Animal health and animal care on natural pastures and cultivated pasturelands in Vasterbottens County, Sweden This study investigates animal health and animal care for cattle, sheep and horses on pastureland, also called natural pasture and cultivated pastureland, in Vasterbottens County, Sweden. The results are compared with the Swedish animal care legislation, particularly in terms of the management for pastureland. The central question at issue is whether there is a connection between a fine pastureland out of nature conservation and a good animal health. The investigation is made in two parts. The first part is a field study, which was made at 10 sampled cattle herds with pastureland of high biological value. The information that was collected in the field study formed the basis of a questionnaire that was designed and sent to 280 herds with pastureland in Vasterbottens County. Respondent frequency was 70 percent. The questionnaire contains the questions on animal health and animal care on pasturelands; pasture quality and management; animal production; and experience with different animals on pastureland. This study shows that animal health on pastureland is generally good. Yet cattle had a little higher sickness frequency than either sheep or horses. In many of the herds there was a lack of facilities on the pasture according to the Swedish animal care legislation. The greatest lack was the proximity of facilities for the care of sick or wounded animals and for the supervision of the animals on the pasture. Requirements for management of pastureland can lead to conditions for the animals that are not accepted from an animal-care point of view. Good animal health on pastureland requires a lot of knowledge about how to manage pastureland and the animals. Of great importance is the purpose of grazing; pastureland gives no optimal growth, rather it provides a possibility for good animal health and medium growth.


Objectives: This paper reviews empirical research on persuasive technology with the following aims to (i) to examine the result of the 25 persuasive technology studies related to awareness as the intended outcome, (ii) to explore the strategy used in creating awareness to users and (iii) to identify the persuasive strategies used and (iv) investigates the domain of studies selected. Methods/Statistical analysis: This study employs two activities which are literature review and systematic review. Accordingly, 25 related models were compared and systematically analyzed. Findings: Result from the reviews indicates that persuasive technology has the ability to increase user awareness toward certain context or issues. Most of the studies show that the computer role as a media and social actor gives more impact to increase awareness compared to the computer role as a tool. In terms of persuasive strategy used, it shows that suggestion, cause and effect, and attractiveness are the most used strategies implemented in the applications. Application/Improvements: This study suggests that understanding the appropriate persuasive strategy is important in helping researchers developing an effective applications towards the intended outcome.


Emergency managers (EMs) play a critical role in communicating severe weather and tornado warnings to the public, yet communicating the uncertainty of when, where or if a tornado may hit remains a great challenge for EMs. Focus group and survey data concerning weather product usage, weather observing spotter interaction, and decisions to warn the public were collected from Oklahoma EMs in order to characterize the communication processes EMs employ during severe weather outbreaks. These processes include: (1) acquiring weather information, (2) interpreting the information in order to make weather hazard threat assessments, (3) verifying the information, and (4) making time‐sensitive warning decisions. The results indicate that while EMs use a variety of weather and radar products to acquire information, weather observing spotters are key sources of verification data. With respect to warning the public about tornado threats, sirens are the primary method. These findings are related to the development of a new radar system being developed by the Center for Collaborative Adaptive Sensing of the Atmosphere (CASA), so that this new technology can be designed to reduce uncertainty in the EM decision‐making and warning communication processes. Copyright © 2010 Royal Meteorological Society


Introduction Cryptography is the science of hiding information. It is now a part of the computer science formally, though first cryptographers appeared thousands years before the computer. The art of recovery of the hidden information, or cryptanalysis, appeared in the very beginning, and is still one of the most intriguing part of cryptography. Cryptanalysis starts with a search for a weakness in a cryptosystem, for a flaw that was missed by its designer. An encrypted message must not reveal any information about its origin, so the cryptosystem must make it look as random as possible. Any mistake, any missed property may become a target for a cryptanalyst and a starting point for a compromise of the cryptosystem's security — a break. This survey is devoted to the cryptanalysis of symmetric primitives. Historically, by a symmetric encryption we understand that all the parties have the same information needed for encryption and decryption, with block and stream ciphers as the most famous examples. A block cipher transforms a large block of data with an algorithm parametrized by a secret key. A stream cipher expands a secret key into arbitrarily long sequence, which is mixed with a data stream. Hash functions convert a data string to a fixed-length hash value, which serves as an integrity certificate. Though hash functions do not encrypt, they are designed similarly to block ciphers. Message authentication codes (MAC) produce a hash value using a secret key, so they are between ciphers and hash functions. As a result, the cryptanalysis of hash functions and MACs employs methods that were initially developed for the analysis of block ciphers. Ciphers, hash functions and MACs process arbitrarily long data streams, the access to which is sequential. This leads to the principle of an iterative design, where data is divided into blocks, and each block is processed by an algorithm with a fixed-length input. Such algorithms for hash functions are called compression functions. In contrast, by a block cipher we mean a primitive with a fixed-length input, which is used to encrypt arbitrary long data in a mode of operation. We are primarily interested in the methods that are used in attacks on at least two different primitives. Cryptanalysis is often described as a cloud of non-related and dedicated attacks, which can be used only once. We introduce it in a more structured way.


Bismuth layer-structured ferroelectric (BLSF)-type Bi4Ti3O12 (BiT), Bi3.25La0.75Ti3O12 (BLaT), and Bi3.1Nd0.9Ti3O12 (BNdT) ceramics and intergrowth BLSF-type BiT-CaBi4Ti4O15 (CBTO), BLaT-CBTO, and BNdT-CBTO ceramics were prepared using the solid-state reaction method. The electrical and the high-temperature properties of the intergrowth BLSF ceramics were compared with those of BLSF ceramics to investigate the possibility of using the former for high-temperature applications. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis revealed well-formed stable structures in all BLSF and intergrowth BLSF ceramics without any second-phase formation. When their electrical properties were examined, the intergrowth BLSF ceramics BiT-CBTO, BLaT-CBTO, and BNdT-CBTO were found to outperform the BLSF ceramics BiT, BLaT, and BNdT, respectively, in terms of the remanent polarization and piezoelectric coefficient values. Among the intergrowth BLSF ceramics, those doped with rare-earth ions La and Nd, i.e., BLaT-CBTO and BNdT-CBTO ceramics, were found to have improved electrical properties compared to the BiT-CBTO ceramics. In particular, the dielectric constants and the piezoelectric coefficients of the BNdT-CBTO ceramics were observed to be as high as 146 and 15.4 pC/N, respectively, which were 28% and 10% higher than those of BNdT ceramics. In the thermal depoling behavior measured to examine high-temperature stability, the intergrowth BLSF ceramics, compared to the BLSF ceramics, demonstrated improvements in the thermal depoling temperature ranging from 100 to 300 °C.


In this paper, I attempt to trace the music theorist Johannes de Grocheio, author of the Ars musice (ca. 1275). I consider his Norman background, the two monks responsible for preserving his only known treatise, and his disputed magisterial standing in the university city of Paris. I then focus on Grocheio's treatment of chant theory, which has received scant attention in the literature compared with his remarks on secular music and his 'Aristotelian' method of describing his subject. I contemplate the social context for writing anew on chant theory in a city known for not stipulating music in its arts curricula and consider the influence of Aristotle's writings on Grocheio's treatment. I end the paper with a survey of the chants that he names in his treatise, confirming that his examination of chant is 'according to the use of the people of Paris'.


There has recently been an unprecedented flurry of interest in the music of Alban Berg, although responses towards his first atonal works remain relatively sparse. This thesis presents detailed analyses of the pieces written between 1909 and 1913: the fourth Opus 2 song, the String Quartet, Opus 3, the Altenberglieder, Opus 4, and the Four Pieces for clarinet and piano, Opus 5. It also provides a systematically-developed theoretical framework for each.
 Analyses of the String Quartet and the Altenberglieder explore the development and transformation of motives, and identify different aggregate systems which temporarily limit the range or arrangement of pitches to certain defined scales, such as the whole-tone or octatonic, or to the interaction between different scales or different versions of the same scale. The Four Pieces for clarinet and piano require a rather different form of investigation, into the interrelationship between intervallic cell and pitch-class set and genera-based material. A factor consistent across all four works is the presence of symmetrical pitch structures such as interval cycles, wedge formations and transpositionally invariant sets. The analyses are based on these foundations, while extending beyond them to incorporate related asymmetries and more complex relations and transformations.
 Any codification of pitch organisation in these early atonal works of Berg has to contend with their particular complexities of expression and absence of any calculated method; this thesis nevertheless proposes several forms of categorisation which can correlate with many of the miriad pitch structures in the music, and which can in turn supply models for some of the discernible interrelational structural processes.


The next-generation mobile devices include smart watches, wristbands, wearables (e.g., Google Glass), etc. In the future such devices will constitute a large fraction of the total devices available in the market [1]. Latest studies confirm that location-based services are the most requested feature by developers with a market share of 13B in 2013 and have expected exponential growth [2]. Future location-based applications/services will use the data generated by the new mobile devices for providing enhanced user experience. This paper presents a vision of such next-generation location-based services, which we call LBS 2.0. We present the challenges and opportunities that LBS 2.0 will pose for mobile data management.


