In this paper, we present an overview on recent advances in our work on multimodal human-machine communication between humans and technical cognitive systems in order to enable the solution of complex problems that require the joint cooperation of humans and intelligent systems to accomplish challenging tasks that can be only successfully handled if both interact in a cooperative manner. The technical system has cognitive capabilities that support an intelligent interaction with the human operator. An example for such cooperation is the joint assembly of a heavy part by a human assisted by a cognitive robot during the manufacturing process of a complex product. As will be explained, such challenges in joint cooperation occur often in intelligent manufacturing environments which provide a very rich application scenario for the successful combination of advanced multimodal human-machine communication techniques together with cognitive components for improved, cooperative interaction between technical systems and human operators.


IN HIS VALUABLE STUDY, Anthony Collins: The Man and his Works (The Hague, 1970), James O'Higgins states that "After the appearance of the Philosophical Inquiry in 1717, Collins published nothing till 1724. There is a remarkable gap in his literary career" (p. 111). O'Higgins does not explain why such a gap should be remarkable; but the reason which he probably had in mind is this. Apart from these seven years, Colfins' publications are evenly distributed throughout his literary career, which began in 1707, and ended two years before his death, in 1729. Collins published works in 1707, 1708, 1710, 1713, 1717, 1724, 1726 and 1727. So the period 1717-1724 would indeed seem to be a remarkable gap, especially as it comes exactly in the middle of his literary career. In fact, however, as I hope to show in this paper, there is no such gap. For Collins did publishPalthough this has not hitherto been known by scholars--a number of essays throughout the year 1720 in a periodical paper called the Independent Whig. There are a number of factors which make Collins' Independent Whig contributions of interest. Firstly, the periodical itself achieved a considerable degree of fame (and infamy), passing through seven English and two American editions in thirty-five years, as well as being translated into French by Baron d'Holbach in 1767.1 The Independent Whig has been described as "among the most widely read and important polemical works of the reign of George I . . . . -2 Secondly, the essays provide a succinct statement of Collins' views on the clergy, religion and religious anthority, at the middle of his career; and his views on these subjects are central to his thought. Thirdly, in a later edition of the Independent Whig the only surviving contributor published two posthumuous pieces which I shall maintain are by Collins. One of these is of some philosophical interest. It also casts doubt on O'Higgins's interpretation of Collins on mysteries in religion. I shaU begin by giving a brief account of the Independent Whig. Following this I shall present what I take to be the overwhelming evidence for Collins's partial authorship. I shall then examine his essays, particularly the two posthumous pieces. The Independent Whig was a weekly periodical, each number appearing on a Wednesday. The first number is dated 20 January 1720, and the last, no. 54, is dated 11 January 1721. Appended to the last number is a note to the effect that a collected edi-


This paper presents a brief historical review of the beginning of scientific studies on sleep research and evaluation of the electrophysiological basics. Subsequently, hypotheses are presented and discussed on phylogenesis and function of NONREM- and REM-sleep as well as aspects of the regulation of energy conservation and temperature. Sleep may have first evolved out of rest/activity cycles. Later on, with the evolution of complex brains, sleep may also assume importance in development and maintenance of these structures. Hence, special emphasis is placed on the influence of NONREM and REM sleep on the reorganisation of neuronal networks.


Photometric units in Australia are currently derived from power measurements made with a roomtemperature electrical-substitution radiometer. This basis has been transferred to a cryogenic radiometer. The cryogenic radiometer was used to calibrate the absolute responsivity of a four-element, planar, transmission trap detector (measuring the transmission loss each usage), at laser wavelengths. Modelling of the quantum defect then provided a reference for absolute spectral responsivity throughout the photometric wavelength range. This was used to measure the responsivity of a number of photometers at the mercury green line and to calculate correction factors for CIE Illuminant A. The candela so derived essentially agrees with our existing unit, maintained on a set of lamps. The trap detector was also used to determine the polarization properties of the monochromator.


Science centres have a strong commitment to education, but the implications of that commitment change over time. The discovery pedagogy of the first science centres is gradually being replaced with a more dialogic approach that acknowledges that science has different meanings for different people. Here, we follow the transition of a Danish science centre towards this new approach; a transition driven by the development of a dialogic exhibition on health. To this end, we study the adaptive transformation of scientific content from its origin in scientific literature to its embodiment in the exhibition, using discourse analysis to track its deconstruction and reconstruction. We observe that although the science centre's established discovery pedagogy does challenge the implementation of dialogic perspectives on health, the participatory approach taken in the development process successfully overcame these challenges. In conclusion, we offer our perspectives on the implications of our findings for science centres.


Some patients, especially patients with chronic diseases such as heart disease, require continuous monitoring of their condition. Wearable devices for patient monitoring were introduced many years ago – for instance, wearable ambulatory ECG (electrocardiogram) recorders commonly known as Holter monitors (Figure 1) are used for monitoring cardiac patients. However, these monitors are quite bulky and can only record the signal for a limited time. Patients are often asked to wear a Holter monitor for a few days and then return to the clinic for diagnosis. This often overlooks transient but life-threatening events. In addition, we don't know under what condition the signals are acquired, and this often leads to false alarms. For example, a sudden rise in heart rate may be caused by emotion, such as watching a horror movie, or by exercise, rather than by a heart condition. Body sensing To address these issues, the concept of Body Sensor Networks (BSN) was first proposed in 2002 by Prof. Guang-Zhong Yang from Imperial College London. The aim of the BSN is to provide a truly personalised monitoring platform that is pervasive, intelligent, and Figure 1 A patient wearing a Holter monitor


Non-human primates (NHPs) are the closest living relatives of the human and play a critical role in investigating the effects of maternal viral infection and consumption of medicines, drugs, and alcohol on fetal development. With the advance of contemporary fast MRI techniques with parallel imaging, fetal MRI is becoming a robust tool increasingly used in clinical practice and preclinical studies to examine congenital abnormalities including placental dysfunction, congenital heart disease (CHD), and brain abnormalities non-invasively. Because NHPs are usually scanned under anesthesia, the motion artifact is reduced substantially, allowing multi-parameter MRI techniques to be used intensively to examine the fetal development in a single scanning session or longitudinal studies. In this paper, the MRI techniques for scanning monkey fetal brains in utero in biomedical research are summarized. Also, a fast imaging protocol including T2-weighted imaging, diffusion MRI, resting-state functional MRI (rsfMRI) to examine rhesus monkey fetal brains in utero on a clinical 3T scanner is introduced.


Introduction. Despite the constant modernization of the athletes' training system, as well as the existing legislative framework aimed at innovative transformations in the field of physical education and sports, currently, there is no information on the use of interactive tools in the theoretical training of athletes in cyclic sports, and it does not meet modern requirements for training athletes. The study aimed to compare the effectiveness of training with the use of traditional and author's interactive tools of theoretical training of beginner athletes in cyclic sports. Material and methods. In this work, the following research methods were used: theoretical analysis and generalization of literary sources, pedagogical observation, pedagogical experiment, pedagogical testing, methods of mathematical statistics. The study included 36 people involved in kayaking and canoeing at the stage of initial training. The sports experience of the subjects was 1-2 years, qualification at the level of III sports categories. Classes on the developed programs were conducted in the preparatory period of the macrocycle. Results . Training, in which only the theoretical training tools recommended by the curriculum were used, proved to be ineffective in most sections of knowledge at the stage of initial training of athletes. Training sessions with the use of interactive tools proved to be more effective than classes that used only the theoretical training tools recommended by the curriculum. Conclusions. Classes with the use of interactive theoretical training tools contributed more to the increase of the general level of theoretical training of young rowers at the stage of initial training - up to 57,4 % (p < 0.05) than classes using only theoretical training tools recommended by the curriculum. - up to 40,8 % (p < 0.05). Prospects for further research in this direction include the development and experimental testing of the author's interactive tools for theoretical training, which will increase the level of theoretical training of athletes at different stages of training in cyclical sports.


This study evaluated the methods and materials used in teaching Human Kinetics and Health Education in some randomly selected secondary schools in Katsina State, Nigeria. A self-designed, pretested and validated questionnaire was used. The respondents consisted of 34 Human Kinetics and Health Education teachers and 4 coaches/instructors (n=38). The findings revealed that lectures, explanations, discussions, and questions and answers, were the common methods used by teachers, while the common materials used, included chalkboard, books, magazines, pictures, charts and posters. Challenges were identified and these included the low level of education on the part teachers; the non-availability of the materials on demand; lack of funds; lack of adequate personnel -coaches and sport instructors; lack of in-service training for the teachers and obvious lack encouragement to improvise materials for the teaching of Human Kinetics and Health Education in their schools. For better productivity therefore, it is recommended that a well-designed curriculum be implemented that would maximize physical activity during lessons and keep the students moderately-to-vigorously engaged, while also providing the enabling conditions for the training and retraining of the teachers. Key words: Human Kinetics, Health Education, teaching, methods, materials


We examine the production planning and scheduling of a job shop environment of a machining cell in a manufacturing facility. This thesis addresses the scheduling limitations in the machining cell that can result in unbalanced loading and idling of machines as well as longer manufacturing lead times. A method was developed to use Microsoft Project 2007 as a tool to enable dynamic production planning and control in the shop floor. In order for a proper model to be set up, relevant observations were made and required data collected. In Microsoft Project, work orders were scheduled using an active-nondelay hybrid scheduling technique. This technique resulted in short makespan with high machine utilization, low average waiting time, and low WIP. Simulated manufacturing lead times were also reduced to an average of 1.5 weeks compared to current manufacturing lead times of about 3 4 weeks, showing significant improvement. Further observations revealed that machine utilizations could not be balanced further than what was achieved without changing the machine routings of the components. Alternatively, if process times on the bottleneck machine could be reduced, more balanced loads could be achieved as well. If recommendations to the company were implemented, we expect that there will be an increase in the overall machining cell output capacity and a reduction in overall manufacturing lead times and WIP levels due to shorter processing times, higher machine utilizations, and better production planning.


