Telehealth interventions (TI) are broadly defined as the use of information and communication technologies to deliver information, diagnosis, or educational services. While the use of TI was previously just a choice to support children with special needs and their families, they have become a necessity nowadays when performing face-to-face education and training practices are almost impossible. The current qualitative study aims at describing the opinions and recommendations of the experts toward the basic characteristics of TI, guidelines for successful practices, ethical considerations, potential problems, and solutions associated with TI process. Six experts experienced with implementing and conducting research on remote training and coaching participated in the semi-structured interviews that were transcribed and analyzed using content analysis. The analysis revealed four themes: (a) Characteristics of TI, (b) important points in TI, (c) potential problems, and (d) potential solutions. Overall, the findings may shed light on the general conceptual and terminological definition of TI, discussions regarding to feasibility of TI in Turkey, and effective TI practices. Also, the findings may guide future practitioners, researchers, or teachers in conducting or investigating the effectiveness of TI.


Despite self-organizing networks (SONs) pursue the automation of management tasks in current cellular networks, the selection of the most useful performance indicators (PIs), used as inputs for SON functions, is still performed by network experts. In this letter, a novel supervised technique for the automatic selection of PIs for self-healing functions is proposed, relying on the dissimilarity of their statistical behavior under different network states. Results using data from a live network show that the proposed method outperforms an expert's selection, allowing the volume and complexity of both network databases and SON functions to be reduced without an expert's intervention.


We introduce a powerful approach for Neural Machine Translation (NMT), whereby, during training and testing, together with the input we provide its phonetic encoding and the variants of such an encoding. This way we obtain very significant improvements up to 4 BLEU points over the state-of-the-art large-scale system. The phonetic encoding is the first part of our contribution, with a second being a theory that aims to understand the reason for this improvement. Our hypothesis states that the phonetic encoding helps NMT because it encodes a procedure to emphasize the difference between semantically diverse sentences. We conduct an empirical geometric validation of our hypothesis in support of which we obtain overwhelming evidence. Subsequently, as our third contribution and based on our theory, we develop artificial mechanisms that leverage during learning the hypothesized (and verified) effect phonetics. We achieve significant and consistent improvements overall language pairs and datasets: French-English, German-English, and Chinese-English in medium task IWSLT'17 and French-English in large task WMT'18 Bio, with up to 4 BLEU points over the state-of-the-art. Moreover, our approaches are more robust than baselines when evaluated on unknown out-of-domain test sets with up to a 5 BLEU point increase.


Automotive alternator efficiency has become of a prime importance for the reduction of car's consumption. The paper shows the experimental repartition of various losses. It is shown that, especially for high speed operation, the iron losses become an important part of the total losses. These iron losses are very difficult to determine because classic models are not adapted. Concerning the stator losses, the flux density is not in the sheet plane, so classic Berttoti models may become inaccurate. Iron rotor losses are mainly due to the induced currents in the massive materials due to the modulation of the rotor stator permeance variation. In this paper, we propose, in a first part, to compare on the basis of experimental results, the variation of the iron losses as a function of the stator windings and in a second part, an estimation of the rotor iron losses by comparing 3D Finite element and experimental results.


Communicative competence is one of the most highly sought after skills of prospective graduates among employers. In spite of its importance, the notion of communicative competence has been deemed fuzzy in Communication and Engineering studies. This fuzziness has undoubtedly led to tensions among stakeholders like educators and professional engineers across disciplinary tenures in interpreting the said notion. The study seeks to investigate the perceptions and understanding of educators and professional engineers of the notion in terms of two main elements of communicative competence: linguistic and rhetorical competence. The educators are language lecturers who conduct a speaking course for final-year Engineering-project students while the professional engineers are engineers from various Oil Producing Units (OPU) of the national oil company, PETRONAS, who have been selected as examiners to assess the said students' technical oral presentation. The professional engineers have been chosen by the university selection committee based on their years of working experience and professional expertise in engineering. Both language lecturers and the professional engineers were interviewed to gauge their perceptions on linguistic and rhetorical features deemed necessary to enhance communicative competence for the workplace. Both groups articulated awareness of the similarities and differences between the sub-sets of communicative competence, namely, technical, disciplinary, rhetorical style, interactive and interpersonal competence. Sublime differences in the way educators and professionals from different disciplines perceive communicative competence indicate possible reference to learning theory. Despite such disparity, pedagogical efforts are required to enhance communicative competence on such opportune platforms prior to the graduates' entry to the workplace.


There has been a recent upsurge in our knowledge of gastrointestinal hormones, largely due to the development of various techniques in peptide chemistry, in particular the introduction of radioimmunoassay. However, gastrointestinal endocrinology has not yet acquired any direct clinical applications, apart from the gut endocrine tumour syndromes. This book attempts to make the reader aware of the latest developments in the GI hormone field by laying down a background of general concepts and methodology, against which the clinical applications, discussed in later chapters, can be judged. The early chapters cover the assay and chemical characterisation of GI hormones, with specific chapters on the 'new' GI hormones, such as pancreatic polypeptide, motilin, neurotensin, and GIP, where review information is less readily available. Two chapters are devoted to the link between GI hormones and the nervous system, an exciting new area which is just beginning to be explored. The gut endocrine tumours, including the recently reported somatostatinomas, are described, and an excellent chapter is devoted to the diagnosis and treatment of Zollinger-Ellison syndrome. Two chapters describing the relevance of GI hormones in gastrointestinal and metabolic disease indulge in some clinical 'crystal-ball gazing', but this is perhaps justified as very little is currently known about the pathology of many GI hormones. The integrated approach of many of the chapters is refreshing, and the editor has skilfully kept repetition to a minimum. The book production is of a high standard, and at a modest price it provides an up-to-date and readable review of this fast advancing branch of endocrinology. L. M. MORGAN


Somok, the heart wood of Caesalpinia sappan is used in traditional Chinese medicine. Adherence of S. mutans to the tooth surface can result in the formation of a dental plaque. This study was performed to investigate the antibacterial activity and bacterial adhesion of ethyl acetate extract from C. sappan against S. mutans ATCC 25175. The bacteria were cultured in brain heart infusion(BHI) broth, and then incubated under 5% CO2 at 37oC for 18~24 hours. The antimicrobial activity of the ethyl acetate extract of C. sappan was then examined using the paper disc methods and MIC. In addition, bacterial adherence to hydroxyapatite was also examined. The ethyl acetate extract was shown to produce inhibitory effects and had MIC values of 125 mg/ml against S. mutans ATCC 25175. The ethyl acetate extract inhibited adhesion of S. mutans to saliva coated-hydroxyapatite beads(S-HA). At 24 hr, the ethyl acetate extract significantly reduced the adherence of S. mutans to S-HA beads relative to the control. The isolated active substance was identified as brazilin(C16H14O5) by 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR. Thus, the application of C. sappan can be considered a useful and practical method for the prevention of dental caries.


Background: To identify local structural and optical derangement in the neural retina of individuals with type 1 diabetes having early diabetic retinopathy (DR) and compare with healthy non-diabetic controls and type 1 diabetic individuals having no DR.
Methods: Optical coherence tomography (TDOCT) examination was performed on a total of 74 healthy eyes, 38 eyes with type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM) with no retinopathy and 43 eyes with mild DR (MDR). A total of 6 intraretinal layers were segmented on OCT images. Thickness and reflectance-based measurements were extracted for each OCT scan using features measured locally for each intraretinal layer.
Results: In the analysis where local measures were averaged in the separated macular regions outside the foveola, the mean thickness values of the outer segment of photoreceptors (OS) in the perifoveal region, ganglion cell and inner plexiform layer (GCL+IPL) complex in the parafoveal and outer plexiform layer (OPL) in the foveal region were significantly smaller (13%, 8% and 36%; respectively, p<0.001) when comparing MDR eyes with controls. The mean thickness values of the OPL (foveal region, 27%, p<0.001) and the OS (parafoveal (24%) and perifoveal (23%), p<0.001) were significantly smaller when comparing MDR with DM eyes. The reflectance-based measures were significantly smaller for all layers in MDR eyes compared with healthy and DM eyes (7-36%, p<0.001).
Conclusions: Our results show OCT is capable of detecting selective layer thinning and that the optical properties extracted from OCT images add significant evidence to the morphological information directly provided by OCT. It also suggests that the outer segment of the photoreceptor layer may be vulnerable in both type 1 diabetic individuals with and without early DR. Our results might also indicate that an early sign of vascular alteration development could be detected by investigating the changes in optical properties and thickness of the OPL.


A nonmathematical discussion of the mechanism whereby energy may be transmitted over long distances at high frequencies by the use of "coaxial conductors" is presented in this paper. A coaxial system consists of a cylindrical conducting tube within which a smaller conductor is coaxially placed. Such conductors, which reduce interference and cross-talk, are applicable for the transmission of telephone, telegraph, and television signals over a very wide range of frequencies.


Kidney transplantation offers better quality of life in comparison to patient dialysis. Patients with endogenous creatinine clearance 30 mL/min/1.73m2 are introduced into the kidney transplant program. Every patient should be assessed for a degree of eligibility for the kidney transplant procedure. Basic principles of eligibility assessment include: patient education, assessment of patient's motivation level, medical risk assessment, as well as evaluation of psychosocial status and the level of family support. Medical risk assessment involves establishing the etiology of the primary kidney disease, cardiovascular status assessment, viral status assessment, risk assessment for renal graft thrombosis, screening for early malignancy detection, assessment of mineral metabolism and bone tissue disorders, and immunological risk assessment. Identification of patients with highest degree of kidney transplant eligibility shall decrease morbidity and mortality, reduce medical costs and improve the quality of life for these patients.


