Boiling in microchannel heat sinks is attractive for high-performance electronics cooling due to the high heat transfer rates that can be achieved. However, the physics of flow boiling in microchannels, the flow patterns present, and the effect of microchannel size on the boiling regimes have not been investigated extensively, particularly with dielectric fluids. In the present work, experiments are conducted with a perfluorinated dielectric fluid, Fluorinert FC-77, to investigate the effect of channel size and mass flux (250 to 1600 kg/m2s) on microchannel flow boiling regimes by means of high-speed photography. Seven different silicon test pieces with parallel microchannels of widths ranging from 100 to 5850 mum, all with a depth of 400 mum, are considered. Flow visualizations are performed with a high-speed digital video camera while local measurements of the heat transfer coefficient and pressure drop are simultaneously obtained. The visualizations show that flow regimes in microchannels of width 400 mum and larger are similar, while those in the 100 mum wide microchannels are distinctly different. Also, unlike the 100 mum wide microchannels, in which bubble nucleation at the walls is suppressed at a relatively low heat flux, nucleate boiling is dominant over a wide range of heat flux for microchannels of width 400 mum and larger.


The effects of kojic acid (KA) on thyroidal function were studied by single-dose administration in rats and in cultured rat thyroid cells (FRTL-5 cells). In rats receiving a single dose of 1,000 mg/kg KA orally, the 125I uptake from blood into the thyroid gland was significantly lower than that of the control group from 30 min to 24 hr after administration. The 125I organification activity of the KA groups was significantly lower than control from 30 min to 6 hr after administration. However, the 125I organification activity at 24 hr or 48 hr after administration recovered enough to be nearly comparable with the control group. In the study in FRTL-5 cells, KA inhibited iodine organification dose-dependently, but did not inhibit iodine uptake. These results suggest that the observed lower iodine uptake activity in the single-dose administration study in rats was due to the inhibition of iodine organification caused by the oral administration of KA, consequently decreasing iodine in the entire thyroid gland. Although serum T4 showed a tendency to decrease from 2 hr to 48 hr after administration of KA, serum TSH did not show any evident change associated with KA in the single-dose administration study in rats. Based on these results, it is presumed that a massive dose or long administration period might be needed to decrease serum T4 and increase serum TSH. From these results, it is presumed that KA affected thyroidal function when given at a massive dose or in a long administration period by inhibiting iodine organification in the thyroid.


The increasing complexity of heterogeneous SoC and distributed systems confronts the system designer with problems how to determine reasonable design alternatives leading to well functioning systems. Ideally, a designer would try all possible system configuration and choose the best one regarding specific system requirements. Unfortunately, such an approach is not possible because the high number of design parameters in complex systems leads to a very large design-space, prohibiting an exhaustive search. Consequently, good search techniques are needed to find optimal, or at least good, design alternatives. In this paper, we present a design space exploration framework for system optimization using SymTA/S, a software tool for formal performance analysis. In contrast to many previous approaches, our approach takes the hierarchical structure of the design space of heterogeneous SoC and distributed systems into account, allowing the designer to control the exploration process. A main technique in our approach is systematic system optimization using traffic shaping.


Synchronous or quasi-synchronous stereoscopic sea-ice-air comprehensive observation was conducted during the First China Arctic Expedition in summer of 1999. Based on these data, the role of sea ice in sea-air exchange was studied. The study shows that the kinds, distribution and thickness of sea ice and their variation significantly influence the air-sea heat exchange. In floating ice area, the heat momentum transferred from ocean to atmosphere is in form of latent heat; latent heat flux is closely related to floating ice concentration; if floating ice is less, the heat flux would be larger. Latent heat flux is about 21-23.6 W·m -2 , which is greater than sensible heat flux. On ice field or giant floating ice, heat momentum transferred from atmosphere to sea ice or snow surface is in form of sensible heat. In the floating ice area or polynya, sea-air exchange is the most active, and also the most sensible for climate. Also this area is the most important condition for the creation of Arctic vapor fog. The heat exchange of a large-scale vapor fog process of about 500 000 km 2 on Aug. 21-22,1999 was calculated; the heat momentum transferred from ocean to air was about 14.8×10 9 kW. There are various kinds of sea fog, radiation fog, vapor fog and advection fog, forming in the Arctic Ocean in summer. One important cause is the existence of sea ice and its resultant complexity of both underlying surface and sea-air exchange.


Robots typically possess sensors of different modalities, such as colour cameras, inertial measurement units, and 3D laser scanners. Often, solving a particular problem becomes easier when more than one modality is used. However, while there are undeniable benefits to combine sensors of different modalities the process tends to be complicated. Segmenting scenes observed by the robot into a discrete set of classes is a central requirement for autonomy as understanding the scene is the first step to reason about future situations. Scene segmentation is commonly performed using either image data or 3D point cloud data. In computer vision many successful methods for scene segmentation are based on conditional random fields (CRF) where the maximum a posteriori (MAP) solution to the segmentation can be obtained by inference. In this paper we devise a new CRF inference method for scene segmentation that incorporates global constraints, enforcing the sets of nodes are assigned the same class label. To do this efficiently, the CRF is formulated as a relaxed quadratic program whose MAP solution is found using a gradient-based optimisation approach. The proposed method is evaluated on images and 3D point cloud data gathered in urban environments where image data provides the appearance features needed by the CRF, while the 3D point cloud data provides global spatial constraints over sets of nodes. Comparisons with belief propagation, conventional quadratic programming relaxation, and higher order potential CRF show the benefits of the proposed method.


Introduction: Coagulopathy in the setting of massive transfusion is multifactorial: the dilutional effect of blood loss and inadequate replacement of coagulation factors and platelets, DIC from hypotension and tissue injury, consumption of coagulation factors and platelets at multiple sites of endothelial damage, hypothermia, and impaired hepatic synthesis of coagulation factors in severe hepatic injury are all contributing factors. rFVIIa in "standard" or higher doses (90 μg/kg is the approved dose for hemophilia patients with inhibitors) has been reported to reverse coagulopathy in trauma-related massive transfusion. We postulate that lower doses of rFVIIa may be efficacious. Case series: 8 patients (M:F 1:1, age range 17–78, mean 52 yrs) with blunt trauma and multiorgan injury excluding head injury (Injury Severity Score 18–43, mean 30) had received massive transfusion within the first 24 hr of admission and had persistent bleeding despite resuscitative surgery. The first 3 patients had severe hepatic injury. Blood component support (mean number of units) included: 24 units of packed red cells (range 10–46), 12 units of FFP (range 5–32), 19 units of platelets (range 5–35), and 14 units of cryoprecipitate (range 0–20). Mean INR was 1.42 (range 1.24–1.90). Hematology consultation was obtained, and patients received 1.2 or 2.4 mg rFVIIa with the goal of achieving a dose of 20 μg/kg. Weight-based dosing was calculated post-hoc and the mean dose for the series was 21 μg/kg (range 11–37 μg/kg). Mean post-rFVIIa INR was 0.95 (range 0.84–1.08; vs 1.42, p=0.0002); INR correction apparently persisted for 10–12 hr in 7 out of 8 patients. There was good correlation between INR correction and bleeding cessation. Mean blood component usage (in 7 patients) in the 24-hr period post-rFVIIa included: 5 units of packed red cells (range 2–10; vs 24, p=0.01), 2 units of FFP (range 0–6; vs 12, p=0.04), and 5 units of platelets (range 0–10; vs 19, p=0.02). In one patient outlier, who had liver, spleen, kidney, pelvic and long bone fractures, the effect of rFVIIa was attenuated by surgical washout; INR correction and bleeding cessation were short-lived. The overall mortality in this series was 25% (2/8, including one patient whose care was withdrawn on hospital day 15 at the family's request); this compares favorably to the 40%–50% mortality quoted in massively transfused trauma patients. There were no thromboembolic complications in this group of patients (myocardial infarction, stroke, and extremity thrombosis were specifically sought in all cases). Of note, during this time, 2 other patients were considered for rFVIIa by the trauma team, but additional blood component therapy as recommended by hematology consultation led to bleeding cessation. Discussion: Low-dose rFVIIa (on the order of 20 μg/kg) used after appropriate blood component resuscitation appears to correct the coagulopathy of massive transfusion in critically injured blunt trauma patients. In this setting, rFVIIa can be very cost-effective. Collaboration between the trauma team and hematology or transfusion medicine specialist is important to guide the timing, dosing, and laboratory monitoring of rFVIIa.


Coronaviruse Disease 2019 (Covid-19) makes teaching and learning to be carried out remotely, to protect the safety and health of students from the threat of Covid-19. MIN 1 Rembang as an institution under the Ministry of Religion utilizes a distance learning application launched by the Ministry of Religion, namely Madrasah E-learning. This study aims to describe Distance Learning using Madrasah E-Learning for MIN 1 Rembang students. This study used a qualitative research method with a descriptive qualitative design (case study). The data collection technique used an online questionnaire using Microsoft Form. The results showed that the Madrasah E-learning application proved to be useful as a learning technique during the 2019 Coronavirus Disease Pandemic (Covid-19). This can be seen from the results of the questionnaire given to respondents on average showing that Madrasah E-Learning can be the main means and choice for the implementation of teaching and learning activities for MIN 1 Rembang students during the current Coronavirus Disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.


7-Prenylindole is a useful building block for natural product and natural product analogue synthesis. While there have been several past syntheses of 7-prenylindole, none of them is very practical for its preparation on scale. Using an aza-Claisen rearrangement as the key step, 7-prenylindole has been prepared in four steps from indoline in 62% overall yield.