We explore the prospect of applying mineral element and stable isotope data in origin tracing Procambarus clarkii to establish an origin tracing system. Microwave digestion–atomic absorption spectrometry and stable isotope ratio mass spectrometry determined the contents of 14 mineral elements (Na, Mg, Al, K, Ca, Mn, Zn, Cu, Fe, Sr, Ba, As, Se and Cd) and the abundances of C and N stable isotopes in the muscle tissue of P. clarkii from Guangdong, Hunan and Hubei regions. The one-way ANOVA and Duncan multiple comparison results revealed Na, Sr, Ba, Cu, Mn, Fe, Al, Se, δ13C and δ15N varied significantly between the three regions (p < 0.05). A systematic clustering analysis revealed the stable isotopes combined with the mineral elements easily distinguished samples into the three different regions. Multivariate statistical analysis allowed us to establish a discriminant model for distinguishing P. clarkii from the three geographical regions. When stable isotopes were combined with mineral elements, the accuracy of the linear discriminant analysis of the samples from Guangdong, Hunan and Hubei were 95%, 95% and 100%, respectively. The initial overall discriminant accuracy was 96.7%, and the cross-validation discriminant accuracy was 93.3%. Principal component analysis identified three main components which were based on eleven major factors, including Cu, Ba, Cd, Mn, δ13C, δ15N, Al and Mg, resulting in a cumulative variance contribution rate of 78.77%. We established a three-dimensional coordinate system using the three principal components to create scatter diagrams with the samples from the three regions in the coordinate system. The results revealed the samples clearly differentiated into the three regions. Therefore, mineral elements combined with stable isotopes can distinguish the regional origin of P. clarkii.


We present the results of detailed Monte Carlo calculations of the critical properties of the Ising model on a two-dimensional Penrose lattice. The critical exponents β and γ are found to be 0.128 ± 0.007 and 1.80 ± 0.09, which are similar to those of crystalline systems.


BACKGROUND
The purpose of this study was to investigate the validity and reliability of the Turkish versions of the Measure of Processes of Care, MPOC-56 and MPOC-20, in children with disability aged 5-17 years.

METHODS
A total of 290 parents of children with disability due to various disorders were evaluated with the MPOC-56 and MPOC-20. Internal consistency was determined with Cronbach`s alpha, and test-retest reliability with the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Confirmatory factor analysis was performed to investigate the factor structure of the Turkish MPOC-56 and -20.

RESULTS
Cronbach`s alpha values for the MPOC-56 and MPOC-20 ranged between 0.84-0.97 and 0.87-0.92, respectively. Test-retest ICC values were 0.96-0.99 for MPOC-56 and 0.94-0.98 for MPOC-20. The correlations of the subscale scores of MPOC- 56 and MPOC-20 were shown to be at very good to excellent levels for reliability. Factor structure for MPOC-20 and MPOC-56 were found to be acceptable.

CONCLUSIONS
This study has shown that the Turkish versions of MPOC-56 and MPOC-20 are valid, reliable, and applicable for the evaluation of parents` experiences of processes of care for children with disability aged 5-17 years.


ACADEMIC disciplines in higher education are routinely called upon to explain and justify their role in the educational enterprise. Some academic fields such as history and philosophy are more central in the pursuits of liberal arts, while others such as business administration and engineering are more related to career development. The discipline of communication is fairly unique as it crosses these boundaries. As a result, a need exists to provide a rationale for the study of communication. The National Communication Association, in response to requests from communication departments and administrators for evidence supporting the centrality of their discipline, has collected and annotated nearly 100 articles, commentaries, and publications which call attention to the importance of the study of communication in contemporary society. Four of five major themes in the bibliography provide support for the importance of communication education to: the development of the whole person; the improvement of the educational enterprise; being a responsible citizen ofthe world, both socially and culturally; and, succeeding in one's career and in the business enterprise. A fifth theme highlights the need for communication education to be provided by those who are specialists in its study.


The equilibrium magnetization distribution for an Ising-spin model in the mean-field approximation is used to present a simple study of the ferromagnetic phase transition in the absence of external magnetic field (spontaneous magnetization). For temperatures below a critical one (the Curie Temperature) this distribution exhibits two peaks, showing that two states of magnetization are possible. At the Curie temperature the distribution presents a plateau, showing large fluctuations in the magnetization. A scaling-like analysis of the distribution shows that the Curie point can be characterized as an unstable fixed point of a recursion relation.


Highly sensitive broadband photothermal spectroscopy with a white-light lamp as the excitation source was developed by combining a Sagnac interferometer and balanced detection with a photothermal deflection method. A probe beam was split by a birefringent crystal CaCO3 into signal and reference beams with a balanced intensity. This balanced detection enabled the measurement of photoexcited thermal relaxation spectra of materials in the air over the whole visible range in the weak excitation limit 50 µW/cm2. The photothermal excitation spectrum of Eu2+-doped CaAlSiN3 phosphors (CASN:Eu2+) with a high luminescent quantum efficiency was measured to be distinctly different from the photoluminescence excitation spectrum which reflects the absorption spectrum, revealing the thermal relaxation mechanism of the phosphor. Assuming a typical non-radiative relaxation from the higher excited states to the lowest excited state and successively to the ground state, it is demonstrated that the photoluminescence efficiency of the phosphors is readily evaluated simply by comparing the photothermal and photoluminescence excitation spectra.


Background: The outcome of ABO-incompatible (ABOi) transplant (Tx) may be compromised because of the need for added immunosuppression. Many centers still use plasma exchange (PEX) even when anti-A/B titers are low. We compared the outcome of ABOi kidney Tx with low baseline anti-A/B titers without PEX to those with high titers managed with PEX and to ABO-compatible (ABOc) Tx. Materials and Methods: In this retrospective study, all adult kidney Tx done at our institute were eligible. Patients <18 years of age, deceased donor transplant recipients, and those with hepatitis B, C or HIV infections at the time of transplant were excluded from this analysis. Outcomes including biopsy-proven AR, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) (Modification of Diet in Renal Disease equation), infections, and patient and graft survival were determined in ABOi kidney Tx with low baseline anti-A/B antibody titers managed without PEX (Group A). These outcomes were compared to a contemporary cohort of those with high titers and use of PEX (Group B) and ABOc Tx (Group C). Continuous variables were compared by Student's t-test and categorical variables with Chi-square test. Patient and graft survival was calculated by Kaplan–Meier curve and compared between the groups by log-rank test. Results: Baseline characteristics reveal no difference in recipients and donor factors such as age, gender, and HLA match. Initial immunoglobulin G anti-A/B titers were higher in Group B as compared to Group A (P = 0.04), but final titers pretransplant were similar (P = 0.6). Biopsy-proven rejections were not different between Groups A and B or Groups A and C. Serum creatinine and eGFR at 1 month and at last follow-up were also similar in all the groups. Infections were seen in 22.2% of the patients in Group A, 44.4% in Group B, and 27.7% in Group C. Patient survival and death-censored graft survival were similar in all three groups. Conclusion: This retrospective study shows that patients with low baseline anti-ABO antibodies managed without PEX are safe and have similar outcomes such as patient and graft survival, rejections, infections, and renal function.


This study examines the service satisfaction rate on high school students(637) in order to provide the basic data for marketing direction by analyzing the importance and satisfaction rate of the service quality. In IPA for the service quality, as the following properties are high in expectation as well as satisfaction they needed to maintain. They are the taste, scent, saltiness, proper temperature of the food, the quantity main food, nutritional value, the degree of freshness, and the smell of dining room. The following properties need the excessive efforts. They are the number of side dishes, eating place, the shape and material quality of dish, the costume of dining workers. As the following showed low importance degrees as well as satisfaction degrees, they don`t need concentrated efforts. They are the harmony of color and shape, the interior design of the dining room, the arrangement of tables and chairs, the atmosphere of dining room, and the effect of nutrition instruction. As the education of nutrition is compulsory among the school group meal, the analysis based on the response of questioned students is supposed to be more careful. The items showing low satisfaction degrees while high importance degrees are considered to make an operational plans for the improvement through a variety of menu, the quality of food, the quantity for side-dishes, health control, the cleanness of dishes, the kindness of cooks, the performance of nutritionists, the charge of school meal, and meal time.


This paper proposes an adaptive queue management scheme (adaptive RED) to improve Random Early Detection (RED) on restraining non-responsive flows. Due to a lack of flow control mechanism, non-responsive flows can starve responsive flows for buffer and bandwidth at the gateway. In order to solve the disproportionate resource problem, RED framework is modified in this way: on detecting when the non-responsive flows starve the queue, packet-drop intensity (Max_p in RED) can be adaptively adjusted to curb non-responsive flows for resource fair-sharing, such as buffer and bandwidth fair-sharing. Based on detection of traffic behaviors, intentionally restraining nonresponsive flows is to increase the throughput and decrease the drop rate of responsive flows. Our experimental results based on adaptive RED shows that the enhancement of responsive traffic and the better sharing of buffer and bandwidth can be achieved under a variety of traffic scenarios.


Background and Purpose: Stroke is one of the leading causes of mortality and long-term disability. Prompt diagnosis and treatment of stroke are crucial for a better outcome. A blood test, which serves as a biomarker in rural areas will help in immediately transferring patients to a hospital for thrombolytic therapy. The aim of the present study was to examine the role of ischemia modified albumin (IMA) as a screening biomarker in acute ischaemic stroke. Materials and Methods: Serum samples were collected from 50 patients with acute ischaemic stroke within one, 24, 48, 72 and 144 h of time of admission for IMA. We compared patients' 1st-hour value with age- and sex-matched controls by independent sample t test. p value < 0.05 was considered significant. Results: The serum IMA levels of patients 1st hour (108 ± 8.9) were significantly higher than those of the controls (79 ± 6.3) p < 0.05. The IMA levels showed a steady decline at 1 h (108 ± 8.9), 24 h (94 ± 4.2), 48 h (82 ± 6.1), 72 h (77 ± 5.6) and 144 h (76 ± 3.8) of admission in patients. Conclusion: We observed that serum IMA was significantly higher in stroke patients as compared to controls. IMA was elevated in the acute phase of stroke and had a gradual graded decline over 1 week. We concluded that IMA may be a sensitive and rapid biomarker for screening of early ischaemic stroke in rural settings.


