitions. The acquirers associated with this result are small and private firms which benefit from obtaining greater access to finance via M&A. For acquisitions of targets with greater access to bank finance, we confirm that target return premiums are higher, acquirers have better post-merger operating and stock performance, and combined-firm leverage is higher. These results reveal that targets, not just acquirers, contribute to financing efficiencies in M&A.


This study examines a way to install a crosswalk that can improve pedestrians' convenience and safety and that goes beyond the crosswalk design standard of existing roundabouts. When a scrambled crosswalk, one of the crosswalk installation methods, is introduced to the roundabout system, it shortens the cross-walking distance of pedestrians and thus enhances convenience. Although the installation of a scrambled crosswalk may enhance pedestrians' convenience, it may obstruct vehicular traffic. Thus, this study presents standards for reasonable diagonal crosswalk installation based on the investigation on its effects on a vehicle's delay time. This study includes an analysis of the various geometric structures of roundabouts. The study results show that as v/c and the number of pedestrians increased, the delay time after the installation of a scrambled crosswalk increased although the extent was different. In general, the effect of the installation of a scrambled crosswalk was insignificant regardless of the number of pedestrians when v/c was under 0.6. When the number of pedestrians was 300/hour or lower, the difference in the delay time was quite insignificant regardless of v/c. In addition, as the inscribed circle of the roundabout was larger, the difference in the delay time decreased depending on v/c and the number of pedestrians.


generated by an Adobe application 11.5606 Hedyotis corymbosa L. with ursolic acid as the main compound is one of the plants that has been used for traditional medicine including to cure breast cancer disease. The aim of this research is to examine the cytotoxic activity of rumput mutiara herb ethanolic extract (ERM) and its effect in combination with doxorubicin against MCF-7 breast cancer cell line as cell model of doxorubicin resistance. Hedyotis corymbosa L. herb powder extraction was done by maceration using ethanol 96% then the extract is detected for ursolic acid content. Cell viability assay of ERM, doxorubicin and the combination of ERM and doxorubicin treatments were carried out by MTT assay to determine IC 50 and CI (Combination Index). Cell cycle distribution was determined by flowcytometry. Apoptosis assay was performed by ethidum bromide-acridine orange DNA staining method. Investigation on Bcl-2 expression was determined by immunocytochemistry method. Thin Layer Chromatography of ERM had similar Rf with ursolic acid standard: 0,6. ERM and doxorubicin inhibited cell growth against MCF-7 with IC 50 of 77 µg/mL and 349 nM (0,19 µg/mL) respectively. Combination of ERM and doxorubicin showed synergistic effect (CI 0.66-0.99). Combination of 25 ig/mL ERM- 200 nM doxorubicin induced apoptosis and decreased Bcl-2 expression but showed no cell accumulation on cell cycle. Doxorubicin induced high cell accumulation in G2/M phase, but ERM at the concentration of 25 ig/mL had a low effect in G1 phase, and ERM IC 50 did not induce cell accumulation otherwise apoptosis. These results concluded that the apoptosis mechanism of combination doxorubicin-ERM is mediated by cell cycle arrest and non cell cycle arrest. Therefore ERM has a potential activity to be developed as co-chemotherapeutic agent. Normal 0 36 false false false


Pt/RGO electrocatalyst was successfully prepared by the deposition of platinum nanoparticles on the surface of reduced graphene oxide with a rapid and environment-friendly microwave-assisted polyol method. The electrochemical activity of as-synthesized Pt/RGO for methanol electrooxidation was investigated in detail. As can be seen from certain values including diffusion coefficient, current density of forward oxidation peak and ratio of the current density of forward peak to reverse peak, the electrooxidation performance of Pt/RGO was superior to that of Pt/C and Pt/graphite catalysts. For example, the current density of forward oxidation peak obtained with Pt/RGO catalyst for methanol oxidation was 18.5 mA/cm(2), which was higher than that obtained with Pt/C catalyst (9.65 mA/cm(2)).


: With the rapid development of modern science and technology, visual communication design is also full of longing for modern technology. The emergence of new media has greatly changed the path of information dissemination and expanded the scope of visual communication design to a certain extent. Designers' creative thinking and visual expression methods have become more diverse


The peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is characterized by leg pain during walking, and a recommended treatment for this disease is to perform supervised physical activity. In this chapter, a system that monitories the physical activity containing one application for smartwatch, one application for smartphone, and a back-end webservice is presented. The applications collect heart rate, GPS locations, step count, and altitude data. The methodology used for the development of the system was based on the agile method with the production of prototypes. In this chapter, four development cycles, which cover the users' and researchers' needs, are presented. In this work, the main objective is to evaluate the current mobile technologies on the physical activity data collection and the development of a system that assists the users to maintain an active life. Monitoring the Physical Activity of Patients Suffering From Peripheral Arterial Disease