The spread of multidrug-resistant strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae in hospitals is of concern to clinical microbiologists, health care professionals, and physicians because of the impact infections caused by these bacteria have in causing morbidity and mortality. Clinical isolates of K. pneumoniae have been found to show resistance to third-generation cephalosporins as a result of acquiring extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing genes, such as bla(CTX-M). Since little is known about the mechanisms of antibiotic resistance observed in Kasserine hospital, Tunisia, this study was undertaken to investigate the mechanisms by which clinical isolates of K. pneumoniae resist β-lactam antibiotics. Twelve strains of K. pneumoniae were collected from patients admitted to Kasserine hospital; these isolates showed multiresistance phenotypes. Molecular genetics investigations using polymerase chain reaction, S1 digestion, and pulsed-field gel electrophoresisshowed that bla(CTX-M-15) in association with ISEcp1 is responsible for the resistance of these strains to third-generation cephalosporins. It has been determined that bla(CTX-M-15) is chromosomally mediated and plasmid mediated, which alarming need for infection control to prevent the outbreak of such a resistance mechanism.


We calculate the emission of gravitational waves, gravitons, photons and neutrinos from a perturbed Schwarzschild blackhole (BH). The perturbation can be due to either classical or quantum sources and therefore the injected energy can be either positive or negative. The emission can be classical in nature, as in the case of gravitational waves, or of quantum nature, for gravitons and the additional fields. We first set up the theoretical framework for calculating the emission by treating the case of a minimally coupled scalar field and then present the results for the other fields. We perform the calculations in the horizon-locking gauge in which the BH horizon is deformed, following similar calculations of tidal deformations of BH horizons. The classical emission can be interpreted as due to a partial exposure of a nonempty BH interior, while the quantum emission can be interpreted as an increased Hawking radiation flux due to the partial exposure of the BH interior. The degree of exposure of the BH interior is proportional to the magnitude of the injected null energy.


The aims of this study were to determine links between adolescent's well-being and their sexual and romantic activities off- and online. The study includes 245 mid-adolescents (15 years of age; 55 % girls) and 251 late-adolescents (18 years of age; 49 % girls). Of the 496 teenagers, 54 % had experiences of both online and offline sexual and romantic activities, while the remaining (46 %) had only offline experiences. Teenagers' experiences with online sexual/romantic activities were associated with experiences of offline sexual/romantic activities. Multiple regressions showed that age (older) and risk behaviour contributed to higher engagement in offline sexual/romantic activities. In contrast, only higher risk behaviour contributed to higher engagement in online sexual/romantic activities for boys, but for girl several factors, such as age (younger), lower body esteem, higher risk- and problem behaviour contributed to higher engagement in online sexual/romantic activities. We discuss this result from a gender perspective.


Three 3,5-dichloro-4H-1,2,6-thiadiazines, which differ according to the electron withdrawing nature of their substituent at C-4: (a) 3,5-dichloro-4-methylene-4H-1,2,6-thiadiazine (5a), (b) 3,5-dichloro-4H-1,2,6-thiadiazin-4-one (5b) and (c) 2-(3,5-dichloro-4H-1,2,6-thiadiazin-4-ylidene)malononitrile (5c), are characterized using resonance Raman (RR), absorption (UV/vis) and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopies. These weakly aromatic and electron-deficient heterocycles are potential components as acceptors in donor–acceptor systems for organic electronics. Experimental results, which include the synthesis, characterization and single crystal X-ray structure of 3,5-dichloro-4-methylene-4H-1,2,6-thiadiazine (5a), combined with theoretical calculations of their orbitals and vibrational frequencies, provide an understanding of the optical properties, on the basis of molecular geometry and electron distribution.


Background: Low back pain (LBP) is a common problem in almost all parts of the world. It may cause disability and a huge social and economic burden in the community. Radiological examination is often necessary to help the doctor in evaluating LBP. Aim: The study aims to find out the radiological characteristics of LBP as a preventive effort against those case. Method: The study was descriptive cross-sectional design involved 65 LBP patients as study respondents in Sanglah General Hospital from March 2016-October 2017. Result: Characteristics of LBP patients are male patients and patients aged 50-59 years. Both are the most frequent sample which were found out in the study. Conclusion: The most common radiological findings in each examination modality are as follows: osteophytes on Radiographic examination, burst fracture, compression fracture and fractures of spinous process on CT scan, and spinal canal stenosis on MRI


This article, by extending research on technology acceptance model, progresses or advances a theoretic or speculative framework to apprehend e-learning systems acceptance and usage. The proposed model integrates important constructs from information systems and technology acceptance domain. The two man constructs derived from Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) are supposed expediency and professed affluence of use. While, the construct personalization has been derived from information systems research domain. It is believed that the model industrialized and advanced in this study will be helpful for policy makers and academicians.


ABSTRACT There is a paucity of academic literature on travel writing that examines travel writers and their perceived influence on sustainability. This article addresses this lacuna by exploring how travel writers understand their responsibilities and reflects on ethics in their profession, particularly in how foreign destinations and cultures are portrayed. This is significant because some travel writers have been accused of contributing to what interviewees called the "Lonely Planet Syndrome", the notion that writing about a place will introduce and encourage mass tourism, changing the original state of the place for the worse. In this qualitative, phenomenological study, data were collected from 23 in-depth interviews with twenty-first-century travel writers and analysed using an Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis. Findings suggest that while some interviewees expressed anxiety about their perceived accountability to mediate foreign cultures responsibly, others embraced their role as a cultural mediator. They cared about local cultures and wanted to write in responsible ways by supporting more sustainable outcomes, reflected in the themes of cross-cultural understanding, socio-cultural and environmental advocacy and promoting benefits of tourism to communities. Future studies could include exploring the role of travel editors, travel writers' professional knowledge and the growing role of travel blogs.


In this paper, we describe an impact analysis methodology to measure the impact of the Mobile Web in developing nations. This methodology is needed to anticipate the effects of the Mobile Web on society. Moreover, it can guide advancement of Mobile Web technology to better serve its users. In May 2010, a pilot study to test the methodology was carried out in Nairobi, Kenya. There were 47 students from 3 leading universities participated in the study. Questionnaires were used to ask how they used the Mobile Web, its impact on their lives, as well as their skills to develop Mobile Web applications. 35 of them were interviewed to explore more information. Semi structured interviews were also conducted to 7 entrepreneurs from informal settlement areas. Lessons learned from this pilot study were used to refine the methodology, which is based on our Framework of Mobile Web Uptake (FMWU). The methodology covers indicators to be measured, as well as stakeholders associated with each indicator. These indicators are grouped into components of Mobile Web uptake, and their relationships are showed in the Model of Mobile Web Uptake (MMWU).


In this study we evaluate the ability of a state-of-the-art speech-to-speech machine translation system, Skype Translator, to preserve the communicative effectiveness of its input speech. Specifically, we elicited Spanish spoken responses from 24 native speakers of Spanish in the following two scenarios: academic speaking (in the context of 6 questions from a standard-ized assessment of academic speaking proficiency) and daily communication (in the context of 6 map-based directions tasks). Skype Translator was then used to translate these Spanish responses into English, and expert human raters subsequently provided speaking proficiency scores using both holistic and analytic scoring rubrics for both the original Spanish responses and the corresponding automatically translated English versions. The results indicate that the average holistic scores for the academic speaking task decreased from 3.5 (for the original Spanish responses) to 1.9 (for the English translations) on a 4-point scale, and the average task completion scores for the directions tasks decreased from 3.4 to 2.0. While these results indicate that automated speech-to-speech machine translation does not yet fully meeting the communicative demands of these speaking tasks, they also indicate how far the technology has improved in recent years and can serve as a benchmark for tracking further improvements in the future.


Obesity is a major public health challenge in terms of morbidity and mortality. As obesity increases exponentially and bariatric procedures become more popular, because obesity is an important risk factor for many diseases, it is not surprising that obese patients constitute an everincreasing portion of patients admitted to the intensive care units. Thus, the knowledge of fundamental issues associated with obesity is essential to effectively manage and improve the outcome of this rapidly growing population. The purpose of this article is to review the main pathophysiologic concepts related to the treatment of obese patients in the critical care setting. © 2006 Société de réanimation de langue française. Publié par Elsevier Masson SAS. Tous droits réservés. Mots clés : Obésité ; Réanimation ; Physiopathologie


Post-exertional malaise (PEM) is the core symptom of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome / Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, a disease that can break out after surviving a SARS-CoV-2 infection. Multiple types of triggers lead to an extremal deterioration of the patient's overall health condition. In this paper, vital signs are compared to what extent they are sensitive to the triggers and thus can be used to prevent PEM. In addition, sensors and measurement methods are proposed, based on criteria for use in patients' daily lives. Even simple pedometers can contribute to PEM prevention. However, chest straps and wrist-worn sensors are more promising. The essential relevant vital parameters heart rate, blood pressure and respiratory rate are measured in this way. © 2021 The Author(s), published by De Gruyter.


Researchers carried out rough and fine motor studies of children with KPSP to determine gross motor growth and fine preschool age children based on maternal education. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of maternal education on children's gross and fine motor growth. The case study was descriptive, conducted on 4 respondents aged 6 years from 2 parents with elementary education and 2 parents with high school education. Researchers conducted gross and fine motorized assessment activities for 2 days. The conclusion of the study there is an influence between maternal education with gross and fine motoric development of preschool children in Al Burhan Integrated Kindergarten, Mranggen Demak


Abstract:The affective horrors of the Armenian genocide leave traces upon the living. Most pilgrims who visit sites of mass killing in contemporary Syria and Turkey note that they feel a profound sense of sadness and are overcome with tears of mourning while visiting the sites. This essay explores these experiences along with two anomalous cases of visitors who had an altogether different experience of the uncanny including physical ailment. Semerdjian suggests that some who visit spaces where Armenian genocide atrocities were committed a century ago are unsettled temporally, geographically, and bodily because they are visitors to haunted spaces or what Roma Sendayka has called "non-sites of memory." How do communal memories of horrific bodily violence sometimes result in embodied hauntings? How have visitors historically enacted rituals—including collecting bones of martyrs—in an attempt to vacate the affective necrogeography of ghosts by naming the unnamed dead?


