Purpose: To evaluate results with the retrievable Günther Tulip (GT) and Celect inferior vena cava filters (IVCFs) placed at the intensive care unit (ICU) bedside under "real-time" intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) guidance in multiple-trauma patients. Methods: Between December 2004 and December 2008, 187 multiple-trauma patients (109 men; mean age 44±2 years, range 17‒71) with contraindications to low-dose anticoagulation therapy or sequential compression devices had Günther Tulip (n=97) or Celect (n=90) retrievable IVCFs placed under real-time IVUS guidance. Günther Tulip filters were inserted using a "double-puncture" technique. The Celect IVCFs were placed with a simplified single-puncture technique in which the filter introducer sheath was advanced until the radiopaque tip "covered" the IVUS image of the renal vein, indicating that the filter sheath was in position for filter deployment. The 2 filter groups were compared on the endpoints of technical implantation success, retrievability, prevention of PE, and procedure-related deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Results: As verified by abdominal radiography, 93.1% (174/187) of IVCFs were placed without complications; 6 IVCFs (all GT; p=0.03 versus Celect) were misplaced in the iliac vein but uneventfully retrieved and replaced in the IVC within 24 hours. Two insertion site femoral vein DVTs (both in the dual puncture group; p>0.2) and 5 groin hematomas occurred during follow-up. GT filters were in place a mean of 107 days and Celect 97 days. In this time, 2 pulmonary embolisms occurred (1 in each group; p>0.2). Of the 115 filters scheduled for retrieval (50 Günther Tulip, 65 Celect), 33 (23 Günther Tulip, 10 Celect) could not be retrieved (p=0.0004). Vena cavography identified filter tilting (>20°) in 21 cases (15 GT, 6 Celect), while 12 filters (8 GT, 4 Celect) had extended indwell times (mean 187 days) and excessive tissue ingrowth covering the retrieval hook. Subjectively, the Celect filters were clinically "easier" to retrieve; they also had fewer cases of significant tilt (>20%) than the GT filters, but the difference was not statistically significant. Conclusion: GT and Celect IVCFs placed at the ICU bedside under IVUS guidance in multiple-trauma patients was simple, safe, and avoided transporting critically ill patients out of the ICU. Further investigation of the single sheath IVUS technique and the role of retrievable IVCFs in multi-trauma patients is warranted.


Chromatin
DNA is packaged in the nucleus in basic structural units called nucleosomes, each consisting of a segment of DNA wound around eight histone proteins. Nucleosomes are evenly spaced along the DNA unless they are interrupted by other structural landmarks such as transcription factors. What determines the spacing and phasing distances of nucleosomes is unknown, but the answer seems to lie with a group of proteins called chromatin remodelers, which are known to assemble, slide, and dismantle the histone part of nucleosomes. Oberbeckmann et al. show that some chromatin remodelers also contain a ruler element. Using this built-in ruler, these remodelers sense and process information in the nucleosome environment and then adjust nucleosome sliding direction bias, thus determining the spacing and phasing of nucleosomes.

Nat. Commun. 12 , 3232 (2021).


As natural language processing (NLP) has recently seen an unprecedented level of excitement, and more people are eager to enter the field, it is unclear whether current research reproducibility efforts are sufficient for this group of beginners to apply the latest developments. To understand their needs, we conducted a study with 93 students in an introductory NLP course, where students reproduced the results of recent NLP papers. Surprisingly, we find that their programming skill and comprehension of research papers have a limited impact on their effort spent completing the exercise. Instead, we find accessibility efforts by research authors to be the key to success, including complete documentation, better coding practice, and easier access to data files. Going forward, we recommend that NLP researchers pay close attention to these simple aspects of open-sourcing their work, and use insights from beginners' feedback to provide actionable ideas on how to better support them.


The ACM Career and Job Center is a web site set up just for ACM members. Getting a job is something all final-year students will be deeply concerned about. The benefit of the ACM job board is it's concerned with only one field: computer science. So what does the site offer? It's split into two main areas: Job Seekers and Employers. Within the job seekers section, there are three main areas of concern to students: searching for jobs, posting a resume, and job resources. The job search is fairly standard, with the ability to search by keyword, location, or job type. At the time of this writing, there were 125 jobs listed. As a warning to non-U.S. students, 108 of these jobs were in the United States. They cover a broad range of careers, with a slight focus on academic jobs. You can set up automated alerts so that you don't have to visit the site every day to check for new jobs. The Resources section is the weakest of the three, not only being extremely U.S.-centric but also somewhat disorganized. Although there is a substantial amount of information, you have to dig for it. The final section offers the ability to post a resume for potential employers to view. While I don't advocate using the ACM Job Center exclusively, it does provide another place to look: http://jobs.acm.org. —Daniel Gooch t he academic job search lasts about nine months—after years of preparation! It's a grueling process, and the chances for failure are high. Before setting out on an academic job search, it's crucial that you prepare a number of key documents that will help you sell yourself as a candidate and future faculty member. This checklist and related advice can help you prepare the right application materials. statement, teaching statement. I call these the primary documents. The book Tomorrow's Professor has great advice on how to make these documents shine. Create both HTML and PDF versions of these primary documents. In the cover letter, use bold face on the names of faculty member. Keep your cover letter very brief—two paragraphs at most. Have local faculty outside your area read over your materials, and most important of all, listen to their feedback. List impact factors or acceptance rates alongside your publications in your CV. This gives people outside your field a crude metric to judge your publications. 2. Social media profiles. …


: Participatory monitoring and evaluation (PM&E) in project evaluation has gained impetus in recent literature. This paper interrogates youth participation in intervention programmes in Ghana with special reference to Local Enterprise and Skills Development Programme (LESDEP). With the aid of primary and secondary data, this paper unpacks the questions around programme target beneficiaries, their mode of participation and the impacts of current models on PM&E. The study reveals the key constraints of youth participation in PM&E, the evolving disapproval of the top-down approach while probing into the existing opportunities. The case study reveals that youth intervention programmes in Ghana are not only confronted with uncoordinated and overlapping ministries, department and agencies, but also there are power dynamics between stakeholders, in particular, target beneficiaries and programme implementers. The elusive intersection between beneficiaries and the implementing agency impacted negatively on the programme sustainability. The poor PM&E in youth intervention programmes in Ghana is a key reason that has hampered mainstream socio-economic development. The key lesson to be drawn from the case study is the need for matching perspectives of PM&E as well as a recognition and management of power disparities between target beneficiaries and programme implementers. Thus, realizing desired programme objectives will require a different approach to structuring, implementing and monitoring of youth intervention initiatives in Ghana.


Citrulline formation by the Ca2+ CaM-dependent nitric oxide synthase of bovine endothelium is inhibited reversibly by 7-nitroindazole, 1-phenylimidazole, and imidazole. As measured at 0.67 microM (6R)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4), IC50 values of 0.8, 200, and 50 microM were determined for 7-nitroindazole, 1-phenylimidazole, and imidazole, respectively. Increasing concentrations of added BH4 cofactor increased the IC50 values for 7-nitroindazole and 1-phenylimidazole but did not alter the IC50 value for imidazole. 7-nitroindazole inhibited citrulline formation by the endothelial cNOS noncompetitively versus arginine substrate but competitively versus BH4 with a Ki value of 0.8 microM. 1-Phenylimidazole inhibited citrulline formation by the endothelial cNOS competitively versus both arginine substrate and BH4 with a Ki value of 50 microM. Imidazole inhibited citrulline formation competitively versus arginine substrate but noncompetitively versus BH4 with a Ki value of 50 microM. Neither 7-nitroindazole, 1-phenylimidazole, nor imidazole inhibited the cytochrome c reductase activity of endothelial cNOS at concentrations up to 5000-fold higher than their Ki values for inhibition of citrulline formation. By comparison with the previously determined kinetic properties of the other nitric oxide synthase isoforms, these observations establish that 1-phenylimidazole displays marked specificity for inhibiting the inducible nitric oxide synthase isoform and, since 7-nitroindazole has been reported not to elevate blood pressure (McCall et al., 1991, Br. J. Pharmacol. 102, 234-238), fails to confirm the expected insensitivity of the constitutive endothelial nitric oxide synthase to inhibition by 7-nitroindazole.


Several methods has been proposed to modeling species distributions, also a few models consider explicitly spatial autocorrelation or spatial neighborhood. We compare a model based on autologistic model with covariates with standard methods frequently used in species distribution models. Accuracy assessment is important in species distribution models. The value of a model depends on the accuracy of its outputs. We evaluated the accuracy in terms of ROC analysis and the F-measure proposed by Li and Gou 2013 for virtual species and for real species data.


of useful Web sites, will enhance your exploration of this rich resource. (A list of educational research Web sites discussed in this article are available at http://www-leland.stanford.edu/ ~davidf/edwebresearch.) The Internet refers to a worldwide network of computers talking a language known as TCP/IP. Tens of millions of people in the United States alone work or play with computers that are connected to this network, and worldwide, the number must exceed 100 million. To most users (including other researchers and scholars), the Internet appears as e-mail and the World Wide Web (WWW). The former is probably familiar to anyone reading this article; indeed, estimates are that the number of e-mail letters sent in the United States first exceeded the number of paper postal items in 1995. The WWW, virtually unheard of in 1993, now occupies a prominent place in world popular culture; the once obscure symbol http:// is now ubiquitous. The WWW is a standardized method of transferring files (text, graphics, audio) across the Internet and can result in attractive, vivid, and engaging presentations (known as Web pages) to users connecting to the Internet via Web browsers (Netscape and Microsoft Internet Explorer are currently the most popular). It seems likely that e-mail, web browsing, and-as the speed of telecommunications inevitably increasesvideoconferencing will constitute the core of Internet use for researchers and scholars in the near future.' One


The present study evaluated bioaccumulation of heavy metals and selected minerals from mining effluent contaminated soil from Ishiagu, Ebonyi State South-East Nigeria treated with fertilizers into Cucurbita pepo vegetable. Effluents of Crush rock, Crush stone and Ezza quarry sites were used for the study. Heavy metals and selected minerals in both soil and vegetable were analysed using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. Results showed that level of these heavy metals in the soil were more at the discharge points. Results also showed that Cucurbita pepo accumulated considerable amounts of these heavy metals. However, high levels of these heavy metals were found in pots without fertilizers (Sample D) than pots treated with urea (Sample E) and NPK 20.10.10 fertilizers (Sample F). The toxicity of these heavy metals at high levels of exposure is well known, but of a major concern is the possibility that continual exposure at relatively low levels of heavy metals through consumption of Cucurbita pepo vegetable may entail adverse health effects.