Pipe flows of bimodal settling slurries exhibit frictional head losses quite different from those determined simply as a sum of loss contributions by the individual fractions. Mechanisms governing flow friction and resulting from an interaction of grains of different fractions in transported slurry are not well understood. This makes a prediction of the frictional head loss in flows of bimodal slurries with Newtonian carrier uncertain. An extensive experimental campaign was conducted in GIW Hydraulic Laboratory in 2016 with slurries of four narrow graded fractions of the virtually same grain densities and very different grain sizes (carrier-liquid fraction, pseudo-homogeneous-, heterogeneous-, and stratified fractions). Besides testing of the individual fractions, different combinations of the fraction mixtures (bimodal, three- and four-component) were tested as well.
 In our previous work published in 2018, we employed experimental results for bimodal slurry composed of coarse granite rock (the stratified fraction) and fine sand (the pseudo-homogeneous fraction) to analyze the observed considerable reduction of the frictional head loss caused by an addition of the fine sand to the granite rock slurry.
 In this work, we extend our analysis to the other bimodal slurries composed of permutations of the four fractions (in total 3 additional bimodal slurries) with a major objective to identify possible mechanisms leading to a modification of the frictional head loss due to an addition of a finer fraction to a coarser mono-disperse slurry, and to quantify this effect for the purposes of a predictive four-component model (4CM). The investigation shows that the frictional loss of bimodal slurry is always smaller than the theoretical loss obtained as the sum of losses of the fractions, although the massive reduction observed in the slurry composed of the stratified rock and fine sand is not observed in any other bimodal slurry. The investigation also suggests that the friction effect obtained by the finer fraction addition is due to different mechanisms for different bimodal slurries although all mechanisms are associated with altering mechanical friction due to granular contacts.
 It is shown that the observed effects can be well reproduced by the friction loss model 4CM, calibrated by the experimental data set from the 203-mm pipe and validated by the data set from the 103-mm pipe.


(Applause Books). When 20th Century Fox planned its blockbuster portrayal of Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor, it looked to Akira Kurosawa a man whose mastery of the cinema led to his nickname "the Emperor" to direct the Japanese sequences. Yet a matter of three weeks after he began shooting the film in December 1968, Kurosawa was summarily dismissed and expelled from the studio. The tabloids trumpeted scandal: Kurosawa had himself gone mad; his associates had betrayed him; Hollywood was engaged in a conspiracy. Now, for the first time, the truth behind the downfall and humiliation of one of cinema's greatest perfectionists is revealed in All the Emperor's Men. Journalist Hiroshi Tasogawa probes the most sensitive questions about Kurosawa's thwarted ambition and the demons that drove him. His is a tale of a great clash of personalities, of differences in the ways of making movies, and ultimately of a clash between Japanese and American cultures.


Relationship to national churches in the Nordic countries has often been described as "believing in belonging". Based on a longitudinal survey data, I argue in this article that this notion does not apply anymore to the young generation, often referred as Generation Y. Therefore, they are highly challenging traditional reasons for belonging to national churches. The number of church-leavers has been unusually high in Finland since the beginning of 21st century, a vast majority of them young adults. The same young adults were confirmed in the church only a few years earlier. This study aims to give understanding to the high number of young people who leave the Church soon after confirmation. The study shows that for Generation Y, the church-leaving process is linked to beliefs and values. They do not leave the church because they are disappointed with it, but because they do not find it to be in line with their own beliefs. The tradition and culture are not enough to keep them as members. KEYWORD: Generation Y, religious change, church membership, confirmation work


Fraser states that there is an objective way of deriving the desirable analytical CV (CVa), and that for cholesterol this figure should not exceed 2·2%. In contrast, we I and others'' believe that the level of performance required depends on the nature of the clinical problem and that a single figure is unlikely to be appropriate for all clinical situations. Any approach to the derivation of CVa involves the subjective selection of a particular statistical model. Fraser's approach" is based on half the estimated biological variation. Even if this were the correct model, it assumes that the magnitude of the relevant biological variation is known. Data are usually obtained from studies on healthy persons, and biological variations are different in patients. Plasma cholesterol concentration shows a diurnal variation' and is influenced by posture and venous stasis." Variability can, therefore, be lessened by standardising collection procedures and reducing pre-analytical error. However, there is also some evidence that intra-individual CV's depend on the plasma cholesterol level and are different in men and women." In theory, therefore, it would be necessary to know the intra-individual CV of each patient in order to calculate CVa. This is not practical and Fraser therefore approximates his esimate to 2·2% or less whereas we suggested 'about 1%'. We do not claim that this figure is objective. However, in real life two other factors are of much greater practical importance. Firstly, single measurements are necessarily imprecise because they include both analytical and within-person variation. The difference between two single measurements on a patient shows an average CV of about 8% 7 and apparent small changes can easily be misinterpreted.


Contracting with suppliers prone to default is an increasingly common problem in some industries, particularly automotive manufacturing. We model this phenomenon as a two-period contracting game with two identical suppliers, a single buyer, deterministic demand, and uncertain production costs. The suppliers are distressed at the start of the game and do not have access to external sources of capital; hence, revenues from the buyer are crucial in determining whether default occurs. The production cost of each supplier is the sum of two stochastic components: a common term that is identical for both suppliers (representing raw materials costs, design specifications, etc.) and an idiosyncratic term that is unique to a given supplier (representing inherent firm capability). The buyer chooses a supplier and then decides on a single-or two-period contract. Comparing models with and without the possibility of default, we find that, without the possibility of supplier failure, the buyer always prefers short-term contracts over long-term contracts, whereas this preference is typically reversed in the presence of failure. Neither of these contracts coordinates the supply chain. We also consider dynamic contracts, in which the contract price is partially tied to some index representing the common component of production costs (e.g., commodity prices of raw materials such as steel or oil), allowing the buyer to shoulder some of the risk from cost uncertainty. We find that dynamic long-term contracts allow the buyer to coordinate the supply chain in the presence of default risk. We also demonstrate that our results continue to hold under a variety of alternative assumptions, including stochastic demand, allowing the buyer the option of subsidizing a bankrupt supplier via a contingent transfer payment or loan and allowing the buyer to unilaterally renegotiate contracts. We conclude that the possibility of supplier default offers a new reason to prefer long-term contracts over short-term contracts.


The infrared absorption spectra of p-dichloro-benzene and p-dichlorobenzene-d4 were measured from 300 to 700 cm−1 in a gaseous state with cesium bromide prism, from 300 to 100 cm−1 in a solid state with gratings, and, using a newly constructed long path (720 cm.) high temperature cell, from 1700 to 700 cm−1 in a gaseous state with a sodium chloride prism. The frequencies and band envelopes of observed absorption bands were reported. On the basis of these results, the assignment of the infrared active normal vibrations of these molecules was determined. The assignment was checked by means of the application of the product rule, and the correctness was verified by the good agreement between the theoretical and experimental values. The assignment was also determined for the observed combination bands, using the Raman fundamental frequencies presented in the previous paper as well as infrared frequencies.


One form of carbonic anhydrase (CA) has been observed in maize (Zea mays) thylakoids and photosystem II (PSII)-enriched membranes. Here, we show that an antibody produced against a thylakoid lumen-targeted CA found in Chlamydomonas reinhardtiireacts with a single 33-kD polypeptide in maize thylakoids. With immunoblot analysis, we found that this single polypeptide could be identified only in mesophyll thylakoids and derived PSII membranes, but not in bundle sheath thylakoids. Likewise, a CA activity assay confirmed a large amount of activity in mesophyll, but not in bundle sheath membranes. Immunoblot analysis and CA activity assay showed that the maximum CA can be obtained in the supernatant of the PSII-enriched membranes washed with 1 m CaCl2, the same procedure used to remove all extrinsic lumenal proteins from PSII. Because this CA reacts with an antibody to lumen-directed CA inC. reinhardtii, and because it can be removed with 1m CaCl2 wash, we refer to it tentatively as extrinsic CA. This is to distinguish it from another form of CA activity tightly bound to PSII membranes that remains after CaCl2 wash, which has been described previously. The function of extrinsic CA is not clear. It is unlikely to have the same function as the cytoplasmic CA, which has been proposed to increase the HCO3 − concentration for phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase and the C4 pathway. We suggest that because the extrinsic CA is associated only with thylakoids doing linear electron flow, it could function to produce the CO2 or HCO3 − needed for PSII activity.


This paper documents how debt holders respond to possible loss of reputational capital of firms involved in corporate lawsuits revealing a significant tightening impact on issuers' public debt properties. All else equal, investment grade bonds of litigated issuers have 4.9% higher yield spread, 11-month shorter maturity, and $14.7 million less issuance volume than propensity score matched bonds of non-litigated issuers. The effect is more pronounced in bank-loan related cases, when issuers were defendants, or lost the case. Issuers' political connections moderate bond price sensitivity to litigations. Results suggest a causal link between litigation and cost of debt and are robust to alternative tests. Additionally, the paper reports a negative and significant abnormal bond return and excess trading volume around public announcements of lawsuits.


The present work is concerned with the wear properties of aluminium matrix–SiC particles cast composites. It was found that introduction of SiC particles into Al alloys causes a drastic reduction in the wear rate. With SiC content above 13.5 wt. %, however, the wear rate starts to increase again. The particle size of 25 μm is optimum for the improvement of wear resistance compared to other sizes (1 and 125 μm). The friction coefficient and sliding surface temperature decrease with increasing particles content.