In this paper, we reprove the principal result of a paper by H-O Kreiss and Jens Lorenz from a different approach than the method proposed in their paper. More precisely, we consider the Cauchy problem for the incompressible Navier-Stokes equations in $\mathbb{R}^n$ for $n \ge 3$ with non-decaying initial data and derive a priori estimates of the maximum norm of all derivatives of the solution in terms of the maximum norm of the initial data. This paper is also an extension of their paper to higher dimension.


I n the five decades since the birth control pill was first marketed in the United States, the number of contraceptive products available to women has expanded substantially. Still, these innovations overwhelmingly have been adaptations of existing technologies that offer variations on hormone dosages and routes of delivery, rather than true technological breakthroughs. At the same time, there is an ongoing and serious problem of high unintended pregnancy rates in the United States and around the globe. In addition, an expanding body of knowledge suggests that improving and expanding contraceptive use requires more than just access to existing methods, but also meeting women's needs and preferences for effective and satisfactory methods. For all of these reasons, new investments in contraceptive research and development are critical to achieving consistent and correct contraceptive use and lowering unintended pregnancy rates.


The equilibrium fraction of an ion beam in various charge states (-1, 0, +1, +2) has been measured for the passage of C+, N+, O+, Fe+, Cu+, Mo+ and W+ through hydrogen gas in the energy range 10-100 keV. At 30 and 80 keV the fraction in various charge states has been recorded as a function of target thickness. The evolution of ion fragments arising from dissociation of CHn+ (n=1-4), OH+ and H2O+ has been investigated as a function of target thickness at 30 and 80 keV.


It is shown that the sensational interpretation of the experiments described in the paper Storage of light in atomic vapor by Phillips D F et al. Phys. Rev. Lett., 2001, v. 76, p. 783 is erroneous. The observations made in this work are easily explained in the framework of standard concepts of the light-induced anisotropy of an ensemble of atoms amenable to optical orientation and alignment. The response of the atomic medium detected by Phillips et al. has nothing to do with the authors' claims about 'storage of light', 'dynamic reduction of the group velocity of light', or 'compression of the light pulse'. This paper is an extended version of our critical comment rejected by Physical Review Letters.


Background: There is no comprehensive report on quadriceps femoris muscle parameters' association with isokinetic knee extensor strength, and no study has comprehensively clarified the relationship with motor function. To investigate the relation of isokinetic knee extensor strength and motor functions with phase angle, muscle echo intensity, and muscle thickness, to find alternative methods for knee extensor strength assessment. Methods: This cross-sectional study evaluated the associations between phase angle (PA) (measured using bioelectrical impedance analysis), muscle echo intensity (EI), and muscle thickness (MT) (measured using ultrasound) and isokinetic knee extensor strength (measured as maximum torque at 60 degree/s using an isokinetic dynamometer), and motor functions evaluated by gait speed (usual and maximum), five chair stands time, and stand up score.Results: The study comprised of 33 young healthy adults (12 males and 21 females; mean age, 22.2 years). Both sexes showed a significant correlation between isokinetic knee extensor strength and PA (males, r = 0.65, females, r = 0.54), muscle EI (males, r = -0.53, females, r = -0.54), and MT (males, r = 0.34, females, r = 0.38). In addition, a significant correlation was found between PA and maximum gait speed (males, r = 0.64, females, r = 0.44), five chair stands time (males, r = -0.69, females, r = -0.62), and stand up score (females, r = 0.45), and between muscle EI and maximum gait speed (males, r = -0.34, females, r = -0.42), five chair stands time (males, r = 0.37, females, r = 0.33), and stand up score (females, r = -0.30).Conclusions: The study suggests the potential of phase angle and muscle echo intensity as alternative assessment methods for isokinetic knee extensor strength.


FMCW radars are integral to automotive driving for robust and weather-resistant sensing of surrounding objects. However, these radars are vulnerable to spoofing attacks that can cause sensor malfunction and potentially lead to accidents. Previous attempts at spoofing FMCW radars using an attacker device have not been very effective due to the need for synchronization between the attacker and the victim. We present a novel spoofing mechanism called mmSpoof that does not require synchronization and is resilient to various security features and countermeasures of the victim radar. Our spoofing mechanism uses a "reflect array" based attacker device that reflects the radar signal with appropriate modulation to spoof the victim's radar. We provide insights and mechanisms to flexibly spoof any distance and velocity on the victim's radar using a unique frequency shift at the mmSpoof's reflect array. We design a novel algorithm to estimate this frequency shift without assuming prior information about the victim's radar. We show the effectiveness of our spoofing using a compact and mobile setup with commercial-off-the-shelf components in realistic automotive driving scenarios with commercial radars.


The antihypertensive effects of aqueous polyphenol-rich extracts of Amaranthusviridis (AV) and Telfairiaoccidentalis (TO) leaves in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) were investigated. The dried vegetable leaves were extracted using 1:20 (leaves:water, w/v) ratio for 4 h at 60 °C. Results showed significantly (P < 0.05) higher polyphenol contents in TO extracts (80–88 mg gallic acid equivalents, GAE/100 mg) when compared with the AV (62–67 mg GAE/100 mg). Caffeic acid, rutin and myricetin were the main polyphenols found in the extracts. The TO extracts had significantly (P < 0.05) higher in vitro inhibition of angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) activity while AV extracts had better renin inhibition. Oral administration (100 mg/kg body weight) to SHR led to significant (P < 0.05) reductions in systolic blood pressure for the AV (−39 mmHg after 8 h)and TO (−24 mmHg after 4 and 8 h).The vegetable extracts also produced significant (P < 0.05) reductions in diastolic blood pressure, mean arterial blood pressure and heart rate when compared to the untreated rats. Thus both the AV and TO leaf extracts have the potential to be used as antihypertensive agents, especially the AV, which produced persistent long-lasting effect over a 24 h period.


Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) is a cell surface glycoprotein in the immunoglobulin superfamily. ICAM-1 expression is frequently observed on many cell types including endothelial cells and different cancer cell entities. Experimental data strongly indicate that ICAM-1 can activate intracellular signaling pathways in cancer cells leading to enhanced cell motility, invasion and metastasis. In clinical investigation, however, ICAM-1 expression was negatively correlated to tumor size, lymph node metastasis, and tumor infiltration. Also, there was improved relapse-free and overall survival in patients with ICAM-1 positive tumors. Yet, the function of ICAM-1 expression during malignant progression in breast cancer patients is not understood clearly. However, ICAM-1 is still considered as a breast cancer target and biomarker may lead to the development of a new strategy and platform for breast cancer patients. We observed AF1q, a metastasis enhancer, is only expressed in metastatic cells, MDA-MB-231LN (invasive sub line from MDA-MB-231), not in the primary tumor cells. To investigate whether AF1q has a responsibility in acquisition of metastatic phenotype, we performed RNA-Seq and applied the Metacore network building algorithm. Intriguingly, most genes were directly linked with Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 (ICAM-1). Likewise, we identified that ICAM-1 expression is attenuated in MDA-MB-231LN compared to MDA-MB-231. Moreover, the expression of ICAM-1 was negatively regulated, when AF1q was overexpressed in MDA-MD-231LN. Suppressed endogenous AF1q by shRNA could effectively increase the ICAM-1 expression. Attenuation of ICAM-1 by AF1q on tumor cells would disadvantage host anti-tumor defenses by trafficking of lymphocytes, which affect tumor progression and metastasis. We observed that NF-κB activity which regulates ICAM-1 expression is attenuated in response to AF1q expression in breast cancer cells. Published reports shown that Wnt/β-catenin negatively regulates NF-κB activity through protein-protein interaction in colon and breast cancer cells. Previously, we reported that AF1q enhance the TCF7/LEF/β-catenin complex binding affinity as a cofactor. Structurally, AF1q has highly acidic peptide regions highly conserved between species that fulfill the criteria for an acidic blob, a typical feature for cofactors. When we performed immunoprecipitation with NF-κB antibody in MDA-MB-231LN overexpressed AF1q, we observed that β-catenin and AF1q were pulled down together. However, it is not clear yet whether AF1q promote protein interaction between β-catenin and NF-κB. These results suggest that activated β-catenin by AF1q would archive higher affinity to bind with NF-κB and thereby attenuate ICAM-1 expression. Citation Format: Jino Park, Soojin Kim, William Tse. AF1q/Mllt11 regulates the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 in breast cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 3969. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-3969


Between 2007 and 2009, Italy and Libya (then under the rule of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi) concluded several agreements to combat clandestine immigration. Pursuant to these agreements, Italy instated a policy of sending undocumented migrants and asylum seekers who had crossed the Mediterranean Sea from Africa back to Libya. In a number of cases, boats were intercepted on the high seas, and those on board sent back to Libya without a prior individualized assessment of their situation and protection needs. The present judgment concerns one such ''push back operation'' during which Italy intercepted a group of Somali and Eritrean nationals on the high seas, took them back to Tripoli, and handed them over to the Libyan authorities.


As generalization of the fractional Cosine transform (FRCT), the canonical cosine transform (CCT) has been used in several areas, including optical analysis and signal processing. Besides, the canonical cosine transform is also useful for radar system analysis, filter design, phase retrieval pattern recognition, and many other verities of branches of mathematics and engineering. In this paper we have proved some important results about the analyticity theorem; Inversion theorem for canonical cosine transform, Uniqueness theorem, we have also proved the Properties of Canonical Cosine Transform.