Abstract With the rapid popularity of Internet and information technology, local area network is becoming insecure. Along with the improving advantages, security threats are emerging continually and bringing great pressure and challenges. An identification and analysis method for network real-time threats is proposed to accurately assess and master the current network security situation, and thereby preferably guide a dynamic defense. This method recognizes the current threats and predicts the subsequent threats by modeling attack scenarios and simulating attack state transferring. The threat identification model is called Attack State Transition Graph and Real-Time Attack State Graph, which is constructed by an Expanded Finite-State Automata. Based on the former possible threat paths, the state transitions can be illustrated and based on the latter, actually successful threats and threat paths are described. Then a threat identification algorithm is presented based on the above model. With this algorithm, various invalid threats are filtered; current valid threats are obtained by correlating the dynamic alarms with a static attack scenario. Further on, combining the Attack State Transition Graph with a Real-Time Attack State Graph, a possible next threat and a threat path can be identified and an attack target can also be predicted. Finally, the simulated results in an experimental network verify the feasibility and validity of the model and algorithm. This method provides a novel solution to evaluate and analyze the network security situation.


DNA-binding transcription factors (TFs) remain challenging to target with molecular probes. Many TFs function in part through interaction with Mediator; we sought to block p53 function by disrupting the p53-Mediator interaction. Through rational design and activity-based screening, we characterized a stapled peptide, with functional mimics of both p53 activation domains, that selectively inhibited p53- and Mediator-dependent transcription in vitro. This "bivalent peptide" also suppressed p53 transcriptional response in human cancer cells. Our strategy circumvents the TF and instead targets the TF-Mediator interface, with desired transcriptional outcomes. Different TFs target Mediator through different subunits, suggesting this strategy could be broadly applied.


In order to attract many visitors to their own website, it is extremely important for website developers that their webpage is one of the best ranked webpages of search engines. As a rule, search engine operators do not disclose their exact ranking algorithm, so that website developers usually have only vague ideas about which measures have particularly positive influences on the webpage ranking. Conversely, we ask the question: "What are the properties of the best ranked webpages?" For this purpose, we perform a detailed analysis, in which we compare the properties of the best ranked webpages with the worse ranked webpages. Furthermore, we compare countryspecific differences. TYPE OF PAPER AND


The geometry of Sp(3)/U(3) as a subvariety of Gr(3,6) is explored to explain several examples given by Mukai of non-abelian Brill-Noether loci, and to give some new examples. These examples identify Brill-Noether loci of vector bundles on linear sections of the Lagrangian Grassmannian Sp(3)/U(3) with orthogonal linear sections of the dual variety and vice versa. A main technical result of independent interest is the fact that any nodal hyperplane section of the Lagrangian Grassmannian projected from the node is a linear section of the Grassmannian Gr(2,6).


That Sunday feeling... The weekend's over, there's nothing on TV except for the Antiques Roadshow. The only thing you can do is face the fact that the working week is just around the corner. And for Matt Bletch, the working week is not a prospect to be relished. He's moved to middle of nowhere and taken a job at the only school that would have him. Surrounded by social misfits, clowns and psychopaths (and that's just his fellow teachers) he's left his girlfriend, social life and sanity back in London in the hope of earning some cash and maybe even finishing off his novel in the school holidays. Unfortunately, no one told Matt that a year spent in the dead-end town of Buxdon is unlikely to get the creative juices flowing. Walking through town before the first week of term, everything is grey, damp and smells slightly dubious. Will he ever tempt his girlfriend down to stay? Will the kids lynch him? And will Matt survive a year in the place where every day is like Sunday?


In this work, we develop and employ a multiscale-multiphysics simulator (based on coupled VFF molecular mechanics, 10-band sp3s∗-spin tight-binding formalism, many-body full configuration interaction, and a TCAD transport module) to study and compare the performance of realistically-sized multiple-quantum-well wurtzite InGaN LEDs in polar (c-plane) and nonpolar (a-plane) crystallographic directions. The a-plane device exhibited smaller yet non-vanishing internal fields and higher optical transition rate as compared to the c-plane counterpart.


Conservative treatment of meatacarpale fracture is recommended if there are no joint displacement, rotation failures, displacement over 30 degrees ad axim and shortening over 5 mm. Operative procedures should be done in open fractures and serial of fractures of metacarpale bones. Early functionally treatment should be done in stable, not displaced fractures. Cast can be used only for a short time in full extended position of fingers and flexion in metacarpo-phalangeal joint in 60-90 degrees. Twin-tapes after reduction of edema allowed free range of motion by fixed rotation. Closed reduction of displaced fractures of fifth metacarpal bone (boxer's fracture) isn't successful. Cases with displacement over 30 degrees may be operatively treated by intramedullary stabilization.


Arterial switch is a relatively novel surgical approach aimed at augmentation of blood flow at the account of less important arterial branches. The method consists in suturing vessels of different diameter end to end and end to side. Arterial switch is used for perfusion of donor organs, kidney in particular. The authors suggested a variant of arterial switch--intrapericardial subclavian to pulmonary arterial anastomosis--in the presence of stenosis of right ventricular outflow tract in tetralogy of Fallot. This anastomosis has several advantages over classical methods of surgical correction of Fallot's tetralogy. Coronary artery bypass surgery using mammary artery grafts is based on arterial switch principle and represents the most effective technique of treatment of coronary artery stenoses. Multiple experimental and clinical methods of arterial switch having been proposed and investigated by the authors since 1955 have found wide application in reconstructive surgery.


The use of application management systems has become a valuable approach in dealing with dynamic information filtering, resource allocation, and resource control. Traditionally, management systems provide the application or the user with capabilities to statically monitor and control the resources. This work presents a knowledge-based management system that offers dynamic service to distributed applications as well as dynamic control of the application's environment. It also studies the roles of different agents in an application management environment. The presented framework deals with heterogeneity of distributed environments and enables agents to utilize dynamic information regarding the resources. Agents are used as resource administrators, application agents and user agents. They utilize control mechanisms to manage the resources with respect to the application requirements, control the user's environment and monitor-control-report management information. The paradigms of control mechanism presented here exploit the agent capabilities and their communication environment.


Finite element model for vibration and buckling of functionally graded sandwich beams based on a refined shear deformation theory is presented. The core of sandwich beam is fully metal or ceramic and skins are composed of a functionally graded material across the depth. Governing equations of motion and boundary conditions are derived from the Hamilton's principle. Effects of power-law index, span-to-height ratio, core thickness and boundary conditions on the natural frequencies, critical buckling loads and load-frequency curves of sandwich beams are discussed. Numerical results show that the above-mentioned effects play very important role on the vibration and buckling analysis of functionally graded sandwich beams.


In the field of journal bearings, the microtexture processing technology of the bush inner surface has become an effective way to improve the performance of journal bearing. The two-dimensional finite element model of microtexture surface with different shapes of friction pairs is established based on the Navier–Stokes (N-S) equation, and the effect of lubrication conditions on the frictional performance of friction pairs is analyzed. Four microtextures that are radial grooves, circular pits, local reticulation, and circumferential grooved microtexture are processed by laser microcarving on the surface of specimen, and three different lubricating medium conditions are set up with high-viscosity oil, low-viscosity oil, and oil–solid mixture, and the effect of lubrication condition and texture shape on the wear reduction of the microtexture friction pair is studied. Results show that the concave microtexture and the radial groove can improve effectively the friction performance of the friction pair. The microtexture can effectively store the lubricating medium and wear abrasive particles in the mixed lubrication, and avoid effectively the second wear, and its average friction coefficient of radial groove microtexture is 22%, 30% lower than that of high- and low-viscosity lubricating media, respectively. Both theory and experiment have proved that the effect of microtexture on high-viscosity lubricant is better than that of low-viscosity lubricant.


Based on the constructivist learning theory, this paper adopts the anchor teaching method to construct the COME theory model which takes the classroom, viewpoint, method and elements as the main unit according to the requirements of the education and training plan for outstanding engineers. Through the exploration and practice of the education and training plan for the outstanding engineers in the specialty of optoelectronic information science and engineering, the result proves that the students can complete the self-study of "anchor" step by step under the guidance of teachers. Moreover, they can not only actively participate in the teaching and learning process, be willing to explore and work hard, but also will be able to gradually improve abilities of collecting and processing information, acquiring new knowledge and enhance the ability to analyze and solve problems.