Dictionary learning is used in signal, image, audio and video processing applications to represent signals by a sparse set of atoms where sparse representations are managed for the problems of compression, denoising, feature extraction and data classification. In many machine learning applications, classifier ensembles are shown to be superior than their single classifier counterparts. In this paper, we propose to use dictionary learning as a base classifier in ensemble learning methods and introduce Random Subspace Dictionary Learning (RDL) and Bagging Dictionary Learning (BDL) algorithms by learning ensembles of dictionaries for each class using feature/instance subspaces. The experimental results show that the ensemble based dictionary learning methods outperform the single dictionary learning (DL), Support Vector Machines (SVM), and SVM based ensemble classifiers.


Gray scale is a preferred method for information display, yet existing techniques for constructing a gray scale rely on mathematical formulas that are ambiguous and inconsistent with known phenomena of suprathreshold achromatic perception. To improve this situation, problems are discussed, literature on suprathreshold achromatic perception is reviewed, existing gray-scale formulas are compared with human-performance data, and a new approach is examined. The new approach takes into account the luminances of the surround, the targets, and the distractors that are to be rendered in a gray scale. It is theory based, is consistent with known phenomena of suprathreshold achromatic perception, and fits human-performance data at least as well as any other formula.


Objective: To study changes in expression of claudin-11 and proteins related to mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways, as well as the ultrastructure of the blood testis barrier (BTB), in male ICR mice exposed to decabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-209). Methods: Fifty-two mice, 4 weeks of age, weighing 15-21 g, were provided with adaptive feeding for 1 week. Mice were randomly divided into 4 groups, named control, low-dose, medium-dose and high-dose groups. The treated groups received BDE-209, by intragastric gavage, at doses, respectively, of 100, 300 and 500 mg/kg. Mice were sacrificed after 6 weeks and organs harvested on ice, weighed and stored at -80 °C. The ultrastructure of testicular tissues was examined by electron microscopy. Western blotting was used to detect proteins related to the MAPK pathway, including p38 mitogen activated protein kinase (p38), phosphorylated p38 (p-p38), extracellular regulated protein kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) , phosphorylated ERK1/2 (p-ERK1/2) , c-jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), phosphorylated JNK (p-JNK) and the BTB tight junction protein claudin-11. Analyze the difference between each groups. Results: At sacrifice, the body weights in each treated group were compared with those in the control group weighing (41.14 ± 0.60) g. Compared with controls, body weights were significantly different (P<0.05) in the middle dose, at (39.97 ± 0.66) g and high dose, at (39.98± 0.55) g in control group. The coefficients of the testis were significantly lower (P<0.05) in each treated group than in controls, with values of (0.37±0.0)%, (0.31±0.05)% and (0.31±0.04)% for low-dose, medium-dose and high-dose groups, respectively. The epidymus coefficient values were also significantly lower than controls (P<0.05), with values of (0.16±0.06)%, (0.11±0.05)% and (0.07±0.03)%, respectively in the same three dose groups. Electron microscopy ultrastructure showed that, compared with the control group, the testes in the middle and high dose groups had closely connected fractures, cell edema and more vacuoles. Compared with in the control group, levels of p-p38 and p-JNK in testicular tissue were significantly increased (P<0.05). In the control group and in low-, medium- and high-dose groups, the p-p38/p38 ratios were 1.35±0.13, 3.46±0.10, 5.71±0.26 and 4.79±0.21, respectively. The corresponding p-JNK/JNK ratios were 2.07±0.0, 4.77±0.18, 3.63±0.06 and 4.85±0.15. Claudin-11 levels were significantly lower (P<0.05) than control values in each dosed group. The corresponding values in control, low-dose, medium-dose and high-dose groups were 8.33±0.36, 2.06±0.27, 3.37±0.27 and 1.55±0.19, respectively. Conclusion: BDE-209 increased expression of proteins in the MAPK pathway and decreased expression of the BTB tight junction protein claudin-11 in testicular tissue. It also caused ultrastructural damage to the Sertoli cell BTB tight junctions. This suggested that BDE-209 might damage Sertoli cells BTB through effects on the MAPK pathway.


Background: Vascular lesions are broad term used for a wide range of conditions that results in abnormal number, structure, or position of blood vessels now widely divided in two groups; vascular tumors and vascular malformations. These lesions could be clinically diagnosed with 90% accuracy, however radiographic evaluation such as CT and MRI angiograms may be helpful in determining the extent, exact location and flow dynamics of some lesions. This is important because appropriate treatment and prognosis depend largely on the type of lesion. While vascular tumor is known to respond to steroid therapy, vascular malformations do not.
Aim: To present a case of vascular lesion on the upper lip and its management. Methods: We present a case of arterio-venous malformation on the upper lip in a 20 year old female and its surgical management.
Findings: Our case posed a diagnostic and management challenge initially diagnosed as haemangioma, but was eventually diagnosed as vascular malformation with immuno-histochemistry supplemented by CT and MRI angiograms and managed. Definitive treatments undertaken were bilateral upper labial arterial ligation, excision of the lesion and cheilorrhaphy.
Conclusion: The patient now has an aesthetically acceptable, functioning upper lip. This demonstrates the advantage of using advanced diagnostic aids in diagnosis and surgical management.

Key words: Diagnostic dilemma, vascular malformation, vascular tumors, haemangioma, upper lip.


UV radiation contains erythemally weighted UV, as well as UV that synthesizes vitamin D3. Here, we attempted to determine the relationship between these factors by numerical simulation of atmospheric parameters, such as total ozone, using a simplified "SMART2" model for radiative transfer. Both forms of UV were almost linearly correlated with each other for a comparably large UV radiation exposure, larger than UV Index ~1.6. If erythemally weighted UV, which carries a risk of sunburn, is known, the amount of UV exposure needed for vitamin D synthesis in the epidermis can be estimated using this relationship. The production of 10 μg (400 IU) of vitamin D per day takes approximately 1/3 of the time needed to reach the minimal erythemal dose (MED) for an effective skin area of 600 cm2 for skin phototype III. For an area of 1200 cm2, 1/6 of that exposure time suffices. From a UV Index that is commonly used, the risks and benefits can be evaluated using this linear relationship, which will enable people to effectively manage their UV exposure and consider the risks and benefits to optimize health outcomes.


We have analysed interferometric coherence variations in Japanese Earth Resources Satellite (JERS-1) L-band synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data at three central Amazon sites: Lake Balbina, Cabaliana and Solimões-Purús. Because radar pulse interactions with inundated vegetation typically follow a double-bounce travel path that returns energy to the antenna, coherence will vary with vegetation type as well as with physical and temporal baselines. Lake Balbina consists mostly of upland forests and inundated trunks of dead, leafless trees whereas Cabaliana and Solimões-Purús are dominated by flooded forests. Balbina has higher coherence values than either Cabaliana or Solimões-Purús probably because the dead, leafless trees support strong double-bounce returns. The mean coherences of flooded woodland are 0.28 in Balbina and 0.11 in both Cabaliana and Solimões-Purús. With increasing temporal baselines, flooded and nonflooded wetland habitats show a steadily decreasing trend in coherence values whereas terra-firme and especially open-water habitats have little variation and remain lower in value. Flooded and nonflooded wetland coherence varies with the season whereas terra-firme and open water do not have similarly evident seasonal variations. For example, flooded habitats in all three study regions show annual peaks in coherence values that are typically 0.02 greater than coherence values from temporal baselines 180 days later, yet open water shows no variation with time. Our findings suggest that, despite overall low coherence values, repeat-pass interferometric coherence of flooded habitats is capable of showing the annual periodicity of the Amazon flood wave.


Right sided endocarditis usually involves the tricuspid valve, while pulmonary valve is affected exceptionally (less than 1,5%), there fore few cases reported in the literature. The clinical of pulmonary valve endocarditis are not the classics of infectious endocarditis, as they are the symptoms of lung septic embolism. Isolated pulmonary native valve endocarditis is an unusual clinical entity in non-users of intravenous drugs. We present a case of a male patient with diabetes mellitus type 2 and without other predisposing factor.


FSVDS, a visual demonstration system of flight simulation is designed and implemented based on OSG. FSVDS is highly configurable using a set of configuration files. FSVDS supports multiple display modes such as real time visualization of numerical simulation or simulation with semi-real objects, and playback content of path file and viewpoint file which can be recoded and edited by user. To support controls on progress of flight visual simulation such as play, pause, rollback and faster or slower simulation speed, FSM theory is employed to model the process of visual simulation. Based on OSG: Producer library, FSVDS implement a multi-viewport user interface with the ability of view ports shifting and active view port determination. FSVDS also provide physically based sky dome model and cloud system, as well as trail, trail fire and smoke based on OSG particle system. These make it very suitable for realistic flight simulation.


The rate of ice formation was measured for Hedera helix L. cv. Thorndale (English ivy) bark exposed to -10 C. The cooling rate of bark exposed to -10 C was 31 C per minute. The water efflux rate required for ice formation to occur extracellularly was calculated from the rate of ice formation and the average cell diameter. The water potential difference driving the efflux of water to sites of extracellular ice was calculated from the sample temperature, osmotic water potential, and fraction of water frozen at a given freezing temperature. From the water efflux rate and water potential difference, the resistance of the barrier controlling movement of intracellular water to sites of extracellular ice was calculated. Comparison of the resistance of this barrier to water movement with the resistance of the cell membrane revealed that the membrane represented only 0.5% of the barrier resistance. Thus, membrane resistance can have little influence on the rate of water efflux and ice formation when bark is cooled at a rate of 31 C per minute. If ice formation occurred at the same rate in ivy bark as it occurred in a 10 mm MnCl(2) solution, the membrane resistance would still have represented only 1% of the resistance of the barrier to ice formation. Therefore, at a cooling rate of 31 C/minute, heat removal plays a large part in determining the rate of ice formation. At slower cooling rates experienced under natural freezing conditions the ability to remove heat would play an even larger role. It is concluded that under natural freezing conditions membrane resistance does not limit water efflux.