In New Zealand, agriculture accounts for ~49% of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions at the industry level, but a robust understanding and calculation of emissions at the individual farm level is needed. Based on the methodology used in the national agricultural inventory model (Pickering & Wear 2013), we developed a farm-scale GHG calculator designed to accept both farm and industry level data. The gases considered were CH4 from enteric fermentation and manure management and direct and indirect N2O from animal excreta and fertiliser N applied to soils. We also included the ability to account for the effect of slope on direct emissions from excreta as described in Saggar et al. (2015). The farm-scale GHG calculator was run using the national level data for sheep and beef population and mean live weight from the national inventory model for the 2008/09 and 2009/10 farming years and the results compared with the national inventory model over that time period. For enteric CH4, manure management CH4, and N2O emissions from animal excreta, the farm scale calculator was within ±4% of the agricultural inventory model. These small differences were largely due to slight differences in the calculated animal live weights (and hence ME requirements) by subspecies and month. When the slope effects were included in the farm-scale calculator the excretal N2O emissions dropped by around 27% for beef and 50% for sheep. The farm-scale calculator was then run for each of the 17 sheep and beef farm categories used by Beef + Lamb New Zealand using average data from the Sheep and Beef Farm Survey (Beef + Lamb New Zealand 2015) for the year 2013/14. Average annual farm emission rates ranged from 0.41 (Otago/Southland high country) to 4.54 (Marlborough-Canterbury mixed farming) tCO2e/ha. Regional total farm emissions ranged from 821 (Taranaki-Manawatu intensive finishing) to 3,933 (Marlborough-Canterbury high country) tCO2e/y. The number and type of animals, either total or per hectare (stocking rate), animal species (beef/sheep/deer), and the topography (proportion of flat, moderate and steep farm land), had the greatest influence on emissions. However, animal live weight data for each farm type were not available, which would have affected the enteric CH4 emissions. N2O emissions were also affected by slope, but only accounted for 10–20% of the total emissions. Introduction Agriculture accounts for 48.8% of New Zealand's total GHG emissions (Ministry for the Environment 2016). Of this, the majority (75.5%) is CH4 from enteric fermentation and manure management, with direct and indirect N2O emissions from agricultural soils


The condensation reaction of 4-formyl-3-methylfuroxan with 1,5-diaminotetrazole led to 4-(1-amino-5-aminotetrazolyl)methyleneimino-3-methylfuroxan (1) in high yield. Its structure was confirmed by an X-ray diffraction study. 4-(1-Amino-5-nitriminotetrazolyl)methyleneimino-3-methylfuroxan (2) was obtained through the nitration of 1 with 100 % HNO3. The nitrogen-rich salts of 2 with bases such as 1-amino-1,2,3-triazole (3), 4-amino-1,2,4-triazole (4), and 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole (5) were synthesized and characterized by IR, Raman, and NMR spectroscopy and elemental analysis. In addition, the structures of 2, 4, and 5 were further confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses. Compound 5 decomposes at 183 °C, whereas 3 and 4 are less stable and decompose at 139 and 164 °C, respectively. The heats of formation, detonation parameters, and impact sensitivity of 1–5 were investigated by theoretical and experimental methods.


Objective: To describe the baseline characteristics (2011) and intervention strategies of the government funded scheme SABALA, an effort to empower adolescent girls (AG), 11‐18 yrs to prevent and manage iron deficiency anemia in six high priority districts of West Bengal, India.


In short-range millimeter-wave (MMW) 3D imaging applications, scanning 1-D multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) array shows the advantages in low cost and fast data acquisition comparing to traditional single-input-single-output (SISO) and 2D MIMO techniques. However, in practical applications, the actual synthetic aperture array is non-uniform since uniform scanning is difficult to achieve. To solve this problem, a frequency-domain fast imaging algorithm based on non-uniform fast Fourier transform (NUFFT) is proposed in this paper. Simulation and experimental results show significant improvement in imaging efficiency comparing to traditional methods such as back projection (BP) algorithm, while maintaining the imaging quality.


Although global influences – in the form of international finance coupled with discourses of partnership, participation, good governance, and democracy – exercise an increasing influence on national and local governance arrangements worldwide, comparative studies across the traditional South/North divide remain extremely rare. Drawing on findings from a comparative study of Malawi's PRSP and Ireland's national Social Partnership process, this article demonstrates that a shifting of conceptual boundaries beyond traditionally delineated geographic borders is not just valid but essential, in that it helps to reveal new perspectives on the politics underlying globalised development processes and the transformative potential of those processes.


An ion chromatographic method, which separates 36 different cations in a single chromatographic run, was developed to separate and analyze trace radionuclides present on high level radioactive waste samples. The method employs linear and step gradients and isocratic elution using four different eluents in six different eluent phases. The separation takes 45 minutes and has detection limits ranging from 0.1 ppM to 5.0 ppM, when using spectrophotometric detection for nonradioactive cations, depending on the sample matrix. The detection limits and relative standard deviation of the data are dependent upon the element and sample matrix. This method can be reliably performed in the laboratory if properly prepared samples are used. This study describes the applications, limitations, interferences, precision, and accuracy of this method. Using this method, trace radionuclides, which are present in concentrations of only a few hundred disintegrations per minute per milliliter, can be separated and then analyzed by using liquid scintillation counting analysis and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). This paper will first describe the chromatographic separation as it was developed and applied to the analysis of aqueous samples with low ppM levels of nonradioactive cations. Next, the application of this method to the separation and analysis ofmore » high level waste tank samples will be discussed.« less


N-4H-1,2,4-Triazol-4-yl-guanidine hydrochloride (L1) and a heterocyclized 3,4-diamino-4H-1,2,4-triazole hydrochloride (L2) were synthesized in good yields thanks to a transamination reaction of aminoguanidine and diaminoguanidine hydrochlorides, whose mechanism is presented. L1 and L2 crystallize in monoclinic (P21/a) and triclinic (P1) space groups, respectively. Hydrogen bonding interactions dictated by H-donor, acceptor rich ligand framework together with lattice chloride ions in L1 and L2 organize the crystal packing into a three-dimensional (3D) supramolecular network. The crystal structure of L1 is the first one for a 1,2,4-triazole ligand constructed from aminoguanidine. Both L1 and L2 that exist in monocationic form were introduced as supramolecular synthons to prepare Zn(II) complexes. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images on a bulk sample of [Zn(L1)2Cl2]Cl2·H2O (1) reveals a spontaneous aggregation of porous balls of coccolith morphology with surface decorated sickle-shaped particles of 100 nm thickness, whereas a powder sample of [Zn(L2)2Cl2]·H2O (2) shows neat rectangular blocks of 470 nm thickness. Colorless crystals of 2 crystallize in a monoclinic space group (C2/c). Zn(II) ions bound chloride with NH6B···Cl(1) = 2.495(2) A and N···H type bonding (N6···H3C3 = 2.743(2) A; N2···H7N7 = 1.989(2) A) affording a 3D supramolecular network. The degree of pyramidality, ΣN = 38°, observed at one of the terminal amines in L2 is still retained in 2, but "flipping" of orientation of attached protons due to directional H-bonding is observed too. Porosity partitioning by mercury porosimetry measurements on 1 and 2 reveals interparticular porosities between 7 and 15 μm. N2(g) and H2(g) gas adsorption capacities of 1 and 2 were measured by BET which shows no preference for N2(g) but a low irreversible H2(g) uptake of 3 cm3/g.