We show that desired swirl distributions may be obtained in non-circular and non-cylindrical inlet ducts by tailored vane distributions designed with an a priori method, and further explain dominant physics for the spatial evolution of swirl in expanding or contracting ducts. Virginia Tech has developed the StreamVane™ device for producing swirl distortion, as well as the ScreenVane™ device for producing combined swirl and pressure distortions. Up to now, all StreamVane and ScreenVane devices have designed to fit in a right, circular cylindrical duct. This is usually the simplest geometry to use for testing the response (in terms of performance and stall margin changes, as well as aeromechanics) of turbofan engines to inlet distortion.
 However, many potential applications exist for generating or removing swirl distortions in ducts that are not cylindrical. For example, turboshaft engines generally do not have a cylindrical inlet to install a StreamVane in front of. Yet, inlet distortion is still very relevant to the performance of the engine. With a non-cylindrical StreamVane, inlet distortions generated by various flight conditions can be tested in conjunction with the real aircraft inlet. Further applications exist both within and outside of the field of turbomachinery for flow conditioning purposes. Four separate conceptual designs were created and analyzed: a converging duct (nozzle), a diverging duct (diffuser), a square duct, and an annular duct. Twin vortex swirl profiles were specified for all of the cases except the annular duct, which was designed to create a single vortex.
 However, in a real application, these swirl profiles would instead be specified by the end-user depending on what is required for the test. As in circular cylindrical StreamVanes, the end-user has the option of selecting any physically consistent swirl profile. All of the concept designs were checked with CFD analysis in ANSYS CFX. The square and annular StreamVanes showed comparable performance to a baseline StreamVane in a cylindrical duct (RMS errors of 1.5° or less). The StreamVanes placed in a nozzle and diffuser demonstrated that swirl patterns may also be created in converging and diverging ducts, and that the varying cross sectional area has a non-negligible influence on the development of the swirl profile. A simple explanation has been made for this altered flow development has been, and is shown to make good quantitative predictions of the changes in swirl with downstream location.
 The demonstration of the capability to create StreamVanes for applications that do not use cylindrical ducts should open a variety of possibilities, while building on existing experiences.


Dogs were given paraldehyde by stomach tube, in doses of 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 ml. per kilogram. Normal dogs excreted 11.1 to 28.0 per cent via the lungs, and 0.1 to 2.5 per cent via the kidneys. In paired experiments, using the same dogs before and after liver damage, the pulmonary excretion was always substantially greater after liver damage. The increased pulmonary excretion was due in some animals chiefly to an increased rate of excretion; in others it was due chiefly to a prolonged time of excretion.

Urinary excretion of paraldehyde was comparatively small both in normal dogs and in dogs with liver damage.


This paper estimates the value of a statistical life (VSL), or the willingness to trade-off wealth and mortality risk, among 430,000 U.S. Army soldiers choosing whether to reenlist between 2002 and 2010. Using a discrete choice random utility approach and significant variation in retention bonuses and mortality risk, we recover average VSL estimates that range between $500,000 and $900,000, an order of magnitude smaller than U.S. civilian labor market estimates. Additionally, we fulfill Rosen's (1974) vision to recover indifference curves between wealth and non-market goods (e.g., mortality risk) and document substantial heterogeneity in preferences across types. We find that the VSL increases rapidly with mortality risk within type, and that soldiers in combat occupations have much lower VSLs than those in noncombat occupations. We estimate that the quadrupling of mortality risk from the Afghanistan and Iraq wars reduced annual welfare by $2,355 per soldier, roughly 8 percent of pay.


This preliminary report presents the cost of producing the important crops grown on the 26 farms on the Farm Accounting Route at Askov, Pine County, Minnesota in 1927.


Abstract Objectives: We aimed to assess placental volume and placental mean gray value in vitamin D deficiency and healthy placentas in the first trimester of pregnancy using three-dimensional (3D) ultrasonography (USG) and Virtual Organ Computer-aided Analysis (VOCAL). Methods: This prospective cross sectional study comprised 274 patients, divided into two groups according to the presence or absence of vitamin D deficiency (<20 ng/ml deficient, n = 153, >20 ng/ml not deficient, n= 121) in the first trimester of pregnancy. Placental volume and placental volumetric mean gray values were evaluated. Placental volume (cm3) was analyzed using the VOCAL imaging program and a 3D histogram was used to calculate the volumetric mean gray value (%). Results: Placental volume was significantly less in the vitamin D deficiency group (p = 0.017) Volumetric mean gray value of the placenta was significantly higher in the vitamin D deficiency group (p= 0.003). Maternal serum PAPP-A (MoM) and f-β Hcg (MoM) were significantly lower in the vitamin D deficiency group (p= 0.008, p = 0.003, respectively). In linear regression analyses, serum vitamin D concentration was significantly associated with the plasental volume (β = 0.16; p = 0.01). Conclusion: Placental configuration and development were associated with vitamin D even in the first trimester of pregnancy. To ensure healthy pregnancy outcomes, vitamin D screening applied in the early stages of pregnancy or even before pregnancy.


The article is devoted to research of competitiveness as a priority of economic factor for functioning of enterprises in a changing external environment. The factors of reduction and promotion of competitiveness of the enterprise are analyzed, taking into account the competitive advantages of the organization. Attention is paid to the methods of analysis of competitive advantages, which allow to measure and forecast the competitiveness of enterprises, to study the most favorable directions of its increase. The purpose of the article is to study the possibilities of increasing the competitiveness of industrial enterprises in conditions of implementation of strategies for their development. Methodology. Methodological basis of the research were general scientific, special and statistical methods of economic research. The monographic method, the method of logical generalization and system analysis were used. Results. The factors of reduction and promotion of competitiveness of the enterprise are analyzed, taking into account the competitive advantages of the organization. It is determined that it is necessary to apply methods of analysis of competitive advantages, which allow to measure and forecast the competitiveness of enterprises, to study the most advantageous directions of its increase. Practical meaning. The proposed methodology for assessing the level of competitiveness of enterprises can be implemented by enterprises to improve the level of competitiveness, because it is a simple and universal tool for assessing the effectiveness of economic activity. Prospects for further research. On the basis of the conducted research the relevance of this topic in the changing market conditions has been determined. Further research will be devoted to improving and implementing the methodology for assessing the competitiveness of enterprises.


An analysis of the well-known distance education systems was made, which allowed us to highlight their advantages and disadvantages and identify some ways to improve the program by adding adaptive functionality and interactivity, aimed at improving the educational process quality. An interface for working with the system for different groups of users (students, teachers, developers) has been developed whose use allows you to download study materials and test tasks conveniently, to edit and adapt some meaningful links between information sections (Units), to pass training and test control, to form final reports of success and recommendations for further learning steps. The multi-set method of assessing the level of study of content units was described and the adaptive functionality of forming the content of educational lectures for review or in-depth mastering of the theoretical content was presented, which allows taking into account the initial level of student knowledge and his/her abilities to acquire new skills. The software has been improved with a system based on PWA (Progressive web app) technology, which has allowed us to realize such advantages of web applications as speed, convenience, and attractiveness. A technology of text questions and correspondent information units connection was proposed which was based on the theory of multiple approach use which has provided us with the mathematical determination of the indices of the unmastered pieces of knowledge which generate the text part of the adaptive training step. Implementation of PWA technology was performed using the following software tools Service Worker, Web App Manifest, HTTPS, and Application Shell, which allowed to perform client caching offline, speeded up the process of downloading and displaying graphic elements of the web page, provided the use of the proposed resource as a regular mobile application. It has made it possible for easy access to the system to be obtained as well as the system resource use to be reduced.


Theoretical phase shifts of pion-nucleon scattering are derived assuming the pseudo-scalar meson theory with pseudo-scalar coupling. In order to make static approximation for such a relativistic coupling, the well·known °Tani.Poldy transformation is applied. Since there appears an isotopic-spin. dependent term which is negative and rather strong for the T= 1/2 state, theoretical interpretation of recent experiments on the s.wave scattering seems to be hopeful. As to the P·wave scattering, the Tamm· Daneoff' approximation and renormalization technique are used. The anomalous magnetic moment of the nucleon is also calculated.. The cut·off method is used throughout this work and the results are very sensitive to the cut·off momentum, but the essential features of the theory would be retained qualitatively and, at lower energies, somewhat quantitatively. D-phase shifts are calculated by the Born approximation, though it is possible that the radiative effects, which always tend to make the nucleon spread out, are very important in this case.


Bacterial adhesion and biofilm formation are important phenomena which can produce both detrimental and beneficial effects in several fields. Research is thus focused on the modulation of the properties of material surfaces in order to design and develop substrates able to control bacterial adhesion process, which is the first trigger event of biofilm formation. Several theoretical predictions and experimental procedures have been developed to investigate the physical, chemical and biological mechanisms regulating the attachment of bacteria to solid substrates. Nevertheless, a comprehensive understanding has not been achieved yet, limiting the capability of individuating effective technological strategies to achieve the desired bacterial adhesion behavior. The development of new experimental procedures able to furnish deeper information about bacterial adhesion mechanism is thus needed. Microbial cell force spectroscopy (MCFS) is an atomic force microscopy (AFM) based technique, consisting in the detection of force-distance curves using particular probes obtained immobilizing bacterial cells at the free end of a flexible microcantilever, which allows the detection of the different kinds of cell-surface interaction forces. In this work, we review the state of the art in the development of MCFS, focusing on its working principle and applications. A brief description of the current models and conventional experimental procedures used to evaluate bacterial adhesion to surfaces is reported. Then, the instrumentation and the working principle, the current procedures used to prepare bacterial cells probes and the main applications of the technique are described with the aim of pointing out the advantages of the technique and the limits which still have to be overcome.


In 55 wrists with dorsal perilunate dislocations, trans-scaphoid dorsal perilunate fracture dislocations and volar lunate dislocations, an anatomic reduction was achieved by closed manipulation in 67% of the cases. After anatomic reduction, 59% of the wrists lost anatomic position during the first six weeks of treatment despite adequate external immobilization. Closed treatment alone was successful in achieving and maintaining an anatomic reduction only 27% of the time. Open treatment was successful in gaining anatomic reduction 75% of the time and was uniformly successful in maintaining the reduction. In view of these results, the authors recommend open reduction and Kirschner wire fixation of displaced lunate and perilunate dislocations.


