Levels of atmospheric oxygen (O2) have increased from <2% of the present atmospheric level (PAL) to values similar to the PAL during the Neoproterozoic. This is likely to have resulted in significant changes in redox conditions in the oceans. The aim of this study is to provide new constraints on redox conditions in shallow seawater during the Neoproterozoic by analysis of the rare earth element (REE) concentration and chromium (Cr) isotopic composition of marine carbonates. To this end, a new method for δ53Cr analysis in low concentration samples has been developed. In addition, the Cr isotopic composition of modern and Phanerozoic carbonates, and seawater, have been determined to provide new constraints of the environmental behaviour of Cr isotopes.

Modern seawater is characterised by heavy δ53Cr values (+0.55-1.55%) relative to the continental crust (-0.12%), which indicates that Cr isotopes are fractionated during oxidative weathering. Importantly, the Cr isotopic composition of modern carbonates, precipitated in shallow water, is within the range of seawater. This suggests that fractionation of Cr isotopes during carbonate precipitation is minimal, and carbonates should provide a record of seawater δ53Cr. Carbonate samples of Phanerozoic age also have high δ53Cr values (0.737-1.994%), consistent with oxidative
weathering on the continents at this time.

Most of the Neoproterozoic carbonates have significantly lower δ53Cr values than the modern and Phanerozoic carbonates. However, oolitic limestones deposited just prior to the first Cryogenian glaciations, have higher δ53Cr (+0.571-1.004%). Together, the δ53Cr and REE data suggest that the operation of the Cr cycle was significantly different in the Neoproterozoic. Changes in δ53Cr reflect either a shift in the relative importance of riverine and hydrothermal sources, and/or changes in levels of atmospheric O2 . Modelling indicates that shallow waters were either dysoxic or suboxic during the Cryogenian, and levels of atmospheric O2 must have been less than 30-40% PAL.


Regulators have sought since the 2008 financial crisis to further strengthen the financial system. Yet a core source of weakness and a powerful additional instrument for strengthening the financial system persists unchanged and absent from the regulatory agenda — namely the relentless impact of the corporate tax on the choice between risky debt and safer equity. The tax penalty for equity and the concomitant boost for debt undermines the capital adequacy efforts that have been central to the post-crisis reform agenda. Yet this result is not inevitable.By repurposing tax tools used elsewhere in the world, we show how the safety-undermining impact of the current corporate tax can be ended or even reversed. The best trade-off of goals and practical potential is, first, to reduce the corporate income tax burden on bank equity levels above the required minimum, by according an imputed deduction for the cost of equity capital above the regulatory-required amount. This tax benefit can then, second, be made revenue-neutral to the finances by offsetting it, such as by decreasing the tax deductibility of the riskiest classes of financial system liabilities. That offsetting tax rate can, we show, be quite low, because the financial system's debt base is wide while its equity base is narrow. Standard bank regulation is command-and-control style. Regulators order what banks can and cannot do; banks resist, lobby to reverse and undermine the commands, find transactional alternatives, and distort their behavior when approaching regulatory constraints. Regulators cannot in many areas know as much as the regulated; with a tax instrument, they do not need to know as much. Existing cross-country and cross-state data show the tremendous potential from this reform to incentivize more safely capitalized banks. The magnitude of the safety benefit should rival the size of all the post-crisis regulation to date. Thus the main thesis we bring forward is not a small or technical claim but a call for a major shift in regulatory style.It is time to change how we tax banks.


BACKGROUND
Ankle sprain are one of the most common injuries in sports and public health in general. Cross-slope may creat a risk for ankle sprain and are commonly found in both urban and rural environment.

OBJECTIVE
The purpose of study was to clarify the environmental risk factor that can be easily occurred ankle sprain during walking (stance phase) and one leg standing at various ramp environment.

METHODS
Participants was measured muscle activation on peroneus longus during both conditions (walk across the ramp and one leg stand in the transverse direction) of seven different angle (0∘, 2∘, 5∘, 10∘, 15∘, 20∘, 25∘). The measured data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA to investigate the effect of muscle activation on the each condition.

RESULTS
Ankle sprain can be easily occurred when cross walk and one-leg stand on a ramp from higher than 10∘, and highest risk was angle of 25∘ or more. As a people with peroneus longus weakness walks a ramp, the ramp angle has a cross relationship with the sprain on the ankle.

CONCLUSIONS
If people with peroneus longus weakness walk on the more than 10∘ of ramp angle, they will need a lot of attention for prevent ankle sprain.


To what extent should investors be concerned about the personal behavior of the top managers of the companies they invest in? In a study published recently in the Journal of Financial Economics, the authors shed light on this question by examining the market responses to revelations of over 300 cases of personal misconduct by senior executives and directors, including episodes of domestic violence, DUIs, extramarital affairs, and public dishonesty. In so doing, they provide suggestive evidence of how "tone at the top" can affect corporate policy by way of its culture and how a manager's reputation spills over to that of the firm.The authors' findings show that the companies employing these executives experienced meaningful financial and product market penalties following the disclosure of their unethical behavior. Following the revelation of an indiscretion, investors suffered immediate losses in shareholder wealth—on the order of 4% in cases involving CEOs—and the company's stock continued to underperform during the ensuing year, with total losses amounting to 12 %–14% of firm value. Such companies also tended to lose joint venture partnerships and major customers following these scandals, thereby forcing them into lower‐margin lines of business. The authors also find that such companies were more likely later to commit fraud and be targeted in shareholder class‐action lawsuits.The offending managers themselves were disciplined by the labor market for their missteps in that they faced a higher likelihood of dismissal, and those who were retained earned around $400,000 less pay following the indiscretion. Nevertheless, it is notable that a majority of these executives were not fired, implying that their supervising boards felt they contributed more value to the firm than the damage they caused through their off‐the‐job behavior. Interestingly, the board members supervising these executives were also held accountable for managerial indiscretions in that they received less shareholder support in director elections following the scandals.


High rock slopes are a kind of very common geological bodies to be being the environment or bearing layers of engineering structures in southwestern China. They show some distinguished characteristics being different from general rock slopes because of the special geological background in this area. According to the data from a lot of field investigation, they can be characterized as super height, high geostress and complicated deformation and failure evolution process. The author gives an index called as over high ratio to describe the environment effect from the slope height. A theoretical geostress distribution model in deep valley is established, which reveals the "hump" pattern of geostress in high rock slopes. From the view of dynamic mechanism, a three-stage model is suggested to describe the dynamic evolution process such as epigenetic recreation, time-dependent deformation and failure. Furthermore, the author gives out the transferring conditions of different stages and basic laws of vertical classification of dynamic process development in deep valleys.


When concrete is worked in cold weather, the methods of using hot air, water and aggregate heating, accelerators are used to prevent early frosting and to improve early strength. But these methods raise problems such as implementation difficulty, high cost, and energy losses. Among the available cold weathering methods, accelerator method is the most economical but with the drawbacks of rapid setting and insufficient workability in the initial hydration stage. Therefore, the tablet method usually used for pharmaceutical field was applied to the accelerator method to compare the controlled reaction time of the new and old accelerator method. Based on the test results, physical and mechanical properties of concrete were tested and the possibility of delaying initial reactions to increase the total reaction time was evaluated. The results showed that when both accelerators and tablet were used, setting-time decreased. Physical properties of concrete were optimal for tablet 0.5% and 1.0%. Also, accelerator 0.5%, tablet 0.5% and 1.0% showed good early strengths.


Guillaume-Benjamin-Amand Duchenne was one of the most ingenious minds of the 19th century. By combining physics and a thorough knowledge of medicine, he described several neuromuscular disorders; his work also developed physiology of human facial expression and psychology. Born in 1806 in Boulogne-sur-Mer, he studied medicine in Paris and became a physician in 1831. Duchenne conducted many experiments using electricity as therapeutical and diagnostic tool. In 1850, he published his first results regarding the connection between facial expression and electrical stimulation of muscles. Duchenne studied paralysis and several myopathies. He created a harpoon that could be used to extract sample of muscle tissue and this instrument was a predecessor of modern biopsies. Duchenne wrote three major books summarizing his research: "De l'électrisation localisée", "Mecanisme de la physionomie humaine" and "Physiologie des mouvements". Duchenne died in 1875 without having yet obtained respect of the medical community; later, his reputation arouse evidently.


The detection and description of features is one basic technique for many visual robot navigation systems in both indoor and outdoor environments. Matched features from two or more images are used to solve navigation problems, e.g., by establishing spatial relationships between different poses in which the robot captured the images. Feature detection and description is particularly challenging in outdoor environments, and widely used grayscale methods lead to high numbers of outliers. In this paper, we analyze the use of color information for keypoint detection and description. We consider grayscale and color-based detectors and descriptors, as well as combinations of them, and evaluate their matching performance. We demonstrate that the use of color information for feature detection and description markedly increases the matching performance.


This paper treats an intelligent and intuitive interface for the construction of 3D composite objects. The manual construction of 3D composite objects takes a long time because 3D objects have six degrees of freedom (DOF) and are difficult to be controlled by using a standard 2D input device, e.g., a mouse device. To deal with this problem, the authors have already proposed an automatic 3D object layout system based on contact constraints. In this paper, the authors propose manipulation guide functionality based on the same contact constraints for the construction of 3D composite objects. Since this manipulation guide functionality works with DeMoCa, a video based hand motion tracking and hand posture recognition system already proposed by the same authors, it provides an intuitive interface.


