Because the regeneration of large bone defects is limited by quantitative restrictions and risks of infections, the development of bioartificial bone substitutes is of great importance. To obtain a three‐dimensional functional tissue‐like graft, static cultivation is inexpedient due to limitations in cell density, nutrition and oxygen support. Dynamic cultivation in a bioreactor system can overcome these restrictions and furthermore provide the possibility to control the environment with regard to pH, oxygen content, and temperature. In this study, a three‐dimensional bone construct was engineered by the use of dynamic bioreactor technology. Human adipose tissue derived mesenchymal stem cells were cultivated on a macroporous zirconium dioxide based ceramic disc called Sponceram®. Furthermore, hydroxyapatite coated Sponceram® was used. The cells were cultivated under dynamic conditions and compared with statically cultivated cells. The differentiation into osteoblasts was initiated by osteogenic supplements. Cellular proliferation during static and dynamic cultivation was compared measuring glucose and lactate concentration. The differentiation process was analysed determining AP‐expression and using different specific staining methods. Our results demonstrate much higher proliferation rates during dynamic conditions in the bioreactor system compared to static cultivation measured by glucose consumption and lactate production. Cell densities on the scaffolds indicated higher proliferation on native Sponceram® compared to hydroxyapatite coated Sponceram®. With this study, we present an excellent method to enhance cellular proliferation and bone lineage specific growth of tissue like structures comprising fibrous (collagen) and globular (mineral) extracellular components. © 2009 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 2009


The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of whey protein concentrate (WPC-80) on glycoconjugate catabolism, selected markers of oxidative stress and liver inflammation. The experiment was conducted on male Wistar rats (n = 63). The animals from the study group were administered WPC-80 at a dose of 0.3 or 0.5 g/kg body weight for 7, 14 or 21 days, while rats from the control group received only 0.9% NaCl. In liver homogenates, we assayed the activity of N-acetyl-β-D-hexosaminidase (HEX), β-glucuronidase (GLU), β-galactosidase (GAL), α-mannosidase (MAN), α-fucosidase (FUC), as well as the level of reduced glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA), interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1). A significantly higher activity of HEX, GLU, MAN and FUC were found in the livers of rats receiving WPC-80 compared to controls. Serum ALT and AST were significantly higher in the animals supplemented with WPC-80 at a dose of 0.5 g/kg body weight for 21 days. In the same group of animals, enhanced level of GSH, MDA, IL-1β and TGF-β1 were also observed. WPC-80 is responsible for intensive remodelling of liver tissue and induction of oxidative stress especially at a dose of 0.5 g/kg body weight.


Analysis and classification of the scene content of a video sequence are very important for content-based indexing and retrieval of multimedia databases. In this paper, we report our research on using the associated audio information for video scene classification. We describe several audio features that have been found effective in distinguishing audio characteristics of different scene classes. Based on these features, a neural net classifier was quite successful in separating audio clips from different TV programs.


An optimum design theory to clarify a possible limit of achieving both high conversion gain (CG) and full well capacity (FWC) at the same time in a CMOS image sensor with a lateral overflow integration capacitor (LOFIC) in a pixel is discussed. The possible limit of both high CG and high FWC is theoretically derived from a signal-to-noise-ratio (SNR) formula at a switching point from a low light signal (S1) to a bright one (S2). Based on this theory, a 1/4-in VGA-format 5.6-mum-pixel-pitch CMOS image sensor has been fabricated through a 0.18-mum 2P3M CMOS technology. A high-quality wide-dynamic-range image sensing has been demonstrated with no significant visible noise, achieving over 32 dB of SNR for an 18% gray card.


Objectives Single-visit root canal treatment has some advantages over conventional multivisit treatment, but might increase the risk of complications. We systematically evaluated the risk of complications after single-visit or multiple-visit root canal treatment using meta-analysis and trial-sequential analysis. Data Controlled trials comparing single-visit versus multiple-visit root canal treatment of permanent teeth were included. Trials needed to assess the risk of long-term complications (pain, infection, new/persisting/increasing periapical lesions ≥1 year after treatment), short-term pain or flare-up (acute exacerbation of initiation or continuation of root canal treatment). Sources Electronic databases (PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Central) were screened, random-effects meta-analyses performed and trial-sequential analysis used to control for risk of random errors. Evidence was graded according to GRADE. Study selection 29 trials (4341 patients) were included, all but 6 showing high risk of bias. Based on 10 trials (1257 teeth), risk of complications was not significantly different in single-visit versus multiple-visit treatment (risk ratio (RR) 1.00 (95% CI 0.75 to 1.35); weak evidence). Based on 20 studies (3008 teeth), risk of pain did not significantly differ between treatments (RR 0.99 (95% CI 0.76 to 1.30); moderate evidence). Risk of flare-up was recorded by 8 studies (1110 teeth) and was significantly higher after single-visit versus multiple-visit treatment (RR 2.13 (95% CI 1.16 to 3.89); very weak evidence). Trial-sequential analysis revealed that firm evidence for benefit, harm or futility was not reached for any of the outcomes. Conclusions There is insufficient evidence to rule out whether important differences between both strategies exist. Clinical significance Dentists can provide root canal treatment in 1 or multiple visits. Given the possibly increased risk of flare-ups, multiple-visit treatment might be preferred for certain teeth (eg, those with periapical lesions).


I thank my colleague Dr. Alfredo Sanchez Castaneda for his thoughtful comments. Any inaccuracies that may appear in this essay, is the sole responsability of the author. I also appreciate the collaboration of fellow Eulises Jesus Gonzalez and my secretary Mrs. Isabel Cacho.


The increasing demands of materials with superior properties are given priority by most of the industries in recent years due to their higher performance levels. Machining of hard materials is a challenging task since it involves higher cutting forces and rapid tool wear. This leads to complexity in shaping these difficult-to machine materials such as advanced composite and ceramics. There have been many alternative techniques developed to overcome the shortcomings of conventional machining processes. Laser beam machining (LBM) is one of the advanced noncontact machining processes that employ monochromatic light with high frequency for machining using thermal energy. The highly energized photos are focused on a material cause heating, melting and vaporizes the material which is effectively used to remove unwanted portion of a material. Due to higher coherency of laser beam, materials can be machined very precisely than conventional machining processes. Generally, the laser-based material processing is suitable for a brittle type of material with minimum conductivity. However, this laser machining can be used for all kinds of materials in most cases. This chapter provides the principle of laser and its types, mechanism of material removal using laser, applications, advantages, and limitations of LBM.


Abstract This article describes a brief learning activity that provided reflective time to identify barriers, facilitators, and action steps to ensure quality improvement (QI) project success. Learners from our program participated in an interactive 90-minute session that used Liberating Structures to reflect on current barriers to implementation of their QI projects. Analysis of the individual reflective cards identified 10 barriers to QI success. Facilitators were grouped into 16 themes. Action steps were placed into six categories. Integration of reflection promotes important identification of QI project barriers, facilitators, and the creation of action steps.


Abstract : Operation FORTITUDE, the D-Day deception plan, was a near perfect plan used by the Allies during World War II to deceive the Germans as to the time and place of the Normandy invasion, This short research paper studies the methods and techniques used by the Allies, specifically the British Security Services, in the near flawless execution of the deception plan. This paper also proposes that the plan was so well executed because it was a "closed loop" plan. That is to say that the British controlled not only the information going forward to the Germans, but they were also in the enviable position of being able to determine the exact extent of the Germans' belief in the veracity of the information that they were given. This was due to two factors: the British had complete control of all German agents in England by the second year of the war, and the British were able to read encrypted German message traffic, often as fast as the intended recipients. In the final analysis, the Germans were completely outmaneuvered in the intelligence department during the Second World War. Through sloppy work on their part and the amazingly well manufactured deception story put forth by the Allies, the Germans were essentially blind while trying to defend the Normandy beaches. The research for this paper was conducted solely using open-source material. Many of these were secondary sources, though others were recently declassified operational documents from the British and United States historical records.


A three-dimensional (3D) radiative transfer model has been developed to simulate the transfer of solar and thermal infrared radiation in inhomogeneous cirrus clouds. The model utilizes a diffusion approximation approach (four-term expansion in the intensity) for application to inhomogeneous media, employing Cartesian coordinates. The extinction coefficient, single-scattering albedo, and asymmetry factor are functions of spatial position and wavelength and are parameterized in terms of the ice water content and mean effective ice crystal size. The correlated k-distribution method is employed for incorporation of gaseous absorption in multiple-scattering atmospheres. Delta-function adjustment is used to account for the strong forward-diffraction nature in the phase function of ice particles to enhance computational accuracy. Comparisons of the model results with those from plane-parallel (PP) and other 3D models show reasonable agreement for both broadband and monochromatic results. Three-dimensional flux and heating/cooling rate fields are presented for a number of cirrus cases in which the ice water content and ice crystal size are prescribed. The PP method is shown to be a good approximation under the homogeneous condition when the cloud horizontal dimension is much larger than the cloud thickness. As the horizontal dimension decreases, clouds produce less infrared warming at the bottom as well as less cooling at the top, while more solar heating is generated within the cloud. For inhomogeneous cases, upwelling and downwelling fluxes display patterns corresponding to the extinction coefficient field. Cloud inhomogeneity also plays an important role in determining both solar and IR heating rate distributions. The radiation parameterization is applied to potential cloud configurations generated from GCMs to investigate broken clouds and cloud-overlapping effects on the domain-averaged heating rates. Clouds with maximum overlap tend to produce less heating than those with random overlap. For the prescribed cloud configurations designed in this paper, broken clouds show more solar heating as well as more IR cooling as compared with a continuous cloud field.