Differences in vocal fundamental (F0) and average formant (Fn) frequencies covary with body size in most terrestrial mammals, such that larger organisms tend to produce lower frequency sounds than smaller organisms, both between species and also across different sex and life-stage morphs within species. Here we examined whether three-month-old human infants are sensitive to the relationship between body size and sound frequencies. Using a violation-of-expectation paradigm, we found that infants looked longer at stimuli inconsistent with the relationship—that is, a smaller organism producing lower frequency sounds, and a larger organism producing higher frequency sounds—than at stimuli that were consistent with it. This effect was stronger for fundamental frequency than it was for average formant frequency. These results suggest that by three months of age, human infants are already sensitive to the biologically relevant covariation between vocalization frequencies and visual cues to body size. This ability may be a consequence of developmental adaptations for building a phenotype capable of identifying and representing an organism's size, sex and life-stage.


The saprophytic colonization and saprophytic suppre ssion of the test organism of Fusarium oxysporum was studied in relation to soil moisture, pH and temperature. Survival of the pathogen increased when temperature was increased. The percentage survival of F. oxysporum in the pre-colonized paddy straw bits buried in soi l was recorded. The fungal population was increased upto 75 per cent MHC. The competitive sap rophytic colonization of the test organisms over paddy straw bits was favoured by 30% moisture. The acidic range of pH was favourable for the colonization of the substrate for the test orga nism.


Paraquat (PQ), as a widely used herbicide, is highly toxic to human. PQ‐induced pulmonary fibrosis is the main reason for respiratory failure and death. In PQ‐poisoned mice, we find abundant senescent epithelial cells in the lung tissues, which can contribute to the activation of pulmonary fibroblasts. Ginsenoside Rg1 (Rg1), the main active component of ginseng, possess beneficial properties against aging. In our work, we aimed to investigate the potential protective effects of Rg1 on PQ‐induced pulmonary fibrosis and the underlying mechanism. In vivo, the treatment of Rg1 can attenuate PQ‐induced pulmonary fibrosis and decrease senescence and senescence associated secretory phenotype (SASP) expression. In vitro, Rg1 can effectively eliminate senescent cells via apoptosis, but not normal cells. In addition, we demonstrate that Rg1 can enhance autophagy activity via inducing the expression of ATG12. Inhibition of autophagy via 3‐MA or transfection of the siRNA targeting ATG12 can impair the antiaging effect of Rg1. Taken together, our data implicates that Rg1 can protect pulmonary epithelial cells from PQ‐induced cellular senescence in an ATG12 dependent manner, which may provide a preventive and therapeutic strategy for PQ poisoning‐induced pulmonary fibrosis.


Twenty-four male undergraduate students were selected on the basis of their A--B status. Six Ss of each type were assigned randomly to one of two videotaped stimulus conditions, an adequate or an inadequate sexual role variant of an intropunitive neurotic prototype. Two dependent measures, response time and number of confrontations, were used and conceptualized in terms of an approach-avoidance continuum. Differential responding on the basis of the Ss' A--B status was not supported in this study.


The effects of hemorrhage and Escherichia coli endotoxin on vascular permeability in the lung were investigated in open-chest dogs. Systemic arterial, pulmonary artery, and left arterial pressures were monitored, and a 30-ml balloon catheter placed in the left atrium. An afferent to the left hilar lymph node was cannulated and lymph flow monitored. Lymph and plasma protein concentrations were measured by refractometry. The animals were divided into three groups: 1) a control group in which left atrial pressure was increased by inflation of the left atrial balloon; 2) a hemorrhagic shock group, bled to a systemic arterial pressure of 35-40 Torr until uptake of 20% of shed blood from the reservoir; and 3) an endotoxin shock group in which 2 or 4 mg/kg E. coli endotoxin was infused and left atrial pressure increased to 18 cmH2O for 2 hr. Permeability was determined by comparing the lymph/plasma protein ratios as a function of pulmonary lymph flow for the three groups at base line and increased left atrial pressures. There were no significant differences in lymph protein "wash down" between hemorrhage and control, and there was a minimal but significant difference between endotoxin and control groups. Postmortem extravascular lung water was not increased in the hemorrhage and endotoxin groups when compared to control. Therefore, there were no acute changes in lung vascular permeability within 2 hr after severe hemorrhage, but a minimal increase in permeability following endotoxin.


The past several decades have seen tremendous advances in the field of medical genetics. Currently, the application of genetic testing on human embryos determines if embryos harbor a lethal condition or a serious genetic disease. The purpose of this sort of testing is not to "improve" the offspring of a couple. Rather, current testing strategies focus on helping couples to have a healthy family in an efficient manner. Newly emerging technologies have opened the door to test embryos for an exponentially growing number of traits. Additionally, recent reports describe the actual modification of human embryonic DNA. The implications from the application of this technology are many and have the potential to fundamentally change the social paradigm of the human experience. Embryonic testing and modification does have the potential to accomplish good and is not inherently amoral. However, thoughtful consideration should be given by scientists, legislators, and the general population on how to apply this technology in a manner that is both appropriate and equitable and does not result in further social stratification and polarization, both within individual nations and the global community.


In Sabah, Malaysia, there are still high probability of limited clean water access in
rural area and disaster site. Few villages had been affected in Pitas due to
improper road access, thus building a water treatment plant there might not be
feasible. Recently, Kundasang area had been affected by earthquake that caused
water disruption to its people due to the damage in the underground pipes and
water tanks. It has been known that membrane technology brought ease in making
mobile water treatment system that can be transported to rural or disaster area. In
this study, hollow fiber membrane used in a mobile water treatment system due to
compact and ease setup. Hollow fiber membrane was fabricated into small
module at 15 and 30 fibers to suit the mobile water treatment system for potable
water production of at least 80 L/day per operation. The effects of transmembrane
pressure (TMP) and feed water temperature were investigated. It was found that
permeate flux increases by more than 96% for both 15 and 30 fiber bundles with
increasing pressure in the range of 0.25 to 3.0 bar but dropped when the pressure
reached maximum. Lower temperature of 17 to 18˚C increase the water viscosity
by 15% from normal temperature of water at 24˚C, making the permeate flux
decreases. The fabricated modules effectively removed 96% turbidity of the
surface water sample tested.


Symptomatic, recurrent anterior shoulder instability requires stabilization, open or arthroscopic. The arthroscopic approach has, in the past, been associated with a worrisome recurrence rate. By adhering to strict clinical and technical criteria including restoration of the proper resting length of the glenohumeral ligament as well as recreation of the labral "bumper," current arthroscopic techniques can offer success rates comparable to those reported with open techniques.


The purpose of the study was to develop a website-based tour and travel application on the frontend and to make ticket reservation facilities. The research method uses a qualitative approach with data collection techniques using observation and literature study. While the system development method used is the Rational Unified Process (RUP) method. The results of the research, the development of website-based tour and travel applications on the frontend can be made with the programming language Python and Django framework and coupled with the bootstrap feature can make the frontend display on the tour and travel application more attractive. Creating a tour and travel application is expected to meet the needs of companies to improve performance in the business of PT INTI, especially in the field of information technology in the field of tour and travel services to facilitate customers to obtain information about tourist attractions, tour packages, and ticket reservations provided at tour and travel website.


Up to 50% of recurrent miscarriage cases in women occur without an underlying etiology. In the current prospective case–control study, we determined the impact of CGG trinucleotide expansions of the fragile-X mental retardation 1 (FMR1) gene in 49 women with unexplained recurrent miscarriages. Case group consisted of women with two or more unexplained consecutive miscarriages. Blood samples were obtained and checked for the presence of expanded alleles of the FMR1 gene using PCR. Patients harboring the expanded allele, with a threshold set to 40 repeats, were further evaluated by sequencing. The number of abortions each woman had, was not associated with her respective CGG repeat number (P=0.255). The repeat sizes of CGG expansion in the FMR1 gene were significantly different in the two population groups (P=0.027). All the positive cases involved intermediate zone carriers. Hence, the CGG expanded allele of the FMR1 gene might be associated with unexplained multiple miscarriages; whether such an association is coincidental or causal can be confirmed by future studies using a larger patient cohort.


Breast cancer is the most common cause of cancer death among women under age 50 years, so it is imperative to identify molecular markers to improve diagnosis and prognosis of this disease. Here, we present a new approach for the identification of breast cancer markers that does not measure gene expression but instead uses the ratio of alternatively spliced mRNAs as its indicator. Using a high-throughput reverse transcription-PCR-based system for splicing annotation, we monitored the alternative splicing profiles of 600 cancer-associated genes in a panel of 21 normal and 26 cancerous breast tissues. We validated 41 alternative splicing events that significantly differed in breast tumors relative to normal breast tissues. Most cancer-specific changes in splicing that disrupt known protein domains support an increase in cell proliferation or survival consistent with a functional role for alternative splicing in cancer. In a blind screen, a classifier based on the 12 best cancer-associated splicing events correctly identified cancer tissues with 96% accuracy. Moreover, a subset of these alternative splicing events could order tissues according to histopathologic grade, and 5 markers were validated in a further blind set of 19 grade 1 and 19 grade 3 tumor samples. These results provide a simple alternative for the classification of normal and cancerous breast tumor tissues and underscore the putative role of alternative splicing in the biology of cancer.


Background The previous studies found a strong relationship between plaque progression and the estimated risk of clinical events using the PROCAM score, and C-reactive protein (CRP) could contribute to predict the risk of coronary disease. Objective To explore whether PROCAM score is associated with coronary stenosis in Chinese patients, and whether CRP can improve PROCAM score's predictive performance for coronary stenosis. Methods We derived the in-hospital patients data from Shanghai East hospital (China) between December 2008 and December 2009, and they completed the coronary angiography examination, and 353 patients with the completed PROCAM score data. Results The average age of patients were 55.72±5.83 years old, and 58.9 percent of them were male. There was a significantly linear risk gradients between PROCAM score groups and the moderate- and high-grade coronary stenosis (p=0.000), and it was also positive correlated with the number of diseased coronary vessels (the correlation coefficient=0.333, p=0.000). In logistic regression analysis, PROCAM score groups showed positive associated with the risk of moderate- or high-grade coronary stenosis (all p<0.05), and CRP mildly improved PROCAM score predictive ability for moderate-grade coronary stenosis (area under the curve=0.753, p=0.000). Conclusions PROCAM score is closely positive associated with risk of moderate- or high-grade coronary stenosis in Chinese patients, and it is firstly feasible to apply Western PROCAM score for Chinese, and CRP can mildly improve the PROCAM score's predictive ability for moderate-grade coronary stenosis.