A novel watermarking method is presented in which the data embedded into a 3D model is extracted from an arbitrary 2D view by using a perspective projective invariant. The data is embedded into 3D positions of selected interest points on a 3D mesh. Determining the interest point modification vectors for ensuring watermark detection constitutes an important part of the proposed method. Different watermark embedding schemes based on optimization of the watermark function are implemented and evaluated. Another important contribution of the proposed method is selection of the interest points to ensure that they remain detectable after data embedding and rendering. A novel method to identify such repeatable interest points is also presented. Simulations are performed on random 3D point sets as well as realistic 3D models. The results indicate that data embedding in 3D and detection in 2D promises a new direction in watermarking research.


Misreadings of Derrida's Of Grammatology were prevalent from the time of its debut (Foucault, Deleuze and Guattari), up to the present day (Speculative Realism and New Materialism). For fifty years, Derrida's generalised textuality has been misread as though he meant there was nothing outside text in the traditional sense. This misreading always serves to re-institute notions of linear temporal progress, either among self-styled avant-garde authors who would like to break with past traditions, or among self-styled conservatives who hope to repeat them. If the binaries that divide these works from past texts are undecidable, the ground for such temporal progress disappears, along with the divisions by which we create linear narratives of history. The misreading of Derrida is an attempt to exorcise this undecidability and regain the intellectual and market value of novelty or repetition.


The solution proposed by successive Australian governments to the challenges of an ageing demographic is to foster economic growth through a policy framework designed to increase the Three Ps (3Ps) – productivity, participation and population. Raising the skill level of a population has become the primary objective of national economic policies to increase productivity, yet current understandings of the optimal use of skills are limited and based on a relatively weak knowledge base.
This thesis explores whether the existing complement of education and skills held by Australians is being effectively utilised in the Australian labour market to determine the existence of any foregone productivity growth. The return on human capital investment in the form of skill utilisation is an indicator of potential successful life outcomes for an individual over their life course, and is also as an indicator for macro-level productivity performance and for economic and social well-being.
Using a conceptual framework based on human capital theory and principles of the life course, this thesis develops an indicator of skill utilisation which enables analysis of the Australian population aged 25 to 64 years of age with post-school qualifications. The indicator also enables the type of skill mis-utilisation to be identified; either field of study mismatch (skill mismatch), over-qualification or under-qualification (education mismatch) or a combination of skill mismatch and education mismatch. Skill utilisation is examined by occupation, labour force status, educational attainment, field of study and sex.
Using demographic and life course variables, the thesis explains how factors such as ageing, the presence of a partner, and/or the presence of a child affect skill utilisation over the lifespan, how the experience differs for men and women, and how they engage with work.
The thesis finds that just two in five Australians are effectively utilising their complement of skills in the workforce. In other words, three in five Australians are not maximising their potential successful life outcomes, compromising productivity performance at the macro level. Those employed full time experienced the highest level of skill utilisation – predominantly men. Skill utilisation was the lowest for those employed part time (and not employed at all) – predominantly women. Notably, those employed part time were twice as likely to experience a combination of field of study mismatch and over-qualification as those employed full time. Regardless of human capital accumulation, it is the presence of a partner and/or the presence of a child and the associated level of engagement with the workforce, different for men and women, which is ultimately correlated with the level of skill utilisation experienced by each population group.
The high level of under-utilisation of skills in Australia suggests further investment in education and skills will not automatically equate to improved productivity. Targeted skill investment and the improvement of skill utilisation, as well as workplace reform, are viable, complementary policy alternatives for increasing productivity, and subsequently economic growth, in response to the challenges of an ageing population.


Beauregard biofortified sweet potato is a tuberous root with a high content of carotenoids whose consumption can bring beneficial effects on human health related to the biological actions of these substances. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the acceptance of cake made with sweet potato biofortified with carotenoids by school children enrolled in a school of the municipal education network of the city of Teresina PI. The sweet cake containing biofortified potato (Beauregard) (PC) was compared with standard sweet wheat flour (WC) cake formulation. The PC and WC products and the Beauregard potato were analyzed for centesimal composition (moisture, ashes, proteins, lipids and carbohydrates) and total carotenoid content. Acceptance of PC was assessed by means of an acceptance test with a hedonic scale of five points applied to 100 children from 08 to 10 years of age. The evaluation of the centesimal composition showed protein content corresponding to 2.1% in WC and 3.57% in PC, and of lipids of 5.16% in WC and 8.95% in PC. Regarding the moisture content, WC presented 32.5% and PC 38.44%. The content of fixed minerals (ash) found in formulations was 1.9% and 1.26%, respectively, in WC and PC. The carotenoid content (μg of βcarotene.g -1 ) was significantly higher (p <0.05) in the biofortified potato (3,200.01 ± 0.02) and in the PC formulations (3,666.17 ± 2.55) and WC (3,066.53 ± 1.88) for common sweet potatoes (2.200,23 ± 1.63). In the five-point facial hedonistic acceptance test, the formulation containing biofortified potato (PC) obtained a significantly higher score (p <0.05) (4.24 ± 0.93) when compared to the WC formulation (3.75 ± 1.19). The biofortified potato and the cake containing the biofortified potato presented some characteristics related to the centesimal composition similar to those found in WC and the content of carotenoids in PC larger than those of WC. Because sweet cake is a food product, generally well accepted by children and adults, PC's greater acceptance of WC suggests its promising potential for consumption by the population.


American paleontology faces a growing schism. Many researchers say that a brisk commercial trade is swallowing up America9s fossil riches, as dinosaurs and other specimens, some scientifically valuable, are sold as decoration. Commercial collectors counter that there are plenty of fossils to go around, and that their business is in keeping with American traditions of free enterprise and property rights.


This article is a report on a study designed with experienced clinicians to explore the question of spirituality, religion and practice. Using eight focus groups from around the United States, the data provided support for the importance of theoretically grounded practitioners who have integrated spiritual and religious practices into their personal and professional lives. The participants' discussions provide strong support for exploring spirituality and religious beliefs in the context of the ways clients make meaning of life circumstances. An interesting finding is the importance of paying attention to the place of spirituality and religion in clinical practice.


1 The absorption, metabolism and excretion of the new analgesic meptazinol has been studied in male volunteers following oral and intravenous administration of a mixture of the [1-14C] and [7-3H] labelled compound. 2 After oral dosage, absorption from the gastrointestinal tract was rapid as evidenced by the early attainment of peak plasma radioactivity levels and near complete as shown by only small amounts of radioactivity recovered in the faeces. 3 Although the absorption of the drug was good, the systemic bioavailability was relatively low. Plasma levels of the unchanged drug remained below the limit of detection (20 ng/ml) after an oral dose of 200 mg. However, after intravenous administration of only 20 mg the peak plasma level was approximately 58 ng/ml. Subsequent elimination was rapid and proceeded in an apparently mono exponential manner with a half-life of approximately 2 hours. 4 Excretion of radioactivity was rapid irrespective of the dosage route and took place chiefly via the urine. Over 60% of the administered radioactivity was recovered in the 0-24 h urine collection. Less than 10% of the administered dose was excreted in the faeces. 5 Less than 5% of the drugs was excreted unchanged. The major metabolite appeared to be the glucuronide conjugate of the parent drug. No evidence was found for N-demethylation of the compound. A minor metabolite of the drug which accounted for approximately 7% of the recovered radioactivity has been tentatively identified as 6-ethyl - 6 - (3-hydroxyphenyl) - 1 - methyl-hexahydroazepin - (2H)-2-ONE.


1. Histamine or mast cells are involved in mammalian ovary function. Their role in the avian ovary is not known. In the present study mast cell distribution in the ovary of the domestic fowl was studied. 2. Mast cells were distributed throughout the ovary, both in the stroma of medullary and cortical regions as well as in the thecae of normal and atretic follicles. In the stroma, mast cells were especially abundant in the area just below the germinal epithelium (GE) and followed the contours of the GE. 3. In the follicles, mast cells were more obvious in the thecae of small non-yolky follicles, whereas they were compressed and scattered in the larger yolky follicles. They were more frequently seen in the theca externa than in the theca interna and in their ultrastructure showed characteristic mast cell granules. 4. Some of the atretic follicles showed increased mast cells in their thecae. Postovulatory follicles had very few mast cells. 5. The possible role of the mast cells in the ovarian activity of domestic fowl is discussed.


The rapid advances in multi-core architecture and the predicted emergence of 100-core personal computers bring new appeal to volunteer computing. The availability of massive compute power under-utilized by personal computing tasks is a blessing to volunteer computing customers. Meanwhile the reduced performance impact of running a foreign workload, thanks to the increased hardware parallelism, makes volunteering resources more acceptable to PC owners. In addition, we suspect that with aggressive volunteer computing, which assigns foreign tasks to active computers (as opposed to idle ones in the common practice), we can obtain significant energy savings. In this paper, we assess the efficacy of such aggressive volunteer computing model by evaluating the energy saving and performance impact of co-executing resource-intensive foreign workloads with native personal computing tasks. Our results from executing 30 native-foreign workload combinations suggest that aggressive volunteer computing can achieve an average energy saving of around 52% compared to running the foreign workloads on high-end cluster nodes, and around 33% compared to using the traditional, more conservative volunteer computing model. We have also observed highly varied performance interference behavior between the workloads, and evaluated the effectiveness of foreign workload intensity throttling.


The Operation and Maintenance (O&M) of small towns water supply systems have been neglected in the past in Ghana. This has affected the functionality of many water supply systems and impacted negatively on the well-being of beneficiary communities. There is the need to redefine the roles and responsibilities of the various actors involved in operation and maintenance. The government, because of heavy financial burdens and efficiency problems, is gradually changing its role of "provider of services" to that of "facilitator of processes". Communities, therefore, have increasing responsibilities, not only in the operation and maintenance of their water supply schemes, but also in the financial management of these systems. Some experiences and best practices that have been learned are shared and recommendations made to enhance O&M.