A show dedicating thirty minutes a week to right-wing commentator Andrew Bolt was always going to raise eyebrows. Dave Hoskin asks whether there is any substance beneath the sensation.


Vacuum-ultraviolet (vuv) studies were made of the emission from helium gas excited by 4-MeV protons, under conditions where the gas purity was monitored by concomitant total-ionization measurements. The relative intensity of the 584-\AA{} resonance line was studied from 0.01 to 100 Torr. Three continua, near 600, 675, and 800 \AA{}, respectively, were investigated from a few Torr to 800 Torr. Our studies of intensity as a function of pressure are consistent with the interpretation that the 675-\AA{} continuum is the bound-continuum transition $D^{1}\ensuremath{\Sigma}_{u}^{+}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}X^{1}\ensuremath{\Sigma}_{g}^{+}$ in the helium diatomic molecule, where the $D$ state is formed by three-body collisions involving the atomic $2^{1}P$ state. Some of the 800-\AA{} continuum, as well as the narrow continuum near 600 \AA{}, is produced, most likely, from a similar process involving emission from the $A^{1}\ensuremath{\Sigma}_{u}^{+}$ molecular state, created from three-body conversion of a $2^{1}S$ atomic state. Certain other details are given on the energy pathways following charged-particle excitation of helium gas, and comments are made on some of the recently published emission data for liquid helium.


4560 Background: Metastases of testicular germ cell tumors (TGCT) to brain are a rare event. Prognostic is poor and there is little evidence on optimal management of these patients. Methods: A retrospective review of case records of germ cell tumor patients within the Spanish Germ Cell Cancer Group from 1994 to 2012 was conducted. Results: Thirty-tree cases of testicular germ cell tumors from 17 institutions were reported. Nineteen patients (57%) presented with brain metastases at primary diagnosis (group 1: synchronous), thirteen (40%) developed brain metastases at relapse (group 2: metachronous) and only one patient developed brain metastasis during cisplatin based-chemotherapy (3%) (excluded from the analysis). Main demographics and comparison between series are shown on table. Median serum BHCG levels at initial diagnosis were higher in group 1(279.083 versus 175.873), whereas those of AFP were higher in group 2(1320 versus 4181). The most common histology in the primary tumor was choriocarcinoma for ...


A case of an extensive extradural haematoma as a complication in a patient with osteogenesis imperfecta is reported. The significance of careful appraisal and post-traumatic, neurosurgical observation of patients with osteogenesis imperfecta and a history of recent, albeit seemingly trivial, head injury is discussed.


Professionals caring for older adults are already aware of the reality of conservatorship, or "guardianship" in some jurisdictions, for older adults deemed incapacitated because of mental illness or cognitive disability, most often dementia. But the movement to Free Britney from her conservatorship garnered huge interest among the public and federal government and had many clinicians questioning anew what their role is in the process. It is timely, then, that in a recent issue of JAGS, Kahla Zietlow and colleagues offer a medicolegal review of guardianship for clinicians. They describe how the implications of guardianship for our patients are serious and that a person has suffered a "civil death" because that person is now alienated from most of their civil rights, which have been transferred to someone else. This can include deeply personal decisions about health, finances and living conditions, among others. While guardianships can be limited in scope or be temporary, they are often broadly applied or last the rest of a person's life. The article explains how we can: 1) do better on the core issue of capacity assessments and 2) look for all alternatives and less restrictive options. The first is not trivial as a comprehensive capacity assessment might obviate the need for a guardianship. In general, physicians are not that reliable in the area of medical-decision making capacity assessments, let alone more global determinations of "capacity." Zietlow points out that, in fact, "capacity" is a multi-domain assessment that should be team-based and use tools to give the most appropriate conclusion for the patient, such as the Financial Capacity Instrument for financial capacity or instruments for functional assessment. The second issue of finding alternatives to guardianship is equally complex. Alternatives include designating surrogates through advance directives, durable powers of attorney for finances, living trusts, the Social Security Representative Payee program, the VA Fiduciary program, private or pro bono fiduciaries, and supported decisionmaking agreements. The exceptional thing about Ms. Spears' case, other than the attention it received, was that she was an atypical case because she is young, wealthy, and influential. This contrasts with the structural inequity seen with guardianship as broadly applied for older adults. More often a guardianship is imposed on someone who is socially isolated, poor, part of a marginalized community, and who has experienced lifetime disadvantage. Studies from New York and Florida indicate that women and people of color are overrepresented. Removing the rights of anyone should be considered an extreme act, but in marginalized populations, it is an injustice situated within a larger historical context of the struggle to attain and retain civil rights. Recent work by Rafik Wahbi and Leo Beletsky describes how Black and Brown communities experience involuntary mental health interventions as another form of control and oppression. The other broader context is that sometimes a guardianship is applied because of a lack of alternative resources. There are large structural issues affecting resources to meet people's functional and social needs. For example, states' Medicaid programs vary in how and if they pay for assisted living or in-home supportive services. The consequence is that low and moderate income adults struggle to afford caregiving and come to our attention during a crisis, a scenario often labeled "failing in the community," and this triggers a consideration of guardianship. Many patients also face guardianship because of policies among long term care facilities that may refuse to admit them without a formally appointed legal surrogate to sign admission paperwork. The case Zietlow and colleagues use illustrates how these factors might affect a guardianship assessment. Mr. S appears to be a person with cognitive deficits who nevertheless retains his ability to perform ADLs. He articulates his wishes, knows how to access his bank account on his phone, is housed, responds reasonably to safety questions, and had a solution (walking) to his lack of ability to drive a car. However, he could not articulate a solution to the hypothetical posed that his social security checks might stop, did not know his legal right to remain in his brother's house, and could not identify a surrogate decision maker in the wake of his brother's sudden passing. These could be seen as largely resource issues, This Editorial comments on the article by Zietlow et al. in this issue. Received: 25 April 2022 Revised: 24 August 2022 Accepted: 5 September 2022