Fire safety is dependent on reliable information on material properties, particularly relating to burning behaviour. The Underwriters Laboratory UL‐94 test is a widely used simple Bunsen burner test for vertically upward flame spread. Aryl polyetheretherketones (PEEK) are polymers of exceptional thermal stability, typically decomposing at around 600°C and forming 50% carbonaceous char residue. Tests on seven PEEK polymers, and two related materials, in independent laboratories have revealed large inconsistencies in both the final broad classification and the scatter within each set of test results. In many cases, this variance is so large that if samples from the same batch of many of the materials were repeatedly submitted to test laboratories, this would ultimately result in one set remaining below the maximum burn time criteria, and so meeting the least flammable V‐0 rating. Initial data are presented indicating that a larger ignition source actually results in shorter burning times and more consistent burning behaviour. The reported behaviour of PEEK indicates that the inconsistencies reported here are not a function of inconsistencies in the material itself but rather a consequence of the low applied heat flux of the test method being very close to the critical heat flux for ignition of the PEEK polymer, which is rather high. With higher applied heat fluxes, this generates sufficient heat for a protective char to form, creating an effective barrier to further flame spread. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


Introduction Neuropsychiatric features are characteristic symptoms in Huntington's disease (HD). Compelling evidence proved high prevalence of alterations on mood and affect. However, little is known about psychotic symptoms in HD. Objective Describe the characteristics and phenomenology of psychotic symptoms in a Spanish cohort of Huntington's disease patients. Methods From the Spanish Registry cohort, genetically positive patients with psychiatric, cognitive and motor assessment were included. We analysed demographic, genetic and clinical data. Cognitive and motor functions were measured with Unified Huntington Disease Rating Scale (UHDRS), psychiatric disturbances with the Problem Behaviour Assessment Scale (PBA-s) and function with the total functional capacity (TFC). Results 264 patients were included (46.2% males; mean age of 45.2 ± 12.5y; disease duration 5.5 ± 5.5y and mean CAG 44.1 ± 4.7). Delusions were present in the 10.2% of the patients and hallucinations in 4.5%. Visual hallucinations were the more frequent 3.4% followed by auditory 1.9%. UHDRS cognitive score (p = 0.05) and TFC (p = 0.01) were more impaired in patients with psychotic symptoms. No other differences or correlations between delusions/hallucinations and cognitive, motor or functional scores were found. Formal diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder was present in two patients, previous acute psychotic episode in one, dementia in one and young HD in one. Conclusions Psychotic symptoms are infrequent in HD. Delusions are more frequent than hallucinations being the visual ones the more recurrent. Despite not found correlation, patients presenting psychosis/hallucinations are significantly more impaired on cognition and functional capacity.


The objective of the present work is to demonstrate that electrical corona discharge is very efficient in cellular membrane electroporation due to current pulses with sharp front (2–5 ns) and to the fact that corona discharge is associated with UV radiation and micro particles emission. A comparison between DC and AC at 800 Hz and a special waveform to corona application is presented. The comparison is analyzed by means of applying all these in the maceration process (electroplasmolysis) of red wine production and in the processes of different types of the microbes.


Comparative studies of the noise power (Wiener) spectra of ultrafine grain Russian emulsions PFG-03 (PE-2) and IAE, of Western emulsions Agfa 8E75HD, Agfa 10E75, Ilford 737T and photothermoplastic materials for holography are performed. For the high-resolution materials PFG-03, IAE, Agfa 8E75HD used for recording both transmission and reflection holograms, the spectra are measured over both the forward and back hemisphere of scattering. The noise power spectrum measurements for the materials are compared with those for lenses what is important for technical applications. The results show that the scattering noise characteristics of the silver-halide emulsions are much better than those for the photothermoplastic material and, for the ultrafine emulsions, are even better than the lens noise performance.


Complex three dimensional graphics rendering is computationally very intensive process, so even the newest microprocessors cannot handle more complicated scenes in real time. Therefore to produce realistic rendering, hardware solutions are required. This paper discusses an FPGA implementation which supports programmable pixel computing.


A number of fungi have been shown to have negative effects on plant-parasitic nematodes. Most of these fungi have been isolated from soil, plant roots, or nematodes themselves. Fungi associated with crops can provide a diverse pool of candidates to test for antagonistic effects against plant parasites and other stressors. We used a hierarchical two-tiered approach to evaluate the efficacy and repeatability of 55 strains of fungi originally isolated as foliar facultative endophytes from upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) along with one commercial isolate of Beauveria bassiana for in planta antagonistic effects on root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne incognita). All fungi were inoculated to cotton using a seed treatment. The number of root galls was quantified 3 weeks after egg inoculation of cotton seedlings. The majority of the fungi tested reduced the number of root galls relative to those on untreated control plants. To assess repeatability, 22 strains that exhibited the strongest reductions in gall numbers were further tested in replicate follow-up assays. Ninety-five percent (21/22) of these retested strains significantly reduced galling in the follow-up assay. Strains that reduced galling the most belonged to the genera Alternaria, Chaetomium, Cladosporium, Diaporthe, Epicoccum, Gibellulopsis, and Purpureocillium. On the contrary, three strains in the genera Alternaria and Curvularia significantly increased gall numbers. Our results indicate that a large proportion of the fungal strains originally isolated from cotton as naturally occurring foliar facultative endophytes are capable of reducing root-knot nematode infection when applied back to the plant as a seed treatment. These findings help establish a rich pool of candidate fungi for further evaluation as novel biological control tools against root-knot nematodes in cotton and other plants.


Inflammatory responses mediated by prostaglandins such as PGE2 may contribute to secondary brain injury after intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). However, the cell-specific signaling by PGE2 receptor EP2 differs depending on whether the neuropathic insult is acute or chronic. Using genetic and pharmacologic approaches, we investigated the role of EP2 receptor in two mouse models of ICH induced by intrastriatal injection of collagenase or autologous arterial whole blood. We used middle-aged male mice to enhance the clinical relevance of the study. EP2 receptor was expressed in neurons but not in astrocytes or microglia after collagenase-induced ICH. Brain injury after collagenase-induced ICH was associated with enhanced cellular and molecular inflammatory responses, oxidative stress, and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2/9 activity. EP2 receptor deletion exacerbated brain injury, brain swelling/edema, neuronal death, and neurobehavioral deficits, whereas EP2 receptor activation by the highly selective agonist AE1-259-01 reversed these outcomes. EP2 receptor deletion also exacerbated brain edema and neurologic deficits in the blood ICH model. These findings support the premise that neuronal EP2 receptor activation by PGE2 protects brain against ICH injury in middle-aged mice through its anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects and anti-MMP-2/9 activity. PGE2/EP2 signaling warrants further investigation for potential use in ICH treatment.


Joshua Pulumo Mohapeloa (1908-1982) came from a third-generation Basotho family converted in the nineteenth century by the French-Swiss protestant Societe des Missions Evangeliques chez les peuples non-chretiens a Paris (SMEP; or Paris Evangelical Missionary Society, PEMS) (see Mohapeloa and Phakisi 2009; Gill 1993; Couzens 2003; Legassick 2010). The first three missionaries from PEMS had entered the world of the Basotho in 1833, one of them, Eugene Casalis, a "child of the Revolution and defender of the rights of man [who] helped build up the barricades in the revolution that overthrew the Bourbons" in Paris (Couzens 2003: 77). They were supposed to join a mission on the border of present-day Botswana, but John Philip of the London Missionary Society (LMS) under whose sway PEMS and other protestant missions fell, warned them of unrest, so they journeyed into the interior knowing that their plans might have to be changed upon their arrival at the LMS mission at Philippolis. Here, the unrest and upheaval further to the north was confirmed, and thus the PEMS missionaries were very open to Adam Krotz who directed them towards Basotho Paramount Chief Moshoeshoe (Couzens 2003: 80). He had been fending off the gunrunning and cattle-stealing Korana, and to help his task had already "sent to Philippolis to 'buy' a missionary", as historian Martin Legassick puts it (2010: 235). Missions have played a long and complex role in the history of southern Africa, their impact still not fully understood in relation to the development of music in the region. PEMS became the most important mission in what is now called Lesotho, its culture enormously influencing Mohapeloa as he grew up. This article traces some of the ways in which he managed to embrace its influence as a composer while retaining the integrity of the Sotho music that was the basis of his style, in the process laying down an archive of African song.


Lumbar disc herniation (LDH) is a common determinant of low back pain (LBP) and priority for cost-effective therapeutic approach is necessary. The objective of the study was to explore the effectiveness of McKenzie Manipulative Therapy (MMT) for patients with LDH.

 This was an assessor blinded, 36-month RCT, at Center for Rehabilitation of the Paralyzed (CRP) in Savaar, Bangladesh. Seventy-two subjects, ages 28-47 years and clinically diagnosed with MRI findings of LDH, were randomly recruited from hospital records and sixty-eight found eligible. The control group received stretching exercise and graded oscillatory mobilization, and the experimental group received McKenzie manipulative therapy for 12 sessions in 4 weeks, both groups received a standard set of care also. The pain was the primary outcome and the secondary outcome was participation in functional activities and disability.