Over the last two decades, human brain functions have attracted a significant attention among researchers across a broad engineering spectrum. The most important field among the others, is Brain Computer Interface (BCI) which is a direct functional interaction between a human brain and external devices. In the past, the set-up for BCI research is costly and complex. In this paper, a cost effective way of implementing and designing a demonstration platform for BCI research is presented, featuring a low-cost hardware implementation based on an open-source electronics platform Arduino ® with the view of being compatible with MATLAB® and Simulink ® , and a commercial non-invasive electroencephalogram (EEG) recording device, Emotive ® . Due to the compatibility with MATLAB ® and Simulink ® , and the chosen EEG logging device, the developed hardware and software platform can work seamlessly with several widely accepted BCI and EEG signal processing open- source software within the BCI research community, such as EEGLAB and OpenViBE. With the two-way communication and hardware-in-the-loop concept embedded within the design process, the developed platform can be tuned in an online fashion, which bears the long-term objective of investigating a holistic human-in-the-loop feedback control mechanism so that human and machines can collaborate in a more intelligent and natural way. The presented approach can be beneficial for BCI practitioners to set up their first inexpensive test rig and carry out fast prototyping in related activities.


This study used small mammal capture-recapture methods within a mosaic of side-by-side prairie reconstructions to evaluate the relationship between floristic diversity, the effect of prescribed burns, and habitat use. This unique 10.4 ha study of opportunity consisted of multiple plots of three habitat types: low floristic diversity exotic cool-season grasses (CSG), low floristic diversity grass plantings dominated by native warm-season grasses (WSG), and floristically diverse, mixed prairie (MP) plantings with > 45 species of forbs. Data for calculating small mammal abundances (new captures/trap effort) were determined by trapping in August following spring burns in 2002 and 2004, and unburned years in 2003 and 2005. Fire-positive species (meadow jumping mice, Peromyscus spp.) preferred fields with a more open understory (MP plantings), and a reduced thatch thickness and leaf litter layer (burned fields). Fire-negative species (meadow voles, northern short-tailed shrews) populated all restorations (CSG, WSG, MP plantings) but only during the unburned years when the fields provided a high density of vegetative cover. Even though the distinct floristic diversity found within the three reconstruction types influenced small mammal foraging preferences, the effect of semiannual burns on floristic structures had a noteworthy impact on their distributions. The results of this study demonstrate an important take home message for restoration practitioners: techniques that promote differences in structural characteristics are just as important as creating plantings with high floristic diversity.


The silhouette algorithm developed by Canny (1988, 1993) is a general motion planning algorithm which is known to have the best complexity of all of the general and complete algorithms. The authors present a symbolic-numeric version of the algorithm. This version does not require the symbolic computation of the determinants of resultant matrices, and can work on floating point arithmetic. Though its combinatorial complexity remains the same, but its algebraic complexity has been improved significantly which is very important towards its implementation. Several numerical examples are also presented.


BACKGROUND
In many countries women are given their own case notes to carry during pregnancy so as to increase their sense of control and satisfaction with their care.

OBJECTIVES
To evaluate the effects of giving women their own case notes to carry during pregnancy.

SEARCH STRATEGY
We searched the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group trials register (January 2004).

SELECTION CRITERIA
Randomised controlled trials of women given their own case notes to carry during pregnancy.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
Two reviewers independently applied the inclusion criteria and assessed study quality. One reviewer extracted data from the included studies using a standard form (checked by second reviewer). We assessed estimates of effect using relative risk with 95% confidence intervals.

MAIN RESULTS
Three trials were included (n = 675 women). Women carrying their own notes were more likely to feel in control (relative risk (RR) 1.56, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.18 to 2.06). Women's satisfaction: one trial reported more women in the case notes group (66/95) were satisfied with their care than the control group (58/102) (RR 1.22, 95% CI 0.99 to 1.52); two trials reported no difference in women's satisfaction (one trial provided no data and one trial used a 17 point satisfaction scale). More women in the case notes group wanted to carry their own notes in a subsequent pregnancy (RR 1.79, 95% CI 1.43 to 2.24). Overall, the pooled estimate of the two trials (n = 347) that reported on the risk of notes lost or left at home was not significant (RR 0.38, 95% CI 0.04 to 3.84). There was no difference for health related behaviours (cigarette smoking and breastfeeding), analgesia needs during labour, miscarriage, stillbirth and neonatal deaths. More women in the case notes group had operative deliveries (RR 1.83, 95% CI 1.08 to 3.12).

REVIEWERS' CONCLUSIONS
The three trials are small, and not all of them reported on all outcomes. The results suggest that there are both potential benefits (increased maternal control and satisfaction during pregnancy, increased availability of antenatal records during hospital attendance) and harms (more operative deliveries). Importantly, all of the trials report that more women in the case notes group would prefer to hold their antenatal records in another pregnancy. There is insufficient evidence on health related behaviours (smoking and breastfeeding) and clinical outcomes. It is important to emphasise that this review shows a lack of evidence of benefit rather than evidence of no benefit.


Village Fund Allocation is one form of financial relations between levels of government ie financial relations between levels of government is the financial relationship between the district government with the village government denagn aim for improving aspects of development both physical and non physical infrastructure in order to encourage the level of community participation for empowerment and improvement level his life.The funds should be used and allocated accordingly in accordance with applicable laws and regulations established by the Indonesian government. However, there are still many traditions of the government to misuse funds by allocating funds improperly, minimizing the targeted budget and even cutting the budgeted funds and impacting the achievement of the objectives of the Village Fund Allocation.The purpose of this research is (1) to analyze the factors influencing the determination of budget allocation of village funds (ADD) in Kab. Banyuasin (2) to understand the readiness of the village government in the self-management of the Village Fund Allocation. This research uses qualitative research methods with descriptive analysis using data collection method with study of documentation in the form of secondary data of Branch Kab. Banyuasin No. 1 and No. 2 of 2016 on the Procedures for Distribution and Stipulation of Village Funds For each Village in Banyuasin District FY 2016.The results showed that the determination of budget allocation of village funds (ADD) Kab. Banyuasin is structured based on several factors such as: (1) The Value of Village Fund Allocation is affected by 2 factors (2) The basic use of the PMK legal reference. 49 (PMK.07 / 2016) on Procedures for Appropriation, Distribution, Use, Monitoring and Evaluation of Village Funds, (3) Broadly speaking, villages have followed the rules of village legislation (4) The Government should conduct inspection and monitoring and evaluation in the implementation of Accountability and Transparency of village financial management and minimize the occurrence of ADD corruption in village government.


A perioperative patient blood management (PBM) educational intervention was implemented for first year postgraduate doctors (interns) at the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital (RBWH) following identification of a perioperative PBM training requirement. This quality improvement activity evaluated the effectiveness of this educational intervention in improving intern knowledge of perioperative PBM principles. A 15-question perioperative PBM focused multiple choice questionnaire developed from information attained from comprehensive, evidence and consensus-based guidelines regarding PBM practice was distributed to interns immediately before a compulsory perioperative PBM educational intervention and then again 5 weeks later. The perioperative PBM educational intervention was delivered every 10 weeks (five interventions in total) to a different group of interns each time. Statistical analysis determined significance between mean questionnaire score before and after the intervention. The mean pre-intervention score for correctly answered questions was 7/15 (SD 2.73) and mean post-intervention score was 9/15 (SD 2.99) (p=0.02). Categorisation of questions into core domains of perioperative PBM demonstrated intern scores for correctly answered questions improved in all domains following the educational intervention. Perioperative PBM education delivered through a dedicated intervention aimed to improve knowledge is associated with objective evidence of educational benefits for interns at RBWH. It is an effective strategy to enact PBM governance and bestow clinical guideline knowledge. This is important given the global health sector's challenge to improve patient outcomes despite increasingly restricted funding and pressure on doctors to devote more time to service and less to teaching.


This study exposes the need for a revised new model for the History of the Pacific to dispel two ideas presented in the topic's literature; the first being that the eastern rim (Western Hemisphere) of the Pacific Basin had no substantial interaction with the Pacific Ocean prior to the arrival of European explorers, and the second that the only method to write a history of the Pacific World is to focus on the trans-Pacific interactions in this planet's largest body of water. Due to the complexity of this endeavor, the theoretical foundation for this research is the classical model on Mediterranean History—the first waterbody-centered regional framework—after the historian Fernand Braudel, in The Mediterranean and the Mediterranean World in the Age of Philip II (1975), as well as the theoretical schemes of the historians Peregrine Horden and Nicholas Purcell, as found in The Corrupting Sea: A Study of Mediterranean History (2000).


We present the discovery of two galaxy overdensities in the Hubble Space Telescope UDF: a proto-cluster, HUDFJ0332.4-2746.6 at z = 1.84 ± 0.01 ?> , and a group, HUDFJ0332.5-2747.3 at z = 1.90 ?> ± 0.01. Assuming viralization, the velocity dispersion of HUDFJ0332.4-2746.6 implies a mass of M 200 = ( 2.2 ± 1.8 ) × 10 14 M ☉ ?> , consistent with the lack of extended X-ray emission. Neither overdensity shows evidence of a red sequence. About 50 % ?> of their members show interactions and/or disturbed morphologies, which are signatures of merger remnants or disk instability. Most of their ETGs have blue colors and show recent star formation. These observations reveal for the first time large fractions of spectroscopically confirmed star-forming blue ETGs in proto-clusters at z ≈ 2 ?> . These star-forming ETGs are most likely among the progenitors of the quiescent population in clusters at more recent epochs. Their mass–size relation is consistent with that of passive ETGs in clusters at z ∼ 0.7 − 1.5 ?> . If these galaxies are the progenitors of cluster ETGs at these lower redshifts, their size would evolve according to a similar mass-size relation. It is noteworthy that quiescent ETGs in clusters at z = 1.8 − 2 ?> also do not show any significant size evolution over this redshift range, contrary to field ETGs. The ETG fraction is ≲ 50 % ?> , compared to the typical quiescent ETG fraction of ≈ 80 % ?> in cluster cores at z < 1 ?> . The fraction, masses, and colors of the newly discovered ETGs imply that other cluster ETGs will be formed/accreted at a later time.