Purpose: We investigate a new finite‐size pencil‐beam algorithm for calculating absorbed photondose in heterogeneous media of arbitrarily varying density for inverse planning in CORVUS treatment planning system and evaluate its performance modeling heterogeneous systems and in optimization of an IMRTlung plan. Method and Materials: A new FSPB is developed by extending a phenomenological model (Med. Phys 26:1893–1990, 1999) for the central‐axis absorbed dose in therapeuticphoton beams for heterogeneous media. The model's parameters are rescaled based on the density of the medium. A differential equation is introduced to model the interface build‐up processes of CAX primary and scatter dose. Primary dose profiles are calculated using density‐dependent kernel integration, interpolated in the FSPB axis direction and evaluated depending on the density at the point of interest. Scatter dose profiles are computed using scatter integration and evaluated locally. Results: The new heterogeneity inclusive FSPB was implemented in a development version of CORVUS. Original and new FSPB dose calculations were compared with Monte Carlo calculations performed using PEREGRINE. For a heterogeneous semi‐slab phantom and for an IMRTlung plan, the dose distribution generated by the new FSPB agrees well with MC results, while the original one shows substantial discrepancies. IMRT plan optimizations were carried out using both original and new FSPB, and then a final dose calculation was performed using PEREGRINE. The plan calculated using the new FSPB shows better target conformality than the one computed using the original FSPB. Conclusion: The new FSPB possesses greatly improved accuracy as demonstrated in a variety of phantom and patient cases, both for dose calculation and IMRT optimization. FSPB best features were preserved with little extra computational overhead promising accurate and fast inverse planning and real‐time dose sculpting and dose volume histogram manipulation. Research sponsored by North American Scientific, NOMOS Radiation Oncology Division.


Aims: To investigate the effects of occupational exposures and residence near to industrial sites on lung cancer mortality in an area in Italy. Methods: 234 cases of lung cancer and 729 controls matched by sex, age, and date of death were enrolled. Environmental exposure was evaluated using historical residence data. A geographical information system was used to compute distances from residence to pollution source (cement factory, power plants, harbour) and an average distance was computed for each subject. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) in a logistic regression model were used to estimate the relative risk of lung cancer associated with the risk factors (smoking habits and occupational exposure) collected by questionnaire; ORs for distances from pollution sources and from city centre were computed, adjusting for smoking habits, education, and occupation. Results: Smoking habits (⩽10 cigarettes/day, OR = 2.28; 11–20, OR = 4.64; >20, OR = 6.61) and occupational exposure to asbestos (OR = 3.50) were significantly associated with lung cancer risk. Reported traffic level of area of residence and residence near the four sources were not associated with increased risk of lung cancer. There was a significantly increased risk for those residing outside the city centre, in the southern outskirts (OR = 1.51). Conclusions: The increased lung cancer risk observed in the area can partly be explained by occupational exposures. The increased risk in the outskirts of the city is consistent with the results of dispersion models that indicate high levels of pollutant deposition in the same area.


BACKGROUND
The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of capsule endoscopy (CE) performed on patients who presented to emergency room with clinically evident gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding from unknown source and were hospitalized for follow-up.

METHODS
Total of 38 patients who underwent CE and were followed-up for evaluation of clinically perceptible GI bleeding with no obvious etiology in Istanbul Medical Faculty emergency surgery department were included in the study. Patient data, which were collected between January 1, 2007 and June 1, 2015, were reviewed retrospectively.

RESULTS
Of the 38 patients included in this study, 12 (32%) patients were women and 26 (68%) were men. Average age was 55.57 years (range: 20-88 years). Nine patients were using anticoagulants. Ten patients were followed-up in intensive care, and 7 patients underwent angiography. Angioembolization was performed for 1 patient who was diagnosed as having active bleed with CE. Average erythrocyte suspension replacement was 20.7 units. Total of 13 patients underwent surgery for bleeding found with CE. Eleven (34%) patients underwent double-balloon endoscopy, during which 5 patients were treated with cauterization and sclerotherapy was performed on 2. Four (18%) patients died during the study period: 2 died as result of bleeding from unknown source, 1 died of cholangiocarcinoma recurrence, and 1 died of anastomotic leakage. One patient was readmitted to hospital due to recurrence of bleeding. Nineteen (50%) patients were treated successfully based on CE findings. Diagnostic yield of CE was determined to be 78.9%. Average length of hospital stay was 32.68 days (range: 3-153 days).

CONCLUSION
CE is an effective tool to detect source of GI bleeding. CE should be first choice of evaluation method for patients admitted to emergency room with obscure overt GI bleeding once radiological imaging determines absence of obstruction.


The implanting voltage, gas pressure and the grid electrode radius are the key parameters influencing the surface grid shadow effect that has been observed in our grid-enhanced plasma source ion implantation experiment. To reduce the shadow effect and obtain a corresponding better implantation uniformity of sample surfaces, we need to use lower implanting voltage, higher gas pressure and smaller grid radius. Furthermore, we apply an axial magnetic field to increase the plasma density inside the tube and to mix the plasma outside the grid, so that the shadow effect of sample surfaces can be weakened.


Analysis of the gene action exhibited by an agronomic trait in crop plants is useful in the planning of an effective plant breeding program. This study sought to establish the inheritance variance of root yield components and beta carotene content present in sweet potato clones commonly grown in Kenya. Ten contrasting parents were selected based on their beta carotene content, dry matter content and yield potential. They were planted in pots in the green house at KEPHIS-Muguga, Kenya, where they were grafted into Ipomoea setosa to boost their ability to flower. Five parents were further selected based on their ability to flower under local environmental conditions and crossed in a 5 × 5 half diallel manner. Five parents and ten F 1 clones arising from this hybridization were evaluated at KALRO-Kiboko, Kenya during two rainy seasons. The field trials were laid out in a randomized complete block design of three replications. The data were scored for root yield characteristics, beta carotene and root dry matter content. Griffing Method II, Model 1 diallel was used to estimate the general and specific combining ability. Genetic variability for beta carotene and root dry matter content indicated that the two traits were controlled mostly by both additive and dominant gene actions. Heterosis gene effects were found for beta carotene and root dry matter content which would be useful in the improvement of sweet potato productivity.


Liver cirrhosis represents a major health problem. No effective anti-fibrotic therapy is available up till now. Understanding the pathogenesis of liver fibrosis is essential for developing new strategies for antifibrotic therapies. Animal models may be used for this purpose [1,2]. Animal models have several advantages compared to clinical studies including; the possibility of taking samples at different time-points, the ability to control variables that cannot be controlled in humans, and the ability to study the implication of specific genes by using genetically modified animals [3]. However, in some liver pathologies associated with systemic diseases like nonalcoholic steato-hepatitis (NASH) there is no animal model can simulate the complex hepatic and extra-hepatic features [4]. Some differences exist between humans and animals. Viruses like hepatitis C or B do not infect rodent hepatocytes [5]. Alcoholic liver disease is difficult to be induced in rodents and rarely cause fibrosis [6].


OBJECTIVES
We compared exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS) and attitudes toward smoke-free bar and nightclub policies among patrons of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) and non-LGBT bars and nightclubs.

METHODS
We conducted randomized time-location sampling surveys of young adults (aged 21-30 years) in 7 LGBT (n = 1113 patrons) and 12 non-LGBT (n = 1068 patrons) venues in Las Vegas, Nevada, in 2011, as part of a cross-sectional study of a social branding intervention to promote a tobacco-free lifestyle and environment in bars and nightclubs.

RESULTS
Compared with non-LGBT bars and nightclubs, patrons of LGBT venues had 38% higher adjusted odds of having been exposed to SHS in a bar or nightclub in the past 7 days but were no less likely to support smoke-free policies and intended to go out at least as frequently if a smoke-free bar and nightclub law was passed.

CONCLUSIONS
The policy environment in LGBT bars and nightclubs appears favorable for the enactment of smoke-free policies, which would protect patrons from SHS and promote a smoke-free social norm.


The variation of walking speeds for passengers passing through a facility within a congested underground station is known to be an important factor influencing pedestrian route choices. This paper describes a study of walking speed variation under unidirectional and bidirectional pedestrian flow conditions in Hong Kong, China, mass transit railway stations. The studied facilities selected for data collection and analysis include a unidirectional walkway and a bidirectional stairway. The variation in walking speed is due to increased passenger demand in the station when trains arrive. A study of the distribution of walking speed variation and relationships between average walking speed and variations of that speed was conducted based on data collected from an observation survey. For uncongested sections, when the mean walking speed decreased, the walking speed variation also decreased under both unidirectional and bidirectional pedestrian flow conditions. In addition, the walking speed variation was smallest when pedestrian flow approached capacity. However, in congested sections, when the mean walking speed decreased, the walking speed variation increased under both unidirectional and bidirectional pedestrian flow conditions. All walking time data were empirically proved to present a normal distribution. This paper presents newly developed walking speed variation models for three selected pedestrian facilities. These models can be further considered in connection with pedestrian simulation models to assess alternative improvement schemes at urban railway stations.


This study examines the relationship between warmth and two attributes of advertising effectiveness (brand attitudes and ad trust). Further, it explains the moderating role of self-efficacy that accelerates the relationship between warmth and advertising effectiveness and proposes a research model of green apparel advertising. A multi-group analysis is conducted with Mplus 7.31. The results indicate that warmth positively influences brand attitude and ad trust that lead to engagement in positive WOM, which increases the purchase intention of green apparel. The relationship between warmth and brand attitude is stronger when their self-efficacy is higher. However, the relationship between warmth and ad trust is weaker when they possess high self-efficacy. This study presents strong evidence that self-efficacy has a substantial impact on the relationship between emotions and brand attitude and trust in green apparel ads.