Objective Ventilation tube (VT) insertion is usually recommended before cochlear implantation (CI) in pediatric cochlear implant candidates with recurrent acute otitis media (AOM) or chronic otitis media with effusion (OME). However, there is no consensus on whether the VT is beneficial even after CI, that is, whether the tube should be removed or left in place during CI. This study aimed to assess the effect of tube placement after CI, especially on the incidence of post-CI AOM, in pediatric cochlear implant recipients who had undergone VT insertion before CI because of recurrent AOM or chronic OME. Study Design A retrospective medical record review. Setting A tertiary referral cochlear implant center. Patients This study recruited 58 consecutive ears of children who underwent VT insertion followed by CI at age 7 years or younger between 2004 and 2021. Before October 2018, we removed the VT simultaneously with CI (removed group, 39 ears), while since then, the tube has remained in place during CI (retained group, 19 ears). Intervention Therapeutic. Main Outcome Measure The primary outcome was the proportion of ears that developed AOM at post-CI 6 months in the removed and retained groups. Results The age at CI was significantly higher in the removed group than in the retained group (mean [standard deviation]: the removed group, 2.9 [1.2] yr; the retained group: 1.5 [0.8] yr; p < 0.001). The removed group showed a significantly higher proportion of ears with post-CI AOM (8 of 39 ears; 20.5%) than the retained group (none of 19 ears; 0%) 6 months after CI (p = 0.044). The AOM-free proportion at post-CI 12 months was 76.9% in the removed group and 83.3% in the retained group, demonstrating no significant difference (p = 0.49), probably because the VT was spontaneously extruded in the retained group at a median of 6.5 months after CI. Throughout the study period, 17 ears (13 from the removed group) were affected by post-CI AOM. Of these, three ears in the removed group and two in the retained group after spontaneous extrusion of the VT were hospitalized and treated with intravenous antibiotics for AOM that had failed to respond to oral antibiotic therapy. Only one ear in the removed group required an explanation of the infected implant. None suffered from chronic perforation of the tympanic membrane or secondary cholesteatoma after VT insertion or meningitis associated with post-CI AOM. Conclusion Our results suggest that in CI for children who already have a VT because of a recurrent AOM or chronic OME, retaining the tube in position, rather than removing the tube, may decrease the incidence of AOM at least within 6 months after CI, during which most cochlear implant device infection was reported in the pediatric population.


A high-sensitivity mechano-luminescent sensor was fabricated on the basis of piezoelectric/electroluminescent composites. The working principle of this mechano-luminescent sensor was elucidated by analyzing the relationship between the piezoelectric-induced charges and the electroluminescent effects. When a stress is applied on the piezoelectric layer, electrical charges will be induced at both the top and bottom sides of the piezoelectric layer. The induced electrical charges will lead to a light output from the electroluminescent layer, thus producing a mechano-luminescence effect. By increasing the vibration strength or frequency applied, the mechano-luminescence output can be obviously enhanced. Mechano-luminescence sensors have potential in smart stress-to-light devices, such as foot-stress-distribution-diagnosis systems and dynamic-load-monitors for bridge hanging cables.


The relationship of four psychosocial factors (family history of psychiatric illness, early loss of a nurturing relationship, stressful life events, and low social support) to depressive symptoms was investigated in university students using a cross-sectional design. A depressed group (N - 160), selected from a consecutive sample of students diagnosed depressed and attending a university psychiatric service, was contrasted with a nondepressed group (N=206) randomly selected from the general university population within three strata (sex, academic level, and month of the year) to match the clinic group. Depression was measured by the Beck Depression Inventory. It was found that family history of psychiatric illness, stressful life events, and lack of a confidant all had a significant, independent direct effect on the occurrence of depressive symptoms, but early loss was not associated. An interaction effect among the psychosocial factors was not demonstrated.


Previous data from cohort C of phase 1b/2 study KEYNOTE-365 (NCT02861573) showed that PD-1 inhibitor pembrolizumab + enzalutamide was well tolerated and showed antitumor activity in patients with abiraterone acetate–pretreated mCRPC. Updated data after a minimum of 22 months of follow-up are presented.Patients in the prechemotherapy mCRPC state who were intolerant to ≥4 weeks' treatment with abiraterone acetate or for whom this treatment failed, had progressive disease ≤6 months before screening, and had ECOG PS 0-2 were enrolled. Patients received pembrolizumab 200 mg IV Q3W + enzalutamide 160 mg orally QD. Primary end points were PSA response rate (decrease ≥50% from baseline), confirmed ORR per RECIST v1.1 by blinded independent central review (BICR), and safety. Secondary end points were time to PSA progression; DCR (CR or PR of any duration + SD or non-CR/non-PD ≥6 months) and DOR per RECIST v1.1 by BICR; rPFS per PCWG3-modified RECIST v1.1 by BICR; and OS.Of 103 enrolled patients, 102 were treated. Median age was 70.0 years (range, 43–87); 29.4% of patients were PD-L1+; 37.3% had RECIST-measurable disease. Median follow-up (time from enrollment to data cutoff) was 40.2 months (range, 22.3–49.9). Confirmed PSA response rate in patients with baseline PSA measurement (N = 101) was 23.8%. Median time to PSA progression was 4.0 months (95% CI, 3.5–4.4). In 38 patients with measurable disease, ORR was 10.5% (2 CR; 2 PR). Median DOR was 11.8 months (4.3 to 38.3+ months); 1 patient had a response ≥12 months. DCR for the total population was 33.3%. Median (95% CI) rPFS was 6.0 months (4.1–6.3); rPFS at 12 months was 30.1%. Median (95% CI) OS was 20.1 months (16.9–25.2); OS at 12 months was 76.2%. Treatment-related AEs (TRAEs) occurred in 92.2% of patients; most common (≥20%) were fatigue (39.2%), nausea (21.6%), and rash (21.6%). Grade 3–5 TRAEs occurred in 42.2%, most commonly rash (7.8%) and fatigue (5.9%). Four patients died of AEs: 1 death was treatment-related (unknown cause).After a minimum follow-up of 22 months, pembrolizumab + enzalutamide continued to show antitumor activity in abiraterone acetate–pretreated mCRPC. The safety profile of pembrolizumab + enzalutamide was generally consistent with individual profiles of each agent. There was a higher incidence than typically reported for the individual agents of all-grade (21.6%) and grade 3 (7.8%) rash, which resolved with standard-of-care treatment. The combination is being further evaluated in the phase 3 study KEYNOTE-641.Medical writing and/or editorial assistance was provided by Matthew Grzywacz, PhD, of ApotheCom (Yardley, PA, USA). This assistance was funded by Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, USA. Funding for this research was provided by Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, USA.gov, identifier: NCT02861573The study and the protocol were approved by the Institutional Review Board or ethics committee at each site.


Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix (Qianghuo), including Notopterygium incisum Ting ex H. T. Chang (NI) and Notopterygium franchetii H. de Boiss (NF), is an important traditional Chinese medicine. Of these two plants, NI, is more commonly used and has a much higher price in the marketplace. To compare these two plants, a combination of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was carried out, thus obtaining an overall characterization for both volatile and none-volatile compounds. Combined with hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) and principal component analysis, GC-MS was successfully applied to distinguish NF and NI. The chemical constitutes of volatile oil in NI and NF were firstly compared in detail, and 1R-alpha-pinene, beta-pinene and 4-isopropyl-1-methyl-1,4-cyclohexadiene had great contribution to the discrimination. Fingerprints of 14 batches of Qinghuo samples were also established based on HPLC, and an obvious difference was found between the two species. The chromatographic fingerprints were further analyzed by similarity analysis and HCA. The present study is the first reported evaluation of two origins of Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix by GC-MS and HPLC, which will facilitate quality control and its clinical application.


Entertainment education (E-E) is one of the most widely discussed areas in current scholarship on international health communication. In fact, much of the health communication scholarship has been historically dominated by E-E efforts directed at subaltern spaces. This article applies a subaltern studies perspective to interrogate the location of agency of the subaltern participant in the dominant E-E discourse. Based on a critical approach to E-E, the article offers points of departure for studying health communication in subaltern spaces. Subaltern voices point toward alternative definitions of problems beyond the narrow realm of problems defined by the core actors in E-E. Finally, alternative positions are suggested for applying participatory communication in engaging with subaltern participants for problem definition and solution development.


Background To investigate the true accuracy of the surgical guide in the planning of orthognathic surgeries, which are performed worldwide. Material and Methods A systematic search was conducted in the PubMed database, Web of science, Scopus and Embase, covering August 2020 to January 2021. Studies that included patients with dentofacial deformity including anteroposterior, vertical and asymmetry problems who were undergoing an orthognathic surgery procedure were included; QUADAS-2 was used to determine the risk of bias by analyzing the quality of the studies. A PRISMA (flowchart) was created to show the study selection, keywords, nomination processes, and inclusion and exclusion criteria. Results Eleven studies were selected for qualitative and quantitative synthesis. All studies evaluated described high precision of the surgical guide, where the lowest error values were represented by the CAD/CAM technique. Conclusions The planning and printing errors related to the guide were all less than 2 mm, and the absolute averages of the errors related to virtual planning in the analysis of the different plans were less than 1 mm. Finally, the measurement of the ANB angle obtained equivalent results between the virtual planning and the traditional. Key words:Orthognathic surgery, splints, data accuracy, 3-D printing.