India is the largest producer of mango in the world and disposal of the huge amount of peel generated as a waste, is a problem. In this work the potential of using this waste for developing food packaging film that can extend the shelf of chicken packed in it was investigated. The effect of four extracting solvents and two extraction techniques on the antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of mango peel (MP) from four popular Indian mango varieties (Alphonso, Kesar, Langra, and Badami) were investigated. Best bioactive properties were observed in Langra variety extracted by sonication in 80% acetone followed by in 70% ethanol. These two extracts were used to prepare functional food packaging films using poly vinyl alcohol (PVA), cyclodextrin, and gelatin as the polymers. Composite films containing MP had good barrier to UV light. Tensile strength of film containing 70% ethanol extract of MP was higher than that of control films. Antioxidant activity and antibacterial activity (against both gram-positive and gram-negative organisms) was observed in films containing MP. Minced chicken meat packed in films not containing MP spoiled within 3 days while that packed in MP containing films had a shelf life of more than 12 days during chilled storage. PVA-cyclodextrin-gelatin film containing Langra mango peel extract is a viable option for development of active food packaging that can be used as a primary packaging material.

Practical applications
Active packaging is an emerging field in the food industry which has the potential to reduce the use of synthetic additives and polymers. Mango peel is a waste produced in large quantities by the mango processing industry and is rich in bioactive compounds. This can be used as the active component in biodegradable films that can extend the shelf life of the food packed in it. Thus the use of both synthetic additives and plastics can be minimized.


This research investigates the effects of across-consumer price comparisons on perceived price fairness as a function of culture. Collectivist (Chinese) consumers are more sensitive to in-group versus out-group differences than individualist (U.S.) consumers. The collectivist perspective orients consumers toward the in-group and heightens concerns about "face" (i.e., status earned in a social network) that arise from in-group comparisons. Process evidence for the causal role of cultural differences derives from manipulated self-construal and measurement of the emotional role of shame evoked by face concerns. Finally, in a robustness test, an alternative operationalization of the in-group/out-group distinction extends the findings to the context of firm relationships.


Women make significant decisions during desperate situations and even choose to do odd jobs to care for their families. Particularly Indian women put an end to their true identity to care for their children. India is known for its varied language and cultural practices. Different languages are spoken across the country, their culture differs from state to state, and their customs play a vital role with regard to religion. They worship different Gods, yet they remain united which is why it is called the country of 'Unity in Diversity. Despite the differences, all Indian women have certain common featured in them. Chastity is blended in the blood of every Indian woman. They tend to protect it throughout their lifetime. But unfortunately, some women are pushed to the position where they have to sell their chastity to provide for the family's sake. Even though the husband or the father is regarded as the primary breadwinner, today in so many Indian families women take up the family responsibility. They even choose to take up odd jobs such as surrogates and sex workers. This paper deals with the bottled-up emotions of one such woman and the consequences of the choice she made to take care of her family. The paper also argues the interconnection between the feminist concepts that are taken up for analysis.


Genetic analyses of marine population structure often find only slight geo- graphic differentiation in species with high dispersal potential. Interpreting the significance of this slight genetic signal has been difficult because even mild genetic structure implies very limited demographic exchange between populations, but slight differentiation could also be due to sampling error. Examination of genetic isolation by distance, in which close populations are more similar than distant ones, has the potential to increase confidence in the significance of slight genetic differentiation. Simulations of one-dimensional stepping stone populations with particular larval dispersal regimes shows that isolation by distance is most obvious when comparing populations separated by 2-5 times the mean larval dispersal distance. Available data on fish and invertebrates can be calibrated with this simulation approach and suggest mean dispersal distances of 25-150 km. Design of marine reserve systems requires an understanding of larval transport in and out of reserves, whether reserves will be self-seeding, whether they will accumulate recruits from surrounding exploited areas, and whether reserve networks can exchange recruits. Direct measurements of mean larval dispersal are needed to understand connectivity in a reserve system, but such measurements are extremely difficult. Genetic patterns of isolation by distance have the potential to add to direct measurement of larval dispersal distance and can help set the appropriate geographic scales on which marine reserve systems will function well.


Abstract Early placental insulin-like protein (INSL4 or EPIL) is a member of the insulin superfamily of hormones, which is highly expressed in the placenta. We have confirmed this at term and shown it to be expressed by the maternal decidua. Although an abundance of locally acting growth factors are produced within the uterus during pregnancy, we hypothesized that INSL4 plays an important role in fetal and placental growth. We have demonstrated with cell lines and primary cells that it has a growth-inhibitory effect by causing apoptosis and loss of cell viability. We used primary amniotic epithelial cells for flow cytometry to show that INSL4 caused apoptosis, which was dose-related and significant (P < 0.05) at 50 ng/ml. This was confirmed by measurement of the nuclear matrix protein in the media. In comparison, relaxin treatment (up to 200 ng/ml) had no effect on apoptosis. The addition of INSL4 (3–30 ng/ml) also caused a loss of cell viability, although it had no effect on the numbers of cells at different phases of the cell cycle. Placental apoptosis is an important process in both normal placental development and in fetal growth restriction. Therefore, an in vivo clinical correlate was sought in fraternal twins exhibiting discordant growth. Expression of the INSL4 gene was doubled in the placenta of the growth-restricted twin compared to the normally grown sibling, suggesting that it may be linked to a higher level of apoptosis and loss of cell viability and, therefore, that it may contribute to fetal growth restriction.


We documented a significant mortality event affecting a southwestern pond turtle (Actinemys pallida ) population living in a lake in southern California, USA. The area around the lake was impacted by a large wildland fire in 2013 that occurred during a protracted drought. As the mortality event was still unfolding, we collected data in 2014 on water quality, demographic structure, and short-term survivorship of the population. Water quality was poor with low levels of dissolved oxygen and high salinity of up to 45.90 ppt. Many turtles were severely emaciated and coated with a pale mineralized layer on their shells and skin. Estimated survival rate was low leading to a projected 90% decline in 134 days and a high probability of extirpation within a year. The lake was dry in September 2015 with no evidence of live turtles. Necropsies and low volumetric body condition indices suggested death by starvation. Although this semi-aquatic species has the ability to aestivate in upland habitats during periods of low water or move to other nearby water bodies, it is unlikely that many were able to do so because of their extremely poor condition and the severity of the drought conditions throughout the area.


Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a severe lung disease with unknown aetiology, is thought to have an important genetic component. Single nucleotide polymorphism, C5507G, of the complement receptor 1 (CR1) gene, which affects the number of CR1 molecules on erythrocytes, has been associated with susceptibility to IPF in a single European population. To replicate this finding, 53 Czech IPF patients with 203 Czech healthy control subjects and 70 English IPF patients with 149 English controls were investigated. In both populations, there were no significant differences in distribution of CR1 C5507G variants between IPF patients and their appropriate control groups. In conclusion, the association of the CR1 C5507G polymorphism with susceptibility to IPF was not reproducible in Czech and English populations.


Millions of players are participating in Massive Multiplayer Online Games (MMOGs). In addition to adventuring, socializing and exploring, MMOG players have created vibrant economies within their online virtual worlds. Enterprising players convert their virtual property into real-world currency through online auction sites. As these games have grown in popularity, business simulation researchers have been designing economic models that support many players accessing the content online. The present paper traces the convergence of these two styles of game, and identifies remaining simulation issues that need to be addressed before a Massive Multiplayer Online Business Simulation (MMOBS) becomes feasible.


This study reviews existing and potential applications of high-dimensional data analytics in the fields of structural health monitoring and non-destructive evaluation. Contrary to the high potential of these methods, the implemented applications in structural health monitoring and non-destructive evaluation topics are limited. In addition, with the ever-increasing development of measurement equipment, the necessity of using these methods is enhancing. In this paper, videos captured by different non-destructive evaluation techniques are studied as an example of high-dimensional data. Thermal videos are used for automatic damage detection and localization. Particularly, thermal cameras are employed to find delamination zones in composite plates, commonly used in aircraft wings. Due to the high-dimensional intrinsic of videos, using conventional statistical methods raise theoretical and practical challenges. One of the solutions to overcome these challenges is implementing tensor-based data analysis to analyze videos. Two tensor factorization methods are presented and employed to localize the damage automatically. The results show that the recorded video can be represented by a few vectors, which easily extract the time variation and extent of the damage.


OBJECTIVES
The relationship between chronic heart failure (CHF) and insulin resistance (IR) has long been recognized. We examined the relationship of IR with left ventricular (LV) systolic and diastolic functions and functional capacity of CHF patients with metabolic syndrome.

STUDY DESIGN
The study included 50 nondiabetic CHF patients with metabolic syndrome (NYHA class I-III; 40 men, 10 women; mean age 60+/-10 years). Metabolic syndrome was diagnosed according to the AHA/NHLBI (American Heart Association/National Heart, Lung, Blood Institute) criteria. Insulin resistance was determined by the homeostasis model assessment (HOMA). Pulse-wave Doppler echocardiography and tissue Doppler imaging were performed to assess LV structure and functions.

