The historiography on the nineteenth-century architecture of Lemberg—and, for that matter, on Lwow, Lvov, and L'viv—remains a contested field among different national camps. At the same time, these conflicting historiographic traditions have not been able to treat the complex history of this multiethnic city in an adequate manner. On the one hand, there exists a prevailing tendency to view the Habsburg period in the city's history through a national lens, highlighting only those facts and figures that would confirm the city being—or becoming—a bastion of a particular national culture. Consequently, Polish and Ukrainian literature often neglected entire projects and even time periods, assuming that, prior to Lemberg's municipal autonomy of 1867, the entire urban planning achievement by the Austrian German-speaking bureaucracy was insignificant to the city's history and had therefore no consequence for the later fin-de-siecle developments. On the other hand, superficial assumptions of Lemberg serving as "crossroads of civilizations" and "little Vienna of the East" lacked a critical perspective and often overlooked significant local phenomena that evolved independently from Viennese or other influence. In arguing against these simplistic assumptions, this paper suggests an alternative, syncretic approach that combines entangled history and a careful treatment of the ethnic dimension in Lemberg's history.


The effection of mast cells (MC) on collagen metabolism of oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) induced by aqueous areca nut extracts (AANE) in rats was studied by transmission electron microscope, histochemical and biochemical analyses. The results revealed that there was a close relationship between MC and fibroblats (FB) in the pathogensis of OSF; MC which appeared in the buccal mucosa in the model groups increased significantly and became more active in the function. A great deal of collagen compacted in the buccal mucosa in the model groups. The contents of tissue hydroxyproline (Hyp) in the model groups were obviously higher than those in the control groups. Moreover, the longer the time of irritation continued, the higher the contents were. The number of MC had a higher positive correlation with the contents of tissue Hyp at the same time. Total serum Hyp had no significant difference among all the groups and any stages. The results indicated that some aqueous components of areca nuts might disturb collagen metabolism by accumulation and activation of MC.


Premarital sexual compliance is common among women and is influenced by gender role socialization. Sexual assertiveness reduces the likelihood of engaging in sexual compliance. This study examined the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral intervention in enhancing sexual assertiveness in women who exhibited sexual compliance. This was a quasi-experimental study conducted with a pretest-posttest nonequivalent control group design. Each group consisted of five participants recruited through purposive sampling. Participants in the intervention group participated in five individual sessions, preceded by a pre-session and followed by a follow-up session. The participants in the control group were given a psychoeducation book to read and had no face-to-face sessions. Analysis was conducted through the comparison of quantitative data measured by the Indonesian version of the Sexual Assertiveness Questionnaire for Women (SAQ-W) scale. Participants' changes in cognition and behavior before and after the intervention were also observed. It was found that cognitive-behavioral intervention successfully enhanced sexual assertiveness in women who exhibited sexual compliance. Participants in the intervention group were able to identify what they wanted and did not want in sexual situations, modify maladaptive thoughts leading to unassertive behaviors, and apply behavioral techniques to facilitate the occurrence of assertive behavior in sexual contexts.


Pain in the lower extremity is a complaint frequently evaluated by the orthopedist. When this is localized to the anterior and medial aspect of the thigh and inner side of the leg and foot, peripheral lesions involving the femoral nerve must be included in the differential diagnosis. A case of a femoral neuropathy secondary to a retroperitoneal mass is presented. The anatomy and underlying etiologies of femoral neuropathies are reviewed.


List of Contributors. Frontiers in geofluids: introduction (G. Garven, C. E. Manning and B. W. D. Yardley). Aqueous fluids at elevated pressure and temperature (A. Liebscher). Thermodynamic model for mineral solubility in aqueous fluids: theory, calibration and application to model fluid-flow systems (D. Dolejs and C. E. Manning). Metal complexation and ion association in hydrothermal fluids: insights from quantum chemistry and molecular dynamics (D. M. Sherman). Role of saline fluids in deep-crustal and upper-mantle metasomatism: insights from experimental studies (R. C. Newton and C. E. Manning). Potential of palaeofluid analysis for understanding oil charge history (J. Parnell). Spatial variations in the salinity of pore waters in northern deep water Gulf of Mexico sediments: implications for pathways and mechanisms of solute transport (J. S. Hanor and J. A. Mercer). Faults and fault properties in hydrocarbon flow models (T. Manzocchi, C. Childs and J. J. Walsh). Hydrostratigraphy as a control on subduction zone mechanics through its effects on drainage: an example from the Nankai Margin, SW Japan (D. M. Saffer). The interplay of permeability and fluid properties as a first order control of heat transport, venting temperatures and venting salinities at mid-ocean ridge hydrothermal systems (T. Driesner). Using seafloor heat flow as a tracer to map subseafloor fluid flow in the ocean crust (A. T. Fisher and R. N. Harris). The potential for abiotic organic synthesis and biosynthesis at seafloor hydrothermal systems (E. Shock and P. Canovas). Permeability of the continental crust: dynamic variations inferred from seismicity and metamorphism (S. E. Ingebritsen and C. E. Manning). Hydrologic responses to earthquakes and a general metric (Chi-Yuen Wang and Michael Manga). The application of failure mode diagrams for exploring the roles of fluid pressure and stress states in controlling styles of fracture-controlled permeability enhancement in faults and shear zones (S. F. Cox). Rates of retrograde metamorphism and their implications for crustal rheology (B. W. D. Yardley, D. E. Harlov and W. Heinrich). Fluids in the upper continental crust (Kurt Bucher and Ingrid Stober). Fluid-induced processes: metasomatism and metamorphism (A. Putnis and H. Austrheim). Fluid flows and metal deposition near basement /cover unconformity: lessons and analogies from Pb-Zn-F-Ba systems for the understanding of Proterozoic U deposits (M.-C. Boiron, M. Cathelineau and A. Richard). Magmatic fluids immiscible with silicate melts: examples from inclusions in phenocrysts and glasses, and implications for magma evolution and metal transport (Vadim S. Kamenetsky and Maya B. Kamenetsky). Index.


Data are important in an organization because they are used in making decisions and obtaining insights. Furthermore, given the increasing importance of data in modern society, data governance should be requested to increase an organization's competitive power. However, data governance concepts have caused confusion because of the myriad of guidelines proposed by related institutions and researchers. In this study, we re-established the concept of ambiguous data governance and derived the top-level components by analyzing previous research. This study identified the components of data governance and quantitatively analyzed the relation between these components by using DEMATEL and context analysis techniques that are often used to solve complex problems. Three higher components (data compliance management, data quality management, and data organization management) and 13 lower components are derived as data governance components. Furthermore, importance analysis shows that data quality management, data compliance management, and data organization management are the top components of data governance in order of priority. This study can be used as a basis for presenting standards or establishing concepts of data governance.


BackgroundType 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is regarded as Pi Dan disease in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Dahuang Huanglian Xiexin Decoction (DHXD), a classical TCM formula, has been used for treating Pi Dan disease in clinic, its pharmacological mechanism has not been elucidated. MethodsThis study used network pharmacological analysis and molecular docking approach to explore the mechanism of DHXD on T2DM. Firstly, the compounds in DHXD were obtained from TCMSP and TCMID databases, the potential targets were determined based on TCMSP and UniProt databases. Next, Genecards, Digenet and UniProt databases were used to identify the targets of T2DM. Then, the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was established with overlapping genes of T2DM and compounds, and the core targets in the network were identified and analyzed. Then, the David database was used for GO and KEGG enrichment analysis. Finally, the target genes were selected and the molecular docking was completed by Autodock software to observe the binding level of active components with target genes.ResultsA total of 397 related components and 128 overlapping genes were identified. After enrichment analysis, it was found that HIF-1, TNF, IL-17 and other signaling pathways, as well as DNA transcription, gene expression, apoptosis and other cellular biological processes had the strongest correlation with the treatment of T2DM by DHXD, and most of them occurred in the extracellular space, plasma membrane and other places, which were related to enzyme binding and protein binding. In addition, 42 core genes of DHXD, such as VEGFA, TP53 and MAPK1, were considered as potential therapeutic targets, indicating the potential mechanism of DHXD on T2DM. Finally, the results of molecular docking showed that HIF-1 pathway had strong correlation with the target genes INSR and GLUT4, quercetin and berberine had the strongest binding power with them respectively.ConclusionThis study summarized the main components of DHXD in the treatment of T2DM, identified the core genes and pathways, and systematically analyzed the interaction of related targets, trying to lay the foundation for clarifying the potential mechanism of DHXD on T2DM, so as to carry out further research in the future.


Abstract Scars are a natural part of dermal healing following lacerations, incisions, or tissue loss. The ideal scar is narrow, flat, level with surrounding tissue, and difficult for the untrained eye to see due to color match and placement parallel to relaxed skin tension lines; however, scarring that is dyspigmented, hypertrophied, widened, contracted, or atrophic can be aesthetically displeasing or causing functional limitations. When the scar has unfavorable characteristics, scar revision is often indicated and the cosmetic surgeon must be knowledgeable of the minimally invasive as well as surgical techniques to improve aesthetics, reduced reoccurrence, or correct functional limitations.


The production of peanut (Arachis hypogeae L.) has declined over the past five years. This has been influenced by the use of land regardless of soil fertility. This research aims to know the effect of using NPK and microbial fertilizer to peanut (Arachis hypogeae L.) production. The treatments consists of B1= microbial fertilizer, B2= NPK Fertilizer and B3= without fertilizer. These treatments were applied to Sima variety, Singa variety and Flores local cultivar. The result shows that the production of flowers and pods mostly produced by Sima variety through the use of microbial fertilizer. Besides, Flores local cultivar shows response which is not markedly different from the treatment using microbial fertilizer.