The slopes of the California borderland are an important pathway for sediments transported from the mainland shelf, bank tops, and island platforms to the adjacent basin floor. Sedimentologic conditions on the slope are governed by a complex interplay of depositional and mass movement processes which are controlled by driving forces and stabilizing factors. Driving forces are predominantly external to the sediment mass and include oceanographic, biologic, and tectonic factors. Sedimentologic and geotechnical properties of sediments, as well as certain environmental parameters such as declivity, may provide a stabilizing influence to the sediments. These same factors, however, may be an influence in decreasing the stability and enhancing the influence of the driving mechan sms. Declivity, an environmental property commonly considered a major factor controlling failure, is less important than either proximity to active sediment sources or the influence of external driving forces. We have conducted field studies at different scales of examination including high resolution acoustic profiling, sediment sampling, bottom photography, and observations from manned submersibles. These data show that failures themselves are greatly varied in scale, ranging from large features kilometers on a side and approximately 50 m thick, through smaller scale failures tens to hundreds of meters on a side, and about 1 m thick, to very small displacements composed of locally contorted and deformed sediment layers only a few centimeters thick. We regard these small displacements as being more important in the basin filling process than has been previously recognized. In a detailed study of an acoustically defined failure zone on the mainland slope off San Mateo Point, we observed the zone itself to be composed of numerous narrow slumps. Cores from these deposits contain combinations of hemipelagic sediments and small-scale mass flow deposits exhibiting internal plastic deformation and basal scour. Vertical stacking of these sediment packets show that small-scale displacements can occur repeatedly at a given locality. Continued, episodic loading of the sediments through time produces locally inhomogeneous, weakened sediment masses which, in conjunction with driving forces, may contribute to the generation of large-scale fail res. Such large-scale features are those commonly identified by conventional acoustic techniques. End_of_Article - Last_Page 442------------


The new aza–thioether crowns [15]ane(phen N2)S3 and [19]ane(phen N2)S4 have been synthesised. Their complexation with nickel(II) salts afforded a range of octahedral complexes. The single crystal structures of [Ni{[15]ane(phen N2)S3}(NCMe)][BF4]2, [NiCl{[15]ane(phen N2)S3}]BF4·dmf (dmf = dimethylformamide) and [NiI{[15]ane(phen N2)S3}][I3] have been determined and confirm N2S3 donation of the aza–thioether crown in a folded conformation to NiII with the sixth co-ordination site taken up by MeCN, Cl– and I– respectively. The complex [Ni2Cl2{[19]ane(phen N2)S4}2][BF4]2·3MeNO2 shows a dichlorobridged binuclear structure with the aza–thioether crown bound via only two S- and two N-donors, with two thioether S-donors unbound. A dichloro-bridged binuclear structure was found also for [Ni2Cl2{[12]ane(py N)S3}2][BF4]2·1.5MeNO2. The redox properties of [Ni{[15]ane(phen N2)S3}(NCMe)][BF4]2 in MeCN have been examined.


A rigorous investigation has been made on the modification of the dispersion properties of electromagnetic waves in a hot dusty plasma in the presence of a homogeneous external magnetic field. The Vlasov equation has been employed to find the response of the magnetized plasma particles where the dust grains form a static background of highly charged and massive centers having certain correlation. As an example, we derive the modified dispersion relation of the low frequency electromagnetic wave propagating perpendicular to the external magnetic field, i.e., the magnetosonic wave in the dusty plasma. We find important modifications in the dispersion relation and a finite damping of the usually undamped magnetosonic wave due to the presence of the dust. The modification of the dispersion properties and the new source of damping depend upon dust perturbation parameters, temperature, external magnetic field and the dust correlation length.


ABSTRACT A cognitive/behavioral model of depression emphasizing the self-control processes of self-mcnitoring, self-evaluation, and self-reinforcement views self-control as a set of processes by which an individual maintains responses in the relative absence of immediate external reinforcement. The relationship between self-evaluation, attributional style, and clinical depression was examined for 19 depressed and 12 nondepressed psychiatric inpatients and 16 nondepressed nonpsychiatric controls. Subjects were administered a verbal recognition task to assess their self-evaluation patterns. The results offered only partial support for the self-control model of depression. The depressed patients demonstrated lover expectations for their performance prior to undertaking the task, lower estimations of their performance following the task, and lower levels of satisfaction with their task performance than the nondepressed nonpsychiatric controls. Their performance on these measures, however, was indistinguishable from that of the nondepressed patients, thereby raising questions regarding the specificity of self-evaluation deficits to depression. Results suggest that the validity of conceptualizing clinical depression may be only quantitatively different from mild depression due to the implications of experimentally manipulating success and failure experiences. (Author)


An anatomically detailed elderly human body model is under development. Using the anthropometric database of domestic nation-wide size survey, SizeKorea, a standard size and shape of 50th %tile elderly was constructed. Through the local recruitment process, a male volunteer with 71 years of age, 163cm of height and 63kg of weight has been selected. The exterior (skin) and interior (skeleton and organ) geometries were acquired from whole body 3D laser scan and various medical images such as CT, X-ray, and Ultrasonic of the volunteer. A particular attention has been paid into the combining process of exterior and interior geometries especially for joint articulation positions since they were measured at different postures (sitting vs. supine). A whole ribcage of PMHS which possessed similar anthropometry and age of standard 50th %tile elderly was prepared and dissected for the precise gauge of cortical rib bone thickness distributions. After completing the morphological construction of elderly human body, the finite element modeling will be processed by meshing elements and assigning mechanical properties to various biological tissues which reflect the aging effect.


In this paper, we propose a transrating based video rate adaptation technique for compressed high-definition video transmission over wireless local area networks. Our application layer technique targets to prevent the quality impairments caused by inconsistent wireless bandwidth. The transrater at the server adjusts the transmission rate for each video frame, based on bandwidth measurements, to sustain the playout buffer fullness. Client periodically sends feedbacks after probing the available bandwidth using the video packet dispersions. The superiority of the proposed technique over the existing ones comes from its ability to select various time scales for rate adjustments. This feature avoids unnecessary rate reductions. Furthermore, transrating distortion is minimized by encoding type dependent rate allocation among the frames that will be transmitted in the projected time scale. Experimental results show that the proposed technique significantly reduces video glitches. Up to 2.43 dB average PSNR improvement is achieved compared to a delay-constraint unaware rate adaptation method, which also utilizes bandwidth measurements.


Background Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21), an FGF family member, is an atypical hormone and pro-longevity factor. Methods To better understand of the effects of exogenous administration of FGF21 on lifespan and stress tolerance, and the underlying molecular basis, we used the silkworm, Bombyx mori, as an experimental animal model to evaluate FGF21's pharmaceutical effects. Results Lifespan was significantly prolonged in female silkworms with FGF21 replenishment, whereas no effect was observed in the male silkworms. FGF21 replenishment also significantly improved the activity of antioxidant systems such as glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and significantly decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) content. Moreover, FGF21 was found to play a critical role in enhancing stress resistance, including ultraviolet (UV) irradiation tolerance and thermotolerance. Furthermore, AMPK, FoxO, and sirtuins were activated by FGF21 and may be responsible for the prolonged lifespan and enhanced antioxidant activity observed in silkworms. Conclusions Collectively, the results suggest the molecular pathways underlying of FGF21-induced longevity and stress tolerance, and support the use of silkworms as a promising experimental animal model for evaluating the pharmaceutical effects of small molecules.


The stability assessment of a concrete liner of a compressed air storage tunnel should be performed by an approach which is different from that commonly used for the liners of road tunnels, since the liner is exposed to high air pressure. In this study, the stability analysis method for the liner of compressed air storage tunnel is proposed based on the elastic and elasto-plastic solutions of the thick-walled cylinder problem. In case of elastic analysis, the yield initiation condition at the inner boundary is considered as the failure condition of the liner, while the condition which results in the extension of yielding zone to a certain depth is taken as a failure indicator of the liner in the elasto-plastic analysis taking Mohr-Coulomb criterion. The application of the proposed method revealed that the influence of the relative magnitude of boundary loads on the stability of liner is considerable. In particular, noting that the estimation of the outer boundary load may be relatively difficult, it is thought that the precise prediction of outer boundary load is very important in the analysis. Accordingly, the emphasis is put on the selection of the liner installation time, which may govern the magnitude of outer boundary load.


Based on the STIRPAT model, this study quantitatively analyzed the synergistic effect of pollution reduction and carbon reduction in Tianjin from three dimensions:total emission, emission reduction, and synergy coefficient. The results showed that the main emission sources of air pollutants and greenhouse gases in Tianjin were industrial sources, and the Pearson correlation coefficient of air pollutants and greenhouse gases was 0.984. The total population, urbanization rate, gross regional product, energy intensity, and carbon dioxide emission intensity were important factors affecting the synergistic effect of pollution reduction and carbon reduction in Tianjin. In 2011 and 2012, Tianjin's air pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions increased synergistically, and the synergistic effect coefficients were 0.18 and 0.17, respectively. From 2013 to 2014 and from 2018 to 2023, the air pollutant emission reduction and greenhouse gas emission increased, the synergistic effect coefficient was less than 0, and the pollution reduction and carbon reduction had no synergistic effect. In 2015-2017 and 2024-2060, air pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions were predicted to be reduced at the same time, with a synergistic effect coefficient ranging from 2.74 to 8.76. Tianjin had the conditions to enter the synergistic stage of pollution reduction and carbon reduction in 2024. The most important things for Tianjin to do to promote the synergy of pollution reduction and carbon reduction were to strictly control the total amount of greenhouse gas emissions, continue to promote the reduction in energy intensity and carbon dioxide emission intensity, and reasonably control the total population, urbanization rate, and regional GDP.


The development of "user-friendly" laboratory analyzers, combined with the need for rapid assessment of critical care patients, has led to the performance of in vitro diagnostic testing at the point of care. This strategy has been well received by most physicians who desire rapid turnaround times for laboratory tests, especially in the critical care areas. Since the primary care-giver in most critical care units is the registered nurse, much point-of-care testing has been delegated to nursing personnel. This has resulted in questions of authority, responsibility, regulation, and conflict resolution. These areas are discussed along with alternative strategies, such as vacuum transport, stat and/or satellite laboratories, unit-based phelebotomists, or "super techs," designed to achieve the goals of bedside or near-bedside testing in the critical care setting.