RESULTS
Patients with LV ejection fraction <or=40% (n=25) had significantly higher NYHA functional class (p<0.001) compared to those with EF >40% (n=25). Fasting plasma insulin concentrations and HOMA-IR did not differ significantly in this respect. No significant differences were found in LV geometrical patterns, diastolic and systolic functions in patients with (HOMA >or=2.7; n=19) or without (HOMA <2.7; n=31) HOMA-IR. However, patients with HOMA-IR had a lower NYHA functional capacity (p<0.0001). HOMA-IR showed significant increases in parallel with NYHA functional class.

CONCLUSION
Our findings suggest that IR in CHF patients with metabolic syndrome is not associated with LV systolic and diastolic functions, but is strongly linked with worsening in NYHA functional capacity.


In this study, a novel data-driven framework is proposed to offer predictive analytics of wind turbine (WT) unexpected shut-downs based on data collected by the supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system. A new parameter, the remaining functional life (RFL), is introduced to describe the length of a period until the next WT shut-down and a binary target parameter is created based on the RFL for indicating impending unexpected WT shut-downs. A two-stage data-driven framework is proposed to develop the predictive analytics model of the unexpected WT shut-downs based on SCADA data. The first stage employs clustering methods to automatically cluster WT SCADA data through unsupervised learning. In the second stage, based on clusters of SCADA data, famous classification methods are applied to develop models for inferring the binary target parameter. To validate the proposed data-driven framework, case studies and intensive computational experiments are conducted. Computational results confirm that meaningful predictive analytics of unexpected WT shut-downs can be produced through the proposed data-driven framework.


A total of 44 patients with sequelae of spinal injuries in the periods of 2 months to 46 years were studied by X-ray, neurological and NMR techniques and divided into 3 groups: (1) those with open injuries, (2) those with closed injuries concurrent with compression of the spinal marrow and/or roots of the cauda equina; 3) those with closed injuries without compression. It was shown that NMR tomography enabled the status of the vertebral canal and spinal marrow to be assessed and indications for surgical interventions to be specified. Spinal compression may in later periods result in post-traumatic progressive myelopathy appeared as atrophy of the spinal marrow and myelomalacia (with cyst formation in 18% of cases). The syndrome of progressive myelopathy does not generally develop in patients without spinal compression.


In liquid scintillation measurement, counting rate is affected not only by the quenching but also by other causes such as nonhomogeneity of specimen and chemiluminescence. In this work, a method is presented to detect the affected samples automatically by using the double ratio technique of which standard curve is approximated with a polynomial of the external standard ratio. The deviation was calculated as the minimum distance from the standard curve to a plot of measured sample, which shows a discrepancy of a sample in the pulse height spectrum of beta-decay nuclides. When the discriminating level was set at 0.02 in the deviation, adsorption of specimen or chemiluminescence could be detected practically. Reliability of the presented method and setting of discriminating level were discussed.


This article outlines the results of a scoping exercise performed utilising an on-line questionnaire to gauge the breadth of reflective practice activity within the healthcare chaplaincy community in Scotland (those working 18.5 hours or more per week). The findings are thematically explored and some proposals for training, education and its evaluation are made.


A new method for retrieving harmonics from a covariance function is introduced. The method is based on a theorem of Caratheodory about the trigonometrical moment problem. The relation between this method and the ' maximum entropy ' spectral estimator is discussed, and the effect of a small addition of a noise component is investigated. A numerical example is discussed.


Introduction Lisa M. Osbeck and Barbara S. Held Part I. Intuition in Western Philosophy: 1. Intuition in Aristotle Robert Bolton 2. Ockham: intuition and knowledge Claude Panaccio 3. Descartes on intuition and ideas Peter Machamer and Marcus P. Adams 4. In a grain of sand: Spinoza's conception of intuition William Meehan 5. Kant: intuition and the synthetic a priori Daniel N. Robinson 6. Husserl's phenomenological theory of intuition Chad Kidd 7. Bergsonian intuition: getting back into duration Heath Massey 8. Intuition in mathematics Elijah Chudnoff 9. Intuition in contemporary philosophy Jonathan Jenkins Ichikawa Part II. Intuition in Psychology and Cognitive Science: 10. Expert intuition Edward T. Cokely and Adam Feltz 11. Intuition in strategic thinking William Duggan 12. Intuition in Kahneman and Tversky's Psychology of Rationality Thomas Sturm 13. Creative intuition: how eureka results from three neural mechanisms Paul Thagard 14. Becoming knowledge: cognitive and neural mechanisms that support scientific intuition Sanjay Chandrasekharan 15. Intuition in twenty-first-century moral psychology Roger Giner-Sorolla 16. Intuitions in the study of language: syntax and semantics Peter Slezak 17. Jung and Whitehead: an interplay of psychological and philosophical perspectives on rationality and intuition Farzad Mahootian and Tara-Marie Linne.


A 12-year-old girl reported to our institution for the evaluation of an asymptomatic swelling on her tongue since birth. The swelling was painless although patient complained of difficulty in mastication and speech. No history of pus discharge and bleeding was associated with the lesion. Intra – oral examination revealed multiple popular lesions on the right side of her dorsum surface of tongue few papules were blood filled and few lesions had the same colour as normal mucosa. (Figure-1) On palpation the lesions were soft, non–tender and pebbly. Based on clinical features a preliminary diagnosis of lymphangioma was considered. An incisional biopsy was done and the tissue was subjected to processing and staining by haematoxylin and eosin stains. Histopathological evaluation of the tissue revealed numerous dilated lymphatic channels which were lined by single layer of endothelial cells with flattened to ovoid nuclei, filled by lymph and occasional inflammatory cells. (Figure-2) These dilated vessels were located just beneath the epithelium with no or little intervening connective tissue stroma separating it from overlying epithelium. Connective tissue stroma was fibro-cellular and showed focal areas of lymph collection (The overlying epithelium was parakeratinized stratified squamous epithelium. (Figure-3) Based on microscopical features, the diagnosis of lymphangioma was rendered. Lymphangiomas were first described by Virchow in 1854 as rare, benign, congenital malformation of unknown cause originates from lymph vessels. 1  Lymphangiomas are considered to arise from sequestration of lymph sac and enlarge due to improper drainage, due to the lack of communication with the central lymphatic channels or because of the excessive secretion of lining cells. 2 They are most commonly present at birth, and might go unnoticed until after dentition erupts or even after puberty. However, few cases have been reported in adults also. 3 Histopathologically they can be classified in 4 different patterns. 3,4


Bell-type batch annealing is a "bottle-neck" procedure with complicated resource constraints, energy constraints and working procedure constraints, which is obviously different from other procedures in the cold rolling line. Its mathematic model is difficult to formulate and optimal scheduling is hard to implement. Scheduling in bell-type batch annealing includes combinatorial stacking of coils and order optimization. Firstly, the combinatorial optimization problem of stacking of coils is investigated in this paper, and the width, thickness and hardness trips of rolling slab, delivery ahead of schedule, and delayed punishment based on minimum production constraints are set up. Secondly, the minimum model of cold rolling production scheduling is established based on TSP (Travelling salesman Problem), and an immune bee colony optimization algorithm is proposed to solve the problem. Lastly, combined above-mentioned two methods, new optimal colony is generated by injecting the vaccine into the bee colony to ensure the feasibility of balanced production of cold rolling production line.


To help fill the relative void of information about families of severely mentally retarded school children, we described 53 such families comparatively with 54 families of EMR and 50 of TMR children. All children resided in their natural homes; families were selected for study by identical means and interviewed at their home. Selection for comparison was made from larger samples to reduce mean age differences in the samples. Differences in age and SES among groups were controlled with analysis of covariance. The impact of the retarded child on adjustment of families with severely retarded children was greater than that of the other groups, but no differences occurred in the impact of the child on marital adjustment. Families with severely retarded children had the highest mean scores on all four scores of the Home Quality Rating Scale. They scored lower than others on the Cohesion, Independence, Moral-Religious Emphasis, and Organization subscales of the Family Environment Scale. Implications for assisting these families were discussed.


Thermoplasma acidophilum and Sulfolobus acidocaldarius contain coenzyme A-acylating 2-oxoacid:ferredoxin oxidoreductases similar to those found in halophilic archaebacteria. A common feature of these enzymes is the formation of a free radical intermediate in the course of the catalytic cycle. The electron-accepting ferredoxins and a similar protein from Desulfurococcus mobilis have been purified and characterized. In contrast to the [2Fe-2S] ferredoxin of Halobacterium halobium, the ferredoxins of thermoacidophilic archaebacteria most likely contain two [4Fe-4S]2 + (2 + .1 +) clusters per molecule. Properties of these proteins are compared with respect to the evolution of archaebacteria.


The filter elution technique was used to assay for 137Cs-induced DNA double-strand breaks (dsb) in V79 Chinese hamster cells. The elutions were performed using two different sets of lysing and eluting solutions at pH 7.2 and 9.6. The data agree with those of others who have demonstrated differences in elution profiles at pH 7.2 and 9.6. In addition, the data indicate that solution composition has a significant effect on elution.


A numerical design method is demonstrated for gradient refractive index (GRIN) beam shapers embedded in a medium. The three-dimensional refractive index profile Δn(x, y, z) gradually changes the spatial characteristics of a beam during propagation. Diffraction effects such as beam expansion are controlled and compensated by the refractive index profile, resulting in efficient field transformations with no coherent artifacts. The solution is found using phase retrieval and a paraxial scalar wave beam propagation model. An example design is shown in which small changes in refractive index (Δn < 10-3) are used to transform a beam over a device length of 10 mm.