A conformational change in the coil-globule transition of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNiPA) was investigated by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy with attenuated total reflection (ATR) method and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. ATR/IR spectra of PNiPA in an aqueous solution change dramatically in the vicinity of the coil-globule transition temperature (θ temperature). Below the θ temperature, unimodal peaks are observed at 1624 cm-1 in the amide I region and at 1562 cm-1 in the amide II region, respectively. Above the θ temperature, a new peak appears abruptly near 1653 cm-1 in the amide I region and the amide II band shifts gradually to a lower frequency by 6 cm-1. In the amide III region, the relative intensity of a band at 1173 cm-1 is weaker than that of a band at 1155 cm-1 at lower temperatures, but it becomes larger during the coil-globule transition of PNiPA. DFT calculation for dimer models of PNiPA suggests that the amide I band at 1624 cm-1 is assigned mainly to a stretching vibration of the C═O group that forms a strong hydrogen bond with the N-H bond of a neighboring amide group. The band at 1653 cm-1 observed above the θ temperature may be due to a free C═O group. It is, therefore, suggested that some of the intramolecular hydrogen bonds between neighboring amide groups are broken during the coil-globule transition. Furthermore, it is deduced from the DFT calculation that the relative intensity of the bands at 1173 and 1155 cm-1 in the amide III region reflects the population change in the gauche and trans conformations in the main chain during the coil-globule transition.


This paper uses a modified Dijkstra shortest path method for considering cumulative delays rather than bandwidth in software-defined networks. To implement the proposed method, an open-source Ryu controller is used, and a Mininet tool is used to emulate the topology. The proposed method is compared with the traditional Dijkstra's algorithm to demonstrate its performance. This comparison shows that the modified Dijkstra's algorithm provides higher performance of the different cumulative delays. Several experiments were conducted to evaluate the performance of the proposed method using three parameters (bandwidth, transfer rate and jitter). In addition, the cumulative distribution function is calculated using the parameters to show its distribution through the experiment period.


Magnesium is the lightest structural metal and magnesium alloys are therefore obvious candidates in weight critical applications. The environmental imperative to reduce vehicle emissions has recently led to intensified research interest in magnesium, since weight reduction is one of the most effective ways of improving fuel efficiency. The hexagonal close-packed structure of magnesium results in poor room temperature formability. However, on heating, several magnesium alloys show superplastic properties, with the ability to deform to very high strains (up to 3000%). This opens up the possibility of forming complex components directly by superplastic forming (SPF). As a result, SPF of magnesium is a highly active research topic. The most widely used class of magnesium alloys contain aluminium as the major alloying addition, which has a relatively high solubility in magnesium, and manganese, which has a less solubility. The effect of these elements on the deformation behaviour and failure mechanisms operating in the superplastic regime is not yet well understood. The objective of this work was to gain fundamental insights into the role of these elements. To do this, alloys with different aluminium content (AZ31 and AZ61) and manganese levels have been studied in-depth.After casting, all alloys were subject to a hot rolling procedure that produced a similar fine grain size and texture in each material. Hot uniaxial testing was performed at temperatures between 300 to 450 degC and at two strain rates to investigate the material flow behaviour, elongation to failure and failure mechanism. All of the alloys exhibited flow curves characterised by an initial hardening and extensive flow softening region. Dynamic recrystallization did not occur, and the flow softening was attributed to grain growth and cavity formation. Increasing the level of aluminium in solution was observed to increase the grain growth rate, and also reduce the strain rate sensitivity. The elongation to failure, however, depended strongly on the manganese level but not on the aluminium content. This attributed to the role of manganese in forming coarse particles that act as sites for cavitation.To study cavity formation and growth, and its effect on failure, a series of tests were conducted to different strain levels followed by investigation of cavitation in 3-dimensions using X-ray tomography. New methods were developed to quantify the correlation between cavities and coarse particles using X-ray tomography data and it was shown that over 90% of cavities are associated with particles. Cavity nucleation occurred continuously during straining, with progressively smaller particles forming cavities as strain increased. The mechanism of cavity formation and growth was identified, and it has been demonstrated that particle agglomerates are effective sites for cavity formation even when the individual particles in the agglomerates are below the critical size predicted by theory for cavity nucleation sites. These results suggest that to improve the ductility of magnesium alloys in the superplasticity regime, it is most critical to minimise the occurrence of particle agglomerates in the microstructure.


This dissertation presents a new subgrouping of South Halmahera-West New Guinea (SHWNG) languages. The 38 SHWNG languages form a small, poorly known branch of Austronesian. The Austronesian family originated in Taiwan and later spread into Indonesia, across New Guinea, and to the remote Pacific. In New Guinea, approximately 3500 years ago, Austronesian speakers first came into contact with so-called Papuan languages -- the non-Austronesian languages indigenous to New Guinea, comprising more than 20 families. The Austronesian languages still extant from this initial spread into New Guinea fall into two branches: SHWNG and Oceanic. In great contrast to Oceanic, only a few SHWNG languages are well-described, and almost nothing has been reconstructed at the level of Proto-SHWNG. Contact with Papuan languages has given the SHWNG languages a typological profile quite different from their linguistic forebears.Chapter 1 puts the SHWNG languages in context, describing their significance for Austronesian and their broader relevance to historical linguistics. It outlines the theoretical framework of the work, covering models of language diversification, diagnostic features for subgrouping, and language contact. A scale is proposed for ranking innovation types from most to least diagnostic for subgrouping. Morphological innovations are ranked above phonological innovations in this scale. Chapter 2 gives an overview of the Austronesian family, focusing on the aspects most crucial to understanding the rest of the work: an outline of Proto-Austronesian phonology and the history of the branches ancestral to Proto-SHWNG.Chapter 3 summarizes previous work on SHWNG languages, covering language membership, environmental and social characteristics, descriptive sources, shared innovations, subgrouping, reconstruction, and contact-induced change. Chapters 4-6 are the main empirical contribution. Chapter 4 covers segmental sound change in 25 SHWNG languages and dialects. Chapter 5 covers tonogenesis in the Raja Ampat languages Ma'ya and Magey Matbat and the Cenderawasih Bay languages Moor, Yaur, and Yerisiam. Chapter 6 covers subject agreement and inalienable possessive morphology in 37 SHWNG languages and dialects. In these chapters, the goal is to identify shared innovations and determine their usefulness for establishing subgrouping relationships among SHWNG languages. Morphological innovations are found to be more diagnostic than phonological innovations, confirming the scale proposed in chapter 1. Chapter 7 proposes a new subgrouping for SHWNG languages, synthesizing the results of chapters 4-6. The homelands of Proto-SHWNG and its branches are also discussed. The homeland of Proto-SHWNG is located in southern Cenderawasih Bay. Chapter 8 concludes by considering the contributions of SHWNG languages to models of language diversification and change, and laying out questions for future research.The Appendix contains the complete database of SHWNG cognate sets from which the analysis in chapters 4 and 5 is drawn.


Abstract How pervasive is partisan sorting and polarization over public policies in the American public? We examine whether the barriers of partisan sorting and polarization seen in national politics extend to important local policies that shape economic development. To describe the extent of partisan sorting and polarization over local development policies, we employ conjoint survey experiments in representative surveys of eight US metropolitan areas and a hierarchical modeling strategy for studying heterogeneity across respondents. We find that strong partisans are sorted by party in some of their policy opinions, but rarely polarized. The same voters who disagree about national issues have similar preferences about local development issues suggesting a greater scope for bipartisan problem solving at the local level.


Respiration is one of the most fundamental activities of life and, therefore, its mechanism has been the subject of intensive studies ever since the days of Lavoisier. According to our present knowledge, biological oxidation may occur by three seemingly different processes: (i) removal of an electron, as in the conversion of a ferrous ion to a ferric ion, (ii) removal of hydrogen, as in the oxidation of alcohol to acetaldehyde, and (iii) addition of oxygen to a molecule, as in the transformation of carbon to carbon dioxide. Although the fundamental principle governing these three types of oxidative reactions is basically the same, they are catalyzed by different types ofenzymes in the cell. The enzymes that participate in biological oxidation may be classified into two major groups. Dehydrogenases catalyze the transfer of electrons


The Cospas-Sarsat project aims to develop a scheme in which a small battery-powered transmitter on a ship or aircraft would be activated, manually or automatically, in an accident. Once activated, the transmitter, or beacon, would emit a low-power omnidirectional signal that would be picked up by a satellite. The satellite would relay the distress signal to an earth station, which in turn would send the message over conventional communication lines to a rescue center. Concurrently with development work on this project, and experiment with high-orbit geostationary search-and-rescue satellites is in progress. The geostationary experiment is aimed exclusively at the commercial maritime industry and is considering only the technical aspects of the beacon-to-satellite and satellite-to-earth links under uniform, controlled conditions. This program is using satellites and earth stations of Inmarsat, the 31-nation consortium that offers satellite communication services to merchant ships and offshore oil rigs.


OBJECTIVE
To identify stressors in attempted suicide by poisoning and to analyze differences between men and women.

METHOD
This quantitative, comparative, cross-sectional study evaluated 110 patients aged between 14 and 78 years. The following instruments used were: standardized Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) version 5.0.0 and an interview form specifically designed for the study.

RESULTS
70% of the suicide attempters were female; mean age was 28.1 years; 98.2% presented at least one psychiatric disorder. Among the stressors assessed, significant differences were observed between men and women for: not having a spouse, 72.7% among men and 54.5% among women; attempted suicide planning, 66.7% among men and 46.8% among women; being under the influence of alcohol during the attempted suicide, 51.5% among men and 26.0% among women; harmful use of alcohol, 42.4% in men and 22.1% in women; sexual abuse, 22.1% in women and 6.1% in men.