In this paper, we put forward a realist account of the problem of accommodation of conflicting claims over sacred places. Our argument takes its cue from the empirical finding that modern, Western-style states necessarily mould religion into shapes that are compatible with state rule. At least in the context of modern states, there is no pre-political morality of religious freedom that states ought to follow when adjudicating claims over sacred spaces. Liberal normative theory on religious accommodation which starts from the assumption of a pre-political morality of religious freedom is therefore of limited value. As an alternative, we suggest that the question of contested sacred places should be settled with reference to the purposes of the state, at least as long as one is committed to the existence of modern states. If one finds the treatment of religion by the state unsatisfactory, our argument provides a pro tanto reason for seeking alternative forms of political organization.


Coal mining in Coahuila, has not been able to knock down historical mortal catastrophe in this region. In spite of the fact that this northern section of the Mexican Republic, contributes with an important percentage of raw material for the national electric service and the country's industrialization, context, information and conditions under which miners die, not only reflecting but scorn and carelessness for all of those who produce this wealth, extracted by one of the most risky activity registered in Mexican economy. Industrial Minera Mexico, owned by the third richest man in Mexico, German Larrea Mota Velasco, has systematically lied, except regarding his profits amount at the Stock Market. Conditions under which labor union and contracted workers were held, contrast shamefully with profit and output rush, before the Labor Department (Secretaria del Trabajo y Prevision Social). Regarding this case, the difference is established by the families: fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, sons and daughters, miners' wives organized under The Pasta de Concho Family. They have started and maintained, with their allies, a three year fight, answering each and every one of the Minera Mexico lies, postulated as a socially irresponsible enterprise, showing time and time again, at diverse forums and before different authorities, the reason for this demand and the search for justice. Inclusive technically, they have shown single goal feasibility: the urgent rescue, of their dearest's mortal remains. Something as simple as the fact that there is no methane gas because there is no coal extraction, but at the same time, very important to the enterprise and the State, because they know that bones will speak for themselves through DNA and forensic exams. The disaster occurred at Pasta de Conchos is paradigmatic, regarding the coal workers and their families' labor human right violation. It is another mineable case, where investments, equipment renovation, advantageous eagerness, and the huge dealer's capital, contrast and are fatefully divorced from the necessary care regarding workers security, their labor stability submitted to hiring, and their families abandon when tragic results take place. It is a paradigm of institutions weakening responsible for the workers defense and welfare: Ministry of Labor and Welfare, (STPS) Social Security Institute, (IMSS) Department of Justice and Attorney General, (PGR) even the miners union.


Binaural room impulse responses were measured with a KEMAR 45BA head-and-torso-simulator. For the first data set, it was placed at different positions located on a line with a length of 2m in a 25 cm positional resolution and an azimuth resolution of 4 . Two source positions were considered in the setup, one in front of the line, one at the side. The same arrangement of source and receiver positions was realized in two different rooms, a quite dry listening laboratory and a quite reverberant seminar room. For the second data set, BRIRs and omni-directional RIRs were measured for a translation line with a length of 7.5m through the given seminar room. The data sets are valuable for realizing, testing and studying dynamic binaural walk-through scenarios in the two different rooms.


Human capital theory holds that a higher education will be pursued to the extent that its pecuniary rewards outstrip its costs. This notion is founded on the neoclassical economic assumption that expected earnings conditional on educational investment are accurately anticipated by those considering such investments. However, the evidence in support of this thesis is slim and, in the case of South Africa in particular, remains largely untested. This paper - the product of a qualitative study - reports the expected earnings data of Durban University of Technology first-year students who, on the whole, are evidently able to relatively accurately predict their commencing and medium- to long-term earnings. This merited the computation and analysis of expected private rates of return to educational investments which were found to be significantly related to study field and parents' educational attainment, useful knowledge in any description of higher education demand. More importantly, though, the paper argues, possibly somewhat controversially, that human capital theory may offer a more plausible explanation of individual higher education choice if it is unconstrained by its neoclassical economic framework.


This paper will present the results from a comparative study of global political marketing to examine why parties are more or less likely to adopt marketing principles and techniques in their campaigns to win support amongst citizens. It will ask whether there are political structural factors that explain variations in marketing strategies between parties, for example incumbency v opposition status. We also examine whether media structures have an impact, for example, private v public ownership. We address these questions in a comparative study of parties across 14 countries. We find that despite an initial expectation that the political system would have a significant impact, this did not turn out to be the case. Additionally, whilst marketing is used in various forms all over the world, when considering all parties regardless of size, the dominant trend is sales-oriented rather than market-oriented. It remains true that major parties have had notable electoral success with market-orientations, but it is not the case that all major parties become market-oriented and stay so. Rather, parties move back and forth between market and sales orientation and it is here that political system variables such as a new leader, incumbency, time in opposition and internal culture, play a causal role. What determines electoral success and responsiveness to citizens therefore is much less amenable to management by marketing consultants and more determined by the party, its elected leader, and voters. Our findings suggest, therefore, that there is no inevitable shift by parties towards a market-orientation - and the extent to which there are examples of such a shift, it is more due to the preferences of voters and party leaders than due to the duplicity of marketing strategists.


The development of new anti-TB drugs to prevent the spread of multidrug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) strains is imperative. Mtb shikimate kinase (MtSK) was selected as the target protein to screen for new anti-TB drugs. We performed hierarchical in silico screening using a library of 154,118 compounds to search for novel compounds that could bind to the active site of MtSK. The growth-inhibitory effects of the candidate compounds on Mycobacterium smegmatis were evaluated in vitro. Nine of the 11 candidate compounds exhibited inhibitory effects against mycobacteria in vitro. The inhibitory activity of Compound 2 (IC50 = 1.39 μM) was higher than that of isoniazid, the first-line drug for TB treatment. Moreover, Compound 2 did not exhibit toxicity against mammalian cells and Escherichia coli. Molecular dynamics simulations using the MtSK-Compound 2 complex structure in a timeframe of 100 ns suggested that Compound 2 could stably bind to MtSK. The binding free energy of Compound 2 was estimated to be -37.96 kcal/mol using the MM/PBSA method, demonstrating that Compound 2 can stably bind to MtSK. These in silico and in vitro results indicated that Compound 2 is a promising hit compound for the development of novel anti-TB drugs.


In this study, we follow the strategy typology proposed by Treacy and Wiersema (1995) and develop a textual measure of firms' generic strategy along three dimensions: product leadership, customer intimacy, and operational excellence. Product-leadership firms emphasize innovation and confront high congestion risk caused by rapid growth. We hypothesize that these firms adopt a more rigid cost structure with higher fixed and lower variable costs to promote innovation and reduce congestion risk. Consistent with our prediction, we find that product-leadership firms exhibit higher cost rigidity than customer-intimacy and operational-excellence firms. This finding is robust to using a difference-in-difference approach based on a quasi-natural shock caused by the adoption of the Inevitable Disclosure Doctrine. Furthermore, we find that the effects of the three strategies on cost structure are intensified by R&D investment, customer concentration, and asset utilization, respectively. Collectively, our findings suggest that organizational strategy has a significant impact on firms' resource commitments and capacity choices.


Objectives This study aimed to develop a list of potentially inappropriate drugs for the elderly in Korea using the Delphi technique. Methods A Delphi evaluation with a two-round survey was used to reach a consensus on the criteria for inappropriate medications for the elderly in an outpatient setting. The expert panel consisted of 7 family medicine specialists, 3 psychiatrists, 1 neurologist and 3 clinical pharmacists. The level of inappropriateness was determined by considering clinical importance of the risk and availability of alternative therapy, and was rated on a scale of 1 (very low) to 4 (very high). The drugs were categorized into three groups. The first group (Group 1) was drugs that should be avoided. The second (Group 2) was for drugs that need to be monitored. And the third (Group 3) was for drugs with a low level of risk. Results We took a list of 60 ingredients for drugs and created a list of 57 potentially inappropriate ingredients for the elderly, independent of diagnosis. Forty-two drugs were classified as Group 1. 13 drugs were classified as Group 2. And 2 drugs were classified as Group 3. Ninety-three drugs were potentially inappropriate for the elderly with 29 diagnoses. Groups 1, 2, and 3 included 63, 28, and 3 drugs, respectively. Conclusions This study is an important development of a list of drugs potentially inappropriate for the elderly in Korea. The application of this list may be useful for identifying potentially inappropriate medication uses and decreasing drug-related problems.


This article suroeys some of the recurrent themes relating to able students as they have appeared in the education Press (UK) mainly during the last three years. The emerging themes include the debates about various forms of ability grouping, about the relative performance of boys and girls, the value of exami nations, and the organisational strategies for teaching and learning that schools adopt. What emerges is a multiplicity of conflicting evidence, and the sense that politicians are nudging the educational system in specific directions whether the research evidence supports their doctrines or not. Notable is a lack of concern with pedagogy, though there is rather more with the structures of teaching and learning.