Outputs of an optical RGB sensor are adapted to CIE-XYZ c olor space coordinates. For this purpose, a correlation between the outputs of the sensor and the outputs of spectrophotometer is established. In order to test the performance of sensor, numerical data of some fabrics provided from various manufacturers are obtained by color analysis. Using advantages of computer-aided devices, a system is developed so that it can measure the color of various fabric samples by sensitively and fast. The measurements are made by a spectrophotometer and the optical color sensor, and then multiple linear regression analysis is applied to the results obtained. It is concluded that proposed method can be used as an alternative to the spectrophotometric method.


The corrosion inhibition of benzalkonium bromide on brass in mud acid was investigated by weight-loss method.It was found that the adsorption of benzalkonium bromide on the surface of brass is the important reason resulted from corrosion inhibition and that the rule of adsorption conforms with Langmuir's isotherm.The experimental data were treated with Sekine method.Some thermodynamic parameters,such as ΔH~0,ΔS~0 and ΔG~0 were obtained.


Purpose The study sought to determine whether the onset of canonical vocalizations in children with cochlear implants (CIs) is related to speech perception skills and spoken vocabulary size at 24 months postactivation. Method The vocal development in 13 young CI recipients (implanted by their third birthdays; mean age at activation = 20.62 months, SD = 8.92 months) was examined at every 3-month interval during the first 2 years of CI use. All children were enrolled in auditory-oral intervention programs. Families of these children used spoken English only. To determine the onset of canonical syllables, the first 50 utterances from 20-min adult-child interactions were analyzed during each session. The onset timing was determined when at least 20% of utterances included canonical syllables. As children's outcomes, we examined their Lexical Neighborhood Test scores and vocabulary size at 24 months postactivation. Results Pearson correlation analysis showed that the onset timing of canonical syllables is significantly correlated with phonemic recognition skills and spoken vocabulary size at 24 months postactivation. Regression analyses also indicated that the onset timing of canonical syllables predicted phonemic recognition skills and spoken vocabulary size at 24 months postactivation. Conclusion Monitoring vocal advancement during the earliest periods following cochlear implantation could be valuable as an early indicator of auditory-driven language development in young children with CIs. It remains to be studied which factors improve vocal development for young CI recipients.


Experimental and theoretical work on solid hydrogen under high pressure is reviewed with special emphasis on three aspects of the field. The first concerns the equation of state of hydrogen and the properties of its molecular phase. Both experimental and theoretical studies show that hydrogen has a rich variety of unusual properties even in its molecular phase, as the formation of many highly anisotropic crystal structures with little energy difference exemplifies. The second aspect is the insulator-metal transition which, while customarily associated with atomization, i.e., with the dissociation of hydrogen molecules, is also possible in the molecular phase according to recent theoretical studies. In discussing the metallic phase, finally, the existence of a metastable phase at normal pressure and prospects for the high superconducting transition temperatures in metallic hydrogen are considered.


ABSTRACT Writing is one of the language skills that belongs to MKK (Matakuliah Keilmuan dan Keterampilan) subject. This subject provides the students with basic knowledge and skill. As MKK subject, writing is a compulsory subject for the students of English Department of UTM. Related to the implementation of  competency- based  curriculum in SMP and SMU, English Department of UTM applies text- based syllabus for writing. However, the students still find difficulties in developing paragraphs.  The problems addressed in the research are (1) to what extent can Thematic Progress Patterns with Cooperative Learning Method (TP-CL) improve the students' writing skill . (2) to what extent Thematic Progression Patterns with Cooperative Learning Method (TP-CL) is effective forteaching writing; The data used in the research were the paragraphs that were written by the fourth semester Students of English Department of UTM who took writing 3 subject in 2011/2012 Academic Year. To analyze the effectiveness of TP-CL in teaching paragraph writing, the writer  followed Blum in Nunan theory (1994) and Constant Comparative method developed by Glaser and Strauss (1999). This method consists of four stages. They are comparing incidents applicable to each category, integrating categories and their properties, delimiting the theory, and writing the theory. Besides that, I also applied simple quantification (descriptive statistics) in this Classroom Action Research in order to show whether or not introducing Thematic Progression patterns with Cooperative Learning Method can improve the students' competence in developing the paragraph. Vol. 39 No. 2, 15 Agustus 2013 : 94-116 The result of the research shows that the implementation of TP-CL can make the teaching- learning activity of writing class effective . In addition to that, it was proved that introducing Thematic Progression Patterns can improve the students' writing skill . The results suggest that writing lecturers should introduce text- types to the students as well as how to develop the paragraph in order that they can write paragraphs coherently and various Theme in order that they can write the paragraph artistically. In addition to that,the application of various cooperative learning methods can make the teaching- learning process effective Key Words:  Thematic Progression, Cooperative Learning Method, Writing, Effective Teaching.


SLOCK is a sweat-based circadian diagnostic platform used for mapping the user's chronobiology via cortisol and DHEA. In this work, we have demonstrated the detection capabilities of this sweat-based sensing platform using two electrochemical sensing modalities: Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) and chronoamperometry. Wicking simulations for vertical versus horizontal flow patterns under potential bias were evaluated using COMSOL Multiphysics®. This work also highlights the biorecognition element characterization using Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) and FTIR. Sensor platform was evaluated for biomarker concentrations using doses spanning physiological ranges of 8–141 ng ml−1 and 2–131 ng ml−1 for cortisol and DHEA, respectively. Detailed analysis of impedance data is supported with electrochemical fitting of circuit components related to the biosensing process. Finally, human subject-based studies have been performed to understand the effect of sweating rate with respect to gland density on biosensing. Also, on-body mechanical resiliency studies have been performed to highlight the flexibility of this serpentine electrode-based sensing platform. The platform responds sensitively to the amount of circadian relevant biomarkers in the system with a limit of detection of 0.1 ng ml−1 for both cortisol and DHEA. Thus, the SLOCK platform offers to be an attractive vessel for facilitating the electrochemical detection of circadian relevant biomarkers and for self-monitoring of user's chronobiology.


To get rid of the heavy burden of aspect ratio tuning, bias adjustment and porting problem among processes in full-custom or mixed-mode design, a fully digital smart temperature sensor realizable with 140 field programmable gate array (FPGA) logic elements was proposed for painless VLSI on-chip integrations. By simply replacing the cyclic delay line with a retriggerable ring oscillator for accuracy enhancement, modifying the gain of time amplifier from fixed to variable for one-point calibration support and adopting a second-order master curve for curvature correction in this paper, the proposed smart temperature sensor can achieve two thirds reduction in circuit size, at least four-fold improvement in power consumption and more than two-fold enhancement in accuracy. To demonstrate the performance under practical process variation, the sensor realized with as few as 48 FPGA logic elements for rapid prototyping was measured over 0°C to 100°C range for 20 test chips from batches spreading over 4 years. The measured inaccuracy is -0.7°C-+0.6°C which is superior to -1.8°C-+2.3°C of its full-custom predecessor with a third-order master curve and five test samples from one single batch. The accuracy is even better than those of full-custom sensors with two-point calibration. The conversion rate is around 4.4 kHz and the power consumption can be reduced to 175 nJ per conversion by increasing the number of delay stages in ring oscillator to 4608.


Deflationary positions have been defended in many areas of philosophy. Most prominent are semantic deflationism about truth and reference, and meta-ontological deflationism, according to which existence has no deep nature and the standard neo-Quinean approach to ontology is misguided. Although both kinds of views have generated much discussion, surprisingly little attention has been paid to the question of how they relate to each other. Are they independent, is it advisable to hold them all at once, or do they even entail each other? One exception is Amie Thomasson, who has argued that semantic deflationism actually entails meta-ontological deflationism. This is unexpected, since semantic deflationism is usually regarded as much less controversial than meta-ontological deflationism. In our paper, we will argue that Thomasson's argument fails though, and that the connection between the views is in fact weaker than she makes them out to be.


By reviewing US state-level panel data on infrastructure spending and on per capita income inequality from 1950 to 2010, this paper sets out to test whether there is an empirical link between infrastructure and inequality. Our main result, obtained from panel regressions with both state and time fixed effects, shows that highways and higher education spending growth in a given decade correlates negatively with Gini indices at the end of the decade. Such a finding suggests a causal effect from growth in infrastructure spending to a reduction in inequality, through better access to job and education opportunities. More significantly, this relationship is stronger with inequality at the bottom 40 per cent of the income distribution. In addition, infrastructure expenditures on highways are shown to be more effective at reducing inequality. A counterfactual experiment reveals which US states ended up with a significantly higher bottom Gini coefficient in 2010 that is attributed to underinvestment in infrastructure over the first decade of the 21st century. From a policy making perspective, this paper aims to present innovations in finance for infrastructure investments, for the US, other industrially advanced countries and also for developing economies.


The case is an interesting example of the legal difficulties faced by private parties challenging before a Member State's courts the validity of Community acts in light of the ever proliferating international environmental agreements signed by the Community or the Member States themselves. In this case, a shipping industry coalition challenged in the English High Court the legality of Directive 2005/35/ EC on Ship–Source Pollution in light of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships ("Marpol 73/78") and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (1982 UNCLOS), which in turn referred questions for a preliminary ruling before the European Court of Justice. Predictably, the Directive has been vilified by the shipping industry for imposing higher standards than those established under international law. The case also shows how the concept of serious negligence, which appears in a number of EU/EC acts or proposals establishing an obligation of Member States to introduce criminal sanctions for violations of Community legislation or with the broader object of combating crime in the EU, may be interpreted by the national courts and the legislature of the Member States.