CONCLUSIONS
Women presented a three times higher number of attempted suicides by poisoning. The identification of stressors with significant differences between sexes in the high-risk population here described can help define and organize strategies aimed at suicide prevention. Similar studies should be conducted in the general population.


CONTEXT
Recent studies have shown that local anesthesia for loop colostomy closure is as safe as spinal anesthesia for this procedure.

OBJECTIVES
Randomized clinical trial to compare the results from these two techniques.

METHODS
Fifty patients were randomized for loop colostomy closure using spinal anesthesia (n = 25) and using local anesthesia (n = 25). Preoperatively, the bowel was evaluated by means of colonoscopy, and bowel preparation was performed with 10% oral mannitol solution and physiological saline solution for lavage through the distal colostomy orifice. All patients were given prophylactic antibiotics (cefoxitin). Pain, analgesia, reestablishment of peristaltism or peristalsis, diet reintroduction, length of hospitalization and rehospitalization were analyzed postoperatively.

RESULTS
Surgery duration and local complications were greater in the spinal anesthesia group. Conversion to general anesthesia occurred only with spinal anesthesia. There was no difference in intraoperative pain between the groups, but postoperative pain, reestablishment of peristaltism or peristalsis, diet reintroduction and length of hospitalization were lower with local anesthesia.

CONCLUSIONS
Local anesthesia plus sedation offers a safer and more effective method than spinal anesthesia for loop colostomy closure.


Abstract Hydrodynamics growth experiments involve rippled ablator samples (CHx, Ge:CH, or Si:CH). The rippled surface features a microscale mathematical shape (sinusoidal functions are widely used). Nevertheless, experiments have progressed with time, and samples evolved gradually from two-dimensional (planar samples) to three-dimensional geometries (capsules). This paper presents various processes that have been developed to fulfill such specifications. Various technologies, based on laser means (excimer laser, Ti:sapphire laser) or mechanical ultraprecision means, have been successfully applied to ripples machining (planar samples or capsules). The main results are discussed showing the ability and accuracy of each technology as well as their main limitations. We focus especially on our latest results (i.e., rippled or grooved capsules).


We describe 2 unusual cases of vaginal dehiscence after intracavitary brachytherapy performed following robotic laparoscopic hysterectomy (RLH) along with their management. This unusual complication, which may be more common because of the robotic procedures, can be prevented by careful examination and possible delay of the onset of brachytherapy, if indicated. Our report reviews techniques of avoiding this complication and suggests that these complications should be discussed with the patients.


The purpose of this quasi-experimental research was to determine the effect of upright position by leaning forward with birth ball and semi sitting 45 degree on duration of labour in active phase. The participants consisted of 28 primigravida normal pregnant who gave childbirth at Nongbualampoo hospital. They were purposively selected which 13 were in an experimental and 15 in control group. The experimental group were treated with upright position by leaning forward with birth ball and semi sitting 45 degree during active phase, while the control group were treated with the usual care. Data was collected by using delivery record forms, then compared duration of labour in active phase by independent t-test. The study results revealed that laboring women in experimental group had statistically signifi cant differences shorter in duration of active phase than control group (P < 0.01)


The aim of this prospective clinical trial was to investigate the efficacy and toxicity of a short-term, maintenance-free chemotherapy protocol in feline lymphoma. Twenty-six cats with confirmed diagnosis of high-/intermediate-grade lymphoma were treated with a 12-week protocol consisting of cyclic administration of l-asparaginase, vincristine, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin and prednisolone. Complete (CR) and partial remission (PR) rates were 46 and 27%, respectively. Median duration of first CR was 394 days compared with a median PR duration of 41 days. No factor was identified to significantly influence the likelihood to reach CR. Overall survival amounted to 78 days (range: 9-2230 days). Median survival in CR cats was 454 days and in PR cats was 82 days. Toxicosis was mainly low grade with anorexia seen most frequently. In cats achieving CR, maintenance-free chemotherapy may be sufficient to attain long-term remission and survival. Factors aiding in prognosticating the likelihood for CR, strategies enhancing response and targeting chemotherapy-induced anorexia need to be identified in future.


WHILE HAILED FOR ITS EFFICIENCY IN FACILITATING interactions in an increasingly wired workplace, electronic mail messages (emails) also have a dark side. Pearson and Porath4 noted that the complexity of fast-paced, high tech interactions facilitated by emails fuel incivility as people "believe that they don't have time to be 'nice' and that impersonal modes of contact do not require the courtesies associated with faceto face interactions. Consistent with Lim and Chin,3 we define cyber incivility as communicative behavior that are exhibited in the context of email interactions and that violate workplace norms for mutual respect. Although the intent to harm may be ambiguous, the spillover effect of an uncivil interpersonal workplace encounter on others as well as the organization should not be underestimated. Because of its lack of social and contextual cues, negative online interactions are likely to generate a stronger adverse effect on victims compared to traditional face-to-face or telephone encounters as individuals lack the opportunity to seek immediate clarification or obtain dynamic feedback. 5 We examine the pervasiveness of cyber incivility at the workplace in Singapore, the impact of respondents' gender on the types of cyber incivility experienced and the effect of cyber incivility on respondents' work attitudes. Data were collected using questionnaire surveys. Prior to administration, a pretest was conducted to elicit feedback regarding the clarity of the instructions and items in the survey instrument. A short briefing was conducted at the various organizations which took part in the study. Respondents were requested to return the completed surveys in a sealed envelope that was provided. Data were obtained from 192 respondents working in companies in the banking and finance industry. Majority of respondents were Chinese (92%) while the rest comprised Malays and Indians. About 50% had earned a bachelor's degree, 30% had obtained at least a diploma from the polytechnics and 20% had a secondary school education or its equivalent. Respondents have an average work experience of eight years. The average age was 30 years, 63% of the respondents were women. Singapore provides an appropriate context for examining cyber incivility as there is widespread Internet and email access both at home and at work.


The aim of this study was to investigate whether beneficial vacation effects can be strengthened and prolonged with a smartphone-based intervention. In a four-week longitudinal study among 79 Finnish teachers, we investigated the development of recovery, well-being, and job performance before, during, and after a one-week vacation in three groups: non-users (n = 51), passive (n = 18) and active (n = 10) users. Participants were instructed to actively use a recovery app (called Holidaily) and complete five digital questionnaires. Most recovery experiences and well-being indicators increased during the vacation. Job performance and concentration capacity showed no significant time effects. Among active app users, creativity at work increased from baseline to after the vacation, whereas among non-users it decreased and among passive users it decreased a few days after the vacation but increased again one and a half weeks after the vacation. The fading of beneficial vacation effects on negative affect seems to have been slower among active app users. Only few participants used the app actively. Still, results suggest that a smartphone-based recovery intervention may support beneficial vacation effects.


This study aims to evaluate the impact of STEM education on the creative design skills of trainee teachers. The sample for the study was made up of third-year prospective teachers studying at the Department of Science Education and Department of Elementary Mathematics Education in the 2020-2021 school year. Embedded mixed design, which is a type of mixed method, was used in the method of the study while the quantitative part of the mixed design was comprised of a one-group pretest-posttest design and the qualitative part was the case study. The implementation was carried out creating lesson plans aimed at STEM activities and process designs, and obtaining products throughout the course of one semester. Looking at the findings of this study, there were significant differences in favour of the posttest scores in all scales. Therefore, the conclusion was reached that the trainee teachers in both groups were observed to have experienced higher self-efficacy in terms of STEM practices, and that, in view of the meaningful rise in the sub-dimensions of the scales, the implementation was found to support the material design process and creativity. Examination of the qualitative data showed the codes support the changes that occurred in the quantitative data. Also, difficulties faced the trainee teachers were examined.


Despite much recent progress, prostate cancer continues to represent a major cause of cancer-related mortality and morbidity in men. Since early studies on the role of the androgen receptor that led to the advent of androgen deprivation therapy in the 1940s, there has long been intensive interest in the basic mechanisms underlying prostate cancer initiation and progression, as well as the potential to target these processes for therapeutic intervention. Here, we present an overview of major themes in prostate cancer research, focusing on current knowledge of principal events in cancer initiation and progression. We discuss recent advances, including new insights into the mechanisms of castration resistance, identification of stem cells and tumor-initiating cells, and development of mouse models for preclinical evaluation of novel therapuetics. Overall, we highlight the tremendous research progress made in recent years, and underscore the challenges that lie ahead.


Mapping and Modeling Weather and Climate with GIS is a contributed volume of 23 chapters from leading climatologists, meteorologists, and other experts about how geospatial cartography and analysis helps to advance atmospheric science research. Coverage includes data and software resources, data representation, observations, modeling, data-model integration, web services, and the areas of current and potential cross-fertilization of atmospheric and geospatial sciences. Providing both the concepts and practices of mapping and modeling projects, the book is useful to novices using GIS on weather and climate projects. Practitioners and managers will gain a clear picture of the advances in GIS for atmospheric sciences and appreciate the helpful lists of available geospatial resources.


PURPOSE
To determine whether the improvement in visual acuity obtained when using high dose dexamethasone in the treatment of traumatic optic neuropathy was comparable to that of megadose methylprednisolone.

METHOD
A total of forty-four patients with traumatic optic neuropathy were prospectively randomized and selected to receive intravenous high dose dexamethasone or megadose methylprednisolone within 2 weeks of injury. Age, gender, cause of injury, interval from injury to treatment, initial, post-pulse, and final visual acuity were analysed statistically to compare the dexamethasone and methylprednisolone groups.