In this paper, an autonomous hovering control method of multicopter using only Web camera is proposed. Recently, various control method of an autonomous flight for multicopter are proposed. But, in the previous proposed methods, a motion capture system (i. e., OptiTrack) and laser range finder are often used to measure the position and posture of multicopter. To achieve an autonomous flight control of multicopter with simple equipments, we propose an autonomous flight control method using AR marker and Web camera. AR marker can measure the position of multicopter with Cartesian coordinate in three dimensional, then its position connects with aileron, elevator, and accelerator throttle operation. A simple PID control method is applied to the each operation and adjust the controller gains. Experimental results are given to show the effectiveness of our proposed method. Moreover, another simple operation method for autonomous flight control multicopter is also proposed. Keywords—autonomous hovering control, multicopter, Web camera.


The work being done by the Semiconductor Research Corp. (SRC) in promoting university research, funding the training of graduate students, and fostering cooperation between companies is reviewed. It is pointed out that not only are more researchers working in the semiconductor field, but their work is now more closely related to industry needs. Some of the technological advances that have been made through SRC-funded research are described. Also discussed is the work done by the SRC in bringing together the equipment companies and the semiconductor companies to figure out what information they can share without divulging proprietary data.


The three-dimensional coherence matrix is interpreted by emphasizing its invariance with respect to spatial rotations. Under these transformations, it naturally decomposes into a real symmetric positive definite matrix, interpreted as the moment of inertia of the ensemble (and the corresponding ellipsoid), and a real axial vector, corresponding to the mean angular momentum of the ensemble. This vector and tensor are related by several inequalities, and the interpretation is compared to those in which unitary invariants of the coherence matrix are studied.


Somatostatin derivative peptides previously designed for radiodiagnostic purposes (99mTc P829 or 99mTc depreotide) were reoptimized for radiotherapy of tumors with rhenium radioisotopes. An optimized pharmacophore peptide P1839 was derived by in vitro binding affinity assay to AR42J rat pancreatic tumor cell membranes. Peptides with chelating domains and their oxorhenium(V) complexes were tested in vitro for binding to NCI H69 human SCLC tumor membranes. Further optimization entailed radiolabeling with 99mTc and biodistribution in an AR42J xenograft mouse model. Kidney uptake was decreased substantially by removing positively charged residues. Neutral N3S diamide amine thiol chelators with no adjacent positive charges had the best overall properties. Substituting an aromatic amino acid into the chelator approximately doubled the tumor uptake. The final optimized peptide P2045 (39) radiolabeled with 99mTc exhibited increased tumor uptake ( approximately 25 %ID/g at 1.5 h), lower kidney uptake ( approximately 4.8 %ID/g at 1.5 h), and extensive urinary excretion (59 %ID at 1.5 h). Finally, comparison biodistribution studies between 99mTc and 188Re (39) showed a good correlation between the two metal complexes and demonstrated prolonged tumor retention (> or =24 h).


Charm elliptic flow in heavy ion collisions at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) is studied in a multiphase transport model. Assuming that the cross section for charm quark scattering with other light quarks is the same as that between light quarks, we find that both charm and light quark elliptic flows are sensitive to the value of the cross section. Compared to that of light quarks, the elliptic flow of charm quarks is smaller at low transverse momentum but approaches comparable values at high transverse momentum. Similar features are seen in the elliptic flow of charmed mesons as well as that of the electrons from their semileptonic decays when the charmed mesons are produced from quark coalescence during hadronization of the partonic matter. To describe the large electron elliptic flow observed in available experimental data requires a charm quark scattering cross section that is much larger than that given by the perturbative QCD.


Schools play a crucial role in creating supportive and safe environments, and positive feelings are key in fostering such environments. Schools as Learning Communities, based on the dialogic participation of the whole community, are improving social cohesion. However, the underlying processes leading to such transformations remain underexplored. This article suggests that successful educational actions (SEAs) implemented in a school as a learning community, analyzed in this case study, promote positive feelings such as friendship and empathy, contributing to a safe and supportive environment. The purpose of this study was to analyze how SEAs generate friendship and empathy and their impact in the environment in a school as a learning community in Spain. To that end, the methods used were interviews with 18 students and 10 teachers, and reviews of two documentary films featuring the school. Results suggest that SEAs generate friendship and empathy among many children by promoting mutual support and sharing narratives in such dialogic settings. In addition, developing friendship and empathy contributes to reducing violent behaviors and promoting more inclusive attitudes among many students. This study concludes by providing insights on how SEAs can contribute to safe and supportive environments through fostering friendship and empathy.


Intermetallic compounds are becoming hot materials as catalysts because they show unique catalytic properties that originate from a unique electronic structure and an atomic ordered surface. Ternary intermetallic catalysts have rarely been reported, which is likely due to the difficulty in synthesizing their supported nanoparticles, the typical form for catalysis research; however, there could be novel catalysts in ternary systems because they have much more elemental combinations than binary systems. They are expected to exhibit novel properties due to the synergy between three elements. Metallurgical methods, such as arc-melting, can easily synthesize intermetallic compounds even in ternary (or more) systems if they are thermodynamically stable. Thus, only metallurgical synthesis enables screening for ternary intermetallic catalysts. The catalyst screening of Heusler alloys, which are a group of ternary intermetallic compounds popular in other research fields, such as magnetics, has been conducted using metallurgical synthesis. The screening revealed fundamental catalytic properties of Heusler alloys for several reactions and identified good catalysts for the selective hydrogenation of alkynes. The systematic control of catalysis was also demonstrated by the substitution of fourth elements using a feature of Heusler alloys. This paper describes the importance of ternary intermetallic catalysts with practical examples of Heusler alloy catalysts and discusses future prospects.


Headache, nausea, ataxia and diplopia are leading symptoms of brain tumors in children. We report of 3 children with unusual symptoms and findings. Patient 1 complained of occasional headaches. Clinical examination showed neurological deficits and uveitis. Lumbar puncture revealed a pleocytosis and the oligoclonal banding study was positive. Cranial MRI demonstrated an enlarged pons. Under treatment with cortisone a clinical improvement was seen, but no change of the abnormalities in MRI. Several weeks later a biopsy was performed, which verified an astrozytoma. The second child developed a torticollis, following an accident, and later a refractory constipation was noted. A clinical evaluation was within normal limits. Several weeks later the patient complained of bladder disturbances. Patient 3 had a lateralized tic disorder without any neurologic deficits. CT showed an infratentorial tumor above the 4th ventricle. The tic disorder vanished only after the tumor was completely resected in the second operation. The reported cases demonstrate the fact that in an individual patient a brain tumor can cause unusual symptoms and findings which do not make the diagnosis obvious.


With the development of an innovative motion capture and analysis system using frontal infra-red illumination, and based on a systematic study of the relations between the human body movement and the visual art language, the Body-Brush turns the human body as a whole into a dynamic brush. The Body-Brush enables humans to interact intuitively with the machine to create a rich variety of visual forms and space within a virtual 3-D canvas.


Abstract:  DNA material is now collected routinely from crime scenes for a wide range of offenses and its timely processing is acknowledged as a key element to its success in solving crime. An analysis of the processing of approximately 1500 samples of DNA material recovered from the property crime offenses of residential burglary, commercial burglary, and theft of motor vehicle in Northamptonshire, U.K. during 2006 identified saliva and cigarette ends as the main sources of DNA recovered (approximately 63% of samples) with blood, cellular DNA, and chewing gum accounting for the remainder. The conversion of these DNA samples into DNA profiles and then into matches with offender profiles held on the U.K. National DNA database is considered in terms of the ease with which Crime Scene Examiners can recover DNA rich samples of different sources, the location of the DNA at the crime scene, and its mobility. A logistical regression of the DNA material recovered has revealed a number of predictors, other than timeliness, that greatly influence its conversion into a DNA profile. The most significant predictor was found to be Crime Scene Examiner accreditation with offense type and DNA sample condition also being relevant. A similar logistical regression of DNA samples profiled that produced a match with an offender on the U.K. National DNA database showed no significance with any of the predictors considered.


We consider the inverse scattering of time-harmonic plane waves to reconstruct the shape of a sound-soft crack from a knowledge of the given incident field and the phaseless data, and we check the invariance of far field data with respect to translation of the crack. We present a numerical method that is based on a system of nonlinear and ill-posed integral equations, and our scheme is easy and simple to implement. The numerical implementation is described and numerical examples are presented to illustrate the feasibility of the proposed method.


This paper designs an application for detecting various objects using a smart phone with camera sensor, then implements the application that detects the number of faces in front of a user by using the Face API provided by android and generates a speech to the user. For implementing the application, the GoF strategy pattern is applied to design the application. It provides some advantages; first, the algorithm development schedule can separate the whole application development schedule; next, it makes easier to add the algorithm. For example, another detecting algorithm for the other objects (character, motion detection) that may be developed in the future, or it may be replaced by a more high-performance algorithm. With the propose method, a general smart phone can make some advantages that can provide information of various objects (such as moving people and objects, and detected character from signboards) to the person who is visually impaired.