Cardiac arrhythmias in the adolescent and young adult population are being seen with increasing frequency by cardiovascular nurses who predominantly care for adults. These patients include those with anatomically normal hearts and those with postoperative congenital heart disease. The treatment options available to these patients vary according to the rhythm abnormality being treated. In order to provide expert care to these patients and their families, the cardiovascular nurse must be aware of these specific rhythm abnormalities, their associated treatment options, and the nursing implications of caring for this often vulnerable patient population.


This study draws on human capital theory to measure the quality of accounting personnel based on their education level and investigate whether the education level of the client firm's accounting personnel affects auditors' assessment of audit risk by examining audit outcomes. It shows that auditors charge higher fees and are more likely to make audit adjustments for companies whose accounting personnel have a lower level of education. The relationship between the education level of accounting personnel and audit fees (audit adjustments) is robust to an instrumental variable model, an entropy balancing approach, and a difference-in-differences analysis. Audit firms strategically assign more experienced partners to audit companies whose accounting personnel's average education levels are relatively low. Taken together, these findings suggest that the education level of clients' accounting personnel affects auditors' assessment of audit risk and audit outcomes.
 JEL Classifications: M40; M42; J01; J24.


Opioids have been suggested to affect feeding behaviour. To clarify the role of μ-opioid receptors in feeding, we measured several parameters relating to food intake in μ-opioid receptor knockout mice. Here, we show that the knockout mice had increased body weight in adulthood, although the intake amount of standard food was similar between the wild-type and knockout littermates. Serum markers for energy homeostasis were not significantly altered in the knockout mice. Hypothalamic neuropeptide Y mRNA, however, was higher in knockouts than in wild-type mice. Our results suggest that the up-regulated expression of neuropeptide Y mRNA might contribute to the increased weights of adult μ-opioid receptor knockout mice.


OBJECTIVE
This study investigated concentrations of ascorbic acid (ASC) in gastric mucosa, gastric juice, urine and plasma in healthy subjects under steady state and fasted conditions with and without concomitant administration of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA).

MATERIAL AND METHODS
This was a prospective, randomized, double-blind, parallel-group study in healthy subjects. It has assessed the effects of a 6-day administration of 0.8 g ASA or 0.48 g ASC, 3 times daily and the combination of both on concentrations of ASC in gastric mucosa, gastric juice, urine and plasma. Treatments were switched after 6 days without any washout for assessment of compartment sensitivity to changes in study medication resulting in an overall 14-day study period. Each of the 3 treatment groups consisted of 15 subjects.

RESULTS
ASC concentrations were highest in the gastric mucosa (251+/-11 microg/g), followed by gastric juice (29+/-6 microg/ml), plasma (10+/-0.2 microg/ml), and urine (5+/-1 microg/ml). On day 7, ASC concentrations in gastric mucosa, plasma and urine had increased in those groups receiving ASC and decreased in the group receiving ASA only. All differences were statistically significant and indicate an interaction with ASA. In gastric juice, differences in ASC concentrations between the treatment groups were not statistically significant between baseline and day 7. ASC concentrations in plasma were strongly correlated with corresponding ASC concentrations in gastric mucosa (r = 0.34) and urine (r = 0.83), as were ASC concentrations in gastric mucosa with ASC in urine (r = 0.28).

CONCLUSIONS
The gastric mucosa is the largest depot of ASC in the human body with ASC concentrations 25 times higher than in plasma. In healthy subjects, clinically relevant doses of ASA reduced ASC concentrations in gastric mucosa by about 10% within 6 days resulting from antioxidative defense mechanisms. In patients with long-term ASA treatment or conditions with additional risks such as elderly subjects with unfavorable dietary conditions and impaired antioxidative protection, a protective adjunct administration of ASC appears to be beneficial.


Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules determine immune responses to viral infections. These polymorphic cell-surface glycoproteins bind peptide antigens, forming ligands for cytotoxic T and natural killer cell receptors. Under pressure from rapidly evolving viruses, hominoid MHC class I molecules also evolve rapidly, becoming diverse and species-specific. Little is known of the impact of infectious disease epidemics on MHC class I variant distributions in human populations, a context in which the chimpanzee is the superior animal model. Population dynamics of the chimpanzees inhabiting Gombe National Park, Tanzania have been studied for over 50 years. This population is infected with SIVcpz, the precursor of human HIV-1. Because HLA-B is the most polymorphic human MHC class I molecule and correlates strongly with HIV-1 progression, we determined sequences for its ortholog, Patr-B, in 125 Gombe chimpanzees. Eleven Patr-B variants were defined, as were their frequencies in Gombe's three communities, changes in frequency with time, and effect of SIVcpz infection. The growing populations of the northern and central communities, where SIVcpz is less prevalent, have stable distributions comprising a majority of low-frequency Patr-B variants and a few high-frequency variants. Driving the latter to high frequency has been the fecundity of immigrants to the northern community, whereas in the central community, it has been the fecundity of socially dominant individuals. In the declining population of the southern community, where greater SIVcpz prevalence is associated with mortality and emigration, Patr-B variant distributions have been changing. Enriched in this community are Patr-B variants that engage with natural killer cell receptors. Elevated among SIVcpz-infected chimpanzees, the Patr-B*06:03 variant has striking structural and functional similarities to HLA-B*57, the human allotype most strongly associated with delayed HIV-1 progression. Like HLA-B*57, Patr-B*06:03 correlates with reduced viral load, as assessed by detection of SIVcpz RNA in feces.


The purpose of this research is to prepare basic data necessary to develop uniform design by examining the uniforms of Korean and Chinese airline crew. Advanced research, various literature materials related to uniform, as well as a survey on the images portrayed by the different uniforms of the airlines were used as research method, and this was used to investigate its functions and components. The survey was conducted in Incheon International Airport and Gwangju airport from September 1st to 30th of 2013, - targeting 350 people consisting of Koreans, Chinese, and other nationalities who have the experience of using Korean and Chinese aircraft. The research findings are summarized as follows. First, the images of the uniforms were classified into 5 elements: attractiveness, activity, noticeability, femininity, and traditionality. The analysis showed that Korean uniforms, except for Jin Air, received high marks overall, while the Chinese uniforms received lower marks compared to their Korean counterparts. Second, the results were analyzed based on the nationality of the respondents. In regards to Korean airline crews, attractiveness, activity, noticeability, femininity, and traditionality showed statistical significance with Korean respondents, while the significance was seen in attractiveness, activity, femininity, and traditionality for the Chinese respondents. Femininity was the only feature with any significance for the third nation respondents. On the other hand, with regard to Chinese airline crew``s uniform, Korean respondents showed statistical significance in the following features: attractiveness and traditionality, while the Chinese and the third nation respondents did not show any statistical significance in any of the elements.


This paper is an integration of the studies commissioned under the DFA-PIDS memorandum of agreement to explore the priority areas during the Philippines' APEC hosting in 2015 under the theme: "Building Inclusive Economies, Building a Better World". The four priority areas in the APEC 2015 agenda are: enhancing the regional economic integration, fostering SMEs' participation in regional and global markets, investing in human capital development, and building sustainable and resilient communities. Fourteen studies were conducted focusing on major issues under these priority areas. The individual papers look at what are being done under APEC with respect to the priority areas, where we are, our capabilities and weaknesses especially in relation to our neighbors in the region. Equally important, the studies aim as well to contribute and advocate good domestic reforms in the longer term within the national agenda.


In future collaborative wireless communication systems with high data rate, interference cancellation is likely to be required in cooperative networks at the symbol level to mitigate synchronization errors. In this paper, we therefore examine closed-loop extended orthogonal space time block coding (CL EO-STBC) for four relay nodes and apply parallel interference cancellation (PIC) detection scheme to mitigate the impact of imperfect synchronization. Simulation results illustrate that the closed-loop EO-STBC scheme under imperfect synchronization can achieve good performance with simple linear processing and outperform previous methods. Moreover, a PIC scheme is shown to be very effective in mitigating impact of imperfect synchronization with low structural and computational complexity.


In this article, we analyse, on the basis of comparable corpora (Dutch - Spanish) of the same legal genre, i.e. the Articles of Association, an aspect of cross-linguistic variation, namely the expression of deontic modality. We also examine the ways in which the findings of the study can be processed into a bilingual, translator-friendly legal termbase (JuriGenT). In doing so, we map out the asymmetry, which is mainly attributable to the use of tenses, and duly process this in the relevant term records, taking the view that the translator should be aware of the similarities and differences of their usage so as to be able to make well-considered translation decisions.


Urban poverty is increasing dramatically in Kenya. Farming in town is one of the ways people employ to cope with this problem. Based on a survey held in 1999 among a representative sample of almost 600 households, it is estimated that 27% of the Nakuru population is engaged in crop cultivation in town, although the real figure is likely to be higher. In 1998, they produced an estimated six million kilograms of crops, which covered about 30% of their energy requirements. Yields, however, are relatively low and vary with plot size and to a lesser extent the use of inputs (including labour used) and the sex of the person responsible. Although it is clear that crop cultivation is beneficial for the people involved (food supply, income, employment), its potential is much bigger given the low average productivity. To raise productivity, constraints that the people face have to be removed, including theft and the legal uncertainty regarding access to land and which crops can be cultivated.