Background: Prakriti has important role in prevention, diagnosis, treatment of disease and forecast of future disorders. Infants are more prone to develop various health problems like infections, due to poor immune system. This study shows relation between infantile age morbidity and their Prakriti (physical constitution) in present scenario. Material and Methods: For this longitudinal study 100 infants were registered for Prakriti assessment and their relationship with incidence of diseases. Performa for Prakriti assessment in infants was developed by Department of Kaumarbhritya/Balroga and Department of Kriya Sharira. This study was conducted in Kaumarbhritya OPD, SS Hospital, Banaras Hindu University (BHU). Observation and Result: In the present study, rate of morbidity in infantile age was found maximum in Vata Prakriti (6.6 episodes/infant/year) and minimum in Kapha Prakriti (1.54 episodes/infant/year). Incidence of morbidity was 2.41 episodes/infant/year. The commonest morbidities were respiratory tract infections (40.66%) and diarrhea (30.29%). Respiratory tract infection is most common morbidity in Vata Prakriti (33.3%), Kapha Prakriti (73.5%), Vata-Pitta Prakriti (48.1%) and Vata Kapha Prakriti (53.3%) infants. Diarrhea was the most common morbidity in Pitta Prakriti (32.2%) and Pitta-Kapha Prakriti (50.0%) infants. Discussion and Conclusion: Rate of morbidity was found more in Vata Prakriti and less in Kapha Prakriti infants which justifies the concept of Ayurveda that feature of Vata Prakriti is Shighravikara and Kapha Prakriti have Ashighravikara . Vata and Kapha Prakriti infants mostly suffer from respiratory tract infection and Pitta Prakriti infants mostly suffer from diarrhea. In present study incidence of morbidity was 2.41 episodes/infant/year and most common morbidity was respiratory tract infection and diarrhea.


A controller was developed to govern the lateral position of a highway-speed vehicle using frequency-weighted coordination of front steering and torque inputs. The MISO design problem was recast as a SISO approach by using a cascaded design technique: the first step determined the relative contribution of each control input as a function of frequency; secondary design steps utilized classical SISO approaches. For the vehicle control problem, the torque steering inputs were designed to act only as high-frequency inputs, while standard front steering was weighted for DC and low-frequency inputs. This controller was then tested on an experimental vehicle system.


Neither the pathogenesis of port wine stain (PWS) birthmarks nor tissue effects of pulsed dye laser (PDL) treatment of these lesions is fully understood. There are few published reports utilizing gene expression analysis in human PWS skin. We aim to compare gene expression in PWS before and after PDL, using DNA microarrays that represent most, if not all, human genes to obtain comprehensive molecular profiles of PWS lesions and PDL‐associated tissue effects.


The effect of growth hormone (GH) on arylesterase (AE), one of the activities of paraoxonase, has never been studied. The aims of the present study in mice were: (a) to compare the effect of age and sex on serum lipid and lipoprotein levels after consumption of lactalbumin- v. chow-based diets and (b) to study the effect of GH administration, age and sex on serum AE activity, lipid and lipoprotein and body fat levels in mice fed a lactalbumin diet. Seventy-two mice were divided into three age- and sex-matched experimental groups: (1) control chow (CC), (2) non-GH lactalbumin (NGL) and (3) GH-treated lactalbumin (GL) mice. Lactalbumin increased total cholesterol, (LDL+VLDL)-cholesterol and TAG and diminished HDL-cholesterol in all animals (P < 0·05). In comparison with their NGL counterparts, old GL males presented lower total cholesterol (15 %) and (LDL+VLDL)-cholesterol (17 %) levels (P < 0·05), whereas values of the same parameters were higher in adult GL males (P < 0·05) (22 and 23 %, respectively). Adult GL females displayed higher serum HDL-cholesterol concentrations (26 %) (P < 0·05) than adult NGL females. AE activity was lower in old GL females (78 %) and old GL males (20 %) (P < 0·05), but higher in adult GL males (100 %) (P < 0·01). GH, that was inversely related to food intake, decreased abdominal and gonadal fat in all mice (P < 0·05). To conclude, lactalbumin induced an atherogenic lipoprotein profile in NGL mice that was reverted by GH, preferentially in old males, suggesting that GH therapy will be more effective in aged men. The present results suggest that AE activity was age-, sex- and body fat level-dependent and that it diminished as a consequence of improved antioxidant status.


Background: Transdisciplinary health research and clinical practice is supported by numerous Australian health workforce documents and the broader transdisciplinary research literature. This research assessed the impact of early screening and limited intervention for nutrition, swallowing, cognition, and communication deficits in medical admissions in a large metropolitan hospital. Methods and Findings: Validated screening tools were selected and consensus for interventions were obtained by dietetic and speech pathology disciplines. Intensive training was undertaken to familiarize staff members with the screening documents and project scope. Ethics approval was obtained. Participants included 179 patients aged ≥65 years admitted to the emergency department or medical unit. The project significantly reduced referral time to both disciplines, and time to full assessment in dietetics but not speech pathology. Results found 43% of patients were malnourished or at risk of malnutrition, and 14 patients had oral intake ceased due to swallowing difficulties. Conclusions: This study has demonstrated that transdisciplinary screening and intervention may work within dietetics and speech pathology, providing an innovative extension to practice. Further alternatives using this model include the use of allied health assistants or less-experienced clinicians, while opportunities exist for transdisciplinary practices within other healthcare disciplines.


The Van Vleck transformation as previously described is generalized so that it can isolate several levels simultaneously. It is shown that the contact transformation involves projectors in an implicit way and that it can be considered as a special case of the generalized Van Vleck transformation. We discuss to what extent the recursion relations (for further transformation of the Nth transform) given in part I can be carried over to the generalized Van Vleck transformation and to the contact transformation. An effective hamiltonian for a particular 'cluster' of zeroth-order levels can be obtained in several ways. We compare the results of the usual Van Vleck transformation, Soliverez's transformation and the contact transformation.


INTRODUCTION
As a result of the increased number of both diagnostic and therapeutic procedures in pediatric outpatients, sedation and analgesia have gained relevance in this context.

OBJECTIVE
To characterize the type of sedation and analgesia used by pediatric sedation teams in procedures done outside the operating room, as well as its safety and outcome.

POPULATION AND METHODS
All procedures performed in 1 month to 5 year old patients under intravenous sedation with midazolam, ketamine, propofol or lidocaine were analyzed over a 14-month period. The Ramsay sedation scale and the CHEOPS pain scale were used to determine the response to the sedation and analgesia administered.

RESULTS
A total of 186 procedures were analyzed. The results of the evaluation of response to sedation and analgesia indicated that an adequate deep sedation was obtained in 98% of cases, and that an adequate analgesia was achieved in 92% of patients. Around 12% of the procedures were associated with adverse events, all related to the airways, and none was serious. The only statistically significant endpoint associated with adverse events were procedures which involved airway interventions, i.e., fibrobronchoscopy, upper gastrointestinal endoscopy or transesophageal echocardiogram, with an OR of 6.27 (95% CI: 1.28-30.63; p = 0.023).

CONCLUSIONS
In this group of patients, intravenous outpatient sedation and analgesia administered by a specialized team were safe and effective.


The chloroplast, as the photosynthetic organelle of plants, plays a crucial role in plant development. Extensive studies have been conducted on chloroplast development; however, the related regulatory mechanism still remains elusive. Here, we characterized a mutant with defective chloroplasts in Arabidopsis, termed pigment-defective mutant3 (pdm3), which exhibits a distinct albino phenotype in leaves, eventually leading to pdm3 seedling lethality under autotrophic growth conditions. Electron microscopy demonstrated that the number of thylakoids was reduced and the structure of those thylakoids was disrupted in the pdm3 mutant, which eventually led to the breakdown of chloroplasts. Sequence analysis showed that PDM3 encodes a chloroplast protein consisting of 12 pentratricopeptide repeat domains that belongs to the P subgroup. Both confocal microscopic analysis and immunoblotting in the chloroplast protein fraction showed that PDM3 was located in the stroma. Furthermore, analysis of the transcript profiles of chloroplast genes revealed that plastid-encoded polymerase-dependent transcript levels were markedly reduced, while nuclear-encoded polymerase-dependent transcript levels were increased in pdm3 mutants. In addition, we found that the splicing of introns in trnA, ndhB, and clpP-1 is also affected in pdm3. Taken together, we propose that PDM3 plays an essential role in chloroplast development in Arabidopsis.


The Malay Apple [Syzygium malaccense (L.) Merr. & L.M. Perry] is an option for the producer as its fruits are attractive and well accepted by the consumer. The difficulty of culture of this species is that the plant is very tall and has a long juvenile period when propagated by seed, making its vegetative propagation necessary to anticipate the productive period and decrease its size. The possibility of vegetative propagation of this species was studied by cutting, layering, and grafting. In the cutting experiment, three doses of indolbutyric acid (IBA) (0, 1,000, 3,000, and 5,000 mg L -1 ) were tested in two lengths of herbaceous cuttings (15 and 25 cm). In the layering experiment, two periods of layering (summer and autumn) and four doses of IBA (0, 1,000, 4,000, 7,000, and 10,000 mg kg -1 ) were evaluated. For grafting, the compatibility between S. malaccense and S. jambos (L.) Alston as rootstock was studied with two diameters (0.5 and 0.8 cm) and in two periods (winter and summer), by method of full graft. For cuttings, the percentage of rooting was 20%, independently of the IBA doses, except for 5,000 mg L -1 that showed negative effect on 15 cm cuttings; layering and grafting were not successful in the studied conditions.