Acknowledgments v Chapter 1: Introduction 1 Chapter 2: Cognitive Aspects: Recognition and Expectation 7 Chapter 3: Key Profile and Tonal Hierarchy 13 Chapter 4: Intervallic Rivalry and the 4/5 Opening Rule as Functional Schemas 30 Chapter 5: Pedagogical Implications 44


Studies have reported controversial results on the relationship between headache and blood pressure. The aim of this post hoc study was twofold: first, to further investigate this relationship and, second, to assess the impact of psychosocial factors on this association in a population-based study of German children and adolescents. The analysis was conducted on study participants aged between 11 and 17 years (n = 5221, weighted from the total study cohort) from the nationwide German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Children and Adolescents (KiGGS). Health-related quality of life was assessed by self- and parent-rated German-language KINDL-R questionnaires (Children's Quality of Life Questionnaire), while mental problems were analyzed using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Our findings confirmed that blood pressure was significantly lower in adolescents reporting episodes of headache than in those without headache (114.0 ± 10.2 mmHg vs. 115.5 ± 11.0 mmHg, p < 0.001). Logistic regression models adjusted to sex, age, body mass index, contraceptive use, and serum magnesium concentration demonstrated that headache was significantly associated with self-rated KINDL-R (Exp(B) = 0.96, 95% confidence interval (95% Cl) = 0.96–0.97, p < 0.001), parent-rated KINDL-R (Exp(B) = 0.97, 95% CI = 0.96–0.98, p < 0.001), as well as self-rated SDQ (Exp(B) = 1.08, 95% CI = 1.07–1.10, p < 0.001), and parent-rated SDQ (Exp(B) = 1.05, 95% CI = 1.04–1.06, p < 0.001). There was evidence that quality of life and mental problems mediated the effect of blood pressure on headache, as revealed by mediation models. Our results from the nationwide, representative KiGGS survey showed that low blood pressure is a significant predictor of headache, independent of quality of life and mental problems. However, these psychosocial factors may mediate the effect of blood pressure on headache in a still unknown manner.


One hundred boys and 100 girls born in Wrocław, Poland from 1973 to 1975 were measured every month during the first year of life and every three months during the second. Body length and weight and head circumference were examined. The statistics of values of the traits and their increments and some of the correlation coefficients are given in the tables.


A prediction equation for sperm production in blue catfish was developed by a forward step-wise regression analyses based on five independent factors: body weight, total length, stage of maturation, gonadosomatic index and condition factor of individual mature blue catfish raised in earthen ponds. The stage of gonad maturity and plasma testosterone contributed significantly (P < 0.05) to the prediction equation (Sperm production per unit body weight = 2.51 × maturity − 0.01 × testosterone − 5.776, r = 0.62, P < 0.05). The stage of maturity was strongly associated (P < 0.05) with gonadosomatic index and sperm production. Improvements in prediction accuracy are needed to make this model a useful tool to identify higher sperm producing blue catfish to improve the efficiency of channel x blue hybrid catfish embryo production.


We present enhanced 90 nm node CMOS devices on a partially depleted SOI with 40 nm gate length, featuring advanced process modules for manufacture, including RSD (raised source/drain), disposable spacer, final spacer for S/D doping and silicide proximity, NiSi, and thermally optimized MOL (middle-of-line) process. For the first time, we systematically designed silicide proximity in SOI and post-activation thermal cycles to improve series resistance and gate activation. This paper demonstrates decoupled effects of the individual performance boosters on drive currents and minimization of dopant deactivation, which resulted in dramatic improvement of drive currents by 11% to 19% (820 /spl mu/A/um and 420 /spl mu/A/um at Ioff = 40 nA/um with Vdd = 1.0 V, for NFET and PFET, respectively), significant reduction in effective gate oxide thickness under gate inversion by /spl sim/1.2 /spl Aring/ and /spl sim/2.1 /spl Aring/, for NFET and PFET, respectively, and an excellent inverter delay of less than 5.4 ps at Lgate of 40 nm.


France has a category of health workers called auxiliary paediatric nurse (APN) who takes care of children from zero to six years of age. APNs play a very important role in the child's development since they feed him, wash him, play with him and look after him while he sleeps. Most of the time, however, they are not aware of the important psychological role they play and consider themselves only responsible for good hygiene. The author suggests that APNs should be taught during their training to make a number of psychological observations relating to the child's development and emotional life. It is important that APNs be also trained as health educators, a task they have to perform every day.


We report a systematic investigation on c-axis point-contact Andreev reflection (PCAR) in BaFe2−xNixAs2 superconducting single crystals from underdoped to overdoped regions (0.075≤ x ≤0.15). At low temperatures, an in-gap sharp peak at low-bias voltage is observed in PCAR for overdoped samples, in contrast to the case of underdoped junctions, in which an in-gap plateau is observed. The variety of the conductance spectra with doping can be well described by using a generalized Blonder–Tinkham–Klapwijk formalism with an angle-dependent gap. This gap shows a clear crossover from a nodeless in the underdoped side to a nodal feature in the overdoped region. This result provides evidence of the doping-induced evolution of the superconducting order parameter when the inter-pocket and intra-pocket scattering are tuned through doping, as expected in the s± scenario.


For an operator T on a Hilbert space let Hyperlat T denote its hyperinvariant subspace lattice. Assume that T is a completely nonunitary C1l contraction with finite defect indices. In this note we characterize the elements of Hyperlat T among invariant subspaces for T in terms of their corresponding regular factorizations and show that elements in Hyperlat T are exactly the spectral subspaces of T defined by Sz.-Nagy and Foias. As a corollary, if T7, T2 are two such operators which are quasi-similar to each other, then Hyperlat T, is Qattice) isomorphic to Hyperlat T2.


This article presents a method for the geometry reconstruction of a Francis turbine installed in a hydroelectric Minipower-station in Colombia. In order to obtain the geometrical CAD model techniques as basic metrology, surface scanning, 3D digitalization, and development of moulds were used. The modeling process was based on the measurements taken directly from the machine and matched against the original incomplete drawings. The Francis Turbine is composed for five main components: Spiral case, Runner, Covers with Fixed Blades, Regulatory Blades and Draft Tube. The importance of this reconstruction method is that the resulting CAD geometry can be use in: a) restoration and rehabilitation using robotic repairing systems through the automatic generation of CNC codes and schematic groups of profiles, b) Simulation of the fluid dynamics and structural behavior by using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and Finite Element Methods (FEM), c) Estimation of remaining life using CFD, FEM and experimental techniques in site, and d) Development of diagnostic methods from vibration measurements..


MINIMUM SUPERVISION: WHO PERFORMS BETTER? Reyna V. Cartagena, M.A. George Mason University, 2017 Thesis Director: Dr. Faye S. Taxman Interventions that are better suited for high-risk offenders do damage to the low-risk population, leading to an increase in recidivism (Lowenkamp et al., 2006). This argument is made based on limited evidence that all low-risk offenders are better suited for administrative handling than higher risk offenders. Randomized controlled trials conducted by Barnes et al. (2010, 2012) found that administrative caseloads of 400+ lowrisk offenders had no significant impact on the rate of recidivism for this population. This suggests that the low-risk population can largely be left alone, an assumption agencies have embraced to reduce workload. However, the question remains: does this make sense? Can an agency responsible for supervising justice involved people in the community simply leave low-risk offenders alone? This thesis project attempts to answer this question by exploring the factors that influence supervision outcomes for the low-risk population supervised by the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency in Washington, D.C. Case and offender-level characteristics were analyzed to examine the supervision outcomes of this population. Logistic regression results found that low-risk offenders on parole or supervised release were over 11 times more likely to end supervision unsuccessfully than low-risk probationers. Results also show that low-risk offenders who incurred a rearrest during their supervision term were over 43 times more likely to be removed from low-risk supervision altogether, regardless of case type. Findings indicate that differences between low-risk offenders do exist and influence supervision outcomes. This encourages discussion as to whether or not administrative management of this population should be reconsidered.


Simultaneous escape routing on dense circuit boards is a very challenging task and a great amount of manual effort is still needed in order to achieve high routability. In this paper, we present a new simultaneous escape routing algorithm which is based upon a novel boundary routing approach. Our algorithm can solve complicated escape problems in a very short time. For a set of industrial escape problems, our algorithm successfully solved all of them while Cadence Allegro PCB router was only able to complete the routing of half of the problems. In addition, we propose a clustering strategy targeting at large escape routing problems. Experimental results show that this clustering strategy can significantly cut down the runtime of our router when solving large problems.


An experimental study is conducted on the cooling of portable electronic devices using PCM-based heat sinks. The design uses different aluminum heat sinks filled with n-eicosane to store and dissipate the generated heat. The temperature profiles at three different power levels, (i.e. 3 W, 4 W and 5 W) for three different positions (i.e. horizontally, vertically and inclined at 45° to the horizontal) are measured. In addition, the surface temperature of each setup is captured with a thermal imager. The experimental results indicate that the PCM-based heat sinks can be used to effectively manage the temperature of portable electronic devices. Based on this finding, mathematical models are currently being developed to facilitate the optimal designs of PCM-based heat sinks.


The connective matrix of 17 surgically excised mitral complexes from patients with clinical diagnosis of rheumatic carditis was evaluated by semi-quantitative histopathological, immunohistochemical and ultrastructural parameters. Different and concomitant patterns of loose and dense fibrosis were observed with variable constitution and organization of collagen I, III, IV, procollagen III, laminin, fibronectin and elastin. Loose fibrosis exhibited codistribution of all matrix components, Initial phase of fibrosis was characterized by deposition of all matrix components organized in a network pattern. In dense fibrosis a parallel disposition of type I collagen bundles predominated. In the denser (hyalin) fibrosis, the collagen exhibited abnormalities in fiber diameters and in fiber conformation (hyperfibers) and there was reduction or disappearance of other matrix components. The presence of these different kinds of connective matrix and the ultrastructural alterations in collagen fibers are associated to different stages of fibrosis organization and probably reflect changes in collagen susceptibility to degradation. These morphologic patterns may be related to the evolution (stability or reversibility) of rheumatic sequelae.