Retroperitoneoscopic management of complications of a horseshoe kidney provides a feasible and effective alternative to conventional management. We describe a patient who had presented with multiple calculi and a poorly functioning left moiety of a horseshoe kidney, in whom we performed a retroperitoneoscopic left heminephrectomy. Most of the previous reports of laparoscopic nephrectomy have been described via the transperitoneal route. Division of the isthmus was done using ultrasonic shears. The patient had an uneventful recovery and was discharged within 24 hours.


Three winter wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) composite cross populations (CCPs) that had been maintained in repeated parallel populations under organic and conventional conditions from the F5 to the F10 were compared in a two-year replicated field trial under organic conditions. The populations were compared to each other, to a mixture of the parental varieties used to establish the CCPs, and to three winter wheat varieties currently popular in organic farming. Foot and foliar diseases, straw length, ear length, yield parameters, and baking quality parameters were assessed. The overall performance of the CCPs differed clearly from each other due to differences in their parental genetics and not because of their conventional or organic history. The CCPs with high yielding background (YCCPs) also yielded higher than the CCPs with a high baking quality background (QCCPs; in the absence of extreme winter stress). The QCCPs performed equally well in comparison to the reference varieties, which were also of high baking quality. Compared to the parental mixture the CCPs proved to be highly resilient, recovering much better from winter kill in winter 2011/12. Nevertheless, they were out yielded by the references in that year. No such differences were seen in 2013, indicating that the CCPs are comparable with modern cultivars in yielding ability under organic conditions. We conclude that—especially when focusing on traits that are not directly influenced by natural selection (e.g. quality traits)—the choice of parents to establish a CCP is crucial. In the case of the QCCPs the establishment of a reliable high-quality population worked very well and quality traits were successfully maintained over time. However, in the YCCPs lack of winter hardiness in the YCCP parents also became clearly visible under relevant winter conditions.


Executive summary Overview Increasingly, governments, philanthropy, practitioners and communities in Australia have recognised place-based approaches as a means to tackle disadvantage and address the complex problems faced by children and families in today's society. However, there is a perceived lack of cohesion in describing place-based approaches as well as limited coordination across policy, practice and research in designing, executing and supporting place-based initiatives. In response to these issues, the Australian Government Department of Education funded the Centre for Community Child Health to examine the Australian place-based landscape and consider: the evidence for place-based approaches to improve children's wellbeing current place-based activity promoting children's wellbeing across Australia issues and opportunities for accelerating Australian place-based approaches. Overall, the project sought to answer whether place-based initiatives to promote children's wellbeing could be better supported by a national effort to stimulate knowledge exchange, collaboration, dialogue and learning between policy makers, researchers, practitioners and communities. This final report, The state of play, draws from and summarises three key publications produced by the Centre for Community Child Health during the project: 1. The evidence – summarising what we know about place-based approaches. 2. A snapshot of place-based activity – documenting who is driving, doing and supporting place-based initiatives in Australia. 3. Big thinking on place – outlining expert-identified issues and opportunities for getting place-based activity moving. This report provides recommended action to accelerate place-based efforts to improve children's wellbeing and address inequalities in Australia, based on project findings. The evidence A literature review was undertaken to bring together the latest research on place-based approaches, stimulate thinking and to help craft a common way of talking about 'place'. This report provides a brief summary of the evidence that is expanded upon in The evidence. It focuses on the following key questions: • What are place-based approaches? • How do they work? • What is the evidence of efficacy? • What evidence is missing? A snapshot of activity A 'snapshot of activity' was developed to better understand who is driving, doing and supporting innovative or well-known examples of place-based approaches in Australia. It was thought that this information offered the greatest value to the sector and would help to identify organisations or initiatives supporting, or with the potential to support, the strategic coordination of place-based approaches. This report documents the key findings that are expanded upon in A snapshot of place-based activity. Big thinking on place We listened to 23 experts across policy, practice, research and philanthropy to understand the issues and opportunities for accelerating effective place- based practice to improve children's wellbeing. Consultations revealed a number of issues or gaps that were perceived to diminish the effectiveness of child-focused, place-based initiatives in Australia, and a series of solutions were offered by participants in response to these issues/gaps. • This publication has been developed by the Centre for Community Child Health at the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute and The Royal Children's Hospital as part of the Collaborate for children: scoping project funded by the Australian Government Department of Education. It summarises the evidence on what we know and are still yet to learn about place-based approaches to improve children's outcomes. Over 12 months, the project investigated the Australian place-based landscape to understand how we can better promote children's wellbeing through place-based initiatives. This publication is one of four key reports produced through the project. The reports are: The evidence: what we know about place-based approaches to support children's wellbeing A snapshot of place-based activity promoting children's wellbeing – who is driving, doing and supporting place-based initiatives Big thinking on place: getting place-based approaches moving The state of play in Australian place-based activity for children – a summary of project findings with recommendations for accelerating place-based efforts.


A systematic review of interventions to improve reading comprehension was conducted in Spanishspeaking students. Studies included had to have an experimental or quasi experimental design, the equivalence of groups in reading comprehension before intervention had to be controlled, and the participants had to be school-age. Thirty nine studies met the above criteria and were considered. A meta-analysis of random effects was carried out obtaining a combined effect-size estimate of 0.71. The interventions that proved to be more effective were those based on comprehension strategies like locating the main ideas or making inferences, and those interventions combining teaching of strategies with other methods such as motivation or improvement of decoding. Only two studies reported about whether results remained over time after intervention, so maintenance of results is an aspect that should be included in future research.


In an earlier study, we demonstrated that the temporal rate adaptation effect can be transferred from audition to vision and vice versa. However, it was unclear whether this effect was due to a top-down cognitive process, or rather to an earlier calibration process which is stimulus-driven and automatic. We therefore examined the effect of interocular masking of the adapting stimuli on the temporal rate adaptation and its cross-modal transfer from vision to audition (VA). Participants were trained, using feedback, to classify repetitive auditory stimuli presented at a range of frequencies (3.25–4.75 Hz) as fast or slow (as compared to the average frequency of 4 Hz). Afterwards, subjects were repeatedly exposed to visual stimuli at a specific rate (3 or 5 Hz). This adaptation stimulus was masked by continuous flash suppression (CFS). During CFS, a stimulus presented to one eye can be suppressed from awareness by a stream of constantly changing images in the other eye. To test whether adaptation resulted from this less visible exposure, participants then performed the same task as in the training, but without feedback. Test and adaptation tasks were presented in 20 alternating blocks. A comparison of the pre- and post-adaptation responses showed cross-modal changes in subjects' perception of temporal rate. Adaptation to the masked 5 Hz (3 Hz) stimuli led to subsequent stimuli seeming slower (faster) than they had before adaptation. Since the adaptation stimuli were mostly masked by CFS, the results suggest that temporal rate adaptation and its cross-modal transfer occur mostly at a subconscious level.


Abstract: Objectives: Congenital dyserythropoietic anemia (CDA) type I is a rare autosomal recessive macrocytic anemia whose natural history is not well documented. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the clinical picture of the disease in young adults. Methods: The study sample consisted of 17 patients of mean age 11.9±5.4 yr (range 18–33 yr) and one older patient (age 44 yr), all Israeli Bedouins. The degree of anemia was evaluated as well as the extent of development of gallstones and iron overload. In each subject we determined the hemochromatosis gene mutations and the uridine dyphosphate‐glucoronosyltransferase (UGT‐1A) gene polymorphism associated with Gilbert's syndrome. Results: The patients were found to have moderate anemia, with the women displaying lower mean hemoglobin levels than the men (8.2±0.9 g dL−1 vs. 10±1.3 g dL−1; P=0.0059). The majority of patients (59%) had received at least one blood transfusion, with the women having a significantly higher transfusion requirement. Although delayed puberty was noted, final height and weight were within normal limits, and eight patients had progeny. Biliary stones were found in three of 16 patients, two of whom were homozygous for UGT‐1A gene polymorphism. None of the patients carried the common hemochromatosis gene mutation, although serum ferritin levels were moderately elevated (788±332 ng mL−1). Conclusions: CDA type I in young adults is characterized by moderate macrocytic anemia, more severe in women, and a tendency to cholelithiasis and secondary progressive iron overload. We suggest that iron overload in this patient population should be monitored and chelation therapy initiated when indicated to prevent organ damage.


In the frame of the monitoring of Sentinel 2 MSI sensors in orbit, a method for inter-band calibration validation, using Antarctic site, has been developed and tested. The method relies on the directional hemispheric reflectance found in ASTER data base. In order to consider that the spectral shape of the directional directional reflectance is the same as the directional hemispheric one, wavelengths have to be limited to the spectral range below 0.9 μm. Thus this method cannot perform the inter-band calibration for the whole set of spectral bands of MSI but only from B1 to B8A. Results for B9 seem also correct although the central wavelength is a little bit beyond 0.9 μm. Given a clear day acquisition on DomeC site, a first set of computations of Top Of Atmosphere (TOA) reflectances for MSI spectral bands is performed using the three ASTER reflectances corresponding respectively to small, medium and coarse grain size for snow. The spectral reflectances are normalized by the B2 value. The comparison of the three normalized TOA reflectances to the actual one given by MSI enables to select the right snow grain size. Then the second step is the atmospheric parameters adjustment. Water content is assessed thanks to B9 band centered at 0.945 μm and ozone is assessed thanks to mainly B3 band centered at 0.56 μm. For a clear day, the aerosol optical thickness is weak and thus the TOA reflectance is not very sensitive to the more or less low abundance of continental aerosols. The ratio of normalized reflectance given by MSI to the normalized reflectance given by the computation is assessed for each spectral band between B1 and B9 and is compared to the inter-band calibration validations performed with other methods.