Chronic valvular disease (CVD) is the most common cardiac disease in dogs, which account for 75% of all the cardiac cases. Cavalier King Charles spaniel (CKCS) is the most affected breed and it´s 13th times more likely that a CKCS, between the age of 7-10 years, will die or be euthanized for cardiac disease, compared with other breeds. The prevalence has been proven to bee independent of coat color and weight but highly dependent on age and gender in CKCS.
In 2001 the Swedish Kennelclub and the Special club for cavalier King Charles spaniel created a breeding program against CVD in CKCS. In this program dogs are not allowed to breed until 4 years of age and have to have a heart auscultation without murmurs. If a breeding dog is under 4 years of age but its parents is over 4 years of age and have a heart auscultation without murmurs, it's allowed to breed if it has a heart auscultation without murmurs and is over 2 years of age. This breeding program has so far not been evaluated and the effects have been unclear.
The aim with this study is to study the prevalence of CVD in 6 years old CKCS born in 2001, the first year of the breeding program. The result will help evaluate the effects of the breeding program and show whether the prevalence of CVD in CKCS has decreased or not since 2001. The findings in this study can be used as a start of a discussion whether any changes are necessary in the breeding program or not.

The results in this study shows that the prevalence of CVD in 6 years old CKCS is 52%. This shall be compared with the prevalence of 35,5% between 1985-1991. This finding can be explained to a certain degree by the fact that the investigated populations not match each other. But the conclusion must bee that the breeding program has had no detectable or significant effect on the prevalence of CVD in 6 years old CKCS.
The reasons to these results are presumably many. One not neglectable is that the age when the dogs are allowed to breed was set to low, 4 years instead of 5 years for the males and 6 years for the bitches as initially suggested in earlier research at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences. As a limited proportion of dogs have developed a heart murmurs at 4 years of age, this might have led to that too few dogs were excluded from breeding, which, in turn, might have reduced the impact of the breeding scheme. Other possible reasons could be poor breeder compliance to the program, using of breeding dogs in other countries and import of breeding animals.

To get a more certain picture of how the breeding program works over time a similar investigation to the present could be performed. This would allow comparisons between two comparable populations.


Summary In this paper, we investigate a fractured reservoir zone in an oilfield located in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, by using seismic wave attenuation attribute. The dense geometry of a 3D VSP walkaway spiral survey carried out in the oilfield, permits to perform a high resolution (15° spacing) azimuthal estimation of the attenuation at different offsets. By assuming the azimuth of the minimum attenuation as the strike direction of fractures, we obtain this direction in the three reservoir units, R1, R2 and R3 at several offsets. The comparison between the estimated directions and those based on core data interpretation is quite satisfactory. This is a good indication about the potential of seismic wave attenuation attribute for fracture characterization. Our results show that the effect of fractures on seismic wave attenuation is frequency dependent. By modifying the frequency range, the dominant orientation of fractures changes. This is related to scattering and intrinsic attenuation mechanisms that are strongly dependent on frequency. More investigation on this dependence can be useful to provide information about fracture sizes and their fluid content. This a great advantage of attenuation attribute, compared to the classical seismic attributes, such as curvature and ant tracking, which are widely used to extract fracture orientations from seismic data.


Microbial nitrogen (N) transformations play a key role in regulating N cycling in grassland ecosystems. However, there is still little information on how management of semi‐arid grassland such as mowing and/or N fertilizer application affects microbial activity and N transformations. In a field experiment in northern China, N was added at a rate of 10 g N m−2 year−1 as NH4NO3 to mown and unmown plots (4 × 4 m2) and in situ rates of net ammonification (Ramm), nitrification (Rnit) and mineralization (Rmin) were followed at monthly intervals for the vegetation growth periods in the years 2006–2009. In addition, we also measured soil microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and nitrogen (MBN), microbial respiration (MR) and peak above‐ground biomass in August of each measurement year. Driven by the pronounced inter‐annual variability of rainfall, all the properties investigated varied markedly across years. Nevertheless, we were able to demonstrate that over the 4 years N addition significantly stimulated Rnit, Rmin and MBN, on average, by 288, 149 and 11.6%, respectively. However, N addition decreased MBC significantly as well as the ratio of MBC:MBN by, on average, 10 and 23%, respectively, whereas an effect of N addition on MR could not be demonstrated. Mowing decreased MBN, MR and qCO2 significantly by 9, 28 and 24%, respectively, but no effects were found on microbial net N transformation rates and MBC. N addition and mowing interactively affected Ramm and Rmin, and MBN, MBC:MBN. In summary, our results indicate a positive effect of N addition but a negative effect of mowing on microbial N transformation in this C4 grassland in northern China.


Purpose: The knowledge of dose accumulation in the patient tissues in radiotherapy helps in determining the treatment outcomes. This project aims at providing a workflow to map cumulative doses that takes into account interfraction organ motion without the need for manual re-contouring. Methods: Five prostate cancer patients were studied. Each patient had a planning CT (pCT) and 5 to 13 CBCT scans. On each series, a physician contoured the prostate, rectum, bladder, seminal vesicles and the intestine. First, a deformable image registration (DIR) of the pCTs onto the daily CBCTs yielded registered CTs (rCT) . This rCT combined the accurate CT numbers of the pCT with the daily anatomy of the CBCT. Second, the original plans (220 cGy per fraction for 25 fractions) were copied on the rCT for dose re-calculation. Third, the DIR software Elastix was used to find the inverse transform from the rCT to the pCT. This transformation was then applied to the rCT dose grid to map the dose voxels back to their pCT location. Finally, the sum of these deformed dose grids for each patient was applied on the pCT to calculate the actual dose delivered to organs. Results: The discrepancy between the planned D98more » and D2 and these indices re-calculated on the rCT, are, on average, of −1 ± 1 cGy and 1 ± 2 cGy per fraction, respectively. For fractions with large anatomical motion, the D98 discrepancy on the re-calculated dose grid mapped onto the pCT can raise to −17 ± 4 cGy. The obtained cumulative dose distributions illustrate the same behavior. Conclusion: This approach allowed the evaluation of cumulative doses to organs with the help of uncontoured daily CBCT scans. With this workflow, the easy evaluation of doses delivered for EBRT treatments could ultimately lead to a better follow-up of prostate cancer patients.« less


Th e purpose of this study is to develop the Metacognition Scale (MS) which is designed for primary school students. Th e sample of the study consisted of 426 primary school students in Izmir, Turkey. In order to examine the construct validity of the MS, exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis were performed. For the validity of the MI, corrected item-total correlations were used. Th e corrected item-total correlations ranged from .35 to .65. In addition, t-tests between items' means of upper 27% and lower 27% points were compared. For each factor and each item, the diff erences between mean scores of upper 27% and lover 27% groups are significant. Finally, Cronbach alpha correlation coeff icients were used. Th e internal consistency of the MS is .96 for the entire scale. Th e MS has eight scales: declarative knowledge, procedural knowledge and conditional knowledge, planning, self-control, cognitive strategies, self assessment and self monitoring. According to these findings, the MS is appropriate for researchers or teachers whose aim is to measure his/her students' metacognitive awareness and metacognitive abilities.


This work is based on the Applied Potential Tomography (APT) system developed in Sheffield and the results specifically relate to this system. Using a cylindrical phantom containing saline, the effects of extended layers in the third dimension on the two-dimensional tomographic images have been studied. Experimentally obtained magnitudes of pixel values corresponding to different conditions in the third dimension are presented. Analysis of these data brings out two phenomena: (i) layers of changed resistivity out of the electrode plane can appear as both increased and decreased resistivity in the image; and (ii) the position of the maximum resistivity change in the image occurs at increasing distances from the edge of the phantom, as the layers of resistivity change are introduced further from the electrode plane and they have a one to one relationship. An intuitive interpretation related to perturbation of equicurrent surfaces in the third dimension has been suggested to explain these phenomena.


The paper presents a fuzzy heuristic algorithm to solve the job shop scheduling problem with the optimization objective of production period and deadline of critical parts. Based on classical heuristic scheduling algorithms, the two important time parameters——"Process Preparation Time" and "Remaining Processing Time" which affecting directly the sequencing of workpiece processing were quantified and applied to the fuzzy heuristic algorithm of scheduling problems. Using the fuzzy operators——α and β, the approach which makes Most Work Remaining (MWR) and Shortest Processing Time (SPT) more efficient are approximately equal, and also considers the conditions of machines and key processes in job shop. The results of example analysis (Roller frame in a certain company) and verification show that the optimization of job shop scheduling is not only to reduce production cycle time and operating cost, but also improve production efficiency. It is optimal and feasible for discrete manufacturing enterprise in engineering applications.


Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) generally presents in the third trimester with pruritus without a rash, characterised by elevated bile acids, with or without transaminitis and hyperbilirubinaemia. Risk factors include a family history of cholestasis, South Asian ethnicity, multifetal gestation, in vitro fertilisation (IVF) and history of hepatitis or biliary disorders. IVF involves the use of high dose gonadotropin stimulation and human chorionic gonadotropin trigger. High doses of progesterone supplementation are additionally given after embryo transfer. The increase in oestrogen and progesterone levels early on in the pregnancy is a possible explanation for the development of ICP in IVF pregnancies at earlier gestations. We present a rare case of iatrogenic ICP presenting in the first trimester in a pregnancy conceived by IVF. Unlike other cases reported, our patient did not have recurrence of ICP in the third trimester, and also had no history of ICP in her first pregnancy.


Protein kinase D (PKD) is a serine/threonine protein kinase that contains a cysteine-rich repeat sequence homologous to that seen in the regulatory domain of protein kinase C (PKC) and a catalytic domain with only a low degree of sequence similarity to PKCs. PKD also contains a pleckstrin homology (PH) domain inserted between the cysteine-rich motifs and the catalytic domain that is not present in any of the PKCs. To investigate the function of the PH domain in the regulation of PKD activity, we determined the kinase activity of several PKD PH domain mutants immunoprecipitated from lysates of transiently transfected COS-7 cells. Deletion of the entire PH domain (amino acids 429–557) markedly increased the basal activity of the enzyme as assessed by autophosphorylation (∼16-fold) and exogenous syntide-2 peptide substrate phosphorylation assays (∼12-fold). Mutant PKD proteins with partial deletions or single amino acid substitutions within the PH domain (e.g. R447C and W538A) also exhibited increased basal kinase activity. These constitutive active mutants of PKD were only slightly further stimulated by phorbol-12,13-dibutyrate treatment of intact cells. Our results demonstrate, for the first time, that the PKD PH domain plays a negative role in the regulation of enzyme activity.