On the basis of related literatures and interviews,it proposes the questionnaire to survey and sta-tisticly analyze the perceive problem of risk management in our venture capital firms,so as to realize the per-ceive actuality and thus provide empirical support to push risk management in venture capital.


A case of cervical thymic cyst in a 16-year old male is described. The lesion is quite rare and was seen for the first time at the University Hospital of the West Indies. The literature has been reviewed and the embryology and pathogtenesis of the condition have been discussed. A pre-operative diagnosis of thymic cyst in the neck is difficult and should be included in the differential diagnosis of swellings in the neck (AU)


Objective:To analyze the dynamic change in nutri tional status of prim ary and middle school students in Baoan district of Shenzhen city Met hods:A seve n-years longitudinal analysis was performed on nutritional status of primary an d middle school students from 1996 to 2002. Re sults:The average prevalence rate of malnutrition between 1996 and 2002 was 10 7%,but the rate increased year by year The average prevalence rate of obesity w a s 5 1% The rate of malnutrition in males was significantly lower than that in females( χ 2=1240 49,P 0 005),while the males had significant higher rate of obesity than females( χ 2=343 33,P0 005) The peak of malnutriti on ap peared at middle school students,while the peak of the obesity appeared in senio r primary school Conclusion:Both malnutrition and obesity rates are high in Baoan District,it is necessary to pay high attention and take preventive measurement


Objectives: Ultrasound guidance increases the success of internal jugular central venous catheter (CVC) placement. The common femoral vein (CFV) is considered an easier site and physicians frequently place CFV CVCs using anatomical landmark guidance. No research has demonstrated the effect of patient weight on placement of a femoral CVC. The authors hypothesized that resident physicians could determine by anatomical landmarks the insertion site of a femoral CVC in normal and overweight adults. Methods: Investigators consented adult patients in the Emergency Department to serve as study models. Patients were grouped by BMI: Normal (BMI (BMI > 25). PGYI-III Emergency Medicine residents who volunteered to participate were included. Residents inspected and palpated the inguinal regions on a patient and marked the patient's skin directly over the CFV. A faculty member assessed success using a 10 MHz linear probe (Sonosite Micro Maxx) centered over the mark. The attempt was successful if the mark was directly over the CFV and unsuccessful if distal, lateral, or medial to the CFV. Results: Nineteen residents (6 PGYI, 7 PGY II, and 6 PGYIII) assessed 17 patients. There were 43 attempts on Normal patients and 57 attempts on Overweight patients. The success rate on Normal patients was 74% and on Overweight patients was 42% (p = 0.0021). Conclusion: Residents were more successful in correctly identifying the CFV by anatomical landmarks in Normal patients. Training year had no effect on success. Ultrasound guidance may increase the success rate of placing a femoral CVC in patients with BMI > 25.


With the grid connection of virtual power plant in distribution network such as large-scale distributed power sources, energy storage devices and active loads, the traditional distribution network is transformed into a new type of active distribution network, which affects many aspects such as power quality and safe operation of the power grid, and also brings great challenges to the planning, optimization, control and management of the distribution network. The existing analytical algorithms and intelligent algorithms for solving the optimization and control problems of active distribution networks reveal many shortcomings such as complex mathematical modeling, difficulty in satisfying the solution accuracy and fast solution speed in the face of multiple optimization objectives and complex network structures, while deep learning algorithms have unique advantages in solving complex nonlinear problems. Therefore, this paper takes active distribution network voltage control as the research objective, considers the power output characteristics of distributed power sources and energy storage devices and the grid operation constraints, designs a multi-time scale voltage control strategy, including two time phases before and during the day, schedules the reactive power output of distributed power sources and the charging and discharging of energy storage systems, and uses a deep learning long and short-term memory network as the solution algorithm. Using the improved 33-node distribution system as an example, the results verify the feasibility of the long and short-term memory network for optimization calculation, which can effectively control the node voltage, reduce the active network loss, and ensure the accuracy of the optimization control without the complex mathematical model, and at the same time can realize fast dispatching.