 Pain and Disability found significant improvement in both groups, with the McKenzie approach significantly superior to the control group (p<.05). Bothersome in Activities (SBI) reported significantly lower post report compared to baseline for both groups (p<.01). McKenzie showed significantly superior outcomes for fear avoidance (FABQ) total and SBI feeling of abnormal sensation in leg compared to the control group (p <.05).

 The McKenzie manipulative therapy approach was found to be effective for pain, disability and participation in activities for single or multiple level LDH patients in a short time from day 1 to week 4, and the treatment effect extends after 6 months.
 Clinical Trial Registration No.: CTRI/2020/ 04/024667.


We report the development of a fabrication process of high-resistance step-edge Josephson junctions on sharp argon ion beam etched substrate steps. For a reproducible fabrication, the redeposition of material at the step during the etch process has to be avoided. This is achieved by an alternating angle of ion incidence parallel to the edge of the photoresist mask. The reproducible straight step profile exhibits an angle around and is reflected in reproducible electrical properties of the junctions. Critical current and asymptotic normal state resistance both scale with the junction width w. The current-voltage (I-V) characteristics depend on the ratio of film thickness t to step height h. For > 0.85 they are flux-flow-like; for < 0.8 they correspond to the resistively shunted junction (RSJ) model. Lower ratios of correspond to higher specific resistances resulting at 77 K typically in asymptotic normal state resistances between 5 and per junction, depending on w. At 77 K we achieve products of more than . The junctions are applied to dc superconducting quantum interference devices (dc-SQUIDs) with inductances between 25 and 35 pH. At 77 K transfer functions of more than are achieved. noise of the step-edge dc-SQUIDs is observed, but using bias current modulation it is entirely suppressed resulting in a spectral density of flux noise of measured at 1 Hz and 77 K for a SQUID with an inductance of 30 pH.


Objective This study characterized the features of narrow occludable angles (NOA) using ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) before and after laser peripheral iridotomy (LPI). Methods A prospective interventional study was conducted involving patients diagnosed with NOA or who were primary angle-closure suspects (PACS). UBM was performed before and 2 weeks after LPI. Van-Herick and Schaffer gradings were used to assess the limbal-chamber depth (LCD) and angles respectively. Quantitative and qualitative changes in UBM parameters before and after LPI were measured. Data comparing pre- and post-LPI parameters were analyzed. Results Included were 34 eyes of 22 patients with a mean age of 62 ± 8 years. Nine out of 10 patients were females. LCD increased significantly after LPI (p < 0.0001). The Shaffer angle grading on static gonioscopy widened significantly in all quadrants after LPI (p < 0.05). The largest change in angle width was noted in the inferior quadrant (30%). Angle-opening distance (AOD) 250, AOD 500, and iridocorneal angle (ICA) widened significantly (p < 0.0001) after LPI. The greatest amount of AOD widening was in the nasal quadrant. Iridocorneal angle increase was largest in the superior quadrant. There was no statistically significant change in anterior-chamber depth (ACD), lens thickness, ciliary-body thickness, and iris thickness before and after LPI. There was also no statistically significant difference in any of the quantitative UBM parameters between eyes with clinically open or closed angles 2 weeks after LPI. Conclusion


In this work, we consider a class of differentiable criteria for sparse image computing problems, where a nonconvex regularization is applied to an arbitrary linear transform of the target image. As special cases, it includes edge-preserving measures or frame-analysis potentials commonly used in image processing. As shown by our asymptotic results, the l2-l0 penalties we consider may be employed to provide approximate solutions to l0-penalized optimization problems. One of the advantages of the proposed approach is that it allows us to derive an efficient Majorize-Minimize subspace algorithm. The convergence of the algorithm is investigated by using recent results in nonconvex optimization. The fast convergence properties of the proposed optimization method are illustrated through image processing examples. In particular, its effectiveness is demonstrated on several data recovery problems.


This study used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to identify differences in the neural processes underlying direct and semidirect interviews. We examined brain activation patterns while 20 native speakers of Japanese participated in direct and semidirect interviews in both Japanese (first language [L1]) and English (second language [L2]). Significantly greater activation was observed in the regions involved in social communication (the medial prefrontal cortex and the bilateral posterior superior temporal sulci) during the direct interview conducted in the L2 than during the semidirect interview conducted in the L2. In contrast, both the direct and semidirect interviews conducted in the L1 produced similar increases in activation in the same brain areas as those observed during the L2 direct interview. These findings suggest that the direct interview may have elicited L2 communicative ability to a greater degree than the semidirect interview. Furthermore, during the L2 direct interview, activity in the right superior temporal region, which is involved in the processing of paralinguistic features (e.g., prosody and intonation), was positively correlated with increased L2 oral proficiency. Based on our findings, we conclude that the L2 direct interview may elicit more balanced and varied aspects of communicative ability than the L2 semidirect interview.


AbstractThe goal of this effort is to evaluate the anatomy of the foramen magnum (FM) using 3-dimensional computed tomography (3D CT), and determine whether or not the anatomical features of vascular structures and condylar foramen (CF) affect the types of FM.The CT angiography records of 101 patients (44 men and 57 women) were retrospectively examined in this study. Details of the FM, CF, and the vertebral and basilar arteries were examined using maximum intensity projection and 3D rendering images. The average age of the 101 patients was 45.28 ± 16.3 years. The 8 types of FM, in order of their frequency of occurrence, are as follows: round (19 cases; 18.8%), 2 semicircles (18; 17.8%), egg-shaped (15; 14.9%), hexagonal (14; 13.9%), tetragonal (11; 10.9%), oval (11; 10.9%), pentagonal (9; 8.9%), and irregular (4; 4%). There was no statistically significant relationship between the anatomical features of the vertebral and basilar arteries and the CF with the different types of FM (P ≥ 0.05). In our study, the diameter of the anteroposterior (AP) FM was 34.7 ± 3.6 mm, and the transverse (T) diameter was 29.5 ± 2.5 mm. The AP and T diameters were significantly higher in men than in women (P = 0.006 and P ⩽ 0.001, respectively).Our study revealed that 3D CT is a safe and easy method for visualizing the anatomical structure of the FM and neighboring structures. Furthermore, this study was the first to demonstrate that there is no correlation between the 8 types of FM and the vertebral artery, basilar artery, and CF.


In this paper, the optical bow-tie shaped aperture nanoantenna excited by a plane wave is numerically investigated based on the finite integration technique (FIT) where both near-field resonant properties, and far-field radiation characteristics are studied. Different from conventional metallic antennas used in the radio frequency range, gold aperture nanoantenna with a dimension of tens of nanometers is capable of producing a localized enhanced field. The enhanced filed is equivalent to a strong light spot which can lead to the resolution improvement of the microscopy and optical lithography, thus increasing the optical data storage capacity. Compared with previous studies, the present work improves calculations in terms of broader bands specially in optical range, where the nanoantenna's surface plasmon resonance is appositely described in terms of properly chosen frequency dependent permittivity. It is found from our observation that in the near-field, the bow-tie shaped aperture nanoantenna possesses strong resonant properties. These properties, dependent on the polarization directions of the excitation source and the geometrical parameters of nanoantenna, are studied in detail. In addition, the far-field characteristics of the nanoantenna such as directivity and gain are studied for the first time via computed aperture nanoantenna's pattern. The promising results of this study may have useful potential applications in near-field sample detection, optical microscopy, etc.


This article describes a simple technique of useful modification of measuring compass, procured from a school compass box, to make an intraoral paralleling device. This device is useful in examining parallelism of tooth or implant abutment preparations for a common path of placement in fixed dental prostheses. It can be used to examine the parallelism of guiding planes in removable partial denture patients as well.


Rats on a low-NaCl diet have a high Na+ channel activity in colon and kidney. To address the mechanism of this increased activity, we measured mRNA levels of three Na+ channel subunits in epithelial tissue (rENaC) from rats having been fed either a low (0.13%)- or high (8%)-NaCl diet for 2-3 wk. The size of the mRNA for each of the rENaC subunits as determined by Northern blot was unaffected by diet. RNase protection assay showed heterogeneity of response by organs and subunit. In lung, there was no effect of diet on any of the three subunits. In descending colon, the low-NaCl diet increased beta- and gamma-rENaC mRNA, with no effect on alpha-rENaC mRNA. In the kidney, the response to dietary NaCl was dependent on the region. In cortex and outer medulla, diet had no effect on any of the subunits. Rats fed the low-NaCl diet had greater alpha-rENaC in inner medulla but not beta- or gamma-rENaC mRNA. We next asked whether acute administration of pure glucocorticoid (GC) or mineralocorticoid (MC) hormones to adrenalectomized rats reproduced the effects of a low-NaCl diet. Six hours after administration of GC or MC, a somewhat different heterogeneity occurred. In lung, alpha-rENaC mRNA was increased but only in response to GC. In colon, either GC or MC increased beta- or gamma-rENaC, and there was no effect on alpha-rENaC. In kidney, either GC or MC increased alpha-rENaC, without an effect on beta- or gamma-rENaC. In contrast to the response to a low-NaCl diet, all three regions were similarly affected by acute steroids. These results demonstrate a striking heterogeneity in response to physiological stimuli that regulate ENaC function. The mRNA levels of each of the rENaC subunits can be determined by the type of steroid and by factors unique to the organ and even to the specific region of the kidney.