Smith's advocacy of the primacy of the practice of prudence is based on the basic concern, stemming either from an understanding of the fact that, since a creator made us, we are responsible for maintaining that creation in as best condition as possible, or from the realization that, since we only exist once, it is incumbent on us to maintain ourselves in the best possible condition. Both of these outlooks lead to a recognition of self love. We must care for ourselves first or we will never be in a position to care for (love) others later since we can't give that which we do not have or know how to give. Smith's understanding of the value of prudence confirms the emphasis placed on this virtue by Aristotle. Prudence requires that we must be interested in maintaining out health and financial resources. Otherwise, it becomes impossible to help others when the need for action arises since we will be unprepared. The practice of the virtue of Prudence prepares us for the future. Thus, a healthy interest in maintaining ourselves is a necessary condition before we can consider the interests of others. True self interest is just a synonym for practicing prudence. Unfortunately, the economics profession has misinterpreted Smith's reaffirmation of Aristotle's realization that the application of the virtue of prudence (self love or self interest) is a necessary condition that must be successfully practiced first before any other virtue can be practiced with the misbelief that Prudence is maximizing one's own utility. In fact, Bentham's Max U thinking, where money is held to be a proxy for utility, means nothing less than Maximizing the amount of money one has over one's lifetime. Thus, accumulating money is the only goal that maximizing utility entails. Smith, like Aristotle, condemned the goal of accumulating money solely for the sake of obtaining more money. Self interest for Bentham means making more money for one's self only. Self Interest for Smith is practicing the Virtue of Prudence. Anyone reading Kennedy's online Adam Smith's Lost Legacy is faced with the disheartening realization about how greatly entrenched the Invisible Hand Myth is in the economics profession. Every issue of his Adam Smith's Lost Legacy deals with numerous misinterpretations of Adam Smith and the Invisible Hand. It is daunting to realize that the number of misinterpretations of Smith reported at Adam Smith's Lost Legacy is increasing, if not multiplying. Smith viewed the WN as an application of TTMS.The virtue of Prudence is still there and it is in the economic domain that prudence is manifest. There is no conflict between Prudence (self interest) and Benevolence. However, Smith, as he always had, and as Plato (Socrates), and Aquinas did before him, emphasized the primacy of prudence. Prudence must come first. Smith advocated maximizing Prudence (Minimizing losses). He never advocated maximizing utility. Maximizing Utility is J. Bentham's position. It involves maximizing the amount of money that one, and only one, can accumulate for him or herself. It is a more technically advanced form of egoism or hedonism. Smith and Bentham do not mix. The attempt to make Smith a utilitarian was doomed from the beginning. The Invisible Hand myth leads to great confusion because Bentham's contrary definition of self interest is incorporated in this myth while authorship of the myth is foisted onto Smith. Kennedy has shown how this myth has grown exponentially among economists since it appeared in Samuelson's Economics textbook for the first time in 1948.


Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic has affected economic activity worldwide. Despite the progress made by vaccination campaigns, important uncertainties still linger amid persistent global value chains disruptions and the ongoing energy crisis. A proper understanding of the behavior of the economy is therefore essential for future policy decisions. While there are plenty of studies regarding business cycles, using various methods from univariate filters to more complex methods, less papers focus on large scale comparisons. In this paper, we provide an overview of business cycles in European Union countries. We use the Hodrick-Prescott filter in order to measure the cyclical component of the gross domestic product and the Bry-Boschan-Quarterly algorithm for further analysis, namely the duration and the amplitude of the business cycles. Our results show that their size in European Union countries varies from 2.7 to 6 years and their amplitude is between 1.6 and 5.6 percentage points. We show that in developed economies, business cycles are more stable. Furthermore, strong correlations in terms of business cycles are found in the case of certain groups of countries, such as the Baltic ones or Belgium, Austria and France. In the case of Romania, its business cycle is more similar to the one of Bulgaria, Croatia and Slovenia. These results could provide useful information for policymakers in terms of future policy decisions conditional on both the current state of the economy and its structural characteristics. Under these circumstances, support measures should also take into consideration such properties of the economy.


Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a complex metabolic disorder in which endogenous sex hormones may contribute to sex-dependent etiologies. We hypothesized that genetic variants related to type 2 diabetes mellitus might differ between men and women. We thus performed a large-scale association study to identify gene polymorphisms associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus in men and women separately. The study population comprised 4854 unrelated Japanese individuals (2688 men, 2166 women), including 1490 subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus (969 men, 521 women). The genotypes for 16 gene polymorphisms were determined with a method that combines the polymerase chain reaction and sequence-specific oligonucleotide probes with suspension array technology. Multivariable logistic regression analysis with adjustment for age, body mass index, and smoking status revealed that the T-->G (3' UTR) polymorphism of the thrombospondin 2 gene (THBS2), the -603A-->G polymorphism of the coagulation factor III gene (F3), and the G-->T (intron 2) polymorphism of the adipocyte, C1Q, and collagen domain containing (adiponectin) gene (ADIPOQ) were significantly associated with the prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus in men, and that the A-->G (Arg160Gly) polymorphism of the paraoxonase 1 gene (PON1) was significantly associated with this condition in women. A stepwise forward selection procedure demonstrated that genotypes of THBS2, F3, and ADIPOQ were significant determinants of type 2 diabetes mellitus in men, and that genotype of PON1 significantly affected this condition in women. Genotyping of these polymorphisms may prove informative for assessment of the genetic component of type 2 diabetes mellitus for men and women separately.


Introduction: Violence against women particularly that is commited by an intimate partner is becoming a social and public health problem across the world. Studies from different countries shows that the spatial variation in distribution of domestic violence was commonly attributed by neighborhood level predictors. Despite the importance of spatial techniques, studies that employ it in Ethiopia are limited. Therefore, the aim of this study is to determine the spatial distribution and predictors of domestic violence among women aged 15-49 in Ethiopia by using EDHS 2016 dataset. Methods: Secondary data from EDHS 2016 was used to determine the spatial distribution of domestic violence in Ethiopia. Spatial auto-correlation statistics (both Global and Local Moran's I) was used to assess the spatial distribution of domestic violence cases in Ethiopia. Spatial locations of significant clusters were identified by using Kuldorff's Sat Scan version 9.4 software. Finally, binary logistic regression and generalized linear mixed model were fitted to identify predictors of domestic violence. Result: The study found that spatial clustering of domestic violence cases in Ethiopia with Moran's I value of 0.26, Z score of 8.26, and P-value < 0.01. The Sat Scan analysis find out 24 significant locations of domestic violence clusters. Among this, 10 are primary clusters with RR 2.18, LLR of 39.55, and P-value < 0.01. The output from regression analysis identifies low economic status, husband/partner alcohol use, witnessing family violence as a child, marital controlling behaviors, and community acceptance of wife-beating as significant predictors of domestic violence.Conclusion and Recommendation: There is spatial clustering of d domestic violence cases in Ethiopia. Areas with a high burden of the problem should get priority for intervention. Comprehensive and collaborative action should be taken by involving stakeholders at different levels. Specific activities may include Organizing media on awareness creation and continuous education on how to maintain a stable relationship between couples and employing long term and intensive effort for transforming culture and social norms that encourage violence against woman are among the major ones.


A 27-year-old woman with right-sided cyclic sciatica and stiffness of the right hip joint, unresponsive to orthopaedic measures, is presented. An exploratory laparotomy revealed pelvic endometriosis. On oestrogen suppression therapy, she has been symptom-free for eleven months.


The variations in Ti content of orthoand para-metabasites against their iron enrichment (F) ratios have been shown to separate the two groups of rocks according to their origin. The Ti vs. Mn plots also exhibit a similar relation ship. No correlations were obtained in the cases of Se, V, Sr, Co and Ni. It is concluded that the origin of metabasites can be deciphered based on these diagrams. However, field criteria are of much significance in making any definite conclusions.


The maritime industry generally anticipates having semi-autonomous ferries in commercial use on the west coast of Norway by the end of this decade. In order to schedule maintenance operations of critical components in a secure and cost-effective manner, a reliable prognostics and health management system is essential during autonomous operations. Any remaining useful life prediction obtained from such system should depend on an automatic fault detection algorithm. In this study, an unsupervised reconstruction-based fault detection algorithm is used to predict faults automatically in a simulated autonomous ferry crossing operation. The benefits of the algorithm are confirmed on data sets of real-operational data from a marine diesel engine collected from a hybrid power lab. During the ferry crossing operation, the engine is subjected to drastic changes in operational loads. This increases the difficulty of the algorithm to detect faults with high accuracy. Thus, to support the algorithm, three different feature selection processes on the input data is compared. The results suggest that the algorithm achieves the highest prediction accuracy when the input data is subjected to feature selection based on sensitivity analysis.


A self-consistent model of the L to H transition is derived from coupled nonlinear envelope equations for the fluctuation level, radial electric field shear Er', and pressure gradient Del Pi. These equations exhibit a bifurcation between dual L-mode and H-mode fixed points. They show that the L to H transition has similar characteristics to a phase transition of the second kind for which the order parameter is Er'. The transition occurs when the turbulence drive is large enough to overcome the damping of the E*B flow. This leads to a power threshold condition for the transition Pcrit approximately=( mu nT)edgeaRLs.