To promote the development of high-bandwidth IP networks of nongeostationary Earth orbit (NGEO) satellites, this article designs a new benefit measurement model. Moreover, we propose the class-A QoS benefit criterion (QABC), which is established based on a mathematical model involving the remaining queue length and QoS. The benefit model includes three maximum and minimum conflict subgoals and is designed to avoid the problem that the ant colony algorithm easily falls to local optima. This new model is solved with the wolf colony algorithm, which provides both next-hop selection and bottleneck bandwidth reservation mechanisms. Additionally, many burst flows can occur in satellite networks, and they lead to a slow convergence speed and unnecessary overhead. In this article, the Kalman filter algorithm is used to address these issues. Considering the long-term correlation of satellite traffic, it is feasible to smooth the queue length with a Kalman filter. Finally, the Kalman filter wolf colony algorithm (KFWCA) can solve the conflict problem in the new benefit measurement model. The algorithm is applied in the network simulator NS2.35, and the results verify the effectiveness of load balancing and QoS maximization in a satellite network. The results indicate that the KFWCA yields better performance than other algorithms based on traffic allocation, the average delay, the packet loss rate and other factors, especially under high-traffic conditions.


A research on tooth-wear was done in a clothing factory, focusing on the teeth of the inter-canine sector in 59 workers who had volunteered for the research. The subjects were in the habit of cutting the thread with their teeth instead of using scissors as was prescribed in the production process. In 53 (89.83%) of the subjects, damages of the incisal portion of the tooth were found, whereas in the remaining 6 (10.17%) there were no such changes. No significant difference could be established in the incidence of tooth-wear between the women workers who cut the thread with their teeth constantly and those who only did that occasionally (p > 0.05). Because of the action of pulling a thread across the incisal edge of the incisor, defects--in the form of solitary, oval or multiple cuts (attributed the values 1, 2 and 3)--had been inflicted on the incisal portion of the teeth. Most frequently those were the defects of the enamel (type 2, 1), but in some cases dentin (type 3), also was affected. A somewhat more severe degree of damage was observed from workers biting the purely polyester-made thread (p < 0.05) than from biting the regular sewing type of thread. Education of the workers seems to be the only useful prevention, since we are dealing with only a bad habit. Therefore, the workers should be warned that the seemingly innocent cutting of thread with their teeth could lead to esthetic, functional and restorative problems.


Abstract Hair restoration has become increasingly popular in recent years with both men and women. New technologies such as follicular unit extraction and grafting have made it possible for patients to get a natural looking result with minimal downtime. Men usually experience hairline recession as a result of androgenic alopecia, while women most commonly experience thinning of the crown and vertex, with the preservation of the hairline. However, there is a growing population of women who wish to advance their hairline forward because of congenital high hairline, traction alopecia, or previous facial cosmetic surgery. There are several key differences between the female and male hairline. Understanding such differences and following certain guidelines will help the facial plastic surgeon to obtain beautiful and natural appearing results.


The DGPS/IMU can measure position and velocity extremely high, and it is widely used in air-borne InSAR system. The passage based on the DGPS/IMU's action in the airborne InSAR system, makes sure the interference phase accuracy, from the analysis of the interference phase accuracy influence by InSAR imaging motivation compensation makes sure the interference phase accuracy, and analyzes the system's request of DGPS/IMU from the DEM accuracy's influence by DGPS/IMU's surveying error. At last the paper advances the accuracy request of the DGPS/IMU system, and provides basis for the InSAR system's selection of DGPS/IMU system.


A 14-month-old, intact male cat presented with acute onset, severe right hind limb lameness. Pelvic radiographs, excision of the femoral head, and histopathologic examination resulted in a diagnosis of physeal dysplasia with slipped capital femoral epiphysis. The cat rapidly regained use of the affected limb.


In this paper, we explain the emergence of Yewwu-Yewwi, the first feminist movement in Senegal. The genealogy, as well as the objectives of the movement, are reconstructed and we analyze the sociopolitical context of its birth as well as the difficulties that the movement faced in order to impose its legitimacy on the Senegalese political, associative and institutional scene. The role of its central figures is drawn in all its complexity and Yewwu-Yewwi's action and relative success is precisely delineated through archival material and interviews with the protagonists of the process. Finally, the determinants of the elitist tendency of the movement are described in connection with the sociological, historical and political context of the time. Keywords: Yewwu-Yewwi, Feminist movement, Women's leadership, Senegal, Siggil Jigeen network


An extant tissue indentor used for amputee residual limb tissue indentation studies was modified to include laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF) to enable measurement of tissue perfusion during indentation. This device allows quantitative assessment of the mechanical and physiological response of soft tissues to load, as demonstrated by indentation studies of the lower-limb tissues of young healthy subjects. Potential measures of interest include the relative change in tissue perfusion with load and the time delays associated with the perfusion response during tissue loading and unloading. Such measures may prove useful in future studies of residual limb tissues, improving our understanding of tissue viability risk factors for individuals with lower-limb amputation.


For the stability and control demand of offshore small floating platform, a 2-HUS/U parallel mechanism was presented as offshore platform. Inverse kinematics was obtained by institutional constraint equation, and the dynamic model of offshore 2-HUS/U parallel platform was derived based on rigid body's Lagrangian method. The equivalent moment of inertia, damping and driving force/torque variation of offshore 2-HUS/U parallel platform were analyzed. A numerical example shows that, for parallel platform of given motion, system's equivalent inertia changes 1.25 times maximally. During the movement of platform, they change dramatically with the system configuration and have coupling characteristics. The maximum equivalent drive torque is 800 N. At the same time, the curve of platform's driving force/torque is smooth and has good sine features. The control system needs to be adjusted according to kinetic equation during stability and control and it provides a basis for the optimization of control system.


Augustine famously defends the justice of killing in certain public contexts such as just wars. He also claims that private citizens who intentionally kill are guilty of murder, regardless of their reasons. Just as famously, Augustine seems to prohibit lying categorically. Analyzing these features of his thought and their connections, I argue that Augustine is best understood as endorsing the justice of lying in certain public contexts, even though he does not explicitly do so. Specifically, I show that parallels between his treatments of killing and lying along with his "agent (auctor)–instrument (minister)" distinction, in which God is the true agent or "author" of certain acts and humans are merely God's instruments, together imply that he would regard certain instances of public lying as permissible and even obligatory. I buttress my argument by examining several key but neglected passages and by responding to various objections and rival interpretations. Throughout, I challenge standard interpretations of Augustine's ethics of killing and lying and seek to deepen our overall understanding of these dimensions of his thought. In so doing, I contribute to ongoing discussions of public and private lying and to the task of relating Augustine's thought to contemporary debate and deliberation on war, killing, and lying.


The drum-like virtual reality (VR) keyboard is a contemporary, controller-based interface for text input in VR that uses a drum set metaphor. The controllers are used as sticks which, through downward movements, "press" the keys of the virtual keyboard. In this work, a preliminary feasibility study of the drum-like VR keyboard is described, focusing on the text entry rate and accuracy as well as its usability and the user experience it offers. Seventeen participants evaluated the drum-like VR keyboard by having a typing session and completing a usability and a user experience questionnaire. The interface achieved a good usability score, positive experiential feedback around its entertaining and immersive qualities, a satisfying text entry rate (24.61 words-per-minute), as well as moderate-to-high total error rate (7.2%) that can probably be further improved in future studies. The work provides strong indications that the drum-like VR keyboard can be an effective and entertaining way to type in VR.


A Pompeian glass sample found in Reg. I, Insula 14, during the 1950's Pompeii excavation was examined by Raman and Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The analyzed specimen was selected based on its intense blue color and its well-preserved aspect. The purpose of the work was the chemical characterization of Pompeii's glass in correlation to the actual knowledge of Roman glassmaking technology from the Mediterranean area. The results suggested that the Pompeii's glass was a soda-lime-silica glass, but with a higher calcium content that, given the low content of lead, was used to stabilize the glass. The sample was in origin produced most likely as non-decolorized primary raw materials from eastern Mediterranean sites. Moreover, the intense blue color was related to the use mainly of cobalt, present in a weighty amount, and likely used as important coloring agents in the ancient secondary glass-making workshop.


In the title molecule, C23H14N4, the triazoloisoquinoline ring system is nearly planar, with an r.m.s. deviation of 0.038 (2) Å and a maximum deviation of −0.030 (2) Å from the mean plane of the triazole ring C atom which is bonded to the benzene ring. The benzene and phenyl rings are twisted by 57.65 (8) and 53.60 (9)°, respectively, with respect to the mean plane of the triazoloisoquinoline ring system. In the crystal structure, molecules are linked by weak aromatic π–π interactions [centroid–centroid distance = 3.8074 (12) Å]. In addition, the crystal structure exhibits a nonclassical intermolecular C—H⋯N hydrogen bond.