Normal human epidermal keratinocytes are induced to undergo terminal differentiation when disaggregated and placed in suspension: commitment occurs at about 5 h and overt differentiation by 24 h. In contrast, the squamous cell carcinoma line SCC12B2 does not initiate terminal differentiation until 75 h in suspension and the ndk strain of keratinocytes undergoes growth arrest but does not differentiate at all. In order to identify genes that may regulate terminal differentiation we have examined mRNA levels of members of the fos and jun gene families and myc gene network in suspension cultures of normal keratinocytes, SCC12B2 and ndk. The major changes observed were an up-regulation of c-Fos and Fra-1 and a decrease in c-Myc at the time of commitment, followed by an increase in Mad, Mxi1, Fra-2 and JunB expression at the onset of differentiation. The sequence of events shows a striking similarity to that which occurs during myeloid differentiation and suggests a role for AP-1 complexes and Myc and Mad complexes in regulating keratinocyte differentiation.


Three amendments (iron oxides, Fe; organic matter, MO; calcium phosphate, PCa) were applied to a naturally contaminated soil with arsenic and their effect on the growth of tomato plants and Italian parsley was studied. The results indicate differences associated with the availability of arsenic in the soil in the presence of amendments: Fe had no influence on arsenic availability compared with the unamended soil, while MO and PCa increased the availability of arsenic. Though both plant species have been affected by arsenic toxicity, the response to treatments relatively to plant growth was different. Tomato plants presented greater growth in terms of height, REVISTA DE CIENCIAS AGRARIAS 32 leaf length, relative chlorophyll content, dry weight and fruit production when MO was used as amendment. By the contrary, the Italian parsley presented the best growth when PCa (12 g kg) was added to the contaminated soil. Key-words: amendments, arsenic, parsley, soil contamination, tomato


Motivated by recent interest in improving the performance of PV cells, we explored the optimal power point in Photovoltaic (PV) cells by using three different topologies to compare its function and efficacy. Firstly, we investigate the consequence of connecting a PV directly to the load. Secondly, the efficacy of an electronic device that generates a pulse width modulation (PWM) to control a boost converter connected to the PV panel and the load and finally the maximum power point tracking (MPPT) method by using the Algorithm Perturb and Observe (P\&O), with the implementation of the DC-DC converter between the PV panel and the load. In doing so, a mathematical model of the PV cell was employed and using MATLAB Simulink, the behaviour of the voltage and current signals acquired were analysed, this helps in understanding the performance of the solar cell under different meteorological circumstances, and its effect on the power generated by the PV cell. Finally, based on the performance simulations on the three methods implemented, the results were tested for the response time of the MPPT under different load conditions in order to ascertain it performance.


We propose a framework for understanding and interpreting the pathophysiology of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) that considers wider determinants of health and long-term temporal variation in pathophysiological features and disease phenotype throughout the natural history of the disease. As in other chronic diseases, ME/CFS evolves through different stages, from asymptomatic predisposition, progressing to a prodromal stage, and then to symptomatic disease. Disease incidence depends on genetic makeup and environment factors, the exposure to singular or repeated insults, and the nature of the host response. In people who develop ME/CFS, normal homeostatic processes in response to adverse insults may be replaced by aberrant responses leading to dysfunctional states. Thus, the predominantly neuro-immune manifestations, underlined by a hyper-metabolic state, that characterize early disease, may be followed by various processes leading to multi-systemic abnormalities and related symptoms. This abnormal state and the effects of a range of mediators such as products of oxidative and nitrosamine stress, may lead to progressive cell and metabolic dysfunction culminating in a hypometabolic state with low energy production. These processes do not seem to happen uniformly; although a spiraling of progressive inter-related and self-sustaining abnormalities may ensue, reversion to states of milder abnormalities is possible if the host is able to restate responses to improve homeostatic equilibrium. With time variation in disease presentation, no single ME/CFS case description, set of diagnostic criteria, or molecular feature is currently representative of all patients at different disease stages. While acknowledging its limitations due to the incomplete research evidence, we suggest the proposed framework may support future research design and health care interventions for people with ME/CFS.


ABSTRACT Since the prevalence of obesity-related medical conditions in children and adolescents has increased over the past several years obesity prevention has become a vital need for our society and a focus of our professional practice. The primary aim of this pilot study was to increase children's experiences with physical activity and healthy foods to promote self-efficacy related to a healthy lifestyle. Using a pre- and posttest design, the Healthy Choices for Me program was evaluated for its efficacy. Intervention consisted of a 12-week after-school program implemented by occupational therapy students. Elementary-aged children from two lower social economic schools in an urban area participated in the program. Results demonstrated positive changes in food behavior, food self-efficacy, and vegetable consumption for the participants.


ABSTRACT As shown by strains measured on full-scale experimental aircraft structures, traffic of slow-moving multiple loads leads to asymmetric transverse strains that can be higher than longitudinal strains at the bottom of asphalt pavement layers. To analyze this effect, a model and software called ViscoRoute have been developed. In these tools, the structure is represented by a multilayered half-space, the thermo-viscoelastic behaviour of asphalt layers is accounted for by the Huet-Sayegh rheological law, and loads are assumed to move at constant speed. The paper presents a comparison of results obtained with ViscoRoute to results stemming from the specialized literature. For thick asphalt pavement and several configurations of moving loads, other ViscoRoute simulations confirm that it is necessary to incorporate viscoelastic effects in the model to predict the pavement behaviour and to anticipate possible damages in the structure.


Patch-clamp recordings from ventricular myocytes of neonatal rats identified ionic channels that open in response to membrane stretch caused by negative pressures (1 to 6 cm Hg) in the electrode. The stretch response, consisting of markedly increased channel opening frequency, was maintained, with some variability, during long (>40 seconds) stretch applications. The channels have a conductance averaging 120 pS in isotonic KC1, have a mean reversal potential 31 mV depolarized from resting membrane potential, and do not require external Ca ++ for activation. The channels appear to be relatively non-selective for cations. Since they are gated by physiological levels of tension, stretch-activated channels may represent a cellular control system wherein beat-to-beat tension and/or osmotic balance modulate a portion of membrane conductance.


Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing is one of the main issues in the fishery industry. This issue can't be limited to only developed or developing nations and all nations can be the victim of this act. There are three bottle necks in controlling IUU fishing, first the coastal state, second the flagged state and finally the port state. Many Coastal states are not capable of protecting and monitoring their waters due to high costs; also many flagged states are not eager to monitor their vessels due to the same issue. European Union (EU) as one of the largest seafood consuming region plays an important role in preventing IUU fishing. This paper explains, the case of Korea as the 3rd largest distant water fishing nation in the world. South Korea was listed in the IUU black list in 2013 and was forced by two EU leverages (Normative Power and Market Power) to take necessary actions such as applying proper monitoring systems to all its distant water fishing vessels. Due to these acts, Korea was removed from IUU list in 2015.


The effect of combinations of nicotinic acid, insulin and tryptophan on serotonin metabolism in different parts of the brain of adult female rats have been investigated. Tryptophan, 5-HT, 5-HIAA and tryptophan-hydroxylase were measured in the forebrain, cerebellum and brain stem. The effect of a full combined treatment on behaviour was also investigated. The administration of nicotinic acid and insulin did not change the concentrations of total and free tryptophan in the plasma. The treatment increased the tryptophan concentration in the brain stem and in the cerebellum, but caused no change in the forebrain. The concentration of 5-HT was reduced in the brain stem, but not in the forebrain or in the cerebellum and the treatment had no effect on 5-HIAA in any parts of the brain. Combining nicotinic acid or insulin with tryptophan reduced the tryptophan concentration in the forebrain, whereas it raised the concentration of tryptophan in the cerebellum. Full combined treatment caused a fall in total and free tryptophan concentration in the plasma on week 4. The treble-treatment raised the tryptophan concentration in the cerebellum and in the brain stem on the week 3. The concentration of 5-HT was reduced in the cerebellum on the week 2 onwards, whereas that in the forebrain was on week 5. In the cerebellum, the concentration of 5-HIAA was lower on the week 4 and in the forebrain it was lower on week 5. The activity of tryptophan-hydroxylase was lower in the brain stem and cerebellum after three weeks of treble-treatment, despite the increase in activity of the enzyme with increasing age. Plasma concentration of methionine and isoleucine was reduced in the animals treated with nicotinic acid and giving insulin prevented this change. The treble-treatment also reduced the concentrations of tyrosine and phenylalanine in the plasma The concentrations of tryptophan in the brain stem and cerebellum were positively correlated with total plasma tryptophan and were negatively correlated with the ratio of free plasma tryptophan to the sum of other neutral amino acids. The concentration of NEFA was positively correlated with free tryptophan in the plasma. The locomotor activity of the animals was inhibited after two weeks treble-treatment, and the condition was accompanied by an increase in defensive behaviour. The results have indicated that serotonin metabolism in different parts of the brain responds in different way's to nutritional factors and that these changes may be associated with modifications of the functioning of the particular regions.


Midterm stock price prediction is crucial for value investments in the stock market. However, most deep learning models are essentially short-term and applying them to midterm predictions encounters large cumulative errors because they cannot avoid anomalies. In this paper, we propose a novel deep neural network Mid-LSTM for midterm stock prediction, which incorporates the market trend as hidden states. First, based on the autoregressive moving average model (ARMA), a midterm ARMA is formulated by taking into consideration both hidden states and the capital asset pricing model. Then, a midterm LSTM-based deep neural network is designed, which consists of three components: LSTM, hidden Markov model and linear regression networks. The proposed Mid-LSTM can avoid anomalies to reduce large prediction errors, and has good explanatory effects on the factors affecting stock prices. Extensive experiments on S&P 500 stocks show that (i) the proposed Mid-LSTM achieves 2-4% improvement in prediction accuracy, and (ii) in portfolio allocation investment, we achieve up to 120.16% annual return and 2.99 average Sharpe ratio.