OBJECTIVE Patients with diabetic erectile dysfunction often have severe endothelial dysfunction and respond poorly to oral phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors. We examined the effectiveness of the potent angiopoietin-1 (Ang1) variant, cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP)-Ang1, in promoting cavernous endothelial regeneration and restoring erectile function in diabetic animals. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Four groups of mice were used: controls; streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mice; STZ-induced diabetic mice treated with repeated intracavernous injections of PBS; and STZ-induced diabetic mice treated with COMP-Ang1 protein (days −3 and 0). Two and 4 weeks after treatment, we measured erectile function by electrical stimulation of the cavernous nerve. The penis was harvested for histologic examinations, Western blot analysis, and cGMP quantification. We also performed a vascular permeability test. RESULTS Local delivery of the COMP-Ang1 protein significantly increased cavernous endothelial proliferation, endothelial nitric oxide (NO) synthase (NOS) phosphorylation, and cGMP expression compared with that in the untreated or PBS-treated STZ-induced diabetic group. The changes in the group that received COMP-Ang1 restored erectile function up to 4 weeks after treatment. Endothelial protective effects, such as marked decreases in the expression of p47phox and inducible NOS, in the generation of superoxide anion and nitrotyrosine, and in the number of apoptotic cells in the corpus cavernosum tissue, were noted in COMP-Ang1–treated STZ-induced diabetic mice. An intracavernous injection of COMP-Ang1 completely restored endothelial cell-cell junction proteins and decreased cavernous endothelial permeability. COMP-Ang1–induced promotion of cavernous angiogenesis and erectile function was abolished by the NOS inhibitor, N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester, but not by the NADPH oxidase inhibitor, apocynin. CONCLUSIONS These findings support the concept of cavernous endothelial regeneration by use of the recombinant Ang1 protein as a curative therapy for diabetic erectile dysfunction.


The paper attempts to discover a city's global, direct beam, and diffused solar radiation with the help of known solar radiation of its neighbor(s). Two distinctive architecture have been used to find the solar radiation of a city. In the first architecture, we used single input and a single hidden layer of the neuron to find the solar radiation of the city. The solar radiation of Lahore, Multan, and Quetta was found via the solar radiation of Karachi. In the second architecture scheme, we used three inputs and ten neurons' hidden layers to find the solar radiation of a city in the region bounded by three cities lying at the vertices of a triangle. Multan was assumed as such an area; its neighboring cities, Lahore, Quetta, and Karachi, form a triangle, and Multan lies inside the triangle area. In both architectures, three types of solar radiation, DSR, BSR, and GSR, were found with an accuracy of 99.8 %. The coefficient of determination in each case was 0.99. It shows that the results obtained through ANN models agree well with the known values.


Purpose The current study investigated the association between bicultural identity integration (BII, incorporating BII-harmony and BII-blendedness), national identity, and anxiety related to Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) among ethnic minority college students. In addition, this research examined the mediation role of power values in the relationship between BII, national identity, and COVID-19-related anxiety. Methods This cross-sectional research design made use of online surveys. Using convenience sampling, participants comprised 235 Chinese ethnic minority college students drawn from four colleges in the ethnic minority autonomous regions of China. Data were collected during June 2020. Participants mainly lived in ethnic minority communities or villages in southwest China before receiving higher education at urban campuses. Results Correlation analysis revealed that BII-harmony, BII-blendedness, and national identity were significantly negatively correlated with COVID-19-related anxiety. Mediation model analysis showed that power values were significantly positively correlated with COVID-19-related anxiety. Power values play a mediating role in the relationship between BII-harmony, national identity, and COVID-19-related anxiety, and have an inhibitory effect on this relationship. Conclusion Our findings indicate that BII-harmony and national identity could have the function of protecting ethnic minority college students from COVID-19-related anxiety. Emphasizing individualistic personal power values could increase COVID-19-related anxiety, whereas a collectivist identity reduces anxiety. These findings could provide another perspective on psychological interventions to reduce anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic.


In the course of development of the mouse embryo prosencephalon, the walls of the dorsal and ventral telodiencephalic sulci fuse along their ependymal surfaces. This study is based on 1 mu semithin sections of the prosencephalon and on ultrathin sections of the fusion zone of mice of 13 days postconception. Ultrathin sections of the rostral part of the fusion zone present two rows of junctions (maculae adhaerentes) in opposition belonging to each of the two walls. On either side of these rows of junctions is found a row of cells, many in various stages of mitosis. In the caudal part of the fusion zone, intercellular spaces are wide and are occupied by numerous cytoplasmic prolongations that present mitochondria, granular endoplasmic reticula, and Golgi apparatus. Many of these prolongations establish contacts between themselves and with the cell bodies.


Purpose of review The incidence of hospital-acquired legionellosis appears to be increasing. Presence of Legionella in the hospital drinking water is the only risk factor known with certainty to be predictive of risk for contracting Legionnaires' disease. Recent findings Given the high frequency of infection by nonpneumophila and nonserogroup 1 species, both Legionella respiratory culture on selective media and urine antigen testing should be available in the hospital clinical microbiology laboratory. If the drinking water is contaminated by nonpneumophila or nonserogroup 1 species, Legionella culture on selective media must be available for patients with hospital-acquired pneumonia. The impact of PCR application for environmental water specimen remains to be elucidated. Its advantage is that it is a rapid test and its weakness is its low specificity. Copper–silver ionization disinfection and point-of-use (POU) filters have proved effective. Chlorine dioxide and monochloramine are under evaluation and their ultimate role remains to be elucidated. Routine Legionella cultures in concert with disinfectant levels are the best indicators for ensuring long-term efficacy. Percentage distal site positivity for Legionella in drinking water is accurate in predicting risk. Quantitative criteria (CFU/ml) have proven inaccurate and should be abandoned. Summary Infection control professionals, not healthcare facility personnel or engineers, should play the leadership role in selecting and evaluating the specific disinfection modality. Proactive measures of routine environmental cultures for hospital water and disinfection modalities allow for effective prevention of this high-profile hospital-acquired infection.


Concerns have been raised about the safety of the electromagnetic (microwave) emissions of radars, as well as about the ionizing radiation that is emitted on short distances (<2 m) by devices in the radars producing the microwaves. We retrospectively compared the cause specific mortality of 4,417 Belgian professional male military personnel who served in anti‐aircraft radar units in Germany between 1963 and 1994 to the cause specific mortality of 2,932 Belgian military personnel who served at the same time in the same place in battalions not equipped with radars. Mean follow‐up was 26 years in the 2 groups. Age‐adjusted rate ratio (RR) and 95% confidence intervals were derived from a Poisson regression model. Four hundred twenty‐four deaths in the battalions groups and 271 deaths in the control battalions occurred (RR = 1.04 (0.96–1.14)). For specific causes of deaths, RRs were 1.22 (1.03–1.47) for neoplasms and 3.51 (1.19–10.3) for symptoms, signs and ill defined conditions. RRs for other causes of death were not significantly different from 1.00. Among deaths from neoplasms, RR for hemolymphatic cancer was 7.22 (1.09–47.9). RRs for other causes of cancer deaths were not significantly different from 1.00. The results for specific tumor types were all based on very small numbers. The RR for cancer increased with decreasing age and suggested that the RR for cancer increased with the duration of stay in radar battalions. In conclusion, exposure of professional military personnel to anti‐aircraft radars that existed in Western Europe from the 1960s until the 1990s may have resulted in an increase in the incidence of hemolymphatic cancers. It remains to be established whether this increase is due to microwaves generated by radars or ionizing radiation produced by electronic devices producing the microwaves. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.


For pt.I see ibid., vol.10, p.882-7 (1992). A theoretical approach for calculating the optical characteristics of single-mode fiber-optic couplers with an intermediate planar waveguiding layer in an equivalent planar geometry by coupled mode theory and an approximation of a fiber curvature by subdividing the structure into a great number of parallel sections is suggested. In this way the mechanism of light transfer from first to second coupler channel is investigated. It is shown that for some parameters of the coupler a part of optical power remains in the intermediate layer, i.e. losses arise in the coupler. >


Abstract The management of the normal appearing appendix during laparoscopy for right fossa syndrome remains a matter of debate when no other cause is found. Recent data suggest that the appendix modulates both the normal brain-gut axis and the pathophysiology of inflammatory bowel disease by neuro-immunological pathways. Recurrence of symptoms caused by acute appendicitis is uncommon when the appendix is left in place. The decision to remove a normal appendix should therefore not be taken lightly, but after consideration of the patient's age, medical history and expectations as well as the timing and specificity of the presenting symptoms. An overview of the relevant literature is provided with an algorithm to aid in clinical decision making.


The FDC (Flow Dynamics Conveyer) has often been used in power plants and iron works because of its superiority in low noise and power compared with roller type conveyers. The FDC consists of a trough and a belt, and the air is supplied from a series of holes provided on the trough. However, large vibrations occur when the flow rate reaches a certain value. This abnormal vibration is defined to be self-excited vibration caused by leakage flow. In this study, as a first step, the theoretical model of a non-tapered clearance flow passage is examined and the natural frequency is calculated. In addition, experiments are conducted to examine the validity of the theory. As a second step, in the case of a tapered clearance flow passage, a concentrated load is added to the belt. The effects of the belt deformation, the flow rate, and the added loads on the clearance flow are examined along with considering the generation mechanism of the abnormal vibration. As a result, it was clarified that the generation mechanism of the self-extracted vibration was due to the phase shift by a change in parameters.