ABSTRACT The present study taught typically developing (TD) siblings of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) social-communicative and self-management skills. The authors' hypothesized that the acquisition of self-management skills would support generalization of targeted social-communicative responses. A multiple baseline probe design across sibling dyads was used to decrease exposure to unnecessary sessions in the absence of intervention. Four TD siblings were taught self-management of a social skills curriculum using behavioral skills training, which consisted of instructions, modeling, practice, and subsequent feedback. Results indicated that TD siblings learned to self-manage the social skills curriculum with some generalization across novel settings and over time. Comparisons of social-communicative responses to their typical peers provided some support for the social validity of the intervention outcomes. These results support the use of self-management, when explicitly programming for generalization, which continues to be a key consideration when including TD siblings in interventions with their siblings with ASD.


A phenomenological Landau-theory model, where a crystal on cooling from a state with polar symmetry exhibits a maximum of dielectric permittivity and polarization-field hysteresis loops, is offered. The model is equivalent to that of a true ferroelectric in a weak external dc bias. Permittivity maximum occurs as a result of crossing the Widom line. In the model, the role of the external bias plays an intrinsic internal bias originating from a weak polarity of the high temperature state of the material. The results obtained show that the ferroelectriclike phenomena reported for doped ZnO are compatible with a Landau-theory description.


Weak convergence of partial sums and multilinear forms in independent random variables and linear processes to stochastic integrals now plays a major role in nonstationary time series and has been central to the development of unit root econometrics. The present paper develops a new and conceptually simple method for obtaining such forms of convergence. The method relies on the fact that the econometric quantities of interest involve discrete time martingales or semimartingales and shows how in the limit these quantities become continuous martingales and semimartingales. The limit theory itself uses very general convergence results for semimartingales that were obtained in work by Jacod and Shiryaev (2003). The theory that is developed here is applicable in a wide range of econometric models and many examples are given. One notable outcome of the new approach is that it provides a unified treatment of the asymptotics for stationary autoregression and autoregression with roots at or near unity, as both these cases are subsumed within the martingale convergence approach and different rates of convergence are accommodated in a natural way. The approach is also useful in developing asymptotics for certain nonlinear functions of integrated processes, which are now receiving attention in econometric applications, and some new results in this area are presented. The paper is partly of pedagogical interest and the conceptual simplicity of the methods is appealing. Since this is the first time the methods have been used in econometrics, the exposition is presented in some detail with illustrations of new derivations of some well-known existing results, as well as some new asymptotic results and the unification of the limit theory for autoregression.


The existence of Islamic law in Indonesia has a long history, starting from the time of the Islamic empire, where the law lives in a society with the Sultan (King) as the highest power holder who gave birth to the theory of creed or creeds among observers of Islamic law. Then the Dutch colonial period that came to Indonesia began to narrow the space and the development of Islamic law, but Muslims still fight for and maintain the Islamic law until Indonesia's independence. After that the old order where the position of Islamic law is still relatively weak and has no significant change even though at that time has been present Act no. 1 the Year 1974 concerning marriage, Law no. 7 of the 1989 Religious Courts and KHI. Then the new order whose presence was a fresh breeze that gave new spirit and hope for the development of Islamic law but the result was disappointing because the government of that time showed its power. After that emerged a period of reform that is so evolving and progress in society until now, it can be seen by the enactment of some legislation from the values of Islamic law in the national legal system. In such changes, the opportunities and challenges of Islamic law in the national legal system must always experience ups and downs so it needs to be investigated further. This study describes and analyzes the challenges and opportunities of integration of Islamic law in the national legal system. This research uses the Library research method, with the procedure of reduction, presentation, and data analysis. The results show that Islamic law has an opportunity to provide input for the formation of national law because one of them is the majority of Indonesia's population is Muslim. The challenges can be seen structurally, substantially, and culturally.


Both architectural and thermal problems of sensible heat storage in existing passive solar system can be solved by Phase Change Material Storage (PCMS) which uses magnanimous heat of fusion for its storage. This study deal with not only the architectural application of PCMS, but the PCM-wall using PCM. After figuring out of the heat storage and melting fraction of a day during the heating period by giving changes to PCM and thickness of PCM-wall, they were compared to the heat storage of 25cm-thickness masony wall.


Every week urban areas gain another one million people. Within four years half of the worlds population will live in urban areas. How governments and communities meet the concurrent challenges of rapid urbanization poverty development and protection of the natural environment will largely determine the world's future. (excerpt)


The purpose of this study is to examine the human resource management practices and how they are driving the performance of the church. The study was guided by the following specific objectives: to analyze factors influencing the implementation of Human Resource Management practices in the Presbyterian Church of East Africa; to explore whether the business practices applied in commercial organizations can be adopted in a nonprofit organization such as the Presbyterian Church of East Africa; and to evaluate how Human Resource Management practices under study are influencing the performance of the Presbyterian Church of East Africa. For purposes of the study, descriptive survey design was employed. The target population comprised of the elders, deacons, retired elders Church ministers and employees of Presbyterian Church of East Africa St Andrews. Non probability methods were used to arrive at a representative sample to participate in the study. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the background information. Measures of central tendencies and dispersions presented the expected scores or measures from groups of scores in the study. Measures of variability, such as standard deviation, informed about the distribution of scores around the mean of the distribution. Frequency distributions show a record of the number of times a score or record appears. Findings of the study show that Human Resource Management practices in the Presbyterian Church of East Africa St Andrews are influenced by the nature of the organization or the organizational culture. The voluntary aspect of the Church has directed other factors of motivation while because the church leaders (deacons and elders) are not employees they see no reason why they should be supervised in terms of the development of performance measures. The findings also show that temporal matters of the Church calls for the Presbyterian Church of East Africa St Andrews to consider a business approach. The Presbyterian Church of East Africa just like the general Church has to address the multitude of ethical dilemmas, which fall on the temporal matters wing of the Presbyterian Church of East Africa St Andrews Church structure. Further, the findings show that the Human Resource Management practices of the leaders and administrative staff are contributing to church performance. Key w ords: Human Resource Management Practices, Presbyterian Church of East Africa, Clergy, Elders, Deacons, Group leaders.


Objective: To evaluate the short-term stability of postoperative hearing results after tympanoplasty. Study Design: Prospective database study. Setting: Tertiary referral center. Patients: 1,367 cases of tympanoplasty I–IV were registered in the OTOKIR database between February 2004 and November 2013. Intervention: The authors included the 553 cases attending postoperative follow-ups at both 3 and 12 months. Main Outcome Measure: Analysis of the changes in pure-tone average of air conduction (AC), air-bone gap, and speech reception threshold and Word Recognition Score between follow-ups were performed. Results: The overall mean change between follow-ups was 0.7, 0.5, and 0.3 dB for the AC, air-bone gap, and speech reception threshold, respectively. A majority of cases (87.7%) had a change in AC of 10 dB or less, and only 7.6% of the tympanoplasty type I cases had a decrease in AC of more than 10 dB. Of the 1,367 cases registered, 47.5% of cases were lost to follow-up at 12 months. Conclusion: The changes in hearing results after tympanoplasty are minimal during 3 to 12 months after surgery. This suggests that 3-month results are as valid for reporting as 12-month results. In addition, a possible bias that compromises the validity of reported results is introduced at 12 months because half of the cases are lost to follow-up. Including results from 3-month postoperative follow-up when reporting on tympanoplasty could reduce bias in reporting and enable more centers to contribute valid results.


Radiotherapy and epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors, as important representatives of current chemotherapy, are crucial and irreplaceable treatments of modern oncology. These two types of treatments frequently cause severe dose-dependent dermatologic adverse events that can negatively affect a patient's quality of life and compliance and cause inappropriate dose reductions and even treatment brakes. This article aims to emphasize new scientific data, published in peer reviews, regarding new possibilities to manage these debilitating dermatological adverse events. Since part of the scientific findings is new, the responsibility to enable pharmacologic treatment is in the compounding pharmacist domain. The article also suggests new formulations to the new pharmacologic treatment.


Proc Amer Assoc Cancer Res, Volume 47, 2006

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The mitochondrial enzyme Manganese Superoxide Dismutase (MnSOD) is known to suppress cell growth in different tumor cell lines. However, the molecular mechanism of this growth retarding effect is not fully understood. Here, we show that overexpression of MnSOD slows down growth of HCT116 human colorectal cancer cells by induction of cellular senescence. MnSOD overexpression causes up-regulation of p53 and its transcriptional target the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21. Adenoviral mediated knock-down of p53 by RNAi rescues MnSOD overexpressing clones from growth retardation. Accordingly, the overexpression of MnSOD in HCTp53-/- does not lead to senescence, whereas in HCTp21-/- we found induction of senescence by forced expression of MnSOD. These results indicate a pivotal role of p53, but not p21 in the observed effects. Analysis of the mitochondrial membrane potential revealed reduced polarization in MnSOD over expressing cells. In addition, depolarization of the mitochondrial membrane by mitochondrial inhibitors like rotenone or antimycin A lead colorectal cancer cells into p53-dependent senescence. Our data indicate that uncoupling of the electrochemical gradient by increased MnSOD activity gives rise to p53 up-regulation and induction of senescence. This novel mitochondrial-mediated mechanism of tumor suppression might enable strategies that allow reactivation of cellular aging in tumor cells.