The development of a rapid, affordable, and sensitive diagnostic kit for point-of-care is important in most healthcare settings; however, only a few exhibit the needed quantitative capability. Our technology, ELLI, is a patented diagnostic device that aims to provide on-site quantitation by utilizing proprietary electroactive immunonanoparticles that bind to the target biomarker and subsequently move along toward the biofunctionalized screen-printed gold electrodes (SPGE) to generate an amperometric signal. The SPGE functions simultaneously as a signal transducer and a solid-state support for a sandwich immunoassay. The successful immunocomplex formation is then recorded electrochemically using a potentiostat, whereby the signal was contributed by the presence of ferrocene or a more hydrophilic redox label, radical TEMPO, immobilized on the formulated nanoparticles. A bifunctional ligand, thiolated polyethylene glycol (PEG-thiol), was used to stabilize 20 nm gold colloidal nanoparticles (AuNPs). The ligand was incorporated to not only prevent the salt-mediated AuNPs aggregations but also provide an anchor for antibody and redox species conjugation. To-date, we have miniaturized a 3D-printed prototype device able to sensitively detect and quantify dengue NS1 protein with only 0.6 μ L human clinical serum samples diluted in a volume ratio of 1:100 in PBS diluent in less than 30 min with a simple cyclic voltammetry analysis. Other applications are being developed, including stroke prognosis using NT-proBNP biomarker, that is significantly associated with cardioembolic stroke and secondary stroke reoccurrence, with sensitivity >90% and specificity >80%. Initial results of this research in mock porcine plasma have shown that the label-free impedimetric electrochemical biosensor was capable of differentiating such concentrations in a low concentration range, especially among 0, 0.1, 0.5, 1, and 3 ng mL within 25 min. This range is valuable not only for classifying cardioembolic stroke (>=0.5 ng mL) but also predicting the risk of secondary stroke reoccurrence (>0.255 ng mL). We are now adapting these results to the ELLI platform. The applications above need quantitation as a measure of severity and a classification means. In dengue, for example, a simple, 1-2 step, point-of-careformat is recommended for disease surveillance in communities as a first line of defense, especially when there is no specific treatment for dengue/severe dengue. Meanwhile, in stroke prognosis, a quantitative point-of-care device that reduces the delays in IV-tPA administration and predicts risks as well as secondary reoccurrence will be highly favored. ELLI promises to deliver sensitive measurements of the target biomarker and acts as a diagnostic intervention for faster therapeutics administration that eventually will contribute to a better disease emergency preparedness, such as in trauma triage (internal bleeding) for soldiers. ELLI is the answer to whichever applications that would require quantitation of biomarkers or pathogens at the point of care such as for HAZMAT teams, the military, or home use.


This paper is primarily concerned with textual meaning in translation (i.e. the flow of text). Why do some translations not read as one piece of writing? Does it make any difference if translators start clauses in a translation with different experiential elements? If so, what impacts will such choices have on the flow of information in the translation? In this paper, we attempt to address such issues by analyzing Themes in different English translations of Chinese and Korean source texts. Firstly, we will present an analysis of Theme choices in three English translations of a Chinese short story. Secondly, we will discuss target readers' reactions to two English translations of a Korean short story that are nearly identical except for a few Theme choices. We hope that our discussion stimulates more interest in the textual meaning of translations, which is an area that needs significantly more attention in translation studies (Baker 1992; House 1997; Munday 2000).


Abstract. The change from isomorphic to anamorphic optics in high numerical aperture extreme ultraviolet scanners necessitates changes to the mask data preparation flow. The required changes for each step in the mask tape out process are discussed, with a focus on optical proximity correction (OPC). When necessary, solutions to new problems are demonstrated and verified by rigorous simulation. Additions to the OPC model include accounting for anamorphic effects in the optics, mask electromagnetics, and mask manufacturing. The correction algorithm is updated to include awareness of anamorphic mask geometry for mask rule checking. OPC verification through process window conditions is enhanced to test different wafer scale mask error ranges in the horizontal and vertical directions. This work will show that existing models and methods can be updated to support anamorphic optics without major changes. Also, the larger mask size in the Y direction can result in better model accuracy, easier OPC convergence, and designs that are more tolerant to mask errors.


A review is given of the theoretical and experimental data on the isostructural first-order semiconductor-metal phase transition in samarium monosulfides and Sm1-xLnx3+S solid solutions (Ln is a rare-earth metal). Phase transitions occurring under hydrostatic pressures and as a result of change in temperature are considered. Electrical, magnetic, galvanomagnetic, thermoelectric, thermal, optical and mechanical properties are discussed, as well as the energy band structure of the semiconductor and metal modifications of the investigated materials. Special attention is given to the experiments confirming the fractional valence of the samarium ion in the metal phase of these materials (the experimental evidence for this valence is provided by the Mossbauer effect, magnetic susceptibility, shifts of x-ray K lines, x-ray emission spectra, and specific heat).


The bicentenary of Charles Darwin's life and work reminds us that the great biodiversity on Earth underlies natural selection, selective breeding, and the biotechnologies required to provide humanity with food, fiber, fodder, and fuels. In particular, biodiversity affords the development of plant varieties with novel genetic combinations, which will be required to meet the challenges arising from adverse alterations in temperature, precipitation, sea level, and the frequency of drought and floods—all of which are anticipated from human-induced climate change. The loss of each gene and species therefore limits our options for the future.


PURPOSE
This investigation assessed the effects of training intensity and ground surface type on hemolysis, inflammation, and hepcidin activity during running.

METHODS
Ten highly trained male endurance athletes completed a graded exercise test, two continuous 10-km runs on a grass (GRASS) and a bitumen road surface (ROAD) at 75%-80% peak VO2 running velocity, and a 10 x 1-km interval running session (INT) at 90%-95% of the peak VO2 running velocity. Venous blood and urine samples were collected before, immediately after, and at 3 and 24 h after exercise. Serum samples were analyzed for circulating levels of IL-6, free hemoglobin (Hb), haptoglobin (Hp), iron, and ferritin. Urine samples were analyzed for changes in hepcidin expression.

RESULTS
After running, the IL-6 and free Hb were significantly greater, and serum Hp was significantly lower than preexercise values in all three conditions (P < 0.05). Furthermore, IL-6 levels and the change in free Hb from baseline were significantly greater in the INT compared with those in the GRASS (P < 0.05). There were no differences between the GRASS and ROAD training surfaces (P > 0.05). Serum iron and ferritin were significantly increased after exercise in all three conditions (P < 0.05) but were not different between trials.

CONCLUSION
Greater running intensities incur more inflammation and hemolysis, but these variables were not affected by the surface type trained upon.


Objective: To develop a framework for understanding factors affecting the use of patient survey data in quality improvement. Design: Qualitative interviews with senior health professionals and managers and a review of the literature. Setting: A quality improvement collaborative in Minnesota, USA involving teams from eight medical groups, focusing on how to use patient survey data to improve patient centred care. Participants: Eight team leaders (medical, clinical improvement or service quality directors) and six team members (clinical improvement coordinators and managers). Results: Respondents reported three types of barriers before the collaborative: organisational, professional and data related. Organisational barriers included lack of supporting values for patient centred care, competing priorities, and lack of an effective quality improvement infrastructure. Professional barriers included clinicians and staff not being used to focusing on patient interaction as a quality issue, individuals not necessarily having been selected, trained or supported to provide patient centred care, and scepticism, defensiveness or resistance to change following feedback. Data related barriers included lack of expertise with survey data, lack of timely and specific results, uncertainty over the effective interventions or time frames for improvement, and consequent risk of perceived low cost effectiveness of data collection. Factors that appeared to have promoted data use included board led strategies to change culture and create quality improvement forums, leadership from senior physicians and managers, and the persistence of quality improvement staff over several years in demonstrating change in other areas. Conclusion: Using patient survey data may require a more concerted effort than for other clinical data. Organisations may need to develop cultures that support patient centred care, quality improvement capacity, and to align professional receptiveness and leadership with technical expertise with the data.


In this paper we solve in the positive the question of whether any finite set of integers, containing the zero, is the mapping degree set between two oriented closed connected manifolds of the same dimension. We extend this question to the rational setting, where an affirmative answer is also given.


Lung cancer is the leading global cause of cancer-related death, however, resistance to chemotherapy drugs remains a huge barrier to effective treatment. The elevated recruitment of myeloid derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) to tumour after chemotherapy has been linked to resistance of chemotherapy drugs. Nevertheless, the specific mechanism remains unclear. oxPAPC is a bioactive principal component of minimally modified low-density lipoproteins and regulates inflammatory response. In this work, we found that cisplatin, oxaliplatin and ADM all increased oxPAPC release in tumour. Treating macrophages with oxPAPC in vitro stimulated the secretion of MCP-1 and LTB4, which strongly induced monocytes and neutrophils chemotaxis, respectively. Injection of oxPAPC in vivo significantly upregulated the percentage of MDSCs in tumour microenvironment (TME) of wild-type LL2 tumour-bearing mice, but not CCL2-/- mice and LTB4R-/- mice. Critically, oxPAPC acted as a pro-tumor factor in LL2 tumour model. Indeed, cisplatin increased oxPAPC level in tumour tissues of WT mice, CCL2-/- and LTB4R-/- mice, but caused increased infiltration of Ly6Chigh monocytes and neutrophils only in WT LL2-bearing mice. Collectively, our work demonstrates cisplatin treatment induces an overproduction of oxPAPC and thus recruits MDSCs infiltration to promote the tumour growth through the MCP-1/CCL2 and LTB4/LTB4R pathways, which may restrict the effect of multiple chemotherapy. This provides evidence for a potential strategy to enhance the efficacy of multiple chemotherapeutic drugs in the treatment of lung cancer by targeting oxPAPC.


In this article, we present QoS-Guaranteed local mobility management with bicasting tunnels for mobile devices with dual interfaces. The IETF standard HMIPv6 has been extended where bi-casting tunnels between an access router and the mobile node in 3G/WiFi network are dynamically constructed using dual interfaces. The detailed signaling procedure for the extension of HMIPv6 has been designed and NS2 simulation has been done for performance evaluation. The simulation results show that, comparing with other standard IP mobility management protocols such as MIPv6 and HMIPv6, the proposed mechanism demonstrates better performance in terms of handover latency, packet loss the peak signal noise ratio and jitter delay.