Study Design : In-vitro experimental study Objectives : To determine the proteoglycan synthesis of the rabbit nucleus pulposus cells in various concentration of extracellular collagen type I and II under the stimulation of TGFβ1. Summary of Literature Review : Therapeutic effect of growth factor and gene therapy can be altered by composition of extracellular matrix. However, the effect of extracellular collagen types I and II on synthetic activity of intervertebral disc cells is not thoroughly studied before. Materials and Methods : The nucleus pulposus cells were isolated and cultured from 10 skeletally mature rabbits. Cultures were trypsinized and incorporated into alginate beads with different concentration of extracellular collagen type I and II (0.5%, 1.0% and 1.5%). Those cultures with TGFβ1 (10 ng/ml) served stimulated condition of matrix synthesis. Newly synthesized proteoglycans were assessed by S-sulfate incorporation using chromatography on Sephadex G-25 in PD-10 columns. Scintillation count was normalized with DNA content by Hoechst dye method. Results : In basal condition, difference in proteoglycan synthesis in given concentration of extracellular collagen type I and II were statistically insignificant. In stimulated condition with TGF-β1, difference in proteoglycan synthesis in given concentration of extracellular collagen type I and II was also statistically insignificant. However, cultures in stimulated condition with TGF-β1 showed increased amount of newly synthesized proteoglycans compared to those of basal condition regardless of the concentration of extracellular collagen type I and II (p < 0.05). C o n c l u s i o n : Anabolic response of rabbit nucleus pulposus cells is relatively insensitive to extracellular matrix composition, which facilitates application of gene therapy in various conditions of disc degeneration.


We have been studying a multilayer disk in order to realize a 12-cm-diameter optical disk with the recording capacity of 100 GB or more. We tried to fabricate a multilayer disk using a photopolymer sheet. We developed a new sheet, and confirmed the performance of this sheet. A single layer disk made using this sheet had a value of 5.3%, and a 25 GB capacity. Then we fabricated a dual layer disk. The thickness variations from the disk surface to each recording layer were ±0.6 µm and ±0.7 µm. These results indicated the possibility of realizing a multilayer disk for a high-numerical-aperture (high-NA) system. We will evaluate the signals reproduced from the multilayer disk in the next step.


Introduction The Fmoc protecting group is usually cleaved at basic conditions by 20% piperidine in DMF [1]. For deprotection of difficult sequences diazabicycloundecene (2 % DBU in DMF) is often used. Both commonly used agents are unfortunately not very suitable in the alternative liquid phase synthesis. Therefore there is a permanent effort and search for the agents easily removable during inevitable intermediates isolation [2]. The cyclic part of oxytocin H-c(Cys-Tyr(I2)-Ile-Gln-Asn-Cys)-NH2 was manually synthesized on the solid phase. For the Fmoc group removal both 20% piperidine in DMF and 30% of tertbutylamine (TBA) in DMF were compared. TBA in the mixture with 1-octadecanethiol (C18-SH) was then used for deprotection of some Fmoc-AA derivatives to study the cleavage condition affordable for liquid phase. The choice of the model peptide was motivated by its possible exploitation either for CD spectral measurement and/or for biological effects in CNS during the study of stress. It was also desirable to develop a simple method for the iodination of Tyr residue.


Abstract : This paper examines the crushing characteristics of a web girder subjected to a local in-plane crashing load. First, a simplified model of the post-buckling deformation of the web girder is developed. Then this model is used to formulate an upper-bound solution for the plastic behavior of the deforming web girder. Finally small-scale crushing tests of extruded aluminum double-hollow forms are conducted to verify the deformation mode and the upper-bound solution. The web girders of interest for this research are the longitudinal web girders in a unidirectionally stiffened double hull (USDH) structure.


With the advancement of technology and internet, there is abundant information available for the user on the internet. These users use this information and also provide their valuable feedback, suggestions, views on various review websites, blogs and social networks. For a better decision making it's very essential to analyze, explore and organize their views and feedback. This can be done with the help of opinion mining or sentiment analysis. Sentiment analysis or the opinion mining is a task aimed at extraction and analysis of the data in form of positive, negative or neutral to provide decision making. The sentiment analysis can be done in many ways one of these is with the use of lexicon. This survey gives an overview of the efficient techniques to be used, some recent advancements in the techniques and the future research directions in the field of Sentiment Analysis.


A central requirement to accomplish a competent and effective education system is the inclusion of a post matric year to facilitate the transition from the protected academic leaning to the reality of the world at large. This strategy needs to emphasise the acquisition of formative information to minimise problems that might arise if life skills needs and tertiary learning barriers are not promptly identified and addressed. Michaelhouse a private school in Kwa-Zulu NatalSouth Africa is faced with declining numbers in the post matric class called the sixth form. The study recommends that in order to improve the marketability ofthe sixth form programme, the following objectives need to be met by Michaelhouse. I. Be a centre ofexcellence providing high quality education in a supportive and caring environment. ll. Be entrepreneurial and innovative in encouraging more students to pursue the post matric offering. ill. Be responsive to the needs of the community and business sector in the provision ofcontinuing education and training. IV. Prepare students to function effectively in an adult world. The purpose ofthis study is to establish the expectations of students with regards to the offering ofa sixth form programme, in order that the Michaelhouse may customise the curriculum incorporating customer needs. This will be used as a marketing tool to attract pupils to Michaelhouse.