─Abstract ─ In a diverse learning environment, students' involvement in leisure activities may be influenced by different factors. This study aims to assess the effect of sociodemographic characteristics on different factors of leisure satisfaction among undergraduate university students. A self-administered questionnaire, based on leisure satisfaction scare, was used to collect data from a randomly selected sample of 443 undergraduate students from a South African university. Descriptive statistics, correlation analysis and multiple linear regressions were used to test how self-reported leisure satisfaction is influenced by factors such as family environment; socio-economic status, school or academic environment, contextual and other demographic factors such as age and gender. Findings of this study revealed that students' age, monthly expenditure, the size of a student's household, level of dependence on parents and level of study significantly affected the leisure satisfaction; whereas factors such as race, place of residence during the school term, mode of transport to school and the student's academic discipline had no significant influence on leisure satisfaction. The results from this study may assist in developing strategies to improve students' lives in a diverse environment within the institutions of higher learning.


The COICO, mol ratio has been used to estimate CO generation for hazard assessment in some room fire models. For better estimation of CO, more detailed usage of the COIC02 ratio and more experimental data on their values seem required. COICO, mol ratios in the literature, measured using small-scale apparatuses and in large-scale experiments, were reviewed. The ratios for different materials at different fire conditions were experimentally measured using an oxygen depletion OSU apparatus and cone calorimeter. COICO, mol ratios depended on fuel types and fire conditions, but for a type of fuel in one mode of combustion, the ratio was fairly stable. It is suggested to apply different COICO, values to each fuel block for each stage of combustion in a fire modelling to estimate the CO generation.


This article peeling Amin Abdullah's thinking about integration and interconnection methods in studying religion. Amin Abdullah has a great project to reconcile between religion and science as part of an attempt to break the deadlock of the problems of the present. So from a variety of scientific disciplines was not just to a single entity attitude (arrogance of science: the only one that feels most right), isolated entities (of various scientific disciplines happen "isolation" , no scolds greet each other), but rather to the interconnected entities (aware of the limitations of their respective disciplines, resulting in mutual cooperation and is willing to use his methods even though it comes from another clump of science). With the model of integration and interconnection, Amin Abdullah has been able to show that the religious sciences can greet each other with other general sciences, because in essence is one. That science is beneficial for human beneficiaries.


In recent times, there has been a significant rise of Hindutva ideology in India. Hindu nationalists argue that India should become a 'Hindu nation'. As a result, there has been a significant increase in anti-Muslim rhetoric and growing intolerance towards minorities. In some ways, Hindu nationalism, as a political ideology, guides the ruling nationalist party BJP in the national politics. The introduction of the Citizenship Amendment Act and the subsequent normalization-of-hate, which culminated into horrific Delhi riots, enable one to rethink on the question of understanding Hindutva just as an ideology. In this paper, I have outlined the process through which a Hindutva narrative has been created. I have argued that there is an emergence of a new form of community, known as 'visualized communities,' which are created based on an individual's affinity for a particular narrative. In this paper, I will attempt to connect the concept of narratives and visualized communities in relation to Hindu nationalism.


A 20-year-old woman consulted for severe hypertension which revealed aneurismal stenosing fibrodysplasia of the renal arteries. The diagnosis was established by duplex Doppler which visualized tight stenosis of the distal portion of the right renal artery and the proximal portion of the left, associated with aneurismal lesions downstream from the strictures (1.8 cm on the right and 1.3 cm on the left). The lesions were highly suggestive of fibrodysplasia and were confirmed by magnetic resonance angiography. Endoluminal revascularization was undertaken because of the severe hypertension and the presence of arterial lesions. Revascularization was unsuccessful and severe hypertension persisted. Surgery was performed in two stages. The first procedure consisted in resection of the left aneurismal lesion with aortorenal internal saphene bypass. Secondarily, exclusion of the right aneurysm was performed with cure of the stricture by extracorporal renal surgery with anastomosis of the renal artery to the aorta and the renal vein to the vena cava. Clinical outcome was favorable. Angioscan and duplex Doppler controls at three and six months confirmed the anatomic success of the revascularization. Aneurysm of the renal artery, like renal artery stenotic dysplasia, is a rare but probably underestimated condition due to insufficient screening. This diagnosis should be entertained in hypertensive young women. There is risk of rupture of the aneurysm. Aneurysmal lesions can be associated with renal artery stenosis which usually involves a short segment of the artery, as in our case. Renal aneurysms should be treated when one of the following elements is present: aneurysm measuring more than 20 mm, progressing aneurysm, dissection, discovery in a patient with a renal risk (single kidney, renal insufficiency), desire for pregnancy, severe hypertension recently discovered in a young subject associated with dysplastic stenosis, isolated aneurysm associated with recent severe hypertension, as reported here.


We are all researchers, practitioners, and educators – but many of us are also artists, makers, curators. Our arts practice is part of what makes up our sense of self, but also influences our interests and directions in digital and technological enquiry. There exist spaces where the traditional lives alongside the computational, or where the two are blended, no less valid in purpose or value. We seek to investigate this liminal environment, and explore the current state of art in HCI, computer science and other related fields, shifting boundaries as to what "art" is in these spaces. By bringing together like-minded and creative individuals, this workshop aims to both inspire and legitimise our diverse practices, present viewpoints, create meaningful outputs, host discussions, and work toward the future of this plurality.


Currently, agriculture, food production and ensuring its safety are more relevant than ever on a global scale. At the same time, the processing of agricultural products has been and remains a decisive factor affecting the efficiency of agricultural production. Being one of the most important sectors of the agricultural sector of Uzbekistan, the production of dried fruits and vegetables, the level of development of which largely determines the solution to the country's food problem, should be based on the desire to reduce the cost of dried fruit production. By analyzing the achievement of a high effect of the use of infrared radiation, the study of the heating temperature of the emitter is substantiated. The mechanism of the emitted energy of the IR spectrum, the magnitude of its duration and density are described. The cyclical nature of energy transformations, ensuring the maximum efficiency of the process, the effect, including sterilizing when drying fruits (figs and apples), is revealed. The experimentally obtained parameters of the heat treatment processes of figs and apples are presented.


User participation is the essence of social media. But participation in itself is a malleable concept. On the Web, participation models include creating and posting to an online blog, commenting on articles, editing Wikipedia, tagging, giving a star rating and pushing a thumbs-up button. Less users participate when the complexity of the required interaction increases. At the other side is what we call the expressiveness of a participation model. It describes how well users can communicate through a social medium, and how much information can be transmitted. This paper discusses these two aspects in the context of social media websites and presents our own social media system Ranqq that attempts to reside in the sweet spot where users find low barriers to participate, but still a rich way to express themselves. We discuss the metaphor of rankings lists as social object and provide some details about our system that makes use of this concept.


This is the English abstract of a book recently published by the author in Hebrew entitled 'Taxation of Barter Transaction: Theory, Combination Transactions, and Interest-Free Loans' (Tel-Aviv 2012).The book (and the attached abstract) first discusses the taxation of barter transactions from a theoretical perspective: the relationship between the taxation of barter transactions and the realization principle; and the identification, classification, and quantification of both income and expenses in barter transaction. The author presents a model to analyze the tax consequences of barter transaction, and he compares and contrasts his model to those in common usage, the 'notional income and expense model" and the 'avoided expenses' model.'Subsequent parts discuss two specific types of barter transactions. The first is known is Israel as 'combination transactions,' in which a developer constructs a building on property owned by someone else, with the developer and the landowner eventually dividing between them either the apartment units or the proceeds from their sale. The second is interest-free loans. Here the book goes a bit beyond barter transactions. While interest-free loans to service providers are barter transactions (services in exchange for use of money), gift loans and interest-free loans from corporations their shareholders or from shareholders to the corporation are not. Nevertheless, a great deal can be learned by considering the similarities and, more importantly, the differences between these various loans.


In clinical trials of long-term therapies, patients often terminate their treatments earlier than planned. When analysing time-to-failure data, one approach to account for early treatment termination censors failure at the time of termination of therapy. In general, however, this does not produce valid inferences about the distribution of time to failure that would have occurred had treatment not been terminated. In contrast, intent-to-treat analyses, which are based on time to failure regardless of whether and when treatment is terminated, always produce valid inferences about the unconditional distribution of time to failure. Early treatment termination does not distort the size (type I error rate) of intent-to-treat tests but can cause a loss in power. Modifications to ordinary logrank tests can be used to recover some of the lost power without affecting test size, and can be most useful when the proportion of at-risk patients still taking their treatment changes substantially during periods when failures are observed. Extensions of the modified test to include strata are straightforward, although important design questions require further research.


The relation between fathers' involvement in the care of their infants and their attributions of cognitive-social skills to infants was investigated in this study. 160 pairs of parents of 9-month-old infants were interviewed. On the average, fathers were available to their infants 2.75 hours per weekday and spent 45-50 min interacting with them. They performed 1 caretaking activity per day, and took sole responsibility for the infant only about once in 10 days. Results indicate that fathers who are less involved in child care attribute lesser competence to infants than relatively more involved fathers, that fathers in general attribute lesser competence to infants than mothers, and that the more involved a father is in infant care, the less difference there is between his attributions and those of his wife's. These results raise the possibility that involvement in care and perception of infants as cognitively competent are mutually reinforcing.