RESULTS
The mean interval to treatment was not significantly different (p=0.28) for the dexamethasone group at 5.5 days compared to the methylprednisolone group at 4.1 days. Visual improvement of at least two lines of the Snellen chart or two levels of unmeasured visual acuity was shown in 9 patients (37.5%) of the dexamethasone group and 10 patients (50%) of the methylprednisolone group. There was no statistically significant difference between the initial and post-pulse visual acuity (p=1.0) and the initial and final visual outcome (p=0.60) in the dexamethasone group compared with the methylprednisolone group.

CONCLUSION
There was no significant difference in the visual acuity obtained after treatment with intravenous dexamethasone or methylprednisolone for traumatic optic neuropathy.


Agricultural extension and advisory services are critical to supporting technological and institutional changes that can improve the livelihoods of small-scale farmers in developing countries. However, many extension services are under-resourced, out of date, and need of structural and content changes. However, efforts to systematically strengthen local extension systems often fall into the trap of promoting blueprints that are insufficiently adapted to local context. To that end, researchers developed the best-fit framework in the 2000s to provide impetus for pursuit of more locally-tailored extension solutions. Today, almost a decade later, researchers test the framework under real-world conditions in a cross-country application. This paper examines the application of this framework across six dimensions and seven countries to formulate a set of best-fit recommendations that are also broadly appreciable. The findings show that it is possible to apply the framework to the analysis of EAS across countries while also maintaining a very localized perspective on recommendations. Across the seven countries, certain obvious commonalities exist: The growth in pluralism in extension providers, the persistence of weak incentives for extension agents, and the lack of enabling policies. At the same time, innovative solutions to many of the challenges held in common—ICT-enabled extension, performance incentives, and value-chain oriented extension—are heterogeneous. The framework allows users to pursue change processes in EAS in response to their own local realities.


To understand the relationship between surface patterns and cellular activities, various types of pattern models have been investigated. In this study, we suggest a new surface pattern model, which replicates proliferated cells. We used osteoblast-like cells (MG63) as a target cell pattern and constructed various cell-imprinted surfaces using an electric field assisted casting method for different culturing times (4 h and 7 and 14 days). On the basis of scanning electron microscopy images and three-dimensional topographical optical images, we acquired the cells' unique patterns and used them for replicating patterned substrates. We then cultured MG63 cells in the patterned surfaces for 7 and 14 days to observe various cellular activities, cell viability, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, and mineralization. Higher cellular activities were observed on the roughened surface as compared with the smooth surface. In particular, we obtained the most appropriate roughness value (R(a) = 702 ± 87 nm) from proliferated cells cultured over 14 days. On the basis of these findings, we demonstrate a new biomimical surface model that enhances cellular activities at the cell-substrate interface.


A case of priapism in a young Nigerian man following a singular dose of chlorpromazine is presented. Complete detumescence was achieved with needle aspiration and adrenaline infiltration. Potency was retained. A review of relevant literature is done. Key words : Priapism, Chlorpromazine, Needle aspiration.


The workplace is now commonly used as a setting for acquiring vocational knowledge. This situated approach to learning offers access to authentic vocational activities and the guidance of more expert others. However, questions about the effectiveness of workplace learning processes need to be addressed. These questions are central to the evaluation and improvement of learning arrangements which aim to develop vocational skills. Draws on the findings of three recent studies of workplace learning conducted in Queensland, Australia, in order to address questions about the efficacy of workplace learning. Uses these studies to understand further potential and limitations of these learning arrangements.


Context: Since the discovery of its dusty disk in 1984, β Pictoris has become the prototype of young early-type planetary systems, and there are now various indications that a massive Jovian planet is orbiting the star at ~10 AU. However, no planets have been detected around this star so far. Aims: Our goal was to investigate the close environment of β Pic, searching for planetary companion(s). Methods: Deep adaptive-optics L'-band images of β Pic were recorded using the NaCo instrument at the Very Large Telescope. Results: A faint point-like signal is detected at a projected distance of ≃8 AU from the star, within the northeastern extension of the dust disk. Various tests were made to rule out possible instrumental or atmospheric artefacts at a good confidence level. The probability of a foreground or background contaminant is extremely low, based in addition on the analysis of previous deep HST images. Its L'=11.2 apparent magnitude would indicate a typical temperature of ~1500 K and a mass of ~8 M_Jup. If confirmed, it could explain the main morphological and dynamical peculiarities of the β Pic system. The present detection is unique among A-stars by the proximity of the resolved planet to its parent star. Its closeness and location inside the β Pic disk suggest a formation process by core accretion or disk instabilities rather than binary-like formation processes. Based on observations collected at the European Southern Observatory, Chile, ESO (runs 072.C-0624(B) and 60.A-9026(A)) and on observations made with the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph onboard the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope.


Oceanic surface submesoscale currents are characterized by anisotropic fronts and filaments with widths from 100 m to a few kilometers; an O(1) Rossby number; and large magnitudes of lateral buoyancy and velocity gradients, cyclonic vorticity, and convergence. We derive an asymptotic model of submeoscale frontogenesis—the rate of sharpening of submesoscale gradients—and show that in contrast with "classical" deformation frontogenesis, the near-surface convergent motions, which are associated with the ageostrophic secondary circulation, determine the gradient sharpening rates. Analytical solutions for the inviscid Lagrangian evolution of the gradient fields in the proposed asymptotic regime are provided, and emphasize the importance of ageostrophic motions in governing frontal evolution. These analytical solutions are further used to derive a scaling relation for the vertical buoyancy fluxes that accompany the gradient sharpening process. Realistic numerical simulations and drifter observations in the northern Gulf of Mexico during winter confirm the applicability of the asymptotic model to strong frontogenesis. Careful analysis of the numerical simulations and field measurements demonstrates that a subtle balance between boundary layer turbulence, pressure, and Coriolis effects (e.g., turbulent thermal wind; Gula et al. 2014) leads to the generation of the surface convergent motions that drive frontogenesis in this region. Because the asymptotic model makes no assumptions about the physical mechanisms that initiate the convergent frontogenetic motions, it is generic for submesoscale frontogenesis of O(1) Rossby number flows.


BACKGROUND
Mild hyperhomocysteinaemia (MHHcy) is a significant and independent risk factor for vascular diseases, however, its causality has not yet been unequivocally confirmed. The total homocysteine (Hcy) blood level is considered a product of genetic and lifestyle interactions, mainly folates, vitamin B12 and pyridoxine intake. In this paper we estimated the influence of these factors on MHHcy in the population.

METHODS AND RESULTS
The population sample included 292 males a 251 women, mean age 53.4 years, selected from the population study PILS II. All subjects were examined by a standard protocol for clinical, anthropometrical and laboratory examination. Hcy levels were examined by ion exchange chromatography, all other factors by commercial kits. Statistical analysis was done in quartiles of distribution by Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA, Wilcoxon's un-paired test and multiple logistic regression (stepwise). Serum total Hcy levels were in significant positive associations with age in both sexes, with BMI in males only. Negative associations of Hcy were found with plasma folates and B12 concentrations in both sexes, with alcohol consumption again only in males. Smoking and physical activity and serum methionine concentration were not associated with Hcy levels. The established associations remained significant when adjusted by multiple logistic regression. About 40% of subjects with MHHcy had low folates and/or B12 levels and a deficiency in both vitamins was found in 17% of subjects. In contrast, MHHcy also was assessed in 14% of subjects with high folates and in 17% with high B12 concentration and in as few as in 3.7% of subjects with high concentrations of both vitamins as well.

CONCLUSIONS
Nutritional factors, i.e. folates and B12 intake, seem to be the most important ones responsible for Hcy levels. A predominating influence of genetic factors may be assumed in less than one fifth of subjects with MHHcy.


Abstract As an online and offline teaching mode, small private online courses (SPOC) are widely used in higher education. There is an urgent need in education today to identify the factors that affect the effectiveness of teaching SPOC and to develop strategies to improve the effectiveness of teaching. To enhance the teaching effectiveness of SPOC, this study compares and analyses the factors affecting the teaching effectiveness of SPOC from three perspectives, namely, students' learning abilities, teachers' teaching strategies and the classroom learning atmosphere. Following that, a structural equation model (SEM) is used to construct an analysis paradigm of relevant variables and a SEM affecting the effectiveness of SPOC, and six hypotheses were formulated. A survey of the SPOC 'Aviation Broadcasting' conducted by the students who enrolled in the School of Zhengzhou Aviation Industry Management College in China served as an example to verify the hypotheses proposed in this paper and provide suggestions for improving the teaching effectiveness of the SPOC through questionnaire research, SPSS analysis and AMOS calculation. Researchers have found that the most influential factor for the teaching effect of SPOC is learning ability of students, followed by teaching design of teachers and classroom learning atmosphere. Based on the research findings, the teaching effect of SPOC can be improved theoretically and practically. The findings of the study provide a reference for decision-making to improve the curriculum effectiveness formulation of SPOC in higher education.


Abstract We report the case of a 2-year-old girl who developed catastrophic haemoptysis due to an arterio-bronchial fistula after transcatheter balloon dilatation for a narrowing aortopulmonary shunt. We embolised the fistula while haemoptysis was controlled with the left bronchial block ventilation and haemostatic balloon occlusion of the left subclavian artery. An arterio-bronchial fistula is an extremely rare complication for balloon dilatation of an aortopulmonary shunt.