The composition of a team aims to better complete tasks and further pursue high efficiency and high team performance. Team cohesion and leadership skills might be the major influences on team performance. This study aims to investigate the effects of team cohesion and leadership skill on team performance, and further test the moderating effect of members' thinking styles in environmental service industry. Through questionnaire survey, total 327 valid samples are retrieved from environmental service companies in China. The research results reveal significantly positive effects of team cohesion and leadership skills on team performance. Furthermore, the members' thinking styles had significantly moderating effect. The stronger members' thinking styles would strengthen the relationship between leadership skills and team performance. The practical implications and suggestions for future research are eventually proposed in this study.


We study the topological and homotopical structure of closed -dimensional manifolds () on which there are structurally stable diffeomorphisms with orientable expanding attractors and contracting repellers of codimension one. The results obtained are applied to the topological classification of such diffeomorphisms on the -dimensional torus , .


The present experimental investigation is devoted to the heat flux characteristics of a passive scalar in the near-field region of a swirling jet issuing from a fully developed axially rotating pipe flow. A combined X-wire and cold-wire probe made it possible to access the instantaneous streamwise and azimuthal velocity components as well as the temperature simultaneously. Results indicate that the addition of swirl increases the integral scales and entrainment and thereby the streamwise passive scalar flux and shortens the distance and hence time needed to mix the jet with the ambient air.


The yeast dynamin-related GTPase Vps1 has been implicated in a range of cellular functions including vacuolar protein sorting, protein trafficking, organization of peroxisome, and endocytosis.1-2 Vps1 is present at endocytic sites and may be directly involved in endocytic vesicle invagination through its membrane-tubulating activity. Here, evidence supporting the functional link between Vps1 and the yeast amphiphysin Rvs167 in vesicle invagination is discussed. Though the disassembly of endocytic factors from pinched-off endocytic vesicles appears to be tightly regulated in a spatiotemporal manner, we are far from having complete understanding of the underlying mechanism. In this study, we provide evidence that Vps1 plays a role in the uncoating of endocytic proteins from post-internalized vesicles, based on the observation of a quick disassembly of two endocytic coat proteins Ent1 and Ent2 in cells lacking Vps1.


Research concerning the modular structure of the mammalian brain has sought to clarify how anatomically discrete regions of the neocortex underlie specific cognitive and behavioral functions. Historically, the laboratory rat has served as a valuable model organism in the study of cortical organization at the anatomical, chemical, physiological, and behavioral levels as a basis for comparative investigations. Findings from such studies suggest that the functional neuroanatomy of exclusive posterior neocortical regions in the rat resembles to a considerable degree that observed in more developed animals. Clinical observations and neurobehavioral experiments in primates indicate that injury to temporal regions results in marked deficits in visual analysis. The goal of the present study was to investigate the contributions of a purportedly homologous cortical region in the rat to such functions. The question of whether lesions in the rat temporal cortex impair performance on behavioral tasks that necessitate the use of visual relational learning was examined. In preoperative training, rats (n = 24) mastered a simple discrimination problem based on the relative luminance of two distinct visual cues and, after a 9-week hiatus, demonstrated retention of the acquired task. In the intervention phase, rats were separated into three surgical lesion groups defined as bilateral sham control (CON), partial striate (PS) or temporal (TE). In post-surgical retraining, rats (n = 21) re-mastered the original problem. In final testing, CON and PS rats generalized the original task to multiple, presumably more demanding, discrimination problems based on the relative luminance of novel, paired visual stimuli. In contrast, the TE group failed to attain behavioral criterion, exhibiting performance deficits on all measures compared to the other groups. The experimental data from the present study in the rat are consistent with research findings in primates that have suggested the presence of a specialized ventral occipitotemporal pathway subserving functions of higher visual processing.


Although the neural circuitry underlying fear memory formation is important in fear-related mental disorders, it is incompletely understood. Here, we utilized trace fear conditioning to study the formation of trace fear memory. We identified the entorhinal cortex (EC) as a critical component of sensory signaling to the amygdala. Moreover, we used the loss of function and rescue experiments to demonstrate that release of the neuropeptide cholecystokinin (CCK) from the EC is required for trace fear memory formation. We discovered that CCK-positive neurons extend from the EC to the lateral nuclei of the amygdala (LA), and inhibition of CCK-dependent signaling in the EC prevented long-term potentiation of sensory signals to the LA and formation of trace fear memory. Altogether, we suggest a model where sensory stimuli trigger the release of CCK from EC neurons, which potentiates sensory signals to the LA, ultimately influencing neural plasticity and trace fear memory formation.


Abstract The myotendinous junction (MTJ) is the interface between muscle and tendon, and it is the main area of force transmission of the locomotor apparatus. Dystrophic processes promote pathological injury which affects the skeletal muscle and can influence the morphology of the MTJ. This study aimed to investigate the adaptations in MTJ morphology of mdx mice in the tibialis anterior muscle. Male mice (n = 24) were divided into Control—C57bl/10 and mdx—C57bl/10mdx (Duchenne muscular dystrophy experimental model). In the mdx group, centralized nuclei with a large area and greater deposition of type III collagen (fibrosis) were observed. Also, shorter sarcomeres and sarcoplasmatic projections of MTJ were observed. We concluded that the adaptations in mdx mice demonstrated extensive impairment in the MTJ region with reduced ultrastructures.


Abstract The persistence of Escherichia coli in artificially fed larvae was examined for up to 48 h after ingestion by house flies, Musca domestica L., and stable flies, Stomoxys calcitrans (L.). The rate of change in the E. coli load was similar for both species for up to 5 h after ingestion. Up to 48 h after ingestion, abundance of E. coli declined in immature house flies but remained constant in immature stable flies. When different E. coli concentrations were fed to larvae, the abundance of E. coli increased in stable fly larvae regardless of the initial concentration. The E. coli load in house fly larvae increased when larvae were fed a low concentration of bacteria, but it declined when larvae were fed a high concentration of bacteria. Survival of house fly and stable fly larvae averaged 62 and 25%, respectively, when reared on pure E. coli cultures. These observations suggest that house fly larvae digest E. coli and use it as a food source but stable fly larvae do not.


Consider the sum Y = B + B ( H ) of a Brownian motion B and an independent fractional Brownian motion B ( H ) with Hurst parameter H ∈ (0 , 1) . Surprisingly, even though B ( H ) is not a semimartingale, Cheridito proved in [ Bernoulli 7 (2001) 913–934] that Y is a semimartingale if H > 3 / 4 . More-over, Y is locally equivalent to B in this case, so H cannot be consistently estimated from local observations of Y . This paper pivots on a second sur-prise in this model: if B and B ( H ) become correlated, then Y will never be a semimartingale, and H can be identified, regardless of its value. This and other results will follow from a detailed statistical analysis of a more general class of processes called mixed semimartingales , which are semiparametric extensions of Y with stochastic volatility in both the martingale and the fractional component. In particular, we derive consistent estimators and feasible central limit theorems for all parameters and processes that can be identi-fied from high-frequency observations. We further show that our estimators achieve optimal rates in a minimax sense. The estimation of mixed semimartingales with correlation is motivated by applications to high-frequency financial data contaminated by rough noise.


Research has studied Word-Of-Mouth (WOM) and the 4P marketing activities separately with no attention to how these two processes simultaneously influence consumer responses. This is unfortunate as a firm's marketing activities may also mobilise WOM, which then can leverage the activities' effect on consumer responses. The present study fills this research gap and investigates how WOM mediates the relationship between the 4Ps and consumer responses using the Partial Least Squares method on survey data with 400 broadband customers. Findings show that the 4Ps influence consumer responses directly and that this effect is leveraged when WOM mediates the relationship. The 4Ps primarily mobilise positive WOM (PWOM), making PWOM the strongest mediator. This has implications for marketing and communication strategies, as the 4Ps have to mobilise WOM and influence consumer responses directly. This challenges the composition of the 4Ps and how to design the marketing message so it is appealing for consumers to bring into their social milieu so WOM can take place. It also underlines the necessity to add PWOM as a fifth P, so the different marketing activities' effect can be amplified by the power of WOM and brands can be created as much out of PWOM as out of marketing activities.


The study was initiated with the objective of controlling tomato wilt disease ( Fusarium oxysporum ) using Trichoderma isolates as biocontrol agents. F. oxysporum was isolated from diseased tomato plants grown in five selected kebeles of Dugda Bora and Adami Tulu Jido-Kombolcha woredas of the Central Rift Valley (CRV) region of Ethiopia. The pathogenicity of F. oxysporum was determined on three different tomato varieties namely Cochoro, Miya and Fetane that were grown in 20 cm plastic pots containing 3 kg of autoclaved soil under the greenhouse. The antagonistic effect of Trichoderma isolates against the test pathogen was tested both in vitro and in vivo conditions. From the three tomato varieties, Miya was more susceptible to F. oxysporum infection than both Cochoro and Fetane varieties. The antagonistic effects of Trichoderma isolates on the mycelial growth of the test pathogens, AUT9, AUT 8 and AUT10, showed 66%, 61% and 58% inhibition, respectively, on the mycelial growth of F. oxysporum isolate. All Trichoderma isolates achieved maximum mycelial growth at 25°C and minimum mycelial growth at 15°C. From the current comparative in vivo and in vitro (green house) studies it is evident that the most effective antagonist of the Trichoderma isolates to F. oxysporum was AUT9 and the most resistant tomato variety was Fetane. Keywords: Antagonism, Antibiosis, Pathogen, Pesticide, Resistance, Symptom


A field study involving a healthcare institution was conducted, to examine the mediating influence of conflict responses on the relation between conflict and well-being. We tested the hypothesis that conflict at work and its responses resulted in the experience of more organizational stress and therefore in reduced well-being. Using structural equation modelling we found support for our hypotheses. We not only showed that conflict was positively related to helplessness and flight behaviour, but also that these responses mediated between conflict and organizational stress. Finally, increases in experienced organizational stress reduced well-being. Implications for conflict theory and well-being in organizations are discussed.