In affective computing applications, access to labeled spontaneous affective data is essential for testing the designed algorithms under naturalistic and challenging conditions. Most databases available today are acted or do not contain audio data. We present a spontaneous audio-visual affective face database of affective and mental states. The video clips in the database are obtained by recording the subjects from the frontal view using a stereo camera and from the half-profile view using a mono camera. The subjects are first shown a sequence of images and short video clips, which are not only meticulously fashioned but also timed to evoke a set of emotions and mental states. Then, they express their ideas and feelings about the images and video clips they have watched in an unscripted and unguided way in Turkish. The target emotions, include the six basic ones (happiness, anger, sadness, disgust, fear, surprise) as well as boredom and contempt. We also target several mental states, which are unsure (including confused, undecided), thinking, concentrating, and bothered. Baseline experimental results on the BAUM-1 database show that recognition of affective and mental states under naturalistic conditions is quite challenging. The database is expected to enable further research on audio-visual affect and mental state recognition under close-to-real scenarios.


ABSTRACT Objective: Hemipelvectomy is a complex surgery with a high complication rate. Here, we aimed to identify factors related to the onset of complications and calculate their impacts on hospital costs. Methods: We evaluated 31 consecutive patients who underwent hemipelvectomy between 1999 and 2015. We assessed the clinical and radiographic data to determine the patients' demographic factors, tumor and surgical characteristics, and complications. The individual hospital stays and financial balances were assessed up to 6 months following the index surgery. Results: The overall complication rate was 61% (19/31). Infection was the most prevalent complication (36%). Immediate postoperative death occurred in 5/31 patients (16%); another 5 (16%) died after hospital discharge due to disease progression. Histological grade, previous surgery, and previous radiotherapy were not associated with complications or infection. Acetabular resections, bone reconstruction, and longer operative times were associated with infection, whereas older age, pelvic organ involvement, and comorbidities were associated with immediate postoperative death. Complications and infection were associated with 4.8- and 5.9-fold increases in hospital costs, respectively. Conclusions: Acetabular resection and bone reconstruction are important factors that increase short-term complication rates, infection rates, and hospital costs. Mortality was associated with older age and adjacent pelvic tumor progression. Level of Evidence: IV, case series.


Foot and ankle surgeons are frequently challenged by the devastating systemic consequences of diabetes mellitus manifested through neuropathy, integumentary and joint breakdown, delayed healing, decreased ability to fight infection, and fragile tendon/ligaments. Diabetic neuropathic pedal ulcerations lead to amputations at an alarming rate and also carry a high mortality rate. This article will discuss causes of diabetic pedal ulcerations that persist or recur after tendo-Achilles lengthening and will highlight areas that need to be addressed by the practitioner such as infection, vascular and nutritional status, glucose control, off-loading, biomechanics, and patient compliance.


The birds were developed to be 16 groups (4 groups of TT and 4 groups of RR, with male and female lines, respectively). The mating was conducted between similar groups of population (TT vs. TT, and RR vs. RR) to obtain second generation. The change in metabolism such as Ca– ATPase activity and Nô–methylhistidine (Nô–MH), also selection response between generations were analyzed. Parameters of metabolism were subjected to statistical analysis of T-test to compare between productions characteristic (TT and RR), especially for second generation. Body weight was also statistically analyzed by the same method. Selection response in TT group (3.10% or 2.74%) was higher than that in RR group (1.20% or 1.13%). Metabolism aspect in the quails of second generation either rate of protein turnover or activity of bone Ca-ATPase enzyme showed the change toward the productivity specification. Rate of muscle protein synthesis was higher and enzyme activity of Ca-ATPase was lower in group of TT population than those in group of RR population.


This study explores the gender differences III online metacognitive reading strategy use among ESL university students while reading academic texts. The sample consisted of 80 male and 80 female Semester Two Diploma in Communication and Media Studies students, from the Faculty of Communication and Media Studies in UiTM Alor Gajah. Firstly, this study investigates the online metacognitive reading strategies used by male and female students in UiTM Alor Gajah while reading academic texts in terms of types and frequency. Secondly, it examines the differences in the use of online metacognitive reading strategies between male and female in terms of types and frequency. This research study is a non-experimental cross sectional survey design. The independent variable is the gender of the participants and the dependent variable is the metacognitive awareness as measured by the Online Survey of Reading Strategies (OSORS) developed by Neil J. Anderson (2003) which comprised three sub-categories, namely global reading strategies (18 items), problem-solving strategies (11 items), and support strategies (9 items). The research questions were examined using quantitative data analysis which includes the descriptive statistics (Means and Standard Deviations) and the inferential statistics namely one-way repeated measures (within subjects) ANOVA, the Post-Hoc Bonferroni Adjusted Pairwise Comparison of Means test, as well as the Independent Samples T-tests. The findings indicated that male and female students use all the problem-solving strategies with high frequency and all the global and support strategies with moderate frequency. Male students used problem-solving strategies with the highest frequency followed by global strategies and then support strategies, while female students used problem-solving strategies with the highest frequency followed by both global strategies and support strategies with similar frequency. Next, there were no statistically significant differences in the frequency of use of the overall, global, problemsolving and support strategies between male and female students. However, among the 38 individual strategies used, male students used 2 strategies with significantly higher frequency than female students which are problem-solving and global strategies. Female students used only I individual strategy with significantly higher frequency than male students which is a support strategy. This study also discusses the pedagogical implications, limitations, and suggestions for future study.


Magnesium nitride (Mg3N2) has gained extensive attention due to its catalytic and optoelectronic properties. The present investigation was aimed to evaluate the effect of biofield energy treatment on physical and thermal properties of Mg3N2 powder. The Mg3N2 powder was divided into two parts i.e. control and treated. The control part was remained as untreated and the treated part was subjected to the Mr. Trivedi's biofield energy treatment. Subsequently, the control and treated Mg3N2 samples were characterized using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The DSC results showed the specific heat capacity of 2.24 Jg-1°C-1 in control, which increased upto 5.55 Jg-1°C-1 in treated Mg3N2 sample. The TGA data revealed that the onset temperature for the formation of magnesium oxide, possibly due to oxidation of Mg3N2 in the presence of air and moisture, was reduced from 421.0°C (control) to 391.33°C in treated sample. Besides, the XRD data revealed that the lattice parameter and unit cell volume of treated Mg3N2 samples were increased by 0.20 and 0.61% respectively, as compared to the control. The shifting of all peaks toward lower Bragg angle was observed in treated sample as compared to the control. The XRD diffractogram also showed that the relative intensities of all peaks were altered in treated sample as compared to control. In addition, the density of treated Mg3N2 was reduced by 0.60% as compared to control. Furthermore, the crystallite size was significantly increased from 108.05 nm (control) to 144.04 nm in treated sample as compared to the control. Altogether data suggest that biofield energy treatment has substantially altered the physical and thermal properties of Mg3N2 powder. Thus, the biofield treatment could be applied to modulate the catalytic and optoelectronic properties of Mg3N2 for chemical and semiconductor industries. *Corresponding author: Snehasis Jana, Trivedi Science Research Laboratory Pvt. Ltd., Hall-A, Chinar Mega Mall, Chinar Fortune City, Hoshangabad Rd., Bhopal-462026, Madhya Pradesh, India, Tel: +91-755-6660006; E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com Received September 14, 2015; Accepted October 21, 2015; Published October 23, 2015 Citation: Trivedi MK, Tallapragada RM, Branton A, Trivedi D, Nayak G, et al. (2015) Evaluation of Thermal and Physical Properties of Magnesium Nitride Powder: Impact of Biofield Energy Treatment. Ind Eng Manage 4: 177. doi:10.4172/21690316.1000177 Copyright: © 2015 Trivedi MK, et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.


We reported recently that the neuropeptides vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) protect CD4+ T cells against Ag-induced apoptosis by down-regulating the expression of Fas ligand (FasL). Because the cytotoxic activity of CD8+ CTLs is mediated through two mechanisms, which involve the perforin/granzyme and the FasL/Fas pathways, in this study we investigated the effects of VIP/PACAP on the generation and activity of allogeneic CTLs, of CD8+ T1 and T2 effector cells and of alloreactive peritoneal exudate cytotoxic T cells (PEL) generated in vivo. VIP/PACAP did not affect perforin/granzyme-mediated cytotoxicity, perforin gene expression, or granzyme B enzymatic activity, but drastically inhibited FasL/Fas-mediated cytotoxicity against allogeneic or syngeneic Fas-bearing targets. VIP/PACAP inhibit CTL generation, but not the activity of competent CTLs. The inhibition is associated with a profound down-regulation of FasL expression, and these effects are mediated through both VPAC1 and VPAC2 receptors. VIP/PACAP inhibit the FasL/Fas-mediated cytotoxicity of T1 effectors and do not affect T2 cytotoxicity, which is entirely perforin/granzyme mediated. Similar effects were observed in vivo. Both the FasL/Fas-mediated cytotoxicity and FasL expression of cytotoxic allogeneic PELs generated in vivo in the presence of VIP or PACAP were significantly reduced. We conclude that, similar to their effect on CD4+ T cells, the two structurally related neuropeptides inhibit FasL expression in CD8+ cytotoxic T cells and the subsequent lysis of Fas-bearing target cells.