Dr. John Marshall is a Professor of Medicine, a Full Member of the Farncombe Family Digestive Health Research Institute, and Head of Clinical Research for the Division of Gastroenterology at McMaster University. He is also Chief of Service for Gastroenterology at Hamilton Health Sciences. Dr. Marshall's clinical and research interests include Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), a group of chronic disorders that cause prolonged inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. We were able to speak with Dr. Marshall about his clinical and research experiences with IBD and his advice for interested trainees who want to pursue a career in academic medicine.


The potential energy curves and spectroscopic constants of the ground and many excited states of the FrAr van der Waals system have been determined using a one-electron pseudopotential approach. The Fr+ core and the electron–Ar interactions are replaced by effective potentials. The Fr+Ar core–core interaction is incorporated using the accurate CCSD(T) potential of Hickling et al. (Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 2004, 6, 4233). This approach reduces the number of active electrons of the FrAr van der Waals system to only one valence electron, which permits the use of very large basis sets for the Fr and Ar atoms. Using this technique, the potential energy curves of the ground and many excited states are calculated at the self consistent field (SCF) level. In addition, the spin–orbit interaction is also considered using the semiempirical scheme for the states dissociating into Fr (7p) and Fr (8p). The FrAr system is not studied previously and its potential interactions, spectroscopic constants and dipole functions are presented here for the first time. Furthermore, we have predicted the X2Σ+–A2Π1/2, X2Σ+–AΠ3/2, X2Σ+–B2Σ1/2+, X2Σ+–32Π1/2, X2Σ+–32Π3/2, and X2Σ+–52Σ1/2+ absorption spectra. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.


Sperm is a zootechnical production that is harvested, controlled, processed and used, within a well-defined technological stream.Biotechnological intensification of breeding to increase birth and prolificity in zootechnics requires complex control of spermatic production on scientific bases in accordance with current legislation and compliance with national and international standards. In this regard, complex control of sperm production, regardless of its origin, is required by performing ordinary and special spermograms. In the modern technological flow of artificial cattle insemination, processing by dilution is an essential step with obvious zooeconomic implications, because it greatly increases the number of usable doses obtained from an ejaculate, increases the possibility of insemination a much bigger number by larger females, directly contributing to increased male selection pressure.


This article offers a short proof of Golomb's conjecture, and then our results show that the sequences are pseudorandom in $\mathbb{F}_2$.


It is generally alleged that defective fertilizer distribution system which created artificial crisis of Urea was mainly responsible for shortfall of Boro rice production in 1995. Based on macro level as well as micro level data, the present study mainly aimed at investigating whether there were other important factors which aggravated the production environment in that year. The analysis showed that there was an absolute shortage of Urea supply during the peak period (January-March) of fertilizer demand in 1995 Boro season. Further, additional demand as a result of increased area under Boro paddy and high price of Aman rice at the end of 1994 also contributed to higher Urea rice in 1995 Boro season. Increased fertilizer prices also caused significant reduction in its use which affected Boro production. In addition to fertilizer (Urea) crisis, severe drought in the Boro season of 1995 significantly increased cost of irrigation and additional cost of irrigation was found to be more than that of fertilizer cost. Therefore, fertilizer crisis along with drought condition affected yield as well as farmers profitability in 1995 Boro season. Particularly, production of small farmers was mostly affected since compared to rich and medium farmers they spent less on these high ost inputs. The findings indicated that even under privatized distribution system, government intervention may be needed to ensure fertilizer at the right time, in the right quantity and at the right price. Further, more research is needed to assess impact of drought on production even with irrigation facilities.


Sarcoidosis is a multisystem granulomatous disease characterized by hilar lymphadenopathy, involvement of internal organs, and diverse skin lesions. Systemic sclerosis is an autoimmune disease characterized by skin hardening and different internal organ fibrosis, including vascular abnormality. Immune response associated with Th-2 has been shown in the early and active stage of the disease. In this paper, we report coexistence of systemic sclerosis with sarcoidosis in a female patient presenting with granulomatous dermatitis, interstitial lung disease, and Raynaud's phenomenon complaints.


This paper investigates the concept of thrust rating as a means towards reducing the life cycle costs of turbo-jet engine ownership. Towards this end, the concepts of life usage and thrust rating will be discussed to provide a clear understanding of the goals and methods involved in this investigation. In general, all "serviceable" engines will experience varying levels of performance above baseline values. Thrust rating ideally seeks to limit engine performance to baseline values, thereby converting performance into life. In particular, this paper will present a general computer simulation technique that may be applied to any turbo-jet engine to quantify the life cycle savings resulting from the adoption of thrust rating techniques. The inter-relationships that exist between thrust rating and many practical in-service aspects of turbo-jet usage including performance degradation, operational roles and maintenance practices and policies will be investigated. Some strengths and limitations of the simulation technique will also be identified. This paper will discuss general guidelines for investigating the feasibility of performing thrust rating on various turbo-jet engines. While this technique is likely to be of greatest interest to users of high performance military turbo-jet engines, its principles can be adapted for other gas turbine uses.


OBJECTIVE
To test the hypothesis that the calcium antagonist diltiazem is effective in the treatment of calcinosis.

METHODS
Diltiazem, 240-480 mg/day, was given to 4 patients with idiopathic or CREST-related (calcinosis, Raynaud's phenomenon, esophageal dysmotility, sclerodactyly, telangiectasias) calcinosis for 1-12 years. Serial radiographs of the affected areas, using identical technique, and clinical evaluations were obtained. A fifth patient, who did not tolerate diltiazem, received verapamil, 120 mg/day for 18 months.

RESULTS
All patients taking diltiazem had a reduction or disappearance of the calcific lesions, with striking clinical improvement. One patient's case was followed for 12 years. The response to diltiazem during the first 5 years of treatment has been previously reported in detail; however, over 7 years of additional treatment, there was further reduction of the lesions. One patient developed a large calcific lesion while receiving verapamil for hypertension, and after verapamil was replaced with diltiazem, there was a dramatic response. Verapamil was ineffective in the fifth patient, who did not tolerate diltiazem.

CONCLUSION
Long-term treatment with diltiazem, but not verapamil, is effective in calcinosis.


Isoxaben is an inhibitor of the synthesis of cellulose from glucose. Some dicot weed species are relatively insensitive to isoxaben inhibition. This study investigates mechanisms by which decreased sensitivity may occur in three dicot weed species: catchweed bedstraw, redroot pigweed, and velvetleaf. Dose response curves were generated to determine I50 values for the inhibition of glucose incorporation into cellulose by isoxaben and compared to that of a sensitive species, mouse-ear cress. Metabolic detoxification and uptake rates were measured and the degree of tolerance conferred by these mechanisms was calculated. In all cases, metabolic detoxification was negligible. Lower uptake rates were significant but minor components of tolerance in all species. It is suggested that the principal cause of isoxaben tolerance in these dicot weed species is decreased sensitivity at the target site.


For genome sequencers, the most challenging part of the job is "finishing"--the final stage in which fragments of raw DNA data are arranged into a completed sequence. Even as robots and computers take over the grunt work, this last step still requires an experienced eye and an innovative mind. Now a new computer program that analyzes machine readouts as a human would is helping sequencing labs to scale up their efforts.


as for the superior child, is needed. Guidance should be more than "lip service." The author has made a number of suggestions for further study, many of which are well worth adopting. Dr. Quimby is to be congratulated upon having had such excellent cooperation from schools for the blind. The response which he received to his voluminous questionnaires was excellent, and it was only through this cooperation that the writing of this book was made possible. Now that the results are published, let us hope they will be studied by the school authorities.-Frands M. Andrews.


While consumers prefer naturalness, many food brands use nutrition claims suggesting processing, such as enriched with or reduced in. How do these nutrition claims influence the naturalness perceived by consumers? What is their effect on perception of nutritional risk and eating intentions? Using two experiments with French consumers, this paper finds that nutrition claims can decrease the product's perceived naturalness. This, in turn, increases the perception of nutritional risk and diminishes the intention to consume or recommend the product. This research helps explain why some nutrition claims actually backfire in France. It also alerts policy-makers on implications for public health.


Since the breakdown of communism, Germany has experienced a major influx of Ethnic German migrants from Eastern Europe. In this paper, we use data from the German Socio-Economic Panel of the year 1998 to analyze the integration of Ethnic German migrants into the German labor market. We particularly focus on the transferability of educational credentials for the labor market integration of migrants. Although there are official procedures for Ethnic Germans to have their educational and vocational certificates recognized, only half of them are working in the occupation they were actually trained for. However, for migrants working in their trained occupation is a prerequisite for performing well in the German labor market. The problems Ethnic German migrants are faced with transferring their vocational skills lead us to some general conclusions on the dominant allocation mechanisms and also predictions on the fate of future migrant populations in the German labor market. (AUTHORS)


Motor vehicle accident researchers have used the CRASH computer program for some time. Over the years, the code was upgraded until it reached its present and popular form, CRASH3, which runs on a mainframe computer or minicomputer with a sizeable memory capacity. A new version of the program, EDCRASH, has been developed which runs on personal computers using 128K of memory. This paper describes and compares this program with its mainframe counterpart. The program performed the same function as CRASH3, but was designed as a screen-oriented program utilizing the environment of the personal computer. Its design also allowed for file saving, graphics, routing of output, and interfacing with other accident reconstruction programs. For most accident types, the results for both programs were identical. However, for some types the results were different.


Four librarians from Irish university libraries completed the U.K. Future Leaders Programme (FLP) in 2010. In this article they recount their experience and assess the effect of the programme on their professional practice and the value for their institutions. The programme is explored in the context of the Irish higher education environment, which is facing significant challenges due to the demise of the Celtic Tiger economy. A brief review of the literature relating to structured programmes to prepare librarians for senior positions, is presented. The structure and content of the FLP and the learning methodologies, theories, tools and techniques used throughout are discussed. The article suggests that the programme has real value for both individuals and institutions and that it can play a significant role in succession planning and the leadership development of librarians.