Indonesia has the wealth and diversity of the nation as the population of approximately 240 million, ethnic and regional languages, religions, diverse cultures, diverse customs and customs, and a wide variety of flora and fauna that all these things are very necessary to be understood and known by all layers community and built, disclosed, communicated both orally and in writing. In order for the wealth and diversity of such a nation to be known and understood as well as possible by all citizens of Indonesia, then every citizen is also expected to no longer experience illiteracy, or otherwise all literate. Therefore, the author of this paper will explain the growth of literacy culture with the science of reading and writing language skills. The purpose of this paper is to provide information to the reader community about the process of cultural growth of literacy with the application of the science of reading and writing language skills. The things that will be presented in this paper are (a) understanding of literacy and cultural literacy, (b) the growth of literacy culture, (c) understanding of language skills, (d) applying the science of writing language skills, and (e) read. It can be concluded that literacy is literacy, namely the ability to write and read. Then, the literacy culture is meant to do the habit of thinking followed by a process of reading, writing, in the end, what is done in a process of the activity will create the work. Keywords: culture of literacy, language skills, reading, writing


This article suggests reframing the study of migrant women's mothering from a question of integration to an engagement with citizenship. Drawing on research with Polish migrants to the UK, it illustrates how migrant mothers and children construct complex belongings, referencing local, national (UK and Polish), transnational and supra-national levels of belonging. Migrant mothers' sense of ethnic distinctness goes hand in hand with universalistic discourses of belonging. The notion of competent mothering is a key aspect constituting the migrant mothers' narratives of 'good citizenship'. Their narratives challenge the devaluing of their mothering practices as migrants, negotiating not only national but also class and racialized identities so that the figure of the well-educated Polish child symbolizes legitimate mobility and belonging. The article concludes by developing elements of a research agenda on migrant women's mothering as a citizenship practice.


Substance abuse is associated diagnostically with existing depression, pathological mourning of the traumatic event itself, with the inevitable experience of object loss, and loss of love. Inability to form object representation insures primitive lack of object constancy, resulting in pre-oedipal longing and neediness and malignant affect. Ambivalence towards the sadistic love objective is recognized and allows for a healthier, more complete period of mourning (Freud, 1917). Indeed, depression is banished from family acknowledgement in the service of homeostatic denial. This only reinforces the identified patient's feeling of unreality, shame and guilt over verbalizing the depression and the frequent underlying traumatic history. The enormous role of socio-economic stress is pervasive, yet the focus here is on individuals with complex dynamic constellations which are often ignored in the face of external factors. Addiction as attempt to self-medicate depression and trauma remains the overarching theme.


Seismic reflection data were used to monitor the progress of an in-situ combustion, enhanced oil recovery process. Three sets of three-dimensional (3-D) data were collected during a one-year period in order to map the extent and directions of propagation in time. Acquisition and processing parameters were identical for each survey so that direct one-to-one comparison of traces could be made. Seismic attributes were calculated for each common-depth-point data set, and in a unique application of seismic reflection data, the preburn attributes were subtracted from the midburn and postburn attributes. The resulting "difference volumes" of 3-D seismic data showed anomalies which were the basis for the interpretation shown in this case study. Profiles and horizon slices from the data sets clearly show the initiation and development of a bright spot in the reflection from the top of the reservoir and a dim spot in the reflection from a limestone below it. Interpretation of these anomalies is supported by information from postburn coring. The bright spot was caused by increased gas saturation along the top-of-reservoir boundary. From postburn core data, a map of burn volume distribution was made. In comparison, the bright spot covered a greater area, and it was concluded that combustion and injection gases had propagated ahead of the actual combustion zone. The dim spot anomaly shows a good correlation with the burn volume in distribution and direction. Evidence from postburn logs supports the conclusion that the burn substantially decreased seismic velocity and increased seismic attenuation in the reservoir. Net burn thicknesses measured in the cores were used to calibrate the dim-spot amplitude. With this calibration, the dim-spot amplitude at each common depth point was inverted to net burn thickness and a map of estimated burn thickness was made from the seismic data.


We investigate the superconducting instability for La2-xSrxCuO4 numerically by diagonalizing a Hamiltonian constructed from basis states that consist of Slater determinants of first-principles band structure eigenfunctions over a mesh of points in k-space. The band structure incorporates the orthorhombicity of the system as well as oxygen orbits perpendicular and in the Cu-O plane. Our result shows that both these effects play important roles, that superconductivity can be enhanced by a Coulomb interaction, that spin fluctuation is stronger than charge fluctuation, and that one is close to an intermediate coupling limit. A way to enhance Tc is suggested.


Tuberculosis patients and determining the perception of their illnesses are important in increasing treatment adaptation. Decrease in self-esteem because of illness cause losing self confidence, deteriorating social relations and giving up struggle against illness. The aim of this study was to determine self-esteem levels of patients with tuberculosis. Descriptive and cross section study. Study was done on patients (n= 120) who were treated for pulmonary tuberculosis in "Izmir Chest Diseases and Surgical, Education, Practice and Research Hospital" between January 2001 and February 2001. Average self-esteem points of the patients were found to be 57.50 +/- 14.09 (minimum 24, maximum 84). It was observed that being unemployed and housewife, not having a job, effects on economic status of the patient, not having a hope to recover, change in family and social relations and not having social support decreased average self-esteem points of the patients.


In order to improve the unreliable current situation of metal mine monitoring system, we put forward a monitoring system which contains both environment monitoring and personnel positioning based on WSN. Fist of all, we introduce the structure of the system and the meaning of every component, then we design the hardware of base-station including End-point, Router and Coordinator and ID card. And then, we discussed which personnel positioning algorithm should be used in this metal mine. At last, we introduce the GIS management platform and how does it work on GIS management platform.


The aim of this work was to establish the histologic and morphometric vascular reorganization of the lungs in animals after thermal damage in the application of crushed of lyophilized xenograft substrate.
Materials and methods. The experiment was carried out on 30 mature white male rats. Third degree burn was applied under ether anesthesia with copper plates heated in boiling water to a temperature 97-1000C. Size of the area lesions amounted 18-20% of the shaved body surface of rats. Early necrectomy of damaged skin was performed 1 day after causing burns. Closure of wound which formed, committed by crushed lyophilized xenographt substrate. Experimental animals were decapitated at 7, 14 and 21 days.
Results. The conducted histologic and morphometric study on day 7 showed that already in this period less pronounced destructive changes vascular permeability and expression of vascular walls, especially microvasculature. Morphometric found a significant increase in external diameter and narrowing of internal in the arteries of medium caliber, so Vohenvort index less than 1.33 times the rate of animals which correction of thermal injury did not commit. Similarly, changing morphometric data in small caliber arteries.
Submicroscopic in this term of experiment installed less distinct changes in hemocapillary walls of the alveoli of the lungs, they are not so far advanced and filled with blood. For basement membrane typical swelling in a greater extent, available land on which it has no clear contours. In endothelial cells are round-oval nuclei, with shallow intussusception of karyotheca. Edotelialnyh cell cytoplasm moderately swollen. In the peripheral areas of endothelial cytoplasm we can see growing number of pinocytosys vesicles and caveolae.
Histologically on 14 days of the experiment observed that the blood vessels of the lungs moderately blood-filled. Morphometric set reduction in external diameter arteries of medium caliber to 1.08 times and increase in internal in 1.07 times in comparison with the indexes in group of animals without correction burn. Therefore Vohenvort index of these arteries fewer in 1.43 times, relative index of animals without correction. Similar morphometric parameters found in arteries of small caliber.
Microscopically for the conditions of using lyophilized xenograft substrate on 21 day of experiment structural organization of the lungs vascular significantly improved compared to previous terms. Morphometric these changes are confirmed by significant decrease in the index of medium-caliber arteries Vohenvort at 1.74 times and small - to 1.73 times in comparison with values in the group of animals without correction care and their approach to performance intact.
At the ultrastructural level on 14 and 21 days in most hemocapillary walls of the alveoli of the lungs we can see less extent of damage of its components. In moderate their gaps blood corpuscles, mainly red blood cells. Ellipse shape core have clear contours and minor intussusception membranes of karyotheca. The cytoplasms of endothelial cells have moderate electron density. Thin peripheral areas of endothelial cells contain numerous pinocytosys vesicles and caveolae. At this time of experiment basement membrane integrity is preserved as part of the aero-hematic barrier.
Conclusions. Thus, the results of histologic and morphometric studies of the lungs indicate that closure of burn wounds by crushed lyophilized xenograft substrate after conducting early necrosectomy of affected skin prevents the action of pathogenic factors on the vascular system body, reduces the degree of their damage. Therefore, at the end of the experiment takes place relative normalization of structural organization and their morphometric parameters.


A novel Monte Carlo (MC) technique for photon migration through 3D media with the spatially varying optical properties is presented. The employed MC technique combines the statistical weighting variance reduction and real photon paths tracing schemes. The overview of the results of applications of the developed MC technique in optical/near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy, confocal microscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, OCT, Diffusing Wave Spectroscopy (DWS) and Doppler flowmetry are presented.