BACKGROUND Pharmacovigilance (PV) is the activities and scientific studies conducted to detect, evaluate, understand or prevent adverse reactions and other drug-related problems. AIM To define the awareness and experiences of the clinicians on PV and adverse drug reactions (ADRs) in Turkey. METHODS The study was cross-sectional and analytical. Data were obtained through a questionnaire. The questionnaire was sent via e-mail. The survey was sent to 2030 physicians and 670 participated. RESULTS The most appropriate definition of PV was correctly defined by 53.9% of the participants. The most important goal of PV was correctly defined by 54.9% of the participants, and 27.3% of the participants were aware of the Turkish Pharmacovigilance Center. Nonsurgical physicians had better PV knowledge than surgical physicians. A total of 80.9% of the physicians who encountered ADRs, filled in the ADR notification form, and 8.8% received training on how to fill in the form. PV knowledge of the clinicians was not sufficient. Although half of the physicians encountered ADRs, the rates of seeing and filling in the ADR form were low. CONCLUSION Few of the physicians followed the current information about PV. The results provide more comprehensive data on PV practices and ADR reporting at a national level.


Researchers studying autonomous agents are increasingly examining the problem of integrating multiple capabilities into single agents. The Oz project is developing technology for dramatic, interactive, simulated worlds. One requirement of such worlds is the presence of broad, though perhaps shallow, agents. To support our needs, we are developing an agent architecture, called Tok, that displays reactivity, goal-directed behavior, and emotion, along with other capabilities. Integrating the components of Tok into a coherent whole raises issues of how the parts interact, and seems to place constraints on the nature of each component. Here we describe brie y the integration issues we have encountered in building a particular Tok agent (Lyotard the cat), note their impact on the architecture, and suggest that modeling emotion, in particular, may constrain the design of integrated agent architectures. 1 BROAD AGENTS 1 1 Broad Agents The Oz project [3] at Carnegie Mellon is developing technology for artistically interesting, highly interactive, simulated worlds. We want to give users the experience of living in (not merely watching) dramatically rich worlds that include moderately competent, emotional agents. An Oz world has four primary components. There is a simulated physical environment, a set of automated agents which help populate the world, a user interface to allow one or more people to participate in the world [13], and a two-player adversary search planner concerned with the long term structure of the user's experience [2]. Oz shares some goals with traditional story generation systems [18, 16], but adds the signi cant requirement of rich interactivity. One of the keys to an artistically engaging experience is for the user to be able to \suspend disbelief". That is, the user must be able to imagine that the world portrayed is real, without being jarred out of this belief by the world's behavior. The automated agents, in particular, mustn't be blatantly unreal. Thus, part of our e ort is aimed at producing agents with a broad set of capabilities, including goal-directed reactive behavior, emotional state and behavior, and some natural language abilities. For our purpose, each of these capacities may be as shallow as necessary to allow us to build broad, integrated agents [4]. Oz worlds are far simpler than the real world, but they must retain su cient complexity to serve as interesting artistic vehicles. The complexity level is somewhat higher, but not exceptionally higher, than typical AI micro-worlds. Despite these simpli cations, we nd that our agents must deal with imprecise and erroneous perceptions, with the need to respond rapidly, and with a general inability to fully model the agent-rich world they inhabit. We suspect that some of our experience with broad agents in Oz may transfer to other domains, such as social, real-world robots. Building broad agents is a little studied area. Much work has been done on building reactive systems [6, 10, 9, 24], natural language systems, and even emotion systems [8, 23, 21]. There is growing interest in integrating action and learning (see [14]) and some very interesting work on broader integration [25, 22]. However, we are aware of no other e orts to integrate the particularly wide range of capabilities needed in the Oz domain. Here we present our e orts, focusing on integration mechanisms and their impact on components of the architecture. 2 Tok and Lyotard In analyzing our task domain, we concluded that the capabilities needed in our initial agents are perception, reactivity, goal-directed behavior, emotion, social behavior, natural language analysis, and natural language generation. Our agent architecture,


In the last two decades, research on investigating factors influencing the consumer repurchase intention has advanced and become an important topic in the marketing society and literature. The objective of this paper is to compare the weight of service providers' personality traits and service quality performances they provide to uncover the primary factor influencing a clients' intention to revisit their beauty salon in a long-term relationship. The SERVQUAL model of service quality and Mini-Marker model of personality were employed to substantiate the hypothesized relationship. Based on 453 valid respondents from beauty salons' visitors, empirical finding remarkably indicate that the hairstylist's personality was the primary reason for clients to revisit beauty salons. The results demonstrate that the factors such as agreeableness, intellect, conscientiousness and extraversion respectively have been prioritized as the most effective reasons for re-visitation in the view of customers. From the service quality side, the dimension of tangibility is ranked as the first reason to revisit the beauty salon. Overall, the outcome of this study can be applied to beauty salons' management process in the line with building a strong long-term customer relationship and in return sustain profitability.


Article History:Received:11 January 2021; Accepted: 27 February 2021; Published online: 5 April 2021 Abstract: This paper demonstrates finite element procedure for two-dimensional axisymmetric domains. For many engineering applications like structural engineering, aerospace engineering, geo-mechanics etc., the solution domain and boundary conditions are axisymmetric. Henceforth, we can illuminate just the axisymmetric part of the solution domain that gives the data of the entire domain. This paper demonstrates the effectiveness of using MATLAB programming demonstrated by Persson et.al (2004) as the initial mesh for discretization of axisymmetric domains for higher order meshing. Further, solving some class of partial differential equations using finite element method with nodal relation given by subparametric transformations Rathod et.al (2008). In this paper a cubic order curved triangular meshing for some of the domains like ellipse and circle are demonstrated. These in turn finds its applications in the fields like stress analysis in mechanical engineering, torsion twist (shear strength) analysis in civil engineering, evaluation of stress intensity factor for quarter elliptical crack in pressure vessels in equipment industry etc,. The output data from the meshing scheme like meshing of the domain, nodal position, element connectivity and boundary edges are been used in the finite element procedures. The efficiency of the method is achieved by p-refinement scheme i.e., fixing the number of elements and increasing the polynomial order.


Chock temperature control is an important issue in cold rolling mills. Traditional wired systems don't offer satisfactory results for practical use. Because of very low power consumption using Zigbee (IEEE 802.15.4) wireless technology, temperature sensors (up to 125 οC ) suitable for a tandem cold mill environment have been developed. The complete monitoring system includes repeaters, a base receiver with transmission control protocol/Internet protocol (TCP/IP) gateway, and a maintenance software. The results obtained in the tandem mill are collected.


In construction of a FRP sound bar preferably by lamination for percussive musical instruments, 30 to 80% by volume of reinforcing fibers are oriented in a resin matrix at least in the longitudinal direction of the sound bar and a plurality of longitudinal pores are almost uniformly distributed over the entire cross section of the sound bar, for easy and low cost production with ideal sound extension.


Background The increasing frequency of pandemics, and costs of healthcare services requires integrative, efficient and effective health systems. Aim Describe the framework and distinctive outcomes of the Saudi National Health Command Centre (NHCC). Method: A review was performed to describe the system-based engineering approach utilised to design the Saudi NHCC. This smart centre creates a new model of care delivery which impacts clinical and operational indicators by adopting integrative and interdisciplinary methods to analyse, disseminate, manage, and measure outcomes. Results The NHCC is structured into four main departments with data integration and real-time data visualisation to allow for rapid assessment of available resources. It's organised to support technical incubators and empower several initiative. This enhanced the proactive capacity management in the centre and collectively contributed to several favourable outcomes. These included rapidly deploying medical staff and mechanical ventilators during its response to coronavirus disease (COVID-19);bending the curve early of the first wave of COVID-19 resulting in a low mortality rate (<2%);and reducing ICU lengths of stay by 10%, average lead-time of the supply chain from 60 days to 25 days, and surgery waiting times. It also supported the increment bed capacity from 6,000 to10,400, and maintaining the percentage of patients receiving care within 4 hours in emergency departments above 85%. Conclusion The NHCC replaces the traditional reliance on the subjectivity of information-based processes with actionable data, which helps building fairer systems to tackle structural inequalities in healthcare access and outcomes, eliminating waste, and allocating resources more effectively and efficiently. Importantly, a command centre to healthcare design and delivery creates synergy between people, processes, and technology facilitating substantial improvements in both patient and service outcomes.


The purpose of this note is to simply point out that the multiplicity, intrinsic of course to the presence of non-convexities, characterizes the models of growth with external increasing returns which have been studied recently, and, more importantly, to show that the many competitive equilibria which often arise in those models can be interpreted as "animal spirits" equilibria- that is, equilibria indexed by the consumers' optimism or pessimism. This multiplicity of competitive equilibrium paths can be viewed as providing a new foundation upon which to build a theory of self-fulfilling prophecies, one which relies solely on the existence of external effects and does not rest on the overlapping generation structure or on back- ward-bending offer curves. The conclusion that multiple animal spirits competitive equilibria are likely to arise in a model of external increasing returns would survive the generalization of the framework used in this paper to many-period environments- be they overlapping generation or representative agent, infinite horizon structures.


Previous studies have found an inverse association between religiosity and mortality. However, most of these studies were carried out with Christian participants. This longitudinal study aimed to determine whether a composite variable based on self-reported religious education and religious practices is associated with coronary heart disease (CHD) and all-cause mortality in 9237 Jewish men aged 40–65 years at baseline, over a 32-year follow-up. Jewish men were characterized by their degree of religiosity, from the Ultra-Orthodox ("Haredim")—the strictest observers of the Jewish religious rules, and in descending order: religious, traditional, secular, and agnostic. Demographic and physical assessments were made in 1963 with a 32-year follow-up. The results indicate that Haredim participants, in comparison to the agnostic participants, had lower CHD mortality. Hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI)—adjusted by age, cigarette smoking, systolic blood pressure, diabetes, socioeconomic status, BMI, and cholesterol, was: [HR = 0.68 (95% CI 0.58,0.80)] for Haredim; [HR = 0.82 (95% CI 0.69,0.96)] for religious; [HR = 0.85 (95% CI 0.73–1.00)] for traditional; and [HR = 0.92 (95% CI 0.79–01.06) for secular, respectively (p for trend = 0.001). The same pattern was observed for total mortality. This study shows an association between religious practice among men and a decreased rate of CHD and total mortality.