This review has been accepted as a thesis together with seven previously pub-INTRODUCTION SICK SINUS SYNDROME The sinus node is composed of a collection of specialised pacemaker cells embedded in a fibrous matrix that lies in the sulcus terminalis between the superior vena cava and the right atrial appendage. The sinus node serves as the primary cardiac pacemaker and controls the heart rate in normal individuals. Recent research indicates, that the sinus node is a heterogeneous tissue with multiple cell types and a complex structure (1, 2). Keith and Flack first described the sinus node in 1907 (3). In 1915-1916, " sino-auricular heart block " was described electrocardio-graphically for the first time (4, 5), and the frequent coexistence of sinus brady-arrhythmia and paroxysmal atrial tachycardia was described by Short in 1954 (6). The sick sinus syndrome (SSS) was further defined in the 1960's and 1970's (7-11), and is characterised by symptoms associated with electrocardiographic findings of sinus node dysfunction. In 1972 Rubenstein et al. proposed a simple classification based on the electrocardiographic manifestations of SSS (12). According to this classification, patients with SSS can be divided into three groups:


ABSTRACT The 'Jasmine Revolution' that toppled Tunisian president Zine al-'Abidine Ben 'Ali on 14 January 2011, and the 25 January 2011 uprising that toppled Egyptian President Husni Mubarak had similar characteristics yet different outcomes. While the Tunisian experience led to democratization and to a non-violent transfer of power, the Egyptian one led to a reversion to authoritarianism through a military coup and to bloodshed. This paper suggests that the key to understanding the diverse outcomes of the Arab Spring in these countries is the prevalence of consensus/dissensus in each society over the most suitable state model for the post-revolutionary era. The existence of an agreed-upon vision for the post-Arab Spring state in Tunisia—a vision of a 'civil state'—and a wide controversy over such a model in Egypt was a pivotal factor influencing the level of socio-political cohesion during the transitional period, hence determining whether it is destined for success or failure. A prior agreement between Islamist and Secularist opposition groups over the civil state model spared Tunisia the turmoil that Egypt went through due to the polarization over the desired state model in the post-Mubarak era, which served as a catalyst for the 2013 soft coup against the Muslim Brothers elected president.


Anesthesia for Ambulatory Surgery, Second Edition; Edited by Bernard V. Wetchler; J. B. Lippincott Company, 227 East Washington Square, Philadelphia, PA; $US75.00, $AI42.50; 170 X 240 mm; pp. 690. Anesthesia for Ambulatory Surgery is the most comprehensive text now available for ambulatory (Day Surgery) care. There are 21 contributors, aU American, who are considered leading experts in specific areas of Day Surgery care. The authors are predominantly anaesthestists; however, other professionals from nursing, marketing, law and health care administration contribute to give this book a well balanced approach to the key issues in maintaining a Day Surgery facility, for both adult and paediatric patients. Informative chapters consider patient selection, general, local and regional anaesthesia, with a particularly good practical chapter on problem solving in the recovery area. There is a heavy emphasis on the American medico-Iegal aspects of ambultatory care and an over-abundance of case reports. The last chapter on forms and policies should be of use to any centre managing day patients. Forms are gathered from a variety of Day Surgery facilities, which would facilitate the development and evaluation offorms for individual situations. This book should be read by all anaesthetists and nurse managers involved in the organisation of day patients. It is also a useful reference when administrative and patient care problems arise.


A novel approach to realize long-range distributed temperature and strain measurement with high spatial resolution, as well as high temperature and strain resolution, is proposed based on optical frequency-domain reflectometry (OFDR). To maintain the high measurement resolution and accuracy while increasing the sensing length, an optimized nonlinearity compensation algorithm is implemented to ensure a large wavelength tuning range. The compensated OFDR trace exhibits improved sensing resolution at a short distance, and the spatial resolution gradually deteriorates at the far end due to accumulated phase noise induced by fast tuning of the laser wavelength. We demonstrated the spatial resolution of 0.3 mm over a single-mode fiber sensing length of over 300 m, and temperature and strain resolution of 0.7 °C and 2.3 με with spatial resolution of up to 7 cm, respectively.


Scientific and practical problem, associated with the organization of longterm mutually beneficial relations between the seller and the buyer based on digital marketing has been examined. The concepts of the marketing channel as a single channel of sales, service, control, which uses diff ent formats, media tools; as well as omnichannel strategy based on the interests of the seller and the buyer have been с larified. The results of a comparative analysis of multichannel and omnichannel strategies in marketing according to nine characteristics; author's model "omnichannel marketing wheel" have been introduced in the article. The model reflects the specifics of the omnichannel marketing strategy. Seven main groups of elements, that provide the conditions for a «seamless» continuous mutually beneficial interaction between seller and customer, have been presented in this model.


This retrospective study investigated the outcome of 33 dogs with splenic hemangiosarcoma treated with surgery followed by adjuvant dose-intensified doxorubicin (DOX) with or without low-dose metronomic cyclophosphamide (LDM-C) maintenance therapy. Among the 33 dogs, 18 dogs received LDM-C. Clinical stage was available for all dogs (5 stage I, 18 stage II, and 10 stage III). Nine dogs had macroscopic, and 24 dogs had microscopic disease at the start of DOX treatment. Median progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival were 125 and 133 days, respectively. Clinical stage and tumor burden (microscopic versus macroscopic) at the start of chemotherapy was prognostic for PFS. No significant difference was observed in PFS or overall survival for the addition of LDM-C after a completed DOX protocol (P = .563 and P = .148, respectively). Based on the results of this retrospective study, the addition of LDM-C therapy as a maintenance regimen following a completed protocol of DOX adjuvant treatment of canine hemangiosarcoma may not improve outcome.


Stratified turbulence shows scale- and direction-dependent anisotropy and the coexistence of weak turbulence of internal gravity waves and strong turbulence of eddies. Straightforward application of standard analyses developed in isotropic turbulence sometimes masks important aspects of the anisotropic turbulence. To capture detailed structures of the energy distribution in the wave-number space, it is indispensable to examine the energy distribution with non-integrated spectra by fixing the codimensional wave-number component or in the two-dimensional domain spanned by both the horizontal and vertical wave numbers. Indices which separate the range of the anisotropic weak-wave turbulence in the wave-number space are proposed based on the decomposed energies. In addition, the dominance of the waves in the range is also verified by the small frequency deviation from the linear dispersion relation. In the wave-dominant range, the linear wave periods given by the linear dispersion relation are smaller than approximately one third of the eddy-turnover time. The linear wave periods reflect the anisotropy of the system, while the isotropic Brunt-V\"ais\"al\"a period is used to evaluate the Ozmidov wave number, which is necessarily isotropic. It is found that the time scales in consideration of the anisotropy of the flow field must be appropriately selected to obtain the critical wave number separating the weak-wave turbulence.


The quantum critical properties of interacting fermions in the presence of disorder are still not fully understood. While it is well known that for Dirac fermions, interactions are irrelevant to the non-interacting infinite randomness fixed point (IRFP), the problem remains largely open in the case of Majorana fermions which further display a much richer disorder-free phase diagram. Here, pushing the limits of DMRG simulations, we carefully examine the ground-state of a Majorana chain with both disorder and interactions. Building on appropriate boundary conditions and key observables such as entanglement, energy gap, and correlations, we strikingly find that the non-interacting Majorana IRFP is very stable against finite interactions, in contrast with previous claims.


A rigorous approach to software development is followed in developing a program to control the various components and versions of systems. This particular approach to systematic program development is known as the Vienna Development Method (VDM). This paper documerits the author's early experiences with VDM on a small, yet nontrivial, application. The functional specification of the version control system is presented in detail. Design decisions taken for a prototype implementation are also included. The version control program developed is based upon the Gandalf System Version Control Environment of Carnegie-Mellon University. Both that system and the subject of this case study support the most common forms of component interdependency relations, and methods of system evolution.


The behavior of second-order circular-grating DFB lasers in the above-threshold regime are analyzed. The formulation uses the standing wave method for treating lasers with second-order gratings. The effects of spontaneous emission and the variation of carrier and photon densities in the radial direction are included in a self-consistent fashion in the model. In particular, we examine the output power emitted from the surface of the laser, the near-field, and the far-field pattern of the laser as a function of the injected current.


In adapting to the challenge to make more informed selection of compounds for development, the pharmaceutical industry is increasingly embracing the application of mechanism-based models and prediction tools for prediction of pharmacokinetic parameters. This review first outlines the concepts and application of the major physiologically based prediction tools to extrapolate clearance, tissue distribution, and rate and extent of absorption from minimal in vitro or animal in vivo input data. Finally, the ability of these prediction tools, when placed within a generic whole body physiologically based model of pharmacokinetics, to predict plasma concentration–time profiles is briefly discussed.


Recent experimental observations have determined that long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids suppress immune functions and are involved in the reduction of infectious disease resistance. BALB/c mice were fed for 4 weeks with one of four diets containing either olive oil (OO), fish oil (FO), hydrogenated coconut oil, or a low fat level. Interleukin-12p70 (IL-12p70), gamma interferon (IFN), and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF) production in the sera of mice fed these diets and challenged with Listeria monocytogenes were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. In addition, bacterial counts from spleens of mice were carried out at 24, 72, or 96 h of infection. Here, we quantified an initial diminution of production of both IL-12p70 and IFN, which appear to play an important role in the reduction of host resistance to L. monocytogenes infection. In addition, an efficient elimination of L. monocytogenes was observed in spleens of mice fed a diet containing OO at 96 h of infection, despite reductions in IL-12p70 and TNFproduction, suggesting an improvement of immune resistance. Overall, our results indicate that the initial reduction of both IL-12 and IFNproduction before L. monocytogenes infection represents the most relevant event that corroborates the impairment of immune resistance by n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids during the different stages of infection. However, we speculate that the modulation of other cytokines must be also involved in this response, because the alteration of cytokine production in mice fed an FO diet in a late phase of L. monocytogenes infection was similar to that in mice fed OO, whereas the ability to eliminate this bacterium from the spleen was improved in the latter group.