An informed (potential) plaintiff can demand a payment from an uninformed (potential) defendant with the threat of a law suit that may not be credible. The communication takes place before the law suit is filed and is costless to both sides. A unique equilibrium that satisfies the intuitive criterion exists and exhibits partial pooling—cases below a cutoff of legal damage reach pre-litigation settlement, while those above are filed for suit. This equilibrium offers an explanation for the distinctive behaviors of litigation PAEs who aggressively file law suits for settlements and portfolio PAEs who obtain licensing revenues through pre-litigation settlements. Among other results, we shows that, in the US legal system, increasing a plaintiff's legal costs or adopting the fee-shifting rule reduces the number of filed law suits while risking driving more cases toward pre-litigation settlements. Surprisingly, reducing a defendant's legal costs or increasing trial costs has the opposite effects. He A Theory of Pre-litigation Settlement 2017


The current research deals with the synthesis and validation of the novel Ag-eugenol nanoemulsion (O/W). The synthesized Ag-eugenol nanoemulsion was validated by DLS, TEM, FT-IR, UV–VIS spectral analysis; TEM reveals the particles an average size of 30 nm and SEM images confirm spherical morphology of particles. Zeta potential measurements, presented a negative average zeta potential of − 25 mV. EDX analysis showed typical absorption peaks at 0.25 keV and 3 keV that confirm the presence of AgNPs. Elemental mapping of Ag-eugenol nanoemulsion confirms the presence of silver, eugenol moiety and the AgNPs are nucleated by eugenol moiety. Eugenol, eugenol nanoemulsion (5 µg/ml), AgNPs (25 ppm) and Ag-eugenol nanoemulsion (12.5 ppm AgNPs: eugenol 2.5 µg/ml) solutions were tested for their antimicrobial potency against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, and Proteus vulgaris. Ag-eugenol nanoemulsion was effective against both tested fungi; A. fumigatus and C. albicans with MIC 12.5:2.5 ppm:µg/ml and 6.25:1.25 ppm:µg/ml, respectively, comparing to a negative effect of eugenol nanoemulsion.


BackgroundAlthough evidence suggests that cardiorespiratory fitness is the most important component associated with future health, little is known of how it is associated with multiple other physical fitness components. Since various physical fitness aspects do not change the same as cardiorespiratory fitness during childhood, it is necessary to establish possible associations between cardiorespiratory fitness and other physical fitness components in children. Therefore, the main purpose of the study was to test the associations between cardiorespiratory fitness with motor performance and body size in 7-14-year-old children.MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, we recruited 1612 children (52.5% girls). Health-related physical fitness components included: 1) body-mass index (kg/m2) calculated from height and weight (measure of body size), 2) sit-and-reach test (measure of flexibility), 3) standing long jump (measure of explosive strength), 4) sit-ups in 30 sec (measure of repetitive strength), 5) 10x5 shuttle run test (measure of agility) and 6) 20-m shuttle run test (measure of aerobic capacity). The associations were performed using generalized estimating equations with β coefficients.ResultsAfter adjusting for age, cardiorespiratory fitness was associated with sit-and-reach test (β=0.13, p<0.001), standing long jump (β=0.59, p<0.001), sit-ups in 30 sec (β=0.53, p<0.001) and 10x5 shuttle run test (β=-0.56, p<0.001) in boys. In girls, cardiorespiratory fitness was associated with body-mass index (β=-0.12, p<0.001), sit-and-reach test (β=0.21, p<0.001), standing long jump (β=0.25, p<0.001), sit-ups in 30 sec (β=0.36, p<0.001) and 10x5 shuttle run test (β=-0.40, p<0.001). No significant associations between cardiorespiratory fitness and body-mass index in boys were observed.ConclusionsAlthough significant, cardiorespiratory fitness is weakly to moderately associated with other physical fitness components, pointing out that such measure should be tested separately from other aspects of physical fitness in school-aged children.


As the results of present study on plasmin in menstrual blood by means of the Fibrin-Plate Method, a large amount of plasmin as much as dilution of 1: 100 or 1:1,000 of the menstrual blood serum, has been found in a natural form and it is deduced that the incoagulability of menstrual blood is the result of the plasmin formation in the same blood serum. Further, it has been recognized that this plasmin is found in a rather large quantity in the blood of the second menstrual day and it is decreased by the fifth day. In addition, the plasmin of menstrual blood is contained in the globulin fraction of the same serum, especially markedly in β-globulin fraction. On the other hand, it has also been clarified that in the circulating blood during menstruation no plasmin is present in natural state and that a large quantity of inactive plasminogen still exists in menstrual blood.


Suitable measures of health and morbidity are less readily available for children than they are for adults. We present a measure, which is used to describe the impact of impairment and disability on the lives of children with cerebral palsy and their families. The development of this measure involved data collected from 691 children with cerebral palsy contained within the North-East England Cerebral Palsy Register and born between 1960 and 1985. Uniquely, multidimensional scaling techniques were used to derive dimensions analogous with those described in the International Classification of Impairments, Disabilities, and Handicaps. We present the analyses undertaken to test the properties of the tool, which show that it is a reliable and valid measure of the disadvantages experienced by children with cerebral palsy.


The central problem addressed in this article is the friction that may arise between EU legislation and subsequent developments that were unforeseen at the time the legislation was created. This problem is viewed through the lens of one such development, namely the remarkable comeback that wolf (Canis lupus) populations have been staging across Europe in recent years. Aided by legal protection, these large carnivores are returning to regions and countries from which they have long been absent, creating fresh legal challenges in the process. This article identifies and analyzes several concrete issues where there is an apparent mismatch between current wolf conservation and management needs on the ground and the phrasing or interpretation of relevant provisions in the 1992 EU Habitats Directive. These problems can be traced back, at least in part, to the fact that the current wolf comeback was unforeseen at the time the Directive was drawn up. The article thus provides an intriguing illustration of the slightly paradoxical notion that a development actually aimed for in EU legislation ± the recovery of European wolf populations ± can still come as a surprise.


Back ground: Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a common chronic musculo-skeletal disorder resulting in chronic widespread pain impacting on quality life.Objectives: To assess the relationship between FMS and knee osteoarthritis (KOA) and to evaluate the predictors of this relationship if present.Patients and Methods: One hundred Iraqi KOA patients and 100 healthy controls were included in this cross-sectional study. Full history was taken and complete clinical examination was done for all patients. Baseline characteristics [age, sex, duration, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, family history (Hx) of KOA, smoking history, and drug history.] were also documented. Laboratory analysis included complete blood count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), thyroid stimulation hormone, serum calcium, serum alkaline phosphatase, serum phosphate, and anti-nuclear antibody were done for all patients. X-rays of both Knees was taken for patients and was graded according Kellgren and Lawrence scale. The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria for classification and reporting osteoarthritis of the knees were applied on both groups. Individuals in both groups were assessed for FMS and the American College of Rheumatology 1990 Criteria for fibromyalgia were applied for both groups. Comparative statistics were done using Chi square test for categorical variables and students' independent 2 samples (t) test for continuous variables.Results: FMS was present in 26 of 100(26%) KOA patients compared to 7(75%) of 100 of controls [odd ratio (OR)=4.6(95% CI(1.92-11.35),p=0.001]. Frequencies of associated features (headache, sleep disturbances, fatigue, depression, anxiety, and parasthesia) were significantly more in patients than that of controls (P<0.05). Longer duration of KOA, higher waist circumference, and positive family Hx of FMS were significant associates with FMS in the patient group (P<0.05). However no significant association was found with age, sex, BMI, grade of KOA, drugs taken marital status, and increased ESR.Conclusions: FMS was significantly increased in Iraqi patients with KOA compared to controls. Longer disease duration of KOA, large waist circumference and family history of FMS were significant predictors.


Elemental identification of material is a prime most important in material science field. Electric discharge is used for material elemental identification with optical emission spectroscopy. During electric discharge machining between two electrodes plasma is generated which emits intense radiation in the UV-Visible region. The generated plasma captured by optical emission spectroscopic technique and elements are identified from recorded spectra by matching with standard NIST database. This method is simple, rapid, and inexpensive compared to all other elemental identification method. The elements of the metal, semiconductors, even insulators can be identified without much difficulty. The elemental identification of material has been investigated in macro and micro level.


It is believed that the effectiveness and efficiency of school administration can be enhanced in a privatized system of education.  However, such belief is narrowly based on studies on school choice and such impact on the quality of teaching and learning.  The issue of staff management in understanding school administration is essentially overlooked.  Using Macao as a case study for illustration and drawing on data from a qualitative study, this paper seeks to argue that school administration against a specific context of privatization can actually contribute to the unprofessionalism of teachers.  The study illustrates that staff management should not be merely taken at an individual level as an interpersonal issue about trust or a matter of conflict management, but should be understood against a wider context, and also shows that schools in a privatized system of education are not necessarily effective or efficient in managing their staff.


Since the 1990s, many governments in middle and low-income countries have used conditional cash transfers to alleviate poverty. However, the evidence of the electoral consequences of this type of anti-poverty intervention remains inconclusive. Do voters reward politicians when they implement conditional cash transfers? This study conducts a meta-analysis using a sample of 10 randomized controlled trials and regression discontinuity designs (35 estimates from six countries in Latin America and Asia) to address this question. The result shows a positive effect of conditional cash transfers on voter support for the incumbents and no evidence of publication bias in the selected sample. Estimated effect sizes tend to be larger in observational studies, unpublished manuscripts, and articles published in political science. These results provide more conclusive evidence that poor voters also respond to non-clientelistic strategies of electoral targeting in developing countries.


Nanoparticles have been at the center of research focus as a new promising material for the treatment of cancer in recent years. Although many chemotherapy drugs for cancer treatment are available, their potential toxicity is the main point of concern. On the other hand, the conventional chemotherapeutic approach has not been found to be very efficient in colorectal cancer (CRC) as the drug molecule does not reach the target site with an effective concentration. A major challenge in cancer therapy is to destroy tumor cells without harming the normal tissue. To overcome this problem scientists are trying to use nanoparticles to directly target cancer cells for a more effective treatment and reduced toxicity. Different nanoparticles such as: liposomes, polymeric nanoparticles, dendrimers, and silica have been developed to carry a variety of anticancer agents including: cytotoxic drugs, chemo modulators, siRNA and antiangiogenic agents. This review discusses various treatments for colon cancer and the potential use of nanoparticles which facilitate targeting of cancer cells. The outlook for new treatment strategies in CRC management is also underlined.