Research includes the study of the North West Extensions of Makhul structure using remote sensing techniques (central Iraq) which is located to the north of Baiji province in  Salahuddin governorate, which lies 240 kilometers north of the city of Baghdad, located within the operations of the North Oil Company.
  The aim of the present study is to re-define extensions of Makhul structure by the use of visual space (satellite systems and landsat7 ETM) after it was observed that there is a difference for determined the North West Extensions for structure of what is mentioned in previous studies.
   I have been using the space visuals and available previous studies for the Makhul structure and North Western Extensions him in determining the dimensions, in addition to the show faults in the research area  and relations with the Makhoul structure  and its extensions. It has also been taking the results of wells drilled in the research area (Makhul -1, 2 and Mityaha -1),  for the purpose of assessing hydrocarbon reservoir, and we are relying on the explanatory information from the images and spatial data and received from the satellite (LANDSAT 7) according to the system ETM (Enhasment Thematic Mapper). It has also rely on the definition and identification of some units geomorphologic home on the intensity of the color, tone and texture. a network of drainage pattern is essential.
    Using satellite data and previous studies point showing that the length of the Makhul  structure more than 95.500 km and not 37 km, and the area affected by the operations raise distinct and different stages. it has been divided into four parts of  Makhul structure (from the southeast to the northwest), a south-eastern part, part crescent, which includes the Saded structure, the middle part, which includes the Cehel structure and north-western part, which includes the Mityaha structure. The hydrocarbon possibilities in the study area, it is in spite of the weakness of the possibilities hydrocarbon in the southeastern part of the Makhul structure (wells Makhul-1,2) and the northwestern part formerly known the Mityaha structure (well Mityaha -1), but the middle part (the structure Cehel areal) may be possibilities hydrocarbon better and more possibilities from the other parts.


Neuropeptide S (NPS) represents the latest identified neuropeptide. Animal studies in rodents showed intracerebrally administrated NPS leading to an anxiolytic effect with a simultaneous increase of wakefulness. This activity profile of NPS differs from classical anxiolytic drugs, which cause beside the desired effects also drowsiness. It is therefore of high interest to investigate ligands of the NPS-receptor (NPSR) for their anxiolytic properties and evaluate their potential use as anxiolytic drugs. One promising strategy in the search for novel bioactive compounds is the use of virtual screening tools, which can effectively reduce cost and time efforts. This approach resulted in the first pharmacophore modeling study on NPSR ligands. Since the 3D structure of the G-protein coupled NPSR is not known, ligand-based pharmacophore models were generated. The theoretical model evaluation by two test sets containing non-peptidic active compounds and presumably inactive decoys revealed enrichment factors and ROC curves, which indicate a good predictive power of the generated models and will contribute to the rationalized search for novel NPSR ligands. The virtual screening of natural product databases led to promising structures in regard to traditional used plants.


Although the sparganosis involving soft tissues, i.e, tongue, cheek, etc., has been frequently reported, the mandibular involvement of sparganosis is not reported up to date. We present a case of intraosseous sparganosis involving whole mandible, which was clinically diagnosed as chronic osteomyelitis. After surgical operation of saucerization for the treatment of chronic osteomyelitis the removed specimens were pathologically examined and finally turned out intraosseous sparganosis. Radiological findings showed irregular multiple radiolucencies in round to ovoid shape throughout both mandibular body areas, of which peripheral rarefying radiopacity was less remarkable compared to the ordinary osteomyelitis. However, the radiolucencies of periapical granuloma, #34-36, were closely associated with the osteolytic lesions of mandibular body. Pathological examination showed a tunnel like space for the passage of sparganum larva, and heavy infiltration of eosinophilicleukocytes. And more, the parasitic tegument materials were found admixed with eggs in the granulomatous lesion, which were gradually degraded and resolved. Taken together, we presumed that the mandibular inflammatory lesion was primarily involved with sparganosis and secondarily aggravated by the periapical infection of #34-36.


The rapid technological change which the United States has experienced in the postwar era is now forcing a realignment between industry and the Federal Government. Traditional systems of interaction between the public and private sectors, including the various regulatory systems, are in need of reexamination in light of the new relationships. Different patterns of organization and governmental participation will need to be developed in several areas. Granting that the scope of projects such as going to the moon, building a supersonic transport or developing a world-wide communication satellite system requires governmental investment, on what basis can the government protect its investment and insure that the corporations are not profiting unduly at the expense of the individual taxpayer?


Purpose: Nowadays, image processing is a well-known technological term. In some of the industries, it has practical needs. It is an essential tool for the process and robotic industry. Various popular frameworks and libraries are available to process the image. The OpenCV is one of the best and popular libraries for image processing. It was originally written in C++ by Intel. Now various wrappers are available to implement into the different programming languages. The OpenCvSharp is the wrapper of OpenCV. Those who are familiar with C# can use it. The new researcher who wants to integrate image processing into their project takes some time for setup, function writing, and integration. Here we created a test bench application for Image processing demonstration. It has been made with some usual function to process the image. It was created using visual studio 2022 and OpenCvSharp wrapper in C# language. The researcher can learn about various image processing algorithms without writing any code or giving little bits of effort. The complete project is available on GitHub. Anyone can download, experiment, and integrate into their project without any issue.
Design/Methodology/Approach: We created a GUI (Graphical User Interface) based C# application. Using Nuget Package manager, installed two OpenCV wrapper packages. To invoke several functions, we add some buttons, and for changing the method's parameter, we integrate some text boxes. We created some abstraction layers Between the OpenCvSharp wrapper and GUI. We made our custom module as portable as possible so that our researchers could easily incorporate it into their project.
Findings/result: This unique image processing test bench is designed for new researchers trying to integrate image processing capability into their research work. It can take still images or moving images through the connected webcam, automatically sending the various commands and promptly observing the result.
Originality/Value: This test bench has been arranged uniquely for the researcher. It might have some value to their research work. The unique feature like automatic trigger can help them send the series of commands without repeatedly typing or pressing the button to see the result.
Paper Type: Experiment-based Research


Progress of virtualization technology in recent years made it easy to build virtual servers on cloud. They can be used as cache server for load balancing. However, expected responsiveness cannot be gained with insufficient cache servers against load. In contrast, costs will increase by surplus cache servers against load. Therefore, we have been developing a distributed web system that adjust the number of cache servers according to load of them to reduce running cost. In this study, a load balancing method using DNS round-robin is now developed. However, load imbalance occurs among the servers with this method and responsiveness decreases because it is difficult to distribute the load uniformly using DNS roundrobin. Therefore, we implement a function to suspend the allocation of requests to the overloaded server. This paper describes improvement of load balancing method and evaluation of it. From results of experiments, we confirm that improved function is possible to prevent lowering responsiveness with lower TTL value.


With the growing demands for 3D and multi-view video content, efficient depth data coding becomes a vital issue in image and video coding field. In this paper, we propose a simple depth coding scheme using multiple prediction modes exploiting temporal correlation of depth map. Current depth coding techniques mostly depend on intra-coding mode that cannot get the advantage of temporal redundancy in the depth maps and higher spatial redundancy in inter-predicted depth residuals. Depth maps are characterized by smooth regions with sharp edges that play an important role in the view synthesis process. As depth images are more sensitive to coding errors, use of transformation or approximation of edges by explicit edge modelling has impact on view synthesis quality. Moreover, lossy compression of depth map brings additional geometrical distortion to synthetic view. In this paper, we have demonstrated that encoding inter-coded depth block residuals with quantization at pixel domain is more efficient than the intra-coding techniques relying on explicit edge preservation. On standard 3D video sequences, the proposed depth coding has achieved superior image quality of synthesized views against the new 3D-HEVC standard for depth map bit-rate 0.25 bpp or higher.


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Vitamin D deficiency is increasing in incidence around the world. Vitamin D, a fat-soluble vitamin, has documented effects on the innate and adaptive immune system, including macrophage and T regulatory (Treg) cell function. Since Treg cells are important in acute lung injury resolution, we hypothesized that vitamin D deficiency increases the severity of injury and delays injury resolution in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced acute lung injury. Vitamin D deficient mice were generated, using C57BL/6 mice, through diet modification and limited exposure to ultraviolet light. At 8 weeks of age, vitamin D deficient and sufficient mice received 2.5 g/kg of LPS or saline intratracheal. At 1 day, 3 days and 10 days, mice were anesthetized and lung elastance measured. Mice were euthanized and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, lungs and serum were collected. Ex vivo neutrophil chemotaxis was evaluated, using neutrophils from vitamin D sufficient and deficient mice exposed to the chemoattractants, KC/CXCL1 and C5a, and to bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from LPS-exposed mice. We found no difference in the degree of lung injury. Leukocytes were mildly decreased in the bronchoalveolar fluid of vitamin D deficient mice at 1 day. Ex-vivo, neutrophils from vitamin D deficient mice showed impaired chemotaxis to KC but not to C5a. Vitamin D deficiency modestly impairs neutrophil chemotaxis; however, it does not affect lung injury or its resolution in an LPS model of acute lung injury.