This study visualises the information sharing network structure of Taiwan's hospitals from the point of view of human resource managers and compares the differences between academic medical centres, regional hospitals, and district hospitals. The results show that the academic medical centres take the core position to fulfill their task. The regional hospitals occupy in the middle and have the highest betweenness. The district hospitals are located in peripheral with greater constraint.


The management of complex transportation projects requires a fundamental change in how they are approached. The traditional methodology for managing transportation projects is not adequate for complex projects. The project begins by discussing the transition of project management towards a five-dimensional model that incorporates context and financing dimensions that have previously been regarded merely as risks. The five dimensional model and an extensive literature search pertaining to the management of complex transportation projects assist in mapping the complexity of real-world projects. The main purpose of this research is to present results found on real-world projects that illustrate a new type of management approach for project managers. A total of five case studies are selected for this project that have definitive sources of complexity found that create management challenges. The literature review serves as a starting point in developing a questionnaire that focuses on complexity issues found in the studied transportation projects. Participants familiar with each project are interviewed to gather both qualitative and quantitative data. This information can be used in several ways. First, examining a number of complex projects allows similarities to arise between them relating to common sources of complexity. Second, the mapping of each project allows the user to compare both the studied projects and upcoming agency projects in order to make resource allocation decisions based on commonalities. Lastly, the resource allocation recommendations also discuss potential skill sets that would be the most adept at effectively managing specific portions of a project.


Summary The Hungarian terminology of wellness. The aim of this study is showing examples for interpreting the terms of Hungarian terminology of the wellness domain as it evolved during one decade. The domain of wellness provides an excellent model for the research of terminological problems, because it has developed from more traditional disciplines and professions (medicine, recreation, physiotherapy, etc.), and the necessary terminological harmonization has not been realized. Detailed examples will be shown for the national differences, the consequences of missing interpretation, the possibilities of ordering, and the necessity of harmonization. The results can be used in other fields of linguistics, for example in the study of theoretical and practical questions of translation.


Background: Tracking antibiotic use is a core element of antimicrobial stewardship. We developed a set of metrics based on electronic health record data to support an outpatient stewardship initiative to improve management of urinary tract infections (UTIs) in Veterans' Affairs (VA) emergency departments (EDs) and primary care clinics. Because UTI diagnostic codes only capture a portion of genitourinary (GU)-related antibiotic use, a tier-based approach was used to evaluate practices. Methods: Metrics were developed to target practices related to antibiotic prescribing and diagnostic testing (Table 1). GU conditions were divided into 3 categories: tier 1, conditions for which antibiotics are usually or always indicated; tier 2, conditions for which antibiotics are sometimes indicated; and tier 3, conditions for which antibiotics are rarely or never indicated (eg, benign prostatic hypertrophy with symptoms). Patients with visits related to urological procedures, nontarget providers, and concomitant non-GU infections were excluded. Descriptive analyses included calculation of the correlation matrix for the 7 metrics and the construction of box plots to display interfacility variability. Results: Metrics were calculated quarterly for 18 VA medical centers, including affiliated clinics, in a western VA network, from July 2018 to June 2020 (Table 1). Tier 3 GU conditions accounted for 1,276 of 11,840 (11%) of GU-related antibiotic use. Metrics 1 and 6b were strongly correlated with each other and were also positively correlated with metrics 2 and 5 (coefficients > 0.5) (Fig. 1). Substantial interfacility variation was observed (Fig. 2). Conclusions: Stewardship metrics for suspected or documented UTIs can identify opportunities for practice improvement. Broadly capturing GU conditions in addition to UTIs may enhance utility for performance feedback. Antibiotic prescribing for tier 3 GU conditions is analogous to unnecessary antibiotic use for acute, uncomplicated bronchitis and upper respiratory tract infections. Funding: None Disclosures: None


Redox responsive molecular self-assemblies are very important in a wide range of applications including bioengineering, nanotechnology, and medicine. We demonstrate here a redox responsive micellar system based on metal–ligand coordination and electrostatic interaction. The micelles are spontaneously formed in the mixed solutions of a block polyelectrolyte and an oppositely charged iron–bisligand coordination polyelectrolyte, where both Fe2+ and Fe3+ ions are applicable. Switching between these two oxidation states does not trigger any decomposition of the micelles, but changes the charge composition and the magnetic properties of the system, which enables the uptake of extra, oppositely charged species into the micelles. Moreover, this process triggers spectral and morphological changes of the micelles. These results open a new vista for making redox responsive smart molecular assemblies.


RATIONALE
Toll-like receptor (TLR) 7/8 ligands are promising candidate drugs for the treatment of allergic asthma and rhinitis. Although their clinical application depends on the development of strategies for topical administration to the lung, this has not been explored in preclinical disease models.

OBJECTIVES
To examine the therapeutic effectiveness, persistence of effect, and mode of action of intranasal TLR7 ligand administration in allergic airway disease.

METHODS
Wild-type, IFN-alpha receptor (IFN-alphaR)(-/-), IFN-gamma(-/-), CD8(-/-), TLR7(-/-), and radiation-induced chimeric mice deficient in hematopoietic TLR7 expression were subjected to an established model of allergic airway disease. R-848, a specific TLR7 agonist in mice, was administered prophylactically or therapeutically and effects of treatment on helper T-cell type 2 (Th2) responses, eosinophilia, goblet cell metaplasia, and airway hyperresponsiveness were assessed.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS
Intranasal R-848 administration induced a transient immune response characterized by type I interferon production and infiltration of innate immune cells into the lung. This conferred long-term suppression of allergic airway disease via two complementary molecular processes, one mediated by type I interferons and providing acute protection by directly inhibiting effector Th2 responses, and one mediated by immunoregulatory CD8(+) T cells and inducing long-lasting protection by suppressing Th2 responses in an IFN-gamma-dependent manner.

CONCLUSIONS
Intranasal R-848 administration is an effective treatment for allergic airway disease. It hijacks an otherwise proinflammatory immune process triggered by TLR7 to mediate long-lasting disease suppression. This provides important insight into the efficacy and mode of action of TLR7 ligands in murine models of allergic airway disease and paves the way for their clinical application in humans.


Background: Vitamin D is thought to play a role in the pathogenesis of acne, and its levels can change in patients with acne vulgaris. Several studies have revealed that serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D levels tend to be low and statistically significant in acne vulgaris patients. However, the relationship between vitamin D levels and acne severity is still poorly understood. Objective: This study aims to identify the correlation between serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D levels and the severity of acne vulgaris. Method: This systematic review study was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guideline based on several studies taken from the PubMed, PMC, Semantic Scholar, and ResearchGate databases until June 2021. Full-text case-control, randomized controlled trial, or cross-sectional study in English or Indonesian language reporting on the serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D levels and the severity of acne vulgaris on human participants were included. Result: From a total of 401 studies, 10 studies met the criteria. Almost all studies (8 of 10) revealed lower serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D levels as the acne severity progresses, although 2 of them were not statistically significant. Conclusion: The evidence of an inverse correlation between serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D levels and the severity of acne vulgaris suggests the need for screening of vitamin D levels in acne patients and offers a new prospect in the field of acne prevention and treatment.


Because professional identity is one of the most controversial and confusing issues within counseling, it is often studied and discussed. Yet there are no studies examining how professional identity is actually expressed. Because the topic is theoretical and sometimes abstract, counseling students in particular may struggle to understand how to express professional identity. This article fuses ideas expressed by Boyer (1990) in Scholarship Reconsidered: Priorities of the Professoriate and the concept of practical intentionality into a theory-grounded model to help counselors to conceptualize, contextualize, and express their professional identity through application, discovery, teaching, and integration.


The transparency and external fertilization of the eggs of medaka (Oryzias latipes) make them ideally suitable for investigating molecular interactions that occur during vertebrate development. Genetically engineered medaka is a potential tool for such studies. It requires several types of suitable expression vectors. To obtain abundant and ubiquitous expression of foreign genes in medaka embryos, we have designed an expression vector that contains the proximal promoter and enhancer elements and polyadenylation signal of the medaka beta-actin gene. The utility of this "all-medaka" expression vector was examined using the Escherichia coli lacZ gene as a reporter gene. Most of the injected embryo showed high gene expression, and several embryos showed ubiquitous expression even at six days after injection. Of nine individuals derived from the injected embryos and grown until adult stage, one produced expression-positive F1 fish. The transgene was identified in these F1 using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). These data revealed that the expression vector based on the expression cassette from the medaka beta-actin gene should be useful for making transgenic medaka. The cloned gene in this cassette vector is stably transmittable and efficiently expressible.


The crystal structure of 3-(10,11-dihydro-5H-dibenzo[a,d]cyclohepten-5-ylidene)-1-ethyl-2-methllpyrrolidine hydrobromide, C22H26NBr, has been determined. The crystal is monoclinic with space group P21⁄a; the unit-cell dimensions are: a=30.16, b=18.78, c=7.048 A, β=90.53°. The asymmetric unit contains two molecules. The intensities were estimated visually from the multiple-film equi-inclination Weissenberg photographs. The structure was solved by the heavy atom method. The atomic parameters were refined by the blockdiagonal least-squares method, and final R index was reduced to 0.147. It is concluded that the overall geometry of the two independent molecules is similar in every detail The pyrrolidine ring is puckered. The 10,11-dihydro-5H-dibenzo[a,d]cyclohepten-5-ylidene part consists of three planes. The dihedral angles between the planes are 63° for the benzene planes I and II, 59° for the benzene plane I and the ylidene plane, and 76° for the benzene plane II and the ylidene plane.