We report two cases of surgical removal of a retained subfoveal perfluorocarbon liquid (PFCL) bubble through a therapeutic macular hole combined with intravitreal PFCL injection and gas tamponade. Two patients underwent pars plana vitrectomy with PFCL injection for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment. In both cases, a retained subfoveal PFCL bubble was noticed postoperatively by funduscopy and optical coherence tomography. Both patients underwent surgical removal of the subfoveal PFCL through a therapeutic macular hole and gas tamponade. The therapeutic macular holes were completely closed by gas tamponade and the procedure yielded a good visual outcome (best-corrected visual acuity of 20 / 40 in both cases). In one case, additional intravitreal PFCL injection onto the macula reduced the size of the therapeutic macular hole and preserved the retinal structures in the macula. Surgical removal of a retained subfoveal PFCL bubble through a therapeutic macular hole combined with intravitreal PFCL injection and gas tamponade provides an effective treatment option.


Tissue regeneration and remineralization in teeth is a long-term and complex biological process, including the regeneration of pulp and periodontal tissue, and re-mineralization of dentin, cementum and enamel. Suitable materials are needed to provide cell scaffolds, drug carriers or mineralization in this environment. These materials need to regulate the unique odontogenesis process. Hydrogel-based materials are considered good scaffolds for pulp and periodontal tissue repair in the field of tissue engineering due to their inherent biocompatibility and biodegradability, slow release of drugs, simulation of extracellular matrix, and the ability to provide a mineralized template. The excellent properties of hydrogels make them particularly attractive in the research of tissue regeneration and remineralization in teeth. This paper introduces the latest progress of hydrogel-based materials in pulp and periodontal tissue regeneration and hard tissue mineralization and puts forward prospects for their future application. Overall, this review reveals the application of hydrogel-based materials in tissue regeneration and remineralization in teeth.


We demonstrate a fast, robust method of interpreting face images using an Active Appearance Model (AAM). An AAM contains a statistical model of shape and grey level appearance which can generalise to almost any face. Matching to an image involves finding model parameters which minimise the difference between the image and a synthesised face. We observe that displacing each model parameter from the correct value induces a particular pattern in the residuals. In a training phase, the AAM learns a linear model of the correlation between parameter displacements and the induced residuals. During search it measures the residuals and uses this model to correct the current parameters, leading to a better fit. A good overall match is obtained in a few iterations, even from poor starting estimates. We describe the technique in detail and show it matching to new face images.


This paper describes a novel bridgeless converter topology based on ̈cuk converter for implementing the pulse charging algorithm for fast charging of the battery, so as to make the Electric Vehicle compete with a conventional IC engine based vehicle. The notable features of this topology are single stage power conversion, high efficiency, compactness and less weight. The control strategy is also simple to implement since the input current follows the input voltage in discontinuous conduction mode in a ̈cuk topology. Hence current shaping loop is not required. All this features make the proposed converter suitable for ON-board battery charging application. Simulations and experimental results are presented to validate the proposed topology. Small signal modelling has been performed and used for close loop control of the system. Complete design procedure is also included.


Previous research has reported several cases of KPC-PA strains and three KPC-encoding P. aeruginosa plasmid types in China. However, the prevalence and clinical significance of KPC-PA are not available. ABSTRACT Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC)-producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa (KPC-PA) has been reported sporadically. However, epidemiological and antimicrobial susceptibility data specific for KPC-PA are lacking. We collected 374 carbapenem-resistant P. aeruginosa (CRPA) isolates from seven hospitals in China from June 2016 to February 2019 and identified the blaKPC-2 gene in 40.4% (n = 151/374) of the isolates. Approximately one-half of all KPC-PA isolates (n = 76/151; 50.3%) were resistant to ceftazidime-avibactam (CAZ-AVI). Combining Kraken2 taxonomy identification and Nanopore sequencing, we identified eight plasmid types, five of which carried blaKPC-2, and 13 combination patterns of these plasmid types. In addition, we identified IS26-ΔTn6296 and Tn1403-like–ΔTn6296 as the two mobile genetic elements that mediated blaKPC-2 transmission. blaKPC-2 plasmid curing in 28 strains restored CAZ-AVI susceptibility, suggesting that blaKPC-2 was the mediator of CAZ-AVI resistance. Furthermore, the blaKPC-2 copy number was found to correlate with KPC expression and, therefore, CAZ-AVI resistance. Taken together, our results suggest that KPC-PA is becoming a clinical threat and that using CAZ-AVI to treat this specific pathogen should be done with caution. IMPORTANCE Previous research has reported several cases of KPC-PA strains and three KPC-encoding P. aeruginosa plasmid types in China. However, the prevalence and clinical significance of KPC-PA are not available. In addition, the susceptibility of the strains to CAZ-AVI remains unknown. Samples in this study were collected from seven tertiary hospitals prior to CAZ-AVI clinical approval in China. Therefore, our results represent a retrospective study establishing the baseline efficacy of the novel β-lactam/β-lactamase combination agent for treating KPC-PA infections. The observed correlation between the blaKPC copy number and CAZ-AVI resistance suggests that close monitoring of the susceptibility of the strain during treatment is required. It would also be beneficial to screen for the blaKPC gene in CRPA strains for antimicrobial surveillance purposes.


Hospital wastes are regarded hazardous waste. There are certain regulations for handling them and they should be collected and disposed with special care. One of the suitable methods is the effective control of the produced infectious wastes under a management and supervision system in accordance with international principles and regulations. The aim of this project is to examine the quality and quantity of Shahid Chamran Hospital wastes and to obtain the amount of hospital wastes for each bed for performing suitable management. The amounts related to hospital wastes were determined under the supervision of the hospital's environmental health expert and wastes collection personnel during a one-year period. The amounts were also recorded monthly (first week of each month), three times a day – in the morning, in the afternoon and at night- separately. The results of this study indicated that the daily per capita waste production separated by type- infectious, non-infectious and sharp- is respectively 452 kg, 714 kg and 4 kg. The per capita infectious waste produced in this hospital for each bed is 1.7 kg, and the per capita non-infectious waste produced for each bed is 2.69 kg. The total per capita production of wastes is 4.4 kg.


During the last years speech dialog systems have proven valuable for controlling infotainment systems in cars. The increasing popularity of mobile MP3 players and their capability to store more and more MP3, suggest the development of a speech control function for car MP3 players. With technical advantages in hardware and speech recognition it is possible to focus on the development of an intuitive speech dialog, which ensures that the advantages of speech control can be utilized while disadvantages are minimal at the same time. This paper describes the user-centered development of such an intuitive dialog, its special challenges and the reached quality in usability and ease of use. Also the generalizability of the results is discussed.


This paper basically considers a space-division multiple-access (SDMA) systems where all nodes including the base station and mobile stations are equipped with equal number of antennas. In the SDMA system, for each transmit antenna, the user corresponding to the largest signal-to-interference-plus-noise (SINR) is selected to be supported. In this environment with the minimum mean squared error receivers, we analyze the average throughput using the previous works.


Apartments have been the most prevalent type of housing in Korea for the past few decades. During those times, apartments have emerged as one of the most attractive real estate properties in Korea, with the still growing population living in them. Now that over twenty years have passed since the 1970s and 1980s when apartment construction started booming, building stocks are increasing that need refurbishment. In this concern, apartment extension has raised public interest for the past few years, as the remodeling of them has mainly been considered in terms of increasing asset value in Korea. It comes through in our study that these extension types are examined by such items as building core types, number of rooms and front and rear bays in unit, and other design features related to extension techniques. The objective of this study is to suggest a way to produce the best quality possible of unit plan through extension.


Background and aims Infants with intrauterine growth retardation are prone to intestinal dysfunction which is manifested by feeding intolerance and, in the most severe cases, necrotizing enterocolitis. The morphological and molecular mechanisms that lead to these complications are not completely understood and suitable experimental models are necessary. We aimed to characterize mesenteric artery (MA) reactivity, small intestine morphometry and intestinal expression of VEGF in a chicken model of hypoxia-induced fetal growth restriction. Methods Chicken embryos (15 and 19 days) and hatchlings (< 3-h-old and 1-d-old) were incubated under hypoxic (15% O2 from day 0 to day 19 of incubation) or normoxic conditions. Vascular reactivity was studied using wire miography. Intestinal morphometry was assessed in hematoxyline-eosine-stained sections. The expression of VEGF mRNA was determined by RT-PCR analysis. Results Hypoxia altered the responsiveness of chicken embryo MAs to acetylcholine, the NO donor sodium nitroprusside and the constrictor polypeptide ET-1. However, the majority of these alterations, with the exception of the hyperresponsiveness to ET-1, were not present in the hypoxic hatchlings. When intestinal histology was analyzed, subtle hypoxia-induced changes were noted in the muscularis propia and the villi from the hatchlings. Hypoxic incubation also diminished the expression of VEGF mRNA in the terminal ileum of the hatchlings. Conclusions Chronic moderate hypoxia during incubation results in subtle but significant alterations in chicken MA reactivity, small intestine morphology and VEGF expression. Whether these alterations may have a direct effect on the functional status of the intestine remains to be investigated.


Rat mortality and contractile responses of isolated tracheas to compound 48/80 from rats made diabetic 4 days before by a single intravenous injection of alloxan and from diabetic rats that had been treated with insulin 6 h before were compared with control animals. Diabetic animals and tracheal segments from diabetic rats were significantly less responsive to compound 48/80 than control and insulin-treated diabetic animals. On the other hand, diabetic animals have a lower quantity of peritoneal mast cells than control rats, and insulin restored the normal quantity of cells in diabetic animals. These data indicate that diabetes elicits an hyposensitivity to compound 48/80, possibly related to a diabetes-induced decrease in the mast cell count.