For robots to use language effectively, they need to refer to combinations of existing concepts, as well as concepts that have been directly experienced. In this paper, we introduce the term generative grounding to refer to the establishment of shared meaning for concepts referred to using relational terms. We investigated a spatial domain, which is both experienced and constructed using mobile robots with cognitive maps. The robots, called Lingodroids, established lexicons for locations, distances, and directions through structured conversations called where-are-we, how-far, what-direction, and where-is-there conversations. Distributed concept construction methods were used to create flexible concepts, based on a data structure called a distributed lexicon table. The lexicon was extended from words for locations, termed toponyms, to words for the relational terms of distances and directions. New toponyms were then learned using these relational operators. Effective grounding was tested by using the new toponyms as targets for go-to games, in which the robots independently navigated to named locations. The studies demonstrate how meanings can be extended from grounding in shared physical experiences to grounding in constructed cognitive experiences, giving the robots a language that refers to their direct experiences, and to constructed worlds that are beyond the here-and-now.


Simian vacuolating virus 40(SV40)belongs to polyoma virus and is a DNA tumor virus.The natural hosts for SV40 are species of Asian macaque monkeys, especially the rhesus (Maccaca mulatta). SV40 can cause widespread infections leading to acutely pathological changes and long-term virus schleping in healthy monkeys. SV40 was shown to be tumorigenic in rodents and was able to transform many types of cells in culture. This work represented the first description of inactivated SV40 by beta-propiolactone and evaluated its immunogenic properties in mice. This work was a primary attempt to tackle SV40 infection and spread has made it ready to further investigate the immunological characteristics of the inactivated virus in monkeys and provided a foundation for vaccine development against SV40.


Simultaneous reduction of Cr(VI) to Cr(III) and oxidation of As(III) to As(V) is a promising pretreatment process for the removal of chromium and arsenic from acid aqueous solution. In this work, the synergistic redox conversion of Cr(VI) and As(III) was efficiently achieved in a three-dimensional electrocatalytic reactor with synthesized AuPd/CNTs particles as electrocatalysts. The AuPd/CNTs facilitated the exposure of active Pd{111} facets and possessed an approximate two-electron-transfer pathway of oxygen reduction with the highly efficient formation of H2O2 as end product, resulting in the electrocatalytic reduction of 97.2 ± 2.4% of Cr(VI) and oxidation of 95.7 ± 4% of As(III). The electrocatalytic reduction of Cr(VI) was significantly accelerated prior to the electrocatalytic oxidation of As(III), and the effectiveness of Cr(VI)/As(III) conversion was favored at increased currents from 20 to 150 mA, decreased initial pH from 7 to 1 and concentrations of Cr(VI) and As(III) ranging from 50 to 1 mg/L. The crucial intermediates of Cr(V) and As(IV) and active free radicals HO(•) and O2(•-) were found for the first time, whose roles in the control of Cr(VI)/As(III) redox conversion were proposed. Finally, the potential applicability of AuPd/CNTs was revealed by their stability in electrocatalytic conversion over 10 cycles.


We address this question by examining the conditional dynamics of inflation and output growth in response to markup shocks for 14 industrialized countries. Markup shocks create a trade-off between output gap and inflation stabilization purposes, and the theory predicts that conditional on such shocks output growth should be more volatile than inflation in inflation targeting countries. Data suggest no differences between targeting and non-targeting countries in the post 1990s. Moreover, we document a similar increase in the conditional relative variability of output growth after the adoption of inflation targeting for both groups of countries. We argue that changes in the conduct of monetary policy can explain this pattern. JEL classification: E31, E42, E58


Purpose of Review: Neuroprognostication following cardiac arrest is a common and challenging dilemma for neurologists and intensivists, complicated by the use of therapeutic hypothermia and targeted temperature management. Great advances have been made in understanding the mechanisms of disorders of consciousness in hypoxic-ischemic brain injury, and new diagnostic and therapeutic avenues are arising. Recent Findings: In the era of therapeutic hypothermia and targeted temperature management, traditional clinical signs, electrophysiologic findings, and chemical biomarkers have now become questionable or variable, and the proper time for diagnostic and prognostic testing has become murky. Although the value of absent pupillary and corneal reflexes remains fairly robust, the presence of myoclonic status epilepticus and a motor response of extensor posturing or worse no longer appear to have acceptable false-positive rates. Somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEPs), thought to be the most reliable ancillary test for predicting prognosis, have recently been the subject of several reports showing unexpectedly good outcome in the face of absent cortical responses. The presence or absence of reactivity on EEG appears to be a promising prognostic sign, and aggressive treatment of seizures (and even status epilepticus) may lead to better than expected outcomes. Serum biomarkers that were previously felt to be valid, such as elevated neuron-specific enolase, have been drawn into question owing to multiple reports of patient survival with good outcome despite highly elevated levels. Advanced EEG and neuroimaging techniques, particularly looking at functional connectivity and underlying neuronal pathways, are giving great insights to the underlying mechanisms of disease and potential therapeutic targets. Summary: Predicting neurologic prognosis following cardiac arrest is an evolving field, with new prognostic methods and reevaluation of older techniques holding great promise for advancing our ability to predict outcome and improve patient care.


Purpose of review The prognostic utility of midtreatment fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (18F-FDG PET) has become widely appreciated in aggressive B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and, more recently, in Hodgkin's lymphoma. Outcomes based on midtreatment FDG PET performed during primary and salvage therapy are reviewed and management strategies considered, with a focus on treatment intensification for poor-risk disease as identified by metabolic imaging. Recent findings PET, when performed after as few as two cycles of primary chemotherapy, is strongly prognostic in certain aggressive lymphomas and provides information independently from validated prognostic indices. What constitutes a positive or negative scan is not always clear, particularly if there is minimal tracer uptake, and the causes of false positive and false negative scans must be considered. How to tailor therapy based on the midtreatment PET result is the focus of current trials and is presently being defined for both Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Summary Early PET has the strong potential to improve clinical outcomes by sparing good-risk patients from overly aggressive treatments, and by more accurately identifying poor-risk patients so as to guide changes in management. Treatment modifications on the basis of midtreatment PET are presently best made in clinical trial settings.


THE QUALITY of medical care is determined by two main factors: the quality of the decisions that determine what actions are taken and the quality with which those actions are executed—what to do and how to do it. If the wrong actions are chosen, no matter how skillfully they are executed, the quality of care will suffer. Similarly, if the correct actions are chosen but the execution is flawed, the quality of care will suffer. The importance of ensuring the quality of execution is well understood. In contrast, the medical profession has done much less to develop and evaluate its decision-making processes. If decisions are considered the command post and actions are considered the troops in the field, we have spent much more energy training and equipping the troops than providing intelligence and decision support systems to the commanders. The place to begin is with the ingredients of a decision.


This paper presents a mobile application for vote-casting and vote-verification based on the Selene e-voting protocol and explains how it was developed and implemented using the User Experience Design process. The resulting interface was tested with 38 participants, and user experience data was collected via questionnaires and semi-structured interviews on user experience and perceived security. Results concerning the impact of displaying security mechanisms on UX were presented in a complementary paper. Here we expand on this analysis by studying the mental models revealed during the interviews and compare them with theoretical security notions. Finally, we propose a list of improvements for designs of future voting protocols.


The γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) type B receptor (GABAB-R) belongs to class C of the G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs). Together with the GABAA receptor, the receptor mediates the neurotransmission of GABA, the main inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system (CNS). In recent decades, the receptor has been extensively studied with the intention being to understand pathophysiological roles, structural mechanisms and develop drugs. The dysfunction of the receptor is linked to a broad variety of disorders, including anxiety, depression, alcohol addiction, memory and cancer. Despite extensive efforts, few compounds are known to target the receptor, and only the agonist baclofen is approved for clinical use. The receptor is a mandatory heterodimer of the GABAB1 and GABAB2 subunits, and each subunit is composed of an extracellular Venus Flytrap domain (VFT) and a transmembrane domain of seven α-helices (7TM domain). In this review, we briefly present the existing knowledge about the receptor structure, activation and compounds targeting the receptor, emphasizing the role of the receptor in previous and future drug design and discovery efforts.


Pure and doped zinc oxide powders of various grain sizes have been synthesized by sublimation-condensation technique using a solar furnace. The initial powders contained from 0 to 5% mol of In2O3. X-ray diffraction technique (XRD) has been used to measure the lattice parameters and the grain size. The Indium concentration in the nanopowders was determined by XPS. XRD showed the formation of the spinel phase Zn5In2O8 in the micropowders as the concentration of indium exceeded 2.5% mol. In addition, the grain size of nanopowders decreases as the In concentration increases for all considered compositions. The photoluminescence spectra showed a drastic reduction of the exciton bound to a donor and an important broadening of the corresponding line as a result of the In doping. The photocatalytic properties of ZnO and TiO2 powders were investigated using the Monoluniron as septicide. The results showed that the photodegradation of the molecule was significantly faster when using pure ZnO nanopowder. However, the photocatalytic activity of the ZnO nanopowders was drastically reduced by the In doping. (© 2004 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)


Sea surface temperature in the Arabian Sea Mini Warm Pool has been suggested to be one of the factors that affects the Indian summer monsoon. In this paper, we analyze the annual ocean heat content (OHC) of this region during 1993–2010, using in situ data, satellite observations, and a model simulation. We find that OHC increases significantly in the region during this period relative to the north Indian Ocean, and propose that this increase could have caused the decrease in Indian Summer Monsoon Rainfall that occurred at the same time.