Introduction . Constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT) improves upper limb (UL) motor execution in unilateral cerebral palsy (uCP). As these children also show motor planning deficits, action-observation training (AOT) might be of additional value. Here, we investigated the combined effect of AOT to CIMT and identified factors influencing treatment response. Methods . Forty-four children with uCP (mean 9y6m, SD 1y10m) participated in a 9-day camp wearing a splint for 6 hours/day and were allocated to the CIMT+AOT (n=22) and the CIMT+placebo group (n=22). The CIMT+AOT group received 15 hours of AOT (i.e. video-observation) and executed the observed tasks, whilst the CIMT+AOT group watched videos free of biological motion and executed the same tasks. The primary outcome measure was bimanual performance. Secondary outcomes included measures at body function and activity level assessed before (T1), after (T2) the intervention, and at 6 months follow-up (T3). Influencing factors included behavioural and neurological characteristics. Results . Although no between-groups differences were found (p>0.05), the addition of AOT led to higher gains in children with initially poorer bimanual performance (p=0.02). Both groups improved in all outcome measures after the intervention and retained the gains at follow up (p<0.01). Poor sensory function resulted in larger improvements in the total group (p=0.03) and high amount of mirror movements tended to result in better response to the additional AOT training (p=0.06). Improvements were similar irrespective of the type of brain lesion or corticospinal tract wiring pattern. Conclusions . Adding AOT to CIMT, resulted in better outcome for children with poor motor function and high amount of mirror movements. CIMT with or without AOT seems to be more beneficial for children with poor sensory function. suggesting that the responsiveness to AOT is patient specific. Such insights provide a further step toward patient-tailored intervention approaches. The findings of this study also confirm the efficacy of intensive models of CIMT interventions (with or without AOT), with large effect sizes found in unimanual and bimanual dexterity, which seems to be more beneficial for children with impaired sensory function. The novelty of this study lies within the exploration of behavioural and neurological influencing factors on treatment response, which paves the way toward an effective and individualized treatment planning for children with uCP.


It was the purpose of this investigation to examine any age-related changes in norepinephrine turnover (NEt) in four tissues at rest and during exercise. Fischer 344 rats 6 (n = 20) and 25 mo of age (n = 20) were received from the National Institute on Aging. NEt was determined at rest, during 30 min of submaximal exercise, and at maximal exercise by administration of alpha-methyl-p-tyrosine, a competitive inhibitor of tyrosine hydroxylase. Resting NE declined with age in both heart (38.2 vs. 30.5 ng.g-1.h-1) and liver (11.2 vs. 6.4 ng.g-1.h-1). NEt was greater in the older animals compared with the young animals in heart (120.9 vs. 169.5 ng.g-1.h-1), liver (23.1 vs. 38.9 ng.g-1.h-1), and adrenals (74.0 vs. 98.4 ng.mg-1.h-1) during submaximal exercise. In response to maximal exercise, NEt varied depending on age and tissue. It was concluded that, in response to exercise stress, the older animals generally demonstrated a higher NEt (reflecting elevated sympathetic activity) perhaps because of a decreased adrenergic receptor sensitivity and/or responsiveness.


We present the observation of an optical pulse energy controlled delay in the propagation time of electrical picosecond pulses in (YBCO) superconducting delay lines. The delay lines were patterned in the geometry of a microstrip and were illuminated by the frequency-doubled output (532 nm) of an Nd:YAG laser. The propagation time of picosecond electrical pulses through the delay lines was measured using an electrical autocorrelation technique with photoconductive switches. The experiments were conducted at 30 and 55 K and delay tuning up to 54 ps was observed. The measured propagation time shows a quadratic dependence on optical pulse energy (p), , where is a critical optical pulse energy beyond which superconductivity has disappeared.


Predicting the structure of proteins is important in biochemistry because the 3D structure can be determined from the local folds that are found in secondary structures. Moreover, knowing the tertiary structure of proteins can assist in determining their functions. The objective is to compare the performance of Neural Networks (NN) and Support Vector Machines (SVM) in predicting the secondary structure of 62 globular proteins from their primary sequence. For each NN and SVM, we created six binary classifier s to distinguish between the classes helices (H), strand (E), and coil (C). For NN we use Resilient Back -propagation training with and without early stopping. We use NN with either no hidden layer or with one hidden layer with 1,2,...,40 hidden neurons. Fo r SVM we use a Gaussian kernel with parameter fixed at = 0.1 and varying cost parameters C in the range [0.1,5]. 10 -fold cross-validation is used to obtain overall estimates for the probability of making a correct prediction. Our experiments indicate for N N and SVM that the different binary classifiers have varying accuracies: from 69% correct predictions for coils vs. non -coil up to 80% correct predictions for stand vs. non-strand. It is further demonstrated that NN with no hidden layer or not more than 2 hidden neurons in the hidden layer are sufficient for better predictions. For SVM we show that the estimated accuracies do not depend on the value of the cost parameter. As a major result, we will demonstrate that the accuracy estimates of NN and SVM binary classifiers cannot distinguish. This contradicts a modern belief in bioinformatics that SVM outperforms other predictors.


We develop an empirical Bayes procedure for estimating the cell means in an unbalanced, two-way additive model with fixed effects. We employ a hierarchical model, which reflects exchangeability of the effects within treatment and within block but not necessarily between them, as suggested before by Lindley and Smith [J. R. Stat. Soc., B 34 (1972) 1–41]. The hyperparameters of this hierarchical model, instead of considered fixed, are to be substituted with data-dependent values in such a way that the point risk of the empirical Bayes estimator is small. Our method chooses the hyperparameters by minimizing an unbiased risk estimate and is shown to be asymptotically optimal for the estimation problem defined above, under suitable conditions. The usual empirical Best Linear Unbiased Predictor (BLUP) is shown to be substantially different from the proposed method in the unbalanced case and, therefore, performs suboptimally. Our estimator is implemented through a computationally tractable algorithm that is scalable to work under large designs. The case of missing cell observations is treated as well.


The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of various sterilization methods on the light transmission and the structural characteristics of two light-curing tips. Twenty tips from two light-curing devices [Elipar II (EL) and Heliolux II (HL)] were classified into four groups. The tips in groups A to C were subjected to sterilization with 0.2% sodium dichloroisacyanurate solution (Presept), 2% glutaraldehyde solution (Cidex) (2 h cycle(-1)) and water-steam autoclave (120 degrees C, 1 bar, 12 min cycle(-1)), respectively. A total of 2100 sterilization cycles was performed for all methods tested. The transmitted light intensity (TLI) was measured at specific sterilization time intervals by a curing radiometer (Model 100, Demetron). The final % TLI reduction of the sterilized tips was calculated relative to the corresponding control ones. The topography and composition of the front curing tip surfaces were determined using scanning electron microscopy combined with electron probe microanalyser. Autoclaving caused the lowest final TLI decrease (EL: 15%, HL: 19%) compared with Presept (EL: 60%, HL: 42%) and with Cidex (EL: 68%, HL: 52%). Cidex yielded higher TLI drop than Presept for both types of tips examined. Elipar tips were found to be more sensitive than Heliolux tips to both chemical sterilization techniques. Total or partial coating of the tip surfaces with insoluble salts after sterilization with Presept and Cidex was detected, mainly composed of Ca, Cl, Al, Pd and Mg traces. No changes were noted on the surfaces after autoclave. Water-steam autoclave is safer than the 0.2% sodium dicloroisocyanorate and 2% glutaraldehyde chemical sterilization agents regarding the light transmission characteristics and the structure of the light-curing tips.


Two cases of acquired toxoplasmosis are reported in 16 and 44 year old patients; prolonged fever was the dominating sign in both cases. It follows from these observations that toxoplasmosis has to be systematically considered as a possible etiology of prolonged fever of undetermined origin.


The experimental characterization through electrical, electromagnetic, and thermal measurements of a new dc/dc converter architecture for high-voltage inputs, up to 60 V, is proposed in this paper. The converter has a new multistage integrated circuit (IC) topology, where each stage is inductorless and exploits a switched capacitor solution. The dc/dc converter was implemented in multiple configurations, using a ceramic package or a naked die (directly glued on the testing board), with passive devices stacked on the top of the IC, through an interposer (3-D technology), or mounted near the IC in the testing board (2-D version). The measurement activity in terms of line and load regulations, power supply rejection ratio, electrostatic discharge protection, conductive and radiated electromagnetic interference, efficiency, and thermal behavior, allows analyzing the effects of different circuits and technology choices. The achieved results prove the suitability of the integrated dc/dc converter, using 3-D technology, for applications where low-power loads (e.g., sensors, memories, and processors) have to be supplied by high-voltage power supplies, such as car's electronic control units in 48-V electric/hybrid vehicles.


A hybrid method has been developed to calculate sound radiation from turbofan engine inlets. Given the acoustic source at an interface near the fan, the method solves the full three-dimensional, time-dependent Euler equations in the near field and passes the solution to a moving-surface Kirchhoff method for far-field predictions. The Kirchhoff method enables one to limit the size of the computational domain where the essential acoustic signals are captured accurately by a high-order accurate flow solver and then to extrapolate these signals to the far field exactly only within the discretization error on the Kirchhoff surface. The steady flowfield is required by the hybrid approach and a high-order accurate multigrid method has been implemented to enhance convergence of steady-state calculations. The computations are all carried out on parallel processors using essentially high-performance Fortran language. Results indicate very good agreement with available numerical and analytical solutions.


Lemierre's Syndrome (LS) is a rare syndrome most frequently due to an anaerobic organism, Fusobacterium Necrophorum. It is commonly a complication of an acute oropharyngeal infection, but there are exceptions to its presentations. In our case the cause of LS was otitis media caused by Streptococcus species. This is a rather unusual presentation of LS. LS is caused due to septic complications of oropharyngeal infections, which lead to thrombophlebitis of internal jugular vein leading to thrombosis formation. In this case report, we present a case of Lemierre's syndrome in a seven-year-old male child. The patient presented with high grade fever spikes and earache, which were unresponsive to oral antibiotics. LS was diagnosed in this patient on the basis of clinical, microbiological and radiological findings. After the diagnosis, treatment involved using broad spectrum antibiotics and anticoagulants, followed by surgery. Though role of anticoagulants is controversial in LS, but there is no specific guideline contraindicating the use of anti-coagulants. In our case, timely diagnosis and management enabled us to discharge the patient without any symptoms.