Current research presented at the 2016 New York State Cybersecurity Conference (June 8-9, 2016) advances further on our Computational Quantitative Risk Analytics and Computational Quantitative Finance and Cybersecurity innovation research selected for 35 Top-10 SSRN Rankings over 2015-2016 and recent invited research presentations at the 2016 Princeton Quant Trading Conference, 2015 Princeton Quant Trading Conference, and, the 2015 Chief Security Officers and CxO Summit, and research paper selected for the 2015 New York Cyber Security & Engineering Technology Association Conference.It draws on our 20-year scholarly and applied research and practices applied and shared by worldwide firms and governments on advancing beyond computerized models of predictive analytics based upon historical data to 'anticipation of surprise' for an interconnected cyber world increasingly characterized by growing uncertainty, extreme events, and black swans. (Starting from, for example, our CIO Magazine interview of September 15, 1999, and/ our 'Expert Systems with Applications' journal research paper: Expert Systems for Knowledge Management: Crossing the Chasm between Information Processing and Sense Making of 2001 inspired by the communication of 1995 on the design of next-generation self-adaptive complex systems with the Genetic Algorithms pioneer Professor Dr. John Holland while he was at Santa Fe Institute.)It recognizes data (i.e., 'data in transit', 'data in use', and, 'data at rest' from today's Network and Computer Cyber Security perspective) as the 'currency' of the globally networked cyber era. Control and ownership of data – including 'identity', 'intellectual property', 'money', 'value', 'valuations', 'prices', 'payments', and 'transactions' – characterize the new discipline of Cyber Finance pioneered by our above research. 'Data driven decision making' by human-machine systems powered by AI, algorithms, data science, and, machine learning is increasingly subject to human-tech vulnerabilities and exposures to growing threats. Paradigmatic shift in understanding and applying Cybersecurity in terms of Cyber Risk Management requires advancing beyond 'naive' choice and application of 'inappropriate' models [by humans and/or machines] based on outdated, inaccurate, and incorrect assumptions. Blind and unquestioning reliance upon inappropriate risk models that exponentially underestimate risk is the sure-fire recipe for global financial disasters that can and will pale the severity of impact of the global financial crisis of 2008-2009. A case in point is our recent correction of the computational risk analytics and modeling foundation of cyber risk loss assessment by the global cyber risk insurance industry which had [incorrectly] chosen VaR (Value-at-Risk) as the model for predictive assessment for cyber risk loss assessment. We proposed alternative robust models, methods, and measures, while clearly demonstrating why VaR is inappropriate for Cybersecurity risk assessment as well as for Cyber Finance risk modeling given inherent systemic risks, tail risks, and endogenous risks characterizing the Cyber-Finance contexts.Advances in computational, quantitative, and statistical technologies, models, and methodologies for risk management are necessary for the world wherein decisions and actions occur at warp-speed enabled by sophisticated algorithms, machine learning, and, cognitive computing technologies. With primary focus of risk analysis across industries such as Finance fragmented across Application and Presentation layers (Layers 6 and 7) and Physical and Data Link layers (Layers 1 and 2), risks [and vulnerabilities] are increasingly concentrated in the Session, Transport, and Network layers (Layers 3, 4, and, 5) and associated telecom network protocols and cryptographic protocols. That specific emphasis of 10% risk focus and the 90% hidden and latent risk depicted our 'iceberg of risk analytics' which was one of the themes of the invited presentation at the 2015 Princeton Quant Trading Conference.Based upon our analysis of the Finance, Cybersecurity, and Cyber-Finance practices, we foresee rising catastrophic risks and extreme events across domains of Cyber Finance practice consistent and synchronous with similar current observations by top Finance experts and Hedge Fund managers (such as Bill Gross and George Soros) in Finance. Further advancing upon our research focus beyond theoretical Risk Modeling to pragmatic Uncertainty Modeling and Uncertainty Management; beyond Bayesian and Quasi-Bayesian VaR; beyond frequentist Null-Hypothesis Significance Testing to Bayesian Inference methodologies and related Markov Chain Monte Carlo Models; beyond Probability theory models to Imprecise Probability models based upon Bayesian Nets and Credal Nets, and, Possibility theory based Fuzzy Sets and Fuzzy Logic; and emerging focus on Quantum Computing, the current presentation outlines specific Extreme Risks and Catastrophic Risk models suitable for modeling emerging risks in Cybersecurity and Cyber Finance Risk Management.


As economic development has become increasingly based on technology and information, education and training have become increasingly critical to the economic well being of both individuals and communities. Thus, decision makers are concerned that all North Dakotans have access to quality education and training programs. Responsibility for provision of workforce training and skills development extends from the state's research universities to its community colleges. This report estimates the contribution of the Sitting Bull College to the regional economy.


An inequality is derived which must be satisfied for a relative equilibrium of the n-body problem to be spectrally stable. This inequality is studied in the equal mass case and using simple geometric estimates, it is shown that any relative equilibrium of n equal masses is not spectrally stable for n 24 306.


This paper describes the cognitive interview phase of the development of two brief surveys, the Movement Behaviour Questionnaire-Baby (MBQ-B) and Movement Behaviour Questionnaire-Child (MBQ-C), which measure the duration of physical activity, screen time, and sleep of children aged 0–5 years. The aims were (1) review the format, content, and clarity of questionnaire items and response options, (2) understand how parents retrieve, encode, and formulate responses when asked about their child's movement behaviours, and (3) identify potential sources of response error and make appropriate modifications. Interviews with parents of children aged 0–5 years were conducted using concurrent think-aloud techniques and probing questions. Parents reviewed the MBQ-B and/or MBQ-C depending on the developmental stage of their child(ren). Twenty-nine interviews were conducted with 20 parents, over four iterative rounds. Participants recalled usual family routines and rules when estimating the duration/frequency of behaviours. To estimate active play, parents referred to the child's daily routine considering wake and bedtimes, naps, and mealtimes. Participants were influenced by the examples provided, being unable to interpret these as exemplars only. Decomposing general items into specific questions with examples was well received. Use of numeracy skills when estimating duration was evident. Interviews informed revisions to item wording, examples, and recall prompts, which will be taken forward into the MBQ-B and MBQ-C validation studies. Utilising cognitive interviewing can enhance confidence that questionnaire items are correctly interpreted and understood by participants.


The purpose of this paper is to provide information about the benefits using Commercial Off-the-Shelf (COTS) business intelligence software tools to support aircraft and automated test system maintenance environments. Aircraft and automated test system parametric and maintenance warehouse-based data can be shared and used for predictive data mining exploitation which will enable better decision support for War Fighters and back shop maintenance. When utilizing common industry business intelligence Predictive Modeling Processes, engineering designers can create initial business intelligence aircraft and automated test system maintenance environment engineering cluster models. This is a process of grouping together engineering data that have similar aggregate patterns. By using these engineering cluster models produced earlier to develop and build more accurate predictive models, predictive algorithms are utilized to make use of the cluster results to improve predictive accuracy. Common industry business intelligence Decision Trees and Neural Network models are developed to determine which algorithm produces the most accurate models (as measured by comparing predictions with actual values over the testing set). After an initial mining structure and mining model is built (specifying the input and predictable attributes), the analyst can easily add other mining models. COTS business intelligence software tools provide for a more cost effective support and predictive role for War Fighter support personnel in a time of decreased defense spending. Having access to applicable engineering data at the time of need will; decrease troubleshooting time on production aircraft and back shop maintenance, increase the ability of the technical user to better understand the diagnostics, reduce ambiguities which drive false removals of system components, decrease misallocated spares, and maintain/increase knowledge management.


Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disorder caused by lack of insulin which islet cells of Langerhans in the pancreas were damaged or decreased. DM treatment is quite expensive so it takes the alternative medicine. Ones of alternative medicine using Mangosteen Fruit pod. The pod of the mangosteen fruit have xanton flavonoid compounds, which function as antioxidants that can lower blood glucose levels and improve pancreatic cells. The study aimed to determine the effect of mangosteen rind extract (Garcinia mangostana L.) to display the pancreatic histology of mice (Mus musculus L. Swiss Webster) induced male sucrose. This study used Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with 5 treatments and 5 replications. treatments is P1 (positive control), sucrose 0.8 g/kg (negative control / P2), sucrose + 200 mg/kg of mangosteen peel extract (P3), sucrose + 400 g/kg of mangosteen peel extract ( P4), sucrose + 600 mg/kg of mangosteen peel extract (P5). Observations quantitatively to determine blood glucose levels and the number of Langerhans islet cells after 5 days and 4 days inducing the extract. Data were analyzed by ANOVA, if there is a difference will be continued with Duncan test at the 0.05 significance level. The results showed the average number of Langerhans islet cells 205.6 (P1), 134.0 cells (P2), 114.2 cells (P3), 193.0 cell (P4), and 181.8 cells (P5). From the results obtained in the analysis of data obtained Fhitung


Uvaria chamae is a well known medicinal plant in Nigerian traditional medicine for the management of many diseases, but investigations concerning its pharmacological characteristics are rare. In this study, we evaluate its venom neutralizing properties against Naja nigricollis venom in rats. Freshly collected Uvaria chamae leaves were air dried, powdered and extracted in methanol. To study the antivenom properties, albino rats were orally administered with a dose of 400 mg/kg body weight and 1 h later, the venom was administered intraperitoneally at a dose of 0.08 mg/kg body weight of rats. Albino rats (male) weighing between 180-200 g were randomly divided into five (5) groups of three (3). Groups 1-5 received water, normal saline, venom, Uvareia chamae and venom, Uvaria chamae, respectively. Blood clothing time, bleeding time, antipyretic activity, haemoglobin, RBC, WBC, creatine kinase, AST, ALP and ALT activities total protein antioxidant activity and some blood electrolytes, plasma urea and uric acid were measured. Our results showed that Uvaria chamae methanol extract neutralized some biological effects of Naja nigricollis venom. The venom increased the rectal temperature, enzyme activities, bleeding time and other blood parameters. The plant extract was able to reduce these parameters in the extract treated groups. Details of the results are discussed. From this study, it is clear that U. chamae leaf extract had antivenom activity in animal models. The above results indicate that the plant extract possess potent snake venom neutralizing capacity and could potentially be used for therapeutic purpose in case of snake bite envenomation.