The purpose of this study is to examine the main characteristics of strategies and fashion styles in fast fashion. Ultimately, this study is aimed to give useful information to develop fast fashion companies in Korean apparel industry. There are several strategies commonly applied in most fast fashion companies. First, they produce a wide range of numerous items. Second, the price is very reasonable. The primary objective of fast fashion is to quickly produce products in a cost efficient manner. Third, fast fashion companies take charge in the whole process from designing and manufacturing to distribution and sales. Forth, while almost all apparel companies invest a large amount in advertisement to promote sales, most fast fashion companies invest in VMD instead. Also, the fashion style of fast fashion were examined. First, casual style dominated a big part in composition of the entire style. Second, they use various kinds of different fabrics. For example, natural fabrics including organic and recycled fabrics, denims, newly invented high-tech fabrics, and decorative fabrics are widely used. Third, fast fashion brands produce fashion product based on the most recent fashion trends. Forth, they pursue high quality design. Retailers' understanding of the target market's wants realizes the consumer to thrive on constant change and the frequent availability of new products. Accordingly, fast fashion is presently taking an important role in fashion although it has a short history compared to the general apparel industry.


Compared to other grassland types across Slovakia, dry grasslands harbour species-rich and specialised ant communities. High diversity and species richness of ants may be seen as a consequence of (i) the specific structure of dry grassland vegetation, (ii) long-term ecological stability, and (iii) currently low or absent management-induced disturbance. With special regard to dry grasslands, we report on structural characteristics of vegetation and low-disturbance regime, which contribute to ant assemblage structure. Our study was carried out in the Stiavnicke Vrchy Mts. (Central Slovakia), a region with a historically well-developed grassland area. We established a set of 25 research plots within southorientated grassland habitats representing five different grassland types: wet managed and wet abandoned grasslands, mesic managed and mesic abandoned grasslands (Arrhenatherion elatioris), and dry abandoned grassland habitats (Asplenio-Festucion glaucae). Each habitat type was represented by five plots. At each plot, a set of ten pitfall traps was used to sample ground-foraging ant assemblages. Around each trap, structural characteristics of vegetation and microhabitat were assessed. Dry grasslands were shown to have a specific microhabitat structure, characterised by the presence of a well-developed moss and lichen layer, exposed bedrock, bare soil, and significantly lower, although species-rich vege - tation. Besides the specific microhabitat structure, the absence of management may have contributed to the distinctiveness of these ant assemblages compared to those associated with other grassland categories. Ant assemblages were more species-rich, and the activity of ants was higher in recently abandoned grassland habitats. The effect of abandonment was quite opposite for plants, whose species-richness was, contrary to ants, higher within managed sites.


At the end of 2019, a new disease called Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) originated in Wuhan, China. This disease is caused by respiratory tract infections, ranging from the common cold to serious diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). In Indonesia, there are tests to detect COVID-19, such as PCR and Rapid Test. This detector takes a long time and is less accurate in producing a diagnosis. This study aims to classify chest X-ray images using CNN and Transfer Learning methods to diagnose COVID-19. The proposed model has 4 scenarios: CNN Handcraft Model, Transfer Learning (VGG 16, VGG 19, and ResNet 50). This model is accompanied by data augmentation and data balancing techniques using undersampling techniques. The dataset used in this study is the "Covid-19 (COVID-19 and Normal) Radiographic Database" with 13,808 data divided into two classes, namely COVID-19 and Normal. Each model built will produce values for accuracy, precision, recall, and confusion matrix. The results of CNN Scenario 1 accuracy is 95%, in Scenario 2 VGG 16 the accuracy is 93%, Scenario 3 VGG 19 is 90% and Scenario 4 ResNet 50 is 80%.


Eleven detailed profiles of heat flow measurements have been completed over young oceanic crust of the Juan de Fuca ridge system. Individual measurements were spaced typically 0.4--1 km apart along multiple-penetration lines from 3 to 20 km in total length, and each measurement was located with respect to structural and sedimentary features by simultaneous seismic reflection profiling. In all cases, the average heat flow is well below that predicted by simple conductivity cooled spreading models even when the sediment cover is thick and the nearest basement outcrop is 15 km away. This disparity is attributed to ventilated convective circulation of water in the crust. Large heat flow variability is common along all profiles. Variations are present at two scales. Small-scale variations (from 1 km to a few kilometers between significant heat flow maxima), present in the younger profiles, probably reflect the influence of local venting and permeability variations on permeable layer cellular convection. Large-scale variations (10--20 km between significant heat flow maxima), present in all profiles, may reflect the influence of regional circulation driven by cold water recharge at isolated basement outcrops. Laboratory experimental data indicate that normal celluar convection can coexist with larger-scale bilateral flows, so that there ismore » no simple way to extract the permeable layer thickness from the surface heat flow data. There is a considerable reduction in the amplitude of small-scale heat flow variability over the range of crustal age studied (0.1x12.5 m.y.). This is probably caused by the thermal filtering effects of the sediment cover which increases from about 50 m near the ridge crests to over 700 m on the flanks.« less


Granular cell tumor is an uncommon soft tissue tumor with controversial histiogenesis that can affect any organ of the body including orofacial region. It is mostly benign neoplasm. Neumann's tumor and Abrikossoff's tumor are rare entities with different histiogenesis with varied clinico-pathological presentations. The etiology of the Granular cell tumor remains unclear due to its muscular, connective or neural tissue origin. It is a matter of long debate and diagnostic dilemma. We are presenting this case report of congenital granular cell tumor in a 2 days old baby over an anterior maxillary alveolar ridge; diagnosed on histopathology and immunohistochemistry. The aim of this report is to highlight the rarity of congenital granular cell tumor and its difference with other granular cell tumours.


In previous papers [Isagi et al., 1997; Satake & Iwasa, 2000], a forest model was proposed. The authors demonstrated numerically that the mature forest could possibly exhibit annual reproduction (fixed point synchronization), periodic and chaotic synchronization as the energy depletion constant d is gradually increased. To understand such rich synchronization phenomena, we are led to study global dynamics of a piecewise smooth map fd,β containing two parameters d and β. Here d is the energy depletion quantity and β is the coupling strength. In particular, we obtain the following results. First, we prove that fd,0 has a chaotic dynamic in the sense of Devaney on an invariant set whenever d > 1, which improves a result of [Chang & Chen, 2011]. Second, we prove, via the Schwarzian derivative and a generalized result of [Singer, 1978], that fd,β exhibits the period adding bifurcation. Specifically, we show that for any β > 0, fd,β has a unique global attracting fixed point whenever d ≤ 1 (β+1)(β+1 β+2 )β ( 0, fd,β has a unique attracting period k + 1 point whenever d is less than and near any positive integer k. Furthermore, the corresponding period k + 1 point instantly becomes unstable as d moves pass the integer k. Finally, we demonstrate numerically that there are chaotic dynamics whenever d is in between and away from two consecutive positive integers. We also observe the route to chaos as d increases from one positive integer to the next through finite period doubling.


Previous work on the Federal Convention of 1787 hypothesized multiple dimensions of conflict. We evaluate the dimensionality of conflict using a new method for estimating state delegation positions and proposals that incorporates the many divided votes at the convention. The results suggest that three dimensions are adequate for most analyses and the first dimension—proportional representation in the legislature—the most important. Finally, we examine how the agenda unfolds by mapping changes to the status quo throughout the convention. We conclude that, despite the lack of parties, the nature of the conflict is quite organized with a low number of dimensions.


A piece of music can be expressively performed, or interpreted, in a variety of ways. With the help of an online questionnaire, the Con Espressione Game, we collected some 1,500 descriptions of expressive character relating to 45 performances of 9 excerpts from classical piano pieces, played by different famous pianists. More specifically, listeners were asked to describe, using freely chosen words (preferably: adjectives), how they perceive the expressive character of the different performances. In this paper, we offer a first account of this new data resource for expressive performance research, and provide an exploratory analysis, addressing three main questions: (1) how similarly do different listeners describe a performance of a piece? (2) what are the main dimensions (or axes) for expressive character emerging from this?; and (3) how do measurable parameters of a performance (e.g., tempo, dynamics) and mid- and high-level features that can be predicted by machine learning models (e.g., articulation, arousal) relate to these expressive dimensions? The dataset that we publish along with this paper was enriched by adding hand-corrected score-to-performance alignments, as well as descriptive audio features such as tempo and dynamics curves.


Vulnerability of satellite-based navigation signals to intentional and unintentional interference calls for a high-level overview of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) threats occurring globally to understand the magnitude and evolution of the problem. Therefore, a mechanism needs to be developed whereby disparate monitoring systems will be capable of contributing to a common entity of basic information about the threat scenarios they experience. This paper begins with a literature survey of 37 state-of-the-art GNSS threat monitoring systems, which have been analysed based on their respective operational features - constellations monitored and whether they possess the capability to perform interference-type classification, spoofing detection, and interference localisation. Also described is a comparative analysis of four GNSS threat reporting formats in use today. Based on these studies, the paper describes the Horizon2020 Standardisation of GNSS Threat Reporting and Receiver Testing through International Knowledge Exchange, Experimentation and Exploitation (STRIKE3) proposed integrated threat monitoring demonstration system and related standardised threat reporting message, to enable a high-level overview of the prevailing international GNSS threat scenarios and its evolution over time.