Recent research on handheld projector interaction has expanded the display and interaction space of handheld devices by projecting information onto the physical environment around the user, but has mainly focused on single-user scenarios. We extend this prior single-user research to co-located multi-user interaction using multiple handheld projectors. We present a set of interaction techniques for supporting co-located collaboration with multiple handheld projectors, and discuss application scenarios enabled by them.


Treatment of 9 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia with 20 mg tamoxifen daily for 6 weeks resulted in a significant increase of LH (211%), FSH (215%), E2 (231%), total T (157%), free T (148%) and total DHT (148%) levels in blood. The increase of plasma free DHT (152%) levels was not significant and PRL concentrations in serum were unchanged during treatment. Comparison of the increases between total T and free T, total T and total DHT as well as free T and free DHT failed to reveal any significant differences. These results imply (1) a marked anti-oestrogenic effect of tamoxifen at the level of hypothalamo-hypophysial axis (2) no effect at the hepatic oestrogen receptor sites indicated by unchanged SHBG-bound T and DHT in plasma and (3) no significant inhibitory effect of tamoxifen on 5 alpha-reductase activity concluded from the T/DHT ratio in peripheral circulation. In view of these findings tamoxifen appears to be unsuitable for therapy of benign prostatic hyperplasia.


Echocardiography makes it possible to examine the mass of the left ventricle both by a two-dimensional and one-dimensional approach. The method of one-dimensional echocardiography is simpler and more accurate than two-dimensional echocardiography. There are two most frequently used conventions for assessment of the thickness of the wall and the diameters of its cavity: 1. the method of the American echocardiographic society, 2. the Penn-convention. The latter correlates better with left ventricular mass assessed on autopsy. The prerequisite for use of one-dimensional echocardiography is that the mass of the left ventricle is evenly distributed along the whole circumference. This assumption must be assessed in advance by two-dimensional echocardiography and it is necessary to eliminate from examinations those patients where the left ventricle is geometrically impaired. The authors mention also other limitations of one-dimensional echocardiography when used for assessment of left ventricular mass. The mass of the left ventricle is an independent risk factor and indicator of elevated morbidity and mortality in arterial hypertension and therefore its assessment is very important in clinical practice. The authors present their own observations of dynamic serial examinations used to assess the mass of the left ventricle in a female patient with pheochromocytoma and its total regression after radical surgery.


Article is devoted philosophy of history of Peter Struve. Ideas of the Russian thinker are analyzed in a context of philosophy of Russian abroad. Problems of the philosophical bases of history and a historical science are analyzed. Publicistic («The Diary Of The Politician» 1925−1935) and philosophical works of Struve in emigration аre considered.


It has been known for some years that a C-field, generated by a certain source equation, leads to interesting changes in the cosmological solutions of Einstein's equations. The steady-state cosmology appears as an asymptotic case. The source equation has so far only been given in the macroscopic case of a smooth fluid. In the present paper we derive the source equation in terms of discrete particles. The method adopted is similar to that we have recently given for the generalization to Riemannian space of the Fokker action principle in the electromagnetic theory. In the latter, a 4-vector is defined in terms of the world lines of particles. The definition is such that the four-dimensional curl of the vector satisfies Maxwell's equations, which are therefore identities. Similarly, C is a scalar defined in terms of the world-lines of particles, and the source equation used formerly then follows as an identity.


ABSTRACT Inclusive education requires teacher education initiatives that enable pedagogical practices committed to students' singularities. This article aims to systematize contributions to teacher education towards educational inclusion provided by research conducted at the master's and doctoral levels in Education. We selected studies published from 2016 to 2019 in the Catalogue of Theses and Dissertations maintained by the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES), and we used the following descriptors: "inclusão escolar" (educational inclusion), "formação docente" (teacher education), "Ensino Fundamental" (elementary and middle school). With regard to our theoretical foundations, our study builds on the work of authors such as Campos (2009), Marques et al. (2020), Nóvoa (1999, 2017, 2019) and Zwierewicz et al. (2020). Methodologically, it is based on bibliographic review with a qualitative approach. Results show that teacher education is one of the pillars to build educational inclusion; creativity and collaborative work are critical; teachers' work environment should allow them to re-signify reality as they re-signify themselves, mobilized by reflections on their own pedagogical practices and by recognition for initiatives committed to educational inclusion principles.


Dengue fever is prevalent in Malaysia with numerous cases including mortality recorded over the years. Public education on the prevention of the desease through various means has been carried out besides the enforcement of legal means to eradicate Aedes mosquitoes, the dengue vector breeding ground. Hence, other means need to be explored, such as predicting the seasonal peak period of the dengue outbreak and identifying related climate factors contributing to the increase in the number of mosquitoes. Simulation model can be employed for this purpose. In this study, we created a simulation of system dynamic to predict the spread of dengue outbreak in Hulu Langat, Selangor Malaysia. The main data input are rainfall, temperature and denggue cases. Data analysis from the graph showed that denggue cases can be predicted accurately using these two main variablesrainfall and temperature. However, the model will be further tested over a longer time period to ensure its accuracy, reliability and efficiency as a prediction tool for dengue outbreak.


There are two basic types of symmetric algorithms: block ciphers and stream ciphers. Block ciphers operate on blocks of plaintext and ciphertext—usually of 64 bits but sometimes longer. Stream ciphers operate on streams of plaintext and ciphertext one bit or byte (sometimes even one 32-bit word) at a time. With a block cipher, the same plaintext block will always encrypt to the same ciphertext block, using the same key. With a stream cipher, the same plaintext bit or byte will encrypt to a different bit or byte every time it is encrypted. In this paper we introduce three development of Counter Mode of Operation of Block cipher. These developments merge between advantages of Counter Mode with other Modes. This gives a good secure Modes for General purpose blockoriented transmission Authentication, Random access, Stream-oriented transmission over noisy channel.


PURPOSE OF THE STUDY The purpose of this study is to determine whether or not stock returns are higher under left wing governments. The common wisdom might be that right-wing, fiscal conservative, parties are better for economics but the results obtained in studies have been contrary, and mixed. This study will add to the discussion by studying this effect in Finland. Finland has a multi-party parliamentary system, unlike many countries including the United States, and this study contributes by creating a freely varying leftist variable for governments instead of using binary values. Additionally, I have newly created a long-term Finnish stock index dating back to 1917. DATA AND METHODOLY The main data set is comprised of monthly observations for value and equal-weighted total return indexes from the Finnish stock market during a time period between 1917 and 2007. In order to evaluate Finnish governments over the decades I created a (non-binary) political variable that encapsulates the left-right -wing orientation of sixty-two governments incumbent during the time period. To test my hypothesis I complete univariate analysis and ran a series of regressions. I conduct OLS regression on value-weighted and equal-weighted real and excess stock returns alike. To obtain robust results with long time series I will also utilize GARCH regressions for the same variables. All the regressions are both with binary left-right and freely varying "leftist" variables. To determine, if possible, abnormal returns are expected or not, I will also test for election shocks. A greater volatility (risk) of stock returns for left or right-wing governments can explain a difference in stock returns levels as well, and it will be further examined in this study. RESULTS Similar to earlier studies, I find significant abnormal excess returns and non-significant real returns during incumbencies of left-wing governments. The results are more evident when using freely varying leftist variables. Interestingly, abnormal left-wing returns are realized around the election months. Inflation and volatility are on average higher for left-wing governments but this does not alone explain the abnormal stock returns under left-wing governments' incumbencies.


In the time of the rule of Japanese imperialism, Japanese style official residence played major role at the implantation of modern dwellings into Korea and its influences on Korean modern dwellings are distinguishable. This study focuses on the Japanese style official residence implanted into Korea before 1910. Before 1910 Japanese civilians in Korea builded just a traditional Japanese dwellings at the Japanese settlement in the ports opened. But Japanese engineers engaged in governmental organization of construction in the Old-Korean Empire builded a central corridor type Japanese dwellings as official residence. The central corridor type Japanese dwelling was an urban dwelling compromised between Japanese style and western style and distinguished by an outer-court type plan, Japanese entrance hall, central corridor and western style reception room. It is certified that the central corridor type Japanese dwelling was implanted into Korea before 1910 and this was the first time an urban dwelling to be implanted and spread through the whole Korea. The central corridor type Japanese dwelling implanted into Korea took in On-Dol and transformed to Korea-Japanese eclectic style. The central corridor type Japanese dwellings implanted into Korea in the time of the rule of Japanese imperialism makes function as a precedent of a modern urban dwelling to Korean and makes Korean dwellings transform from the rural inner court type into the urban outer court type.


Protein aggregation is a hallmark of many age-related pathologies and, in particular, of neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases. The teleost Nothobranchius furzeri shows the shortest median life span among all vertebrate animal models and has recently gained popularity as a convenient model for experimental approaches to aging. Immunofluorescence staining is the primary technique used to visualize the distribution of proteins in fixed cells and tissues and it has proven to be a powerful tool to study aggregates and proteins involved in neurodegenerative diseases. Specifically, immunofluorescence staining allows for precise localization of aggregates in specific cell types and can be used to identify the proteins constituting such aggregates. To facilitate the study of aggregate-related pathologies in the context of aging using the new model N. furzeri, we report a protocol to visualize general protein aggregates and specific proteins optimized for N. furzeri brain cryosections.


Abstract Historically, a lack of comparable data on the laws and policies that shape health, education, poverty, and other outcomes has hindered researchers' ability to provide rigorous evidence on the effectiveness of different policy designs. This article describes public-use downloadable data built by the WORLD Policy Analysis Center to fill this gap. Over 2,000 quantitatively comparable measures of national laws and policies across 193 countries were assembled. This open-access data source provides a tool for monitoring the adoption of evidence-based laws and policies, identifying policy gaps, and rigorously evaluating how policies shape outcomes across different regions and socioeconomic contexts.