A permutative matrix is a square matrix such that every row is a permutation of the first row. A constructive version of a result attributed to SuleE˜A±manova is given via permutative matrices. A well-known result is strenghthened by showing that all realizable spectra containing at most four elements can be realized by a permutative matrix or by a direct sum of permutative matrices. The paper concludes by posing a problem.


Since temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is located close to the basis cranii, radiograpchic interpretation is difficult due to overlapping with bone structures of the skull adjacent to this area. Temporomandibular disorderes need accurate diagnosis. In accordance with advances in science and technology, radiographic investigation of TMJ has developed recently, either modified conventional techniques or the modern diagnostic ones. Transcranial lateral oblique projection is one of the conventional radiographic projections that usually used. In this projection, one could see the radiographic appearance of eminentia articulare, glenoid fossa, and head of the condyle antero-posteriorly. An appropriate radiographic examination technique chosen, could give more valuable diagnostic information needed.


The energy and action flow through the small-scale part of the oceanic internal wave field is modeled by use of the eikonal technique, which is not subject to a weak interaction assumption. Both Monte Carlo calculations and a simplified model are presented and found to agree. It is found that the action flows toward slightly higher frequency (and thus the waves gain energy), in striking contrast to weak interaction predictions of a strong frequency decrease. The energy dissipation scales with depth as N2 cosh−1 (N/f), in agreement with measurements. The overall level is, however, a factor of 4 smaller than measurements. Possible sources of this discrepancy are discussed. A comparison is made with previous theoretical approaches for the depth dependence of dissipation.


Continuous phase filters have been investigated to use to control three dimensional light intensity distribution around the focus. With the use of super-resolution theory the light intensity distribution of the continuous phase pupil is simulated and the results in both transverse and axial direction are presented. The impact of the structure parameters of continuous pupil a and b on the resolution performances is also discussed. Furthermore, the comparison of annular phase-only filter and the continuous phase-only filter is given.


Wireless sensor networks operate in an unstable environment and thus are subject to arbitrary transient faults. Self-stabilization is a promising technique to add tolerance against transient faults in a self-contained non-masking way. A core factor for the applicability of a given self-stabilizing algorithm is its convergence time. This paper analyses the average stabilization time of three algorithms commonly regarded as central building blocks for wireless sensor networks. The analysis is accomplished with SelfWISE, a framework providing programming abstractions for self-stabilizing algorithms. The performed analysis considers the target models as well as network size and density. This demonstrates the usability of SelfWISE for evaluating self-stabilizing algorithms under a wide range of models.


Pocket Data Mining (PDM) is our new term describing collaborative mining of streaming data in mobile and distributed computing environments. With sheer amounts of data streams are now available for subscription on our smart mobile phones, the potential of using this data for decision making using data stream mining techniques has now been achievable owing to the increasing power of these handheld devices. Wireless communication among these devices using Bluetooth and WiFi technologies has opened the door wide for collaborative mining among the mobile devices within the same range that are running data mining techniques targeting the same application. This paper proposes a new architecture that we have prototyped for realizing the significant applications in this area. We have proposed using mobile software agents in this application for several reasons. Most importantly the autonomic intelligent behaviour of the agent technology has been the driving force for using it in this application. Other efficiency reasons are discussed in details in this paper. Experimental results showing the feasibility of the proposed architecture are presented and discussed.


The understanding demands the different degree of the understanding according to student`s learning situation. In this paper, we investigate what is the foundation for the complete understanding for the generalization in the generalization-process and justification of some concepts or some theories, through a case. We discovered that the completeness of the understanding in the generalization-process and justification requires ``the meaningful-mental object`` which can give the meaning about the concept or theory to students. Students can do the generalization-process through the construction of ``the meaningful-mental object`` and confirm the validity of generalization through ``the meaningful-mental object`` which is constructed by them. And we can judge the whether students construct the completeness of the understanding or not, by ``the meaningful-mental object`` of the student. Hence ``the meaningful-mental object`` are vital condition for the generalization-process and justification.


The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of telephone calls and short text messages (SMS) on no-show rates regarding scheduled appointments with a general practitioner. In a prospective, intervention-controlled, and randomized study, we divided 306 patients into 3 groups: telephone call, SMS, and no intervention. We compared no-show rates, as well as variables that influenced it. The lowest percentage of no-show (9.5%) occurred in the telephone call group, while the SMS group presented at 21% and the no-intervention group at 22.8% (P = .025). Telephone calls proved to be a superior strategy to text messaging.


This paper addresses an interval analysis based study that is applied to the design and the comparison of 3-DOF parallel kinematic machines. Two design criteria are used, (i) a regular workspace shape and, (ii) a kinetostatic performance index that needs to be as homogeneous as possible throughout the workspace. The interval analysis based method takes these two criteria into account: on the basis of prescribed kinetostatic performances, the workspace is analysed to find out the largest regular dextrous workspace enclosed in the Cartesian workspace. An algorithm describing this method is introduced. Two 3-DOF translational parallel mechanisms designed for machining applications are compared using this method. The first machine features three fixed linear joints which are mounted orthogonally and the second one features three linear joints which are mounted in parallel. In both cases, the mobile platform moves in the Cartesian x-y-z space with fixed orientation.


The aim of the study is to discuss the relationship between leadership and creativity at a personal level, and to trace non-cognitive psychological factors which possibly determine creativity at work. The methods of scientific literature analysis and empirical qualitative research have been employed for the investigation. The richest 7 journals (diaries) of creative activity have been selected for empirical research from the total of 52 samples. The study presents empirical evidence of such factors of creativity and leadership as emotional involvement and the work - way of life connection. It also draws attention to the problem of creativity levels at an organization and stresses the connection between creativity and leadership. These problems still lack considerable attention of researchers, as the article shows. Main research implications for practice include the possibility to foresee high creativity and leadership at work by assessing the aforesaid individual characteristics. Findings of the research are relevant to the paradigm of person-centric work psychology and sustainable socio-economic development. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5755/j01.ss.80.2.4844


Encephalitis associated with varicella-zoster virus, rare among children in the varicella vaccine era, has generally been associated with a rash. We report fatal wild-type varicella-zoster virus encephalitis without a rash in a child who had received 1 dose of varicella vaccine. Varicella-zoster virus encephalitis should be considered in the differential diagnosis for children presenting with acute neurologic symptoms, even vaccine recipients.


Traffic anomalies and distributed attacks are commonplace in today's networks. Single point detection is often insufficient to determine the causes, patterns and prevalence of such events. Most existing distributed intrusion detection systems (DIDS) rely on centralized fusion, or distributed fusion with unscalable communication mechanisms. In this paper, we propose to build a distributed IDS based on the emerging decentralized location and routing infrastructure: distributed hash table (DHT). We embed the intrusion symptoms into the DHT dimensions so that alarms related to the same intrusion (thus with similar symptoms) will be routed to the same sensor fusion center (SFC) while evenly distributing unrelated alarms to different SFCs. This is achieved through careful routing key design based on: 1) analysis of essential characteristics of three common types of intrusions: DoS attacks, port scanning and virus/worm infection; and 2) distribution and stability analysis of the popular port numbers and those of the popular source IP subnets in scans. We further propose several schemes to distribute the alarms more evenly across the SFCs. Evaluation based on one month of DShield firewall logs (600 million scan records) collected from over 2200 worldwide providers show that the resulting system, termed Cyber Disease DHT (CDDHT), can effectively fuse related alarms while distributing unrelated ones evenly among the SFCs.


3D human pose estimation in outdoor environments has garnered increasing attention recently. However, prevalent 3D human pose datasets pertaining to outdoor scenes lack diversity, as they predominantly utilize only one type of modality (RGB image or pointcloud), and often feature only one individual within each scene. This limited scope of dataset infrastructure considerably hinders the variability of available data. In this article, we propose Human-M3, an outdoor multi-modal multi-view multi-person human pose database which includes not only multi-view RGB videos of outdoor scenes but also corresponding pointclouds. In order to obtain accurate human poses, we propose an algorithm based on multi-modal data input to generate ground truth annotation. This benefits from robust pointcloud detection and tracking, which solves the problem of inaccurate human localization and matching ambiguity that may exist in previous multi-view RGB videos in outdoor multi-person scenes, and generates reliable ground truth annotations. Evaluation of multiple different modalities algorithms has shown that this database is challenging and suitable for future research. Furthermore, we propose a 3D human pose estimation algorithm based on multi-modal data input, which demonstrates the advantages of multi-modal data input for 3D human pose estimation. Code and data will be released on https://github.com/soullessrobot/Human-M3-Dataset.


Food reviews and recommendations have always been important for online food service websites. However, reviewing and recommending food is not simple as it is likely to be overwhelmed by disparate contexts and meanings. In this paper, we use different deep learning approaches to address the problems of sentiment analysis, automatic review tag generation, and retrieval of food reviews. We propose to develop a web-based food review system at Nanyang Technological University (NTU) named NTU Food Hunter, which incorporates different deep learning approaches that help users with food selection. First, we implement the BERT and LSTM deep learning models into the system for sentiment analysis of food reviews. Then, we develop a Part-of-Speech (POS) algorithm to automatically identify and extract adjective-noun pairs from the review content for review tag generation based on POS tagging and dependency parsing. Finally, we also train a RankNet model for the re-ranking of the retrieval results to improve the accuracy in our Solr-based food reviews search system. The experimental results show that our proposed deep learning approaches are promising for the applications of real-world problems.


ABSTRACT Lymph node cells of BALB/c mice with progressive leishmaniasis produced sixfold more interleukin-2 (IL-2) in culture than those of healing C57BL/6 mice. IL-2 synthesis also increased in C57BL/6 mice made susceptible by IL-12 or gamma interferon deficiency. However, IL-2 mRNA levels in vivo did not reflect IL-2 production in vitro. Because IL-2 contributes to the pathogenesis of progressive leishmaniasis, the functional significance of these findings should be further explored.