The use of inertial devices in sport has become increasingly common. The aim of this study was to examine the validity and reliability of multiple devices for measuring jump height in volleyball. The search was carried out in four databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Sciences and SPORTDiscus) using keywords and Boolean operators. Twenty-one studies were selected that met the established selection criteria. The studies focused on determining the validity and reliability of IMUs (52.38%), on controlling and quantifying external load (28.57%) and on describing differences between playing positions (19.05%). Indoor volleyball was the modality in which IMUs have been used the most. The most evaluated population was elite, adult and senior athletes. The IMUs were used both in training and in competition, evaluating mainly the amount of jump, the height of the jumps and some biomechanical aspects. Criteria and good validity values for jump counting are established. The reliability of the devices and the evidence is contradictory. IMUs are devices used in volleyball to count and measure vertical displacements and/or compare these measurements with the playing position, training or to determine the external load of the athletes. It has good validity measures, although inter-measurement reliability needs to be improved. Further studies are suggested to position IMUs as measuring instruments to analyze jumping and sport performance of players and teams.


Despite the recognition of spider silk as a biological super-material and its dominant role in various aspects of a spider's life, knowledge on silk use and silk properties is incomplete. This is a major impediment for the general understanding of spider ecology, spider silk evolution and biomaterial prospecting. In particular, the biological role of different types of silk glands is largely unexplored. Here, I report the results from a comparative study of spinneret usage during silk anchor and dragline spinning. I found that the use of both anterior lateral spinnerets (ALS) and posterior median spinnerets (PMS) is the plesiomorphic state of silk anchor and dragline spinning in the Araneomorphae, with transitions to ALS-only use in the Araneoidea and some smaller lineages scattered across the spider tree of life. Opposing the reduction to using a single spinneret pair, few taxa have switched to using all ALS, PMS and the posterior lateral spinnerets (PLS) for silk anchor and dragline formation. Silk fibres from the used spinnerets (major ampullate, minor ampullate and aciniform silk) were generally bundled in draglines after the completion of silk anchor spinning. Araneoid spiders were highly distinct from most other spiders in their draglines, being composed of major ampullate silk only. This indicates that major ampullate silk properties reported from comparative measurements of draglines should be handled with care. These observations call for a closer investigation of the function of different silk glands in spiders.


Beethoven?s tempo indications have been the subject of much scholarly debate, but a coherent understanding of his intended tempos has not yet emerged. There are several reasons for this. Firstly, some of the discussion has been based on unreliable sources, or an unrepresentative sample of sources. Secondly, the substantial differences between tempo preferences in the early nineteenth century and now has made these tempo indications difficult to approach for musicians in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. Thirdly, discussions of Beethoven?s tempo have typically focussed on works in one particular genre. This thesis overcomes these limitations by incorporating all of Beethoven?s works, and rooting the whole research in a wide variety of sources from the eighteenth and nineteenth century that have a plausible relationship with Beethoven?s practice. In particular the metronome marks by Beethoven, as well as those from his close contemporaries Carl Czerny, Ignaz Moscheles, and Karl Holz, provide great insight into the composer?s sense of tempo. By using as many sources on Beethoven?s tempo as possible, this approach makes reasonable estimations of the actual speeds that Beethoven had in mind for his works. Furthermore, it also allows an exploration of the musical intuitions that are the root cause of these speeds.


Demand disturbances in service businesses are typically managed by resource actions such as hiring, releasing and cross training of the workforce. The magnitudes of resource actions are often decided by estimating the discrepancy between the demand for services and the supply of workforce. However, naive feedback control of the resource actions by policies that equate the discrepancy to the control action can produce undesirable effects such as oscillation between hiring and releasing of workforce, and amplified oscillation through the stages of the service processes. Effective combination of multiple feedback control schemes can produce desirable policies of workforce resource actions. In this work, we study application of control theoretic principles in managing resource actions to see how various feedback control schemes can improve costs, utilization and stability of workforce.


Discussions at the annual meeting of the American Society of Internal Medicine revolved around the ever-pressing issue of cost containment and the physician's potential role in curbing expenses. Repetitive testing and the purchasing of expensive equipment were cited as two areas where physicians could exert more control. The effectiveness of Professional Standards Review Organizations and hospital reimbursement plans were topics also under fire.


Subfraction P containing a "regeneration factor" which controls the activity of three forms of DNA-dependent RNA-polymerase was isolated from rat liver hepatocyte cytosol one hour after partial hepatectomy. The factor exerts differentiated effects towards purified enzyme: it increases the activity of RNA-polymerase I and inhibits that of RNA polymerases II and III in a system with the enzyme from resting liver. In a heterologous system, the effect of the factor is nonspecific.


iv Abstract Typically they are known as 'smarks', collectively they are known as the Internet Wrestling Community (IWC). This study of the mostly internet-based texts of the IWC shows that members of that informal alliance largely conform to the norms of fan culture and behaviour described in previous studies of fans in other entertainment genres. Celebrity is shown to be a product of publicity, promotion and fanaticism, and audiences connect with stars through involvement with the characters they portray and they identify with actualities as presented in the media. Fan culture involves obsession to know everything about the stars, worship and moral judgement. However, it is contended in this dissertation that there are factors that distinguish the IWC from other large fan groups. These arise in part from the unique format of pro-wrestling as a blend of theatrical and sporting product, and in part from the convergent technological ground that enables such a widely-disbursed, anarchic and yet cohesive body to exist and exert influence. It is argued that the collective intelligence of the IWC members who produce, filter and remediate all manner of source material from gossip, rumour and speculation, to news, to secret wrestling 'insider' information has forced the dominant industry player, World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) to revaluate its production strategies. The role of the IWC in the breaking of kayfabe—the industry code of silence on the illusory aspect of wrestling—is highlighted. Using textual analysis technique this study focuses on the career rise and tragic downfall of former WWE performer Chris Benoit. It is contended that this wrestling veteran became a significant marketing image of the WWE's global media empire as a direct result of the influence of the smarks of the IWC.


Somatic hypermutation of the Ig genes occurs in rearranged V(D)J and its flanking sequences after Ag stimulation. Even though C regions and unrearranged V segments have been found to lack mutations, it is not known whether the mutational mechanism can be active in unrearranged J segments and their flanking regions. By polymerase chain reaction and direct sequencing of the 500 bp at the 5' end of the JC intron of hybridoma DNA derived from splenic B cells, we show that the frequency of mutations in unrearranged J regions of kappa and H chain genes is 0/7849 bp (upper 95% confidence interval, less than 0.00038) and 1/3209 bp (upper 95% confidence interval, less than 0.0015), respectively. The frequency (f) for the same region of rearranged kappa and H chain genes was 29/9380 bp (95% confidence, 0.0021 less than f less than 0.0044) and 16/2750 bp (95% confidence, 0.0033 less than f less than 0.0094), respectively. The significantly higher frequency of mutations in the rearranged alleles indicates that rearrangement is needed to effect full activation of the mutational mechanism. The data also show that mutations occur predominantly in the 5'-most 250 bp of the JC kappa intron. Statistical analysis of the distribution of mutations within the 5'-most 521 bp of the JC kappa intron reveals significant deviation (p = 0.000085) from a theoretically determined uniform distribution, indicating that mutations are not evenly distributed within this region.


The application of computer based image analysis to the diagnosis of retinal disease is rapidly becoming a reality due to the broad-based acceptance of electronic imaging devices throughout the medical community and through the collection and accumulation of large patient histories in picture archiving and communications systems. Advances in the imaging of ocular anatomy and pathology can now provide data to diagnose and quantify specific diseases such as diabetic retinopathy (DR). Visual disability and blindness have a profound socioeconomic impact upon the diabetic population and DR is the leading cause of new blindness in working-age adults in the industrialized world. To reduce the impact of diabetes on vision loss, robust automation is required to achieve productive computer-based screening of large at-risk populations at lower cost. Through this research we are developing automation methods for locating and characterizing important structures in the human retina such as the vascular arcades, optic nerve, macula, and lesions. In this paper we present results for the automatic detection of the optic nerve using digital red-free fundus photography. Our method relies on the accurate segmentation of the vasculature of the retina along with spatial probability distributions describing the luminance across the retina and the density, average thickness, and average orientation of the vasculature in relation to the position of the optic nerve. With these features and other prior knowledge, we predict the location of the optic nerve in the retina using a two-class, Bayesian classifier. We report 81% detection performance on a broad range of red-free fundus images representing a population of over 345 patients with 19 different pathologies associated with DR.


to another novel idea of which he was aware, namely, 'anti-intellectualism' (p. 10). By this he means the actions of dyed-in-the-wool traditionalists in the group, who quelled any reform initiatives and privileged sentiments over enquiry in the name of awaiting this 'divine'. Kandil insightfully links these new trends within the group to the founding fathers Sayyid Qutb and Hassan Banna. The conclusion, for Kandil, is political ineptitude and incompetence in government, before the group's fall from power in July 2013. The Brotherhood 'underestimated the masses' or '[overestimated] its ability to direct them using religion' (p. 142). Kandil pins down ideological inefficiency as the cause of the failure of the group, allowing him to avoid the current polarisation of being either with or against the Brotherhood and also to refrain from predicting the unpredictable future of an ongoing 'revolution'. Nevertheless, external elements such as the role of the egocentric state of Egypt and its ideological state apparatuses can still be further portrayed or even counter-balanced against the internal mutations of the Brotherhood.