How will the terrorist attacks in Paris on 13 November affect domestic politics within France? Marta Lorimer assesses the reactions from the country's main political parties. She writes that while the previous terrorist attacks in Paris in January resulted in a display of political unity, the united front following the November attacks has been much shorter lived. Although some political figures from the opposite side of the political spectrum have offered support to President Hollande, other actors, including former President Nicolas Sarkozy and members of the Front National, have already voiced criticism of the government's security and immigration policies in light of the attacks.


The construction industry is an enormous economic sector with a profound economic, social, and environmental impact. The building sector is responsible for one-third of total energy consumption and, notably, construction activities account for 39% of the total carbon emissions in the world. Therefore, nowadays, the promotion of green building concepts is essential for all countries. Typically, the sustainability level of a building is evaluated by specified certification systems through rating assessment tools. The development of national assessment tools is necessary for the developing world due to environmental, social, and economic issues; consequently, a national assessment tool adopted under specific local conditions would provide a more precise assessment. This paper analyzes the rating system of BREEAM, LEED, CASBEE, and Green Globes certification systems and discusses their adoption with assessment measures for the existing buildings in Kazakhstan's reality. The following main criteria were discussed during six roundtable sessions: sustainable site and landscape, energy and carbon footprint reduction, water and wastewater management, indoor environmental quality, sustainable building materials, commissioning, and maintenance. A set of assessment criteria and measures were suggested, and 43 existing buildings were assessed. Only eight buildings reached a high rating level. The "sustainable site and landscape" and "indoor environmental air quality" categories were the categories with the highest scores; otherwise, "energy and carbon footprint reduction" with "water and wastewater management" had the lowest average scores. One of the buildings was evaluated separately by several experts to check the consistency of the suggested assessment measures. This evaluation also provided insight into how the assessors' knowledge and experience may change the overall rating scores obtained. The most critical issues for the existing buildings in Kazakhstan's reality were discussed. Despite the widespread adoption of green certification methodology, the application of global certification systems in Kazakhstan remains complicated due to the lack of knowledge and limited awareness.


Bioactive plant derived compounds are important for a wide range of therapeutic applications, and some display promising anticancer properties. Further evidence suggests that phytochemicals modulate autophagy and apoptosis, the two crucial cellular pathways involved in the underlying pathobiology of cancer development and regulation. Pharmacological targeting of autophagy and apoptosis signaling using phytochemicals therefore offers a promising strategy that is complementary to conventional cancer chemotherapy. In this review, we sought to highlight the molecular basis of the autophagic-apoptotic pathway to understand its implication in the pathobiology of cancer, and explore this fundamental cellular process as a druggable anticancer target. We also aimed to present recent advances and address the limitations faced in the therapeutic development of phytochemical-based anticancer drugs.


This article figures out the economic impacts on macroeconomy, industrial output, new energies and environment when the advantageous bioethanol and its feedstock production increase and replace the usage of gasoline in the future. A CGE model, called i§Taiwan General Equilibrium Model-Energy, (TAIGEM-E), was a linear/dynamic, linearized percentage change simulation tool used especially in the economic evaluation of environment policies. Results indicated that macroeconomic and environmental variables will all benefit with scenarios. Government should instantly encourage the production of bioethanol (and biodiesel) and iti¦s producing resource because it truly can reduce the pressure of CO2 emission mitigation, and also can active agricultural fallow lands. It is an important long term issue.


Munronia pinnata (Wall.) Theob. (Meliaceae) is a therapeutically important medicinal plant species used for a series of ailments and hence, it has become a very expensive dry herb in traditional medicine in Sri Lanka. Present study describes island wide distribution,their habitats,areas with higher diversity, flowering and fruiting performances and conservation measures, systematic identification, brine shrimp toxicity and antimalarial activity of M. pinnata. Present survey describes sixteen different morphotypes, their habitats, geographical distribution, areas with higher diversity, flowering and fruiting performances and conservation measures for 16 morphotypes of M. pinnata. Further, it describes morphological, anatomical, micro molecule and macromolecule profiles, Phenol & flavonoids contents and their relationship with brine shrimp toxicity and antimalarial activity of different morphotypes of M. pinnata.


Since its introduction, depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) has proven to be among the most effective methods of reversible contraception. The unique set of characteristics that distinguish this method from other contraceptive options may render it the most suitable method of pregnancy prevention for many women. Accurate information is essential in counseling women attempting to weigh the advantages and disadvantages of this method of contraception relative to others. Since DMPA was approved in the U.S. for use as a contraceptive, clinical studies have continued to generate new details about the effect of this agent on bleeding patterns, mood and weight change. In this overview, the goal is to evaluate objective data in the context of practical management.


Fifty deaf and hard-of-hearing students who were mainstreamed in postsecondary classes rated their classroom communication ease with hearing instructors, hearing peers, and deaf peers. A subgroup of these students participated in an in-depth interview that focused on perceptions of communication ease, support services, and attitudes of teachers and students toward deaf students in mainstreamed classes. Quantitative analyses indicated that students more comfortable in using speech in this setting reported being able to receive and send a greater amount and a higher quality of information than did students who were less comfortable in using speech. Both quantitative and qualitative results indicated that students varied considerably in their communication with hearing peers and professors, in their relations with deaf peers, and in their concerns about access. It is a challenge for interpreting and other support services to serve these various needs, especially when it is not unusual for these variations to occur in the same classroom.


Abstract This article investigates the effects of reputation and e-reputation on the value created by mergers and acquisitions (M&As). Building on the resource-based view, we study the impact of the acquirer's reputation on financial market reactions to M&A announcements. The empirical study is based on a sample of 187 M&As involving French multinationals of the CAC 40 index and an online survey of their reputation. The statistical analysis shows that reputation has a significant, positive influence on M&A value-creation. The findings also highlight the fact that reputation matters regardless of the geographic location of the target companies. Our study makes theory of the role of intangible assets in firm performance more specific by highlighting the positive impact of reputation on the financial evaluation of M&A operations.


Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is a common cancer predisposition syndrome caused by mutations in the NF1 gene. The NF1‐encoded protein (neurofibromin) is an inhibitor of the oncoprotein RAS and controls cell growth and survival. Individuals with NF1 are prone to developing low‐grade tumors of the optic nerves, chiasm, tracts, and radiations, termed optic pathway gliomas (OPGs), which can cause vision loss. A paucity of surgical tumor specimens and of patient‐derived xenografts for investigative studies has limited our understanding of human NF1‐associated OPG (NF1‐OPG). However, mice genetically engineered to harbor Nf1 gene mutations develop optic gliomas that share many features of their human counterparts. These genetically engineered mouse (GEM) strains have provided important insights into the cellular and molecular determinants that underlie mouse Nf1 optic glioma development, maintenance, and associated vision loss, with relevance by extension to human NF1‐OPG disease. Herein, we review our current understanding of NF1‐OPG pathobiology and describe the mechanisms responsible for tumor initiation, growth, and associated vision loss in Nf1 GEM models. We also discuss how Nf1 GEM and other preclinical models can be deployed to identify and evaluate molecularly targeted therapies for OPG, particularly as they pertain to future strategies aimed at preventing or improving tumor‐associated vision loss in children with NF1.


AIM
The purpose of this paper is to analyse and evaluate Cognitive Continuum Theory and to provide evidence for its relevance to nurses' decision-making.

BACKGROUND
It is critical that theories used in nursing are evaluated to provide an understanding of their aims, concepts and usefulness. With the advent of evidence-based care, theories on decision-making have acquired increased significance.

METHOD
The criteria identified by Fawcett's framework has been used to analyse and evaluate Hammond's Cognitive Continuum Theory. Findings. There is empirical evidence to support many of the concepts and propositions of Cognitive Continuum Theory. The theory has been applied to the decision-making process of many professionals, including medical practitioners and nurses. Existing evidence suggests that Cognitive Continuum Theory can provide the framework to explain decision-making in nursing.

CONCLUSION
Cognitive Continuum Theory has the potential to make major contributions towards understanding the decision-making process of nurses in the clinical environment. Knowledge of the theory in nursing practice has become crucial.


PURPOSE
To measure histological changes in the optical and transition zones of rabbit corneas treated with excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) to correct hyperopia and to estimate the optical effect of these changes on the induced power profile.

METHODS
Corrections of +10.00 D were ablated by means of a Questek 2620 excimer laser and rotational masks on 8 rabbit eyes. On frozen sections of 4 stained corneas and historesine sections of 4 other corneas, stromal, new stromal, epithelial, and total corneal thickness were measured on four significant locations. The optical effect of each parameter on the axial power profile was estimated in a computer simulation.

RESULTS
Mean stromal regrowth was 50% of the ablated tissue. Deposition was lenticular and could account for -5.00 D of regression. Stromal thickening without regrowth occurred in the optical zone and over the shoulder, causing augmentation instead of regression. The epithelium thickened 20% in the mid-transition zone and was thinner over the shoulder, accounting for 1.00 D of regression and an increase in asphericity in the optical zone.

CONCLUSION
In these hyperopic rabbit PRK corneas, stromal regrowth and epithelial hyperplasia were lenticular and contributed to regression of the optical effect. Stromal swelling around interrupted collagen lamellae seemed to occur, augmenting the optical effect. The epithelium filters high spatial frequency stromal irregularities.