New aspects of bone and muscle diagnostics. New aspects of biochemical markers of bone turnover in paediatrics (P.M. Crofton). New aspects of bone densitometry (C.-C. Gluer et al .). The analysis of muscle strength (G.-P. Bruggemann). New insights about the relationship between bone strength and muscle strength (H. Schieszl, J. Willnecker). Prevention of osteoporosis . Osteoporosis - epidemiology, clinical relevance and prevention in adulthood (J.D. Ringe). Skeletal growth in a nutrition perspective: genetic and endocrine interaction (V. Matkovic et al .). Puberty and bone development. Influence of sex steroids on bone (J. Agbenu, E.M. Nitsche, K. Kruse). Bone markers and the increase of bone density in pubertal girls (C.M. de Ridder et al .). Timing of puberty and skeletal development (F. Rauch, E. Schonau). Bone mass in anorexia nervosa patients (M. Carrascosa et al ). Influence of physical activity and nutrition on bone development . Mineral intake and urinary excretion in healthy German children and adolescents (F. Manz et al .). Milk abstinence since early childhood, intestinal lactase activity and lumbar spine bone mineral density (P. Kann, R. Piepenburg, J. Beyer). Computer kids: lack of movement and physical fitness in childhood (W. Krause, H. Richter). Influence of physical activity in childhood on bone status in late adulthood (B. Piepkorn et al .). Development of the muscle and bone system in chronic diseases . Skeletal problems in children with malignancies (P. Arikoski et al .). Bone mineral density in young adult survivors of childhood lymphoblastic leukaemia (J.J.G. Hoorweg-Nijman et al .). Bone development in inherited metabolic disorders (B. Schwahn et al .). Bone mineralization in childhood diabetes: a review of densitometric studies (J. De Schepper, O. Louis). Bone mineral density in children with asthma treated with inhaled corticosteroids (K. Nowacka et al .). Bone development in juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (M.L. Bianchi et al .). Thyroid hormones and bone mineralization in children and adolescents (F. Peter, A. Muzsnai, I. Kantor). The functional muscle-bone-unit in health and disease (E. Schonau et al .). Broadband ultrasound attenuation at the calcaneum in children with cerebral palsy-relationship to mobility status and dietary calcium intake (M.Z. Mughal et al .). Effects of growth hormone therapy on bone metabolism in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF)(D. Schnabel et al .). Prevention of renal osteopathy in children and adolescents with chronic renal failure (B. Lettgen). The effect of recombinant human growth hormone on body composition (bone mass and bone metabolism) in adults with childhood-onset growth hormone deficiency (M. Ruiz-Echarri et al .). Osteoporosis in primary bone disorders. Determination of bone mass in idiopathic juvenile osteoporosis ( M. Olszaniecka et al .). Idiopathic juvenile osteoporosis (N.J. Shaw, R.M. Francis, A.M. Sutcliffe).


This paper focuses on a theoretical investigation of the coupling mechanism of heat transfer and liquid moisture diffusion in porous textiles using a mathematical model developed earlier. In the model, an equation describing liquid diffusion behavior is incorporated into an energy conservation equation and mass conservation equations of water vapor and liquid water transfer, which include vapor diffusion, evaporation, and sorption of moisture by fibers. A series of computations with systematic variations of fabric thickness and porosity is made to investigate the interactions between heat transfer and moisture transfer. Meanwhile, experiments are conducted to validate the model for fabrics with different degrees of hygroscopicity and thickness. Predictions of temperature changes during moisture transients are compared with experimental measurements, and . good agreement is observed between the two, indicating that the model is satisfactory. Analysis of the computational and experimental results illustrates that the heat transfer process, which is influenced by fabric thickness and porosity, significantly impacts moisture transport processes.


The continuing demand of wireless communication requires a more efficient use of the limited spectrum resources. Cognitive radio (CR) is an intelligent technology for enhancing the utilization of the precious spectrum resources. In CR , the spectrum to be shared in a flexible way. Multipleinput and Multiple-output (MIMO) communication technology has gained significant attention as it is a powerful scheme to improve spectral efficiency. In this paper the important task is to develop energy efficient cooperative spectrum sensing and sharing strategy for multi-Input MultiOutput (MIMO) sensors. The cooperative spectrum sensing techniques were proposed to improve performances of signal sensing with the background of two decision techniques Hard Decision and Soft Decision.CR channel SNR has a major impact on the performance of a wireless connection. In this paper, it is explained that how MIMO sensor can efficiently do the spectrum sensing and use the channel even if the SNR value is lower than a specified threshold value. Keywords—Cognitive Radio, MIMO, Sensor Network, Spectrum Sensing, Energy Efficiency, SNR ,Capacity I: INTRODUCTION Recently, in Wireless Communication, Cognitive Radio (CR) has been adapted for using the unused spectrum bands effectively[1]. The Cognitive Radio and MIMO Technology jointly have received great attention in recent years. The former is the key enabling technology for spectrum utilization [2]and the later has already proved itself as a powerful signal processing technique to improve spectral efficiency. The basic strategy for CR network is dynamical locate unused spectrum which dedicated to licensed users[3]. Secondary Users(SU) should detect the Primary User (PU) signal in order to avoid interference with them[4]. Spectrum sensing is a technique in CR network to determine the white spectrums. Cooperative spectrum sensing was proposed to tackle the problem of fading, noise, uncertainty, shadowing, and even hidden node of primary users (PUs)[5]. In Cooperative spectrum sensing different sensors share their statistic information to find the PU. Wireless Cognitive networks employ sensors have limited batteries due to the cost factors . One of the challenges is how to minimize energy consumption so that the sensors can last for a long time[5]. In this paper, an energy efficient cooperative spectrum sensing based on MIMO sensors is proposed[6]. MIMO sensor is a promising solution versus using more sensors. In MIMO cooperative spectrum sensing, diversity helps that multi-antenna sensors behave virtually same as multisensors systems.


["We have been talking a lot about Web 2.0 approaches for scientific papers. Now Elsevier announced an Article 2.0 Contest:", nil]


There are two traditions ‒ indigenous and international ‒ that exist side by side and are followed with equal passion by their fans. The most famous local sport is kurash, a form of wrestling which has a history that stretches back over millennia. This article analyzes the existence of some factors that affect the process of organizing the training of young wrestlers in technical movements, their negative impact on the effectiveness of competition activities and the problem of forming effective technical movements in wrestling. The article offers suggestions and recommendations on improving the scientific and methodological basis for the formation of basic elements in young wrestlers, as well as the results of the analysis of scientific and methodological literature


Database is widely used for information storage and management. With the explosion of the data size, the requirement of the storage capacity is growing dramatically. Cloud offers clients a scalable solution to meet the demand of the increasing space. A cloud service, if used and managed properly, can increase the resource usability and provide more secure services. In this paper, we propose a cloud-based database architecture that increases the database storage usability meanwhile ensuring the data security. In this architecture, we move the database storage into a shared cloud-based server and leave the database engine at user's domain. The transmission of database physical files between the cloud and the database engine is achieved through Network File System. To avoid information leakage incurred by attacks on the cloud, the physical files stored in the cloud were encrypted by the database engine. To verify our idea, we used MySQL as our study case and evaluated the performance of this new architecture. A series of experiments indicate that the proposed architecture is promising in improving storage sharing, meanwhile guaranteeing the data security.