[Objective]This paper aimed to study the risk zoning of rainstorm in Guizhou based on GIS.[Method]Taking Guizhou as study area,1 km × 1 km grid data as evaluation unit,and by dint of daily precipitation in meteorological station in Guizhou from 1961 to 2008,the rainstorm risk zoning system was constructed from the aspects of disaster-stricken dangers,suffering flexibility,disaster environment sensitivity and disaster prevention or mitigation;based on the level analysis method to determine factor weight,the risk assessment model based on GIS was set up to evaluate the four sub-indicators and risks and to get the rainstorm disaster in Guizhou in the end.[Result]The risk assessment and zonation results showed a general trend that the risk level decreased from the central to all around.The low risk area distributed in the northwest of Guizhou province because of less heavy rains and high capacity of rainstorm disaster resistant,while high risk area mainly distributed in the west-central of Guizhou due to concentration rainstorms,large terrain undulation and low coverage rate of forest.Especially,according to Anshun,the high risk area took up 98.02% of the city,and the Gangwu County,where a super-large geological disaster concurred in 2010 is located at the high risk area,which showed that the risk assessment coincided with the actual situation.[Conclusion]The study provided theoretical basis for the macro disaster prevention and disaster mitigation plan.


Making reasonable assumptions, the luminosities of linear colliders are calculated for center-of-mass energies of 10 GeV, 100 GeV and 1 TeV. A calculation is also mode for a l/2 TeV collider that could be upgraded to 1 TeV later. The improvements possible using "crab-like" crossing are also given,


A fundamental problem in parallel computing is to design high-level, architecture independent, algorithms that execute efficiently on general purpose parallel machines. The aim is to be able to achieve portability and high performance simultaneously. A key to accomplishing this is the existence of a computation model that can bridge the gap between the high level programming models and the underlying hardware models. There are currently two factors that make this fundamental problem more tractable. The first is the emergence of a dominant parallel architecture consisting of a number of powerful microprocessors interconnected by either a proprietary interconnect, or a standard off-the-shelf interconnect (such as an ATM switch). The second factor is the emergence of standards, such as the message passing standard MPI, for which efficient implementations are either available or about to appear on most machines. Our recent work has exploited these two developments by developing a methodology based on (1) a simple computation model for the current MIMD platforms that incorporates communication cost into the complexity of the algorithms, and (2) a SPMD programming model that makes effective use of communication primitives. We describe our approach for validating the computation model based on extensive experimentation and the development of benchmarks, and discuss its extension to the emerging clusters of Symmetric Multiprocessors (SMPs) architecture.


SUMMARY: Six mutations in the spoIIA locus have been mapped by transformation crosses. The Recombination Index between mutations at opposite ends of the locus was about 0·17; all six mutations are likely to be allelic. A mutation leading to oligosporogeny was found to be closely linked on both sides to mutations leading to asporogeny. For two pairs of mutants, crosses between the members of each pair yielded no wild-type recombinants, but the mutations were found not be identical. Another of the mutations was found to be partly suppressed by the general nonsense suppressor su
+
3, and is therefore presumably a chain-terminating mutation.


Renovascular hypertension is the most frequent secondary cause of hypertension (0.5-2%). Captopril renal scintigraphy is safe, noninvasive, and effective in the detection of renovascular hypertension. Positive captopril renography may suggest a cure of hypertension and improvement in renal function with successful renal revascularization. The authors report the case of successful detection of renovascular hypertension by captopril renal scintigraphy in a patient with 2 hilar renal arteries. Revascularization of the stenosed hilar artery was obtained by transluminal angioplasty and stent placement, leading to rapid control of the hypertension.


Background: According to various studies, non-vegetarians are not at an inherent risk of developing megaloblastic anemia, a common deficiency of Vitamin B12. However, recent trends of the consumption of non-vegetarian food in the processed form as well as changes in cooking methods may gradually change the trend of the occurrence of megaloblastic anemia in nonvegetarians. Very few studies have been conducted on the same in a non-vegetarian population.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to study the prevalence of megaloblastic anemia in a non-vegetarian population.

Materials and Methods: The study was conducted on 100 non-vegetarian adults after due approval of the institutional ethics committee. The patients were evaluated on the basis of their hematological profile including peripheral smear examination and indices.

Results: About 29% of total patients presented with features suggestive of megaloblastic anemia, of which 72% of patients agreed to predominantly be consuming non-vegetarian food from processed sources such as fast-food outlets at an average frequency of 3 weeks.

Conclusion: There is a changing trend of megaloblastic anemia in the non-vegetarian population. Processing of food and change in conventional cooking practices along with the recent decline in home cooking of meat seem to be the major factors putting the non-vegetarians at a risk of developing megaloblastic anemia.


About 6 million years ago, the Mediterranean basin was the location of one of the most extraordinary events in the recent geological history of the Earth: the Messinian Salinity Crisis. Restriction of the seawater exchange between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean led to excess evaporation and deposition on the bottom of the deep Mediterranean basins of a 1.5 km-thick salt layer. Research on this event initiated a long-term scientific controversy. COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology) and Marie Skłodowska-Curie European Training Networks were identified as the most appropriate tools to address and solve the controversy using a highly cross-disciplinary approach.


NMDA receptors interact via the extended intracellular C-terminal domain of the NR2 subunits with constituents of the postsynaptic density for purposes of retention, clustering, and functional regulation at central excitatory synapses. To examine the role of the C-terminal domain of NR2A in the synaptic localization and function of NR2A-containing NMDA receptors in hippocampal Schaffer collateral–CA1 pyramidal cell synapses, we analyzed mice which express NR2A only in its C-terminally truncated form. In CA1 cell somata, the levels, activation, and deactivation kinetics of extrasynaptic NMDA receptor channels were comparable in wild-type and mutant NR2AΔC/ΔCmice. At CA1 cell synapses, however, the truncated receptors were less concentrated than their full-length counterparts, as indicated by immunodetection in cultured neurons, synaptosomes, and postsynaptic densities. In the mutant, the NMDA component of evoked EPSCs was reduced in a developmentally progressing manner and was even more reduced in miniature EPSCs (mEPSCs) elicited by spontaneous glutamate release. Moreover, pharmacologically isolated NMDA currents evoked by synaptic stimulation had longer latencies and displayed slower rise and decay times, even in the presence of an NR2B-specific antagonist. These data strongly suggest that the C-terminal domain of NR2A subunits is important for the precise synaptic arrangement of NMDA receptors.


Fifteen adenomatoid tumors were examined immunohistochemically using antibody probes to keratin and factor VIII-related antigen. Cells lining adenoid structures labeled using keratin antibody in all 15 tumors but failed to label with factor VIII-related antigen antibodies in any case. In one case tissue was retrieved from a paraffin block and studied by immunoelectron microscopy using the two antibody probes. Immunoprecipitate was demonstrated in adenoid cells adjacent to desmosomes using keratin antibody but was absent using factor VIII-related antigen antibodies. Of the two prevailing theories of origin for adenomatoid tumors, based on ultrastructural and histochemical data to date, these results are additional evidence for a mesothelial origin and fail to support an endothelial origin.


Background: Alzheimer's is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by cognitive declination associated with several clinicopathological changes. Due to consistent drawback in the conventional therapy, now the attentions toward herbal therapeutics have been increased in recent times. Morinda tinctoria Roxb (MT) is a novel medicinal herb reported with versatile therapeutic activity. Still now, there is no proper scientific data available to confirm its efficacy against neurodegeneration. Objectives: The objective of the present research is to investigate the neurocognitive enhancing potential of MT against amyloid beta (Aβ) (25–35)-induced memory dysfunction in mice. Materials and Methods: Animals were pretreated with ethanol extract of MT (EEMT) and standard donepezil followed by single intracerebro ventricular injection of Aβ25–35. Estimation of antioxidant enzymes, metabolic enzymes, and neurotransmitters was performed along with quantification of inflammatory cytokines using quantitative polymerase chain reaction method. Results: The outcome of the study clearly indicates that treatment with EEMT (200 and 400 mg/kg) and donepezil (5 mg/kg) had significantly ameliorated the cognitive stress induced by Aβ25–35, which was evident from the data obtained from memory and learning task. There was a sequential decrease in pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-6, tumor necrosis factor, IL-1, and nuclear factor-κ level in EEMT and donepezil treated groups. Histological finding of the samples belonging to EEMT and donepezil treated groups reveals the presence of dense network of pyramidal cell in CA layers with increased number of granular cells aligned on the dentate gyrus zone of the hippocampi. Conclusion: Neurotherapeutics from the herbal origin advocates the potential therapeutic efficacy against Alzheimer's and may become novel entity in the clinical management of neurodegenerative diseases.


BACKGROUND
The capacity of the heart to maintain cardiac output can be acutely impaired as a result of myocardial infarction, graft failure after transplantation, or other cardiac events. Medical therapy or the use of an intra-aortic balloon pump may be insufficient to help the patient overcome acute cardiogenic shock. The set-up of mechanical assist devices such as extracorporeal membrane oxygenation or patient relocation into the operating room requires valuable time that is often not available. The aim of our study was to test whether a novel left ventricular assist device can be percutaneously implanted without fluoroscopy under echocardiographic navigation in a preclinical model.

METHODS
Pigs were subjected to percutaneous implantation of a novel left ventricular assist device under navigation of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) without fluoroscopic support. Percutaneous puncture of the interatrial septum using a Brockenbrough needle and insertion of the afferent cannula into the femoral vein and its advance to the right atrium and through the interatrial septum into the left atrium was performed under echocardiographic control. The efferent cannula was inserted into the contralateral femoral artery using the Seldinger technique.

RESULTS
In all animals, the percutaneous implantation of a left ventricular assist device was successful under only TEE navigation.

CONCLUSIONS
The ability to abstain from fluoroscopy and the feasibility of inserting the afferent cannula across the interatrial septum guided by TEE allows for application of this system in intensive care units, saving precious time as well as financial and human resources.