The purpose of this study was to investigate the students` preference types of science writing in elementary school. The preference types of science writing held by students across the grade levels and gender were investigated. The subjects of this study were 253 elementary school students. The major results are as follows; (1) Students show positive reaction in science writing and the lower grade students are the more preference generally. (2) Schoolgirls show higher preference than schoolboys in all science writing types. (3) Favor types of elementary students are keeping in the balloon, imagination writing, brainstorming writing and story making writing, however frequency of that is low in the textbook. Through the results, the present position of science writing is comprehended and more systematic education process in science writing could be presented at the elementary education curriculum.


From 1986 through 1990, 13 previously untreated pediatric patients with advanced diffuse large-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (LC-NHL) were treated with a 12-week MACOP-B regimen at St Jude Children's Research Hospital. Although 12 patients (92%) achieved a complete response, and one had a partial response, the 2-year event-free survival was only 54 +/- 15% (SE). Seven patients remain in continuous complete remission at a median of 40 months after therapy (range 23-57 months). Relapses occurred at sites of initial involvement in five patients at a median of 3.0 months after remission (range 1.2-8.5 months). Salvage therapy with radiation, and high-dose chemotherapy and bone marrow transplantation produced four durable second remissions. The 2-year overall survival for the entire group is 84 +/- 10% (SE). The 12-week MACOP-B regimen proved feasible in an ambulatory clinic setting with only minimal toxicity. We found that MACOP-B is an effective and tolerable treatment for pediatric patients with LC-NHL but did not provide improved survival over that of a similar group of children treated in previous trials at this institution.


BACKGROUND
Molecular interrogation of genetic information has transformed our understanding of disease and is now routinely integrated into the workup and monitoring of hematological malignancies. In this article, a brief but comprehensive review is presented of state-of-the-art testing in hematological disease.

METHODS
The primary medical literature and standard textbooks in the field were queried and reviewed to assess current practices and trends for molecular testing in hematopathology by disease.

RESULTS
Pertinent materials were summarized under appropriate disease categories.

CONCLUSION
Molecular testing is well entrenched in the diagnostic and therapeutic pathways for hematological malignancies, with rapid growth and insights emerging following the integration of next-generation sequencing into the clinical workflow.


The pathophysiological mechanisms underlying chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) are still unclear. Endothelial cell (EC) remodeling is believed to contribute to this pulmonary disease triggered by thrombus and hemodynamic forces disbalance. Recently, we showed that HSP70 levels decrease by proatherogenic shear stress. Molecular chaperones play a major role in proteostasis in neurological, cancer and inflammatory/ infectious diseases. To shed light on microvascular responses in CTEPH, we characterized the expression of molecular chaperones and annexin A2, a component of the fibrinolytic system. There is no animal model that reproduces microvascular changes in CTEPH, and this fact led us to isolated endothelial cells from patients with CTEPH undergoing pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA). We exposed CTEPH-EC and control human pulmonary endothelial cells (HPAEC) to high- (15 dynes/cm2) or low- (5 dynes/cm2) shear stress. After high-magnitude shear stress HPAEC upregulated heat shock protein 70kDa (HSP70) and the HSP ER paralogs 78 and 94kDa glucose-regulated protein (GRP78 and 94), whereas CTEPH-ECs failed to exhibit this response. At static conditions, both HSP70 and HSP90 families in CTEPH-EC are decreased. Importantly, immunohistochemistry analysis showed that HSP70 expression was downregulated in vivo, and annexin A2 was upregulated. Interestingly, wound healing and angiogenesis assays revealed that HSP70 inhibition with VER-155008 further impaired CTEPH-EC migratory responses. These results implicate HSP70 as a novel master regulator of endothelial dysfunction in type 4 PH. Overall, we first show that global failure of HSP upregulation is a hallmark of CTEPH pathogenesis and propose HSP70 as a potential biomarker of this condition.


Hyperglycemia is a condition of excessive blood glucose in blood plasma caused by damage to the pancreatic beta-cell structure that causes impaired insulin secretion. This study aimed to investigate the combination of Bitter Melon and Star Fruit ethanol extract (SBME) on pro-inflammatory cytokines production in hyperglycemic albino mice models. This study was treated in 25 female albino mice weighing 25-30 and 9 weeks old. STZ was given in a dose of 145 mg.kg -1 BW intraperitoneally. Hyperglycemic mice were given orally with SBME ethanol extract at doses 10, 40, and 160 mg.kg -1 BW for two weeks. After treatment, pro-inflammatory molecules were analyzed by flow cytometry from the splenic cell. This study showed that SBME treatment can reduce the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines especially IL-1b, but increases IL-6 in hyperglycemic mice. After treatment with SBME at a dose of 40, the IL-1b pro-inflammation molecule decreased significantly (p>0,05). It reached a normal physiological level, but the dose has not been able to reduce the IL-6 pro-inflammation molecule significantly. The conclusion of this study was Bitter Melon and Star Fruit ethanol extract (SBME) with a treatment of 40 mg.kg -1 BW can suppress IL-1b pro-inflammatory cytokines in hyperglycemic mice models, but has not been able to reduce the expression of IL-6 pro-inflammatory cytokines. Suggesting this medicinal herb might be a useful strategy for future therapeutic interventions in of


The paper presents an innovative dual purpose automotive suspension topology, combining for the first time the active damping qualities with mechanical vibrations power regeneration capabilities. The new configuration consists of a linear generator as an actuator, a power processing stage based on a gyrator operating under sliding mode control and dynamics controllers. The researched design is simple and energetically efficient, enables an accurate force–velocity suspension characteristic control as well as energy regeneration control, with no practical implementation constraints imposed over the theoretical design. Active damping is based on Skyhook suspension control scheme, which enables overcoming the passive damping tradeoff between high- and low-frequency performance, improving both body isolation and the tire's road grip. The system-level design includes configuration of three system operation modes: passive, semi–active or fully active damping, all using the same electro-mechanical infrastructure, and each focusing on different objective: dynamics improvement or power regeneration. Conclusively, the innovative hybrid suspension is theoretically researched, practically designed and analysed, and proven to be feasible as well as profitable in the aspects of power regeneration, vehicle dynamics improvement and human health risks reduction.


An approach to the synthesis of the waveguide resonator sections filled with a lossy dielectric and absorbing up to 50% of the input power is proposed. The approach is based on the procedure of searching for complex-valued natural frequencies of the resonator sections that provide the required characteristics of a corresponding natural oscillation. Using this approach is promising to design the multi-resonator filters absorbing completely the input power at the desired frequency. The exact numerical results of designing the three-resonator narrow-band absorption filters in the WR-75 rectangular waveguide are presented.


Water-borne parasitic infections have become a source of concern in recent times due to the contamination of various water sources. A survey on the parasitic contamination of local drinking water sources in Aba metropolis was carried out between August and October 2018. This was done to evaluate the extent of contamination of these water sources and their public health implications. A total number of eighty (80) water samples were investigated from five (5) major water sources within the study area using the standard sedimentation method and examined for parasite cysts, eggs and larvae. Physical/macroscopic examination was done to determine the pH, colour, odour, temperature and presence/absence of particles. Among the water sources analyzed, stream water samples had the highest rate of parasite contamination 27 (44.3%) followed by river water 14 (22.9%) while the least contaminated was borehole 7 (11.5%). Rainwater was found free from parasitic infestation. The differences in the level of contamination among the water sources analyzed were found to be statistically significant (P<0.05). Five parasites Entamoeba histolytica, Giardia lamblia, Ascaris lumbricoides of Entamoeba coli and Hookworm were observed. Each of the sample sources except rainwater harbored at least one of these. Among these parasites, Giardia lamblia had the highest rate occurrence of 15 (24.6%), followed by Entamoeba histolytica 14 (22.9%) and the least frequently occurring parasite was hookworm 8 (13.1%). Most of the identified water sources are utilized by the populace who lack access to potable water. The detection of protozoan and helminthic parasites in drinking water sources is a serious public health concern, hence the proper implementation of a supply of safe drinking water is vital.


The first signs of Villafafila of which we have documentary evidence, date back to the tenth century through the acquisition of some PAUSATAS from some small local landowners by the Monastery of Schagun.
Exploitation of these salt mines was carried out until the eighteenth century. Most of the salts which were extracted were destined from human consumption and the remainder used in the production of gun powder.
From the time of King Alfonso VII of Castille these salt mines were a royal monopoly and were traditionally leased for their exploitation and commercialization. This was controlled by the Law and culminated in 1338, with the Coronation of King Alfonso XI of Castille.


The article presents the objectives of the Norwegian health care system as they have been outlined in governmental publications from 1672 to 1999. A model for analysis of objectives is presented. Concern for the patient, estimated medical needs in society and administrative guidelines are common elements in the set of objectives through the period. Effective use of resources became a concern at the end of the period. The stated objectives of the health care systems of Norway are more concerned with the health care system than with health in itself. The model for analysis uses the concepts of mercy, benefit, order and profit for providers to classify the various objectives. Evaluated by this model, the main objectives seem to have been surprisingly stable throughout the period covered by the study, though the concept of benefit seems to become a more important consideration during later decades.