The laser beam is a highly flexible tool that is used for many material processing applications. New spatial beam shaping technology enables even further functionality to create up to four focal spots in an axial or lateral direction, which enables the distribution of the energy to be tailored. It was shown that certain beam shapes help to suppress spattering and increase the bridgeable gap size during deep penetration laser welding.


The main purpose of this work is to present the development and implementation of a demonstration model of smart parking system that uses energy efficient LoRa-based transmission module, autonomous power supply and the ability for integration into a scalable smart platform for intelligent provision, monitoring, visualization and management of parking services in large cities with complex urban environment.


This thesis undertakes to consider the philosophical problem of evaluational process,and takes a dynamic view of valuation. At this new angle,one concrete evaluation is the process that values the object of evaluation by evaluational standard,compared with the objects for reference under the leadership of the aim of evaluation.


This paper describes the detectability of the crack initiation by means of the AE method under low cycle fatigue of the elbow pipe having local wall thinning to clarify the crack growth behavior for the pipes. Elbow specimens having local wall thinning were prepared, and local wall thinning due to flow accelerated corrosion was simulated by machined pipe wall thinning. Low cycle fatigue tests for the specimens were then carried out. AE method during low cycle fatigue tests was conducted to evaluate the crack initiation and location. In AE measurement, wide band AE sensors of 5mm in diameter were used to attach to the convex surfaces of the specimens. The circumference and axial strain of the specimens and the cross head displacement were also stored to the digital AE system signal. As a result, it is clear that the AE signals indicated the crack initiation in small circumference strain.Copyright © 2010 by ASME


Mission-critical embedded system needs to satisfy quite stringent requirements and the cost of building and testing is high. DoD has recommended to apply M&S method to evaluate the requirements of the proposed system during the development. However, it is difficult to develop a simulation model because it needs both domain knowledge and simulation technique extensively, which also requires intensive communication among stakeholders. We, therefore, need an efficient method for requirements specification and simulation model development. We propose UML-based M&S method which uses UML2.0 as the requirements specification method as well as the simulation model development tool. We define constraints on UML diagrams to use them as a simulation modeling tool. We specify the structure and environment of the system with Class Diagram and the behavioral requirements with Sequence Diagram. The UML diagrams are then transformed to a simulation model by model transformation rules. The contribution of this approach is that it provides an efficient and error preventive way of developing simulation model for mission-critical embedded system development. We applied this approach to develop the Fire Control System (FCS) of the Navy's warship, which reduced the communication overhead and simulation model development errors.


Fracking, a universally recognised term, which refers to hydraulic fracturing of gas bearing rock layers allowing their gas to be released into specially constructed collection wells. Practiced in North America, Europe and Asia the growth of this industry brings environmental and public health concerns to the fore. In April 2012 the UK's Department for Energy and Climate Change released an independent report, focused solely on potential seismological activity, which recommends stricter controls and procedures for developers extracting shale gas in the UK. Also in 2012 a North Carolina conference convened with the following objective; "to facilitate informed discussion to ensure that science-based policy decisions are made on energy development that will best serve the citizens …". A symposium on emerging hazards, at the EU OSH Strategy conference 2012, discussed how existing hazards were reemerging in new industries, particularly the fracking industry. While much has been written and spoken about the scientific and technical aspects of fracking, issues such as public and workplace safety and health need to be thoroughly addressed if the debate and ultimately final choices are to be appropriately informed. The researchers preliminary scoping found concerns about; increased salinity of water supply adjacent to fracking sites, respirable crystalline silica dust in sand extraction sites, air and water quality, toxicity of drilling fluids and hazardous wastes. In this paper the authors adopt a multi-disciplinary approach involving value engineering, sustainability and ethics; exploring how functional aspects of engineering's societal responsibility; delivering sustainable development through knowledge, skills and professional expertise, are being addressed. In particular it;


Solar cells are a promising renewable and carbon-free electric energy resource to address the fossil-fuel shortage and global warming. Energy conversion efficiencies over 40% have been recently achieved using conventional III–V semiconductor compounds as photovoltaic materials. The revision of InN bandgap to a much narrower value has extended the fundamental bandgap of the group III-nitride alloy system over a wider spectral region (from 0.64 eV for InN to 3.4 eV for GaN or 6.2 eV for AlN), raising the possibility of a variety of new applications. The tunable bandgap, predicted high radiation resistance, and strong absorption coefficient of the In <formula formulatype="inline"><tex Notation="TeX">$_x$</tex></formula>Ga <formula formulatype="inline"><tex Notation="TeX">$_{ 1-x}$</tex></formula>N material system are promising for high-efficiency photovoltaic systems. During the past few years, the interest in In <formula formulatype="inline"><tex Notation="TeX">$_x$</tex></formula>Ga<formula formulatype="inline"><tex Notation="TeX">$_{ 1-x}$</tex> </formula>N solar cells has been remarkable. The development of high-performance solar cells using In <formula formulatype="inline"><tex Notation="TeX">$_x$</tex></formula>Ga <formula formulatype="inline"><tex Notation="TeX">$_{1-x}$</tex></formula>N materials is one of the most important goals when compared with the existing solar cells using Si and other III–V materials. Significant efforts and progress have been made toward this goal, while great opportunities and grand challenges coexist. In this paper, we present a review on the present state of the art of In<formula formulatype="inline"><tex Notation="TeX">$_x$</tex> </formula>Ga<formula formulatype="inline"><tex Notation="TeX">$_{1-x}$</tex></formula>N-based solar cells. The most important challenges toward the high-efficiency In<formula formulatype="inline"><tex Notation="TeX"> $_x$</tex></formula>Ga<formula formulatype="inline"><tex Notation="TeX">$_{ 1-x}$</tex></formula>N-based solar cells are discussed in the context of the recent results.


Zika fever, a tropical neglected disease due to a virus transmitted by Aedes spp. mosquito bites, became internationally known in 2016, when the WHO declared the Zika virus epidemic a global health emergency. This happened after the outbreak occurred in Brazil in 2015, that was the consequence of the introduction and spread of the virus in the Caribbean and in Latin America. Zika fever is an acute illness clinically similar to other diseases due to mosquito-borne infections caused by flavivirus or alphaviruses circulating in tropical and subtropical areas of the Americas, but it may have severe consequences, such as fetal and birth defects in the offspring of infected pregnant women. The most striking feature of Congenital Zika Syndrome (CZS) is microcephaly, which is characterized by a widespread damage to the developing brain as a consequence of a specific tropism of the virus for the neural cortical progenitor cells. It has been estimated that the vertical maternal-fetal transmission rate of Zika virus is 26% and that fetal loss and CZS may occur in 14% and 21% of infected fetuses, respectively [1]. Maternal infection in the first trimester carries the highest risk of CZS, even though CZS can also develop when the mother becomes infected later in pregnancy [2]. For these reasons it is extremely important for both clinicians and epidemiologists to formulate a clear case definition of Zika virus infection in pregnancy, which is not an easy goal, since up to 80% of Zika infections are asymptomatic, and even symptomatic illness is usually mild and characterized by nonspecific clinical manifestations. This issue has been addressed by Ximenes et al. in a recent article published in PLoS Negl Trop Dis in the 7th October issue [3]. In this article, the authors investigated a cohort of 694 pregnant women with rash recruited in north-east Brazil during the declining phase of the 2015–2017 epidemic. About 24% of women tested positive by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), but only 10% of them developed IgM antibodies within 3 months, and 48.5% had Zika-specific PRNT50 (IgG) titers ≥20 within 90 days of rash. When applying a diagnostic algorithm to these results, 27% of the women were classified as having robust evidence, 4% moderate evidence, and 13% limited evidence of Zika virus infection during pregnancy, while 19.5% as having an unspecified flavivirus infection. The authors concluded that combining longitudinal data obtained by the use of different methods, such as PCR and serologic testing, may slightly improve diagnostic sensitivity. The study underlines difficulties in defining Zika virus infections in pregnant women with rash in contexts where there is a co-circulation of different flaviviruses. Indeed, serologic tests appear to have a low sensitivity but theymay also have a low specificity because of crossreactions due to previous dengue infection. Moreover, the sensitivity of molecular methods is limited by the narrow window of opportunity provided by the viremia. Repeated testing using different methods and different fluids might increase the sensitivity of the case-definition. In conclusion, the diagnosis of Zika virus infection remains difficult due to the limits of the single assays in terms of both sensitivity and specificity. Moreover, a high proportion of cases may be asymptomatic. Thus, using multiple methods over a longer period of time, possibly starting before pregnancy, may improve the diagnostic accuracy, facilitating individual andpublic healthdecisions.


The advantages of WAG (water-alternating-gas) injection compared to gas injection and waterflooding, from technical and economical points of view, are results of creating a mixed zone in which both water and gas are flowing simultaneously. Previously, an analytical model was developed in the literature to evaluate complete segregation distance and zone distributions for horizontal miscible WAG injection models. Even though this analytical model is derived using simplifying assumptions, it still gives good insight into the design of new projects when the lack of data does not allow a detailed full field reservoir simulation to be carried out. On the other hand, the advantages and disadvantages of applying WAG injection in dipped reservoirs, and up-dip or down-dip patterns are still in question while there isn't any analytical model available for analyzing process in this type of reservoir. This paper develops analytical equations for a non-horizontal model and investigates the effect of dip angle on segregation effects in miscible WAG injection process. Up-dip versus down-dip WAG injection is another subject which will be discussed in this paper.


On the 6th March, 1874, I communicated a paper on the "Geology of the Neighbourhood of Nottingham" to the Geologists' Association, which was subsequently printed in extenso in their Proceedings. Up to that time I believe the definition laid down by the Government Survey, and imported into text-books, of the distinction between the so-called Permian and the New Red Sandstone formations had not been called in question very prominently. Like other students of geology, I myself accepted in good faith the dictum as to a great break existing between the two formations, indicating, of course, an enormous period of time.


Mill. The four presumptive defenses manipulated were protinase inhibitors, polyphenol oxidase, peroxidase and lipoxygenase. The elicitors used were jasmonic acid (JA), salicylic acid (SA) and PGPR Pseudomonas aeruginosa. These elicitors were tested against growth and development of Spodoptera litura Fab. In order to asses the relative roles of proteins in induced resistance against S. litura. When activities of proteinase inhibitors and/or polyphenol oxidase in leaf tissue were high, growth rates of S. litura were low and vise versa. In contrast, high activities of peroxidase and lipoxygenase have no effect on growth and development of S. litura. The association of high levels of proteinase inhibitors and polyphenol oxidase strongly implies these proteins as causal agent inducing resistance against S. litura.