INTRODUCTION: The ankle sprain is one of the most common injuries in athletes. Direct evaluation of the ligament laxity can be obtained through the objective measurement of extreme passive inversion and eversion movements, but there are few studies on the use of the evaluation of the passive resistive torque of the ankle to assess the capsule and ligaments resistance. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare the inversion and eversion passive torque in athletes with and without ankle sprains history. METHOD: 32 female basketball and volleyball athletes (16.06 ± 0.8 years old; 67.63 ± 8.17 kg; 177.8 ± 6.47 cm) participated in this study. Their ankles were divided into two groups: control group (29), composed by symptom-free ankles, and ankle sprain group, composed by ankles which have suffered injury (29). The resistive torque at maximum passive ankle movement was measured by the isokinetic dynamometer and the muscular activity by electromyography system. The athletes performed 2 repetitions of inversion and eversion movement at 5, 10 and 20°/s and the same protocol only at maximum inversion movement. RESULTS: The resistive passive torque during the inversion and eversion was lower in the ankle sprain group. This group also showed lower torques at the maximum inversion movement. No differences were observed between inversion and eversion movement. CONCLUSIONS: Ankle sprain leads to lower passive torque, indicating reduction of the resistance of the lateral ankle ligaments and mechanical laxity.


We all identify the need to integrate climate change into corporate strategy, with a profitable Carbon Capture Utilisation & Storage (CCUS) business model the elusive goal. Today, CCUS forms 10% of the R&D program of Total, a founding contributor to the OGCI Climate Investments fund. Here in the North East of Scotland, UK and Scottish Governments, along with project developer Pale Blue Dot Energy and Total are providing match funding to the European Commission's Connecting Europe Facilities fund to progress feasibility work on the Acorn CCS project. As society continues to drive an expectation beyond hydrocarbons, what proposal might the North East of Scotland offer in response?
 To meet ambitious emissions reduction targets, the UK must envisage radical changes to the energy economy. Already affecting power generation, these changes must drive further into transport and domestic/industrial energy consumption. Two technologies which may play a part in the decarbonisation of the UK energy business are CCUS and the use of Hydrogen as an energy carrier and energy store, with several studies showing that clean hydrogen is potentially the lowest cost route to meeting UK emission targets in multiple sectors. This builds on the UK's world class gas network infrastructure, which can be repurposed to avoid becoming stranded, avoiding the enormous expense of increasing the capacity of the electricity transmission network, much of which would lie idle during the summer. The UK gas network carries approximately three times more energy than the electricity network, at one third the unit cost to consumers, and meets winter peaks that are five times greater.
 Different to previous CCUS projects, and having the Oil and Gas Authority (OGA)'s first carbon dioxide appraisal and storage licence award, ACORN is an opportunity to evaluate a brownfield CCUS solution to capture, transport and store post-combustion CO2, combined with an upside through emerging pre-combustion CO2 capture technology relating to the production and sale of bulk hydrogen produced from natural gas with a zero-emission target. Located at the St Fergus Gas Terminal – an active industrial site where around 35% of all the natural gas used in the UK comes onshore. ACORN is designed as a "low-cost", "low-risk" CCUS project, to be built quickly, taking advantage of existing oil and gas infrastructure and well understood offshore storage sites. The Acorn Hydrogen project undertakes to evaluate and develop an advanced reformation process which will deliver the most energy and cost-efficient industrial hydrogen production process whilst capturing and sequestering CO2 emissions. An initial phase offers a full-chain demonstration project, an essential step toward commissioning the concept and subsequent commercialisation of large-scale CCUS and Hydrogen deployment in the UK.
 SPE Offshore Europe represents an ideal opportunity to update both the region and industry on results, observations, and conclusions with respect to the evolving development architecture, selected process technologies, Government and gas transportation regulatory engagement as this, the leading Scottish CCS project continues its journey toward a final investment decision.


: The subject of this research is the effect of Internet-based social networks upon the emergence, dynamics, and specificity of the process of protest mobilization. The object of this research is the mass mobilization during the course of revolutionary processes and massive antigovern-ment campaigns. The author examines the possibilities of political mobilization through the social networks in Russia based on the conducted research of user behavior of the popular Russian social network VK. A special attention is given to the problem of spontaneous occurrences of mass protests, as well as the modern dynamics of the events of "Arab Spring" and appearance of the "Occupy" movement within the context of political science. The empirical part of the research is conducting using the descriptive method and statistical analysis of media behavior of the VK users. The theoretical analysis relies on the results of modern research in the field of media and communication studies, social movements, and conflict politics. The main conclusions of this research is firstly, affirmation of limited influence of the social network VK upon involvement of the youth into a mass protest in Russia; secondly, the general supplemental role of the social networks into the process of protest mobilization in the cases of typical political conflicts. On the other hand, the conducted analysis allows us to substantiate the possibility of a quality influence of social networks upon the dynamics of mass protests in the case of emergence of exceptional events that are transgressive for public conscious-ness, where the "new media" instruments are able to rapidly synchronize local demands, change their scale, and involve broad social groups into the message of protest and the culture of social opposition. The novelty of this research consists in refutation of the thesis of exceptionally high influence of social networks onto the forming of mass protest the ideal-political perceptions within youth. Alternatively, the results of this analysis allow defining the future directions of research on the causes and dynamic characteristics of the mass protests. ,


he SINCERE project (SINo-european Circular Economy and Resource Efficiency) is addressing the following priority themes under the Green Economy area:

- The greenness and dynamics of economies; - Metrics and indicators for a green economy;

- Policies planning, and institutions (including business) for a green economy

- Green economy in cities and metropolitan areas.

A focus on resources, sustainable consumption and production is at the heart of the principles of the Green Economy, according to the UN. China and Europe have highlighted the importance of resource-efficiency and moving towards a 'circular economy'. Europe has adopted Resource Efficiency as a flagship initiative, and China passed a Circular Economy Law in 2009. In light of these policy developments, there is a need to better understand the importance of resource efficiency on economic performance, the metrics and indicators through which action can be motivated and monitored, the underlying drivers of change and prospects for the future, as well as the role of institutions and policies. SINCERE has been developed to address these issues by bringing together leading researchers from five countries: UCL ISR in the UK, the Institute for Applied Ecology in China, Wuppertal University and FHI-ISI in Germany, ParisMinesTech in France and UM-MERIT in the Netherlands.

A number of sometimes conflicting concepts can be found in debate describing desirable futures, e.g. the Green Economy, Sustainable Growth, etc. As the difference and the overlap across them is not always clear it is important to implement theoretical comparisons of these concepts and case studies exploring how they have been applied in Europe and China. Particular importance will be given to the Circular Economy and Resource Efficiency (CE/RE) and how they relate to the Green Economy. In addition to help deliver clarity in the theoretical debate, SINCERE will deliver new indicators for measuring CE/RE. As Indicators are critical for achieving policy goals, we will tackle them from three different angles through Emergy, innovation and SGAP-based indicators.

Policy and Institutional settings are clearly very influential on how our society moves towards a Green Economy. The journey of innovations from laboratories to the marketplace is very influenced by policies and institutions supposed to tackle the obstacles normally faced by new technologies. SINCERE will examine the importance of innovation in enabling resource efficiency, both in China and Europe, and will study what enables and prevents the development of new, resource-efficient technologies. In the last part of the project SINCERE will examine historical patterns between CE/RE and macro-economic performance with particular focus on the relationship between CE/RE, economic competiveness, trade, and industrial structure. After having assessed past trends SINCERE will model how the future might look like by producing scenarios to analyse the implications of CE/RE on the economy, and the impact of policies. This will include multi-scale modelling, from the urban to the global scale. Models play a key role in economic and environmental policy, but often the issue of resources has been sidelined in economic modelling, leaving policymakers without clear guidance on the importance of the issues. Our modelling work will advance the state-of-the-art for analysis of the macro-economics of resources.

SINCERE is a collaborative project building on the comparative advantage of the partners and their knowledge of the national context to develop a truly multi-disciplinary project where disciplines such as neoclassical economic, system dynamics, econometrics, ecology and innovation studies find a space to make an overall compelling picture. Our workplan is integrated to ensure that this project has a legacy so that the ties developed between European and Chinese partners are here to stay and produce future projects.


The author tries to explain the discrepancy between theory and experiment with regard to the temperature coefficient of inductance of coils. Experiments show that the temperature coefficient of inductance is not equal to the coefficient of linear expansion of the material of the coil, but exceeds it many timies. Such a considerable discrepancy cannot be explained by means of the factors pointed out by certain authors. There must still exist an unknown factor which is responsible for it, probably eddy currents in the mass of the winding as distinguished from skin effect. The author's experiments confirm this. Other experiments show the influence of various factors in the construction of a coil on its temperature coefficient of inductance.


In the West, recent decades have demonstrated an epidemiological trend towards esophago-gastric adenocarcinomas (EGAC), with considerable associated mortality. Historically, chemotherapy has represented the sole systemic treatment option in the advanced EGAC setting, in addition to complementing the role of surgery and radiotherapy in the case of localized disease. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) represent a novel systemic therapeutic choice and have revolutionized the management of other malignancies, including melanoma and renal cell carcinomas. This article considers the rationale for ICIs in EGAC, reviews the evidence supporting their role in the current standard of care in EGAC, and briefly considers ongoing trials and future directions for the ICI class in EGAC.


This paper studies a class of transformation matrices and its applications. Firstly, we introduce a class of transformation matrices between two different vector operators and give some important properties of it. Secondly, we consider its two applications. The first one is to improve Qian Jiling's formula. And the second one is to deal with the observability of discrete-time stochastic linear systems with Markovian jump and multiplicative noises. A new necessary and sufficient condition for the weak observability will be given in the second application.


The antibodies against glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in the CSF of patients with multiple sclerosis and other neurological diseases were determined. It was shown that the binding activity of CSF IgG with GFAP was higher in patients with MS and other organic neurological diseases as compared to control group (neurotics). The results support the idea, that in SM there is a general immune dysregulation, leading to production of a variety of autoantibodies against different antigens, including the presently shown GFAP.